US Asian Post May 20, 2016 by Louixse Limbo

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Vol. 5 No. 34

LOS ANGELES

Server script won’t affect vote tally: Smartmatic

A BALITA MEDIA PUBLICATION

Duterte: Call me ‘Mayor of the Philippines’

DAVAO CITY, May 16 (Mabuhay) – Do not call him Mr. President. Call him Mayor of the Philippines. Presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte told reporters late Sunday that he is not comfortable with being addressed as “President”. Rather, he wants to retain the title he held for 22 years.

MANILA, May 13 (Mabuhay) – Poll technology provider Smartmatic-TIM insisted on Friday that the change in the program script to the Comelec’s transparency server has not altered the tally of votes for the vice presidential race, which is being hotly contested by Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo and Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Bongbong has alleged that the new script boosted the congresswoman’s votes, allowing her to overtake him in the partial and unofficial tally, hours after polling centers closed last Monday. In a letter, Marcos asked the poll body to shed light on the issue. But the Comelec, however brushed aside insinuations that cheating might have occurred during the cahnging of the server program script. In its written explanation, Smartmatic said an observer called the attention of the Comelec IT officer, Rouie Peñalba, who was stationed at the Parish Pastoral Council for See SMARTMATIC, page 10

“I ask everybody to call me ‘mayor’ lang,” he said. “Mayor of the Philippines nga lang.” Nonetheless, his spokesperson Peter Laviña previously said that the public should sometimes formally address Duterte to respect the Office of the President. “But as I said, you can call him by whatever name you prefer but there will be times that you have to

President-elect “Mayor of the Philippines” Rodrigo Duterte on the cover of Time Magazine as posted by one of the country’s top photojournalists, Edwin Tuyay.

tors are interested or have been complaining about in the past. If those measures are combined along with easing of constitutional restrictions in foreign direct investment, I’m sure we will have a surge in foreign direct investments in the coming years,” he added. Pernia, also the University of the Philippines economics professor emeritus, said they also plan to raise infrastructure investment to 5 percent of the gross domestic product, where infrastructure spending shall go to the improvement of the agriculture sector in the regions. Meanwhile, the next adminis-

See CALL ME MAYOR, page 10

See ECONOMIC TEAM, page 10

a part of the Philippines. “Hindi totoo that we have lost Scarborough Shoal,” Trillanes said. “Tinanong ko mismo sa mga defense and security officials ng ating bansa kung nawala na ba sa atin ang Scarborough, at lahat sila sinasabi hindi.” “Scarborough is still ours and it is still the main subject of our arbitration complaint,” added Trillanes, who chairs the Senate

MANILA, May 14 (Mabuhay) – Administration candidate Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo dominated 10 regions as she maintained her lead in the vice presidential race, latest data from the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) showed. As of 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, Robredo got 14, 014, 440 votes or 35.12 percent. Her closest rival Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. had 13, 798, 059 votes or 34.58 percent. Robredo is leading by 216, 381 votes. PPCRV data showed Robredo

led in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Negros Island Region, Mimamoropa, Calabarzon, and in regions 5, 6, 7, 10, 9, 13. Marcos, meanwhile, led in the National Capital Region (NCR), Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and in regions 1, 2, 3, 8, 12. The senator also led in the overseas absentee voting (OAV). Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who is in third place in the vice presidential race, got 5, 676, 902 votes or 14.23 percent. Cayetano led in See ROBREDO, page 10

Duterte camp bares transition team’s search and selection assignments for Cabinet execs MANILA, May 13 (Mabuhay) – The spokesperson of Davao City Mayor and presumptive President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday revealed the respective assignments of each member of the transition team in the search and selection of next Cabinet members. At a press conference in Davao City, Peter Laviña said the following will have their respective assignments: See TRANSITION, page 10

Trillanes disputes Duterte’s claim, says Scarborough Shoal still part of PHL MANILA, May 16 (Mabuhay) – Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Monday disputed presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte’s claim that the country has lost Scarborough Shoal to China after a tense standoff in 2012. Citing statements made by senior defense officials during two Senate hearings on the issue in 2013 and 2015, Trillanes said it is clear that the area remains

address him officially and formally as Mr. President,” he reminded. Duterte, who will become the Philippines’ 16th President by June 30, has been given several nicknames including Digong, DU30 and Rody. Laviña had said that they will ask netizens to help them come up with a name for the next president.

Robredo dominates 10 regions, keeps lead over Marcos

Duterte economic team vows to ease restrictions on foreign investments MANILA, May 16 (Mabuhay) – Presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte will focus on easing restrictions on foreign direct investments specifically on land ownership and share of capital, Ernesto Pernia, one of the members of his economic team, said on Monday. “He’s willing to go for a land lease for 50 years, renewable for another 50 years. And then on the share between the capital of foreign investors and local investors, now it’s 60 percent local, 40 foreign. He said he is willing raise the foreign share up to 70 percent and 30 percent to local investors,” Pernia said. “Those are what foreign inves-

Friday - Thursday, May 20 - 26, 2016

committee on national defense and security and a vocal critic of Duterte. Trillanes said he is clarifying the status of Scarborough Shoal because it is “very dangerous” of Duterte to say that the country has already lost it. “It’s very dangerous for the presumptive President to say we’ve lost Scarborough Shoal because it See TRILLANES, page 10

Ballot boxes containing Certificates of Canvass (COCs) for the 2016 general elections on Thursday continue to arrive in Pasay City at the Senate, which will do the official tallying of the votes. The COCs will be taken to the House of Representatives where the canvassing will take place.(MNS photo)

DOH strictly monitoring Zika virus infections MANILA, May 14 (Mabuhay) – The Palace made an assurance on Saturday that it is strictly monitoring Zika virus in the country following reports of recent infections. In a radio interview Saturday, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said the Department of Health is on top of the situation. “Nakikita naman natin Lany na masigasig ang ating Department of Health sa pangunguna ni Secretary Janette Garin sa pagsubaybay at pagtutok sa lahat ng kaso. Kaya’t agad na na-detect

at nai-report, na-quarantine, nagamot, na-identify kahit na nangibang-bansa na sila,” he told dzRB Radyo ng Bayan. The DOH is also coordinating with other centers for disease prevention in other countries to fight the virus, he said. There is also a need to understand the nature of Zika virus. Like dengue fever, Zika virus is transmitted through mosquito bite. If the public observe cleanliness, there will be no transmission of Zika virus or other diseases. See ZIKA VIRUS, page 10

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Duterte camp lauds social media volunteers, campaigners for May 9 victory MANILA, May 13 (Mabuhay) – The camp of presumptive president-elect Rodrigo Duterte on Friday thanked all their social media volunteers and campaigners for their valuable support in helping him achieved victory in the May 9 presidential elections. Peter Laviña, Duterte campaign spokesperson, said social media was a game changer that helped them win. “On behalf of Mayor Duterte and the campaign team, we would like to express our thanks to all our online

supporters, both here in the Philippines and abroad, who tirelessly worked to raise awareness about his candidacy, platform and programs,” Laviña said. “And given our lack of funds to defray campaign costs, social media outlets like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter gave us the platforms to convey and propagate our messages,” he added. The Duterte digital campaign involved hundreds of social media account groups, countless individuals and hundreds of influ-

encers with a membership reach of over 14 million. The Philippines has over 40 million Facebook accounts and pages alone and more than two million Twitter and Instagram handles. In a related development, Laviña welcomed the support being mulled by social media platform Facebook for the incoming Duterte presidency, saying that the connectivity afforded by Facebook is essential in building Filipino communities and pushing the reform agenda of the President-elect.(MNS)

3 SD cards thrown away in Kabankalan, Negros Occidental MANILA, May 16 (Mabuhay) – The Commission on Elections on Monday confirmed reports that three SC cards were thrown away in Kabankalan in Negros Occidental. At a press conference, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez quoted officials as saying that the SD cards were placed in envelopes that were taken out as trash

after the elections. “What happened was after the elections, election paraphernalia were gathered by the election officer and prepared for transmission. Those envelopes were missing. They rearranged the office na and taken out the trash. Hindi napansin na nasama ‘yung envelopes na may laman na SD cards,” he said.

He added that the SD cards were found in a dump site. They were then returned to the provincial office. Jimenez assured that the contents of the SD cards— which accounted for three clustered precincts in a barangay there—were already uploaded before reports of the missing SD cards circulated. (MNS)

Smartmatic oﬃcial insists code update was cosmetic, straightforward MANILA, May 13 (Mabuhay) – The Smartmatic official who tweaked the script of the transparency server on Thursday maintained that the update was just a straightforward “minor” cosmetic change that did not require the permission of the top officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec). In a press conference on Friday, Marlon Garcia, Smartmatic’s project director, said the change—correcting the ‘?’ in displays to read as ‘ñ’—required only “simple instructions.” “We are changing all the ? to ñ so it will not look

ugly when you are looking at the file. When you read ‘Osmeña,’ you will see ‘Osme?a,’” he said as he showed the part of the program that was changed. On a screen, he showed that the change consisted of just a single line of code that replaced instances of “?” with “ñ”. Garcia said that the tweak changed the program’s hashcode, but not the poll results. “At any point in time, regardless of the change of ‘ñ’ or not, results can be seen. Anybody can take a look at any of the results and see nothing was changed. You

can take any printed data. There was no result change. Only the ñ was replacing the ?. ‘A’ was still there. ‘B’ was still there. Everything remained the same,” he said. He also stressed that the change was announced and conducted in full view of both Comelec and Smartmatic officials, and was fully documented via CCTV camera. Garcia also said that the change could only be done after the Comeled and Smartmatic officials input their individual passwords, implying consent from both agencies.

