Weekend balita january 31, 2015

LOS ANGELES

Is it a promise ring?

Zsa Zsa explains gift from boyfriend See ZSA ZSA PADILLA page 17

VOL. XXII, NO. 52

JAN. 31 - FEB. 6, 2015

THE LEADING SOURCE OF NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR FILIPINO-AMERICANS

Mendoza on Purisima: He ran the show MANILA, Jan 29 (Mabuhay) – A top intelligence officer wants heads to roll for the bloody Maguindanao operation that left 44 police commandos dead.

Former police chief superintendent Rodolfo “Boogie” Mendoza said President Aquino himself should be held accountable.

“From the project sponsor to the coordinator, case officer and others who planned and designed that and most importantly even the President has the accountability,” he said.

Mendoza is questioning why Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima

continued to call the shots even after being suspended by the Ombudsman.

“Gustong bumawi ni chief PNP against all those alleged backlash against him,” he said.

“He is not only running the show, he is controlling the implementation of the project with the permission of the Executive Secretary and the President himself.”

Mendoza also called the President’s defense of Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa questionable. He refused to believe that Ochoa was not aware of the operation to capture Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan See MENDOZA, page 8

Relatives of the 44 slain PNP-SAF commandos killed in the January 25 Mamasapano clash attend the wake and necrological service at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig on Friday, January 30. President Benigno Aquino III (inset with PNP Chief Gen. Alan Purisima) offered his condolences to those left behind by the heroes. (MNS photo)

Erap, FVR at odds over Bangsamoro peace process

Representatives of H20 Technologies Inc. try the newly developed 5-seater amphibious tricycle called “The Salamander” during a media presentation at Taal Yacht Club in Talisay, Batangas Wednesday. Promoted as an alternative mode of transportation in flood-prone areas, the Philippine-made tricycle can be operated using a gasoline-powered 250cc engine and a 5-kw pure electric motor. (MNS photo)

MANILA, Jan 29 (Mabuhay) – Two former presidents have varying opinions on how the Aquino administration should proceed with the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) following Sunday’s encounter in Maguindanao that resulted in the deaths of 44 elite policemen.

While former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada is in favor

of an all-out war, former President Fidel V. Ramos is appealing for sobriety and cooperation following what authorities described as a “misencounter” between MILF members and operatives from the police’s Special Action Force.

“Wala nang dahilan para ipagpatuloy pa ang peace talks diyan. Ilan pang buhay See BANGSAMORO, page 8

PHL confident of Mayor Jun-Jun Binay dragged into faster growth after Senate session hall then set free MANILA, Jan 29 2014 rebound (Mabuhay) – Mayor JeManila, Philippines | AFP | Thursday 1/29/2015 - Philippine officials voiced confidence the country had escaped a “boom-bust cycle” as they predicted on Thursday that economic growth would accelerate in 2015, after expansion last year beat international expectations.

The economy grew 6.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014, new figures showed, offsetting weaker growth in the previous nine months to boost full-year gross domestic product (GDP) expansion to 6.1 percent, exceeding forecasts from major international institutions.

The rebound puts the country on a highgrowth trajectory not seen in decades that will finally see it shake off its image as the “sick man” of Asia, economic planning secretary Arsenio Balisacan told reporters.

Balisacan added that the government expected the economy to grow by between 7.0 percent and 8.0 percent in 2015.

“We have avoided the dreaded boombust cycle that has hounded our economy for decades,” he said.

“What we are seeing in the last five years has never been seen in the last 40 years. The last time we have seen such growth was in the mid-1970s,” he said, See GROWTH, page 8

jomar Erwin “Jun-Jun” Binay was bodily dragged into the Senate session hall Thursday afternoon to attend the hearing on alleged anomalies in Makati City.

However, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III later set Binay free after the mayor insisted on not responding to allegations Senate Blue Ribbon Subcommittee chair Aquilino “Koko” against him and his family. Pimentel III talks to Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay (right), who was in contempt after failing to heed a Senate “Since the order of ar- subpoena requiring him to attend the subcommittee’s rest has been satisfied, investigation on the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall 2 parking building. (MNS photo) your manifestation (not to answer questions) is noted. You lose your chance to give your side, you are free to go,” said Pimentel during the hearing.

Pimentel said Binay’s belief that the subcommittee didn’t have jurisdiction to compel him to answer questions related to the inquiry was contrary to the panel’s position, and indicated that it was time to elevate the issue “to a referee” that would decide which position was according to law Earlier, the son of Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay was arrested and brought to the chamber by the Senate sergeant-at-arms for contempt after he repeatedly refused to attend the hearings.

At the Senate, the mayor still refused to attend the session and insisted on being detained at the Office of the Sergeant-At-Arms.

At about 1: 30 p.m., Senator Antonio Trillanes IV made a motion to order the sergeant-at-arms to bring him to the session hall.

Minutes later, Senate security officers came in pulling Binay by his arms with one of the mayor’s lawyers tagging behind them.

See JUN-JUN, page 8

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What happens to my car if I file bankruptcy?

There are several issues to consider in answering this question. The most important point is the value of your car.

In most cases, you can protect your car using the allowable bankruptcy code exemptions. An exemption allows you to file for bankruptcy relief and protect some of your property. The bankruptcy courts understand you need a car to get to work and to pick your kids up from school. So long as you aren’t driving an antique classic car, or an expensive sports car you will

likely be able to keep your car.

The next question is whether you have either continue making the monthly lease clear title to your car. If you have pledged payments, or surrender the car back to the your vehicle as security for a debt, or if you creditor. If you surrender the leased car, any are financing or leasing a vehicle, you have obligation under the lease will be elimithree options for secured car loans when nated in your Chapter 7 bankruptcy case. you file Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Car Loans in Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Reaffirm: A reaffirmation agreement is Chapter 13 bankruptcy is a powerful a contract between you and the car creditor tool to protect your car from repossesin which you agree to pay the balance owed sion. If you have fallen behind on your on your car note, despite the bankruptcy car payments, you can file a Chapter 13 filing. You continue to make payments, bankruptcy to stop the repossession of your and the creditor promises that, as long as vehicle and repay any delinquent monies payments are made, the creditor will not due. If you are not delinquent, you have repossess or take back the property. the choice of just continuing your regular Reaffirmed debts are not discharged, the payments, or surrender the vehicle, and debt survives the bankruptcy. If you do not discharge the balance as an unsecured debt, make your car payments after you reaffirm much te same way as in chapter 7. the car loan the car lender can repossess the 910 Claims: If you bought your vehicle car and sue you for the deficiency balance. less than 910 days of filing your bankruptAfter the finance company repossesses the cy case, you must repay the entire car loan. car they will sell the car at the auto auc- The good news is that the interest rate you tion. Usually the finance company does pay on your car loan may be significantly not get enough money from the auction to reduced. For example, if you owed $10,000 pay off your loan. This shortfall is called a on a car loan whose blue book value was “deficiency” and you would still be legally only $5000, you would be required to pay obligated to pay the creditor the deficiency the entire $10,000 balance if the car was balance. As you can see, the decision to purchased less than 30 months, or 910 reaffirm your car loan is a serious financial days, of filing. In short, debtors who want matter. to keep their cars must pay the full loan Reaffirmation agreements are strictly amount, rather than “cram down” the debt voluntary. You are not required by the to the value of the car.

Bankruptcy Code or other state or federal Cram Down: If you bought your car law to reaffirm your car loan. Before enter- more than 910 days before you file banking into such an agreement, you will want ruptcy, you will only have to repay an to speak to your bankruptcy attorney to amount equal to the present value of the make sure that the reaffirmation is in your car. For example, if you owed $5000 on a best interest. car that is worth only $2500, upon filing Redeem: In Chapter 7, you have the Chapter 13 you would be required to repay right to purchase or redeem your car from the finance company only $2500 over the the creditor by making a lump sum pay- three to five year term of your Chapter ment equal to the car’s fair market value. 13 Plan.

The 2005 bankruptcy code provides that Car Leases in Chapter 13 Bankruptcy you must pay the creditor the replacement You car lease cannot be paid through retail cost of the car. The balance of the the Chapter 13 Plan you devise with your debt will be discharged. For example, as- bankruptcy attorney. You can “assume” sume you own a car worth $5000.00, but the lease and continue making the monthly owe the finance company $10,000.00. In payments. this circumstance, you could redeem the You can “reject” the lease and return vehicle by paying the creditor $5000.00 the car to the creditor. The creditor will and the remaining balance will be dis- sell the leased vehicle, apply the sale procharged in your bankruptcy. Your bank- ceeds to your lease balance and then file a ruptcy attorney can advise you on the claim in your Chapter 13 bankruptcy case benefits of redeeming your financed car for the lease deficiency. This deficiency is and identifying lenders that will provide an unsecured, non-priority claim, which the funds for your vehicle redemption. means you will likely only pay the finance Surrender: If you cannot afford the company pennies on the dollar. monthly payments on your car loan, or if For solutions to all of your financial you determine that you owe more than the problems, and rebuilding your credit, car is worth, you can unload the car and contact the law offices of Paul M. Allen. the debt in your Chapter 7 bankruptcy by We promise that help is just a phone call surrendering the vehicle to the creditor. away. Consultations are free, but by apCar Leases in Chapter 7 Bankruptcy pointment only. We have two convenient If you are leasing your car when you file locations in Glendale and La Palma. Call Chapter 7 bankruptcy you can choose to today at 818-552-4500..

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Aquino no-show at arrival honors for 42 slain SAF men at Villamor Air Base MANILA, Jan 29 (Mabuhay) –The remains of the 42 elite policemen who were killed in what authorities called a “misencounter” in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao, last Sunday arrived at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City Thursday morning.

Present to honor the slain policemen were former President Fidel V. Ramos, Vice President Jejomar Binay, and top officials of the military and the police.

However, there was one man who was conspicuously absent in the event: President Benigno Aquino III. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte clarified that Aquino did not “skip” the arrival honors. “The President did not skip the arrival honors today, it presupposes he was originally scheduled to attend it, which was not the case,” she said.

Valte added that Aquino will lead the necrological services on Friday morning at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

Aquino, whose official schedule for Thursday states that he was in Laguna for the inauguration of a Mitsubishi Motors Corporation Plant, addressed the nation Wednesday evening regarding the clash.

He is due to visit the wake of the slain policemen – all members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) – on Friday.

Two other slain SAF members had already been laid to rest in Mindanao in accordance with Islamic rites.

But Kabataan party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said it was not enough for Aquino to give a speech and visit the wake of the fallen policemen. In a statement, Ridon called Aquino’s absence at Villamor Air Base “despicable.”

“Aquino’s absence in the arrival honor ceremony for the fallen SAF men speaks volumes of the president’s lack of basic respect for his servicemen,” Ridon said, adding Aquino’s “cold, unfeeling heart cannot even sympathize briefly to the families of the fallen SAF officers.”

“It is truly despicable, especially for the commander-in-chief,” Ridon said.

Ridon also criticized Aquino’s decision to attend the opening of a car plant instead of the the honor rites in Villamor.

“His choice to instead head to the opening of a car factory in Sta. Rosa shows how little he cares for his uniformed personnel, who died in an encounter that he himself green-lighted,” Ridon said.

“The president’s absence in today’s ceremony only heightens the people’s disgust in a leader who let his own men go to battle for the sake of his own vanity, only to disown the whole plan and deny accountability in the end,” he added. (MNS)

Colorful Manila jeepneys always mesmerize me!

In on one of this writer’s visits to our home country, I have dreamt of riding those colorful, authentic-looking 20-passenger jeepneys with all their slogans such as “Bakya mo Neneng,” “Ikaw ang Irog Ko,” multi-colored “burloloys” (decorative swirls hanging in front or out around the vehicle). I was also amazed at the jeepney driver’s “pasada” boxes filled with their “daily when some of my classmates and I snucked wages,” and watching various people’s out of our gated Catholic school grounds faces while paying their fare and informing and the six of us took a jeepney ride to the famous Ideal Theatre on Ascarrraga to the driver where they wish to go.

Some sources say that the word watch the last day of Elvis Presley’s movie “jeepney” was combined with the word “Loving You.” That was exciting, not only “jeep” and “knee” because passengers sit because getting caught would’ve gotten us in very close proximity to each other. As in deep trouble, but it was Elvis!

Riding jeepneys are quite fun as long I recall during my grade school years, we knew of them as the “poor man’s” means as there are a few passengers around. of public transportation in the Philippines. Some warn of crimes happening at night At that time, jeepneys were popularized by and even during daytime when robbers a well-known Imus, Cavite manufacturer victimize jeepney passengers and take named Leonardo S. Sarao, whose business their personal belongings. There were even flourished when he founded Sarao Motors reports jeepney drivers colluding with the in 1953, specializing in building colorful, robbers, including passengers who pretend sturdy-looking, revenue-earning vehicles. to be victims but who are actully part of Our mother, with her Chinese entrepre- the robbery.

According to a jeepney driver named neurship, had a fleet of these running the EDSA-Cubao -UP-Kamuning, Kamias, Mang Jose that we talked to, he said he has Kamuning, Projects 2 and 3 routes in seen it all – robberies, guy being stabbed while on his jeepney, a woman delivering Quezon City.

These jeepneys usually are fast and it her baby while pregnant, etc.

Nowadays, Metro Manila is filled with brings one to their destination from Point A to Point B, with a minimal fare, which was contemporary, air-conditioned buses, pegged at P8.50 each person depending on taxicabs and rental cars. But the colorful the distance to one’s destination in today’s jeepneys are still there, waiting to take the working public to their place of destination. current fare prices.

So on your next visit back home, try Though it’s fun riding these smokebelching jeepneys, sometimes it’s annoy- riding the jeepneys once more... it will ing to sit with passengers seated next to mesmerize you as it is a throwback experiyou with unreasonably strong fragrance ence...Let the symbol of the jeepney stay while passengers are packed like sardines. with us forever...It’s a symbol of the workBut such is the daily rigors of life you ing Filipinos’ daily lives. Besides, there are have to bear if you happen to live in the plans to get rid of this public conveyance sooner than later as they replace them with Philippines.

As I reminisce the good old days, one the so-called e-jeepneys that use electricity fun ride we had in high school days was instead of earth-polluting diesel fuel.

Members of the Philippine National Police carry the body of one of the members of the Special Action Force slain in fighting Mamasapano town, Maguindanao on Monday. More than 30 have been reported killed from the government side following a clash with Muslim rebels. (MNS photo)

Tension high as MILF, BIFF add forces in Maguindanao town after clash MANILA, Jan 28 (Mabuhay) – Tension is still high in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao, with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters adding forces in the area.

The groups deployed additional forces should the government launch a pursuit operation related to the gun battle on Sunday, where 44 members of the police’s Special Action Force were killed.

But according to Brigadier General Carlito Galvez of the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities, military and police forces were pulled out of Barangay Tukanalipao, where the daylong clash happened. Checkpoints have also been removed.

The committee is also speaking with MILF commanders, asking them not to add reinforcement so fear would not spread to other parts of Maguindanao.

It also asked the group’s leaders to understand the situation and appease their members who may have lost loved ones in the battle. Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Tuesday appealed for calm in the aftermath of the clash.

“We call for sobriety as we all await the full report on the investigation. During this time, we must ascertain facts to avoid confusion and acknowledge the complexities of the situation to allow for the rule of law to truly prevail,” Sereno said in her statement.

In voicing their condemnation of the

incident, Senators JV Ejercito and Alan Peter Cayetano both withdrew as co-authors of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law currently being deliberated in Congress.

The MILF, meanwhile, has formed its own investigating body to look into Sunday’s deadly encounter, which occurred despite the peace agreement signed by the group with the government in March last year.

“Our concern is the truth,” MILF chairman Murad Ebrahim said in an undated statement posted on the group’s official website. “There will be a lot of speculations as to what happened and until what happened is established with credibility and integrity, the said incident will weigh down our current efforts to bring peace to our homeland.”

The group also extended its condolences to the family of the 44 SAF members who were killed in the clash.

“In order to give meaning to their deaths, we must resolve not to let something like this happen again. To this end, the MILF is convening a Special Investigative Commission (SIC),” Murad said, adding the mandate of SIC “is to gather as much reliable information and interview witnesses to establish the truth.”

Meanwhile, relatives of the slain elite police officers were pained further by a report that the forces were tortured as they were dying. Their guns and other possessions were also reportedly taken.

