Weekend Balita May 9, 2015

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Marjorie Barretto reconciles with ‘angry’ dad See MARJORIE page 28

VOL. XXIII, NO. 14

MAY 9 - 15, 2015

THE LEADING SOURCE OF NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR FILIPINO-AMERICANS

PHL alarmed over China’s threats in high seas PAF planes warned by Chinese vessels in disputed areas Manila, Philippines (AFP) Thursday 5/7/2015 – The Philippines expressed alarm Thursday over what it said were escalating Chinese efforts to drive off Filipino aircraft from a disputed South China Sea island garrisoned by Manila, in dangerous confrontations.

Rear Admiral Alexander Lopez said seven Filipino patrol planes on separate flights between Thitu island and Chineseheld Subi Reef in the Spratly Islands had been warned to stay away in radio messages from Chinese forces on Subi.

“Recently this area has been the source of air challenges to our aircraft landing and departing from Pagasa island,” he told a hearing of the senate national defense committee, using the Filipino name for the Philippine-garrisoned Thitu.

The Philippine military last week reported an incident involving a Fokker plane which was challenged by a Chinese vessel on April 19. But Lopez, commander of Filipino forces in the South China Sea, said there had been six other warnings issued since then.

All seven Filipino aircraft were addressed as “foreigner planes”, advised they were entering a Chinese “military area”, and told to leave to avoid to avoid a possible “misjudgment”, Lopez told reporters after the hearing.

“We are navigating in international See PHL ALARMED, page 10

A Japanese coast guard helicopter hovers above a Philippine coast guard ship during a seajacking scenario in the Philippine-Japan maritime exercise off Manila Bay on Wednesday.

Officials from China, Australia, and Vietnam observed the maritime exercise. (MNS photo)

AFP chief: 1% of budget should be used for military modernization MANILA, May 7 (Mabuhay) – In the face of China’s increasing efforts to stake its claim over disputed territories, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. on Thursday proposed before a Senate committee that 1 percent of the annual budget be allocated for military modernization.

At a hearing on Chinese reclamation work in the South China Sea, Catapang stressed the urgency of increasing the

military’s budget.

“We don’t have the luxury of time. The threats are already there… The challenges that the country will face in the 21st century will be all global: global war on terrorism, climate challenge, challenges in maritime security,” the military chief told senators on Thursday morning.

He added that the portion of the budget allocated for military modernization should See BUDGET, page 10

Lawsuits pile up over Pacquiao injury

Aquino cites need to improve nautical highway connectivity before US business execs

By Rebecca Bryan

MANILA, May 7 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno Aquino III met with business organizations during his official visit to Chicago, Illinois during which the Philippine leader cited the need to improve connectivity in transportation and expand facilities of the existing nautical highway.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said business executives from various fields expressed interest in participating or continuing their involvement in Philippine business efforts.

One of the points Aquino raised during the roundtable discussion was the need to improve connectivity in transportation, he added.

As an archipelago the Philippines needs to expand an existing nautical highway, improve ports and roll-on and roll-off facilities, the President said.

Thomas La France, senior executive of GE Transportation, expressed interest in joining Philippine efforts toward infrastructure development while possibilities of improving the railway system was also mentioned, Coloma said.

Transportation’s role in trade was also discussed during the meeting. FedEx managing director Ralph Carter said the

Los Angeles, United States (AFP) Thursday 5/7/2015 – Call it the fallout of the century.

More disgruntled fight fans are going to court with their complaints, suing Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao and others for failing to disclose a shoulder injury prior to his “Fight of the Century” against Floyd Mayweather.

A class-action suit filed in US District Court in Illinois not only names Pacquiao and promoters Manny Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz, seen right Top Rank but also telecast- behind Pacquiao during the media presentation prior to the fight, says he is to blame for “inadvertent” noners HBO and Showtime, disclosure of Pacquiao’s injury. Photo: Benny Uy. who combined to produce the pay-per-view fight program that was sold in the United States for about $100.

The suit also names Mayweather, Mayweather Promotions and cable television providers AT&T, COMCAST and DirecTV, and accuses the defendants of deceptive practices in marketing and advertising the bout.

“Defendants, individually and collectively, deceptively and fraudulently promoted, produced and sold the fight as one between two healthy fighters... expressly misrepresenting the health of Manny Pacquiao to the Nevada State Athletic Commission, all in an effort to maximize and collect pay-per-view revenue,” the lawsuit claims.

See LAWSUITS, page 10

See NAUTICAL, page 10

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Creditors are harassing me!

Attorney Paul Allen answers questions on creditor harassment and bankruptcy protection.

Q: Creditors are harassing me – but I lost my job, and cannot pay. How do I stop them calling?

A: If you cannot pay your bills, creditors will take steps to collect. That’s natural, but

continued harassment can be emotionally depressing. If you have lost remedy because it provides for a repayment your job, or simply cannot cope, because plan on the arrears. debts have grown to the point where you Q: Can a bankruptcy stop an eviction? have to choose who gets paid this month, A: No, under the new rules, a bankruptand who doesn’t, then you need to consider cy will not stop a court ordered eviction, the benefits of filing a bankruptcy. but it will prevent a landlord from seeking Q: Will a bankruptcy stop collection to evict you, at least for a while, perhaps agencies from calling me? just enough time to find somewhere else A: Yes, filing a bankruptcy protects you to live. However, don’t file for bankruptcy from creditor harassment, and provides solely because you’re being evicted. You’ll peace of mind. Creditors will not contact probably be better off looking for a new you if you filed bankruptcy and have an place to live or fighting the eviction in attorney representing you. Otherwise Municipal court instead. Remember, the they risk being cited for contempt of fed- main idea behind bankruptcy is to diseral court, something they will not risk. charge debt.

Another reason to consider a bankruptcy Q: Will bankruptcy protect me; I’m now, even if you do not have assets to behind in my child support payments? protect, is that after a bankruptcy, you can A: If you owe child support or alimony, immediately begin the process of repairing bankruptcy will not interrupt your obligayour credit. This usually takes between 6 tion to make current payments. And while to 12 months, so an early start will get you the automatic stay will temporarily stop there faster. proceedings to collect back support you Q: I have just received a summons from owe, usually the bankruptcy court will pera creditor. Is it too late to file a bankruptcy? mit collection to go forward if the creditor A: No. When you file for bankruptcy, requests it. In any event, these debts will an automatic stay goes into effect immedi- survive bankruptcy intact and will have to ately stopping any lawsuit filed against you be paid once the case is closed. Chapter 13, and any action against your property by a however, lets you pay the back support as creditor, collection agency or government part of the repayment plan. entity. This can be very important, EspeQ: A creditor is garnishing my wages. cially if you are at risk of being evicted or Will bankruptcy help me? foreclosed on, being found in contempt for A: Yes. Although no more than 25% of failure to pay child support or losing such your wages may be taken to satisfy a court basic resources as utility services, welfare judgment (up to 65% for child support and or unemployment alimony), many people file for bankruptcy Here is how the bankruptcy filing af- to protect their income. For some people, fects some common emergencies: any loss of income is devastating. Your Utility disconnections. If you’re behind employer may also get angry at the expense on a utility bill and the company is threat- and hassle of facilitating a succession of ening to disconnect your water, electric, garnishments and take it out on their emgas or telephone service, the automatic stay ployees. Although federal law prohibits will prevent the disconnection for at least you from being fired for one garnishment, 20 days. Bankruptcy will also discharge the an employer can fire you for multiple past due debts for utility service. Although garnishments. Filing for bankruptcy stops the amount of a utility bill itself rarely garnishments dead in their tracks. Not only justifies a bankruptcy filing, preventing will you take home a full salary, but you electrical service cutoff might be justifica- also can discharge the debt in bankruptcy. tion enough.

So if you have too many debts, and canQ: Will filing a bankruptcy stop the not manage, call the Law offices of Paul foreclosure on my home?

M. Allen for an appointment. Consultations A:If your home mortgage is being fore- are free, but by appointment only. Lets closed on, the automatic stay temporarily discuss your options. We turn complex stops the proceedings, but the creditor will problems into simple solutions, even under often be able to proceed with the fore- the new bankruptcy rules. closure sooner or later. If you are facing Call us now at 818-552-4500. We have foreclosure and wish to save your home, two convenient locations: Glendale and Chapter 13 bankruptcy is the appropriate La Palma.

No more rematch with ‘sore loser’ Pacquiao: Mayweather MANILA, May 8 (Mabuhay) – Floyd Mayweather has branded Manny Pacquiao a “sore loser” and a coward and says he won’t delay his planned retirement to grant the Philippine icon a rematch next year, in an apparent U-turn.

And he dismissed Pacquiao’s claim that he had been carrying an injury in Saturday’s one-sided win for Mayweather, the American calling it “Excuses, excuses, excuses.”

Mayweather took his unbeaten record to 48-0 in Las Vegas with a 12-round unanimous decision over Pacquiao in a welterweight world title bout that will go down as the most lucrative in boxing history.

In an interview recorded this week to be aired on Showtime television on Saturday, Mayweather says he did text ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith that he would grant Pacquiao a rematch — but he has changed his mind.

The 38-year-old says he couldn’t detect any physical problem for Pacquiao during the bout, after which the Filipino and his camp said he was suffering from a right shoulder injury.

“Absolutely not,” Mayweather said. “He was fast. His left hand was fast. His right hand was fast and he was throwing them both fast and strong.”

Although Pacquiao had arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Mayweather said his plea of injury was nonsense.

“He lost. He knows he lost. I lost a lot of respect for him after all of this,” said Mayweather.

As to the flip-flop on a possible rematch, Mayweather said simply: “I change my mind.

“At this particular time, no, because he’s a sore loser and he’s a coward… If you lost, accept the loss and say, ‘Mayweather, you were the better fighter.’”

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Pacquiao to have surgery for shoulder injury, postpones homecoming MANILA, May 5 (Mabuhay) -- Filipino boxing champ and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao may not be able to get home this Friday as he will undergo surgery on his right shoulder.

This was the advice of Pacquiao’s doctors after an MRI scan. Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz said doctors told the boxer his injury worsened after his fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Saturday (Sunday, PHL time).

The operation is scheduled for this week. Doctors will give a complete medical report before and after the operation.

The surgery will be for Pacquiao’s torn rotator cuff, with the recovery time

expected to put Pacquiao out of action for nine to 12 months.

Trainer Freddie Roach earlier said Pacquiao injured his shoulder after colliding with another fighter during sparring and their arms got entangled.

During his post-fight press conference on Sunday, Pacquiao said he was not able to do the things he needed to do during the bout with Mayweather because of his injury.

“It was because my shoulder hurt,” Pacquiao said.

He lost to Mayweather via unanimous decision last Sunday in the fourbelt unification bout.

Pacquiao admitted his team decided

not to inform the public about the injury prior to the fight.

“Ayaw ko na mag-alala sila,” Pacquiao said.

Initially, the champ was scheduled to return to the Philippines this Friday.

The injury would appear to rule out any chance of a rematch after the 38-year-old Mayweather said he would have one more fight in September before retiring. “We have an MRI scan that confirms he has a rotator cuff tear.

He has a significant tear,” orthopedic surgeon Neal ElAttrache said.

Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 KOs), known for his aggressive and all-out attacking style, was clearly not the his typical

offensive-minded self in Las Vegas.

After the fight, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said Pacquiao suffered a shoulder injury in training camp about two-and-a-half weeks earlier and that it hampered him in the fight.

Top Rank and Pacquiao confirmed the account of the injury in a statement on Monday, saying that the 36-yearold and his doctors had concluded that with rest, treatments and monitoring, he would be ready for the fight.

However, they said the Nevada Commission stopped the treatment a few hours before the fight, telling them it was unaware of the shoulder injury.

(MNS)

PNoy vows closer PH-Canada ties MANILA, May 6 (Mabuhay) -– President Benigno Aquino III vowed closer ties, especially in terms of trade and investment, between the Philippines and Canada as he left for North America on Wednesday.

In his departure speech, Aquino said among his chief missions in his working visit in the US and state visit in Canada is to lure more Canadian investors and tourists to the Philippines. ‘’Ang US nga po ang pangatlong major trading partner ng Pilipinas, at layon nating paigtingin pa ang pangangalakal na ito.

Ngayong lumalago ang mga ekonomiya ng ating dalawang bansa, ihahayag natin ang kahandaang sulitin ang bawat pagkakataon kasama nila, at higit pang ipapakita na talagang more open for business na ang Pilipinas,’’ Aquino said. ‘’At gaya po sa Estados Unidos, susuli-

tin natin ang pagkakataong ipakita sa mga kilalang negosyante ng Canada, at sa mga Pilipinong makakaharap natin sa Toronto at Vancouver na talagang it’s more fun na ngayon sa ating bansa.”

Canada is the Philippines’ seventh top source market for tourism and 21st largest trading partner. The North American country has also designated Philippines as a ‘’country of focus’’ for assistance and ‘’priority emerging market’’ for overseas trade and investment. ‘’Kaliwa’t kanan nga po ang ayudang inilatag ng Canada para sa ating bansa: mula sa tulong para sa mga local government units sa pagpapatupad ng kanilang economic development plans, pag-gabay sa mga local entrepreneur upang magkaroon sila ng access sa tulong-pinansiyal at paglinang sa abilidad magnegosyo, at

President Benigno Aquino receives signed NBA jerseys from Mr. James M. Peck, CEO and President of TransUnion LLC after his meeting with business organizations in Chicago, USA.(MNS photo)

pati na rin ang iba’t ibang humanitarian assistance kung may kalamidad,’’ he said.

Before going to Canada to meet with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Aquino will first visit Chicago in the United States where he will attend several business meetings arranged by the US Chamber of Commerce.

Aquino will also pay a visit to the Filipino community in Chicago, which is home about 90,000 Filipinos. ‘’Makikipagkita rin po tayo sa Filipino community sa Chicago. Ang sabi sa atin: Chicago nga raw ang may pinakamalaking populasyon ng Pilipino sa Midwest United States,’’ Aquino said. ‘’Siyempre po, pasalubong natin sa kanila ang good news na bunga ng mga repormang ating ipinunla sa loob ng

higit apat na taon. Ibabalita natin sa kanila: Ibang-iba na talaga ang Pilipinas, at pihadong makakamit pa natin ang matatayog na pangarap sa tuloy-tuloy na pagpanig sa mabuting pamamahala.”

In Canada, Aquino and Harper will witness the formal signing of a number of agreements seen to boost people-to-people relations and solidify the two countries’ ties on labor cooperation, development assistance and infrastructure development.

Aquino will have visit Vancouver, Ottawa and Toronto in Canada before returning to Manila on May 9.

Aquino’s visit to Canada this week is the first state visit by a Philippine president in 18 years. Former President Fidel Ramos made a state visit in Canada in 1997. (MNS)

EcoWaste to Canada: We are not your trash bin MANILA, May 7 (Mabuhay) – Environmental group EcoWaste Coalition on Thursday urged President Benigno Aquino III before he left for his state visit to Canada to bring with him the issue of Canada’s garbage shipment to our bays.

Fifty garbage-filled container vans have been sitting in Subic and Manila ports posing health hazards for more than three years.

The group said they failed to get an assurance that the “stinking issue” will be included in Aquino’s diplomatic agenda

in Canada.

EcoWaste protested in front of the Canadian Embassy on Thursday to demand the reimportation of the garbage to Canada and point out its violation of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, and our own RA 6969 or the Toxic Substances and Hazardous Wastes Control Act. Aquino is in the US and will arrive in Canada on Thursday. He will stay there until May 9. (MNS)

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West Philippine Sea now PHL’s biggest security concern MANILA, May 7 (Mabuhay) – The territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea is now the country’s biggest security concern, National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia Jr. said Thursday.

“It is now very clear that our territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea has in fact overtaken all security issues in our hierarchy of national security concerns,” Garcia told the Senate committee on national defense which is tackling China’s activities in disputed territories.

Garcia said it was “imperative to transition the armed forces from its domestic security focus towards an external or territorial defense role as rapidly as possible.”

Garcia said the internal security situation in the Philippines has improved over the last five years, noting that peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front remain intact despite an encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Jan. 25 that resulted in dozens of fatalities in both the government and MILF sides.

Garcia also noted recent success in the campaign against terrorism with the neutralization of international terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan and his “local cohorts” Basit Usman and Ali Tambako.

The national security adviser said the government is also “gaining the upper hand” in operations against communist insurgents. Garcia said the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front is a major security threat only in a few areas in the country, confined mostly to isolated sections of the eastern seaboard, particularly in Mindanao. “This leaves us with the external security environment and our seemingly intractable territorial disputes in our maritime zone,” said Garcia.

Garcia said the Philippines must show other countries that it is investing in security so that they will be more “easily predisposed to come to our assistance.”

Garcia noted that in the ASEAN, the Philippines ranks second to the lowest among the 10 member countries in terms of defense spending.

Garcia said the Philippines spends only between 1.1 to 1.3 percent of its gross domestic product on defense when a past online study of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute stated that 2 percent of the GDP is the observable military expenditure of countries without threats. (MNS)

US calls off protection mission for US-flagged vessels in Gulf Washington, United States (AFP) Wednesday 5/6/2015 – The US Navy has halted a mission to accompany Americanflagged vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the Pentagon said Wednesday, in a sign of reduced tensions in the strategic waterway.

The protection mission had been ordered last week after a Marshall Islandsflagged ship was seized by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard forces and a US-flagged vessel was harassed.

