Weekend balita december 28, 2013 by Balita Media Inc

LOS ANGELES

VOL. XXI, NO. 47

DEC. 28, 2013 - JAN. 3, 2014

Caps, sunglasses banned as Philippine malls fight crime MANILA, December 23, 2013 (AFP) – Police in the Philippine capital have banned the wearing of caps and sunglasses in shopping malls to stop criminals concealing their identity from security cameras. The ban was imposed after a gang of hammer-wielding robbers looted a jewellery store at a popular suburban Manila shopping mall on December 15. The suspects are believed to have used baseball caps to hide their identities. “These criminal elements know about the presence of (closed circuit TVs) in commercial establishments like malls. That’s why they are trying to hide their identity by wearing caps and even dark sunglasses,” said Carmelo Valmoria, head of police forces in the capital which is home to 11 million people. “Besides, why will you wear sunglasses inside (a) mall?” He said those wearing caps and sunglasses will not be allowed into malls and security guards will be on the lookout for those flouting the ban. Police have proposed similar precautions for banks and pawn shops. Malls are packed during the Christmas season and the jewellery store robbery had panicked thousands of shoppers, drawing the attention even of President Benigno Aquino.

Although firecracker-related injuries do still occur, the Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday reported the number of firecracker-related injuries currently has 77 cases, or 34 percent lower compared to the same period last year.

World’s most powerful drug cartel now in PHL MANILA, Dec 26 (Mabuhay) -- The world’s most powerful drug cartel is now making forays into Philippine territory with the discovery of a shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) storage facility in Lipa, Batangas holding nearly half a billion pesos worth of drugs, government authorities said Thursday. “The Mexicans are here. This is the first time that we have confirmed it,” Senior Superintendent Bartolome Tobias, Philippine National Police - Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (PNP-AIDSOTF) chief, said in a press briefing.

On Wednesday, Christmas Day, joint elements of the PNP-AIDSOTF and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency seized P420 million worth of shabu during a raid at the LPL Ranch in Barangay Inosloban, Lipa. The drugs, a total of 84 kilos of shabu in vacuum-sealed latex packs, were placed in 4 pieces of luggage. Three suspected big-time drug traffickers, identified as Gary Tan, Argay Argenos and Rochelle Argenos, were arrested during the operation. Tobias said that sometime in the last quarter of the year, the PNP-AIDSOTF received information that Tan was a

big-time drug trafficker operating in Metro Manila and the nearby regions. “Reports further disclosed Tan worked with a certain Jorge Torres, a Filipino American with a US passport. Both are accordingly affiliated with the Mexican Sinaloa drug cartel,” he said. The Sinaloa Cartel is often described as the largest and most powerful drug trafficking organization in the Western Hemisphere. A New York Times article said the cartel is responsible for the creation of underground tunnels that See POWERFUL DRUG, page 12

Defiant typhoon survivors welcome Christmas BY CECIL MORELLA

TACLOBAN, December 24, 2013 (AFP) – Philippine survivors of deadly typhoon Haiyan defiantly prepared to celebrate Christmas in their ruined communities Tuesday where hogs were being roasted, festive trees adorned streets and churches were filled to overflowing. “Nothing can stop us from welcoming Christmas even though we have lost our home,” 63-year-old butcher’s wife Ellen Miano told AFP from a tiny shanty rising from a field of debris in the central city of Tacloban. Haiyan’s ferocious 315 kilometers (195 miles) an hour See TYPHOON, page 12

Children eat their free meals during Christmas celebrations at the town of Bislig, Tanauan in Leyte on Christmas eve, a month after Typhoon Haiyan battered central Philippines that killed at least 6,069 people. (MNS photo)

DOH records 140 firecrackerrelated injuries so far

A police officer seals on Tuesday (December 24, 2013) the muzzle of the M-16 Armalite rifle of a policeman in Camp Abelon, Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur to prevent policemen to indiscriminately fire their guns during Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve revelry. (MNS photo)

MANILA, Dec 27 (Mabuhay) – At least 140 people have been injured due to firecrackers as of 6 a.m. Friday including one boy who lost his right hand due to the illegal firecracker “Super Yolanda”, the Department of Health said. DOH Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag, in his official Twitter account, said 134 people sustained wounds from firecrackers, 5 were hit by stray bullets, and only one ingested a firecracker. Taya said this figure is slightly lower compared to the 146 injuries reported in the same period last year. He said of the 134 firecracker injuries, 82 were due to the banned firecracker Piccolo. Tayag said in Iloilo, a five-year-old boy lost his right See 140 FIRECRACKER, page 12

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Serious debt problems – One solution rebuild your credit and Ask yourself this. If CONSUMER your life. For individuyou could eliminate your MATTERS als, the options are either debt without permanently Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. damaging your credit, In a Chapter 7 case, most why wouldn’t you? A of your unsecured debts clean slate is the ultimate are discharged and most tool of empowerment. assets are exempt from The decision to pursue liquidation. bankruptcy protection is Exempt property usunot a difficult one when ally includes: you continue to struggle Primary residence. with creditors turning up BY ATTY. PAUL ALLEN Vehicles. the heat. Retirement funds. Pretty soon, with late Most personal property. fees, penalties and mounting interest, it beTools and work equipment. comes impossible to keep your head above Numerous other categories of property. water anyway. It’s really a “No Brainer”. After your case is completed and all Now, could be the right time to seek legal counsel even though you are in the dischargeable debts are forgiven, the bankearly stages of a mounting debt problem. ruptcy case is closed. You can make a new An experienced bankruptcy attorney can start with a commitment to avoid getting help separate panic from reality and assist in this situation again. In a Chapter 13 case, you can reorganize you in identifying all of your options, not just bankruptcy. You may even find out that your debts and repay them in an affordable your situation is better (or worse) than you payment plan that lasts 36 to 60 months. Your creditors cannot take any action first thought! against you while you repay your debts. Ask yourself the following: An experienced bankruptcy attorney Are you heavily in debt, with little prospect of getting out of that debt in the knows how to help you navigate the sometimes tricky waters of bankruptcy, near future? Have you had, or are your creditors eliminate the majority of your debts and threatening, a foreclosure on your home, help you keep as much of your property a repossession of your car or other legal as possible. Your bankruptcy attorney can assist you in emerging from bankruptcy action to take your property? Have you experienced a dramatic drop with a fresh start program, including a new in income that you don’t anticipate replac- credit card. So what happens, when your attorney ing anytime soon? files a Bankruptcy on your behalf? Are you frequently late paying bills? Before filing your case, you must reDo you only pay the minimum on your ceive a briefing from a credit-counseling credit cards? Are you unable to make even the mini- agency. Under the new Bankruptcy Reform Act, mum payments? Do you have to sacrifice basic necessi- before you can file a bankruptcy petition, the law requires that you first receive a ties just to make ends meet? Are you paying more money than briefing from a certified credit-counseling you make on just your monthly living agency to explain financial management to you, alternatives to bankruptcy, and how expenses? Are you losing sleep at night wondering to do a budget analysis. Although there are some hardship exceptions to this rule, how you’re going to make it? Have you bounced more than one check most debtors will have to get this briefing. You attorney can refer you to the appropriin the last two months? Are your wages currently, or in jeopardy ate agency. Then, your attorney files the petition in of, being garnished? Have you recently become sick, or local bankruptcy court. When this occurs, the court appoints a bankruptcy trustee partially or totally disabled? Are you going through a divorce result- to your case and an “Automatic Stay” is ing in a decrease of income but an increase entered, a court order that prohibits most of your creditors from taking any further in expenses? If you answered yes to some or a num- action against you outside of bankruptcy ber of these questions, bankruptcy could court. This action is designed to: be right for you. Your next step is to talk Stop most calls and bills from creditors to a qualified bankruptcy attorney to assess Protect much of your property from your rights and determine if bankruptcy is right for you. Bankruptcy is not for seizure Prohibit most creditor lawsuits against everyone, but you need to be an informed consumer to make the right decision. Don’t you Prevent foreclosure of your home wait until your wages are being garnished Stop wage garnishments or your car is repossessed. Be proactive Block the repossession of your autoand resolve the situation now. How can the U.S. Bankruptcy Code mobile. Do you need help? Then call the Law protect me? The Bankruptcy Code is a set of fed- Offices of Paul M. Allen today. Offices eral laws with very broad powers that conveniently located in Glendale and Cerentitle you, and others with severe financial ritos. Call toll free 1-877-35-NOPAY (877problems, to obtain relief from debt and 356-6729).

American Express to pay $75.7-M for overbilling NEW YORK, December 24, 2013 (AFP) – Credit-card giant American Express Tuesday announced a $75.7 million settlement to resolve charges that it overbilled consumers and misled customers on services provided. American Express, a Dow component, will pay $16.2 million in fines and at least $59.5 million in customer remediation, the company said. The customer remediation will go to more than 335,000 customers, said the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in a statement. The action also involved the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. “We first warned companies last year about using deceptive marketing to sell credit card add-on products, and everyone should be on notice of this issue,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray. “Consumers deserve to be treated fairly and should not pay for services they do not receive.”

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Pinoys in troubled Yemen urged to Mexico shatters smuggling ring that preyed on Asians bound for US register with PHL Embassy in KSA MEXICO CITY, December 22, 2013 (AFP) – Authorities said Saturday that they broke up a trafficking ring that brought foreigners, mostly Asians, into Mexico intent on smuggling them into the United States. Prosecutors said they detained seven Mexicans and three Bangladeshis accused of moving the migrants to Mexico’s northern border with the United States at a huge cost and in grim conditions. The migrants came from places like India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan, as well as Iran and Somalia, officials said. The ring was based in Mexico City and

the Caribbean coastal state of Quintana Roo, prosecutors said. In a raid police found 13 people – two from India, five from Bangladesh and six from Nepal – held in unhealthy conditions waiting to be moved by traffickers. It was not immediately known how many people were trafficked over what time period. At least 140,000 people enter Mexico every year trying to reach the United States, according to official estimates. Most of the foreigners are Central Americans, but the number of Asians has been on the rise, officials say.

MANILA, Dec 26 (Mabuhay) – With the security situation in Yemen still far from safe, Filipinos there were urged to register with the Philippine Embassy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Philippine embassy in Riyadh, in an advisory, also urged Filipinos who have not registered in the past to download and accomplish a registration form posted on its website. “The Embassy is also searching for volunteers to act as coordinators, especially those working in cities outside of Sana’a, and in companies and establishments where there are several Filipinos. The Embassy welcomes anyone who wishes to volunteer as coordinator,” it said in the advisory posted on its website Wednesday night. Last Dec. 10, the Department of Foreign Affairs raised the alert level for Yemen to Level 3. after a deadly attack on the Ministry of Defense Hospital in Sana’a.

The embassy particularly urged Filipinos in all cities and regions of Yemen to update their registration with the Embassy. On the other hand, Filipinos who accomplish the form can send it to the embassy by email to ofwsinyemen@gmail.com. The Embassy also posted the contact details of its team, including: Vice Consul Winston Almeda Mobile +967 735 275 791 Labor Attaché David Des Dicang Mobile +967 737 052 001 Mohammed Saleh Al Jamal Honorary Consul, Philippine Consulate in Sana’a Hadda Area – Damascus St. P.O. Box 1696 – Sana’a, Yemen Tel. No. +967 1 416751 Fax +967 1 418254 Mobile +967 777 2 555 11 Email : honconsanaa@philembassyriyadh.org. (MNS)

Party wants no bail for gun crime suspects MANILA, Dec 27 (Mabuhay) – A political party is pushing Congress to pass amendments to existing gun control laws that will remove bail for suspects who use guns to commit crimes. Ang Kapatiran president and Gunless Society of the Philippines secretarygeneral Norman Cabrera said government officials should impose harsher penalties for illegal possession of firearms, which has been the weapons of choice for most death incidents He said the harsher penalties will discourage those using guns for crimes and will also discourage demand for guns. “We have to be harsh. Hindi na natin

kayang matiis ang mga patayang nagaganap,” he said. Cabrera said suspected criminals who use firearms to commit crimes should be put in jail and not granted bail during the hearing of the case. He said only law enforcers wearing uniforms should be granted permits to carry their firearms outside their homes. The gunless society advocate also lamented that the Philippine National Police does not have a dedicated unit that goes after loose firearms. He also said the PNP does not know how many ordinary Filipinos have permits to carry firearms outside residence (PTCFOR).(MNS)

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UAE court sentences driver to 10 years for raping Pinay helper UAE court sentences driver to 10 years for raping Pinay helper MANILA, Dec 27 (Mabuhay) – A United Arab Emirates court this week sentenced a Syrian driver to 10 years in jail after it found him guilty of raping a Filipina maid on her first work day last May. The Dubai Court of First Instance convicted the driver of having sex with the maid against her will, UAE-based news site Gulf News reported Thursday.

Presiding judge Maher Salama Al Mahdi also ordered the Syrian, 32, deported once he serves his sentence, the report said. However, the driver insisted he “did not do that” as he pleaded innocent before the court. The ruling handed down on Wednesday is subject to appeal within 15 days. Court records showed the rape occurred May 25, a day after the 22-year-old Filipina arrived in Dubai to work as a house cleaner.

Palace: Admin to focus on reconstruction in Yolanda-hit areas MANILA. Dec 26 (Mabuhay) – While it welcomes the “good” net satisfaction ratings of President Benigno S. Aquino III for the fourth quarter of 2013, the Aquino administration will remain focused on its work, especially in the rehabilitation of areas affected by super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny Coloma Jr. said the government is aware of the big work ahead in terms of helping people affected by Yolanda recover from their losses. “Siyempre kung yan ang opinyon, tinatanggap namin ang kanilang pagpapasiya. Nguni’t isinasaalang-alang pa rin natin na napakalaki ng dapat gawing programa (If that is the opinion of our people, we accept it. But we still keep in mind there is a huge task ahead),” he said at a media briefing. Pollster Social Weather Stations’ survey from Dec. 11 to 16, showed 69 percent of Filipinos are satisfied with President Aquino’s performance, while 21 percent

are not. This translated to a “good” +49 net rating for the President. But Coloma said the government is aware of the major challenges in implementing reconstruction programs for areas affected by Yolanda, which left more than 6,100 dead. “We still have to surmount major challenges in terms of implementing reconstruction and rehabilitation programs. Kaya sabi natin mas mabuti mag-focus na lang sa trabaho na dapat gawin (That is why we believe it is better to focus on the task ahead),” he said. He also said the survey results could be an indicator that President Aquino is not affected by criticisms against government regarding post-Yolanda rehabilitation efforts. The survey results also indicate the President is not affected by criticisms over the Zamboanga City standoff in September, and the Bohol quake in October. (MNS)

Prosecutors argued the defendant surprised the Filipina while she was cleaning his television set. They said he grabbed her from behind and pushed her on the bed, then raped her. For her part, the Filipina said she started working for a house cleaning company on May 25. She said the incident happened at the Syrian’s home in Jebel Ali. She said the driver allowed her in to clean his house, for two hours for Dh70. She said he gave her Dh100 after she finished, but she told him she did not have change. “He asked me to keep the change and gave me biscuits, a moisturizer and sun cream. When I went towards the door wanting to leave, he told me that the two hours did not finish. He asked me to clean the television… once I turned my back to clean the television set, he grabbed me from behind and then raped me on his bed,” she said. The Filipina said she tried to defend herself but he overpowered her. She said she told her superiors what happened. An Emirati police lieutenant said the Filipina cried when she accused the driver

of rape. The lieutenant said the driver was arrested but denied the allegations. Instead, he claimed the Filipina seduced him, and that their sex was consensual. The policeman said the driver claimed the Filipina lured him “to have consensual sex with him while she was cleaning.” Meanwhile, A UAE court has also sentenced an Egyptian driver to three months in jail after finding him guilty of molesting and verbally abusing a Filipina last September. The Dubai Court of First Instance also ordered the driver, 36, deported after he serves his sentence, according to a report on Gulf News. Presiding judge Urfan Omar found the Egyptian guilty of the offense despite the driver’s insistence he was innocent. His ruling is subject to appeal for 15 days. The investigation showed the Egyptian driver posed as a maintenance worker to gain access into the flat of the Filipino saleswoman, 21. During the incident at the Dubai Investment Park last September 2, the driver supposedly claimed he had been assigned to carry out an inspection.

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Communists call for Aquino’s ouster from office MANILA, Dec 26 (Mabuhay) – The Communist Party of the Philippines called on its supporters to push for the ouster of President Benigno Aquino III amid his alleged faults against the nation. In its 45th anniversary statement, the party said: “Let us do our best to cause the ouster of the Aquino regime or compel Aquino’s resignation from his office because of puppetry to US imperialism, corruption, electoral fraud, grave human rights violations, mismanagement of pre-disaster preparations and disaster aid, mendacity, unrestricted mining, logging, land-grabbing and other forms of destroying the environment.” It said it is not impossible to overthrow the Aquino government as seen in the Marcos and Estrada regimes. “Even if this would not succeed, the movement would still be strengthened and will further cause the US-Aquino

regime to fail in its brutal attempt to destroy the armed revolution of the people,” the CPP said. It said the Aquino government is no different from other regimes, contrary to what it has trumpeted when it came into power. “The Filipino people have been further outraged by the corruption of the Aquino regime with the exposure of the disappearance of calamity funds for the victims of natural disasters and with its criminal failure to make pre-disaster preparations to ensure the safety of the people and to provide timely and adequate rescue and relief to the millions of people assaulted by the monster winds of the super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) and storm surges,” it said. The CPP also blasted the government for its unwillingness to pursue real peace. “It has no choice but to wait for the next regime to en-

gage in serious negotiations. It remains to be seen whether the regime can make a final peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that does not arouse the opposition of the Moro National Liberation Front headed by Nur Misuari and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. We are optimistic that the Bangsamoro will continue to struggle for self-determination and ancestral domain so long as these are not fulfilled,” it said. Last April, the Philippine government said it will no longer return to formal peace negotiations with the CPP due to the communist party’s refusal to return to the negotiating table without preconditions. Then government peace panel chairman Alex Padilla said the CPP did not not want to pursue talks during the campaign season because they would have to stop their collection of permit to campaign fees. (MNS)

NPA rebels stage attack just before Christmas truce MANILA, December 24, 2013 (AFP) – Communist insurgents in the southern Philippines torched three taxis barely an hour before their 48-hour Christmas truce took effect, police said Tuesday. New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas burned the three cabs of Holiday Taxi company in the city of Panabo late Monday, about an hour before midnight when their truce started, said regional police spokesman Chief Inspector Jed Clamor. “This was planned. They hired the three taxis in different areas, had them go to Panabo and then they pointed guns at the drivers and commandeered the taxis,” before burning them, he said.

