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Vol. 4. No. 19 LOS ANGELES
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Roxas says he wasn’t told in advance of raid
A member of PNP-Special Action Force become emotional while attending a dialogue between DILG Secretary Mar Roxas and members of PNP-SAF at Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City Sunday. Roxas, who also heads the National Police Commission, assured that Napolcom will conduct a thorough investigation on the Mamasapano bloody encounter.(MNS photo)
Manila, Philippines | AFP | Sunday 2/1/2015 - The Philippine interior secretary said Sunday he did not know in advance of plans for an anti-terror raid that triggered a bloodbath in which 44 police commandos were killed. Manuel Roxas, who is in charge of the national police, said he had no foreknowledge of the January 25 operation. The huge losses shocked and enraged the nation and imperiled a peace pact with the main Muslim rebel group in the southern island of Mindanao. “They did not tell me about this... I’m not saying I would have known better but I also can’t help feeling I was not given a chance to ensure there was better coordination,” he told demoralized members of the police Special Action Force (SAF) at their headquarters. The SAF commandos were gunned down while on a mission to capture or kill Malaysian bombmaker Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, a leading member of the Jemaah Islamiyah group which staged the 2002 Bali bombings in
Indonesia. While authorities say Marwan was killed, the commandos were later ambushed by Muslim armed groups – including fighters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) which signed a peace agreement with the government last March. The MILF said the raid should have been coordinated with them under the terms of the ceasefire. “Your job is tough and dangerous. It is the duty of the state to give you the full support, equipment and training and not to send you into hopeless operations,” an apologetic Roxas said in a dialogue at SAF headquarters. However the minister, a close confidante of President Benigno Aquino, told the commandos to await the result of an investigation before jumping to conclusions. Aquino had previously said he was informed by top police of the operation. “We again appeal to everyone to give peace a chance,” his spokesman Herminio Coloma said See ROXAS, page 2
Palace to Purisima: Break silence on Mamasapano raid MANILA, Feb 2 (Mabuhay) – Even Malacañang has urged suspended Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima to speak up on the Maguindanao operation, which left 44 policemen dead. Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma said it is the duty of the suspended PNP chief to reveal all he knows about the Mamasapano raid. Purisima alleg-
edly called the shots during the deadly operation. “Tungkulin po nya na ibigay ang kinakailangang impormasyon yung nalalaman nya dahil ayon naman po sa pangulo nagumpisa pa dun sa kanyang kapanahunan ang operasyong ito,” he said. President Aquino confirmed before national television on
Wednesday that Purisima indeed coordinated with him on the operation of the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) commandos before his suspension in December. An official of the Office of the Ombudsman, meanwhile, said Purisima can be removed from the service if it is established that he was calling the shots in the opSee PURISIMA, page 2
Australia gives PHL two naval landing craft
Two Balikpapan-class LCHs similar to HMAS Labuan (seen here) from Australia will be in the Philippine arsena. Photo: Royal Australian Navy
Carnage scaring away investors: business group Cotabato, Philippines | AFP | Monday 2/2/2015 – A bloodbath in the southern Philippines has placed at risk billions of pesos in potential investment, a business leader in the region said Monday. At least three foreign firms looking to partner with local businessmen have put investments on hold after a deadly clash between Philippine forces and Muslim rebels, Mohamad Omar Pasigan, president of the Bangsamoro Business Club, told AFP.
The botched anti-terror operation on January 25 left 44 police commandos dead in the southern island of Mindanao, along with at least 11 rebels. “Security is everything for businessmen out to make a profit... They know when to take a risk and when to pull out,” Pasigan said. “They are willing to come here and invest, but then this fighting happened.” See CARNAGE, page 2
MMDA allows trucks temporary use of Roxas Boulevard
MANILA, Jan 30 (Mabuhay) –The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority announced it will allow trucks to traverse Roxas Blvd. starting Monday, February 2, 2015. MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino signed a memorandum circular which paves the way for trucks to use Roxas Blvd. from 12 midnight to 5 a.m. ”This is just temporary, upon the request of Secretary Rene Almendras, head of the Cabinet Cluster on Port Congestion, because of the backlog in the op-
erations of the truckers brought about by the holidays,” Tolentino said. The new scheme will take effect for two weeks only, from February 2 to 15, 2015. In December last year, MMDA implemented a new truck regulation along Roxas Blvd. in preparation for the Feast of the Black Nazarene and the Papal visit. “I am optimistic that this will somehow contribute to the government’s efforts to decongest the ports,” Tolentino said. See MMDA ALLOWS, page 2
Manila, Philippines | AFP | Sunday 2/1/2015 – The Philippines will buy three surplus naval landing craft from Australia in addition to two vessels Canberra has donated to deal with future relief efforts following typhoons, a defence official said Monday. The vessels, which were decommissioned in November, will be refurbished with modern safety and navigation equipment before being handed over. “I expect the vessels will be refitted and ready for handover See AUSTRALIA, page 2
Abalos acquitted of electoral sabotage MANILA, Feb 2 (Mabuhay) – The Pasay regional trial court branch 112 on Monday cleared former elections chief Benjamin Abalos of two counts of electoral sabotage in connection with alleged cheating in the 2007 midterm polls. Abalos earlier denied the testimony of Yogi Martirizar, former North Cotabato election supervisor, who claimed Abalos ordered her to rig the election results in favor of senatorial candidates allied with the Arroyo administration. Last year, the Pasay RTC Branch 117 also acquitted Abalos of 11 counts of electoral sabotage filed by the poll body on January 2012. The case stemmed from the alleged rigging of election results in South Cotabato during the 2007 elections.(MNS)
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New mega-casino opens Manila, seeking high-rollers By Joel Guinto
Manila, Philippines | AFP | Monday 2/2/2015 - A new megacasino opened in the Philippines Monday as the fast-growing southeast Asian nation ups its bid to become a world gaming destination. Manila aims to rival Macau and Las Vegas in terms of gaming revenues, and the “City of Dreams” is the latest in a string of casinos that have opened in recent years. The new casino is an imposing structure on Manila Bay with six gleaming golden towers surrounding a giant egg-shaped dome, and industry and government leaders hope that it will attract cashed-up
tourists from other parts of Asia. The casino is a joint venture between the country’s richest man Henry Sy, Australian billionaire James Packer and Lawrence Ho, son of Macau casino mogul Stanley Ho. “The goal is to find the best (sites) in Asia... The Philippines is one of the fastest growing economies anywhere in the world. We’ve seen the market really pick up,” Ho told reporters. Ho also acknowledged the huge cost of building the resort. The Philippine government requires a minimum $1 billion investment for new casinos built in the area. See MEGA-CASINO, page 2
Watchdog asks SC to stop Comelec resolution for PCOS repair MANILA, Feb 2 (Mabuhay) – A citizens’ elections watchdog on Monday asked the Supreme Court to strike down a Commission on Elections resolution allowing Smartmatic-TIM to conduct “diagnostics, repair, and refurbishment” of 80,000 precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines to be used for the 2016 polls. In a petition for certiorari and prohibition, the Automated Election System Watch (AES Watch) said the poll body committed grave abuse of discretion when it issued Comelec Resolution 9922, which would set in motion “Program 1” of Smartmatic’s extended warranty proposal, amounting to P300 million. The group also claimed the Comelec ruling violated the Government Procurement Reform Act and the Commonwealth Act No. 128. AES Watch spokesperson Nelson Celis branded the Comelec resolution as the “Brillantes midnight deal that paves the way for continuing travesty of our elections by defective Smartmatic PCOS machines and a non-compliant Comelec.” Celis was referring to Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr, who is retiring today, along with two other Comelec commissioners. The petition was filed with the SC by the group’s lawyer, Manuelito Luna, who said the contested Comelec resolution was “not only anomalous but also scandalous because we feel the policy of a public and competitive bidding and transparency requirements of fundamental law was cast aside.” See WATCHDOG, page 2
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CARNAGE
Pasigan declined to name the businessmen since their plans were not finalized. He The value of investments on hold due to said his group was helping foreigners find the fighting, in the real estate and agricul- local partners. ture sectors, is estimated at “billions” of pePhilippine laws prohibit foreign nationals sos, he said. from owning a majority of local businesses. Malaysian businessmen due to arrive on Monday to inspect sites in Cotabato city have cancelled their trip, Pasigan said. The group was looking to build small hotels and From page 1 “Thereafter, Roxas Boulevard will be predepartment stores. Jordanian businessmen looking to invest pared and rehabilitated by the DPWH in in up to 50 hectares (123 acres) of banana preparation for the APEC Summit slated farms left abruptly on Sunday without final- this year,” Tolentino added. Further, the MMDA Chief pointed out izing a deal, he added, while Singaporean and Malaysian partners seeking to replicate that the scheme will not be implemented their mini shopping mall business in Johor on the mornings of February 7 and 14, 2015 Baru said they were postponing their invest- as it can worsen the traffic situation during weekends. (MNS) ment.