Aquino must give an account on deadly Mamasapano ops – militant group MANILA, Jan 28 (Mabuhay) – A militant group on Wednesday said President Benigno Aquino III “has a lot of explaining to do” about the operations in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao, where 44 elite police officers were killed Sunday.

In a statement, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said the President should tell the people whether he approved the operation, where members of the PNP-Special Action Force was supposed to serve an arrest warrant on Jemaah Islamiyah leader Zulkifli bin Hir. Police had confirmed the presence in the area of the “high-value” JI leader, also known as Commander Marwan.

“It is hard to believe that 392 elite PNP SAF were being mobilized for an operation against a so-called high-value target and yet our top officials claim they were not aware,” Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr. said.

The group raised the question after a Manila Standard Today report citing a

police general, who was supposedly part of the planning of the operation, as saying Aquino “was aware” of the operations.

Bayan said the report claimed Aquino put suspended PNP Chief Alan Purisima in-charge of the operation “apparently without the knowledge” of Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II. It added that the operation was undertaken upon the direction of the United States government that “even offered a $5-million bounty for Marwan’s capture.”

“Aquino has a lot of explaining to do. If he knew of and approved the Mamasapano operation, upon the directive of the United States, then he is also accountable,” Reyes said, adding there are “strong indications” about it.

The President is expected to deliver a nationwide address on the matter on Wednesday night.

Bayan also said the operation against Marwan last Sunday was not the first police action where the US was involved.

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Scrapping US visa waivers would be ‘a mistake’: official Washington, United States | AFP | Thursday 1/29/2015 – Scrapping a visa waiver program that eases travel to the United States for people from dozens of partner nations would be “a mistake,� a top US official said Thursday.

The program allows citizens from 38 approved countries, mostly in Europe, to travel to the United States without a visa for stays of 90 days or less.

There have been increasing calls for doing away with the program following recent attacks in Paris, Ottawa and Sydney.

America’s Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson insisted, however, that

the program is too “valuable� to discard.

He made his remarks during a speech at a US think tank on the progress made in safeguarding US domestic security and future challenges ahead. “The visa waiver program is an important, valuable program, there are some out there who want to scrap it, I think that’s a mistake,� he said.

Some US lawmakers and other officials have suggested that the visa waiver program leaves America vulnerable.

US Senator Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, noted earlier this month that the

Pinay faces death in Indonesia for drugs Manila, Philippines | AFP | Thursday 1/29/2015 – The Philippines is trying to prevent the execution of a female citizen, who faces death by firing squad in Indonesia for drug smuggling, the foreign ministry said Thursday.

Manila’s revelation that a Filipina is on death row, comes after recently-elected Indonesian leader Joko Widodo’s government executed six convicted drug smugglers and prepares to execute 11 more. “The Philippine government is making all the appropriate representations with the Indonesian government at all levels on our... request for judicial review,� foreign ministry spokesman Charles Jose said.

He said an application to review the woman’s death sentence was filed at a district court near Yogyakarta last week.

Foreign ministry officials said the woman – whose name was not disclosed – was arrested at Yogyakarta airport in April 2010 carrying 2.6 kilograms (5.73 pounds) of heroin on a flight from Malaysia.

After putting five foreigners and an Indonesian to death by firing squad earlier this month, Indonesia announced Thursday it was ready to execute 11 more people.

Among them are two Australian leaders of the “Bali Nine� drug-smuggling gang, who have been on death row for almost a decade.

Despite his image as a reformist, Indonesia’s new president has been a vocal supporter of capital punishment for drug offenders, disappointing rights activists who had hoped that he would take a softer line on the death penalty.

US Senate approves controversial Keystone pipeline Washington, United States | AFP | Thursday 1/29/2015 – The US Senate on Thursday approved the immediate construction of the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada to the United States, a Republican priority that faces a presidential veto threat.

After weeks of fierce debate, the Republican bill passed with 62 votes to 36, with eight Democrats defying President Barack Obama to support a project that would transport crude from Alberta’s oil sands to refineries along the US Gulf Coast.

The measure, tweaked during a rollercoaster process in which more than 40 amendments to the bill received floor consideration, heads back to the House of Representatives.

The House approved its own Keystone legislation earlier this month, and now must decide whether it passes the Senate measure or enters into bicameral conference to thrash out a compromise bill.

House Republican leaders were undecided Thursday on which path to take, but they applauded the Senate’s action. “We hope President Obama will now

drop his threat to veto this common-sense bill that would strengthen our energy security and create thousands and thousands of new, good-paying American jobs,� House Speaker John Boehner said.

Overcoming a presidential veto requires a two-thirds majority, and it would be a heavy lift for supporters to obtain 67 votes in the 100-member Senate.

Keystone XL was first proposed by TransCanada six years ago.

Republicans—and some Democrats— hail it as a 1,179-mile (1,900-kilometer) shovel-ready construction project that would create 40,000 jobs and boost US energy security.

Many Democrats oppose it on environmental grounds, warning of the risks of pipeline leaks and how the “tar sands� oil takes more energy and water to process than conventional crude.

And they point to a State Department study that found that just 35 of the Keystone jobs would be permanent.

Republicans counter that moving oil by pipeline releases far fewer emissions than transporting it by rail or road.

perpetrators of the deadly attack on the Charlie Hebdo magazine were citizens of France – one of the countries on Washington’s visa waiver list. “It’s my belief – and I have said this publicly many times – that the visa waiver program is the Achilles’ heel of America,� she told CNN television, because it puts the nation at greater risk of attack by extremists. “They can come back from training, they go through a visa waiver country, and they come into this country,� Feinstein said.

Johnson, however, said that the risks

More Cubans reaching US via Mexico: official Miami, United States | AFP | Thursday 1/29/2015 – US border authorities said Thursday they are seeing a surge of Cubans crossing into the United States from Mexico and by boat at sea. The US Customs and Border Patrol said that 6,489 Cubans have arrived from Mexico since October, 37 percent of the number who arrived the entire previous year. The influx may be prompted by a historic US-Cuban rapprochement announced December 17 by President Barack Obama and Cuba’s President Raul Castro. Restored ties would undercut the US rationale for an immigration policy that grants Cubans immediate residency and working permits if they make it to US soil.

The US Coast Guard and the Border Patrol both have issued advisories stressing that there has been no change in US policy.

The Coast Guard said 500 Cubans were intercepted on boats at sea or made landfall in December, 420 of them after the surprise announcement on relations.

The Border Patrol has tracked an increase in flows of immigrants from Cuban over the past several years, which it attributes to poor economic conditions in the Communist-ruled island.

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Obama hails ‘boundless’ promise of precision medicine Washington, United States | AFP | Friday 1/30/2015 – President Barack Obama on Friday unveiled plans to plow $215 million into “precision medicine� research, a field he said provided “boundless� promise for the treatment of diseases like cancer and diabetes.

The field – which aims to tailor treatment to individual patients – “gives us one of the greatest opportunities for new medical breakthrough that we have ever seen,� Obama said.

The funding would be used in part to collect gene, biochemical, lifestyle and other data from one million volunteers.

Scientists believe that vast bank of information could then lead to better classification of diseases – based on molecular causes rather than symptoms – as well as tailored treatment that replaces a “one size fits all� approach.

The bulk of the money, $200 million, would go to the National Institutes of Health and its affiliate the National Cancer Institute.

The proposal is part of Obama’s 2016 budget plan, which would first have to be approved by a hostile Republican-controlled Congress. “The time is right to unleash a new wave of advancements in this area,� said Obama setting out his proposals next to a giant model of DNA. Obama said the move would “lay the foundation for a new generation of lifesaving discoveries.�

posed by the program, which is constantly being improved, have been overstated. “We continue to tailor and enhance our security through every appropriate method,� said Johnson, calling visa waivers “a valuable tool for international commerce and travel.� “It is a program that must continue, but there are ways in which the security of the program can be improved,� he said. “I’ve asked my folks to take a hard look at whether... there are additional things that we could ask for, whether they’re being complied with. That’s under review right now,� Johnson said.

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Single client seeks Chapter 7 discharge of $80k credit card debt Parents qualify under Obama Amnesty

SINGLE CLIENT SEEKS BK RELIEF Client is 48 years old, single and works as a licensed vocational nurse. She used to gross $75K a year with two jobs but recently lost the 2nd job, which used to pay her $24K a year. She owes $80K of credit card debt, which

requires a minimum of $2,400 a month. Her rent is only $800 a month, credit card debt. That’s not fair, but that’s and she pays for a car at $500 a month. the way credit cards work. Minimum With the loss of the 2nd job, she is now payments to keep cards current go towards unable to continue minimum payments principal. A minimum amount perhaps on the $80K credit card debt. Apparently, goes to principal which is insignificant in all the income from the 2nd job had gone reducing the principal balance owed. In to keeping the $80K credit cards current addition to $80K of credit cards, client for the last 5 years. Therefore, in the last also owes back taxes of $15K to the IRS 5 years, she paid $144,000 of interest to for 2011 and 2010 because her job pays keep her credit cards current. But today, her with a 1099, no deductions. Since she still owes the very same $80,000 of she wasn’t disciplined enough to pay off

the IRS in full when the taxes were due, income taxes owed for those two years became bigger as time went by.

Her current income now from a single job is $5K a month, without deductions.

And for last year, she will owe $6K to the IRS that she has not yet paid. Last week the IRS sent her a NOTICE OF INTENT TO GARNISH her bank deposits and wages. Last month, two credit cards threatened to file lawsuits for collection.

In other words, client needs debt relief badly and urgently.

I suggested a Chapter 7 case to wipe out all $80K of credit card debt, and $15K owed to the IRS for 2011 and 2010. Thus, giving her a fresh start in life without burdensome debt so she can be productive again. Her credit score was low because of the past due cards, and taxes owed to the IRS. So when she told me that she was worried that her credit score would be destroyed by bankruptcy. I informed her that, on the contrary, when she files her case, her credit score would be 500, which is only slightly lower than her current credit score of 560. But with bankruptcy, her credit score would increase every year if she handled new credit in a timely manner. On the 2nd year from filing, she would probably be at 620 as long as she paid her car loan on time, and on the new cards that she will definitely be offered right after getting a discharge, she should get those, use them, but pay them off in full. With that track record, in the 3rd or 4th year, she would probably be at 670. On the 7th year, she would be at 730, which is very good, and on the 10th year her credit score will be over 800 again with no record of the bankruptcy filing. On the other hand, if she did not discharge all her debts now with a Chapter 7, her credit score will be in the zombie zone for years and years. As an added bonus, her $15,000 of taxes owed to the IRS would also be discharged, so she will not owe the IRS anything anymore, except for the upcoming $6K for 2014.

Client decided to file for Chapter 7 relief immediately. This is the right decision considering she is now 48 years old. So, if she gets a 2nd job again, all of that income will be saved for her retirement.

PARENTS QUALIFY UNDER OBAMA AMNESTY The OBAMA AMNESTY which allows people who are here without legal status provided they have a qualifying child who is an American citizen or legal permanent resident, to get a work permit valid for 3 years and renewable for periods of 3 years per renewal is getting into higher gear because the USCIS was

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directed to start accepting applications by February 19, 2015.

Clients entered the United States with an H1-B visa to work here as an engineer. Employer agreed to convert his H1-B status into permanent residency through the labor certification process.

Unfortunately, employer’s business ran into financial problems and had to let client go. Unable to get another employer to continue his H1-B and labor certification within the requisite time, his H1-B status expired and he eventually became out of status. He married 10 years ago but his spouse is undocumented because although she entered with a passport and had an I-94, she lost both the passport and I-94 a long time ago. As a result, she is undocumented. However, they have an 8-year-old daughter who was born in Los Angeles.

Client, although an engineer, works as a building maintenance person because he doesn’t have a work permit. Wife does not work because she has no work permit either.

Since American citizen daughter was born before November 20, 2014, parents have continuously resided here since before January 1, 2010, are physically present here on November 20, 2014, have no lawful status on November 20, 2014, and are not criminals, both husband and wife will qualify for the Obama amnesty for work permits valid for 3 years and renewable. They can travel out of the country for specific reasons with an advance parole, but I do not recommend that they assume that risk because there is always that 1% chance denied re-entry at port by the immigration officer. That officer has the discretion to deny entry even with an advance parole for whatever reasons he has. So, why take that risk at this time? “EVEN TO YOUR OLD AGE AND GRAY HAIRS I AM HE, I AM HE WHO WILL SUSTAIN YOU. I HAVE MADE YOU AND I WILL CARRY YOU; I WILL SUSTIAN YOU AND I WILL RESCUE YOU.� ISAIAH 46:4.

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

He specializes in bankruptcy, business and civil litigation and has handled more than five thousand successful bankruptcy cases in California. He speaks Tagalog and looks forward to discussing your case with you personally. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S Fremont Ave, MAILSTOP 58, Building A-1 SUITE 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803 OR at 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789.

Price cut in milk, bread set MANILA, Jan 28 (Mabuhay) – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced Wednesday that manufacturers have agreed to cut down prices of milk and bread products. This is after DTI has continuously called on manufacturers for lower prices of some basic goods after the big time slash in prices of fuel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) products.

According to DTI, Nestle’ Philippines will implement a peso reduction for a 150gram pack of Bear Brand powdered milk or from Php51.00 suggested retail price (SRP) to Php50.00 effective on March 1, 2015.

Nestle’ will also add extra grams on Bear Brand milk products particularly for packs of 320 grams, 900 grams, and 1.2 kilograms effective on April 1, 2015.

Meanwhile, community bakers also heed the call of the Department as they will decrease Php0.15 or two grams for every piece of pandesal. “Through the DTI, our organization was made aware of the decreasing LPG prices that prompted us to act immediately. Now, I encourage other community bakers, particularly those

that use LPG in their operations, to make their move to either bring down their price or add more weight per pandesal,� said Philippine Federation of Bakers’ Association, Inc. (PFBAI) National Vice President Lucito Chavez.

Likewise, the Philippine Baking (Philbaking) – manufacturer of Pinoy Tasty and Pinoy Pandesa – is also considering a price reduction on bread by the latter part of February. “The DTI discussed with us the drop of LPG prices, however, we explained to them that the Philbaking members are using electricity in preparing breads. But we are always in support of the DTI in developing programs that will extend help to consumers, to which we agreed to look for flour brands with lower prices that we can use in our new formulation for the Pinoy Tasty and Pinoy Pandesal,� Philbaking President Nestor Constancia. “We are optimistic about the new formulation for Pinoy Tasty and Pinoy pandesal and expect to be ready with these in the market by the latter part of February with reduced SRPs,� he added.

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Senate subcommittee to recommend citing Pag-IBIG Fund director in contempt MANILA, Jan 29 (Mabuhay) – The Senate blue ribbon subcommittee will recommend citing University of Makati and Pag-IBIG Fund director Tomas Lopez in contempt, for a graver act after failing to attend the hearing on Thursday despite his promise to do so.

“I have no choice, he misled us but he is not here today,” Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said Thursday at the start of the hearing after learning that Lopez did not honor his earlier commitment to be present.

“I will follow the procedure, I will recommended again (to the mother committee) that he be cited in contempt for a

graver act this time,” he added.

On Monday, Lopez wrote a letter to the committee saying that he is willing to attend hearing on the subcommittee probe on the alleged corruption in Makati City government under the Binay family.

That letter led the committee to exclude him in the list of persons to be cited in contempt which included Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr, City Administrator Eleno Mendoza, Eduviges “Ebeng” Baloloy, former City Administrator Marjorie de Veyra, Engineer Line Dela Peña, and Bernadette Portallano.

Lopez is allegedly one of the dummies of Vice President Jejomar Binay. (MNS)

Execs sued for alleged smuggling of P14.3-M worth of steel MANILA, Jan 29 (Mabuhay) – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Thursday filed smuggling charges against five top officials and the customs broker of a steel importing firm for attempting to illegally import steel products worth around P14.3 million.

Smuggling-related cases were filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against officials of Stellent Corp., namely chairman of the board Rico Rigor Cayunda Cinco, board members: Charmayne De La Peña Angeles, Asuncion Petra Angeles, Maria Rhezy G. Ilada, Ruge Robert S. Illada, and customs broker John Philip Malinao Yap for alleged unlawful importation of steel angle bars from China.

