Us Asian Post July 15, 2015 by Balita Media Inc

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Bea says relationship with Zanjoe ‘rocky’ See PAGE 7

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Vol. 4. No. 42

LOS ANGELES

A Balita Media Publication

Wednesday - Tuesday, July 15-21, 2015

PHL ready for new round vs. China

Rescue personnel from Malabon City conduct a routine check of flooded areas using an amphibian tricycle at the Artex Compound in Malabon City on Thursday. The Artex Compound is a cluster of houses inside a compound that has been constantly under flood, with or without rains, for several years now. (MNS photo)

PHL argues environmental, fishing claims vs China MANILA, July 9 (Mabuhay) – After an “impassioned plea” from the foreign affairs secretary, the American lawyers of the Philippine government argued on Wednesday before the United Nations arbitral tribunal in The Hague the strength of the country’s environmental and fishing claims in the South China Sea. During the first day of oral arguments Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario accused China of violating international law by seizing territories in South China Sea “with overwhelming force.” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the second session focused on the country’s arguments against China that did not involve territorial

disputes. “Professor Alan Boyle presented to the tribunal arguments regarding the strength of the Philippines’ environmental and fishing claims against China” she said. In addition to China’s claim on islands and maritime features within the 200-mile exclusive economic zones of its neighboring countries, it has also been accused of adversely affecting the environment and fishing communities with its massive reclamations in the environmentally sensitive area. Environmental group Kalikasan PNE has called Chinese reclamation activities as an “ecological time bomb” that has been “wreaking havoc to the region’s

marine ecology.” Malacañang has sent a team to represent the country in the arbitral tribunal, which will decide whether China’s nine-dash line claim is valid. China claims about 90 percent of South China Sea amid overlapping claims by other Asian countries. It has also refused to participate in the proceedings and instead continued to build artificial islands. “For the continuation of the First Round of Arguments, the Philippines’ lawyers further explained to the Arbitral Tribunal how the case does not constitute specific exemptions under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which would preclude the tribuSee ENVIRONMENTAL, page 6

MANILA, July 11 (Mabuhay) – The Philippine delegation to The Hague is prepared to field clarificatory questions from the arbitral tribunal handling the case the Philippines filed regarding its maritime dispute with CHina, Malacañang said Saturday. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the tribunal is likely to ask the clarificatory questions during the second round of oral arguments on July 13. “Ito ay ginagawa nila kapag may kaunting clarification na itatanong uli. Handa ang ating panel isagot ang kanilang katanungan,” he said on state-run dzRB radio, referring to the second round of arguments. Lacierda said the lawyers in

the Philippine delegation are ready, adding they had one year to prepare themselves on the case. Earlier, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the Philippines is to argue its case before the Arbitral Tribunal in the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands on July 7 to 13. It said the hearings will address the issue of the Arbitral Tribunal’s jurisdiction over the case. Presenting the Philippine position is Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, as agent of the Philippines, together with counsels from Washington D.C.-based law firm Foley and Hoag, headed by Paul Reichler. (MNS)

UN tribunal to assess PHL’s arguments vs. China MANILA, July 10 (Mabuhay) – The five-member United Nations (UN) arbitral tribunal based in The Netherlands is set to deliberate on Friday whether or not it will give weight to the Philippines’ arguments on the jurisdiction of the case it filed against China. In a statement, deputy presidential spokesperson Usec. Abigail Valte said the tribunal will be convening Friday to assess the presentations made by the Philippines during the past two days on its claims against China. “In the past two days, the Philippines presented its arguments to prove that the tribunal has jurisdiction over the matter and that there is no bar to the exercise of its jurisdiction,” Valte, who is part of the government’s delegation to the arbitration proceedings, said. “The Philippines will await

word if it will be propounded additional questions by members of the tribunal,” she added. Should the tribunal’s members have further questions to the Philippine side, another round of arguments will be held on July 13. During the first day of the arbitration hearings, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario urged the tribunal to exercise its jurisdiction over the Philippines’ case against China, citing its global importance. Foreign lawyers have also been presenting arguments before the tribunal on why it should take up the case. They also asserted the Philippines’ environmental and fishing claims against China during the second day of the hearing. China, however, has refused to participate in the arbitration proceedings, insisting instead on bilateral talks to settle its territorial dispute with the Philippines.

Army commander Iriberri is new AFP chief MANILA, July 10 (Mabuhay) – The commanding general of the Philippine Army has been named the new chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Lt. General Hernando Iriberri, who has been at the helm of the Army since February 2014, takes over the top military post as Gen. Gregorio Catapang retires from the military service. Iriberri is the 46th chief of staff of the military. Bishop Leopoldo Tumulak, in his prayer for Iriberri during the See IRIBERRI, page 6 Filipino boxing champ and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao on Friday visited Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipina sentenced to death in Indonesia for a drugrelated offense. Pacquiao posted on his Instagram account a photo of him, his wife Jinkee, and Veloso in prayer. He also asked his followers to pray for Veloso, who got a reprieve earlier this year. (MNS photo)

Tearful prayers as Manny Pacquiao visits death row Pinay in Indonesia Yogyakarta, Indonesia (AFP) Friday 7/10/2015 – Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao visited a Filipina on death row in Indonesia on Friday, with the convict breaking down in tears as she prayed behind bars with the Philippine sporting hero. Mary Jane Veloso was sentenced to death in Indonesia after being arrested in 2009 with 2.6 kilograms (5.7 pounds) of heroin sewn into the lining of her suitcase. She had been due to face the

Escudero: Aquino not yet certain whom to support in 2016

firing squad along with other foreign drug convicts in April but was granted a temporary reprieve after a woman suspected of recruiting her was arrested in the Philippines. Indonesian authorities have insisted the case of Veloso, who has always maintained her innocence claiming that human-traffickers duped her, has only been postponed while legal proceedings run their course in the Philippines. “We’re hoping to help save

MANILA, July 10 (Mabuhay) – The fact that President Benigno Aquino III has been meeting with other possible bets was an indication that he has not decided yet whom to support in the 2016 presidential election, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero said on Friday. To be more specific, Escudero said the President made no clear message, when he and Senator Grace Poe met with him in Malacañang Thursday, that he was set on endorsing the possible presidential bid of Local Government Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II. Roxas has not publicly de-

See TEARFUL, page 6

See ESCUDERO, page 6

The 46th Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri delivers his remarks upon assumption as head of AFP during the Testimonial Honors and AFP Change of Command Ceremony at the Tejeros Hall of the AFP Commissioned Officer’s Club (AFPCOC), Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Friday (July 10). Iriberri replaced former AFP Chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr. following the latter’s retirement from his Tour of Duty. Lt. Gen. Iriberri is a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Matikas” Class of 1983. (MNS photo)

New AFP chief defends scrapping of planned purchase of missiles MANILA, July 10 (Mabuhay) – Newly installed Armed Forces chief of staff Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri on Friday defended their decision to scrap the planned purchase of a shore-based missile system and instead, procure helmets, night goggles, and body armor. In an interview with reporters, Iriberri said he was the one who requested for the purchase of the helmets, night goggles, and body armor as he deemed it more important to protect the soldiers

during encounters. “We requested it to be moved because as a commanding general of the Philippine Army, umikot ako and sa dami ng binisita ko, alam ninyo po ba na from 2014 to 2015, ang ating casualty sa kasundaluhan ay 280 at ang nasugatan ay 908 na,” he said shortly after assuming the top military post earlier in the day. Prior to being named military chief, Iriberri served as commandSee MISSILES, page 6

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Filipino launches app that encourages creativity, more bonding time between child and parent By Hannah De Castro-Abinuman

Manny Pacquiao: Sample customized “Pacman” look-alike paper toy.

Ready-made designs let you create ActionCraft Paper Toys by simply cutting and pasting

Have you ever noticed how your gadgets have become an integral part of your daily routine? Whether it’s a phone, a tablet, a laptop or a game console, these gadgets are being used daily by people of all ages, and have become so detrimental to one’s way of life, that it seems rather impossible to even survive without it. Even among children, gadgets have been a staple in playing their games, and sometimes even considered as a status symbol! But whatever happened to using one’s imagination? Whatever happened to being able to interact with your playmates, friends and parents or actually use your hands to create or build something? Although there is nothing wrong with using technology, James Ronald Lo, Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Taktyl Studios LLC, noticed that kids nowadays can be too engaged in gadgets. So he thought of a way to use these digital devices and yet still encourage social interaction, creativity and imagination. Recently launched via a Kickstarter campaign, Taktyl Studios introduces a digital app called, “ActionCraft Toy Box,” which is an arts and crafts digital/mobile application that provides users with tools to design and customize their own paper toy action figure. Users can choose from a variety of templates in order to customize their very own action figure or paper toy. Once the user is satisfied with the look of his character, he then has to print

tionCraft. It lets users create and customize their own paper toys instead of just printing the ones I have designed,” said Lo. ActionCraft Toy Box aims to encourage children to interact with their parents, siblings and other playmates. For younger kids, who cannot use scissors and cutters yet, the parent or adult helps the child create the paper toy. And in the process, shares a bonding moment between parent and child - a process that’s lacking in the use of most digital apps for kids. ActionCraft Toy box also instigates the user’s imagination and creativity. By customizing the clothes, armor and physical features of the toy, the child is encouraged to be creative. And after assembling the paper toy, he is encouraged to play with it, do puppet shows, create a video or make his own comics, and therefore, encouraged to unlock his imagination. Currently, the app has been launched in Kickstarter, but their funding is not complete. In order to complete their funding goal, ActionCraft Toy Box needs backers or supporters who can pledge money to join them in bringing their project to life. Help this Filipino-owned company complete this project by supporting them at www.kickstarter.com/profile/taktylstudios. Pledges start at $5. For more info on ActionCraft or on how to help, visit these websites: www.taktylstudios. com; www.papertoyadventures. com; www.facebook.com/actioncrafttoybox/; and Instagram: @ papertoyadventures.

