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Vol.4. No. 23 LOS ANGELES
A Balita Media Publication
Wednesday - Tuesday, March 4 -10, 2015
PNP forms team to investigate Jolo Revilla shooting incident
MANILA, Mar 2 (Mabuhay) – The Philippine National Police has formed a team to investigate the shooting incident involving Cavite Vice Governor Jolo Revilla to determine whether there was foul play involved. “Kahapon ng gabi ay bumuo na tayo ng composite team to investigate the incident para malaman natin kung purely accidental ba ito or there was a foul-play involved,” National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Chief Supt. Carmelo Valmoria said. Valmoria said the team will be headed by Southern Police District (SPD) director Chief Supt. Henry Rañola. Valmoria said Rañola and the members of the team were already instructed to coordinate with the Revilla family regarding the investigation. Valmoria said he also gave
other specific instructions to the team regarding the things to look into in the conduct of investigation but refused to elaborate. “Basta nabigyan na natin sila ng specific tasks. May mga bagay silang dapat alamin, pero huwag na muna natin pag-usapan sa ngayon because it might affect the investigation,” Valmoria said. On Saturday afternoon, Revilla was rushed to the Asian Hospital in Muntinlupa City after he sustained a gunshot wound on his chest. The Revilla family earlier said Jolo sustained the gunshot wound after he accidentally pulled the trigger of his gun while cleaning it inside their family home in Ayala Alabang in Muntinlupa City. Valmoria, however, said that despite the statement of the Revilla family, an investigation on the incident is still necessary. See SHOOTING INCIDENT, page 2 Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III said he will file a bill granting a special tax exemption for Pacquiao in connection with his earnings in his bout with American boxer Floyd Mayweather on May 2.
Bill to exempt Pacquiao from taxes mulled A little boy is carried on a spine board by the standby medical personnel to be brought temporarily to a medical station during the 2015 Panagbenga Festival Grand Float Parade on Sunday (March 1, 2015) along Session Road in Baguio City. (MNS photo)
Bill to institutionalize a Mother and Child Health Care Program MANILA, Feb 28 (Mabuhay) – A lawmaker has filed a measure seeking to institutionalize a national mother and child health program to protect Filipino mothers and children from malnutrition. Rep. Rogelio J. Espina (Lone District, Biliran) pushed for the immediate passage of House Bill 5431, saying it is imperative to provide prenatal and postnatal maternity care service to a pregnant woman in order to protect her health as well as ensure the nutritional diet of her newborn child to eradicate malnutrition. Espina said in order to have a future generation of youth who are physically and mentally healthy, it is recommended that a maternal and child health care program is established in every
MANILA, Mar 2 (Mabuhay) – The chairman of the Senate ways and means committee said a bill seeking to give Manny Pacquiao tax exemption on his earnings as a boxing champion is a good measure that would recognize his contributions to the country. In a statement, Senator Juan Edgardo Angara said he will consider the bill expected to be filed by Senator Aquilino Pimentel III. Pimentel said he will file a bill granting a special tax exemption
MANILA, Mar 2 (Mabuhay) – Detained Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Monday appealed to the Sandiganbayan to allow his fellow detainee Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. to visit Revilla’s son Jolo, who is confined at a hospital after sustaining a gunshot wound to the upper chest. “We are deeply saddened by what happened to the son of Senator Revilla, si [Cavite] Vice Governor Jolo. I hope Sandiganbayan First Division will grant the request of Sen. Revilla to visit his son, kahit mamaya,” Estrada said.
See HEALTH CARE, page 2
See JINGGOY APPEALS, page 2
Los Angeles, United States | | Tuesday 3/3/2015 – US investigators launched dawn raids Tuesday on dozens of Los Angeles locations suspected of offering “maternity tourism” services for mostly Chinese mothers wanting to give birth in the United States. The raids targeted apartment complexes in the Irvine, Rancho Cucamonga, Rowland Heights and Walnut districts outside LA where the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency says foreign clients are housed. The businesses, which advertised online, had names including “You Win USA Vacation Resort” and “USA Happy Baby Inc.” “Such businesses provide travel and lodging services to pregnant foreign nationals interested in coming to the United States to give birth so their offspring will be American citizens,” ICE spokeswoman Virginia Kice said. When babies born in the US reach adulthood they can apply for visas for family members living abroad, ICE noted. Kice said the raids, in three dozen locations overall, aimed to gather “further evidence related to a variety of possible criminal violations, including visa and tax fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy.” According to ICE, the maternity tourism businesses cater mostly to Chinese women who pay $15,000-$50,000 for the services, which can include getting social security numbers and US passports for See MATERNITY HOMES, page 2
Sen. Koko na kilalanin man lang ng gobyerno ang karangalan at katanyagan na ibinigay ni Manny sa bansa natin sa mga nakalipas na taon. Palagay ko kulang tayo sa pagkilala sa kaniyang kontribusyon.” Pacquiao has a pending tax case before the Court of Tax Appeals. The Bureau of Internal Revenue has accused the boxing champ of misdeclaring his income from his bouts abroad. (MNS)
Jinggoy appeals to Sandiganbayan: Let Bong see his son
local government unit (LGU). “During pregnancy, undernutrition can have a devastating effect on the growth and development of a child. Babies who are malnourished in the womb have a higher risk of dying in infancy and are more likely to have lifelong cognitive and physical defects and chronic health problems,” Espina said. Espina said children under the age of two will have a weak immune system and more susceptible to dying from common illnesses such as pneumonia, diarrhea and malaria. The 2013 national nutrition survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) showed a
Feds launch dawn raids on Chinese ‘maternity tourism’ homes in Los Angeles
for Pacquiao in connection with his earnings in his bout with American boxer Floyd Mayweather on May 2. “We will consider it once filed and can conduct a hearing. Lahat ng tax exemption pinagaaralan dapat nang mabuti dahil pribilehiyo ‘yan at may mawawalang panggastos ang gobyerno kaya’t pinagaaralan muna lahat bago ibigay,” said Angara. He said, however, “Maganda ang nilalayon ng panukala ni
Jolo Revilla’s lung still bleeding, but condition ‘stable’ – family
MANILA, Mar 2 (Mabuhay) – Bleeding has not stopped from the lung of actor-turned-politician Jolo Revilla who “accidentally” shot himself on Saturday but his condition has stabled, his family disclosed Monday. The “doctor is monitoring output of blood, which looks like it is decreasing,” said lawyer Raymond Fortun, spokesperson of the Revilla family. The son of detained-Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Cavite Representative Lani Mercado-Revilla remained in the intensive care unit at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa City. “Vice-Gov Jolo Revilla’s condition is stable. He had fever this 5 a.m which indicative of some infection,” Fortun said in a stateSee JOLO REVILLA, page 2
Fireman Alexa Vega is an electrician’s mate aboard the Norfolk-based ship.
Torrance, Calif. native serves aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush By Joshua Treadwell
NORFOLK, Va. – A 2011 West Torrance High School graduate and Torrance, Calif., native is serving on one of the world’s largest warships, the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush. Fireman Alexa Vega is an electrician’s mate aboard the Norfolkbased ship, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and one of only ten operational aircraft carriers in the Navy today. Named in honor of former President George H.W. Bush, the carrier is longer than 3 football fields, at nearly 1,100 feet long. The ship is 252 feet wide and weighs more than 100,000 tons. Two nuclear reactors can push the ship through the water at more than 35 mph. As a sailor with numerous responsibilities, Vega said she is
learning about herself as a leader, sailor and a person. She added that it is an exciting time to be in the Navy, and serving aboard a ship is something she never expected to be doing just a few years ago. “It’s surreal, I never thought I would be doing this,” said Vega. “The Navy and the ship have given me the tools to get my job done” Vega also said that, “I work on the lights on the flight deck so that the aircraft at night can see,” Vega explained. “It takes a team to get the job done.” Sailors’ jobs are highly varied aboard USS George H.W. Bush. Approximately 3,200 men and women make up the ship’s company, which keeps all parts of the aircraft carrier running smoothly — this includes everything from washing dishes and preparing See TORRANCE NATIVE, page 2
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N. Korea fires missiles in anger at South-US military drills By Giles Hewitt
Seoul, South Korea | AFP | Monday 3/2/2015 – North Korea fired two shortrange ballistic missiles into the sea and vowed “merciless” retaliation Monday as the US and South Korea kicked off joint military drills denounced by Pyongyang as recklessly confrontational. The annual exercises always trigger a surge in military tensions and warlike rhetoric on the divided peninsula, and analysts saw the North’s missile tests as a prelude to a concerted campaign of sabrerattling. “If there is a particularly sharp escalation, we could see the North orchestrating some kind of clash on the maritime border,” said Jeung Young-Tae, an analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unifica-
tion in Seoul. The missile launches came with a stern warning from the nuclear-armed (North) Korean People’s Army (KPA) that this year’s military drills would bring the peninsula “towards the brink of war”. The South’s defense ministry said the Scud missiles were fired from the western port city of Nampo and fell into the sea off the east coast – a distance of nearly 500 kilometers (310 miles). UN resolutions ban any ballistic missile test by North Korea, and Seoul defence ministry spokesman Kim Min-Seok said Pyongyang appeared intent on triggering a “security crisis”. “We will respond sternly and strongly to any provocation,” Kim said. Japan said it had issued a strong protest
TORRANCE NATIVE From page 1
meals to handling weaponry and maintaining the nuclear reactors. Another 2,500 or so form the air wing, the people who actually fly and maintain the aircraft. “I never cease to be impressed with the type and quality of work that goes on aboard this ship each day,” said Capt. Andrew J. Loiselle, the carrier’s commanding officer. The USS George H.W. Bush team is filled with highly qualified young adults – in many cases, 19 and 20 years old – and they’re out here running a complex propulsion system safely, serving as air traffic controllers, operating sophisticated electronics, launching and recovering aircraft when we’re underway, and keeping this floating city alive and functioning. Loiselle said, “I can’t express how proud I am to be a part of this team. They performed at the highest level, day in and day out during our recent 9-month combat deployment and are continuing to do so here at home.” Their professionalism, dedication and commitment to excellence are second to none.”
