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Vol. 4. No. 27

LOS ANGELES

A Balita Media Publication

Wednesday - Tuesday, April 1 - 7, 2015

Pacquiao is now top taxpayer in PHL MANILA, Mar 28 (Mabuhay) – Boxing champ Manny Pacquio emerged as the top taxpayer in the country, according to a list released by the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

The BIR’s list of top individual taxpayers for 2013 was based only on regular income tax payments made as of November 24, 2014.

Pacquiao, who is battling a tax case filed by the BIR, paid P163.84 million in regular income taxes in 2013. The tax evasion case against Pacquiao stemmed from his P2.2-billion tax liability based on an assessment by the BIR. In second place was Juanito Pornuevo Alcantara, whose business has yet to be ascertained, who paid P99.61 million in income taxes.

Top lawyer Estelito Mendoza was in third place with P73.18 million.

A certain Reynaldo Benoza

Chico, Jr. was in fourth place with P67.34 million.

Megaworld Corp. founder and chairman Andrew Tan ranked fifth on the list with income tax payment of P67.18 million. Tan, fourth richest man in the Philippines, is the top businessman taxpayer on the list.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. president Lorenzo Tan was sixth on the list with income tax payment of P60.89 million, followed by Palawan Governor Jose Alvarez with P55.62 million.

Ranked 8th, Mercury Drug president Vivian Que Azcona was the top individual taxpayer for 2012. She paid P51.61 million in income tax.

Ninth on the list is Meralco president Oscar Reyes with P51.44 million. Rounding out the top 10 is Insular Life chairman and CEO Vicente Ayllon with P50.08 million.

See PACQUIAO, page 2 A list of top individual tax-payers for 2013, posted on the Bureau of Internal Revenue website, put Manny Pacquiao at number one with $3.72 million in taxes paid. Pacquiao, who also just bought the former house of Jennifer Lopez, will face Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2 at MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas. Photo: Benny Uy

Pacquiao’s Holy Week message: Forgiveness

By Jannelle So

While blessed with adoring fans and supporters who love and respect him, Philippine boxing champion and congressman Manny Pacquiao also has his share of haters who want to see him defeated, especially in his upcoming match against Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 2, 2015.

What’s probably worse is that

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (right) sprinkles holy water to devotees waving palm fronds after the Palm Sunday mass at the Manila Cathedral in Manila. Millions of Filipino Catholics trooped to churches nationwide to observe the beginning of the Holy Week. (MNS photo)

Divorce law won’t pass this Congress: lawmaker MANILA, Mar 27 (Mabuhay) – A party-list lawmaker pushing for the passage of a divorce bill in the House of Representatives is under no illusions that it will be passed in the 16th Congress.

Gabriela Rep. Luz Ilagan said House Bill 4408 remains pending in the committee on the revision of laws.

“Mukhang hindi ito mapapasa ngayon. The chairperson of the committee is not putting it on the agenda. I have been lobbying to put it on the agenda so we can discuss it. We have no illusions

that it will pass this Congress,” she said.

Ilagan said there is a real need to legalize divorce in the Philippines as shown by the results of a recent Social Weather Stations survey.

The December 2014 survey showed 60% of Filipinos are in favor of granting divorce to married couples who are legally separated and cannot reconcile anymore.

This is up from a “plurality” of 50% in March 2011 and a split 4344% in May 2005.

See DIVORCE LAW, page 2

Zawiyah, Libya, AFP, Monday 3/30/2015 – A Filipino oil worker has been killed and five others wounded in a rocket attack on a coastal town west of the Libya capital, a Libyan security source said on Monday.

Three other Filipino oil workers were wounded in Sunday’s attack on Zawiya, 40 kilometres (25 miles) west of Tripoli, the source said.

The four Filipinos were riding in a car when the attack took place, the source said, adding that a Sudanese man and a Libyan man who were driving separate cars were also wounded.

The foreign ministry spokesman in Manila confirmed the death of one of its citizens.

Manila, Philippines, AFP, Sunday 3/29/2015 – The Philippines’ struggling flag carrier said Sunday it has purchased an additional two Airbus jets as part of its refleeting program.

The two Airbus A321 NEO planes bring to 40 the total number of deliveries that Philippine Airlines will receive from Airbus up to 2024, the carrier said in a statement.

“The A321 NEOs will enable PAL to continue to grow its cur-

DOJ OKs tax raps vs Janet Napoles, husband Jaime

rent single-aisle fleet and spread out its aircraft delivery stream in line with market growth,” according to the statement.

The jets will be used for domestic routes, company spokeswoman Cielo Villauna told AFP. Before the purchase of the two jets was announced on Sunday, the company said it was expecting 10 deliveries this year.

Asia’s oldest airline posted a “small profit” last year after bil-

MANILA, Mar 30 (Mabuhay) – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has recommended the filing of P61-million tax evasion charges against alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles and her husband Jaime.

According to National Prosecution Service chief Prosecutor General Claro Arellano, the case will be filed with the Court of Tax Appeals in Quezon City.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) against the couple in September 2013, charging Mrs. Napoles of having a tax liability of P44.68 million, and her husband of P16.43 million.

See AIRBUS, page 2

See NAPOLES, page 2

Philippine Airlines purchases two more Airbus jets

and conditioning coach for many years before he parted ways with Trainer of the Year Freddie Roach. He has reunited with the Pacquiao camp since 2013, for the Brandon Rios fight.

During his absence, his position as strength and conditioning coach of the 8-division world champion was taken over by Alex Ariza. The first year was great.

See FORGIVENESS, page 2

Filipino killed, five wounded in Libya attack: security source

See FILIPINO, page 2

Philippine Airlines Flight 127 preparing to depart from Terminal One of the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. (Philippine Embassy Photo by Emil Fernandez)

some of these antagonists keen on bringing him down are people he used to count as friends.

“People are people, I guess. In Australia we call it the tall poppy syndrome. People want to see you get to the top and when you do, they want to see you go down.

What is it? Jealousy,” said Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune who was the Filipino boxing hero’s strength

President Benigno S. Aquino III signs the Book of Condolences for the late former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore at the Multi-Purpose Hall of the Embassy of the Republic of Singapore in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City on Friday (March 27). (MNS photo)

Group to form legal team for filing of charges vs. Aquino, Purisima, Napeñas MANILA, Mar 27 (Mabuhay) – The Volunteer Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) will form a legal team that will build up the possible criminal cases to be filed against President Benigno Aquino III in relation to his alleged involvement in the Mamasapano incident.

In a press statement issued on

Friday, VACC founding chairman and president Dante Jimenez said he already ordered the creation of the legal team which will be composed of criminal lawyers “tested in various courts” to study the possibility of filing criminal charges against Aquino, as well as against resigned Philippine National PoSee CASE VS AQUINO, page 2

Mayor Binay reminds police of duty to enforce the law, not break it MAKATI CITY, Mar 30 (Mabuhay) – Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay on Monday decried what he described as the apparent “misuse” of the Philippine National Police (PNP) force in the implementation of “selective suspension” of government officials not allied with the ruling party.

Speaking before thousands of supporters during the Monday flag raising ceremony at City Hall, Mayor Binay said he felt sympathy toward PNP personnel who often got caught in the middle of political conflicts, and called for an end to dirty political tactics.

“Every time I see members of the PNP posted around City Hall, I could not help but feel pity for them. They are merely obeying orders from their superiors, but they are in fact being used to break the law instead of enforcing it,” Binay said.

The mayor also thanked the 33 barangay chairmen and thousands of residents, the city councilors, department heads, and city hall employees, for solidly standing by him since the standoff startSee MAYOR BINAY, page 2

1-877-35-NOPAY 818-334-5445 818-552-4500 (1-877-356-6729)

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DIVORCE LAW

FORGIVENESS

From page 1

From page 1

But things started to change, according to team Pacquiao observers. The fall out, especially between Ariza and Roach, was irreparable; especially after it ended with Ariza kicking the Parkinson’s-disease-embattled Roach, during a confrontation in Macau, China.

Now with the Mayweather camp, Ariza has reportedly called Angel “Memo” Heredia to ask for tips on how to improve the power punch of the undefeated American boxing star.

While trying to move past his drug-tainted past, Heredia helped train Juan Manuel Marquez who eventually KO’d Pacquiao in their fourth match.

“Sinong Memo?

Tinawagan?,” Pacquiao’s stunned reply when he first heard the news.

“Maghanap sila. Ang Panginoon lang ang makakapag-bigay sa atin ng lakas,” he calmly said after. (Memo who? Called? They can look for that. Only God can give us strength.)

Understandably, many in the Pacquiao camp are very disappointed in Ariza, to put it lightly.

“When did Ariza become a boxing coach? What he should do is do his job. Train his fighter and shut the (expletive) up,” said Fortune.

“That’s the problem with him. He doesn’t know when to shut the (expletive) up.”

But while that was Fortune’s message for Ariza, Pacquiao had this message for his team: “Opinyon ko at advice ko sa team, forgive as the Lord forgiveth.” (My opinion and advice to the team is, forgive as the Lord forgiveth.)

According to the People’s Champ, this is how he deals with people who hurt him and disappoint him. And this is the same message for James Dayap, former official photographer of Team Pacquiao who has also moved to the Mayweather Camp. Mayweather has since gifted his Filipino supporter a brand new BMW and has paid for Dayap’s mom’s kidney transplant.

Wednesday - Tuesday, April 1 - 7, 2015

LOS ANGELES

“Yun ‘yung ano nila. Ang sa akin, pinapangaral natin ang mabuting salita, Good News about the Kingdom of God,” he said. “Kaniya-kaniya tayong haharap sa Panginoon sa araw ng paghuhukom. Kaya importante ang relationship natin sa Panginoon.” (I’m just sharing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. We will all face Him on Judgment Day. So, what’s important is our relationship with Him.) Commenting on Filipino boxer Marvin Sonsona’s decision to sign with Mayweather adviser/manager Al Haymon: “Walang problema, kung saan sila masaya. Basta makapagbigay sila ng karangalan sa bansa, mas maganda,” he said.

(No problem, Whatever makes them happy. As long as they give glory to the country, that will be good.)

“Pag ang boxer gustong sumikat, humble yourself before God and before man,” Pacquiao’s message to Sonsona. “Kailangan maging humble, masipag, at kailangan ang relationship kay God.” (If a boxer wants to succeed, humble yourself before God and before man. You should be humble, hard-working and relationship with God is needed.)

