US Asian Post December 30, 2015

T H E

ENTERT

INMENT

Maria Ozawa eyes new career, says PHL is new home See Page 7

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Vol. 5 No. 14

A BALITA MEDIA PUBLICATION Wednesday - Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2015- Jan. 5, 2016

LOS ANGELES

Escudero: Comelec ‘bullying’ Poe MANILA, Dec 24 (Mabuhay) – Senator Francis Escudero accused the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday of “bullying” Senator Grace Poe after the poll body decided to disqualify her from the 2016 presidential race.

“Sen. Grace Poe (left) has been nothing but honest, candid, forthright and open with respect to her citizenship, nationality and residency to the Filipino people. She has answered every question with candor and honesty both before the Comelec and before the Filipino people. How dare they say that she ‘deliberately attempted to mislead the electorate.” – Sen. Chiz Escudero (right)

“The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is both wrong and unfair and a bully,” Escudero, Poe’s running mate, said in a statement, reacting to the Comelec en banc’s decision to cancel Poe’s certificate of candidacy over her citizenship and residency.

“Sen. Grace Poe has been nothing but honest, candid, forthright and open with respect to her citizenship, nationality and residency to the Filipino people. She has answered every question with candor and honesty both before the Comelec and before the Filipino people. How dare they say that she ‘deliberately attempted to mislead the electorate,” he said.

On the contrary, Escudero said, it was the Comelec that was “misleading the electorate and bullying” Poe by “pretending to be an independent Commission when they have actually been acting as

Sen. Poe’s inquisitor and persecutor, and plain and simple bullying her.”

He then enumerated how Poe was allegedly being bullied by the poll body.

First, Escudero said, the Comelec acted with dispatch on four disqualification cases against Poe even before the candidate who claimed his name was “Lucifer.”

Second, they refused to consolidate the four cases, which are all the same except for the names of the petitioners, “if only to require Poe to answer/appear in the two divisions of the Comelec and be disqualified, not only once but twice, and a third time by the en banc following what appears to be a well written script or play.”

And third, he said, by working “overtime” in order for the en banc to disqualify Poe a day before See BULLYING, page 12

Poe failed citizenship, residency requirements, but didn’t intend to mislead voters MANILA, Dec 24 (Mabuhay) – Commission on Elections chair Andres Bautista was a dissenting vote in both en banc resolutions which junked Sen. Grace Poe’s appeals to reverse division rulings cancelling her certificate of candidacy for president.

Bautista, the lone member of the en banc who is not part of either division, said he did not believe Poe had a deliberate intent to mislead the public by declaring in her COC that she is a natural-

born Filipino and that she meets the 10-year residency requirement.

This runs contrary to the opinion of the majority of the en banc, who voted to say the senator had such intent.

Five commissioners in both cases voted to grant a total of four petitions that seek to take Poe out of the 2016 presidential race on the grounds of citizenship and residency.

While he voted in dissent, BauSee POE FAILED, page 12

Santa absent this year in typhoon-hit PHL

By Cecil Morella

San Jose, Philippines | AFP | Friday 12/25/2015 – Wading through knee-deep floods, 12-year-old Joana Yambao pushes her infant sister in a black wash basin along the surface of the filthy water in a typhoon-hit Philippine village where residents have little to celebrate this Christmas.

Under sunny skies, their mother sweeps mud from the floor of her grocery shop in San Jose, one of scores of villages and towns still submerged and struggling to recover after being battered this month

by Typhoon Melor. The storm killed 45 people and left thousands without food, water or urgent medical care.

“We’re just taking in the sights. I doubt Santa Claus will come tonight. The water’s too high,” Yambao told AFP. Instead of gathering by the Christmas tree to open gifts and eat a traditional meal of meat, cheese and sweets, hundreds of people in San Jose stood in flood waters with their own wash basins to wait for food aid at the Catholic church.

Residents of the village, home to about 5,000 people, have seen seasonal flooding before, but elderly villagers said it was the first time they had seen it during Christmas.

Bangko Sentral asks Pinoys to be vigilant against fake peso bills MANILA, Dec 25 (Mabuhay) – The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is asking consumers to be vigilant against counterfeit money this holiday season.

In an advisory, the central bank said fraudsters are now extracting the windowed security thread (WST) from genuine banknotes See FAKE PESO, page 12

WB loans PHL $500-M to fight natural disasters

M a n i l a , P h i l i p pines | AFP | Wednesday 12/23/2015 – The World Bank approved a $500 million loan Wednesday to help the Philippines deal with natural disasters.

