LOS ANGELES
Charmaine Clamor in concert March 1 See CHARMAINE page 28
VOL. XXII, NO. 3
FEBRUARY 22-28, 2014
Miriam: Ruling shows lack of tech knowhow With the aid of a laptop, President Benigno S. Aquino III listens to a demonstration while he graces the Presentation of Estero de San Miguel Micro Medium-Rise Building Model Unit at the Claro M. Recto High School Auditorium in Barangay 412, Zone 42, Legarda Street, Sampaloc, Manila City on Wednesday (February 19, 2014). The project will provide safe, affordable, decent and humane relocation of dislocated folks. (MNS photo)
Senators seek decriminalization of libel MANILA, Feb 20 (Mabuhay) – More senators have joined colleagues seeking to decriminalize libel, including online libel recently uphold as constitutional by the Supreme Court (SC). Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday pushed for the passage of Senate Bill No. 249, which aims to repeal the online libel provision of Republic Act 10175 or Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. For his part, Senator Teofisto Guingona III filed Senate Bill No. 3374 seeking to decriminalize libel by repealing Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code. On the other hand, Senator Miriam Defensor-
Santiago said she will also re-file her own bill that “will in effect overturn the decision of the SC.” ”With respect to congressional action, I have already filed my bill and so because of this eventuality that we did not foresee, I will now redouble my efforts to convince the chair of the committee, my colleagues and eventually the entire Senate,” Santiago said in a Senate media briefing. As a lawyer, Santiago said she will fully support a motion to reconsider the SC ruling “with respect to online libel.” Santiago said the SC ruling legalizing the online See DECRIMINALIZATION, page 12
MANILA, Feb 20 (Mabuhay) – Calling the Internet as a “marketplace of ideas,” Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Thursday said the Supreme Court (SC) erred in upholding the online libel provision in the anti-cybercrime law. At a press conference, Santiago said the high court decision on the anti-cybercrime law was “a case of jurisprudence trailing after technology because of lack of understanding.” “In all, I just think it was a bad idea for the SC to look at the Internet as another form of media. It’s not like radio, TV or print. It is a completely different form,” the senator said. “On the Internet, if someone calls you names, then you call him back with names too! It’s the marketplace of ideas,” she added. On Tuesday, the SC declared the online libel provision in the cybercrime pre-
vention law as constitutional, “with respect to the original author of the post.” The court, however, struck down the provision that empowers the Department of Justice (DOJ) to restrict or block access to data violating the law. Santiago, a former trial court judge, said the high court should have favored freedom of speech, which is enshrined in the Bill of Rights in the 1987 Constitution. “In case of doubt, the doubt should be resolved in favor of the freedom and against the restriction,” she said. Santiago authored the Magna Carta for Philippine Internet Freedom, which seeks to uphold the right to security of Internet data, and the protection of the Internet as an open network. The measure is currently pending at the committee level. The Department of Justice See RULING, page 12
Senate President Franklin Drilon, chair of the Commission on Appointment, confirmed on Wednesday (Feb. 19) the appointment of Lt. Gen. Gregorio Pio P. Catapang, Jr. and 17 other Generals/Flag and Senior Officers in the Armed Forces of the Philippines at the Senate Bldg., Pasay City. (MNS photo)
Two more respondents ready to tell all on ‘pork’ scam MANILA, Feb 20 (Mabuhay) – Aside from former Technology Resource Center director general Dennis Cunanan, two more respondents in the pork barrel scam have expressed readiness to testify against those allegedly involved in the misuse of government funds. Rhodora Mendoza and Victor Roman Cacal, former vice president for administration and finance and former general services supervisor of the National AgriBusiness Corp. (NAGCOR) respectively, said they know how the lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) got into bogus non-government organizations linked to Janet Lim-Napoles. Napoles has been tagged as the alleged mastermind in the P10-billion pork barrel
scam. Mendoza and Cacal have denied accusations that they plundered government money. The two are among the 39 respondents in the plunder complaint filed before the Ombudsman. The two claimed that they signed the checks for Napoles’ NGOs upon the order of their superiors. Mendoza and Cacal both feared that their respective families will bear the brunt of their alleged link in the scam, including their decision to come out. “Ang hirap pong balansehin, kailangan mong gumising araw-araw para magtrabaho, iisipin mong malayo ka sa mga anak and we’re thinking about their security while you’re away and you cannot protect
them 24 hours a day,” Mendoza said. “Kung sa pamamagitan ko somehow may maiayos sa sistema ng gobyerno kasi kawawa po yung next generation,” she added. Senate hearing During the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on the pork barrel scam in September 2013, Mendoza said she was “very sure” that principal whistleblower Benhur Luy went to the NABCOR office with endorsement letters from Senators Bong Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada and Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile. She also admitted that Luy, then president of Social Development Program for Farmers Foundation Inc. (SDPFFI), had See RESPONDENTS, page 12
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5 reasons to consider Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Some say the economic recession is leveling out, and there are signs of recovery on the horizon. However, like so many Americans today, you may feel otherwise. The past several years have been financially devastating to Americans. Millions have found themselves struggling to make their house payments and keep food on the table. Chapter 13 bankruptcy provides financial help for those who feel they have run out of options. Filing bankruptcy can give you the fresh start that so many Americans need today. Here are FIVE good reasons to consider filing for Chapter 13. (1) Stop Foreclosures and Repossessions Often by the time you decide to file for bankruptcy, your home could likely be in foreclosure. Wage garnishments and car repossessions are also a common among people seeking bankruptcy relief. When you file, all collection efforts, foreclosures, repossessions and garnishments are stopped. In a Chapter 7, you would receive this benefit of bankruptcy, but it would not last as long, perhaps only a few months. However, in a Chapter 13 these actions are stopped for the length of the bankruptcy, which can extend up to 5 years, (2) Saving Property Most people are under a mistaken impression that they will lose all of their property when they file. This belief often prevents people from filing and getting the help they need. This is actually not true. In bankruptcy, there are various exemptions available. If your assets come under one of these exemptions, you are allowed to keep it. The particular exemptions available to you will vary from state to state. But what if you have more assets than allowed by the exemptions? In a Chapter 7, you could lose some of your assets to the bankruptcy court. However, in a Chapter 13 if your assets exceed the amount of exemptions you have, you are given the opportunity to pay out the value of the asset in order to keep it. These payments would be divided over the length of the bankruptcy, three to five years. (3) Time to Catch Up on Home and Car Loans One big advantage to filing for Chapter 13 is you are allowed valuable time to catch up on payments that are in arrears. For example, if you are $10,000 behind your home loan, your mortgage lender may have already started foreclosure proceedings. Once you file bankruptcy, you will be able to make installment payments on the late mortgage payments. By the time the bankruptcy is over, assuming you have
remained current with your regular house payments, you will have also completely caught up with the back payments. (4) Payments May be Cheaper in Chapter 13 There are some instances where it is more cost effective to file for Chapter 13. Let’s say that you owe $10,000. on a car that is worth $5,000. If you file for Chapter 7, you would continue paying on the loan amount of the car ($10,000). However, in a Chapter 13, under the appropriate circumstances, you would only be required to pay for the value of the car ($5,000.). This not only saves you $5,000., but would also lower your car payment. How is this possible? Because bankruptcy can discharge the unsecured portion of a secured debt, just as if it was credit card debt. Or, let’s say you have a home loan and a second mortgage on your home. There is no value in the home over the pay off amount for the first mortgage, so there is no value securing the second. In Chapter 13, you are able to “strip off” the second mortgage completely. (5) Your Income is Too High Sometimes the monthly income of the bankruptcy filer is too high to qualify for a Chapter 7. Something called a “disposable income test comes into play here. If you were to file Chapter 7, a large portion of your debts would be wiped out, and you would be left with a lot more disposable income every month. If this amount of disposable income is too high, you would not be able to file for a Chapter 7. In a Chapter 13, this extra disposable income would be paid to the bankruptcy court, but only for the period of the bankruptcy. Chapter 13 can have some distinct advantages for individuals that need financial relief. You deserve to keep your home and have financial stability. It is important to note that laws vary state to state, so it is highly recommended that you contact an experienced bankruptcy lawyer for advice and guidance. Dealing with financial problems is never easy. However, there are actions you can take to help you through the process and help put your financial problems behind you. If you have financial problems, give my office a call. I will personally meet with you and provide you with practical options to your problems. Law Offices of Paul M. Allen. Tollfree: 877-356-6729.
PHL looks to reopen peace talks with NPA rebels MANILA, February 21, 2014 (AFP) – The Philippines is working with the Norwegian government on the possibility of reopening peace talks with communist insurgents, barely a year after negotiations collapsed, officials said Friday. The administration has been engaged in on-and-off peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) since the 1980s but the talks have repeatedly stalled due to what the government says are conditions imposed by the rebels. Norway had served as a facilitator in the talks between the two sides, but the most recent attempt at an striking an accord ended with the Philippines declaring negotiations had collapsed in April 2013. Chief government peace adviser Teresita Deles said Friday she has had discussions with the Norwegian government on ways to move the situation with the communists forward. She also said the Philippines’ was looking into reports that CPP founder Jose Maria Sison had expressed willingness to meet with President Benigno Aquino. “The offer to talk to the president is a new element at this time. The last we heard they were calling on all Filipinos to oust the president,” Deles said. She said the government wanted to ensure that if the talks resume, “it will be based on a platform that has the possibility of reaching a successful conclusion.” Aquino had set a target of ending the decades-long insurgency by the 2016 – the end of his term in his office. The breakdown in talks last year was a setback but in January Aquino asked Norway to help revive negotiations.
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Ex-TRC chief now a gov’t witness, pins 3 senators to ‘pork’ case MANILA, Feb 21 (Mabuhay) – Dennis Cunanan, the government’s new witness in the pork barrel scam case, has provided proof that the three senators implicated in the anomaly had handpicked Napoleslinked non-government organizations to be recipients of their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). This was according to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima at a press briefing Friday, where she announced that Cunanan, former general manager of the Technology Resource Center (TRC) and a suspect in the P10-billion fund anomaly, is now under the Witness Protection Program as a provisional state witness.
“We are officially confirming another witness in the PDAF cases...in the person of Dennis Cunanan. Si Cunanan ay dating deputy director general ng TRC from 2004 to January 10 ng in-appoint na po siya as director general replacing Director General Antonio Ortiz,” De Lima said. De Lima’s announcement came some three weeks after another suspect in the fund scam, Ruby Tuason, returned to the Philippines from the United States to spill the beans on the case. Cunanan, Tuason and Ortiz are among the 38 respondents in criminal complaints filed in connection with the supposed scam. Also named respondents were Sena-
tors Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., Juan Ponce Enrile and Jinggoy Estrada. De Lima said Cunanan went to the Office of the Ombudsman to submit his 36-page sworn statement with attachments. “Sa tingin namin mahalaga ang pinoprofer niyang data sa kanyang 36-page sworm statement with attachment,” she said. 3 senators De Lima said Cunanan “flatly denied and debunked” the implicated senators’ denial of involvement in the pork barrel fund scam. Cunanan claimed that he even spoke with Revilla and Estrada over the phone as well as their chiefs of staff including Enrile’s Jessica “Gigi” Reyes. “Pero walang instance na si Enrile kausap, lagi daw si Gigi Reyes,” De Lima said, adding that the senators “lobbied” to have the projects approved. “Pinapagalitan pa siya, he was being admonished bakit hindi kaagad nirerelease ang pondo relative to that project,” she added. De Lima described Cunanan’s statement as “essential and corroborative” to the previous testimonies of the other whistleblowers in the case. Important testimony De Lima added, “Mahalaga po ang testimonya niya dahil mayroong someone from the implementing agency na ang sinasabi na hindi totoo ang sinasabi ng tatlong senador sa kanilang respective affidavits na wala silang kinalaman sa pagpipili ng NGO [non-government organizations],” she added. Cunanan’s lawyer, Rey Roble, last week said their camp was considering applying
Cunanan for inclusion in the Witness Protection Program, insisting his client should not have been included in the plunder charge sheet. Tuason recently returned to the Philippines to testify in the pork barrel mess. She admitted to being the “go-between” for alleged scam mastermind Janet LimNapoles, and Enrile and Estrada. TRC, a state firm under the Department of Science and Technology, was reportedly used as a conduit by Napoles to pocket public funds. Levito Baligod, legal counsel for whistleblowers in the fund scam, earlier told GMA News in an exclusive interview that Cunanan would refute the statements made by Revilla that he was not involved in the PDAF mess. Shift the blame De Lima said Cunanan believes the senators are trying to shift the blame and accountability to the agencies. Among the documents submitted by Cunanan to the Department of Justice were letters of endorsements, special allotment release orders, project summaries and project proposals. “Ang pinapakita nitong mga dokumento na ang senador na ito ay nagpili, naghandpick ng Napoles NGOs as alleged implementors as projects under TRC these NGOs were identified and embedded as a project implementor. Hindi daw sila ang TRC ang pumili ng NGOs na iyon,” De Lima said. “May express acknowledgement that the senators have endorsed and expressed warranty by senators that the NGOs are bona fide and have good standing,” she added.
