Us Asian Post December 16, 2015

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INMENT

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Vol. 5 No. 12

LOS ANGELES

A BALITA MEDIA PUBLICATION

Wednesday - Tuesday, December 16 - 22, 2015

Email ‘hoax’ closes LA schools

By Jocelyne Zablit

Los Angeles city officials on Tuesday defended their decision to shut down all public schools following an emailed threat, as authorities in New York dismissed a similar message as a hoax.

Ramon Cortines, the superintendent of Los Angeles schools – the second-largest education district in the United States with 640,000 students – said the measure was ordered as a precaution, triggered in part by the December 2 attacks in nearby San Bernardino that left 14 people dead.

Cortines told a news conference that police alerted him late Monday to an email sent to several members of the school board, threatening attacks involving backpacks and “other packages.”

“In an abundance of caution, as the superintendent has indicated, we have chosen to close our schools today until we can be absolutely sure that our campuses are safe,” said the school district’s police chief, Steven Zipperman.

California Congressman Brad Sherman told CNN that the email had come from an IP address overseas, from a person claiming to be a “extremist Muslim” who said the attacks would involve nerve gas.

The message also said the person boasted of having “32 ac-

complices... all ready to take action today,” Sherman said, however cautioning that some of the claims lacked credibility.

In New York, however, officials said a similar threat to schools had been received and was being treated as a hoax.

“There is no credible threat to our children. We are convinced that our schools are safe,” Mayor Bill de Blasio told a press conference, adding that the threat was “so generic and outlandish” that it could not be taken seriously.

“The immediate assessment by the intelligence division, and again, in consultation with the FBI, is that there was nothing credible about the threat,” he said.

In Los Angeles, police and

David lawyer insists: Don’t include Poe in 2016 ballot

MANILA, Dec 12 (Mabuhay) – The lawyer of Rizalito David on Saturday insisted that the name of Senator Grace Poe should no longer be included in the template of the ballot for the 2016 polls following her disqualification by two divisions of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

According to Atty. Manuelito Luna, it is “improbable” that the Comelec en banc will reverse the decision of the first and second divisions to cancel Poe’s certificate of candidacy (COC) for president.

The first division ruled in favor

FBI agents were called in to help search the more than 900 schools in the district, Cortines said, adding that he expected the operation to be completed by the end of the day.

New York police commissioner Bill Bratton said Los Angeles school officials had over-reacted.

“We cannot allow ourselves to raise levels of fear,” Bratton told reporters.

“Certainly levels of awareness, but it is not a credible threat and not one that requires any action on our part similar to what my understanding is the school system in Los Angeles took.”

Bratton, who previously served as Los Angeles police chief from See LA SCHOOLS, page 12

Over 20k VCMs for 2016 polls to arrive in PHL this month

of the consolidated petitions of former Senator Francisco “Kit” Tatad, former UE Law Dean Amado Valdez, and De La Salle University Professor Antonio Contreras which sought to disqualify Poe in next year’s presidential polls on the grounds that she is not a natural-born Filipino and that she fails to meet the 10-year residency requirement.

The second division, likewise, voted in favor of petitioner Atty.

Estrella Elamparo, who also claimed that Poe misrepresented

MANILA, Dec 12 (Mabuhay) – More than 20,000 vote counting machines (VCMs) from Smartmatic Corporation are expected to arrive in the country before the year ends.

In a statement on Saturday, the Smartmatic said that a total of 21,000 machines is due to arrive in December, and that 30,000 more VCM units will be delivered early in January and the remaining will be in before the end of January

See DON’T INCLUDE, page 12

See 20K VCM, page 12

Pacquiao delays announcement of next opponent

Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Friday 12/11/2015 – Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has delayed the planned announcement of his next opponent in what could be the final fight of his legendary career. Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, said earlier this week that Pacquiao would reveal his next foe during cable network truTV’s coverage of a fight card in Puerto Rico featuring Filipino star Nonito Donaire.

But a spokesman for Arum, Fred Sternburg, told ESPN that Pacquiao, the only fighter to win world titles in eight different weight classes, is not yet ready to make a decision regarding who he will fight next in a card set for April 9, 2016, at Las Vegas.

Pacquiao, 57-6 with two drawn and 38 knockouts, turns 37 next Thursday and plans to run for a senate seat in the Philippines and retire from the ring to devote himself to work as a lawmaker. He is already a congressman in his homeland.

Possible opponents for Pacquiao include Tim Bradley, an American who is 33-1-1 with 13 knockouts who split two prior fights with “Pac Man”, and unbeaten American Terence Crawford, 27-0 with 19 knockouts. Pacquiao underwent rotator cuff surgery after a unanimous decision loss to now-retired Floyd Mayweather last May.

MMA: Chinese fighter dies in PHL after bid to make weight M a n i l a , P h i l i p pines | AFP | Sunday 12/13/2015 – Mixed martial arts fighter Yang Jian Bing of China died after collapsing from severe dehydration in his attempt to make the weight for a flyweight bout in the Philippine capital.

Organisers, One Championship, said that the 21-year-old had been pronounced dead at a Manila hospital from cardiopulmonary failure on Friday, hours before the scheduled fight.

“Yang, a native of China was hospitalised at the San Juan De See CHINESE FIGHTER, page 12

The San Lorenzo Ruiz Music Ministry, the children’s choir and other guest performers seranade the parishioners of San Lorenzo Ruiz Church in Walnut, CA. The concert highlights the Season of Advent - a time to celebrate becoming Christmas. SLR Pastor, Rev. Tony P. Astudillo said “We aspire not only to entertain but to evangelize and set the audience hearts aflame with Christ’s spirit of love and mercy”. Photo: JUN CAMACHO

Comelec 1st Division cancels Poe’s COC for president MANILA, Dec 11 (Mabuhay) – Voting 2-1, the Commission on Electdions First Division canceled on Friday morning Sen. Grace Poe’s certificate of candidacy for president.

The case stemmed from the petitions filed by former Sen. Francisco Tatad, Prof. Antonio Contreras and former US Law Dean Amado Valdez.

Poe, meanwhile, immediately released a statement accusing the First Division of ignoring the evidence she presented “just to deny me the chance to better serve our countrymen, and to also deny our people their choices in an open election.”

Acknowledging the setback, Poe said she will appeal the decision with the Comelec en banc and with the Supreme Court.

“We will appeal to the Comelec and the Supreme Court to uphold the truth, and the spirit and aims

of our Constitution,” she said.

Poe’s legal counsel, Atty. George Garcia, said those who voted in favor of the petitions against Poe were Commissioners Rowena Guanzon and Luie Tito Guia.

Commissioner Christian Robert Lim was the lone dissenter.

Garcia said the division’s decision is not yet final and executory and is subject to a motion for reconsideration.

“Wala pa rin pong pagbabago, ganun pa rin po ang effect nito ... kami po ay kandidato pa rin ... ang aming pangalan ay nasa listahan pa rin, hindi po magbabago ang lahat,” Garcia said. “Kami po ay magfa-file agad ng motion for reconsideration limag araw paglabas ng desisyon na ito.”

Garcia said the decision, with Lim’s dissent, is a “good development,” and they will look into the points the commissioner raised in See COMELEC, page 12

Seventy-seven M113A2 of the donated armored personnel carriers (APCs) arrived late Wednesday and the rest will come next month, the US embassy in the Philippines said in a statement. The donation boosts the Philippine army’s inventory of armored vehicles by over a third to 455, said AFP spokesman Colonel Benjamin Hao.

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VP Binay blames Abad for gov’t underspending

Residents salvage usable material from the site of a fire in a shantytown in Barangay Damayan Lagi in Quezon City on Friday. An inferno, the third blaze that struck Metro Manila’s slums in consecutive weeks, has killed nine people according to authorities.(MNS photo)

Manila slum inferno kills nine Manila, Philippines | AFP | Friday 12/11/2015 – An inferno in one of Manila’s huge shanty towns has killed nine people, authorities said Friday, the third blaze to have struck the city’s slums in as many weeks.

Residents grabbed clothes, furniture and appliances as they fled the burning Damayang Lagi shanty town shortly after midnight, survivor Arman Altoveros told AFP. “The fire spread so fast, everything was gone in minutes,” the 43-year-old rickshaw driver told AFP as he scavenged for charred pots and pans on burnt rubble that used to be his wife’s small canteen.