Allegedly, Mayweather camp’s plan is to beat Pacquiao and build up a new Filipino fighter. Sonsona, considered to be a rising boxing star, also from General Santos, Philippines, where Pacquiao is from, is the first Filipino to be promoted by Haymon.

“Basta mabigyan nila (Mayweather Team) nang magandang opporutnity ‘yung bata,” said Buboy Fernandez, long time friend and assistant trainer of Pacquiao.

As for Pacquiao’s thoughts on this plan by the Mayweather camp: “Ang Panginoon lang ang makapagsasabi kung sino ang mananalo. Pero kung yan din ang paraan ng Panginoon, Your will be done.” (Only the Lord can tell who will win. But if that’s the way of the Lord, Your will be done.”

Ilagan said the survey is evidence that Filipinos want another remedy available for couples in problematic marriages. Present remedies include annulment and legal separation.

She said some spouses have been abandoned by their partners for years without any support

MAYOR BINAY From page 1

ed after the Office of the Ombudsman issued a preventive suspension order on him. “There will be a hearing at 2pm at the Court of Appeals. I look forward to your

while some wives endure abuse from their husbands.

She also noted that legal separation is not enough for some couples.

“Hindi maka-move on ang iba.

Some are legally separated but cannot get married. Pwede silang ihabla ng adultery, bigamy or concubinage,” she said.

The lawmaker pointed out that divorce is not alien to Filipino cul-

ture, noting that indigenous peoples and Muslims allow divorce.

For his part, Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza rejected the passage of a divorce law, saying it will destroy Filipino families.

“No matter what survey comes out, it has nothing to do with what we need to do for the good of Filipino marriages and families,” he said in a separate DZMM interview.

continued presence and support,” he said. Binay likewise pointed out a petition filed by the Office of the Ombudsman with the Supreme Court last week against the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Court of Appeals. “This merely shows that

they recognize the TRO,” he said.

The mayor said he hoped the police would be more discerning of the real motives behind their superiors’ insistence on enforcing the Ombudsman’s suspension order on him despite the temporary restraining order.

The Napoles couple were charged with willful attempt to evade paying taxes for taxable years 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012.

The BIR also accused Napoles of either failing to file an income tax return (ITR) from 2010 to 2012 or supplying incorrect information in her ITRs in 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2009.

BIR’s investigation found out that Napoles’ acquisitions amounted to P4.17 million in 2004, P22.29 million in 2006, P4.35 million in 2008, P9.84 million in 2009, P6.33 million in 2010, P5.64 million in 2011, and P6.89 million in 2012.

Despite these “acquisitions” consisting of condominium units, land parcels, and vehicles, Napoles allegedly only declared an income of P195,800 in 2004 and 100,744.59 in 2008.

August seized Tripoli, where it has set up a rival government and parliament.

There was no immediate confirmation by Libya’s internationally recognized administration of the attack. But an AFP photographer in Zawiya saw the apparent impact of a rocket attack in the middle of a road near a shuttered school in the town.

The wife of one of the wounded men told AFP it was the second time her husband was hurt in un-

rest in Libya.

“This is the second time for my husband,” said the woman, a nurse who works at the intensive care unit of a hospital in Zawiya, who did not wish to be identified.

“We pray for everybody’s safety here,” she said, choking back tears.

Manila has evacuated more than 4,000 Filipinos from Libya since July, when Fajr Libya battled loyalist forces for control of Tripoli.

tista as PAL president.

Bautista said in November last year that PAL was looking for a new investor to help fund an expansion program that includes the purchase of more long-haul jets. The carrier resumed flights to New York this month and announced plans to reopen its hub

on Cebu island in the Central Philippines.

Parent company PAL Holdings Inc., whose income comes mostly from PAL, posted a net income of 233.7 million pesos ($5.3 million) for the nine months ended September, Bloomberg reported citing stock exchange filings.

CASE VS AQUINO NAPOLES From page 1

lice (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima and relieved PNP Special Action Force (SAF) chief Getulio Napeñas Jr. Jimenez said the VACC will file the criminal charges against Purisima and Napeñas “anytime soon” while the possible criminal charges against Aquino will be filed after his term in 2016.

THE US ASIAN POST

From page 1

FILIPINO From page 1

“Our embassy in Tripoli confirmed that one Filipino died in (a) bombing in Zawiya,” spokesman Charles Jose said in a text message to AFP. Libya has been wracked by conflict since the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed veteran dictator Moamer Kadhafi, with rival militias and governments battling for its oil wealth.

The security source said Zawiya falls under the control of Fajr Libya, a militia coalition that in

AIRBUS From page 1

lionaire Lucio Tan regained control, company president Jaime Bautista told Bloomberg Television earlier this month.

Tan bought back for a reported $1 billion last year the 49-percent stake that he had sold to San Miguel Corp. in 2012. He also reinstalled Bau-

PACQUIAO From page 1

Celebrities Actor Piolo Pascual ranked 14th on the list with an income tax payment of P42.53 million, followed by actor John Lloyd Cruz with P41.97 million.

“Queen of All Media” Kris Aquino, who was the top taxpayer in 2011, ranked 16th with an income tax payment of P40.48 million.

Actress Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan was 19th on the list with P39 million, followed by comedian Willie Revillame with P38.3 million.

Actress and host Anne CurtisSmith ranked 36th on the list, paying P28.23 million in income taxes in 2013.

In 44th place, actress Judy Ann Santos paid P24.32 million in income taxes.

Actor Coco Martin ranked 52 with P22.49 million, followed by comedian and host Vic Sotto on 53rd place with P22.4 million.

Pop princess Sarah Gerononimo placed 99th on the list with income tax of P16.12 million.

Actor Dingdong Dantes finished just outside of the top 100

list, ranking 101 with P15.7 million.

Businessmen The country’s top businessmen and executives also made it to the top taxpayers’ list.

San Miguel Corp. president Ramon S. Ang ranked 12th, paying P46.47 million in income tax.

Federico R. Lopez, chairman and CEO of Energy Development Corp., ranked 17th on the list with income tax payment of P39.89 million.

Erramon Aboitiz, CEO and president of Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., was in 22nd place with P35.81 million in income tax payment.

Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, CEO and chairman of Ayala Corp. ranked 26th place with P32.22 million in income tax payments. His brother Fernando was in 32nd place with P29.69 million Metro Pacific Investments Corp. chairman Manny Pangilinan was in 27th place, paying P31.63 million.

Oscar M. Lopez, chairman Emeritus of First Gen Corporation, ranked 34th with P28.54 million in income taxes.

Tycoon George Ty ranked 40th with P26.28 million in income tax payments, while ports billionaire Enrique Razon Jr. was in 50th place with P22.87 million.

Henry Sy, Sr., the country’s richest man, paid income tax of P18.5 million, which placed him on 85th spot. His son Henry Jr. was in 71st place with P19.86 million, while daughter Teresita Sy was in 97th place with P16.2 million.

ABS-CBN Corp. president and CEO Charo Santos Concio ranked 121th with an income tax payment of P14.56 million.

In 275th place is ABSCBN chairman Eugenio Lopez III who paid P9.49 million in income tax in 2013.(MNS)

THE US ASIAN POST Wednesday - Tuesday, April 1 - 7, 2015

Give Muslims self-rule or ‘count body bags’:Aquino Manila, Philippines, AFP, Friday 3/27/2015 – Philippine President Benigno Aquino called on lawmakers Friday to pass a bill endorsing a pact aimed at ending a decades-long Muslim separatist rebellion, warning them they would otherwise start counting “body bags”.

Aquino had wanted the bill, which would give autonomy to the majority Catholic nation’s Muslim minority in the south, passed this month.

But Congress suspended debates on the proposed law in the face of public outrage over the killings of 44 police commandoes by Muslim guerrillas in a botched anti-terror raid in January.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which signed a peace deal a year ago Friday, had said its members fired in self-defence at the commandoes, who passed through a rebel camp while going after Islamic militants.

“This is the crossroads we face: we take pains to forge peace today, or we count body bags tomorrow,” Aquino said in a nationwide television address.

“Perhaps it is easy for you to push for all-out war,” he said, hitting out at critics who have condemned the peace deal with the MILF. “But if the conflict grows, the number of Filipinos shooting at other Filipinos will grow, and it would not be out of the question that a friend or loved one be one of the people who will end up inside a body bag.”

The rebellion for a separate state or self-rule has claimed nearly 120,000 lives and cost billions of dollars in economic losses, according to government estimates.

Under a peace deal signed with the MILF, the 10,000-member group pledged to disarm while the Philippine government vowed to pass an autonomy law in Muslim areas of the south.

“The Bangsamoro basic law is one of the most important proposed bills of our administration. It answers the two most pressing problems of our countrymen: poverty and violence,” Aquino said Friday.

He warned it would be difficult to restart peace talks if the current process failed and the MILF leadership lost its influence among its members to more radical elements.

Aquino is required by the constitution to stand down in mid-2016 after serving a single six-year term.

The January police raid sought to capture or kill two men on the US government’s list of “most wanted terrorists” who were living among Muslim rebels in southern Philippine farming communities.

One of the men, Malaysian national Zulkifli bin Hir who had a $5-million bounty on his head, was reported killed.

But the other, Filipino Abdul Basit Usman, escaped as rebels surrounded and killed the police commandoes.

DFA: Sabah not at issue in Note Verbale to KL on South China Sea MANILA, Mar 30 (Mabuhay) – The recent note verbale from the Philippines to Malaysia on the issue of the extended continental shelf (ECS) in the South China Sea is part of the two neighbors’ “friendly bilateral relations” and does not in any way include the Sabah issue, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Monday.

The DFA comment was sought on a story that the note verbale, transmitted to visiting Malaysian Defense Minister Dato Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, amounted to a quid pro quo—Manila backpedals on its Sabah claim if Kuala Lumpur manifests before a UN body an ECS definition favoring the former’s Spratlys case against China.

DFA spokesman Charles Jose’s statement was shared with reporters by Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda.

“The Philippines has excellent relations with Malaysia in the context of our friendly bilateral relations. Our two countries have been for years exchanging ways on how to address the issue of the extended continental shelf (ECS) in the South China Sea.” The DFA added, “The Note Verbale that was written about was part of this process. The Note is about the features in the South China Sea and their implications on ECS claims.”

It stressed that “Sabah is not in any way part of the Note.”

While the Note Verbale (reprinted in InterAksyon.com, accompanying a VERA Files story) indeed made no mention of Sabah, it alluded to a 2009 complaint filed by Manila against a joint submission by Malaysia and Vietnam before a UN body.

