Us Asian Post May 13, 2015 by Balita Media Inc

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US confirms what PHL claims China pursuing huge South China Sea land reclamation: US Pacific Fleet commander By Dan De Luce

(OTTAWA, Canada) President Benigno S. Aquino III reviews the honor guards during the welcome ceremony at Rideau Hall for his State Visit to Canada. (MNS photo)

Washington, United States (AFP) Friday 5/8/2015 – China has dramatically ramped up its land reclamation efforts in the South China Sea this year, building artificial islands at an unprecedented pace to bolster its territorial claims in the disputed area, US officials said Friday. The rapid construction of artificial islands in the strategic waters comes to 2,000 acres (800 hectares), with 75 percent of the total in the last five months, officials said. “China has expanded the acreage on the outposts it occupies by some four hundred times,” said a US defense official. The United States did not endorse land reclamation by any of the countries with territorial claims in the South China Sea, but “the pace and scale of China’s land reclamation in recent years dwarfs that of any other claim-

ant,” the official said. The South China Sea is home to strategically vital shipping lanes and is believed to be rich in oil and gas. Washington is concerned China’s efforts carry a military dimension that could undermine America’s naval and economic power in the Pacific. The commander of the US Pacific Fleet, Admiral Harry Harris, said in March that China is “creating a Great Wall of sand.” US officials released the reclamation estimate as the Pentagon issued its annual report to Congress on the state of China’s military, which repeated accusations that Beijing was staging cyber attacks to scoop up information on American defense programs. The report also warned that China has made major strides with a range of satellites as well as anti-satellite jammers, saying it now had “the most dynamic space program in the world today.” China blasted the US report on Saturday, expressing opposition See US CLAIMS, page 12

Vietnam reclaiming land in South China Sea: report Hanoi, Vietnam (AFP) Friday 5/8/2015 – Vietnam has carried out significant land reclamation at two sites in disputed South China Sea waters, recent satellite pictures show, but analysts say the scale of the work is dwarfed by that of China. The images, taken late last month by DigitalGlobe and shown on the website of the Washingtonbased Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), show

land expansions at Sand Cay and West London Reef, both part of the Spratly Islands chain and occupied by Vietnam. “Between August 2011 and February 2015 significant upgrades were made to (Sand Cay),” CSIS said, noting the island’s land mass had expanded from 41,690 to 62,970 square meters. Vietnam also appears to have added “defensive structures,” including trenches and gun em-

Diplomats speak of Pakistan helicopter crash terror Islamabad, Pakistan (AFP0 Saturday 5/9/2015 – Three ambassadors to Pakistan who survived a helicopter crash that killed seven people have described the terrifying moment the aircraft span out of control before slamming into the ground and catching fire. Testimonies of diplomats on board from Malaysia, Argentina and the Netherlands released by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on Saturday also unequivocally bolstered government and eyewitness statements that the disaster was an accident rather than an act of terrorism. Malaysia’s envoy – who was himself injured in the crash – described how the journey had gone to plan until they were due

to land at their destination in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region. “After arriving at Gilgit airport everything went well except for the last few minutes, when the helicopter went into a spiral, round and round and round, and there it hit the ground,” Hasrul Sani Mujtabar said. “I saw the pilot was killed, some others died instantly and I was in middle. Then a few managed to escape but the fire was very strong,” with smoke quickly filling the helicopter, he said. The helicopter was one of three carrying a delegation of ambassadors to inspect projects on a threeday trip to the region, where they were set to meet with Prime MinSee DIPLOMATS, page 12

placements, it said. At West Reef – which is part of the London Reefs group of western Spratly Islands – some 65,000 meters of land have been reclaimed with new structures, including a harbor, being added, it said. The work appears to have begun in August 2012, CSIS said, long before Beijing launched a flurry of reclamation projects last See VIETNAM, page 12

PHL ambassador to Pakistan dies in helicopter crash Los Angeles, 08 May 2015 – The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles joined other colleagues in grieving the untimely demise of Philippine Ambassador to Pakistan Hon. Domingo D. Lucenario, Jr. due to a helicopter crash incident in the Naltar Valley area of Pakistan. Ambassador Lucenario together with Norwegian envoy Leif Larsen and the wives of the Indonesian and Malaysian were part of a foreign diplomatic group from Islamabad to attend the launch of a Tourism project. Ambassador Lucenario was a career ambassador who served See AMBASSADOR, page 12

No trash talk, but PHL, Canada to launch free-trade negotiations

(OTTAWA, Canada) President Benigno S. Aquino III views the official gifts at the Large Drawing Room of the Rideau Hall during the dinner reception for his State Visit to Canada. Also in photo are David Johnston, Governor General of Canada and Mrs. Sharon Johnston. (MNS photo)

U.S. soldiers try to start a fire with bamboo sticks during a jungle training exercise in Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, April 17, 2015. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Samantha Van Winkle

PHL, Japan to hold joint naval exercise in S. China Sea Manila, Philippines (AFP) Sunday 5/10/2015 – The Philippines’ navy chief said Sunday it would hold a joint exercise with Japan in the South China Sea, but emphasised the collaboration was unrelated to China’s land reclamation efforts in the disputed waters. Two warships from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) will take part in the exercise with a single Philippine ship after making a port call in the Philippines this month, said Vice Admiral Jesus Millan. “This is a port call, a regular port call of the Japanese navy and while they are here, it would be good if we can practice this code of unplanned encounters at sea,”

he said. The exercise will take place just outside the former US naval base of Subic, off the archipelago’s west coast, he added. The Japanese vessels would be leaving Subic while a Philippine ship was heading there under the training scenario, he said. Millan said Japanese and Philippine sailors would have an opportunity to “compare notes” during the exercise, but stressed it had nothing to do with the Philippines’ territorial dispute with China over conflicting claims to large parts of the sea. The Philippines has been seeking closer ties with regional allies See EXERCISE, page 12

Mayweather U-turns on rematch with ‘coward’ Pacquiao

Montreal, Canada (AFP) Friday 5/8/2015 – Canada and the Philippines announced they will begin discussions over increasing commerce between the two nations by lowering trade barriers, officials from the two governments said Friday in Ottawa. The negotiations are part of a push by Canada to develop bilateral economic agreements in Asia as progress has slowed on the twelve-country North American-Asia Pacific trade accord, known as the Trans-Pacific Part-

Los Angeles, United States (AFP) Friday 5/8/2015 - 00:37 GMT | 359 words Floyd Mayweather has branded Manny Pacquiao a “sore loser” and a coward and says he won’t delay his planned retirement to grant the Philippine icon a rematch next year, in an apparent Uturn. And he dismissed Pacquiao’s claim that he had been carrying an injury in Saturday’s one-sided win for Mayweather, the American calling it “Excuses, excuses, excuses.” Mayweather took his unbeaten record to 48-0 in Las Vegas with a 12-round unanimous decision over Pacquiao in a welterweight world title bout that will go down as the most lucrative in boxing history. In an interview recorded this week to be aired on Showtime television on Saturday, Mayweather says he did text ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith that he would grant Pacquiao a rematch – but he has changed his mind. The 38-year-old says he couldn’t detect any physical problem for Pacquiao during the bout, after which the Filipino and his camp said he was suffering from a right shoulder injury.

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Thousands flee as typhoon hits Luzon By Mynardo Macaraig

Manila, Philippines | AFP | Sunday 5/10/2015 - 12:54 GMT – Typhoon Noul slammed into the northern tip of the Philippines Sunday, triggering warnings of possible flash floods, landslides and storm surges and prompting almost 3,000 people to flee their homes. The storm hit Cagayan province late Sunday afternoon and was expected to move north towards Japan, the government weather station said. The civil defense office said there were no immediate reports of storm-related deaths but the typhoon knocked out power in much of the province, making it difficult to get data. Meteorologists said Noul’s movement slowed slightly before reaching the Philippines, but it also strengthened to pack gusts of 220 kilometers (137 miles) per hour. In Taiwan, authorities warned sailors of strong winds and high waves and evacuated almost 1,000 tourists from an island off the southeast coast. “This is a very dangerous storm. It is the strongest so far this year,” said Rene Paciente, head of the Philippines’ marine weather division. More than 1,680 people in Cagayan were evacuated from coastal villages before the storm hit and the exercise was continuing, said Norma Talosig, regional civil defense chief. “They have to evacuate to higher ground, not in their village. They are being assisted by the local governments using buses and trucks, even ambulances,” she told AFP. More than 2,000 were expected to flee but Talosig expressed fears some people would refuse to go due to complacency. “The weather was good there earlier so it was a bit hard to get the message out,” she said. “Some people were worried about the security of the belongings they may leave behind. We have been trying our best, aiming for zero casualties but our efforts will be useless if some people don’t listen,” she added. Over 1,200 other people evacu-

ated their homes in the neighboring province of Isabela as a precautionary measure before the storm, the civil defense office said. Take no chances National civil defense chief Alexander Pama said that given the possibility of storm surges of up to two meters (6.5 feet), they were taking no chances. “There is no exact science in this. So we will stay on the safe side” by ordering evacuations in vulnerable areas, he said. “Even as we speak, our armed forces are already moving... to help in the evacuation. So too are our police forces who are conducting evacuations in their municipalities,” he told reporters. Storm surges – tsunami-like waves generated by powerful typhoons – have become a major concern during storms. In November 2013 storm surges were the main killers as Super Typhoon Haiyan ravaged the central Philippines, leaving more than 7,350 people dead or missing. Several hundred people living in a farming hamlet below the restive Bulusan volcano on Luzon were also evacuated due to fears that rain would mix with volcanic ash on its slopes and form deadly and fast-moving mudflows. The civil defense office also cited numerous areas that could be hit by landslides or flash floods due to the “heavy to intense rainfall” brought by the typhoon. The government suspended ferry services in affected areas and some domestic flights were also cancelled. About 20 typhoons and storms hit the Philippines each year, many of them deadly. In Taiwan nearly 1,000 tourists had been evacuated from scenic Green Island by noon, an official from the county government said. “Tourists would otherwise be stranded there for at least two days,” he said. All ferries and flights to Green Island and another tourist attraction, Orchid Island, were suspended and people were urged to stay away from coastal areas. The storm was expected to pass to the east of Taiwan on Monday.

