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Vol. 4. No. 3 LOS ANGELES
A Balita Media Publication
Wednesday - Tuesday, October 8 - 14, 2014
PHL, US in war games near China-held reef
The American and Filipino troops, aboard five US amphibious, armored assault vehicles landed on the deserted beach facing the South China Sea in the latest in a series of combat exercises that began on September 29.
24 Pinoys intercepted off Sabah MANILA, Oct 6 (Mabuhay) – Malaysian marine police have arrested 24 undocumented Filipinos who allegedly tried to enter the Sabah area illegally, Malaysia’s Bernama news agency reported Monday. The Bernama report quoted Sabah Marine Police Region 4 commander Mohamad Madun as saying the detained Filipinos were aged 15 to 60. It said the Filipinos were arrested Sunday in three operations
off Pulau Mentabuan and Pulau Bohey Dulang. Citing initial information, it said 20 of the 24 were men and teenagers. Of the four women, one was carrying a one-year-old child. It said the 24 were aboard three pump boats when they were intercepted between 10:35 a.m. and noon. The marine police referred the 24 Filipinos to the Immigration Department for further action. (MNS)
Binay camp hits spy in the sky MANILA, Oct 6 (Mabuhay) – The camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay said they received reports of a helicopter seemingly hovering above a piggery and flower farm in Rosario, Batangas, where he used to have a stake. In a statement, media affairs chief Joey Salgado said: “Employees at a piggery and flower farm leasing a property in Rosario, Batangas have reported a helicopter flying around the property Thursday last week.” “The said helicopter flew around the property for about 20 minutes. According to the employees, this was the first time that such an incident happened.” Salgado said they will not be surprised if aerial footage and photos of the property will be circulated in the media and even presented to the Senate sub-committee in the coming days. He said, however, that Binay’s detractors will be disappointed. “Allow us to reiterate what the lawyers of the Vice President told media in their presentation on the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) of the Vice President and his spouse, former mayor Elenita S. Binay,” he said.
His Filipino counterpart, Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Hernandez said the exercises were intended to boost the capabilities of a marine amphibious brigade, based in the island of Palawan, the closest outpost to the South China Sea. The exercise took place near a naval outpost on Zambales on Luzon island, 220 kilometers (137 miles) east of the disputed Scarborough Shoal on the South China Sea. The shoal, a traditionally-rich fishing ground, has been effectively taken over by China following a tense year-long standoff with the Philippines in 2012. China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, including waters near its smaller neighbors’ shores. It has been accused of becoming increasingly aggressive in staking its claims to the sea, a vital shipping lane also believed to contain vast oil and mineral deposits. Parts are also claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan. The poorly-armed Philippines has increasingly looked at the See WAR GAMES, page 12
Bill wants wiretapping powers for Ombudsman MANILA, Oct 6 (Mabuhay) – A lawmaker wants to give the Office of the Ombudsman wiretapping powers in a bid to boost its powers to investigate acts of graft and corruption. Pangasinan Representative Marlyn Primicias Agabas filed House Bill 5044, entitled “An Act strengthening the institutional capacity of the Office of the Ombudsman by amending certain provisions of R.A. 6770, otherwise known as ‘The Ombudsman Act of 1989.’” It was referred to the House justice committee. Agabas, who chairs the House See WIRETAPPING, page 3
The controversial resthouse owned by PNP chief Dir. Gen. Alan Purisima in Barangay Magpapalayok, San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija was opened to the media on Monday, October 6. Purisima is facing plunder complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman over alleged ill-gotten wealth. He has denied the charges. (MNS photo)
SC asks Pacquiao PNP chief Purisima worked hard for to comment on BIR his Nueva Ecija house, kin says bid to lift temporary SAN LEONARDO, Nueva Eci- hay na mas maganda. Kung ano ja, Oct 6 (Mabuhay) – “Wala na- nadatnan niyo diyan yan na ‘yon. tax case reprieve man kaluho-luho ang bahay na Ordinaryo natin ito matatawag,”
The Binay camp said employees at a piggery and flower farm leasing a property in Rosario, Batangas have reported a helicopter flying around the property Thursday last week. The said helicopter flew around the property for about 20 minutes. According to the employees, this was the first time that such an incident happened.
In several documents sent to the media more than a week ago, Binay’s camp said his net worth registered at P60,118,766 See BINAY CAMP, page 12
Jerry Barican, FQS activist, former Erap spokesman, dies
MANILA, Oct 4 (Mabuhay) – Fernando “Jerry” Barican, who served as spokesman of then President Joseph Estrada, died Friday night, friends and relatives said. A niece said Barican passed away at the Makati Medical Center 9:20 p.m. Friday from multiple organ failure. His body lies in state at the St. Alphonsus Liguori church in Magallanes Village, Makati City.
SAN ANTONIO, October 5, 2014 (AFP) – Over 6,000 Philippine and US marines carried out a military exercise on a Philippine beach Sunday near a disputed reef occupied by Chinese ships which has become a potential regional flashpoint. The American and Filipino troops, aboard five US amphibious, armored assault vehicles landed on the deserted beach facing the South China Sea in the latest in a series of combat exercises that began on September 29. With the USS Germantown amphibious dock landing ship overseeing events from the sea, the Filipino and American troops rushed from their vehicles and took up combat positions. “The US has always been a good ally of the Filipinos and if they need our assistance, we will be here for them and we think this exercise really reinforces that,” said Lieutenant Colonel Robert Rice, an officer of the US training staff. However he declined to link the exercise to China’s growing restiveness in the region, saying such talk was “speculation”.
Cremation will follow the 1 p.m. mass. A special necrological service will be held by the University of the Philippines on October 6, Monday, at 7 p.m. Barican was a noted youth leader and activist during the First Quarter Storm. He was a graduate and faculty member of the UP College of Law and earned a Masters in Law from Harvard University.(MNS)
MANILA, Oct 6 (Mabuhay) – The Supreme Court ordered boxing champ Manny Pacquiao to comment on the bid of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to lift the restraining order and pursue the collection of over P3 billion tax due including penalties and surcharges. In a resolution, the high court gave Pacquiao 10 days to answer the motion for reconsideration filed by the BIR. The BIR filed a motion for reconsideration to the high court’s See PACQUIAO, page 12
Two Swiss nationals shot dead in Mindanao, police say
MANILA, October 6, 2014 (AFP) – Two Swiss nationals have been shot dead in a southern Philippine resort town, police said Monday. The victims, 67-year-old Robert Erich Loever and 78-year-old Baltazar Johann Erni, had just stepped out from a beach resort at 1pm (0500 GMT) Sunday in Opol town, Misamis Oriental province, when unidentified gunmen shot them in the head, municipal police chief Senior Inspector Alwin Baclao said. The assailants fled on foot, Baclao said, according to the victims’
ito. Talagang pinaghirapan niya itong bahay na ito.” This was the statement of lawyer Toby Purisima, cousin of embattled Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima, during a media tour on the controversial property here. Toby reiterated that his cousin’s house was “ordinary” and not a mansion as described by some media outlets. “’Pag nakita niyo naman napakasimple [ng mga] materyales ang ginamit dito... Hindi ito mansyon at mas marami pang ba-
he said. He was referring to the 4.5-hectare property of the PNP chief located in Barangay Magpapalayok here. The P4-million property was acquired in 1998, while the main house was renovated in 2012. The PNP chief’s camp invited members of the media to visit the controversial property to dispel reports that tagged the P2.7-million house as a mansion or a villa. Aside from the 204-square meter main house that has five spacious rooms, the property has See PURISIMA, page 12
Albay governor: We’re ready for Mayon’s alert level 4 MANILA, Oct 6 (Mabuhay) – Albay Governor Jose Salceda on Monday declared the province is prepared in case state volcanologists decide to raise Mayon Volcano’s alert level to four. Salceda said the provincial government has taken precautions to make sure there is no casualty due to Mayon’s eruption. “Albay is ready for 4. You just can’t take chances on the lives of people. Kung hindi pumutok o sumabog, eh di ma(s) mabuti- no regrets. Eh kung sumabog naman, no casualty,” he said. Last month, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised the alert level at Mayon to “3,” meaning an eruption was possible in weeks. Under Alert Level 3, eruption is possible in weeks, with volcanic quakes and tremors becoming more frequent. But under Alert Level 4, there is “intense unrest” where tremors and low-frequency quakes are persistent. Sulfur dioxide emission may show “sustained increase or abrupt decrease” while the crater glow is intense. See MAYON ALERT, page 12
See SWISS SHOT, page 12
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CebuPac makes first flights to Saudi Arabia
MANILA, Oct 4 (Mabuhay) – Philippine air carrier Cebu Pacific on Wednesday made its first inaugural nonstop flights between Manila and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. Flight 5J-740, an Airbus 330,
landed at the King Khalid International Airport at 10:30 p.m. with 259 passengers, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Saturday. “The arrival of Cebu Pacific in the Kingdom is a sign of the en-
during friendship between the Philippines and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” said Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ezzedin Tago. Captains Danny Ronquillo and Paul Mendoza piloted the inaugural flight to Riyadh, the DFA said. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the King Khalid International Airport Terminal 1, led by Tago and Otham Al Zamil, director for operations and fire service and Mohammed Al-Sayegh, chief of flight scheduling of King Khalid International Airport. Meanwhile, Cebu Pacific also made its inaugural flight at the King Fahad International Airport in Dammam, Eastern Province on October 3. (MNS)
“The arrival of Cebu Pacific in the Kingdom is a sign of the enduring friendship between the Philippines and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” said Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ezzedin Tago.
