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LOS ANGELES EDITION

VOL. XXII, NO. 47

DEC. 27, 2014 - JAN. 2, 2015

THE LEADING SOURCE OF NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR FILIPINO-AMERICANS

PHL awaits Pope’s arrival Massive flight disruption expected; Holidays declared during pontiff visit MANILA, Dec 23 (Mabuhay) – The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said over 150 flights will be affected by the flight suspension during Pope Francis’ arrival in Manila on January 15.

That involves around 23,000 passengers, the MIAA said.

MIAA will suspend the arrival and departure of

flights from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on January 15.

The same policy will be implemented on January 19 when the Pope departs Manila from 6 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

“That is why the NOTAM (notice to airmen) was earlier issued to the airlines...So that passengers can give it a thought whether to still fly yung kanilang flights or just cancel and do a refund or magpa-rebook na lang,” said MIAA media affairs head Consuelo Bungag.

See POPE’S ARRIVAL, page 13

Gabrielle Current

Fil-Am teen in Tournament of Roses Royal Court

by Gensan Tourism Council for the “Paskuhan sa Gensan 2014” Sunday, December 21, brightens the sky of the city. The first two contingents from Tacurong

The 126th Rose Parade is just days away, and one Filipina worthy of a mention is on the Royal Court. Gabrielle Current, who lives in Pasadena and is a senior at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy was selected from over 800 young women who competed for the honor of serving as a member of the 2015 Tournament of Roses Royal Court.

Gabrielle is a member of the National Honor Society and the California Scholarship Federation. As the President of Vivace & Friends, she was responsible for producing a benefit concert this summer that raised $5,000 for Youth Orchestra Los Angeles. She is a model and is currently signed with LA MODELS and has been featured in ad campaigns for Pottery

and Manila awed the crowd with their spectacular fireworks display for almost 10 minutes. The competition ends on December 23. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

See FILIPINA, page 13

Gensan’s First Pyrotechnic Competition begins in General Santos City (22 December 2014) – The first night of Gensan’s First Pyrotechnic Competition hosted

Cops ‘seal’ guns for Christmas holidays MANILA, Dec 22 (Mabuhay) – The firearms issued to Manila and Quezon City policemen were sealed with tapes on Monday morning to ensure that cops will not fire their guns during the New Year’s Eve revelry.

Manila Police District Director Sr. Supt. Rolando Nana said the sealing of the nozzles of police service firearms symbolizes their commitment against indiscriminate firing during the holiday celebrations.

Nana said any cop caught firing their weapons without authorization may face administrative or criminal charges.

Meanwhile, Quezon City Police District Director Sr. Supt. Joel Pagdilao encouraged the public to always have their cellphones See SEAL GUNS, page 11

Marilou Laude, sister of slain Filipino transgender Jeffrey ‘Jennifer’ Laude, shows a picture of USMC L/Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton, from her cellphone at the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court on Friday, December 19. The press was barred from the court hearing where court officials said Pemberton’s camp asked the judge to suspend proceedings. (MNS photo)

US Marine: PHL has no case

Quezon City Police District P/SSupt. Joel Pagdilao wraps tape around the muzzle of a cop’s pistol during the simultaneous gun-sealing activity at Camp Karingal on Monday, December 22. The Philippine National Police annually orders the nationwide sealing of weapons to prevent indiscriminate firing during the New Year. (MNS photo)

Manila, Philippines | AFP | Monday 12/22/2014 - A US Marine facing trial for the murder of a Filipina transgender woman urged the Philippine Department of Justice on Monday to dismiss the case against him.

In a petition filed with the department, the lawyer for Private First Class Joseph Pemberton argued that prosecutors did not present enough evidence to charge him with the killing of Jennifer Laude.

The body of Laude 26, also known as Jeffrey, was found at a cheap hotel in the red light district of the northern port of Olongapo in October after she checked in with Pemberton, police in that city said.

But the petition argued that the evidence linking Pemberton See US MARINE, page 11

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Fil-Am from Cavite is California Teacher of the Year

By Nimfa U. Rueda

LOS ANGELES – When FilipinoAmerican Lovelyn Marquez-Prueher was a young immigrant student struggling to learn English, her teacher thought she had a learning disability. She also got bullied by classmates because of her foreign accent.

“Those challenges have made me a strong advocate for immigrant students who are English learners,” said MarquezPrueher, another Filipina to become a California Teacher of the Year.

A 34-year-old English teacher at Dodson Middle School in the Los Angeles Unified School District, Marquez-Prueher has recently been selected as one of the top five among the nearly 300,000 public school teachers in the state.

As a California Teacher of the Year, she serves as a standard-bearer for the teaching profession statewide.

“This is not just an award but an opportunity to talk to students, parents and fellow teachers all over California about what it’s like to be an immigrant…and to be suspected of having a learning disability because of language needs,” she said.

“This is about overcoming obstacles by working really hard and not settling for being average.”

Cultural gap Marquez-Prueher, whose family is from Cavite, came to the United States when she was nine years old. As a newcomer, she had a tough time in the classroom, having to overcome not just the language barrier but also the cultural gap.

When she was in third grade, her teacher asked which in the group didn’t belong in a drawing of a spoon, fork, knife and drinking glass. She confidently answered: “the knife.”

As the teacher corrected her, explaining that the first three were utensils for eating and the last was for drinking, the young

Marquez-Prueher nearly broke down in tears.

“I wanted to explain that in the Philippines, we don’t use a knife to eat,” she said. “That was my earlier recollection of feeling different.”

“This shows how I have come full circle from being an English learner who was suspected of having a learning disability simply because of my language needs to Lovelyn Marquez-Prueher with Los Angeles County Superintendent becoming an edu- of Schools Arturo Delgado. moting partnerships with parents and the cator who can make a positive difference in the lives of immi- community, said Dodson Middle School Vice Principal Agnes Pitlik. grant students,” she added.

“She is an exemplary model for other About a quarter of the student populateachers,” said Pitlik, adding that Marqueztion in Los Angeles County – including Prueher is well-loved by her students and 3,695 Filipinos – are English learners, their parents.

“She genuinely cares about statistics show. her students and wants the best for them,” Marquez-Prueher has been training colsaid Dannielle Holloway, mother of one leagues on effective approaches in teaching of her students. students who – just like her when she was Filipino upbringing growing up – are not native English speakMarquez-Prueher’s father worked as a ers. As her school’s volunteer bilingual seaman and was often away from home. coordinator, she monitors the progress of “My lolo and lola helped my mom take English learners. care of me,” she said.

“It took a village to A model teacher raise me.”

When she was in her early teens, MarThis type of Filipino-style partnership quez-Prueher was hired to tutor a neighbor, in caring for children is the core of her who just arrived from the Philippines. advocacy for teacher mentorship and a “After I read with him everyday for strong school-family link. weeks, he started to read with more ease “Teachers who help each other get and confidence,” she said. “At that mobetter at their craft and become more efment, I felt an inexplicable joy…I knew fective in providing the best education for then I wanted to become a teacher.” their students,” she said.

“Parental support Besides advocating for English learners, Marquez-Prueher is also a leader in pro- is critical in making sure the children are

mentally and emotionally prepared to learn.”

Marquez-Prueher said her Filipino upbringing helped shape her teaching style.

“My parents, who are very religious, taught me to be honest, so I’m very sincere and open with my students,” she said. “I tell them heartfelt stories about the challenges I faced as a child, how I was bullied because I didn’t speak English well.”

In response, her students become more engaged and they come up with “really powerful” writing projects, she said.

Making history In September this year, MarquezPrueher and another Filipina, Maricar Fortuno Catalan, were selected as LA County Teachers of the Year. It was the first time in LA County’s history that two Fil-Am teachers made it to the county’s top 16, said Susan Bishop, coordinator of the countywide competition.

The top 16 LA County teachers were considered for the statewide competition, and Marquez-Prueher was selected as one of the top five who will be honored at a special event in Sacramento in February.

The competition is part of the National Teacher of the Year program, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious recognition program that shines a spotlight on excellence in teaching. It is designed to honor educators for “exemplary dedication, compelling classroom practices, positive accomplishments and professional commitment,” Bishop said.

Marquez-Prueher, who has been teaching for 11 years, obtained a bachelor’s degree in English from Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles and a master’s in Education from California State University, Los Angeles.

She is currently in the Philippines with her family to celebrate Christmas with relatives in Cavite.

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Creditors are harassing me!

Attorney Paul Allen answers questions on creditor harassment and bankruptcy protection.

Q: Creditors are harassing me - but I lost my job, and cannot pay. How do I stop them calling?

A: If you cannot pay your bills, creditors will take steps to collect. That’s natural, but continued harassment can be emotionally depressing. If you have lost your job, or simply cannot cope, because debts have grown to the point where

you have to choose who gets paid this month, and who doesn’t, then plan on the arrears. you need to consider the benefits of filing Q: Can a bankruptcy stop an evica bankruptcy. tion?

Q: Will a bankruptcy stop collection A: No, under the new rules, a bankruptagencies from calling me? cy will not stop a court ordered eviction, A: Yes, filing a bankruptcy protects you but it will prevent a landlord from seeking from creditor harassment, and provides to evict you, at least for a while, perhaps peace of mind. Creditors will not contact just enough time to find somewhere else you if you filed bankruptcy and have an to live. However, don’t file for bankruptcy attorney representing you. Otherwise solely because you’re being evicted. You’ll they risk being cited for contempt of fed- probably be better off looking for a new eral court, something they will not risk. place to live or fighting the eviction in Another reason to consider a bankruptcy Municipal court instead. Remember, the now, even if you do not have assets to main idea behind bankruptcy is to disprotect, is that after a bankruptcy, you can charge debt. immediately begin the process of repairing Q: Will bankruptcy protect me; I’m your credit. This usually takes between 6 behind in my child support payments? to 12 months, so an early start will get you A: If you owe child support or alimony, there faster. bankruptcy will not interrupt your obligaQ: I have just received a summons tion to make current payments. And while from a creditor. Is it too late to file a the automatic stay will temporarily stop bankruptcy? proceedings to collect back support you A: No. When you file for bankruptcy, owe, usually the bankruptcy court will peran automatic stay goes into effect immedi- mit collection to go forward if the creditor ately stopping any lawsuit filed against you requests it. In any event, these debts will and any action against your property by a survive bankruptcy intact and will have to creditor, collection agency or government be paid once the case is closed. Chapter 13, entity. This can be very important, Espe- however, lets you pay the back support as cially if you are at risk of being evicted or part of the repayment plan. foreclosed on, being found in contempt for Q: A creditor is garnishing my wages. failure to pay child support or losing such Will bankruptcy help me? basic resources as utility services, welfare A: Yes. Although no more than 25% of or unemployment your wages may be taken to satisfy a court Here is how the bankruptcy filing af- judgment (up to 65% for child support and fects some common emergencies: alimony), many people file for bankruptcy Utility disconnections. If you’re behind to protect their income. For some people, on a utility bill and the company is threat- any loss of income is devastating. Your ening to disconnect your water, electric, employer may also get angry at the expense gas or telephone service, the automatic stay and hassle of facilitating a succession of will prevent the disconnection for at least garnishments and take it out on their em20 days. Bankruptcy will also discharge the ployees. Although federal law prohibits past due debts for utility service. Although you from being fired for one garnishment, the amount of a utility bill itself rarely an employer can fire you for multiple justifies a bankruptcy filing, preventing garnishments. Filing for bankruptcy stops electrical service cutoff might be justifica- garnishments dead in their tracks. Not only tion enough. will you take home a full salary, but you Q: Will filing a bankruptcy stop the also can discharge the debt in bankruptcy. foreclosure on my home?

So if you have too many debts, and canA:If your home mortgage is being fore- not manage, call the Law offices of Paul closed on, the automatic stay temporarily M. Allen for an appointment. Consultations stops the proceedings, but the creditor will are free, but by appointment only. Lets often be able to proceed with the fore- discuss your options. We turn complex closure sooner or later. If you are facing problems into simple solutions, even unforeclosure and wish to save your home, der the new bankruptcy rules. Call us at Chapter 13 bankruptcy is the appropriate 818-552-4500. We have two convenient remedy because it provides for a repayment locations: Glendale and La Palma.

‘Right to Sit Down’ bill filed for sales persons MANILA, Dec 23 (Mabuhay) – A fine as high as P100,000 await operators of shopping malls and retail stores which refuse to let their sales clerks sit down at certain intervals while tending the shelves, if the proposal authored by OFW party-list Rep. Roy Señeres Sr. becomes a law.

House Bill 5258, otherwise known as the proposed “Right to Sit Down on the Job Act of 2014” requires operators of shopping malls, department stores and similar establishments to allow their employees to sit down at times when they are not attending to any customers during store hours.

The bill, however, does not specify the time when salesclerks may be allowed to sit. The measure only mandates the Labor and Employment Secretary to promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of the proposal should it become a law.

Operators of shopping malls and similar establishments who will bar their sales personnel from sitting face a fine of P50,000 for the first offense and P100,000 for the second offense.

Those who violate the proposed legislation for the third time face imprisonment of not less than two years but not exceeding three years, and/or the closure of the business establishment.

If the offense is committed by a corporation, firm, association, partnership or other entity, the penalty shall be imposed on the officer found guilty of violating the measure.

Señeres said the bill intends to “humanize the working conditions” in shopping malls, department stores, stalls and similar establishments, where sales personnel are “arbitrarily required to stand while on duty.”

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PNP: No threats monitored this Christmas CAAP: Tacloban Airport PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Wilben United States to issue advisories for its Mayor assured the public that the PNP continues to monitor the country’s lawless elements to ensure that no untoward incident will happen during the holidays.

Mayor added the PNP has not yet monitored any major security threat, but he said the PNP is already on heightened alert.

“Wala po, pero ang PNP ay tuloy-tuloy ang security measrues dahil sa darating na holiday season. Mayroon tayong Nazareno at ang pagdating ni Pope Francis,” Mayor said.

Mayor said it is also normal for the

citizens.

The US embassy earlier told its citizens here to remain on alert following the hostage crisis in Sydney, Australia that left two dead.

“Sa mga ganitong sitwasyon naiintidihan natin ang protocol na ginagawa ng ibang bansa, katulad ng ginawa ng US sa mga citizens nila. Ito ay protocol lang ng ibang bansa para ma-advise ang kanilang mga citizens,” Mayor said.

Mayor gave this assurance even as 49 men were arrested at the pier of Manila for carrying grenades. (MNS)

Aquino gives Christmas gifts to underprivileged kids MANILA, Dec 20 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno S. Aquino III played godfather and gave Christmas gifts and Noche Buena packs to about 1,000 underprivileged children at Malacañang’s Kalayaan Grounds as part of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) ‘Pasko ng Batang Pinoy’ program for this year.

‘Pasko ng Batang Pinoy’ is an event held annually by DSWD in collaboration with 17 local government units in Metro Manila to provide street children a venue for self-enhancement through various activities to enjoy the spirit of Christmas.

During the event, President Aquino also found himself quite overwhelmed by the innocent questions of children who took the opportunity to convey their concerns with him on various issues, including personal ones.

President Aquino was asked whether he also went Christmas caroling in the neighborhood when he was a kid. The Chief Executive said he was not able to go through that experience during his boyhood because the country was under Martial Law

at the time.

“Noong Martial Law, bawal ‘yung magtipon ng lampas tatlong tao; illegal assembly ang tawag. Nakukulong ‘pag ganoon at saka may curfew,” he explained.

The children requested if the President could sing some Christmas tunes for them this time around, but he politely declined, saying he doesn’t have the voice for it.

“Baka mas magaling ‘yung boses niyo kaysa sa boses ko,” he said.

Another boy asked President Aquino whether he also played with firecrackers like ‘watusi’ or ‘piccolo’ during his younger years. He said ‘piccolo’ was not yet invented back then but he did play with ‘watusi’ and a harmless firecracker called ‘sparkler.’ The Chief Executive, however, told the children that he and his playmates played with these firecrackers carefully and always under the supervision of an adult to avoid injuring themselves or other people. The government has an ongoing campaign prohibiting the use of firecrackers, especially the most dangerous and illegal ones, to keep the citizens safe during the holidays.

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open to jet flights again

MANILA, Dec 23 (Mabuhay) – Jet flight operations may resume at Tacloban Airport after the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines lifted restrictions on jet aircraft there Tuesday.

In an advisory, the CAAP said that as of 4 p.m. Monday, the airport’s runway was open to single-aisle jet aircraft like the A320 and B737.

Carriers using single-aisle jet aircraft at Tacloban Airport include Philippine Airlines Express, Cebu Pacific, Tiger Air and AirAsia, it said.

The Tacloban Airport’s daily operations start at 5 a.m. and end at 9 p.m.

CAAP said that as of Monday evening, PAL Express Flight 2P-1987 arrived at Tacloban Airport with 153 passengers and one infant aboard an Airbus A320.

Cebu Pacific Meanwhile, Cebu Pacific on Tuesday reinstated six flights between Manila and Tacloban on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. In an advisory, Cebu Pacific said the CAAP had announced that jet flights at Tacloban Airport would resume Dec. 22 instead of Dec. 26.

The airline said its reinstated flights for Dec. 24 and 25 include: 5J-651 and 652: Manila–Tacloban–Manila 5J-653 and 654: Manila–Tacloban–Manila 5J-657 and 658: Manila–Tacloban–Manila “Passengers originally booked on these flights and who have already moved their flights may choose to retain their current bookings or opt to rebook back on these reinstated flights without charges,” the airline said.

