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Wednesday - Tuesday, February 20-26, 2013

Followers won’t leave Borneo: Filipino sultan MANILA, Feb 18, 2013 (AFP) – Followers of a Philippine sultan who crossed to the Malaysian state of Sabah this month will not leave and are reclaiming the area as their ancestral territory, the sultan said Sunday amid a tense standoff.

Sultan Jamalul Kiram said his followers – some 400 people including 20 gunmen – were resolute in staying despite being cornered by security forces, with the Kuala Lumpur government insisting the group return to the Philippines.

“Why should we leave our own home? In fact they (the Malaysians) are paying rent (to us),” he told reporters in Manila.

“Our followers will stay in (the Sabah town of ) Lahad Datu. Nobody will be sent to the Philippines.

Sabah is our home,” he said.

The sultan did not directly threaten violence but said “there will be no turning back for us”.

Malaysian officials have said that many of the group have weapons, but Kiram insisted his followers

made the trip unarmed.

“If they have arms, they were already in Sabah,” the sultan said.

The southern Philippine-based Islamic sultanate once controlled parts of Borneo, including the site of the stand-off, and its heirs have been receiving a nominal yearly compensation package from Malaysia under a long-standing agreement for possession of Sabah.

Kiram said he was prompted to send the group to Sabah after the sultanate was left out of a framework agreement sealed in October between Manila and Filipino Muslim rebels, which paves the way for an autonomous area in the southern Philippines that is home to the Muslim minority of the largelyChristian nation.

The sultanate’s spokesman, Abraham Idjirani, later said the sultan’s brother Raja Muda Abimuddin Kiram, who led the group to Sabah, had told him via telephone that the party was preparing to stay.

See FOLLOWERS WONT, page 6

Newly recruited female marines jump off on a motorboat during a drill inside the marine headquarters in the town of Ternate, Cavite city, south of Manila February 5, 2013. There are an estimated 350 women combatants in the 10,000-member Philippine marines who go through the same rigid physical and mental training as their men counterparts. Since 2006, female marine officers of the Marine Corps have been performing in the field of assault armor, field artillery, airborne and other combat duties, a marine officer said. (MNS photo)

Filipinos involved in Sabah Aquino assures establishment row to be deported - Palace of more heart centers MANILA, Feb 18 (Mabuhay) – Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Filipinos who entered Sabah last week will be deported.

In a press conference, Valte denied rumors that President Benigno Aquino III met with Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram today nor has the Palace sent any emissary to set up a meeting between the two leaders.

Valte refused to give any further comment about the Sabah incident, given its sensitive nature.

“The incident is very sensitive and, as such, we are withholding comment and deferring to the DFA

just to apprise the public on any developments that they may deem appropriate,” she said.

She said it is only important to note that the Filipinos there are safe.

A group of at least 200 Filipinos, some of whom are armed, landed by boat near the Borneo town of Lahad Datu in Malaysia’s Sabah state on Tuesday.

The Filipinos, claiming to be followers and guards of the Sultanate of Sulu, is currently in a standoff with Malaysian forces.

Malacañang, over the weekend,

MANILA, Feb 16 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno S. Aquino III assured that more heart centers will be established in various provinces in the country in fulfillment of his administration’s goal of securing the people’s health and welfare.

In his speech during the 38th anniversary of the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) on East Avenue, Quezon City on Friday, the Chief Executive said that the government is allocating funds for the establishment of heart centers in a bid to provide better health treatment for the people suffering from heart ill-

See FILIPINOS IN SABAH, page 6

See HEART CENTERS, page 6

Tagle: I don’t know much about choosing the next Pope

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle while celebrating mass during Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, at the Roman Catholic Archbishop chapel in Manila, February 13, 2013. Tagle, 55, who became a cardinal in November 2012, is among those mentioned as possible successors of Pope Benedict XVI, who surprised the world on Monday when he announced his resignation due at the end of the month.

(MNS photo)

MANILA, Feb 18 (Mabuhay) – Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle admitted that as a newbie cardinal, he still does not know much about the process of selecting a new pope.

“Inaamin ko po, hindi ko pa alam kung anong gagawin, kung paano boboto,” he said, adding that this function is something that he is still studying and contemplating much about.

Asked by the media about his preparations for the upcoming conclave, he said all he is doing for now is to pray.

He said he does not even know See NEXT POPE, page 6

China warns new pope not to interfere in its internal affairs BEIJING, Feb 18, 2013 (AFP) – Beijing on Monday called for Pope Benedict XVI’s successor not to interfere in China’s internal affairs, highlighting enduring tensions with the Vatican after the pontiff’s surprise resignation.

Asked about the pope’s decision to step down, which stunned the world when it was announced last Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said the Vatican “should not interfere in China’s

internal affairs”.

The phrase is often a reference to perceived challenges to the authority of the ruling Communist Party, and China and the Vatican have clashed over issues including the ordination of priests and who should be the final arbiter of church affairs.

Hong said he hoped the next pope would “create conditions for the improvement of bilateral relaSee CHINA WARNS POPE, page 6

Aquino signs amended Anti-Money Laundering Law MANILA, Feb 16 (Mabuhay) -- President Benigno S. Aquino III signed Friday Republic Act 10365 or the law called “An Act Further Strengthening the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001” giving more teeth to the existing laws against money laundering.

Deputy Presidential spokesper-

See MOTORING 1

son Abigail Valte said in an interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday that the amended law is the third component of the government’s action plans that it has committed to the Finance Action Task Force (FATF).

The new law revises and expands See ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING, page 7

Pinays, other dancers in Rome protest violence against women Roger Cardinal Mahony at 2006 Religious Education Congress in Anaheim, California. Author: R. Stephenson-Padron.

Source: Kodak Digital Camera.

Petition filed to bar Mahony from conclave

ROME, Feb 14, 2013 (AFP) Hundreds of women danced on the Spanish Steps and near the Colosseum in Rome on Thursday as part of the world-wide One Billion Rising Campaign for women’s rights.

“It’s moving to see women dancing, fighting and above all sharing

a positive energy against violence,” said Tiziana Fornari as she danced to African beats in the shadow of the Colosseum.

In Italy in 2012, 111 women were killed – most of them at the hands of their husbands or boyfriends.

See PROTEST VIOLENCE,, page 7

National Book Store pulls out Chinese-made globes

WASHINGTON, Feb 18, 2013 (AFP) – An association of US Catholics has launched a petition to Globes show Beijing ‘claiming’ most of South China Sea keep a retired Los Angeles cardinal mired in a pedophilia scandal from MANILA, Feb 14, 2013 (AFP) tional Bookstore up until Wednestaking part in the conclave that will – The Philippines’ largest bookstore day, foreign office spokesman Raul choose the next pope. chain has withdrawn Chinese- Hernandez said in a statement.

The group, Catholics United, is made globes showing Beijing’s “The National Bookstore has targeting Roger Mahony, who last claims to most of the South China withdrawn all the educational month was relieved of all church Sea from its shelves, a government globes, which reflect China’s nineadministrative and public duties for spokesman said Thursday. dash line encompassing the South See BAR MAHONY, page 6 See NATIONAL BOOK STORE, page 7 The globes were sold by the Na-

MOTORING Baby-boom Easy Riders most at risk from accidents

President Benigno S. Aquino III tours the facilities of the expanded Philippine Heart Center (PHC) Operating Room Complex during the hospital’s 38th anniversary at East Avenue, Quezon City on Friday (February 15). With the theme: “Hawak Kamay para sa Kalusugan”. PHC is a leader in upholding the highest standards of cardiovascular care, a self-reliant institution responsive to the health needs of the Filipino people.

(MNS photo)

ENTERT

Where to get fit in Los Angeles See WELL BEING 2

INMENT

TV5 programs cited for changing people’s lives See ENTERTAINMENT 4

2

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Maceda urges PHL to actively pursue Sabah claim MANILA, Feb 18 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang would not comment whether it will actively pursue the Philippines’ claim over Sabah amid a continuing standoff between Malaysian forces and a group of Filipinos

claiming to be followers and guards of the Sultanate of Sulu.

Former Senate President and Ambassador to the United States Ernesto Maceda, however, urged the government to once and for all be active

on the matter. He said the claim should already be brought to the United Nations.

“It has been neglected and sleeping for a long time,” Maceda said. “It’s time to act to regain what is rightfully ours.”

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte would also not say whether an emissary from Malacanang would be sent to help in pacifying the situation.

“At this point, we will defer comment…The [Department of Foreign Affairs] will give us updates on Sabah, if they deem it necessary],” she said.

The group of at least 200 Filipinos landed by boat

near the Borneo town of Lahad Datu in Malaysia’s Sabah state on Tuesday.

Malacanang already called for a peaceful resolution to the standoff. “The primary concern now is their safety and to resolve the incident peacefully,” Valte said on Saturday.

“The people of the Sultanate of Sulu have a legitimate claim to Sabah considering that the British and Malaysian governments used to pay rentals for Sabah to the Sultan of Sulu,” Maceda explained. “Renewed government effort is the only way to stop the followers of the Sultan of Sulu from taking up arms and invading Sabah to press their claim.” (MNS)

Defense chief: Renewed claim over Sabah not sanctioned by PHL govt Special Envoy of the Amir of the State of Kuwait, the Advisor at the Amiri Diwan Dr. Yousef Al-Ebraheem signs in the Palace Guest Book upon arrival at the Reception Hall of the Malacañan Palace for the courtesy call on Monday (February 18). The State of Kuwait counts among the Philippines’ leading investment and development partners in the Middle East. Kuwaiti investments in the Philippines include the Gateway Logistics City, a 177-hectare aviation-oriented logistics and business center located in Clark Freeport, Pampanga.

Kuwait is also host to around 130,000 OFWs working in the country. (MNS photo)

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MANILA, Feb 16 (Mabuhay) – Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin on Friday said the renewed claim over Sabah island in Malaysia by a group of Filipinos from the Kiram clan in Mindanao was not sanctioned by the Philippine government.

In an interviewed in Baguio City, Gazmin said, “We made it very clear to the Malaysian authorities, especially to chief of defense forces, particularly to chief of defense force Gen. Zulkipli (Tan Sri Zulkifli Zainal Abidin), this is not sanctioned and without the blessing of the government..What they merely want is to live in Sabah.”