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Recto bats for more PNR trains to ease Metro traffic MANILA, Feb 20 (Mabuhay) – After proposing the revival of Pasig river ferry system, Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto on Thursday batted for the acquisition of more trains for the Philippine National Railways (PNR) to ease traffic in Metro Manila. Recto said doubling the number of PNR coaches plying the Tutuban, ManilaSta. Rosa, Laguna line can displace 14,000 cars on the road every day. He said this line, which is part of the longer Manila-to-Mayon railway, is currently underutilized with just 2.5 trips per direction an hour . “If fully developed and modernized, it can help ease traffic in Metro Manila and provide fast, efficient, and cheap form of transport not only to its residents but those in outlying provinces as well, Recto said. “We’re looking for different solutions when in fact we have railways. Why not maximize the use of it,” Recto added. The PNR’s Tutuban-Sta. Rosa line manages to ferry 70,000 passengers each day or 25 million commuters annually. ”It is also cheaper with an average fare of 70 centavos per kilometer,” Recto said. At present, the Tutuban-Sta. Rosa service operates from 5:00 a.m to 7:00 p.m daily and stops in 23 stations in between. While Recto hailed PNR’s decision to add two trips per direction by March 3 as “the way to go,” he said, “there remains a big room for improvement.” Noting that PNR trains are always full, Recto said government should add rolling stock by tapping official development aid or “even outright purchase using its own funds because in this era of two-trillion
national budgets we can certainly find money for such an important expense.” In the short term, Recto said “budgetary support” should be given to the PNR so it can complete the refurbishing and the retrofitting of 50 coaches the East Japan Railway Co. (JR-East) donated in 2012. A succession of governments, Recto noted, has been reluctant in pouring more money into the 121-year-old rail service, opting instead to offer it to private companies under various joint-venture schemes, for which there have been no takers. In June last year, the Private Public Partnership (PPP) Center and the DOTC commissioned a Canadian firm to prepare the feasibility study for a proposed $ 2.5 billion PNR Integrated Luzon Railway Project. In the meantime, the PNR is “bravely chugging alone on government subsidy and ridership,” Recto said. For 2014, subsidy to the PNR is pegged at P344 million. In 2012, the PNR posted revenues and other income of P966 million, received P128.7 million in government subsidy, incurred P1.114 billion in expenses, thus leaving a loss of P50 million. “But for ferrying 25 million passengers, that P50 million loss is not bad. The government subsidy at P5 per passenger is way below the P40 per passenger in the MRT and the LRT,” Recto said. The Metro Manila residents and commuters are expected to experience heavy traffic in the next two years as government unveiled at least 15 mega projects including Skyway 3 that will connect South Luzon and North Luzon Expressways. (PNA)
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To east traffic, Metro Manila should use water channels MANILA, Feb 19 (Mabuhay) – We’ve got nowhere to go but water, and Metro Manila is a metropolis by the bay, bisected by a river. If the streets are full of cars and we want to travel, then let’s go amphibian. If we’ve reached road building capacity, and can no longer squeeze carriageway space in our roads, then we should tap our nautical roads. Traffic has prodded us to launch a lot of mitigation schemes – from Christmas lanes, to number coding, to new rail lines – except a thousand boats. The Pasig River ferry system is not a stop-gap measure but it should be developed into a permanent transportation mode in Metro Manila. Ferries are not alternative but, no pun intended, mainstream. And ferry services should not be limited to Pasig River alone. We should also study the possibility of extending it to Marikina, and to the bedroom communities in Cavite, the lakeshore towns of Rizal and Laguna, and to coastal Bulacan, which are within the embrace of Mega Manila. As a first step, DOTC should now make public the results of the MAPALLA or the Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Ferry Service feasibility study which it commissioned in December 2012 at a cost of P17 million. Under the terms of the contract, the feasibility study should have been submitted last July 2013. If it is viable, funding for pilot projects should be included in the 2015 proposed national budget. As the DBM has issued the Budget Call for 2015, and it is now the budget preparation season in the executive branch, the DOTC might as well include ferry service-related activities in its menu of projects for next year. If ferries are feasible, then government should go full speed ahead developing the system. It should ignore any toll road-railway- bus company lobby which may want to torpedo it.
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Dismissed cadet’s case not about being late in class – PMA MANILA, Feb 20 (Mabuhay) – Cadet Aldrin Jeff Cudia’s dismissal is not an issue of tardiness, the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) said in a statement Thursday as it defended itself from negative public perception stemming from a Facebook post that went viral. The Facebook post on Cudia’s dismissal was shared more than 17,000 times before it was taken down. The post mentioned that Cudia was “found guilty� of lying about the reason for his tardiness, but it was not highlighted. In the statement, the PMA said Cudia’s case “is not about being late in class.� “While it started as a violation of the regulations, which is coming to class late, the findings of the preliminary investigation conducted revealed a possibility of Cdt Cudia violating the Honor Code which led to the opening of formal investigation by the Honor Committee,� the PMA said. The PMA, however, did not disclose the specific Honor Code violation that Cudia supposedly committed. According to the academy’s website, the PMA’s honor code is a “unique system� administered by the cadets to themselves. It states: “We, the cadets, do not lie, cheat, steal, nor tolerate among us those who do so.� “While the Academy recognizes his academic performance, this does not exempt him from strict observance of the Code,� the country’s premier military school said. Cudia, a PMA First Class cadet, is set to graduate this year. According to his sister who wrote the viral Facebook post, he was at the top of his Navy Class, a Deputy Baron and in the top 2 of the Class of 2014.
i-Vice Ganda Mo ‘Ko sa Pechanga TEMECULA, Calif. (Pebrero 11, 2014) – Dadalhin ni Vice Ganda, isa sa mga pinakamainit na komedyante at artista sa Pilipinas, ang pinakahihintay na pinakabago niyang concert series na pinamagatang “i-Vice Ganda Mo ‘ko sa Amerika� sa Pechanga Theater sa Temecula, California. Ang palabas na nagsimula sa ilalim ng orihinal na pamagat na “i-Vice Ganda Mo ‘ko sa Araneta,� ay unang lumabas noong nakalipas na taon sa Smart Araneta Coliseum o “Big Dome� sa Maynila kung saan natamo nito ang posisyon bilang pinakamalakas na palabas na pinangungunahan ng isang lokal na artista, ayon sa ABS-CBN News. Ito ay ang pangatlong palabas ni Vice Ganda sa popular na tanghalang ito. Sa kasalukuyan, si Vice Ganda ay isa sa mga regular na TV host ng “It’s Showtime,� isang lingguhang variety show tuwing tanghali sa ABS-CBN. Mapapanood din siya sa kanyang sariling talk show tuwing Linggo, ang “Gandang Gabi Vice.� Siya rin ay lumabas sa maraming sikat na programang pang telebisyon, tulad ng “Pilipinas Got Talent� at ang popular na telenobelang “Juan Dela Cruz.� Siya ay isang matagumpay na mang-aawit at artista ng pelikulang Pilipino, kung saan siya ay lumabas sa napakaraming pelikula, kasama na ang tatlo sa mga pangunahing pelikula sa takilya. Ang pagtatanghal sa Pechanga Resort & Casino ay magiging isang mahalagang pangyayari sa buong karera ni Vice Ganda. Sa loob ng dalawang gabi, siya ay inaasahang magbigay ng malalaking produksiyon at walang tigil na katatawanan at aliw. Kasama niya ang kanyang mga espesyal na panuhin na sina Eljay Falcon, ang nagwagi sa “Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition,� at ang komedyanteng pareha nina MC and Lassy. Ang unang palabas ay sa Sabado, Marso 8, alas-otso ng gabi, at ang pangalawang palabas ay sa Linggo, Marso 9, alas-singko
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Oldest Orange County City awaits return of the swallows Thousands of these migratory swallows are now embarking on their annual migration cycle from Argentina to San Juan Capistrano to travel more than the 6,000 miles in search of the warm Southwest American climate. For centuries, these birds visit the San Juan Capistrano area and take refuge at the Mission partly because of its ideal location near two rivers where they can rest and feast on the constant supply of insects on which they feed on. The ruins inside the males use to attract females. Males would old stone church also provide protection also be attracted because they are overhead for the young birds. in the area according to the scientist who LACFAEA Post Valentine Fundraising Ball: It was a successful Los Angeles County FilipinoWhat makes cliff swallows’ return to was summoned from his teaching post. The American Employee Association (LACFAEA) Post Valentine Fundraising event held last Mission San Juan Capistrano so special project involves a systematic program of February 15 at the Knotts Berry Farm Hotel in Buena Park, CA. The Association was able to raise more than $1,000 for the benefit of the victims of typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan and for that Orange County’s oldest city is pre- playing the courtship calls and songs a few scholastic student recipients. Photo shows the Officers and Board Directors, including (from paring to welcome them back earnestly to times a day and when the weather is good left) Benjamin Uy, Art Aquino, Brenda Mendoza, Andres Trinidad, Clare Alejandrino, LACFAEA the County. and during the times the swallows would President Antonio F. Mendoza, Frank Paras, Jr., Audra Galang, Rene Galano, Cynthia Birch, Angelita Andes, Adolfino Aguayon, Purita Prather, Gliceria Quiaot, Henry Ong and Cipriano Urbanization and dwindling food sup- be foraging for food. Estrada . Photo: Rudy Autor plies have been cited as reasons that have caused a reduction of swallows to descend at the Mission in recent years with fewer birds being counted in the 1990s and 2000. Immigration rights for same Whether these swallows come in great or sex married couples. reduced numbers, the return of these tiny birds has been credited for galvanizing the Contact us for details. San Juan Capistrano community into emCONTACT US FOR A FREE* INITIAL CONSULTATION WITH ATTY. KOREN barking on months-long long festival that We Handle ALL Immigration Matters: Attorney Gali Koren is the has become known throughout the world. The 56th presentation of the Swallows firm's founder and managing • REMOVAL/DEPORTATION DEFENSE Day Parade Mercado Street Faire will be attorney. She received her • FAMILY-BASED IMMIGRATION held on March 22, 2014. The Swallows Juris Doctor Degree, Magna • BUSINESS AND INVESTOR VISA Day Parade is part of the larger Festival of C u m L a u d e , f r o m We s t e r n the Swallows tied to the legendary return State University. She obtained • EMPLOYMENT-BASED of the swallows to the Mission San Juan her LLM in International Law Licensed Attorney • HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS Capistrano on March 19, marked as St. from the University of San Joseph’s Day. • PERM (Approval Guaranteed or we'll Refile for FREE*) Diego Law School, majoring in The San Juan Capistrano Fiesta AssoImmigration Law. Ms. Koren is Atty. Carlo Borja • NATURALIZATION/CITIZENSHIP ciation, an all-volunteer organization mana member of the State Bar of Licensed Attorney • DACA/Deferred Action ages and produces the annual Swallows California and is authorized to Graduate of Ateneo Our experienced attorneys & staff will help you navigate the complex immigration Day Parade and other events throughout represent clients on de Manila University. system and offer you personalized attention on your specific case. All of us the year. The Association is a nonprofit and Member of State Bar understand your goals because we all come from immigrant backgrounds. Our immigration matters in all 50 mission is to provide effective and aggressive representation of your interests in all of California and nonpolitical organization of communitystates. immigration matters in an efficient manner. Philippine Bar. minded volunteers whose sources of funding come from sponsorships, donations and fundraising activities. Some of the family fun activities include New Membership Mixer, Taste of San Juan, Kids Pet Pai n f o @ k o r e n i m m i g r a t i o n . c o m • w w w. k o r e n i m m i g r a t i o n . c o m rade, and the “El Presidente” Ball, 15260 Ventura Blvd., Suite 1200 1475 S. State College Blvd., Suite 110, It was man’s fault partly why the migraSherman Oaks, CA 91403 Anaheim, CA 92806 tory swallows have dwindled in number (corner of Cerritos, between Ball and Katella roads) (City National Bank building) and his ingenuity also is what will cause All legal services are provided by and under the supervision of active members of the State Bar of California. *Some restrictions apply. Please call for details. **Employer sponsorship not guaranteed & based on qualified education, training & experience in specific professions these famous birds to return in great number. Luring the swallows back Two years ago, an effort to make these birds return gave birth to Swallow’s Vocalization Project, an idea which came from Dr. Charles Brown of the University of Tulsa. Under the biological scientist’s project, speakers on the Mission’s grounds played courtship calls and songs to lure the birds. The project is now on its third year and this year’s episode has started early this month to attract these social birds. So far, the idea has worked and swallows are now ascending to the Mission grounds and building nests. Swallows that flew overhead and might not have explored the Mission and considered it as a place to nest are now descending to the Mission grounds and building nests. The recording is of courtship songs that
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Long-term unemployment: A sad result of wrongful termination “Involuntary job loss is a stressful event, creating a variety of problems immediately, and long periods of unemployment can compound those problems,” states The Urban Institute, in a report for the Rockefeller Foundation entitled Consequences of Long-Term Unemployment. As employment attorneys, we are only too familiar with the sad realities of being fired. The situation becomes worse when the employee is illegally fired. Not all terminations are wrongful or frustration and helplessness. Like other illegal. California’s employment-at-will terminated employees, they may experidoctrine allows either the employer or the ence long-term unemployment. Long-term employee to end the employment relation- unemployment means being out of work ship at any time. The employer may fire for more than six months. employees, even if the employee’s job According to The Urban Institute’s performance was excellent. study, because of long-term unemployHowever, an employer may not fire an ment, families lose earnings. They borrow employee for a discriminatory or retalia- money, spend savings, and miss mortgage tory reason. Discrimination based on age, or rent payments. They forego needed race, sex, color, religion, national origin, expenses such as dental visits, health care, disability, medical condition, and preg- and buying medicines. nancy are illegal. It is also illegal to fire an Furthermore, becoming unemployed employee in retaliation for the employee’s has large negative effects on mental health. complaints regarding the employer’s prod- As economic stress increases, the incidence uct safety, refusing to engage in noncon- of anxiety disorders also increase, with evisensual sexual acts, or testifying about the dence suggesting increase in suicide rates. employer’s unlawful practices. Finally, disabled workers (who can Employees who suffer the injustice of still work with accommodation) “are very a wrongful termination are doubly vulner- unlikely to return to work; in fact, retired able. Disabled or pregnant employees, for people are far more likely to reenter the example, who were terminated because labor market than the disabled.” of their medical condition, may feel fear, The report concludes that “being out of
work for six months or more is associated with lower well-being among the longterm unemployed, their families, and their communities. [They] also tend to earn less once they find new jobs. They tend to be in poorer health and have children with worse academic performance than similar workers who avoided unemployment.” Employees who are wrongfully terminated need to know that there are legal remedies available to them. An experienced employment attorney may help them clarify what to do next. [C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is trial attorney
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who has obtained several million dollar recoveries for his clients against insurance companies and employers. He has been selected as a Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, featured in the cover of Los Angeles Daily Journal’s Verdicts and Settlements, and is a member of the Million Dollar-Advocates Forum. He is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center Washington, D.C. and the University of the Philippines. Visit his website at www.joesayaslaw.com or contact his office at (818) 291-0088 for a no-cost inquiry.]
Aquino: No proof of abuses vs. Pinoys in Malaysia MANILA, Feb 19 (Mabuhay) – There is no proof that Filipinos are being abused in the crackdown against illegal foreign workers in Malaysia, President Benigno Aquino III said Wednesday. “Wala pa akong nakitang pruweba nitong alleged human rights violations,” Aquino told reporters after the presentation of the Estero De San Miguel Project in Manila. “Walang nai-report sa atin ang kaukulang ahensiya ng gobyerno – [ang] DFA,” he added, referring to the Department of Foreign Affairs. Aquino will be flying to Malaysia later this month for a state visit. He issued the statement amid reports that overseas Filipino workers are being abused by authorities in Malaysia. Aquino, however, said the DFA is continuously monitoring the situation.
