Celebrating
T H E
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Daiana opens up on breast augmentation See PAGE 10
Vol. 3. No. 17
LOS ANGELES
A Balita Media Publication
Wednesday - Tuesday, January 8-14, 2014
Health care for all Filipinos 18 and up mulled
MANILA, Jan 6 (Mabuhay) – A lawmaker has filed a bill seeking to institutionalize a universal health care for all Filipino citizens 18 years old and above. Rep. Winston Castelo (2nd District, Quezon City), author of House Bill 2312, the funds shall be sourced from the earnings of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). “To better harness the people’s future role in society, Filipinos should enjoy the entitlement of a universal health care,”
Castelo said. He said the funds intended for charity by profit-generating public establishments of Pagcor and PCSO can be utilized for the needed money for the universal health care program for Filipinos. Castelo also said the Pagcor and PCSO generate so much proceeds for government to the tune of billions of pesos annually. He said the government is already funding some government hospitals but most of these are located in urban centers.(MNS)
Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada delivers his message during the launching of the Orange Health Card project at the City Hall on Friday (Jan. 3, 2014). The card entitles the holder to free admission to any government hospital in Manila. (MNS photo)
Over 2-M day care children to enjoy supplementary feeding from DSWD this year
An employee counts U.S. dollar bills before changing it to Philippine Pesos inside a money changer in Manila September 19, 2013. The Philippine central bank said remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have allowed households to save money, boosting the country’s savings rate.(MNS Photo)
Remittances help boost PHL savings rate in 2012 MANILA, Jan 6 (Mabuhay) – Remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have allowed households to save money, boosting the country’s savings rate, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). Based on the BSP’s latest Flow of Funds report, domestic savings has expanded by 6.8 percent to P2.001 trillion in 2012, with households accounting for the bulk of that amount.
“The economy’s savings momentum is sustained amid solid overall revenue performance of all sectors and the country’s sound macroeconomic fundamentals,” the BSP said. The FOF presents a summary of financial transactions among the different institutions of the economy, and between these institutions and the rest of the world. It identifies which institutions See REMITTANCES, page 6
MANILA, Jan 6 (Mabuhay) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Monday announced that it targets to conduct food supplementations to more than two million day care children in different areas of the country by June of this year as part of its commitment to further intensify its social service for 2014. According to DSWD Secretary Corazon J. Soliman, the department targets to conduct supplementary feeding program to about 2,006,549 children enrolled in day care centers by June 2014 as part of the continuous goal to improve and sustain the children’s nutritional status.
MANILA, Jan 4 (Mabuhay) – The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) are now studying proposals to move the opening of classes from June to August or September, Malacañang said Saturday. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Palace is now waiting for the two agencies to come up with their findings and recommendations on the matter. “We will defer to the position taken by CHED. Sa DepEd, magka-iba ang posisyon ng dalawa when it comes to moving the opening of classes to September (We will defer to the positions taken by the CHED and DepEd when it comes to moving the opening of classes to September),” she said on state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan. “These are proposals being studued by both institutions. Hin-
Sub-zero arctic blast strikes US BY BRIGITTE DUSSEAU
Record cold weather hits US BY MIRA OBERMAN
CHICAGO, January 6, 2014 (AFP) – A “polar vortex” dropped over a huge section of the United States on Monday, sending temperatures plunging across the Midwest as the East Coast braced for the bitter Arctic blast. Meteorologists predicted the lowest temperatures in two de-
cades in some areas of the country, with the mercury at -35 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 37 Celsius) in Milwaukee. Icy roads and snow storms created travel chaos, with thousands of flights canceled or delayed. The northeastern United States has endured heavy snow See VORTEX, page 6
gram comes in the form of serving hot meals being during break or snack time in the morning or afternoon session. The program is funded by DSWD in cooperation with local government unit’s health nutritionist as part of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of eradicating hunger and malnutrition. Under the program, the children’s parents in the different barangays of provinces participate in the meal preparation by using available indigenous food supplies or those locally but not costly available food supplies in some barangays which nutritional valSee DSWD, page 6
Palace: DepEd, CHED looking into adjusting school opening
See DEP ED, page 6
Photos taken last January 3 at the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC by First Secretary and Consul Elmer G. Cato, which he posted on his Facebook Page. Meteorologists have predicted the lowest temperatures in two decades in some areas of the country. Icy roads and snow storms created travel chaos, with thousands of flights canceled or delayed that Cato and his wife experienced on Sunday while on the way to church, who both fell flat on their backs, according to the Filipino consul. A “polar vortex” dropped over a huge section of the United States on Monday, sending temperatures plunging across the Midwest as the East Coast braced for the bitter Arctic blast.
“DSWD’s supplementary feeding program for children is the department’s contribution to the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) program of the government,” Soliman said. She said that the program is an anti-hunger program that also aims to improve knowledge, attitude and practices of children enrolled in day care centers as well as their parents, by educating them towards the correct nutritional values that their children should enjoy. As of December 2013, the DSWD has served under the program a total of 1,451,655 day care children out of 1,778,274. The nutritional feeding pro-
NEW YORK, January 6, 2014 (AFP) – Millions of people across the United States on Monday braced for a “life-threatening” bitter Arctic blast that could send temperatures plummeting to their coldest in 20 years. The northeastern United States and parts of Canada have endured heavy snow and deadly sub-zero conditions since the start of the year, but the deep freeze is now moving through much of the country east of the Rocky Mountains. The wind chill from the rare “polar vortex” could make it feel as cold as -60 Fahrenheit (-51 Celsius) in places, weather forecasters say, prompting authorities to warn residents to stay indoors See SUB-ZERO, page 6
A fisherman walks carefully near the Manila Bay breakwater off Roxas Blvd., carrying his net with a meager catch of tilapia fish on Friday (Jan. 3, 2014). (MNS photo)
PHL economy to grow 7-7.5% in 2014 – Metrobank’s FMIC
MANILA, Jan 6 (Mabuhay) – Despite the natural calamities last year, higher spending by the government and private sectors to fund the reconstruction of damaged areas will sustain the growth momentum this year, First Metro Investment Corp., the investment banker of the Metrobank Group said Monday. While the Philippines suffered the devastation wreaked by storms and earthquakes, 2013 was a watershed for the Southeast Asian market economy which gained investment grade rating from the top global debt watchers, Francisco Sebastian, FMIC chairman told reporters in a briefing in Makati City. “The country has shown resilience, we are still the best performing economy in ASEAN with a 7.4 percent GDP growth in the first nine months of 2013, Sebastian said. “Our fundamentals remain intact and will be able to withstand volatilities in 2014, be it domestic or global,” he added. “In 2014, the country’s GDP is projected at 7 to 7.5 percent –
buoyed by the same growth drivers that continue to fuel the economy plus the robust reconstruction and rehabilitation work in typhoon- and earthquake-stricken Visayas, which will further spur public and private spending,” Sebastian noted. The economy grew at 7.4 percent on average in the first three quarters of 2013, the fastest among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Inflation, remittances, exports Inflation, according to FMIC, will register at a manageable level between 3.8 percent and 4 percent in 2014. So far, inflation was 2.8 percent on average in the first 11 months of 2013 The investment bank expected remittances to grow by 6 percent to 7 percent in this year, with more Filipinos who live and work abroad transferring more money to relatives – especially those in the Visayas who bore the brunt of Yolanda. Basically, remittances will fuel consumer spending and keep the See ECONOMY, page 6
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Classes reopen in PHL typhoon zone
Children hold plates on top of their heads against rainfall as they queue for free meals during Christmas celebrations at the town of Bislig, Tanauan in Leyte province, central Philippines December 24, 2013, a month after Typhoon Haiyan battered central Philippines. Super typhoon Haiyan reduced almost everything in its path to rubble when it swept ashore in the central Philippines on November 8, killing at least 6,069 people, leaving 1,779 missing and 4 million either homeless or with damaged homes. (MNS photo)
‘Overpricing’ of Yolanda bunkhouses under probe – Lacson MANILA, Jan 6 (Mabuhay) – The supposed overpricing of temporary shelters being built for survivors of Typhoon Yolanda has been under investigation since last month, Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery Panfilo Lacson said Monday. Lacson said he was tipped off on “possible anomalies” on the construction of the bunkhouses in Leyte and Eastern Samar when he visited Yolanda-hit areas last month. “I received information and allegations of possible anomalies and kickbacks involving at least one politician in the area colluding with contractors,” he said. The former senator added that
