Las Vegas Edition -- February 11 -- 17, 2016

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Volume 27 - No. 6 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages

F E BR U A RY 1 1 - 1 7 , 2 0 1 6

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VINCENT GONZALES Inquirer.net

AS EXPECTED, the first day of the campaign period on Tuesday, Feb. 9, for the upcoming national elections was marked by festivities and promises of a better life to millions of Filipinos, which are commonplace in the political landscape of showbiz-obsessed Philippines. In a bid to clinch the presidency in what was perceived to be one of the tightest races in Philippine electoral history, five aspirants seeking the top political post in the country kicked off their 90-day campaign with some big words here and a little entertainment there, in the form of song and dance numbers. The candidates brought in celebriC`Y\iXc GXikp CG Gi\j`[\ek`Xc :Xe[`[Xk\ ]fid\i ;@C> J\Zi\kXip DXel\c ÈDXiÉ IfoXj @@ Xe[ ties in their proclamation rallies to CG M`Z\ Gi\j`[\ek`Xc :Xe[`[Xk\ :XdXi`e\j Jli *i[ ;`jki`Zk I\gi\j\ekXk`m\ DXi`X C\fefi ÈC\e`É entertain crowds of supporters and IfYi\[f# ÕXj_\j k_\ CXYXe ÈCÉ j`^e [li`e^ k_\ b`Zb f]] ZXdgX`^e jfik`\ `e :Xg`q fe Kl\j[Xp# G8>< 8) =\Y% 0% DXcXZX Xe^ g_fkf Yp >`c EXik\X

Santiago: If something happens to me as president, Marcos is best successor

USA

DATELINE Trump, Sanders win New Hampshire Primary FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

OVER half a million voters cast ballots on Tuesday, Feb. 9 in the New Hampshire primary, a large turnout across the small Northeastern state. Businessman Donald Trump and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders had decisive victories for the nation’s first primary, paving the way to success for the two outsider party candidates in the election. Trump benefitted from an unusually large field of candidates that split the vote among more traditional politicians, reported the New York Times--including former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who came in second. According to exit polling data, Trump ran strongest among Republican voters who were worried about immigration, the fate G8>< 8+

Denver Broncos defeat Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 Fil-Am Jordan Norwood makes history for longest punt return MILLIONS of Americans tuned in on Sunday, Feb. 7, as the Denver Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers 24-10 to win Super Bowl 50. Playing at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, the Broncos showed off their superior defense, gaining four turnovers — two of which resulted in touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Panthers struggled to ride on the momentum of their nearly undefeated season record. Many analysts noted that Panthers’ quarterback Cam Newton, who was named the 2015 NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP), had an off night, failing to adapt to the Broncos’ rush. He was sacked seven times during the game. During the second quarter of the game, Broncos’ wide receiver Jordan Norwood G8>< 8*

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by FRANCES

MANGOSING Inquirer.net

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B ATA C C I T Y, I l o c o s Norte—Presidential candidate Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago toyed with the idea that her running mate Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is the best person to succeed her potential position as president “if something happens to her.” “If I am elected as president and something happens to me,

we want somebody young and idealistic, as you have witnessed, to take over the reigns of government,” she said told Ilocanos in jest at the campaign launch at the Imelda Cultural Center. She mentioned the idea three more times later in her speech before the students of Mariano Marcos State University, the biggest campus in the Ilocos region. The statement comes despite her claims that she has controlled

her stage 4 lung cancer. “Alam niyo naman palabiro si Senator Santiago,” Marcos would later explain to reporters at the end of the program at the university. “I think it is just to say na may kumpiyansa siya sakin at maipagpapatuloy ko kung ano man ang kaniyang nasimulan,” he added. Santiago’s speech before the G8>< 8)

Filipino-Salvadoran math whiz Bradley vacates honored by LA school board WBO title ahead by CHRISTINA

M. ORIEL/AJPress

LOS ANGELES—17-year-old Cedrick Argueta was honored on Tuesday, Feb. 9 by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board of Education for earning a perfect score on his Advanced Placement Calculus exam. Argueta, the son of a Filipina nurse and a Salvadoran maintenance worker, is one of 12 students in the world — out of the total 302,531 who took the exam

— to achieve the perfect mark of 108. “I’m glad that I’m able to do this, not just for my culture, but for all cultures so anybody can realize that anything is possible,” he said. Speaking before LAUSD Superintendent Michelle King and the Board of Education, Argueta acknowledged that it was a “team effort” to pass the exam and thaG8>< 8)

of Pacquiao bout by MARK

GIONGCO Inquirer.net

TIMOTHY Bradley has formally vacated his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title after choosing to fight Manny Pacquiao for the third time instead of mandatory challenger Sadam Ali. Ali was due for a title shot against Bradley, who explained his decision to forfeit his belt. “As you know, I will be fighting Manny Pacquiao on April 9, 2016 in Las Vegas, G8>< 8*

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Enrile: More Mamasapano incidents to come if Aquino bet gets elected by MARC JAYSON

CAYABYAB

Inquirer.net

A HEALTHY-LOOKING Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile has criticized President Benigno Aquino III for “sleeping” in the face of the Mamasapano tragedy. Taking the stage for the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) proclamation rally on Tuesday, Feb. 9, Enrile, one (.$p\Xi$fc[ =`c`g`ef$JXcmX[fiXe :\[i`Zb 8i^l\kX ]Xi i`^_k `j af`e\[ Yp _`j dfk_\i C`c`Xe# of the party’s founders, said pfle^\i j`jk\i BXi\e Xe[ ]Xk_\i DXiZf fe Kl\j[Xp# =\Y% 0 X]k\i k_\ C8LJ; 9fXi[ f] <[lZXk`fe _fefi\[ 8i^l\kX ]fi i\Z\`m`e^ X g\i]\Zk jZfi\ fe _`j 8[mXeZ\[ GcXZ\d\ek ZXcZlclj \oXd% there would be more Mamasapano incidents to come if a 8AGi\jj g_fkf Yp :_i`jk`eX D% Fi`\c

successor of Aquino would be elected president. No such incident, however, would occur under the capable leadership of UNA standard-bearer Jejomar Binay, Enrile said. “Kung palpak ang pangulo na ’yan, marami pang Mamasapano ang mangyayari sa ating bansa. Kung magaling ang inyong timon at hindi tutulog-tulog, nagtatago sa kabarilan, kaklase at mga kaibigan, ay walang

mamatay sa digmaan,” Enrile said. Enrile, who was released from hospital detention after the Supreme Court granted him bail from plunder over the pork barrel scam due to his frail health, raised his hands and shook his fists in might as he told the audience his vow to continue fighting the current president. “Ako’y magiging 92 years old na, ngunit lumalaban pa G8>< 8)

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FROM THE FRONT PAGE

=\jk`m`k`\j# Y`^ gifd`j\j dXib%%% G8>< 8( passers-by, including well-known bands, singers, and comedians. JEJOMAR BINAY Branding himself as the face of the masses, Vice President Jejomar Binay kicked off his campaign with the rest of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) at Welfareville compound in Mandaluyong City instead of doing such in his bailiwick in Makati City, to “be with the urban poor.� The opposition leader, who rose from poverty to become one of the most prominent and powerful politicians today, vowed to solve poverty through an improved conditional cash transfer program, free education and medicine for the poor, and by scrapping the income tax of workers earning below P30,000. “Sa mga nagsasabing hindi ito pwede mangyari dahil malulugi ang pamahalaan, simple lang ang sagot ko: Bilyon-bilyon ang nawawala sa pera ng bayan sa smuggling. Bilyun-bilyon ang nawawala dahil hindi wasto ang pangongolekta ng buwis sa mga mayayaman. Bilyun-bilyon ang nasasayang dahil sa hindi wastong paggastos ng mga departamento ng pamahalaan,� Binay said. But Binay’s launch of his presidential bid did not end without taking a swipe at the administration of President Benigno Aquino III, whom he is seeking to succeed. “Malapit nang matapos ang anim na taon, ngunit imbes na mawala o mabawasan man lang, mas lalo pang dumami ang mahihirap,� he said. Binay lost his lead in preference surveys to Sen. Grace Poe amid the corruption allegations against him over the construction and design of the allegedly overpriced Makati parking building. RODRIGO DUTERTE It was not exactly where people expected he would kick off his campaign for the presidency, but nothing was really conventional and predictable in the case of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo

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Duterte. The tough-talking Duterte, who has repeatedly vowed to eliminate drugs and criminality within six months if elected president, took his team to Tondo area in the Philippine capital. Similar to Binay, Duterte and his team is seeking to symbolize and dramatize the plight urban poor Filipinos who are in search of better life. In his speech before mobs of supporters, Duterte reiterated his promise to curb corruption and the proliferation of illegal drugs, and vowed to prioritize education and agriculture. He also said he would double the salary of members of the police and the military. Duterte also took oath as the new chairman of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino after the proclamation rally. GRACE POE Poll frontrunner Sen. Grace Poe was one of the three presidential candidates who kicked off the campaign in Metro Manila, at the heart of the Philippines’ capital city. Poe, who is promising of a “gobyernong may puso,� took her slate “Partido Galing at Puso� to Plaza Miranda in front of the historic Quiapo Church in Manila, in a bid to win the hearts of a predominantly Catholic Philippines. The senator, who is being hounded by citizenship and resi-

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dency issues, said the church was a symbolic venue to launch her presidential bid as a foundling. Poe, the adoptive daughter of movie stars Susan Roces and the late Fernando Poe Jr., was abandoned at Jaro Church in Iloilo when she was still a baby. “As my father has told me: In whatever you do in your life, always fill your efforts with prayers. Therefore, in this historic spot – before the people, before God – I offer this pledge: I am Grace Poe, mother, daughter, Filipino. With all my heart and strength, I will uphold and defend programs of a compassionate government, our aspirations for the Filipino family, our hopes for the country and our children,� Poe said. It was also in Plaza Miranda where Poe’s father, who lost to former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, launched his presidential bid in 2004. Poe, who brought in popular local band Aegis to serenade her supporters ahead of the rally, appealed to the crowd using famous lines from his father’s movies, “Puno na ang salop. Our tolerance for poverty, our tolerance for corruption, is at its end. Dapat na itong kalusin. We will beat it out of our system together. We will fight for each one’s right to food, jobs, education and protection,� she said. MAR ROXAS The ruling Liberal Party and its standard-bearer Mar Roxas started their campaign trail in the latter’s hometown and stronghold, Roxas City in Capiz. Roxas, his running mate Leni Robredo, and the “Daang Matuwid� coalition, and President Benigno Aquino III himself kicked off their rally at the Capiz Gymnasium, where they were met by the cheers of about 6,000 yellow clad supporters. In his speech during his proclamation, Roxas trumpeted the achievements of the Aquino administration and vowed to continue its reforms. Roxas gave way to Aquino’s candidacy in the 2010 elections following the death of democracy icon Corazon Aquino. “Para sa mga hindi pa nakakaalam, paano natin ipagpapatuloy ang Daang Matuwid? Simple lang ang programa natin ay nakatutok sa tagumpay ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino. Sisiguraduhin G8>< 8+

Santiago: If something happens to... G8>< 8( students lasted for about 10 minutes, a few minutes longer than her campaign kickoff speech that was only about three minutes. Her voice trembled at some parts of her speech and was unlike the fiery senator she was known for. Students were thrilled when Santiago cited her usual cheesy pick up lines that have endeared her to the younger generation. At one point in the speech, Santiago also seemed to have taken a jab at her opponents but did not mention any names. “Ngayon makikita mo sa elections natin kahit sino pwede

tumakbo,� she said. “Yung isa, daming scandals sa pagnanakaw ng pera,� Santiago said, but did not say if it was Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is thrown with corruption allegations. “Meron isa hindi sigurado kung saan siya pinanganak,� Santiago said, which seemed to refer to Sen. Grace Poe who is being challenged about her citizenship. Santiago skipped the Q and A portion with the students because she had other engagements according to Marcos. She was also not with Marcos during the motorcade to Batac

from Laoag Airport, nor the special mass before the campaign kickoff. Kim Arveen Patria, media relations officer of Santiago, said that these activities were not part of the original schedule sent to the senator. “These changes were finalized only yesterday. The senator chose to stick with her schedule,� he told INQUIRER.net. The campaign launch was the first time that the tandem appeared together in public. They also flew together to Laoag City through a private plane that took off from Pasay City.

Filipino-Salvadoran math whiz honored... G8>< 8( the is “one small example� of the school district’s work. Currently a senior at Abraham Lincoln High School, Argueta aspires to attend the California Institute of Technology and one day work for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory as an engineer. “I want to be an engineer because I’ve always liked math and science, so going into that field makes sense for me,� he told the Asian Journal. He credits his math teacher Anthony Yom, a Korean immigrant, for helping him excel in the subject. In preparing for the exam, Yom designated Argueta as a study leader, and would spend after school and weekends making sure other students mastered the advanced concepts. Tuesday’s board meeting also recognized Yom and the high school’s principal Jose Torres. In his remarks, Yom thanked students’ parents for making the commitment to drive their children to school on weekends so they could study for the exam and community members for opening up their facilities when the school wasn’t open. “I want everyone to remember that it still takes a village to raise a child,� Yom said.

Yom — whose AP students have all passed the calculus exam in the last three years — noted that he doesn’t have any special strategies when it comes to teaching. Rather, he treats his students as “friendsâ€? and gets to know them on a personal level to build trust. “If you don’t think of [teaching] as work, then you produce a better result,â€? he said. Torres cited Argueta as an example of “what can happen‌if we all believe that every child who comes into a classroom can learn, regardless of their background or where they come from.â€? Argueta’s mother Lilian, who migrated to the United States from Batangas, Philippines in 1992, remarked on how studious her son is. “At school, they have an afterschool program to prepare for the test. When he gets home, he studies hard too. He’s always been like that,â€? she said. She beamed with pride seeing her son be recognized and receive a standing ovation by the school district’s board members. “We’re all happy and proud of him,â€? she said. “He can be whatever he wants to be. We’re here to support him.â€? Since finding out about his test score, Argueta has received

worldwide attention, and even got President Barack Obama to tweet at him: “Cedrick; way to go on your perfect score! How about you come by the next White House Science Fair?� Getting a tweet “from the most influential and important man in the world� was an honor, Argueta said, and he is excited to take that trip to the White House. In addition to his incredible achievement on the AP exam, Argueta also scored perfectly on the math and English sections of the ACT college-entrance exam. Despite being a math wiz (his nickname at school is “One of Twelve�), Argueta asserts that he’s just a normal teenager who likes sports, video games and hanging out at the mall. His advice for high school students? Take advantage of available resources and balance academics with other hobbies. “I know everyone tells them to try hard and work hard, but really try to get all the help that they can get. There are a lot of great resources,� Argueta told the Asian Journal. “Also, try not to make everything about academics. Balance your life out. Try to put your time in something that’s fun for you, rather than just putting it into academics.�

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Enrile: More Mamasapano incidents... G8>< 8( rin. Kahit na presidente, nilalabanan ko para sa inyo,� Enrile said, rousing cheers from the crowd. Aquino has denied accountability over the Jan. 25, 2015, antiterror raid which resulted in

the deaths of 44 Special Action Force policemen in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. The elite cops were able to kill their target international terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan until Muslim fighters, including the Moro Islamic Liberation

Front, fired and slaughtered the besieged troops. Former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, another pillar of UNA, did not show up at Binay’s proclamation, but his son Jude Ejercito was present.