New Comelec commissioner is Iqbal’s nephew

MANILA, May 8 (Mabuhay) – New Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Sheriff Abas is a nephew of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal. According to new Comelec chairman Andres Bautista, this was confirmed to him by no less than Abas himself. Bautista said he met with Abas last Wednesday. Abas was not able to attend the en banc session on Tuesday as he was still in Cotabato at the time. “Ang sabi niya sa akin, yes. They’re related, pamangkin daw siya,” Bautista said. “He is a lawyer by profession. He graduated from Ateneo de Davao [University]. I think he’s 36 or 37 years old. He’s currently working with the Civil Service Commission (CSC) sa Cotabato,” he added. Iqbal, for his part, on Thursday refused to confirm or deny his relationship with the newly-appointed commissioner of the poll body, saying the matter is a non-issue. “’Sa aking pananaw po, it’s not an issue whether he is my nephew,” Iqbal said. “I don’t want to answer that because it would lead to something. Pardon me for not answering questions regarding this.” He nonetheless stressed that there is nothing wrong if a nephew of his gets appointed to a sensitive national post. “Makikita natin dito, sa palagay nating pamangkin ko siya, na talagang mature ang democracy dito sa Pilipinas,” he said. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano earlier alleged that the real name of the MILF chief negotiator is Datucan Abas, which Iqbal also did not confirm or deny. (MNS)

Aquino appoints new Sandiganbayan associate justice MANILA, May 9 (Mabuhay) – President Aquino has appointed Assistant Solicitor General Sarah Jane Fernandez as associate justice of the Sandiganbayan. Malacañang said the appointment papers of Fernandez, dated May 8 and signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., has been sent to Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. Fernandez will replace Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Gregory Ong, who was dismissed last year over his supposed links to alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles. The high court found Ong guilty of gross misconduct, dishonesty, and impropriety. (MNS)

Miss Philippines-Earth 2015 candidates perform a dance number Thursday at the poolside of the Diamond Hotel in Manila during the press presentation of the pageant. The 41 candidates will take part in the 15th edition of the pageant on May 31 at the MOA Arena in Pasay City. (MNS photo)

Hundreds flee rumbling Bulusan volcano

Sorsogon, Philippines (AFP) Friday 5/8/2015 – Hundreds of people fled their homes on the slopes of a rumbling Philippine volcano on Friday as authorities warned of rain-driven mudflows from an approaching typhoon that could bury them alive. On Sunday, Mount Bulusan remained on Alert Level 1 even as no volcanic quakes were recorded by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in the last 24-hours. In its update, the NDRRMC also said human activity and movement within the 4-km Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) around the volcano are prohibited. Residents in valleys and near bodies of water near Bulusan must stay alert against possible sediment-laden stream flows and lahar should there be heavy and prolonged rainfall. On the other hand, PAGASA division head Esperanza Cayan-

an earlier warned residents that Typhoon Dodong may exacerbate mudflow from Bulusan as the cyclone draws near Sorsogon where the volcano is located. Evacuation activities in towns near Bulusan began on Friday, as the volcano spewed ash and emitted smoke. (MNS)Around 500 residents of farming villages around Bulusan volcano, many of them children and elderly women, boarded army trucks clutching sleeping mats and bags of clothes as Typhoon Noul bore down on the area. “I have no choice but to evacuate. I may not be strong enough to outrun the mud flows,” 66-yearold housewife Dolores Guela told AFP. Officials said she and her meningitis-stricken nine-year-old granddaughter would be among about 1,000 people taken to temporary shelters to wait out the wrath of Noul, which was forecast to bring heavy rains in the region from late Friday.

The typhoon was gusting at up to 185 kph (115 mph) and experts warned debris from two recent ash explosions could rumble down the slopes of the 1,559-metre (5,115-foot) volcano. State volcanologists subsequently raised Alert level 1 – the lowest in a five-step warning system – on Bulusan. Minor ash explosions alone would not normally prompt an evacuation, but authorities ordered one nonetheless because of the threat of mud flows from the approaching storm. Bulusan, on the southeastern tip of the main island of Luzon, is about 400 kilometeres (249 miles) south of the capital, Manila. It is among the country’s 23 active volcanoes. Noul would be the fourth major storm or typhoon to hit the Philippines this year. The disasterprone nation is lashed by an average of 20 each year, routinely killing hundreds of people.

Ampatuan Massacre key suspect gets hero’s homecoming? Cotabato, Philippines (AFP) Sunday 5/10/2015 – One of the key defendants in the Philippines’ worst political massacre returned home to a hero’s welcome on Sunday following his release on bail after five years in prison. Sajid Ampatuan, whose politically-influential family is suspected of ordering the murder of 58 people in the southern island of Mindanao in 2009, was greeted by hordes of supporters and a huge feast at the home of a political ally in the troubled region. “It’s a mix of emotions. I’m happy now but I’m sad because my dad and siblings are still in prison,” he said. They are also on trial for the killings that shocked the world. The court granted Sajid Ampatuan a provisional release in March, ruling against the government which wanted to keep him in prison along with more than 100 other suspects in the slaughter. Sajid is a son of Andal Ampatuan Sr., a Muslim political clan leader accused of masterminding the massacre in his southern bailiwick of Maguindanao province on November 23, 2009 in a bid to

crush an election challenge from a rival political clan. Nine Ampatuan clan members are among 111 people detained for the mass killings that included 32 media workers, making the attack one of the deadliest ever recorded globally against journalists. Despite the government’s efforts, the court allowed Sajid to post bail. The bail petitions for the other Ampatuans are still pending. Sajid continued to maintain his innocence and expressed concern for relatives still imprisoned. “The life inside the jail was so difficult. It is hot and crowded inside. But because of the help of Allah, I managed to survive,” he said. While the case drags on in court, four people who had already given evidence or were scheduled to testify, as well as three relatives of potential witnesses, have been murdered over the past few years. Many question whether justice can ever be achieved. The Philippines has long been blighted by a “culture of impunity” in which the powerful believe they can commit crimes like mur-

der and escape unpunished. President Benigno Aquino, who was elected on a reformist platform in 2010, had vowed to fight this culture but there are fears the trial will still not be completed before his term ends in 2016. Meanwhile, Malacañang on Monday appealed to members of the House of Representatives’ ad hoc panel which scrutinized the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) to consider peace in Mindanao, as the committee prepares to vote on the controversial measure. “Today, the 75-member ad hoc panel of the House of Representatives is expected to begin voting on the provisions of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. We have every hope that they will vote for peace, which is the foundation of unity and progress,” presidential spokesman Sec. Edwin Lacierda said in a statement. Lacierda also maintained that President Benigno Aquino III is determined to push for development in Mindanao. “The welfare of our brothers and sisters in Mindanao has always been part of the administration’s agenda of inclusive growth.

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Gazmin: China’s claiming of airspace over disputed territories a ‘cause for concern’ MANILA, May 8 (Mabuhay) – Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin on Friday expressed concern over China’s alleged claiming of airspace over disputed territories in the South China Sea. “Ito ay cause for concern sapagkat parang pina-practice ng China na meron nang ADIZ (air defense identification zone) although wala pang formal declaration,” Gazmin told reporters. He said the Philippine government is monitoring the supposed move of China and will inform the appropriate agency about it. “So this is part of our effort to monitor, we continue to move around and see their action and have this reported to the proper agency for its proper action,” Gazmin said. During Thursday’s hearing in the Senate on the recent Chinese reclamation activities in the South China Sea, Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez said Air Force planes conducting patrol over the disputed area were told over the radio in six separate incidents that they were flying on a Chinese “military security area.” Gazmin said they have advised Air Force pilots not to be bothered by China’s alleged action. “Ang directive natin [ay] continue yung kanyang normal na trabaho, hindi dapat natatakot sa mga babalang ganito,” he said. Maj. Gen. Angelito De Leon, Armed Forces of the Philippines deputy chief of staff for operations, echoed Gazmin’s statement that they have instructed pilots not to mind the incident. “The practice sabi nga ni secretary is the pilot was advised to continue its normal mission, hindi po nababago yun,” he said. He added they will also continue to monitor the happenings at Subi Reef where China also has reclamation work, stressing that they are prepared for any eventuality. “We are prepared. We are prepared with our contingency plans right now, but of course we are monitoring and the Department of Foreign Affairs will take charge of it... Appropriate measures have been taken by DFA naman,” De Leon said. The Philippines, China, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Taiwan have overlapping claims over parts of the South China Sea. China has been conducting reclamation work over the islands they were claiming and even shoo fishermen, particularly from the Philippines and Vietnam, away from the islands. (MNS)

Drilon: No more time and budget for ConCon MANILA, May 8 (Mabuhay) – Senate President Franklin Drilon said Friday there is no more time and budget left in the Aquino administration to hold a referendum for a Constitutional Convention as proposed by Senators Teofisto Guingona III and Aquilino Pimentel III. “Medyo gahol na sa panahon ito at wala nang budget,” Drilon said in a radio interview. “Pag nagkaroon ng referendum - ayan po ay sang-ayon sa ating Saligang Batas na magkaroon ng referendum at konsultahin ang taumbayan – unang-una ay kailangan natin ng malaking pera o malaking budget, for a nationwide consultation or referendum. Pangalawa, wala na tayong panahon,” he explained. Drilon said if his colleagues wanted to debate on whether there is a need for a Constitutional Convenstion, they can do so even without a public consultation. “Kami po ay kinatawan ng taumbayan, at ayon sa Saligang Batas, two-thirds ng buong Kongreso at ng Senado ay puwede nang magpasya at magpatawag ng isang Constitutional Convention kung saan ang isang delegado ay pwedeng i-elect sa May 2016,” he said. “Pero kung gagawin pang referendum ay gahol na tayo sa panahon, wala po tayong budget,” he reiterated. The Constitutional Convention is one of the three modes allowed to amend the Constitution. The other two are people’s initiative and constituent assembly. Under the people’s initiative, an amendment may be proposed by the people through a petition of at least 12 percent of the total number of registered voters, while under a constituent assembly, Congress may propose amendments upon a vote of three-fourths of all its members. Guingona, Pimentel resolution On May 5, Guingona and Pimentel filed Senate Resolution 1308 urging members of Congress “to submit to the electorate the question of calling for a Constitutional Convention to propose amendments or revisions to the 1987 Constitution.” They said various business organizations and research groups have identified provisions in the 1987 Constitution that need to be revised to address expanding global demands, as well as, economic and political realities. “The radical revision in the constitutional structure is a task better given to a constitutional convention, whose members shall be chosen by the people, rather than to a constituent assembly, composed of members of Congress who currently wield political power,” they said. They added that the calling of a Constitutional Convention to propose amendments to or revisions of the Constitution is the least divisive and the most transparent, exhaustive, and democratic way of achieving much-needed constitutional reforms. The senators said the Congress can either directly call a constitutional convention by a vote of two-thirds of all its members, or submit to the electorate the question of calling such a convention by a majority of all its members. They said that to dispel any doubts that the constitutional reforms are being sought to advance political and economic interests of a chosen few, it would be more prudent, participatory, and democratic to submit to the electorate the question of calling such a constitutional convention. They proposed that the should the electorate favorably decide to one one, the election for delegates be conducted simultaneously with the May 9, 2016 elections to defray the cost of a separate election. (MNS)

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Aquino mourns death of PHL ambassador in Pakistan crash

MANILA, May 9 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno Aquino III on Friday expressed grief over the death of Philippine Ambassador to Pakistan Domingo Lucenario Jr. in a helicopter crash. In a statement, Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said Aquino and his delegation learned of the tragedy while in Ottawa, Canada. “He (Aquino) said that the Philippines lost an outstanding career diplomat who served his country with distinction for nearly three decades,” Coloma said. Coloma added Aquino “conveyed his sympathy and condolences with Ambassador Lucenario’s family.” Aquino is on a three-day state visit to Canada.

