Weekend balita march 8, 2014

LOS ANGELES

Kris on VP bid: Hindi pa handa ang Pilipinas!

See KRIS page 24

VOL. XXII, NO. 5

MARCH 8-14, 2014

De Lima hopes Napoles will tell all MANILA, Mar 6 (Mabuhay) – Justice Secretary Leila de Lima confirmed Thursday that she is still hoping that alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles would reveal everything she knows in the controversy.

Speaking before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, De Lima said she turned down calls to bring Napoles to a regular jail because she still has expectations

Janet Lim Napoles’ file photo as she arrives at the first Senate for the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the alleged P10 billion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam, which reportedly involves her group and several legislators. (MNS photo)

that the businesswoman would turn state witness.

“We are still hoping that Mrs. Napoles will tell all because she is the key to unlocking the whole truth if and when she decides to tell the truth,” she said.

“We have expectations na baka magsalita nga at sayang ang pagkakataon. Maybe in the near future or while the case is in Sandiganbayan. Let’s see if she is willing to talk,” she added.

De Lima said she understands that there is a cost involved in keeping Napoles incarcerated at Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Napoles is in jail for a serious illegal detention charge filed by whistle-blower Benhur Luy. However, the justice chief said the potential benefits in Napoles’ tell-all testimony would outweigh the cost in keeping Napoles in Fort Sto. Domingo.

“Secondary na lang ang considerations na gastos to the ultimate end that we will find out the whole truth,” she said.

Sen. Francis Escudero has urged the Department of Justice to put Napoles in a regular jail after she refused to name accomplices in the alleged scam.

See DE LIMA, page 12

Senate Minority leader Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, one of the accused in the so-called pork barrel scam, stresses a point in interpellating Senator Koko Pimentel III, sponsor of the Sandigan Bill, who sought the support of his colleagues for the passage of the measure, seeking to improve the disposition of cases in the Sandiganbayan on Wednesday (March 5) at the Session Hall, Senate Bldg in Pasay City. (MNS photo)

Binay will jail guilty allies – UNA MANILA, Mar 6 (Mabuhay) – The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) on Thursday said allies of Vice President Jejomar Binay who will be proven guilty of pocketing public funds will not go scot-free in case the latter succeeds in his presidential bid in 2016.

“Human rights lawyer si Vice President Binay at tinitiyak namin na kapag sya ang naging Pangulo, kahit mga kaalyado namin pero napatunayang guilty ng korte sa PDAF scam o kahit anong katiwalian, pananagutin sila sa kanilang mga kasalanan,” UNA secretary general Toby

Tiangco said in a statement.

“Justice is color-blind. Whoever committed a crime cannot expect any favor or refuge from VP Binay – hindi nya pagbibigyan ang sinumang nagkasala sa batas,” he added.

Tiangco also assured that a government under Binay will not resort to filing politically motivated charges against enemies.

Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile, both Binay allies, have been accused of funneling their pork barrel funds to fake non-government organizations of businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles in order to get

kickbacks Estrada and Enrile are facing plunder charges before the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the scam.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Alan Peter Cayetano earlier suggested the creation of special courts that will handle pork barrel scam cases, saying that the case might lose steam and Binay allies go scot-free in case the vice-president wins in the 2016 polls.

Cayetano, secretary-general of Nacionalista Party, has already announced his plans to run for president in 2016. (MNS)

PHL doctors slam portrayal as ‘tax cheats’ in gov’t ad MANILA, March 5, 2014 (AFP) – Furious Philippine doctors Wednesday demanded the government withdraw newspaper advertisements which they claimed portrayed them as tax cheats, days after Manila launched its latest campaign against taxdodging in the private sector.

The government ads, which ran in newspapers on Sunday, showed a female teacher lecturing in front of her class with a woman in a medical suit holding a doctor’s clipboard sitting on her shoulders.

“When you don’t pay your taxes, you’re a burden

to those who do,” read the accompanying caption below sets of figures that showed less than one percent of a doctor’s income went on taxes while the lower-paid teacher contributed 26 percent of her earnings.

“The Bureau of Internal Revenue should withdraw the negative ads. They create a very bad impression of doctors in the eyes of the public and are defamatory,” Philippine Medical Association president Leo Olarte told AFP. He said many members were angry and some were See DOCTORS, page 12

The government ads, which ran in Manila newspapers on Sunday, showed a female teacher lecturing in front of her class with a woman in a medical suit holding a doctor’s clipboard sitting on her shoulders.

PHL deports 44 foreigners, including Al Qaeda member in first two months MANILA, Mar 5 (Mabuhay) – The Philippines has deported 44 foreigners, including a suspected Al Qaeda member, in the first two months of the year, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said in a statement Wednesday The bureau deported last

January Indonesian national Agus Dwikarna, an alleged member of the Al Qaeda terrorist group who was convicted for illegal possession of explosives.

Dwikarna served 10 years in the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City after he was convicted in 2004 for illegal

possession of improvised explosives, grenades and firearms.

Dwikarna was intercepted upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in March 2002 and was subsequently found guilty by the Pasay City Regional Trial Court,

which sentenced him to 10 to 17 years of imprisonment.

In the statement, the BI described Dwikarna as “a member of the Islamic extremist movement in Indonesia that participates in organized riots, teaches assault of public ofSee AL QAEDA, page 12

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Benhur Luy: I saw Cunanan carry a paper bag where ‘pork’ cut was placed MANILA, Mar 6 (Mabuhay) – Principal pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy on Thursday said he saw new government witness Dennis Cunanan carrying a paper bag where he personally placed kickbacks from the alleged pork barrel scam.

Luy said he prepared the paper bag, which contained P960,000 in pork barrel commissions.

“Ang alam ko nakita kong tumanggap ... pagkalabas niya [Cunanan], nakita ko bitbit niya ‘yung paper bag,” Luy said during a Senate blue ribbon committee hearing.

Luy made this statement after Cunanan denied earlier during the hearing that he benefited from the alleged anomaly.

“Kung meron man ako, bakit hindi ko aaminin? Lalo na sa sitwasyon ngayon,” a teary-eyed Cunanan, on-leave Technology Resource Center (TRC) chief, told the

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He later stood by his earlier statement, saying he did not know what happened to the paper bag during the time that lapsed when Luy prepared the money and when the bag was handed to him.

Cunanan is the first government official implicated in the alleged pork barrel anomaly to provide testimony on how pork barrel funds supposedly ended up in politicians’ pockets.

Cunanan earlier executed an affidavit where he detailed how Senators Bong Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada, through phone calls, supposedly confirmed that they selected foundations linked to Napoles for their pork barrel funds.

Both Revilla and Estrada denied knowing Cunanan and ever talking to him over the phone. (MNS)

Miriam: Cunanan passes credibility test MANILA, Mar 6 (Mabuhay) – Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago believes the testimony of Dennis Cunanan, director general on-leave of the Technology Resource Center (TRC), will help pin down the legislators linked to the pork barrel scam.

She believes, however, that Cunanan is not as innocent as he claims.

In a press conference after the Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing on Thursday, Santiago told reporters that Cunanan’s “testimony would be sufficient to convict in a court of law, but you [also] have to weigh it together with the testimony of Ruby Tuason, so that makes the two of them.”

In his testimony, Cunanan said senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, and Bong Revilla directly chose the nongovernment organizations where they would course their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocations.

Estrada and Revilla, Cunanan recalled, had reprimanded his office for supposedly delaying the release of the funds to the NGOs connected to businesswoman Janet Napoles. Cunanan said the paperwork for PDAF-funded projects usually takes a maximum 30 days. Both senators, however, wanted to hasten the process so

they pressed him to speed up the approvals.

In Enrile’s case, Cunanan said the former Senate president did not follow up the paperwork himself, and that the TRC dealt with Enrile’s former chief of staff, Atty. Gigi Reyes.

Santiago said she believes Cunanan “is credible because he has knowledge of a lot of details. Credibility in a trial court is usually determined not by the general statement of the accused, particularly if this turns out to be vague, but from the specific details furnished by the accused or by any witness on the stand.”

She said Cunanan has “so many details that you would immediately, instinctively know he is telling the truth. He can’t possibly invent these transactional details because it will be very easy to prove him a liar just by interviewing people at the TRC. He was director general for about four years. You can grant him the presumption of regularity in the performance of his official functions.”

Cunanan dealt with the senators only via phone, however.

Santiago said there is lack of Philippine jurisprudence when it comes to phone calls as direct evidence. Nonetheless, these are already accepted in US courts, she said.

Miriam dares Gigi Reyes: Return money Enrile stole, be a state witness MANILA, Mar 6 (Mabuhay) – Lawyer Jessica “Gigi” Reyes should return the money her former boss, Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, supposedly “stole” and “turn the tables” on him.

This was the challenge made by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago to Reyes, Enrile’s former chief-of-staff, during a Senate blue ribbon hearing on the alleged pork barrel scam on Thursday.

“Attorney Gigi, return the money that Enrile stole because I am sure that Attorney Gigi is in charge of the safekeeping of these illegitimate funds abroad,” Santiago said.

She also advised Reyes to “turn the tables on Enrile and turn into a state witness.”

It was the second time that Santiago proposed for Reyes to be turned into a state witness in the pork barrel scam case where Enrile is among those implicated.

Enrile, a veteran politician, allegedly received P172.8 million in kickbacks from the scam. Other senators linked to the anomaly are Jinggoy Estrada (P183.79 million) and Ramon Bong Revilla (224.5 million).

Reyes was also named respondent in the case after the National Bureau of Investigation, in its complaint, said she signed documents related to the release of Enrile’s pork barrel funds to bogus non-government organizations (NGOs) linked to alleged scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles. She left the country late last year before the plunder complaint was filed with the Office of the Ombudsman and has not returned ever since.

Santiago, Enrile’s staunch critic, said she suspects Reyes is only being used as a “front” by her former boss.

“Alangan namang UP [University of the Philippines] graduate, papasok siya [Reyes] ng ganyan mag-isa niya. Ay natural, may kasunduan sila na kung ano utos ng amo susunduin niya,” she said.

Reyes has been accused of receiving pork barrel kickbacks for Enrile, and signing documents for the release of these discretionary funds on the senators’ behalf.

Earlier this week, Enrile’s wife, Cristina, confirmed that Reyes had an affair with her husband – an information that Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said could bolster the case against the senator. (MNS)

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PHL to upgrade navy base facing disputed waters MANILA, March 6, 2014 (AFP) – The Philippines is to upgrade a navy base facing disputed South China Sea waters to serve the extra ships being acquired to protect its territory, the military said Thursday.

Navy spokesman Lieutenant-Commander Gregory Fabic said the military would build a 500-million-peso ($11.2 million) port at Ulugan Bay, the Philippine military base nearest to the Spratly Islands.

“It is being programmed for capability upgrade... we need to develop it to house the big vessels of the navy,” he told reporters.

President Benigno Aquino is set to visit the base on May 20 to launch the upgrading, Fabic added.

The base on the west coast of Palawan island is the headquarters of naval forces guarding the waters on the west of the archipelago.

In recent years, the Philippines has been locked in an increasingly tense standoff with China involving disputed reefs and islands in the Spratlys and other areas of the South China Sea. Under a program designed to improve the capability of one of Asia’s weakest military forces, the Philippines has been

acquiring naval vessels to create what the government described as a “credible deterrent” to protect its territorial integrity.

The navy has acquired two refurbished American coastguard frigates in the past two years, and they now lead patrols in the South China Sea. The navy wants to acquire up to six more to guard the country’s long coastline effectively, armed forces chief of staff General Emmanuel Bautista announced in January.

In 2012 the Gregorio del Pilar, one of the two refurbished frigates, confronted Chinese ships on Scarborough Shoal,

a small outcrop just off the coast of the country’s main island of Luzon.

The Chinese eventually gained control of the outcrop after Manila backed down.

However, the Manila government sought UN arbitration to settle the dispute, a move rejected by China.

Last month the Philippines lodged a protest after the Chinese coastguard allegedly attacked Filipino fishermen off the shoal with water cannon on January 27. Beijing rejected the protest.

China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, including waters near the coasts of its neighbors.

VP Binay: ASEAN should take a ‘solid’ stand on China issue MANILA, Mar 6 (Mabuhay) – Vice President Jejomar C. Binay on Thursday said the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) should take a “solid stand” on the member-nations’ territorial disputes with China.

Binay made the observation to Vietnamese Ambassador to the Philippines Truong Trieu Duong during the latter’s call on the Vice President at the Coconut Palace Tuesday.

“As long as we are solid in ASEAN, [we have a strong case on our terroritorial claims],” Binay told Duong as the Vietnamese envoy urged the Vice President to reject China’s claims.

“Malaysia is keen to join us,” Duong told Binay.

The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei – the four members of the ASEAN with claims in the West Philippine Sea – previously failed to take a united stand on China’s growing aggressiveness after Brunei skipped the 1st ASEAN Claimants Working Group Meeting last month.

The four countries are claiming parts of the Spratly Islands. China, however, is lay-

ing claim to about 80 percent of the Spratlys under its controversial nine-dash line.

During his call on Binay, Duong expressed his concern on China’s allegedly increasing aggression in pressing territorial claims, saying the incident of the Chinese Coast Guard’s (CCG) use of water cannons on Filipino fishermen could also “most likely” happen to Vietnamese fishermen.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines revealed last week that the CCG used water cannons to drive away Filipino fishermen from disputed waters along Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal on January 27, prompting the Department of Foreign Affairs to file a written protest to the Charge d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy.

The Philippines and Vietnam previously affirmed their close consultations on maritime issues, including the West Philippine Sea, which Vietnam refers to as East Sea, during the 7th Meeting of the PhilippinesVietnam Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation in August last year.

Both sides called for “the settlement of disputes by peaceful means and renewed support for a code of conduct.” (MNS)

Palace: No Pinoys hurt in Venezuela crisis MANILA, Mar 7 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang clarified Friday that no Filipinos have so far been hurt in Venezuela even after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) raised the alert level there.

“So far, we have not gotten reports of any Filipino who has been injured, or at least involved in the mass actions. And hopefully, it stays that way,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said during a press conference.

The DFA has already raised the crisis alert level for Venezuela from 1 (precautionary phase) to 2 (restriction phase) amid the clashes between the opposition and government supporters and security forces there.

The DFA said alert level 2 is issued when there are real threats to the life, security, and property of Filipinos arising from internal disturbance or external threat.

“Restricted na yung kanilang movements, which is attendant to the raising of number two on the alert level,” said Valte.

But speaking from experience, Valte said Filipinos always follow the instructions issued by the DFA. “[So] when the DFA gets wind of any situation abroad that our Filipinos might... run into, kinakausap na po nila yung mga community leaders, at meron na po yang mga paunang pagsabi na mag-ingat po tayo sa mga ganitong pangyayari,” she said.

Under alert level 2, the Department of Labor and Employment only allows

overseas Filipino workers with existing contracts to return to their host country.

There were 263 Filipinos on Venezuela as of December 2013, according to the stock estimate of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas.

In an advisory, the DFA said alert level 2 is issued when there are real threats to the life, security, and property of Filipinos arising from internal disturbance or external threat.

The DFA advised Filipinos in the area to limit non-essential movements, avoid public places, and prepare for possible evacuation.

