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Dingdong proposes to Marian on nat’l TV See PAGE 11
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Pinoy militants ‘seen’ fighting in Iraq, Syria MANILA, Aug 9 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Saturday said it will ask the appropriate agencies to verify reports that Filipino militants are going to Iraq and Syria to fight with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Bureau of Immigration is “very alert” when it comes to those supposed to be leaving for destinations like Iraq and Syria. “We’ll ask them to take a look into news reports that have been surfacing,” she said on government-run dzRB radio. She said the government has been alert after learning of such Filipinos heading for Iraq and Syria. “That’s why our BI [Bureau of Immigration] is very alert when it comes to those who are supposed to be either going to Iraq, Syria or other transit points. Ayaw nating madamay sila,” she
said. A report in the Philippine Daily Inquirer cited a report to officials including Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. indicating Filipinos are among the Southeast Asians being lured to conflict zones in the Middle East. Earlier this week, the Commission on Elections approved the recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs to suspend overseas voter registration in five hotspots including Iraq and Syria. Comelec spokesman James Arthur Jimenez said the Comelec has approved the recommendation of the DFA to suspend voter registration in Libya, Syria, Iraq, the Gaza Strip and the Ukraine. Earlier, the DFA recommended the immediate suspension of overseas voters registration in the five areas considered areas due to the tension there. (MNS) A report in the Philippine Daily Inquirer cited a report to officials including Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. indicating Filipinos are among the Southeast Asians being lured to conflict zones in the Middle East. Some Islamic militants are home-grown, just like the Abu Sayyaf (in photo), who have links with al-Qaeda terrorists. (Photo from http://vkb.isvg.org/Wiki/Groups/Abu_Sayyaf_ Group_(ASG))
Wider coverage, higher penalties under anti-gambling law sought
President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomes the United States Congressional Delegation during the courtesy call at the President’s Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Friday (August 08). In photo are from right, Rep. Jim Moran, Rep. Ken Calvet, Rep. Kay Granger, Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, and Senator Bob Corker (MNS photo)
4th impeachment complaint against Aquino filed MANILA, Aug 11 (Mabuhay) – ACT-Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio on Monday led several teachers in submitting the fourth impeachment complaint against President Benigno Aquino III over what they claimed as the continuation of the pork barrel system in Congress. The 40-page complaint was submitted to the office of House Secretary-General Marilyn Yap Monday morning, a few hours before the start of the plenary session during which three impeachment complaints filed against
Aquino last July will reportedly be referred to the House Justice Committee. Yap, however, was not present to receive the complaint. The petitioners accused Aquino of committing culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust by allowing lawmakers to have access to lump sum funds in 2014 despite a Supreme Court ruling abolishing the pork barrel system. Among the “incontrovertible evidence” that Tinio and the 16
Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan
avoid being brought to justice. See PALPARAN, page 12
SC urged: Reverse ruling absolving Sulpicio exec
paggamit ng DAP sa maling paraan – ang pagpondo sa mga proyekto na basta lamang pinili nang walang masinsinang pagsusuri,” she said. During a Senate hearing last July 24, Binay blasted Budget Secretary Florencio Abad for failing to justify the relevance of the programs funded by the DAP. She questioned how the projects were chosen, saying they did not seem urgent and that the money could have been used to fund more pressing concerns of the people. “Karapatan po ng mamamayan na malaman kung saan inilalagak ng pamahalaan ang buwis na pinaghihirapan nila. Sana See NANCY BINAY, page 12
See SULPICIO EXEC, page 12
See 4TH IMPEACHMENT, page 12
MANILA, August 12, 2014 (AFP) – A retired Philippine general implicated in multiple political assassinations was arrested in a rundown house in the nation’s capital on Tuesday after nearly three years on the run. President Benigno Aquino’s aides hailed the arrest of Jovito Palparan as proof his government was committed to tackling an infamous “culture of impunity”, in which the powerful routinely
See ANTI-GAMBLING, page 12
MANILA, Aug 11 (Mabuhay) – The kin of fatalities in the June 21, 2008 sinking of the M/V Princess of the Stars off the coast of Sibuyan Island, Romblon, urged the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday to reconsider its ruling absolving Sulpicio Lines executive Edgar Go of any criminal liability. In a 30-page motion for reconsideration, petitioners Purita Hibe, Nissan Laurel, Estella Geli, Arlene Olang, Josephine Padua, Vicenta Chua, Illuminada Timajo, Lilybeth Cunanan, Elorde Ilustrisimo, Bob Illut, Ernesto Clarin, Evelyn Bajet, Larina Matriz, Celerna Calayag, and Sonia Manzanilla asked the high court to refer the case to the court en banc and reiterated their plea to have Go, Sulpicio Lines First Vice-President for Administration, indicted for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, physical injuries, and damage to properties. The petition, filed on behalf of
Nancy asks: Where’s documents on DAP? MANILA, Aug 11 (Mabuhay) – Senator Nancy Binay is getting impatient with the Department of Budget and Management’s (DBM) for taking too long to produce the documents she had requested in a bid to further delve into the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP). In a letter addressed to Finance committee head, Senator Francis Escudero, Binay said the documents are important to ensure that public funds are spent in accordance with the Constitution and appropriations law. “Importante po ang mga dokumento na ito upang masagot ang mga katanungang bumabagabag sa ating mga mamamayan. Ang takot po ng taumbayan ay ang
MANILA, Aug 9 (Mabuhay) -- A lawmaker has expressed concern over the proliferation of other forms of illegal gambling not covered by Republic Act 9827 like the operation of “sakla” in urban areas. Rep. Sherwin T. Gatchalian (1st District, Valenzuela City) wants higher penalties imposed on other forms of illegal gambling which “as a social menace, erodes the nation’s basic moral foundations.” He is author of HB 4661 which seeks to amend RA 9827 entitled “An Act increasing the Penalties for illegal numbers games, amending certain provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1602, and for other purposes.”
Wanted general nabbed over missing women
President Benigno S. Aquino III administers the oath of office of newly appointed generals of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in a ceremony at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Monday (August 11). (MNS photo)
Aquino swears in Armed Forces Chief Catapang, other military officers MANILA, Aug 11 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno S. Aquino III on Monday swore in newly appointed Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., and other military officers during simple rites at the Rizal Hall of Malacañang Palace. Catapang, who was appointed as the 45th Chief of Staff of the AFP, assumed his post last July, replacing General Emmanuel Bautista. With him during the ceremony was his family. Following Catapang’s oath-
taking, President Aquino administered the oaths of office to newly promoted generals and flag officers of the AFP. Inducted into office were Lieutenant General Felicito Virgilio Trinidad Jr., Major General Donato San Juan, Major General Victor Bayani, Major General Salvador Melchor Mison Jr., Major General Mayoralgo dela Cruz, Rear Admiral Reynaldo Yoma, Major General Glorioso Miranda, Brigadier General Medardo Geslani, and Brigadier General See CATAPANG, page 12
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Auto sales jump 32% in July MANILA, Aug 11 (Mabuhay) – Vehicle sales in the Philippines surged to a new monthly record in July, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) and the Truck Man-
ufacturers Association (TMA) said on Monday. A total of 20,730 units were sold in July this year, or an increase of 32 percent compared to units sold in the same month last year.
An additional 1,108 units were sold in July compared to June’s sales of 19,622 units. CAMPI and TMA attributed the continued sales growth to the high demand for passenger cars as well as aggressive product launches and extensive marketing support to meet the customer demand. “We are grateful for the market’s continued patronage of the automotive industry despite the recent onslaught of Typhoon Glenda last July causing interruptions in production and transport of supply. While we were expecting lower results due to the mentioned typhoon, we have still breached the high sales of last month, even higher year-onyear. As for the month of August, we are expecting to have lower to stable sales attributed to lower seasonality for the month,” said CAMPI president Atty. Rommel Gutierrez. Sales in passenger car and commercial vehicle categories increased by 64.6 percent and 16.6 percent respectively.
NAGBABAGANG SUMMER BONANZA SALES!