The mission came to an end on Tuesday but US warships will remain in the area to conduct “routine maritime security operations,” spokesman Colonel Steven Warren told reporters.

The US naval commander in the region “adjusts his mission based on his view of the conditions” and there had been “several days without incident,” Warren said.

The order to accompany US-flagged vessels expired on Tuesday and commanders chose not to renew it, he said.

American warships began shadowing US-flagged vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, even as US and Iranian diplomats engaged in pivotal negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program.

While US officials would not use the

term “escort”, naval ships, including the guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut, were meant to keep an eye on US-flagged commercial vessels, following close enough to take action to secure their safe passage. But US officials insisted the operation did not constitute a full-fledged escort as the warships were not directly next to the commercial vessels and on the same course.

The Pentagon had said the protection mission could be extended to other countries’ vessels, including British-flagged commercial ships.

Iranian authorities said the Marshall Islands-flagged Maersk Tigris was confiscated because of a commercial dispute.

The Strait of Hormuz is often described as the world’s most important oil export route. About 30 percent of all oil traded by sea moves through the narrow channel, or about 17 million barrels a day.

At its narrowest, the strait is 21 miles (33 kilometers) wide, but the width of the navigable shipping lane in each direction is only two miles – separated by a two-mile buffer zone.

Strategists have long feared a miscalculation in the crowded channel could trigger a conflict.

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Palace dares China: Prove PHL’s supposed construction work on disputed islands MANILA, May 5 (Mabuhay) – China should prove its allegation that the Philippines undertook construction activities on disputed islands in the South China Sea, Malacañang said Tuesday.

“Kung sino man po ang nagsabi noon, siya ang magpatunay,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. told reporters when asked if the Philippines is indeed undertaking construction work in disputed territories, as claimed by China.

Coloma did not give any further statements on the Chinese foreign ministry’s accusations, saying that the Department of Foreign Affairs is the appropriate agency to comment on the matter.

For the past weeks, the Philippine government has been calling international community’s attention towards China’s reclamation activities on the disputed Spratly Islands, which were captured by recent satellite images.

President Benigno Aquino III even said that the whole world should fear China’s recent actions in disputed territories. He also raised the issue in the recently concluded Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Malaysia.

On Monday, however, China’s foreign ministry turned the tables on the Philippines, accusing Manila of conducting “large-scale construction of military and civil facilities including airports, ports and barracks.”

Beijing even urged the Philippines to stop its “malicious hyping and provocation,” saying Manila’s activities in disputed territories violate Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea signed by China and the ASEAN in 2002.

Asked about China’s statement that the Philippines is violating the ASEAN declaration, Coloma said the government is firm on pursuing a diplomatic approach to resolve the territorial dispute with Beijing.

He also maintained that the Philippines will continue pushing for a legally binding Code of Conduct on the South China Sea. “Ang ating paninindigan sa pagkakaroon ng rules-based at peaceful and diplomatic approach ay inayunan ng kasapi ng ASEAN na naghahangad na bigyan ng sustansya iyong nakaraang Declaration on the Code of Conduct sa pagitan ng China at mga miyembro ng ASEAN at bigyan ng sustansya o yung fleshing out nitong Code of Conduct para maging legally binding and enforceable,” Coloma said.

The Philippines, which calls the disputed areas the “West Philippine Sea,” has filed sought international arbitration before a Netherlands-based tribunal to nullify China’s massive claims over South China Sea. China uses the so-called “nine-dash line” to claim ownership of almost the entire South China Sea, while the Philippines uses the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as basis for its claim.

Beijing earlier rejected international arbitration proceedings to settle its territorial dispute with the Philippines, insisting instead on bilateral talks to settle the matter.

Aside from the Philippines, China also has overlapping claims over parts of the South China Sea with Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Taiwan. (MNS)

Trader gets 3rd smuggling rap for imported sugar tagged as tiles, kitchenware MANILA, May 7 (Mabuhay) – It’s strike three for a Cagayan de Oro-based trader for bringing in illegal shipments into the country. The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Thursday filed a third set of smugglingrelated charges against the owner of New Dawn Enterprises for supposedly importing 260,000 kilos of sugar worth around P13 million – albeit illegally.

The BOC accused New Dawn owner Michael Abella of violating the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP) for not securing import permits and misdeclaring shipments. For importing sugar without the proper Sugar Regulatory Administration permit and misdeclaring the shipment, Abella is being charged with violating Sections 3601 and 101 of the TCCP, as amended, in relation to SRA Sugar Order No. 8, Series of 1994-95 and Joint Memorandum Order (JMO) No. 4-2002.

Sugar Order No. 8 requires a valid import permit for all sugar importations, rendering as unlawful all sugar importation without import permit, the BOC said.

The illegal shipments of New Dawn, comprising 10 container vans of refined sugar, arrived in December 2014 at the Port of Cagayan de Oro, the bureau said.

In the import documents, New Dawn misdeclared the sugar imports as tiles and kitchenware, the bureau claimed.

This is the third smuggling charge lodged against New Dawn, with the first two involving rice shipments.

The BOC slapped New Dawn with smuggling charges for the first time in January, supposedly for the illegal importation of glutinous rice worth P28 million.

The crime was committed through the Cagayan de Oro Port last November 2014, BOC records showed.

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Trillanes asks SC to stop K-12 Program To enhance the lesson, more than 3,500 students from more than 30 Los Angeles-area schools will be taken to the beach for a clean-up and to participate in an aerial artwork, designed by a Los Angeles student and brought to life by aerial artist John Quigley during the ‘Unite for the Ocean.’

Thousands of LA Students ‘Unite for the Ocean’ in this Year’s Kids Ocean Day Some students to visit the ocean for first time on May 14, 2015 Kids Ocean Day is the culmination of a year-round school assembly program by the Malibu Foundation for Environmental Education to teach school kids about how litter flows from our neighborhoods to the ocean, thereby killing marine life and polluting food resources.

To enhance the lesson, more than 3,500 students from more than 30 Los Angelesarea schools will be taken to the beach for a clean-up and to participate in an aerial artwork, designed by a Los Angeles student and brought to life by aerial artist John Quigley.

Kids Ocean Day will be celebrated on May 14, 2015 at Dockweiler State Beach.

Kids Ocean Day is the creation of Malibu Foundation for Environmental Education founder Michael Klubock.

Michael started Kids Ocean Day 22 years ago as a way to bring his school assembly

program into the real world. The one-day cleanup event motivates the students of Los Angeles to care about their environment and involves them in community service, while instilling good habits and stewardship. Bringing Los Angeles school children to the beach helps put them in touch with nature, while challenging them to recycle, reduce litter and participate in cleaning up their environment. For many of the young people, Kids Ocean Day is their first time at the ocean. The wonder and beauty of the coast, combined with a mission to protect the natural world, is a profound experience.

Kids Ocean Day is sponsored by the City of Los Angeles Stormwater Program, a project of the Bureau of Sanitation, the City of Los Angeles Board of Public Works, as well as the California Coastal Commission, Keep LA Beautiful and Spectral Q. Interested in becoming a volunteer at the event, please visit, http:// kidsoceanday.org/volunteer

MANILA, May 6 (Mabuhay) -- Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has asked the Supreme Court to stop the controversial K to 12 Program, created under Republic Act 10533 or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 and which added two more years in high school.

Trillanes filed his petition on Wednesday along with Magdalo party-list Reps.

Francisco Ashley Acedillo and Gary Alejano.

Trillanes said before implementing the controversial program, the government should first address the real problem plaguing the education sector like the lack of classrooms and the low salary of teachers.

Insisting that RA 10533 violated the 1987 Constitution, Trillanes and the other petitioners asked the high court to issue a writ of preliminary injunction or a temporary restraining order against the K-12 program.

“The principal reasons cited by the DepEd in justifying the policy shift adopting thh K to 12 Program... clearly are not in accord and run afoul with the constitutional provision which expressly provides that the state should create, maintain and support an education system relevant to the needs of the Filipino people and Philippine society,” read their petition.

The petitioners said no substantial or adequate consultation was made by the DepEd before implementing the K-12 Program, in violation of Section 16, Article XIII of the Constitution.

85,000 teachers to lose jobs?

The petitioners also said the K-12 Program also violates Section 5, Article XIV of the Constitution, which mandates the enhancement of the right of teachers to professional advancement, because 85,000 teachers and non-academic personnel of higher education institutions are at risk of losing their jobs.

Trillanes said before implementing the controversial program, the government should first address the real problem plaguing the education sector like the lack of classrooms and the low salary of teachers.

The petitioners branded as “misleading” the DepEd’s claim that it has already closed the “resource gap” or the shortage in teachers, classroom, books and toilets. They said DepEd’s claim was based on 2010 data.

In terms of classrooms alone, the country needs 40,000 to 90,000 new classrooms by 2015, according to the petition.

Trillanes and his fellow petitioners feared that the K-12 program will result in more unemployable high school dropouts, in violation of Section 1, Article XIV of the Constitution, which gives people the right to access quality education.

Only 42 percent of all students entering Grade 1 will finish high school, and only 14 percent will finish college, read the petition. Based on existing data, adding two more years to high school will result in 27 percent of students finishing high school and only 9 percent finishing college, it added.

Named respondents were Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr and Education Secretary Armin Luistro.

Previous petitions Two petitions have earlier been filed with the SC in relation to RA 10533.

One of them was filed by a group of universiry professors who alleged that Commission on Higher Education/CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 20, Series

of 2013, created pursuant to RA 10533, will cause massive labor displacement – job losses of around 78,000 workers – at the tertiary level.

The CHED memo, which the petitioners described as “anti-Filipino,” abolishes mandatory subjects in the current curriculum in tertiary education, such as Filipino language, Literature, and Philippine Government & Constitution.

The SC later granted the group’s request for a temporary restraining order while awaiting a comment from the government.

The second petition—filed by the “Coalition for the K to 12 Suspension,” composed of four individuals and 16 groups led by the Council of Teachers and Staff of Colleges and Universities of the Philippines— meanwhile claimed that with the K-12 Program, education workers are faced with the risk of early separation, forced retirement, constructive dismissal, diminution of salaries and benefits, labor contractualization, and a general threat to self-organization.

The petitioners said the fact that a new legislation is being proposed via House Bill No. 5493, which seeks to “mitigate the adverse impact of the K to 12 Law,” shows that the RA 10533 is “incomplete.”

The House bill seeks to establish the tertiary education transition fund to develop and sustain tertiary education institutions during the transition period of the program.

According to the House bill, more than 70,000 college faculty and non-teaching personnel stand to lose their jobs because of the lack of first year college and second year college enrollees during the transition period starting 2016.

The petitioners said the controversial law failed to provide “full protection to labor and promotion of full employment and equality of employment opportunities, et al,” in alleged violation of Article XIII, Section 3 of the 1987 Constitution.

The group also said the Implementing Rules and Regulations dated September 2013, the Joint Guidelines dated May 2014, and Department of Education Order Memo No. 2 Series of 2015 dated January 2015, which were all formulated based on the law, are against the law and subject school workers to unjust labor practices.

K to 12 Under the enhanced basic education program of the Department of Education— called K to 12 or Kindergarten plus Grades 1-12—a student will be required to undergo kindergarten, six years of elementary, four years of junior high school and two years of senior high school.

The implementation of universal kindergarten began in school year 2011-2012, followed by a new curriculum for Grade 7 in school year 2012-2013.

School year 2016-2017 will mark the nationwide implementation of the Grade 11 curriculum, to be followed by the Grade 12 curriculum in school year 2017-2018.

(MNS)

Erratum In our last edition, May 2, 2015, we inadvertently published a photo whose caption should’ve read Pamela Bernardo-Ortego and not Pamela Bernardo-Otsego. Our apologies.

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Blankets for Mom’s neonatal babies given on Mother’s Day On Mother’s Day, Taylor’s Blankets of Love is donating 103 blankets to the Neonatal, Cardiovascular and Cardiothoracic Units of the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles (CHLA). These blankets were the brainchild of Taylor Ligan, who was born with bowel obstruction, “a situation where one of the intestines are partially or completely blocked off, which prevents food, liquids and gasses to pass through the body normally.”

According to Taylor’s mom Aileen, who stomach and she had to undergo the third as the mother knew something was wrong surgery to insert a colostomy bag in her. At with her child, bore the brunt of Taylor’s this point, her mom Aileen almost gave up heartbreaking first surgery, which in turn, on her, by calling their Seventh Day Adventist Pastor to give Taylor his blessings opened doors to other medical problems.

During the course of her life as a baby, in case she wouldn’t make it.

Taylor’s recovery after a month was Taylor had to undergo 5 surgeries. Just barely 2-months old, on Taylor’s first sur- considered a miracle through her Mom Aigery, Dr. Columbus McAlpin, a topnotched leen and her Dad Mel’s unceasing prayers Pediatric Surgeon at CHLA was the head and through the most caring staff of the surgeon who had to face the challenge of Neonatal Unit at CHLA. It was during this “unravelling” her twisted small intestines, critical time when Aileen found a handmade quilt blanket placed on top of her by for four hours.

The following day, Taylor had to un- one of the hospital’s caring staff volunteers. dergo another four hour surgery due to the This was when Aileen felt as a Mom, she sudden enlargement of her stomach. She had to start bonding with Taylor and not was fine for a week until subsequently, give up on her. Aileen finally was able to the medical staff found another leak in her feed Taylor with her preserved breast milk,

Democrats set six debates for US presidential primary Washington, United States (AFP) Tuesday 5/5/2015 – Democratic presidential candidates including frontrunner Hillary Clinton will square off in six televised debates, beginning later this year, as part of their battle for the 2016 nomination, the party said Tuesday.

The schedule will allow Democratic voters “multiple opportunities to size up the candidates,” said congresswoman and Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

It will also “give all Americans a chance to see a unified Democratic vision of economic opportunity and progress.”

So far just two candidates, Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders, have officially announced their candidacy for the nomination.

The self-described socialist Sanders is registered as an independent, but he told AFP that he was running for president

“through the Democratic primary process.”

Democratic former US senators Jim Webb and Lincoln Chafee, as well as Maryland ex-governor Martin O’Malley, are mulling runs.

Four of the sanctioned debates, which will be sponsored by state Democratic parties and broadcast nationally and on digital platforms, will be held in the early caucus and primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.

Participants will be bound by a Democratic National Committee “exclusivity requirement” forbidding them from participating in non-sanctioned debates.

This is a way to restrict the debate schedule after the party’s Republican opponents were widely criticized for holding an endless string of debates in 2012, with candidates beating up each other rather than focusing their attacks on President Barack Obama.

Huckabee, TV-savvy ex-preacher, enters White House race Washington, United States (AFP) Tuesday 5/5/2015 – Fox News personality Mike Huckabee threw his hat in the race for the US presidency Tuesday, joining a swelling crowd of contenders for the Republican nomination.

The conservative Huckabee, a former Baptist minister who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican ticket seven years ago, announced at his campaign debut that he is taking another shot at the world’s top job.

“With your help and God’s, we will make the journey from Hope to higher ground,” Huckabee told a cheering crowd in his home town of Hope, Arkansas.

Huckabee, 59, is a former governor of Arkansas, the same post Bill Clinton held when he won the presidential election in 1992. Both men hail from Hope.

Huckabee aims to draw rural, Christian evangelicals, the same voters who flocked to his campaign in 2008 when he won the important early-deciding state of Iowa and seven other states before bowing to eventual Republican nominee John McCain.

But the party suddenly has half a dozen official contestants for the 2016 White House race, including other core conservatives like Senators Ted Cruz battling for

the same votes.

Former Hewlett Packard chief executive Carly Fiorina and conservative Ben Carson, an African-American retired neurosurgeon who has voiced strong opposition to President Barack Obama, joined the race Monday.

Several more are expected to launch campaigns in coming months, including poll-toppers Jeb Bush, son and brother of two presidents, and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, as well as Texas ex-governor Rick Perry and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Prior to his political career, Huckabee spent several years as a minister as well as a religious broadcaster.

Since the 2008 race, he has been an outspoken advocate for protecting religious freedom and has urged a tough stance on snuffing out the radical jihadist movement in the Middle East.

“As president, I promise you will get what you pay for,” he said.

It will no longer be sufficient to “contain jihadism, we will conquer it,” he added.

Huckabee also attacked Obama for failing to live up to his promise as a “virtually unknown freshman senator” who spoke eloquently about America’s challenges.

Taylor and her dad, Mel Ligan at the NICCU

Current photo of Taylor Ligan

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until the surgeons did their fourth and fifth surgery to close her up and remove her GTube and colostomy bag. Taylor’s doctors finally gave their approval to allow her to go home on her eighth month from the hospital, in time for her first Christmas with her parents.

Though she has no idea what happened to her, Taylor is now grown and on her Freshman year in College. As a gesture of gratitude to CHLA, she and her mom Aileen conceived the idea of donating blankets to the babies in the Neonatal Intensive Critical Care Unit (NICCU) of CHLA because it was the handmade quilted blanket which gave hope to her mom Aileen, during her darkest moments in the hospital room. Thus Taylor’s blankets symbolized love and care for all the sick babies in the hospital.

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OC Entrepreneurs Share on ABAOC Small Business Dev’t Day Notable speakers in Orange County each with success stories to share will converge on May 14 at the Wyndham Hotel i9n Garden Grove to “impart words of business wisdom to help small entrepreneurs stay competitive and relevant in Orange County’s business milieu.”