JOLO REVILLA From page 1
ment released Monday morning. Revilla underwent a two-and-a-half hour operation on Sunday afternoon where a tube was inserted in his body to drain blood from his lungs. After the operation, he was sent back to the Asian Hospital ICU. In a post on her Facebook account, Revilla’s mother asked for continued prayers for the recovery of her son. “Lord please stop the bleeding in Jolo’s
USS George H.W. Bush, like each of the Navy’s aircraft carriers, is designed for a 50-year service life. When the air wing is embarked, the ship carries more than 70 attack jets, helicopters and other aircraft, all of which take off from and land aboard the carrier at sea. Powerful catapults slingshot the aircraft off the bow of the ship. The planes land aboard the carrier by snagging a steel cable with an arresting hook that protrudes from the rear of the aircraft. All of this makes the George H.W. Bush a self-contained mobile airport and strike platform, and often the first response to a global crisis because of a carrier’s ability to operate freely in international waters anywhere on the world’s oceans. As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Vega and other USS George H.W. Bush sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes. “I like that I’m a part of the ship’s crew because they ship itself has such a big purpose out there, protecting America,” said Vega.
to the North given the danger such missile launches posed to aviation and shipping, while China urged the two Koreas to exercise restraint. Missile tests have long been a preferred North Korean method of expressing anger and displeasure with what it views as confrontational behavior by the South and its allies. ‘Brink of war’ “The situation on the Korean peninsula is again inching close to the brink of a war,” a spokesman for the KPA General Staff was quoted as saying Monday by the North’s official KCNA news agency. “The only means to cope with the aggression and war by the US imperialists and their followers is neither dialogue nor peace. They should be dealt with only by merciless strikes.” North Korea has threatened attacks, including nuclear strikes, on the US before, although it has never demonstrated a missile capability that would encompass the US mainland. The largest element of the two South Korea-US drills that began Monday is Foal Eagle, an eight-week exercise involving air, ground and naval field training, with around 200,000 Korean and 3,700 US troops. The other is a week-long, largely computer-simulated joint drill called Key Resolve. Seoul and Washington insist the exercises are defense-based in nature, but they are regularly condemned by Pyongyang as provocative rehearsals for invasion. In a statement later Monday the North Korean Foreign Ministry labeled the start
of the drills an act of “intolerable aggression” and said the North was ready to wage “any form of war” that the US chooses. Test moratorium offer North Korea has carried out three nuclear tests – in 2006, 2009 and 2013. In January the North offered a moratorium on further tests if this year’s joint drills were cancelled—a proposal rejected by Washington as an “implicit threat” to carry out a fourth atomic detonation. Analyst Jeung said Pyongyang was unlikely to conduct a fourth test just to protest against the exercises. “Nuclear tests carry more significance than that,” he said, noting that the North’s testing schedule was mainly driven by technical development. “On the other hand, there is the chance of a mid- or long-range missile test,” Jeung told AFP. “I would say that a demonstration that it could deliver a nuclear warhead would be more threatening to the world than an actual nuclear test,” he added. A new research report by US experts published last week estimated that North Korea could be on track to have an arsenal of 100 nuclear weapons by 2020. In a further sign of rising tensions, the North Korean state-run website Uriminzokkiri warned Monday of a fierce response to any attempt by South Korean activists to float anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border by balloon. “The response might not just be a few shots of gunfire but cannons or missiles,” the website said.
JINGGOY APPEALS From page 1
The two senators are currently detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame in connection with the alleged pork barrel scam. In a chance interview with reporters following his bail hearing, Estrada said it was he who informed Revilla of the incident regarding Jolo Revilla. “Actually, ako yung nagsabi. Of course, nagulat. He didn’t expect na gagawa ng ganun ‘yung kaniyang anak,” he said. Earlier reports said the gunshot wound the younger Revilla sustained was self -inLungs. You are ultimate healer,” she said flicted and that he has been troubled since on Monday. his father’s detention. However, the RevilRevilla was brought to the hospital Sat- la family clarified that Jolo’s gun went off urday when a Glock hand gun he was reportedly cleaning “accidentally” went off, hitting him on the upper right portion of From page 1 his chest. While the family is claiming that the their offspring. Kice added that investigators alleged incident was accidental, a composite team that “the operators of the maternity tourwas formed by the police to probe Revilla’s ism businesses coached clients to misrepcase.(MNS) resent the purpose of their visit in order to obtain tourist visas to enter the US.” “Business operators also instructed clients to wear loose clothing on their inbound flights and not carry baby paraphernalia in their luggage to avoid arousing suspicion when being inspected” by US customs offi-
when he was cleaning it. Still, Estrada said Revilla should be allowed by the court to visit his son, who is confined at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center where he underwent a surgery and is now in stable condition. “Nagmamakaawa ako, I’m appealing to the Sandiganbayn to allow him to visit his son. Araw-araw, lagi namumugto ang mga mata niya, he’s really worried about his son. Ako, tatay din ako, naiintindihan ko ‘yun. I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes,” he said. Earlier in the day, Revilla’s lawyers filed a motion asking the court to allow him three hours to visit his son at the hospital. (MNS)
MATERNITY HOMES
cers. The fees paid cover lodging, transportation, and food, but do not include medical care. The women appear to pay cash for prenatal visits and the actual delivery. The more expensive maternity tourism packages included recreational activities such as visits to Disneyland, shopping malls, “even an outing to a firing range,” it noted.
HEALTH CARE From page 1
significant increase in cases of child malnutrition. While mortality rate for children under five years old has declined slightly in recent years from 54 deaths per 1,000 births in 1988-1992 to 48 deaths in 1993-1997, infant mortality rates have remained unchanged at about 35 death per 1,000 births, said Espina, chairman of the House Committee on Population and Family Relations. According to Espina, from 2012, the FNRI reported that 25% or one in every four pregnant women is undernourished. They are at risk to deliver low birth weight babies and other negative pregnancy outcomes such as still births, miscarriages and abortions. The nutrition status of lactating mothers is 11.9% or one in every ten lactating mothers is underweight. Espina said the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) noted that because two-thirds of all births are delivered at home, only 56% of mothers receive assistance from health professionals during the delivery of their children. “The Philippines has a high mortality rate of approximately 200 deaths per 100,000 live births. According to the 2000 State of Philippine Population Report, ten Filipino women die every 24 hours from causes related to pregnancy complications and childbirth. One of the reasons is the irregular or lack of pre-natal check-ups,” Espina said. Espina said even the World Health Organization (WHO) of the United Nations
strongly recommends proper health care on the first 1,000 days of a child. From the start of pregnancy until the second year of the child is the most crucial stage of the child’s brain formation. “The right nutrition during these 1,000 days has a profound impact on the ability of the child to grow, learn and lead a long-term healthy and stable life,” Espina stressed. The measure mandates the Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), shall develop a comprehensive health care program for pregnant and lactating women as well as the health and nutrition of their newborn children from day 1 to 1,000 days. As defined under the bill, the “1,000 days” start from day one of pregnancy up to the age of two years of the child. Under the bill, the maternal and child health care services which may be provided to eligible individuals during 1,000-day period include the instruction and counseling regarding future health care for the mother and child, nutrition counseling and counseling and education concerning all aspects of prenatal care, childbirth and motherhood. The bill also provides milk-feeding program for pregnant and nursing mothers, including breastfeeding for newborn children, treating malnourished children with special and therapeutic foods and general family development.(MNS)
SHOOTING INCIDENT From page 1
“It’s part of the standard operating procedure of the PNP to investigate any medicolegal incident. Basta may taong nalagay sa kapahamakan ang buhay whether due to a self-inflicted act or due to an act of another individual, ay iniimbestigahan natin yan, irregardless kung ordinaryong tao o makapangyarihang tao ang involved,” Valmoria said. Valmoria said he also tasked the group to coordinate with the Asian Hospital to get the necessary medical reports that would be vital in the investigation. He, however, refused to confirm if the gun involved in the incident is already under the possession of the team for examination. “Let’s just wait for the result of the investigation,” Valmoria said. He said there is no deadline given to the team for the conduct of the investigation.