The Philippines had said then that such joint submission would impact its standing claim on Sabah - a resource-rich territory leased by British overlords from the Sultanate of Sulu, but which Britain later simply handed over to Malaysia.

According to the VERA Files story, the note verbale referred to the May 6, 2009 joint submission by Malaysia and Vietnam to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) in which Malaysia claimed an extended continental shelf (350 nautical miles from baseline) that was clearly projected from Sabah.

The Philippines, in an August 4, 2009 note to the UN Secretary General, protested the joint submission because it effectively declared Sabah to be a Malaysian territory. The Philippines claims ownership of Sabah, which is at present occupied by Malaysia, based on the title of the Sultan of Sulu who ceded proprietary rights over the 76,115-squarekilometer land to the Philippines in 1962.

PH ‘reviewing’ 2009 protest vs. KL In last week’s note verbale, however, the DFA informed the Malaysian government that it is “reviewing” its 2009 protest - something that an expert said could weaken Manila’s claim on Sabah.

The Note Verbale said the Philippines’ action as its reviews the 2009 complaint would depend on Malaysia’s response to Manila’s two requests related to the South China Sea conflicting territorial claims: The first request is for Malaysia to “confirm” that its claim of an extended continental shelf is “entirely from the mainland coast of Malaysia, and not from any of the maritime features in the Spratly islands.”

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OPINION Gazmin says public procurement of C295 aircraft transparent and adhered to law MANILA, Mar 30 (Mabuhay) – Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin assured the public Monday that the acquisition of the country’s three new C295M medium lift fixed wing aircraft was transparent and strictly adhered to rules amid controversy on the procurement of 21 UH-1 combat helicopters.

In his speech during the turnover and blessing of the first of the three C295 aircraft at the Villamor Air Base, Gazmin said the Department of National Defense-Special Bids and Awards Committee strictly adhered to Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act and other laws and policies.

“Consistent with the AFP Modernization Program, we decided to procure three units of the Casa C295M medium lift fixed-wing aircraft through public competitive bidding, and we expect the delivery of the second aircraft in February 2016 and the third aircraft in June 2016,” he said.

The first C295 aircraft, which can carry 71 passengers, 50 paratroopers, or up to 20,000 lbs. of cargo, arrived in the country on March 22.

“The public can be assured that there was transparency in the procurement process that was conducted and that the terms and conditions in the concluded contract agreement are advantageous to the government of the Philippines,” Gazmin added.

He said the turnover of the aircraft “lends reality to the urgency of possessing this type of aircraft in the Philippine Air Force inventory.”

Gazmin said the acquisition of such aircraft is very important to the country which is an archipelago, adding that the most expeditious manner of transporting military troops, light vehicles, and equipment from one island to another is through air transport.

“Air transport has always been an essential part of our air operations in the military. Its importance plays a key role in the operational readiness of the Philippine Air Force, especially in the movement by air of troops, and their equipment and supplies,” he said.

He further said the PAF is fortunate to have in its inventory the first of C295M aircraft which is expected to boost its transport and mobility capability in the movement through air of its personnel.

The defense chief admitted that the goal of modernizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines would be a long and painstaking journey as the minimum requirements on materials and equipment for operational readiness, based on their cost, are constrained by the government’s financial capability.

Amid the financial limitation, he said the AFP has to persevere and be contented with what it can afford based on the priorities of its urgent operational needs and its financial affordability.

“Necessarily, we have to take small but definite and useful steps towards practical modernity. This is the direction that we are heading to as attested by this ceremony today,” he said.

The procurement of UH-1 came under fire when the supposed tailor-fitted bidding for a favored company was exposed.

The contract was reportedly awarded to Joint Venture of Rice Aircraft Services, Inc. and Eagle Copters, Ltd. on December 28, 2013 for a bid price of P1.25 billion.

Reports have it that the UH-1D units that were delivered by the supplier to the PAF were non-compliant with the project contract’s Terms of Reference. The units also reportedly have limited use due to some defects, defeating the purpose of their acquisition and prima facie wastage of taxpayers’ money.

Amid the delay in the completion of the turnover of the helicopters and the various violations made by the supplier, the Department of National Defense allegedly made no termination of the contract and still allowed the supplier to deliver.

The DND has already created a committee led

by Undersecretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs and Strategic Concerns Pio Lorenzo Batino to investigate the alleged irregularity.

Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito also sought congressional probe on the said deal. (MNS)

Palace: Gov’t doing everything to spare Pinay from Indonesia death row MANILA, Mar 28 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Saturday reassured the kin of Mary Jane Veloso – the Filipina facing execution in Indonesia over an attempt to smuggle 2.6 kilos of heroin – that the Philippine government continues to do everything possible to save her from death row.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Philippine government is moving within Indonesia’s legal framework to save Veloso.

“Ginagawa ng ating pamahalaan ang ating magagawa within the legal framework of Indonesia.

(Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario) said the Philippines will continue to push other legal avenues to help her case,” she said on government-run dzRB radio, amid appeals from Veloso’s mother for compassion.

The Department of Foreign Affairs, in a statement on Friday, said an initial appeal for judicial review of Veloso’s case was denied by the Indonesian

Supreme Court.

But del Rosario reiterated the government “will continue to exhaust all possible diplomatic and legal means to save Mary Jane’s life.” Last March 24, del Rosario made a humanitarian visit to Veloso at the Yogyakarta Penitentiary to check on her condition and to personally offer comfort.

He also reassured her of the Philippine government’s continued support for her.

“We wish to assure her family that the Philippine government is giving its full attention to this case and that it stands ready to provide them with all the assistance they may require,” he added.

Veloso was arrested in April 2010. The government has since hired a private lawyer to help Veloso pursue a legal review of her case.

The DFA also arranged for Veloso’s family to visit her in prison from February 19 to 21. The DFA remains in close contact with Veloso’s family. (MNS)

Palace to public: Apply Earth Hour message to lifestyle MANILA, Mar 28 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Saturday appealed to Filipinos to practice energy conservation not only for an hour on Saturday evening, but also in their daily routines.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said it is not enough to switch off appliances for just an hour a year at Earth Hour.

“We appeal to everyone to do their own little share to save energy... it also contributes to the general well-being of everyone when it comes to environmental situation. Not just from 8:30 to 9:30 (at Earth Hour), we can incorporate little energy saving mesasures in our daily lives,” she said on government-run dzRB radio.

“Let’s not limit (our) participation to conservation of one hour a year,” she added.

On Saturday evening, Filipinos are expected to take part in Earth Hour, a period when everyone symbolically switches off lights to support calls for energy conservation. Valte said that as the years pass, more and more people are participating in the yearly event. But she said that beyond shutting out lights, people should continue “to do more on a daily basis to conserve energy.”

“This is symbolic ... hopefully in all other things we can implement ... There are many things we can do to contribute to energy conservation,” she said.

(MNS)

Singapore teen behind anti-Lee Kuan Yew video faces charges: police Singapore, Singapore, AFP, Monday 3/30/2015 – A Singaporean teenager arrested for posting an expletive-laden YouTube video attacking Christianity and the country’s late founding leader Lee Kuan Yew will be charged in court with “wounding” religious feelings, harassment and circulating obscene content, police said Tuesday.

Police said they “received more than 20 reports regarding an online video that contained, in part, insensitive and disparaging remarks against Christians”.

“Police arrested a 16-year-old male Singaporean in relation to the said video” on Sunday, the police statement released early Tuesday said.

It said the young man – unnamed but identified by local media as Amos Yee -- would be charged in court later Tuesday.

Police said the suspect was facing three separate charges, including for actions that have “deliberate intention of wounding the religious or racial feelings of any person”.

Yee will also be charged for “putting into circulation” an obscene object as well as for “threatening, abusive or insulting communication” under the citystate’s newly enacted Protection from Harassment Act. In an eight-minute video titled “Lee Kuan Yew is finally dead” Yee launched a scathing attack on the 91-year-old political patriarch who was cremated after a state funeral Sunday.

In the video, Yee also likened the city-state’s first prime minister to Jesus Christ as he launched a tirade against Christianity.

“Lee Kuan Yew was a horrible person... everyone is scared, everyone is afraid that if they say something like that they might get into trouble,” Yee said on the video.

He challenged the former leader’s son, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, to sue him.

The video been taken down from his YouTube page but others have reproduced it in part or in full.

Tough laws “Police take a stern view of acts that could threaten religious harmony in Singapore,” deputy commissioner Tan Chye Hee said in the police statement.

He added: “Any person who uploads offensive content online with deliberate intention of wounding the religious or racial feelings of any person will be firmly dealt with in accordance with the law.”

Lee, credited with laying the foundations for Singapore’s prosperity as prime minister from 1959 to 1990, was given a hero’s sendoff Sunday, with more than 100,000 people lining the streets for his casket’s final procession despite torrential rain.

Lee was revered by citizens for Singapore’s prosperity and social stability but also criticised by rights groups for entrenching a system that called for one dominant political party, the muzzling of the press and curbing political liberties including free speech.

Some Singaporeans who openly questioned Lee’s record and scoffed at the emotional reaction of many to his death have been attacked in social media by his supporters.

The government says 454,687 people – in a nation with just 3.34 million citizens – had paid their last respects to Lee before his public wake ended in parliament on Saturday.

If convicted, Yee faces up to three years in jail, a fine, or both for the first charge of deliberately wounding religious or racial feelings.

For circulating obscene content, he faces up to three months in jail, a fine or both, and a fine of up to Sg$5,000 under the harassment law enacted last year.

Yee will be charged in a district court. Singapore’s Juvenile Court only deals with cases involving suspects below the age of 16.

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UTREACH Energy storage delivers electric reliability to a neighborhood near you

By David Song

Ecowaste Coalition volunteers dramatize the effects of plastic waste using a mock polluted sea at the launch of a report on the use of plastics on Friday at the Quezon City Hall. Environmental groups pushed for a passage of a law that would regulate production and use of disposable plastic bags. (MNS photo)

Lights out as millions around the world mark Earth Hour

New York, United States, AFP, Sunday 3/29/2015 – The Empire State Building dimmed its lights and the Eiffel Tower went dark Saturday as iconic landmarks across the world observed Earth Hour, the global climate change awareness campaign.

The usually glittering nighttime majesty of the Empire State Building was set to “faint sparkle” in New York, while theaters on Broadway also toned down the neon.

Millions of people around the world were taking part in the annual Earth Hour organized by conservation group WWF, with a string of well-known sights plunging into darkness globally.

