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Jodi on having a new leading man: I don’t mind See JODI page 31

VOL. XXII, NO. 16

MAY 24-30, 2014

THE LEADING SOURCE OF NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR FILIPINO-AMERICANS

PHL touted as the ‘next Asian miracle’

President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomes members of the ASEAN Business Club, led by Ayala Corporation chairman and chief executive officer Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala and CIMB Group Sdn Bhd. Malaysia group chief executive Dato Sri Nazir Razak, during the courtesy call at the Reception Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday, May 21, 2014. (MNS Photo)

MANILA, May 22 (Mabuhay) – The Philippines has the potential to be the next “Asian miracle” but more has to be done to make growth inclusive and sustainable, business leaders said.

Kevin Lu, a distinguished fellow at ISNEAD, said that while the Philippines is seeing positive momentum, there are risks and uncertainties in policies that have to be addressed.

He said policies should be further streamlined to attract more foreign investment.

“There is still a fairly strong sense from foreign investors that there is regulatory and policy uncertainty,” Lu said at the first session of the World Economic

Forum on East Asia on Thursday.

Karim Raslan, the chief executive of Malaysia’s KRA Group, said some foreign investors see the Philippines as quite “tricksy.”

“I have a lot of friends who are looking or who have bought assets here and generally they find the Filipino market it’s quite ‘tricksy’. More difficult that Indonesia, to be frank. That is something to be borne in mind.

The size of the market is that much smaller, and if it’s that more tricksy, then that’s something to know,” he said.

Raslan added that more improvement is needed in key sectors like infrastructure, education See MIRACLE, page 16

Jinggoy ready for jail, says Erap MANILA, May 22 (Mabuhay) – Former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada believes his son, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, has already readied himself for the possibility of going to jail after being linked to the pork barrel scam.

Estrada said he knows his son is ready to defend himself from charges that he pocketed millions

of pesos in priority development assistance funds (PDAF) through the Napoles scam.

“Hindi ako naaapektuhan. I know he can defend himself,” the Manila mayor said.

“Mahirap sa Senado puro publicity. Kailangan mailagay sa Ombudsman yan at maumpisahan na ang mga hearing sa korte,” he added.

He said Jinggoy’s situation is the same one he faced when he was accused of plunder by the Arroyo administration. Estrada was convicted by the Sandiganbayan in 2007 but was later pardoned by President Arroyo.

Asked if Jinggoy has already readied himself for the possibility of jail, he said: “Palagay ko See JINGGOY, page 16

Senator Jinggoy Estrada

Two OFWs die of MERS virus in Middle East: gov’t MANILA, May 22, 2014 (AFP) – The Philippines said Thursday that two of its citizens working in Saudi Arabia have died from the MERS coronavirus.

Foreign Department spokesman Charles Jose said their relatives have been informed and efforts were being made to bring the bodies home.

“Our consul general in Jeddah confirmed that there were two Filipinos who died of MERS,” he told AFP. “The consulate is helping to repatriate their remains,” he said, adding that the deaths were recorded on May 12 and 18.

The identities of the two, as well as

other details, were not revealed to protect their relatives’ privacy.

Thousands of Filipinos work in the Middle East, while it is estimated as many as 10 million work overseas to escape widespread poverty at home.

MERS or the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome is considered a deadlier but less transmittable cousin of the SARS virus that appeared in Asia in 2003.

It infected more than 8,000 people, and had a fatality rate of nine percent.

Health authorities in Saudi Arabia this week reported new deaths from the MERS coronavirus, taking the death toll to 173. It

has been the worst affected by the outbreak with a total of 537 people infected.

Other nations including Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates and the United States have also recorded cases, mostly in people who had recently returned from travel in the desert kingdom. The Filipinos’ deaths came as the Philippines has been stepping up its defense against the virus by screening all those coming from the Middle East at ports of entry.

Last month, it quarantined a male Filipino nurse who had tested positive for the virus.

US suspends aid as Thailand coup criticism grows

By Shaun Tandon

WASHINGTON, May 23, 2014 (AFP) – The United States on Friday suspended one-third of its aid to ally Thailand after a military coup as international calls mounted for a return to civilian rule.

Moving swiftly a day after the military seized power, the United States said it froze $3.5 million in military assistance out of around $10.5 million in total aid to America’s oldest treaty-bound ally in Asia.

The United States contacted junta leaders and urged “the immediate restoration of civilian rule, a return to democracy and, obviously, respect for human rights during this period of uncertainty,” State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf See THAI COUP, page 16

Army chief General Prayut Chan-O-Cha made the coup announcement Thursday in a televised address to the nation, saying the powerful armed forces had to act to restore stability after nearly seven months of political turmoil in the capital Bangkok. Thailand’s new ruling junta on Friday warned it would block any social media platforms in the country found to carry content that incites violence or is critical of its military leaders.

Photo: Rhony Laigo/Bangkok

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Napoles gave P150M bribe, says Sandra Cam MANILA, May 22 (Mabuhay) – Whistle-blowers Association of the Philippines president Sandra Cam believes pork scam whistle-blower Janet Lim Napoles gave as much as P150 million in bribes in exchange for the dropping of the serious illegal detention case filed against her last year.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, meanwhile, swiftly denied receiving any bribes from Napoles and questioned why Cam was accusing the Department of Justice of wrongdoing.

Cam said she received copies of two DOJ resolutions that first dropped and then found probable cause in the serious illegal detention case filed by pork scam whistle-blower Benhur Luy against Napoles.

The first resolution was dated June 10, 2013 while the second one was issued August 6, 2013.

Cam said she received information that Napoles gave the P150 million bribe after she met with former National Bureau of Investigation director Nonnatus

Rojas and lawyers Alfredo Villamor and Plaridel Bohol at Rojas’ office last May 23, 2013.

Bohol is Justice Secretary Leila de Lima’s exhusband, Cam said.

Cam claimed the P150 million bribe was for the dropping of the case and that investigators no longer mention the pork barrel scam allegations.

She also claimed that the resolution to drop the serious illegal detention case would not have been passed without de Lima’s knowledge.

For her part, de Lima questioned why Cam is trying to link her to Napoles.

“People may have different impressions about me but as long as karamihan naman ng tao ay naniniwala pa rin at pinakaimportante pa rin sa akin at naniniwala pa rin sa akin ang Pangulo and the general public.

That will be my gauge, kung mag-iisip na ba ako kay Sandra Cam,” she said.

“Bakit kaya? Bakit nakatutok sila sa akin?”

De Lima on signature campaign against her: Not worth my while MANILA, May 22 (Mabuhay) – Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Thursday shrugged off the petition reportedly being cooked up by a former whistleblower calling for her resignation.

“It’s not worth my while,” De Lima said in reaction to the report that Sandra Cam, head of the Whistleblowers Association of the Philippines, is trying to gather a million signatures urging her to resign.

De Lima said she has “more important things” to attend to, among them the pork barrel scam where three senators are implicated.

“Ano ba gusto nila? Are they trying to dampen my spirit and my will? I don’t think they will succeed if that’s their objective,” she said.

The Justice chief, however, said she will not stop Cam from continuing with the signature campaign.

“I will not prevent them from doing that,” De Lima said. “That’s the prerogative of anyone. That’s the prerogative also of people who would want to sign up.

People have different perspective.”

De Lima described attempts to convince her to leave her post as “absolute hogwash.”

“I am wondering what’s their problem. Bakit ako ngayon ang pinupuntirya? They are trying to destroy me. They are trying to destroy the institution. Hindi lang naman ako, and DOJ, NBI apektado rin kapag ginaganyan nila kami, ginaganyan nila ako,” she said.

De Lima said she has a “theory” why she is being targeted by Cam’s group, although she admitted that she has yet to validate it.

Cam had alleged in a media forum last Wednesday that the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) received P150 million in bribes from alleged scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles in exchange for the dropping of the serious illegal detention complaint filed against her by her former employee Benhur Luy, now a principal whistleblower Benhur Luy in the pork barrel scam case. (MNS)

Cam, however, said her revelation is only meant to show that the Napoles scam has influenced not just legislators but investigators such as the DOJ. She said her group is now getting information from the Anti-Money Laundering Council on Napoles’ withdrawal of the P150 million.

The whistle-blower also claimed Rojas resigned last September 2013 because rumors of the Napoles bribe started to leak out.

“Nag-resign si Rojas without even turning over his work to the next chief because, per our source, Rojas got P30 million and the rest was given to DOJ,” she said.

“Nalaman kasi sa ahente sa baba na nagkabukolan sila. Walang nakarating sa baba,” she added.

De Lima earlier said Rojas tendered his resignation after President Aquino announced that the NBI “has its share of ‘less trustworthy’ officials and agents.”

“Medyo naging very sensitive siya,” she said. (MNS)

Senate panel compels DOJ, NBI to submit Luy’s digital files MANILA, May 22 (Mabuhay) – The Senate blue ribbon committee on Thursday compelled the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to submit to the panel the digital files of principal pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy. Senate blue ribbon committee chairman Teofisto Guingona III’s office said the lawmaker signed a subpoena for Luy’s digital records addressed to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and NBI Director Virgilio Mendez.

Senate President Franklin Drilon also already signed the subpoena, his office confirmed.

Last week, the Senate committee already issued a subpoena on Luy to produce these digital files.

On Wednesday, Luy’s lawyer Raji Mendoza, however, said their camp will leave it to the NBI to submit to the Senate the whistleblower’s digital files, which were already turned over to investigators.(MNS)

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Hundreds’ held as anti-China riots quelled: Vietnam ‘MANILA, May 22, 2014 (AFP) – Hundreds of people have been arrested in a government crackdown after deadly riots targeting Chinese people in Vietnam, senior Vietnamese officials said Thursday, warning anyone found in breach of the law would face tough punishment.

“The Vietnamese government has... contained the acts of law infringement and (will) strictly punish violators in accordance with the law,” Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said in a speech to an economic conference in Manila.

“As a result, the situation has become totally stable. The enterprises’ business and production have come back to normal,” Dung added.

Vietnam’s Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh later told reporters “hundreds of people” were in “temporary detention” in connection with the riots, which targeted Chinese and other foreignowned businesses last week.

“They will be seriously punished in accordance with the law, including bringing them to justice in court,” Vinh said.

Dung said the Vietnamese were protesting at what he alleged was China’s illegal deployment of a deep-sea oil rig in South China Sea waters also claimed by Hanoi.

The Chinese foreign ministry said Wednesday that four people were killed and more than 100 others injured in last week’s violence.

Thousands of Chinese have returned from Vietnam since the protests, according to official media reports in Beijing.

Hanoi initially lauded “patriotic” displays by its citizens, but backpedalled furiously after the violence badly stained the country’s image as a safe destination for sorely needed foreign investment.

“The entire Vietnamese nation has been protesting against China’s wrongdoings. In various localities of the country, the people have spontaneously launched demonstrations, in which some people became restive and violated the law,” Dung said Thursday.

China claims almost all of the South China Sea, parts of which are also claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam, all members of the Association

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of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), and non-member Taiwan.

Last week leaders of the 10-nation bloc presented a rare united front by express-

ing “serious concern” over disputes in the waters, which are home to key shipping lanes and thought to contain vast energy reserves.

Two solons seek probe on rampant petroleum smuggling MANILA, May 23 (Mabuhay) – Two members of the House Committee on Transportation are seeking an investigation into reports on petroleum smuggling at sea and the country’s major ports.

Kabataan Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon and Leyte Rep. Andres Salvacion said there have been reports that petroleum smuggling continues to be conducted at sea.

Smuggling at sea occurs when a foreign mother vessel unloads petroleum products to local feeder vessels at sea in order to escape detection as imported goods by Customs officers.

Salvacion said that he received reports that smuggling at sea is rampant in the archipelagic waters in the Visayas, particularly around Samar and Leyte.

Both Salvacion and Ridon already informed the House Committee on Transportation about the reports.

“Once the smuggled petroleum has already been transferred to local feeder vessels, it will now be almost impossible for Customs authorities to question its source and impose proper duties,” Salvacion said.

He also said that the Philippine Coast Guard must adequately respond to this problem as they have primary jurisdiction to stop these illegal activities.

On the other hand, Ridon said that petroleum smuggling does not only occur in the Visayas but in other areas of the country as well.

Ridon cited reports of petroleum smuggling in Central and Northern Luzon, which allegedly happens not only at sea but in the country’s major ports as well.

“In several stations selling generic petroleum products in Central Luzon, gasoline and diesel are sold at P48/liter and P41/liter respectively compared to the prevailing market price in the area of P54/ liter of gasoline and P44/liter of diesel,” Ridon said.

According to Ridon, while serious differences in prices might be due to vibrant competition among petroleum players, it might also indicate a rampant smuggling problem in the area.

He also recalled the case of Phoenix Petroleum, a publicly-listed company whose officers are currently being charged by the Department of Justice of technical smuggling.

“We will investigate not only generic oil players, importers and distributors, but we will also inquire on the status of the technical smuggling case of Phoenix Petroleum,” Ridon pointed out. (MNS)

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Lack of true inclusive growth dips down PHL rating – Sen. Bam

PLDT Executives were interviewed recently in Los Angeles by Ms. Jannelle So, host and producer of KABABAYAN TODAY, the longest running Filipino daily talk show outside of the Philippines. Eric R. Alberto, EVP of PLDT and President of ePLDT; Alex O. Caeg, SVP of PLDT and President of PLDT Global Corp (PGC) ; and Enrique G. Yu, General Manager of PLDT US Mobility, talked about the exciting expansion of PLDT into the US, its eight global destination. They invited the show’s audience in California and Hawaii to the launch of its new mobile phone service at The Freedom Concert Tour, a series of concert party tours from June 13-22 in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, San Diego and Hawaii. The Freedom Concert Tour will feature outstanding celebrity performers Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid, Marian Rivera, Alden Richards, Allan K, Giselle Sanchez, Sheryn Regis, Jonalyn Viray and Jannelle So. The Kababayan Today’s PLDT interview will air on LA 18, KSCI-TV on Wednesday, May 28, 2014 and in Hawaii over Kiku TV.

Malaysia stresses China ties despite Asian rows TOKYO, May 22, 2014 (AFP) – Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has distanced himself from growing territorial conflicts in Asia, telling a Japanese newspaper they should not jeopardise the “strategic importance� of his country’s ties with Beijing. “We must look at the big picture and not define relations with China on a singleissue basis but look at the broad spectrum of the relations, and recognize the strategic importance of our bilateral relationship with China,� Najib told Thursday’s Nikkei. “We do not want (the territorial) issue to be an impediment to the growing ties between Malaysia and China,� the Malaysian premier, on a visit to Japan, said in an

interview with the business daily.

The comments come as Vietnam and the Philippines – which along with Malaysia are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – are embroiled in separate rows with China over control of parts of the South China Sea. Tensions remain high in the region after an eruption of deadly anti-China riots in Vietnam over Beijing’s controversial plans to drill for oil in contested waters.

Kuala Lumpur and Beijing have their own rival claims to parts of the South China Sea – believed to hold vast deposits of oil and gas – but Najib has played these down as he pursues closer ties with Malaysia’s top trading partner.

MANILA, May 22 (Mabuhay) – Senator Bam Aquino points the country’s drop in the 2014 World Competitiveness Yearbook (WCY) to lack of true inclusive growth. “If there is true inclusive growth, our global competitiveness will further improve,� said Aquino, chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

Aquino made the assessment after the country slipped four notches in the WCY despite the country’s 7.2 percent GDP growth – the second highest among countries ranked in the report.

The country’s rating was affected by five critical challenges, including infrastructure, corruption, unemployment and

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While admitting that the country’s woes have been compounded by calamities and high-profile cases, the senator also said government needs to improve on in its inclusive growth strategies that will address unemployment and the economic gap that divides the rich and the poor and ultimately build a stronger, more sustainable economy. “Our growth has not reflected true progress for everyone in the country. It is urgent that we do something about our youth and unemployed,� he added. “We can become more competitive when we empower our labor sector; we want a country where no one is left behind.� (MNS)

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Solon files bill providing insurance coverage for mobile phones MANILA, May 22 (Mabuhay) – A lawmaker at the House of Representatives has filed a bill that would mandate mobile phone network service providers to offer insurance coverage for mobile phones.

House Bill 4303, otherwise known as “The Mobile Phone Insurance Act,” was filed by Parañaque City Rep. Eric Olivarez. ”Mobile phone insurance may seem trivial at first, but considering the prevalence of snatching, robbery and theft in the country - especially in Metro Manila where almost all people own mobile phones and majority of said owners have high end models - surely mobile phone insurance can be a good cost-saving solution for the public,” Olivarez said.

He pointed out the increasing number of people availing of monthly plans for their high end mobile phones and gadgets and, whether they have the phone in the possession or not, they still are liable for the annual line rental.

“Getting one’s phone stolen, broken,

destroyed or otherwise lost can be such a hassle and can cause unnecessary expenditures on the part of the user,” the author said.

“Insuring one’s phone is a simple way to protect oneself against the expense and inconvenience of having to replace mobile phones,” Olivarez added.

He further pointed out that in many countries, they have already required their respective carriers to offer mobile phone insurance to their customers or clientele.

“In the Philippines, however, little is known or heard of this kind of insurance and the benefit of which is not being emphasized enough to help mobile phone users make a well-informed decision regarding the same,” Olivarez notedd.

Records from the National Telecommunications Commission cited that from January to November in 2009 alone, the agency recorded a total of 813 actual cases of missing cellular phones, a figure 10 percent higher compared to the previous year.

P16.31-M tax evasion raps vs. Bukidnon businessman filed MANILA, May 22 (Mabuhay) – The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) a P16.31-million tax evasion case against a businessman based in Bukidnon province.

Charged was Hernane A. Ayon. He is the sole owner of H.A. Herbal Marketing, Nanz Signature Salon and Harley’s Car Service Center and with business address in Valencia City, Bukidnon.

The case against Ayon stemmed from the BIR’s investigation of the tax liabilities of Jo-Ann C. Grino, owner of AG Global Pharma in Valencia City, Bukidnon that disclosed Grino made substantial purchases from H.A. Herbal Marketing owned by Ayon.