He said the 10 gunmen identified themselves to the drivers as members of the NPA. Police suspect the incident was part of an extortion attempt against the taxi company. The NPA, which is active in the hinterlands of the Philippine archipelago, has long resorted to extorting money from rural businesses to raise funds. The Communist Party of the Philippines, which controls the 4,000-strong NPA, had earlier declared a 48-hour Christmas truce from December 24 as well as another 48-hour ceasefire from New Year’s Eve. President Benigno Aquino had declared his own unilateral truce with the NPA from December 21 to January 15.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the government peace negotiating panel called on the communists “to be faithful to the spirit and letter of the ceasefire that they have declared and to respect the prolonged ceasefire declared by our government”. The government has repeatedly called ceasefires with the communist rebels over the Christmas season, one of the most celebrated events in the largelyRoman Catholic nation. Aquino had been aiming to end the leftist rebellion before he leaves office in 2016, but the government said in April that peace talks had collapsed. The fighting has claimed 30,000 lives since 1969 according to the government tally.

DOH expresses alarm as stray-bullet injuries already up to 4 MANILA, Dec. 26 (Mabuhay) – The Department of Health (DOH) Thursday has expressed alarm as four stray-bullet injuries have been recorded so far, which is double the number of injuries in the same

period last year. “This is something worrisome,” Health Secretary Dr. Enrique Ona said, describing the quick climb in stray-bullet casualties in a briefing at the Jose R. Reyes Memorial

Medical Center (JRRMMC) in Sta. Cruz, Manila. In a report Wednesday, the DOH said that the first stray-bullet casualty was a 23-year-old man from Ormoc, Leyte who was hit in the thigh and sustained an open fracture on his left femur (thigh bone) last Monday (Dec. 23). Ona said that the casualty from Ormoc was rushed to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) in Cebu City since Ormoc was among the areas which hospitals were heavily damaged by super typhoon “Yolanda” last Nov. 8. The oldest stray-bullet victim to date was a 65-year-old male from Mandaue City, who was reportedly passing by a street when he was hit by a stray bullet on his left leg and later brought to VSMMC, Ona said. Also hit by a stray-bullet was a 40-year-

old male from Naga City who was urinating outside his house and a 17-year-old male from Taguig City who was hit while inside his house, the health chief added. He did not mention which hospital the 40-year-old casualty was brought to, however said that the 17-year-old casualty was brought to the Rizal Medical Center in Pasig City. According to the DOH, no deaths have been recorded so far but Ona reiterated his appeal to gun owners to be more careful when handling such a weapon. “We appeal to gun owners to always be conscious of the dangers their guns can do (to injure unknowing victims),” Ona said in Filipino. Last year, the only death due to stray-bullet was Stephanie Nicole Ella, seven-year-old girl from Caloocan City, whose suspects have yet to face charges for the alleged crime.(MNS)

PA gearing to be a more heavily-armed force MANILA, Dec. 26 (Mabuhay) – With the modernization of the country’s military forces now on high gear, the Philippine Army is focusing on acquiring more heavy and potent weapons to bolster up its firepower capability. This is demonstrated by the Army’s latest acquisition of 100 brand-new units of 81mm Serbian-made mortars. Capt. Anthony Bacus, PA spokesperson, said their newest mortar has bore length of 1,455mm and weighs 47.1 kilograms, including various accessories such as base plate and beech ring. It also has a bipod weight of 13.5 kilograms. Bacus said the Serbian-made 81mm mortar can fire, without sighting corrections, 20 rounds per minutes and 15 rounds with sight corrections. He added that it can fire high explosive rounds and smoke shells at a range of 5,070 meters and illuminating mortar shells for 3,644 meters. With these capabilities, the weapon can bring a decisive effect in the battlefield against possible enemies of the

country. Another weapon being eyed is a shorebased missile system worth P6.5 billion. Patrick Velez, Department of National Defense vice chairman for the Bids and Awards Committee, said once acquired, the weapon will be placed under the control and supervision of the Army. The shore-based missiles will be carried out through “limited source bidding.” Velez defines limited source bidding as a process where certain companies are invited to submit bids for a project. No other details were given for security reasons. But sources stressed that these shorebased missile system could consist of 12 launchers, trailers and tracking systems and missiles that could be fired to hit ground and naval targets. Another weapon system in the process of acquisition for the Army are 12 units of towed 155mm howitzers for P438,620,000. This includes 240 rounds of 155mm high explosive and integrated logistic support.

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Suspected Abu Sayyaf kidnapper of two European bird-watchers nabbed MANILA, Dec 26 (Mabuhay) – A suspected Abu Sayyaf member involved in the kidnapping of two European bird-watchers last year was nabbed Wednesday, the police reported Thursday. The joint police and military operations led to the arrest of Haik Asgali also known as Abu Aswad of Jolo City around 5 p.m. on December 25. The police report said Aswad will

undergo debriefing while awaiting his transfer to Zamboanga City. Aswad is a trusted operative of Abu Sayyaf leader Radullan Sahiron in Patikul, Sulu, according to the report. Aswad reportedly led the kidnapping of Elwold Horn, a 52-year-old Dutch national; Lorenzo Vinciguerra, a 47-year-old Swiss national, and Ivan Sarenas from Davao, on February 1, 2012. The three were abducted

by five armed suspects in Sitio Look-Look, Barangay Parangan, Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi. The three wildlife photographers who were on a bird-watching expedition were seized while on board a pump boat. Sarenas, who served as the local guide of the foreign nationals, was able to escape by jumping out of the speeding pump boat.

Sr. Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac, PNP public information chief, said Thursday there is no report yet if the two birdwatchers have already been released. Horn and Vinciguerra were last seen February in Patikul, Sulu. The two were supposed to attend the 6th International Hornbill Conference held in Manila in April. (MNS)

GOP Los Angeles County: Criticism, confusion reign as California suffers Obamacare impacts Chair: ‘Disastrous website, failed rollout only symptoms of larger disaster on the horizon’ BURBANK, December 20, 2013 – As continuing and ever-increasing problems plague seemingly all aspects of Obamacare, the negative effects in California threaten to have a massive political impact in the state as well. “For years, Republicans warned that the Affordable Care Act would be bad public policy and actually hurt the people it purported to try and help. If anything, we underestimated the damage, and every day brings a new dimension of how disastrous Obamacare is,” said Mark Vafiades, Chairman of the Republican Party of Los Angeles County (RPLAC). Stretching from President Obama’s obvious untruth uttered numerous times in public – “If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan ... period” – to the disastrous website rollout to the serious online security breaches found on the Obamacare site, the Obama Administration’s handling of the program has been widely criticized, even occasionally in a bipartisan way. “For Californians, Obamacare is more than a failed website and even a broken promise. It is a betrayal of the public trust,” said Vafiades. “And it won’t go unnoticed in elections.” The state’s created health care exchange Covered California has in the past boasted ambitious enrollment numbers, but this week the Los Angeles Times reported that it “sent flawed eligibility notices to nearly 114,000 households due to a computer error. The Covered California exchange said the letters sent from Nov. 22 to Dec. 7 had blank spaces or missing information on people’s eligibility for insurance or federal premium subsidies. A Covered California spokeswoman added ‘The letters would say you are eligible for Covered California, but you are ineligible for blank. It was confusing to people.’ “ The real-world impact is here: More than

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one million Californians have lost their insurance because of the new law. Others are losing access to their doctors, including technical medical specialists that are essential to patient care. Covered California is instead focused on extending its own outreach efforts, including a rap song to sell young people on the virtues of Obamacare, featuring Obama doppelganger B-Rock O’Beezy. Even ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl was moved to ask White House spokesman Jay Carney, “Is anybody going to buy health care because B-Rock O’Beezy tells them to buy it because it’s hot?” Many observers believe the political impacts are already being felt. Recently 39 Democrats in the House of Representatives voted to essentially end Obamacare, including California Democrats who were previously enthusiastic supporters of the Obama plan. The latest CBS News poll found that looking ahead to the 2014 midterm elections, most Americans say their own member of Congress’ position on health care will have at least some effect on their vote and 35 percent say it will matter a lot. “Obamacare was presented dishonestly, designed incompetently and being partly delayed cynically to try and avoid a political landslide in 2014,” said Vafiades. “It won’t work. Since only Democrats voted to make Obamacare law, I believe only Democrats will be voted out of office for the real pain that this new law is causing millions of Americans.”

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Looking back as we end 2013 and welcome 2014 Soon in three days, 2013 will just be a memory. But before that happens, this writer would like to look back and remember the significant LA community and Philippine events that happened in 2013. On Martin Luther King holiday in January, 2013, State Senator Leland Yee met with some of us, media representatives and announced his â&#x20AC;&#x153;political plans of seeking the post of Secretary of State,â&#x20AC;? where he mentioned that the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Asians will be the

largest number of immigrants in the United States and that the Filipinos comprise the largest number in that Asian group.;â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fides Ecclesiaeâ&#x20AC;? a one-night Broadway-inspired unprecedented concert/show in February, depicting the lives of St. Pedro Calungsod and St. Kateri Tekakawitha which starred Bishop Solis along with 17 priests, Alexandra Ramos and Ruben Cuatrona, was shown at the historical Pantages Theatre and produced by the Filipino

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Priest Association of Los leaders back home and be LIGHTHOUSE able to help in whatever Angeles; In March, the Asian means we can, to the onFilm Festival was held at going relief effort and the NoHo district of North reach out particularly to Hollywood, where Pinay those people in need of baachiever, Eileen Soong, sic living environment in was the recipient of the the Philippines. May 2014 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Best Actress of the Yearâ&#x20AC;? bring all of us abundant Award. blessings of good health In April, the Philippine and prosperity. HAPPY Consulateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office hosted NEW YEAR to all of the Awarding CeremoBY MYRNA AQUITANIA you, our BALITA gentle nies to the three winners readers! of the First Essay Writing Competition, chaired by Evelyn Portugal and sponsored by the FAPCLA (1978), Inc; In May, the Estacion Foundation awarded 12 Philippine college scholarships to deserving youth back home; In June, LA Pinoys celebrated Independence Day and Santacruzan at the Historic Filipinotown; In July, Pinoy dance achievers performed in the Bollywood Dance Fusion at the Famous Ford Amphithteatre; In August, NAM/OFGG observed the 30th Anniversary of Ninoy Aquinoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Martyrdom; In September, the 10 billion peso PDAF scam of Janet Lim-Napoles was discovered and while sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in jail, further investigation is still ongoing; In October, the historical churches in Bohol was destroyed by the earthquake; In November, Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) devastated Eastern Visayas; In December, ongoing fundraising, re- Photo taken at Yodel Power â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lief efforts and humanitarian aid still pours exclusive birthday lunch at Spagoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s into our country to help rebuild the lives from left seated: Dr. Lisa Stonehill of thousands of displaced people in Eastern and the celebrant, Yodel Power; standing left to right: Norma Visayas and its neighboring islands; As we welcome 2014, let us all hope Fabregas, Myrna Aquitania and that we can re-learn to trust our political celebrity chef/owner Wolfgang Puck.

W. House urges extension of US unemployment benefits WASHINGTON, December 27, 2013 (AFP) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; President Barack Obamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s administration on Friday urged US lawmakers to swiftly restore unemployment benefits, criticizing a decision not to extend emergency aid to 1.3 million people looking for work. A statement from the Director of the National Economic Council, Gene Sperling, said the move â&#x20AC;&#x153;defied economic sense.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Never before have we abruptly cut off emergency unemployment insurance when we faced this level of long-term unemployment and it would be a blow to these families and our economy,â&#x20AC;? Sperling said.

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CHRISTMAS SPIRIT: The Anaheim members of Cornerstone Christian Fellowship of Orange County join the millions of Christians worldwide in celebrating Christmas by way of singing carols in tribute to the Reason for the worldwide observance, shown here after their performance at Calvary Community Church in the City of Fullerton.

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Anaheim intensifies effort vs homelessness They provide a great contrast to the image of affluence California conjures and highlight and points to a need at concerted action.. As of last count, there are more than 12,700 of them – the AROUND homeless -in Orange County that “remains in dire TOWN need of emergency shelters” according to Santa Anabased OC Partnership in its report that it hopes will be referenced by nonprofits, politicians and businesses in addressing the issue of chronic homelessness and achieve the 10-year plan of the Commission to End Homelessness. The Commission is composed of public officials, nonprofits and business leaders There are only two seasonal emergency shelters that can house, at most, 200 people - at the California National Guard Armories in Santa Ana and Fullerton BY RAY ANDRES in addition to the few small ones run by nonprofits that serve a few dozen people around Orange County. These are typically open between December and March. Mercy House which operates the armories, has not turned anyone away and hopes to have a “year-round emergency shelters that would help the homeless population”. The nonprofit that seeks “to end the cycle of homelessness of those who enter its system of care” tailors its services to meet the specific needs of each individual so he can be moved to a path to lead him to being in housing. As the homeless population grew in recent years in Anaheim due to various reasons like choice, as a way of life evolving from other events like job loss, lack of family support, serious physical or mental health conditions and difficulties in battling substance abuse, among other reasons, the City of Anaheim continues to wage a battle by developing a responsive scheme under Coming Home Anaheim which focuses on “ shelter options that can provide either permanent housing or year-round shelter coupled with consolidated services like access to mental health, substance abuse treatment, housing assistance and others”. On any given night in the county composed of 24 cities, the 2013 OC Homeless and Survey Report states that “there were 4,300 homeless people in Orange County, 40 percent of this are unsheltered.” About 20 percent of this marginalized population are chronically homeless and has been homeless four times in the past years of for 12 months. In its most recent move to pursue its commitment “to protect the safety and dignity of homeless individuals while at the same time ensuring public spaces are preserved for their intended purposes” the city elders of Anaheim had embraced the efforts of a faithbased regional association in a workshop to facilitate collaboration among the City’s faith-based groups to offer a coordinated and comprehensive approach to the problem. The growth of homeless population in recent years Anaheim has focused on strengthening existing partnership with neighboring agencies, identifying new resources and exploring successful models to implement solutions to connect the homeless with services they are seeking according to Anaheim City Manager Marcie Edwards. The Cities of Anaheim and Fullerton, for example, had facilitated the provision of the basic necessity by providing the funds to open Fullerton Armory Emergency Shelter which provides the homeless with warm bed, shower, and meals during the winter months. In helping to reduce the impacts to the community and the additional costs associated with a large homeless population, Anaheim continues to work with its regional partners in identifying opportunities for year-round shelter where consolidated services are offered. The Anaheim Police Department is also pitching in to make life easier for the homeless with the establishment of a Homeless Detail that focuses on their needs and is composed of trained officers and mental and crisis intervention professionals. Beginning this month, the Anaheim Police Department has employed an additional tool through a city ordinance to maintain and preserve public spaces so that they may be used for their intended purposes by all residents, businesses and visitors in the City. The ordinance prohibits the camping or mass accumulation of personal belongings which interferes with the lawful and ordinary uses of public property. Homeless individuals can access help from many nonprofits and organizations that include: Homeless Resources in Orange County, Orange County Rescue Mission, Orange County’s Homeless Services, Mercy House, O.C. Partnership, Mary’s Kitchen, Casa Teresa, Shelter for the Homeless: a heaven for hope, Precious Life Shelter, New Image Emergency Shelter, Homeless Intervention Shelter and House, Anaheim Interfaith Shelter, Halcyon House, , The Eli Home Shelter Program, Casa Youth Shelter, Coast to Coast Foundation, Orange County Health Care Agency – Adult Mental Health Services, Anaheim Poverty Task Force, Fullerton Homeless Collaborative, Islamic Circle of North America/Relief USA Muslims for Humanity, Calvary Chapel Open Door and Calvary Chapel East Anaheim. The U.S. Housing and Urban Development has made available $16 million for nonprofits to access to fight homelessness.