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Obama sends Congress record $4.1 trillion 2017 fiscal budget by ALLYSON

ESCOBAR

AJPress

PRESIDENT Barack Obama sent Congress his eighth and final budget of his presidency on Tuesday, Feb. 9. The proposal includes a spending record of $4.1 trillion on a number of initiatives, from a new war on cancer to combating global warming to fighting growing threats from Islamic State militants. “While it is important to take stock of our progress, this Budget is not about looking back at the road we have traveled. It is about looking forward and making sure our economy works for everybody, not just those at the top,” the President states in an emailed fact sheet on the 2017 fiscal year budget. “It is about choosing investments that not only make us stronger today, but also reflect the kind of country we aspire to be--the kind of country we want to pass on to our children and grandchildren.” The proposed spending plan applies for the budget year that begins Oct. 1, just three-anda-half months before he leaves office, according to the Associated Press. It addresses issues such as climate change, healthcare, opportunities for small businesses and students, as well as national and economic security. Obama already faces heavy fire from the GOP-controlled Congress, which is not expected to approve the proposal, and has called it “dead on arrival.” Overall, Obama’s budget would increase taxes by $2.6 trillion in the coming decade-- nearly double the $1.4 trillion in new taxes Obama sought and failed to achieve in last year’s budget. Congressional Republicans have already said they will ignore the proposal, rather than engage in another round of “fiscal brinksmanship” with the president, said the Washington Post. “President Obama will leave office having never proposed a budget that balances — ever. This isn’t even a budget so much as it is a progressive manual for growing the federal government at the expense of hardworking Americans,” said House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis). GOP lawmakers said Obama’s proposal to impose a $10-perbarrel tax on crude oil--in order to bring in an additional $319 billion in revenue--had “no chance

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of congressional approval.” The administration announced they would use the money to fund billions of dollars in alternative transportation programs as part of the president’s efforts to deal with global warming. Ryan also pledged that House Republicans would produce a budget that does reach balance in coming weeks. “In 2016, we will make it our goal to pass all 12 appropriation bills through regular order,” Ryan said back in December, laying out his plans for the year ahead. “This hasn’t been done since 1994--but it’s how Congress ought to operate so that we can better protect the taxpayer dollars and make our place the true representative body that it is.” Even with the increased taxes, Obama’s budget projects sharply higher deficits in the near future, totaling $9.8 trillion over the next decade. Last summer, Obama’s baseline forecast a deficit of $8 trillion over the next decade. Much of the deficit problem stems from the surge in spending on benefit programs like Social Security and Medicare, whose budgets are predicted to soar with the retirement of millions of baby boomers. The budget sees the economy growing at a 2.6 percent rate this year, although administration officials noted that projection was finalized in November, before recent stock market slide. Inflation would remain low, registering a 1.5 percent gain this year.

Obama’s new budget projects a deficit for the current 2016 budget year of $616 billion, which is sharply higher than the latest forecast by the Congressional Budget Office (totaling $544 billion). Republicans have long complained that Obama has failed to attack the chief cause of future deficits. Previous Obama budgets did propose such things as slowing the automatic inflation increase for Social Security. However, the President abandoned those proposals when it became clear that Republicans were opposed to his suggestions to raise taxes on the wealthy in order to benefit programs for the working poor. On Tuesday, White House officials expressed their goal to obtain bipartisan support for a number of Obama’s initiatives, such as the effort to combat heroin and opioid addiction, fund a “moonshot” initiative to cure cancer, and expand tax credits for the working poor. Other elements of his proposal include ideas to appeal to Democrats: increasing Pell Grants for college students from low-income backgrounds; bolster funds for the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; funding the Treasury’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI); and renewing incentives for GOP-governed states to join the expanded Medicaid system, established under his landmark health care law. Separately, Obama has also proposed $1.8 billion in emergency spending to combat the Zika virus, on top of the $1.1 trillion catchall spending bill that passed in December. The budget also pledges to increase military spending to fight terrorist threats, and help make Americans safer. It includes increased support (around $19 billion) for cybersecurity, upgrading computers across government agencies in the wake of last year’s major federal hack, which compromised the personal information of 21 million Americans. “The budget that we are releasing today reflects my priorities and the priorities I believe will help advance security and prosperity for America for many years to come,” Obama told reporters at the White House.

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Denver Broncos defeat Carolina Panthers... G8>< 8(

— who is a quarter Filipino — set a Super Bowl record with a 61yard punt return. Norwood received the punt at the Broncos’ 25-yard line and ran it down the right sideline all the way to the Panthers’ 14-yard line. Though Norwood’s run was unable to secure a touchdown, Denver earned a field goal that put them ahead 13-7. The previous record was a 45-yard return by 49ers wide receiver John Taylor in Super Bowl XXIII against the Cincinnati Bengals. At 39 years old, Peyton Manning of the Broncos became the oldest starting quarterback in Super Bowl history. Manning, whose 18-year career includes includes two Super Bowl titles and 200 career wins, is expected to retire, though he has yet to announce that decision. He is also the first quarterback to win a Super Bowl with two different

teams, winning Super Bowl XLI with the Indianapolis Colts. “You know, I’ll take some time to reflect,” Manning said during a post-game interview. “I have a couple of priorities first. I want to go kiss my wife and my kids, I want to go hug my family. I’m going to drink a lot of Budweiser tonight. I promise you that. I’m going to take care of those things first, and say a little prayer to thank the man upstairs for this great opportunity. I’m just very grateful.” For six tackles, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles — leading to defensive and offensive touchdowns — Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller was named MVP following the game. Sunday marked the Broncos’ third Super Bowl title in franchise history. ”We had our opportunities. There wasn’t nothing special that they did. We dropped balls. We turned the ball over, gave up

G8>< 8( Nevada. To accept this fight invariably means I cannot comply my mandatory obligation and must forgo the mandatory (challenge) against Sadam Ali, as ordered by the WBO,” Bradley wrote in a letter to WBO president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel as posted on BoxingScene.com. “This is a difficult decision, but one I have to make to give fans the best fights as well as allow myself the toughest and biggest fights possible from both a competitive and financial perspective.”

Bradley and Pacquiao have a long history with the WBO welterweight belt. It was the same title Bradley won in a highly-disputed split decision win over Pacquiao in 2012 and the one the Filipino boxing legend regained in a rematch two years later. Pacquiao, then yielded the title to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in May last year. Bradley won the interim WBO belt when he outpointed Jessie Vargas last June and was later upgraded to a full championship after Mayweather retired in September.

sacks, threw errant passes. That’s it. They scored more points than we did,” Panthers quarterback Newton said after the game. Aside from the game itself, the most-anticipated part of the game was the halftime show, featuring Coldplay, Beyonce and Bruno Mars. Against a colorful backdrop, Coldplay delivered a medley of their hits, but guest stars Beyonce, performing her new song “Formation,” and Bruno Mars, singing and grooving to Uptown Funk,” stole the show. Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach — who was reporting as a special correspondent for “Inside Edition” — praised Beyonce on Twitter, saying “From Queen to Queen, @Beyonce you owned the show! –Pia.” Super Bowl 50 was the thirdmost-watched television program in the United States with 111.9 million viewers, falling short to beat the viewership records from the last two years. (AJPress)

Bradley vacates WBO title ahead... Without a title at stake in April, the WBO plans to make a special award for the winner. “Do know that we wholly understand your decision and command you for always giving fans the best fights possible and doing what is best for your career at this important juncture,” Valcarcel said in a reply to Bradley’s letter. “Finally, I am pleased to inform you that we are preparing a special recognition for the Pacquiao vs Bradley III winner—two remarkable fighters and worthy ambassadors to the WBO.”

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National labor board rules in favor of fired Fil-Am nurse by CHRISTINA

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“Bongbong” Marcos Jr. To the delight of the crowd of students at the Don Mariano Marcos State University, the usually feisty senator cited pick-up lines and took a swipe at her political opponents. If elected president, Santiago also explored the possibility of Marcos, the son and namesake of the late dictator, taking over her post “if something happens” to her.

“If I am elected as president and something happens to me, we want somebody young and idealistic, as you have witnessed, to take over the reins of government,” she told the Ilocano audience in jest at the Imelda Cultural Center. Santiago skipped the motorcade to Batac from Laoag Airport and the special mass before the campaign rally. She also did not attend the question and answer portion with students.

M. ORIEL

AJPress

G8>< 8) natin na ang bawat pamilya ay malaya sa gutom, malaya sa takot at malayang mangarap. Yan ang ating ipinaglalaban, yan ang alam ko, yan ang kaya ko, at yan ang gagawin nating lahat,” Roxas said. “Hindi magiging madali itong laban na ito may mga kababayan tayo na nagnanais na bumalik sa baluktot na nakaraan dahil dito sila yumayaman o humuhugot ng kapangyarihan. Gagawin nila ang lahat, lahat ng paraan gagamitin nila kasama na mga black propaganda, kasama na mga pagsisinungaling, kasama na ng panloloko para paghiwalayin tayo, para sirain ang ating tiwala sa isa’t isa,” he added. MIRIAM SANTIAGO There’s no stopping Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago from seeking the presidency for the third time, despite lagging behind other candidates in preference polls. Santiago, who reiterated that she has controlled her stage 4 lung cancer, kicked off her campaign in Batac City, Ilocos Norte, the hometown and bailiwick of her running mate, Sen. Ferdinand

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PASADENA, Calif.—The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) found merit to allegations that two Asian American registered nurses were illegally terminated from Huntington Memorial Hospital in this city. The nurses, Allysha Almada and Vicki Lin, were joined by city officials and community leaders to applaud the labor board’s decision at a press conference on Thursday, Feb. 4. “…The first emotion I felt hearing about the NLRB ruling was a state of shock and then it easily turned into elation,” Almada, a 28-year-old Filipino-American nurse told the Asian Journal. “It’s an, us versus them, David versus Goliath, kind of situation. Here we are, we’re going up against a large community hospital that has millions of dollars to essentially spend fighting us when that money should be going to patient care. We’ve seen them direct money and funds from patients into fighting organizing efforts. This definitely feels that yes, we were in the right.” Almada and Lin, both of whom were working in the intensive care unit, were terminated in August of last year, after spearheading a union organizing drive under the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU) and publicly speaking about deteriorating conditions (i.e. short staffing and inadequate supplies) at the hospital. Registered nurses at the hospital began organizing with CNA/ NNU in May 2014, but many voted against representation the following year after they were allegedly intimated to do so by hospital officials. “When this [firing] first happened, I felt very hopeless. I was very scared and I didn’t know what to do,” Lin said. The union filed an unfair labor practice charge with the NLRB challenging the dismissal last year, which the labor board responded to on Friday, Jan. 29 by siding with the nurses. Lin added, “what happened to me can happen to anyone and that’s why we need union representation to protect our rights along with our patients. Nurses need job protection. We need someone to advocate for us, so we can advocate for our patients.” In a statement emailed to the Asian Journal, Huntington Hospital’s spokesman Derek Clark said the union’s flyers and statements have been filled “with patently false information.”

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Responding to allegations that the nurses were fired for unionizing, the hospital asserted that it was because the pair violated employment policies. “We stand by our decisions and course of actions – and believe they are in accordance with employment laws, our employment practices and in the best interests of maintaining patient safety and providing the highest quality of patient care,” Clark said, adding that the hospital looks “forward to a resolution in our favor from the NLRB.” Each week, the union has also gathered signatures from members of the Pasadena community in support of the nurses’ reinstatement, and has attempted to deliver them to the hospital CEO. “I am grateful and humble that so many people feel strongly about our cause and want to support us that they are willing to sign a petition or willing to come out to our delegation,” Almada said. Since her firing, the Fil-Am has continued to advocate for nurses’ rights and quality patient care. In October, she attended the White House Summit on Worker Voice, where she briefly met President Barack Obama. She also spoke at a press conference alongside Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and met with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). Though Almada is currently working at another hospital in Los Angeles, she is fighting to get her

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job back at Huntington Hospital. “It is definitely a point to be made in that…me coming back to the hospital could show nurses — not only at Huntington, but throughout the world — that when we stand together, when we organize [and] when we have a strong collective voice, we can accomplish a lot,” she said. Tessie Costales, a Fil-Am registered nurse at Kaiser LA Medical Center and CNA leader, called on hospital leaders to abide by the NLRB’s announcement. “I couldn’t believe what they did to these two nurses. They built a case just to instill fear in the nurses and they made [Allysha and Vicki] guinea pigs to show nurses not to vote for the union… I think Huntington leaders should respect the ruling of the NLRB. They did not find any merit on the case,” said Costales. “Delays would only mean a waste of resources.” She also called on the local FilAm community to join in on any rallies and sign petitions on behalf of the nurses. “Although this unfortunate event happened to us, our victory is so important to show that when you have the backing of thousands of nurses — behind you, standing up for you…[and] your federally protected rights — it is powerful and impactful. Together as a community, together as nurses, we will win this fight. We will win justice and we will make Huntington a better place and a better asset to the city of Pasadena,” Almada said.