Aid after Filipino boy studying on street goes viral By Joel Guinto

ActionCraft Paper Toy Workshop for Parents and Children, held at the Glendale Adult Center.

the template. To assemble, the user has to cut along perforated lines from the template and glue together the edges to create the ActionCraft paper toy. Toys do not come cheap. However, not all kids understand the concept of frugality at a young age. Sometimes within days after unboxing a toy, our kids, because of their excitement and imagination, end up dismantling the pieces, or worse, break the toy altogether. Being a single dad living in the Philippines, Lo thought that there had to be better ways to play with his kids, without breaking the bank. So, he decided to design his own action figures using a commodity that’s easily accessible to everyone – paper. Thus, began James Ronald Lo’s “Paper Toy Adventures.” What started out as a pastime for him and his son, evolved into a blog, which he started 6 years ago. The blog was so well received, that it had followers from people all over the world (about 3,000 subscribers). His “paper toys” were being assembled, collected and enjoyed by people of all ages, from all walks of life. A publisher then took notice of his work and together, they designed and published the book, “Construct your Own Paper Robot” in 2012. Pretty soon, the demands for creating new paper toy design templates in the blog became too high for Lo to manage, which then led him to create “ActionCraft Toy Box.” “In my blog, I upload predesigned templates. But then I figured, why not involve the people in the creative process? And that’s why I launched Ac-

Manila, Philippines (AFP) Friday 7/10/2015 – A homeless Filipino boy has been overwhelmed with aid after a heart-wrenching photo of him studying on the pavement and using faint light from a McDonald’s outlet went viral on the Internet. Nine-year-old Daniel Cabrera will fulfill his dream of becoming a policeman after donations of cash, school supplies and a college scholarship poured in, his mother, Christina Espinosa, told AFP on Friday. “We’re overjoyed. I don’t know what I will do with all of these blessings,” the stunned 42-year-old grocery store employee and domestic helper told AFP. “Now, Daniel will not have to suffer just to finish his studies.” The photo, posted on Facebook last month by a college student, showed Cabrera doing his homework on a wooden stool placed close to a McDonald’s window to catch the light from the store. The 20-year-old medical technology student, Joyce Torrefranca, captioned her Facebook post: “I got inspired by a kid.” It was then shared close to 7,000 times on the social networking site and reported by local television. Espinosa and her three youngest children, including Cabrera, have been living in her employer’s mini-grocery

store since their shanty home was gutted by fire five years ago. Espinosa said she earned just 80 pesos ($1.77) a day working at the store and as a domestic helper for the store’s owners in their nearby home. She augments the income by selling cigarettes and candy on the streets on Mandaue, an urban center on Cebu island in the central Philippines. Their grocery store home is close to the McDonald’s outlet that had served as Cabrera’s study nook, she said. ‘I want to reach my dreams’ Cabrera’s father died in 2013 due to severe diarrhea, said Espinosa, who has three older children, all married and living separate from her. She described the boy as a tenacious child with a singlemined focus on getting an education. “He is a very studious and determined boy... he would insist on going to school even without his lunch money because I have no money to give,” Espinosa said. “He always tells me: ‘Mama, I don’t want to stay poor. I want to reach my dreams’.” Espinosa said, aside from the cash, school supplies and scholarship offer that would guarantee his education through college, people had given school uniforms and a reading lamp. The local church and government social welfare office had also received aid on his behalf. “Our problem is how to

manage all this financial assistance,” the city’s social welfare office chief, Violeta Cavada, told AFP. “He has become a symbol of poor slum boys in the city who can’t study because they don’t have electricity.” Despite strong economic growth in recent years, roughly one quarter of the Philippines’ 100 million people still live on less than one dollar a day, and giant slums dominate all major cities. Torrefranca’s post was shared around the world and in multiple languages, including Spanish, German and Portuguese, all touched by the boy’s perseverance. “I couldn’t believe how my post went viral and helped him in his studies,” Torrefranca told AFP on Friday. She said she snapped a photo of the boy, whom she saw outside the fastfood chain for the first time, while she was on her way home from school. “I was in awe. While other streetkids were begging for alms, he was studying.” Many who reposted Cabrera’s photo on their Facebook profiles agreed. “I hope he makes it because in my book, he is a legend,” Alan Butler said on his Facebook page. “Great story because thanks to this picture, his life will change. Sad, because it is one of the thousands, probably millions who live in these circumstances,” wrote Christoffel Sneijders.

PHL to host 2019 SEA Games after Brunei, Vietnam decline Manila, Philippines (AFP) Sunday 7/12/2015 – The Philippines has agreed to host the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games after the two other countries next in line, Brunei and Vietnam, declined, a sports official said Sunday. This was agreed upon during a SEA Games Federation executive meeting in Singapore in June when Brunei, which was scheduled for the 2019 games, asked to pass due to “organizational reasons,” said Joey Romasanta, spokesman of the Philippine Olympic Committee. Vietnam, the 2021 hosts, also declined so the federation offered the event to the Philippines, he told AFP. The federation must still issue a formal invitation to the Philippines which the country must accept but in principle, the Philippines is assured of being the venue, Romasanta said. “We agreed to host it but

formalities still have to be complied with,” he added. The cash-strapped country is not likely to build new facilities but will use existing arenas, stadiums and hotels for the games, he added. One request is that all the games be accessible by land unlike the last SEA Games in the country when some sporting events were held in the central islands. The sprawling, former US airbase of Clark, north of Manila, which has been turned into a light industrial zone and tourism centre, will likely serve as the base of the games but some events will be held elsewhere. “All we need is a state-ofthe-art track oval. We can work on that,” Romasanta remarked. He said the funding for the games has yet to be determined as they will still select certain sports and events.

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LOS ANGELES

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GrabCar becomes PHL’s first authorized ride-sharing app Manila, Philippines (AFP) Wednesday 7/8/2015 – Philippine transport authorities authorized GrabCar as the first company to operate under new rules governing ride-sharing apps, state and company officials said Wednesday. Singapore-based GrabCar got the jump on US rival Uber which is still submitting documents to comply with the Philippines’ new regulations, said Mary Ann Salada, spokeswoman of the government’s land transport bureau. Ride-sharing services – typically Internet and mobile app-based alternatives to traditional taxis – are gaining popularity in the Philippine capital Manila, notorious for creaking train systems, decrepit buses and traffic jams. The government unveiled new guidelines for the industry in May after complaints from taxi cab operators. In some other countries, taxi drivers have held protests against ride-booking apps – arguing they represent unfair competition. But GrabCar and other “transport network companies,” will operate under different rules from taxi cabs, said Salada. “We consider the transport network companies as distinct from the taxi industry,” she told AFP. GrabCar vehicles can now only be summoned via smartphones and the Internet, and cannot pick up customers who hail them on the street like taxi cabs, she said. She added that they can only accept credit card payments. But like taxi drivers, GrabCar drivers will have to get a franchise licence from the transport bureau and their customers will

be covered under the same obligatory insurance as taxi passengers. GrabCar drivers will also have a higher franchise fee, which must be renewed annually compared to seven years for taxi drivers. Additionally, their vehicles will be allowed a shorter “lifespan” than taxi cabs, Salada said. “With full accreditation, more Filipino commuters will be able to use GrabCar and be confident that we offer a legitimate and safe private hire service,” GrabCar Philippines said in a statement on its website. “We will now focus on rapidly expanding our GrabCar service to serve more passengers across the Philippines,” it added. The head of GrabCar Philippines, Natasha Bautista, confirmed that her company had obtained government authorisation. She expressed confidence it would succeed even under the new rules. GrabCar is already available in the Philippine capital but Bautista declined to say how many vehicles were operating under their system. The Philippines is the first country to institute nationwide rules on ride-sharing, according to both the transport department and ride-sharing companies. Previously, only local and city governments had regulated the services. In the US, the ‘disruptive’ app-based ride-hailing Uber service now accounts for 46% of all paid-for and claimed-for car rides in the US. Uber accounted for around 12% of paid-for rides –i.e., taxis, limousine hire and airport shuttles etc.