The DFA said the Philippine Embassy in Mexico, which has jurisdiction over Venezuela, has already dispatched a consular officer to Caracas to provide on the ground assessment, coordinate with the Philippine Honorary Consul General in Venezuela, and assist the estimated 104 Filipino nationals in that country.

Reports said a Venezuelan soldier and a motorcycle driver died following a melee sparked by the opposition’s barricading of a street in Caracas, bringing the death toll to 20.

The DFA has also raised alert level 2 in Ukraine due to the ongoing standoff there between the host government and Russia.

About 175 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are in Ukraine, 41 of them were employed as administrative and managerial workers while 30 were service workers, the DFA said.

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Permanent residency through religious work During this holy season of Lent, we recognize that the array of abundant services provided by religious workers are very highly valued throughout the American society. Consequently, there are special immigrant visas given to religious workers who seek to enter the US or adjust status to that of a permanent resident in order to perform religious activities. The special category of visas is known as the Special Immigrant Religious Worker category.

To qualify as a Special Immigrant Religious Worker, the following requirements must be ful- may be fulfilled through religious work filled: either in a foreign country or in the U.S. 1) The petitioner must be a bona fide If the qualifying work is in the U.S., an religious organization. The organization individual is eligible only if the employpetitioning the religious worker must have ment had been authorized by the DHS. a recognized creed, form of worship, and Although the qualifying employment may established place of worship. Addition- be compensated or voluntary, the burden is ally, the organization must be legitimate on the individual to prove that he/she has and bona fide. Lastly, the organization been employed on a full-time (at least 35 must be incorporated and either have tax- hours per week) basis in a religious vocaexempt status or qualify as a nonprofit tion or occupation. organization.

There are significant advantages to 2) The religious worker must have an seeking permanent residency as a Special offer of employment by a U.S. religious Immigrant Religious Worker. First, an organization to work in “a religious voca- individual does not need to go through the tion or occupation.� A religious occupation tedious task of obtaining a labor certificais one that relates to a traditional religious tion with the Department of Labor. Also, function, such as religious instructors, an individual can self-petition so long as a liturgical workers, cantors, and catechists. job offer by a bona fide organization exists.

A minister is a person who is authorized to Further, the visa category for Special conduct religious worship, such as priests, Immigrant Religious Workers has not pastors, and rabbis. A professional is one been affected by the visa retrogressions where the religious position requires at that have caused most employment-based least a bachelor’s degree and where the petitions to be delayed by a period of years. individual has that degree. A nonprofes- Consequently, as soon as an individual has sional is one wherein a bachelor’s degree been classified as a Special Immigrant is not required.

Religious Worker, he/she may immedi3) The immigrant must be working in a ately file the applications for adjustment full-time religious vocation or occupation of status and employment authorization. continuously for at least two years before Upon filing, an individual receives a work applying for a visa. This requirement See AQUINO, page 7

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Employees working 12 hours per day may be owed back wages Q: I am an hourly employee at a skilled nursing facility working 12-hour shifts, three days a week. I usually work more than 12 hours per shift finishing up paperwork but we are not paid overtime. When I am asked to work a 4th day during the week for another 12 hours, I am not paid overtime. I cannot take my lunch breaks because I have no reliever. What are my rights?

A: Employees of the health Time and a Half for Working Lesser care industry often work on what’s officially called Alternative Workweek Hours: If an AWS agreement exists, but the Schedules (AWS). AWS agreements are implemented by employers who require employees are directed to work fewer their employees to work up to ten or twelve hours than what’s stated in the agreement, hours per day within a 40-hour workweek the workday is treated as if it is not part without overtime pay. (The implementa- of the AWS agreement and all overtime in tion of AWS must be agreed to by the excess of 8 hours must be paid accordingly. employees following an election procedure This acts as a short-shift penalty against the employer. regulated by law.)

Meal and Rest Breaks: Time and a Half and Double Time Hourly employees are entitled to a Payments: All work performed outside the AWS 30-minute uninterrupted meal period agreement that goes beyond 8 hours a day for every 5 hours of work. Employees or beyond 40 hours per week shall be paid on 12-hour shifts are entitled to a second “time and a half.� All work performed 30-minute meal period. They may volunbeyond 12 hours per day shall be paid tarily waive their right to one of their two meal periods in writing only. An employer “double time.�

If the employee already worked three cannot require an employee to waive the 12-hours shifts for the week, and was right to a meal period. Employees who asked to work an additional 12-hour shift work 12 hours per day are also entitled to on a fourth day, then the employee must at least three 10-minute rest breaks.

If an employee missed both a meal be paid double time after 8 hours of work break and a rest break, the employee beon the fourth day.

Cayetano: I want to be president MANILA, Mar 5 (Mabuhay) – Senator Alan Peter Cayetano has finally come clean about his plans for 2016.

Cayetano categorically said he wants to be President of the Philippines and it’s just a matter of timing. Cayetano said he has tapped the services of political consultant and former advertising executive Greg Garcia ahead of his presidential bid.

He claimed polls from different parts of the country show he stands a chance against other possible contenders in 2016. “Sino bang pumasok sa pulitika, barangay captain, kagawad, counselor, mayor na ayaw sa isang araw maging presidente,� he said. “I want to be president of this country. I think I can do something great for God and for our people...I don’t want to run. I want to win,� he added. If he runs for president in 2016, he will be going up against Vice-President Jejomar Binay who has already his plan to run in the next presidential election.

Other rumored candidates for the presidency include Department of the Interior and

AQUINO From page 6

permit within 90 days. Special immigrant religious workers may therefore rather quickly obtain a driver’s license, identification card, and social security number upon issuance of the work permit.

The law authorizing the Special Immigrant Religious Worker program is set to expire on September 30, 2015. Individuals who have selflessly devoted their efforts for a religious cause should take the opportunity that is afforded to them so that they may find the security necessary to allow them to continue sharing their charitable deeds.

For further information, please schedule an appointment with an attorney at Aquino & Loew, Immigration Law Specialists; (888) 797-1140 or (626) 7993089; info@aquinoloew.com. Offices in Los Angeles (South Pasadena), CA and Honolulu, HI. Please also visit Aquino & Loew at www.aquinoloew.com. Aquino & Loew also handles family law and criminal matters.

Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, Sen. Ramon “Bong� Revilla Jr. and Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong� Marcos Jr. On Thursday, United Nationalist Alliance secretary-general Toby Tiangco accused Cayetano of using the pork barrel scam to boost his own possible bid for higher office in 2016.

He said Cayetano is conditioning the minds of people when he said that there is fear that Binay would be lenient on his allies linked to the scam if he is elected president in the next election.

Tiangco noted Cayetano used the same tactic in 2010 when he labeled the Liberal Party as the “tropang topak� or the “trapos, oportunistas, and kamag-anaks.� At that time, Cayetano was campaigning for Nacionalista Party presidential candidate Sen. Manuel Villar Jr.

comes entitled to an additional two hours of pay at the employee’s regular hourly rate.

Also, when the employer fails to provide a meal break to a 12-hour employee, the 30 minutes is additional time worked and must be paid at the overtime rate of double time.

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One more time: Obamacare mandates With so many news about delayed mandates, one may get confused and prone to believe that it is alright not to have health coverage in 2014. This is not so.

Individual Mandate. Under Obamacare, everyone Must Have health coverage in 2014, or they pay a fine.

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Deadline: For coverage effective April For clarification, you may reach me at 1, 2014, enrollment must be done before 323-535-7373 or e-mail at : leo.balita@ March 15, 2014. To be compliant with the gmail.com. I provide free consultation Individual Mandate, March 31, 2014 is and enrollment. the deadline.

Leo Monsalud hails from Sta. Cruz, Tiered Plans: For consumers to be able Zambales. He studied for his MBA and to compare health plans on an “apple to law at the University of the Philippines. apple� basis, health insurance companies He worked for UNILAB where his were enjoined to offer plans using the met- last position held was vice-president and als: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum. While general manager of a division.

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Milestone birthday bash for trio: Carina, Malou & JP The harsh weather and pouring rain didn’t stop the surprise 70th birthday bash for “teen-looking” songstress Carina Afable given by her family and close friends at the Verdugo Room of the Castaways Restaurant in Burbank last Saturday, March 1st. Carina’s celebration was not only intimate but had a lot of “personal” touch put lovingly into it by her family of around 100 people.

As perky as she always is, Carina was ravishing in a radiantly-looking lace-embedded red and white long dress. It was no surprise to me to see a room packed with so many lovely-looking At the height of her career in 1979, Capeople, who were mostly her closely- rina left for the United States, subsequently knit family who all must have inherited followed by her five kids: Richie, Robert, her charming genes.

Cherry, Ronnie SIlos and Christopher Bell.

This writer was grateful to be In 1983, settling in LA’s San Fernando among those very close friends invit- Valley, Carina formed a band with Alex ed in the celebration, since Carina and Lagman, whom she still continues to work I have been friends since the early 80’s, with on weekend gigs. However, after when she obligingly agreed to be our eleven years, she finally retired from her featured star endorsing the first Filipino day job at Anthem Blue Cross and now yellow pages we published. resides in Las Vegas with her beloved A natural performer since she was six husband Samuel Gray. years old, she landed a television career at Carina’s birthday bash was coordithe young age of eight years old and ap- nated by Sam and her children. Hosting peared in shows such as “Chelsea Dance was done by daughter Cherry along with Time,” “Spotlight On Carina,” “Kiddie daughter-in-law, Alma Silos. As a tribute Land” and “May I Sing To You..” to their mother, Carina’s children sang the In her teens, Carina has traveled song “L.O.V E” with a special message throughout Asia, Canada and the United from daughter Cherry who said “none of States, appearing in roadshows with the us would be here had it not been for you.” likes of Pilita Corrales and Victor Wood.

Most of Carina’s grandchildren perBut as luck may have it, she met fellow formed for her. Sean,(son of Richie) sang singers, Norma Ledesma and Linda Magno “New York, New York,” while younger and they formed a trio called “The Hyper- sisters Katrina and Nicole played the tensions” in 1974. saxophone and flute; Grandson Jed and

®

Carina Afable (inset is her current photo) celebrated her birthday with friends and family, including (from left) son and wife Robert and Ann Velma, son and wife Chris and Chari, son and wife Ronnie and Alma, Carina, daughter Cherry and son and wife Richie and Eileen.

granddaughter Melissa (Robert’s kids) performed an acoustic version of “Lucky I’m In Love With My Best Friend;” Sabrina, daughter of Cherry, performed a dance routine and Riley, son of Ronnie, sang a rendition of Justin Timberlake’s “Pusher Love.”

Highlight of the evening was the performance of the “Hypertensions” (Carina, Thelma and Norma) when they sang their signature songs:”Have You Never Been Mellow” and a Dreamgirls medley of the riveting song “One NIght Only,” with Cherry, Ana and another guest singer, Ninette Tenza-Umali as back-up.

A surprise serenade was sang by veteran singer Ric Manrique who soulfully sang the songs: “Maligayang Bati,” “Maalala Mo Kaya” and “May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You,” which made us all somehow electrified.

Finally, Ninette Tenza sang “The Nearness Of You,” while Carina and husband Sam danced romantically, while the rest of the rainy night was filled with revelry through DJ Fernando’s dance music In another part of town, at the Kapistahan Grill in Eagle Rock, another rockersinger friend, Malou Zagala-Toler, a fellow alumni of Saint Joseph’s College Quezon City, celebrated her milestone 50th birthday on Saturday, February 22nd, filled with all her friends, mostly entertainers singing for her or played their musical instruments.

In sharing her birthday celebration, Malou thanked all of us who came to be a part of her memorable evening by singing “Piece of my heart,” “Give Me One Good Reason,” Bonggagahan, “Dirty Little Secret” and “Just a guy” (composed by daughter Jasmine). Toward the end of the evening, we were all in awe in witness-

ing Malou’s daughter, Jasmine singing a heart-rending song she composed entitled “Thank You Mom.” On Sunday, February 23rd was John Phillip Yu’s (JP) unforgettable 1st birthday celebration at the newly-opened Kusina FIlipina Restaurant owned by Jun and Amor Miranda in Eagle Rock. The cozy restaurant was brimming with guests which led me to make a comment to JP’s parents, Noli and JoAnn Yu that “it seemed like the FIl-Am community of LA were all there to greet JP on his birthday.”

There was an array of performers who sang, such as:Malou and Jasmine Toler, Jo Cape, Jet Lopez, Gee G Starr, Bo Wolfine and Jigger Gaza. To the delight of all the kids who attended (around 10 of them), a magic show was performed by the mesmerizing duo of Cecile and Mighty.

JP’s thirty (30) grandparents during his Dedication Day on August 23,2013 either came by or sent their greetings through Noli Yu’s direct live streaming on his Filipino Central Program. JP’s ninangs are: MaryAnn Samadi, Dr. Cora Kay, Mariver Tapawan, Atty. Mary Lyn Sanga, Odette Manalastas, Malou Toler, Glenda Galura, Rhoda Intal-Dioso, Zaren La Madrid, Marilou Diaz, Kristi Lyn Chipera, Rose Legazpi, Michelle Lapworht, Dr. Leticia Yu-Andaya and Nerie Chipera.

His ninongs are: Jerry Yu, Allan Manicad, Vic Qui;lantip, Mark Changco, Derek Robinson Serapin Penaloza, Arnel Baroga, Alfred Delos Santos, Wency Alivia, Ted Garcia, Pastor Jhay R. Honrado, Atty. Levi Mangali, Bing Taroja, Dr,Marty Menez and Robert Alba.

Surely, with such a long list of ninongs and ninangs, JP will always look forward to many more birthdays to come!

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DOCTORS From page 1

demanding the association sue the internal revenue commissioner Kim Henares for “moral damages�, adding that he was however trying to dissuade them from such a move.

The Philippine government has consistently accused the country’s 1.7 million self-employed professionals, including highly paid lawyers and doctors in private practice, of widespread tax evasion.

Henares’ “name-and-shame� campaign has in recent years also extended to high-

profile celebrities, including movie and television personalities and professional athletes.

Olarte rejected the tax agency’s allegations against doctors, saying they were based on incorrect assumptions.

He said that while the medical association has 130,000 registered members, only around 35,000 were currently in practice with the others having retired, left the Philippines to work abroad, changed professions or died.

DELIMA From page 1

Under the scam, lawmakers would funnel their priority development assistance funds (PDAF) to non-government organizations set up by Mrs. Napoles in exchange for a cut of the funds.

At least 38 people including three senators are facing charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for their alleged involvement in the scam. (MNS)

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paign on Wednesday. “The shame campaign, while it looks at the professions that seem to be paying less (taxes), does not shame the profession itself,� Aquino’s spokesman Edwin Lacierda told a news conference. “Those who are paying the proper taxes should not feel ashamed,� he said.

AL QAEDA From page 1

ficials and manage groups to overthrow the government.�

The 44 alien fugitives deported from January to February were either overstaying, undocumented, have been convicted, or working without visas and permits, the BI said.

Apart from Dwikarna, those who were deported included six Japanese nationals, 10 Russians, six Americans, five Koreans, nine Indians, two Taiwanese, and one each from Malaysia, Canada, Egypt, Sweden, Sudan and the Netherlands.