It can access the new credit line following “a state of calamity” declared by the president, the World Bank said in a statement.

On average, more than 1,000 lives are lost every year in the Philippines, with typhoons accounting for the majority of deaths See WB LOANS, page 12

President Benigno S. Aquino III checks out photos exhibited at the lobby of the municipal building showing the damage caused by Typhoon Nona in Northern Samar. A briefing Wednesday (December 23) was held at the Catarman Municipal Hall on the effects and damage of Typhoon Nona. The President then led the distribution of relief goods to affected families. (MNS photo)

Aquino ‘shocked’ by the passing of esteemed Inquirer editor-in-chief MANILA, Dec 25 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno S. Aquino III counts himself among the many politicians “shocked” and saddened by the unexpected passing of veteran journalist and longtime Philippine Daily Inquirer editorin-chief Letty Jimenez Magsanoc.

“My thoughts and prayers are with her family and all her colleagues in the Philippine Daily Inquirer at this time of profound sadness and loss,” President Aquino said in a statement released by the Palace at 12:42 a.m., Friday, December 25.

President Aquino acknowledged Magsanoc as “a source of strength,” a thought which he said is shared

by “all Filipinos of goodwill who love freedom, democracy, and good governance.”

“One always knew that with her, the truth was the benchmark of a journalist’s efforts; and that in all that she did, there was no higher cause than the country’s welfare and that of our people,” President Aquino said.

“She always spoke to me frankly, and yet with deep understanding,” he added.

President Aquino commiserated with the family, friends, and colleagues of Magsanoc as they would be letting this year’s Christmas pass in deep sorrow.

See EDITOR, page 12

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NPA breaks Christmas truce: Army MANILA, Dec 26 (Mabuhay) – The Philippine Army has accused the New People’s Army of breaking the holiday truce after an alleged attack in Kitaotao, Bukidnon last Wednesday night. Col. Jesse Alvarez, commander of the Philippine Army’s 403rd Infantry Brigade, said an undetermine number of communist rebels fired rifle grenades at houses in Barangay White Kulaman in Kitaotao town around 7 p.m. on December 23.

“While we are observing SOMO (Suspension of Military Operations), still our

Residents prepare to fire bamboo canons during the annual Kanyong Kawayan Festival (Bamboo Cannon Festival) in Kidapawan City, on Tuesday. The festival was organized by the local government to discourage people from using dangerous firecrackers during the holiday season.(MNS photo)

Bloody Christmas in Mindanao as Muslim guerrillas kill 10 Manila, Philippines | AFP | Sunday 12/27/2015 - 09:26 GMT | 354 words Muslim guerrillas killed 10 civilians in the majority Catholic Philippines over Christmas, the military said Sunday, with some Christians in the affected areas now too scared to sleep in their homes.

Guerillas from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) captured nine farmers and shot them dead on December 24 in the southern island of Mindanao, said Colonel Ricky Bunayog, commander of the local battalion.

Some of the bodies were not found till two days later, he told AFP. Also on Christmas eve, the BIFF launched an attack on a village in Pigcawayan town, some 900 kilometers (560 miles) south of Manila, that left a district official

dead, the colonel added.

Six guerillas were killed and eight wounded in fighting which lasted three days, although only one body was recovered, Bunayog added.

The raids have stoked fear in Mindanao where Christians are the majority but which the country’s Muslim minority claims as their ancestral homeland.

“Since (Saturday), it has been quiet. But the damage has been done. People on the outskirts are scared and at night, they move to the centre of the town,” sleeping in the local gymnasium, he said.

“I tell them we have enough security forces but they are too scared,” he added.

Bunayog could not rule out more attacks by the BIFF, which split from main Muslim rebel group the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)in 2008 after

the MILF opened a peace process with the government.

He said members of the group had been seen meeting “in numbers beyond their usual size,” but could not give a motive for their new attacks on Christian communities.

A BIFF spokesman earlier confirmed they were behind the raids but had said it was over an unspecified land dispute.

The BIFF continues to seek a separate Islamic state and remains opposed to a government-MILF effort to create a Muslim autonomous area in Mindanao as part of a peace agreement.

Last year, the BIFF uploaded clips on YouTube showing one of its leaders pledging support for the Islamic State organization, the jihadist group that has seized a large swathe of territory in Iraq and Syria.

troops securing far-flung communities are on heightened alert in anticipation of NPA attacks and atrocities.