The victims include a seven-year-old girl.

Flames and thick black smoke trapped her and the other eight people in their houses, said national fire bureau spokesman Superintendent Renato Marcial.

The blaze brings this year’s fire-related death toll in the Philippines to 323,

higher than the 228 figure for the whole of 2014, officials said.

The Damayang Lagi fire destroyed 50 houses, leaving an estimated 600 people homeless. Many of those affected by the fire lived in rented rooms in the maze of makeshift residential structures, the authorities said.

Fires routinely hit the slum, Marcial said.

“These slums are very high risk. At any time, there is potential for a fire,” he told AFP. “They overload their electric outlets with no regard for their safety. They also steal electricity, damaging power lines,” he said.

Altoveros vowed to rebuild the two-storey, wood and tin shack he used to share with his wife and two teenage children.

A fire in 2009 razed an earlier structure they called home, but they did not leave Damayan Lagi because they did not own land.

“I don’t know how long we’ll be sleeping on the street, but we have no choice

but to start again,” he added.

Fires are common hazards in the sprawling capital, where millions live in hovels made of scrap wood and cardboard and fire safety regulations are rarely imposed.

Last week, 5,000 people were left homeless after a huge blaze gutted 500 tinroofed huts in the city’s old quarter. It also forced the temporary evacuation of 500 prisoners at a nearby jail.

In late November, about 800 homes went up in smoke in another Manila shanty town.

In May, 72 died when a fire tore through a Manila footwear factory. Survivors blamed the disaster on barred windows.

MANILA, Dec 11 (Mabuhay) – Vice President Jejomar Binay on Friday blamed Budget Secretary Florencio Abad for the underspending of the Aquino administration.

At the presidential forum on countryside development initiated by Galing Pook, Binay said that in the last Cabinet meeting he attended, President Benigno Aquino III asked every department secretary why they were underspending.

He said each agency head pointed to Abad.

“Tanong ni Presidente sa secretary, bakit ka nagaunderspend, ang sagot e hindi po nagre-release si Sec. Abad kaya hindi makapasok ng kontrata. Lahat ng secretary tinanong, ganun ang sagot,” he said.

Binay said when the President asked the National Economic and Development Authority if there is a possibility that the gross domestic product would go down, the NEDA official answered in

the negative.

“Tinanong ni Presidente ang NEDA, “NEDA tayo ba ay bababa pa sa GDP?” Ang sabi ng NEDA hindi na po Mr. President. E kaya pala hindi na bababa ang GDP e ilalabas na ang pera tulong sa pamumulitika,” he said.

In a text message, Secretary Abad called Binay’s accusation as mere “hypocrisy” after failing to get the president’s endorsement.

“If the VP attended Cabinet meetings regularly, he would know the real picture.

But he chose to spend official time campaigning,” said Abad. “How is it that every year he was praising the performance of the Aquino administration when he was still part of it and hoping to be anointed by the President...It’s called hypocrisy,” Abad added.

Just last Wednesday, Binay claimed the government was deliberately underspending funds to save up for the coming 2016 polls.

“Ano ang ginagawa nila?

Underspending. Meron naman po talagang pera, ayaw lang nilang gastusin. Pero ngayon lumalabas na kaya pala hindi ginagastos ay gagamitin sa darating na halalan,” Binay said during a visit in Negros Oriental.

But Malacañang dismissed Binay’s claims, with presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda saying that the Vice President was merly sourgraping for failing to get the endorsement of President Benigno Aquino III. “Ganyan talaga pag hindi na endorso ng pangulo, ang dating pinupuri, pinupuna.

What is certain is that si VP Binay, gumanda ang buhay nya dahil hanggang ngayon hindi nya maipaliwanag ang alegasyon ng korapsyon laban sa kanya,” Lacierda said.

Binay, who was a member of the Aquino Cabinet, is facing a string of corruption allegations during his term as city mayor of Makati.

Binay resigned from the Cabinet last June. (MNS)

3 ex-DepEd officials face graft raps for cellphones purchase

MANILA, Dec 11 (Mabuhay) – The Office of the Ombudsman has filed graft complaints against three former Department of Education (Deped) offiicials inTagum City, Davao del Norte for an allegedly anomalous purchase of cellphones in 2007.

Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao Rodolfo Elman ordered the charges against former schools division su-

perintendents Aurora Cubero and Salvacion Yumang, and administrative officer Emma Betonio.

The respondents allegedly claimed that the purchase of 32 units of cellular phones, amounting to P317,380, was necessary for official use.

Elman noted that, “the prevailing threshold for shopping (in 2007) was only P50,000 for unforeseen

contingency requiring immediate purchase, while P250,000 [is the threshold] for ordinary or regular office supplies and equipment not available in the procurement service.”

He added that “there is no showing that the cellular phones are ordinary or regular office supplies” as contemplated in procurement laws. (MNS)

Ex-Romblon mayor charged with graft for P8.9-M irrigation project MANILA, Dec 11 (Mabuhay) – A former mayor of Looc, Romblon and five other former municipal officials have been charged with graft in connection with the alleged anomalous awarding of contract for a small-scale irrigation project worth P8.9 million in 2007.

In a complaint recently filed by the Office of the Ombudsman before the Sandiganbayan, former Looc mayor Juliet Ngo-Fiel was charged with violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Also charged with her were former Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator (MPDC) and Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chairman Solomon Gregorio; municipal engi-

neer and BAC vice-chairman Renato Saludaga; municipal agricultural officer and BAC member Jessie Jomadiao; municipal civil registrar and BAC member Wilma Pastor and municipal assessor and BAC member Rolando Gregorio. Based on the information of the case, Fiel and members of the BAC in November 2007, awarded to the lone bidder, R.G. Florentino Construction and Trading (RGFCT), a contract for the rehabilitation of Small-Scale Irrigation/Small Water Impounding Project.

The amount of P8,999,500 was supposedly paid to RGFCT even though Fiel allegedly lacked the authority from the Sangguniang Bayan of Looc to enter into a contract in behalf of the municipality.

Moreover, the Ombudsman said the Commission on Audit had also discovered several irregularities in the bidding process such as lack of certificate of availability of funds, non-publication of the invitation to bid and that RGFCT also failed to submit various bidding requirements and eligibility as contractor.

The Ombudsman’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) recommended P30,000 bail for each of the accused in exchange for their temporary liberty.

Last month, the case was raffled off and assigned to the Sandiganbayan First Division.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by former Looc Mayor Manuel Arboleda in 2009. (MNS)

Tax court en banc stops 2nd division from acting on cases vs Corona MANILA, Dec 11 (Mabuhay) – The Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) en banc (full court) has stopped its second division from taking further actions on the six counts of tax evasion charges against former Chief Justice Renato Corona. In a resolution dated Dec. 4, the Tax Court granted the preliminary prohibitory injunction filed by Corona’s camp last August.

“The Second Division of the Court is hereby DIRECTED to refrain from further proceeding in Criminal Case Nos. O-357, O-359, O-361, O-363, O-364 and O-367,” the Tax Court said.

However, the CTA required Corona to post a bond equivalent to the total amount of tax liabilities where he has yet to be arraigned. Corona is facing 12 counts of violation of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) for violation of Sections 255 (failure to file income tax return) and 254 (attempt to evade payment of taxes). He is facing six

counts for each violation.

Last February, Corona insisted before the Tax Court’s 2nd division that he should be arraigned only for violating Section 255, or failure to file income tax returns. He argued that both sections 255 and 254 (attempt to void or defeat tax collection) constituted the same acts of tax evasion under the NIRC. Nevertheless, the Tax Court denied the bid and insisted he should be arraigned. Corona’s counsel Atty. Rean Balisi filed a motion for reconsideration which was denied prompting them to ask a full court ruling on the matter.

The Tax Court en banc last Oct. 6 issued a 60-day temporary restraining order against the second division.

Corona was supposed to be arraigned last September but was rescheduled to Oct. 7 to give the Tax Court en banc more time to study and act on their appeal.

Corona’s counsel Atty.

Rean Balisi said that if the

former Chief Justice will be arraigned, his appeal will become moot and academic.

