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Vol. 3. No. 49 LOS ANGELES
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Nearly 2,000 Pinoy nurses hurdle test to set foot to US MANILA, Aug 25 (Mabuhay) – A total of 1,951 Philippine-educated nurses took the US National Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for the first time from January to June this year, in the hopes of obtaining gainful employment in America, Cebu Rep. Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr. said Monday. “The number is little changed when compared to the 1,944 Filipino nurses who took the NCLEX for the first time, excluding repeaters, over the same six-month period in 2013,” said Gullas, vice chairman of the House committee on higher and technical education. The NCLEX refers to the National Council Licensure Examination administered by the US (National Council of) State Boards of Nursing Inc. (USNCSBN). “We do not expect the number of Filipino nurses seeking to practice their profession in America to increase any time soon. The healthcare labor market there remains somewhat bleak,” the House Assistant Majority Leader said. “We remain positive that the situation will eventually improve
as the US economy starts to recover. But right now, a number of US hospitals and nursing homes are still laying off workers,” he added. According to Gullas, based on the latest report from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, in July alone, US hospitals shed off 7,000 jobs, while nursing care facilities there got rid of another 6,000. He urged Filipino nurses to instead seek potential employment in the Middle East and other countries that continue to recruit foreign healthcare staff. The 2007-2008 global financial crisis sent the US economy into deep economic slowdown that forced many hospitals and nursing homes, especially those wholly or partly funded by federal and state agencies, to cut back staff and cease hiring new nurses. The number of Filipino nurses taking the NCLEX for the first time is considered a reliable indicator as to how many of them are trying to enter the profession in America. Gullas said USNCSBN statistics show that among foreign-edSee 2000 PINOY, page 12
Nearly 2,000 Philippine-educated nurses took the US National Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for the first time from January to June this year, report said, in the hopes of obtaining gainful employment in the “land of honey.”
Activists, churchmen gather in ‘pork barrel’ protest
President Benigno S. Aquino III offers a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers during the commemoration of the National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonofacio, Taguig City on Monday (August 25, 2014). With theme: “Bayaning Pilipino: Lumalaban para sa Makatwiran at Makabuluhang Pagbabago.” (MNS photo)
Gun-toting woman who tried to enter Palace charged
MANILA, Aug 23 (Mabuhay) – The woman who tried to enter Malacañang with a loaded pistol has been charged with illegal possession of firearms, police said on Saturday. The Manila Police District said Flora Pineda, 36, was charged with violation of Republic Act 10591 or unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition. Pineda, who is a resident of Signal Village, Taguig City, on Friday attempted to enter the presidential palace through the Arias Gate on Jose Laurel Street carrying a .45-caliber pistol. She was immediately disarmed
by the Presidential Security Group and then brought to the General Assignments Section of the Manila Police District headquarters. Police said the .45-caliber pistol Pineda was carrying is owned by her brother, Staff Sgt. Rolando Nonato, a member of the Philippine Marines. Pineda is allegedly suffering from mental illness, according to her brother. The firearm was loaded with nine bullets. Pineda earlier said she had no intention of harming anyone. See GUN-TOTING, page 12
ISIS recruiting Davaoeños, says Duterte DAVAO CITY, Aug 25 (Mabuhay) – No less than Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has confirmed that the jihadist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is recruiting young Davaoeños. Duterte said most of those recruited by the group have already left the country in the past month. “I am concerned. I am not condemning anybody here. I feel sad for those who go there. They probably feel it’s alright...” he said in his weekly program “Gikan sa Masa Para sa Masa.” Former President Fidel V. Ramos earlier told ANC that at least 100 Filipinos are reportedly undergoing training with jihadists currently creating havoc in Iraq and Syria. He said the Abu Sayyaf has been encouraged by the success of the Islamic State (IS), formerly known known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The Philippine military has denied Ramos’ claim, saying that military intelligence has yet to monitor any signs of recruitment activity by the jihadist group. Duterte, however, said the military is denying the report because “they aren’t sure if these Filipinos are already fighting overseas.” “The only reports we’ve received said that there will be some sent there,” the mayor said. See ISIS RECRUITING, page 12
MANILA, August 25, 2014 (AFP) – Thousands of people including activists and clergy gathered at the Philippine capital’s main park on Monday in a rally to denounce the “pork barrel” system which they blame for spreading corruption. Organisers said almost 20,000 people joined the rally but observers said the crowd was much smaller, with police putting it at about 5,000 at its peak. The crowd, which included nuns, priests and lawyers, was
significantly smaller than a similar rally over the same issue last year which observers said drew at least 250,000. That rally, called through a vigorous social media campaign, had captured the outrage following reports of a scam involving tens of millions of dollars from the “pork barrel” funds of congressmen. Such allocations are supposed to pay for the pet projects of legislators but large amounts were allegedly syphoned off. Three powerful senators have already been
jailed over the controversy. Influential Manila archbishop Cardinal Luis Tagle praised those taking part in the “march against pork” in a statement posted on a church social media site. “I extend my greetings and solidarity. Thank you for making democracy alive and active. Thank you for advancing decency in public life,” the senior church leader said. Peachy Bretana, an official of the Scrap Pork Network which See PROTEST, page 12
PHL hunts new Jeepney may serve as Pope Francis’ suspects in new Popemobile during PHL visit MANILA, Aug 23 (Mabuhay) the Philippines news site. ‘sextortion’ ring – Pope Francis’ visit to the PhilPope Francis is scheduled to
MANILA, August 23, 2014 (AFP) – Philippine police arrested eight suspects and are hunting more in connection with an Internet extortion racket that has victimized hundreds of people in Hong Kong, Singapore and Macau, an official said Saturday. This is the second large-scale arrest of suspects allegedly for “sextortion” – using the Internet to lure foreigners into sending them compromising material which they can use for blackmail, said Jhoanna Fabro, spokeswom-
See SEXTORTION, page 12
ippines this coming January may take on a stronger Filipino flavor as organizers consider ferrying him around in a jeepney. Former Ambassador to the Holy See Henrietta de Villa, a member of the preparatory committee, said this is one of the options they are considering. “Nothing is fixed yet... I’m not actually the one in charge of this but I think there are suggestions for a jeepney that is open on top,” De Villa said, according to an article posted Saturday on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of
visit the Philippines Jan. 15 to 19. He is expected to visit areas devastated by super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in November 2013. The jeepney is a modified jeep used for public transport in the Philippines. Many jeepneys use modified diesel engines and custom-built bodies. In 1995, a modified Asian utility vehicle (AUV) was used as the Popemobile for the papal visit of now Saint John Paul II. De Villa said the idea of a jeepney being the next PopemoSee JEEPNEY, page 12
Pacquiao dismisses Algieri threat in Macau By Daniel HICKS
MACAU, August 25, 2014 (AFP) – Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao on Monday dismissed his next opponent, undefeated American Chris Algieri, as merely an “okay” fighter as the build-up began to their upcoming contest. Pacquiao (56-5-2) will put his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title on the line against 30-year-old former kickboxer Algieri (20-0) on November 23 when the Filipino icon returns for his second fight in the southern Chinese gambling haven of Macau. See PACQUIAO, page `12
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Corruption, dispute with China cause PHL to slip in peace index MANILA, Aug 25 (Mabuhay) – Despite the historic signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro earlier this year, the Philippines has slipped further down the pole in terms of
peace. The Philippines ranked 134th out of 162 countries in the Global Peace Index for 2014, down five notches from last year. The country remains one of the low-
est ranked in the Asia-Pacific, due in part to prevailing problems of terrorism and corruption in the country. The report also mentioned the territorial dispute with China. “Corruption, poverty and the patron-client nature of relations in the Philippines means that problems exist across all levels of society – not just in areas under conflict – with high levels of violent crime and kidnapping. Further, the decades-long conflict on the southern island of Mindanao, between the government and Muslim separatist groups, continues,” the report said. The GPI, published by the Institute for Economics and Peace, ranks 162 countries in terms of global peace through three themes: the level of safety and security in society, the extent of domestic or international conflict, and the degree of militarisation. It ranks countries according to 22 indicators of peace. IEP has offices in Sydney, New York and Oxford. In fact, the country’s peace rating is only second from the bottom in Southeast Asia, beating only Myanmar, which ranked 136th. Neighbor Thailand, which is still under martial law after increased political tensions, still beat out that Philippines, ranking of 126th. Other neighbors which garnered a higher score than the Philippines in the peace index include: New Zealand, (4th) Japan, (8th) Australia, (15th) Singapore, (25th) Taiwan, (28th)
Malaysia, (33rd) Laos, (38th) Mongolia, (41th) Vietnam, (45th) South Korea, (52nd) Indonesia, (54th) Timor-Leste, (69th) Papua New Guinea, (90th) Cambodia, (106th) and China (108th). ‘Flawed democracy,’ ‘external challenges’ According to the report, the Philippines is governed by a “flawed democracy,” while corruption has been singled out as a primary reason for economic inequality. “[T]here is a widely held belief that graft among the elite is the reason why poverty rates and income inequality have remained very high by regional standards, despite strong economic performance in the past decade,” it said. The report also noted how the ongoing conflict with China over disputed territories in the West Philippine Sea affected the country’s ratings. “External challenges to peace also exist. The Philippines’ relations with China have deteriorated in the past few years, as the Chinese government has become more assertive in its claims over various parts of the South China Sea (SCS), areas of which are also claimed by the Philippines,” the report said, adding that “diplomatic efforts to resolve tensions have failed” due to China’s uncooperativeness. The Philippines has sought international arbitration in the conflict, which resulted in the deterioration of the Philippines’ score for relations with neighboring countries, the report added. (MNS)
PHL to repatriate UN troops in Golan, Liberia MANILA, August 23, 2014 (AFP) – The Philippines said Saturday it will repatriate over 400 of its troops serving as UN peacekeepers in the Golan Heights and Liberia amid security threats and concerns over the Ebola virus. “To ensure the safety and security of the Philippine military troops deployed to conflict-affected areas, the country’s contingents in the Golan Heights and Liberia are scheduled to be repatriated within the year,” a Defence Department statement said. “The 331-strong Filipino contingent serving as part of the United Nations Disengagement Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights will be repatriated at the end of their tour of duty in October,” the statement said. Meanwhile, about 115 Filipinos serving in Liberia would be repatriated “as soon as possible,” due to the health risk posed by the Ebola virus outbreak in Africa, the statement added. “The Philippines prioritizes the safety and security of its troops, but remains committed to the peacekeeping missions of the United Nations,” the statement said. Defence Department spokesman Peter Paul Galvez said the Philippines would not send back its troops to the Golan Heights “unless the situation improves”. He expressed confidence the pullout would not hurt the country’s standing with the United Nations, recalling that Filipino troops had remained in the Golan Heights in 2013 even after Australian, Croatian and Japanese peacekeepers were withdrawn. “However the situation has become more volatile with increased security risk, hence the recommendation and subsequent approval for repatriation,” he said in a statement to AFP. Galvez also said that the Filipinos from Liberia would be quarantined for at least 21 days after arriving to ensure they are not infected. Foreign Department spokesman Charles Jose said “we don’t expect this decision to affect our UN standing and international image,” citing the country’s involvement in peacekeeping operations for years. Last year the Philippines also considered pulling its Golan peacekeepers out after 25 of them were kidnapped but later freed by Syrian rebels in two separate incidents.