Earlier in the day, Jolo’s father, detained Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., asked the Sandiganbayan to allow him to visit his son in the hospital. The elder Revilla is currently detained at the PNP Custodial Center over graft and plunder charges in connection with the P10B alleged pork barrel scam. Also on Monday, the spokesperson of the Revilla family said Jolo is now in stable condition and could be transferred to a regular room within the day. “Vice Gov. Jolo Revilla’s condition is stable. However, he had fever this 5 a.m. which [is an] indicative of some infection in his body,” lawyer Raymond Fortun said. “The family is still hoping to transfer him to a regular room this afternoon. Doctor is monitoring output of blood, which looks like it’s decreasing,” Fortun added. (MNS)
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Aquino: I won’t let those against peace succeed
MANILA, Feb 25 (Mabuhay) -- President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday said he would not let those against the peace process succeed, a month after the deadly Mamasapano incident put peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in peril. “Kung magpapatalo sa mga kontra-kapayapaan, parang hinayaan na rin natin ang kaguluhan sa Mindanao... Hindi ko ito papayagan,” Aquino said during the 29th EDSA People Power commemoration. The President also appealed for calm amid public outrage following the Mamasapano incident, which left 44 elite policemen dead. “Sa harap ng video na nagpapakita ng karahasan, sa kabila ng galit sa ating puso, mas makapangyarihan pa rin ang pagtitiwala, malasakit, pag-ibig at kapayapaan,” Aquino said. Aside from the 44 commandos, 18 MILF members and three civilians were also killed in the Mamasapano clash. Congress suspended deliberations on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law after the misencounter in Mamasapano but Aquino meeting with House leaders on Monday supposedly placed the passage of the bill back on track at least as far as the House of Representatives is concerned. Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. the chairman of the House ad hoc committee on the BBL, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, said the draft could be tackled in the plenary by May 4. The creation of a new Bangsamoro political entity through the BBL is the centerpiece of the peace agreement the government signed with the MILF in March 2014. Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle also called on Filipinos to shun war and take the path to peace on Wednesday during the commemoration of the 29th EDSA People Power Anniversary. “The path of peace is to find a neighbor, a brother and a sister. When I don’t see anyone as an enemy, I don’t have to fight,” Tagle said during a Holy Mass to mark the EDSA People Power Anniversary. The EDSA People Power commemoration came a month after the Mamasapano incident. The Roman Catholic Church official said the People Power Revolution showed the world the “Filipino’s deep capacity to see a brother, a sister in an enemy.” Aquino and Cabinet officials were present during the Holy Mass. (MNS)
Chiz: We want peace ]for Mindanao not just with MILF Senator Chiz Escudero said the present form and shape of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) may seal the peace deal with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) but this would not necessarily translate to peace in the entire Mindanao region. Escudero, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, said the government should take a hard and close look into the leadership composition of the MILF who sits in the negotiating table for the BBL following the bloodbath in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25. “The BBL will be hard pressed to get the Senate and Congress’ nod after this fatal incident which gave away the leadership or lack thereof of the MILF over the area,” the senator said. Putting a timeframe to pass the proposed legislation is unlikely at this point after many questions cropped up as a result of bloody clashes between the elite Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police and the MILF, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and private armed groups operating in Mamasapano. “Are we talking to the right people for dealing with the entire community of the BBL area and its residents?” Escudero said. “I once said that I have doubts if the MILF can truly represent the BBL area and its residents, including the indigenous peoples, the Christians and other groups also endemic to the area.” He added: “Now more than ever we should press for the scrutiny of the MILF’s capability to supervise and control their ranks after the Mamasapano massacre. Do they have influence over the entire MILF, the BIFF and other private armed groups?” According to Escudero, if the BBL is passed, the MILF will be given at least P75 billion aside from the annual Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) and the Bottom-up budget (BuB). “Sa totoo lang, ang galing ng panig at panel ng MILF. Nakuha nila lahat ng pwede at gusto nilang makuha sa BBL at sa mga kasunduan. Ang tanong ko: Anong mapapala ng pamahalaan at ng nakararaming Pilipino?” the senator asked. The fund is even larger than the P70 billion budget of the PNP and is close to the P90 billion allocation for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). According to Escudero, if taxes and other fees and charges will be added, the MILF will have a spending package bigger than that of the country’s military. Escudero explained that the Mamasapano clash, which resulted in the deaths of 44 SAF troopers, served as an eye-opener for lawmakers to further scrutinize the provisions of the BBL. “I believe we should be grateful to the SAF 44 who gave up their lives for the country and pave the way for us to look into the details of the peace process because if this incident did not happen, the BBL could have been passed effortlessly and we will be bombarded with this problem one day,” Escudero said. He cited a provision in the BBL that the Shari’a High Court’s decision is final and executory, which the senator said is totally in violation of the Constitution which provides that the country’s Supreme Court (SC) has the final say and has the sole right to review all cases. Escudero also scored a provision that says that the Judicial Bar Council created under the BBL has the authority to discipline a Shari’a judge. “The rule of judicial procedure solely lies within the power of SC, as provided by the Constitution. Not even Congress can pass a law to interfere with the Constitution.”
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OPINION
Palace: Let court decide on house arrest for Enrile MANILA, Feb 28 (Mabuhay) – The Sandiganbayan will have the final say on whether Senate minority leader Juan Ponce Enrile should be allowed house arrest, Malacañang said Saturday. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said President Benigno Aquino III has not discussed the subject for now. “It would be eventually the court that would decide should the side of Sen. Enrile move to have him placed under house arrest,” she said on governmentrun dzRB radio. Enrile has been confined at the Makati Medical
Center since Thursday, after suffering from pneumonia. His visitors have been limited to relatives and doctors. Some lawmakers, including Enrile’s Senate fellow minority members Vicente Sotto III and Jose Victor Ejercito, had proposed house arrest for him, citing humanitarian considerations. The 91-year-old senator had been detained at the Philippine National Police General Hospital in Camp Crame since last year on graft and plunder charges stemming from the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam. (MNS)
Gun-cleaning a common excuse to commit suicide – Dr. Fortun MANILA, Mar 3 (Mabuhay) – People who attempted to commit suicide by shooting themselves usually use accidental firing of the weapon as excuse to cover up their act, Dr. Raquel Fortun said Tuesday, citing her experiences as a forensic pathologist. “From my experience, ‘yang ganyang senaryo ang madalas na ginagamit na excuse para sabihin na ang isang tao [ay] ‘di nagpakamatay,” Fortun said, in response to question on whether it is common for gun owners to accidentally shoot themselves while cleaning their guns. “I have encountered that a lot na sasabihin hindi siya nagbaril sa sarili, ang nangyari, it was an accidental fire kasi naglilinis lang siya ng baril,” she added. The question was in relation to the claim of the family of Cavite Vice Governor Jolo Revilla that he accidentally shot himself on his right upper chest while he was cleaning his .40-caliber Glock pistol on Saturday morning inside their home in Ayala Alabang in Muntinlupa City. Though now in a stable condition, Revilla, son of detained Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., remains at the intensive care unit of the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa City following the incident. Fortun said that though it is hard to conclude right now on what really transpired during the incident, there were safety procedures that should have been observed by Revilla. “Common sense will tell you, and I’m sure the PNP (Philippine National Police) will agree kasi nagbibigay sila ng mga gun safety seminar... na kapag naglilinis ka ng baril or kapag naghahawak ka ng baril, you have to make sure kung loaded ba ito o hindi. Kung naglilinis ka, dapat wala yang bala. Tanggal dapat ang magazine,” Fortun said. “Ilang beses mo dapat bubuksan just to make sure na walang naka-load na bala, pwede mo pa ngang itest fire sa ere just to make sure na wala... Kasi kung marunong ka talagang maglinis ng baril, why would you do it with a loaded gun?” she added. Fortun, however, was quick to stress that such an act alone should not be used as basis in concluding that Revilla deliberately shot himself. She pointed out that the location of Revilla’s entry wound, which is just above his right nipple, is a common area where a person can accidentally shoot himself. “Ang chest ay tinatawag na anatomically accessible. Pwede mong mabaril ang sarili mo sa chest. Ang most common [part of the body] kung sadya, is actually sa area ng heart. As described, nasa kanan, nasa taas daw ng right breast [ang shot ni Revilla], ‘di yan typical na site kung sadya,” Fortun said.
