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VOL. XXII, NO. 10

APRIL 12-18, 2014

THE LEADING SOURCE OF NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR FILIPINO-AMERICANS

PHL no longer blacklisted ‘Hardwork’ pays off as more carriers poised to fly to US MANILA, April 10, 2014 (AFP) – The US Federal Aviation Administration has removed the Philippines from its air safety blacklist, Manila said Thursday, opening the door for its airlines to expand services to the United States.

The FAA decision comes after the European Union in July 2013 lifted its own ban on flag carrier Philippine Airlines after it upgraded safety standards.

“From one major achievement to another in a span of less than two years, the country has made great strides in enhancing its aviation industry to one that is at par with the best in the world,” Transportation Secretary Joseph Abaya said in a statement.

The upgrade will have a significant impact on the country’s economy, boosting tourism, trade and business relations, he added.

The FAA put the Philippines on its “Category 2” blacklist in 2008, saying it had failed to comply with international safety standards.

This resulted in Philippine carriers being banned from expanding their services to the United States. The EU in 2010 banned all Philippine carriers from flying to Europe for similar reasons.

Philippine Airlines (PAL), the country’s only carrier with flights to the US, had been allowed to continue services but under heightened FAA surveillance.

See NO MORE, page 8

A Filipino man is reflected on a window while he takes a nap while waiting for his Philippine Airlines flight bound for the Philippines. PAL and other Philippine carriers have just been allowed to increase flight frequencies or establish new routes to US, which has recently removed the Philippines from its so-called aviation blacklist.

Photo: Rhony Laigo/Los Angeles International Airport

Envoy: US to stand

by PHL amid ‘threats’ MANILA, Apr 9 (Mabuhay) – The United States on Wednesday reiterated its commitment to stand by the Philippines, its long-time ally, in the face of threats – a

statement that could have extra meaning in light of recent developments in the territorial dispute between Manila and Beijing.

“As treaty allies, when the Philippines faces threats or natural disasters, so do we,” said US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg during his speech at the commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan in Bataan.

Goldberg did not mention specific threats, but his speech came at the time of increasing tensions between the Philippines and China over overlapping claims in the South China Sea. See US TO STAND, page 8

Pacquiao eager for decisive win in Bradley rematch

By Rebecca Bryan

LAS VEGAS, April 11, 2014 (AFP) Manny Pacquiao wants a decisive victory over Timothy Bradley in their eagerly anticipated welterweight world title rematch Saturday in Las Vegas as he bids to avenge a controversial loss two years ago.

America’s Bradley, renowned for his amazing durability, snapped the Philippine icon’s 15-fight unbeaten streak with a debatable split decision triumph in their first showdown on June 9, 2012.

The 30-year-old Bradley is out to prove he was deserving of the World Boxing Organization belt he seized that night and has since defended twice.

For Pacquiao, 35, whose loss to Bradley was followed by a sixth-round knockout See PACQUIAO, page 8

President Benigno S. Aquino III troops the line during the 72nd commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) at the Dambana ng Kagitingan, Mt. Samat Shrine in Pilar, Bataan on Wednesday (April 09, 2014). This year’s theme is “Balik-Tanaw sa Sakripisyo ng Beterano, Gabay sa Landas ng Pagbabago”. (MNS Photo)

US Congress probes land grabbing in PHL WASHINGTON, April 10, (Mabuhay) – At a House Foreign Affairs Full Committee hearing on U.S. Foreign Assistance in FY 2015, Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) Wednesday questioned USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah on the lack of land rights in developing nations, in particular, the concerning issues of land grabbing in the Philippines.

Chairman Royce is a long-time champion of property rights and has fought land grabbing throughout the world, particularly in the Philippines. He has raised the issue with senior government officials in the Philippines, including President Benigno Aquino and Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario.

Chairman Royce commented: “Mister Administrator, the lack of land rights in developing nations remains a significant barrier to sustainable development and long-term economic prosperity. The issue of land grabbing is well-known and well publicized. In fact, last year, in December, the Huffington Post ran an insightful article about this issue, titled “Lessons from the Past: Securing Land Rights in the Wake of Typhoon Haiyan.”

“The article quoted a USAID official saying that unequal access to land is a central issue that cuts across both rural and urban sectors in the Philippines. I submit that See US CONGRESS, page 8

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Santiago calls on pro-RH groups to file MR on struck-down RH law provisions MANILA, Apr 10 (Mabuhay) – Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Thursday called on the reproductive health advocates to file a motion for reconsideration (MR) from the recent Supreme Court (SC) ruling that upheld the constitutionality of the Reproductive Health law but struck down eight provisions, mostly on access and consent in providing health care services.

“I humbly believe that after due consideration, the Supreme Court will find that the presumption of constitutionality in favor of the law, and of good faith in favor of Congress, will be sufficient to convince the Court that all eight provisions are not unconstitutional,” Santiago said.

She cited the following principles in statutory construction mandate judicial affirmation of the eight provisions: The RH law enjoys a presumption of constitutionality, based on the respect of the judiciary for the legislature;the presumption of constitutionality dictates that doubt should be resolved in favor of the law; that the Supreme Court should reconcile the law with the Constitution; and,with respect to the provisions that did not pass muster, the Court should have granted to Congress the presumption of good faith and the presumption that legislative determination of factual issues is correct.

Santiago said that under the law, the burden of proof lies on the party who alleges unconstitutionality.

“In the eight provisions, the petitioners failed to discharge the burden of proof. It is not entirely clear what quantum of proof was applied by the Court to overcome the presumption of constitutionality,” she said.

“I support with full enthusiasm the move to file motions for reconsideration. I am fairly confident that a more exhaustive

study of the principles of constitutional law will support a reconsideration of all eight provisions,” Santiago added.

The eight provisions struck down by the SC from the RH law are: Section 7, Paragraph 2 which states that no person shall be denied information and access to family planning services, whether natural or artificial: provided, that minors will not be allowed access to modern methods of family planning without written consent from their parents or guardian/s except when the minor is already a parent or has had a miscarriage.

Section 17 which provides the grant of 48 hours free services to indigent women as a prerequisite for health care providers in securing accreditation from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. or PhilHealth; Section 23 (a)(1), which prohibits health care service workers from withholding or disseminating information on reproductive health programs; Section 23 (a)(2)(i), Spousal consent in case of married persons: provided, that in case of disagreement, the decision of the one undergoing the procedure shall prevail; Section 23 (a)(2)(ii), which penalizes a health worker who requires parental consent from a minor in non-emergency cases; Section 23 (a)(3), which punishes health care providers who refuse to refer non-emergency patients to another facility regardless of religious beliefs; Section 23 (b), which punishes a public official who refuses to support reproductive health programs regardless of religion; and, The definition of the Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) of contraceptives and abortifacients as it contravenes the law’s definitions. (MNS)

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Woman throws object at Hillary Clinton in Vegas LOS ANGELES, April 10, 2014 (AFP) – A woman threw an object – reported to be a shoe – at Hillary Clinton during a speech in Las Vegas on Thursday, but it missed and Clinton laughed off the incident, video footage showed.

The woman launched the projectile at the former secretary of state as she was addressing a meeting of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI).

Clinton, the 66-year-old presumed frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016, ducked as the object

whisked past at head height to her left.

“Good thing she didn’t play softball like I did,” Clinton joked, drawing cheers from the audience at the Mandalay Bay hotel/ casino, according to the video by KTNV. “My goodness, I didn’t know that solid waste management was so controversial.”

The woman who threw the object was arrested, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Neither police nor organizers immediately responded to request for comment or details.

Sen. Bam: 25% of steel products in market substandard, smuggled MANILA, Apr 10 (Mabuhay) – Around twenty five percent of imported and locally manufactured steel products sold in the country are either mislabeled or substandard.

This was revealed by industry stakeholders during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship chaired by Senator Bam Aquino.

“One study came out and this was relayed to me by the Philippine Steelmakers Association (PSA) that up to 25 percent of all steel in the market is actually mislabeled or substandard,” Aquino said during the hearing.

Aquino called this scenario unacceptable, saying this comprises a form of corruption and fraud as the public pays good money for right quality but end up buying substandard materials.

“Initially, these substandard materials probably won’t make a difference but when disasters strike then it becomes really important,” the senator added.

Also, the Philippine Iron and Steel Institute (PISI) disclosed that about 450,000 metric tons out of two million metric tons of imported steel were substandard or

smuggled.

The PISI said these substandard steel products made its way to the country through misdeclaration or direct smuggling.

“How can anyone miss 18,000 container vans with 450,000 metric tons of imported steel,” Aquino asked during the hearing.

Among the substandard imported steel products were 300,000 metric tons of wire rods that were converted to reinforcing bars or rebars and used for the construction of 60,000 homes in different parts of the country, putting 300,000 lives in danger.

With this, Aquino has called for a systemic reform within the Bureau of Customs through the passage of a Customs Modernization law to make it more efficient against smuggling.

“If we have a more computerized system, malinaw na malinaw kung anong binabayad na taripa, that could stop smuggling in the long run,” Aquino stressed.

“You have countries like Singapore, what takes them half a day takes us weeks to do. Di talaga acceptable na sa modernong panahon,napaka-Jurassic ng ating sistema sa Customs,” he added.

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MILF in early stages of forming political party MANILA, Apr 9 (Mabuhay) – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is now organizing itself into a political party.

MILF vice chairman for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar said they are still in the early stages, but they expect to complete their plans for the United Bangsamoro Justice Party within the year.

Jaafar said they want to have enough time to prepare for the 2016 elections.

MILF chairman Murad Ebrahim will be the chairman of the political party. The MILF Central Committee will be the one to choose the provincial and city leaders for the party, he said.

“Ang balak natin eh sumali ito sa election 2016... Dapat may partido yung mga kandidato. So isa ito sa paraan para makasiguro kami na yung mga kandidato na gusto namin sumali sa election in 2016 ay mananalo,” he said.

He said all members of the MILF are automatic members of the political party.

The Bangsamoro people and even Christians are also welcome to join the party.

Asked if the MILF’s political party will be fielding candidates for the posts of president, vice president and senator in the 2016 polls, Jaafar said, “That, I don’t know because depende yan sa policy, depende yan sa mga mamumuno sa political party.”

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Japanese envoy apologizes for World War II, thanks PHL for ‘moving on’ MANILA, Apr 9 (Mabuhay) – Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Toshinao Urabe used the commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan on Wednesday to apologize for Japan’s role during World War II, saying it has learned its lesson from those days. “Seventy-two years have passed. Still, it hurts to remember the hardship and pain suffered by so many during those fateful days. I wish to express our heartfelt apologies and deep sense of remorse for such inexplicable suffering,” Urabe said during his speech at a program in Bataan. He said Japan has learned the “valuable lesson” from history that using force does not solve anything.

“It only creates problems. That is why we have vowed never to wage war never

again,” he said.

This, he said, is the reason for their actions in the last seven decades.

“Fortunately, the Filipinos have accepted to move on. We have been building the future together ever since. Thanks to the efforts of our predecessors, we are now strategic partners sharing common values,” he said.

Urabe specifically cited the exchange visits between the two countries, Filipino and Japanese soldiers working together in peacekeeping, and Japan’s help during disaster relief operations.

“Japan will continue to contribute proactively to the peace, stability, and prosperity not only for this region but also for the international community,” he said.

Kidnappers demand $11-M for Chinese tourist: Malaysia KUALA LUMPUR, April 10, 2014 (AFP) – Kidnappers based in the southern Philippines have demanded more than $11 million in ransom for a Chinese tourist abducted from a Malaysian dive resort, a senior minister said Thursday.

Malaysian Home Minister Zahid Hamidi told AFP the family of Gao Huayun, who was kidnapped by gunmen on April 2 along with a Filipina resort worker, are negotiating with her abductors through an intermediary.

“The kidnappers have asked for 36.4 million ringgit ($11.25 million). Gao’s family has appointed someone to negotiate for her safe release,” said Zahid, whose ministry handles internal security and law

enforcement.

“We hope this case can be settled as soon as possible.”

He gave no further details.

Gao, who is 29, and Filipina resort worker Marcy Dayawan, 40, were taken from the Singamata Reef Resort in Malaysia’s Borneo island state of Sabah in a late-night raid by a group of gunmen.

The area of eastern Sabah is famed for its world-class scuba diving but also notorious for lawlessness and kidnappings blamed on bandits from the Muslim southern Philippines. The Philippine military said last week the Abu Sayyaf, a small band of Islamic militants infamous for kidnappings for ransom, are the prime suspects.

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S. Korea regulates marriage with foreigners

By Lim Chang-Won

SEOUL, April 10, 2014 (AFP) – South Korea imposed new restrictions on mixed marriages this month, but critics say the authorities would do better to focus on supporting foreign spouses who struggle to assimilate in one of Asia’s most ethnically homogenous societies.

An influx of foreign brides – overwhelmingly from other Asian countries – began in earnest in 2000 and peaked in 2005 when more than 30,000 were given resident-through-marriage visas.

The trend was triggered by the large numbers of young, rural women leaving to find work and a new life in Seoul and other South Korean cities, leaving behind male-dominated communities with not enough potential wives to go around.

Since 2000, 236,000 foreign women have settled in South Korea through marriage, giving birth to about 190,000 children, according to data compiled by state-run Statistics Korea.

More than 80 percent came from China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand and Mongolia – essentially “mail-ordered� through matchmaking brokers, albeit with a few days of mandatory “dating� in the woman’s country.

At first, South Korea did nothing to restrict the role of the marriage brokers, believing they were fulfilling a useful service in helping to improve a radically declining birth rate and labour force in the countryside.

By 2010, however, there were increasing reports of young foreign wives being beaten and in some cases even murdered, including a 20-year-old Vietnamese stabbed

to death by her mentally disturbed husband a week after she arrived.

The same year, a law was introduced providing twoyear jail terms for any broker shown to have provided false information about potential spouses, or introduced more than two women to one man at the same time.

The legislation had an immediate impact, with the number of broking agents plunging from 1,697 in 2011 to 512 at the end of 2013.

The latest regulations, effective as of April 1, require those applying for a resident-through-marriage visa to pass a language proficiency test, and for Korean partners to show an annual income in excess of 14.8 million won ($14,000). ‘Issue of national image’ Officials say this tackles the two main causes of marital strife among mixed-marriage couples—inability to communicate and low income. “Strong state intervention is inevitable to stop ineligible people from buying foreign brides,� a Justice Ministry official said. “This is a diplomatic issue related to our national image.�

But marriage brokers argue that the new rules will only serve to raise the costs of finding a foreign bride by reducing the pool of potential matches.

The current cost, including broking commission, admin fees, hotel, travel and other expenses, averages around 10 million won ($10,000) and the brokers say that could increase by as much as 50 percent. “The new law doesn’t reflect reality,� said Cho SouYong, a broker in Uijeongbu north of Seoul.

DOJ drops rape complaint vs Vhong, indicts Cedric, Deniece for illegal detention MANILA, Apr 10 (Mabuhay) – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has dismissed the rape complaint filed by model Deniece Cornejo against Vhong Navarro.

At the same time, the DOJ has found probable cause to charge Cedric Lee, Deniece Cornejo, Bernice Lee, Simeon Raz, Fedinand Guerrero, Jose Paolo Calma and

Jeff Fernandez for the crimes of serious illegal detention and grave coercion.

The DOJ, in a 42-page resolution dated April 4, 2014, said it was clear that on January 22 up to the wee hours of January 23 Lee’s group deprived Navarro of his liberty, which is a primary element of the crime of serious illegal detention.

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Most Asian brides come from poor rural families and Cho said the language requirement would require them to move to a city to take classes for several months – at their new husband’s expense. “The new regulations also require an additional load of notarized documentation, which will also cost the Korean partner,� he added. A couple must already be married for the woman to apply for a resident visa.

Cho insisted that the instances of abuse highlighted in the media were largely a thing of the past, and that professional brokers were much more “sincere� in finding genuine matches for a “trouble-free marital life.�

The challenges facing a foreign bride in South Korea go beyond practical issues of language and income and include a lingering societal antipathy to mixed-race marriages. A recent survey by the private Asan Institute for Policy Studies found that 32 percent of Koreans saw mixed-race families as a threat to social cohesion.

The government has made efforts to help foreign brides integrate, and the state budget for supporting “multicultural families� – with job training and language courses – currently stands at around 123.2 billion won.

Domestic abuse widespread But researchers and social workers say that more support is needed, rather than bureaucratic regulation that can increase the stress on couples already struggling with a variety of pressures. “Excessive state intervention is an infringement of privacy and causes other problems,� said Cho Young-Hee at the Seoul-based research centre of the International Organisation for Migration.