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MRT operations suspended anew; communication glitch blamed this time MANILA, Aug 23 (Mabuhay) – Passengers of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT-3) were inconvenienced anew on Saturday, as the rail system’s operations stopped at noon due to a communications glitch. Light Rail Transit Authority and MRT spokesman Hernando Cabrera said the operations were suspended starting 12:05 p.m. “Nag-down ang radio communication between control center at
mga train operator,” he said. He said this affected all stations from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City. “Both lanes/direction, walang biyahe,” he said. It was the latest glitch to hit the MRT, one of whose coaches earlier this month overshot the safety barrier at the Taft Avenue station, injuring nearly 40 people. (MNS)
PNR train gets derailed; no injuries reported MANILA, Aug 25 (Mabuhay) – A southbound Philippine National Railways (PNR) train got derailed from its tracks at Altura St., Sta. Mesa Manila Monday, media reports said. No injuries were reported. The train, with body number 8088, was traveling between the España and Sta. Mesa stations when its last coach derailed from its tracks at 9:21
a.m. The train was repaired onsite by PNR technicians for about 30 minutes and was operational by 10:50 a.m. PNR trains traveling southbound transferred on the northbound track when approaching the Sta. Mesa station. PNR is currently investigating the cause of the derailment of the train. (MNS)
Solon: Power crisis used as ploy to revive Subic coal-fired power plant construction MANILA, Aug 23 (Mabuhay) – A party-list lawmaker on Saturday claimed that the present hype about a looming power crisis in 2015 might be used to push the revival of the mothballed coalfired power plant in Subic, Zambales, despite its expected environmental impact in the area. In statement, Kabataan partylist representative Terry Ridon said, “What is clear now is that the power crisis is a mere ploy to justify the resumption of the mothballed 600MW Redondo coal-fired power plant without need for compliance with environmental laws.” Ridon served as the legal counsel of environmental advocates who sought for a writ of kalikasan before the Supreme Court in 2012 against the proposed construction of a P56-billion coal-fired power plant at Mount Redondo. The power plant’s construction was spearheaded by the Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc., a consortium of the Aboitiz Power Corp., Manila Electric Co. and Taiwan Cogen Corp. He pointed out the issue after Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad Jr, earlier this week, blamed the looming power crisis to the Supreme Court’s decision on the writ of kalikasan demand-
ing the stoppage of the plant’s construction. “Had the Supreme Court not TRO-ed the Redondo power plant, which would have been on-stream, we wouldn’t even be facing this issue,” a report on the Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted Purisima saying during a briefing on the proposed 2015 national budget. Also, Abad said the power plant in Subic would have been more than enough to cover the looming power shortage in 2015, the report said. After the issuance of a writ of kalikasan, the case was transferred to the Court of Appeals, which eventually invalidated the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) issued by the government for the construction of the power plant. “Purisima and Abad’s defense of the halted Subic power plant reveals that the looming power crisis was never about a general concern for a lack of supply, but merely to go to the aid of the Meralco-owned power plant,” Ridon claimed. “In fact, Meralco had all the chances of complying with environmental laws despite the SC appeal, but it did not do so, choosing instead to float this power crisis scenario.” (MNS)
Ex-Binay ally admits kickbacks in Makati building project MANILA, Aug 26 (Mabuhay) – No less than the former vice-mayor of Makati has admitted that he got kickbacks from the construction of the P2.7 billion Makati City Hall 2. He also claimed that former Makati Mayor and now VicePresident Jejomar Binay received kickbacks in the project. Speaking before the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee hearing, former Makati Vice-Mayor Ernesto Mercado said it was Binay who was signing all the documents for the construction project. “Ako ho aaminin ko sa inyo, sa Phase 1 at Phase 2 nakinabang po ako,” he told senators during the hearing. Asked if Binay also pocketed kickbacks, he said: “Alam po niyo, tayong mga pulitiko ay alam ang
sagot dito. Kung ang vice-mayor nakinabang, siguro mas higit nakinabang ang mayor dito.” “Imposibleng hindi nakinabang ang aking mayor. Yun po ang kalakaran.” Mercado, who was Binay’s vicemayor from 2007-2010, said he was surprised when the building’s construction cost skyrocketed to P2.7 billion. He said the project was initially pegged at P1.7 billion during his term. Mercado said it was not politics that led him to reveal details about the Binays as he has long been an ally and a family friend of the Binays. He pointed out that he stood by Binay even when the then-mayor was placed under suspension during the Arroyo administration.
USCIS welcomes 10,000 new U.S. Citizens in L.A.
LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles and Southern California on Wednesday welcomed 10,065 newly naturalized citizens in a solemn but celebratory event for the thousands of immigrants at the Los Angeles Convention Center in South Hall “H-J.” The candidates, lawful permanent residents who have met all the requirements for citizenship, represented nearly 150 countries. Twenty-four members of the Armed Forces also pledged their allegiance to the United States by taking the oath to a nation they already unselfishly serve as members of the nation’s fighting force and defenders of the peace. The top ten countries represented at Wednesday’s ceremonies were: 1) Mexico; 2) El Salvador; 3) Philippines; 4) Iran; 5) Guatemala; 6) China; 7) Korea; 8) Armenia; 9) Vietnam; and 10) India. These monthly naturalization ceremonies highlight the successful efforts of the Los Angeles District Office of USCIS to process thousands of lawful permanent residents to become citizens of the United States of America. During Fiscal Year 2013, USCIS adjudicated more than 93,000 citizenship cases in USCIS District 23, which covers the seven counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. The huge attendance needed two oath-taking ceremonies for the new citizens – one in the morning and the other in the afternoon.