Chopper crash Lucenario was among the seven people killed in a military helicopter crash on Friday in northern Pakistan. The victims were on their way to inspect development projects there. Also killed were ambassador of Norway and the wives of the Malaysian, Indonesian ambassadors and the pilots and crew of the chopper. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was traveling to the mountainous northern region of Gilgit on a separate aircraft to launch two projects when the accident happened. He returned to Islamabad, his office said. Military spokesman Asim Bajwa said in Twitter posts that initial information indicated the cause was a technical fault.(MNS)

Bongbong seeks review of anti-trafficking campaign to prevent another Mary Jane Veloso case Senator Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has filed a resolution directing the Senate to conduct a full review of the country’s efforts against human trafficking to prevent another case similar to that of Mary Janes Veloso. In his Senate Resolution No. 1325 filed last May 6, Marcos asked the appropriate committee to conduct a review of Republic Act No. 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking Act of 2012 and the performance of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT). ”Review is not only timely but also critically important to ensure that Mary Jane Veloso’s case would be an isolated one and the last of its kind,” Marcos said. He noted that most convictions involving human trafficking involved domestic cases, hence the need to up the ante on cases involving cross-border trafficking as exemplified by the Veloso case. “There is an urgency to this proposal for a thorough review of the expanded anti-trafficking law considering that there are 92 other Filipinos on death row in other parts of the world for various crimes, and we need to determine whether some of them may also have been victims of trafficking in persons” Marcos said. The resolution formalizes the senator’s earlier call for such a review after the last minute-reprieve granted to Veloso by the Indonesian government

to enable her to testify against her alleged illegal recruiter. Veloso was sentenced to death by the Indonesian government for bringing in over two kilos of heroin to that country in 2010. She claimed, however, that Ma. Kristina Sergio, who recruited her to work as domestic helper, tricked her into carrying the suitcase packed with illegal drugs. Following the filing of criminal charges against Sergio and her partner Julius Lacanilao in connection with Veloso’s case, several other complainants against them have surfaced. Marcos cited the need to review IACAT’s performance to enhance its capability to provide assistance and protection to victims of trafficking. The senator noted that since 2011, the United States government has classified the Philippines in the Tier 2 category, referring to countries that have shown significant but not overwhelming progress in the fight against human trafficking. “It is important that the Philippines show firm, consistent and unquestionable resolve in protecting the welfare of migrant Filipino workers and ensuring their safety when seeking jobs abroad, from time of recruitment to onsite services, as well as towards future reintegration and reunification with their families back home,” Marcos said. (MNS)

US ‘concerned’ over reported Chinese global censorship tool Washington, United States (AFP) Friday 5/8/2015 – The United States expressed concern Friday over reports China has used a powerful censorship tool dubbed “Great Cannon” to attack websites around the world. Researchers reported in April that the “Great Cannon” is an online attack system used to hijack web traffic and enforce the country’s broad censorship of information online. The system was used to shut down websites aimed at helping Chinese bypass the country’s extensive online restrictions known as the “Great Firewall,” experts said. “We are concerned by reports that China has used a new cyber capability to interfere with the ability of worldwide internet users to access content hosted outside of China,” State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke said following a question about the program.

Rathke said the cyber attack manipulated Chinese web traffic and “and turned it into malicious traffic directed at US sites.” “We have asked Chinese authorities to investigate this activity and provide us with the results of their investigation,” he said. Experts at the University of Toronto reported on the Great Cannon last month, noting denial of service attacks carried out by the system. The report supported claims by an activist organization which said China was seeking to shut down its online service that offer ways to access content from blocked websites. Great Cannon gives China cyberattack capabilities similar to the US National Security Agency’s Quantum program, revealed in documents leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, experts said.

Thailand calls for Malaysia, Myanmar help in halting trafficking By Boonradom Chitradon

Bangkok, Thailand (AFP) Friday 5/8/2015 – Thailand’s junta chief Friday called for Malaysia and Myanmar’s help in stamping out the region’s thriving human trafficking trade as the UN warned migrant crossings in the Bay of Bengal have dramatically spiked. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha said he is seeking a three-way meeting with the neighboring countries before the end of May following the discovery of remains from dozens of migrants in southern Thailand. In recent years tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims, mainly from Myanmar but also more recently from Bangladesh, have braved the dangerous sea crossing to southern Thailand, with many headed for Malaysia and beyond. The recent discovery of migrant graves and a network of secret jungle camps run by people smugglers in Thailand’s deep south has embarrassed the kingdom and highlighted its central role in a grim trade in which officials have long been accused of complicity. “We are the middle country, what should we do?” Prayut told reporters. “They (the migrants) have to pass Thailand on the way. But the third country doesn’t want to accept them (either),” he added. Prayut, who took over in a coup nearly a year ago, suggested officials across the region were benefiting from the trade. “There have been evil people as well as the authorities. But without the authorities joining in, it wouldn’t happen,” he said, adding corrupt officials should be “got rid of”. His comments came as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said an estimated 25,000 Rohingya and Bangladeshis have taken to boats in the first three months of this year – double the number over the same period in 2014. “Based on survivor accounts, we estimate that 300 people died at sea in the first quarter of 2015 as a result of starvation, dehydration and abuse by boat crews,” the refugee agency said in a statement Friday. ‘Beatings, executions and rapes’ The UN added that the most common route used by gangs was to ferry migrants by boat to Ranong province in southern Thailand and

drive them by road to a network of hidden camps on the southern border with Malaysia. “Conditions in the smugglers’ camp are horrific,” the statement read. “Beatings are common and there are reports of rapes. Those who try to escape risk being shot.” Highlighting the regional nature of trafficking, Bangladesh police on Friday said three people-smugglers were gunned down by officers in a border region close to Myanmar. Officials accused the men of smuggling thousands of people in recent years via networks that spread into Myanmar and Thailand. A day earlier labour rights group Tenaganita said interviews with survivors indicated Malaysians were also involved in human smuggling and ran secret prison camps. Authorities in Kuala Lumpur have yet to respond to the allegations. The discovery of the skeleton-filled graves at remote jungle camps on Thailand’s southern border with Malaysia was made during a recent crackdown that comes at a crucial time for the kingdom. Last summer the US relegated Thailand to the bottom of its list of countries failing to tackle modern-day slavery. The next State Department report on human trafficking is expected imminently and Thailand has lobbied Washington against its inclusion in the lowest tier, insisting it is now clamping down. Regional police official Major General Puthichart Ekachant told AFP nine people have now been arrested in the last week on suspicion of running people smuggling rackets, including a senior municipal official in Padang Besar who turned himself in on Friday. More than 50 police officers, including senior officials, have been transferred from their posts for complicity or turning a blind eye to the trade. Meanwhile dozens of suspected migrants have been rounded up in southern Thailand, some of whom were abandoned by smugglers. Police in Songkhla province Friday told AFP 65 suspected Bangladeshis had been discovered near a rubber plantation in Rattaphum district trying to make their way to Malaysia.

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UTREACH

SCE celebrates Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month ROSEMEAD, Calif., May 1, 2015 – Southern California Edison (SCE) today celebrates its business and community partnerships in the Asian community at its 10th annual Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month Celebration at SCE’s Energy Education Center in Irwindale. Ted Craver, chairman, president and CEO of Edison International, the parent company of SCE, will speak at the event, which brings together Asian businesses and community partners, recognizes AAPI energy-efficient champions and highlights SCE’s partners with its mission to give back to the communities it serves. This year’s award recipients are Foreign Exchange, RePET Inc., Asian Pacific Community Fund and Chinese American Construction Professionals.

Ted Nguyen, a national award-winning social media, public relations and marketing communications professional, is the keynote speaker. “Celebrating Business & Community Partnerships,” with a special focus on giving back, is this year’s theme. “Our Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage event celebrates our cultural diversity and the achievements of Asian-American business and communities partners,” said Lisa Cagnolatti, vice president of SCE’s Business Customer Division and Customer Service Safety. “It’s also an opportunity for Southern California Edison to show our appreciation to the communities we serve.” Receiving SCE’s 2015 Energy Efficiency Participation Award are: Foreign Exchange, a new clothing

company with more than 30 stores in California, including nine in SCE’s service territory. Foreign Exchange has played a proactive role in energy savings and its participation in SCE’ Energy Efficiency Express Solutions program has led to reduced electricity usage and incentives. RePET, Inc., a recycling center, that has maintained corporate values in reducing costs by saving energy and improving safety. Through its partnership with SCE via its Energy Efficiency/Demand Response programs, RePET has installed more efficient lighting and is currently enrolled in SCE’s Real Time Pricing program. SCE’s Community Partnership Award goes to the Asian Pacific Com-

munity Fund (APCF), which is focused on transforming lives and meeting the diverse needs of the AAPI community. To date, APCF has awarded $3 million to its affiliate agencies and other community organizations, enabling culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate services to enhance the lives of 225,000 people annually in 27 Asian and Pacific Islander languages, in addition to English and Spanish. SCE’s Diverse Business Enterprise Award will be given to the Chinese American Construction Professionals, which enhances members’ competitiveness in local and global markets, facilitates professional and business networking opportunities and serves the community while nurturing the future of construction professionals. Jestin Ma, a freshman at Stanford

University, will share his experiences as a 2014 Edison Scholar and the recipient of a $40,000 scholarship. He is studying computer science and engineering and is a graduate of San Gabriel High School. NBC4 Southern California reporter Hetty Chang will serve as emcee. A native of Southern California, Chang is an Emmy Award-nominated journalist who covers the Long Beach and South Bay communities. About Southern California Edison An Edison International company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving a population of nearly 14 million via 4.9 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and Southern California.