The latest to be deported by the BI were Japanese nationals identified as Dobashi Masatoshi, Ryota Ozeki, Masayuki Ozeki, Yushinori Makino, Ijie Makino, and Susumu Yoshimura. They were deported just last weekend.

Meanwhile, the Russian nationals arrested by BI operatives in Cebu last year

opted for voluntary deportation this year.

They were suspected as undocumented aliens.

The Americans deported by the BI were accused of rape and child molestation in their homeland. They were banned from returning in the country as they were included on the immigration blacklist.

Glenn Allan Machlan, who arrested at the US Embassy in Manila last month, has a standing arrest warrant from the court of Dallas County, Texas, for aggravated assault with a child less than 14 years old.

Philip Vaughn Cox, 53, who has two counts of rape in his hometown, was deported after his arrest in La Union. The other deported Americans were identified as Frank Bernard McCright alias Clarence Alvin Davis; Donald Lloyd Warren; Richard Michael Chartier; and Rommel Rabara – all accused of rape. (MNS)

Will Grace Poe run in 2015?

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He also disputed allegations that doctors evaded taxes by failing to issue official receipts to patients for their services. “Maybe one percent cannot issue receipts, but that’s because their patients are so poor they pay with rice, meat or vegetables,� he added. President Benigno Aquino backed Henares and her ad cam-

Balita

WE ACCEPT MAJOR CREDIT CARDS

MANILA, Mar 7 (Mabuhay) – Will Grace Poe run for President in 2016?

For now, the senator dreads the thought of being a presidential candidate because of what happened to her late father, Fernando Poe, Jr. (FPJ).

Poe said she doesn’t want to be betrayed like what happened to her father after the popular movie actor threw his hat in the presidential race in 2004. “Aaminin ko may halong takot at may halo namang para bang humbled. Naiisip ko, wow, pwede ba tayong pagkatiwaalan sa ganun? Pero sa nangyari kasi sa tatay ko, na nung tumakbo siya talagang paborito siya nung umpisa. Tapos nung siya ay nagsabi na tatakbo, andami namang sumaksak sa likod niya. Nanggaling na kasi ako diyan e. Kahit hindi ako mismo, yung tatay ko,� she said. “Sa ngayon, hindi ko talaga maisisp na kakayanin ko yan. Atsaka yung ibang nandiyan na kasi, mas sanay na sila at mas kakayanin ng kanilang makinarya ang pagtakbo,� she added.

It is not the first time the question has

been posed to the lady senator. Poe earlier said she has no plans to run for president or vice-president after topping the senatorial race in 2013.

FPJ lost by a million votes to then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in a race widely regarded as being marred by electoral fraud.

He filed an electoral protest against Arroyo, but it became moot after he died in December 2004.

Poe said she is thankful to those who believe in her enough to ask if she is interested in running for higher office.

She also pointed out that no one envies the pressures brought upon the sitting President. “Tignan niyo si PNoy. Walang kaplano-plano, nanalo at walang kwestiyon sa kanyang kredibilidad subalit ngayon sa tingin ko walang naiinggit sa trabaho niya,� she said.

She added: “Para sa akin mahirap...

Hindi mo mabibigyan ng satisfaction lahat ng tao. Mahirap ang kinalalagyan ng isang Pangulo.�(MNS)

‘Walk of shame’ Tanuan mayor provokes outrage

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MANILA, March 5, 2014 (AFP) – A Philippine mayor who forced a man to walk in public with a sign saying he stole fish was denounced by the government’s rights body Wednesday amid online outrage.

In a clip shown by local ABS-CBN television and uploaded on the video sharing site YouTube, the unidentified man had his hands bound behind his back with a bag of dried fish hanging from the knot, and a poster stating “I am a thief� taped to his shirt front.

A group of men identified by the network as local government security personnel laughed and taunted the bound man, forcing him to kneel in front of a fishmonger to ask for her forgiveness. “There is a clear, gross violation of human rights here,� Commission on Human Rights chief Loretta Ann Rosales told AFP. “While he was not physically harmed, he was treated with indignity and psychologically punished,� she added. “Only the court can determine guilt and punishment. There was no due process.�

Rosales said Mayor Thony Halili should be investigated for abuse of power for his role in allegedly ordering the “shame campaign�.

It was unclear when the clip was made.

The mayor could not be reached for comment by AFP on Wednesday.

But he told another Manila television network, GMA, in an interview that he had ordered the public shaming. “He is a recidivist. I had no other way of making him stop other than shaming him,� Halili added.

The controversy came just days after the United States criticized the Philippine government for failing to curb human rights abuses, which it said included extrajudicial killings and widespread abuse of power and corruption.

Rosales demanded that the video be taken down from the mayor’s official Facebook page. By Wednesday, it had been shared over 1,000 times. “He had been under surveillance for some time,� the Facebook message on the video link said.

On YouTube, the video drew angry comments. “This type of barbarity still with us? A shame,� said a user identified as Cat Black.

Other commenters accused the government of singling out petty criminals, while turning a blind eye to corrupt officials.

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Estate lawyer Cainglit to speak on Standalone Retirement Trust Seminar to focus on anticipated U.S. Supreme Court decision on whether creditors can go after inherited IRA accounts LOS ANGELES, California, March 6, 2014 – In anticipation of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Clark et us. V. Rameker, which will determine whether creditors can go after an inherited IRA, estate and trust attorney Edward R. Cainglit will be presenting a seminar on the Standalone Retirement Trust.

The nation’s highest court will hear arguments on March 23 in a fight over whether Heidi Heffron-Clark and her husband, Brandon Clark, can keep creditors from going after $300,000 in an IRA inherited from Heffron-Clark’s late mother.

Qualified retirement plans like the 401(k) are asset protected under federal law. IRAs are protected to at least some extent under state law.

Many wrongly believe that these accounts will remain asset protected after their owners die. Furthermore, many are unaware of the required distribution rules and taxation of these accounts following the death of the owner. According to the Investment Company Institute, Americans held approximately $14.5 trillion in retirement assets, up from $10.5 trillion at the end of 2002.

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401(k) and the IRA. Watch Kababayan TODAY on Wednesday, March 12, 2014 at 4PM on the LA18 KSCI network where Edward will be discussing this timely topic with Host Jannelle So. The Standalone Retirement Trust seminar will be held on Tuesday, March 18, 2014 at 11AM and 3PM located at 2600 W. Olive Avenue, Fifth Floor, Burbank, CA 91505. $30 per attendee, registration required. Please call 818-597-8800.

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Defrauded Pag-IBIG members closer to justice with Delfin Lee arrest MANILA, Mar 7 (Mabuhay) – Defrauded members of the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund) are closer to justice with Globe Asiatique founder Delfin Lee’s arrest, Vice President Jejomar Binay said Friday.

Binay, who chairs the Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees, said he hopes the estafa case against Lee will now be pursued to bring justice to the victims.

“Patunay ito na determinado ang inyong pamahalaan na paharapin sa hustisya ang developer na gumamit ng ghost borrowers at mga pekeng dokumento para makakuha ng mahigit P6 bilyon mula sa Pag-IBIG Fund, pera na mula sa kontribusyon ng mga manggagawa at karaniwang tao na miyembro ng Pag-IBIG,” Binay said in a statement.

He also backed Justice Secretary Leila de Lima’s stand that there is nothing irregular with Lee’s arrest. “The fact is andoon pa. Standing warrant pa ‘yun. Nag-issue pa nga ng warrant... Nakatatawa ‘yung sinasabi nilang wala na,” Binay said in a separate interview.

Lee, who is accused of using fake documents to secure billions in pesos’ worth of loans for “ghost” borrowers, was arrested by police on Thursday at a hotel in Manila over a P6.6-billion syndicated estafa case.

The businessman’s camp insisted that he cannot be arrested, since the warrant against Lee has already been quashed.

Earlier in a text message to reporters, Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said Lee’s arrest is a “clear opportunity to make him accountable for the serious charges filed against him.”

Until his arrest, Lee was included in the government list of “Big Five Fugitives” along with former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes and his brother Mario Reyes, former Army general Jovito Palparan, Dinagat Rep. Ruben Ecleo, and New People’s Army (NPA) leaders Benito Tiamzon and Jorge Madlos.

Evidence vs. Lee ready In a television interview, Pag-IBIG Fund lawyer Sandra Coronel said her camp is ready to pursue the case against Lee. “Handa na tayo na maghain ng ebidensya laban sa kanya. Buong umaga na ako tinatawagan ng mga nabiktima. Gusto nila makita si Delfin Lee kung talagang nakakulong,” Coronel said.

Binay also believes the case against the arrested businessman is strong.

“Saku-sako ang ebidensiya dito. Ang daming ebidensiya dito. ‘Di ko malaman kung paano sasabihing walang probable cause ‘yun. Abut-abot ‘yung kaso ‘nun, kaya nga bilyong piso,” the vice president said.

In 2008, Globe Asiatique entered into a Funding Commitment Agreement with Pag-IBIG for the housing project. It allegedly got at least P6.6 billion in housing loan proceeds for home buyers.

However, an investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) supposedly showed Lee made false representations and submitted fake documents to secure the loans.

From the 9,951 alleged Pag-IBIG borrowers in the Globe Asiatique deals, 1,000 could not be located, 400 denied applying for housing loans, and 200 had incomplete documents for the transaction.

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OPINION

Palace on lifestyle check challenge: Aquino not the one on trial

MANILA, Mar 5 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno Aquino III is not being accused of amassing unexplained wealth and should not have to undergo a lifestyle check, a MalacaĂąang spokesperson said Wednesday. “Sino ba ang hinahanapan ng paliwanag hinggil sa umano’y maling paggamit ng pondo ng bayan? Di ba sila ang dapat magpaliwanag?â€?

Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a text message to reporters.

Coloma was reacting to Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr.’s statement on Tuesday calling for a scrutiny of Aquino and the Cabinet officials’ wealth.

In his statement, Revilla said he already authorized the Office of the Ombudsman to look into his material possessions when he filed his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

He added that these lifestyle checks should be “expanded� to cover not only those lawmakers being implicated in the pork barrel scam, but also his fellow senators and executive officials.

But Coloma said the President’s assets have always been declared. “Bukas at hayag ang SALN ng Pangulo at mga miyembro ng Gabinete simula pa noong July 2010 at meron bang humiling ng lifestyle check?� he said.

Revilla made the call after potential state witness Dennis Cunanan dared him and Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile to undergo lifestyle checks. Revilla, Estrada and Enrile are being implicated in the pork barrel scam allegedly masterminded by Janet Lim-Napoles.

Chiz: Keeping Napoles in special jail sends wrong signal

Senator Chiz Escudero said Janet Lim-Napoles should be moved to a regular jail because her continued detention in a special facility would only encourage those who are contemplating to commit crimes in the future.

In today’s continuation of the pork barrel scam investigation in the Senate, Escudero pointed out that keeping Napoles in a special jail sets a bad precedent and sends the wrong signal to the public, and therefore should be transferred to a regular prison cell. “My problem here is quite simple. Those who have plundered the national coffers in billions get to stay in Sta. Rosa or any hospital much to their comfort.

Those whose crimes pale so much in comparison with Napoles – the cell phone snatchers and the street snatchers – languish in cramped and dingy jails. It’s like teaching our children that if they must steal, steal big so at least you get to be jailed in the comfort of those special cells,� Escudero said.

Since Napoles’ appearance last year before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, Escudero has been pushing for her transfer to a regular jail.

And in today’s hearing, the senator again questioned Justice Secretary Leila de Lima why Napoles, dubbed as the pork barrel scam queen by media, still enjoys the comfort of a special cell facility despite being uncooperative with the government in ferreting out the truth. “I just find it difficult to swallow the situation right now that she keeps her ground and not talk, we spend so much for her and yet we are not getting anything from her. As soon as she opens her mouth, perhaps that’s when we should secure and protect her,� Escudero said.

He further asked De Lima: “Did it not cross your mind that placing her in a regular jail, along with all other accused of crimes, will persuade her to talk and spill on what she knows about this scam?

Maybe if she gets a taste of how decrepit it is to live in a regular jail, she will crack?�

Nothing wrong with lawmakers lobbying for projects – Abad

MANILA, Mar 5 (Mabuhay) – Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said Wednesday there is nothing wrong with lawmakers knocking on the doors of agencies to propose projects or recommend funding for scholars and other beneficiaries, saying it’s all an inevitable part of patronage politics.

Interviewed at the House of Representatives, Abad also disputed reports about the existence of so-called “hidden pork,� saying that the amount allocated to the Priority Development Assistance Fund has been distributed to government agencies. “We have no knowledge of that. What happened was pork was realigned to six agencies. After that, we have nothing to do with that,� he said.

The PDAF, more known as the congressional pork barrel, was removed from the 2014 budget after it was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Even before this, PDAF releases had already been suspended following revelations that billions of pesos in pork barrel funds had been funneled off to bogus nongovernmental organizations through a scheme allegedly engineered by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles in collusion with government officials and lawmakers who received hefty kickbacks.

Despite the abolition of the PDAF, lawmakers are allowed to lobby with the government agencies to fund their pet projects and beneficiaries.

Abad defended the practice, saying it was the job of lawmakers to take care of their constituents’ needs, especially of those who were beneficiaries of their PDAF. “They are policy-makers and they take care of their constituents, it’s part of their work,� he said.

“The implementing agencies will issue guidelines, but everybody can make recommendations, including legislators. There’s nothing wrong with making recommendations, that’s their job, otherwise, their constituents will get mad at them,� the Budget chief said.

Asked if this would not mean the perpetuation of political patronage, Abad replied: “There has always been political patronage. You know why, because people will always go to their representative.� “When they wake up in the morning ... people line up. Can you eliminate that? That’s something you cannot eliminate. Until we are able to address substantially the problem of poverty, people will always find a way to go to their mayor, governor, congressman,� he said.

He also stressed that recommending projects to the agencies did not circumvent the high court ruling on PDAF, which prohibits post-enactment intervention on the budget. “I think what the Supreme Court wants to avoid is (that) you treat the PDAF as your own money. But if you are recommending to an agency that, ‘Please give attention to this because he needs medical assistance,’ what’s wrong with that? ‘Please attend to this scholar because if he can’t continue, he will drop out.’ Is there anything wrong with that?� he said.

Abad said it was now up to the agencies which proposals or recommendations of lawmakers would be granted.

Asked how the agencies could guarantee that all lawmakers proposing projects would be treated fairly, Abad said, “You’ll have to ask the implementing agencies.�(MNS)

Mentally unstable lawyer discharges $82,000 of student loans First of all, I am not the lawyer in question although I am able to speak fluent Thai and Russian after 3 bottles of beer and the last judge I bit on the leg for denying my motion to avoid 2nd trust deed had it coming to him anyway; having said that, student loans, generally speaking, are not easily discharged in bankruptcy. An adversary complaint must be filed by debtor to determine if the student loans are dischargeable. The 3-prong test of in Re Bruenner must be satisfied to discharge these debts. However, some debtors are indeed able to discharge their student loans.

In Re Ablavsky, the Chapter 7 debtor graduated from law school in May 2009, and passed the Massachusetts bar in June 2010. However, debtor was indefinitely suspended from the practice of law in May 2012. He was a lawyer for all of two years.