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Last week I decided to declare chapter 7 bankruptcy. I know it was a chapter 7, my had sister told me so. I was talking with my sister on the phone. It was one of our many conversations about money problems. I thought it would end in the usual way, with one or both of us saying, “we’ll get through this, we’ll find a way to pay our creditors…” But this conversation was different.

She told me she had hired a really nice bankruptcy lawyer by the name of Paul Allen. He

is a very attractive FilipinoAmerican. Apparently still single too. My it did have a resale value. Fortunately the sister always wanted to marry a lawyer, or paralegal put me completely at ease – for was it a fireman? I’m not sure. Anyway, once my sister was wrong, so now she owes they had an office in Glendale, complete me lunch. I can’t help wondering which with Pinoy staff, and can you believe it - credit card she is going to charge that on!

The paralegal filled out my forms, she highly proficient in taglish.

Attorney Paul told her that Bankruptcy was really nice. She asked me a few queswould wipe out all of her unsecured debts. tions, and had me proof- read the forms, (Wow, that sounded good) Its what the checking the address and so on. We finalgovernment calls “discharged.” Or “ex- ized everything and I signed the papers. I punged” or maybe it was some other fancy then declared myself financially bankrupt.

Latin word. Anyway, she told me she didn’t I had never felt better.

Over the weekend I received a large have to pay all of those pesky credit cards anymore, and there wasn’t any credit left manila envelope from attorney Paul, with copies of all the forms they submitted for on them anyway, so what the h ……

It wasn’t an instant decision. In fact it my bankruptcy and with all my court docutook my sister at least 30 minutes to con- ments. The big news is that I now have a vince me not to pay my bills either. She case number, a trustee and a scheduled date said that the credit card company’s made for the “meeting of the creditors.” My hearlots of money, so they wouldn’t miss my ing is next month. That works perfectly, paltry $250 a month, which was destined because my boss owes me a day off. So to go on forever. I admit, I was intrigued far, this is the best bankruptcy I’ve ever by the idea. I thought, “hmm, I wonder if experienced! Even better that my sisters 2nd wedding, when I accidently kissed the this would be right for me, too?”

So I went on line to order a book about groom’s mother.

Attorney Paul told me not to pay the chapter 7 bankruptcies, or, what did my sister say? Chapter 7, 8 or 9? I figured that credit cards anymore. That felt good. This I should know more about this important month my financial affairs are improving; step in my life. It’s not every day you I make money and get to keep more of it.

I’m enjoying having money. It’s a positive decide to marry, or file bankruptcy is it?

Chapter 7 bankruptcy can stay on your feeling.

Yesterday I went to the supermarket and credit report for up to 10 years, though it is possible to get new credit cards within paid cash. I even came home with $11 that a year of a bankruptcy discharge. After I didn’t spend. My money management another year of good credit performance, skills are getting better, though I did make you can qualify for a competitively priced a few impulse buys along the way.

Also this weekend, I bought a non-stick mortgage too. Of course, I have never been very good at any performance, except the wok on Amazon because it was discounted time I performed in the school band and 60 percent. I didn’t need one, but couldn’t resist the discount. Anyway, I’ve always dropped an octave!

Apparently, a poor payment record wanted a wok. I like cooking stir fries and is most definitely a mark on your credit such, and I don’t consider it a very extravareport, but it’s not a permanent mark. I gant purchase at $39 and some change. realized I wouldn’t be able to get a credit My sister came over to take a closer look. card for a while–maybe a year or so, and I could see how jealous she was!

It’s been a month since I went to the admittedly, the mere thought of living without credit cards was almost unbear- bankruptcy hearing, but already I have the able. Like walking naked in the store! But urge to apply for credit – silly isn’t it. So I then I thought, “I can’t use any of my cards applied for a credit card at City bank’s webanyway. I’m months late and over the credit site, pressed the “submit” and was instantly rejected. Here’s what I think happened. limit on most of them.

1. I just declared myself bankrupt and This morning I went to Attorney Paul’s office to sign the papers. His real name is this site is for people with credit histories Paul Mendoza Allen, but that’s a mouthful, better than mine.

2. My primary income is low–less than so I just call him attorney Paul. He says he doesn’t mind. My sister went with me. $2,000 a month in fact. Even though my She was here last week, so she is an expert. part-time job pays well and brings my The forms totaled about 20 pages, and she monthly income up, I don’t think lenders knew what was on each of them. She told give it as much weight.

Normally I wouldn’t hesitate to ask my me exactly where I had to sign. Nobody knows the law like my sister. Attorney Paul parents to co-sign for me, but since I am not telling them about my bankruptcy, it isn’t and I ware so impressed.

We met Attorney Paul’s paralegal too. going to work. Then there is my sister, but She was very nice, but she didn’t have a her credit is like mine.

After pouting and thinking about my chance to say much, my sister did all that for her. She is such a pro. Attorney Paul financial failure for a while, I suddenly told me he would personally call me a day realized that there was a positive side to or so before the hearing, just to remind me. this. All my debt was gone, and I don’t He said I shouldn’t worry, he would be think I could have gotten that credit card at the hearing, to hold my hand. My sister from City Bank with my credit history before I filed chapter 7 anyway. can’t wait for the handholding thing.

The truth is, that discharging $30,000.00 That nice paralegal asked for a complete inventory of my belongings and my debts, in debt has made me $30,000 richer. Or and my income. She told me that bankrupt- even more, when you think of the 21% cy trustees can take your belongings if they interest rates that doubled my debt every think they are too valuable or defined as 3 years through compound interest.

Bankruptcy questions – I haven’t got a non-exempt. I don’t know what that means, but after I completed the list, she told me clue. But don’t ask my sister! Instead, call I did not have any non-exempt. My sister the law offices of Paul Allen at in Glendale, wasn’t sure about my burial plot at Forest 818-334-5445. Get the facts – you will be Lawn, whether that was non-exempt. I glad you did.

Law Offices of Paul Allen explained that I wasn’t planning on using it 818-334-5445 right away, but the view was nice so maybe

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LOS ANGELES

Weekend, Sat. - Fri., April 12-18, 2014

US TO STAND

NO MORE

From page 1

From page 1

In a separate development on Thursday, the EU lifted the ban on the Philippines’ budget carrier Cebu Pacific from flying to EU member nations.

“We welcome this development, a testament to Cebu Pacific’s commitment to safety and full compliance with the international aviation safety standards,” said the president of the upstart airline, Lance Gokongwei.

The EU ban on PAL had been lifted last year.

Philippine aviation agencies have been reforming administrative procedures and increasing monitoring of airlines and aircraft.

A letter from the FAA, released by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, praised “the hard work completed by your government on the safety oversight system”.

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The FAA website said it had raised the Philippines from a “Category 2” rating back to “Category 1” following a March 2014 review which found that the government now complies with International Civil Aviation Organisation standards.

President Benigno Aquino’s spokeswoman Abigail Valte said the move would bring greater success to the country’s aviation and tourism industries.

As a result of the safety upgrade, other Philippine carriers can now fly to the United States while PAL can add routes and increase flight frequencies.

PAL president Ramon Ang said his airline,which already flies to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Honolulu, had prepared aircraft that could service the US east coast but did not say when they would begin flying there.

Relations between the two Asian neighbors hit a low point when the Philippines sought arbitration in January 2013 to try to declare as illegal China’s massive claim over the South China Sea because it overlaps with Manila’s territories.

In his speech, Goldberg instead explained that the shared “history of sacrifice” between Filipino and American troops during World War II “forges the special relationship” of the two countries.

PACQUIAO From page 1

defeat to Juan Manuel Marquez, it’s imperative he prove his unanimous decision victory over Brandon Rios in his only fight of 2013 marked a real rebirth of his ring career.

“This is a ‘must-win’ situation for us,” Pacquiao’s Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach said.

Even though Roach and “Pacman” want a clear-cut victory, both said Pacquiao – who has had to fend off talk of retirement – can’t go in aiming for a knockout.

Instead, they say he must press his attack consistently, avoiding the fallow minutes that apparently cost him the decision in the first Bradley fight, even though

“As shown in history and present until this very day, we can and will continue to work together shoulder to shoulder to improve each other’s militaries and our nations as a whole,” he said.

“Like soldiers walking side by side, our friendship is stronger through the adversity we have faced together,” Goldberg added.

Goldberg also commended the work of veterans for paving the way for the presentday peace being enjoyed by the people.

Pacquiao landed more punches and more power punches overall.

“I’m not thinking about a knockout,” the Filipino said. “My focus is to throw a lot of punches. I’m going to be aggressive. If the knockout comes, it’s a bonus.”

Added Roach: “We’re looking to win every round, one at a time.”

Southpaw Pacquiao, the only man to win world titles in eight weight divisions, staked his claim to boxing’s pound-forpound crown with a spate of impressive knockout victories in 2008 and 2009.

That included a ninth-round stoppage of David Diaz that proved Pacquiao could step up to lightweight and retain his fearsome power.

US CONGRESS From page 1

unequal access to land is a significant issue that occurs worldwide – we know of significant land grabbing in Cambodia, in China, and in Peru,” Royce emphasized.

“My question Administrator Shah, is this: What is USAID doing to urge the Government of the Philippines to address the issue of land grabbing? Most importantly, what about the rampant corruption that enables land grabbing to occur?

I’ve heard over and over again that the Philippines is making progress on fight-

ing corruption; however, even Philippine anti-corruption officials will admit that corruption “is like rats – it’s everywhere,” Royce said. “With all the assistance funding we’re providing to Manila, isn’t it time that USAID and the administration focused on this issue given what’s at stake?

For three years, I’ve asked the administration to make land grabbing a priority, and for three years, I’ve received emphatic support verbally. Three years later, I see no progress.

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Bill establishes medical records of Filipinos MANILA, Apr 8 (Mabuhay) – Medical records of Filipinos may soon be available through Information and Communication Technology under a bill establishing the Electronic Medical Records Center under the Department of Health (DOH).

According to Reps. Diosdado Macapagal Arroyo (2nd District, Camarines Sur) and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (2nd District, Pampanga), authors of House Bill 2805, the center shall serve as a hub of all databanks of medical records and other pertinent information significant to the patient’s history.

Arroyo said the records center should generate specialized software to be distributed and used as the standard platform for the maintenance, updating, uploading and making available electronic medical records.

“The bill will provide easy access to our own medical records electronically over the Internet to save time, money and effort and obtaining vital medical information especially in emergency cases which can help avoid unnecessary loss of lives,” Arroyo said.

Under the bill, all medical records, electronic communications and transactions electronic medical records

system shall use the existing 128-bit encryption or higher form of “Secure Socket Layer” technology, which may be devised in the future.

The medical service providers shall create and maintain electronic medical records, which shall be electronically uploaded on a regular basis.

Likewise, the medical service providers shall maintain hard copies of the electronic records to be printed and stored as back-up records.

Aside from keeping records, the electronic medical records facilities shall provide for an electronic facility where the patients and medical service providers can communicate on-line either in real time or off-line. (MNS) One key provision of HB 4147 allows the defendant to apply for probation even when he perfected an appeal from conviction, provided the judgment of conviction carrying out a non-probationable penalty was modified by the appellate court into a probationable penalty.

Likewise, the proposed amendatory measure expands the probationable term from six years to eight years.

Another vital provision removes the exclusion from probation of crimes falling under Public Order, thus mak-

ing Articles 146 (when the person is merely present at such assembly); 147, 148, 149, 151, 153, 154, 155 and 156 of Title III, Chapter III to Chapter V, Book II of the Revised Penal Code as probationable offenses.

The measure also considers the Regional, Provincial and City Probation Officers as person in authority, and provides for Volunteer Probation Officers who will assist the Chief Probation Officers in the Regional, Provincial and City Probation Offices.

The Probation Administrator may appoint citizens of good repute and probity who have the willingness, aptitude and potential to act as Volunteer Probation Officers (VPOS) who shall not receive any regular compensation for services rendered except for reimbursement of their actual cost of transportation in the performance of their duties and responsibilities.

The VPOS shall also be entitled to insurance coverage provided by the government; and a twenty percent (20%) discount on all means of transportation, food outlets and theatres/cinemas.

They shall hold office for a two-year term which may be renewed or recalled anytime for a just cause.

Doctors’ group commits to pay correct taxes Living Bread Ministries presents Easter Musical in Harbor City The Living Bread Ministries will present “On The Third Day,” an Easter Musical that will be held on the night of Good Friday, April 18, and the morning of Easter Sunday, April 20, at the Living Ministries, 25000 Normandie Ave., Harbor City, CA90710.

Congregants are inviting everyone to join them for a heart-warming Musical about the passion of Jesus Christ.

Admission is free.

MANILA, Apr 10 (Mabuhay) – Members of the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) has given their support to the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) efforts for greater tax compliance among medical doctors. In a statement, PCP President Priscilla B. Caguioa said: “Foremost in our tasks and responsibilities as medical doctors is to serve, guided by our moral obligation to provide the optimum care to individuals who are in need. We, in the PCP, have fought for necessary reforms to clean our own ranks.

We have been successful doing so, but not without the government’s cooperation and encouragement.”

Because of these reforms, the group saw a “palpable increase” among members in their issuance of receipts, reliable mainte-

nance of records, VAT registration, as well as the payment of taxes.

“Honest compliance is part and parcel of the ethical responsibilities of any professional in contributing his or her share in nation building,” Caguioa said.

She noted the PCP was at the forefront of pushing for the passage of the Sin Tax Law. “Apart from the campaign’s obvious health components and effects, PCP’s sin tax advocacy resulted in the increase in taxes imposed on tobacco and alcoholic beverages. The effort would not have succeeded without its partnership with the BIR, among others,” she said.

Because of the Sin Tax Law, the government has been empowered to meet its Universal Health Care goal. “Specifically,

the sin tax law has generated PHP 91.6 B in 2013 to add to the DOH budget of 88 B - essentially doubling the health agency budget.”

Caguioa noted that doctors are trying to emulate the country’s national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal - a physician.

“Like him, our members try very hard on a day to day basis to emulate his ideals and values to rise up to the huge challenge of the medical profession we dearly love.

We must continue to build a community of ethical professionals who vow to serve the people, including helping this government’s thrust of good governance and transparency.

We are one in building this nation because this is where we belong, as a people,” she said. (MNS)

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Permanent resident does not require job to sponsor spouse Q. I’m a permanent resident of Canada. I landed in Ottawa, Ontario in 2005 and had a good paying job. In 2011, I returned to the Philippines to care for my ailing father and I have not returned to Canada since. During my stay in the Philippines I met a woman and we married a few months ago. I want to come back to Canada and bring my wife with me. Can I start the sponsorship now? I read that I must have a job to sponsor my wife but I resigned from my job long ago and I do not know when I will be able to land another job

in Canada. Do I stay in the Philippines and sponsor? Do I need to return? Please help. not be able to board a plane with an expired A. There are a few legal issues here. You card. To obtain a new card you must have have stated that you are a permanent resident been in Canada for two years within the last of Canada and not a Canadian Citizen. As such, five. This seems to be a problem. As well, as a that triggers two important points. Firstly, you permanent resident you cannot file a sponsorhave a PR card that has an expiry date. You will ship while abroad. You must be in Canada to

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ASSISTED CLIENTS FROM OVER 50 COUNTRIES SINCE 1993 Edmund Anciano is an attorney admitted to practice before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Board of Immigration Appeals. He is authorized by Federal Law [US Code of Federal Regulations 8 C.F.R. 1.1(f)] to represent persons in all 50 states before the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. His law practice is limited to Immigration and Nationality Law. He is not an attorney licensed to practice state law in California but is an attorney licensed in New Jersey. Edmund Anciano received his bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph’s University in Pennsylvania. He received his law degree from Rutgers University

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sponsor your spouse (Canadian Citizens by the way can live abroad and remain abroad while sponsorship a spouse). Therefore, you need to return to Canada to file the sponsorship application and you can do so even if you do not have a job. The financial requirements are waived when sponsorship a spouse as long as you can demonstrate you are able to support yourself without collecting social assistance.

In rare cases, your spouse may be able to obtain a visitor visa. If so, you can enter Canada together and then file the sponsorship from inside of Canada.

Q. I’m a nurse from Saudi Arabia and I already applied for permanent residence. My application is almost complete and my husband has completed his medicals and we submitted our passports. To our surprise, we just received a letter from the Canadian Embassy telling us that they want to refuse the application because they discovered that my husband was married to another woman before he married me. I did not know about this. I confronted my husband and he told me that he was under the impression that it was annulled. He has a document showing he filed the annulment. We have sixty days to give a reply so this is urgent.