Secure means safe when it comes to metallic balloons for moms, grads and proms ROSEMEAD, Calif., May 4, 2015 – If there’s a season for everything, May begins the usual peak months for power outages caused by metallic balloons. And this year, those outages are already up 55 percent and at an all-time high for the first three months of any year. With this happening even before the traditionally most active months for balloon-related outages around Mother’s Day, graduations and proms, Southern California Edison (SCE) urges its customers to always keep those balloons secured to a weight as required by California law and to never release them outdoors. This is especially vital since SCE has had 182 outages through March compared to 118 last year at that point. “Keep them indoors if possible, but the best way to prevent them from floating dangerously away

outdoors is by keeping them tied to that weight or something else sturdy,” said Don Neal, SCE director of Corporate Environmental, Health and Safety. “Not doing so can lead to serious injuries, property damage and outages.” Injuries and property damage can potentially occur when the balloon contact leads to downed power lines. May and June have long been the worst months for balloon outages, with 35 percent (230) of SCE’s 656 balloon outages last year occurring in these months. Since 2010, SCE has consistently suffered about one-third of its balloon outages in May and June — twice the number on average than the next two months. During National Electrical Safety Month, SCE recommends some tips for handling metallic balloons:

Do not attempt to retrieve a balloon – or any foreign object – tangled in power lines. Instead, call SCE at 800-611-1911 and report the problem. Never tie a metallic balloon to a child’s wrist. If the balloon comes into contact with electricity, it will travel through the balloon and into the child, possibly causing serious injury or even death. Never attach streamers to any balloon – latex or metallic. When done with them, puncture the balloons or cut the knot to keep them from floating away. If you see a downed line or dangling wire – even if it appears not to be live – don’t touch or approach it and call 911 immediately. More on metallic balloon safety can be found at on.sce.com/staysafe. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Barbara Romero, Chief Sustainability Office Matt Petersen, and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) Director of Water Quality Albert Gastelum were joined by representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), the State Water Resources Control Board, LA County Public Health, American Water Works Association (AWWA), and the LA Department of Recreation and Parks in unveiling new, city-wide drinking water stations for the enjoyment and health of all residents.

LA celebrates TAP Water Day to highlight benefits of city’s clean drinking water LOS ANGELES – City and federal officials have announced the first annual Tap Water Day LA at the Balboa Sports Center in Encino, celebrating Los Angeles’ clean, reliable drinking water. Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Barbara Romero, Chief Sustainability Office Matt Petersen, and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) Director of Water Quality Albert Gastelum were joined by representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), the State Water Resources Control Board, LA County Public Health, American Water Works Association (AWWA), and the LA Department of Recreation and Parks in unveiling new, city-wide drinking water stations for the enjoyment and health of all residents. In many parts of the world, access to clean, safe drinking water is a luxury, but one that many people in Los Angeles may take for granted. No single factor has been as important to the establishment

and growth of Los Angeles as water. Tap Water Day LA reminds us all of the importance clean drinking water plays in our lives and that our city’s complex planning, treatment and monitoring infrastructure should be a focal point of our civic pride. “I commend the Department of Water and Power and Recreation and Parks for spearheading Tap Water Day. LADWP works hard to ensure our drinking water meets EPA healthbased standards and the Safe Drinking Water Act, which safeguards tap water,” said Deputy Mayor Barbara Romero. “At home, we hardly give it a thought as we turn on our faucets, but as the drought continues and our population grows, it is important for people to use our drinking water resources wisely and not waste them.” “Every day, LADWP delivers 550 million gallons of the highest quality water at the lowest possible cost to our 4 million customers in LA,” said Albert Gastelum, LADWP Director of

Water Quality. “We want the public to know that our drinking water is protected by hundreds of employees who manage our treatment processes, operate and maintain our treatment facilities and vigilantly monitor and test the water we serve.” The new drinking water stations unveiled today will be placed in a variety of locations in all of the council districts throughout the city where residents can fill up their reusable water bottles with clean, cool, refreshing drinking water. Free reusable water bottles were distributed to the public at the event for a ‘Water Toast’ celebrating the many benefits of pure, clean refreshing tap water. “Tap Water Day is a call to action to remind us to trust, drink and celebrate the tap and be a champion of local drinking fountains” said Evelyn Wendel, Founding Director, WeTap. The fountains not only provide drinking water for residents, but also serve as symbols of the expansive system supplying water.

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Seeking Hispanic vote, Hillary Clinton defends illegal immigrants By Ivan Couronne

Washington, United States (AFP) Saturday 5/9/2015 – The 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States don’t vote, but they have children, siblings or cousins that do, and Hillary Clinton is courting their support. The Democratic presidential candidate has singled out immigration as a key campaign issue in her bid for the White House in 2016. She is looking to set herself apart from her Republican rivals on the matter, and has even said she wants to go further than President Barack Obama to secure legal status, and citizenship, for millions of undocumented immigrants, most of which are Hispanic. The move is a strategic one: securing the Hispanic vote could be what Clinton – or any candidate—needs to become president in the next election. In 2012, the Hispanics made up 10 percent of the vote, compared to only two percent in 1976. In recent elections, they have shown an increasing preference for the Democratic Party. Obama won the 2012 race with 82 percent of the minority vote, including 71% of the Hispanic vote. Sitting with a group of undocumented students this week in Nevada, Clinton made her stance clear, calling on Congress to adopt comprehensive immigration reform and create a path to citizenship for the youths and millions of others like them. She promised to do more than Obama, who used executive action last November to bypass Congress and approve measures to protect about four million undocumented foreigners from deportation. Clinton said she was ready to use executive action to shield many more. Republicans immediately zeroed in on this to attack Clinton as a hyper-partisan Democrat. “She is running even further to the left than Barack Obama,” Whit Ayres, Republican pollster and adviser to conservative presidential hopeful Marco Rubio, told AFP. “Executive actions on immigration are exactly the wrong way to solve a broken immigration sys-

tem. If anything we need more bipartisan approaches to addressing a broken system, not declarations of unilateral action,” said Ayres. ‘Howling for impeachment’ Clinton’s stance will matter even more in states with a large Hispanic population, such as Nevada and Florida. But Republican rivals hope the move will come back to bite her. “This is just one more issue that she’s going to have to answer for in the general election,” Glen Bolger, Republican pollster and co-founder of Public Opinion Strategies, told AFP. “If Republicans started to do major policy making by executive action, the Democrats would be howling for impeachment,” Bolger said. However, Republican presidential candidates are aware they cannot ignore the immigration question, a key issue for Hispanic voters. Ayres predicts that Republicans will need much more than 40 percent of the Hispanic vote in next year’s election to win, a substantial hike from the 27 percent that Republican candidate Mitt Romney clinched in 2012. Republicans focus on a precondition for reform, that the long border with Mexico should be better secured. Texas Senator Ted Cruz, the first to join the 2016 White House race, once proposed to triple the number of police along the border. But none has offered any kind of substantive plan on immigration reform. Rubio, the Florida Senator whose parents immigrated from Cuba, has previously supported comprehensive immigration reform but has since backpedaled. He acknowledges that 11 million people cannot simply be deported, but now insists on securing the border first, indefinitely delaying any action on legal status. Jeb Bush, who is expected to announce his White House bid, remains somewhat ambiguous. He prefers to talk about legal immigration, and has proposed reducing family-based immigration, removing the sibling category preference, to increase the

The Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has singled out immigration as a key campaign issue in her bid for the White House in 2016.

number of permanent visas for skilled immigrants. But Bush, whose wife was born in Mexico, has adopted a more compassionate tone to discuss the lives of immigrants who take risks to cross the border. “We’re going to turn people into

party do you think has more concern for Hispanics/Latinos?”, half of the Hispanic respondents said Democrats. Only 10 percent thought Republicans cared more, and 35 percent said there was no difference between the parties.

US moves to bolster security of military bases across the nation By Dan De Luce

Washington, United States (AFP) Friday 5/8/2015 – The US military bolstered security at bases across the country Friday after the FBI voiced concern that Islamist extremists could target troops or police officers. The head of US Northern Command, Admiral William Gortney, ordered the heightened alert “as a prudent measure,” Pentagon spokesman Colonel Steven Warren said. The move, he said, was designed “to remind installation commanders at all levels within the NORTHCOM area of responsibility to ensure increased vigilance in safeguarding of all DoD (Defense Department) personnel and facilities.” This raised the official alert

Aegis to perform in concert, Sept. 19 at Pala PALA, CA, May 11, 2015 – AEGIS, one of the Philippines’ top pop rock and pinoy rock groups, will perform in concert at 7 p.m., Saturday, September 19, in Club Infinity at Pala Casino Spa & Resort. AEGIS was formed in 1995 and has topped the Filipino charts with “Luha” (Tears), “Halik” (Kiss) and “Basang-basa sa Ulan” (Drenched in the Rain.” AEGIS 7 p.m., Saturday, September 19 Club Infinity Pala Casino Spa & Resort Tickets: $98, $78 Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m., Friday, May 15, with no service charge, at the Pala Box Office in the casino, or call 1-877WIN PALA (1-877-946-7252). Tickets also are available at Star Tickets, 1-800-5853737, or www.startickets.com. Pala is located in Northern San Diego County; from San Diego/Riverside, take I-15 to Highway 76 east five miles; from Los Angeles County and Orange County, take I-5 south to Highway 76 east, then travel 23 miles. Pala is 15 miles north of Escondido, 12 miles south of Temecula. Address: 11154 Highway 76, Pala, CA 92059 Telephone: 1-877-WIN-PALA (1-877946-7252) Web site: http://www.palacasino.com Additional Shows Coming to Pala and the new Starlight Theater: Two of Southern California’s top tribute bands, Queen Nation, a tribute to Queen, and Zeppelin USA, a tribute to Led Zeppelin, will christen the new venue on opening night at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, May 23. Tickets are $12 in advance and $14 the day of the show. The schedule includes: Creedence Clearwater Revisited, a tribute to Creedence Clearwater, 8 p.m., Friday, May 29. Tickets, $50. $45, at www. startickets.com Theresa Caputo, 7:30 p.m., Monday, June 1, Events Center (SOLD OUT) Oak Grove Benefit Concert, 7:30 p.m., Friday, June 5, Infinity Lounge. Featuring America Idol Alums Lee DeWyze, Elliot Yamin, Blake Lewis and Didi Benami. General Admission tickets, $15, at www. startickets.com. Whitesnake, Britain’s legendary heavymetal group will make Pala a stop on its 2015 tour, 7 p.m., Saturday, June 6. Tickets, $70, $60, $45, at www.startickets.com Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, 8 p.m., Friday, June 12. Tickets, $105, $95, $75, at www.startickets.com Chubby Checker, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, June 27. Tickets, $45, at www.startickets. com Cheech and Chong with WAR and Special Guest Shelby Chong, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, July 11. Tickets, $72, $62, $52, at