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NDRRMC: 5 volcanic quakes recorded at Taal in last 24 hours MANILA, Aug 9 (Mabuhay) – At least five quakes were recorded at Taal Volcano in Batangas in the last 24 hours, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Saturday. But the NDRRMC, in its Saturday update, reiterated a hazardous eruption is not imminent, and that the alert level there remained at “1.” “The public is reminded that the Main Crater should be strictly off-limits because sudden steam explosions may occur and high concentrations of toxic gases may accumulate,” it said. It added the northern portion of the main crater rim near
Daang Kastila trail may also become dangerous when steam emission at the fissures there suddenly increases. The NDRRMC also reminded the public the entire volcano island is a permanent danger zone, and warned them against settling there. Meanwhile, the NDRRMC said two volcanic quakes were detected at Mayon Volcano in Albay in the last 24 hours. It reminded the public against venturing into the six-kilometer permanent danger zone due to the “perennial” threats of rockfalls, landslides and avalanches. (MNS)
Palace reviewing evidence in complaint vs ERC chief MANILA, Aug 9 (Mabuhay) – The documents and other evidence submitted in connection with a complaint against Energy Regulatory Commission chairperson Zenaida Ducut are now under review, Malacañang said Saturday. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said this in-
cludes the evidence submitted by all parties concerned. “Under review, [ay ang] lahat na dokumento at ebidensyang nasubmit ng mga partido,” she said on government-run dzRB radio, but gave no further details. Last May, Valte had said the complaint against Ducut for her supposed neglect of duty in allowing power rate hikes had reached the “advanced” stage. Valte added at the time the complaint against Ducut filed by Akbayan is “moving,” and Ducut is being given the chance to air her side. Akbayan had lodged the complaint as early as January for alleged gross negligence that allowed the Manila Electric Co. to hike power rates. Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello said the ERC under Ducut failed to give due notice to the public or conduct a hearing on the rate hike. (MNS)
Beijing chides US for urging claimants to ‘freeze’ actions on South China Sea
BEIJING, August 11, 2014 (AFP) – Beijing accused the US of deliberately stoking tensions in the South China Sea as it rejected Washington’s proposal for a freeze on provocative actions in the region, the foreign ministry said Monday. The remarks by Foreign Minister Wang Yi came at an ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) overshadowed by disputes over the strategically significant sea. Beijing claims it almost in its entirety, putting it at odds with countries including the Philippines and Vietnam, and there have been several tense encounters in the area over recent months. US Secretary of State John Kerry appeared at the forum to push for a multilateral agreement to end all actions that risk further inflaming regional sensitivities. But Wang said: “Some countries outside the region are restless, and stir up tensions... might their intention be to create chaos in the region? “China and ASEAN are totally able to safeguard well the peace and stability of South China Sea.” His comments, posted on the foreign ministry’s website Monday, were aimed squarely at the US, state-run media said. China’s official Xinhua news agency headlined its report on his comments: “China rebuffs US ‘freeze’ proposal on South China Sea.” It said Wang repeated China’s long-standing rejection of multilateral talks over the sea, saying that “relevant disputes should be addressed by countries directly concerned”. In a commentary Monday, Xinhua described Washington’s proposal as “counterproductive”, adding: “It is simply an unconstructive idea. “By stoking the flames, Washington is further emboldening countries like the Philippines and Vietnam to take a hardline stance against China,” it said.
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Guia Gomez talks about Erap 2016 bid MANILA, Aug 8 (Mabuhay) -- Will Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada vie for the presidency again in 2016? Asked about Estrada running again for President in 2016, she said: “Let the future decide, destiny lahat yan.” Talk of Estrada possibly running anew for 2016 started after Vice President Jejomar Binay said he has information that some Liberal Party members are considering adopting him as a guest candidate for the 2016 presidential race. If this pushes through, Es-
trada said the United Nationalist Alliance would have no choice but to field its own candidate, adding that his possible presidential bid is still “50-50.” He also said he is confident Binay will stay with the opposition. Estrada won the presidency in 1998 but was deposed in 2001 after a bloodless revolt. He ran for the same position in 2010 but lost to President Benigno Aquino III. He is currently mayor of Manila after defeating re-electionist Alfredo Lim. Meanwhile, San Juan Con-
Palace wants SolGen in on SC post shortlist despite Sereno’s opposition MANILA, Aug 11 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang is insisting that Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza should be kept on the list of applicants for the next Supreme Court associate justice, despite the objections raised by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno against the nomination. In a five-page comment, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa contested the constitutionality and validity of Section 2, Rule 10 of the Judicial Bar and Council-009, which Sereno earlier cited in opposing Jardeleza’s bid for a seat on the high court. Section 2, Rule 9 of JBC-009 requires the affirmative vote of all the JBC members for an applicant whose integrity has been challenged. Ochoa said the provisions seemed to impair the collegial character of the JBC. “This rule seems to be in conflict with the collegial nature of the JBC since the unanimity requirement gives the objector effective veto power when such objector is a member of the JBC,” he said. “The unanimity rule undermines the equal and full participation of the nomination. Consequently, a lone objector can override the will of the majority by the simple expedient of raising an objection,” Ochoa added. Ochoa noted the main purpose of creating the JBC was to “shield the appointment process from politics.” The particular JBC provision violates the due process accorded a candidate as it does not allow any meaningful opportunity to refute the claims against him or her, Ochoa added. In case the JBC provision is deemed constitutional, the unanimity rule should only apply when the one raising an objection is not a member of the JBC. Sereno chairs the council. “Otherwise, when a member of the JBC is at the same time an objector under Section 2, Rule 10, then there would be no occasion which said provision will be operative, as the unanimous vote envisioned therein will never be attained,” he said. Jardeleza earlier filed with the SC a controversial letter seeking to stop Sereno from voting on the shortlist of candidates to fill in the seat vacated by retired Associate Justice Roberto Abad because of Sereno was supposedly opposing the solicitor general’s bid. Jardeleza expressed fears that he might get disqualified if Sereno, who reportedly opposed his bid due to alleged immorality and integrity issues, would be allowed to vote in the scheduled JBC meeting.
gressman and House Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora said he is certain there will a presidential election in 2016. He said a proposal to extend the term of President Aquino is just a trial balloon among allies. “Baka naman yung iba sa partido nila ay nagpapalapad lang ng papel, hindi nila kailangan yan,” he said. “I am certain he is not for it personally. You need constitutional amendments and that will not happen. Tuloy ang halalan sa 2016, let us prepare for that.” (MNS)
Talk of Estrada possibly running anew for 2016 started after Vice President Jejomar Binay said he has information that some Liberal Party members are considering adopting him as a guest candidate for the 2016 presidential race.