In a press conference, BIR Commis-

sioner Kim S. Jacinto-Henares said that they charged Ayon for willful attempt to evade payment of income tax for years 2010 and 2011, willful attempt to evade payment of value added tax (VAT) for years 2010 and 2011 (3rd and 4th quarters), deliberate failure to file his Annual Income Tax Returns (ITRs) for years 2010 and 2011, deliberate failure to file his VAT Returns for years 2010 (4th quarter) and 2011, and willful failure to supply correct and accurate information in his 3rd quarterly VAT Returns for year 2010.

Henares said that Ayon was sued for an aggregate deficiency tax liability covering taxable years 2010 and 2011 amounting to P16.31 million, including surcharges and interests.

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Lawmakers file bill exempting schools from paying VAT MANILA, May 22 (Mabuhay) – Two lawmakers from the House of Representatives have filed a bill that seeks to exempt educational institutions from paying value added tax (VAT) for the goods being sold in schools.

Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and Abante Mindanao Partylist Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr. filed House Bill 4165 to reduce the high prices goods and services in schools being supplied by private companies.

The measure seeks to amend Republic Act 8424, otherwise known as the Tax Reform Act of 1997, by exempting from VAT the goods and services acquired by educational institutions.

At present, Rodriguez said private companies are passing the VAT on their goods to schools. “VAT is then passed on by the school to the students which make it more difficult for them to afford the already high tuition fees,” the Cagayan de Oro City lawmaker said.

“Among the basic needs given importance by most families is education. It is the reason why even if they can barely eat three meals a day, parents and working students often forgo other needs just to pay for education,” Rodriguez said.

The measure amends Section 109-Exempt Transactions of RA 8424 by including goods purchased and services rendered to educational institutions by suppliers and service providers. (MNS)

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Philhealth urges hospitals to continue honoring medical benefits, denies ‘mismanagement’ MANILA, May 20 (Mabuhay) – The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. on Tuesday called on private hospitals to continue honoring the benefits of their patients and warned that not doing so “constitutes a violation of their Performance Commitment.”

Reacting to an earlier report quoting the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. as saying its 600 members nationwide may stop honoring Philhealth benefits because of the delayed release of reimbursements for services rendered, Philhealth president and CEO Alexander Padilla assured that, “All our regional offices have made a commitment to pay claims of all our providers faster than the 60 days processing time as mandated by law.”

At the same time, he also denied PHAPI president Dr. Rustico Jimenez’s earlier contention blaming “mismanagement” for the delay in the reimbursements.

“PhilHealth is mismanaged and they have the guts to give big bonuses to themselves while they cannot pay us,” Jimenez said.

“We want to make it clear that the perceived delays in the payment of claims of PHAPI member-hospitals are not due to ‘possible mismanagement at PhilHealth’. Since we implemented the case-based payment system in January this year, we have been experiencing technical challenges that, we admit, are part of the innovation’s birth pains,” Padilla said. “But rest assured that we are working double-time to address these glitches and save our partner-providers from further inconvenience.”

He said they remained “in constant communication with Dr. Rustico Jimenez and the PHAPI pertaining to the claims issue.”

Earlier, Jimenez said: “By (this) week, private hospitals will accept PhilHealth patients but they will not remove the PhilHealth part (in their bills) to have money to pay the salaries of employees and suppliers.”

This means patients will have to shell out for the PhilHealth’s share in their hospital bills and then apply for reimbursement directly to PhilHealth.

“We are doing this so that hospitals will not close and still serve the patients,” Jimenez said.

The reimbursement is taking at least six months, adversely affecting private hospital operations, he said.

But Padilla reminded PHAPI of its members’ commitment to “provide and charge to the PhilHealth benefit of the client the necessary services including but not limited to drugs, medicines, supplies, devices and diagnostic and treatment procedures for (their) PhilHealth clients.”

Violating this commitment, Padilla said, could subject hospitals to “sanctions,” although he added that, “we would want that service to our members remain uninterrupted. As much as possible, we want to settle this matter without depriving our members of the benefits that are due them.”

“We are keeping our lines open for Dr. Jimenez and the PHAPI to further discuss this matter with us, in the confines of our working environment,” Padilla also said. (MNS)

Philhealth says its 600 members nationwide may stop honoring Philhealth benefits because of the delayed release of reimbursements for services rendered but assures that all regional offices have made a commitment to pay claims of all providers faster than the 60 days processing time as mandated by law. Photo shows thousands of PhilHealth cards for General Santos beneficiaries taken last September 13, at Lagao gymnasium. Photo: Russell Delvo/ Gensan Info Office

DOLE welcomes SWS reports on unemployment declines MANILA, May 21 (Mabuhay) – The Department of Labor and Employment welcomes the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey result showing decline of unemployment in the country and vows to work harder to create more quality jobs.

“We welcome the result of the SWS survey showing a 1.8 percent in unemployment, but we continue to be firm that we need to work harder to sustain the country’s gains in creating more quality jobs for our people.” Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz made the remarks before she left the country Tuesday to attend the ASEAN Labor Ministers’ Meeting in Myanmar.

“We recognize the problem of unemployment, whether it is shown by the official Labor Force Survey of the Philippine Statistics Authority, or by the SWS and some

other surveys. This is why we at the DOLE is decisively helping address the problem by promoting and implementing job creation facilitation programs, such as the delivery of correct, relevant, and updated labor market information,” Baldoz said.

Baldoz said she has instructed the DOLE’s Institute for Labor Studies to look closely and deeply at the SWS data not for comparison but to find positive inputs that can help DOLE enhance its employment facilitation programs and services.

“For example, we see that the SWS survey results seem to validate the results of the 4th quarter 2013 Labor Turnover Statistics of the PSA which showed that employment in large enterprises in Metro Manila accelerated to 3.22 percent, the highest recorded since the 4th quarter of 2010,” said Baldoz.

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LA City Attorney Mike Feuer hosts forum with California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye In celebration of the Asian Pacific American Heritage month, LA City Attorney Mike Feuer hosted a community forum with California Chief Justice Tani Gorre CantilSakauye at the Deaton Auditorium last week.

Chief Justice Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye is a FilipinoAmerican we take pride on. She is the 28th Chief Justice of California nominated by former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for California’s highest judicial office on July 22, 2010 and she was retained in office by Philippine American News, Efren and California voters on November 2, 2010. Roy Gorre. and subsequently sworn in on January Tani Cantil-Sakauye left the Municipal 3, 2011.

Court when Governor Pete Wilson apA California native, she was born in pointed her as Judge of the Sacramento Sacramento as Tani Gorre Cantil, whose County Superior Court and in 2005, GovHawaiian-born father, Clarence was of ernor Arnold Swarzenegger appointed her Filipino and Portuguese ancestry while as an Associate Justice of the California her mother, Mary Gorre was Filipino. Third District Court of Appeals and on July She was raised in the Land Park area of 21, 2010 Swarzenegger nominated her to Sacramento and graduated high school succeed retiring Chief Justice of California from C. K. McClatchy HIgh School in Ronald M. George.

1977, Further, Tani went on to pursue On August 25, 2010 the three-member her Associate of Arts from Sacramento California Commission on Judicial ApCity College and In 1978 she obtained her pointments unanimously approved her Bachelor of Arts degree from UC Davis, nomination as the next Chief Justice of where she also received her JD (degree in California and during the November 2010 Jurisprudence) in 1984. general elections she was retained as Chief Tani Gorre Cantil’s legal career began Justice for a 12-year term. later on the same year when she was invitDuring the forum, the Chief Justice ed by then Deputy District Attorney Rusell stressed the importance of oral advocacy in Hom (who later on became Sacramento the courtrooms. and that her office always County Superior Court Judge) to become pursues larger funding for the Judicial Deputy District Attorney. In 1988, she left Branch in order to “elevate those who the DA’s office to become Deputy Legal are eligible candidates for Superior Court Affairs Secretary to Governor George positions during general elections.”

Deukmejian, who later on appointed her as Further, Tani Cantil-Sakauye says “I Deputy Legislative Secretary.and in 1990, am always inspired by my team of judges Deukmejian appointed her again as Judge who all work together to handle case of the Sacramento Municipal Court. overloads handed them; Judges are public In 1994 Tani Gorre Cantil married servants who dedicate themselves to public Mark Sakauye, a retired Sacramento police service.” She encourages outreach and lieutenant, and they have two daughters. volunteer programs in the courts and is a According to her uncle, Victor Gorre, staunch supporter of Affirmative Action her mother’s family is closely related to programs. the former publisher and Editor of LA’s Finally, Deputy LA City Attorney Don-

City Attorney Mike Feuer serves as host in a conversation with California Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye (right).

na Wong, moderated the award ceremonies along with LA City Attorney Mike Feuer and Chief Justice Tani Cantil- Sakauye in presenting a certificate of recognition

to her friend and colleague, Deputy City Attorney Kenneth T Fong, as this year’s “Asian Pacific American Attorney of the Year.”

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Former FSDC employees reminisce ‘purpose-driven’ days

The Farm Systems Development Corporation (FSDC) was one of those Marcos era organizations that went into oblivion after the People’s Power Revolution of 1986. It ceased to be in 1987 and left thousands of farmer cooperatives that it has established to face uncertain future.

FSDC was engaged in country development by going to the grassroots and espoused self reliance and initiative in pursuing its goals. The people under its employ were hard core in terms of commitment and dedication. They were led by an equally passionate technocrat, the late Teodoro C. Rey Jr., a product of the University of the Philippines, who rallied his people in transforming the rural areas into self sufficiency through the irrigators’ cooperatives they helped organize as the center of activities.

Just as the movement was making the farmers reach their full potentials in shaping their future FSDC became a victim of a political change.

Where are the visionary skillful men and women of FSDC now? Many remained in public service and some joined the diaspora to other countries where their talents were put in the service of their fellowmen.

Close to 30 of them met last May 10 at the Johnson Howard Hotel in the City of Fullerton for a reunion and pay tribute to their former bosses, Teodoro C. Rey, Jr. and Manuel “Pogs” Gaspay, who have gone ahead to meet their Creator.

Doing the honors of paying tribute to the late TCR, as the former administrator is fondly called, was his former mentee, Woodbury University President, Dr. Luis Ma. R. Calingo, who holds the distinction of being the first Filipino-American to head a learning institution.

TCR’s daughter who honored the occasion with her

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husband Alfred and daughter Amelia, delivered a sentimental response for her father.

Reminiscing on the reunion where he met his fellow rural worker after more than 30 years, insurance executive Gilbert C. Dulay writes: “As I drove home along California I-57N, I had this feeling that everyone that night belonged to a family brought together by the late Administrator Teodoro C. Rey’s spirit. After all, he is the person that bonds all of us. This bond was most apparent when Jamie, TCR’s youngest daughter, was expressing her profound happiness. And as I was creating my own photo stories, I thought there was a genuine sense of oneness, devoid of any hierarchy and individual idiosyncrasies. For this sense of family, the reunion achieved its objective of rekindling the spirit of camaraderie strongly advocated by TCR. It was one of the best reunions I have celebrated in my lifetime. There was a hint of resurrection of our formative and youthful days in FSDC”.

Spearheading the successful reunion were couple Dan and Lyn Abalos, Nini Bamba Dewitt and Pie Cruz.

Many participants came from far and wide to reunite with their fellow “rural development workers” which included from the Stanford/Bay area (May Gaspay), Silicon Valley (Gabby Moraleda and Gil Ongchangco), Calgary, Canada (Cora de Jesus), New Jersey (Julie/Richard Francia), Philadephia (Ada/Philip Reyes), and Manila (Edna Yambao and Gerry David). California locals included Chato Guzman, Linda Sarabia, Boy/Terri Jaurique, Ben Cubacub, Pie/Boy Cruz, Edna Cabusas-Petrovits, Ray and Edith Andres and Homer Avendano.

FSDC REUNION: Former employees of the Farm Systems Development Corp. take a brief time out from the proceedings at a recent reunion in Fullerton for this photo decades after the organization ceased operation in the Philippines because of political changes.

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TRIBUTE TO A FORMER MENTOR: Woodbury University President, Dr. Luis Ma. R. Calingo, the first Filipino-American to head a university in the U.S. paid tribute to his former mentor, the late Administrator Teodoro C. Rey Jr. (TCR) of the Farm Systems Development Corporation at a recent reunion of its former employees in Fullerton recently. TCR’s daughter, Amelia delivered an emotional response on the tribute.

South Main Rejuvenation held their grand opening last Sunday May 18, 2014 at their Los Angeles branch, third clinic, located at 14673 Parthenia St. Suite 201 in Panorama City CA. Dr. Apolinar (with the scissors) thanks all the well wishers for coming which also coincides with their 15th year Anniversary in the skin care industry. They have two other branches in San Jose CA and San Francisco CA. Together with Dr. Apolinar is Louella D. Eischen, Aesthetic Director (left of Dr. Apolinar) and Atty. Jemela Nettles (right of Dr. Apolinar) an their staff. Please visit their website www. southmainrejuvenation.com for more information.

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Closed bankruptcy case may be reopened to litigate dischargeability issue Once a Chapter 7 bankruptcy is filed, the clerk of court sends out a notice of case commencement to all creditors listed in the mailing list of the petition. The notice includes deadlines to object to dischargeability of debts. If a creditor fails to timely file an objection to dischargeability, or fails to timely file a motion to extend the time

to file an objection, then the creditor’s right to object to dischargeabil- in state court to embezzling funds from ity is forever lost, unless the creditor was her former employer, Erwin Quarder Inc. not listed in the mailing list. For example, Quarder waived any claim to restitution debtor owes you $200,000 because you during the criminal case in an agreement sold him a restaurant. Out of the $200,000, that preserved the right of Quarder’s insurdebtor paid only $20,000. Thus, debtor still ance carrier to assert a claim against the owes you $180,000 of the purchase price. debtor. Debtor did not list Quarder or the With the $20,000 payment, the restaurant insurance company in her schedules when is turned over to debtor who operates she filed for Chapter 7 relief on October 2, it for one year. Unable to turn a profit, 2012. She received a discharge in February debtor decides to shutter the restaurant 2013, and the case closed in April 2013. On after 12 months. He does not pay you the October 15, 2013, the insurance company, balance of $180,000. He files for Chapter as subrogee of Quarder, sued debtor alleg7 bankruptcy but does not list you as a ing theft, embezzlement and common law creditor. Unaware of his bankruptcy, you conversion against the debtor wife. Debtor sue in state court to recover the $180,000. responded by asking the bankruptcy court Eventually, he gets a discharge. In his state to reopen their case so they could add the court lawsuit, one of his defenses is that insurance company as creditor. The court he has a bankruptcy discharge that wipes granted the motion, finding that the insurout your claim completely. His bankruptcy ance company’s claim was arguably “of a case has been closed for 90 days when you kind� specified in Section 523(a)(2),(4), find out about it. The deadline to object or (6). The court concluded that it would to dischargeability of your claim expired give the parties the option of having the 150 days ago. bankruptcy court decide whether the claim Can you file a motion to reopen the was nondischargeable pursuant to Section bankruptcy case on the ground that you 523(a)(2),(4), or (6), or to have a state court were not listed in the petition as a credi- determine that the claim was nondischargetor, had no notice of the bankruptcy, so the able pursuant to Section 523(a)(3)(B). “For deadline to object to dischargeability does the state court, even though title 28 does not apply to you? You sure can. not preempt its jurisdiction, its authority In Re Steward, the debtor wife, prior in matters involving the discharge is not to filing for bankruptcy, pleaded guilty without limits, making it difficult for the

LOS ANGELES court to know how to proceed. For example, although a state court has authority to determine the scope of the discharge, it only has the authority to determine the scope of a bankruptcy discharge if it gets the answer right; Hamilton v. Herr 6th cir.

2008. In other words, state courts are not allowed to construe the discharge incorrectly, because an incorrect application of the discharge order would be equivalent to a modification of the discharge order. “It is not surprising that many state court judges are reluctant to wade into the discharge quagmire.� the court said.

Thus, the bankruptcy court granted the motion to reopen the case and allowed the parties to agree upon a single forum to litigate the issue of dischargeability.

The better part of caution is to litigate the dischargeability issue in bankruptcy

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court because bankruptcy judges are very familiar with dischargeability issues, and dischargeability issues are complicated legal matters that state court judges are not familiar with. “The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. – Psalm 147:11.

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.

Change password; massive breach at eBay NEW YORK, May 21, 2014 (AFP) – US online giant eBay said Wednesday cyberattackers broke into its database containing customer passwords and other personal data in what could be one of the biggest breaches of its kind.

The California company said it was notifying its customers, urging them to change passwords to protect themselves.

An eBay statement said the database was compromised between late February and early March and “included eBay customers’ name, encrypted password, email address, physical address, phone number and date of birth.�

But it added that it “did not contain financial information or other confidential personal information.�

An eBay spokeswoman said the attack did not affect data from PayPal, the finance and payments unit of the company, noting

that such details are stored separately. “For the time being, we cannot comment on the specific number of accounts impacted,� spokeswoman Kari Ramirez said in an email. “However, we believe there may be a large number of accounts involved and we are asking all eBay users to change their passwords.�

Potentially impacting eBay’s 128 million active users globally, the attack could be one of the largest targeting a retailer, and comes just months after US giant Target disclosed a breach that may have affected more than 100 million.

The company said it detected “compromised employee log-in credentials� about two weeks ago and began an investigation. “Cyberattackers compromised a small number of employee log-in credentials, allowing unauthorized access to eBay’s corporate network,� it said in a statement.

LOS ANGELES 12 Why you need an immigration attorney Visit www.Balita.com

Q: From looking online, I think that immigration law is mostly filling out forms. Since I can fill out forms myself, why would I spend the money to hire an immigration lawyer?

It’s true, one process of immigration is filling out many forms, and sometimes, with some careful reading, a person can fill out those forms himself.

But sometimes, one should hire an attorney. So, I want to answer your ques- you feel it. However, some examples intion in three parts: when you don’t need an clude: court appearances, removal orders, attorney, when you might need an attorney, criminal immigration matters, discomfort, and when you must hire an attorney. moderate to complete lack of understandOn weekends, I enjoy feeling comfort- ing, spousal abuse, no time, requests for able, sitting in my favorite reclining chair, evidence, and financial disclosures. watching CSI, and snacking on some Finally, some potential clients have conbuttered popcorn. I don’t have a care in sidered hiring an “unlicensed immigration the world, and everything is perfect. You consultant� because the fees are cheaper. know the feeling? Now if, after reading the When you need medical care, do you look instructions to your needed immigration for the least expensive doctor out there? Do forms, you have that same feeling, then you walk to the strip mall across the street you don’t need a lawyer. Fill out the forms looking for Mrs. Smith’s immigration seryourself and save yourself some money. vices? (It’s there next to the donut shop.)