Republicans if we’re much more aspirational in our message, and our tone has to be more inclusive as well,” he said last month. But Hispanic hopes, at least for the moment, seem to remain in the Democrats’ camp. Asked by Pew in 2014 “which

Aegis

www.startickets.com Alice in Chains, the Seattle heavy-metal rockers will make Pala a stop on its 2015 tour, 8 p.m., Friday, July 17. Tickets, $80, $70, $60, at www.startickets.com Aaron Lewis, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, July 25. Tickets, $50, $40, at www.startickets. com Huey Lewis and The News, one of America’s great rock and roll bands, 8 p.m., Thursday, July 30. Tickets, $72, $62, $47, at www.startickets.com Russell Peters, one of Canada’s top comedians, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, August 8. Tickets, $70, $60, $50, at www.startickets. com Rock of the 70’s featuring The Guess Who, Ambrosia, Firefall, Al Stewart, 8 p.m., Friday, August 28. Tickets, $50, at www.startickets.com YES & Toto, 6:30 p.m., Saturday, September 5. Tickets, $85, $75, $60, at www. startickets.com Rascal Flatts, 8 p.m., Friday, September 25. Tickets, $150, $125, $100, at www.startickets.com. Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood Two-Man Show, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, October 10, Events Center. Tickets start at $39.50 at www.startickets.com. About Pala Casino Spa & Resort Pala Casino Spa & Resort includes a Las Vegas-style casino with 2,000+ slot machines, 87 table games and 15 poker tables; a 507-room hotel; a 10,000-square-foot, full-service spa and salon that features 14 treatment rooms; a state-of-the-art fitness center; swimming pool with 12 private poolside cabanas, and dual-temperature outdoor whirlpool hot tub. Pala also offers 11 restaurants and 40,000 square feet of meeting and convention space. Pala Casino Spa & Resort is an AAA Four-Diamond Award winner for 12 consecutive years. Its stateof-the-art Pala Spa was named the one of the Top 10 spas in California, one of the Top 10 in the casino industry and one of the Top 100 in North America for 2014 by Spas of America. Pala Spa also was named the number one spa on the West Coast and one of the top 100 spas in the United States.

status one notch higher on a fivepoint scale, from the fourth level “Alpha” to the third level “Bravo,” which the military describes as an “increased and predictable threat of terrorism.” Officials said most of the additional security measures would likely not be readily apparent to the public, apart from perhaps more bags being searched or ID cards being checked at base entrances.The move came after two men att empted to storm an exhibition on Sunday showing caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed in a Dallas suburb. The two heavilyarmed gunmen were shot dead by a local police officer before they could approach the building where the event was being held.

Pentagon chief Ashton Carter said on Thursday that the two assailants had been “inspired” – but not directed – by the Islamic State group to stage the failed attack. “The decision to do this now is informed by a generally heightened threat level,” Warren told reporters. “We’ve seen what happened in Texas. We’ve seen other social media and Internet-based discussions and threats. We have detected a general increase in the overall (threat) environment.” FBI Director James Comey reportedly said on Thursday that authorities were concerned about the IS group encouraging attacks on “the uniformed military and law enforcement” via online propaganda.

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Lucky winners picked to see Lani Misalucha live at Pechanga

Thousands of LA Students ‘Unite for the Ocean’ in this Year’s Kids Ocean Day

Two lucky raffle winners will see Lani Misalucha perform live at Pechanga Resort & Casino on May 22, 2015. The winners – Lourdes Q. Garcia and Avelino Ang, whose names were chosen from several raffle participants, are among the latest of lucky participants who have seen live concerts of Filipino artists in the prestigious resort located just south of Los Angeles. The raffle contest begun last April 11 and ended on April 29. Entry forms were submitted via email at advertising@balita.com where all the participants did was to put “LANI” as subject and with their complete name, age and phone number in order for their name to be included in the raffle drawing. In the raffle, contestants were asked to answer the two trivia questions about Lani Misalucha. The questions were: What was Lani Misalucha called since she arrived in Las Vegas in 2004? What is the name of the Hawaiian troupe performing with Lani Misalucha in Las Vegas? Filipino recording artists Lani Misalucha and a special guest performer are coming to the Pechanga Resort & Casino Theater on May 22, 2015. Both well-known stars, Lani Misalucha is known as the “Siren of the Las Vegas Strip” after a long time headlining residency. Lani Misalucha is a Filipino singer now based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dubbed “Asia’s Nightingale,” she is a multi-faceted artist, from pop, rock, jazz, soul, rhythm and blues and operatic arias. Having moved to Las Vegas in 2004, Misalucha became the first Asian to headline a main showroom of the Las Vegas strip performing with Hawaii’s Society of Seven at the Jubilee Theater of Bally’s. Since then, Misalucha has been called “New Siren of the Strip.” In March 2008, Misalucha was voted “Best Singer” in the “27th Annual Best of Las Vegas” poll by the Las Vegas Review Journal. Misalucha recently returned to the Philippines to great fanfare to release

Kids Ocean Day is the culmination of a year-round school assembly program by the Malibu Foundation for Environmental Education to teach school kids about how litter flows from our neighborhoods to the ocean, thereby killing marine life and polluting food resources. To enhance the lesson, more than 3,500 students from more than 30 Los Angeles-area schools will be taken to the beach for a clean-up and to participate in an aerial artwork, designed by a Los Angeles student and brought to life by aerial artist John Quigley. Kids Ocean Day will be celebrated on May 14, 2015 at Dockweiler State Beach. Kids Ocean Day is the creation of Malibu Foundation for Environmental Education founder Michael Klubock. Michael started Kids Ocean Day 22 years ago as a way to bring his school

Some students to visit the ocean for first time on May 14, 2015

assembly program into the real world. The one-day cleanup event motivates the students of Los Angeles to care about their environment and involves them in community service, while instilling good habits and stewardship. Bringing Los Angeles school children to the beach helps put them in touch with nature, while challenging them to recycle, reduce litter and participate in cleaning up their environment. For many of the young people, Kids Ocean Day is their first time at the ocean. The wonder and beauty of the coast, combined with a mission to protect the natural world, is a profound experience. Kids Ocean Day is sponsored by the City of Los Angeles Stormwater Program, a project of the Bureau of Sanitation, the City of Los Angeles Board of Public Works, as well as the California Coastal Commission, Keep LA Beautiful and Spectral Q. Interested in becoming a volunteer at the event, please visit, http://kidsoceanday.org/volunteer

Aurimas ‘Odi’ Bakchis moves into first place in the standings after topping Formula DRIFT Round 2

her seventh studio album, The Nightingale Returns: Lani Misalucha Sings the Greatest Filipino Songbook. Recently, this special performer together with Lani Misalucha and Martin Nievera headlined the very successful New Year’s Eve Countdown for Solaire Resort and Casino in Manila. Other upcoming events at Pechanga Resort & Casino include: ● May 15 - Bellator MMA ● May 22 - Lani Misalucha with Special Guest ● June 5 - Peter Frampton & Cheap Trick ● June 6 - 7th Annual Microbrew & Craft Beer Festival ● August 23 - Diana Krall About Pechanga Resort & Casino Pechanga Resort & Casino offers one of the largest and most expansive resort/casino experi-

ence anywhere in the country. 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, worldclass entertainment, 517 hotel rooms, dining, spa and championship golf at Journey at Pechanga, Pechanga Resort & Casino features a destination that meets and exceeds the needs of its guests and the community. Pechanga Resort & Casino is owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians. For more information, call toll free 1-877-711-2946 or visit www.Pechanga.com. Follow Pechanga Resort & Casino on Facebook.com/Pechanga and on Twitter @PechangaCasino.

Long Beach, Calif. – May 9, 2015 – Formula DRIFT presented by GoPro returned to Road Atlanta for Round 2: Road to the Championship. Aurimas “Odi” Bakchis in the Feal Suspension / ARK Performance / Nitto Tire Nissan 240 SX takes the victory for his first Formula DRIFT win of his career and rises to the top of the standings. Round 2: Road to the Championship was a night of upsets as the top qualifiers failed to move past the early rounds of the competition. The action packed event provided the fans with a competitive atmosphere that kept them on their feet throughout the night. 240,000 fans tuned in to watch the competition unfold on the Livestream broadcast during the event weekend. “This season thus far has been very competitive,” says Jim Liaw, President of Formula DRIFT. “The competition is as tough as ever as can be proven by all the upsets tonight. It will be exciting to watch how the season unfolds especially as we head into a brand new venue at Orlando Speedworld for the next round.” The semi-finals were a challenge for both defending champion, Chris Forsberg in the NOS Energy Drink / Hankook Tire Nissan 370Z and Ken Gushi in the GReddy Racing / Hankook Tire

Scion Racing FR-S as their battles were too close to determine a definitive winner by the judges, leading to multiple one more time battles. During their third battle, Gushi edged out Forsberg with his close proximity on his chase run giving him the win, while Forsberg inches his way up the rankings to third place. The Finals pitted Gushi and Bakchis. Bakchis’ speed was too much for Gushi as he took an early lead in his lead run, which lead to his first Formula DRIFT victory and moves him into first place in the standings. Gushi found the podium for the first time since the 2009 season and moves into fifth place overall. “It feels great to get my first win,” said Aurimas Bakchis, winner of Round 2: Road to the Championship. “Road Atlanta is my favorite venue and I’m super stoked to continue the momentum I set in Long Beach. Currently sitting in first for the Championship and it feels amazing!” The 2015 Formula DRIFT season will continue to Round 3: Uncharted Territory on June 5-6 and for the first time be held at Orlando Speedworld. For more information visit: www.formuladrift. com and find Formula DRIFT on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Tune into Formula DRIFT on CBS Sports and check your local listings for airtimes.