It added affected passengers may call +(632)7020888 or +(6332)2308888 to specify their option. (MNS)

Last batch of quarantined peacekeepers from Liberia hailed MANILA, Dec 22 (Mabuhay) – The Philippine National Police (PNP) honored Monday the last batch of police peacekeepers from the Ebola-hit Liberia after their 21-day quarantine at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Medical Center in Quezon City.

Five police peacekeepers were awarded with “Medalya ng Papuri” from the PNP in honor of their sacrifice and courage in their mission.

Deputy Director Leonardo Espina, officer-in-charge of the PNP, led the awarding ceremony of the last batch of Filipino peacekeepers who were among the 133 UN peacekeepers from Liberia.

Among the awardees were Police Senior Superintendent Cesar Binag, deputy commissioner of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), Police Supt. Eduardo Abaday, Police Supt. Nixon Cayaban, Police Chief Insp. Emmanuel Caquilala, Senior Police Officer 3 Khynnimer Absari.

Espina cited the police peacekeepers as the “new heroes” of the country for their sacrifice and dedication.

Since 1992, the PNP has been sending contingents to the United Nations peacekeeping operations and missions, first in Cambodia and subsequently in other countries torn by conflict to provide services and assistance. (MNS)

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Binay, Poe, Roxas top poll Survey reveals who may be in 2016 presidential race SWS poll lists possible 2016 presidential contenders MANILA, Dec 22 (Mabuhay) – Vice President Jejomar Binay, Sen. Grace Poe, and Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II topped a new poll taken by the Social Weather Stations as the three most likely to succeed President Benigno Aquino III once his term ends in 2016.

The poll was taken from November 27 to December 1, and asked, “Who do you think are the good leaders who should succeed Pres. [Benigno III] Aquino as president? You may give up to three names.”

The poll results, posted in the Business World website, found that 37 percent of respondents believed Binay should succeed Aquino in 2016; 21 percent named Poe, and 19 percent named Roxas.

The other personalities named by the respondents included: Sen. Miriam Santiago (10 percent) Sen. Francis Joseph “Chiz” Escudero (9 percent) former President and Manila Mayor

Joseph Estrada (9 percent) Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte (5 percent) Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV (5 percent) Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (3 percent) Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano (3 percent) Former senator Manuel Villar Jr. (2 percent) Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. (2 percent) Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery Panfilo Lacson (2 percent) Sen. Loren Legarda (1 percent) Senate President Franklin Drilon (1 percent) Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization Francis Pangilinan (1 percent) Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao (1 percent).

Some eight percent of respondents had no one to recommend, while 15 percent could not give an answer.

The SWS survey interviewed 1,800 respondents nationwide, with sampling error margins of ±2% for national percentages; ±6% each for Metro Manila, “Balance Luzon” and Mindanao; and ±3% for the Visayas. (MNS)

President Benigno S. Aquino III converses with Vice President Jejomar Binay during the79th Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Day Celebration at the AFP General Headquarters Grandstand of the Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Thursday (December 18, 2014). This year’s theme is: “Sandatahang Lakas: Ika-79 na Taong Naglilingkod ng Tapat tungo sa Kapayapaan, Kaunlaran at Kasaganaan”. (MNS photo)

VP Binay hopes worst of corruption allegations is over MANILA, Dec 23 (Mabuhay) – Hounded by corruption allegations, Vice President Jejomar Binay is looking at 2015 with hopes that the worst is over, but still not that optimistic.

“Let’s hope and pray [that it will be over],” Binay said late Monday afternoon after the courtesy call of Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Effie Ben Matityau.

“Siguro hindi pa rin titigil ‘yon. Sige pa rin.”

For 2015, Binay, who denied the accusations against him, said he will exert more efforts to explain his side. “Gagawa na lang ng paraan para makapagpaliwanag.

‘Yon ay mga kasinungalingan lamang at politically motivated,” he said.

Binay was accused of having a hand in the alleged overpricing in the construction of Makati City Hall building II and Makati Science High School building, bid rigging, and receiving kickbacks during his term as mayor of Makati.

He was also accused of owning 350-hectare property in Rosario, Batangas and a log cabin in Tagaytay Highlands that were not included in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth.

Binay has repeatedly said the accusations were just part of an operation to diminish his chances of winning in the

2016 elections, where he is set to run for president.

Binay admitted that the accusations had dragged his ratings down, although he expressed confidence that the public will eventually realize that issues hurled against him are all falsehoods.

“One of the reasons why bumagsak kami do’n sa rating for a time pero we still maintained the leadership is because of the perception that was created by our opponents. It came to a point na nalaman na ng mga tao that these are all lies and it is politically motivated, so nagbalik ulit ‘yong numbers namin,” he said.

Binay’s numbers have been in downward trend since September when the corruption issues against him were made public based on the surveys conducted by Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has allowed Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. to hold a Christmas party at their detention facility inside Camp Crame.

PNP spokesperson Senior Supt. Wilben Mayor said visitors of the two senators are also allowed to bring any food items – even lechon or roasted pig – during their visits.

Mayor, however, said only the lawmakers’ immediate family will be allowed.

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Palace insists no ‘pork’ in 2015 budget MANILA, Dec 22 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang insists that there is no pork barrel hidden in the P2.6-trillion national budget for 2015.

This, after the Social Watch Philippines (SWP) claimed that as much as P47 billion in PDAF were hidden in the national budget that was ratified by both houses of Congress.

“The bicam basically crafted and approved a budget that skirts around the SC decisions,” the groups lead convenor, former National Treasurer Leonor Briones, said.

But Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the group might have had a different view on the budget, its structure and the process it goes through before getting the nod of the Congress.

“Wala pong batayan ‘yung sinasabi nilang ‘yan, maliban na lang po siguro sa pagkakaroon nila ng ibang pananaw hinggil sa istruktura at nilalaman ng pambansang budget,” he said in an interview over government radio dzRB. Coloma explained that the executive, in coordination with the Congress, made sure that they followed the constitution and, more importantly, the recent rulings of the Supreme Court.

“Sinikap ng administrasyon, sa pakikipag-ugnayan sa ating mga mambabatas, na makabuo ng isang pambansang budget na sumusunod sa prinsipyo ng Konstitusyon at ayon na rin sa mga pinakahuling pagpasya ng ating Korte Suprema,” he said.

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court declared the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) and the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) unconstitutional.

Meanwhile, the year 2015 presents

opportunities for the Philippine economy to maintain a growth trajectory following favorable developments achieved this year and the opportunities in hosting the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, according to the country’s chief economist.

The Philippine government must work even harder to sustain economic growth over the short term, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan told reporters in a recent interview.

He said the country may still experience hitches from risks arising from overseas developments and natural disasters, he added.

“Our wider fiscal space due to the country’s continuous rise in competitiveness ranking and investment grade ratings should allow us to accelerate implementation of infrastructure projects, particularly those that will address transport and logistical challenges to facilitate movement of people and good,” he said.

“We will also take advantage of the opportunities presented by the country’s hosting of APEC next year and the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community by the end of 2015,” he added.

This will be the second time the Philippines hosts an APEC summit. The first time was in 1996.

Balican noted the industries that may take advantage of these opportunities are the priority sectors that have been identified in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) Midterm Update.

These are agri-business, manufacturing, construction, information technologybusiness process management in the Next Wave Cities, logistics and tourism.

DOJ Sec. De Lima to consider Comelec job if offered to her MANILA, Dec 19 (Mabuhay) – Justice Secretary Leila de Lima shrugged off rumors that she will be the next chairperson of the Commission on Elections (Comelec). “Wala pang binabanggit ang Pangulo tungkol diyan. Haka-haka lang, lalo na ni Comelec chair [Sixto] Brillantes,” she said.

De Lima, however, said she will consider the job if offered to her, noting that she used to be an election lawyer.

“I will consider, I will think about it, I will just think about it, and then tingnan ko. Hindi ko talaga alam kung anu-ano ang susunod. Although siyempre alam niyo na yun ang original na linya ko – election law.

I used to be an election lawyer,” she said.

“Pero now that I’m in the DOJ and doon sa mga naging karanasan ko as a secretary of justice, I don’t know if being in the Comelec or as a Comelec chair would be as excitng as SOJ,” she added.

Brillantes as well as Commissioners Lucenito Tagle and Elias Yusoph are set to retire in February next year.

Malacañang previously said that President Benigno Aquino III will consider the best interests of the poll body when he chooses the replacements for Brillanes, Tagle and Yusoph.

Asked if Aquino already has a shortlist of candidates for the three positions, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said, “None that I am aware of.”

There is still no discussion – at least officially – at this time on who will replace Sixto Brillantes Jr., who is due to retire as Commission on Elections chairman in February, Malacañang said Saturday.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda downplayed reports that Justice Secretary Leila de Lima is being eyed as a potential replacement for Brillantes. Besides, he said anyone who will be named will have to go through the confirmation process. (MNS)

President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the Youth Summit 2014 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City on Friday (December 19, 2014). This year’s theme is “Fearless”. The Kristiyanong Kabataan para sa Bayan (KKB) Movement is the youth Life Group Network of the Jesus Is Lord Church Worldwide (JILCW). The KKB Mission is to inspire the youth to live for Jesus Christ and to offer the prime years of their lives in service to God and Country. (MNS photo)

“The sectors...are expected to continue to be the main engines in the medium-term growth,” said Balisacan, who is also the Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

These sectors, particularly tourism and agriculture are expected to remain buoyant, barring severe impact of natural disasters.

“Obviously, natural disasters continued to challenge us but given the way we responded to challenges from Ruby, we improved and we are confident we can improve our performance in preparedness

to minimize the damage and losses attributable to extreme events,” he said.

In November 2013, Typhoon Yolanda – the strongest typhoon to make landfall – battered Central Philippines and caused massive destruction that trimmed the country’s economic growth that year.

It’s lingering effects are also still felth this year.

Typhoons Glenda and Luis and the onset of habagat earlier this year also weighed on the agriculture sector, which contracting by 2.7 percent in the third quarter.

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AFP to be on alert during CPP anniversary

Manila Archbishop Antonio Luis G. Tagle as announces the visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines on January 15-19 next year during a press conference July 29, 2014 in Intramuros, Manila. (MNS photo)

Pope to meet Muslim, Buddhist leaders in PHL visit Manila, Philippines | AFP | Monday 12/22/2014 – Pope Francis will meet with leaders of various religions when he visits the Philippines next month, pushing a message of tolerance in order to combat global religious conflicts, a church official said Monday.

The pontiff will hold a 10 to 15-minute dialogue with the dean of the Philippines’ largest Islamic studies centre and a Taiwan-based Buddhist leader on January 18, according to Father Carlos Reyes, a member of the committee organising the Pope’s visit.

He will also meet with the Hong Kongbased regional head of the Greek Orthodox Church, as well as a Hindu leader, Protestant bishops, and a Manila-based rabbi, Reyes told reporters.

The dialogue will be held at the 400-year-old church-run University of Santo Tomas in Manila, where the pontiff will also address a crowd of 25,000 youths.

“The church is Catholic, it is universal, we are in dialogue with the world,” Reyes said.

“It is our job as men and women of religion not to allow the fundamentalists or extremists to hijack the religion.”

The event comes as the largely-Catholic Philippines is implementing a peace deal signed last March with its main Muslim rebel group to create an autonomous area for the Muslim minority in the southern islands.

It also comes as the government fights a small band of hardliners that have reportedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State

group, which has taken control of a swathe of territory across Iraq and Syria.

The military has in recent weeks intensified offensives against the Al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf, which is holding several hostages, including foreigners, in the troubled south.

Pope Francis will arrive in the country amid tight security on January 15 for a four-day visit highlighted by a mass in Tacloban City, ground zero for Super Typhoon Haiyan last year.

Haiyan’s monster winds spawned tsunami-like storm surges that wiped out entire towns and left more than 7,350 killed or missing.

The pontiff’s visit has the theme “mercy and compassion” and is expected to draw millions of the faithful to the public events.

MANILA, Dec 23 (Mabuhay) – The Armed Forces of the Philippines will be on alert right after Christmas as the Communist Party of the Philippines (AFP) commemorates its 46th anniversary.

However, it “will not launch any kind of offensive operation” against the insurgents, said AFP spokesman Col. Restituto Padilla on Tuesday.

The AFP, as well as the Philippine National Police (PNP), has suspended its operations against the CPP and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), in celebration of the Christmas season.

The ceasefire will be from December 19, 2014 to January 19, 2015.

The Central Committee of the CPP, meanwhile, has declared ceasefire to all commands and units of the NPA and people’s militia during the holidays and the papal visit in January.

Still, Padilla appealed to the rebels to “reconsider renouncing their armed struggle, and join the mainstream to participate in the political system without the arms.”

On December 26, the CPP will celebrate its 46th anniversary. The CPPNPA is still waging a protracted war in the Philippines, which is considered as the longest running insurgency in Asia.

The military estimate the CPP-NPA membership at about 4,000.

“They have very much reduced in numbers and I think there is a clear realization among the population that we need peace,” Padilla said.

“We need to secure our countryside and renounce violence because it impede progress,” he added. (MNS)

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Aquino gives Christmas gifts to underprivileged kids MANILA, Dec 20 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno S. Aquino III played godfather and gave Christmas gifts and Noche Buena packs to about 1,000 underprivileged children at Malacañang’s Kalayaan Grounds as part of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) ‘Pasko ng Batang Pinoy’ program for this year.

‘Pasko ng Batang Pinoy’ is an event held annually by DSWD in collaboration with 17 local government units in Metro Manila to provide street children a venue for self-enhancement through various activities to enjoy the spirit of Christmas.

During the event, President Aquino also found himself quite overwhelmed by the innocent questions of children who took the opportunity to convey their concerns with him on various issues, including personal ones.

President Aquino was asked whether he also went Christmas caroling in the neighborhood when he was a kid.

The Chief Executive said he was not able to go through that experience during his boyhood because the country was under Martial Law at the time.

“Noong Martial Law, bawal ‘yung magtipon ng lampas tatlong tao; illegal assembly ang tawag. Nakukulong ‘pag ganoon at saka may curfew,” he explained.

The children requested if the President could sing some Christmas tunes for them this time around, but he

politely declined, saying he doesn’t have the voice for it. “Baka mas magaling ‘yung boses niyo kaysa sa boses ko,” he said.

Another boy asked President Aquino whether he also played with firecrackers like ‘watusi’ or ‘piccolo’ during his younger years. He said ‘piccolo’ was not yet invented back then but he did play with ‘watusi’ and a harmless firecracker called ‘sparkler.’

The Chief Executive, however, told the children that he and his playmates played with these firecrackers carefully and always under the supervision of an adult to avoid injuring themselves or other people. The government has an ongoing campaign prohibiting the use of firecrackers, especially the most dangerous and illegal ones, to keep the citizens safe during the holidays.

With respect to cybercrime, President Aquino told the boy who is concerned about his fellow children getting addicted to Facebook and other social media platforms that the Supreme Court is still reviewing the Anti-Cybercrime Law. On politics, President Aquino reiterated that he no longer plans to seek another term come the 2016 presidential elections. He said he would rather have someone who will continue the reforms his administration implemented to succeed him in office.

“Sa 2016, lalo na, gusto nating mahikayat ang buong

US third quarter growth highest in 11 years Washington, United States | AFP | Tuesday 12/23/2014 – US growth surged to its highest level in 11 years in the third quarter, according to an updated government estimate released Tuesday.

Gross domestic product (GDP) increased five percent between July and September in the Commerce Department’s third estimate for the period, up from the 3.9 percent previously estimated.

Analysts had expected growth of 4.3 percent.

Tuesday’s figures built on the momentum from the second quarter, when growth came in at 4.6 percent.

The US economy contracted 2.1 percent in the first quarter of 2014, a weak

result mainly attributed to the abnormally cold winter, but has since recovered strongly.

Spending for consumption rose 3.2 percent, the biggest jump since the end of 2013. Consumption of goods rose 4.7 percent, while spending on services gained 2.5 percent.

The updated figures come on the heels of a strong November jobs report, which showed the US economy adding 321,000 jobs.

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen last week said the US economy is improving steadily, but said the labor market still needs to strengthen and signalled that interest rates would remain low for months.

sambayanan na siguraduhin ‘yung pagbabagong nangyayari sa atin ngayon maging permanente. Huwag na tayong bumalik sa dating kalakaran. So ‘yun ang pagtutulungan… Tulungan niyo ko, pagtulungan natin na maging permanente ang pagbabago,” he said.

President Aquino, meanwhile, promised one of the kids who got separated from his parents that the government through the DSWD would make an effort to find them.

He also said Secretary Corazon Soliman would be around to assist him in his education.

“Pagtulungan natin, subukan nating hanapin ‘yung mga magulang mo. Pero ‘yung pag-aaral, palagay ko kayang-kaya ni Secretary (Corazon) Soliman na masiguradong mapagpatuloy ang pag-aaral mo,” he told the boy.

Two girls also asked for President Aquino to help their fathers. One of them said her father would like to get out from his financial debts and the other said she would like her father to be freed from prison. President Aquino said he would look into the cases of their fathers to see how the government could help them.

The children, in turn, thanked President Aquino for his gifts and for spending time with them. A little girl even gave the Chief Executive a warm embrace, saying that was his special gift for him this Christmas, which President Aquino gladly accepted. (MNS)

US stocks soar to new record as growth accelerates

By John Biers

New York, United States | AFP | Tuesday 12/23/2014 – The Dow stock index closed above 18,000 for the first time ever Tuesday after government data estimated third-quarter US economic growth at a spectacular five percent.