Gazmin also clarified that the Filipinos were not detained but restricted in some area “so they can be isolated from the Filipinos who are permanent residents of Sabah.”

“Right now, we can’t say anything about that because the Malaysia authorities are talking with the supposed claimants…We will know after the outcome of these talks.”

Gazmin said the Filipinos, around 180, labeled themselves as the Royal Sultanate Army and claimed to be the security personnel of the Kiram family which has been laying the claim over Sabah for many years.

In the 1960s, the Philippine government laid its

claim over Sabah based on historical and legal data, but later suspended it.

Did not want violence Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista said the Filipinos who figured in the Sabah incident “did not go there to initiate any violence.”

“They went there to discuss with the Malaysians the issue of Sabah,” added Bautista.

He also reiterated the statement of Gazmin. “As what (Secretary Gazmin said), that (action) has no sanction of the government,” Bautista said.

Bautista said the Kiram clan “does not want violence and they agreed to discuss the matter peacefully with the Malaysian authorities. They are in Sabah, they will resolve the issue there peacefully.

They agreed to talk to each other and they will return to the Philippines in due time.”

Bautista said Malaysian authorities have asked the Philippine government to conduct patrols in the borders to prevent a complication of the incident.

“Ours is to help them contain the situation. They requested us to patrol our borders as they will also patrol their side of the borders to prevent illegal entrance, so that it will not further complicate the situation. They are going to address peacefully the situation there,” he said. (MNS)

6.2 quake triggers panic Mindanao MANILA, Feb 16, 2013 (AFP) – A powerful 6.2-magnitude earthquake rocked the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on Saturday triggering panic, but there were no immediate reports of any damage or casualties.

The quake struck at 12:37 pm (0437 GMT), off the coast, about 30 kilometres (19 miles) northeast of the town of Sarangani, said the government seismology institute.

Residents said people rushed out of buildings in panic after the quake sent lighting fix-

tures swaying.

The government institute said it did not expect any damage or casualties and there was no risk of a tsunami.

The Philippines sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire – a belt around the Pacific Ocean dotted by active volcanoes and tectonic trenches.

A 7.6-magnitude quake hit the country’s east coast in August last year, triggering a tsunami alert that forced tens of thousands to flee their homes and causing a landslide that killed one person.

One dead, 14 missing as ship sinks off Bolinao MANILA, Feb 17, 2013 (AFP) – One person died and 14 others are missing after a Myanmar-flagged cargo ship sank in waters off the northern Philippines, a coast guard spokesman said Sunday.

The search is still going on for the 14 missing Myanmar nationals after their ship, the MV Arita Bauxite, went down before dawn Sunday near the coastal Philippine town of Bolinao, said Lieutenant Commander Armand Balilo.

The ship, carrying 24 crew, sank after developing engine trouble, although what caused it to take on water is still unclear, said Balilo.

Nine surviving crewmen and the fatality were picked up by a passing Chinese vessel, he said. “The weather was clear at the time. We have yet to ask the crew members what happened,” he added.

A coast guard helicopter and a vessel have been dispatched to the area to hunt for the missing, he said.

After 12 years, Michael Ray Aquino attends PMA rites MANILA, Feb 16 (Mabuhay) – After 12 years, former police Senior Superintendent Michael Ray Aquino finally made his return to the grounds of the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City.

Aquino, a member of PMA Class 1988, said he was happy to return to Borromeo Field of the PMA. “Siyempre masaya, after 12 years ngayon lang ako uli nakatungtong dito,” he said.

Aquino left the Philippines in 2001, claiming then President Gloria Arroyo had persecuted him.

While in the US, he was arrested in connection with an espionage case, and was extradited to the Philippines in June 2011.

Last December, Manila Judge Carolina Sison ordered Aquino released from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) where he

had been detained since his return.

Earlier, Aquino had filed a motion before the court seeking to quash the criminal information filed against him by the Department of Justice.

He had been under NBI custody after his extradition to stand trial for the disappearance of PR man Salvador Dacer and Dacer’s driver Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000.

Aquino was a key official of the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF).

While in the PAOCTF, Aquino served under former police chief and now Senator Panfilo Lacson, who allegedly ordered the task force to commit the murders.

The Court of Appeals cleared Lacson of the double murder and CA’s ruling was upheld by the Supreme Court. (MNS)

No Filipino worker kidnapped in Nigeria – Foreign Affairs MANILA, Feb 19 (Mabuhay) – The Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday belied reports that a Filipino was among the seven foreign workers who were kidnapped by an extremist group in northern Nigeria last weekend.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said the human resource officer of Setraco, the Lebanese employer of the kidnapped foreign workers, informed the Philippine Embassy in the Nigerian capital Abuja that “no Filipino was kidnapped from their site in the town of Jama’are in the northern Nigerian state of Bauchi” contrary to the report of some news organizations.

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Estrada, UNA to file raps vs Manila police MANILA, Feb 18 (Mabuhay) – Former President Joseph Estrada and the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) vowed to file both criminal and administrative complaints against those who arrested and allegedly manhandled Vice Mayor Isko Moreno and five Manila councilors last Saturday.

Estrada said the same incident might happen again, especially when the official campaign period starts for local candidates, if they let the incident pass.

Vice Mayor Isko, meanwhile, denied allegations that he and Estrada provoked the police and threatened to relieve them from their posts if they win the elections.

Blumentritt Police Community Precinct Commander Chief Insp. Eduardo Morata on Monday showed his damaged uniform and other bruises sustained from his clash with the vice mayor’s supporters and Estrada.

Moreno said Morata should stop inventing stories. “Kayo po ang nanakit sa amin. Huwag niyo pong babaliktarin ang storya. Huwag po kayong mag-planting of evidence...

Kinulong niyo kami ng siyam na oras at kalahati...Ngayon gagawa kayo ng storya na tinatakot kayo ni Presidente Erap?”

Moreno also showed some of the bruises that he allegedly sustained following their arrest.

Councilors Joel Chua, Maria Asuncion “RE” Fugoso, Ernesto “Jong” Isip, Yul Servo Nieto and Let-Let Zarcal also complained that at least four police officers manhandled each one of them and forced them into a police vehicle.

They also noted around three jeep loads of police and members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team at the time of the incident.

Moreno said it feels like there is martial law in Manila.

Estrada, on the other hand, said they will look for possible witnesses or evidence that will prove that Mayor Alfredo Lim was behind the order.

Even if Lim’s name was not directly mentioned by the arresting officers, they still noted that orders usually come from the City Hall, Moreno said. (MNS)

Lim: Erap camp politicizing Isko Moreno’s arrest MANILA, Feb 18 (Mabuhay) – Re-electionist Manila mayor Alfredo Lim on Monday accused the camp of his challenger, former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, of politicizing the arrest of Vice Mayor Isko Moreno over bingo, supposedly an illegal numbers game.

“Eh ang hirap dito, lalabag sila sa batas, tapos hahaluhan nila ng pulitika, at ako ang pagbibintangan,” Lim said.

“Aba eh unang-una kung hindi sila lumalabag sa batas eh ‘di walang mangyayari. Ang hirap nga dito eh sila ang lumabag sa batas eh,” he added.

Estrada and Moreno (Francisco Domagoso in real life) are runningmates in Manila’s local elections this May. Moreno and five city councilors — Ernesto Isip Jr., Joel Chua, Ma. Asuncion Fugoso, Yul Servo Nieto, and former councilor Manuel Zarcal – were arrested Saturday for allegedly running a bingo operation.

They were released early Sunday for lack of evidence.

Both Estrada and Moreno claimed that Lim ordered the arrest as part of his “dirty tricks” against them.

“Ang sabi ng mga pulis, utos ng itaas. Sino ba ‘yung itaas? Eh sa Maynila siya ung pinakamataas...

Napakasinungaling.

Talagang dirty,” Estrada said.

“Eh sino ba ‘yung administrasyon na lagi na lamang, pag ang isang suspek pa lamang habang dinadala sa city hall, hindi na umaabot sa city hall, nakaposas, nang-agaw daw ng baril...Kayo na ang humusga,” Moreno added.

Bingo Lim said under Republic Act 9287, or “An Act increasing the penalties for illegal numbers game,” bingo is considered an illegal numbers game.

According to the law, illegal numbers game constitute “any form illegal gambling activity which uses numbers or combinations thereof as factors in giving out jackpots.”

Estrada, meanwhile, said under RA 9287, bingo has been de-listed as an illegal numbers game. “Itong bingo, legalized na ito dahil sa RA 9287. Bingo was de-listed as illegal numbers game. Therefore, bingo iseffectively legalized,” he said.

For his part, Manila Police District superintendent Ricardo Layug Jr. said Moreno was not the first person to be arrested due to bingo. “’Yung mga bingo naman po... pinupuntahan po ng mga pulis natin ‘yan at hinuhuli namin po ‘yan,” Layug said. Layug denied that they have a political agenda in arresting

Moreno. “Wala po kaming pinapanigan na pulitiko dahil bilang pulis po, wala po kaming kulay ng pulitika. Kahit sino po ang nanunungkulan, sinusunod po namin kung ano ang tama,” he said.

The law also said that government employees or public officials caught as “collector, agent, coordinator, controller, supervisor, maintainer, manager, operator, financier or capitalist of any illegal numbers game” will be penalized with 12 to 20 years of imprisonment or a fine of P3 million to P5 million. These government officials may also face perpetual absolute disqualification from public office.

“O, sinong mga pwedeng malagot? Hindi lang ung nagsusugal... Kasama dyan ‘yung protector, ‘yung coddler, ‘yung nagi-instigate o nagpapasimuno ng illegal gambling. ‘Yan ang probisyon,” Lim said.

Moreno: Arrest me According to Layug, the police had already stopped the bingo before any number were drawn. But upon arriving, Moreno allegedly defied the police orders, asking for a “bolilyo” that contained the bingo numbers despite police presence.