Hopefully, there are no legal issues you These people are unlicensed, unregulated, missed. uneducated, and often have as much immiNext, Let’s assume that after looking gration knowledge as you do. Many of my online you’re not sure which forms to use, clients didn’t read my advice. They hired don’t totally understand the instructions, an immigration consultant who ruined have 3 or 4 blanks you just can’t figure the paperwork or didn’t see an important out, and think you might have a legal is- legal issue. Now, the client is in removal sue. Consider spending the money to buy proceedings. It’s not worth the few hundred the peace of mind by letting the attorney bucks you’ll save. do it right. I tell my clients that there is If you need help, hire a licensed, eduno excuse for taking chances with such cated, attorney. If you’re not sure, get a an important matter. In fact, one mistake free consultation. can cost the equivalent of your legal fee.

John Davidson is a licensed attorney Another reason to hire a lawyer is to ac- who practices only immigration law. He company you to the interview. More than has 20 years of legal experience and offers likely, nothing will happen, but you never free consultations. Attorney Davidson can know what that officer will ask. For some, be reached by email at john1davidson@ the value of being represented in the inter- gmail.com and by phone at 626-399-4194. view is immeasurable.

His office is located in San Gabriel, CA. Third, there are situations when you If you have questions you would like anmust hire an attorney. I won’t create a huge swered in this weekly column, please email list because I think you’ll know it when them to Mr. Davidson.

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Obama vows to cut lines for foreigners at US airports COOPERSTOWN, May 22, 2014 (AFP) – President Barack Obama vowed Thursday to cut long and frustrating lines at customs for foreigners arriving at US airports in a bid to lure 100 million tourists a year by 2020.

Obama promised to maintain national security but ease the entry of travelers as he launched a new tourism push designed to create more American jobs.

Clogged entry points like New York’s John F. Kennedy airport and Dulles airport outside Washington often anger foreign tourists – especially at times of the day when flights from Europe or Asia arrive en masse.

Some tourists must wait for an hour or more to get into the country.

Before traveling to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, Obama met tourism chiefs to discuss how to boost the industry. “I’ve directed my administration to work with airports, airlines, hotel groups, states and cities to do more to improve the traveler experience and to reduce wait times for folks entering into the United States, all without compromising our security,� he said.

Obama said that Dallas/Fort Worth airport and Chicago’s O’Hare airport had already cut waiting times to only a quarter of an hour for overseas tourists entering customs. “You get off your plane, it takes you 15 minutes to get through if you’re an international traveler. And that is a big deal,� the president said. “If folks spend less time at the airport, they’re more likely to come back for a return trip. “And when they go back home, they tell their friends, you know what? America was there to greet us.�

Obama vowed to automate passport

controls, add new staff at customs and bring in top talent from the private sector to find ways to make entry lines move faster.

Security and immigration bottlenecks have multiplied since the September 11 attacks in 2001 spurred new levels of checks and procedures.

Obama hopes to ensure that tourism figures, which hit 70 million visitors in 2013 reach 100 million a year by the beginning of the next decade.

The United States is currently the world’s second tourist biggest destination after France, according to the World Tourism Organization, and Obama says that gaining the top spot would create jobs.

Obama asked his secretaries of commerce and homeland security, Penny Pritzker and Jeh Johnson, to “develop a national goal to improve the entry process and reduce wait times for international travelers to the United States, and action plans at the 15 largest airports for international arrivals,� a White House statement said.

In 2012, Obama set the goal of making the United States the world’s top tourism destination by, among other things, granting more visas to people from China and Brazil.

The administration says nearly eight million jobs in America are linked to tourism.

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Nancy Wong, Wells Fargo Senior Vice President Asian Segment Manager, announces a $100 billion lending goal for small businesses by 2018.

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Wells Fargo to lend $100-B to small businesses by 2018

By Deepak Chitnis New America Media

NEW YORK, May 22, 2014 – Wells Fargo has officially launched its newest initiative geared specifically at budding entrepreneurs looking to help their small businesses grow, entitled Wells Fargo Works for Small Business.

The initiative was unveiled this past weekend, at the first-ever South Asian Young Women Entrepreneurs (SAY WE) conference that took place at the Condé Nast building in Times Square on May 17. Wells Fargo was a key sponsor of the SAY WE conference, helping to foster entrepreneurial spirit in the South Asian community.

“We know that the Asian small business community is the first one to achieve entrepreneurial parity,” said Nancy Wong, Senior Vice-President of Wells Fargo’s Asian Segment Manager. “We have seen the momentum grow in very specific regions, specifically the tri-state area [New York, New Jersey, Connecticut] and California.”

Wells Fargo, which has been the largest small business lender for the last 11 years, also announced their goal of lending $100 billion to small business by 2018.

Wong said that this is an aggregate goal for all businesses, South Asian and otherwise, but that Wells Fargo has resources meant specifically for Asian business owners.

“We host several financial seminars and workshops, across the Wells Fargo footprint, that partner specifically with Asian chamber associations and trade associations,” said Wong. “These solidify our commitment to providing resources and guidance to the Asian small business community.”

Featuring a congregation of some of the best and brightest minds in the tri-state area’s South Asian entrepreneurial scene, the SAY WE conference is intended to be the first leg of a three-part series of conferences that will continue in Houston and San Francisco later this year.

The series is entitled “Raise, Rise, Rule!” and strives to help budding South Asian entrepreneurs, particularly women, by giving them the advice and resources they need to help establish and grow their small businesses.

Saturday’s event was organized by SAY WE founder Reema Rasool, who described the experience of being at the organization’s inaugural conference as “surreal.”

Rasool explained that she founded SAY WE as a way of providing young South Asian women with the advice and resources they needed, but often never have access to, in order to launch their entrepreneurial ventures. An entrepreneur herself, Rasool said that she wished these resources were available to her when she was getting started, and now wants to make sure that she can help those who are now starting to come up after her.

Two panel discussions were held, one in the morning and one during the afternoon session. The first featured South Asian American entrepreneurs Pialy Aditya (cofounder of fashion site Mintbox), Sindhya V. Kalghatgi (founder of men’s grooming label Helix), Abbas Hashmi (founder of Green Card Capital), and Wong, and centered on what one has to do to take their business idea from an intangible wish to a profitable operation.

The second panel discussion featured local New York City news anchor Joya Dass, Bibi Magazine founder Ayesha Hakki, The Cake Designer founder Parul Patel, and social media guru Adam Khan.

They talked about the advantages and disadvantages of using social media to promote small businesses, and how to avoid the common pitfalls associated with the still-young but incredibly powerful online marketing tool.

Keynote addresses were given by Aroon Shivdasani and Faisal Hoque. Shivdasani is the founder of the Indo-American Arts Council and the key organizers of the annual New York Indian Film Festival, while Hoque is a writer and entrepreneur who also gave out and signed copies of his latest book, “Everything Connects.”

Hoque spoke at length about his personal story, coming to the US from Bangladesh at age 17 and, eventually, dropping out of college in Minneapolis to start his career with Pitney Bowes in Connecticut. Today, he is the founder of Shadoka Ventures, and a number of other companies. Shadoka’s portfolio of companies – which specialize in R&D driven products, services, and thought leadership – accelerates individual and organizational sustainable growth.

Hoque warned prospective business owners that people should keep in mind the lows as much as the highs, citing his own ups and downs, and the successes and failures he experienced during his career.

“There is absolutely no substitute for passion and authenticity,” Hoque said in summation of his remarks, telling future and current small business owners that being true to themselves and passionate about their ideas are ultimately what will lead them to success in the long run.

Wells Fargo’s sponsorship of SAY WE allowed for the conference to be free for attendees. Wells Fargo will continue to be a partner of SAY WE, as a sign of its increasing commitment to helping the Asian and South Asian American communities across the US. The SAY WE conference series will continue in Houston on June 14, and will conclude in San Francisco on August 9.

This story was produced for American Bazaar and for New America Media as part of a Wells Fargo sponsored project to report on the state of Asian Pacific American small business.

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How to obtain custody and visitation rights for unmarried dads

satisfied.

An alleged biological father who does not meet any of the § 7611 conditions for presumed father status has no constitutionally-protected “liberty interest� in establishing a parentage relationship with a child as against the rights of a presumptive father who has an extant parentage relationship with the child. Dawn D. v.

Super.Ct. (Jerry K.) (1998) 17 C4th 932, 940–942, 72 CR2d 871, 876–877 The facts get even more complicated if the girlfriend, whom boyfriend gets pregnant is married to another man because the law provides a conclusive presumption of paternity to the husband of the girlfriend.

Under Family Code §7540, the child of a wife cohabiting at time of conception with her husband, who is not impotent or sterile, is “conclusively� presumed to be a child

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15

of the marriage. This conclusive presumption may be challenged by showing that the husband was sterile. It may also be challenged by filing a motion for blood or genetic testing under Family Code §7541 but this has to be done within 2 years of the child’s birth. In addition, only persons with standing can bring this motion which is limited to the husband, child, mother and a presumed father as listed in Family Code §7611 and 7612. Even absent a recognized rebuttal, the court has discretion as a matter of due process not to apply § 7540 conclusive presumption of paternity when it would not further the statute’s underlying policies of preserving the integrity and stability of an extant marital family, protecting children from the stigma of “illegitimacy,� and promoting individual

Establishing parentage rights for Moms is a lot easier than establishing one for unmarried Dads. Moms can establish this by simply showing proof of her having given birth to the child.

Family Code §7610.

Establishing parentage rights, including custody and visitation rights, becomes more problematic with unmarried Dads because proving yourself as the biological father does not automatically make you the natural father of the child.

Under the family code, there are competing presumptions of paternity under a written voluntary promise or by which allows the non biological father to court order. be deemed the natural father of the child. (d) He receives the child into his home A typical situation is when boyfriend and openly holds out the child as his natugets girlfriend pregnant. Girlfriend for ral child.

See REYES, page 17 some reason decides to exclude boyfriend (e) If the child was born and resides from baby’s life so she breaks up with in a nation with which the United States boyfriend, does not give the boyfriend engages in an Orderly Departure Program any information about her delivery, and or successor program, he acknowledges does not state the boyfriend as the father that he is the child’s father in a declarain the birth certificate or decides to name tion under penalty of perjury, as specified someone else as the father. Girlfriend does in Section 2015.5 of the Code of Civil this because her parents disapprove of the Procedure. This subdivision shall remain ex boyfriend. in effect only until January 1, 1997, and on One way a presumption of Paternity is that date shall become Grand Canyon Bus Tour inoperative. created is by executing a voluntary decla(f) The child is in utero after the death ration of paternity. A Voluntary declara- of the decedent and the conditions set forth tions executed before 1997 give rise to a in Section 249.5 of the Probate Code are conclusive presumption of paternity and can be overcome only by blood or genetic tests ordered on noticed motion by the mother or presumed father must be made within three years of the date of execution Los Angeles to Manila Roundtrip CST#2073323-40 of the voluntary declaration Family.Code.

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JINGGOY

From page 1

From page 1

and healthcare.

He also highlighted the potential of tourism and how it can boost the country’s economy if maximized. “This is something that is still not sufficiently known outside the Philippines. The islands are beautiful, the waters are beautiful, you still need to push that more,� he said. Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co (PLDT) chairman Manny Pangilinan, meanwhile, said the current administration should also focus on “hard developments� to make growth inclusive.

He said government shouldn’t rely on “perceptions� for growth to be inclusive and sustainable. “Certainly the soft part of development is important, reforms, perceptions of the Philippines improving. But there are the hard parts of development as well. It can’t all be perception... The main reason why

inclusive growth is not as inclusive as it should because we’re mainly a consumption-driven economy, and it’s time to switch to an investment-driven economy,�

Pangilinan said.

He noted that deficiencies in infrastructure, agriculture, power and the rising inequality of income are deterrents to sustaining economic growth.

At the same time, Kaslan noted that the single term for the president may have contributed to the slow development. “Democracy is a means, not the end.

You have to get into the rulebook to change the rules. You have to use the political capital to do that to make things faster... Longterm vision is right, but it’s tough when you only have one term. That’s another case of the rulebook... You do need two terms, one term is not enough. Twelve years you can do long term,� he said.

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Senator Estrada earlier denied allegations that he misused his pork barrel allocations and transferred funds using bogus NGOs associated with Janet Napoles.

He lambasted what he described as “selective justice� in efforts to implicate him and two other colleagues while sparing others who were found to have channeled funds to Napoles-linked NGOs. “I did not steal a single centavo from public funds or from my PDAF. I did not conspire with anyone nor took undue advantage of my position to enrich myself or my family using public funds,� he said.

Estrada said he has the constitutional right to be presumed innocent until proven otherwise, adding that he is ready to defend himself in the courts.

He also pointed out that the Aquino administration is “hell-bent on jailing� the three indicted senators. “Makikita mo na talagang they’re really hell-bent on jailing the three senators.

Pagka kami, tatlong senador ang nababanggit, masyadong credible ang istorya ni Janet Napoles, ni Benhur Luy, ng listahan.

Pero pagka-iba ang involved, lalo na ang kaalyado ng administrasyon, napakaincredible naman, di ba?� Estrada said. “Diyan mo makikita na talagang namimili o selective justice na talagang tatlo lang kami pinupuntirya. Ako, wala na akong kalaban-laban pagka pinagkaisahan ka, pagka pinagtulungan ka, wala na akong other recourse. My only recourse is to slug it out, fight it out before the proper courts,� he said. (MNS)

THAI COUP From page 1

told reporters.

The United States had warned the Thai military, long a central player in the kingdom, to stay on the sidelines despite years of political upheaval. Secretary of State John Kerry voiced disappointment Thursday and said the coup had “no justification.�

Japan, by far Thailand’s biggest foreign investor overall, described the coup as “regrettable.� “Our country wants to call strongly for a prompt restoration of a democratic political system,� added Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.

Japanese auto giants that have invested heavily in Thailand were forced to stop night operations at their factories to comply with a curfew imposed by the new junta.

Toyota, the world’s number one carmaker which produces 670,000 cars a year in Thailand, said the curfew had halted

production at all three of its local assembly plants late Thursday.

Honda Motor also curtailed operations at its plant on Thursday, stopping four hours ahead of its original planned shutdown at midnight, a spokeswoman said.

But the military regime had granted permission to Toyota for Friday’s night shift to go ahead, the Japanese firm said.

India’s foreign ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin also voiced concern and said that some Indian troops who had gone to Thailand for exercises had been advised to return. ‘Unpredictable and volatile’ Thailand, while a US ally, has warmer relations than several of its neighbors with China, whose traditional stance has been to avoid “interference� in other nations’ affairs.

China called for restraint but, as in a previous coup in 2006, refrained from criticizing Thailand’s military.

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When piece-rate pay deprives employees of wages due under the law Q: As a piece-rate employee, I don’t get paid for a task if I don’t finish it by the end of the shift, even if I already spent time on it. I work at least 12 to 14 hours, but I may get paid $100 only. Is this fair? What are my rights?

A: If you worked 12 to 14 hours per day and paid only $100, you may be entitled to additional wages, even if you are paid per piece.

A piece rate is a fixed sum paid for each completed task, procedure or for that period. piece of work. Employers may legally pay If employers pay per piece, then the employees on a piece-rate basis rather than piece-rate scheme must be correctly and on an hourly rate. clearly outlined in the employees’ payHowever, piece-rate workers should stubs. receive no less than the minimum wage Piece-rate employees, like hourly emfor all hours worked. If pieceworkers spend ployees, are also entitled to overtime pay time doing other work-related activities if they worked more than 8 hours per day (e.g., pick-up or clean-up activities, work or more than 40 hours per week. The overmeetings, or work-related travelling), time pay is computed according to specific these are considered hours worked. If they methods provided by law.

Piece-rate employees who work overcannot earn their piece rate compensation because they have to do these other ac- time hours need to make sure that the emtivities, then they must be paid at least the ployer is not using the piece rate method minimum wage (or an agreed hourly rate) to avoid paying overtime. This was one

NYC Chinatown garment workers win $1.2 million in damages for labor law violations Manhattan federal judge awarded 13 Chinatown garment workers over $1.2 million in damages for unpaid minimum wage and overtime pay owed between 2005 to 2010. The plaintiffs were represented by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF).

The 13 Chinese immigrant garment workers were employed at the Walker Street Factory in Lower Manhattan six or seven days a week, regularly toiling over 10 to 12 hours a day or even longer when the factory was rushing to complete some garments. The factory produced garments primarily for two retailers, Dress Barn and Lane Bryant. (Neither of these companies were parties to the lawsuit.) The workers were paid by the piece and often did not earn the minimum wage or receive overtime pay.Beyond the labor law violations, the factory owed these workers over $110,000 in unpaid wages when it closed in October 2010. The two individuals named as defendants, Jun Reng Zhou, the factory boss, and Jin Xian Mei, the factory manager, both of Brooklyn, tried to blame others for failing to pay the workers, but the federal judge found their testimony “inconsistent and incredible.�

The defendants testified that they were

not the boss and manager of the factory, that the real bosses came to the factory at night when no one was there and calculated the wages, and then left the checks and cash for the workers. These same phantom bosses purportedly called Zhou and Mei to tell them to meet a person in a car near the factory to be given instructions or cash for the payroll. Of course, none of the garment workers had ever seen these imaginary bosses.

The decision describes how one woman garment worker was given a check for $150, even though she was owed $200. She pleaded with the manager to obtain the remaining $50 to buy food for her grandson, who was recovering from surgery, but the manager refused.

Ken Kimerling, AALDEF legal director and the attorney representing the garment workers, said: “Not all of the garments made for American manufacturers are made overseas. Garment sweatshops still exist in Manhattan, and workers are still not being paid overtime and minimum wages. This excellent decision shows that while some manufacturers may be spending more to monitor their work overseas, they still need to protect American workers as well.�

REYES

of the claims of California employees of Schneider Logistics, Inc., a company providing warehouse workers for large retailer, Walmart.

The employees were reportedly paid per the number of truck containers that they loaded or unloaded. However, even though they worked to load or unload a container, if that container is not completely filled or unloaded by the end of the shift, they will not be paid at all for that task.