An arraignment is the reading of criminal case against an accused. It is significant because it intends to protect the accused as he or she would be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation against him or her. It will also allow the court to proceed with the trial in case the accused went into hiding. In the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) complaint, it alleged that Corona did not include in his statement of assets and liabilities (SALN) his condominium unit at The Columns on Ayala Avenue, which he bought for P3.6 million in 2004 and his property at Fort Bonifacio worth P9.16 million which he acquired in 2005.

The revenue agency claimed that for nine years, Corona did not pay his taxes worth P120,498,219.52, inclusive of surcharges and interest.

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New York, Washington bask in warm winter weather records New York, United States | AFP | Sunday 12/13/2015 – Shorts instead of scarves: New York City and the Washington area shattered or matched warm weather records Sunday for December 13, less than two weeks before the usually chilly Christmas holiday.

In New York City, some people headed out in light summer clothes to revel in midday temperatures in Central Park that climbed to 66 degrees F (19 degrees C), according to the National Weather Service.

On Saturday, which was also unseasonably warm,

thousands participated in the city’s annual “SantaCon” bar crawl, which sees revelers dress up as various holiday characters, with some Santa Clauses turning out in only a T-shirt and red trousers – or even going bare-chested.

The mean temperature for the Big Apple on December 13 is 38 degrees F, with the highest previous recorded temperature for the day at 64 degrees F in 1923.

Data records were first kept beginning in 1869.

Temperatures are expected to remain well above the seasonal average

throughout the week, the National Weather Service said.

Around the US capital, two local airports hit new record highs, and the third tied its historic high.

In northern Virginia, Dulles International Airport hit 73 degrees by early afternoon, breaking the record of 71 from 1984.

And Baltimore-Washington International saw a record 72 degrees, topping 69 back in 1889.

Reagan National, meanwhile, tied its record 71 degrees, also hit in 1889, NWS officials said.

A man works on an Eiffel Tower display in a Christmas decorations shop in Quezon City on Friday. Shop attendants say that the Eiffel Tower display, which costs P18,000, became a hit after the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, France. The miniature tower is already their tenth model to be constructed for the holidays. (MNS photo)

Engineering climate: From pariah to savior? Urgent aid needed to fight ‘super’ El Nino: Oxfam

By Marlowe HOOD

Once dismissed as dangerous science fiction, schemes to stave off global warming by re-engineering Earth’s climate may well gain in traction as a result of the Paris agreement.

The landmark climate deal reached in Paris on Saturday poses a dilemma.

It sets ambitious targets for capping global warming yet Earth’s economy remains hugely dependent on carbon-spewing fossil fuels.

So, if temperatures rise and countries fail to switch to cleaner energy in time, the allure of high-tech fixes will, for many, become unavoidable.

But all proposed “geoengineering” methods carry serious risks and limitations, with many doubts about cost, feasibility and governance, say climate experts.

The direct solution to global warming has long been to curb heat-trapping greenhouse gases by energy efficiency or a shift to cleaner renewables.

Despite the rapid rise of solar and wind, though, the change has not happened quickly enough.

So the pathway to keeping global warming “well below two degrees Celsius” (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) compared to pre-Industrial Revolution levels – the goal embraced at the 195-nation talks – has narrowed over time.

More ambitious still, the Paris agreement calls on countries to pursue efforts to limit warming to 1.5C. Today, even the most aggressive scenarios for cutting back on fossil fuels laid out by the UN’s 3,000-strong corps of science advisors, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, rely heavily on removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.

“Nearly all of the emissions scenarios” – more than 100 out of 116 – “assessed by the IPCC that keep global averages below 2C assume the large-scale removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by the end of the century,” said Chris Jones, a scientist

at Britain’s Met Hadley Centre and co-author of a new peer-reviewed study on geoengineering’s side-effects.

Sucking CO2 from the air Engineered fixes for climate change are roughly divided into two categories.

The first, solar radiation management, blocks some of the Sun’s heat-generating rays.

One scheme worthy of a Star Trek prequel that so far remains on the drawing board would place giant mirrors in space to deflect one or two percent of solar radiation.

A less challenging way to get the same result imitates the cooling impact of a major volcanic eruption such as the Philippines’ Mount Pinatubo in 1991, which lowered Earth’s temperature for a year or two after spewing billions of tons of sulphate particles into the stratosphere.

Other mooted schemes including brightening and multiplying the number of reflective ocean clouds.

But even if these plans worked, they would not draw down the volume of atmospheric CO2, which is absorbed by the oceans – and turning them worryingly more acidic.

Some might also bring unintended consequences. A scheme to sow the sea with iron dust, to spur the growth of CO2-gobbling microscopic plants called phytoplankton, was fingered in a 2008 Royal Society study as a feared source of oxygen loss, endangering other species in the ocean food chain.

So far the real money has gone into the second type of geoengineering: sucking carbon dioxide out of the air.

Planting forests – “carbon sinks” in climate jargon – is of course a well-known option for this. Forestation is a familiar technology and safe, but growing trees takes decades to take full effect when time is short, and would eventually compete with agriculture for land.

A new pilot plant funded by tech billionaire Bill Gates and Canadian oil sands financier Murray Edwards and set up by Canadian firm Carbon Engineering in

Squamish, British Columbia, transforms about one tonne of CO2 per day into sand-line pellets.

Negative emissions The long-term objective is to combine this carbon with hydrogen, a by-product of renewable energy generation, to make clean fuels for vehicles.

But the problem is one of cost and timing: reining in the threat of global warming will require avoiding billions of tons of CO2 emissions in the coming decades. Scaling up direct air capture is likely to take far longer.

The so-called “negative emissions” technology that figures most prominently in projections for curbing global warming siphons off CO2 from the production of plant-based fuels, turns it into a liquid, and stores it in the ground.

In some scenarios, this technique – called BECCS, or bioenergy with carbon capture and storage – is supposed to absorb up to a trillion tonnes of CO2 by century’s end, roughly the amount scientists say can be emitted without pushing the climate past the 2C cap.

“We simply don’t know if deployment of negative emission technologies on that scale is feasible,” said Jones.

His study, published in Nature Climate Change, concludes that the resources needed could pose huge problems.

“There is no negative emissions technology currently available that could be implemented to meet the 2C target without significant impact on either land, energy, water, nutrient or... cost,” the study says.

The big worry, say many climate activists, is that such schemes—once undertaken—will undermine efforts to cut carbon emissions that cause the problem.

“Geo-engineering technologies such as BECCS will only delay the real and absolute emissions reductions that are desperately needed right now,” said Oliver Munnion, co-director of Biofuelwatch. mh/djw/ri© 1994-2015 Agence FrancePresse

FBI arrests O.C. man who allegedly took over $1.2-M from distressed homeowners SANTA ANA, California – An Orange County resident who allegedly bilked distressed homeowners with false promises that he could help them avoid foreclosure by obtaining modifications to their mortgages – or even completely eliminating their loans – was arrested this morning on federal fraud charges by Special Agents with the FBI. Antonio Marquette, 56, was arrested without incident at his residence in the community of Midway City. Marquette is expected to be arraigned on a 12-count indictment this afternoon in United States District Court in Los Angeles.

According to the 12-count indictment, which was re-

turned on Wednesday by a federal grand jury in Santa Ana and was unsealed upon this morning’s arrest, Marquette operated Bolsa Marketing Group in Garden Grove in 2010 and 2011 and allegedly charged homeowners up to $70,000 in cash for services that simply were not rendered.

Through Bolsa Marketing, Marquette allegedly ran a scheme that targeted distressed homeowners and induced them to pay up-front fees to obtain mortgage relief services. The indictment alleges that Marquette operated the scheme by “falsely promising homeowners mortgage loan modifications that would substantially reduce their

mortgage payments, avoid foreclosure, or eliminate their mortgage loans entirely.”

As part of the scheme, Marquette allegedly made various promises to homeowners, including making guarantees that he could reduce their outstanding debt to 25 percent of the loan balance in only four months. Marquette also sent fraudulent checks to “pay off” mortgages and filed bogus documents county recorders offices, according to the indictment.

“Mr. Marquette is charged with preying on vulnerable homeowners who seemingly would do anything to avoid foreclosure,” said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker”.

Sydney, Australia | AFP | Monday 12/14/2015 – Droughts, erratic rains and frosts brought by a super-charged El Nino are severely impacting the Pacific, with Papua New Guinea worst hit, aid group Oxfam said in a report Monday.