“Ang klaro sa akin, may mga dinedeport sila na... parang wala raw kaukulang mga work permits... parang inaalalayan din tayo sa pagbabalik ng ating mga kababayan na di umano’y lumabag sa kanilang mga batas,” he said. Malaysia is home to thousands of Filipinos. Many of them are undocumented and reside in Malaysian-controlled Sabah, a resource-rich territory that is also being claimed by the Philippines. Every year, hundreds of Filipinos enter Sabah through Mindanao in search of a better life. Most of the undocumented Filipinos there come from Basilan, Sulu, TawiTawi, and other far-flung provinces in the southern Philippines. They are among the country’s poorest and constantly plagued by armed conflicts. (MNS)
3,397 OFWs receive P39-M in livelihood assistance under the DOLE-NRCO’s enterprise development program MANILA, Feb 21 (Mabuhay) -- More overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are now budding entrepreneurs, thanks to the National Reintegration Center for OFWs’ Livelihood and Enterprise Development Program. Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said this Friday as she bared that in 2013, a total of 3,397 OFWs who wanted to jump-start their livelihood enterprises availed of the NRCO’s assistance under its Livelihood and Enterprise Development Program. “The number is higher by 887 than the 2013 target of 2,510 OFWs,” said Baldoz. The NRCO is a newly-created agency attached to the DOLE and in-charge of the implementation of the National Reintegration Program for OFWs. “The assistance came in the form of tools and jigs, equipment and raw materials for their businesses worth P10,000 each, or a total of P39 million,” Baldoz added. Of the 3,397 OFW beneficiaries, 657 were forced to leave Saudi Arabia because of its Saudization policy. “In recognition of the significant contribution of OFWs to the country’s development, it is fitting that the government increases its effort to augment the income of OFW families,” said Baldoz. The NRCO’s Livelihood and Enterprise Development Program also provides entrepreneurship development and skills enhancement training based on the business proposals of OFW beneficiaries. “After their training, the beneficiaries could immediately apply what they have learned and easily earn additional income. This is one way of mitigating the high social cost of migration,” she added.
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Around Town in Kababayan Today Because there are events in the Filipino-American community that are worth checking out and knowing about, we feature “Around Townâ€? segments on Kababayan Today – America’s first and only daily talk show for Filipinos. The segments air every Thursday and are also made available on YouTube. Filharmonics & Triumph of Philippine Art Fiharmoniacs recently got a treat as their favorite group, The Filharmonics of the popular reality competition show “The Sing Off,â€? performed at the USC Fisher Museum Lapid-Rodriguez, Director at the George of Art. “As a culture, we’re so expressive. We Segall Gallery in New Jersey, originally love to show our culture to the world be- put together and curated the pieces. “I want to honor the artists who decide cause we’re natural performers and we love it,â€? Niko del Rey said in an interview with to make commentaries about Martial Law Kababayan Today after their performance. which was very dangerous at the time. They were invited to provide entertainment They essentially risked their lives‌ and at the opening of the exhibition called in the end their works speak of not just “Triumph of Philippine Art.â€? about freedom but about cultural identity,â€? “My favorite part of the exhibit is the she said. overall theme – artists who at times of “Triumph of Philippine Artâ€? will run adversity came out and made their art to in Los Angeles until April 2014, while make a stand against social injustices; to coinciding with the commemoration of the say corruption has to end; the dictator has 28th Anniversary of EDSA People Power to go; sex slavery has to be ended. And they Revolution in the Philippines. #ACGTDT2014 do it in incredible, imaginative ways,â€? said Speaking of the Philippines, we know Museum Director Selma Holo. The exhibit features works of artists that all Filipinos enjoy travelling back; but who expressed their sentiments about imagine having the opportunity not just to the incidents of human rights violations go back; but also to be treated like a V-I-P during the Martial Law era. Maria Teresa as you tour the Motherland?
PNP denies gag order on release of info to media MANILA, Feb 21 (Mabuhay) – The Philippine National Police on Friday clarified that it did not issue a gag order against the media as it tightens its existing policies in information dessimination. PNP Public Information Office head Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac stressed that the media may still get information from police. However, only the designated officers are allowed to disclose information. “Unang-una po sa lahat, hindi ito gag order. Ito po ay reiteration of existing policies na medyo nakalimutan na through the years, at binubuhay lang namin ito,� he said. “The journalists will just simply refer to the chief of office or unit, or the duly designated spokesperson,� he added. “Ang ating lahat ng istasyon ay may hepe. Whether the smallest police station, may hepe po iyan.� While admitting they have become lax in implementing the policy, Sindac said the PNP has barred ordinary police officers – unless tasked by the leadership – from sharing information to the media. “Pinaalahanan namin ang aming mga
kasamang pulis, hindi lamang ang mga imbestigador, ngunit ang lahat ng kapulisan na walang kinalaman sa kaso, from talking about the cases prematurely or giving undue disclosure or information doon sa public lalo na po kung hindi pa kumpleto ang imbestigasyon,� he added. Philippine National Police Director General Alan Purisima released a memo to tighten its existing policies in information dessimination after he noticed voliations were becoming frequent. Earlier, Sindac said 12 police officers are currently undergoing investigation for unduly disclosing sensitive information to the media. He cited one case where a policeman injected personal opinion in an ongoing case during an interview. Sindac also appealed to the media to refrain from being a conduit for policemen to commit infractions. “Kasi ang nangyayari minsan kung sinu-sino makita, naka-unipormeng pulis iinterbyuhin niyo. Hindi pa naman niya alam ‘yung kaso. Nakapagbigay siya ng information either unecessarily or unduly,� he said.
Solon proposes environmental education for Filipino students
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a great help in the rebuilding of affected areas,� said Manny Ilagan. For her part, Consul General Hellen Barber-Dela Vega emphasized the cultural learning aspect of the tour. “You’d be surprised, there are some who have not seen the Rizal Park; or Malacanang Palace,� she added. The tour also offers an opportunity to meet with Philippine President Noynoy Aquino. For complete interviews and more check out previous “Kababayan Today� segments - www.youtube.com/kababayanla18. Jannelle So is Host/Producer of “Kababayan Today� that airs daily at 4:00pm on KSCITV-LA18; and syndicated in Hawaii on weekdays at 3:30pm on Kiku. Catch previous programs at www. youtube.com/kababayanla18. Like her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/JannelleSoOFFICIAL. Follow her on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JannelleSo.
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Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which found out that human influence on climate change is clear. Villarica explained that when petrol is used to power cars and electricity to energize individual homes, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere and adversely affects its absorptive capacity. The lady lawmaker added that as the world population increases, as it is expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, the atmosphere would gradually deplete its capacity to absorb greenhouses gases. The bill directs the Department of Education (DepEd) to ensure the conduct of environmental education for all students in the kindergarten and elementary levels. The instructional module shall cover but not be limited to recycling, energy efficiency, conservation and climate change. Under the measure, the Secretary of Education is mandated to incorporate such module in the existing curricula and shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this Act. (MNS)
This is what the Philippine Department of Tourism offers with their project called Ambassadors Consuls Generals and Tourism Directors Tour to the Philippines, or ACGTDT. Last week, the 9th ACGTDT was launched at the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles. “It’s fun. It’s the only tour that offers that kind of activities or V-I-P treatment. I like the camaraderie. It’s not just meeting people from LA, even those coming from Canada or Europe. We all come at the same time and share experiences,� said Annie Cuevas, Director of the Philippine Tourism Office in Los Angeles, when asked about the longevity of the program. This year, the LA tourism office is tasked to head this year’s tour which they say, is different from other years and is also quite significant. “This is the first tour we’re hosting after Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda devastated the Philippines. The money we spend there be
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MANILA, Feb 19 (Mabuhay) – A lady lawmaker is seeking to institutionalize environmental education among Filipino students in the kindergarten and elementary levels. Rep. Linabelle Ruth Villarica (4 th District, Bulacan) filed House Bill 3724, which provides that the State must initiate novel approaches in education to train children to preserve and control the environment, and prepare them for the inevitable climate change. “It is imperative to educate our children in their early years that lifestyle and technology choices have to be adjusted,� Villarica said. The solon said the measure seeks to instruct young children on the need to develop a sense of responsibility towards environment. “This will prepare them to address more challenging issues on the subject as they mature to become pro-active citizens of this country,� she said. In filing the measure, Villarica cited a study conducted by the Inter-governmental
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DECRIMINALIZATION From page 1
libel would worsen the situation of the already overcrowded prison jails in the country. ”It will add to the population, to the burgeoning population of this country we are spending taxpayers money to sustain this prisoners and then you add up more people to populate the prisons because of libel,” she said. Santiago, a former regional trial court judge, found the SC ruling legalizing online libel as “erroneous.” ”I call on all netizens to magnify all our efforts and to speed it up as soon as possible so that we can either file a motion for reconsideration with respect to this particular libel provision or we can speed it up here in the Senate on that new law that I have filed from crowdsourcing,” she said. Santiago and Guingona said the Bill of Rights as enshrined in the 1987 Constitu-
tion already guarantees that no law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech.” ”This bill proposes to remove imprisonment as a penalty for libel because the threat of jail time sends a sufficient chilling effect on the freedom of expression,” Guingona commented. Guingona stressed that a democratic country should promote and protect the right of its people to express themselves in ways that are both free and responsible. Cayetano, for his part, explained that the online libel provision of RA 10175 suppresses internet users’ freedom of speech. ”What is constitutional and what is legal is not necessarily what is moral and what is right. The SC based it on the legality of the provision. But on the wisdom of the law, that is for Congress to determine,” he said. Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara was the first senator to file bill decriminal-
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izing libel through Senate Bill No. 1218. Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero has already expressed support for the passage of any bill that would remove criminal liability from the online offense. In fact, Escudero is pushing the passage of the proposals he put forward to decriminalize libel provisions in the Philippines laws. Escudero has first put the proposal in 2007 to decriminalize libel and the provisions that define and penalize libel under Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC). “The Philippines, as a country deemed democratic and developing, cannot rest on its antiquated laws that run detrimental and contrary to the exercise of freedom. Decriminalizing libel accords greater protection to freedom of speech and expression,” Escudero said in a statement. He added: “If we take away the threat of fear of incarceration and restraint of liberty, we encourage a strong print media to continuously provide a mechanism that promotes transparency over the excesses of government and other entities.” According to Escudero, the existence of libel in Philippine laws is hurting the country’s global press freedom ranking, which
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has dropped in recent years from 147 out of 179 countries in 2013 and 140 in 2012 based on the World Press Freedom Index. Last year, the senator introduced Senate Bill No. 126 to amend the cybercrime law by removing its online libel provision. In Senate Bill No. 127, which Escudero reintroduced, he is seeking anew the repeal of Article 355 of the RPC to decriminalize libel committed by writing, printing, airing on radio or any similar means. The senator said the two proposed bills, while seeking to scrap criminal penal provisions, did not completely remove the remedies provided under existing laws against media abuse and irresponsible reports.
RULING From page 1
also plans to file in Congress an “enhanced” version of the anti-cybercrime law without a provision on online libel. On Wednesday, the International Commission of Jurists said the SC’s decision to uphold the constitutionality of the law on online libel could stifle freedom of expression. (MNS)
RESPONDENTS From page 1
frequented the NABCOR office. She added that she was invited by Luy to a thanksgiving Mass to personally meet Napoles. SDPFFI is one of the bogus NGOs allegedly used by Napoles in the scam. Aside from the three senators, Mendoza also identified 10 incumbent and former members of the House of Representatives who supposedly gave their pork barrel funds to Napoles NGOs. These were incumbent House members Conrado Estrella III and Victor Ortega and former Representatives Erwin Chiongbian, Rodolfo Plaza, Samuel Dangwa, Edgar Valdez, Mark Douglas Cagas IV, Rizalina Lanete, Arthur Pingoy Jr. and Rodolfo Valencia.
Possible state witness On Wednesday night, lawyer Levito Baligod said Cunanan is ready to belie claims of Revilla that he did not benefit from the scam. Baligod said Cunanan has applied to be a state witness as early as last year. Cunanan is one of the 39 respondents in the plunder complaint filed with the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the scam. Last week, Ruby Tuason, a selfconfessed go-between, testified before the Senate blue ribbon committee on how she supposedly delivered bagfuls of kickback from the pork barrel scam to Estrada and Gigi Reyes, former chief-of-staff of Enrile. (MNS)
Customs to probe own staff within over illegal rice imports MANILA, Feb 20 (Mabuhay) -- The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is on a nationwide probe to determine how some 200,000 metric tons of rice entered various ports in the country in 2013 without the required import permit from the National Food Authority (NFA). During a press conference at the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday, Customs Commissioner John Sevilla bared that the bureau’s examiners and appraisers who cleared the shipments are being investigated. However, these officers have not been relieved of their posts pending the results of the probe. “Nagkaroon ng breakdown in the process. Paano nangyari? Kapag may nakapasok na walang import permit, may nagclear na appraiser or examiner. So tinatanong namin sila: ‘Bakit na-clear ang mga ito?’” Sevilla said. It is possible that the consignees and importers were able to present fake import permits. If this is the case, just the same, the examiners and appraisers are not yet off the hook since there should have been a determination on the authenticity of the said import document, Sevilla stressed. A total of 150,000 metric tons of the subject total rice shipment without import permits arrived at the Port of Manila and Manila International Container Port; 75-percent of these were imported by only 5 consignees: Bold Bidder Marketing and General Merchandise, Starcraft Trading Corp., Intercontinental Grains, Medaglia De Oro Trading, and Silent Royalty Marketing.
All these shipments did not have records with the BOC’s Transaction Audit Division where the entry files of importations are forwarded before being turned over to the Commission on Audit (COA). The remaining 50,000 metric tons, meantime, came from ports in Cebu, Davao, Cagayan De Oro, and Misamis Oriental. It was the NFA that raised the alarm when the BOC published data on total rice importations in 2013. The NFA alerted the BOC about the importations that were not subject of import permits. Aside from the investigation to determine whether BOC examiners and appraisers should be held accountable for the entry of the illegal shipments, other measures are being put in place to prevent the entry and clearance of rice importations minus the import permits. Beginning just this week, the NFA supplies the BOC copies of import permits it issues to consignees. “Ngayon nachi-check na namin sino talaga ang may import permit,” Sevilla stressed. Sevilla explained that beginning this month, the NFA no longer honors import permits issued in 2013 which the agency has allowed to be honored up to January 2014 due to the “political turmoil in Thailand.” Some of the rice importations in various ports in the country come from Thailand. The importation of rice is being regulated in the Philippines so as not to kill the local rice-producing industry. (MNS)
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Misrepresentation of debtor’s true income leads to denial of bankruptcy discharge The new bankruptcy law requires debtors to calculate their gross and net incomes using the means test form B22. Differences in the calculation of income can result from many factors. A debtor intermingling business and personal expenses must be precise in the classification of expenses because a personal expense paid by the business actually results in additional income to debtor from the business if the claimed business expense in truth is a personal expense. For instance, a Chapter 7 debtor operates a restaurant. He is paid a salary of $3,000 by the restaurant. include as income all of the funds he took The restaurant pays debtor’s house mort- from this business for his own personal gage of $1,700 expenses masked as part of benefit, the fact that the debtor’s listed business rent. Debtor perpetrates a fraud income and expenses are not supported on the court because he only shows his by the documentary evidence, along with salary of $3,000 in schedule I but does his misrepresentation in the petition that not show the $1700 house mortgage as the debtor’s business had no assets, that additional income because it is shown as warrant denial of the debtor’s discharge,� part of business rent in schedule J. This is the court said. pretty sneaky and may not be noticed by the In addition to the foregoing monkey trustee. But if the scheme to hide debtor’s business, debtor transferred three expentrue income is discovered by any interested sive cars from his name to his son’s name. party, that party can file a motion to deny Son is graduating from kindergarten next discharge pursuant to Section 727(a)(4) month. The debtor also transferred his which deals with the concealment of debtor one-third interest in real property to an assets as ground for discharge denial. LLC he owned. The debtor admitted that In Re Bub, the court found that the after he transferred the three cars to his debtor understated his monthly income by son, he pledged the cars as collateral for a $1,800 by falsely representing that he used debt owed by another of his wholly owned his personal credit card solely for business businesses. However, just before he filed expenses, when in fact this credit card was for bankruptcy protection, debtor transused for business and personal expenses. ferred the cars back into his name and listed “Neither the total amount of income listed, them as assets in his bankruptcy estate. nor the individual expenditures them- The creditor who filed the motion asking selves, bear any relationship to the debtor’s the court to deny discharge asserted that own financial records. Furthermore, the the debtor’s schedules were false because debtor’s explanation that he and his solely the debtor falsely listed an ownership inowned business are on and the same, so terest in the cars even though the transfer that he had the right to run his personal of ownership from his minor son was not expenses through the bank account for the completed prepetition. The creditor also business, does not absolve the debtor in asserted that the debtor under-valued the this case. Regardless of whether he used cars, and falsely claimed one as exempt. his solely owned business as his personal Creditor focused its attack on the piggy bank, it is the debtor’s failure to prepetition asset transfers made by debtor,
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and as an additional argument mentioned that debtor understated his income and overstated his expenses in an effort to his true financial condition. The court found that a significant number of the charges on the card were for personal expenses. By treating all of the charges as business expenses, the debtor understated the income he received from the business. The bankruptcy court denied the debtor’s discharge pursuant to Section 727(a)(4). The importance of being truthful and accurate in debtor’s bankruptcy schedules cannot be overemphasized. The fact is that truth can be stranger than fiction. For instance, client spends nearly $2,000 monthly for hotel bills and $1,800 for food expense. Although these expense amounts appear absurd at first glance, they are ac-
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tually true. Client is a truck driver who is always on the road. His wife travels with him so they have to stay overnight in a lot of hotels. Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.� Mathew 19:26. 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.