The Metro Rail Transit (MRT) train slams the barrier at the corner of EDSA and Taft Avenue Station on Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 13, 2014) in Pasay City. (MNS photo)
DBM releases P1.6B for CALA right-of-way acquisitions MANILA, Aug 25 (Mabuhay) – The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released P1.6 billion to partially cover right-of-way acquisitions and contract services for the Cavite-Laguna (CALA) Expressway project. The initial budget to jumpstart the project was taken out of the Public-Private Partnership Strategic Support Fund of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget for this year, the DBM said in a statement. The CALA project is a P35.4 billion four-lane, 47-kilometer expressway linking the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) Mamplasan Interchange in Biñan, Laguna to the Manila Cavite Tollroad Expressway in Kawit, Cavite. “The construction of the CALA expressway would definitely improve access to transportation and open more opportunities
for investment in economic and industrial zones,” Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said in the statement. “We’re talking about greater accessibility to and from NAIA, as well to and from our seaports in Manila and Batangas, for example. But more important is the decongestion of traffic between Cavite and Laguna, so our commuters will have an easier time plying this route daily,” he added. Under a public-private partnership scheme, P25.2 billion or 71 percent of the project will be undertaken by a private sector counterpart while the remaining P10.2 billion will be from the national government. The implementation of the project is expected to begin this year while completion is targeted by 2018. The project has, however, faced delays after San Miguel Corp. unit Optimal Infrastruc-
ture Development Inc. sought Malacañang’s intervention after the DPWH disqualified the company from the bidding because its bid security was four days short of the required 180 days. Other bidders prequalified for the CALA project, which include Malaysia’s MTD Capital Bhd, MPCALA Holdings of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, and Team Orion of Ayala Corp. and Aboitiz Land Inc., asked the DPWH Bids and Awards Committee to disqualify Optimal Infrastructure. The opening of bids pushed through on June 13, with Team Orion submitting the best bid at P11.659 billion. This year, Abad said the department has already allotted P442 billion for public infrastructure from P165 billion in 2010. “This figure will eventually go up to P800 billion in 2016. That’s 5 percent of the country’s GDP,” he added. (MNS)
Solon wants exemption for individual taxpayers raised to Php100,000 MANILA, Aug 23 (Mabuhay) – A neophyte lawmaker is seeking to increase the personal exemption for individual taxpayers to Php100,000 from the present Php50,000 so that the government can reduce the burden of the people and alleviate their economic condition. Rep. Evelio R. Leonardia (Lone District, Bacolod City) made the proposal through House Bill 4705, which seeks to amend Section 35 (A) of Republic Act 8424, as amended by RA 9504, otherwise known as the “National Internal Revenue Code of 1997.” Leonardia said while taxes are the lifeblood of the government and should be collected without necessary hindrance, the government should in turn help improve the lives of the people paying these taxes. “Without taxes, the government would be paralyzed for lack of motive power to activate and operate it. The government for its part is expected to respond in the form of tangible and intangible benefits intended to improve the lives of the people and enhance their moral and material values,” said Leonardia. He said according to the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), the poverty incidence in the country was 28.8 percent in 2006, 28.6 percent in 2009 and 27.9 percent in the first semester of 2012. “Looking closely at this data, the poverty incidence from 2006 to 2012 has barely improved. The government should enact a law to reduce the burden of the people and alleviate their economic condition,” said Leonardia, a vice chairman of the House Committee on Transportation. House Bill 4705, now pending at the Committee on Ways and Means chaired by Rep. Miro Quimbo (2nd District, Marikina City), seeks the amendment of Section 35 (A) of RA 8424, as amended by RA 9504, which pertains to the “Allowance of Personal Exemption for Individual Taxpayer.”
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Aquino slams naysayers in Heroes Day speech MANILA, Aug 25 (Mabuhay) – Stay away from people who pretend to push for reforms but are in fact peddling lies, President Benigno Aquino III said on Monday. Aquino, who led the celebration of National Heroes Day, said that while many nameless Filipinos strive to contribute to the country’s development, there are some who instead sow discord. “There are still a select and selfish few who remain determined to bring back the old and abusive political systems,” he said during his speech at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City. He warned the public to remain vigilant “against those who seek to sow doubt and lies” and to “refuse to allow ourselves to be manipulated by those who only pretend at reform.” “Stay on the straight path,” he said. Aquino did not mention who he was referring to but he has been vocal in the past against his critics, especially those who accused him of protecting the pork barrel system. He gave his speech as hundreds of protesters led by the Abolish Pork Movement converged at Rizal Park on Monday. The group, which was also behind last year’s Million People March, is attempting to gather six million signatures to ban any form of pork barrel. The protesters claimed that there is still pork barrel for lawmakers, although in another form and another name. But Aquino said Filipinos should instead work together and support his administration. “What can be achieved when a hundred million Filipinos work arm-in-arm towards a single goal?” he asked. Aquino pointed out that the National Heroes Day allows people to remember and be grateful for the sacrifices made by those before them. He also said it was an “opportunity to reflect on the meaning of being a hero, not only in the past, but in our present situation.” “We must also remember that there are many heroes who remain anonymous — whose deeds are not known to many,” said the President, enumerating acts of heroism encountered over the past year. From saving lives during calamities to being honest and hardworking, Aquino said everyday heroes work alongside their countrymen instead of giving up. “Instead of hurling criticism or spreading negativism, which some of our countrymen have grown accustomed to doing, these remarkable Filipinos chose to empower their fellowmen,” he said of Filipinos, who, despite losing everything during the 2011 tsunami in Japan, thanked God for being able to survive the disaster. “Their contagious optimism and the strong faith displayed by them truly encouraged their Japanese neighbors—these, with the positive disposition of the people there served as the foundation for the reconstruction of Fukushima,” he said. The President also lauded Noli Dela Cruz, a government worker, who helped save lives during the onslaught of super typhoon “Yolanda” by tying together bed sheets and clothes that served as a lifeline for his neighbors caught in the flood. “The responsibility to make certain that we will bequeath to coming generations a Philippines freer and more progressive still rests on our shoulders. Indeed, times have changed, and thus, the forms of heroism we are capable of living out have changed as well,” Aquino said. At one point in his speech, he referred to an article by Ma. Francesca Santiago published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Young Blood section. “To her, it seems as if the latest trend is to hurl criticism, even at those who are doing everything in their power to uphold the interests of the people,” Aquino said. “Instead of helping to find a solution, there are some who want to worsen the fear and suffering of our countrymen. It is clear to her that everyone has a right to free expression, but at the same time, each one has the obligation to remain just and reasonable.” Impressed with what she has written, Aquino said he was surprised to learn that Santiago was only 13 years old. “It is impressive that, at this age, she already exhibits more discernment than some who are much older than her. If this is the caliber of thinking of the youth today, I am certain that we are indeed facing a brighter future,” the President said. (MNS)
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Lawyers’ group to Aquino: Remember Cory, forget Cha-cha MANILA, Aug 25 (Mabuhay) – The Integrated Bar of the Philippines on Monday said President Benigno Aquino III’s desire to amend the 1987 Constitution casts doubts on whether he is still fit to govern the country. “To cite the purported need to amend because he lost in the Disbursement Acceleration Program case where the program was declared unconstitutional, simply taxes our credulity, undermines and defies reason and puts to great doubt the ability of the President to govern under the Rule of Law,” the group said in a statement. The group was referring to the rift between the executive and the judiciary following the Supreme Court’s ruling declaring portions of the Aquino administration’s Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) as partially unconstitutional. The decision pitted Aquino with the high court, with the President openly criticizing the tribunal and accusing it of standing in the way of his administration’s reforms. The decision has become the basis for at least two impeachment complaints against Aquino. Cory Aquino In its statement, the IBP also reminded Aquino how his mother, the late President Corazon “Cory” Aquino, actively opposed Charter change while she was still alive. “The IBP is impelled to state for the record its official unequivocal opposition to amend the 1987 Constitution for the purpose of clipping the power of the Supreme Court and allowing President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to seek a second term for the presidency of the country,” it said. The IBP quoted a speech that Mrs. Aquino delivered at the Luneta Park on September 21, 1997 where she openly expressed her opposition to thenPresident Fidel Ramos’ proposal to amend the 1987
Constitution to lift term limits of elected officials. “The same words apply today. Former President Cory Aquino called on then President Ramos to remember that the presidency is a rare gift that one person – any person – ould and should have only once,” the IBP said. The group expressed hopes that Aquino would heed his mother’s “voice from a not so distant past, and listen to the lessons they impart.” “The President must listen to the history cadenced in (his mother’s) words, to the wisdom contained in these verses, and to the memories of sufferings and sacrifices of the Filipino people under the former dictatorship which give substance to the lessons learned in these same words of his very mother former President Cory Aquino,” said the IBP. Bully The group branded as an “assault to our elementary sense of order” the attempts to “bully justices into submission under threat of impeachment” and the congressional probe on the Judiciary Development Fund. The IBP stressed that the authority and power being exercised by the Supreme Court was given by the “the people - President Aquino’s bosses” through the crafting of the 1987 Constitution during the incumbency of his mother. “The men and women who authored the Freedom Constitution, just freed from dictatorship, had reason to expand judicial power and the concomitant power of judicial review,” the group said. Two weeks ago, Aquino said in a television interview that he was now open to amending the 1987 Constitution to limit the judiciary’s reach on the executive and the legislature. He said the current Charter does not balance the powers of the three government branches. (MNS)
Pro-Aquino alliance hits out at ‘enemies of reform,’ denies pushing term extension
MANILA, Aug 25 (Mabuhay) – Civil society groups, organizations and several personalities, including supporters of President Benigno Aquino III, on Monday launched a coalition to counter what they called were “enemies of reforms” and pursue the administration’s “tuwid na daan” advocacy beyond 2016. They said that critics of the administration are undermining the reforms that the Aquino government had started, and that it was time that the backers of the President took an “open and pro-active stand.” They also insisted they were not set up to push for Charter change and a term extension for Mr. Aquino. The launch of the Koalisyon ng Mamayan Para sa Reporma (KOMPRe) was held at the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City, simultaneous with the gathering of activitists and sectoral groups at the Luneta Park in Manila, who are pushing for a People’s Initiative to remove the pork barrel system in the national budget. What was originally planned as an anniversary rally to mark last year’s Million People March against pork barrel has included, this time around, issues on Charter change and term extension, as well as other issues resonating with the mostly-labor ralliers in Manila. Among them were organizations of state workers, primarily from COURAGE, who have petitioned the Supreme Court for a temporary retraining order against the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s order taxing their bonuses, allowances and other benefits. At the Ateneo, the Aquino backers were just as resolite: “We will continue to fight for the reforms under the Aquino administration. The Tuwid na Daan must continue beyond 2016,” according to KOMPRe in a statement. “We must educate and organize, mobilize and empower people who stand to lose by any reversal to the reforms,” it added. Former Civil Service Commission chief Karina Constantino-David, one of the group’s convenors, said that many of their advocacies have been at-