his sources, who he did not identify, “talked of 30 to 35 percent commissions.” At a press briefing in Malacañang, Public Works chief Rogelio Singson vowed to quit his post if it is proven that there was overpricing in the construction of bunkhouses for the typhoon victims. Denying that there was overpricing, Singson, however, admitted there is a possibility that some of the specifications were not followed. On Monday, the Philippine Daily Inquirer, citing information from the group Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM), reported alleged overpricing and substandard work on
the construction of bunkhouses for Yolanda survivors. In the same report, Public Works director for Eastern Visayas Rolando Asis said the bunkhouses were not overpriced, and were in fact priced lower than similar shelters for victims of other typhoons. Over 1.1 million houses were damaged after Yolanda, one of the strongest typhoons on record to ever make landfall, ripped through central Philippines in early November. A total of 6,166 individuals have been confirmed dead due to the super typhoon, based on latest government records. DPWH, PNP involved in probe
TACLOBAN, January 6, 2014 (AFP) – Schools reopened Monday in badly damaged central Philippine towns for the first time since one of the world’s strongest storms ever to hit land killed thousands two months ago. Crowding into makeshift classrooms built from tarpaulins and plywood, the children – many of them still traumatized – sat quietly as teachers tried to engage them in friendly banter. Mothers refused to leave the tents despite appeals from teachers to let the children slowly resume their daily routine, an AFP reporter said. “Only about 50 percent of our school’s nearly 1,000 pupils are back,” lamented principal Maria Evelyn Encina in the seaside village of San Roque near the central city of Tacloban, where giant tsunami-like waves triggered by Super Typhoon Haiyan wiped out entire neighborhoods. She said at least nine students had been among the dead, although the fate of many others and their families remained unknown. “They could be in evacuation centers or taken in by their relatives in the mass evacuation that followed,” Encina said. “But we can’t know for sure. We just want to let them know wherever they are that we are here waiting for them.” What passes for a community learning centre now are desks under a white tent donated by relief organizations. It sits about 50 meters from the sea, in an area that the government has officially dubbed a “permanent danger zone”, the principal said. “We need a more permanent struc-
ture in the longer term, but in the meantime this will suffice,” Encina said. Haiyan cut a swathe of destruction when it struck on November 8, bringing powerful winds that topped 315 kilometers (197 miles) an hour. It also triggered giant storm surges which swamped large areas, leaving nearly 8,000 dead or missing and nearly 30,000 others injured. It also displaced four million people, 1.7 million of them children, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The agency along with other groups is leading a campaign to help some 550,000 children, teachers and day care workers return to schools. “UNICEF’s objective is to ensure that children affected by typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan’s local name) return to quality learning as soon as possible,” said the group’s officer in charge in the Philippines, Angela Kearney. By re-establishing a daily routine, UNICEF says it hopes to transform schools into “safe spaces” that provide some sense of normalcy. It said that with children back in school, parents would also have more time to rebuild their ruined homes. But with memories of the surging, towering waves still fresh, mother of six Milet Labrado, 42, was not taking any chances. “The school is just too near the sea, and we survived by clinging to each other,” she said, while anxiously watching her youngest, a six-year-old boy, mingle with his classmates. “I still see my neighbors being taken away by the waves in my dreams every day,” Labrado said.
Lacson, who was appointed last month by President Benigno Aquino III as the primary point person for Yolanda rehabilitation efforts, said he has been “closely” coordinating with Singson while “quietly investigating” the matter. “I have documents pertaining to the programs of work, bills of materials and specifications... I need to compare the same with
the DPWH standard specs,” Lacson said. He added that Singson promised to send relevant documents to him in connection with the construction of the bunkhouses. The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) are also being tapped to assist in the probe, said Lacson, who is also a former PNP chief.
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Arroyo camp not pushing for house arrest yet MANILA, Jan 6 (Mabuhay) – Despite calls for her to be removed from hospital arrest and be allowed to recuperate at home, the camp of Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said they have no plans to push for a house arrest. “Right now there is no talk of asking for house arrest,� said Arroyo’s counsel Raul Lambino in a text message Monday. “We are hoping for the Sandiganbayan to grant our motion for bail which is a pending resolution.� Retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, a vocal Arroyo critic when she was President, called for Arroyo’s transfer to house arrest when he visited the former leader on Saturday at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center.
Arroyo has been under hospital arrest at the VMMC since December 2011 in connection with a plunder case where she is accused of misusing some P366-million in Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) intelligence funds during her incumbency. She was earlier allowed to post bail in connection with the electoral sabotage case pending before the Pasay Regional Trial Court. In a document supplied by Lambino, the VMMC reiterated that Arroyo needs “constant family bonding interaction� to be able to recuperate from her bone mineral disorder. Her latest medical certificate, dated December 18, 2013, said Arroyo needs constant sun exposure to main-
tain health. Her doctors also report that she still has trouble swallowing solid food. “We reiterate our prescription that her scheduled morning and afternoon sun exposure be continued as this is the rich and natural source of Vitamin D for better calcium absorption,� the report said. The certificate also noted that the VMMC has given all the medical treatment it can to make Arroyo comfortable, but that she still needs constant interaction with family. “All available possible medical management has been rendered therefore we highly recommend that constant family bonding interaction should not be reduced since it is still the key to her overall wellness and successful treatment,� it said. (MNS)
QC boy hurt by firecracker dies; revelry-related injuries exceeds 1,000 MANILA, Jan 6 (Mabuhay) – A 12-year-old boy who was rendered brain-dead after suffering a head injury from a firecracker explosion has died, but will “live on� after his family decided to donate his organs, the Department of Health said Monday. National Epidemiology Center head Dr. Enrique Tayag also said the number of revelry-related injuries to welcome 2014 breached the 1,000 mark mainly due to piccolo. “12-year-old boy dies but ‘lives’ as [his] family donates his kidneys; [DOH Secretary Enrique] Ona condoles with and praises [his] family for this act of heroism and kindness,� Tayag said on his Twitter account.
Tayag also said this year’s revelry-related injuries has passed the 1,000 mark “because many revelers used the illegal, imported piccolo.� As of 6 a.m. of Jan. 5, he said there were at least 1,018 revelryrelated injuries, including 997 from setting off or handling consumer fireworks, two from ingesting fireworks, and 19 from stray bullets. Of the 997 fireworks-related injuries, he said 376 or 38 percent were from the piccolo. In the same period in 2012, he said, there were 931 revelry-related injuries, including 904 from fireworks, two from fireworks ingestion and 25 from stray bullets. (MNS)
Bodies of eight beheaded fishermen found on boat in PHL ZAMBOANGA, January 4, 2014 (AFP) – Eight fishermen including two boys have been shot and beheaded in a gruesome attack at sea off the troubled southern Philippines, police said Saturday. The victims were among a group of fishermen who went missing after being attacked in the Moro Gulf off Mindanao island on December 26, said regional police spokesman Ariel Huesca. Five headless corpses were first found aboard a boat drifting at sea on Friday by police who had gone in search of the missing fishermen, said Senior Inspector Joel Lozano, police chief of the district where the boat was taken. “When we further inspected the boat (on Saturday morning), we discovered more headless bodies beneath the floorboard.... In
all, it contained eight bodies,� Lozano told reporters. The corpses, including those of two boys aged about 12 and 14, were all decomposing, suggesting they were killed a few days earlier, Lozano said. One fisherman remains missing after the attack by unknown gunmen, Huesca said in a written report. The motive of the attack is not known. The waters off the southern Philippines are rife with piracy, and the region is also a hotbed of Islamic militants. The nine fishermen had gone missing a day after Christmas following the attack off the town of Olutanga, Huesca said. Two other wounded fishermen in the party were recovered shortly after the attack and taken
Christian Jay Comedor, 10 years old, of Baesa in Quezon City, was rushed by her mother, Julie, on New Year’s Eve (December 31, 2013) at the Quezon City General Hospital for injuries caused by the infamous piccolo firecracker. It is a belief in the mostly Catholic nation that making noise to welcome the New Year drives evil spirits away and ushers in good luck. (MNS photo)
to hospital for treatment, he added. The boat with the headless corpses was found adrift eight days later off the coastal village of Manicahan on Zamboanga’s outskirts, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) southwest of Olutanga. The 11 fishermen are all natives of Sangali, a fishing village adjacent to Manicahan, Huesca said.