Trump, Sanders win New Hampshire... G8>< 8( of the economy, and the threat of a terrorist attack in the US. It was also his first win among first-time voters in a Republican primary. According to exit polls, 45 percent of Republican voters said they preferred a president with political experience, such as Kasich or Bush. However, with more than 80

percent of New Hampshire precincts reporting, Trump received 35.3 percent of the overall vote, around 100,406 total, and 30-40 percent of the vote among many demographic groups. Trump also beat out four Republicans, who each received less than 20 percent of the overall vote. On the Democratic side, Sanders beat out Hillary Clinton by over

55,000 votes, with 60.4 percent to Clinton’s 38 percent. Sanders’ win proved a painful rejection of Clinton, who was known to reflect the views and have a good relationship with New Hampshire voters, particularly women. The state supported her husband in 1992, while Bill Clinton was on the path toward the Democratic nomination, and in the general elections of 1996. However, Sanders’ rhetoric on a liberal political agenda and greater regulation on Wall Street drew larger support from voters, including young people and women. “Together we have sent a message that will echo from Wall Street to Washington, from Maine to California,” Sanders said. “And that is that the government of our great country belongs to all of the people, and not just a handful of wealthy campaign contributors and their ‘super PACs.’” It was a surprise to both parties, while many believed voters would stick to their roots embracing more experienced candidates like Clinton or one of the Republican lawmakers. However, disastrous debate performances have affected some campaigns, including Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who stood out during the Iowa caucuses but slid rapidly towards the fifth and last place in the primary as final results were tallied. The opposition to Trump and Iowa Caucus winner Ted Cruz is divided, CNN said, and the GOP race remains crowded. After doing poorly in the polls, both Carly Fiorina and Chris Christie also dropped out of the presidential race on Feb. 10. The former HP executive promised to “continue to serve in order to restore citizen government to this great nation so that together we may fulfill our potential,” while New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie came in sixth place, reflecting that he had not “an ounce of regret” for the experience in New Hampshire. “I have won both elections that I was supposed to lose and I have lost elections that I was supposed to win,” Christie said on Tuesday night. “And what that means is you never know, and it’s both the magic and the mystery of politics that you never quite know when which is going to happen--even when you think you do.” (Allyson Escobar/AJPress)

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D ATELINE PHILIPPINES Trillanes posts bail for libel case filed by Junjun

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ROMERO Philstar.com

by MIKE

FRIALDE Philstar.com

MANILA—Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV posted P10,000 bail on Tuesday, Feb. 9 on the libel case that former Makati mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. filed against him. Shortly after arriving from the US, he went to Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 142 before 11am and met with Judge Dina Pestaño Teves in her office. Teves had ordered the arrest of Trillanes after the Department of Justice found probable cause to indict him for libel. Trillanes told reporters after the meeting with Teves that he had posted bail to show that he would face whatever case Vice President Jejomar Binay would hurl against him. “These are his tactics,” he said in Filipino. “He is using his influence and power to frighten and confuse his political opponent.” Trillanes said the libel case that former mayor Binay had filed against him is a form of harassment coming from Vice President Binay who is now running for president. “He (Binay) is not yet president,” he said in Filipino. “More so when he becomes president, he would use his office to pin down his op-

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ponents.” Trillanes said he is not cowed by the libel case and he vowed to fight it in court. “We will have different remedies to resolve this harassment suit,” he said in Filipino. “Nevertheless, we shall stand against it. We will not back out. I will be more encouraged to ensure

Hundreds of OFWs to be repatriated MANILA—Hundreds of distressed overseas Filipino workers are awaiting repatriation from various countries. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) in 18 countries are processing the repatriation of the distressed OFWs who have sought refuge in governmentoperated halfway homes. She directed all POLOs to double their efforts in repatriating those housed in their halfway homes, which shall be turned into training centers for OFWs, she added. Last year, POLOs repatriated 480 OFWs. Meanwhile, members of Migrante marched to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration main office in Pasay City to seek the removal of the mandatory $25 per contract contribution. OWWA must adopt a policy allowing lifetime membership for

OFWs and their families, Migrante said. Under the current policy, failure to pay and renew the $25 mandatory contribution per contract (usually every two years) disqualifies an OFW from enjoying the programs and welfare services of OWWA. Garry Martinez, Migrante official, said OWWA’s services discriminated against irregular or undocumented OFWs, which constitute a majority of those in distress. He cited the case of Eugenia Bayer Perez, a domestic worker who was paralyzed after she fell off the rooftop of her workplace in the United Arab Emirates. Last Sept. 10, Perez, along with at least 100 other OFWs, filed claims at the OWWA but was told that she does not qualify for full disability because she still has use of her eyes and both her arms. (Philstar.com)

that the Binays would no longer hold any post.” Trillanes said his lawyers are still readying his motion for reconsideration to be filed with the DOJ. He is comfortable having the libel case tried in a Makati court where he was previously tried for coup d’etat over his alleged participation in the Oakwood Mutiny and for the Manila Peninsula siege, he added.

MANILA—The military does not expect a falling out with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) because of the failure of Congress to pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said the mechanisms of the peace talks are working and the people have seen the benefits of the peace process. “It seems that both sides are (bending over backward) and there is an assurance from the government side that the peace process will continue under the next administration,” Padilla said. Padilla cited the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group, which is tasked to isolate and interdict criminal groups and terrorists. The mechanism allows the government and the MILF to work together to maintain peace and order. Padilla, however, admitted that spoilers would continue to express their opposition to the peace talks. “People have seen the positive effects of peace. There are many projects and their lives have improved. But of course, spoilers cannot be avoided,” he said. Some sectors have expressed concern over the bypassing of the proposed BBL, believing this could

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lead to conflict. Sulu Rep. Tupay Loong previously warned of a “shooting war” involving people who are fighting for freedom, justice and their own interests. Lanao del Sur Rep. Pangalian Balindong, Deputy Speaker for Mindanao, said radical secession-

ists could exploit the failure to pass the measure. Such view was echoed by Vicariate of Sulu parish coordinator Fr. Romero Villanueva, who believes the non-passage of the BBL could prod radicals to seek independence. G8>< 8.

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OPINION

Campaign season

FEATURES

AND so it begins. Filipinos are in the throes of election fever as the campaign period for the upcoming May national elections officially began on Tuesday, Feb. 9. With 18,053 elective positions at stake, qualified voters in the Philippines and abroad have in their hands, the power and responsibility of ensuring candidates for public office are the most qualified for the respective positions. senators including Manny Pacquiao, former Special Action Force (SAF) director Getulio Napeñas, Parañaque councilor and actress Alma Moreno, Princess Jacel Kiram, labor lawyer Allan Montaño and broadcaster Rey Langit. Sen. Grace Poe, who promises a “gobyernong may puso (government with a heart),” led her political party to Plaza Miranda in front of the historic Quiapo Church in Manila. Still facing disqualification over citizenship and residency issues, Poe said that just like an ordinary Filipino, her life is full of drama. “With all my heart and strength, I will uphold and defend programs of a compassionate government, our aspirations for the Filipino family, our hopes for the country and our children. The next three months will be a grueling journey for candidates and voters,” Poe promised her supporters. The ruling Liberal Party and its standard-bearer Mar Roxas and running mate Rep. Leni Robredo kicked off their campaign in Roxas City, Capiz. The tandem vowed to continue Pres. Benigno Aquino III’s “daang matuwid (straight path)” policy. Aquino was also present during the campaign rally and appealed to the public on why his bets are deserving to be elected.

On a national scale, Filipino voters will declare who to fill the presidential, vice presidential, 12 senatorial and 80 party-list representation seats. The local elections involve voters to elect district representatives (Congress members), provincial governors, vice governors, provincial board members, city and municipal mayors, city and municipal vice mayors, and town council members. The promotion of people’s interests will be on top of political junkets once again. Issues such as criminality, high prices, unemployment, housing shortage, overpopulation, and the poor justice system are still expected to headline each candidate’s platform. Vice President Jejomar Binay launched his presidential bid at the Welfareville compound in Mandaluyong City “to be with the Filipino poor.” Leading the opposition party, United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), Binay’s camp said that the vice president chose to be with those “have been left behind and continue to struggle with poverty, hunger and unemployment. Because he wanted to share with the masses his vision of a nation where rich and poor share the benefits of economic growth.” Binay was joined by his running mate Sen. Gregorio Honasan II, and UNA’s candidates for

Editorial

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Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte brought his team to Tondo, Manila. The no-nonsense presidential aspirant promised his kababayans that he will curb corruption and the proliferation of illegal drugs, and vowed to prioritize education and agriculture. Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Sen. Bongbong Marcos went north, to the latter’s hometown in Batac City, Ilocos Norte. Santiago vowed to go after people who were involved in the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel

scam, while Marcos insisted on unity among Filipinos. The next three months will be a grueling journey for both candidates and voters. It will test political aspirants on how they can engage the public to support their causes and grant them their previous votes. On the other hand, it will be the voters’ undertaking to identify all social, political, economic and environmental issues that are hounding the country and choose wisely who will best offer the solution for them. (AJPress)

New national poll: Trump leads, Clinton and Sanders in a virtual tie AFTER the Iowa Caucuses and before the New Hampshire pri- The Fil-Am mary, a new national poll reveals the sentiment of the American Perspective people on where they want this nation to be stirred moving forward through the presidential elections. On the Democratic front, Front- GEL SANTOS-RELOS runner Hillary Clinton has reportedly planned on shaking her campaign to stop the momentum that has been favoring Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders steadily and increasingly in the past year. From leading Sanders by 50 percent just a year ago, Clinton’s lead has now shrunk to a virtual tie as revealed by two major national polls. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Clinton leading Sanders 48-45 percent, while a Quinnipiac University poll reveals Clinton leading 44-42 percent, both gaps within the margin of error. After winning Iowa by just 0.3 percent, Clinton is expected to lose in New Hampshire, if polls are any indication. In the final CNN/WMUR tracking poll, CNN reports that it remains Bernie Sanders’ primary to lose, with the Vermont senator holding a 26-point lead over Hillary Clinton, with 61 percent for Sanders versus 35 percent for Clinton.

While I monitor the exit polls in New Hampshire as of the press time, CNN has projected Sanders as the winner of the primary election in the state and Clinton has reportedly conceded. With potentially record-breaking turnout, enthusiastic voters are eager to make their voices heard in this election. Clinton won in New Hampshire when she ran against Obama in 2008. What should Clinton do to stop Sanders’ momentum? On the Republican side, the latest Quinnipiac University National poll reveals Donald Trump still leads the GOP presidential pack among Republican voters nationwide, with 31 percent. He is followed by Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas with 22 percent and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida with 19 percent. Dr. Ben Carson has 6 percent, with 9 percent undecided and no other candidate above 3 percent. Heading to New Hampshire, Donald Trump continues to lead the Republican race on the eve of the vote with 31 percent, according to the final CNN/WMUR tracking poll. CNN reports that trailing behind Trump, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio earned 17 percent support --

within the margin of sampling error of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz at 14 percent, but significantly ahead of the fourth and fifth place candidates in the poll, Ohio Gov. John Kasich (10 percent) and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (7 percent). Carly Fiorina stands at 5 percent, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at 4 percent and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson at 3 percent. Exit polls revealed that Democratic voters are ?`ccXip :c`ekfe Xe[ ;feXc[ Kildg looking for the candidate who is honest and who Donald Trump continue to lord over the other GOP cares about them, more than electability and ex- candidates moving forward? perience. ABANGAN! Meanwhile, Republican voters want a candidate *** who is not part of the establishment, as more than >\c JXekfj I\cfj `j k_\ XeZ_fi f] K=:Ëj È9Xc`kXe^ 8d\i`ZX%É M`\nj Xe[ half of them say feel betrayed by and are dissatis- fg`e`fej \ogi\jj\[ Yp k_\ Xlk_fi `e k_`j Zfclde Xi\ Xi\ jfc\cp k_fj\ f] fied with how the Republican party has done its k_\ Xlk_fi Xe[ efk f] 8j`Xe AflieXc Xe[ 89J$:9E$K=:% =fi Zfdd\ekj# job over the years. ^f kf nnn%K_\=`c$8dG\ijg\Zk`m\%Zfd# _kkgj1&&nnn%]XZ\Yffb%Zfd&>\c% Will it be 2008 again for Hillary Clinton? Will JXekfj%I\cfj

What is the true picture of poverty in our country? ACCORDING to the National Anti-Poverty Street Commission (NAPC) the incidence of pover- Talk ty in the Philippines in 2014 was 25.8 percent. This includes individuals earning less than P1,755 a month or a GREG B. MACABENTA family of five earning less than P8,778 a month. This begs the question: If only onefourth of our population lives in poverty, does that mean that three-fourths do not? Noted economist and former Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno had something to say about that in a piece he wrote in Business World in March last year, referring to the poverty threshold set for 2012: “The real poverty picture may be worse than what the official statistics suggest. In 2012, the poverty threshold was P18,935 per year, P1,578 per month, or P52.60 per day. That’s the height of absurdity! I challenge public officials to survive on P52.60 per day for even a week.” For those residing in the US, it is not easy to appreciate the relative value of what people earn in the Philippines. Conceivably, because of the much lower cost of living here, what may appear to be meager minimum wage earnings locally can actually buy more goods and services than the minimum wage in the US. It was in this context that I took note of Diokno’s commentary and decided to probe this issue further. What, in fact,

is the true picture of poverty in our country? Our home in Parañaque happens to be right across the creek from a squatters’ area (pardon me, I mean, an informal settlement) called Creek Drive. Thus, I have easy access to the pulse of non-rich folks. I hesitate to refer to them as “poor” because of the government’s definition of poverty. We have known many of the squatters (oops, informal settlers) in Creek Drive for years. Before they called the place by that name, they used our home address for their correspondence. Letters from the province were delivered through us by the post office. My former ad agency driver, Jun, built a shanty and raised a family there. He now makes a living driving his own tricycle. Jun earns from P800 to P1,000 a day from plying his tricycle route. That’s a monthly income of over P20,000, for himself alone, not counting that of his wife who is a grade school teacher and that of his son, also a tricycle driver. In other words, they are well above the poverty threshold, as defined by the economic managers. But recently, Jun developed a lung infection and couldn’t drive his tricycle. Not covered by Philhealth and without any savings to afford medicine, his health deteriorated. Fortunately, being close to the family, we gave him some financial assistance and he managed to

get medical treatment. He is recovering now and could be well on the way to once again being “non-poor” (a term used by government numbers crunchers). But even if Jun and his family manage to stay above the official poverty line, he is painfully aware that they are, in truth, poor and are vulnerable to the ravages of cruel circumstances -- no matter what the economic managers say. Randy, a relative, earns P17,800 a month as a truck driver for a tire company and his wife Kaye makes P11,500 a month as a department store sales girl. They live rent-free in quarters above our garage (the living area is as large as an apartment and more spacious than a condominium studio). Because they don’t have to pay rent and they only have one child, who is in the grades, they are technically almost middle income, based on the classification of the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB). They certainly are well above the government-defined poverty threshold. But don’t tell that to the couple. After the usual deductions from their pay slips and considering the cost of transportation, food and utilities, they have very little left on payday and hardly anything set aside for emergencies. And when their daughter graduates from high school, it will be a struggle sending her to college. Nene does our laundry once a week and also services several homes in the subdivision. For her labors, she earns over P10,000 a month. Based on the government’s definition of poverty,

Nene is not poor. But when her mother fell ill and needed oxygen, she couldn’t afford the cost of one that was mechanized and had to make do with manual pumping. That was not good enough to save her mother’s life. Whatever the economic managers might say, Nene rues the fact that her mother would still be alive, if they were not, in fact, poor. Grace, a niece whom my wife and I are sending to nursing school, gave me interesting findings derived by her class from households in a slum area in San Dionisio, a barangay in Parañaque. The survey was part of their course requirement. Out of 54 families interviewed, 24 earn below the official poverty threshold. The rest technically qualify as non-poor because they earn above P11,000 a month. But try telling them that they are not poor and they will think you are being sarcastic. Frankly, the government statistics are an exercise in denial and delusion. But the people are not being fooled. They know that they are poor. They can see it in the faces of their children whom they cannot afford to send to school. They can feel it in their empty stomachs and in the ailments that they must suffer because they cannot afford health care. Those living in Mindanao and the rural areas know that they are even more impoverished than the government will acknowledge. And they are keenly aware that all the talk about a booming economy does not include them and is mainly benefiting the wealthy few.