The blue-chip index crossed its latest threshold within moments of the market opening and stayed above 18,000 the rest of the session, continuing a so-called “Santa Claus rally” that began after last week’s US Federal Reserve meeting.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished at 18,024.17, up 64.73 points (0.36 percent).

The broad-based S&P-500 also notched a fresh record, gaining 3.63 points (0.17 percent) to 2,082.17, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 16.00 (0.33 percent) to 4,765.42.

At five percent, US growth for the third quarter was the best since 2003. The figure, described as “mind-blowing” by one analyst, was also better than the 3.9 percent previously estimated by the government and the 4.3 percent projected by analysts.

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Chapter 13 plan confirmed but job loss imminent; Parents qualify for Obama Amnesty CHAPTER 13 CONFIRMED Yesterday, the court approved my client’s Chapter 13 case in Riverside. In Riverside, the 341 meetings presided by the Chapter 13 trustee are held in the morning, and the confirmation hearing of the case before the judge is held at 1:30 PM of the same day. In Los Angeles, Woodland Hills or Santa Ana, the 341 meetings precede the confirmation hearings by at least a month, with

some judges, 3 to 6 months.

The gap between the first and 2nd hear- within hours of each other. Consequently, ing allows debtors to comply with trustee as much as possible, you want everything requirements to have the plan confirmed to go smoothly at the morning hearing, before the judge at the confirmation hear- so the court can confirm the plan in the ing. In Riverside, you don’t have this afternoon. Otherwise, you’ll have to convenience since both hearings are held return in two weeks and go through the

same process. In yesterday’s case, client filed Chapter 13 to prevent foreclosure on her home for a mortgage default of about $20,000. Her mortgage payment was very reasonable at $1,040 a month at 2% interest after a loan modification, but husband lost his job 18 months ago and has used up all unemployment benefits. Thus, even a mortgage payment that is even less than rent can be burdensome when household income is reduced.

The trustee requested for some documents at the morning hearing, and would not object to confirmation provided they were filed in by 1:30 PM. I filed the documents requested, and the only problem left was that the December mortgage due yesterday had not been paid. At the afternoon hearing, I presented client to the court to testify that she would make the mortgage payment, and so the judge confirmed the case based on her testimony. But after the hearing, client informed me that she may lose her job next month because the company she worked for had been sold, and the sale requires all employees to leave and reapply, without assurance that she would be rehired.

What sad news. I suggested to husband that if he could drive around, he could use “UBER� and make money driving people around with his own car, and that they take in renters to create some income, because if future plan payments are not made, or future mortgage payments are not made timely, case will be dismissed or bank can get permission from the court to continue foreclosure. This may take one or two months but certainly, eventually, clients will lose their house, and they would still have rent that is more than their mortgage payment. Nevertheless, I am sure our God will provide for their needs because He loves them so.

PARENTS QUALIFY FOR OBAMA AMNESTY Client entered the United States in 1995, undocumented, through the Mexican border, and has been living in Los Angeles since then. When he came, he was 25 years old. He is now 44 years old and still illegal.

He married his wife 10 years ago. His wife entered the United States in 2003 by H1-B visa, and started working for the employer.

Employer went bankrupt in 2007. Wife could not find another employer, so she has been out of status for 7 years. Wife is 38 years old, and a professional. Client

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and wife are employed but getting much less than what they should, if they were authorized to work. Husband is an engineer but works in a gas station, working long hours as a cashier. Wife works as a customer service rep. They have 3 children aged 6, 4 and 2 who were all born in Los Angeles. Husband and wife now seek a work permits under the President’s immigration program. Do they qualify? The law requires that on November 20, 2014, applicant must have a son or daughter who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. Since all their children are born here, children are U.S. citizens, so they meet this condition. The law requires the applicant to have continuously resided here since before January 1, 2010. Client entered through Mexico in 1995, and wife entered in 2003, so they meet this condition. The law requires applicant to have no lawful status on November 20, 2014. Client and wife are both out of status for many years.

Further, the law requires that applicant be physically present here on November 20, 2014; and at the time of application, applicant has no criminal record and there are no other factors, in the exercise of discretion, makes approval inappropriate.

So, it looks like clients have a good case. The problem is the evidence required to prove all of the above circumstances, particularly, client’s entry through Mexico in 1995. Since all applications will be decided on a case-by-case basis, evidence presented must be credible. Act now, and set an appointment to see me for a free consultation to see if you qualify. I look forward to help qualify under this immigration program. “FOR TO US A CHILD IS BORN, TO US A SON IS GIVEN, AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE ON HIS SHOULDERS. AND HE WILL BE CALLED WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, EVERLASTING FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE.�

Isaiah 9:6.

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, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803.

PHL orders crackdown on privileged jailbirds Manila, Philippines | AFP | Saturday 12/20/2014 – Philippine authorities have given privileged inmates in the country’s main prison until Christmas Eve to turn over their hidden guns, drugs and other contraband or the notorious facility will face a major shakedown.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima issued the ultimatum after two surprise searches of the Bilibid prison this week uncovered a horde of prohibited items including firearms, drugs, stashes of US dollars – and even a jacuzzi and a stripper bar.

Revelations that drug lords have been “living like kings� in luxury cells have shocked the Philippines, a nation used to tales of official corruption. “Before Christmas, they should produce the contraband because we believe there are still illegal drugs and items kept hidden,� de Lima said after leading the second search on Friday. “I told them to produce that, otherwise I will really... turn the facility upside down,� she told reporters.

Flanked by heavily-armed troops, de Lima led the searches of the luxurious

special apartments of convicted drug lords in a sprawling suburban Manila complex built for 8,900 inmates but currently housing 23,000. “I am disgusted, even beyond disgusted,� she said after the raids, which uncovered secret panels leading to hidden rooms.

Three officials connected with Bilibid were relieved of their posts in preparation for an investigation over the apparent complicity of jail officials in allowing the items to be smuggled in, she said.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino has ordered de Lima to reform the prison system, which has long been known for corruption with wealthy inmates enjoying special privileges. “You can’t be in prison and live like you are enjoying life in a condominium,� said presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda in a radio interview on Saturday. “The president told Secretary Leila de Lima that the national prison needs to be straightened out. What has been ongoing for several years, Secretary Leila de Lima is putting a stop (to) right now,� he said.

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Marlou Colina with loyal 5th Year of Service awardee Erick Caguioa and Bona (rightmost)

A day of holiday merrymaking at Colina Salon & “Aguilang Bato Gardens” As we celebrate the beginning of winter solstice (time of the year when the sun is farthest south) last Sunday, Marlou Colina gathered his loyal clients, family, friends and staff to a sumptuous Christmas dinner and merrymaking in the atriumturned garden setting situated on the first floor of his salon’s building in Long Beach.

Gregarious Bona was the host of the evening, who welcomed all of us for taking our time from our busy holiday schedules to join in the celebration. Pastor Herbert Miraflor delivered his In closing, Marlou recalled how on powerful message of goodwill and peace the third year of operating his shop, he to our fellowmen. met some challenges which made him Marlou gave a special award to his top- stronger. With Divine intervention, he has notched staff, Leilani “Ate Lani” Hollman “surpassed the test of time,” and is thankful who pursued a two-year career in Cosme- for all the blessings bestowed on him and tology and who has recently passed the US he thanked his Mom and Dad who were Board Licensing exam with flying colors. always there for him, along with his loyal Audience participation was encour- staff: Lani and Erica. aged when Bona sang the Christmas song In another part of town, on the same “Chestnuts Roasting Like An Open Fire,” winter solstice day, above the hills near Ocfollowed by Marlou’s dad who showed us cidental College, we were hosted at a lunch his singing prowess. reception at the “Aguilang Bato Gardens.”

A “Most Loyal” award was given to In contrast to Marlou’s overwhelming Erica who has worked with Marlou for the guests, this reception was very intimate past five years. Part of the merrymaking and exclusive with only a few selected included games such as: produce a “Target” friends including this writer. The other receipt, an American Express card, a $100 privileged invited guests were: Danny bill, a 100 peso bill and a wedding ring Ad- Bajet, Charlie Hilario, Conchita Rivera ditional games include the hilarious “dance (who didn’t make it due to illness), Adolfo contest” of four guys to a variety of songs and Bojie (our surprise Broadway singer/ by: Ricky Martin, Madonna, Michael Jack- entertainer). son and Jennifer Lopez.

The trek to the hills of “Aguilang The choral contest included guest par- Bato Gardens” was well worth it due to ticipation between five groups singing the its lush Bistro-like setting with various Christmas song: “Three Turtle Doves.” whimsically-decorated Christmas trees and Contest winners received bottles of cham- an impeccable lunch presentation where pagne, Christmas mugs and coffee pots. we savored delicious, warm Arroz Caldo, A bonus for the guests was viewing Mar- fancy flavored Adobo with lemongrass, lou’s video presentation which showed his Thai-inspired glass noodles, various Danhumble beginnings to his rise as a celebrity ish pastries, suman sa lihia, fresh fruits and hairstylist for various Filipino artists such overflowing wine and champagne. as KC Concepcion, Zsz Zsa Padilla, Ai Ai, These pre-Christmas merrymaking are Jake Cuenca, Boy abunda, Enchong Dee. most of all, celebrations of giving, sharing Kathrine Bernardo and Angeline Quinto. and bonding with significant people in The video presentation highlighted Mar- our lives. lou’s achievements including receiving the As we herald into the New Year, may it recent Gawad Awards for “Entrepreneur of bring good health, love and happiness to all the Year in Cosmetology.” of you. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

SEAL GUNS From page 1

ready so they could take a video of any cop who would dare use their guns during the prohibited period.

Based on a record from the Department

of Health, there were 19 stray bullet incidents during the New Year’s Eve celebration last year. (MNS)

US MARINE From page 1

to the killing was “based on nothing but conjectures and speculations”.

“There was no evidence presented as to the details of the purported assault during the preliminary investigation other than the surmises and conjectures of the supposed witnesses and the baseless conclusions of the (Olongapo) police,”

the petition argued.

The murder case against Pemberton was filed with an Olongapo court which issued a formal arrest warrant for him last week.

However a petition to the justice department is also an option for the accused in such criminal cases.

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Launching my own website to reach out to more Fil-Ams In today’s wired world, if you’re a business entity, and you don’t have a website, you don’t exist.

Times were simpler for me. Medicare caters mostly to the 65++ and somehow communicating to them thru this column made me very comfortable.

Then, I had to engage my readers and had to draw from my college debating skills by arguing that the Medicare

Portability campaign was not necessary, beneficial nor practicable. they have less understanding of, and very I had to take the cudgels for a colleague little resolve to study. whose annuity sales to a senior client was But, with Obamacare emerging, my stalled because of an adverse article from audience expands to include the millenials a lawyer who managed to “demonize� (for our purpose, they’re the less than 64 annuities by citing one or two unfortunate years old). incidents, blocking his readers’ view of the These young people do not just accept entire big picture. their parents’ referrals. “Who is this Leo I believe that those issues were ad- Monsalud�?, they ask. They investigate. dressed properly because the said problems And, the very first thing they do is search have somehow disappeared. I believe those for your website, if you have one at all.

(Millenials enrolling thru a Certified involved realized that it is best to “stick to their guns�, rather than venture on matters Insurance Agent (CIA) like me, and not

doing it by themselves online? This is unbelievable!

But, to me, this is proof that bright as they are, they have finally come to terms with the reality that health insurance in the U.S. is a complex subject and enrolling thru a CIA is a big advantage. The CIA will act as your advocate not only during enrollment, but even after enrollment, if, God forbid, you encounter problems with the use of your health insurance.)

Most of my insurance principals offer free website hosting. But, with the restrictions, I decided to decline the offer. I feel I can serve my audience better by remaining independent and flexible.

So, I contracted with a professional Web designer/developer from New York who, among other things, will help me manage the day-to-day operations of our Website.

Please help. Please visit the Website www.healthremediesandoptions.com and tell me what you think. Experts in

the Philippines are already reviewing the Website and will report their findings next week. Your comments will certainly enrich my analysis. You may reach me at 323-5357373 or e-mail at: leo.balita@gmail.com.

The road to progress is always under construction. So is our Website.

And just in case you won’t notice.

Health Remedies and Options is long (short) for HeRO. And in today’s health world fraught with problems, everybody welcomes a HeRO. Happy New Year to All! Tidbits: There is a great Fil-Am restaurant along Edgemont and Santa Monica streets that serve “bulalo� every Thursday and Sunday 10:30am – 11:00am. It is called Karihang Pinoy. I have tried several times and just love the experience.

Leo Monsalud is a Certified Insurance Agent for Covered California. He holds CA license # 0G55218 as well as a NonResident license for the state of Nevada.

Who pulled the plug on North Korea’s Internet?

By Jo Biddle

Washington, United States | AFP | Tuesday 12/23/2014 – North Korea’s Internet was on the fritz for a second day Tuesday.

But the US is staying silent on whether it launched a cyber attack as payback for the hacking of Sony Pictures.

And in the murky world of cyber security, experts say there are several plausible scenarios for why North Korea suddenly went dark, stressing it’s impossible to know exactly what happened.

Did the US launch a cyber attack on North Korea?

While some have been quick to make the link between Pyongyang’s connectivity woes and a pledge by US Presi-

dent Barack Obama to retaliate for last month’s Sony hack, many analysts aren’t convinced. “It’s unlikely, if only because we can’t make decisions that fast,� said cyber expert James Lewis, a senior fellow with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

Washington has asked for help from Pyongyang’s ally Beijing to rein the North’s cyber activities, so “monkeying� around with Internet services linked to China would not make much sense, he told AFP. It was also a pretty unsophisticated attack, if it was an attack, said Doug Madory, director of Internet Analysis

with Dyn Research, the US monitoring company which broke the story of Pyongyang’s Internet problems. “We don’t have direct evidence of some kind of cyber attack, but it would be consistent with that,� he told AFP. Given the low-level of sophistication “the cast of characters that could have pulled this off is immense.� “If a nation state such as the US wanted to take North Korea off, I’m not sure it would have taken them 12 hours.�

For its part, the Obama administration is dodging questions and refusing to publicly outline any measures it takes against Pyongyang.

So is China the main suspect?

It’s certainly near the top of the list.

North Korea only has connections to four Internet networks and they all run through China, operated by a single provider, China Unicom. “That’s a fragile state of affairs,� said Jim Cowie, chief scientist with Dyn Research.

China has been increasingly frustrated by the erratic behavior of North Korea’s new young leader, Kim Jong-Un. Simply pulling the plug on its Internet would send a strong signal of its displeasure, while at the same time shoring up ties with the United States which has indicted five Chinese military officers for hacking into US companies to steal trade secrets.

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Automatic temporary restraining orders that are in effect upon commencement of divorce It is typical, if not natural, for Parties to a divorce case to start hiding assets and income from each other as soon as divorce is anticipated. Spouse’s are thinking ahead of the game on how they can outsmart the other spouse so that they end up with the larger portion of the pie. This is a common reaction by clients not knowing that they are violating the automatic temporary restraining orders (ATROS) that are automatically in place

the moment divorce is commenced. I thought it would be important insurance or other coverage, including life, for family law litigants to be aware of AT- health, automobile, and disability held for ROS so they can avoid a violation and the the benefit of the parties and their child consequences of such violation. ATROS for whom support may be orders. Fam C takes effect on the Petitioner upon filing the 2040(a)(3). 4) restraint from creating a Petition and summons while it takes effect nonprobate transfer or modifying a nonon the Respondent upon service of the Peti- probate transfer in a manner that affects tion under family Code Section 233(a) and the disposition of property subject to the 2040(a).. ATROS is not limited to divorce transfer without the other party’s written cases but also apply to legal separation consent or court order. fam c 2040(a)(4).

There are exceptions to the above reactions and Nullity actions. ATROS stays in effect until entry of the final judgment strictions. One exception is for property transfers in the usual course of business or in the case.

The four standard mutual restraining for the necessities of life. Examples would orders are 1) removing their minor children be property transfers as part of your usual from the state without the prior written business operations or to pay for usual consent of the other party or a court or- household living expenses. Another excepder. family code Section 2040(a)(1) 2) tion is payment of reasonable attorney’s restraint from transferring, encumbering, fees. fam c. 2040(a)(2). hypothecating, concealing, or in any way A violation of restraint against property disposing of any property, real or personal, transfer may be remedied by awarding whether community, quasi-community, or the aggrieved spouse his/her 50% of separate without the other party’s written the community property that the spouse consent or court order; fam code 2040(a) would have received had the property not (2) 3) restraint from cashing, borrowing been transferred pursuant to Marriage of against, canceling, transferring, disposing McTiernan and Fam. C 1101(g). A violaof, or changing the beneficiaries of any tion of the child move away restriction is

POPE’S ARRIVAL From page 1

Meanwhile, roads near the airport will also be closed for the Pope’s arrival and departure: Sales Avenue Andrews Avenue Domestic Road MIAA Road “We highly encourage the public, yun pong mga maghahatid at magsusundo, kung maaari lang po limitahan na yung pupunta ng airport. We’re going to implement a drop and go system sa departure so that we don’t get people crowded in these areas at hindi sila mahuli sa pagsara ng mga kalye,” Bungag said.

“We also advise the passengers...na magpunta na sa po sa NAIA ng mas maaga.

If you can come 5-6 hours ahead para po siguradong hindi niyo ma-miss yung flight niyo on that day. Because we expect traffic to be really heavy,” she added. (MNS) 3 papal visit days declared special nonworking days Meanwhile, President Benigno Aquino has declared special non-working days next month to allow more Filipinos to witness the visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines.