The famous Las Vegas strip went dim, with the replica Eiffel Tower at Paris Hotel turning its lights off, along with several hotels and casinos that normally illuminate the main drag in Sin City.

Other US west coast cities marked the occasion by switching off, with the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco going dim and the normally bright gateway pylons at Los Angeles LAX airport turned off after being lit in green in honor of the occasion.

Further south in the Americas, landmarks in Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro were also lights out for the hour, shrouding parts of the cities in darkness.

Earlier in Paris, the Eiffel Tower went black for only five minutes – due to security reasons – while nearly 300 other monuments in the City of Light also switched off their lights.

This year’s Earth Hour comes as the French capital prepares to host a crucial UN climate confer-

ence in December that will bring together the international community to discuss efforts to limit global warming.

In Berlin, activists at the unlit Brandenburg Gate placed candles in paper bags that were lined up to spell out “Save our Climate!

Now!”, while the Kremlin in Moscow also shed its evening diamonds.

“It’s almost like the thing vanished,” said Tony Jennings from Earth Hour after standing under the Sydney Harbour Bridge as the lights went off at 8:30 pm.

In Australia, the initiative this year is focusing on farming, with fears that rising temperatures could ultimately damage the country’s ability to produce food.

“In Australia, agriculture is the most vulnerable industry to the impacts of climate change,” said national Earth Hour manager for Australia, Anna Rose.

Glow-in-the-dark Zumba party Hong Kong’s signature highrise skyline along the Victoria Harbour was a shadow of itself, with its towering skyscrapers standing dark – among them the city’s tallest building, the 118-story International Commerce Centre.

In Taiwan, the lights went off on the Taipei 101 tower, the world’s tallest building before it was overtaken by Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, while in Kuala Lumpur the usually dazzling Petronas Twin Towers were dark.

In neighboring Singapore, all Earth Hour events were cancelled because of the mourning mood following the death of the citystate’s founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew. Earth Hour takes place from

8:30 pm local time and encourages citizens, communities, businesses and organizations to switch the lights off for an hour to highlight the plight of the planet.

The initiative began in Sydney in 2007 but quickly went global.

“Over 170 countries and territories have already confirmed their participation; more than 1,200 landmarks and close to 40 UNESCO world heritage sites,” Earth Hour head Sudhanshu Sarronwala told AFP ahead of the event.

This year also included a glowin-the-dark Zumba party in the Philippines, a coordinated candlelit dinner in Finland billed as the world’s largest, and restaurant dinners by candlelight in London, said WWF. Earth Hour’s goal is not to achieve measurable electricity savings but to raise awareness of the need for sustainable energy use, and this year also to demand action to halt planet-harming climate change.

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Tucked away in an undistinguished industrial park in Orange, California is a technological innovation that will never be mistaken for a smartwatch or the 5K television display. However, energy storage is no less important than sleek consumer electronic devices.

Long talked about in the industry, Southern California Edison (SCE) is transforming concept into reality when it connects its first distribution level energy storage facility in June. The project, coined DESI (Distributed Energy Storage Integration), uses lithium-ion battery technology to help SCE deliver more reliable electricity.

“The battery energy storage system in Orange is SCE’s first pilot system deployed to support its distribution grid,” said Loic Gaillac, manager of the energy storage group in SCE’s Advanced Technology division.

“With the state always leading the way in energy technology, you can say we’re one of the first utilities in the country implementing storage this way.”

It’s a natural progression for a company that last year unveiled one of the largest battery energy storage projects in North America. The Tehachapi Energy Storage Project is a demonstration project on the transmission level of the grid, near one of the largest wind generation hubs in the U.S. “The battery technology is similar, but with DESI, we’re talking about harnessing energy storage in a neighborhood near you – on the local distribution circuit,” said Gaillac.

The other difference between the projects is that DESI’s primary purpose is to help with reliability, especially during the hottest months when there is an increased demand for electricity, driven by large industrial and commercial customers or the use of residential air conditioners.

“The system in Orange is capable of supplying 2.5 megawatts of power continuously for about an hour and a half,” said Gaillac. “That’s equivalent to the power required to support between 500 and 750 homes.”

More projects are planned for the future, especially after the California Public Utilities Commission in 2013 mandated California investor-owned utilities procure 1.3 gigawatts of energy storage – 580 megawatts for SCE – by 2020, which must be installed by 2024. This decision allows SCE to own up to 50 percent of the required amount.

The distributed energy storage systems have other practical benefits.

“If we’re at a point on a given circuit where pockets of it are at or near capacity, and may impact reliability, a project like DESI can help us address reliability issues locally without an immediate upgrade of the circuit,” said Gaillac.

And the battery energy storage systems will be placed strategically in locations on the circuit where it is needed most, packaged in unassuming, custom-made enclosures with a footprint about half the size of a tennis court.

It may not be sleek, but it’ll do the job.

Fourth Annual Otis Kite Festival at Santa Monica beach April 11 Otis College of Art and Design brings world-renowned kite artists to Santa Monica for a day of family fun, education, and art Otis College of Art and Design will host its fourth Annual Kite Festival adjacent to the Santa Monica Pier on Sunday, April 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Parking is $12 for all day access.

Headlining a day of flying kites and other inflatables will be world-renowned kite artists Tyrus Wong, George Peters, Melanie Walker, Jose Sainz, Ali Fujino, and Ron Gibian.

A special workshop for kids focused on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) will integrate California Common Core requirements in Science with instruction in Art and Design. Kids will learn about the physics of flight, climate and wind, sustainable materials, and color theory while designing and decorating their own unique kites.

The Kite Festival was developed by Otis College of Art and Design’s Creative Action Program to bring families and communities throughout the Los Angeles region together for a fun-filled day of learning, creating art, and kite flying. This year, with generous support from the Drachen Foundation, Art4Moore, the Tides Foundation, the Home Depot, and the California State Coastal Conservancy, Otis has secured the funds and supplies to deliver a fantastic community event that will include educational workshops, painting, kite design and flying, and a special plein air drawing workshop.

“This is a fantastic event for the whole family,” says Richard Shelton, Director of Creative Action at Otis College of Art and Design. “Kids will have the opportunity to learn about the physics of flight, work on their own creations, and watch some truly inspiring kites take to the skies.” Wini Jackson – celebrated advocate in service to children – has pledged her support and time to include kids from group homes, county facilities, public schools, treatment centers, and special needs homes throughout Los Angeles. All leftover supplies donated for the event will be given to Urban Compass in Watts. In past years, Otis Kite Festivals have included children from the organizations Urban Compass, Junior Blind of America, Children’s Bureau, and St. Jude’s Hospital.

The festival will take place directly north of the Santa Monica Pier, parking will be provided at the Santa Monica Pier Parking Lot for a fee of $12. Parking is available at public city lots and at the Pier. Entrance to the kite festival is free.

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Electronic cards for medicines introduced to Filipinos in California

Councilmember Elito M. Santarina with family is sworn-in by Hon. Isadore Hall, lll, California State Senator, 35th District at the Congresswoman Juanita Millender-Mcdonald community Center, Carson City, California last March 24. Santarina, a Filipino-American, has been serving the City of Carson for several years. PHOTO: Joe Cobilla

Santarina sworn into Carson City Council by State Senator Hall Carson, CA – Filipino American Elito Santarina who was reelected to the City Council of Carson March 3, was sworn into office

by California State Senator Isadore Hall, 35th District last March 24 at the Carson Community Center. After Hall administered the oath of office, Santarina astressed the importance of “getting along with each other” in his acceptance speech. He quoted Dr. Martin Luther King who said ,

“our loyalties must transcend our race and our class.”

Santarina who has spearheaded the Safety First, Act Now (SFAN) program and the literacy partnership program urged the residents to work together.

Hall also sworn in Councilmember Lula Davis Holmes.Former Carson Mayor Jim Dear who was elected as City Clerk was sworn in by LAUSD board member Dr. George J. Makenna. Dear

administered the oath of office of the new treasurer Monica Cooper.

The selection of City’s Mayor Protempore was postponed to the next Council Meeting on April 7 because of lack of quorum. Councilmember Albert Robles was not present at the special meeting.

Meanwhile, Carson will hold another election on June 2 for the seat vacated by former Councilman Mike Gipson who was elected as Assemblyman.

Fil-Am conferred with commodore rank by PCG Filipino-American Felix B. Lopez, division chief of the South East Asia Region of International Affairs Directorate of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary (USCG AUX) has been awarded the prestigious title of Honorary Commodore of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) last December 1 at the PCG Headquarters, Port Area, Manila, Philippines.

The PCG/PCGA applauded Lopez for helping organize the 1st Asia Pacific Conference on Maritime Safety and Environmental Concerns. That event was attended by the representatives from the US, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.

Lopez was recognized as an individual who has been vitally important in supporting close relations between the US and the Philippines. He proudly wears the should boards given to him by VADM Rodolfo Isorena, PCG Commandant and VADM Joseph Dy, PCGA National Director.

Lopez was also awarded the PCG/PCGA Honorary Lifetime Membership Award in 2010. Lopez also has the distinction of being in the company of Manny Pacquiao, the only

Filipino-American Felix B. Lopez, division chief of the South East Asia Region of International Affairs Directorate of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary (center) also now carries the title Honorary Commodore of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary.

eight-division world professional boxing champion, who was awarded a week later.

Division 6, District 11SR of the USCG AUX are in unison in expressing their sincere congratulations to their very own shipmate.

VA makes gains in faster disability claims processing Backlog reduced 67% under new automation and process improvements Washington – The federal initiative to provide timely decisions on disability payments to Veterans has crossed a major milestone in its final sprint to eliminate the backlog of Veterans’ benefits claims.

The major transformation effort to apply new technology and process solutions has paid off at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It reduced its inventory of backlogged claims from a high of 611,000 claims in March of 2013 to fewer than 200,000 this week, while at the same time improving decision quality.

“Make no mistake, we’re not slowing down short of the finish line,” said Under Secretary for Benefits Allison Hickey. “Our goal is to eliminate the claims backlog by the end of 2015 – meaning all Veterans will receive timely and accurate decisions on their disability claims.”

Hickey credited a combination of factors for the 67-percent drop in backlog: first, the extra hours of work put in by dedicated benefits claims

processors across the nation, who have worked evenings, Saturdays and Sundays to drive the backlog down; as well as procedural efficiencies backed by powerful automation tools and paperless claims processing. In addition, she cited the transformation of Veterans Benefits Administration’s training and quality assurance programs resulting in steady increases in the accuracy of decisions.