Malacanang welcomes new recognition for Philippine tourism industry MANILA, Oct 4 (Mabuhay) – The Palace welcomes the new recognition for the Philippines after the country was chosen as best destination in Asia Pacific, which could be a major boost to
the Philippines aggressive tourism campaign. “Congratulations to our hardworking fellows from the Department of Tourism at nakuha po natin itong best destination in
Asia Pacific,” Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in an interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday. “We do not doubt that the campaign continues to spread because mainly it is true that ‘It is more fun in the Philippines.’” Valte added that hopefully the new accolade will bring more foreign tourists from all over the globe to come to the Philippines and experience the beautiful destinations in the country. The country bagged the “Destination of the Year” award during the 25th Annual TTG Travel Awards, according to the Department of Tourism. The Philippines was cited as Asia-Pacific’s “Destination of the Year” for 2014 in a ceremony held in Bangkok, Thailand. This is due to the country’s “proactive steps and initiatives toward the development of the travel industry.” The Destination of the Year falls under the Outstanding Achievement Awards. Other categories include Travel Personality of the Year, Best Travel Entrepreneur, Best Marketing and Relationship Effort and Best Trade Supporter. The TTG Travel Awards is one of the most coveted awards in the region’s travel industry, organized by the TTG Asia Media’s Travel Trade Publishing group. (MNS)
World Bank: PHL growth recovery depends on gov’t spending MANILA, Oct 6 (Mabuhay) – The economic growth of the Philippines in the next two years will depend heavily on government’s ability to boost spending, according to the World Bank. The Washington-based lender said that while strong domestic demand will continue to drive the country’s overall economic growth, it will be public spending that will influence growth. The bank noted that the main sources of risk in slowing down growth are “low government consumption, slow reconstruction spending, and domestic reform lags, in particular reforms to raise tax revenues needed to raise infrastructure, and social services spending.” “An acceleration of reconstruction spending can support growth at above six percent,” the World Bank said in its East Asia Pacific Economic Update. Government spending as of August this year stood at P1.296 trillion, or only 56 percent of government’s P2.284 trillion programmed for this year. The World Bank earlier downgraded its economic growth forecast for the Philippines to 6.4 percent this year from the original 6.6 percent due to underspending.
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Napoles children urge SC to stop graft trial MANILA, Oct 6 (Mabuhay) – The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the government to file its comment on the petition filed by the children of alleged pork barrel scam queen Janet Lim Napoles, which urges the high court to stop the Sandiganbayan from hearing the graft cases against them.
In a two-page resolution, the full court required the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to file the comment within a period of 10 days upon receipt. Jo Christine Napoles and James Christopher Napoles, in their petition, urged the high court to nullify the find-
ings of the Ombudsman that led to their indictment for graft in connection with the multi-billion peso scam. They also asked the high court to recall the warrants for their arrest. The Office of the Clerk of Court was also directed by the high tribunal to study the
Pacquiao takes time from training to welcome VP Binay at GenSan MANILA, Oct 6 (Mabuhay) – Filipino boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao on Monday took time from his training for his upcoming fight next month to welcome Vice President Jejomar Binay in General Santos City. Pacquiao led local officials in welcoming Binay at the airport. A transcript sent by the Office of the Vice President indicated Binay was visiting the area to distribute housing units. Binay is the government’s housing czar, heading the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council. When asked if his welcoming
Binay sought to show support for the vice president who is embroiled in a controversy over the alleged overpricing in the construction of the Makati City Hall Building II, Pacquiao said it is his duty as representative of Sarangani to welcome the country’s second highest official. “Bilang congressman, representative ng Sarangani Province, tungkulin namin na salubungin ang pangalawang pinakamataas sa Pilipinas sa lugar natin. Karangalan natin dahil hindi lang tayo nabisita kundi nabigyan pa tayo ng mga project dito, especially mga housing o pabahay,” Pacquiao was quoted in the tran-
script forwarded by Binay’s office. The two officials also took part in a boodle fight at the General Santos Public Market and later on, were both at the Lagao National High School. During the 2013 elections, Pacquiao ran under Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance. Last March, Binay indicated he would tap Pacquiao in his senatorial lineup for the 2016 polls. Pacquiao is set to defend his WBO welterweight title against American boxer Chris Algieri at the Venetian’s Cotai Arena in Macau on November 23. (MNS)
DOJ OK with cellphone ‘kill switch’ software MANILA, Oct 6 (Mabuhay) – The Department of Justice (DOJ) poses no objection to the move to require mobile cellular phone network service providers to pre-install what is called a “kill switch” software to enable service providers to disable cellular phones and erase data once reported stolen. Sought for its comment by the House of Representatives Information and Communications Technology Committee on proposed House Bill No. 4511 (An Act Requiring All Cellphone Network Service Providers To Equip All Mobile Phones They Provide To Postpaid Users With A ‘Kill-Switch’ Software To Enhance Security and Privacy of Their Customers) authored by Rep. Lorna Velasco, Justice Secretary
Leila De Lima, in a letter to the committee, dated Sept. 11, 2014, said that the DOJ poses no objection to the proposal, and, in fact, lauds the proposal. “This Department (DOJ) interposes no objection to the proposed bill as this is within the purview of what is embodied in Article II on Declaration of Principles and State Policies, of the 1987 Constitution, particularly Section 5 thereof, which promotes the maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty and property, and the promotion of the general welfare being essential for the enjoyment of all the people,” De Lima said. De Lima, however, expressed reservations on the method of installation of the “kill switch” software
since this may open cellular phone data to hackers. “[W]e laud the intention of the proponents of the bill as this safety mechanism ensures that data/information contained in the mobile phones of the owners whose units were stolen are protected from being used by unscrupulous individuals. However, this Department has reversations as to the method of pre-installing the ‘kill switch’ software considering that ‘hackers’ may be able to gain access on the ‘kill message’ that would be installed in these mobile phones,” De Lima said. Some celluar phone users support the proposal since it is a means to protect their data should their phones get misplaced or stolen. (MNS)
Cooler days ahead as Habagat gives way to Amihan MANILA, Oct 6 (Mabuhay) – Get ready for cooler days in the coming weeks as the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat gives way to the Northeast Monsoon or Amihan. PAGASA forecaster Samuel Duran said Monday the transition from Southwest Monsoon to the Northeast Monsoon is now in progress. “Ang Habagat pawala na, transition period na tayo. Asa-
han natin magkakaroon ng enhancement ng northeasterly winds at ito magiging amihan na,” he said. When asked if the transition will end by the last week of October, he said, “most likely.” The transition could mean the cool days associated with the Christmas season may be coming soon. Earlier, PAGASA forecaster Fernando Cada said the North-
east Monsoon may start settling in during the later part of October, and be in place by November. Cool winds from the Northeast Monsoon are associated with the Christmas season in the Philippines. The Philippines is known for having the world’s longest Christmas season, with preparations starting as early as September. (MNS)