Under Proclamation No. 936, three

of the five days the Supreme Pontiff will spend in the country will be non-working days in Metro Manila. They are January15, 16, and 19. January 17 and 18 fall on weekends.

“In view of the visit of the Pope, the Head of State of the Vatican City, I Paquito Ochoa Jr., Executive Secretary, by authority of His Excellency, Benign S. Aquino III, do hereby declare January 15, 16 and 19, 2015, as special (non-working) days in the National Capital Region,” according to the proclamation dated December 22.

Francis is set to arrive on January 15 in Manila where Aquino will welcome him at the Villamor Air Base. The formal welcome will take place the following day at the Kalayaan grounds of the Malacañan Palace to allow more people to see the Pope.

Francis will meet with Aquino and other top government officials, including members of the diplomatic corps, at the Rizal Centennial Hall of the Palace before proceeding to the Manila Cathedral for a Mass.

Later in the afternoon, the Pope will have a meeting with families at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. (MNS)

FILIPINA From page 1

Barn, Macy’s, Target, Ross, Kohls, among many others. Gabrielle loves musical theater and has performed in Phantom of the Opera, Titanic, God Spell, West Side Story, 9 to 5, and Xanadu. She hones her voice by studying Classical Voice at the prestigious Colburn School of Music in Downtown LA. Her plan is to attend college after graduating in 2015 and to major in music management.

The Royal Court is comprised of seven girls who were chosen based on a number of criteria, including poise, personality, public speaking ability, academic achievement, and community and school involvement. They serve as ambassadors for the Tournament of Roses - It is a very prestigious honor, but not an easy feat to

pull off with grace. Gabrielle has attended over 100 public and media functions since October, all while maintaining a rigorous class schedule at school, completing her college applications, and working as a lead singer/actor on two musicals. She will reign as a Royal Court Princess over the Rose Parade and the Rose Bowl Game on January 1st, 2015.

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punishable by fine and/ or imprisonment pursuant to Penal. Code 278.5. A violation of the other ATROS restrictions is punishable by contempt, fine, and/ or imprisonment pursuant to Penal Code 273.6. It is important for family law litigant’s to steer clear from violating the ATROS. Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice.

The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information.

This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may 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 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 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. Visit our website at kenreyeslaw.com.

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Consumer alert: How safe are your personal information online?

Successfulmatch.com allegedly runs thousands of websites that offer dating service to the public. One of its websites is PositiveSingles.com, which offered online dating services for an “exclusive” group of persons diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases. (Other websites have names such as gaypozdating.com, AIDSDate.com, herpesinmouth. com, ChristianSafeHaven.com, MeetBlackPOZ.com and Posihe would not have allowed it. The website’s tivelyKinky.com.)

John Doe signed up with PositiveSin- Terms of Service was not “apparent” to gles.com. He did not know that Suc- registering persons.

The jury awarded approximately $16.5 cessfulmatch.com runs other websites that focused on specific personal traits of million in compensatory and punitive dampersons, such as Christian, gay, kinky, or ages to the class. The court also indicated HIV positive. He did not know that when that it will prohibit the websites from he signed up for Positivesingles.com, his continuing its illegal conduct.

The right to privacy is a personal and profile will be displayed on these other traits-specific websites, suggesting that he fundamental right protected by the Constitutions of both California and the United shared these traits when he did not.

Doe sued Successfulmatch.com and States. All individuals have a right of priPositivesingles.com in a class action. The vacy in information pertaining to them. The lawsuit alleged that PositiveSingles.com state recognizes that the right to privacy promised its registered members a “Fully is being threatened by the indiscriminate Anonymous Profile” and that it will not collection, maintenance, and dissemination disclose, sell or rent any personally iden- of personal information and the lack of effective laws and legal remedies. tifiable information.

It further recognizes that the use of Doe claimed that had he known that his personal information will be displayed in computers and other sophisticated informaother websites that he did not sign up for, tion technology has greatly magnified the

POEA warns recruiters vs. placement fees for NZ MANILA, Dec 20 (Mabuhay) – The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration over the weekend warned recruitment agencies against charging placement fees from overseas Filipino workers bound for New Zealand.

POEA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said New Zealand’s Wages Protection Act of 1983 bars employers from seeking premiums for the employment of any person.

Recruiters found charging or collecting placement fee for deployment of

OFWs to “no placement fee” countries will have their licenses canceled, even on the first offense, he warned.

On the other hand, he advised job applicants to report to the POEA through Facebook the agencies that collect placement fees for New Zealand and other countries covered by the noplacement fee policy.

Aside from New Zealand, countries that prohibit the collection of placement fees include the US (H2B visa), Canada, UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands.

potential risk to individual privacy that can occur from the maintenance of personal information. To protect the privacy of individuals, California has found it necessary that the maintenance and dissemination of personal information be subject to strict limits.

One such law requires commercial websites and online services that collect personally identifiable information about individual consumers to conspicuously post its privacy policy on its website. Examples of “personally identifiable information” include first and last name, home or other physical address, an e-mail address, a telephone number, a social security number, or other types of identifiers that permit the physical or online contacting of a specific individual.

Where consumers are victimized by pri-

vacy violations, the California Consumers Legal Remedies Act may allow consumers who suffer damage as a result of an unlawful practice to obtain monetary damages; restitution of property; punitive damages; court costs and attorney’s fees.

[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 Dollar-Advocates 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.]

Lawmaker wants tax exemption for Pinoy boxers MANILA, Dec 22 (Mabuhay) – A lawmaker is seeking to exempt Filipino boxers from paying tax out of the prize and other monetary benefits they receive from boxing competitions.

Representative Emil L. Ong of the Second District of Northern Samar said his proposal, embodied in House Bill 5234 or the proposed “Filipino Boxers’ Benefits and Protection Act of 2014,” aims to support Filipino boxers who brought honor to the country despite risks to their lives.

“The proposal is in line with the constitutional provision pertaining to the promotion of sports, and aims to enable Filipino boxers to enjoy their winnings by making those (winnings) tax-exempt,” said Ong in a statement.

“The tax exemption is an incentive that must be given and enjoyed by our boxers, just like American boxers,” he added.

Ong noted that boxers earn their income on a per-fight basis.

“As distinguished from other tax payers, Filipino boxers only enjoy the prize of their winnings for a limited period of time,” he explained. “Hence, the remainder of their income from winnings after taxes is what is left for a lifetime of support for the boxer and his family.”

Ong further explained that hosting a boxing event provides economic benefits to the host country, and thus, boxing becomes a source of income for the locals and the government.

“The economic benefit the boxers bring to the host country and the honor they bring home when they win make boxing a lucrative sports competition,” he said.

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Common bankruptcy mistakes to avoid Are you thinking of filing for bankruptcy but are not sure if this is your best option? Did you know that there are common mistakes to avoid if you just knew what they were? Not knowing these mistakes can hurt you.

Unfortunately, a lot of people are unaware of the pitfalls that they need to avoid in the process. To make things worse, delaying to see a bankruptcy attorney to consult with about your legal rights may prove disastrous if timing is a critical element problems may actually be avoided with in your case. Actions you take right prior proper planning. However, some people, to filing may also be later reviewed under instead of going to a professional for guida magnifying glass by the court, creditors ance, resort instead to “self-help” and do and the bankruptcy trustee so it is important things on their own. By the time they see an that you move with caution and hopefully, attorney for advice, irreversible mistakes with some guidance from a professional. may have already been done and it is too Some cases require months of planning late to correct the situation. to make sure you obtain the maximum Done correctly, filing for bankruptcy benefits. For example, people who are relief could effectively turn your financial contemplating bankruptcy often think that situation around, get that fresh start that they can simply get rid of assets that are you need so desperately and change your in their name by transferring them to their life for the better. But without proper guidchildren, family members or close friends ance, costly mistakes can hurt your chances prior to filing. They think that they are of success. The good news is that most of being “smart” in doing this so that when these mistakes can be avoided if you were they eventually file for bankruptcy, they simply aware of them. will have nothing to lose since no property If you are in debt and are contemplator assets will be in their name at that time. ing bankruptcy as an option, I provide a They are often surprised to hear that this free case evaluation. To schedule a free could actually turn out to be a big problem confidential consultation, please call Tollif they are filing for bankruptcy. Keep Free 1-866-477-7772. We have offices in reading.

Pasadena, Cerritos and Valencia. You can First of all, pre-filing transfers by the also download my book “What You Need debtor in bankruptcy may constitute a To Know Before Filing Bankruptcy” for “fraudulent transfer” under bankruptcy law FREE by going to www.beforefilingbk. and may cause denial of the relief sought. com.

Secondly, it may also result in legal action (None of the information herein is inby the bankruptcy trustee to recover the tended to give legal advice for any specific transferred asset. And since filing a peti- situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successtion requires full disclosure under penalty fully helped more than 5,000 clients in of perjury, concealing assets can land you finding solutions to their debt problems. a vacation in federal prison, compliments To schedule a free attorney consultation, of Uncle Sam. please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at In a lot of cases, lost of assets and other TOLL FREE 1-866-477-7772).

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Chinese tycoon set to build more billions with IPO

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Beijing, China | AFP | Wednesday 12/17/2014 – Property billionaire Wang Jianlin rose from a local government bureaucrat to China’s richest man by transforming a debt-laden state-owned housebuilder into the sprawling Wanda Group, and the flotation of one of its subsidiaries this week will propel him back up the table of fortune.

Wang has penchants for karaoke and collecting. He’s got an impressive collection of fine art, property projects in top markets around the world, and an ever-expanding portfolio of companies including cinema chain AMC and yachtbuilder Sunseeker.

He topped the Forbes China Rich List in 2013 with an estimated net worth of $14.1 billion, but was displaced this year after charismatic Internet entrepreneur Jack Ma floated his e-commerce powerhouse Alibaba Group in the world’s biggest ever initial public offering (IPO).

That is likely to change again after Dalian Wanda Commercial Properties, the flagship subsidiary of Wang’s Wanda Group, lists in Hong Kong on Tuesday.

Wanda Commercial is selling a 13 percent stake for $3.7 billion before overallotments – valuing the firm at $28 billion, and Wanda Group’s 44 percent postflotation share at $12.5 billion.

Wang himself owns more than 98 percent of Wanda Group, with the remaining sliver held by his only son, Wang Sicong. Wang and his wife together own around another 10 percent of Wanda Commercial.

The parent conglomerate, which has interests in hotels, entertainment and retail, last year saw more than 12.5 billion yuan in profits, according to its website.

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OPINION

Aquino tells youth: Don’t just spend time on selfies, be involved in gov’t

Reach out to brethren in need, CBCP head asks faithful in Christmas message

MANILA, Dec 19 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno Aquino III on Friday enjoined the Filipino youth to be involved in government instead of spending too much time on fads in the Internet age.

Speaking before youth members of the Jesus is Lord Church Movement, Aquino said indifference among young Filipinos would put his administration’s reforms to waste.

“Kung pipiliin ninyong magwalang-bahala, mapepeste ang ating pinaghirapan at mababalik tayo sa lumang kalakaran,” he said in his speech.

He further encouraged the youth to discuss politics among their friends.“Ngayong panahon po ng selfie at Internet, napakadali na ng pag-uusap tungkol sa pulitika at pakikisangkot sa lahat ng aspeto ng pamahalaan,” the President said.

“Malinaw ang papel na ginagampanan ng ating mga kabataan sa pag-abot ng mga adhikain. Bilang mga magmamana ng bunga ng ating mga pagbabago, di hamak na mas matagal matatamasa ng mga kabataan bunga ng ating mga pagsisikap,” he added.A government census in 2010 showed that three in every ten Filipinos are below 15 years old, which means that the country has a young population.

The same census showed that in 2010, half of the household population was younger than 23 years old.

Be critical At the same time, Aquino reminded young Filipinos to be critical about what they see online.

“Huwag ninyo sanang kalimutang maging mapanuri. Hindi porket nakalagay sa Internet ay totoo lahat. Hindi porket viral o trending ay dapat pagkaabalahan,” the President said.

Describing himself as “young at heart and young looking,” Aquino even made reference to current trends, such as taking selfies and mobile applications.

He even described these fads as “distractions.”

“Huwag puro selfie at pagpapalakas ng town sa Clash of Clans ang inyong aatupagin,” the President quipped, drawing loud applause from the audience.

Interestingly, Aquino agreed to take a selfie with a member of the audience who flew all the way from Canada after the event. (MNS)

MANILA, Dec 19 (Mabuhay) – Make Christmas truly meaningful by reaching out to people in need – even after celebrating the occasion.

This was the message of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president and LingayenDagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, one week before Christmas.

“God is asking us to cross over from where we are into where He really wants us to be. And where does He want us to be? With our brothers and sisters. Make a meaningful christmas by crossing over, reaching out, because a reaching hand is also a sharing hand. And a sharing hand is the hand of Jesus for us,” Villegas said in his Christmas message.

Villegas likened Jesus Christ’s birth in a manger to God “crossing over” to earth, to live among people.

But he also said the faithful must continue to reach out to those in need, even after Christmas.

“At pagkatapos ng Pasko, ano ang dapat natin gawin? Kailangan mula sa ating pangkasalukuyang katayuan, tumawid din tayo ng marami pang ilog, marami pang dagat, marami pang bundok. Tumawid din tayo at hanapin ang bawa’t isa at ipakita sa bawa’t isa na tayong lahat ay magkakapatid,” he said. “Ang ibig sabihin ng Pasko, tumawid na ang Diyos at ang hamon ng Pasko, tumawid din tayo,” he added. (MNS)

Lives of danger, poverty on PHL’s typhoon coast

By Cecil Morella

Taft, Philippines | AFP | Saturday 12/20/2014 – Life is a constant throw of the dice for farmer Nilo Dilao and other residents of the Philippine island of Samar, the ground zero for many of East Asia’s deadliest storms.

Homes, boats, crops, livestock and jobs are all on the line each time the monster winds roar in from the Pacific Ocean, leaving survivors to mourn their dead and pick up the broken pieces, year in and year out.

“Life is a struggle here,” Dilao, 43, told AFP a few days after Typhoon Hagupit destroyed his shanty and killed more than 20 people this month.

He likened the plight of local people to those of stray chickens.

“We’re scratching at the soil non-stop in hopes of finding a scrap to eat,” he said.

Hagupit came a year after Super Typhoon Haiyan, the strongest ever storm recorded on land, killed 7,350 people on Samar and neighboring islands.

Samar, about half the size of Belgium, is often the first major Asian landmass hit by the more than 20 tropical storms or typhoons that are born in the Pacific Ocean each year.

With much of the mountainous island stripped by deforestation, most of its 1.8 million residents live on narrow, sea-level strips along the coast, at the mercy of the storms’ ferocious winds and tsunamilike ocean surges.

Living in the town of Taft on Samar’s east coast, the Dilao family survived both the storm surges of both Hagupit and Haiyan by fleeing to a nearby hill, waiting them out under a raggedy tent made of bamboo frames and a tarpaulin sheet.

In nearby San Julian, small-scale farmer Benjie

Baldenero was also struggling to cope with having lost his home in Haiyan when it happened again in Hagupit.

The 40-year-old spoke of pledging the next harvest as collateral so he could borrow money to rebuild his grass hut again and replace flooded rice seedlings.

“We have not even repaid last year’s debts and here we are needing to take out more loans,” Baldenero told AFP. ãùÖ«ÊÊÄÝ Ä ¦ç Ù®½½ Ý The vicious cycle ensures Samar and the neighboring island of Leyte are among the poorest regions of the Philippines, accounting for just 2.2 percent of national economic output.

“Bad weather plays a major role in shaping our economy because typhoons destroy practically everything in their path,” Ben Evardone, a congressman and former governor of Eastern Samar province, told AFP. Six in 10 people on Samar’s east coast are poor, according to government data, fuelling a decadesold communist insurgency that has largely petered out across the rest of the Philippines.

Samar is one of only five regions of the country where New People’s Army rebels are still active, Philippine Army spokesman Colonel Noel Detoyato told AFP. “They continue to attract followers due to the poverty,” he said.

Typhoons and guerrillas also mean the island attracts few outside investors, Evardone said.

There are few jobs available except farming and fishing, which are among those most vulnerable to the extreme weather.

With Cuba and immigration, Obama takes a new look at Latin America

by Ramon Sahmkow

Washington, United States | AFP | Friday 12/19/2014 – President Barack Obama has – in just a few weeks and in spectacular fashion – turned the tables on US policy toward Latin America, neglected by Washington for much of this century.

In quick succession, he has responded to the desires of many in Latin America first with changes in immigration and then this week’s stunning detente with Cuba.

“The president is looking seriously at US policy and how it impacts Latin America and has taken very strong decisions,” said Eric Olson, an expert on the region at the Wilson Center, a Washington think tank.

Obama had raised high hopes for a new relationship with Latin American on coming into office six years ago, only to watch US influence in the region seep away.

But in announcing the normalization of relations with Cuba, severed since 1961, Obama exceeded all expectations and opened the way for a major repositioning of the United States throughout the region.

In the words of a senior US official, Washington hopes Latin American countries will see the gesture on Cuba as “a very positive step.”

“It’s clear that we have delivered on something

that had been desired and pushed by many friends in the Americas,” the official said.

A celebrated decision It followed other recent steps by Washington that have been cheered in the region, like the relief from deportation for more than four million undocumented immigrants, most of them from Latin America, or the transfer to Uruguay of prisoners from the controversial US detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

“There’s no question that those are decisions that are going to improve US relations with the region,” Olson told AFP. But the change in policy toward Cuba, announced Wednesday by Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro, had special resonance for regional relations hardened by the decades-long ideological duel between Washington and Havana.