From page 1
MMDA ALLOWS
WATCHDOG From page 1
MEGA-CASINO From page 1
“We believe the Comelec should have done better since it is the election manager and it knows the law. Unfortunately, that compliance was not met by the Comelec,” the lawyer said. Bishop Broderick Pabillo, who joined the AES Watch in the petition, noticed how the Comelec seemed to be “rushing” to tap Smartmatic in conducting diagnostics and repair of the counting machines.
Packer said jokingly that the resort was inspired by Hollywood movies “Casino” and “Oceans Eleven”, and Robert de Niro, Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio have appeared on giant billboards and TV commercials to promote the casino. The 6.2-hectare (15-acre) complex is the second of four mega resorts to open on reclaimed portions of the bay, just a few hundred meters from the city’s slum communities.
AUSTRALIA
shortage of such vessels during relief operations after Haiyan, the strongest storm ever recorded on land, which decimated whole towns and villages in November 2013. The Australian military, including the amphibious vessel HMAS Tobruk, were dispatched to help victims of the storm, which left more than 7,350 people dead or missing.
From page 1
in May 2015,” Australian Defense Minister Kevin Andrews said in a statement released by his country’s embassy. The three 44.5-meter-long (146-foot) craft, which are designed to carry heavy supplies, will be given to the Philippine Navy to help with humanitarian assistance and relief work. The Philippines struggled because of a
PURISIMA From page 1
eration in Mamasapano, Maguindanao that left 44 police commandos dead. “It constitutes grave misconduct – a grave administrative offense that carries with it the penalty of dismissal from the service,” the official said in a report by The Philippine Star.
Purisima was ordered suspended by the Ombudsman last December in connection with a bungled firearms contract. The suspended PNP chief reportedly flew to Saipan on Friday amid reports of his alleged involvement in the Mamasapano fiasco.
ROXAS From page 1
in a radio address. “Let us unite under this principle while seeking justice and accountability over what happened... last week.” Coloma said a final peace agreement would require the 12,000-strong MILF to disarm in exchange for control over an autonomous region in Mindanao. But public anger threatens to derail efforts to pass legislation needed to imple-
ment the peace accord before Aquino steps down in 2016. The main gate of national police headquarters in suburban Manila has become an unofficial memorial bedecked with flowers, candles and other tokens left by mourners. About 200 military veterans and serving soldiers drove up on motorcycles on Sunday, offering prayers and lighting candles.
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Palace: No whitewash in Fallen 44 probe MANILA, Feb 2 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang made the assurance that there will be no whitewash in the probe of the PNP’s board of inquiry into the Mamasapano clash even if it is investigating its own. Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the PNP is determined to find out the truth, including why no coordination was made between the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. “We will do injustice to the fallen 44 if there is such a thing (whitewash)… If you want to give justice to the fallen 44, any investigative body whether it’s a Board of Inquiry, the Senate and the House, should really seek the truth. That’s the minimum requirement,” Lacierda said. “Let me just state for the Board of Inquiry, there have been speculations or already conclusions [that]… the police is investigating themselves that the findings may not be credible. That is pretty unfair. And I think that is sad that people would say that considering that it’s the police force that lost lives. It’s the institution that has lost precious people. And more than these speculations, I think, the truth for them is much, much more important and trumps all speculations that people have been saying. “And certainly, they will find and they will go to the bottom of the truth in this case. So I think the Board of Inquiry has a mandate and a determination to go to the bottom of all this.” A total of 44 police commandos of the PNP Special Forces were killed during an operation to hunt down terror suspect Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front blamed the SAF for the misencounter, saying the government forces fired first. Last week, President Aquino admitted knowing about the police operation in Maguindanao that left 44 policemen dead last January 25 but would not say who gave the go-signal for it. He also confirmed that suspended PNP chief Alan Purisima had a hand in the operation but only to explain the intricacies of the hunt for the terrorists. He said Purisima was involved up to a point until he was ordered suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with a bungled firearms contract.(MNS)
Miriam: Aquino may be held liable MANILA, Feb 2 (Mabuhay) – Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Monday said President Benigno Aquino III may be held liable for the January 25 encounter between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Philippine National Police-Special Action Force in Mamasapano, Maguindanao which resulted to the deaths of 44 elite policemen. “Anyone who thinks President Aquino should assume command responsibility as commander-in-chief of the military and Armed Forces of the Philippines may file a complaint in the International Criminal Court,” Santiago said in a press conference. She said the ICC hears cases against heads of state and the topranking military commanders and anyone can file a complaint before it. “There is no requirement. Any person can do so, any NGO, any person with an active, legitimate interest on the outcome of the case,” she said. The senator noted that it cannot be denied that after Aquino’s speech last week, where he admitted knowing about the operation, more questions, rather than answers, surfaced. “What was the direct line of command between the President and the operators? It was not clear whether he just approved the operation at the very start and then let it have its own life or he approved the particular operation. If so, whose advice is he taking and what precautions were taken to protect the life of these almost uniformly very young police?” she asked. She also asked why there was no coordination and preparation for the military encounter. Santiago, who was elected judge of the ICC but had to decline the post due to cancer, said that the Rome Statute contains a provision on war crimes committed in non-international armed conflicts. She said under the ICC Rome Charter, the military commander or person is criminally liable if he either knew or should have known that his forces were about to commit such crimes and the military commander or person failed to take all necessary and reasonable measures to suppress the commission of the crime. The senator wondered if the Mamasapano incident was an “internationalized conflict” in the sense that there may have been another state that was a party to the conflict. “Internationalized armed conflicts are subject to the law of international armed conflicts. These include situations of outside control of insurgency as decided in a 1999 case by the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia,” she said. She said that after responsibility has been pinpointed, the military commander and other superior officers found guilty should be punished according to “rules derived from established customs, from the principles of humanity, and from the dictates of public conscience, also known as the Marten’s Clause.” Santiago said, in addition to international humanitarian law, human rights law should be invoked to punish those found guilty of the killing of SAF commandos. “International humanitarian rights conventions refer to so-called ‘core rights.’ Such rights can never be derogated from by any armed group, whether in a situation of internal disturbance and armed conflict,” she said. The senator also questioned the possible “intervention by another state or states” in the incident because it is prohibited by international law. “As a general rule, foreign states are not normally allowed to provide help to the rebels in a non-international armed conflict situation,” she said. Santiago said if the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was involved owing to the counterterrorism campaign worldwide by the US government, any foreign help from the CIA would complicate the legality of the armed conflict.