“Pagdating po ni Moreno, nagpahanap po siya ng bolilyo at sinabi niya na ‘Papayag ba tayo na hindi matuloy ang bingo?’ Eh nagpahanap po siya ng bolilyo at meron pong nag-produce ng bolilyo. So consummated na po ‘yung krimen na illegal gambling, which is bingo,” he said. ayug went on to say that Moreno even dared the police to detain him. “’Yung nagpahanap na po siya ng bolilyo, doon na sa kanila, sabi niya ‘Colonel, arestuhin mo na ako.’ Sinabi ko sa kanya, ‘Sige sir, i-bola po ninyo para consummated ang crime’ dahil syempre alam naman natin ang batas. Binola pa nila... So consummated po ‘yung crime kaya nagkaroon na po ng panghuhuli,” he said.

Moreno did not deny the incident, but clarified that he merely told the police to merely do their job. “Sabi namin itutuloy namin ito. Sabi niya aarestuhin daw kami.

Sabi ko, kayo bahala. Ngayon nung may bola, sabi nila consummated na. Sabi ko, bahala kayo... Ang sabi ko kanya, gawin niyo na ang dapat niyong gawin” he said.

He added that no one from those playing the game bet any money.

He cited Presidential Decree 1602, which stated that illegal gambling should be a game of “chance or skill” with “wagers consisting of money, articles of value or representative of value” at stake.

3

Liberal Party (LP) chairman President Benigno S. Aquino III and the Senatorial candidates flashes the Laban sign during the Team PNoy Senate Campaign Launch at the Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila City on Tuesday (February 12, 2013). The administration candidates former Akbayan Partylist Representative Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros-Baraquel, Senators Alan Peter “Compañero” Cayetano and Francis Joseph “Chiz” Escudero and Senator Loren Legarda among many others.(MNS photo)

Palace: Comelec campaign guidelines to tighten screws on vote-buying MANILA, Feb 16 (Mabuhay) -- Malacañang on Saturday voiced confidence the Commission on Elections’ plan to come up with campaign guidelines will further tighten the screws on votebuying.

In a radio interview, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Palace supports the Comelec’s plan, which she said will also benefit the candidates themselves.

“Dapat magkaroon ng palilinaw ano dapat gawin at hindi dapat gawin ng kandidato,” she said on government-run dzRB radio.

She said the guidelines should help make it

clear to the candidate which particular acts will constitute vote-buying.

“Mabuti naman yan at suportado natin ang guideline na yan,” she added.

Earlier, Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. was quoted as saying that while items like giveaway ball pens and fans are okay, food such as lechon may border on vote-buying.

Brillantes said the Comelec may soon come out with the new guidelines to minimize vote-buying.

The Comelec has so far been strict in implementing campaign rules, conducting a shame campaign against violators on social media. (MNS)

Comelec chief: No campaign rules violated with Isko’s bingo MANILA, Feb 18 (Mabuhay) – Bingo cards bearing the name of Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno may be a form of campaigning but since the official campaign period for local candidates has yet to start, there is no election offense committed yet, the Commission on Elections said Monday.

“Form of campaigning pero wala pang prohibition e, hindi pa nag-uumpisa ang campaign. During the campaign period, hindi na bawal (ang paglalagay ng pangalan),” Elections chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. told reporters. The campaign period for the local candidates will start on March 29.

“Hindi kami involved. Wala pang campaign period sa local. Kung ginagamit nila yung (pa-bingo) to gather people, OK lang yun kasi wala namang premature campaigning so walang violation sa election,” Brillantes stressed.

Further, Brillantes said local candidates can still do whatever they want without facing any election offense.

“Kahit sumigaw sila ng vote for me wala pa ring bawal. Wala namang premature campaigning… pwede nyo pa abusuhin kung gusto nyo pero abuso yun kung

ginagamit itong premature campaigning. Hindi namin pwede hulihin,” he said.

He also said that it depends on the conscience of the candidates if they will abuse the law.

In the Peñera vs. Comelec decision in 2009, the Supreme Court ruled that elective aspirants can promote themselves before the scheduled campaign period since they are not yet considered candidates at the time.

But Brillantes said that if there is money involved in the bingo game, there could be a criminal liability regardless if it is election period or not.

The poll chief added that using a bingo game to raise funds is prohibited. Also prohibited are giving of money and food during campaign rallies because it is a come-on to people.

He said the presence of the people during campaign period should be voluntary.

On Saturday, police arrested Moreno, Francisco Domagoso in real life, and five Manila councilors for alleged involvement in illegal gambling.

However, they were ordered released by a Manila prosecutor for lack of evidence. (MNS)

Malacañang confident COMELEC will be able to carry out mandate for safe, peaceful elections MANILA, Feb 18 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang expressed confidence on Sunday that the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) would be able to carry out its mandate to hold safe and peaceful elections in the 2013 national and local midterm elections that will be held in May. In an interview aired over government-run radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the COMELEC is the sole constitutional body best equipped to carry out this mandate.

“At this point we expect the COMELEC to be able to carry out their mandate for a safe and peaceful election in May and we leave it up to them how best to carry out that mandate,” Valte said.

“…’yun ang expectation namin and the public sa kanila: gagawin po nila ang lahat ng posible para siguruhing mapayapa at malinis ang eleksyon sa Mayo,” she added.

The COMELEC, through its Chairman Sixto Brillantes, had assured the conduct of automated elections this May after the report of the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC), tasked by Republic Act 9369 to review and certify if the automated election system, validated the mock polls conducted in 20 voting centers in 10 areas across the country.

The TEC is composed of the COMELEC, Department of Science and Technology and the Commission on Information and Communications Technology.

(MNS)

No sanction for Loren, Chiz, Grace Poe if they join UNA sorties, says Team PNoy spokesman MANILA, Feb 18 (Mabuhay) – Team PNoy will not sanction its three candidates - reelectionist senators Loren Legarda and Francis Escudero and former Movie and Television Review and Classification Board head Grace Poe-Llamanzares - if they join the sorties of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

Team PNoy spokesman Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone on Monday said it would be the three candidates’ judgement call if they also want to join the rallies of UNA, which adopted them as candidates.

Evardone said it was lamentable that UNA was

making a big issue out of the non-appearance of Legarda, Escudero, and Poe during its proclamation rally in Cebu last week.

He said UNA only wanted to “drive a wedge and sow intrigue” among the members of the Team PNoy senatorial slate.

He said the administration would not impose sanctions on the three candidates should they decide to join the stage with other UNA bets. But Evardone said the electorate would prefer a consistent campaign among senatorial bets. (MNS)

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PHL hopes law will avert launder blacklisting MANILA, Feb 16, 2013 (AFP) – The Philippines hopes to avoid being put on a blacklist of money-laundering havens after President Benigno Aquino signed a new law boosting safeguards against such crimes, his spokeswoman said Saturday.

The law brings the country up to international standards as required by the inter-governmental Financial Action Task Force which threatened to blacklist it, spokeswoman Abigail Valte said.

“We’re very hopeful that, with the passage of this particular law, the FATF will see we are really serious in our commitment to fight money-laundering,” she told reporters.

Officials of the Philippine anti-money laundering council will leave soon for an FATF meeting in Paris to show that Manila was complying with their conditions, she said.

The law is aimed at preventing terrorists, corrupt officials, drug syndicates and human-traffickers from using

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OPINION Many Filipinos still give ‘bribes’ for gov’t transactions – NSO MANILA, Feb 18 (Mabuhay) – Four in every ten Filipino families had at least one member who purposely went to a government official or personnel to hasten the processing of a government paper or transaction, the National Statistics Office (NSO) said.

In a statement issued Friday, NSO also said that of the 41.3% surveyed who personally saw a government employee for a favor, around 9% gave “pampadulas” (grease money) in the form of money or gift to facilitate the transaction.

The survey is based on the 2010 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey (APIS), which was conducted in August 2010. The APIS is a nationwide survey covering around 26,000 sample households. The survey is designed to provide non-income indicators related to poverty, and provides data on the socio-economic profile of families and other information that are related to their living conditions.

The same survey showed that 75% of these families in question gave the money or gift or favor “voluntarily.”

This means that the other 25% were asked by the government employee to give the “pampadulas”. Of this number, less than one percent reported the incident to anyone in authority.

“The survey revealed that 10 percent of non-poor families give money, gift or favor in order to facilitate their transactions with a government office, compared to 7 percent of poor families,” NSO said.

Meanwhile, 32% of the poor families surveyed gave the gift, favor or money involuntarily. This, against 24% among the non-poor families.

Among the regions, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) had the highest incidence of giving money or gift or favor to facilitate their transactions with a government office at 41.6% of families, followed by SOCCSKSARGEN (27%), and Central Luzon (15.6%).

The National Capital Region registered at 13.5%.

In a text message, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte encouraged the public “not to give in to these demands and to report these cases to the head of agency or to the Office of the Ombudsman so that these erring officials will be dealt with accordingly.”

She added: “Receiving favors or gifts in exchange for doing their duty is a clear violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. While these cases may still exist at the lower levels, it does not mean that they are tolerated by government.” (MNS)

the country as a hiding place for their ill-gotten gains,

Immigration Reform: Who could be left out?

Valte said.

ELENA SHORE

As demanded by the FATF, it broadens the definition of crimes covered and expands the businesses to be monitored for money-laundering beyond mere financial institutions such as banks.

The FATF had previously placed the Philippines on its “dark grey list” of jurisdictions deemed not to be making sufficient progress in fighting money-laundering and threatened to blacklist it in early 2012.

It called for greater state powers to make it easier to scrutinise bank accounts, as well as casinos, foreign exchange traders and other non-bank entities.

While the Philippines previously passed two crucial anti-money laundering laws in June, it only passed the third law sought by the task force this month.

The new law, signed by Aquino late Friday, also still spares casinos from coverage for fear this would scare off investors, lawmakers said.

The Philippines recently opened Entertainment City, an $4 billion Manila casino complex aimed at rivaling Macau, Las Vegas and Singapore as a gaming hub.

Asked if omitting casinos might have a negative effect, Valte said “we will make an evaluation first and then we’ll move forward from there”.

An FATF blacklist would make it difficult for millions of Filipinos working abroad to remit their earnings and also affect Filipinos seeking to invest overseas.

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think [it was] the first time an undocumented person who has come out as an undocumented person is testifying before the Judicial Committee.”