possible consolidation of the cases of the Napoles children with the separate petitions filed by accused Senator Juan Ponce Enrile and his former chief of staff, Atty. Gigi Reyes, their co-accused in the graft cases. The Napoles children stand trial for the alleged misuse of
DSWD denies hand in relocation of ‘Yolanda’ survivors due for Pope Francis visit MANILA, Oct 6 (Mabuhay) – Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman belied claims that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is responsible for the relocation of some 250 families from their tents in Candahug village, Palo town, Leyte province to another site for Pope Francis’ visit in January 2015. The families have been staying in bunkhouses since their homes have been destroyed by Supertyphoon ‘Yolanda’ (international name: Haiyan) in November 2013. Soliman confirmed that there would be relocations of those living in tents – not due to the papal visit – but in accordance with an already established government plan. “Wala po akong alam na ililipat sila dahil sa pagbisita ni Santo Papa. May alam ako na ililipat ‘yung mga nakatira pa sa tents kasi ayaw natin silang mabasa at sila ang ililipat sa transitional shelters na tinukoy ng lokal na pamahalaan, at ‘yun po ay sa San Isidro at Tacuranga,” Soliman said. (I do not know that they will be relocated due to Pope Francis’ visit. Only those who are still living in tents will be relocated because we do not want them to be drenched in rain. They will be the ones who will be relocated to transitional shelters identified by the local government which will be in San Isidro and Tacuranga.) Soliman said that the families shall only be relocated from their bunkhouses once their permanent houses have been built. Palo mayor Remedios Petilla plans to transfer the families in Candahug village to bunkhouses in Tacuranga village or in permanent relocation sites which are still being built in line with the preparations of the local government for the Pope’s visit. The Pope will visit Tacloban City and Palo on January 17, 2015. Pope Francis will preside a mass in front of a vacant lot of the Tacloban airport upon his arrival and will then dine with the poor in the Archbishop’s residence. He is also set to bless the Pope Francis Center for the Poor and the newly refurbished Metropolitan Cathedral of the Lord’s Transfiguration in Palo before returning to Manila. Palo Archbishop John Du said that the purpose of the papal visit to the country is to be with the poor. (MNS)
WIRETAPPING From page 1
committee on revision of laws, said her bill wants to grant the Ombudsman additional powers to implement the country’s antigraft laws. “In view of the current situation where there’s prevalence and continued rise in graft and corruption cases, the powers of the Office of the Ombudsman provided under R.A. 6770 are no longer enough to combat this social and institutional menace,” Agabas said. The bill wants the Ombudsman to have wiretapping powers. It seeks to amend the Anti-wiretapping law to allow wiretapping on
Taiwan’s new rep in PHL assumes post MANILA, Oct 4 (Mabuhay) – Taiwan’s new representative to the Philippines has assumed his post, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office said over the weekend. In a post on its website Friday, TECO said Dr. Gary SongHuann Lin had assumed his post since September 23 as Taiwan’s representative to the Philippines. “Upon his arrival, Dr. Lin stated that, as Taiwan and the Philippines have enjoyed close
ties, he will do his utmost to further enhance the longstanding friendship and substantive relations with the Philippines,” TECO said. It said Lin and his wife arrived in Manila last September 23, and were greeted by Chairman Amadeo Perez and Representative Antonio Basilio of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO). “The Philippines side has extended heartiest welcome and attached great importance to
Dr. Lin’s appointment,” TECO said. Lin said the Philippines and Taiwan share common values and embracing culture. He voiced hopes both sides will work together to contribute to the prosperity and stability in the Asia Pacific region. Lin also called on the Philippines to grant Taiwanese the visa-waiver treatment or to introduce Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) arrangements for the Taiwanese. (MNS)
Pope accepts ‘unfaithful’ British bishop’s resignation VATICAN CITY, October 6, 2014 (AFP) – Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of a British bishop who stood down after admitting to an affair with a woman, the Vatican said on Monday. “The Holy Father Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Kieran Conry from the dioceses of Arundel and Brighton,” a statement said. Conry, 64, apologised in a letter to parishioners to being “unfaithful to my promises as a Catholic priest” but underscored his actions were not illegal and did not involve minors. The Catholic Church has come under pressure to reconsider the tradition of clerical celibacy, which is not an unchangeable doctrine but has been practised for hundreds of years. Proponents argue a change could slow a sharp decline in ordinations in Europe. Conry, who was appointed by Pope John Paul II in 2001 as bishop of Arundel and Brighton in southeast England, has admitted to having a sexual relationship with a woman six years ago. He resigned after a British press report that the estranged husband of another woman
hired a private detective to follow his wife, who had slept at the bishop’s house. The bishop has said that the latter relationship was merely a close friendship. He told The Sunday Times that he hopes to retain a role in the Church. “When a priest makes a promise of celibacy, he promises to remain unmarried, that’s all. Then the ordinary rules of morality apply,” Conry told the newspaper on Sunday. “But I’d like to make it clear I’m not calling for a change. I did wrong. “Celibacy may be a tradition rather than an article of faith but the vast majority of priests are faithful to their promise, faithful to what the church expects of them. And I have great respect and admiration for that.” ‘Ordain married men’ Francis promised “solutions” to the issue of priestly celibacy in an interview with an Italian newspaper this summer, but said the problem was not a major one. Conry resigned as 250 bishops gathered in the Vatican for an extraordinary synod on family life, that will touch on sensitive issues including divorce
and unmarried couples. A Church survey of parishes ahead of the gathering found that most Catholics ignored teachings on sex and contraception. Francis has called on the bishops to speak frankly in the meeting, expected to be an important milestone in his papacy. Conry’s predecessor as Bishop of Arundel, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, expressed support for the Church accepting married priests in some circumstances in an interview last week. “If I were a bishop of a diocese that had a very small number of priests... I would ask permission I think of Rome to ordain suitable married men,” MurphyO’Connor told BBC radio. “I think it’s got to be done very carefully because I think celibacy is a great gift to the church. But circumstances may I think...may impel bishops and bishops conferences to ordain married men.” The Orthodox and Protestant Churches admit married priests. The head of the Catholic church in England and Wales, Vincent Nichols, described Conry’s resignation as a “difficult and sad moment”.
Enrile’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), which was allegedly funneled to their mother’s “bogus” NGOs. In their petition, the Napoles children argued that the Ombudsman failed to present any evidence against them. (MNS)
offenses like plunder, violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, forfeiture of ill-gotten wealth, and crimes committed by public officers under the Revised Penal Code, among others. Wiretapping may only be allowed after applying for a judicial authority, the bill said. The measure also wants to give the Ombudsman powers to compel and secure the attendance of a witness or the production of evidence, as well as to access bank and non-bank accounts, records and transactions like deposits, trusts, investments, even prior to the filing of a case before a court of competent jurisdiction.