With the presidential elections only a few months away, the candidates have begun to woo the electorate in earnest. And, as suitors always do, they are all promising to make life more blissful for the Filipino masses and the future brighter for their children. Three of the candidates have enunciated their main appeals to the voters in relatively clear terms, with the bottom line being a happier, more contented citizenry and a more progressive Philippines. Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas is waving the flag of economic gains through clean governance, expressed as “Tuwid na Daan” (or Straight Path). Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is vowing to create a progressive Philippines by killing criminals and stamping out corruption in government. Vice President Jejomar Binay is focusing on poverty and is promising to solve it by creating jobs and income opportunities for everyone, not just the rich. The two other candidates, Senators Grace Poe and Miriam Defensor-Santiago, are vaguely promising all or most of the above without really underscoring their primary pitch. Which promise will resonate most effectively with the masses? The residents of Creek Drive and San Dionisio have this to say: “Lahat ng pangako nila ay maganda. Pero alin ba ang magiging laman ng sikmura?” Translation: “All the promises are good. But which one can fill our stomach?” (gregmacabenta@hotmail.com)

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Drilon admits Roxas’ standing in surveys a ‘concern’ by MAILA AGER Inquirer.net

SENATE President Franklin Drilon admitted on Wednesday, Feb. 10 that the standing of the administration’s bet, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, in pre-election surveys remained a “concern.” “Does the rating of Mar Roxas, which is not on top, a concern to us? Of course, it’s a concern,” Drilon, vice chairman of the Liberal Party, said during the “Kapihan sa Manila Bay.” “No question about that. But what gives us comfort is that there’s steady improvement in the surveys of Mar Roxas. He’s now tied for number 2 and in the next three months, we’ll be explaining our platforms to our people,” he said. Senator Grace Poe, an independent candidate, emerged as the voters’ top choice for president in the upcoming national elections in May based on the latest survey conducted by Pulse Asia. Vice President Jejomar Binay came in second with 23 percent, followed by Roxas and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte with 20 percent. Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago was fifth with 4 percent. Furthermore, Drilon expressed confidence that Roxas’ numbers would further improve before the

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election day since the administration has the “biggest political machinery” and has the “most credible campaign manager” in the person of President Benigno Aquino III himself. “We are confident, we have the biggest political machinery in the campaign. We’ve the most credible general campaign manager and that is President Benigno Aquino,” he said. Drilon said he could not recall any outgoing president with a high popularity ratings as that as of Aquino. “And therefore, we’re confident that over the next three months, we’d be able to bring the numbers of Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo especially that were standing on the platform of ‘daang-matuwid’ (straight path),” he said.

Asked how Roxas could get out of the President’s shadow, the Senate leader said: “We are campaigning on a platform of continuation, continuation of the daang-matuwid as a platform of governance so that’s precisely we are standing on the platform of continuity in the policies which have brought us benefits that our people are enjoying today…” “So we will not attempt, Mar Roxas will not attempt to have a different platform of continuity. Ang sabi nga nya kung may kulang pa, pupunuan (As he said, if there is a lack of anything, it should be fulfilled).” Drilon then urged the public to vote wisely in May, saying they can choose the leaders who can continue what the Aquino administration has started or go back to the “old ways.” “We have made gains for the past six years. The critics, notwithstanding, I think they can’t deny the fact that we have made tremendous gains,” he said. “The issue, therefore, is that should we choose the leaders who can continue what we have started or do we go back, the danger of going back to our old ways will be there so this is what confronts our country today and I urge our people to choose wisely…”

Pemberton lawyers determined to get acquittal, bail OLONGAPO CITY—The lawyers of convicted US Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton are determined to seek acquittal, a reduction of the sentence or at least a grant of bail. In a 47-page comment submitted by defense lawyers Rowena Garcia-Flores and Filemon Ray Javier, they said the prosecution failed to address the existence of circumstances showing that another person caused the death of Filipino transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude. The defense cited pieces of evidence, among them that Laude was seen clutching a piece of jewelry when he was found dead on the night of Oct. 11, 2014. The jewelry did not belong to either Laude or Pemberton, they pointed out. They said there is another DNA profile found on Laude, which the prosecution failed to account for due to “insufficient amount of generic data.” The prosecution in their comment has argued that there was no evidence of another killer and the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court

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AFP: No threat from MILF...

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Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, chief of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said his unit has not monitored any movement by the MILF after the bypassing of the proposed BBL. “Their (MILF) leadership has given assurance that with or without the BBL, they will pursue peace and that’s a good sign that peace will be sustained,” Pangilinan said. Pangilinan, however, maintained the military is prepared

(RTC) should dismiss the motion his conviction for homicide. of the defense to reverse its Dec. Pemberton will remain in his de1, 2015 verdict. tention cell at the Camp Aguinaldo. Pemberton was found guilty of (Philstar.com) homicide and sentenced to six to 12 years imprisonment. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority The American was turned over 340 North 11th Street, Las Vegas, Nevada 89101 to the custody of the National Phone (702) 922-6060 Penitentiary in a special facility inside the Armed Forces of the Position Title: Announcement No.: Philippines headquarters at Camp Maintenance Mechanic 16-007 Aguinaldo. External posting The defense said Pemberton’s sentence should be reduced in DEPARTMENT: OPENING DATE: the presence of mitigating cirPublic Housing Monday, February 8, 2016 cumstances. They added Pemberton should SALARY RANGE: CLOSING DATE: be granted bail and the amount $43,322 - $69,257 per annum Tuesday, February 16, 2016 of damages to the Laude family should be clarified if the court’s DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES: Under the supervision of the Maintenance Supervisor, this Dec. 1 decision is not changed. position performs a variety of semi-skilled and skilled work in the maintenance and care of The prosecutors, however, said buildings, multi-family, commercial and single family housing units, community facilities, and Pemberton’s application for bail property interconnected to housing portfolio. should be denied because there is no doubt Pemberton killed Laude. HOW TO APPLY: The Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority invites applications for The prosecution also said the Maintenance Mechanic. For position description and application details, visit www.snvrha.org probability of Pemberton jumping or call 702-922-1636. EEO/AA/Disability Employer. bail is high. The Supreme Court has disQUALIFIED APPLICANTS WILL RECEIVE CONSIDERATION BASED UPON MERIT AND POTENTIAL missed with finality the petition of WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE, DISABILITY, VETERAN STATUS, OR GENETICS. the Laude family to transfer PemAFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. berton to a regular jail following

for any eventuality. The MILF has about 10,000 fighters based on military estimates. The proposed BBL, which would have implemented the 2014 peace deal signed by the government and the MILF, was bypassed in Congress despite being a priority bill of the Aquino administration. The measure aims to set up a new Bangsamoro political entity with greater political and economic powers.

President Aquino has ordered the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process to coordinate with all concerned parties so that peace efforts would be sustained after he steps down from office. MILF officials said they remain committed to peace despite the failure to enact the proposed BBL. However, they believe the nonpassage of the measure showed that Filipinos are not yet ready for reconciliation.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority 340 North 11th Street, Las Vegas, Nevada 89101 Phone (702) 922-6060

Position Title:

Housing Choice Voucher Supervisor External Candidates

Announcement No.: 16-009EXT

DEPARTMENT: Housing Programs

OPENING DATE: Monday, February 8, 2016

SALARY RANGE: $51,577 – $82,454 per annum

CLOSING DATE: Tuesday, February 16, 2016

OVERVIEW: Under the general direction of the Housing Programs Director the incumbent will supervise, assign, review and monitor work of staff responsible for providing Section 8 programs to participants and ensure compliance with all related Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations and agency policies. HOW TO APPLY: The Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority invites applications for Housing Choice Voucher Supervisor. For position description and application details, visit www. snvrha.org , or by calling (702) 922-1636 EEO/AA/Disability Employer. QUALIFIED APPLICANTS WILL RECEIVE CONSIDERATION BASED UPON MERIT AND POTENTIAL WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE, DISABILITY, VETERAN STATUS, OR GENETICS. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

We need to show up for Hillary. Hillary Clinton’s track record as a champion for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is unmatched by any other presidential candidate of any party. She has clearly demonstrated her commitment to our issues, concerns, and communities. She has worked hard to create jobs, raise wages, make college more affordable, lower health care costs, and help families save for a secure retirement. We can count on her to keep moving our country forward in the right direction.

CAUCUS FOR HILLARY

ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20TH

Paid for by CAPA21 (CAPA21.com) and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

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For more information, visit NevadaAAPI.com.

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VEGAS&STYLE JOURNAL

Press enter for love: Romance and relationships in the digital age AJPRESS

Illustration by Kendrick Tan

respectively. Other dating sites also existed, but focused on international dating slanting towards the “mail order bride” services. By 1996, Yahoo listed 16 dating websites, including the then popular Friendfinder.com and OneandOnly.com. The movie “You’ve Got Mail” in 1998 starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan brought Internet dating some cultural boost. Though their characters didn’t really meet on a dating site and the movie wasn’t about online dating,

the story showed how the Web can bring people together. With its popularity and growing public acceptance, Match. com and OneandOnly.com were bought by Ticketmaster OnlineCitysearch for an undisclosed sum. Major Internet players like — Yahoo and AOL —upped their game and started to develop their personal/dating section. Others followed suit during the dot-com boom in the late 90s and early 2000s. The dot-com crash in 2001/2002 brought a lot of the frenzy and sites to an end. However, it also changed the online world. For dating sites, the change came more from the launch of social networking sites like Friendster and MySpace in 2002, and Facebook in 2004. The mentality was that the idea of online social networking carried a much smaller stigma than online dating sites, as

Thanks to social media, not only are fans able to live vicariously through celebrities’ lives, they also get to witness their idols as they document their sweet moments. Check out our favorite celebrity couples as they give us glimpses into their relationships. (AJPress)

Bruno Mars & Jessica Caban “Bruno is about to bring it!! Dancing more than ever. He’s been working so incredibly hard for you all!! Baby you’re a STAR” - Jessica on Twitter before Bruno Mars’ performance on the Super Bowl 50 halftime show.

IN time for Valentine’s Day, the Asian Journal asked a few couples how they found their significant others online & how they’ve made the relationships last.

Pat Bolognese and Arleah Baingan-Bolognese Met through: Filipinofinder.com in 2005 Courtship: Chatted on and off for a year, then regularly for another year. Dated for seven years before getting married. Married: April 14, 2014 in Orchard Park, NY Son: Zavi was born on April 3, 2015 in Buffalo, NY

#RelationshipGoals

Photo from Jessica Cabanʼs Twitter account

Connections: Couples who have found love online

First impressions aren’t always important

By MALOU LIWANAG-BLEDSOE

BEFORE the Internet became a household name, dating and courtship went through normal stages. That is, you meet people in person, go on a date and if it worked out, then you go on to a more committed relationship. Today, some still manage to do it the conventional way. However, technology has found a way to bring romance and relationships to many — through their computers. Some still have reservations about the possibility of meeting “the one” through this manner. Of course, this is understandable due to the fact that you shouldn’t believe anything—or anyone—you read and meet online. Love online anyone? Since the explosion of the Internet in the 1990s, it was used immediately for online dating. Even before the Web itself was created, newsgroups, bulletin boards, and forums were somewhat unintentionally used to post personal ads, just like the ones in newspapers. People who were online met with others with similar interests and would go on to meet in person. Chat rooms were offered by Internet service providers and heavily advertised these features. Although technically limited, it spurred a dating culture to many who were just starting to get acquainted with the technology. However, the first major dating website was the combination of Kiss.com and Match.com, both registered by the same person in 1994 and 1995

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Gabrielle Current Photo taken by Kobe Paras on his Instagram account

Kobe Paras & Gabrielle Current “I’m not so good with selfies, but with her in every pic it’s flawless.” - Kobe Paras in January 2016 “What’s sweeter than a cup of hot cocoa? A kiss from a beautiful girl named Gabrielle Current.”

Photo from Jericho Rosalesʼs Instagram account

Jericho Rosales & Kim Jones “Jackpot.” - Jericho Rosales wrote on his photo with wife Kim Jones when they attended the Star Magic Ball last year. “Best wife ever.” - Jericho Rosales, in February 2015 G8>< 9*

it was used by those who are not seeking a partner at all. Still, with the social networking wave, online dating has continued to thrive. According to Online Dating Magazine, nearly 20 million people visit at least one online dating site every month, and 120,000 marriages every year take place due to that. Finally, the public’s perception of online dating is changing and the stigma of finding a partner online has been slowly lifting due to the popularity of social networking. Although the majority of marriages still meet through more traditional means, nearly everyone on the Web has met someone or made a friend online. And in this fast-paced world, people find it a lot harder to make time to meet and date people in person. Why would they, when all one has to do is log on and click?

First time meeting: P: “We first met in 2007. Not much changed the first time we met but the second time was when things really exploded.” A: “He told me he liked me right away. I thought he was a nice guy.” Challenges in their relationship: A: “There were many challenges to this kind of set-up (long distance relationship). Physical togetherness is very different from just seeing each other on-cam. Second, there is an issue of trust. You really don’t know what your partner is doing. He/she can say Pat and Arleah Bolognese with their son, Zavi one thing and do another. you. There are so many people onIt is difficult to verify a person’s line who are just out there to have claims when you are so far from fun and take advantage of those each other and your means of who are gullible enough. Also, it communication is mostly online. is easier to lie when you’re online. I missed going out on ‘real’ dates. It’s important to get to know each I get paranoid at time when he other, take your time and check wasn’t online on our usual chat their background. It’s a personal schedule.” decision. P: “Some of the challenges are “Finding, keeping and staying that things can be misunderstood... happy with ‘the one’ is probably There are also times that outside life’s biggest adventure. If there’s things like traffic or weather, that opportunity to meet and get to affect timing (like if you were sup- know new people, try it and take posed to chat at a certain time but advantage. Give it time. Do your the MRT was late or traffic was research. Trust your instinct. Ask heavy and one was late. I wouldn’t a lot of questions.” know anything about a MRT breakP: “ You can only date online if down and Arleah would not know you are patient and understanding about a traffic problem here so one and accepting that things don’t almay think something is wrong). ways happen as they are planned. Also, not being able to actually go It is difficult but not impossible. I on dates is very difficult.” would tell someone that wants to Advice for those who want to date online that they should talk to try online dating: someone that has when they have A: “Online dating is not for issues. I would never tell someone everyone. I might suggest it to not to. I would tell them to just my friends who are open-minded, take it slow and to be careful. There those who are not afraid to take are many men that just want to chances, because it is a very chal- have fun and many women that lenging set-up. If you are the clingy just want money. If you take it slow, or jealous type, like you want your you will be able to tell if the other boyfriend/partner to report his/her person is serious.” every move, this may not be for G8>< 9)

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Isabelle Daza now engaged to French boyfriend Connections: Couples who have... ACTRESS-host Isabelle Daza is now engaged to her French boyfriend and businessman Adrien Semblat, magazine Hola! Philippines reported. Hola said Daza confirmed the news during an exclusive shoot in Morocco for their February issue. The 27-year-old actress shared the Hola report on her Facebook account with the caption: “I said, YES!â€? She also shared a photo of her and Semblat from the Hola shoot on Instagram, with ring and heart emojis. Daza, the daughter of beauty queen-turned-actress Gloria Diaz, and Semblat, country manager for Adidas, have been together for six years now. (Inquirer.net) Isabelle Daza and ďŹ ance Adrien Semblat