February 15 – Mee Moua’s family came to the Despite the optimism, many remain concerned United States in 1978 after fleeing Laos four years ear- about who might be included – and who might lier and relocating to a refugee camp in Thailand. Her be left out – of a federal immigration reform bill. father planned to bring his brother and father over as Advocates will be waiting to see how several key issues soon as he was economically secure, but he had trouble play out in the immigration reform debate – beginning finding a steady job as a new immigrant. When he fi- with what will happen to the 11 million undocumented nally did get work, it was too late – his brother and immigrants already living in the country. Will there be father had already passed away.] a direct, achievable path for them to become legal perNow the president and executive director of Asian manent residents and eventually apply for citizenship American Justice Center, Moua sees her family experi- after meeting certain requirements? Or will they be ence as similar to that of many Asian families today converted into a class of people who exist in a kind of who are separated for years, sometimes decades, as a legal limbo, protected from deportation yet unable to result of backlogs in family-based visa applications. become citizens, like the recipients of deferred action?

Moua’s interest in the fight for comprehen- Another concern for immigrant rights advocates is sive immigration reform, she says, is personal: that border enforcement will be used to delay other “It is for my family and my father and the people in aspects of reform. Will granting legal status to unmy community because they are the ones who are documented workers be contingent on first achieving directly affected,” said Moua, one of three speak- a secure border? And if so, how will border security be ers during an ethnic media telebriefing on immi- measured? Some pro-reform advocates argue that the gration reform, organized by New America Media. government has already met its obligations on enforceAbout 60 percent of the 17 million Asian Americans in ment and are now calling for a halt to all deportations. the United States are foreign-born. Ninety percent of Advocates are also watching how immigration reAsian immigrants come to the United States through form will handle visas for workers, not only in family-based immigration visas, so backlogs in the agriculture and the high-skill technology fields, system affect their everyday lives. In fact, nearly half but also industries like restaurants and landscapof the 4.3 million people in the family backlog world- ing – where there aren’t enough visas to support wide are in Asia. sizeable undocumented immigrant workforces.

“What people often…frame as a Latino issue, it’s LGBT immigrants, say advocates, are another immijust not true,” Moua said. One in 11 undocumented grant group facing a unique challenge: Unlike hetimmigrants in the United States is Asian Ameri- erosexual couples, same-sex bi-national couples are can; and one in 10 Dreamers is Asian American. currently unable to apply for a green card through marThis year’s immigration reform debate, Moua said, is riage. Even if they were married in a state where same“a window of opportunity for our elected officials to sex marriage is legal, the federal Defense of Marriage exert some leadership, to finally create an opportunity Act (DOMA) prevents them from receiving certain for families to feel secure, for families to feel safe, benefits that other couples are entitled to, including apfamilies to be reunited, and really take advantage of plying for a green card through a spouse. The Supreme the American dream….”

Court announced in January that it will review the conAdvocates are optimistic that Congress could stitutionality of DOMA this year; if the high court uppass a comprehensive immigration reform law holds the federal law, some advocates are hoping that this year that would include a path to citizenship this discrepancy will be addressed through a comprefor the estimated 11 million undocumented immi- hensive immigration reform bill.\ grants living in the U.S., along with a strong famFinally, advocates are paying attention to another ily reunification program and targeted enforcement. landmark piece of legislation that leaves out undocuFrank Sharry, executive director and founder of Ameri- mented immigrants: the Affordable Care Act (ACA). ca’s Voice, said this optimism comes from a confluence Obama’s healthcare reform bill, signed into law in of factors: 2010, makes health care more accessible and afford“The president promised it, the Democrats able for most Americans – but the plan excludes unwant it, the Republicans need it, the Ameri- documented immigrants. The White House has said can people support it and the immigrant rights undocumented immigrants would not be eligible for movement is strong enough to deliver it.” health insurance under its immigration reform plan.

The 2012 election was a “game changer,” Sharry ex- The Senate’s Gang of 8 has not specified whether the plained, with record turnouts from Latino, Asian and immigration reform plan they are working on would immigrant voters who played “a huge role” in re-elect- include them. ing President Obama, helping Democrats hold the Sen“As we know,” Kelley said, “undocuate, and winning a number of contested House seats. mented people get sick like everyone else.”

“And,” he added, “immigration played a huge role The question, she said, will come down to how much it in mobilizing Latino, Asian and immigrant voters.” costs to include them in the ACA. But, she adds, while In the Senate, the so-called “Gang of 8,” a bipartisan it will cost more to include them, that amount must group of Senators, is working to develop an immigra- be compared to how much is currently being spent tion bill. Advocates expect the Senate to begin debate on Emergency Room visits and other costly forms of and produce a bill in the month of March. Another bi- health care for uninsured people who do not access partisan group is developing a bill in the House of Rep- preventive care and often wait until they have an emerresentatives, although the timeline of that bill is less gency to seek treatment.\ certain.

Meanwhile, Obama met Wednesday with The mood at the Senate Judiciary Commit- four Democrats in the Senate’s “Gang of 8,” in tee hearing on immigration reform on Wednes- what Kelley described as a “very positive meetday was notably different from 2006, the last time ing,” adding that the Senate is “on track to move Congress took up immigration reform, noted An- forward [with immigration reform] in March.” gela Kelley of the Center for American Progress. “We have an engaged White House,” noted Kelley, “and “It was stunning,” observed Kelley. “The star of the honestly a president that’s looking at his legacy and is hearing was José Antonio Vargas [the Filipino Ameri- very much carrying the reality of the record number of can Pulitzer prize-winning journalist who announced deportations that will be his legacy” if he doesn’t deliver publicly in 2011 that he was undocumented]… I on immigration reform, she said.

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UTREACH League mourns death of Lakers’ owner Jerry Buss LOS ANGELES, Feb 18, 2013 (AFP) – Former players and rivals recalled Jerry Buss, the Los Angeles Lakers owner who died Monday after a fight with cancer at age 80, as a visionary who helped mold the NBA and make the Lakers champions.

Buss won 10 NBA titles as owner of the Lakers, more than any other team owner in league history, after purchasing the Lakers, ice hockey’s Los Angeles Kings, their arena and a ranch from Jack Kent Cooke for $67.5 million in 1979.

“The NBA has lost a visionary owner whose influence on our league is incalculable and will be felt for decades to come,” NBA commissioner David Stern said. “More importantly, we have lost a dear and valued friend.”

Buss, who was elected into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010, was recalled fondly by fellow Hall of Famer Magic Johnson, who said Buss was like a “second father” after making the Lakers’ selection of Johnson in the 1979 NBA Draft a condition of the purchase deal.

“He was a fun loving guy but he was very competitive as well,” Johnson said. “He wanted to win championships and he brought us in all together to do just that.

“He was the first owner who cared about entertainment – let’s focus on the timeouts, the Laker Girls (cheerleaders), all of these things that hadn’t been done before.

“He changed the scope of entertainment in sports. He was at the forefront of all of that. He was a great man and an incredible friend.”

Buss launched the “Showtime” era of the Lakers that saw Johnson win five titles and later become a part-owner of the team, which is now guided by son Jim Buss on basketball matters and daughter Jeanie Buss on the business side.

“We not only have lost our cherished father but a beloved man of our community and a person respected by the world basketball community,” said a statement from the Buss family released by the club.

In 34 seasons owning the Lakers, they made 16 trips to the final, winning 10 times and dominating with such stars as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.

“He has meant everything to me in my career. What he has done, it’s hard to match in the world of sports,” Bryant said of Buss, whom he once dubbed “the greatest owner in the history of team sports.”

“I’m deeply saddened over da loss of the great Dr. Jerry Buss,” O’Neal said in a Twitter posting. “He was a dear friend, mentor,and brilliant business mind thank u 4 8 gr8 yrs.”

“Today is a very sad day for all the Lakers and basketball,” Gasol said on Twitter. “All my support and condolences to the Buss family. Rest in peace Dr. Buss.”

Johnson credited his post-NBA career as a businessman to Buss’s teachings and said he and Buss cried together when Johnson revealed he was HIV positive.

“We cried for about two hours together,” Johnson told ESPN. “He wanted to get me the best doctors possible. He wanted to get me anything he could to make it better... He was there with me every step of the way.

Former Lakers star James Worthy tweeted “Condolences Jerry Buss to the Buss family. Dr Buss was not only the greatest sports and prayers are with the Buss family. Dr. Jerry Buss was like owner, but a true friend & just a really cool guy. Loved him a Dad to me and is a tremendous loss to Lakers family.” dearly.”

Rival owners acknowledged the impact Buss had upon Former Laker Dennis Rodman tweeted “My thoughts them.

Oriental Mindoro 2013 medical mission a resounding success Volunteers from the Oriental Mindoro Association of Southern California (OMASC) and the University of the Philippines Medical Alumni Society in America (UPMASA) are back from a highly successful medical, surgical and dental mission for indigents in Oriental Mindoro from January 27 to January 31, 2013. The mission was conducted at the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital, Barangay Sta. Isabel, Calapan City in collaboration with UPMASA’s UP Manila affiliate, Ugnayan ng Pahinungod (UNP) and the provincial government of Oriental Mindoro.

The 5-day medical mission was one of the most ambitious undertakings OMASC has sponsored. Since its founding in 1993,

OMASC has been sponsoring charitable and welfare projects benefiting the needy of Oriental Mindoro.

The 2013 medical mission is the second large-scale project OMASC has completed since it was granted 501©3 status in 2010. The first, a mass distribution of backpacks full of school supplies to 1,800 elementary school students from seven municipalities, was completed in 2010 under the direction of then president Edmund “Jojo” Leviste.

The current president, Dan Nable, who took office in 2011, worked tirelessly along with the many dedicated officers and members of OMASC to ensure the medical mission’s success. He worked closely with Dr. Roberto Velasco, a Kaiser Permanente retired orthope-

dic surgeon and UPMASA’s 2012 organizations and the local govern- inspiring activity for the altruistic organization. As with any mission, Community Service awardee and ment units. veteran medical mission volunteer, The selfless dedication of all there is cost involved and OMASC in assigning responsibilities and the volunteers and the support and is counting on the generosity of its coordinating efforts of the various encouragement extended by the supporters to continue the good agencies involved.