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PHL lawmaker says sustaining HK protests a challenge MANILA, Oct 6 (Mabuhay) – With the crowd starting to dwindle in Hong Kong’s Mong Kok area amid fears of a police crackdown, Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello on Sunday challenged protesters to develop a strategy to ensure the sustainability of the pro-democracy movement. Bello, a vocal critic of China, said keeping protesters on the streets beyond one week is vital to the continuity of the mass action in Hong Kong, which has been dubbed the “Umbrella Revolution.” “Malaking hamon sa kanila (protesters) paano masu-sustain ito. Napakarami nila rito pero next week ba, ganito pa rin ang crowd? Ang malaking leksyon mula sa anti-globalization movement at sa Occupy movement doon sa US at Europe ay kailangan mong ma-translate ‘yung spontaneous people power to organized people power,” he said. The Occupy movement is a global protest against economic and social inequality. It gained widespread media attention in 2011 after throngs of demonstrators camped at New York’s Zuccoti Park, located in New York’s Wall Street financial hub. Bello, chair of the House committee on overseas workers affairs , spoke to a gathering of protesters in Connaught Road to encourage them to stand their ground despite a government-imposed deadline for them to clear Hong Kong’s barricaded streets. He said the pro-democracy protest was reminiscent of the 1986 People Power revolution in the Philippines, which led to the ouster of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. The party-list lawmaker flew to Hong Kong Saturday to meet with the Philippine Consul General and Labor Attache to discuss situation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the city. Bello also met various OFW groups and held a dialogue with the Hong Kong Confederation of Labor (HKCTU), one of the main organizers of the mass action. Protesters have begun leaving Mong Kok area Sunday as fears of a clash with authorities mount following a call from city leaders for the streets to be cleared so businesses, schools and government offices could resume their operations. Based on Reuters reporters’ estimate, 4,000 protesters had gathered in Admiralty, the main area they have occupied over the past week at the heart of the government district by late Sunday evening. It was relatively smaller than the previous day’s crowd. Protests have erupted in Hong Kong beginning September 28 after China announced in August that it will only allow candidates vetted by Beijing to participate in the city’s elections in 2017. The umbrella has emerged as a symbol of the mass action as protesters hide behind them for protection against the tear gas and pepper spray used by the police. (MNS)
Asia grapples with food safety as incomes rise By Martin ABBUGAO
SINGAPORE, October 6, 2014 (AFP) – Every morning, food samples are laid out on a long table at a pristine laboratory run by a German firm in Singapore – but they’re not meant for chefs or gourmets. Testing company TUV SUD is watching out for contaminants that could harm consumers in Singapore and other parts of Asia, which has recently been rocked by food-safety scandals. Sales of US fast food giant McDonald’s in China were hammered this year following news reports alleging that a supplier mixed expired meat with fresh deliveries. A Taiwan company is currently embroiled in a widening scare after it was found selling hundreds of tons of waste “gutter oil” to food makers, bakeries and restaurants forcing the recall of cakes, bread, instant noodles, cookies, dumplings and other food items at home and in Hong Kong. On a recent visit by AFP to the TUV SUD lab in Singapore, chemists in white gowns carried out a battery of tests on milk powder from the Philippines, seafood from Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia and locally processed food for consumption in the city-state as well as other Asian countries. “I’ve been working in the industry for the past 25 years and every few years there’s something major,” said Chong Kok Yong, a vice president responsible for food safety at TUV SUD in Singapore. “It’s an ongoing challenge because there are parties who want to make more from less, so they are always trying to make poor-quality food look good. So there’s always temptation for them to do something illegal.” Middle class diets Changing consumption patterns driven by Asia’s expanding middle class, the globalisation of the food chain and the transfer of new diseases from animals to humans have made it more complicated to combat the risks, experts warned. Sivapuram V.R.K. Prabhakar, a senior policy researcher at the Japan-based Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), said many countries “still handle the issue by handing over bits and pieces of the food safety puzzle to various ministries and agencies without much coordination and collaboration”. In 2008, China’s dairy industry was shaken by revelations that melamine was added to powdered milk to make it appear higher in protein content, leaving 300,000 babies ill and causing worldwide recalls of products containing Chinese dairy. Tests done at TUV SUD’s Singapore facility at that time showed some samples of raw ingredients having 10,000 times more melamine – a white chemical used in plastics, adhesives, countertops, dishware and whiteboards – than the tolerable limit.
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Boxing: Calls for rule change after Asian Games storm By Daniel Hicks
INCHEON, October 5, 2014 (AFP) – Countries may challenge new boxing judging rules after a storm of controversy that nearly brought the Asian Games boxing to blows outside the ring, sports officials told AFP. Ed Picson and Ricky Vargas, executive director and president of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines, told AFP they had already written to governing bodies demanding change. Boxers from the Philippines, India and Mongolia all claimed they were the victims of scoring that favored the South Korean hosts of the games in Incheon. Nineteen-year-old Ian Clark Bautista’s loss to Choe Sang-Dong was the one that really hurt the Philippines. “How I am to explain to a 19-year-old kid, who practically threw away four years of his life training away from his family, that the world is not as beautiful as it used to look to him,” Picson said in an interview. “And what about the Korean boy who beat him? What sort of values are we teaching him? That he can win even if he was inferior?” Vargas said Mark Anthony Barriga, another Filipino, should also have won. They were two fights that were stolen from us,” he said. The Philippines body has written to the Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee calling for backing for rule changes after the acrimonious disputes. “I think there can be a little bit more integrity in this process,” said Vargas. “Boxing is a sport in that you practically put your life on the line every time you step in the ring. And this is what comes out. It’s really disappointing.” The International Boxing Association (AIBA) introduced scoring rules similar to those used in professional bouts on August 31. The Asian Games was the first international tournament to use them. Now there are five judges scoring, but only three are counted at random. That means a fighter could win 3-0 or lost 2-1, depending on the scores. The Philippines body will decide after discussions in Manila next week whether to raise the matter at the AIBA congress next month on Jeju island in South Korea. Boxers ‘wronged’ “Some people from other federations have already told me they would like to raise these issues at the congress,” said Picson. Bat-Erdene Badmaanyambuu, Mongolia’s delega-
tion chief, backed calls for change. “What happened in boxing at these Games was not good. It was there for everyone to see. Our boxer was wronged, the Indian boxer was wronged too ... as were others. “Once we return home we will write to the AIBA that the rules need to be changed. If they agree, we will co-operate with them in changing the rules. Boxing is not a fair sport under the current rules.” The most controversial moment of the Asian Games came after India’s Sarita Devi pounded South Korea’s Park Ji-Na in the women’s lightweight semi-final. When Park’s hand was raised in victory Devi’s husband launched into a rant at officials which saw scuffles and police called in. Twenty-four hours later a sobbing Devi refused to accept her bronze medal and instead hung it on Park’s neck. She has since apologized to the AIBA but they are pursuing a disciplinary case against her. Credibility “AIBA president Wu Ching-kwo has always championed transparency and fairness, but things like these damage the credibility of the sport,” said Picson. The rows completely overshadowed Kazakhstan’s achievement in winning six golds on Friday. Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, the president of Olympic Council of Asia, presented some of the medals at the tournament. “It’s not new in boxing. For many years boxing has had problems with athletes claiming unfairness,” Sheikh Ahmad said. “They’re trying to solve this problem.” “I didn’t see those matches but I’m hearing a lot of rumors (about) the Filipino guy and the Indian female who deserved a better position than what they got. But in the end we have to respect the judges.” The AIBA’s decision to do away with headguards which are primarily designed to prevent cuts has also come under fire. Together with the change in the scoring system the changes were intended to attract more fans by mirroring professional boxing. Several fights in Incheon were stopped because of cuts which would not have occurred with headguards. “Now to prevent cuts they are clamping down on ducking, even weaving. But what’s a guy to do if a punch comes his way? Keep his head up to be hit?” said Picson. “How is all this and all the controversy going to attract people to the sport? It needs to be considered very seriously.”