The Asian Business Association of Orange County (ABAOC) is sponsoring the

gathering as part of its informative projects important areas to create and stimulate to equip existing business in navigating the business growth.

Small business entrepreneurs, organizbusiness waters of the third most populous county’s in California and the sixth most- ers say, will benefit from this event with populous in the U.S. Orange County ranks the scheduled workshop expected “tackle second only to San Francisco population issues in establishing, growing and taking density making it a fresh breeding ground business operations at the next level”.

Business executives from local corporafor business to grow with more than 3 tions (Walt Disney Companies, Verizon, million people.

Steve Verburg, president of Dale Carn- Southwest Airlines, Edison, Southern Caliegie Orange County, will lead a panel of fornia gas and Orange County Transportacorporate experts in sharing their expertise tion Authority) and government agencies at the event which comes on the heels of are expected also to shed light “into what ABAOC’s activities for its members who it will take to succeed in today’s economic are most active business personages in environment”.

In a recent two-month survey involving Orange County.

The occasion will also provide the op- 6,000 small business owners nationwide portunities for member and their guests that ranked California’s healthiest to least to network and build contacts as well as healthiest small business, Orange County showcase their products and services at occupied the number one position in the list. The survey revealed that “Orange the exhibit tables.

ABAOC stays attuned with the busi- County is doing its best to lift up Californess development in the county and with nia, but its difficult to overcome the damits collateral growth in other concerns age done by the other regions”.

Following Orange County in the healthsuch as member-education, training and advocacy and continues to address these iest to least healthy small business are High

Jolo Revilla and Company in LA: Vice Governor Jolo Revilla, Jodi Santa Maria and Cavite Representative, Lani Mercado, were in town recently in his first out-of-town trip more than a month after his gun accident in the Philippines. They’re pictured here with their other friends as they emerged from a dinner in downtown Los Angeles.

Sierra/,San Diego, North Coast/Shasta Cascade, San Francisco Area, Central Coast, Inland Empire/Deserts, Los Angeles and Central Valley.

Pacquiao Fever Subsides; Truth Sought Manny Pacquiao’s quest to bring honor to his county and people by way of breaking the unblemished record of Floyd Mayweather last May 2 at the MGM Garden in Las Vegas came to a sour note with accusations being hurled against the Filipino Champion forbeing “untruthful when he failed to disclose his real physical condition” in what is billed as the “Fight of the Century”.

The epic battle of the great boxers is now being hailed at the “Dud of the Century” for its failure to live up to the expectations of the vaunted hype.

A lot of people had expressed their dissatisfaction and have called for heads to roll and fines to be paid and other sanctions to be imposed. Millions of boxing fans who have invested a lot are revolting as the events to uncover the truth are unfolding.

More drama and revelations are expected and what really is important is to dig into the truth of the matter which is the least that can expect. And let justice be rendered to the unsuspecting millions of boxing aficionados who feel they were duped.

President Aquino’s state visit to Canada begins OTTAWA, Canada, May 8 (Mabuhay) -- President Benigno S. Aquino III flew to Ottawa, the first stop of his three-day state visit to Canada, on Thursday (Friday in Manila) after completing a successful one-day working visit to Chicago.

Shortly after his arrival in Ottawa, President Aquino traveled to Rideau Hall, the official residence of Canada’s governor general, where he was welcomed by Governor General David Johnston and Mrs. Sharon Johnston with military honors, including a 21-gun salute.

After the official welcome at 2 p.m. (local time), President Aquino held talks with Governor General Johnston at the Large Drawing Room, Rideau Hall. The meeting was followed by a tree planting ceremony.

President Aquino planted a red spruce (Picea rubens) on the grounds of Rideau Hall to commemorate his state visit to Canada. It was located beside the red maple that was planted by President Aquino’s mother, former President Corazon Aquino, during her state visit to Canada in November 1989.

Later at 6:30 p.m. (local time), President Aquino will attend a state dinner at Rideau Hall hosted in honor of the President’s visit by Governor General Johnston and Mrs. Johnston.

On Friday (Saturday in Manila), the President will participate in a tête-à-tête meeting with his Canadian counterpart, Prime Minister Stephen Harper. They will also witness the signing of agreements that will strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.

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Filing Bankruptcy: Chapter 7 or 13?

If you’ve made the decision to file bankruptcy in order to get a fresh financial start, here are some things to consider in choosing between Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. Be aware, however, that your income and expenses have a lot to do with which chapter you will be able to file because the courts do consider your ability to pay. But given the choice, below are some of the things you need to know.

Under Chapter 7, you receive a fresh start by having most debts wiped out (“discharged”). report for 10 years while Chapter 13 stays This includes most unsecured debt except on it for 7 years- both from the date of filstudent loans, alimony, child support, ing. Most people are able to rebuild their most taxes and debts incurred by fraud. credit, however, much sooner than 7-10 If you have non-exempt assets, you may years from their bankruptcy case filing date possibly have to sell them in order to pay by timely paying debts that are reported to creditors. However, most filers do no. For the major credit bureaus.

There is no limit on the amount of debt example, more than 95% of my clients keep everything and lose nothing at all by you may have if you are filing Chapter 7.

However, Chapter 13 does have limits for filing Chapter 7.

Under Chapter 13, you must still pay both secured and unsecured debts.

The important thing to remember is off all or some of your debts over a 3-5 year period. Priority debts must be paid in that not because you want to file Chapter 7 full while unsecured debts are paid either necessarily means that you can do so. Not a percentage or in full, depending on how everyone is eligible. If the court thinks that your income is sufficient to fund a Chapter much you can afford.

The discharge of debt under Chapter 13 repayment plan, then your Chapter 7 usually occurs within 5 months, as op- petition will be denied. Under current law, posed to the 3-5 year repayment plan under you can only file a Chapter 7 once every 8 Chapter 13. Chapter 7 stays on your credit years so if you’ve had a recent bankruptcy

JV Ejercito: P1.2B worth of refurbished choppers contrary to modernization program MANILA, May 6 (Mabuhay) -- Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito finds unacceptable the reason of the Department of National Defense for buying P1.2 billion worth of refurbished helicopters for the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Speaking to reporters after an executive session in the inquiry on the purchase of the aircraft, Ejercito said the DND officials told the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that it chose refurbished UH-1D choppers to allow the agency procure more compared to getting brand new ones.

“Partly ay nadiscuss namin ang procurement pero hindi pa rin ako satisfied na bakit tayo kinakailangang bumili ng antiquated equipment, matanda pa ito sa mga sundalo natin na magreretire na,” Ejercito said.

“Hindi ito tugma sa modernization program, we will be buying 40-to 50-year old air assets,” he said.

“Buti sana kung tangke yan o trak na kung tumirik e pwede mong iparada, e pag helicopter hindi mo pwedeng iparada yan pag tumirik,” Ejercito said.

He said that DND thought that it would be better to get 21 refurbished UH-1D than three to four new ones “Siguro sa P1.2 billion ang mabibili lang dun dalawa o tatlo o apat na brand new against 21 refurbished,” Ejercito said.

“Sa akin e buhay pa rin ng ating sundalo ang nakasalalay dyan and I had a chance to talk to the pilots ng Air Force, hindi talaga sila kampante na ilipad itong mga refurbished helicopters,” he added.

The committee was supposed to discuss only the AFP’s operational readiness and capability gaps during the executive session while the anomaly on the procurement of choppers should be in open session but committee chairman Sen. Teofisto Guingona III decided to adjourn the hearing by noon.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin requested for the executive session so as not to jeopardize the security interest of the state.

“Kasi inabot na kami ng 12 o’clock, lunch time, we do understand andyan yung Secretary of National Defense, yung AFP chief of staff, and other heads of the different service commands, inabot na ng

lunch time medyo napatagal yung kanilang presentation sa executive session so nagdecide si Sen. Guingona to reschedule it para meron na rin kaming enough time to prepare our questions dun sa kanilang presentation sa executive session,” Ejercito said.

He said the defense and military officials gave details during the executive session that the senators wanted to study first.

“The committee hearing will be rescheduled and we will be inviting yung mga nasa acquisition, nasa Bids and Awards Committee ng DND para malaman natin yung procurement process. Ito naman yung gusto nating malaman, kung nasusunod yung standards, kung talagang bago tayo mag-acquire ng equipment, may technical working group,” Ejercito said.

There is no specific date yet on the next hearing.

Ejercito said he wanted to know if the procurement of assets is demand driver or supply driven.

“Is it demand-driven, kung ano yung kailangan ng AFP, o supply driven? Ito ang gusto nating malaman kung talagang mayroong anomalya o wala. Hopefully sa susunod na hearing ay ma-clarify ito at at least we will have a better understanding of the process of acquisition of equipment of the Armed Forces,” Ejercito said.

Senators have questioned the procurement of 21 UH-1D combat helicopters by the DND as it was allegedly tailor-fitted for a favored bidder.

The contract was reportedly awarded to Joint Venture of Rice Aircraft Services, Inc and Eagle Copters, Ltd on December 28, 2013 for a bid price of P1.25 billion.

Reports have it that the UH-1D units that were delivered by the supplier to the Philippine Air Force were non-compliant with the project contract’s Terms of Reference. The units also reportedly have limited use due to some defects, defeating the purpose of its acquisition and prima facie wastage of taxpayer’s money.

The DND has already created a committee led by Undersecretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs and Strategic Concerns Pio Lorenzo Batino to investigate the alleged irregularity.(MNS)

and you find yourself in debt again, you may not have a choice but to file a Chapter 13. Your bankruptcy attorney can review all relevant dates and advise you what is possible and best for your situation.

If you need help in getting your finances back on track, call my office at 866-4777772 to schedule a free confidential consultation.

Since 1998, I have represented more

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than 6,000 clients in bankruptcy. Let me help you get out of debt once and for all.

(None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped over 5,000 clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-866-477-7772).

Bongbong seeks review of anti-trafficking campaign MANILA, May 8 (Mabuhay) – Senator Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has filed a resolution directing the Senate to conduct a full review of the country’s efforts against human trafficking to prevent another case similar to that of Mary Janes Veloso.

In his Senate Resolution No. 1325 filed last May 6, Marcos asked the appropriate committee to conduct a review of Republic Act No. 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking Act of 2012 and the performance of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT). ”Review is not only timely but also critically important to ensure that Mary Jane Veloso’s case would be an isolated one and the last of its kind,” Marcos said.

He noted that most convictions involving human trafficking involved domestic cases, hence the need to up the ante on cases involving cross-border trafficking as exemplified by the Veloso case.

“There is an urgency to this proposal for a thorough review of the expanded anti-trafficking law considering that there are 92 other Filipinos on death row in other parts of the world for various crimes, and we need to determine whether some of them may also have been victims of trafficking in persons” Marcos said.

The resolution formalizes the senator’s earlier call for such a review after the last minute-reprieve granted to Veloso by the Indonesian government to enable her to testify against her alleged illegal recruiter.

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LAWSUITS From page 1

At least five such class-action suits have been filed across the United States, seeking millions of dollars in compensation on behalf of those who bought tickets, forked out pay per view fees or bet on Saturday’s fight in Las Vegas, which Mayweather won easily on points.

Pacquiao revealed afterwards that he had been held back by the shoulder complaint.

It did not take long for the lawsuits to come flooding in.

‘Dud of the century’ Two men in Nevada sued on Tuesday, saying the promotion violated the state’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act. In a similar suit filed in California,

plaintiff Howard B. Sirota cites former heavyweight world Champion Mike Tyson as calling the long-anticipated bout the “Dud of the Century.”

Some of the lawsuits point to the prefight medical questionnaire signed by Pacquiao for Nevada boxing authorities in which he checked “no” to the question, “Have you had any injury to your shoulders, elbows or hands that needed evaluation or examination?”

Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz, named as a defendant in some of the lawsuits, has said he inadvertently ticked the wrong box.

Daniel Petrocelli, an attorney for Pacquiao and Top Rank, told The Los Angeles

Times that he was confident the Nevada lawsuit would be dismissed.

“It claims Pacquiao was injured (immediately) before the bout and that’s not true – he was injured (nearly a month) before the bout, was examined by doctors and cleared to fight,” Petrocelli said. “And he was examined by the commission right before he fought.”

ESPN reported Monday that Pacquiao’s camp expect the fighter to undergo surgery for a “significant” rotator cuff tear.

They say they disclosed the injury suffered in training camp when they cleared the use of anti-inflammatory drugs with the US Anti-Doping Agency and that Pacquiao

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had improved enough to be cleared by doctors to fight.

Mayweather earned an emphatic, unanimous 12-round decision over Pacquiao in the feverishly anticipated bout that will go down as the richest in boxing history – and by critics as one of the most overhyped.

Mayweather walked out of the MGM Grand Garden Arena with a check for $100 million – just the first installment of a payday that could reach $200 million when all the pay-per-view sales, ticket sales, closed circuit TV viewings and other revenue is totted up and shared out.

Pacquiao is expected to receive more than $100 million.

NAUTICAL From page 1

logistics company is willing to assist in transporting high-quality marble products from Romblon to international markets.

For Keith Williams, former vice president of the US-ASEAN Business Council, it is important to employ generation-skipping technology in accelerating the pace of Philippine growth and development.

Executives from Microsoft and JP Morgan Chase & Co. said they appreciate the talent and competence of Filipino workers.

Melissa Bean, chairman of JP Morgan Chase-US Midwest, said they have been operating a global service center in the

Philippines since 2005 with more than 13,000 employees.

A senior officer from Microsoft, meanwhile, said his company has been involved in the Philippine business sector for 20 years, adding that they have a joint project with the Philippine National Police on cyber-security.

Aquino arrived in Chicago on Wednesday afternoon (Chicago time) for a one-day working visit to the US prior to a three-day state visit in Canada.

It was his first trip to Chicago since he assumed office in 2010. (MNS)

BUDGET From page 1

increase every year.

“Our capability cannot be developed overnight. It’s not like going to Shoe Mart and buying new shoes. It takes a lot of time. That is why we are fast tracking our modernization,” Catapang said.

Recent satellite images revealed that China is building an airstrip suitable for military use on reclaimed parts of Kagitingan Reef in the disputed Spratly archipelago. Beijing is also reportedly undertaking reclamation work on Subi Reef in the Spratlys.

China has overlapping claims over parts of the South China Sea with the Philippines, which sought international arbitra-

tion before a Netherlands-based tribunal to resolve the territorial dispute.

Lawyer Harry Roque, an international law expert, however criticized the military for supposedly creating “unnecessary public hysteria” by publicizing Chinese reclamation activities in the South China Sea. During the Senate hearing, Roque said the military’s actions were “counterproductive.”

“The matter has already been submitted for arbitration. Let the tribunal rule,” the lawyer told military officials at the hearing.

He added that Chinese reclamation work will “not result into title” in the disputed territories anyway. (MNS)

PHL ALARMED From page 1

airspace and conducting normal patrols,” he quoted the Filipino pilots as replying.

They did not alter their course.

“Fear will bring you no good... The risk is always there, but that’s what we’re being paid for,” Lopez said.

China claims most of the resource-rich South China Sea, even reefs, shoals and cays close to the shores of its neighbors.

The claims overlap those of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan.

The Spratlys are considered a potential Asian flashpoint, and claimant nations have expressed alarm as China has embarked on massive reclamation activity. Lopez said surveillance showed Beijing was enlarging seven features of the Spratly group that it occupies, including Subi.

Satellite photos last month showed a runway and harbor taking shape in one location which was little more than a reef when works began late last year.

The admiral said the reclamation would potentially give China air and naval bases in the disputed region and house “thousands” of personnel. “These developments are disturbing to say the least, and alarming to say the most,” Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin told the Senate hearing. Asked if the Philippines feared China would eventually try to seize Thitu, Gazmin told AFP: “We have a problem but we haven’t given up our claim to Pagasa.

That remains ours.”

“I don’t think China is ready to go to war over small islands,” he added.

Hero’s welcome awaits Pacquiao on May 12?

MANILA, May 8 (Mabuhay) – A hero’s welcome is being scheduled on May 12 in preparation for the return of Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao to the country.

Upon arrival, Pacquiao will hold a press conference at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport where he will face the media and his fans.

He will then go to Makati City to have breakfast and then go on a motorcade.

The motorcade will begin around 9 a.m. and will pass through the following streets in Makati, Pasay and Manila.

However, this parade may not even happen as Paquiao is recovering from his surgery in Los Angeles. It may take awhile to heal from the operation on his rotator cuff he suffered during training.

Recent reports said the “Pambansang Kamao” may need a few days, if not months to recuperate.

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Terrorists killed in bungled kidnap: official Manila, Philippines (AFP) Thursday 5/7/2015 – Five Al Qaeda-linked militants were killed in a failed kidnapping in the Philippines as the family of the victim fought back, the military said Thursday.

The Abu Sayyaf gunmen were shot in a sea battle with the victim’s family Wednesday after they grabbed the local businesswoman and dragged her to their boat, provincial military chief Colonel Alan Arrojado told AFP. The family was at their seaside home at the time of the incident, but had armed themselves with guns given the high crime rates in many areas in the southern Philippines, Arrojado said.

Gun ownership is legal in the Philippines as long as the weapons are registered.

The military official said the victim had been wounded in the gunfire.

He said local fishermen found the 48-year-old clinging on to a floating log with gunshot wounds to her breast and ankle. She is now being treated in hospital.

He gave no details about the whereabouts of the other two kidnappers.

