US Asian Post March 18, 2016

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Vol. 5 No. 25

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Candidates’ bank accounts fair game: Binay Vice president urges opponents to open financial info to public MANILA, Mar 14 (Mabuhay) – Vice President Jejomar Binay’s camp on Monday challenged other candidates to allow the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to examine their bank accounts here and abroad.

Lawyer Rico Quicho, Binay’s campaign spokesperson, said the candidates should also allow the AMLC to look into the bank accounts of their spouses, other members of their families, friends and associates.

Rescue team members retrieve the bodies of three workers buried alive at a construction site in Barangay Sta. Cruz, Cogeo, Antipolo, Rizal. The local government of Antipolo imposed a forced evacuation to ensure the safety of residents living near the construction site.(MNS photo)

Poe leads in latest SWS presidential survey, VP Binay slides down to 2nd MANILA, Mar 14 (Mabuhay) – Sen. Grace Poe took the lead while Vice President Jejomar Binay slid down in the latest pre-election survey conducted March 4 to 7 by Social Weather Stations.

In the poll for voting preferences for president, Poe got the nod of 27 percent of the survey respondents, up three points from the 24 percent she had in the Feb. 5 to 7 survey.

Binay, who previously got 29 percent in the February survey, took 24 percent in the March poll, down by five points.

Administration candidate Mar Roxas was in third place in the March poll with 22 percent, up by four points from his showing in last

month’s survey.

In fourth place is Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte who got 21 percent, down by three points from the February poll.

Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, meanwhile, got 4 percent.

In a chance interview in Dagupan City, Roxas said he trusts the electorate will vote for the candidate with a proven track record.

“Tulad nang parati kong sinasabi, ang pinakamahalagang survey ay yung aktuwal na mangyayari sa ika-9 ng Mayo at ako, tiwala ako, nanalig ako, na sa dulo mananalo ang karapatdapat. Mananalo ag malinis,” Roxas told reporters.

MANILA, Mar 12 (Mabuhay) – The ruling Liberal Party on Saturday slammed vice presidential aspirant Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for his remarks that “protest votes” will dominate the upcoming national elections because “the government has abandoned real public service.”

LP spokesperson and Akbayan Representative Barry Gutierrez

See POE LEADS, page 12

See MISCONCEPTIONS, page 12

Polls a chance for Filipinos to correct Bongbong’s misconceptions: LP

Sarangani placed under state of calamity due to El Niño

A fisherman brings home a half-filled bucket of fish along the lakeshore of Barangay Malaban in Laguna, Thursday. The fisherman raised concern over decreasing fish catch in Laguna Bay, which they attribute to rising water temperature caused by El Niño.(MNS photo)

MANILA, May 14 (Mabuhay) – The provincial government of Sarangani has declared a state of calamity due to the effects of the El Niño phenomenon.

The province’s agricultural office said that almost 8,000 hectares of rice and corn farms have been affected by the drought caused by El Niño.

Local disaster officials have pegged the El Niño’s damage to agriculture in the province at P2 million.

The disaster officials said part of the calamity fund will be used See SARANGANI, page 12

“Perhaps at this point the other candidates should seriously consider allowing AMLC to look into their accounts – and those of their spouses, family, friends, and associates – both here in the Philippines and in other countries,” he said in a press statement.

Quicho also said the candidates should also consider allowing AMLC to examine as well the bank accounts here and in other countries of businesses, corporations, and foundations identified with the candidate or their spouses, family, friends, and associates. “[These] were all scrutinized

by AMLC in the Vice President’s

case,” Quicho said.

Quicho said other candidates should also make public their Income Tax Returns (ITRs) and Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) for the past 30 years.

“This will allow the voters to see if the candidates’ professed net worth is truly justified and if the proper taxes were paid to the government,” he said.

Sen. Francis Escudero, who is running for vice president, has also called on the other candidates to waive their bank secrecy rights.

Quicho, meanwhile, said there

MANILA, Mar 14 (Mabuhay) – The camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay vowed to double his efforts in campaigning following his five-point drop in the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS).

In a statement on Monday, Binay’s spokesperson Atty. Rico Quicho said the survey results were versatile.

He said the Binay camp hoped that the survey results would reflect the warm response from people on the ground during Binay’s campaign sorties.

“The results of the survey go up and down but the Vice President will double his efforts to cover as many areas and talk to as many people as possible,” Quicho said.

“We wish that hopefully the results of the survey would truly

reflect what is happening on the ground and what can be seen in the media coverage of our sorties and rallies,” he added.

According to the survey conducted March 4 to 7 first published in BusinessWorld, Binay got in at second place while his political nemesis Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas landed at third.

Binay shed five percentage points from the last survey in February to get 24 percent, while Roxas got the biggest gain of four percentage points rising to 22 percent.

Leading the survey is independent presidential bet Sen. Grace Poe, who got 27 percent of respondents gaining three percentage points.

See CANDIDATES, page 12

Binay vows to work harder after five-point drop in SWS survey

See SURVEY, page 12

Al Gore in surprise visit to Tacloban – Haiyan ground zero Tacloban, Philippines | AFP | Sunday 3/13/2016 – Climate change activist and former US vice president Al Gore made a surprise visit Saturday to an impoverished Philippine city ravaged by one of the strongest storms on record.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner lit candles at a mass grave in Tacloban for thousands killed by Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, a picture tweeted by Climate Reality showed.

The US non-governmental organisation is holding a seminar on adapting to climate change in Manila next week, where Gore is scheduled to speak.

“We hope his visit reminds the world of what happened after Yolanda,” 51-year-old typhoon survivor Demetria Raya told AFP, referring to the local name for Haiyan.

The mother of three said she met Gore Saturday in a seaside village near Tacloban airport where her home once stood, before it was wiped out by the storm.

See AL GORE, page 12

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Every tourist counts, creates jobs

By Abner Galino

Every tourist who sets foot into the Philippine soil is not mere statistic but an actual job creator.

This was stressed by Philippine Tourism Attaché Richmond Patrick L. Jimenez during a meet and greet event at a restaurant in Glendale on Wednesday (March 9, 2016), where he asked the media and Filipino-American community leaders in Los Angeles to help the Department of Tourism (DOT), particularly in Southern California, in its programs of encouraging more tourists to visit the Philippines.

Jimenez said tourism remains as one of the major economic drivers for the country, side by side with the production of semi-conductors and the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry.

Newly-appointed to the post, Jimenez expressed optimism that the flow of tourists coming from the United States would remain vibrant as the Philippines continues to enjoy positive international perception.

Jimenez was later joined by Consul General Leo N. Herrera-Lim who enjoined the media and the Los Angeles community leaders to help the latter “navigate the complex landscape” of Filipino communities in the US. As he said this, Herrera-Lim jested that the DOT crew was up to the task of getting “a million” American tourists to visit the Philippines, which

could actually be considered a doable target as the US accounted for 779, 217 (14.54 %) tourists arrivals to the Philippines in 2015.

The US is second only to Korea among the countries where the largest number of tourists came, providing 1.34 million visitors (25%) to the Philippines in 2015.

The DOT enumerated the other countries in the top 5 source market of foreign visitors as Japan (9.25%), China (9.16%) and Australia (4.5%).

The tourism department also reported that tourists spent an average of about P5,000 last year which aggregately amounted to $5 billion worth of “international visitor receipts.”

Also last year, the DOT reported another milestone, surpassing the five million mark, when it was able to draw in 5,360,683 visitors. This was a 10.91% percent growth from the previous year.The tourism department attributed the strong performance of the industry to “aggressive branding and promotional activities launched in key and emerging markets.”