Drilon urges govt, MILF to submit draft Bangsamoro Law before August ends MANILA, Aug 11 (Mabuhay) – Senate President Franklin Drilon on Monday urged the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to submit to Congress the final draft of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) before the end of the month. Drilon said the sooner the draft is sent to the Senate and House of Representatives, the better as they will be able to discuss, deliberate and approve it before the year ends or in the first quarter of 2015. “Sana po maibigay sa Kongreso at Senado yung proposed Basic Law by the end of the August para magkaroon kami ng sapat na panahon para talakayin at bago po matapos ang taon o first quarter of next year, amin na pong matapos itong panukalang batas,” he said during a news forum in Manila. The government and MILF peace panels, however, have yet to come up with an agreed version of the BBL even after 10 days of meeting in Davao. The panels said they agreed to finish the draft by August 18, 2014. “Aming hinihiling sa Malacañang at sa MILF na sa lalong madaling panahon e isumite na sa Kongreso itong proposed draft ng Bangsamoro dahil lalo pong
tumatagal ay nahihirapan po ang Kongreso upang ipasa ito,” said Drilon. He said if the MILF and the government will be able to come up with the final version by the end of the month, they will double time to approve it. “I think the first quarter of next year is a reasonable period within which to pass this and have it ratified in 2015, have the election take place in May 2016 and have the new Bangsamoro Juridical entity in place by July 1, 2016,” he said. ‘Non-passage not an option’ The Senate leader expressed confidence that Congress will be able to pass the BBL on time. “The schedule is a little tight but we will work on it because non-passage of the basic law is not an option. Kailangan po magawa natin ito para sa kapayapaan at kaunlaran ng Mindanao because peace and security is a basic foundation upon which progress can be achieved and poverty can be addressed in Mindanao,” he said. He said the Filipino people should do its part as he noted that the international community has pushed for peace and progress in Mindanao. “The international community
has been unselfish in assisting us in having this agreement signed. Japan, Great Britain, Turkey, United States, and a few others. They have been very enthusiastic and supportive of this process so we cannot afford to fail here,” he said. Drilon said the Senate will prioritize BBL and also ensure that it will be “within the four corners of the Constitution.” He said the draft BBL will be referred to the Committee on Local Government headed by Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., jointly with the Committee on Peace and Unification headed by Sen. Teofisto Guingona III. “Sen. Bongbong Marcos has assured me that he will give it priority, that issues as regards the question on possible constitutional issues, he will resolve in favor of its constitutionality because ultimately this will be brought to Supreme Court,” he said. “Any doubt on the constitutionality will be brought to Supreme Court so it is there that the real debate will take place on the constitutional issues that could be raised in the course of our working on the Basic Law,” said Drilon. (MNS)
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Palace: Let Congress explain ‘hidden pork’ MANILA, Aug 11 (Mabuhay) Malacañang on Monday distanced itself from allegations that pork barrel funds were still being made available to lawmakers, after a fourth impeachment complaint was filed against President Benigno Aquino III. “I think that’s a matter that should best be addressed by Congress,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said during a televised press briefing. “There were certain allegations that there was closed-door. We’re not familiar with that closed-door proceeding. So we would rather let Congress or the House of Representatives speak on that,” he added. Complainants of the fourth impeachment complaint said they had audio recordings of Commission on Higher Education (Ched) chairperson Patricia Licuanan and Department of Health Undersecretary Janet Garin who said lawmakers had allotted funds with their agencies. The petitioners of the fourth impeachment rap submitted the CD of the audio recording with the complaint. He said lawmakers received P14 million in scholarship allotments with Ched and P10 million in medical assistance under the DOH. In August 2013, amid the pork barrel scam issue, President Benigno Aquino III said it was time to abolish the controversial Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). Three months after, the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional. “All informal practices of similar import and effect, which the Court similarly deems to be acts of grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of discretion,” the high court said of the lump sum fund. (MNS)
CBCP president support people’s initiative vs. pork barrel MANILA, Aug 9 (Mabuhay) – Philippine Catholic bishops over the weekend voiced support for moves for a people’s initiative seeking to abolish the pork barrel system. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said the pork system can be considered an unjust use of public funds. “All measures our citizens take, provided these are moral, peaceful and lawful, aimed at curbing corruption and the irresponsible use of public funds have our full support,” an article posted on the CBCP news site quoted Villegas as saying. The CBCP said Villegas’ statement stemmed from moves in Congress to revise the Supreme Court’s constitutional interpretation of “savings.” According to the CBCP, a Cebu-based anti-pork coalition is now gathering signatures for a people’s initiative to pass a law that would outlaw the pork barrel system. Msgr. Romulo Kintanar of the Cebu Coalition Against the Pork Barrel System said they are aiming to get 5.4 million signatures or 10 percent of the total voting population. The CBCP added the People’s Initiative Against the Pork Barrel (PIAP) plans to launch a signature campaign at a people’s congress in Cebu City on August 23. Expected to attend are Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and former Chief Justice Reynato Puno. Earlier, the high court declared the Priority Development Assistance Fund as unconstitutional, and the Disbursement Acceleration Program as partially unconstitutional. But Villegas said the CBCP had received information about “attempts to perpetuate the system through the appropriation of lump sums in the national budget under various pretexts.” “We therefore fully endorse the people’s initiative aimed at legislating the proscription of funds made available to officials and subject to their discretion alone,” he said. Meanwhile, the bishops criticized the practice of classifying sizable amounts of public money as “intelligence funds” and thus beyond the scope of regular audits. “’You cannot serve both God and money’. We choose to serve God and we cannot countenance the idolization of money, especially when it takes the form of unfettered access to the money of the people,” he said. (MNS)
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DAP, PDAF caused drop in Aquino admin satisfaction rating – Drilon MANILA, Aug 11 (Mabuhay) – The controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program, aside from the pork barrel scam, caused the drop in the satisfaction ratings of the Aquino administration, Senate President Franklin Drilon said Monday. “I would attribute this (drop) to the involvement of a number of our senators and members of Congress in the so-called PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) scandal, in the issue on DAP which has not been received well by our people and a few other factors,” Drilon said during a news forum in Manila. A survey by the Social Weather Stations released Monday showed that the Aquino administration’s satisfaction rating fell to a new low, a “moderate” +29 , in June. It showed that only 56 percent were satisfied with the administration’s general performance, down from 65 percent in the first quarter. Dissatisfaction went up to 26 percent from 20 percent in the first quarter, resulting in the +29 net satisfaction rating. Critics questioned the DAP which allowed the executive branch in 2013 to use the savings and realign it to augment existing programs and projects and fund priority programs and projects not consid-
ered in the 2012 budget. DAP hit the headlines after Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, one of the accused in the pork barrel scam, revealed that several senators received P50 million to P100 million after the conviction of Chief Justice Renato Corona by the Senate impeachment court. On July 1, 2014, the Supreme Court declared as unconstitutional some provisions of DAP. Drilon expressed confidence that the administration’s satisfaction rating will improve in the following months. “This survey is focused on a particular period. I’m confident that the administration will recover from this and increase the net satisfaction level of this administration,” he said. The Senate leader also said that the Aquino administration’s satisfaction rating is still better than that of the Arroyo administration. “Why don’t we compare the Aquino administration’s satisfaction rating, which is more than a majority of our populace, compare it to where the previous administration was at this stage of their administration and you will see that the Aquino administration is faring much, much better,” he added. (MNS)
Australia, Dutch vow justice for MH17 victims THE HAGUE, August 11, 2014 (AFP) – Australia and The Netherlands on Monday vowed to bring justice to the families of victims of downed flight MH17, despite the search for body parts being halted because of fighting in eastern Ukraine. “We owe it to the dead, we owe it to the grieving families to bring them (the victims) home and to give them justice,” Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said. “We are not just partners in grief, but partners in demanding justice in the face of this terrible atrocity,” Abbott told Dutch Premier Mark Rutte at a press conference in The Hague. The Australian leader is in The Netherlands for a one-day visit to thank the Dutch government for leading the investigation and to offer condolences to the victims’ families. The Netherlands lost 193 citizens and Australia lost 38 citizens and residents when the Malaysia Airlines plane from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down over eastern Ukraine on July 17, killing all 298 on board. Dutch, Australian and Malaysian forensic ex-
perts went to the crash site to retrieve body parts, but their search was suspended last Wednesday. Investigators flew back to The Netherlands after it became too dangerous to stay in the area – the scene of rising clashes between Kiev and pro-Russian separatists. The West accuses pro-Moscow rebels of shooting down the plane, while Russia has blamed Ukraine. “While the operation has been suspended... it certainly hasn’t been finished,” Abbott said. Rutte added: “We’re putting our work on hold, but we’re not stopping. Prime Minister Abbott and I are committed to resuming the work at the crash site as soon as the situation stabilises sufficiently.” More than 220 coffins filled with remains have been taken to The Netherlands where the painstaking process of identifying the victims has begun. By Saturday some 65 victims of the crash had been identified, the Dutch government said. “The reception of the bodies... was a moment when people who have not been treated properly in life at least were treated properly in death,” said Abbott. “It reflected so well on the Dutch people,” he said.
Palace on all-time-low ratings: It’s the final scorecard that matters
MANILA, Aug 11 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Monday brushed aside the all-time-low net satisfaction ratings received by President Benigno Aquino III’s administration last June, based on a Social Weather Stations (SWS) polls. In a text message, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said Aquino’s ratings when he relinquishes the presidency in 2016 is more important than recent surveys. “What matters most is the final scorecard when the administration’s term is completed,” the Palace official said. He added that the government is more focused on implementing reforms and programs.