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POWERFUL DRUG From page 1

allowed the entry of drugs from Mexican border towns to the United States. Authorities are filing charges of violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act against Tan, the Argenos couple, Jorge Torres and two other Mexican nationals identified only as alias Jaime and alias Joey. The two Mexicans are believed to be part of the Siniloa Cartel. PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima said police are still investigating how the cartel is moving the drugs into the country. He said anyone could easily travel from island to island in the southern Philippines. He also said the cartel focused on shipping shabu because it is easier to sell in the Philippines. “The market for methamphetamine hydrochloride pwede sila pumunta sa Pilipinas. Mura, madaling gawin, madaling i-sell. It’s more feasible. If you sell cocaine in the Philippines, baka walang bibili. Mahal. It’s like a business,” he told reporters. PDEA chief Arturo Cacdac Jr. said the Philippines is not the only country being eyed by the cartel. He said Japanese authorities have also discovered shipments of shabu supposedly coming from the cartel. “They found Asia has a market for shabu,” he said. Purisima said the cartel is getting help from Chinese drug traffickers to establish operations in the Philippines. “We can see that they are just starting. We need to take action so they cannot go further in,” he said in Filipino. He also noted that the police will consult its lawyers after the shabu storage facility was discovered on LPL Ranch, which is owned by the family of former Batangas Governor Antonio Leviste. Leviste was

tried and convicted of murdering his aide in 2007 but has since been granted parole. Purisima said the compound used as a shabu storage facility was leased. Meanwhile, the government said it will intensify its efforts to halt the alleged operations of drug cartels following the successful drug bust in Batangas last Wednesday, a Palace official said on Friday. In a press briefing in Malacanang, Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the government will investigate how Mexican drug syndicates were able to enter the country and start their operations here. Valte said they will check particular informations with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) because it was reported that some drug gang members were using US passports. “Part of their prosecution is the checking of how they were able to enter the country – were their papers in order or talagang merong na-miss. That is something that should also be looked into after the capture of the ring,” Valte said. The Palace official also said that the identification of the drug cartel members is a good thing in the fight against illegal narcotics in the country. This time, it would be easier for drug operatives to identify and target the members of the syndicate, she said. The increased coordination of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and other anti-drug groups or foreign drug enforcement agencies has resulted to successful drug busts in the country, she said. “Nagkakaroon ng mas magandang information sharing, which leads to the capture of either smugglers or these rings here kasi ayaw natin na maging haven for illegal drugs ang ating bansa,” Valte said.

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TYPHOON From page 1

winds flattened the gritty Magallanes neighborhood on Tacloban’s coast, then swept up everything else with giant waves in a day of terror on November 8. Tacloban and nearby districts accounted for more than 5,000 of the 6,000-plus confirmed deaths, with nearly 2,000 others missing, making it the country’s deadliest storm and one of its worst natural disasters. The storm made 4.4 million homeless and caused $12.9 billion in damage, according to the government, which estimates it will take the affected central region, an area the size of Portugal, four years to recover. Miano, who lives with her husband and four young nephews and nieces in the 2x3metre (6x10-feet) home put together from salvaged wood and sheet metal, said the family would eat a traditional Christmas dinner at midnight, with fried noodles and sliced bread given to them by a relief agency. Their 20-year-old neighbor Ronfrey Magdua built a giant, 4-metre-tall starshaped lantern using salvaged wood and wrapped in the Philippine flag’s motif of red, white and blue, and put it up in the yard of a family that perished in the disaster. “I made this in honour of the dead,” the jobless young man told AFP, saying he spent about 2,000 pesos (45 dollars) of his own savings on the project. Water and electricity have only been restored to a few commercial areas in Tacloban—a once-bustling city of over 221,000. But amid the damage, many are trying to restore normality, rebuilding their homes out of salvaged scrap or with material purchased with money provided by aid agencies. Others huddle in white tents provided by the United Nations. Some of the survivors have received small amounts of cash from the UN, the Philippine government and other aid groups. The UN’s World Food Programme has given out 1,300 pesos to 18,000 of the poorest families in Tacloban and nearby areas, said spokeswoman Amor Almagro. The UN agency plans to provide $6 million to 100,000 families in the next few weeks. Other agencies are financing government schemes where people who lost their jobs are paid the minimum daily wage to clear debris from roads, Almagro told AFP.

The small dining table in the shanty of carpenter’s wife and mother-of-two Jean Dotado, 31, in Palo town was laden with apples, oranges, grapes, sliced bread and peanut butter, funded by the UN cash windfall. “These should tide us through Christmas,” said Dotado, whose makeshift home, comprising roofing and wooden planks scavenged from a local school destroyed by the typhoon, also contained sardines, sacks of rice, and instant noodles regularly from aid groups. Dotado’s neighbour Shirley Dinalo, 20, said she would use the cash handout to buy medicines for her two daughters, aged two and four, who have been suffering from colds. The family is staying with her in-laws after their own house was destroyed by storm surges. She told AFP her husband, a van driver, did not have any money and the family did not plan on doing anything special Wednesday. “When it rains hard I lie in bed, unable to sleep, worrying that a typhoon will hit us again,” she said. Despite continuing hardship, damaged churches in Tacloban and nearby towns opened their doors early Tuesday for the last of the pre-dawn masses held in the 10 days until Christmas Eve. “There will always be something beautiful that will come after what happened to us,” Bernardo Pantin, the parish priest of Palo town adjacent to Tacloban, told around 100 parishioners at a makeshift church made from coconut lumber and blue tarpaulin. “It (the typhoon) changed our lives, but we know that good things will follow. But of course it will take time,” Pantin told AFP. For some, though, it is hard to be optimistic. At the Palo parish of San Joaquin, sixyear-old Clifford Cobacha and his uncle Rico Cobacha, 27, attended pre-dawn mass and later lit candles in the church courtyard in front of a cluster of three small wooden crosses that marked the grave of his mother and two brothers. More than 300 other bodies are buried in the church courtyard, marked with small wooden crosses. “It will be difficult to celebrate Christmas after we lost 15 relatives,” the elder Cobacha told AFP. Eight of them lay amongst the mass graves, with seven others, including the boy’s father, still missing.

42 FIRECRACKER From page 1

hand index finger after using a “camara” or small dynamite. A 14-year-old boy in Cebu City, meanwhile, had his right hand amputated after using illegal firecracker “Super Yolanda.” Last year, the DOH recorded a total of 931 firecracker-related injuries: 904 were due to fireworks, 25 from stray bullet and 2 from firecracker ingestion.

Most injuries were caused by piccolo (236), followed by unknown firecrackers (143), kwitis (128), five star (55) and pla-pla (42). As this developed, a political party is pushing Congress to pass amendments to existing gun control laws that will remove bail for suspects who use guns to commit crimes.

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SC penalizes ex-PIO staffer for insubordination MANILA, Dec. 26 (Mabuhay) – The Supreme Court (SC) has penalized a former staffer of the Public Information Office (PIO) for insubordination and conduct unbecoming of an employee. In a resolution of the SC en banc signed and promulgated by Atty. Enriqueta Vidal, the SC reprimanded Genevieve Victoria Maria Zuñiga, then Information Officer III of the SC PIO. The SC en banc imposed the penalty against Zuniga on the basis of former SC PIO Officer-in-Charge Jay Rempillo, along with Jose Emmanuel David Eva III and Annie Rose Laborte. “Wherefore, the Court Reprimands Genevieve Victoria Maria B. Zuñiga, then Information Officer III, Public Information Office, for insubordination and discourtesy in the course of official duties, with a warning that a repetition of the same or similar acts shall be dealt with more severely,” the resolution said. Likewise, the SC has dismissed Zuñiga’s counter-complaints “that she brought against her fellow employees for lack of merit.” The SC has given the reprimand penalty because the rules state that “for the first offense, insubordination is punishable by suspension for one month and and one day to six months, discourtesy, by reprimand. This being her first offense, the Court considers appropriate the penalty of reprimand

as recommended.” In the complaints, Eva alleged that in June 2007, he was editing the June 2007 issue of the Benchmark, the official SC newsletter, when he noticed that Zuñiga wrote in her article on a featured employee had taken “BS Marine” as a college course. Eva requested to verify the correctness of that statement. However, Zuniga said that she is sure of her article and refused to double check the facts. Upon checking, Eva himself learned that the course should have been “BS Marine Transportation.” Zuñiga allegedly shouted on July 5, 2007 at Laborte “I’m not a bimbo”, when the latter merely requested her to make a phone call. Rempillo and Laborte claimed that in September 2007 Zuniga refused “to confirm some facts relating to another feature article she wrote.” Zuniga did not only refuse to listen but also raised her voice on them. A white paper containing malicious accusations against them and several PIO staff were circulated in October 2007. The complainants suspected that it was a creation of Zuñiga, which she denied. In the investigation by the Office of the Administrative Services (OAS), it recommended that Zuñiga should be reprimanded for insubordination and discourtesy in the course of official duties.

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Faster Dec. inflation seen on rising electricity, fuel, food costs MANILA, Dec 26 (Mabuhay) – Inflation may quicken this month due to higher costs of electricity, fuel, and food, the central bank chief said Thursday. In a text message to reporters, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said inflation may settle between 3.8 to 4.7 percent in December. The projection is faster than the actual November inflation number of 3.3 percent, a nine month high. Tetangco said it sees faster inflation this month “given higher electricity prices, increase in fuel prices and lingering price pressures on some food commodities as a result of Typhoon Yolanda.” Manila Electric Company (Meralco), the Philippines’ largest power distributor, has announced a historic power rate increase in a staggered manner starting this month. The Supreme Court on Monday, however, issued a stay order preventing Meralco from implementing the rate hike for 60 days amid stiff public opposition to the increase. But then over half of Meralco customers were already billed with higher charges. Meanwhile, prices of kerosene and gasoline were raised several times in December. Typhoon Yolanda, the strongest to hit land on record, cut a swathe of destruction in central Philippines last Nov. 8. It damaged farms and fishing grounds, posing food supply bottlenecks. The rise in consumer prices remains arrested. Inflation only averaged at 2.8 percent in the 11 months to November, prompting the central bank to say that it will miss its 3 to 5 percent target. Inflation may settle at 2.9 percent, Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo told reporters after the central bank’s December 12 policy meeting.

How much wages are recoverable when employees are wrongfully terminated? Alfredo Villacorta, a wages claim. PROTECTING Filipino mechanical engiWages earned from EMPLOYEE & neer, was a maintenance an inferior job may CONSUMER RIGHTS planner at Cemex Cement, not be used to reduce Inc.’s plant in Victorville. damages because it Villacorta was laid off would result in sensefrom Cemex on February lessly penalizing an 22, 2008. At that time, he employee who, either was earning $65,699 per because of an honest year. Villacorta claimed desire to work or a lack he was laid off because of financial resources, he is Filipino, and Ceis willing to take whatmex managers preferred ever employment he BY C. JOE SAYAS, JR. Venezuelans. Villacorta can find. The location was unemployed for about of the new job is a faceight months and suffered anxiety and tor in determining whether the new job is depression. inferior. The evidence showed that VilIn October 2008, he found work as a lacrota’s new job was located about three maintenance supervisor for National Ce- hours away from where his family lived. ment in Bakersfield, about 2 to 3 hours He had to rent a room in Lancaster, which away from where he lived. He had to rent was still one hour away from the new job, a room in Lancaster and went home only because no closer rental was available. He on weekends to his family. At National, could see his wife and two young daughters Villacorta earned about $69,300 yearly. only on weekends. Villacorta sued Cemex for wrongful The new job was inferior to the job at termination in violation of public policy Cemex because of its location. Thus, it was and national origin discrimination. At trial, reasonable for the jury to award the full the jury awarded him $198,000 for 3 years’ value of the employee’s loss of earnings. lost wages (calculated from the time he was The amount of the employee’s wages at his fired until the time of trial). new job should not reduce his recovery. In its decision, the Court of Appeal said [C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is trial attorney that, generally, wrongfully terminated em- who has obtained several million dollar ployees are entitled to recover lost wages. recoveries for his clients against insurance Lost wages is computed as the employee’s companies and employers. compensation before the termination, He has been selected as a Super Lawyer minus any amount earned from a new job by the Los Angeles Magazine, featured in (assuming the employee found a new job the cover of Los Angeles Daily Journal’s after being fired). Verdicts and Settlements, and is a member However, the employee’s earnings at of the Million Dollar-Advocates Forum. the new job will only reduce his lost wages He is a graduate of Georgetown Univerclaim if the employer can show that the sity Law Center Washington, D.C. and new employment was comparable to his the University of the Philippines. Visit old job. If the new job is different or infe- his website at www.joesayaslaw.com or rior, then the wages from the new job may contact his office at (818) 291-0088 for a not be used to reduce the employee’s lost no-cost inquiry.]

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Real estate prediction for 2013: Is it a reality? Lets reflect back Prediction: 2013 was expected to be MORTGAGE UPDATE a turning point for the economy. While 2013 started off with the same slow pace in keeping with the slowest economic recovery on record, Analyst said the stage was set for a significant turn-up in market sentiment by year BY KEN GO end, setting the stage for a strong global rebound in 2014 and beyond. Reality: It didn’t take long for the Real Estate both commercial and residential turn-up to begin. First quarter sales were up notably from the year earlier. But as predicted, market strength picked up notably as the year went on. Prediction: The RE industry’s measured and steady recovery was expected to bolster a 20% growth in the investment market with demand up particularly in multifamily, office and industrial sectors, according to most analyst. Reality: Through the third quarter of this year, investment sales were up 27%, according to CoStar COMPs data. Industrial investments were up 56% and office up 27%; however, multifamily investments tapered off this year and were actually down about 6%. Prediction: The earliest buyers in the Great Recession would be the sellers in 2013, according Blackstone’s James. Reality: For Commercial RE James obviously had some insider knowledge on this prediction, but isn’t that what experts rely on? Institutional selling was strong

in 2013. Just as The Blackstone Group kept the capital markets busy in 2011 and 2012 raising more than $16 billion through private fundraising efforts, it also kept them equally busy this year cashing in on those investments mainly through the public markets. Blackstone Group cashed out on at least six investments by taking them public in 2013. Prediction: Prospects for 2013 were strong, particularly for REIT real estate investment trusts looking to raise capital by going public and for a pickup in secondary and tertiary market activity. REIT as many knows and calls them by are muscling up to buy anything on the market. They are flexing full muscle and have purchased a lot of Real Estate. Reality: Again, just look at the initial public offerings in 2013. But also with the economy continuing to strengthen, more opportunistic investors - in many cases priced out of the top coastal markets like San Francisco, New York City and Washington, DC,. – went seeking higher yields in secondary markets where job growth and business conditions have accelerated during the economic recovery. Markets such as Nashville, Salt Lake City Indianapolis, Phoenix, and Jacksonville and Tampa, FL, were noted to be top gainers. Prediction: Analyst this year predicting 25 of the most likely publicly held companies that would be buying property this year and 25 of the most likely publicly held sellers. Reality: It was easier to predict the buyers than the sellers. Overall, the 25 sellers we identified received net proceeds of more than $11.8 billion from the disposal of properties through the first nine months of the year. True, though, they also paid out more than $11.3 billion in cash for new investments. Still, only eight of the 25 firms we identified were net buyers of properties and we also picked out eight firms that showed no cash outlay

for new properties this year. On the buy side, the 25 firms we identified paid out more than $15 billion for new property investments in the first nine months; they received only about $2 billion in net proceeds from property sales. Not every prediction we highlighted turned out so accurately; this was particularly true when it came to the stock-and-bond markets. We won’t single out those who didn’t do as well on their predictions, but will point out that the commercial mortgage-backed securities bond market went viral with new issuance levels greatly exceeding predicted levels. The expanded investment activity, the greater appetite for risk and interest in smaller markets among investors drove competition among conduit lenders. Also, while REIT stocks, which had been riding a long bull market going into this year and did manage to continue their upward momentum through May, since then REIT stock prices have steadily declining, according to most REIT indexes, reflecting in part investor concerns over rising interest rates and the prospects for more rate increases in 2014. But predictions for 2014 are another story entirely; stay tuned. For the near future, our RE markets both Residential and Commercial are very strong and standing on their own feet firmly. What is to disrupt this potential uptrend you might ask? I see and hear a lot of worries about the “Affordable Health Care” being a metal chain dragging the growth potential due insurance rate increases. Hopefully the government will resolve this issue quick and come out with a win-win situation for all. Overall looking Good, have a great New Years and a Prosperous 2014, to get free magnet calendars please call Ken Go of 1st Innovative Finance Group at 562-508-7048 or write to kennethgo@verizon.net.

US new home sales slip in November I have lost hope to ever return to WASHINGTON, December 24, 2013 (AFP) – Sales of new US homes edged lower in November after a strong rise the prior month, according to Commerce Department data released Tuesday. New sales for single-family homes hit a seasonally-adjusted 464,000 in November, down 2.1 percent from the revised October count, according to the data. The median analyst forecast was for sales of 433,000. Sales in October had jumped 17.6 percent to 474,000, the highest level since January 1992, and September sales jumped 3.9 percent to 403,000, according to revised data released Tuesday. The sales in November rose 16.6 percent compared with a year ago. The median sales price of new houses in November was $270,900, while the average price was $340,300, a record. The seasonally adjusted estimate of new homes for sale at the end of November was 167,000, a supply of about 4.3 months at

the current sale rate. Analysts said the overall picture drawn by the data was robust, despite the slight decline in new home sales. “New home sales remain elevated, a signal that demand is still strong but limited by inventory,” said analyst Mei Li of FTN Financial. “Also, buyers appear eager to grab currently affordable mortgage rates before they go higher.” Economist Joel Naroff characterized demand for new homes as “quite strong.” “Prices were up quite strongly while inventories keep falling,” Naroff said. “That is a recipe for further price increases.” Earlier, US housing started soaring in November from October to their fastest pace in five years, new evidence of the housing recovery under way, official data released Wednesday showed. New residential construction jumped 22.7 percent to hit an annual rate of 1.091 million, the highest level since February 2008, the Commerce Department reported.