Employment generated by tourism for last year was estimated at 4.99 million, accounting for 12.7% of national employment. Jimenez assumed duties last January 22. From December 2014, he served at the DOT Market Development Group as Tourism Operations Officer for

Industry partners and DOT Staff, Eva Adan

Russia, India, the Middle East and Europe. He was also supervising tourism officer for the department’s Americas division.

Before joining the DOT, Jimenez worked at the US Embassy in Manila for over 12 years, as Coordinator for Alumni Affairs and as Special Consular Assistant to the American Citizen Services Unit.

He provided services to Americans living and visiting the Philippines.

Born in Quezon City, Jimenez holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Consular and Diplomatic Affairs from De La Salle University-College of Saint Benilde.

Philippine Department of Tourism-Los Angeles Director Richmond Jimenez acknowledges the presence of the members of the Filipino community, representatives of DOT’s airline partners, members of the media and guests during the “Meet and Greet” event hosted by PDOT-Los Angeles on Wednesday, March 9, at Max’s Restaurant in Glendale, CA.

Congen Leo Herrera-Lim and wife Fides Herrera and DOT Director Richmond Jimenez Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim (second from left, seated) with attendees of the “Meet and Greet” event hosted by the Philippine Department of Tourism-Los Angeles for its new Tourism Director Richmond Jimenez (second from right, seated). ConGen Lim enjoins the members of the community and the media to extend support to the new tourism director. Photos: JOY MARINO

Members of the media and community supporters.

DOT-LA Staff.

Community Leaders/Supporters (top and bottom photo)

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Acting DFA chief Almendras says he’ll try to extend friendly hand to China MANILA, Mar 14 (Mabuhay) – Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Jose Almendras on Monday said he’ll try to extend a friendly hand to China amid the country’s strained relations with Beijing due to the South China Sea territorial disputes.

Almendras, 56, took over the Foreign Affairs post as acting DFA chief from his predecessor Albert del Rosario, who stepped down on March 7 due to a lingering back problem.

“We have always been friendly to China... we treated China with a posture of respect. In my personal capacity I tend to overextend on that, that’s okay, that’s me, I’m a very friendly person,” Almendras said, but stressed that he “will stand for what’s right.”

“I will put down my foot on what’s right, but there’s always a nice way of saying it. But there’s always a proper way of doing it,” he told the media at the sidelines of a flag-raising ceremony where he addressed more than a hundred employees and senior Filipino career diplomats on his first day of what he described as the shortest DFA leadership in many years. Relations between Manila and Beijing plunged to its lowest when the Philippines sought arbitration in January 2013 to invalidate China’s massive claim over the resource-rich waters, including areas within the waters that fall under Manila’s territory.

China, which refused to participate in the legal proceedings, does not recognize Manila’s case, calling it baseless and lacking in legal merits. A final ruling is expected on or before May this year.

Manila said China’s “unilateral, aggressive and provocative actions” to assert its claims in waters have affected the country’s ability to exercise its sover-

eign rights and jurisdiction over its maritime entitlements, prompting it to resort to arbitration.

“Forgive my informality” As he began what he called one of the shortest stints for a DFA Secretary with “108 days and a few hours” left before President Benigno Aquino III steps down in June 30, Almendras sought the help of the department’s officials and diplomats to familiarize him with his work.

Almendras jokingly warned them of his penchant for breaking protocols with his more laid-back and informal style of leadership.

“I need to ask from you please forgive my informality,” he said. “I know DFA has protocols. I know you have processes and SOPs. Please be patient with me when I break this. I am not too much of those things. I’d rather be informal, be very casual in things.”

“Of course, if we have foreign visitors and we need to afford them the respect and traditions, we will. But if without any visitors, just us among us within ourselves, I really much rather be informal so I hope you don’t mind if I talk to you in the elevators,” Almendras added.

Almendras said he is the type of person who “violates few of the norms as far as formality in concerned.”

“Truth of the matter is, I really prefer if we do not have too much of the very stiff protocols,” he said. “I’d really like to maximize this 108 days and few hours with you by trying to get to know a lot of you as much as I can.”

“Forgive me if I ask personal questions like what’s for lunch, more importantly, what’s for dessert because that’s very important. I openly asked what’s the most important thing I believe in, well I honestly believe that ‘United we stand; provided we eat,” he

quipped.

Surprised by appointment Almendras’ appointment came as a surprise since his predecessor, Del Rosario, recommended to Aquino one of his deputies, career diplomat Laura del Rosario, to take over the helm of the DFA. The two are not related.

But the country’s new top diplomat said even he was surprised when Aquino offered him the position.

“To tell you honestly, never in my wildest dream I imagined that I’ll be here in front of you today. I never aspired for it,” Almendras said as he recounted the day when the President asked him to be DFA Secretary on Del Rosario’s final day in office.

“I was in the President’s office around lunch time meeting with the President. After the meeting he suddenly turned to me and said, ‘Are you okay being Secretary of Foreign Affairs?’”

“I said ‘I’ve never really had a privilege to say no to you and I know how important the portfolio is and I understand the challenges that we are facing so I said Yes, Mr. President.’”

Openly admitting his lack of experience in foreign policy, Almendras asked his officials to guide him, especially on matters he has limited knowledge on.

He also said he intends to seek advice from former Secretary Del Rosario from time to time.

“I’m happy to be here because I know this is one of the most professional, well run and most respected agency in the government.

But please don’t get intimidated if I suddenly go to your office to ask you about something,” he said.

“So please bear with me.

If there is something I don’t understand I will go to you, I will ask you to understand things I don’t know,” Almendras added. (MNS)

Filipino kidnapper of Australian ex-soldier, Irish priest slain Manila, Philippines | AFP | Sunday 3/13/2016 – The leader of a southern Philippine gang behind the kidnapping of an Australian ex-soldier and an Irish priest was shot dead by security forces on Sunday, the military said.

Waning Abdusalam was killed after he resisted arrest by a combined military and police team in the strife-torn island of Mindanao, said military spokesman Major Filemon Tan. The suspect was gunned down in the town of Naga in Zamboanga Sibugay province. He may have had links to the Abu Sayyaf, a Muslim extremist group known for kidnapping foreigners and Christians, said Tan. The Abu Sayyaf, founded with seed money from Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden, has been des-

ignated as a terrorist organizaation by the United States. It has been blamed for the worst terror attacks in Philippine history.

Tan said Waning had been involved in the kidnapping for ransom of numerous people in Mindanao, including several Filipinos as well as Irish missionary Father Michael Sinnott in 2009 and Australian Warren Rodwell in 2011.

While Sinnott was released after about a month through the intercession of a larger Muslim rebel group, Rodwell spent 15 months as a hostage and was only freed after ransom was paid.

The Abu Sayyaf were blamed for the Rodwell kidnapping.

Kidnapping for ransom is frequent in the southern Philippines, where Muslim separatist insurgents and

bandits have been active for decades.

Early this month suspected Abu Sayyaf militants holding two Canadians and a Norwegian set a one-month deadline for millions of dollars in ransom to be paid.

In a video posted on a local jihadist group’s Facebook page, the emaciated victims warned they would be killed unless the ransom was paid.

Canadian tourists John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, Norwegian resort manager Kjartan Sekkingstad and Filipina Marites Flor were seized from yachts at a marina in the southern Philippines in September.

The Philippine government has stressed its position of not paying ransom.

Police said they are continuing efforts to rescue the hostages.