They brought into the country 15 20foot container vans of steel angle bars without the necessary Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) from the Department of Trade and Industry-Bureau of Product

Standards (DTI-BPS).

The shipment arrived from China at the Port of Manila in July 2014.

The importer and customs broker violated section 3601 in relation to Section 101 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP) as amended by Republic Act (RA) 7651.

“Although there is a strong demand for steel products, we cannot let these illegal and unsafe products enter the local market,” Customs Commissioner John P. Sevilla said.

“We are working very hard to prevent the technical smuggling of substandard products that pose danger to people who will use them,” he added.

The BOC’s Intelligence Group received derogatory information about the shipment, allowing the agency to have personnel to validate the veracity of the derogatory information. (MNS)

Homestead starts RN-BSN completion program Homestead Schools in Torrance, Calif. will offer RN-to-BSN completion program tentatively scheduled to begin in February 2015. The school is accepting applications from qualified RNs. As an RN, should you pursue BSN? The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has recommended that healthcare organizations increase their bachelor’s prepared RN staff to 80% by 2020†. It is also a documented fact that RNs with BSN commit far fewer medical errors than RNs with no advance degree. Precisely for this reason many hospitals, especially those designated “magnet” hire only the RNs with BSN degree. Needless to say, with a BSN you’ll improve your employability and earnings. You’ll be able to take your rightful place in the healthcare field while providing the highest level of care to your patients.

Program Description The Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-to-BSN) completion program is designed to be taught in five semesters provided that students transfer in required credits. The program is open to licensed registered nurses (RN) who have completed their associate degree in nursing or a diploma in nursing from a nationally or regionally accredited nursing program.

The goal of the program is to graduate nurses that will be ready to advance their educational career and that can understand the concept of holistic praxis, think critically, and serve as change agents or leaders in any healthcare and nursing environment.

Program Overview There are three tracks for degree completion for the RN-BSN program: Online: Offered 100% online via asynchronous, synchronous, and other online delivery methods.

2.

On Campus: Offered face-to-face on campus in Torrance 3.

Hybrid: Mixture of online and on-campus courses as elected by the student. The same courses will be offered both online and on campus.

For further information, contact Homestead Schools at 23800 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance, CA. 90505. (310) 791-9975. †Institute of Medicine (2010). The future of Nursing: Leading change, Advancing Health. Washington, DC: National Academics Press.

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TUCP seeks P136 minimum wage hike MANILA, Jan 29 (Mabuhay) – The Trade Union Congress of the PhilippinesNagkaisa (TUCP) and the Trade Union Congress Party-list is seeking an P136 increase to the current P466 minimum wage for workers in Metro Manila.

TUCP spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said the current minimum wage can no longer sustain needs of a family, arguing that the real value of the peso has been eroded by 35 percent due to several factors including consumer price index, tuition fees, the recent Metro Rail Transit/Light Rail Transit fare hike, and the impending water and electricity rate increases.

“The real value of the current P466 minimum wage is P299 only. It cannot sustain the needs of a family. As a result,

many employed workers fall through the cracks and join the growing ranks of the working poor.

“Thus, we are asking the board to give a ‘living’ minimum wage. We particularly appeal to employers to grant our petition,” Tanjusay said.

Rep. Raymond Mendoza, meanwhile, cited a “social discrepancy” between the country’s economic growth and wages of workers.

“We have been experiencing growth in our economy but the workers who worked hard for it are wallowing in poverty. They have jobs and most are employed yet they do not benefit the development. This is highly unfair and grossly unjust to workers and their families.

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LOS ANGELES

GROWTH From page 1

referencing a period when the Philippines saw annual economic growth rates approaching nine percent.

Despite global uncertainties, the Philippines was buoyed by “solid” macroeconomic fundamentals including strong domestic consumption, ample foreign exchange reserves, a stable banking sector and manageable inflation, finance secretary Cesar Purisima said.

Purisima said in a statement that the country “has more fundamental strength than most peers to fuel long-term growth prospects and buttress against vulnerabilities to external shocks.”

On a full-year basis, the Philippine economy grew at a rate second in Asia only to China’s 7.4 percent, and narrowly outpacing Vietnam’s six percent, Balisacan said.

“With this upbeat year-end performance, the economy is anticipated to gain further traction in 2015,” he said.

Balisacan however conceded that such high growth rates must be sustained over 20 years before they could be felt by the poor, as shown by the experience of other countries.

JUN-JUN From page 1

Binay supporters in the gallery of the session hall booed, shouted, and some even cried when they saw the mayor being dragged into the room.

The subcommittee had to suspend the hearing to calm the situation.

After the break, Binay was made to sit down with the mayor looking at his arms, apparently checking for injuries.

Trillanes asked him if he was hurt and if he needed “special medical attention.”

Binay said he was all right and did not need to see a doctor. However, during a press conference later, the mayor com-

Weekend, Sat. - Fri., Jan. 31 - Feb. 6, 2015

‘There’s no shortcut’ “It’s a long way to go before we can effectively make this growth shared broadly.

There’s so much to do. There’s no shortcut to it. We have to deepen reforms,” he said.

The full-year economic growth rate of 6.1 percent exceeded forecasts of 6.0 percent by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, but fell short of the government’s targeted range of between 6.5 percent and 7.5 percent.

The economy grew by an impressive 7.2 percent in 2013.

The 2014 fourth quarter growth figure of 6.9 percent was also an improvement from the 6.3 percent growth posted in the same period in 2013.

Analysts, meanwhile, largely echoed government confidence about the economy.

“Overall, this remains consistent with our long-held view that the economy is on a solid growth trajectory,” Nomura research analyst Euben Paracuelles said.

Barclays analysts Rahul Bajoria and Bill Diviney, meanwhile, predicted expansion will be “robust” this year as the Philippines is expected to benefit from a marked drop in world oil prices while the central bank is expected to hold off on any interest rate hikes until the fourth quarter.

plained that he suffered bruises.

Pimentel asked and allowed Binay to speak and respond to allegations against him and members of his family during the subcommittee’s investigation on the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall 2 parking building.

Instead of explaining, the mayor reiterated his objection to the conduct of the hearing, which he and his family claim was just out to tarnish their reputation.

After manifesting hearing that Binay was giving up his right to respond to the charges and allegations, Pimentel set the mayor free. (MNS)

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BANGSAMORO From page 1

any ibubuwis natin diyan? Ano pang gagawin natin? Pababayaan na lang ba natin?

Ano ‘yun, maghihintay tayo ng 40 taon ulit? Wala nang ibang magagawa kung hindi giyerahin na para magkaroon ng tunay na kapayapaan,” Estrada, who was president from 1998 to 2001, said.

During Estrada’s all-out war campaign against the MILF in 2000, most of the rebel group’s camps, including the sprawling Camp Abubakar, fell into government’s hands. Hundreds of soldiers and rebels, however, were killed while thousands of civilians were displaced.

For his part, Ramos, a former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff, said that while the peace process in Mindanao will be affected by the deaths of 44 policemen in the hands of the MILF, the peace talks remain the best solution for a lasting peace in the troubled region.

“The complete and final terms of this peace process may not happen during his [Aquino’s] office, but as good Filipinos, let us all help in making it happen,” he said.

Still, Ramos had strong words for President Benigno Aquino III, who he said failed the men who look to him as their commander in chief.

“There should be no hesitation on the part of the commander in chief. Otherwise, it will be part of your legacy to be always hesitant, flip-flopping,” Ramos said.

“Pardon me for saying this, pero yan po ang damdamin ng mga sundalo. Paakyat ito sa Malacañang. Poor strategic direction of the commander in chief of the PNP and the AFP. It is the soldier, the policeman, the law enforcer, the guardian of security that suffers because of the risks,” he added.

Ramos, who served under both Ferdinand Marcos until the EDSA upriring and then as part of Cory Aquino Cabinet, also said Aquino should have consulted with retired soldiers and police before Sunday’s disastrous operation in Mamasapano town, which was supposed to have resulted in the arrest of Jemaah Islamiyah leader Zulkifli bin Hir, also known as Commander Marwan. (MNS)

MENDOZA From page 1

and Basit Usman.

Ochoa is the anti-terrorism czar and the head of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission.

“According to information, he is on top of it. He provides funding. How come ang PAOCC ay bumaba sa tactical level?” he asked. “Because of this policy shift, pinondohan directly ng PAOCC yung mga chosen case operator na ang plan ay national in scope.”

Mendoza, however, believes DILG Secretary Mar Roxas and acting PNP chief Leonardo Espina may have been kept in the dark.

The reason, he thinks, is politics.

“Our counterterrorism policies, struc-

tures and systems are deeply marred by politics. That is one of the truth. They attempted to compartmentalize Secretary Roxas and the OIC of the PNP,” he said.

A board of inquiry has been created to look into the Maguindanao encounter but Mendoza wants an independent investigation.

“It is not appropriate at this time that the board of inquiry is composed of generals who are classmates of General Purisima.

How are we sure General Purisima will not influence the board of inquiry clandestinely?”

Mendoza said he has no rift with Purisima, saying his expose against the suspended PNP chief is a call of duty. (MNS)

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Will an unpermitted living area or room conversion hurt your home loan?

A caller recently asked me, “What do you do when you appraise a house with unpermitted space? Does it affect the value or your appraisal?” This goes for refinancing your homes too, please read.

The answer to this question largely depends on the lender for whom we are preparing the appraisal. While some lenders stipulate that living area), we are legally required to unpermitted living area can be given value disclose that it is non permitted. We also as long as it is professionally completed must add verbiage to limit our own liability. and cannot be distinguished from the per- Needless to say, this complicates the whole mitted living area (this is called “conform- appraisal and borrowing process. So, selling”), more and more lenders are hesitant ers and agents please disclose everything to lend on non-permitted space. Why? One upfront to your buyers and lenders to avoid concern is that if something were to happen any surprises towards closing. to the house and it needed to be rebuilt, it If you are house hunting and come is possible, depending on the zoning or across a house with space that is not permunicipal restrictions that only the per- mitted, it is often marketed as “bonus livmitted space would be able to be legally ing area.” Be careful! Unpermitted space, rebuilt. This would leave the bank holding while it may seem a great bargain at the a loan that could potentially be thousands outset, can have great negative impact on (or hundreds of thousands) of dollars more your future home value. than the house is actually worth. Some Congratulations! If you’ve been prelenders have special programs for proper- approved for your home loan, you found ties with unpermitted addition that is note the right home at the right price with the to be “ Built in Workman like Condition” right terms and you’re ready to really get by the appraiser. However, if you have an on the road to homeownership. This Goes addition that has extension cord hanging, for an loan approval for refinancing too. untraditional electrical outlets, visible wall The road to homeownership has just frames or anything that might be a insur- begun for you and to keep you on course able risk to the homeowners, then it wont here are 10 Things NOT TO DO while be accepted and will have to be removed your home loan is in process. or converted back to its original use before Don’t quit your job or decide you’d you can close your loan. like to be an entrepreneur Now, if a house is for sale and there is Don’t decide you’d like to become a a price difference between appraisal value high paid commission salesperson and sales price ? The buyer would most Don’t buy a new car or trade-up to likely have to bring cash to the table to a bigger lease make up the difference in value between Don’t decide to furnish or decorate the Sales price and the lower appraisal your new home before you own it. value to close the deal.

Don’t forget to pay your bills – even Though we have also done appraisals the ones in dispute with non permitted living area in which Don’t open new credit cards – even if the lender allowed us to value it as part you’re getting 20% off of the home, there is always a chance that Don’t co-sign for anyone for anything they won’t. Even if the lender allows us Don’t accept a cash gift from the bank See KEN GO, page 11 to incorporate it in the total GLA (gross

Joseph Gelito: Setting the bar high for Fil-Am comedians Multi-talented Joseph Gelito had to work hard to establish himself in a field that’s hard to penetrate, much more excel in.

In being where he is now in the entertainment world he had to be different to stay in a business where competitions sprout like mushrooms.

Like the Biblical Joseph, The Dreamer of the Bible, Joseph Gelito was also dreamer of sort who set his sights beyond what he is capable of

doing to succeed.

The essential elements in his possession He knew that in order to make his dream a reality in his adopted county, he would comprise the bundle that has made him have to possess the necessary skills that what he is today as “The Star for All Genwould make people notice. On top of the ders” especially to the Filipino-Americans skills, he knew that the road to success community who follow his career.

Joseph, who also doubles up as Activcould only possible with determination, ity Director for a nursing home chain in commitment to his craft.

In chasing the American dream which Orange County, has already been a hit as a started in 1995 when he sacrificed thriving stand-up comedian among the Filipinos in TV career in the Philippines and a job as a the Los Angeles area blazing the trail with cruise director in an Asian cruise line, Jo- his natural comic antics and flair performseph now enjoys his fair share of the dream. ing in corporate and community events. He was also one of the early The world of show business particularly in the realm of comedy where many birds to blaze the trail when the Karaoke people try to find their way through is an craze entered the scene and became the extremely demanding field. Making people standard entertainment fare for the Filipilaugh seems easy but it’s not and there are nos known for their natural fondness for essential qualities that a performer must singing. have to join the ranks of great comedians On January 30, Joseph’s friends and where Joseph is now. fans will have the opportunity to enjoy In pursuing his dream, he knew he had his antics and his gift in singing when to have the vital qualities that will make he is united with his friends at an event him stand out from the rest. These qualities called “Payanig sa Taglamig” to be held included his determination to work hard on in Knott’s Berry Hotel in Buena Park. his craft, to be relevant to his audience by The event will be sort of a reunion for his opening his senses to what’s to happening other performer friends -Maui, Justine and around him and to be deeply relevant in Kasya- who had been sharing the stage with what he was doing. him since the start of his career in the U.S.

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Will incorporating a separate property business during marriage make it community property?

You own a successful business, as a sole proprietor, prior to marriage. You later meet the love of your life and decide to marry her. Years into the marriage, you decide to incorporate the business. A common question when the couple later divorces becomes 1) did your separate property business become community property by virtue of incorporating it during the marriage? 2) Was your separate property business “transmuted”

to community property by incorporating it during the marriage? some aspect of corporate formation took No Community Property Presumption place during the marriage is to elevate Family Code §760 defines Community semantics over substance” property as Except as otherwise provided No Transmutation by statute, all property, real or personal, Incorporation of a sole proprietorship wherever situated, acquired by a married business during the marriage can trigger a person during the marriage while domi- family code § 2640 tracing right of reimciled in this state is community property. bursement only when it is also accompaHowever under Marriage of Koester, the nied by an unambiguous express written Court held that the community does not transmutation of the business to commu“acquire” a separate property business nity property as required by Family Code § simply because the business is incorporated 852. Marriage of Koester, supra, 73 CA4th during the marriage. The mere incorpora- at 1036–1037, 87 CR2d at 79–80 & fn. 5. tion of a business operated by spouse is Under Family Code §852, a transmutation not a change in its character, for purposes of real or personal property is not valid unof division of community estate following less made in writing by an express declaradivorce. In Koester, the Court stated that tion that is made, joined in, consented to, he incorporation simply effects a change or accepted by the spouse whose interest in the legal form under which the business in the property is adversely affected. In is conducted and property does not change Koester, the act of changing the legal form its character merely because of a change under which a business is conducted does in form or identity. Marriage of Koester not meet the requirements of family code (1999) 73 CA4th 1032, 1035, 1038, 87 § 852 for a valid transmutation. Marriage CR2d 76, 79, 81. The Court in Koester of Koester (1999) 73 CA4th 1032, 1037, also stated that “In contrast with the way 87 CR2d 76, 80 & fn. 5. Incorporation of title is taken when a married couple own a sole proprietorship business is typically residential property, the incorporation of done for reasons extrinsic to the marital a sole proprietorship business is typically relationship. done for reasons extrinsic to the marital Although the mere act of incorporatrelationship. To say ... that an asset was ing a separate business during the mar‘acquired’ by the community ... because riage does not change the character of

the business to community property, the community may still acquire an apportionment interest if the value of the business substantially appreciated during the marriage due to the labor and hard work of the managing spouse during the marriage. The apportionment calculation is done using the formula in the Pereira or Van Camp case where the contributions of effort and return on capital are separated from the value of the business.

Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice.

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

This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create

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

Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com. Visit our website at kenreyeslaw.com.