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OPINION
Jobless rate at 27%, 12.4M unemployed in Q4 2014 – SWS MANILA, Feb 2 (Mabuhay) -- Some 12.4 million Filipinos were jobless in the fourth quarter of 2014, resulting in a joblessness rate of 27 percent - the highest since December 2013’s 27.5 percent, a new poll taken by the Social Weather Stations found. The fourth quarter results brought 2014’s joblessness rate average to 25.4 percent, compared to 2013’s annual average of 25.2 percent. Quarterly joblessness was at a record-high 34.4 percent in March 2012, and has been hovering between 21.7 and 29.4 percent since. The SWS pointed out that 2014 and 2013 joblessness numbers coincided with the slowdown in gross domestic product growth, which, according to official data, slowed to 6.1 percent in 2014 from 7.2 percent in 2013. The SWS was taken among 1,800 adults from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1. The poll had sampling error margins of ±2 percent for national percentages; ±6 percent each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon and Mindanao; and ±3 percent for the Visayas. The poll was posted on the Business World website. Optimism Despite the increased joblessness numbers, the poll found improved optimism that work would become available in the next 12 months. Net optimism on job availability - the difference between respondents who were optimistic that there would be more jobs over those pessimistic that there would be less - increased to +16 from the +12 in the third quarter of 2014. In the fourth quarter of 2014, 36 percent, said the number of available jobs in the next 12 months would increase. Some 32 percent said it would not change, and 20 percent (from 22 percent) said the number of positions available would decrease. In September, 33 percent said the number of available jobs in the next 12 months would increase, while 33 percent said it would not change, and 22 percent said available jobs would decrease. Nevertheless, the increase still placed optimism within the “fair” rating. The SWS classifies net optimism on job availability scores of +30 and above as “very high”; +20 to +29, “high”; +10 to +19, “fair; +1 to +9, “mediocre”; zero to -9, “low”; and -10 and below, “very low.” Joblessness breakdown The SWS said that the adult joblessness rate in the fourth quarter of 2014 included: those who resigned or voluntarily left their old jobs (14 percent, about 6.5 million adults) those who involuntarily lost their jobs due to economic circumstances beyond their control such as contracts not renewed, employers closing operation, or being laid off (9 percent or about 4.3 million
adults) first-time job-seekers (3 percent or about 1.5 million adults). Those retrenched included 6 percent (from 4 percent in September) whose previous contracts were not renewed, 2 percent (from 1 percent) laid off, and 2 percent (same as September) whose employers shut operations. The proportion of those who quit rose by two points from 12 percent in the third quarter. Those retrenched increased by two points from September’s 7 percent, while first-time job seekers “hardly moved”, staying at 3 percent. Joblessness rose across most age segments except among the youth - those 18 to 24 years old, in which the joblessness rate fell to 48 from 50 percent. Joblessness rose to 32 percent from 30 percent among those aged 25 to 34; 22 from 18 percent for those aged 35 to 44; and to 19 from 15 percent among those aged at least 45. Among the genders, joblessness among women “rose sharply” to 41.7 percent from 33.2 percent, the highest since the 42.5 percent in August 2012. Among men, joblessness “barely moved” but rose slightly to 15.6 from 14.9 percent in the third quarter. Government definition The SWS’s definition of joblessness is different from that of the government’s, which the later uses for the Labor Force Survey. SWS respondents are at least 18 years old compared to the lower official boundary of 15 years. Also, the SWS survey considers persons with jobs as those currently working, including unpaid family members. SWS joblessness is based on two traditional qualifications: without a job at present and looking for a job. Those not working, without a job but not looking for one, such as housewives and students, are excluded. In contrast, government’s Labor Force Survey defines the unemployed using three concepts: not working, looking for work and available for work. Those not available for work, even though looking, are excluded, and those available for work but not seeking it due to illness or waiting for results of a job interview are included. Applying the government’s definition, the SWS said fourth quarter joblessness among adults 18 years old and up was 17.9 percent, or 7.3 million Filipinos. That is 17.6 percent or about 7.2 million adults who were not working, looking for work, and available for work and 0.2 percent or 90,900 adults not working, not looking for work but available for work. (MNS)
Gov’t chief negotiator: Mamasapano clash should be last ugly turn on road to peace MANILA, Jan 31 (Mabuhay) – The bloody clash that killed 44 Special Action Force police personnel in Mamasapano in Maguindanao last Jan. 25 should be the last ugly turn on the road to peace, government peace negotiators said Saturday. Chief government negotiator Miriam Ferrer said this at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the decommissioning of weapons of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. “We want the Mamasapano encounter the last ugly turn in the road to peace,” Ferrer said. “This (Mamasapano incident) is not the first, but we want it to be the last,” she added. She lauded the police officers for their sacrifice and service to the nation. But she admitted there is “more to be done to quell terrorism.”
For his part, MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal extended his sympathies to the kin of the fallen –“those who have fallen in the Mamasapano incident.” Iqbal also commended the International Monitoring Team for helping stop the incident. “The Bangsamoro people have suffered a lot as a result of several massacres in the past...The incident in Maguindanao is not intended,” he said. Iqbal also said the MILF suffered 18 dead and 14 wounded in the Mamasapano incident. He added the decommissioning of MILF forces is the ultimate sacrifice. “No amount of obstacle can stop us in pursuit of peace in Mindanao,” he said. Meanwhile, Ferrer added the MILF is ready to turn over 75 high-powered firearms to an independent decommissioning body. (MNS)
Aquino vows justice for dead Filipino commandos on day of mourning By Joel Guinto
Manila, Philippines | AFP | Friday 1/30/2015 – Philippine President Benigno Aquino pledged justice for the families of 44 police commandos killed by Muslim rebels during a botched anti-terror operation, as he led tributes on Friday – a national day of mourning. The men were killed in confrontations with two rebel groups in the southern Philippines on Sunday while on a mission to catch or kill Malaysian bomb-maker Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan, who is accused of involvement in the 2002 Bali bombings in Indonesia in which 202 people died. “I feel your pain,” Aquino told weeping widows, parents and children of the police commandos at an emotional memorial service inside a police camp in suburban Manila. “I pledge to bring justice to all those who were killed,” said the president, sporting the same black armband worn by police attending the ceremony. An awkward silence, broken only by the sound of infants crying, filled the cramped gymnasium as Aquino personally offered his condolences to victims for the first time since the massacre, praying briefly before each white casket. Elisa Esmulla, unemployed and widowed with five young children, said she could not take a combat medal from the president’s hands as she was overcome with grief. “My head was spinning. I was confused. I still can’t believe what happened to my husband,” Esmulla, 33, told AFP, carrying her one-year-old daughter. Aquino was attacked by many for failing to attend a parade ceremony Thursday that saw uniformed commandos bearing the coffins of their fallen comrades as they arrived home in Manila. He vowed Friday that one of his government’s top priorities would be to go after Philippine militant Abdul Basit Usman, a suspect in at least nine bombings in the south, who escaped from the week-
end fighting. And in his eulogy, Chief Superintendent Noli Talino repeated a Philippine government claim— not yet independently verified—that Zulkifli was killed by a small assault force. The 44 men lost their lives in gun battles with large units of Filipino Muslim rebels who surrounded them, according to officials, including the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which signed a peace agreement with Manila last year. The MILF maintains that it acted in self-defence and has vowed to pursue the peace process, as it seeks regional self-rule. The rebels were not harbouring Zulkifli or Usman, MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal told AFP, despite military claims in the past they had been offered shelter. “We don’t know anything about their movements... They don’t have contact with the MILF at all,” Iqbal said, adding 11 MILF fighters died as a result of the encounter while 15 were wounded, with some in a “serious condition”. Iqbal said there was “no other way to move forward” except to implement the peace treaty. The other group that attacked the policemen, officials said, is a MILF splinter group called the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), which last year pledged allegiance to Islamic State fighters in Iraq and Syria. ‘All I ask for is justice’ Eyewitness accounts by at least one police survivor allege that some of the dead policemen had surrendered, only to be executed by the rebels who also desecrated some of the corpses, triggering mounting calls for retribution. On Friday, the Philippine government and Muslim rebel negotiators announced that they had signed a protocol for the disarmament of guerillas. The two sides started three-day talks in Kuala Lumpur from Thursday, their first formal sit-down since the botched raid.