No to bond school measure
Dear Editor, I am a 20-year resident of our beautiful city of Cerritos with one child. And also a State retiree. As indicated in my speech on July 8 before ABC School District Board members, I am opposed to the $195 million bond measure moved forward by the majority of the ABC Board members. Although I favor upgrading the facilities of the school district, funding should be provided by the State and Federal governments or by grants from philanthropists. We should find alternatives. We are already over burdened by too much property taxes and other taxes like income tax, utility tax, payroll tax, sales tax and other fees. We are levied for many public services in the form of property taxes like Metro Water District, Community College, Unified Schools, Trauma Emergency Services, etc. I remember vividly that a half percent increase in sales and use tax was approved by statewide voters last November primarily for California schools as espoused by Gov. Jerry Brown. What happened to that? Also the lottery was instituted in California with the intent that schools will benefit. What happened to that? Retirees like me will be financially impacted by this new bond measure. We are still paying the 1997 bond measure amounting to $59 million that will be paid off 20 years from now. I am paying $119 a year for this. The money from this bond measure was also used to upgrade the facilities of the schools. What happened to that? Our economic situation nowadays will not warrant more expenditures from us. We are slowly recovering but still reeling from too much taxes and business fees and regulations. I’m sure the business sector will also be impacted by the bond measure in the district. During the days of yore, students in some countries hold their classes under the canopy of trees and
dilapidated buildings but some students became successful in their careers and some became careers professionals, presidents, prime ministers and ambassadors of their countries. My own father who come from humble beginning who had to walk 12 kilometers twice a week of back country roads in the Philippines attended public schools with decrepit facilities but rose to become successful trial lawyer, town councilor, college professor and government prosecutor of tax evaders. He also attended several international conferences as Philippine representative. My 31-year-old son graduated from the ABC School system in 2001 and went on to obtain his masteral and doctorate degrees, not because of improved facilities in Cerritos or in the school district but with his strong motivation to excel in college and graduate school. He learned how to swim at 6 years old at the CPE Swimming Pool but not in his school. The analogy that like our own home, we have to repair our plumbing system or roof when there are leaks, maintain our lawn when something is amiss, etc. But we cannot repair the homes of our neighbors because we can only afford to repair our own home. We need more public hearings on this and more information. Not to rush things. We should be more transparent. Furthermore, this is not a race card issue. This is an issue of affordability and survival issue of retirees like me. A case in point: In November 2012, I had a house extension of 250 square feet for a den with a building permit from the Cerritos City Hall. Before that, I was only paying $4,099 a year. After the construction, I paid $4,685 in property tax. If the bond measure is passed, I might be paying additional $350 a year based on a $700,000 value of my home if the basis for assessment is $50 for every $100,000 Don’t ram this bond measure through our throat. Dan Nino Cerritos resident
US lifts 40-year arms ban to boost Vietnam sea defense By Jo Biddle
For editorial: Do you have a story tip, letter to the editor or suggestion? Please email info@usasianpost.com or mail your letter to: Editorial Department, The U.S Asian Post, Balita Media, Inc., 520 East Wilson Ave., Glendale, CA 91206. Submissions must include full name, mailing address and contact numbers. All contributions are subject to the paper’s editorial standards. For advertising, please email info@balita.com. The U.S Asian Post is a publication of Balita Media, Inc., the leading source of news and information for the Filipino American community, which also publishes Weekend Balita. Views and opinions expressed by contributing writers and syndication partners are solely theirs and do not necessarily reflect that of the publishers. All advertising materials are subject to the paper’s editorial standards and discretion. All rights reserved. Reprints of materials published in the newspaper should have the explicit permission of The U.S Asian Post.
WASHINGTON, October 3, 2014 (AFP) – In a decision likely to anger China, the US is partly lifting a 40-year ban on arms sales to former foe Vietnam to help boost defenses in the tense South China Sea. The historic easing of the ban in place since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 will only apply to maritime equipment, State Department officials stressed, and comes amid warming ties and as Hanoi makes “modest” improvements to human rights. “What’s driving this is not a sudden desire to transfer military equipment to Vietnam writ large, but a specific need in the region,” said one official, highlighting what he called Vietnam’s lack of capacity in the disputed waters and America’s own national security interests. “It’s useful in trying to deal with the territorial disputes in the South China Sea to bolster the capacity of our friends in the region to maintain a maritime presence in some capacity.” Some 40 percent of the world’s seaborne trade passes through the sea which is claimed in part by Vietnam, Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia, as well as China and the Philippines. Although the United States has not taken sides in the territorial disputes, it has warned Beijing
against “destabilizing actions” amid a series of tense maritime incidents. Earlier this year, Beijing placed an oil rig in waters also claimed by Vietnam, sparking deadly riots in the Southeast Asian nation. Secretary of State John Kerry informed his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Binh Min during talks Thursday of Washington’s move to adjust the current policy “to allow the transfer of defense equipment, including lethal defense equipment, for maritime security purposes only,” a senior State Department official said. Kerry later praised “the transformation” in Vietnam since the US normalized diplomatic relations two decades ago, calling it “nothing short of amazing.” “Vietnam has become a modern nation and an important partner of the United States. And (when) we talk to the young people in Vietnam you can feel the enthusiasm for the potential of the future,” he told a US-ASEAN business council dinner. Not ‘anti-China’ A prohibition on sales of other kinds of lethal weapons, such as tanks, will stay in place as Washington pushes Hanoi to improve its human rights record.
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UTREACH Application period begins for $1.2-M 2014-15 Edison Scholars Program ROSEMEAD, Calif., Oct. 1, 2014 — Edison International, the parent company of Southern California Edison (SCE), announces the application period for its 2014-15 Edison Scholars Program begins today and runs through Feb. 1. The $1.2-million program, which offers 30 scholarships valued at $40,000 each paid over four years, is for Southern California high school seniors with a 2.8 GPA or above who either live in or attend public or private high schools in SCE’s service area and plan to pursue college studies in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. Students from underserved communities and ethnic minorities are especially encouraged to apply. “I encourage high school seniors from SCE’s service area who qualify to apply for an Edison scholarship. As an energy company, we recognize the skills needed for our future workforce and to
advance our country, and so our scholarship program is geared to students preparing for careers in science, technology, engineering and math, also known as STEM,” said Tammy Tumbling, director of Philanthropy and Community Investment for SCE. Since 2006, Edison International has awarded nearly $4 million in scholarships to more than 400 Edison Scholars. “We place special emphasis on awarding scholarships to underrepresented students pursuing careers in STEM because our philosophy of giving is that all people should have opportunities to do well,” Tumbling said. To apply and to get additional eligibility information, students are encouraged to go to: https:// www.scholarsapply.org/edisonscholars/ Scholarship recipients will be announced in April and recipients may also be eligible for summer internships at SCE af-
ter completing their second year of college. Dependents of Edison International employees are not eligible for the Edison Scholars Program. About Edison International Edison International (NYSE:EIX), through its subsidiaries, is a generator and distributor of electric power and an investor in infrastructure and energy assets, including renewable energy. Headquartered in Rosemead, Calif., Edison International is the parent company of Southern California Edison, one of the nation’s largest electric utilities. Edison International’s support of charitable causes is funded entirely by Edison International shareholders. The company’s community donations are part of its commitment as a leading corporate citizen. Southern California Edison (SCE) customers’ utility bill payments do not fund company donations.
California becomes first US state to ban plastic bags LOS ANGELES, September 30, 2014 (AFP) - California became the first US state Tuesday to ban single-use plastic
bags, as Governor Jerry Brown signed the measure into law. Under the legislation, single-use bags will disappear
EXCLUSIVE GLOBE TELECOM DISTRIBUTOR OPENS US OUTLET GTI Corporation, which does business as GTI Telecom in the State of California, has opened its doors to Californians, especially its huge FilipinoAmerican community. Above photo shows GTI officials, Rizza Maniego-Eala, GTI Business Holdings and Olive Clavio, GTI President with Mayor Dave Weaver and Thomas Kawakami and with John G. Reyes, Consul of the Philippine Consulate General Office in Los Angeles (bottom photo) during the opening of the US outlet located at 700 N. Central Ave., Ste. 205, Glendale, CA 91023 held last September 30. GTI Telecom is the exclusive distributor of Globe Telecom, Inc. authorized to distribute Globe retail products in the USA. For more information, visit www.globemobile.us.
from grocery stores and pharmacies from July 1, 2015, and then from convenience and liquor stores from July 1, 2016. Lawmakers passed the bill earlier this month, and Brown had until the end of September to sign it. “This bill is a step in the right direction—it reduces the torrent of plastic polluting our beaches, parks and even the vast ocean itself,” Brown said in a statement. “We’re the first to ban these bags, and we won’t be the last.” The bill allows stores to charge 10
New E-Verify service combats fraud, protects identity, educates workers myE-Verify allows people to create secure personal accounts WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director León Rodríguez announced the launch of myEVerify – a new website designed for employees. myE-Verify is a one-stop shop for employees to create and maintain secure personal accounts and access new features for identity protection. “Since its inception, E-Verify has provided employees with valuable online tools and resources regarding the employment eligibility verification process,” said Director Rodríguez. “myE-Verify signifies a significant step forward for added transparency, features, and identity protection.” myE-Verify gives workers a free and secure way to participate in the E-Verify process by accessing features dedicated for employees, including Self Check and the Employee Rights Toolkit. For added security, individuals will have their identities verified through Self Check, in order to create a myE-Verify account. myE-Verify introduces the following new services: myE-Verify accounts – Allows employees and job seekers to set up free and secure personal accounts to manage the use of their information in E-Verify and Self Check through the available myEVerify features. Self Lock – Allows individuals to lock their social security numbers to prevent unauthorized or fraudulent use within E-Verify. Users can proactively protect their identities from being used by others to illegally gain employment. Self Lock is available only to myE-Verify account holders. myResources – A section of the myE-Verify site that contains information in multi-media formats to educate employees about their rights as well as responsibilities of employers in the employment eligibility verification process. myE-Verify accounts and Self Lock will initially be accessible to individuals in five states - Arizona, Idaho, Colorado, Mississippi, Virginia - as well as the District of Columbia. In future releases, USCIS will roll out myE-Verify across the country with plans for additional features focused on employees and job seekers. E-Verify is the free web-based service from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security used by nearly 550,000 employers to verify the employment eligibility of persons they hire. For more information on E-Verify, visit the www.dhs.gov/E-Verify. For more information about USCIS and its programs, please visit www.uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), YouTube (/uscis) and the USCIS blog The Beacon. cents for paper or reusable bags. Similar bans, backed by environmentalists, are already in place in other California cities including Los Angeles and San Francisco. A ban was opposed by Repub-
licans who argued it would be too much government meddling for small- and medium-sized businesses, and was also contested by bag manufacturers who fear job losses.
