Us asian post november 26, 2014 by Balita Media Inc

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T H E

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INMENT

Ruffa speaks about new beau See PAGE 8

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Vol. 3. No. 10

LOS ANGELES

A Balita Media Publication

Wednesday - Tuesday, Nov. 26 - Dec. 2, 2014

Malacañang: Obama reform a ‘welcome action’ MANILA, Nov 22 (Mabuhay) – The immigration policy reforms announced by United States President Barack Obama is a “welcome action” for Filipinos in the US, Malacañang said on Saturday. “There are several parameters that President Obama laid down, and we also mentioned yesterday that any Filipino citizen who satisfies these parameters, we encourage them to take advantage of the window that was given by President Obama,” said Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte in an interview with government radio dzRB.

On Thursday (Friday in Manila), Obama eased threats of deportation for millions of undocumented immigrants in America, 300,000 of which are Filipinos. Nonetheless, Valte said any Filipino who wants to move to the US from now on should go through the proper procedure. “So huwag po nating isipin that this is license to go anywhere undocumented. Please, if you intend to reside or to work in other countries, please make sure that we abide by the proper rules and regulations and that we fulfill all the documentary requirements,” she said.(MNS)

Obama urges critics to ‘pass a bill’ on immigration

CBP Processing Unaccompanied Children, South Texas Border: U.S. Customs and Border Protection provide assistance to unaccompanied alien children after they have crossed the border into the United States. Seen here during processing is a Custom’s Field Officer as she provides food to unaccompanied children. Although the new executive action implemented by President Obama would grant work permits to children who are undocumented, they only cover those who have been brought here before January 1, 2010. Photo provided by: Eddie Perez/U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Lawmakers eye ocular inspection of NAIA MANILA, Nov 24 (Mabuhay) – The House of Representatives Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs is eyeing an ocular inspection of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in connection with a congressional investigation on the integration of airport terminal fees into the airfare of travelers. This, after the panel began its investigation of the matter in accordance with House Resolution 1656 authored by OFW Family Club party-list Rep. Roy Señeres.

The resolution urged the panel to investigate Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Memorandum Circular 8, which ordered the integration of the PHP 550 terminal fee into airfare effective October 1. The same memorandum alos ordered the terminal fee for OFWS to be refunded. The memorandum was deferred pending a final ruling by a trial court on a petition assailing the memorandum. Señeres said Republic Act 8042

exempts overseas Filipino workers from terminal fees. He said even if the terminal fees are refunded, the memo still violates the law. MIAA General Manager Angel Honrado said the memo was meant to help decongest the airport. He cites 2013 figures that said about 7.6 million passengers line up to pay terminal fees, of which about 1.9 million are OFWs. He also cited a 2011 Office of

Pacquiao dominates Algieri to retain world title MANILA, Nov 23 (Mabuhay) – Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao fashioned out a masterful unanimous decision, knocking down Chris Algieri six times on Sunday to retain the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title in Macau. Pacquiao got the nod of the judges via scores of 119-103, 11903 and 120-102 to his record to 57 wins against five losses and two draws. Algieri suffered his first defeat in 20 fights. “Tonight, I did my best,” Pacquiao said after the fight. “I’m satisfied with my performance tonight.” Pacquiao dealt the American fighter the first defeat of his career in 20 fights, and the eightdivision champion did it in style, snuffing out Algieri’s hopes right

from the start. Talking about his improved power, Pacquiao said it was a priority during training camp with trainer Freddie Roach. “We improved our strength, we did more heavy bag training,” said Pacquiao, who admitted he was looking to stop Algieri. “I’m looking for a knockout, but he’s fast, he’s moving.” Despite giving up four inches in height, Pacquiao stalked Algieri early on, putting the American on the backpedal. That paid off quickly in the second round, when Algieri went down. While replays showed that it may have been a slip, the referee called it a knockdown, giving Pacquiao his first 10-8 round. Pacquiao again sent Algieri to See PACQUIAO, page 12

had passed the Senate but was blocked in the House of Representatives. “That bill would have secured our border, while giving undocumented immigrants who already live here a pathway to citizenship if they paid a fine, started paying their taxes, and went to the back of the line,” the president said, speaking from the Las Vegas, Nevada high school where he launched his immigration reform efforts two years ago. See OBAMA, page 12

See LAWMAKERS, page 12

Dentists selling mercury to miners – lawmaker

Chris Algieri of the U.S. falls as he takes a punch from Manny Pacquiao (left) of the Philippines during their World Boxing Organization (WBO) 12-round welterweight title fight at the Venetian Macao hotel in Macau November 23, 2014.(MNS photo)

LAS VEGAS, November 22, 2014 (AFP) – Obama urged Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform as he used his weekly address Saturday to again defend his unilateral action shielding millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation. “I still believe that the best way to solve this problem is by working together – both parties – to pass that kind of bipartisan law,” Obama said in his weekly radio and television address, referring to a wide-ranging overhaul that

MANILA, Nov 24 (Mabuhay) – A Filipino congressman reveals some dentists are selling mercury to miners who use the chemical for gold processing. In a statement, Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said he filed House Resolution 1590 urging the House Committee on Health to conduct an inquiry into this illegal practice of some dentists in the country. Rodriguez said Filipino dentists who are still allowed to use mercury as dental amalgam in their profession are selling mercury to miners for P18,000 to See DENTIST, page 12

AMLC fails to produce whistleblowers’ bank records MANILA, Nov 24 (Mabuhay) – The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) on Monday failed to produce the bank records of whistleblowers in the pork barrel scam as ordered by the Sandiganbayan, citing bank secrecy regulations and lack of time. During Senator Jinggoy Estrada’s bail hearing, Atty. Joel Jimenez said the AMLC only received a copy of the subpoena last Friday, November 21. Jimenez then asked for more time to submit the documents while telling the court that some of these were confidential under the Bank Secrecy and Anti-Money Laundering Laws. Estrada’s lawyer Paul Arias objected to the AMLC pleading,

Veteran photojournalist Nick Sagmit, who used to cover for Manila Bulletin in the Philippines, lights a candle Saturday at the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles headquarters in memory of fallen colleagues who were killed during the infamous Maguindanao Massacre that took place five years ago in southern Philippines. Media practitioners held their annual commemoration of the event last Nov. 22, during which they also filed a petition calling for the long-delayed justice for the massacre victims and their families. As of Saturday, there has been no conviction for the murder of 58 people, including 32 journalists. Photo: Benny Uy

PHL vows justice five years after massacre AMPATUAN, November 23, 2014 (AFP) - Top officials vowed on Sunday to deliver justice as the Philippines marked the fifth anniversary of a political massacre that killed 58 with no one yet convicted and several would-be witnesses murdered. Under a burning sun hundreds of relatives and supporters of the victims, guarded by scores of military men, congregated on a hillside in the town of Ampatuan on the southern island of Mindanao where the bodies were dumped on November 23, 2009. Relatives released white balloons, lit candles and said prayers as they

echoed calls to convict members and followers of the powerful Ampatuan political clan, some of whom are now on trial for the massacre. In Manila presidential spokesman Herminio Coloma described the killings in Maguindanao province – the country’s worst-ever political massacre – as “a litmus test of the Philippine justice system”. The 58 victims, including 32 journalists, were riding in a convoy in the strife-torn province when they were stopped, rounded up, shot dead and buried on the hillside. See MASSACRE, page 12

Miriam: New definition of ‘savings’ unconstitutional MANILA, Nov 24 (Mabuhay) – Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago on Monday criticized “minefields” in the 2015 budget, including an alleged “unconstitutional” definition of savings and the retention of pork barrel funds under a different name. In a privilege speech, Santiago urged a return to the old definition of savings that refer to portions or balances “which are (i) still available after the cancellation or final discontinuance or abandonment of the work, activity, or purpose for which the appropriation is authorized...” She warned that the new definition of savings talks simply of discontinuance or abandonment at any time. “It could be during the first month, first quarter, first half. A deferral of a project can be construed as discontinuance or abandonment; the same project may be resubmitted for congressional authorization next year or two years from now. This contravenes the constitutional mandate of Congress to authorize appropriations but may See MIRIAM, page 12

See AMLC FAILS, page 12

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Not quite zero crime during Pacquiao match MANILA, Nov 24 (Mabuhay) – Crime rate may be low but the boxing match between the People’s Champ Manny Pacquiao and Chris Algieri failed to deter all crime in

the Philippines on Sunday. Senior Superintendent Wilben Mayor, Philippine National Police public information office chief, said a total of four crimes were reported

from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, November 23. He said the four crimes include 2 shooting incidents, a stabbing incident and a carjacking. In the shooting incident, a man was shot by a still unidentified gunman at No. 43, Singkamas Street, Barangay Tumana in Marikina Sunday. Another shooting incident was also reported wherein a

militiaman of the 14th Infantry Battalion was killed inside his home in Region 8. One motorcycle was taken at Angelo Street, Barangay Amoranto in Quezon City yesterday while a man was stabbed dead by suspect Carmelo Agapito at the Iloilo Terminal Market in Iloilo City. Police also received a report of a vehicular accident at the national highway at Santiago,

Agusan del Norte. Manila’s streets are usually deserted before and during Pacquiao bouts as majority of Filipinos watch the fights on TV. Police authorities have said the crime rates drop every time Pacquiao enters the ring. Pacquiao defeated Algieri via unanimous decision and improved his record to 57 wins with five losses and two draws. (MNS)

Busy Makati corner declared safe after bomb scare MANILA, Nov 24 (Mabuhay) – An abandoned package that triggered a bomb scare in a busy Makati City street Monday morning yielded no explosives but tools, police said. PO2 Alex Witty of the Makati Police Station said that the area – Makati Avenue corner Paseo de Roxas – was declared safe at 12:12 p.m. The abandoned package was reported by a security guard in the area at 11:10 a.m., prompting the city police department to send in personnel from the

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Explosives and Ordnance division. Witty said personnel from the EOD used a “water charge” to open the abandoned package, and found that the aluminum box contained assorted tools used for repairing computers. Police are reviewing the CCTV footage to determine who left the package in the area, Witty said. The bomb scare slowed down traffic along the two busy Makati streets. (MNS)