The Abu Sayyaf is a loose band of gunmen founded in the late 1990s with seed money from Osama bin Laden’s AlQaeda network. The group is notorious for kidnap-for-ransom activities that target mostly foreign tourists.

It is also blamed for the worst terror attack in the country, the 2004 firebombing of a ferry off Manila Bay that killed more than 100 people.

Masbate Gov. Lanete attends hearing of bail plea in bulletproof vest MANILA, May 6 (Mabuhay) -- Masbate Gov. Rizalina Seachon Lanete attended Wednesday’s hearing on her bail petition at the Sandiganbayn Fourth Division wearing a bulletproof vest.

But Lanete, a former lawmaker, did not take the witness stand yet.

Instead, two prosecution witnesses testified on the veracity of documents pertaining to the plunder case Lanete is facing in connection with the alleged pork barrel scam.

First to take the witness stand was lawyer Myra Mallari, Securities Counsel III of the Securites and Exchange Commission (SEC) who testified on the genuineness of SEC-related documents including the Articles of incorporation of the NGOs founded by Janet Lim Napoles including JLN Corporation.

Napoles has been tagged as the alleged brains of the supposed scam.

Next to take the witness stand was

Marissa Santos, Department of Budget and Management chief administrative officer of the Central Records Division who identifed the veracity of documents related to the PDAF allocation of Lanete such as the special allotment release order (saro) and notice of cash allocation.

The prosecution is set to present whistleblower Marina Sula for the continuation of the bail hearing on Thursday.

After the proceedings, lawyer Laurence Arroyo, Lanete’s legal counsel, said they are prepared for the presentation of Sula.

“I’ll just review the records. We are ready to crossexamine her (Sula) tomorrow (Thursday),” Arroyo said. Arroyo maintained there was no irregularity in administering the PDAF of Lanete while she was still a member of the House of Representatives. “There is no irregularity at all. In fact our position is the saros were all reviewed evaluted and issued regularly

by DBM.” (MNS)

Solon wants drug users automatically rehabilitated – at their own expense MANILA, May 7 (Mabuhay) – Instead of leaving drug users in jail, a lawmaker wants them to be automatically rehabilitated and treated for drug dependency even if they’re behind bars – at their own expense.

House Bill 4451 filed by ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Samuel Pagdilao seeks to provide an alternative to the government’s dominant approach of curbing drug use by treating it as a crime and imposing sanctions on violators under the criminal justice system. It will amend certain provisions in Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The measure provides that upon the confession or admission of the suspected drug user, members of the law enforcement agency who arrested the suspect shall relay the matter to the Dangerous Drugs Board or its duly recognized representative, who shall then order the applicant to be examined by a physician accredited by the Department of Health.

If the physician certifies that the apprehended person is a drug dependent after an examination, the medical practitioner shall recommend the administration of the required treatment for the suspect. Thereafter, the drug dependent shall be referred to the necessary treatment and rehabilitation center, which shall be required to submit monthly reports to the DDB on the progress of rehabilitation or treatment.

Cost for the rehabilitation and treatment, however, shall be shouldered by the arrested or apprehended person.

Individuals who violate the proposed legislation and are found to be drug dependents will be subjected to treatment and rehabilitation while inside the jail and correctional facilities.

In pushing for the bill’s passage, Pagdilao said threats and sanctions have proved to be ineffective in stopping drug addiction in the country.

“Despite efforts of various law enforcement agencies to curb this problem, illegal drug activities continue to escalate and so too are drug-related crimes,” he said.

With the drug problem continuing to worsen, Pagdilao said it is time that the government shifts its approach from apprehending drug users to treating drug addiction as a disease that could be treated.

“There is truly an urgency to equip government with a toll that will provide offenders easy and fast access to drug rehabilitation and treatment in order to free them from the control and bondage of substance abuse which cause them to commit crimes,” he said. (MNS)

reduce. reuse. recycle.

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PHL ambassador to Pakistan dies in helicopter crash Los Angeles, 08 May 2015 – The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles joined other colleagues in grieving the untimely demise of Philippine Ambassador to Pakistan Hon. Domingo D. Lucenario, Jr. due to a helicopter crash incident in the Naltar Valley area of Pakistan.

Ambassador Lucenario together with Norwegian envoy Leif Larsen and the wives of the Indonesian and Malaysian were part of a foreign diplomatic group from Islamabad to attend the launch of a Tourism project.

Ambassador Lucenario was a career ambassador who served the Philippine Government for over 35 years. During his term as Ambassador to Pakistan, relations between the Philippines and Pakistan have enjoyed a robust partnership in various areas of cooperation.

Ambassador Lucenario was also the Philippines’ non-resident Ambassador to Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

“Ambassador Lucenario is fondly remembered by many in the Consulate, “remarked Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim. “He was a friend to all of us. He served with utmost humility and passion. We are saddened to lose a valued colleague at the prime of his life” added Consul General Herrera-Lim. A lawyer by profession, he served the Department in various capacities including assignments in Germany, Hong Kong, Australia, and as former Philippine Ambassador to Kenya with concurrent jurisdiction to 12 African nations. He was the Philippine Permanent Representative to

the United Nations Environment program (UNEP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN Habitat). He also served as Deputy Chief of Presidential Protocol under the Ramos Administration aside from various positions in the Home Office.

Ambassador Lucenario was one of the few career Filipino diplomats who had the rare distinction of having been awarded by the President of the Philippines with three (3) major Presidential Awards, namely: the order of Sikatuna Award with the rank of Datu (Gold level) (2009), the Order of Lakandula Award with the rank of Grand Officer (Maringal na Pinuno) (2008), and theGawad Mabini Award with the rank of Grand Officer (Dakilang Kamanong) (2008).

The Philippine Consulate General offers its deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of Ambassador Lucenario and those who died with him. Ambassador Lucenario is survived by his wife, Lawyer Nida Arada Lucenario and 3 children.

Ambassador Lucenario was 54 years old.

The Consulate staff will offer their prayers for the eternal repose of the soul of AmbassadorLucenario at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels on 09 May 2015.

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11.4-M families considered themselves poor in Q1 2015 – SWS MANILA, May 5 (Mabuhay) – Some 11.4 million families, or 51 percent of respondents, rated themselves poor in the first quarter of 2015, according to a new survey taken by pollster Social Weather Stations.

According to the SWS, the the first quarter’s 51 percent was “unchanged” from the 52 percent that rated themselves poor in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Also, the 51 percent was just three points below the 54-percent average for the four quarters of 2014. The 2014 self-rated poverty average was the worst during the Aquino administration, matching the average in 2006.

Meanwhile, there was a 12-point decline in self-rated poverty in Metro Manila, from 43 to 31 percent. The 31-percent figure is the lowest since June 2004.

But in the Visayas, self-rated poverty rose five points to 70 percent from 65 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014.

There was also a two-point increase in Mindanao to 62 percent from 60 percent.

In Balance Luzon, self-rated poverty slipped to 44 percent from 45 percent in December.

Food poverty, food-poverty thresholds The SWS poll found a slight improvement among those who rated themselves food-poor, with a five-point decrease to 36 percent (about 7.9 million families) in the first quarter of 2015 from the previous quarter’s 41 percent (about 9.1 million families).

Along geographic areas, first quarter self-rated food poverty improved by: nine points in Balance Luzon to a record-low 28 percent, four points in Metro Manila to 20 percent, the lowest since 19 percent in March 2001, and six points in the Visayas to 45 percent, the lowest since the 44 percent the second quarter of 2013.

The food poverty in Mindanao has been steady at 52 percent since the third quarter of 2014.

Also, the poll found that the median self-rated poverty threshold, or the lowest monthly home expense budget needed by the poorer half of poor households not to consider themselves as such, was at P15,000 in Metro Manila from P20,000 the previous quarter.

It was also P15,000 in Balance Luzon from P8,000; P10,000 in the Visayas from P12,000; and unchanged in Mindanao.

Median food poverty threshold, or the lowest monthly food budget needed by the poorer half of “food-poor” families not to consider themselves as such, was: P9,000 in Metro Manila, P6,000 in Balance Luzon, P4,750 in the Visayas, and P5,000 in Mindanao.

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Client fiels Chapter 13 to stop garnishment of Social Security Abandoned wife files Chapter 7 to discharge collection lawsuits for $20k Client No. 1 Is it even legally possible that your social security benefits can be garnished? If creditors can get your social security income when you retire, how

can you have peace of mind when you retire? To be sure, not every of origin where the cost of heart bypass kind of creditor can garnish your social surgery was significantly less than here, security, because social security income but nevertheless reached $60K. is generally exempt from garnishment. So Here’s how the IRS problem arose. He who can garnish your social security? The did not declare the liquidation of the 401K bad guy who doesn’t care if you live or die in his tax returns because he knew that if has been, is, and will always be the IRS. he disclosed it, his income would increase The IRS can garnish your social security by $85K, resulting in higher income tax for unpaid taxes. liability which he had no ability to pay.

The IRS is the shark that will eat you The nondisclosure gave him temporary alive. But the shark does have a heart and relief but as Benjamin Franklin said, “In is capable of a little mercy. The IRS usu- this world nothing can be said to be certain, ally will not garnish more than 15% of except death and taxes.� your social security income! Still, receivSo, eventually the IRS assessed her ading 15% less of social security can make ditional taxes. What he did not expect that or break your monthly retirement budget, the IRS would also assess her an “accuracy especially if, all you rely on at retirement penalty� of 25% because she knew that she is social security and nothing else. liquidated her 401K but did not disclose Client is 63 years old with a previous it. An “accuracy penalty� also makes that Chapter 7 discharge in 2008 when he tax non-dischargeable because it shows wiped out $30K of credit cards. He took conduct or intent to evade taxes. Client canearly retirement at 62 because he said that not discharge this tax even in a Chapter 7. he was getting depressed with life. He has Chapter 13 to stop the garnishment and been receiving social security of $1,315. pay the IRS without interest and penalty at Recently, he received something that $170 a month for 60 months. This is still made him more depressed, a letter from the a better deal than an installment payment IRS saying that they were going to garnish plan or continued garnishment, both of a portion of his social security for unpaid which have interest and penalty. income taxes for 2009 of $10,000. It ap- Client No. 2 pears that client liquidated all of his 401K Client is 45 years old. Husband abanof $85K in 2009 because his son needed a doned her 5 years ago and left her with heart bypass surgery and had no medical $40K of credit card debt. Husband worked insurance. Son lived in client’s country as hotel manager for a big hotel in Los

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IBM, Facebook team up on analytics, advertising Washington, United States (AFP) Wednesday 5/6/2015 – IBM and Facebook announced Wednesday they would collaborate with marketers to develop better online advertising targeted to specific customers.

The companies said in a statement they would work together on data analytics for “tailored marketing capabilities that reach the right people at the right time.�

The statement said IBM will use “deep analytics,� on top of Facebook’s anonymized and aggregate audience data, to give marketers a clearer picture of their target audiences.

For example, a retailer can use Facebook data to find people interested in running in order to offer them deals on apparel and other gear for the sport.

“All of this means better ads for people,� the statement said.

Facebook also becomes the first company to join the new IBM Commerce ThinkLab, a research group that works with marketers. “Our partnership with IBM will help top brands achieve personalization at scale by using IBM’s marketing cloud to find and engage their target audiences on Facebook, as well as solve their vexing challenges by consulting with IBM Commerce ThinkLab,� said Blake Chandlee, vice president of partnerships for Facebook. “We will also be working closely with IBM Commerce ThinkLab to help deliver people-based marketing that’s optimized to achieve each brand’s business goals.�

US top court lets stand ban on ‘gay conversion therapies’ Washington, United States | AFP | Monday 5/4/2015 – The US Supreme Court on Monday let stand a lower court’s ban on therapy intended to change the sexual orientation of gay youths under the age of 18.

The justices declined to hear the case, King v. Christie, without comment.

In so doing, they left in place a New Jersey appeals court’s decision to uphold a ban on so-called “gay conversion therapies.�

The ban was initially was signed into law by New Jersey governor Chris Christie, and challenged by therapists and Christian groups that championed the counseling.

The top court in June 2014 had declined to rule on a similar ban on gay therapy in California.

The American Psychiatric Association

in 1973 concluded that homosexuality was not a mental disorder that could be treated with therapy.

The ruling comes as the top court is in the midst of deliberations over whether same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry in the United States.

In a separate case, the court also declined to take up a prisoner’s suit for the right to sex-change surgery. It did not explain its decision.

The court’s order effectively denied the right to sex-reassignment surgery to a Massachusetts inmate serving a life sentence for the murder of his wife.

Michelle Kosilek, formerly Robert Kosilek, sued after Massachusetts state prison authorities refused him the surgery.

Angeles. A woman lawyer represented the owner of the hotel. The lawyer conducted audits of the hotel operations. The lawyer would fly in from abroad and spend a long time with client’s husband discussing hotel business.

They had meetings late at night. Apparently, the lady lawyer found client’s husband attractive. Being the hotel manager, he had access to the hotel rooms. One drink led to another, and soon enough, they were in the hotel room purportedly inspecting if the sheets were clean enough. You know the rest of the story.

Suspecting something was going on, client asked husband if he was having an affair with the lady lawyer that her husband had introduced to her in a business party.

Husband replied, “ No way, she is so ugly!

I wouldn’t touch her with a ten foot pole!�

Eventually, husband decided to divorce client to marry the ugly lawyer who got husband promoted to regional manager for the hotel chain.

Husband promised to pay off the community property credit card debt of $40K. He made minimum payments for 3 months then stopped altogether. Client paid the minimum of $1,200 monthly to keep them

current for 5 years. After paying $72K in 5 years, she found out that the principal owed was still $40K! She defaulted on the cards.

Now she faces collection lawsuits for half of the cards.

Client now decides to file for Chapter 7 relief. She should have done it 5 years ago and she would have saved herself $72K and would have very good credit again by now close to 700. “THE SOVEREIGN LORD IS MY STRENGTH; HE MAKES MY FEET LIKE THE FEET OF A DEER, HE ENABLES ME TO GO ON THE HEIGHTS.� – HABAKKUK 3:19.

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

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

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Automatic revocation of wills and trust upon entry of divorce or nullity judgment You just finalized your divorce. You are free and single again. Ever wonder what happens to the will or revocable trust you executed during your marriage with your ex spouse naming your ex spouse or her family as beneficiary in case you pass away?

Well, those documents are revoked by operation of law.

A judgment of dissolution or nullity automatically cancels,

by operation of law, non probate transfers between the former spouses nominating the former spouse or domestic or domestic partners. It also terminates the partner as executor, trustee, conservator or right of survivorship interest in joint tenan- guardian. Probate Code § 6122; Estate of cies between the former spouses/domestic Coleman (2005) 129 CA4th 380, 389, 28 partners and in community property with CR3d 282, 288; Estate of Jones (2004) 122 right of survivorship. Prob.C. §§ 5601, CA4th 326, 332–333, 18 CR3d 637, 641.

5602, 5604. Unless the respective wills A divorce judgment and nullity judgotherwise provide, the judgment also re- ment also affects non probate transfers vokes all testamentary transfers between such as trusts. A broad range of survivthe former spouses or domestic partners ing spouse/domestic partner rights are and any provision in the will of either canceled upon finality of a judgment of

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named as the initial trustee of the trust while you are alive. The trustee is the person who manages the trust. This means you retain control of all your assets the same way as if you never had a trust. For revocable trusts, you can later on, at any time during your lifetime, revoke the entire trust if you change your mind.

The assets held in your living trust will be managed by the trustee and distributed according to your directions without court supervision and involvement when you pass away. This can save your heirs time and money. Since the trust would not be under the direct management of the probate court, your assets and their value and your beneficiaries’ identities would not become a public record. Your heirs and beneficiaries would still have to be notified about the living trust and advised, among other things, of their right to obtain a copy of the trust. If you recently got divorced or had a marriage annulled, you should have a new estate plan (wills and trust) set up to save on estate taxes, save on probate and administration cost, and make it more convenient for your beneficiaries to inherit from your estate.

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

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

This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation.

Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com

SFV brokerage firm pleads guilty to wire fraud and tax charges in real estate investment scam

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dissolution or nullity including beneficiary rights under retirement plans, pay on death accounts, transfer on death vehicle registrations, trusts and a marital property agreement. Probate Code § 5600(e) .

Now since Wills and Trusts executed during the marriage is revoked upon entry of divorce or nullity judgment, you should think about setting up a new estate plan after the divorce or nullity to have a new plan in place in case you pass away. If you pass away with at least $150,000 in gross assets and you do not have a living trust (even if you have a will), your beneficiaries would have to open up a probate case before title to the assets can pass to them. When I say gross asset, I mean regardless of how much debt you owe on them. For example if you own a house valued at $850,000 at the time of your death, it does not matter that your mortgage balance is 800,000, a probate case has to be opened in order to pass title to that property. The same is true with other types of assets such as owning a business, a professional practice, bonds, equities, etc. This is a very low threshold to exceed specially in California where real estate prices, even after the economic crisis, remains in the upper end of the curve among the 50 states.

Commencing a probate case is expensive and a very slow process. Someone qualified will have to file a Petition with the probate court to have someone appointed as executor or administrator. The Petitioner’s attorney gets paid a statutory rate for attorney’s fees commencing with 4% of the gross estate. The probate referee will have to be paid for appraising the assets of the estate. If it is necessary to post bond, the premium on the bond would have to be paid as well. There is also the cost of administering the estate such as selling some of the assets to satisfy the estate’s obligations and to divide the estate according to the will or the intestate line of succession if there is no will. The entire process could take up years specially if certain beneficiaries and creditors file certain claims. The probate court file would be public record.