From Page 1

No Expectations

Chris Bledsoe and Malou Liwanag-Bledsoe Met through: Yahoo Messenger in November 2007 Courtship: No actual courtship. Friends on and off for a year. Married: February 5, 2010 in Redwood City, CA First impression about each Spongebob Squarepants and got sandwiches at a local deli. There other: Malou: “It was a little weird. He were no expectations of romance just popped out of my Yahoo Mes- or putting on your best clothes—it senger and said hi. He seemed was just a simple but really nice nice so I chatted with him. We day. Challenges in their relationwere online friends off and on for a year. I wasn’t looking to date ship: C: “After the first date we knew anyone. But my mom thought he looked like a ‘gangster’ (laughs).â€? we wanted to see each other Chris: “I don’t know how I again. I lived on the other side of found her online (or I forgot). She the Bay that time and had crazy seemed nice, she just moved to work hours. Also, both of us were Photo from Isabelle DazaĘźs Instagram account the US and she was still adjust- going through some personal ing to the culture and missed her matters that needed to be dealt friends. I told her to give it some with.â€? M: “We tried to see as much time.â€? as we can and just as he said, First time meeting: M: “The first meeting we there were personal matters in our planned didn’t push through so respective lives that we needed to we set up another one. We re- fix. Another thing was I was avoidto host Boy Abunda on his late fused to call it a date and saw it ing the stigma of having met somenight ABS-CBN talk show that he as a friendly meeting. Just as he one online and how other people and Bea had ended their five-year promised, he hugged me. He was viewed it (I have a friend who does relationship. The actor refused to very sweet.â€? online dating, and tries to ask further details on why they parted C: “She was cute and small. I money from men). Also, I wasn’t ways. thought she was really funny. I sure if I wanted to stay in the US Four days later, Ogie Diaz in a picked her up at her apartment. We after my work visa expires.â€? report on ABS-CBN online said went to the beach, walked around, Advice for those who want to he had a reliable source that con- talked about the Philippines and try online dating: firmed John Lloyd and Angelica’s break up, complete with an actual date on January 16. In no time, netizens began By ALLYSON ESCOBAR tweeting sightings of the onAJPRESS screen couple finally together in Mark & PJ real life, first dining in a Tagaytay Met through : Tinder in 2014 restaurant, and now in Balesin, as collated by www.adobotalk.ph Love is when the person is that the both of them were going on January 30 and February 3, re- your other half, no matter the to leave to the US to launch their spectively. Another blogsite www. distance careers individually. Back home allaboutjuan.info also reported Mark Bautista, 24, and his in the Philippines, they hardly similar posts from social network girlfriend of over a year, Precious saw each other because of PJ’s users. Joy aka. “PJ,â€? 22, met on the social frequent visits to her family in the DZBB radio anchor Arnold dating app Tinder in 2014. The northern province of Isabela. They Clavio joined in the gossip fest as location-based application, which communicated frequently, and he told listeners he was looking connects to Facebook, matched when they did see each other, it a photo of John Lloyd and Bea Mark and PJ up as a pair while the was as if no time had passed. in matching hats at the exclusive two were both working in Manila, Soon, long distance began to resort as sent by his source. where Tinder culture is large and run its course. Mark obtained his Clavio even related the same thriving. After just a few weeks on visa and went to California to consource as saying that while “the Tinder, Mark asked PJ for coffee, tinue his career, while PJ took up girlâ€? was more discreet in giving and the rest was history. The two a temporary position in Colorado, away that she and her leading made it official after just a few working for hotel management, man are indeed an item, the two weeks of dating. before she went back home to celebrities will in fact make an of“My friends would always make Manila for work in December ficial announcement on their status fun of me for using the app [Tin- 2015. Mark remained in Southern very soon. der], but then I showed it to them California with his family. Despite If life has indeed imitated and soon they were using it too,â€? nearly a day’s time difference, the art, then all that is left is to wish Mark, a videographer now based in two have always made it work, these two talented actors the Southern California, laughed. with the help of communication best of luck in making everything When he and PJ began dating, and technology, mutual respect, real—finally. it was apparent from the start and maturity.

THE MUCH-AWAITED REEL-TO-REAL COUPLING

John Lloyd and Bea spotted in Balesin? by TESSA

MAURICIOA-ARRIOLA ManilaTimes.net

FROM blog sites to soccer moms’Viber groups, the supposed sighting of “perfect on screen couple� and noted actors John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo in the exclusive island resort of Balesin has been ablaze since last week, sending fans of the 14-year-old blockbuster movie tandem into sheer excitement. “Finally!� typed a thirty-something mom of three in her allgirls’ Viber group, though sadly adding she felt bad for Angelica Panganiban and Zanjoe Marudo, John Lloyd and Bea’s erstwhile significant others. “But kilig ako for Popoy and Basha!� she typed just as quickly, and obviously with glee. Popoy and Basha are the pair’s iconic roles in the box-office record-breakers “One More Chance� in 2007, and its sequel, “A Second Chance,� which was just released in November 2015. Another mom agreed, and with her very own contribution to the uber showbiz Viber session revealed she saw Angelica in a coffee shop of a posh mall last weekend “not looking too happy� as she drank her coffee and smoked her cigarette all by her lonesome. Given all the excitement—and bits of commiseration—could it be true that the most awaited reelto-real life coupling in Philippine showbiz has finally happened? Let’s take a look back at the

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C: “Again, don’t expect romance right away—or at all. Start with being friends, because it’ll help you know the person on the other side better. It is not for everyone.� M: “I’ve never really dated online, and I don’t know if I would consider ours as one. I keep calling our story as ‘no expectations,’ because that’s how it was, really. Also, be cautious and careful. Chances are, you’ll come across some sleazy person who only wants either money or naked pictures of you. Stalkerish it may seem, try to do some research on the person—that’s what Facebook and Google are for.�

No Boundaries

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events that led to John Lloyd and Bea’s supposed Balesin Island sighting. On January 14, DJ Mo Twister tweeted that a TV reporter disclosed over his podcast Good Times with Mo that John Lloyd and Bea are indeed a item, and that “an overlapping� had taken place in their respective relationships with Angelica and Zanjoe. While all four celebrities kept quiet about the rumour—with the two men very much in the news at the time as John Lloyd went to Congress for a Metro Manila Film Festival Probe, and Zanjoe’s promos for his new teleserye, Tubig at Langis on ABS-CBN—it was only the latter part of the month that admission and confirmations were finally made on the alleged break-ups. On January 20, Zanjoe admitted

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“We’re really private about our relationship, and it’s one of the factors that’s kept us going. No one’s going to bother you. We’ve gotten a lot stronger as a couple, especially after this first year.� The two were also able to see each other last year, sharing their love for travel while visiting the East Coast; Canada, New York, New Jersey, and Washington DC. It was a rare moment for the two to be face to face, in a relationship rooted and sustained in online G8>< 9, Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority 340 North 11th Street Las Vegas, Nevada 89101 Phone (702) 922-6060

INVITATION FOR BID – IFB # B15025 THE SOUTHERN NEVADA REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY, NEVADA, herein called Âł615+$ ´ ZLOO UHFHLYH VHDOHG ELGV IURP TXDOLÂżHG DQG OLFHQVHG &RQWUDFWRUV IRU WKH IROORZLQJ ZRUN Contractor to provide labor, materials and equipment for the comprehensive modernization at Vera Johnson A located at 1200 E. Harris Avenue, Las Vegas, NV. 89101, pursuant to the VSHFLÂżFDWLRQV DQG GUDZLQJV LQFOXGHG LQ WKLV ,QYLWDWLRQ IRU %LG 3DFNDJH Until 10:00 a.m. local time, Wednesday, March 9, 2016, at the Development/Modernization 2IÂżFH RI WKH 6RXWKHUQ 1HYDGD 5HJLRQDO +RXVLQJ $XWKRULW\ ORFDWHG DW 1 WK 6WUHHW Suite 150, Las Vegas, Nevada 89101. At 10:15 a.m. bids will be opened publicly and read DORXG DW WKH VDPH RIÂżFH DW 1 WK 6WUHHW 6XLWH /DV 9HJDV 1HYDGD %LGGLQJ 'RFXPHQWV PD\ EH H[DPLQHG DW WKH IROORZLQJ ORFDO SODQ URRPV &RQVWUXFWLRQ 1RWHERRN ): 'RGJH 6LHUUD 3ODQ 5RRP 5HHG &RQVWUXFWLRQ 'DWD RU DW WKH 'HYHORSPHQW 0RGHUQL]DWLRQ 'HSDUWPHQW RIÂżFHV RI WKH 615+$ %LGGLQJ GRFXPHQWV VSHFLÂżFDWLRQV DQG DQ\ DSSOLFDEOH GUDZLQJV ZLOO EH DYDLODEOH IRU ELGGHUV WR GRZQORDG IURP 615+$ ZHEVLWH ZZZ VQYUKD RUJ FOLFN RQ Âł3URFXUHPHQW´ WKHQ Âł&XUUHQW %LG ,QYLWDWLRQV´ IURP WKH 9HQGRU &HQWHU Âł IROORZ WKH GLUHFWLRQV RU SLFN XS D &' DW QR FKDUJH from the 615+$ÂśV 'HYHORSPHQW 0RGHUQL]DWLRQ 'HSDUWPHQW 1 WK 6WUHHW 6XLWH Las Vegas, Nevada 89101 - (702) 922-6060. NOTE: &RSLHV RI ELG GRFXPHQWV UHFHLYHG IURP VRXUFHV RWKHU WKDQ WKH 615+$ ZLOO FDXVH \RXU ELG WR EH GHHPHG LQYDOLG &RQWUDFWRU LV UHVSRQVLEOH IRU WKH UHSURGXFWLRQ RI ELG SDFNDJH VSHFLÂżFDWLRQV DQG DQ\ DSSOLFDEOH GUDZLQJV DV ZHOO DV WKH FRVWV DVVRFLDWHG ZLWK VDLG UHSURGXFWLRQ :RUN WR EH SHUIRUPHG LV VXEMHFW WR 'DYLV %DFRQ ZDJH UHTXLUHPHQWV IRU DOO FRQWUDFWV ZKHUH WKH FRQVWUXFWLRQ LV HVWLPDWHG WR EH RYHU 7KLV FRQWUDFW LV VXEMHFW WR WKH FRQGLWLRQV XQGHU 6HFWLRQ of the Housing and Urban 'HYHORSPHQW $FW RI DV DPHQGHG 8 6 & X 6HFWLRQ 7KH 615+$ÂśV 6HFWLRQ 3 Plan contains mandatory numerical goals for hiring of residents and low and very low-income persons on all construction contracts, service contracts and professional service contracts that FRQWDLQ D ODERU FRPSRQHQW 7KH 615+$ HQFRXUDJHV :RPHQ 0LQRULW\ DQG 'LVDEOHG 9HWHUDQ 2ZQHG ÂżUPV WR DSSO\ (DFK ELG VXEPLWWHG PXVW EH DFFRPSDQLHG E\ HLWKHU D D FHUWLÂżHG FKHFN RU EDQN GUDIW SD\DEOH WR WKH 6RXWKHUQ 1HYDGD 5HJLRQDO +RXVLQJ $XWKRULW\ 8 6 *RYHUQPHQW %RQGV RU E D VDWLVIDFWRU\ ELG ERQG H[HFXWHG E\ WKH ELGGHU DQG DFFHSWDEOH VXUHWLHV LQ DQ DPRXQW HTXDO WR ÂżYH SHUFHQW RI WKH ELG 7KH VXFFHVVIXO ELGGHU ZLOO EH UHTXLUHG WR IXUQLVK DQG SD\ IRU VDWLVIDFWRU\ SHUIRUPDQFH DQG SD\PHQW ERQGV Award will be made to the responsive and responsible low bidder who submits the low bid that PHHWV DOO UHTXLUHPHQWV RI WKH FRQGLWLRQV DQG )RUP RI %LG *HQHUDO 5HTXLUHPHQWV DQG &RQWUDFW UHTXLUHPHQWV %LGGHU PXVW EH D GXO\ OLFHQVHG FRQWUDFWRU LQ WKH 6WDWH RI 1HYDGD IRU WKH FDWHJRU\ RI ZRUN LQFOXGHG %LGGHU PXVW DOVR EH OLFHQVHG WR GR EXVLQHVV LQ WKH &LW\ DQG &RXQW\ KDYLQJ MXULVGLFWLRQ A Pre-Bid conference is scheduled for Thursday, February 18, 2016 beginning @ 10:00 a.m. at Vera Johnson A Community Center located at 1550 E. Harris Avenue, Las Vegas, NV. 89101. $OO SURVSHFWLYH ELGGHUV VKRXOG DWWHQG 7KH SXUSRVH LV WR FRQVLGHU SURVSHFWLYH ELGGHUV FRQFHUQV 7KH 615+$ UHVHUYHV WKH ULJKW WR UHMHFW DQ\ DQG RU DOO ELGV DW DQ\ WLPH GXULQJ WKH ELG SURFHVV RU ZDLYH DQ\ LQIRUPDOLWLHV LQ WKH ELGGLQJ ,QTXLULHV PD\ EH VXEPLWWHG LQ ZULWLQJ RQO\ WR 6RXWKHUQ 1HYDGD 5HJLRQDO +RXVLQJ $XWKRULW\ 'HY 0RG 'HSW 1 WK 6WUHHW 6XLWH /DV 9HJDV 19 RU YLD IDFVLPLOH DW RU DW WKH 615+$ÂśV 7''

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Tips on finding love on the Internet

BY MONET

Photo from Ronnie BankĘźs Instagram account

Photo from Austin ButlerĘźs Twitter account

Vanessa Hudgens & Austin Butler “Wow. Vanessa singing ‘Worst Things’ had me in tears. Just brilliant #GreaseLive,� - Austin Butler in Jan 2016, after the emotional performance in Fox’s “Grease Live.� “I think you just have to put that other person first. If you’re constantly looking for ways that you can make them happy, and they’re constantly looking for ways that they can make you happy, then you kind of lift each other up as much as possible and you can’t go wrong.� - Austin Butler to ET in August 2015

Jasmine Villegas & Ronnie Banks “You’re my better half.� - Jasmine Villegas on Instagram, December 2015 “You’ve made me so d*mn happy and you really do mean a whole lot to me. I’d be lost without you. I know it took me awhile to finally admit my love for you, but I ain’t ever felt this way about anyone before. I’m happy to be spending the rest of my life with you and I can’t wait to meet our baby girl in February.� - Ronnie Banks on Instagram, December 2015

Photo from Erwan HeussaffĘźs Twitter account

Anne Curtis & Erwan Heussaff “Happy birthday to the most caring and hardest working woman I know. Today you turned 30, a number that freaks out most people, sending them into a frenzy of ‘What have I done with my life?’. In your case you’ve accomplished so much already. You’ve kept a strong head during tough times and have arrived more fulfilled than ever. I can’t wait to conquer more countries with you, eat our way through bizarre cities, wreck ourselves at workouts, binge watch TV series’ and bounce around like idiots at different concerts. Remember you’re just 18 with 12 years of experience under your belt.� -Erwan wrote on Instagram when he greeted Anne on her 30th birthday last year.