“We are determined to pursue and implement fully the priority programs of the PDP [Philippine Development Program] and the reform measures in line with the President’s social contract with the Filipino people,” Coloma said. The communications secretary made these statements after the SWS survey revealed that more Filipinos became dissatisfied with the Aquino administration last June. The same poll showed that the President’s satisfaction ratings dropped to a moderate +25, the lowest since he took office in 2010. Similarly, results of a Pulse Asia survey released last month showed a significant drop in Aquino’s approval and trust ratings. (MNS)
God is the guardian of undocumented children By Andrea Acosta El Pregonero (Translated by Elena Shore)
SILVER SPRING, Md., Aug 10, 2014 – While children cross the border alone, their parents in the United States are going through intense anxiety – and the only thing they can do is pray to God to protect their kids along the journey. Each successful trip is God’s doing, according to many immigrant parents who are waiting on the other side of the Rio Grande, impatient and full of faith. “What I did was put her in the hands of God and God put angels along her path to bring my girl to me,” Salvadoran immigrant Carmen Molina told El Pregonero recently, referring to the trip her daughter Valeria made nearly three years ago. Two journeys Carmen left El Salvador 10 years ago, crossed through Guatemala and Mexico by bus and taxi, and then crossed the Rio Grande to come to the United States. She made the journey with her brother, guided by coyotes, and says that God took care of them along the way. The worst part of the trip, she says, was the journey on the infamous train known as “La Bestia” (The Beast), but she was saved from any harm inflicted by traffickers. “There are a lot of deaths on the train,” she says. “Some people lose limbs, immigrants are stripped of their clothes and robbed, women are raped….” After three dangerous weeks making the journey north, Carmen was arrested by immigration authorities. She decided not to appear in court, so she remained undocumented. She had left her family and her country behind, with the goal of working to help her family back home. “I cried every day for my 6-year-old and 10-year-old daughters, who I left in my mom’s care,” says the parishioner of the San Camilo Church in Silver Spring, Maryland. She tearfully recalled the moment she said goodbye, when her younger daughter told her, “‘Take me with you, Mom… I’m going to go with you and I won’t leave your side.’” Carmen remembers Valeria’s words and the expression on her little face. “They are painful moments you’ll never forget,” she says. Since she got here, she’s been working as a housecleaner and has always been able to send her money to her mother in El Salvador. Carmen wanted her older daughter to come to the United States, but she was too scared to make the journey. Her younger daughter, who was 13 years old at the time, kept saying that she wanted to see her mother. She was excited, brave and determined to undertake the adventure of crossing three countries. Before making the decision, the desperate mother knelt down and prayed: “My God, help me.
Between October and June, more than 57,000 unaccompanied children were detained at the US-Mexico border, about threequarters of them minors fleeing poverty and gang violence in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, according to Agence France Presse.
Bring me my daughters. I miss them so much, and I can’t stand the pain….” Carmen had already gotten married in the United States and couldn’t abandon her husband and her three daughters who were born here. If she returned to El Salvador, she wouldn’t be able to get back in the country. So, between a rock and a hard place, she chose to come up with $4,500 to pay a woman who had been recommended to her to guide her daughter across the borders. The trip Valeria set out on the trek and the woman didn’t leave her alone for a moment. “I wasn’t that worried because my daughter would call me along the way, and tell me where she was,” says the Salvadoran mother. But she admits that she became extremely anxious when it came time for her daughter to cross the river. “As they crossed the river, I spent the whole time on my knees asking God to help my daughter.” After Valeria made it across, she had one last challenge: getting past the Border Patrol. So Carmen kept doing the only thing she knew how to do: pray. She knelt down again to pray to God that the agent would only look at the woman’s papers… and that’s what happened. “They just looked at us and said, ‘Go ahead,’ says Valeria. Carmen recognizes her daughter’s courage and describes all of this as God’s work. “I’m happy that everything was OK and my daughter made it to my home in 22 days.” The day of the reunion was very emotional, says the mother, who went from feeling anxiety to being at peace. Her daughter ran to her and said: “Mommy, mommy, I got to see you again. I did it. I’m here with you.” Carmen was surprised to see how thin Valeria was. “She was so skinny that she didn’t even fit into size zero pants. I just felt her bones when she hugged me and I started to cry,” recalls the mother, who says she is now finally happy.
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Fil-Ams enjoy fun, exciting activities at 9th edition Ambassadors tour By Manny V. Ilagan
MANILA – Another ‘FUN’ homecoming full of exciting activities marked this year’s 9th Ambassadors, Consuls General and Tourism Directors Tour to the Philippines (ACGTDT). Despite the threat of Tropical Depression Inday brewing at the northeast of the Philippines area of responsibility, the 9th ACGTDT, held from July 28 to 31, was generally blessed with good weather with only scattered rain showers that did nothing to dampen the high spirits of this year’s tour participants. Close to 300 Filipino-Americans from all over the United States under the jurisdiction of Foreign Service Posts in Agana, Honolulu, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington D.C. arrived to a VIP reception on July 28 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The next three nights and four days were a whirlwind of activities for the participants who were entertained, serenaded, wined, dined and were accorded with some of the best receptions organized by Tourism Promotions Board, DOT’s marketing arm and Rajah Tours Philippines, the ground handler of ACGTDT. Cultural presentations highlighted the welcome reception especially arranged for the tour participants held at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia Jr., who headed the delegation from Washington D.C., warmly welcomed the participants and further encouraged them to often visit the Philippines for deeper appreciation of all things Filipino. Meanwhile, the fellowship night hosted by Western Union at Dusit Thani Hotel on July 29 was marked by lots of music, entertainment by a live band, and a lot of dancing among participants. The all-white-dress themed fellowship night was made more exciting by the surprise raffle prizes with a lucky participant winning a round trip ticket to the United
States and the Philippines. Consul General Leo HerreraLim, who delivered his speeches at both parties stressed the importance of revisiting the homeland. Those who joined the Studio Tours of GMA Network and ABSCBN TV had a blast as they met and had selfies with showbiz personalities when they attended GMA’s noontime game show “Eat Bulaga” and ABS-CBN’s musical variety show “It’s Showtime.” The special Makati and Manila city tours also included visits to Intramuros, Metropolitan Museum at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, San Agustin Museum, Manila’s Ocean Park, among others. One of the highlights of this year’s visit was a guided tour to the Pico de Loro Cove at Hamilo Coast resort in Nasugbu, Batangas. Travelling to Nasugbu via the Cavite Expressway or popularly known as Cavitex was without delay courtesy of the PNP (Philippine National Police) motorcyle cops who provided escorts the tour participants. On hand to welcome and joined the tour participants throughout their stay at Pico de Loro were Mayor Charito Apacible of Nasugbu, Batangas, DOT-Region 4 Director Rebecca V. Labit and Ms. Emily Katigbak, Batangas Provincial Tourism Officer who represented Batangas Governor Vilma Santos. At Pico de Loro the participants were treated to whole day of fun activities that included a warm VIP welcome with festive cultural entertainment, VIP dancers, rondalla music, a sumptuous lunch, and lots of opportunities for swimming, diving, snorkeling or simply strolling around the resort. Even the send-off party was done in style with upbeat music and mob dancing as participants started to board their buses for the trip back to Manila. Participants also joined the traditional wreath-laying ceremony at the Rizal Monument in Luneta. Thereafter, they motored to Malacanang for a tour and a lun-
Close to 300 Filipino-Americans from all over the United States under the jurisdiction of Foreign Service Posts in Agana, Honolulu, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington D.C. Spent three nights and four days with a whirlwind of activities late last month during the 9th edition of the Ambassadors, Consuls General and Tourism Directors Tour to the Philippines. Participants were entertained, serenaded, wined, dined and were accorded with some of the best receptions organized by Tourism Promotions Board, DOT’s marketing arm and Rajah Tours Philippines, the ground handler of ACGTDT.
cheon at the Palace. While the participants were unable to have an audience with President Benigno S. Aquino III, Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., head of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario were on hand to welcome the delegates. Ambassador Cuisia presented this year’s participants to the 9th ACGTDT and introduced each delegation from all Foreign Service Posts. Secretary Coloma gave the welcome address. Secretary Del Rosario in his speech positively talked about EDCA, the strong Philippine-US relationship
and the two countries’ economic partnership. As the four-day tour ended, Rajah Tour Philippines, ACGTDT tour ground handler, has arranged optional out-of-town tours for participants who want to have additional travel experience in other Philippine destinations. These destinations include Laoag-Vigan, Cagayan de Oro-Camiguin, Southern Luzon Golf Tours, Davao, Cebu-Bohol, IloiloBacolod, Kalibo-Boracay, Camarines Sur-Albay, and Puerto Princesa-Palawan. ACGTDT, which was launched in 2005 during the term of then Philippine Ambassador to the United States and now Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, is now
nine years old and has consistently attracted hundreds of participants every year. It is a joint project of all Philippine Foreign Service missions in the U.S. located in Agana, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. The program, which was by the Department of Tourism (DOT) as a banner tourism project in 2011 is aimed to encourage Filipino-Americans to visit the Philippines’ various tourist destination and to develop a deeper appreciation of the history, heritage and cultural of our country. Based on the DOT’s most recent industry performance report for the irst half of 2014, visitors from the United States constituted the second biggest arrivals for the period.
