Us asian post july 1, 2015

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Vol. 4. No. 40 LOS ANGELES

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Wednesday - Tuesday, July 1-7, 2015

PHL Catholic Church stands firm vs gay marriage Manila, Philippines (AFP) Sunday 6/28/2015 – The leadership of the Philippines’ dominant Roman Catholic church stressed its opposition to legalizing gay marriage on Sunday despite last week’s landmark decision by the US Supreme Court.

The Philippine government meanwhile affirmed that under its law, marriage is still between a man and a woman and only an act of Congress can change this, unlike in the United States.

“The Church continues to maintain what it has always taught. Marriage is a permanent union of man and woman,” said Archbishop Socrates Villegas, the president of the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Phil-

ippines.

“This is the way the Church has always read Sacred Scriptures. This is the way it has lived its faith, inspired by the Holy Spirit,” Villegas said in a statement on the group’s website.

“We will continue to teach the sons and daughters of the Church that marriage... is an indissoluble bond of man and woman,” he stressed.

However he also said that “the US Supreme Court decision will not go unheeded. We shall study it with assiduousness, and revisit our concepts and presuppositions.”

Last Friday’s US court decision has stirred interest in the socially See GAY MARRIAGE, page 2

PHL hits back at China: It’s not our fault that other countries support us MANILA, June 26 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Friday hit back at China after Beijing’s accusation that the Philippines is trying to “rope in” other non-claimant countries in the dispute over resource-rich parts of the South China Sea. “We cannot be faulted if other countries have lauded the approach that we have decided to take in resolving this dispute that we have with our neighbor,” deputy presidential spokesperson Usec. Abigail Valte told reporters at a press briefing at the Palace.

Valte also reminded China that that its territorial dispute with the Philippines has international implications, particularly on global trade.

“While they may say that this

is a regional matter, it cannot be denied that a significant number of global trade passes through that region, and again, it cannot be denied that it has an impact on those outside the region,” she said.

On Thursday, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun indirectly blasted the Philippines for “roping in countries from outside the region to get involved in the South China Sea issue.”

Reacting to the Philippines’ recent military exercises with Japan, Yang also criticized Manila for “putting on a big show of force, deliberately exaggerating the tense atmosphere in the region.”

This week, Japanese and Philippine military planes flew twice

Although the leadership of the Philippines’ dominant Roman Catholic church said it opposes legalizing gay marriage, they also said that the US Supreme Court decision will not go unheeded. “We shall study it with assiduousness, and revisit our concepts and presuppositions.”

Palace tosses same-sex marriage legalization issue to Congress MANILA, June 27 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Saturday tossed to Congress the matter of legalizing same-sex marriages in the Philippines, now that such unions are deemed legal in the United States. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte

said that while President Benigno Aquino III wants equal treatment for all, legalizing same-sex marriages would need Congress action. “We leave it to Congress for that discussion,” she said on state-run dzRB radio.

She said that as far as Aquino

is concerned, “he wants everyone treated equally.”

Yet, she said some legal experts have already said a change of the laws or even the Constitution may be needed for same-sex marriage to be legalized in the Philippines.(MNS)

See PHL HITS BACK, page 2

Displaced Filipino fishermen seek UN help against China Manila, Philippines (AFP) Thursday 6/25/2015 – A group of Filipino fishermen have asked the United Nations to stop China harassing them as they cast their nets around a disputed South China Sea shoal, their lawyer said Thursday.

The fishermen allege that China, which has controlled the Scarborough Shoal since a brief 2012 stand-off with the Philippines, is violating their rights to food and livelihood by driving them away, lawyer Harry Roque told AFP. Signed by 30 fishermen, the petition was sent via email to the

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and others in the organisation in Geneva on Wednesday, he said.

“They are asking for a remedy.

(What they want is) no one telling them where and when they can fish,” Roque said.

The current situation was “very, very sad” he said, adding that some of the men are now forced to fish in shallow waters with little success, while many of their wives work abroad to support the family.

The shoal lies 220 kilometres See FISHERMAN, page 2

A VTOL Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VTUAV) is shown to the members of media during a tour on a USS Forth Worth (LCS 3) docked at the harbor in Puerto Princesa, Palawan on Monday. The Philippines is holding naval exercises with U.S. and Japanese forces this week not far from the disputed Spratly Islands. (MNS photo)

PHL pushes for Japanese arms in face of China dispute

The EU list, which has included Philippine airlines since 2010, bars from operating in European airspace any airlines it deems unable to meet international safety standards, or whose civil aviation authorities cannot provide the necessary safety oversight. “All airlines from the Philippines, banned since 2010, have been released from the (air safety) list and are therefore allowed to operate in the European airspace,” a ,p g statement from the EU office in Brussels said.

Manila, Philippines (AFP) Thursday 6/25/2015 – The Philippines said Thursday it wants to acquire defence equipment from Japan, as the two allies strengthen defense ties in the face of China’s increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea. Manila was particularly keen on the P-3C Orion surveillance plane flown by Japanese pilots during recent joint exercises over disputed waters also claimed

by Beijing, a defence ministry spokesman said.

“Yes, we are interested in getting a P-3,” Peter Paul Galvez told reporters.

“Naturally, we are looking if it , p garwill become an excess defence

ticle, then we can get it at a very low price,” he added without giving further details.

Cash-strapped Manila has been strengthening military ties with better-equipped allies such as Japan and the US as tensions have flared with regional superpower China.

Beijing is locked in disputes with several neighbors over its claims to almost the entire South China Sea, where it has started reclaiming land, as well as with Japan over islands in the East China Sea. The Philippines has conducted naval exercises with Japan and is now pushing for an agreement to allow large-scale joint military

exercises similar to those it holds annually with the US. It has also asked a United Nations tribunal to reject China’s claims to most of the Sea, a move angrily rejected by Beijing which says the world body has no authority in the matter.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino visited Japan earlier this month where he discussed closer defense relations, including the transfer of military equipment for his country’s poorly equipped armed forces.

The US-designed P-3 plane, which was first released in the early-1960s, serves mainly as a maritime patrol aircraft.

See JAPANESE ARMS, page 2

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Binay’s satisfaction rating recovers—SWS MANILA, June 26 (Mabuhay) – Vice President Jejomar Binay’s satisfaction rating has recovered in the second quarter of 2015, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

The SWS survey, conducted from June 5 to 8, showed that 64% of the 1,200 respondents were satisfied, 22% were dissatisfied and 13% were undecided with Binay’s performance.

The numbers equate to a net satisfaction rating of +42, which is up 11 points from the vice president’s +31 rating recorded in March.

The SWS classifies net satisfaction score of +42 as “good.”

Public satisfaction with Binay had been declining since June last year. In the SWS March 2014 survey, his net satisfaction rating was an “excellent” +73. It went down to a “very good” +67 in June, +52 in September, a “good” +44 in December, and +31 in March 2015.

Binay is facing various allegations of corruption. He is accused of receiving kickbacks from projects in Makati City when he was

still mayor, including the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building 2 and Makati Science High School building.

Binay is also accused of having undeclared properties which he supposedly hides under the names of dummies.

The Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee, headed by Senators Aquilino Pimentel III, Antonio Trillanes IV and Alan Peter Cayetano, started investigating corruption allegations against Binay in August last year.

The vice president has refused to attend the hearings by the subcommittee, saying all accusations are just politically motivated.

The SWS poll, results of which were first published in BusinessWorld, also showed the public satisfaction ratings of the three top officials following the president and vice president.

The June 2015 survey used face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide, 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. There were sampling error margins of ±3 percent for national and ±6

percent for area percentages.

Senate President Franklin Drilon’s net satisfaction rating declined in the last quarter, from a “good” +35 (57% satisfied, 22% dissatisfied, 19% undecided) in March to a “moderate” +29 (52% satisfied, 24% dissatisfied, 22% undecided) in June.

House Speaker Sonny Belmonte’s rating also decreased from a “moderate” +12 (38% satisfied, 26% dissatisfied, 29% undecided) in March to a “neutral” +9 (37% satisfied, 28% dissatisfied, 29% undecided) in June.

Meanwhile, numbers for Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno slightly improved, from a “moderate” +10 (38% satisfied, 28% dissatisfied, 25% undecided) in March to a still “moderate” +11 (37% satisfied, 25% dissatisfied, 28% undecided) in June.

The SWS added public satisfaction with the Senate slightly improved from + 31 to +33, steadied with the House of Representatives at +20, and declined with the Supreme Court from +34 to +32 and the Aquino Cabinet from +13 to +12. (MNS)

Palace: Budgets, poverty figures disprove VP Binay’s claim of neglect of poor MANILA, June 26 (Mabuhay) – Just look at the numbers.

This was how Malacañang on Friday countered Vice President Jejomar Binay’s claim that President Benigno Aquino III’s administration is neglecting poor Filipinos.

At a press briefing, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said budget allocations for anti-poverty programs can easily disprove Binay’s allegations.

“We don’t really know kung ano ba ‘yung puwede pa ba nating sagutin ito punto por punto kasi masasagot po natin ito doon sa mga programa natin,” Valte said.

“Mabubuksan po natin ang budget, makikita po natin kung

ano ‘yung mga programa nating direktang pumupunta doon sa mga pinakamahirap sa ating mga kababayan,” she added.