AFP says nine Muslim rebels slain in attacks COTABATO, January 3, 2014 (AFP) – Philippine troops repulsed a series of attacks by a breakaway Muslim insurgent group in the country’s south that left nine rebels dead and two soldiers wounded, the army said Friday. The series of skirmishes occurred around several small military outposts near the rural town of Pikit between Tuesday and Thursday, local military spokesman Captain Antonio Bulao told AFP. Nine members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters were killed in the fighting, Bulao said, citing intelligence reports. The rebel faction’s spokesman, Abu Misri, confirmed that its forces were involved in the fighting, but denied that it sus-
tained casualties. Bulao said two soldiers were wounded in the fighting. The rebel faction split off from the main Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, after the MILF entered into peace talks with the government to end decades of conflict that have claimed 150,000 lives. Bulao accused the renegade rebels of extorting from private contractors of a government irrigation project, but Misri denied this. Misri also said the latest flare-up of fighting was unrelated to the government’s peace talks with the MILF. “This has no relation to the peace talks. We will not sabotage them,� he told AFP. He said the rebels attacked
because soldiers allegedly harassed Muslim farmers in the area, which Bulao denies. The 12,000-strong MILF has been fighting since the 1970s for a separate Muslim state in the south, but has agreed to a ceasefire and peace talks with the government. However the BIFF have refused to abide by the ceasefire, and have staged scattered attacks on civilians and the armed forces. President Benigno Aquino has promised to end the insurgency by the conclusion of his six-year term in 2016. The peace talks reached a crucial stage last month after the two sides hammered out the details of a power-sharing agreement within a proposed Muslim self-rule area in the south.
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POEA warns vs new permit-to-work coaching scam MANILA, Jan 4 (Mabuhay) – The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration over the weekend warned prospective overseas Filipino workers against a new permit-to-work coaching scam. In a post on its Facebook account, the POEA said the emailbased scam targets Filipinos seeking jobs as health care workers in Canada. “Another ‘permit to work coaching’ scam! Please ignore if you received this e-mail,� it said. The POEA said the email claims to be from Saint Elizabeth Health Care, and informs recipients they were chosen for the position of a Registered Nurse. It said the email instructed
the recipients to attend the “Permit to work Coaching� on Jan. 11 and 12 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Citing the email, the POEA said the scam promises a deployment date anytime in May 2014. However, the recipients are told to pay a coaching fee of P3,720. The email, supposedly from one Lesley Sawden, human resources manager of Saint Elizabeth Health Care, claims the coaching is to be done in Makati City. Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment on Tuesday reminded private sector employers in the National Capital Region that starting Jan. 1, 2014, all minimum wage earners in the metropolis will have an
increase in their basic pay following the integration of P15 of the existing P30 Cost- of-Living Allowance (COLA) as provided under Wage Order NCR-No. 18. “Wage Order NCR-No. 18 provides for a P10 additional pay effective 1 October 2013, and the integration to the basic pay of the P15 of the existing P30 COLA provided under Wage Order NCR-No. 17, which took effect on 1 January 2014,� DOLE Secretary Rosalinda DimapilisBaldoz said. With the integration, the minimum wage rate for private sector workers in the NCR now stands at P466, composed of the P451 basic pay and the other half of the existing COLA, or P15.
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Palace exec: Gloria Arroyo not Aquino’s scapegoat, cases based on evidence MANILA, Jan 6 (Mabuhay) – A Malacañang official denied on Monday that the Aquino administration has been using former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as a scapegoat, saying all the cases lodged against her were based on evidence. “Walang batayan ang paratang. Walang personal na usapin, batay sa ebidensya ang paghahain ng kaso,” Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a text message to reporters. Coloma issued the statement after retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz visited Mrs. Arroyo, whom he said is being “persecuted by the present administration.” Cruz likewise said that President Benigno Aquino III always uses Mrs. Arroyo as a scapegoat, which he said was “unfair” and prompted him to seek “some kind of reconciliation” with the former Philippine leader. Mrs. Arroyo is under hospital arrest at the at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City for a plunder case in connection with the alleged misuse of P366-million Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) intelligence funds during her incumbency. She represents Pampanga’s second district in the House of Representatives. Before Cruz, former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada also visited Mrs. Arroyo, who pardoned him in 2007. Palace officials have said that there are no plans yet for the President to visit Mrs. Arroyo. Coloma likewise said it is up to the court to decide whether she will undergo house arrest instead. But Palace officials were also quick to clarify that Aquino has no “ill will” towards the former president. (MNS)
‘Busy week’ marks Aquino’s start of official year
MANILA, Jan 6 (Mabuhay) – A busy week marks the start of President Benigno S. Aquino’s Official Year, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said on Monday. In a press briefing in Malacanang, Lacierda said the President’s official year will begin with two events: presentation of credentials of non-resident ambassadors from Botswana, Ethiopia, Lithuania, Portugal, Samoa, Sudan, Zambia, and Suriname “to further build on our relationships with the international community, towards creating more mutually-beneficial opportunities in the year ahead” and the traditional New Year reception for Philippine officialdom and the Diplomatic Corps called the Vin D’Honneur. Lacierda said that “this is the President’s first opportunity to communicate his priorities and expectations, as well as his hopes, for the coming year.” After a year of challenges – challenges endured by the Filipino people, displaying solidarity and compassion above all, the official year begins this week with two events. He added that in between these events, “the President will also take part in the launch of the new MMDA Traffic Signal System and Command and Control Center as the Guest of Honor.” “All of these cap what will be a busy week for President Aquino, as he touches base with members of his Cabinet to ensure that the momentum of 2013 is carried over into the New Year, in which several significant objectives are due to be realized within the first quarter,” Lacierda said. “Among these are the transition from relief to recovery and reconstruction for areas affected by Typhoon Yolanda, as well as the signing of the Annex on Normalization of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamaro,” he added. (MNS)
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Palace assures Yolanda survivors of aid beyond relief goods MANILA, Jan 4 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Saturday reassured survivors of super typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan) they will continue to get aid this year even after the distribution of relief goods ends in March. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will assess the situation and come up with the appropriate assistance. “Tinitingnan ng DSWD ang sitwasyon ng pamilya. Patuloy ang assistance na binibigay lalo kung talagang kinakailangan ito (The DSWD is assessing the situation of the affected families. It will continue to give assistance especially to those that need it),”
she said on state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan. She said the government may extend shelter assistance to the affected families. Valte said the government extended such help to families in Zamboanga City who were displaced by fighting between government forces and followers of Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari last September. She said the DSWD is to end its distribution of relief packs, including rice and canned goods, on March 31. Yolanda tore through Visayas and Southern Luzon last Nov. 8, leaving behind more than 6,100 dead.(MNS)
Samar solon backs creation of special fund on disaster resilience MANILA, Jan 4 (Mabuhay) – Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento said over the weekend he is supporting proposals to set up a special fund to strengthen the country’s disaster resiliency capabilities. He noted the creation of such a fund will ensure that Filipinos will no longer have to go through the same ordeal and devastation as they did when super typhoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) ravaged through Eastern Visayas last November. “We have to assume that Yolanda will not be the last of its kind, especially now that there is a pattern of extreme and unusual climactic conditions apparently due to global warming. However, the amount of devastation caused by Yolanda will be the last if we are committed to prepare our country to be disaster-resilient,” Sarmiento said in a press statement. “Certainly, there is no way that we can stop typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, El Nino, La Nina and other natural and man-made disasters from hitting us but what we can do is to help our people develop the right mindset on how to act before, during and after a disaster and ensure that our infrastructures are designed to withstand calamities,” Sarmiento pointed out. He said he supports the proposal of Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima for the creation of a Calamity Resiliency Fund which would finance projects that would enhance the country’s disaster resiliency. According to Sarmiento, the proposal of creating a fund to be used in building up resilience in the country would definitely help reduce the loss of lives and