‘New York Pinoy Eat’ New York – There’s a saying that goes, ‘You can take the Filipinos out the Philippines; but never the Philippines out of the Filipinos.’ And I guess that’s why even in the freezing cold, 8,593 miles from the Philippines, Pinoys in the Big Apple still love their dinuguan, sisig, kare-kare, adobo, and pan de sal. After all, that’s one of what I call the three F’s of Filipino culture – food. The other two

are faith and family.

“Masarap naman kasi talaga ang pag- each step is all about timing. For instance, kain natin, lalo na kung lutong bahay,” the meats can’t be over-boiled.” said Melchor Evangelista, the man in the The result was a circus in my mouth. kitchen of Manhattan’s oldest Filipino res- The meats were crunchy enough to release taurant, Grill 21. The 8-year old fixture in a pleasant mix of savory, salty and sweet the Gramercy neighborhood of New York flavors with each bite. I’m getting hungry, is understandably frequented by Filipinos just recalling how good it tasted in my craving Filipino dishes. mouth. Chased down by another Filipino favorite – San Miguel Beer. I ordered San Mig Light. Grill 21 offers all San Miguel Beer products, including Red Horse Beer.

While it is expected and understandable why Filipinos would flock there, Grill 21 has also created a following among non-Filipinos. Apparently their American customers enjoy the coconut-infused dishes; while Koreans typically order the “dinuguan,” a dish made out of ox blood.

“My dinuguan recipe is from my mother-in-law. I asked her to teach me over the phone, all the way from the Philippines.

Now I use it here,” Melchor said, adding that the recipe involves the usual sauteing the meats (ox meat, fat and innards) in garlic and onion. “But the secret is in the sauteing technique, to make the flavors come out” Alas, I was unable to try the ox blood Grill 21 sisig dish. Instead, I got a taste of the Grill 21 “kare-kare,” a traditional Filipino ox tail stew in peanut-based sauce. I grew up in the Philippines, loving my mom’s cooking.

This was one of her specialties. I remember her laboring in the kitchen, on special occasions, grinding peanuts, to make the sauce from scratch. And the aroma wafting in the air was enough to make me crave. I was interested to see how this dish will stack up.

I didn’t have to wait long. After a taste of the “sisig,” the server came out of the Selection of Filipino beers at Grill 21 kitchen with a tray featuring a bowl of According to the staff, garlic rice is a the dark yellow dish, a small cup of white famous staple. In Tagalog, it’s “sinangag.” rice, and a tiny container of “bagoong.” I I tried it with the restaurant’s bestseller, called this triumvirate the winning combo. their “sisig,” a dish made of pig snout, pig I’ve heard of Filipinos cutting rice from ears, liver and other innards, on a sizzling their diet. One of my first questions is: plate topped with fried egg. The Grill 21 “Do you still eat kare-kare?” Because the version has “chicharon,” that’s one differ- dish is oozing with deep and rich flavors, ence from other versions I’ve encountered. the bland taste of freshly-cooked hot white In the kitchen, the preparation of this be- rice is the perfect equalizer. And because loved “pulutan” dish is also not common. the peanut sauce tend to be on the sweet “We don’t take short cuts,” he said. side, the salty shrimp paste is best to en“Sisig is the most difficult to cook. You hance the taste. have to boil the meats; then grill at hiwain After two dishes, I was full. The staff nang pinung-pino. There’s a lot of steps and See JANNELLE, page 13

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Consumer remedies for unsolicited telephone calls and text messages With the invention of cellular phones, the list of communication benefits multiplied. So did the list of complaints about telemarketers, robocallers, and spammy text messages.

In 1991, the U.S. passed the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (TCPA). The TCPA, including later amendments, restricts the following: Initiating any telephone call to any residential telephone line using an artificial or prerecorded voice to deliver a message without tion of “automatic dialer” involved what is prior express consent of the called party referred to as “text-spam.” Path Messaging (a.k.a. telemarketing, robocalling) Service, is a major Android app and social Sending unsolicited advertisement to a networking tool that enables photo-sharing person’s fax machine, unless the sender and messaging services for mobile devices. has an established business relationship Users share up to a total of 150 contacts. with the recipient However, consumers are receiving several Sending unsolicited text messages unwanted text messages, and Path was sued transmitted for marketing purposes for allegedly sending bulk SMS messages TCPA also limits the use of automatic to users’ entire phone contacts list. dialing systems and artificial or prereEven law firms, who should probcorded voice messages. Solicitors are ably know better, may run afoul of the required to maintain a company-specific TCPA. The Pullin Law Firm of New York “do-not-call” (DNC) list of consumers who was sued for $500 in damages for each asked not to be called. Solicitors must also consumer that the law firm had sent text honor the national Do Not Call Registry messages to in July 2013 offering legal established by the FCC. services relating to Fannie Mae’s multiA person who has received more than billion-dollar settlement. The text message one telephone call within a 12-month peri- said “Call me to see how this affects YOUR od that violates any provision of the TCPA home loan terms,” and provided a phone may sue and receive up to $500 in damages number for the firm. for each violation, the actual amount of Text messages transmitted for marketdamages, or whichever is greater. ing purposes require that the sender first Violating the TCPA has some seri- receive clear “written consent before teleous consequences: Credit card company, marketing call or text message is made, reCapital One and its affiliates, were sued by gardless of whether there is an established consumers who received non-emergency business relationship or not.” telephone calls on their cellphones via an [C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is trial attorney automatic telephone dialing system or an who has obtained several million dollar artificial or prerecorded voice, attempting recoveries for his clients against insurance to collect on a credit card debt. The litiga- companies and employers. He has been tion lasted several years and was settled selected as a Super Lawyer by the Los in mid-2014 for $75,455,098.74. (Final Angeles Magazine, featured in the cover approval of the settlement is pending in of Los Angeles Daily Journal’s Verdicts federal court). and Settlements, and is a member of the Another case which expands the defini- 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.]

KEN GO From page 9

of mom and dad (or anyone else) Don’t transfer money between bank accounts Don’t make undocumented deposits into your bank account Bonus Don’t: Don’t celebrate by taking a vacation, you’re going to need the money and time is of the essence. There are inspections to be done, contingencies to be met and plenty of paperwork still to be done. Conditions 8 to 10 are very important things you need to know a couple of months prior to buying a house.

The loan process has not really ease

up, in fact there will be more changes that will make lenders continue to be uncertain about coming out with loan programs to really help most home buyers. So, keep yourself informed and educated when come time you need a loan. Preparation is key to getting a home loan approved, planning will help you get your home loan close smoothly.

Please call Ken Go of 1st Innovative Finance Group for your Mortgage needs, 28 yrs helping homeowner and home borrowers close loans with guaranteed satisfaction. Please call Ken at 562-508-7048 or write to Kennethgo@verizon.net.

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Obamacare changes the way we file taxes Tax filing for 2014 has begun.

The biggest change for most tax filers is on Line 61 of Form 1040. There is a box to check IF you have health insurance; or a tax to pay IF you don’t.

Under Obamacare’s individual mandate provision, the uninsured in 2014 must pay a penalty of $95 or 1% of household income, whichever

is greater. Those thresholds will increase to $325 and 2% for 2015. The Being undocumented is also another cause IRS is tasked to implement this mandate. for exemption.

There are exemptions to the penalty.

This mandate will be satisfied with: 1) They include: 1) coverage is unaffordable an employer-provided plan; 2) a governbased on family income (and size of house- ment plan such as Medi-Cal; or, 3) insurhold), 2) membership in a religious sect ance purchased thru Covered California or that objects to insurance, and 3) hardship the private exchanges. Plans must provide such as domestic violence or homelessness. the 10 Essential Health Benefits enumer-

ated under the law.

Those who received subsidies thru Covered California will receive Form 1095-A. Completing this form is necessary to fill up Form 8962, a form to reconcile a taxpayer’s information.

The IRS advises those who received subsidies to have this form before filing their taxes. Please call Covered California IF you haven’t received it yet.

Congress prohibits the IRS from using liens and levies to compel taxpayers to pay the individual mandate penalty.

The taxpaying public is enjoined to visit IRS and Health and Human Services (HHS) websites for information.

If you need help, you may reach me at 323-535-7373 or, e-mail at: leo.balita@ gmail.com.

Medicare Alert: Those enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) have

the opportunity to get fit with the SilverSneakers Fitness Program. This includes: free membership at a fitness center, group exercise classes designed to increase strength, flexibility and energy, personalized and friendly service from your advisor at the fitness center.

Leo Monsalud hails from Sta. Cruz, Zambales. He studied for MBA and Law at the University of the Philippines. He worked for United Laboratories, Inc. where his last position held was vicepresident assigned as general manager for a dvision. He was a joint-venture partner of the San Miguel Corporation in a agribusiness project. He holds CA license # 0G55218 as well as a Non-Resident license for Nevada. He is a Certified Insurance Agent for Covered California. Visit his website: www.healthremediesandoptions. com (HeRO).

Study finds unfair HIV-drug pricing in US health plans

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Miami, United States | AFP | Wednesday 1/28/2015 – Some US health insurance plans are discriminating against people with HIV by placing antiretroviral drugs in a high-cost category and forcing patients to pay more for coverage, researchers said Wednesday.

The study in the New England Journal of Medicine warns that the practice is undermining a key provision of President Barack Obama’s health care reform, which set out to end health insurers’ use of preexisting conditions to deny coverage to sick people.

Under some health plans, HIV drugs may cost a patient nearly $3,000 more per year than in other plans, said the study led

by Harvard University. “Eliminating discrimination on the basis of preexisting conditions is one of the central features of the Affordable Care Act (ACA),� said lead author Doug Jacobs of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “However, the use of formularies to increase costs and dissuade those with preexisting conditions such as HIV from enrolling in the plan threatens to at least partially undermine this goal of the ACA.�

The practice that Jacobs and his colleagues identified is called “adverse tiering,� in which all drugs for certain conditions are placed in the highest costsharing tiers.

Researchers studied 12 states that are part of the nationwide federal marketplace for health insurance.

Six of the states analyzed were mentioned in a legal complaint to the Department of Health and Human Services for alleged adverse-tiering: Delaware, Florida,

Louisiana, Michigan, South Carolina and Utah.

Researchers also looked at six heavily populated states that did not have any of the insurers implicated in the complaint, including Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia.

About one quarter of the plans examined used discriminatory drug tiering for one of the most common classes of HIV medications, known as nucleoside reversetranscriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). “We found evidence of adverse tiering in 12 of the 48 plans – 7 of the 24 plans in the states with insurers listed in the HHS complaint and 5 of the 24 plans in the other six states,� said the study. “Our findings suggest that many insurers may be using benefit design to dissuade sicker people from choosing their plans.�

People who enrolled in adverse-tiering plans (ATPs) paid on average three times more for HIV medications than people in non-ATP plans, with a nearly $2,000 annual difference even for generic drugs, according to the study.

Despite the generally lower annual premiums associated with adverse-tiered plans, customers with HIV paid an average of $3,000 more for treatment per year than they would have under a non-ATP plan.

The researchers warned that the practice could put significant financial strain on ill people and could “lead to sicker people clustering in plans that offer more generous prescription drug benefits – which could in turn create a ‘race to the bottom’ in insurers’ drug plan designs as they try to avoid a large influx of sick enrollees that would negatively affect profits.�

Boxer praises BART for plan to ban e-cigarettes in trains and at stations Recent research has raised substantial concerns about the safety of e-cigarette vapor Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today sent a letter to Thomas Blalock, the President of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Board of Directors, thanking them for their efforts to prohibit the use of e-cigarettes on BART trains and stations. The BART Board of Directors will hold a final vote to approve the ban on February 12th.

Senator Boxer wrote, “Research has raised major concerns about secondhand exposure to e-cigarette vapor. This is particularly relevant in small, enclosed spaces such as trains and stations, leading the World Health Organization to recommend that steps be taken to end the use of e-cigarettes indoors in public and work places.�

Research has raised major health concerns about the vapor emitted by e-cigarettes. A January 22, 2015 study in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that a number of harmful toxins, including formaldehyde, can be released in to the air via the vapor emitted by high-powered e-cigarettes. An August 2014 World Health Organization (WHO) report concluded that the “aerosol is not merely ‘water vapour’ as is often claimed in the marketing of these products� and that e-cigarette use “increases exposure of non-smokers and bystanders to nicotine and a number of toxicants.� Los Angeles finalized the ban of e-cigarettes in public places, including public transit, last year. In addition, in June of last year, Senator Boxer wrote to Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx asking him to ban the use of such devices on airplanes.

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Renewing permanent resident card can be challenging Q. I became a permanent resident in March 2010 with my wife and daughter. We entered Canada for over a few months and returned to the Philippines in May 2010 to look after our business. We have been back to Canada several times over the years but we have not accumulated the required 730 days to renew our permanent resident cards. They will be expiring soon. To make matters worse, I seem to have lost my daughter’s

card. She is having a problem attending school as she has no card. I does take someone’s status away. She is don’t know what to do? Do I renew the still a permanent resident now and even cards now even if I don’t have the 2 years after expiry. The card is merely an identity of residence? Can I apply for a new card document. It does not confer your status as just for my daughter as it was lost? a permanent resident and she should have A. Your case is common. While each no problem attending school. person must decide on how to proceed Q. I became a permanent resident from here on an individual basis, the of Canada in the year 2000. A year affact that you have violated the “two out ter, I travelled to Los Angeles and met a of five rule� is nothing new. By way of woman. We married and lived together for background, pre-2002, the rule was that a decade. We recently divorced and I want permanent residents were required to to return to Canada to live. My immigrant remain in Canada for six months out of visa has however expired and I have not every twelve months. After 2002, Canada returned to Canada since my departure Immigration was more lenient requiring in 2001. Can I simply enter Canada on only 730 days out of the last five years. my US passport? Will they question me Apparently though, the three year period about abandoning permanent residence? of permissible absence is not sufficient I know that I left Canada and lost my perin this global economy. That being said, manent residence but how do I get it back? the PR card renewal application requires A. You have not “lost� your permanent you to list all absences from Canada and residence status. The fact that you have if you have not accumulated the 730 days been away for a decade does not mean that you may face a problem. It is possible to your permanent residence has disappeared. overcome the rule under humanitarian and Under new rules, it is possible for you to compassionate grounds but recent cases maintain your resident status by returning show that a strict set of criteria must be to Canada and complying with the new met. In my opinion, if you are not going residency regulations. If you are truly serito renew the card for all members then do ous about returning to Canada you should not submit a replacement card for your not have a problem but it must be done daughter as the criteria is the same. By properly. After residing in Canada for the looking at the “lost card� application, it requisite time period you will be eligible still requires one to list all absences. The to apply for Canadian Citizenship. Best to fact that she does not have a card only obtain professional assistance upon arrival means she cannot travel into Canada. It to Canada.

JANNELLE From page 10

had lots of stories to share about their 8-year history. The service was reminiscent of the enthusiastic hospitality Filipinos are famous for. The food was on point.

Melchor summarized it best: “traditional lutong bahay ‘yung style namin at may halong pagmamahal.�

The lease of the restaurant is up and negotiations are underway. Here’s wishing Grill 21 many more years of yummy service to the neighborhood.

A few blocks away is a cafe/patisserie by the same owner of Grill 21, Mrs. Marissa Beck. “Her first restaurant was successful, Grill 21; that she decided to put up another one,� said Ron Digao, restaurant manager of the 3-year old Pan de Sal. “Mahilig ang Filipinos sa merienda; so Mrs. Beck thought, of introducing that concept in the neighborhood. We serve coffee and cakes, and the pan de sal sandwiches para dun sa mga mahilig mag-kape-kape.�

According to Ron, the bestsellers are their pan de sal sandwich variations of chicken adobo, spicy sardines, corned beef.

Apparently a hit, not just among Filipinos; but also non-Filipino patrons who first become interested in what pan de sal is about. “They try it and end up liking it. Then they come back with friends, to share the experience,� Ron said.

The cafe offers two sizes of their famous specialty – a bigger size for $2.50 bigger; and a mini one, about the size of a fist, for those concerned about portion control.

Because it’s also reasonably priced at $1, it’s also an attractive order for the budgetconscious. I chose to try the mini ones, so I could taste all three variations. My favorite was the chicken adobo; but isn’t “adobo� everybody’s favorite?