On the other hand if you have a revocable trust, your estate can avoid the entire court system and court supervision. In certain situations, the process may also save you estate taxes which may be substantial if your assets exceed a certain threshold.

Basically, you and/or your spouse can be

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LOS ANGELES – The former president and CEO of the Sherman Oaks-based Morgan Peabody, Inc. brokerage and investment firm has pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges stemming from a real estate investment scam that resulted in about five dozen investors losing nearly $4 million.

David Williams, 54, of Studio City, a licensed securities dealer and investment adviser, pleaded guilty yesterday before United States District Judge Dale S. Fischer. Williams pleaded guilty in the midst of a jury trial to three counts of wire fraud and two counts of tax evasion.

In a plea agreement filed with the court yesterday, Williams admitted that he directed Morgan Peabody representatives to sell securities in a fund that Williams personally had created, purportedly to invest in real estate. The Sherwood Secured Investment Fund, LLC, a Studio City business that Williams owned, offered a 9 percent annual return on investments.

However, as he admitted in the plea agreement, Williams used the majority of investor money from the Sherwood Fund to pay for personal expenses, including a lease on a $6 million residence in Toluca Lake.

Between June 2007 and April 2008, Williams fraudulently obtained more

than $3.75 million from approximately 60 investors as a result of the Sherwood Fund offering.

In his plea agreement, Williams admitted that he used investor money for personal purposes and committed tax evasion by failing to file returns with the IRS for tax years 2007 and 2008, and failing to report the more than $2.3 million in income he received. Williams has agreed to pay additional taxes of $777,881 for those tax years, as well as the civil fraud penalty and interest.

Williams is scheduled to be sentenced

by Judge Fisher on September 28. At sentencing, Williams faces a statutory maximum sentence of 70 years in federal prison.

The investigation into Williams’ scheme was conducted by special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS Criminal Investigation.

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Conventional Financing with 5% down and NO PMI Payments Has anyone heard of such a loan program, this was presented to me yesterday by a new loan company? 5% down/no mortgage insurance loan program in Orange County, Ca, my credit score is above 720 and my debt ratio is above 40%. I was wondering if they are any hidden cost i should prepare for?

After speaking to the agent, he did mention the interest would be slightly higher (0.25-0.50%) than a regular conventional loan. Please advise what are the this loan first before a lender would agree risk and benefits.

Yes, there has been a Fannie Mae pro- to self insure. Please call for if you have gram that allows lenders to self insure the a scenario that you would like to have loan therefore you don’t need to buy PMI discussed.

Can I pay off my debts to qualify for a insurance. These are typically the types of loan I always recommend my customers home in case I owe too much money now?

Great question, yes there are guidelines to take. Because a typical PMI factor for 5% down pay would be around .75-.90% on how you should pay your debt to qualify depending on your fico scores, so if you for a loan and requirements you needed to choose to get a loan without PMI your provide to verify such. Here are some of rates would only have to take a rate that is the guidelines you need to know first: Revolving debt may be paid off to qualabout .25-.375% higher. Let give a more ify, as long as the account is being closed. accurate example: Loan Amount: $ 300,000.00 – Todays If the revolving account will be paid off and closed during the origination process, interest rate estimate : 4.25% Principal payment at 4.25% = 1475.82 the payment does not have to be included plus PMI of additional $177.00 total PI + in the DTI ratio, provided the following documentation is obtained confirming that PMI = 1652.82 Same balance with a 4.625% rate – NO the account has been paid off and closed: A letter from the creditor, on their letPMI would give you a payment only of $ terhead, evidencing that the account was 1542.42.

The savings would be around 109/mo closed and has a zero balance, or a credit report supplement evidencing that the acwith no PMI option.

Here are some of the requirements: Min count was closed and has a zero balance. fico score to be around 680, debt to income If the revolving account will be paid off at ratio not exceeding 41-45% depending on loan closing, the payment does not have the fico scores. Lender DU ( delegated to be included in the DTI ratio provided underwriting) have to allow or approve the following documentation is obtained:

Note: Paying down debt to less than 10 months, to avoid including the debt in DTI ratios, is not permitted. This applies to both installment and revolving accounts. But if you do it prior to getting a credit for the lender, there might be a way.

If I already have Mortgage Insurance how can I request for it to be removed?

A federal law called the Homeowners Protection Act requires that mortgage insurance be cancelled when you build up a certain amount of equity in your home. The law applies to most types of mortgages.

Talk to your lender about how this applies to you.

When can I cancel MI? When the balance on your mortgage reaches 80% of the home’s original value or current appraised value, you may request cancellation of your MI. You must have a good payment history with respect to the mortgage, mortgage payments must be current and there can be no other loans against the home. Some lenders also require verification that the property did not decrease in value.

Even if its only a year or less as long as it meets the 80% limitation. Unlike FHA. See FHA guidelines in regards to FHA MI removal: New FHA MIP Cancelation Policy The Federal Housing Administration also made a second MIP-related announcement – the agency is reversing its policy which allows FHA-backed homeowners to cancel mortgage insurance premiums once the outstanding principal balance of an FHA loan reaches 78 percent

BAN ANIMAL TESTING

of the original balance.

Going forward, the FHA will disallow the removal of MIP throughout the life of a loan, if the loan’s starting loan balance is higher than 90% of its appraised value.

This is true for purchases and refinances.

For loans in which the loan-to-value begins at 90 percent or less, mortgage insurance premiums must be paid for 11 years.

This change goes into effect June 3, 2013.

This will give it a homeowners the more reason to choose to put 5% down instead of a traditional FHA 3.5% down to not have to pay and go thru PMI. Thanks for your very interesting inquiries, now we have to really plan for our mortgages we want to take in the future.

Please call Ken Go of 1st Innovative Finance Group at 562-508-7048 or write to kennethgo@verizon.net .

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OPINION

Bill empowers Filipino women entrepreneurs

MANILA, May 6 (Mabuhay) – A lawmaker has filed a bill which seeks to enhance the active participation and involvement of women in the field of trade and businesses, especially at a time when the country is experiencing economic setbacks.

Rep. Delphine Gan Lee (Party-list, AGRI) said House Bill No. 5251 aims to empower women in the business enterprise by developing a national program and creating a national interagency committee on women’s business enterprise.

The Interagency Committee on Women’s Business Enterprise to be created under the bill shall be composed of a chairperson to be appointed by the President of the Philippines and members appointed by the heads of the Departments of Agriculture; Trade and Industry; Defense; Energy; Health; Interior and Local Government; Justice, and Labor and Employment.

“These members shall have a vote while non-voting members shall include the Executive Director of the Committee and at least one but not more than three representatives from the Office of the President and are appointed by the President,” Gan Lee explained.

Under the measure, the Committee is tasked to promote, coordinate and monitor the plans, programs and operations of the departments and agencies of the Executive Branch which may contribute to the establishment, preservation and strengthening of women’s business enterprise with the cooperation of the departments and agencies.

It shall establish such policies, definitions, procedures and guidelines to govern the implementation, interpretation and application of this Act, and generally perform such functions and take steps as the Committee may deem necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes and carry out the provisions thereof.

The Committee shall likewise promote the mobilization of activities and resources of the State and local governments, business and trade and associations, private industry, colleges and universities, foundations, professional organizations and volunteer and other groups toward the growth of women’s business and enterprise.

The bill directs the Committee to make an annual assessment of the progress made in the government toward assisting women’s business enterprise to enter the mainstream of business ownership and to provide recommendations for further actions to the President.

The proposal mandates each department and agency of the Executive branch to take appropriate action to facilitate, preserve and strengthen women’s business enterprise and to ensure full participation by women in the free enterprise system.

Gan Lee pushed for the passage of the bill, saying it is the policy of the State to advance the interest of Filipino women by providing avenues to enhance their entrepreneurial skills and to facilitate, preserve and strengthen women’s business enterprise and to ensure full participation by women in the free enterprise system. (MNS)

Record 38 million people internally displaced by conflicts: Watchdog

By Nina Larson

Geneva, Switzerland (AFP) Wednesday 5/6/2015 – Conflicts and violence in places like Syria and Ukraine have displaced a record 38 million people inside their own countries, equivalent to the total populations of New York, London and Beijing, a watchdog group said Wednesday.

Nearly one third of them – a full 11 million people – were displaced last year alone, with an average of 30,000 people fleeing their homes every day, the Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) said in a report.

“These are the worst figures for forced displacement in a generation, signaling our complete failure to protect innocent civilians,” said Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council which is behind the IDMC. Internally displaced people (IDPs) is a label given to people who remain in their homeland, as opposed to refugees, who flee across borders.

According to the latest available UN statistics, there were some 16.7 million refugees in the world at the end of 2013, meaning the total number of displaced people is well above 50 million.

The number of internally displaced people is thus today around twice that of refugees – a dramatic shift from a few decades ago when the two categories stood on equal footing, Egeland said.

“One of the main reasons why the number of IDPs is growing so much are all the closed borders,” he told AFP, adding that the international community was “not willing or able to do as we promise: to

protect the vulnerable and the innocent.”

The trend is clear: 2014 marked the third year in a row with record numbers of IDPs, with last year’s figures dwarfing those seen at the peak of the Darfur crisis in 2004, the spiraling violence in Iraq in the mid-2000s, or during the Arab Spring uprisings in 2011, IDMC said. “This report should be a tremendous wake-up call,” Egeland said.

IDMC tracked internal displacement in 60 countries last year, but most of the people fleeing in 2014 were in just five countries: Iraq, South Sudan, Syria, Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria.

Iraq was the hardest hit, with 2.2 million people forced to flee inside the country from areas seized by the brutal Islamic State group.

Around one million more people were internally displaced in Syria last year, bringing the total number of IDPs there to 7.6 million, or 40 percent of the population. In addition, some four million Syrians have become refugees.

For the first time in a decade, Europe was also the scene of massive displacement, with 646,500 people internally displaced in Ukraine in 2014 because of fighting between pro-Russian separatists and Kiev forces.

Egeland said that number had nearly doubled since the start of 2015, bringing the total number of IDPs in Ukraine to more than 1.2 million.

Boko Haram’s ruthless campaign to create an independent Islamic state in north-eastern Nigeria was also responsible for most of the nearly one million people displaced in the country last year.

US struggles to counter ‘homegrown’ terror threat

By Dan De Luce

Washington, United States (AFP) Tuesday 5/5/2015 – An attempted attack by two suspected Islamist gunmen in Texas underscores the persistent threat posed by “homegrown” extremists and the difficulties US authorities face in trying to thwart them, experts said Monday.

Investigators were still trying to piece together the details of Sunday’s incident in a Dallas suburb in which a traffic policeman shot dead two heavily armed gunmen who had tried to storm an event organized by an anti-Muslim group.

Amid reports one of the attackers had been suspected of planning to travel to Somalia to fight with jihadists, analysts said it resembled other cases of homegrown militants taking action without orders from abroad.

Senior US officials have repeatedly warned of a growing danger from homegrown Islamist extremists, particularly “lone wolves” acting entirely on their own.

“It’s a challenge for us given how hard it is to stop these people because they’re on the Internet, in their homes,” FBI Director James Comey said in an interview last month.

Comey said there had been “good progress” and a number of arrests, but he added: “I worry about the people who may be in their basements radicalizing that I can’t see.”

There have been at least 63 homegrown jihadist plots or attacks on US soil between 2001 and 2013, according to the Congressional Research Service, and the number markedly increased starting in 2009.

The Islamic State group, Al-Qaeda and Yemenbased Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, as well as al-Shabab in Somalia have all issued appeals to supporters “to conduct lone-wolf attacks against the United States and other Western countries,” National Intelligence Director James Clapper told lawmakers in February.

Homegrown extremists usually lack the training, the bomb-making expertise or the financial backing to pull off a large-scale attack. But they have the advantage of surprise, as there is no communication with known operatives overseas that can be wiretapped.

Muslims in America The homegrown threat may have expanded but it

still remains on a smaller scale compared to European countries, said Max Abrahms of Northeastern University.

“One of the reasons that’s the case, perhaps the biggest reason, is that the American Muslim community is relatively happy,” Abrahms, an assistant professor of political science, told AFP. American Muslims tend to be more assimilated and financially better-off than their counterparts across the Atlantic.

But he said events like the one organized on Sunday, involving a contest to draw cartoon caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed, threaten to alienate some Muslims and provoke a violent reaction.

“It’s precisely the kind of behavior that risks ostracizing the American Muslim community and puts our counter-terrorism efforts at risk,” Abrahms said.

“When the Muslim community feels mistreated, it’s more likely to generate extremists.”

To tackle the homegrown problem, US authorities tend to employ two methods: sting operations involving undercover FBI agents or busting a suspect on non-terrorist related charges, such immigration or tax violations.

The sting campaigns have resulted in numerous arrests and convictions but have also provoked criticism. Civil liberties groups have questioned whether the FBI has engaged in “entrapment” of people who had no concrete plans or means to carry out an attack.

In a 2010 case, four men were found guilty of planning to shoot down military aircraft at Stewart Airport in Newburgh, New York. An informant posing as an extremist gave them inert C-4 explosives and an inactive Stinger missile.

Working to build trust with Muslim communities as well as recruit informers inside the communities, American authorities have tried to ferret out extremists before they strike. But police have come under criticism for some tactics that rights groups say single out Muslim Americans for spying and suspicion.

Farooque Ahmed, a naturalized US citizen from Pakistan, was sentenced to 23 years in prison in 2011 after he told undercover officers he planned to bomb subway stations in Washington DC. The tip that led authorities to Ahmed came from a source in the local Muslim community.

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Pacquiao faces another bout‌in the courtroom Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao is due to fight again anytime this month or early next month in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight however will not take place in a boxing ring.

It will be held in a courtroom.

Pacquiao is facing a $5 million lawsuit filed Tuesday morning in a U.S. District Court In Las Vegas. The suit, filed by two Las Vegas residents, seeks damages because Pacquiao failed to dis

close his shoulder injury before his fight with Mayweather. number of punches he has thrown against The “Fighting Pride of the Philippines� anybody in his 20-year career as a boxer, is also facing possible sanctions from giving credence to Pacquiao’s revelations the Nevada State Athletic Commission that he was fighting Mayweather with only (NSAC) also for non-disclosure of his his left hand. injury. If found guilty, Pacquiao could be With the shoulder injury issue, Mayfined or suspended by the NSAC. Pacquiao weather’s win over Pacquiao will remain injured his shoulder in early part of April. questionable. I think Mayweather 48-0 Team Pacquiao, however, for unknown record in his boxing career will have an reasons, did not reveal the severity of asterisk. We will never know for sure what “Pacman’s� injury on the pre-fight ques- would have been the outcome of the fight tionnaire that was completed during the had Pacquiao went inside ring 100 per cent weigh-in. physically fit.

According to news reports coming But to be fair to Mayweather, he came from Las Vegas, the plaintiffs relied on prepared on fight night and fought using the misrepresentations and non disclosures his excellent defensive skills. Mayweather when purchasing expensive tickets and even successfully converted the boxing pay-per-view showings and wagerings on ring into a dance floor. He danced all the Mayweather versus Pacquiao fight. night in the ring to avoid Pacquiao who I expect more lawsuits likely to be filed continued stalking him, hoping to land against Pacquiao in the next few days as one big punch to end the fight. Sadly, our more and more people will learn about “Pambansang Kamao � champion failed to the legal problem “Pacman� is currently deliver the knockout blow to Mayweather. facing.

Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, is The now controversial injury issue claiming that his boxer injured his shoulder came up only during the post-fight press on April 4 while throwing a right hook conference. Newsmen covering the event against one of his sparring partners. He told in the MGM Grand Casino were baffled the media that they had the injury examined by the minimal punching output of Pac- two days later and found out about the tear quiao, known to be an explosive fighter in Pacquiao’s rotator cuff. They further capable of throwing a flurry of punching claimed that they did not disclose the injury combinations. hoping that it would heal by itself before In his 12-round showdown with May- the mega fight.

Top Rank Promotions head Bob Arum, weather, Pacquiao threw a total 429 punches with only 81 of them connecting. on the other hand, disputed the statement Boxing experts said that that was the fewest made by the NSAC regarding Pacquiao’s

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Team Pacquiao to appease a lot of boxing fans who apparently were disgusted about the performance of the “Fighting Pride of the Philippines.� I have seen on tapes most of Pacquiao’s previous fights. He is really a skilled and explosive boxer, capable of throwing a lot of combinations due to his hand speed.

Too bad, the real Pacquiao did not show up at the MGM Grand Casino last May 2. His win against the unbeaten American boxer would have given millions of Filipinos so much happiness and pride.

Pacquiao probably has too much pride and confidence that he decided “the show must go on.�

What I can’t understand is why did Bob Arum and the rest of Team Pacquiao not cancel the fight knowing that Pacquiao was not 100 percent physically fit. Was it pride or the fear of losing the big pile of money in the event that the fight will be cancelled?

Funny, but despite all the controversy, there are reports coming out that there might be a sequel to another MayweatherPacquiao fight next year. I don’t know how the boxing world and fans will react to this news. I find this news laughable.