Commission on Elections Commissioner Rowena Guanzon speaks before media on Friday calling for an investigation of a protocol breach by poll technology provider Smartmatic. The transparency server script was tweaked by Smartmatic to correct a character in the names of candidates with “ñ in them.(MNS photo)

Guanzon: Smartmatic broke protocol, should be held accountable

MANILA, May 13 (Mabuhay) – Election technology provider Smartmatic on Friday received a dressing down from Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Rowena Guanzon for making changes in the script of transparency servers without due permission from the Comelec en banc. Guanzon made the statement just as Smartmatic’s Marlon Garcia, who led its technical support team, finished demonstrating before the media how it tweaked the script to correct the “?” in the names of candidates with “ñ.” “The Smartmatic, in my opinion, breached our protocol and for that, they should be liable to the Comelec. They should be liable to the people of the Philippines,” a visibly irked Guanzon told the media at the Comelec’s canvassing center inside the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay

City. “Smartmatic should have informed the Comelec en banc about what’s the problem, the consequences and gave us recommendation how to fix it. They shouldn’t have touched that program without our prior knowledge and official consent,” she said. However, Guanzon echoed Smartmatic’s assurance that despite the latter breaching protocol, results of the unofficial vote count have not been altered. She said the Comelec assures the people that they will have the said incident investigated. The feisty Comelec commissioner also stressed that Smartmatic should not have effected changes on the servers without the en banc’s go signal as these are properties of the government. “If you do any change, perhaps to make it look nic-

er, it’s our property. It’s not their property. This automated system is a property of the Comelec and they’re accountable to the people, to the Congress, they’re not supposed to touch it without our permission,” she said. Asked if the Comelec is considering ending their contract with Smartmatic, Guanzon said: “We’ll see if the breach is enough to disqualify them.” She said she would vote for the cancellation of the poll body’s contract with Smartmatic if the matter would be discussed. Guanzon slammed Smartmatic for not apologizing for causing anxiety among the Comelec officials and the electorate. “The least that they could do now is to say that, ‘we are very sorry.’ But I’m not hearing it. The Comelec en banc didn’t hear ‘I’m sorry. It caused you worry,’” she said. (MNS)

Server script won’t affect vote tally: Smartmatic MANILA, May 13 (Mabuhay) – Poll technology provider Smartmatic-TIM insisted on Friday that the change in the program script to the Comelec’s transparency server has not altered the tally of votes for the vice presidential race, which is being hotly contested by Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo and Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Bongbong has alleged that the new script boosted the congresswoman’s votes, allowing her to overtake him in the partial and unofficial tally, hours after polling centers closed last Monday. In a letter, Marcos asked the poll body to shed light on the issue. But the Comelec, however brushed aside insinuations that cheating might have occurred during the cahnging of the server program script. In its written explanation, Smartmatic said an observer called the attention of the Comelec IT officer, Rouie Peñalba, who was stationed at the Parish

Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting Center (PPCRV) heaquarters in Manila on Monday evening, about question marks (“?”) in some candidates’ names in place of the usual “ñ” character. Peñalba in turn called the attention of the Smartmatic technical support team led by Marlon Garcia. “Upon being notified by the Comelec and after validating that changing the character ‘?’ required a minor cosmetic change to appease the observers at the PPCRV Transparency Center, the Smartmatic technical support team addressed the concern by introducing a correction on the script in the presence of everyone present there,” said Smartmatic project director Elie Moreno in his letter to the poll body. Both Peñalba and the Smartmatic team then announced to everyone (including members of political parties) inside the PPCRV Transparency Center that the correction was made and all subsequent

displays would reflect the candidates’ names properly, with “ñ” instead of “?”. No one in the room objected on the change, Peñalba said in an incident report submitted to Comelec en banc. “He (Garcia) saw it as simple and cosmetic. Look at it also on the engineering perspective. I am an engineer. I am trained to solve problems. So if I see a problem, I automatically try to solve it,” Moreno said in a chance interview on Thursday. Moreno also assured that there was no change in the results, the counting and canvassing of votes, and in the source code of the automated election system. “The change in the script did not, in any way, alter any result for any candidate,” he said. To dispel insinuations of cheating, Moreno suggested to interested parties to compare the results in the transparency server with the printed election returns of all vote counting machines.

Tax court dismisses cases vs. late ex-Chief Justice Corona

MANILA, May 16 (Mabuhay) – The Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) on Monday formally dismissed multiple counts of tax evasion cases against former Supreme Court (SC) chief justice Renato Corona, following his demise last month. In a brief hearing Monday morning, the CTA Second Division granted the motion to dismiss filed on the same day by Corona’s legal counsel Reody Anthony Balisi. In the motion, Corona’s camp cited Article 89 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), which states that “criminal liability is totally extinguished by the death of the convict…or when the death of the offender occurs before

final judgement.” Corona’s camp further pointed out that Article 89 of the RPC also states that death of the convict or the accused also extinguishes his or her “personal and pecuniary” liabilities. The prosecution did not manifest any objection on the motion, prompting Second Division chairman Associate Justice Juanito Castañeda to rule in favor of the dismissal of all the cases. Corona was charged with six counts of violation Section 254 of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) for allegedly failing to pay his income tax for years 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2010. He is also facing before

the Second Division a case of violation of Section 255 of NIRC for failure to file or to supply correct information in his income tax returns (ITRs), also for the same years. The case stemmed from a complaint filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) with the Department of Justice. According to the complaint, Corona owes the state around P120.5 million, inclusive of interests and surcharges, for his failure to pay his right taxes. Present during the hearing was Corona’s wife Cristina. She immediately left the courtroom after the proceedings, refusing to grant an interview with the media.

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DBM officials face graft raps for buying substandard rubber boats

MANILA, May 13 (Mabuhay) – The Ombudsman on Friday ordered the filing of graft charges against six officials of the Department of Budget and Management in relation to the purchase of substandard inflatable rubber boats. Facing charges for violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) are Undersecretary Evelyn Guererro, Director IV Lourdes Santiago, Procurement Management Officer V Julieta Lozano, Procurement Management Officer III Mervin Ian Tanquintic, Administrative Assistant III Alvin John Perater and ad hoc member Lt. Malone Agudelo. Anthony Hernandez of JOAVI Philippines Corporation, which sold the boats to the government in 2010, will also be charged. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales cited procurement violations such as JOAVI’s non-compliance

with the DBM-Procurement Service technical specifications. The boats were deemed substandard as they are not equipped with intercommunication or inflation valves, over-pressure valves and roll-up floor. Instead of military model boats, the boats purchased were “sports model,” the Ombudsman said. It was also discovered that a falsified technical evaluation report and post-qualification report were submitted. Section 3(e) of R.A. No. 3019 declares the following act as a corrupt practice: “Causing any undue injury to any party, including the Government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.(MNS)

Duterte plans to make Lapu-Lapu a proper hero DAVAO CITY, May 16 (Mabuhay) – One of the “injustices” that presumptive President Rodrigo Duterte wants to correct during his administration is how Filipinos see Lapu-Lapu. On early Monday morning, Duterte told reporters that he will make LapuLapu a proper hero for being the first to fight the Spanish forces who landed on the island of Cebu over 300 years ago. “I will raise to level to the stature of a hero si Lapu-Lapu. He was the first native who fought and even killed the imperialists, si [Ferdinand] Magellan. To honor his feat,” he said. “Lapu-Lapu should be given the highest honor. Siya ang unang nakipagbakbakan eh kasi ginawa lang nila si Lapu-Lapu na isda and I do not like it,” he

added. In his campaign speeches, Duterte made it a point to remind the crowd about how Lapu-Lapu fought for the freedom of his land and eventually killed Magellan who is often credited as the one who discovered the Philippines. But Duterte would also tell them how Islam had been long established in the Philippines long before the Spaniard conquerors came and introduced Christianity. “It is now time to recognize the people who did something to our native land. Lapu-Lapu was one of them,” he said. Duterte is leaving it to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines to figure out when and how Lapu-Lapu will be recognized nationwide. (MNS)

People joining the celebration of the 33rd International AIDS Candle Lights Memorial on Saturday at the Quezon Memorial Circle train their lights at the Quezon Memorial as a message is flashed on its columns signifying the fight against HIV/AIDS. The Department of Health and QC government organized the event.(MNS photo)

Gazmin, French ambassador sign arrangement for defense cooperation MANILA, May 13 (Mabuhay) – Department of National Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and French Ambassador Thierry Mathou formally signed on May 11 the arrangement which will serve as framework of defense cooperation between the Philippines and France. The two countries have been negotiating for the defense arrangement since 2014, DND spokesperson Dr. Peter Paul Galvez said in a statement on Friday.