Palace: Cops, DTI to provide twofold protection for Xmas shoppers

MANILA, Nov 22 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Saturday expressed confidence the Philippine National Police and the Department of Trade and Industry can provide two-fold protection for Christmas shoppers as the holidays draw closer. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has coordinated with the PNP on security arrangements especially for malls. “I’m quite sure (MMDA Chairman Francis) Tolentino has coordinated with the PNP regarding the new opening and closing hours of malls and that the security arrangements will be made accordingly,” she said on government-run dzRB radio. On Friday, the MMDA and mall owners agreed on an “11 to 11” scheme where malls would be generally open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. from Nov. 28 to Jan. 3, to minimize the impact of heavy traffic during the holiday shopping season. Tolentino also said a separate meeting may be held to coordinate security in malls. “Pag mall, ang una riyan private security. Ang PNP umaalalay riyan lalo sa season na dumadami ang tao tulad ng Pasko,” Valte said. Meanwhile, Valte said the DTI will continue to inspect prices of popular holiday-related items in *On Select New Models on approved credit thru TFS shops, to protect consumers from overpricing. The DTI has also been deploying “Diskwento Caravans” to sell basic goods at low prices. “Very active ang consumer protection ng DTI at kanilang monitoring teams. Halos araw-araw sila nagpapadala ng report,” she said. (MNS)

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Palace calls for cooperation of locals to end crime in Sulu

MANILA, Nov 23 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang is asking the cooperation of residents in Sulu to help put an end to crime in the province, a Palace official said on Sunday. “Hinihimok... natin ang kooperasyon ng ating mga mamamayan para mawakasan na po ang pag-iral ng krimen doon sa kanilang lalawigan,” Presidential Communications Herminio Coloma Jr. told a press briefing aired over state-run dzRB on Sunday. According to Coloma, law enforcement operations in Parang town in Sulu on Saturday afternoon that killed an Abu Sayyaf Group leader has proved the determination of the government’s campaign against bandit groups. “Patunay lang po ito sa determinasyon ng pamahalaan na masabat at mapigil ang mga krimen na isinisagawa ng mga bandidong element katulad ng Abu Sayyaf Group sa lalawigan ng Sulu,” he said. Joint Task Group Sulu commander Col. Alan Arrojado said ASG leader Sihata Latip was killed at around 4:45 pm in Barangay Duyan Kaha.

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ABS-CBN files $12M lawsuit against 18 pirate sites REDWOOD SHORES, November 24, 2014 - ABS-CBN Corporation, ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc (Star Cinema) and ABS-CBN International filed suit in US Federal District Court in Florida last November 21, 2014 against 18 pirate sites for damages of over $12 million dollars resulting from the infringement of the copyrights and trademarks of ABS-CBN’s popular TV shows and movies. The defendants are partnerships or unincorporated business associations which operate through domain names registered with registrars in the U.S. and elsewhere. Their domain names are the following: 1)buhaypinoyofw.net; 2) freepinoytvshows.net, pinoylovetvshowreplay.com; 3) hapeetube.biz, lovelytube.biz, pinoytelebisyon.biz, pinoy-telebisyon. org; 4) lambingan.tk; 5) movieserye.com; 6) pinaytambayan. org; pinoy-ako.me; 8) pinoymoviegallery.net; 9) pinoytambayan. me; 10) pinoytelesine.com; 11) pinoytopmovies.com; 12) pinoytv. me; 13) projectcabbage.com; 14) tambayanofwtv.info; 15) telebesyon.com; 16) telebyuwers. ph,telebyuwers.tv; 17) teleseryereplay.com; 18) yzreplay.com. Based on the complaint, the defendants provide on-demand streaming performances of fulllength versions of ABS-CBN’s TV shows and movies through their websites. Defendants often display the latest content to their servers within minutes or hours of the original broadcast in the Philippines. Further, they control the organization and presentation of the content by providing links to ABS-CBN shows and promote and advertise the content as ABSCBN’s through search engine optimization and meta tags, including the use of ABS-CBN’s marks, then stream the shows for users’ viewing through their websites. With the popularity of ABS-CBN films and TV shows, these sites drive significant traffic that enable them to reap profits from advertising and other revenue. According to ABS-CBN AVP of Global Anti-Piracy Elisha Lawrence, “this is another phase in our relentless enforcement campaign to identify and punish pirates

whose sites have been reported to contain malware that can cause substantial financial harm to innocent people who were just trying to view our shows and movies.” This latest lawsuit comes on the heels of the police search and seizure by police in Victoria, Australia at the home of Mary Smith in the suburb of Barooga, New South Wales in Australia where numerous pirate ABS-CBN DVDs, DVD burners and hundreds of pirated ABS-CBN movies on computer hard drives were located. Recently, ABS-CBN also received a US$10 million judgment from the U.S. Federal District Court in Oregon against Jeffrey Ashby for damages from his infringing the copyrights and wellknown trademarks of ABS-CBN by rebroadcasting ABS-CBN’s popular TV shows and movies on his pirate websites. Among the many pirate sites that Ashby owned werewatchfilipinotv.com, watchfilipinomovies. com and pinoytalaga.com. “We at ABS-CBN are committed to giving our viewers the best viewing experience for our content and protecting the rights of the talented creative and production teams that work hard to deliver these shows and films,” saidABS-CBN Global COO Raffy Lopez. “Online pirates undermine that, hence, we are determined to discourage and stop them.” About ABS-CBN International ABS-CBN International was founded in April 1994 to be of service to all Filipinos. With the launch of The Filipino Channel (TFC), the company became the first and most successful Filipino content distribution company in the U.S. The company offers telecommunication, retail, theatricals, money remittance and cargo services, online audio and video streaming, IPTV, On Demand, along with philanthropic support for Filipinos and the communities they now call home. Based in Redwood City, CA, ABS-CBN International is a subsidiary of ABS-CBN Corporation, the Philippines’ largest entertainment and broadcasting company, through ABS-CBN Corporation’s wholly-owned subsidiary, ABSCBN Global Hungary Kft. For more information, visit www.tfcusa.com.

Jinggoy is also ‘Cong. Biazon’, Luy tells Sandiganbayan MANILA, Nov 24 (Mabuhay) – Principal whistleblower Benhur Luy told the Sandiganbayan on Monday that they also used the codename “Cong. Biazon” for Senator Jinggoy Estrada in connection with the alleged misuse of the senator’s pork barrel funds. Testifying at the bail hearing of Estrada, who is facing plunder and graft charges, Luy said that apart from calling the senator “Anak,” “Kuya,” and “Seksi,” they also called him “Cong. Biazon.” According to Luy, the alias was in reference to former Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon, who is also facing a malversation complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman over the pork barrel scam. Asked for a clarification, Justice Undersecretary Jose Justiniano, a member of the prosecution, explained that alleged scam

mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles used “Cong. Biazon” for Estrada because he and Biazon were sons of former senators. Biazon is the son of former senator now Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, while Estrada is the son of former senator Loi Estrada. Estrada scoffed at the attribution. “Highly absurd and ridiculous ang pag-attribute sa akin sa pangalan ni Congressman Biazon (is the attribution to me of Congressman Biazon’s name). It proves that there are lots of inconsistencies in the testimony of the star witness,” he said. According to Luy’s disbursement report presented to the court, Estrada received P11.97 million in kickbacks from a P30million Department of Agriculture project under the name of “Cong. Biazon” dated March 2005.

Acting Health Sec. Garin attends Senate budget deliberations MANILA, Nov 24 (Mabuhay) – Acting Health Secretary Janette Garin arrived at the Senate Monday morning to attend the deliberations on the budget of the Department of Health. Some senators earlier expressed concern on the presence of Garin at the Senate after she and Armed Forces chief Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. visited the Filipino peacekeepers from Liberia who were under quarantine at Caballo Island. Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday shook Garin’s hand and greeted her with a kiss on the cheek. Asked why he greeted Garin, Marcos said the acting DOH secretary is his friend. “Kaibigan ko siya. Taga-Leyte ‘yan, nakapangasawa lang ng taga-Iloilo,” he told reporters. Told that Garin visited the Filipino peacekeepers under quarantine on Caballo Island, the senator smiled and went back to talk to Garin. Senator Francis Escudero acknowledged the presence of Garin but the latter said they should just greet her with the Ebola greeting or the handless shake. Senator Teofisto Guingona III greeted Garin but did not shake hands with her while Senator Bam Aquino, like Marcos, shook Garin’s hand and kissed her on the cheek. The senators talked with Garin and other health officials. Meanwhile, Acting Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III, who chided Garin for her visit to the quarantined peacekeepers and was the first senator to air concern over her presence at the Senate, did not go near the acting health chief. In his speech, Sotto explained that he was standing at the rostrum facing the seat of the Senate President instead of the other one at the back near the health officials because of the tradition that senators should still talk to the Senate President when interpellating.

(SINGAPORE) President Benigno S. Aquino III exchanging pleasantries with Temasek chairman Lim Boon Heng during a business meeting at the State Room, Valley Wing of the Shangri-La Hotel Singapore on Wednesday (November 19) as part of his official visit to Singapore. (MNS photo)

We have not yet banned any journalist – Palace

MANILA, Nov 23 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang urged the Bureau of Immigration to reassess the blacklisting of the Hong Kong journalists ahead of the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit next year. In an interview with radio dzRB, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the exclusion should be reassessed since there was no similar incident this year. The immigration office earlier said the Hong Kong journalists were blacklisted on the recommendation from intelligence officials that they committed acts against President Benigno Aqui-

no III during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Bali, Indonesia in 2013. The manner of the questioning of the journalists about the bus hostage crisis supposedly irked Aquino and Malacañang officials said the journalists “crossed the line.” Immigration spokeswoman Elaine Tan said showing “disrespect or makes offensive utterances to symbols of Philippine authority” is already sufficient basis to ban an individual. The Philippines will host the APEC summit next year. Coloma, nonetheless, defended the immigration office, saying it

has the mandate to study the risks of allowing individuals to enter the country. This is why Malacañang is asking that this be reassessed, he said. “If we are talking about the accreditation of journalists for the 2015 APEC, we have not yet started the process,” Coloma said. He also noted that the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), which he heads, has not yet received applications and as such “we have not banned anyone yet.” Coloma said there is enough time to study the cases of the journalists. (MNS)

Sotto questions P1-billion DOH budget for family planning items MANILA, Nov 24 (Mabuhay) – The Department of Health’s (DOH) P1-billion proposed budget for family planning supplies is hanging in the balance after Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III questioned the lack of certification from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) during Monday’s budget deliberations. The DOH is proposing a total of P1.025 billion for “family planning commodities” such as subthermal implant, medical supplies for implant insertions, combined oral contraceptive pills, injectibles, IUDs, bilateral tubal ligation, non-scalpel vasectomy , among other items. Senator Teofisto Guingona III, chairman of the Senate committee on health, said at least 2.7

million Filipinos would benefit from the proposed budget. Sotto, a staunch critic of the Reproductive Health Law, asked if the family planning commodities had been certified by the FDA as required by the law. Guingona said the DOH was still awaiting the FDA certification. “That’s why even for this year 2014, they have not (made a purchase) yet. They are awaiting the FDA certification,” Guingona said. “Then why are we putting it in the budget, Mr. President?” Sotto asked, referring to Senate President Franklin Drilon. “Well, on the presumption that the FDA certification will come out, then at least it’s budgeted,” Guingona answered.