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Question: case, none of that works, IMMIGRATION I have been deported there are always various TODAY several years ago and difnon-immigrant visas with ferent immigration lawa non-immigrant waiver yers tell me that there is which can even waive nothing that can be done. aggravated felonies. My kids are growing up Sometimes, people without me and my wife qualify for derivative citican only afford to see me zenship and are actually once every two or three U.S. Citizens, but do not months. I am in despair even know it. There are BY BRIAN D. LERNER and I have lost hope of a multitude of different ever coming back to the paths that can be done United States. Do you have any words in order for persons to fight their case. that might help? Sometimes, Motions to Reopen can be Answer: done in order to rectify a bad decision Actually there are many ways in which from an Immigration Judge or an Apyou might be eligible to come back. I pellate Judge. Decisions sometimes are would not let what other people have said against the law as they have violated deter you from fighting your case. In fact, Due Process and the rights of the foreign there are many people and lawyers who national. Other times, laws or cases may are not expert immigration attorneys who have changed years after the decision will not see the big picture and give you and it makes the actual decision rendered various options that would exist. years earlier invalid. Clearly, none of these particular opQuestion: tions would be easy and none of them What about immigration reform? Is would take only 1-2 months. However, as there any chance of that passing? you have clearly stated, you are in despair Answer: and have been outside the United States That of course will depend. However, for many years. The most important part it is becoming clear that finally Congress is that you get a consultation from an im- sees that inaction is hurting the country, migration attorney who is an expert in the the economy and their own reputations. field and can help. Just last week, they passed a bipartisan Question: budget and the defense bill. It shows that I understand. However, I don’t see how they see that working together and doing you might help since I have a deportation what they were elected to do is in their order and different crimes. best interest and the best interest of the Answer: country. Therefore, when Congress reIn actuality, many crimes which are turns in 2014, hopefully, they will return not aggravated felonies will allow vari- with an agenda to pick up immigration ous pardons or Waivers of Inadmissibil- reform where it left off and put a comity. Some crimes which are aggravated prehensive immigration package together. felonies will be eligible for you to pursue As you see, there are many options criminal relief to try to reduce or vacate (which only a very few has been discussed the crimes. It is also possible depending here.) Get a consultation from an expert on the crime for you to try to get a full immigration attorney to help with your and unconditional government pardon. In See LERNER, page 15

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Celebrate the birth of our Lord and forget about your debt problems This past Wednesbecause we are merely huday the whole Chrisman. Only God can restore BANKRUPTCY tian world celebrated the broken relationship. But the birth of our Lord God so loved us that He reand Savior, Jesus quested his one and only beChrist. This is the loved Son, Jesus to restore day 2013 years ago the broken relationship by when the son of God, becoming man and dying the one the one true for mankind on the cross so God, Yahweh, bethat the broken relationship came a human being, could be restored. BY ATTY. through the Blessed So, when Jesus was LAWRENCE YANG Virgin Mary. The son born on Christmas day, He of God, Jesus, was agreed to become man, and born in Bethlehem, in a manger. A star in agreed to fulfill the mission of restoring our the heavens showed down to earth on the broken relationship with God, by dying exact spot where Jesus was being born, like for us on the cross, to redeem us from the a spotlight, to show mankind that Jesus is consequences of sin. How great God’s love indeed the Son of God. Angels came from for man is He sent His only Son to die for heaven and knelt before the baby Jesus to us. And how great the love of His Son’s glorify Him and to attest to the truth of His love for man is that He willingly suffered divinity. Three kings from Asia traveled and died for us on the cross! Praise and from far-away lands following the guiding Glory to God the Father, God the Son and star in the heavens to the lowly manger God the Holy Spirit. Blessed be the Name in Bethlehem, and they knelt before the of our Lord! baby Jesus, worshipping Him as the King Is Christ the family name of Jesus? This of Kings. The birth of Jesus Christ is the is a valid question. No, in Hebrew, Christ single most important event in the history means the Anointed One, the Messiah, and of mankind because in this event God the Savior. Jesus in Hebrew means “God became man. saves.” The other names and titles by which Why did God become man? Because Jesus is known are: the relationship between God and man was Emmanuel: meaning “God is with us”. destroyed by sin, the original sin of Adam The angel Gabriel appeared to the Blessed and Eve when they ate of the forbidden Virgin Mary that “you shall conceive fruit in Paradise. And only the Son of God and bear a son, and his name shall be has the standing before God to restore that “Emmanuel” (Matt.1:23). But why was broken relationship. The entire human race He called Jesus instead of Emmanuel? can commit hara-kiri to restore our broken Because Emmanuel does not refer to the relationship with God and that would be actual name of Jesus, it is a descriptive insufficient to restore the relationship reference of the role of Jesus. Just like

LERNER and Naturalization Law. You can go online to www.californiaimmigration.us and get a free consultation or call us at 800.819.0149 or at (562) 495-0554 for an in-person office consultation. Atty. Lerner has two offices in Southern California: Los Angeles – at the Philippine Village located at 4515 Eagle Rock Blvd., Ste. 104, Los Angeles, CA 90041 (323-454-7591) and in Long Beach – at 3233 E. Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90803 (562-495-0554) and also in the Philippines at Unit 3D, ABBA 1 Building 5756 Kalayaan Avenue, Makati, Philippines 1200 (63) 882-3941.

Amazon to compensate customers for late gifts NEW YORK, December 26, 2013 (AFP) – Amazon Thursday said it would give $20 gift cards and pay shipping costs for customers affected by problems at UPS and FedEx that delayed some Christmas package deliveries. The Amazon pledge came after UPS in particular came under fire for late packages despite vows from retailers to meet a December 25 deadline. Some customers took to Twitter to voice their displeasure, likening one or both delivery giants to the “Grinch who stole Christmas.” Amazon pointed the finger squarely at the delivery companies. The online retail giant did not give estimates for the number of affected shoppers. “Amazon fulfillment centers processed and tendered customer orders to delivery carriers on time for holiday delivery,” said Amazon spokeswoman Mary Osako. “We are reviewing the performance of the delivery carriers.” Walmart also will provide gift cards to customers who did not receive packages

by the promised deadline, the New York Times reported. Walmart did not immediately respond to a request for comment. “UPS experienced heavy holiday volume and is making every effort to get packages to their destination as quickly as possible,” UPS said on its website. “UPS has resumed normally scheduled service on December 26.” A FedEx spokesperson also reported a “surge” in volume, but said the rise was typical. “We had minimal service disruptions despite the increase in volumes, and are working directly with customers who may have experienced any delays,” said the FedEx spokesperson. The delivery woes suggested the retail sector is still adjusting to shifting customer behavior with the rise of online shopping. Analysts had expected brick and mortar shopping to rise just 3-4 percent in 2013, but online shopping to jump 13-14 percent. More retailers have promised to execute Christmas-deadline deliveries ordered later and later in the season.

the house by paying off the outstanding balance of the loan. This is called “redeeming” the house that was foreclosed. Son of God: meaning literally that Jesus is the Son of God, the one true God, my God, the God of Elijah, Moses and Israel. Lawrence Bautista Yang is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and has been in law practice for thirty years. He specializes in bankruptcy, business and civil litigation and has handled more than five thousand successful bankruptcy cases in California. He speaks Tagalog and looks forward to discussing your case with you personally. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Bldg A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803.

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situation and to devise a coherent plan to get you back to the United States. Brian D. Lerner is an Immigration and Naturalization Attorney. He is a Certified Specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law as Certified by the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization. Mr. Lerner is married to a Filipina and has been helping Filipinos immigrate to the United States for nearly 20 years. His firm represents clients in Deportation/ Removal proceedings, does Waivers, Appeals, Naturalization, Adjustments, Criminal Relief, Citizenship, Consulate Processing, Work Permits, Investment Visas and all other areas of Immigration

calling General Dwight D. Eisenhower, “the Supreme Commander” of all allied forces in Europe against Hitler, or Dr. Sun Yat Sen as the “Father of the Republic of China,” or St. Lorenzo Ruiz, as “the first Filipino saint.” Lamb of God: meaning Jesus agreed to become the sacrificial lamb who shed His blood and died on the cross to rectify the broken relationship between God and man. Redeemer: meaning Jesus gave his life to buy back the good relationship between God and man. You can compare this to a house after it is foreclosed. In some states, the law proved a time period, say six months from the date of foreclosure, called the “redemption period,” when the previous owner of the house can buy back

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OPINION

PHL to take steps vs Mexican drug cartel in PHL

MANILA, Dec 26 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang assured the public Thursday the government will take the needed measures to neutralize a Mexican drug cartel, which has made its presence felt in the Philippines. Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said authorities have a duty to arrest lawbreakers and protect the public. “Siyempre po pag-iibayuhin ang pagsisikap na masabat o mahuli ang mga lumalabag sa batas, itigil ang kanilang krimen, at pangalagaan ang kapakanan ng mga mamamayan (Of course, the government will seek to arrest these lawbreakers, stop their crimes, and protect the citizenry),” he said at a media briefing. Earlier Thursday, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said the dreaded Sinoloa drug syndicate has made its way to the Philippines. PDEA head Arturo Cacdac Jr. said this following a raid in Batangas that netted 84 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) worth P420 million. Philippine anti-drug police said on Thursday they had arrested three people connected to Mexico’s feared Sinaloa drug cartel while they were storing narcotics. The two Filipinos and one Filipino-Chinese were arrested in a raid on Wednesday on a cock-fighting farm in Lipa City, 75 kilometers (47 miles) south of Manila, after weeks of intelligence operations by local and US antinarcotics personnel. Seized in the raid were 84 kilograms (185 pounds) of methamphetamine hydrochloride, popularly known as “ice” or “shabu”, as well as two firearms, said police officials. However the actual members of the Mexican cartel were not there during the raid, said Senior Superintendent Bartolome Tobias, head of a drugs task force. “We have previously had reports that the Mexicans are here and... this is the first time we have confirmed that indeed, the Mexicans are already here,” he told reporters. Tobias did not say how they knew the Sinaloa cartel was involved. (MNS with reports from AFP)

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WASHINGTON, December 24, 2013 (AFP) – Santa may already be riding his sleigh around the globe doling out gifts, but that did not stop US lawmakers and conservative groups Tuesday from warning of efforts to sabotage Christmas. Some members of Congress and religious organizations perennially complain of a movement, embracing the concept of separation of church and state, that is attacking the message of the Christmas season. This month, in an example of what some have called the “war on Christmas,” schoolchildren in Texas were prevented from delivering “Merry Christmas” cards to military veterans because they violated a Veterans Administration policy against specific religious phrasing. President Barack Obama’s official White House card meanwhile makes no mention of Christmas, instead noting the “joy of the holidays.” To counter what they see as attacks on Christmas, House of Representatives Republican Doug Lamborn and 36 other lawmakers introduced a resolution saying “the symbols and traditions of Christmas should be protected for use by those who celebrate” the holiday. “There is a vocal minority that is offended at the rest of us who want to celebrate Christmas,” Lamborn told Fox News on Christmas Eve, urging people to “not put up with these bans.” Nick Rahall, one of two Democrats to sign on to the non-binding resolution, put it succinctly. “To substituting time-honored greetings like ‘Merry Christmas’ with empty phrases such as ‘Happy Holidays’ – I say bah humbug,” Rahall said.

The Faith & Freedom Coalition cited a “festivus pole” of beer cans, erected next to a manger with baby Jesus on government property in Florida, as an example of how nativity scenes are being mocked nationwide. “All of this controversy in America is an attempt to minimize Christmas to just another American federal holiday with no more or no less significance than any other federal holiday,” said the group’s national prayer coordinator, Regina Brown. One Republican running for Congress in 2014 said the recent kerfuffle over the rant about gays and non-Christian cultures by Phil Robertson, star of cable TV show “Duck Dynasty,” was yet another sign of a national shift toward outright “persecution” of America’s Christians. “I don’t believe it’s gotten to the point yet,” Ian Bayne told Talking Points Memo last week. “But I do believe that Phil believes and I believe that we will wake up in an America where if you walk around with the bible you could be arrested,” he said. US broadcaster Fox News has reported extensively on the apparent “war on Christmas,” producing an interactive map showing where Christmas has been given a bad rap. But leading televangelist and preacher Joel Osteen went on Fox News Sunday and poured cold water on the theory. “I think there are certain groups that would like to” take the religious meaning out of Christmas, but “I’m probably not as concerned about it as some others,” Osteen said. “Not everybody believes like me,” he added. “We’re not all Christians in this nation.”

Americans say US Congress is worst ever: poll WASHINGTON, December 26, 2013 (AFP) – Two thirds of Americans say the current Congress is the worst ever, while three quarters slammed the “do-nothing” legislature, a CNN/ORC International poll found Thursday. The negative attitudes were expressed toward leading lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, with 52 percent saying the policies of Democrats would move the country in the wrong direction, compared to 54 percent for Republican policies. And 54 percent of respondents said the same thing about the policies of President Barack Obama, a Democrat. The 113th Congress did pass a budget agreement before its holiday recess, but less than 60 bills have been signed into law during its first year. And with a continued political stalemate likely in

2014, when mid-term elections will take place, the current Congress is poised to become one of the least productive in at least the past four decades, CNN noted. A total of 68 percent of those questioned said the current Congress was the worst in their lifetime, with only 28 percent disagreeing. The negative outlook toward Congress “exists among all demographic and political subgroups. Men, women, rich, poor, young, old – all think this year’s Congress has been the worst they can remember,” CNN polling director Keating Holland said. “Older Americans – who have lived through more congresses – hold more negative views of the 113th Congress than younger Americans. Republicans, Democrats and independents also agree that this has been the worst session of Congress in their lifetimes.”

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MANILA, Dec 26 (Mabuhay) – Pope Francis on Wednesday sought God’s blessings for Filipinos, especially victims of super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). In his Urbi et Orbi Message for Christmas 2013, the Pope also referred to Filipinos as the “beloved people of the Philippines.” “Lord of heaven and earth, look upon our planet, frequently exploited by human greed and rapacity. Help and protect all the victims of natural disasters, especially the beloved people of the Philippines, gravely affected by the recent typhoon,” he said. Yolanda had devastated Visayas and Southern Luzon last Nov. 8, leaving more than 6,100 dead. Also, the Pope asked everyone to “give glory to God, for he is good, he is faithful, he is merciful.” He voiced his hopes that everyone will “come to know the true face of God, the Father who has given us Jesus,” and that “everyone will feel God’s closeness, live in his presence, love him and adore him.” True peace Meanwhile, Pope Francis called for true peace, which he said is not a lovely “façade” that conceals

conflicts and divisions. “Peace calls for daily commitment, starting from God’s gift, from the grace which he has given us in Jesus Christ,” he said. He lamented too many lives have been shattered in recent times by the conflict in Syria, and asked the faithful to ask God to “spare the beloved Syrian people further suffering, and to enable the parties in conflict to put an end to all violence and guarantee access to humanitarian aid.” “Let us never lose the courage of prayer! The courage to say: Lord, grant your peace to Syria and to the whole world,” he said. The Pope likewise sought peace for the Central African Republic, which he said is “often forgotten and overlooked.” He sought peace as well in Nigeria, which he said is “rent by constant attacks which do not spare the innocent and defenseless.” The Pope likewise sought blessings for a favorable outcome to the peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians.

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Christmas in mud as rain pelts Tacloban BY CECIL MORELLA

TACLOBAN, December 25, 2013 (AFP) – Survivors of the Philippines’ deadliest typhoon spent a gloomy Christmas Day surrounded by mud Wednesday as heavy rain drove many inside their flimsy shelters, dampening efforts at holiday cheer in the deeply devout nation. Groups of children in plastic raincoats braved the incessant rain in the devastated central city of Tacloban, knocking on doors in trick-or-treat fashion and beseeching pedestrians for candies, coins and other Christmas presents. But housewife Susan Scala sat glumly under a white tarpaulin in one of Tacloban’s many tent cities for those made homeless by Super Typhoon Haiyan. At a time when her family should be celebrating, all she could think of was her missing husband. “Even if it’s not Christmas I don’t stop thinking about him,” the mother of five said of her husband Oscar, a telephone utility worker believed lost at sea when giant waves whipped up by the November 8 storm swept away homes in the city’s San Jose slum. Like many of the city’s survivors, the miserable weather made Scala nervous. “This incessant rain is scary. It reminds me of what happened (during the typhoon),” the 53-year-old said. Haiyan left more than 6,100 people dead and nearly 2,000 others missing, many of them from Tacloban and nearby towns, in the storm-prone country’s deadliest typhoon disaster. About 4.4 million others were left homeless across the central islands and now live in tents provided by aid agencies or rough shacks fashioned by survivors from the wreckage of destroyed homes and fallen trees. At the city’s ruined Sagkahan fish port, 67-year-old widow Emiliana Aranza pulled sweets and shortbread from jars at her makeshift store outside her shanty to give to the children who knocked on her counter. “It’s a sad Christmas Day. We have lost our home and the government will not allow us to rebuild here as it’s too close to the shore,” she told AFP. But she said sharing what was left of her possessions had an uplifting effect. “There are still a lot of reasons that we should be thankful to God,” Aranza said,

including the fact that her two adult children and their 13 sons and daughters, who now have to live together in the cramped shanty, survived the disaster. “Because of the typhoon, members of my family are now tightly knit. Gone are the petty quarrels,” she added. Scala said her family ate a traditional midnight meal on Christmas Eve in keeping with tradition in the largely Catholic nation. But they had to make do with tinned sardines and steamed rice, part of the weekly aid rations from the government and humanitarian agencies. For breakfast on Christmas Day, she said her family ate the previous night’s leftovers and would have to make do with instant noodles for lunch. She has no idea where she will get the money to build a new house or whether she will be able to send her two school-age children back to school. The Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto, acting as a representative for Pope Francis, celebrated Christmas mass in Tacloban and urged the faithful not to lose hope. “Do not despair, do not be overcome by adversity... I now reassure you once again: the church will never forget you. We will never forget you,” he told worshippers. The Save the Children charity had planned to host an event with sports and art activities to cheer up about 300 children on Christmas in the storm-ravaged city of Ormoc, said program manager Reggie Aquino. But local officials in the city 45 kilometers (28 miles) from Tacloban cancelled the event due to the rain. Instead, the charity held the event in a tent for children in the nearby town of Kananga where there was just heavy drizzle. In central Tacloban, Maria Meneses, 31, dived into a pile of garbage outside a department store, along with half a dozen or so other residents left impoverished by Haiyan. “This is for my daughter,” she said, showing a salvaged pack of two tiny candy-colored cake candles that she had spirited into her pink handbag. “I was waiting for the store to open to buy batteries for my daughter’s walkietalkie toy and told myself, ‘Why not, some of those items thrown in among the trash are still in good condition’.”