OMASC officers and members who work it does.

Please visit their facebook page The team of 45 doctors, 25 nurs- were unable to make the journey to es, 4 dentists, and 24 non-health join the mission also played a ma- or website at www.omasc.org for care professionals who joined the jor part in ensuring the mission’s more details or send a message medical mission worked together success. It was a gratifying experi- for information on how to donate. to complete 101 major and 157 mi- ence for everyone involved and an (Mila Maramot) nor surgeries, more than 2,000 medical consultations, and more 3350 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 445, Los Angeles, CA 90010 than 340 dental extractions.

CHEAPEST FARE TO MANILA Dr. Alfredo Villao, OMASC RATES INCLUSIVE OF ALL TAXES & FUEL SURCHARGE member and retired surgeon, KOREAN PAL ASIANA EVA AIR PAL was among those who per- $ $ $ $ $ formed surgeries and treated AIR CHINA CHINA AIRLINES patients. The success of the ALL NIPPON CATHAY PACIFIC DELTA AIRLINES $ $ $ $ $ mission was due in part to the efficient pre-screening done by For all your travel needs: Pls. call ROVINZ TRAVEL & TOURS CALL FOR local health care officials and the PROMOS (213) 384-7311 • (213) 384-7354 Email: ruel.lax@rovinztravel.com cooperation extended by civic

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FOLLOWERS WONT

CHINA WARNS NEW POPE

“The objective is to reside now in that place permanently, considering the sultanate owns Sabah by rights of sovereignty,” he told AFP. Idjirani said there were about 400 followers of the sultanate in the area, including about 20 who were armed. On Thursday Malaysian Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein put the number at between 80 to 100 gunmen.

Idjirani said the group would not instigate violence but would resist if provoked.

tions” with China, but indicated that Beijing would not allow a thaw in relations without concessions from the Vatican. China does not have diplomatic relations with the Holy See, and only permits worship in its state-run Catholic Church, which has 5.7 million members and does

From page 1

From page 1

“We recognise the capability of Malaysia. We don’t have the arms and capacity but we have the historical truth,” he said, adding that the group’s “fate is to see the recognition they are entitled to...or they die defending their ancestral rights”.

Idjirani said President Benigno Aquino’s senior aides had been in contact with the sultan and were willing to deliver a letter to the Malaysian government on his behalf for negotiations.

FILIPINOS IN SABAH From page 1

called for a peaceful resolution to the standoff.

“The primary concern now is their safety and to resolve the incident peacefully,” Valte said on Saturday.

Some stakeholders have said the Philippines should pursue anew its claim over Sabah.

“The people of the Sultanate of Sulu have a legitimate claim to

Sabah considering that the British and Malaysian governments used to pay rentals for Sabah to the Sultan of Sulu,” former Senate President Ernesto Maceda earlier said.

“Renewed government effort is the only way to stop the followers of the Sultan of Sulu from taking up arms and invading Sabah to press their claim,” the former lawmaker said. (MNS)

NEXT POPE From page 1

as to when he will be called to the Vatican.

He said he was “caught by surprise” by Pope Benedict XVI’s sudden resignation this month. Nevertheless, Tagle said that this only shows the integrity of the pope, saying that he was just being realistic given his current health condition.

“His physical and mental strength was waning,” the cardinal said.

“He showed integrity by not clinging to his position, for the good of the ministry.”

Tagle also expressed admiration on the pope’s leadership. “The thing that strikes me the most about the pontificate of the pope is that he wanted to bring the Church to go back to the basics.”

Tagle was the guest speaker in

THE US ASIAN POST

a leadership forum attended by a number of previous Gerry Roxas Leadership Awardees on Sunday afternoon at the Araneta Center in Cubao. In his talk, he stressed some important elements of leadership.

(MNS)

not recognize the ultimate authority of the pope.

Other Chinese Catholics, estimated at between three and six million, worship in underground churches which proclaim loyalty to the Vatican above the Chinese state.

Hong also called on the Vatican

to break off diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory.

China and the Vatican severed diplomatic ties in 1951 after the latter recognized the Nationalist Chinese government in Taipei, a rival to the communist regime in Beijing.

HEART CENTERS From page 1

ness.

“Natatanaw na rin po natin ang araw kung saan hindi na kailangang lumuwas ng Maynila ang ating mga kababayan para ipatingin ang kanilang karamdaman sa puso. Sa kasalukuyan po, mayroon na tayong dalawang operational heart centers sa labas ng Maynila – ang Southern Philippines Medical Center sa Lungsod ng Davao, at ang Vicente Sotto Medical Center sa Lungsod naman ng Cebu,” the President said.

“Sa ilalim ng ating PPP Projects, inihahanda na rin ang dagdag pang heart centers sa mga lungsod ng Cabanatuan, Legazpi, Bacolod, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, at San Fernando sa La Union,” he said.

The President said the establishment of heart centers and facilities across the country would greatly

help in lessening the burden for medical expenses especially of the less fortunate Filipinos who have heart ailments.

“Ang nais po nating idiin dito – ang lunas sa mga malulubhang sakit ay hindi lamang para sa maykaya sa buhay, mas lalong dapat itong inilalapit sa mga gipit at kapos sa buhay,” the President stressed. The government, through the Department of Health, is pursuing reforms dubbed as Kalusugan Pangkalahatan Program which focuses on the health needs of the poor and the marginalized.

“Isa pa po sa ating mga inisyatiba – ang pagpapalawak ng ating PhilHealth wards dito sa Heart Center. Gamit po ang isandaang milyong pisong pondo ng DOH, ang dating tatlumpung kamang nakalaan para sa mga nakatatanda, at ang lalabindalawang kama naman

para sa kabataan, ay dodoblehin natin para umabot sa isandaang kama. Ang target natin ay makahiga na nang mas maginhawa ang mas maraming pasyente dito bago matapos ang 2013,” he said.

The President also commended the unshakable commitment of the Philippine Heart Center in accelerating their efforts to provide better health services to the public.

“Nalulugod din po tayo sa pagtutulungan ng Heart Center at ng PhilHealth para palawigin ang sakop ng PhilHealth benefits. Hindi po magtatagal, hindi na lang catastrophic diseases tulad ng breast cancer, prostate cancer, at acute leukemia ang libreng maipapagamot sa pamamagitan ng No Balance Billing Policy; isasama na rin sa listahan ang coronary bypass o bara sa ugat ng puso,” he said.

(MNS)

“If a Cardinal is stripped of public ministry in his diocese, why should he be rewarded with being allowed to vote for the next pope?” the group asked.

“Cardinal Mahony would further increase the scandal and shame in our Church by attending the Papal Conclave.”

According to Catholics United, Gomez is in favor of Mahony’s attending the conclave that will choose a successor to Pope Benedict XVI, who resigned unexpectedly last week.

Mahony, who is now 76, took

part in the vote that chose Joseph Ratzinger as pontiff in 2005. He took the name Benedict XVI. And Mahony is theoretically still a member of the conclave made up of 117 cardinals aged under 80 who will meet behind closed doors in the Sistine Chapel until a new pope is chosen.

This month the Los Angeles archdiocese released files on over 100 clerics accused of sex abuse, as required under a 2007 lawsuit deal, after records were published showing Mahony discussing how to cover up alleged crimes.

MAHONY From page 1

mishandling abuse claims against dozens of priests, dating back to the 1980s.

“Cardinal Mahony: Stay Home,” the online petition reads.

“Your further implication in the church sex abuse scandal and being barred from public ministry in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles should be an indication to you that you should not attend the next Papal Conclave.”

Mahony was stripped of his duties by his successor, Archbishop Jose Gomez, who took over for him in 2011.

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New sex-for-favors trial opens in Singapore SINGAPORE, Feb 18, 2013 (AFP) – Singapore’s former civil defense chief went on trial for corruption on Monday for allegedly demanding oral sex from a businesswoman bidding for government contracts.

In the second successive case of its kind, Peter Lim, 52, was charged with obtaining oral sex in 2010 from Pang Chor Mui, then general manager of Nimrod Engineering, an equipment supplier to the Singapore Civil Defense Force (SCDF).

The trial opened three days after the former head of the narcotics police, Ng Boon Gay, was cleared of corruption when a judge rejected charges that he demanded oral sex from a contractor to help her win government deals.

The new trial “involves a high ranking civil servant who abused his official position and corruptly obtained gratification from a general manager of a company which was a vendor to the organization” he led, state prosecutors said.

The contractor feared she would “jeopardize” her company’s “existing good relations” with the SCDF “if she did not give in to his request for oral sex”, they said in a prepared opening statement given to the media.

Prosecutors said Lim had the authority to give final approval to contracts worth up to Sg$1.0 million ($800,000).

They alleged that Lim called Pang after the sexual encounter to ask about the supply of radiation monitoring equipment even before the SCDF issued a public tender.

With information provided by Lim, Nimrod sourced suppliers and submitted a bid, the prosecutors alleged without stating if Nimrod won the contract.

Lim, who is under suspension, faces nine other charges of obtaining sex from two other women whose companies also sold products to the SCDF, which provides firefighting, ambulance and other emergency services.

Prosecutors said the other charges would be dealt with separately at a later date.

Defense lawyer Hamidul Haq told the district court his client “categorically denies any allegations of corruption made against him”.

Haq said Lim and Pang shared an intimate friendship and had a “one-off” encounter.

“The friendship between our client and Ms Pang had no bearing whatsoever on the outcome of these tenders,” Haq said.

High-level corruption cases are rare in Singapore, which is known for its efficient and well-paid bureaucracy.

Shadow of corruption scandal looms over Spanish royal family

BY ELODIE CUZIN

MADRID, Feb 18, 2013 (AFP) – Spanish King Juan Carlos’ son-in-law will be questioned Saturday by a judge investigating a corruption case as press reports make new revelations that cast a growing shadow on the entire royal family. Inaki Urdangarin and former partner Diego Torres are suspected of syphoning off millions of euros paid by regional governments to the Noos Institute, a charitable organisation which Urdangarin chaired from 2004 to 2006. The money was meant to cover the cost of staging sporting and tourism events. Both men have denied any wrongdoing and have not been charged with any crime.