But Sotto said: “For 2014, wala pa nga e, ilalagay na naman natin sa 2015?” “Mr. President, I understand lalabas daw yung FDA certification first week of December,” Guingona said. But Sotto pressed for a categorical answer from the DOH. The session was temporarily suspended and when it resumed, Guingona reiterated that the FDA certification would come out on the first week of December. “So perhaps we can make that a part of the budget, or part of the records of the Senate for the budget of the DOH . That if we don’t get the certification, we remove the entire budget for those commodities that can’t be certified by the FDA, ” Sotto said. (MNS)

PHL removes Hong Kong journalists from blacklist MANILA, November 25, 2014 (AFP) – The Philippines has lifted an entry ban against nine Hong Kong journalists who shouted questions at President Benigno Aquino last year, a government spokeswoman said Tuesday after a media backlash. The journalists had also been expelled from an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Indonesia last year after they aggressively questioned Aquino over a 2010 Manila hostage crisis that left eight Hong Kong residents dead. Bureau of Immigration spokeswoman Elaine Tan told AFP the ban was lifted because Aquino was not put through another bout of aggressive questioning at the APEC summit in Beijing earlier this month.

“After a re-evaluation, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency said they (Hong Kong journalists) are no longer considered as threats and the ban was lifted effective today,” she added. They had been placed on the bureau’s blacklist last June because they were considered a “threat to public safety” following “acts committed against the president” at the Bali summit. However, the Philippine foreign department subsequently said it had not been consulted about imposing the entry ban, and demanded a review. The blacklisting last week prompted swift criticism, with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines saying the move sent a “chilling message”.

“If the government’s intelligence agency does not like the way you ask questions, you may be labelled a public safety threat and blacklisted from the Philippines,” the group said. The journalists were blacklisted as the Philippines and Hong Kong were repairing strained ties, and ahead of the Philippines’ hosting of the APEC summit next year. In August 2010, eight members of a Hong Kong tour group were killed in a botched rescue after they were seized by a disgraced ex-policeman in Manila. The two governments announced in April that they have resolved the row after the Manila city government issued a formal apology.

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Lifelong struggle for Maguindanao massacre widows By Joel Guinto

MANILA, November 22, 2014 (AFP) – For Gloria Teodoro and other women widowed by the Philippines’ worst political massacre, the struggle to move on with their lives is as long and painful as their fight for justice. Five years since the carnage in the impoverished farming province of Maguindanao left 58 people dead, including 32 journalists, women thrust into single parenthood juggle odd jobs as they nurse deep emotional scars. “The tragedy is that we lost our breadwinner. We are often out of money but we manage to survive,” Teodoro, 45, widow of local newspaper reporter Andres Teodoro, told AFP. “I always tell my kids to toughen up and just hold on.” Teodoro said she gave manicures and helped people secure land titles and other government documents for a fee, just to see her two teenaged children through high school. “I take on any job as long as it’s legal... it’s extremely difficult being a single mother and we’ve been struggling for five years,” Teodoro said. She said her eldest son dropped out of college at the age of 19, three years after the murders, to work at his father’s newspaper and help her pay the bills. Around 80 schoolchildren lost their fathers after the massacre and their mothers are mostly unemployed, said Jaime Espina, Director of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines. “Most of the victims were sole breadwinners who left their families struggling to survive,” Espina told AFP. Merly Perante, widow of newspaper reporter Ronnie Perante, said she pooled 70,000 pesos ($1,550) in donations from journalists’ groups to build an apartment house to support her three children. But she now has to work as a cashier at a cockfighting arena in her hometown of General Santos City just to survive. “I won’t be joining other widows at the massacre site this year because I have to work. I know my husband will understand,” Perante, 41, told AFP. Every year, the victims’ families light candles, offer flowers and say prayers on a hill in Maguindanao province, where the 58 victims were buried using a backhoe after a brazen daytime ambush. The journalists’ convoy was on its way to cover the election candidacy filing of an local politician when they were allegedly waylaid by a private militia led by Andal Ampatuan Jr on November 23, 2009. His father, Andal Ampatuan Sr, had ruled Maguindanao as governor for about a decade under the patronage of then-president Gloria Arroyo, who had funded the clan’s private army as a buffer against Muslim separatist rebels. Ampatuan Jr is accused of leading the militia of more than 100 gunmen in stopping the convoy, which was carrying his political foe’s wife, relatives, lawyers and the journalists, then gunning them down. The Ampatuans deny all charges against them. With no one yet convicted and the clan continuing to wield huge influence in Maguindanao, anger is rising among victims’ families. The widows are represented in the murder trial by a handful of private prosecutors who are helping government lawyers to lay out the evidence – but in the Philippines, even a simple trial involving one accused person typically takes many years to complete. Anniversary opens old wounds Perante said her eldest son, who wanted to become an accountant before his father died, is now studying to be a policeman. “That’s how his father’s death affected him. He wants justice for his father,” she said. Perante was two months pregnant when her husband was killed. Her youngest son knows of his father only through pictures and clippings of his articles, she said. “My sons tell our youngest: ‘Here is our father. He is a journalist, and these are the Ampatuans who killed him’,” she said. Perante and Teodoro said that, ahead of Sunday’s anniversary, their husbands had been appearing in their dreams. “In those dreams, we are bonding as a family, like we did when he was alive. It’s his way of telling us that he’s still there for us,” Perante said. For Teodoro, the yearly commemoration reopens old wounds. “It’s an indescribable mix of feelings – pain, despair, helplessness,” she said. “I imagine how my husband and the others must have felt when they were murdered, begging for their lives.” Teodoro consoles herself with the fact that her husband’s death was not in vain as bombings and shootings in the region appeared to have been reduced. Ampatuan Sr had gained a reputation as a fearsome warlord during his time in power, ruling as many politicians do in the impoverished and violence-plagued southern Philippines. “Their deaths sparked change in that hell of a place. They did not die for nothing,” Teodoro said. “This is an extraordinary case but we are not losing hope.”

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Transsexual murder by US Marine highlights struggle for rights By Mynardo Macaraig

MANILA, November 21, 2014 (AFP) – The murder of a Filipina transgender woman, allegedly by a US Marine, has stoked nationalist outrage in the Philippines but activists say the spotlight should also be shone on “hate crimes” by locals targeting minority groups. The case of 26-year-old Jennifer Laude, also known as Jeffrey, found dead in a hotel bathroom in the red-light district of the northern port city of Olongapo in October risks harming Philippine-US defense relations. A US serviceman on a port call is the main suspect in a crime that has been used by leftist and nationalist groups to assail the American military’s role in the former US colony. But while the Laude case made headlines, the murders of four gay people at around the same time, in suspected Filipino-on-Filipino “hate crimes”, garnered far less media attention, according to Clara Padilla, executive director of EnGendeRights. “It is clear we have a strong prevalence of homophobia and transphobia in the Philippines,” said Padilla, whose organization supports lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. Most of the victims were attacked while they were alone and stabbed repeatedly, in one case as many as 33 times, Padilla said, adding that the ferocity suggested they were hate crimes and the victims targeted because of their sexual orientation. Although the Philippines is considered more tolerant than other developing nations, the LGBT community says it still faces heavy discrimination in the largely conservative Catholic country. Bills barring discrimination against homosexual and transgender people have stalled for years in Congress and some institutions like schools and workplaces are open in their lack of tolerance, Padilla said. The threat from home An online survey of almost 500 LGBT Filipinos taken this year by advocacy group TLF Share found that one in 10 had been attacked or threatened with violence due to their sexuality in the last five years. Almost 76 percent of those people said the aggressors had been their own parents or siblings. “My mother attacked me inside our house when (she)

found out I had a girlfriend,” one respondent was quoted as saying. “She slapped, punched and even kicked me”. Bemz Benedito, a transgender woman who manages a prominent charity, said she and many like her face discrimination or harassment when looking for regular jobs. Many end up in the sex industry as a result. “Why are they driven to this kind of work? Because they are discriminated against and opportunities are not really open to them in this country,” she said. ‘Gay-amused’ “A lot of people have said we are a gay-friendly country but we are actually a ‘gay-amused’ country,” said Eric Manalastas, a psychology professor specializing in LGBT issues at the University of the Philippines. “When you scratch the surface you see people’s true feelings,” he said, citing the many harsh remarks posted about Laude in social media that blamed her for her own death. While many have expressed outrage over the killing, Manalastas said this is largely because the suspect is a US serviceman. “If a fellow Filipino was the prime suspect, I suspect we would not be reading about it or talking about it,” he said. Street protests over the killing have been dominated by leftist groups who are mainly concerned with cutting defence ties with the United States rather than supporting LGBT issues. “We feel we don’t have the mike. We don’t have a platform,” said Nicky Castillo, managing director of Rainbow Rights Philippines. However Danton Remoto, chairman of Ladlad, a political party representing LGBT communities, said that some progress is being made. He cited the huge success last year of a serious TV drama, “My Husband’s Lover”, that dealt with a married man and his boyfriend. Ladlad was barred from taking part in the 2010 elections on grounds of “immorality” before the Supreme Court later reversed this decision. However the party still failed to get enough votes to win a single seat in Congress. “Only in the recent past have the Philippine National Police been more cooperative. Before, if someone gay is beaten, they would just laugh at them,” Remoto said.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice condemns decision not to indict officer in shooting to death of Michael Brown In response to today’s announcement that the grand jury in Ferguson, MO, has decided not to indict officer Darren Wilson, Asian Americans Advancing Justice issues the following statement: As civil rights organizations, we fight daily for racial justice for all communities of color. And as Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders whose community members have also experienced police brutality and discrimination Asian Americans Advancing Justice condemns the grand jury’s failure to bring charges against officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown. We are saddened and angry that yet again, there will be no accountability for the fatal shooting of an African American by law enforcement. Michael Brown’s death is just one of many fatal shootings of African Americans by police officers around the nation. These deaths show us that the racial profiling and violence that African Americans experience runs

deep and happens because of systemic failures. We urge the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate racial profiling, excessive force and officerinvolved shooting policies and practices in the Ferguson Police Department. We need answers and justice for Michael Brown’s death. We will work with African Americans and other impacted communities to hold our leaders accountable and to ensure the motto of “to serve and protect” rings true for all of our communities. Asian Americans Advancing Justice is a national affiliation of five leading organizations advocating for the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and other underserved communities to promote a fair and equitable society for all. The affiliation’s members are: Advancing Justice - AAJC (Washington, D.C.), Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus (San Francisco), Advancing Justice - Atlanta, Advancing Justice - Chicago, and Advancing Justice Los Angeles.