69% satisfied with Aquino performance in 4th quarter – SWS MANILA, Dec 26 (Mabuhay) – Nearly seven out of 10 Filipinos or 69 percent were satisfied with President Benigno Aquino III’s performance in the fourth quarter of 2013, according to a new survey by pollster Social Weather Stations. According to the results of the poll, which was posted early Thursday on the Business World’s website, Aquino’s satisfaction score means he was rated as “good”, subtracting the 21 percent who were dissatisfied from the 69 percent satisfied. SWS considers net satisfaction scores of +70 and above as “excellent”; +50 to +69 as “very good”; +30 to +49 as “good”; +10 to +29 as “moderate”, +9 to -9 as “neutral”; -10 to -29 as “poor”; -30 to -49 as “bad”; -50 to -69 as “very bad”; and -70 and below as “execrable.” The SWS noted that Aquino’s overall score for 2013 amounted to a “very good” of +55, a slight improvement from the +53, also considered “very good,” in 2011

and 2012. Aquino’s record high +62 rating, also considered “very good,” was achieved in his first year in office. The SWS pointed out that Aquino’s scores were much the same as three months earlier, when in September, 68 percent were satisfied while 19 percent were not. The fourth-quarter scores also proved his critics wrong, as they had predicted his ratings would nosedive due to the government’s supposedly slow response to super typhoon Yolanda. The poll was conducted from Dec. 11 to 16, using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 Filipinos nationwide. Sampling error margins of ±3% for national and ±6% for area percentages applied to the survey. Regions The SWS survey showed satisfaction with Aquino fell sharply in Metro Manila, but improved in Mindanao, Balance Luzon and the Visayas.

People in Tacloban City swarm the public market area on a sunny Thursday (December 26, 2013) after their Christmas celebration, including kids’ caroling activities and visit to godparents and relatives, was spoiled by continuous rains on Christmas Day. (MNS photo)

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FOOD & DINING FAMILY FEATURES

his holiday season, Vons is making it easier to find the value and assortment you need â&#x20AC;&#x201D; whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a bake-it-from-scratch baker or love decorating ready-tobake treats. Because we all know the holidays are always full of gatherings, entertaining, and lots and lots of baking. Executive chef Jeff Anderson of Safeway shares tips to help keep you prepared for all the holiday festivities, even with a full calendar of events. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve all been there â&#x20AC;&#x201D; youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re halfway through a recipe when you suddenly realize youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve run out of a key ingredient,â&#x20AC;? said Chef Anderson. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The best advice I can give is to always keep Executive Chef Jeff a well-stocked pantry. That and a few simple yet impressive Anderson of Safeway recipes will have you ready to wow family and guests all season long.â&#x20AC;? Chef Anderson recommends his Amazingly Good Eggnog and Easy Apple Brown Sugar Tart because they are easy to make and use simple ingredients. With treats like these thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no need to spend time preparing complicated dishes this holiday season. Your local Vons offers great value and everything you need to make entertaining easy for the holidays. And that means more time to enjoy with family and friends. For more holiday baking ideas, visit www.vons.com.

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Amazingly Good Eggnog Created by executive chef Jeff Anderson of Safeway

Ready in: 28 Minutes Servings: 12 4 cups milk 5 cloves, whole 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon cinnamon 12 egg yolks 1 1/2 cups sugar 2 1/2 cups light rum 4 cups cream 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Easy Apple Brown Sugar Tart

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Combine milk, cloves, vanilla extract and cinnamon in saucepan. Heat over low flame for 5 minutes, slowly bringing mixture to a boil. In large bowl, combine egg yolks and sugar. Whisk until fluffy. Whisk hot milk mixture slowly into egg yolks and pour into saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly for 3 minutes or until thick. Do not allow mixture to boil. Strain to remove cloves. Let cool for about an hour. Stir in rum, cream, vanilla extract and nutmeg. Refrigerate overnight before serving.

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Created by executive chef Jeff Anderson of Safeway Ready in: 1 hour 15 minutes

Servings: 8 3 large apples, Gala or Pink Lady 1/3 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed 2 tablespoons orange juice 1 tablespoon instant tapioca 3 tablespoons orange marmalade For tart shell 1/2 cup slivered almonds 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 cup light brown sugar 1/2 cup sweet cream butter 1 large egg To serve Vanilla ice cream (optional) In cake or pie pan, toast slivered almonds in 350Â°F oven until golden, shaking often (about 10 minutes). In food processor or bowl, combine almonds, all-purpose flour, and 1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar. Add butter, cut into pieces. Whirl or rub with your fingers until fine crumbs form. Continued on next page

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Top 10 Holiday Must-Haves The secret to a stress-free holiday is a well-stocked pantry. Having these ten simple ingredients on hand will help add variety to your favorite holiday dishes and keep you ready to bake just about anything. 1. Lucerne Cream Cheese for easy-to-make frosting for cakes and cupcakes. 2. Agave syrup to use in recipes as a sweetener alternative. 3. Heavy cream for baking or making homemade whipped cream to complement desserts. 4. Open Nature Greek Yogurt to use to create healthy dessert parfaits. 5. Sweet (unsalted) butter for just about every holiday recipe. 6. Brown sugar for topping cookies and baked goods. 7. Primo Taglio Parmigiano Reggiano for easy-to-make puff pastry cheese straws, a delicious party snack. 8. Sour cream makes a great frosting or addition to cakes for extra richness. 9. Fruit jams for making thumbprint cookies like apricot, orange marmalade, raspberry or blackberry. 10. Cinnamon sticks to use as garnish or add a dash of seasonal flavor to holiday beverages.

Add 1 egg yolk, whirl or mix with fork until dough sticks together. Pat into ball. In a 9- or 10-inch fluted tart pan with removable rim, press dough over bottom and up sides, flush with rim. To assemble tart: Rinse apples and peel (or leave skin on as desired). Core apples and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices. In bowl, gently mix apple slices with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, orange juice, and tapioca.

Let rest 10 minutes to soften tapioca, then overlap slices neatly in unbaked tart shell. In glass-measuring cup, combine remaining brown sugar and marmalade. Heat in microwave at full power in 30-second intervals, stirring each time, until marmalade is melted. Evenly spread over apple slices. Bake in 350Â°F oven until crust is well browned and apples are tender when pierced, about 45 minutes.

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riboflavin, folic acid), Water, acid, thiamine mononitrate, (yeast, starch, flour, niacin, iron, ascorbic Cellulose Gum, Yeast (wheat flour, malted barley A, palmitate, vitamin D3), extract, wheat, salt, caramel Ingredients: Dough: Flour (nonfat dry milk, vitamin Sauce (water, soybean citric acid), Milk Powder Salt. Filling: Chicken, Soy Sugar, Lard (BHT and ascorbic acid), White Vinegar, Monosodium Glutamate, Black Pepper, Salt. monostearate, may contain Cornstarch, Garlic, Cellulose Gum, color), Onion, Vinegar,

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Heating instruct ions: Do high for :30 seconds or not thaw. Microwave on until heated through. Net Wt. 16 oz (453 g) FULLY COOK Ingredients Dough : KEEP FROZ ED : Flour (wheat Lard (BHT and flour, malted citric acid), EN barley flour, acid), White Milk Powder niacin,

Vinegar, Cellulose (nonfat dry iron, ascorbic milk, vitamin natural flavor), acid, thiamine A, palmitate, mononitrate Pepperoni (pork Gum, Salt. Filling: Tomato vitamin D3), , riboflavin, sodium nitrite, Sauce and beef, salt, Yeast (yeast, folic acid), Water, BHA, spices, dextrose, (tomato puree (water, vitamin A palmitate), BHT, citric acid), Mozzarella Sugar, tomato paste), starch, monostearate, lactic may potato starch, water, salt, Cheese (mozzarella acid starter culture, Water, Cellulose citric acid, spice, contain ascorbic cellulose powder, oleoresin of Gum. paprika, flavorings, tomato fiber, calcium sulfate, cheese (pasteurized skim sodium ascorbate, milk, cheese natamycin), Tomato Paste culture, salt, enzymes, artificial (tomatoes, salt, spices, natural color, flavors, citric acid),

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Sharon, Kiko proud of KC in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Boy Goldenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Sharon Cuneta praised her daughter, actress KC Concepcion, for giving a â&#x20AC;&#x153;superbâ&#x20AC;? performance in the action movie â&#x20AC;&#x153;Boy Golden.â&#x20AC;? In an interview after the premiere of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry, Cuneta said she canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help but be a proud mother because Concepcionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s acting in the Chito RoĂąo-dircted movie was more than what she expected.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m proud of her. Siyempre naninibago ako, baby ko iyan eh. Pero sabi ko deep breathing lang. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a beautiful movie. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great movie,â&#x20AC;? Cuneta said, adding that she is not used to seeing her daughter doing fight scenes. According to the veteran actress, Concepcion enjoyed shooting the action scenes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She used to train five hours a day daw. Sabi ko nga she did my dream eh, kasi I love action. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m proud. I survived it with some deep breathing. I loved the movie, really nicely made,â&#x20AC;? she said. Meanwhile, Cunetaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s husband, former Senator Francis â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kikoâ&#x20AC;? Pangilinan, said he became a little emotional when he saw Concepcion on the big screen all grown up.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;May mga scenes na naaalala mo nung nine years old pa siya, you have to remind yourself na 20 years ago pa iyan. Everyone should watch. Magandang pelikula,â&#x20AC;? he said. Like Cuneta, Pangilinan said he is also very proud of Concepcion. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Congratulations to her. Talagang magaling ang pelikula, magaling ang pag-arte. Kung makikita mo, action tapos drama tapos may comedy pa. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very entertaining. Maganda ang pagkagawa. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very happy and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very proud of KC,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Boy Goldenâ&#x20AC;? will be released in theaters beginning December 25 along with the other MMFF entries. (MNS)

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Parokya ni Edgar frontman Chito Miranda never hid his intention of marrying girlfriend Neri Naig. But on Christmas Day, Miranda surprised his Instagram followers when he posted a photo of the two of them with the caption â&#x20AC;&#x153;Merry Christmas from Mr. & Mrs. Miranda.â&#x20AC;? The same message was also posted on his official Twitter account. It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t clear when the wedding happened as Miranda did not provide any details. Their supporters, nonetheless, were thrilled with the news. Earlier Wednesday, Miranda said they

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Ara Mina in deep shock over grandfather’s death

Ara Mina

Actress Ara Mina was in deep shock after learning about the passing of her grandfather, former Quezon City Mayor Ismael “Mel” Mathay Jr., on Christmas Day. Sought for a statement after the news broke, Mina said: “I’m just in deep shock right now, can’t find the right words to express how I really feel sa nangyari. Last night, I was just having so much fun with my Reyes family, then this morning I received this bad news.” “Christmas is supposed to be celebrated with loved ones, and I can’t do it now with my Mathay family as my Lolo just passed away,” she added. Saying their family will definitely miss

Mathay, the actress said: “I can’t believe that every Christmas, this will be remembered. Such a sad Christmas memory.” She also posted a picture of them on Instagram. The photo had the caption: “Today, heaven has gained another angel. I will treasure the memories I have of you. You were one in a million, a great leader and most importantly the greatest loving and caring grandfather to all of us. Thank you for all the love. We love you lolo! We will truly miss you.” Mathay died after he suffered a heart attack, according to his brother, Simpli-

cio Mathay. He was rushed to Medical City but was declared dead on arrival at around 9 a.m. Mathay’s son, Chuck, said his father complained of feeling cold Wednesday morning before passing out. The wake for Mathay will be held at the Christ the King Parish in Greenmeadows Avenue, Quezon City. Mathay served as Quezon City mayor from 1992 to 2001. He also previously served as vice-governor of the Metro Manila Commission, the body that implements the vision of then First Lady Imelda Marcos. (MNS)

Marian Rivera graces cover of FHM Thailand After gracing the cover of FHM Philippines, Marian Rivera is on a roll as she now appears on the cover of the men’s magazine in Thailand. In a post in her official Instagram account on Wednesday, Rivera seemed surprised when she learned that she is the cover girl of FHM Thailand’s January 2014 issue. “Whooaaw! I’m at the cover of Thailand’s FHM January 2014 issue. I am so honored,” she said. The cover photo was the same one used in the January 2013 issue of FHM Philippines, which was taken by ace lensman Mark Nicdao, with the actress wearing a red and black bikini top, and her long brown hair swept to one side. Rivera, who rose to fame for her role as Marimar in the remake of the hit Mexican soap of the same title, was named as FHM magazine’s “Sexiest Woman in the Philippines” for 2013. In a past interview with the magazine, the actress said, “Siguro it’s time na rin

na may bago akong i-offer sa mga nagmamahal sa akin na matagal na nilang hinihiling.” “A lot of readers have been wondering why I still wasn’t doing the cover, so now ibibigay ko na sa kanila,” she added.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

Flu vaccine more effective for women than men: study WASHINGTON, December 23, 2013 (AFP) – The flu vaccine is generally less effective for men than for women, scientists said in a study Monday, tracing the effect to higher levels of testosterone that curb the immune response. It has long been known that men are more vulnerable than women to bacterial, viral and parasitic infections, but scientists have never been able to clearly explain why. It was also known that men don’t respond as strongly as women to vaccines against yellow fever, measles and hepatitis, said the authors of the study, which appears in this week’s Proceedings of the American Academy of Sciences. The new research, using samples from 34 men and 53 women, suggested that the cause could be traced to testosterone: only men with higher levels of the sex hormone demonstrated the lower antibody response to the flu vaccine. Among men with lower levels of testosterone, the immune response was “more or less equivalent to that of women,” said a statement from Stanford University, whose researchers collaborated with others at the French governmental research organization INSERM for the study. Previous studies on animals and in cell-culture experiments had previously

suggested a link between testosterone and immune response, which creates inflammation as it battles the invasion of a pathogen. This latest study doesn’t indicate a direct link between testosterone and the lowered immune response. Instead, the immune system’s reaction was reduced by the activation of a group of genes that are also linked to a higher level of testosterone, explained Mark Davis, immunology professor at Stanford University. The researchers also considered an apparent evolutionary paradox – wondering how natural selection could favor a hormone responsible both for characteristics such as strength and a taste for taking risks, and for weakening the immune system. They speculated that in prehistoric times, men’s roles as hunters and warriors tended to expose them to more wounds and resulting infections. A decent immune response to these infections is an evolutionary advantage, but an overly abundant one – which can occur in certain diseases including some virulent forms of the flu – could prove more dangerous than the pathogen itself, they said. Thus, perhaps men with less aggressive immune responses tended to be better able to survive, the researchers said.

How sticking needles in your ear could help with weight loss. What? (Relaxnews) – A small study out of Korea has found that ear acupuncture could be used to help people shed belly fat. In the same way that pressure points in the feet are supposed to be linked to certain organs in the body, a new study claims that the stimulation of five acupuncture points in the ear could help patients with weight loss, particularly in battling the midriff bulge. Published online in Acupuncture in Medicine, scientists out of Kyung Hee University in Seoul divided participants into three groups: 31 people were given acupuncture treatments to the outer ear in five different points. The needles were inserted 2 mm deep into the flesh and held in place with surgical tape for a week. The same treatment was switched to the other ear, and the process repeated over eight weeks. In the second group of 30 participants, a needle was applied at one single hunger point. The third group was given a “sham”

treatment which involved removing the needles immediately after insertion. Throughout the experiment, it should be noted that participants were asked to follow a reduced calorie diet and to refrain from exercise. In total, 24 people dropped out before the eight-week term was up, 15 of whom were in the control group. But among those who remained, researchers say the first group lost six percent of their body mass index at the midway point, while the group that received the single-point acupuncture treatment lost 5.7 percent. Scientists say that the largest drop in waist circumference was observed in the group that received the five-point acupuncture treatment. A study published this summer out of the University of Maryland also found that when used to complement in-vitro fertilization treatments, acupuncture could help improve success rates.