PHL keeps Suzuki Cup hosting rights: official Manila, Philippines | AFP | Saturday 3/12/2016 – The Philippines has retained the rights to host the 2016 Suzuki Cup after it agreed to move the venue to a sprawling new stadium, the local football federation said Saturday.

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) had initially offered the ageing Rizal Memorial Stadium in downtown Manila for the biennial tournament between Southeast Asian nations, but its 15,000 seating capacity fell short

of organisers’ standards.

At a meeting with Asian Football Federation Council in Da Nang, Vietnam this week, the PFF offered the 20,000-seater Philippine Sports Stadium, a brand new venue in the capital’s outskirts and the proposal was approved, PFF general secretary Edwin Gastanes said.

“The hosting of this event is an opportunity and a challenge to PFF and all football stakeholders in the Philippines,” Gastanes told AFP. While the Philippine

Sports Stadium will be the primary venue for the Suzuki Cup Group Stage on November 19 to 26, some matches will be played in the smaller venue, he said.

Opened in 2014, the Philippine Sports Stadium is located inside a sprawling entertainment complex run by members of a local Christian sect. The adjacent Philippine Arena hosted Katy Perry’s “Prismatic” tour last year.

Thailand won their fourth Southeast Asian title during the last Suzuki Cup in 2014.

Police Inspector Diana Rose Nabor from Parang, Maguindanao celebrates with her nephew during graduation ceremonies at the Philippine Nation Police Academy (PNPA) in Silang, Cavite on Thursday. A total of 253 students who graduated, including 19 women, are now part of PNPA Masundayaw Class of 2016.(MNS photo)

No Pinoys hurt in car bomb blast in Ankara, Turkey: PHL ambassador MANILA, Mar 14 (Mabuhay) – The Philippine ambassador to Ankara Maria Rowena Sanchez on Monday said no Filipinos were hurt in the car bomb blast that ripped through a crowded transit

hub in Ankara, Turkey.

“Philippine Embassy team and our kababayans safe,” Maria Rowena Sanchez, Philippine ambassador to Ankara, said. At least 34 people were killed and 125 were wounded

when a car bomb went off on Sunday. It was the second such attack in Ankara within the month of March. A car bomb killed at least 18 people and wounded 45 in Ankara on March 16.(MNS)

N. Korea leader orders nuclear warhead test, missile launches

Seoul, South Korea | AFP | Monday 3/14/2016 – North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has ordered an imminent nuclear warhead explosion test and multiple ballistic missile launches, just weeks after being slapped with tough, new UN sanctions, state media reported Tuesday.

The order came after Kim monitored the successful lab-test of the warhead re-entry technology required for a nuclear strike on the US mainland, the North’s official KCNA news agency said.

Kim’s comments were the latest in a series of daily statements and warnings

by Pyongyang, talking up the North’s nuclear strike capabilities and threatening attacks on Seoul and Washington.

The main focus of the threats have been ongoing, large-scale military exercises by South Korea and the United States that Pyongyang has condemned as rehearsals for invasion.

In order to boost the reliability of the nation’s nuclear deterrent still further, Kim said a nuclear warhead explosion test and test firings of “several kinds” of ballistic rockets would be carried out “in a short time”.

The warning came days after state media released photos of Kim posing with what was claimed to be a miniaturized nuclear warhead capable of fitting on a ballistic missile.

Kim had said last week that the North was planning to conduct new tests

to gauge the “destructive power” of the new, miniaturized warheads.

While North Korea is known to have a small stockpile of nuclear weapons, its ability to deliver them accurately to a chosen target on the tip of a ballistic missile has been a subject of heated debate.

Re-entry test There are numerous question marks over the North’s weapons delivery systems, with many experts believing it is still years from developing a working inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) that could strike the continental United States.

Others have doubted whether any miniaturized device the North has designed so far would be robust enough to survive the shock, vibration and temperature change associated with ballistic flight.

Tuesday’s KCNA report said Kim had personally monitored a test simulating the intense heat and vibration that a nuclear warhead would undergo during atmospheric re-entry.

Using “newly developed heat-resisting material” the warhead was subjected to thermal flows five times hotter than those associated with ICBM flight The test was a complete success, the agency said, and provided a “sure guarantee” of the warhead’s ability to withstand re-entry.

Tensions have been rising on the Korean peninsula ever since the North conducted its fourth un-

derground nuclear test on January 6, followed by a long-range rocket launch a month later.

The UN Security Council responded by adopting a resolution earlier this month laying out the toughest sanctions imposed on Pyongyang to date over its nuclear weapons program.

The resolution broke new ground by targeting specific sectors key to the North Korean economy and seeking to undermine the North’s use of, and access to, international transport systems.

For all Pyongyang’s recent claims, most experts rule out the prospect of North Korea launching any sort of nuclear strike with a largely untested system, saying it would be tantamount to suicide given overwhelming US technical superiority.

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Poe decision ‘rewrote’ Constitution MANILA, Mar 15 (Mabuhay) – The Supreme Court decision declaring Sen. Grace Poe a natural-born Filipino and a resident of the Philippines should not be part of the law of the land because it practically “rewrote” the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

This was the statement of lawyer Manuelito Luna, counsel for former Sen. Francisco “Kit” Tatad, as he slammed the high tribunal’s decision, through a 9-6 vote, to overturn Poe’s disqualification and allow her to run for president in May. Luna told reporters on Monday that their camp will file a motion for reconsideration “either Wednesday or Thursday” to contest the Poe main decision and seek its reversal.

Citing a revelation made by Associate Justice Antonio Carpio in his dissent, Luna said the high court could not declare Poe natural-born because the tribunal apparently failed to get a majority vote of eight in favor of the lawmaker’s citizenship, after the justices voted 7-5-3.

“Only seven justices or less than the majority of the SC voted to declare Poe presumptively natural-born. It binds no one. It cannot become part of the law of the land or jurisprudence,” Luna told reporters, citing Rule 12, Section 1 of the high tribunal’s Internal Rules.

Under the rules, all decisions and actions in court cases “shall be made up upon the concurrence of the majority of the Members of the Court who actually took part in the deliberation on the issues or issues involved and voted on them.”

In his dissent, Carpio said he belonged to the five who voted that Poe as a foundling is not a natural-born Filipino.

He was joined by Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Arturo Brion, Estela Perlas-Bernabe and Bienvenido Reyes.

Meanwhile, the seven who voted in favor of Poe were Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno and Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco Jr., Lucas Bersamin, Jose Perez, Jose Mendoza, Marvic Leonen and Francis Jardeleza.

The remaining three magistrates—Associate Justices Mariano del Castillo who was the original ponencia who voted against Poe; Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta and Associate Justice Benjamin Caguioa—all said the SC should not decide on Poe’s citizenship.

“The (main decision) is diametrically opposed to the Constitution, the rules, and the rulings in Reyes v. Comelec and Cerafica v. Comelec, among others,” said Luna.

“The seven (justices) practically re-wrote the Constitution through a judicial opinion resulting in the impermissible discrimination of half bloods, those whose mothers are Filipinos and covered by the 1935 Constitution,” he added.

Luna dismissed Sereno’s reasoning in her concurring opinion that the majority should only be seven out of 12 votes, not 15, because the votes of the three justices who refused to rule on citizenship should not be counted.

Luna insisted that all 15 votes should be considered in computing the majority. “In the TRO, the voting was 12-3.

The voting to grant or not to grant petition was 9-6. Hence, the basis for computation for the number of majority should be 15 and the majority should be 8,” Luna said.