Calling for an urgent upscaling in relief to save lives, the charity said 4.7 million people faced hunger, poverty and disease in the Pacific region as a result of the weather pattern.

“This is a crisis on a huge global scale,” the report, “Early Action on Supercharged El Nino Vital to Save Lives”, said.

“The current El Nino is one of the strongest ever measured, which means there will be more extreme weather conditions that will threaten people’s food security, lives and livelihoods.”

El Nino is the name given to a weather pattern associated with a sustained period of warming in the central and eastern tropical Pacific which can spark deadly and

costly climate extremes.

Last month, the UN weather agency warned the phenomenon, triggered by a warming in sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, was the worst in more than 15 years.

Oxfam said climate change was super-charging the effects of El Nino and despite a landmark global climate pact reached in Paris on the weekend, much needed to be done rapidly to cut emissions.

It said the result of the current strong El Nino would likely be 40–50 million people globally facing hunger, disease and water shortages in early 2016 as the slow onset crisis plays out. The worst-affected places include Papua New Guinea in the Asia-Pacific as well as Ethiopia and Malawi in Africa and Guatemala, Haiti and Honduras in Latin America. “Papua New Guinea has been severely affected, particularly in the Highlands, with widespread drought and frost affecting up to three million people

and destroying crops and livestock,” it said.

“Drought has also affected Vanuatu, Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Samoa and Tonga, damaging crops and water supplies.” Because El Nino also increases the probability of a longer tropical cyclone season in the southern hemisphere, countries in the eastern Pacific such as the Cook Islands and Samoa may also be at risk of strong storms, it said.

Across Asia monsoon rains have been limited, with Indonesia worst affected, while the forecast for the Philippines is also poor, with 85 percent of the country expected to be in drought

by March 2016, it added.

Oxfam said in Ethiopia some 8.2 million people currently needed support due to a lack of rainfall while huge areas of southern Africa were also in drought.

In Central America and Haiti, small farmers and day laborers are the worst affected, with the potential for greater drought and major flooding in South America.

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Malacañang insists it had no hand in Poe DQ cases MANILA, Dec 12 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Saturday reiterated that the administration had nothing to do with the disqualification cases filed against Sen. Grace Poe before the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“Mayroon silang kanilang mga dahilan at huwag po natin ikonekta pa sa administrasyon kasi medyo hard sell po ‘yung ganoon,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told state-run radio dzRB, referring to the complainants against Poe. Valte was also reacting to former senator Richard Gordon’s statement that there seems to be a “pattern” of getting rid of the presidential race opponents of Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer Mar Roxas.

Gordon is included in the list of senatorial candidates under the ticket of Poe and Sen. Francis Escudero.

The Palace spokesperson said that the LP has no political connections with the complainants.

“Hindi naman po kaalyado ng administrasyon si Kit Tatad... The others, si Professor [Antonio[ Contreras from De La Salle University is a known Aquino critic, ‘di ba? I think si… Wala ring relationship with… Atty. [Estrella] Elamparo, I think, was formerly with GSIS and then eventually left, ‘di ba? So tingin ko malinaw naman e kung sino ‘yung mga taong ito,” she said.

Valte also mentioned Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, who first questioned Poe’s eligibility to run for president citing residency and citizenship issues.

Tiangco is a spokesperson of the United Nationalist Alliance, whose standard bearer is Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Two Comelec divisions have ruled ni favor of four petitions to cancel the certificate of candidacy of Poe for the presidential elections in 2016.

The First Division voted 2-1 in favor of the petitions filed

by Tatad, Contreras and former University of the East Law Dean Amado Valdez.

The Second Division had earlier voted unanimously in favor of the similar petition filed by Elamparo.

Following the Second Division’s ruling, Poe alleged that the filing of disqualification cases against her are part of the strategy of Roxas and Binay camps.(MNS)

Comelec 1st division ruling shows LP not behind Poe DQ moves: admin spokesman MANILA, Dec 11 (Mabuhay) – The decision of the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) First Division to cancel Grace Poe’s certificate of candidacy for president belies the claim of her camp that the Liberal Party is behind the moves to disqualify her, a spokesperson for the administation coalition said Friday.

Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo of the Daang Matuwid coalition said the dissenting vote of Comelec Commissioner Christian Robert Lim, an appointee of President Benigno Aquino III, disproves allegations that the LP is behind efforts to disqualify Poe from the presidential race.

“Only shows that what they’ve been accusing the LP of – using the appointees of the President to eliminate Mar’s opponents – is baseless and untrue,” he said in a text message.

The administration is fielding former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas as its standard bearer in the 2016 elections.

On Friday, the Comelec First Division voted 2-1 – with Lim as the lone dissenter – to cancel Poe’s COC on account that she is not a natural-born Filipino. The other members of the panel are Commissioners Rowena Guanzon and Luie Tito Guia.

Akbayan Rep. Barry Gutierrez, also a spokesperson for the coalition, said Poe should just respect the decision of the poll body.

“Hindi pwedeng irespeto lang ang batas at institusyon kung pabor sa ‘yo at sisiraan mo nang lubusan kapag hindi, lalo na kung gusto mong maging Pangulo,” Gutierrez said.

THE US ASIAN POST

OPINION

Grace Poe: My very identity is being taken away from me MANILA, Dec 11 (Mabuhay) – Senator Grace Poe on Friday insisted that she is qualified to run for president despite the ruling of the Commission on Elections’ First Division canceling her certificate of candidacy (COC) for president on account that she is not a natural-born Filipino.

“I am a true Filipino from birth,” said Poe, a foundling, in a statement. “I was raised as a Filipino, lived, studied, got married in the Philippines, and wish to serve fellow Filipinos as a Filipino.”

“That my very identity is being taken away from me, is hurtful,” she added.

She also accused the First Division, which voted 2-1 to cancel her COC, of ignoring the evidence that she presented “just to deny me the chance to better serve our countrymen, and to also deny our people their choices in an open election.”

The First Division’s ruling stemmed from the petitions filed by former Sen. Francisco Tatad, Prof.

Antonio Contreras and former US Law Dean Amado Valdez questioning Poe’s citizenship.

Acknowledging the setback, Poe said she will appeal the decision with the Comelec en banc and the Supreme Court.

“We will appeal to the Comelec and the Supreme Court to uphold the truth, and the spirit and aims of our Constitution,” she said.

She added the pending the en banc and the Supreme Court’s final ruling, she will remain a candidate for president. Poe reiterated that the issue at hand was not just her candidacy but the welfare of the foundlings and even overseas Filipino workers.

“How these cases will be resolved will ultimately

pervade the lives, status and limited opportunities accorded to all other foundlings, putting them at disadvantage for reasons and circumstances that are not their doing,” Poe said.

“It will also affect once and current overseas Filipinos who may wish to give back to their true country through public service,” she added.

Poe said that institutions are being used to exclude Filipinos is a cause for serious concern. “Our laws should protect and defend their welfare, not shut them out,” she said.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Poe’s running mate, Sen. Francis Escudero, remains hopeful that she will not be disqualified from the 2016 presidential race, reiterating that the ultimate decision rests with the SC. “At the end of the day it’s the Supreme Court who can disqualify a candidate with finality,” said Escudero.

“We are hopeful that if Senator Grace cannot achieve justice from the Comelec, she will finally achieve justice in the Supreme Court,” he added, citing previous SC rulings involving election-related cases that may serve as precedents in Poe’s case.

One of these is the SC ruling in 2004 that declared Poe’s adoptive father, the late actor Fernando Poe Jr., whose citizenship was also questioned when he ran for president at the time, a natural-born Filipino.

“Under the law, adoptive children take over the rights and the pertinences of a legitimate child. So if you are a legitimate child of a natural-born father, then the status of your citizenship is also naturalborn,” he pointed out. (MNS)

Marcos tells Filipinos: Don’t vote for candidates not for unity MANILA, Dec 12 (Mabuhay) – Enough of excessive partisan politics.

Such was the statement of Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as he urged the electorate to reject politicians who will divide the people in the 2016 elections.

“Ask yourself if this or that candidate is for unity.

If not, then don’t vote for him or her,” Marcos said in a statement on Saturday.

The senator said “efforts to move the country forward have failed because of excessive partisan politics perpetrated by those who hold power.”