Under this framework, both countries agreed to focus their cooperation on high-level dialogues and defense policy consultations, visits of defense and armed forces authorities, education and training exchanges and cooperation in the fields of defense equipment, logistics and defense industry. “Our relationship would be further enhanced as we institutionalize our cooperation through this agreement,” Gazmin said. The conclusion of the

Philippines-France Defense Arrangement is very timely given the increasing defense and security challenges both countries are confronted with. The cooperation provided for in the agreement could enhance the two countries’ defense capacities and capabilities essential in addressing such challenges. Furthermore, this would enable France and the Philippines to cooperate in various regional security concerns to include humanitarian assistance

and disaster response, maritime security and counter-terrorism, among others. Both countries look forward to the initiatives that would be implemented in accordance with the defense arrangement. “Now that the agreement has been signed, we could start working on its implementation. I am optimistic that we would be able to draw up a tangible cooperation pursuant to this agreement in the near future,” Gazmin said. (MNS)

No Pinoys hurt in latest Iraq bombings: official MANILA, May 13 (Mabuhay) – Filipinos in Iraq have been advised to remain vigilant and restrict their movements amid the recent spate of terrorist bombings in Baghdad that left almost 100 people dead and many more wounded. Chargé d’Affaires Elmer G. Cato said Friday that there were no Filipinos among the dead and wounded in the car

bomb attack in Sadr City on Wednesday and the attack by two suicide bombers in Abu Ghraib on Thursday. “Fortunately there were no Filipinos among the dead or wounded in the latest attacks but just the same we would like to underscore the need for our kababayan in Iraq to remain vigilant,” Cato said in a statement. Cato also warned the 300

Filipinos living in Baghdad to avoid demonstrations “as these could also be targeted by extremists.” He also urged the 2,000 Filipinos working in Iraq to provide their contact details to the Philippine Embassy so that they could easily be reached in case of emergencies. Filipinos who wish to be repatriated may also reach the Philippine Embassy for

assistance. More than 50 Filipinos have been repatriated since Iraq was placed under Alert Level 4 in 2014. Only Filipinos with existing job contracts in the Kurdistan regions may travel to and from the Philippines as all processing and deployment of new workers to Iraq remain on hold to the unstable security situation there. (MNS)

hay) – Warmer-than-normal weather will continue nationwide this year despite the weakening El Niño phenomenon. State-run Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the country will still experience above-average temperature due to El Niño. “We’re reminding people that warm days aren’t over yet so they must exercise precaution and prepare accordingly,” said Anthony Lucero, PAGASA’s Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section OIC. In its latest outlook this week, PAGASA forecast maximumtemperature in the country to range from 30°C to 42.3°C this month, 29.7°C to 40°C in June and 28°C to 42.6°C in July 2016. The country’s maximum temperature can range from 27.7°C to 37.5°C in August, 28°C to 40.4°C in September and 27°C to 39.6°C in October this year, PAGASA continued. PAGASA said mean annual temperature in the Philippines is about 26.6°C only. “People must observe precautions against extreme heat,” noted Lucero. According to Department of Health (DOH), exposure to hightemperature can cause heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat injury, heat stroke and other illnesses. Among DOH-recommended precautions against extreme heat are drinking more fluids and avoiding strenuous physical activity.

DOH also advised people. Experts said El Niño and the La Nina phenomenon are thecorresponding warm and cool phases of a recurring natural climate pattern called El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) across the tropical Pacific. They noted an ENSO-neutral state is one in which conditions are near long-term average. Citing latest available data, PAGASA said the prevailing but weakening El Niño will likely return to ENSO-neutral condition by mid-2016. PAGASA clarified El Niño-induced warmer-than-normal weather, rainfall shortage and drier-than-average conditions

time after ENSO-neutral condition returns, however. For May and June 2016, PAGASA forecast below-normal rainfall in Luzon and the Visayas but expects Mindanao to experience near-normal rainfall then. Rainfall will still be below-normal in Luzon this July but near-normal in the Visayas and Mindanao that month, PAGASA said. Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao will likely experience near-normal rainfall in August, September and October this year, PAGASA continued. PAGASA also expects 37 provinces comprising some 46 percent of the country to experience drought by May

Likely under drought by June’s end are 28 provinces comprising about 35 percent of the country, PAGASA further said. “The southwest monsoon or ‘habagat’ is expected to be around by then but it won’t be enough to ease drought in the country,” noted Lucero. He noted onset of the 2016 rainy season associated with ‘habagat’ is likely between late May to mid-June. PAGASA forecast incidence of drought to further ease, however, expecting this condition in 14 provinces, six provinces and two provinces by the end of July, August and September this year.

Marcos camp wants public Weakening El Niño to still fuel hot weather audit of automated poll system MANILA, May 13 (Mabu- “Wear light clothing,” will still linger for some 2016’s end. MANILA, May 13 (Mabuhay) – The camp of Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, is urging the Commission on Elections to open its automated election system and platform for audit to dispel doubts about the accuracy of the automated election results. In a press conference, transparency advocate Glenn Chong said there was a breach of protocol when a Smartmatic official introduced a script in the Comelec transparency server that changed the character “?” to “ñ.” Chong said it is not enough that Comelec shows the original and changed script to prove that there was no cheating. “Any IT

expert worth his salt will not accept that,” he said. “What is the overriding necessity? Ano ang pinakamabigat na dahilan bakit ninyo rinisk ang integrity ng buong halalan para lang palitan ang question mark sa ñ?” He added that because of the change in the script, the results of the vice-presidential race as well as other elections down the line - including the senatorial race - will be put into question. The Marcos camp also showed a chart that showed Marcos’ lead in the VP race dwindling until he was overtaken by Liberal Party bet Leni Robredo by Tuesday morning, May 10. (MNS)

PPCRV eyes stopping quick count soon MANILA, May 16 (Mabuhay) – The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) is already considering stopping its quick count, its co-founder and chairperson said on Monday. Ambassador Henrietta De Villa told reporters that the Constitution, the PPCRV is not allowed to tally 100 percent of the votes, since doing so is the role of the Congress as the National Board of Canvassers to process all the election returns (ERs). PPCRV is one of the accredited citizen’s arms of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) this 2016 polls. She disclosed that she would meet with Comelec Chairperson Andres Bautista within the week to discuss the matter since the canvassing has already started. “Impossible talaga eh. I will ask the clear direction from Comelec when we should fold up or close the electronic results that we are getting. I will try to work out an appointment para maresolve na naming ito,” De Villa said. She added that terminating the quick count would allow them to focus on the manual encoding of ERs. “Kailangan matapos rin naming iyon at maverify so that we can compare it with the electronic results we receive,” the PPCRV chairperson said.

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Filipinos must be positive as new administration assumes office, says Palace MANILA, May 14 (Mabuhay) – Filipinos must maintain an optimistic mindset as the country transitions from one administration to another after the conduct of presidential election this month, a Palace official said. In a radio interview Saturday, Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr was asked if the Palace worries about loosing economic momentum as the Aquino administration hands over the leadership to the incoming administration. As a response, Coloma said that in the last six years, the Aquino government has strived hard to maintain investors’ confidence for the Philippines. “Kaya nga sa nakaraang anim na taon ay masigasig nating itinatag ang matibay na pundasyon, matibay na imprastraktura sa pamamagitan ng good governance o sa mabuting pamamahala,” Coloma told dzRB Radyo ng Bayan. “Paulit-ulit ngang pinupunto ni Pangulong Aquino: Good governance translates to good economics. At panatag naman tayo na ang pundasyon na inilatag ay matibay, hindi ito mabubuway dahil lang sa hangin.” Staying positive will be good for the country, he said. “Mahalaga dito ay ang pagkakaroon ng positibong mindset. Hindi na dapat tayo mag-inject pa ng mga negatibong ideya sa ngayong panahon,” according to Coloma. “Mas importante ang pagiging positibo, ang pagiging optimistiko, at ang pagkakaroon ng matatag na paniniwala natin sa ating sarili na tayo ay mabubuting tao at kaya natin lumikha ng maaliwalas na kinabukasan para sa ating bansa.” With regards to the plan of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to retain some Cabinet members from the Aquino government, Coloma said it is up to the newly elected president to decide. Duterte must be given a free hand in choosing the composition of his Cabinet for him to get the best and the brightest, Coloma said. “At sa aking personal na opinyon, makakatulong din ‘yung mayroong karanasan sa nakaraang administrasyon kumbaga ay mababawasan ang learning curve, ‘yung paghahanda, ‘yung pagiging maalam dahil meron ng nakaraang karanasan na pagbabatayan,” he said. (MNS)

CHR, CBCP to block Duterte’s plan to revive death penalty MANILA, May 16 (Mabuhay) – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the Catholic church will oppose presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to ask Congress to revive the death penalty in the Philippines. “Aantabayanan natin ang [magiging] deliberasyon sa Kongreso, at kami sa Commission on Human Rights ay magsa-submit ng posisyon doon. Ang kasalukuyang posisyon ng [CHR] ay iyong death penalty is contrary to human dignity and human rights,” CHR chairman Luis Martin “Chito” Gascon said. Gascon said they are against the death penalty because of the country’s weak justice system. “Sa isang weak justice system na maraming loophole, madalas ang resulta ay may mga napapatawan ng capital punishment ay maaaring later on ay mapatunayan na hindi pala nagkasala,” he explained. In an interview late Sunday in Davao City, Duterte said he will ask Congress to restore the death penalty on heinous crimes. He added he wanted the death penalty carried out “by hanging.” In a separate interview, Archbishop-emeritus Oscar Cruz told Balitanghali that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines will also oppose Duterte’s proposal. “Siyempre po naman tututulan po namin iyan, lalo na ng CBCP. Hindi maaaring maupo lamang ang Simbahan diyan. Tatayuan iyan,” Cruz said. “Wala pong binigyan ng buhay ang estado na kahit sino kay ahindi po siya puwedeng kumuha ng buhay ng kahit sino. Iyan po ay malinaw,” he added. The prelate also said that instead of reviving the death penalty, the next administration should help improve the country’s justice system. Global trend Gascon, meanwhile, cited that the global trend is for the abolition of the death penalty. “Ang trend po ay para sa abolishing ng death penalty. Kada taon dumadami ang mga estado na nag-a-abolish nito,” he said. He added that it has proven that death penalty is not an effective deterrent to crime. He added that the country’s criminal justice system’s intention is to rehabilitate convicts. “Sa pamamagitan ng criminal justice sytem sinasabi natin sa mga nagkasala at mga nagkamali na kailangan silang parusahan pero sa pamamagitan na matututo sila.,” Gascon said. “Sa death penalty, wala nang pangalawang pagkakataon pa ang mga salarin at mga convicted na magbagong buhay dahil kikitilin na ang buhay nila.” Gascon, meanwhile, said that it will respect the decision of Congress. If ever the death penalty is revive, he said the CHR will closely monitor how it will be implemented.