damage of properties during calamities. This could also go a long way for research and development, especially on crops ideal to the country’s weather condition. Sarmiento, who is a member of the Parliamentarians Advisory Group of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), attended recently the regular meeting of the group in Geneva where the Post-Hyogo Framework for Action was extensively discussed. HFA will end in 2015. In that meeting, a consensus was made that governments should invest in risk reduction and disaster resilience to protect against catastrophic losses, and anticipate and prepare for emerging risks that cannot be modelled such as the case of typhoon Yolanda. “Investing in resilience must be institutionalized among governments. By investing in resilience, we are saving lives and safeguarding the gains of the economy,” Sarmiento said. He also cited the importance of the business sector in the country’s disaster risk reduction and management and there might be a need for Congress to enact a law that would provide incentive packages to entities and establishments that would build infrastructures which are disaster-resilient. “Other countries have done this like Japan. Banks in Japan offer preferential interest rates to clients/ developers who will undertake projects with plans certified as disaster-resilient. Government is on the right track in the paradigm shift of pre-disaster programs,” he said.(MNS)
Martyred bishop should be patron saint of abuse victims: Church
THE HAGUE, January 6, 2014 (AFP) – A Dutch Catholic bishop burned alive in 1937 by Japanese troops for protecting Chinese girls from rape may become the patron saint of sex abuse victims worldwide. Frans Wiertz, who is bishop of Roermond in the southeastern Netherlands, has sent a dossier to the Vatican requesting martyred bishop Frans Schraven be beatified, one step away from becoming a saint, the bishopric said on its website on Monday. Bishop Wiertz “suggests that he be considered as the patron saint of victims of sexual abuse”, it said. Dutch-born Schraven was killed in October 1937 in Zhengding, 160 miles (260 kilometers) south of Beijing, for not handing over Chinese girls the invading Japanese army wanted to turn into sex slaves also known as “comfort women”. The 200 girls were among around 5,000 people who had sought refuge at Schraven’s bishopric soon after the start of the the Sino-Japanese war. According to witness accounts, when Japanese troops came to ask for the girls, Schraven said: “You
can kill me if you want but you will never get what you ask for.” The soldiers returned hours later, handcuffed Schraven and eight other priests, doused them in petrol and burned them alive. “Fortunately there are people in the Church who chose the right side, who condemned abuse and who sacrificed their lives when it was necessary,” Wiertz wrote. “There have in recent years been many reports about abuse within the Church. It’s shameful to see that even the faithful can be guilty of such things,” he said. Tens of thousands of people were victims of sexual abuse at the hands of the Roman Catholic church in the Netherlands between 1945 and 2000, with an independent commission identifying 800 alleged perpetrators. Prolific sexual abuse by priests has shaken the Catholic church in recent years, including a string of paedophile scandals from Austria to the United States.
Electronic ‘mother’ watches over home LAS VEGAS, January 6, 2014 (AFP) – Resembling a Russian nesting doll, the pint-sized robotic device wants to be your “mother.” The electronic device with wireless connectivity can transform any object in the home into a smart one. It can detect unexpected activity at the front door, keep track of watering of plants, and even ensure family members take their medicine or brush their teeth. Designed by the French startup Sen.se, it is called simply “Mother.” “It’s a very simple system that allows you to transform any object in everyday life into a connected device,” said company founder Rafi Haladjian at a preview showing ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
The device uses specially designed “motion cookies,” which the company calls “magical sensors” that detect movement, temperature, patterns and more. The tiny cookies are attached to the devices the user wants to monitor. Some 16 centimeters (six inches) tall, Mother can be plugged into a home network and monitor up to 24 objects. “This is not science fiction, it’s not gesture-based control,” said Haladjian.”It’s normal everyday things like brushing your teeth or taking medicine. We have a cookie (sensor) inside which makes these more useful without learning new gestures or installing new applications.” Sen.se expects to ship Mother later this year, at a price of $222 with four cookies, and $99 for a set of four additional sensors.
Miss Tourism 2013/2014 visits PHL Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, joins Embassy’s first flag ceremony for 2014
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The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur’s first flag-raising ceremony for the year was made extra-special, as Miss Tourism International 2013/2014 Angeli Dione Gomez was present with Embassy officers and staff, and members of the Filipino community. Accompanying her is D’Touch International Liaison Director Irene Liong. The company is the organizer of the Miss Tourism International Pageant. After the flag ceremony, she paid a courtesy call on Embassy Charge d’Affaires, a.i. (CDA) Medardo Macaraig, had breakfast with Embassy officers and staff and met with members of the Filipino community at the consular area. Consular clients were also in for a treat as Ms. Gomez joined those manning the Embassy’s consular information area to give out passports ready for
release. During her courtesy call, the 20year old Cebuana thanked the Embassy and the Filipino community in Malaysia for their support during the pageant. “The support given to me by the Filipinos here in Malaysia is just so comforting and overwhelming. It was nice to see them during the pageant’s activities, cheering me on and giving me support. It was also nice to be able to visit the Embassy to thank everyone for the support and assistance given to me,” she said. Ms. Gomez was present during the Embassy’s Parol-Lighting ceremonies on 09 December 2013. “I was under a lot of pressure to bring the crown back to the Philippines, and I am very happy to be able to do just that. I am excited
to come home tomorrow and meet everyone,” she added. For his part, CDA Macaraig extended the Embassy’s congratulations to the Filipina beauty queen and wished her well on her reign. “Your victory is also our victory as you proved that the beauty, intelligence and grace of the Filipina is world-class. I was there during the coronation night, and I was told that you are among the favorites, and we are happy that through you, the Philippines achieved back-to-back victories during the event and is the winningest country in the pageant,” CDA Macaraig said. “We also hope that you will continue to show the best of the Filipino and the Philippines during your reign,” he added.
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UTREACH DMV reminds motorists of new 2014 laws
SACRAMENTO – With 2014 just around the corner, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is reminding motorists of some of the new laws that will become effective in the new year. The following laws go into effect on January 1, 2014, unless otherwise noted. The following laws go into effect on January 1, 2014, unless otherwise noted. Bicycles: Passing Distance. AB 1371 (Bradford), known as the Three Feet for Safety Act, will require a motor vehicle driver passing a bicycle that is proceeding in the same direction to pass with no less than 3 feet between any part of the vehicle and any part of the bicycle or driver. When three feet is not possible, the motor vehicle must slow to a reasonable and prudent speed and only pass when no danger is present to the bicyclist. Failing to do so can incur a fine, regardless of a collision or not. This law will take effect September 16, 2014. Clean Air Vehicle Decals / “HOV Stickers.” AB 266 (Yee) and SB 286 (Blumefield), together extend sunset dates for low emission, zero emission vehicles to operate in high occupancy vehicle lanes (HOV) without meeting occupancy requirements to January 1, 2019. Commercial Driver’s License. AB 1047 (Linder) will allow the DMV to conduct the commercial drive test for the holder of an out-of-state commercial learner’s permit. The department would electronically transfer the information to the motor vehicle department in the applicant’s state of residence. AB 1047 also modifies the license class definitions to require a driver operating a bus
weighing more than 26,000 pounds to hold a commercial Class B license and a driver operating a bus weighing 26,000 pounds or less to hold a commercial Class C license. DMV Vehicle Registration Pilot Program. SB 806 (Hueso) authorizes DMV to establish a pilot program to evaluate the use of alternatives to stickers, tabs, license plates, and registration cards, subject to certain requirements. It will also enable the DMV to experiment with electronic license plates, as well as facilitate DMV’s ability to explore cost-effective alternatives to California’s traditional metal license plate, plastic–coated registration stickers, and paper registration cards. Registration and Vehicle Transfers Between Family Members. AB 443 (Lowenthal) prohibits the transfer of ownership of a vehicle to a relative or a revocable living trust until all parking or toll-violation fines and penalties reported to the DMV are paid by the transferee. Teen Drivers. SB 194 (Galgiani) will prohibit a person who is under 18 years of age from using an electronic wireless communications device to write, send, or read a text–based communication while driving, even if it is equipped with a hands–free device. Veterans License Plates. AB 244 (Bonilla) Requires the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) to sponsor a veterans’ special interest license plate and requires the DMV to issue the veterans’ plate if CalVet meets the current statutory requirements. This law creates, in addition to the current Honoring Veterans de-
sign of the Veteran’s Organization Plate, a new program to reissue the Veteran design that was issued prior to January 1, 2010. These plates are available to all vehicle owners. The Department of Veterans Affairs must secure 7,500 pre–paid applications in order for the department to implement this plate program. Additionally, the Department of Motor Vehicles will begin the process of implementing AB 60 (Alejo) – the new law requiring DMV to issue a driver license to an applicant who is unable to submit satisfactory proof that he/she is legally present in the Unites States – by drafting new regulations and preparing field offices to process new applications. The new law becomes operative by January 1, 2015. The applicant will be required to meet all other driver license qualifications. For complete information on chaptered bills enacted in 2013, please refer to the Legislative Counsel website at www.LegInfo.ca.gov. Save Time, Go Online! Doing business with the DMV has never been easier. The DMV offers an array of services to customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through its Website including online advance appointments for written and drive tests; vehicle registration and driver license renewals, selection of personalized license plates, changes of address and payment of fees via secure debit transactions. Customers can also effect transactions by calling DMV customer service at (800) 777–0133. DMV is a department under the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA).