A. I suppose the most important thing to find out is if the annulment was finalized and there is a final judgment. If there was a final order of annulment before he married you then this can be fixed easily. If however, there was no final order (regardless of whether he filed the application) then legally your husband committed the criminal act of bigamy (because he married a person while already married to someone else). If so, this becomes problematic because his inadmissibility becomes your inadmissibility that can render a refusal for everyone. I suggest you have a discussion with your husband on why he did not inform you of this, on whether you want to include him on the application and obtain professional advice on how to deal with this with the Canadian Embassy.

Q. I’m a live in caregiver and I already have

my open work permit. I met a man during my vacation in Los Angeles last year and we recently married in Las Vegas. Do I need to add him to my application or should I sponsor him after I become an immigrant? If I need to add him how is this done?

A. You absolutely must inform the immigration authorities of the change of your marital status. It is crucial. You cannot become an immigrant until your husband completes applications and does a medical exam. Failure to do so will mean you will not be able to sponsor him in the future. To add your husband he must complete the generic application and send photos with processing fees.

Q. I’m a Canadian Citizen living in New York. I am in the process of sponsorship my same sex partner under the common law partner category. My partner was married before and has one child from that marriage. The child is ten years old and living in the Philippines with her grandmother. We have run into an obstacle because the father of the child does not want to sign any consent allowing the child to immigrate to Canada. How can we bring the child together on the application if the father refuses to give this consent? A. In short, you have a problem. Under the Hague Convention the Canadian Embassy must obtain consent from the father allowing a child under 18 years of age to immigrate. The father must complete a special consent letter and provide his ID. In my experience the Canadian Embassy will not budge.

Therefore, try your best to convince the father that it is in the best interests of the child. If the father does not consent then you must make a decision to perhaps leave the child behind, have partner immigrate alone and then sponsor child at a later date ( when father provides consent or when child turns 18).

Attorney Henry Moyal is a certified and licensed immigration lawyer in Toronto, Ontario.

The above article is general advice only and is not intended to act as a legal document. Send questions to Attorney Moyal by email canada@ moyal.com or call toll free 1-888-847-2078.

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Does bankruptcy court have power to void debtor’s homestead exemption?

The situation we are going to discuss involves the debtor’s homestead claim of exemption for his residence in a bankruptcy proceeding. In California, the homestead claim of exemption is $75,000, $125,000, and $175,000 depending on certain factors.

For example, debtor is 65years old. His residence has a fair market value of $700,000 at the time of bankruptcy filing,

with a first mortgage balance of $550,000. He claims his residence as against the $175,000 homestead exempan exempt asset in schedule A of his bank- tion to penalize debtor for his misconduct ruptcy petition. There is no problem here at resulting in debtor losing his residence to this point because the equity of the house the trustee despite his claim of homestead is less than $175,000. If the trustee files a exemption? For instance, debtor makes a motion to sell the house, debtor can suc- fake 2nd trust deed to ensure that he qualicessfully oppose the motion and the court fies for the exemption and trustee is forced will certainly deny trustee’s motion to sell. to litigate the matter with debtor incurring But what happens when the debtor is a massive amount of legal fees that exguilty of fraud in his bankruptcy and the ceed $175,000 that he seeks to surcharge trustee asks the court to surcharge the against the homestead claim of exemption trustee’s administrative and legal fees of $175,000, who will prevail?

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In Law v. Siegel, Trustee decided by the U.S. Supreme two weeks ago, CA debtor, Stephen Law filed for Chapter 7 relief in 2004 where his petition stated that his residence was worth $363,348 subject to a first mortgage of $147,156 held by WAMU, and a 2nd mortgage for $156,929 held by “Lin’s Mortgage & Associates� aka LIN LIEN. With his $75,000 homestead exemption, debtor said he had no equity in his home.

Mr. Siegel, the Chapter 7 trustee challenged the LIN LIEN as being fraudulent. “Whoever heard of a LIN LIEN? Smells fishy, doesn’t pass the smell test�, said Mr. Siegel. The trust deed supporting the lien was recorded by the debtor in 1999 held

by LILI LIEN, so now it is referred to as the “LILI LIN LIEN.�“ I get tongue tied when I try to describe the lien!� argued Mr. Siegel. To make matters more complicated, two individuals claiming to be Lili Lin eventually responded to Siegel’s complaint. One Lili Lin of Artesia, California, was an acquaintance of Law who denied ever having loaned him money and described his numerous efforts to involve her in various bogus transactions relating to the disputed trust deed, and another Lili Lin, the one and only, holder of the 2nd trust deed. “Over the next five years, the one and only Lili Lin managed-despite supposedly living in China and speaking no English- to engage in extensive and costly litigation, including several appeals, contesting the avoidance of the deed of trust and Siegel’s subsequent sale of the house,� said Justice Scalia. In 2009, the bankruptcy court found that there was no person named Lili

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Lin who loaned money to the debtor, and concluded that the debtor created the loan in order to preserve the equity in his home.

The court said the “most plausible conclusion� was that Law “authored, signed, and filed some or all of these papers. The bankruptcy court determined that Siegel spent more than $500,000 in attorney fees overcoming Law’s fraudulent misrepresentations, and granted Siegel’s motion to “surcharge� the entirety of Law’s $75,000 homestead exemption to pay a portion of those fees. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals AFFIRMED. But the Supreme Court REVERSED and REMANDED, ruling that the bankruptcy court violated the express terms of Section 522(k)’s when it ordered that the $75,000 protected by the debtor’s homestead exemption be “surcharged� to pay the trustee’s attorney’s fees. “In doing so, the court exceeded the limits of its authority under Section 105(a) and its inherent powers,� said Justice Scalia. “The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.� – Deuteronomy 31:8.

Lawrence Bautista Yang is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and has been in law practice for thirty years.

He specializes in bankruptcy, business and civil litigation and has handled more than five thousand successful bankruptcy cases in California. He speaks Tagalog and looks forward to discussing your case with you personally. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Bldg A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803.

Pabasa jives with Filipinos’ penchant for singing One of the most durable traditions of the Holy Week for the deeply pious Filipinos is the “singing� of the Pabasa ng Pasyon known simply as “pabasa� which comes naturally to them because of their innate love for singing.

It would not have been necessary for Spanish friars to introduce the ritual because the music loving Filipinos would

have found a way to commemorate the pasPasyong Mahal. sion of Jesus Anaheim resident Mary D. prides in Christ using her knowledge of the peculiar tunes in their natural singing the Pabasa ng Pasyon which singing abilishe learned growing up in Batangas and ties. had a chance at singing her favorite verThe pabasion in an abbreviated Pabasa in Orange sa tradition County a year ago. She will once again was brought be able to sing to her heart delight with to the Philipa scheduled Pabasa on the Good Fripines shores day of April 18 which Christians around via the Histhe world will have the opportunity to panic consee as it will be streamed live over the quest. GradInternet. u a l l y, t h e Christian worker Fergel Cruz’s Spanish colonizers had their way into the God will make it possible for the Filipinos in personal passion to spread word of Filipino consciousness via the religious America as well as overseas to witness a chanting where gradually it was infused tradition they miss at home. Pabasa can with local colors and many singing styles be seen on www.TinigpinoyTV.com from of the three major groups in the country – 8-11p.m. Pacific Time. the Tagalog, Ilocano and Visayan groups.

The Pabasa is a sponsored event in The text of the familiar book used in the some provincial regions of the Philippines Pabasa is an adaptation of the pre-Hispanic with chanters who are usually groups take art of chanting epic poems as a form of oral turns in singing the verses a capella or with tradition. After Christianity was introduced the accompaniment of musical instruments by the Spanish, the Passion cycle was usually a guitar or accordion. adapted into the native art.

There are peculiar tunes in reading the The original form of the Pasyon was Pasiong Mahal which is normally done in written by Gaspar Aquino de Belen in the a makeshift altar or in the neighborhood 17th century and was entitled “Ang Mahal chapel, town plazas, church yards or at the na Pasion ni Jesu Christong Panginoon home of the Pabasa sponsor.

Natin na Tola� – “The Sacred Passion of Hosting a Pabasa has become a panata Jesus Christ Our Lord that is a Poem�. (vow) of some hosts and serves as an offerThe “Casaysayan nang Pasiong Mahal ing or thanks-giving for request granted or ni Jesucristong Panginoon Natin na Sucat simply show their devotion to the Catholic Ipag-alab nang Puso nang Sinomang Ba- faith during the Holy Week season and basa� (“The History of the Passion of Jesus serves as “a form of religious meditation, Christ Our Lord that Surely Shall Ignite expression of faith�. In rural Philippines, the Heart of Whosoever Readeth�) is still chanters are frequently aged women and the most popular Tagalog version of the men who alternate and take turn in singing.

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A two-day tribute to our veterans: ‘Araw ng Kagitingan’ and ‘Bataan Legacy’ On Tuesday, April 8, 2014, in observance of the “Araw Ng Kagitingan” or the Philippines’ “Day of Valor” the office of Deputy Consul General Imelda Panolong and her staff, in cooperation with the Philippine Scouts Heritage Society Nininger Chapter and Panorama Knights, Inc. held a reception of community leaders at the office of the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles.

“Tragedy of Bataan,” a documentary film by Jan Thompson and narrated by actor Alec Baldwin which contains first account interviews of 22 survivors of death march of Bataan and imprisoned in the conflict, was shown to pay tribute to various labor camps in both the Philippines our veterans who lived through their ex- and Japan. Having survived as a prisoner periences as prisoners of war. One of these of war of the Japanese from April 9, 1942 was Fr. Robert Phillips, who was born in to September 5, 1945, he reenlisted in the Duluth, Minnesota, who was with the US Air Force after eight months of hospitalArmy Air Corps stationed in Malaybalay, ization and upon retirement, received the Bukidnon when he became a prisoner of grade of Major in 1961. Currently, Major war of the Japanese Imperial Army on May Levenberg serves as Executive Secretary, 10, 1942. While working among assigned National Advisory Committee on Former groups of ten men, they were told by their Prisoners of War, Veteran Affairs Departcaptors not to attempt to escape, but those ment and as POW Consultant at the V.A. who did were shot to death in front of them, Medical Center in Reno, Nevada.

A former dentist, Albert Brown, was as if “to emphasize that they too would suffer the same consequence. Currently, born in North Platte, Nebraska, whose Fr. Phillips is a veteran advocate who parents were Albert and Ida Fonda Brown. turned his passion of therapy and healing His father Albert was a railroad engineer and his mother, Ida was the aunt of acin writing.

Another American named Benjamin tor Henry Fonda. Albert Brown was the Charles Steele, born in Roundup, Mon- godson of Buffalo Bill. He survived the tana, was assigned to the 19th Bomb Group 65-mile Bataan Death March with no at Clark Field on Christmas Day, 1941. He food, no water, no medical attention and was among the soldiers who were given an estimated 11,000 prisoners died during the orders to move to Bataan. On April the march , including those who were killed Fools’ Day, April 1, 1944, he was among when they were too weak and died by the the 8,000 Americans and 40,000 Filipino wayside in the jungle. Brown “recorded prisoners who made the long march called the events he witnessed in secret using a “death march” off the Bataan Peninsula to nail writing tablet and pencil hidden in his canvas bag’s lining.”

Capas, Tarlac.

After the death march, he endured a Out of the 325 men in Camp O’Donnell where he was detained, Ben Steele was one three-year imprisonment as a POW in a of the 50 who survived. Though devoid of Japanese camp from 1942 to September, an art training, he chronicled his life on his 1945. At camp, he ate nothing but rice and drawings and paintings and his collections was afflicted with 12 diseases including can be currently seen at the Montana State dengue, malaria and dysentery. Brown was unable to return to his dental practice University.

Ralph Levenberg was born in Clinton, after the war due to his injuries but he Iowa and he was a member of the 17tth returned to school and became a landlord Pursuit Squadron stationed in Manila at the involved in rental properties and then he outbreak of World War II. As a prisoner moved to Los Angeles. He rented houses of war, he participated in the infamous to major Hollywood figures such as Olivia

PHL aims defense deal done before Obama visit MANILA, April 11, 2014 (AFP) – The Philippines said Friday it hopes to complete a new defense accord with the United States ahead of a visit by President Barack Obama this month, as a territorial dispute with China simmers.

The chief Philippine negotiator, defense undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino, said in a statement the latest round of discussions about an increased US military presence in the country was “very productive”.

“This round brought us much closer to finding full consensus and the draft provisions on key points of an enhanced defense cooperation will be submitted to the president for his review,” Batino said.

Philippine negotiators on Friday said the eighth round of talks on a proposed military agreement had seen both sides “finding consensus on key points of a draft”.

The agreement proposes allowing more US troops, aircraft, and ships to pass through the Philippines, as well as storing equipment in this country that could help mobilise American forces faster - particularly in the case of natural disasters.

The accord would provide “critical and timely support to the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (and the) achievement of the country’s minimum credible defense posture,” Batino’s statement said.

The deal would not allow the US military to “establish a permanent military presence or base” or bring nuclear weapons

into the country, in line with the Philippine Constitution.

The proposed agreement could be signed before President Obama visits the Philippines this month, a foreign department spokesman said.

“We aim to conclude the negotiations before the Obama visit,” foreign department spokesman Charles Jose told AFP. Washington has said Obama will visit the Philippines at the end of April as part of a four-nation tour of East Asia.

The United States had two large military bases near Manila until 1992, when it gave both up amid growing anti-US sentiment and a rental dispute.

However the Philippines has been seeking greater US support in recent years after China began asserting its claim to disputed territory in the South China Sea. China claims almost all of the strategically important body of water, even up to the coasts of its neighbors.

Last month, Chinese ships blocked Philippine vessels that were bringing supplies to a Philippine military outpost, and in January Chinese ships used water cannon on Filipino fishermen near a disputed shoal.

The Philippines has responded by filing a case with a United Nations tribunal to challenge China’s territorial claim.

China has refused to participate in the case and has warned that the Philippines’ action has “seriously damaged” bilateral ties.

de Havilland and Joan Fontaine. He also developed personal friendships with Roy Rogers and John Wayne.

In 2007, Brown was recognized as the oldest living veteran of World War II and his experience during the war was chronicled in the 2011 book, “Heroes of the Pacific War: One Man’s True Story,”

by Ken Moore. He died in a nursing home in Nashville, Illinois on August 14, 2011 at the age of 105. His wife of fifty years, Helen Johnson Brown died in 1985. He was survived by his daughter, Peggy Doughty, son Graham, twelve grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and nineteen great-great grandchildren.

Finally, as a tribute to the POWs who survived the war, Sara Mislang sang a rendition of “Bayan Kong Pilipinas” and along with a duet with Sam Santiago, they sang “Pilipinas Kong Mahal.”

In a related event the following day, Wednesday, April 9, 2014 the Filipino Veterans Foundation had a film presentation

called “Bataan Legacy” held at the historic Bob Hope Patriotic Hall in Los Angeles.

This event was spearheaded by the Filipino Veterans Foundation Executive Director Dr. Jenny Batongmalaque, whose honorary Advisory Board is chaired by former President of the Philippines, Fidel V. Ramos.

The “Bataan Legacy” film presentation was produced by guest speaker Cecilia Gaerlan. After the film presentation, Ms. Gaerlan introduced testimonials from surviving veterans such as Harry Corre and Phil Sanchez. Harry Corre recalled how he escaped by swimming in the shark-infested sea waters, while Phil Sanchez described his encampment at the Malinta Tunnel.

The afternoon was highlighted by the Carson High School Band’s energizing musical performance of the song “Amazing Grace.”

For her parting words, Cecile Gaerlan said: “let us mark the Bataan legacy to live on!”

Acting Consul General Imelda Panolong (6th from left) and Dr. Jenny Batongmalaque (executive director of the Filipino Veterans Foundation, 9th from left) with World War II veterans at Historic Bob Hope Patriotic Hall in Los Angeles. Photo: Jun Torres

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OPINION

Aquino: PHL will fight for what is right

MANILA, Apr 9 (Mabuhay) – Amid the ongoing territorial dispute with China, President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday sent a strong message that the Philippines will not hesitate to fight for what is right.

“Noon pa man po malinaw na sa mga Pilipino: Maliit man tayo, kung nasa tama tayo, lalaban tayo,” Aquino said during his speech at the commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan in Bataan.

The President did not specifically mention China but he cited the sacrifice of nine Marines in the disputed Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.

“Isipin na lang ninyo ang pambihirang sakripisyong pinamamalas ng kanilang grupo [na] sa loob ng halos limang buwan, ang kanilang mundo ay uminog lamang sa karagatan,” he said.

Aquino said the Marines have no communication with their families and there was even a time Chinese vessels tried to block a ship carrying supplies to them.

“Araw-gabi sakay ng nakatirik na BRP Sierra Madre ay nakaangkla lamang ang kanilang dedikasyon sa pagtutok at pagbabantay ng ating teritoryo,” he said.