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VP can get choice Cabinet position: Duterte spokesman MANILA, May 14 (Mabuhay) – It is still a neck and neck battle between Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo and Senator Bongbong Marcos for the vice presidency. While nothing is definitive yet about their race, a spokesperson of presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte said the winning vice-president may get any Cabinet position he or she wants. Duterte’s spokesperson Peter Laviña said in a press conference on Friday that the President is willing to give any Cabinet position to the winning vice-president. While Laviña was careful not to name anyone, it seemed that he is anticipating the winner to be Robredo. “We have not determined who will be the VP. But we have already said that there will be a Cabinet position for whoever wins. And it will not be a, as I said earlier as a joke, it will not be a flower vase,” Laviña said. “Mayor is a very generous person naman. He can deal with anyone. So, it will be a post that will be mutually discussed between the two highest positions in the land... Baka may personal preference ang winning vice president, so we can immediately say that this post is vacant and that she can take it if she wants, di ba? Or she can hand to the president-elect a list of her preferences,” he added, referring to the

next vice-president in a feminine pronoun. Laviña, however, clarified that the executive secretary position is not up for grabs. “All the positions are possible, except of course executive secretary. It’s the only one siguro na non-negotiable because it is a full-time job. Number one among equals. Plenty of work for the executive secretary. But down the line, I think it’s open,” Laviña said. Asked if the vice-president will have a free hand in choosing the Cabinet position and in recommending appointees, Laviña said this may not be a possibility at all since Robredo, as he mentioned, is polite enough not to demand for herself. “It’s not really a free hand. I don’t think the personality of Cong Leni, if we are talking about Congresswoman Leni Robredo, I don’t think she’s the type that will demand or will present herself,” Laviña explained. “I think she will be polite to ask the incoming President what also will be fitting for her so she can contribute to the administration,” he added. Meanwhile, not a few noticed that Duterte has been missing from the public eye in the past few days. His executive assistant Bong Go said the presumptive president is taking a rest to recover from fatigue caused by the campaign period. (MNS)

NPC, Makabayan bloc express support for Duterte MANILA, May 14 (Mabuhay) – The incoming Duterte administration’s stock is rising among lawmakers in the Lower House as more come out to support the presumptive president in the 17th Congress. The latest is the country’s second largest political party, the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), party of former Ambassador Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, which backed Senator Grace Poe in the 2016 elections. “The party plans to work alongside President-elect Rodrigo Duterte for the betterment of our country,” NPC spokesperson Mark Enverga said. Enverga, however, said the NPC is still on the fence on the Speakership. “For now, we intend to sit down and hear out the legislative agendas both of Cong. Bebot Alvarez and Speaker Sonny Belmonte,” Enverga said. Duterte has endorsed the Speakership bid of longtime friend and PDP-Laban party-mate, incoming Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez. 16th Congress Speaker Sonny Belmonte currently leads the Liberal Party (LP) in the Lower House. There are about 100 LP lawmakers in the Lower House, the largest bloc of congressmen. NPC is second with over 40 congressmen, followed by the National Unity Party, Nacionalista Party, United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) and Lakas. The party-list coalition is a separate group of 40 congressmen, excluding the Makabayan bloc. The House of Representatives has traditionally been led by surrogates of the sitting president, with congressmen historically switching loyalties to the president in office. The Makabayan bloc, in a separate statement, said it welcomes the victory of Duterte, who has a

commanding lead of six million votes over his closest rival, LP standard bearer Mar Roxas. “We recognize such victory as an expression of popular outrage over and rejection of the regime of ‘Daang Matuwid’ and a cry for sweeping change in the elitist and anti-people system,” it said. The bloc then challenged the Davao City mayor to hold outgoing President Benigno Aquino III and Budget Secretary Butch Abad responsible for the allegedly illegal and graft-ridden Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) and the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). “Aquino and other responsible officials must also be held to account for the Mamasapano carnage and the killing and maiming of protesting farmers in Kidapawan,” it added. Belmonte, for his part, is still mulling his options. In 1998, Manny Villar led congressmen to the Estrada fold and this helped him secure the Speakership even if Estrada had other candidates for the job. On the flip side, Lakas-CMD may coalesce with other lawmakers to form a bloc with the UNA and see if they have enough numbers to form the new minority in the House. Returning Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez told ABSCBN News by phone: “Siguro ang direction namin is coalesce pero magfo-form kami ng bloc, maybe Lakas-UNA. That’s our first direction. But if we will have sufficient number, you will try to run for the minority.” Suarez believes they might end up battling with Belmonte. “Question siguro ilan matitira sa kanya at ilan mag-stick sa amin. We will try to form a coalition of different members and bid for the minority,” he said.(MNS)

PPCRV: Partial, unofficial tally for VP race passes ‘anomaly tests’ MANILA, May 14 (Mabuhay) – A Church-based poll watchdog on Saturday insisted that the unofficial tally of votes for the vice presidential race is credible based on “anomaly tests” conducted on Friday night. The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) made the statement in response to allegations that the security of the transparency server had been breached to make sure that the poll results it releases would favor administration vice presidential bet Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo. At a press conference, PPCRV communications director Ana de Villa-Singson said their IT personnel on Friday night ran “anomaly tests” on the results and found out that the data transmitted by the vote-counting machines remained “untouched.” “We ran several anomaly tests to demonstrate the credibility of the partial unofficial results. No single anomaly found,” she said. De Villa said that they usually conduct anomaly

tests after the elections, but the revelation of the camp of Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. about the changed hash code prompted them to conduct the tests earlier. “The thing is after the explosion of the hash code incident, the credibility of the result has been put to question,” she said. The tests were done on poll results from precincts with problems including multiple transmissions, delayed transmittal of results (after the 5 p.m. closing time), transmittal with more than 95 percent of votes went to one presidential candidate, exactly 10 votes for vice president, and multiple results for a given candidate in different election returns. Meanwhile, precincts that went missing on May 12 and 13 from results files also caught the PPCRV’s attention. These precincts are located in Barangay San Antonio, Parañaque City and Barangays Isabela Proper, Busay and Calvario in Isabela City, Basilan.

Duterte takes page from Justin Trudeau, eyes balanced Cabinet MANILA, May 13 (Mabuhay) – The camp of presumptive President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed heads for six clusters to effect a smooth transition of power to the incoming administration. Duterte’s campaign manager, Leoncio Jun Evasco, will head the cluster on social development while his executive assistant, Christopher “Bong” Go, will focus on peace and security. Former agriculture secretary Sonny Dominguez will head the economic development cluster while Duterte’s lawyer, Salvador Medialdea, will focus on the justice system. Another lawyer, Loreto Ata, will zero in on government-owned and controlled corporations. His spokesperson, Peter Laviña, will focus on infrastructure development. The Duterte “transition team” is a holdover of the relatively small campaign team that oversaw Duterte’s rise from reluctant candidate to winning the elections with one of the largest mandates since the restoration of democracy in 1986. “What is important for the mayor is getting people who can deliver. We have a lot of promises to meet and we have to have impact immediately,”

Duterte’s spokesman, Peter Laviña, earlier told ABS-CBN News. Foes turned allies, old pals help Duterte build new gov’t Laviña said the team has received a list of nominees for potential Cabinet members and heads of various agencies. He pointed out that the criteria for the selection of future leaders include shared vision, integrity, competence and willingness to sacrifice. “We will announce the names of the Cabinet as soon as they are ready, even piecemeal,” he said. Laviña said the team is aware that Duterte must immediately appoint an economic team and a foreign affairs secretary “to immediately convey to the business community and the world that we are ready to immediately go down to business.” Some current Cabinet men of the Aquino administration will also undergo the selection process, he said. He said that in the Armed Forces and Philippine National Police, the future officials will be chosen based on merit, seniority and loyalty to government and country.