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Cargo forwarders remind clients to send boxes early LOS ANGELES – With delivery delays still in the horizon, five leading Filipino cargo forwarders are calling on customers to send their balikbayan boxes early to ensure that they would reach the intended beneficiaries in the Philippines in time for the holidays. Cristina Dalupan, executive director of the Philippine American Shippers Association, said the four leading cargo forwarders – Atlas Shippers International, Forex Cargo, LBC Cargo, Manila Forwarders, and Victory Cargo – are all wary of the factors that have caused long delays in delivery of balikbayan boxes to their intended beneficiaries in the Philippines. Joel P. Longares, president and CEO of Atlas Shippers International and one of the founders of PASA, said that despite the concerted efforts of government officials to solve the causes of the delays, problems persist that could further delay balikbayan box deliveries for the holiday season, which is considered the peak season for shipping. Longares said that cargo forwarders have made this request for years, “but this time, we ask our clients to give more time allowance and to take the call more seriously in the wake of problems confronting the shipping industry in the Philippines.” “I must also continue to warn our valued customers to beware of false promises by some competitors that they can deliver boxes without delay because of ‘creative’ scheme of shipment. We have seen these “creative strategies” in the home mortgage industry a few years ago. Look where it brought us,” Longares said. JP Carino, president of Forex Cargo, asked for the customers’ continued cooperation and understanding in the wake of delays that are beyond the control of shippers. He also advised senders not to put perishable products and time-sensitive documents in their boxes. “I saw first-hand the problems of port congestion in the Port of Manila and the delays caused by the traffic bans imposed by the City of Manila and the Metro Manila Development Authority when I went to the Philippines recently, and I must say solutions are not yet in the horizon,” Carino said. “The days of the 24 to 30-day delivery is gone,” Carino said. “There are delays in nearly every phase of the shipping and delivery process that are beyond our control.” Jong Solomon of LBC Cargo said they used to be able to deliver boxes anywhere in the Philippines under 35 days, “but with the DHS inspection, which could delay
shipment by as much as three weeks, plus another one to two weeks delay due to port congestion and truck ban issues, deliveries now take as much as two months.” It really depends on whether the turnaround time in the Port of Manila would improve. The truck ban has been lifted temporarily so that may improve the situation a bit in the short term. If deliveries are diverted to other ports, the situation may improve. But with the Port of Manila still congested, and the domino effect it created with other nearby transshipping points such as Kaoshiung, Busan, and Singapore, we are probably looking at the situation normalizing past this Christmas,” Solomon added. He said customers should send their boxes before October 15 to give allowance for these delays. Roselle Arbolante, manager of Manila Forwarders, said the earliest the Manila port can be decongested would probably be early next year. Arbolante said slow Customs processing has also contributed to the delay and the congestion. “I suggest customers start sending their boxes now, especially those bound for Visayas and Mindanao, if they want to be assured the boxes would arrive in time for the holidays,” Arbolante said. Eric Sycip, president of Victory Cargo, echoed Arbolante’s suggestion and said customers should start sending their boxes this September. “We don’t know what lies ahead. It’s better to be early than sorry,” he said. “Up until last year, senders can bring in their boxes in mid-November and we could still deliver them to Metro Manila and nearby provinces before Christmas. Customs processing is taking sometimes up to two weeks and illegal operators have contributed to the delays.” PASA officials have made representations with the DHS to solve the inspection delays while traders, shippers and brokers are pressing the Philippine government to do something about the truck bans and the port congestion and to hasten customs processing. The DHS has promised to expedite processing and Philippine government officials are working to ease the truck ban, port congestion and processing of cargoes. But these efforts are not enough to solve the gargantuan problem, Longares said. “With the traditional rush in exports and imports intended for the holiday season, the situation can only worsen,” Longares said.
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The larger your dining companion, the larger your appetite: study The very presence of an overweight diner can inspire you to order less healthy food and eat more of it than you may have intended, according to researchers at the Cornell Food and Brand Lab. An actress was enlisted by the researchers to wear a prosthetic flab suit that added 50 pounds to her naturally slender frame and asked to have lunch in four different scenarios with a total of 82 undergraduates who had volunteered for the study. Lunch was pasta and salad in each of the four scenarios, which varied in how the actress served herself: She ate either more pasta and less salad or the opposite, with and without the prosthetic layer of flab. Participants viewed her actions and then served themselves. Researchers found their pasta portions and consumption increased 31.6 percent when the actress wore her fat suit regardless of how much she had served and eaten herself. When the actress wore the fat suit and helped herself to more salad, participants’ salad portions and consump-
tion plunged by 43.5 percent. “This finding emphasizes the importance of pre-committing to meal choices before entering the restaurant,” says lead author Mitsuru Shimizu, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. “If you go into the restaurant knowing what you will order you’re less likely to be negatively influenced by all of the things that nudge you to eat more.” To avoid falling victim to this phenomenon, the researchers advise planning ahead when you know you’re going to be dining with others. “Look up the menu beforehand and select a meal that suits your dietary goals,” says Brian Wansink, PhD director of Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab and author of the new book Slim by Design: Mindless Eating Solutions for Everyday Life. “Or, if you’re going to a buffet, pre-commit to selecting modest portions of healthy foods and with that goal in mind, those around you will have less of a negative influence over what you eat.” The study was published in the journal Appetite.
‘Have you been working out?’ asks the new Ikea mirror
Motivational Mirror by Ikea
Ikea has come up with a “Motivational Mirror” in a bid to boost selfesteem in the UK. The bathroom accessory features interactive technology designed to prop up morale with compliments such as “Have you been working out?” and “Your eyes are mesmerizing.” The mirror uses Kinect motion sensor technology combined with complex coding to offer personalized messages that are automatically triggered and delivered by a voice recording and text written on its surface. The prototype furniture piece was recently tested out by the brand at one
of its London stores, as part of a new pilot scheme to help improve the daily lives of “browbeaten homeowners” with tailored compliments. The move followed research by Ikea which found that 49 percent of Brits receive no compliments in an average week, and 26 percent claim to feel insecure when they look in the mirror. “We all know how that first look in the bathroom or bedroom mirror can determine whether we have a good or bad day,” said Myriam Ruffo, Head of Bedrooms and Bathrooms at Ikea UK & Ireland. “We believe that starting the day
positively, by having a good night’s sleep, quality time with loved ones, or a boost to our self-esteem, will have knock-on effects that shape not only the mood of the individual, but that of the nation.”
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MOTORING Luxury carmakers crank up sales while keeping the dream alive
People take pictures of the new Volvo XC90 at the 2014 Paris Auto Show.