Holistic probe She, however, reiterated that the incident must be investigated hollistically and not just on a single aspect. Fortun said among the most important factors that the investigators must look into is the nature of the gunshot wound, especially the entrance wound or the part of the victim’s body where the bullet entered. “Maraming answer na mabibigay ang examination ng sugat mismo, lalo na ‘yung entrance wound. For one thing, maari niyang ma-determine kung gaano kalayo , at least mae-estimate mo ‘yung layo ng nguso ng baril sa balat,” Fortun said. Fortun explained that in cases of accidental fire, there is usually a distance between the tip of the gun and the part of the victim’s body. “Kung accidental fire ‘yan, hindi ‘yan nakatutok. Malamang ‘yan may distansya... dito makikita mo [sa wound] ‘yung tinatawag na stiffling or tatooing,” she said. Distance between gun, skin On the contrary, Fortun explained that when the shot was made deliberately, the tip of the gun usually touched the part of the body. “Kung nakatutok yan, it signifies intent or ibig sabihin talagang sadya, and nakakakita [sa gunshot wound] ‘yung itim-itim, kasama ‘yun ng pagsabog ng pulbura or minsan yung pattern ng nguso ng baril, nandun din sa balat [ng biktima],” Fortun said. Fortun said investigators must also examine intermediary objects such as the victim’s clothes as it can also help determine the distance of the gun from the body when the shot was fired. Other factors that investigators must also look into, according to Fortun, are the scene of the incident and the testimonies of the victim’s family members and other people who may have observations about the behavior of the victim. Fortun said it is also very important for the investigators to examine the gun involved in the incident. “Dapat tinitignan mo din yung scene, anong klaseng baril, anong klaseng bala, ano ang sinasabi ng mga tao,” she said. She, however, admitted that a caliber 40 Glock pistol, the type of gun involved in Revilla’s shooting incident, usually have advanced safety features. “On the top of my head, that is a pistol and ang mga pistol, in modern times, is talaga namang much improved at may mga safety features,” Fortun said. “So dapat ma-examine talaga yung baril sa nangyaring insidente, like, may magazine bang nakakabit, ilang bala nandun, ilang basyo ang nakitang tumalsik sa scene. So, madaming factors na dapat tiningnan,” she added. (MNS)
Philippines to send home Chinese energy experts Sino technicians will be sent back due to ‘security concerns’: Philippine officials
Manila, Philippines | AFP | Wednesday 2/25/2015 – The Philippines said Wednesday it would end Chinese technical involvement in running the country’s power grid, partly due to national security concerns. All 16 Chinese technicians currently working for the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines will be sent home by July, Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla told AFP. The State Grid Corporation of China has a 40-percent stake in the Philippine firm, which operates and maintains the nation’s power grid, but Petilla said the government wanted only Filipinos to run it. Asked if security issues were behind the decision to send the Chinese home, Petilla said via text message that “it certainly is a concern of NSA,” referring to the government’s National Security Advisor. He said the Department of Energy also believed that Filipinos now had the skills to do the work being done by the Chinese, which complicates their visa status. “Hence, to harmonize those concerns, it was agreed last year that the management and techni-
cal operation will be run by an all-Filipino team by July,” Petilla said. However, Petilla said the Chinese company would retain its stake in the National Grid Corp. This means that two Chinese will remain as board members representing their company. Political relations between the Philippines and China have steadily worsened in recent years over their rival claims to parts of the South China Sea, which is believed to contain vast gas and oil deposits. The Philippines has charged China with fortifying islets in the disputed area to possibly turn them into armed outposts, while accusing it of bullying diplomatic tactics. It has also infuriated Beijing by asking a United Nations tribunal to rule the Chinese maritime claims are invalid. China has refused to recognize the legal proceedings. Over the weekend, prominent Philippine politician Senator Miriam Santiago expressed concern over foreign involvement in the National Grid Corp. Without specifically naming the Chinese company, Santiago said the electric power industry had been “infected by a national security virus.”
Indonesian maid vows to fight on after Hong Kong court victory By Laura Mannering
For editorial: Do you have a story tip, letter to the editor or suggestion? Please email info@usasianpost.com or mail your letter to: Editorial Department, The U.S Asian Post, Balita Media, Inc., 520 East Wilson Ave., Glendale, CA 91206. Submissions must include full name, mailing address and contact numbers. All contributions are subject to the paper’s editorial standards. For advertising, please email info@balita.com. The U.S Asian Post is a publication of Balita Media, Inc., the leading source of news and information for the Filipino American community, which also publishes Weekend Balita. Views and opinions expressed by contributing writers and syndication partners are solely theirs and do not necessarily reflect that of the publishers. All advertising materials are subject to the paper’s editorial standards and discretion. All rights reserved. Reprints of materials published in the newspaper should have the explicit permission of The U.S Asian Post.
Hong Kong, China | AFP | Sunday 3/1/2015 – As she walks through Hong Kong’s Victoria Park on a busy Sunday afternoon, Erwiana Sulistyaningsih is stopped every few steps for photos and hugs. Most of her fans are Indonesian domestic workers enjoying their weekly day off, gathering as they always do for food, dancing and a chat, but there are Hong Kong families too. This is the former maid’s final day in Hong Kong after winning her case against the abusive employer who beat, starved and kept her prisoner. On Friday, Law Wan-tung, 44, was sentenced to six years in prison on 18 charges including grievous bodily harm, assault, criminal intimidation and failure to pay wages in a case that made headlines around the world. It has turned the 24-year-old Indonesian into a hero for many of her peers, and though her case shone a spotlight on the abuse often suffered behind closed doors, she isn’t finished yet. “I still want to help my fellow migrant workers who are abused and neglected by my own government,” she told AFP. “If there’s an opportunity, I would like to create a foundation to help with these issues and to educate
the Indonesian community so that they can understand our basic problems outside the country and back in Indonesia.” Softly-spoken and slight, with newly bobbed hair and huddled in a quilted orange jacket, she is sceptical that Indonesia will take meaningful action to protect migrant workers, arguing that the problem is so multi-layered and deep-rooted there is no quick fix. From a poor farming family in east Java, Sulistyaningsih’s parents could not afford to send her or her brother to university. After graduating from high school she worked as a waitress but was determined to save up for college and to help support her family financially, so moved to Hong Kong to join its army of domestic workers in 2013. The city is home to nearly 300,000 maids, mainly from Indonesia and the Philippines. Sulistyaningsih says her story highlights Indonesia’s endemic problems – a lack of job opportunities and an unaffordable further education system. “The government should provide accessible education especially for poor people,” she says, as well as helping to create “decent jobs for decent pay, not just profit for investors.”
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UTREACH Certain H1-B dependent spouses now allowed to work WASHINGTON – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director León Rodríguez announced today that, effective May 26, 2015, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is extending eligibility for employment authorization to certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B nonimmigrants who are seeking employment-based lawful permanent resident (LPR) status. DHS amended the regulations to allow these H-4 dependent spouses to accept employment in the United States. Finalizing the H-4 employment eligibility was an important element of the immigration executive actions President Obama announced in November 2014. Extending eligibility for employment authorization to certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B nonimmigrants is one of several initiatives underway to modernize, improve and clarify visa programs to grow the U.S. economy and create jobs. “Allowing the spouses of these visa holders to legally work in the United States makes perfect sense,” Rodríguez said. “It helps U.S. businesses keep their highly skilled workers by increasing the chances these workers will choose to stay in this country during the transition from temporary workers to permanent residents. It also provides more economic stability and better quality of life for the affected families.” Eligible individuals include certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B nonimmigrants who:
Are the principal beneficiaries of an approved Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker; or Have been granted H-1B status under sections 106(a) and (b) of the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-first Century Act of 2000 as amended by the 21st Century Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act. The Act permits H-1B nonimmigrants seeking lawful permanent residence to work and remain in the United States beyond the six-year limit on their H-1B status. DHS expects this change will reduce the economic burdens and personal stresses H-1B nonimmigrants and their families may experience during the transition from nonimmigrant to lawful permanent resident status, and facilitate their integration into American society. As such, the change should reduce certain disincentives that currently lead H-1B nonimmigrants to abandon efforts to remain in the United States while seeking lawful permanent residence, which will minimize disruptions to U.S. businesses employing them. The change should also support the U.S. economy because the contributions H-1B nonimmigrants make to entrepreneurship and science help promote economic growth and job creation. The rule also will bring U.S. immigration policies more in line with those laws of other countries that compete to attract similar highly skilled workers. Under the rule, eligible H-4 de-
pendent spouses must file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with supporting evidence and the required $380 fee in order to obtain employment authorization and receive a Form I-766, Employment Authorization Document (EAD). USCIS will begin accepting applications on May 26, 2015. Once USCIS approves the Form I-765 and the H-4 dependent spouse receives an EAD, he
or she may begin working in the United States. USCIS estimates the number of individuals eligible to apply for employment authorization under this rule could be as high as 179,600 in the first year and 55,000 annually in subsequent years. USCIS reminds those potentially eligible that this rule is not considered effective until May 26, 2015. Individuals should not
submit an application to USCIS before the effective date, and should avoid anyone who offers to assist in submitting an application to USCIS before the effective date. For more information on USCIS and its programs or about this rule and filing procedures, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on Facebook (/uscis), Twitter (@ uscis), YouTube (/uscis) and the USCIS blog The Beacon.
L.A.’s January water use continues to decline LADWP customers urged to conserve more as drought persists
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) today released its water conservation numbers for January 2015 showing a 22% reduction since January 2007 – the year that the city’s water conservation ordinance was implemented, and a 15.8% reduction in water use since just last year. However, LA’s January 2015 conservation numbers did not hit the mark when compared to the State Water Resources Control Board’s 2013 baseline year, and the State is expected to credit the City with only 1.1% conservation when the statewide numbers are published this week. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said, “We are on track for a fourth dry year in this drought with the warmest winter for the last 120 years. This has direct and serious impacts to our water supply and the Eastern Sierra snowpack. I’m asking Angelenos to heed our call to reduce their water use by 20% by reducing sprinkler use, checking for leaks, and removing your grass. Now is the time to do what we can to cut back even more and prevent a severe water shortage when summer comes around.” “We spoke last week with many of the state’s major water agencies, and we are all facing the same dilemma in our January reporting – extremely low precipitation coupled with higher-than-normal temperatures,” said Marty Adams, LADWP’s Senior Assistant General Manager for the Water System. “The good news is that we are still saving lots of water, but the numbers show that we are still too quick to return to old watering habits as soon as the weather gets nice.