Chiz: There’s money for Philhealth coverage of seniors in 2015 The Senate has ensured that the new law granting automatic health insurance to senior citizens regardless of their socio-economic status will be funded by next year’s national budget. According to Senator Chiz Escudero, chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, senior citizens are among the sectors that will benefit from the mandatory PhilHealth coverage under a new special provision in the 2015 general appropriations bill, which he sponsored. Also to be covered are indigents and elected and appointed barangay officials, tanods and barangay health workers (BHW). “Volunteer tanods put their lives on the line but receive a token pay. So are BHWs who only get a measly honorarium. The least we can do is to give them health insurance so when they are hurt in the line of duty, the treatment will be shouldered by PhilHealth,” Escudero said. The senator explained that funding for the “full premium subsidy” of the covered sectors will come from a P37.06-billion allocation of the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) under the government’s proposed spending package for next year. Escudero has attached a special provision to this fund “so that those who need PhilHealth insurance but can’t afford it will be covered.” “The continuing role of the government is to remove barriers and provide wider access to health-

care assistance which is a universal basic service,” Escudero pointed out. In addition to indigent seniors and barangay officials, the Escudero amendment mandates the automatic PhilHeath coverage of indigent families identified by the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR). In order to ensure that this sector will continue to get health insurance coverage next year, the special provision also orders the retention in the 2015 list of the “poor and low income families who are currently enrolled in the NHIP.” The P37.06 billion earmarked for next year’s NHIP will be used to pay for the PhilHealth membership premiums of 10.2 million “sponsored families.” Escudero said he specified “all seniors” in the special provision so that the newly-signed Republic Act No. 10645 will be fully implemented. “We don’t want it to end up as an unfunded mandate.” Escudero was referring to the Act Providing for the Mandatory PhilHealth Coverage for All Senior Citizens, Amending for the Purpose RA 7431, as Amended by RA 9994, otherwise known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, which President Aquino signed early this month. For 2015, the Department of Health (DoH) has a proposed budget of P89.9 billion, up from P87.1 billion this year.

China policies fuel tensions with US: US commission By Michael Mathes

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WASHINGTON, November 20, 2014 (AFP) – China’s souring foreign investment climate, “unfair” trade practices and lack of progress on reforms increased economic tensions between the United States and Beijing in 2014, a US commission concluded Thursday. Security ties between the two world powers also deteriorated this year amid South China Sea turmoil, increased territorial disputes and potentially lethal China-US military confrontations that risked escalating into a “major political crisis,” the USChina Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) said in its annual report to Congress. Reports by the commission, comprised of former US lawmakers, ex-government and White House officials, and other experts, have in the past irritated officials in Beijing, where ties with Washington are under a microscope. President Xi Jinping’s government “made minimal progress in implementing these reforms in 2014, and it remains unclear whether the Xi government will accelerate reform in 2015,” USCC said in its 599-page report.

Despite China’s economy growing at or near its official target rate of 7.5 percent for most of 2014, “the government failed to address China’s underlying structural problems, such as oversupply, overcapacity, mounting local government debt, and asset bubbles that put its economy at risk of a sharp slowdown or ‘hard landing,’” the commission added. China’s massive economy is dependent on exports for growth, “a policy supported by an undervalued currency (which) has resulted in China’s accumulation of record foreign currency reserves, and contributes to global trade imbalances,” according to USCC. The policy has pinched US opportunities to boost exports to the Asian giant. “In 2014, Chinese direct investment flows into the United States exceeded US investment into China for the first time as foreign firms faced an increasingly hostile investment climate in China,” the commission said. Despite Washington using diplomacy and enforcement tools to address China’s unfair practices, “Chinese trade violations continue and the bilateral trading relationship grows more lopsided.”

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UTREACH Safety is the best ingredient during Thanksgiving

Obama reform to benefit thousands of undocumented Filipinos By Nimfa U. Rueda

LOS ANGELES – President Barack Obama drew mixed reactions among Filipino-American immigration advocates last week after he outlined his plan to shield up to 5 million immigrants – including tens of thousands of Filipinos – from deportation. The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (Naffaa) threw its full support behind Obama’s sweeping immigration reform, saying “his bold decision is a step forward” in fixing a broken immigration system and addressing the plight of undocumented Filipinos. The Los Angeles-based Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) called it a “partial victory” for Fil-Am immigration advocates who have been pushing for a path to citizenship for undocumented Filipinos. “It’s the biggest relief granted since 1986, but it’s not a complete victory,” said PWC Director Aquilina Soriano-Versoza, who watched Obama’s televised immigration speech at a gathering of Fil-Am community members at the nonprofit’s LA headquarters. One of the undocumented Filipinos who attended the event said he was “very disappointed” that he and the majority of undocumented Filipinos “have been left out.” “I haven’t seen my family in the Philippines for 11 years,” said the 50-year-old healthcare worker who requested anonymity. But many other undocumented Filipinos – up to tens of thousands – will benefit from the long-awaited reform, said immigration lawyer Arnedo Valera, executive director of the Washington DC-based Migrant Heritage Commission. Under Obama’s plan, undocumented parents of children born in the United States will be shielded from deportation – potentially benefiting more than 2,000 undocumented Filipinos in the Washington DC area alone, Valera said. “(Obama’s) executive action is not a cureall...but an immediate and practical immigration relief to millions of undocumented immigrants,” said Valera. LA-based immigration lawyer Paul Mendoza Allen clarified the Obama immigration plan’s limitations. “It’s not an amnesty and it’s not a path to citizenship,” Allen said. “It’s simply a deferment of possible deportation proceedings. However, it’s a good start for many to come out of the shadows, get a job and provide for their families.” Allen said the program may eventually become permanent “since the government cannot possibly deport 11 million undocumented immigrants.” Among those who will benefit from Obama’s reform is Pu-

litzer prize-winning journalist and immigration activist Jose Antonio Vargas. Vargas is one of the 270,000 people who would be eligible for relief under the expansion of a 2012 move by Obama to stop deporting people brought illegally to the US as children by their parents. “Personally, this executive action means a lot to me: I can have temporary status, I can have a work permit, I can travel outside of the country,” said Vargas in his Facebook post. “The moment I can travel, I will fly to the Philippines and see my Mama, my sister, my brother and relatives. It’s been 21 years.” But the fight is not over for Vargas. “Let’s be clear: President Obama’s executive action is temporary, not permanent; it also leaves out millions of people, like undocumented parents (day laborers, farm workers, civil rights leaders) and many LGBT people I know,” he said. “This action is historic and it’s necessary, but we need to do more.” The LA-based Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) released a statement saying they were disappointed that the plan excluded the 25,000 grandchildren of Filipino World War II veterans who were covered in an immigration bill passed by the Senate several months ago. “It’s very unfortunate that Pres. Obama bowed to the wishes of the conservative Republicans,” said JFAV national coordinator Arturo Garcia.

ROSEMEAD, Calif., Nov. 17, 2014 – While overeating and Thanksgiving are virtually synonymous, cooking accidents and Turkey Day, unfortunately, go hand in hand, too. Because of the latter, Southern California Edison (SCE) urges its customers to add a healthy dose of safety to their preparations this Thanksgiving, since the National Fire Protection Association says cooking is the leading cause of home fires on a day that has three times more home fires than any other day of the year. Unattended cooking is the culprit in most of those fires, said the U.S. Fire Administration. “It’s easy to get distracted while cooking and entertaining family and friends on Thanksgiving Day,” said Don Neal, SCE director of Corporate Environmental, Health and Safety. “But you should never leave cooking equipment or appliances unattended for any reason. It is imperative that you turn them off or have someone else watch them if

you leave the room. It only takes a few inattentive seconds to ruin your holiday.” About 2,000 fires occur each year in the U.S. on Thanksgiving Day, causing on average five fatalities, 15 injuries and $21 million in property damage, according to the fire administration. Additionally, customers should ensure that appliances bear the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) mark. UL is the leading independent product safety organization, and they do not currently certify the use of turkey fryers. SCE recommends some other safety tips for Thanksgiving: Replace appliances with frayed cords. Contact with them can cause electric shock and serious injury. Plug countertop appliances into Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)-protected outlets. Locate all appliances away from the sink. Remember, water and electricity do not mix. Do not overload outlets with multiple adaptors or power

strips. Do not use extension cords with major appliances. Never fight an electrical or grease fire with water. Keep a fire extinguisher, UL listed and rated for electrical and grease fires, nearby. Unplug appliances that aren’t in use, preventing them from being turned on accidentally. Keep appliance cords out of reach of children and keep the floor clear of other cords to prevent falls. For more on electrical safety at home, visit on.sce.com/staysafe. Follow us on Twitter andFacebook. About Southern California Edison An Edison International (NYSE:EIX) 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-squaremile service area within Central, Coastal and Southern California.