The TRO Luna was refering to was the one issued by the high tribunal in December last year stopping the Comelec from removing Poe’s name in the ballots it would be printing for the May polls.

In its main decision, the SC said the Comelec committed grave abuse of discretion when is still cancelled Poe’s certificate of candidacy even if the lawmaker had admitted that errors in her COC were honest mistakes and done in good faith. (MNS)

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OPINION

Salonga, the greatest president we never had: Palace exec MANILA, Mar 12 (Mabuhay) – Communications Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III affirmed the belief that the late Jovito Salonga could be the greatest president the country never had.

Quezon gave a ready “yes” to the question “Do you think Salonga could have been a good president if he won the 1992 elections?”

“Kahit hindi siya nanalo, marami talagang na-inspire na makilahok at bumoto, mangampanya dahil sa kanyang integridad at sa kanyang paninindigan noong panahon ng – hindi pa man lang ng Martial Law, let’s remember ‘yung kamuntik na siyang mamatay sa Plaza Miranda bombing,” Quezon mused in an interview over Radyo ng Bayan.

Salonga was the Liberal Party candidate in the 1992 elections, running against Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., Ramon Mitra Jr., Imelda Marcos, Salvador Laurel, and the even-

tual winner Fidel V. Ramos.

Salonga got 2.3 million votes which was just enough to place him 6th in the 7-way race.

Quezon said he is part of the generation who cast their vote for the first time in the 1992 elections and he gave his vote to Salonga.

“Siguro alam mo, may elemento din ng kapalaran kung mananalo ka o matatalo sa pagtatakbo sa isang posisyon, Quezon, grandson of the late President Manuel L. Quezon, said.”

Quezon remarked that Salonga’s death prompted the public to realize that not all politicians are marred with controversies and allegations of corruption. He pointed out that Salonga’s reputation remained clean until his death.

Salonga passed away on March 10.

His passing was met with an outpouring of praise for the former senator.(MNS)

DOH dispels reports of rise in microcephaly incidence MANILA, Mar 14 (Mabuhay) – The Department of Health on Monday dismissed rumors about an alleged rise in the incidence of infants with microcephaly in the Philippines.

The assurance comes amid concerns about the threat posed by the mosquito-borne Zika virus raging in Latin America.

There is nothing alarming about the statistics regarding babies who have an abnormally small head compared to their bodies, said Health Secretary Janette Garin.

“Kung meron mang microcephaly na nandito sa Pilipinas, hindi ito alarming at hindi ito biglaang nagbago as of the current moment in the parts of Luzon,” she said in a press conference.

Garin is trying to dispelling reports that cases of microcephaly have doubled and even tripled in the country, particularly at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila and other government hospitals in Luzon.

Although microcephaly has been linked to Zika virus, the Health secretary said the birth defect has several potential causes, many of which remain unknown.

Among the common causes of microcephaly are: infections in the womb, including Zika virus; consumption of undercooked meat by pregnant women; rubella; herpes; Cytomegalovirus; HIV infection; genetic abnormalities such as Down syndrome; severe malnutrition during fetal life; and extreme stress experienced by the expectant mother.

In addition, Garin said microcephaly may also result from pregnant women’s exposure to heavy metals such as arsenic and mercury, alcohol, radiation and smoking.

Absence of symptoms While there is no surge in the number of babies with microcephaly, the DOH official advised pregnant women to be wary of mosquito bites, citing the absence of symptoms in 80 percent of those infected with Zika virus.

“While Zika virus is asymptomatic in 80 percent of the cases, the effect on the result of the pregnancy should not be discounted as the virus has been linked to congenital central nervous system malformation like microcephaly, and has also been linked to the Guillain-Barre syndrome,” Garin said.

The DOH earlier advised pregnant women not to get pregnant until more information is gathered

about the Zika virus, which has been linked to thousands of cases of birth defects in Latin America.

The World Health Organization has declared an international public health emergency over the virus.

According to the WHO the following countries have reported microcephaly cases which may be linked to Zika virus: Brazil, 745; French Polynesia, eight; Hawaii and Slovenia, one each.

Earlier this month, the DOH said an American woman who tested positive for Zika may have contracted the virus in the Philippines.

At the press conference Monday, Garin revealed that Zika virus is now included under the Category 1 classification of the Philippine Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response system.

This means that all suspected cases of Zika virus shall be reported within 24 hours by the local epidemiology bureau to the regional health surveillance units in the country.

No automatic confirmation Garin emphasized that a report on a suspected case does not automatically mean a patient is confirmed to have the Zika virus infection. “[The cases] have to undergo a process of verification and validation,” she said.

The other diseases on the Category 1 list are the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Ebola virus infection.

The Health Secretary also emphasized that the surveillance system for monitoring suspected Zika cases is not new and has been in place even for other infectious diseases.

“What we want to establish is a uniform case definition of Zika suspected cases and guidelines for monitoring Zika infection and possible complications,” she said.

Garin advised those experiencing mild fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pains and fatigue to see a doctor so their condition can be immediately diagnosed.

The DOH has activated six testing centers for the Zika virus: the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City, Baguio General Hospital in Baguio City, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City, Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City, Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City, and San Lazaro Hospital in Manila City.

What would US foreign policy look like under Trump?

By Nicolas Revise

Washington, United States | AFP | Friday 3/11/2016 – By his own admission, Donald Trump has no foreign policy advisors.

But that hasn’t stopped the billionaire real estate developer from making outrageous declarations on his foreign policy plans if elected president.

So far, the Republican frontrunner has said he would force Mexico to build a border wall to keep illegal immigrants out of the US. He wants to deport 11 million illegal immigrants, ban Muslims from entering the country and suggested wiping out the Islamic State extremist group with a massive military operation.

“I think Islam hates us,” he declared about the world’s second-largest religion with 1.6 billion followers. Trump threatens trade war with China, Japan and Mexico if they don’t “behave,” and wants a closer relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he admires.

No team There’s no clarity on who will guide his foreign policy or whom he would consider tapping as his Secretary of State.

Asked by MSNBC who will be the “giants” on his foreign policy team, the Republican candidate said Tuesday: “Yes, there is a team,” before immediately backtracking. “Well, there’s not a team,” he acknowledged. “I have met with far more than three people, and I will be forming a team at the appropriate time.” The businessman with no political experience boasted of the support of a Republican senator from Alabama, Jeff Sessions, and noted his “great respect” for Richard Haass, a former diplomat and head of the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations.

Haass acknowledged meeting Trump in August,

but made clear in a Twitter post he does not endorse candidates but has briefed several, both Democrats and Republicans.

US media reported that 110 Republican foreign policy veterans have signed a letter saying Trump’s views on foreign policy would undermine US security. Privately, US diplomats say their foreign counterparts are concerned about the effects of a Trump presidency on the country’s relationships with the rest of the world.

The wall From the very beginning of his campaign, Trump has accused Mexico of sending drug dealers, criminals and rapists across the border into the United States.

To stop illegal immigration, Trump has proposed not only building a giant wall along the southern US border but also forcing Mexico to pay for the project estimated to cost $8 billion.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has made clear “there is no scenario” in which his country would pay for a wall. He also criticized Trump’s “strident rhetoric,” comparing it to the rise of dictators Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.

‘Islam hates us’ Trump said in November he had seen pictures of Muslims in the United States celebrating after the terror attacks on September 11, 2001 -- an urban legend that has been debunked.

But Trump has called for a ban on Muslims entering the country, to keep out would-be jihadists.