With the wet weather we have had, there is absolutely no reason for anyone to turn their automatic sprinklers back on. Don’t be a watering robot! If we don’t save water now and encourage our plants to develop stronger root systems, both our water supply and our landscapes will be at risk this summer.” This month, LADWP’s snow surveys were dismal showing snowpack water content only at 18 percent of normal this time of year. Similarly, the State’s Department of Water Resources announced that their surveys in the Sierras were only 25% of normal to date statewide. In response to the statewide drought and the third driest year on record, Mayor Garcetti directed Angelenos to conserve more water in November 2014. He also mandated the reduction of purchased water by 50% by 2024, and required the implementation of a strategy to ensure a more sustainable local water supply. LADWP also reports that since 2007, its annual per capita water use has been reduced by
16%. The Department attributes this to its customers’ response to an aggressive push for water conservation rebates including water efficient toilets, weatherbased irrigation controllers, and turf rebates now at $3.75 a square foot for residential customers. The water conservation ordinance, which was never lifted since 2007, has also restricted outdoor watering to three days a week, and prevented other wasteful uses like hosing down driveways and sprinkler runoff. For more information about LADWP’s water conservation programs, visit www.ladwp.com/ waterconservation.
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BOE lowers gasoline excise tax rate by 6 cents Culver City – Members of the California State Board of Equalization (BOE) today voted to lower the excise tax rate for gasoline by 6 cents for Fiscal Year (FY) 2015-16 during their February meeting in Culver City. Since 2010, the “fuel tax swap” law has required the Board to adjust this tax rate by March 1st of each year. With today’s action, the excise tax rate on gasoline will be reduced from 36 to 30 cents per gallon from July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016. The current excise tax rate of 36 cents per gallon will remain in effect throughJune 30, 2015 at
which time the change will take effect. Drivers pay two types of state taxes on gasoline—sales tax and a per gallon excise tax. Before the “fuel tax swap” took effect, drivers paid the full sales tax rate (then 8.25 percent), and an excise tax of $0.18 per gallon. The excise tax on gasoline pays for public road improvements and mass transit. In FY 2013-14, the BOE collected nearly $5.8 billion for the Motor Vehicle Fuel Account in the Transportation Tax Fund. The sales tax on gasoline primarily funds local government programs.
Video shows Los Angeles police fatally shooting man Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Monday 3/2/2015 – Los Angeles police fatally shot a man on Sunday in an incident that was caught on video and circulated widely online, with the department saying officers resorted to deadly force after the man had reached for one of their guns. The graphic footage, which appeared on Facebook, shows a violent altercation between a man and several officers in LA’s “Skid Row,” an area near downtown where many homeless people live. The video appears to show the man flailing at officers as they try to subdue him. A voice yelling “Drop the gun!” can be heard before several shots ring out and several onlookers cry out in alarm.
The Los Angeles Police Department said three police officers – a sergeant and two officers – fired at the man after he reached for an officer’s firearm during the altercation. Police had been called to the scene over a reported robbery and were attempting to detain the suspect, who engaged in a fight, Commander Andrew Smith, LAPD spokesman, told AFP. During the struggle, police also used a Taser, he said. Victim may have been homeless The man, whom US media initially reported to be living in one of the area’s many tents, was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics, Smith said, adding that he could not confirm whether the individual was homeless.
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Pala Casino starts construction of $5 million renovation
Balita Photo Editor Auctions Off Best Work for a Cause Weekend Balita Photo Editor Benny Uy has auctioned off one of his best works to raise funds for a scholarship program for the children of slain journalists in the Philippines. “I’m very thankful to those supporting my efforts,” said Uy, who has used his wide community network and strong presence in social media to solicit bids for his photo, titled “Downtown LA at 6:22 a.m.” “This is the least I can do to help the families of media colleagues who died in the line of duty.”
The Philippines has the third highest number of journalists killed worldwide every year, according to the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists. Uy is part of “Light and Shadow: A Photography Exhibit,” which will be on display at the La Habra Art Gallery until April 18. “The bidders include the Who’s Who in the Fil-Am
community in LA,” said Uy, who will turn over theBalita Photo Editor Auctions Off Best Work for a Cause photo to the highest bidder at the exhibit’s closing reception on April 19. The highest bidder as of press time is Dr. Felix Lapuz, outbidding Van and Marilou Dichoso, Mildred Deang,
Entrance to tunnel, sump pump water hose, electric extension cord, ladder.
Mysterious tunnel found near Canada sports venue: media Montreal, Canada | AFP | Tuesday 2/24/2015 – A sophisticated tunnel has been discovered near a major sporting venue and a university in Toronto, reports said Monday, with Canada on edge over the threat of possible extremist attacks. A municipal worker was walking through woods near York University and the Rexall Center last month when he spotted a piece of corrugated metal on the ground, lifted it up and found a passageway, the public broadcaster CBC said. The tunnel was about seven meters (23 feet) long and 2.5 meters tall and was lit by an electric generator. The walls and ceilings had been reinforced and tools had been left inside. Toronto is hosting the Pan American Games in July and the Rexall Center is one of the venues. The facility also hosts major tennis events. National security officials have been alerted but there was no immediate suggestion the tunnel posed a threat, CBC said. Authorities have now filled it in but police were tight-lipped about what its purpose might have been. CBC said authorities had ruled out the possibility of it being a drug lab. Canadian authorities are on alert following two Islamist-influenced attacks last year that resulted in the deaths of two unarmed soldiers in Ottawa and Montreal. And in a recent video the Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab insurgent group threatened Canada’s massive West Edmonton Mall, along with a mall in the United States and a major shopping district in Britain.
Vina Lelim Nacionales, Romeo Balboa and Angelina Munar. Benny Uy is the Community and Senior Services photographer for Los Angeles County and also serves as photo editor of Weekend Balita and US Asian Post. Uy said he developed his passion for photography when he served as a photographer at his mother Luz Belarmino-Uy’s social and church events and volunteered to take photos for the Mission Community United Methodist Church. The La Habra Art Gallery is located at 215 N. Orange Street in La Habra. Gallery hours are from 12 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. To place a bid on Uy’s photo and for private viewing of the gallery, call Luz Spanks at (562) 383-3643.
PALA, CA February 18, 2015. Pala Casino Spa & Resort has started a $5 million construction project that will add new venues to the property and renovate several existing restaurants. It also will add a permanent outdoor stage to Pala’s popular Starlight Theatre. All elements are slated to be completed and open to the public just ahead of the Memorial Day week end. Specific opening dates will be announced. The cornerstone will be CAVE, a new 6,000-square-foot, fullservice dining experience, bar, lounge, underground wine cave and entertainment complex. CAVE will build on the success of Mama’s Cucina Italiana, the restaurant it will replace. Mama’s popular Italian Chef Luciano Cibelli and his entire staff will remain to ensure the quality of CAVE’s “Mediterranean cuisine with an Italian flair.” CAVE also will offer an extensive wine list from Napa Valley, Sonoma, France, Italy, and Australia, a wide variety of wines by the glass and a creative selection of large format bottles. The CAVE lounge also will provide an imaginative menu of craft cocktails. The subterranean wine cave
will be one of a kind and will provide a unique, elegant setting for wine enthusiasts to enjoy their favorite selection. Atop the wine cave Pala will build a permanent, outdoor concert stage which will host a diverse schedule of head line entertainers in the Starlight Theatre. The spring/summer concert series will kick-off Saturday, May 23 with Queen Nation and Zeppelin USA followed on Friday, May 29 with Creedence Clearwater Revisited. “Chef Luciano’s new CAVE menu will offer many of the authentic Italian dishes for which Mama’s was well- known, but will add many, new, Mediterranean specialties as well,” said Bill Bembenek, Pala’s chief executive officer. CAVE’s menu will include “small bites” of Beef Tartare, Tuna Crudo, Lamb Carpaccio, Chicken Liver Cognac Pate, Bruschetta and Charcuterie selections of Cured Meats and Cheeses. Appetizers will include Chef Luciano’s family recipes for Octopus, Mussels, Clams, Escargot, Quail and Foie Gras. Cave will also offer fresh pasta dishes and salads while entrées will include Carbonara with Pancetta, Chef’s Daily Ravioli, Pappardelle with
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Wild Boar Ragu, Muscovy Duck, Luciano’s Daily Risotto, Prime Filet or Rib-Eye Steaks and daily selections of fresh fish, Shrimp and Lobster. In conjunction with the opening of CAVE, Pala also will unveil Luis Rey’s, a new indoor-outdoor entertainment venue with a patio lounge and bar. Luis Rey’s will bring the scenic, mountain views that are unique to Pala into a comfortable, casual patio bar with live entertainment. Its menu will offer a blend of appetizers from around the U.S. and Mexico to include Pala’s famous Street Tacos, Carne Asada Nachos, Taquitos, Empanadas, Grilled Halibut Tacos, Ahi Tuna Carnitas, Ahi Tuna Poke, Oyster Shooters, Dungeness Crab Cakes, Coconut Shrimp, a selection of Sliders, Wings and Specialty Burgers, Fish and Chips, Beer or Chicken Satay, Egg Rolls, Lettuce Wraps, Fried Frog Legs and additional bar appetizers. Luis Rey’s will also feature a wide variety of local craft beers from San Diego and Mexico, craft cocktails and Tequila. Luis Rey’s guests also will enjoy live bands performing on stage during weekend evenings and holidays.