Senate resolution commending Pacquiao filed

MANILA, May 6 (Mabuhay) – Despite his loss in his fight against Floyd Mayweather, a senator still wants to commend Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao “for his greatness inside and outside the ring.�

Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito filed Senate Resolution No. 1307 entitled “Resolution Commending the People’s Champ Congressman Emmanuel “Manny� Pacquiao for his exceptional performance during “The Fight of the Century� against Floyd Mayweather, Jr. on May 2, 2015 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada and for contributing to the Filipino pride� “Despite his loss, Manny Pacquiao was able to gain the respect of the international community, considering him as the best boxer in the world, calling him the winner of the people’s heart for his greatness inside and outside the ring, and for his exceptional talent and heart for the sport of boxing,� he said.

He added that Pacquiao’s struggles in life, not just in boxing, shows the capacity of the human spirit to overcome all adversity that hinders a person’s want to better himself. Pacquiao is currently a congressman representing Sarangani province. “The result of the last fight of Manny does not eclipse this lesson,� the senator said.

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non disclosure of his right shoulder injury. He is claiming that NSAC was informed of the injury and that Pacquiao even sought a request to be given anti-inflammatory shots before the bout.

Pacquiao’s request for the anti-inflammatory shots was denied by the NSAC since it was made just two hours before the fight. Michael Konz, Pacquiao’s financial adviser, is taking the blame for “Pacman.�

He is claiming that he was the one who answered the questionnaire and had made the error.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao is expected to undergo shoulder surgery this week or early next week in Los Angeles to repair a significant tear in his rotator cuff. Pacquiao went to the Kerlan Jobe Orthopedic clinic in Los Angeles to seek medical attention regarding the pain in his right shoulder.

An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) confirmed a significant tear on his right shoulder rotator cuff that warrants surgery. Doctors are saying that it would take almost a year for Pacquiao to be completely healed.

As of now, there are so many questions that need to be answered by Arum and

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FOOD & DINING Sweet and Savory Garlic Ginger Brussels Sprouts and Grapes Servings: 4 (1/2 cup each) 1 pound Brussels sprouts 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 cup halved red California grapes 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, grated 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 2 teaspoons honey 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 1/4 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped Cut off woody stem on each Brussels sprout and remove any tough or bruised outer leaves. Slice sprouts very thinly to make mound of feathery ribbons.

Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sprouts, grapes, salt and pepper to skillet and saute 3–4 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and add garlic, ginger, mustard, honey and vinegar to pan. Continue to saute approximately 1–2 minutes, until sprouts are tender and bright green in color.

Turn off heat and add walnuts to pan.

Gently mix to combine.

Tofu Grape Kabobs

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idely recognized as portable and tasty, grapes are an easy way to enjoy an extra serving of fruit.

But not only are grapes a super snack, they’re a terrific fresh ingredient to enhance any meal.

Yes, with a burst of juicy flavor, fresh grapes can make goodfor-you foods taste even better. Vibrant color, crunch and a light touch of sweetness make them an unexpected but appealing addition to countless dishes.

These recipes show how grapes balance the distinct flavor of Brussels sprouts; complement smoky mozzarella; provide a palate-pleasing texture to tofu kabobs and complement the global flavors of a Thai salad.

In addition to great taste and versatility, grapes are also healthy. They are a natural source of antioxidants and other polyphenols, which contribute to a healthy heart.

For more recipes featuring delicious and nutritious grapes, visit www.grapesfromcalifornia.com.

Servings: 4 2–3 tablespoons minced jalapeno 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce 2 teaspoons brown sugar 1 teaspoon grated ginger 1 pound firm tofu, cut into 12 chunks 2 cups green California grapes 2 cups steamed brown rice 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro Heat grill to high.

In small bowl, mix jalapeno, soy sauce, sugar and ginger, and toss. Add tofu and mix.

Thread tofu and grapes onto 4 skewers. Grill 2–4 minutes or until heated through.

Divide rice among 4 bowls, top with skewers and sprinkle with cilantro.

Nutrition information per serving: 271 calories; 6 g fat (.8 g saturated fat); 20% calories from fat; 14 g protein; 42 g carbohydrate; 3.5 g fiber; 0 mg cholesterol; 207 mg sodium.

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Sweet Summery Snack Frozen grapes are the perfect cool down when the weather gets hot. Just rinse, pat dry and place in the freezer for about 2 hours.

Shrimp Thai Salad

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One serving of grapes is 3/4 cup and has just 90 calories, no fat, no cholesterol and virtually no sodium.

Grapes are a natural source of antioxidants and other polyphenols, which help make grapes a heart-healthy food.

They are an excellent source of vitamin K, which is critical for healthy blood clotting, and may play a role in bone health.

Grapes contribute to heart health by promoting the relaxation of blood vessels to help maintain healthy blood flow and function.

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Servings: 4 3 cups shredded savoy cabbage 2 cups bean sprouts, rinsed 1 1/2 cups green California grapes, halved 1 large cucumber 1/4 cup lime juice 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar 2 tablespoons brown sugar 3 tablespoons minced shallots 1 tablespoon safflower oil 1 red Thai chili, thinly sliced 1 1/2 cups cooked medium shrimp 3 tablespoons coarsely chopped cilantro 3 tablespoons Thai basil, torn Combine cabbage, bean sprouts and grapes in large bowl. With vegetable peeler, peel cucumber into long thin strips and put on top.

In small bowl, combine lime juice, vinegar, sugar, shallots, oil and chili. Pour over vegetables and mix well.

Divide among 4 serving plates, top with shrimp and sprinkle with cilantro and basil.

Nutrition information per serving: 186 calories; 3.5 g fat (.2 g saturated fat); 16% calories from fat; 14 g protein; 28 g carbohydrate; 4 g fiber; 0 mg cholesterol; 146 mg sodium.

Grape and Smoked Mozzarella Flatbread Servings: 4 2 large wholegrain flatbreads or naan (about 8 ounces) 1 1/4 cups grated smoked mozzarella 3 cups arugula 1 cup sliced red, green and black California grapes 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 small clove garlic, minced Salt Freshly ground black pepper Heat broiler to high.

Place flatbreads on baking sheet and broil until crisp and lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Turn and cover with mozzarella. Broil until melted, about 2–3 minutes.

While mozzarella is melting, toss together arugula, grapes, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Place on top of flatbreads and cut into wedges.

Nutrition information per serving: 323 calories; 14.5 g fat (6 g saturated fat); 38% calories from fat; 16 g protein; 37 g carbohydrate; 4 g fiber; 19 mg cholesterol; 626 mg sodium.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

Need help to lower your Medicare prescription cost?

Medicare offers subsidy to low-income Medicare members to reduce their prescription cost. This program is known as extra help for prescriptions or LIS for low-income subsidy.

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Any Medicare member is encouraged to apply. Who knows

you may qualify for this subsidy? Medi-Cal beneficiaries may not apply both of you may enjoy this benefit. as they already enjoy this benefit.

Another way to reduce your prescripYou may apply online, thru the phone tion cost is to ask your doctor if your or by mail. medication has a generic equivalent. GeIf you’re married, you may wish to nerics are more economical than branded include your espouse in the application so medicines.

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If you’re taking only branded medications because there is no generic equivalent yet, you may wish to call the manufacturer and request to be included in the list of those who receive free medicines for 3 or 6 months.

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at 323-535-7373 or e-mail at: leo.balita@ gmail.com.

Immigration Trivia: Those eligible for US citizenship, but cannot afford to pay the fee, call Ms. Janet Sayno at 213-4839804 (FASGI) for help.

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COMMUNITY

SCE celebrates Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month ROSEMEAD, Calif., May 1, 2015 – Southern California Edison (SCE) today celebrates its business and community partnerships in the Asian community at its 10th annual Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month Celebration at SCE’s Energy Education Center in Irwindale.

Ted Craver, chairman, president and CEO of Edison International, the parent company of SCE, will speak at the event, which brings together Asian businesses and community partners, recognizes AAPI energy-efficient champions and highlights SCE’s partners with its mission to give back to the communities it serves.

This year’s award recipients are Foreign Exchange, RePET Inc., Asian Pacific Community Fund and Chinese American Construction Professionals.

Ted Nguyen, a national award-winning social media, public relations and marketing communications professional, is the keynote speaker. “Celebrating Business & Community Partnerships,” with a special focus on giving back, is this year’s theme.

“Our Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage event celebrates our cultural diversity and the achievements of AsianAmerican business and communities partners,” said Lisa Cagnolatti, vice president of SCE’s Business Customer Division and Customer Service Safety. “It’s also an opportunity for Southern California Edison to show our appreciation to the communities we serve.”

Receiving SCE’s 2015 Energy Efficiency Participation Award are: Foreign Exchange, a new clothing company with more than 30 stores in California, including nine in SCE’s service

territory. Foreign Exchange has played a proactive role in energy savings and its participation in SCE’ Energy Efficiency Express Solutions program has led to reduced electricity usage and incentives.

RePET, Inc., a recycling center, that has maintained corporate values in reducing costs by saving energy and improving safety. Through its partnership with SCE via its Energy Efficiency/Demand Response programs, RePET has installed more efficient lighting and is currently enrolled in SCE’s Real Time Pricing program.

SCE’s Community Partnership Award goes to the Asian Pacific Community Fund (APCF), which is focused on transforming lives and meeting the diverse needs of the AAPI community. To date, APCF has awarded $3 million to its affiliate agencies and other community organizations, enabling culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate services to enhance the lives of 225,000 people annually in 27 Asian and Pacific Islander languages, in addition to English and Spanish.

SCE’s Diverse Business Enterprise Award will be given to the Chinese American Construction Professionals, which enhances members’ competitiveness in local and global markets, facilitates professional and business networking opportunities and serves the community while nurturing the future of construction professionals.

Jestin Ma, a freshman at Stanford University, will share his experiences as a 2014 Edison Scholar and the recipient of a $40,000 scholarship. He is studying computer science and engineering and is a graduate of San Gabriel High School.

NBC4 Southern California reporter Hetty Chang will serve as emcee. A na-

tive of Southern California, Chang is an Emmy Award-nominated journalist who covers the Long Beach and South Bay communities.

About Southern California Edison An Edison International (NYSE:EIX)

company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving a population of nearly 14 million via 4.9 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and Southern California.

Shown at the gala event of the LA-Makati Sister City were from left: Congresswoman Abigail Binay, Actress KC Concepcion, Councilman Tom LaBonge and Atty. Abraham Lim; standing behind was Tom Gilmore. Photo courtesy of: Annie Cuevas-Lim

Los Angeles - Makati Sister Cities: shared experience of Arts & Culture The Los Angeles - Makati Sister Cities Induction Gala held last Sunday, May 3rd hosted by Janelle So-Perkins deserves a warm applause in showcasing an evening of shared experience in the arts and culture of the Philippines.

As Chairman of the Sister Cities of Los Angeles and a 4th District Councilmember, Tom LeBonge greeted everyone and thanked the organizers, headed by Atty Abraham L. Lim, President of the LAMakati City Sister City, Inc. Also on hand greeting everyone was Tom Gilmore, President of the Sister Cities of Los Angeles and on their website, Mr. Gilmore describes the significance of Sister Cities as “an extrraordinary opportunity to enhance international relationships, those we have around the globe with diverse communities...”

Further he says “Connecting directly with the people of our Sister Cities opens the doors to an endless range of shared experience and understanding . It all begins with people to people.”

The Sister Cities vision statement is “to achieve a smaller planet through better relationships, closer communications and ever stronger collaborations between our international Sister City partners and the City of Los Angeles. We continue a non-political, people to people diplomatic tradition esablished by our city government with a high degree of quality civic involvement in the disciplines of culture, education, communication, international trade, travel & tourism, sports & recreation and through an innovative program of public service at home and abroad. It is these relationships that often sirvives wen governments fail. They keep the conversation alive.

We envision a more vibrant and prosperous City of LA that benefits from a variety of visitors from around the world, especially residents and visitors from our

Sister Cities.”

Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim introduced Keynote Speaker, 2nd District Makati Congresswoman Abigail BinayCampos who was formerly a partner at the Law Office of Subido, Pacente, Certeza, Mendoza & Binay.

In her message, Congresswoman Binay said “Makati City takes pride in being given the opportunity to be the host city of this historic event that will bring to the fore the ingenuity and brilliance of the Filipinos in culture and the arts and provide the people of Los Angeles an awe-inspiring array of talents and crafts that the Philippines is so richly endowed with.”

Both Congresswoman Binay and Councilman Tom LaBonge installed the new officers of the LA-Makati Sister City: Abham Lim, Esq., President; Trini Foliente, Vice-President and Board Members: Annie Cuevas-Lim, Janelle So-Perkins, Lourdes Garcia, Dr. Mohammed Sellam, Michaela Bantilan- Andrawis, Ernie Ocampo, Esq., Cora Aragon-Soriano and Vic Perez; Grace Mercado-Ouano, Board Adviser..

Special LA-Makati Sister City special awards were given to the following: Actress Kristina Cassandra (KC) Concepcion, as Anak ng Makati, in recognition of her service as a model youth of the Philippines’ National Ambassador against hunger during the United Nations World Food Program; Nymia Cocueco, also as Anak Ng Makati for her work in promoting the arts, culture, trade & tourism of the Philippines.

Entertainment was provided by singers Geneva Cruz, Garie Concepcion and the Philipine Chamber Singers.

A couple of ethnic cultural and colorful dances were perfomed by the Malaya Filipino American Dance Arts.

Highlight of the evening’s gala event was Cora Manimbo’s Filipiniana Fashion Show, along with Oskar Attendido’s Felligree Jewelry Fashions. (Myrna Aquitania)

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Lucky winners picked to see Lani Misalucha live at Pechanga Two lucky raffle winners will see Lani Misalucha perform live at Pechanga Resort & Casino on May 22, 2015.

The winners – Lourdes Q. Garcia and Avelino Ang, whose names were chosen from several raffle participants, are among the latest of lucky participants who have seen live concerts of Filipino artists in the prestigious resort located just south of Los Angeles.

The raffle contest begun last April 11 and ended on April 29. Entry forms were submitted via email at advertising@balita. com where all the participants did was to put “LANI” as subject and with their complete name, age and phone number in order for their name to be included in the raffle drawing.

In the raffle, contestants were asked to answer the two trivia questions about Lani Misalucha.

The questions were: What was Lani Misalucha called since she arrived in Las Vegas in 2004?

What is the name of the Hawaiian troupe performing with Lani Misalucha in Las Vegas?

Filipino recording artists Lani Misalucha and a special guest performer are coming to the Pechanga Resort & Casino Theater on May 22, 2015.

Both well-known stars, Lani Misalucha is known as the “Siren of the Las Vegas Strip” after a long time headlining residency.

Lani Misalucha is a Filipino singer now based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dubbed “Asia’s Nightingale,” she is a multi-faceted artist, from pop, rock, jazz, soul, rhythm and blues and operatic arias.

Having moved to Las Vegas in 2004, Misalucha became the first Asian to headline a main showroom of the Las Vegas strip performing with Hawaii’s Society of Seven at the Jubilee Theater of Bally’s.

Since then, Misalucha has been called “New Siren of the Strip.” In March 2008, Misalucha was voted “Best Singer” in the “27th Annual Best of Las Vegas” poll by the Las Vegas Review Journal. Misalucha recently returned to the Philippines to great fanfare to release her seventh studio album, The Nightingale Returns: Lani Misalucha Sings the Greatest Filipino Songbook.

Recently, this special performer together with Lani Misalucha and Martin Nievera headlined the very successful New Year’s Eve Countdown for Solaire Resort and Casino in Manila. Other upcoming events at Pechanga Resort & Casino include: ● May 15 - Bellator MMA ● May 22 - Lani Misalucha with Special Guest ● June 5 - Peter Frampton & Cheap Trick ● June 6 - 7th Annual Microbrew & Craft Beer Festival ● August 23 - Diana Krall About Pechanga Resort & Casino Pechanga Resort & Casino offers one of the largest and most expansive resort/ casino experience anywhere in the country.

Rated a Four Diamond property by AAA since 2002, Pechanga Resort & Casino provides an unparalleled getaway, whether for the day or for an extended luxury stay.

Offering more than 3,000 of the hottest slots, table games, world-class entertainment, 517 hotel rooms, dining, spa and championship golf at Journey at Pechanga, Pechanga Resort & Casino features a destination that meets and exceeds the needs of its guests and the community. Pechanga Resort & Casino is owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians. For more information, call toll free 1-877-7112946 or visit www.Pechanga.com. Follow Pechanga Resort & Casino on Facebook. com/Pechanga and on Twitter @PechangaCasino.

Secure means safe when it comes to metallic balloons for moms, grads and proms ROSEMEAD, Calif., May 4, 2015 – If there’s a season for everything, May begins the usual peak months for power outages caused by metallic balloons. And this year, those outages are already up 55 percent and at an all-time high for the first three months of any year.

With this happening even before the traditionally most active months for balloon-related outages around Mother’s Day, graduations and proms, Southern California Edison (SCE) urges its customers to always keep those balloons secured to a weight as required by California law and to never release them outdoors. This is especially vital since SCE has had 182 outages through March compared to 118

last year at that point.

“Keep them indoors if possible, but the best way to prevent them from floating dangerously away outdoors is by keeping them tied to that weight or something else sturdy,” said Don Neal, SCE director of Corporate Environmental, Health and Safety. “Not doing so can lead to serious injuries, property damage and outages.”

Injuries and property damage can potentially occur when the balloon contact leads to downed power lines.