President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by outgoing AFP Chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr., and newly appointed AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri review the Honor Guards during the Testimonial Honors and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Change of Command Ceremony at the Tejeros Hall of the AFP Commissioned Officer’s Club (AFPCOC), Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Friday (July 10, 2015). (MNS photo)

Aquino challenges new AFP chief to ensure peaceful 2016 polls MANILA, July 10 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno Aquino III on Friday challenged the new Armed Forces chief, Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri, to ensure the peaceful conduct of the 2016 presidential elections. “Alalahanin ninyo, malapit na ang eleksyo. Kasama sa inyong ang tungkulin siguraduhing malinis at mapayapa ang pagpili ng pinuno,” Aquino said in a speech during the military change-of-command rites in Camp Aguinaldo. Earlier in the day, Iriberri

was installed as the 46th chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in ceremonies in Camp Aguinaldo. A member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1983, Iriberri, however, is scheduled to retire on April 22, 2016, less than a month before the May 9 national polls. In his speech, Iriberri assured the Filipino people that “I am all yours to serve.” Iriberri laid out the five priorities he will focus on, including peace in the countryside,

treading the straight path, being an advocate of transformation, and implementing national policy. He also mentioned the importance of preparing for the 2016 elections. “We should not lose sight to pave the way for a peaceful and credible elections,” he said. Iriberri, who has been at the helm of the Philippine Army since February 2014, takes over the top military post as Gen. Gregorio Catapang retires from the military service. (MNS)

Palace announces appointment of PCGG commissioner, 73 others

In farewell speech, PNP OIC Espina urges police to continue serving Filipino people MANILA, July 13 (Mabuhay) – Philippine National Police Officer-in-Charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina on Monday urged members of the police force to continue being of service to the country and its people. Espina gave his farewell speech after Monday’s flag-raising ceremony at Camp Crame in Quezon City, his final one before his scheduled retirement from the prime PNP post on July 16. Among the attendees of the ceremony are the PNP OIC’s wife, Mrs. Ma. Dina Espina, as well as PNP chief contenders Police Director Benjamin Bañez Magalong, Police Deputy Director General and acting chief of directorial staff Danilo Constan-

tino, and Police Director Ricardo Marquez. Following Espina’s confirmation of his offer to resign as PNP OIC last April, President Benigno Aquino III has been interviewing candidates for the highest position in the PNP. Espina, who took over the top PNP post in acting capacity in December last year, refused to say who among the possible choices would likely be appointed by the President, but added that he was, from time to time, giving Aquino inputs on the hopefuls. “The President of the Philippines, by operation of law, has the sole prerogative to choose among all generals of the PNP... Crucial ang pagpili diyan eh,” he said. (MNS)

MANILA, July 10 (Mabuhay) – Malacanang on Friday announced the appointment of Andrew Felix Arsenio De Castro as commissioner of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), replacing Maita Chan-Gonzaga. The Palace also announced the appointment of 74 other officials in the different agencies including Armina Dielle Kapunan as assistant secretary of Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and Calixto Mabesa Protacio as executive director of the Philippine Rice Research Institute under the Department of Agriculture. Four provincial prosecutors of the Department of Justice (DOJ) have also been appointed. They are Attys. Ma. Arlene Cordovez as Prosecutor V in Leyte; Dimapuno Magangcong as Prosecutor IV in Zamboanga del Sur; Mariam April Linsangan as Prosecutor IV in Cotabato City; and, Ivan Buyucan as Prosecutor II in Ifugao. Other appointees include: Aldrin Cruz Santiago and Bernardita Apilado-Garcia as members of the Philippine Regulatory Commission (PRC) board of optemotry; Filomino Castillo Jr. as member of the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board under Department of Trade and

Industry; Patroncino Sigua Caisip as member representing the workers’ sector to the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board Region 4-A; Clasro Suarez Cristobal, director general of Foreign Service Institute under Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Appointed also are Ruth Manigos-Tawantawan as Director IV of DENR; Dante Barzaga as Director IV and Allan Salingay Borromeo as Director III of DPWH; Raul Zaguirre Caballes acting director IV of Philippine Veterans Office; Eleazar de Leon Balderas as presidential legislative liaison officer III; Ma. Gemma Mercado Ledesma as Director III of DepEd; Janet Pigganto Armas and Riduan Paslangan Hadjimuddin as acting director III of DSWD; Mary Lou Amarille Gesilva and Abigail Reposo Zurita as acting director III of DTI; At the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Malacanang also announced the appointment of Ana Lyn Reyes Baltazar, Rolynne Avila Javier, Patrick John Dayrit Megia, Perla Malayao Upano, German Forca Yap, Marvin Amanonce Basquez, Pablio Loreniana Benitez Jr., Ray Barbosa Caceres, Agnes Ancheta de Leon, Charissa dela Torre Guerta, Belina Terrora Herman, Juanito Dijan Olave Jr., Lailyn

Alair Ortiz, Melody Estrellado Relucio, and Ofelia Asis Tactac Jr., all as acting local government operations officer VIII. At the Department of Education (DepEd), 37 schools division superintendents have been appointed. They are Myrna Salmo Castillo, Maria Magdalena Merano Lim, Helen Domag Paguican, Evangeline Penaflor Palencia, Jessie Liban Ain, Rommel Clarete Bautista, Ronaldo Batalao Castillo, Kahar Hadjiesmael, Danilo Calado Sison, Lrona Garcia Bugayong, Rita Espina Riddle, Ferdinand Silverio Sy, Feliciano Aleria Tamondong Jr., Anselmo Raceles Aludino, Rogelio Pahunao Amador, Gilda Gono Berte, Fatima dela Cruz Buen, Raymundo Manangat Cantonjos, Susan Soreta Collano, Mariano Belbes de Guzman, Gemma Andante de Paz, Nicasio Silvino Frio, Karen Lasala Galanida, Benedicta Batara Gamatero, Amador Delos Santos Garcia, Nelly Eday Garrote, Wilfredo Jaudalso Gabarra, Flordeliza Castilo Gecobe, Joel Bagain Lopez, Nelson Sambajon Morales Jr., Natividad Gloria Ocon, Lynee Alvarez Penaflor, Ma. Heany Tutanes Postrado, Imelda Noval Sobardino, Gladys Amylaine Dechavez Sales, Ernesto Francisco Servillon Jr., and Florante Espinosa Vergara. (MNS)

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OPINION

Chinese incursion to ‘starve’ Filipinos – Sen. Ralph Recto MANILA, July 9 (Mabuhay) – More than to national security, the dispute between Manila and Beijing in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) poses a threat to the country’s food security, Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto said on Thursday. Recto warned that if the world would allow China to put up a “no fishing” sign around the disputed territory, it would “starve” Filipinos of a staple in their diet – fish. “It will hit us where it hurts most – our stomach,” he said in a statement. “There lies the greatest danger of Chinese incursion in our territory. It’s a formula for starvation. More than a national security question, it involves food security.” “This is the reason why, regardless of our politics, whoever our bet for 2016 is, we should unite in support of our Philippine delegation to The Hague,” he said. The Arbitral Tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration is presently hearing the Philippines’ complaint against China’s alleged excessive territorial claims at the Peace Palace at The Hague, Netherlands. Recto suspected that China’s push into Philippine waters was motivated in part to secure rich fishing grounds to satisfy Chinese appetite for marine produce. “It’s a market of 1.360 billion people, each eating 31 kilos of fish each year,” he said. “Ang West Philippine Sea ay kasama sa Coral Triangle, one of richest fishing grounds in the world, kaya sino ba naman ang hindi maeenganyo?” (Who will not be tempted?) Recto said. Encompassing 5.7-million square kilometers of ocean in six countries, the Coral Triangle supports the sustenance of 120 million people who earn $6 billion a year in fishery exports and tourism. In all, Recto said Philippine fisheries produced P244 billion worth of fish in 2013 – P93.7 billion from aquaculture, P80.9 billion from municipal fishermen, P69.9 billion from commercial fishers – or about 2 percent of the GDP If China would succeed in making the West Philippine Sea its exclusive fishpond, the senator said it would not only lead to the “disappearance of a large chunk of space from our territory, but also fish from our table.” “So this is not just a battle about cartography but about calories. What we’re stopping is a Made-in-China food shortage,” he said, pointing out the annual per capita consumption of fish and marine produce in the Philippines is about 36 kilos. Of the 4.705 million metric tons (MT) of fish caught in 2013, Recto said commercial fishers contributed 1.067 million MT, while municipal fishermen added 1.264 million MT. The rest, or 2.374 million MT, was raised through aquaculture. By one estimate, more than three-fourths of total commercial and municipal fishing production came from the West Philippine Sea, the senator said. Recto said the value of what commercial and municipal fishermen produced in 2013 was about P150 billion. “Put another way, it is a P410-million a day industry,” he said. “Ipagpalagay mo na lang na kalahati ay galing sa West Philippine Sea, eh di P200 milyon ang mawawala sa atin araw-araw pag naglagay ang China ng ‘Do not enter’ sign sa Spratlys, sa Baja de Masinloc. Pati dagat sa tapat ng Ilocos inaangkin na rin nila,” he pointed out.(MNS)

Palace welcomes Joma Sison’s support for PHL in sea dispute with China MANILA, July 11 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Saturday welcomed a reported statement by Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Maria Sison supporting the Philippines in its maritime row with China. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda welcomed as well the meeting between House of Representatives officials with Sison and National Democratic Front peace panel chairman Luis Jalandoni in Amsterdam. “We certainly welcome the statement made by (Sison) on our case against China,” he said on state-run dzRB radio. Sison had expressed support for the Philippine government’s case in fighting for national sovereignty and maritime rights in the West Philippine Sea. Manila refers to some parts of the South China Sea as the West Philippine Sea. The Philippines had sent a delegation to The Hague to argue its case before the Arbitral Tribunal in the Permanent Court of Arbitration. But Sison was quoted in an Inquirer.net report as saying lawyer Harry Roque Jr., who had branded the Philippine delegation’s trip to The Hague as a junket, had a “good patriotic reason to be critical of the size of the delegation.” (MNS)

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VP Binay all lies, can’t handle the trutch: Palace exec MANILA, July 13 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno Aquino III’s spokesman did not mince words against Vice President Jejomar Binay on Monday, after being called out by Binay’s camp for his supposedly “arrogant remarks.” In a text message, Sec. Edwin Lacierda, the President’s spokesman, categorically accused Binay of spreading lies against the administration. “We’re addressing all the lies of the Vice President against the President ever since he started his presidential run with lies, lies and more lies,” Lacierda told reporters. He added that his recent statements defending Aquino is part of the administration’s “truth campaign” to counter Binay’s attacks. “Tell them [Binay camp] it’s not personal. It’s a truth campaign,” the Palace spokesperson said. “The VP cannot, with all due respect, handle the

truth,” he added. Ever since quitting the Cabinet last month, Binay has been openly criticizing the Aquino administration for its supposed failure to address the country’s problems, most especially poverty. The Vice President, who is seen as the opposition’s standard-bearer for the 2016 polls, also hit the goverment for supposedly being slow and tentative in helping Filipinos. In response, Palace spokespersons and Cabinet officials have been debunking Binay’s allegations, saying the administration has been actively addressing the country’s problems. On Sunday, Binay’s camp criticized Lacierda and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, the administration’s presumptive presidential bet, for supposedly issuing “arrogant” and “shrill” remarks against the Vice President “that barely address the issues.” (MNS)

Good tie up between admin, Sens Escudero, Poe, must continue, says Palace official MANILA, July 11 (Mabuhay) – The administration and Senators Francis Escudero and Grace Poe had a good coalition in 2013, which could be sustained until 2016, a Palace official said. It was reported that President Aquino met with Escudero and Poe this week underscoring the importance of having a single candidate for the 2016 presidential polls. “Maganda ‘yung coalition ‘nung 2013, bakit hindi natin ipagpatuloy ang coalition on 2016?” Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a radio interview Saturday. Lacierda was asked by reporters in an interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan if it’s disadvantageous for the administration party’s pro-reform initiatives if Poe and Escudero are not part of the coalition. The President’s paramount concern is the continuity of the reforms that he has started, Lacierda said.