BOC: Is the PHL Canada’s dump site Ship’s plastic cargo was actually stinking trash MANILA, Feb 20 (Mabuhay) – The Bureau of Customs on Thursday sued a company responsible for the importing garbage from Canada. Customs Commissioner John “Sunny� Sevilla said the firm – “Chronic Plastics� – declared itself as an importer of assorted plastic scrap, but when authorities inspected its 50-container shipment last December they were surprised to discover garbage that was still “umaalingasaw.� “Unang-una po, hindi po basurahan ang Pilipinas,� said Sevilla at a press conference after filing the complaint before the Department of Justice. “Ito po ay hindi lamang labag sa tariff and Customs code kung hindi sa ilang batas tungkol sa ating environment. Uulitin ko po, hinding-hindi tayo dapat pumayag at hinding-hindi po papayag ang Customs na maging basurahan dito,� Sevilla added. The shipment, with a declared value of $222,800.15 or more than P10 million, weighed 891.200.6 kilograms, Sevilla said. The Customs chief noted it was his first time to encounter such an “unusual� smuggling case. “Usually underdeclaration o misdeclaration pero ngayon ibang klase ng violation ang ating sinusugpo,� he said. Sevilla said the Customs Bureau was not in the best position to explain the importer’s intentions for bringing in garbage into the Philippines from Canada. Sevilla said his office has yet to determine if the source of the garbage could also be held liable under Philippine laws, adding that the Philippine government
would be coordinating with the Canadian Embassy in Manila. Meanwhile, Customs Deputy Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno of the BOC enforcement group vowed to ensure the shipments are returned to Canada with the help of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. (MNS)MANILA, Feb 21 (Mabuhay) -- The Bureau of Customs on Friday issued warrants of seizure for 38 used cars imported through Port Irene in Sta. Ana, Cagayan. The 38 cars are part of 800 secondhand cars that were imported in three batches by Fenix (CEZA) International. The first shipment of 347 used cars from South Korea arrived in December 24, 2013. Another batch of 266 units arrived last January 3, 2014 and the last batch of 234 units arrived on January 27. Customs Commissioner John Sevilla said the importation of used cars is prohibited under Executive Order 156 except for light trucks and special purpose vehicles such as ambulances. Sevilla instructed Leilani Alameda, acting District Collector of Customs in Port Irene, to stop the processing of documents that will allow the release of the used cars from the free zone. In 2002, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo issued EO 156 banning the importation of used vehicles in an effort to boost the sales of new motor vehicles in the country. She later issued EO 418, which modified the tariff rates of imported used vehicles.(MNS)
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OPINION
Palace: Economy has grown better even without Cha-cha
MANILA, Feb 20 (Mabuhay) – Firm on the stand that Charter change is unnecessary to improve the economy, Malacañang on Thursday noted that the government was evidently doing well without it. Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda during a briefing said that President Benigno S. Aquino III maintained his position considering a number of things including the country’s already developing economy. “If you look at the situation right now, our economy has grown better even without amending the Charter,” Lacierda said. He said this following the endorsement of Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. of Charter change in the House of Representatives. Lacierda also cited China as an example the President would often use where “land is not open to foreign nationals” and there was also growth. “I suppose Speaker Belmonte has a position different from the President,” Lacierda said. “But the President – either publicly or privately – has always stated that there’s no need for Charter change when the growth of the economy is concerned,” he added. (MNS)
No exemptions: Aquino defends SC decision on online libel MANILA, Feb 19 (Mabuhay) – President Aquino defended Wednesday the decision of the Supreme Court to uphold several provisions of the Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 including the one on Internet libel. Speaking to reporters, Aquino said it is not the intent of the High Court to suppress freedom of expression when it ruled section 4 © (4) of the Anti-Cybercime Act, or the provision penalizing libel, as constitutional. “Pipigilin ba ang freedom of expression? Hindi naman yata yun ang layunin,” he said. The President said not imposing sanctions on online libel violates the equal protection clause in the Constitution especially since libel laws are present for offline media. “Kung may mali kapag sinabi sa TV, sinabi sa radio, sinulat sa pahayagan, sa mga magasin, kapag lumipat ka ng format dapat exempted? Siguro kayo hindi kayo papayag. Unequal protection naman ang ma va-violate,” he said. He added: “Kung tama naman ang sinasabi mo, bakit ka kakabahan sa libel na issue?” The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that a cybercrime law penalizing online libel is constitutional, disappointing critics who argue it could curb Internet freedom in one of Asia’s most freewheeling democracies. The Cybercrime Protection Law was passed in 2012 to stamp out online scourges such as fraud, identity theft, spamming and child pornography, but its implementation was suspended after coming under challenge from various groups. The Supreme Court said however that one of its most controversial provisions, the section which penalizes cyber libel, “is not unconstitutional”, spokesman Theodore Te said. Only the sender of the material faced prosecution and not the recipient, Te added.
Nurses urge state board to address hospital workplace violence
The California Nurses Association/National Nurses United will step up the call today for tougher state standards to stem a growing problem of workplace violence in California hospitals. At a Sacramento hearing this morning before the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board, CNA RNs will describe how too many hospitals have lax standards and protocols for responding to workplace violence. The hearing was set for this morning at the State Resources Building Auditorium. “It’s time for California to crack down on an alarming surge of workplace violence incidents in hospitals that puts patients, their families, nurses, and other staff at serious risk,” said CNA Legislative Director Bonnie Castillo, RN. “Far too many hospitals have abandoned their obligation to ensure safety for their patients and their staff. That must end.” CNA will present a petition calling for the Board to adopt regulations requiring hospitals to establish comprehensive workplace violence prevention plans, and whistleblower protection against hospital retaliation for nurses and other employ-
ees who seek law enforcement intervention. CNA last year sponsored major legislation on stepping up hospital responsibilities to enact prevention to reduce workplace violence and improved reporting requirements. The bill stalled due to major hospital industry opposition, but CNA plans to reintroduce a bill soon. In addition to the bill, say nurses, the Cal OSHA Board should adopt its own tough language. The petition says new standards should ensure that all hospitals set in place workplace violence prevention plans that include personnel education and training, a system for responding to and investigating violent incidents and situations involving the risk of violence, and improving factors that would help prevent incidents, including inadequate security systems, security personnel, and unsafe staffing. Other provisions of a comprehensive state regulatory plan should include improved documentation and reporting of incidents of violence, a zero tolerance for retaliation against employees, and strong reporting requirements with specific timelines.
Miriam: Guingona not required to be impartial during ‘pork’ probe MANILA, Feb 20 (Mabuhay) – Heads of Senate committees like Senator Teofisto Guingona III are not required to be impartial during congressional inquiries, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago said Thursday. Days after Senator Jinggoy Estrada called out Guingona, who chairs the blue ribbon committee, for supposedly prejudging the Senate probe on the pork barrel scam, Santiago said senators do not need to be completely neutral when attending inquiries in aid of legislation. “The question there is: are the chairs of these committees and these members required to have the objective neutrality of an impartial judge? Answer, no, because you are not judges of law or justice,” Santiago told reporters at a press briefing. She added that politics is bound to “always intrude” during a Senate hearing, which she described as a “political proceeding.” “It is not a court proceeding. It is not a judicial proceeding. We are not required to have open minds. We can close our minds as fast as we want,” Santiago said. Last Monday, Estrada openly criticized Guingona for supposedly prejudging his involvement in the alleged pork barrel scam. In response, Guingona said he never intended to prejudge Estrada, and maintained that he has never
ascribed guilt to any of his colleagues. ‘Bully’ witnesses Santiago further said that senators are even allowed to “bully” witnesses during Senate hearings, because they are not covered by the rules of court. “You can harass the witness. You can bully the witness. There can be no objection, unless you are going out of bounds by calling him unbearable names,” she said. The feisty lawmaker likewise rejected Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III’s proposal to let the Senate ethics committee handle issues on senators allegedly involved in the pork barrel scam. “If you have something as hot as the pork barrel issue and involving a lot of senators, it is best it is given to the blue ribbon,” she said. Senate President Franklin Drilon earlier said he would rather focus on lawmaking than conducting an ethics probe on senators. Aside from Estrada, Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. and Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile are also facing plunder complaintss before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly pocketing millions in kickbacks from the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam. The Senate has yet to convene its ethics panel despite the controversies involving its members. (MNS)
Aquino economic program ‘generally good,’ UKTI official says MANILA, Feb 19 (Mabuhay) – The administration of President Benigno Aquino III has been “generally good” in terms of growing the Philippine economy during the half term of his presidency, United Kingdom Trade and Investment (UKTI) Manila director Iain Mansfield said. Mansfield said the economic program of the Aquino administration has been effective and it has been proven by double digit growth in trade, investments, and the more than 7-percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the past years. ”In general it has been good. (There’s an) increase in trade. We’ve seen double digit increases in trade over the last two years. We’ve seen increase in investment coming into the Philippines. We’ve seen growth around 7 percent, and those numbers speak for themselves,” he said.
External trade of the country in the first eleven months of 2013 reached US$ 105.8 billion from 2012’s US$ 104.9 billion. Revenue from exported goods in 2013 alone grew to US$ 53.978 billion from 2012’s export receipt of US$ 52.1 billion. Foreign investments approved by seven major investment promotion agencies (IPAs) in Q3 of 2013 also went up by 86.6 percent amounting to US$ 33.097 billion from US$ 17.734 billion in 2012. Trade between Philippines and UK in 2012 reached £332 million which increased 17 percent from the previous year. In 2013, UK has the highest investments in the Philippines among other European countries and fourth highest overall source of foreign direct investments, according to the British Embassy in Manila.
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K-1 Visa: FiancÊ(e) Visa to marry U.S. citizen In previous editions of this article, the process of obtaining permanent residence through marriage was explored. Discussion of that procedure began with the supposition that the couple was married, and continued with the various steps to ultimately gain permanent residence. In many cases, however, a problem exists in even getting to the point at which a couple is married. Often, a foreign national is in his/her home country and, for one reason or another, the U.S. citizen cannot travel to ties are unmarried and of legal age. Birth that country to marry him/her. A solution certificates, and if one has been previously in such a scenario can be found with the married, evidence that the prior marriage K-1 FiancÊ(e) Visa. has been legally terminated are usually A K-1 visa allows a foreign national satisfactory to accomplish this. Finally, to come to the United States to marry a evidence must be provided to show that United States citizen. The K-1 visa is the parties have physically met each other valid for ninety (90) days after entry to within the past two (2) years. the United States, during which time the The petitioner may submit photos of the marriage must take place. Once the foreign couple, plane tickets, hotel receipts, etc. as national is issued a K-1 visa, any of his/ proof that the couple has met. Exceptions her unmarried children under the age of to this third requirement apply in certain 21 may be issued K-1 visas. Upon arrival circumstances that cannot be explored here in the United States, the foreign national due to space limitations of this article. The may immediately apply for permission to USCIS may also schedule an interview of work. A two-step process is involved to the petitioner wherein inquiry will be made obtain a K-1 visa. on the foregoing issues. Once approved, First, the United States citizen (the notice is sent to the petitioner and the file petitioner) must file Petition for Alien is forwarded to the appropriate consulate FiancÊ(e) along with supporting documents abroad. with the USCIS. Through the filed petition Second, after the petition is approved, and documents, the petitioner must dem- the foreign national can apply for a K-1 onstrate three things. To begin, it must be visa in his/ her home country. An interview shown that the foreign national has a bona is scheduled where the foreign national fide intent to marry within ninety (90) days must provide certain documents for issuafter arrival. This is often accomplished ance of the visa. An affidavit of support by producing evidence that a marriage from the petitioner, proving that the foreign is going to take place – i.e. wedding an- national will not be relying on public assisnouncements, catering contracts, etc. In tance upon arrival, in addition to originals addition, it must be shown that both par- of documents mentioned hereinabove,
PNP-Anti-Cybercrime Group busts ‘sextortion’ gang; arrests 3 suspects MANILA, Feb 19 (Mabuhay) -– The Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group busted a syndicate involved in so-called “sextortion� following the arrest of three suspects in an operation in Pampanga province, a PNP-ACG official announced Wednesday. Senior Supt. Gilbert Sosa, director of PNP-ACG, identified those arrested as Allan Canlas, Antonette Fabian and Ronald Asuncion. Sosa said that a fourth suspect, identified as Sheila Fabian, who is the main character in the alleged “sextortion� activities of the group, remains at large. The group’s modus operandi, Sosa said, is to lure prospective victims in an online sex with their female cohorts using Skype. Apparently, the group takes nude photographs of unsuspecting victims during the session and later use them in extorting money. Sosa said that the PNP-ACG acted against the group following complaint from one Jay, who is in Hong Kong and was victimized by Sheila Fabian. The complainant accused the woman of exacting a total of P1,469,815.72 from him. According to Sosa, the victim filed a formal complaint before the Consulate General of the Republic of the Philippines in Hong Kong last Jan. 27 which was forwarded to the PNP-ACG. Based on the complaint, Jay met Sheila sometime in 2013 and they became friends and exchanged contact numbers and email address. On October 10, 2013, the victim received an email messages from Shiela inviting him to meet through Skype call. Due to his excitement, the victim willingly gave in to the request and agreed for online sex that occurred on two separate
occasions, October 14 and November 5, 2013, respectively. On same day of November 5, Jay received an e-mail message from Sheila containing his naked picture. Jay opined that the said picture and video were taken during their online interactions without his consent. These obscene materials were then used by the suspect to blackmail the victim and demanded money in exchange of not uploading these to Facebook and Youtube which prompted the victim to accede on the demand. Record of wire transfers from the complainant to the suspects thru Western Union turned positive upon verification of ACG from the passports the suspects used to withdraw money from Western Union Apalit, Pampanga branches. Seized from the suspects were a filledup withdrawal slip amounting to P120,000 sent by the complainant via Western Union in Hong Kong which was the latest demand they asked from the complainant. Meanwhile, another customer copy of Western Union receipt was also recovered from them with control number 303070-8795 amounting to P115,000 from the victim dated February 17, 2014 with signature of Antonette Fabian pertaining to previous transaction with the Western Union Branch, located at USSC, Apalit, Pampanga and two units of cellular phones. Sosa said the three suspects are now detained at PNP-ACG in Camp Crame while manhunt operations are ongoing against the suspect at-large.(MNS)
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must be presented. Other documents may also be requested by a particular consulate. If all requirements are met, visa issuance will follow. After arrival in the United States and marriage, the foreign national may thereafter begin the process to obtain permanent residence. Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U.
Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes was President of the Philippine American Bar Association for 2005. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Mr. Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 3881611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com; visit at www.kenreyeslaw.com.
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To people who want to get out of debt – But are afraid to file bankruptcy Do you want to get out of debt but are afraid that filing bankruptcy may only make things worse for you? Facing difficult financial times can be a frightening thing for a lot of people. When bill collectors are calling day and night, at some point, you realize that something must be done but you just don’t know where to begin or where to go for help. Often, options can also be confusing unless you get the right information that you need to make the right decision. Should I consider filing bankruptcy or is that the worst mistake I can make under the circumstances? What can creditors do to me if I continue to ignore my debt problems? How much time do I have before creditors take everything I’ve worked so hard for? These are the common questions that people have. If a lawsuit, wage garnishment, repossession or foreclosure is imminent, you need to take action immediately so you can protect yourself and your property.
Gap boosts wages for US employees to $9/hr NEW YORK, February 19, 2014 (AFP) – US retailer Gap Inc. announced Wednesday that it will voluntarily boost the minimum wage of US employees to $9 an hour in 2014 and $10 an hour in 2015. Gap said the policy change will affect about 65,000 workers in the US. “Our analysis determined that by increasing hourly pay for US employees to a minimum of $10 in 2015, we can strengthen our ability to attract and retain a skilled, enthusiastic and engaged workforce,� Gap said on its website. The policy applies to all Gap stores, which include the namesake brand, Banana Republic and Old Navy. Gap’s announcement comes amid intensifying debate in Washington on a proposal by President Barack Obama to raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour.
A report from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office Monday said the proposal could lift 900,000 people above the poverty line but may cost half a million jobs. Obama Wednesday issued a statement praising Gap’s action and calling on Congress to pass his bill “and give America a raise.� Gap declined to estimate the financial impact of the decision, but described itself as “a financially strong and healthy company� that can absorb the higher cost without harming shareholders. “To us, this is not a political issue,� said Gap chief executive Glenn Murphy. “Our decision to invest in frontline employees will directly support our business, and is one that we expect to deliver a return many times over.�
If filing bankruptcy is your best option, consult with an experienced bankruptcy attorney who can explain to you how this process works so you can get immediate debt relief. Unfortunately, most people feel a certain shame or stigma about petitioning for bankruptcy when in reality it may be the best thing they can do to protect themselves from creditor actions. Listen to me: If your home, wages, assets and your financial future are at stake, you don’t need to feel embarrassed about anything. If you have done your best to do everything you can with no success, you need to at least find out what your legal options are. Forget about what you friends and family may think if they find out that you are considering bankruptcy. That should be the least of your concerns. What you need to know is to find out the advantages and disadvantages of bankruptcy so you can determine if it is right for your situation. If you have been sued by a creditor and you don’t file an answer to the complaint, the creditor can get a default judgment against you. The judgment obtained will then allow the creditor to further collect the debt by seizing your bank accounts or garnishing your wages. In certain cases where the creditor obtains a court order to force you to appear in court to be examined regarding your
assets (debtor’s examination), your failure to appear may result in a bench warrant issued by the court for your arrest. Keep in mind that in the above scenario, you do not go to jail for owing money but you can get arrested for failure to appear at the judgment debtor’s examination. If you file bankruptcy, of course, at any point during the collection process, the legal proceedings against you are immediately stopped. Most people are afraid of filing bankruptcy simply because they are unaware that the law is on their side and that they can get out of debt and start a new life. Don’t deprive yourself and your family of the benefits that the law provides. There is nothing wrong or illegal about seeking legal help if it’s your only way out of the financial mess you’re in. If you are in debt and would like to get out, I’d like to help you. For a free consultation, call my office at Toll-Free 1-866-477-7772 so I can carefully review your situation and all available options. (None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped thousands of clients in getting out of debt. For a free evaluation of your situation, please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-866-477-7772. They have offices in Glendale, Cerritos, West Covina, Valencia and Riverside.)
PHL remittances hit US$25.1 billion in 2013 MANILA, Feb 17 (Mabuhay) – Remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) reached US$25.1 billion last year, 7.6 per cent higher than the previous year. The Philippine central bank said Monday remittances in December amounted to US$2.4 billion, up 12.5 per cent compared to December 2012, Xinhua news agency reported. “Remittances in December marks the ninth consecutive month in 2013 that personal remittances breached the US$2 billion level,� the bank said in a statement. Cash remittances channeled through banks grew by 6.4 per cent on year to US$22.8 billion last year, exceeding the central bank’s projection of a 5-per cent
hike for the year. Major sources of cash remittances last year were the US, Saudi Arabia, UK, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Singapore, Canada, and Japan. The central bank said the robust growth of remittances last year was due to the strong demand for skilled Filipino manpower abroad particularly in the Middle East. Preliminary data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration showed there were 1.8 million OFWs last year. Cash remittances accounted for 8.4 per cent of Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) in 2013.(MNS)
Napoles biding her time till 2016?
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MANILA, Feb 20 (Mabuhay) – Senator Antonio Trillanes IV suspects that alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles is hoping to turn the tide come 2016, when her supposed bet for president wins. Trillanes said he believes Napoles will not spill the beans anytime soon and may be waiting for the outcome of the 2016 presidential polls before making her next move. Trillanes said Napoles is careful in mentioning individuals whom she supposedly had transactions with, as there is a possibility that these people or their allies might retain power in 2016. “Hindi magsasalita iyan dahil tataya iyan sa magiging susunod na presidente ng Pilipinas para mamasahe ang kanilang mga kaso, o mabigyan muna ng pyansa tapos para kinalaunan makakalimutan ng kababayan natin, mawawala na lang yan,� Trillanes said. “Sa tingin ko kasi ang nakikita nila is malapit na itong eleksyon eh. Kung magtitiis siya, maaari kung mananalo ang kanyang manok, eh mamamasahe ang kaso niya. Kung magsasalita siya ngayon, marami siyang makakaaway na baka ito ang mga naka-pwesto sa susunod. So kailangan masigurado niya muna. Ngayon, kung matatalo ang manok niya
sa 2016 malamang magsasalita na iyan.� Pressed to name the person he believes is Napoles’ presidential bet, Trillanes said: “Alam na siguro natin iyan kung sino.� Napoles, Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile and Ramon “Bong� Revilla Jr., and 34 other individuals are facing plunder charges over the alleged misuse of an estimated P10 billion worth of Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or “pork barrel.� The businesswoman is accused of setting up fake non-government organizations where legislators allegedly funneled their respective PDAFs to get kickbacks. So far, only Vice President Jejomar Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance has declared intention to run for president. Binay is a known ally of Estrada and Enrile, two of the lawmakers at the center of the scam. No special treatment Trillanes also said he is against putting Napoles under hospital arrest, amid reports that the businesswoman has an ovarian tumor. The senator said he is not against giving Napoles the chance to seek medical attention, but he argued that putting the businesswoman to under hospital arrest would not be acceptable.
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Plan to split California into six states gains ground LOS ANGELES, February 21, 2014 (AFP) – A plan to divide California into six separate US states is closer to making it on to a November ballot, with organizers gaining approval to collect signatures. The seemingly far-fetched initiative, sponsored by Silicon Valley venture capitalist Tim Draper, claims “political representation of California’s diverse population and economies has rendered the state nearly ungovernable.” And on Tuesday, the California Secretary of State’s office gave the movement a boost, saying that proponents “may begin collecting petition signatures.” At least 807,615 voters will need to sign the petition by July 18 to make it onto the ballot. The proposal aims to split the state – America’s most populous with around 38 million inhabitants – into “six smaller state governments, while preserving the historical boundaries of the various counties, cities and towns.”
In 2012, California was tied with Russia and Italy – all with a GDP of approximately $2.0 trillion – for eighth place in world GDP rankings, according to the Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy. The proposal would create a state out of Silicon Valley, home to tech giants Google, Facebook and Apple. It would also create South California, which would include Hollywood and the US entertainment industry. West California, Central California, North California, and Jefferson in the most northern part of the state, would also go it alone. According to the proposal, voters overwhelming approved dividing California in two in 1859, but Congress did not act due to the Civil War. Draper, who has funded more than 400 companies including Skype and Baidu, is founder of venture capital firm Draper Fisher Jurvetson in Menlo Park, California.
CA State Sen. Calderon charged with taking bribes LOS ANGELES – Ronald Calderon, a member of the California State Senate, has agreed to surrendered to federal authorities on Monday after being named in a federal grand jury indictment that accuses him of taking tens of thousands of dollars in bribes from a businessman and from people who were associated with a Hollywood film studio, but who were in actuality undercover FBI agents. Ronald S. Calderon, 56, of Montebello, is charged in a 24-count indictment that was returned late yesterday by a federal grand jury with mail fraud, wire fraud, honest services fraud, bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, money
laundering and aiding in the filing of false tax returns. The indictment also charges Thomas M. Calderon, 59, also of Montebello, who is Ronald’s brother and a former member of the California State Assembly. Along with his brother, Thomas Calderon is charged in the money laundering conspiracy and with seven substantive counts of money laundering. Tom Calderon self-surrendered this morning after being informed of the indictment and is expected to be arraigned this afternoon in United States District Court. Ron Calderon is travelling and has agreed to surrender Monday morning.
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HEALTH & BEAUTY
Vitamin C linked to reduced stroke risk (Relaxnews) – A small study presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology indicated that risk of hemorrhagic stroke is lower among people with normal vitamin C blood levels compared to those with low or deficient levels. While hemorrhagic stroke is less common than ischemic stroke, it is the deadlier of the two. “Our results show that vitamin C defi-
ciency should be considered a risk factor for this severe type of stroke, as were high blood pressure, drinking alcohol and being overweight in our study,â€? study researcher Dr. StĂŠphane Vannier, M.D., of Pontchaillou University Hospital in France, said in a statement. “More research is needed to explore specifically how vitamin C may help to reduce stroke risk. For example, the vitamin may regulate blood pressure.â€? The study involved testing vitamin C
Prelimiary research suggests getting your daily dose of vitamin C – such as in the form of citrus – can protect you against one type of stroke. ŠSerg64/shutterstock.com
blood levels in 65 individuals who had suffered an intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke and 65 people who had never had a stroke. Research showed that of all 130 people, 45 percent had normal vitamin C levels and 45 percent had very low levels. The people who had not experienced strokes were those with high levels of the vitamin. While this research is still considered in the preliminary stage as it has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal, past studies have also linked vitamin C with
reduced stroke risk. A 2008 University of Cambridge study found people with high blood levels of vitamin C reduced their stroke risk by 42 percent, and a similar 1995 study in the British Medical Journal indicated elderly people with low levels of the vitamin had a greater risk of stroke. This research would only add to the long list of vitamin C benefits, such as its ability to boost immunity. Recommended doses for adult men and women are 90 and 75 milligrams per day, respectively.
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Health remedies and options What if you don’t have health insurance? If you get sick, you pay for everything. If you don’t, debt collectors will haunt you. Relentlessly. They will get you and your wealth and resources. And the amount you may owe is limitless. Given today’s high cost of healthcare, that may be much. Come tax time in 2015, IRS will slap you a fine ($95 or 1% of your Adjusted Gross Income, whichever is higher). It will be higher in
That classically handsome man might be hiding another attractive trait: fewer nose bacteria. ŠAndrey_Popov/Shutterstock.com
For men, a slimmer physique may signal a surprising health advantage (Relaxnews) – New research in the American Journal of Human Biology reveals a link between body mass index (BMI) and the amount of bacteria found in male noses. Results indicate that the noses of heavier or overweight men carry more “potentially pathogenic species of bacteria� than the sniffers of attractive, thinner males. “According to an evolutionary point of view, traits related to attractiveness are supposed to be honest signals of biological quality,� said Dr. Boguslaw Pawlowski. “We analyzed whether nasal and throat colonization with potentially pathogenic bacteria is related to body height and BMI in both sexes.�
The study featured 103 healthy women and 90 healthy men. Participants reported their heights and weights, while researchers measured waist and hip circumference. After swabbing participants’ noses and throats, researchers identified six potentially pathogenic forms of bacteria. The results? More bacteria was found in the noses of men with a higher BMI than the snouts of normal-weight males. Surprisingly, no differences were noted among the women. “To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to study body morphology traits related to physical attractiveness in relation to bacterial colonization in young people,� said Pawlowski.
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2016 and beyond. At Covered CA, you may qualify for discounts in the form of tax credits. And, if you have health coverage, no matter whether you develop catastrophic illness, your maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) is limited. This means that you will not go bankrupt, if you get sick. Enroll only with certified insurance agents. They are trained, protected (E & O), and experienced. If, God forbid, you develop problems with your coverage, like if you run into dispute with your insurance company over an inaccurate bill, you need a strong advocate by your side. Who to protect you better than your agent? North Hollywood residents may want to contact my associate, Jean Tesoro, at 323-333-9048 for enrollment. Medicare alert. Medicare members
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with employer or union-sponsored coverage may sometimes be better off with other options. Know your options. It may save you money. Leo Monsalud hails from Sta. Cruz, Zambales. He studied for his MBA and Law at the University of the Philippines. He worked for the largest pharmaceutical company in Southeast Asia – UNILAB – where his last position held was vicepresident and general manager of a product division. He was a joint venture partner of the San Miguel Corp in an agri-business project. He holds CA license #0G55218. He is a Certified Insurance Agent for Covered CA. He provides FREE consultation on Obamacare and Medicare. You may reach him at 323-535-7373 or, email at: leo. balita@gmail.com.