By 4 .m. that day, I was full. But I only had an hour to digest everything I ate from lunch to merienda because happy hour was

rolling in at 5 p.m. And our last stop for the day was The Ugly Kitchen Gastropub, owned by Chef Aris Tuazon, Melchor’s cousin. The 4-year old hotspot in the East Village serves specialty Filipino foods; along with interesting cocktails. Some of which are Filipi-nized, like the Calamansi Whiskey Sour that bar tender Risa Chu taught me how to make.

Here’s their Filipino twist to the cocktail favorite, using calamansi, the Southeast Asian citrus fruit: Fill a rock glass with ice.

Mix in 2 ounces of Whiskey.

Put half an ounce of sour mix.

Add an ounce of Calamansi juice concentrate.

Give the mix a good shake.

Our into a glass and garnish with lemon.

And with that, I raised my glass to end my day of discovering local Filipino hubs in a great city that, according to the U.S. Census is part of the state that’s home to about 300,000 Filipinos and FilipinoAmericans. We are growing in numbers.

Together, we can work toward building a stronger economic presence in the American landscape. Being enterprising is an integral part of that. And supporting these Filipino establishments is key to the success of these businesses.

So the next time you find yourself in New York, you know where to go. [END] Jannelle So is taking a break from 20-years of print and broadcast journalism career that began in the Philippines and continued in the United States. She is credited for creating, hosting and producing America’s first and only locally-produced daily talk show for Filipinos, that ran for 8 ½ years under her leadership, making it the longest-running Filipino talk show outside of the Philippines. Connect to her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; or email her at sojannelle77@gmail.com.

Q. I entered Canada five years ago on a work permit to work as a food attendant in Alberta. My work permit was under the low skills program. I have a new employer who wants to hire me as a manager. If I get a LMIA for that position, can I apply for permanent residence under Express Entry?

A. From the brief information provided, I would say , no. Your work experience in Canada is not skilled enough to qualify under the Canada Experience Class and therefore you cannot enter the Express Entry pool. You have not mentioned much about your prior work or if you have a PNP. Assuming you have no other prior skilled experience, I suggest you work in Canada for at least one year as a manager (with the LMIA you just obtained) and then you could qualify under CEC to enter the Express Entry pool.

Q. I need to submit a police clearance from the NBI, Philippines for immigration purposes. I have no convictions but the notation says “No Criminal Record� instead of “No Record on File�. Should I be worried?

A. Perhaps. If the NBI clearance does not say “No Record on File� or “No Derogatory Record�, you may have a problem.

In your case, it says “No Criminal Record� which likely means that something happened in the criminal sense or you were charged with some offence but it did not end up as a conviction. If so, you need to get all court documents to determine what happened and details of the charges. It is important to know that a person can still be inadmissible to Canada even they were never convicted. Under Canadian Immigration law, if a person committed an act that is a crime in the place it was committed and that if it happened in Canada would be a criminal offence, they could be refused entry to Canada.

As such, you must look at the foreign offence and see if there is a Canadian equivalent that is a crime under the criminal code.

Q. I’m a Canadian Citizen. I met my first wife in 2012 and we married shortly thereafter. I sponsored her and she obtained her immigrant visa in 2013. The marriage unfortunately did not work out and we divorced. I now met another woman and I am thinking or marrying her soon.

Will I have a problem sponsoring her?

A. Yes, you need to wait until the three year period after first wife’s landing before you can sponsor second wife. As well, if the first wife collected welfare you will in default and an ineligible sponsor until you repay the amount given to her.

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

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

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OPINION

MILF, PHL to proceed with decommissioning process

MANILA, Jan 28 (Mabuhay) – Amid questions on the stability of the peace process due to the Mamasapano bloodbath, the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will sign this week a protocol to jumpstart the surrendering of arms from the rebels’ side.

In a statement from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP), government chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said the signing of the implementing guidelines will be held in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

The decommissioning process is the surrendering of arms to the International Decommissioning Body, which will assist in the “transformation” of the rebels to becoming “productive” civilians.

These arms should not be used again, even by forces on the government side.

Coronel-Ferrer said both parties will also discuss plans for the turnover of the first batch of weapons to the body.

MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal earlier said the MILF is ready turn over an initial 75 high-powered firearms and crew-served weapons.

“Ang signatories dito sa protocol implementing guidelines (ay) yung panel chairs, ang chair ng IDB at tsaka yung facilitator ng Malaysia,” Colonel-Ferrer said.

The seven-member body is headed by Ambassador Haydar Berk, former Turkish representative to the North Atlantic Council (NATO) and current advisor of Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He is joined by other international experts Jan Erik Wilhemsen, a retired brigadier general from Norway who was part of UN peacekeeping forces in Honduras, El Salavador, Central Sudan, Nigeria, and Nepal; Major Muhammad Aiman Syazwi Bin Haji Abdul Rahim of the Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF); and local experts, namely, retired Armed Forces of the Philippines LtGen. Rey Ardo, Dr. Mario Aguja, Von Al-Haq ‎and Isah Bato.

On Wednesday morning, MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim reiterated his group’s full commitment to the peace process amid the carnage that has befallen more than 40 of the country’s elite cops in an area the group allegedly holds.

In an official statement, Ebrahim said the MILF is convening a Special Investigative Commission (SIC) composed of members of the MILF Central Committee and the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) General Staff to resolve issues surrounding the Sunday bloodbath that may affect the peace process.

“We hereby reiterate the MILF’s full commitment to the peace process with the Philippine Government. An enduring peace and justice remain to be our primary objective. In this regard, all actions and pronouncements of our political and military units of the MILF should advance and adhere to this primary objective as much as possible and with due regard to the safety and security of our people and communities,” he said.(MNS)

Ex-generals: Gov’t should demand MILF surrender of ‘perpetrators’ in Mamasapano ‘misencounter’ MANILA, Jan 28 (Mabuhay) – A group of retired military officers on Wednesday called on the government to demand from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to surrender its men involved in a “misencounter” in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Sunday, which resulted to the death of at least 44 elite police officers.

“The government should demand the return of all firearms stolen from the dead policemen and for the MILF leadership to surrender the perpetrators within their ranks,” Association of General and Flag Officers Inc. (AGFO) chairman and President retired Army Lt. Gen Edilberto Adan said in a statement on Wednesday.

The group, composed of retired officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), released the statement days after the deadly clash in Maguindanao involving members of the PNP-Special Action Force and the MILF which left at least 44 government forces dead.

Earlier, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said the PNP-SAF launched the operation in order to serve an arrest warrant against international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Commander Marwan, whose presence had been confirmed in the area.

Citing initial information they received on Monday, Roxas said a misencounter with the MILF occurred after some SAF members tried to avert the attack of the BIFF. “Mayroon umanong BIFF na umatake doon sa ating mga tropa, at iniwasan ito ng isang (SAF) unit. Pumasok sila sa lugar kung saan may MILF, kaya nagkaroon ng misencounter on that side,” he said, stressing that this would still be verified by a board of inquiry.

Following the clash, the Senate committee on local government on Monday suspended the hearings on the Bangsamoro Basic Law, which will embody

the peace agreement signed by the Philippine government with the MILF in March 2014.

At the House of Representatives, the ad hoc committee on the BBL has also decided to suspend the discussions on the measure’s provisions pertaining to national defense and public order following the clash.

The Bangsamoro Basic Law will embody the peace agreement signed by the Philippine goverment and the MILF last March, which aims to end the decades-old conflict in Mindanao.

For its part, the group said the tragedy highlights the “need to examine closely the security implications of any final agreement with any armed rebel group like the MILF.” The group said the final agreement should remove all capabilities of the MILF to wage war against the government.

Also, AGFO said it opposes the creation of any security force “not under the total command and control of the AFP or the PNP whose authority emanates from the powers of the President as Commander-in-Chief.”

Meanwhile, the group also warned the government on the “limited control” of the MILF of its forces, and has “rogue commanders over whom they have no real authority.”

“When the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) under Commander Kato broke away from its ranks, the MILF leadership failed to take disciplinary action against it. Now their forces are living together in the same area.

The MILF leadership must prove that it exercises authority and discipline over its commanders. Since the objective is peace, the Government should be talking with the entity that has control of elements who can wage war,” the statement said, quoting Adan. (MNS)

MILF urged to surrender Usman as an act of goodwill MANILA, Jan 28 (Mabuhay) – Senate President Franklin Drilon on Wednesday urged the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leadership to surrender to authorities Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) commander Basit Usman and all those involved in the firefight with the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (SAF) over the weekend.

Drilon said such an act would be a demonstration of the MILF’s partnership with the government.

Forty-four Philippine National Police-SAF members were killed in the encounter with MILF and BIFF forces in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25. Twelve SAF members were wounded.

BIFF is an splinter group of the MILF. “This act of goodwill, if demonstrated, will, without a shadow of a doubt, prove the MILF’s sincerity and support to the government’s peace and development program,” Drilon said in a press statement.

The Senate leader said the MILF should fully cooperate with government’s efforts in investigating and bringing justice to the victims of Mamapasano attacks, so that doubts and reservations formed as a result of the bloody attack can be erased, and confidence and faith in the peace process can again be restored.

“If they will surrender the suspects in these heinous acts and help arrest Usman, the MILF will show that they are one with the government in the pursuit of genuine and lasting peace, and that the government has made the right decision in negotiating a peace pact with them, because they are and will always be on the side of justice and harmony,” he said.

He added that “this is a test of sincerity on the part of the MILF on the one hand, and a test of faith in the peace process on the part of the government and the Filipino people, on the other hand.”

Drilon said the MILF, as a partner of the government in its peace initiative, should not block but instead assist police authorities in arresting the likes of Usman, a notorious bomb expert with links to the Jemaah Islamiyah terror network, who has been the subject of law enforcement operations for years.

“The January 25 police operation was a chance to finally arrest Usman and Zulkipli ‘Marwan’ Hir, but our policemen had been foiled, and lost their lives in a tragic and deadly event,” he said.

Marwan is one of the most wanted JI leaders operating in Southeast Asia. He was believed to be involved in several bombing and terror attacks in Mindanao involving the JI-assisted Abu Sayyaf group. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has recently offered $5 million bountry for his capture.

Drilon further said the government must apply the full force of the law to bring justice to the families of the slain policemen.

He stressed that the encounter, condemnable as it is, should not weaken the resolve of each and every Filipino to aspire and work for genuine and lasting peace for their brothers and sisters in Mindanao.

“Peace is never easy. Let us not give up,” Drilon said.

Senate inquiry Meanwhile, Senator Teofisto Guingona III, chairman of the Senate committee on peace, unification, and reconciliation, filed a resolution calling for an inquiry on the police operation in Mamasapano.

In Resolution 1136, the senator said the probe is needed “to avoid distractions from the peace process and prevent the indiscriminate and wholesale condemnation of the people of Mindanao for the actions of a few violent persons.”

“We need to shed light on the facts surrounding the law enforcement operations that caused injuries and death to those involved. There is a need to accurately determine the nature, scope, and objective of the operation and identify those responsible for the unnecessary loss of lives,” Guingona said.

Senator Grace Poe, head of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, likewise, filed a resolution seeking a probe on the incident.

In Resolution 1135, Poe said the death of the PNP-SAF members indicated possible lapses in tactics and training on the part of PNP-SAF and possible deficiencies in the unit’s operational doctrines, equipment, and resources.

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It’s all about greed and personal ambition Greed, conceitedness and quest for personal glory led to the slaughtering of 44 members of Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police PNP by heavily armed members of the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the town of Mamasapono in Maguindanao last week.

Although the violent encounter between the police and the MILF resulted in the death of Malaysian terrorist Zulkifili Bin Hir, alias

“Marwan,” the slaying of the SAF officers is not something that President any wrongdoing or responsibility on the Noynoy Aquino and his military brass can botched operation. be proud off. The operation was a complete In a nationally-televised speech, Presidisaster. The incident only shows how inept dent Noynoy, as usual, blamed others for and indecisive President Noynoy is when the disaster except himself. He blamed lack it comes to emergency situations like the of coordination between the Philippine Mamasapono massacre.

Army and the SAF raiding team who were Marwan is considered one of the out to serve a warrant of arrest for Marwan. world’s most wanted terrorists. The United The Philippine Army’s 6th infantry battalStates has put up a $5 million reward for ion is stationed in Maguindanao. his capture. His death from the bloody Army officers however rebuked Presiencounter has not yet been confirmed. dent Noynoy saying that they were not Military authorities however are saying informed that there was going to be a that Marwan’s body was among those that government operation in Maguindanao. were retrieved from the battle scene by They added that they were only informed responding army troopers. about the bloody encounter while the fireI expect publicity seeking politicians in fight was already taking place between the Congress to initiate the filing of impeach- police and the MILF fighters. ment complaint against President Noynoy These officers who refused to be quoted as a result of the Maguindanao massacre. I, were one in saying that the intelligence however doubt it will push through. Sena- report about Marwan was “confined” tors and Congressmen are more interested only at the highest level which was one of in putting more money in their pockets and the reasons for the lack of coordination, bank accounts rather than improving the particularly on the part of the Philippine lives of Filipinos , particularly the poor, as Air Force which could have provided air well as the current peace and order situa- support during the encounter. tion in Mindanao.

The responding army troopers from the Most members of Congress, both upper 6th infantry also had to wait extra time to and lower, will follow whatever the Presi- get clearance from “higher ups” to come dent tells them. Senators and Congressmen to the aid of their fallen police officers for adhere to the power of the “pork barrel.” fear of violating the ceasefire agreement Any congressional investigation regarding forged between the government and the the massacre will only be done to appease Muslim rebels. public anger.

A day after the President made the Eventually, I expect President Noynoy televised speech to explain what led to the and Gen. Alan Purisima to be cleared from death of the police officers, information

No one should be spared from liability on SAF-MILF ‘misencounter’: Bam Aquino MANILA, Jan 28 (Mabuhay) – No one should be spared from liability in connection with last Sunday’s supposed misencounter between elite policemen and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Maguindanao, a neophyte senator said Wednesday.

“People died, maraming namatay na kapulisan, hindi pwedeng mawala na lang yun. That has to be investigated and if there are charges that have to be filed, they have to be filed,” Senator Bam Aquino told reporters. Asked if the liability could go as high as Malacañang, Aquino, cousin of President Benigno Aquino III, said, “Yes.” At least 44 members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) were killed while 12 others were wounded in an encounter with MILF and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, a splinter group of MILF, in Mamasapano town last Sunday. They were supposed to arrest Zulkipli ‘Marwan’ Hir, one of the most wanted Jemaah Islamiyah leaders operating in Southeast Asia.

The leadership of the PNP claimed they were not aware of the operation.

Sen. Aquino said the Senate investigation will try to find out what really happened and the incidents that led to it.

The Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs will conduct a hearing on the matter on February 4.

“Mahalagang imbestigahan natin [to] find out what really happened [at] managot yung dapat managot. We ask the difficult questions. Hindi katanggap tanggap na in the midst of peace process nangyari ang isang bagay na ganun,” he said.

However, the senator said the incident should not result to the derailment of the peace process and the junking of the pro-

posed Bangsamoro Basic Law. “Magandang pag-usapan na muna kung ano ang nangyari. Imbestigahan, charge who needs to be charged, get to the bottom of things and then see paano mababago yung BBL because of that. I think yung hangarin natin na magkaroon ng kapayapaan hindi siguro dapat maantala sa nangyaring trahedya,” he said.

He said while truth on what happened is being pursued, the discussion on BBL should not stop. “I just think that it is a gut reaction that we let go of the peace process right after the tragedy happened,” he said.

Aquino added that the incident should instead be used to fine-tune the BBL. “I’m sure magkakaroon ng revisions or amendments sa BBL. Remember, we are still in the process of deliberation so yung porma ng BBL nagbabago pa yan.

I think it is premature to just say wag na lang, but kung kinakailangan amyendahan yan o baguhin yan versus what happened then gawin natin yun. that is the process of legislation,” Aquino said.

Aquino, who is one of the co-authors of the BBL, said he has no plans of withdrawing his support on the proposed measure, unlike what Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and JV Ejercito did. “I can understand some of the senators nagkaroon ng apprehension, marami sa taumbayan nagkaroon ng apprehension. But ako hindi siya either or, hindi ibig sabihin naitutulak mo ang BBL na you will sweep this under the rug or hindi na papansinin,” he said.