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UTREACH Chef Claude Tayag to showcase ‘Flavors of The Philippines’ in annual Embassy Chef Challenge

The $22-million Charge Ready pilot aims is to get more electric vehicle charging stations installed at locations where cars are parked for extended periods

SCE launches Charge Ready Electric Vehicle Charging Pilot Program Hundreds of stations to be added for area employees, customers, residents and students ROSEMEAD, Calif., May 16, 2016 — Southern California Edison’s Charge Ready program will bring representatives of local businesses and other organizations together on Wednesday in Irwindale to learn how they can take part in the pilot program that will add as many as 1,500 electric vehicle charging stations to SCE’s service area. The $22-million Charge Ready pilot aims is to get more electric vehicle charging stations installed at locations where cars are parked for extended periods — for example, at workplaces, apartment and condo complexes, fleet vehicle parking lots, campuses and recreational areas. “We are excited to partner with employers, landlords, universities and other organizations to make it more convenient to charge electric vehicles in Southern California,” said Caroline

Choi, SCE’s vice president for Energy and Environmental Policy. Under the Charge Ready program, participants, or site hosts, will own, operate and maintain electric vehicle charging stations, and SCE will install and maintain the supporting electrical infrastructure at no cost to participants. As an additional incentive to participate, SCE will offer rebates to offset some or all of the cost of the charging stations and their installation, depending on the location and type of establishment. The program also calls for at least 10 percent of the charging stations to be installed in disadvantaged communities. “What separates Charge Ready from other electric vehicle charging programs is that it encourages broad market participation, customer choice and technology innovation,” Choi said. “Participants will have the ability to select equipment suppliers and charging services based on their site’s needs.” Charge Ready will also help support state envi-

ronmental improvement goals and make better use of the power grid, she said. Additionally, the program provides funding for education and outreach to develop awareness about the benefits of driving electric vehicles and charging from the power grid. At the pilot’s conclusion, SCE plans to seek authority from the California Public Utilities Commission to expand the program to about 30,000 charging stations. The event will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday at SCE’s Energy Education Center, 6090 North Irwindale Ave., Irwindale. Parking is available in the center’s lot, which has eight EV chargers available for public use. About Southern California Edison An Edison International (NYSE:EIX) company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving a population of nearly 14 million via 5 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and Southern California.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The “Flavors of the Philippines” is getting ready to take the largest diplomatic community in the world by storm at the 8th annual Embassy Chef Challenge that will be held on 25 May 2016 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. As Washington’s leading international culinary event, the Embassy Chef Challenge is the night when participating Embassies wield their respective cuisines as the main diplomatic tool. “This is the first time that the Philippines will join the Embassy Chef Challenge. It is a significant step for our culinary diplomacy as cultural and economic objectives drive our participation. We want to celebrate our cuisine, bridge cultural differences and foster international understanding, and promote Philippine ingredients and products,” Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. said. Embassy chefs from diverse nations will prepare world-class cuisine and compete for the Judges’ Choice and People’s Choice Awards, the latter being selected by the guests at the event. Internationally-acclaimed Filipino chef Claude Tayag will represent the Embassy in the high-profile

competition. “The Embassy Chef Challenge is a wonderful opportunity to showcase not just the unique flavors of Philippine cuisine but also the accessibility of our food. It has been said that food culture is a reflection of a nation’s soul, and so I intend our offering to be a culinary demonstration of our people’s inherent openness and generosity. After all, Filipino cuisine is meant to be shared,” Chef Claude Tayag said. Chef Claude Tayag was born in Angeles City in the province of Pampanga, the “Culinary Capital of the Philippines”. A renowned artist, food writer, and chef, Claude Tayag is no novice to international festivals, where he showcases his delicious creations and carries his passion for Pampango cuisine. He was the Philippines’ culinary expert during the Memphis in May International Festival in 2012 and was part of Team Philippines in the international gastronomy congress of the Madrid Fusión Manila in 2015. Together with his wife Mary Ann, Chef Claude established Bale Dutung (Wooden House), his abode turned into a restaurant serving traditional Pampango cuisine. The by-reservation-only restaurant gained popularity when world-renowned chef and writer Anthony

Bourdain personally visited and featured the restaurant in his TV show, “No Reservations” in 2008.The couple also co-authored “Linamnam: Eating One’s Way Around the Philippines,” a culinary guide book on what food to eat in every region of the country as well as what makes each dish unique and outstanding in its own right. Chef Claude has likewise written an award winning book, “Food Tour: A Culinary Journey” and was the co-author of “Kulinarya: A Guidebook to Philippine Cuisine.” He will take on eighteen (18) chefs from other Embassies, including that of Venezuela whose cuisine topped last year’s challenge as both the Judges’ and People’s choices. Aside from the actual competition, this year’s Embassy Chef Challenge will also feature silent and live auctions, premium beers, wines, and spirits, and cultural performances. Tickets are available at www. eventsdcembassychefchallenge.com. Chef Claude’s participation is a joint project of the Philippine Embassy, Philippine Trade and Investment Center and Office of the Agricultural Attaché in Washington D.C., in partnership with the US-Philippines Society, Philippine Airlines and Seafood City Supermarket.

City of Los Angeles announces entertainment lineup for ‘Pacific Bridge’ Concert May 5, 2016 LOS ANGELES –Councilmember David Ryu and the City of Los Angeles will be rounding off the end of Los Angeles Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (LAAPAHM) with “Pacific Bridge,” a high energy familyfriendly concert that invites some of the most renowned Asian Pacific American(APA) artists and entertainers for an evening of celebration and liveperformances. This free event will debut on May 21, 2016 between 6:00pm 9:00pm on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall. Pacific Bridge aims to recognize the historical and cultural ties between the City of Los Angeles and the Asian Pacific American community through art, food, and live performances. “This community concert is a new effort from the City of Los Angeles to highlight the talent and diversity of APA artists and entertainers in the entertainment industry” said Councilmember David Ryu. “Pacific Bridge gives an opportunity for residents and families all over Los Angeles to join us in celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage with a fun, and free evening of live performances.” Pacific Bridge is part of a series of events LA APAHM is hosting throughout the month of May to highlight that APAs are part of the fabric of the City of Los Angeles and reinforce the 2016 LA APAHM theme “We Are LA.” Below is a sneak peak of the performance lineup: Awkwafina Awkwafina is a Queensborn rapper, comedienne and actress. She is best known for her viral music videos with a feminist tint, and has been featured in the New York Times, Vice/Noisey, New York Magazine, The Daily Beast,

NBC News, Jezebel, Gawker and more. She is currently a featured cast member on MTV’s Girl Code and will appear in the upcoming films Neighbors 2 and Dude. She currently resides in Brooklyn, New York. Dumbfoundead From the battlegrounds to silver screen, Jonathan Park (a.k.a.Dumbfoundead) in less than a decade has built a legendary history in the LA hiphop scene. While he grew up listening to all genres of music, the hip hop scene in the nineties was no doubt bustling and through that Dumbfoundead found his initial hip hop clique that clicked and clacked from a Macarthur Park community center to Project Blowed, an open mic workshop in south central LA. Dumbfoundead developed his skills with an exponential rise to local and even national acclaim with everything from rap battle videos with views in the millions, to spotlights on shows like Late Night with Carson Daly, to most recently his curator role in one of Ktown’s most happening parties: Spamneggs alongside Far East Movement and Tokimonsta. Tribal Theory Tribal Theory of San Diego, California has established themselves as the originals of Urban Reggae music. Continuously producing fresh musical compositions that are undeniable masterpieces. Formed in 2005, Tribal Theory’s signature is the fusion of their Pacific Island culture with the feel good vibes of Reggae, grittiness of Urban Ska, and thesoulful harmonies of R&B. This hybrid sound has the depth and versatility to span across many different genres including Reggae, IslandReggae, R&B, Alternative, Roots, and

World music. Run River North Since the band’s beginnings just over four years ago, their rise has been steadily spectacular, marked by appearances on national television, soldout shows at historic venues, tours with rock and roll royalty and heaps of praise from fans and critics alike. As they blossomed, they embraced their initially folkdriven sound, which found its harmonic home alongside rootsy, foot stomping, singalongleading peers like Mumford & Sons, The Head and the Heart, and Of Monsters and Men. Powered by the acousticguitarandvocals songwriting of frontman Alex Hwang, their 2014 self titled debut record, produced by Phil Ek (Fleet Foxes, Modest Mouse, Band of Horses), was released with their lineup rounded out by the strings duo of Daniel Chae and Jennifer Rim, Joe Chun on bass, Sally Kang on keys, and John Chong on drums. In addition to live performances and entertainment, Pacific Bridge will host some of Southern California’s most popular food trucks. This event is free and open to the public. Visit http:// apahm.lacity.org/ for more information. About Los Angeles Asian Pacific American Heritage Month May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM), a celebration of Asian Pacific Americans(APAs) in the United States. For the last three decades, the City of Los Angeles has held a series of events throughout the month to highlight the significant contributions that APAs have made to the city’s past, present and future. Visit http://apahm.lacity.org/ for more information.

Tirona recently retired at LA County, Department of Health Services after serving for 43 years RODOLFO LACSON TIRONA recently retired after serving 43 years at California, Los Angeles County, Department of Health Services. Mr. Tirona worked in various county departments and currently for the Los Angeles County + University of Southern California Medical Center as a Patient Financial Services Control Worker. He is thoroughly knowledgeable about the medi-cal program. He established himself as a genuine and warm individual with sympathetic relationship with both patients and co-workers in the hospital. He assisted in the financial aid program beneficial to patients and the department. He enjoyed working, helping patient financially and was fortunate to have his career where he makes a difference serving the diverse population of the Los Angeles County community. He is exceptionally well like and received written recognitions in the performance of his job. Mr. Tirona is a 1959 graduate of Jose Abad Santos High School, Binondo, Manila, Philippines. He graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1965 at the Philippine Normal University and completed masteral units in Gener-

al Education in 1972 at Manuel L. Quezon University, both in Manila, Philippines. After graduating in college Mr. Tirona taught fifth and sixth grade school children at the Division of City Schools Manila, Philippines for seven years. He migrated to the United States in April 1972 and lived with his wife Merla Diaz Tirona in Los Angeles, California. He is a member of the prominent Tirona Family Clan from Imus, Cavite, Philippines.