It was not clearly explained to employees exactly how the piece rate plan worked.

The plan was apparently so confusing that even some attorneys had difficulty understanding it.

The employer’s piece-rate system was eventually found to be illegal and was then changed. However, since the employees worked double shifts of 16-hour days, 7 days a week without being provided man-

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

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From page 17

rather than State responsibility for child support ... as where the ostensible § 7540 presumptive father never developed a parental relationship with the child and the only established parent-child relationship is with a third person. Brian C. v. Ginger K. (2000) 77 CA4th 1198, 1200–1201, 92 CR2d 294, 296; In re Kiana A. (2001) 93 CA4th 1109, 1115, 113 CR2d 669, 675.

Procedurally, the ex boyfriend should file a Petition for Parentage as soon as the child is born. While the case is pending, the ex boyfriend may seek temporary visitation order although this may be on a limited or even monitored basis.

If successful in proving parentage, the ex boyfriend may be granted custody and visitation rights. However, the ex boyfriend would also have the obligation of paying child support based on California guidelines. Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed.

The specific facts that apply to your

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OPINION

Coup no solution to end crisis

by Boonradom Chitradon

BANGKOK, May 22, 2014 (AFP) – Thailand’s army chief seized power in a military coup Thursday, deposing its beleaguered civilian government in a bid to end months of deadly political turmoil but triggering US-led international censure.

The new military junta declared a nationwide curfew from 10 pm to 5 am and ordered demonstrators on both sides of the kingdom’s bitter divide off the streets after nearly seven months of political rallies in the capital.

The junta led by army chief General Prayut Chan-O-Cha banned gatherings of more than five people, ordered the ousted cabinet to report to the army and suspended the constitution – except for the section related to the monarchy.

“All Thais must remain calm and government officials must work as normal,” Prayut said in a brief televised addressing announcing the takeover, flanked by four of his top officers.

Moments before the coup, there were dramatic scenes at a militaryhosted meeting between the kingdom’s political rivals as army trucks blocked exits after the talks failed to reach a deal to end the deadlock.

Witnesses saw leaders of Thailand’s two main political parties and its rival protest movements taken away by the military. It was unclear if they had been formally detained but their whereabouts remained unknown hours later.

‘No justification’ The US, EU, France and others expressed deep concern over the developments.

Secretary of State John Kerry said there was “no justification” for the coup and that it would harm US relations.

He urged the restoration of civilian rule, media freedoms and “early elections that reflect the will of the people,” while the Pentagon said it was reviewing military cooperation with its longtime Southeast Asian ally. It is the latest twist in a nearly decade-long political crisis stretching back to an earlier coup in 2006 that deposed the controversial tycoon-turned-politician Thaksin Shinawatra as premier—a move that infuriated his supporters.

The military is viewed as a staunch defender of the monarchy and traditionally coups have needed the approval of the palace, although it was unclear if that was the case on this occasion.

Some observers see the crisis as a struggle to decide who will run the country when the more than six-decade reign of 86-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej eventually ends.

A Bangkok-based royalist elite and its backers have engaged in several months of escalating confrontation with the democratically elected government aligned to Thaksin, whose sister Yingluck was dismissed as premier earlier this month in a controversial court ruling.

Thaksin lives in exile after a corruption conviction, but he and his allies retain strong support in Thailand, particularly the rural north, and have won every general election since 2001.

Experts at the Siam Intelligence Unit, a Bangkok-based think-tank, expect an interim premier to be appointed within days and a junta government to be in office for one to two years during which time a “draconian” new constitution will be drawn up.

Some fear more turmoil.

“The coup is not a solution at all to end the crisis. This will become the crisis,” said Pavin Chachavalpongpun of the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies at Japan’s Kyoto University.

Drilon to fellow senators: Give anti-dynasty bill a chance MANILA, May 21 (Mabuhay) – Saying that the time is ripe for more changes to the country’s political system, Senate President Franklin Drilon on Wednesday appealed to his colleagues to give the anti-political dynasty bill a chance.

Drilon once again threw support behind the measure, which is being tackled at the committee level at the Senate.

“It’s time to end the long wait. I encourage our colleagues to give the bill a chance... Naniniwala po tayo na malaki ang magagawa ng anti-political dynasty law sa sistema ng pulitika sa bansa,” he said.

The House of Representatives started earlier this month plenary debates on the anti-political dynasty bill, the first time the bill was sponsored on the chamber’s floor in 27 years.

The proposed legislation seeks to limit the political power exerted by political families by prohibiting relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity to hold or run for both national and local posts in successive, simultaneous, or overlapping terms.

Article II Section 26 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that: “The State shall guarantee equal

access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”

More than two decades since the ratification of the Charter, however, Congress has yet to pass an enabling law defining what a “political dynasty” is.

Drilon, an administration ally, further said that reform measures, such as the anti-political dynasty bill, enjoy “a supportive political climate” under President Benigno Aquino III’s leadership.

“Let us provide an avenue that will allow for a constructive debate on this very important issue which would bring positive changes in our political system,” he said.

But Aquino – himself a product of political clan from Tarlac – had earlier said the anti-political dynasty bill is not among his administration’s priorities.

Fourteen of the 24 incumbent senators came from prominent political families.

A report showed that political families continue to have a strong hold in both local and national politics, although some clans were rejected by voters in parts of the country during the 2013 elections.(MNS)

EDCA useless, won’t protect PH territory – Bello MANILA, May 20 (Mabuhay) – A Philippine lawmaker believes the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) won’t provide any protection for Philippine territories in the West Philippine Sea as seen by China’s construction work at the Mabini Reef.

Akbayan representative Walden Bello said the Philippines cannot count on the US’ help because EDCA provides no protection for the Philippines in its territorial and sea disputes with China.

“The EDCA provides no protection for our territories in the West Philippine Sea. This treaty was not negotiated with the idea of deterring Chinese attacks in Luzon or Philippine territorial waters but specifically to be able to protect Scarborough Shoal, the 9 Spratly Islands and structures that we claim and our continental shelf - there is nothing in this treaty or this agreement that provides that protection,” he said.

He noted that the US has already stated several times that the Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines does not cover territories in the sea row with China because it was forged before the Philippines claimed ownership of the disputed areas.

He pointed out that the US has taken no action when the Chinese started laying claim to the Scarborough Shoal, Ayungin Reef and Mabini Reef.

He said the Philippines should have gotten the same specifics that Japan was able to secure from the US regarding the Senkaku Islands.

“With respect to EDCA, it provides no protection.

Unfortunately, [Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert] Del Rosario has sold this treaty as something that would protect our territories in the West Philippine

Sea but as we can see, the Chinese are constructing on Mabini Reef. EDCA is powerless,” he said.

“It is fairly clear that this is a useless treaty as far as our territories are concerned,” he added.

President Benigno Aquino on Monday accused China of violating a 12-year-old informal code of conduct in the South China Sea with land reclamation work in a disputed shoal.

China and the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) signed an agreement in 2002 to refrain from occupying uninhabited reefs and shoals in the sea, and from building new structures that would complicate disputes.

“In our view, what they are doing there now is in violation of what we had agreed in the Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea,” Aquino told reporters.

“The problem is this code is not binding, not enforceable, so we need to come up with a formal code of conduct to resolve the dispute and prevent any potential conflict.”

Last week, the Philippine foreign ministry released surveillance photographs of China’s reclamation work in Johnson South Reef in the disputed Spratly Islands. China appears to be building an airstrip, its first in the Spratlys.

Peter Paul Galvez, a Philippine Defense Department spokesman, said the military noticed the reclamation work early this year. A Chinese airstrip in the area could pose a serious threat to security and stability in the region, he said.

China has rejected the Philippine protest over its work on the reef saying it is its territory so China has the right to develop it.

Rebel returnees made the right choice – AFP chief MANILA, May 21 (Mabuhay) – Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista said that the 97 New People’s Army (NPA) fighters, who formally surrendered to the government Wednesday morning, made the right choice.

“The AFP welcomes all of you in making the right choice to rejoin the mainstream society. May this event send a message to the New People’s Army rebels that the solution to our problems cannot be achieved by waging violence,” Bautista stressed in his speech during the rebels’ formal surrender made at the provincial capitol in Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan Del Sur. Thirty-three of them were former NPA regulars while the rest were members of the Barrio Revolutionary Committees and “Militia ng Bayan.” Seventy belonged to indigenous groups, particularly the Manobos, while 12 admitted they

were recruited when they were still minors.

They received a total of P881,750 as remuneration for the 93 assorted firearms they surrendered to the military under the “Balik Baril Program.”

Since last October, the Cagayan De Oro-based 4th Infantry Division, through “Pagbabalik I, II and III,” has helped 204 former rebels.

The military was also able to recover 201 firearms from the rebel returnees and turned over a total amount of P4.2 million.

Many rebel returnees also received other support packages, including initial cash assistance of ₱15,000 and livelihood assistance of ₱50,000 coming from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process. Skilled farmers will also receive a one-hectare lot from the Department of National Defense for coffee farming.(MNS)

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Full disclosure: I look like a Chinese. Or, a Japanese. Or, a Korean Filipinos I don’t know talk to me in English because they identify me as any of the slant-eyed Asian nationalities other than a Filipino, who is of a Malay stock with olive brown skin and almond-shaped eyes. That is until they hear me talk in thick Tagalog-accented English, with a tinge of Kapampangan I inherited from my parents who speak the dialect at home.

My friends back home are just as surprised that I did not pick up an American twang despite living in the U.S. for 22 years now. Only because Tagalog is the most commonly spoken second language in California after Spanish even if India is located in South Asia and that you speak English only when needed, a neighbor to the Chinese whose physiusually when talking on the phone with call cal features are somehow the standard by center agents in Manila who are prohibited which Asians are bundled as a race. Well, from speaking their own language even except for Yao Ming. if you are having a hard time conversing A race of over-bookish super achievers, with your “Taglish�. The same way I’m as we are stereotyped. There is no dearth of not fluent in Spanish, a needed language studies and books placing Asians in Amerto understand and speak in America, de- ica as well-educated, gainfully-employed spite taking it for four years as a required and driving erratically in a Lexus on I-880. subject in college simply because we never The latest U.S. study by the scientists at converse in it outside of the classroom.

Queens College of New York, the UniverLike in sports, fluency requires practice. sity of Michigan and Peking University When I was in Tokyo in the late 80s, in Beijing revealed that Asian-American the parents of my girlfriend thought she schoolchildren tend to outperform their was dating a “sarari-man� (salary man). white counterparts in school because they The locals in Ho Chi Minh City cafes try harder. with topless baristas keep offering me Amy Chua, on her 2011 best seller, 555 cigarettes, which is like the Marlboro “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother,� was of Vietnam. In Singapore, the driver of a right in attributing this drive to excellence cab I took from the airport was complain- on the obsession of an Asian mother to ing to me in Chinese about his Malaysian push her children’s talents and abilities to neighbor while reliving the deadly racial the limit, the same way her parents drove riots between them in the 60s. her hard to succeed. Chua was born to ethLike being a Mexican. Anybody who nic Chinese parents from the Philippines. looks like Hispanic is dumped as a Her mother graduated magna cum laude Mexican even if one is from Guatemala from the University of Santo Tomas, with or Honduras, unless if you’re from Spain, a degree in chemical engineering. then you’re just white. The Pakistanis and In another controversial book, “The Afghans are confused as Indians who then Triple Package: How The Three Unlikely are profiled as Moslem terrorists even if Traits Explain The Rise And Fall of Cultur81 percent of them practice Hinduism, and al Groups In America,� the “Tiger Mom�

is at it again. This time she and her Jewish husband and co-author Jed Rubenfeld presuppose that culture, not the color of your skin, guarantees your success in America.

Chua argues that since the cultures of Asians, Indians, Nigerians. Cubans, Jews, Lebanese, Mormons and Iranians are far superior to those of African Americans, Appalachians, Mexicans, and Wasps and probably the rest of the other races, they thrive and prosper in the U.S. The chink in the armor, no pun intended, of the “Triple Package� that is supposed to shield these cultures from failure is that

the vast swath of the population of the countries where they immigrated from is still mired in poverty and illiteracy.

As a society, we are preoccupied with bundling races as one even if the people are of different descent. Are we all predisposed to be racist or are just too parochial in our thoughts we tend to exclude those who don’t belong in our comfort zone and identify them as somebody else even if they are not?

As for me, I look like a Chinese, have a heart and a mind of a Filipino and principles of an American.

Former president Ramos in town Sunday The Filipino Veterans Foundation has announced that former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos will be in Los Angeles and will grace their Sunday’s affair, May 25, at the Bob Hope Patriotic Hall in Los Angeles.

Event organizers said the event at 1816 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90015 will take place beginning at 2:30 p.m.

Philippine Consulate General officials are also expected to attend that is hosted by the Erasto R. Batongmalaque Foundation, a 501 (c ) 3 non-profit, charitable organization. Admission is free at the auditorium.

A reception will follow the “Bayanihan Event: Meet and Greet, Entertainment, Raffles in support of our Filipino-American Veterans Reception Program� at the Purple Heart Inn at 5 p.m.

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Don’t wipe out all your savings to pay debts Like most people, you’ve worked hard and have done your best to pay all your bills on time. But in life, at one time or another, we all find ourselves in a situation where debt can be overwhelming. Many people feel hopeless and powerless over their debt problems.

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MANILA, May 23 (Mabuhay) – Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono hailed on Thursday the selection of the Philippines as this year’s host for the World Economic Forum on East Asia (WEF-EA), referring to it as “a solid vote of confidence” for its remarkable economic achievements in recent years.

In his speech at the WEF-EA’s plenary session held at the Shangri-La hotel in Makati, Yudhoyono cited the good economic performance of the Philippines and Indonesia, which had Britain-based newspaper The Economist naming both countries as Asia’s “economic stars” last

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Evidently, Yudhoyono shared President Benigno S. Aquino III’s agenda of inclusive growth with his demand for social and economic mobility to address the issue of inequity that has been challenging Asia’s complete economic development.

“In my view, at the heart of the inequity is the question of social and economic mobility. I suppose we have to be realistic that there will always be people who are more well-off than others. But this becomes particularly problematic if mobility applies only for the few. The key challenge in addressing inequity is how to ensure that those at the bottom and middle also enjoy the same, if not more, socioeconomic mobility as those at the top; hence, mobility for all. And in this way, it doesn’t matter how many billionaires and millionaires emerge, so long as those at the economic bottom also get a ladder of a better life opportunity and progress, ” Yudhoyono said.

Yudhoyono said this particular thrust can be achieved through education – the “best weapon” against poverty – financial inclusion, and entrepreneurship, especially in the micro, small, and medium enterprises.

He noted, however, that “economic growth and equitable progress are not necessarily the same thing;” hence, there is a need for governments and institutions to come up with “true pro-poor” programs, which, he said, “have always been at the heart of Indonesia’s economic transformation.”

“Whatever the global ups and downs, I do believe that the intense pro-poor programs and social safety nets that they have instilled in the last decade will help make the Indonesian economy much more resilient in the face of uncertainty, and that Allah will lift us not just towards equality for all, not just towards equal opportunity for all, but towards mobility for all,” Yudhoyono said.

Apart from his participation at this year’s WEF-EA (his last as Indonesia’s President), Yudhoyono is also in the country for a state visit on President Aquino’s invitation. The two leaders are expected to discuss matters of mutual concern, including political, defense and border, maritime, economic, and socio-cultural cooperation at the Palace on Friday (May 23). (MNS) FOR MORE NEWS AND INFORMATION VISIT OUR WEBSITE

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We are expecting mortgage rates to rise, but will it go up despite the economic bad news in real estate industry?

We have all seen the headlines this past week, mortgage rates are up but are still under 4.5 percent. But this week the rates for 30 years mortgages slipped below 4% to 3.99%.

Mortgage rates did rise this past week but the general consensus is rates will stay low for awhile. In fact there is even talk of 30 year mortgage rates hitting a low of 3.5 percent sometime this year. There is a number of factors keeping rates low. First and foremost is the economy, we are experiencing the worst economic contraction since the early 80s and as a afloat. result the Federal Reserve Bank has been Mortgage rates had a very good run last keeping the Fed Funds rate at a target of week, going from the lowest levels in six 0% to .25% to keep economic activity months, to the lowest levels in 11 months!

Henares defends BIR’s Tax Watch ads MANILA, May 21 (Mabuhay) – Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Henares said that while it is still too early to know whether the BIR’s latest ad campaign has helped raise taxes, it has helped make professionals aware of their responsibility to pay the right taxes.

“We can really not know for sure yet whether the result comes out effectively… I would think there’s an effect in the sense that, like now because of the campaign, doctors are now becoming aware that this [is] their responsibility,” Henares told the Senate committee on ways and means.

She said that as a result of the ad campaign, the BIR has an ongoing dialogue with medical groups on their tax obligations.

“Now they become aware that this is their liability… The psychology of people [is such that] unless you’re at the edge, they don’t really mind us, they don’t really pay attention to taxes. All they would say is that, ‘I’m not a thief.’ But with the

South Korea’s Kumho to upgrade Puerto Princesa airport MANILA, May 20, 2014 (AFP) – A South Korean firm has won an $82.9-million contract to upgrade an airport at one of the Philippines’ hottest tourist destinations, authorities said Tuesday.

The government named Kumho Industrial Co. as the successful bidder for the Puerto Princesa project, in a process that was largely funded by a $71.6-million Korean Export-Import Bank soft loan and was only open to South Korean companies.

Puerto Princesa is the capital of Palawan island in the country’s southwest, with beautiful rainforests and beaches that is being marketed as an ecotourism destination.

“The ecotourism showcase that is Puerto Princesa, as well as the rest of Palawan, will soon have a modern, worldclass airport which we can be as proud of as the destination itself,” Transportation Secretary Joseph Abaya said.

Puerto Princesa airport handled 1.335 million passengers last year, way beyond its annual capacity of 350,000 passengers, according to the transport department.

The upgraded airport will be able to process two million passengers each year.

Kumho and its Korean consortium partner, GS Engineering and Construction, must deliver new passenger and cargo terminals and an air navigation system, as well as an apron and connecting taxiways, by early 2017.

campaign, basically it opened the door to a discussion with the sector,” she said.

The committee took up the a resolution filed by Senator Nancy Binay calling for an investigation of the BIR’s “shame campaign” after the agency released an ad that showing how a doctor who was not paying the correct tax burdened those who do.