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ENTERT

INMENT

Why James, Nadine wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take friendship to next level James Reid and Nadine Lustre are not giving in to public pressure to take their relationship to the next level. Reid and Lustre agreed that they are fortunate to have the support of their fans even though they know that they are just close friends. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For me, as long as we are working together like this, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good idea [that we take our friendship to the next level],â&#x20AC;? Reid said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The relationships that go through showbiz never work out.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;What we have is great. Why spoil it?â&#x20AC;? the actor added.

Reid and Lustre were launched as a love team in 2014. Since then, they have appeared in a number of TV shows and in two movies, which were both blockbuster hits. Their third movie together, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Para sa Hopeless Romantic,â&#x20AC;? is set to hit theaters on May 13. Lustre describes â&#x20AC;&#x153;Para sa Hopeless Romanticâ&#x20AC;? as â&#x20AC;&#x153;more realisticâ&#x20AC;? than â&#x20AC;&#x153;Diary ng Pangetâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Talk Back and Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re Dead.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kasi ito, according to (writer) Marcelo (Santos III), nangyari talaga siya. Makaka-relate â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung mga hopeless romantic, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung mga takot magmahal, mga iniwan, mga gustong balikan sila,â&#x20AC;?

Julia appreciates having Inigo in her life Young stars IĂąigo Pascual and Julia Barretto are open to the possibility of falling in love with each other. For a start, they said they really enjoyed working together on the upcoming movie â&#x20AC;&#x153;Para sa Hopeless Romantic,â&#x20AC;? which is topbilled by the love team of James Reid and Nadine Lustre. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Naa-appreciate ko talaga na heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in my life kasi I have that person that I can run to,â&#x20AC;? Barretto said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kung ganito siya as a friend what more kung boyfriend na siya?â&#x20AC;? For his part, Pascual said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The thing about Julia is that we are so much alike na we know how to deal with each other.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Para sa Hopeless Romanticâ&#x20AC;? will open theaters nationwide on May 13.(MNS)

she said. Aside from their movie, Reid and Lustre will also headline the upcoming television series â&#x20AC;&#x153;On The Wings of Love.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Super excited po ako. Ito kasi medyo forte ko. Balik ako sa romcom dito. Kasi with drama, medyo nahihirapan ako kasi Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m really a very positive person. As much as possible, ayaw ko pong umiiyak ako. Basta Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m super excited. Mas magle-level up kami ni James dito. Mas mature ng konti â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung roles namin. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something to look forward to, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something new,â&#x20AC;? Lustre said. (MNS)

James Reid and Nadine Lustre

Heart Evangelista, mom reconcile? Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day is shaping up to be extra special for Heart Evangelista this year. Just days before Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day, which this year falls on May 10, Evangelista posted a photo of her mother Cecile Ongpauco teaching her how to make polvoron. Photo from Heart Evangelistaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Instagram â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nothing beats learning moms secret recipes,â&#x20AC;? the actress wrote, even using the hashtag #barriofiestababy. The Ongpaucos own the chain of Barrio Fiesta restaurants. Evangelista also uploaded an old photo of her mother with the caption: â&#x20AC;&#x153;My beautiful mommy.â&#x20AC;? For more than a year, Evange-

lista was estranged with her parents due to her relationship with Senator Francis Escudero, whom she married last February. In May 2013, the Ongpauco couple even called a press conference to express their strong disapproval of the actressâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; relationship with the lawmaker. They eventually reconciled in August 2014 after Escudero proposed to her. Despite this, her parents did not attend the couple high-profile wedding last February 15 at the posh Balesin Island Club. the actressâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; parents decided not to attend the ceremony. Her father, Reynaldo Ongpauco, wrote her a letter which was read during the reception. (MNS)

Heart Evangelista

Daniel Padillaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brother launches music career Julia Barretto

Love life not a priority for Miguel Tanfelix

Another member of the Padilla family has joined the entertainment industry. JC Padilla, the younger brother of the Daniel Padilla, was launched by ABS-CBNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Star Music as one of its new artists who is part of the album â&#x20AC;&#x153;OPM Fresh.â&#x20AC;? But unlike his brother, JC said that he only intends to pursue a music career. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Singer lang forever,â&#x20AC;? he said. JC is the son of Karla Estrada with Pearl of the Orient vocalist Naldy Padilla. Although Daniel also sings, JC pointed out that their singing styles are actually different. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Siguro masabi ko lang na difference naming â&#x20AC;&#x201C; hindi ko naman nilalayo â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung boses ko and hindi ko rin naman ginagaya [â&#x20AC;&#x2122;yung boses niya]. Pero siguro [magkaiba] talaga â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung style,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hus-

ky ng boses ko. Mas clean kay kuya. Mas pangpop ang boses niya.â&#x20AC;? Asked if he sought any advice from Daniel or his mother, JC said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bilin nila na ienjoy ko lang â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung blessings na du- JC Padilla madating sa akin and stay humble.â&#x20AC;? JC said he will do his best to make a name for himself and use his brother as his inspiration, adding that he just feels blessed to be given an opportunity like

Kapuso star Miguel Tanfelix still wants to achieve many things thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why his love life takes a back seat for now. Miguel admits having crush on his â&#x20AC;&#x153;Once Upon A Kissâ&#x20AC;? leading lady Bianca Umali but he is not in a hurry to pursue her, even after their teleserye ends today. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Minsan sumasagi sa isip ko (na ligawan) pero hindi po muna kasi hindi iyon â&#x20AC;&#x2122;yung priority ko,â&#x20AC;? Miguel shared. While Miguel has been under pressure to level up their friendship, with Bianca even admitting in previous interviews that she admires him, he is still bent on focusing on his career first. Miguel Tanfelix â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pini-pressure na kami sa paligid namin na, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ligawan mo iyan.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Super Pero hindi ako magpapawelcome apekto kasi gusto kong maging businessman. kayo dito! Gusto kong maging piloto,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Darating â&#x20AC;&#x2122;yung tamang time pero Patrick Lucas hindi muna talaga ngayInternet Sales Manager on. Kasi kaming dalawa, plucas@normreeveswc.com alam namin sa isaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t isa na hindi po iyon â&#x20AC;&#x2122;yung priority naming dalawa,â&#x20AC;? Due at 1st Mos Cap Cost Security he further clarified. Lease 2015 Accord Sedan CVT LX Featured Special Lease, on approved credit Payment* Reduction* The 16-year-old actor Signing* Deposit* likes Biancaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beauty and kindness. They have gotNew 2015 Honda New 2015 Honda N ten closer and more comCVT Auto Sedan CVTT Auto fortable with each other having worked together Lease for Lease for in several shows, including â&#x20AC;&#x153;Basang Sisiw,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;NiĂąo,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ismol Familyâ&#x20AC;? /mo /mo o and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Paroa: Ang Kwento + tax ax + tax Ni Mariposa.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Siyempre po may 5 at this offer 5 at this offer turning point din naman Closed-end lease for 2015 Honda Fit LX HB Auto for $149 per month plus tax for 36 months on Closed-end lease for 2015 Honda Civic LX Sedan CVT Auto for $169 per month plus tax for tier 1+ credit. $2,825.75 due at lease signing, includes 1st payment, $0 security deposit, 36 months on approved tier 1+ credit. $1,114.50 due at lease signing, includes 1st payment, iyan. Si Bianca, â&#x20AC;&#x2122;yung approved tax, license and fees. Drive-off example based on the current Los Angeles County tax rate $0 security deposit, tax, license and fees. Drive-off example based on the current Los Angeles personality niya, walang and actual amount may vary. 12,000 miles per year with $.15 per mile thereafter. Offer expires County tax rate and actual amount may vary. 12,000 miles per year with $.15 per mile thereafter. Offer expires 5/11/15. hindi nagkakagusto 5/11/15. doon. Isa ako sa mga New 2015 Honda New 2015 Honda lalaki na iyon. Siyempre crush ko si Bianca,â&#x20AC;? he Sedan n CVT Auto 2WD Auto o said. Miguel added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Closer Lease for Lease for kami ngayon kasi halos araw-araw kaming magkasama. Madami na ka/mo /mo mo mo ming things na nalaman + tax + tax sa isaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t isa. Nakapunta 5 at this offer 5 at this offer din kami sa ibaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ibang Closed-end lease for 2015 Honda Accord LX Sedan CVT Auto for $189 per month plus tax for Closed-end lease for 2015 Honda CR-V LX 2WD Auto for $199 per month plus tax for 36 months lugar na magkasama like 36 months on approved tier 1+ credit. $2,241.50 due at lease signing, includes 1st payment, on approved tier 1+ credit. $3,167 due at lease signing, includes 1st payment, $0 security deposit, sa Bohol and Davao. Ma- $0 security deposit, tax, license and fees. Drive-off example based on the current Los Angeles tax, license and fees. Drive-off example based on the current Los Angeles County tax rate County tax rate and actual amount may vary. 12,000 miles per year with $.15 per mile thereafter. and actual amount may vary. 12,000 miles per year with $.15 per mile thereafter. Offer expires sarap sa pakiramdam.â&#x20AC;? Offer expires 5/11/15. 5/11/15. That said, Miguel shared he and Bianca regularly contact each other even during their 1840 18 40 E G Gar arve veyy Ave Ave So Sout uth th, h, W Wes estt Co Covi vina ina,, CA 9 917 1791 17 91 days off.