Just a few years ago, claims processors handled 5,000 tons of paper annually, an amount equivalent to 200 Empire State Buildings. In less than two years, VA converted claims processing to a 21st Century digital environment where claims for VA benefits and services can be submitted and processed, and benefits delivered, online.

Veterans increasingly are filing claims electronically from the start athttps://www.ebenefits.va.gov. Veterans can submit their applications online, upload their supporting documentation, and check the status of their claim through a multi-channel Web portal boasting nearly 60 self-service features.

AZA grants accreditation to Aquarium of the Pacific Silver Spring, Maryland (Monday, March 30, 2015) – The Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) today announced that the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California was granted accreditation by AZA’s independent Accreditation Commission.

“Only zoos and aquariums that meet the highest standards are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums,” said AZA President and CEO Jim Maddy. “The community should take great pride in knowing that the Aquarium of the Pacific is a proven leader in the care and conservation of wildlife, and in inspiring people to take action to protect the natural world.”

To be accredited, the Aquarium of the Pacific underwent a thorough review to ensure it has and will continue to meet ever-rising standards, which include animal care, veterinary programs, conservation, education, and safety. AZA requires zoos and aquariums to successfully complete this rigorous accreditation process every five years in order to be members of the Association.

The accreditation process includes a detailed application and a meticulous on-site inspection by a team of trained zoo and aquarium professionals.

The inspecting team observes all aspects of the institution’s operation, including animal care; keeper training; safety for visitors, staff and animals; educational programs; conservation efforts;

veterinary programs; financial stability; risk management; visitor services; and other areas.

Finally, top officials are interviewed at a formal hearing of AZA’s independent Accreditation Commission, after which accreditation is granted, tabled, or denied. Any institution that is denied may reapply one year after the Commission’s decision is made.

Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, animal welfare, education, science, and recreation. AZA is the accrediting body for the top zoos and aquariums in the United States and seven other countries. Look for the AZA accreditation logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. The AZA is a leader in saving species and your link to helping animals all over the world. To learn more, visit http://www.aza.org.

The Aquarium of the Pacific, a nonprofit institution, is dedicated to conserving nature and its resources by building interactions among people.

Home to over 11,000 animals, the Aquarium explores the waters of Southern California and Baja and the Northern and Tropical Pacific.

Many Filipino immigrants share the same story that the money they send to their families, thinking it is being used for their intended purposes, is not being fully utilized for the right purpose. One example for that is money intended for buying medicines or health care needs, which is often neglected in the family’s budget until the need for it arises. It also happens that a portion of the funds intended for buying the complete medicines for maintenance or needed vitamins is used for other necessities; or even worse, money is spent for vices and luxuries. It is a sad reality that not only Filipino immigrants experience, but even breadwinners who provide for their families’ every need.

It is for these reasons that Generika Drugstore found a way to help the Global Filipino by introducing an innovative product called MedPadala, and bring it to the market thru a partnership with LBC. With MedPadala, the global Filipino can now allocate a portion of the money they send to their loved ones for medicines and vitamins, without having to worry that it will be spent for other things. Available in LBC outlets in California, MedPadala can be bought in prepaid cards in PHP500 ($13) and PHP1, 000 ($25.50) denominations.

MedPadala is very easy and safe to use: just send the MedPadala Code and PIN found at the back of the card to your ben-

eficiary via email or SMS. Upon receipt of the Code and PIN, your beneficiary can use the MedPadala instantly to buy medicines and medical related items at any Generika Drugstore branches in the Philippines. With over 500 branches nationwide, your loved ones can definitely find a nearby Generika outlet to buy their needed medicines. A pioneer in retailing quality and affordable generic medicines, Generika is now the third largest chain of drugstores (in terms of number of outlets) in the Philippines. Generika also carries selected branded medicines, food supplements, selected consumer goods, galenicals and medical supplies.

OFWs and their beneficiaries can take advantage of the many benefits MedPadala can offer.

Since MedPadala electronic cards do not expire, their beneficiaries are not forced to consume the entire amount when they go to buy medicines at Generika. Moreover, MedPadala can be used in multiple transactions; therefore the remaining balance can be consumed for future needs and for other emergency purposes.

MedPadala and LBC gives the sender the peace of mind and the assurance that it will be spent on medicines and health related necessities when it is most needed.

For more information about MedPadala, just log on to www. medpadala.com.ph or visit the nearest LBC outlets in your location.

FACLA to celebrate 70th Anniversary with a 2-day party Los Angeles – The oldest and still existing non-profit organization representing the Filipinos in the United States, the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) will be celebrating its Platinum or 70th founding anniversary on April 26, 2015.

This was announced by the President of the Board of Directors Austin Baul Jr . FACLA will celebrate its founding anniversary with a two-day party on April 25, 2015 from 12:00 Noon to 5;00 PM as a tribute for all members.

The formal dinner and party will be held on Sunday, April 26, 2015 from 6;00 PM at the FACLA Social Hall.. Government and private personalities have been invited to grace the occasion on April 26, 2015 at FACLA’s 70th Anniversary.

Baul also said, “The two day party is

headed by the Anniversary Committee headed by FACLA Director Susan Oca and Treasurer Linda Nery. Other members of the Committee were Letty Reyes, FACLA 3rd Vice President and Bernie Ganon” FACLA was organized 70 years ago by four farm workers namely Petra Hernandez, Alex Velasco, BG Aquino and one other on April 26, 1945. Subsequently in 1965, the FACLA building was constructed where it stood now.

FACLA will also hold its special membership meeting on April 26, 2015 at 10:00 AM to elect the COMELEC Commissioners on the forthcoming FACLA elections on November 2015.

For more information please call FACLA at (213) 484-1527 or visit our website at www.newfacla.org

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truTV & Top Rank partner to exclusively televise Live Friday Night Primetime Boxing Series Series premieres with two title fights on Friday, May 1, at 10 p.m. ET from The Chelsea Inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

truTV and Top Rank will partner to exclusively televise a live Friday night primetime boxing series beginning Friday, May 1, at 10 p.m. ET. The new boxing series, in association with Turner Sports and HBO Sports, will launch on the eve of the Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao pay-per-view fight with a card featuring two title bouts inside The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

Maximizing visibility, the inaugural series on truTV will feature three consecutive weeks of boxing coverage in May – all airing on the evening prior to a Saturday night HBO fight event – along with a slate of five additional fights to be scheduled over the remainder of the year. The schedule will regularly feature some of the most exciting, established young talent in boxing. Turner Sports and HBO Sports, with its long and rich history with the sport of boxing, will contribute resources as well as marketing and digital platforms in support of the new series.

The main event on Friday, May 1, will showcase Takahiro Ao (27-3-1, 16 KOs) from Chiba, Japan, vs. Ray Beltran (29-7-1, 17 KOs) from Los Mochis, Mexico, in a 12-round bout for the vacant WBO Lightweight World Championship. The undercard will include two undefeated fighters in action – Mikael Zewski (260, 23 KOs) from Quebec, Canada,

vs. Konstantin Ponomarev (27-0, 13 KOs) from Miass, Russia – in a 10-round bout for theNABF Welterweight Championship.

“We’re excited to partner with Top Rank and our colleagues at HBO Sports to bring this highcaliber boxing series to truTV,” said Lenny Daniels, president of Turner Sports. “We share a common vision to present these events in a new and inventive way and look forward to offering this compelling content to our viewers.”

“We see this as a great opportunity to bring more coveted live sports programming to the network and believe Friday night primetime fights will resonate with truTV’s young audience,” said Chris Linn, truTV president and head of programming.

“Partnering with Turner Sports and truTV for a new and unique boxing series will further invigorate and grow the sport,” said Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank. “Turner Sports’ innovative approach to production and programming has attracted and engaged tens of millions of fans of the NBA, MLB, NCAA and PGA and we believe the same will be true for boxing. Additionally, the collaboration between the HBO and truTV programming will help develop and expose current and future champions and worldrated contenders to a broad audience with consistency. All credit goes to Turner’s David Levy, Turner Sports’ Lenny Daniels and truTV’s Chris Linn who understand the impact of live sports and were instrumental in developing this concept into a program for their platforms.”

Artist Lynda A. N. Reyes participates in two juried shows in California Two watercolor paintings of artist Lynda A. N. Reyes will be featured in two California exhibits in Brea, Orange County and San Francisco

“An Afternoon Stroll at Venice Beach”, a transparent watercolor painting done on a full size 300 lb.

Arches paper was juried into the 30th Annual Made in California Juried Exhibition of the City of Brea Art Gallery located at 1 Civic Center Circle, Plaza Level in Orange Country. The exhibit will be on view starting March 28th until May 8th, 2015.

The exhibit will celebrate the proud tradition of displaying works from artists all over California selected from over one thousand statewide entries. This multi-disciplinary survey of art features artists working in all mediums and highlights established

artists in their quest for new creative movements in the California art scene. A three-person panel of experts from the Orange County area selected 69 artists to display their works in the 6,500 square foot exhibition space of the City of Brea Art Gallery.

The show marks the third national exhibit for this painting of a typical California summer afternoon on the beach walk. “An Afternoon Stroll at Venice Beach” was first exhibited in the Aqueous 2013 of the Kentucky Watercolor Society and in 2014, it was chosen for the MTWS Water media Exhibit at the Bigfork Museum in Montana. Lynda will participate in another juried exhibit at the Arc Gallery on 1246 Folsom Street in San Francisco from May 2nd until June 20th, 2015. Her watercolor painting titled “California Mom”

will make its debut in this themed exhibit titled “Fusion” at the ARC Gallery. The statement about the painting reveals why the painting vividly supports the theme of the show: “Forever connected. Boundaries do not exist in the fusion of 2 living bodies. A mother and child ready to trek yonder. Where?...

Someplace farther to further connect...”

The juror of the ARC exhibit is Olivia Ongpin of Luna Rienne Gallery in San Francisco. Arc Gallery & Studios occupies the former location of New Langton Arts Foundation, which closed in 2009. The partners of Arc Gallery are pleased to carry on the tradition of the space as an arts venue contributing to the vitality of the diverse South of the Market (SOMA) neighborhood of San Francisco.

Early morning dance parties take off in US

By Guillaume Meyer

Los Angeles, United States, AFP, Saturday 3/28/2015 – Partying before breakfast? It’s not everyone’s cup of tea. But it is the concept behind “Daybreakers,” early-morning raves becoming increasingly popular in the United States.