Thereafter, he filed for bankruptcy in October of the same year. He filed an adversary complaint asking the court to discharge his student loans of $82,893.57.

Debtor narrates his tale of woe to the court thusly: In 1997, at the age of 18 he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder with agoraphobia. Agoraphobia is a fear of leaving home, entering shops, and crowded places. He was prescribed lithium (used in batteries for electric cars). In 2000, he began receiving Social Security disability benefits. Although he graduated from law school, the court noted that his academic career had some notable incidents. “He was suspended from Brandeis University after making a bomb threat to a political opponent after he ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Waltham, Massachusetts during a manic episode. He was arrested and spent almost nine months at the State Hospital. It was determined that he was not criminally responsible for his behavior, although the debtor intimated that his conduct resulted in a criminal conviction,� the court said. In May 2008, the debtor’s doctors advised him to stop taking lithium because it was damaging his kidneys. Without Lithium, his kidneys were normal but his brain was unstable. It was either dialysis or sane, or healthy kidneys but insane. Since he was still sane, to avoid a life on dialysis, he chose to be insane with healthy kidneys. “Good choice!� the judge said.

In May 2009, debtor graduated from law school with a class rank of 183 out of 182. He passed the

bar on his 2nd attempt. The judge said that passing on his 2nd attempt was irrelevant because “I myself passed the bar on my 49th attempt, and I don’t consider myself insane, although my wife left me

on my 47th attempt stating on the divorce papers that I was crazy as a loon.� A few months after being becoming a lawyer, debtor stole a court file and had it destroyed so it would be unavailable for use in a murder trial in which his client was a defendant.

This action resulted in his license being indefinitely suspended. He told the court that he was certain his license would never be restored, and that the rules of professional conduct prohibit attorneys from hiring disciplined attorneys as paralegals. At the time of the trial, debtor received social security disability of $991 monthly, as well as food stamps. Child support of $254 was deducted from his disability pay. His rent was $400 and he paid $65 for monthly probation fees.

He did not own a car, and had no non-exempt assets.

He was as poor as the proverbial church mouse.

The court found that given his mental illness and criminal record, debtor had not been able to find permanent or part-time employment. The court said that debtor had shown that he is currently unemployable at any more than a menial job and that he lacks meaningful employment for the foreseeable future.

He lacks social skills and as, Dr. Psycho testified, he can sometimes cause people concern as to his dangerousness when he is manic. Therefore, his student loans are discharged. “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free� – John 8:32.

Lawrence Bautista Yang is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and has been in law practice for thirty years. He specializes in bankruptcy, business and civil litigation and has handled more than five thousand successful bankruptcy cases in California. He speaks Tagalog and looks forward to discussing your case with you personally. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Bldg A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803.

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NaFFAA hails appointment of Fil-Am leaders to RNC National Advisory Council Washington, D.C. – The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) commends the Republican National Committee for appointing four Filipino American leaders to the Asian Pacific American Advisory Council.

They include former U.S. Rep. Steve Austria of Ohio, Vellie S. Dietrich-Hall of Charlotte, Va., Cecilia Cortez Ramos of Los Angeles, Calif. and NaFFAA National Chairman Eduardo Navarra.

In his letter of appointment, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus said the party needs the “personal and professional insights” of Asian Pacific American community leaders to “help shape the vision of our efforts at the national, state and local levels.” The 31-member council, Priebus adds, “will lend their expertise towards a better, more

effective engagement strategy” between the RNC and APA communities.

“I want to ensure that the Republican Party is building sincere relationships in every community across the country, and our advisory councils will help make that a reality,” Priebus further states. “They are all true leaders in their communities, and each council member brings a unique perspective. I look forward to working with them to grow the Republican Party.”

“I gladly welcome this appointment as an opportunity for the nearly 4 million Filipinos in this country to voice their issues and concerns,” says Navarra. “We definitely want to play a significant role in helping shape public policy, notably on immigration reform. It is a critical issue that we all need to address now.”

Notice of registration and election to all Filipino citizens

Los Angeles, March 4, 2014 – Notice is hereby given that under Republic Act No. 9189, otherwise known as “The Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003”, as amended by Republic Act No. 10590, all citizens of the Philippines abroad, who are not otherwise disqualified by law, at least eighteen (18) years of age on the day of the elections, and who are registered overseas voters, may vote for President, Vice-President, Senators and Party-List Representatives.

All qualified Filipino citizens not registered as voters under Republic Act No. 8189, otherwise known as “The Voters Registration Act of 1996”, (the system of continuing registration) shall file an application for registration while those who are already registered under the said Act (registered elsewhere and

not in L.A.) shall file an application for certification.

For purposes of the May 9, 2016 elections, the filing of applications for registration/certification shall be from May 6, 2014 (Philippine time) to October 31, 2015 (Philippine time).

Requests for transfer of registration records may be filed at the concerned Posts or before the Office for Overseas Voting (OFOV) of the COMELEC during the registration period.

The 30-day voting period will commence on April 9, 2016 (Philippine time) until 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon of May 9, 2016 (Philippine time) at the Philippine Embassy or Consulate having jurisdiction over the place where the overseas voter is registered as such. (The time for voting to be announced later)

Adds Dietrich-Hall: “I’m grateful to have been invited to serve and represent our community. We have a lot to offer in terms of our experience, insights and ideas.” Dietrich-Hall served during the George W. Bush administration as one of 14 members of the White House Advisory Commission for Asians and Pacific Islanders. An active member of the Filipino American Republicans of Virginia (FARV), she was a delegate to the 2004 GOP convention in New York City.

The two other members of the council, Austria and Ramos, are prominent leaders in their respective communities. Austria represented Ohio’s 7th congressional district as U.S. Representative from 20092013. Ramos is a community activist and

school administrator in Los Angeles, Ca. Rozita Lee, a Democrat and a member of the White House Initiative on AAPIs, says she’s “delighted that the Filipino American community is recognized and being taken seriously as a valuable resource. Both major parties are served well when they engage us in meaningful ways, not only during elections but on a permanent basis. We need dedicated Democrats and Republicans working together in a bi-partisan spirit to help solve our nation’s problems and move us forward.”

Members of the advisory council are expected to attend quarterly conference calls, RNC meetings and community events, as well as speak with grassroots activists nationwide.

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Do you have a secret fear of losing everything you have?

25 occupations in demand as of March 2014

I know we’ve never met. But there’s a common concern we all share. As a debt relief attorney, I hear it from people who consult with me every day. It is this: The possibility of losing what we’ve worked hard for all our lives‌our homes, our savings, our retirement money, our business, etc. Why is this fear so common?

Personally, I think the fear comes from a feeling of losing control. As a debt relief attorney, I deal with a lot of clients who are feeling very vulnerable because a lot of grief at home. of the financial situation that they’re in.

I helped this couple reorganize their They could be facing a financial crisis for debts under Chapter 13. We came up with the first time in their lives and they don’t a payment plan that combined all their know what to do. debts into one low payment every month- a If you are facing serious debt problems, payment that they could afford. This has a foreclosure, a lawsuit, judgment or a allowed them to sleep better at night knowpending wage garnishment, it’s not the end ing that they are paying their creditors the of the world and chances are that you have best they can. More importantly, they now options that you didn’t even know existed. have peace of mind knowing that they will It may be possible to settle your debts out not lose their home and everything they’ve of court or as a last resort, file bankruptcy worked so hard for. to either wipe out or reorganize your debts.

If you need help figuring out your opRecently, a couple came to my office tions, I’d like to help you. Call us for a free for debt help. They’ve just been assessed consultation at Toll-Free 1-866-477-7772. huge taxes by the IRS and they had to We have offices in Glendale, Cerritos, West enter into a payment plan for that reason. Covina, Valencia and Riverside.

But they were already behind on their (None of the information herein is inmortgage payments, not to mention the tended to give legal advice for any specific credit card debts that were piling up. One situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successcar just broke down and needed replace- fully helped more than 4,000 clients in ment. Over the last few years, they’ve been finding solutions to their debt problems. borrowing money from all sources just to To schedule a free attorney consultation, keep their heads above water, including please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at their 401K plans.

TOLL FREE 1-866-477-7772).

The 401K loan payment deductions FOR MORE NEWS AND INFORMATION from their paycheck are not helping. If VISIT OUR WEBSITE you were in this situation, what would you do? The tremendous debt burden has put a strain on their marriage and has caused

It was only a few months ago that the Saskatchewan International Skilled Worker Category was announced and listed two hundred occupations in demand in Canada that did not require a job offer to qualify. Unfortunately, that program was restricted to only 250 applicants and it now closed.

However, Canada Immigration has just announced a

new program that is effective March 2014 and which does not appear to • Licensed Practical Nurses have a designated quota. It should be noted • Electrical and Electronics Engineers that the government reserves the right to • Mechanical Engineers close the program at any time and without • User Support Technicians notice. Under the new program applicants • Industrial and Manufacturing Engimust be willing to relocate to Canada neers and become permanent residents. THE • Specialist Physicians PROGRAM IS NOT FOR EMPLOY• General Practitioners and Family MENT. THE PROGRAM IS NOT A Physicians RECRUITMENT FOR JOBS AND IS • Financial Auditors and Accountants FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO IM• Software Engineers and Designers MIGRATE TO CANADA ONLY. The • Medical Laboratory Technologists and program requirements are: Pathologists’ Assistants Applicant must be between the ages of • Insurance Adjusters and Claims Ex21 and 55. aminers Applicants do not require an offer of • Information Systems Analysts and employment or job offer.

Consultants Applicants must have completed high • Welders school and obtained a certificate or degree • Machinists of at least one year after high school. • Industrial Electricians Applicants do not require to have a rela• Steamfitters/Pipefitters tive living in Canada. • Sheet Metal Workers Applicants must have “mediumâ€? proThe program is underway with intake ficiency in the English language. Appli- to commence immediately. cants do not need to be fluent in English PLEASE KEEP THE FOLLWING or French IMPORTANT POINTS IN MIND: Applicants are able to include their Applicants seeking to relocate to Canspouse, partner and dependant ada for a job placement should not apply Must have a minimum of two years of Applicants who do not fulfil ALL the work experience in the last five years to ap- above requirements should not apply ply. The work experience must be in one of Due to volume of applicants, phone the following 25 occupations: calls are not entertained. • Systems Testing Technicians Only qualified applicants will receive • Industrial Engineering and Manufac- feedback turing Technologists & Technicians Attorney Henry Moyal is a certified • Registered Nurses and licensed immigration lawyer in To• Head Nurses and Supervisors ronto, Ontario. The above article is general • Mechanical Engineering Technolo- advice only and is not intended to act as gists and Technicians a legal document. For a free assessment • Electrical and Electronics Engineering visit www.moyal.com Technologists and Technicians Send questions to Attorney Moyal by • Managers in Health Care email canada@moyal.com or call toll free • Computer Engineers at 1-888-847-2078.

LAUSD celebrates the arts Student inspires first districtwide LAUSD Arts Fest LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is pleased to announce its first LAUSD Arts Fest 2014, a two-week festival celebrating the arts, beginning Saturday, March 1 through Saturday, March 15, 2014.

In honor of Arts Education Month, the District will showcase student art across multiple disciplines during the Arts Fest, including music, dance, film, theatre and visual arts in an effort to raise awareness about the importance of arts education as well as raise funds to support arts programs at both the individual school site and district-wide. The Arts Fest celebration will kick off with school-site performances, leading to a grand finale event.

Beginning March 1-14, schools across the District will hold school-site events that will feature student musical, dance and theatrical performances. A complete listing of these events can be found by visitingartsfest.lausd.net.

On Saturday, March 15, in partnership with LA County’s Grand Park in Downtown Los Angeles, the District will host a culminating festival, “LAUSD Arts Fest in the Park,� where more than 2,000 students

are scheduled to perform.

The “LAUSD Arts Fest in the Park� will be held in front of City Hall beginning at 10:00 a.m. It will feature live stages with student performances; an artist market; a “screening room� featuring student short films; a creativity zone; a mass performance to Pete Seeger’s “Turn, Turn, Turn�; an opportunity drawing for student art; vendor booths, celebrity appearances, food trucks and giveaways.

The idea for the Arts Fest came from Hamilton High School freshman, Jordyn Sacino, who asked the question – ‘why not use art to save art?’ Last year, LAUSD challenged its students in the “My Bright Idea� Challenge to come up with programs they would like to see in the District that promotes positivity. Jordyn’s suggestion towered above the rest. “We are excited to showcase the talent of our students in such an amazing public forum� said Michelle King, Senior Deputy Superintendent, School Operations. “This festival gives us the opportunity to proudly celebrate the accomplishments of our students with our parents, employees, business partners and the community while providing a platform to show what a positive role arts plays in the lives of young people.�

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How is annulment different from divorce?

A petition for nullity of a marriage is based on an allegation that an impediment existed at the time of the marriage that prevented the marriage from ever existing. Whereas a petition for dissolution of a marriage typically alleges that some issue arose during the marriage that precludes it from continuing further (i.e. “irreconcilable differences�), a petition for nullity focuses on an issue which existed at the time of the mar

riage which makes the marriage “void� or “voidable.� and to have never existed. Accordingly, A marriage is “void� if it is incestuous technically speaking, parties to a “void� or bigamous. A marriage is incestuous if marriage may simply go their separate it is between a parent and child, ancestors ways without any further legal action. and descendants, brother and sister, half However, from a practical standpoint, a brother and half sister, uncle and niece, or nullity judgment should be obtained for aunt and nephew. A bigamous marriage is formality and to officially declare the margenerally one where a person who had a riage “void.� prior marriage marries a subsequent time On the other hand, a marriage may be before termination of the prior marriage. considered to be “voidable� at the option Incestuous and bigamous marriages are of one of the parties. Voidable marriages considered to be against public policy; they do not violate public policy, and typically are deemed “void� from a legal perspective focus on one party’s lack of consent in en-

Location, location, location...Where to file your divorce case – a matter of strategy Certain jurisdictions may allow a petitioner to have a choice as to which courthouse in which to file his or her marital dissolution case. Such is the case with Los Angeles County, which generally allows for a choice in filing between the Central District and any of the other branch districts in which the petitioner had established residency. Furthermore, depending on the circumstances, the place where the petitioner

is currently staying may not necessarily be determinative of where the sist those who are contemplating the filing case should be filed. In situations where it of, or responding to, a petition for dissolumay make a tactical difference where the tion of marriage. One of the first issues we party files, it may be in the petitioner’s consider is that of the venue for the filing best interest to consult with a practicing of the necessary pleadings. family law attorney in order to determine Attorney Miguel Inumerable is a graduthe proper and/or the most strategic venue ate of UCLA Law School and has more than in which to file a marital dissolution case. 25 years experience serving the Filipino There may be a choice as to the county in community. He is bilingual in Tagalog and which to file a case. This decision may English. His areas of practice includes have a substantial effect on the cost and Family Law (divorce, custody, support, expense of litigation and on the eventual restraining orders) Bankruptcy, Business success /advantage of a party in the case. Litigation, Immigration and Deportation, Our office is willing, able and ready to as- Probate and Criminal and Regulatory Law.

Conservative alternatives make their case at CPAC

By Michael Mathes

NATIONAL HARBOR, March 7, 2014 (AFP) – Traditional Republicans, stand aside – or at least make room under your tent.