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MOTORING

US drivers will say ‘yes’ to autonomous cars...for their kids

Over 80% of adults want parental controls on cars. ©Zurijeta / shutterstock. com

May 7, 2015 (Relaxnews) – A new survey conducted by the College of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University finds that 84% of consumers want parental controls to be standard features on the next generation of cars. Of the 1000 adults polled for the study, limiting a car’s speed, curfew time and being able to program how many passengers it could carry were the most wished for parental controls -- cited by 84% of all respondents, 87% of women and 91% of those aged 66 or over. However, limiting the

geographical region in which a car could travel (61%) and a screen for displaying text messages from anxious parents (60%) were also popular. In 2013 alone, 2,524 US teens died in vehicle accidents and in recent years car companies have been starting to offer parental control features on some of their cars. For example, the Ford MyKey option allows parents to pre-limit a car’s speed and the volume at which the music can be played before handing it over to another driver. Japanese automakers Toyota and Mazda are considering a comprehensive tie-up in environmentally-friendly technology. ©Gleb Predko/shutterstock.com

Japan’s Toyota, Mazda eye green alliance: report Tokyo, Japan (AFP) Saturday 5/9/2015 – Japanese automakers Toyota and Mazda are considering a comprehensive tieup in environmentallyfriendly technology amid tightening regulations to cut greenhouse gas and tough emerging market competition, a report said Saturday. The two companies are in the final stages of talks on the planned partnership, the Nikkei business daily said, adding that the two “intend to reach an accord in principle soon”. Under the partnership, Toyota plans to supply fuel cell and plugin-hybrid technology to Mazda, which has lagged in electric-vehicle technology, the newspaper said. In return, Mazda will consider offering its proprietary “Skyactiv” green technology to Toyota, which it hopes to use to grow its line of fuel-efficient gasoline and diesel vehicles. The two automakers will also consider cooperating in other areas, including Mazda’s procurement of commercial vehicles from the Toyota group and joint purchasing of auto parts, it added. The two firms have previously worked together in several fields and achieved some positive results. Toyota provided hybrid-vehicle technology to Mazda in 2010, while Mazda agreed in 2012 to supply subcompact cars from a Mexican plant to Toyota. The latest alliance is part of an effort to jointly address strict global environmental rules, the Nikkei said. In 2018 environmentally-conscious California plans to push automakers to boost sales volume for electric and fuel cell vehicles, while China and other emerging economies are also set to strengthen environmental regulations.

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KITCHENOMICS

FAMILY FEATURES

idely recognized as portable and tasty, grapes are an easy way to enjoy an extra serving of fruit. But not only are grapes a super snack, they’re a terrific fresh ingredient to enhance any meal. Yes, with a burst of juicy flavor, fresh grapes can make good-for-you foods taste even better. Vibrant color, crunch and a light touch of sweetness make them an unexpected but appealing addition to countless dishes. These recipes show how grapes balance the distinct flavor of Brussels sprouts; complement smoky mozzarella; provide a palate-pleasing texture to tofu kabobs and complement the global flavors of a Thai salad. In addition to great taste and versatility, grapes are also healthy. They are a natural source of antioxidants and other polyphenols, which contribute to a healthy heart. For more recipes featuring delicious and nutritious grapes, visit www.grapesfromcalifornia.com.

Sweet Summery Snack Frozen grapes are the perfect cool down when the weather gets hot. Just rinse, pat dry and place in the freezer for about 2 hours.

Shrimp Thai Salad

Tofu Grape Kabobs Servings: 4 2–3 tablespoons minced jalapeno 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce 2 teaspoons brown sugar 1 teaspoon grated ginger 1 pound firm tofu, cut into 12 chunks 2 cups green California grapes 2 cups steamed brown rice 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro Heat grill to high. In small bowl, mix jalapeno, soy sauce, sugar and ginger, and toss. Add tofu and mix. Thread tofu and grapes onto 4 skewers. Grill 2–4 minutes or until heated through. Divide rice among 4 bowls, top with skewers and sprinkle with cilantro. Nutrition information per serving: 271 calories; 6 g fat (.8 g saturated fat); 20% calories from fat; 14 g protein; 42 g carbohydrate; 3.5 g fiber; 0 mg cholesterol; 207 mg sodium.

A Handful of Health

One serving of grapes is 3/4 cup and has just 90 calories, no fat, no cholesterol and virtually no sodium. Grapes are a natural source of antioxidants and other polyphenols, which help make grapes a heart-healthy food. They are an excellent source of vitamin K, which is critical for healthy blood clotting, and may play a role in bone health. Grapes contribute to heart health by promoting the relaxation of blood vessels to help maintain healthy blood flow and function.

Sweet and Savory Garlic Ginger Brussels Sprouts and Grapes Servings: 4 (1/2 cup each) 1 pound Brussels sprouts 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 cup halved red California grapes 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, grated 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 2 teaspoons honey 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 1/4 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped Cut off woody stem on each Brussels sprout and remove any tough or bruised outer leaves. Slice sprouts very thinly to make mound of feathery ribbons. Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sprouts, grapes, salt and pepper to skillet and saute 3–4 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and add garlic, ginger, mustard, honey and vinegar to pan. Continue to saute approximately 1–2 minutes, until sprouts are tender and bright green in color. Turn off heat and add walnuts to pan. Gently mix to combine. Nutrition information per serving: 210 calories; 12 g fat (1.3 g saturated fat); 48% calories from fat; 6 g protein; 23 g carbohydrate; 5 g fiber; 0 mg cholesterol; 236 mg sodium.

Servings: 4 3 cups shredded savoy cabbage 2 cups bean sprouts, rinsed 1 1/2 cups green California grapes, halved 1 large cucumber 1/4 cup lime juice 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar 2 tablespoons brown sugar 3 tablespoons minced shallots 1 tablespoon safflower oil 1 red Thai chili, thinly sliced 1 1/2 cups cooked medium shrimp 3 tablespoons coarsely chopped cilantro 3 tablespoons Thai basil, torn Combine cabbage, bean sprouts and grapes in large bowl. With vegetable peeler, peel cucumber into long thin strips and put on top. In small bowl, combine lime juice, vinegar, sugar, shallots, oil and chili. Pour over vegetables and mix well. Divide among 4 serving plates, top with shrimp and sprinkle with cilantro and basil. Nutrition information per serving: 186 calories; 3.5 g fat (.2 g saturated fat); 16% calories from fat; 14 g protein; 28 g carbohydrate; 4 g fiber; 0 mg cholesterol; 146 mg sodium.

Grape and Smoked Mozzarella Flatbread Servings: 4 2 large wholegrain flatbreads or naan (about 8 ounces) 1 1/4 cups grated smoked mozzarella 3 cups arugula 1 cup sliced red, green and black California grapes 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 small clove garlic, minced Salt Freshly ground black pepper Heat broiler to high. Place flatbreads on baking sheet and broil until crisp and lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Turn and cover with mozzarella. Broil until melted, about 2–3 minutes. While mozzarella is melting, toss together arugula, grapes, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Place on top of flatbreads and cut into wedges. Nutrition information per serving: 323 calories; 14.5 g fat (6 g saturated fat); 38% calories from fat; 16 g protein; 37 g carbohydrate; 4 g fiber; 19 mg cholesterol; 626 mg sodium.

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How to recreate the beauty look from the Armani birthday show (Relaxnews) – Giorgio Armani celebrated its 40th anniversary last week with a celebratory runway show and some sumptuous new beauty looks. Models at the event to mark the opening of the house’s new Milan exhibition space Armani / Silos sported a whole range of bold looks to go with their outfits, which offered a retrospective on 40 years of fashion from Armani Privé. International makeup artist Linda Cantello created a contrast between the makeup and the clothes with a “smokey nude” beauty look. Here’s how she did it: Base To achieve the effect, Cantello prepped the models’ skin with “Crema Nera Acqua Pantellaria” and “Crema Extrema Texture Légère”. She then applied the brand’s “Crema Nuda” foundation

for a smooth and even base, before highlighting and concealing with “High Precision Retouch” and adding blush to cheeks with “Eye & Brow Maestro” in the shade “Auburn” (the product was also used to thicken and bolden brows). A swish of “Luminous Silk Powder” in shade no.2 set the base. Eyes Cantello brushed Eye & Brow Maestro in the tones “Wenge Wood” and “Sand Blond” along eye sockets and defined peepers with the brand’s “Smooth Silk Eye Pencil” in “Brown Black” before going over it with the Eye & Brow Maestro in Wenge Wood to soften the effect. Finishing touches A few layers of “Black Ecstasy” mascara and a slick of “Rouge d’Armani Lipstick” in the shade “Gio40” wrapped up the look. “Night Viper” nail polish from the

“Nail Lacquer” collection provided the final finishing touches to the aesthetic.

Beer bellis are in, biceps are out: Introducing the ‘Dad Bod’ (Relaxnews) – What do Simon Cowell, Jason Segel and Leonardo DiCaprio all have in common (apart from global fame and fortune)? They all boast a ‘Dad Bod’. A what-bod, you cry? Well, allow us to explain: the Dad Bod is the latest trend for the male physique. Where once women craved sixpacks that could grate cheese and biceps the size of tree trunks, now a cuddly torso and gentle paunch is all that’s required, according to a blog post written by US student Mackenzie Pearson that has since gone viral. In her post, Mackenzie describes the Dad Bod as “a nice balance between a beer gut and working out”. She continues: “The dad bod says, ‘I go to the gym occasionally, but I also drink heavily on the weekends and enjoy eating eight slices of pizza at a time.’ It’s not an overweight guy, but it isn’t one with washboard abs, either.” Mackenzie argues that the physique is a hit with women because it is non-threatening, comfortable to cuddle up to and honest in the sense that it probably won’t undergo any drastic transformation within the next 20 years (note: you don’t have to be a

The study highlights the fact that between deciding to go on a diet and succeeding in your goal, there is a divide that can be explained by our behavior. ©Monkey Business Images/shutterstock.com

Why successful dieting is so complex

A ‘dad bod’ is attractively non-threatening as opposed to a more chiseled physique. ©Olesia Bilkei / shutterstock.com

father to have a Dad Bod; in fact it is perfectly acceptable to have one when you’re still in your twenties). “While we all love a sculpted guy, there is just something about the dad bod that makes boys seem more human, natural, and attractive,” she states. The concept was an immediate hit with nicely squishy men everywhere, who took to Instagram without delay to show off their less-than-toned torsos and chunky arms. The account “Col-

legedadbods” has been quietly gaining momentum since the beginning of this year and has now become a fully-fledged homage to regular guys in all their glory. The positive reaction to this newfound appreciation for curvy men has reminded us all that guys, too, face an at-times unrealistic social pressure to be buff and trim. But where will the trend take us next? Could the “Mom Bod” be the lusted-after shape for 2015? Time will tell.