The president accused by Brazil of “spying” and by Venezuela of leading an “imperial government” is now being praised by his Latin American counterparts.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro highlighted Obama’s “courage.”

“The blockade has fallen,” exulted Uruguayan President Jose Mujica, comparing Obama’s announcement to the fall of the Berlin Wall – “but from the other side.”

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Goodbye 2014. Hopefully, 2015 will be better for all of us?

Goodbye 2014. Hopefully, 2015 will be better for all of us?

The year 2014 is about to end. Hopefully, 2015 will be a much better year for all of us here in the United States. However, If we are going to believe what American businessman and investor Donald Trump is saying, we have all the reason to be scared, money wise.

In a recent television interview, Trump painted a bleak economic outlook for the United States next

year, adding that the country could soon become a large scale Spain or Greece, economic reporter – the best in 11 years teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. – may negate Trump’s dim prediction.

He even predicted that a downgrade of Let just hope for the best and pray U.S. credit rating is inevitable with its $16 that the prediction will never happen. trillion debt. Trump said the United States In the spirit of Christmas, I will not write is no longer a rich country and has to bor- anything negative about corrupt politicians row money from other countries, namely and policemen, abusive and inefficient China, to sustain its faltering economy. government officials as well as those prison Trump also said that with a 15 to 16 guards and officials “on the take� who percent unemployment rate in America, make life easier for drug lords incarcerated a looming downgrade and a ballooning in the New Bilibid Prison. debt, America has nowhere to go but down, I wish Vice Jejomar Binay will have a unless the government does some revision good night sleep on Christmas Day. I do on its economic policies to prevent a total hope too that Senator Grace Poe will resist economic collapse. any temptations to run for a higher office.

Because of this looming economic She will just be used by opportunistic crisis, I have told my daughter who is a politicians. For Secretary Mar Roxas, I bid registered nurse with three kids to take him good luck in his bid for the presidency fewer economic risks, minimize unneces- in 2016. sary expenditures and learn to live with Speaking of Christmas, I found out what they have. that the word Christmas means “mass of I have also noticed among my bowl- Christ.� The even shorter for x’mas, which ing friends, either Asians, Caucasians, was first used in Europe in the 1500’s, is African-Americans or Hispanics, that they derived from the Greek alphabet in which have started to look and learn on how to X is the first letter of Christ’s name which control their future by cutting down debt is “Xristos,� therefore x’mas. and expenses as well as get a firm grip of While the birth of Jesus is estimated their financial future. among historians to have been between 7 If ever these things happen, it would or 2 BC, the exact month or day of Christ also affect the Philippine economy too are unknown and are not the focus of attensince there are a lot of Filipinos who live tion of billions of people around the world in the U.S. – nearly four million according every time their celebrate Christmas Day. to State Department – sending the much However, some historians says that needed dollars to help alleviate the eco- Christ was not born on the 25th day of nomic hardships of their kin in the Philip- December. The date, they argued, was pines. And maybe, just maybe, this week’s only chosen to coincide with the pagan

Roman celebrations in honor of Saturnus ( the Harvest God) and Mithras (the ancient God of Light).

These celebrations came on or just after the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, to announce that winter is not forever, and that life will continue and that there is hope to stay or remain positive that good things will happen.

That being said, let us all have hope that the best is yet to come for all of us whether here in the United States

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or in the Philippines, our native land.

Merry Christmas to everyone, especially to the Weekend Balita owners, staffers and to WB editor Rhony Laigo and his family and WB layout editor Dong Camacho and his family. Camacho used to work with me in the Manila Bulletin for so many years. Merry Christmas also to my friend Val Abelgas and his family. Abelgas used to be the managing or associate editor of the Philippine’s Daily Express.

Hopefully, “Val� and “Rhony� and myself will be able to sit down together one day for us to start discussing our project to put up a press club here in California.

Sony denies having ‘caved,’ still plans movie release Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Friday 12/19/2014 - Sony Pictures boss Michael Lynton denied Friday the Hollywood studio has “caved� by canceling the release of “The Interview,� and said it still hoped to release the controversial film.

He also hit back at President Barack Obama’s claim that it had made a “mistake� in pulling the movie, three and a half weeks after a massive cyber-attack blamed on North Korea angered by the film. “We have not caved, we have not given in, we have persevered and we have not backed down,� Lynton told CNN, shortly after Obama accused Sony of making a “mistake.�

In a statement a short time later, Sony said that after canceling the release, “we immediately began actively surveying alternatives to enable us to release the movie on a different platform.� “It is still our hope that anyone who wants to see this movie will get the opportunity to do so,� the studio added.

The Sony film, a comedy parody that recounts a fictional CIA plot to assassinate North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un, was scheduled for release on December 25, Christmas Day. Hackers launched a massive cyberattack

on the studio on November 24, followed by a series of threats, including earlier this week invoking the September 11 attacks.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation said it had evidence that Pyongyang was behind the attack, although North Korea’s mission to the United Nations almost immediately denied the claim.

Within a couple of hours, Obama used an end-of-year press conference in Washington to say Sony Pictures had erred in canceling the movie’s release date. “I’m sympathetic to the concerns that they faced. Having said all that, yes, I think they made a mistake,� he told reporters. “We cannot have a society in which some dictator some place can start imposing censorship here in the United States.�

But Lynton rejected Obama’s position. “No. Actually the unfortunate part is in this instance, the president, the press and the public are mistaken as to what actually happened,� he said.

Lynton explained how Sony had made its decision after most major US theater chains announced that they would not screen the movie.

He also rebuffed Obama’s suggestion that Sony should have asked the president what to do.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY Beauty: The most memorable campaigns of 2014 (Relaxnews) – Once again this year, several beauty campaigns set the web abuzz – whether thanks to in-vogue models, celebrity brand ambassadors, famous photographers or controversial images. Here is a recap of some of the campaigns that left their mark on 2014.

Gisele Bündchen for Chanel N°5 This was without a doubt the year’s most anticipated beauty campaign, and it lived up to all the hype. In October, Chanel revealed the first N°5 campaign featuring the world’s most famous Brazilian supermodel. Shot by Baz Luhrmann (“Moulin Rouge!,” “The Great Gatsby”), the short film places Gisele Bündchen in the role of a modern, active woman in love. The object of her affections is played by Dutch actor Michiel Huisman. On the soundtrack, LoFang’s downtempo version of “The One That I Want” (from the musical “Grease”) contributes to a sensual atmosphere.

Watch the video: youtu.be/8asRWe5XNw8 Kate Moss and Cara Delevingne for Burberry The former is well established as one of the world’s most famous models, and the second is well on her way to the same level of renown. The mere presence of these two icons makes the British brand’s My Burberry campaign one of the most unforgettable of 2014.

Shot by photographer Mario Testino, the two models once again show just how unafraid they are of provocation, posing in

a sensual embrace while wearing nothing but Burberry’s iconic trench coats.

Watch the video: youtu.be/ u1OwrDmO8mY Lara Stone for Stella McCartney To promote the new version of her perfume Stella, the designer of the same name called upon Dutch model Lara Stone, who appears nearly naked and more sensual than ever in the campaign. Shot by the famous duo Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott, the campaign is based on two main visuals: the first showing Lara Stone “dressed” in nothing but flacons of the fragrance, and the second with a close-up of the supermodel’s lips biting the perfume.

Watch the video: youtu.be/cOTp-uwIdr4 Harmony Korine and Sasha Luss for Dior With this campaign, the star is not so much the model – though Sasha Luss has posed for all the leading names in fashion and even for the illustrious Pirelli Calendar for 2015 -- as the director. For its Dior Addict campaign, the French brand hired Harmony Korine, the director and screenwriter behind “Mister Lonely” and “Spring Breakers,” to film a sensorial journey between fantasy and reality.

The stills for this campaign were shot by American photographer Ryan McGinley.

Watch the video: youtu.be/gdbr_2yY3tw Cara Delevingne for Tom Ford In the spotlight once again, Cara Delevingne is the latest face of Black Orchid by Tom Ford. While the mere

Kate Moss and Cara Delevingne pose for Burberry. ©@Copyright Burberry/Testino

presence of the supermodel makes the campaign noteworthy, photographer Mario Sorrenti took things to a new level

by shooting her in her birthday suit. Cara Delevingne is seen half submerged in dark water and surrounded by floating orchids.

Kate Upton

Kate Upton named world’s sexiest woman (Relaxnews) – American actress and model Kate Upton was named People Magazine’s sexiest woman of the year at a ceremony Friday in Los Angeles.

It’s what one might call the revenge of a blonde. Criticized for her curves, the 22-year-old beauty has just earned the title of sexiest woman alive at the annual People Magazine Awards

ceremony. “This is such an honor to me because sexy to me means someone who’s confident and happy,” she declared upon receiving her trophy.

In addition to posing for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, Upton has featured in campaigns for David Yurman, Bobbi Brown and Sam Edelman.

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FOOD & DINING Crispy Roast Duck with Giblet Gravy

Creamy Scalloped Potatoes

always comes down to the mouthwatering meals

served by the host. This season, impress family and friends with three traditional courses many come to expect at such a gathering: a juicy bird, a hearty side and a sweet ending. Featuring flavorpacked herbs, spices and the freshest ingredients, these recipes allow you to serve up the very best of the season to those you love.

Brown Sugar Pecan Pie Prep time: 35 minutes Chill time: 1 1/2 hours or overnight Bake time: 15–20 minutes Cook time: 40–45 minutes Servings: 8 Crust: 1 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup (2 ounces) ground pecans 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup vegetable shortening, cold 1 egg yolk 3–4 tablespoons ice water, divided 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice Filling: 3 eggs 1 cup packed dark brown sugar 1/2 cup sugar 1/3 cup butter, melted 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup pecan halves To make crust, mix flour, nuts and salt in large bowl. Cut in shortening with pastry blender until pieces are size of small peas. Mix egg yolk, 3 tablespoons ice water and lemon juice in small bowl. Add to flour mixture, 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring lightly and tossing with fork until moistened and dough just holds together.

Add remaining ice water, if needed. Gather dough and shape into 1-inch-thick disk.

Refrigerate, wrapped in plastic wrap, 1 hour or overnight.

Heat oven to 425°F. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface, rolling from center to edge, to form 12-inch circle. Fold into quarters; ease and unfold into 9-inch pie plate. Press pastry gently against bottom and sides of pie plate, easing out any air. Trim edge leaving 1/2-inch overhang. Fold overhang under; flute edge.

Refrigerate, covered, at least 30 minutes.

Line piecrust with aluminum foil; fill with pie weights.

Bake in oven until pastry is set, 8–10 minutes. Remove foil and weights; pierce pastry all over with fork. Bake until pastry is golden brown, 5–7 minutes longer. Cool

completely on wire rack.

Heat oven to 350°F. Beat eggs, brown sugar, sugar, butter, vanilla and salt in medium bowl until well blended. Arrange pecan halves evenly in bottom of piecrust.

Carefully pour egg mixture over pecans.

Bake in center of 350°F oven until knife inserted midway between center and edge of pie comes out clean, 40–45 minutes.

Cool on wire rack.

Note: Pastry dough can be made in food processor. Also, ground almonds, walnuts or hazelnuts can be substituted for pecans.

For more recipes, visit www.IncredibleEgg. org.

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Prep time: 45 minutes Servings: 14 2 1/2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, scrubbed 1/4 cup butter 1/4 cup chopped onion 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups 2 percent milk 1 cup Daisy Sour Cream 1 1/2 cups shredded Asiago cheese 1/8 teaspoon paprika Butter 11-by-7-inch (2 quart) baking dish and set aside. Slice potatoes to 1/8-inchthick circles. Place potatoes in large saucepan or Dutch oven; add water to cover by 1 inch. Cook until tender and cool slightly.

Heat oven to 350°F. In 2 1/2-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.

Add onion; cook 1 minute. Stir in flour and salt. Cook until mixture bubbles. Gradually stir in milk and cook until mixture boils. Reduce heat to low. Stir in sour cream and cheese.

Cook on low until cheese is melted, stirring constantly. Layer half of potatoes in baking dish. Pour half the sauce over potatoes. Repeat with remaining potatoes and sauce. Sprinkle potatoes with paprika.

Bake for 30–35 minutes or until bubbly and top starts to brown.

For more recipes, visit www.daisybrand. com.

Servings: 8 2 Maple Leaf Farms Whole Ducks (5 pounds each), thawed if frozen 2 cups chicken broth 1 cup water 1 onion, unpeeled and quartered 2 large carrots, cut into 1/2inch chunks 2 small sprigs fresh sage 1 large bay leaf 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns 3/4 cup dry vermouth or dry white wine 1/4 cup all-purpose flour Salt and pepper, to taste Remove giblets and orange sauce packets from ducks and reserve for another use. Rinse ducks; pat dry with paper towels. Place breast sides up on rack in large shallow roasting pan.

Roast according to package directions.

Place remaining duck giblets and necks in large saucepan. Add broth, water, onion, carrots, sage sprigs, bay leaf, thyme and peppercorns. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat;

simmer gently uncovered 1 hour.

Strain broth; set aside giblets and discard remaining solids. If broth measures less than 2 cups add water to equal 2 cups.

Remove roast ducks from oven and transfer to rack of broiler pan. Preheat broiler. Pour off and reserve drippings from roasting pan. Add vermouth to pan and cook over medium high heat, stirring constantly with wooden spoon, until mixture is reduced by about half, 2–3 minutes.

Spoon off 1/4 cup fat from reserved drippings; transfer to medium saucepan. Add flour; cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat 1 minute. Add 2 cups strained duck broth and wine mixture to saucepan.

Add drippings to saucepan. Cook, stirring frequently, until gravy thickens. Chop reserved giblets and add to gravy. Simmer 3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Broil ducks 5–6 inches from heat source until skin is well browned and crispy, 6–8 minutes. Cut each duck into quarters and transfer to serving plates. Pass gravy separately. Garnish with sage sprigs, if desired.

For more recipes, visit www. mapleleaffarms.com.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Cosplayer Alodia cast in Japanese film Filipino cosplayer Alodia Gosiengfiao excitedly announced that she will be doing a Japanese movie next year.

“I’m very glad na may mga opportunities po para sa akin na still related to what I’m doing, which is cosplay and Japanese culture,” Gosiengfiao said. However, she refused to give more details about the “heartwarming” and “very meaningful” project, although she did say that she will be playing a Filipina character in the

movie. “But I’m not sure if I’m going to speak Tagalog, Japanese or English so we’ll see about it,” Gosiengfiao said.

“I think it’s a government-supported film, so it’s very educational film at feeling ko maraming mata-touch sa film na yon,” she added.

Gosiengfiao said she was offered to do the project after she attended a convention in Singapore.

The cosplayer, who shuttles between

Japan and Manila for work, is being represented by a Japanese management company. Dubbed as the “Cosplay Queen” in the Philippines, she has already recorded an album in Japan in 2012.

“Right now I live both in Manila and in Japan so every two weeks nagta-travel po ako back and forth,” she explained.

“I have projects here, I still do TV work, I still host events, I do guestings in conventions and in Japan naman po I do almost the same thing, I guest in events, I do magazines,” she said. (MNS)

Alodia Gosiengfiao

Miguel, Bianca excited to be reunited After captivating viewers in the toprating primetime series “Niño” and continuously tickling their funny bones in the weekend sitcom “Ismol Family,” Miguel Tanfelix and Bianca Umali feel very excited with their newest project on primetime TV, “Once Upon a Kiss.”

GMA’s young love team are thankful to GMA-7 for trusting them with this soap, which is slated to air in the first quarter of 2015, where they can showcase their versatility and talent in acting.

“Malaki po ang pasasalamat namin sa GMA dahil sa second chance na ibinigay sa amin ni Bianca. Kakatapos lang ng ‘Niño’ at ngayon may follow-up project na kami. Ramdam mo talaga ang blessings na ibinibigay sayo,” said Miguel at the story conference of “Once Upon a Kiss.”

Bianca is very happy to be reunited with Miguel. “Happy ako dahil kumportable ako na si Miguel ang kasama ko.

Walang kahirap-hirap. At very thankful kami ni Miguel dahil hindi kami nawawalan ng opportunity na i-prove ang sarili namin sa lahat ng sumusuporta sa love team namin.”

Though they are both confident working with one another, Miguel and Bianca confessed that they feel pressured to be working with respected TV actors in “Once Upon a Kiss.”

“Hindi po maaalis ‘yung pressure. Pero excited po ako na makatrabaho sila dahil I am very sure na marami akong matutunan sa kanila. I knew I will be working with different people. First time ko na maka-work ang mga cast members,” adds Bianca.

Ara Mina gives birth to baby girl Ara Mina has given birth to a healthy baby girl, her partner, Bulacan, Bulacan Mayor Patrick Meneses, revealed.

In his Instagram post, Meneses “formally introduced” their daughter to the public, who they named Amanda Gabrielle. According to Mina, their daughter was born at exactly 11:35 a.m. on December 17, weighing 7.4 pounds.

“The perfect gift this Christmas! Our Mandy... Thank you Father for the safe delivery of our healthy baby girl. There’s nothing more I can wish for. We are truly blessed. A very merry Christmas indeed,” the actress said.

In a previous interview, Mina said she is excited to be a hands-on mother, adding that she intends on breastfeeding her baby.

“Oo, magpapa-breastfeed ako. Para kasing ang sarap ng feeling na ikaw yung nagpapa-dede sa anak mo. Iba

Ara Mina

yung attachment ng mother and child kapag ganu’n. Ako, gusto ko ‘yung maexperience,” she said.