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UTREACH PHL jumps 13 notches in 2015 economic freedom index WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Philippines is among the 10 top countries with improved performances in the list of the world’s freest economies, jumping 13 notches in the 2015 Index of Economic Freedom released today by the Heritage Foundation. The Philippines moved from 89th place in 2014 to 76th place in 2015 in the annual survey of 184 countries published since 1995 by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative Washingtonbased think-tank. The 2015 Index, which graded economies based on 10 independent factors , showed the Philippines increasing its scores in such indicators as financial free-
dom (+10); freedom from corruption (+9.9); labor freedom (+8.5); and monetary freedom (+0.8). The Philippines scored 62.2 out of a possible 100, which is above the global and regional averages. This also allowed the Philippines to emerge in the 13th spot among 42 countries in the Asia-Pacific that were surveyed. “This is definitely good news for the Philippines and a reflection of the positive outcome of the good governance efforts that are being undertaken by the Aquino administration,” said Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. His sentiments were echoed by the Heritage Foundation, which attributed the positive
LA County to host used oil and filter recycling event in East LA According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, recycling oil helps sustain nonrenewable resources, conserves energy, and saves money. Recycling just two gallons of used oil can generate enough electricity to run the average household for almost 24 hours. To assist in this effort, LA County Public Works will host a free used motor oil and oil filter recycling event on Saturday, February 7, 2015, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, at O’Reilly Auto Parts, located at 722 South Atlantic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90022. People who recycle oil filters will receive one new oil filter. In addition, free used oil containers, shop towels, and funnels will be available on a first-
come, first-served basis. Items for drop-off should be prepared by placing oil filters in sealed plastic bags and storing used motor oil in leak-proof containers. Used oil should not be mixed with any other liquid, including water. Used motor oil and oil filters also can be recycled for free at a local certified collection center or on weekends at a County-sponsored Household Hazardous Waste/ Electronic Waste collection event. A full calendar of collection events and list of collection centers can be found at www.CleanLA.com. For additional information on the County’s oil and oil filter recycling program, call Edna Gandarilla, Program Manager, at (626) 4586536.
jump of the Philippines in the index togovernment policies. “The Philippines’ performance is one of the best by far in any country where we have the Index,” said Ambassador Terry Miller, Director of the Center for International Trade and Economics at the Heritage Foundation. “It is clear that government policies are delivering substantial improvements in the economy.” The Index measures economic freedom based on 10 quantitative and qualitative factors grouped under four broad categories or pillars—rule of law, limited government, regulatory efficiency, and open markets. Based on an aggregated score, each of the 184 countries graded
US consumer spending falls in December Washington, United States | AFP | Monday 2/2/2015 – US consumer spending fell in December in the midst of the key yearend holiday shopping season, while their incomes continued to grow, Commerce Department data released Monday showed. Consumer spending, which accounts for about 70 percent of the economy’s activity, fell 0.3 percent from November, the first decline of the year. The last time it fell was in December 2013. The decline came after a sharp 0.5 percent rise in November, a month marked by aggressive price cuts and sales promotions ahead of the year-end holiday shopping season. Personal income, as well as disposable personal income, rose 0.3 percent for the second straight month in December. Wages and salaries, the largest part of income, edged up only 0.1 percent in December after a 0.6 percent rise in November. For all of 2014, consumer spending grew 3.9 percent, picking up from the 3.6 percent pace the prior year. Personal income rose 3.9 percent last year from a 2.0 percent gain in 2013. “Looking ahead, further big real income gains and soaring confidence point to serious strength in spending,” said Ian Shepherdson, chief economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, in a research note.
in the Index are classified as “free” (with a score of 80 or higher), “mostly free” (70-79.9), “moderately free” (60-69.9), “mostly unfree” (50-59.9, or “repressed” (under 50). In previous years, the Philippines was under the “mostly unfree,” but it has returned to the “moderately free” category over the last two years during the Aquino administration. Ambassador Cuisia expressed his appreciation for the work of the Heritage Foundation as well as his desire to explore ways of further improving the country’s future scores in property rights (0); fiscal freedom (-0.1); government spedning (-3.0); business freedom (-4.6); and
trade freedom (-0.1) “I look forward to finding ways to improve scores for indicators in which the Philippines could still improve further, especially trade freedom, fiscal freedom, and government spending,” Ambassador Cuisia added. He thanked the Heritage Foundation for its transparency and objectivity in receiving information and data from the Embassy and other Philippineagencies. “It is my hope that the Embassy and the Heritage Foundation continues its close collaboration to help help bring about specific reforms among Philippinegovernment agencies and improve scores,” Ambassador Cuisia added.
E-cigarettes, a community health threat: State officials
SACRAMENTO – California Department of Public Health (CDPH) director and state health officer Dr. Ron Chapman today issued a Health Advisory and the “State Health Officer’s Report on E-Cigarettes: A Community Health Threat,” warning Californians of the toxicity of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). “E-cigarettes contain nicotine and other harmful chemicals, and the nicotine in them is as addictive as the nicotine in cigarettes,” said Chapman. “There is a lot of misinformation about e-cigarettes. That is why, as the state’s health officer, I am advising Californians to avoid the use of e-cigarettes and keep them away from children of all ages.” E-cigarettes are battery operated devices, often designed to resemble cigarettes that deliver a nicotine-containing aerosol. Ecigarettes have many names, especially among youth and young adults, such as e-cigs, e-hookahs, vape pens, vape pipes or mods. The liquid solution (e-liquid) used in e-cigarettes typically contains nicotine and is commonly referred to as “e-juice.” It is sold in a variety of candy, fruit and alcohol flavors. Studies find a significant rise in ecigarette use each year, especially among young adults and teens. New California data shows that ecigarette use among young adults, ages 18 – 29, increased from 2.3 percent in 2012 to 7.6 percent in 2013. Young adults in California are three times more likely to use e-cigarettes than those 30 and older. Likewise, e-cigarette use among U.S. teens has surged. In 2014, teen use of e-cigarettes
nationally surpassed the use of traditional cigarettes, with more than twice as many 8th and 10th graders reporting using ecigarettes more than traditional cigarettes. Among 12th graders, 17 percent reported currently using e-cigarettes vs. 14 percent using traditional cigarettes. Along with an increase in use, there has been a spike in calls to the California poison control centers related to exposures to nicotine-containing e-liquids and accidental e-cigarette poisonings – from 19 in 2012 to 243 in 2014. More than 60 percent of all those e-cigarette related calls involve children 5 years and under. “The e-cigarette cartridges and e-liquid bottles are not equipped with child-resistant caps, often leak, creating a poisoning risk by ingestion or by skin or eye contact,” warned Dr. Chapman. “These products are not safe.” Highlights of the report include: Exposure to nicotine during adolescence can harm brain development. E-cigarettes do not emit a harmless water vapor, but an aerosol that has been found to contain at least 10 chemicals that are on California’s Proposition 65 list of chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. E-cigarettes are not FDA-approved cessation aids. Between 2011 and 2013, ecigarette advertising jumped more than 1,200 percent and used marketing tactics to appeal to youth. Those tactics include the use of cartoon characters which is prohibited in traditional cigarette advertising. Chapman also announced that the public education and media efforts to counter e-cigarettes are just beginning. CDPH intends to partner with health, medical, child care and education communities to educate consumers about the dangers of e-cigarettes, and plans an advertising campaign in the near future. The California Tobacco Control Program was established by the Tobacco Tax and Health Protection Act of 1988. The act, approved by California voters, instituted a 25-cent tax on each pack of cigarettes and earmarked five cents of that tax to fund California’s tobacco control efforts. These efforts include supporting local health departments and community organizations, a media campaign, and evaluation and surveillance. California’s comprehensive approach has changed social norms around tobacco use and secondhand smoke. It is estimated California’s tobacco control efforts have saved more than one million lives and have resulted in $134 billion worth of savings in health care costs. Learn more at TobaccoFreeCA.