tended to by the Aquino administration. “But as the enemies of reform gather their forces to tear down all that has been accomplished, we can no longer remain quiet. ...We will be labelled as government hacks, as the lackeys of PNoy. But no amount of name calling will deter us from standing up for reform,” she said in a news conference. Asked who the enemies of reforms were, he said they were “political leaders who oppose reforms that are already here.” She also said the “enemies” were those criticizing some of Aquino’s flagship programs such as the Conditional Cash Transfer and the Grassroots Participatory Budget Process. “If they are not anti-reforms, then what is it they’ve done to get more reforms instituted?” David said. Leah Navarro of the Black and White Movement said the formation of the coalition was the people’s way of seeing to it that the work that the Aquino administration has started will not go to waste, and would continue. Former Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim said that the group will help see to it that reforms are continued in the last two years of the administration. “Implementation is the key in the next two years. We’re here for the long haul,” Lim added. The group said the coalition was not established to push for Aquino’s second term or to endorse his successor, repeatedly stressing that it was not being discussed. But David said that she believes that the President’s successor should be one who has already worked on the “tuwid na daan” advocacy and should have unquestionable integrity. The group is made up of 165 organizations nationwide, and has been holding workshops to assess the performance of the administration and come up with proposals on what still needs to be done. Before the launch, a workshop was held at the Ateneo to review the President’s Social Contract with the people. The organizers said they have invited Cabinet members to attend the workshop. (MNS)
All eyes – hopeful and accusatory – on Obama over immigration By Jérôme Cartillier
WASHINGTON, August 25, 2014 (AFP) – US President Barack Obama has vowed to take action on immigration before summer’s end. Now millions of hopeful undocumented immigrants are eagerly awaiting his move—as are Republican leaders who accuse him of abusing his power. Back in Washington after two weeks of a golffilled family vacation on a small island in Massachusetts, the US president is readying to take on a issue which is especially sensitive in the run-up to November’s midterm elections. “The American people don’t want me standing around twiddling my thumbs waiting for Congress to do something,” said Obama, frustrated by the lack of action by lawmakers on Capitol Hill, before he left. Details of any executive orders to be signed by the president are not yet known – the White House says a range of options is being considered – but Obama’s political opponents are already angry, threatening a major political crisis. Some hope for, while others fear, that a presidential decision could offer a reprieve to nearly half of the around 11 million undocumented immigrants, many of whom have lived for years in the United States, but who live in constant fear of deportation. One of Obama’s options would be to expand the “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival” or “DACA” program, launched in 2012, which offers temporary visas to minors who arrived in the United States before age 16, perhaps to also include their parents or even grandparents. But Lynn Tramonte, deputy director of America’s
Voice, a group that advocates for immigrant rights, expects something more. “I foresee a major policy change,” she told AFP. After six years of deportations and minor reforms, “we are ready for a major change, we are ready for the Obama administration that we expected to come into office after the 2008 election,” she said, denouncing a “fundamentally broken” system that is “working against families. But in acting alone on the issue, the president has sparked criticism he is encroaching on the role of Congress, with some lawmakers accusing him of defying the spirit of the Constitution. He would also risk harming the chances of vulnerable Democrats fighting to retain their seats in conservative states – where reform is unpopular – and who are crucial to their party’s hopes of hanging on to the Senate. Obama’s predecessors, from Republican Ronald Reagan to Democrat Bill Clinton to Republican George W. Bush, each signed orders specific to certain categories of immigrants coming from China, Kuwait or El Salvador, for example. But Mark Krikorian, director of the Center for Immigration Studies, a think tank that argues for reinforcing the borders, insists an executive order from Obama offering temporary legal status to a large number of undocumented immigrants would be in a different category –] and, in the long term, counter-productive. “Those small actions were all radically different from what the president is proposing,” Krikorian said, emphasizing that each was linked to a very specific crisis.
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UTREACH Napa Valley wineries shake off major earthquake By Glenn CHAPMAN
Fil-Ams partake of lechon (roasted pig) served during lunch for the 9th ACGTDT participants. Lunch was hosted by the Municipal Governor of Nasugbu, Batangas and the Department of Tourism-Southern Tagalog Regional Office last month.
Tour with ambassadors scores well with Fil-Am vistors “This tour is great!” says Josh Ken Artero, a young professional from Agana, Guam. “I’ve been living in the U.S. for 41 years. I’ve participated in four ACGTDTs and will join future tours even if I come here on my own to help the ABS-CBN Foundation with school-building projects,” Los Angeles fashion designer Arcadio Boy Lizaso remarks. “It’s our first ACGTDT and we’re enjoying it. We stayed at the Solaire Resort and Casino for two weeks on our own last year, but will still avail of the optional ACGTDT trips later,” discloses Dr. Aquilio Agliam with his wife, Salve, who live in Cleveland, Ohio. These are the testimonials gathered from a few participants of the 9th Ambassadors, Consuls General and Tourism Directors Tour of the Philippines (ACGTDT). This year’s tour had a total participants of 260 visitors coming from New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Guam and Hawaii. Filipino-Canadians have formed their own separate homecoming tour “Winter Escapade” which was held in the Visayas last January this year. For a reasonably-priced longhaul basic tour package, the ACGTDT participants were here from July 28 to 31 to relax, enjoy and spend precious time with families and friends as well as explore investment and retirement possibilities here at home. “We encourage Filipinos here to invite their relatives and friends in the U.S. and Canada to plan and book for these tours, especially for “Visit Philippines2015.” More Pinoy homecoming tours are in the works for young Fil-Am leaders and for Filipinos in Europe and the Middle East,” states Chief Operating Officer Domingo Ramon Enerio III of the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), marketing arm of the Department of Tourism. “Through this successful tour program, we are able to entice Filipino-Americans as well as their friends in the U.S. to visit us to deepen their appreciation of the history, heritage and culture of our country and the natural warmth of our people. Aside from being a safe place to travel and right time to invest, the Philippines is one of the best places for medical and wellness tourism as well as retirement haven,” Enerio adds. Tour participants arrived to a VIP reception with sampaguita leis at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The next day, the participants were treated to a Mindanao-inspired welcome dinner at the Makati Shangri-la Hotel with an environment-oriented musical. Organized by Fantasmic Production Haus, the musical consisted of the “Enlighten Black Theater Group” with Jeff Sumabat singing “Paraiso” and the El Gamma Penumbra performing “It’s More Fun in the Philippines.” Last July 29, the particpants were brought via guided tours to the luxurious resort of Pico de Loro Cove at Hamilo Coast in Nasugbu, Batangas. This area is renowned for being part of the “center of the center of the world’s biodiversity” which means that more than 65% of the world’s marine species can be found there with some species very recently discovered by California Academy of Sciences. The ACGTDT participants arrived to festive welcome of native songs and dances with rondalla music by hundreds of local grade
NAPA, August 25, 2014 (AFP) – Vintners in California’s prestigious wine country on Monday were shaking off the effects of a major earthquake and thanking the very soil from which their prized vintages stem. Winemakers who endured the 6.0-magnitude South Napa Quake were quick to conclude that how much damage was suffered depended not only on proximity to the epicenter, but the “terroir” in which grapes are rooted. Rocky soil seen as ideal for powerful red wines also seemed to hold up well, while spots richer in clay or sand were more inclined to shiver dangerously, like gelatin, beneath foundations. Early estimates put the cost of the damage into the billions of dollars, with much of that done to businesses like hotels, restaurants and shops that cater to tourists who flock to the area to visit wineries known around the world. Damaged buildings and broken water lines could have an array of businesses off limits during the coming three-day Labor Day weekend in the United States, prime time for tourism here. Barrels smashed Many wineries were reporting damage no worse than bottles or barrels smashing to floors in wine cellars or tasting and barrel rooms. Gates were barred to many aspiring visitors Sunday due to electric power being out of service, not because of quake damage. “We had no damage whatsoever,” said Jim Sullivan of Castello di Amorosa, a winery built as a replica of a 13th century Tuscan castle. “While it has rock more than
100 years old on the outside, behind it is concrete and (steel reinforcement) rebar.” Darioush winery, whose owners are from Iran, boasts freestanding columns in a design putting modern touches on ancient Persian architecture. The structures were unscathed by the quake, which did only slight damage to wine there, according to marketing directory Alessandra Boscarino. “We were really fortunate,” Boscarino said of Darioush. “The difference between my home and here was quite astounding. At home, everything that was elevated came down.” The number of lost wine barrels tallied about 20 at Bouchaine Vineyards, where the crew had begun the labor intensive crushing of grapes the same weekend the quake hit. A wine barrel holds enough to fill 300 standard bottles. A building at Trefethen Family Vineyards was knocked out of shape by the quake, which also caused two 20,000-liter tanks of Cabernet to spill at a Hess Collection facility, according to local news reports. “Ways property was affected had to do with the soil,” Boscarino said. “The terroir contributes to the wine with its different compositions and structures, so you wonder.” Quake trumped ‘crush’ Wine makers here were cleaning up quickly and getting on with the freshly-started grape harvest, known as the crush because juice must be quickly squeezed from fruit. “I can tell you that 99 percent of all the businesses in this valley are open and ready for our
guests,” Bourassa Vineyards vintner Vic Bourassa said in a blog post. “Napa is still one of the prettiest places on earth.” The earthquake that rocked California’s scenic Napa Valley wine country a day earlier was the strongest to hit the region in a quarter of a century, seriously injuring three and jolting thousands from their sleep. Data collected from activity tracking UP bracelets indicated that 93 percent of wearers in the cities of Napa, Sonoma, Vallejo and Fairfield woke when the quake hit at 3:20 am in California. Slightly more than half of UP wearers further away in San Francisco and Oakland were roused by the shaking, according to bracelet maker Jawbone. “Once awaken, it took the residents a long time to go back to sleep, especially in the areas that felt the shaking the strongest,” Jawbone said, noting that many did not make it back to sleep. No deaths were reported, but authorities said a child was in critical injured after being crushed by a fireplace and that some 130 people sought minor medical care and that. Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in the wake of the quake, which sparked fires, burst water mains, caused gas leaks and even cracked roads. The US Geological Survey said the temblor was the most powerful to hit the San Francisco Bay area since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, at magnitude 6.9. Water main breaks added to woes, including those of wineries eager to save precious waters in the face of an enduring drought here.