Ear acupuncture could help with weight loss, suggests a new study.©Tyler Olson/Shutterstock. com

The flu vaccine is generally less effective for men than for women, scientists said in a study Monday, tracing the effect to higher levels of testosterone that curb the immune r e s p o n s e . © F. C . G . / Shutterstock.com

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No need to avoid peanuts while pregnant: US study

Doctors used to recommend that women steer clear of peanuts while pregnant and nursing, out of concern they might lead to allergies in children.©Pack-Shot/shutterstock.com

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WASHINGTON, December 23, 2013 (AFP) – Women who eat peanuts while pregnant are less likely to have children with peanut allergies than women who avoid them, said a US study out Monday. The findings in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Pediatrics were based on a study of more than 8,200 US children. Among those, researchers found 140 cases of children who were allergic to nuts. When they looked into the mothers’ diets during and soon after pregnancy, as reported in the Nurses Health Survey II, they found that women who ate five or more servings per week of peanuts or tree nuts, such as cashews, almonds and walnuts, were far less likely to have children who were allergic than women who avoided nuts. “Our study showed increased peanut consumption by pregnant mothers who weren’t nut allergic was associated with lower risk of peanut allergy in their offspring,” said senior author Michael Young of the Boston Children’s Hospital Division of Allergy and Immunology. “Assuming she isn’t allergic to peanuts, there’s no reason for a woman to avoid peanuts during pregnancy.” Doctors used to recommend that women steer clear of peanuts while pregnant and

nursing, out of concern they might lead to allergies in children. The United States recently saw a tripling of peanut allergies in children, going from 0.4 percent of young people in 1997 to 1.4 percent in 2010, according to background data in the JAMA article. Allergies arise when the body treats nuts as a harmful invader. Symptoms can be severe and even fatal, causing hives, rashes, swelling, difficulty breathing and a swift drop in blood pressure. But recommendations changed in 2008, when the American Academy of Pediatrics decided there was not enough evidence to continue urging women to avoid nuts in pregnancy. Subsequent studies, like the latest one in JAMA, have shown that exposure is more likely to be helpful than harmful, though some confusion remains among the general public on the issue. “Our study supports the hypothesis that early allergen exposure increases the likelihood of tolerance and thereby lowers the risk of childhood food allergy,” said the JAMA article. Young noted that researchers cannot say that eating more peanuts in pregnancy will prevent peanut allergy in children. “But we can say that peanut consumption during pregnancy doesn’t cause peanut allergy in children,” he said.

Kale is 2013, sea beans are 2014 (Relaxnews) – Kale and pork belly are so 2013. If you want to sound fantastically food-forward for 2014, here’s a list of foods and words you should know. Because according to a trendspotting report from San Francisco-based Andrew Freeman & Co., the foods anticipated to get buzz next year include pizzaritos (pizza slices rolled up like burrito), marine vegetables like sea beans and fried rabbit. Here’s a list of the foods that defined 2013, and the foods that the Freeman report says will “break down barriers in 2014.” 2013 Donuts Gluten-free Cronut and ramen burger Kale Fried quail Beertails (cocktails topped with beer) Pretzel buns Pork belly Weeds (sorrels and purslane) 2014 Ice cream sandwiches Sugar-free Pizzaritos Sea beans Fried rabbit Teatails Biscuit Ice cream sandwiches are predicted to trend in Tongue 2014. ©ocophoto/shutterstock.com Edible trees and firs

Are cranberries the fountain of youth? (Relaxnews) – A new study finds that cranberries have antioxidant properties that may prolong your life. In new research to be published in the February 2014 issue of Experimental Gerontology, scientists have found that eating cranberries can extend your life significantly. The caveat: the study was conducted on fruit flies, not humans. A team from National A new study suggests that the antioxidant power of cranberries Institute on Aging in Baltimore fed the flies m a y e x t e n d l i f e . © C o g i p i x / sugar supplemented by two percent cranberry shutterstock.com extract during three biological stages of their lives, which correspond in humans with young adulthood, middle age, and old age, the Wall Street Journal reports. Findings showed that younger flies fed cranberry extract lived 25 percent longer than the flies in the control group, who were fed only sugar. Flies who consumed cranberry extract in middle and old age boosted their lifespan by 30 percent. Deeper analysis found that eating cranberries, which are rich in phytochemicals, reduced cellular damage caused by environmental stress.

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COMMUNITY HealthCare.gov: Meeting the mark By Julie Bataille Director of Communications, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

December 27, 2013 – December 24 and the days leading up to it were critically important for enrollment in Marketplace coverage. There’s no question that, over this past weekend, Monday, and Tuesday, HealthCare. gov met the mark and did exactly what it was supposed to do – helping Americans from across the country find secure, quality health insurance coverage at an affordable price. Over this four-day period, response time averages held steady at about a half second and page error rates were low at less than half a percent. Monday, December 23, was our peak day. On Monday, the site was supporting 83,000 concurrent users while our queuing system was up, and it performed as designed. For those queued, wait times were generally

less than five to ten minutes and users were given the option of receiving an email telling them when they could come back and get right in. There were 129,000 people who took advantage of this opportunity and were invited back the same day to finish their applications. On Christmas Eve, the site had a total of 880,000 visits, with no queuing. The call center also received a high volume of calls on Monday and Tuesday, with 317,000 calls received on Christmas Eve alone. We’re going to do everything we can to ensure a smooth transition period for consumers whose coverage begins on January 1. And we’re going to continue to work to ensure every American who still wants to enroll in Marketplace coverage by the end of the open enrollment period is able to do so. If consumers have any questions regard-

ing their coverage, they should call the insurer of their choice to, among other things, confirm enrollment or arrange payment of premiums, or the Marketplace call center at 1-800-318-2596. They can log in to their account to find out their insurer’s customer service line orbrowse through a directory on HealthCare.gov. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services also has developed a number of

consumer tips and fact sheets (under “Fact Sheets”) to help consumers understand their new coverage, such as what consumers should know about going to their doctor or getting emergency care. We’ve seen the important progress made on HealthCare.gov, and we are going to keep working to make sure the consumer experience continues to improve throughout the open enrollment period.

City of Carson facilities to operate on holiday schedule City of Carson facilities will be operating on varied holiday schedule. Listed below are the dates/times which City facilities will be open/ closed: City Hall and City Corporate Yard: December 31, 2013 OPEN 7 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. January 1, 2014 CLOSED Congresswoman Juanita MillenderMcDonald Community Center: December 31, 2013 7 a.m. – 12 midnight January 1, 2014 CLOSED Veterans SportsComplex: December 24 and 31, 2013 6:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

January 1, 2014 CLOSED All City Parks: December 31, 2013 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. January 1, 2013 CLOSED Available online at http://ci.carson. ca.us/content/department/pressrelease. asp mrevilla@carson.ca.us Normal business hours will resume at 7 a.m. on January 2, 2013. Street sweeping services will not be available on both Wednesdays, December 25 and January 1. Trash pick-up will take place the day after December 25 and January 1for residents that have Wednesday trash service.

Marine Corps Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl comes to Carson for a second time January 5 The 2014 Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl comes to Carson for a second year in a row on January 5, 5:00 p.m. at the StubHub Center located at 18400 Avalon Blvd. in Carson. This nationally televised bowl features the nation’s best and brightest high school football players. The Semper Fidelis AllAmerican Bowl demonstrates the Marine Corps’ commitment to developing quality citizens and reinforces its core values of honor, courage, and commitment. The Semper Fidelis Football Program includes a series of youth football camps, an AllAmerican Selection tour, and the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl to collectively celebrate academic excellence, proven physical fitness, and quality of character

in the next generation of our nation’s leaders. The Marine Corps’ involvement in the Semper Fidelis Football Program provides opportunities to purposefully engage with today’s youth and help develop the nation’s future leaders. The Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl is unique because it brings together 90 student athletes from across the country. The student athletes chosen to participate in this game is not only the top-rated high school football players but also chosen based on their character, academic performance and demonstrated leadership. For more information about the 2014 Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl, visit www.SemperFidelisFootball.com or www. facebook.com/SemperFidelisFootball.

PHL warns Fil-Ams of ‘Yolanda’ scammers Los Angeles, 20 December 2013 – The Philippine Consulate General wishes to remind the members of the Filipino, Filipino-American and International Community to be wary of any scammers who might be taking advantage of the Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda tragedy, particularly those

presenting themselves as part of various charitable institutions. Before making any donation, please verify and do research to ensure that your donation will go to the charitable institutions they claim to represent. Please be guided accordingly.

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UK financial firm donates over P8-M to Sagip Kapamilya LONDON - Investment company C&C Alpha Group has donated $200,000 (approximately P8,888,098) to ABS-CBN Foundation;s Sagip Kapamilya as part of the continuing aid efforts for the Philippines in the aftermath of typhoon Haiyan (local name: Yolanda). It was the largest cash donation by a single entity from the UK based on a list of aid contributions coordinated by the Philippine Embassy in London since relief efforts began a month ago. A simple ceremony at the Philippine Cultural Centre in London last December 19 officially marked the company’s contribution. Consul General Senen Mangalile from the Philippine Embassy welcomed representatives from C&C Alpha, including CEO Cherian Thomas and Executive Director Bhanu Choudhrie.

“We’re overwhelmed by the enormity of the response, and the warmth and generosity of the British people, the UK government, and the international community in the UK. They all came up and proved that we do not stand alone in this catastrophe,” said Mangalile. “C&C wants to be involved in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the most affected areas, and that for us is the most important phase of the response to typhoon Haiyan.” The company, which has investments in the Philippines, specifically wants their contribution to go towards rebuilding affected communities through infrastructure and long-term projects. “We believe very strongly in the Philippines, and the people of the Philippines, especially the community that live here

in the UK. And this disaster has affected them, and we feel that this is a support that we would proudly like to give to the people of the Philippines,” said Choudhrie, whose family founded the firm. “We have business interests in the Philippines and we believe that the market, the Philippine economy, is a very important economy for us and also for the Asian market. And this donation is something we have put together internally to help.” London-based Filipino Lourielee Garcia, who is Executive Vice President at C&C Alpha, feels emotional and “grateful” about her company’s decision to help her native country. “I did not even ask for it,” she revealed. “It was very instinctive for them, the family [who own the firm], and for my company to make this donation. I believe this is consistent with what they have been standing for with all of their investments: that they want to give back to the communities where we have investments.” ABS-CBN Foundation’s Sagip Kapamilya was chosen as the recipient for its credibility to deliver such initiatives. The foundation is expected to provide the UK

firm with monthly reports on the progress of their efforts. “On behalf of our Global COO Raffy Lopez, Managing Director Edgardo Garcia and ABS-CBN Foundation, I’d like to thank C&C Alpha for trusting the program Sagip Kapamilya in funding the charity initiatives in helping calamity victims,” said Luis Bariuan of ABS-CBN Europe, official distributor of The Filipino Channel (TFC) in the region. “With great trust comes great responsibility and we have all the confidence in ABS-CBN Foundation in managing all donations to make sure they work for the purpose intended.” C&C Alpha Group is an international financial firm based in London with investments around the world from India to the Philippines. Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines in November, affecting approximately 11 million people. It was the world’s strongest typhoon to ever hit land. The vast devastation it caused triggered a global aid effort which is still ongoing. (Patrick Camara Ropeta, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau)

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NEW YORK, December 27, 2013 (AFP) – A US judge ruled Friday that the National Security Agency’s mass surveillance of telephone calls is lawful, igniting a legal conflict that the Supreme Court may ultimately have to resolve. Federal judge William Pauley in New York threw out a petition from the American Civil Liberties Union and said the program was a vital tool to help prevent an Al-Qaeda and othr terror attack on American soil. Ten days earlier, however, a federal judge in Washington declared that this “almost Orwellian” surveillance is probably unconstitutional, laying the groundwork for a protracted legal fight. “The question for this court is whether the government’s bulk telephony metadata program is lawful. This court finds it is,” said the 54-page ruling published in New York on Friday. Edward Snowden, a former NSA contractor, sent shockwaves around the world this year by revealing the extent of Washington’s electronic eavesdropping on millions of private calls. The Justice Department welcomed the ruling but the American Civil Liberties Union said it would appeal. Pauley said the program, since it is protected by judicial, executive and congressional oversight, does not violate the US Constitution’s ban on unreasonable searches and seizures. “There is no evidence that the government has used any of the bulk telephony metadata it collected for any purpose other than investigating and disrupting terrorist attacks,” he wrote. The judge sided with US spy chiefs who say that by connecting the dots between archived calls and terrorist suspects, US officials can keep the country safe. The NSA hovers up information about virtually every telephone call to, from and within the United States, and says it is the only way to discern patterns left behind by foreign terror groups. The judge quoted the 2004 report by the 9/11 Commission – the panel which investigated the 2001 Al-Qaeda attack on the United States – as saying it was a false choice between liberty and security, as

“nothing is more apt to imperil civil liberties than the success of a terrorist attack on American soil.” “As the September 11th attacks demonstrate, the cost of missing such a thread can be horrific,” he wrote. “The bulk telephony metadata collection program represents the government’s counter-punch: connecting fragmented and fleeting communications to reconstruct and eliminate Al-Qaeda’s terror network.” The judge quoted examples in which NSA phone monitoring in 2009 exposed an Al-Qaeda plot to bomb the New York subway, and cite a plot by convicted Pakistani-American terrorist David Headley to bomb a Danish newspaper office. “Unintentional violations of guidelines,” Pauley said, appeared to have stemmed from “human error” and “incredibly complex computer programs” and had been rectified where discovered. The victorious Justice Department said it was “pleased” with the verdict but ACLU deputy legal director Jameel Jaffer said the organization was “extremely disappointed”. “Bulk collection of telephony data constitutes a serious invasion of Americans’ privacy. We intend to appeal and look forward to making our case in the second circuit,” he said. Stephen Vladeck, professor of law at the American University Washington College of Law, said much would hinge on the outcome of appeals to both rulings by Pauley and Judge Richard Leon. “Certainly, today’s decision helps the government, but the appeals courts aren’t bound in any way by what the trial courts have ruled,” he told AFP in an email. “It’s possible that one, or both, will agree instead with Judge Leon, at which point the government would surely seek review in the US Supreme Court, which would then have the last word.” Last week, a White House-picked panel recommended that President Barack Obama should curb the NSA’s secretive powers. It submitted a 300-page report with 46 recommendations on how to install safeguards and limit the scope of the NSA program.

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Help offered for people who miss Obamacare deadline WASHINGTON, December 24, 2013 (AFP) – The US government Tuesday offered help for people who were unable to sign up for health insurance through the federal website by the deadline as part of the president’s controversial health care reform legislation. The deadline for enrolling in policies that start on January 1 had already been repeatedly delayed and was last fixed at midnight on Tuesday, after problems with the web site hindered the process.

But now, Health and Human Services, which administers the program, said if anyone failed to finish their enrollment by that time, they could still get a policy for the new year. “Sometimes despite your best efforts, you might have run into delays caused by heavy traffic to HealthCare.gov, maintenance periods, or other issues,” read a message on the site. If you couldn’t get enrolled in time, it said, “don’t worry - we still may be able to

GOP Los Angeles County: Criticism, confusion reign as California suffers Obamacare impacts

help you get covered as soon as January 1.” It provided customer service numbers and told consumers to “tell our customer service representative that you’ve been trying to enroll and explain why you couldn’t finish by the deadline. “They can tell you what you can do to finish your enrollment and still get covered for 2014.” The Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama’s top domestic achievement to date, is designed to offer insurance to millions of Americans who have never been able to secure it before – some because of pre-existing health conditions like heart disease that insurers were unwilling

to cover. Failure to sign up for adequate coverage by March 31 could result in a fine under the new law. Obama told reporters on Friday at a year-end press conference that more than a million American had chosen new insurance plans using the new health care system. But the litany of problems with the government website, healthcare.gov, has played into the hands of Republicans, who say the federal government has no business intervening in the private health care market and should not be dictating health choices to Americans.

Chair: ‘Disastrous website, failed rollout only symptoms of larger disaster on the horizon’ BURBANK, December 20, 2013 – As continuing and ever-increasing problems plague seemingly all aspects of Obamacare, the negative effects in California threaten to have a massive political impact in the state as well. “For years, Republicans warned that the Affordable Care Act would be bad public policy and actually hurt the people it purported to try and help. If anything, we underestimated the damage, and every day brings a new dimension of how disastrous Obamacare is,” said Mark Vafiades, Chairman of the Republican Party of Los Angeles County (RPLAC). Stretching from President Obama’s obvious untruth uttered numerous times in public – “If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan ... period” – to the disastrous website rollout to the serious online security breaches found on the Obamacare site, the Obama Administration’s handling of the program has been widely criticized, even occasionally in a bipartisan way. “For Californians, Obamacare is more than a failed website and even a broken promise. It is a betrayal of the public trust,” said Vafiades. “And it won’t go unnoticed in elections.” The state’s created health care exchange Covered California has in the past boasted ambitious enrollment numbers, but this week the Los Angeles Times reported that it “sent flawed eligibility notices to nearly 114,000 households due to a computer error. The Covered California exchange said the letters sent from Nov. 22 to Dec. 7 had blank spaces or missing information on people’s eligibility for insurance or federal premium subsidies. A Covered California spokeswoman added ‘The letters would say you are eligible for Covered California, but you are ineligible for blank. It was confusing to people.’ “ The real-world impact is here: More than one million Californians have lost their insurance because of the new law. Others are losing access to their doctors, including technical medical specialists that are essential to patient care. Covered California is instead focused on extending its own outreach efforts, including a rap song to sell young people on the virtues of Obamacare, featuring Obama doppelganger B-Rock O’Beezy. Even ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl was moved to ask White House spokesman Jay Carney, “Is anybody going to buy health care because B-Rock O’Beezy tells them to buy it because it’s hot?” Many observers believe the political impacts are already being felt. Re-

cently 39 Democrats in the House of Representatives voted to essentially end Obamacare, including California Democrats who were previously enthusiastic supporters of the Obama plan. The latest CBS News poll found that looking ahead to the 2014 midterm elections, most Americans say their own member of Congress’ position on health care will have at least some effect on their vote and 35 percent say it will matter a lot. “Obamacare was presented dishonestly, designed incompetently and being partly delayed cynically to try and avoid a political landslide in 2014,” said Vafiades. “It won’t work. Since only Democrats voted to make Obamacare law, I believe only Democrats will be voted out of office for the real pain that this new law is causing millions of Americans.”