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Tech guru guy Kawasaki partners with AARP on new web series ‘Technology: It’s Not Just a Guy Thing” Debuts at AARP.org WASHINGTON, D.C., January 28, 2015 – Technology entrepreneur and writer Guy Kawasaki is teaming up with AARP for a new web series about how people who are 50-plus can embrace technology. Debuting at www. aarp.org/guykawasakivideos, “Technology: It’s Not Just a Guy Thing” takes a look at how technology can empower people of all ages and change their lives. Hosted by Gil Asakawa, AARP/Asian American Journalists Association Social Media Fellow, “Technology: It’s Not Just a Guy Thing” will focus on the art of innovation, social media, the fundamentals of graphic design, and how digital media is changing the way we consume information. New episodes will premiere every three weeks until the end of March. “AARP shares my passion for helping people master technology,” said Guy Kawasaki. “Digital tools are creative, empowering, and entertaining and help us stay productive and connected.” “People age 50 and over are hungry for information about technology that they can understand and use,” said Daphne Kwok, AARP Vice President of Multicultural Markets and Engagement for the Asian American and Pacific Islander Audience. “Guy Kawasaki, a pioneer in the technology industry, is the perfect person to help us go in depth on topics that are relevant to everyone.” Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist of Canva, an online graphic design tool. Formerly, he was an advisor to the Motorola business unit of Google and chief evangelist of Apple. He is also the author of The Art of Social Media, The Art of the Start, APE: Author, Publisher, Entre-
preneur, Enchantment, and nine other books. Kawasaki has a BA from Stanford University and an MBA from UCLA as well as an honorary doctorate from Babson College. Watch AARP’s “Technology: It’s Not Just a Guy Thing” at www.aarp.org/guykawasakivideos. About AARP AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services. A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world’s largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org.
America’s homeless capital LA counts its down-and-outs By Veronique Dupont
Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Sunday 2/1/2015 – Notebook in hand, Ana Alvarez walked along the streets of Skid Row, the downtown Los Angeles district that’s sometimes called the homeless capital of America. Scores of tents and makeshift shelters had been erected for the night, all along the sidewalks. “We don’t get close to them. We try not to disturb them, because a lot of them are already asleep,” Alvarez said. She was helping with the homeless count that takes place every two years across the entire county. After dark, volunteers like her scour the vast region and tally up the number of people sleeping rough. “It’s important to know how many people live here, to assess the resources we need,” said Latoya Hawthorne, a census participant who works in a homeless women’s refuge. At the last count in 2013, Los Angeles had some 39,500 homeless people. If you include those camping or staying with someone, the figure jumps to 60,000. According to current estimates, some 3,000 people sleep on Skid Row’s urine- and garbage-strewn streets, their shelters made of cardboard, fabric or plastic and squeezed right next to each other. “We counted 24 homeless individuals; we luckily didn’t see any children or people under 18,” said Harry Batt, one of thousands of volunteers helping with the count. “It is very depressing,” he added, noting that a lot of the homeless are mentally ill. Veterans a priority A few blocks away, US Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald walked briskly, adding a mark on his notebook every time he sees a homeless person or a tent. His presence was a demonstration of the Obama administration’s desire to tackle the problem of military vets who have fallen into extreme poverty. Of some 630,000 homeless people in the United States, nearly 50,000 are former military personnel, according to official
figures. Doran Mateik, a nurse who works regularly on Skid Row, led McDonald and his team, a map in hand. “I’ve been coming here for seven years, I try to get to know them, to see how I can help them. Some of them have become my friends,” she said. “I give them my address so they can receive some mail, or I try to assist them with the red tape.” At the end of road, McDonald stopped before a tall, thin black man with glasses who stood next to a shopping cart filled with possessions. “You’re a vet? So am I! how old are you? Sixty-three? I’m 61! Do you get the help you need?” the politician asked, as cameras rolled and journalists watched. The man refused to give his name, but said he was in good health. A woman from McDonald’s entourage handed him a
Guy Kawasaki at AARP Studios in Washington, DC.
Newspaper columnist Lydia Solis new president of PWU California alumni association Philippine Women’s University Alumni Association of Southern California (PWUAASC) Lydia V. Solis was elected President of the Philippine Women’s University Alumni Association of Southern California for the year 2015-2016. On March 14, 2015, Lydia together with the newly-elected Of icers will be inducted into of ice during a dinner dance at The Sheraton Cerritos Hotel. Lydia was born in Taal, Batangas to Public School Supervisor Marciano Kasilag Solis and First Grade Teacher Pacita Vergara Solis. After graduating as High School Valedictorian, she became one of the irst eleven 16-yearold American Field Service Scholars sent to the United States. Lydia’s educator parents wanted her to be the Guidance Counselor at their family-owned college in Mabini, Batangas. Upon her return from the U.S.A., she enrolled at the Philippine Women’s University, Manila where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology graduating cum laude and later on completed her Master’s Degree in Counseling. But fate had other plans for her. She got married and started a family. In 1969, she migrated to the USA. In luenced by her daughter, Lydia discovered Journalism. She studied Journalism at UCLA as a Scholar of the Philippine American Women Writers and Artists. She was a correspondent and a columnist (“OVERVIEW”) of Philippine News, the oldest Filipinobusiness card detailing psychological services for former soldiers. “I’m not a suicide risk,” he said, politely. The woman invited him to see her at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. “We want to help,” she said. The government says that since 2010 the number of homeless vets has fallen by 33 percent. Most are 50 years or older and served in Vietnam or the first Gulf War, but not in the post-September 11,
American newspaper established in 1961 in San Francisco. She won the coveted “Contributor of the Year” and “Correspondent of the Year” awards. Lydia cherishes being the irst recipient of the Filipino American Library Spirit Award for Community Building Journalism (2001) while writing for Philippine News. Lydia said, “not bad for someone who hated writing so much she had to ask her father for help in her high school term papers.” In 2002, Lydia retired after 31 years of service from the City of Los Angeles, and hung her gloves as Philippine News Correspondent and Columnist after almost 15 years. That paved the way for other challenges. In 2003, she was appointed as West Covina Senior Citizens Commissioner, a post from which she retired in 2007.
In 2011, Lydia returned to Philippine News as Chief Correspondent of Southern California. Besides the Philippine Women’s University Alumni Association of Southern California, Lydia is a Volunteer Of icer of community organizations such as Kalayaan Incorporated, Dr. Jose P. Rizal Monument Movement and the Philippine Heritage Institute International. She was a Former President of the Philippine Press Club International and a Former Treasurer of the Filipino American Press Club of Los Angeles. She was designated an Honorary Member of the Philippine American Press Club, U.S.A. Her volunteerism has been recognized by numerous government agencies, as well as civic, religious, social and professional organizations. Lydia is a widow of Clark. A. Wardle, Ph.D. PWUAASC is in good hands with Lydia’s leadership. PWUAASC is giving its full support to PWU Manila as it tries to resolve its current issues with her ongoing partnership with another educational institution. “More than ever, we bond with other Philwomenians globally and the entire PWU community - its administration, faculty and student body in an effort to preserve our legacy of quality education as we draw nearer to our 100th Year Anniversary and to honor what Tita Helen’s parents, Francisca Tirona Benitez and Dean Conrado Benitez have bequeathed to us their alumni.”
2001 campaigns. While McDonald finished up in the section they were allocated, a homeless man seated on the ground in front of his tent asked: “Why do they come at night? why don’t they come during the day? They scare me.” Alvarez explained that the census, the results of which will be published in April, takes place at night because during the day people move about a lot, partly
because they are not allowed to linger in one place. “It’s a good thing they are counting them. The problem is that they get this info and do (nothing) about it,” said a former homeless man who goes by the name “General Dogon” and has become a campaigner. “I don’t see people getting off the street... all I see is more police.”