‘Road to Success,’ an innovative, low cost way to help immigrants pass driver’s license test Class helps test takers improve chances of passing written exam on first try

(Los Angeles) – The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, a California-based immigrant rights organization, announces the start of a new driver’s license test preparation class entitled “Road to Success” (Camino al Exito). The class focuses on applicants of the new AB60 driver’s license for undocumented immigrants residing in California. CHIRLA has developed an easy to understand, fun, and interactive curriculum it hopes will help California applicants of the new driver license take and pass the exam successfully. The 3-hour class is offered in Spanish and at the low cost of $30 for CHIRLA members. In test runs, almost all class participants failed to pass the first exam. At the end of the course, 85 to 95 of the class participants passed the exam. Starting January 2, 2015, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will issue the new AB 60 Driver’s License. To qualify, an applicant must show proof of identity and residency. In addition, the applicant must pass a written exam and a practice test behind the wheel. In January, the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles an-

nounced 71 percent of the people applying for the new driver authorization cards had failed the written exam in the first three days of the program. The lesson for all drivers who feel all too comfortable on the road having driven without a license for too long is: study if you want your license. If a California driver’s license applicant fails the exam on the first try, she/he will receive a second appointment to retake the exam. The next appointment, however, may not come until several months later due to the large crowds expected to apply for the AB60 license for the first time. WHAT: Media opportunity to observe and participate in a short version of the new driver’s license class, “Road to Success.” First time license seekers will participate in the class, take an initial pre-test and post-test to measure class effectiveness. Class will be held in Spanish but instructors will answer questions in English or Spanish. WHEN: Wednesday, November 19, 2014, 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. WHERE: CHIRLA, 2533 West Third St., Ste. 101, Los Angeles, CA 90057 WHO: Immigrants seeking to apply for the new AB60 driver’s license. VISUALS: New driver’s license applicants will take a pre

and post test exams, participate in the class, and answer reporter questions as to the process, their aspirations for a new license, and how they are preparing themselves to be ready January 2, 2014.

HIFI California’s International Filipino Exposition on December 5-6 at FACLA

Los Angeles—The International Filipino Business Exposition sponsoredby the Historic Filipinotown California Expostion LLC will be held onDecember 5 and 6, 2014 at the Filipino American Community of LosAngeles (FACLA) Social Hall at 1740 W. Temple St. Los Angeles, Ca90026. This was announced by Dr. Veronico Agatep, the HIFI Cali ExpoPresident who said: “ the trade fair and exposition is an annual event that will bring together FilAm business personalities and their potential partners from the Philippines to introduce products and services for possible trade partnerships The HIFI Cali LLC partnered with the Philippine Chamber of Commerceand Industry , Cagayan Chapter. Philippine Coordinator Cloyd Velasco,President of the PCCI-Cagayan Chapter will lead the Philippinedelegates who will attend the trade exposition in LA.” Agatep ended.

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Angeline Quinto takes the center stage on Nov. 30 at the Alex Theater By Ed Rame

It’s a long and challenging journey for Angeline Quinto. Her rise to fame is not a silver platter story but one that is so challenged; saddled with endless hours of practice, quest for her own identity as an artist, patience and perseverance amidst incredible personal setbacks but her great love for singing has always prevailed. It can either be an outlet or truly a passion. She was gifted with a powerful voice that during the Star Power championship of Ms. Sharon Cuneta, she literally shattered the PA speakers. She won it with sheer talent. As if a portent of things to come, Angeline has actually shattered the walls that has painfully separated her from her dreams. She won almost all singing competitions she has joined but still Lady Luck didn’t really smiled at her readily It took some year but Angeline is no faint of heart, coming from simple beginnings with her own share of life’s drama. This must have inspired her to have this thirst for success and fame and I bet never in her wildest dreams that she is now singing the songs of her life as she is now crowned The Queen of Teleserye Theme Songs. As there are a lot of queens and divas, her title is equally important because each songs she sings touches the hearts of the masses who were so enamored and so engaged with Philippine Teleseryes. Lady Luck has indeed opened the door for her as she continued to climb her way on to the top of the ladder of this elusive and sometimes fickle success. Having a good voice in the Philippines is not enough as a lot of Filipinos can give a run for the money to so many established singers but there are those blessed and favored to be not just winners but actually anointed to succeed. From her first journey to the USA with her mentor Ms. Sharon Cuneta to present, Angeline’s life has changed forever. She has now become the inspiration to so many aspiring souls to taste the same sweetness of success she’s enjoying. She’s not just a certified Platinum Artist with three of her four albums, another door opened for her in the field of acting as she has

Former Laker AC Green leads all other runners in the second annual 5K ‘Move It’ Challenge and Health Festival last Saturday, Nov. 22, at Dodger Stadium.

Thousands run in LAUSD’s 5K ‘Move It’ District 5K at Dodger Stadium in support of health & wellness

Angeline

now major roles in some movies like Born To Love You, Four Sisters and a Wedding, Bakit Hindi Ka Crush Ng Crush Mo?, and Beauty in a Bottle. She has indeed all the indications of a certified star worthy of her own salt. What has allowed her to attain this success must one for the storybook. To have a life in such an incredible transformation is not a trial and error or a mere coincidence. She must have learned to transform her experiences in her early life to fire her passion for her craft She truly earned it or success would have stopped flowing her way. The way she has transformed her life tells of the fruits she is now harvesting. More than the accolades nor the abundance she’s enjoying now is the love that she can now share especially to her family which again is another one for the storybook. I believe this is everyone’s dream and she’s living it beautifully. AT the center stage of Alex Theater (Nov. 30) and at Pala Casino (Nov 22), Angeline will sing your favorite songs not just to mesmerize and entertain you with her ultimate singing prowess and musicality but also to inspire you with her own story. She is actually at the Center of it all. This is her moment.

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) hosted its second annual 5K ‘Move It’ Challenge and Health Festival last Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014 at Dodger Stadium. In partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the District fundraiser was aimed to raise awareness about the importance of physical activity and a healthy lifestyle among students, employees and community members, while raising important funding for the District’s Wellness Centers. “The LAUSD is committed not only to the education of our students, but to their health and

wellness as well,” said Chief Deputy Superintendent Michelle King. “We know that healthy students do better in school. With that said, our goal with this event is to raise awareness about the importance of physical activity and to encourage families to visit our Wellness Centers to learn more about programs they can use to improve their health and the health of their families.” More than a dozen LAUSD Wellness Centers offer FREE health and wellness programs and services, along with primary prevention education and parent education in their local communities. Statistics show that 27 percent of L.A. Unified students remain

uninsured and 44 percent rely on Medi-Cal, an indication of the urgent need for the centers. The LAUSD 5K ‘Move It’ Challenge and Health Festival Activities kicked off at 8 a.m. with preevent activities before the event. The run/walk that followed took place later with a health festival that was held after the race until 1 p.m. A separate 1K was also held for younger students, along with those who chose to run or walk a shorter course. Also hosting the event were The Los Angeles Dodgers, L.A. Trust, an organization aimed at improving student health and readiness to learn; Beyond the Bell, the District’s afterschool program; and The A.C. Green Foundation.

Binibining Pilipinas USA seeks licensees for U.S. regional pageants Los Angeles – In preparation for its upcoming 3rd annual BINIBINING PILIPINAS USA 2015 Pageant (“Your Destiny Awaits!”), scheduled for August 2015, in Los Angeles, CA, the Binibining Pilipinas USA organization announced today that it is seeking regional/local pageant directors from various regions around the United States to operate, manage, and conduct official local pageants or candidate searches, with an eye towards finding the next Binibining Pilipinas USA queen. “There isn’t a more effective way to reach every corner of the

Filipino community in the U.S. than to partner up with our supporters in other states,” said President/CEO Mildred Deang. “Our future partners outside of Southern California live in large communities where many beautiful Filipinas live, and we look forward to working with them to find our next titleholder,” she added. This prestigious national pageant seeks those special young women in today’s Filipino-American communities who not only have the beauty, grace and elegance to compete on an international level, and who also have the dynamic personalities that set

them apart from the rest. Interested parties are urged to contact pageant organizers through Associate Producer, Joey Galon, for further inquiries. He will work closely with regional competitions to find the best candidates to send as representatives to the national pageant in Los Angeles. Regional pageants shall be completed by May 2015 in order to provide candidates sufficient time to prepare for the national pageant. Details of the regional licensee responsibilities will be outlined in writing, so get in touch NOW! (Soli Deo Gloria)

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Carbs more harmful than saturated fats: study (WASHINGTON-AFP) – Longderided saturated fats – associated with an array of health problems such as heart disease – caught a break Friday when research revealed their intake could be doubled or even nearly tripled without driving up their level in a person’s blood. Carbohydrates, meanwhile, are associated with heightened levels of a fatty acid linked to increased risk for diabetes and heart disease, the same study showed. “The point is you don’t necessarily save the saturated fat that you eat, and the primary regulator of what you save in terms of fat is the carbohydrate in your diet,” senior author Jeff Volek of Ohio State University, said in the report. To conduct the study, which appeared in the journal PLOS ONE, scientists put 16 participants on a strict dietary regime that lasted four and a half months. Every three weeks their diets were changed to adjust carbohydrate and total fat and saturated fat levels. The scientists found that when carbs were reduced and saturated fat was increased, total saturated fat in the blood did not increase, and even went down in most people. The fatty acid called palmitoleic acid, which is associated with “unhealthy metabolism of carbohydrates that can promote disease,” went down with low-carb diets and gradually increased as carbs were re-introduced, the study said. An increase in this fatty acid indicates that a growing proportion of carbohydrates is being converted into fat instead of be-

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Seniors who jog can walk like 20-somethings: study Adults over age 65 who run at least 30 minutes three times per week are less likely to experience age-related physical decline in walking efficiency than those who walk, according to a small new study by researchers at Humboldt State University and the University of Colorado in the US. For those who jog, walking comes at a lower “metabolic cost,” – the scientific expression for saying it’s easier –which not only makes life easier but also preserves one’s ability to walk. This is important, they say, because decline in walking ability through gait changes due to poor posture or high metabolic cost of the effort is a key predictor of morbidity in older adults. “What we found is that older adults who regularly participate in high aerobic activities – running in particular – have what we call a lower metabolic cost of walking than older, sedentary adults,” says Justus Ortega, a Kinesiology Professor at Humboldt State and director of HSU’s Biomechanics Lab. “In fact, their metabolic cost of walking is similar to young adults in their 20s.”