In a speech last Wednesday, Vice President Binay accused the Aquino government of being callous and of supposedly failing to make economic gains more inclusive. “Walang hustisya at walang maasahang benepisyo para sa nakararami lalo na sa mga mahihirap,” Binay said in a combative address delivered days after he quit Aquino’s Cabinet.

Valte further said that recent poverty figures will also contradict Binay’s claim.

“Siguro po ‘yung mga numero na lang ang hahayaan naming magsalita para doon sa aming mga intensyon,” Valte said.

A Social Weather Stations survey (SWS) released last May showed the percentage of Filipino families who experienced involuntary hunger dropping from 17.2 percent last December to 13.5 percent in March – the lowest recorded rate in a decade.

A separate SWS poll during the first quarter of the year however indicated some 11.4 million families still considered themselves poor. This figure was virtually unchanged from the numbers recorded during the last three months of 2014.

Despite the controversies surrounding the vice president, he intends to pursue his presidential ambition and will run in 2016. He beat Mar Roxas for the vice presidency in 2012. (MNS)

Sandiganbayan raffles off cases of Cedric Lee, Ronnie Ricketts, others MANILA, June 26 (Mabuhay) – The Sandiganbayan has raffled off the fresh batch of cases lodge before against public officials and personalities including the cases of controversial businessman Cedric Lee and action star Ronnie Ricketts.

Set to handle the two counts of graft filed last Monday by the Office of the Ombudsman against Lee and former Mariveles, Bataan mayor Angel Peliglorio, Jr. was the anti-graft court’s Third Division chaired by Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang.

The graft cases against Lee and Peliglorio stemmed from the alleged anomalous release of P23 million worth of public funds of Mariveles town to Lee’s construction firm Izumo Contractors, Inc. for the supposed construction of a public market.

The Ombudsman said that based on its investigation, the

fund was released to Izumo “even without procedural safeguards and guarantee of performance,” and that the project has “never commenced”.

Meanwhile, the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division under Associate Justice Jose Hernandez is set to handle the one count of graft case against Ricketts, the incumbent chairman of the Optical Media Board (OMB).

Ricketts’ co-accused are four other officials of the Optical Media Board.

Based on the Ombudsman’s complaint filed on Tuesday, Ricketts and his co-accused allegedly allowed in 2010 the return of tons of confiscated pirated DVDs and VCDs to its owner, the firm Sky High Marketing Corporation, instead of filing charges.

Also raffled was the graft case of former Catanauan, Quezon Mayor Sebastian Serrano and

two of his co-accused filed by the Ombudsman on Monday. The case went to the Second Division chaired by Associate Justice Teresita Diaz-Baldos.

Meanwhile, the graft and malversation cases against Provident Fund Office administrator Dely De Leon and nine of her coaccused filed by the Ombudsman on Wednesday went to the Fifth Division under Associate Justice Roland Jurado.

The court divisions are expected to issue arrest order against the accused any time.

The accused, however, may post bail even before an arrest order is issued in exchange for their temporary liberty.

As of Friday afternoon, Lee, Ricketts, and the other accused officials have yet to post bail as checked by reporters with the Sandiganbayan Cashier Division.

(MNS)

THE US ASIAN POST

EU lifts safety ban on all PHL airlines Manila, Philippines (AFP) Thursday 6/25/2015 – Philippine airlines will no longer be banned from flying into Europe, aviation authorities said Thursday, after the European Union removed all remaining Philippine carriers from its safety blacklist.

The EU list, which has included Philippine airlines since 2010, bars from operating in European airspace any airlines it deems unable to meet international safety standards, or whose civil aviation authorities cannot provide the necessary safety oversight.

“All airlines from the Philippines, banned since 2010, have been released from the (air safety) list and are therefore allowed to operate in the European airspace,” a statement from the EU office in Brussels said.

The EU lifted the safety ban on flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) in July 2013, and last year also released Cebu Pacific, the country’s largest airline.

The latest decision lifts restrictions on the seven remaining Philippine carriers, said Eric Apolonio, a spokesman for the Philippine civil aviation authority, now allowing budget and smaller airlines to fly to Europe.

Among the seven carriers are the Philippine units of AirAsia Berhad, the pioneer of budget flights in Asia, the aviation authority said.

The decision comes after a five-man EU safety assessment team gave a positive review of the airlines following a series of inspections in April.

“This is truly breaking news since it is the first time that the entire aviation sector of one country is removed from the European Air Safety List,” said Lubomir Frebort, the EU charge d’affaires in the Philippines.

While the seven carriers largely service only domestic and Asian routes, Apolonio said the EU decision will still benefit them.

Previously, European insurance companies would not cover people who flew on airlines on the EU Air Safety List, he said.

“European tourists will be encouraged to use low-cost carriers in the Philippines now,” boosting the number of visitors who will want to fly around the archipelago, he told AFP. PAL now flies to London and is planning to add more European destinations, while Cebu Pacific is applying to fly to Italy.

JAPANESE ARMS From page 1

Galvez also said the Philippines was also interested in Huey helicopters, adding these would be easy to “absorb” as the military already has several of the aircraft.

The cash-strapped Philippines has relied on donations of military equipment from its allies such as the US and Australia in the past.

FISHERMAN From page 1

(140 miles) off the main Philippine island of Luzon and 650 kilometres (408 miles) from Hainan island, the nearest major Chinese land mass.

The Philippines claims the shoal is within its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.

The government has lodged a separate appeal before a United Nations arbitration tribunal to declare China’s sovereignty claim over most of the South China Sea as illegal.

In April, Philippine authorities accused the Chinese coast guard of robbing Filipino fishermen of their catch at gunpoint at Scarborough Shoal and shooing away one group with a water cannon.

In their petition, the Filipino fishermen cited another supposed incident in April last year when

Chinese authorities on speedboats and armed with assault rifles allegedly drove them away, shouting: “Go away, go away, three miles, China island,” the 22-page “urgent appeal” read.

The 30 fishermen asked the United Nations to “remind, declare, and direct China and its state agents to cease and desist from violating (their) human rights – including the right to livelihood, the right to adequate food, and the right life”.

China recently reinforced its claim over almost the entire South China Sea by building artificial islands on disputed reefs.

A recent poll showed eight in 10 Filipinos fear the festering sea dispute with China might lead to “armed conflict” with their powerful Asian neighbor.

PHL HITS BACK From page 1

near Recto (Reed) Bank off the coast of Palawan, which is being claimed both by Manila and Beijing.

Not exaggerating At the same press briefing, Valte further countered the Chinese defense official’s claim that the Philippines is exaggerating tensions in disputed areas.

“We do not subscribe, as a matter of policy, to exaggeration. We do not base our discussions on exaggerated facts because it is not in our nation’s interest to do so,” she said.

“In fact, from the beginning of this dispute, we have advocated a rational discussion that is based on issues, as well as an objective view of facts as they happen,” she added.

In a separate text message, presidential spokesman Sec. Edwin Lacierda said China should stop its reclamation activities in the contested areas if it really wants tensions to simmer down.

“The question is: Will China, as a responsible member of the family of nations, listen to the reasonable voice of the international community?” Lacierda said.

Territorial dispute Manila and Beijing have been locked in a territorial dispute over resource-rich parts of the South China Sea over the past years.

China uses the so-called “ninedash line” to assert ownership of almost the entire South China Sea, while the Philippines uses the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as basis for its claim.

The Philippines, which calls the disputed areas the “West Philippine Sea,” has already sought international arbitration before a Netherlands-based tribunal to nullify China’s massive claims over South China Sea. Oral arguments on the case will begin next month.

Beijing, however, has refused to participate in the arbitration proceedings, insisting instead on bilateral talks to settle the dispute.

Despite the filing of the arbitration case, recent satellite images showed Beijing building artificial islands with buildings and piers in seven features in the West Philippine Sea. Several countries, including Japan and the United States, have backed the Philippines’ call for a stop to these reclamation activities. (MNS)

GAY MARRIAGE From page 1

conservative Philippines, the only country besides the Vatican that still outlaws divorce.

Church pressure delayed a law allowing for wider distri-

Mag

bution of contraceptives for 15 years.

It was finally passed in 2014 but abortion remains illegal.

Tayo!

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

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Trump says he would make Mexico pay for a border wall Washington, United States (AFP) Sunday 6/28/2015 – Presidential hopeful Donald Trump said in an interview aired Sunday that he would force Mexico to pay to have a wall built along its northern border with the United States.

“I would do something very severe unless they contributed or gave us the money to build the wall,” Trump said on CNN’s State of the Union.

It was the billionaire’s latest broadside against Mexico since he announced his candidacy June 16 with a speech labeling immigrants from the United States’ southern neighbor as drug traf-

fickers, criminals and rapists.

His comments caused an uproar, prompting Mexico’s interior minister to call him “prejudiced and absurd,” and Univision, America’s top Spanish-language TV network, to sever its ties with Trump’s Miss Universe Organization.

In the CNN interview, Trump insisted “you have people coming through the border that are from all over. And they’re bad. They’re really bad.”

“I’m not just saying Mexicans, I’m talking about people that are from all over, that are killers, and rapists,” he said.

Asked about his calls for a bor-

der wall, Trump said, “Mexico has not treated us well. Mexico treats us as though we are stupid people. Which, of course, our leaders are.

“I don’t blame Mexico. China’s even worse,” he added.

He said he would force Mexico to pay for the wall “because Mexico makes a fortune because of us.”

Trump, a real estate tycoon and star of the TV reality show “The Apprentice,” came in second place this week among Republicans in the running for the presidency, behind former Florida governor Jeb Bush, in a poll by Suffolk University.