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Woodcraft Ranger students set the example Voices of young people influence the community to be active voters
Los Angeles – Students attending the Woodcraft Rangers NVSION program at Holmes Elementary located in South Los Angeles, set an example for its surrounding community. With the elections coming up on March 3rd, the youth candidates created a two week campaign that raised awareness as they ran for the after school leadership student council. Speeches were written and delivered to the young audience by the candidates. The week ended with every student casting their vote. The custom-made booths were designed by the art club to simulate the privacy of voting. This event created a buzz around the community as the students encouraged their parents be active voters. Over 100 students that are enrolled in the NVISION program at Holmes Elementary participated in the event. “I can’t wait until I am able to vote,” said one student. She continued, “I told my mom to register and vote because it’s important.” Encouraging their community to participate in the election, the students learned about the importance of having their voice heard. Woodcraft Rangers CEO Chris Johnson said, “Through our programs, students area able to use their critical thinking and social skills learned and relate them to real life experiences, such as creating these campaigns.” Woodcraft Rangers looks to grow and add to their success. Their NVISION program helps inner city youth throughout the Los Angeles area academically and enhance their critical thinking skills. Through educational state funds, the students are able to participate in free programs such as these.
With the elections coming up on March 3, the youth candidates created a two week campaign that raised awareness as they ran for the after school leadership student council.
Woodcraft Rangers has impacted over 1.1 million lives since its inception as they continue to inspire more. For further information contact, (213) 249-9293 or woodcraft@woodcraftrangers.org. To learn more about Woodcraft Rangers go to www.woodcraftrangers.org
Designer to the stars dresses disabled catwalk in Milan By Ella Ide
Milan, Italy | AFP | Monday 3/2/2015 – From outfits for Lady Gaga and Beyonce to disabled fashion: Antonio Urzi, a long-time collaborator with Armani, is trying to revolutionize Milan fashion week with creations designed for amputees. Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna and Britney Spears have all worn his masterpieces, but Urzi’s latest face is hunky British amputee Jack Eyers, the star of a radically different catwalk show which mixes able-bodied and disabled models. “My life’s changed dramatically, it’s a full-on rollercoaster ride,” said Eyers, who was born with a rare condition which meant his right leg failed to grow properly, leading him to decide to have it amputated when he was 16. Now 25, the personal trainer-turned-model has got two years of work in the fashion industry under his belt, and is clearly thrilled to be in Milan, sporting a large silver suit-of-armour type outfit designed especially for him.
“It actually blends into the leg,” he tells AFP, showing off his prosthetic limb, which Urzi has incorporated into the quirky, gladiatorial design. ‘Disability as accessory “He’s using my leg and disability as an accessory as part of his fashion clothes. I think that’s great,” he says with a grin. Urzi, who did not go to design school but honed his art during a job as a dancer in nightclubs—where he made his own special-effects outfits—specialises in rigid materials such as aluminium and plexiglass. This year has been his first venture into disabled fashion and he created the collection for free, to draw awareness to a gap in the luxury clothes line. “The big players, the important maisons (fashion houses), should start thinking differently and contribute because the world is full of disabled people... who want to look good just like us,” he said, slamming the industry as “snobbish” and “squalid.”
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Former Jackie Forster denies using drugs in front of kids Former actress Jackie Forster took to social media to address two rumors that have been haunting her for years. In a series of Instagram posts, Forster denied having sex and using drugs in front of her children in Boracay. These two things were rumored to be the reasons why her two sons, Andre and Kobe Paras, were traumatized several years ago. “For one, if you can speak to any man I have been intimate with, I have never been comfortable with my body. The only time I started becoming more confident was when I met my husband. Why or how would I do this in front of
my children? And when we were in Boracay, I only left these boys twice!” she wrote. “I did drugs in front of them or they found drugs in my home? I never kept drugs in my home as whatever I tried before was just given to me by a friend out in a club or after-party,” she added. “What or why would I do that at home with my kids? Plus, how do kids at 8 and 6 (years old) supposedly know what drugs are? Do they have an orientation in grade school? Seriously.” Forster went on to challenge those who have been spreading the rumors to take a polygraph or lie detector test to clear up the rumors once and for all.
Angeline denies she’s jealous of K-La Rivera Angeline Quinto clarified on Tuesday that she never felt bothered when rumored boyfriend, Erik Santos, invited singer K-La Rivera to his birthday celebration last year. Earlier, Santos revealed that the Kapamilya singer did not talk to him for days because of the incident. The 25-year-old Quinto said that she remains close friends with Rivera even after the conclusion of the reality talent show “Star Power.” “Ayaw ko naman po kasi isipan ni K-La na nagselos ako kasi malapit ako doon sa tao. Ayaw ko kasi maging hindi maganda ang dating sa kanya noon,” she said. Quinto, who beat Rivera on her way to winning the title of the 2010 competition, added that she is even willing to personally talk to Rivera to explain the real score between her and Santos. She noted that she already sent
Angeline Quinto
text messages to Rivera clarifying the situation but has yet to receive a reply. Asked about her relationship with Santos, Quinto teased that she is not yet ready “na sabihin sa lahat.”(MNS)
“I will tell you now, I am willing, at any point, to take a polygraph if they are, too – including the woman who raised them so well... All for one, one takes all,” she wrote. “I’m done with fighting... This is all for peace and putting things behind. It’s much easier to live life happy and with proper healing,” she added, saying that she only wants her sons to know the truth. Earlier, Forster shared things about her past relationship with PBA player Benjie Paras. The former actress claimed she had a “miserable” life when she married Paras at age 15. (MNS)
Pia Magalona hopes to find new partner Six years after the death of her husband, rapper-actor Francis Magalona, Pia Magalona believes she is ready to love again. Magalona stressed that while she “wishes” to find someone, she is currently not seeing anyone. “Hindi ba we are only human? Pero none so far,” Magalona said. Magalona clarified that the reason she is still not dating is not because of her eight children. “Baka it’s the environment also. Kasi hindi ba when you look for friends or partners, you have to be in a certain environment and I think the environment in the Philippines, everybody knows that Francis Magalona was my husband. So baka they’re intimidated or something,” she said.
Jackie Forster
Sandara open to working with John Lloyd K-POP star Sandara Park has welcomed the idea of working with Kapamilya drama actor John Lloyd Cruz in a local movie project. “Gustong gusto ko yan kasi talagang I really love his movies and his acting. Nakaka-in love yung mata niya kapag umaarte kaya sobrang excited ako ‘pag nangyari,” the 2NE1 singer said. Fans of both stars pinned their hopes on a potential project when Sandara posted a photo with John Lloyd during Joross Gamboa’s wedding in November. Sandara said if the movie project pushes through, she will let Star Cinema, ABS-CBN’s film outfit, to decide which genre would suit the tandem. “Worried lang ako kasi diba mature na yung movies niya... yung mga series. Pero ako bata pa ako. Ano kayang magandang story? Star Cinema, hintayin ko ‘yun.” the 30-year-old said. The singer starred in four movies under Star Cinema, namely, “Bcoz of U,” “Can This Be Love,” “D’ Lucky Ones,” and “Super Noy-
pi” from 2 0 0 4 2006. She left Manila in 2007 to pursue a career in her native South Korea. While a comeback Sandara Park movie project in the Philippines is still up in the air, Sandara enters the Korean drama scene for the first time through web series “Dr. Mo Clinic.” She’s paired with Kim Young Kwang, who plays a psychiatrist trying to treat the love problems of Sandara’s character. Filming began early this month and is expected to be aired in South Korea and China in March. “Ang goal ko for 2015 is to show the other sides of Sandara Park. Hindi lang sa 2NE1. Pati siguro actress Sandara or DJ. Bagong challenges ang gusto kong i-try,” Sandara said. (MNS)
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MOTORING The Volkswagen Passat is European Car of the Year (Relaxnews) – The latest iteration of the German carmaker’s family sedan was voted a clear winner by the panel of 58 motoring journalists from 22 EU countries. The win means that it is the third time in five years that Volkswagen has scooped one of the automotive world’s most prestigious awards. In 2010 the VW Polo won, and in 2013 the seventh generation Golf did the double, winning both the European and the World Car of the Year. The New Passat, which was officially unveiled in September 2014, is Volkswagen’s most technically advanced mass produced car to date, offering the highest levels of creature comforts, in-car connectivity, active driver safety aids and efficient drive trains. The hybrid version is capable of traveling for 50km on battery power alone and is capable of more than 1000km on a combination of traditional fuel and battery power. With 360 points, the new Passat scored 112 more than the car that finished in second place, the
BMW presents the world’s first mobile femtocell for optimized in-car connectivity.
Connected cars head to MWC The new Volkswagen Passat: It is the third time in five years that VW has scooped the award. ©Volkswagen
Citroen C4 Cactus (248), which finished marginally ahead of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class which came third with 221 points.
BMW is getting ready to take the wraps off a number of new models in Geneva this week, but at the same time, in Barcelona at the Mobile World Congress it also has a very strong presence.