Renewable energy conservatives, Tea Party faithful opposed to the death penalty, and GOP loyalists who support legalizing marijuana are among new bands of Republicans seeking political inclusion at CPAC, America’s top conservative confab.

Even conservative atheists – “Pro gun rights, pro small government, just no God involved!� – handed out pamphlets at this year’s event, where many are known to equate Christian values with American values.

The Conservative Political Action Conference, hosted by the American Conservative Union (ACU), is part family reunion with a cast of familiar characters, part political bacchanalia, and part therapy session as the Republican base contends with deep divisions and plots strategy in a mid-term election year.

Luminaries like Senators Ted Cruz and Rand Paul, Governors Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Chris Christie of New Jersey, and far-right darling Sarah Palin all make their pilgrimage to the closelywatched event.

But beyond the headline-grabbing speeches, or acts that baldly pandered to conservatives such as Senator Mitch McConnell walking on stage brandishing a rifle, a youthful exuberance is coursing through the 10,000 participants clogging a Maryland convention center through Saturday to exchange business cards and plot their next political revolution.

Sure, many of them bashed President Barack Obama, and real estate mogul Donald Trump was on hand to call Democratic leaders “pathetic.�

But this is no longer your father’s Republican core; a new generation of broadminded, pragmatic and more socially open conservatives is muscling in on traditional turf.

Take Shannon Smith. The head of Abundant Power Group is a dyed-in-thewool fiscal conservative who expressed disdain for the government’s environmental regulations and doubts about human responsibility for global warming. But he recognizes that the renewable energy industry is here to stay. “We conservatives need to own the non-carbon energy economy,� he said in a session on global warming.

In CPAC’s cavernous exhibition hall, college students snapped selfies with “Star Wars� Stormtroopers or posed with cardboard cutouts of conservative icon president Ronald Reagan. Others took target practice with an infra-red shotgun at the National Rifle Association’s booth, or gently cradled the size- and weightaccurate fetus models displayed by the National Right to Life Committee.

But Jon Crane was peddling something new to CPAC: opposition to the death penalty.

He was extremely nervous about the reception that a cause more associated with liberals might get here. “We didn’t know if we’d be eaten alive, but actually we’ve been warmly received,�

Crane told AFP about his group Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty.

tering into the marriage. A party may seek to nullify a marriage on the basis that he/ she did not freely and voluntarily consent to marry – the “consent� was a result of an unsound mind, fraud, force, or physical incapacity. It is important to note that a petition to nullify a voidable marriage has certain time limitations prescribed by the Family Code. Further, the grounds for nullity may be lost if a person finds out about the impediment (for example, a spouse finds out about the fraud which resulted in her “consenting� to the marriage), yet continues with the marriage.

A judgment of nullity has certain advantages and disadvantages over a dissolution judgment. One advantage of nullity is that it does not have the residency requirements imposed on one who is seeking dissolution.

The requirement that a person live in the county for three months and in the state for six months prior to the filing of a dissolution proceeding does not apply to one who petitions for nullity. In addition, no waiting period exists for the finality of a nullity judgment – the parties are restored to single-person status upon entry of the judgment.

With dissolution, each party must wait a minimum of six months prior to restoration of single-person status. Further, a spouse who would be subject to support obligations post-divorce is not subject to payment of support after a nullity judgment. In addition, in that the general rule is that there is no community property absent a valid

17

marriage, a party who has more assets may seek to invalidate the marriage to make his/ her spouse’s claim of a community interest more difficult.

However, nullity also brings with it certain disadvantages. Unlike a no-fault divorce, nullity often requires that one party prove an element of fault (for example, fraud which induced a party to enter into the marriage), and as a result, is often more hotly-contested than a dissolution proceeding. In addition, a party seeking support and division of property in a nullity proceeding has the burden of showing that he/she qualifies as a putative spouse. Accordingly, given the foregoing advantages and disadvantages, it is advised that one consult with an experienced attorney prior to filing a petition.

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@aol.com. Visit our website at kenreyeslaw.com.

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Marlou Colina’s Oscars weekend a blast!

Super stylist Marlou Colina is still reveling in the glow of his Ocars weekend, working and rubbing elbows with the stars at the recent Academy Awards in Hollywood.

The boyish owner of Colina Salons was busy for two days working with The Weinstein Company, a number of whose projects were in the running: August Osage County, whose costar Julia Roberts was nominated for Best Supporting Actress; The Grandmaster, which was nominated for Best in Costume Design; Philomena, nominated for Best Motion Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, and its lead, Dame Judi Dench, for Best Actress.

Though she did not win, Dench was praised by the winner, Cate Blanchett, in her acceptance speech.

Marlou is exclusively working for Harvey Weinstein’s family for the pre-Oscars night and the awards night itself, doing the hair and make-up for Harvey’s daughter.

“I didn’t get enough sleep since I had to be at the Red Carpet for the ‘KTLA Live at the Red Carpet’ doing the hair and make-up for the models of Hollywood couturier Alexis Monsanto, and KTLA reporter Erin Myers,” Marlou said. “But no complains,” he adds happily. “It’s God’s will that I am here. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, my American Dream come true.”

While working, Colina himself got some pleasant surprised: he was interviewed by TV reporters and Web bloggers on the red carpet, and asked for his insights regarding fashion trends at the red carpet over the years.

It’s perhaps a recognition of how far Marlou, this humble but talented stylist, salon owner and beauty resource

speaker, has come in his journey of making people beautiful, stars or not.

This Sunday, March 9, Marlou will sit as one of the judges at the “Los Angeles Ballroom Dancing Show” at the La Mirada Theater for the Performing Arts.

For more information or to set an appointment, visit or call Colina Salons in Long Beach at (562) 988-3101, and Rancho Cucamonga at (909) 9448596 or web: www.colinasaloninc. com

Marlou Colina (left) shares his insights with reporters (above photos) at the red carpet during the recent Oscars awards night in Hollywood.

Marlou Colina (left) and Fil-Am fashion couturier Alex Monsanto (center) with the models.

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PHL singing sensation Charice to hold world tour Former Oprah Winfrey child prodigy will bring her 2014 World Tour to Los Angeles’ Wilshire Ebell Theater in March 15 Los Angeles, February 25, 2014 – Renowned Filipina singer Charice Pempengco (more popularly known as Charice), who has been mesmerizing audiences around the world with her powerful voice, is holding a World Tour that will arrive in Los Angeles, California in March. The series of concerts will also feature a different Charice as she comes of age and shares her newfound freedom with fans, including a break into a genre apart from her usual performances.

Charice first performed in the U.S. on NBC’s The Ellen DeGeneres Show, where the audience gave her two standing ovations even as Ellen repeatedly expressed amazement during the entire show. “You are amazing!” Ellen kept telling her.

Charice gained further international acclaim when she appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, where Oprah dubbed Charice, “The most talented girl in the world!” after a breathtaking performance.

These were followed by appearances in two Hollywood movies and in the highly popular TV show Glee, where Charice showed not only her singing talent but acting prowess as well. Ryan Murphy, the creator of Glee, was so astonished by Charice’s talent that he exclaimed, “When that girl opens her mouth, angels fly out.”

Charice most certainly has come a long way from her early beginnings as a singing sensation on YouTube.

Gifted with a thrilling voice comparable with divas Whitney Houston and Celine Dion, Charice soon found herself

sharing the stage with Celine and many other stars, such as: Andrea Bocelli, Patti LaBelle, Donna Summer, Chaka Khan, Natalie Cole, David Foster, Brian McKnight, Ne-Yo and more. Her debut studio album, Charice, rose to Number 8 on the Billboard 200 – the first solo recording by an Asian to enter the Top 10 – followed by the albumInfinity, which featured Before it Explodes, written by Bruno Mars.

(Optional: Insert YouTube video embed here.)

It was not only Charice’s talent that endeared her to audiences around the globe but her incredibly inspirational life story as well. Every song she performs is imbued with the dynamic strength of her character and the ever increasing charity of her heart. Her fans, Chasters as they are called, are excited to watch Charice with renewed interest as she recently grabbed media attention after coming out to proclaim affection for another female performer from the Philippines – a move which Oprah Winfrey recognized on Twitter.

Charice will be performing live on March 15 at 7 p.m. at the Wilshire Ebell Theater, 4401 West 8th Street, Los Angeles, California.

The concert will also feature special guest Cheesa, a finalist on recording artist CeeLo Green’s team of the TV show The Voice. Charice and Cheesa have released a single together entitled I’m Not Perfect.

Details of Charice’s 2014 World Tour may be seen at www.chariceworldtour.

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Travel International and 888myTravel.com joins PHL, Malaysia in joint tourism seminar LOS ANGELES – Travel International Group shares center stage with Philippines and Malaysia tourism officials at the Philippine-Malaysia Fiesta Seminar on March 4, 2014 when it was chosen as the tour operator for the Philippine-Malaysia travel promo.

A joint tourism presentation by Philippine Department of Tourism-Los Angeles (PDoT-LA) and Tourism Malaysia, the seminar will be held at the Garden Lanai of the Ala Moana Hotel, located at 410 Atkinson Dr, in Honolulu, HI. Tourism officials in attendance include PDoT-LA Tourism Director Mary Anne Cuevas-Lim, PDoT-LA Deputy Director Manny Ilagan, Azilina Azni Abidin, Vice President for Western USA, Latin America Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, and Azham Ishak, Deputy Director for Wesrtern USA, Latin America Malaysia

Tourism Promotion Board. Philippine Consul General Julius Torres graced the event and delivered an inspiring opening remarks.

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Tour packages that showcase both countries’ must-see destinations and local attractions are among the highlights of the one-day only seminar.

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Travel International Deputy Director Western USA, Latin America Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board , Annie Cuevas Director DOT, Julius D Torres Group, known for its pro- Consul General Philippine Consulate General, Azilina Abidin fessionalism and outstand- Vice President Western USA Latin America Malaysia Tourism ing service has earned the Promotion Board, Jane Stark President of Travel International respect, cooperation and Group. unconditional support of many people in About Travel International Group the industry for which Ms. Stark, the comEstablished in 1997, Travel Internapany’s co-founder, is immensely grateful. tional Group has over 30 years of travel Among them: industry experience, unparalleled product Director of Sales and Marketing of knowledge, local service, global reach, Boracay Tropics Hotel Hannah Yulo at and proven expertise in design and orParadise Garden Resort & Convention ganization of travel services throughout Center in Boracay; Cherry Ortiz, the Southeast Asia, North America, Europe, Director of Sales, Tagaytay Place Hotel and South America, with services customSuites; Alfred Reyes, General Manager ized to the specific needs of its clients. at Widus Hotel and Casino; Joey Lope, It adheres to its philosophy of commitMarketing Consultant of El Nido Re- ment to quality, value and professionalism sorts; MIlleth Gutierrez, Sales Manager by providing innovative, creative, flexible of Seda Hotels; Jim Cristobal, Account and outstanding customer service.

Manager of F1 Hotel and Resorts; CrisTravel International Group is the Chotina Cruz, Director of Sales of Manila sen Tour Operator for the joint Philippine Peninsula; Eric Tan, CHM Hotels Group and Malaysia Tourism travel promo, the North America representative for The Official Travel Agent of Taiwan Tourism Boulevard-St. Giles Premier Hotel and Bureau and KSCI LA18 for all their TaiCititel; and Eve Rodriguez, Senior Sales wan Celebrity Tour travels, the appointed Manager of St. Giles. travel agency for the City of Carson, CaliFor additional information, and to fornia, and the Tour Operator for Gawad find out more about Travel International Kalinga USA for their Bayani Tour Series.

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FOOD & DINING GRAND OPENING! Spring Roll and Ramen Noodle (right photo): Dishes you prepare in 10 minutes.

My mom begs me to stop having cooking segments on “Kababayan Today.” She says my questions and comments give away the fact that I don’t know anything about the kitchen. I Dine-In | Togo | Catering tease her and say that’s why I’m a TV host/producer and not an actress. I can’t act like I know when I really don’t.

HALINA’T KAIN KA DITO!!!

Admittedly, I don’t know my way around the kitchen. I’m actually intimidated.

Yang Chow Fried Rice Once I tried to slice apples, KAPAG NAG SPEND KA NG $30.00 OR MORE I ended up with a big slit on TODAY, BIBIGYAN KA NAMIN NG my palm, from one side to

other. Another time, I burnt popcorn.... Yes, the microwaveable pack! the skin, and then roll it up.

Honey Walnut Shrimp It’s that bad that it becomes a running 3. Heat up the oil to 160°C (320°F). Put joke in the family. My brother day she the spring roll in the oil and cook for 4-5 can’t watch my cooking segments with a minutes until it turns light brown. straight face.

4. Take out the spring roll onto a paper But for some reason, every time I have towel to wipe the oil off.

Orange Chicken VALID UNTIL APRIL 20, 2014 Masami Iwase as a guest, cooking seems 5. Cut the spring roll into 2-3 pieces, ONE COUPON PER TRANSACTION easy to me, and for a very brief 5-6 minutes and enjoy it with Otafuku sauce. per segment, I get the urge to actually try SPEC FOR MORE NEWS out her recipes. I get inspired!

IAL! Mongolian Beef I speak fondly of Masami, owner of AND INFORMATION MIW Marketing. She comes on “Kababayan Today” regularly, to share some of her VISIT healthy and easy-to-prepare dishes for Served with Soup of the Day, Salad, busy moms like herself; or for intimidated Steamed Rice or Brown Rice Chicken Chow Mein singles like me. Imagine a full meal in just 10 minutes?

Here are two we tried recently at Mitsuwa Market in Torrance, CA. For the step-by-step action, log on to www. youtube.com/kababayanla18.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

Beauty trends spotted at Paris Fashion Week (Relaxnews) – Here are some of the hottest beauty trends from the Paris runways.

Sporty/nude Vanessa Bruno and Giambattista Valli were just two of the designers to commit to the nude makeup trend at Paris Fashion Week. Makeup artist Val Garland explained the secret behind Valli’s models’ glowing rosy cheeks: no products, just a brief facial massage before the girls hit the catwalk.

1960s There was a fun late-60s vibe to the clothes at both the Valentino and Hedi Slimane’s Saint Laurent shows. As Saint Laurent this meant Celtic pale skin, Twiggy-style cat’s eyes and heavy mascara.

The Valentino look was subtler, featuring center-parted hair, soft pink lips and a line of pale blue eyeshadow.

Tribal/rave At the Chanel show the hair was woven and plaited with strips of colorful and metallic fabric, then pulled into ponytails.

The rest of the makeup look was pretty low-key apart from a number of models with bright neon rave eyes. Jean-Charles De Castelbajac also went for brightly colored eye shadow as a contrast to otherwise bare faces.

Futuristic sci-fi Jean Paul Gaultier’s space-age girls wore blacked-in bold eyebrows, winged eyeliner (see the 60s, again) and tight alien antennae-like top-knot hairdos. Gareth Pugh sent out his models with powdery white makeup on fingers and faces, giving

Saint Laurent goes 60s. ©AFP Photo / Miguel Medina

them a slightly outer-galactic aspect. The makeup look at Haider Ackermann crossed Marlene Dietrich with a Martian -- blottedout eyebrows were replaced by thin black curved lines, worn with nude lips and pale bronze eyeshadow.