Extreme thrills, exotic animals and extraordinary performers Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents Circus XTREME from July 9 – Aug 2 Prepare to be astonished and amazed by some of the coolest acts ever as Ringling Bros. goes to new extremes with the all-new energetic circus production, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Circus XTREME. Guided by Ringmaster David Shipman, Children Of All Ages can let their imagination go wild in an exhilarating adventure with extraordinary circus artists and exotic animals.

From the highest mountains to the deepest seas, watch as the show explores a world of extreme beauty, flexibility, strength and dexterity in ways you’ve never seen before at The Greatest Show On Earth Ringling Bros. 145th Edition is highlighted by several unique acts including: – Xtreme Sports display featuring BMX freestyle riders, energetic parkour performers, trampoline acrobats and slack line gymnastics tricks – Caravan of Camels – the only act of its kind in the world featuring 6 twin-humped Bactrian camels – Bungee Skydivers aerial acro-ballet – World’s youngest human cannonball Gemma “The Jet” Kirby

From the highest mountains to the deepest seas, the show explores a world of extreme beauty, flexibility, strength and dexterity in ways you’ve never seen before at The Greatest Show On Earth Ringling Bros. 145th Edition.

has been shot from the cannon over 500 times – Mongolian Marvels strongmen create a human pyramid with a combined weight of over 880 pound Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Circus XTREME. Blending extreme circus displays for the ultimate family fun en-

tertainment experience, playing at STAPLES Center Los Angeles (July 9-14); Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario (July 1721); and Honda Center, Anaheim (July 24-Aug 2).

Tickets priced from $15. For more information, visit www.

Ringling.com.

Staying cool and conserving energy in hot weather Several SCE programs offer energy-efficient savings and rebates. CAISO has issued a Flex Alert for June 30 and July 1 from 2 p.m.-9 p.m.

By Susan Cox, Southern California Edison

June 30, 2015 – With temperatures expected to reach triple digits in some areas this week, the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) has issued a Flex Alert for today and Wednesday. Demand for electricity is predicted to increase throughout today and tomorrow due to hot weather conditions.

Southern California Edison (SCE) is issuing an urgent call for customers to please reduce electricity usage now through 9 p.m. Wednesday.

CAISO has issued a Flex Alert from 2-9 p.m. for June 30 and July 1 and customers are urged to conserve energy by turning off all unnecessary lights, postpone using major appliances and turning airconditioning thermostats up to 78 degrees or higher.

To learn more, visit: www. caiso.com.

To help customers conserve energy, SCE offers several energy-efficient programs, tools and energy-saving tips designed to help keep customers cool, conserve energy, earn up to $200 in bill credits and protect the environment during peak times this summer.

“Our first priority is keeping our customers safe and comfortable, while ensuring grid reliability during hot summer days,” said Mark Wallenrod, SCE’s director of Demand Side Management Operations. “We offer a suite of programs for residential and business customers that can help reduce electricity usage, and keep bills down.”

Customers who participate in Save Power Days not only help conserve energy, but can earn up to $100 in bill credits each year. When a Save Power Day is called, customers will be asked to reduce their electricity usage between2-6 p.m. Customers can select how they would like to be notified, either by phone, email or text.

Enrollees in SCE’s Summer Discount Plan can receive bill credits of up to $200 by allowing their central air condition-

er to be temporarily turned off or cycled remotely during peak times of the day. This is a free, year-round program with savings typically generated from June 1 through Oct. 1. There are a variety of plans and options offered.

To learn about additional SCE residential and business tips and rebates, visitwww. sce.com/summer.

Here are a few tips to conserve energy and help keep SCE customers cool: Set thermostats no lower than 78 degrees.

Close drapes and blinds to keep out direct sunlight during hot periods.

Use electric fans instead of air conditioning when practical.

Reduce electricity use between noon-6 p.m. – peak hours of energy use.

Shut off lights when leaving a room.

Limit how often you open your refrigerator door.

Avoid using evaporative coolers or humidifiers at the same time an air conditioner is running.

When possible, businesses should shift power-intensive work processes to morning or evening hours.

SCE also reminds customers to stay as cool, comfortable and as safe as possible when the weather heats up to avoid heat-related illnesses on extremely hot days. Keep outdoor activities to a minimum and drink plenty of water during the hottest parts of the day.

Low-income and medically sensitive customers can visit “Cool Centers,” which are operated by local governments and community-based organizations. A list of locations can be found at www.sce.com/coolcenters.

This story first appeared on the SCE Newsroom.

Pageant activities will kick off on July 5th with all the candidates arriving from different areas in the US such as Texas, Missouri, New Mexico, San Francisco and Los Angeles. 30 beautiful Fil-Am women will be presented in a spectacular oneof-a-kind event on July 12th at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, California. Photo: Benny Uy

30 Filipino-Americans vie for Ms Philippines USA title Glendale, CA – Miss Philippines USA is the premier FilAm pageant with a mission of developing the finest ambassadors of goodwill and promoting the beauty of the Filipino women, will showcase 30 beautiful Fil-Am women in a spectacular one-of-a-kind event on July 12th at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, California.

Pageant activities will kick off on July 5th with all the candidates arriving from different areas in the US such as Texas, Missouri, New Mexico, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Swimsuit competition marks the start of the very exciting pageant week which will be held at a private residence in Agoura Hills, California.

Delegates will parade in their swimwear and judges will pick the Best in Swimsuit.

Talent night is another most awaited part of the week where

candidates perform and show off their talents to be held at Josephine’s Bistro in Cerritos.

Coronation night is the highlight of all the activities where the crème de la crème of the Filipino-American community gather to witness the parade of beauties and the crowning of the 2015 Miss Philippines USA. Guests are YouTube Star Joseph Vincent and LA’s balladeer Val Villar , with KTLA anchor Cher Calvin and Fox Santa Barbara anchor Tony Cabrera as hosts .

This year’s sponsors are Victory Auto Connection, Dermskin, Image Spa MD, AR Salon, Rex Vincent Photography, Roxas Law, Max’s of Manila, Josephine’s Bistro, Jack’s Lechon, Fiesta Fastfood and Lou Razon Couture.

For tickets and inquiries, call 818 242-2088 or email missphilusainfo@gmail.com.

Mexico, Bogota reject Miss Universe over Trump tirade Mexico City, Mexico (AFP) Tuesday 6/30/2015 – over US presidential candidate Donald Trump’s remarks about Mexican migrants boiled over Tuesday as Bogota withdrew its candidacy to host his Miss Universe show and Mexico dropped out of the pageant.

The real estate tycoon’s comments have incensed Latin Americans and the Hispanic community in the United States since he said on June 16 that migrants were bringing drugs and “rapists”

across the border.

Losing both a Latin American contestant and city are big setbacks for Miss Universe as the pageant is hugely popular in the region, where victory is a source of national pride that can spark street celebrations.

“Bogota declines its aspiration to be the host city of the next competition,” the capital’s Tourism District Institute said in a statement.

“Colombia’s Paulina Vega won the last Miss Universe pageant.

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One justice makes big difference in US gay marriage ruling

By Chantal Valery

Washington, United States (AFP) Saturday 6/27/2015 – He was appointed in the 1980s under the conservative presidency of Ronald Reagan, but Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy has gone on to become perhaps the most important gay rights supporter in the American legal system.

The gray-haired 78-year-old cemented that position Friday when he wrote the majority opinion for the five judges – or justices as they are known – who ruled to allow gay marriage across the United States.

“No union is more profound than marriage for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice and family,” Kennedy said, his deep voice resonating around the solemn surroundings of the Supreme Court.

“In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were.”

All eyes were fixed on him. Without Kennedy – who soon found himself trending on Twitter – gay marriage would not have been legalized at the federal level.

That’s because Kennedy is seen as an important “swing vote,” siding with the court’s four liberal judges instead of the conservative bloc on some issues – including gay marriage.

Friday’s momentous ruling was met with jubilation by many same-sex couples, including those who had been living in the 13 states that banned gay marriage.

“Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions,” Kennedy said in his ruling.

“They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right.”

‘A humanitarian’ “Justice Kennedy has become probably the most powerful jurist in the entire world because he’s the point on so many issues before the Supreme Court of the US, and though he only has one vote, his vote literally changes most cases,” said Mary Margaret Penrose, law professor at Texas A& M University.

David Cruz, an expert from the University of Southern California Gould law school, said that without Kennedy’s vote, states would have remained free to exclude same-sex couples from civil marriage.

Kennedy was the “favorite to write the decision that extends same-sex marriage nationwide,” Cruz said.

In the past, Kennedy – who is considered moderate – has taken positions on civil rights that demonstrate his “flexibility” in interpreting the Constitution, lawyer Lisa Linsky said.

“His positions and decisions in major civil rights cases over the years demonstrate that he is a humanitarian,” she said.

“His constitutional scholarship is rooted in common sense and the recognition that societies, attitudes and institutions change and evolve.”

Legal analyst Elizabeth Wydra told AFP that Kennedy’s words would be immortalized in the “Obergefell v. Hodges” ruling, as the case is known.

“With this ruling, Justice Kennedy has ensured that his name will be forever linked with the recognition of equal rights for gay men and lesbians,” Wydra said.

“He has used language so sweeping and powerful to describe the desire for equal dignity that it brings a tear to the eye.”