Alarming new data: Some hospitals set charges at more than 10 times their costs
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California hospitals on average third highest in U.S. With growing national attention to hospital pricing practices, new data released by the nation’s largest nurses organization today showed that hospital charges continue to skyrocket with some U.S. hospitals charging more than ten times their cost – nearly $1,200 for every $100 of their total costs. NNU and IHSP list the 100 most expensive hospitals, top 10 for each state, and the 50 most expensive hospital systems. For specifics, call 510-273-2246. Key findings include: 14 U.S. hospitals charge more than $1,000 for every $100 of their total costs (a charge to cost ratio of 1,000 percent) topped by Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center in Secaucus, NJ which has a charge to cost ratio of 1,192 percent. The 100 most expensive U.S. hospitals have a charge to cost ratio of 765 percent and higher – more than double the national average of 331 percent. California, with a statewide average of 451 percent charge to cost average – meaning all its hospitals average a charge of $451 for every $100 of costs – ranks third overall among U.S. states in high charges Despite enactment of the Affordable Care Act, hospital charges recorded their single biggest jump, a 22 percentile point increase
Consulate attends Commemoration of the 117th Martydom of Dr. Jose Rizal Los Angeles, 03 January 2013 – The City of Carson in cooperation with Dr. Jose S. Rizal Monument Movement (JPRMM) commemorated the 117th Martyrdom of Dr. Jose S. Rizal with a wreath laying ceremony on 29 December 2013 at the International Sculpture Garden, City of Carson, California. The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, led by Consul Marlowe Miranda, and the City Council of Carson, led by Mayor Jim Dear and Mayor Pro Tem Elito Santarina, laid their respective wreaths at the foot of the Rizal Monument. The event was participated in by leaders of the various Filipino-American associations in Southern California. The program included invocation by Ms. Naomi Armada, Founder and Executive Director of the Philippine Heritage Institute International (PHII) and welcome remarks by JPRMM Chairman Mr. Chito Mandap. Officials of the City of Carson, Mayor Jim Dear and Mayor Pro Tem Santarina, delivered brief messages recognizing the event the mainstreaming of Filipino culture in America. Mr. Santarina also read the complete text of City Resolution 13-121 which was recently passed by the Carson City Council, declaring 30 December of every year as Rizal Day in that city.
from fiscal year 2010-2011 to fiscal year 20112012 in the past 16 years for which the IHSP has analyzed the data. Six of the nine most expensive hospitals are part of two big chains, Community Health Systems, Inc. and Health Management Associates which are currently pursuing a controversial merger that critics charge would further drive up prices. For-profit hospitals continue to dominate the list of those with the highest charges. For-profit corporations average charges of 503 percent of their costs, or $503 for every $100 of total costs. By contrast, government-run hospitals, including federal, state, county, city, or district operated hospitals, with public budgets and boards that meet in public, exercise far more restraint than for-profit or nonprofit corporate chains. Average charge ratios for government-run hospitals are just 235 percent of their costs. Public oversight or regulation seems to help constrain excessive pricing. Maryland, probably the most regulated state in the U.S., has the lowest average charges of all the states among its 10 most expensive hospitals. The findings are based on publicly available Medicare Cost Reports as of June, 2013, covering the federal fis-
cal year that ended September 30, 2012. Top 10 Most Expensive Hospitals – California (by total charges as a percent of total costs) Olympia Medical Center, Los Angeles – 1034% Doctors Hospital of Manteca, Manteca – 967% Doctors Medical Center, Modesto – 957% Barstow Community Hospital, Barstow – 872% Monterey Park Hospital, Monterey Park – 860% Twin Cities Community Hospital, Templeton – 813% Lodi Memorial Hospital, Lodi – 811% Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, Mission Hills – 809% Regional Medical Center, San Jose – 804% Community and Mission Hospital of Huntington Park, Huntington Park – 783% “Such inflated practices continue to price far too many Americans out of access to needed medical care or expose them to financial ruin. It’s long past time to rein in the price gouging, and recognize that a healthcare system based on profiteering puts all of us at risk,” said Jean Ross, RN, co-president of National Nurses United, whose research arm, the Institute for Health and Socio-Economic Policy, conducted the research.
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are net borrowers and net lenders for the year. Institutions are categorized into four, namely financial corporations, non-financial corporations, the general government, and households. The household sector remained the top saver in the economy for the fifth consecutive year, accumulating P928.9 billion in savings. “This was partly brought about by the steady stream of overseas Filipinos’ remittances,” the BSP said. The non-financial corporations sector has generated savings of P713.4 billion due to the broadbased growth in savings across sub-sectors. The general government sector, meanwhile, registered the highest growth in savings at 33.5 percent to P252.2 billion due to savings of the national government, local government units (LGUs), and social security agencies (SSAs). The financial sector registered 17.5 percent growth in savings to P100.6 billion due to increased revenue generation of top private life insurance companies and the steady stream of income of the other depository corporations. “Real investment continues to expand as the national government infuses huge investments in infrastructure and other capital outlays,” the BSP said. Gross capital accumulation expanded by 7.7 percent to P1.691.9 trillion in 2012, with households accounting for 41.6 percent of the total. The non-financial corporation sector’s capital accumulation grew due mainly to business expansion, modernization and rehabilitation projects. Real investments of the financial sector fell by 19.5 percent to P31.2 billion on the back of sustained disposal of foreclosed properties by the banking sector. The slowdown in the sector’s capital accumulation was like-
wise reflected in the sharp drop in real investments of the monetary authority as purchases of nonmonetary gold in the BSP’s gold buying stations plunged by 91.6 percent year-on-year. Capital accumulation by the general government sector rose 27.4 percent to P318.4 billion in 2012 as the national government accelerated disbursements for infrastructure projects and capital outlays. Except for the general government, all other sectors were net lenders. The household sector continued to be a net lender, with loans receivables as the desired form of asset acquisition. The non-financial corporation sector maintained its net lending position, with fund provisioning activities largely reflected in the build-up of trade receivables, currency holdings and deposit placements. The financial sector’s net lending surged by 48.2 percent to P69.4 billion as the assets of rural and cooperative banks, other deposit-taking institutions, and the insurance sub-sector increased.
DSWD From page 1
ue when cooked and serve meets the nutritional requirement servings for children. The children beneficiaries who are 3-5 years are being weighed and undergoes measurement of height at the start of the feeding and three months thereafter as part of the monitoring of improvement on their height and weight. They are being feed for a period of 120 days. According to DSWD chief, other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) like Hapag Kainan, Kabalikat na Kalahi and others also conduct nutritional feeding program too as an augmentation to the department’s nutritional feeding program.(MNS)
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PA plans to build ‘Lego’ type homes for soldiers MANILA, Jan. 6 (PNA) – In a bid to provide more decent housing for its officers and enlisted personnel, the Philippine Army on Monday announced that it is looking at the possibility of constructing “Lego” type housing for its active duty personnel. Capt. Anthony Bacus, Army spokesperson, said this construction technology was initially adopted by Malaysia. Materials for this type of dwelling, which measures 52 square meters and features two bedrooms and two bathrooms, consist of styrofoam, fiberglass, steel bars and cement, Bacus added. The houses are designed to withstand the conventional setting of a tropical country like the
Philippines. Bacus said that PA’s housing project is called “Bahay ng Kawal Ko: A Housing Vision for the Philippine Army.” A prototype of this model house unit was blessed at the PA headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Monday morning. Adopted by Malaysia for its housing program for the urban poor, this unit can be constructed fast with a timetable of only 30 days, Bacus said. He added that the house can be constructed by even non-skilled laborers and with only a few teams of supervisors. Hence, expenses are minimized compared to that of the traditional building construction being done.