Fil-Am youth leaders humbled by PHL immersion trip WASHINGTON, D.C., Aug. 8 – What began as a program to reconnect with their Filipino roots ended up becoming a humbling learning experience for 10 Filipino-American youth leaders. Now back in the United States after an immersive program in the Philippines, the delegates to the 3rd Filipino American Youth Leadership Program (FYLPro) said they are ready to make a difference in their respective communities. “I think the FYLPro, in its own Filipino way, was an indirect immersion and an opportunity for the Philippines to reveal herself to us through indelible images and thoughts that will sit with us long beyond the airplanes carrying us have touched down back on American soil,” said Michael Dahilig, Director of the Department of Planning at the County of Kauai in Hawaii. “The past week in the Philippines has placed into context the extreme privilege my family has fought to allow me to live, and that my identity as an American needs to be softened and humbled by knowing the roots of my bloodline come from fighters and survivors,” Dahilig added. “I thank the program for stirring that hunger and thirst and allowing me to reflect on where my place remains.” For some delegates, like Edward Aparis, a consultant from Chula Vista, California, the program provided a firsthand perspective of where the Philippines is now and where it is headed. “I have more to learn about this new and brave Philippines. At the end, I am a visitor here with sincere intentions to contribute, but I must learn from others,” said Aparis. “We are partners in this grand endeavor to bridge the new Philippines and the Filipino-American communities we work and live in.”
During the four-day program from 24 to 28 July, the delegates met and dialogued with senior officials and policymakers, leaders of industry, media, cultural experts, entrepreneurs both traditional and social, as well as innovators in different fields. They also had exposure trips in Marikina and Cavite. “There is a fire that has been ignited in me to give back to the Philippines in more significant ways than I would have prior to the start of the program,” said Abbey Eusebio, a Constituent Advocate from Lincolnwood, Illinois, who wants to take part in the Teach for the Philippines program. According to Ryan Letada, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of NextDayBetter Inc., FYLPro offers an opportunity for young Filipino-Americans to find a meaningful connection to the Philippines. “It’s about building empathy and learning between Filipino-Americans in the US and Filipinos in the Philippines in the hope of creating impactful collaborations that will push forward our global and local Filipino communities forward,” said Letada who wants to serve as a bridge between the innovation communities in the United States and the Philippines and “help grow this sector in a meaningful and collaborative way.” The opportunity to travel and interact with change makers in the Philippines was a learning experience for the delegates. For the participants, FYLPro is not an end but a means to continue bringing about positive change in their communities. “I believe that FYLPro is about a vision. A vision to engage Filipino communities around the world for continued improvement in the Philippines. Closer to home, it is about uniting and empowering Filipino-Americans to connect
and strengthen that bond between cultures and countries,” said Rafael Diokno, Project Lead at SGT Inc. in Washington, D.C. “We learn from the successes of Filipino trailblazers as they take the Philippines to the next level. In turn, we, as individuals and as a team, must find ways to take action that will have meaningful impact in achieving that vision,” he added. Jan Paul Ferrer, Associate Vice President at Morgan Stanley in Illinois, said he saw the overwhelming compassion for those living in poverty in the Philippines. “Upon my immersion to the Philippines through FYLPro, it is evident that the Filipino-American Community has its heart in the right place,” said Ferrer. “However, the passion to make an impact must be truly partnered with those affected to find out what they want.”
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CBP foils export of bear skull, baboon, lynx and bobcat full mounts bound for PHL LOS ANGELES, Aug. 6 – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Los Angeles/ Long (LA/LB) Beach Seaport seized seven boxes of mounted wildlife, antlers and horns, headed for the Philippines in a consolidated shipment, declared as household goods, on July 23. The menagerie CBP seized are a bear skull; full mounts of a baboon, lynx with a bird, bobcat; shoulder
mounts of three deer, a wildebeest, a zebra, an African antelope, an African gazelle, a goat; six pairs of deer antlers; a pair of kudu horns, a pair of impala horns; two smallmouth bass full mounts and an alligator gar fish head mount. The estimated total value is $8,875. “This is the largest and has the most assortment of wildlife that CBP at the LA/LB seaport has seized,” said Todd C. Owen, CBP
director of field operations in Los Angeles. CBP officers selected the outbound container for inspection. In it they found seven boxes with animal heads written in capital letters in red ink, amongst the consolidation. None of the mounts were declared to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or had any required export permits. The bear skull, full mounts of a baboon, lynx with a bird, and bobcat
are also protected by CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) and required that additional export permit. The violator, a 44 year-old citizen of the Philippines was visiting the United States on vacation for the first time together with his wife and two children. They rented a minivan in Los Angeles and toured parts of the U.S. He purchased most of
the trophy mounts from a liquidator in Texas. He said he had no plans of buying such a quantity and got carried away buying the mounts. After he realized it all wouldn’t fit in the van, he rented a 14 foot U haul van, the only size available which he later regretted driving back to California. When he returned to the store, started loading the animal trophies into the U-Haul, he saw that there was still more space, so he bought more mounts thinking he might as well make the most of it. He said he was unaware of the export requirements and that that day in Texas was more like a ‘seize the day’ sort of moment. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation’s borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
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KITCHENOMICS After School Peanut Butter Apple Pie Recipe contributed by winner Alisa L., Midwest region Place crust in 9-inch pie pan and crimp Servings: 8 pieces edges. Use dried beans to weigh down Prepared pie crust bottom. Bake crust for 10–15 minutes, Chopped peanuts (optional) or until crust is lightly browned. Filling: Mix all filling ingredients together and 7 apples, peeled cored and sliced put in crust. Using hands, mix crumble 2/3 cup sugar ingredients until in pea-sized pieces. Top 3 tablespoons flour apples with crumble. Don’t worry if sky 1 teaspoon lemon juice high, apples will cook down and pie will Crumble: be perfectly proportioned. 3/4 cup rolled oats Bake at 350°F for 40–50 minutes. 1/4 cup butter Keep edges covered with foil until 1/4 cup peanut butter 1/3 cup brown sugar last 15 minutes. Garnish with chopped 1/2 cup flour peanuts.
Easy PB & J Breakfast Tarts
Regional dishes featuring delicious peanut butter
FAMILY FEATURES
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n kitchens, cafeterias and restaurants nationwide, our local food preferences may be unique, and our culinary traditions may be diverse, but we all share a common bond: a love for peanut butter. “Affordable, nutritious and of course delicious, peanut butter is a staple found in most American homes,” said Leslie Wagner, executive director of Southern Peanut Growers. “While some parts of the country prefer their foods hot and spicy, others prefer savory or sweet. But no matter where you go, families love making peanuts or peanut butter a key ingredient in their favorite recipes.” To celebrate the unique flavors from coast to coast, and to find the best hometown PB recipes, Southern Peanut Growers conducted its first “PB My Way” regional recipe contest. Peanut butter lovers nationwide submitted their recipes, from spicy stuffed peppers inspired by the Southwest to decadent chocolate bars in the Northeast. These are the top regional PB-powered recipes in our “United States of Peanut Butter.” For more recipes, visit www.peanutbutterlovers.com.
Recipe contributed by winner Susan M., West region Servings: 8 tarts small peas. Drizzle mixture with cold water until mixture is moist and holds 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus together. Roll out on floured surface to more for rolling at least 1/16th of an inch thickness. 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour Using 3-by-5-inch index (recipe) 6 tablespoons sugar card for template, cut into sixteen 1 teaspoon sea salt 3-by-5-inch shapes. Re-rolling works fine. 2/3 cup shortening In middle of eight shapes, smear 6 tablespoons peanut butter plus 4 heaping teaspoons for 1/2 heaping teaspoon peanut butter filling (1/2 teaspoon per tart) and heaping teaspoon of jam on top. Be 1/2 cup cold water careful not to go to edges. Using fingers, 5 tablespoons jam (strawberry wet edges with water and place another works well) piece of pastry on top. Press all sides well, and using fork press all edges to secure. Drizzle option 1: Using fork, gently poke tops in four 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1 tablespoon jam places so steam can escape. 1 tablespoon milk Place inch apart on parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 13–14 minutes Drizzle option 2: until starting to brown around edges. 1/2 cup powdered sugar Cool on rack. 1/4 teaspoon strawberry extract, Whisk together drizzle of choice in optional small bowl. Drizzle over cooled tarts. 1 tablespoon milk Note: This pastry is very user-friendly Preheat oven to 350°F. In medium bowl and delicate. Freeze tarts up to one month mix together flours, sugar and sea salt. and defrost at room temperature before Using pastry cutter, cut-in shortening and peanut butter, until mixture resembles serving.