The Philippines has submitted its formal pleading to a United Nations tribunal hearing the case seeking to invalidate Beijing’s claim over the South China Sea. Manila adopted the name West Philippine Sea for parts of the waters that are within its territorial boundaries.

And although the Philippines has said it is committed to pursuing the diplomatic route, the President said the government remains bent on modernizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

He said the government already spent more than P36 billion for around 38 projects since July 2010.

“Sakaling kailangan nating sumuong sa laban, hindi naman maaaring pwedeng lakas ng loob lang ang sandata ng ating mga kawal. Sa ganito man pong paraan ay mapapagaan natin ang mga hindi birong tungkulin upang paglingkuran ang ating minamahal na bansa,” he said.

Aside from the Marines, Aquino also lauded the sacrifice of Filipino veterans who fought during World War II. “Marahil nga po kapag tinanong ng kasalukuyang henerasyon kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng sakripisyo, ang pinaka-angkop na sagot ay [ang] inyong halimbawa,” he said, adding that the government seek to provide veterans with the benefits they deserve.

“Kaya naman po kasama ng ating mga beterano kabilang din ng mga kawal na tulad nila sa mga kinikilala natin ngayon, saludo po ang sambayanang Pilipino sa inyo naniniwala pa rin po tayo,” he said.

He said they have already purged the list of pensioners to remove fake beneficiaries. As of 2014, he said they have closed 22,534 accounts and suspended 14,616 others.

Because of this, he said they have retrieved P396.61 million in pension remittances which can be used to give benefits to 133,784 legitimate veterans and their dependents.

“Tinitiyak natin na sa mga karapatdapat lamang mapupunta ang bawat pisong inilalaan natin mula sa kaban ng bayan,” he said.

Aquino also said that in 2013 alone, they have given P17 million worth of medical services to 1,092 veterans. He added that 2,059 dependents have continued their education because of the benefits.

(MNS)

Whistleblowing Playboy employee in retaliatory firing, awarded $6-M Catherine Zulfer worked for Playboy Enterprises, Inc. for thirty years in various accounting positions. She was serving as Corporate Controller, reporting directly to Playboy’s Chief Financial Of- December 31, 2011 in a “layoff.” ficer (CFO), when she was fired Zulfer filed a case against in 2011.

Playboy, alleging retaliation and In October 2010, the CFO age discrimination. She contends allegedly instructed Zulfer to that the “layoff” was a pretext for prepare one million dollars in retaliation. Her position was not discretionary bonuses for several eliminated, but instead given to a corporate executives without ap- subordinate. Playboy denied all of proval by Playboy’s Board of Di- Zulfer’s allegations. rectors. Zulfer refused to follow Employees have the right the CFO’s instructions, saying to refuse to perform work that that paying the bonuses without violates the law. Employees who Board approval would be dishon- refuse to violate the law or report est to shareholders and violate violations are protected under company policy and accounting whistleblower and anti-retaliation rules. She was also concerned of laws. embezzlement of Playboy assets.

Whistleblowing involves emThe CFO repeated the demand ployees who provide information in January 2011. Zulfer again to a law enforcement agency berefused and reported the situation cause they reasonably believe that to Playboy’s General Counsel and there is a violation or non-complioutside SEC counsel. After this, ance with the law. If an employee the CFO allegedly began retaliat- is terminated or demoted because ing against Zulfer by ostracizing of their whistleblowing activities, her, excluding her from meetings, they may have a claim for retaliwithholding crucial information, ation. California’s anti-retaliation and eliminating her accounting law protecting whistleblowers staff. Then, the CFO announced was recently expanded to cover a plan to rid the company of older employees who complain within employees. Zulfer, who was 56 a company about unlawful pracyears old, was terminated on tices. It also now applies to

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cases where the employee truly believed the conduct they complained about was unlawful, even if it was not.

Employees who suffer retaliation may be entitled to compensatory damages for lost earnings, emotional distress, attorneys’ fees and punitive damages against the employer.

The jury found that Zulfer was illegally fired in retaliation for reporting alleged fraud within the company, and that she was discriminated on the basis of age.

The jury awarded Ms. Zulfer a total of $6 million in damages.

The jury also found Playboy “guilty of malice, fraud or oppression” in illegally terminating Ms. Zulfer. This entitled her to recover additional punitive damages.

The case was reportedly resolved before the panel could consider punitive damages that might have increased the $6 million award.

[C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is trial attorney who has obtained several million dollar recoveries for his clients against insurance companies and employers. He has been selected as a Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, featured in the cover of Los Angeles Daily Journal’s Verdicts and Settlements, and is a member of the Million DollarAdvocates Forum. He is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center Washington, D.C. and the University of the Philippines. Visit his website at www. joesayaslaw.com or contact his office at (818) 291-0088 for a no-cost inquiry.]

RH law still strong, says Pia MANILA, Apr 9 (Mabuhay) – Senator Pia Cayetano said she has no doubt that the Reproductive Health (RH) Law “has teeth” even if the Supreme Court declared some of its provisions as unconstitutional.

Cayetano said she is “very happy” with the high court’s ruling on the highly divisive law, noting that what is more important is that its main objective remains intact.

“I know for a fact that the main objective, which is to provide reproductive health services access to the poor, is there,” said Cayetano, who is one of the authors and sponsors of the RH Law. While she admitted that she would have wanted the SC to uphold the entire law, she said she “can live with [some provisions] being struck down.”

“That’s how confident I am about this being a still strong law,” she said. “If one or two provisions would be stricken down, to me that’s acceptable. As long as the heart and the meat of the law is still there. And it is without a doubt,” she added.

The provisions struck down by the SC include the one compelling private health facilities, non-maternity specialty hospitals, and hospitals owned and managed by religious groups to refer reproductive health patients not in an emergency or life-threatening case to other facilities. According to Cayetano, this provision being struck down does not bother her much since the beneficiaries of the law are the poor people who do not go to private hospitals.

“To me, is that so important? I’ll tell you what. The beneficiaries of the Reproductive Health Law are the poor people. Do they go to private hospitals? No. They go to public hospitals, they go to barangay hospitals.

Do any of them even see the light of day in a tertiary hospital? No. In those specialty hospitals? No. So we preserved the meat of it.”

“Interestingly also though, at the end of the day, I’ve talked to many doctors, they’re Catholic or whatever,

most of them will still give advice anyway so it really doesn’t bother me that much,” she said.

‘Baffling, impractical’ The senator said she has yet to study the full text of the high court’s ruling, and there remains some confusion about certain provisions of the law that were declared unconstitutional. The provisions struck down by the SC also include the ones allowing minors who have suffered miscarriage to have access to family planning without parental consent, as well as punishing a health care provider who refuses/fails to disseminate information on reproductive health programs or refer a patient to another health care service provider.

In particular, Cayetano expressed some concern over the high court’s decision that a married individual cannot undergo reproductive health procedures without spousal consent unless in emergency or life-threatening situations.

She described the SC’s ruling on that particular provision as “baffling” and at the same time “impractical.”

“That provision really bothered me... Bear with me but how many men accompany their wives when they have their routine ob-gyne check-up? Buntis nga na 9 months more often than not when you see the waiting room, maybe 1 percent 2 percent have a husband with them. And then if they need to do nga a procedure, what, you’re gonna call your husband and go back pa?” Cayetano said.

“Seriously? If I have a growth... I have a lot of friends who say they have polyps, di naman daw ano pero mino-monitor. Eh ano, sabihin basta we monitor every 6 months. Eh let’s say maraming separated in fact, or two years yung asawa mo nasa abroad. Paano yun? Papa-affidavit siya, pupunta siya sa consul, magpapa-consularize ka, authenticated?”

“Seriously you gotta be a woman to understand these,” she added. (MNS)

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Dealing with assets omitted from a divorce case You and your spouse may have gone through a lengthy and contentious divorce proceeding. This is usually the most difficult period of a person’s life. Finally, time heals all pain.

You and your spouse get tired of bickering and being mean to one another that you both decide to compromise each other positions and resolve all issues in your divorce case through settlement. Shortly thereafter, the divorce judgment is finally

entered by the Court and you get a sigh of relief. munity estate asset or liability omitted or Later you discovery that “Oops!,� your not adjudicated by the judgment.� The ex-spouse had community asset and/or debt postjudgment partition of the unadjudithat was left out of the divorce judgment. cated community estate claims is properly This may be a pension, retirement account, entertained by the court even absent an a hidden bank account, or a piece of real express reservation of jurisdiction in its estate property which was not divided in prior judgment. Marriage of Moore & Ferthe judgment. What is one to do in this rie (1993) 14 CA4th 1472, 1483, 18 CR2d situation? The answer can be found in 543, 549, fn. 9. The postjudgment motion California Family Code §2556. is available to any omitted asset or debt California Family Code §2556 pro- not adjudicated by the divorce judgment. vides “In a proceeding for dissolution of However, Family Code §2556 does marriage, for nullity of marriage, or for not extend to division and adjudication of legal separation of the parties, the court any separate property. Marriage of Klug has continuing jurisdiction to award com- (2005) 130 CA4th 1389, 1396, 31 CR3d munity estate assets or community estate 327, 331–332. liabilities to the parties that have not been If an asset was partially omitted, the previously adjudicated by a judgment in Court can still divide and adjudicate the the proceeding.� California Family Code portion that has been omitted postjudgment §2556. Even if the parties did not expressly under family code §2566. Community reserve jurisdiction on that piece of asset, Property adjudicated under § 2556 shall the Court retains the power to divide a be divided equally “unless the court finds specific property if there is a community upon good cause shown that the interests interest in it. of justice require an unequal division of The Court’s “continuing jurisdiction� the asset or liability.� Family Code §2556. over omitted community estate assets or Please note that this article is not legal debts is invoked by filing a post judgment advice and is not intended as legal advice.

Motion, or Request for Order in the di- The article is intended to provide only vorce case. Family Code §2556 provides general, non-specific legal information. “A party may file a postjudgment motion This article is not intended to cover all the or request for order in the proceeding in issues related to the topic discussed. The order to obtain adjudication of any com- specific facts that apply to your matter may

KENNETH U. REYES, P.C.

FAMILY LAW • Divorce • Community Property Division • Child Custody and Spousal Support • Domestic Violence Restraining Order • Legal Separation and Nullity • Parentage • Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements

LOS ANGELES, April 11, 2014 (AFP) – A delivery truck ploughed into a bus carrying American students in northern California, killing ten people and injuring at least 30, the California Highway Patrol said.

The bus was one of three bringing high school students to tour Humboldt State University on Thursday, which is about a six-hour drive north of San Francisco. “My understanding is the FedEx truck crossed the highway divide, and it was a head on collision with our bus,� Joyce Lopes, a university official, told AFP. The other two buses arrived safely.

The university said the dead included the drivers of the two vehicles.

The identities of the other victims were not immediately released.

Images from the scene showed the highway was divided by a grassy median.

Photos of the bus showed a fire-gutted wreck, with the once-white metal exterior blackened and crumpled.

On the bus were low-income and firstgeneration prospective college students, traveling as part of a university-sponsored

program to introduce them to the college and other prospective students. “Students were transported to six different hospitals, because it was a fairly remote place...where the accident occurred,�

Lopes explained, adding it was taking time to track down each student.

Two bus passengers were in critical condition, said Enloe Medical Center, which had received 11 of the injured passengers.

Four were in fair condition and five had been discharged, the statement added.

Another local hospital had discharged all five of the injured crash victims it had treated, according to the New York Times. “The Humboldt State community sends our deepest condolences to all those involved in this tragic accident. We are saddened beyond words,� the university said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to those who have been affected, and we are here to support them, and their families, in any way possible,� HSU president Rollin Richmond had said earlier.

The bus that crashed had traveled from Los Angeles, the university said.

*Kenneth U. Reyes, Esq. CFLS

CALL OR E-MAIL FOR AN APPOINTMENT

213-388-1611 or

kureyeslaw@gmail.com

IMMIGRATION • Marriage Petitions • Relative Petitions • Removal of Conditional Green Card • Humanitarian Reinstatements • Child Status Protection Act Issues • Deportation Defense • Employment based Petitions and PERM • H-1B Visas

LAW OFFICES OF

KENNETH U. REYES

Ten dead in road accident in California

LAW OFFICES OF

- Certified Family Law Specialist - Certified Public Accountant (Inactive) - J.D. Southwestern University Law School, Los Angeles, CA - B.S. Accounting, California State University, San Bernardino, CA

Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration.

He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com.

Pilipino po tayo!

* Certified Family Law Specialist The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization

make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you.

This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation.

Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association.

He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the

ESTATES AND TRUST • Living Trust • Wills • Probate • Conservatorship

CIVIL LITIGATION • Contract Disputes • Business Disputes • Corporate and Partnership Disputes

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Ray An Fuentes in Christian ‘Laban: The Legend of Urduja’ at Cal State Long Beach’s Pilipino Cultural Night April 25 Fellowship concert April 20 One of the most revered performers a perspective of the Pilipino culture that in the Philippines, Ray An Fuentes, will is not often seen. showcase his singing and dancing talents The group hopes that you can join th on stage in An Easter Concert: We Exalt them in celebrating their 28 annual You Jesus! on April 20 at Praise Christian Pilipino Cultural Night production as Fellowship in Los Angeles. they “proudly present the passion for our culture!”

Interested in sponsoring this grand event? Obtain the satisfaction of contributing to keeping the PCN tradition going while also promoting your business Carson, CA, March 24, 2014– Philippine to over 1,000 attendees! All monetary Independence Day Foundation (PIDF), one contributions and/or other donations of the most active nonprofit public benefit would be much appreciated. For any corporations in the City of Carson is holdbusiness inquiries please contact pcn@ ing its Inaugural MISS ALL-INCLUSIVE TOUR (AIR & LAND) and QUEEN Philiplbpac.com. pine Independence Day on May 25, 2014.

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Filipino student association based in Cal State Long Beach is going to hold a Filipino cultural night and will stage a play entitled “Laban: The Legend of Urduja” as its 28th annual cultural presentation on April 25 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.

California State University, Long Beach’s Pilipino Cultural Night (PCN) is an annual event that aims to share the culture and history of our people through the art of traditional dances and the eloquence of an original story. Over 1000 family members, friends, acquaintances, and people from all walks of life attend this momentous occasion to experience

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A latter addition to the yearly celebration for the past three years is the special guest appearance of high profile TV sensations Marian Rivera, Rafael Rosell, Rachel Ann Go and Aljur Abrenica, through the auspices of GMA Pinoy TV. Another addition to the revelry is this year’s beauty pageant. Applications are currently being accepted by the Committee.

Intended to showcase the candidates’ beauty and intelligence, the casual wear, evening gown and question and answer portion of the competition will happen on May 25 at the Carson Civic Center, 801 E. Carson St, Carson, CA 90745 at 5pm.

The Miss and Queen Philippine Independence May 25, 2014 will be crowned at the 116th Philippine Independence Day Celebration at Veterans Park, 22400 Moneta Ave. Carson CA 90745 on June 7, 2014.

The winners will represent PIDF and the City of Carson in other mainstream activities and events throughout their reigning year.

‘Heartbleed’ bug a critical Internet illness SAN FRANCISCO, April 11, 2014 (AFP) – The “Heartbleed” flaw in Internet security is as critical as the name implies and wider spread than first believed.

Warnings about the danger exposed early this week reached widening circles on Thursday, with everyone from website operators and bank officials to Internet surfers and workers who tele-commute being told their data could be in danger.

“Heartbleed is a catastrophic bug in OpenSSL,” well-known computer security specialist Bruce Schneier said in a post at hisschneier.com website.

OpenSSL is a commonly used software platform for encrypted transactions at “https” websites that Internet users have been taught to trust.

The Heartbleed flaw lets hackers snatch packets of data from working memory in computers, creating the potential for them to steal passwords, encryption keys, or other valuable information.

“This is going to be a pretty devastating bug,” Trustwave security research manager John Miller told AFP. “Even after the majority of it is fixed on the Internet, there will be internal services vulnerable.”

The Heartbleed flaw can be found in virtual private network (VPN) software commonly used by workers on the go to securely link with company computer networks.

Computer networking titans Cisco and Juniper put out advisories on Thursday that some of their data-handling gear is susceptible to the bug.

“An exploit could allow the attacker to disclose a limited portion of memory from a connected client or server,” Californiabased Cisco said in an advisory note.

“The disclosed portions of memory could contain sensitive information.”

Canada’s tax agency shuttered its website Wednesday after warning that encrypted taxpayer data could be vulnerable.