At 6:30 am one recent morning, some 250 young – and old – dance enthusiasts gathered in downtown Los Angeles to strut

their stuff before many people have even got out of bed.

Andre Herd, the producer behind the event, said it combines the fun of night-time partying without the morning-after downsides.

“It flips the switch on what everyone knows and used to love in my opinion, which is: you go, you get drunk, you maybe meet somebody, you hook up, you have fun with your friends,

you go home, you’re hungover the next day,” he told AFP. “Here you get to go dance, you can meet somebody, there is an amazing energy in the room. Because everyone comes here buys a ticket and comes with the intention of dancing, everyone dances.”

The parties are held about once a month, with tickets costing $25 and invitations sent out by email a week in advance.

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Study suggests Mediterranean diet could be eco-friendly

5 nutrition tips for better sleep

(Relaxnews) - Everyone talks about the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet, and as sustainability becomes more and more of a concern, a new study delved into the carbon footprint of the Med diet and found it relatively low.

In the study, the Spanish research team analyzed the carbon footprints of daily menus based on a diet they describe as being the rough equivalent to the Med diet.

They compared them with the daily menus of diets consumed in the US and the UK. Over the course of one year, the research team analyzed a total of 448 lunches and 448 dinners, all of which were based on a 2,000 calorie-perday diet.

“These menus could have equally been served in any school, restaurant or Spanish household,” says lead author Rosario Vidal, a researcher in the Mechanical Engineering and Construction department at the Valencian institution SINC. “The recipes analysed include typical dishes such as Andalusian gazpacho soup, vegetable pisto manchego, paella or the stew-like puchero.”

On average, the daily carbon footprint was 5.08 kilograms of carbon equivalent (CO2e), according to the study.

Diets in the two English-speaking countries, however, presented a carbon footprint considerably higher, of between 8.5 kg and 8.8 kg of CO2e in the US and an estimated 7.4 kg of CO2e in the UK. The research team also analyzed the Med diet against 17 other therapeutic diets including soft, liquid and both low- and high-protein diets.

“The differences between the average value of the Mediterranean diet and that of English-speaking countries is due to much less beef being eaten in Spain (a food item with a larger carbon footprint) and more vegetables and fruit being eaten, which have a lower carbon foot-

(Relaxnews) – March is World Sleep Month, which means research institutes around the globe are releasing reports on the importance of shut-eye, as well as tips on how to get enough. In France, after observing the link between eating habits and sleep hygiene in a recent study, the National Institute of Sleep and Vigilance (INVS) and the health insurer MGEN share suggestions on how to eat to improve the chances of getting a good night’s rest.

Never skip dinner: “If the body has not consumed enough energy, sleep will be fragmented.

One must eat enough to make it through until morning,” explains INSV president Damien Léger. The evening meal should be hearty yet balanced and easy to digest.

Have meat for lunch, slow carbohydrates for dinner: Foods that are rich in protein, such as meat, tend to heighten vigilance, so those who have trouble falling asleep may wish to avoid them later in the day.

For dinner, focus instead on slow carbohydrates -- such as potatoes, whole wheat pasta or brown rice -and dairy products, both of which are known to promote sleep. It is also important to have dinner two to three hours before turning in for the night.

Make herbal tea a bedtime ritual: Certain plants are known for their calming effects, and teas brewed from linden, chamomile, passion flower, hops and valerian are among those that can help ease the body into sleep. An evening cup of herbal tea is particularly effective when part of a relaxing routine performed each night in a calm, sleep-friendly environment.

Limit caffeine in the afternoon: Most insomniacs know to avoid coffee and caffeinated sodas

Nutrition professionals are increasingly taking an interest in what kind of diet is good for the planet. ©Anna Hoychuk/ shutterstock.com

prints,” says Vidal.

“Therefore, it is not only healthier, but our diet is also more ecological.”

Vidal’s study comes on the heels of revisions by the US Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee in which they recommend cutting back on lean meat not for health purposes but for sustainability.

It’s a move that’s thought to be the first to base dietary advice on ecological preservation rather than human health, yet it could be an important strategy for protecting the environment, Vidal reminds us.

“Climate change is an international priority that must be tackled from all angles, one being the family environment and consideration of our daily diet,” he says.

A carbon footprint expresses the amount of carbon dioxide you are contributing to global warming when you engage in activities such as driving, using electricity and home heating, or eating meat, the raising and butchering of which has left a negative impact on the environment.

The study was published in the Journal of Health Services Research & Policy.

in the afternoon, but it is important to remember that cocoa and tea are also to be consumed in moderation. Caffeine takes several hours to be eliminated from the body: half of the amount consumed is still present in the blood stream four to five hours after the last sip. For this reason, it is recommended to avoid these substances after 3pm.

Avoid the temptation of a nightcap: “Alcohol impacts sleep in two phases, facilitating it before interfering with it later on,” says Joëlle Adrien of the INSV. While it may help lull an individual to sleep shortly after consumption, it can cause problems a few hours later, leading to lighter sleep and more frequent waking through the night, or even nightmares and sleep apnea.

As part of a bedtime ritual, herbal tea can help prepare the mind and body for sleep. ©DUSAN ZIDAR/shutterstock.com

Sleep loss could bring on turbulent emotions

Stressful situations can elicit an emotional response, which could snowball with sleep loss, according to a new book summarizing many studies.

The recently published book is called “Sleep and Affect: Assessment, Theory and Clinical Implications.”

“We saw that if a person lost a night of sleep they responded with more emotion to a laboratory ‘stressor,’” says Matthew T. Feldner, a professor of psychology in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. “This finding extended previous work that had linked chronic sleep loss to anxiety and mood disorders.”

Certain components of emotion seem particularly linked to sleep, says Dr. Felder.

“What we call ‘stressors’ tend to be more emotionally arousing for people who haven’t slept well, and emotional arousal also appears to interfere with sleep quality,” he says.

Working with health science specialist Kimberly A. Babson, Dr. Felder and his team built on her previous sleep and affect studies.

Another recent study offers evidence of the connection between stressors, emotions and insomnia yet indicates that coping mechanisms could be more variable than previously thought.

“Our study is among the first to show that it’s not the number of stressors, but your reaction to them that determines the likelihood of experiencing insomnia,” says lead author Vivek Pillai, PhD, research fellow at the Sleep Disorders & Research Center at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan.

In the study, which was published in the journal Sleep, Dr. Pillai and his team worked with 2,892 individuals without a history of insomnia.

8

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MOTORING Looking ahead to the 2015 New York International Auto Show (Relaxnews) – This year’s New York show is expected to be bigger than Detroit for new model unveilings and will have a greater mass-market focus in terms of

cars on show than the Geneva show that only closed its doors to the public two weeks ago. And of course, being a North American show, there are going to be a host

The McLaren 570S features a flying buttress design. McLaren has been teasing its latest supercar for for almost a whole year. ©McLaren Automotive

of new US cars on show.

Home-grown stars Perhaps the most eagerly awaited of those will be the Cadillac CT6, the luxury marque’s new flagship and the first one that really could give Europe’s finest – the S Class Mercedes and BMW 7 Series – a run for their money.

Chevrolet will be showing off the Malibu, which promises more cabin space and a hybrid powertrain; a new full electric vehicle based on its recent the Bolt concept; a second-generation Volt – its plug-in hybrid town car; plus a new version of the Spark, its tiny supermini.

SUVs and crossovers Stepping up in terms of size and ground clearance, a number of crossovers and SUVs, both for-

eign and domestic, will also be making a first official appearance when the doors of the Javits Center open to the public on April 3.

Mercedes will be parading the GLE, the replacement for the ML luxury six-seat SUV, and Lexus will be unwrapping its equally refined RX, the teaser images for which suggest that it will be a coupe-styled rather than boxy crossover looking to challenge the BMW X6.

Mitsubishi will be showing off the production version of the Outlander, its family-sized futuristic SUV, and Hyundai the real-world version of its smaller Tuscon crossover. Still, most eyes will be over on the Land Rover stand, where two new premium off-roaders are making their

global debuts.

The first, The Range Rover Sport HST, is a new model within the existing range that brings unique performance and handling characteristics – thanks to a different chassis set up and a new 3-liter supercharged V6 engine – along with some new active safety and creature comfort features.

The second is simply described as the “most luxurious Range Rover” the company has ever built and took everyone by surprise when it was teased on Tuesday.

Sportscars Ford has confirmed that the crazy Focus RS it unveiled in Geneva for the European market -315bhp and four-wheel-drive – is also going to be on show in New York, and therefore will be going on sale in the US later this year.

Mazda has announced that it will be unveiling a more aggressive Club Sport version of its MX5 Miata drop-top roadster.

Potentially the biggest sportscar reveal of the event will be the new McLaren. The supercar company has been teasing it for 12 months and with less than a week to go before the show proper, the company confirmed that the new car will be called the 570S because it has 570PS (562hp) and will be the first of three models under a new Sports Series range.

Mercedes to build world’s first premium pick-up (Relaxnews) - The German luxury brand says that it plans to enter the market by 2017 and that its first pick-up will take styling cues from its SUV range and comfort cues from its existing executive sedans.

Mercedes says that the decision to move into the mid-size pick-up market, currently dominated by US brands, is because of a huge shift in recent years – from commercial to personal use and from wanting something that is utilitarian to wanting a vehicle that’s as comfortable and refined as it is practical.

And although the US is the world’s biggest pick-up market – one in 10 vehicles sold in the country over the last 12 months was a pick-up – Mercedes plans to initially target its luxury model at the Latin American, European and Australian markets.

Volvo Cars to build first US factory Stockholm, Sweden, AFP, Monday 3/30/2015 – Swedish carmaker Volvo Cars announced plans Monday to build its first factory in the United States, 60 years after it started selling cars in the country.

It will be Chineseowned Volvo’s fifth factory, and comes in the wake of a two-year turnaround of the Swedish brand’s fortunes since it was sold by Ford in 2010.

“Volvo Cars cannot claim to be a true global car maker without an industrial presence in the US. Today, we became that,” chief executive Haakan Samuelsson said in a statement.

The manufacturer said it has not decided on the location of the new plant, but said it would invest about $500 million (461 million euros) on the project, “underscoring its long term commitment to the US market.”

The new factory will join existing plants in Sweden, Belgium, China and Malaysia.

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INMENT

Claudine, Raymart decide to be good parents Claudine Barretto and Raymart Santiago have agreed not to bad-mouth each other in media interviews.

Barretto said she and Santiago are trying their best to be better parents despite their failed marriage.

“I actually talked to Raymart.