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COMMUNITY Mayor Eric Garcetti presenting a Certificate of Recognition to Consul General Ma. Hellen Barber De La Vega.
ConGen De La Vega pays farewell call on Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti Los Angeles, 18 February 2013 – Consul General Maria Hellen Barber De La Vega pays farewell call to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti at his office on 14 February 2014. Consul General De La Vega recalled the consistent and endearing concern of Mayor Garcetti to the Filipino and Fil-AM Communities in the City of Los Angeles since 2002, when he was then a Councilmember and spearheaded the resolution creating Historic Filipinotown in District 13. The two officials discussed intensifying areas of cooperation in cultural exchange between sister-cities of Los Angeles and City of Makati and enhance trade ties between Los Angeles and the Philippines.
9th Ambassadors, Consuls General and Tourism Directors Tours launched Los Angeles, 18 February 2013 – The Philippine Consulate General and the Department of Tourism in Los Angeles launched on 13 February 2014, the 9th Ambassadors, Consuls General, and Tourism Directors Tour (ACGTDT) to the Philippines scheduled on 28 July to 02 August 2014. Los Angeles leads this year’s ACGTDT, a joint project of all Philippine Service Posts in the United States (Agana, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.) in cooperation with the Department of Tourism, Philippine Airlines and Rajah Tours
Philippines. About 60 tour representatives and friends from the media attended the official launch at the Rizal Hall of the Consulate. The ACGTDT is organized to enable Filipinos based in North America to revisit their homeland and experience the beauty of the country’s top tourist destinations, take a vacation with family and friends, and explore business opportunities. The Basic Tour is from 28 July to 02 August 2014 and covers an Economy roundtrip airfare for the Los Angeles-Manila-Los Angeles
route via PAL; double-occupancy; three (3) nights’ stay at Dusit Thani Hotel (twin sharing) with daily buffet breakfast; dinners with cultural show and entertainment; historic Wreathlaying Ceremony at Rizal Park; lunch at Malacanang Palace; meeting and photo-opportunity with President Benigno S. Aquino III; two (2) lunches and two (2) dinners w/ entertainment. Optional out-of-town tours are offered at additional cost. For registration and more information please visit: www.acgtdt.com. Deadline for registration is on 01 June 2014.
PHL made presence felt at L.A. travel and adventure shows BY MANNY V. ILAGAN
LOS ANGELES – While the Philippines is focused on rebuilding and rehabilitation efforts after the devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan, the Department of Tourism continues with its task of promoting the country as a safe, interesting and fun tourist destination. Travel markets, meanwhile have been very supportive with Tourism Assistant Director Manny Ilagan (left) shows a foreign tourists continuing guest where he can enjoy the best tourist destinations to demonstrate their interests during the L.A. Times Travel Show 2014 at the Los Angeles and eagerness to come, visit Convention Center In downtown Los Angeles. and discover the many exotic adobo, probably the most popular Filipino places in the Philippines. dish among non-Filipino. Show guests and At the 16ęč Annual L.A Times Travel attendees were drawn to the stage by the Show held at the Los Angeles Convention delicious and mouth-watering smell of the Center on January 18 and 19, 2014 and adobo being cooked by the chef of Leelin at the Travel and Adventure Show held Bakery and Café the hosted the Philippine at the Long Beach Convention Center on presentation in partnership with PDoT. February 8 and 9, 2013, the Philippine Tourism Director Mary Anne CuevasDepartment of Tourism (PDoT) showcased Lim, meanwhile, had a PowerPoint prethe natural attractions of the Philippines sentation of the many travel destinations emblazoned with the “It’s More Fun in the in the Philippines. She likewise expressed Philippines” catchphrase. gratitude for the outpouring of support, aid The PDoT’s booths in both shows and goodwill the world has extended to the attracted hundreds of show attendees Philippines even as she invited everyone inquiring about the different Philippine to come and visit the country. destinations. The staff of the Department The Los Angeles Travel and Adventure of Tourism’s Los Angeles Office, headed Show is California’s largest travel show by Tourism Director Mary Anne Cuevas featuring thousands of vacation and travel Lim responded with enthusiasm and ea- options in one roof. gerness in responding to queries, giving Like the L.A. Travel and Adventure away flyers and brochures and providing Show, the Los Angeles Times Travel Show information to would-be travelers to the is a platform for travel destinations to Philippines. showcase what they have to offer to tourTaste of Travel Stage, one of the attrac- ists and would-be travelers. Information tions at the Los Angeles Travel and Ad- from various travel agencies, cruise lines, venture Show, showcased the Philippines’ wineries or tours were also available.
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Photo shows (L-R) Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell and Consul General Ma. Hellen Barber De La Vega with the ceremonial scissor at the gateway marker of Historic Filipinotown.
ConGen de la vega leads in unveiling historic Filipinotown gateway marker Los Angeles, 20 February 2014 – Consul General Maria Hellen Barber De La Vega attended the Unveiling of the Historic Filipinotown Gateway Marker at Silver Lake Boulevard, Los Angeles Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell of District 13 spearheaded the project unveiling the Gateway Marker to Historic
Santo Tomas, Batangas to celebrate town fiesta The Sto. Tomas, Batangas Association of Southern California will celebrate their annual Town Fiesta “Potluck Picnic”onSunday, March 9, 2014 at the Bill Blevins Park - 19500 Windrose Dr. Rowland Heights. For further questions, please call Willie Manacsa (818) 4007391, Myrna Jaurigue (909) 247-4994, Ofie Villanueva (626) 960-8407, Rosie Sancianco (951) 898-7628 or Dolly Hernandez at (626) 731-1222.
ConGen De La Vega administers oath to new PHL honorary consul in Texas Los Angeles, 14 February 2014 – Consul General Ma. Hellen Barber De La Vega swears in Ms. Ethel Mercado as the Philippine Honorary Consul to Dallas, TX at the Philippine Consulate General Honorary Consul to in Los Angeles on 12 Dallas Ethel Mercado February 2014. Ms. Mercado will cover the entire State of Texas under the supervision of the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles Honorary Consul Ethel Mercado is currently the President and CFO of Datalogix Texas Inc. a minority provider of wireless engineering services to AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon. Datalogix is the only Filipino-owned full contractor in the U.S. wireless telecommunications industry, providing high-paying jobs to minority engineers in 20 states. Honorary Consul Mercado serves also as the State President of the Philippine-American Chamber of Commerce of Texas since 2006 to present; National Vice President of International Business and Trade Mission (2006 to present) and member of the Board of Directors/ Adviser to Philippine Republic Day Celebration Inc (2008 to present). Consul General De La Vega welcomes the appointment of Ms. Mercado. In the next few weeks, Ms. Mercado will prepare her office in close coordination with the Philippine Consulate General.
Filipinotown. Historic Filipinotown is a district of the city of Los Angeles, California, making up the southwest portion of Echo Park. It was created by a resolution proposed by Mayor Eric Garcetti when he was then city councilmember on August 2, 2002. The district is bounded by the Hoover Street on the west to Glendale Boulevard on the east, Temple Street on the north, Beverly Boulevard on the south side. The Historic Filipinotown Neighborhood Council (HIFINC) was founded and incorporated in 2006 with the mission to make Historic Filipinotown. They sponsor and spearhead events that celebrate the Filipino culture and highlight contributions that Filipino-Americans have made to the Southern California community.
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CLASSIFIED ADS TEL.: (818) 552-4503 ext 402
TIDEWATER ® PLUMBING & ROOTER Plumbing repair – copper repiping – water heater, any drain problem. 818-730-6571. 20 Years of service
APT. FOR RENT 1 BR, 1 BA, $750/mo. utils paid. Separate unit, furnished, 1 car park. Very close to N. Hollywood frwy. Call 818-4229351.
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APT. FOR RENT Move-in special. 1 BR, laundry, covered parking. Close to freeways and schools. 137 N. Rosemont Avenue (between Beverly & Temple), Los Angeles. Manager: Mercy (213) 4835117.
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APT. FOR RENT Hollywood. 1 BR $1,025; Single $875 brand new hardwood Àr, intercom entry, a/c, TFC cable ready, gated parking, pool, near Sunset & Wilcox, no pets. Manager speak Tagalog. (323) 462-3573 APT. FOR RENT Spacious 2nd Àr. One bedroom, one bath, kitchen with gas range, newly painted, water and one parking garage included. $900/mo. Please call 213-400-5192 for appointment.
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BEDSPACER $325 Panorama City. Close to WalMart, Island Paci¿c, Food4Less & bus line. Month to month. Call 818-205-8655. ROOMMATE $375 + utilities. Cross St. Virgil & Santa Monica Blvd. Call (323) 397-7392. ROOMS FOR RENT Free utilities in a gated house. Close to bus stop, school, Supermarket, w/ parking space. Nice area in LA, Oakwood Ave./ Kingsley Ave. For details call 213-369-9277; 213-3691549.
STUDIO TYPE 1 BR 1 BA, small kitchen, furnished, free cable w/ TFC, a/c, tv & internet. Free utils. Single or 2 person preferred. 3 Blocks to Island Paci¿c. 818-9416308.
ROOM FOR RENT Furnished big room, gated house, free utilities except tel / cable. Stores, bus stop. $475/ mo. Eagle Rock / HL Prk. (818) 390-4000; (323) 256-0299.
ROOM FOR RENT Near Wilshire / Western, Metro train, & bus to Downtown. $350/mo. Very safe. TFC, & wi¿ available. (213) 251-9536
ROOM FOR RENT For one female only. W/ private entry & bathroom (furnished), utilities included. Located in a residential area, close to market & bus stop. Corner Sunset Blvd. $500/mo. Call (213) 4833711, cell (323) 788-9615.
Life and Leisure News for Filipino-Americans www.usasianpost.com
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Oh most beautiful Àower of Mt. Carmel, fruit wine splendor of Heaven. Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh Star of the Sea. Help me and show me here you are my Mother. Oh Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succour me in my necessity. (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. Oh Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee (3 times). Holy Mary, I place this prayer in your hands (3 times). Say this prayer for three consecutive days and then you must publish and it will be granted to you. Thank you Blessed Virgin. - CARMEN
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What I will discuss on the second portion of this article will be about HAFA ( Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternative) which will typically offer a qualified seller $ 3,000 at closing of a short sale for relocation cost. But more interestingly is what other lenders are doing on their own to speed up short sale process by offering sellers more money to avoid foreclosures. I have actual approval letters paying homeowners $5,000$10,000 for sellers to close on short sales. I have approval letters also of lenders paying off government lien for $20,000 + paid either (1) a short sale or (2) a deed in lieu clear at closing of a short sale. IRS might of foreclosure. be tough that I have not gotten one yet, What about deficiencies? HAFA gives hopefully soon. the borrower a clean slate. Times are changing, I believe the banks In a short sale the lender (servicer) may will aggressively push for more short sales have a remaining balance on the books, to move fasters thru the system to clear once the remaining amount due on the away the financial mess they created. I home loan is compared to the property valencourage you to check all your options ue of the home itself. The negative number, before letting a property go into foreclo- “the deficiency,” can be the subject of a sure. Getting a large check to close on a collection lawsuit by the lender in most property that is under water should be a states. However, HAFA provides further nice incentive for you to save up later for assistance to the borrower/homeowner by a good deposit to rent or even save up long removing this vulnerability as the lender term for a home later on. must agree to write off that loan balance, More lenders are forgiving debts and as well as all other obligations tied to the releasing liabilities after a short sale. Just first lien mortgage. Under HAFA, once have to be with a knowledgeable agent who the lender accepts the short sale or the deed can prove that they have done short sales in lieu of foreclosure, the loan balance is and negotiated with your bank before to considered cleared. guarantee smooth closing. HAFA shorts sales will even pay a Now they most common and probably second lender up to $8500.00 to settle and generalized method of most lenders now second lien holders participating in HAFA a days to allow some kind of a credit back will have to accept and release the lien. is thru HAFA. What about moving costs? Most lenders will allow a so called Once HAFA’s plan to salvage the failed “Relocation Assistance” to home sell- modification situation through a short sale ing under Short Sale, but there are many or deed-in-lieu, the final step remains of guidelines that you have to qualify for getting the homeowner/borrower into a and there are restrictions. This is also not new home – now that their home has been Mandatory to lenders that they participate transferred to a buyer or to the bank. To in this program. HAFA stands for a fed- that end, HAFA will pay up to $3000 per eral government program named “Home homeowner in relocation costs at closing. Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives ProOn 12/31/2010, there were 521,630 acgram” which was created to compliment tive permanent modifications and 152,289 other government program, the “Making active trial modifications, while 1,025,907 Home Affordable Program.” HAFA steps homeowners were rejected for HAMP modin to help homeowners who: ifications by the eight largest banks/ 1. do not qualify for a trial mortgage servicers, and another 572,655 trial modimodification under the Making Home Af- fications failed. fordable Program; Accordingly, the Treasury Department 2. do not successfully complete the trial responded with changes that became efperiod for their modification; fective February 1, 2011 to make these 3. miss at least two consecutive pay- programs more helpful to American ments during their modification period; or homeowners, found in its December 4. request a short sale or deed-in-lieu 2010 version 3.0 of the Making Home Afof foreclosure. fordable Program Handbook for Servicers This program was created to further as- of Non-GSE Mortgages. Now, for examsist the HAMP program which was thought ple, banks/servicers do not have to verify not to be helping enough homeowners with a borrower’s financial information or to their mortgage problems. determine if the borrower’s total monthly With HAFA, the federal government is mortgage payment exceeds 31 giving borrowers a way to circumvent that Can HAFA help you? Maybe, especially inevitable foreclosure after the modifica- with these new changes. It’s worth your tion idea has not worked for them. How? time to investigate HAFA gives those borrowers a viable Please give Ken Go a call of 1st Inalternative to foreclosure. Here, the issue novative Finance Group at 562-508-7048 of being able to keep the home is not viable, and inquire to get these help options. You and HAFA steps in to help the homeowner can also write to Kennethgo@verizon. avoid a foreclosure on their record through net. Thanks.
Weather hits US home sales in January WASHINGTON, February 21, 2014 (AFP) – Sales of existing homes in the United States fell in January but tight supplies kept prices high, the National Association of Realtors said Friday. Sales of used family homes fell 5.1 percent to an annual pace of 4.62 million units, down from the rate of 4.87 million in December. The fall was all in sales of single-family homes, the largest part of the market, while sales of condominiums and co-ops were flat. The median sales price in January was $188,900, lower than in December but up 10.7 percent from a year earlier. Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist, blamed in part the severe winter weather around much of the country in the past two months for the slower activity, and said some sales would be pushed off into spring. “At the same time, we can’t ignore the ongoing headwinds of tight credit, limited inventory, higher prices and higher mortgage interest rates,” he said in a statement.