May and June have long been the worst months for balloon outages, with 35 percent (230) of SCE’s 656 balloon outages last year occurring in these months. Since 2010, SCE has consistently suffered about

one-third of its balloon outages in May and June — twice the number on average than the next two months.

During National Electrical Safety Month, SCE recommends some tips for handling metallic balloons: Do not attempt to retrieve a balloon – or any foreign object – tangled in power lines. Instead, call SCE at 800-611-1911 and report the problem.

Never tie a metallic balloon to a child’s wrist. If the balloon comes into contact with electricity, it will travel through the balloon and into the child, possibly causing serious injury or even death.

Never attach streamers to any balloon – latex or metallic.

US must lead on AIDS funding: Elton John Washington, United States (AFP) Wednesday 5/6/2015 – Elton John forecast Wednesday the end of AIDS in his lifetime – but only if the United States keeps leading the world in bankrolling its eradication.

The British pop music icon and AIDS activist was the star turn at a Senate hearing on future funding for the United States’ core global AIDS initiative.

“The AIDS epidemic is not over and America’s continued leadership is critical,” the 68-year-old John warned.

“There is a window of opportunity before us, a window through which we can very clearly see the end of AIDS within my lifetime,” he said.

“We cannot afford to let the window close if our efforts flag,” added the founder of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which

has raised more than $321 million since 1992 for AIDS treatment and prevention.

“Drug resistance will surface, transmission rates will rise and this disease which knows no boundaries will once again become a ruthless pandemic with disastrous and far-reaching consequences.”

John was speaking to members of the Senate Appropriations Committee who are considering funding for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) going forward. The program, which has requested $6.542 billion for fiscal 2016, was launched by president George W. Bush in 2003 and substantially beefed up by his successor Barack Obama.

Bono was also invited to testify, but Senator Lindsey Graham, who chaired the hearing, said the U2 frontman and activist

is still recovering from a serious bicycle accident in New York last November.

US efforts to wipe out AIDS in the developing world enjoy bipartisan support in Washington, with Graham saying “terrorists” would likely be the only people to oppose its funding.

Flattering his hosts, John credited US generosity with providing life-saving medication for 400,000 people living with HIV and slashing mother-to-child AIDS transmission by half.

“Because of the actions of this Congress, the course of the AIDS epidemic has been altered for all of humanity,” he said.

“This Congress indeed has the power to end AIDS,” he added, warning however that cutting the PEPFAR budget would be “a huge blow” leading to disaster.

When done with them, puncture the balloons or cut the knot to keep them from floating away. If you see a downed line or dangling wire – even if it appears not to be live – don’t touch or approach it and call 911 immediately.

More on metallic balloon safety can be found at on.sce.com/staysafe. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

About Southern California Edison An Edison International (NYSE:EIX) company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving a population of nearly 14 million via 4.9 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and Southern California.

Voter IDs for Fil-Ams who registered to vote in PHL now available at Los theAngeles, Consulate 06 May 2015 – The Consulate wishes to inform voters who filed their applications for voter registration from 2009 to 2012, that the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has issued their Voter ID. They may personally (or through their authorized representative) claim their IDs at the Overseas Voter Registration window (Window 2) of the Philippine Consulate General.

You can check the list provided by the COMELEC by clicking on this link: http://www.philippineconsulatela.org/OV/List%20of%20 Voters%20ID%20-%202009%20 to%202012.pdf.

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

BOOKKEEPER NEEDED Full-time. Downtown L.A. Must have experienced in Microsoft, Excel, Words and QuickBooks.

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INTERNET COMPANY Looking for Customer Service Rep. and Computer Work. Fluent in English, writing and computer skills must. Send resume to: Sunkyungchin@yahoo.com or send text to: 323-546-9938.

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CAREGIVER Wanted F/T female or male caregiver. Good in cooking and resident care. Email resume to: loveeldercare@gmail.com

STAFF Wanted female/male staff for DD facilities in Anaheim. No experience ok. Must have compassionate & caring heart. Pls call Noel 714-357-5617.

Full time / Part -time / Will train **With transportation live within 15 miles ** Redondo Beach, CA Call: Irene @ 310-316-0070 Email resume: mattuccitailors@aol .com

WAREHOUSE SHIPPING & RECEIVING CLERK Wilshire Beauty is now hiring a WAREHOUSE CLERK for shipping & receiving, packing, and processing online orders.

Must be career minded, self-motivated and efficient, and have excellent work references.

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Please email resume to: nouriel.kohan@gmail.com or fax to 310-510-6777

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

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PRAYERS MIRACLE PRAYER St. Jude’s Novena May the sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glori¿ed, loved and preserved throughout the world now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus; pray for us. St. Jude, worker of miracles, pray for us. St. Jude, help of the hopeless, pray for us. Say this prayer 9 times a day by the 8th day your prayer will be

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ENTERTAINMENT

After being told to drop surname, Marjorie reconciles with dad It appears former actress Marjorie Barretto and her father, Miguel, have finally patched things up after being estranged for years.

For the first time in three years, the once-feuding family members came face-toface during the 18th birthday celebration of Marjorie’s daughter, Julia, last March.

The young actress had requested the presence of her grandparents, who, at the time, had yet to patch things up with Marjorie.

Two months since, it appears Marjorie and Mr. Barretto have managed to be on good terms again. On Instagram Sunday, Marjorie shared a photo of her father doing a boxing pose, in reference to Marjorie Barretto the bout of Filipino boxing estranged husband, that she is mentally ill icon Manny Pacquiao with and has a history of drug abuse. Another American Floyd Mayweather, Jr. “My dad is ready!� Marjorie said in Barretto sibling, JJ, also attested to Santhe photo’s caption, referring to a viewing tiago’s sworn statement in his legal feud party of the fight organized in her home. with the actress.

At the height of the legal battle in “[He’s] even wearing a Manny Pacquiao shirt.� A long-running feud between Julia’s 2013, Miguel, in an interview, lambasted aunts Claudine and Gretchen has divided Marjorie and Gretchen for “bullying� the Barretto clan for years, with Marjorie Claudine and even told them to change siding with the socialite-host and their their surname. “Kung kinakahiya nila ang Barrettong parents Miguel and Inday backing their pangalan, huwag na nilang gamitin, magyoungest daughter.

The latest rift among the siblings stems palit sila... Wala akong magagawa hindi from Marjorie and Gretchen supporting the naman sila nakikinig sa akin,� Miguel said claims of Raymart Santiago, Claudine’s at the time. (MNS)

MEMORIES THAT WILL LAST FOREVER.

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Mark Anthony open to working with Claudine again Mark Anthony Fernandez is part of “Let the Love Begin� that started airing last May 4 to replace “Once Upon a Kiss�on GMA7.

Unlike in past presscons where he usually escaped after the cast presentation to avoid being interviewed, this time, he stayed on and willingly joined tables of entertainment writers to be interviewed.

We tell him we’re happy to see him looking good and well-rested, unlike before when he seems haggard and disturbed. “Dati kasi, I was a lost soul,� he says. “But now, I’m at peace na, with myself, with the world. Feeling ko dati, ang dami kong problems. But now, I’m in the mood again with life, with work. I was lost then, pati kay Lord, but now, I found him again and mas may direction na.�

His last project was “Rhodora X� with Jennylyn Mercado, who has since been assigned “Second Chances� that’s now also about to end. “Yes, matagal akong bakante.

I took advantage of that to do study by myself. I read a lot of books, literature. I also did a lot of work out to be in good shape kasi 36 na ako.�

He admits he and his wife Melissa have called it quits. “Yung youngest namin, si Rudolf Benedict, is now one year old. But our eldest, si Grae Cameron, 14 na at teen star ng ABS-CBN. We tried to work it out but it’s our mutual decision na maghiwalay kasi kailangan namin ng breathing space.

For a while, noong wala akong matirhan, I tried to stay sa mausoleum ng dad ko (Rudy Fernandez) sa Heritage Memorial Park kasi wala akong mauwian, e may kuwarto roon at rest room. Pero sabi ni Tita Lorna (Tolentino), hindi puwede, baka multuhin daw ako. So now, I live by myself in a condo in Clark, Pampanga. Pakiramdam ko kasi, ang tagal ko na sa Manila, so for

Mark Anthony Fernandez

a change, sinubukan ko roon and, okay naman, maganda, fresh air, mababait ang mga tao. Marami na akong friends. At saka malapit din lang naman ang Clark sa Manila. Mabilis lang ang biyahe pag may taping ako rito.�

What’s his role in “Let the Love Begin�? “I play Jomar, radio station manager na playboy, pero babaguhin ako ni Ms. Ai -Ai de las Alas. Magkakaroon daw kami ng romantic angle, but hindi lang ako kasi kasama rin naman sina Gardo Versoza and Neil Ryan Sese na may gusto rin sa kanya.�

Whatever happened to the reunion movie he’s supposed to do with Claudine Barretto? “I don’t know. It’s supposed to be with Viva. Noon, kinokontak pa nila ako, pero ngayon, hindi na, e. Okay lang naman sa’kin to work again with Claudine.�

Like him, Claudine is now separated.

What if their past romance is rekindled? “Hindi ko alam. Marami nang nangyari.

May mga anak na kami. Tingnan muna natin kung matutuloy ngang magkatrabaho kami uli.� (MNS)

Singer Dessa returns to Manila, seeks help Remember Dessa?

The petite belter, who was dubbed the country’s “Front Act Queen� during the 1990s after serving as the warm-up act for many visiting foreigners, has returned to Manila and is seeking help.

In an interview, Dessa revealed that she need to undergo blood transfusion as she is suffering from anemia. “Kasi nakita ng doktor na kailangan kong magpa-blood transfusion. Dito lang nakita sa Pilipinas. I’d been anemic for the longest time at last time na nag-blood transfusion, dito din. After three years, nakita ng doktor ko bumagsak ang RBC ko sabi kailangan mong magpa-blood transfusion kailangan ayusin ko ‘yon,� she said.

Dessa, however, denied rumors that she has cancer of the blood or leukemia, adding that she needs blood transfusion in preparation for a hysterectomy or removal of uterus. “Sabi sa akin ng doktor ko sa Amerika kailangan kong magpa-opera din kasi may issue din ako sa uterus ko eh. Affected na ang left ovary so kailangan tanggalin.

Dapat kapag itutuloy ang operation kailangan ay kumpleto ang dugo ko. Buti nakita ng doktor ko dito na kailangan ng blood transfusion,� she said. “Kailangan gawin ko ‘yun (operasyon) para hindi lumala ang sitwasyon,� she added.

Dessa is now asking for Type A+ blood.

For donations, you may call 0915-3587216.

The singer admitted that because of her health condition, she is considering staying in the country for good. “Kasi nandito ang nanay ko. Ang dami kong pwedeng hingian ng tulong ba. Ang hirap kasi doon (United States), walang

Dessa

umaalalay. Ako lang lahat kaya nahihirapan ako. So mas mabuti na nandito ako at least nandiyan ang nanay ko, makakasama ko pa,� she said.

Dessa, who is known for her songs “Lipad Ng Pangarap� and “Bring Back The Times,� left the country in 2004 to be with her husband in US. After years of staying in Los Angeles, Dessa and her family moved and are now based in Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, Dessa announced that she will be performing all Mondays of May at the Midas Hotel. “Mga hugot songs ito, like ‘yung mga old songs na may different touch para maiba... at yung mga songs na kinakanta ko before nung nagpo-front act ako. Kakaiba ang hagod more on puso na siguro ito,� Dessa said (MNS)

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SPORTS

Fight fans sue Pacquiao over injury Los Angeles, United States (AFP) Tuesday 5/5/2015 – Two Nevada men filed a class-action lawsuit against Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday, seeking millions in damages because they say he fraudulently concealed a shoulder injury before his defeat to Floyd Mayweather.

It is just the latest fallout from Mayweather’s victory in Las Vegas on Saturday in a unanimous decision, with Pacquiao saying afterwards that the shoulder complaint hampered his performance in the welterweight world title showdown.

The plaintiffs argue that by failing to go public with the injury before the feverishly anticipated bout, the Philippine icon and his camp violated the Nevada Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The suit filed in a US District Court in Las Vegas names Pacquiao, his manager Michael Koncz, promotional company Top Rank and Top Rank chairman Bob Arum and president Todd duBoef.

According to court documents available online, the lawsuit claims that when plaintiffs Stephane Vanel and Kami Rahbaran – who bought tickets, forked out pay per view fees or bet on the fight – the defendants “knew and had full knowledge and information that defendant Pacquiao had

been seriously injured and was suffering from a torn rotator cuff.”

“Defendants further know that such injury would severely affect his performance,” the lawsuit says.

“None of the defendants informed or apprised the public or even the Nevada Athletic Commission about the injury to defendant Pacquiao.”

The clash between Pacquiao and Mayweather at the MGM Grand Garden Arena was billed as the “Fight of the Century.”

It’s certainly set to go down as the most lucrative bout in history, with possible revenue of $400 million.

That could include as many as three million pay-per-view purchases, at about $100 each. The bout went the full scheduled 12 rounds, Mayweather easily winning on the judges’ scorecards to take his perfect record to 48-0.

After the fight, Pacquiao and Top Rank revealed the 36-year-old had been injured in training camp some three weeks earlier.

They said he’d been cleared by doctors to fight, although they had expected him to be able to take an anti-inflammatory injection on fight night, but the Nevada State Athletic Commission ultimately denied him.

Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, seen here slugging with Floyd Mayweather in his lost fight Saturday, expressed his disappointment at the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) after he was denied an injection inside the locker room that could have numbed the pain in his injured right shoulder. Photo: Chris Farina / Top Rank

Mayweather ignores jeers in moment of triumph

By Rebecca Bryan

Las Vegas, United States (AFP) Sunday 5/3/2015 – Floyd Mayweather shrugged off the jeers which greeted his victory over Manny Pacquiao and wasted no time in taunting his detractors.

After hugging his father and trainer Floyd Sr, the unbeaten welterweight king clambered onto the ropes of the ring, banged his fist on his chest and declared to the crowd: “I told you! I told you!”

It was a swift return to the brash persona Mayweather has perfected over the years, and which had been mostly hidden during the the build up to the bout, prompting some observers to wonder about his state of mind.

In fact Mayweather was intent on giving a star-studded audience packed with sports and entertainment giants a masterclass of defensive skill and pinpoint accuracy as he

extended his record to 48-0.

NBA legends Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson, actor-director Clint Eastwood, music icon Sting and power couple Beyonce and Jay-Z were just a few of the superstars packed into the MGM Grand Garden Arena, where precious ringside tickets sold for $10,000.

By the time the fighters reached the arena floor – some 45 minutes late as some US cable operators struggled to meet the demand for pay-per-view orders – the atmosphere was electric.

Filipino icon Pacquiao was bouncing and beaming as he made his way from his dressing room to the floor of the arena, cheers of “Manny, Manny” ringing out.

He paused to take a selfie with trainer Freddie Roach then began the walk through the crowd in the darkened arena.

Mayweather followed, his eyes largely

shielded by the bill of his “Mayweather Promotions” cap, his visage serious as he climbed through the ropes.

Both fighters had already received the good wishes, via Twitter, of ring great Muhammad Ali. “Rumble young men rumble,” Ali tweeted. “Good luck to Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.”

All day the MGM Grand hotel and casino pulsed with an energy that shifted to the adjacent arena as the celebrities poured in and the long-awaited bout drew near.

Jetting in For superstar tennis couple Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf the fight was just a night out on the town, they live in Agassi’s hometown of Las Vegas.

But many more had jetted in for the event – evidenced by the pictures tweeted of the crush of private aircraft jamming the Las Vegas airport.

That included a bevy of Hollywood stars that included Denzel Washington, Bradley Cooper and Jon Voight.

Actor Mark Wahlberg was in attendance, no departure for a man who is a regular at the Wild Card gym in Hollywood, run by Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach.

NFL quarterback Tom Brady, who guided the New England Patriots to a Super Bowl title in February, looked cool as ever as he entered the arena in a slick suit and sunshades.

Earlier Saturday Brady and team-mate Rob Gronkowski were across the country at the Kentucky Derby, the event that usually dominates the US sports landscape on the first Saturday in May. But even the first jewel in US flat racing’s Triple Crown paled in comparison to the welterweight world title showdown dubbed “The Fight of the Century.”

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MOTORING Honda HR-V goes on sale May 15 TORRANCE, Calif. – With bold and sporty coupe-like styling, SUV versatility, 35 mpg highway fuel economy rating (2WD CVT), and Honda packaging magic, the all-new 2016 Honda HR-V is set to challenge the growing entry crossover market when it hits Honda dealerships nationwide on May 15.

The all-new Honda HR-V crossover will deliver incredible value with a long list of standard features and technologies including 17-inch alloy wheels, push-button electric parking brake, rearview camera with guidelines, Pandora radio and BluetoothŽ HandsFreeLink1 – all for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) starting at just $19,115.