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Heavier is now ‘healthier’ than in 1970s: study Being on the heavier side may not be as dangerous as it was in the 1970s, at least when it comes to the risk of dying, according to a study Tuesday. The optimum ratio of weight and height – known as body mass index or BMI—is now on the upper side of the healthy range, according to the report in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). “Compared to the 1970s, today’s overweight individuals have lower mortality than so-called normal weight individuals,” said Borge Nordestgaard, clinical professor at the University of Copenhagen and Copenhagen University Hospital. “The reason for this change is unknown.” The report was based on more than 100,000 people in Denmark. The study spanned three groups, or cohorts, whose risk of dying for any reason was examined in 1976-78, 19911994, and in 2003-2013. Currently, doctors define the normal range for BMI— calculated by weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared – as between 18.5 and 24.9. A BMI of 25-29.9 is considered overweight, while 30 or higher is obese. In the 1970s, the opti-

mal BMI for the lowest risk of death was 23.7. This would be the equivalent of a six-foot (1.83 meter) tall man who weighs 170 pounds (77 kilograms), or a five-foot-five (1.65 meter) woman who weighs 143 pounds (65 kilograms). By 1991-94, the optimal BMI had risen to 24.6. And in 2003-2013, it reached 27. Compared to four decades ago, that would mean adding 30 pounds (14 kg) to the frame of the a person who stands six-feet tall, or 19 pounds (nine kg) to the frame of someone five-foot-five. Researchers also found that obese people in the 1970s were more likely to die than normal weight people, but this association disappeared in the 2000s. “The increased risk of all-cause mortality associated with obesity compared to normal weight decreased from 30 percent 1976-78 to 0 percent in 2003-13,” said principal investigator Shoaib Afzal, of Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark. Health authorities have long warned of the risks of being overweight, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Nordestgaard said the current findings suggest “a need to revise the categories presently used to define over-

weight, which are based on data from before the 1990s.” However, experts cautioned that the biological mechanism behind the new findings remains poorly understood, and the results should not be interpreted to mean that people can cease caring about what they eat. According to Naveed Sattar, professor of metabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow, the study is “of interest” but dos not merit changing advice on obesity and preventing extra pounds. “In recent years, as populations become more obese and with wider availability of cheap preventative medications many more such individuals are likely to be better treated for abnormal blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol and, if also present, type 2 diabetes, leading in turn to lower death risks,” said Sattar, who was not involved in the study. “In other words, the current findings do not mean that being overweight is protecting you from death, far from it – rather, many confounding factors may give the current result and we know from many other studies that being overweight or obese does increase mortality risks, in the same way that it increases risk for many other conditions.”

The optimum ratio of weight and height -- known as body mass index or BMI -- is now on the upper side of the healthy range, according to the report in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) © connel/ shutterstock.com

A combination of yoga and meditation can reduce cognitive impairment New research suggests that yoga and meditation may not only give you a flexible body and inner peace but that a combination of the two could also help improve cognitive function. The study, led by a team of researchers from UCLA and Australia’s University of Adelaide, is the first to compare yoga and meditation against memory training, which has often been considered the best way to manage mild cognitive impairment. The team followed a group of 25 participants all aged 55 and over during a three-month course of either yoga and meditation or memory training. Participants had all shown signs of mild cognitive impairment, reporting problems with their memory such as easily misplacing things, or forgetting names, faces or appointments. Participants were split into two groups. Eleven participants attended memory enhancement training and practiced memory exercis-

es daily, while the other 14 participants attended classes of Kundalini yoga and practiced 20 minutes of Kirtan Kriya meditation daily, which involves chanting, hand movements and visualization of light, and has already has been practiced in India for hundreds of years as a way to prevent cognitive decline in older adults.N All participants received brain scans and completed memory tests at both the beginning and end of the three-months. The results showed that although all participants demonstrated similar improvements in verbal memory skills, the skills that are needed for remembering names, it was the participants in the group who practiced yoga and meditation that showed better improvements in visual-spatial memory skills, which help with recalling locations and navigating. In addition, participants in the yoga and meditation group also showed bigger improvements in levels of

depression, anxiety, coping skills and resilience to stress, all of which are especially important when coming to terms with the onset of cognitive impairment. Commenting on the significance of the results Harris Eyre, the study’s lead author, said, “Historically and anecdotally, yoga has been thought to be beneficial in aging well, but this is the scientific demonstration of that benefit. We’re converting historical wisdom into the high level of evidence required for doctors to recommend therapy to their patients.” Senior author Helen Lavretsky added, “If you or your relatives are trying to improve your memory or offset the risk for developing memory loss or dementia, a regular practice of yoga and meditation could be a simple, safe and lowcost solution to improving your brain fitness.” The study was published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Researchers recommend physical activity as ‘magic bullet’ in fight against obesity and cardiovascular disease A team of US researchers have declared that physical activity is the most effective way of tackling the global epidemic and cardiovascular disease, comparing its effects to a “magic bullet.” The team of professors from Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University made their conclusions after evaluating evidence on physical activity and its benefits, publishing their conclusions in an editorial in the current issue of Cardiology. However despite the huge body of evidence revealing the health benefits of exercise, including decreased risk of heart attack, stroke, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis and certain cancers as well as improved mood, energy, sleep and sex life, only around 20 percent of Americans take part in the recommended levels of regular physical activity and around 64 percent never do any physical activity at all. Europeans are not much better, with just 33 percent taking part in regular exercise and 42 percent never getting active. Physical exercise also becomes more important as we get older, as we tend to gradually pile on the pounds. Many individuals will start to gain an extra 1

to 3 pounds per year in their 30s, leading to some being as much as 30 to 50 pounds overweight by age 55. The authors also warned that that with obesity a large factor in cardiovascular disease, now the leading cause of death worldwide, more emphasis and education needs to be placed on the importance of physical exercise, which could also be a more effective way of maintaining weight than calorie control. “There are a lot of misperceptions about the role of regular physical activity, caloric intake and calories burned during exercise,” commented Steven Lewis, one of the co-authors of the paper, “As a result, calorie restriction dieting has been recommended as more practical for weight control than regular physical activity, and this is a big problem.” “Most people have great difficulty achieving and maintaining weight loss solely by restricting their calorie intake,” added co-author Charles H. Hennekens, with the authors pointing out that brisk walking for just 20 minutes a day can burn around 700 calories a week, as well as reducing the risk of heart disease by as much as 30 to 40 percent. Activities such as walk-

ing can also be enjoyed by most people, even the elderly, although the authors also recommend adding in resistance exercises such as weight lifting for added health benefits. But despite their recommendations the authors believe that regular exercise is still too much time and effort for many, with 42 percent of the Europeans surveyed citing lack of time as the main reason for their sedentary lifestyle. “If regular physical activity were a pill, then perhaps more people would take it,” commented Hennekens.

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INMENT

Iza Calzado to go topless for new film

Actress Iza Calzado is all set to go topless for her new film to be helmed by Jerrold Tarog, the director behind the acclaimed historical biopic “Heneral Luna.” “Actually, it’s more sensual than sexy. Pero marami talaga siyang nudity,” shared Calzado, adding that she is more than ready to bare it all for the upcoming thriller movie. “I think I’m a bit of a risk-taker. Para sa akin, work is work,” she reasoned. “As long as the role is kind of fun or challeng-

Iza Calzado

Is John Lloyd ready to have a baby?

Shaina Magdayao

After four years of being single, actress Shaina Magdayao is ready to fall in love again “Ready na ako. Kasi feeling ko noong time na ‘yon, ginamit ko muna siya para sa sarili ko. I wanted to fix myself also and I wanted to spend time with my family and my friends. So ngayon, pwede na. Okay na,” Magdayao said. Magdayao’s last relationship was with John Lloyd Cruz. The two broke up in 2012. After that, the actress was linked to Sam Milby and Piolo Pascual. Magdayao’s older sister, Vina Morales, said: “You know what, honestly, ang daming tumatawag sa kanya, nagpaparamdam sa kanya. But I think that time, she wasn’t ready, kaya siguro hindi niya nakikita na may chance pala... o possibility na maging boyfriend, ganyan.” “Ngayon, nag-pray na siya. Pagbalik niya, sinabi ni Shaina kay Padre Pio, gusto na niyang mag-boyfriend,” she added. (MNS)

ing, I’m going to accept it. It doesn’t matter.” Asked if her boyfriend, British entrepreneur Ben Wintle, disapproved of her plans to go nude, Calzado replied: “I don’t know. He’s very cool. He’s very ‘dedma’. Even his parents, I’ve already told them.” Meanwhile, Calzado also addressed questions about her marriage plans. “Wala pa. And so many people are getting married this year so parang wala na silang budget para pambilig regalo sa amin. Definitely, not this year,” she said. (MNS)

John Lloyd Cruz

If given the chance, is actor John Lloyd Cruz ready to be father? The 32-year-old Cruz said that marriage will have to come first, as well some alone time with his future wife to get to know each other more. “Ideally, I’d still want to get married first and maybe enjoy a couple of years just with my wife. Kami lang muna. There’s so much discoveries to realize with one another na wala pang bata,” he said. But Cruz quickly added that he is also open to fathering a child should circumstances have it. “Kahit sinasabi ko na ideally hindi ko pa gusto, maaring hindi ko pa kaya o hindi ko pa handa, pero sino ba naman ang makakapagsabi kung kailan ka handa?” Cruz was asked to clarify a report quoting him to have said that he is ready to have a child. “I think I’m ready kung anak lang ang pag-uusapan,” he said in a press conference about “Just the 3 of Us” held last month. (MNS)