In the study, Dr. Ortega and his team worked with 15 joggers over the age of 65 who claimed to run at least 30 minutes per day, three times per week. They also worked with 15 seniors who claimed to walk three times per week for 30 minutes. Researchers asked participants to walk on a treadmill at three speeds (1.6, 2.8 and 3.9 miles per hour) and measured their oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production. The joggers were seven to 10 percent more efficient at walking than the exercise walkers, and their metabolic cost was similar to that of 20-somethings – due, the team speculates, to healthier mitochondria in the muscles. “The bottom line is that running keeps you younger, at least in terms of efficiency,” says Rodger Kram, a Professor of Integrative Physiology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a co-author of the paper. The team plans to study the effect of other highly aerobic activities such as swimming and cycling on the aging body. The study was published in PloS ONE.

Carbohydrates are associated with heightened levels of a fatty acid linked to increased risk for diabetes and heart disease, a new study shows. ©David P. Smith/ Shutterstock.com

ing burned by the body, the researchers said. “When you consume a very low-carb diet your body preferentially burns saturated fat,” Volek said. “We had people eat two times more saturated fat than they had been eating before entering the study, yet when we measured saturated fat in their blood, it went down in the majority of people,” he said. The finding “challenges the conventional wisdom that has demonized saturated fat and extends our knowledge of why di-

etary saturated fat doesn’t correlate with disease,” Volek added. By the end of the trial, participants saw “significant improvements” in blood glucose, insulin and blood pressure and lost an average of 22 pounds (10 kilograms). “There is widespread misunderstanding about saturated fat. In population studies, there’s clearly no association of dietary saturated fat and heart disease, yet dietary guidelines continue to advocate restriction of saturated fat. That’s not scientific and not smart,” Volek said.

For seniors who jog regularly, walking is just as easy as it is for 20-somethings, according to a new study. ©Kzenon/shutterstock.com

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INMENT

Ruffa Gutierrez speaks about Annabelle Rama, new boyfriend RUFFA Gutierrez said all is well now between her and mother Annabelle Rama. Gutierrez said she believed that her mother did not mean any harm when the talent manager criticized her new relationship with French-Israeli businessman Jordan Mouyal at Ramaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recent birthday party. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She was trying to be sarcastic and funny and napunta sa akin yung usapan. So, nung napunta sa akin hindi ko na nakain yung dessert ko kasi katabi ko yung pinapatamaan niya,â&#x20AC;? the actress said. Gutierrez said she left the party because she was hurt by what her mother had said. Afterwards, they were able to patch things up. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Na-hurt ako because matanda na ako and pinapahiya pa niya ako. Sana, if ever, control lang... self-control. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know kung mababago pa â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yun. My mom kasi is so frank, she expresses what she feels for that moment and sooner or later she will regret it,â&#x20AC;?

she added. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re okay. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always at the house and when I see her I always say â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;hiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. I love her naman even if she fights me. She mellowed na sa lagay na yun ha,â&#x20AC;? Gutierrez said. The actress said that even though they do not usually see eye to eye on a lot of things, her mother has a big heart. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My mom naman has a good heart. When she loves someone and when sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s loyal to someone, it really shows,â&#x20AC;? she said. In same interview, Gutierrez said that she and Mouyal are dating for a few months now. The actress/television host is also thankful that Mouyal is unaffected by intrigues thrown at their new relationship. She said that even though her mom did the ranting at her birthday, he was still gracious and respectful to her parents. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really nice about him is andiyan siya kahit anong nangyayari, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll hold my hand and will support me along the way. Hindi siya nakikialam sa

Bride-to-be Yeng Constantino in no rush to have kids

showbiz intrigues. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just there doing his own thing,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yung mga Pinoy pag inaway na ni Mommy, nawawala na parang bula. Ito, wala siyang paki as long as I like him. He just smiles and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;helloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lang siya ng â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;helloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. She added that Mouyal is friends with her two kids, 11-year-old Lorin and 10-year-old Venice. She said the kids know her relationship with Mouyal. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They told me kasi, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mom, if thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s someone in your life, you have to let us know first. Ayaw namin mabasa.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Kasi matatalino na sila eh And thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what I did. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m always honest with them first. Mas okay na they know from me than sa iba,â&#x20AC;? she said. When asked if Mouyal is â&#x20AC;&#x153;the one,â&#x20AC;? Ruffa said it was too early to tell and they want to focus first on their respective work. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Right now our focus is really work first and saka na yan. Ang relasyon naman importante sa buhay pero work muna ang priorities namin,â&#x20AC;? she ended. (MNS)

Pop-rock singer would like to have a Yeng Constantino baby girl first, noting would prefer to wait that Asuncion doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t two more years before have a sister. starting her own famâ&#x20AC;&#x153;Hindi niya naranaily with fiance Victor san na mayroon silang â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yanâ&#x20AC;? Asuncion. little princess sa bahay. Constantino and Girl ang gusto niya kasi Asuncion are set to tinanong ko din,â&#x20AC;? she marry next February said, adding that they and will have their have agreed to have honeymoon in Malthree children. dives. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Eight years po â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lahat po â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yan ay ako sa industry this napag-uusapan namin, year. Ang balak ko po everything. Ganoon Yeng Constantino ay sulitin hanggang kami kapag nag-usap 10 years, bago po ako mag-baby,â&#x20AC;? eh, napaguusapan lahat. NaniniConstantino said about her future bago nga siya kasi ngayon kapag plans. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Okay naman po sa kanya, usap, usap talaga. So lumalabas na kay Yan, dahil hindi po kami ang din ang kadaldalan niya, nalalatypical o ideal na friends muna ta- man ko na din â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung gusto niya. So, pos naging mag-couple. Kasi ako three babies, sana ay girl, boy, boy,â&#x20AC;? ginulat po ako ni Yan, crush ko po Constantino shared. But Constansiya tapos bigla niya akong niliga- tino stressed that she would also wan. So ngayon po kami nagiging welcome it if ever she has a â&#x20AC;&#x153;honeymagkaibigan. Ako po ay talagang moonâ&#x20AC;? baby. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sabi nga sa Bible, evin love na in love at masaya ako na ery kid, every baby, is a blessing. So super close friends kami ngayon,â&#x20AC;? okay â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yan kung ano man ang mangConstantino told reporters. yari,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pero mag-iingat po The â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chinitoâ&#x20AC;? hitmaker said they talaga kami para sa ating mga placonsider this two-year period as no sa buhay.â&#x20AC;? She also assured her preparation for the future. fans that she wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t â&#x20AC;&#x153;abandonâ&#x20AC;? them â&#x20AC;&#x153;Preparation na din ;yon para sa after she gets married. magiging buhay ng anak namin. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Para sa mga Yengsters na nagEven now nagbabasa na ako ng par- iiyakan ngayon at feeling na inaaenting books and blogs, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung ilan bandona ko sila, hindi â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yan totoo. taon na siya mag-aaral or ilang Part kayo ng life ko at kahit anong taon bago magbilang dapat,â&#x20AC;? she mangyari sa life ko ay kasama kayo said. diyan. Nadagdagan lang tayo paConstantino admitted that she rang ganoon.â&#x20AC;? (MNS)

MEMORIES THAT WILL LAST FOREVER.

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Ruffa Gutierrez

Jennylyn Mercado denies dating 2 actors JENNYLYN Mercado denied that she is dating two actors. The 27-year-old actress shared that she still enjoys being single, a year after her last relationship. She said her priorities are her son Alex Jazz and her showbiz career. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wala pa sa utak ko yung (love life). Masyado pang maaga, marami pa akong ginagawa sa buhay, marami pa akong dapat asikasuhin. Hindi ako nagmamadali kasi wala naman akong hinahabol na (deadline). May anak na ako. Ipon na lang muna,â&#x20AC;? she said. Mercado also denied that she is rekindling her romance with former boyfriend, actor Dennis Trillo. She said the last time they talked was when they recorded the song â&#x20AC;&#x153;After Allâ&#x20AC;? for her â&#x20AC;&#x153;Never Aloneâ&#x20AC;? album. Asked if she is open to rekindling their romance with the actor, Jennylyn said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wala pa akong history na ganyanâ&#x20AC;?. Meanwhile, the actress is also linked to her â&#x20AC;&#x153;English Only Pleaseâ&#x20AC;? leading man Derek Ramsay after the actor posted several photos of them together on image-sharing application, Instagram.

Mercado explained that she does not want to add up to Ramsayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s marital woes and she and the actor are good friends. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chill lang. Mahirap din kasi maraming pinagdadaanan yung tao. Ang dami niyang pinoproblema. Kakatakot parin and ingat Jennylyn Mercado ingat parin. Kaibigan ko yung tao at malaki yung respeto ko sa kanya kaya ayoko makadagdag sa iisipin niya,â&#x20AC;? she said. How about dating a married man? She said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ayoko talaga. Kailangan walang (sabit).â&#x20AC;? Mercado will appear soon in new series â&#x20AC;&#x153;Second Chancesâ&#x20AC;? on GMA-7. (MNS)

Julia Montes excited for horror film with Gerald Actress Julia Montes is feeling pressured about how her upcoming team up with Gerald Anderson would be accepted by moviegoers. Montes and Anderson are currently working on a horror movie for Star Cinema along with JC De Vera. Montes said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Medyo Julia Montes siyempre kinakapa ko pa din. Siyempre first time kami magkakatraba-

ho nina JC [de Vera] saka nina Gerald [Anderson] so iba ;yung kilala mo na â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung katrabaho mo, pero ngayon okay naman, nakailang shooting days na rin kami.â&#x20AC;? Asked how it is to work with Anderson, Montes said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Okay naman po. Masarap katrabaho and first time ko din po siyang makakatrabaho as love team.â&#x20AC;? To be directed by Manny Palo, whose previous movies include the indie â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sta. Ninaâ&#x20AC;? and the romance drama â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Moment in Time,â&#x20AC;? the yet untitled horror film also includes a love story. The movie will be shot entirely in Baguio City. Star Cinema has yet to announce its playdate. (MNS)