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Excitement brewing for Hollywood’s ‘Oscar’ Awards On a recent dinner with a media colleague near rhe famous Hollywood landmarks such as Chinese Mann Theatre, the Max Factor Building, the Wax Museum, the Kodak Theatre and the Egyptian Theatre, we noticed all the barricades now being built around the perimeters of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, where tourists abound along the street’s “hall of fame.” The highly and eagerly anticipated “86 th Academy Awards” will take place on Sunday, March 2, 2014 at the Dolby Theatre (formerly called the Kodak Theatre). According to film industry officials, it actually takes a year of preparation to showcase such a worldwide event. Submissions, balloting and nominations on each award category have stringent rules and regulations that had to be followed before the nominations were announced recently. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was formed in 1927, to “address and honor outstanding moviemaking achievements and encourage excellence in Tom Hanks all facets of motion picture production.” Further, the group agreed to make this an annual event and a “suitably majestic trophy” called “Oscar” was created. MGM Creative Director Cedric Gibbons designed a statuette of a knight standing on a reel of film gripping a crusader’s sword. The Academy tapped Los Angeles sculptor George Stanley to mold the design in three dimension. The name “Oscar” held on when according to some popular stories, when Academy librarian and later Execitve Director, Margaret Herrick saw the statuette, it resembled her Uncle “Oscar.” “The “Oscar” statuette stands “13½ inches tall and weighs in at 8½ pounds. The film reel features five spokes, signifying the five original branches of the Academy: the actors, directors, producers, technicians and writers. The statuettes that were Sandra Bullock initially presented were gold-plated solid bronze. However, in the following years, the bronze was replaced by brittania metal, which is a pewter-like alloy, which is then plated in copper, nickel, silver and finally, 24-karat gold. But, due to a metal shortage in Wolrd War II, the Academy only presented painted plaster for three years though later on, the Academy invited the recipients to redeem their plaster statuettes for gold-plated metal ones. History has it that unlike the big event that it is today, the first Academy Awards ceremony was held at the “Blossom Room of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, on May 16, 1929 where 2,809 statuettes were presented.” From then on, each January, new golden statuettes are cast, molded, polished and Leonardo DiCaprio buffed. Since 1982, the Academy has re- Best Actress: tained the expertise of R.S. Owens & Co., Amy Adams – “American Hustle” the Chicago-based trophy manufacturer.” Cate Blanchett – “Blue Jasmine” Here’s a rundown on this year’s Acad- Sandra Bullock – “Gravity” emy Award nominations: Judi Dench – “Philomena” Best Picture: Meryl Streep – “August Osage County” American Hustle It will definitely be difficult to select the Captain Phillips winners for this year’s Academy of “MerDallas Buyers Club it” from the above selection of outstanding Gravity nominees. However, you or your group of Her friends can simply gather and make this an Nebraska evening of fun and movie triviia. Philomena Once, a media colleague, Carol Robins 12 Years A Slave and I used to attend a Pre-“Oscar’s” Party The Wolf of Walll Street Night when our company was a member Best Actor: of the Friars Club. It used to be a lovely Christian Bale – “Americcan Hustle” night with lots of camaraderie where guests Bruce Dern – “Nebraska” would dress up in their favorite movie Leonardo Di Caprio – “The Wolf on Wall character and join the contest to “Pick the Street” Oscar Winners.” Chiwetel Ejiofor – “12 Years A Slave” In the spirit of Hollywood since we all Matthew McConaughey – “Dallas Buyers live here in the Southland, let’s all have Club” fun and get entertained on “Oscar’s” night!
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FOOD & DINING
Love your heart with lean pork tenderloin
... / 01 1/ 2 3 4
Add chicken stock, beer, vinegar and honey and bring liquid to a boil. Add greens to liquid. Cook for about 45 minutes to an hour or until tender. Remove pot from heat and drain remaining liquid. Add cream cheese and hot sauce and stir. While greens cook, prepare pork tenderloin. Butterfly your pork tenderloin by cutting a slit down middle. Do not cut through pork. Cover pork with plastic wrap; pound with flat side of meat mallet until about 1/2-inch thick, starting from middle and working outward. Discard plastic wrap. Spread collard green mixture over tenderloin and tightly roll. Secure seams with toothpicks. Place pork in baking dish and brush liberally with BBQ sauce. Bake in 350°F preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until internal temperature of pork has reached 145°F. Let pork rest for 5 minutes and then slice and serve. Nutritional information per serving: 290 calories; 6 g fat; 1 g saturated fat; 26 g protein; 330 mg sodium; 65 mg cholesterol; 34 g carbohydrates; 4 g fiber.
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(Family Features) According to Chef Judson Allen, a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Next Food Network Starâ&#x20AC;? finalist and chef who has maintained a 150-pound weight loss, Americans can take care of their hearts without sacrificing their favorite foods. For Chef Allen, those favorite foods include fried pork, greens and corn bread â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a meal he remembers enjoying with his family on Sunday nights. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just like so many people across the country, there are certain meals that I just donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to give up,â&#x20AC;? said Allen. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I decided to create a healthier version of that dish, I used pork tenderloin, which is certified as heart-healthy by the American Heart Association, and so flavorful and versatile enough to include in any generational recipe.â&#x20AC;? For a complete meal that everyone will love, serve Chef Allenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s BBQ Roasted Pork Tenderloin Stuffed with Braised Collard Greens & Caramelized Onions with corn bread and a salad on the side. And remember, for a tender eating experience, cook pork loin roasts, chops and tenderloins to an internal temperature between 145°F (medium rare), followed by a three-minute rest and 160°F (medium), using a digital thermometer to ensure an accurate reading. Learn about all the leanest cuts of pork and try even more great-tasting pork tenderloin recipes at porkbeinspired.com. BBQ Roasted Pork Tenderloin Stuffed with Braised Collard Greens & Caramelized Onions Yield: 4-5 servings 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 cup onion, chopped 1/4 cup red bell pepper, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/8 teaspoon sea salt to taste 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1 cup low-sodium chicken stock 1/2 cup stout beer or 1 cup lowsodium chicken broth 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon honey 1 pound collard greens, washed and cut 1 tablespoon no-fat cream cheese 1 teaspoon hot sauce 1 pound pork tenderloin 1 1/2 cups any jarred BBQ sauce Tooth picks In heavy pot, add oil and onions and cook over medium heat until caramelized. Add red peppers, garlic, sea salt and black pepper. Cook for about 2 minutes.
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Charmaine Clamor concert March 1 The lovely CharArts Events. The Sunmaine Clamor will hold day concert will begin a concert at the Grand at 8 p.m. Tickets are Annex, located at 434 sold at $20 and $35 W. 6th St., San Pedro, each. California on March 1. Tickets can be purCelebrated by the chased online at www. New York Times as â&#x20AC;&#x153;a grandannex.org or by gifted vocalistâ&#x20AC;? and by phone at 310-833-4813 the Los Angeles Times The Grand Annex is as â&#x20AC;&#x153;one of the iman intimate music lisportant new jazz tening room featuring singers of the dea wide range of artists Charmaine Clamor cade,â&#x20AC;? Filipino-Ameriand genres, from pop can Clamor is known as the Queen and international to American roots of Jazzipino, a new style that blends music. They are a project of Grand jazz, blues and soul with Filipino Vision Foundation, a not for profit folk songs. organization whose mission is to Clamorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s silky vocals dazzle in inspire and engage our community English and Tagalog. Clamorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s through arts and educational expericoncert is produced by Grand Vision ences at the Warner Grand Theatre Foundation with support from Music and the Grand Annex.
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Anne Curtis is throwing her full support behind her friend, Luis Manzano, who recently rekindled his romance with Angel Locsin. Manzano admitted that he and Locsin are now officially back together after being separated for four years. Curtis said she is very happy for Manzano because she knows that he sincerely loves â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Legal Wifeâ&#x20AC;? actress despite everything that they have gone through. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m so happy. Angel is really my favorite for him. Both of you be good para kayo na talaga,â&#x20AC;? she said. Curtis added that she canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to see Locsin walk down the aisle with Manzano
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SPORTS
Michael Christian Martinez: The kiss-and-cry spin BY David Casuco
LOS ANGELES – At the kiss-and-cry area of the Iceberg Skating Palace in Sochi, young Filipino figure skater Michael Christian Martinez did his final spin – capping his auspicious Winter Olympic debut by telling the whole world that winter-less Philippines is where he came from. The crowd at skating arena, earlier captivated by his not-so-perfect but nonetheless elegant freeskate, responded with a mild roar. A few minutes later, the international media were making a beeline to interview the Filipino athlete. Martinez, who came to the Olympics with a bag of distractions and a shoestring budget, got more than what he bargained for. He set his goal to make the freeskate, he placed 19th; he dreamed to be in the same stage with figure skating stars, he became one of them; he wanted to get the attention of potential sponsors for the next four years, he got the attention of the whole world. The youngest in the field of 30 men’s qualifiers, Martinez has accomplished a great part of his goal to enter the medal round in the grandest stage of athletic competition where perfection and excellence are norms. The other half of that dream is compete and win a medal in his next important stop: the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. Widely regarded in the skating world as “one of the next figure skating stars,” Martinez has proved to all and sundry that he has what it takes to become an elite skater that sports pundits think he will be. A 19th place finish and a 29th world ranking may look like light years away from the Olympic medal podium, but Martinez – his confidence boosted by his Sochi experience – looks forward to the next Olympics where he thinks he could be a serious medal contender. “My next goal is to train and work hard for the Seoul Winter Games and get a medal there,” Martinez told this writer. “Hopefully, the government and private sector are
now convinced that I am worthy of their support.” Unlike athletes from rich countries who do not need government assistance, Martinez is a homegrown talent from a tropical country best known for mega-disasters, mega-scammers, and a government that rarely responds to felt needs. So then, when Martinez and his mom sought counsel Michael Christian Martinez from the Office of the President that oversees the Philippine Sports Commission, the email did not see daylight. It got lost in the bureaucratic maze and, in the words of a Palace spokesperson, “probably ended up in the spam folder.” Largely ignored by sports organizations and the media back home, the Philippine News, examiner.com, Balita Media, and Steve Angeles of ABS-CBN Los Angeles took the lead, writing about the constant struggles and sporadic triumphs of Martinez in his desire to stay on track on the road to Sochi. Filipino netizens got wind of the stories and threw their support behind the young Martinez even as they launched disparaging criticisms against the snub by the sports organizations of the Philippine government. In Carson, zumba guru Nonie Belarmino spearheaded a regular fund drive for Martinez. The PWU group headed by Virgie Vibas and Lydia V. Solis also recognized the need of Martinez and his mom. And then the seemingly improbable happened. With sheer talent and an inadequate training, Martinez took gold in his first senior competition at the Crystal Skate of Ro-
Olympics: Sonitkova deserved gold, angry Russians insist SOCHI, February 21, 2014 (AFP) – Adelina Sotnikova’s coaches hit back Friday at suggestions the dramatic victory of Russia’s first ever women’s Olympic figure skating champion was the result of a voting stitch-up in favour of the Games hosts. The 17-year-old surged to her first major title ahead of South Korean defending champion Kim Yu-Na and Italy’s Carolina Kostner on a night of drama and controversy at the Iceberg Skating Palace. As she was being hailed by Russian media as a “super-sensation” who had saved national pride after the disastrous performance of its ice hockey team, questions were raised as to whether she merited the victory. The 5.48 point gap between Sotnikova and Kim, bidding to become just the third woman to win back-to-back titles after Norway’s Sonja Henie and Germany’s Katarina Witt, raised eyebrows. But Sotnikova’s choreographer Pyotr Chernyshov said she was a worthy champion. “We were following the rules that the modern game was offering and we won this game,” the former Russian-American ice dancer told a packed press conference on Friday. “You have to be an expert in figure skating to know the rules now. When you ask a professional figure skater there is no doubt who won on the night. It’s very subjective. “Not everyone has the same taste, somebody likes red, somebody likes blue... who’s right? Somebody likes more athletics, some more balletic, some like Swan Lake ... who’s right, who’s wrong?”
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mania in November 2012. The victory was Martinez’s first senior international title and the first for the Philippines. Now, the equation started to shift in Martinez favor. The cynics back home suddenly became believers. And a groundswell of support started to take form. A million pesos from SM-PSU and donations here and there somehow made Martinez ready to skate for the Olympic qualifier in Nebelhorn, Germany. He took the third of the six Olympic tickets at stake. And to those who think the young athlete doesn’t deserve taxpayers support, you have to consider: Martinez is no pedestrian athlete. He is a phenom. He developed amazing skills on ice even before any coach could guide him there. He was winning competitions on levels that he was not expected to excel, and the government has an agency that takes care of exceptional talents who bring pride and glory to the Philippines. His stint in this, the Sochi Games, was a valuable yardstick to what Martinez could be in the next Olympics. More significantly, he compellingly showed to the world – particularly to the naysayers back home – that his gold medal performance at the 2012 Crystal Skate in Romania was no fluke. And his goal of being in the Elite Five figure skaters can be achieved with a solid training program behind him. Meanwhile, like the real life-inspired movie “Cool Runnings” where the Jamaican bobsled team had to raise funds doing arm-wrestling, singing on the street, and holding a kissing booth, Martinez and his local community support in Carson, California continue to raise additional training funds dancing the zumba. (David Casuco writes sports and spirituality for examiner.com and Mabuhay News Service. He obtained his journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas and took expanded theological studies at the Angelus Bible Institute in Los Angeles.)
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Toyota Sienna Minivan one of ‘12 Best Family Cars for 2014’ says Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com TO R R A N C E , C a l i f . , ( F e b . 1 4 , 2014) – Already established as one of the most versatile and family-friendly vehicles on the market, the Toyota Sienna today was named one of the “12 Best Family Cars” for 2014 by Kelley Blue Book‘s KBB.com. KBB.com editors were impressed with the Sienna’s family comfort and versatility, stating “with reclining captain’s chairs – including a footrest – the Sienna may be the most passenger-accommodating minivan you can buy. And, with more varied configurations than any other minivan on the market, the Toyota Sienna is the perfect family-car for more than 100,000 families each year.” “Best Family Cars 2014” was compiled by recruiting families to assist nine Kelley Blue Book editors in comparison testing of eligible vehicles after editors narrowed more than 300 vehicles down to 21 semi-
The Filipino staff behind the success of Hamer Toyota located at 11041 Sepulveda Blvd., Mission Hills, CA 91345.
finalists. The testing centered on the areas of safety, comfort, driving performance, room for child seats, cargo space, rear-seat entertainment, and other family-friendly features. The goal was to determine the “most functional new cars for families.” Meanwhile, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the iconic 4Runner sport utility vehicle (SUV), Toyota is discounting all 2014 4Runner models. The 30thAnniversary Discounts range from $500 for all 4Runner SR5 and Trail mod-
els, $750 for all SR5 and Trail Premium models and $1,000 on all Limited models. For three decades, the 4Runner mid-size SUV has been a stalwart for off-roading enthusiasts seeking a SUV with rugged, go-anywhere capability. Currently in its fifth-generation, 4Runner continues as one of the few fully capable mid-size SUVs. The redesigned 2014 4Runner receives a rugged new exterior design, and interior refinements that add comfort and convenience without sacrificing its hallmark per-
formance capability and excellent value. The special 4Runner 30th Anniversary Discounts are available at Toyota dealerships now. If you need to “adorn” your garage with a brand-new Toyota, all you have to do is come down ton Hamer Toyota located at 11041 Sepulveda Blvd., Mission Hills, CA 91345 and get in touch with any of our kababayans Matt Morente (Floor Manager), Marylou Santiago (VIP/Internet Coordinator), Wency Magno, Reno Reyes, Tony Pijuan and Rico Ayala (Leasing & Sales). Call our kababayans now toll free at 1-855-592-7077 and make your dream of owning a new Toyota vehicle a reality today.