No coincidence Kennedy had already authored three major decisions affecting gay rights in America, each a significant step towards Friday’s historic ruling.

In 1996, Kennedy wrote the decision in the landmark “Romer v. Evans” case on the protection of civil rights for gays and lesbians. In 2003, the court struck down anti-sodomy laws in “Lawrence v. Texas.”

And in 2013 in “United States v. Windsor” Kennedy wrote the majority opinion against the Defense of Marriage Act. The decision to hand down the ruling in the “Obergefell” case Friday was likely no accident, as June 26 was also the date in the years when Kennedy and the court released the rulings in “Lawrence” and “Windsor.”

THE US ASIAN POST

OPINION

Landmark rulings see US Supreme Court move to the left

By Chantal Valery

Washington, United States (AFP) Sunday 6/28/2015 – With four justices appointed by Democratic presidents and five by Republican leaders, the US Supreme Court is generally perceived as being weighted in favor of conservatives.

But after two historic rulings in a week supporting progressive causes – legalizing gay marriage across America and upholding President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul – the conservatives are lashing out.

They are slamming what they see as a blatant disregard of the law in favor of a win in the court of public opinion.

Ultra-conservative justice Antonin Scalia called the 5-4 ruling in favor of legalizing gay marriage nationwide a “judicial putsch” that was “lacking even a thin veneer of law.”

“Just who do we think we are?” asked Chief Justice John Roberts, who also opposed the gay marriage ruling.

He said the ruling had “nothing to do with” the Constitution and blasted the decision as “an act of will, not legal judgment.”

Scalia also lambasted his colleagues for voting 6-3 to uphold “Obamacare,” which has extended health insurance to millions of Americans.

Conservatives say Obamacare represents unconstitutional government intrusion into the lives of private citizens.

“Today’s opinion changes the usual rules of statutory interpretation for the sake of the Affordable Care Act,” Scalia wrote.

“We should start calling this law SCOTUScare,” he added, using the acronym for the Supreme Court.

‘Judicial activism’ Aside from the health care and gay marriage rulings, the court also voted in the past week to uphold a key tool used to fight housing discrimination—another big win for the Obama administration.

In the past, other landmark Supreme Court rulings have ushered in the legalization of abortion, the end of racial segregation in schools and the authorization of mixed-race marriages.

But this week’s decisions left some accusing the court of siding with public opinion—and not the Constitution.

Ryan Anderson, a research fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation, called the gay marriage ruling “perhaps as clear of an example of judicial activism as any we have seen in recent years – or are likely (hopefully) to see in the future.”

“The majority of the Court simply replaced the people’s opinion about what marriage is with its own,” he said.

In each of this week’s three main big rulings, Justice Anthony Kennedy, who was appointed in the 1980s under the conservative Ronald Reagan but is considered moderate, sided with his progressive counterparts.

Roberts, the chief justice, also added his vote to the health care ruling, perhaps to protect the court from accusations it voted along political lines.

ConsƟtuƟon ‘pliable, long-lasƟng guide’ “This is not about a ‘conservative’ or ‘liberal’ court,” said Lisa Linsky, a partner at the McDermott Will & Emery law firm.

“This is about the highest court in the land being cognizant of the world around it and the fundamental principles and protections that are embedded in our constitution,” Linsky said.

“The founding fathers of this country created the constitution to be a pliable, long-lasting guide for living life in a civilized society,” she added.

These cases “impacted real people in profound and far-reaching ways,” she told AFP, noting that “any other result would have caused chaos.”

If the Obamacare ruling had gone the other way, millions of people could have been left without health insurance.

“Their attention in that case to the economic realities of the health insurance market was part of their statutory interpretation, not some free-floating analysis of what would be good policy,” said David Cruz, an expert from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. In the gay marriage ruling, Kennedy wrote that same-sex couples should not be denied the “constellation of benefits” afforded married partners, such as tax and inheritance rights.

Mary Margaret Penrose, a law professor at Texas A& M University, noted that “the receipt of these benefits traditionally are matters of policy and legislation, not constitutional mandate.”

Steve Sanders, who teaches constitutional litigation at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law, said the court should be expected to show some flexibility. “The point is not that we should make law by opinion poll,” he said.

“The point is that, under our Constitution, we expect courts to step in and act when a minority group is being denied a fundamental right based on the transient passions and discredited motives of a political majority.”

Statistics show that during the current Supreme Court session, which is set to end Monday, the justices have taken more left-leaning decisions.

According to a New York Times analysis, about 56 percent of rulings by the court were considered progressive.

Palace to Congress, judiciary: Help address human rights problems MANILA, June 27 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Saturday asked Congress and the judiciary to come together with the executive branch of government and explore ways to address human rights issues being raised in the US State Department’s 2014 report on the Philippines.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said many of the problems may involve legislation and prosecution, which are outside the executive branch’s jurisdiction.

“We are asking all agencies concerned ... even our colleagues in the judiciary and Congress, to take a look at the report and ... concerns raised by the report,” she said on state-run dzRB radio.

She said many observations and suggestions in the report could be addressed by passing the necessary legislation or amending legislation, or addressing judicial processes.

Valte said the Palace is open to colleagues in other branches of government to “... come together and work on” such concerns.

“Tayo naman, we are committed to making the situation better,” she said.

The US State Department’s Philippine country report on human rights practices for 2014 had outlined some significant problems with human rights in the Philippines, including: – extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances undertaken by security forces and suspected vigilante groups – a weak and overburdened criminal justice system notable for poor cooperation between police and

investigators – a meager record of prosecutions and lengthy procedural delays – widespread official corruption and abuse of power Other human rights problems the report cited included: – allegations of prisoner/detainee torture and abuse by security forces – harassment, including allegations of violence against human rights activists by local security forces – warrant-less arrests – lengthy pretrial detentions – overcrowded and inadequate prison conditions – killings and harassment of journalists – internally displaced persons (IDPs) – violence against women – abuse and sexual exploitation of children – trafficking in persons – limited access to facilities for persons with disabilities – lack of full integration of indigenous people – absence of law and policy to protect persons from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity – child labor – ineffective enforcement of worker rights.

“The government continued to investigate and prosecute only a limited number of reported human rights abuses, and concerns about impunity persisted,” it added.(MNS)

Poverty alleviation takes time, Palace exec admits in wake of IBON survey MANILA, June 27 (Mabuhay) – Poverty alleviation takes time and cannot be solved in three months.

This was Malacañang’s reply to a survey by independent think tank IBON Foundation showing many Filipinos do not believe poverty or corruption had gone down in the last three months.

“Tinatanggap natin, poverty alleviation takes time... (Pero) walang makakapagsabi [na] kaya[ng] bawasan considerably o tanggalin ang kahirapan sa loob ng tatlong buwan,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said on state-run dzRB radio. “...Hindi pwede short-sighted ang tingin natin na in three months mabawasan agad-agad,” she added.

IBON’s survey conducted from May 13 to 23, but whose results were made public only June 25,

showed 72.3 percent of Filipinos do not believe poverty has been reduced in the last three months.

Based on the survey, only 17.9 percent said they believe so, and 9.6 percent of the respondents answered they do not know.

A similar survey in January 2015 showed 71.7 percent said they do not believe poverty went down in the last three months, while only 17.1 percent believed it did.

On the other hand, IBON’s May survey also showed 59.8 percent of respondents do not believe there was less corruption in the country in the past three months.

Only 23.8 percent believed corruption went down while 16 percent answered “don’t know.”

Palace condemns killing of CNN cameraman MANILA, June 26 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Friday condemned the killing of a cameraman of CNN Philippines, saying the Philippine National Police (PNP) has been directed to pursue the suspects.

“We condemn the killing of CNN Philippines’ employee Jonathan Oldan. The Philippine National Police has been directed to pursue those who may have been responsible for his death so that the ends of

justice may be served,” Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma said.

Oldan, driver and assistant cameraman of CNN Philippines, was shot dead early morning on Thursday in Barangay Pinagbuklod, Imus, Cavite.

A police report said Oldan was seen buying cigarette at a convenient store and then talking to somebody prior to the incident. He was shot dead while running away from someone. (MNS)

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UTREACH US firms urged to invest in PHL infrastructure WASHINGTON, DC, June 24, 2015 – Philippine Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio L. Singson urged US construction companies to “locate their businesses in the Philippines, get registered in the Philippines, and take advantage of Filipino engineers” in order for them to be competitive in the ASEAN region.

Secretary Singson advanced this business proposition today at the CSIS Conference, “Dynamic Philippine Economy: Growth, Reform and Looking Ahead,” which was the first stop for the Philippine High-Level Trade and Investment Mission that is traveling across the United States from 24 to 29 June.

“The Philippines offers a lot of construction opportunities,” the Secretary said, underscoring how infrastructure development is essential to the improvement of other sectors, such as tourism, agriculture, water and transportation. The designation of these “strategic convergence areas” demonstrates the coordinated efforts of different government agencies to attain sustainable, resilient and inclusive economic growth.

Secretary Singson also announced the creation of a new license category called Quadruple A or “AAAA” that allows foreign firms to be registered as regular contractors and does away with the old requirement of a per-project basis construction permit.

He likewise expressed confidence in the sustainability of the

reforms within the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which used to be tagged as one of the most inefficient and corrupt institutions in the Philippine Government. DPWH’s good governance reforms and anticorruption programs have saved Filipino taxpayers Php 48 billion in 2014.