Napag-usapan namin na sana let’s not talk about each other anymore. Let’s not accept questions regarding each other kung hindi maganda ‘yung sasabihin natin.

We are trying to be good parents for the kids. We failed as husband and wife, we are trying to not fail as parents now,” she said.

Earlier this month, the estranged couple made headlines when Barretto posted on Instagram pictures of their family as she and Santiago accompanied their children at a fun run organized by their school.

“My daughter, she had ‘yung fun run. As family, we attended.

We are very civil. We are talking,” she said.

As proof of their “civil” relationship, Barretto revealed that their family actually had dinner some weeks after the fun run.

Barretto earlier accused Santiago of “physical, sexual, psychological and economic” abuse,

supposedly dating back to 2002.

These are detailed in her complaint against the actor for his alleged violation of the Anti-Violence against Women and Their Children Act of 2004.

Santiago, for his part, alleged that he was also a victim of domestic violence. In his complaint, the actor accused his wife of being mentally ill and having a history of drug abuse – claims backed by the actress’ estranged siblings Gretchen, Marjorie, and JJ. Both Barretto and Santiago have repeatedly mentioned the welfare of their children in explaining why they took the spat to court, and why they are seeking sole custody of the kids.

In June 2014, the former couple appeared to have patched things up when Barretto posted a photo of her with Santiago and their kids. This, after they reached an agreement concerning their children through a judicial dispute resolution.

A month later, however, Barretto pulled out from the agreement and said she would sue Santiago for “economical abuse,” supposedly because of his unwillingness to fulfill his financial obligations to their children, among other reasons. (MNS)

Sarah Geronimo wins as Favorite Artist at MYX Music Awards 2015 Sarah Geronimo made a backto-back win as Favorite Artist at MYX Music Awards 2015.

The Popstar Princess bagged a total of four awards from five nominations, including Favorite Artist, Favorite Music Video (“Tayo”), Favorite Female Artist and Favorite Remake (“Maybe This Time”). Sarah, who won Favorite Artist and Favorite Remake awards last year, thanked her fans for continuously supporting and voting for her.

“Maraming salamat po sa lahat ng mga bumoto. Muli, gusto ko lang i-commend ang aking mga OPM artists na hinahangaan. Thank you, Lord,” she said while accepting her trophy during the awards night held on Wednesday, March 25, at SM Aura’s Samsung Hall.

Sarah also performed her song “Kilometro” during the award’s night.

Daniel Padilla and Gloc-9 each won two awards. Daniel, who was not able to attend, won Favorite Male Artist and Favorite Song (“Simpleng Tulad Mo”). His loveteam Kathryn Bernardo bagged Favorite Guest Appearance in a Music Video award for the music video of Daniel’s “Simpleng Tulad Mo.” Gloc-9 won Favorite Urban Video and Favorite Collaboration.

He thanked Regine Velasquez for collaborating with him in the song “Takipsilim.”

“Pagpasok niya sa studio, nagrecord siya ng chorus. Tapos natunaw ‘yung garter ng underwear ko kasi sabi niya sa akin, ‘Gusto mo bang mag-backup ako sa verses mo?’ At si Regine Velasquez-Alcasid iyon. Kaya gusto kong magpasalamat sa kanya. Maraming salamt sa mga bumuboto,” Gloc-9 told the audience.

Sarah, Daniel, Gloc-9, and James Reid received the most number of nominations among the artists. They were nominated in five categories Kpop group 2ne1 won Favorite Kpop Video award for their music video “Come Back Home.” Dara thanked their fans in a video interview, “In behalf of CL, Minzy and Bom, thank you from all of us. Sayang hindi kami nakapunta. Abangan niyo yung next album ni CL at yung web drama ko.”

Singer-songwriter Rey Valera is recognized for his contributions in the local music industry and was named as this year’s recipient of the MYX Magna Music Award. The award is given annually to a chosen local music icon.

Sharon Cuneta was the first recipient of the said award in 2006, while Parokya ni Edgar received the recognition last year.

Rey has been in the music industry for four decades already and has released multiple OPM classics, including “Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko,” “Tayong Dalawa,” “Maging Sino Ka Man,”

Claudine Barretto and Raymart Santiago

Cayetano links Robin’s tirade to Taguig politics MANILA, Mar 30 (Mabuhay) – Senator Alan Peter Cayetano believes actor Robin Padilla’s criticism of his stance on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is related to politics in Taguig.

Cayetano, who served as representative of the Taguig-Pateros legislative district, said Padilla is a supporter of the Tiñgas, his family’s erstwhile political rival in the booming city.

“Well, may special mention po kasi. Malapit po kasi sila sa Tiñga eh, so every time na may issue, talagang tinutuligsa kami,” Cayetano said.

“Ilang beses namin winelcome si Robin sa Taguig. Ilang beses siyang minessage, nung nag-salita

siya nung election nung 2010 at 2013 para sa mga Tiñga ay inimbitahan sila ng Muslim sa Taguig para ipakita ang development sa kanila.”

The Maharlika Village, located in Taguig, is a Muslim community. The city is currently headed by the senator’s wife, Lani Cayetano, who defeated Rica Tiñga in the 2013 elections.

Cayetano lamented that some people, including Padilla, have bought the propaganda that he is anti-Muslim given his stance on the BBL and his mistrust of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“Magkape kami ni Robin, walang problema. Ang problema,

tinanggap na kasi niya ang propaganda na ako ay anti-Muslim,” the senator said.

“Kapag ikaw ay anti-MILF, hindi ibig sabihin ikaw ay antiMuslim.”

Padilla earlier criticized some lawmakers, singling out Cayetano, for their stance on the BBL. The actor encouraged lawmakers to carefully study the history of the Bangsamoros before giving their respective opinions.

Cayetano has become one of the most vocal critics of the BBL following the Mamsapano clash last January 25 which saw 44 elite police commandos killed by MILF fighters and other lawless elements.

Emotional Juris reveals pregnancy during concert

Sarah Geronimo

“Kung Kailangan Mo Ako” and “Pangako Sa’yo.”

Richard Poon, KZ Tandingan, Angeline Quinto, Erik Santos, Kyla, Christian Bautista and Vina Morales paid tribute to the singer-composer and performed his songs. Rey was not able to grace the event because he has a show in Davao.

Other artists who performed that night were Jonalyn Viray, Julie Anne San Jose, Tippy Dos Santos, Young JV, Sam Concepcion, Nadine Lustre, James Reid, Sandwich and Autolectic.

The winners were voted by fans in Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and myxph.com. 60% came from fans’ votes, while the remaining 40% were from artist poll.

MYX Music Awards were hosted by VJs Nikki Gil, Robi Domingo, Tippy Dos Santos, Diego Loyzaga, Chino Lio Pio, Ai and Erica.

Here is the complete list of winners: Favorite Music Video – “Tayo”

by Sarah Geronimo (Directed by Avid Liongoren) Favorite Song – “Simpleng Tulad Mo” by Daniel Padilla Favorite Artist – Sarah Geronimo Favorite Female Artist – Sarah Geronimo Favorite Male Artist – Daniel Padilla Favorite Group – Silent Sanctuary Favorite Mellow Video – “Right Where You Belong” by Julie Anne San Jose (Directed by Louie Ignacio) Favorite Rock Video – “Kislap”

by Kamikazee Favorite Urban Video – “Businessman” by Gloc-9 featuring Vinci Montaner (Directed by J.

“ASAP” mainstay Juris Fernandez could not hold her tears as she revealed that she and her husband of almost four years, Gavin Lim, are expecting their first child.

Juris, who turned 37 last March 18, announced her pregnancy during a belated birthday concert held Wednesday at Teatrino Greenhills in San Juan City.

“When I sing, it’s not only [me who is] singing. Somebody else is singing, inside me,” an emotional Juris said, gesturing at her tummy.

Juris wiped her tears as the audience applauded the news.

“I’m just happy to share to you,” she said. “I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been praying for us.”

Mentioning specifically her fans, dubbed “Juristers,” the former MYMP vocalist added: “Tulungan niyo rin kami siyempre na pasalamatan ang Panginoon na pinakinggan niya ‘yung desire namin, ng aming puso.”

On Instagram, Juris said she felt “so blessed and loved by everyone” who came to her show. She also expressed gratitude to guest performer, Aiza Seguerra, and long-time friend and talent manager, Carla Concio.

“It was an awesome experience. Super happy ako na we celebrated this very special year with people who supportPacena II) Favorite New Artist - Darren Espanto Favorite Collaboration – “Takipsilim” by Gloc-9 featuring Regine Velasquez Favorite Remake – “Maybe This Time” by Sarah Geronimo Favorite Media Soundtrack – “No Erase” by James Reid and Nadine Lustre Favorite Guest Appearance in a Music Video – Kathryn Bernardo (“Simpleng Tulad Mo” by Daniel Padilla) Favorite MYX Celebrity VJ – Toni Gonzaga Favorite International Video – “Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift Favorite Kpop Video – “Come Back Home” by 2ne1 (MNS)

ed us for many years,” she said, referring to her fans, collaborators and band mates.

In a separate post on Instagram, Concio similarly celebrated the concert’s success and congratulated Juris on her pregnancy.

“Puwede na namin sabihin, she is super pregnant! Super talaga.

I’m so happy for you and so excited to see your little one,” she said, addressing the singer. “We’ve come a long way. Biro mo ‘yun, mga nene lang tayo dati. Look at us now?

Mommies na! Cheers to 12 years of friendship!” (MNS)

Juris Fernandez

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KITCHENOMICS

FAMILY FEATURES

righten up your Easter feast with unique flavor twists to refresh traditional dishes like ham and deviled eggs. And don’t forget the decorations — it’s easy to create vibrant centerpieces using eggs dyed in the hottest seasonal shades.

“We’ve developed easy tips to dress up your table, from the ham to the centerpiece,” said Mary Beth Harrington of the McCormick Kitchens. “An orange glaze can bring new flavor to the classic ham, while food color can be used to make a variety of spring-inspired egg dyes to feature in Easter table décor.”

For more Easter dinner recipes and egg dyeing ideas, check out www.McCormick.com and visit McCormick Spice on Facebook and Pinterest.

B

Orange Glazed Ham Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 1 hour 45 minutes Servings: 24 1 bone-in spiral-cut ham, about 10 pounds 1 cup orange marmalade 1 teaspoon McCormick Mustard, ground 1/2 teaspoon McCormick Garlic Powder 1/4 teaspoon McCormick Black Pepper, Ground 1/4 teaspoon McCormick Cloves, Ground Preheat oven to 325°F. Place ham on side in roasting pan. Mix marmalade and spices in small bowl until well blended. Brush 1/2 marmalade mixture over ham, gently separating slices so mixture can reach middle of ham. Cover loosely with foil.