Mercedes-Benz of Long Beach
Truly self-driving cars are still decades away, but the age of the connected car has already arrived. According to BI Intelligence, 75% of new cars shipped globally by the end of the decade will come with an internet connection as standard. Companies like BMW, Audi, Cadillac and Mercedes now offer cars with integrated 3G or 4G/LTE 1 hotspot as standard and a growing number of others from Ford to VW have the 2 feature on the options list. With an internet connection, cars can talk to and 3 warn each other as well as to road infrastructure such as traffic lights and congestion 4 monitoring sensors. Manufacturers will also be able to wirelessly push out software updates and collect diagnostics information – as Tesla already does. In January, the company sent out a software patch for Model S drivers that made their cars faster overnight. Volvo is testing communicative capabilities with 50 cars in Gothenburg, collecting data via the cloud regarding driving conditions and the state of repair of the roads. And while such technology will be standard on a host of vehicles before 2020, for the moment, the consumer focus is on web-based entertainment and communicating with other people, i.e., getting the same services in vehicles that they get via smartphones. Business Insider’s data shows that streaming music for in-car use is the most popular connected car feature (69%), followed by surfing the net via an in-car display (57%). One innovation BMW is showcasing at this year’s 2014 Mercedes-Benz MWC is the “Vehicular C250 Small Cell,” which boosts CPO, Sport Package, Sport Sedan the reception of all connectPackage, Low APR, Moonroof ed devices being used in the † cabin. Dr Peter Fertl, Project Manager BMW Group, said: 222920 / SL140941 “It will allow our customers to enjoy uninterrupted in-car 2013 Mercedes-Benz usage of all mobile devices C350 Coupe such as smartphones, tablets, CPO, Rare, Multimedia Package, Leather, smartwatches and other conRear-View Camera nected devices of the future † – even when driving through areas with poor cellular cov988032 / P9182 erage.” A car’s body has to be 2012 Mercedes-Benz able to withstand and reE350 route a lightning strike and CPO, AMG® Sport Package USA, Premium therefore is very good at 1 Package, Low Miles insulating rather than con† ducting when it comes to signals. The Vehicular Small 575084 / L9190 Cell turns the car’s external areal into a smartphone and 2014 Mercedes-Benz tablet signal booster, comGL350 4MATIC® plete with its own wireless Navigation, Leather, Lighting Package, network without increasing Heated & Ventiliated Seats electromagnetic radiation † inside the cabin. Meanwhile Seat on Mon374266 / D142082 day officially announced a partnership with Samsung at the Mobile World Congress, which will enable the car company to develop its own suite of in-car infotainment apps and for owners to wirelessly link and mirror Samsung handsets to the consoles of future Seat cars.
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KITCHENOMICS
FAMILY FEATURES
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t doesn’t take the Luck o’ the Irish to throw a great St. Patrick’s Day party. These tips and recipes will help you throw a festive celebration you’ll enjoy as much as your guests — including make-ahead corned beef and a mintygreen cookie recipe both adults and little leprechauns will love.
“We’ve developed recipes that make the tastes of Ireland easy to create — from
a simple Irish Soda Bread to a classic corned beef and cabbage recipe that can be made in a slow cooker,” said Mary Beth Harrington of the McCormick Kitchens. “And don’t forget the treats! Our Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies are the perfect ending to a perfectly green party.” For more St. Patrick’s Day recipes, check out www.McCormick.com and visit McCormick Spice on Facebook and Pinterest.
Savory Irish Cheese Soda Bread Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 40 minutes Servings: 12 2 1/2 cups flour 1/2 cup sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons McCormick Caraway Seed 1 teaspoon McCormick Garlic Powder 1/4 teaspoon McCormick Red Pepper, Ground 1/2 cup shredded Irish Cheddar cheese 2 eggs 1 1/4 cups buttermilk Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and seasonings in large bowl. Stir in cheese. Set aside. Mix eggs and buttermilk in medium bowl. Add to dry ingredients; stir until well blended. Spread in lightly grease 9-inch round cake pan. Bake 30–40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack. Tip: Make muffins instead of bread. Prepare dough as directed and divide among 12 greased muffin cups. Bake 20–25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Servings: 3 dozen, or 36 (1 cookie) servings 2 1/2 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened 1 1/4 cups sugar 2 eggs 1–1 1/2 teaspoons McCormick Green Food Color 1 teaspoon McCormick Pure Peppermint Extract 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips Preheat oven to 375°F. Mix flour, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Set aside. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, food color and peppermint extract; mix well. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until well mixed. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by heaping tablespoons about 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake 10–12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets 1 minute. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.
Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 8 hours Servings: 12 8 small red potatoes 2 cups baby carrots 1 small onion, quartered 1 corned beef brisket (4 pounds), rinsed and trimmed 2 tablespoons McCormick Mixed Pickling Spice 1 teaspoon McCormick Minced Garlic 1/2 head cabbage, cored and cut into wedges Place potatoes, carrots and onion in slow cooker. Place corned beef brisket over vegetables. Sprinkle with pickling spice and minced garlic. Add enough water (about 8 cups) to just cover meat. Cover. Cook 7 hours on high. Add cabbage. Cover. Cook 1–2 hours on high or until cabbage is tender-crisp. Remove corned beef brisket to serving platter. Slice thinly across grain. Serve with vegetables. Tip: For best results, do not remove cover while cooking in slow cooker.
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One billion young at risk of hearing loss from loud music: WHO
(Geneva-AFP) – More than one billion young people risk damaging their hearing through listening to loud music, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday. The WHO estimates that around half of those between the ages of 12 and 35 in middle- and high-income countries are at risk due to unsafe levels of sound on personal audio devices or smartphones. Another 40 percent are at risk from damaging audio levels at concert venues and night clubs. “More and more young people are exposed to unsafe levels of sounds. Young people should be aware that once you lose your hearing, it won’t come back,” said Shelley Chadha, a WHO specialist on hearing impairment. The UN health agency considers a volume above 85 decibels for eight hours or 100 decibels for 15 minutes as unsafe. Exposure to traffic noise at peak hours can reach 85 decibels. The vuvuzela, a popular wind instrument used in stadiums during the football World Cup in South Africa in 2010, has a sound intensity of 120 decibels and over nine seconds of exposure could result in irreversible hearing damage.
Research calls for reinventing strategies to encourage healthy eating. ©Lisa S./shutterstock.com
Stop weight shaming, calorie counting to encourage healthy eating: study The WHO recommends that personal audio devices should not be used for more than an hour a day, at reduced sound levels. ©East/shutterstock.com
“It is something we can live without,” Chadha said referring to the vuvuzela. To counter the risks, the WHO recommends that personal audio devices should not be used for more than an hour a day, at reduced sound levels. The use of ear plugs in loud conditions and regular checkups were part of the recommendations as well.
The WHO also wants governments to play a role by imposing strict regulations on noise in public places. The UN agency estimates that 360 million people suffer from hearing loss worldwide. In addition to noise related causes and ageing, it is also brought on by infectious diseases, genetic conditions, complications at birth, and use of certain drugs.
Peanuts may reduce risk of death, heart disease Washington, United States | AFP | Monday 3/2/2015 – Eating peanuts, in small amounts, may reduce the risk of mortality, especially death from cardiovascular disease, a new study Monday showed. The report compiles research from people of varying races, including Caucasians, African Americans and Asians, all from low income backgrounds. Researchers found that consuming peanuts regularly reduced mortality among men and women from all groups, and suggests that eating the nuts – which are relatively affordable – can be an inexpensive and nutritious way to reduce mortality and cardiovascular disease around the world. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Internal Medicine includes more than 70,000 Caucasians and blacks in the United States and some 130,000 Chinese people in Shanghai. “We found that peanut consumption was associated with reduced total mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality
in a predominantly low-income black and white population in the US, and among Chinese men and women living in Shanghai,” said senior author Xiao-Ou Shu, associate director for Global Health at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC). There was a reduced risk of total mortality of in 17 to 21 percent of participants, the study showed. The risk of death from cardiovascular disease was slashed by between 23 and 38 percent. But co-author William Blot warned that because the data was from observational epidemiological studies and not randomized clinical trials, “we cannot be sure that peanuts per se were responsible for the reduced mortality observed.” “The findings from this new study, however, reinforce earlier research suggesting health benefits from eating nuts, and thus are quite encouraging,” added Blot, who is also associate director for cancer prevention control and populationbased research at VICC.
Peanuts are less expensive and more widely available than many other nuts, and are eaten by many cultures around the world. The nutritious nuts – which are actually legumes – are high in and unsaturated fat, fiber, vitamins, and anti-oxidants and can boost cardiovascular health with as little as 30 grams eaten weekly. “The results suggest that including a modest amount of nuts as part of a well-balanced diet may be of benefit,” said Peter Weissberg, director of the British Heart Foundation, who did not participate in the study. “The data do not show that the more peanuts you eat the lower the risk of a fatal heart attack, so people should not start eating large quantities of nuts, particularly salted nuts, in the hope that it will protect them from heart disease,” he added. Previous research has focused on white upper class research subjects. The participants in this latest study were observed for between five and 12 years.
Get the beauty looks from London Fashion Week (Relaxnews) – Want to recreate the striking Autumn/ Winter 2015/16 beauty looks seen on the catwalk at London Fashion Week this month? Then read on... Earthy eyes (as seen at Burberry Prorsum) Earthy eyes were on show at Burberry Prorsum, where soft eggplant shades and a warm foundation base kept the look romantic and relaxed. Blogger easyNeon has created this cool video demonstrating how to recreate the look with deep blues and greens. http://youtu.be/aTjpKEhdOQ8 Gothic romance (as seen at Giles) Gothic romance was the order of the day at British label Giles, with smoky eye sockets, pale bases and strong black lipstick making a serious style statement. UK blogger Emma Pickles has nailed the look in this tutorial, using a pretty eye and plenty of shimmer to keep things feminine. http://youtu.be/viaXdHbCqWU Burgundy lips (as seen at Roksanda) Lips were full, sensuous and a striking burgundy hue at Roksanda -- perfect for autumnal days. Skin was kept pale and luminous and eye makeup was pared right down for an almost completely natural look. This video by MakeupAndArtFreak explains exactly how to copy the ombré lip paired with softer eyes.