Solis
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Math exercises get physical with Kinect-using teacher
If you’re between 50 and 60, drinking more than two glasses of wine per day increases your risk of having a stroke, according to a new study. ©Igor Klimov/shutterstock.com
Study suggests limiting alcohol intake in middle age Drinking more than two alcoholic beverages per day in middle age could increase the risk of stroke more than the wellknown culprits of having high blood pressure or diabetes, according to a new study. That alcohol consumption increases one’s risk of stroke is well known, but the current study is the first to identify a difference based on age. “We now have a clearer picture about these risk factors, how they change with age and how the influence of drinking alcohol shifts as we get older,” says Pavla Kadlecová, M.Sc., a statistician at St. Anne’s University Hospital’s International Clinical Research Center in the Czech Republic. In the study, 11,644 middle-
aged Swedish twins were followed for 43 years and the research team set out to compare if a person’s level of drinking made a difference concerning stroke risk. Having more than two drinks per day was considered “heavy drinking” by the researchers while drinking less than half a drink daily was considered “light drinking,” and middle age was considered to be the 50s and 60s. The team concluded that heavy drinkers had a 34 percent higher risk of stroke than the light drinkers. Those who drank heavily in mid-life were likely to have a stroke five years earlier than the light drinkers no matter what kind of genes they had and no matter what their health history
and behavior was like in early life. The findings only apply to midlife, however, for around the age of 75, blood pressure and diabetes overtook drinking as the most influential factors increasing risk of stroke. The American Heart Association recommends limiting alcohol intake to two drinks per day for men and one for women, which converts to eight ounces of wine for men and four for women. Regular heavy drinking can raise blood pressure and lead to cardiac problems such as irregular heartbeats and heart failure in addition to the risk of stroke. The study was published in the American Heart Association journal Stroke.
(Relaxnews) – Upon noticing that her high school geometry students learned better when given the opportunity to move their bodies in ways that demonstrated the lessons, Carmen Petrick Smith developed a unique teaching method using Kinect, a motion-sensing input gadget from Microsoft. Since Kinect was designed to allow users to play video games using body movements instead of a joystick, a wheel or buttons, the software enables a sort of kinetic interaction between students and their math lessons. Now an assistant professor of mathematics education at the University of Vermont, Smith has since produced empirical evidence that the quirky concept – which is now being called embodied cognition—could work, and her most recent study was published in the Journal of Mathematical Behavior. In the study, 30 elementary school students were asked to perform physical tasks while under the tutelage of the Kinect motion sensor input device, which enables humans to dictate to computers with body movements in-
stead of by pressing buttons. When students used their arms to form acute, right, obtuse and straight angles, the screen changed colors and their task was to figure out why. “When students are acting out a math problem and using their body to help them explain the answer, that’s another modality,” says Smith. “Maybe they don’t know the words quite yet, but they have a way to express it using their body that they didn’t have before when they were sitting in a row of desks looking up at the teacher and searching for an answer.” Sure enough, Smith’s study suggests that students who stare at static representations of angles learn at an inferior pace compared to those who experience the motion-based curriculum. She has secured programmers to further develop her program and she envisions incorporating it into Vermont classrooms, initially. A trend of applying Kinect to therapeutic purposes is growing rapidly, for two weeks prior to the publication of Smith’s study, another study reported using Kinect to rehabilitate muscular dystrophy patients.
Just another math lesson in Miss Smith’s class.©Andy Duback
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KITCHENOMICS Mediterranean Chicken Pitas Prep time: 10 minutes Servings: 2 1 (10-ounce) can chicken breast, drained and flaked 1/2 cup finely chopped cucumber 1/2 cup finely chopped red bell pepper 1 (4.5-ounce) can chopped green chilies, drained 1/4 cup Greek yogurt 2 tablespoons fresh chopped dill 2 whole wheat pitas 4lettuce leaves In large bowl combine chicken, cucumber, red bell pepper, green chilies, yogurt and dill; toss to mix well. Cut each pita in half horizontally; carefully open each pita half. Fill each with 2 lettuce leaves and half of chicken mixture.
Mediterranean Chicken Pitas
FAMILY FEATURES
E
very parent has been there. It’s Thursday afternoon and the kids are asking, “What’s for dinner?” Searching for inspiration, you head to the refrigerator, only to realize that the groceries you bought on Sunday have run out or spoiled. But before the panic sets in and you reach for the takeout menus, remember that the solution for a wholesome, homemade meal is right in your pantry — or “Cantry.” “With a well-stocked pantry full of canned ingredients, I know I always have the makings of a nutritious and flavorful meal,” said Kelsey Nixon, host of “Kelsey’s Essentials” on Cooking Channel and Food Network. “Fruits and vegetables are harvested at their peak of ripeness and canned in just hours, making the can one of the best ways to get food from its source to my family’s table. I just open up a can, unlock that flavor and goodness and make it a ‘Cantry’ Thursday night!” With canned food staples like canned beans, chicken, green beans and broth on hand, you’ll be well on your way to savory meals like Quinoa Chicken Vegetable Salad and Nixon’s Pasta e Fagioli Soup. For more information about the canning process, delicious recipes and to learn how you can get cooking with canned foods, visit CansGetYouCooking.com.
Pasta e Fagioli Soup
Pasta e Fagioli Soup
Pea and Corn Risotto
Recipe created by Kelsey Nixon Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 25 minutes Servings: 4 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 4 ounces chopped pancetta (about 1/2 cup) 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper 2 (15-ounce) cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced fire-roasted tomatoes 3 (14.5-ounce) cans chicken broth 1 1/2 cups ditalini pasta (short tubular pasta) 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish In large heavy-bottomed pot, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Brown pancetta bits just until they start to crisp before adding onion, garlic and thyme. Season with salt and pepper, and saute until fragrant and golden brown. Add canned beans, tomatoes and chicken broth. Bring soup to rapid boil before adding pasta. Reduce to simmer and cook soup covered, stirring occasionally for 8–10 minutes or until pasta is cooked al dente. Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving. Garnish with Parmesan cheese and serve with crusty bread. Note: You can substitute bacon for pancetta, if desired.
Servings: 4 4 cups canned low sodium chicken broth 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 small onion, diced 1 cup Arborio rice 1 (11-ounce) can no salt added whole-kernel corn, drained 1 (8.5-ounce) can low sodium peas, drained 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 tablespoon butter Salt and ground black pepper, to taste In 2-quart saucepan over high heat, heat chicken broth to simmering; keep warm. Meanwhile, in 3-quart saucepan over medium heat, in hot olive oil, cook onion until tender-crisp, stirring occasionally. Add rice and cook for 2 minutes until coated with oil. Gradually add chicken broth, 1/2 cup at a time, until absorbed, stirring frequently. Continue adding remaining broth, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring occasionally, cooking rice until al dente, about 25 minutes. Stir in corn, peas, Parmesan cheese and butter to heat through. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.
Quinoa Chicken Vegetable Salad Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Servings: 6 1 (14.5-ounce) can chicken broth 1 cup quinoa 1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained 1 (10-ounce) can chicken breast, drained and flaked 1 (8-ounce) can cut green beans, drained 1 (8.75-ounce) can corn, drained 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper In medium saucepan over high heat, heat chicken broth and quinoa to boiling. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Set aside to cool. In large bowl, combine cooled quinoa, diced tomatoes, chicken breast, green beans, corn, olive oil, lemon juice, parsley and pepper; toss to mix well.
Almond Cherry Tres Leches Cake Recipe created by Kelsey Nixon Servings: 12 Cake: 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened 1 cup granulated sugar 5 large eggs 1/2 teaspoon almond extract 1 (14.5-ounce) can pitted cherries, thoroughly drained Tres leches mixture: 1/4 cup heavy cream 1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk Icing: 1 1/2 cups heavy cream, chilled 4 tablespoons powdered sugar 1/4 teaspoon almond extract 1/4 cup chopped almonds, toasted For cake, preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 9-by-13-inch cake pan. Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt into large mixing bowl. Cream butter, sugar and eggs with electric mixer on high until yolks turn pale yellow. Mix in almond extract. Slowly incorporate dry ingredients into wet ingredients until fully combined — avoid over-mixing. Pour into prepared pan, evenly spreading batter out. Bake until cake has cooked through, 30 minutes. Cool slightly, then pierce surface of cake with fork several times. Combine heavy cream, evaporated milk and condensed milk in small bowl or pitcher. Drizzle milk mixture over top and allow cake to sit and absorb milk mixture. For icing, whip together heavy cream, sugar and almond extract. Spread evenly over top of soaked cake. Top with toasted almonds. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or until ready to serve.