Spain’s two main daily newspapers, El Pais and El Mundo, on Monday published e-mails supposedly sent

by Urdangarin which appear to indicate that the king backed and closely followed his business career closely.

The revelations are embarassing for the royal palace which has tried to mark a clear border between Urdangarin’s business affairs and the royal family, especially Urdangarin’s wife, Princess Cristina, since the scandal erupted at the end of 2011. Princess Cristina was a nonexecutive director at the Noos Institute but has not been called to appear in court for questioning.

In one of the e-mails allegedly sent by Urdangarin in March 2005 published Monday, he wrote to Corinna Wittgenstein, a twice-divorced German aristocrat described by Spanish media as a close friend of the king, to ask for her help in landing him a job at an international sports organisation.

NATIONAL BOOK STORE From page 1

China Sea, from its stores,” Hernandez said.

“It has taken a patriotic position to proactively support the Philippine government in advancing Philippine foreign policy objectives.”

He said the decision to pull out the globes came after a dialogue with the bookstore management, which claimed they were unaware of the “misinformation” contained in the education materials.

China’s “nine-dash line” outlines its claims to virtually all of the South China Sea, even waters close to the shores of its neighbors.

The Philippine government last month took China to an arbitration panel under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea – a 1982 treaty signed by both countries – to demand that it declare China’s claims invalid.

PROTEST VIOLENCE From page 1

The campaign brought hundreds of thousands of women into the streets from India to the Philippines to Australia.

Men took part in the Rome protest too like Luca Cardin, 35, who has set up an Internet side to discuss gender issues.

“My generation grew up with the television channels of (former prime minister Sil-

vio) Berlusconi and sexist advertising. On top of that in Italy there is pressure from the family and the Catholic Church,” he said.

Carma, an 81-year-old also taking part in the event, said: “Some things have changed since I was young but not everywhere, not in all social classes and not in all parts of Italy.”

ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING From page 1

the definition of money laundering as a crime.

It now criminalizes knowingly possessing, using, transporting, acquiring, concealing, moving and disguising criminal proceeds, Valte explained.

Valte also said that the signing of R.A. 10365 will satisfy the requirement of the FATF, as it is expected to review the Philippines’s compliance on February 18 to 22 in Paris, France.

“We’re very hopeful that with the passage of this particular law, makita naman ng FATF na talagang seryoso tayo sa commitment natin na labanan ang money laundering,” she said.

“And, in fact, ang mga opisyal ng AMLAC ay paalis mamayang hapon or bukas para makarating sila sa meeting with the FATF at ipadadala na nila ang compliance natin sa mga points ng action plan.”

The law will put enough safeguards against illegally acquired money or assets because it makes banks accountable for accepting dirty money. Before the amendment, money laundering was confined to the transaction of the proceeds of a particular crime, Valte said.

But with the amendment, the Philippines now complies with the UN Convention versus Illegal Drugs, the Transnational Organized Crime, Crime and Corruption and the UN

Political Declaration against Money Laundering.

R.A. 10365 was also to cover more predicate crimes, Valte said. From 14 it now has 34 predicate crimes. It now includes environmental crimes, human trafficking, bribery, corruption of public official, currency counterfeiting, sexual exploitation of minors, and terrorism financing.

Terrorism financing was the subject of an earlier law that was signed by the President – the R. A. 10168, which he signed on June 18, 2012.

The new law also covered more institutions mandated by the government to report dubious transactions. It now includes non-financial businesses and professions.

The law also now requires jewelry dealers and real estate dealers to report to the AntiMoney Laundering Council (AMLAC) suspicious transactions.

AMLAC also now has power to require the Land Registration Authority and all Registries of Deeds to report covered transactions that are considered dubious.

Asked if the government must also include casinos in the list of covered entities, Valte said the government must first evaluate casino operations before lawmakers decide on doing new amendments. (MNS)

‘Ready for Romance’ contest winner announced Last February 10, Balita Media Inc. concluded its “Ready for Romance” raffle contest. As a celebration of the Valentine’s Day spirit, the contest provided one lucky couple with services and prizes that were put together to make their Valentine’s Day one to remember.

Balita Media, Inc. would like to proudly congratulate the contest winner, Cecile Sebrio of Buena Park, California. Sebrio and her Valentine were provided with two

facial appointments from O Skin Care, hairstyling and make-up sessions courtesy of Colina Salon and a dinner for two at Café Sierra located at the Hilton in Universal City.

On behalf of O-Skincare, Colina Salon and Café Sierra, Baltia Media, Inc. wishes to thank everyone who sent in their entries for this special promotion. For more contests and giveaways, please www. weekendbalita.com/category/free-

Hong Kong Disneyland turns a profit for first time Hong Kong, Feb 18, 2013 (AFP) – Hong Kong’s struggling Disneyland in 2012 made a profit for the first time since opening eight years ago, thanks to a surge in revenue as it welcomed a record number of visitors.

The park made HK$109 million ($14.06 million) in the fiscal year ending September 29, 2012, compared with a net loss of HK$237 million the year before.

The result was fuelled by a 13 percent jump in attendance to a record 6.73 million people, providing relief for the resort, which has been battling lower-than-expected numbers since opening in 2005.

Visits by Hong Kong residents posted a record growth of 21 percent while visits by mainland visitors expanded by 13 percent. Revenue meanwhile grew 18 percent to HK$4.27 billion.

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort’s managing director Andrew Kam said it was “very encouraging” to see the “significant improvement”.

He added: “Attendance, hotel occupancy and guest spending levels continued to reach all-time highs.”

Hong Kong Disneyland, which is majority owned by the city’s government, has been desperate to ramp up the number and quality of its attractions as it seeks to lure more visitors while facing stiff competition from local rival Ocean Park.

Critics have attributed many of its problems to its size – it is the smallest of all the Disney’s theme parks – and a lack of attractions catered to the key China market, which accounts for nearly half of its visitors.

Doubts about the park’s future have further been stoked since China gave approval for a park to be built in Shanghai.

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MOTORING Baby-boom Easy Riders most at risk from accidents (PARIS-AFP) – Heading for retirement age and itching to buy that motorbike you always promised yourself ?

A study, published on Thursday in the specialist journal Injury Prevention, may prompt would-be petrolheads to think again.

Older riders involved in a crash are up to three times likelier than younger bikers to suffer severe injuries, it says.

Researchers delved into a US national database for figures of motorcycle collisions between 2001 and 2008, involving people aged over 20, which required admission to emergency care.

More than 1.45 million such crashes, 85 percent of them involving men, occurred during this period.

Around 63 percent of the incidents occurred in the 20-39 age bracket; 32 percent among people aged 40-59; and about five percent among those aged 60 and older.

All age groups saw a rise in the number of smashups during this period.

But the 60-plus group saw the biggest increase, a rise in numbers of 247 percent. Casualties in the 40-59 group also rose sharply,

by 61 percent during this period.

And relative to the other age groups, older bikers also suffered the worst injuries.

A third of the casualties in the 60-plus group needed hospitalisation after emergency care, compared with a quarter in the middle age group and 15 percent in the youngest category.

Bikers aged 60-plus were more than twice as likely to have a head or neck injury compared to 20-to-39-year-olds and almost three times likelier to have an injury to the upper chest. They were also likelier to sustain internal organ damage.

“The greater severity of injuries among older adults may be due to the physiological changes that occur as the body ages,” the study suggests.

It notes a decline in bone strength, changes in body fat distribution, decreasing elasticity in the chest wall and the greater likelihood of underlying illness that often complicates recovery.

The study coincides with a surge in US bike ownership among the middle aged and postretirement Baby Boomers.

Older riders involved in a crash are up to three times likelier than younger bikers to suffer severe injuries, says a recent study. Photo: Kodda/shutterstock.com

The proportion of American bikers aged more than 50 rose from 10 percent in 1990 to 25 percent 2003, the paper said, quoting other official data.

Among bikers aged 65 years and above, non-fatal injuries rose 86 percent from 2001 to 2007, and fatal injuries surged by 145 percent from 2000 to 2006.

Citroen C1 now comes with black box as standard in UK first car companies to offer British at the end of this first 12 months the World Health Organization, drivers a year’s free insurance on will be based on the data gathered in 2009 alone, Russia had 35,972 selected models. As a result, when by the black box. traffic-related deaths.

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(Relaxnews) – Online retail giant Amazon’s Cloud Player is the latest music streaming service to gain support from Ford’s SYNC in-car telematics platform.

The support means that 2013 Ford Mustang Sheldrivers can now access their by GT500 Convertible. entire Amazon Cloud Player Photo: Chicago Auto music library while in their Show cars and can operate the service via simple voice commands.

And while the addition of Amazon to Ford’s SYNC platform is welcome, Amazon is by no means the first company to offer music to Ford owners. SYNC already supports Pandora and Rhapsody and can play any mp3 files that happen to be on the driver’s smartphone.

At this time, only Ford cars equipped with SYNC Applink can support the Cloud Player service – currently the 2013 Ford Fiesta, Mustang, Focus, E-Series, C-MAX Hybrid, Expedition, Fusion, F-150 and Super Duty models. The Amazon mp3 app—only available on Android handsets – also has to be installed on the driver’s smartphone in order for the service to work.

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(Relaxnews) – With the launch of the CI Connexion, Citroen claims it is the first carmaker to offer an active black box as standard in order to lower insurance costs for UK drivers and collect driving data.

A contentious issue and an area that insurance companies are more than keen to explore, ‘black boxes’ can be programmed to collect a host of driving data from a car’s position to its speed, cornering force, break pressure and steering.

Put forward as an effective and elegant solution for accident reduction, crime scene evidence collection and ultimately lowering drivers’ insurance premiums, in December, the White House Office of Management approved a request from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to mandate “black boxes” on 100% of new vehicles sold in the US from 2013.

However, while the boxes will feature in all new cars sold, they will not be active and as of yet, no legislation has been created regarding either which data will be collected or for what said data will be used for.

The UK has the highest car insurance premiums in the EU, and in the 1990s Citroen was one of the

2

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Where to get fit in Los Angeles (Relaxnews) – In Los Angeles, fitness matters, and this sunny city doesn’t come up short on studio classes and outdoor locales to keep its residents buff.