Carolina Dreaming Appetizer Meatballs Recipe contributed by winner Janice E., Southeast region Servings: 24 meatballs 1/2 cup peanut butter 1/4 cup fig preserves 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon minced or grated fresh ginger 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper 1 1/4 pounds ground turkey 4 green onions, finely chopped (including green tops) 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley 1 large egg 1 teaspoon salt Diced green onion tops or chopped parsley (optional) Preheat oven to 425°F. Whisk together peanut butter, preserves, Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice until well blended. Add ginger, black and red pepper, mixing well. Reserve. Place approximately half peanut butter mixture into mixing bowl (reserve remainder for later). Add turkey, green onions, parsley, egg and salt to mixing bowl and mix lightly but thoroughly. Roll mixture into 1-inch balls and place 1 inch apart on lightly greased, rimmed baking sheet. Place into oven and bake for 15 minutes. Remove pan from oven and brush tops of meatballs with remaining peanut butter mixture. Return pan to oven and bake for about 5–8 minutes more, or until nicely browned. Remove from oven. Arrange on serving plate and sprinkle with diced green onion tops or parsley, if desired. Note: Use with decorative toothpicks placed in each meatball for easy consumption.
Nutty Jalapeno-Chicken Stuffed Peppers Recipe contributed by winner Lori M., Southwest region Servings: 12 peppers 12 large jalapeno peppers, split open (not all the way through) and seeded 1/2 cup peanut butter 1 cup shredded cooked chicken 1 3-ounce package cooked bacon pieces 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1/4 cup mayonnaise 1 cup crushed cornflakes Preheat oven to 350°F. Place peppers in medium bowl and cover with boiling water 2 minutes. Drain and pat dry. In medium bowl, mix together peanut butter, chicken, bacon and cheese. Fill each jalapeno with mixture. Smear each pepper with a little mayonnaise and roll in cornflakes in shallow dish to cover. Place jalapeno on non-stick baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven until golden, about 15–20 minutes.
Pennsylvania PB & C Bars Recipe contributed by winner Victoria Z., Northeast region Servings: 12 bars Crust: 1 cup melted butter 2 cups peanut butter 3/4 cup brown sugar 2 1/4 cups granulated sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 5 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 3 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 cup chopped peanuts Topping: 1 1/2 tubs chocolate frosting 1 cup peanut butter, melted 1 cup salted peanuts, chopped Preheat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, mix butter, peanut butter, sugars, salt, eggs and vanilla until well mixed. Add flour and baking powder and mix thoroughly. Spread on a 10-by-15-by2-inch ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 12–15 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool. Spread frosting over crust. Drizzle melted peanut butter over chocolate. Sprinkle chopped peanuts on top of peanut butter and chocolate. Let set until topping is firm. You can refrigerate cookie sheet to speed firming process, if desired. Cut into desired size bars.
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Adult brains function optimally in the morning, according to multi-age study
Until further notice from the FDA, hand-washing with some products before cooking might do more harm than good for pregnant women, who should avoid certain antibacterial compounds, according to recent research. ©Martin Novak /shutterstock.com
Pregnant? Best avoid contact with antibacterial compounds (Relaxnews) – A study to be presented this week at the 248th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS) indicates, ironically, that what keeps us clean can be hazardous to unborn fetuses and could cause developmental and reproductive problems. The compounds in question, called triclosan and triclocarban, and are commonly used bacteria killers, present in more than 2,000 everyday products marketed as antimicrobial, including toothpastes, soaps, detergents, carpets, paints, school supplies and toys, according to researchers. The chemicals, also referred to as TCS and TCC, respectively, were introduced to the market in 1964 and 1957. “We looked at the exposure of pregnant women and their fetuses to triclosan and triclocarban, two of the most commonly used germ-killers in soaps and other everyday products,” says Benny Pycke, Ph.D., of Arizona State University. “We found triclosan in all of the urine samples from
the pregnant women that we screened. We also detected it in about half of the umbilical cord blood samples we took, which means it transfers to fetuses. Triclocarban was also in many of the samples.” Although the compounds are quick to be flushed out of the human body by means of sweat and urine, exposure to them is nearly constant. “If you cut off the source of exposure, eventually triclosan and triclocarban would quickly be diluted out, but the truth is that we have universal use of these chemicals, and therefore also universal exposure,” says Rolf Halden, Ph.D., the lead investigator of the study at ASU. In addition to concerns about the potential harms to unborn babies, research also indicates that the ingredients in these products could be contributing to growing antibacterial resistance. The European public health administration has communicated concerns to the public about triclosan and its portential role in this problem.
Researchers at ASU are familiar with the subject, and thanks to Halden, the director of the Center for Environmental Security, a joint research hub created with support from ASU’s Biodesign Institute, the FDA is tackling the problem. In an interview upon publication of another ASU study in April, Halden gave a nod to the move by the FDA, in which it has agreed to give soap manufacturers one year to prove the safety of their products – or change them. “The FDA’s move is a prudent and important step toward preserving the efficacy of clinically important antibiotics, preventing unnecessary exposure of the general population to endocrine disrupting and potentially harmful chemicals, and throttling back the increasing release and accumulation of antimicrobials in the environment,” said Halden at the time. Pharmaceutical companies such as Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble have announced that they are phasing out the compounds for some products.
Is pre-exhaustion training necessary? (Relaxnews) - A team of researchers investigated the method known as pre-exhaustion training (PreEx) and found the order of exercise protocols to be unimportant in high-intensity resistance training. Popular with bodybuilders, PreEx is based on the theory that performing isolation movements for a target muscle group, followed by a compound movement for the same muscle group, will maximize muscle fatigue. Believers say those last sets are the most important because the doubly required effort maximizes the normal tearing that takes place during any resistance training, resulting in greater muscle volume. Yet the study found minimal benefit relating to the order in which resistance training exercises are performed and whether or not they include corresponding intervals. “This research study represents a real work-out, by real people in a real gym not a laboratory gym as in much strength training research,” says study author James Fisher of Southampton Solent University in the UK. Other authors included James Steele of Southampton Solent, Dave Smith of Manchester University in the UK and Luke Carlson of Discover Strength Personal Fitness in Plymouth, Minnesota, US.
(Relaxnews) - Canadian researchers studied brain rhythms in a small number of subjects and observed that optimal functioning occurs increasingly in the morning as we age. The findings provide strong evidence that aging adults should perform their most demanding tasks in the morning. “Time of day really does matter when testing older adults,” says lead author John Anderson, a PhD candidate with the Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest Health Sciences and University of Toronto, Department of Psychology. “This age group is more focused and better able to ignore distraction in the morning than in the afternoon.” The study involved 16 younger adults between the ages of 19 and 30 and 16 older adults from age 60 to 82. Researchers imposed successive memory tests between the hours of 1:00pm and 5:00pm that required participants to observe and recall pictures and word combinations after observing them on a computer. The tests employed techniques to distract participants and par-
ticipants’ brains were scanned using fMRI to pinpoint which areas of the brain were activated at a given time during testing. Results showed that the older group was 10 percent more likely to succumb to distractions than their younger counterparts. A group of 18 older participants in the aforementioned age group were tested between the hours of 8:30am and 10:30am and performed significantly better, that is to say equally well as the younger group. Results of the fMRI scans show that the older adults activated the same brain lobes as the younger set to block distractions, whereas researchers noted discrepancies between the age groups during afternoon testing. “Our research is consistent with previous science reports showing that at a time of day that matches circadian arousal patterns, older adults are able to resist distraction,” says senior author Dr. Lynn Hasher, a leading authority in attention and inhibitory functioning in younger and older adults. The study was published in the journal Psychology and Aging.
A recent study on brain rhythms heeds strong evidence that seniors perform best in the morning. ©glenda /shutterstock.com
Beauty tutorials: getting the eyebrows right (Relaxnews) - Celebrities like Cara Delevingne (with her full pair) and Katy Perry (with her recent “no eyebrow” look) are putting a new focus on eyebrows. One of the key facial features to get right, many tutorials skip through the eyebrow stage at a merry canter. Here are three videos that take you on a slower trot through the ins and outs of those all-important facial follicles. Eyebrow overhaul - http://youtu.be/Q449N-usvvU Brazilian Blogger Camila Coelho shows you how to tidy up and perfect your brows using a full eyebrow pampering kit. She starts by trimming hairs with scissors, brushing and then tweezing any loose ones. The self-confessed ‘eyebrow fanatic’ then fills in her brows using a few cool techniques.