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Eating more fish shown to boost good cholesterol levels (Relaxnews) - A University of Eastern Finland study has found that eating more fatty fish can increase good cholesterol levels.

The study was published in the journal PLOS ONE and found participants who increased their fish fatty consumption

to three or four fish meals per week had more large HDL (high-density lipoprotein) – also known as “good cholesterol” – particles in their blood than those who did not eat fish so frequently.

For the study, 131 participants with “impaired glucose metabolism and fea-

tures of the metabolic syndrome” were divided into three groups, the first asked to eat wholegrain products and bilberries as well as three to four weekly servings of fatty fish, the second asked to eat whole grains in addition to their regular eating habits, and the third, a control group, asked to eliminate whole grains and limit their intake of berries and fish. A total of 106 participants completed the trial.

Daily fish intake in the three groups worked out to be 67g, 42g and 16g respectively. Participants who experienced the most positive changes were those eating three to four fish meals per week, and the greater the increase in fish intake, the greater the increase in concentration of large HDL. Fish consumed for the study included fatty options such as rainbow trout, salmon, vendace and herring. The fish

were prepared without additional butter or cream.

Cholesterol is generally divided into “good” and “bad,” with good cholesterol capable of removing bad cholesterol from arteries in addition to lowering risk of cardiovascular disease.

Bad cholesterol contributes to increased risk of this disease.

“People shouldn’t fool themselves into thinking that if their standard lipid levels are OK, there’s no need to think about the diet, as things are a lot more complicated than that. Soft vegetable fats and fish are something to prefer in any case,” postdoctoral researcher Maria Lankinen says.

Researchers also emphasize the importance of maintaining a heart-healthy diet that’s low in red meat and high in fish and other foods that lower bad cholesterol, such as olive oil, whole grains and nuts.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Kris on VP bid: Hindi pa handa ang Pilipinas!

President Benigno Aquino’s youngest sister, TV host-actress Kris Aquino, on Tuesday denied rumors that she will be seeking vice-presidency in the 2016 elections.

However, Kris said she is not closing her doors on politics.

During the live telecast of her primetime talk show “Aquino & Abunda Tonight,” Kris said there has been no discussion about being the possible runningmate of

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, who is expected to be the administration’s standard bearer in the 2016 polls.

“It has never been discussed, no truth.

Huwag silang gumawa ng intriga, kasi hindi talaga totoo,” Kris said. “No plans, has not been discussed, is not on the table.”

The supposed talks of a “Mar-Kris” tandem in 2016 was raised Monday. Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said he would not want to preempt President

Aquino’s decision and announcement regarding the administration’s presidential candidate.

Teased by co-host Boy Abunda on Tuesday that discussions about her possible candidacy may eventually surface, a laughing Kris said, “Oh my god, hindi sila handa! Hindi pa handa ang Pilipinas!”

But Kris, who has been hinting at her political plans as early as 2010, expressed willingness to run for public office in the future.

“I believe naman nasa dugo, ‘di ba,” said Kris, who is one of 5 children of democracy icons Ninoy and Cory Aquino.

“Pero at this point in my life... Siguro categorically, kaya kong magsalita nang patapos – sa 2016, it’s not yet my time.”

“Let’s talk about 2019,” she added.

The actress said last year that she was considering of running for a local position in Tarlac, her family’s home province. At the time, Kris said that in order to prepare, she “would like [to undergo] on-the-job training with mayors of ‘bonggang’ cities,” citing in particular Davao and Iloilo.

She also said she wants to start from a lower-level position if she enters politics. Citing her observations while going around the country, Kris said it’s best to start making a difference “in a smaller environment.”

However, both President Aquino and another Aquino sibling, Aurora “Pinky”

Kris Aquino

Abellada, have gone on record to say they are against Kris’ plans of joining politics.

“I adhere to that saying of the Americans, I think, that if you want to get even with somebody, get them into politics. And I love my sister,” President Aquino said in December 2013, referring to Kris.

Pinky, on the other hand, cautioned her youngest sister about the demands of being a public official, noting Kris is a single mom to 2 sons.

“Kasi talagang ‘yung life mo, you have to put it on hold ‘di ba,” Pinky said in an interview aired in August. “Paano ka naman magwo-work nang [mayroong] regular life? If you look at the bright side, okay din naman, pero sana huwag na siya mag-politics.” (MNS)

Dennis Padilla offers advice to daughter Julia Dennis Padilla is looking forward to the upcoming television series of his daughter, Julia Barretto, which will reportedly premiere next month.

Padilla said Barretto’s patience and dedication will surely show in “Mirabella.”

“I want to see her acting there kasi mahirap, puyat at saka pagod, may prosthetics.

Eh ako nung araw pa lang, nung bata pa ako ayokong-ayoko kapag nagpoprosthetics sa pelikula, ang hirap. Kaya dito ko makikita ‘yung patience ni Julia, ‘yung acting ni Julia in spite of the hardship behind the shooting that teleserye,” he said. “Sabi ko lang sa kanya be patient at maging mapagmahal sa fans. Bigyan ng oras ang mga fans dahil itong mga fans mo ang nag-aalaga sa career mo rin and be thankful sa lahat ng nakakatrabaho

mo,” he added.

Aside from always reminding his daughter about loving her work, Padilla said he also told the teen actress not to mind her bashers.

“Sabi ko pabayaan niya na lang basta hanapbuhay lang. Isipin mo it’s work and doon sa mga fans. Let’s enjoy life at ‘wag niyo ng bigyan ng kulay ang ganon dahil the more the merrier. Kung mas maraming masaya eh dim as okay. Kailangan maging masaya both sides,” he said.

A picture of a proud father, Padilla commended Barretto for trying to juggle work and school.

“Despite being busy, nakakapag-school pa rin siya, mga twice a week. Sabi ko nga sa kanya basta kaya mong tapusin ‘yung pag-aaral mo kahit medyo matagalan, importante na makatapos ka rin despite your popularity,” he said.

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COMMUNITY

NannyVan for domestic workers launched in L.A.

By Fe P. Koons

Los Angeles, CA – The tour of the NannyVan , a mobile orange design lab and sound studio, was launched last March 5 at the La Placita Church for domestic workers and employers to learn about their rights and responsibilities under the California Domestic Workers Bill of Rights (AB 241).

The Nanny Van headed to the Pilipino Worker Center at Historic Filipinotown to conduct a workshop on worker rights.

The NannyVan is created by REV lead artist Maris Jahn that accelerates the movement for domestic workers rights by holding creative workshops, quick crafts for kids an street outreach. The NannyVan hopes to reach nannies, housekeepers, and caregivers, domestic employers, unions, immigrant groups, art community and workers who are excluded from labor protections.

Studio REV is a nonprofit studio whose public art projects combine creativity and sound research to address critical issues.

The National Domestic Workers Alli-

ance said the “REV is the creative engine to keep our domestic worker movement rolling across the country. We want to inspire a culture shift about how we view domestic work and win dignity for domestic workers through art, education and collaboration”.

Aquilina Soriano Versoza, executive director of the Pilipino Worker Center of Southern California urged the workers to support the NannyVan. She stressed that this creative campaign will provide much needed education to protect the rights of domestic workers.

Other partners of the NannyVan aside from Studio REVE and the National Domestic Workers Alliance are NuLawLab at the Northeastern University School of Law, MIT Center for Civic Media, National Employment Law Project, California Coalition of Domestic Workers, Community Development Project of the Urban Justice Center and Women’s Employment Rights Clinic at Golden Gate University School of Law. The NannyVan can be contacted by

30 minute total rest periods for shifts of 10 to 14 hours. All domestic workers are entitled to workers compensation benefits.

They have the right to workers compensation if they have worked at least 52 hours for the employer within the 90 day period before the injury and earned at least $100 within that 90-ay period.

Undocumented workers have the right to the wages that they have earned. Workers must keep records of hours of work and wages paid as proof in case their rights are violated.

For more information on domestic workers rights, contact the Pilipino Worker Center at 213.422.3341 or CHIRLA at 213.446.2060 or check the website www. domesticworkers.org

calling (347) WORK-500 or www.nannyvan.org.

The Domestic Workers Rights in California will increase the minimum wage to $9 in July 2014. All domestic workers are entitled to minimum wage except babysitters under the age of 18 and employer’s parent, child or spouse. Most domestic workers are not entitled to some form of overtime pay. The workers can check the website www.cadomesticworkers.org.

All domestic workers have to the right to meal and rest breaks. A 30-minute off duty unpaid meal breaks is allowed for work periods of more than 5 hours. A 10-minute paid rest break for shifts from 3 ½ to 6 hours and 20 minutes total rest periods for work shifts of 6 to 10 hours an

Los Angeles bans e-cigarettes in public places LOS ANGELES, March 5, 2014 (AFP) – Los Angeles lawmakers voted Tuesday to ban e-cigarette use in public places where tobacco smoking is prohibited, including work places, restaurants and bars.

The LA City Council agreed by 14-0 to outlaw their use in indoor workplaces, outdoor dining areas, parks, recreational areas, beaches, bars and nightclubs where lighting up is banned.

So called “vaping” lounges and stores will be exempted, in line with exceptions made for cigar and hookah lounges where tobacco smoking is allowed, as will using e-cigarettes for “theatrical purposes.”

The battery-powered devices, marketed as aids to quit smoking, allow users to inhale a nicotine-laced vapor, but experts say not enough is known about the effect of chemicals involved, on smokers or those around them.

“Safer does not mean safe,” said the LA County’s public health director Dr. Jonathan Fielding. “Although they are less harmful than traditional cigarettes, some e-cigarettes contains some health risks.”

Got a Legal Problem, We can help you TRUST THE ATTORNEY WHO CARES SCE says Southern California Edison (SCE) customers have reported receiving these suspicious emails that look like a bill threatening immediate service disconnection if customers don’t pay a purported overdue bill.

Utility scammers continue to target SCE customers by phone and email The high-pressure tactics include threatening SCE customers with disconnection of their electricity

By David Song @SCE_DavidS

March 05, 2014 – Utility bill scammers are once again targeting customers throughout the United States by phone and sometimes even email. In both scenarios, the scammers often request personal information and threaten to cut off electrical service if they do not receive immediate payment.

Some Southern California Edison (SCE) customers have reported receiving these suspicious emails that look like a bill. Others have reported aggressive phone scams threatening immediate service disconnection if customers don’t pay a purported overdue bill.

“SCE never uses high-pressure tactics to collect or demand money for past due bills,” said Marlyn Denter, SCE’s manager of Consumer Affairs. “We are not in the business of threatening our customers with the immediate termination of service.”

This latest email scam follows a recent utility phone scam where more than 2,000 SCE customers were targeted. Unfortunately, more than 300 customers have fall-

en victim to the scam, many of them mom and pop business owners and entrepreneurs whose first language is not English.

The scammers often demand immediate payment through a prepaid cash card or debit card. The average loss for SCE business customers last year was between $800 and $1,000; residential customer lost an average of between $300 and $500.

Overall, the total losses so far for SCE customers are estimated at $225,000.

“We ask our customers to be alert to these scams that demand immediate payment and threaten service disconnection,” said Denter.

If SCE customers receive suspicious emails, they should never click on any links or attachments, and never send a reply.

Customers should also delete the email. If a customer has been victimized, they can report it online to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force at StopFraud.gov.

SCE customers suspecting a fraudulent call should ask for the caller’s name, department and business phone number. If the caller refuses to provide this information, customers should terminate the call and report the incident immediately to local police.

In either situation, customers should contact SCE at 800-655-4555.

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US student turned porn star breaking no rules: Duke University LOS ANGELES, March 7, 2014 (AFP) – The top US college where a student has revealed she works as a porn actress to pay her fees said Friday she has broken no rules, and stressed that financial aid is available.

First-year student “Belle Knox” of Duke University who has received threats, outed herself this week to explain she was doing porn because she needs the money for her education.

But the student insisted she was not ashamed, and on the contrary enjoys doing it – while admitting that she would not

have chosen that path if it weren’t for her $60,000 a year in tuition fees.

“We are in a society where we are so repressed, every single day. We’re told that sex is bad. We’re told not to have sex. We’re told not to show our bodies, and that’s really true for women,” she told CNN. “To be in porn and to be able to be naked and to be able to be free and have that sexual autonomy, it is so incredibly freeing.”

North Carolina-based Duke University, one of America’s leading colleges, said federal law prohibited it from commenting

on individual cases and which calls itself as the home of the Blue Devils, stressed that the student had not broken any of its rules.

“There is no restriction in the Duke Community Standard regarding off-campus employment,” university spokesman Keith Lawrence told AFP. He also stressed that financial help was available to any student who genuinely needs it, saying that more than half of all Duke students receive some kind of funding assistance.

“Duke has one of the most comprehensive financial aid and scholarship programs

in the US and is based on a careful review of each student’s family circumstances,” he said.

Knox – her porn industry name, not her real one – warned critics against harassing her online.

“If you want to bully, harass, defame or threaten me from behind a computer screen, remember that NOTHING you do online is truly anonymous,” she wrote on her Twitter feed, which includes explicit photos. “And if there are criminal or civil remedies to enforce and use against you, they will be/are being pursued.”

Las Vegas casino probed over drunk gambler who lost $500,000 LOS ANGELES, March 7, 2014 (AFP) – Gambling regulators are probing claims by a man who claims a Las Vegas casino should not have let him amass a $500,000 debt because he was heavily drunk, officials said Friday.

Mark Johnston is suing the Downtown Grand hotel and casino – insisting he should not be liable as rules in Nevada ban casinos from allowing “persons who are visibly intoxicated to participate in gaming activity.”

The 52-year-old played blackjack and pai gow for 17 hours straight during a visit to the casino just before the Super Bowl weekend last month.

He only realized how much he had lost when he woke up the next day.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board is probing this matter.

“The Board takes these allegations seriously and will conduct a thorough investigation,” Karl Bennison, head of the

Board’s Enforcement Division, told AFP. Johnston, a businessman and veteran gambler, said he was drinking even before flying from Los Angeles to Las Vegas with his girlfriend, and couldn’t remember anything after dinner, which is when he started gambling.

He had another 20 or more drinks while he was playing, and was so drunk that he could not read his cards, according to the lawsuit cited by the Los Angeles Times.

He racked up the huge losses because the casino gave him credit. His girlfriend went to bed while he continued gambling and was shocked to find him still playing when she woke up, according to media reports.

“What we typically see in cases like this where someone’s obviously had too much to drink, a host, a pit boss is stepping in, saying, ‘Hey buddy, why don’t you take a break?’” Johnston’s lawyer Sean Lyttle told the newspaper.

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Another delay to Obama health law WASHINGTON, March 5, 2014 (AFP) – The White House on Wednesday unveiled another delay in implementing President Barack Obama’s signature health law – apparently to shield vulnerable Democrats in mid-term elections.

The Obama administration said that insurers could continue to market health care plans that do not meet the minimum standards of the new law until October 1, 2016.

Officials had already offered an extension to people who had the existing plans, amid a political furor over Obama’s frequent and now discredited promise that if people liked their health coverage under the new law, they could keep them.

The administration said that the move would give consumers more choice in America’s health care marketplace.