On Wednesday, he went even further, telling CNN: “I think Islam hates us.”

He repeated the assertion the following evening during a debate with his Republican rivals, saying “many” of the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims “hate” America.

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Marian, Dingdong want more children in two years

Age is just a number for Dawn At 47 years old, actress Dawn Zulueta is as beautiful as ever and has remained fit.

Her mind-set on aging is something any woman should emulate. “I’m not afraid to age,� she said. “For me, aging is a manifestation of your wisdom throughout the years.�

She added a woman can remain radiant despite the years if she leads a healthy lifestyle. For her, that includes getting eight hours of sleep, drinking lots of water and keeping active.

To this day, the actress engages in exercise and activities such as ballet and boxing. Dawn also doesn’t wear makeup when she doesn’t need it. “Beauty should be a daily pleasure. You don’t need to

feel guilty in wanting yourself look good‌�

More importantly, Dawn has “peace of mind.â€? As a woman who knows and values her worth, the actress exudes confidence and is willing to take on new challenges. “There’s a different treasure, feeling, and pleasure that you get out of sharing yourself to the world,â€? she said. “A woman of worth is someone who can see beyond herself‌ (When you do this) your worth will come within.â€?

Dawn started in show business 30 years ago and has become an inspiration especially to many Filipinas. Despite remaining active in the scene, her focus for several years now has been her family. (MNS)

anak namin.� “At siguro nga may pagka-stage mother ako kaya protective ako sa kanya. Kung puede sana, maging endorser siya sa edad na pwede na siyang tanungin: Anak, gusto mo ba? At siya na ang sasagot kung gusto niya, ‘Yes, mommy,� she added.

So do they intend to give her a baby brother or baby sister soon? “Siguro in two more years. Dream namin to have a big family but we want to enjoy her muna.

Pero kung ipagkakaloob kaagad sa amin ng Panginoon, okay rin lang po.�

(MNS)

Marian Rivera

Luis refuses to talk about relationship with Angel

Luis Manzano

TV host Luis Manzano continues to evade questions about Angel Locsin and their relationship.

Manzano refused to confirm whether he indeed unfollowed Locsin on Twitter after they supposedly broke up. “Anything to do with Angel, tahimik na lang ako.

Mas tama na lang ‘yun for both parties. Tahimik na lang ako sa lahat ng bagay,� he said.

Manzano said it’s hard to comment about their

relationship because there will always be people who will misinterpret whatever he says. “Ang showbiz kasi, ang bawat sagot namin ay seed.

Seed ‘yan na bubunga ng kung anu-anong bagay kahit gusto mo o hindi. Kahit napakaganda ng intention mo sa sagot mo, makakahanap at makakahanap ng mali ang taong naghahanap ng mali,� he said.

In January, Locsin and Manzano admitted having problems with their rela-

tionship. At that time, the two maintained that they are working on a solution.

However, Locsin seemed to have confirmed her split with Manzano through an Instagram post in February where she referred to him as her “ex.�(MNS)

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Dawn Zulueta

Marian Rivera has returned to “Sunday Pinasaya� after giving her to Baby Letizia. She has also shot for a new TV ad.

She admits her and Dingdong’s first born already got offers for endorsements. “But we begged off kasi sobrang liit pa ng baby namin,� she said. “Pero open naman kami to such offers, kaya lang, later na siguro. Gusto muna naming lumaki siya. Hindi naman sa we’re trying to hide her from the public. Maski nga sa binyag niya, kakaunti lang talaga ang inimbita namin kasi hindi naman artista yung

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Tax time tips and reminders, courtesy of Wells Fargo Forgetting about tax deductions or credits can be costly. It’s important to tell your tax preparer about your expenses, gifts and retirement plan contributions to help lessen your tax bill.

Even if you prepare your own tax return, begin gathering this information now.

Here is a “Top 10” list of tax tips that can easily slip your mind. Note: The IRS forms and publications noted on this page can be found at www.irs. gov. Be sure to review the 2015 version of these documents.

1. IRA Contribution Deduction Have you told your tax preparer about your IRA contributions for 2015?

Investors commonly forget to mention this fact unless they make the contribution near the time they actually file the tax return. A Traditional IRA contribution must be reported on your tax return, whether or not it is deductible.

2. Foreign Taxes Paid If you invest in foreign securities, you may have had to pay foreign withholding tax to another country.

In this case, you may be able to claim the taxes paid as an itemized deduction on Form 1040 Schedule A or claim the taxes paid as a foreign tax credit on Form 1116. For many investors these amounts are small and easily overlooked.

3. Points Paid on New or Refinanced Mortgage If you purchased a home or refinanced the loan on your current home in 2015, the points (prepaid interest) you paid may be deductible as mortgage interest. Refer to IRS Publication 936 to check your eligibility.

4. Health Insurance Premium Tax Credit If you purchased health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace in 2015, you may be eligible for the premium tax credit. To claim the credit or reconcile advance payments of the credit, file IRS Form 8962 with your income tax return. The Marketplace is required to provide IRS Form 1095-A no later than Jan. 31 to assist you with claiming the credit.

5. Tax Benefits for Education There are many deduc-

tions and credits available to taxpayers who have education related expenses.

These expenses may have been reported to you on IRS Form 1098-T. To determine which credit or deduction is most beneficial to you, refer to IRS Publication 970 for a complete list. This publication will also help you with reporting and taxation of withdrawals from a 529 plan or Education Savings Account.

6. Charitable Contribution Deduction Not all charities send a confirmation statement or letter of your gift when the contribution is less than $250. Review your check records or credit card statements for any forgotten charitable donations. If you took a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from your IRA in 2015, be sure to review the instructions for Form 1040 to properly report this type of IRA distribution.

7. Medicare Taxes for High Income Taxpayers High income taxpayers must consider additional Medicare taxes

Changing your motor oil and oil filter is good for your car Recycling Them Both is Good for the Environment

There is a number many people are not aware of but should be – the number of miles the cars we drive can go before getting an oil change. The old standard of changing the oil every 3,000 miles is woefully out of date.

Cars manufactured over the last two decades are fundamentally different from older models. Cutting edge technology and new industry standards have made cars lighter, safer, smarter and more fuel efficient – and becoming even more so every year.

Many cars, even some older models, can be driven up to 5,000, 7,500, 10,000 or even 15,000 miles before needing an oil change.

However, many people simply don’t know this, or don’t know how to find out what their recommended oil change interval is.

It’s important for all car owners to know this number, whether they take their car to a service garage or oil change location or they change the own oil themselves.

Information at Your Fingertips There are two simple methods for finding out the recommended oil change schedule is for a car: 1. Owner’s Manual. The owner’s manual is the best place to get detailed information about oil change intervals and can usually be found in the “maintenance” section of the manual.

It is recommended to also keep track of each oil change by noting the date and current mileage so you know when to schedule your next oil

2. Check California’s “Check Your Number” website. The website has oil change information based on the model and make for cars manufactured beginning in 2000. Go to: www. calrecycle.ca.gov/UsedOil/ OilChange/FindInterval/ Default.aspx The important thing is to change the oil according to the car manufacturer’s recommended schedule.

This will ensure that the car runs more efficiently, getting better gas mileage for the owner and reducing harmful emissions into the air which helps reduce air pollution.

How to Recycle Motor Oil and Filters For the do-it-yourself mechanic, it is also critically important to properly recycle both the used motor oil and oil filter.

Pouring used motor oil down the drain, in the trash, in the storm drain or on the ground is extremelyharmful to the environment and could also result in a fine of up to $10,000 for Los Angeles County residents.