school children. After which, there was sumptuous lunch consistently mostly of Southern Tagalog cuisine. With outcast skies and showers in the morning and early afternoon, the participants went for indoor games and guided cove tour. Nasugbu Mayor Charito Apacible and Tourism Regional and Tourism Regional Director for Southern Tagalog Rebecca Villanueva-Labit personally joined them throughout their stay in Hamilo Coast. “Nasugbu town is a popular beach holiday destination, especially for its medical black sand beaches. From excursionists, our town has expanded to its target upscale visitors and residents of Europeans, Americans, other expats, and Asians, mainly Koreans, who patronize our dive resorts, mountain resorts, historical and cultural landmarks, ecotourism destinations, retirement havens, native restaurants, and a modern hospital. Pico de Loro Cove is one of our new tourist attractions catering to the AB market,” Mayor Apacible enthuses. “We heartily invite all ACGTDT participants to visit and invest in Nasugbu,” she adds. “Through the Cavitex Expressway and the innovative Kabiang Tunnel, Pico de Loro Cove and Nasugbu, for that matter, is less than one and a half hours away from Metro Manila. After passing by the well-preserved rustic greenery of its mountainside, the Cove greets every visitor with its fine beaches, amenities and cuisine. Twenty minutes away is the progressive town of Nasugbu where more attractions and undiscovered destinations await visitors,” quips Tourism Regional Director Labit. “Nasugbu and Pico certainly meet the challenge of making visitors stay longer than the usual three-day night sojourn in a destination. These are beyond the usual weekend visits,” she emphasizes. In bidding the Batangas hosts farewell, Consul General Leo Her- Camiling Association of California’s 25th Anniversary, August 23, 2014. FACLA President Austin “ Jun” Baul administers the oath rera-Lim of Los Angeles cites, “You of office to the incoming officers of the Camiling Association of California (CAC) during their induction ceremonies held at FACLA August 23, 2014. Hundreds of Camilingians from all over California attended the dinner-Luau party at FACLA for their induction, welcomed us not as friends but as on dinner and dance party. family. We leave Nasugbu well-informed and highly appreciative of the beauty of the town and of Batangas province and the hospitality of the people. Now we have more reasons to return and visit and invest here. We, in CONTACT US FOR A FREE* INITIAL CONSULTATION WITH ATTY. KOREN turn, extend our invitations to all of you to visit us in the We Handle ALL Immigration Matters: U.S.” • REMOVAL/DEPORTATION DEFENSE A rousing and non-stop musical number – consist• FAMILY-BASED IMMIGRATION ing of several teenaged • IMMIGRATION RIGHTS FOR SAME SEX Batangueño musicians as MARRIED COUPLES well as Provincial Governor Vilma Santos’ very own • BUSINESS AND INVESTOR VISA Licensed Attorney V.I.P. dancers – sent off the • EMPLOYMENT-BASED hundreds of participants Attorney Gali Koren is the firm's founder and managing • HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS from the Pico Country Club attorney. She received her Juris Doctor Degree, Magna Cum Laude, from Western State University. She obtained her LLM Ballroom to their respective • PERM (Approval Guaranteed or we'll Refile for FREE*) in International Law from the University of San Diego Law tourist buses back to MakaSchool, majoring in Immigration Law. Ms. Koren is a member • NATURALIZATION/CITIZENSHIP of the State Bar of California and is authorized to represent ti, where they had in turn clients on immigration matters in all 50 states. an exciting fellowship night • DACA/Deferred Action hosted by Western Union. MEET WITH AN EXPERIENCED IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY AND NOT A PARALEGAL. The next day, they were at the historic Rizal Monument FOR A FREE* INITIAL CONSULTATION CALL: in Luneta for the wreathlaying ceremony. They then proceeded to Malacañang i n f o @ k o r e n i m m i g r a t i o n . c o m • w w w. k o r e n i m m i g r a t i o n . c o m Palace for a museum tour NEW OFFICE IN IRVINE and luncheon at the Heroes 15260 Ventura Blvd., 1475 S. State College Blvd., 2691 Richter Ave., Hall. There were also speSuite 1200 Suite 106 (NEW), Suite 110 cial tours arranged for CorSherman Oaks, CA 91403 Anaheim, CA 92806 regidor, Intramuros, Met(corner of Cerritos, between Ball and Katella roads) (City National Bank building) Irvine, CA 92606 ropolitan Musuem at the All legal services are provided by and under the supervision of active members of the State Bar of California. *Some restrictions apply. Please call for details. **Employer sponsorship not guaranteed & based on qualified education, training & experience in specific professions Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
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Celebrate Harvest Moon Festival at Pechanga Resort & Casino with a share of $100,000 in cash giveaway In celebration of the Harvest Moon Festival, Pechanga promotes the thrilling September Table Games Promotions that will light up your smiles like the Autumn’s full moon. Join us from September 1 through 26, when getting a “Straight” hand at Ultimate Texas Hold’em, “A Qualifying Pair” at Let It Ride, a “Straight” hand at 3-Card Poker, “Dragon Bet” or any “Natural Tie” hand at Baccarat, a “Flush” hand in Pai Gow, or any “Blackjack” hand, will earn you a drawing ticket entry. The more you play, the more you win. The grand finale drawings will be held September 12 and September 26. Twenty-five raffle winners will be chosen to win $1,000 in cash and one lucky winner will walk away with $25,000 cash each drawing day; Winners must be present to redeem the prizes. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity in becoming the next big winner – it’s time to Harvest!! Pechanga wishes everyone a Happy Harvest Moon Festival! Largest Casino Resort in CA Welcomes New Manager of Asian Marketing Pechanga Resort & Casino, a AAA Four Diamond resort/casino and California’s largest, is pleased to welcome Chau Ly as its new Manager of Asian Marketing. In his new role, he will oversee the company’s Asian player development hosts, as well as act as an ambassador to the Asian Southern California community and work closely with the resort’s Asian marketing agency. With nearly 10 years of experience working with outreach teams to the Asian community in Southern California and in Las Vegas, he says he looks forward to growing Pechanga Resort & Casino’s involvement in areas that matter to customers even more. Chau Ly is originally from Vietnam and moved to the United States in 1975 after the fall of Saigon. His father, Ly Tong Ba, was a well-known army general in Vietnam. During his days off, Ly coaches pop warner football and enjoy watching and playing sports, as well as shopping. About Pechanga Resort & Casino Pechanga Resort & Casino offers one of the largest and most expansive resort/ casino experience anywhere in the country. Rated a Four Diamond property by AAA since 2002, Pechanga Resort & Casino provides an unpar-
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Heart, Chiz now engaged ACTRESS Heart Evangelista and Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero are now engaged to be married. Evangelista’s best friends, Lovi Poe and Alessandra de Rossi, took to image-sharing application Instagram to share the happy news of the couple. Both Kapuso actresses posted on Saturday evening a series of photographs and videos taken during Escudero’s proposal to the “StarTalk” host. “After months of planning, congratulations @saychiz for pulling off the best surprise for @iamhearte!!! We’re so happy that we’re here to witness this special occasion,” Poe said. She added: “I’m so happy for you guys! Chiz and Heart. You
finally found someone who gives you that feeling that people write novels about. Someday when the time comes all I have to do is look at you both and always remember to choose happiness more than anything in this world.” Poe even recorded the moment when Escudero went down on one knee and asked Evangelista’s hand in marriage. De Rossi congratulated the couple and uploaded a close-up photo of Evangelista’s heartshaped engagement ring. Escudero and Evangelista are dating for almost two years now. The senator was married to Christine Flores but the union was annulled in 2012. They have two kids. (MNS)
Chiz and Heart
Anne Curtis shrugs off ‘lasenggera’ tag
KC and Sharon
KC Concepcion on mom Sharon: We’re all behind her ACTRESS KC Concepcion is certain that her mother, Megastar Sharon Cuneta, will surpass difficulties with her weight gain and disappointments in her showbiz career. KC said that her mother did not mention the issue to her during their last conversation. “Nag-usap kami ni Mom and wala naman siyang na-mention sa akin na problem. Masaya nga yung talk nami sa phone nun,” she said. Concepcion believes that the Facebook post of Sharon is intended for her loyal supporters. “I feel na that open letter is Mom’s way of letting her fans know that she is still here, and she still cares for them. Sa lahat ng ginagawa ng mom ko, she always remembers her fans and wants them to be happy. It’s her way of saying she has not forgotten them,” she said. As for Cuneta’s weight gain issue, Concepcion said it will take time but she is positive that her mom will get the hang of things. “Her struggle to get back in shape is a long process, hindi naman ganun kadaling magpapayat to be honest,” she said.