Amanda Gabrielle is Mina’s first born child. (MNS)

Dimples pregnant with second child It’s a boy, says Dimples Romana, who is now six months pregnant with her second child.

Her firstborn is a girl. She and her husband, an engineer, have a ten-year-old daughter. “Kaya, like us, tuwang tuwa siya sa pagkakaroon finally ng kapatid,” Dimples revealed, beaming, “Ang tagal din naman naming hinintay na magbuntis akong muli. Kaya I plan to be extra careful, until my due date. Hiling din ito sa akin ng asawa ko.”

Dimples is grateful that she has a Christmas presentation before taking a break from showbiz. She admits that she has been quite busy before her pregnancy.

She is in the “Gift Giver.” She last hosted the reality show, “Promil Pre-School I-Shine Talent Camp3.” (MNS)

Dimples Romana

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COMMUNITY

US court dismisses immigration lawsuit vs Obama Washington, United States | AFP | Wednesday 12/24/2014 – A US federal judge handed a victory to President Barack Obama late Tuesday, throwing out a lawsuit over controversial actions he took last month shielding millions of undocumented migrants from deportation.

The suit brought by Joseph Arpaio, the conservative sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona, challenging the constitutionality of the president’s actions, was dismissed

by Judge Beryl Howell.

“The plaintiff’s case raises important questions regarding the impact of illegal immigration on this nation, but the questions amount to generalized grievances which are not proper for the judiciary to address,” Howell’s ruling in the case read.

The White House late Tuesday praised the court’s finding.

“Judge Howell’s decision today confirms what the Department of Justice and scholars throughout the country have been saying all along: the president’s executive actions on immigration are lawful,” said Principal Deputy

Press Secretary Eric Schultz in a statement.

“The Supreme Court and Congress have made clear that federal officials can set priorities in enforcing our immigration laws, and the actions announced by the president are consistent with those taken by administrations of both parties for the last half century,” Schultz said.

“The court correctly dismissed Sheriff Arpaio’s lawsuit.”

Pledging to fix America’s “broken” immigration system, Obama last month offered five million undocumented migrants protection from deportation, allowing families to emerge from the shadows and seek work permits.

In a move that infuriated legions of his Republican critics, Obama said nearly all undocumented people living in the country for more than five years, and who have a child who is a US citizen or legal permanent resident, can apply for three-year work authorization.

The president also broadened the program he launched in 2012 that provides temporary residency

Christmas gift: President Barack Obama opens a Christmas gift from Personal Secretary Ferial Govashiri in the Oval Office, Dec. 19, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

to young undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States before the age of 16.

The order affects about 44 percent of the 11.3 million people –

emergence intact and complete and we were able to learn from the experience that had made us better and abler persons. The next bouts of experiences simple would propel to be developed into better and capable individuals with renewed better

An old challenge for the New Year As the end of the year draws near, we cannot help but hit the throwback button to take stock of how we have been for the past twelve months. Depending on one’s frame of mind what transpired, all things that happened had purposes and lessons that we all could learn from. At the end of the tunnel, no matter how fearful and awesome the experiences we went through there surely was a light and our

mostly from Mexico and Central America – living in the United States illegally.

Republicans insist that Obama has exceeded his presidential

powers in easing up on the deportations. Blasting the move as “illegal” and “unconstitutional,” they have vowed to block it in Congress and in the courts.

perspectives.

To many, the year 2014 could be one of disappointment with many of their expectations being unmet and many dreams still to be realized. To some, the year could See ANDRES, page 26

LAW OFFICES OF

N. JOE P. INUMERABLE Graduate of Notre Dame Law School 24 years of Jury Trial-Litigation experience

JACOBS PINOY CHRISTMAS LUNCH: For the second year Filipino-American engineers and their co-workers at Jacobs Engineering in Long Beach took time out to celebrate Christmas and even for a brief moment during their lunch break still managed to grab the opportunity of coming together to enjoy each others company at the Hokkaido Seafood Buffet in Long Beach last Dec. 18.

Last year, a similar event of the Fil-Am engineers, had managed to raise contributions for the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines. Jacobs Engineering was founded in 1947 by Joseph J. Jacobs.

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CELEBRATING MILESTONES: Manny Ilagan of the Philippine Department of Tourism (fourth from left, second )and his mother-in-law, Julia Estrada, (second from left, front), are joined by relatives and friends in celebrating their birthdays which fall this month at his residence in Fullerton, California.

3600 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 2020 (where the Phil Consulate is) Los Angeles, CA 90010

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ANDRES

From page 25 be a banner year in terms of unexpected and deserved blessings. Both situations, however, offer opportunities for learning.

As we stand here on the edge of a New Year, it is a good time to reflect on the year that is ending and it is a good time to look forward into the year that is soon to begin. It is also a good for many of us to ponder and take a serious inventory of how we have been as individuals by examining where we are directed to go.

As we do the cleaning up and inventory of our lives there are things are perhaps that are simply baggage that hinder our lives and simply discarding them (but keep their memories) will make our journey lighter and bearable.

There are, of course, many things that we have to retain and not throw away because these are the things we need to hang

on to as we continue our journey.

Several items in our lives need to be released for our sake as they hinder our smooth journey. Some of these trashes we cannot part with for various sentimental reasons but simply they have to be bagged and let go. Some of these are what we have been attached to need and to be released for our sake and others.

There are things that need to be retained and these are priceless golden attitudes that give the strength to plod on because we know that in our walk with life, we are never alone and that our journey will lead us to a better place that what we are used to. The thing that will matter most is how we have been receptive and how faithfully we did our role in this stage of our journey.

The choice is ours.

A BLESSED NEW YEAR TO ALL.

On the winter solstice day, above the hills near Occidental College, a lunch reception was held at the Aguilang Bato Gardens, decked with various whimsically-decorated Christmas trees where the people above, including Weekend Balita columnist Myrna Aquitania, savored delicious, warm Arroz Caldo, fancy flavored Adobo with lemongrass, Thai-inspired glass noodles, various Danish pastries, suman sa lihia, fresh fruits and overflowing wine and champagne. Shown at the “Aguilang Bato Gardens” Christmas lunch reception were: Charlie Hilario, a friend, Ms. Aquitania, Danny Bajet and Adolfo Maynes. (More on Myrna Aquitania’s column “Lighthouse” on page 11)

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Pops Fernandez, Society of Seven in Filipino concert, Feb. 7, at Pala Lhey Bella also to perform PALA, CA, December 10, 2014… Pops Fernandez, the Filipino “Concert Queen” will perform with the Society of Seven in a special Filipino concert at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, February 7, in the Events Center at Pala Casino Spa & Resort. Lhey Bella, a rising Filipino star, also will perform with the Society of Seven. Fernandez, one of the most popular performers in the Philippines, has recorded numerous chart-topping songs and attracted sell-out crowds throughout her 20+-year career. The Society of Seven is a variety group and show band that traces its roots back to the ‘60s and performs throughout Asia and the United States.

Lhey Bella enjoys a wide musical range and performs jazz standards, dance tunes, R& B and rock and roll. ã® » ãÝ ÊÄ Ý ½ ã 10 a.m., Friday, December 12, ó®ã« ÄÊ Ý Ùò® « Ù¦ , ã ã« Ö ½ Êø Ê¥¥® ®Ä ã« Ý®ÄÊ, ÊÙ ½½ ϙ-Ϡϟϟ-ó®Ä Ö ½ (1-877-946-7252΅. ã® » ãÝ ½ÝÊ Ù ò ®½ ½ ã Ýã Ù ã® » ãÝ, 1-800585-3737, ÊÙ www.startickets.com.

Pala is located in Northern San Diego County; from San Diego/Riverside, take I-15 to Highway 76 east five miles; from Los Angeles County and Orange County, take I-5 south to Highway 76 east, then travel 23 miles. Pala is 15 miles north of Escondido, 12 miles south of Temecula.

Address: 11154 Highway 76, Pala, CA 92059 Telephone: 1-877-WIN-PALA (1-877946-7252) Web site: http://www.palacasino.com Other shows coming to Pala: Kathy Griffin, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, January 10, 2015, Events Center. Tickets, $60. $50, $40, $30 at www.startickets.com Tu Quy (Fantastic Four) Vietnamese Concert, 7 p.m., Saturday, January 17, 2015, Events Center. Tickets, $100, $55,

$45, $35, at www.startickets.com and all Vietnamese ticket outlets.

One Night Only California’s Best Elvis Impersonators with Travis Allen, James “King” Kruk, Rob Ely, 7 p.m., Saturday, January 24, 2015, Infinity Showroom.

Tickets, $30, at www.startickets.com Arrival From Sweden The Music of ABBA, 7 p.m., Saturday, February 14, 2015, Infinity Showroom. Tickets, $45, $37, atwww.startickets.com Jim Jefferies, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, February 21, 2015, Events Center. Tickets, $40, $30, at www.startickets.com Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 14, 2015, Events Center. Tickets, $125, $100, $95 atwww. startickets.com About Pala Casino Spa & Resort Pala Casino Spa & Resort includes a Las Vegas-style casino with 2,000 slot machines, 87 table games and 13 poker tables; a 507-room hotel; a 10,000-square-foot, full-service spa and salon that features 14 treatment rooms; a state-of-the-art fitness center; swimming pool with 12 private poolside cabanas, and dual-temperature outdoor whirlpool hot tub. Pala also offers 10 restaurants and 40,000 square feet of meeting and convention space. Pala Casino Spa & Resort is an AAA Four-Diamond Award winner for 11 consecutive years. Its state-of-the-art Pala Spa was named the number one spa on the West Coast and one of the top 100 spas in the United States for 2013 by Spas of America. Previously, Pala Spa was named the 2009 Best Casino Spa

by Spas of America, the 2009 Best Casino Spa by the Southern California Gaming Guide and in 2012 received a spaAward and was selected by Spas of America as one of the top 100 spas in the United States. In 2011, Pala Casino Spa & Resort was voted Best Casino in San Diego by the public in the 10News.com annual A-List poll sponsored by KGTV-TV 10 Newsin San Diego. For more information, visit http:// www.palacasino.com.

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Is it worth for me to refinance my mortgage if it only reduces the rates by .5%?

Caller: I currently own a house with a 4.375% 30 years fixed rate mortgage, I have been paying on this for the past two years. I paid closing cost on the last refinance and I want a loan without any cost either out of pocket or financed. What is your best rate and is it even worth for me to refinance my rate now?

Ken Go: With your loan balance at around $ 278K, as of today 9/12/2014 we can offer a rate of 3.875% without any cost added or out of pocket.

Provided we have a minimum credit of 740 fico and a loan to value of 75%. I have reviewed your income and

U.S. Commerce Department and CalAsian Chamber partner to help California exporters International trade conference connects California exporters to marketing resources within China, Japan, and South Korea markets SACRAMENTO, California – The California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce (CalAsian Chamber) concluded its 3rd annual international trade conference with a record-high number of participants from California’s international trade promotion, manufacturing and foodprocessing industries.

The conference, branded as How to do Business in the Pacific Rim, was held Dec. 4 at the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.

“The distinct advantage of this year’s conference for California businesses was the connection to actual exporters who shared both their successes and failures of exporting abroad,” said CalAsian Chamber President and CEO Pat Fong Kushida.

Focused on assisting California small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing and growing their use of international trade relationships and tools, the all-day event boasted 24 panelists and keynote speakers with industry and trade services specific expertise across three Pacific Rim nations: South Korea, Japan and China.

The assembled participants (131 registered) received and participated in discussions on how to use governmental and

non-governmental trade promotion, market research, and export finance services available to California exporters.

“The event was well organized and the format was excellent as you heard from government officials to business professionals sharing their insights and knowledge about doing business in the respective countries,” said Anthony Molina, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Safety Systems Technology, Inc., who attended the event.

For more information on CalAsian Chamber’s international promotion activities, including the 2015 International Trade and Leadership Missions to Japan/South Korea (May) or China (August), please contact Sam Driggers, CEcD, Director of International Trade and FDI sdriggers@ calasiancc.org.

CalAsian Chamber represents the interests of over 600,000 Asian and Pacific Islander (API) owned businesses throughout California. The organization advocates for policies and legislation, in addition to developing new opportunities that foster economic self-reliance and growth of API businesses and the various communities they reside and serve. For more information on the CalAsian Chamber, please visit: http://calasiancc.org/.

For more in-depth coverage of the event please visit: http://calasiancc.org/aboutthe-international-trade-department/.

Getting money back from mystery phone charges on cell phone bills LOS ANGELES, CA – Have you ever wondered if you have been overcharged on your bills? Have you seen any unfamiliar charges? You might be a victim of cramming and may be eligible for a refund from your phone company. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), cramming can happen when a company adds a charge to your phone bill for a service you did not order or use. Cramming charges can also be small, and they may sound like fees you do owe.

While consumers of any phone company can be a victim to these mysterious charges, former and current AT&T customers should check if they are owed money.

Recently, the FTC announced AT&T’s $105 million “cramming” settlement leads to refunds in regards to unauthorized charges that may have been placed on AT&T’s wireless telephone bills during the period January 1, 2009 through October 8, 2014. According to the FTC website, “AT&T Mobility, LLC allegedly charged consumers’ mobile phone bills for thirdparty subscriptions or services that they never ordered or authorized.

Many consumers weren’t aware they had been paying – up to $9.99 per month – for seemingly random horoscope text messages, flirting tips, celebrity gossip, wallpaper or ringtones that showed up on their phones.”

“Consumers who believe they were

charged by AT&T without their authorization can visit www.ftc.gov/att to submit a refund claim and find out more about the FTC’s refund program under the settlement.

If consumers are unsure about whether they are eligible for a refund, they can visit the claims website or contact the settlement administrator at 1-877-819-9692 for more information.”

The non-profit organization Campaign for Social Justice (CSJ) can help submit this refund claim on your behalf for free.

Ivy Daulo, a CSJ community educator, has worked on consumer-related issues in Filipino communities throughout Los Angeles for several years. Daulo expands on the importance of this service: “Kung walang computer o internet ang consumer o kung hindi sila kabisado sa proseso ng settlement, malamang mahihirapan silang mag-file ng refund claim. Sayang kasi baka malaki ang utang ng AT&T sa kanila. Dapat, tumawag lang ang mga consumer sa amin dahil marunong po kami sa ganitong proseso. Madali at libre pa ang tulong namin. Dahil kapag nagkakaroon ng problema sa telepono, minsan natatakot ang tao na tumawag o asikasuhin ang problema, kaya nandito kami. Baka niloloko ka ng kompanya mo sa inyong mga serbisyo. Sinisiguraduhin namin na hindi kayo dinadagdag ng kompanya ng telepono o ibang kompanya.”

you definitely qualify for this loan. Now, since you are not paying any cost and we will reduce your rates by .50%, it’s definitely worth it because I will suggest that you are to continue your existing payment in order to recover your 2 years of interest payments. This is the comparison: Original Ln: 4/10 – Loan Amt $ 287K – rates: 4.375% Fixed – Pmts: $1,432.95 (335 remaining mos) Refinance in: 10/14 – Loan Amt $ 278K – Rates: 3.875 Fixed – Payments: $ 1,307.26 (360 rem. Mos) I am suggesting for the homeowner to continue the $ 1,432.95 payments and his remaining loan payments will be down to 306 months. A savings of $ 32,764.19 of interest payments. NO BRAINER. For not paying any cost, don’t you think it’s worth it.

Caller: I would like to pay down my mortgage payments in order to not have to pay PMI insurance, I was actually offered to refinance under FHA. With the FHA refinance, I was told I don’t have to bring down my balance and come in with funds, what is a better option?

Ken Go: Getting an FHA loan with automatically put you balance higher by 1.75% for MIP plus . Your loan balance of $390,000.00 will end up going up to $ 398,000.00 at best with minimal fees. Your current rate of 5.125% is high but due to insufficient equity from your house, you have to put in funds to bring your loan to value down to 80%.

I am all for minimal to no cost loans when it comes to refinancing, why? Because when the rates go down again, you might want to refinance again. It might take you a couple of years at best to recover your closing cost on a refinance and what if you had to redo your loan in a very short

period, then your cost is lost. Most of our clients understand the value of keeping their loan balances down. So, I would have to advise against the FHA refinance because of the cost of the loan. Remember we have to build equity not keep using it up, now days the market is unstable and your equity should be your reserve for the future. Check if you loan was originated before May 2009, if yes you can do the FHA STREAMLINE where they will actually benefit you due to different pricing for MIP and PMI. Caller: I am interested in consulting with you in regards to a Reverse Mortgage, but I recently took out a 30K home equity line of credit, will I still qualify.

Ken Go: Base on your age and your remaining equity of your house, you will still qualify for the Reverse Mortgage program.

As of Dec. 15 FHA lender which does the Reverse Mortgage loans has a new guideline about liens taken out within 12 months of applying for a reverse mortgage.

It states that if you took out funds within a year of the application of a reverse mortgage, that lien recently taken out will not be allowed to be paid off thru the closing.

However, there are ways to get that paid. It will just depend on how large that amount is and how much equity you have in your home. For Reverse mortgage loans, the key factors would be the age of the homeowners and the equity reserves.

Have a Happy Holiday and a great new year.

Please send your comments and inquiries to 1st Innovative Finance Group at 562-508-7048 or write to kennethgo@ verizon.net. Thank you very much. Please call for information on buyers seminars and please like us on facebook at 1st Innovative Finance .