Photo from Coleen GarciaĘźs Instagram account

Billy Crawford & Coleen Garcia “Currently en route to #MaCharice Pempengco saiMara. I’m so blessed to be & Alyssa Quijano “The love connection between here with you, @billyjoecrawford us is what’s important. It’s not Thank you for being the perfect about gender.â€? - Alyssa to ABS- travel buddy, as always. Love you! #BillyColeenâ€? - Coleen in CBN in June 2014. “We talk about that a lot. We December 2015 “Thank you, love, for always consider ourselves like a married couple‌the way we treat each making everything ten times other, the way we plan our lives more fun and memorable! I,’ together‌we know that’s where always at my happiest when I’m we’re headed.â€? - Charice in June with you @billyjoecrawford.â€? - Coleen in November 2015 2014. Photo from Alyssa QuijanoĘźs Twitter account

Dingdong, Marian and baby Maria Letizia Photo from Dingdong DantesĘźs Instagram account

Dingdong Dantes & Marian Rivera “Celebrating 10 months of marriage over a sliced banana and some ice cream.� - Dingdong in November 2015 “I couldn’t get enough of my girls.� - Dingdong in August 2015

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I OFTEN hear (and use) the idiomatic phrase, “Wear your heart on your sleeve.â€? It is often thrown at someone who is bent on concealing his or her true feelings. And since we live in a world filled with mysteries and false pretenses, many can relate to the phrase. The phrases’ pervasiveness is so casual, it found its way to the lyrics of different songs by known artists: from Ringo Starr to Eminem to Carrie Underwood. But did you know the story behind this casual expression? It’s been said that in the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names to see who their Valentine would be. To do this, they would wear the name pinned to their sleeve for one week so that everyone would know their supposed true feelings. This etymology made me wonder how uncomplicated it must be like to just go around declaring your search for true love and actually finding it. On second thought, isn’t this the basic principle of internet dating? So it is possible to meet your true love by clicking the right button – rather, profile? The answer to that question was served to me by one of my clients who told me her cyber-love story. I did her hair and makeup and it has been customary for me to know a little bit about my clients. Actually, I didn’t even insist or pry. She was very enthusiastic to tell me how she met her then cyber-prince. She told me how they met on Facebook, fell in love, met personally and got married – now they have a 4-year-old kid. All of that because she happens to be one of those who applied the basic principle of the old days: “to wear your heart on your sleeves.â€? “You have to be very specific with what you want. I was so specific in my description. I said I wanted to be with a Chinese guy, earning an average income and so on‌â€?, my client advised as she recalls the fond memories she had when she decided to start

her (online) search for “forever.� I was kind of skeptic, imagining how vulnerable I’d be if I were to be as open as she claimed but hey, who am I to argue with a happily married woman with an adorable child? But just in case there are others out there who are like me – careful and cautious to a fault – It wouldn’t hurt to pay attention to these advice I gathered from my client, as well as from those I know who have worn their hearts on their sleeves and succeeded in finding true love. Here are 3 tips on finding love on the Internet. 1. BE SPECIFIC Just like what my client told me, you have to know what you want and state it in 250 characters or less. Most relationships end because neither parties know what they want out of the relationship or one of them just aren’t interested in knowing. Suffice to say that all relationships should start with a basic understanding of what you really want. It doesn’t have to be as detailed, not to mention overboard, as knowing how many children you want or the layout of your love nest. But it would be a good start to know what you want in a relationship – and know who or what type of person you want to have that relationship with. 2. BE HONEST Now this deals with what kind of person they expect to have a relationship with. Don’t be afraid to tell something interesting about you like your obsession to peanut butter or your love-hate relationship with your neighbor’s dog (on second thought, you can leave that last part out – animal lovers are adorable). You can be open about yourself without selling yourself

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out. Just remember, it is better to be yourself than to pretend someone you are not. 3. INCLUDE A WELLWRITTEN INTRODUCTION AND A GOOD PICTURE And when I say, “well-written,� I mean grammatically correct. It doesn’t have to be an autobiography. A twitter-like intro would be enough but make sure it is not filled with typos and wrong tenses. When in doubt: google it. The picture has to be recent. I am not one to judge those who love to use filters and photo editing apps but please make sure it’ll still look like YOU, the real ‘I-woke-up-like-this’ You. Tinder, Hinge, Match.com., You name it, these dating apps are everywhere. And while some (like my client) have found their true love via the internet, not everybody end up in the same happy ending. As much as I wish otherwise, some people can be misleading – or worse, psycho killers. So take the necessary precaution. I agree that we should once in a while wear our “hearts� on our sleeves (or post in on the web), but it would save you a ton of heartaches if you proceed with caution. Good luck and Happy Valentine’s Day! !!! Dfe\k Cl `j X DXi`b`eX$Yfie# XnXi[$ n`ee`e^ Z\c\Yi`kp Y\Xlkp jkpc`jk n`k_ _`j fne Z_X`e f] Dfe\k JXcfe jXcfej XZifjj Jflk_\ie :Xc`]fie`X Xe[ CXj M\^Xj# E\mX[X% Lck`dXk\cp# Dfe\k `j befne Xj Xe Xcc$Xifle[ Xik`jk\ n_f gif[lZ\j jfc[$flk ]Xj_`fe Xe[ XnXi[j j_fnj Xj n\cc Xj le]fi^\kkXYc\ dXib\k`e^ ZXdgX`^ej% Dfe\k `j Xcjf k_\ ]fle[\i f] k_\ i\mfclk`feXip Xcc$eXkliXc Y\Xlkp gif[lZkj jlZ_ Xj <ec`^_k\e# pfli jfclk`fe kf [`jZfcfiXk`fe% Kf ZfekXZk Dfe\k# gc\Xj\ m`j`k nnn%dfe\kjXcfe%Zfd fi \dX`c _`d Xk dfe\kjXcfe7Xfc%Zfd

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Inspiring Filipino-Chinese entrepreneurs Kite Runner

PROF. ENRIQUE SORIANO MANY attempts have been made to profile the Asian Entrepreneur. But I found an easier way to spot them—just check their family name. The fact is enterprises and entrepreneurship in the Asian context is usually tied up with kin or family. In the Philippines, the term “Asian entrepreneur” has not been around for long but trading is nothing new. The Chinese and Malay traders have made their presence known throughout Philippine history even before the Spanish came. Their trading continued even in the presence of the Spanish conquistadores. The Spanish officials’ aristocratic lifestyle was completely dependent on the Galleon Trade for hundreds of years. This Galleon Trade brought Chinese silk and porcelains to Europe via Mexico and European luxury goods and Mexican silver via Manila.1 GETTING TO KNOW THE FILIPINO-CHINESE ENTREPRENEURS The Chinese in the Philippines make up only 20 percent of the country’s total population but they are a force to be reckoned with. Most Chinese in the Philippines are business owners and their lives center around the family business that are usually small and medium enterprises. These family businesses play a significant role in the Philippine economy. A handful of these entrepreneurs run large companies and are respected as some of the most prominent business tycoons in the country.

Chinese Filipinos attribute their success in business to frugality and hard work, Confucian values and their traditional Chinese customs and traditions. They are very business-minded and entrepreneurship is highly valued and encouraged among the young. We can trace the roots of the Chinese in the Philippines to either the Fujianese or Cantonese dialect groups of the Han Chinese ethnicity. Most pure-blooded Chinese in the Philippines come from the province of Fujian in China and are called Fujianese or Hoklo. Mixed Chinese people who have either Malay or Spanish (or both) ancestry are called Chinese mestizos. During the Spanish times, they were legally classified as Mestizo de Sangley as printed on their community tax certificates. A number of Chinese mestizos have surnames that reflect their heritage, mostly two or three syllables that have Chinese roots. They use the full name of a Chinese ancestor and provide a Hispanic phonetic spelling. The Chinese mestizos are sometimes called Chinoy or Tsinoy, although this term is more accurate for pure-blooded Chinese-Filipinos. However, the Chinoy is not to be mistaken for chinito, a term used to describe physical characteristics—slanted eyes — rather than describing ethnic origin or cultural orientation. In contrast with the mixed blooded Chinese mestizos, few Chinese Filipinos are plantation owners. This is partly due to the fact that it was only until recently that the Chinese in the Philippines became Filipino citizens. The law prohibited them from owning land. These days, most Chinese Filipinos are urban dwellers. At least 50 percent of them live within Metro Manila, while the rest reside in the major cities of the Philippines such as Cebu, Iloilo and Davao. They can be found everywhere.

THE FAMOUS FILIPINO ENTREPRENEURS ARE MOSTLY CHINESE Eight out of the most famous Filipino entrepreneurs are businessmen whose families emigrated from Mainland China to the Philippines before World War II when the economy was strong. Some sought out regular employment and others set up small businesses. Although each took a different approach, there is one common denominator among them before they became famous Filipino entrepreneurs — unparalleled work ethic. While there are other factors that contribute to their achievements, such as being frugal, a good financial sense, and a strong network of fellow Chinese businessmen for support, the collective image of these famous Filipino entrepreneurs working hard and diligently has stuck in the minds of budding entrepreneurs in the Philippines. Indeed, if one wants to be a successful entrepreneur, there is much to learn from the Chinese Filipino entrepreneurs. In my next article, I will provide an overview of the most famous Filipino entrepreneurs, mostly Chinese with a few mestizos. We have a lot to learn from these icons of the local business scene. (To be continued) ! ! ! Gif]% Jfi`Xef `j Xe 8J<8E =Xd`cp 9lj`e\jj 8[m`jfi# 9ffb 8lk_fi# <o\Zlk`m\ ;`i\Zkfi f] 8J<8E$YXj\[ :fejlck`e^ ^iflg# Nfe^ " 9\iejk\`e 8[m`jfip Xe[ ]fid\i :_X`i f] k_\ DXib\k`e^ :cljk\i f] k_\ 8K<E<F >iX[lXk\ JZ_ffc f] 9lj`e\jj% =i\j_ ]ifd _`j c\Zkli\ Xe[ Yffb cXleZ_ Xk k_\ G_`c :fejlcXk\ >\e\iXc EP Xe[ ?XimXi[# _\ `j jcXk\[ kf [\c`m\i X kXcb `e C8 Xe[ j_Xi\ _`j j\Zfe[ Yffb È<ejli`e^ Pfli =Xd`cp 9lj`e\jj C\^XZpÉ kf X j\c\Zk ^iflg f] =Xd`cp 9lj`e\jj fne\ij fe =\YilXip (' Xe[ ()% =fi k_fj\ `ek\i\jk\[ kf Xkk\e[# gcj \dX`c Gif] Jfi`Xef Xk jfi`XefXj`X7^dX`c%Zfd% Gif] Jfi`XefËj Ylj`e\jj Xik`Zc\j ZXe Xcjf Y\ XZZ\jj\[ Xk nnn%=Xd`eYlj`e\jj%Zfd%

The LINQ Promenade welcomes Chinese New Year with opening ceremony celebrations & cultural performances

LAS VEGAS—Chinese New Year is recognized as the most important Chinese holiday and is known as “Spring Festival” in China, “Tet New Year” in Vietnam and “Seol-lal” in Korea. For the first time, Chinese New Year in the Desert™ is held in multiple locations throughout Las Vegas over a one-week period, including The LINQ Promenade. The fifth annual celebration centers around the Year of the Monkey, which officially began with opening ceremonies on the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 9. The entire LINQ Promenade was adorned with Chinese red lanterns and festive decorations, a tradition that symbolizes prosperity and vitality. The opening ceremony included City Councilman Stavros Anthony, Bruce Bommarito (vice president of international marketing for Caesars Entertainment) and Michael Goldsmith (vice president of international marketing for Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority), who spoke to guests about the importance of sharing in the Chinese New Year traditions and welcoming the many guests who visit Las Vegas during this citywide celebration. Guests also witnessed a traditional Lion Dance performance with an eye painting ceremony, before being treated to a special performance by the Hunan Provincial Song & Dance Troupe. The Chinese New Year festiviLAS VEGAS—The Las Vegas mate Troesh Studio Theater at are scheduled for April 26 and ties continue all week at The LINQ Philharmonic opens its new The Smith Center for the Per- May 3. The new series features Promenade with special nightly Tuesday Spotlight Series on forming Arts. Two additional members of the Las Vegas performances through Friday and Feb. 16 at 7:30pm in the inti- Spotlight Series performances G8>< 9- extended performances on Satur-

Get up close and personal in the Las Vegas Philharmonic’s New Spotlight Three Spotlight Series performances scheduled on February 16, April 26 and May 3, 2016 in Troesh Studio

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day and Sunday. A complete list of details can be found below: The LINQ Promenade Cultural Performances Saturday, Feb. 13 and Sunday, Feb. 14, 1-9pm Throughout the one-week festival, guests will be taken on a journey around the world as they experience performances from various Asian entertainers on The LINQ Promenade Stage. Hunan Provincial Song & Dance Troupe The Chinese Cultural Minister and Chinese Embassy have partnered to bring the Hunan performance group to Las Vegas for this special celebration. A popular theater troupe, the Hunan group performs staged shows and awardwinning acts at events around the world. The group’s specialty ethnic and folk artist performances will undoubtedly wow the crowd daily through Sunday, Feb.14. International Culinary Competitions Enjoy live cooking demonstrations and food art carvings by Caesars Entertainment and Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Las Vegas chefs. One of the marquee events will be an ice sculpting and fruit carving by Le Cordon Bleu on Wednesday, Feb. 10. Various Caesars Entertainment chefs will also perform a noodle pulling and suckling pig demo on Friday, Feb. 12. Dance-4-a-Cause On Saturday, Feb. 13, thousands of local Zumba, Hot Hula Fitness, U-Jam Fitness, and MixxedFit participants will gather for the third

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annual Dance-4-a-Cause event with a live DJ and entertainment, in collaboration with Fighting United. Participants are asked to bring chapter books (Kindergarten12th grade) to benefit Somerset Academy and Spread the Word Nevada. Mass Wedding Ceremony Las Vegas closes out the Lunar New Year celebration with a mass wedding ceremony on Sunday, Feb. 14 at 3pm. Multiple couples will be married or renew their vows near the fountains stage with the ceremony officiated by a classic Elvis imvpersonator. For more information on how to register please email info@fightingunited. com or call (702) 524-8318. “Ben” the WeChat Robot – a Virtual Concierge “Ben” the WeChat Robot is expected to make a daily appearance at The LINQ Promenade – an openair shopping, dining and entertainment district anchored by the world’s tallest observation wheel, the High Roller – where it will greet guests and answer questions about the scheduled Chinese New Year events. Caesars Entertainment will once again showcase “Ben” the WeChat Robot – a virtual concierge – using ObEN’s proprietary speech technology. Year of the Monkey Merchandise Get your own Las Vegas souvenir (including T-shirts, mugs, stuffed animals and keychains) beginning Feb. 1 at the High Roller’s Skyshop, The LINQ Hotel & Casino, Flamingo Las Vegas and Caesars Palace retail stores.