To properly manage used motor oil, pour it into a clean container with a tight lid, such as a plastic milk

container or the original motor oil container, to ensure it does not spill or leak. You can also purchase containers specifically designed to capture oil from oil changes at most auto parts stores.

Make sure that the oil does not get mixed up with any other liquid, not even water. To recycle the oil filter, place it also in a clean, leak-proof container after draining it, such as a zipper-type plastic bag or an old coffee can. Recycle the motor oil and the oil filter by taking both to a Certified Collection Center.

The County also holds motor oil and oil filter recycling events throughout the year where do-it-yourselfers can take their used motor oil and oil filters in exchange for a free oil filter.

Many cities also host motor oil recycling events and residents are encouraged to contact their city’s Public Works Department for event dates.

Residents of Los Angeles County can find out more information about where motor oil and oil filters by calling 1-888-CLEAN LA or going online at CleanLA. com.

DPW recycle used motor oil and used filter Attention all east Los Angeles residents , there will be a Free Oil Filter and Motor Oil Recycling event on Saturday, March 19, in east Los Angeles.

Everyone is invited to bring in their used motor oil and used oil filters. All

those who recycle their used oil filter will receive one free new Oil Filter.

Recycling motor oil and filters helps save our environment and keeps our water clean.

So don’t miss out – the organizers are making it

easier for you to keep your car running smoothly and efficiently.

Again, the event will take place on Saturday, March 19, 2016 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. AutoZone 3801 Whittier Blvd. East Los Angeles, CA 90023

when filing their income tax return. A 0.9% tax applies to compensation and net self-employment income that exceeds $200,000 for a single person ($250,000 for joint filers). IRS Form 8959 is used to report this tax. Taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income above these same thresholds may also owe an additional 3.8% on the lesser of their net investment income or the amount by which their modified adjusted gross income exceeds the relevant threshold. The IRS has created Form 8960 to calculate and report this additional tax.

8. Extending Your Tax Return In some cases you may not have all of the information needed to complete your income tax return by the April deadline. For example, if you have investments that report tax information to you on a Schedule K-1 instead of Form 1099, you may not receive your Schedule K-1 until after the return due date. If this is your situation you may consider filing Form 4868 to receive an automatic 6-month extension of time to file your return. However, this is an extension of time to file, not to pay. Your must pay your tax due by the original due date.

9. Estimated Tax Payments The IRS requires that you pay your income tax

throughout the year as the income is earned (with few exceptions). This is typically done through withholding. For income that is not subject to withholding, you may be required to make estimated tax payments on Form 1040-ES in order to avoid penalties. Your tax advisor can help with this determination.

10. Tax Returns for Chil-

dren It is easy to forget that your young child had income during the year. Children with investment income or capital gains transactions may be required to file a tax return of their own. To determine filing requirements for your child’s situation, review IRS Publication 929, Tax Rules for Children and Dependents.

AN OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME Fil-Ams Johann Joson and Margot Schlanger, students of Chapman University’s College of Performing Arts, will be part of the chorus that will share the stage with opera legend Placido Domingo during the Grand Opening celebration of The Music Center for the Arts.

This new performance venue in Orange County, CA officially opens its doors on Saturday, March 19, 2016. Domingo is a Spanish tenor and a successful as a crossover artist, especially in the genres of Latin and popular music. In addition to winning fourteen Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards, several of his records have gone silver, gold, platinum and multi-platinum.

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Photos by ANGEL TAHIMIK

Raymond Orosa ‘Make each day a masterpiece’

Mercedes-Benz of Encino Manager Raymond Orosa ‘paints’ a whole new meaning to Car Sales

By Angel Tahimik

F

leet Sales Manager by profession; a natural-born artist by his own admission, Raymond Orosa of Mercedes-Benz, Encino, picks up his proverbial “paint brush” and paints a rather colorful picture of the world he lives in. As he talked exclusively about his job, his passion, and his sanguine take on how to handle objections and life’s curveballs, he bares a refreshing point of view on how to tackkle the daily grind.

“Make each day a masterpiece,” Orosa says with conviction, when asked what his motto is. “I read a lot of John Wooden’s books and this quote is one that I would use everyday.”

Quite the disciplined man that he is, Orosa starts ‘each day’ by working out. He says, it keeps him energized throughout the day. “I wake up at 4:30. I work out at 4:45 for about an hour, get ready, [then] have coffee with my wife (before I leave). I am here at work at 7:30 am. Everyday.”

For the past 10 years, Mercedes-Benz of Encino has been Orosa’s “home away from home.” Having sold roughly 2,500 cars in his lifetime – and only with Mercedes-Benz – the man has clearly narrowed each step of car-selling down to a fine art. He won “Salesman of the Year” numerous times and is known for going above and beyond the norm of client service.

“I deliver cars...pick up their cars for service...I’d lease a car so that when I pick up their car they’d have a loaner car – I do things differently,” Orosa adds.

Polished and poised, Orosa spoke nonchalantly about how he “accidentally” started in car sales and what keeps him into it through the years.

“It was a little bit of an accident. I just quit my former job. My wife and I were exploring the neighborhood (in Santa Clarita), and there was a dealership.

Sabi ko, ‘Let me walk in and apply.’ From that point on, I was interviewed the whole day and then the next day they made me start,” he recalls.

Orosa’s eyes sparked when he spoke about his favorite thing about the job. “[It’s] the people,” Orosa uttered in heartbeat. “I love helping people. You help as many people as you can and the rest keep on.

There’s one rule I follow: In helping people, you don’t think about the money you make. It will come. If you genuinely help people by giving them sufficient information, they see that and they come back to you.”

Orosa’s flair for selling – matched with his ethical standards – started long before his affiliation with Mercedes-Benz. Prior to his career-shift (to car sales), Orosa worked as a hotel manager; training people how to be guest-oriented. He did this for eight years.

Having earned, along the way, great people skills and a morally-powered selling style, he later switched to the world of luxury cars and of “unpredictable” buyers.

When a ‘no’ means a potential ‘yes’ They say the ability to decipher a “no” from a client should come as second nature to any salesperson.

While that may come handy in most situations, it takes a whole new form of “decoding” when it comes to selling cars – particularly a luxury line. Take it from the “expert” who believes that saying “No” may be another word for “Yes.” Orosa stresses: “Comments like, ‘we’re just looking,’ ‘I’m not ready today,’ or ‘I need to ask my wife,’ – generally, these are responses that salespeople love to handle because it shows vulnerability. It’s like when you walk into a store and you start to think whether or not you should buy something. That indicates a potential to buy because you start thinking about it; that means you are scared to commit. The fact that you are scared of something is a good thing because when people are scared to commit – there’s [obviously] a commitment there.”

Not your typical ‘Car Salesman’ Of all the right things about Mr. Orosa; a risk-taker, a gifted artist and a people-lover, his extraordinary take on client-dealer relationship and his bedrock principle is the rightest: he is not your typical “car salesman.” He says, “[As it is], we do have a bad rap.

The two professions that people don’t like are attorneys and car salesmen, because off-the-bat, people think that they are going to be cheated by them. But not all of us are like that.”

When asked what sets him apart, Orosa adds, “It’s about selling (yes), but it’s not about selling to them today – if they’re not ready. You don’t push them. You may close a sale by doing that but it’s not a ‘buyer for life,’ [that sale] ends there. You don’t go for one-hit wonders. You go for you, your brother, your sister, friends of friends. Eventually, you don’t have to call people because people will call – that’s what your goal is.”