Tesla SUV launch pushed back to 2015 (Relaxnews) – Bad news for anyone who had been waiting to snap up the allelectric Tesla Model X this year, as the company is putting production on hold for yet another 12 months. According to Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, the delay is partly due to the fact that he is “a perfectionist when it comes to product design” and that the challenge of building an off-roader that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing is much greater than that of designing a standard road-going car. This is the second time that production has been pushed back. The concept version of the Model X, complete with gullwing rear passenger doors, was unveiled in February 2012 and production was first slated for 2013, as was a price-tag of $49,000. However, in the meantime, the company has been busy building a supercharger network – which allows drivers to recharge their Tesla batteries free of charge – and launching the Model S in Europe and China. And of course, as many publications have recently reported, the company has also been busy meeting with Apple. In an interview with Bloomberg, Musk confirmed that the rumors were true and that the two companies had indeed met but he denied that the meeting was to discuss the terms of Tesla’s acquisition. “If one or more companies had approached us last year about such things there’s no way we could really comment on that. We had conversations with Apple, I can’t comment on whether those revolved around any kind of acquisition,” he said. Steve Jobs, Apple’s late great co-founder and the person to whom Musk is most commonly compared to for his disruptive approach and high-tech vision, loved cars and had dreams of eventually making an Apple car. Musk said that if Apple was to go into automotive production that it would be a great idea but also stressed that Tesla would only consider selling itself if the deal would ensure the company’s ultimate goal: building an affordable mass-market electric car.
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2014 Mazda6 named Sedan of the Year By Autobytel Award-winning mid-size sedan offers best-in-class fuel economy and dynamics IRVINE, Calif. (February 6, 2014) – The redesigned 2014 Mazda6 has been named “Sedan of the Year” byAutobytel. Mazda’s flagship vehicle, Mazda6 features the full suite of proprietary SKYACTIV®[1] technologies, a fashionforward KODO “Soul of Motion” design language and all-new safety features under the i-ACTIVSENSEumbrella. “A competitor through and through, Mazda6 offers everything expected of a typical mid-sized family sedan but in an atypical way,” said Jim O’Sullivan, president and CEO, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO). “With safety, fuel economy, design, packaging and value among the best in the segment, and coupled with the only-Mazda touch of dynamic performance, the 2014 Mazda6 becomes a standout among its one-size-fits-all competition.” In its third year, the Autobytel Car and Truck of the Year awards feature two overall category winners as well as individual segment leaders. This is the second time Mazda has been recognized with an annual award. The2013 CX-5 was named the Crossover of the Year during the awards inaugural year. “The 2014 Mazda6 is a family sedan that boasts modern styling with broad appeal,” said Michelle Naranjo, editorin-chief, Autobytel, Inc. “With its global platform and highly fuel efficient low-liter, naturally-aspirated gas- and diesel-powered engines, there’s a Mazda6 for every driver who loves to drive.” The 2 014 Mazda6 is available in three trim levels – Sport, Touring and Grand Touring – and is currently equipped with the SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter gasoline engine, which produces a playful 184
horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 185 lb-ft of torque at 3,250 rpm. Both the SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual and SKYACTIVDrive six-speed automatic transmission are available for pairing. Fuel economy is EPA estimated at 25 city/37 highway/29 combined mpg when equipped with a manual transmission (Sport, Touring). All trim levels can be optioned with an automatic transmission and receive an EPA estimated fuel economy rating of 26 city/38 highway/30 combined mpg. When paired with i-ELOOP, these vehicles receive an EPA estimated rating of For a closer look at why Mazda is one of America’s top vehicle brands, visit the Star Mazda 28 city/40 highway/32 Glendale, located at 1401 S Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91204. You can reach our kababayans combined mpg, which is Alert (RCTA). Smart City Brake Sup- top vehicle brands, visit the Star Mazda the best highway mpg[2] in the segment port (SCBS), a pre-crash safety feature that Glendale, located at 1401 S Brand Blvd, for gasoline-powers vehicles. helps to avoid certain collisions and mini- Glendale, CA 91204. You can reach our Recently earning a “Top Safety Pick+” mize damage in the event of a collision, is kababayans Nick Barber (left) and Mike distinction from the Insurance Institute for available as a package option. Grand Tour- McCain toll free 1-888-646-1664. Highway Safety (IIHS), Mazda6 offers a ing models receive SCBS suite of active-safety pre-crash detection and an Adaptive Frontsystems known as i-ACTIVSENSE. These lighting System (AFS) as technologies use sensing devices such as standard equipment with milliwave radars and cameras to help the Mazda Radar Cruise Control driver recognize hazards, avoid collisions (MRCC), Forward Obstrucand minimize damage should accidents oc- tion Warning (FOW), a Lane cur. While these systems will not eliminate Departure Warning System accidents, their intent is to minimize them (LDWS) and High Beam and reduce the severity of a crash. Control (HBC) available as Standard features beginning with the package options. Touring trim include Blind Spot MoniFor a closer look at why toring (BSM) and Rear Cross Traffic Mazda is one of America’s Sedan of the Year: 2014 Mazda6
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Diamond Honda of Glendale of Glendale
From left: Christian Marilla, Chris Garchitorena, Bobby Cheng and Jojo Diala of Subaru of Glendale.
increase of 9.6% over December 2012. The Forester, all-new for 2013, and the newly-introduced XV Crosstrek model lines both significantly contributed to the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strong sales in 2013 and delivered all-time best results. The Forester and Outback model lines both achieved over 100,000 sales for the first time in the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history. Over 60% of Subaru customers in 2013 were new to the brand and were attracted by the brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reputation for all-wheel drive, fuel economy, safety, reliability and cost of ownership. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are delighted to have once again shown very strong resultsâ&#x20AC;? said Thomas J. Doll, president and chief operating officer, Subaru of America, Inc. â&#x20AC;&#x153;2013 represents our fifth consecutive year of recordbreaking sales. With more new product to come, our retailers can look forward to even higher sales in 2014.â&#x20AC;? But while we all ponder as to why Subaru continues to become a favorite of many, come to Subaru Glendale where you will find that indeed these cars are selling like hotcakes just get in touch with our kababayans at Subaru Glendale, who have been serving the Filipino-American market and who have made Filipinos love the Subaru brand and the Subaru vehiclesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; versatility. What are you waiting for, come on down to Subaru Glendale and our kababayans Christian Marilla, Bobby Cheng, Chris Garchitorena, Rico Dagohoy and Jojo Diala will be more than happy to inform you why Subaru is becoming a favorite of Filipinos and the whole American market. Subaru of Glendale is located at 1308 S Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91204. You can reach them at 1-855-230-1547 or you can visit their website at www. subaruofglendale.net.
Obama calls for new truck fuel standards WASHINGTON, February 18, 2014 (AFP) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; US President Barack Obama on Tuesday ordered officials to start setting new fuel efficiency standards for medium and heavy trucks, wielding his executive power in the fight against climate change. Such vehicles account for just four percent of traffic yet make up 25 percent of fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions in road transportation, the White House said. Obama says that introducing new fuel standards, as he has already done for cars and light trucks, creates American jobs in innovation, saves drivers money and is good for the economy and the environment. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re creating jobs. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re generating more clean energy. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re cutting our dependence on foreign oil,â&#x20AC;? Obama said at a supermarket distribution center outside Washington. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re pumping out less dangerous carbon pollution. If we keep going down this road, then weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to have a future full of good-paying jobs.â&#x20AC;? Obama directed the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) to issue new medium- and heavy-duty vehicle fuel efficiency standards by March 31, 2016. Obama said a first round of new fuel efficiency standards for such models, finalized in 2011, was projected to save 530 million barrels of oil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 270 million metric tons. He said it will save vehicle owners and operators an estimated $50 billion in fuel costs over the lifetimes of their vehicles. Tuesdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event represented another attempt by the president to show that, even as much of his agenda is blocked by Congress, he plans to use executive power to maximize his capacity to carry out political change in his second term. As part of his climate change and green energy agenda, the president has also introduced new fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks. The administration says the requirements, spanning model years 2011 through 2025, double fuel economy in the average vehicle, cut emissions by 6 billion metric tons and will save customers $1.7 trillion at the pump.
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Cherry Hill, N.J. - Subaru of America, Inc. has announced record January sales as it looks to continue its strong sales performance into 2014. The company, which has set sales records for the past five consecutive years, announced its best ever January sales of 33,000 vehicles, a 19% increase over January 2013. Increased availability of the strong selling Forester and Crosstrek models helped sales as both models continued their strong performances. Subaru expects this sales momentum to continue throughout the year, with the recently announced all-new 2015 Legacy mid-size sedan set to debut at the Chicago auto show this month and more new models due to launch later in 2014. Thomas J. Doll, president and COO of Subaru of America said; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great to start the year off in such positive fashion. Attending the National Automotive Dealer Association meeting last month, we could see that our retailers are in a buoyant and positive mood. We have a lot to look forward to in 2014.â&#x20AC;? William H. Cyphers, senior vice president of sales said; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our crossover models are the mainstay of our growth but we expect our sedan models to follow that trend in 2014 with the launch of the all-new Legacy which will take that model into new territory.â&#x20AC;? Subaru of America, Inc. has reported record sales of 424,683 vehicles for the 2013 calendar year. This is an increase of 26.2% over the previous record of 336,441 vehicles, which was set in 2012. This fifth consecutive record also represents the largest ever singleyear increase in volume for the brand. The company reported sales for December 2013 of 40,172 vehicles, marking the best December ever for the company, and an
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Kia: Today’s leader in Asian car brands Car Pros Kia of Carson ranks Number 8 car dealer in the state of any brand By Rhony Laigo
We’ve heard of it. We’ve seen it on the road and may have been surprised by its wonderful looks. The high-flying and power-dunking Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers has also made it a very visible brand. Kia has been sweeping the nation and is one of the fastest rising car manufacturers in the U.S., if not the whole world. But what many of us Filipinos probably are not aware of is that while Kia vehicles are very beautiful and rigid, they also top in fuel-efficiency. These trend setting beauties are equipped with the most advanced features that technology can offer for safety, convenience, and pleasure for even the most meticulous motorists and passengers alike. That’s not all, what makes Kia unique apart from the incomparable 10 year/100,000 mile limited warranty, is its affordability that lets you enjoy the luxuries that other brands just couldn’t afford to provide. The design alone is exceptional. Kia’s most popular vehicle – the midsize Optima was designed by no less than Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer who used to work for Audi. Compared to other leading Asian brands, the Kia Optima possesses additional features which are standard like foglamps and dual exhaust – not available in the more popular midsize competitors. The U.S News and World Report described the Optima as a “good value” among midsize cars because of its high-end available features, long warranty and strong engines.” The 2014 Kia Optima was also named IIHS Top Safety Pick for its advanced airbag system all the way to its Anti-Lock Brake System. “Kia is a great product,” Car Pros Kia of Carson General Manager Juan Alarcon emphasized during an interview with Weekend Balita. And speaking of the K900 – whose leather seats are smooth and caressing –, Alarcon informed this writer that the backseat of the K900 actually reclines. The backseats recline! Alarcon was actually giving this author a brief demonstration on why Kia is the car brand of today. He wants the Filipino-American community to take advantage of the features only available in a Kia vehicle
that thousands of other SoCal residents are now enjoying. This savvy Kia executive obviously knows why the Fil-Am market may prefer other car brands, momentarily that is. But Alarcon says this is because the Filipino market is a very loyal customer. “Just like the Mexicans,” Alarcon, himself a Hispanic, said. “Filipinos are very loyal.” Car Pros Kia of Carson is up to the challenge of changing that car brand preference Alarcon said he and his staff are proud to say that because as of today they are the Number 1 Kia dealership in California. Moreover, Car Pros Kia of Carson ranks Number Eight in the whole state of California for car dealers of any brand, including Japanese, European or domestic vehicles. “In 2012, Car Pros Kia of Carson was among the top 20 car dealers in the whole of United States, of any make,” Alarcon said. But while Kia maybe the fastest selling vehicle brand in the U.S. – Car Pros Kia of Carson is selling more than 600 cars a month – Alarcon attributes hard work, a friendly staff and the excellent service that Car Pros Kia of Carson provides as the reasons for the dealership’s rise to become a member of the nation’s elites. In spite of these accolades, Alarcon said “we remain focused as we know that there is always room for improvement. There is always room there.” He also said that their brand new tech savvy “Delivery Team” makes sure that each customer fully understands all the appointed features to the vehicle of their choice. The Service Department too is manned by fully certified mechanics who are not only experts in Kia vehicles but in all other brands. When they say “pre-certified”, it means a quality car that went through multiple inspections and testing. They also have 20 loaner vehicles for the comfort of any Kia owner who may need it. Did we mention that Kia comes standard with the 10-year/100,000 mile warranty? “How can you top that?,” said the family of Juanito Reyes, a Filipino, who was with his wife and nephew as they wait for their brand-new Kia Rio that they just purchased. The nephew of the couple encouraged them to buy a new Kia. The nephew was a former Kia Soul owner before he traded it for a new Kia Optima just last
Car Pros Kia of Carson General Manager Juan Alarcon at the showroom. The excellent service that his staff provides has made Car Pros of Kia of Carson among the Top 20 car dealerships of any make in the whole of United States.
December. Mr. and Mrs. Reyes also revealed that they drove all the way from Santa Ana in Orange County to get to Car Pros Kia of Carson where they traded their old Buick for the new 2014 Kia Rio. While it was a very busy Presidents’ Day last Monday, Car Pros’s efficient professional staff got the Reyes family in and out with their new Kia in only a couple hours. “We have eight finance officers,” Alarcon explained that makes buying a car at Car Pros Kia of Carson a breeze. That’s separate from the sales team and as mentioned, the Delivery Team that gives full demonstrations to customers on “how the bluetooth works, how to operate a navigation system, etc,” Alarcon said. He said this is just how Car Pros Kia of Carson serves the community – a commitment that each and every member of the Car Pros Kia of Carson staff embraces. With so many brands in the market today, people have many choices. But Kia is not just about affordability. With its leading technological advances in design, performance, fuel efficiency, safety and reliability, it just makes sense. Drop by Car Pros Kia of Carson today and find out why people flock to that dealership. They are just located at 21243 S Avalon Blvd, Carson, CA 90745, which is home to many of us Filipinos. They can be reached at (310) 816-9800. Call or visit today.
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