Keeping new cars secret pre-launch, a cloak and dagger game (PARIS-AFP) – A remote military-owned test site, offices with fingerprint-scanned access, specially-designed secure hotels or camouflage: carmakers go to great lengths to keep their new models secret before the official launch. From the moment of conception, auto manufacturers throw a shroud of darkness over their latest progeny, keen to shield information and photos of the vehicles from the prying cameras of journalists and car enthusiasts until they are finally unveiled to the world. “It’s so important with the timing, when you release information and how you do it,” Dennis Nobelius, project manager for Volvo’s brand new SUV, said at the Paris Motor Show which opened to the public Saturday. “The first time you reveal the
car, that image will be shared so many times. And what you wouldn’t want is a bad picture taken from a strange angle showing something in a bad light,” he added next to his XC90 -- finally on display for all to see. The ‘Batmobile’ At the initial concept and design stage, years before commercialization, the dangers are few and far between as employees working on a new project are sworn to secrecy. But even this is carefully controlled. BMW, for instance, uses fingerprint scanning to ensure only authorized people enter the offices where employees are working on new models. Eventually, prototype cars are manufactured and have to be driven out of in-house centers into the real world for testing in
extreme heat and cold, over different surfaces and in dense city centdrs. There – out in the open and at the mercy of journalists keen for a scoop or eager passers-by with smartphones – the subterfuge begins. “We screw these plastic parts directly into the body (of the car), we hide the Volvo logo types, we put plastic tape on the tail lamps to try and get rid of the shape,” said Nobelius, comparing the camouflaged vehicle to a “Batmobile.” Carmakers also cover their vehicles in material with black and white swirly or triangular patterns. “It’s an optical illusion that fools people a little over the proportions of the car,” said JeanMichel Juchet, head of communications for BMW France.
Faster, shinier and as inaccessible as ever to mere mortals: the latest luxury cars remain the stars of the Paris Motor Show but manufacturers face a tricky balance between meeting demand and maintaining exclusivity. The latest offerings from Bentley, Rolls Royce and Lamborghini purred onto the stage at the Paris Motor Show, which opens to the general public on Saturday, at a time of record luxury car sales. With a wealth of new super-rich clients in China and the Middle East, the fast-growing luxury car segment is presenting a unique challenge to bosses who know their greatest currency is rarity. “If you are producing too many cars you have a problem in selling them, you start discounting and you start destroying the value of the brand, or the dream,” said Lamborghini boss Stephan Winkelmann. “You buy a Lamborghini not because you need a car but because you want a dream to become reality.” In Paris the luxury Italian carmaker unveiled the sporty yet curvy Asterion, its first hybrid supercar. “For Lamborghini it is not about the volume of cars we are selling, it is about being profitable and always selling less than the demand. This is one of the key sentences in the luxury business,” said Winkelmann. “Last year we sold 2,121 cars, this year will be more and the year 2015, I think we are even going to do more.” The productivity versus rarity connundrum is seen as having contributed to the downfall of Ferrari president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, pushed out of the flashy sports car
brand earlier this month. Montezemolo reportedly hoped to keep the red and black brand exclusive by limiting sales to some 7,000 cars a year, whereas his replacement Sergio Marchionne “chose volume”, said Remi Cornubert, an expert in strategy development at the Oliver Wyman consultancy. While the hyper-luxury car market remains marginal, with only 0.1 to 0.2 percent of the global market, it is “the faster growing segment”, said Jonathon Poskitt, an analyst at research company LMC. ‘Something unique’ Bentley unveiled the latest version of its Mulsanne Speed, which promises to go from 0 to 100 km/h (60 miles/h) in only 4.9 seconds. The British luxury automaker noted a record 19 percent growth in 2013 with sales of over 10,000 cars, and hopes to reach 15,000 by 2018. Rolls Royce president Thorsten Muller-Otvos said the British carmaker would sell more than 4,000 cars this year for the first time. “We are not volume driven ... we are always producing one car less than we can sell, but we have expanded our worldwide footprint,” he told AFP, highlighting “substantial growth” in China and the Middle East. Rolls Royce rolled out its new Phantom Metropolitan at the Paris Motor Show, but to satisfy its clients, will only be producing 20. “Our customers don’t want to see Rolls Royces at every single street corner. You want to make sure you are not comparable to others, that you have something unique,” said MullerOtvos.
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KITCHENOMICS FAMILY FEATURES
T
he highlight of many a holiday meal, desserts are adored by young and old alike. This year, complete your festive celebration with delightful desserts that feature California Dried Figs. Naturally sweet and available year round, figs easily add a touch of elegance to a variety of recipes. Dark purple Mission Figs have a soft, thin skin with a sweet, fruity taste, while Golden Figs are amber-colored with a firmer skin, well-developed seeds and a slightly nutty flavor. Both are interchangeable in most recipes.
Keeping holiday traditions California Dried Figs are the perfect ingredient to star in your holiday recipes, especially for Hanukkah and Christmas. Sliced and simmered with fresh lemon and honey and spooned over cheesecake or chopped and combined with a little hazelnut liqueur and caramel for a luscious bottom layer, figs add a stunning fruit accent to popular cheesecake desserts. No matter what you are celebrating, your family will love these “figgy” recipes. Besides the sweetness that figs bring to the table, California Dried Figs are a healthy ingredient rich in dietary fiber, complex carbohydrates and such essential minerals as potassium, iron and calcium. Learn more about Blue Ribbon Orchard Choice and Sun-Maid California Dried Figs at www.valleyfig. com.
Caramel Fig MiniCheesecakes Servings: 12 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs 1/3 cup finely chopped hazelnuts or pecans 2 tablespoons butter, melted 1 1/2 cups finely chopped, stemmed Blue Ribbon Orchard Choice or Sun-Maid California Figs 1/4 cup caramel ice cream topping 3 tablespoons hazelnut liqueur or orange juice 1 pound (two 8-ounce packages) cream cheese, softened 1/3 cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 large eggs Thinly sliced figs 1/4 cup caramel ice cream topping 1 tablespoon hazelnut liqueur or orange juice Preheat oven to 325°F. Line 12 (2 3/4inch) muffin cups with paper cups. Combine graham cracker crumbs, nuts and melted butter. Press firmly into bottoms of cups. Bake in middle of oven for 5 minutes, till fragrant. Remove from oven and reserve. In small saucepan, combine figs, caramel topping and liqueur. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly, and cook for 1 minute or until most of liquid is absorbed. Spoon figs over crusts and press firmly with back of spoon to even layer. In bowl with electric mixer, beat cream cheese on medium-low speed until creamy, scraping bowl frequently. Beat in sugar, lemon juice and vanilla. On low speed, beat in eggs, one at a time. Spoon cheese mixture into cups over fig mixture. Return to middle of oven for 18–20 minutes, till set. Remove from oven and cool in pan on wire rack. Chill in pan for 3 hours. To serve, carefully remove cheesecakes from pan and paper cups to serving plates. For topping, fan fig slices on top of cheesecakes. Combine caramel topping and liqueur; drizzle over cakes.
Cheesecake Mousse with Fig Orange Sauce Servings: 4 Fig-orange sauce: 1 cup sliced, stemmed Blue Ribbon Orchard Choice or SunMaid California Figs 2/3 cup orange juice 1/3 cup packed golden brown sugar 1 tablespoon orange-flavored
liqueur or orange juice 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice Cheesecake mousse: 3 ounces cream cheese, softened 1/3 cup powdered sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 3/4 cup whipped heavy cream Topping and garnish:
1/2 cup crumbled shortbread cookies 1/4 cup chopped, toasted pecans or almonds Sprigs of fresh mint, optional To make sauce, in small saucepan, combine figs and orange juice. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and simmer until liquid is reduced to about 1/4 cup, 4–5 minutes. Stir in brown sugar and simmer until liquid is syrupy, 2–3 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in orange liqueur and lemon juice. Chill until serving time. To make mousse, with wire whisk, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth and creamy. Gently whisk in 1/2 of whipped cream. With rubber spatula, fold in remaining whipped cream. (Sauce and mousse can be held in refrigerator up to 1 day.) To serve, spoon mousse in bottom of 4 martini or champagne flutes. Smooth to even layer. Top with fig sauce. Sprinkle with crumbled cookies and nuts. Garnish with mint.