“We can’t have stability if the government is filled with politicians who divide the people for the sake of politics or their own personal agenda or gain,” Marcos said.

He added that Filipinos have the traits and talents to improve the dire situation of the country but were being hindered by too much politicking.

“The Filipino people are industrious, honest, and resilient that’s why our OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) are preferred by foreign employers over other nationalities. Magagaling tayong mga Pilipino pero bakit mahirap ang ating sitwasyon? (We Filipinos are skilled but why is our situation difficult?)” he said.

Marcos said solutions to the problems besetting the country were available. However, he said that these could not be properly implemented because government officials are themselves divided.

The senator cited the alarming drug problem, corruption, rampant crime, massive unemployment, traffic, as among the consequences of politicking in the country.

“We know the solutions to these but we can only solve them if we are united as Filipinos and the first and paramount job of the government is to unite us all,” he said.(MNS)

Aquino expects country’s columnists to deliver message of hope MANILA, Dec 11 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Friday he expects the country’s leading columnists and commentators to enlighten the public as the country holds a national election next year.

Attending the Bulong Pulungan Christmas Party at the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City, President Aquino praised the media luminaries for their contribution to democracy and development.

“All of you are veterans and luminaries in the world of media. Throughout every election, you have probably seen every possible character: the false prophets, the wannabe messiahs, the corrupt patrons, and the well-intentioned but ultimately ill-equipped candidates,” he said in a speech before participants of the Bulong Pulungan.

“In May, however, for the first time in memory, there is a valid call to continue the upward trajectory of our country. We finally have someone selling a vision—with a track record that proves that this vision is not only achievable but very much probable through the continuity of reform,” he said.

“We can now legitimately put forward to our people: Their dreams do not have to expire after only six years.”

The President said that in the 2016 election, his administration’s Daang Matuwid policy will be subjected to a referendum.

“It is a campaign that I will personally lead, and I am mindful that there are those who will be relentless in making sure that they retake the reins of powers, in effect setting us back to the old days where personal gain rather than public interest held sway over governance,” he said, adding that these are the same individuals who cannot afford another defeat.

He further noted that some candidates will offer the moon and the stars, without actually putting forward any plan for the nation’s future.

“In short, there are those who are certain about their ambition, but are much less certain about its implications on the rest of the country,” the Chief Executive said.

President Aquino said he trusts that the country’s major columnists would continue to do their part in speaking the truth and delivering a message of hope,¬ not only in the remaining six months of his administration but even after he leaves office.

This, he said, is the same message that enabled the country to stand up against a dictator in 1986; dismantled the system of lying, cheating, and stealing in government in 2010; and laid the foundations for a Philippines that is more inclusive.

“It has indeed been an honor for me to participate in Bulong Pulungan. It is an event that I will surely miss,” the President said. (MNS)

Social media link to attacks poses conundrum

By Sophie Estienne

San Francisco, United States | AFP | Tuesday 12/15/2015 – Pressure is growing on social networks to play a bigger role in finding and weeding out jihadists and others looking to recruit members and plot deadly attacks.

But it’s more complicated than it sounds: networks like Facebook and Twitter support free expression, and filtering our bad actors is challenging both from a technical and civil liberties perspective.

Still, US and European officials are pressing social media to do more following deadly attacks over the past few weeks in Paris and southern California which have been linked to supporters of the Islamic State organization.

A White House statement earlier this month called for “a dialogue” with Silicon Valley and others on the subject, saying more should be done “when the use of social medial crosses the line between communication and active terrorist plotting.”

The European Commission has also called for dialogue with the major social media networks.

And France passed emergency measures that could shut down websites or social media accounts which encourage terrorist actions.

Concerns have been rising amid increased presence on social networks of radical groups that seek to recruit fighters and communicate for planning.

FBI Director James Comey

said the Islamic State organization, also known by the acronym ISIL, “has persistently used the Internet to communicate, and its widespread reach through the Internet and social media is most concerning.”

Comey said that through social media, “the message of radicalization spreads faster than we imagined just a few years ago.”

In Congress, Senators Dianne Feinstein and Richard Burr proposed legislation to require online communications services to report potential terrorist activity.

“That information can be the key to identifying and stopping terrorist recruitment or a terrorist attack, but we need help from technology companies,” said Feinstein, from California.

THE US ASIAN POST Wednesday - Tuesday, December 16 - 22, 2015

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Makeup tips to combat winter skin this season Friday December 11 2015 (Relaxnews) – We love winter, but colder temperatures can lead to a whole host of beauty problems, such as dull, chapped or dehydrated skin. Here are a few tips from the experts for anyone looking to perk up their look for the festive season.

Celebrity beauty artist Lisa Eldridge suggests using a foundation one shade darker than usual to “warm up” the skin. In this tutorial with Alexa Chung, she suggests using Chanel’s “Vitalumiere” ($58) and thinning it out by applying a tiny bit over a well-moisturized base and buffing it into the skin using a brush.

To fake the kind of dewy, healthy glow that seems to come naturally in spring time, Eldridge uses a highlighter for a gentle shimmer – in this case, a Becca “Shimmering Skin Perfector” ($49) in “Rose Gold.”

Another tip is to gently buff concealer in around the creases of the nostrils to counteract any redness that might be brought about by exposure to the elements.

Makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury, meanwhile, relies on her own “Magic Foundation” (£29.50, approximately $45) to pump moisture back into tired skin. The formula includes Laricyl to tighten pores, hyaluronic filling spheres that plump

the skin with water and vitamin C to revive it.

Once you have your base looking flawless, then you can experiment with the rest of your look. Beauty bloggerShaaanxo suggests trying out a “frosted” eye for a glamorous wintery vibe.

This look involves blending a white eyeshadow (she suggests one from the Lorac Pro Palette, $42) over the socket, blending a brown shade into the outer corners before using liquid black liner to create a crisp flick and dabbing the white hue at the inner corners and underneath the eye. This look can be offset with a soft pink blush for a wintery glow.

“A Classic Case of Winter Face - Makeup and Chat with Alexa Chung” (Screen grab). ©YouTube/Lisa Eldridge

Happiness may not help you live longer: study

Happiness may help you lead a better life, but not necessarily a longer one. ©Dirima/Shutterstock

Thursday December 10 2015 (Relaxnews) – A large new study of women in the UK refutes a widespread belief that unhappiness itself can cause ill health.

Indeed, say researchers, life-threatening poor health can lead to unhappiness, hence the association with increased mortality, but unhappiness itself does not appear to be a cause.

The research team sent women involved in the UK Million Women Study a questionnaire in which they were asked to rate their health, happiness, stress,

and feelings of control and relaxation.

Five out of six said they were generally happy.

Unhappiness was found to be associated with deprivation, smoking, lack of exercise and not living with a partner, but it was women who were already in poor health who were most likely to report being unhappy, stressed, not in control and not relaxed.

The main analyses included 700,000 women, average age 59, who were followed over 10 years, during which 30,000 died.

This could be my best move yet.

Loida Nicolas Lewis, AARP Member Chair and CEO of TLC Beatrice, LLC Philanthropist

Dahil sa Health and Wellness resources ng AARP, si Loida at iba pang katulad niya are now able to have as much fun in the ballroom as they did in the boardroom.

Loida has enjoyed a long career as a successful businesswoman, and she remains just as active today. Bilang miyembro ng halos 20 na taon, she keeps current with AARP publications on health, diet, exercise at iba pang activities that help her enjoy life and live it to the fullest. Not surprisingly, her boundless energy and generous contributions para sa Filipino community have made her a role model for many. Para kay Loida, walang hanggan ang mga posibilidad and the best is yet to come. AARP offers members a wealth of resources na siguradong makapagbibigay ng saya, sigla at importanteng impormasyon para rin sa inyo. To learn more, visit aarp.org/aapi or call 1-866-805-1986 today.

AARP is a non-profit organization committed to enhancing your life at 50-plus by providing trusted and useful resources to help you stay active, engaged and vibrant.

Caregiving • Health & Wellness • Fraud Prevention • Volunteer • Life Reimagined

After allowing for health and lifestyle differences, the overall death rate among those who were unhappy was the same as the death rate among those who reported being happy.

Lead author Dr. Bette Liu, now at the University of New South Wales, Australia, explained: “Illness makes you unhappy, but unhappiness itself doesn’t make you ill.