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PRAYER to the BLESSED VIRGIN

*NOVENA of CONFIDENCE O Lord Jesus Christ, To your most Sacred Heart, I conÂżde this/ these intention. (Here, mention your request.) Only look upon me, then do what your Heart decides. I count on You. I trust in You. I throw myself on Your mercy, Lord Jesus! You will not fail me. Lord Jesus, I know You will not fail me Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.Sacred Heart of Jesus, I believe in Your love for me. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I have asked you for many favors, but I earnestly implore this one. Take it, and place it in Your Sacred Heart. When the Eternal Father sees it covered with Your precious blood. He will not refuse it. It will no longer be my prayer, but Yours. O Jesus, Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in You. Let me never be confounded. Amen.-RIANN

PRAYER to the BLESSED VIRGIN

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Oh most beautiful Àower of Mt. Carmel, fruit wine splendor of Heaven.Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh Star of the Sea. Help me and show me here you are my Mother. Oh Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succour me in my necessity. (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. Oh Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee (3 times). Holy Mary, I place this prayer in your hands (3 times). Say this prayer for three consecutive days and then you must publish and it will be granted to you.

Grateful Thanks.- LYLA

(Never known to fail)

Oh most beautiful Àower of Mt. Carmel, fruit wine splendor of Heaven.Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh Star of the Sea. Help me and show me here you are my Mother. Oh Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succour me in my necessity. (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. Oh Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee (3 times). Holy Mary, I place this prayer in your hands (3 times). Say this prayer for three consecutive days and then you must publish and it will be granted to you.

Grateful Thanks.- LUKE

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Lexus celebrates Holiday magic with December sales event campaign Innovation and craftsmanship spotlighted in fanciful new Lexus ads TORRANCE, Calif. (Nov. 19, 2014) – Lexus today launches its annual “December to Remember” Sales Event with a new integrated marketing campaign that offers a fun spin on gift giving and holiday cheer. Anchored by three general market commercials, the campaign reveals some of Santa’s inventive gift-giving secrets and illustrates that with Lexus you’re never too old for toys.

“The holidays are a time of year when people indulge their imaginations and share stories filled with magic and wonder,” said Brian Smith, Lexus vice president of marketing. “This year’s holiday campaign celebrates the tradition of storytelling and reminds us that children aren’t the only ones who get to have fun this time of year.”

The first spot, “Christmas Train,” shows an iconic holiday train maneuvering along a snowy mountain track. The train grinds to a halt in front of a neighborhood home.

Holiday elves jump out to help unload a Lexus IS F SPORT sedan, donning the brand’s iconic big red bow, into a family’s driveway. The spot flashes to the next morning, as the mom finishes telling her wide-eyed kids the story of how the vehicle arrived.

In “Magic Box,” Santa places a small

wrapped box on another neighborhood driveway.

The box opens up and magically transforms, gear by gear, into a full-sized Lexus ES sedan. The spot cuts to the dad explaining to his surprised wife and kids how Santa delivered this feat of engineering.

The final spot, “Teleporter,” shows a Lexus RX luxury crossover driving through a winter wonderland.

Two elves greet the vehicle at an icecovered teleportation machine; they pull a lever and the car is zapped to a third family’s driveway. The spot cuts to a dad telling his kids how Santa delivers the “big stuff.” All three spots end with a voiceover that states, “The magic of the season is here, at the Lexus December to Remember Sales Event.”

The broadcast spots begin airing today on network and cable television, sports channels and more. Additionally, one of the spots, “Christmas Train,” will be translated

for the Hispanic and Asian-American markets, providing further reach. The print campaign adopts a similarly playful tone with a headline that reads, “Perfect Garage Stuffers.” A digital partnership with The Weather Channel will provide targeted December Sales Event ads in real time based on local weather conditions.

Additional digital campaign executions will run on key automotive websites, and out-of-home extensions include placements in DC Gallery and Times Square.

The December Sales Event offers incentives through Jan. 5, 2015. To view the spots, visit YouTube.com/Lexus.

For the real deal, better call our kababayan and veteran car sales expert Nash Jimenez, who is one of the best known car specialists in Southern California for his dedicated and decades of customer service.

You can visit Nash or you may also want to call General Manager Doug Pearson anytime at Crown Lexus located at 1125 S Kettering Dr, Ontario, CA 91761. Call them now toll free at 1-800-434-5793 so you can be in a brand-new Lexus today!

Is Toyota’s Mirai the car of the future Toyota has chosen to name its first hydrogen fuel cell car after the Japanese word for ‘future’ and claims that the new model represents a turning point in the automotive industry.

The Mirai, which until now had been known by its concept car name of the FCV, has been 10 years in development. It will be officially unveiled to the world on Tuesday at the LA Auto Show, and will be going on sale in the US at some point in 2015.

As well as officially naming the car in a special event on Monday, Toyota’s president and CEO, Akio Toyoda, described it as an environmentally-friendly car that will be fun to drive and that “lets you have it all with no compromises.”

“We imagined a world filled with vehicles that would diminish our dependence on oil and reduce harm to the environment. It was a bold, but inspiring goal. And, today it is a reality,” he said.

Despite the huge strides made by Tesla in developing electric cars that are desirable, fun to drive and that don’t require overnight recharging every 100km, the hydrogen fuel cell is still considered the solution to making future cars greener.

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2015 Toyota RAV4 marks two decades as a small SUV Pioneer September 26, 2014 – The Toyota RAV4 got the whole compact crossover segment started 20 years ago as a new kind of vehicle that people didn’t even know they wanted. But a lot of people wanted it enough to make the segment one of the largest today, with the current generation RAV4 one of its strongest sellers.

Now in its third season, the current-generation, RAV4 exemplifies the qualities that keep it a perennial hit. Customers love its sharp-edged styling and roomy, versatile five-seat cabin. The interior has a premium look and feel with softtouch accents and driver-centric controls.

Sure to get attention in any weather, RAV4 drives into 2015 with a new Blizzard Pearl Premium Package for the RAV4 Limited grade. This special package dresses the already stylish RAV4 in Blizzard Pearl paint and new 18-inch machine-finished wheels with black painted pockets.

At the opposite end of the thermometer, new Hot Lava paint joins the lineup. The one-touch power liftgate with driver-selectable memory height settings, standard on the Limited, is now an option for the XLE grade. The XLE gets new 17-inch Superchrome alloy wheels for 2015.

The RAV4 is motivated by a responsive, fuel-efficient 4-cylinder engine mated to

a standard 6-speed automatic transmission. Customers can choose between front wheel drive or the advanced Dynamic Torque Control All-Wheel Drive, the same system used in the new Highlander.

Shopping for the RAV4 is easier than ever, with three trim levels to choose from, including LE, XLE and Limited.

Cavernous Cabin Though taking up a smallish parking space outside, the RAV4 is cavernous inside, with ample room for five adults and 38.4 cu. ft. of cargo capacity behind the rear seats. With the 60/40 split rear seats folded, that space expands to 73.4 cu. ft. Rear seat legroom is a competitive 37.2 inches.

The front seats feature a slim seat back design to enhance rear-passenger knee room.

The rear seatbacks also recline several degrees for added passenger comfort. Rear privacy glass is standard on all RAV4 models. Retractable rear seat head restraints

Paris mayor wants limits on cars in centre, end to diesel Paris, France | AFP | Sunday 12/7/2014 – The mayor of Paris on Sunday laid out a plan to limit cars in the city’s historic centre and said she wanted to ban diesel vehicles by 2020.

“In the four central districts, apart from bikes, buses and taxis, the only vehicles allowed will be residents’ cars, delivery vehicles and emergency vehicles,” Anne Hidalgo said in an interview with the Journal du Dimanche weekly.

Hidalgo said the proposed anti-pollution scheme would start at weekends but could be “quickly” rolled out for the rest of the week.

“I want diesel cars out of Paris by 2020 and if possible beyond the peripherique,” said the mayor, referring to the constantly choked ring road around the capital.

“Today, 60 percent of Parisians don’t have their own car whereas in 2011, it was 40 percent. It’s moving quickly,” she said.

Central Paris has a relatively high population density in European terms and tourists are often surprised by the traffic levels

in and around the historic sights of the world’s most visited city.

The city also experiences periodic pollution spikes forcing authorities to impose temporary speed limits on motorists and even to ban vehicles from running on certain days.

Hidalgo said she wanted to limit the traffic on some of the most polluted streets – like the iconic but traffic clogged Champs-Elysees – to “clean vehicles”.

As an “experimental” measure, she suggested allowing only ultra-low emitting cars on these major thoroughfares.

She also intends to extend zones where the speed limit is fixed at 30 kilometers (18 miles) an hour so that it becomes “the norm in Paris”. “Driving at 50 kilometers per hour on the main arterial roads would become the exception,” she said.

And in a bid to get people out of cars and on to bikes, the mayor said the amount of cycle lanes would be doubled by 2020 as part of a 100-million-euro bike development plan.

New cars to get emergency call system as standard by 2018 From 2018 all new cars sold in Europe will have to be able to automatically call emergency services in case of an accident.

The European Commission’s ‘eCall’ initiative was first proposed in 2012 as a way of improving response times to car accidents, especially in rural areas. In the event of a serious incident where occupants are unable to move or speak, the car’s onboard system would automatically alert police or ambulance crews with information regarding the car’s make, its fuel type, the time of the accident, and the vehicle’s current location.

EU studies concluded that mandatory implementation of the technology would cut response times by 50 percent in the countryside and by as much as 40 percent in built-up, urban areas, saving hundreds of lives and reducing the severity of thousands of injuries in the process.

Despite its life-saving potential, the initiative had stalled with disagreements

and concerns about implementation, the infrastructure required to support the service, and more recently privacy issues.

However, on Thursday a final agreement between the European Parliament and the European Union’s member states was reached. And, subject to a final vote in March 2015, the eCall feature will become mandatory on all new cars sold within the EU from March 31, 2018.

Of the announcement, Antonio Avenosos, the Executive Director of the European Transport Safety Council, said: “Getting emergency services to the scene of a crash quickly is crucial to preventing deaths. So this technology will save lives. However, it’s regrettable that it will be several years before we see all new cars fitted with the system and that other vehicles aren’t covered by the legislation yet. These are missed opportunities to extend the safety benefits further, with little or no justification.”

aid rear visibility.

Sitting at the wheel, the driver faces a sporty, asymmetrical, drivercentric dash panel. Controls fall within easy reach, and, thanks to enticing clear blue illumination for the dash and gauge panel, they’re easy to see in ambient light conditions.

Economical Performance and Sport Mode, Too Practicality meets fun with the RAV4’s 2.5-liter direct-injection four-cylinder engine. Coupled to a standard 6-speed automatic transmission, the engine smoothly delivers 176 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 172 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,100 rpm. With front-wheel drive, the RAV4 has EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of 24 mpg city / 31 mpg highway. With Dynamic Torque Control All-Wheel Drive, the EPA estimates are 22/29 mpg, on regular-grade gasoline.

Feeling sporty? The RAV4 can play along.

Choose Sport mode, and the RAV4 sharpens shift timing, throttle response, and steering feel. Downshifting will “blip”

the throttle, as the driver in a stick-shift vehicle might do to maintain driving smoothness. And, on RAV4 models with Dynamic Torque Control All-Wheel Drive, Sport mode also alters torque distribution to enhance agility by reducing understeer.

Feeling frugal? Select Eco mode and the RAV4 optimizes powertrain operation to maximize fuel economy.

The RAV4’s smooth ride, handling agility and cabin quietness owes much to a body structure that makes extensive use of highstrength steel to provide a robust and stiff yet light platform. The MacPherson strut front suspension and a double-wishbone rear suspension let the RAV4 absorb bumps, ruts and railroad crossings with composure.

A strut tower bar links the tops of the front strut towers to the main bulkhead, helping to increase torsional rigidity.

If you want to be one of the next new million Prius owners, get in touch with our kababayans at Tustin Toyota, the experts in the car industry, in the person of Sales Manager Victor Malaiba and Sales & Leasing Executives Jojo Santillana and Felix Fernando.

Tustin Toyota is located at 36 Auto Center Drive, Tustin, CA 92782. They can be reached toll free at (866) 500-2249.

Forgotten treasure of rare cars found in French village (PARIS-AFP) – In a small village in western France, in makeshift shelters bared to the elements, a treasure trove of extremely rare cars has been discovered after lying forgotten for almost 50 years.

Under a pile of dusty old car magazines, one of only 37 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spiders ever made valued at up to 12 million euros ($14 million) is among some 60 classic gems discovered by the elite Artcurial auction house.

The once-in-a-lifetime discovery, announced earlier this month, was likened by Artcurial managing director Matthieu Lamoure to stumbling upon the car world’s equivalent of the tomb of Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun.

Lamoure and senior specialist Pierre Novikoff got a tip-off about the timeworn fleet while criss-crossing the country earlier this year hunting for rare pieces.

On the farm – Artcurial is keeping the exact location secret—they found a hodgepodge of makeshift structures, describing shock after shock as they realised the treasures they contained. “This was somewhere between a metallic graveyard and a museum,” said Novikoff, describing valuable cars invaded by ivy, and in some cases corrugated iron resting directly on the cars.

“We were overcome with emotion. Probably much like Lord Carrington and Howard Carter, on being the first for centuries to enter Tutankhamun’s tomb,” said Lamoure. They may be rusted and weather-beaten, but the legendary names such as Bugatti, Hispano-Suiza, Talbot-Lago, Panhard-Levassor, Maserati, Ferrari, Delahaye and Delage are described by Artcurial as “works of art.”

The rare California Spider—a car which features 13 times on the list of the 100 most expensive cars ever sold – was bought new by French actor Gerard Blain and later sold to fellow actor Alain Delon.

Delon was photographed with American actresses Jane Fonda and Shirley MacLaine in the car, which historians thought to be lost forever.

Also uncovered is an extravagant Talbot Lago T26 Cabriolet that belonged to Egypt’s last monarch King Farouk, an immensely rich ruler known for grotesque extravagance, and avid collector who along with fast cars amassed one of the world’s most famous coin collections.

“This is surely the last time that such a discovery will be made, anywhere in the world. What is so special here is the number of cars, the range and the quality and pedigree of the models,” said Novikoff.

‘Sleeping beauties’But how does such a jackpot of mythical automobiles end up on a rural French farm, left to rust for half a century?

While classic cars are now snapped up and extremely valuable, this was not the case a few decades ago when inventor and automobile enthusiast Roger Baillon became one of the first collectors.

He had a transport business in the west of France where he in 1947 designed and built his own car known as the Bluebird, all while raking in a fortune in the post WWII boom in the sector.

He bought the property in 1953 to turn into an automobile museum, snapping up classic cars – some saved from the scrapyard – and according to Lamoure, even bought a little train which he planned to use to give tours of his museum.

“When the vehicles arrived he put them away without much fuss, one next to the other. He restored some and left others as they were,” said Novikoff.

Much of the collection was built up between 1955 and 1965.

But when the 70s swung in, Baillon’s business went into decline, and he held a large sale of his car collection at the end of the decade and to car historians, that was the end of that.

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2014 Honda Odyssey remains the only minivan to achieve top rating of GOOD Top Safety Pick+ rating earned in IIHS Small Overlap Frontal Test ; No other manufacturer has earned more Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ ratings than American Honda Nov 20, 2014 – The 2014 Honda Odyssey is the only minivan to earn the highest possible ratings of GOOD in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) stringent small overlap frontal crash test and is a 2014 Top Safety Pick+ designation when equipped with optional front crash prevention. The Honda Odyssey became the first minivan to earn the Top Safety Pick+ rating in August of 2013. The IIHS created the small overlap frontal crash test to replicate what happens when the front corner of a car collides with another vehicle or an object such as a tree or utility pole.

“Honda’s commitment to the safety of its customers is clearly demonstrated by the segment-leading safety ratings of the Odyssey,” said Art St. Cyr, vice president of auto operations at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “As the only minivan to offer the highest possible IIHS-rated protection in small overlap crashes, car buyers can look to the Honda Odyssey to securely and safely transport what’s most important – their families.”

Already the benchmark minivan in terms of fuel efficiency and innovative features, occupant safety for the 2014 Honda Odyssey is further enhanced through the next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure.

The second-generation of the ACE body structure has also been applied to the 2014 Honda Accord Coupe and Sedan and the 2014 Civic Sedan models that previously achieved the Top Safety Pick+ rating.

The next-generation ACE™ body structure improves frontal crash energy management through a wider range of offset and oblique collision modes. In addition, other body reinforcements work in tandem with the strengthened body structure to better maintain the occupant compartment volume during frontal collisions by providing additional crash energy pathways to help mitigate the forces transmitted to the passenger compartment.

Standard safety equipment on all Honda and Acura models include Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with traction control; an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS); side curtain airbags (some vehicles equipped with a rollover sensor as well); dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags; and front side airbags.

While Honda has made structural improvements to the 2014 Odyssey, Honda also has applied a new type of side curtain airbag that includes a front chamber design providing additional protection

in situations where occupants move in a more angled outboard trajectory, such as those that might occur in oblique or offset crashes.

The company also is offering advanced driver-assistive technologies such as LaneWatch, Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning as available technologies to a broad segment of its product lineup. Also, Honda has applied rearview cameras as standard equipment to 100-percent of its vehicle lineup for the 2015 model year.

Honda Safety Leadership Honda has a long history of leadership in the development and application of advanced technologies designed to enhance the safety of all road users, including automobile occupants, motorcycle riders and pedestrians. The company operates two of the world’s most sophisticated crash test facilities, in Ohio and Japan, and is responsible for numerous pioneering efforts in the areas of crashworthiness, airbag technology, collision compatibility and pedestrian safety.