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Make 2014 the year you get out of debt and rebuild your credit Are you sick and tired of being in 7-10 years depending on the type of MINDING YOUR debt and having bad credit? Do you bankruptcy you are filing but a lot of want to start over but simply donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know people quickly bounce back from bankFINANCES where to begin? Is filing bankruptcy ruptcy in as little as 2-3 years. I also an option for you or are other options find that most people who are in debt available? As we face the New Year trouble already have bad credit anyway 2014, this is a good time to look at your and filing bankruptcy, if anything, can finances and see how you can leave only help them rebuild their credit in your debt problems behind and have a the long run. Yes, in most cases that I see, bankruptcy can actually improve better year for yourself and your family. credit by allowing the person a chance I find that a lot of people are mostly BY ATTY. RAY BULAON to start over after wiping out debts. concerned about the effects of bankruptWhat most people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand cy on their credit more than anything is that creditors look at several factors else. (For this reason, my office now has a credit improvement program that can help you rebuild when evaluating a credit application and that whether or your credit in as little as 12 months after bankruptcy.) not a bankruptcy shows up on your report is only one of Most are under the mistaken notion that once they file those factors. For example, when buying a home, banks for bankruptcy, their credit is ruined forever and that are not as concerned about it if your bankruptcy is at they will never be able to buy a house or obtain credit least 3 years old and all other credit characteristics are again. Of course, this is simply not true. Let me explain. appropriate (good character, stable employment, amount Yes, bankruptcy is reported on your credit record for of down payment, etc.). And if you are buying a car after

bankruptcy, this is usually not a problem although in the beginning, you will obviously pay a higher interest rate or may even need a co-signor until such time you prove creditworthiness. If you are in debt and your credit has suffered as a result, it may be better for you to just file bankruptcy and start over. Rebuilding your credit after bankruptcy is not as hard as you think and this is often a better strategy than not paying your bills and letting your credit continue to get worse every single month as you are reported to the credit bureaus by your creditors. Make 2014 a better year by doing something about your situation! Call my office at Toll-Free 1-866-4777772. We have offices in Glendale, Cerritos, West Covina, Valencia and Riverside. (None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped over 5,000 clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-866-477-7772).

US stocks rise amid wave of positive sentiment NEW YORK, December 27, 2013 (AFP) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; US stocks edged towards the finale of a banner 2013 in buoyant fashion this week, repeatedly reaching new records on a string of solid economic data. Markets eased on Friday, with all three indices retreating slightly from Thursday records. But that came on the heels of three straight record-setting days earlier in the holiday-shortened week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 257.27 (1.59 percent) higher for the week at 16,478.41. Thursdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s record close marked the 50th record settlement for the year, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices. The S&P 500 also repeatedly broke records, ending the week 23.08 (1.27

percent) higher at 1,841.40. The tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index closed 51.85 (1.26 percent) higher at 4,156.59. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Over all, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re seeing a slow drift higher in stocks this week, as many traders have called it a good year and looking forward to 2014,â&#x20AC;? said David Levy, portfolio manager at Kenjol Capital Management, The stretch between the Christmas and New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s holidays has historically been a winner for investors in a phenomenon known as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Santa Clausâ&#x20AC;? rally. Investopedia said reasons stocks usually rise during this period include â&#x20AC;&#x153;happiness around Wall Streetâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;the fact that the pessimists are usually on vacation this week.â&#x20AC;? This time around, unexpectedly strong

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economic data also propelled markets, with low trading volumes accentuating the trends. Data showed US consumer spending rose in November for the second straight month. There were also better-thanexpected reports on new home sales, durable goods orders and new unemployment claims. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I sense that all the ingredients of a recovery are at hand,â&#x20AC;? said Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at BMO Private Bank, who called the latest batch of numbers â&#x20AC;&#x153;really, really encouraging.â&#x20AC;? The better data come on the heels of last weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision by the US Federal Reserve to begin scaling back its bond-buying program in light of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;growing underlying strength in the broader economy.â&#x20AC;? Stocks have soared throughout 2013, with the S&P 500 gaining more than 29 percent. Ablin said the trajectory in 2014 will depend on corporate earnings. Stocks rose in 2013 even as revenues stagnated, as many companies cut costs to maintain profitability. That will not be enough in 2014, given current valuations, Ablin said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As long as revenues and earnings are rising, we can have stocks rise too,â&#x20AC;? Ablin said. Levy said a key factor could be how quickly interest rates rise. So far, bond yields have edged higher in the wake of last

weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s announcement. But a sudden rise could crimp investor enthusiasm. â&#x20AC;&#x153;While thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still room for stocks to move higher, I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect as strong a year in 2014 as weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen in 2013,â&#x20AC;? Levy said. Levy said the â&#x20AC;&#x153;jury is outâ&#x20AC;? on the economy, even though the trend is positive. For one thing, the 2013 holiday shopping season has been generally disappointing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not seeing strong economic data,â&#x20AC;? Levy said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re seeing stronger economic data than weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve previously seen. The economy continues to muddle along. The consumer still has an uphill fight.â&#x20AC;? Corporate news highlights included Appleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deal with China Mobile to make its iPhones more widely available in the massive Chinese market. The hard-won deal took years to negotiate and could double Appleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s iPhone presence in China. UPS and FexEx were also scrutinized after some consumers did not receive holiday packages by Christmas, despite promises by retailers. However, shares in both companies rose, suggesting investors were cheered by the news of lofty business more than they were troubled by complaints on Twitter that likened the shippers to the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Grinch who stole Christmas.â&#x20AC;? Shares in Target underperformed the S&P 500 as news dribbled out about its massive data breach in the first part of the Christmas holiday season.

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WASHINGTON, December 23, 2013 (AFP) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; US consumer spending continued to gain pace in the key shopping month of November, buoyed by a slight rise in household income, the Department of Commerce reported Monday. Spending was up 0.5 percent in November â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which includes Thanksgiving and the start of the Christmas shopping season â&#x20AC;&#x201C; compared to the prior month. Novemberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s increase was higher than the 0.4 percent recorded in October, and came as household income ticked up by 0.2 percent after a disappointing 0.1 percent fall the previous month. Consumer spending accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity and is a keenly anticipated indicator. Barclays analyst Michael Gapen said the back-to-back October and November consumption data are â&#x20AC;&#x153;two of the strongest monthly readings for personal consump-

tion in over a year and are consistent with our expectation that household spending would strengthenâ&#x20AC;? due to better employment and wealth effects. The better consumption data, along with other recent data, should encourage policy makers, yet weak inflation trends will â&#x20AC;&#x153;provide reason for caution,â&#x20AC;? Gapen said. Economist Joel Naroff said the report suggested retailers had succeeded in luring customers to stores with a barrage of promotions around the annual â&#x20AC;&#x153;Black Fridayâ&#x20AC;? sales the day after Thanksgiving. But Naroff noted that consumers savings took a hit from the higher November spending and predicted customers would start cutting back. Some retailers have complained of a weak December. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All said, though, investors should like this report and it will make those at the Fed who thought that tapering is a good idea exhale a little,â&#x20AC;? Naroff said.

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‘I jumped ship’! and married a US citizen. Can I get a greencard?

There has been thousands of new applicants flooding the USCIS with these new provisional waivers. Obtaining a pre-approved provisional waiver is not easy as the USCIS is requesting substantial evidence proving extreme hardship to a spouse of a U.S. citizen. Hardship can be in the form of physical hardship due to medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer, heart problems, disabilities or other condition, mental hardship caused by depression, anxiety, mental illness or other malady worsened by the possibility of being separated from a loved one, or financial hardship caused by the separation of the alien spouse. These hardships must be documented with medical reports, psychiatric reports, financial evidence or other proof. Once the provisional waiver is approved, the immigrant visa applicant can proceed to the U.S. Embassy abroad and obtain the interview and immigrant visa in just a few days before returning to the U.S. The new program takes much of the risk of refusal of a visa away. The New Year is upon us. Make a New Year’s resolution to obtain legal residence. The pathways are open. Paul Choi will answer all questions regarding immigration and naturalization for FREE. Address questions to pchoi@pchoilaw. com or call 818 714-2226. He is located at 5900 Sepulveda Blvd. Ste. 303, Sherman Oaks, CA 91411. Phil Abramowitz can be reached at pabramowitz@pchoilaw.com or on his cell at 818 324-8110)

Migrants end sewn mouths protest in Italy ROME, December 27, 2013 (AFP) – A dozen migrants who had sewn their mouths shut in an immigrant detention centre outside Rome ended their protest on Friday, officials at the facility and a visiting parliamentary delegation said. The last of the migrants taking part allowed medical personnel to remove the thread he had used to stitch his lips and the migrants also ended a hunger strike. “They have ended all forms of protest in return for an improvement in their conditions,” said Khalid Chaouki, a Moroccan-born Italian lawmaker who visited the center. A group of Moroccan and Tunisian migrants including an imam started their protest 10 days ago against their excessively long stay in prison-like conditions at the Ponte Galeria centre near Rome’s Fiumicino airport. Around 100 far-left campaigners took part in a demonstration in Rome also on Friday for all of the country’s immigrant detention centers to be shut down. They compared the facilities to “concentration camps”. At another protest in favor of migrants’ rights in Naples, activists occupied a Red Cross office. There has been a wave of protests in Italy this month for a reform of conditions in immigrant centres. Prime Minister Enrico Letta has promised to propose reforms by January on overhauling Italy’s tough immigration laws and its dysfunctional asylum system.

Under the law pub(Paul Choi is an imCHOIce lished by the USCIS last migration attorney and IMMIGRATION CORNER year, persons can now professor of law located file their I-601 waivers at 5900 Sepulveda Blvd. in the U.S. before they Ste. 303, Sherman Oaks, travel to their interviews CA 91411. Atty. Choi at the U.S. Consulates will answer all questions abroad. This reduces regarding immigration tremendously the risk of and naturalization for being stranded abroad. free. Address questions to This sort of “pre-screenpchoi@pchoilaw.com or BY ATTY. ing” process ensures that telephone 818 714-2226. PAUL CHOI persons will not travel Atty Choi is pleased to abroad only to have their announce that his adminwaivers denied at the Consulates abroad. istrator is Philip Abramowitz .) This new regulation, permits visa apQuestion: I have read in your columns that you are willing to answer all questions plicants for the very first time to file their regarding immigration and naturalization 601 waivers in the U.S. and have the waiver for free. I entered the U.S. as a crewman to approved before they go abroad. This way, join a cruise ship in Miami five years ago. the visa applicants will know in advance I never joined the ship and I just decided if it is safe to go abroad to secure their imto stay here. I think this is called “jumping migrant visas. Under the new law, visa applicants who ship.” Three years ago, I married a U.S. citizen and we tried to file for adjustment are not eligible to adjust will still have to of status so I could get my work permit and travel to their home countries to secure greencard. I went to a few attorneys who their immigrant visas, but for the first time told me that I was not eligible because I ever, the process will be a whole lot safer entered as a crewman. Is this true? They and surer. If you have not filed for your permanent told me that I had to go back to the Philippines and apply for my immigrant visa in residence because you entered illegally, Manila but that I needed a waiver there are a crewman or otherwise not eligible because I entered as a crewman. They told to adjust and you have a qualifying close me that if the waiver was not granted by the relative you should definitely consider U.S. Embassy in Manila, I would be stuck starting your immigrant visa process now. in the Philippines for ten years. I could not believe it so I never applied. I heard from the news that there is a new law signed by the President where I can get my greencard now. Is this true? Answer: I understand your concerns very well. The law states that certain persons cannot adjust their status in the U.S.-even if they marry a U.S. citizen. Among those persons who are barred from obtaining permanent residence while in the U.S. are persons who entered without visas, persons who were in transit without a visa and entered the U.S. instead of changing planes, crewman, and those who cannot prove they entered the U.S. because they lost all their proof of entry and the USCIS cannot locate their arrival documents. The only previous exception to this rule is if you qualified for the benefits of section 245i of 1st Tennis Circle Tournament at Dale Tennis Court on December 20,2013 with Philippine Department of Tourism – Los Angeles’ Mr. Manny the Immigration Act by having a petition V. Ilagan joining the awarding ceremony. filed for you before April 30, 2001. Those who entered as crewman and the like, are not eligible to adjust status here so these persons must, apply for their immigrant visas at the U.S. Consulate in their home country. The problem has been that persons who have remained in the U.S. for more than six months illegally, trigger the 3 or 10 year bar when they depart the U.S. to obtain their visa in their home country. In order to get around this terrible obstacle the visa applicant needs to apply for a waiver of inadmissibility called a form I-601. To qualify, the applicant must prove that his U.S. citizen of lawful permanent resident spouse of parent would suffer what is called extreme hardship if he were not allowed to return. Prior to last year seeking a 601 waiver at a consulate abroad was a very risky proposition. First the waiver is 100% discretionary with the Immigration Service. What is considered extreme hardship is up to the adjudicating officer and there is no hard and fast rule. Secondly, under the old law, if that waiver was denied while the applicant was at the Embassy, the applicant is barred from returning to the U.S. Because of this immigrant visa “Russian Roulette,” the USCIS changed the law making waivStanding from Left: Gil Tadeo, Rico Taruc, Lito Golosinda (Champion), Buddy Makiling (Champion), Billy Campana, Bing Dalde (1st Runner ers of the 10 year bar less risky. st

1st Tennis Circle Tournament at Dale Tennis Court

Up), Manny Ilagan, Cesar Reamico, Rex Seldura, Rudy Malilim, Mandy Quirimit (1 Runner Up).

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China Olympian’s lover jailed for life for $10-M fraud BEIJING, December 25, 2013 (AFP) – The ex-girlfriend of a Chinese Olympic gymnastics champion has been sentenced to life in jail for defrauding other star athletes and celebrities of nearly $10 million, state-run media said on Wednesday. Wang Ti – whose then boyfriend Xiao Qin won pommel horse gold at the 2008 Beijing Games – cheated “more than two dozen well-known figures in the sports and entertainment industries”, the China Daily reported. Among the victims were gymnasts Yang Wei, who won the 2008 men’s individual all-round title, and his wife Yang Yun, who won a bronze at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. “Many victims trusted Xiao, considering his social influence, so they gave money to his girlfriend,” a lawyer for several victims told the China Daily. Wang pretended to be the daughter of various high-level officials, claiming that enabled her to buy properties and luxury cars at a reduced price, the paper said. Altogether she obtained 58 million yuan ($9.6 million) and HK$2 million ($260,000), it added. Wang plans to appeal her life sentence, which was handed down by a Beijing court in early December.

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SPORTS Mayweather taunts Khan, Pacquiao with Christmas KOs LAS VEGAS, December 27, 2013 (AFP) – Floyd Mayweather Jr. still has not said who his next opponent will be, but the unbeaten US boxer has taken to social media to taunt potential foes Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan. Mayweather posted drawings of himself Wednesday on Twitter and Instagram delivering hard punches to Filipino icon Pacquiao and Marcos Maidana and another standing over Khan as the Englishman was falling backward to the canvas. “Just imagine what Amir ‘Con Artist’ will get if his name gets picked in the Mayweather sweepstakes,” Mayweather posted on his Twitter account. Mayweather, 36, also poked fun at Pacquiao, who lost to Tim Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez before bouncing back to beat Brandon Rios last month and renew talk about a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight. “Juan Marquez ate Timothy Bradley’s leftovers. Now you’re telling me I got to eat Juan Marquez’s leftovers? Let me talk to the IRS about this...” Mayweather posted on Twitter, adding a zinger about Philippines tax issues that nagged “Pac-Man” earlier this year. On Monday, Mayweather posted a Twitter message showing pictures of him and Pacquiao with portable phones and captions, harkening to prior failed talks to make a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight. “Manny, I’ll pay you 40 million to fight!” said the caption under Mayweather. “No way, you’re crazy. 50/50 or nothing” was under Pacquiao’s picture.”

Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s Instagram posting with Photoshopped pictures mocking Manny Pacquiao.

Above the entire lot was Mayweather’s overall message: “This is my Christmas card to the world... Happy Sleepy Holidays zzzzzzzzzzzz” In late 2009 and early 2010, Pacquiao and Mayweather were considered the world’s top pound-for-pound fighters and record profits were expected from a showdown between them. But a disagreement over pre-fight blood testing scuttled talks and with Mayweather vowing never to do business with Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum, there seems little chance the fight will be made now. That has left Khan and Maidana the top names speculated for Mayweather’s

planned May 3 fight in Las Vegas. Pacquiao has a tentative April 12 bout set against an undetermined foe. Khan pulled out of a world title fight against American Devon Alexander, fueling speculation it was because he would next fight Mayweather. At 45-0 with 26 knockouts, Mayweather is approaching the 46-0 career mark of retired Welsh star Joe Calzaghe and the iconic 49-0 mark of heavyweight legend Rocky Marciano. Mayweather, who beat Saul “Canelo” Alvarez last September in his most recent bout, has a contract for four more fights in the next 2 ½ years.