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Facing foreclosure: Here’s one mistake you should avoid You already know that your home is in foreclosure. You’ve received that dreaded Notice of Default. You know that after 90 days, your home can be scheduled for a Trustee Sale. You don’t have a lot of time left. Your home with all its memories, hopes and dreams will be gone. What are you going to do?

Facing foreclosure can be every homeowner’s worst nightmare. Recently, a client was crying in my office as she told me what a stressful time she is going through. She was laid off from her job more than six months years ago for investment purposes, hoping ago and that’s when her financial problems that someday they would be able to sell it started. The bank started foreclosure pro- at a profit after living in it for a few years. ceedings last month and she is afraid of los- But now everyone is dealing with a difing her home. She is a single mom (a recent ferent reality and it’s really difficult to do. divorcee) with 2 young children. “How do One of the legal remedies available to I even explain this to my children?”, she stop a foreclosure is by filing a Chapter asked. “How do I tell them that we have to 13 bankruptcy. Chapter 13 gets you up to move out of our home and that they need 5 years to catch up and keep your home. to change schools and leave their friends?” If you have other debts like credit cards, Fortunately for her, she just found a new personal loans, medical bills, back property job and started working again. But with taxes and all other types of debt, it also alno savings, she simply can’t come up with lows you to consolidate all these bills into the $12,000 that the bank is demanding for one monthly payment that you can afford. her to catch up on her mortgage payments. A lot of people are not aware of this but These days, you see a lot of companies Chapter 13 is a lot more affordable than offering you a “solution” to your problems. trying to bring your account current with But can they actually deliver? Should you the lender on your own. With the right short sale your home, refinance or should attorney, it can also be a pretty painless you apply for a loan modification? The process for you. options you hear about can be confusing If you have a second mortgage that is because you don’t know what to believe not supported with equity in your property, and who to trust.

Chapter 13 can also completely eliminate The economic downturn has crushed or drastically reduce the amount of the a lot of hopes and dreams. I am sure this loan. The worst mistake that you can make is not what you planned when you bought when facing foreclosure is to wait until the your house. Perhaps you planned on stay- last minute to take action. Once forecloing in this house for good. Or maybe it was sure begins, the clock is ticking and every just going to be a temporary home until you day you wait doing nothing is a day wasted. were ready for a bigger and nicer place. A At least find out what all available options lot of people also bought a home several are and from there, you can hopefully make

the best decision for your situation.

If you are facing foreclosure and need to figure out what you should do, I’d like to help you.

For a free attorney consultation, please call Toll-Free 1-866-477-7772. We have offices in Glendale, Cerritos , West Covina, Valencia and Riverside.

(None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped over 5,000 clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-866-477-7772).

MRT chief to resign once cleared of charges MANILA, Apr 11 (Mabuhay) – Metro Rail Transit (MRT) chief Al Vitangcol on Friday maintained he is innocent of allegations that he extorted money from a Czech firm, saying he will quit his post once he is cleared of the charges.

Vitangcol said he will fight the allegations in court and then quit his post after his name his cleared.

“I have considered resigning but not at this time. If I resign at this time, it might be construed as an admission of guilt. Once I’m cleared by all investigating bodies, nobody would ask me to resign. I will resign voluntarily,” Vitangcol said.

Asked why he would still resign despite after being cleared, Vitangcol said, “ I didn’t expect that government service will be like this.”

Vitangcol was earlier accused by Czech

Republic ambassador to the Philippines Josef Rychtar and Czech train builder Inekon Group CEO Josef Husek of extorting $30 million from the firm.

In his affidavit, Husek claimed that in a meeting in July 2012 at Rychtar’s residence, which Vitangcol did not attend, businessman Wilson de Vera suggested that Inekon would be chosen as the supplier of the 48 new train coaches for MRT in exchange for $30 million.

The proposal was rejected by Inekon because the payment would cause the price of the coaches to rise.

Husek stated that De Vera left the premises of Rychtar’s residence several times to “consult someone” over the phone.

When De Vera came back, he said the $30 million demand had been lowered to $2.5 million.

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FOOD & DINING

US VegWeek kicks off April 21

BY Elena Johnson

There are 52 weeks in a year – why not make at least one of them meat-free?

US VegWeek kicks off on April 21! I hope you’ll join me in taking the 7-day VegPledge – for the planet, our health, and animals. When you sign up at USVegWeek. com, you’ll receive a free starter pack loaded with coupons, recipes, and information on the many benefits of veg eating.

You can also sign up to receive daily emails during the week – including tips, articles, more recipes, and more coupons!

If that’s not enough, this weeklong celebration also features restaurant specials and local events so you can meet other people taking the pledge and try out new vegetarian food together. Check out the map on USVegWeek.com to see what’s happening in your area!

FAMILY FEATURES

T

his year, make your Easter ham effortless by ditching the oven and using your slow cooker instead.

While most people think about slow cooking for staples like chili and stew, it’s also perfect for center-of-the-plate feasts — like an Easter ham.

Using the slow cooker, you can minimize both prep time and cleanup time, leaving plenty of room in the day for church, hunting eggs and enjoying time with your loved ones.

Ham is a tradition for many families this time of year, and because it pairs well with a multitude of ingredients, you can create a unique dish every time.

For a fresh spin on the classic ham, try this Sweet Southern Slow-Cooker Ham recipe from the National Pork Board.

Apple cider and bourbon (or vanilla extract, if you prefer) combine to create a rich flavor complemented by the sweetness of brown sugar.

Round out your Easter menu by pairing your ham with classic sides such as ovenroasted carrots, asparagus wrapped in bacon and mashed sweet potatoes.

You can also use leftover ham for flavor-packed recipes like Ham, Apple and Cheddar Crepes, which are ideal for a family-style brunch.

Need even more reasons to take the pledge – how about prizes? When you pledge to choose vegetarian foods during US VegWeek, you’ll be automatically entered into a drawing for fabulous prizes from our sponsors! Want more chances to win? Become a recruiter – the top 10 recruiters will also win prizes for encouraging their friends and family to join in the US VegWeek fun.

From April 21 – 27 thousands of people, including celebrities and public officials, will be taking the US VegWeek pledge.

Will you join us? I look forward to hearing your experiences during US VegWeek and beyond – Tweet your updates, photos, and food adventures to @ElenaEJohnson.

About the Author Elena Johnson is a second-generation Filipino American living in Baltimore,

MD. As a vegan chef and caterer she has been reinventing her family’s recipes and sharing them with friends, relatives, and those interested in vegetarian cooking.

Elena is also the Special Projects Manager at Compassion Over Killing, a national animal advocacy organization focusing on cruelty to farmed animals and promoting

To get inspired by more ham and Easter meal ideas, visit PorkBeinspired.com or Facebook.com/PorkBeinspired.

Serve warm or at room temperature.

Note: For a non-alcoholic alternative, replace the bourbon with 1/4 cup water and 1 tablespoon vanilla extract.

Cooking Tip: Use leftover ham to make Ham, Apple and Cheddar Crepes.

Sweet Southern Slow-Cooker Ham

Ham, Apple and Cheddar Crepes

Yield: 12 servings Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 4 to 8 hours 1 bone-in fully cooked ham, about 5 1/2 pounds 1 cup apple cider 1/2 cup dark brown sugar 1/3 cup Kentucky bourbon 1/4 cup honey 1/4 cup Dijon mustard 4 fresh thyme sprigs Place ham in large slow cooker. Whisk cider with brown sugar, bourbon, honey and mustard.

Slowly pour over ham. Scatter thyme sprigs into slow cooker.

Cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours, or until very tender. Remove ham to rest on cutting board. Pass remaining cooking liquid through fine mesh sieve into saucepan. Simmer for 10 minutes or until slightly reduced. Carve ham into serving pieces. Brush ham pieces with cooking liquid before arranging on platter.

Yield: 6 servings Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 30 minutes 3 cups ham, shredded and warmed 1 3/4 cups 2% milk 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted 4 large eggs 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 Granny Smith apple, halved, cored and thinly sliced Cheese Sauce 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1 cup 2% milk 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1 cup white cheddar cheese, shredded 2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped

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Pour milk, butter, eggs and salt in blender.

Mix until well combined. Add flour. Mix for 15 to 20 seconds or until smooth. Let stand for 10 minutes.

Heat an 8-inch crepe pan or nonstick skillet over medium heat. Coat well with nonstick cooking spray. Pour 1/4 cup batter into pan, swirl to fully cover bottom of pan.

Cook for 1 minute or until crepe begins to curl round edges. Carefully flip and cook for an additional 30 seconds or until set. Transfer to plate. Repeat with additional cooking spray and remaining batter. Layer cooked crepes between pieces of wax paper to prevent sticking.

Lay a crepe on clean work surface.

Arrange few slices of apple on quarter of crepe; top with shredded ham. Fold crepe in half to cover filling and fold in half again to create triangular shape. Repeat with remaining crepes, apple and ham. Place on parchment-lined baking sheet and hold in warm oven until ready to serve, or up to 30 minutes.

For cheese sauce, melt butter in saucepan set over medium heat. Stir in flour until well coated. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes or until pale and smooth. Whisk in milk, a splash at a time, until smooth; stir in mustard, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes or until thick enough to coat back of spoon. Remove from heat. Whisk in cheese, a small handful at a time, until melted and smooth.

Place filled crepes on each plate. Spoon cheese sauce over each crepe and sprinkle with chives.

Serving Suggestion: All the elements of the recipe can be prepared a day in advance and gently warmed before assembling.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

Green tea boosts working memory, study suggests (Relaxnews) – A beverage with multiple benefits, green tea has inspired a number of research projects in recent years. One of the latest studies on the subject, published in the journal Psychopharmacology, offers additional evidence on how the drink can improve working memory and cognitive performance.

According to various studies, the antioxidant-rich beverage may help in maintaining a healthy weight and fighting bad cholesterol, in addition to improving memory and preventing cognitive decline.

The latter benefits in particular were the subject of a key study by Chinese researcher Bai Yun published in Food Science and Molecular Nutrition and Food Research in June 2012. Eager to evaluate claims of green tea’s power to improve memory and to identify the mechanism behind it, researchers in Basel, Switzerland asked a group of healthy volunteers to consume a soft drink with green tea extract before

solving a series of working memory tasks.

The test subjects’ brain activity was analyzed using an MRI machine.

The researchers, led by Christoph Beglinger and Stefan Borgwardt, of the University Hospital of Basel and the Psychiatric University Clinics respectively, observed improved connectivity between the frontal and parietal brain regions in the test subjects who were given green tea extract.

This improved connectivity between the two brain regions correlated with enhanced performance of the memory tasks.

“Our findings suggest that green tea might increase the short-term synaptic plasticity of the brain,” Borgwardt indicated.

In the future, the findings of the study could be used to assess the effectiveness of green tea extract in treating dementia and other neuropsychiatric illnesses, according to the researchers.

The study was published in the journal Psychopharmacology.

Among the many health benefits associated with green tea is an improvement in memory and cognitive function. ©Humannet/shutterstock.com

Stressed out Americans seek mindful peace (WASHINGTON-AFP) – “Make yourself comfortable, eyes closed, take a few full breaths,” a woman’s voice says softly.

“If you find that your mind has wandered, this is good news.”

Twelve professionals have gathered in a conference room much like any other in downtown Washington. But this is no ordinary meeting.

This is “mindfulness,” a form of meditation that is growing fast in the Western world, including in the United States, and has been hailed for its benefits in reducing

anxiety and depression.

In January, the Journal of the American Medical Association published a study that said in some cases mindfulness could be as effective as taking anti-depressant medication.

“Mindfulness is the friendly awareness of the present moment,” Klia Bassing, 38, an instructor since 2004, tells AFP. “Usually our mind goes into default mode, thinks about anything other than the present moment, usually leaning forward into the future about what could

happen, worrying, planning or ruminating about something in the past that’s already happened.

“With mindfulness, we come into the present moment and sense what’s actually happening right now. The breath is only in the present moment.”

Tangible benefits Bassing is founder of Visit Yourself at Work, bringing mindfulness to the workplace – and there have been plenty of takers, from the World Bank in the US capital to the offices of law firms and

insurance companies.

She has a dozen people on their lunch breaks seated around a conference table at the American Psychological Association (APA). Her voice quiet but firm, Bassing instructs them to sit comfortably and breathe in deeply several times.

“Feel the place where your body makes contact with the chair, the back on the seat, on the seat of the chair, where your back makes contact with the back of the chair, where your back doesn’t make contact with the back of the chair...”

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ENTERTAINMENT

Joey Marquez reacts to Kris-Bistek romance Actor Joey Marquez on Tuesday couldn’t escape questions about former girlfriend Kris Aquino, who admitted the night before that she is now dating Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista.

In a chance interview on Tuesday after a bloggers’ conference for the movie “Da Possessed,” Marquez, who was obviously trying to avoid questions about Aquino, eventually gave a general

comment.

“I am very happy for all of us, for the entire world,” Marquez said.

Asked if he sees a pattern among the men who have been linked to the hostactress, Marquez replied: “Love and peace for everybody for this coming Lenten season.”

Like Bautista, Marquez was once also involved in politics. She and Aquino had

Cristine speaks up on sister Ara’s miscarriage Cristine Reyes reported that her sister, actress Ara Mina, is doing fine following her miscarriage late last year. Reyes said the miscarriage occurred a few months ago and her sister has now accepted what happened.

“Actually ‘yung news kay ate, matagal na ‘yun. Kung tatanungin mo ako, okay na kami. Tapos na ‘yung napagdaanan ni ate. Okay siya,” Reyes said.

Although Mina became depressed, Reyes said her sister is now “perfectly fine and busy siya sa business.”

“Na-depress siya for a while pero hind naman sobra,” she said. “I think ginagawa naman niya ‘yung kailangan niyang gawin para alagaan ang sarili niya.”

Mina said her miscarriage is something she and her partner, Bulacan, Bulacan Mayor Patrick Meneses, do not want to remember.

“It was so painful for me and Pat. Something that we just cannot vocally discuss in public, but we both owe the people the truth that’s why I’m making a statement about it,” she said.

Mina, however, is not losing hope that maybe one day, she will be given another chance to have her own child.

“In God’s time maybe another blessing will come in the future, but for now, we are still trying to move on, trying to forget the miscarriage. We hope that people would understand why we kept in private. Thank you,” she said. (MNS)

a very public breakup in 2003.

When Marquez returned to ABS-CBN in 2012, Aquino was vocal in saying that she was still not ready to work with “Palibhasa Lalake” actor to avoid “opening up old wounds that are better left healed.”

Aquino finally ended speculations about the identity of the man she’s dating, saying she and Bautista are “work in progress.” (MNS)

Joey Marquez

Sexy Solenn gets goofy Model-singer-actress Solenn Heussaff doesn’t mind a bit of laugh at her expense.

In fact, the Fil-French beauty would rather be goofy than sexy and actually welcomed the idea of being deglamorized for the Regal Films/Star Cinema comedy flick “Da Possessed.” “‘Yung outfit ko dito, laging kita ang panty (laughs),” she related. “Actually, gusto ko ‘yun. Mas fun sa akin to make fun of myself than go sexy.”

Solenn’s leading man for the film is Vhong Navarro. She attested, “He’s very funny and professional. Sana suportahan siya ng tao in his comeback film.”

Work on the set was breezy for Solenn. “We’ve been working halos everyday and super fun, napakasaya sa set lalo na ‘yung biruan with direk Joyce Bernal and Vhong,” she said. As to the issue of her supposedly replacing Ellen Adarn, Solenn clarified, “It’s management’s decision and I have nothing to do with it. I’m just happy that I got the chance to work with Vhong.”

At 28, Solenn doesn’t feel any pressure of settling down with her Argentinean boyfriend Nico Bolzico.

“Sabi ko noon, dapat kapag 27 na ako, may family na, but things change. It’s a good thing na chill lang kami pareho ni Nico. We don’t wanna rush. If it happens, it happens. Ready naman ako. But for me kasi, marriage is just singsing and papel.

Kapag may anak na, dapat married talaga kayo,” she expressed.

Solenn also denied that her younger brother Erwan Heussaff is now engaged to Anne Curtis. “Hindi pa. Bata pa ang brother ko. Para sa akin kapag lalaki ka, in your 30s ka pa mag-settle down dapat,” she said.

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COMMUNITY

Sen. Leland Yee denies gun-running plot after FBI sting

BY Stephanie Rice

SAN FRANCISCO, April 8, 2014 (AFP) – Chinatown gangsters, gun-smuggling, Muslim rebels in the Philippines and a shady character called “Shrimp Boy.” Oh, and envelopes full of cash from mobsters.

It may sound like the plot of a cable television mini-series, but FBI agents say it’s the real tale of a California state senator willing to do nearly anything for campaign cash.