Henares said the ad is part of a “transparency campaign” designed to let people know about their tax obligations.

“We view it more like a transparency campaign, making people aware that – because everyone is saying that they’re paying the right taxes – by making people aware that not everyone is paying the right taxes and here the data,” she said.

Henares is pushing for the passage of a bill that will rationalize tax incentives, saying that the grant of incentives to big corporations is the main reason why the BIR fell short of its collection target last April even if tax collection in general rose.

“Based on our April collection, the one that really put us down [are] big corporations. That’s why ‘yung mga corporations sa urban area. The explanation there is a lot of these people have fiscal incentives. That’s why we’re pushing for the rationalization of fiscal incentives,” she said. (MNS)

But by Friday the trend had reversed somewhat, with rates just slightly higher.

The question most people in the market for a mortgage loan are probably asking right now is - where will mortgage rates be this summer?

“Although it’s true that bond markets moved into weaker territory after this morning’s data, it’s even more true that the weakness looks like a mere continuation of yesterday’s. In other words, this move began just after 10am yesterday when Fannie 3.5s made it within 1 tick of 103-00 and 10yr yields dipped briefly into the 2.47’s. Stronger Housing Starts data contributed to the move, but given the counterpoints (super high multi-family component and not much growth in single-family), markets would have been within their right to trade in the other direction if they were so inclined. The missing ingredient for trading in the other direction was the absence of another European bond market rally. In a general sense, markets agreed that the super-aggressive rally would take a break today. We didn’t really see enough of a move in the other direction to conclude that a big bounce is about to happen, but perhaps just enough to be worried about next week.”

A quick explanation is that when bond prices go down, particularly MBS prices, mortgage interest rates go up. This could be the case going into this new week.

While the longer term rate predictions are pretty much up in the air due to a number of factors, and rates could continue to see new lows this year, in the short term it is possible that rates could bounce higher

before they get lower. This is something that those who are looking for a good rate for their home loan should consider.

The California mortgage company advises that those who are near to closing should definitely consider locking in these lower rates now, which are still near to the recent low levels, as there is always a risk that mortgage rates could bounce higher in the short term. Even those who have not started their loan process yet can benefit from this advice by locking in on application with a lender that allows for renegotiation. This will allow them to keep current low rates in reserve while keeping their options open in case rates dip lower before their loan closes.

For those who borrowers getting into loans, now I would suggest for them to lock in their loans. Some of you that missed the boat in the previous refinance boom? This might be the time to reconsider and get new quotes. My advice is always get a rate that will allow the lender not to charge you any points or what we call origination fees.

Thanks for your inquiries and comments, for a quick summary of the Real Estate Market this year, I suggest for you to go to this website and get a general idea: go to http://www.doctorhousingbubble. com/ this has a lot of up to date information relating to Real Estate directions that will help you in deciding when to start to invest in Real Estate.

Please call Ken Go of 1st Innovative Finance at 562-508-7048 or write to Kennethgo@verizon.net for your Real Estate Lending needs. Thanks for your referrals.

22

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Border Patrol advice: Be ‘readytraveler’ this summer WASHINGTON – Pack the sunscreen and camera, the summer travel season is upon us. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is encouraging travelers this summer to be a “ReadyTraveler” by educating themselves on the rules and regulations relating to international travel.

“CBP continues to make great strides to create a seamless, secure and passengerfriendly arrivals experience,” said Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske. “Programs

such as Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI and the Automated Passport Control kiosks help expedite the arrivals process, but travelers can make their own experience better by being a ‘ReadyTraveler’ and being aware of the requirements when entering the United States.”

CBP is undergoing modernization efforts to streamline the traveler’s inspection process, increase officer efficiency and reduce operating costs in order to provide

better services for all travelers entering the United States. More than two million travelers are now enrolled in CBP’s trusted traveler programs such as Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI and last year CBP launched the Automated Passport Control program, self-service kiosks that allow U.S. citizens and certain visitors to submit their customs declaration electronically.

The I-94 was also automated last year eliminating another paper international

travelers have to complete. These programs allow CBP officers to process travelers safely and efficiently while enhancing security.

Travelers can take additional steps to smooth their arrivals process by familiarizing themselves with U.S. rules and regulation before departing to avoid potential penalties and fines. And don’t forget to review the travel checklist to ensure you are a “ReadyTraveler” this summer.

Inihahatid ng Pechanga Resort & Casino: ‘Mega Star Sharon Cuneta Live sa June 14 Sa kakaibang pagtatanghal, saksihan ang pag-awit ng batikan at premyadong aktres na si Sharon Cuneta sa dinarayong Pechanga Resort & Casino Theater sa Temecula, California, alas-8 ng gabi, sa Hunyo 14.

Ang Pechanga Resort & Casino ay kilala sa pagtangkilik ng magagaling at mahuhusay na mga Pilipinong artista at mang-aawit kagaya ng beteranong actor na si Richard Gomez at OPM (Outstanding Pilipino Music) at maituturing na isang institusyon sa larangan ng pagkanta na si Rico J. Puno, na bigay todong umaaliw sa kagalakan ng mga manonood.

Upang mapaunlakan ang hiling ng publiko, at sa mga di nakadalo sa unang konsierto kamakailan, inimbitahan muli ng mga tagapamahala ng Pechanga Resort & Casino si Cuneta, upang mapaunlakan ang mga tagahanga nito at mga taga-tangkilik ng casino.

Narito ang pahayag sa Facebook ng ating bituing si Cuneta sa kanyang unang pagtatanghal sa Pechanga Resort & Casino: “ Kumusta sa lahat! Isinulat ko ito mula sa aking kuarto sa Pechanga Resort & Casino.

May nakapagsabi sa’kin na lahat ng tickets para sa concert ko mamayang gabi ay ubos ng lahat(!!!) at hindi ko maipaliwanag ang lubos kong kaligayahan sa oras na ito!”

Halos anim na buwan pa lamang ng matapos ang matagumpay na konsierto sa entablado ng Pechanga noong Disyembre

20, kasama ang kanyang anak na si KC Concepcion, bilang tampok na bisita, muling aawit si Cuneta at magahatid ng mga sikat na kanta sa kanyang mga tagahanga at kababayan.

Binansagan sa pelikulang Pilipino at sa bansa bilang ‘Mega Star’, sumikat si Cuneta mula sa sunod-sunod na pelikula na nagustihan ng mga kabataang tagahanga sa tambalang tampok ang kanyang naunang kabiyak na si Gabby Concepcion.

Ngayon bilang “ Mega Mom”, patuloy na pumaimbulog ang kasikatan nito bilang mang-aawit at aktres at naging abala sa ibat-ibang concerts at mga aktibidad sa pagkanta bukod sa pagpaplano ng kanyang araw-araw na palabas sa telebisyon.

Sa kanyang kabuuang pagtatanghal sa musika, nakapagtala si Cuneta ng may 40 album, karamihan ay naging kontemporaryo at klasikong patok at kilala hindi lamang sa Pilipinas gayundin sa ibang bansa.

Isang huwaran sa industriya ng pagkanta, ang nalalapit na pagtatatnghal ni Cuneta sa Hunyo 14 ay maghahatid ng mga kantang pinasikat ng tagapamahala ng lahat ng kanyang awitin na si Willie Ocampo.

Kaunti na lamang ang nalalabing panahon. Bumili na kayo ng tickets – mula $85, $75, $65 at $50. Ang tickets ay mabibili sa Pechanga Box Office o kaya’y sa www.

Pechanga.com/tickets. Ang room at show packages ay pwede ring bilhin. Upang makabili ng wheelchair na upuan, tumawag

lamang sa Box Office 1-877-711-2946.

Ang mga palabas sa Pechanga Theater ay naghahandog ng komportable at matiwasay na pakiramdam habang nanood ng mga konsierto. May 1,200 na upuan sa teatro, nakapaloob kada palabas ang pinagmamalaki at perpektong tunog sa kabuuan.

Ang paghahatid ng kagalakan sa panonood ng mga paboritong artista sa Pechanga maliban sa ibang lugar ay walang katumbas gayundin ng libreng pagparada ng sasakyan at sariling pagpaparada sa mga bisita, libreng casino/shuttles, gourmet at kaswal na kainang pamimilian sa lugar, gayundin ang komportableng upuan at kaaya-ayang tanaw mula sa kani-kanyang upuan sa teatro.

Patungkol sa Pechanga Resort & Casino Inaalok ng Pechanga Resort & Casino ang isa sa mga pinakamalaki at malaganap na kasiyahan na pang resort/casino kahit saan sa buong bansa. Hinirang na “Four Diamond property” ng AAA mula pa noong 2002, ang Pechanga Resort & Casino ay nagbibigay ng walang katumbas na paraan para sa isang araw o pangmatagalang marangyang bakasyon.

Naghahandog ng mahigit sa 3,000 sa pinaka mainit na slot machines, table games at world-class entertainment, 517 na kuwarto sa hotel nito, mga kainan, spa at championship golf sa “Journey at Pechanga,” ang Pechanga Resort & Casino

Aquino pitches Philippine tourism to WEF delegates, organizers MANILA, May 23 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno S. Aquino III invited delegates attending the World Economic Forum on East Asia (WEF-EA) to visit the country’s tourist spots and enjoy the Filipino hospitality.

“Tonight’s dinner gives us a chance to set aside our focus on the potential of the

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future to enjoy the present,” the President told the delegates during the welcome dinner soirée held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) on Thursday.

“Some of you here are likely already good friends, while others are still getting to know each other,” he said, enjoining

everyone to have a good time and prove to himself or herself that it is indeed more fun in the Philippines.

He said he was informed that WEF founder and executive chairman, Professor Klaus Schwab, spent a few days in one of the country’s most famous tourist destinations, the island resort of Aman-

ay tampok na destinasyon na tumutugon at humihigit sa kagustuhan ng mga panauhin nito at ng komunidad. Ang Pechanga Resort & Casino ay pag-aari at palakad ng Pechanga Band ng mga Luiseño Indians. Para sa karagdagang impormasyon, tumawag sa 1-877-711-2946 o pumunta sa www.Pechanga.com. Sundan ang Pechanga Resort & Casino sa Facebook. com/Pechanga at Twitter @PechangaCasino. Ang Pechanga Resort & Casino ay bukas ng 24 oras. Ang mga panauhin ay dapat na may edad 21 anyos at pataas para makapasok sa casino.

pulo in Palawan.

“I am glad that you found another reason to return to the country – and that, as it appears, you have not missed out on all the fun that our country has to offer,” the President told Professor Schwab.

“Of course, this includes the warm and friendly nature of the Filipinos you have met recently.”

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

Even light exercise helps control gestational diabetes: study (Relaxnews) – Exercise could be beneficial to women who develop diabetes while pregnant, curbing post-natal onset of type 2 diabetes, new research shows.

The study, conducted over a 16-year period, examined the behavior of nearly five thousand women who had a history of gestational diabetes of which over six hundred saw the disease progress to type 2.

Women whose exercise quotient matched, at minimum, the federal government recommendation of 7.5 hours per week, were almost 50 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

“These findings suggest a hopeful message to women with a history of GDM, although they are at exceptionally high risk for type 2 diabetes, promoting an active lifestyle may lower the risk,” says author Dr. Cuilin Zhang.

Researchers accounted for time and intensity in measuring exercise increments,

concluding that just over 10 minutes of vigorous exercise per day could significantly reduce risk.

In additions to complications such as pre-eclamplsia and high blood pressure for the mother, gestational diabetes poses significant risks to babies, including pre-term birth and heavier-than-normal birth weight.

Although gestational diabetes occurs solely during pregnancy, patients are at risk of the disease mutating for as long as five years after giving birth.

Long-term complications of type 2 diabetes include heart disease, strokes and kidney failure. It develops during adulthood and is considered a worldwide epidemic.

Published in JAMA Internal Medicine, the study was conducted by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health in Rockville, Md.

Two wheels good, four wheels bad: America learns to love the bicycle (Relaxnews) – The number of US commuters cycling to work has risen by approximately 60 percent over the last decade, according to a new study.

According to the US Census Bureau, an average of 786,000 employees cycled to work each year between 2008 and 2012, compared to just 488,000 back in 2000 – the largest percentage increase of all other commuting modes.

The health-conscious city of Portland, Oregon, is leading the way with the highest rate of bicycle commuters at 6.1 percent.

And it seems that men are more likely to cycle to work than the fairer sex, with 0.8 percent hopping on their bike to head to the office, compared to 0.3 percent of women.

However, it isn’t just cycling that is enjoying a revival, as increasing numbers of commuters are also opting to walk to work.

Just over 10 minutes of vigorous exercise per day could significantly reduce the risk of gestational diabetes progressing to type 2 diabetes. ©Monkey Business Images/shutterstock. com

Workers between the ages of 16 and 24 commute the most on foot, with 6.8 percent walking to work.

According to the report, the average walking commute time was 11.5 minutes, while the average bicycle commute was 19.3 minutes.

Overall the Northeast region showed

the highest rate of walking to work at 4.7 percent, while the West had the highest rate of biking to work at 1.1 percent. The South had the lowest rate of biking and walking to work.

An interactive map detailing the commuting habits of each state has also been published alongside the report.

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COMMUNITY

After wars, US struggles to provide care for vets

By Dan De Luce

WASHINGTON, May 21, 2014 (AFP) – The scandal over delays in medical care for US veterans has put the spotlight on a sprawling bureaucracy struggling to cope with an influx of patients with new ailments after a decade of war.

The Veteran Affairs Department (VA) was already under scrutiny over its slowmoving health service, but allegations that a Phoenix hospital maintained a secret waiting list and that up to 40 veterans may have died as a result have sparked a furious reaction.

The disturbing claims have placed President Barack Obama on the defensive, but he has cited the strain of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as an aggravating factor.

“We all know that it often takes too long for veterans to get the care that they need.

That’s not a new development,” Obama told a news conference Wednesday.

“It’s been a problem for decades. And it’s been compounded by more than a decade of war.”

Out of 22 million veterans in the country, including those who served in World War II, nine million are enrolled in the VA’s vast health care system.

The number of veterans receiving benefits and services has steadily grown in recent years and is expected to swell further as the United States pulls out of Afghanistan and older troops retire.

By 2015, the VA will be treating 6.7 million patients, an increase of nearly one

million patients – or 17 percent – since 2009, according to the embattled VA secretary, Eric Shinseki.

Gauntlet of red tape Apart from hundreds of thousands of troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, the VA must provide care for veterans from Vietnam who now have ailments related to old age.

The recognition of more than a dozen illnesses caused by the use of Agent Orange in Vietnam and a growing number of female veterans has further strained the VA’s system, according to officials and experts.

The cost of the medical care and benefits for veterans is rising dramatically, with the VA funding represents a quarter of the Pentagon’s budget, amounting to about $159 billion.

A third of the VA’s budget is devoted to health services, while the remainder goes to pensions for disabled veterans, assistance to homeless vets, education and other benefits.

But veterans often find that gaining access to medical care requires running a gauntlet of red tape and bureaucratic hassles, with incessant delays.

The agency has a backlog of more than 300,000 disability claims, with patients reportedly facing waits of more than four months. The backlog peaked at close to 600,000 cases in 2012, and officials say the trend is moving in the right direction.

“My attitude is for folks who have been fighting on the battlefield, they should not

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A Wounded Warrior walks out of the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House to participate in the seventh annual Soldier Ride, a cycling event to help them restore their physical and emotional well-being, April 17, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

have to fight a bureaucracy at home to get the care that they earned,” said Obama.

His comment echoed almost word for word remarks made by his predecessors, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, in decades past – a reminder that delays have

been a persistent failing at the VA. America’s wars after 9/11 have generated a range of ailments and injuries, including traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress, that require medical specialists.

SCE crew works with Fontana officials to safely return a fallen young bird to its nest

By Paul Netter

Even birds of prey sometimes need help.

In this instance, it was a young redtailed hawk on Monday that was probably trying to fly for the first time but had fallen and couldn’t return to its nest about 60 feet up on a transmission tower near Fontana’s Southridge community.

The Fontana Police Department, when notified by nearby residents of the hawk’s predicament, called Southern California Edison (SCE). The fire department responded first but quickly realized that returning the hawk to its nest was unsafe, leaving the job to an SCE crew.

“This time of year we often get these calls regarding a young bird that has fallen out of a nest on our facilities,” said Kara Donohue, an SCE senior biologist. This is a rather common occurrence with young birds almost ready to leave the nest.”

When Wayne Williams, an SCE Safety and Environmental specialist, arrived, Fontana animal services officer Jaime Simmons had already secured the hawk inside a compartment in her vehicle. They then, in consultation with Donohue and other SCE operations, explored their alternatives.

“In speaking with Kara, the best alternative was to reintroduce the hawk to its nest and its mother,” said Williams.

But trying to return one to a nest was new for Mike Ward, a senior transmission patrolman, and John Egan, a lineman, who had been around hawks, but had never handled one before.

Before the attempt, they were lifted up to the nest in a bucket truck to inspect it.

They found another young hawk in it and the mother, which flew out when they approached.

“We do a lot of climbing to wash insulators, so I’ve been close to birds’ nests,” said Ward. “I kind of knew what to expect from the mother and how she would react.”

Based on this and hoping to keep the grounded hawk from panicking upon its return, the crew came up with a novel approach.

Ward and Egan tied and knotted a rope to a five-gallon bucket and placed the hawk inside with the lid put on lightly. They then

Fontana animal services officer Jaime Simmons holds the young red-tailed hawk before it is returned to its nest.

were lifted up to a crossbar adjacent to the nest. Once there, they secured the bucket to the cross member, pulled the lid off and backed away.

And what happened next couldn’t have gone better: The hawk hopped out of the bucket and back into its nest.

The crew then quickly left, very pleased with the outcome.

“If we had just put the bird in the bucket, it would have probably panicked or tried to fly away again,” said Ward, of the process that took about 15 minutes. “But we put it in the bucket and turned it sideward and re-tied it to the steel tower and slowly opened the lid and backed away, allowing it to come out and hop back in the nest.

“It went just as planned.”

Williams agreed, saying, “From a personal perspective, it was very cool to see.

The mother became alarmed and stood up on the cross rail and made that unmistakable hawk noise. And we opted to leave quickly. The whole idea was to minimally disturb the nest and the birds.”