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Pops Fernandez, Society of Seven in Filipino concert, Feb. 7, at Pala PALA, CA, December 10, 2014… Pops Fernandez, the Filipino “Concert Queen” will perform with the Society of Seven in a special Filipino concert at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, February 7, in the Events Center at Pala Casino Spa & Resort. Lhey Bella, a rising Filipino star, also will perform with the Society of Seven. Fernandez, one of the most popular performers in the Philippines, has recorded numerous charttopping songs and attracted sellout crowds throughout her 20+year career. The Society of Seven is a variety group and show band that traces its roots back to the ‘60s and performs throughout Asia and the United States. Lhey Bella enjoys a wide musical range and performs jazz standards, dance tunes, R& B and rock and roll. Tickets on sale at 10 a.m., Friday, December 12, with no service charge, at the Pala Box Office in the casino, or call 1-877-WIN PALA (1877-946-7252). Tickets also are available at Star Tickets, 1-800-5853737, or www.startickets.com. Pala is located in Northern San Diego County; from San Diego/ Riverside, take I-15 to Highway 76 east five miles; from Los Angeles County and Orange County, take I-5 south to Highway 76 east, then travel 23 miles. Pala is 15 miles north of Escondido, 12 miles south of Temecula.
Address: 11154 Highway 76, Pala, CA 92059 Telephone: 1-877-WIN-PALA (1-877-946-7252) Web site: http://www.palacasino.com Other shows coming to Pala: Kathy Griffin, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, January 10, 2015, Events Center. Tickets, $60. $50, $40, $30 at www.startickets.com Tu Quy (Fantastic Four) Vietnamese Concert, 7 p.m., Saturday, January 17, 2015, Events Center. Tickets, $100, $55, $45, $35, at www.startickets.com and all Vietnamese ticket outlets. One Night Only California’s Best Elvis Impersonators with Travis Allen, James “King” Kruk, Rob Ely, 7 p.m., Saturday, January 24, 2015, Infinity Showroom. Tickets, $30, at www.startickets. com Arrival From Sweden The Music of ABBA, 7 p.m., Saturday, February 14, 2015, Infinity Showroom. Tickets, $45, $37, atwww. startickets.com Jim Jefferies, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, February 21, 2015, Events Center. Tickets, $40, $30, at www.startickets.com Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 14, 2015, Events Center. Tickets, $125, $100, $95 atwww.startickets.com About Pala Casino Spa & Resort
Pala Casino Spa & Resort includes a Las Vegas-style casino with 2,000 slot machines, 87 table games and 13 poker tables; a 507room hotel; a 10,000-square-foot, full-service spa and salon that features 14 treatment rooms; a state-of-the-art fitness center; swimming pool with 12 private poolside cabanas, and dual-temperature outdoor whirlpool hot tub. Pala also offers 10 restaurants and 40,000 square feet of meeting and convention space. Pala Casino Spa & Resort is an AAA Four-Diamond Award winner for 11 consecutive years. Its state-of-the-art Pala Spa was named the number one spa on the West Coast and one of the top 100 spas in the United States for 2013 by Spas of America. Previously, Pala Spa was named the 2009 Best Casino Spa by Spas of America, the 2009 Best Casino Spa by the Southern California Gaming Guide and in 2012 received a spaAward and was selected by Spas of America as one of the top 100 spas in the United States. In 2011, Pala Casino Spa & Resort was voted Best Casino in San Diego by the public in the 10News.com annual A-List poll sponsored by KGTV-TV 10 Newsin San Diego. For more information, visit http://www.palacasino.com.
Emotional Jed Madela admits he lost his voice
Jed Madela turned emotional during a private event when he related that he lost his voice. In a video uploaded by a certain Michael Sun on YouTube Saturday, Madela thanked his tito and tita for taking care of him. “These people are the ones who need the applause. Kasi ever since I started, sila talaga ‘yung nagpu-
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push sa akin,” he said, as tears started welling up. “Last month, nawala ‘yung boses ko and nobody was there. Siyempre ‘yung pamilya ko sa Iloilo, they kept calling but it was different. Sina Tito and Tita [were] there beside me every step of the way. So thank you,” he added. The singer then embraced them to express how grateful he is for
their support. Madela then offered a medley of Mariah Carey’s “Hero” and Bette Midler’s “Wind Beneath My Wings,” saying the songs’ lyrics convey his message for them. “This is the perfect mash up of songs for people like tito and tita who really go out of their way to push people who have dreams,” he said. (MNS)
Pops Fernandez
Janice admits ‘better relationship’ with John Actress Janice de Belen admitted that she now has a “better relationship” with her former husband, actor John Estrada. In a recent interview with reporters, De Belen said what is important now is that she is now on speaking terms with Estrada, who is the father of her four children. “Okay naman kami... Ngayon it’s a better relationship, naguusap na. Ang importante ay nag-uusap na kami,” she said. When asked if she is now open to doing a project with Estrada, she said: “’Yun ang mahirap. It’s not a personal thing kaya lang mahirap kasi kapag magsama kami, supposing na maging magkasama kami sa isang show o isang movie eh pag-uusapan ‘yan.” “May asawa siya. I do not ever want anybody to feel uncomfortable of my presence,” the actress added, referring to Estrada’s wife, Miss Earth 2004 Priscilla Meirelles. “Hindi kami close [ni Priscilla] pero hindi din kami magkagalit,” she added. (MNS)
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THIS NEW YEAR, YOU CAN WIN A GOOD FORTUNE OF $30,000 AT PALA! February 19 – February 28 Earn entries for special hands in Blackjack, Pai Gow Poker, and Baccarat card combinations.
Grand Prize Drawings (Must be present to win)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28
30,000
$
Good Luck & Good Fortune Giveaway
3:00 pm......................................$200 5:00 pm......................................$300 6:00 pm......................................$500 7:00 pm...................................$1,000
8:00 pm...................................$2,000 9:00 pm...................................$5,000 10:00 pm.................................$6,000 11:00 pm.................................$7,000 Midnight.................................$8,000
Lion Dance Celebrate with the excitement of this popular tradition at 7:30pm on Saturdays, Feb 21 & 28. Special Asian Cuisine Choices the Buffet will offer a special Lunar New Year Menu with traditional dishes from various Asian countries.
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MOTORING Workers strike at 9 US refineries New York, United States | AFP | Monday 2/2/2015 - Union workers at nine US oil refineries were striking Monday for a second day after contract negotiations with plant owners broke down. But only one of the nine plants had curtailed production as a result of the strike, Bloomberg News reported. The United Steelworkers Union announced the stoppage began 12:01 February 1 at refineries in California, Kentucky, Texas and Washington state. The plants are owned by Shell, LyondellBasell, Marathon Petroleum and Tesoro. The USW took the action after negotiations broke down with Shell, which is leading the talks on behalf of refiners. A USW statement blamed oil company intransigence and listed a series of problems, including “onerous overtime,” “unsafe staffing levels” and the “erosion of our workplace” due to outsourcing of work to contractors. The nine refineries account for about 10 percent of US refining capacity, according to Bloomberg. However, the strike could potentially spread to a much larger group of plants. The USW said it represents 65 refineries accounting for nearly two-thirds of total US output. The other refineries, including those of ExxonMobil and Chevron, are currently running under a rolling 24 hour labor contract extension, according to the union.
AeroMobil flying car to be introduced to buyers at Top Marques Monaco (Relaxnews) – The AeroMobil 3.0, a “flying car” that transforms into a two-seater light sport plane, is set to go on show to the public this spring at Top Marques Monaco. The exclusive supercar show will provide the backdrop for the latest public update of the vehicle, which was launched at Vienna’s Pioneers Festival last winter. The prototype, which is expected to be issued with its full airworthiness license within weeks, can achieve speeds of up to 160 km per hour on the road and 200 km per hour in the air. The Slovakian invention, created by CTO Stefan Klein and CEO Juraj Vaculik, runs on regular fuel and has a range of 800km. It can take off from speeds of about 100 km per hour, meaning that it can take off from any legal leveled grass surface.