Ms. Cosette V. Canilao, Executive Director of the PrivatePublic Partnership Center (PPP), discussed the opportunities and policy guidelines involved in facilitating investment collaboration between private companies and the public sector.

The invitation for more foreign investment in infrastructure is a running theme in the Mission’s push in the United States. Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima, who co-leads the Philippine delegation with Secretary Singson and Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo, earlier stated, “Drawing high-quality investments in key areas of opportunity like infrastructure is a win-win for both the Philippines and foreign investors. This is a fundamental component of our strategy as we build better infrastructure to support the growing mobility and connectivity needs of a booming population.”

In his opening remarks, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. drove home the point that infrastructure investments will be vital.

“We aim to attain a level of infrastructure spending of 5% of

GDP by 2016. We are also pursuing infrastructure development in the Philippines through public-private partnerships program [PPP]. In line with this, the Philippines and the US recently signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on infrastructure collaboration,” Ambassador Cuisia said.

“Dynamic Philippine Economy: Growth, Reform, and Looking Ahead” was co-organized by the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., the US-Philippines Society and the Center for International and Strategic Studies (CSIS).

The Philippine High-Level Trade and Investment Mission will be heading to make its pitch in New York from 25 to 26 June and to San Francisco on 29 June.

The Mission is an important follow-up to the PhilippinesUnited States Memorandum of Cooperation on an Infrastructure Collaboration Platform, which was signed during the 8th Global Infrastructure Leadership Forum (GILF) held in New York in February.

The Conferences are being organized in cooperation with the Philippine Consulates General in New York and San Francisco, as well as Citibank, Deutsche Bank, Development Bank of the Philippines, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, JP Morgan, Land Bank of the Philippines, Morgan Stanley, Standard Chartered, and UBS.

New York Conference promotes PHL as premier investment destination WASHINGTON, DC, June 27, 2015 – Investments in people, infrastructure and reforms have transformed the Philippines into a prime destination for foreign capital in recent years, according to Philippine Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima, who was one of the keynote speakers at the Economic Briefing and Investment Conference held on 26 June 2015 at Goldman Sachs in New York City.

Entitled “Invest in the Philippines: Asia’s Bright Spot,” the New York Conference underscored the significant improvements the country has made in terms of macroeconomic governance, promoting transparency, enhancing the ease of doing business, and focusing on infrastructure development.

These factors, combined with a competent, hardworking and growing workforce, and a central location in an economically dynamic region, have increased the attractiveness of the Philippines in the eyes of foreign investors.

“The Philippines is not perfect, nor is it completely efficient, but to investors like you, it is an opportunity. In fact, many companies are already silently making money,” Secretary Purisima stated.

BPI Capital Corporation President Dennis Montecillo agreed with the bullish assessment, saying that there has been a noticeable shift in the demand for foreign private equity. Montecillo, who previously worked for Morgan Stanley in Hong Kong, recounted how private equity clients have now developed a keen interest in the Philippines, with some calling the Philippines their core markets, from demonstrating a very low level of interest in 2000-2007.

In addition to the Philippines acquiring investment grade in the credit ratings of S&P, Moody’s and Fitch, the country’s debt to GDP ratio is at its lowest at 45.4% in 2014, from as high as 97.7% in 1986.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Diwa

Guinigundo further substantiated the Philippines trajectory and he forecasts the debt to GDP ratio to continue its downward trajectory, anticipating a debt to GDP ratio of 0% within the next 10 years. He adds, however, that “there is no magic number with regards to any country’s debt to GDP ratio. The emphasis must be placed on the fiscal space and the government’s ability to spend in terms of investment and infrastructure.”

Philippine officials and private businesses have pointed to good governance as the main driver of economic growth. Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory L. Domingo and National Competitiveness Council Co-Chair Guillermo Luz highlighted the Philippines’ steady rise in competitiveness rankings and assured the audience that liberalization and economic reforms will continue.

Secretary Domingo enumerated some encouraging developments, including the release of the new Foreign Investment Negative List which features fewer restrictions on foreign investments; the impending amendment of the Cabotage Law that will allow foreign vessels to make calls at multiple ports; and the European Union’s granting of GSP+ status to the Philippines, which gives about 6,000 product lines duty-free access to the European market. He also cited the substantial growth of the IT/BPO sector, which is expected to generate US$ 25 billion in revenues in 2016 from the current amount of US$ 18 billion.

Manolito Tayag, Accenture’s Country Managing Director for the Philippines, projected that the IT/BPO sector will go up from 1 million to 1.3 million employees in 2016. He explained that the future growth of the country’s IT/BPO sector is underpinned by its moving up the value chain, including analytics; the opening of new markets in Latin America, Europe, and even within the Philippines; identifying niche industries; locating re-

gional and global centers in Manila; and creating a new wave of BPO cities.

Upgrading the country’s infrastructure is also seen as a key to boosting productivity and tourism.

Transportation and Communication Undersecretary Rene K. Limcaoco outlined the transport development plan, and explained the key performance indicators relating to reducing transport costs by about 8.5%, and logistics costs to 15%. He noted that the Philippines’ 653-kilometer North-South Rail is currently the largest infrastructure project in the country’s history at over US$ 8 billion. The Philippine Government has actively sought private sector participation in infrastructure development. Undersecretary Cosette V. Canilao, Executive Director of the PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP) Center, informed the group that three projects worth US$ 4.24 billion are being rolled out, while six projects amounting to US$ 4.6 billion are pending formal approval for roll out.

Mr. Jay Collins, Vice Chairman of Corporate and Investment Banking at Citigroup, acknowledged that the Philippines has made strides to free up fiscal space and ensure that it is infrastructure investment friendly.

He also emphasized that infrastructure risk needs to be assessed with the overall macro-environment and that focus should be given on how the domestic financial institutions can help bridge gaps and provide expertise in areas such as deal structuring and contract standardization.

Notwithstanding the significant reforms and positive outlook, the constitutional limitations on foreign equity as well as the prohibition on foreign ownership of land continue to put off investors, according to Atty. Alex B. Cabrera, Chairman and Senior Partner of Isla Lipana & Co. However, he stressed that there are legal means to surmount these challenges.

Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. while delivering his remarks during arrival and send off ceremony for passengers of Philippine Airlines maiden flight to NewYork in midMarch this year at the John F. Kennedy International Airport. (Philippine Embassy Photo by Emil Fernandez)

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Start-up Unikrn bets on e-sports wagering

By Glenn Chapman

Los Angeles, United States (AFP) Thursday 6/18/2015 – Startup Unikrn is turning up the heat on tournament-level video games with an online platform for betting on who will be victorious.

In the booming trend known as “e-sports,” video games are increasingly watched and played as spectator competitions.

Unikrn launched its e-sports betting arena in Australia about two months ago in a partnership with Tabcorp, a wagering specialty firm with global reach.

The Seattle-based startup expanded to Britain and Ireland in May, accepting bets on the outcomes of team combat in “League of Legends,” “Dota 2” and “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.”

At the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) video game industry extravaganza that ends Thursday in Los Angeles, Unikrn cofounder Rahul Sood said he hoped to crack the US market.

“When you look at the way e-sports is going, there is a huge audience out there for it,” Sood told AFP. “We believe there is no better way to heighten the experience than through betting.”

Betting on e-sports is not legal in the United States, but Sood and his team are eager for wagering to be pulled from the shadows and into the light where measures can be taken to keep it honest.

Unikrn is preparing a version of its service for the US market, where Sood predicted e-sports betting would be legal in two years or so.

“There is no better way to heighten interest than betting on the outcome,” Sood said.

Minding player integrity Unikrn’s mission is to provide a safe, legal venue for betting on e-sports, Sood said.

Unikrn calculates odds and takes bets online and through an app for mobile devices. Game play is streamed at Unikrn using Twitch, and people can watch betting odds change in real-time.

Tabcorp manages risk and monitors for anomalies such as players intentionally losing.

“If there is a crazy skew, we can tell there is something up,” said Unikrn vice president of business development Stephen Ellis, who was known as “Snoopeh” during his years as a professional “League of Legends” player.

“We can flag who we need to flag.”

Unikrn received $3 million from investors out of the gate and is in the midst of closing a second round of investment that Sood described as “significant.”

Sood left an investing arm of Microsoft late last year to start the betting website with co-founder Karl Flores.

Sood is also the founder of Voodoo computer company, known for high-performance machines coveted by hard-core gamers.

Hewlett Packard bought Voodoo in 2006.

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Favorite casino in America survey results announced today revealing top resort/casino in US Not in Las Vegas or Other Established Gaming/Resort City – Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California is the favorite United States casino, according to a nationwide poll by 10Best. com, part of USA TODAY Travel, that ended Monday, June 22. The Native American owned and operated resort/casino claims the top spot after four weeks of voting by readers. It edged out well-known resort/casinos including the Bellagio, Borgata and L’Auberge in established gaming destinations such as Las Vegas, Atlantic City and the South. Pechanga, the largest resort/casino in the state, initially made the 10Best.com list, along with two other California resort/casinos.

“We are ecstatic about being voted number one,” said Lee Torres, Pechanga vice president of marketing. “We say a huge ‘thank you’ to everyone who cast their ballot for Pechanga. We all try every day to offer a distinguished standard of customer service. Being the nation’s favorite casino is an incredible honor, and it’s a testament to the perseverance of the Pechanga Tribe.”

Pechanga Resort & Casino is owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians. The Pechanga Band and the Temecula region celebrate the opening its original casino operation 20 years ago this July.