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(* DrŽƉ Kī KŶůy͘ >ĂďŽƌ ŽŶůLJ ƉĞƌ ƵŶŝƚ͕ ŚĂrdwarĞ ĂŶĚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ƉĂƌƚƐ ĂrĞ ĐŚĂrŐĞĚ ƐĞƉĂraƚĞůy͘ ĚĚŝƟŽŶĂů ĐŚĂrŐĞƐ ŵaLJ ĂƉƉůy.)
of Jesus, I place my trust in You. Let me never be confounded. Amen. -ADDI
FIGHTING ANIMAL TESTING
PRAYERS PRAYER to the BLESSED VIRGIN (Never known to fail)
Oh most beautiful Àower of Mt. Carmel, fruit wine splendor of Heaven.Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh Star of the Sea. Help me and show me here you are my Mother. Oh Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succour me in my necessity. (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. Oh Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee (3 times). Holy Mary, I place this prayer in your hands (3 times). Say this prayer for three consecutive days and then you must publish and it will be granted to you.Grateful Thanks.-J.B
THE US ASIAN POST Wednesday - Tuesday, October 8 - 14, 2014
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ENTERT
11
INMENT
Andi meets accident on set, brought to hospital Andi Eigenmann fell 15 feet off the ground on the set of her movie on Sunday. In a statement released by Viva Artists Agency, its president, Veronique Corpus said the actress was immediately brought to the hospital for tests after the accident on the set of her new movie
for director Tikoy Aquiluz. “It was an unfortunate accident. Viva brought Andi to the hospital for all tests and she was later cleared and discharged. We are all too happy that Andi’s well and fine,” Corpus said in the statement. The hospital has already
cleared and discharged Eigenmann. In her personal Twitter account, Eigenmann thanked her late father, Mark Gil, who, the actress believes, saved her. No further details about the actress’ accident was divulged. (MNS)
What LJ Reyes thinks of KC Concepcion Actress LJ Reyes on Thursday opened up about Kapamilya star KC Concepcion, who is the rumored girlfriend of Paulo Avelino, the father of Reyes’s son Akio. “Siyempre KC Concepcion naman po ‘yon, isang matalinong babae at karespe-respeto po talaga. Mahilig din po siya sa bata, I heard,” Reyes said. But Reyes, who is happy that Avelino is now open when it comes to their son, isn’t sure if Concepcion has met Akio. “Hindi ko po alam. Hindi ko din naman po tinatanong kung sila talaga,” she said, stressing that she has nothing against the “Ikaw Lamang” star. “Wala po talaga and kung magopen up siya sa akin ay okay lang naman po kung sasabihin niya sa akin,” she said. But what if Akio asks her about Concepcion? “’Ask daddy.’ Ganoon ‘yon. ‘Kasi I don’t know anak, you ask daddy.’ Basta ang usapan namin kapag natanong ang bata ay basta maayos lang ang explanation mo,” Reyes said. The actress is still is hoping that she and Avelino can be friends in the future. “Civil lang po kami. I wish someday we will be good friends para it’s gonna be easier for us to raise our child together,” Reyes said. (MNS)
KC Concepcion
Andi Eigenmann
Enrique Gil chooses career over love ENRIQUE Gil said he is not dating anyone now, as he wants to focus his time and attention on his blossoming career as an actor. “Wala talaga ngayon.... matagal na. I decided it’s better like this kasi walang gulo. Para sa akin, mas okay na wala talaga muna akong girlfriend,” said the 22-year-old. Despite his denial, Gil was rumored to be dating young ABSCBN talent Liza Soberano, his costar in Star Cinema movie “She’s The One” and soon-to-be leading lady in upcoming television series “Forevermore”.
Mariel Rodriguez a ‘trying hard’ housewife IN THE four years of their married life, television host Mariel Rodriguez rates herself 7 out of 10 as a housewife to actor husband Robin Padilla. In a recent interview with the 30-year-old, Mariel said that during the months when she did not had any television work, she focused all her time and attention in managing their home. Although she’s adjusted to married life, Mariel said she’s still a “trying hard” house wife. “Ayoko sabihin na hindi ko na-miss (ang showbiz) kasi parang ang sama ko naman. Iba lang kasi may bago naman akong ginagawa. I got to know myself, na kaya ko palang maging housewife talaga. Bata pa lang ako, yun ang dream ko talaga, na maging housewife. Ngayon step-by-step, slowly, nagagawa ko siya and hindi siya madaling trabaho,” she said. The TV host added: “To take care of the house is hard. Kailangan may sagot ka sa lahat.
Mariel Rodriguez
You’re managing the house and it was a totally different life for me. Doon ko din natutunan na marunog pala akong magluto. Before ang alam ko lang scrambled egg. Dahil everyday ginagawa siya, natuto na ako. Practice makes perfect talaga.” Mariel said Robin has been very supportive since day one and it’s nice to come to work again with her husband. The two are currently hosting TV5’s weekend program “Talentadong Pinoy 2014.” According to Mariel if she felt the project was not right, she’d think twice of prioritizing her career over her family. “Kung hindi siya worth giving up with what I was doing at home, hindi ko talaga gagawin. Ang hirap umalis ng bahay. Pag-aalis kami, parang sobrang challenge na lumabas. Parang it’s a big deal. Naenjoy ko talaga yung pagiging housewife.” “Yun naman ang advantage sa ‘Talentado’ kasi bonding
namin (ni Robin). Pagkatapos mag taping uuwi kami, mag-uusap kami na kaming dalawa lang. Ibang journey ulit sa amin na mag-asawa na project ulit kami na ganito.” When asked if they plan to have a child together, Mariel said it will come but for the meantime, she wants to enjoy life with Robin. “Mga two years pa. It will be a blessing pero hindi pa talaga siya nasa plano.” (MNS)
Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano
The two arrived together at the 8th Star Magic Ball held at Makati Shangri-La Hotel, further fueling speculations. Enrique described his date as a “sweetheart and sobrang bait”. When asked if they are closer now than ever or if there is a possibility of romance, the actor replied, “We’re good friends. Magkaibigan lang kami before pero mas okay kami ngayon kasi we talk more.” The actor had a prior relationship with Coleen Garcia and rumored to have dated sexy actress Bangs Garcia. (MNS)
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Wednesday - Tuesday, October 8 - 14, 2014
LOS ANGELES
BINAY CAMP
PACQUIAO
PURISIMA
From page 1
From page 1
as of end 2013. His assets amounted to P66,171,663, while liabilities registered at P6,052,897. Binay’s net worth was mainly due to the JCB Farms, a piggery business he started in 1994 in Rosario. The JCB Farms earned Binay an additional net income of P44,350,921.88 from 1994 to 2010. During the said period, Binay paid taxes amounting to P15,889,581.83. “A flower shop business owned by Dr. Binay (Blooms and Bouquet) has also been sourcing its flower requirements in a flower farm in Rosario, Batangas.
Aug. 22 ruling that stopped the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) from collecting P3 billion cash bond to P4 billion surety bond from Pacquiao and his wife Jinkee in exchange for lifting of warrant of distraint and levy and garnishment by the BIR. Pacquiao went to the high court after the CTA required him to either deposit a cash bond in the amount of P3,298,514,894.35 or to post a surety bond in the amount of P4,947,772,341.53 as a condition for the suspension of collection of deficiency income taxes.
a four-room guest house, a gazebo, a small elevated kubo, a separate maid’s quarters and dirty kitchen, and a guard house. It also has two kiddie pools, and two medium-sized swimming pools near the guest house. The guest house and the pool has a tag price of P1.7 million. There is also a spacious garden with at least 20 fruit bearing trees of mango, guava, and kamyas. The landscaped garden also has a fountain and a small pond with a bridge. The PNP chief is currently on hot water as he faces plunder, bribery, and graft
From page 1
THE US ASIAN POST
charges over the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the renovation of the PNP chief’s official quarters in Camp Crame dubbed as “White House.” (MNS)
SWISS SHOT From page 1
two female companions who witnessed the attack. Police ruled out robbery as motive after the suspects ran away without taking the victims’ belongings, Baclao said, adding an investigation was underway. Criminal gangs are known to operate in the Mindanao area in southern Philippines, prompting China last month to warn its citizens against travel to the area.
MAYON ALERT From page 1
“Intense crater glow. Incandescent lava dome,lava fountain,lava flow in the summit area,” Phivolcs said. Thousands evacuated More than 12,000 families or 55,000 people had been evacuated from their homes in the volcano’s danger zone. Salceda said the provincial government has offered the evacuees five kilos of rice a day and evacuated their animals. These “eliminated the economic argument for human activity inside the zone,” he said. “We are working hard to demolish the only other argument which is ‘take a bath and comfort’ but the risk of death in getting caught by a sudden eruption should balance that out in the calculation of an ordinary evacuee,” he added.
WAR GAMES From page 1
United States to boost its military capabilities amid the Chinese threat. In April, the allies signed a defense pact that would see thousands of US troops stationed in the country in the next decade.