We found no direct effect of unhappiness or stress on mortality.”

The study was published in The Lancet.

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Wednesday - Tuesday, December 16 - 22, 2015

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Rite of opening the Door of Mercy

A combined bilingual mass was conducted by Fr.George Tabangcura, Associate Pastor of St. Lorenzo Ruiz Parish, Bishop David G. O’Connell, D.D., Episcopal Vicar of the San Gabriel Pastoral Region Archdiocese of Los Angeles and St. Lorenzo Ruiz Parish Pastor, Rev. Tony P. Astudillo.

Pope Francis has declared a Year of Mercy beginning on December 8, 2015, and continuing until November 20, 2016.

The Year of Mercy is an Extraordinary Jubilee – a time of forgiveness and reconciliation, a time to celebrate the mercy The Holy Father decreed that a special Holy Door be opened in every Diocese as the Door of Mercy, to allow the faithful in every part of the world to experience the mercy of the Father in its fullness.

The St. Lorenzo Ruiz Church was chosen as one of these churches. Along with other chosen parishes, St. Lorenzo will welcome

pilgrims who wish to obtain indulgences without having to travel to the Holy Door in the Vatican. St. Lorenzo has designated one of its doors to be the Door of Mercy. Those who pass through the Door of Mercy, in addition to fulfilling other conditions and works, receive the plenary indulgence – the Jubilee of Mercy indulgence.

Plenary Indulgence is the complete remission of the temporal punishment due to sin. In Sacrament of reconciliation, God forgives our sins but sin leaves a negative effect on the way we think and act. An indulgence pardons the sinner and frees him or her to act with charity, to grow in love rather than to fall back sin.

In general, the act of indulgence requires certain prescribed conditions, and the performance of certain prescribed works. Also , indulgences can be applied either to oneself or to the souls of the deceased, but they cannot be applied to other persons living on earth.

The rite was attended by 10 pastoral community.

Holy Name of Mary, Sacred Heart, St. Denis, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St . John Vianney, St. Joseph(La Puente), St. Joseph (Pomona), St. Madeleine, St. Martha & Our Lady of the Assumption.

THE US ASIAN POST Wednesday - Tuesday, December 16 - 22, 2015

ENTERT Gerphil to tour with David Foster in 2016 It’s official: Asia’s Got Talent (AGT) finalist Gerphil Flores confirmed that she will be part of the Asian tour of “David Foster and Friends” in 2016.

Flores said it’s a dream do come true for her to work with Foster, who was one of the judges of the pan-Asian talent contest.

“Sabi ko nga po napaka-impossible dream na naman, parang gaya ng kinanta ko sa ‘Asia’s Got Talent.’ I used to have the DVDs ng mga David Foster and Friends concerts at nangangarap lang ako na sana someday I would be able to share stage with these big artists in the music industry. At nung na-receive ko ang e-mail medyo matagal nag-sink in sa akin.

Sabi ko ‘totoo ba ito?’ Apparently it is and I’m very

Gerphil Flores

thankful for that,” Flores said.

Flores said she will be

join the international concert tour starting March next year.

“Abroad na po ‘yon. Mayroon pong Thailand,” said Flores, who will be sharing stage with international artists like Nicole Scherzinger and Natalie Imbruglia.

Flores said she wants to promote classical music in the concert tour.

“Mataas ang hope ko, lalo na pagdating sa pagspread ng classical music sa kabataan. Naniniwala akong handa na ang mga Filipino sa ganitong type ng musika, lalo na ang mga young generation at handa akong i-represent ang ganitong klaseng musika,” she said.

Flores first hinted that she will be doing a project with Foster last June.

(MNS)

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INMENT Iñigo praises Julia Barretto for being professional Inigo Pascual believes that reports linking Julia Barretto to other actors won’t affect their onscreen tandem.

Pascual and Barretto have worked on a number of projects, including the series “And I Love You So.” “In this job naman, I don’t think we should let any personal stuff affect it. To be honest, I don’t know anything that’s going on with her personal life and vice versa. It’s not my business to talk if there is anything going on. We just work and we have that friendship,” Pascual said.

As to other issues being hurled at Barretto, Pascual said: “She’s very professional. Hindi niya pinapakita na naapektuhan siya. She’s that kind of person. She’s really strong.”

Despite this, Pascual said he always makes Bar-

next year na.”

Now that the show is over, Guidicelli said he is looking forward to spending the holidays with his family.

Will he also be with girlfriend Sarah Geronimo this Christmas? “Hindi [kasama si Sarah] eh. Kasama din niya ang pamilya niya,” he said briefly.

Meanwhile, the actor

shared that he doesn’t have a gift for Geronimo yet and he also didn’t ask anything from her for the holidays.

“Kahit anong [gift ang ibigay niya sa akin]. Hindi naman importante ‘yun.

Basta okay lang ang lahat,” he said.

It was in June 2014 when Geronimo first admitted her relationship with Guidicelli.

(MNS)

Inigo Pascual and Julia Barretto

retto feel that he got her back.

“She’s my friend. Kahit naman sabihin natin na hindi kami naaapektuhan, you still want to be there for them. I guess it’s just being there for the person,” he said.

Just recently, Pascual took to Instagram to express how proud he is of

Barretto for the way she handles things.

Similarly, Pascual said Barretto constantly reminds him to never let haters get to him.

“What I love about her #JuliaTips is that she not just says it but actually goes through it and sets an example. And I appreciate you for that,” he said.

Jessa Zaragosa prepares for comeback concert

Matteo hopes to have concert repeat After his sold-out show at the Music Museum recently, Matteo Guidicelli is hoping for a repeat of his concert next year.

“Astig! Sold out kami tapos sobrang saya. Almost three hours ‘yung show.

Nagpapasalamat ako sa lahat ng nanood ng concert,” he said. “Kung nagustuhan nilang lahat, may repeat sana in the future. Baka

7

Matteo Guidicelli

After a 12-year absence from the concert scene, singer-actress Jessa Zaragoza is getting ready for her comeback solo show.

Zaragoza announced that she will be mounting her solo concert “I Am Me” on January 5 at the Music Museum in Greenhills.

She said it’s the time for her to go back to her pas-

sion, which is singing.

“Sobrang excited ako sa project na ito. Sabi ko kay Dingdong (Avanzado, her husband), tuloy na natin itong concert. Noon pa niya ako sinasabihan to do a concert. Tapos sabi ko na lang sa kanya one day I want to do the concert. I want to perform again ng solo.

8

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UTREACH Panda Cares holds 8th annual holiday carnival celebration ROSEMEAD, Calif. – Panda Cares, the philanthropic arm of Panda Express and its parent company, Panda Restaurant Group, hosted its 8th annual Leader In Me Holiday Carnival on Friday, Dec. 11.

Four hundred students from Encinita Elementary School in Rosemead, CA, were recognized at the event for their academic and leadership achievements in The Leader in Me program, a whole school transformation process created

by FranklinCovey, that teaches leadership skills at the elementary school level.

The students were welcomed by the Panda Express Panda Bear mascot and will enjoy carnivalthemed booths created and staffed by Panda Restaurant Group associates. All attendees were treated to a delicious Panda Express lunch and receive Panda swag. Toy manufacturer, Mattel Inc., will also join the celebration by donating gifts for the students.

Through Panda Cares, Panda has supported The Leader in Me program in over 550 schools throughout the country. Encinitas Elementary School, sponsored by Panda since 2009 is one of 27 schools sponsored by the company that has earned the prestigious Lighthouse School designation from the program.

“We are proud to bring leadership development to schools nationwide,”

said Peggy Cherng, cochairman of Panda Restaurant Group. “Through this program, students have the opportunity to become insightful and confident leaders who will contribute to their communities.”

The Leader in Me program was inspired by Stephen Covey’s book, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” that integrates timeless leadership principles with practical character and life skills relevant to today’s challenges. By building selfconfidence, interpersonal skills, elevating student achievement, and reducing school-wide discipline problems, this program helps children become leaders in their field of interest.

Earning Lighthouse School status is the highest level of achievement within the program. There are currently 161 schools in The Leader in Me program that have been designated as Lighthouse Schools, including Encinitas Elementary School.