“If you noticed the speeches that the President has been giving, he has always emphasized the importance of continuing the reforms,” he said. “And so I think that’s paramount in his consideration as to who he will choose as his endorsee for the next presidential elections in 2016.” The administration’s “daang matuwid” must continue and the President hopes that everything that he achieved must be sustained, Lacierda added. “Marami pa pong dapat gawin, hindi pa perpekto ang ating ginagawa, pero kung patuloy po nating gagawin ito at i-fa-fast forward po natin ang daang matuwid ay malaking tulong po ito sa ating sambayanan.” The President said in his previous interviews that he will announced his presidential bet for next year’s election after his state-of-the-nation address (SONA) late this month. (MNS)

Pope laments corruption as ‘gangrene of a people’ By Paula Bustamante / Kelly Velasquez

Asuncion, Paraguay (AFP) Saturday 7/11/2015 – Pope Francis decried the scourge of corruption as the “gangrene of a people” on Saturday in Paraguay, one of the poorest countries in South America and where graft is rampant. The 78-year-old pope – in Paraguay on the last stop of a three-nation tour of South America—also railed against ideologies and hammered home the central theme of his trip to his home continent: equality. Speaking to an enchanted crowd of 5,000 at a small stadium in the capital Asuncion, Francis drifted away from his scripted remarks, saying that “ideologies end badly, they do not work, they do not take into account the people.” “Look what happened with ideologies in the last century... they ended in dictatorships, always,” he added, applause ringing out in response. In a question-and-answer session, he denounced corruption, which plagues several countries in South America. But perhaps to avoid offending his hosts, he stressed that it was a recurring problem “among all peoples of the world.” As he had done on previous stops during his trip, first in Ecuador, and then Bolivia, Francis called for an end to poverty – also endemic in the region – and lamented today’s consumer society. Wealth creation should not be “only for the benefit of a few,” he said to more acclaim, and must be extended to “each citizen, without exclusion.” He urged political leaders not to “sacrifice human lives on the altar of money and profit.” “In economics, in business and in politics, what counts first and foremost is the human person and the environment in which he or she lives,” he said. ‘Glorious women’ Earlier in the day, before hundreds of thousands of worshipers at the country’s main pilgrimage site, the first pontiff from Latin America praised the sacrifices of Paraguay’s “glorious” women during a history marked by war. Paraguay was left reeling during the so-called War of the Triple Alliance against Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay fought from 1865 to 1870, with a large majority of its male population killed. Francis was speaking on the esplanade of the domed shrine of the Virgin of Caacupe, not far from the border with his native Argentina. “I would like especially to mention you, the women, wives and mothers of Paraguay, who at great cost and sacrifice were able to lift up a country defeated, devastated and laid low by war,” Francis said. “You are keepers of the memory, the lifeblood of

those who rebuilt the life, faith and dignity of your people. “God bless your perseverance. God bless and encourage your faith. God bless the women of Paraguay, the most glorious women of America.” The huge crowd was delighted to hear the pope deliver the Lord’s Prayer in Guarani, the language of the country’s indigenous people, spoken by 80 percent of the population. Caacupe, about 55 kilometers (35 miles) east of Asuncion, has become a place of international pilgrimage thanks to a small wooden statue of the Virgin Mary that has been credited with various miracles. The vast crowds played guitar, shook maracas and sipped gourds of mate – the herbal drink beloved by many in the region. Francis was apparently so moved by their singing that he was late to emerge from the basilica to say mass, but Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi later dismissed any notion that the pope was unwell. “As you can see for yourselves, the pontiff is fine, everything is ok,” Lombardi said. Thousands of Argentines traveled across the border by bus - some on journeys lasting 50 hours - to welcome the pope in a homecoming of sorts. “The pope has inexplicable powers of attraction, almost like a lover,” said Graciela Sosa, adding she had barely slept all night so she could get a prime viewing spot. Francis also met with several family members and close friends who came in from neighboring Argentina to see him, according to Lombardi. ‘Learn from the children’ At a children’s hospital in Asuncion, the pope said: “We need to learn from your ability to fight, from your strength, from your remarkable endurance.” He also made a quick surprise visit to a clinic for the terminally ill. After visiting Ecuador and Bolivia, Francis arrived Friday in Paraguay, where 90 percent of the population is Catholic, to begin the final leg of his eight-day tour. Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay are predominantly Catholic and have been marked by a long history of poverty and inequality, especially afflicting indigenous populations. Francis heads back to the Vatican on Sunday after an open-air mass in Asuncion, which will be attended by Argentine President Cristina Kirchner. He will return to Latin America in September, when he travels to Cuba before heading to the United States.

SWS: 62% Pinoys have little trust in China amid territorial row with PHL; net trust rating -45 MANILA, July 9 (Mabuhay) – Three out of five Filipinos or 62 percent have little trust in China amid the territorial row between Manila and Beijing, according to a survey by Social Weather Stations. SWS said the survey conducted June 5 to 8 also found 17 percent of Filipinos have much trust in China. This accounted for a record-low net trust of -45 that the pollster classified as “bad.” “China’s lowest net trust score of -45 surpassed the previous record-low of -36 in June 2014, May 2012, and June 1995 during the Mischief Reef confrontation between the Philippines and China,” SWS said. The Philippines had taken the dispute before an international tribunal, with China refusing to take part in such proceedings. In contrast, the survey showed a “very good” +64 trust rating for the United States, and a “good”

+36 for Australia. But net trust for Saudi Arabia was at a “neutral” -9, and a “poor” -10 for Malaysia. “United States, in particular, has been enjoying positive net trust ratings since December 1994, ranging from moderate +18 in May 2005 to excellent +82 in December 2013,” SWS said. It added Australia has scored positive net trust ratings since April 1995, ranging from neutral +3 in September 1995 to very good +55 in August 2012. On the other hand, net trust in Saudi Arabia was a poor -19 in August 1994 before it rose to neutral -5 in March 2008, then stayed in neutral territory. Net trust in Malaysia was at neutral -2 in August 1994 and fell to poor and bad levels from December 1994 to March 2008, ranging from -37 to -16. But it rose to neutral -2 in June 2008, and has remained in neutral territory until it got a poor

-10 in June 2015. SWS rates net trust ratings of +70 and above as “excellent”; +50 to +69 “very good”; +30 to +49 “good”; +10 to +29 “moderate”, +9 to -9 “neutral”; -10 to -29 “poor”; -30 to -49 “bad”; -50 to -69 “very bad”; -70 and below “execrable.” “A single-digit net satisfaction is considered not significantly different from zero,” SWS said. Close attention to territorial issue Also, the SWS survey showed 51 percent of Filipinos paid close attention to news reports on “the events regarding the conflict between the Philippines and China about who owns the islands in the West Philippine Sea.” The SWS added the PhilippineChina dispute was the fifth most followed news event of 14 news events tested. Some 51 percent followed the issue very closely or somewhat closely, compared to 52 percent for events regarding the K to 12 program (fourth).

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UTREACH California proclaims special day honoring Fil-Am labor leader By Nimfa U. Rueda

It’s official: California will observe a Larry Itliong Day each year to honor the legacy of the Filipino American labor organizer who fought for racial justice and farmworkers’ rights. Governor Jerry Brown yesterday (Wednesday in Manila) signed into law AB 7 proclaiming the commemorative day on October 25, Itliong’s birthday. “Larry Itliong was one of the greatest labor organizers and leaders in California history,” said Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Oakland), the bill’s sponsor. “He was a hero not only to the Filipino-American community, but to all Californians and Americans who fought and continue to

fight for socioeconomic and racial justice in our state and nation.” The legislation, which was unanimously passed by the State Assembly on April 9, also encourages public schools to teach about Iltiong’s life and contributions to California. Bonta, the first Filipino American elected to the Assembly, said the historic signing ensures that Itliong’s fight for justice, opportunity and equity will be “properly honored for generations to come.” Itliong worked alongside prominent Mexican American civil rights leaders like Cesar Chavez to fight for equal rights, better conditions and wages for Filipino and Mexican farmworkers in the ‘60s and early ‘70s. But his contributions to the

farm labor movement have been overlooked, said Bonta and many Fil-Am groups who have fought for the recognition of Itliong and other Fil-Am labor leaders like Andy Imutan and Philip Vera Cruz. Itliong led the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC), which was the first to strike for improved wages and working conditions in Delano in 1965. What became known as the Delano Grape Strike launched the California farm labor movement. AWOC and the National Farm Workers Association, led by Cesar Chávez and Dolores Huerta, joined forces soon thereafter – at the urging of Itliong – to start the now internationally famous Unit-

A mural of Filipino labor leaders in Los Angeles.

ed Farm Workers of America. “While the farm labor movement is often seen predominantly as a Latino movement, it encompassed much more than just one ethnic group,” said Bonta, whose parents organized farmworkers in Kern County. “Filipino American and Latino labor leaders built a beautiful collaborative relationship to cre-

ate the farm worker movement in California, and Larry Itliong played a critical leadership role in that movement. I’m grateful to have this opportunity to recognize his contributions to California.” Itliong was from San Nicolas, Pangasinan. He migrated to the United States in 1929 at the age of 15.