In 1995, the Tribe opened the Pechanga Entertainment Center, housed in modular structures, with 200 gaming positions and 135 employees. They opened the permanent Pechanga Resort & Casino on June 24, 2002 with an 88,000-square foot casino floor, 517 hotel rooms, and a 1,200-seat theater. The tribe reinvested into the property, expanding its gaming space in 2005 to include another 100,000-square feet, and later added an on-site championship golf course.

The resort now employs more than 4,000 people. Pechanga tribal members say the resort will become even more of a desired destination spot for travelers after their planned $285 million resort expansion, announced in late 2014, is completed.

Wednesday, July 22, Pechanga Resort & Casino will give away

$100,000 during a slot tournament open to everyone 21 and older. The event will be a celebration to say, “thank you,” to all who voted for the resort/casino in USA TODAY’s poll.

Casino properties were chosen for the poll by Lisa RobertsonDziedzic, Editorial Director for Casino Player and Strictly Slots magazines, and by Tony Harrell, a certified destination expert for Las Vegas, New Orleans and Canada.

Pechanga Resort & Casino offers one of the largest and most luxurious resort/casino experiences anywhere in the United States.

Rated a Four Diamond property

by AAA since 2002, Pechanga

Resort & Casino provides an unparalleled getaway, whether for the day or for an extended luxury stay. Offering more than 3,000 of the hottest slots, table games, world-class entertainment, 517 hotel rooms, 11 restaurants, spa, on-site golf course, concerts and nightclubs, Pechanga Resort & Casino is a privately operated business of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians.

For more information, call toll free (877) 711-2946 or visit www.

Pechanga.com. Follow Pechanga Resort & Casino on Facebook and on Twitter @PechangaCasino.

Pechanga is open 24 hours and guests must be 21 or older to enter the casino.

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INMENT

Chiz, Heart plan to have baby in 2016 Senator Francis Escudero says he and wife actress Heart Evangelista, Love Marie Ongpauco in real life, plan to have a baby next year.

Escudero and Heart already announced plans to renew their vows next year so his wife can have a picture with her parents,

who ditched her wedding this year over personal differences with the senator.

The parents and Escudero have since reconciled. “’Di naman 2nd wedding, salusalo, a renewal [of vows] para may picture kasama ang kanyang magulang. ‘Yun lang ang gusto ni

Heart, pareho ang petsa ng renewal [at wedding].”

Escudero and Heart were married in Balesin Island, Quezon last February 15, 2015.

Escudero adds he and the parents of the famous actress, who accompanied him to the US recently, are now very much okay.

Mariel Rodriguez not jealous of Maria Ozawa

Mariel Rodriguez has no problem with Robin Padilla reportedly working soon with adult movie star Maria Ozawa. The Japanese actress recently visited the country and did radio guesting and photo shoot for a magazine.

“Kasi hindi naman sila gagawa ng porn,” she quipped in an interview during a taping break for “Happy Wife, Happy Life.” She admitted, however, that she is clueless about the project, supposedly intended for this year’s Metro Manila Film festival (MMFF). “Nakita ko lang sa Facebook. Sa social media ko lang nalaman,” Mariel said.

What if husband falls for Maria’s charms, we asked.

“Hindi naman siguro maganda na ganu’n ka mag-isip,” she retorted.

Apparently, Mariel would rather not dwell on negativity, pointing out she and her husband are already “way past” that phase in their life. In fact, she says she is “more of at peace” these days when it comes to their relationship.

Mariel is busy with the show “Happy Wife, Happy Life,” which she co-hosts with LJ Moreno and Danica Sotto.

“Isa ito sa pinakafavorite show kong ginagawa, ganoon ko siya kagusto,” she said happily. “It came at a (time) na perfect siya for me. Ito ang tipo ng show that I really want to be part of. I am learning every day. We get to touch people’s lives kahit maliit lang na factor. I feel so blessed na nakakagawa ako ng show na nase-share ko ’yon.” Mariel had gone through a miscarriage prior to being tapped for the project, which helped ease her mourning period.

“Sabi ko nga, thankful ako dito sa show kasi dumating ito noong medyo down ako… mabilis akong naka-recover so I owe the show a lot. Parang ito ang ibinigay sa akin ni God,” she shared.

As to the future direction of the show, she hopes they will be able to feature organic food one day, as it is her ongoing passion.

“I suggested it before. Gusto ko magkaroon ng tour of organic places where you can get organic food. I wanted to show them na there are restaurant na organic na mahal, meron din namang regular lang, meron din naman na hindi masyadong mahal. So gusto ko sana na i-food tour ito, and to tell viewers why is it good to eat organic,” she shared.

There had been times she was personally challenged by things she has to do in certain segments. She recalled being a bit “disturbed” one time when asked to distribute lechon.

“Kasi I don’t eat pork na. Natutunan ko kay Robin na as we all know is Muslim. I’m really very uncomfortable about anything related

to pork. Nag-iba na ang pananaw ko sa kanya. I don’t want to expound (on it), baka maka-offend din tayo… Sabi ko, ‘my God, ako talaga ang gagawa?’ Eh, obviously magiging happy ’yung bibigyan namin ng lechon kasi fiesta-fiesta ’yun, so pumayag din ako. But I

Heart and Chiz

only did it because I want to make people happy.”

Mariel hasn’t converted to Islam yet. “Sa totoo lang, I agree with their beliefs. Naintindihan ko na rin somehow kasi si Robin, na-explain niya sa akin ito and Islam is really beautiful.”

Heart Evangelista and Sen. Chiz Escudero

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Bright red lipstick? You must be a New Yorker Friday June 26 2015 (Relaxnews) – What can you tell about a woman by her lipstick? Well, where she lives, for a start.

Heathrow Airport has just teamed up with World Duty Free to release its first International Lipstick Colors of the Year Report, lifting the lid on beauty trends in the world’s 50 most stylish destinations, from Moscow to Sao Paulo. The results might surprise you.

In London, for example, the color du jour is “Caramel Nude” – the linchpin of the city’s easy-going makeup vibe (think off-duty model). Beauty lovers in the UK capital team their lippy with a strong, groomed brow and a flush of bronzer, with lightly tousled hair.

The key is to not look like you’ve tried too hard.

Things couldn’t be more different over the pond in New York, where, according to the report, the classic “Bright Red” lip is still going strong. Polished, sassy and iconic, this is a look that women in the Big Apple are ‘dressing down’ with lowkey eyes and a sleek blow-dry.

Glamorous Dubai calls for a sultry feminine aesthetic – which explains the popularity of “Rose Pink” in the UAE. Inspired by recent catwalk looks from Tom Ford and Yves Saint Laurent, this color can easily be vamped up with a smudgy dark eye and big hair for extra attitude.

Skins with yellow undertones require a slightly different hue, so it’s no surprise that “Sheer Coral” is the most popular lip-

stick shade for travelers going to Shanghai. Makeup fans out East are wearing this look with a bold cat eye and a stripe of bright color underneath the bottom lashes.

Finally it’s over to Paris, where the low-key London approach is being given a French twist in the form of “Dusky Rose” lipstick. Parisian women, who hate to look too made up, are rocking this feminine shade with just a dot of blusher and beautifully clear skin.

Heathrow, home to Europe’s largest beauty range under one roof, teamed up with beauty journalist and expert Alice Hart-Davis on the report. To see the most popular lipsƟck colors for travelers to the full 50 desƟnaƟons, seehttp://www.heathrowairport. com/static/Heathrow/Downloads/ PDF/lipstick-booklet.pdf

In New York, the classic “Bright Red” lip is still going strong. ©Graça Victoria/shutterstock.com

Clear up acne by passing on Vitamin B12 supplements: study

YouTube beauty hit Nikkie Tutorials caused an online sensation with her video “The Power of MAKEUP!” ©2015 INSTAGRAM

New Instagram trend sees women go half-and-half with their makeup Thursday June 25 2015 (Relaxnews) – A divisive new beauty trend is taking place on Instagram, featuring women with half of their faces made up.

Using the hashtag #ThePowerOfMakeUp, thousands of beauty lovers have been posting photos of themselves with one half of their face looking completely bare and the other modeling a more glamorous and flawless look.

Acting as combination “before and after” photos, the powerful images show the capacity of makeup to completely transform your natural features. They are a way for these women to defend themselves against “makeup shaming”, or criticism for wearing too many cosmetics.

The trend was inspired by YouTube beauty hit Nikkie Tutorials, who caused an online sensation when she posted her video “The Power of MAKEUP!” (https://youtu.be/a4Ov8qvZ2_w) to her channel back in May. The industry expert explained her decision to post

the video saying, “I feel like lately makeup shaming has become a thing. It’s as if putting makeup on to have fun is a shame. Therefore, I thought it would be cool to show you the power of makeup.” The clip has since gone viral and been seen over 17 million times.

It seems women everywhere have been inspired by the sentiment behind the video, taking to Instagram in droves to show the transformative power makeup has in their own lives. From everyday looks comprising a slick of mascara and lipstick to full-on glamour, the photos clearly demonstrate the playful aspect of making yourself up in the morning and shaking up your appearance.

Captions accompanying the photos reveal the psychological effect of makeup, ranging from “I’m attractive either way” to “makeup shaming – just stop it!!”

The trend comes on the back of a recent bout of celebrity “no make-up” selfies headed by stars including supermodel Tyra Banks, Beyonce and Sofia Vergara.