Appearing in a San Francisco federal courthouse on Tuesday, now-suspended senator Leland Yee pleaded not guilty to bribery and gun-running charges that could land him behind bars for life.

Yee is the highest-profile of 29 defendants ensnared in an FBI sting that initially targeted the gang underworld of San Francisco’s Chinatown before taking a surprising detour into political corruption.

In addition to being accused of accepting cash for political favors, Yee – a Democrat and a gun-control advocate – is charged with plotting to smuggle guns from the Philippines.

A 137-page arrest warrant affidavit portrays Yee as desperate to pay down campaign debt.

That desperation allegedly led him to approach a man he believed to be a mafia member – actually an undercover FBI agent – with a surprising proposal: He could get the mobster guns from overseas.

At first Yee said the weapons would

probably come from Russia, though he noted “the Muslim countries” were also a possible source, according to the FBI. “Do I think we can make some money?

I think we can make some money,” he is quoted as telling the fake mafioso over coffee. “Do I think we can get the goods?

I think we can get the goods.”

The conversation later shifted to the Philippines, and Yee allegedly introduced a friend who would be the US contact for the arms deal: 60-year-old Filipino-American dentist William Sy Lim. According to the FBI, Yee and his dentist friend concocted a plan: The “mobster” would give a list of desired weapons to Lim. Lim, accompanied by Yee, would travel to the Philippines and hand deliver the list to Lim’s nephew, whom they said was arming Muslim rebels in Mindanao.

The nephew would procure the weapons from a Philippines military captain.

Yee allegedly described the Philippines as “a very corrupt country” and said the government was secretly arming the rebels despite a recent peace treaty in order to distract the public from corruption within the government.

While he cautioned the undercover agent about the dangers of arms trafficking – being kidnapped or arrested – Yee also expressed admiration for the mafioso’s lifestyle, according to the affidavit.

“There is a part of me that wants to be like you...Just be a free-agent out there,”

Yee is quoted as saying.

The FBI sting that has ended Yee’s career initially targeted a man known as Raymond “Shrimp Boy” Chow.

A well-known figure who acknowledged his gangster past but claimed to have gone straight, Chow was often photographed with politicians and honored for his work with at-risk youth.

The FBI wasn’t buying Chow’s tale of redemption.

In the affidavit, Chow is described as using his position as “dragonhead” of a local Chinatown tong – or family association – to oversee a criminal enterprise more focused on money laundering than helping the community.

Chow appeared Tuesday with a new attorney, who asked for more time before entering a plea.

As the FBI closed in on Chow, agents unexpectedly encountered Keith Jackson, a political consultant with ties to both Chow and Yee. Jackson – whose own charges in the case include drug trafficking and murder for hire – introduced the agents to Yee. Jackson also pleaded not guilty.

The case will be back in court on Friday.

Senator Leland Yee during a recent meeting with members of the Filipino-American media in Eagle Rock, a district of Los Angeles, north of downtown. Considered as a friend by many in the community, Sen. Yee was arrested by FBI agents on Wednesday and court documents showed that he’s facing gunrunning charges where the weapons were allegedly coming from Muslim rebels in the Philippines.

US unearths sophisticated border drug tunnels LOS ANGELES, April 4, 2014 (AFP) – US investigators said Friday they have uncovered two sophisticated drug tunnels under the border with Mexico and arrested a 73-year-old woman in connection with one of them.

The tunnels, which are up to 650 meters (700 yards) long and one of which had an electric rail system and ventilation equipment, are the sixth and seventh underground passages found near San Diego in the last four years.

The tunnels are used by organized crime groups to traffic drugs and people into the United States.

“Here we are again, foiling cartel plans to sneak millions of dollars of illegal drugs through secret passageways that cost millions of dollars to build,” said US Attorney Laura Duffy.

“Going underground is not a good business plan. We have promised to locate these super tunnels and keep powerful drug cartels from taking their business underground and out of sight, and once again, we have delivered on that promise.”

The first tunnel to be found, about 550 meters long between the US side and a warehouse over the border in Mexico, was discovered Tuesday after a five-month investigation, said the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.

A local woman was arrested Wednesday for allegedly running the tunnel, which is accessed via a 70-foot (21-meter) shaft from a warehouse filled with children’s toys and televisions. The end of the tunnel was topped with a cement cover to hide it.

On Thursday investigators uncovered a second, more sophisticated tunnel that

was 650 meters long and “equipped with a multi-tiered electric rail system and an array of ventilation equipment.”

The tunnels were found by members of the San Diego Tunnel Task Force, in collaboration with their counterparts on the Mexican side of the border.

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) special agent William Sherman said: “Once again, the Tunnel Task Force has eliminated a multi-million-dollar drugsmuggling venture and have reduced it to nothing more than a colossal waste of money on the part of the drug cartels.”

“Our goal is to not only shut these tunnels down before they become operational, but to ensure that the cartels backing these elaborate smuggling operations are investigated and prosecuted,” he added.

Over 77,000 people have died in druglinked violence in Mexico since 2006, when troops were deployed to crack down on the powerful drug cartels.

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US investigators said they have uncovered two more “sophisticated drug tunnels” under the border with Mexico just like the one shown in this photo of another tunnel discovered in 2011. Photo: US Customs and Border Patrol

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When winning is worse than losing In any sport, winning is not necessarily everything. In boxing, winning can be worse than losing.

“After you win a fight that people think you didn’t deserve, instead of coming out to the public walking tall, you come out with your face down, hoping nobody reminds you of that moment. It’s an ugly feeling,” said Joel Diaz, trainer of Timothy “Dessert Storm” Bradley who won a controversial split decision victory against Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao on June 9th,

2012.

“Tim and I talked about that night and we win, we want to go home with a good I said to him ‘Tim, if we lost that fight, it win… and if we lose, we want to go home would have been better. Because people with a defeat… but not a controversy. I would say you fought twelve rounds with don’t wish a controversy to anybody. It’s Manny Pacquiao and he didn’t hurt you. an ugly feeling, like a nightmare you’re That would’ve been better than people never going to come out of.” approaching you, attacking you, insulting For his part, Bradley is looking for you.’ I’ve been out with my family and my vindication. He said that this time around, kids and people approach me and insult he will be looking for a clear victory, to me as if we stole something valuable,” make this experience a sweet one for him Diaz said. and his supporters.

It was suppose to have been a glorious “It will be one of the greatest moments moment in Bradley’s boxing career – end- of my boxing career, and possibly my life, ing Pacquiao’s 15-bout winning streak and besides my children being born and me the 8-division world boxing champion’s marrying my wife. This will be everything dominance in the welterweight division. for me,” he said. “Everything that I’ve But the controversy put a dark cloud over worked for in boxing, it comes down to this the victory. moment. Manny Pacquiao is a legend, one “It affected him really bad to the point of the most influential guys in the world where he didn’t want to go anywhere. He and by beating him, I will get some of that didn’t want to see anybody, only his fam- love and attention.” ily. It got really bad to the point where I Bradley added that a lot has changed came to visit him one day and he’s in his since he first met the Filipino boxing pride house, in a wheelchair and I see the frus- inside the ring a couple years ago: “On a tration in his face. It hurt when he told me personal note, I’ve changed a great deal.

‘Coach, I’ve done this sport for 18 years Me physically, I’ve changed. Mentally, I’ve and after 18 years, I’m losing the love for changed. I’m just a different fighter now this sport because of what happened.’ For than I was two years ago.” us instead of enjoying a victory, it’s worse Two years ago, during the Bradley than a defeat,” recalled Diaz but quickly media day of the first outing between him added: “But that’s in the past. The judges and the Congressman from the Philippines, dealt with it. The people dealt with it and Bradley and his team gave out passes and we are looking forward to April 12th. If mock IDs for a supposed rematch. And to

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the press and media who came, the idea seemed absurd, almost a joke. But in the end, the too-division champion proved himself correct, there was to be a rematch, after all.

And no one’s laughing now. While two years ago, oddsmakers put Pacquiao at a 1/5 (-500) advantage against Bradley, the gap is much closer, this time around.

“With 2 to 1 odds, especially against Manny Pacquaio… I think people are taking me very seriously this time around,” Bradley said. And for his part, he is likewise taking Pacquiao seriously, knowing that he is going to face an: “aggressive, hungry determined, fired up Manny Pacquiao that’s going to try to knock me out.”

Despite this, the champion that currently owns the belt and title that Pacquiao wants to regain and win back, says he feels no pressure: “In this fight Manny has everything to prove in this fight. I’m the champion. I’m going to be able to do what I want to do in the ring. I can alter my game. I can box, I can brawl. It all depends on what Manny’s doing.”

Diaz said he remains confident that his

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ward will come out victorious: “He always tells me, ‘Coach, I will win. I have no doubt in my mind I will win.’ And he’s always been right. On the Marquez fight, he told me ‘Coach, there’s no way this 40-year old can beat me.’ And he was right.”

“Every day he tells me, ‘Coach, there’s no way Manny can beat me. No way. The only way he can beat me is if he knocks me out and he’s not going to,” Diaz said.

“When he says that to me with that aggressive tone and with that looks in his eyes, I believe my fighter because he’s always proved it.”

And while he said Pacquiao can’t knock him out, Bradley also gave us his prediction on the fight: “This fight will not go the distance.”

For #PacBradley stories, features and interviews, tune in to “Kababayan Today” weekdays at 4 p.m. on LA18 in Southern California; and 3:30 p.m. on Kiku in Hawaii. Catch previous programs at www. youtube.com/kababayanla18. Like her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/JannelleSoOFFICIAL. Follow her on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JannelleSo.

H-1B Visas gone once again: Now what?

With a blink of an eye, the ability to apply for an H-1B visa quickly vanished when the visa cap was reached on April 7, 2014, only five days after the filing period began. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will now be conducting a random lottery in order to select which H-1B petitions will be accepted for processing. For those that will either not be selected or who will need a visa some time between now and the next H-1B season next year, alternatives to the H-1B visa must now be explored. The following summarizes the various alternative visas.

E Visa. The E visa allows nationals of countries who are a party to certain treaties with the U.S. to receive a visa in order to conduct trade between the foreign treaty country and the U.S. (E-1 treaty trader) or invest in a U.S. business (E-2 treaty investor). While the E visa provides an individual with the ability to work for the sponsoring company only, dependent spouses may obtain a general work permit. The E visa may be granted for up to 2 years and may be renewed indefinitely as long as the business remains operational.

F and M Visas. The F visa is available to those wishing to attend an academic or language school, while an M visa is for someone wishing to attend a vocational school.

To be eligible, an individual must apply for and be accepted into an educational institution that has been authorized by the DHS to accept foreign students. An individual may remain in the U.S. for the duration of the studies. Most nonimmigrant students may ultimately obtain a work permit known as Optional Practical Training as part of their educational experience.

H-3 Visa. The H-3 visa is provided to those who wish to participate in a training program in such categories as commerce, agriculture, government, finance, etc. To qualify, the sponsoring company must prove that it has an established training program, that similar training is not available in the foreign trainee’s home country, and that the individual plans to return to the home country upon completion of training. The visa may be issued for a period not to exceed 18 months.

J Visa. The J visa is available to individuals seeking to participate in an Exchange Program. Under the J category, an individual can obtain an Exchange Visitor visa that allows an individual to participate in a U.S. company’s business as a specialist or as a trainee in a structured training program. The individual is granted authorization to work as a trainee for the U.S. company for the specified duration of the specialty exchange or training program.

L Visa. The L visa allows for a multinational company to transfer its foreign workers to its U.S. company. The transferee must have worked in an executive, managerial, or specialized knowledge position in the foreign company, and will continue to work in such capacity in the U.S. company. In addition to well-established U.S. companies, the L visa is available to foreign companies seeking to open a new office in the U.S. The spouse of an L visa holder may receive a work permit allowing them to work for any company in the U.S. An executive or manager may obtain an L visa for up to 7 years, while a specialized knowledge worker is entitled to an L visa for up to 5 years.

O and P Visa. The O and P visas are available to high caliber entertainers, athletes and artists seeking to work in the U.S. in their field of specialty. The O visa is also available to individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary ability in either the sciences, education or business.

R Visa. The R visa is provided to those seeking employment as a Religious Worker.

Individuals are eligible to receive an R visa if they have been a member of the religious denomination for at least 2 years and will be working as a minister, or in a religious vocation or occupation as a professional or nonprofessional. The R visa may be issued for up to 5 years.

The H-1B blackout that will be experienced during the next year will certainly make life much more difficult; however, there are possible options that may still allow for a favorable resolution. It is vital that individuals garner the assistance of an experienced immigration attorney to help them navigate through the complex immigration laws during these difficult times.

For further information, please schedule an appointment with an attorney at Aquino & Loew, Immigration Law Specialists; (888) 797-1140 or (626) 799-3089; info@aquinoloew.com. Offices in Los Angeles (South Pasadena), CA and Honolulu, HI. Please also visit Aquino & Loew at www.aquinoloew.com. Aquino & Loew also handles family law and criminal matters.

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Can you refinance a loan modification with a balloon payment?

US pending home sales fall again in February WASHINGTON, March 27, 2014 (AFP) – US pending home sales continued to sag in February, declining for the eighth straight month amid higher prices and higher mortgage rates, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday.

The NAR pending home sales index, based on contract signings, fell to 93.9 last month from 94.7 in January.

February’s level was the lowest since October 2011. A year ago, the index stood at 104.9.

A combination of tight supplies, rising prices and, at the same time, rising mortgage loan rates has put a dent in home buying.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said harsh winter weather had been an ingredient as well in the slowdown, and that rising new home construction could spur a rebound in buying as the cold weather ebbs.

“Buyer traffic information from our monthly realtor survey shows a modest turnaround, and some weather delayed transactions should close in the spring,” he said in a statement.

NAR expects 5.0 million sales of existing, or used, homes this year, slightly less than last year. But it sees a 19 percent rise in new home construction as well, to about 1.1 million units.

Eight largest US banks must raise capital buffers

By Veronica SMITH

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risk exposure, their so-called supplementary leverage ratio. The banks affected are Bank of America, The Bank of New York Mellon, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, State Street and Wells Fargo. The Fed said its aim was “to reduce the effect of a firm’s failure or material weakness on the financial system and the broader economy” – the latest step taken by regulators to reduce the probability that a large, interconnected bank would fail, and in doing so would damage the US financial system. The move is designed to help ensure banks can remain on their feet when the funding market for banks suddenly dries up in a crisis, as happened in 2008, when governments were forced to step in and prop up financial institutions.

Under the action, the banks will have to meet an additional 2.0 percent of capital on top of the 3.0 percent level required under the Basel III regulatory reforms, which US regulators have criticized as too lax.

jobs don’t get better, first time buyers will still have a hard time buying homes.

Investors and your cash buyers are taking two steps back and will continue to do so with all the negative consumer confidence towards buying California. So for home buyers, make sure not to chase after a property, stay cautious and be a smart buyer.

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WASHINGTON, April 8, 2014 (AFP) – US banking regulators on Tuesday ordered the eight largest “too big to fail” banks to raise capital levels in a bid to address weaknesses seen in the 2008 financial crisis.

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said the robust capital standards – the banks will need to raise a reported $68 billion in additional capital—were “essential to reduce systemic risk and mitigate the distortions imposed by institutions deemed too big to fail.”

Fed Governor Daniel Tarullo said the bigger capital cushion would serve as a “critical backstop” to the banking system.

The Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Treasury Department’s Office of the Comptroller of the Currency adopted the rule requiring the systemically important banks to hold significantly increased levels of high-quality capital in relation to their

payment in place, review your terms and agreement.

Most of the homeowners have modification packages that will have their rates increase 1% every year for the next 5 years without any forbearance. With rates surely going higher in the coming years, if you have equity and can qualify this would be the time to consider to refinance to a fixed rate mortgage.

A bit of a “WARNING” to home buyers, the market is good and will stay good in certain areas but there are signs showing that a slowdown in the Real Estate activity might be nearer than we anticipated.

California jobs due to slow New Home constructions is not getting the traction that we had hope for. Therefore, if California

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If your payments are ridiculously low for your mortgage balance, you probably are not wondering why? But you should.

I have gotten numerous calls of homeowners wanting to refinance their existing home mortgages that had been modified due to higher rates offered. What I have noticed is these homeowners are not realizing that they already have a superb of a deal going on even if they are paying a 7% interest rate.