“We need to attend to both and accountability needs to be there. Kung sino ang accountable dyan kailangan managot talaga sila because we also will not have a good legislation kung hindi natin ito tatalakayin nang maayos,” Aquino added. (MNS)

have started to leak from Malacaang that President Noynoy himself, gave the green light to his “loyal friend” and suspended PNP Chief Gen. Purisima to direct the operation to secure the apprehension or surrender of Marwan provided that he will do it “discreetly.”

Military officers who refused to be quoted were one is saying that it was Gen. Purisima who was running and directing the on-going operation in Mamasapono from his “white house” quarters in Camp Crame. They said these police officers were instructed only to report to Gen. Purisima. They also said most of those who took part in the botched operation were trusted men of the suspended PNP chief. Gen. Purisima, on the other hand, only report to the President or to Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa.

With the hope of reviving his career which has suffered because of numerous corruption charges he is currently facing before the Office of the Ombudsman, Purisima relentlessly pursued Marwan once he was spotted in the town of Mamasapono.

To ensure the success of the operation and to minimize the loss of human lives, President Noynoy, as any sane leader would do, should have directed Purisima to coordinate his operations with the other branches of the armed forces. But because of their greed and quest for personal glory of bagging Marwan, they kept the informa-

15

tion to themselves and launched the failed operation without coordination with other government agencies. The tragedy could have been avoided if they have set aside their personal ambition and greed.

President Noynoy, on the other hand, must have given his “blessings” to Gen. Purisima to run the operation with the hope of getting world-wide free publicity for the capture of one of the world’s most wanted terrorist. This, I believe, contributed to the botched police operation in Maguindanao.

In defending his action for relying on his suspended PNP chief friend, Aquino said that he relied on Purisima regarding the apprehension of Marwan because of his numerous intelligence information he has gathered through the years as well as the “intricacies” of the operation.

President Noynoy however successfully parried questions from newsmen during a press conference regarding news reports that Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and PNP Officer-in-Charge General Leonardo Espina were “kept in the dark” regarding the botched operation. All he did say was he will look into the matter why both men were shut out from the operation. The President was also evasive on the extent of the involvement of suspended PNP chief Gen. Purisima. What started to be a simple “by the book” military operation ended in one of the country’s worst defeats against Muslim rebels to date.

16

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too much at the gym beforehand. $58. shop.lululemon.com/home.jsp UnderArmour Power Up Tank Get your squats on to reap the full benefits of this tank from UnderArmour that’s built to flatter your derrière. You can either tie the two sides together, or let them hang loose to create a tantalyzing slit. $39.99. www.underarmour.com/en-us Nike Woven Bliss Zip Through It may look like just an ordinary warmup top, but its jewel collar is cut to expose just enough of your collar bone to make your crush want to look twice, or perhaps zero in. What’s more, the back is perforated to make it breathable and since it’s cut at the hip, it lets you show off your legs and derrière, so we hope you’ve worked out hard enough to earn this one. €80, www. nike.com/us/en_us.

A new injectible drug to smooth over double chins could soon become available in the US, with Europe soon to follow. ©milias1987/shutterstock.com

New injectible claims to zap double chins (Relaxnews) – A new drug capable of leveling out a double chin will be reviewed by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on March 9, according to Kythera Biopharmaceuticals, which is to market the drug should it get the nod.

The drug, called ATX-101, is in latestage clinical trials and would become the first FDA-approved injectable drug for contouring a double chin.

It works by destroying fat cells without damaging surrounding tissue and Kythera says on its website that new collagen could form in the area as a natural response to the fat-zapping.

The drug kicks into action after several injections, the exact number of which

depends on the desired outcome and the amount of fat on the chin.

The injections can be spaced a month apart, according to the company.

Clinical trials of the drug, which is a purified synthetic version of deoxycholic acid, administered between four and six injections per participant and side effects were minor and temporary, according to Kytheria.

Deoxycholic acid occurs naturally in the body and helps breakdown dietary fat, according to Kytheria.

Kytheria’s website notes that diet and exercise are sometimes not enough to smooth out a double chin. www.kytherabiopharma.com

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ENTERTAINMENT

Andi, Jake reconcile?

After a tumultuous year, it seems that Andi Eigenmann and Jake Ejercito are on good terms anew.

Over the weekend, several photos of the former couple surfaced online. The two were apparently in Singapore recently with some friends.

This after Eigenmann said last month of Ejercito: “[I hope] that eventually we’ll be okay, but I’m still hurting, and I don’t think it will happen by February.”

Addressing speculation about their relationship, Eigenmann took to Twitter on Monday to set the record straight. She said, unedited: “4 yrs isnt a joke. There’s no harm in being human enough to not throw it all away and learn to be friends. #letitrainchillpills” After her separation from Ejercito, Eigenmann was romantically linked with showbiz newcomer Bret Jackson. Ejercito, on the other hand, was rumored for a time to be in a relationship with socialite KC del Rosario. (MNS)

Andi Eigenmann

Jasmine joins cast of ‘Halik sa Hangin’ Jasmine Curtis-Smith has joined the cast of “Halik sa Hangin,” Star Cinema’s upcoming romance-thriller starring Gerald Anderson, Julia Montes, and JC de Vera.

On Twitter, Curtis-Smith’s management group, Vidanes Artist Management, shared photos of the actress shooting a scene with Anderson in Baguio City.

In the behind-the-scenes photo, Curtis-Smith looks on as Anderson plays a guitar on a balcony.

Anderson earlier described the movie as a mix of horror and romance.

De Vera agreed, saying it will be a fresh offering for moviegoers.

Without divulging details of the story, director Emmanuel Quindo Palo said: “Mayroon talagang nangyayari sa kanilang tatlo (Montes, Anderson Jasmine Curtis-Smith and de Vera), an external force that would prevent ‘yung love story to fully bloom and blossom.”

Curtis-Smith, who has been identified with TV5 since 2011, has said she is willing to do projects under rival ABS-CBN. “Halik sa Hangin” marks the first time she will appear in a movie produced by Star Cinema, ABS-CBN’s film outfit. (MNS)

What’s that ring? Zsa Zsa explains gift from BF Zsa Zsa Padilla denied that she and her architect boyfriend, Conrad Onglao, are already engaged.

Contrary to speculation, Padilla said that the ring she is wearing is not an engagement ring, but a promise ring.

“May promise siya sa akin and tignan natin kung may matupad,” the singeractress said.

Just recently, Padilla and Onglao celebrated their 10th month as a couple.

Although they have been in a relationship

Zsa Zsa Padilla

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for only less than a year, the two admitted in previous interviews that they are now sharing a home.

Asked why she and Onglao celebrate their “monthsaries,” Padilla said related a conversation she had with her daughter, singer-host Karylle.

“Gusto kong makigaya ng monthsary.

Sabi ko ‘[Karylle], bakit ba nag-mamonthsary?’ Sabi niya, ‘Kasi mama, ang mga relationships ngayon mahirap na mag-last kaya kada-month na talaga [sine-

celebrate].’”

Padilla said she is happy with how her relationship is blossoming, adding that she has been praying for this since her longtime partner, film icon Dolphy, passed away in July 2012.

“I did [pray for someone like Conrad to come into my life]. I even asked the universe na this is what I want. Sabi ko kailangan talaga kumpleto,” she said.

Padilla and Onglao became a couple early last year. (MNS)

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FOOD & DINING Mediterranean Chicken Pitas

FAMILY FEATURES

E

very parent has been there. It’s Thursday afternoon and the kids are asking, “What’s for dinner?” Searching for inspiration, you head to the refrigerator, only to realize that the groceries you bought on Sunday have run out or spoiled. But before the panic sets in and you reach for the takeout menus, remember that the solution for a wholesome, homemade meal is right in your pantry — or “Cantry.”

“With a well-stocked pantry full of canned ingredients, I know I always have the makings of a nutritious and flavorful meal,” said Kelsey Nixon, host of “Kelsey’s Essentials” on Cooking Channel and Food Network. “Fruits and vegetables are harvested at their peak of ripeness and canned in just hours, making the can one of the best ways to get food from its source to my family’s table. I just open up a can, unlock that flavor and goodness and make it a ‘Cantry’ Thursday night!”

With canned food staples like canned beans, chicken, green beans and broth on hand, you’ll be well on your way to savory meals like Quinoa Chicken Vegetable Salad and Nixon’s Pasta e Fagioli Soup.

For more information about the canning process, delicious recipes and to learn how you can get cooking with canned foods, visit CansGetYouCooking.com.

Pasta e Fagioli Soup

Quinoa Chicken Vegetable Salad

Recipe created by Kelsey Nixon Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 25 minutes Servings: 4 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 4 ounces chopped pancetta (about 1/2 cup) 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper 2 (15-ounce) cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced fire-roasted tomatoes 3 (14.5-ounce) cans chicken broth 1 1/2 cups ditalini pasta (short tubular pasta) 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish In large heavy-bottomed pot, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Brown pancetta bits just until they start to crisp before adding onion, garlic and thyme. Season with salt and pepper, and saute until fragrant and golden brown.

Add canned beans, tomatoes and chicken broth. Bring soup to rapid boil before adding pasta. Reduce to simmer and cook soup covered, stirring occasionally for 8–10 minutes or until pasta is cooked al dente.

Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving. Garnish with Parmesan cheese and serve with crusty bread.

Note: You can substitute bacon for pancetta, if desired.

Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Servings: 6 1 (14.5-ounce) can chicken broth 1 cup quinoa 1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained 1 (10-ounce) can chicken breast, drained and flaked 1 (8-ounce) can cut green beans, drained 1 (8.75-ounce) can corn, drained 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper In medium saucepan over high heat, heat chicken broth and quinoa to boiling. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.

In large bowl, combine cooled quinoa, diced tomatoes, chicken breast, green beans, corn, olive oil, lemon juice, parsley and pepper; toss to mix well.

Pea and Corn Risotto Servings: 4 4 cups canned low sodium chicken broth 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 small onion, diced 1 cup Arborio rice 1 (11-ounce) can no salt added whole-kernel corn, drained 1 (8.5-ounce) can low sodium peas, drained 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 tablespoon butter

Salt and ground black pepper, to taste In 2-quart saucepan over high heat, heat chicken broth to simmering; keep warm.

Meanwhile, in 3-quart saucepan over medium heat, in hot olive oil, cook onion until tender-crisp, stirring occasionally. Add rice and cook for 2 minutes until coated with oil. Gradually add chicken broth, 1/2 cup at a time, until absorbed, stirring frequently.

Continue adding remaining broth, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring occasionally, cooking rice

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Prep time: 10 minutes Servings: 2 1 (10-ounce) can chicken breast, drained and flaked 1/2 cup finely chopped cucumber 1/2 cup finely chopped red bell pepper 1 (4.5-ounce) can chopped green chilies, drained 1/4 cup Greek yogurt 2 tablespoons fresh chopped dill 2 whole wheat pitas 4 lettuce leaves In large bowl combine chicken, cucumber, red bell pepper, green chilies, yogurt and dill; toss to mix well.

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until al dente, about 25 minutes.

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Almond Cherry Tres Leches Cake Recipe created by Kelsey Nixon Servings: 12 Cake: 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened 1 cup granulated sugar 5 large eggs 1/2 teaspoon almond extract 1 (14.5-ounce) can pitted cherries, thoroughly drained Tres leches mixture: 1/4 cup heavy cream 1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk Icing: 1 1/2 cups heavy cream, chilled 4 tablespoons powdered sugar 1/4 teaspoon almond extract 1/4 cup chopped almonds, toasted For cake, preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 9-by-13-inch cake pan.

Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt into large mixing bowl.

Cream butter, sugar and eggs with electric mixer on high until yolks turn pale yellow.

Mix in almond extract. Slowly incorporate dry ingredients into wet ingredients until fully combined — avoid over-mixing. Pour into prepared pan, evenly spreading batter out.

Bake until cake has cooked through, 30 minutes. Cool slightly, then pierce surface of cake with fork several times.

Combine heavy cream, evaporated milk and condensed milk in small bowl or pitcher.

Drizzle milk mixture over top and allow cake to sit and absorb milk mixture.

For icing, whip together heavy cream, sugar and almond extract. Spread evenly over top of soaked cake. Top with toasted almonds.

Refrigerate at least 2 hours or until ready to serve.

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SPORTS Pacquiao, Mayweather meet at Heat-Bucks game ‘by chance’ Khan eyes clash with old friend Pacquiao

Fighter of the Decade, Manny Pacquiao is introduced as a judge during the The 63rd Annual Miss Universe Pageant, broadcast live from the FIU Arena in Doral-Miami, Florida on January 25, 2015. HO/Miss Universe Organization L.P., LLLP

Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Thursday 1/29/2015 – Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather met for the first time by chance during the halftime of an NBA game, raising hopes that talks for a fight later this year might get serious.

The boxers were watching the Miami Heat-Milwaukee Bucks game Tuesday night in southern Florida from their courtside seats when Mayweather walked across the floor at halftime. The two spoke briefly and afterwards Pacquiao said that it was the first time he had spoken face-to-face with Mayweather.

“He and Manny had never had a chance to meet,” Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz told ESPN.com.

Pacquiao and Mayweather were seen exchanging phone numbers after their chat.

Nothing is official and it remains to be seen whether the two camps can agree on terms for a possible May 2 blockbuster fight in Las Vegas.

The two sides have been conducting on and off negotiations for what certainly would be the richest fight in boxing history for several years now.

In the past, Mayweather has said the expected fight would only take place if he receives a much bigger purse than the Filipino superstar.

In 2012, there was speculation that a fight between the two could lead to the first $200 million purse in boxing history with much of that money coming from pay-per-view sales.

At one point Pacquiao says Mayweather offered him a $40 million purse on the condition Mayweather would keep the pay-per-view money, which would have amounted to more than double what Pacquiao received.

Previous talks were also scuttled because Mayweather says Pacquiao refused to submit to random blood testing.

Earlier this month, the US media reported that Pacquiao had agreed to a 40 percent cut of the revenue, leaving Mayweather with a 60 percent share for a fight expected to shatter all box-office and television revenue records.

Mayweather potentially has more to lose in a fight against Pacquiao. He has a perfect 47-0 record and has won world titles at five different weight classes. But

a defeat at the Filipino’s hands would ruin that streak and tarnish his legacy, especially if he were to get knocked out.

The two were long-time rivals as the “best pound-for-pound” boxer of their generation, but the dream fight has never materialised to the disappointment of the boxing world.

Their meeting on the basketball court took place by chance after Pacquiao’s flight on Tuesday out of Miami was cancelled.

A winter snow storm that day caused hundreds of flights up and down the US eastern seaboard to be cancelled.

A longtime basketball fan and an avid player, Pacquiao decided to attend the Heat game instead.

Amir Khan instead Filipino boxing star Manny Pacquiao has a plan in place if yet another bid to fight Floyd Mayweather fails – a May 30 bout, possibly against England’s Amir Khan, reports on Monday were reported from this city However, flight cancellations on east coast have forced Manny Pacquaio to watch an NBA basketball game between the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks on Wedesday and “by fate” met and discussed face-to-face with Mayweather what everyone hopes for is a fight between the two, Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum told ESPN that a backup plan if a hoped-for May 2 blockbuster against unbeaten US star Mayweather falls through is a fight four weeks later in Las Vegas, New York, London or Abu Dhabi.

“A lot of places around the world want to host a Manny Pacquiao fight,” Arum said. “He’s an international icon, and I have been approached by a number of people looking to host a Manny Pacquiao fight.”

Arum also told ESPN that Khan, a former welterweight champion, is the leading candidate, although Khan would also be a top contender to fight Mayweather if Pacquiao is not his choice.

Khan and Pacquiao have also been sparring partners before in training camps run by trainer Freddie Roach while working with both fighters.

Arum also mentioned Russian former junior welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov and Argentina’s Lucas Matthysse as possible Pacquiao foes.

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Friday 1/23/2015 – British welterweight Amir Khan revealed a fight against Manny Pacquiao could be on the cards after a meeting with his former sparring partner on Friday.

Khan trained alongside Pacquiao for several years under his old mentor Freddie Roach and had previously maintained they would never fight.

But, despite their warm relationship, both men are now open to a bout following their get-together at the Fitzroy Lodge boxing club in London.

“It was great seeing Manny again as it’s been a while since we last met up,” Khan said on Friday.