The 29-year-old actress also thanked close friend, Judy Ann Santos, for the continuous love and support not just to her mom, but to their whole family. “I am very thankful that Ate Juday has always been there for my mom, sincere siya sa friendship nya and she’s part of our family. Like Ate Juday, me, our family, friends and her loyal fans are all behind her 100 percent. Kaya niya yan!” she ended. Earlier, Cuneta opened up on her Facebook account about being fat and admitted that she is going through mid-life crisis. She wrote that she “let myself go and allowed myself to get fat and stay fat”. She became complacent and lost faith on herself. “I was going through a mid-life crisis, the effects of which I could never have foreseen. My reaction to it was awful; I became rebellious because I hated myself for the way I looked and the time I continued to waste by not focusing and working on bettering my own person.” “It was I who let myself become affected by the fact that I had turned 40, not my public.” (MNS)
Dawn Zulueta reacts: Bamboo is not my brother Actress Dawn Zulueta took to the microblogging site Twitter to finally address rumors saying that she and “The Voice” judge Bamboo Mañalac are siblings. Zulueta denied that Mañalac is her brother, but she was quick to add that she has “high respect” for the Dawn and Bamboo singer. “Apart from all of us, both my The actress said she and her parents can attest to no other offbrother, George, are the only chil- springs,” she said. dren of her parents, Jose Fazil In the end, Zulueta urged the Tahanlangit-Taleon and Maria public to help her in putting an Cleofe Soleta-Salman. end to the said issue. She also Her father remarried and she requested Mañalac to release his only has two half-brothers, Jed own statement “as a courtesy.” and Josiah. (MNS)
ANNE Curtis does not mind being labeled “lasenggera” (drinker). “That’s okay. Not an issue for me at all. I had worse!” said the 29-year-old tv host/actress at the grand press launch of her upcoming movie “The Gifted” alongside Cristine Reyes and Sam Milby. Curtis said she is not hiding anything from the public and everyone knows that she likes to party and hang out with friends. “I don’t deny na I drink naman and minsan nalalaseng talaga. At least I’m honest about it and yung tao hindi nasa-shock kasi alam nila na she’s like us, na it happens,” she added. Also, she clarified that she is still with most of her sponsors. “I’m still with most of my endorsements. I think what helped was I was honest about it. Hindi ako nagtago and I admitted that it was a mistake. It goes to show na tao ako and people could relate. Nangyayari talaga,” she added. Earlier, the “It’s Showtime” host became controversial following two separate confrontations between her and some showbiz
Anne
personalities. She was under the influence of alcohol in both incidents. Meanwhile, the actress said that she and her boyfriend, food blogger Erwann Heussaff, are “very much together.” She said they just keep their relationship private. “It will just keep on happening [rumors of break-up] because we are not a showbiz couple. We don’t post mushy Instagram pictures,
but that’s a choice. We choose to keep it private. He’d rather keep ours, ours.” Curtis said they are happy with the relationship but no plans yet of getting married. “Wag muna! Siguro in mga three or four years, I’ll be ready,” she added. When asked if she sees herself settling down with Heussaff, Curtis replied: “Ayoko mag-isip ng ganun kasi paano pag hindi, masakit. I’d rather not have my hopes high. Sana, yun na lang.” Curtis said that she is too young to settle down and start her own family. But she hopes that when the time comes that she will finally become a mother and a wife, she will still get lead roles on television or movies. “If you’re not in showbiz, it’s the perfect age [29 years old]. With us kasi, it’s different in the industry here. You don’t become leading lady material once you’re already a wife. It’s very rare.” “The Gifted” will grace the big screen starting September 3. (MNS)
Why Kris will settle for No. 2 in MMFF The new “Feng Shui” movie will be titled just that, lead star Kris Aquino revealed during a story conference for the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry. According to Aquino, her upcoming horror film will be a continuation of the 2004 blockbuster also directed by Chito Rono. Star Cinema will produce anew. This time, the actress will be joined by “Ikaw Lamang” star Coco Martin, who will portray a hardworking man who will suffer the same misfortune as Aquino’s character in the original “Feng Shui.” Also reprising their roles in the 2014 movie are Cherry Pie
Kris
Picache and Joonee Gamboa. New cast members include Carmi Mar-
tin, Ian Veneracion, Joem Bascon, and Martin Escudero. Meanwhile, Aquino said she would gladly settle for No. 2 in the box-office race at this year’s MMFF, noting that her son, Bimby, will also be competing via the Vice Ganda-starrer “Praybeyt Benjamin 2.” She said Martin would also not mind conceding the top spot, pointing out his close ties with Vice Ganda. Martin has referred to the comedian as his best friend even before he joined showbiz. Filming for “Feng Shui” will start in the last week of August, Aquino said. (MNS)
Erik Santos, Angeline Quinto ‘exclusively dating’
They are not yet a couple but Erik Santos has finally confirmed that he and fellow singer Angeline Quinto are now exclusively dating. “Exclusively dating kasi wala namang iba,” Santos said in an interview on “Kris TV” on Wednesday. Asked if he would still allow Quinto to date other guys, Santos replied: “Okay lang kung mature na siya. Kung mature at responsible ka naman, alam mo ang tama.” But will he get hurt if she does? “Depende kung sino,” he said. Earlier, Quinto said she considers Santos her “next level friend.” “Kung ano man po ang mangyari after nito, ‘yung nangyayari sa amin ngayon, okay naman ako. Alam niya naman po ‘yun,” she said at the time. While they have yet to formalize their relationship, Quinto shared that she and Santos are vocal about their feelings for each other. “Nag-I love you siya. Siyempre nag-I love you too ako. Hindi ko pa po masabi ngayon [if we are officially together] kasi gusto ko rin po na si Erik din yung magsabi sa mga tao. [When we talk], I miss you, I love you, ganyan. Hindi naman lagi [na may I love you] pero madalas,” she said.(MNS)
Erik and Angeline
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KITCHENOMICS FAMILY FEATURES
W
hether you’re gathering the neighborhood kids for a backyard celebration or going on a weekend hike with family, you can make fueling up for the fun easy with snacks the whole family can enjoy. Everyone loves popcorn, and this tasty treat is easy to incorporate into a wide range of nibbles perfect for summer. Popcorn’s wholesome taste makes it an excellent partner to ingredients that tease your taste buds with flavors that are sweet, salty or even zesty. Creating a delicious trail mix to carry on an adventurous hike is a cinch when you combine fresh popcorn with your favorite sweet dried fruits and lightly salted nuts. Or, if you’re staying closer to home, use popcorn treats as a more nutritious alternative to traditional party desserts. Each of these recipes features freshly popped popcorn paired with common ingredients that appeal to both kids and adults for summery snacks that are big on both flavor and fun. For more creative recipes that give some pop to your summer, visit www.popcorn.org.
Sweet N Salty Popcorn Pretzel Sticks Yield: 6 sticks 6 tablespoons peanut butter 6 large pretzel rods 3 cups popped popcorn Sugar sprinkles 3/4 cup mini chocolate chips (optional) Spread 1 tablespoon of peanut butter over each pretzel, leaving a two-inch “handle” without peanut butter. Press and roll popcorn onto peanut butter to coat. Sprinkle with sugar sprinkles.