Sales with a stroke of creativity As previously mentioned, Raymond Orosa is an artist: a passion he’s born with. His love for the arts led him to pursue a career in advertising as a graphic artist for three years and he loved every bit of it. And just like the “Jack of all trades” that he is, Orosa excelled and (even) competed against advertising giants such as, McCann Erickson and J. Walter Thompson.

“Being an artist or having a creative knack is an advantage in this business. It keeps you in tune with your emotion.” Orosa says.

On making everyday his Masterpiece Outside the windows that shield the luxury cars that Orosa sells, is a simple life that he and his wife, Mari, shares. As a happily married couple for almost 21 years, the Orosa’s are the epitome of a match made in heaven. Orosa describes his wife as “very supportive” and “has always been there for him.”

The two have found a home in each other.

As with every masterpiece known to man, your heart has to be in it. Orosa believes in making everyday a masterpiece, and he knows exactly where to start: His home and his “home away from home” are his canvas. Both are recipients of his genuine “touch.”

In his disarming simplicity, he concludes with these words: “You genuinely help as many people as you can, they send as many people they know in return.”

For quality service and best price deals, visit Mercedes-Benz of Encino located at 16721 Ventura Blvd., Encino, CA 91436. Or better yet, give Raymond a call at 818.536.2413 today.

Raymond Orosa

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MOTORING New report names best cars for families 2016 Shopping for a new family car that will keep the kids safe, connected, entertained and happy? The results of a new report suggest looking at the Honda Odyssey if you’re in the market for a minivan or the 2016 Kia Soul for a compact car, which emerged the big winners.

After evaluating 256 cars on everything from safety and reliability, press reviews, space, and features, US News & World released

the winners of their 2016 Best Cars for Families report, naming the best cars across 21 categories.

Mercedes-Benz and Honda tied for winning the most awards by brands, taking home four awards each.

For the sixth year in a row, the Honda Odyssey won Best Minivan for families, for features that anticipate the needs of kids, parents, and teens alike.

Features include a 16inch rear-seat entertain-

ment screen that can show two different movies sideby-side, a built-in vacuum, and power liftgate for parents who have their hands full.

Winning cars this year also boast everything from in-car wireless Internet, teen driver control and smartphone apps.

For the full list of winners, visithttp://usnews. rankingsandreviews.com/ cars-trucks/Best-Cars-forFamilies.

Chevrolet to mark the Camaro’s half century Chevrolet is building a special 50th Anniversary Edition of its Camaro muscle car and it’s going on sale this summer.

Taking either the existing LT or SS model as a starting point, the special edition can also be specified as a coupe or as a convertible; but all versions will benefit from the same range of unique interior and exterior features.

These include a ‘Nightfall Grey’ metallic paint finish plus a special stripe and badging package and of course custom 20-inch wheels.

The interior will get a

The Chevrolet Camaro 50th Anniversary Edition coupe© Chevrolet

contrasting leather and suede trim complete with orange accent stitching.

The instrument panel is also expected to get

some serious attention but Chevrolet won’t be revealing all until this summer when the car is officially unveiled. - Relaxnews

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Volvo calls for standardized electric car chargers

Dr Peter Mertens, the Swedish premium car brand’s senior vice president for research & development, on Wednesday called for carmakers to put aside differences and work together on developing an electric vehicle charging infrastructure compatible with all plug-in cars.

Mertens believes that a unified standard will be the only way to address consumers’ fears regarding range anxiety and to help drive electric car ownership into the mainstream.

“We see that a shift towards fully electric cars is already underway, as battery technology improves, costs fall and charging infrastructure is put in place,”

said Dr Mertens. “But while we are ready from a technology perspective, the charging infrastructure is not quite there yet. To really make range anxiety a thing of the past, a globally standardized charging system is sorely needed.”

As such, Volvo is supporting the Combined Charging System standard, a form of charger capable of rapid three-phase and standard single-phase charging, jointly developed and supported by a number of stakeholders in the automotive industry.

The company is voicing its concerns and showing its support now as the charging requirements for the next generation of bat-

tery-powered cars, be they fully electric or plug-in hybrid, are still in the consultation stage.

Volvo also hinted that this lack of cohesion is why it is yet to launch a full electric car, preferring plugin hybrid technology in the short term. However, the first full Volvo EV is expected to arrive in 2019, when similar cars from Porsche, Audi, Volkswagen and Ford are also expected to launch.

“We are very happy to support and be involved in the setting of standards for electric vehicle charging systems,” said Dr. Mertens.

“The lack of such a standard is one of the main obstacles for growing electric vehicles’ share of the market.”

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GM cruises further into autonomous vehicle development with its latest acquisition On Friday General Motors announced that it is buying self-driving car technology startup Cruise Automation.

Launched in 2013, San Francisco-based Cruise Automation managed to generate headlines in the tech press very quickly with its idea for retrofitting autonomous driving capabilities to existing Audis. The roof-mounted sensor array made the sleek German sedans and coupes look like taxis, but once fitted they could navigate highways, maintaining a safe distance from the car ahead and behind and even change lanes without driver input.

The company has made very fast progress on the software side of autonomous transportation and it’s for this reason that GM has made its move. “We are excited to be partnering with GM and believe this is a ground-breaking and necessary step toward rapidly commercializing autonomous vehicle technology,” said Kyle Vogt, founder of Cruise Automation.

While Mark Reuss, GM executive vice president, Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain said: “Cruise provides our company with a unique technology advantage that is unmatched in

our industry. We intend to invest significantly to further grow the talent base and capabilities already established by the Cruise team.”

Cruise will continue to operate independently as part of the acquisition but it is the latest in a series of takeovers and partnerships that highlights how quickly GM is trying to move to the head of the line in terms of autonomous driving capabilities.

At the beginning of 2016 the company announced a partnership with ride-sharing firm Lyft with the ultimate aim of developing a semi-autonomous fleet.

VW gets new US subpoena over pollution cheating US justice authorities have issued a new subpoena to Volkswagen over its emissions cheating under laws governing bank fraud, a person close to the matter said Tuesday.

The new subpoena is based on the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act and gives investigators broad scope to investigate the company.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that the government is seeking information regarding “clean car” tax breaks and rebates granted customers who bought diesel cars made by the huge German company.

Volkswagen has admitted that its Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche diesels marketed as environmentally friendly were equipped secretly with illegal devices that hid above-regulation pollution levels from regulators.

Volkswagen is already facing multiple investigations in the United States and other countries regarding the cheating, which affected some 600,000 vehicles in the United States and more than 11 million worldwide.

The company is facing potentially tens of billions of dollars in fines and owner compensation.

The company’s US arm

A new multimedia campaign has been launched to raise awareness about car seats.© NHTSA/The Ad Council

declined to comment on the new subpoena.

“As previously stated, Volkswagen is not commenting on ongoing discussions with regulators. We are committed to regaining the trust of our customers and dealers and will continue to cooperate with all relevant government agencies,” said spokeswoman Jeannine Ginivan.

Earlier Tuesday German prosecutors said the number of VW officials targeted in their investigation into the emissions scandal had increased from six to 17.

The larger number does not include any former or current board members, they said.

Mitsubishi Motors vehicle sales up CYPRESS, Calif. March 01, 2016 – Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) today reported February 2016 sales of 7,870, an increase of 4.5 percent over February of 2015. Leading the way for the month was Mitsubishi’s duo of CUVs, the Outlander Sport and Outlander, with combined sales of 4,712, up 32 percent. For the calendar year, Mitsubishi sales are 14,134.