(Relaxnews) – Traditional strategies for encouraging young people to eat healthily have come under fire in the findings of four US-based research teams. Advertisements for weight loss programs that portray overweight and obese individuals in a negative manner could actually lead to weight gain, according to a study at the University of California at Santa Barbara. In their study, they observed women who perceived themselves as being overweight reach for more calorie-laden snacks after reading a news article that portrayed extra pounds in a negative light. On the flipside, a control group consumed less fattening snacks after reading a neutral article. “Simply reading about the potential for weight stigma was enough to impair self-regulation among overweight women,” says coauthor Jeffrey Hunger. Another practice to zap, according to researchers at Harvard University, is calorie counting. “If you’re counting calories, seemingly innocuous reminders of tempting, high-calorie food—such as an empty donut box in the middle of a conference table—can lead to worse performance on difficult tests of attention and reasoning ability,” says lead researcher Aimee Chabot.
Chabot and her team recommend simple strategies such as steering clear of added sugars or eating only at predetermined times. Young people are confronted dayin and day-out by images of tempting snacks in advertisements, which are well known to lead to poor food choices. In response, a research team at the University of Minnesota was pleasantly surprised to find that photographs of carrots and green beans on school lunch trays increased students’ appetite for veggies. Getting teens involved in current controversies over Big Food could be another important strategy, according to researchers at the University of California at San Diego and the University of Texas at Austin. Educating teens about deceptive marketing practices that lead shoppers to believe foods are healthier than they are and the extraordinary lengths companies go to in making their products as addictive as possible could increase interest in healthy eating, they say. The four teams presented their work in a symposium called “Challenging Misconceptions About the Psychology of Food Choice,” at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology’s 16th Annual Convention in Long Beach, California, which ended Saturday.
A sizeable, healthy breakfast could help patients with type 2 diabetes manage their glucose and insulin levels when balanced by a modest dinner. ©MaraZe/shutterstock. com
To manage diabetes, eat breakfast like an athlete, dinner like a sloth, study suggests (Relaxnews) – Type 2 diabetes patients should eat a high-energy breakfast and a low-energy dinner for optimal control over their blood sugar, according to researchers hailing from Sweden and Israel who conducted a smallscale study. In the new study, published in the journal Diabetologia, they worked with eight men and 10 women who have lived with type 2 diabetes for less than 10 years. Participants ranged in age from 30 to 70 years and they had a Body Mass Index (BMI) range of between 22 and 35. Ten of the 18 participants were being treated with a combination of diet advice and the drug metformin and the remaining eight were being treated with diet advice alone. Patients were selected at random to follow one of two diets, referred to as the B diet or the D diet. Following the B diet during the weeklong intervention involved eating a 2946 kilojoule (kj) breakfast, a 2523 kj lunch and a dinner containing just 858 kj. Those on the D diet at an 858 kj breakfast, the same lunch and a dinner worth 2946 kj.
Offerings in the larger meal included milk, tuna, granola bars, scrambled eggs, yoghurt and cereal and the smaller meal contained sliced turkey breast, mozzarella, salad and coffee. On the seventh day, the sampling day, the research team drew blood samples before breakfast and at intervals of 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 minutes after participants had begun to nosh. After two weeks, the patients swapped diet plans and the researchers re-tested their blood. After eating, glucose levels were a comfortable 20 percent lower while levels of insulin, Cpeptide and glucagon-like-peptide 1 hormone (GLP-1) were 20 percent higher in participants who followed the B diet when compared to their counterparts on the D diet. “These observations suggest that a change in meal timing influences the overall daily rhythm of post-meal insulin and incretin [C-peptide] and results in a substantial reduction in the daily post-meal glucose levels,” says Professor Froy. The study is available online in PDF format: http://www.diabetologia-journal.org/files/Jakubowicz.pdf
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Korean mermaids
March is Global Women’s Month. March 8 is International Women’s Day when we celebrate the social, economic and political achievements of women past, present and future. Because of this, we will hear a lot of stories about the proverbial “girl power.” I’ve heard and told my share, in my 20-year career as a print and broadcast journalist. But when it comes to women power, the female divers on Jeju island top my list. en would go out and in the water, to earn Mermaids are legendary folkloric crea- a living. tures that live in the water, enabled by “They’re not just income earners for their human upper body and the tail of a their families, they’re also keeping a Kofish. In one of the nine provinces of South rean tradition alive,” added Kelly. The haeKorea, however, people have seen “mer- nyeos sing/chant a traditional song before maids.” They’re called haenyeo or “sea entering the water. “The songs are usually women” translated in English. about the dangers of diving and being unHaenyeos are the famous female divers der water.” And these performances have of Jeju, representative of the matriarchal become a tourist attraction. family structure on the island. After all, Despite the culture and tradition behind the island is said to be abundant in three it, these women are living dangerous lives. things - wind, rocks and women, not neces- Precarious, indeed, especially because sarily in that order. But when the popula- these divers are not as equipped as a recretion of women outnumber that of the men, ational scuba diver would be. All they have you know who’s the boss. And these she- is a float to mark their location when they roes are the bosses who work...very hard. surface, a weeding hoe to pick up abalone Until the 19th century, diving was mostly and other shellfish that cling to the rocks; done by men. But it became less profitable and a net, to hold their catch. Wearing a when higher taxes were imposed on male surf suit; and sometimes a lead-weight vest divers, compared to the women who did not and goggles, they plunge into the water, as have to pay any. Because of this, women deep as 20 meters and hold their breath for took over the diving industry which was 2-3 minutes. Once they come back to the also considered the lowest of all jobs. But surface, they make a distinct whistling since most places on the island relied on sound called “sumbisori” - the sound of their sea products, these women divers also be- effort to breathe in fresh oxygen and emit came the breadwinners. the carbon dioxide they accumulated from “Women are also more adaptable to div- holding their breath under water, akin to ing since their relatively warmer-bodied the sound that whales and seals make. than men and are more suited to swim“Maybe because we’re so used to it beming, compared to men with more body cause we do it all the time, being under wafat,” said Kelly, the guide who accompanied ter is more peaceful for me,” Sook Ja-Koh, us around Jeju in September 2001, when I a haenyeo we interviewed during our trip. first met the haenyeos. “I know the dangers. But concentrating on On Mara island, because sea products staying alive while doing my job helps me are the primary source of revenue before to forget my day-to-day problems.” tourism started booming, these haenyeos That didn’t sound like a happy existence became the head of their respective fami- to me. Yet immediately I knew the haelies. And because of these female divers, nyeos deserved my admiration – now and gender roles on the island were totally re- before, when it was even more difficult to versed. Often, the men would stay at home maintain such a profession. and look after the children; while the wom“30 years ago, there was no dive suit and
Freshest catch of the day, courtesy of the haenyeos – female divers on Jeju island, in Korea.
other gears. We wore white cotton suits and a towel on our head. Then we worked for an hour, at the most,” said Sook who has been diving since she was about 12. Now she’s in her 50s. Haenyeos usually dive at 10 years old, all the way to their 80s. “In the winter, we would be very cold. We’ll be under water for about an hour, then warm ourselves by the fire for 3-4 hours.” Temperatures in Jeju during the winter vary between 0-10 degrees Celcius. “After 3-4 hours by the fire, our cotton suits would dry up; and it was time to get back in the water. In the summer, we are able to stay 2-3 hours in the water,” she proudly declared. Andreas Weater, a European tourist, said: “I’m fascinated by the island. But the haenyeos are what to see here in Jeju. Really, really exciting.” While the haenyeos are now attracting attention from all over the world, unfortunately, their numbers are dwindling and their way of life is slowly disappearing. A Jeju Weekly article published in May 2014, mentions that there are only 48 haenyeos left in Daepyeong-ri is one of 44 sea villages in Seogwipo City. The oldest diver right now is 84 years old. Frankly, I don’t know if this is a good thing or not. On the one hand, I suppose since it’s dangerous for the female divers to be doing this job, it’s better for them to find a safer way to earn money. On the other hand, the end of this tradition will also be an extinction of this part of Korean culture that has stayed for more than a thousand years.
Female divers with their gears
Haenyeos in action.
Nonetheless, the Korean government values the contributions of the haenyeos to Jeju island lifestyle and livelihood. That’s why it is mandated that only these female divers are licensed to sell fresh seafood products on the island. And believe me, this meal of fresh seafood on the island was one of the best meals I’ve had in my life... cheap, too! [END] Jannelle So is credited for creating, hosting and producing America’s first and only locally-produced daily talk show for Filipinos, that ran for 8 ½ years under her leadership, making it the longest-running Filipino talk show outside of the Philippines. On her spare time, she loves to travel. This new column will document her sojourns as she shares what she learns an discovers on her trips. Connect to her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; or email her at sojannelle77@gmail.com.