Asian Americans rapidly on the move Buying power may hit $1-Trillion by 2018 By Hannah De Castro-Abinuman

Asian Americans are making a significant and powerful impact on the new American mainstream. Nielsen’s 2015 Asian American Consumer report entitled, “Asian-Americans: Culturally Connected and Forging the Future,” radically highlights how this flourishing segment is making a powerful impact on today’s economy and culture with their unique tastes, preferences and habits. In one year, the buying power of this market segment notably increased by more than $50 Billion. In its most recent report, Nielsen says the Asian American segment is considered as the fastest growing and most culturally diverse segment in the US population and is perceived to potentially be the multicultural majority in the United States in the near future. In 2014, the Asian-American Buying power was at $770 billion. Showing a 46% growth in population from 2012 to 2014, this unique market segment is expected to increase its buying power to $1 Trillion by 2018. “Asian Americans are focused on the future, trendsetting and leading the way in technology, digital entertainment and fresh food while maintaining strong ties to their cultural heritage. Increasingly ambicultural, Asian Americans’ cultural identities are shaping the mainstream market.” said Betty Lo, Nielsen’s vice president of Community Alliances & Consumer Engagement. “ Nielsen’s report examines Asian-American consumption behaviors in relation to the food, beverage and health and beauty categories. In addition, Nielsen has provided more detail on the everevolving technology and digital content categories, where AsianAmericans continue to exceed and are trendsetters when compared to the general consumer market in America.

Here are the highlights indicated in the media briefing recently done by Nielsen: Asian-Americans are: Diverse and Culturally confident – their culture defines their shopping habits. They are increasingly confident about sustaining their cultural roots and are assertive about their shopping tastes and preferences. Asian Americans are generally wealthier than the average American household. One the Move – Majority of the Asian-Americans in the U.S. are living in major urban areas of West Coast and Northeast, but their numbers are also growing in the suburbs and in parts of the Midwest and South. On a journey from Inner health to outer well-being – They are drawn to brands that speak to the holistic dimension of Asian traditions. These consumers want product and services that reflect and complement “dual” lifestyles that engage both their native culture and the American mainstream. Family-centric – They tend to live in extended multi-generational households. Thus, they often shop in bulk and seek saving for the entire family budget. Asian-Americans frequently shop at warehouses for good deals on bulk purchases. Long-life buyers – AsianAmericans have a higher life expectancy and a lower median age than non-Hispanic whites. Discriminating shoppers who want and demand the best quality at a good price – Millenial Asian-Americans are loyal to brands. They do not mind spending more for quality wine and beauty products. Socially empowered and

Did Tom Selleck or did he not steal precious water?

Los Angeles, United States (AFP) Friday 7/10/2015 – US actor Tom Selleck has struck a “tentative” deal to resolve allegations he stole water from local authorities in droughtstricken California, an official said Friday. The veteran “Magnum P.I.” star was accused of procuring deliveries of water taken illegally by truck from a fire hydrant in Thousand Oaks, northwest of Los Angeles since 2013. The Calleguas Municipal Water District accused the 70-year-old of illegally moving water to his 60acre Hidden Valley estate, according to court documents cited by the Los Angeles Times. But the district’s resources manager Eric Bergh told AFP that a provision-

al agreement had been reached to resolve the row. The deal still has to be approved by local authorities next week. “We are pleased and believe the tentative settlement is a positive step towards an ultimate resolution of this matter,” he said. “Staff intends to recommend Calleguas’ Board of Directors approve the settlement at its meeting next Wednesday,” he added, declining to give any further details. According to the LA Times, the water district spent some $22,000 on a private investigator to track the deliveries, which were first observed in 2013. Representatives for Selleck did not respond to requests for comment on the case.

digitally adept – Asian Americans lead the way in technology, including both mobile and social media. Increasingly “ambicultural” consumers – They are able to navigate the American mainstream in a way that maintains their native culture with effortless duality. These significant insights aid us in understanding how cultural identity plays a major role in molding the Asian-Americans’ buying habits and can provide the basis for a business strategy to activate the fastest-growing and highest income consumer

segment in the American mainstream. “Being someone who works in the advertising and marketing industry, reports like this get us so excited because having been in this business for 20 years, we know how lacking data is about the Asian consumer…” said Nita Song, president and chief operating officer of multicultural advertising agency IW Group and member of the Nielsen Asian Pacific American External Advisory Council. “Without data, companies don’t make very critical decisions.” Source: Nielsen’s 2015 Asian American Consumer Report

Nielsen says the Asian American segment is considered as the fastest growing and most culturally diverse segment in the US population and is perceived to potentially be the multicultural majority in the United States in the near future. In 2014, the Asian-American Buying power was at $770 billion. Showing a 46% growth in population from 2012 to 2014, this unique market segment is expected to increase its buying power to $1

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TEARFUL From page 1

Mary Jane’s life, I think Mary Jane is a victim of human-trafficking,” Pacquiao said after visiting the single mother of two young children in Wirogunan prison on the main island of Java. During a 30-minute meeting, Pacquiao and his wife Jinkee prayed with Veloso. The convict broke down in tears as she prayed, a government official who witnessed the meeting told reporters, and at one point tightly embraced the boxing star. They swapped gifts, with Veloso giving Pacquiao a blue scarf emblazoned with his nickname “Pacman”, and the boxer giving her money. However prison officials said they would keep the money for her as it was against the rules for inmates to have cash. They did not say how much it was. Pacquiao, who was in Indonesia to film a television advert, was also

hoping to raise her case with President Joko Widodo during a visit to the capital Jakarta later Friday. Her case attracted huge attention in both Indonesia and the Philippines, with near daily rallies of support and celebrities urging Jakarta to show her mercy. Pacquiao is an international star who last made global headlines in May when he was beaten by Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas in what was dubbed “the fight of the century”. Widodo has vowed there will be no clemency for drug traffickers on death row as Indonesia is facing an “emergency” due to rising narcotics use. Seven other foreign drug convicts and one Indonesian were executed as planned on the prison island of Nusakambangan in late April, sparking an international outcry.

MISSILES From page 1

ing general of the Philippine Army. “Makikita mo hindi sana sila namatay, hindi sana sila nasugatan kung mayroon man lang silang tamang helmet at saka body armor. Kaya lang dahil sa kakulangan wala tayong maibigay kaya nagkaroon tayo nang ganyang kalaking casualty,” he added. He said he asked the leadership to look into the needs of the soldiers prioritize their protection. “Iyon ang naging reason, naging basehan kung bakit nirequest ko, I requested for it. Gusto kong bigyan ng pansin yung pagbigay ng tamang proteksyon sa kasundaluhan, regardless, whether it is for internal or external defense,” said Iriberri. He reiterated the argument of the Defense Department that the SBMS is just a proposal. “Wala pa pong mga approval

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diyan kaya we made a counter proposal for the best interest ng Philippine Army at ng ating kasundaluhan. Iriberri denied that that they made the realignment to get commissions. “Kasinungalingan yan. Wala na kaming ibang iniisip, as the commanding general of Philippine Army, kundi yung interes ng Army, ng ating kasundaluhan, para magampahan yung aming papel bilang protektor ng ating bayan,” he said. Earlier, a local paper reported that Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, retired AFP chief of staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang and Iriberri removed the P6.5 billion shore-baed missile system deal between Israel and the Philippines from the list of military hardware to be procured by the government.