Sunday June 28 2015 (Relaxnews) – It may be important for brain and nervous system functioning, but in the fight against acne, it could be beneficial to pass up on supplements of vitamin B12, according to a new study.

Don’t pass up on leafy green vegetables and other natural sources of vitamin B12 – it’s an essential nutrient – but taking a supplemental dose might not be practical if you want to get rid of acne.

“Vitamin B12 is essential to us,” said lead author Li Huiying in an interview with Relaxnews.

“I hope people do not misinterpret the results of our study and think vitamin B12 is bad.”

You’ve probably heard of friendly gut bacteria that live in your intestines, keeping you healthy and the team of scientists from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) say it works a bit the same way on your face.

Yes, friendly facial bacteria can become unsettled by vitamin B12, leading to inflammation and eventually to pimples, according to their paper.

Vitamin B12 changes how genes behave in the facial microbiota – the term scientists use to describe the community of bacteria that lives on your face even after washing – leading to activity changes in these critters.

Pass up on Vitamin B12 vitamin supplements if you have acne. But veggies are fine.

After coming up with that as a hypothesis, the scientists tested it by analyzing skin microbiota in healthy volunteers who took supplements of vitamin B12.

One of their 10 subjects developed acne within a week of vitamin B12 supplementation.

To further test their hypothesis, the scientists cultured acne-causing bacterium P. acnes and supplemented it with vitamin B12.

At this moment, they saw increased production of a group of organic compounds called porphyrins, which are well known to promote acne, according to the paper.

The idea that supplementing your diet with vitamin B12 brings about acne isn’t new; the scientists say in their paper that it’s been observed for sometime now, but they think their discovery of the molecular mechanism behind it could lead to new treatments.

“Some of the genes in the pathways described in our study potentially could be drug targets for new acne treatments,” said Huiying in an interview with Relaxnews.

The paper was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Synthetic blood transfusions could begin within two years Thursday June 25 2015 (Relaxnews) – Synthetic red blood cells are to be transfused into human testing subjects by 2017, the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) Blood and Transplant announced this week.

“Scientists across the globe have been investigating for a number of years how to manufacture red blood cells to offer an alternative to donated blood to treat patients,” says Dr. Nick Watkins, NHS Blood and Transplant Assistant Director of Research and Development.

Replacing human blood is not the goal of the operation, according to Dr. Watkins, who says the intention is to provide the appropriate blood product for specific conditions, a sort of customization of blood transfusions.

Patients with complex blood types for whom finding a compatible donor often leaves healthcare

professionals flummoxed would benefit from synthetic blood, according to NHS Blood and Transplant.

Synthetic blood would not benefit those with blood problems the likes of sickle cell anemia or thalassemia, who would continue to receive transfusions of natural blood. It’s part of a five-year research and development plan to advance the practice of blood transfusion, organ transplantation and regenerative medicine, published Thursday.

“The manufactured red cell trials form part of our world-leading work in regenerative medicine and one of eight research goals for 2015 to 2020 that will bring longterm improvements for patients and donors,” says Dr. Watkins.

The ambitious plan—as the NHS Blood and Transplant describes it—will require a reverse in the ebbing tide of new blood do-

nors to keep patients sufficiently supplied and the price of blood at bay.

It also calls for increasing the number of organ donations from 60 percent to 80 percent and increasing transplant rates by a third to 74 per million UK citizens.

Other parts of the plan include innovative stem cell treatments and research in the interest of blood and organ safety and developing new technologies to simplify the organ transplant process.

As the project gets underway, three National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Blood and Transplant Research Units will be appointed to a top university and will work in partnership with NHS Blood and Transplant.

A copy of the plan is available on PDF: http://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/ research-and-development/pdf/ strategic_plan_june_2015.pdf

Laboratory-made blood could enter human trials by 2017, according to a new plan by NHS Blood and Transplant, a division of the UK’s National Health Service. ©angellodeco/shutterstock.com

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MOTORING Blade, the first 3D printed supercar

A Google self-driving car is seen in Mountain View, California. ©AFP PHOTO/Glenn CHAPMAN

Google self-driving prototype cars hit public roads Friday June 26 2015 (San Francisco-AFP) – Google said on Thursday that its self-driving prototype cars have taken to streets in the Silicon Valley city of Mountain View where it has its headquarters.

The move comes after Google’s internal testing of the bubbleshaped vehicle over the past year and more extensive experience with technology adapted for existing cars.

“We want to understand what it really means to have self-driving vehicles in the world—both how people in the community perceive and interact with them, and what the practical realities are for us in operating and maintaining them,” Google said in a released statement.

Prototype cars built from the ground up to get around safely without human drivers join Google’s fleet of Lexus vehicles augmented with sensors and other computing gadgetry to manage autonomously on roads.

The prototypes will have “safety drivers” who can take over using manual controls if needed, according to Google.

“We’ve had 20-plus Lexus vehicles driving on Mountain View city streets for the last few years, but the arrival of our new self-driving vehicle prototypes marks the start of a new phase of our project,” Google said.

The Google car uses the same technology as its fleet of Lexus SUVs which has logged some 1.6 million kilometers (one million

miles).

In Google’s home town of Mountain View, speeds will be limited to 40 kilometers (25 miles) per hour “and during this next phase of our project we’ll have safety drivers aboard with a removable steering wheel, accelerator pedal, and brake pedal that allow them to take over driving if needed,” according to the head of the project.

Google has defended the safety record of its self-driving cars, saying that they were not at fault in any of the dozen or so accidents they have been involved in. Most of the collisions involved self-driving cars being hit in the rear by vehicles driven by people, according to the Internet titan.

Friday June 26 2015 (Relaxnews) – American start-up Divergent Microfactories has unveiled Blade, a surprising 700hp supercar whose chassis was entirely printed in 3D before being assembled by hand.

Divergent Microfactories is dedicated to revolutionizing car manufacturing and its harmful health and environmental impacts on the planet, and has created a manufacturing platform that radically reduces the materials, energy, and costs of manufacturing. The company’s CEO, Kevin Czinger, wants to apply this strategy to the automobile industry, starting with Blade, one of the greenest and most powerful cars in the world.

The Blade supercar’s technology centers on Divergent Microfactories’ proprietary solution called a Node: a 3D-printed aluminum joint that connects pieces of carbon fiber tubing to make up the car’s chassis. This cuts down on the 3D printing required to build the chassis, and, in addition to dramatically reducing materials and energy use, the weight of the chassis is then up to 90% lighter than traditional cars, resulting in better fuel economy and less wear on roads. On top of all that, the

chassis ends up being much stronger and durable.

Thanks to its aluminum and carbon fiber blend, Blade weighs only 1,400 pounds, helping the 700hp bi-fuel engine, which can use either compressed natural gas or gasoline, to propel the car from 0-60mph in a scarcely believable 2.2 seconds.

Divergent Microfactories would like to “print” 10,000 of these chassis per year, and is looking for partners to further develop the project. The company also plans to put its platform in the hands of small entrepreneurial teams around the world, thereby allowing them to set up their own microfactories and build their own cars or, eventually, other large complex structures. Blade is not the first 3D printed car, but it is the first supercar to make use of this technology. In 2014, American company Local Motors succeeded in 3D printing a 2-seater convertible for the International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago, though the car did not include an engine, electric batteries or tires.

Discover Blade at divergentmicrofactories.com See Blade’s 3D printed chassis in video at youtu.be/SU7LhQsLthA

Kevin Czinger next to the DM Blade. ©Divergent Microfactories / Mel Lindstrom

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KITCHENOMICS

Dipped Ice Cream Cones

S’mores Crispy Cereal Treats

Yield: 12 ice cream cones 1 bag (12 ounces) Bright White Candy Melts Candy Sugar ice cream cones Jimmies 6-Mix Sprinkle Assortment Rainbow Jimmies Melt candy in microwave safe bowl. Dip cones about 1 inch deep around opening of cone. Cut small hole in tip of bag and drizzle melted candy 1 inch deep around opening of cone. Tap cone lightly to smooth, and sprinkle with jimmies. Position cone in cone rack. Let chill, about 10–15 minutes.

Add ice cream scoops at party and serve in cone rack.

Yield: 20 servings 6 tablespoons butter 1 bag (16 ounces) regular-sized marshmallows 1/4 teaspoon Warm Cinnamon Graham Treatology Flavor Concentrate 10 drops Creamy Vanilla Custard Treatology Flavor Concentrate 1/4 teaspoon salt 10 cups crisped rice cereal 1 bag (10 ounces) mini marshmallows, divided 1 1/4 cups Light Cocoa Candy Melts candy, divided Prepare 13-by-9-inch baking pan with vegetable spray.

In very large saucepan, melt butter over medium high heat until it smells nutty and browns slightly. Reduce heat to medium low; stir in regular marshmallows, warm cinnamon graham and creamy vanilla custard flavors, and salt. Cook, stirring constantly, until melted and smooth.

Remove from heat; stir in cereal, 3 cups mini marshmallows and 3/4 cup light cocoa candy. Press into prepared pan. Sprinkle with remaining mini marshmallows and press lightly to adhere.

In small microwave-safe bowl, microwave remaining 1/2 cup candy on 50 percent power in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until candy is almost melted. Stir thoroughly until smooth and drizzle over treats. Let cool completely.