If you’re traveling to LA or call the city home, here are a few popular spots to add to your shortlist.

Brick CrossFit CrossFit is having its big moment, and one good place to try your WOD, or Workout of the Day in Crossfit-speak, is Brick Crossfit in West Hollywood. Expect hardcore strength training paired with aerobics and gymnastics that will leave you aching the next day. http://brickcrossfit.com Runyon Canyon Park The go-to spot for everything from leisurely walking your dog to uphill power running, rewarded with killer views from the top and quite possibly a celebrity sighting or two. Enjoy a free yoga class every Monday,Tuesday,andThursday. http://www.laparks.org/dos/parks/facility/ runyoncanyonpk.htm Tracy Anderson Method Fitness guru Tracy Anderson’s Hollywood studio offers her classic mix of dance cardio and light-weight strength training to sculpt a lean body, without getting bulky.

http://tracyandersonmethod.com/locations/ la SoulCycle New York’s brand of indoor cyclingmeets-spiritual quest is a hot ticket in West Hollywood. The class incorporates intense cardio bursts with hand weights and pounding house music. http://www.soul-cycle.com/soul-west Barry’s Bootcamp Founded in 1998 in West Hollywood, Barry’s Bootcamp classes are no joke, which is why they draw in fit celebrities such as Jessica Alba, Katie Holmes, and Jake Gyllenhaal. While New York, London, and Bergen, Norway now boast at least one Barry’s of their own, check out the original for a mix of treadmill intervals and strength training. http://www.barrysbootcamp.com YAS Fitness Centers If you like yoga but want the cardiotraining of indoor cycling, have them both at YAS, with locations in downtown LA, Venice, and Silverlake. But don’t expect meditative yoga here. Rather, 30 minutes of heart-pumping indoor cycling is followed by 30 minutes of “yoga for athletes.” http://go2yas.com

Barry’s Bootcamp instructor Joey Gonzalez. Photo: Barry’s Bootcamp

Walking may be better than going to the gym (Relaxnews) – While your indoor cycling class may work up a hearty sweat, a new study suggests that simply taking the stairs and walking throughout your day may be better for your health.

The findings show that if you burn the same amount of calories, standing and walking over the course of a day is better than an

hour of intense exercise when it comes to improving cholesterol and preventing diabetes.

“Get out of your chair as much as you can, take the stairs instead of the elevator, go by bike,” and leave your car at home, said Hans Savelberg, study author and associate professor at Maastricht University Medical Centre in the Netherlands.

YAS’s yoga room in Venice, Los Angeles. Photo: YAS Fitness Centers

The research team followed 18 healthy adults ages 19 to 24, who performed three separate exercise regimens over the course of the study. In the first, they sat for 14 hours with no exercise. In the second, participants sat for 13 hours and performed one hour of vigorous cycling.

In the third, participants sat for eight hours, then walked for four hours and stood for another two, with energy expenditures matching the intense hour of cycling.

The researchers found that the subjects had improved insulin sensitivity and lower

cholesterol levels after walking and standing compared to no exercise.

And those subjects who walked and stood also improved insulin sensitivity and reduced cholesterol more than the intense exercise group.

“If you exercise for half an hour and are sedentary for the rest of the day, that represents an unhealthy lifestyle,” said Savelberg. “Long periods of non-sitting at a low intensity level should be classified as an active lifestyle.”

Findings appeared online Wednesday in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS One.

A Dutch study finds that walking throughout the day trumps an hour-long sweatfest at the gym. Photo: SVLuma/Shutterstock.com

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Go easy on the calcium, researchers advise (Relaxnews) – Women who consume high amounts of calcium, including supplements, run twice the risk of suffering from a cardiovascular-related death compared to those who don’t, suggest the results of a new Swedish study.

It’s not just cardiovascular disease-related deaths either. The study out of Uppsala University and published in the British Medical Journal last week also found that high intake of calcium in women is associated with a higher risk of death overall.

After following 61,440 women in Sweden born between 1914 and 1948 for 19 years, the study concluded that the highest rates of heart disease were observed among those who with a dietary calcium intake higher than 1,400 mg a day.

Compared to women who averaged a daily calcium intake of 600 to 999 mg a day, women who exceeded 1,400 mg daily were also more than twice as likely to die.

At the other end, women with an intake below 600 mg a day also had higher death rates.

The possible explanation?

Diets that are either low or high in calcium changes the blood levels of calcium, disrupting the body’s internal equilibrium or homeostasis.

In conclusion, Swedish researchers recommend that emphasis on increased calcium intake and supplementation target those with an existing low intake, rather than those who already consume satisfactory amounts.

Meanwhile, not all in the scientific community are agreed when it comes to calcium intake and mortality rates.

Earlier this month a study published by the JAMA Internal Medicine journal concluded that a high intake of calcium supplementation is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular death in men, but not in women.

Another study published in the journal “Heart” last year also advised taking calcium supplements “with caution,” after researchers from New Zealand found that boosting overall calcium intake increased the risk of a heart attack and conferred no significant health benefits for both men and women.

The risk of cardiovascular-related death doubled in women with high calcium intake, according to a Swedish study. Photo: Olga Lyubkina/shutterstock.com

Pregnancy apps may be more popular than fitness apps (Relaxnews) – A new report finds that pregnancy apps may be more popular than fitness apps.

Mobihealthnews reports on new research from Citrix ByteMobile tracking mobile users in 60 different countries over the past few months. But rather than being based on verbal surveys or questionnaires, the data relies on the actual activity of an undisclosed sample size of users worldwide, writes Mobihealthnews.

According to the data, 39 percent of mobile users who are using at least one mobile health application are using a fitness app. Plus, of all

the mobile health-related data traffic that operators facilitate, about 50 percent of it comes from personal fitness apps, reports Mobihealthnews.

However, pregnancy apps are actually more popular, even though they don’t generate the amount of data that fitness apps such as Runkeeper do, states the report. So whereas people may download more fitness apps, the ones who download pregnancy apps tend to use the app more over time.

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Childhood TV addicts more likely to commit crime: study (WELLINGTON-AFP) – Children who watch excessive amounts of television are more likely to have criminal convictions and show aggressive personality traits as adults, a New Zealand study has found.

The University of Otago study tracked the viewing habits of about 1,000 children born in the early 1970s from when they were aged five to 15, then followed up when the subjects were 26 years old to assess potential impacts.

The research, published in the US journal “Pediatrics” this week, found a strong correlation between childhood exposure to television and anti-social behavior in young adults.

“The risk of having a criminal conviction by early adulthood increased by about 30 percent with every hour that children spent watching television on an average weeknight,” co-author Bob Hancox said.

The study also found excessive TV viewing was linked to aggressive personality traits and an increased tendency to experience negative emotions.

It said the links remained statistically significant even when issues such as intelligence, social status and parental control were factored in.

“While we’re not saying that television causes all anti-social behavior, our findings do suggest that reducing television viewing could go some way towards reducing rates of anti-social behavior in society,” Hancox said.

He said the findings supported the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendation that children should watch no more than one to two hours of quality television programming a day.

The study said it was possible that children learned anti-social behaviur by watching it on TV, leading to emotional desensitization and the development of aggressive behavior.

But it said the content of what children were viewing was not the only factor, highlighting the social isolation experienced by those who spent hours watching the box.

“It is plausible that excessive television viewing contributes to anti-social behavior in ways unrelated to violent content,” it said.

“These mechanisms could include reduced social interaction with peers and parents, poorer educational achievement, and increased risk of unemployment.”

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TV5 programs receive recognition for changing people’s lives Breaking the typecasting of television as the “idiot box” offering nothing but momentary gratification, TV5 can be credited with impacting the lives of the people through its primetime programs. Three of its shows, “Enchanted Garden”, “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (EMHE) Philippines” and “Dancing Nation: A Talentadong Pinoy Special”, have been praised for bringing some of the country’s pressing concerns to primetime TV. Last year, “Enchanted Garden” was awarded the Gawad Muyong by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as a result of the show’s efforts in raising public awareness about saving the environment. The Kapatid Network’s first eco-fantasya was also recognized for bringing environmental issues closer to viewers.

More than just entertaining Filipinos, TV5 also features the struggles and triumphs of ordinary Pinoys by showcasing them on the small screen. “EMHE Philippines” was recently named a finalist to the 2013 New York Festivals.

Based on the original Endemol worldwide TV hit, the Philippine edition proved that lives can indeed be changed one home at a time.

The cause-oriented show successfully reached out to families and communities that deserved

a new lease on life, beginning with a home that they can call their own.

Another example of entertainment-cumcivic action is when three hundred dancers from Laua-an, Antique emerged victorious during the first “Dancing Nation: A Talentadong Pinoy Special” last weekend. They won P1 million in cash to help their town’s “Operation: Timbang” program that combats malnutrition, especially among children.

The town of Laua-an beat dancers representing Alaminos (Pangasinan), Infanta (Quezon), Jose Panganiban (Camarines Norte), Tupi (South Cotabato), Rodriguez (Rizal) and Calauag (Quezon).

The “Talentadong Pinoy” special is more than just a dance competition and allows the participating towns or communities to articulate their people’s concerns to a much greater audience. Celebrities like Alice Dixson, Arnell Ignacio and Audie Gemora even gave their personal contributions to the featured causes after seeing each town’s commitment through dance.

With the success of “Enchanted Garden”, “EMHE Philippines” and “Dancing Nation”, TV5 proves that building a more united Philippines remains at the heart of its programs.

Pilipinas Global Network Limited (PGNL)

TV5 head of creative and entertainment production Perci Intalan (right) accepts the Gawad Muyong from the DENR along with ‘Enchanted Garden’ director Joel Lamangan (left) and cast members.

is a joint venture between Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), the largest and leading telecommunications company in the Philippines, and ABC Development Corporation (“ABC5”), the operator of TV5, the fastest growing terrestrial channel in

the Philippines. It acts as the sole and exclusive distributor and licensee of the programs, shows, films and channels of TV5. It distributes these media content via syndication and via its international linear channels, namely: Kapatid TV5 and Aksyon TV International.