We call on the CPP-NPA to be sincere in their ceasefire pronouncement, and spare the lives of innocent civilians especially during this yuletide season,” Alvarez said in a statement.

Alvarez said troops from the 2nd Special Forces Company fired back at the suspected rebels, who immediately retreated.

No one was hurt in the incident, the Army official said.

The Communist Party of the Philippines on December 15 announced that its holiday ceasefire declaration will take effect at 12:01 a.m. of December 23, 2015 and will end at 11:59 p.m. of Jan. 3, 2016.

President Benigno Aquino III, meanwhile, approved the military’s holiday ceasefire from 12:01 a.m. of Dec. 23, 2015 until 11:59 p.m. of Jan. 3, 2016.

The Philippine National Police also declared a Christmas truce from midnight of Dec. 23, 2015 until midnight of Jan. 1, 2016. (MNS)

NPA rebels raiding typhoon relief convoys: police Manila, Philippines | AFP | Thursday 12/24/2015 – Communist insurgents in the Philippines have attacked military convoys bringing aid to victims of a recent typhoon, killing one soldier in the latest ambush, police said Thursday.

The incidents came just before a Christmas truce called by the rebels took effect on Wednesday.

In the latest incident on Tuesday, guerrillas of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) ambushed an army truck on a relief mission in the storm-hit eastern island of Samar, national police said in a statement.

One soldier was killed and two wounded in the attack.

The police condemned the attack, saying the rebel movement “has evolved from an ideological revolutionary group to one conducting acts of banditry out of desperation”.

The attack followed an earlier NPA ambush of a military truck carrying relief goods for storm victims in Samar last week, which wounded two soldiers.

The impoverished island of Samar, located almost 530 kilometers (325 miles) southeast of Manila, was one of the areas hardest hit

by Typhoon Melor when it struck the country last week, killing at least 45 people.

The island is also a stronghold of the NPA who have

been waging a 46-year-old rebellion that has claimed about 30,000 lives by official estimates.

The insurgents are now estimated to number fewer than 4,000. The military said the group sustains itself by extorting from businesses.

Repeated efforts by successive governments to arrange peace talks have failed to end the rebellion.

Recently, the communists declared a unilateral ceasefire for Christmas, from December 23 to January 3.

The government separately called a similar ceasefire for Christmas, one of the most important holidays for largely-Catholic nation.

Samar ambush won’t disrupt relief work in typhoon-hit areas: Palace MANILA, Dec 23 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang said Wednesday that relief and rehabilitation work in areas devastated by Typhoon Nona (Melor) will not be disrupted following the ambush incident in Northern Samar.

In a statement, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said: “[The] government is fully determined to carry out and complete needed relief and rehabilitation work in calamity-affected areas despite recent attacks in Samar that momentarily disrupted our main efforts in

rendering humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.”

Likewise, Coloma condemned the New People’s Army (NPA), which ambushed a military vehicle that was on its way to communities affected by Nona in Las Navas, Northern Samar, killing one soldier and injuring three others. “The dastardly act on the part of the local NPAs clearly indicates their disregard for the people’s welfare,” he said.

Coloma said additional personnel have been deployed to enforce protection and road security following

the incident.

Six soldiers from the 20th Infantry Batallion were bringing repair equipment when their KM450 vehicle was attacked early Tuesday morning, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said.

The ambush happened hours before the ceasefire separately declared by the Philippine government and the Communist Party of the Philippines was to start at 12:01 a.m. of December 23.

The ceasefire will end at 11:59 p.m. of January 3, 2016. (MNS)

PNP: Firecracker, gun-related incidents shoot up to 44 MANILA, Dec 26 (Mabuhay) – Days before the celebration of the New Year, firecracker and gun-related incidents in the country have shot up to 44, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported on Saturday.

PNP data showed that the incidents shot from 23 as of Christmas Day to 44.

Of the 44 incidents, 27 were due to illegal possession or use of banned firecrackers, three due to illegal discharge of firearms, six

were victims of stray bullet and eight were victims of fireworks-related injury.

The increase was attributed to the surge in the number of people arrested due to illegal possession or use of banned firecrackers, and those who were injured due to firecrackers.

The number of those who illegally discharged their firearms, meanwhile, remained the same.

The three additional victims of stray bullets were identified as Danilo Apu-

lidar Carpio, 34 who was hit in the left thigh; Ronald Zablan Paguinto, 21, who sustained a gunshot wound in the back; and Ryan Aspa, 32, who was hit on his left ankle. No death from any firework or gun-related incident has been recorded so far.