SUB ZERO From page 1
and stock up on food. “Cold temperatures and gusty winds associated with an arctic airmass will continue dangerously cold wind chills as far south as Brownsville, Texas [on the border with Mexico] and central Florida,” the National Weather Service said. “This arctic air mass will affect the eastern twothirds of the country on Monday as a sharp cold front moves towards the East Coast.” Exposed skin could suffer frostbite in as little as five minutes in such conditions, experts warn. The NWS described the weather as “life-threatening” and “the coldest temperatures in almost two decades.” Combined with wind gusts, the low temperatures in some areas “will result in life-threatening wind-chill values as low as 60 degrees (Fahrenheit) below zero,” it said. Authorities are warning people that they could face issues like cars that won’t start and flooded roads that quickly ice over caused by water pipes that freeze and burst. Thousands of flights out of major airports like Chicago O’Hare International and New York’s John F. Kennedy were delayed or canceled Sunday due to weather-related problems. A Delta passenger airplane skidded into a snowbank at JFK on Sunday. Nobody was hurt, but the plane had to be towed to its gate. At O’Hare, one of the country’s busiest airports, officials said that more than 1,300 flights were canceled. The states of Minnesota and North Dakota were expected to experience the worst weather. Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton announced
that schools will be closed Monday “to protect all our children from the dangerously cold temperatures.” In Wisconsin, Sunday’s National Football League playoff showdown between the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers at the openair Lambeau Field was one of the coldest NFL games in history. The Packers helped the more than 70,000 football fans at the stadium battle the freeze by handing out free coffee, hot chocolate and hand warmers. Despite fan support, the Packers lost the game to the San Francisco 49rs. In Indianapolis, Indiana, Mayor Greg Ballard urged residents to simply stay indoors. Freezing rain is forecast to hit the south and east, affecting the New England region, New York and Washington, with the extreme weather expected to continue into the early part of the week in many places. “The heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures have combined to create hazardous conditions in many areas of the state,” said Michigan Governor Rick Snyder. “Residents should heed advisories and stay off the roads if at all possible.” Illinois Governor Pat Quinn described the storm as “one for the record books, and we want to make sure everyone stays safe and warm until it passes.” The southern city of Atlanta will likely experience record low temperatures, while in normally balmy Florida, the NWS issued a hard freeze warning for much of the northern part of the state. The NWS said that across the country “the cold temperatures will remain in place through midweek before a warming trend begins.”
DEP ED From page 1
tayin natin ang magiging resulta ng kanilang pagaaral (We will wait for the results of their studies),” she added. She said the DepEd and the CHED are separately studying the matter since moving the opening of classes may have different effects on students up to high school and on college students. The DepEd has jurisdiction over schools up to
the high school level while CHED has jurisdiction over colleges and universities. “Iba ang sitwasyon ng grade school, ang high school, iba ang sitwasyon ng college. Separate ang pagaaral na ginagawa ng dalawang institution (The situation may be different for those in grade and high school and for those in college, so the matter is studied separately by the two agencies),” Valte said.(MNS)
VORTEX From page 1
and deadly freezing conditions since the start of the year, and the extreme cold has claimed about a dozen lives nationwide. “The coldest weather in years will be making its presence known from the Upper Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic region for the beginning of the work week,” the National Weather Service said. Wind chill warnings were in effect from Montana as far south as Tennessee and Alabama, with temperatures
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feeling as cold as -50 degrees Fahrenheit, it said, describing the conditions as “life-threatening.” On the East Coast, a brief lull in the deep freeze greeted commuters on Monday, but temperatures were expected to drop by 40 degrees overnight. In Milwaukee, on the shores of Lake Michigan, officials warned residents to stay indoors and urged schools to shut down. “Police are reaching out to homeless citizens in order to help them find the nearest shelter,” city spokeswoman Sarah DeRoo told AFP. All schools were closed in Minnesota. In Cook County in Illinois, which includes Chicago, warming centers were opened for anyone suffering, including those whose home heating did not work. “This winter storm will be one for the record books, and we want to make sure everyone stays safe and warm until it passes,” Illinois state governor Pat Quinn said. Exposed skin could suffer frostbite in as little as five minutes in such conditions, experts warn. More than 3,000 flights within, into or out of the United States were canceled on Monday, according to industry tracker FlightAware, including nearly 800 at Chicago O’Hare International, one of the country’s busiest airports. Hundreds more flights were canceled or delayed from other major hubs like New York’s John F. Kennedy or Newark International. A Delta passenger airplane skidded into a snow bank at JFK on Sunday. Nobody was hurt, but the plane had to be towed to its gate. In Wisconsin, Sunday’s National Football League playoff showdown between the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers at the open-air Lambeau Field was one of the coldest NFL games in history. The Packers helped the more than 70,000 football fans at the stadium battle the freeze by handing out free coffee, hot chocolate and hand warmers. Green Bay lost to San Francisco, 23-20. In Indianapolis, Mayor Greg Ballard urged residents to simply stay indoors. Freezing rain is forecast to hit the south and east, while the New England region and New York could see more snow. The southern city of Atlanta will likely experience record low temperatures, while in normally balmy Florida, the National Weather Service issued a hard freeze warning in the northern part of the state. The extreme cold disrupted flights and classes in Canada as well. In the Atlantic island province of Newfoundland, more than 30,000 people were without power. Nationwide, officials warned of “treacherous” travel conditions. Meteorologists said that a warming trend would mercifully begin at mid-week. Deaths blamed on the frigid weather include a worker crushed by a 100-foot (30-meter) pile of salt being prepared to treat roads in the Philadelphia area on Friday, and a 71-year-old woman suffering from Alzheimer’s disease who froze to death after getting lost in New York state, officials said.
ECONOMY From page 1
balance of payments in surplus, according to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. With the US economy seemingly on the road to recovery, FMIC said exports will improved by 6 to 10 percent, and imports will manage to expand by 8 to 12 percent. (MNS)
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January’s diet craze: Intermittent fasting (Relaxnews) – For all those January dieters hoping to shed the holiday bulk, intermittent fasting, also known as IF, is all the rage. The trend was sparked with the 5:2 diet, based on a book called “The Fast Diet” by journalists Dr. Michael Mosley and Mimi Spencer. The diet involves intermittent fasting throughout the week to shed stubborn bulge. You fast for two days of the week, but not completely – you eat one-fourth of your typical daily calories, roughly 500 calories for women, 600 calories for men – and eat what you desire the remaining five days. The rewards for your efforts are incredible weight loss and a reduced appetite, according to the diet’s proponents. Other perks, they say, include living longer, looking younger, and even warding off dementia. But now new diets have hit the scene, including the 4:3 diet, created by Dr. Krista Varady, who penned the diet book “Every Other Day,” which involves fasting on alternate days. According to The Independent in the UK, the British Nutrition Foundation is hosting a symposium on intermittent fasting this week, noting that
men seem particularly keen on trying the diets. Researchers from the University of Southern California are also studying how IT diets could affect weight and blood pressure. A separate 2011 study, published in the International Journal of Obesity, compared IF diets against daily calorie restriction, with overweight women cutting their caloric intake by 20 percent, the Los Angeles Times reports. One group reduced their calories every day, while a second group cut their calories by 75 percent on two consecutive day a week, but ate normally on the other five days. After six months, both groups lost the same amount of weight, about 13 pounds, or nearly six kilos. Some nutritionists are taking issues with the concept of fasting for a few days a week. For one, fasting can cause you to become overly focused on food, and then prompt overeating on your free-eating days, Heather Mangieri, a nutrition consultant and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, told LiveScience. Plus people may opt for unhealthy foods on their non-fasting days, which could “potentially lead to nutrient deficiencies and poor eating habits,” she said.