“He’s a good friend and we chatted about the past when we were training together, his visit to London and also a bit about the future.

“Even though we have that friendship, if it makes sense then it’s a fight that can certainly happen between us. I want to fight the biggest and best names out there and Manny is definitely among them.

“Within the next few weeks, who I’m fighting should be a lot clearer. I want to give the fans the most exciting and entertaining fights in 2015 - so watch this space.”

Khan and Pacquiao have both spoken recently of their wish to fight the world’s top fighter, Floyd Mayweather, without actually securing a shot with the American.

But in the meantime they could meet each other in the ring after Khan, 28, delivered arguably a career-best performance when he won a landslide decision victory over American Devon Alexander in December.

Pacquiao, 36, seems to be past his peak but remains a massive draw in the sport and he too would be happy to fight Khan.

“Yes, there’s a big possibility, nothing personal, we’re just doing our job in the ring,” he said on Sky Sports News.

“It’s not difficult for us because we respect each other.”

America’s most popular sport gains ground globally

By Rebecca Bryan

Phoenix, United States | AFP | Wednesday 1/28/2015 – The NFL, which will crown its champion Sunday in the quintessential American sporting spectacle of Super Bowl 49, is gaining fans globally with China leading the way.

That’s one of the findings in a study released on Wednesday by sports marketing research firm Repucom, which found that since 2013 interest in the NFL among the Chinese population has jumped from 1.7 percent to 7.9 percent.

The jump of just over six percentage points represents an extra 31 million people saying that they are now NFL fans.

That’s no surprise to Richard Young, managing director of NFL China, who has worked in recent years to introduce the complicated game to potential Chinese fans who have already embraced such sports imports as NBA basketball and English Premier League football.

“We are growing strongly in China, and I think it’s a direct result of having boots on the ground over the past few years,” Young told AFP. NFL initiatives in China include a nontackle flag football league involving 36 universities, a giant 18-wheeler lorry that last year toured nine cities offering videos showcasing the drama of the NFL, and for the past two years events where enthusiasts can get the feel of the “pigskin” as they test themselves catching passes and kicking field goals.

Developing a deep understanding of the game among non-US fans is a challenge, even in Europe where American football has had a solid fan base for some time.

“It’s not an easy sport to learn quickly,” said David Tossell, the NFL’s director of public affairs for Europe. “Our approach is to give people enough hooks to actually want to make that journey by themselves.”

The “hooks” in Europe have included regular-season games in London, but for reasons of cost the NFL pulled the plug on NFL Europe, a professional league where both US and European players once honed their talent.

Without it, Tossell acknowledged, “We don’t have a clear pathway for a young, talented European player to go off into the NFL.” That’s unfortunate, since the experience of the NBA has shown that an increased number of international players in the league in turn fuels interest overseas.

“We’re lucky that there have been a few players in the last few years who have made that journey,” he added, pointing to Germany’s Sebastian Vollmer, who will suit up for New England on Sunday when they take on Seattle for the NFL title.

“If you can say to kids ‘look at Sebastian Vollmer, you could be playing in the Super Bowl in 10 years’ time,’ that makes a big difference,” Tossell said.

“Look at China and the way the NBA exploded there with Yao Ming. We haven’t had our Yao Ming moment in Europe yet.”

Nevertheless, Repucom found interest in the United Kingdom has grown from 8.1 percent in 2012 to 12.3 percent, defining the increase as 1.86 million NFL fans.

Russia actually led the way in terms of the proportion of the population who say they are interested in the NFL, topping the list of countries outside North America with more than 10 million Russians calling themselves fans.

An upward trend is also evident in South America, with Brazil seeing an increase of 3.3 million in NFL fans.

Grass roots growth key Glenn Lovett, president of global strategy at Repucom, said encouraging local participation will be key to fueling even more growth.

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PHL jumps 13 notches in 2015 economic freedom index WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Philippines is among the 10 top countries with improved performances in the list of the world’s freest economies, jumping 13 notches in the 2015 Index of Economic Freedom released today by the Heritage Foundation.

The Philippines moved from 89th place in 2014 to 76th place in 2015 in the annual survey of 184 countries published since 1995 by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative Washington-based think-tank.

The 2015 Index, which graded economies based on 10 independent factors , showed the Philippines increasing its scores in such indicators as financial freedom (+10); freedom from corruption (+9.9); labor freedom (+8.5); and monetary freedom (+0.8).

The Philippines scored 62.2 out of a possible 100, which is above the global

and regional averages. This also allowed the Philippines to emerge in the 13th spot among 42 countries in the Asia-Pacific that were surveyed.

“This is definitely good news for the Philippines and a reflection of the positive outcome of the good governance efforts that are being undertaken by the Aquino administration,” said Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. His sentiments were echoed by the Heritage Foundation, which attributed the positive jump of the Philippines in the index togovernment policies.

“The Philippines’ performance is one of the best by far in any country where we have the Index,” said Ambassador Terry Miller, Director of the Center for International Trade and Economics at the Heritage Foundation. “It is clear that government policies are delivering substantial improve-

ments in the economy.”

The Index measures economic freedom based on 10 quantitative and qualitative factors grouped under four broad categories or pillars – rule of law, limited government, regulatory efficiency, and open markets.

Based on an aggregated score, each of the 184 countries graded in the Index are classified as “free” (with a score of 80 or higher), “mostly free” (70-79.9), “moderately free” (60-69.9), “mostly unfree” (50-59.9, or “repressed” (under 50).

In previous years, the Philippines was under the “mostly unfree,” but it has returned to the “moderately free” category over the last two years during the Aquino administration.

Ambassador Cuisia expressed his appreciation for the work of the Heritage Foundation as well as his desire to explore

ways of further improving the country’s future scores in property rights (0); fiscal freedom (-0.1); government spedning (-3.0); business freedom (-4.6); and trade freedom (-0.1) “I look forward to finding ways to improve scores for indicators in which the Philippines could still improve further, especially trade freedom, fiscal freedom, and government spending,” Ambassador Cuisia added.

He thanked the Heritage Foundation for its transparency and objectivity in receiving information and data from the Embassy and other Philippineagencies.

“It is my hope that the Embassy and the Heritage Foundation continues its close collaboration to help help bring about specific reforms among Philippinegovernment agencies and improve scores,” Ambassador Cuisia added.

ABC Entertainment debuts upcoming TV shows in TCA winter press tour

By Hannah De Castro-Abinuman

From the same network that brought us the Emmy-award winning series, “Modern Family,” comedy favorite, “The Middle,” and long-running hit shows like “Dancing With the Stars” and “General Hospital,” comes another set of TV shows that are bound to keep you riveted to your TVs. Last January 14, ABC announced its newest roster of TV shows, during The Critics Association’s (TCA) Winter Press Tour of 2015 in Langham Hotel, Pasadena CA. ABC held a special private screening

of the pilot episodes for the press, which was then followed by a panel discussion with the writers, executive producers, directors and cast of the shows.

ABC’s Entertainment Group President, Paul Lee, mentioned that the network’s programming has changed to reflect what America really is today. As seen in their current shows like Black-ish, Cristela and in the newest comedy airing this February –“Fresh Off The Boat”, shows have now evolved to focus on characters that are more diverse. In fact, “Fresh Off The

Boat” has an all-Asian main cast, which is something that has not been done in US television for 20 years.

Whether it’s a fresh new comedy, a suspenseful drama or a gripping thriller that you fancy, ABC has a show that may just make it hard for you to leave the couch.

Here are ABC’s upcoming series: Fresh Off The Boat – Premieres Tuesday, February 10 at 8 p.m. ET This hilarious new comedy is based on TV personality, Eddie Huang’s memoirs.

Set in the 90’s, a 12 year old, hip-hop loving Eddie just moved from Washington DC’s Chinatown to suburban Orlando with his parents.

In an attempt to fit in and survive, this immigrant family experiences culture shock in this comedic tale about pursuing the American Dream.

Starring: Randall Park | Constance Wu | Hudson Yang | Forrest Wheeler | Ian Chen American Crime – Premieres Thursday, March 5th, at 10:00pm ET All over the news are reports about a young couple in Modesto, California, who were attacked in their home. The case sends shock waves into the community stirring up tensions across racial lines in this gritty drama.

Starring: Felicity Huffman | Timothy Hutton | W. Earl Brown | Richard Cabral | Caitlin Gerard | Benito Martinez | Penelope Ann Miller | Elvis Nolasco | Johnny Ortiz Secrets and Lies – Premieres Sunday, March 1, at p.m. ET. Did he or didn’t he? Ben Crawford becomes the number one murder suspect after discovering the body of his neighbor’s son in the woods. As Detective Andrea Cornell digs for the truth, the secrets and lies of this town come to the surface and no one is above suspicion.

Starring: Ryan Phillippe | KaDee Strickland | Natalie Martinez | Dan Fogler | Indiana Evans | Belle Shouse | Juliette Lewis The Whispers – Premieres This Spring We love to play games with our children. But what happens when someone else starts to play with them too? Someone we don’t know. Can’t see. Can’t hear. In The Whispers, someone or something—is manipulating the ones we love most to accomplish the unthinkable.

Starring: Lily Rabe | Barry Sloane | Milo Ventimiglia | Derek Webster | Kristen Connolly | Kylie Rogers | Kyle Harrison Breitkopf (Sources: ABC Entertainment, www. abcgo.com)

On January 14, 2015, ABC announced its newest roster of TV shows, during The Critics Association’s (TCA) Winter Press Tour of 2015 in Langham Hotel, Pasadena CA., including “Fresh Off The Boat” that has an all-Asian main cast (above), which is something that has not been done in US television for 20 years.

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To people who need to get out of debt, but are afraid of 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. consult with an experienced bankruptcy Should I consider filing bankruptcy or attorney who can explain to you how this is that the worst mistake I can make under process works so you can get immediate the circumstances? What can creditors do debt relief. Unfortunately, most people feel to me if I continue to ignore my debt prob- a certain shame or stigma about petitioning lems? How much time do I have before for bankruptcy when in reality it may be the creditors take everything I’ve worked so best thing they can do to protect themselves hard for? These are the common ques- from creditor actions. tions that people have. If a lawsuit, wage Listen to me: If your home, wages, asgarnishment, repossession or foreclosure sets and your financial future are at stake, is imminent, you need to take action im- you don’t need to feel embarrassed about mediately so you can protect yourself and anything. If you have done your best to do everything you can with no success, your property.

If filing bankruptcy is your best option, 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 his office at TOLL FREE 1-866-477-7772. He has office locations in Pasadena, Cerritos and Valencia.)

Vice Ganda-led zany cast unloads laugh-a-minute comedy in ‘The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin’ REDWOOD SHORES, CA, January 26, 2015 – When gay soldier character Benjamin “Benjie” Santos VIII, played by host-actorsinger Vice Ganda, first came into public conciousness in 2011 by way of ABS-CBN Star Cinema’s action-comedy, “The Unkabogable: Praybeyt Benjamin”, the character became an icon for unlikely heroes and the film became the first in Philippine cinema history to break the P300 million mark.

The good news is that Benjamin is back and so is the team of Vice Ganda and directorwriter Wenn V. Deramas to give life and zest to the sequel, The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin, the box-office toast of the recently held 40th Metro Manila Film Festival.

Again, the dynamic artist-director duo wove magic at the box office, this time breaking all Philippine records by grossing Php435 million as of January 14, 2015.

TFC@theMovies happily brings this comedy treasure to North America starting January 30, and will screen in over 40 theaters in U.S. and in Canada.

In The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin, after defeating terrorists and saving the world from a zombie attack, Praybeyt Benjamin is promoted to colonel and has become an international superstar. Once simple and humble, he allows success to get into his head.

After making a fatal mistake in one mission by disobeying his new commanding officer

General Wilson Chua (played by Richard Yap), Benjamin is subjected to disciplinary action.

He is given a new mission: gain the confidence of General Chua’s brat kid, Bimbee (played by James “Bimby” Aquino-Yap) and extract from the General’s estranged child information on the secret locations of three active terrorist bombs planted in the country. It doesn’t help that in trying to do so, Benjamin finds himself frequently clashing with pesky housemaid Gundina (played by Alex Gonzaga). And, of course, there is handsome villain Janjaranjan (played by Tom Rodriguez) to contend with.

“The team behind The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin has one mission and that is to make you laugh. They made box-office history do-

ing exactly that,” said ABS-CBN Global Head of Theatricals John D-Lazatin. “The cast is comprised of masters of comedy - from the material, to their timing, to their chemistry with one another, and to their genuine desire to entertain the audience with their talents. It is that unpretentious singularity of intention and focus that makes watching The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin so much fun. We want to bring that unique brand of Filipino fun to movie audiences here in North America.”

The cast includes Eddie Garcia, Al Tantay, Vandolph Quizon, Nikki Valdez, Kean Cipriano, Anja Aguilar, DJ Durano, Ricky Rivero, Dennis Padilla, Malou de Guzman, Abby Bautista, Rhed Bustamante and other famous celebrities.

& Lifestyle

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JOB MARKET For advertising, call (818) 552-4503

NOW HIRING! Room Attendants, E-Verify Call 714-921-1100 or apply www. interstatehotels.com click on careers! Fair¿eld Anaheim Hills, CA WANTED NANNY Wanted Nanny with light housework in Lakewood, CA. 5 Days/ wk Stay-in. $1000/month. Please contact Angelica or Toti 415-9393200; 562-981-4003.

FRIENDLY CASHIER For Gas and Convenience store.

Part-time, evenings in Orange Co. Call Gary (714) 636-6333.

OC NANNY/HOUSEKEEPER Nice Irvine family looking for FT or PT nanny / housekeeper M-F. Transportation maybe required.

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LONG BEACH AREA Live-in caregiver, prefer lady, six days/wk. No experience necessary. Board and care facility for elderly. Must have Soc. Sec. No. Call (562) 997-0906; (562) 7140986.

WANTED CAREGIVERS Live-in / live-out, PT/FT. Driving is advantage. San Fernando Valley & LA. Text or leave a message. (818) 534-7866. ASAP CAREGIVERS Female / male. Must speak English. For board and care for San Fernando Valley area. Full-time, live-in. Call 818-981-5792.

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FEMALE CAREGIVER/COOK Needed for long term emp. Wkday, wkend, FT, PT shifts avail.

Good pay. Must be exp'd in American cooking & have exp in res'l care facility for the elderly.

Must have caring heart, ¿ngerprint, 1st aid, T.B. 909-896-7227.

LIVE-IN CAREGIVER For 6 bed elderly facility in Orange. Private room and good condition. Pls.call 714-612-4288.

CAREGIVERS Caregivers needed right away.

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FEMALE CAREGIVER Live-in for board & care facility in Cerritos, for 5 days a week 8/hours a day. No experience needed, will train. Pls call 562864-7814.

CAREGIVERS WANTED For a nice elderly board & care in Northridge, CA. Call Noel @ 818-582-9560 or email ElderRocks15@gmail.com

EXPERIENCED CAREGIVER Is needed for a patient w/ advance Alzheimer who’s in a nursing home in the City of Santa Monica. 8:30 am to 7:30pm Monday to Friday. Pls call 310-9934023.

LIVE-IN CAREGIVER Full-time live-in caregiver needed immediately for a board & care facility for elderly in Northridge. With experience but not necessary. We will train. Pls call 818-742-8045.

CAREGIVERS WANTED Job opportunity for couple, work together. DD or dementia experience w/ driving license required.

Give us a call at (909) 636-7848.

CAREGIVER To work in live-in at prestigious area of Pasadena. 6 Bed facility for elderly, will provide training.

Ask for Dan (626) 351-1150

Life and Leisure News for Filipino-Americans www.usasianpost.com

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GOT CARS? TIDEWATER PLUMBING Jay Capistrano Copper plumbing, rooter, repairs, gas, water heater, water closet, garbage disposal, wall heater, tankless water heater, electrical, carpentry. Any handy works. 818-730-6571.

JB HANDYMAN SERV. Plumbing, rotor rooters, electrical, carpentry, tile & wood Àr installation, bath & kitchen renovation. Iron works bench & gates.

Washer/dryer repair any brand. Centralized a/c maintenance.

818-4160516

APTS. FOR RENT 1 Door apt. 2 BR. Filipino Town area - Temple / Rampart. 2BR 1 BA, parking space. Preferably nonsmoker. For inquiries call Vicky @ (213) 944-8887 or (213) 384-1955.