A caller came to me and showed me a mortgage statement that had a balance of about $450,000.00 but with lower rates, that will almost double the total payments with principal reduc- their payments. tion is only about $1500.00 with taxes & The balloon payments are from a insurance impounds. I was scratching my principal forbearance that is part of the head and saying there is something fishy loophole that HAMP is using to achieve about this mortgage statement. Then I in- a 31% of the gross income in the monthly vestigated more and noticed that there is a mortgage obligation. Not all HAMP forbearance amount of about $230,000.00 modifications have the balloon payment on the statement. It was labelled deferred at the end. The current waterfall is a 4 forbearance balance! I knew right away step process that is used to bring your this is a “Balloon Payment.” The borrow- mortgage down to a low-risk of default. ers are complaining about their 7% interest 1. Recapitalize the loan by placing all of rate and asking to refinance their loan, the past due payments on to the backwhen I reviewed the entire loan modifica- end and bringing the loan to current tion terms and agreements, I told them they 2. Reduce the interest rate in increments of are only paying interest on $220,000.00 .125% to a floor of 2% – if they have not yet and as long as they don’t sell or refinance achieved a 31% in the GMI then on to step 3 their house, they don’t need to pay off the 3. Extend the term of the loan to 30yrs or balloon payment of $230,000.00. The re- all the way up to 40yrs if need be – if they tired working couple was totally shocked have not yet achieved a 31% in the GMI and did not realize that they still owed a to- through steps 1-3 then lastly on to step 4 tal of $450,000.00 on their house. I slowly 4. Forbear the negative equity as a non-interexplained that their $230,000.00 balloon est bearing balloon payment due at the matubalance supposedly is non interest bearing. rity of the loan or whenever refinance. or sell.

Once understood, the couples seemed So yes, it is possible and it does help some disappointed. Good thing that the value because it will give you the lowest possible of their house is starting to come back mortgage payment. However you do still and they have a little equity build up, owe the balloon amount. As it is the last but I told them to keep their 7% rate and step it is not often that it will get all the donot refinance their loan. Because if we way to step 4 to achieve a 31% in your do, the lender will require for the balloon payment. More likely it would be through payment to be paid, that means, we have interest rate and term. to refinance to a $450,000.00 balance even For some who has a loan modification

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SPORTS

Win over Pacquaio brought dark days for Bradley

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LAS VEGAS, April 9, 2014 (AFP) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The vitriolic abuse that Timothy Bradley received after his controversial triumph over Manny Pacquiao had him contemplating not only ending his boxing career but even his life, Bradley said Wednesday.

The unbeaten American should have been on top of the boxing world after claiming the World Boxing Organization welterweight world title with a 12-round split decision over Filipino ring icon Pacquiao.

But most observers thought Pacquiao clearly won the fight, and the controversy that erupted left Bradley living through what he called the â&#x20AC;&#x153;darkest time in my lifeâ&#x20AC;?. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Did I consider suicide? Hell yeah,â&#x20AC;? said Bradley, who is looking for redemption in Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rematch with Pacquiao. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was thinking I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to box anymore â&#x20AC;&#x201C; I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even want to live anymore,â&#x20AC;? said Bradley, who recalled receiving hate mail, even a death threat, letters â&#x20AC;&#x153;belittling me, saying â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not a true champion.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;?

He recalled strangers at gas stations, flinging insults as they drove away, and was still bemused by one so-called fan who asked him this year who he was fighting next.

When he told her heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d face Pacquiao this month, she said she hoped he won this time. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And that was one of my fans!â&#x20AC;? Bradley said.

Bradley credited his wife, Monica, now his manager, with helping him climb out of the abyss. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I realized the important things in my life, realized who was important,â&#x20AC;?

Bradley said.

He notched two impressive victories in 2013, absorbing brutal punishment but emerging with a 12-round unanimous decision over Ruslan Provodnikov in his first defence of the title, then winning a

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Manny Pacquiao (left) and Timothy Bradley rematch this Saturday, April 12

12-round split decision over Juan Manuel Marquez â&#x20AC;&#x201C; who had knocked out Pacquiao in December of 2012.

Along the way, Bradley said, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s learned to let the criticism roll off him. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t affect me,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I know who I am. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a great fighter.â&#x20AC;?

Bradleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trainer, Joel Diaz, believes his fighter has what it takes to send the 35-year-old Pacquiao into retirement with another defeat on Saturday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That is what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re here for,â&#x20AC;? Diaz said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Manny Pacquiaoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last fight.â&#x20AC;?

Pacquiao, who has built a record of 55-5 with two draws in a pro career that began in 1995, says heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s used to that kind of talk.

After losing both of his fights in 2012 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to Bradley and Marquez â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Pacquiao revived his career with a unanimous decision over American Brandon Rios in Macau last year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not new for me,â&#x20AC;? he said of a prediction that this fight could be his last. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I heard that in my last fight with Rios. They have to prove it in the ring.

Pacquiao, who has parlayed his sports fame into election to Congress in the Philippines and has expressed ambitions to run for president, says he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe his journey as a fighter is close to being over.

He doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect anything Bradley does to change that. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My journey will continue beyond Saturday night,â&#x20AC;? Pacquiao promised.

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LAS VEGAS, April 11, 2014 (AFP) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The chance to make boxing history was the main lure for Miguel Cotto in choosing to challenge Sergio Martinez for the World Boxing Council middleweight world title on June 7. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the main attraction for me, to have the chance to be the first Puerto Rican to be a champion in four weight divisions â&#x20AC;&#x201C; thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s my motivation,â&#x20AC;? Cotto said Friday at a press gathering at the MGM Grand.

Cotto, who owns a record of 39-4-1 with 31 knockouts, was flanked by trainer Freddie Roach, who has been preparing him for the Martinez bout at New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Madison Square Garden as well as training Philippines star Manny Pacquiao for his welterweight world title re-match with American Timothy Bradley on Saturday.

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awe of an accomplishment,â&#x20AC;? Nowitzki said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Top 10 all-time scorers is an unbelievable accomplishment because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a level of excellence thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beyond belief.â&#x20AC;?

Los Angeles Lakers guard Nash passed Mark Jackson to grab third place all-time on the assist list. Nash now has 10,335 career assists. Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nash set the mark with two minutes left in the second quarter of the Lakers game against the Houston Rockets. Jackson, who is now coach of the Golden State Warriors, congratulated Nash via Twitter. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Congrats to the great Steve Nash on passing me on the all time assist list! I am honored!! God Bless.â&#x20AC;?

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LOS ANGELES, April 9, 2014 (AFP) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A pair of former Dallas Maverick teammates, Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash, made National Basketball Association history on the same night by achieving a couple of milestones. Current Maverick Nowitzki vaulted into 10th place on the leagueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all-time scoring list on Tuesday night while former Dallas guard Nash moved into third place on the all-time assist list.

Germanyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nowitzki finished with 21 points to move past Oscar Robertson to take over sole possession of 10th in the Mavericks 95-83 win over Utah.

Nowitzki now has 27,714 points for his career, Robertson had 26,710. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One of the few times Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve truly been in

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Working student’s story helps others get cars from Victory Autos It’s been two weeks, yet the story of Krissel Anne Dichoso, a working student who was able to buy a brand-new Toyota Camry through Victory Autos, seems to having a huge effect on so many others that are looking for a vehicle to purchase but are reluctant because they think they don’t have perfect credit.

For those who may have missed Krissel Anne’s story, she used to just ride the bus going to and from work and also in going to school. Being a student and working at the same time was a little taxing to her, and hoped that with a part-time job, she could get herself a car to ease her life a bit, which did happen, thanks to Victory Autos.

Last week, her story was read by Danny Esguerra of Cerritos, whose van quit on him. But other car dealers didn’t give him any leeway as he couldn’t produce any amount for the down payment even if he tried to give his van in exchange for the initial payment. Inspired by Krissel Anne’s story, he too got a brand-new Camry from Victory Autos.

Now, another happy Victory Autos customer would like to share her little story about reading the same small tale of Krissel Anne.

Kristine Castillo said she too was inspired by Krissel Anne’s courage to call Victory Autos with only a part-time job paystub to show. “I was looking for a car and one day after going to a Filipino store, I picked up a copy of Weekend Balita and read Krissel Anne’s story. I was touched because she didn’t have any credit, and because she tried other car dealers to no avail until she found Victory Autos.”

In a letter sent to Weekend Balita, Kristine said, “I am so glad Victory Autos allowed me to get a car. They have a good heart. They treat all customers like they’re family. I thank God for them. I had the same problem, but they helped me get a car without any hitches.”

Kristine went home in a new certified pre-owned 2010 Honda Civic.

“If you need a new car, or a pre-owned certified vehicle, come to us. We can help you buy that new car,” Victory Autos owner and proprietor Hedi Trinidad said.

“You don’t even have to worry if you have bad credit or no credit at all. Even if you are just a working student. All you need to show is your paystub.”

According to Trinidad, they can also help people buy a new car even if they filed for bankruptcy or if their old car had been repossessed. “That is not a problem,” Trinidad said, “thousands have been affected by the recent Great Recession. No one was spared, even the banks that had the money. But, just give us a call and we guarantee 100% financing. Even if the bank says no, we say yes.”

Backed by their 25 years in car business, Victory Autos is dedicated to offering high-quality, pre-owned vehicles to our customers. From the moment you walk through our door, “we’re committed to providing you with a great car-buying experience. With our skilled sales staff and financing options, we’ll help you get the vehicle you want, at the great price you deserve,” Trinidad said.

Victory Autos is dedicated in providing the ultimate automobile buying experience.

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Mexico overtakes Japan as No. 2 car exporter to US MEXICO CITY, April 10, 2014 (AFP) – Mexico’s booming auto industry has reached a major milestone, claiming to have overtaken Japan as the second biggest car exporter to the United States in the past three months.

The Latin American nation now only trails Canada, but experts say Mexico could become the top exporter to its northern neighbor as soon as 2015, a potent symbol of its growing global clout in the sector.

Industry analysts had expected Mexico to surpass Japan by the end of the year, but the Mexican Automobile Industry Association (AMIA) says it has happened faster than expected.

“It does not surprise me that they did (overtake Japan), and that number will even get bigger,” Haig Stoddard, industry analyst at Michigan-based WardsAuto Group, told AFP. The figure came in an AMIA report this week showing record production in the first quarter, with 774,731 units rolling out of plants in Mexico, a 6.5 percent increase from the same period last year.

AMIA, using its own statistics and WardsAuto figures, said the United States imported 428,376 “Made in Mexico” cars compared to 408,405 from Japan between January and March. Analysts say the figures are credible.

Latin America’s second biggest economy has steadily grown as a global power in the auto industry, with most of the production destined for exports.

It is the world’s eighth-biggest car maker and the number four exporter.

Relatively low wages, being next door to the massive US market and a raft of free trade deals with other nations have combined to make Mexico a prime location for carmakers.

“Mexico will continue to grow very strongly in the next five years,” AMIA president Eduardo Solis told AFP. In addition to its ideal geographic location, Solis said Mexico is a major auto parts supplier, home to a skilled workforce and backed by a government that invites foreign investment.

Ironically, Japanese carmakers have helped Mexico become a manufacturing powerhouse.

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Mercedes-Benz posts best-ever 1Q with March sales MONTVALE, N.J., with 6,129 units April 1, 2014 – Mercedesyear-to-date. The Benz USA (MBUSA) new generation Stoday reported the highClass finished the est first quarter sales in period up 74.5% its history with 30,091 compared to the first vehicles sold across the quarter of 2013. ToMercedes-Benz, Sprinter tal first quarter sales and smart model lines in for Mercedes-Benz March, up 11% from the light trucks reached 27,104 units sold over the 24,435. same month last year. The The redesigned Mercedes-Benz brand Sprinter lineup postNelson Sioson, the Filipino ed sales of 1,915 in alone hit a new benchFleet Manager at Mercedes- March, an increase mark for the month with Benz of Long Beach. sales of 27,401, an inof 25.2% from the crease of 11.2%, while 1,529 units sold in year-to-date volumes climbed to 72,614 March 2013, while retail volumes for the units, up 5% from March 2013. Adding smart brand totaled 775. year-to-date sales of 4,624 for Sprinter Mercedes-Benz AMG high-perforVans and 2,237 units at smart, MBUSA de- mance models finished the month up livered a year-to-date grand total of 79,475. 59.9% at 1,009 with year-to-date volumes “Thanks to a best-ever March, we’ve hit increasing 74.4% to 2,830. The company’s a new first quarter sales record in 2014,” BlueTEC diesel models recorded March said Steve Cannon, president and CEO sales of 1,535 and 3,923 year-to-date, on of MBUSA. “Our CLA is making strong par with the 3,945 diesel units sold through headway in the entry luxury arena with March 2013. sales of more than 20,000 units after just Separately, Mercedes-Benz Certified six months on the market. With another Pre-Owned (MBCPO) recorded sales knockout series of products waiting in the volumes of 9,757 vehicles in March, an wings, we expect even higher growth this increase of 12.5% compared to the 8,670 year and beyond.” units sold in March 2013. On a year-toMarch sales for the Mercedes-Benz date basis, MBCPO sold 28,050 vehicles, brand were led by the C-, E- and M-Class up 15.1% from the 24,370 vehicles sold model lines. The E-Class took the top spot during the same period last year. with 6,335 units, increasing 58% from Now, isn’t it about time you join the the same month last year, followed by the list of new Mercedes-Benz owners? Why C-Class at 5,660. The M-Class, perennial not? Call our kababayan Nelson Sioson, best-seller on the SUV side, rounded out the Filipino Fleet Manager at Mercedesthe top three at 4,052, up 15.7% from Benz of Long Beach for the best in deals, March 2013. At the high end, the flagship among the best, if not the best in Southern S-Class continued to post strong gains with California. volumes of 2,299 for the month, up 89.1%, He will guide you in choosing what while sales of the CLS-Class four-door Mercedes-Benz is right for you. And don’t coupe rose 7.3%. worry, Mercedes-Benz is not just for those As a whole, retail volumes for Mer- who “can afford it.” Ever wonder why your cedes-Benz passenger cars were up 8.8% kababayan neighbor or your relative has in the first quarter of 2014, boosted by sales one? Call Nelson now toll free at 1-866of the 2014 CLA-Class four-door coupe 870-2966 and find out how.

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(Relaxnews) – True autonomous cars might still be some years away, but thanks to a new law, there is one piece of technological kit that will be standard on all cars sold in the US very soon - the reversing camera.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a final rule requiring rear visibility technology in all new vehicles with a curb weight of less than 10,000 pounds by May 2018. It means that from that date, a reversing camera with a dashboard color display – until now an optional extra on mass-market cars and a standard feature only on luxury marquees such as Mercedes-Benz, Range Rover and Lexus models—will become the norm.

The NHTSA is concerned about accidents that occur due to a lack of visibility at a vehicle’s rear – an issue for all modern cars but particularly for SUVs where an elevated ride height creates serious ground-level visibility problems.

“Rear visibility requirements will save lives, and will save many families from the heartache suffered after these tragic incidents occur,” said NHTSA Acting Administrator David Friedman. “We’re already recommending this kind of life-saving technology through our NCAP program and encouraging consumers to consider it when buying cars today.”

On average, there are 210 fatalities and 15,000 injuries per year caused by backover crashes. NHTSA has found that children under 5 years old account for 31 percent of backover fatalities each year, and adults 70 years of age and older account for 26 percent.

Therefore it is hoped that the new law will help reduce these figures dramatically. The NHTSA believes that once the technology is mandatory, and the majority of vehicles on the road feature a reversing camera, that between 58 and 69 lives could be saved each year.

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BMW 3 and 4 Series winners in 2014 Annual Magazine Awards Woodcliff Lake, NJ - April 8, 2014… our BMW X-vehiBMW has once again been named to Autocles have been parmobile Magazine’s coveted list of All-Stars, ticularly strong; I’m this time for the 2014 BMW 3 Series Sedan sure the brand new and all-new BMW 4 Series Coupe. As the BMW X4, which segment leader since its launch in 1977, the celebrated start-ofBMW 3 Series has now collected nearly 20 of production in Plant Automobile Magazine’s highly sought-after Spartanburg at the awards by remaining the best in the business. end of March, will The BMW 4 Series Coupe is now also reccontribute to boostognized as an All-Star in its inaugural year. Eduardo Tiempo and Ronald Rodillas, Filipino Sales of Pacific ing growth still furBMW. In referring to this year’s All-Star award, ther when it comes the editors at Automobile Magazine noted, “The o n t o the market from July.”