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After win, Richard Gomez to take a break from showbiz Actor Richard Gomez will be taking a break from show business now that he is the mayor-elect of Ormoc City. Last Tuesday, the 50-year-old Gomez was proclaimed the mayor of Ormoc City in Leyte after he defeated Liberal Party candidate Ondo Codilla. “Pahinga lang muna ako sandali sa showbiz. Tutal I’m sure every once in a while ay makikita nila ako,” Gomez said. “Gusto ko nga sana kung pwede silang mag-taping sa Ormoc, mag-‘ASAP’ sila sa Ormoc. We will make Ormoc an open city para makita ng mga tao (ang ganda nito),” Gomez told the radio show’s host Amy Perez. Gomez said this is his way of giving back. “Alam mo tayong mga artista, nakikita nila na magandang tao, magandang lalaki, pero kapag umuuwi kami ng probinsya namin nakikita ko na ang daming tao na

ang hihirap talaga ng buhay. So, siguro ito na ‘yung payback time para makatulong ako sa kanila. Ito kailangan ngayon giving back tayo, ma-improve man lang natin ang buhay nila ay okay na ako doon,” he said. This is Gomez’s first win in several tries for an elective post. Party-list group Mamamayan Ayaw sa Droga (MAD), which named him as a nominee, was disqualified by the Supreme Court in 2001. In 2007, he ran for senator but lost. He again tried for a seat in the House of Representatives in 2010 but was disqualified due to residency issues. In 2013, he lost the mayoralty race to Edward Codilla by a slim margin of fewer than 3,000 votes. Gomez admitted that this year’s election wasn’t easy for him. “It took me a lot of perseverance. Kasi ang nakalaban ko sa Ormoc, 21 years sila nakaupo, tuloy-tuloy. Ganoon kab-

Julia Barretto’s sister Claudia now a recording artist The younger sister of actress Julia Barretto is now a recording artist. Claudia Barretto signed a recording contract with Universal Records on Wednesday and is looking forward to share her music with her fans. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” she said in a video posted on the Facebook page of Universal Records, adding, “I decided that it was time to start making music.” Claudia said people can expect her songs to be a mix of pop and RnB, and is hoping to have the chance to work with Yeng Constantino and Sam Concepcion. When asked how Julia reacted to her decision to be part of the Claudia Barretto local music scene, the younger Barters decide to pursue. retto replied: “She was so happy because “She (Claudia) is pretty serious with her she’s wanted this dream for me as much studies so feeling ko I don’t have to worry as I wanted it.” about her entering show business. Gusto Claudia’s mother, former actress Marjo- lang niya maybe someday hosting, maybe rie Barretto, said in a previous interview singing, pero pag-aartista hindi pa niya that she will support whatever her daugh- nababanggit,” she said. (MNS)

ag natin na political igat ‘yung tinibag ap talaga pero sa family. ... Mahirap ming tao ay nanalo tulong ng maraming d. din tayo,” he said. ayor, Gomez said As the new mayor, that he will be working on improving rder of the city. the peace and order mportante dito sa “Ang pinaka-importante Ormoc ay ‘yung peace and order. Kung ce and order madali ng maayos ang peace ma-develop ang tourism at cultural programs dito. Gusto din namin na nomy ng Ormoc,, tumaas ang economy a malaking may pumasok na negosyante at ma-improve riculture namin ‘yung agriculture mez said. namindito,” Gomez Gomez’s wife Lucy Torres also won as the congresswoman of the eyte. 4th District of Leyte. (MNS)

JC de Vera describes Jessy as ‘girlfriend material JC de Vera could not hide his excitement working again with his previous on-screen partner Jessy Mendiola. De Vera said he is thankful to have another project with Mendiola because he is already comfortable working with her. “Masarap talaga sa pakiramdam na meron kang katrabaho na sobrang komportable ka, ‘yung walang issues. ‘Pag nasa work lang kayo talagang masaya lang kayo, komportable at wala na kayong iniisip na iba,” the actor said. De Vera and Mendiola will star in the upcoming “Wansapanataym” installment “Just Got Laki,” which started airing recently. Although the two already dismissed rumors linking them romantically, the young actor cannot help but praises and offer romantic gestures to the actress. This is why fans of their on-screen tandem continue to wonder if there is a chance for Jessy Mendiola and JC de Vera

them to become a real-life couple. For de Vera, what’s important is to preserve their friendship. “I’m sure ‘yung mga taong nakapaligid sa amin nakikita rin na we’re both relaxed and we’re both steady. Pero proud ako kasi never pa kami nag-away or ayaw namin na maging magkatrabaho alam mo ‘yun. Kasi ang sarap lang sa pakiramdam na nagtatrabaho ka ng magaan,” he added. Despite this, de Vera thinks Mendiola would make a good partner. “Siyempre along the way nakikilala mo ng mas deeper kasi nga ‘yun nga, ino-observe ko lang siya everyday na ganun. Girlfriend material siya,” he said.(MNS)

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TRILLANES

TRANSITION

From page 1

will weaken our claim unless nagpapauna siya at ituturo lang sa amin,” he said. “I will not allow that to happen because I have it on record na bago siya (Duterte) mag-assume ng office ay sa atin ang Scarborough Shoal,” Trillanes added. During the Senate panel’s first hearing on October 30, 2013, Trillanes asked National Security Council Director General Cesar Garcia if the country has lost the shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, to China. In response, Garcia said: “No sir, we have not lost Scarborough Shoal.” Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino affirmed Garcia’s statement at the hearing. Nearly two years later, on May 7, 2015, Trillanes posed

From page 1

the same question to Garcia at another Senate hearing, which was jointly conducted with the Senate committee on foreign relations. Garcia issued the same response and added that the shoal is the subject of the Philippines’ arbitration case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands. On the campaign trail, Duterte blamed Trillanes, who ran for vice president, for the country’s supposed loss of the Scarborough Shoal, saying China started building structures on the area after the senator made his 16th visit to Beijing as part of backchannel negotiations. Trillanes, however, said China has not undertaken any reclamation activity in the area.

SMARTMATIC From page 1

Responsible Voting Center (PPCRV) heaquarters in Manila on Monday evening, about question marks (“?”) in some candidates’ names in place of the usual “ñ” character. Peñalba in turn called the attention of the Smartmatic technical support team led by Marlon Garcia. “Upon being notified by the Comelec and after validating that changing the character ‘?’ required a minor cosmetic change to appease the observers at the PPCRV Transparency Center, the Smartmatic technical support team addressed the concern by introducing a correction on the script in the presence of everyone present there,” said Smartmatic project director Elie Moreno in his letter to the poll body. Both Peñalba and the Smartmatic team then announced to everyone (in-

THE US ASIAN POST

cluding members of political parties) inside the PPCRV Transparency Center that the correction was made and all subsequent displays would reflect the candidates’ names properly, with “ñ” instead of “?”. No one in the room objected on the change, Peñalba said in an incident report submitted to Comelec en banc. “He (Garcia) saw it as simple and cosmetic. Look at it also on the engineering perspective. I am an engineer. I am trained to solve problems. So if I see a problem, I automatically try to solve it,” Moreno said in a chance interview on Thursday. Moreno also assured that there was no change in the results, the counting and canvassing of votes, and in the source code of the automated election system. “The change in the script

Contrary to the mayor’s belief that the backchannel negotiations with Beijing caused Manila to lose Scarborough Shoal, Trillanes said his backchanneling mission was a success. “Ako, nung nag-back channel ako doon, ang only mission ko was pahupain ang tensyon kasi nung mga panahon na ‘yon, naggigirian na ang mga barko ng Pilipinas at Tsina at maaaring mapunta sa putukan. Hindi namin pinag-usapan ‘yung sovereignty claims. So nagawa ko ang aking misyon at napahupa ang tensyon kaya nga walang reclamation diyan at wala ring girian ng mga barko,” he said. Trillanes had earlier claimed that his action had the blessing of President Benigno Aquino III. (MNS) did not, in any way, alter any result for any candidate,” he said. To dispel insinuations of cheating, Moreno suggested to interested parties to compare the results in the transparency server with the printed election returns of all vote counting machines. “That’s the perfect proof that nothing has been done (to change the results),” he said. He also said the CCTV coverage can be reviewed to validate that the process was done transparently. (MNS)

National campaign head and Maribojoc Mayor Leoncio “Jun” Evasco will handle search under Social Services and Development. Executive assistant and campaign sortie manager Christopher “Bong” Go will lead the selection in the Security and Peace and Order cluster. Businessman and campaign finance manager Carlos Dominguez III will find people to handle Economic Development. Duterte’s Personal lawyer, Salvador Medialdea,

will lead the Judiciary. Laviña himself will handle the search for people under Infrastructure Development. And another personal lawyer Loreto Ata will handle search for GOCCs.Laviña previously revealed that outgoing Sen. Pia Cayetano will serve as their adviser and recommend women to be considered in various posts. In appointing the Cabinet members, Laviña stressed that prospective members must share the vision of the Duterte ad-

ECONOMIC TEAM From page 1

tration plans to lower marginal tax rates on low and middle income earners, and increase taxes of the upper income class. Corporate taxes will also be reviewed and compared with other ASEAN countries. Pernia said the foregone revenues will be compen-

sated by reduced losses from tax evasion, smuggling, and other illegal activities. He also stressed a need to rebalance the gains of the economy, where a bigger share of the economy’s growth will go to the poor rather than the upper income class. But he clarified that the

fiscal and monetary policies of the Aquino administration will be maintained. “Those things will be continued and maintained, they’re good. To complement good macroeconomic policies, you need good sectoral and micro policies at the lower levels,” said Pernia. (MNS)

Coloma also said the public must also support DOH especially after the launched of AIDS hour aimed at raising awareness about the disease. Part of the government initiative is disseminating information about HIV and AIDS to warn the public about the virus.