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THE search is on for the next Top Model of the World (TMW) Philippines. Top Model of the World is the largest and most prestigious international model and pageant competition for vibrant young women. It combines fashion, modeling and pageantry as its main components. This 2016, the search is open to qualified candidates from Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, the Philippines and the United States. The event is expected to draw attention and participation from Filipino communities across the globe, particularly from Southern California, Northern California, the US East Coast and US Midwest, the aforementioned countries, Italy and New Zealand. In the US, pageant and fashion veterans Trini Foliente and Cora Soriano of Pageantry Global, Inc. are behind the screening of potential candidates. Foliente, who has been a pageant promoter since the 1980s, said she has witnessed pageants help boost the self-confidence of young women. It’s also a phenomenon Soriano has seen, which is why she said she supports and is fond of pageantry. “The transformation of the personality is what we need for them to succeed because if you are very confident ... you can go anywhere,” Soriano said. As a young girl, Soriano shared she was often told she was beautiful. Frequently hearing that helped her build self-confidence, and it’s something she makes an effort to tell young girls, regardless of their physical appearance. “The compliments help. And that is related to the pageantry because if [they] feel like [they’re] beautiful ... it will help them tremendously in their lives,” Soriano said. Some former pageant candidates Foliente has helped throughout her years in the industry

have gone on to secure careers as actresses in Hollywood, as well as various positions in the medical field. She credits successes like these to the women’s involvement in pageantry, which she said boosts their self-esteem. Coinciding with the search for the next Top Model of the World (TMW) Philippines is the launching of the 2016 Top Model of the World (TMW) Philippines in the greater Melbourne area to be lead by its partner and cooperator, “Face Australia Promotion & Management.” Face Australia is a leading pageant operator in Australasia and the Oceania. The much-awaited national pageant will be a pioneering launch, as most pageant and model searches in the Philippines are done in Metro Manila. It will be the ‘first’ of such a renowned national event to be entirely launched outside the Philippine. The grand coronation of the Top Model of the World (TMW) Philippines will be held on July 9 in Australia. The winner of the competition will represent the Philippines in the forthcoming Top Model of the World 2016 pageant. Requirements for young women to join the TMW pageant is as follows: - Minimum height 5’7” - Must have Filipino lineage - Must be between the ages of 18 and 25 - Must be bubbly with a pleasing personality - Must be single, have never been married and have no children For more information, please contact: USA: Pageantry Global, Inc. Trini Foliente(818)455-2132 Cora Soriano (213)999-1993 tmwusacanada@gmail.com Australia: faceaustralia@gmail.com Canada: ipenevents@gmail.com Philippines: tmwasia@gmail.com

Your Immigration Solution ATTY. ROBERT REEVES ANDA KWONG NANCY E. MILLER FOR some, the path to the American Dream does not go smoothly. One may have been fighting for status for years only to hear the immigration judge order him removed. Is it over? Is there any hope? Adverse decisions can be appealed to the Board of Immigrations Appeals (Board) provided that the noncitizen or her attorney reserved the right to appeal at the end of the proceedings and provided that the Notice of Appeal is timely received by the Board in Falls Church, Virginia. Valid appeals must be based on an assertion that the judge made an incorrect interpretation of the law or misapplied the law to the facts in the case. If the Board upholds the immigration judge’s decision, that decision may be appealed to the US Circuit Court of Appeals. If a Notice of Appeal is not timely filed, the removal order becomes final. It cannot be appealed to the Board and cannot be reviewed by the Court of Appeals. However, if new evidence becomes available, or the law changes, or new relief becomes available, one may file a motion to reopen the proceedings. Here, too, specific time limits apply for when the motion can be filed. One who does not attend his removal proceedings can be ordered removed in his absence (in absentia). One who is ordered removed in absentia becomes ineligible for voluntary departure, cancellation of removal, and adjustment of status for ten years after the date of the Order. At some point, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) may seek to enforce the order by taking the non-citizen into cus-

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Hope after an order of removal tody and physically removing them from the United States. In absentia orders cannot be appealed. However, they can be fought by means of a motion to reopen. This is true whether the alien had notice of the hearing or not. The Notice of Hearing is mailed to the alien’s last known address. If the immigrant did not receive the Notice to Appear that specified the court date, the question is whether the lack of notice is due to the alien’s failure to keep the court advised of the current address. Those in court proceedings are required to notify the court of any change of address within five days of moving. One who fails to do so cannot then claim lack of notice. However, if the court mistakenly sends the notice to the wrong address, lack of notice can be claimed as a valid reason for failure to attend the proceeding. This can result in the revocation of the in absentia order. If one did receive notice of the hearing but failed to attend for exceptional circumstances beyond her control, she may file a motion to reopen within 180 days of the date of the removal order. An exceptional circumstance includes a serious illness to oneself or an immediate relative or the death of an immediate relative, but nothing less compelling. One who did not receive oral warnings of the consequences of failing to appear may file to reopen proceedings. If the case is reopened, the removal order is revoked and the case proceeds on its merits. If the immigration judge denies the motion to reopen, that decision can be appealed to the Board. If that appeal is denied, a stay of the execution of the removal order or deferred action may be sought from ICE. This relief is discretionary and requires a showing of

why the alien is deserving of such consideration. So, in addition to providing proof of the need to remain here, persuasive evidence must be submitted to show that positive factors outweigh negative ones. Length of time in the United States, family ties here and in the home country, hardship to U.S. citizen and permanent resident family members, criminal history, prior immigration violations and other factors are all taken into consideration by ICE when considering the request. If it is granted, the alien may apply for work authorization. Judicial errors of law may also be attacked by means of a motion to reconsider. However, choosing that avenue may result in forfeiting the right to appeal the erroneous decision. The one definite is that ignoring a removal order does not make it go away. It must be dealt with and the sooner the better. The Board and the courts are reluctant to vacate the existing order if the alien has known about the order for a long time and done nothing about it. Therefore, as soon as one receives a removal order or as soon as he learns he has one, he should consult with an experienced and knowledgeable immigration attorney. !!! 8kkp% I\\m\j _Xj i\gi\j\ek\[ Zc`\ekj `e eld\iflj cXe[dXib `dd`^iXk`fe ZXj\j k_Xk _Xm\ j\k e\n gfc`Z`\j i\^Xi[`e^ @EJ XZk`fe Xe[ `dd`^iXekjË i`^_kj% ?`j f]ÔZ\j Xi\ cfZXk\[ `e GXjX[\eX# @im`e\# JXe =iXeZ`jZf# CXj M\^Xj Xe[ DXbXk` :`kp% K\c\g_fe\1 /'' .0,$/''0 <$dX`c1 `dd`^iXk`fe 7ii\\m\j%Zfd N\Yj`k\1 nnn%ii\\m\j%Zfd% !!! K_\ XeXcpj`j Xe[ jl^^\jk`fej f]]\i\[ `e k_`j Zfclde [f efk Zi\Xk\ X cXnp\i$Zc`\ek i\cXk`fej_`g Xe[ Xi\ efk X jlYjk`klk\ ]fi k_\ g\ijfeXc`q\[ i\gi\j\ekXk`fe k_Xk `j \jj\ek`Xc kf \m\ip ZXj\% 8[m\ik`j`e^ Jlggc\d\ek

Connections: Couples who have... From Page 2

digital communication. “We connect mostly through Facebook, Viber, and Skype--we Skype almost every single day, at the same time, while I’m going home and she is on her way to work,” Mark shared. “As a longdistance couple, communication is the thing that will really hold us together.” The couple also sends each other surprise gifts for birthdays and holidays, despite being

oceans apart, and they have many future travel plans in mind, including a grand tour of Asia. “You need to bond by doing things together, and learn from each other. We love to travel; she loves photography, I love video. She teaches me cooking--for example, when she was in Colorado we were on Skype, and she taught me how to cook while on camera. Those are our dates. And we are very similar--she’s the girl version of myself.”

Mark and PJ hope to settle together in the US someday, but for now, they will continue to pursue their careers and work on growing themselves. They continue to communicate every day. “Respect and communication. That’s key. You need to be mature enough to know what’s right and wrong, and to be understanding of one another’s situations,” Mark shared. “Now, after a whole year-I’m proud to say we are making it.”

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Philippine Airlines and PH Dept. of Tourism introduce direct flights from LA to Cebu CELEBRATING 75 years in the skies, Philippine Airlines, in support with the the Philippine Department of Tourism, hosted a roadshow tour in the US, visiting Las Vegas, San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco to promote Philippine tourism and the new, inaugural direct flights for 2016 from Los Angeles to Cebu. Present at the Las Vegas and Los Angeles events on Feb. 1 and 3, respectively, were Philippine delegates from the Department of Tourism and the Philippine Airlines board, as well as Philippine Consul General of Los Angeles Leo Herrera-Lim, and his wife, Fides. “A direct flight from Philippine

Airlines is of tremendous value,” Herrera-Lim said. “Even if you don’t travel directly to Manila, there are over 7,000 islands in the Philippines, plus our neighbors to choose from.” Various travel agencies including CCT.168 Travel and Tours Corporation, Mart Evers Travel & Tours, Jeron Travel and Tours Corporation, Rajah Tours Philippines, Inc., Travel Experts, Inc., Southwind Travel & Tours, Travelite Travel and Tours Co., and Sun Travel & Tours Corp. also came to present tour and travel packages at special rates, in promotion with Philippine Airlines’ inaugural flights.

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It’s more fun in the Philippines -- Whether it’s surfing in Siargao, island hopping in Palawan and exploring the Underground River, lounging in Boracay, or diving with tropical fish in Batangas, the Philippines have a lot to offer. The Department of Tourism also previewed some of its new clips and commercials showcasing different cultural aspects and well-known sites of the Philippines (including Bohol, Davao, Cebu, Siquijor, Negros Oriental, Boracay, and Palawan, to name a few), and a music video featuring Filipino artist Apl.de.Ap. “This year, we promise a much more exciting Philippines campaign--Visit the Philippines Again. Find any excuse to come back,” said Richmond Jimenez, the Tourism Director of Los Angeles. Beginning in March 15, direct flights from LAX to the Cebu International Airport will be offered at very special rates from Philippine Airlines. The non-stop, direct inaugural flight from Los Angeles to the Mactan-Cebu International Airport will fly three times weekly, on Tuesdays/Thursdays/Saturdays, for as low as $713 US dollars round-trip. The special rate includes all fares, taxes, and fuels, as well as two free baggage allowance, from now until March 15, when flights will start up. Other exclusive Philippine Airline perks include Mabuhay Miles, access to international business-class lounges, and the Mabuhay Lounge at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Why Cebu? -- As a resort and heritage destination, Cebu offers both history and natural beauty. “Cebu is the oldest city in the Philippines, and it is a central island location,” said Philippine Dept. of Tourism Cebu Regional Director, Rowena Montecillo. “The Mactan Cebu Airport was voted the 2nd busiest airport in the Philippines, and one of the top in Asia.The island province offers many treasures, from tropical

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beach destinations to world class resorts.” As the official airlines of the Philippines, PAL offers a number of domestic flight connections from centrally-located Cebu City. “We fly to 30 destinations, including Boracay, Cagayan de Oro, Tacloban, Davao, and 41 international destinations, from London to Singapore to Auckland,” said PAL Los Angeles Area Manager, Marie Jemma Saranillo, in a presentation. The Dept. of Tourism incentives for travelers include a welcome lei reception, banners, and sinulog performers upon arrival in Cebu.” “We’re very lucky to have Philippine Airlines as our partner this time, as they are launching their inaugural flight from LA to Cebu. We’re very happy that people can come directly from the US, and it is a huge boost to the tourism in Cebu. Our international airport is new and improved, managed by private sectors. We have different travel agencies here promoting the many beautiful things Cebu-and the entire Philippines--has to offer,” said Montecillo. The Philippine government is also working with the Dept. of Tourism to improve infrastructure, from relationships with transportation agencies to city roads. “Everything is being laid out by this administration. We would not be here without the support and funding of the Philippine government,” Montecillo said. “’It’s more fun in the Philippines’ is really about the Filipino people, who are known for our hospitality. We want the mainstream USA to come here and explore this beautiful culture that we call home. For the younger generations, we encourage you to see the culture and history of where you came from, meet and reconnect ;\c\^Xk\j ]ifd k_\ G? ;\gk% f] Kfli`jd Xe[ G_`c`gg`e\ 8`ic`e\j YfXi[ d\dY\ij% with family, and of course, the adventure,” said Montecillo. “It is now the right time to visit. We are ready for you now.”

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More than 500 soccer teams from around the world to participate in Las Vegas Mayor’s Cup International Soccer Showcase Special memorial on planned Feb. 13-15 to honor victims of Paris terrorist attacks

THE Las Vegas Mayor’s Cup International Showcase is back for the ninth year as the largest international youth soccer tournament in the country during Presidents’ Day weekend, Feb. 13-15. The annual showcase expects 547 youth soccer teams, ages to 12-19, from 18 foreign countries and 28 US states to compete on 58 Las Vegas valley fields. The event is co-hosted by the city of Las Vegas and the Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club, and is expected to bring about $20 million into the local economy, according to Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club President Roger Tabor. The showcase is expecting about 400 college soccer coaches and recruiters from across the country to scout the young athletes. Spectator admission and parking are free at all games. Parking is limited; carpooling and public transportation is recommended. Spectators are encouraged to bring their own seating. “Each year we see young players come together from all

over the world to play the game they love,” said Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman. “It’s even better that they can be seen by recruiters, meet with college coaches, make new friends, boost our economy, enjoy our fabulous weather and bring world-class soccer to our children. It’s a funfilled time for everyone and I’m glad that our wonderful city can be the host for such an extraordinary event.” A special memorial is planned Saturday morning Feb. 13, at 8:55 a.m. at Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex, Field 2, to honor the victims of the Nov. 13, 2015, terrorist attacks in Paris. Family members of Nohemi Gonzalez, the sole US citizen who died in the attack, as well as French citizens will be in attendance. Matches will be played from 8am on artificial turf fields, and 10am on grass fields, to 10pm Saturday and Sunday. Teams are guaranteed four games. Championship games will be played on Monday at Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex, 7353 Eugene Ave., starting at

11:30am. Medals and trophies will be presented to winning teams following each championship game, expected to be 1pm to 4pm. Event partners include Generation Adidas International, Las Vegas Events, Chapman Dodge, Rotary International, the Nevada Commission on Economic Development, Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club and the city of Las Vegas. The champions of the U-16 boys Generation Division will win training with Real Madrid C.F., paid for by Generation Adidas International. For more information on this prize, go online tohttp://generationadidasinternational.com/ or email info@generationadidasinternational.com. For information on accepted teams, player profiles, college coaches expected to attend, tournament schedules and program, participating hotels and more, go online to www. LVMayorsCup.com or call 702258-0279. Updated information and results will be posted there as they are finalized.