“We’ve always said we were going to take steps to smooth out the implementation,” White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters traveling with Obama in Massachusetts.

A fact sheet explaining the new policy hinted at the political motivation, noting that it had been developed in close consultation with lawmakers including Sena-

tors Mary Landrieu, Mark Warner, Jeanne Shaheen and Mark Udall – all of whom are up for reelection in November.

Republicans lashed out at the decision, saying it was a politically crass move designed to protect Democratic candidates.

“By announcing a new delay in requiring that policies meet minimum coverage standards, the administration avoids a new round of health policy cancellations set to hit shortly before the November elections,” said Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

“What makes this latest delay so troubling is the fact that it was prompted not by the heartbreaking stories of millions of Americans but by the private pleadings of a handful of endangered Democrats.”

The rule change was the latest delay or modification to the health care law, which ranks as Obama’s signature domestic achievement but has been plagued by problems and political unpopularity.

The law is a significant weight on many Democrats fighting mid-term elections, in which the party is seen as having little chance to take back the House of Representatives and in deep peril of losing control of the Senate.

Orange County woman jailed for defrauding nuns

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SANTA ANA, California – An Irvine woman was sentenced today to 37 months in federal prison for defrauding a group of Roman Catholic Sisters out of $285,000, which she misappropriated and spent for her own use after promising to use the money to help the nuns purchase a retirement home.

Linda Rose Gagnon, 59, was sentenced

by United States District Judge Andrew J. Guilford, who presided over Gagnon’s trial last year.

Gagnon was found guilty of three counts of wire fraud in November for defrauding the U.S. Province of the Religious of Jesus & Mary (RJM), an order of nuns devoted to educational and charitable work. The evidence presented at trial showed that Gagnon promised to use RJM funds to purchase a retirement home for the

Sisters. Instead, Gagnon used the funds to pay for her personal expenses and to fund the unprofitable operations of her real estate finance company – burning through the entire $285,000 in only 64 days. Gagnon used the funds to pay for personal expenses, including travel, lingerie, groceries, manicures, hair dressing, restaurants, lease payments for an Audi TT sports car, and valet pet-sitting services for her dog.

In addition to the prison term, which Gagnon was ordered to begin serving by June 13, Judge Guilford said he would order the defendant to pay full restitution to the victim nuns. The amount of restitution will include at least the $285,000 that Gagnon stole from RJM, but the court may order her to pay RJM for other related losses.

This case was investigated by the FBI.

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FHA and conventional purchase loan without any fees I was surprise to see some homeowners still paying lender fees to close loans. Most lenders including myself have been offering NO COST loans for purchases and refinancing for many years. Specially the past year due to the refinancing craze that happen the past few years.

I am always advising homeowners to shop around for best rates and fees. Any Money saved is Money earned, am I right? Being in the Real Estate industry going on 27 years I have seen too many unethical things happening mainly towards hom- ficers will price your rates and fees slightly different, so make sure you do your homeeowners that are in need of most help.

The government made a lot of changes work and shop your best rates and fees.

If you are looking for a mortgage, you towards limiting lenders from abusing homeowners of miscellaneous fees and points may have been advised that it’s better to towards getting a home loan. But there are go through a mortgage broker. This seems always a loop holes for these dishonest to make sense.

After all the broker works with mortlenders. There is not a difference if the lender/loan officer is working for a bank gages all the time. So of course the broker knows more than you. Brokers are experts, or a brokerage firm.

Is there a difference between a bank aren’t they? Especially now, mortgage loan officer and a mortgage broker? brokers have to have a license called Now a days, bank loan officers don’t have NMLS which some banks don’t require a generalize rates, meaning if you call a their loan agents to have, therefore speakmajor bank loan officer in one branch for ing to an educated and well trained loan a loan quote, you could possibly shop the officer or broker is critical to your next 30 same bank but different branch and get a days process to closing on a home loan. different price quote? Why is that, loan This is generally true. But it doesn’t mean officers are driven by sales commissions that you have to accept everything the broand sales quota, does not matter if it’s the ker says, or be completely uncritical. There largest bank you are talking to, all loan of- are some things you need to look out for.

Some mortgage brokers will tell you that they are “Direct Lenders” when they only in fact mortgage bankers or brokers. Direct lenders now a day to me does not mean a thing, it really only means the direct lending company is funding the loan under their name temporarily. Sooner than later all loans are sold in the secondary market and then your servicers will take over.

That extra $2,000-$3,000.00 in fees could be your new furniture or your next month’s mortgage payments. Don’t be shy in asking to compare rates and fees, be smart with your hard earned money.

Remember there is a saying, “If you don’t ask, you never know if you could get it”.

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Please always ask your lender to disclose rates and fees in writing and don’t forget to shop around to know how the market doing. Locking in loans a certain days is always critical in getting better pricing, so make sure you are aware of market condition before committing to lock in your loan.

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Home building lifts US construction in Jan. WASHINGTON, March 3, 2014 (AFP) – Home building pushed US construction spending higher in January despite bad winter weather, government data released Monday showed.

January construction spending rose 0.1 percent, the Commerce Department said.

That surprised analysts, who on average expected it to fall 0.1 percent.

Residential construction in the private sector led the increase, surging 0.9 percent from December.

Compared with a year ago, construction spending was up 9.3 percent and private spending on home building gained 13.9 percent.

Public construction spending fell 0.8 percent in January.

“Housing leads the way after only a brief pause,” said Ian Shepherdson, chief economist of Pantheon Macroeconomics.

Shepherdson noted the prior data was revised higher despite the unusually severe weather.

“After slowing sharply in the middle of last year, home builders evidently have decided that the favorable medium-term fundamentals are more important than the deterioration in affordability over the past year.”

Meanwhile in New York, US banking giant JPMorgan Chase agreed to pay $400 million in cash to settle litigation filed by Syncora Guarantee Inc. over mortgagebacked securities, according to the bond insurer.

Syncora said it would drop cases against JPMorgan in exchange for the $400 million payment, according to Syncora’s 2013 financial statement filed Friday.

The securities sold to Syncora originated from Bear Stearns, which JPMorgan acquired in 2008 amid the financial crisis.

Syncora accused JPMorgan of misrepresenting the quality of mortgage assets linked to the securities.

The Syncora deal comes on the heels of several major JPMorgan settlements, including a $13 billion deal with the De-

partment of Justice in November 2013 that resolved a series of US and state lawsuits over the sale of toxic mortgage-backed securities.

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

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Pacquiao political ally dies after ambush GENERAL SANTOS, March 1, 2014 (AFP) - A mayor and political ally of boxing superstar-turned-legislator Manny Pacquiao has died after being ambushed by unknown gunmen in a violence-wracked town in the southern Philippines, police said Saturday.

George Perrett suffered a fatal cardiac arrest early Saturday as he received treatment in hospital for a gunshot wound to

the thigh, said Superintendent Jomar Yap, the deputy chief of police of Sarangani province.

Perrett, the mayor of the coastal town of Maitum on the southern tip of the Philippine islands, was shot by unknown gunmen as he drove home with his wife and an aide late Friday, Yap added. His companions were unhurt.

Police said no suspects had been ar-

rested and the authorities did not know if the attack was politically motivated.

Maitum has a blood-spattered recent political history, losing two other sitting mayors in as-yet-unsolved gun attacks.

Perrett was a political ally of global boxing icon and Philippine legislator Manny Pacquiao, who urged the police to bring the unknown suspects to justice.

“We are saddened by this very unfor-

tunate incident. I urge our law enforces to expedite the investigation of the case and do everything to identify and arrest those responsible,” Pacquiao told reporters.

Then mayor George Yabes was shot dead in Maitum in 2006 and Felix Reganit, who succeeded him, was gunned down in the Philippine capital Manila later that year.

Former Maitum mayor Exuperio Gaabucayan was also killed there in 1990.

Pistorius told guard ‘everything is fine’ after shots heard

By Stephanie Findlay

PRETORIA, March 7, 2014 (AFP) – Oscar Pistorius told a security guard “everything is fine” shortly after shots were heard from his home the night girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp was killed, the court heard Friday.

Pieter Baba, who works as a security guard at the Silverwoods Country Estate in Pretoria, testified that when he phoned the athlete to investigate the shots, Pistorius told him “security, everything is fine.”

But Baba noticed the Paralympian was crying. “Not everything was in order as Mr Pistorius was telling me,” he said, “I then tried to speak to Mr Pistorius so that he can calm down.”

The security guard said the phone connection was lost, then he received another incoherent call from the sprinter.

“He just started crying over the phone,” said Baba, adding: “That’s when the line went off again, my lady.”

Pistorius, 27, has denied intentionally killing Steenkamp and has pleaded not guilty to three other charges, including one of firing a gun through a moving car’s sunroof and to illegal possession of

ammunition.

Baba, wearing a collared red shirt and speaking through a translator, recounted that he entered Pistorius’s house to see the runner carrying mortally injured Steenkamp down the stairs.

“My lady I was so shocked,” said Baba, “I couldn’t even think for a few minutes.”

Defence lawyer Barry Roux questioned Baba if he heard the athlete correctly. “Did Mr Pistorius say ‘everything is ok’ or ‘is he ok’?” asked Roux.

“Mr Pistorius said security everything is fine,” insisted Baba.

Roux indicated that Pistorius would take the stand to give his account of events.

Earlier, the court heard emotional evidence from an ex-girlfriend of Pistorius, who testified that the Paralympian often carried a gun with him and once fired at a traffic light after a confrontation with police.

Samantha Taylor, who met Pistorius in 2010 when she was 17 years old, tearfully described the sprinter as someone familiar with guns, prone to fits of anger and an unfaithful boyfriend.

Taylor took to the stand in the morning,

testifying that in 2010 on the way back from a day trip to a popular city getaway, Pistorius was in a car that was pulled over by the police for speeding.

When a police officer inspected Pistorius’s weapon, left on a seat when he exited the car, the sprinter became angry, “Oscar shouted at the policeman and said he shouldn’t touch his gun,” said Taylor.

He later shot at a traffic light, “out of spite after being stopped.”

“He was angry at the police after being stopped, thereafter when they wanted to fire a shot they found it funny,” she said, referring to Pistorius and a friend who was with him at the time.

“Did you know, did the accused own a gun during your relationship?” asked state prosecutor Gerrie Nel. “Yes, my lady,” said Taylor.

“How did you know that?” pressed Nel. “He kept it on him all the time, my lady,” said Taylor.

Frequently breaking down in tears, Taylor, a softly spoken woman with Bambi eyes, dressed in a white jacket, recounted the history of the pair’s troubled relationship.

Taylor said they met at a rugby match and later “he added me on Facebook.”

Their relationship ended in 2012, Taylor claimed, because “he cheated on me with Reeva Steenkamp.”

Pistorius took Steenkamp to the South African Sport Awards on November 4 that year.

The couple denied being together at the time. “We’re just friends. I promise I’ll tell you if there’s anything more,” said Steenkamp when asked about her relationship with Pistorius at the event to local newspaper City Press.

“It’s just a coincidence that we’re sitting at the same table and arrived in the same car,” she said.

Taylor also dismissed the defence’s assertion that witnesses heard Pistorius and not Steenkamp scream on that February 14.

“That is not true, he sounds like a man” when he screams, she said.

Judge Thokozile Masipa adjourned court twice when Taylor broke down crying during her testimony.

Pistorius watched Taylor as she was consoled by her sister, clenching his jaw so hard the tendons in his cheek bulged.

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LAS VEGAS, NEV. (March 4, 2014) – Grammy Award-winning singer/ songwriter, actor and author Ashanti will sing the National Anthem at the rematch between Fighter of the Decade Manny Pacquiao and undefeated two-division world champion Timothy Bradley, Jr. Pacquiao and Bradley will be battling for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title, Saturday, April 12, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. The world welterweight championship event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9 p.m.

ET / 6 .m. PT. “I’m such a huge fan of Manny Pacquiao! I have family in the boxing business – Howard Davis, Jr. and Dyah Davis,� said Ashanti. “When I found out we were sitting next to each other courtside at the Knicks game, I said to my Dad, ‘We should take a picture!’ I told Manny I was a big fan and was so excited when he asked me to sing the National Anthem at his upcoming fight and I can’t wait. I actually love boxing! Manny’s such a champion and I can’t wait to cheer him on!� “Ashanti and I first met on February 5 in New York when we found ourselves sitting next to each other courtside at a Knicks game,� said Pacquiao. “I told her I was a big fan and asked her if she would sing the U.S. National Anthem at my fight against Timothy Bradley. She quickly checked her schedule and then said she could and she would. The Knicks may have lost that night but I felt like the biggest winner in the world when I walked out of Madison Square Garden.� Ashanti’s forthcoming album, the highly-anticipated “Braveheart� will be released Today! Tuesday, March 4, on her label Written Entertainment, where she is the CEO, and distributed by eOne Music.

The album features the heart-wrenching single, “Never Should Have,� that won the 2013 Soul Train Award for Best Independent R&B/Soul Performance. “Braveheart� also includes the tracks “I Got It� featuring Rick Ross and “First Real Love� featuring Beenie Man. Ashanti made her directorial debut for her video “The Woman You Love� featuring Buster Rhymes and produced by LT Hutton.

Ashanti burst onto the music scene with her smash hit, self-titled debut album

“Ashanti.� It landed the No. 1 spot on both the Billboard Top 200 and R&B album charts, selling a whopping 504,593 units in its first week. Her first week showing set a SoundScan record as the most albums sold by any debut female artist in the chart’s history, granting her a spot in Guinness Book of World Records. With her hit song, “Foolish,� Ashanti also secured the No. 1 top spot on SIX Billboard charts simultaneously, including Hot R&B/ Hip-Hop Airplay, The Billboard 200, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles and Tracks, Hot 100 Airplay, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Hot 100! “Foolish� stayed on the Billboard charts for 11 consecutive weeks. She made Billboard history by having her first three chart entries land in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time. She is the first female to accomplish this feat, previously only attained by the Beatles.

That year she was awarded eight Billboard awards. Her album “Ashanti� topped the Billboard Album Chart and also won the Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Album. In addition, that year she won two American Music Awards and the Soul Train Aretha Franklin Entertainer of the Year Award. In addition to her Grammy, she’s also received multiple Soul Train Awards, a MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Award, a Comet Award (Grammy Equivalent in Germany), Lady of Soul Awards, a Teen Choice Award and Nickelodeon’s Kid Choice Award, along with many other nominations including an MTV movie award nomination and an NAACP Image Award Nomination for her role as Kera in “Coach Carter.�

Pound for pound titans Pacquiao (555-2, 38 KOs), the lone congressional representative from the Sarangani Province in the Philippines, and defending world champion Bradley (31-0, 12 KOs), of Palm Springs, Calif., will go mano a mano in their eagerly-anticipated WBO welterweight championship rematch. This will also be Pacquiao’s first fight in the U.S. since 2012.

When Pacquiao and Bradley rumbled the first time, on June 9, 2012 at MGM Grand, Bradley’s hand was raised via a controversial split decision, ending Pacquiao’s welterweight title reign as well as his seven-year, 15-bout winning streak.

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MOTORING The Filipino staff behind the success of Hamer Toyota located at 11041 Sepulveda Blvd., Mission Hills, CA 91345.