About Panda Restaurant Group Founded in Southern California in 1973, Panda Restaurant Group Inc. is the world leader in Asian dining experiences with more than 1,800 locations in 46 states along with stores in Puerto Rico, Guam, Canada, Mexico, Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Korea. The family-owned and operated chain of fast casual, full service and

quick service restaurant concepts includes Panda Express, Panda Inn, and Hibachi-San. For more information visit www.pandarg.com, or become a fan on Facebook.

About Panda Cares Established in 1999,

HHS partners with faith organizations to promote enrollment in Health Insurance Marketplace As the December 15th deadline for coverage starting January 1st approaches, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced a collaboration with more than 20 faith-based organizations nationwide, with a combined reach of more than five million people to support outreach and enrollment efforts for the 2016 Open Enrollment. HHS partners are continuing their work to make sure consumers have access to the health information they need to get covered.

“Faith groups play an essential role in supporting health and wellness in communities across the country, serving as trusted messengers in their congregations,” said Kevin Couni-

han, CEO of the Health Insurance Marketplaces. “We are thankful that so many organizations are providing an opportunity for friends and neighbors to learn more about their health care options and get help enrolling in coverage.”

This weekend serves as one of three Open Enrollment Faith Weekends of Action. Congregations across the nation will use these weekends to let their neighbors know about the opportunity to enroll in quality, affordable coverage. Trained enrollment specialists will be available at places of worship across the country to provide free and confidential assistance for people looking to sign up or re-enroll in health coverage.

Kevin Counihan will visit both the Church of Christian Compassion and Yesha Ministries Worship Center in Philadelphia on Sunday.

Secretary Burwell will visit a local enrollment center in Austin.

With only a few days remain before the December 15 deadline, sign up now to have coverage starting onJanuary 1, 2016. You can visit HealthCare.gov or call the Marketplace directly at 1-800-318-2596 and sign up

by December 15th. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify and about 8 out of 10 people who enroll in health coverage through HealthCare.gov qualify for financial help to make their monthly premiums more affordable.

Panda Cares’ mission is to bring hope to children in need purpose is to foster the spirit of Giving within Panda by directly serving the health and educational needs of underserved children. Learn more at www. pandacares.org.

Photo Captions: Panda Cares, the philanthropic arm of Panda Express hosted its 8th annual holiday carnival celebration honoring students from Encinitas Elementary School for their academic and leadership achievements in the Leader In Me program. Photo Credit: Panda Express

10

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KITCHENOMICS FAMILY FEATURES

T

he hustle and bustle of the holiday season – from office parties to family gatherings – often leads to over-indulging and deviating from a healthy lifestyle; luckily, it’s still possible to enjoy many of your favorite holiday dishes while reducing carb and sugar intake.

And the numbers don’t lie – numerous studies show that low-carb eating can be a healthy lifestyle option for people who want to lose or maintain their weight. When you control your carbohydrate intake, you start burning stored fat as your fuel source instead of carbohydrates.

Low-carb eating results in more effective weight loss and better health markers, such as a decrease in your risk of heart disease and diabetes. Plus, a low-carb lifestyle, such as Atkins, can be customized to your individual needs to help you lose weight and keep it off.

In fact, with the wide variety of foods to choose from in a low-carb lifestyle, it’s easy to find plenty of the festive foods and recipes you like so you can skip the stress this holiday season and simply focus on celebrating.

These recipes – favorites of actress Alyssa Milano, who started her own journey on the Atkins program – show how easy it is to make and enjoy low-carb dishes packed with flavor. Find more low-carb recipes to share this holiday season at atkins.com.

Fresh Mozzarella Salad with Basil Pesto Prep time: 10 minutes Net carbs: 1.7 g 4 cups arugula 1/4 cup basil pesto 2 pounds sliced whole milk mozzarella cheese 2 small whole red tomatoes, sliced Basil Pesto 24 ounces basil 1/3 cup dried pine nuts 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 teaspoon garlic 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

To prepare pesto, combine basil, pine nuts, Parmesan, garlic and salt in food processor or blender; pulse until finely chopped. Add oil in slow and steady stream with machine running; process until fairly smooth but not pureed. Serve immediately, refrigerate in airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month.

Toss arugula with 2 tablespoons of pesto. Mound onto serving plates. Top with alternating slices of mozzarella and tomato.

Drizzle with remaining pesto and serve.

Cauliflower-Cheddar Mash Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 8 minutes Net carbs: 3.5 g 1 cup cauliflower 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste Steam cauliflower in steamer basket over boiling water in medium covered sauce pot until tender, about 5 minutes. Remove to bowl and mash with fork. Top with cheese and season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Recipes courtesy of Atkins.

THE DISH ON LOW-CARB EATING If sticking to a low-carb diet seems like a lofty goal, you may find it helpful to focus on all the foods you can eat with confidence while watching your carbs:

High-fiber vegetables Protein (fish/seafood, poultry, beef, pork, eggs, plant-based)

Healthy fats (olive oil, avocados, nuts, butter) Dairy (cheese, Greek yogurt)

Low-glycemic fruits (berries, cherries, melon)

THE US ASIAN POST Wednesday - Tuesday, December 16 - 22, 2015

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11

MOTORING The BMW i8 could be available as a cabriolet in 2016 Wednesday December 9 2015 (Relaxnews) – BMW will soon be unveiling a new concept car to pave the way for a convertible version of its i8 electric sports car.

Autocar reports that the concept will be revealed at the CES 2015, which will be held in Las Vegas in the US from January 6 to 9, 2016. It will be directly inspired by the first BMW i8 Spyder concept, which was presented at the Beijing Auto Show in 2012, but never went into production.

2016 could therefore see a third model added to the BMW i offering which currently consists of the small electric i3 city car and the i8 hybrid sports model.

Launched in 2011, BMW i is a brand that is separate

from the German group, offering both premium and visionary cars that are fully or part electric and inspired by sustainable development.

The BMW i3 is a small fully electric coupe with autonomy ranging from 130km (in Comfort mode) to almost 200km (EcoPro+), with zero CO2 emissions due to its 170hp electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery.

The BMW i3 can be equipped with an autonomy extender as an option. This takes the form of a 34hp two cylinder gasoline engine, placed next to the electric motor above the back axel.

This extends the autonomy range to a maximum of around 300km. The BMW i3 can be charged at a public

charging station or using a conventional socket.

The BMW i8 presents itself as a real sports car with a gasoline engine and an electric motor, totaling 362hp (respectively 231hp and 131hp) with a top speed of 250km/h and acceleration from 0 to 100km/h in only 4.4 seconds. In fully electric mode, it has an autonomy of almost 37km and a maximum speed of 120km/h. Its average fuel consumption is 2.7l/100km, i.e. CO2 emissions of around 49g/km.

The rumor of a cabriolet version of the BMW i8 is not new. This “BMW i8s”, or “i8 Spyder”, could be one of the major announcements made by the brand to mark its centenary in 2016. Compared to the BMW i8, this two-seater

The first BMW i8 Spyder concept was unveiled in 2012.©BMW

could have an even more sporty design, with a new suspension and wider tires.

It could have a maximum of 500hp according to reports by specialist websites.

The supercar stars of 2016

The Ford GT: A year after its reveal, the Ford GT will be going into very limited production in 2016. ©The Ford Motor Company

Sunday December 13 2015 (Relaxnews) – From Aston Martin to Lamborghini, 2016 promises to be a bumper year for very, very fast and very, very exclusive cars.

Aston Martin DB11 After the huge publicity campaign around the current Bond film, “Spectre,” Aston will be hoping it’s done enough to get its fans and its detractors ready for the potential shock of the DB11, which will ditch many of the outgoing DB9’s lines in favor of something more aggressive and, hopefully, faster. The pressure on the company to

deliver something that can go toe-to-toe with Porsche and Ferrari has never been greater but the company’s confidence suggests that the new car could be something special.

Honda/Acura NSX After some development complications, the NSX will be going on sale in 2016 and it will be the first affordable hybrid supercar. It will offer similar technological sophistication to that found in the McLaren P1 and Porsche 918 Spider and comparable performance, although it will be less than a third of the price.

Expect demand to outstrip supply for at least the first year of production.

Ferrari FF The company’s only true GT car, the four-seat FF, will be the focus of a major mid-life upgrade and it is expected to make its debut at this year’s Geneva motor show in March.