The report, quoting an unnamed source, said the realignment was done because a government to government contract will yield no commission. The Department of National Defense has since denied the allegation, saying “reprioritization was a collective decision by defense senior leaders, which was submitted to the President after going through the required

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processes in the Defense System of Management, which took into consideration the dynamics of the country’s ever developing security environment.” President on Friday challenged the new Armed Forces chief, Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri, to ensure the peaceful conduct of the 2016 presidential elections. “Alalahanin ninyo, malapit na ang eleksyo. Kasama

sa inyong ang tungkulin siguraduhing malinis at mapayapa ang pagpili ng pinuno,” Aquino said in a speech during the military change-of-command rites in Camp Aguinaldo. Earlier in the day, Iriberri was installed as the 46th chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in ceremonies in Camp Aguinaldo.

ibang tao at bakit kailangan pa po n’yang lumabas sa kanyang partido?” (If his mind is really made up, why would he meet with other people even the ones who do not belong to his party?) “Maliwanag naman siguro ‘yun dahil kung talagang buo na ang kanyang kaisipan matagal na sana s’yang nag-endorso pero s’ya mismo pinagpaliban ang kanyang pagpili at pag endorso ng kanyang kandidato,” the senator added. (It’s quite clear that if he has made up his mind, he should have announced his endorsement long ago, but he has delayed choosing and endorsing his bet)

Asked if he and Poe would be the President’s alternatives, Escudero pointed out that they are both independents and not part of the LP. He said Aquino made no specific offer either to him and Poe when they met but said the President made an appeal to keep the administration coalition intact by supporting a common candidate next year. Escudero said Aquino also requested for another meeting with him, Poe, and Roxas. “Hindi naman po kami tumanggi ni Senator Poe kaugnay n’yan (Senator Poe and I are not opposed to that),” he said. (MNS)

Southern Luzon Command Lt. Gen. Ricardo Visaya (PMA Class 83), Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Delgado (PMA 82) and Western Command chief Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez (PMA 82). Iriberri previously served a commander of the 503rd Infantry Brigade in the Cordillera region, and Chief of United Command Staff of the Southern Luzon Command. With more than 30 years in active military service, he has received numerous awards, including five Distinguished Service Stars, two Gold Cross Med-

als, one Bronze Cross Medal, and several Military Merit Medals and Military Commendation Medals. However, he is facing criminal and administrative cases before the Office of the Ombudsman for his alleged failure to issue documents for three procurement projects worth P97.7 million. The complainant, supplier Joavi Philippines Corp., is seeking a six-month preventive suspension against him. Iriberri is set to retire in April 2016, a month before the presidential polls. (MNS)

Advocates Lawrence H. Martin, Professor Bernard H. Oxman and Paul S. Reichler “took turns presenting arguments involving various points on why the Philippines’ claims fall squarely within the jurisdiction of the tri-

bunal.” “Professor Philippe Sands closed the First Round of Arguments by summarizing the submissions of the Philippines presented in the course of the hearings,” Valte added. (MNS)

A member of the Philippine Military

ESCUDERO From page 1

clared yet his plans in 2016 but Aquino’s Liberal Party has been pushing for his candidacy. “Wala namang ganung kalinaw dahil the mere fact na kinakusap kami at wala pa s’yang iniindorso, siguro patunay na ‘yun na wala pa talaga s’yang pasya sa kanyang kaisipan,” Escudero said when asked if the President indicated that Roxas would be his bet in next year’s elections. (Things are not that clear yet, because the mere fact that he still talked to us and he has yet to make an endorsement is proof that he has not decided yet.) “Dahil kung buo na ang kanyang kasipan bakit pa po nya kailangang makipagpulong sa

IRIBERRI From page 1

ceremony, asked for God to bless the new AFP chief “with the gift of stillness to be able to listen to the desires of the Commanderin-Chief and President Benigno Aquino.” A member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1983, Iriberri is closely identified with Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, for whom he served as spokesman and senior military assistant in the past. A senior military official said Iriberri was a last-minute choice of President Benigno Aquino III, besting at least three other strong contenders including

ENVIRONMENTAL From page 1

nal from exercising jurisdiction over the case,” Valte said. She said Philippe Sands, part of the Philippine legal team and professor from Matrix Chambers in London, answered questions raised the day before while

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ENTERT

Bea Alonzo

“Siyempre who doesn’t want to stay in a beautiful relationship, ’di ba? So nandu’n kami,” she said. In an interview in October last year, Alonzo admitted how she and Marudo are having difficulty finding time for each other because of their respective commitments.

Asked how they manage to make their relationship work despite the challenges, she said, “It’s really the commitment. When you commit to something and when you say, ‘I’m going to make this work,’ iyon ’yung pinaka importanteng bagay. You will really be able to make it work.” She added, “Kaya ’pag simula pa lang sinabi mo na, ‘Ay, hindi ko na talaga kaya,’ then hindi talaga siya mag-wo-work. So it’s really a decision, it’s hard work for both of us.” Early this year, Alonzo was rumored to be pregnant. She quickly quashed speculations via an Instagram post, saying, “…The RUMOR of me being pregnant is NOT true!!!” Alonzo is currently busy with upcoming film “The Love Affair,” which also stars Tom Rodriguez, Richard Gomez and Dawn Zulueta. No release date has been announced yet. (MNS)

Kris Bernal addresses anorexia rumors Kris Bernal seemed exasperated when she took to social media to defend herself against those who think she has an eating disorder just because she is slim. On Instagram, Bernal posted a video of her eating a hefty meal. In the caption, the actress said she is “sick” of defending herself. “Most people think having a naturally small built is a gift, others think it’s sickening, or serious conditions like anorexia. Trust me when I say I’ve heard it all! Most comments are really snide! I know I don’t need to prove anything to anyone. Besides, this is just one video,” she said. “I’m sick of constantly defend-

Kris Bernal

ing myself about my figure. In this

INMENT

Bea admits relationship with Zanjoe ‘on the rocks’ Rumors of celebrity couple Bea Alonzo and Zanjoe Marudo having a problem with their relationship has surfaced anew. It was triggered by Zanjoe flying off to Europe by his lonesome a few days ago. The couple, also known to travel together, has apparently not been posting pictures on social media of late. Their last photo together on Instagram was dated roughly two months ago. Marudo was at the 13th Philippine-Spain Friendship Day celebration in Madrid last June 28. He then went to Ireland on July 4 for this year’s Dublin Barrio Fiesta. The event was part of the ongoing TFC Fiesta Caravan 2015 in Europe. In an interview that aired recently, Alonzo admitted all is not well in the relationship. However, she clarified they are trying to remedy the situation.

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industry, everyone is just body obsessed. Sweethearts, being small doesn’t necessarily equate to having an eating disorder or being anorexic! It’s pretty obvious that the answer is: GENETICS,” she added. In another post, Bernal asked for understanding that she is just “petite and small boned.” “I was not born perfect. This is just a photo. What you see is only a piece of me. Whatever I do, please understand that I’m just petite and small boned. I’m only human too! Changing and growing,” she said. She also shared pictures of her eating cake.(MNS)

Enchong’s album reaches platinum status Enchong Dee’s self-titled album has reached the platinum status ahead of his upcoming solo concert. Star Music representatives said Dee’s album reached platinum three months after it reached gold status. “Maraming salamat po sa tiwala. Maliit na project lang po ito noong simula pero pinalaki niyo. Sa buong Star Music family ko, salamat. At sa lahat ng mga bata na nangangarap ngayon, ipagpatu- Enchong Dee loy niyo lang po kasi one day magkakaroon din po kayo ng ganito,” he said. After the show, Dee also posted a picture of him holding his plaque on his Instagram account. Dee said he does not really consider himself a singer. “Disclaimer ko nga, hindi naman ako nagta-try para maging for example sila kuya Martin (Nievera) or sila kuya Gary (Valenciano). Sila talaga ‘yung singer. Pero kami, we want to perform, we want to entertain people as much as we can,” he said. Dee said it has been his dream to record his own album since he was young.(MNS)

How acting award changed former ‘Mr. Pogi’ Kapamilya actor Edgar Allan Guzman said winning his first acting award made him treat his craft more seriously. Guzman, whose foray into showbiz started when he was named grand winner in Eat Bulaga’s Mr. Pogi 2006, won best actor for his role in the film “Ligo na U, Lapit na Me” in the 7th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival in 2011. The actor admitted that he only decided to use his talent in singing and dancing so that his mother won’t have to work for their family. “Honestly, noong una pa lang, wala pa akong award, hindi pa ako nananalo, pa-

rang sa akin sa pag-aartista, ‘yung mga ginagawa ko parang, sige, basta magkaroon lang ng income. Pero mahal ko ‘yung ginagawa ko. Pero noong time na nanalo ako ng Cinemalaya award, doon ako nagkaroon ng parang, gusto kong seryosohin ‘yung craft ko sa pag-arte. Kailangan mag-exert ako ng effort para mapatunayan ko sa kanila na deserve ko ‘yung award, “ Guzman said. Aside from acting in film and television, Guzman has also appeared in the stage adaptation of “Bona,” alongside Eugene Domingo. (MNS)

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Can smoking drive you mad? Study suggests it might

Omega 3 fish oils could be grown and harvested in fields, according to a new discovery. ÂŠHLPhoto/shutterstock.com

Friday July 10 2015 (Paris, France-AFP) - People who suffer from psychosis are about three times more likely to be smokers, but scientists have long scratched their heads over which one leads to the other. On Friday, research published in The Lancet Psychiatry suggested daily tobacco use, already known to cause cancer and stroke, may be also be a contributor to mental illness â&#x20AC;&#x201C; not necessarily result of it. Analysing data from 61 studies conducted around the world between 1980 and 2014, a team found that 57 percent of people first diagnosed with psychosis were smokers. The studies contained data on nearly 15,000 smokers and 273,000 non-smokers, some of whom were diagnosed with psychotic illnesses like schizophrenia. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People with first episodes of psychosis were three times more likely to be smokers,â&#x20AC;? said a statement from Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s College Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Department of Psychosis Studies, which took part in the meta-analysis. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The researchers also found that daily smokers developed psychotic illness around a year earlier than non-smokers.â&#x20AC;? It has long been hypothesized that higher smoking rates among psychosis sufferers could be explained by people seeking relief from boredom or distress, or self-

Omega-3 breakthrough could help fish farms: UK scientists

Breast cancer: Screening mammograms donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily reduce fatality rates

Thursday July 9 2015 (London, July 8, 2015 (AFP)-AFP) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Omega-3 fish oils can be grown in fields using genetically modified oilseed crops, British researchers said as they released trial results this week. The discovery could, subject to further research, eventually mean the creation of a more sustainable supply of fish oil for fish farms, which need them to nurture their produce. The oils come from seeds in crops grown by scientists in Camelina oilseed plants at Rothamsted Research, north of London. Farmed fish consume large quantities of fish oils either directly or in fish meal, which has led to concern about their envi-

Wednesday July 8 2015 (Relaxnews) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Two studies published simultaneously in the US and Great Britain call into question the efficiency of screening mammograms for breast cancer. These studies now join a debate that has been raging between specialists around the world. The first study, led by Professor Philippe Autier from the Institute of Global Public Health, a joint health research initiative of Strathclyde University and the Lyon-based International Prevention Research Institute (iPRI), and Professor Peter Boyle, Director of the University of Strathclyde Institute of Global Public Health at iPRI, was published in the Journal of the

ronmental impact. The plants were specially engineered by introducing a set of synthetic genes based on DNA sequences found in marine organisms. Researchers unveiled the first year results of a trial in a paper in the journal Metabolic Engineering Communications Tuesday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a globally-significant proof of concept and a landmark moment in the effort to develop truly sustainable sources of feed for fish farms,â&#x20AC;? said the programmeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leader, Professor Johnathan Napier. It is thought unlikely that humans would consume the seeds from the plants directly.