Donohue, who works in SCE’s avian protection program and advises field crews on protecting birds in the utility’s service territory, was perhaps the most pleased, saying, “The best option is to get [the hawk] back up in the nest or at the least off the ground and try and perch it in the tower or nearby vegetation so no ground predators can get to it.

“The best thing for them is to be raised by their parents and so if we can put them out of harm’s way, it’s better than taking them to a wildlife rehabilitation facility.”

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4,500 pirated DVDs confiscated from Pinoy store in Long Beach in the print. Then when you open it, there’s a purple glow on the back of the DVDs,” explained LASD Deputy Chris Figueroa.

This is the third Filipino business raid this year for alleged DVD piracy in Southern California. ABS-CBN has partnered with law enforcement and investigators to step up its anti-piracy campaigns throughout the world in 2014 to ensure that the content that is distributed, whether in DVD or digital form, is the best experience for its customers. Moreover, the company combats piracy as it is a known to finance other criminal activities, including terrorism, and it also impacts detrimentally the industry workers and communities.

“It’s all over the U.S. and all over the

world. Hundreds of thousands of people are losing their jobs due to the risks of counterfeiting and piracy. And with that, obviously we’re not able to fund schools and hospitals because we’re losing tax revenues that fund them,” said Sgt. Janice Munson of LASD COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services).

ABS-CBN has partnered with Los Angeles Regional Crimestoppers (www.

LACrimeStoppers.org) and they will investigate anti-piracy tips reported anywhere in the US. For more information, visit http:// abscbnantipiracy.wordpress.com/ (Reports from Nerissa Fernandez of ABS-CBN International & Steve Angeles of Balitang America)

(Clockwise from top left) LASD Deputy Chris Figueroa and Sgt. Janice Munson of LASD COPS explain how to spot pirated DVDs; LASD and private investigators raided F.L.B. Video Pinoy on Santa Fe Avenue in Long Beach, CA and seized thousands of pirated DVDs; Hundreds of illegally produced ABS-CBN content were confiscated; TFC Balitang America reporter Steve Angeles talks with investigator Kris Buckner; among the seized items were a disc burner and a burner tower that were reproducing ABS-CBN Star Cinema movies; fake DVDs from ABS-CBN lined up the shelves of F.L.B. Video Pinoy. (Photos by NMFernandez/ABS-CBN TFC)

LONG BEACH, CA, May 20, 2014 – The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) and private industry investigators stormed recently into a Filipino store at the Santa Fe Center on Santa Fe Avenue in Long Beach, California after an investigation found out that the owners were selling and renting out pirated DVDs. A total of 4,500 pirated DVDs with a value of over US$90,000 were confiscated

by LASD from F.L.B. Video Pinoy, together with a computer, external hard drives, a disc burner and a burner tower, among others, to duplicate DVDs illegally for rent or for sale at US$10 apiece. A fifth of the seized DVDs were films and TV shows from ABS-CBN’s Star Cinema and TFC. The said center on Santa Fe Avenue is a hub for Filipinos living in the City of Long Beach as it has an oriental supermarket, cargo and money remittance services, and restaurants serving Filipino and Asian

food, among others. F.L.B. Video Pinoy, which is a retail store offering media and telecommunications-based subscription services and pirated DVDs, was benefitting from the traffic of Filipino customers that flows into the area.

“I would say that this is a mid-level distribution and manufacturing. But we can’t be deceived by the small mom and pop type of shop because the amount of parts you can mass produce in a very short period of time is really incredible,” said Kris Buckner, president of Investigative Consultants (IC).

A Filipina described by investigators as a co-owner of the store was arrested during the raid while an arrest warrant was issued for the store’s owner, Fernando Legaspi Bernabe, who ran and lost for the Long Beach City Council four years ago. Both are facing felony charges.

The store has floor to ceiling metal shelves offering miscellaneous illegal DVDs including ABS-CBN titles for sale.

“You know it’s fake because the images on the cover are weird and there are typos

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Jocelyn Go, GWI Assistant Vice President for Sales and Marketing, noted on the positive response for Kapuso programs, “Buyers and other TV groups predominantly radiate positive and enthusiastic reactions when presented with GMA programs. This is an acknowledgment of the high standard and improving quality of our products.”

“Equally significant are the great relationships we have built with the other companies who attend these markets with us because their positive opinions are a reflection of GWI’s reputation and standing with our international partners,” she added.

Aside from MipTV, GWI also hosted a booth at the NATPE conference in Miami, Florida. Titles that were highlighted include Katipunan, Titser, The Politician (Bayan Ko), and Love Sonata.

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GMA Worldwide, Inc. (GWI) continues to showcase the best of what the Kapuso Network has to offer by participating in various TV content markets all over the world.

Over the years, GWI - being the global content distribution and acquisition arm of GMA Network - has opened doors of new opportunities for Kapuso programs and artists through content development partnerships and international distribution deals.

In April, GWI participated in the biggest gathering of entertainment industry professionals, the MipTV Market Exhibit in Cannes, France. Here, top television execs and creative talents from 100 countries had the chance to preview some of the Network’s latest programs for international licensing; among them Carmela, The Borrowed Wife, Rhodora X, Innamorata, Kambal Sirena, Paraiso Ko’y Ikaw and

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Permanent residence for caregivers and home care attendants (Paul Choi is an immigration attorney and professor of law located at 5900 Sepulveda Blvd. Ste 303, Sherman Oaks, CA. 91411. Atty Choi will answer all questions regarding immigration and naturalization for free. Address questions to pchoi@pchoilaw.com or telephone 818 714-2226. Atty Choi is pleased to announce that his administrator is Philip Abramowitz . His cell phone is 818 324-8110.)

Question: My cousin is a

nurse in the Philippines working in a small hospital there. She wishes work as a caregiver. Is it possible to obtain to come to the U.S. but she does not have a greencard as a caregiver now? How long a nursing license in the U.S. and has not does it take and what are the requirements? passed the CGFNS exam. However, she Will she be able to work in the U.S. legally has found a home health agency in the U.S. and bring her family here? which is interested in petitioning her for Answer: This question is very often permanent residence to come to the U.S. to asked of me and it is a very good question

because there is a great demand for qualified caregivers of home care attendants in the U.S. to care for our aging population and many Filipinos work presently in the U.S. as caregivers. It is a good occupation because there is no shortage of work and caregivers can earn a good living.

It is well known that professionals such as nurses, engineers and accountants can obtain permanent residence through the petition of a U.S. employer, but it is not as well known that non-professionals such as caregivers, home health aides, and nurse aides can also obtain permanent residence in the U.S. through the petition of a qualified employer.

Previously the quota for non-professional or unskilled workers was much longer and slower than the quota for professional and skilled workers making the lower quota much less attractive due to the longer waits. However, due to shrinking demand for unskilled, non-professional workers, the quota for caregivers and home health aides is now the same as the quota for skilled and professional workers such as engineers, accountants, nurses and the like. This is great and welcome news for all those persons who do not have college degrees or do not have job offers in the U.S. as professional workers. If these Filipino caregivers locate an employer in the U.S. willing to offer them a job as a caregiver and is willing to petition them, they can immigrate just as fast as other workers.

To qualify, the first requirement is a willing employer. The employer could be a company such as a home health agency that hires caregivers and then contracts their services to clients who are ill or disabled, or it could be a hospital or convalescent facility, or it can even be a individual who, for example needs a caregiver for himself or his or her family.

The petitioning employer must be will-

ing to proceed in the immigration petition process including filing a Labor Certification with the Department of Labor and an immigrant visa petition with the USCIS. The labor certification process is relatively fast and straightforward. This application is filed with the U.S. Department of Labor to show that the foreign worker is filling a position in the U.S. that is in short supply of available workers. The average processing time for the Labor Certification process is about 9 months.

After the labor certification is approved, the immigrant visa is filed with the USCIS and the approval is sent to the National Visa Center which handles the processing of the preliminary immigrant visa application for the U.S. Embassy in Manila. When the quota becomes available and current, the applicant proceeds to the U.S. Embassy and is issued an immigrant visa for herself and her spouse and minor children. The family then proceeds to the U.S. to start a new life here and new work.

It must be noted that although there are many persons who would qualify for an immigrant visa as a caregiver or home health aide, persons who a unlawfully residing in the U.S. ordinarily would not qualify since persons with unlawful status cannot adjust status through the petition of an employer while in the U.S. unless they qualify under section 245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act for having been the beneficiary of an immigrant visa petition filed prior to May 1, 2001.

However, for persons who are presently residing in the Philippines, the opportunity to immigrate to the U.S. based upon a job offer as a caregiver is very attractive.

(Paul Choi will answer all questions regarding immigration for FREE. Contact him at pchoi @pchoilaw.com or at 818 714-2226. As always, consultations in office are still FREE)

8th Historic Filipinotown 5K RUN June 14; new route, new challenge

By Arturo P. Garcia

Los Angeles â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The 8th Historic Filipinotown 5K RUN June 14, 2014 will take a different route after taking the TempleHoover Route for eight years.

This time, the 8th Historic Filipinotown 5K RUN will take the Bonnie Brae, Beverly to Robinson route and back.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a different route but a new challenge Temple-Hoover did not have. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the forward slope and the reverse slope back that will test the 5K runnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stamina and speed.

People will remember the same route was taken during the First 5K Run in 2006, The route was from Court Street to Roselake St to 3rd and Commonwealth St. and back. And then in 2007, it was changed to Temple and Hoover until 2013.

The event started by the Historic Filipinotown Neighborhood Council (HFNC) in 2006 as a part of the Historic Filipino Town Festival in honor of the designation of Historic Filipinotown district by the Los Angeles City Council in 2002, will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2014.

5K Run, A Filipino Independence Day Run Cecille Ramos, President of HFNC said, â&#x20AC;&#x153; This is the first time that the HFT 5K Run will be held separately from the annual Historic Filipinotown Festival usually held every August or summer of the year. This time, the 5K run will be held in honor of the 116th Philippine Independence Day celebrated every June 12 every year.â&#x20AC;?

Ramos explained.

On June 12, 1898, the Philippine revolutionary government declared the Independence of the Philippines from colo-

nizer Spain. That was the time before the American forces intervened and occupied Manila and started the occupation of the Philippines on August 13, 1898.

It took the Filipinos to initiate more than 300 revolts to finally raised a national revolution from August 23, 1896 to June 1898 to finally be free from colonialism.

The Philippines became the first Asian nation to declare its independence and be free from a European colonizer.

A Multi-Ethnc Community Sports Event According to the HFNC organizers, more than 6,000 runners have participated in the eight years of the 5K run from 2006.

At least more than 800 runners participate annually at the 5K RUN. HFNC President Cecille Ramos also said, â&#x20AC;&#x153; The 5K RUN became the prime feature of the Historic Filipinotown Festival every year and as a multi-ethic sports activity every summer in Central LA. The 5K RUN has been a successful event that added to the popularization of Historic Filipinotown as a cultural mecca and sports event for the Filipino-American Community.â&#x20AC;?

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ENTERTAINMENT

Mariel no longer interested in ‘PBB’?

Despite earlier rumors of her supposed return to her former home network ABSCBN, television host Mariel Rodriguez believes that co-hosting “Pinoy Big Brother” is no longer for her.

Rodriguez praised the hit reality show, which is currently airing its latest season with her former co-hosts Toni Gonzaga and Bianca Gonzaga.

“I think they are doing a good job there.

Everyone is nasa tamang lugar. Siguro it’s not for me anymore,” said Rodriguez who was with husband Robin Padilla.

For his part, Padilla said he is not inclined to allow Rodriguez to work right now.

“Huwag muna ngayon, kapag nagaral na ako. Marami pa akong gustong pag-aralan. Sa ngayon masaya pa kaming magkasama. Kami lang dalawa palaging magkasama. Kapag nagtrabaho siya at nagtrabaho ako, malungkot ‘yon,” Padilla explained.

Last year, rumors about Rodriguez’s return to ABS-CBN gained momentum after Padilla posted a video of his wife putting on make-up with the caption: “Dumating na ang Araw na aking kinakatakutan... Ang araw nang patawag ng mga kapamilya sa ABS-CBN, direk Lauren D.” Padilla was obviously referring to ABSCBN TV production head Laurenti Dyogi.

Actress Jodi Sta. Maria is open to the idea of having a new leading man despite the massive success of her daytime series with Richard Yap, “Be Careful with My Heart.”

Sta. Maria said she does not mind if she would be paired with another actor for her next project.

“Well I don’t mind. Right now siguro, one step at a time. Siguro let’s finish this first and afterwards maybe I can do another project with ABS-CBN, siyempre,” she said.

Sta. Maria admitted, however, that it may take some time before she can separate herself from Maya, her character in “Be Careful with My Heart.”

“I know it would be a big challenge for me to separate myself from Maya. Kasi people are now calling me Maya, not Jodi,” she said.

“I take it positively na naging effective ako [as Maya] but then, ikinagulat ko lang because I attended this children’s party then ‘yung mga kids came to me, asking me

Jodi Sta. Maria

to carry them as if I’m their yaya. I mean, it’s okay... Then ‘yung mga bata sumusunod lang sila, sabi ko hindi ko kayo pwedeng iuwi, hindi ako yaya talaga,” she said.

Sta. Maria said she never thought that “Be Careful with My Heart” will be a huge hit.(MNS)

Robin Padilla to play Bonifacio in biopic Mariel Rodriguez

Rodriguez left the Kapamilya network in 2011 to join Willie Revillame’s primetime game show “Wiltime Bigtime,” which eventually became the noontime show “Wowowillie.” It ended its run late last year.(MNS)

Cristine Reyes: beautiful and stress-free Cristine Reyes has learned how to keep herself stress-free.

How? The 24-year old actress said she refrains from working on three or more acting projects at once.

Cristine shared, “Mahirap po kasing pagsabaysabayin lahat. Mas maganda rin po na relaxed lang.”

She is in the long over-due “My Trophy Wife” with Heart Evangelista and in “The Gifted” with Anne Curtis.

The former was delayed because its first director, Elwood Perez, had to be replaced

by Andoy Ranay who decided to re-shoot some scenes.

Cristine would rather not detail why Elwood was replaced.

Meanwhile, shooting for “The Gift” has been erratic due to the conflicting schedules of its actors.

Cristine was quick to refute rumors that she has a new boyfriend.

When asked if she’s done posing for men’s magazines, she said, “If ever meron silang offer para sa akin, I’ll think about it. Right now I’m enjoying what I’m doing like drama, comedy with some sexiness on the side. Hindi ko sinasabi na tapos na ako sa FHM but right now I’m enjoying this.”

The actress was recently named ambassador for EB Advance, Ever Bilena Cosmetics Inc.’s flagship product.

“It’s a blessing and I’m very happy to be part of the Ever Bilena family. I tried the product before saying yes and to my surprise maganda siya at wala siyang difference from imported make-up products,” shared Cristine.

Proud of her new endorsement, Cristine has been sharing to followers on Instagram the EB Advance products she’s been using.

“Gusto kong malaman na rin ng mga tao na magaganda products nila,” quipped Cristine.

“Cristine is the epitome of a beautiful

Jodi on having a new leading man: I don’t mind

Filipina. It is also our flagship product.

Kung baga sa pelikula ito ‘yung tumatabo sa kaban ng Ever Bilena. And Cristine Reyes is a bankable star so kinakailangan ng bankable product din,” related an EB representative.

With Cristine, EB Advance aims to continue to empower Filipinas, especially those aged 24 to 30, “to bring out their beauty at its finest with affordable makeups that work wonders.” (MNS)

Action star Robin Padilla on Sunday confirmed that he will be playing Andres Bonifacio in an upcoming biopic of the Filipino hero.

Padilla said playing the “Supremo” is a dream come true for him.

“Dream role ‘yon lalo na para sa akin.

Pagmamahal natin sa mahal na Pilipinas,” Padilla said on the sidelines of the 45th Box Office Entertainment Awards.

The actor said he already met Bonifacio’s descendants.

“Ang larawan na ito ay kuha sa loob ng tahanan ng kung saan nilitis ang Gat Andres Bonifacio. Ang mga kasama ko rito ay ang mga direktang kamag-anak ng Supremo. Ang kanyang mga apo at apo sa tuhod, kasama rin ang may-ari ng bahay at aming direktor EnZo at ang kanyang lakambini Rina,” Padilla posted on his Instagram account.

Padilla said that he is still unsure who else will be in the movie.

“Hindi ko alam kung sino ang lalabas na Gregoria del Pilar pero hindi (si Mariel),” he said, referring to wife Mariel Rodriguez, who accompanied him at Sunday’s awards night. (MNS)

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NANNY/BABYSITTER Less than 65 yrs old or below. Full-time $1300/ mo. 5 Days a week live-in.

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LIVE-IN CAREGIVER Beautiful, private & established care home wanted female caregiver, will help with petition. Top $$. Call (951) 318-7436 or (951) 924-1990.

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email: advertising@balita.com

CAREGIVERS LIVE-IN Full-time. Experience preferred. In a board & care for elderly. LA/Beverly Hills area. Call from 10am to 6pm (323) 658-7660.

CAREGIVER NEEDED For DD facility. All shifts available. San Gabriel Valley area. Call Ferdie 626-354-9876.

WANTED CAREGIVER Preferably female for a 6-bed board and care facility for elderly. No experience necessary, will train the right person. Pls call 1-818-893-4554.

CAREGIVERS Looking for caregivers male or female in board & care facility. Santa Monica City.

Live-out, full-time job. $9/ hr, good reference, good English & hardworker. Call Maya 323-899-1391.

CAREGIVERS & ADMIN ASST. Live-in/out. For assisted living homes in West Side.

Will sponsor. Call Dimitri (310) 367-0104 MALE CAREGIVER Full-time live-in caregiver needed immediately for a board & care facility for elderly in Northridge.

With experience but not necessary. We will train. Pls call 818-742-8045.

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SALES PERSON •Previous sales experience minimum 2 years any industry•Good Attention to Detail, writing skills and email•Office, Word, Excel, Outlook and research•Organized and able to have good follow up skills•Located in Cerritos•Rate is $13 plus commission

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MALE / FEMALE OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR LIVE-IN CAREGIVER BOOKKEEPER BOARD & CARE FACILITY FINGER PRINTS CLEARANCE APPLY IN PERSON 6900 ROYER AVE. WEST HILLS 91307

Please call Adriana for interviews at

818-483-3638

MEDICAL RECORDS MANAGER Manage, direct & coord. in the maintaining & retrieval of patient medical records.