Standoff between Meryll Soriano, Willie Revillame resolved

MERYLL Soriano said all is well now between her and father, Willie Revillame, and hinted that she is ready to work for the television host. The two had a brief misunderstanding after Soriano declined the television hostâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offer to manage his businesses. The actress decided to pursue her studies in London, which did not bode well with Willie. In a return of events, Meryll disclosed that she and her father were able to work their differences and she is now ready to help Willie in his businesses undertakings. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are so okay. Before I went to London two months ago, I visited him and gave him my book. Nag-usap kami and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in constant communication now,â&#x20AC;? she said. Soriano added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very happy because whatever happen, my father is very important to me. My relationship with him is really important. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never too late to start and handa na akong gawin, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m ready now.â&#x20AC;? The actress also denied speculations that his father sold all his properties and is now running bankrupt. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Alam ninyo naman ang business, its trial

and error. Hindi naman siya yung automatic na magiging successful. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s learning from it, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s learning so much in business managemen and it takes years to learn all that. Kahit na nga sobrang galing mo sa business yun iba hindi parin namaster,â&#x20AC;? she said. She also denied allegations that Revillame is losing huge amount Meryll Soriano of money in casinos. Soriano said itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s his fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s money and the latter knows how to value his earnings. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hindi totoo yun. Whatever happens, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s his money, pinaghirapan niya yun. If he wants to enjoy his money that way, wala tayong magagawa. Pero hindi ako naniniwala kasi matalino naman ang tatay ko and alam naman niya i-handle ang pera niya,â&#x20AC;? she ended. The actress is reportedly managing Willieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hotel in Tagaytay. (MNS)

Julie Anne San Jose in PHLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first holographic concert Hologram technology has been astonishing concertgoers abroad for some time now. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been used to bring dead artists back to â&#x20AC;&#x153;lifeâ&#x20AC;? through digital illusion, including Tupac Shakur in 2012 and Michael Jackson last May. Multi-platinum recording artist Julie Anne San Jose is set to stage a solo concert that her drumbeaters claim would make her the first artist to be holographic in a local show. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m excited and, of course, pressured (kasi) dito po talaga natin makikita â&#x20AC;&#x2122;yung advancement ng technology. Of course, makikita ninyo (rin) â&#x20AC;&#x2122;yung other side ni Julie Anne (in the show),â&#x20AC;? she said. Along with the singer, an â&#x20AC;&#x153;army of Julie Annesâ&#x20AC;? will be â&#x20AC;&#x153;virtualizedâ&#x20AC;? in a powerful opening dance number. According to a release, Julie Anne is set to show-

case powerful vocals, electrifying dance moves and talent in playing various musical instruments in the concert. Admittedly nervous over filling up the huge concert venue, Julie Anne has been preparing for the big day so her audience would get their moneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth. â&#x20AC;&#x153;May mga dance lessons po ako and voice lessons. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been preparing a lot kasi po kailangang lumakas ang stamina ko. I work out, I go to the gym, I do rehearsals hanggang sa ma-perfect ko â&#x20AC;&#x2122;yung mga production numbers na gagawin ko,â&#x20AC;? she said. Julie Anneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hologramâ&#x20AC;? concert will be at SM Mall of Asia Arena on Dec. 13. The show is directed by Louie Ignacio and produced by GMA Network, Inc. and Tarroza Entertainment Productions.

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MOTORING Cadillac wows audiences at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show By Hannah De Castro-Abinuman StaffWriter, Balita Media

The Los Angeles Auto Show opened its doors to the press on November 18-20, 2014 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, showcasing the world’s most sought after brands in the vehicle industry. General Motors’ customer-driven culture has provided us with vehicle brand giants such as Chevrolet, GMC, Buick and Cadillac. Among the top contenders in the high luxury category of vehicle brands, Cadillac certainly did not disappoint with the 2016 ATS-V. Elevating the brand with sophisticated performance, the 2016 ATS-V features the first application of the Cadillac Twin Turbo engine in the V-Series,

with unique features that expand its performance range and support track capability. General Motors also showcased their vehicles exceptional innovations, with the latest vehicles equipped with 4G LTE wifi internet connection, vehicle diagnostics and other apps that support our modern day lifestyles. The 2016 Cadillac ATS-V’s more powerful iteration of the Twin Turbo 3.6L V-6 delivers an estimated 455 horsepower (339 kW) and 445 lb-ft of torque (603 Nm), and is backed by a standard six-speed manual transmission – with Active Rev Match, no-lift shifting and launch control – or an available paddle-shift eight-

speed automatic transmission. With the eight-speed automatic, the ATS-V reaches 60 mph from a standstill in only 3.9 seconds and achieves a top speed of more than 185 mph (299 kph). “The Cadillac Twin Turbo brings a new dimension of technologically advanced performance to the V-Series,” said Richard Bartlett, assistant chief engineer. “Delivering great power with world-class sophistication, it marks another large step forward in the product-driven expansion of Cadillac in the compact luxury segment.” “Track capability was one of the primary objectives for the Cadillac Twin Turbo in the ATSV,” said Bartlett. “It expands the

BMW i3 named Green Car of the Year The German car company’s first In order to plug-in electric vehicle has scooped the top honor at this year’s ceremony held at the LA Auto Show. The award, which recognizes environmental leadership in the automotive field, is presented by Green Car Journal and of this year’s five finalists, the BMW i3 was the only electric car in contention. The other finalists were the Chevrolet Impala Bi-Fuel; the Audi A3 TDI; the Honda Fit; and the Volkswagen Golf. The BMW i3 has a 170hp electric motor and a range of 130-160km on a single charge. What makes the compact city car stand out against other plug-in electric cars currently rolling onto the market are its handling and performance characteristics. It can hit 100km/h in just 7.2 seconds and thanks to a very low center of gravity offers the same driving dynamics as BMW’s petrol powered cars.

address “range anxiety”, in other words, potential owners’ fears that the car will run out of power in the middle of a journey, the car can be specified with an optional 650cc gas engine that can The BMW i3. ©BMW Group However, its handling characterbe used to recharge the battery and boost range, but istics and efforts at eliminating range not as a replacement for electric power. anxiety are not what tipped the scales The company is also rolling out a in BMW’s favor during the judges’ deprogram where owners can borrow liberation. The i3 won because of its zero emisa more traditionally powered BMW when they need to make a longer jour- sions at the point of use and crucially ney – say a weekend break with the because of the high percentage of susfamily – leaving the i3 on charge for tainably produced materials used in the car’s construction. the daily commute.

Melody Lee, Cadillac’s Director of Brand and Reputation Strategy, says “Most Asians aspire for other luxury brands in order to fit in. But if you want to stand out, go for Cadillac.” Photo: Hannah De Castro-Abinuman

performance envelope of the ATS range, while advancing Cadillac’s legacy of delivering purposeful technology that inspires passion.” Cadillac also aims to support a lifestyle of luxury. In today’s fastpaced world, where technologies are forever changing, it is important to have a vehicle that supports your lifestyle but does not sacrifice quality and performance. According to Melody Lee, Cadillac’s Director of Brand and Reputation Strategy, who is Asian American, “Most people, especially Asians, aspire for other luxury brands in order to fit in. But if you want to stand out, go for Cadillac. Cadillac stands for Boldness, Sophistication and Optimism. And we have stayed true to our roots as a 112 year- old brand.” John McFarland, General Motors’ director of Global Insights and Brand Strategy also showed the event participants how GM innovates by making its consumers’ lives easier through sophisticated technologies. Aiming to be a step ahead of other companies, General Mo-

tors now offers vehicles that have built-in 4G LTE wifi internet connection. With GM’s affiliation with AT&T and OnStar, now your car can be a moving hot spot. Family road trips will be more enjoyable and less stressful, where kids can watch videos or play games using their phones and tablets. Tailgating can now be more exciting with your vehicle hooked up to a game console. Furthermore, GM has changed the workplace setting by helping us work even in the privacy of our own car. No need to head to the nearest coffee shop for internet connection, just park your car and start working. GM also offers their consumers a taste of convenience with their RemoteLink mobile app, where you can remotely unlock doors, activate horn and lights and remote start your vehicle from anywhere you have internet or phone connection. GM also uses GPS technology to locate your vehicle, in case of theft, or if you simply forgot where you parked.

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KITCHENOMICS

Roast Turkey with Sausage Stuffing

FAMILY FEATURES

othing pleases the senses like a home filled with family, friends and the welcoming aroma of a holiday meal. Whether you’re cooking up a full-menu feast from your own kitchen or you need a delicious idea or two to share at a potluck-style gathering — these dishes please the palate. With timeless flavors of turkey and butternut squash, or treats that charmingly display a symbol of the season, guests will surely be encouraged to dig in.

Turkey Casserole Prep time: 15 minutes Total time: 55 minutes Servings: 6 4 cups leftover prepared stuffing, divided 4 cups coarsely chopped leftover cooked turkey (about 1 pound) 3/4 cup Hellmann’s or Best Foods Real Mayonnaise, divided 1/4 cup whole berry cranberry sauce 2 cups leftover mashed potatoes 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray 8-inch baking dish with no-stick cooking spray. Spoon in 2 cups stuffing, then top with turkey. Combine 1/4 cup mayonnaise with cranberry sauce; evenly spread over turkey. Combine remaining 1/2 cup mayonnaise, potatoes and cheese in large bowl. Evenly spread on turkey, then top with remaining 2 cups stuffing. Bake 40 minutes or until heated through. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Garnish, if desired, with dried cranberries. For more recipes, visit www.hellmanns.

Cheerios Christmas Trees Prep time: 45 minutes Total time: 1 hour, 45 minutes Servings: 18 6 cups Honey Nut Cheerios cereal 6 tablespoons butter or margarine 4 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows Betty Crocker green gel food color Betty Crocker red cinnamon decors or sliced gumdrops Line cookie sheet with waxed paper. Pour cereal into 4-quart bowl. Set bowl aside. Place butter and marshmallows in 3-quart saucepan. Heat over low

heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth. Remove saucepan from heat. Stir in food color until mixture is evenly colored. Pour marshmallow mixture over cereal and stir until cereal is evenly coated. Lightly spray hands with cooking spray. For each tree, shape about 1/4 cup of cereal mixture into tree shape on cookie sheet. Press candies into trees to decorate. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. Store trees in loosely covered container. Note: Personalize trees using decorator icing (from 4.25-ounce tube) and use as place cards. Use icing to add garland. For more recipes, visit www. generalmills.com.