Perfect eyebrows - http://youtu. be/sB1OflTyFP0 Irish blogger Sharon Farrell has more eyebrow tips in this tenminute-long video. First up she recommends you work at an angle rather than straight on (to see the full shape), and start on the underside of the brow. She also has a cool trick using a pencil or a brush to help you work out how to shape the brow. How not to do your eyebrows - http://youtu.be/uO--NIRtubI This video from Danish blogger Marie of Hej Amrie is not one we want you to follow! Instead of a series of tips, she has put together a selection of nightmare eyebrow shapes and techniques including ‘The Slug’ and the ‘Don’t Do That’. Here’s hoping you’re not an eyebrow offender!
Carry your bike like a handbag with new ‘Lift&Carry’ strap (Relaxnews) – One of the bugbears of urban cycling is surely the moment you realize you need to carry your bicycle up approximately 3,000 subways steps. Thankfully, one quick-thinking Ukranian design studio has developed Bike Lift&Carry, a retractable shoulder strap designed to make transporting your bike safer and more comfortable. Instead of dragging it along by the handlebar, the strap lets you take the weight of your bike across your body, re- Bike Lift&Carry. ©Vera Uznichenko available in multiple color combiducing the risk of strain to wrists, arms and shoulders. nations. Mukomelov has launched The brainchild of industrial design studio Mukomelov, the wide a Kickstarter campaign for the strap retracts into a plastic case project and the strap will be comwhen not in use, and the case at- mercially available from December this year if successful. Prices taches to the bike frame. It has been designed to hold will start from $45 for initial the heaviest bikes and will be backers.
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MOTORING Can Europe conquer the American SUV market? (Relaxnews) – Audi, BMW and Alfa Romeo are all preparing to take bigger steps into the off-road market and are looking to capitalize on the unprecedented demand for SUVs and crossovers of all sizes coming from the US. It’s official: American drivers are falling in ever-growing numbers for the rugged charms of SUVs and crossovers. According to figures published in July from IHS Automotive, in the first five months of 2014, combined SUV and crossover sales overtook those of sedans for the first time ever. Off-roaders and soft-roaders accounted for 36.5% of new cars sold, compared with 35.4% for sedans. Therefore it should come as little surprise that the cream of European carmakers are all planning crossovers and SUVs aimed at the US market that could all be making their public debuts at US auto shows over the coming year. First up is Audi. Back in December it confirmed that it was developing an entry-level SUV called the Q1. Conceived as a premium alternative to cars like the Nissan Juke and a sportier take on the Mini All4, the Q1 is expected to look more like a coupe than an estate car perched on chunky tires. It now looks certain that this car will be one of the stars of the Detroit Auto Show, which gets underway in January However, the new Audi won’t have the premium end of the market all to itself, as sources claim BMW is also toying with the idea of offering a sporty version of its own similarly diminutive SUV, the X1. It will be called the X2 and like its bigger brothers, the X4 and X6, will boast a sloping rear.
Turning a coupe into an SUV seems like a foolhardy idea on paper, but BMW did just that with the original X6 and has sold 250,000 examples to date and counting. Therefore the logic is simple. If a coupe-styled SUV is popular at the top end of the market, it will also be popular at all other levels. And the figures back this up too. In April BMW launched the smaller X4 at the New York International Auto Show, so why not go one step smaller still with an X2? As Michelle Krebs, senior analyst for AutoTrader.com, points out: “Sales of crossovers of all sorts have been growing significantly in recent years, but the growth in sales of smaller crossovers and SUVs has been nothing short of phenomenal.” And that’s because, according to Krebs, they offer the practicality – i.e. space for passengers or luggage, plus good visibility – of an SUV, but feel like cars, rather than tanks to drive. Automotive News claims that the crossover has become the fastest growing market segment in the US, where they now represent over 25% of the US car market, yet 20 years ago the segment didn’t exist. But as well as going smaller, BMW has plans to go bigger, much bigger. In March it confirmed that it will soon be building a new, range topping X7 SUV, which will take the premium 7-Series executive sedan as its starting point and create something that could potentially challenge the Range Rover in terms of quality and size. And now, reports suggest that it could come in a more exclusive, powerful coupe version too, to be
Artist’s impression - key design of the forthcoming Q1 SUV. Audi could reveal the finished car at this January’s Detroit International Auto Show. ©Audi
called the X8. There’s also every chance that, like the X7, the X8 will also be built in the US. And, if the X8 does go into production it will mean that BMW, a company associated with executive sedans and sportscars, will boast almost twice as many SUVs (eight) in its model lineup as Land Rover. Land Rover, which only makes off-roaders, currently offers five models but is busily prepping a sixth, the Discovery
Sport, which is expected to make its debut at the Paris Motor Show in October. Early 2015 is also when Alfa Romeo’s long-discussed SUV gets its official unveiling. It will be looking to offer drivers who would usually go for a Porsche Macan or Audi Q5 something more stylish and design focused but that can still compete in terms of performance. Whispers coming from its par-
ent company, Fiat, suggest that if the Alfa SUV is sufficiently successful then it will be joined by a bigger brother that will line up alongside the Audi Q7 or Porsche Cayenne in terms of quality, handling and premium. However, by the time this premium Alfa arrives, the market for flagship SUVs could be seriously crowded as off-roaders from Lamborghini, Bentley and Jaguar are expected to launch by 2016.
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Tributes for Robin Williams after apparent suicide By Veronique Dupont
LOS ANGELES, August 12, 2014 (AFP) – Tributes poured in Tuesday for Robin Williams after the Oscar-winning actor and comedian apparently took his own life following a battle with severe depression. Williams, 63, known for highenergy, rapid-fire improvisation and clowning, was one of the most beloved entertainers of his time. One publication called him the funniest man alive. The star of films such as “Good Will Hunting,” “Good Morning Vietnam” and “Mrs Doubtfire” was found dead at his home outside San Francisco shortly before midday on Monday. President Barack Obama led tributes to an entertainer he described as “one of a kind.” Hollywood titan Steven Spielberg, a close friend, hailed Williams as a “lightning storm of comic genius.” Fans turned William’s star along Hollywood’s Walk of Fame and a park bench in Boston that featured in “Good Will Hunting” into miniature shrines in his honor. And radio stations across the United States played Williams’ “Good Morning Vietnam” wake-up holler on their rush-hour shows. A statement Monday from Marin County Sheriff’s Office said Williams’ death appeared to be “suicide due to asphyxia.” An autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday, as well as a coroner’s press conference at 1800 GMT. Described in 1997 by Entertainment Weekly as “the funniest man alive”, Williams suffered from “severe depression” prior to his death, his publicist Mara Buxbaum said. The comedian and father-ofthree, who wedded his third wife Susan Schneider in 2011, had himself spoken openly in the past about his battles with alcoholism
and drug abuse. “Cocaine is God’s way of telling you are making too much money,” he once quipped. After beginning his career as a stand-up comic, Chicago-born Williams rose to fame in the US sitcom “Mork & Mindy”, channeling his anarchic, high-energy style into his role as an extraterrestrial struggling to fit in on Earth. He later reeled off a string of big-screen hits throughout the 1980s and 1990s in roles which often showcased his fast-talking, improvisational skills. Those abilities were showcased in 1987’s “Good Morning, Vietnam”, where his performance as motormouth military disc jockey Adrian Cronauer earned him the first of four Oscar nominations. Other nominations followed his performance as the inspirational English literature teacher John Keating in 1989’s “Dead Poets Society” and for playing a mentally ill homeless man mourning the loss of his wife in 1991’s “The Fisher King.” He finally landed an Academy Award for 1997’s “Good Will Hunting,” which earned him a best supporting actor statuette and helped launch the Hollywood careers of co-stars Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Williams appeared most recently on film in “The Angriest Man in Brooklyn,” after playing president Dwight D. Eisenhower in “Lee Daniels’ The Butler.” He is due to return to the silver screen posthumously in “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb,” scheduled for release before Christmas. “Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between. But he was one of a kind,” said Obama, vacationing in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.