As well as external nips and tucks there are rumors that it will be getting a turbocharged V8 engine as an option alongside the existing V12 powerplant.

Ford GT It’s not often that the Blue Oval is mentioned in the same

CES takes place January 6 to 9, 2016 in Las Vegas: cesweb.org

breath as Ferrari or Aston Martin, but 2016 is when the new Ford GT will officially break cover. Strictly limited to 250 examples a year and potentially as few as 1,000 examples over its entire life cycle, the mid-engine carbonfiber racer outputs 600hp yet boasts a relatively tiny 3.5-liter V6 engine, albeit one with two huge turbochargers making up for displacement issues. Lamborghini Centenario To mark what would have been founder Ferruccio Lamborghini’s 100th birthday, the eccentric supercar company is planning a very special model.

12

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LOS ANGELES

Wednesday - Tuesday, December 16 - 22, 2015

THE US ASIAN POST

LA SCHOOLS

From page 1

2002 to 2009, said the person behind the threat may have been inspired by the television series â&#x20AC;&#x153;Homelandâ&#x20AC;?.

- â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Irresponsibleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to criticize Los Angeles police chief Charlie Beck hit out at criticism that the shutdown was unnecessary, insisting it was justified with the childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safety paramount. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is irresponsible based on facts that have yet to be determined to criticize that decision at this point,â&#x20AC;? Beck told reporters.

Authorities said they had ordered all public transport in Los Angeles to be free of charge for students on Tuesday to enable them to get home or move about the sprawling West Coast city.

Private schools in the district remained open since the threat was only directed at public schools.

The Los Angeles Unified School District comprises more than 21,000 buildings spread over 720 square miles (1,865 square kilometers) within Los Angeles and nearby communities.

California has been stunned by the massacre in San Bernardino, about an hour east of Los Angeles, carried out by US-born Syed Farook and his Pakistani wife Tashfe Authorities believe the Muslim couple had been radicalized for some time and may have been inspired by the extremist Islamic State group.

The couple were killed in a

shootout with police following the attack, which the Federal Bureau of Investigation is treating as an act of terrorism.

According to a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll released on Monday, national security has become the top issue of concern for Americans in the wake of the San Bernardino assault and the recent deadly attacks in Paris.

The poll said 40 percent of respondents feel national security and terrorism should be the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top priority and more than 60 percent say those concerns should be in the top two. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For most of 2015, the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mood, and thus the presidential election, was defined by anger and

CHINESE FIGHTER

From page 1

Dios Hospital... after a sudden collapse on the morning of 10 December 2015,â&#x20AC;? said a statement on the organisersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; website Sunday.

The statement did not say what caused the collapse of Yang who last fought in June.

On Friday, One Championship had said in a separate statement that Yangâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fight with a Filipino flyweight â&#x20AC;&#x153;has been cancelled due to Yangâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s severe dehydration from attempting to make weightâ&#x20AC;?.

It said the Chinese fighter was suspected to have suffered from â&#x20AC;&#x153;dehydration and suspected heat strokeâ&#x20AC;? and had been taken to hospital to undergo â&#x20AC;&#x153;intensive rehydration treatmentâ&#x20AC;?.

Loren Mack, a spokesman for One Championship, on Sunday

referred questions put to him

by AFP to the statement on the website.

A one-minute silence was held at the venue Friday to honor the Chinese fighter, Mack said.

The One Championship website home page was partly blacked out with a one-line announcement: â&#x20AC;&#x153;In Loving Memory of Yang Jian Bing (1994-2015).â&#x20AC;?

One Championship chief executive Victor Cui said on the website: â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is nothing more profoundly tragic and sad than when a member of the One Championship family, current or past, passes away. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and loved ones of Yang Jian Bing. We will work closely with the family and offer

all the support they need in any way we can during this very difficult time.â&#x20AC;?

In the last message posted on his Weibo social media site on November 30, Yang had been upbeat about the fight. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m excited, I have been struggling for so long and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m finally able to participate in One FC, the Asian top competition,â&#x20AC;? he wrote. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have been waiting for this opportunity for so many years!

Please grant me power, make me really feel the passion of this competition.â&#x20AC;?

Based in Singapore, One Championship maintains a stable of fighters signed to exclusive contracts for fights broadcast on cable television.

where the VCMs are being manufactured.

They toured the Mainboard Factory and the Production & Assembly Factory. The Mainboard Factory produces the mainboards and it has been doing the job since 2005.

On the other hand, the Production & Assembly Factory is capable of producing a monthly output of more than 500,000 network/ peripheral devices and around

50,000 IPC/Embedded systems. It employs more than 700 workers.

Both factories are certified with ISO9001, ISO14001, OHSAS18001, among others. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are proud to show that our factories are world-class, state-ofthe-art, and completely secure,â&#x20AC;? says Elie Moreno, SMMT-TIM2016 Project Director.

He added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Smartmatic is on track in completing and delivering the VCMs on schedule.â&#x20AC;? (MNS)

20K VCM From page 1

2016.

A total of 93,977 VCMs will be leased by the Comelec from Smartmatic for the conduct of the May 2016 national and local elections.

In November, the poll body requested for additional 3,540 units, which will be delivered around end of March 2016.

Meanwhile, poll body officials, lawmakers, and election watchdogs last Friday visited the factories of Smartmatic in Taiwan,

the unevenness of the economic recovery,â&#x20AC;? said Democratic pollster Fred Yang, who conducted the survey with Republican pollster Bill McInturff. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now that has abruptly changed to fear.â&#x20AC;?jz/sstŠ 1994-2015 Agence France-Presse

COMELEC

From page 1

his dissenting opinion. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Magandang development ito bagamat hindi kami pinalad, kasi po may nagsasabi ng ano ang tama naming ipinupunto at mali,â&#x20AC;? he said.

He added: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sinabi po sa akin ng mga kawani ko sa opisina, mas makapal po â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;di hamak â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung naging dissenting (opinion) ni Commissioner Lim. Marami siyang pinupunto at pag-aaralan naming mabuti kung ano â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung mga pinupunto niya.â&#x20AC;?

He also said they will â&#x20AC;&#x153;definitelyâ&#x20AC;? use Limâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opinion in their appeal should the case reach the Supreme Court.

He added: â&#x20AC;&#x153;At sana po, baka sakaling maging basehan rin ng desisyon ng Comelec en banc.â&#x20AC;?

This marks the second setback

by Poe before the poll body.

On December 1, the Comelec Second Division voted in favor of the cancellation of Poeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s certificate of candidacy based on the petition filed by lawyer Estrella Elamparo.

All three members of the Second Divisionâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Commissioners Al ParreĂąo, Arthur Lim and Sheriff Abasâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;voted in favor of Elamparoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s petition.

Poeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s camp has since appealed the Second Divisionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ruling before the Comelec en banc. (MNS)

DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T INCLUDE

From page 1

herself in stating that she met the 10-year residency requirement to run for president.

Poe has said they will file a motion for reconsideration before the Comelec en banc and, if necessary, take the case all way to the Supreme Court (SC). â&#x20AC;&#x153;In view of Poeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s DQ by the two divisions of the Comelec and improbability of reversal by the en banc, it would be more prudent for the Commission not to include anymore her name in the template of the ballot,â&#x20AC;? Luna said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Anyway, the printing of the ballots will begin in Feb. 2016 yet, so there is enough time - period between December 2015 to Feb. 2016 - say, for putting the name back in the event a writ of preliminary injunction or similar orders is issued by the SC in her favor. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Taking this option will be consistent with the rule that decisions of resolutions promulgated by the Commission en banc are final and

executory, unless restrained by the Highest Court,â&#x20AC;? he added.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez earlier said that should the case of Poe drag on beyond the poll bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s internal deadline, it would be more practical to include Poe rather than strike her name off the ballot completely.

The poll body is scheduled to release the final list of candidates

by December 15. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The tendency is that if there is a case that has not been resolved with finality, the tendency will be to put the name of the candidate on the list. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter who,â&#x20AC;?

Jimenez said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If a person has a pending motion with anybody that might have an effect on the candidacy, and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re put on the ballot, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easier to ignore the votes cast for that person, than to take them out of the ballot and then later on find out that they shouldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been on the ballot in the first place.â&#x20AC;? (MNS)

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