Intermittent fasting is rapidly becoming one of the hottest diet trends. ©Gts /shutterstock.com
Slow down: a new US study finds that eating slower may help you cut calories and feel fuller longer. ©Yuri Arcurs/shutterstock.com
Eating slower may help trim your waistline: study (Relaxnews) – One way to eat less is to simply slow down, a new US study suggests. Eating your meals more slowly may help you consume fewer calories while also feeling fuller longer afterwards. Published online January 2 in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the research looked at two groups of 30 people – one group of people were at a normal weight while the second group were overweight or obese. In the study, both groups were given the same meal and told to eat it as if they had plenty of time, taking small bites and chewing well. On a separate occasion, they were given the same meal but told to eat it as if they were short on time, to take larger bites and swallow quickly. At both occasions, participants were told to eat as much
of the given meal as they wanted. The Texas Christian University researchers found that both groups ate less food and fewer calories when they slowed down, although the normal weight group ate fewer calories, around 88 fewer calories compared to 57 fewer calories for the overweight group. Both groups also reported feeling fuller for longer after eating slowly and were less tempted to snack an hour after eating. While the study was small, WebMD reports that “there are some useful messages here for anyone struggling to keep to a healthy weight.” They add: “It can be hard to find time to eat properly during a busy day, but snatching a sandwich and eating it quickly at your desk may not be the best way to keep your weight under control.”
General Mills pledges GMO-free Cheerios (WASHINGTON-AFP) – Cheerios will be made without any genetically modified ingredients in the United States, producer General Mills announced, answering growing consumer concerns about
General Mills has always made Cheerios in Europe without any GMO content, amid tighter regulations and greater consumer opposition to GMO foods there. ©Eduardo Rocha/shutterstock.com.
the issue. The popular breakfast cereal is already made in Europe without GMO (genetically modified organism) content, and the company said late Thursday that Original Cheerios had only contained a small bit of cornstarch from GMO corn. But that is being eliminated “because we think consumers may embrace it,” General Mills spokesman Tom Forsythe said in a statement. “Original Cheerios has always been with whole grain oats, and there are no GMO oats,” he said. “We do use a small amount of cornstarch in cooking, and just one gram of sugar per serving for taste. And now, that cornstarch comes only from non-GM corn, and our sugar is only non-GM pure cane sugar.” He said that from this week the Original Cheerios box will state “not made with genetically modified ingredients”.
Screenshot: “Girls Night In - Black Detox Facial (How To).” © 2014 YouTube, LLC
Beauty tutorials: Detox facials (Relaxnews) –Start the New Year with some fun ways to rev up your beauty regime. Black Detox Facial- http://youtu.be/ r1cytT5aZYw Blogger Rachel starts by using an organic charcoal cleanser before exfoliating her skin with a scrub, but you can also use a glycolic peel. She then uses a facial steamer, with green tea added to the water to open up her pores, before applying a black mask or mud mask for at least 20 minutes. You can then use pore strips over your nose to help cleanse further. Moisturize your The company has always made Cheerios in Europe without any GMO content, amid tighter regulations and greater consumer opposition to GMO foods there. General Mills insisted that GMO foods are safe, with genetically modified seeds widely approved by health authorities. It said its other cereal brands, which include Wheaties, Trix, Kix, Chex and Lucky Charms, will continue to include GMO content. “The widespread use of GM seed in crops such as corn, soy, or beet sugar would make reliably moving to non-GM ingredients difficult, if not impossible,” the company said. Its “organic”-labeled cereals do not have GM content, it added.
skin and give it a bit of pampering with a massage to finish. DIY Face Mask - http://youtu.be/ FAn5lFqUHqg Tiffany Darlyn has this reviving allnatural honey and lemon face mask, which could be just the thing for holiday exhausted skin. Make sure you pull your hair away from the sticky mixture, then mix the juice of half a lemon and two tablespoons of honey. Open up your pores with a hot wash cloth and apply the mask with a brush or with your fingers, but avoid the eye area. Wait 20 minutes before washing
off the mask. Facial Detox Massage - http://youtu.be/dBd1gQeMkC0 Why not try this facial massage technique using a big Chinese spoon? Wengie starts by applying massage oil to your face, although those with acne prone skin should use a gel. She advises you don’t do more than 10 minutes at a time, and remember to keep the pressure firm but not so hard that it hurts. Using a variety of upward strokes and employing different parts of the spoon, Wengie shows you how to give your face a real treat and firm up your skin.
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MOTORING Android cars coming in 2014
Driverless cars are likely to become the norm by the mid-21st century, according to a forecast from IHS Automotive. ©djgis/shutterstock.com
Autonomous cars to become the norm by 2050 (Relaxnews) – According to a new forecast from IHS Automotive, the world’s roads will be driven almost exclusively by entirely self-driving vehicles – including both privately owned cars and professional fleets – by the year 2050. The American research firm expects to see 54 million self-driving cars on the roads by 2035. IHS predicts that annual sales of autonomous vehicles will reach 230,000 by 2025 and increase exponentially over the following years, hitting 12 million a decade later. Of these 12 million vehicles, 5 million are expected to be entirely self-driving models, while the remaining 7 million will still require some level of human control. The North American market is slated to lead the autonomous vehicle market in 2035, accounting for 29% of worldwide sales, followed by China (24%) and Western Europe (20%). According to Egil Juliussen, one of the analysts behind the report, one of the most notable effects of the spread of autonomous cars will be an improvement in road safety, as “accident rates will plunge to near zero for self-driving cars.” Juliussen also predicts a decrease in traffic congestion and pollution
per car, as autonomous cars “can be programmed to be more efficient in their driving patterns.” The price markup for self-driving technology, IHS estimates, will initially stand at around $7,000 to $10,000 per vehicle, before dropping to around $1,000 on entry-level models by 2030. The car of the future Ford recently developed an entirely autonomous park assist feature that allows drivers to park the car simply by pressing a button, whether from within the car or outside of it (using a remote control). The American manufacturer is not the only brand actively developing its autonomous car technologies. Volvo will soon launch a pilot project in which 100 autonomous cars will be tested on public roads around the city of Gothenburg, Sweden. Nissan equipped a version of its all-electric car, the Leaf, with automatic driving technologies enabling it to legally travel along Japanese roads without a driver. Google, meanwhile, has been testing its driverless cars in California and Nevada for some time now. The first serially produced self-driving cars are expected to hit the market in 2020.
(Relaxnews) – Google has joined way of accessing the features is forces with Audi, GM, Honda, intuitive and doesn’t require car Hyundai plus chipmaker Nvidia owners to dig out the user manual to form Open Automotive Alliance every time they want to accept or (OAA), which aims to bring the decline a call or pull up a map. Android smartphone operating “Millions of people are already system and its apps to car dash- familiar with Android and use it boards. every day,” said Sundar Pichai, By adopting Android, car com- SVP of Android, Chrome & Apps panies will find it easier to bring at Google. “The expansion of the new connected car innovations to Android platform into automotive their customers and, because it is will allow our industry partners to already the world’s most popular more easily integrate mobile techsmartphone and tablet operating nology into cars and offer drivers system, they will be able to do so in a way that is easy to use and to understand. “The worlds of consumer and automotive technologies have never been more closely aligned, and this alliance will only pave the way for faster innovation,” said Ricky Hudi, Head of Electrics/Electronics Development at Adopting Android will make it easier for car comAUDI AG. “Working to- panies to offer navigation, messaging and other ward a common ecosystems features while increasing driver safety. ©Kzenon/ shutterstock.com benefits driver safety above all.” Driver safety is a huge and a familiar, seamless experience so growing issue, especially where they can focus on the road.” As well as core smartphone electronic devices are concerned. A Virginia Tech study published functions, by creating an automoon January 1 highlights that the tive version of Android, app deaverage US driver is distracted velopers will also be able to build by other activities 10 percent of versions of their apps that are the time that they are behind the suitable for in-car use, whether wheel. And, that of those distrac- for navigation, scheduling or even tions, the cell phone is the one social networking. “Through the OAA, our custhat causes the greatest risk to safety. The study, which used vid- tomers using Android devices eo footage from cameras installed will soon be able to enjoy the inside 150 cars, found that even continuous user experience in experienced drivers were more their Hyundai and Kia vehicles,” than twice as likely to crash or said Dr. Woong-Chul Yang, Vice have a close call when dialing a Chairman of R&D, Hyundai Motor Group. “By introducing the cell phone Experienced adults were more latest IT technologies safely and than twice as likely to crash or securely throughout our full nearly crash when dialing a cell range of vehicles, we continually phone as when they did not dial strive to provide the highest levand drive, but did not have an els of convenience and enhance increased risk while engaging in the in-vehicle experience.” The first cars with integratother tasks secondary to driving, while novice drivers were four ed Android will be hitting the times more likely to crash or near- streets later this year. The OAA ly crash while texting. hopes that Android’s open-source If a phone’s functions are inte- nature and its scalability, plus grated into a vehicle and can be the wealth of developers already accessed via voice commands or a building apps for it will attract touch screen, many of these risks more car companies to sign up to will be mitigated, especially if the the alliance.