In a crowded field of competitors in the compact CUV segment, Outlander sales continue to impress with strong double-digit increases. Sales for the popular CUV were 2,121, which accounted for an impressive 81 percent increase over the same period in 2015.

Outlander had its best February since 2007.

Not to be outdone, Outlander Sport had its best February ever with sales of 2,591, an increase of eight percent over February 2015.

“We’ve said it before and we are proving it to be true, the future of the Mitsubishi Motors brand lies in its CUVs,” said Don Swearingen, executive vice president, MMNA. “Outlander Sport continues to be our sales leader and the new Outlander is proving to be quite popular with customers seeking high value and reliability in a very competitive segment.”

Earlier, Mitsubishi Motors reported calendar year 2015 total sales of 95,342, up 22.8 percent over 2014 and the best yearly sales since 2008. For the month of December, sales were 7,887, continuing a historic streak of 22 consecutive months of year-over-year sales increases.

“2015 was a monumental year for Mitsubishi Motors in many ways: we reported sales increases every month over the prior year, our dealer network has strengthened and we successfully launched the new 2016 Outlander. Most importantly, we’re poised to repeat our success in 2016,” said Don Swearingen, executive vice president, MMNA. “Mitsubishi’s

strategy for the U.S. is all about crossover SUVs and the launch of the 2017 Mirage G4. In 2015 both Outlander and Outlander Sport showed strong demand at dealerships and posted total sales of 5,292, up 37.4 percent over the previous year.” The Mitsubishi Outlander and Outlander Sport CUVs remained the volume

leaders for the brand. Outlander sales were up 76.6 percent over December 2014 with total sales of 1,936. Outlander Sport reports sales of 3,356, which represents a 21.8 percent increase year-over-year.

This was Outlander Sport’s best December since the CUV went on sale in October 2010.

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To learn more about choosing and using the right car seat, the NHTSA has set up a dedicated web portal.

VW US chief steps down amid emission scandal New York, United States | AFP | Wednesday 3/9/2016 - Volkswagen announced Wednesday that US chief Michael Horn has stepped down as the German automaker faces numerous investigations into an emissions-cheating scandal.

Horn, who joined VW in 1990 and became chief executive of Volkswagen Group of America in January 2014, will leave

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“effective immediately” by mutual agreement with the company, the automaker said. “’I want personally to say ‘thank you’ to Michael Horn for the great work he has done for the brand and with the dealers in the United States,” said Herbert Diess, chief executive of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand.

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Volkswagen has admitted that its Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche diesels marketed as environmentally friendly were equipped secretly with illegal devices that hid above-regulation pollution levels from regulators.

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AL GORE “He asked if I want to rebuild my house here. I said no. This place reminds me of my ordeal, how the waves washed away everything,” said Raya, who now lives in a temporary shelter several kilometres away.

More than two years after Haiyan, Tacloban and

From page 1

From page 1

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surrounding areas have yet to recover, with many living in shanty towns without running water and electricity. Survivors often still bear emotional scars.

Haiyan swept through central islands of the Philippines in November 2013, with giant waves wiping

out entire communities and leaving 7,500 people dead or missing.

Since the disaster, high-profile personalities including the Pope and French President Francois Hollande have visited Tacloban to call attention to the effects of climate change.

of compassion for the poor and proven incompetence,” Quicho said.

Quicho said it was previously “maliciously and erroneously publicized” that the Vice President had 242 bank accounts, yet only one bank account under Binay’s name is on record in the AMLC’s report to the court.

“The total deposit of this account, according to AMLC, is in the amount of ?1.7 million and not billions as wrongly and maliciously

reported earlier,” he said, adding that the account has been duly accounted for and reported in Binay’s 2010 Statement of Contributions & Expense (SOCE), ITR, and SALN. “As a sign of good faith, The Vice President voluntarily manifested before the court that he will not touch the said account for the duration of the case, which I am confident will eventually be dismissed,” he said.

(MNS)

CANDIDATES was need for Binay to sign a bank secrecy waiver as all of his bank accounts and those of his family, friends, and associates have already been examined thoroughly by the AMLC. “There have been calls for candidates to sign a waiver to open bank accounts.

Leave the Vice President out of this drama. It is a cheap gimmick intended to divert people’s attention from the real issues: poverty, unemployment, the lack

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SURVEY

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The survey was conducted ahead of the Supreme Court majority decision released March 8 ruling that Poe is a natural-born citizen and has complied with the 10year residency requirement, clearing her way to run in the presidential race.

Meanwhile, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte slumped three points to 21 percent, while Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago got four percent. The SWS

pre-election survey was done after the first presidential debate in Cagayan de Oro on Feb. 21. The poll was done using face-to-face interviews with 1,800 validated voters.

It had a margin of error of + or – 2 percentage points.

With a margin of error of plus minus two, Poe and Binay are technically in a statistical tie for the lead, while Binay, Roxas and Duterte’s survey ratings overlap.(MNS)

MISCONCEPTION From page 1

called Marcos an “expert” on “protest votes” and “abandonment of public service,” alluding to the popular 1986 uprising that ended the dictatorship of the senator’s late father and namesake.

“Well, he would know all about protest votes and abandonment of public service. For 20 years, he had a ringside seat to his father’s Martial Law regime, which beggared the country and stripped away basic freedoms from ordinary Filipinos,” Gutierrez said in a statement.

“He was at Malacañang

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standing beside his father, the late dictator, when the voices of protest of millions of Filipinos finally grew strong enough to end the Marcos regime and send them fleeing into exile,” he added.

Gutierrez also slammed the younger Marcos’ “distorted sense of history,” saying that the May polls would be an opportunity for voters to correct his misconceptions.

“The good Senator is an expert on these things, but apparently he has a distorted sense of history. “

to build water pumps to provide irrigation to the affected farms.

They are also planning to provide sustenance to the affected farmers.

Last week, the local government of Koronadal City also declared a state of calamity due to the El Niño phenomenon. The city government said more than 10,000 farmers have been affected by El Niño.

It also said that the phenomenon’s damaged to agriculture has reached P45 million.

The city government, meanwhile, can already use its P10-million quick response fund following the calamity declaration.

It said that it will use part of the fund to provide support the affected farmers and their families. (MNS)

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POE LEADS From page 1

The LP candidate added that Filipinos will not entrust their future to a candidate who has so far done nothing but made promises.

“Sino ba ang may nga konkretong programa? Sino ba ang may mga nagawa na hindi lang pangako at wish ko lang,” Roxas said.

“Alam nila kung ano ang mga nangayri nitong nakaraang limang taon at nanalig ako at ang ‘Daang Matuwid’ na sa dulo ibibigay nila ang tiwala nila,” he added.

Vice-presidential candidates

Among the vice presidential candidates, meanwhile, Senators Chiz Escudero and Bongbong Marcos emerged statistically tied for the top spot.

Escudero got 28 percent, up by two points from the February poll, while Marcos got 26 percent, the same figure he received in the previous poll.

In third place is Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo with 24 percent, five points up from her 19 percent showing in February.

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano is in fourth place with 11

percent, followed by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV at 6 percent, and Sen. Gregorio Honasan at 5 percent.

The BusinessWorld-SWS Pre-election Survey was conducted among 1,800 validated voters two weeks after the first presidential debate was held in Cagayan de Oro City and just before the Supreme Court released its decision on the petition of the Commission on Elections to disqualify the candidacy of Poe for president.

The survey had a ±2-point sampling error margin.

(MNS)