Research published in The Lancet Psychiatry suggested daily tobacco use may be a contributor to mental illness. ÂŠmilan2099/Shutterstock.com

medicating against the symptoms or side-effects of antipsychotic medication. But if this were so, researchers would expect smoking rates to increase only after people had developed psychosis. â&#x20AC;&#x153;These findings call into question the self-medication hypothesis by suggesting that smoking may have a causal role in psychosis,â&#x20AC;? said the statement. The team stressed they had not conclusively proven that smoking causes psychosis, saying further research must be done. But the results did suggest that smoking â&#x20AC;&#x153;should be taken seriously as a possible risk factor for developing psychosis and

Royal Society of Medicine. He and his team used the results from an infamous study conducted in Sweden in the 60s and 70s that has served as a basis for the implementation of screening mammogram procedures for breast cancer in several countries, including England. The study had concluded that early screening could prevent 20-25% of fatalities due to breast cancer. PrevenĆ&#x;on policies worth revising After analysis, todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s scientists declared that the methodology of the study was wrong and that those figures were much too optimistic. In fact, they believe that any reduction of deaths is probably

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less than 10% and, according to Professor Richard Sullivan from the Institute of Cancer Policy, Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s College London, â&#x20AC;&#x153;At some point Britain will have to re-review its policy and this will be one of the pieces. My feeling is, give it another two years and Britain may need to constitute another group in 2017. The screening debate is far from over.â&#x20AC;? This stance is not shared by all though. Professor Julietta Patnick, Director of the NHS Cancer Screening Programmes, stated in 2012 that â&#x20AC;&#x153;inviting women aged 50-70 for screening reduces mortality from breast cancer in the population invited by 20% and saves an estimated 1,300 lives a year in the UK.â&#x20AC;? 16 million test subjects The second study was led by Professor Richard Wilson from Harvard, who, with his team, analyzed data on more than 16 million women aged over 40 who resided in 547 different counties and reported to the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results) during the year â&#x20AC; 2000. , Of those women, 2012 Honda 53,207 were diagnosed Civic LX Coupe with breast cancer 6tN , 9,1 , that year and followed 0anual, &\l /, , 0iles for the next 10 years. Analysis of the data â&#x20AC; , was performed between April 2013 and 2012 Honda March 2015. Civic LX Sedan The results of the 6tN , 9,1 , study, published in Auto, &\l /, , 0iles the JAMA Internal â&#x20AC; Medicine journal, con, firm those of the first 2012 Honda study. According to the Accord SE Sedan study, â&#x20AC;&#x153;A 10-percent6tN , 9,1 , age point increase in Auto, &\l /, , 0iles screening is associated â&#x20AC; with a 16% mean in, crease in breast cancer incidence. However, 2013 Honda Accord LX-S Coupe there is no commensurate change in 10-year 6tN , 9,1 , breast cancer morAuto, &\l /, , 0iles tality.â&#x20AC;? Even though â&#x20AC; All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, the debate is ongoing an\ Âżnance cKarges, an\ dealer document processing cKarge, an\ electronic Âżling cKarge, and an\ emission testing cKarge between supporters All veKicles suEMect to prior sale 6ee dealer for details 2ffer of screening mammoexpires grams and skeptics, the number of studies that back up the efficiency of screening remains higher.

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not dismissed simply as a consequence of the illness,â&#x20AC;? they wrote. The researchers theorized that changes in the brainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dopamine system may explain the association. Dopamine is a chemical messenger that helps control the brainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reward and pleasure centers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Excess dopamine is the best biological explanation we have for psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia,â&#x20AC;? said Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s College psychiatric professor Robin Murray. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is possible that nicotine exposure, by increasing the release of dopamine, causes psychosis to develop.â&#x20AC;?

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HEART AND MIND IN SYNC A lesson learned from Patrick Lucas: Norm Reeves Honda of West Covina’s Top Car Salesman

By Hannah De Castro-Abinuman

s the fleet manager and top salesman in Norm Reeves Honda, West Covina branch, one would assume that Patrick Lucas has had extensive experience as a car salesman. And just by having a 3-minute conversation with him, it would be hard not to be impressed by how he effectively sells with such finesse and competence, and at the same time be swept away by his engaging personality and his apparent charisma. But surprisingly, Lucas has only been in the car industry for a year. Before he found his true calling in the vehicle selling, Lucas was working in a totally different world – the healthcare industry. Lucas’ family owns a home health agency. And for 8 years, he worked alongside his siblings in growing their family business. However, due to recent programs launched by Obama Care, their facility experienced financial difficulties, and now business is not doing as well as it used to. In an attempt to help his family financially, he decided to seek other avenues that would be lucrative. A friend then suggested that he try his luck at car industry. Fortunately, he was able to land a job at Norm Reeves Honda of West Covina, which became the first move that would later on catapult him into the top salesman status that he has achieved today. Shortly after being hired as salesman, Patrick Lucas began getting accolades. He started in March 13, 2014, but even as a green pea (industry term for newbie), he exceeded the branch’s expectations by selling 12 cars in a span of 1 month. On his 3rd month, he became the top salesman in the entire dealership, which consists of more than 30 salesmen. Good reviews and feedback from his customers began to amass in google and yelp (he mostly receives 4 or 5 stars). Since then his sales has been unbeatable in the entire dealership. In a short span of 6 months, he achieved “Silver” status. And that’s something that’s not usually attained by a green pea in a sort span of time. On his 9th month, he was promoted to fleet manager. As of last month, he received the Silver award again. And now, he is on his way to achieving “Dealership Gold.” When asked what motivates him to be excellent at his job, Lucas answered, “Without a doubt, my family.” Truly, his family, especially his mother, Emma Lucas and father Manuel Lucas, was the main reason for him entering the competitive world of vehicle selling and has also been his constant motivation to succeed. Patrick Lucas welcomes you to Norm Reeves Honda of West Covina Life was not always easy for Lucas. During high school, back when he was still living in San Francisco, he was greatly ostracized and often bullied by his classmates. Some even went to the extent of going to his house to throw rocks, and left spiteful messages. The verbal and emotional attacks were too painful and brutal for a teenager to endure. And so, he had to leave the school. A few years later, his parents opened up a restaurant at the heart of the financial district in San Francisco. But he was irresponsible at the time, and also due to his emotional struggles, he succumbed to the temptations of the world. He got hooked on drugs and his poor choices caused the restaurant to lose money and eventually, led his family to close the restaurant. But his family never left his side. They still maintained their love and support. And then one day, he went to church and had a life-changing experience – an awakening. From then on, he decided to end the actions that were slowly ruining his life. “Sa Diyos at sa pamilya ako humuhugot ng lakas. Kaya sabi ko sa kanila (family), ibabalik ko lahat sa inyo,” said Lucas. Patrick Lucas’ life experiences have taught him to value people, to never discriminate and to treat everyone with respect and honesty. “I do not judge a person by his appearance, race, job or even credit score. My goal is to help all my customers, hanggang sa maka-kaya ko,” expressed Lucas. He believes that the number one goal is not to make the sale, but to help the customer find what he is looking for. “At Norm Reeves Honda, we ask for 3 things – good credit, good job and good down payment. If a customer can provide even only 2 of those requirements, then I will find ways to help him get the best deal.” Despite the demanding hours (he works 12 – 16 hours a day), Lucas loves his job. He enjoys being constantly surrounded by people. He adores his bosses, General Manager Chad Limeux and General Sales Manager Gen Balouev who have done nothing but support him. Management even releases advertisements in newspapers and a billboard on the freeway featuring his achievements – a privilege only given to him. His job allows him to be who he really is without discrimination. Lucas adds that in his years working in different companies, Honda was the only company he worked for where there’s instant gratitude, he gets online reviews for his work, people refer him to their friends for helping them. In the end he too, gains a friend in each customer and the feeling is very rewarding and quite satisfying. Although people think car salesmen are out to squeeze every inch of savings the buyer has, Lucas believes that sincerity, having a heart of service and informing the buyer of their options are the best ways to close a deal. “I believe that even in selling cars, our hearts and our minds should always be in sync,” said Lucas. And true enough, not only does this phrase hold true in his work ethics, but in his life as well. For the best prices and top quality customer service, visit Norm Reeves Honda of West Covina or log on to www.normreeveswestcovina.com for more information. Better yet, call Patrick today at 1-888-868-9779.