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(Relaxnews) – American researchers have shed light on the divide between the desire to go on a diet to lose weight and the follow through. According to this study, if a diet doesn’t take into account alimenatry preferences it will more likely than not end in failure. Scientists from the University at Buffalo and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have concluded that, though a large part of American society makes an effort to lose weight, most people fail in their endeavor. With more than 160 million overweight or obese people, the US is the country most affected by this public health crisis, and this results in 16% of deaths nationwide being related to diet and physical activity. And yet, according to the study, nearly one third of adults currently follow some kind of diet to control or lose weight. Few succeed. “There is clearly a disconnect if we have a majority of the population that has tried to lose weight and a majority of the population that is overweight,” says Marc Kiviniemi, a public health researcher at the University at Buffalo. “People are planning to diet and trying to diet, but that’s not translating into a successful weight loss effort.” The researchers analyzed people’s decision making process regarding their health and tried to understand what factors actually drive people’s behavior, especially when deciding to go on a diet. Many issues, from biological to environmental, determine effective weight control, but how people manage their own behavior is a big piece of that puzzle. Kiviniemi also states that “It’s not just the knowledge of what we’re eating, but consideration of how we’ll feel having decided to eat those foods.” Though dieting is a process that involves a plan to change eating habits followed by modified behavior in accordance with that plan, according to Kiviniemi and his co-author Carolyn Brown-Kramer of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, when it comes to making a food choice and deciding to execute the plan, feelings guide behavior. The study underlines the fact that how you feel about what you are eating has a determining effect on the success of your diet. The researchers’ conclusions also highlight the fact that deprivation diets or diets based on food choices that ignore people’s preferences are practically doomed to fail from the start. In fact, “the deprivation experience is miserable. If you didn’t associate negative feelings with it to start, you will after a few days,” says Kiviniemi. It’s also important to distinguish between behavior that requires effort and that which come naturally. In the end, according to this study, it would be preferable to eat the healthiest foods that you enjoy, and that it is also essential, before beginning any diet, to evaluate your capacity for overcoming obstacles.

Europe faces massive obesity problem: study

(Paris, France-AFP) – Nearly all Irish adults are likely to be overweight in 15 years’ time, said a study Wednesday that warned of a European “obesity crisis of enormous proportions”. On current trends, some 89 percent of Irish men will be overweight by 2030, and nearly half obese, said a World Health Organization study to be presented at a European Congress on Obesity in Prague. This was up from 74 percent overweight, and 26 percent obese in 2010 in one of Europe’s fattest nations. Of Irish women, 85 percent are likely to be overweight and 57 percent obese by 2030, said the study, also well up on the 2010 figures. The growing numbers of

overweight and obese people are a growing cause of disease and disability around the world. “Even in countries with a traditionally lower prevalence of obesity such as Sweden, obesity rates are predicted to rise sharply,” the congress report said. Over a quarter of Swedish men will be obese by 2030, and 22 percent of women. People with a BMI (body weight index, a ratio of weight to height) of 25 and higher are classified overweight, and 30 and over obese. In the UK, “one third (33 percent) of women are forecast to be obese in 2030, compared with over one quarter (26 percent) in 2010,” the congress press statement said. Sixty-four percent of UK

women and 74 percent of men will be overweight in 2030. “Overall, the data show no evidence of a plateau in adult obesity in most countries,” said the statement. Other countries with projected steep rises in obesity over this period include Greece, Spain, Austria and the Czech Republic, according to the study of 53 countries. An estimated 77 percent of Greek men are predicted to be overweight by 2030 and 67 percent of women, and the proportion of obese men and women will more than double from 20 percent to about 40 percent. For Spain, obesity in women is set to rise from 16 percent in 2010 to 21 percent in 2030, and in men from 19 percent to 36 percent, said the statement issued by congress organisers.

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PRAYERS

PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

PRAYER to the BLESSED VIRGIN

NOVENA of CONFIDENCE

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

(Never known to fail)

O Lord, Jesus Christ, to Your Most Sacred Heart I conÂżde this intention. (Here,

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

Oh most beautiful Ă&#x20AC;ower of Mt. Carmel, fruit wine splendor of Heaven.Blessed

is done to me and who are in all instances of my life with me. I, in this short

Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh

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 be. I want to be with You and my loved ones in Your perpetual glory. Amen. A

Star of the Sea. Help me and show me here you are my Mother. Oh Holy Mary,

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,

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

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.

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

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

When the Eternal Father sees it covered with Your Precious Blood, He will not

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

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

refuse it. It will be no longer my prayer but Yours, O Jesus. O Sacred Heart of

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

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

Jesus, I place my trust in You. Let me never be confounded. Amen. -ANNA

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NEGOTIATION

AMBASSADOR

From page 1

nership. Canada’s trade minister will travel to Manila by the end of the month to start negotiations on the free trade agreement, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said. “We look forward to sharing with the prime minister the prospects of growth in the Philippines, particularly in the public-

private partner infrastructure programs where Canadian investors may wish to capitalize,” the Philippine’s president Benigno Aquino said, describing the talks as “exploratory discussions.” Current trade between the Philippines and Canada amounts to about Can$2 billion ($1.65 billion), Harper said.

EXERCISE From page 1

amid what it sees as Chinese aggression in pressing its territorial claims. The regional giant claims most of the resource-rich waters, even reefs, shoals and cays close to the shores of its neighbors. The claims overlap those of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan. Millan said that practicing with the Japanese force would help with modernizing the poorlyequipped Philippine military, one of the weakest in the region. China and Japan have their

own festering territorial row over the East China Sea including ownership of the Senkaku islands, which Beijing also claims and calls the Diaoyus. There have been regular standoffs in the sea and air around the contested territory. Earlier this month, Japanese and Philippine coast guards held anti-piracy drills in the Philippines, the first such joint exercise between the two countries following a brutal occupation by Japanese forces during World War II.

US CLAIMS From page 1

and accusing it of distorting facts. “The US defense department’s report on China’s military and security development situation distorts facts and continues to play up the ‘China military threat’ cliché,” Chinese defense ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency. He made no direct mention of land reclamation in the South China Sea, but said China was justified in upholding its sovereignty in the area. “The military build-up aims to maintain sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, and guarantee China’s peaceful development,” Geng said. Previous reports have noted China’s focus on cyber and space weapons but this year’s document included a special section on the country’s massive dredging and island building in the strategic South China Sea. At four reclamation sites, China has moved from dredging operations to “infrastructure develop-

ment” that could include harbors, communications and surveillance systems, logistics support and “at least one airfield,” the report said. The Chinese have excavated deep channels that could accommodate larger ships to the outposts, it said. The ultimate purpose of the effort remains unclear but analysts outside China say Beijing is “attempting to change facts on the ground by improving its defense infrastructure in the South China Sea,” the report said. Unlike other countries making claims in the area, China at the moment does not have an airfield or “secure docking” at its outposts and the reclamation operations may be aimed at ending that disparity, it said. The Pentagon report covered a period ending in December 2014 and it said China had reclaimed 500 acres in the disputed waters up to that point. But since then, China has conducted reclamation covering 1,500 acres, officials said.

the Philippine Government for over 35 years. During his term as Ambassador to Pakistan, relations between the Philippines and Pakistan have enjoyed a robust partnership in various areas of cooperation. Ambassador Lucenario was also the Philippines’ non-resident Ambassador to Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. “Ambassador Lucenario is fondly remembered by many in the Consulate, “remarked Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim. “He was a friend to all of us. He served with utmost humility and passion. We are saddened to lose a valued colleague at the prime of his life” added Consul General Herrera-Lim. A lawyer by profession, he served the Department in various capacities including assignments in Germany, Hong Kong, Australia, and as former Philippine Ambassador to Kenya with concurrent jurisdiction to 12 African nations. He was the Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment program (UNEP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN Habitat). He also served as Deputy Chief of Presidential Protocol under the Ramos Administration aside from

various positions in the Home Office. Ambassador Lucenario was one of the few career Filipino diplomats who had the rare distinction of having been awarded by the President of the Philippines with three (3) major Presidential Awards, namely: the order of Sikatuna Award with the rank of Datu (Gold level) (2009), the Order of Lakandula Award with the rank of Grand Officer (Maringal

THE US ASIAN POST

na Pinuno) (2008), and the Gawad Mabini Award with the rank of Grand Officer (Dakilang Kamanong) (2008). The Philippine Consulate General offers its deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of Ambassador Lucenario and those who died with him. Ambassador Lucenario is survived by his wife, Lawyer Nida Arada Lucenario and 3 children. Ambassador Lucenario was 54 years old.

DIPLOMATS From page 1

ister Nawaz Sharif. The Pakistani Taliban had claimed to have struck the aircraft with a ground-to-air missile hoping to assassinate Sharif. “(Regarding) remarks and rumours that there was a terrorist attack or that there was sabotage, I can say 99.9 percent that they were not true, that this was a sad accident, a really unfortunate accident, by a technical fault on the plane,” Argentinian Ambassador Rodolfo Martin Saravia told the air force. Leif H. Larsen, the Norwegian envoy, and Domingo D. Lucenario Jr of the Philippines were killed along with the wives of the Ma-

laysian and Indonesian ambassadors, the helicopter’s two pilots and another crew member. ‘It went incredibly fast’ Dutch Ambassador Marcel de Vink said he felt “extremely lucky” to be alive after what he had witnessed. He was described as having sustained burns to the leg and face by the foreign ministry. “I remember that we got into a spin and so thinking I suppose I braced a little bit for impact... afterwards I was actually opening my eyes seeing the smoke and explosions, so I was extremely lucky because it went incredibly fast,” he said.

VIETNAM

MAYWEATHER

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year. The Spratlys are considered a potential Asian flashpoint, and the United States and claimant nations have expressed alarm as China has embarked on massive and speedy reclamation activity. China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, locking it into disputes with several Southeast Asian neighbors. Its claims overlap those of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan. Beijing’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she had not seen the new images but said both Vietnam and the Philippines had been “carrying out massive construction on the illegally-occupied Chinese maritime features”.

“We are deeply concerned and opposed to this,” she said. China itself has undertaken major reclamation work on seven Spratly features in the last year. Its island-building in the Spratlys has been seen as part of an attempt to assert its territorial claims by establishing physical facts in the water. Fiery Cross in the Spratly Islands was little more than a reef until last year when China began reclamation work. It now has a partially-finished airstrip with a 3.1 kilometer (1.9 mile) runway. It also appears to be undertaking work at a feature known as Mischief Reef, just 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the southwestern Philippine island of Palawan.

“Absolutely not,” Mayweather said. “He was fast. His left hand was fast. His right hand was fast and he was throwing them both fast and strong.” Although Pacquiao had arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Mayweather said his plea of injury was nonsense. “He lost. He knows he lost. I lost a lot of respect for him after all of this,” said Mayweather. As to the flip-flop on a possible rematch, Mayweather said simply: “I change my mind. “At this particular time, no, because he’s a sore loser and he’s a coward... If you lost, accept the loss and say, ‘Mayweather, you were the better fighter.’”