Although a Honda is a Honda wherever you see one, Filipinos flock to Carson Honda because of the friendly Filipino staff

at the dealership and of course because of the service our kababayans provide. One of them, Rohmer Manalese, has even earned the “Best in Customer Satisfaction,” an honor he keeps consistently, along with the three other Filipino sales staff in the persons of Ricky Agagas, Terzo Pallen and Christian Reyes, all of whom are veterans in the car sales industry.

“We have a great staff and this is a great dealership,” Carson Honda General Manager Krisztian Kratky said. “We have a friendly atmosphere.”

Carson Honda is located at 1435 E. 223rd Street, Carson, CA 90745. They can be reached toll free at 1-800-503-2321.

Honda Odyssey

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Subaru of America enjoys best November ever, confirms all-time sales record Subaru breaks all-time annual sales record with one month of the year still remaining Cherry Hill, N.J. – Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) continues its recordbreaking run with the best November in the company’s history with sales of 45,273 vehicles, a 24 percent increase over November 2013. November also saw individual records broken for Outback, Forester and WRX/STI, while the Legacy saw a 97 percent jump in sales.

Subaru’s year-to-date sales are also noteworthy.

The company’s previous full-year record of 424,683 vehicles, set in 2013, was eclipsed on November 7. The brand is now up 21 percent year-to-date with 463,770

Christian Marilla and Chris Garchitorena of Subaru of Glendale

vehicles sold, with December sales still to come. Subaru’s sales gains in 2014 follow seven successive years of sales growth and were driven by increases across the board with record sales for Forester, WRX/STI, Legacy, Outback and XV Crosstrek.

Subaru of America has now seen 36 consecutive months (three years) of monthover-month sales increases and has shattered its previous annual sales records for

the past six years.

“Since achieving our 2013 record earlier this month, every sale is a new record,” said Thomas J. Doll, president and chief operating officer, Subaru of America, Inc. “2014 will be a historic year for the Subaru franchise as we will break 500,000 sales before year end.”

“Traffic to our retailers remains very strong and it is encouraging to see Legacy sedan sales continue to grow,” said Jeff Walters, senior vice president of sales, Subaru of America, Inc. “We also look forward to continuing our popular annual ‘Share the Love’ event with its tradition of giving back to the community in December,” Walters concluded.

The ‘Share the Love’ program will run through January 2, 2015. Subaru will

donate $250 for every new Subaru vehicle sold or leased to the customer’s choice of the following charities: ASPCA, MakeA-Wish, Meals On Wheels Association of America and National Park Foundation or a local charity selected by the Subaru retailer.

Become a new member of the Subaru club. Come on down to Subaru Glendale and our kababayans Christian Marilla, and Chris Garchitorena, will be more than happy to inform you why Subaru is becoming a favorite of Filipinos and the whole American market.

Subaru of Glendale is located at 1308 S Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91204. You can reach them at 1-855-230-1547 or you can visit their website at www.subaruofglendale. net.

James Bond director takes the wraps off a new Aston Martin

Aston Martin

Private cars trump public transport in EU: study (BRUSSELS-AFP) – More than half of Europeans use their cars to travel daily in cities across the 28-member EU while less than one-fifth of them use public transport, a study revealed Monday.

An average of 54 percent of people surveyed chose their cars on a typical day, compared to 19 percent who use buses, trams or subway trains, according to a survey conducted for the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm.

The study was published on a day when a strike against the austerity policies of the new Belgian government paralysed public transport in Brussels, the headquarters of the European Union.

The automobile is the preferred mode of urban transport in each of the 28 member states, even in the Netherlands, where 36 percent use their bicycles and 45 percent drive their cars, it said.

Car and bicycle users across the EU cited both convenience and speed as the main reasons for their choice of transport.

Respondents who used a car, motorcycle or moped said they would be encouraged to use public transport more often if it offered frequent service, better coverage and cheaper or seasonal ticket options.

Those who used public transport cited convenience, price and available facilities for their choice.

Across the EU on a typical day, an additional 14 percent walked, eight percent used bicycles, two percent travelled by motorbike or moped and two percent by train.

Some 27,800 people in the 28 member states were interviewed from 11-20 October for the survey.

If there were any doubt that James Bond’s car of choice is an Aston Martin, the British sportscar brand eliminated it on Thursday at a special event to announce the title of the latest installment of the film franchise.

But as well as revealing that the 24th official James Bond film will be called “Spectre,” the film’s director Sam Mendes also used the event to take the wraps off a brand new Aston – the DB10 – which will also be getting a starring role in the movie alongside James Bond actor Daniel Craig.

Following the unexpected reveal, Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer, announced that the car isn’t a concept. It was built specifically built for the film,

and the company worked closely with director Sam Mendes to deliver what it calls the ultimate car for the world’s most famous spy.

However, for Bond-loving existing Aston Martin drivers there is good news – the DB10 will be going into extremely limited production. Just 10 bespoke models are planned, which will make it the rarest car in the company’s history to carry a DB badge.

Although specific details, such as engine size and performance figures are still unconfirmed, the DB10 is clearly based on the existing two-door, two-seat Vantage super coupé so expect a V12 engine and a top speed of over 200mph, and a host of envious glances.

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All-new 2016 Sorento makes debut at Los Angeles Auto Show LOS ANGELES, NOVEMBER 19, 2014 – With its roads and freeways as the foundation of driving adventures encompassing sunny surf-side beaches, rugged snow-covered mountains, starkly beautiful deserts and a wide variety of other destinations, Kia Motors America (KMA) chose Los Angeles for the North American debut of the all-new 2016 Sorento CUV. Owing many of its design inspirations to the highly regarded Cross GT concept that was unveiled in 2013, Kia’s design and engineering teams focused on a stronger body structure, delivering premium-grade NVH reduction and providing the driving confidence to enable the active lifestyle CUV owners covet. Sorento buyers have their choice of three engines, including a new 2.0-liter turbocharged four cylinder, the silky smooth 3.3-liter V6 and an improved 2.4-liter normally aspirated inline-4. Standard premium features and luxurious amenities will be available across five trim levels – L, LX, EX, SX and SXL – when U.S. sales begin in the first quarter of 2015. Pricing will be announced closer to Sorento’s launch date.

“The core principles in the development of the all-new 2016 Sorento were simple: Deliver class-up premium materials and features in a capable, confidence-inspiring CUV,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president, Product Planning, KMA. “During the development process, engineers started from the ground up by reinforcing an already stiff body structure. This added rigidity pays dividends when conditions are less than perfect and helps deliver a premium driving experience. By painstakingly crafting a vehicle with significant reductions in NVH and substantial gains in overall driving comfort and dynamics,

the 2016 Sorento sets a new standard for Kia in the highly competitive mid-size CUV segment.”

Inspired Exterior Reimagining the Sorento was no easy task for Kia’s designers, as the previous generation was lauded for its exceptional design. Not unlike the sophisticated Cross GT concept, which debuted at the Chicago Auto Show in 2013, the new Sorento finds some of its design inspiration in nature, as well as in the journey to nature’s outdoor adventures, revealing a vehicle of exceptional exterior presence that is larger than the outgoing model in nearly every way.

Overall, the all-new Sorento takes on a brawnier, more planted stance, communicating its edginess and rugged personality.

The clean profile is easily recognizable as Sorento, enhanced with stronger shoulders and a long hood to deliver a more aerodynamic and sleek appearance. Combining a significantly longer 109.4-inch wheelbase (up 3.1 inches) and overall width that’s broadened to 74.4 inches (increased by 0.2 inches) the Sorento’s packaging is more efficient and allows for greater interior room.

The aggressively styled front end, with its narrower headlight design, is an evolution of the upper fascia seen on the Cross GT concept and bears a strong family resemblance to the all-new highly praised Sedona multipurpose vehicle. Distinctive LED positioning lights set the Sorento apart from others in the midsize CUV segment.

Sitting below the headlights, the lower intake and fog lamp pockets are more prominent, creating a sportier appearance, which blends harmoniously with the overall design proportions. Premium enhancements include available LED rear

Kia Motors America debuted the all-new 2016 Sorento CUV at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show.

dimensional tail lamps and LED fog lamps.

The Sorento’s muscular body sits atop four new alloy wheel designs ranging from 17 to 19 inches, depending on trim level.

Class-Up Interior With an overall interior theme focused on the stability of a horizontal plane, the design motif provides a strong foundation for the premium textures and high-quality materials found throughout the 2016 Sorento’s cabin. The liberal application of soft-touch materials is particularly evident around the instrument panel, center console and door panels.

Depending on trim level, the readyfor-adventure 2016 Sorento comes with standard 40/20/40 second-row folding five-passenger (4-cylinder models) or 50/50 folding third-row seven-passenger (V6 models) seating configurations. The seating system of the new Sorento is designed to offer optimum comfort and ideal seating positions to fulfill the needs of every occupant.

For added luxury, also available are heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, 14-way power driver and 8-way power passenger seats, driver’s seat thigh extension, a 4-way headrest with one-button adjustment, dual-zone HVAC and Kia’s second-generation panoramic sunroof, as well as available premium Nappa leather trim seating surfaces, similar to those found in Kia’s luxury flagship sedan, the K900.

Second- and third-row passengers will enjoy enhanced comfort thanks to a 0.5-inch increase in rear passenger space for both rows and a roomier flattened second-row center floor. Access to thirdrow seating is improved with 1.5 inches of additional boarding space, while headroom throughout the cabin is also increased.

Progressive Technology – UVO3 New in the 2016 Sorento, four additional UVO eServices are now available: Geo-fencing, Speed Alert, Curfew Alert and Driving Score. Additionally, with the introduction of the Kia App store, select apps can be downloaded for free from iTunes4 or Google PlaySM5.

The Kia app connector is now available for partnership with the content community, including Pandora6, iHeart Radio7 and Yelp8. Many more new technologies for comfort and convenience are featured in the new UVO system, including Siri®4 “Eyes Free9” and Local Search – powered by Google® – for finding locations, addresses and points of interest. Sirius XM Travel Link10, offering access to traffic, weather, fuel prices, sports scores, stock information and movie times, keeps you well connected while taking those weekend excursions in the Sorento.

Accessed through a crystal-clear 8-inch capacitive-touch color screen, the available

navigation11 system features SD card storage for MAP DATA and USB 2.0 support for high-speed updates as well as integrated rear backup camera, Bluetooth®12 handsfree support and UVO voice recognition. A 4.3-inch TFT color touch screen is standard and also incorporates Bluetooth, and UVO voice recognition capability.

A New Driving Experience The core of the all-new 2016 Sorento is its significantly modified platform. The enhanced structure increases torsional rigidity by 14 percent over the previous generation. Fifty-three percent of the unitbody consists of advanced high-strength steel, a 115 percent increase over the outgoing model. Liberal application of industrial strength adhesives, the use of dual-seal lip joints as well as large diameter and laser welding techniques combine to make the 2016 model the most robust Sorento ever.

The all-new 2016 Sorento offers a number of safety features, including seatbelt anchor pretensioners and six airbags, help give Sorento drivers the confidence and peace-of-mind they need when driving their families on the nation’s highways and bi-ways.

All Sorento models come standard with active safety features such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC)13, Traction Control System (TCS)13, Brake Assist System (BAS)13, Hill-start Assist Control (HAC)13, Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD)13 and Antilock Braking System (ABS)13. Additional technologies such as Roll Over Mitigation (ROM)13 and Cornering Brake Control (CBC)13 on AWD models also were added as standard equipment for improved dynamic control and safety.

If you want to find out why Kia is among the leading car brands of today, drop by Car Pros Kia of Carson at 21243 S Avalon Blvd, Carson, CA 90745 (telephone # 310-221-9131), or at Car Pros Kia Huntington Beach at 18835 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach, CA 92648 (714-6131119) and last but won’t be the last, at Car Pros Kia Glendale at 400 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91204 (818) 745-1400.

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Restyled 2015 Toyota Prius v posts big numbers in roominess and fuel economy TORRANCE, Calif., November 19, 2014 – The Toyota Prius v – the “big Prius” – gets a new look for 2015. But Toyota didn’t mess with the outstanding roominess in the largest model in the Prius Family, a car sized for families with a hefty 42 MPG EPA combined fuel economy rating.

Revised front and rear styling and striking new colors including Attitude Black Metallic, Absolutely Red and tasty Toasted Walnut Pearl give Prius v a sportier attitude.

The new front bumper, grille, available integrated fog lights and available Toyota-first LED projector low- and highbeam headlights contribute to the roomy Prius v sporty makeover. Inside, new Entune Audio systems bring new multimedia capabilities. The newly available 8-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar support offers even more comfort to the already high-utility interior. Technology is updated with a 4.2-inch TFT screen that is standard on Prius v Three and higher and the available Advanced Technology Package has been upgraded for 2015 model year.

The “v” in the Prius v stands for versatility, by the way, which seems appropriate in a highly efficient vehicle that offers more cargo room than most small SUVs. Using the same Hybrid Synergy Drive system as the standard Prius, the Prius v delivers EPA-estimated 44 MPG city / 40 MPG highway ratings, an exceptional level of efficiency for such a roomy and versatile vehicle.

The Prius v rides on a 3.1-inch longer wheelbase and is 5.9 inches longer overall than the Prius liftback. Those modest differences in exterior dimensions yield nearly 60 percent more cargo space with 34.3 cu. ft. behind the rear seats vs. 21.6 cu. ft. for the Prius liftback.

With its 60/40 split folding rear seats folded down, the Prius v offers 67.3 cu. ft. of carrying space. In fact, the combination of a

roomy cabin and cargo area earns the Prius v a “midsize station wagon” classification from the EPA. The low, wide-opening tailgate provides easy access, and the fold-flat front-passenger seat allows the vehicle to carry long items. And, the sliding second row seats let you adjust room for passengers or cargo.

Familiar Prius Look, Upsized A familiar silhouette helps make the Prius v instantly familiar and is also slippery through the air. The 0.29 coefficient of drag is low for a vehicle of its size and roominess. Even the wheels are designed with aerodynamic efficiency in mind.

These measures and others also help to suppress wind noise.

Extensive use of high-tensile grades of steel throughout the body along with aluminum in key body panels and systems keeps weight low: a Prius v weighs just 268 pounds more than a standard Prius liftback.

A resin Panoramic View Moonroof with power retractable sunshades provides an open feeling in the cabin and is 40-percent lighter than a conventional glass roof of similar size. The construction also provides excellent heat insulation performance, reducing the load on the vehicle’s climate control system.

A Peek Into the Future: Simple, Easy Controls Get behind the wheel of a Prius v, and you’ll be struck by the cockpit’s clean yet futuristic appearance. You’ll also be pleased by how easy the controls are to see and use. The center-mounted instrument

panel puts vital information at eye level.

Don’t look for a shift lever or parking brake handle – push buttons are used to start and operate the car, and the drive-bywire shift toggle replaces a clunky lever. A single automatic climate control dial looks advanced and works with ease.

The available animal-free SofTex seat material is designed to resist spills and wear – perfect for a family vehicle. As the name suggests, it’s soft to the touch.

SofTex is also lighter than leather and other traditional leatherette-type materials, and its production generates 85 percent fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs) than conventional synthetic leather production.

The new 4.2-inch TFT screen nestled between the gauges, is standard on Prius v Three and higher. The screen’s animation displays a wide range of vehicle functions including odometer, clock, climate control settings, fuel economy, fuel economy history, current/average fuel economy, cruising range, average speed, hybrid system information, Hybrid System Indicator, energy monitor, audio menu, simple navigation indicator and warning messages.

You’ll find useful storage spaces throughout the Prius v, including dual glove boxes, a center console storage box and utility tray and five cup holders in large and medium sizes. Bottle holders are built into the front and rear door pockets, and most models feature an overhead storage space that can hold sunglasses.

Storage units built into the sides of the luggage compartment hold smaller items, and there’s another space under the floor, suitable for storing soft items like car wash supplies or gloves. There’s even a space under the rear seats specially designed to store umbrellas.

Hybrid Synergy Drive: The Hybrid Gold Standard Toyota’s clear hybrid leadership shines

through in the Hybrid Synergy Drive® powertrain, which combines the output of a 1.8-liter Atkinson-cycle, 4-cylinder engine with an electric motor. A full hybrid, the Prius v can run on the gasoline engine alone, battery alone, or a combination of both.

The system’s combined 134 net system horsepower feels even stronger to the driver due to the unique way the system combines the torque of the gasoline engine and electric motor through a planetarytype continuously variable transmission.

Automatic start/stop helps to reduce fuel consumption in urban driving.

The compact and lightweight gasoline engine operates very quietly and qualifies for SULEV and Tier2 Bin3 emissions standards. The nickel-metal hydride battery pack is the same as in the Prius liftback, but with a cooling duct located under the rear seat.

Like the Prius liftback, the Prius v presents the driver with the choice of four driving modes, NORMAL, POWER, ECO and EV. POWER mode enhances mid-range response for better performance on slopes and mountainous terrain. ECO mode adjusts throttle input and climate control to maximize fuel economy.

When operating under battery power only, the Prius v is ultra-quiet, so a Vehicle Proximity Notification System helps alert pedestrians and cyclists by emitting a small warning sound.

Regenerative braking helps to recapture electrical energy under deceleration, sending it to the battery, which helps to reduce fuel consumption.

For details about the world’s popular Toyota Prius, visit our kababayan, Filipino Fleet Manager Jay Soriano of HoomanToyota in Long Beach or call him toll free at 1-800-519-2446. Hooman Toyota is located at 4401 Pacific Coast Hwy, Long Beach, CA 90804.

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