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Philharmonic performing classical works composed for small ensembles narrated by Music Director Donato Cabrera. The first performance on Tu e s d a y, Fe b . 1 6 i s t i t l e d Brahms: First & Foremost featuring three beautiful works by Johannes Brahms including the Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Major, the Piano Trio No. 1 in B Major and the Piano Quartet No. 1 in G Minor. The program will be performed by three of the Las Vegas Philharmonic’s principal strings players, including concertmaster De Ann Letourneau, principal violist Jason Bonham, principal cellist Andrew Smith and guest pianist Sandra Rivers. The second Spotlight Series performance on April 26 includes Mozart’s Quintet in E-

flat Major for Piano and Winds, Poulenc’s Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano and Beethoven’s Quintet in E-flat for Piano and Winds. The musicians performing these piano and winds masterpieces include principal oboist Stephen Caplan, principal clarinetist Cory Tiffin, principal horn Bill Bernatis, principal bassoonist Janis McKay and guest pianist Mykola Suk. The final performance in the series, Baroque Splendour, on May 3 showcases gems of the Baroque period including works by Bach and Vivaldi. Concertmaster De Ann Letourneau and principal cellist Andrew Smith return for the final performance and are joined by our principal flutist Alexander Viazovtsev and principal pianist Voltaire Versoza who will play harpsichord in this Baroque performance.

“The Las Vegas Philharmonic musicians are so excited about this new “Spotlight Series” because it gives us yet another opportunity to share a unique side of these great composers in a smaller and more intimate setting,” said concertmaster De Ann Letourneau. “For the listener, it’s a fun, up close and personal interaction with the composer and players. It’s like your own private home concert with your close friends! When you see our Spotlight Series for the first time, you will want more. We are thrilled to begin this new series and present the joy of creating music, right next to you!” Ticket Prices The Spotlight Series can be purchased as a three-concert package for $168 through The Smith Center Box Office, phone 702.749.2000 or online at lvphil.org.

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Community gives big to families at Ronald Health@Heart McDonald House Charities of Greater Las Vegas LAS VEGAS—The Las Vegas community came together in a big way on Saturday, Feb. 6 for the 15 Annual Food Drive for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Las Vegas. Residents donated more than 16,500 lbs. of food and supplies valued at over $28,000 at local Smith’s Food and Drug Stores. Raffle tickets for a 40” Samsung TV and Wall Mount were sold. Raffle ticket sales, donations and gift cards totaled over $12,000. More than 250 volunteers helped with the Food Drive, from greeting shoppers and handing out Wish Lists to collecting donations, sorting, organizing and putting donations on shelves and in cabinets. Highlights from the day include: • Ronald McDonald visiting Smith’s at Maryland Parkway and Silverado Ranch, where he accepted a $1000 check from Smith’s Food and Drug Stores, on behalf of the Ronald McDonald House Charities. He also lent a hand at the RMHC House sorting

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA THANKFULLY, spring is almost upon us in a few weeks and the earth beckons. The gardener at heart tunes out all dire predictions of doom and gloom, This year will be an unsettling year. There is a national election in November and there will be so much uncertainty in the air. There exists the specter of a protracted war with radical Muslim terrorists gunning for world domination with their visions of a caliphate, looming menacingly in the horizon. The realist in us thinks there is reason to be anxious. But the true gardener at heart remains unfazed. Cool, calm and collected, he chooses to live in that rare state of grace called equanimity. It must come from the zen-like peace one gets when one gardens, even if it is simply tending a single potted plant on an office desk. Doing what must be done in the garden is his small way of keeping the delicate balance of nature in his own sphere of influence. In many ways, gardening is like praying. It keeps fears and anxieties at bay and keeps one centered in the belief that all things in the cosmos work together for good. I was and still am a reluctant gardener. I was thrust into it by circumstances since I have a thing about not wanting anything dying on my shift. I had to seek books and advice despite the frenetic schedule of a workaday world as I multitasked my way through the day. Nothing I did seemed right at the time. I tended to over water not knowing about the dangers of root rot. My track record at growing things was dismal, yet I have often wondered what it would be like to watch something grow. I marveled at my mother’s green thumb. She can stick a seemingly lifeless stump at a clump of earth and grow a new beautiful plant nearly every time. I wasn’t one to give up easily though. Tenaciously, doggedly I hung on to an image of me as a confident gardener. My education on the art and science of growing things had begun. I took baby steps and stumbled countless times. I still do. I became quieter within as I began to observe and seek to understand the process of growth, the seasons and the cycle of life. I read voraciously volumes upon volumes about plants and watched public television that featured gardening. Nurseries and gardens have become my favorite haunts where I could ask

PHILIP S. CHUA, MD, FACS, FPCS

food and unloading trucks. • A family from Germany who had previously stayed with us donated $500 to help with the Food Drive. • The Las Vegas 4H Roadrunners and Tumbleweeds Club had at least 50 volunteers at RMHC House unpacking and sorting the delivered food donations. • Our overflow food went to two wonderf u l o rg a n i zations who volunteered all day at our event as well: Vegas Youth Ambassadors, whose teenage volunteers operate their own community food pantry and help other at-risk teens and their families t h ro u g h o u t the year…. as well as the Ninth Island Aunties, who cook dinner at the House all year round,

and work at several at-risk high schools here in the valley to make sure students and their families still have food on the weekends when they cannot access the free/reduced lunch program. • The Nevada Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee presented a check for $500. The National Farm Bureau has supported Ronald McDonald House Charities for more than a decade. The food, supplies and cash donations through this Annual Food Drive help provide for the families who stay at Ronald McDonald House all year. The Ronald McDonald House of Greater Las Vegas provides a “home away from home” for families who must travel to Las Vegas to receive critical medical treatment for their children. These families face great hardship while their children undergo hospitalization or out-patient care for serious illness or trauma, and the Ronald McDonald House offers a place of comfort and support while they’re away from home. Support from the food drive helps families by insuring they have food readily available without additional expense, as well as laundry detergent and other items. With their basic needs met, families are able to focus on what matters most – the recovery of their children.

Tweaking the lessons learned from the garden “My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece.”

—Claude Monet, speaking of his garden at Giverny

those who knew better. I boned up on my rusty, halting Spanish quizzing the gardener as best I could. Finally, I slammed on the brakes fearing I had become boringly, compulsively obsessive. But I found that unless I got down on the ground myself, nothing happened. I have discovered gardening to be a quiet, solitary pursuit somewhat fit for hermits and loners — unglamorous, unexciting, backbreaking, time consuming, manual, icky, down in the dirt labor that was certainly not meant for immediate gratification. So, why do it at all? I don’t really know. Must be borderline idiocy. Of course, I speak only for myself. For one thing, it teaches you the patience of Job and the virtue of humility. I have failed more than succeeded and am still working on it. But as time passed, I have been encouraged by modest results. I became synchronized with the seasons and their gentle nuances. I took baby steps and was off and running at one point I could call most plants by name these days and seem to instinctively know what to do when a problem arises. If things don’t work on my own accord, I seek help. I still am a failure with azaleas. Azaleas have been dying on my shift so I am staying away from them. I suspect it has something to do with the amount of light and too much water that has drenched the soil because of an unusually wetter, longer winter season. I said goodbye too to a beautiful sago palm that must have suffered root rot. Farewell too to a French lavender bush that gave me so much fragrance. The garden gets a lot of shade being in a Northwest orientation so I am quite alright with the fact that I will never have roses which I would love to have but can’t. Believe me, I tried. So I just admire them in my neighbors’ gardens with a southeast orientation. My journey to self-discovery has been made easier by understanding the process of nature, the seasons and the nature of things: of why a seed no matter how good cannot grow in a certain type of soil; or how a young tree cannot grow in the shadow of a mighty oak; or of how much light a plant needs to burst with flowers, of the impeccable timing

and the cycle of the seasons that are in God’s perfect divine order like a well rehearsed dance or a Beethoven symphony; of why you must resist moving a plant from a place where it is growing so well to another place simply to satisfy a whim or a feng shui decorating principle; when and where to prune, of knowing when to water by sticking a finger in the soil or noting the droop of the leaves; or the merits of clay pots and plastic pots; of when to re-pot or top dress; even how to propagate. The most important lesson perhaps is learning when to leave well enough alone and letting go; of accepting death as part of life. I make it a point to take pictures when the flowers are in full bloom, knowing that no matter how pretty they are, their beauty is fleeting. I am left with images and memories. The irony of it all is that the more I know, the more I realize how little I know. I guess that is the paradox of all lifelong learning. I now appreciate more clearly the delicate balance on which our planet depends for it to sustain life — of how vastly critical it is for everyone to do their part to ensure that life continues, specially that of human life. But do reject the rabid, unhinged proponents of climate change whose real agenda is a political and economic windfall for its billionaire backers. It is sheer hubris and madness to pretend to usurp the laws of nature to push an agenda. One can see life’s longing for itself in the perennial grass that grows. There is great wisdom in gardening. If you dig in the garden long enough, you will find an infinite variety of the parallel laws that govern all life with unsurpassed clarity. Gardening, if you stick with it long enough, is a metaphor for human life itself. Gardening has taught me a zen-like passive skill of enjoying quiet solitude, of observing what works and what won’t, of doing what needs to get done with very little struggle and ultimately, of accepting and of simply letting go when all I have done is all I can do. *** EfkX 9\e\1 Dfe\kk\ 8[\mX DX^cXpX `j JMG f] 8j`Xe AflieXc GlYc`ZXk`fej# @eZ% Kf j\e[ Zfdd\ekj# \$dX`c dfe\kk\%dX^cXpX7 Xj`XeaflieXc`eZ%Zfd

WHY DO WE AGE? Just like machines and engines, our bodies age because of the cumulative damages to our cells, tissues and organs (resulting from daily “wear and tear” and the selfabuse humans are well known for) that exceed our bodies’ ability to repair them. These damages lead to obvious signs of aging: sagging, bulges, wrinkles, gray hair, loss of muscle, bone and nerve integrity, impairment of hearing and vision, the incompetence of various sphincters (bladder and anal), lowered immunity and resistance, and increased susceptibility to diseases and infections. The arteries all over the body undergo severe arteriosclerosis (hardening), which leads to circulatory deficits in various organs (brain, heart, glands, legs, etc) causing a stroke, heart attack, reduced libido and other hormonal deficits. CAN WE DELAY OR REVERSE THE AGING PROCESS? There have been so many claims made, especially by unscrupulous manufacturers and distributors of “food supplements,” that their products can delay or reverse aging, make people 5, 10 or more years younger. Unfortunately, although we are all looking for that “fountain of youth,” the potion or lotion (or, in whatsoever form), medical science still has nothing to offer us in this department. Fifty-one top scientists in the world recently refuted claims of this “miracle treatment” ad advertised all over the globe and warned the public against this fraud. All the infomercials currently flooding the market and media are aimed at deceiving the unsuspecting public for a fast buck. Aging is like a natural ticking clock -- nothing can delay it and only death can stop it. But there are measures we can take to delay or minimize the effects of aging. My book, “Let’s Stop ‘Killing’ Our Children” (which can be viewed at www.philipSchua. com), discusses the practical tips and pointers in our hands on how to minimize those adverse effects and make us feel and look much younger -- 10 to 20 years younger than our chronological age. The strategy I advocate in my book, which is drug-free, safer

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Can we delay aging? and healthier, with no added expense, will also reduce your risk of diabetes, heart attack, stroke, cancer, and Alzheimer’s too. WHAT IS THE DANGER OF TRYING SOME “ANTI-AGING” DRUGS? Some of these drugs have adverse side effects that could lead to illnesses. Some may not have bad effects but are simply worthless, useless and ineffective in what they are purported to do. Taking them is like taking an empty capsule or a capsule filled with water from the faucet. And they are invariably very expensive. So, if you wish to give away your hard-earned money, it is best to stay away from these fraudulent vendors of deception. Instead, you can donate that money to your favorite charitable organization to aid our underprivileged fellowmen. This will definitely give you genuine joy and sense of fulfillment and inner peace, which could make you feel great and younger, without being deceived and cheated. HOW ABOUT HERBAL ANTIAGING MEDICATIONS? The same is true with herbs and “natural products” being marketed out there as anti-aging agents. They are worthless. The multi-billion dollar “anti-aging miracle” industry is so effective in their marketing schemes that gullible people all over the globe are duped into buying their products, only for the defenseless victims to realize a bit too late that have simply wasted their money. I would like to underscore the fact that to date, there is absolutely nothing, that will slow down or reverse the aging process. Simply modifying your lifestyle to a healthier one, which will not entail added expenses (and in many instances even save you money), can make you look and feel younger, safely and wisely. WHAT ABOUT GROWTH HORMONES? The levels of growth hormones (HGH), like other hormones naturally produced by our body, drop with age. Infomercials mislead the uninformed public into thinking that ingestion of the commercially available HGH will “normalize” the levels, slow down or reverse aging, and restore vigor, sex drive, muscle tone, and a youthful appearance. This is not so. Taking HGH may make someone feel better, but it is downright dangerous. Anyone who claims they can reverse the aging process is lying,

according to S. Jay Olshansky of the University of Chicago. CAN THESE DRUGS CAUSE CANCER? “Youth-enhancing” hormones, like DHEA, estrogen and testosterone, which are massively promoted as a miracle cure that will reverse aging and make people years younger, have been found to raise the risk of cancer of the breast and prostate. WHEN ARE GROWTH HORMONES USED? Growth hormones are medically prescribed as a part of the treatment regimen for some growth disorders in children, but some use them to reduce body fat and improve muscle tone. These hormones can “stimulate” the growth of tumors in the body. Additional bad side effects include excess bone growth, kidney problems, diabetes, carpal tunnel syndrome, lung and heart failure, and possibly premature death. DO ANTIOXIDANTS HAVE AN ANTI-AGING EFFECT? Unfortunately, they do not. Antioxidants, like Vitamin C, E, and A (beta carotene), are widely advertised to reverse aging and prolong life to 120 years. Scientists are astounded and angry about the claims made by marketers of “food supplement” products because they are unfounded and medically baseless. However, scientists the world over recognize that anti-oxidant rich foods such as fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of illnesses like heart disease, cataracts and macular degeneration, and cancer. Megadoses of vitamin E and selenium can cause bleeding that could be fatal, and that of beta-carotene may increase the risk of cancer. Beware: some food supplements on the market may have serious, sometimes even lifethreatening, side effects. Our good health is life itself. Let us protect, cherish, and enjoy all the potential that optimal health would allow us to achieve with greater longevity. *** G_`c`g J% :_lX# D;# =8:J# =G:J# :Xi[`XZ Jli^\fe <d\i`klj `e Efik_n\jk @e[`XeX Xe[ Z_X`idXe f] ZXi[`XZ jli^\ip ]ifd (00. kf )'(' Xk :\Yl ;fZkfij Le`m\ij`kp ?fjg`kXc# n_\i\ _\ _fc[j k_\ k`kc\ f] G_pj`Z`Xe <d\i`klj `e Jli^\ip# `j YXj\[ `e CXj M\^Xj# E\mX[X% ?\ `j X =\ccfn f] k_\ 8d\i`ZXe :fcc\^\ f] Jli^\fej# k_\ G_`c`gg`e\ :fcc\^\ f] Jli^\fej# Xe[ k_\ ;\ekfe 8% :ffc\p :Xi[`fmXjZlcXi Jli^`ZXc JfZ`\kp% ?\ `j k_\ Z_X`idXe f] k_\ =`c`g`ef Le`k\[ E\knfib Æ LJ8# X ,'( Z * _ldXe`kXi`Xe ]fle[Xk`fe `e k_\ Le`k\[ JkXk\j% <dX`c1 jZXcg\cg\e7 ^dX`c%Zfd

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