Shaina on Cristine reiterates she’s not dating Derek love:‘No rush’ For the second time, actress Cristine Reyes has reiterated that there is nothing romantic going on between her and actor Derek Ramsay.

Reyes said she does not get alarmed that people see them together going out because they are really close friends.

“Hindi naman namin dini-deny na lumalabas kami. We really go out, hang-out, dinner, merienda, lunch. Minsan nagpasama sa akin ‘yan one time mag-golf. Minsan naman ako, pinupuntahan niya sa family gathering ko, like birthday ng sister-in-law ko,” she said.

Despite this, the actress said her relationship with Ramsay cannot be called “dating.”

“Pareho naman kaming aminado na we’re friends eh. We like hanging out together, but it’s not really a date, because it’s not that romantic eh. Nag-aasaran kami kapag magkasama kami. We’re friends,” she said.

Reyes said Ramsay also knows that she has no intentions of getting into another relationship after her breakup with actor Rayver Cruz.

“Yes, alam naman ni Derek ‘yun. Gusto

Gabby doesn’t like meddling with KC’s love life

Shaina Magdayao

Actress Shaina Magdayao, who split up with actor John Lloyd Cruz last year, is not in a rush to enter a new relationship.

Magdayao also spoke about actor Sam Milby, who has admitted that he is attracted to Magdayao.

“Wala pong nangyayari na anything more than friendship. I’m in no rush to enter a new relationship,” Magdayao said.

For his part, Milby said that he too is currently enjoying his friendship with Magdayao.

“Basta we are friends. We are enjoying our friendship,” Milby said. (MNS)

Actor Gabby Concepcion maintained that he is not the type of father who meddles with her daughter’s personal life.

Concepcion said he does not really ask KC Concepcion about matters of the heart but assured that he will always be behind her.

“Well, ang anak natin, kahit ano’ng pinagdadaanan niyan, kapag nasasaktan siya, nasasaktan tayo. Kapag masaya siya, masaya tayo,” he said.

KC is reporedly dating French filmmaker Emmanuel Plassart.

Asked if he already met Plassart, Concepcion said: “Baka ‘yun ang nakilala ko noong isang beses.”

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ko munang maging single. And I’m very sure wala siyang intensyon. Kasi alam ko naman ‘yung mga ginagawa nung lalaking ‘yun. Minsan nagpapatulong pa ‘yun sa akin, ilakad ko raw sa babaeng ‘yun… ayaw kong pangalanan, baka magalit sa akin. We’re friends lang

talaga. Wala kaming sweet moments nun, sapakin ko ‘yun eh. Wala talaga,” she insisted.

Meanwhile, Reyes denied that she and Cruz are trying to rekindle their romance.

“I’m really good friends with Ray. Pagkakaalam ko nagdesisyon kami para maghiwalay, hindi para magbalikan ulit. Ano ‘to lokohan? Naglokokohan ba tayo dito?” she said with a good laugh.

Even after the breakup, Reyes said she and Cruz have decided to remain friends.

“Okay naman kami eh ‘di ba? Wala namang third party sa amin. And naghiwalay kami, alam naman namin pareho na para sa career namin. Para mag-focus sa life namin.

Kasi bata pa kami para masyadong mag-focus sa relasyon,” she said.

Having said that, Reyes said she does not mind spending the Valentine’s Day without a special someone.

“I am happy na single ako at hindi ko naman hinahanap ang kasiyahan ko sa ibang tao. Kaya masasabi ko na kuntento ako ngayon,” she said.(MNS)

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“Hindi naman ako matanong na, ‘What do you do? What do you do here? What’s your job? Are you serious with my daughter?’ Malay ko ba kung ano ang ginagawa nila, baka magkaibigan lang, ‘di ba? So, hindi ko na inaalam. Basta ang pagkakakilala lang sa akin, kaibigan,” the actor said.

Concepcion said KC has not yet approached him to introduce her boyfriend.

“Wala, wala siyang sinasabi na, ‘Pa, this is my boyfriend.’ Wala namang sinasabing ganoon. At saka, hindi naman ako nagtatanong,” he said.

The actor also said he also doesn’t mind if her daughter dates someone within or out-

side showbiz. “Basta ang importante, nagmamahalan sila and they are willing to make it work,” he said For Concepcion, he will only talk to KC about her love life when she asks him for advice.

“Madalas na matanong si KC like, you know, ‘As a boy, Pa…’ Basically, kumukuha siya ng input. At madalas ko namang sinasabi, ‘When you fall in love, you ¿rst fall in love with your heart. Use your mind also and, basically, follow your feelings, your instinct.’ Sa buhay kasi, hindi naman puwedeng puro puso,” he said. (MNS)

Ogie, Regine plan to have a baby this year Singer-comedian Ogie Alcasid admitted that he and wife Regine Velasquez are planning to have another baby this year.

“We are trying to work on a baby this year. Mas magiging mahirap kung papatagalin pa namin because of our age,” Alcasid said. Filipina actress and model Velasquez gave birth to her first baby, Nathaniel or Nate, with Alca- Morada Winnie sid on November 11, 2011. “Ina, Kapatid, Anak” star In a previous interview, Velasquez said being a mother changed her life.

“It’s been great. You know when they say that it will change your life, I had no idea, but it’s really wonderOgie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez ful,” she added. (MNS)

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Cesar and Sunshine still living under the same roof Veteran actor Cesar Montano broke his silence on reports that his wife Sunshine Cruz sent him out of their house following a recent controversy involving an alleged third party in their relationship.

Montano explained why he had to stay in two different hotels for two nights.

“Nagshu-shooting ako at hindi umuwi ng two days because I lived in Manila Hotel for one day and I lived in Bayview for one day.

Doon ako nagshu-shooting. I never left the house. Kailangan ko lang matulog sa [hotel].

Everybody knows that dahil ang call ko ay maaga and it was 12 midnight na,” he said.

Montano stressed he never left his home and Cruz is still living in their house.

“Siya ay nasa loob pa rin ng bahay…Ako nga hindi ko nalaman na ako pala’y pinalayas sa bahay ko kahit hindi pa ako lumalayas sa bahay ko dahil nagshu-shooting ako,” he said.

Montano also shrugged off talks that he is just creating a fuss to promote his upcoming film.

“I don’t want to promote my film that way.

Ipagyayabang ko siya ayon sa kagandahan ng pelikula, hindi yung gagawa ako ng ku-

wento na iiskandaluhin ko ang pribado kong Lim.” The actor directs and stars in the biopic buhay at idadamay ko pa ang pamilya ko,” of the former National Bureau of Investigahe said. tion director and incumbent Manila mayor.

Krista Miller, who is accused of being the third party in Montano’s marriage, also appears in the film as Marita Zaragoza.

Asked who is Miller in his life, Montano said: “She is an actress in the film. She is a good actress. Maganda ang role niya and I feel sorry about her dahil na-involve siya dito pero kasama siya sa cast ng pelikula.

Iyon lang siya.”

Just like any other things, Montano said his marriage is imperfect and he and Cruz are currently trying to fix things to salvage their family.

“Walang perfect people. Nagkaroon ng problema. We are in the process of ¿xing it.

I need prayers from our friends. Naniniwala ako na we just need a vertical ventilation.

Iyon ang hihilingin kong tulong sa mga tunay naming kaibigan na naniniwala sa maganda naming marriage,” he said.

“I love my family, I love Sunshine so Cesar Montano and Sunshine Cruz much. I believe in our family. I will never do Montano is currently filming “The Turn- anything to hurt my family. I want to close ing Cradle: The Untold Story of Alfredo my eyes with my family,” he added. (MNS)

5

John Lloyd: Sarah has matured as an actress

John Lloyd Cruz

Actor John Lloyd Cruz feels privileged that he was able witness Sarah Geronimo grow as an actress from the first time that they worked together seven years ago.

“Gusto ko lang po ishare sa inyong lahat na ngayon, may napansin akong iba sa approach [ni Sarah] sa acting. I am so proud of all your achievements,” he said.

Having starred in two blockbuster movies, Cruz said he is proud of Geronimo’s achievements and promised to be there for the actress no matter what.

“Happy ako na kahit papaano nawi-witness ko up close ‘yung kanyang growth... Talagang promise ko sa ’yo, as you go to the next level, nandito ako. Mula ‘A Very Special love,’ ‘You Changed My Life,’ mula nung episode na ‘yun ng MMK, hindi na ako aalis. Nandito lang ako,” he said.

Cruz and Geronimo are currently shooting their movie “It Takes A Man and A Woman” which is billed as the final installment in their teamup as Laida and Miggy.

Now that their movie nears its playdate, Cruz said he feels bittersweet that their characters in the movie, which viewers have learned to love, will now come to an end.

“Well I’m excited na malapit na ipalabas ‘yung pelikula. Pero at the same time nakakalungkot kasi last na ito. After nito, magkasama man ulit kami sa pelikula, wala na ‘yung Miggy-Laida, ibang storya na. So in a way, excited ako pero may konting lungkot kasi bye-bye na kami sa dalawang characters,” he said.

“But you can expect a more mature kind of story. Ibang-iba si Sarah dito. Ang cute isipin na si Sarah ‘yung mas familiar sa New York. Para siyang ‘01 Chevy Cavalier '97 Nissan Quest ‘03 Mercury Mountaineer ‘07 Toyota Yaris Sedan 4D ‘05 Nissan Maxima SL New Yorker sa mga eksena namin at ‘yun ‘yung isa sa mga dapat abangan sa movie,” he added. $5,888 (T30620A / 817170) $4,988 (T3042C / 394494) $ 10,888 (T30658A / 853444) $ 7,488 (SC2119C / J10139) $9,988 (T30713A / 127723) Aside from their upcoming movie, Cruz revealed he is also open to working with Geronimo '10 TOYOTA RAV4 '11 TOYOTA YARIS '11 TOYOTA COROLLA LE '11 TOYOTA YARIS SEDAN '10 TOYOTA CAMRY LE '10 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE '11 TOYOTA CAMRY LE again.

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Bookkeeping By Ruth 213-598-0704 PRAYERS PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT Holy Spirit Thou who make me see everything and show me the way to reach my ideal, You who give me the divine gift to forgive and forget the wrong that is done to me and who are in all instances of my life with me.

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