For optional chocolate drizzle, place chocolate chips in small sealable plastic bag and seal. Microwave 30 seconds or until chocolate is melted. Clip small corner from bag and squeeze to drizzle chocolate over popcorn. Sprinkle with additional sugar sprinkles. Allow chocolate to harden before serving.
Chili Lime Popcorn Snack Mix Yield: 1 quart 1 quart popped popcorn 1 teaspoon brewer’s yeast powder 1 teaspoon lime juice 1/2 teaspoon chili powder 1/4 teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 300°F. Spread popcorn on baking sheet. Sprinkle yeast powder, lime juice, chili powder and salt over popcorn. Heat about seven minutes and toss just before serving. Serve warm.
Blueberry & Pomegranate Power Bars
Blueberry & Pomegranate Power Bars Yield: 12 bars 8 cups popped popcorn 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats 1 cup dried blueberries 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds 1/2 cup toasted and coarsely chopped whole natural almonds 2/3 cup honey 2/3 cup light brown sugar 2 tablespoons butter or margarine 6 ounces melted bittersweet chocolate Line 13-by-9-inch pan with foil; spray with cooking spray. Combine popcorn, oats, blueberries, pomegranate seeds and almonds in large bowl. Combine honey, brown sugar and butter in small saucepan. Cook over low heat to boiling; boil two minutes. Pour over popcorn mixture and mix thoroughly. Using damp hands, press mixture firmly into prepared pan. Refrigerate until firm, about two hours. Cut into 12 bars. Dip bottoms of bars into melted chocolate. Place on wax paper-lined pan. Store in tight covered container in refrigerator until ready to serve.
Popcorn Trail Mix Yield: 5 cups 1 quart popped popcorn (air popped) 6 ounces diced, dried fruit (apricots, apples, etc.) 8 ounces raisins Place freshly popped popcorn in large bowl. Add diced fruit and raisins. Toss popcorn and fruit until combined thoroughly. Note: Add whatever fixings your family enjoys: dried fruits, seeds, nuts, etc.
Popcorn S’mores Yield: 20 pieces 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine 1/2 cup corn syrup 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 10 cups freshly popped popcorn 1 package (10 1/2 ounces) miniature marshmallows 2 cups mini graham cookies (teddy bears) 1 cup chocolate chips Combine brown sugar, butter and corn syrup in medium saucepan. Cook over high heat for five minutes; remove from heat and stir in baking soda. Combine popcorn and marshmallows in large bowl. Pour sugar mixture over popcorn to coat. Gently stir in graham cookies and chocolate chips. Spread mixture evenly into greased 15-by-10-inch pan. Let cool completely, then break into pieces. Store in airtight container.
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MOTORING Taking public transit to work may keep you fitter: study A solution developed by Brazilian researchers is capable of analyzing 15 images per second to determine the probability that the subject is on the phone. ©All rights reserved
Researchers develop alert system to prevent phone use at the wheel (Relaxnews) - A dedicated dashboard camera could soon trigger a warning to drivers who use their phone behind the wheel. Developed by researchers at the University of Santa Catarina (Brazil), the solution was recently highlighted by MIT Technology Review. Created by five Brazilian university students, the alert system is based on a camera that looks for signs the driver is talking on the phone. There are in fact several indicators, namely the position of certain areas of the driver’s face (eyes, cheeks, ears), which point to phone use. Working in real time, the system processes the images taken in three steps: face detection, evaluation of the position of certain pixels, and calculation of the probability that the driver is actually on the phone. A high probability triggers an alert, which could take the form of a loud noise or a simple vocal warning message. The algorithm developed currently works on video sequences of 15 frames per second at a resolution of between 320 and 240 pixels.
For the time being, the prototype is around 90 percent accurate on the whole, although the researchers noted that certain lighting conditions led to less reliable results. The system can only detect standard phone calling, not the use of a hands-free system or other mobile device usage such as reading and writing text messages or emails. It remains to be seen whether consumers and car makers might buy into the idea, which could potentially be more of an annoyance than a help. While talking on the phone is generally considered to greatly increase the likelihood of an accident, it is nonetheless legal in many US states.
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Research suggests taking public transportation to work could be almost or as effective as other active means like walking or cycling at keeping you in shape. A British study finds that walking, cycling and yes, even taking public transportation to work are associated with lower body weight and lower body fat composition when compared against those who drive. A team of researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and University College London collected and assessed 7,534 BMI (body mass index) measurements and 7,424 body fat percentage measurements from participants in “Understanding Society, the United Kingdom Household Longitudinal Study,” a cross-sectional dataset representative of the British population. Ten percent of men and 11 percent of women reported using
public transport. Both their body fat percentage and their BMI scores, like those of others who walked or cycled, were lower than those who commuted by means of a personally owned car. Men who used public or active (either walking or cycling) transport modes had an average BMI score of one percent lower than those who commuted via car, which indicates roughly a difference of 3kg in overall body weight. For women, BMI scores were an average of 0.7 points lower than their car commuting counterparts, equating to an average reduction in overall body weight of 2.5kg. As far as body fat percentage was concerned, the reduction was similar in size and significance, even after researchers controlled for age-related differences, socioeconomic discrepancy, diet and level of physical activity in the workplace.
While the large-scale study did not zero in on public transport users, and they represented a small group, results indicate nonetheless that the stresses and unpleasantness associated with trains and buses could be outweighed by the health benefits. Of the thousands of participants screened, 76 percent of men and 72 percent of women commuted by means of private motorized vehicles, while 14 percent of men and 17 percent of women walked or cycled to the office. Average BMI scores came in at 28 for men and 27 for women, indicating that most participants were overweight, teetering on the lines of obesity, which is marked by a BMI score of 30. The ideal BMI score is between 18.5 and 24.9. The study was published online in the British Medical Journal. http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g4887
Infiniti reveals first China-only car (Relaxnews) - The new Q50L is the first car from the premium Japanese manufacturer developed exclusively for the Chinese market and will also be the first Infiniti to be built in China. Although based on the existing Q50 executive sedan, Infiniti claims that the L is a result of “listening closely to customers’ needs” in what it describes as a highly sophisticated market. So, the first obvious difference is the car’s length. Affluent Chinese drivers value rear passenger space as highly as per-
formance or exclusivity. The Q50L measures 4.8 meters from end to end and its wheelbase (the distance between front and rear wheels) is also greater at 2.9 rather than 2.8 meters. But as well as more leg room, passengers will get mood lighting and rear window sunshades as standard as well as a 14-speaker Bose sound system. Infiniti hasn’t neglected the driver either, the car will come with a host of electronic aids including active lane control. The
Q50L will also be the first Infiniti to benefit from a new economical but potent 2-liter, fourcylinder turbocharged engine and a drive-by-wire electronic steering set-up for smoother and more responsive maneuvering. It also seems that Chinese automotive predilections are gaining traction in other countries. The Q50L’s big brother the Q70 is already offered in a longer L variant in China and the model is now going to go on sale in the US and Canada.
THE US ASIAN POST Wednesday - Tuesday, Aug. 27 - Sept. 2, 2014
Could smartphones be hindering kids’ social skills (Relaxnews) – A small study from the University of California Los Angeles psychology department concludes absorption in digital media could be a roadblock in children’s development of the ability to read emotions. Researchers compared two groups of sixth graders (ages 11-12) and found one group performed significantly better at recognizing emotions after five days with no digital media, not even television. Researchers say this is cause for alarm, considering how digital media is rapidly seeping into nooks and crannies of everyday life. “Many people are looking at the benefits of digital media in education, and not many are looking at the costs,” says Patricia Greenfield, senior author of the study. “Decreased sensitivity to emotional cues – losing the ability to understand the emotions of other people – is one of the costs. The displacement of in-person social interaction by screen interaction seems to be reducing social skills.” In the study, researchers worked with a total of 105 sixth graders from a Southern California public school, about half of whom spent five days at a nature and science camp that strictly forbids digital media. All 105 children were tested before and after half of them went off to nature camp at the Pali Institute. They were asked to analyze 48 photographs, declaring whether the emotions expressed were happy, sad, angry or frightened.