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ENGINEER, BROADCAST La18 KSCI-TV, home to Kababayan Today, is seeking an experienced engineer.

The Broadcast Engineer is responsible for daily maintenance and alignment of broadcast equipment, and support for on-air television production.

For more info on job duties and qualifications please visit: www.la18.tv/broadcast-engineer Submit resume and cover letter to: LA 18 KSCI-TV

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National Support Service Inc. is looking for

DSP/CAREGIVER Looking for full-time/part-time DSPs or caregivers.

Experience a plus.

ADMINSTRATOR Looking for full time home administrator. Experience preferred. Must have good communication skills, and good leadership qualities.

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CLASSIFIED ADS TEL.: (818) 552-4503 ext 402

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Must see! 213-385-3558.

MID-WILSHIRE-APT. 1 BR 1 BA $1,095, a/c, new paint, carpet, w/ parking.

322 N. Oxford Ave. Beverly & Western. Filipino manager. (626)795-7888.

APT. FOR RENT Move-in special. 1 BR, laundry, covered parking.

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Manager: Mercy (213) 4835117.

Fax: (818) 550-7635

APT. FOR RENT Hollywood. 1 BR $1,100; Single $875 brand new hardwood Ă&#x20AC;r, intercom entry, a/c, TFC cable ready, gated parking, pool, near Sunset & Wilcox, no pets.

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(323) 462-3573 HOLLYWOOD APT. $1,550/Mo. 2 Story unit like a townhouse 2 BR, 2 ½ BA, 2 balconies, hardwood & carpet Ă&#x20AC;r, central a/c & heating, 2 car garage parking, ref, gas stove & microwave oven, laundry fac.

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BEDSPACE Free utils. w/ Filipino channel. Close to bus stop bet Beverly Bl. & Oakwood Ave. Bedspace $325 + dep.

No parking avail. Ideal for a caregiver. 323-691-0899 FEMALE ROOMMATE $650/mo. Free utils, with own bath & shower room.

Sunset & Alvarado, LA. Near bus stop, etc. Call 213-483-6252 or leave clear message, name & tel # or 213-590-3833.

ROOM FOR RENT Furnished room near Downtown LA close to Harbor frwy for single.

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For more news & information, VISIT OUR WEBSITE

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FIGHTING GREEN ANIMAL TESTING

GO PRAYERS

PRAYERS

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

Grateful Thanks -PHIL

PRAYER to the BLESSED VIRGIN (Never known to fail)

Oh most beautiful Ă&#x20AC;ower of Mt. Carmel, fruit wine splendor of Heaven.

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

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INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO PLACE CLASSIFIED/JOB MARKET ADS

BY PHONE

BY FAX

818-552-4503

818-550-7635

Please have this information ready: Company Name, Contact Person, Address, Phone # and Fax #. Payment is made using a credit card.

Faxed ads should include this information: Company Name, Contact Person, Address, Phone # and Fax #. Payment is made using a credit card.

BY SNAIL MAIL OR E-MAIL 520 East Wilson Ave. Ste. 210 Glendale, CA 91206

advertising@balita.com

Check or Money Order should be made payable to Balita Media Inc.

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Weekend, Sat. - Fri., May 24 - 30, 2014

Balita

Balita

LOS ANGELES

Weekend, Sat. - Fri., May 24 - 30, 2014

Visit www.Balita.com

35

FOOD & DINING

FAMILY FEATURES

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ou can turn any summer day into a special occasion with a cool ice cream treat. From classic favorites to innovative new flavors, it only takes a scoop or two to bring out plenty of smiles.

For kids, summertime is about chilling out, and there’s no better way to enjoy this slowed down pace than with a refreshing, frosty treat. Celebrate birthday parties, holiday gatherings or days that end in “y” with special ice cream concoctions that are destined to create sweet memories.

Celebrate summer Grab a spoon and dig into these scrumptious recipes, featuring delicious Blue Bunny ice cream flavors. These treats make it easy for everyone to customize to their own sweet preference, whether it’s pairing creamy Blue Bunny ice cream with the gooey goodness of freshly-baked chocolate cake, the buttery finish of a flaky pie crust or in a classic, richly adorned parfait.

For other great ideas to cool down your summer days and nights, visit www.BlueBunny.com.

Layer Up with a Topping Station The sky’s the limit when it comes to the finishing touches of your favorite ice cream treats. Whether you’re indulging in a decadent parfait or simply dishing out a couple of scoops, it’s easy to get everyone involved in a topping soiree.

A topping station is the perfect activity for birthday parties or other kid-oriented summer celebrations.

Just make sure the station is easily accessible — at their level — and place each topping in its own special bowl or serving dish along with a spoon. Also, be sure to label each topping in case anyone has a food allergy, especially when serving nuts and fruits.

The little ones will have a blast mixing different tastes for the perfect sweet combination. Here are some tasty topping ideas to take your ice cream topping bar to a whole new level: 

Colorful sprinkles



Maraschino cherries



Icing



Mini chocolate chips



Gummy bears



Chocolate candies



Strawberry slices



Pineapple chunks



Banana chunks



Chopped pecans, peanuts or almonds



Crushed cookies

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Crushed mint candies



Fruit preserves

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Whipped cream

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Hot fudge or caramel

1 1/8 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup butter, softened 1 cup white sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup brewed coffee 1 container Blue Bunny Caramel Fudge Brownie Sundae, Vanilla or your favorite Blue Bunny flavor Decorations (such as sprinkles, cupcake skewers, cherries) To make cupcakes, preheat oven to 350°F. Place cupcake liners in cupcake pan. Sift

together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt.

Set aside. In medium bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and beat well. Add flour mixture, alternating with coffee. Beat until just incorporated.

Fill cupcake liners about 1/3 full to allow for ice cream. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cupcakes cool.

Using round ice cream scoop, scoop out rounds of ice cream and set on baking sheet in freezer. Once ice cream scoops are frozen, carefully place one into each cupcake and top with fun decorations.

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SPORTS

11-year-old Li qualifies for US Women’s Open LOS ANGELES, May 20, 2014 (AFP) - At age 11, American Lucy Li has become the youngest player to qualify for the US Women’s Open, tournament organizers reported on their web site Monday night.

Li, of Redwood City, California, earned

her spot in the tournament by firing rounds of 74 and 68 at a sectional qualifying tournament. The previous record for the youngest player in the event was Alexis Thompson who competed at 12 years, 4 months, 18 days in 2007.

In 2013, Li took part in the US Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship where she missed the cut.

The 2014 US Women’s Open will run from June 19-22 at Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

Silver will allow wife to sell Clippers: reports LOS ANGELES, May 23, 2014 (AFP) – Embattled Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling has surrendered control of the NBA club to his estranged wife Shelly, who is in talks with the league to sell the team, according to media reports Friday.

Celebrity gossip website TMZ reported Sterling, banned for life from the NBA this month by league commissioner Adam Silver for racist comments that have damaged the league, realized the league would force him to sell eventually, citing unnamed sources close to the Clippers organization.

The move would allow Shelly Sterling and her attorneys to control some terms of the sale, as she was not banned by the league.

TMZ reported Shelly Sterling, who has a secondary ownership stake in the Clippers, is prepared to sue the NBA if the league orders an involuntary sale of the team.

“Shelly Sterling’s preference has always been to find a way to resolve this dispute amicably with the NBA in a mutually satisfactory manner,” TMZ quoted Shelly Sterling attorney Pierce O’Donnell as saying.

ESPN reported that Shelly Sterling was in talks with the league to orchestrate a sale. The NBA, in a response to the latest reports, would not confirm any talks with

her, saying only that it remains on target to conduct a June 3 hearing before league owners at which Donald Sterling could be stripped of the Clippers.

“We continue to follow the process set forth in the NBA constitution regarding termination of the current ownership interests in the Los Angeles Clippers and are proceeding toward a hearing on this matter on June 3,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement.

NBA owners are expected to vote upon Sterling’s fate after the hearing, likely ending his tenure as owner of the Clippers if it gets that far.

Sterling has until Tuesday to make a formal reply to the league’s charges against him.

The league previously has said that while it has no ban on Shelly Sterling, her ownership stake would be terminated if her husband is tossed out as the Clippers owner under terms of the franchise agreement Donald Sterling signed when he bought the club for $12 million in 1981.

The Clippers are valued at nearly $600 million by Forbes magazine and could fetch substantially more given the publicity and potential bidders could include Magic Johnson, Oprah Winfrey and unbeaten boxer Floyd Mayweather.

Shelly Sterling has more leverage against Donald Sterling than the league, given the potential for obtaining property in a potential divorce.

While ESPN reported the NBA has not agreed to any Shelly Sterling-orchestrated deal just yet, such a move could produce a quick settlement to the scandal that would give the league faster closer than a potentially messy court trial and enable the Sterlings to profit from the asset of the club, a long-time loser coming off the winningest regular season in team history.

Assessing fair market value for the team could be a sticking point, as a deal would have to satisfy the Sterlings and the league and any new owner would have to be approved by other league club owners not just win a bidding war for the Clippers.

The mess began a month ago when TMZ posted a recording of Donald Sterling saying he did not want his girlfriend bringing black people to Clippers games or posting photos on social media of herselves with black people.

Sterling later apologized, said he had made a “terrible mistake” and the 80-yearold real estate tycoon claimed he was goaded into making the comments as he was trying to seduce the woman, known only as V. Stiviano.

Balita

Five reasons why Serena can be beaten PARIS, May 22, 2014 (AFP) – Five reasons why 17-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams can be beaten at the French Open: Getting old: At 32, Serena will be among the veterans at Roland Garros and, as has been seen with Roger Federer, age catches up with all tennis players eventually. She says that like good wine she improves with age, but a fortnight of bruising claycourt play at Roland Garros could turn that wine to vinegar.

Injury woes: Serena has been beset with injuries over the last few years although she was healthy for most of last year when she won in Paris and New York. A back injury hit her at the Australian open and she was forced out in Madrid two weeks ago with an injury to her left leg. Admits she is not 100% fit.

Clay constraints: Clay always has been and will remain Serena’s least favourite surface. Only two of her 17 Grand Slam titles came on clay in 2002 and last year and her movement on the red dirt has hardly improved over the years as she uses her power to compensate. The surface also takes some of the sting out of her big service game.

Crowd pressure: Serena loves Paris, but Paris has not always loved Serena. The centre-court faithful at Roland Garros have booed and jeered her before, notably against their favourites Justine Henin and Amelie Mauresmo, at times reducing her to tears.

She won some converts last year by conducting her courtside interviews in French.

Balita

Weekend, Sat. - Fri., May 24 - 30, 2014

LOS ANGELES

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38

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Balita

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MOTORING

Volvo releases 100 self-driving cars on Swedish roads (Relaxnews) – The Swedish manufacturer’s ambitious trial of 100 ‘highly autonomous cars’ navigating the real driving conditions of public roads is now underway. The first stage of the Drive Me project, announced in December, is currently taking place in and around the

Swedish city of Gothenburg.

“The test cars are now able to handle lane following, speed adaption and merging traffic all by themselves,” outlined Erik Coelingh, Technical Specialist at Volvo Car Group. It’s a key step towards the cars’ functioning on an even more autonomous

The autonomous vehicles in Volvo’s Drive Me project free up drivers’ hands for other tasks. ©Volvo

CARSPECS USA main partner Romeo Morales with his staff – the men and women behind the success of CARSPECS USA – invite Filipino-Americans in Southern California to experience today’s “very personalized” car buying approach that focuses on customer’s specific preferences on any car model. Find the car that is tailored for you by visiting these fine men and women at CARSPECS USA located at 1678 Broadway, Anaheim, CA 92802. Or, visit their website is: www.CARSPECSUSA.net or call: 626-244-4262.

level through Volvo’s Autopilot technology, which aims to “allow the driver to hand over the driving to the vehicle, which takes care of all driving functions.”

The Drive Me project is a joint initiative between Volvo, the Swedish Transport Administration, the Swedish Transport Agency, the Lindholmen Scientific Park and the city of Gothenburg. The trials mark another step towards the development of entirely autonomous cars for serial production by 2020.

Earlier this year, Volvo announced an innovative project that involved placing magnets under roads to help self-driving cars determine their position among lanes,

thus keeping them from running off the roads or into each other.

The solution could also be used to make lanes narrower, Volvo suggests, or to alert winter maintenance crews to the presence of snow-covered objects on the roads.

Volvo has been involved in the development of 100 percent self-driving vehicles for several years now. The car maker participated in the SARTRE project (Safe Road Trains for the Environment), developed an automated parking solution and is one of around 20 European manufacturers taking part in the AdaptIVe project (Automated Driving Applications & Technologies for Intelligent Vehicles).

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Volvo releases 100 self-driving cars on Swedish roads (Relaxnews) – The Swedish manufacturer’s ambitious trial of 100 ‘highly autonomous cars’ navigating the real driving conditions of public roads is now underway. The first stage of the Drive Me project, announced in December, is currently taking place in and around the

Swedish city of Gothenburg.

“The test cars are now able to handle lane following, speed adaption and merging traffic all by themselves,” outlined Erik Coelingh, Technical Specialist at Volvo Car Group. It’s a key step towards the cars’ functioning on an even more autonomous

The autonomous vehicles in Volvo’s Drive Me project free up drivers’ hands for other tasks. ©Volvo

CARSPECS USA main partner Romeo Morales and his staff – the men and women behind the success of CARSPECS USA – invite Filipino-Americans in Southern California to experience today’s “very personalized” car buying approach that focuses on customers’ specific preferences on any car model. Find the car that is tailored for you by visiting these fine men and women at CARSPECS USA located at 1678 Broadway, Anaheim, CA 92802. Or, visit their website at www.CARSPECSUSA.net or call (626) 244-4262.

level through Volvo’s Autopilot technology, which aims to “allow the driver to hand over the driving to the vehicle, which takes care of all driving functions.”

The Drive Me project is a joint initiative between Volvo, the Swedish Transport Administration, the Swedish Transport Agency, the Lindholmen Scientific Park and the city of Gothenburg. The trials mark another step towards the development of entirely autonomous cars for serial production by 2020.

Earlier this year, Volvo announced an innovative project that involved placing magnets under roads to help self-driving cars determine their position among lanes,

thus keeping them from running off the roads or into each other.

The solution could also be used to make lanes narrower, Volvo suggests, or to alert winter maintenance crews to the presence of snow-covered objects on the roads.

Volvo has been involved in the development of 100 percent self-driving vehicles for several years now. The car maker participated in the SARTRE project (Safe Road Trains for the Environment), developed an automated parking solution and is one of around 20 European manufacturers taking part in the AdaptIVe project (Automated Driving Applications & Technologies for Intelligent Vehicles).

40

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additional features which are standard like foglamps and dual exhaust â&#x20AC;&#x201C; not available in the more popular midsize competitors. The U.S News and World Report described the Optima as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;good valueâ&#x20AC;? among midsize cars because of its high-end available features, long warranty and strong engines.â&#x20AC;? The 2014 Kia Optima was also named IIHS Top Safety Pick for its advanced airbag system all the way to its Anti-Lock Brake System. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kia is a great product,â&#x20AC;? Californiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Number 1 Kia dealership Car Pros Kia Carson General Manager Juan Alarcon emphasized during a recent interview with Weekend Balita. Kiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most popular vehicle â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the midsize Optima â&#x20AC;&#x201C; was designed by no less than Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer who used to work for Audi.

Car Pros Kia Carson ranks Number Eight in the whole state of California for car dealers of any brand, including Japanese, European or domestic vehicles. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In 2012, Car Pros Kia of Carson was among the top 20 car dealers in the whole of United States, of any make,â&#x20AC;? Alarcon said.

But while Kia maybe the fastest selling vehicle brand in the U.S. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Car Pros Kia of Carson is selling more than 600 cars a month â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Alarcon attributes hard work, a friendly staff and the excellent service that Car Pros Kia of Carson provides as the reasons for the dealershipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rise to become a member of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s elites.

In spite of these accolades, Alarcon said â&#x20AC;&#x153;we remain focused as we know that there is always room for improvement.

There is always room there.â&#x20AC;?

If you want to find out why Kia is among the leading car brands of today, drop by Car Pros Kia of Carson at 21243 S Avalon Blvd, Carson, CA 90745 (telephone # 310-221-9131), or at Car Pros Kia Huntington Beach at 18835 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach, CA 92648 (714-613-1119) and last but wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be the last, at Car Pros Kia Glendale at 400 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91204 (818) 745-1400. Call now.

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IRVINE, Calif., May 1, 2014 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; With Kia Motors America (KMA) celebrating its 20th anniversary, the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s firstquarter momentum continued into April with record sales of 53,676 vehicles, a 12.9-percent increase over the same month in 2013. Record monthly sales were led by the U.S.-built Optima midsize sedan with 14,589 units sold, while the Soul urban passenger vehicle achieved an all-time single-month sales record of 14,403 units sold.

In addition, Kia marked the sale of its five millionth vehicle in the U.S. in April and entered into the top 10 among mass-market brands in J.D. Powerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest Customer Service Index (CSI) Survey. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Kia brand has grown and matured in this market for two decades, and we reached another significant milestone in April by selling our five millionth vehicle in the U.S., which is a testament to our philosophy of advancing value to new levels of sophistication with world-class design, advanced technology and outstanding quality in every segment in which we compete, from sub-compact to luxury,â&#x20AC;? said Michael Sprague, executive vice president of sales and marketing, KMA. Kiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aggressive product launch cadence continued in April with the world debut of the completely redesigned 2015 Sedona at the New York International Auto Show.

Scheduled to arrive in showrooms in October of this year, the all-new Sedona will join the K900 flagship sedan â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which continues to arrive in select showrooms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in supporting Kiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s long-term strategy to concentrate on quality, strengthen the brand, elevate the ownership experience and identify and enter new segments for growth.

The design alone is exceptional. Kiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most popular vehicle â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the midsize Optima was designed by no less than Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer who used to work for Audi. Compared to other leading Asian brands, the Kia Optima possesses

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A glimpse of the K900 flagship sedan at the Car Pros Kia of Carson showroom. Photo: Rhony Laigo

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Den Concepcion (left) says he went to four different car dealerships but was turned down until he decided to go to Victory Autos, and now enjoys driving his new ride. If you have similar problems like Den’s, give Victory Autos a call at (626) 859-9199 and you too will be amazed at the “magic” that Victory Autos Inc.’s owner Hedi Trinidad (center) does to his clients.