Bake 1 hour, basting occasionally with pan drippings. Remove foil. Brush with remaining marmalade mixture. Bake 45 minutes longer. Serve ham with pan drippings.

Tip: Pair spices like ginger or chipotle with fruity jams and preserves to balance out saltiness of ham. Cherry Bourbon, Apricot Pineapple Chipotle or Lemon Ginger are easy flavor combinations your guests will love, and are all available on McCormick.com.

Use food color to create custom egg dyes you won’t find in a kit. Visit McCormick.com for seasonal color combinations inspired by the Pantone Spring “Fashion Color Report” as well as simple directions to create an egg-cellent floral centerpiece.

Smoky Deviled Eggs

Easy Lemon Daisy Cupcakes

Prep time: 10 minutes Servings: 6 6 hard-cooked eggs, peeled 1/4 cup mayonnaise 1/2 teaspoon McCormick Mustard, Ground 1/2 teaspoon McCormick Paprika, Smoked 1/4 teaspoon Lawry’s Seasoned Salt 2 slices bacon, crisply cooked and crumbled Slice eggs in half lengthwise.

Remove yolks; place in small bowl. Mash yolks with fork or potato masher.

Stir in mayonnaise, mustard, smoked paprika and seasoned salt until smooth and creamy. Spoon or pipe yolk mixture into egg white halves. Sprinkle with crumbled bacon.

Refrigerate 1 hour or until ready to serve.

Tip: Deviled eggs are a snap to customize once you create the base of egg yolks, mayonnaise and ground mustard. Try adding chili powder, red pepper and cumin for a Southwest variation or dill weed and parsley for a Dill Mustard version.

Prep time: 30 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Servings: 18 1 package (2-layer size) white cake mix 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons McCormick Pure Lemon Extract, divided 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened 2 tablespoons sour cream 1 package (16 ounces) confectioners’ sugar 10 drops McCormick Yellow Food Color 18 large marshmallows Decorating sugar Jelly beans Green sprinkles Prepare cake mix as directed on package, adding 1 tablespoon of lemon extract. Spoon into 18 paper-lined muffin cups, filling each cup 2/3 full. Bake as directed for cupcakes. Cool cupcakes on wire rack.

For frosting, beat cream cheese, butter, sour cream and remaining 2 teaspoons lemon extract in large bowl until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Stir in food color until evenly tinted. Frost cooled cupcakes.

To decorate cupcakes, cut each marshmallow crosswise into 5 slices. Sprinkle 1 side of each marshmallow slice with decorating sugar. Arrange 5 marshmallow petals on top of each cupcake to resemble daisy, pressing marshmallows into frosting. Place jelly beans in center of petals.

Garnish with sprinkles.

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PRAYERS

PRAYERS

PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

PRAYER to the BLESSED VIRGIN

NOVENA of CONFIDENCE

Holy Spirit Thou who make me see everything and show me the way to reach

(Never known to fail)

O Lord, Jesus Christ, to Your Most Sacred Heart I conÂżde this intention. (Here,

my ideal, You who give me the divine gift to forgive and forget the wrong that

Oh most beautiful Àower of Mt. Carmel, fruit wine splendor of Heaven.Blessed

is done to me and who are in all instances of my life with me. I, in this short dialogue, want to thank You for everything and conÂżrm once more that I never

Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh Star of the Sea. Help me and show me here you are my Mother. Oh Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the

want to be separated from You no matter how great the material desires may be. I want to be with You and my loved ones in Your perpetual glory. Amen. A

bottom of my heart to succour me in my necessity. (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. Oh Mary conceived without sin, pray for

PRAYERS

mention your request) Only look upon me, then do what Your Heart decides....I count on You...I trust in You...I throw myself at Your mercy...Lord Jesus! You will not fail me. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I believe in Your love for me. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I have asked for many favors, but I earnestly implore this one. Take it, place it in Your Sacred Heart.

person must pray this for three consecutive days without stating his wish. After

us who have recourse to Thee (3 times). Holy Mary, I place this prayer in your

When the Eternal Father sees it covered with Your Precious Blood, He will not

the 3rd day the wish will be granted, no matter how difÂżcult it may be. Promise to

hands (3 times). Say this prayer for three consecutive days and then you must

refuse it. It will be no longer my prayer but Yours, O Jesus. O Sacred Heart of

publish this as soon as your favor has been granted. Grateful Thanks -SIMONE

publish and it will be granted to you.Grateful Thanks.-ALYSSA

Jesus, I place my trust in You. Let me never be confounded. Amen. -GARIN

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AFP urges UN to ‘immediately’ act on PHL protest vs. China MANILA, Mar 30 (Mabuhay) – The Armed Forces of the Philippines has urged the United Nations to immediately act on the Philippines’ diplomatic protest filed against China over the latter’s reclamation activities in South China Sea. AFP chief of staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang said the UN should decide on the matter for the military to “move on” to other duties, such as the country’s fight against global terrorism and global climate change.

Catapang said that while the case is pending, the military will

refrain from any action that may further escalate tension.

On Monday, Catapang confirmed that China is indeed building structures in Areas One, Five and Seven on the West Philippine Sea where the Mabini Reef (Johnson South Reef), Panganiban Reef (Mischief Reef) and Kennan Reef (Chigua Reef) are located.

Catapang said these three areas are within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

Meanwhile, while waiting for the resolution, Catapang stressed the need for new equipment to improve the country’s defense capa-

bilities.

He noted that China’s defense capabilities are far more advanced than those of the Philippines.

Beijing is currently undertaking land reclamation on seven disputed features in the South China Sea, including in areas that Philippine officials say are within Manila’s territory.

A latest surveillance photo of Burgos Reef (Gaven Reef), according to Philippine defense officials, showed that China has constructed a building as large as the Mall of Asia in Pasay City – Manila’s biggest shopping mall. (MNS)

Santiago seeks to ease agony of families of missing persons MANILA, Mar 31 (Mabuhay) – Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago wants to ease the agony of families of those who go missing during natural calamities by cutting to two years the waiting time for them to collect death benefits.

In Senate Bill 2703, Santiago seeks to amend Article 391 of the Civil Code, which provides for “exceptional circumstances when a person shall be presumed dead for all purposes.”

Under the law, the following should be presumed dead: a person who has been declared missing for four years after being involved in a sea vessel or an airplane mishap; a person in the armed forces who has taken part in war, and has been missing for four years; and a person who has

been in danger of death under other circumstances and his existence has not been known for four years.

The senator noted that the law did not specifically include those missing due to natural disasters but these could be covered by Article 391.

In explaining her bill, Santiago said the 2012 World Disaster Report ranked the Philippines as the third most disaster-prone country in the world because of its high exposure to natural calamities.

“In 2011, typhoon “Sendong” left around 1,257 dead, 6,071 injured, and 182 missing across 13 provinces. In 2012, typhoon “Pablo” hit Mindanao that caused similar deaths and damage as “Sendong.” Typhoon “Pablo” took the

Gabriela solon slams SM over statement shirt MANILA, Mar 31 (Mabuhay) – A harmless play on words or a means of subtle seduction?

A lawmaker representing women’s rights group Gabriela slammed SM Store for selling a statement shirt which she believes promotes violence against women and children.

Rep. Emmi de Jesus has demanded an explanation from the retail giant on why a green shirt bearing the statement, “I promise I’ll pull out,” is available in the Boy Teen’s section of its department store.

“Has SM’s sense of corporate social responsibility gone so awry that it repeated the trespass of selling merchandise that promotes violence against women and children?” De Jesus asked in a statement on Tuesday.

lives of 1,067 people and injured 2,666 others in 34 provinces, and 834 people went missing. In 2013, super typhoon “Yolanda” killed at least 6,201 people, left more than 28,000 injured, with 1,785 others missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council,” she said.

“Although a person missing due to natural disasters or calamities may fall under Article 391 … four years is still a long time. The waiting period unnecessarily aggravates the grief of the relatives of the missing victims and it also prolongs their agony,” she said.

“These typhoons and other natural disasters have left thousands of families of the missing victims waiting for several years just to receive death benefits,” the senator added.

Thus, Santiago proposed to reduce the waiting period to two years so that persons missing due to natural disasters or calamities like typhoon, volcanic eruption, tsunami, storm surge, earthquake, tornado, landslide, and flood could already be presumed dead.

Once the missing is presumed dead, his surviving family members may start processing the collection of death benefits due them. (MNS)

President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by PNPA director P/CSupt. Armando Ramolete, troops the line during the 36th Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Commencement Exercises of the Lakandula Class of 2015 at the PNPA Grandstand, Camp General Mariano Castañeda in Silang, Cavite on Thursday (March 26). (MNS photo)

Solon seeks higher combat pay for cops MANILA, Mar 31 (Mabuhay) – Dispirited by the measly monthly combat pay of police and military personnel assigned in conflict areas, a lawmaker has proposed increasing that particular allowance of all commissioned and non-commissioned policemen to 25 percent of their base pay.

House Bill 5455 filed by Cebu City Rep. Gabriel Luis Quisumbing also seeks to provide a mission allowance for Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel who are exposed to adversity, combat situation and hazards unusual to peacekeeping.

The mission allowance shall represent 50 percent of the uniformed personnel’s base pay, the bill provides.

Quisumbing, vice chairperson of the House committee on national defense and security, said it was only recently that the public became aware of the paltry combat or hazard pay received by government forces in conflict areas because it was brought up during the Senate investigation of the January 25 Mamasapano clash, when 44 elite police officers were killed.

During the Feb. 10 hearing, sacked Special Action Force chief Director Getulio Napeñas told lawmakers that the police commandos on assignment in critical areas and tactical units only receive about P240 monthly as hazard pay, and P1,020 quarterly as combat pay. This translates to a daily allowance of P7.80 and P11.17, respectively.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said his men also receive the same amount as hazard pay and combat pay.

“With the risk inherent in such missions, the concerned PNP troops only receive measly salaries, allowances, and benefits in exchange for the dangers they face in fulfilling their duties,” Quisumbing said.

The lawmaker has proposed that the amount necessary to implement the measure shall be charged against the savings of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Likewise, the national government shall appropriate annually and include in the General Appropriation Act the amount corresponding to the total annual cost of the increase in combat pay.

(MNS)