Bistek could face raps for slapping drug suspect MANILA, Aug 11 (Mabuhay) – Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista could face charges for slapping a drug suspect who was caught red-handed with P15 worth of shabu during a buy-bust operation last Friday. Bautista has apologized to the public for the incident, saying that he reacted on impulse when the suspect, identified as Zhen Xu, became disrespectful. “Bawal talaga ang pikon kaya I apologized to the public especially the youth. Leaders should not act that way,” he said. The mayor, however, said he will not apologize to the suspect. He said he is prepared to face any investigation on the incident. “Hindi nya rin nirerespeto ang batas natin. Hindi ko napigilan yung sarili ko. Nag-apologize ako kasi hindi naman magandang halimbawa rin sa kabataan yung ginawa ko,” he said. Commission on Human Rights chairwoman Etta Rosales, however, is not pleased with Bautista’s behavior. Rosales said Bautista’s act was clearly physical abuse and a violation of the human rights of the drug suspect. “Even with the Revised Penal Code, that’s maltreatment. Even without physical injuries. I think when Mayor Herbert was trying to explain what the whole thing was all about, that it was impulse, na nababastusan siya because the Chinese suspect did not cooperate, pretended he could not understand,
perhaps he couldn’t understand the mayor. We don’t know. He was probably exercising his right to remain silent. That is the Miranda doctrine,” she said. She said the CHR can pursue a case against the Quezon City mayor if the suspect requests for it.
Dingdong proposes to Marian on national TV Actor Dingdong Dantes has popped the question to his girlfriend, actress Marian Rivera, live on TV during her dance show on Saturday, ending years-long of waiting by their family, friends and fans who’ve all been wanting for the two to tie the knot. On his knees, while holding Rivera’s hand and looking into her face, Dantes said, “May isang bagay na malinaw sa’kin, is that I wanna spend the rest of my life with you. Kaya ngayon, saksi ang mga mahal natin sa buhay, gusto kong ipagsigawan sa buong mundo, na ikaw ang sagot sa aking
mga dasal.” He then brought out the engagement ring and said, “That’s why tonight, I offer you this gift, on your birthday, something that’s beyond any material thing or tangible one, but I offer you myself, my love, today and all the days of my life. “Please, Marian, will you be my wife?” Marian could only whisper “I love you” to Dingdong off mic, and they embraced to the audience’s loud cheers. He then turned to the audience and said, “Ladies and gentlemen,
I proudly present to you my fiancée.” The two danced onstage for a few minutes. Later, Marian and Dingdong were greeted by some of their family members, with Dingdong’s mother telling Marian, “Welcome to our family.” Before the show ended, Marian promised to love and take care of Dingdong for the rest of their life. He asked her, “Is that a yes?” to which she replied, “Yes!” The two have yet to reveal the date of their wedding and other details as of writing (MNS)
Aiza, girlfriend opt for artificial insemination Singer Aiza Seguerra and fiancee Liza Diño are now seeking the help of science to have their own child. The couple said they are planning to undergo artificial insemination – a medical alternative for achieving conception. Seguerra said they are planning to start the procedure next year in the United States. The couple decided to keep the sperm donor anonymous, while the egg cell will be coming from Seguerra, while Diño will carry the child in her womb. “Initially we were thinking na siguro a friend of ours para siguro kilala namin. Kaso baka maging
mas complicated siya in the process,” said Diño when asked why they decided to keep the donor anonymous. Meanwhile, as their wedding nears, the couple vowed to stay faithful to each other. “More than anything, ang goal namin is to make each other happy. She makes me so happy that I cant even find a reason to stray,” Seguerra said. For her part, Diño said: “I’ve been in relationships in my life, so ‘yung sa amin ni Aiza, I know I’ve found the one... I know she’s the one. We don’t just complement each other, we’re one. We’re so in sync [that] we finish each oth-
Liza and Aiza
ers’ sentences, we think about the same things, we share the same stuff together.” (MNS)
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4TH IMPEACHMENT
NANCY BINAY
ANTI-GAMBLING
PALPARAN
other complainants attached to the complaint were audio recordings and the public admissions of high-ranking officials of at least three agencies implementing the projects endorsed by lawmakers. Audio recordings, documents The audio recordings presented by the complainants include those of an “executive session” recently conducted by the House Appropriations Committee with Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairperson Patricia Licuanan to discuss the agency’s scholarship program, and a House briefing attended by Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Janet Garin to discuss the DOH Medical Assistance Program. According to the petitioners, the audio recordings and documents supposedly showed the following: the congressional pork barrel continues to exist despite the SC ruling; the agencies handling the house pork still set aside personal lump sums for House members, which the latter can tap and disburse according to their discretion; and executive officials of the Aquino administration have put in place procedures and mobilized a “significant amount” of personnel and resources to enable lawmakers to exercise illegal post-enactment authority over the programs funded by the pork barrel funds supposedly received by certain House members A total of P20 billion in lump sum funds were supposedly hidden in the 2014 national budget to be accessed by certain lawmakers, Tinio claimed.
po, hindi dito magtapos ang ating efforts na malaman ang katotohanan sa likod ng DAP,” she said. The documents include: 1. Detailed listing of sources of savings amounting to P237 billion used to fund DAP projects and other projects not included in DAP (including Special Allotment Release Orders, Notice of Cash Allocations, letters and correspondences between DBM and government agencies, etc.; 2. Detailed listing of projects similar to Commission on Elections which are not included in DAP but obtained funding through savings amounting to P93 billion (including, but not limited to, Special Allotment Release Orders [SAROs], Notice of Cash Allocations [NCAs], letters and correspondences between DBM and government agencies relating to public funds withdrawn from and released to a particular government agency); 3. Detailed listing of the amounts approved and released for DAP projects in 2011 (P83.53 billion), 2012 (P58.70 billion) and 2013 (P15.13 billion) as stated I the DBM DAP Frequently Asked Questions posted on DBM’s website. There are discrepancies between the amounts stated in DAP FAQs and list of DAP Projects although both documents were prepared and released by DBM; 4. List of Department of Health projects and researches recommended for funding through DAP; 5. Copy of the research paper on stem cell submitted to DOH which was published internationally.(MNS)
“RA 9872 was enacted in 2004 as a response by Congress to the public’s demand for a tougher law against illegal numbers games, particularly jueteng, because it was observed that the weakness of the old antigambling law contributed to the continuing proliferation of illegal numbers games,” Gatchalian said. However, Gatchalian added that the enactment of RA 9827 only increased the penalties for those involved in illegal numbers games while making no changes on the penalties for offenders engaged in other illegal gambling activities as enumerated under PD 1602, as amended.
“They say if you do not arrest and charge the likes of General Palparan, it means you are not serious in fighting the culture of impunity. We have proven them wrong,” Justice Secretary Leila de Lima told reporters. Palparan went into hiding in late 2011 after being charged with the kidnapping and illegal detention in 2006 of two female university students linked to leftist activist groups. The women, then aged 27 and 20, have never been seen since. Palparan could face life imprisonment if found guilty, although he denies the charges. Human rights groups accuse Palparan of being behind the killing of leftists when he was a top military officer battling communist guerrillas in rural areas of the impoverished archipelago. Then-president Gloria Arroyo praised Palparan, a former counter-insurgency chief, for standing up to “terror” in 2006, but critics tagged him as “the butcher” for his alleged abuses. The Philippines has been battling communist and Islamic insurgencies for decades, and the conflicts have claimed tens of thousands of lives. The military has been accused of carrying out hundreds of extrajudicial killings of opponents. A government commission which investigated political killings said in 2006 that Palparan was a key suspect in many murders of people deemed “enemies of the state”.
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petitioners by the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), urged the court en banc to reverse a ruling of its Second Division which affirmed the Court of Appeals (CA) in junking the criminal cases against Go. Petitioners stressed that Go should be held criminally liable for the tragedy for allowing the ill-fated vessel “to sail to a place where the M/V Princess of the Stars will meet eye to eye with typhoon ‘Frank’ and his failure to order the master of the vessel to take shelter or drop anchor at a safe place.” In affirming the CA ruling, the high court’s Second Division said it found no reversible error on the part of the appellate court in finding that there was no probable cause to indict Go for the criminal offenses.
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Arthur Ang. Also promoted were Brigadier General Vicente Yordan, Commodore Allan Rosal, Brigadier General Arnold Mancita, Brigadier General Enrique Reyes, Brigadier General Armando Bañez, Brigadier General Edgar Gonzales, Brigadier General Irma Almoneda, Brigadier General Johnny Macanas, Brigadier General John Oliviamor Estabillo, Brigadier General Manolito Orense, and Brigadier General Job Yucoco. President Aquino was joined by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin during the event. (MNS)
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