APT. FOR RENT 1BR, 1BA, $970 free parking. 3210 Andrita St. LA CA 90065. Close to freeway 2 & San Fernando & Fletcher. Mgr. Fil. Cel (213) 4225307 or (818) 679-3333.

ROOM FOR RENT Northridge/Canoga Park.

Furnished, free utilities, internet, tv. Clean & in quiet area. $395/mo. 818-4772027.

ROOM FOR RENT 2 Spacious rooms, 1 BA, big kitchen. Close to Filipino restaurants & market.

Between Temple & Beverly St. Call for more info 818679-3891; 213-908-5279.

ROOM 4 RENT/UNIT Room only $525, Unit: $1,500, 3 rooms, 2 baths with parking. Share with family, relatives, friends.

L.A. Western/Melrose: 323-467-4703.

LARGE ROOM Large room & clean, new built in closet. Free utilities. Good location. Pls call 323-660-3404.

ROOM - HOUSE Muroc St. BellÀower. Female. $475 free utils, use of ref, washer/dryer, stove. Own entry & parking space. Near frwy & bus stop. Tawag sa 562862-4182; 562-552-5721 days, 562-552-4023 eves & wkends.

ROOM FOR RENT For one female only. W/ private entry & bathroom, furnished, utils incld. Located in a residential area, close to market & bus stop.

Cor Sunset Bl. $500/mo.

Call 213-483-3711, cell 213-327-6898.

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PRAYER to the BLESSED VIRGIN

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

PRAYER of ST. JUDE Most Holy Apostle, St. Jude faithful servant and friend of Jesus.

The church honors and invokes you universally as the Patron of hopeless cases, of things almost despaired of. Pray for me.

Make use, I implore you, of that particular privilege given to you.

To bring visible help, where help is almost despaired of. Come to our assistance in this great needs that we may receive the help of heaven in all our necessities, tribulations and sufferings particularly [please mention intention]...that I may praise God with you and with all the elect, forever. I promise, blessed St. Jude, to be ever

(Never known to fail)

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

Grateful Thanks. -MELISSA

mindful of this great favor.To honor you as my most powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you, AMEN. -SAM

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MOTORING Mitsubishi Mirage recognized by IHS Automotive for Model Loyalty Mirage 5-door sub-compact is the most fuel efficient gaspowered non-hybrid in America, with sales reaching well beyond expectations Wed, Jan 14, 2015 - Cypress, Calif. – Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is pleased to kick off the new year with recognition by IHS Automotive for having the highest Model Loyalty in the Non-Luxury Traditional Sub-Compact Car Segment for the 2014 model year*.

“We are delighted to receive this Model Loyalty recognition by IHS Automotive,” said Don Swearingen, Executive Vice President of MMNA. “Mitsubishi Motors has experienced growing customer loyalty across our entire model lineup through the years, and this award demonstrates that we are successfully retaining our current customers while simultaneously introducing new consumers to the brand.”

IHS Automotive recognizes automotive manufacturers for superior owner loyalty performance, which is determined when a household that owns a new vehicle returns to market and purchases or leases another new vehicle of the same make or model.

The 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage, with a starting MSRP of $12,995, achieves an EPA fuel mileage rating of up to 37 mpg city/44 mpg highway and also has an NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) 4-Star Overall Vehicle

Score.

For more information on the Mitsubishi Mirage please visit media.mitsubishimotors.com. *According to IHS Automotive’s U.S. owner loyalty analysis of the Non-Luxury Traditional Sub-Compact Car Segment, Mitsubishi Mirage had the greatest percentage of owners who returned to market and purchased or leased another Mitsubishi Mirage in the 2014 model year.

Meanwhile, the highly fuel-efficient 2015 Mirage 5-door sub-compact by Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) has been named “the most affordable vehicle shoppers can buy” by Cars.com. The venerable online automotive resource took into account minimum feature requirements – Bluetooth capability, USB port, power windows and door locks – as well as destination fees and anticipated five-year fuel costs to calculate the most affordable vehicle to buy and own.

The DE, featurh 2015 Mitsubishi i bi hi Mirage i f ing the CVT transmission and Bluetooth® capability, was named Cars.com’s most affordable vehicle coming in at $15,115 – a significant savings of more than $1,300 over the second-place vehicle. Taking in to account the cost of ownership, Cars.com also calculated anticipated fuel costs for five years. The Mitsubishi Mirage, with a combined fuel economy of 40 mpg, was again the most affordable vehicle option with anticipated fuel costs of $7,000 for five years – $500 less than the secondplace vehicle.

“When we considered the most affordable cars, it was important that we looked only at models equipped with basic but important options like an automatic transmission and power windows and locks,” said Joe Wiesenfelder, Cars.com’s Executive Editor. “We wanted to help consumers who want an incredibly affordable car find one that also includes the niceties that almost every shopper has come to expect.”

Featuring a 1.2 liter 3-cylinder DOHC engine, the Mitsubishi Mirage is available with either a 5-speed manual transmission or the advanced continuously-variable transmission (CVT). Standard safety features include seven air bags and the Mirage features one of the best protection plans in the entire industry: a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, a fully transferrable 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty, a 7-year/100,000 mile anti-corrosion/perforation limited warranty and a 5-year/unlimited mileage roadside assistance program.

“Having a trusted consumer automotive resource like Cars.com name one of your vehicle offerings as the single most affordably-priced new vehicle model is high praise, indeed,” said Don Swearingen, Executive Vice President of MMNA. “It is further testament to what our customers have been telling us all along: The Mitsubishi Mirage – with its low price, outstanding fuel economy, great warranty and welcome convenience features – is an all-around exceptional new-car value.”

If you want to know why the Mitsubishi is up in its sales and why the Outlander and Lancer are two of America’s top Mitsubishi vehicles or why they are the choice of many of our kababayans – nostalgia perhaps? – who are looking for reliability, efficiency and comfort, call Richard Samaco, Cesar Macandili or Mark De Leon the dealership’s Filipino salespersons at Glendale Mitsubishi at (888) 465-7218.

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2015 Honda Fit, CR-V named ‘Best Resale Value’ vehicles by KBB.com TORRANCE, Calif., Jan 23, 2015 – Honda has received two Best Resale Value Awards from trusted vehicle valuation source Kelley Blue Book www.kbb.com.

The 2015 Honda Fit (automobiles.honda. com/fit/) earned the top award in its segment for projected resale value after five years of ownership. Additionally, the 2015 Honda CR-V (automobiles.honda.com/crv/) was honored as one of the overall Top 10 Best Resale Value vehicles in America.

2015 Honda Vehicles Honored with Kelley Blue Book Best Resale Value Awards 2015 Honda Fit – Best Resale Value: Subcompact Car 2015 Honda CR-V – Best Resale Value: Top 10 “The Fit is a premium small car with a healthy appetite for passengers and cargo, representing tremendous value well beyond its exterior footprint,” said David Hendley, assistant vice president of sales at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “It’s great to see the all-new Fit, our brand’s entry model, join the much-honored CR-V among KBB.com’s Best Resale Value Award winners this year.”

Kelley Blue Book’s Best Resale Value Awards are based on projections from the Kelley Blue Book® Official Residual Value Guide. These prestigious awards honor vehicles expected to maintain the greatest proportion of their original

Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) after five years of ownership.

Since depreciation (or loss of value) is typically a car buyer’s primary expense during ownership, these awards are designed to help consumers make more informed carbuying decisions.

For more information about Kelley Blue Book’s Best Resale Value Awards, please visit: http://www.kbb.com/new-cars/bestresale-value-awards/.

Earlier, the 2015 Honda Fit has claimed a spot on the prestigious 2015 AUTOMOBILE All-Star list (automobilemag. com/2015AllStars). The brand’s editors, who judge each vehicle on its performance, features, and overall value, applauded the Fit (automobiles.honda.com/fits) for its refined powertrain, excellent ergonomics, and fun-to-drive dynamics.

“The Fit remains the benchmark for

packaging, versatility and value in its segment,” said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of the Honda automobile division for American Honda. “AUTOMOBILE’s recognition of the Honda Fit validates our ongoing efforts to deliver best-in-class vehicles for our customers, and our continued investment in North American manufacturing.”

“We’d argue there isn’t a better car on the road today starting under $20,000 than the Honda Fit,” said AUTOMOBILEeditorin-chief Mike Floyd. “It’s fun to hustle around, especially when its updated engine is mated to its new six-speed manual.

It’s pulled off adding more rear seat and cargo area—all while decreasing its overall footprint. And it’s available with more options and safety features than ever before.

The Fit is still very much go, and it’s a 2015 AUTOMOBILE All-Star as a result.”

This win for the 2015 Fit marks the 20 th time a Honda has been named an AUTOMOBILE All-Star since the award’s inception in 1990. Past Honda All-Stars, in addition to the Fit, include the Civic, Element, Prelude, Odyssey, Accord and Ridgeline.

To read AUTOMOBILE’s complete 2015 All-Star coverage, visit www.automobilemag.com/2015allstars/ or pick up a copy of the January 2015 issue of AUTOMOBILE Magazine.

Meanwhile, if you want to belong to the select group of Honda owners, all you have to do is visit the Diamond Honda of Glendale and get in touch with our kababayans Tito Adriosula, Cruzella Clemente and Orly Roque, who are more than ready to serve you and find you your new Honda Hybrids or any other Honda vehicle and be assured of top fuel efficiency as well as safety and maintenance.

These are just some of the reasons why Pinoys come to the dealership. Above all, at Diamond Honda of Glendale,

Kia Soul: Winner of a 2015 most popular on Edmunds.Com Award IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 21, 2015 – Edmunds.com has named the Kia Soul to its annual list of the most popular vehicles on the well-known car-buying site. With more than 18 million unique visitors a month, Edmunds.com honored the fun and funky Kia Soul in the subcompact segment for the 2nd consecutive year.

“Kia Motors America set an all-time annual sales record in 2014, and the Soul was a major component of that achievement, setting its own record of more than 145,000 units sold – its fifth consecutive year of sales growth. That success is powerful evidence of the popularity of the Soul and how well the Kia brand is resonating with car buyers,” said Michael Sprague, executive vice president of sales & marketing, Kia Motors America.

“Being recognized by Edmunds.com staff and their visitors is further indication that our products offer a winning combination of world-class design, quality, technol-

ogy and safety – and, of course, value.”

The 2015 Most Popular on Edmunds. com vehicle list was derived by identifying the three models in each vehicle segment with the highest “car-shopper consideration,” which is calculated as the total monthly unique desktop website visitors to Edmunds.com’s research and inventory pages, including model year detail pages (core pages), reviews, build-and-price tools and new-car inventory pages, from Jan. 1, 2014 to Oct. 31, 2014.

“The Kia brand has a lot of momentum, and a remarkable number of in-market subcompact car shoppers on our site have been especially drawn to the Soul,” said Edmunds.com CEO Avi Steinlauf.

The signature Soul design is instantly recognizable yet thoroughly fresh. Honoring Soul owners’ fierce individualism, three unique trim levels remain available: Base, Plus and Exclaim.

Meanwhile, Pierce Brosnan, known

If you’re in the Southbay area, call our kababayans Venny Cruz and Wilford Solancho of Car Pros Kia Huntington Beach. Call them now at (714) 613-1119.

worldwide for his sophisticated movie hero roles, again makes the “Perfect Getaway” in Kia Motors America’s (KMA) 60-second spot for the all-new 2016 Kia Sorento CUV, making its broadcast debut during the third quarter of Super Bowl XLIX. If you want to find out why Kia is among the leading car brands of today,

drop by Car Pros Kia of Carson at 21243 S Avalon Blvd, Carson, CA 90745 (telephone # 310-221-9131), or at Car Pros Kia Huntington Beach at 18835 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach, CA 92648 (714-6131119) and last but won’t be the last, at Car Pros Kia Glendale at 400 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91204 (818) 745-1400.

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Fall Fall in in Love Love at at Subaru Subaru of of Glendale.

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Subaru, Forester, Outback, Tribeca, Legacy, Impreza, WRX, STI, and SUBARU BOXER are registered trademarks. Purchase or lease any new (previously untitled) Subaru and receive a complimentary factory scheduled maintenance plan for 2 years or 24,000 miles (whichever comes first).

See Subaru Added Security Maintenance Plan for intervals, coverages and limitations. Customer must take delivery before 12-31-15 and reside within the promotional area. At participating dealers only. See dealer for program details and eligibility.

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2015 Nissan Altima, Frontier and Pathfinder named ‘Most Popular’ on Edmunds.com Walk away with FREE grocery gift card from Seafood City by calling our kababayan Nelson Samson at Ross NIssan. Hurry, call him now!

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Some say there’s more to life than popularity, but with Edmunds.com “Most Popular” awards, it seems to be rather important. Edmunds. com recently named the 2015 Nissan Al-

tima “Most Popular Midsize Car,” the 2015 Nissan Frontier “Most Popular Compact Truck,” and the 2015 Nissan Pathfinder “Most Popular Midsize Traditional SUV.” These three vehicles stood among the top-three most-researched vehicles in their respective categories on the car research site Edmunds.com.

Winners for each vehicle segment are selected based on the highest number of unique visitors to the model’s new-car

If you want to be the next Altima owner, or you may want to purchase another Nissan vehicle, brand-new or certified pre-owned, all you have to do is get in touch with our friends at Ross Nissan located at 3428 North Peck Road, El Monte, CA 91731. Or call them to make an appointment at 1-866-481-1050 and he will give you FREE! grocery gift card from Seafood City. For more information, please visit their website at www.rossnissan.com.

Free oil change for life at Hooman Toyota!

Lifetime oil change and tires for life! These are what you’re going to get if you buy your car at Hooman Toyota. Hurry! Call our kababayans Alfie Alberto (left) and Arvin Aberilla now toll free at 1-800-519-2446. Hooman Toyota is located at 4401 East Pacific Highway, Long Beach, CA 90804.

research and inventory pages on the Edmunds.com desktop site. This year’s award looked at website traffic from the first 10 months of 2014. Around 18 million shoppers visit Edmunds.com for car-buying advice every month.

“Winning an accolade like this is a testament to the true popularity of our vehicles,” said Fred Diaz, senior vice president, Nissan Sales & Marketing and Operations U.S., Nissan North America, Inc. “Based on customer research trends, winning this award shows that each of these three Nissan models continues to resonate well with new-vehicle shoppers.”

Each solid fixtures in their respective segments, these three vehicles are Edmunds.com’s Most Popular for a second consecutive year.

“Nissan products are really getting the attention of in-market car shoppers on our site,” said Edmunds.com CEO Avi Steinlauf. “Winning so many ‘Most Popular on Edmunds.com awards bodes well for the company’s sales in 2015.”

Early this month, Nissan announced total U.S. sales for December 2014 of 117,318 units, an increase of 6.9 percent compared to last year and a December record. For calendar year 2014, Nissan set an all-time record with 1,386,895 total U.S. sales, an increase of 11.1 percent over 2013.

Nissan Division 2014 calendar year highlights: In 2014, Nissan Division set an all-time record with 1,269,565 total sales.

Nissan also set annual sales records for Altima, Rogue, Versa, Juke, LEAF, NV and NV200.

In 2014, Nissan sold more than 30,000 LEAF vehicles in the U.S., the first time any plug-in vehicle has reached that milestone in a single year.

December highlights Nissan Division set a December record with 105,311 sales, up 9.1 percent.

Sales of the Altima midsize sedan were up 30.3 percent to 32,331, a December record.

Rogue crossover sales also set a December record at 14,879, up 1.4 percent.

Sales of the all-electric Nissan LEAF totaled 3,102, up 22.7 percent and a December record.

Sentra sales were up 42.5 percent to 15,393.

Versa sales grew 3 percent to 9,129.

Nissan will unveil the all-new Titan full-size pickup truck on Jan. 12, 2015, at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. More information on the development of the new Titan is available at: http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/ usa/channels/us-united-states-nissan-titantruckumentary.

If you want to be the next Nissan owner or you may want to purchase another Nissan vehicle, brand-new or certified preowned, all you have to do is get in touch with our friends at Ross Nissan located at 3428 North Peck Road, El Monte, CA 91731. Or call them to make an appointment at 1-866-481-1050. For more information, please visit their website at www. rossnissan.com.

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