Buying car is easy at Victory Autos In-house financing helping customers with credit problems My name is Kyle. I went to Victory Autos to try and get a car. I am very fortunate to have been helped by such good people.

Everybody is friendly. I came with my friend, Den, who also got his car from this company. Before going to Victory Autos, I used to carpool with friends . I went to different car dealerships and I was given a hard time because of my credit score. I was already being shy of asking for favors from my friends but I had to do my thing because I really needed a car. Unfortunately, I still wasn’t able to get a car.

Everybody here in Victory Autos helped me out , from every person in the staff, to their boss, Sir Hedi. Thank you so much!

And to all my friends, I would like to recommend Victory Autos if you need a car. – Arles Venzon 4 dealerships say no, but Victory says yes I went to 4 different dealerships and was not approved. My wife found the ad on the newspaper, and same afternoon, I came home with a BMW. A very friendly environment to be with. Professionalism is beyond expectation. It’s a place where anyone would be able to make a deal confidently.

A year after, I brought my friend, Kyle Venzon and he is not disappointed. In addition, we got a free lunch and ice cream.

Definitely the first but not the final referral. – Den Concepcion

Backed by their 25 years in car business, Victory Autos is dedicated to offering high-quality, pre-owned vehicles to our customers. From the moment you walk through our door, “we’re committed to providing you with a great car-buying experience. With our skilled sales staff and financing options, we’ll help you get the vehicle you want, at the great price you deserve,” Trinidad said.

Victory Autos is dedicated in providing the ultimate automobile buying experience. Victory Autos is your #1 source for buying a quality pre-owned vehicle at wholesale price. We have extensive relationships in the dealer community allowing us to purchase a wide variety of lease returns and new car trades at exceptional values. This enables Victory Autos to pass along huge savings on the highest quality vehicles of your choice. In addition, we offer a full array of financing options to meet your needs.”

For more details, please visit Victory Autos Showroom at 791 E. Arrow Highway, Azusa, CA 91702, (626) 859-9199 or (626) 969-6169; Victory Auto Broker at 1579 E. Amar Road, West Covina, CA 91792, (626) 253-7576; and Victory Auto Care at 352 S. Irwindale Avenue, Azusa, CA 91702, (626) 334-7573.

For more information, please call Victory Autos’ toll free number at 1-877821-7145. Or, visit their website at www. victoryautoconnect.com.

Fiat boss eyes Maserati, Alfa Romeo for recovery GRUGLIASCO, May 22, 2014 (AFP) – Italian automaker Fiat’s chairman John Elkann on Thursday said the company was pinning its hopes for recovery on the luxury market as he showed off the factory where the famous Maserati brand is produced near Turin in northern Italy.

“A big part of Fiat’s premium strategy is based on brands like Maserati and Alfa Romeo,” Elkann said at the plant in Grugliasco, where there was also a shareholder meeting celebrating Maserati’s 100th anniversary.

The two brands “aim to produce unique cars capable of putting together the most advanced technical excellency with the Italian style loved around the world,” he said.

Fiat sold 2,367 Maseratis in the first quarter of the year – 331.1 percent more than in the same period in 2013 -- and it is aiming for 50,000 models a year by 2015.

There was a marked increase during the quarter in Maserati sales in Italy and other parts of Europe where the market had been badly hit by the economic crisis and the number of models sold also went up 341.7 percent in the United States.

Alfa Romeo is also aiming to ramp up production to 400,000 vehicles a year from 2018 from 74,000 in 2013.

Fiat as a whole sank into the red in the first quarter, losing 319 million euros ($444 million) mainly on costs associated with its takeover of US car maker Chrysler.

Vehicle shipments were up 9.1 percent from the year-earlier quarter to 1.1 million units, and net revenues gained 12.3 percent to 22.1 billion euros.

Gains came in sales in North America and the Asia-Pacific region, and revenues from luxury brands nearly doubled, including Maserati, where revenues were four times higher in the quarter.

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Mercedes-Benz hits record April sales May 1, 2014 – Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported bestever April sales with 29,329 units sold across the Mercedes-Benz, Sprinter and smart model lines, rising 12.1% from the 26,157 retails in April 2013. Mercedes-Benz alone totaled 25,887 vehicles for the month, an increase of 9.5%, while Nelson Sioson, the Filipino year-to-date volumes Fleet Manager at Mercedesfor the brand reached Benz of Long Beach.

98,501, up 6.1% from the same period last year. Adding year-to-date sales of 7,018 for Sprinter Vans and 3,285 units at smart, MBUSA posted a year-to-date grand total of 108,804, marking the

best second quarter start in its history.

April sales for the Mercedes-Benz brand were led by the C-, E- and M-Class model lines. The E-Class took the lead with 6,056 units, an increase of 36.7% from April 2013, followed by the C-Class at 5,114. The M-Class, volume leader in the Mercedes-Benz SUV lineup, rounded out the top three at 3,831, up 16.8% from the same month last year. At the high end, the flagship S-Class achieved its seventh month of double-digit year-over-year sales gains with 1,909 units sold in April, up 73.1%.

Both the Sprinter and smart model lines delivered double-digit growth in April. The newly redesigned Sprinter lineup posted April volumes of 2,394, rising 29.1% from the 1,855 units sold in April 2013. Monthly retails on the smart side hit an all-time high of 1,048, climbing 57.1% over the same month last year.

The company’s AMG high-performance models finished the month up 75.3% at 1,006, with year-to-date volumes jumping 74.6% to 3,836. Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC

diesel models delivered April sales of 1,533, increasing 30.9%, and 5,456 year-to-date, up 6.6% when compared to the 5,116 diesel units sold during the same period last year.

Separately, Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) recorded sales volumes of 9,705 vehicles in April, an increase of 10.9% compared to the 8,748 units sold during the same month last year. On a year-to-date basis, MBCPO sold 37,755 units, up 14% from the 33,118 vehicles sold through April 2013.

Now, isn’t it about time you join the list of new Mercedes-Benz owners? Why not? Call our kababayan Nelson Sioson, the Filipino Fleet Manager at MercedesBenz of Long Beach for the best in deals, among the best, if not the best in Southern California.

He will guide you in choosing what Mercedes-Benz is right for you. And don’t worry, Mercedes-Benz is not just for those who “can afford it.” Ever wonder why your kababayan neighbor or your relative has one? Call Nelson now toll free at 1-866-870-2966 and find out how.

BMW’s Un4gettable test drive experience through October 2014 The Un4gettable Test Drive Experience allows drivers to test drive the all new BMW 4 Series

Woodcliff Lake, NJ - May 20, 2014 – BMW today launched the BMW Un4gettable Test Drive Experience, which allows drivers to test drive the all new BMW 4 Series at 324 BMW centers nationwide. The Un4gettable Test Drive Experience runs from May to October 2014. Drivers will have the opportunity to test drive the following 4 Series vehicles: Tiempo and Ronald Rodillas, Filipino Sales of Pacific BMW 428i Convertible, BMW Eduardo BMW. 428i Coupe, BMW 435i Convertto experience the all new BMW 4 Series,” ible and BMW 435i Coupe. said Trudy Hardy, Vice President, Market“Getting people behind the wheel of ing, BMW of North America. our vehicles is the most powerful marketThe new BMW 4 Series Convertible and ing tool we have. We are excited to give Coupe will be offered in the U.S. as both people across the country the opportunity a 428i, featuring BMW’s award-winning TwinPower Turbo 2.0-liter 4-cylinder and as a 435i with the multi-award winning TwinPower Turbo 3.0-liter inline six.

Both the 428i and 435i Convertible will feature a standard 8-speed sport automatic transmission. The 428i and 435i Coupe will be available with a standard 8-speed sport automatic or six-speed manual transmission. The 428i Convertible will be offered with a choice of rear-wheel drive or with optional xDrive, BMW’s intelligent all-wheel drive system, while the 435i Convertible will be available with rear wheel drive.

The 428i and 435i Coupe will also be offered with a choice of rearwheel drive or with optional xDrive.

The 2014 BMW 428i Convertible will have a base MSRP of $49,675 and the 2014 BMW 435i Convertible will have a starting price of $55,825. Both prices include destination and handling.

The 2014 BMW 428i Coupe will have a base MSRP of $41,425, and the 2014 BMW 435i Coupe will have a starting price of $46,925. Both prices include destination and handling.

The 2014 428i xDrive Coupe and 435i xDrive will start from $43,425 and $48,925 respectively, again inclusive of destination and handling.

For more information on the all new BMW 4 Series Convertible, please call our kababayans Ed at 818-601-5667 (cell) and Ronald at 323-683-9351 (cell) or call Pacific BMW at (818) 246-5600 and come down to the dealership located at 800 S. Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91204 and find out why.

Who knows you may be the next new BMW owner? Or you may want to upgrade. Of course, we don’t need to mention that BMW is a favorite brand for luxury vehicles for the Fil-Am community, which is one of the car brand’s biggest consumer group in Southern California.

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Puente Hills Hyundai awarded #1 Service Satisfaction Hyundai Dealer in the West Puente Hills Hyundai was recently awarded the title of “#1 Service Satisfaction Hyundai Dealer in the Western Region” according to the dealership’s Service Manager, Levit Perez. His expertise in the automotive service and repair business spans almost 34 years (he started “working on cars” since he was in Community College back in the 80’s).

Though Levit’s background in automotive service and repair was mostly on American car dealerships, he believes that “Hyundai as Korea’s flagship car, has come a long way since it was first introduced here in the United States around 10 years ago. Its gradual rise to the top, particularly in service satisfaction had its direction just going up, much to the surprise of name brand cars that have been around for a long time.” It was Hyundai’s perseverance to become the #1 in service satisfaction brand that attracted Levit Perez to join Puente Hills Hyundai.

He supervises a staff of 8 technicians who all go through a 3-month certification period as Hyundai service specialists. He is well-respected by his staff because he believes in the golden rule: “treat people well as you would like to be treated.”

In order to meet the growing needs of the American market, Levit further said that the Hyundai Manufacturing Corporation Headquarters in Korea decided to open two manufacturing plants here in the United States. One is in Alabama, where they make the Hyundai models and the other one is in Georgia, where they

make the Kia models. Their main distribution headquarters in the West Coast is in Fountain Valley, California.

Currently, most new car buyers are aware of Hyundai’s amazing 10-year Powertrain 100,000 mile limited warranty; 5-year 60,000 mile new vehicle warranty and 5 year unlimited 24-hour roadside assistance.

Just recently, Hyundai’s continued dedication to its customers also earned them the No. 1 (tied) spot in the automotive category in the Brand Keys 2014 Customer Loyalty Engagement Index. Brand Keys, a New York-based brand, customer loyalty and engagement consultancy, publishes this annually-syndicated study that examines customers’ relationships with 555 different brands in 64 categories. 2014 marks the fourth year in a row in which Hyundai took the top spot in the automotive category.

“Hyundai continues to top our automotive category due to their understanding of how to exceed customer expectations with model after model,” said Robert Passikoff, president, Brand Keys. “Hyundai delivers consistently high levels of emotional engagement for their brand and for their customers by leveraging class-leading technologies, all while providing real brand value.”

For further inquiries on Puente Hills Hyundai you may call: 626/723-3833 or drop by their neighborhood dealership at 17621 Gale Ave., City of Industry, CA. Log on their website at: www.phhyundai. com. (Myrna Aquitania)

Puente Hills Hyundai is located at 17621 Gale Ave, City Of Industry, CA 91748

Puente Hills Hyundai was recently awarded the title of “#1 Service Satisfaction Hyundai Dealer in the Western Region” according to the dealership’s Service Manager, Levit Perez.

46

LOS ANGELES

Visit www.Balita.com

Balita

Weekend, Sat. - Fri., May 24 - 30, 2014

Puente Hills Hyundai www.phhyundai.com

Drive Hyundai Happy.

#

1

in

626.723.3833

MEM RIAL DAY

Retail Sales-District WE8

SALES EVENT

GOING ON NOW! !

NEW

2014 Hyundai Sonata Hanzel Fraguere

Filipino Fleet Manager

Cell# (626)-393-4070

Lease it for

$89

All in Stock

/month + tax

2014 Hyundai

$ 69

Genesis Sedan

Model# 27412F4P

is Here @ Puente Hills Hyundai!!

! 2014 Hyundai Sonata

Model# 45432F45

/month + tax

Cell# (626)-202-9687

2015 Hyundai

with MSRP $22,415

NEW

Elantra SE

Lease it for

Filipino Fleet Manager

The Redesigned

36 Months Close End Lease, 12k Miles Per Year, $3,499 Due At Lease Signing, $750 Lease Cash, $500 Valued Owner Coupon, $500 Military Rebate, $500 Boost Up Cash & $400 College Grad. Rebate. On Approved Credit.

!

NEW

Ferry Maringka Gozon

All in Stock with MSRP $19,135

36 Months Close End Lease, $3,999 Due At Lease Signing + $500 Lease Cash + $500 Valued Owner Coupon + $500 Military Rebate + $400 College Grad Rebate. On Approved Credit.

Fe Sport 2.4

Model# 63402F45

Lease it for

$159

/month + tax

All in Stock with MSRP $26,265

36 Months Close End Lease, $2,999 Due At Lease Signing + $750 Valued Owner Coupon + $500 Military Rebate, + $400 College Grad Rebate.

PRE-OWNED VEHICLES

America’s Best Warranty

10

*See dealer for LIMITED WARRANTY details.

626.723.3833

605

60

E. Gale Ave.

P o m o n a

Fullert

usa Az

Powertrain Limited Warranty Terms and Conditions available

17621 Gale Ave. Toll Free City of Industry www.phhyundai.com

on Rd

.

10-Year/100,000-Mile

S.

Puente Hills Rent-A-Car (626) 581-5377 On-site Rentals

57

F w y

91

Advertised vehicles subject to prior sale. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge, “plus Dealer Installed options. *Valued Owner Coupon- Must be owner of registered eligible vehicle. Excludes Kia (see dealer for details). *HMF Rebate - Must finance through Hyundai Finance Company on approved credit. Restrictions apply. All offers expire 48 hrs after publication.

Balita

Weekend, Sat. - Fri., May 24 - 30, 2014

LOS ANGELES

Visit www.Balita.com

47

48

Visit www.Balita.com

LOS ANGELES

Weekend, Sat. - Fri., May 24 - 30, 2014

Balita

Memorial Weekend

Sales Event

Lease A 2014 C250 Sport Sedan

359

$

per month for 27 months†

Over 50 C-Class Available!

MERCEDES-BENZ CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED

SALES EVENT Ends June 2, 2014

2011 Mercedes-Benz C300

26,917

$

Now

*

CPO, Luxury Sedan Package, Moonroof, Heated Front Seats 508837/L8688

UNLIMITED MILEAGE WARRANTY

2 MONTHS PAYMENT CREDIT** | 2 YEARS PRE-PAID MAINTENANCE*** ****

2.99% APR Financing

2012 Mercedes-Benz E350

39,339

$

Now

*

CPO, AMG® Sport Package USA, Premium 1 Package, Nav., Only 16k Miles 646705/L8716

2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450

47,991

$

Now

*

CPO, Appearance Package, Navigation, Moonroof, Parktronic 786063/L8696

One Of The Largest Pre-Owned And Certified Mercedes-Benz Pre-Owned Selections To Choose From.

2012 Mercedes-Benz C250

2011 Mercedes-Benz C300

2012 Mercedes-Benz C250

CPO, Sport Package, Sport Sedan Package, Low APR, Moonroof

CPO, Sportline Package, Sport Sedan Package, Moonroof, Low APR

CPO, Sport Package, Sport Sedan Package, Moonroof, Navigation

$26,558*

$26,879*

$27,884*

625346/L8630

179193/L8674

197862/L8662

2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 Cargo

2011 Mercedes-Benz R350

2011 Mercedes-Benz E350

CPO, Premium Package, Remote Keyless Entry, Traction Control

Driver Memory Package, Navigation, Moonroof, Panoramic Roof

CPO, AMG Sport Package USA, Premium 1 Package, Rear-View Camera

$29,990*

$30,995*

$34,997*

577762/SL111569

120903/L8665

498703/L8693

2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350

2011 Mercedes-Benz E350

2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350

CPO, Memory Package, Moonroof, Navigation, Premium 1 Package

CPO, Panoramic Roof, Navigation, Low APR

CPO, Moonroof, Navigation, Low APR, Heated Seats

$35,990*

$36,990*

$38,990*

737892/L8710

455585/L8708

727502/L8714

View Our Pre-Owned Inventory at www.mbzlongbeach.com/vehicle/search/preowned

mbzlongbeach.com 2300 East Spring St. • Signal Hill, CA 90755 At the 405 and 605 in Signal Hill. Exit Cherry Ave. off the 405. *All prices plus government fees and taxes, any finance charges, dealer preparation charges and any emission testing charges. All vehicles subject to prior sale. **Available only to qualified customers at participating authorized Mercedes-Benz dealers through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services (where applicable to advertised lease) through June 2, 2014. Advertised lease rate based on a gross capitalized cost of $37,808. Includes destination charge and optional Premium 1 Package. Excludes title, taxes, registration, license fees, insurance, dealer prep. and additional options. Total monthly payments equal $9,963. Cash due at signing includes $2,950 capitalized cost reduction, $750 acquisition fee, and first month’s lease payment of $369.

Total payments equal $13,708. At lease end, lessee pays for any amounts due under the lease, any official fees and taxes related to the scheduled termination, excess wear and use plus $0.25/mile over 22,500 miles, and $595 vehicle turn-in fee. Subject to credit approval. No security deposit required. ***Qualified customers only. See dealer for details. 1.99% APR limited term financing for up to 72 months on select Certified Pre-Owned models through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services. 1.99% APR limited term financing applies to Mercedes-Benz Model Year 2010, 2011 & 2012 Certified Pre-Owned C, E, M, GL, GLK, & S-Class vehicles. Available at Mercedes-Benz of Long Beach through Mercedes-Benz Financial for Super Tier through Tier II customers only, subject to credit approval. Offers expire close of business 5/26/14.

Nelson Sioson

Filipino Fleet Manager

866.870.2966