Red, White and Blue Swirled Cupcakes Yield: 12 cupcakes Favorite cupcake recipe or mix 1 4.5-pound tub White Ready-To-Use Decorator Icing Color Right Performance Color System Icing Colors Red (formula 186): 2 cups icing + 40 R White: Reserve 2 cups icing Deep Blue (formula 647): 2 cups icing + 26 B + 8 R + 4 P Bake cupcakes according to package directions in red, white and blue standard baking cups.

Tint icing following color formulas above.

Prepare Color Swirl 3-Color Coupler according to package directions, filling one decorating bag each with red, white and blue icing and fitting with tip 1M. Pipe a swirl on each cooled cupcake top.

Creamy Coconut Cookie Flag Yield: About 3 dozen 3-inch cookies Cookies 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 1 egg 1/4 teaspoon Toasted Coconut Treatology Flavor Concentrate 8 drops Creamy Vanilla Custard Treatology Flavor Concentrate 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt Icing 3/4 cup + 3 teaspoons water 12 cups (about 3 pounds) confectioner’s sugar, sifted 6 tablespoons Color Flow Mix Color Right Performance Color System (see colors tinted below) Icing Colors Red (formula 32): 1 1/2 cups icing + 62 R + 8 O Deep Blue (formula 647): 1/2 cup icing + 27 B + 5 P + 6 R White: Reserve 2 cups icing Note: Make and decorate cookies 1 day in advance to allow for drying time.

Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, beat butter and sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy.

Beat in egg and flavors. Mix flour, baking powder and salt; add to butter mixture 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition.

Do not chill dough. Divide dough into 2 balls.

On floured surface with rolling pin, roll each ball into a circle approximately 12 inches in diameter by 1/8 inch thick. Cut cookies with star nesting metal cookie cutter. Dip cutter in flour before each use.

Bake cookies on ungreased cookie sheet 8–11 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned.

Prepare Color Flow icing. Tint icing following color formulas above. Use tip 3, a parchment bag and full-strength icing to outline cookies: 32 in red, 21 in white and 16 in blue. Let cookies dry 1–2 hours.

Thin 1 cup red, 1/4 cup blue and 1 cup white icing. Use thinned icing and disposable decorating bag to fill in cookies. Fill in 8 of blue outlined cookies with white icing and remaining cookies with matching outline color. Let dry 8–12 hours.

To serve, arrange cookies on tray in stars and stripes design.

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PRAYERS PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT Holy Spirit Thou who make me see everything and show me the way to reach my ideal, You who give me the divine gift to forgive and forget the wrong that is done to me and who are in all instances of my life with me. I, in this short dialogue, want to thank You for everything and conÂżrm once more that I never want to be separated from You no matter how great the material desires may

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be. I want to be with You and my loved ones in Your perpetual glory. Amen. A person must pray this for three consecutive days without stating his wish. After the 3rd day the wish will be granted, no matter how difÂżcult it may be. Promise to publish this as soon as your favor has been granted. Grateful Thanks -LETI

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

When the Eternal Father sees it covered with Your Precious Blood, He will not refuse it. It will be no longer my prayer but Yours, O Jesus. O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in You. Let me never be confounded. Amen. -EDWARD

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Palace: No reports yet of Pinoy casualties Valte to VP Binay appointees in housing terror attacks on Tunisia, Kuwait, France agencies: Courtesy resignation is the norm inMANILA, June 27 (Mabuhay) Philippines’ condolences to the MANILA, June 27 (Mabuhay) – A Malacañang spokesperson on Saturday reminded appointees of Vice President Jejomar Binay in housing agencies of the “norm” to submit their courtesy resignations, now that Binay has resigned from those agencies.

But deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte stopped short of actually asking the Binay appointees to leave, saying it is up to them to “reflect” on the matter.

“My understanding is that it is the norm that in any time, I’m not referring only to the vice president, any time a Cabinet secretary resigns from a position, it is conventional for the team he brought in to tender their courtesy resignations to the president,” she said on state-run dzRB radio.

Earlier this week, Binay resigned his Cabinet post as head of the government’s housing agencies.

Binay also started criticizing President Benigno Aquino III and the administration for being supposedly callous to the people.

– As of Saturday morning, the Philippine government has not received reports of any Filipino casualty from terrorist attacks in Kuwait, Tunisia, and France, Malacañang said.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte also relayed the Philippines’ condolences to the people of the three countries.

“So far we have not received any reports of any Filipino casualty in those unfortunate incidents,” she said on state-run dzRB radio.

The Department of Foreign Affairs went overtime Friday night to check if Filipinos were among the casualties, she said.

Meanwhile, Valte relayed the

Vice President Jejomar Binay addresses the nation in a televised speech on Wednesday from the VP’s office at the Coconut Palace in Pasay City. Binay accused people in the Aquino administration of orchestrating a smear campaign against him and challenged them to face him instead in the 2016 election. (MNS photo)

However, Valte noted the courtesy resignation of Binay’s appointees in the agencies he has resigned from will give his successor a free hand in running the agencies concerned. “(The courtesy resignations)

give whoever will be next a free hand in running that particular office,” he said.

“We would leave it to the people concerned to reflect if this norm will be followed by them,” she added. (MNS)

Sandiganbayan raffles off cases of Cedric Lee, Ronnie Ricketts, others MANILA, June 26 (Mabuhay) – The Sandiganbayan has raffled off the fresh batch of cases lodge before against public officials and personalities including the cases of controversial businessman Cedric Lee and action star Ronnie Ricketts.

Set to handle the two counts of graft filed last Monday by the Office of the Ombudsman against Lee and former Mariveles, Bataan mayor Angel Peliglorio, Jr. was the anti-graft court’s Third Division chaired by Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang.

The graft cases against Lee and Peliglorio stemmed from the alleged anomalous release of P23 million worth of public funds of Mariveles town to Lee’s construction firm Izumo Contractors, Inc. for the supposed construction of a public market.

The Ombudsman said that

based on its investigation, the fund was released to Izumo “even without procedural safeguards and guarantee of performance,” and that the project has “never commenced”.

Meanwhile, the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division under Associate Justice Jose Hernandez is set to handle the one count of graft case against Ricketts, the incumbent chairman of the Optical Media Board (OMB). Rickett’s co-accused are four other officials of the OMB. Based on the Ombudsman’s complaint filed on Tuesday, Ricketts and his co-accused allegedly allowed in 2010 the return of tons of confiscated pirated DVDs and VCDs to its owner, the firm Sky High Marketing Corporation, instead of filing charges.

Also raffled was the graft case of former Catanauan, Quezon Mayor Sebastian Serrano and

two of his co-accused filed by the Ombudsman on Monday. The case went to the Second Division chaired by Associate Justice Teresita Diaz-Baldos.

Meanwhile, the graft and malversation cases against Provident Fund Office administrator Dely De Leon and nine of her co-accused filed by the Ombudsman on Wednesday went to the Fifth Division under Associate Justice Roland Jurado.

The court divisions are expected to issue arrest order against the accused any time.

The accused, however, may post bail even before an arrest order is issued in exchange for their temporary liberty.

As of Friday afternoon, Lee, Ricketts, and the other accused officials have yet to post bail as checked by reporters with the Sandiganbayan Cashier Division.(MNS)

victims in the countries being hit terror attacks.

“Nakikiramay tayo sa ... kaibigang bansa na nawalan ng mamamayan dahil sa pag-atakeng yan,” she said. An earlier report on CNN said ISIS had claimed responsibility for the attack on a seaside resort hotel in Tunisia that killed at least 37 people and wounded at least 36 others.

Also, ISIS claimed responsibility for a reported bomb blast at a mosque in Kuwait’s capital. At least 25 were reported dead.

In France, a man reportedly caused an explosion at a chemical plant near Lyon after beheading his boss. (MNS)

2 rice traders face smuggling raps MANILA, June 26 (Mabuhay) -- Two more rice traders were slapped with smuggling charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday, stemming from the alleged illegal importation of over 4.2-million kilograms or over 4,200 metric tons of rice, valued at P72.4-million, from Thailand through the Manila International Container Port.

The complaint filed by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) is against Malingas Multi-Purpose Cooperative and RMJR Grains Center

Corporation.

Customs Commissioner Bert Lina said respondents misdeclared the quantity and weight of the shipment, which arrived in five shipments between November 3 and November 28, 2013.

Under National Food Authority (NFA) Memorandum Circular No. AO-2K13-03-003, the total maximum allowable import volume is only 3,562 metric tons. Respondents’ shipments registered an excess of 644 metric tons or 644,000 kilos of rice.

CA affirms dismissal of PRC exec over P400K extortion

MANILA, June 26 (Mabuhay) – The Court of Appeals has affirmed the dismissal of a ranking official of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) for alleged extortion activities involving more or less P400,000 in 2012.

In a four-page resolution penned by Associate Justice Carmelita Salandanan-Manahan, the CA Special Former Special 12th Division junked a motion from former PRC Commissioner Alfredo Po seeking to reverse the CA ruling dated September 16, 2014 ordering his dismissal.

The CA said Po failed to raise new arguments that would warrant the reversal of the court’s earlier decision, adding that the former PRC official merely rehashed his position.

“After a second hard look at petitioner’s arguments in the motion for reconsideration, the court is convinced that no new and compelling matters were raised therein to warrant a modification, setting aside or reversal of our decision,” read the CA ruling.

“The arguments set forth in the motion have already been considered and threshed out by the court point by point when the decision sought to be considered and rendered.