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PRAYERS

PRAYER to the BLESSED VIRGIN

PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

(Never known to fail)

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

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

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

Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh Star of the Sea. Help me and show me here you are my Mother. Oh Holy Mary,

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

Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succour me in my necessity. (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. Oh Mary conceived without sin, pray for

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

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

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

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

the 3rd day the wish will be granted, no matter how dif¿cult it may be. Promise

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

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

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MOTORING

A one-of-a-kind Ferrari California T at Goodwood

Millennials most likely to hit the road this summer Wednesday July 1 2015 (Relaxnews) – According to research from Bridgestone Tires and from Harris Poll, almost nine in 10 US adults will be taking a road trip in excess of 50 miles over the summer and 71% are planning on traveling much further. That’s because the average US road trip, whether it be to visit friends, arrive at a specific destination or is in itself the vacation, is some 1,300 miles. And the idea of being stuck in a car, potentially in a traffic jam for hours on end is most appealing to the Millennial generation. In other words those that only a few years previously were sitting in the back of a vehicle asking their parents “are we there, yet?” every ten minutes. Yet, more than three quarters (79%) of young adults said that they are planning at least one road trip this summer compared with 64% of Generation X respondents and 68% of Baby Boomers. But whatever the age of the respondent, those with children

at home were the most likely of all polled to be taking to the road – 82% compared with 66% of respondents without dependent kids. As for the idea that vacationing by car is a way of saving money, Bridgestone found that of the 2000 adults it surveyed, those that said they were hitting the road also aim to save up as much as $1000 per person before the trip starts. When asked, respondents ranked the car as their preferred mode of transport (75%) followed by flying (31%), while only 7% like the idea of vacationing via the train. The company also found that 18% of Americans will be heading out on their annual road trip during Independence Day weekend. Yet with 1300 miles to cover, entertainment and reliving the boredom is high on US holidaymakers’ agendas and many are looking at the latest digital advances. When asked by Harris Poll, 55% of respondents said that an in-car wi-fi hotspot would

make a journey more enjoyable and 40% said that having connectivity between their smartphones and the car’s infotainment system would make the journey safer. Driving is the most dangerous form of transport and road accidents the leading cause of accidental death in the US, and when asked about the latest generation of active safety features it’s perhaps unsurprising that consumers see them as a vital element of safer driving. For example, 86% said they’d feel safer on a journey if their car had a blind sport monitoring system and 84% felt the same about a lane departure warning system. Likewise, 77% of respondents felt that adaptive cruise control, which can maintain a safe distance between the vehicles in front and behind even if they reduce speed, would make them feel more secure and 73% said that a built-in navigation system would make them feel “more safe” when on a road trip.

Thursday June 25 2015 (Relaxnews) – At the Festival of Speed in Goodwood, England, Ferrari is presenting a one-of-akind California T customized by the company’s bespoke division, Tailor Made. This highly-personalized righthand drive Ferrari California T sports a Bianco Italia three-layer exterior paint job with a doubleasymmetric stripe in Blu Hellen, along with 20-inch forged wheels painted in Blu Hellen and Argento Nurburgring, all inspired “by the passion and colors of polo and horse racing,” in tribute to Ferrari’s famous prancing horse. The Ferrari California T Tailor Made will be on display alongside a comprehensive display of Tailor Made materials, inside Ferrari’s VIP hospitality enclosure reserved exclusively for their clients in order to highlight the brand’s customization prowess and ability to cater to its clientele’s every demand. Presented at the Geneva Auto Show in 2014, the California T is

Ferrari’s return to forced induction, its first turbocharged supercar since the F40. Powered by a 552-hp, 3.9-liter V-8 mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch auto, the California T can hit 62 mph (100 km/h) from standstill in just 3.6 seconds and has a top speed of 196mph (316 km/h). This Ferrari also possesses the latest traction control system to come out of its F1 program, which gives the car optimal acceleration coming out of corners. Its carbon-ceramic brakes, coupled with ABS and ESP technology guarantee quick braking, and its retractable roof takes just 14 seconds to turn this well-insulated hardtop coupe into a convertible. Ferrari has also created an online configurator for its new California T that allows prospective buyers to customize their car down to the last detail. The Festival of Speed is taking place place in Goodwood, England, June 25-28. For more information, go to goodwood.co.uk.

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Grace Poe trumpets accomplishments as senator

The cast of Noli Me Tangere poses for the fans shortly after the curtain call.

Noli Me Tangere hurdles 2nd restaging in LA, producers eye San Diego By Abner Galino

For actor Miguel Vera, the second time around must have always been sweeter (pun intended, or not). Happily meeting the press after the successful restaging of the well-known play Noli Me Tangere at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, Vera said he was happy with his performance as the lead character Crisostomo Ibarra. The actor said he was more relaxed that night and believed that he has done as much or perhaps better than when the play debuted in Los Angeles in August last year. The fans who gave the cast a standing ovation during the curtain call certainly confirmed Vera’s assessment. Nonie Belarmino, one of the show’s producer, added that if things would turn our right, they would bring Noli me Tangere to San Diego, another FilipinoAmerican hub in southern California. Belarmino believes that Noli Me Tangere remains a potent vehicle, not only for showcasing Filipino culture, but as well as for passing on the patriotic senti-

ment to the younger generation of Filipino-Americans. “Ang nag-iba lang naman yung panahon at yung mga karakter, pero ang sitwasyon (sa Pilipinas) ganon pa rin. Nandiyan pa rin ang korupsiyon at abuso,” Belarmino explained. A young man, Leandro Salud, 17, said he was able to relate to the play despite not having read the book Noli Me Tangere, from which the play was adapted, and not having lived in the Philippines for a long time. “But I was in Manila months ago. I think (the play) it’s still relevant cause it talks about independence.” Marides Uytiepo, also 17, a family of one the actors, said she understood the messages conveyed in the play as they grew up in the Philippines and felt that a lot of them remain to be true. “Even if I did not read the book, in the way they portrayed it, I get it. I think Jose Rizal is going to be relevant even in the years to come,’ the young girl added. Doc Mae, who played the role of Sisa, added that while many of the scenes in the play were depressing, it still managed to bring out a message of hope in the end.

“Nasa atin na ngayon kung paano natin pagagandahin ang ating kinabukasan,” the actress concluded. The other members of the cast who were notable in their performances were soprano Cristina “Kit” Navarro (Maria Clara), Annie Nepomuceno (Dona Victorina), Joji Isla (Padre Damaso), Ariel Dayanghirang (Padre Salvi), Joseph Gelito (Kapitan Tiyago), Bacchi Garcia and Joey Uytiepo. Noli Me Tangere is a wellknown play, not only because it was adapted from a novel of national hero Jose Rizal, but also because it was originally created by contemporary Filipino icons namely; national artist Bienvenido Lumbera (libretto), Ryan Cayabyab (music) and Felix “Nonon” Padilla (direction.) The play first saw light in 1995 at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Its original cast included Monique Wilson (Maria Clara), Audie Gemora and John Arcilla, alternating as Crisostomo Ibarra, Bernardo Bernardo and Bodjie Pascua as Padre Damaso. Both the restaging in the US were produced by Teatro Pilipino USA.

MANILA, July 10 (Mabuhay) – Criticized for her supposed lack of experience, Senator Grace Poe enumerated on Friday her “sterling accomplishments” during her first two years in Senate. Poe’s office listed in a press statement the bills that she initiated in the upper chamber and issues that she investigated as head of the committees on peace and order, public information and mass media, and public services subcommittee. “Her committees have been among the most active in conducting public hearings and meetings in aid of legislation,” the statement said. As chair of the committee on public information and mass media, the senator shepherded the passing in the Senate of the People’s Freedom of Information Act which advocates a clean government by institutionalizing transparency and accountability in all government transactions and operations. She also led the hearings, as chair of the public services subcommittee, on MRT and LRT issues to provide solutions to “MRT challenges that imperil the safety and welfare of commuters, as well as diminish their productivity.” “Poe saw to it that the necessary basic facilities repairs and upkeep are pursued accordingly,” the statement said. “The DOTC (Department of Transportation and Communication) has started the toilet rehabilitation project across the 13 MRT3 stations which includes plumbing and declogging works, electrical and mechanical upgrades, new fixtures installation, tile replacement, and repainting works.” “Civil works have begun at the North Avenue station while replacement of 100 meters of worn out MRT rails was accomplished as part of the 6,000 meters of linear rail replacement project,” it further said. Leading the public order committee, the senator sought solutions to problems on violent conflict, policing, drugs and crime. In particular, Poe ensured the timely release of the committee

report on the Mamasapano incident “to deter lapses in police and military operations and prevent unnecessary loss of life.” The incident last January 25 left 44 elite policemen and several Moro rebels dead. To modernize the Philippine National Police, Poe submitted a committee report to address challenges in the PNP which include logistics, weapons, human resource system, increasing criminality and deterioration of police stations. With the staunch support of Poe, a bill amending Sec. 21 of the Dangerous Drugs Act to enable the government to effectively go after big-time drug pushers was enacted as RA 10640. “In addition, a measure aimed at holistic response to the drug menace is expected to be approved on second reading. The bill seeks to include drug dependents who wish to be rehabilitated in the coverage of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and make it affordable to them,” the statement said. To further reduce crime towards greater security for Filipinos, Poe initiated a bill seeking to impose stiffer penalties to better deter car thieves and protect the interest of motor vehicle owners. It is now up for approval on second reading. The senator also led a public hearing on bills seeking to provide incentives to independent filmmakers, promote Film Tourism and further protect the country’s artistic and cultural wealth from piracy. It was also Poe, who brought to the public eye the “worsening” hunger and malnutrition situation in the country when she delivered a privilege speech underscoring the need to focus government priorities on ensuring that no Filipino child is deprived of his or her basic right to life and health. “With the support of colleagues, Poe championed the initiative in the 2015 Budget Law for an institutionalized free lunch feeding program for public school kids nationwide to address malnutrition and produce able young Filipinos, as contained in her Sustansya para sa Batang Pilipino bill.”