Pan Roasted Butternut Squash and Apples Prep time: 15 minutes Total time: 15 minutes Servings: 4 3 tablespoons Parkay Original Spread tub 1 package (12 ounces) refrigerated butternut squash pieces (about 3 cups) 1 1/2 cups chopped Granny Smith apple (about 1 large apple) 1/2 cup apple juice 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1/8 teaspoon salt

Melt spread in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add squash; cook 5–7 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring occasionally. Add apple, apple juice, cinnamon, ginger and salt; stir to combine. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 15 minutes or until squash is tender. Note: Fresh butternut squash may be used in place of refrigerated squash. It will take more time to peel and cut into pieces. For more recipes, visit www. readyseteat.com.

Prep time: 15 minutes Total time: 3 hours, 30 minutes Servings: 20 1 pound breakfast pork sausage 1 1/2 cups hot water 2 packages (6 ounces each) Stove Top Stuffing Mix for Turkey 1 Butterball Frozen Whole Turkey (10 pounds), thawed Heat oven to 325°F. Brown sausage in skillet; drain, reserving 1/2 cup drippings. Add drippings to large bowl; stir in hot water. Add stuffing mixes and sausage; stir just until stuffing mixes are moistened. Stuff neck and body cavities lightly with stuffing. Truss turkey; place, breast-side up, on rack in large roasting pan sprayed with cooking spray. Spoon any remaining stuffing into separate baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; cover. Refrigerate stuffing until ready to bake. Bake turkey 3 to 3 1/4 hours or until internal temperature of thigh is 180°F and breast and center of stuffing are 165°F, adding dish with remaining stuffing to oven for the last 30 minutes. Keeping it safe: Do not stuff turkey until ready to roast. Substitute: Substitute butter for the sausage drippings. For more recipes, visit www.kraft.com.

Bean Spice Cake Prep time: 15 minutes Total time: 55 minutes Servings: 10–12 Cake: 1/2 cup water 1 can (16 ounces) Bush’s Honey Baked Beans, drained 1 box (16.5 ounces) spice cake mix 1/3 cup canola oil 3 large eggs 1 can (20 ounces) crushed pineapple, drained well, reserve juice for glaze 1 cup chopped walnuts, optional Pineapple glaze: 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1–2 tablespoons reserved pineapple juice 1 teaspoon vanilla, optional Place water and beans in blender and puree. Mix spice cake mix, oil, eggs and bean puree in large bowl at low speed using hand mixer until all ingredients are moistened. Beat at medium speed up to 2 minutes to combine all ingredients. Stir in pineapple and walnuts, if desired. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease sides and bottom of Bundt pan. Lightly flour pan. Pour batter in pan. Bake 35–40 minutes or when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove with oven mitts and let cool for 15 minutes. To make glaze, mix ingredients and drizzle over cake. Note: For vegetarian option, use Bush’s Vegetarian Baked Beans. For more recipes, visit www.bushbeans. com.

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FIGHTING ANIMAL TESTING

Wednesday - Tuesday, Nov. 26 - Dec. 2, 2014

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MASSACRE

MIRIAM

From page 1

The convoy was on its way to file the election candidacy of a local rival of the Ampatuan clan when it was allegedly waylaid by the family’s private militia led by Andal Ampatuan Jr, son of local strongman Andal Ampatuan Sr. President Benigno Aquino “is filled with determination that his administration will complete the unfinished work of achieving justice”, his spokesman said. The president had challenged the Justice Department to convict “at least the principal accused” before he steps down in 2016, Coloma said. Reforms were being undertaken to speed up legal processes, Coloma added, stressing “our people will not accept the slow turning of the wheel of justice”. But the trial of Ampatuan Sr and Jr, seven other clan members and scores of their alleged followers -- 111 in total – has dragged on for years under a creaking justice system which lets lawyers resort to numerous delaying tactics. Meanwhile, 79 suspects, including nine Ampatuans, remain at large while human rights groups and victims’ relatives say witnesses are being killed or intimidated to try to sabotage the case.

later be declared by the DBM Secretary as abandoned, at its whims and caprices, and then he may use the appropriations for another project which has not been previously authorized by Congress,” she said. Santiago said that under the 2015 budget, an agency that fails to obligate any allotment loses it. “What happens to the commitment to Congress of the agency head that the agency will deliver a specified level of outputs, such as number of school buildings, completion date, kilometers of roads, linear meters of bridges, and so on? What if certain projects that were funded out of ‘savings’ were later submitted for Congress-authorized but DBM-discontinued projects? These are scenarios for corruption,” the senator said. She also criticized the allocation of P37.3 billion worth of projects to five different departments including the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Labor and Employment and Commission on Higher Education.

LAWMAKERS From page 1

the Government Corporate Counsel legal opinion that said integration of terminal fees is not illegal so long as there is a refund. Honrado said integrating the terminal fees into the airfare will spare 5.6 million travelers from lining up. He said the OFWs’ exemptions apply upon proper presentation of credentials as OFW status.

He said only those buying online and overseas will be refunded terminal fees because computers cannot identify OFWs. Honrado said only about 200,000 OFWS will be affected by the refund policy. He also maintained tickets purchased in the Philippines honor the exemption of OFWS. There are no terminal fees collected so there is nothing to refund.(MNS)

OBAMA From page 1

“But until that happens, there are actions I have the legal authority to take as President – the same kinds of actions taken by Democratic and Republican Presidents before me – that will help make our immigration system more fair and more just,” he insisted. Obama’s controversial overhaul, praised by many immigration rights activists, provides three-year relief for millions of undocumented people who have lived in the country for more than five years and have children who are US citizens or legal residents. According to the president, it also channels more resources to the US border with Mexico and shifts deportation priorities toward expelling felons. Wasting little time, the president signed two elements of the orders on Friday. Republicans have heaped scorn on the

plan, calling it “executive amnesty,” “illegal” and “unconstitutional,” bringing tensions between Washington’s warring camps to a boil. Obama said he had “one answer” for critics who allege he overstepped his authority: “Pass a bill. The day I sign it into law, the actions I’ve taken to help solve this problem will no longer be necessary.” Meanwhile, he defended his reforms, saying “nothing about this action will benefit anyone who has come to this country recently, or who might try and come to America illegally in the future,” and noting that it does not offer a path to citizenship. “It’s certainly not amnesty, no matter how often the critics say it,” he said. “Amnesty is the immigration system we have today – millions of people living here without paying their taxes, or playing by the rules.”

THE US ASIAN POST

AMLC FAILS From page 1

saying the council was given enough time to prepare the documents. He added that it would unduly delay the proceedings. But the court dismissed the arguments of Arias, saying the AMLC was merely asking for more time to produce the documents. The court gave AMLC three days to file a pleading, and two days for the defense to comment. Earlier, the court granted Estrada’s request to subpoena the bank records of whistleblowers Benhur Luy, Marina Sula, Marina Sula, Merlina Sunas, Gertrudes Luy, and Mary Arlene Baltazar. Included in the subpoena were bank

documents “any and all documents relating to the inquiry, examination, or investigation of any and all deposits, investments, and related accounts with any and all banking institutions, non-bank financial institutions, and other covered institutions, non-bank financial institutions, and other covered institutions, and other monetary instruments and properties…”Estrada’s camp wanted to find out if the whistleblowers benefitted from the scam. State prosecutors tried to oppose the request, saying Estrada did not specify the documents requested and accused him of going on a “fishing expedition.”

PACQUIAO From page 1

the canvas twice in the sixth round, rocking the American with a a flurry of combinations that put Algieri in nowhere land. Algieri was able to survive the onslaught, but that only gave Pacquiao a chance to dish out more punishment. He caught Algieri with a perfect left straight in the ninth round that sent Algieri to the floor one more time. Pacquiao scored another knockdown in the round, but Algieri was able to stay on his feet to end the round. The punishment continued in the 10th as Pacquiao went headhunting to score the elusive knockout victory. Pacquiao scored another knockdown, but Algieri somehow survived the round. But despite his efforts, Pacquiao just couldn’t secure the knockout victory, with Algieri spending the final two rounds backpedalling. After the fight, Pacquiao dedicated the win to his countrymen, especially those who filled the Cotai Arena with cheers. “Lots of Filipinos came here tonight to watch the fight,” said Pacquiao. “Thank you so much for the support of all the fans around.”

Mayweather next? Bring it on. That was Pacquiao’s message for Floyd Mayweather shortly after dispatching Chris Algieri on Sunday in Macau. After years of frustration in making a fight between the two top fighters in the world, there was some light earlier this week after news leaked out that Mayweather was finally open to a fight, according to his network Showtime. No less than CBS Corporation CEO and president Les Moonves is reportedly spearheading the negotiations to make the fight happen. With Algieri hurdled, Pacquiao is now setting his sights on Mayweather. “I think I’m ready to fight next year for him,” said Pacquiao after his dominant victory. But before answering the question, Pacquiao saw it fit to poke some fun at Mayweather. “He’s going to fight me?!” he asked the television interviewer, a reference to his recent comedic ad for Foot Locker which poked some fun at Mayweather. (MNS)

DENTIST From page 1

P30,000 per kilo. The congressman said the illicit scheme was revealed by the International Association of Oral and Toxicology, which is also seeking to ban the dental amalgam in the Philippines. “There is a need to look into this practice of some dentists who are still allowed to buy mercury in huge volume as part of their dental supply,” he said. “Such practice of some dentists may lead to the proliferation of small scale mining in country which is very detrimental to the

environment,” he added. Rodriguez urged the House body to invite during the inquiry the representatives of the Department of Health, the International Association of Oral and Toxicology, the Ban Toxic Groups, the Philippine Dental Association (PDA) and other concerned groups as resources persons. The congressman said dentists use mercury as dental amalgam or tooth “silver filling.” He said the chemical substance contains liquid mercury and a powder containing silver, tin, copper and zinc. (MNS)