“Pagtulungan po natin ‘yan, nag-uumpisa po sa awareness, nag-uumpisa sa kamalayan na kung ano ang dapat gawin, kung isasapuso natin ito ay mas madali nating mapagtutulungan ang pagtugon sa banta ng HIV virus at ng AIDS,” Coloma said. (MNS)

ZIKA VIRUS From page 1

“Kaya lahat ng ‘yan dapat ay pagtuunan natin ng pansin at handang-handa naman ang ating pamahalaan, maagap at masipag ang ating Department of Health at ang mga ahensya nito sa pagharap sa mga virus at sa iba pang mga banta sa ating kalusugan,” he said.

ROBREDO

CALL ME MAYOR

region 11. In the presidential race, presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte cemented his lead as he is close to getting 16 million votes. As of 10:45 a.m., Duterte had 15, 956, 395 votes or 38.95 percent. The Davao City mayor led in 11 regions. (MNS)

“We solicited help from the people, particularly on social media. We will let their creativity flourish. Many would call him President Digong, President Rody, President D-U-3-0 or President Duterte,” he said. “We just let the people do it on their own. Meron daw

From page 1

ministration, must have the integrity, competence and abilities to handle the post, and must be willing to sacrifice. “Shared vision, meaning they adhere to the program of government of the next administration,” he said. Meanwhile, an additional criteria has been set to appointing heads of the police and military. “The mayor said this would be based on merit, seniority, of course on loyalty to the government and the country,” Laviña said.

From page 1

PRRD, PRody, PGong,” he added. Speaking with members of the media on Sunday night at Hotel Elena, Duterte laid down his initial plans once he takes over the presidency. He said he will implement a nationwide liquor and smoking ban.

Duterte also said that he will impose a curfew and will order the arrest of the parents of children who will be caught violating it. The Davao City mayor also said that once he assumes the presidency, he will ask Congress to revive the death penalty. (MNS)

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KITCHENOMICS

FAMILY FEATURES

iring up the grill is an American tradition. The farm families who Safe Minimum produce the food so many people Internal enjoy at backyard cookouts want to share Temperatures some of their favorite grilling recipes, as 145°F Beef, pork, well as an appreciation for how food gets veal and lamb from the farm to the table. (roasts, steaks Farmers like Amanda Folkens, from and chops) Iowa, Danell Kalcevic, from Colorado, 160°F Ground meat and Nicole Small, from Kansas, have 165°F Poultry joined with more than 70 other farmer (whole, parts volunteers across the country in the or ground) CommonGround program as a way to talk with home cooks about how food is grown and raised. “On our farm, animal care is top priority, as it is for thousands of other family farms in the U.S.” said Amanda. “By keeping our animals indoors, we make sure they are protected from predators, disease and bad weather.” To learn more about family farms and facts about your food, visit www.FindOurCommonGround.com. Here are some of Amanda, Danell and Nicole’s favorite grilling recipes.

Things to Know Before You Shop the Meat Case There’s no need to pay extra for poultry or pork that’s labeled hormone-free. USDA prohibits farmers from using hormones to raise chicken and pigs. Nearly all beef cattle, whether raised organically or conventionally, spend the majority of their lives on pastures eating grass. Purchasing organic, grass-fed and freerange meats does not make them safer to consume. These labels refer to how the animals are raised, but all meat and poultry can contain bacteria that could cause illness. Most cases of foodborne illness can be prevented with proper processing, handling and cooking of food to destroy bacteria.

Grilled Hawaiian Ham Sandwich

Beef Rack of Ribs

Country Barbecue Potatoes

By Amanda Folkens Serves: 1 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1/2 tablespoon seasoning pepper 1 to 2 1/4-inch thick ham slices (about the same thickness as the bread) Cooking spray Pineapple slices (can be fresh or canned) 2 slices sourdough bread Preheat grill for high heat. Mix brown sugar with pepper to create a rub mixture. Using your hands, massage the rub onto both sides of the slices of ham. Ham slices should be completely covered (front and back) with brown sugar mix. Place ham slices on sheet of lightly greased foil, then place onto grill. On separate sheet of greased foil, lay pineapple slices out, uncovered. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes or until brown caramelization appears around edges of ham and pineapple. Remove ham and pineapple from heat and assemble onto toasted sourdough bread.

By Danell Kalcevic Serves: 4 to 6 Salt (to taste) 1 tablespoon black pepper (to taste) 1 tablespoon seasoned garlic salt (to taste) Cayenne pepper (optional) 1 to 2 racks of beef ribs (number of racks based on number of people) 1 tablespoon yellow mustard 1/3 cup brown sugar One bottle of favorite barbeque sauce The night before serving, prepare rub for beef ribs (salt, pepper, seasoned garlic salt and optional cayenne pepper). Sprinkle both sides of ribs and then rub vigorously. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, place on medium temperature grill and spread yellow mustard and brown sugar on each side of the ribs. Grill for 5 to 8 minutes until each side is slightly browned and caramelized. Remove ribs from grill and slice with sharp knife. Place individual ribs in a crock pot on low. Add one bottle of your favorite barbeque sauce. Let simmer 6 to 8 hours.

By Nicole Small Serves: 4 to 6 2 pounds small red potatoes 2 tablespoons butter, melted 1 teaspoon honey 3 teaspoons seasoned salt 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 1/4 teaspoon pepper Preheat oven to 450°F. Coat 9 x 13 baking pan with nonstick spray. Cut potatoes into small to medium–sized pieces and put in pan. Melt butter and honey, and then drizzle over potatoes. Sprinkle with seasoned salt, salt, garlic powder and pepper. Toss well to coat. Bake, uncovered, for 25 to 30 minutes, or until potatoes are tender and golden brown. Stir potatoes at least once.

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By Myrna Aquitania

The highly-attended “Cinco De Mayo” opening of CAR PROS KIA’s expanded dealership facility in the City of Carson was indeed a GRAND opening. The new dealership facility prides itself of its contemporary, sleek architecture, which is conveniently located at the crossroads of three Freeways: the 110, 405 and 91. The celebration began on a warm, sunny early afternoon, attended by celebrities and government officials. One of the celebrities who attended was former Laker’s basketball player James Worthy, who came in and graciously autographed his giveaway photos. Radio station Power 106 FM had their deejays (Bryan Ramirez and William Ormes) played their hip-hop background sounds, while a large photo booth was a sensation to numerous guests who were photo or selfie enthusiasts. There were free-flowing wine, beverage and a wide selection of Asian-inspired delectable food such as: Thai barbecue, Vietnamese Chicken wrap, Chinese Shumai and Egg Rolls, catered by the DoubleTree Hotel in the City of Carson. General Manager Juan Alarcon introduced Ken Phillips, President and owner of Kia Motors, Carson, who welcomed everyone and introduced his family, followed by a remarkable speech by Justin Sohn, President & CEO of KIA Motors America, who flew in from their headquarters in Korea. In his speech, the youthful-looking Mr. Sohn was enthusiastic in attending the grand opening of CAR PROS KIA’s new facility in Carson, as he emphasized KIA MOTORS’s “customer satisfaction” policy, making them a topnotched dealership that has survived the competitive automotive market through time. Various government officials in attendance commended CAR PROS KIA and President Ken Phillips with “Outstanding Community & Service Award,” for their exemplary community support. One of the awards was from the City of Carson, presented to Mr. Phillips by Lula Davis-Holmes, Mayor Pro-Tem, signed by her, Albert Robles, City of Carson Mayor, and its three councilmembers: Elito Santarina, Janane Hilton and Cedric Hicks. In 2009, Ken Phillips, President and owner of Car Pros Kia Auto Group, was featured on the cover of the Fall edition of “The Puget Sound Dealer,” the official publication of the Puget Sound Dealer Association. It was a major automotive magazine based in Tacoma, Washington. In its accompanying feature article, “Doing the Right Thing,” Mr. Phillip’s career path was chronicled “from age 10, when he pursued to work, taking over his brother’s community paper route and by age 15, he worked for his hard earned money by sweeping cigarette butts at the then famous Seattle World’s Fair. After graduating from high school, he joined the Military and when he returned from Vietnam, he started his career in the car business selling

CAR PROS KIA

Opens Contemporarydesigned Facility

in Carson

Government officials with Car Pros Kia President and Owner Ken Phillips (4th from left) and Lula Davis-Holmes, Mayor Pro-Temp, City of Carson, General Manager Juan Alarcon and President & CEO of Kia Motors America Justin Sohn.

cars.” According to Mark Cutshall who wrote the article, Ken Phillips always said that “he’s a self-made businessman, though there’s nothing random or spontaneous about how he has built his dealerships.” Ken Phillips was quoted saying that “throughout his career in the automotive business, one thing hasn’t changed” the all-important thing of taking care of customers is his number one priority; whether it’s on television or face to face, he likes to talk to people and have a conversation with them.” The Phillips family, including youngest son Nick Phillips, was quoted to always remind their employees that “attitude is everything.” As they continue to thrive, the six dealerships of the family-owned Car Pros Automotive Group do not only consider themselves a high-volume import car dealership but they became a community fixture as well. In the Southern California area, CAR PROS KIA has three area dealerships: Carson, Huntington Beach and Glendale. They have Tagalog-speaking salespeople available to those of you who are current-

ly thinking of buying or leasing a new car or getting a reliable pre-owned vehicle. For more information, visit their website at: www. carproskia.com or call 1-877-600-1110. Car Pros Kia Carson is located at 22020 Recreation Road, Carson, CA 90745.

Car Pros Kia Carson President Ken Phillips (left) and Justin Sohn, President & CEO of Kia Motors America Photos: REY ANDRES