BMW 3 Series is a perennial Automobile Magazine Worldwide sales of BMW brand vehicles rose 16.9% to All-Star award winner, with this being its eighteenth 186,126 in March, making it the brand’s most successful year on the list. For 2014, the 3 Series name refers to month ever (prev. yr. 159,195). Sales for the first three four-door models, while coupe and convertible ver- months of the year reached 428,259, an increase of 12.3% sions get the 4 Series badge. The 3 Series/4 Series (prev. yr. 381,406). Sales of BMW X-vehicles were sums up a lifetime of automotive hopes and dreams particularly strong growth drivers in the first quarter. for generations of American automotive enthusiasts.” The BMW X1 saw double-digit growth, with 43,262 veThe award will be presented during the 2014 New York hicles delivered to customers in the year to end of March International Auto Show, which will showcase the full (prev. yr. 37,680 / +14.8%). BMW X3 volume increased range of BMW 3 Series and 4 Series models including by 10.8% in the first three months of the year (40,115 the new 4 Series Gran Coupe which makes its North / prev. yr. 36,189) and deliveries of the new BMW X5 American debut. rose 13.8% to 31,025 units (prev. yr. 27,274). The BMW B M W G r o u p g l o b a l s a l e s t o p 3 Series was also a steady growth driver in the year-to2 0 0 , 0 0 0 f o r f i r s t t i m e i n s i n g l e m o n t h date with a total of 116,671 units sold (prev. yr. 109,308 The BMW Group sold 212,908 BMW, MINI and Rolls- / +6.7%). Sales of the BMW 5 Series also developed Royce vehicles in March – the company’s best-ever well in the first three months of the year, with 91,600 monthly results. It’s a significant 11.3% increase on the vehicles delivered to customers (prev. yr. 85,731 / +6.8%). previous all-time monthly high in March last year (191,269 Due to the current model-change – the new MINI arrived units). A new high for the first quarter of the year was also in dealerships at the end of March - sales of MINI brand achieved with a total of 487,024 vehicles delivered in the vehicles have decreased in line with expectations during first three months of 2014 (prev. yr. 448,200 / +8.7%). the first quarter of 2014. Deliveries for the first three Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management, months of the year were down 12.5% (57,868 /prev. yr.

Sales and Marketing BMW, said: “This is the first time 66,156) with sales in March down 16.9% to 26,382 units in the company’s history that over 200,000 vehicles (prev. yr. 31,765). The order-book for the new MINI is were delivered to customers in a single month - March strong and this is expected to be reflected in the retail has rounded off a strong first quarter in 2014. Despite figures from summer onwards. continuing economic uncertainties, we are experiencIt’s not a mystery that BMW dominates the luxury car ing steady improvement in almost all regions. Sales of industry. However, if you want to own one or test drive

a BMW 3 Series, please call our kababayans Ed at 818601-5667 (cell) and Ronald at 323-683-9351 (cell) or call Pacific BMW at (818) 246-5600 and come down to the dealership located at 800 S. Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91204 and find out why.

Who knows you may be the next new BMW owner?

Or you may want to upgrade. Of course, we don’t need to mention that BMW is a favorite brand for luxury vehicles for the Fil-Am community, which is one of the car brand’s biggest consumer group in Southern California.

Ford recalls vehicles over steering, seat back issues

NEW YORK, April 7, 2014 (AFP) – Ford Motor issued two vehicle recalls Monday, one to fix a corrosion risk that could affect steering and another to replace seat frames that do not meet safety standards.

Ford said it was recalling about 385,7500 Ford Escape sport-utility vehicles in the model years 2001-2004 to address a potential subframe corrosion issue that could cause the lower control arm to separate, resulting in reduced steering control and an increased crash risk.

The number-two US automaker said it was aware of one crash that may be related to the issue, but knew of no injuries. Dealers will install a reinforcement crossbrace to prevent the separation.

Affected vehicles included some that were originally sold or currently registered in high-corrosion states or provinces, where road salt is used extensively to counter icy conditions. Most of the recall affects some 48,950 Ford Escape SUVs in the United States and about 37,000 in Canada.

The second recall affects about 48,950 Ford Fusion, Lincoln MKZ, Ford Escape and C-MAX vehicles in the model years 2013-2014.

Ford said that some seat back frames may have been produced with sub-standard welds, potentially increasing the risk of injury in certain collisions.

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Sonata, Santa Fe Sport praised for improved safety FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., March 6, 2014 – The 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport and 2014 Sonata have both been named “BEST BETS” in the 34th edition of The Car Book, America’s original consumer car buying guide. This year marks the fourth consecutive year the Hyundai Sonata has earned this distinction.

“Hyundai continues to exceed customer expectations in terms of build quality and standard features,” said Jack Gillis, author, The Car Book. “By offering vehicles that respond to the safety and performance needs of today’s consumers, Hyundai continues to make a significant contribution to improving the market choices for the American car buyer.”

Now in its 34th consecutive year, The Car Book has been the consumer’s best guide to smart and sensible car buying.

The publication’s “BEST BETS” distinctions are awarded to new vehicles each year which cater to the needs of American

consumers, and in turn, make a significant contribution to the American automotive market. Vehicles are rated in nine key Car Book categories: crash tests, safety features, rollover, preventative maintenance, repair costs, warranty, fuel economy, customer complaints and insurance costs.

“While Hyundai’s vehicles can be tailored to suit a customer’s lifestyle, there are two aspects that should never be overlooked: safety and standard features,” said Scott Margason, director, Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “Hyundai is committed to catering to the changing needs of our customers, and receiving the ‘BEST BETS’ accolade acknowledges our ability to deliver high quality vehicles across our entire lineup.”

The Sonata is one of Hyundai’s mostdecorated vehicles. With its impressive fuel economy, class-leading technologies such as Blue Link and 7-inch Infotainment System, and its sumptuous, Fluidic Sculp-

For great deals at Hyundai Puente Hills located at 17621 Gale Ave, Industry, CA 91748, call our kababayans Hanzel Fraguere (right) and Ferry Maringka Gozon at (626) 723-3833.

ture design, the 2014 Sonata maintains its competitive edge amongst premium rivals in the mid-size sedan segment.

The 2014 Santa Fe Sport delivers Hyundai’s recipe of bold design and

British car sales at highest for a decade LONDON, April 4, 2014 (AFP) – New car sales in Britain rallied in March to the highest total for a decade, industry data showed on Friday.

Sales jumped 17.7 percent last month to 464,824 vehicles compared with data for March 2013, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said in a statement.

That was the highest monthly figure since March 2004.

“New car registrations surged 17.7 percent in March...a surprisingly strong level of growth and a reflection of intensifying consumer confidence and the availability of great new products,” said SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes.

“Given the past six years of subdued economic performance across the UK, there is still a substan-

high-output powertrains. With a host of features to please drivers and passengers alike, functionality, versatility and comfort are key areas in which the Santa Fe Sport exceeds customer expectations.

New Kia minivan to premiere in NY (Relaxnews) – The South Korean manufacturer is teasing its new and improved Sedona minivan, which will be unveiled at the New York Auto Show later this month. Sporty and family friendly, the model will be able to haul up to eight passengers along with their luggage.

Kia has yet to provide additional details on this third iteration of the Sedona (which is known as the Carnival in certain markets).

The first image of the minivan suggests a sleeker, more dynamic design. Kia has given its new minivan a more dynamic, streamlined appearance.

The minivan market is still thriving in the US, where the Honda Odyssey is among the Sedona’s top competitors. In Europe, on the other hand, the popularity of minivans continues to decline.

The New York International Auto Show takes place from April 18 to 27. Website: autoshowny.com.

tial margin of pent-up demand that is contributing to a strong new and used car market.

“There has never been a better time to buy a new car thanks to attractive finance deals and advanced technologies that often make new cars cheaper to run.”

The SMMT added that it expected the market to perform positively for the rest of 2014, albeit at a more modest rate.

The top selling car in March was the Ford Fiesta, followed by the Ford Focus, then the Vauxhall Corsa, and with the Volkswagen Golf in fourth place.

Sales were boosted by the twice-a-year number plate change that occurs in March and September.

These two months normally account for about one third of the annual market.

Tech battle: Microsoft making a dash for the dashboard (Relaxnews) – The battle for the technological car dashboard of the future is about to heat up. Following demos from Android and from Apple, Microsoft is also developing a platform – Windows in the Car – that will put the company’s smartphones, content and apps front and center of the driving experience. But hopefully in a way that isn’t too distracting.

First demonstrated at one of the sessions at its BUILD developers conference, Windows for the Car would use the same customizable tile interface that will be familiar to anyone who owns a Nokia Lumia handset or has recently upgraded to Windows 8/8.1 on their PC.

®

Just like Apple’s CarPlay and Google’s Open Automotive Alliance or OAA (essentially Android for the car), Microsoft’s system would offer drivers access to their music libraries, turn-by-turn directions via Here and Bing maps and, of course, search, voice calls and text messaging. And although it is very much a work in progress, Microsoft doesn’t really need to play catch up.

Until this year, Microsoft was the brains behind the Ford Sync – the company’s in-car informatics and telematics system that offered a selection of mirrored ‘car-safe’ versions of smartphone apps and responded to voice commands.

For those worried that competing mobile operating systems are going to become an issue when choosing their next car, there is some good news.

The Microsoft system uses MirrorLink to connect to a car’s screen and for pushing information between connected devices. MirrorLink is an existing technology and one already supported by a host of car companies, from the aforementioned Ford to BMW. That means that if Microsoft does bring its system to market, it could work with older vehicles, and new cars would be able to support it as well as either Apple or Google’s platform too.

CARSON NISSAN #

1 RATED* NISSAN DEALER IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

SHORT TERM FINANCING

G NA TAWA AYO! PO K

HENRY BAUTISTA

IRVIN VASQUEZ

Sales Manager

Internet Sales Manager

310-347-2886

818-422-8865

MATULUNGIN! MAUNAWAIN! PINOY NA PINOY ANG DATING!

2014 NISSAN ROGUE

www.carsonnissan.com

2014 NISSAN ALTIMA

888-532-1835

JOHN ANCHETA Sales Associate

714-376-8483

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1505 East 223rd St.Carson, CA 90745

*Source: dealerrater.com, #1 top rated Nissan dealer YTD as of 9/9/11.

JAN JOSEF “JJ” ANGLO Sales Associate

310-525-9262

38

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Kia wins Kelley Blue Book’s ‘Best Value Brand’ image award IRVINE, Calif., April 9, 2014 – Kelley Blue Book (KBB. com) today announced Kia Motors America (KMA) is a 2014 Brand Image Award winner for the “Best Value Brand” – the first time Kia has won the coveted award by KBB.com, the leading provider of new and used car information. Kia received high marks for its impressive lineup of stylish and fuel-efficient vehicles, specifically Optima, Rio, Soul and Forte, and was praised for its affordability and value to newcar buying customers.

“To be named a 2014 Brand Image Award winner for ‘Best Value Brand’ by Kelley Blue Book showcases Kia’s continued commitment to providing tremendous value to its customers,” said Michael Sprague, executive vice presi-

dent of sales and marketing, KMA. “Value will always be at the forefront of every vehicle we sell. From the Rio all the way to the recently introduced K900 rear-drive luxury sedan, Kia continues to redefine what value means by offering an entire line-up of stunningly designed vehicles that are packed with the features and amenities today’s new-car shoppers demand.”

Kia’s “Best Value Brand” distinction is based on annual new-car buyer perception data collected by Kelley Blue Book Market Intelligence’s Brand Watch Study.

“Kia has come a long way in the eyes of the consumer,” said Arthur Henry, senior analyst for Kelley Blue Book.

“Once known only for offering economy cars with good gas

mileage, the brand has evolved through product growth and maturity into a high-value brand. This is a similar path fellow import brands Honda and Toyota took in the 1970s. In fact, Kia edges out Honda this year for the Best Value Brand title.”

With so many brands in the market today, people have many choices. But Kia is not just about affordability. With its leading technological advances in design, performance, fuel efficiency, safety and reliability, it just makes sense. Drop

by Car Pros Kia of Carson today and find out why people flock to that dealership. They are just located at 21243 S Avalon Blvd, Carson, CA 90745, which is home to many of us Filipinos. They can be reached at (310) 221-9131. Call or visit today.

Shick Automotive Inc.’s service center uses only genuine German products “We specialize in all models” is the typical statement that many auto repair shops advertise. Some even say that they are experts in German and Japanese cars.

With the advent of another Asian car manufacturer, Korean was added to the mix.

However, being an expert in so many car manufacturing models may also have a drawback. This means a spread of resources, which is lesser knowledge in one particular field as it is difficult to accommodate each and every car model on earth – if it’s even possible. Needless to say, the shop that claims that they can fix any car model may be able to repair your vehicle, but don’t expect it to be in the best of shape than it could be since becoming an expert in one particular brand takes time, experience and a lot of knowledge.

This piece of wisdom is what Shick Automotive Inc. would like Weekend Balita readers to remember. Shick Automotive would also like to remind us that our cars – any type of a vehicle – are not just a mode of transportation, it’s an extension of our daily lives.

Individuals need cars everyday to get to their destination in the safest manner possible.

Families use them to take their children to school in hope for an accident-free drive.

No one wants to have their morning ruined

due to a stalled that one particuvehicle, which lar type of vehican result in a cle needs. Shick child being late Automotive Inc. also has a huge to school. Oh, stock of German how we all dread filter brands and seeing a tardy other engine, slip, not to mention the frown transmission, our children wear tire and accessowhen we get to ry products that see them later. were manufacOf course, no “Buy here, pay here,” is the motto at Shick tured specifically one can escape Automotive Inc., where all you have to do is pick for one particular these facts of your car and they will finance it.

German brand. life, but we can reduce them by being Shick Automotive Inc. has a made a responsible and getting our vehicles in commitment to specialize in this only one tip-top shape. type of engineering. This is why they also Shick Automotive Inc. professionals sell mostly German-made cars because are not only highly certified and experi- they know that their customers are asenced technicians, most of them are also sured of top quality vehicles, including parents – husbands and wives – who also pre-owned vehicles that undergo several want to go home to their families safely. points of inspection before they are sold.

If you have German vehicle – BMW, But before they do that, they too are being responsible and use the best products and Mercedes-Benz, Audi or Volkswagen – try engineering known to man in terms of car visiting Shick Automotive and experience the difference. To hear the real sound of manufacturer: German engineering.

At Shick Automotive Inc., only genuine your engine roar and for a smooth ride, German products are being used. These have your German vehicle inspected, reinclude the several types of engine oils paired and maintained by the expert and

highly-trained Shick Automotive technicians. You will thank yourself for doing so.

And did we mention that Shick Automotive Inc. has cars in the lot? Shick Automotive Inc. has great deals especially for luxury cars, including BMWs and Mercedes-Benzes.

Their pre-owned luxury cars are also among the top of the line because the service department puts in extra work; each and every vehicle repaired receives a threemonth or 3,000-mile engine/transmission warranty.

In addition, Shick Automotive Inc. is also among the most aggressive in buying vehicles that they have the reputation to pay more than what your car is normally worth.

This is because Shick Automotive Inc. buys vehicles at fair market value as imposed by Kelley Blue Book, plus $1,000 more. Wow! To know more about Shick Automotive Inc. or if you are thinking about buying a top-quality pre-owned car, shop Shick Automotive Inc. first. Shick Automotive Inc. is located at 9459 Sepulveda Blvd., North Hills, CA 91343. You may reach them at (818) 892-7000. They are open Monday thru Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.except Saturdays, which is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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View Our Pre-Owned Inventory at www.mbzlongbeach.com/vehicle/search/preowned

mbzlongbeach.com 2300 East Spring St. • Signal Hill, CA 90755 At the 405 and 605 in Signal Hill. Exit Cherry Ave. off the 405. *All prices plus government fees and taxes, any finance charges, dealer preparation charges and any emission testing charges. All vehicles subject to prior sale. **Available only to qualified customers at participating authorized Mercedes-Benz dealers through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services (where applicable to advertised lease) through April 30, 2014. Advertised lease rate based on a gross capitalized cost of $37,808. Includes destination charge and optional Premium 1 Package. Excludes title, taxes, registration, license fees, insurance, dealer prep. and additional options. Total monthly payments equal $9,963. Cash due at signing includes $2,950 capitalized cost reduction, $750 acquisition fee, and first month’s lease payment of $369.

Total payments equal $13,708. At lease end, lessee pays for any amounts due under the lease, any official fees and taxes related to the scheduled termination, excess wear and use plus $0.25/mile over 22,500 miles, and $595 vehicle turn-in fee. Subject to credit approval. No security deposit required. ***Qualified customers only. See dealer for details. 1.99% APR limited term financing for up to 72 months on select Certified Pre-Owned models through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services. 1.99% APR limited term financing applies to Mercedes-Benz Model Year 2010, 2011 & 2012 Certified Pre-Owned C, E, M, GL, GLK, & S-Class vehicles. Available at Mercedes-Benz of Long Beach through Mercedes-Benz Financial for Super Tier through Tier II customers only, subject to credit approval. Offers expire close of business 4/13/14.

Nelson Sioson Filipino Fleet Manager

866.870.2966