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NOVENA of CONFIDENCE O Lord, Jesus Christ, to Your Most Sacred Heart I con¿de this intention. (Here, mention your request).Only look upon me, then do what Your Heart decides....I count on You...I trust in You...I throw myself at Your mercy...Lord Jesus! You will not fail me. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I believe in Your love for me. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I have asked for many favors, but I earnestly implore this one. Take it, place it in Your Sacred Heart. When the Eternal Father sees it covered with Your Precious Blood, He will not refuse it. It will be no longer my prayer but Yours, O Jesus. O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in You. Let me never be confounded. Amen. – JOANNE
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KC Concepcion hospitalized Actress KC Concepcion spent the first day of 2014 in the hospital, where she was confined for four days due to pneumonia. Concepcion, who had been busy promoting the action film “Boy Golden: The Arturo Porcuna Story, took to Instagram to share photos of her inside her hospital room. One photo shows her with her siblings, Frankie, Miel, and Miguel, whose visit she credited for making her feel better. “Four days at the hospital for pneumonia... Not fun, but another visit from my
[siblings] made it all good.” “Not the perfect way to start the new year, but a great reminder to work hard, though not too hard,” Concepcion said in another photo’s caption. “Let’s take care and really listen to our bodies! Health is beauty!” On Saturday, the actress posted on her Twitter page that although she has recovered from pneumonia, “I am not allowed to work for one whole week.”(MNS)
Daiana Menezes opens up on breast augmentation
KC Concepcion
Sharon Cuneta has had enough, leaves Twitter Sharon Cuneta has had enough of the “obscene, painful words” she has been receiving on Twitter, saying she has decided to leave the micro-blogging site. Early this week, the 47-year-old actress posted a series of tweets directed at those “hiding behind anonymity, enjoying a very false sense of power” and asked her followers to understand her decision to take a break. “I know you’ll understand if I do not use Twitter for some time and just go back to living my happy life with those who truly love me and who deserve my love,” she said. Cuneta noted her achievements in showbiz, saying she doesn’t deserve the kind of ridicule she gets from some netizens. “How easily people forget that I once maybe made them, or their mom, or someone they love, happy. The awards, the box-office queen trophies, the top-rating shows and #1 singles and albums. How easily they forget. “I hope they remember more than any contribution I have made to my beloved industry the way I lived my life, raised my daughter with only the help of my parents and friends, how good of
Sharon Cuneta
a daughter I have been. And how much I loved my public. Maybe they’ll even remember how very much they loved me,” she said. Cuneta has already taken a break from Twitter last September, citing the need to rest from all the “meanness of people, the intrigues and questions.” The earlier decision came after Cuneta drew flak for congratulating Megan Young for becoming the first Filipino to be crowned Miss World, while stressing that, at least for her, actress Ruffa Gutierrez has “already won the crown.” (MNS)
Brazilian model Daiana Menezes did not think twice when asked if she indeed had breast augmentation. Menezes said she is not ashamed of undergoing the procedure since she only wanted to improve a part of herself. “I think every woman deserves to feel sexy and also enhance themselves. I think putting something that will make you look more curvaceous in any part of your body, if you love it, there’s nothing wrong about it,” she said. Adding there’s also no point in hiding it, Menezes said: “We don’t need to be hypocrite about what we really like. There’s no such thing as hiya as you would call it in Tagalog. In the first place, you are not changing who you are. You are just making yourself more beautiful.” For Menezes, the size of her breasts had been a source of insecurity, especially when she does photo shoots or love scenes in her projects. “For example, you have a movie or a bed scene, sometimes you have a love scene, you can’t make tago that you don’t have big breasts. I wanted it to be the largest possible that it would still look natural,” she said. Prior to the procedure, Menezes admitted that she resorted to using padding just to make her breasts look bigger. “I used padding all the time. Nobody knows that there’s the kind of daya like padding or pushup bras. I used to spend too much, going abroad buying those pads,” she explained. Asked for her advice to women who intend to undergo any form of cosmetic surgery, the FHM babe said: “Just be true to yourself if you really feel like doing it. Just try to think over that it’s just an enhancement. You are not changing who you are. You are just changing a little part of your body that you are not confident about.” (MNS)
Daiana Menezes
Kris Aquino leaving ABS-CBN?
Kris Aquino said she is praying for “guidance and wisdom” amid reports saying the TV host has been offered to leave ABS-CBN supposedly to hold a key position at a rival network. The 42-yearold actress, who is currently in London for a vacation with her sons Joshua and Bimby, addressed her supporters in an Instagram post about a decision she said she has to “reflect on very carefully.” “Please know that whatever decision I make, apart from considering what will be most beneficial for my two sons, it’s very important to me to consider what you, my audience, wants,” she said in the accompanying caption of an image of Jesus. The post, which had over 11,700 likes as of writing, drew over 680 comments from her followers. Some expressed their support for Aquino regardless of her decision, while others mentioned her supposed transfer to another network and urged her to stay with ABSCBN. Early this week, conflicting reports about the supposed transfer surfaced, with one saying Aquino is set to join GMA-7 and the other, citing a source, alleging the actress-host is “90% sure” about leaving her home network for TV5. A subsequent report similarly cited a source identified only as a “top-level executive.”
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Filipino films make waves in Palm Springs International Film Festival By Fe P. Koons
Palm Springs, CA – Three very moving Filipino films attracted audiences in the Palm Springs International Film Festival last weekend Jan. 3-5 at the Regal Cinema. Iloilo which garnered the Cannes D’Oro award for first time filmmakers at the Cannes packed the theater. Anthony Chen, director of the film revealed how glad he is in showing the film. Chen confessed that the film is really about how families in Singapore and in Asia tried to survive the hard economic times. He revealed that the real maid from Iloilo who took care of him was present in the screening of the film in Singapore. Angeli Panganiban who played the nanny Terry acted very well in her cool, calm manner. She also showed a natural way of bonding with the little boy she is taking care and still maintaining a relationship with the biological Singaporean who has nasty attitude against her. Iloilo showcases the experience of an overseas worker who deals with loving a child not her own and inculcating in him the important values of love and family. Metro Manila is more of an exciting film which focuses on the intertwining lives of two armored car security guys. Lead actor Jake Macapagal (Oscar Ramirez) pointed out that the film exposes the poverty in the countryside. “There is really no method acting to speak of. I just go out in the streets and I will live like Oscar who comes to Metro Manila an experience the reality of trying to find food for his family,” Macapagal said. Screenwriter Frank Flowers disclosed that he is from Cayman Islands and that there is a big Filipino
community in the island. “I know how it is to see poverty outside of these borders. The story is a universal theme of survival. Sean, our film director came to Manila. He was attracted to two armored car men. He had the idea to write about them,” Flowers explained. Metro Manila is the official entry of U.K. to the Oscars foreign language. It also won the audience award at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. At Theater 3, Paul Soriano and Hannah Espia tell the story behind the filming of Transit . Hannah Espia makes it known that the story centers on laws affecting some of the 40,000 Filipinos currently living and working in Israel. The four year old son of Moises (Ping Medina) gets deported to Manila after he was found by the Israeli police. Irma Adlawan who played as Janet the grandmother of the young boy is an outstanding actress in the film. Transit focuses on the lives of displaced people those seeking asylum or foreign workers who chose to live in a foreign land for better wages. Espia who graduated from the UP Film Center revealed that her parents own a travel agency. “I was in a flight from Tel Aviv to Manila. I saw this baby who kept crying. The mother said that they are being deported to Manila. So I decided to write about this issue. Paul Soriano added that when the film was shown in Israel, the ambassador said that the movie showed the universal theme of love. Espia said that this law in Israel needs to be re-looked at because of it is not a fair law. The film distribution of Transit is handled by Electric Entertainment headed by Fil-Am producer Dean Devlin. The Palm Springs International Film Festival ends on January 13.
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