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Infiniti US sales increase 10.5 percent in November Best November in the Luxury Automakerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s History NASHVILLE, Tenn. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Infiniti today reported the best November in its 24-year history, with U.S. sales of 13,152 units, an increase of 10.5 percent versus 11,897 units a year earlier. The all-new Infiniti Q50 saw deliveries of 5,891 units in November, one of the strongest ever monthly sales of a single Infiniti model. Overall sales of Infiniti sports sedans, which include the Infiniti G37, rose more than 85 percent to a total of 7,174, bringing the automakerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sales of luxury passenger cars up 43.5 percent for the month. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The all-new Infiniti Q50 continues to create considerable showroom traffic,â&#x20AC;? said Michael Bartsch, Infiniti Americas vice president. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sales at Infiniti retailers this past weekend were greater than any in our history, helping make this the best November since our founding in 1989.â&#x20AC;? The Infiniti QX60 7-passenger luxury crossover also had its best November ever, with sales of 3,015, an increase of 19.2 percent. About Infiniti Infiniti Motor Company LTD. is headquartered in Hong Kong with sales operations in approximately 50 countries. The

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Village Buildah is launching a car raffle fundraising A Mercedes Benz 2014 C250 car will be raffled off with proceeds supporting The Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital Los Angeles, St. Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Catholic Church, Gawad Kalinga and Typhoon Haiyan victims (December 13, 2013 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Los Angeles) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Village Buildah, a non-profit 501ÂŠ (3) foundation, is launching their car raffle fundraising on Sunday, December 22, 2013 at 6pm at the Airtel Plaza Hotel in Van Nuys. With the purpose of giving hope and shelter to indigents and a mission to pay it forward to help the poor by pooling their resources, Village Buildah supports with Gawad Kalinga in building villages with values formation. Through Western USA, a community of 30 families, living under a bridge for more than 30 years in Barangay Guihing Hagonoy, Davao Del Sur in Mindanao was chosen to be the recipient of the first out reach of 24 homes. This fundraising will

complete 6 more homes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a perfect time to be true to ourselves and appreciate all there is to our life. The blessings we have received, we want to pass it on and give back to the community. Village Buildah Foundation will take every opportunity to help and this will be our social responsibility.â&#x20AC;?, said Gene Gatmaitan, founding member and chairperson of Village Buildah. Credited with the heart to help and an oath of stewardship for mankind, the founding members, all of which are alumni from San Sebastian College, Central Luzon State University, University of the East, UP Los BaĂąos, San Beda College and Silliman University, are bounded by their common creed to give back. Village Buildah Foundation serves to be an agent and facilitator of progress and development as well as improve the social well being of the underprivileged. The grand raffle date is set on June 28, 2014. Visit their website at www. villagebuildah.com for more information.

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2014 Kia Soul earns NHTSA 5-Star safety rating Kia’s iconic urban passenger vehicle achieves NHTSA’s highest rating IRVINE, Calif., December 20, 2013 – Kia Motors America’s (KMA) popular urban passenger vehicle, the all-new 2014 Soul, has earned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) 5-Star overall safety rating. With its extensive list of standard safety features and use of high-tensile steel, Soul earned five stars in the frontal and side impact tests and four stars in the roll-over test. Starting at $14,7001, the Soul offers families fun and funky design with loads of available features at a great value. “Soul’s 5-star safety rating speaks to Kia’s commitment to our customers. Our vehicles combine top-level safety with iconic design, world-class quality and, of course, the outstanding value for which our brand is well known,” said Michael Sprague, executive vice president, marketing & communications, KMA. “We took a great deal of care with the design and engineering of the second-generation Soul, and NHTSA’s testing has validated that effort.” An impressive 66 percent of the all-new Soul’s chassis utilizes either Ultra High Strength Steel (35 percent) or High Strength Steel (31 percent). The 2014 model offers consumers invaluable protection in the form of standard safety features and technology, including six standard airbags (dual advanced front and front seat-mounted side air bags, full-length side curtain air bags) and a four-channel, four-sensor Antilock Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), which takes into account vehicle load and weight distribution and applies the appropriate stopping force to improve control and stability. Additional standard safety equipment for Soul includes Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and a Traction Control System (TCS). In conjunction with the ABS, the TCS uses brake and engine torque intervention to enhance traction during launch and acceleration on slippery road surfaces. If the ABS system detects wheel slip, it signals the engine control unit to adjust torque output accordingly. TCS also senses when one or more wheels spin faster than the

2014 Kia Soul

vehicle’s speed, and if necessary, applies the brakes accordingly. Working together, the two systems limit wheel spin and help the driver maintain control. Working with the standard ABS with EBD and TCS, the ESC system can apply individual brakes selectively to help control oversteer and understeer as needed to help the driver maintain control on slippery surfaces or during certain emergency maneuvers. The Base Soul comes standard with a long list of features that set it apart from the competition. Power windows, door locks and heated outside mirrors, a telescoping steering wheel and a six-speaker AM/FM/MP3 audio unit are all standard. Bluetooth hands-free wireless technology, SiriusXM satellite radio3with three months complimentary service and USB/AUX inputs round out the Base Soul’s impressive audio/infotainment equipment. Desirable options include remote keyless entry, 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control and a sixspeed automatic transmission. Kia: One of the World’s Fastest Moving Global Automotive Brands Kia Motors America is one of only three auto brands to

increase U.S. sales in each of the past four years, and in 2012 the company surpassed the 500,000 unit mark for the first time. With a full line of fun-to-drive cars and CUVs, Kia is advancing value to new levels of sophistication by combining European-influenced styling – under the guidance of chief design officer Peter Schreyer – with cutting-edge technologies, premium amenities, affordable pricing and one of the lowest costs of ownership in the industry. Kia recently moved up in the exclusive ranking of Interbrand’s “Top 100 Best Global Brands” after joining the list for the first time last year, and the company is poised to continue its momentum after delivering seven all-new or significantly redesigned vehicles to showrooms in 2013. Over the past decade, Kia Motors has invested more than $1.4 billion in the U.S., including the company’s first U.S. assembly plant in West Point, Georgia – Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia – which is responsible for the creation of more than 14,000 plant and supplier jobs. The success of the U.S.-built Optima and Sorento in two of the industry’s largest segments has fueled Kia’s rapid growth and is complemented by Kia’s comprehensive lineup which includes the Cadenza premium sedan, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Sportage compact CUV, Optima Hybrid, Forte sedan, Forte5, and Forte Koup compacts, Rio and Rio 5-door sub-compacts and the Sedona minivan. Kia of course offers a 10-year or 100,000 mile warranty, assuring you of a reliable vehicle for many, many years. For a long lasting vehicle, call the Car Pros Kia at 310816-9800 or the Number 1 Kia Dealership in the whole of California. Kia Pros is located at 21243 S. Avalon Blvd., Carson, CA 90745.

Saudi recalls 400,000 Toyotas over acceleration concerns RIYADH, December 25, 2013 (AFP) – Saudi Arabia on Wednesday announced the recall of more than 400,000 Toyota cars for alleged problems with unintended acceleration, a statement from the kingdom’s ministry of commerce and industry said. It said the vehicles will be equipped with a break override system to “reduce the risk of sudden unintended acceleration without the ability to stop or control it.” The ministry said 10 models, manufactured between 2005 and 2010, would be recalled. In October, a US court found Toyota was not to blame for a fatal crash involving claims of unintended acceleration, a case that sparked huge global recalls and badly dented the company’s reputation for safety. The safety scare prompted a worldwide recall of millions of cars, the first of a series for Japanese firm, which had previously traded on the safety and reliability of its cars. Last December, Toyota said it had agreed to pay about $1.1 billion (800 million euros) to settle a class action lawsuit launched by US vehicle owners affected by the series of mass recalls from the automaker.mThe company did not accept any blame but agreed to compensate owners who said the value of about 16.3 million vehicles took a hit from dozens of accidents allegedly caused by Toyota vehicles speeding out of control in 2009. The deal covered the cost of installing a free brake override system in about 2.7 million vehicles. It also provided cash payments to those who sold cars after the recalls or who owned vehicles ineligible for the override system.

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Honda to debut all-new 2015 Fit at North American International Auto Show Big news in the New Year for the subcompact-car segment with the introduction of a from-the groundup more advanced, refined and fun-to-drive Honda Fit TORRANCE, Calif., Dec. 19, 2013 – Honda will take the wraps off the all-new 2015 Fit at the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 13, at 2:40 pm. Honda will showcase significant advancements designed to further extend Fit’s status as the benchmark vehicle in the subcompact-car class. The 2015 Fit builds on the current Call the Filipino Department – Mira de Mira, Simon Sigua, Lotta Ferraren model’s innovative packaging, flexible leading safety ratings. cargo capability and fun-to-drive character John Mendel, executive vice president of automobile with spirited new styling, an even more spacious and refined interior packed with leading-edge connected sales for American Honda Motor Co., Inc., will introduce car technologies. The third generation Fit is set to offer the 2015 Fit at the company’s press conference, which also enhanced fuel-efficiency and performance courtesy of its will be broadcast live via webcast at http://hondanews. all-new platform and Earth Dreams Technology power- com/live/2014naias-honda (link will be live Jan. 13). Named a Car and Driver ‘10-Best’ vehicle every model train. Equipped with the Honda-exclusive next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body year since its introduction to the U.S. market for 2007, the structure, the new Fit is also anticipated to earn class- Fit remains one of the best-selling Honda vehicles glob-

ally, with cumulative worldwide sales of 4.87 million units1. The Fit is manufactured at ten locations around the world and sold in 123 countries. The new U.S.-market Fit will be produced for the first time in North America at an all-new plant in in Celaya, Mexico. Customers interested in learning more about 2015 Fit are encouraged to visit http://automobiles.honda.com/2015fit/, where they can sign-up to receive more information on the new model. For a closer look at Honda vehicles, give our kababayans Simon Sigua, Mira de Mira, and Lotta Ferraren a call at the Filipino Department of the Honda of Hollywood at 866-630-0734. Call or stop by the dealership and see them in person at 6511 Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood, California 90038. The family-owned Honda of Hollywood has been serving Los Angeles and the Filipino community for 45 years. This is why, service at Honda of Hollywood is incomparable and top-rated as they value people’s satisfaction first. Of course, getting Honda vehicle – which leads all other brands in quality – helps a lot.

Japanese automakers’ sales in China surge in November TOKYO, December 25, 2013 (AFP) – Leading Japanese automakers saw their best November sales ever last month, in stark contrast to a year ago when shipments plunged amid a deep territorial row between Tokyo and Beijing. Industry leader Toyota said its sales in China for the month reached 90,000 units, up 40.7 percent from a year ago, driven by popularity of its flagship models, including Camry, Corolla and Rav4. Rival Nissan said sales in China nearly doubled to

131,778 vehicles, thanks to motorists’ appetite for the Sylphy series and Qashqai. Honda Motor said its Chinese sales more than doubled to 83,029 units in November. The data serve as further evidence that the Chinese business climate for Japan Inc. has improved sharply since last year, when a long-running dispute over an East China Sea archipelago flared anew, prompting anti-Japan rallies across the world’s second largest economy.

The automakers said last month’s figures were the best ever for November, going beyond the levels seen before bilateral relations soured. The car manufacturers have said they are boosting production to cope with expanding demand in the key Asian market. Hiroto Saikawa, head of Nissan’s China operations, told AFP last month that the firm was struggling to keep up with soaring sales in the world’s biggest vehicle market.

MOTORS SALES•LEASING • ALL MAKES & MODELS WE MAKE CAR BUYING SIMPLE.

Ang dealer ng Pinoy na tumutulong sa mga Tax ID pa lang ang hawak at International Drivers pa lang ang lisensya!

BAGO SA AMERICA? FIRST TIME BUYER? NO CREDIT HISTORY? ANY CREDIT SITUATION? REPOSSESSIONS? FORECLOSURES? COLLECTIONS? SLOW PAYS? LEASE RETURNS? TRADE INS?

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2014 Outlander & Outlander Sport earn coveted IIHS Top Safety Pick Awards

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Top Mitsubishi vehicles offer consumers the safest crossover model lineup in America Cypress, CA, Dec. 19, 2013 – Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) has seen its all-new 7-passenger 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander named an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) “Top Safety Pick+” – the highest safety achievement designated by the non-profit vehicle research and crash test Richard Samaco (left) and John Rodis, Filipino Sales, Glendale Mitsubishi ratings agency – and its 5-pasmanufacturers this year,” said IIHS Presisenger 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport dent Adrian Lund. “Following a gradual designated the only IIHS “Top Safety Pick” phase-in, the small overlap crash is now model in the Small SUV category. With part of our basic battery of tests, and good these accolades, Mitsubishi Motors offers or acceptable performance should be part automotive consumers the safest crossover of every vehicle’s safety credentials. We model lineup available in America today. also felt it was time to offer extra recogniDue to more stringent testing criteria tion to manufacturers that are offering a for the IIHS “Top Safety Pick+” and “Top proven crash test avoidance technology.” Safety Pick” awards, only 39 vehicle “Having our all-new 2014 Mitsubishi models earned either award in 2014 – a Outlander named a ‘Top Safety Pick+’ drastic reduction when compared to the and our 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 130 vehicle models that earned IIHS award becoming the exclusive ‘Top Safety Pick’recognition in 2013. rated vehicle in the Small SUV category The redesigned 2014 Mitsubishi Outis a testament to the precision design and lander was one of only 22 vehicles to earn engineering that we strive to instill in every the IIHS “Top Safety Pick+” accolade for one of our vehicles,” said Yoichi Yoko2014. zawa, President and CEO of Mitsubishi In order for a vehicle to become an IIHS Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA). “Top Safety Pick+” for 2014, a test subject A key safety technology that helped the must not only display exemplary perfor2014 Outlander Sport (starting MSRP of mance in the various stringent crash testing only $19,470) attain the distinguished IIHS criteria, but it must now “have systems “Top Safety Pick” safety rating is Mitsubithat can prevent or mitigate front-to-rear shi Motors’ patented Reinforced Impact crashes,” according to the IIHS. Safety Evolution (RISE). Engineered into The 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander’s every Mitsubishi Motors vehicle, RISE is exceptional IIHS “Top Safety Pick+” Mitsubishi Motors’ safety body construcrating can be attributed to the superlative tion system featuring integrated energyengineering of its rigid, high-tensile steel absorbing crumple zones and engineered body/chassis along with the availability of reinforcements strategically placed within numerous advanced features including a the body/chassis that provide maximum radar-based Forward Collision Mitigation protection to the vehicle’s occupants in (FCM) accident/impact reduction technolthe event of an impact by absorbing and/or ogy. In its evaluation of the 2014 Mitsubidispersing a great deal of this energy away shi Outlander’s Forward Collision Mitigafrom the cabin. tion (FCM) – a system that includes both For more information on the 2014 audio and visual warnings to the driver as Mitsubishi Outlander and Outlander Sport well as initiates automatic braking if neccrossover vehicles, please visit media.mitessary – the IIHS awarded the system an subishicars.com and for more information “advanced” rating (grades are “superior,” on the “Top Safety Pick+” and the “Top “advanced” or “basic”). Other available Safety Pick” awards by the Insurance Innext-generation safety technology features stitute for Highway Safety (IIHS), please include a camera-based Lane Departure visitiihs.org. Warning (LDW) and radar-based Adaptive If you want to know why the Mitsubishi Cruise Control (ACC). is up in its sales and why the Outlander is With a starting MSRP of only $22,995, America’s top Mitsubishi vehicle for the the 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander is one of past several months or why Evolution is the lowest-priced vehicles in the segment the choice of many who are looking for available with such advanced safety techspeed, call Richard Samaco or John Rodis, nologies. the dealership’s Filipino salespersons at For 2014, the IIHS raised the qualifyGlendale Mitsubishi at (888) 465-7218. ing standard for the “Top Safety Pick” Glendale Mitsubishi, a favorite car rating achieved by the 2014 Mitsubishi dealership among Filipino-Americans, is Outlander Sport as its vehicle evaluation located at 1235 S. Brand Blvd. Glendale, now includes the small overlap crash test. CA, 91204. According to the agency, the small overlap Call now or come and visit our kababaycrash test “replicates what happens when ans for a closer look at the new Mitsubishi the front corner of a vehicle strikes another vehicles. What’s more, test drive a Mitsubivehicle or object like a tree or utility pole.” shi and you can get a three day/two night “We’ve made it more difficult for stay in Las Vegas for free.

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All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emissions testing charge. Ad expires close of business date of publication. For well qualified buyers on approved credit. Not all who apply will qualify.

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PRAYERS

PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT Holy Spirit Thou who make me see everything and show me the way to reach my ideal, You who give me the divine gift to forgive and forget the wrong that is done to me and who are in all instances of my life with me. I, in this short dialogue, want to thank You for everything and conÂżrm once more that I never want to be separated from You no matter how great the material desires may be. I want to be with You and my loved ones in Your perpetual glory. Amen. A person must pray this for three consecutive days without stating his wish. After the 3rd day the wish will be granted, no matter how difÂżcult it may be. Promise to publish this as soon as your favor has been granted. Grateful Thanks -J.B.E

A PRAYER OF HOPE Lord jesus, i pray this day for strength, because there are times when things get tough and i feel like quitting. lord jesus, i ask this day for the comforting reassurance of your love, because there are times when people fail me, and i am tempted to lose hope. lord jesus, i seek this day for your light to guide my steps, because there are times when life is confusing and difÂżcult, and i lose my way. help me, o lord, to pick up the pieces, wipe my tears, face the sun, and start over again, for all is possible when i place my faith and trust in you, my saving god. amen.-ALBA

Visit www.Balita.com

Weekend, Sat. - Fri., Dec. 28, 2013 - Jan. 3, 2014

Balita

Weekend, Sat. - Fri., Dec. 28, 2013 - Jan. 3, 2014

Visit www.Balita.com

Weekend, Sat. - Fri., Dec. 28, 2013 - Jan. 3, 2014

Balita