Toyota 4Runner is fun, fun, fun because daddy took the unibody away Body-on-frame construction makes 2014 4Runner the only ‘true SUV’ in The Fast Lane Car’s Top 10 Most Fun to Drive Car Awards TORRANCE, Calif., Feb. 25, 2014 – Wind whips through your hair and sparkling ocean waters whiz by as you cruise up the coast – that’s how movies portray the fun driving experience.

This year The Fast Lane Car (tflcar. com) rolls over that notion. The 2014 Toyota 4Runner, with its rugged good

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$30,353 Toyota Financial offers good through March 31, 2014. All advertised prices and payments exclude government fees and taxes. $80 documentation fee, finance charges and any emission testing charge if any extra. First payment always due upon lease signing. Vehicles subject to prior sale. All sales upon approved credit. Some buyers will not qualify for all offered incentives. Must accept immediate delivery and buy from dealer stock. Sale ends close of business on date of publication. Car art for illustration purposes only. *Must be in current active duty status in the US Military (Navy, Army, Air Force, Marines, National Guard, and active reserve.) *Must graduate from accredited 2 or 4 year college within the next 6 months, or the past 2 years. Must qualify to finance with TFS. See dealer for more details. **Eligible customers are TFS lessees that have a New/Certified Toyota lease maturing from June 15th through March 31, 2014. See dealer for details on eligibility as not all customers will qualify for this program. *Must finance through TFS on subvented rates only. Special APR in lieu of any factory rebate on new select Toyota vehicles. *From the original date of first use when sold as a new vehicle on all certified used vehicles. Terms and conditions available. *To qualify for TFS Retention Program, must be a current owner of a Toyota Camry that is financed through TFS on approved credit. *2 select new 2013 Toyota models on Approved Tier I to Tier III credit in lieu of a factory rebate. $16.67 per thousand dollars financed.

0% APR for up to 60 months applies to select New 2013 Corollas, New 2013 Tundra Extra Cabs, and New 2013 Tundra Crew Max on approved Tier I+ through Tier III credit in lieu of factory rebate. $16.67 per thousand dollars financed. *Toyota Auto Care Premium Coverage Auto Maintenance Package Available to any Qualified owner lessee! PROVIDED BY TOYOTA.

frame sport utility vehicle (SUV) to make this year’s 10 list, which includes luxury brands, performance vehicles and consumer favorites. To qualify, vehicles had to be a 2014 model year and driven/ tested by tflcar.com’s staff within the 2013 calendar year.

“These automobiles may or may not be the fastest, the most powerful, or the most expensive, but they are certainly the most interesting cars that we’ve driven in the past year, and that’s why we’re proud to announce they made our list,” said Roman Mica, tflcar.com publisher.

For more information about Toyota, visit toyotanewsroom.com, toyota.com, or toyotainaction.com.

If you need to “adorn” your garage with a brand-new Toyota, all you have to do is come down ton Hamer Toyota located at 11041 Sepulveda Blvd., Mission Hills, CA 91345 and get in touch with any of our kababayans Matt Morente (Floor Manager), Marylou Santiago (VIP/Internet Coordinator), Wency Magno, Reno Reyes, Tony Pijuan and Rico Ayala (Leasing & Sales).

Call our kababayans now toll free at 1-855-592-7077 and make your dream of owning a new Toyota vehicle a reality today.

Brutal winter weather freezes US auto sales CHICAGO, March 3, 2014 (AFP) – Brutal winter weather chilled US auto sales in February, with General Motors, Ford and Toyota reporting losses Monday even as rival Chrysler extended a winning streak.

Total industry sales were unchanged from February 2013 at 1.2 million vehicles while the sales pace came in at an adjusted, annualized rate of 15.3 million vehicles, according to Autodata.

That was an improvement over the three percent drop posted in bitterly cold and storm-swept January.

The US auto industry had been on a years-long growth spurt as it recovered from a deep downturn following the 2008 financial crisis.

Analysts and automakers expect booming sales to return with better weather because there is still so much pent-up demand in the market.

GM’s sales fell one percent to 222,104 vehicles in February, but the largest US automaker forecast strong growth to come.

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New Nissan Juke: Designed to thrill GENEVA, Switzerland – When it arrived a little more than three years ago, the Nissan JUKE used innovation to create a whole new market segment. Just as the Nissan Qashqai pioneered the original crossover market, the JUKE used dramatic design and advanced technology to break new ground in a more compact crossover package.

The JUKE’s combination of highly individual styling, strong driving dynamics and sophisticated interior equipment has allowed it storm from zero to 420,000 sales in less than 40 months, easily eclipsing its rivals.

Now, following Nissan’s established practice of constant development comes the next chapter in the JUKE story. Establishing itself as the original stand-out model Manuel Lava of Nissan of in the growing small crossover market with premium Mission Hills style and refinement, the new JUKE is formance, economy and lower emissions; ready to once again stamp its authority on a revised 1.6-liter DIG-T engine; improved the segment it created. four-wheel drive with Torque Vectoring Already recognized as the design trend- System; new alloy wheels; advanced setter, the new JUKE benefits from a series equipment including a new audio system, of design enhancements, new engines, new the latest generation NissanConnect driverequipment and a wide-ranging personaliza- vehicle interface, Nissan Safety Shield, tion program.

Nissan’s Dynamic Control system, plus the Among the changes are a new design option of a new opening glass roof. at the front and rear with greater emphasis Revisions in the luggage area have inon both premium refinement and sporty creased space by 40 percent in two-wheel design cues; a new downsized 1.2-liter drive versions up to 354L, while there’s turbocharged engine offering greater per- even greater opportunity for owners to re-

The new Nissan Juke ally stamp their own personality on their JUKE. A range of new colors and interior themes are available with a number of different personalization packs.

The changes and range additions will accelerate the growth of Nissan’s second most popular model in Europe, helping it

Nelson Sioson Filipino Sales

to emulate the remarkable achievements of its big brother Qashqai.

JUKE is the best seller in the premium B-segment, outperforming all direct competitors including those from the top German brands.

And it’s not just the entry-level models which have helped JUKE to the top: the best selling engine to date has been the 1.6-liter petrol unit while the top Tekna grade accounts for more than one third of all sales.

But the big NISMO news is the advanced preview of the extreme new JUKE NISMO RS, a totally focused model with more power (218PS/160kW), upgraded brakes, a stiffer body and a limited slip differential on two wheel drive versions.

Buyers have also been attracted by a strong range of special versions - notably the Shiro and the advanced n-tec models and the Kuro and Ministry of Sound limited editions, while the sports oriented NISMO has added driving thrills as well as breadth to the range.

On its way to a total of 420,000 sales, JUKE has achieved 135,000 sales in 2013 with its popular set to increase with the introduction of the new version. All JUKE models sold in Europe are built in Europe, at Nissan’s highly productive plant in Sunderland, UK where three shifts per day are needed to cope with demand.

Significantly for Nissan, JUKE has attracted a huge number of buyers new to the brand. As much as 85 per cent of sales have been to first-time Nissan owners, not only making it the highest conquest model in the Nissan range but a model that comfortably outperforms the B-segment average with many of those new buyers downsizing from larger cars.

“We stunned the industry with Qashqai, the original crossover, and we’ve done it again with JUKE. If anything, JUKE is even more daring and different than Qashqai and appeals to a younger, more out-going audience.

“The changes we have made to new JUKE will extend that appeal even further to cement Nissan’s position as the leading brand in the crossover market,” said Guillaume Cartier, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing for Nissan in Europe.

New JUKE will go on sale across Europe in the summer, 2014.

If you have been desiring to own a new Nissan vehicle, come down to Nissan Mission Hills and check out our kababayan Manuel Lava of Nissan Mission Hills.

So what are you waiting for? Schedule a Test drive on the vehicle of your choice at Nissan of Mission Hills. Call Manuel at 1-888-588-7635 and test drive a Nissan vehicle today!

Nissan of Mission Hills is located at 11000 Sepulveda Blvd., Mission Hills, CA 91345.

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Honda: Fil-Ams’ most trusted car brand Carson Honda, their top choice to buy a Honda vehicle in Southbay

By Rhony Laigo

This may be an unscientific fact, but more than half of Filipinos in the U.S. are probably driving a Honda right now. Make that seven out of ten. There, I said it. And why not? Most, if not all, Filipino families in America, particularly in Southern California, own a Honda or have owned a Honda vehicle.

In my interview with Sean Salehzadeh, the General Sales Manager of Carson Honda, the average vehicle owner in California, regardless if they’re Filipino or not, keep their Hondas for 5 years before purchasing a new vehicle, which more often than not, another Honda.

Hmm…if a person keeps their cars for so long, how does Carson Honda manage to be in the business, I wondered. Oh, I almost forgot, there are roughly 10 million people in Los Angeles County alone. And if my argument stays true, hundreds of thousands or maybe even a million Angelenos own a Honda vehicle today, including thousands of Filipinos who know full well that the Honda brand is more than just a reliable, safe and fuel-efficient vehicle, it’s a tradition.

One possible proof, Salehzadeh said, is that Carson Honda sells around 300 vehicles each month. Although some are non-Hondas, they sell two new cars out of three vehicles sold at the dealership, which means they are moving new Honda vehicles from the lot every month.

Incidentally, the City of Carson is home to one of the biggest concentrations of Filipino-Americans, with business outlets scattered within and around the city and from other neighboring cities as well.

According to Salehzadeh, each sales staff at Carson Honda averages 15 cars sold every month (I think I’m in the wrong business). This is roughly double than many car dealerships in the Southland that speaks volumes as far as Honda car ownership is concerned. And this is why, sometimes, Salehzadeh said inventory at Carson Honda is a little bit of a problem as cars don’t stay on the lot as they are picked up by a customer just as when a potential buyer comes and is looking for the same vehicle. Maybe the number of Filipinos has something to do with this “anomaly.”

And if you ask me, I can only tell you that a niece who is now a college freshman just bought herself a brand new Honda, a gift from her loving parents.

“But no worries,” Salehzadeh assured.

This is because Carson Honda belongs to the Sonic Automotive Group, which has several car dealerships working together that any car buyer will surely get his vehicle of choice in less than half an hour if that vehicle is not immediately available for viewing.

Although a Honda is a Honda wherever you see one, Filipinos flock to Carson Honda because of the friendly Filipino staff at the dealership and of course because of the service our kababayans provide. One of them, Rohmer Manalese, has even earned the “Best in Customer Satisfaction,” an honor he keeps consistently, along with the three other Filipino sales staff in the persons of Ricky Agagas, Terzo Pallen and Christian Reyes, all of whom are veterans in the car sales industry.

Speaking of veterans, Salehzadeh also shared another fact at Carson Honda.

“Our sales staff have been with us for years. “Our turnover rate is just under ten percent,” Salehzadeh revealed because the dealership moves a lot of cars.

And this is shared by the newlyinstalled Carson Honda General Manager Krisztian Kratky, who said that he feels blessed to take over the helm of a dealership who has established a relationship with the community that is par excellence.

“We have a great staff and this is a great dealership,” Kratky said. “We are so organized. We have a friendly atmosphere and everybody knows their role. They made my transition a breeze.” Kratky used to be

Carson Honda General Manager Krisztian Kratky, seen here at the showroom, attributes the excellent service that their staff provides as the reason for being one of the top dealerships in Southern California. General Sales Manager Sean Salehzadeh (left photo) said each sales person at Carson Honda sells at least 15 vehicles per month.

with the Sonic Group and who has more than 15 years of car industry experience tucked under his belt.

But even then, Kratky said the staff gets trained all the time, particularly on new models that come in.” He also said that even if

the dealership moves a lot of cars, “there is always room for improvement.”

Carson Honda is located at 1435 E. 223rd Street, Carson, CA 90745.

They can be reached toll free at 1-800-503-2321.

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Kia’s popular urban passenger vehicle touted as ‘Well Executed’ with ‘Expensive Feel’ by About.com Editors

For a closer look at why Mazda is one of America’s top vehicle brands, visit the Star Mazda Glendale, located at 1401 S Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91204. You can reach our kababayans Nick Barber (left) and Mike McCain toll free 1-888-646-1664.

Mazda named the most fuel-efficient auto manufacturer in U.S. EPA report

IRVINE, Calif., PRNewswire – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) noted in their most recent Light Duty Fuel Economy Trends report that Mazda Motor Corporation is the most fuel-efficient auto manufacturer in the U.S. With the highest fleet-wide adjusted fuel economy performance of 27.1 miles per gallon (MPG), and the lowest CO2 emissions of 328, Mazda led the chart for model year (MY) 2012.

While still retaining the fun-to-drive characteristics for which Mazda is known, the company had the second largest increase (2.1 MPG) in the report over their MY 2011 MPG (25.0).

Mazda has achieved the highest fuel efficiency of any other mainstream automotive manufacturer in the industry, without offering a hybrid or electric vehicle.

Mazda’s unique Skyactiv Technology has made this level of efficiency possible. Skyactiv is a suite of component and engineering technologies that incorporate ultra-high compression ratio gasoline

engines, super-efficient manual and automatic transmissions, lightweight chassis and body components, reduced rolling resistance and low-drag body styling.

“Mazda has long had a history of doing things differently, and Skyactiv Technology is no exception,” saidJim O’Sullivan, president and CEO, Mazda North American Operations.

“While other manufacturers have turned their attention to hybrids and electric cars, we chose to focus on perfecting the base technology used in more than 90 percent of the cars and SUVs sold today: the internal combustion engine.

Through analyzing and refining this technology, as well as every other component in a modern automobile, Mazda has been able to achieve class-leading fuel economy in nearly every segment it competes in, and bring that technology – at an affordable price – to every customer.”

For a closer, visit the Star Mazda Glendale, located at 1401 S Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91204.

Kia Soul named to ‘Best New Cars of 2014’ list by About.com IRVINE, Calif., February 21, 2014 – The all-new 2014 Kia Soul has been named to About.com’s “Best New Cars of 2014” list, marking yet another award for the iconic urban passenger vehicle. The all-new Soul was one of 12 vehicles recognized by About.com and was touted by editors for its overall execution, expensive feel and tremendous value.

“Keeping what made the first-generation Soul special while addressing areas for improvement was no easy task, but our dealers and customers – and now the editors of About.com – have confirmed that we hit the mark,” said Michael Sprague, executive vice president of sales and marketing, Kia Motors America (KMA).

“With its very passionate following of fans, it was vitally important that the allnew 2014 Soul retain its iconic design, functionality, and value while providing a more premium interior and improved driving dynamics.”

The Kia Soul has always been about self-expression, and its fun and funky personality, as well as an abundance of features and amenities at a great price, won over the About.com editors. The

all-new Soul displays its own individuality through a blend of unique design, fun-to-drive characteristics and premium upgrades intended to set it apart from the pack. A playful color palette, including Soul-exclusive colors such as Solar Yellow, Kale Green, and Inferno Red, along with sporty new wheel designs, pump up the dynamic equation that has made Soul such a dominate competitor in the “boxy” car segment.

“The Soul has always stood out for its style and value. With the 2014 redesign, Kia has managed to improve the driving experience without sacrificing the car’s unique features,” said Aaron Gold, About. com. “Not only is the Soul a great car, it’s a lesson to other automakers on how to update an iconic vehicle without taking away the attributes that have made it such a success.”

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

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