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Drug-detecting nail polish could become a woman’s best friend
(Relaxnews) – The only better source of girl power than an attack Chihuahua to ward off fishy acquaintances would be none other than drug-detecting nail polish. A subtle stir with a finger can detect whether the drink brought over by a stranger at a party is safe. Undercover Colors, as it’s called, is clear when applied, but changes to a red upon being dipped into a drink spiked with Rohypnol GHB and even Xanax. It’s the invention of four students at North Carolina State University with a knack for chemistry and concerned about reducing sexual assault. Among the highlights of their funding so far is an individual contribution of $100,000 and $6,500 received for winning first place in the Lulu eGames, a competition jointly sponsored by NC State’s Entrepreneurship Initiative and Lulu.com, a publishing company. To support Undercover Colors or find out more, visit: www.undercovercolors.com
Youths who try e-cigarettes triple since 2011: study According to researchers at UCLA, digital media is limiting face to face interractions and could be hindering social skill development for young people. ©Monkey Business Images/shutterstock.com
Additionally, they were shown videos of acted scenarios that evoked simple emotions and were asked to describe what was happening. For example, one scenario portrays students taking a test in school and two students express their reactions after having submitted it: One is worried about how he performed, the other is confident in his work. Another scene portrays a student feeling saddened after being excluded from his peers’ social interactions. Fresh from nature camp, children performed much better when tested on reading non-verbal cues to emotion, paring their average down to 9.41 errors, which was a significant improvement on their pre-camp average of 14.02. Meanwhile, the children who
had not been to camp made significantly less progress, according to researchers, who report that findings apply equally to boys and girls. “You can’t learn nonverbal emotional cues from a screen in the way you can learn it from face-to-face communication,” says lead author Yalda Uhls. “If you’re not practicing face-to-face communication, you could be losing important social skills.” Study participants self-reported their time spent texting, watching television and using other forms of digital media, which averaged at four and a half hours per school day, which is lower than surveys suggest the national average to be. The study was published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior.
WASHINGTON, August 25, 2014 (AFP) – The number of US youths who have tried e-cigarettes tripled from 2011 to 2013, raising concerns about the potential for a new generation of nicotine addicts, US health authorities said Monday. More than a quarter of a million young people who had never smoked a cigarette used ecigarettes in 2013, said the findings from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That represents a threefold increase over the number that tried the electronic devices in 2011, it said in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research. According to data from the National Youth Tobacco surveys of middle and high school students, 79,000 tried e-cigarettes in 2011, compared to more than 263,000 in 2013. “The increasing number of young people who use e-cigarettes should be a concern for parents and the public health community,” said lead author Rebecca Bunnell, associate director for science in CDC’s Office on Smoking
and Health. “Especially since youth e-cigarette users were nearly twice as likely to have intentions to smoke conventional cigarettes compared with youth who had never tried ecigarettes.” The study found that 44 percent of non-smoking youth who had ever used e-cigarettes said they intended to smoke conventional cigarettes within the next year. Among those who had never tried e-cigarettes, just 22 percent said they intended to try regular cigarettes. E-cigarettes are cigaretteshaped devices that heat flavored nicotine liquid into a vapor that is inhaled, much like traditional cigarettes but without the smoke. Instead, the user exhales a vapor, leading to the habit’s nickname, vaping. The devices are currently unregulated on the US market, and may be marketed to minors. Their fruit and candy flavors present an additional risk to youth, experts say.
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PACQUIAO
SEXTORTION
From page 1
From page 1
Despite Algieri wresting the WBO light welterweight title in a big upset against the tough Russian Ruslan Provodnikov in a controversial split decision in June, it was clear that Pacquiao does not feel his opponent can cause another shock. “I saw his fight with Ruslan,” Pacquiao told reporters at a press conference to announce the November card. “He took a lot of bad punches from Ruslan but he’s tough. “He can box. I’m not saying he’s really good but he’s not bad. He’s okay,” Pacquiao added. Pacquiao and Algieri were in Macau on the first date of a whirlwind six-city promotional tour that will move on to Shanghai, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and New York. Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach said he had concerns over Algieri’s height and reach – he is 5ft 10in (1.77m) compared to Pacquiao’s diminutive 5ft 6in – but little else, believing that Provodnikov had beaten the New Yorker in June. “It surprised me because I actually think Ruslan won that fight. (Algieri) got beat up a little bit,” said Roach. “Algieri has a good reach advantage and we’re going to have to get past that and his jab. That will be our biggest problem. We
have ways to do that.” Pacquiao admitted the lithe, athletic Algieri would be a different prospect to slower, but durable, Brandon Rios, whom ‘Pac-Man’ comprehensively outpointed in the same Cotai Arena venue in November last year. “The biggest challenge for me is to fight another tall guy. I have to use my speed and footwork for this fight,” said Pacquiao. Algieri admitted he blundered in getting caught early in the fight against the Russian, but said he would learn from it. “First round I made a mistake,” said the New Yorker. “Paid for it for the next 11-and-a-half rounds. Got a little too aggressive too early against a very dangerous guy.” Meanwhile Roach seemed a little worried by Pacquiao’s many distractions out of the ring—he is a politician and congressman, and also is embroiled with a long-running dispute with the Philippines tax man. And now the latest extra-curricular activity is becoming player-coach for expansion team Kia Motors in the Philippines Basketball Association (PBA). On Sunday Pacquiao, at 35, became the oldest player to be drafted in the PBA, when Kia picked him in 11th spot.
ISIS RECRUITING From page 1
He added: “Dako man ko respeto basta prinsipyo na. (I have a lot of respect as long as it’s for principle.) I just hope dili ma generate into something bad for us here. They are driven by religious principles. Islam is a very good religion. I just hope that they are there to fight for religious purposes and not for hatred. I just hope that they are well there. Whatever it is, they are still Filipinos.”
Meanwhile, the mayor said he is alarmed by reports that another group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, has also pledged allegiance to ISIS. “I’m a little concerned. I’m wondering what would be the dimensions. It’s a campaign of terror. But I just hope they will leave it that way there. They can come here and talk to me and have coffee,” he said. (MNS)
GUN TOTING From page 1
But she said she wanted President Benigno Aquino III to step down because of the high poverty rate in the country.
She said there are too many beggars on the streets. (MNS)
2000 PINOY From page 1
ucated nurses, Filipinos remain the most active job-seekers in America. He said 420 Indians, 300 Canadians, 266 Puerto Ricans and 234 South Koreans also took the NCLEX for the first time in the first semester of 2014. In 2013, a total of 4,034 Filipinos took
the NCLEX for the first time, representing less than one-fifth of the record-high 21,499 that took the same examination at the height of the 2007 nursing boom. The Philippines continues to produce thousands of new nurses every year, despite a large surplus. (MNS)
an of the national police anti-cybercrime division. The eight suspects were arrested and five minors taken into custody following a raid on Thursday in towns just outside Manila, she said. But Fabro warned that an undetermined number may have escaped before the raid. “There are other targets but we weren’t able to get them,” she told AFP. About 400 people from Hong Kong, Singapore and Macau were targeted by the group and the arrests were made due to complaints from victims, Fabro said. The suspects operated from towns in Bulacan province, about 30 kilometers (17 miles) from Manila. They used social media websites such as Facebook to meet people overseas and then used video call services such as Skype to engage in “cybersex,” the police said. “Unknown to the victim, these acts were recorded. Once the suspect captured sufficiently lewd video footages, he/she would stop the call instantly. Immediately, the victim would receive messages... from the suspect, threatening the victim that his lewd acts were video recorded with a video link to prove it,” the cybercrime division said in a statement. The suspect would then demand the victim pay a huge amount or the footage would be made public on social media or even sent to the victim’s friends or relatives, the division said. Each victim would usually be forced to pay about $30,000 but Fabro said she could not immediately give a figure for the total gained from the “sextortion”. Initially, the group used women but later recruited five minors who were taught to lure other victims. The minors have since been turned over to social workers, said Fabro adding that the suspects would be charged with human trafficking along with extortion.
Fabro also said they were still investigating whether this new group was related to a larger but similar “sextortion” operation that was broken up by police in May. In that case, dozens of people operating from industrial-sized call centers were arrested after allegedly blackmailing hundreds of people around the world, luring them on social media in order to get sexually explicit information or images. One of their victims was a 17-year-old boy in Scotland who committed suicide last year. This newest operation “is more mobile. If they have a strong enough Internet connection, they just do it from their homes,” Fabro said. Interpol has warned that “sextortion” has emerged as a major concern in recent years as criminals take advantage of more people using social media and greater mobile Internet access via smartphones.
JEEPNEY From page 1
bile stemmed from Pope Francis’ visit to South Korea, where he rode a locally built vehicle. “So maybe it would be better for him to use jeepney here,” she said. But she added the pope has so far not made any request as far as vehicles are concerned, though “all arrangements will still be finalized” this November. If Vatican protocol officials approve a jeepney as the next Popemobile by November, de Villa said there will be enough time to build it. “I don’t think that will be a problem because if ever we have two months to make it, we can make it. It’s not a problem,” she said. (MNS)
PROTEST From page 1
was one of the organisers, told ABS-CBN television the issue was non-partisan. “This is not about parties. This definitely is not anti-administration. This is pro-people,” she said. But many of the protesters at the rally used the issue to attack President Benigno Aquino, whom they accused of abetting the pork barrel system and of seeking a second term despite being limited by law to only one term. “No to pork barrel. No to term extension,” the placards read as protesters car-
ried an effigy of Aquino as a pig. Aquino, who was elected in 2010 on an anti-corruption platform, has seen his approval ratings dip amid accusations that his allies are among the beneficiaries of the pork barrel system. The president did not directly address his critics. But speaking at an event at the military cemetery, he called on the public “to remain vigilant against those who seek to sow doubt and lies” and spread “baseless accusations.”
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