Available in LX, EX and EX-L Navi trims, the 2016 HR-V is powered by a highly refined and efficient 1.8-liter 4-cylinder 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC engine producing a peak 141 horsepower2 and 127 lb.-ft. of torque3. The engine is paired with one of two efficient and responsive Honda transmissions, a seamless and sporty continuously variable transmission (CVT), available on all models, or an engaging, short-shifting 6-speed manual transmission, available on LX and EX models with 2WD. The HR-V also targets class-leading safety ratings and features Honda’s next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body struc-

ture for enhanced frontal collision protection. The HR-V is designed to achieve top safety ratings: an NCAP five-star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a TOP SAFETY PICK rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Developed on the new global platform, the HR-V utilizes a centermounted fuel tank layout and reconfigurable 2nd-Row Magic Seat to deliver voluminous interior space along with a flexible cabin featuring multiple seating/cargo modes. With 100.1 cu.ft. of passenger space and 58.8 cu.-ft. of cargo volume (LX FWD) with the 2nd-Row seats folded down, the HR-V has space to rival some competitors’ midsize SUV offerings.

The HR-V’s dynamic appearance and sporty, solid stance is aided by its coupe-like cabin shape and bold and powerfully tapered face. Distinctive side contours, including a sharply upswept character line and deeply sculpted lower body flow into a tapered rear fascia that adds to the visual appeal.

The equally sporty and sophisticated interior features an expansive, airy cockpit with an abundance of soft-touch materials and premium detailing punctuated by precise bezels, sophisticated stitch lines and up-market brushed chrome and piano black highlights – all fitting its mission as

a youthful yet refined personal crossover vehicle. The three-meter driver’s instrument cluster features “floating� illumination rings and Honda’s ECO Assist feature, wherein the speedometer illumination changes from white to green depending on current fuel efficiency.

The 2016 HR-V crossover is an all-new Honda vehicle that blends the styling of a coupe, the toughness, space and utility of an SUV, and the quality and refinement of a Honda in one sporty, personal and versatile multi-dimensional vehicle.

Developed on Honda’s Global Compact Series platform, the HR-V utilizes a center-mounted fuel tank layout and reconfigurable 2nd-Row Magic Seat to deliver voluminous interior space along with a flexible cabin featuring multiple seating/cargo modes.

Find out why Honda is the world’s top brand, get in touch with Patrick Lucas, the Filipino Internet Sales Manager of Norm Reeves Honda West Covina.

Call him at 1-888-868-9779. Patrick can show you the new Honda HR-V’s best features or all the features of any Honda vehicle for that matter.

Norm Reeves Honda West Covina is located at 1840 East Garvey Ave., South, West Covina, CA 91791. Or visit their website at www.normreeveswestcovina.com.

Filipino Internet Manager Patrick Lucas

Super welcome kayo dito!

Patrick Lucas Internet Sales Manager plucas@normreeveswc.com

Super Prices, Super Selection, Super Service!

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Closed-end lease for 2015 Honda Civic LX Sedan CVT Auto for $169 per month plus tax for 36 months on approved tier 1+ credit. $1,114.50 due at lease signing, includes 1st payment, $0 security deposit, tax, license and fees. Drive-off example based on the current Los Angeles County tax rate and actual amount may vary. 12,000 miles per year with $.15 per mile thereafter.

Offer expires 5/11/15.

New 2015 Honda

Accord LX Sedann CVT Auto

$

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New 2015 Honda

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Closed-end lease for 2015 Honda Accord LX Sedan CVT Auto for $189 per month plus tax for 36 months on approved tier 1+ credit. $2,241.50 due at lease signing, includes 1st payment, $0 security deposit, tax, license and fees. Drive-off example based on the current Los Angeles County tax rate and actual amount may vary. 12,000 miles per year with $.15 per mile thereafter.

Offer expires 5/11/15.

1840 18 40 E G Gar arve veyy Ave Ave So Sout uth th, h, Wes estt Co Covi vina ina,, CA 9 917 1791 17 91

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Closed-end lease for 2015 Honda CR-V LX 2WD Auto for $199 per month plus tax for 36 months on approved tier 1+ credit. $3,167 due at lease signing, includes 1st payment, $0 security deposit, tax, license and fees. Drive-off example based on the current Los Angeles County tax rate and actual amount may vary. 12,000 miles per year with $.15 per mile thereafter. Offer expires 5/11/15.

WEST COVINA

$14,696

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$14,790

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2012 Honda Civic LX Sedan 6WN 9,1 $XWR &\O / 0LOHV

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2012 Honda Civic EX Sedan 6WN 9,1 $XWR &\O / 0LOHV *Closed-end lease for 2015 Accord Sedan CVT LX for $250 per month plus tax for 35 months on approved tier 1+ credit. $0 due at lease signing, includes 1st payment, $0 security deposit, tax, license and fees. Drive-off example based on the Los Angeles County tax rate and actual amount may vary. 12,000 per year with $.15 per mile thereafter. Dealer contribution may affect consumer cost. After dealer contribution, only $0 due at signing on approved credit. Offer expires 5/11/15. †All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any ¿nance charges, any dealer document processing charge, any electronic ¿ling charge, and any emission testing charge. All vehicles subject to prior sale. See dealer for details. Offer expires 5/11/15.

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50-MPG Honda Accord Hybrid named to KBB.com’s 10 Best Green Cars List for second year in a row Apr 16, 2015 - TORRANCE, Calif.

– The award-winning Honda Accord Hybrid, boasting the highest EPA city fuel economy rating of any four-door sedan sold in America1, was named to Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com annual list of the 10 Best Green Cars for 2015, its second straight appearance on the KBB.com green car list. The industry experts at Kelley Blue Book praised the Accord Hybrid’s stellar fuel economy ratings and excellent value proposition.

“Eco-minded drivers looking for a new ‘green’ vehicle with low CO2 emissions don’t have to look further than the fun-todrive and fuel-efficient Accord Hybrid,” said Steven Center, vice president of the Environmental Business Development Office at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “Recognition from the trusted editors at Kelley Blue Book is proof positive of the progress Honda has made developing increasingly cleaner vehicles over the last 40 years.”

The 2015 Honda Accord Hybrid is designed for outstanding fuel efficiency and fun-to-drive performance and boasts EPA fuel economy ratings of 50/45/47 mpg (city/highway/combined). The Accord Hybrid’s two-motor hybrid system, part of an expanding lineup of Honda EarthDreams® Technology powertrains, seamlessly blends electric-only, hybrid and engine drive modes along with powerful regenerative braking to provide highly responsive, refined and fuel-efficient performance in a wide range of driving situations.

“The Honda Accord is one of the best values in the American auto market, and we expressed our admiration for the model by naming it our Kelley Blue Book Best Buy in the hotly contested midsize car category,” said Jack Nerad, executive market analyst and executive editorial director for Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com. “So when you take all that goodness – fun-to-drive,

Track your kids’ driving from your wrist with VW’s new Apple Watch app (Relaxnews) - The Car-Net app will also let users remotely lock and open car doors and pull up a map to make finding it when parked simple.

When the app launches later this year, it will be compatible with many 2014 model year US Volkswagens as well as the company’s latest cars, so long as they support the VW Car-Net system.

Once installed, the app will give users remote access to a host of connected car features, including the setting of ‘boundaries’. Notifications will flash up on the smartwatch’s screen if the car goes above a pre-defined speed limit or if it goes beyond a certain geographical area, making it a great tool for tracking how others drive the car.

“These high-tech features, available through the Car-Net app for Apple Watch, are paving the way to Volkswagen’s future of connected vehicles,” said Abdallah Shanti, Executive Vice President and Group Chief Information Officer for Region Americas.

great ergonomics and stellar reliability – and add a sophisticated powertrain that has a 50 mpg fuel economy rating, you have a very compelling proposition.”

KBB.com’s honor adds to the growing list of prestigious awards for the Honda Accord Hybrid that include being named About.com’s “Best New Cars of 2015” and Green Car Journal’s Green Car of the Year. The Accord Hybrid also earned a TOP SAFETY PICK rating by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a 5-star Overall Vehicle Score by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)2.

Approximately 98 percent of Honda brand new car registrations in America in 2014 were to individual retail car buyers. Isn’t it about time you yourself get a Honda? Or, better replace your Honda with a newer model.

For a better feel of the most popular cars in the state, just drop by Airport Marina Honda and see our good friend Wilford Solancho. You can reach him at 1-888829-9905. Airport Marina Honda is located 5850 W. Centinela Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90045.

For a better feel of the most popular cars in the state, just drop by Airport Marina Honda and see our good friend Wilford Solancho. You can reach him at 1-888-829-9905. Airport Marina Honda is located 5850 W. Centinela Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90045.

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Come to Victory Autos and ‘reach your goal’ Owning a car is easy with Victory Autos even for first-time buyer, with bad or no credit April 28, 2015 - AZUSA, Calif.— Victory Autos has managed to perfect seamless relationship with customers and dealer community. From Bad credit to no credit, Victory has made its way how to help our kababayan’s who were affected with economic crisis. Unlike any other car dealership, Victory Autos is committed in providing great car-buying experience equipped with skilled sales staff and financing options.

If we visit a car dealership showroom we will be astonished by huge selection of cars whether brand new or certified preowned. In the end, you will find yourself purchasing a car that you don’t really want.

Hedelito “Hedi” Trinidad, president of Victory Autos said you can never go wrong in finding the right car for you.

Aside from 100% financing whether you filed bankruptcy or repossessed old car, they offer “7 Days Exchange Policy”, if you are not satisfied with the purchase, there’s a guarantee that you can either replace it or upgrade it. It’s really a great deal.

Hedi said “We treat each and every customer as our best client where you get the vehicle you want, at great price you deserve. The goal of Victory Autos Team is to devote, delight and deliver and we are proud to say that it will be here for years to come as it continues to build and grow a solid foundation of successful customer experiences” Here are some of Victory Autos customer testimonials: “Thank you Hedi and staff for the kind

hospitality you extend to your customers.

You treat them with respect and honesty.

But most importantly, your generosity in extending what you can do so customers could acquire a vehicle with no pressure.”- Ron “I’m a first time buyer and I was able to obtain my dream car without down payment. I applied for financing online and the car was delivered. Their staff is extremely helpful and professional.”-Kris “Customer service is awesome. I had never seen such car dealership as yours who helped customer meet their needs.

Victory Autos is great and customer service representatives are friendly. Alex and Hector are both great, they helped me a lot”- Angelica “The service is good and I like it as well as the customer service. I will surely recommend you guys”-Jerome “As a first time car buyer, the environment is good, they assisted me well especially when I’m busy. I’m with my kids and they gave them papers and play with them. That is a very good experience. Very Professional”-Solanie “For me, the car I bought is very good.

I appreciate the agent, she is very helpful, she spent time to me so I can have a good car”-Rommel Also, Victory Autos offers as many options as it can to its customers. For instance, they also offer 30% discount in labor and repair.

In addition to that, for a limited time,

Christopher Ammen, proud owner of this 2012 Honda Fit, is one of the many happy customers who were able to purchase a vehicle at Victory Autos hassle-free and with easy financing. just mention “victory888.net” and Victory Autos will pay as much as $300 on your first monthly payment, and also Victory Autos is giving away $300 worth of gift certificate for Mother’s Day until May 31, 2015 Hedi also said they have constantly refreshed their inventory and they are excited to offer models where shoppers may find what they want within their budget. Many brands offered include Toyotas, Hondas, BMW’s, Mercedes-Benz and other luxury cars, they also have trucks and SUV’s, Victory Autos has it all. Shoppers may also

enjoy browsing inventory at our website.

No matter what the style or the brand shoppers are looking for, they may be able to find what they want here.

For more information visit like us at www.facebook.com/victoryautoconnect or call our toll free number at 1-877-8217145.

Or, you can Victory Autos’ main office at 1557 E. Amar Rd. Ste I, West Covina CA, 91792 or reach them at (626) 9696169. The Victory Autos’ Auto Garage and Repair is located at 14340 Arrow Highway, Baldwin Park, CA 91706.

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Subaru continues upward sales in US Record March – monthly sales increase 10.4 percent over March 2014; 40th consecutive month of year-over-year growth Cherry Hill, N.J. – Subaru of America, Inc. today reported record sales for March 2015 totaling 49,111 vehicles, a 10.4 percent gain over March 2014. The company also reported year-to-date sales of 131,281, a 16.8 percent gain over the same period in 2014.

March marked the 13th consecutive month of 40,000+ vehicle sales for the company. Forester, WRX/STI, Legacy, Outback and XV Crosstrek sales were notably strong as each model line achieved its best March ever. Legacy sales for March 2015 increased 90 percent over the same month in 2014. The Forester, WRX/STI, Outback and XV Crosstrek also enjoyed gains over March 2014.

Subaru of America, Inc., distributors and retailers were today celebrating the best first quarter in the company’s 47 year history. “We are very pleased to be able to continue our sales momentum into 2015,” said Thomas J. Doll, president and chief operating officer, Subaru of America, Inc. “We are well on our way to making 2015 our seventh consecutive record year thanks to the tireless efforts of our retailers in satisfying the many needs of our customers.”

“We have hardworking retailers who have made these record results possible; and we have the right products for consumers,” said Jeff Walters, senior vice president

of sales, Subaru of America, Inc. “The Subaru lineup of vehicles delivers safety, durability and all-wheel drive confidence.

It is a winning C h r i s t i a n M a r i l l a , combination that Filipino sales, Subaru will continue to of Glendale drive sales.”

Meanwhile in New York, Subaru ofAmerica unveiled the STI Performance Concept at the New York International Auto Show.

The STI Performance Concept signifies a plan for U.S.-expansion of Subaru Tecnica International (STI), the performance division of Subaru, in its three core business areas; aftermarket parts, STI-tuned cars and motorsports.

The expansion has already begun, with STI-engineered parts replacing Subaru Performance Tuning (SPT) aftermarket parts in the U.S. market, and with STI’s increasing engineering presence in Subaru of America’s Global RallyCross team.

In the future, further models tuned by STI will be available in the US. These cars could feature more extensive modifications from the factory than previously offered, such as suspension, performance, braking, chassis and aerodynamic upgrades.

“At STI we know from our racing that to win, it is important not only to have high power, but also that all aspects of performance are balanced over the whole car,” said Yoshio Hirakawa, president of Subaru Tecnica International, Inc. “When

we achieve this balance, the driver feels that the car is easy to handle and reliable, and he can use it fully to the limits of its performance. Our plan is to produce cars and accessories that drivers can really enjoy.”

The STI Performance Concept is a showcase for the engineering prowess and tuning capability of STI, featuring the racing engine developed by STI for the BRZ Super GT racecar, suspension and chassis components and aerodynamic upgrades.

Complete cars (extensive tuning by STI) and performance parts available now in Japan focus on the WRX STI, Forester and BRZ models. The Japanese domestic market uses the nomenclature “S model” as its naming for the WRX STI and uses “tS” on BRZ and Forester vehicles that have STI components, but a naming convention for any future US models has not yet been established.

STI was founded as Subaru parent company Fuji Heavy Industries’ motor sports division in 1988. In 1989, a firstgeneration Subaru Legacy, tuned by STI, broke the FIA-certified world speed record over 100,000 kilometers.

From there, STI moved on to the World Rally Championship, winning 3 constructors championships and 3 driver championships for Colin McRae, Richard Burns and Petter Solberg.

It currently competes in the Nurburgring 24 Hour Challenge race winning its class two times in 2011 and 2012 and also in the Super GT series with its BRZ-based Super GT. For more information about Subaru or

become a new member of the elite Subaru club, all you have to do is to come on down to Subaru Glendale and our kababayans Christian Marilla and Glenn Bergado will be more than happy to inform you why Subaru is becoming a favorite of Filipinos and the whole American market.

Subaru of Glendale is located at 1308 S Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91204. You can reach them at 1-855-230-1547 or you can visit their website www.subaruofglendale.net.

For more information about Subaru or become a new member of the elite Subaru club, all you have to do is to come on down to Subaru Glendale and our kababayanChristian Marilla will be more than happy to inform you why Subaru is becoming a favorite of Filipinos and the whole American market.

Subaru of Glendale is located at 1308 S Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91204. You can reach them at 1-855-230-1547 or you can visit their website www.subaruofglendale.net.

GM ignitionswitch death toll rises to 97 New York, United States (AFP) Monday 5/4/2015 – General Motors said Monday that at least 97 deaths are linked to faulty ignition switches on some of its cars as the largest US automaker weighs compensation claims.

The GM independent compensation fund said that 45 death claims remained under review as of last Friday. The death toll rose from 90 confirmed claims in the prior week.

The fund, administered by attorney Kenneth Feinberg, has been working through 4,342 compensation claims for fatalities and injuries linked to the faulty equipment, which can cause the ignition to unintentionally switch out of the “on” position, disabling airbags and other functions.

GM knew of the ignition problem for more than a decade before it began recalling 2.6 million cars in February 2014.

The fund said Monday there were at least 12 confirmed cases of crippling injuries, such as brain damage or double amputation, as a result of ignition-related crashes. And there were at least 167 eligible claims for hospitalization or outpatient medical treatment.

The fund said that it still had a total of 669 claims under review.

GM will pay a minimum $1 million in death compensation, $300,000 for the surviving spouse and another $300,000 for each surviving dependent.

Financial and medical treatment compensation of at least $20,000 will also be offered to those with eligible physical injury claims from an accident.

Claimants must waive any rights to litigation related to the ignition-switch defect to receive a payment.

GM faces a Justice Department probe of its conduct in the long-delayed recall and numerous other lawsuits.

In mid-April, a US bankruptcy judge ruled that General Motors’s 2009 bankruptcy shields it from a large number of lawsuits over ignition-switch defects.

The judge rejected arguments made in class-action suits that post-bankruptcy GM should be liable for certain ignition-related loss claims dating to before the bankruptcy.

GM shares rose 0.5 percent to $35.58 in morning trade Monday.

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