AeroMobil 3.0
A price has yet to be released for the limited-edition first model. Aero-
Mobil 3.0 will be on show at Top Marques Monaco from April 16-19.
GM receives over 4,100 injury claims for faulty ignitions \New York, United States | AFP | Monday 2/2/2015 – General Motors said Monday that it had received more than 4,100 compensation claims for injuries tied to faulty ignitions, including 455 death claims, by its January 31 deadline. But so far only 128 of the claims have been deemed eligible for compensation. Kenneth Feinberg, the attorney in charge of the independent compensation fund set up by GM after recalling 2.6 million cars over the ignitionswitch problem since February, reported 51 death claims so far were ruled eligible for compensation, and 110 were under review. The largest US automaker, which has been taking claims for compensation from victims of the flawed vehicles for six months, reported total claims of 4,180 as of Sunday, the day after the deadline. Fund spokeswoman Amy Weiss noted that it was too soon to know the final numbers, saying that “many” claims were still arriving through the postal system. The claims had to be postmarked by January 31 to be eligible for consideration. Feinberg told Bloomberg television that hundreds of claims had been received in the last 10 days and it would take “at least a few months to process all of those claims.” The deadline passed despite a plea by two Democratic lawmakers last week for GM to extend it again to ensure all possible victims of accidents linked to the ignition problem, which dates back to the early 2000s, would have a chance to apply. The company already had extended the deadline by one month. GM launched the compensation claims program after acknowledging the faulty ignition switch could turn off power to a car’s power steering and safety airbags while it is in motion. It took GM nearly 11 years before beginning to recall the cars after hundreds of possible accidents and deaths were reported. Feinberg said that he was not surprised that GM had originally reported only 13 deaths related to the problem, because the company had been looking at a direct link to the flawed ignition switches. Circumstantial evidence weighed The compensation fund, by contrast, he explained, is focused on “proximate cause” or circumstantial evidence between the switch defects and the deaths and injuries.
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Traveling and choosing a life partner (Part 2)
Traveling not only enhances an individual’s life. All the things one sees and experiences away from home and outside his/her comfort zones contribute to a richer base of experiences to draw learnings and wisdom from. In relationships, traveling can also bring out the best and the worst. This month, I debut this new trav el column; and because it is also the love month, I am talking about marrying the two, pun intended, traveling and of his old favorites in Soho - Cafe Boheme, choosing a life partner. a traditional French cafe in the heart of In May 2014, I traveled with a man West End’s creative district. I remember whom I thought I could end up with. And ordering the rabbit dish and loving it. I during the trip, I paid attention to clues also remember dashing out of the place, to that could tell me whether he’s the one. catch our third play in 1 ½ days, semi-walking It was a 15-day trip to England, exploring and running in the rain. We didn’t have an umLondon, his home for many years before brella. He offered to cover my head with his he moved to Los Angeles 6 years ago; and coat. Stratford-upon-Avon, his hometown where Clue #7 – He made and still makes me his family still lives. In fact, the purpose of feel very safe. I feel protected and cared for the trip was to introduce me to his parents. when I’m with him. I thought it was selfless I designed our second day to start later. of him to offer me his coat. He said he could I was making allowances for jet lag. But we take the cold because he was used to it from woke up bright and early the next day; and living there. I still couldn’t stand the rain, because the weather was still cooperating, despite having lived in the Philippines. not too sunny, but not wet either, which On the third day, my English gentlewas the most important thing, Lester de- man took me to Hyde Park. It was beauticided to take me to see the Crown Jewels ful. We walked until we saw a glimpse of in the Tower of London. He had never been Buckingham Palace; but by then, it was aland before I asked him about it, did not ready raining. So we went back to our hotel even think much about the tourist attrac- and changed for our 1:30 p.m. reservation tion. I guess we humans have the tendency at the Michelin-3-rated Alain Ducasse at to take for granted things that are “just “The Dorchester” - a luxury landmark since there.” 1930’s. I thought the hotel was a little stuffy By 1:30 p.m. We were rushing to the and the people a tad stiff. But I nonetheless Queen’s Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, enjoyed the experience and the sumptuous to watch “Les Miserables” - our second Broad- 7-course tasting menu of cheeses, crab, sea way show within 24 hours. Again, for some- scallop, lobster, and foie gras and venison one who said he didn’t really like musicals, animal activists will frown upon. Lester admitted to enjoying watching the Clue #8 – We both liked to eat, again, Cameron Mackintosh production with me. compatibility, enjoying the same things. Clue #6 – It’s not really about what Dining out was and still is a very imporyou’re doing, it’s about who you’re doing it tant part of our relationship. Perhaps it’s with. When couples truly enjoy each other’s also because I don’t cook. company, it doesn’t matter what they do or Shopping was next. How can you not where they go. visit the world-famous Harrod’s when in We had two hours for dinner before we London?! He spent a few minutes walking had to catch “Mamma Mia” at the Novello around the first floor with me, looking at Theatre, The Aldwych, another historic bags. And then an hour or two more upstage known as the Waldorf Theatre when stairs, where I lost myself in shoes. it opened in May 1905 before it was renoClue #9 – He could tolerate my whims vated and reopened in December 2005. By and idiosyncrasies. That’s precious. this time, it had already started drizzling. That evening, he took me to one of his Lester decided that we should walk to one favorite steakhouses in London, Sophie’s
High tea at The Wolsley Steakhouse. They have two locations – Covent Garden and Chelsea. The steak was to die for; but the highlight for me was the cheesecake. They serve specials of the day. We had the toffee pudding cheesecake. I still dream about it. Lester originally dreaded our fourth day. He thought it was “too touristy” - Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, and Southbank. But he went with me, nonetheless, and enthusiastically captured the experience through his iPhone camera. This wasn’t a clue, but rather a bonus, to know that my partner knows how to take great photos. And, believe it or not, he said I was a beautiful subject. Clue #10 – Attraction is key.(Self-explanatory) In the afternoon, we walked through St. James’ Park; and then proceeded to have high tea at The Wolsley, a traditional English cafe-restaurant that was originally constructed as a car showroom in 1921. It was bustling. The tables were arranged close to each other you can hear what people at the next tables were discussing. But it was all part of the experience and according to him, part of the charm. We found our way back to Harrod’s that afternoon, for a little more shopping. And in the evening, we went for a meaty dinner at Gaucho (Piccadilly) – an Argentinian restaurant serving amazing menu, specializing in roasted meats, against a lavish background of furnishings and cowhide fabrics. I allowed myself to drink Argentinian wine to my heart’s content.
Clue #11 – Find someone who would treat you like a princess, lavish you with attention and occasionally spoil you with some of the finer things in life. It’s not about how much he can afford; but how much he is willing to give you. [To be continued] TRAVEL NOTES from London: To Stay: The Pelham Hotel – 15 Cromwell Place, South Kensington, London SW7 2LA, UK To Watch: Broadway shows – www.boxoffice.co.uk To Eat: Cafe Boheme - 17 Old Compton Street, London W1D; Alain Ducasse - 53 Park Lane, London W1K 1QA; Sophie’s Steakhouse - 29-31 Wellington Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7DB; Gaucho - 25 Swallow Street London W1B4QR; The Wolsley (for high tea) – 160 Piccadilly, London W1J9EB To See: Tower of London, Hyde Park, Harrod’s, St, James’ Park, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, The London Eye, Southbank Jannelle So is She is credited for creating, hosting and producing America’s first and only locally-produced daily talk show for Filipinos, that ran for 8 ½ years under her leadership, making it the longestrunning Filipino talk show outside of the Philippines. On her spare time, she loves to travel. This new column will document her sojourns as she shares what she learns an discovers on her trips. Connect to her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; or email her at sojannelle77@gmail.com.