The PNP has deployed 200 personnel and 26 members of the Special Action Force in Metro Manila to secure malls, churches, and transport terminals since December 16. (MNS)

A worker uses a candle to remove hair from lechon on display at a shop in La Loma, Quezon City on Wednesday.

Roasted pigs, which are a popular dish in the Philippines, are usually served during festivals and holiday celebrations.(MNS photo)

THE US ASIAN POST Wednesday - Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2015- Jan. 5, 2016

Poe camp to seek SC reversal of Comelec ruling MANILA, Dec 26 (Mabuhay) – The camp of Sen. Grace Poe will file next week a petition before the Supreme Court (SC) challenging the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ruling cancelling her certificate of candidacy for president.

Poe’s lawyer George Garcia said they will file the petition before the high court on Monday, December 28.

The senator, meanwhile, said that she is confident SC will rule in her favor.

“We are confident that, giving due consideration to the strong evidence, jurisprudence and pertinent principles and precepts, the Justices will uphold our cause and the right of the people to a genuine choice in the elections,” Poe said.

The SC is currently on a holiday break.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has said that the high court may rule on “urgent matters” filed during the holiday break.

In a ruling on December 23, the Comelec en banc junked Poe’s petitions

against the separate rulings of the First and Second Divisions cancelling her COC for president.

The Comelec en banc voted 5-2 to uphold the First Division’s decision disqualifying Poe from the 2016 presidential elections based on questions of citizenship and residency raised by petitioners Francisco Tatad, Antonio Contreras and Amado Valdez.

The en banc, meanwhile, voted 5-1-1 upholding the decision of the Second Division on Atty. Estrella Elamparo’s petition to cancel Poe’s COC because of her failure to meet the constitutional requirement of a 10-year residency for presidential candidates.

Meanwhile, losing senatorial candidate Rizalito David has asked the SC to reverse the Senate Electoral Tribunal’s decision junking his petition to disqualify Poe from the 2013 elections.

The SC scheduled the oral arguments on David’s petition on January 19.

(MNS)

Escudero elated by Filipinos’ ‘unshakable support’ MANILA, Dec 25 (Mabuhay) – Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero said he was elated by the “unshakable support” of the Filipino people for his candidacy, after the latest surveys by three polling firms, which showed him the voters’ top choice for president in 2016.

Escudero, running mate of Senator Grace Poe, emerged as the top choice for vice president based on separate surveys conducted by the Social Weather Station (SWS), Pulse Asia, and the Standard.

“Nakatataba po ng puso ang mga resulta ng magkahiwalay na surveys. Patunay lamang ito na sa kabila ng mga pagsubok na kinakaharap namin ni Senator Grace ay patuloy pa ring nagtitiwala ang taumbayan sa mabuti naming hangarin para sa bansa,” he said in a statement on Friday.

(The results of the separate surveys warm the heart. These prove that despite the challenges Senator Grace and I face, the people continue to have faith in our good intentions for the country.)

But while surveys will continue to guide him and Poe in the coming days, Escudero said, they will remain focus on spreading their platform of government for inclusive growth, transparency and global competitiveness.

“Tinitingnan at iginagalang namin ang resulta ng survey bilang giya para sa mga dapat pa naming gawin sa susunod na buwan. Ngunit gaya nang paulit-ulit kong sinasabi, bababa at tataas iyan,” he said.

(We will consider and respect the resilts of the survey as guidance for what we must do in the coming months. But like what we say time and again, [our standing] will rise and fall.)

In the SWS survey conducted from December 12 to 14 among 1,200 respondents, Escudero got the hightest vote for president with 30 percent followed by Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo and Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr with 19 percent, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano with 17 percent, Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan with 8 percent, and Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV with 5 percent.

Escudero also maintained his lead with 29 percent in the Pulse Asia survey conducted from December 4 to 11 among 1,800 respondents. He was fol-

lowed by Marcos with 23 percent, Cayetano with 18 percent, Robredo with 14 percent, Honasan with 9 percent, and Trillanes with 4 percent.

He also got the highest rating among the vice presidential candidates in The Standard Poll conducted from December 4 to 12 among 1,500 respondents from 76 provinces and all 17 localities in Metro Manila.

Poe also topped The Standard Poll candidates at 28 percent, followed by Vice President Jejomar Binay who got 23 percent; former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, 22 percent; Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, 19 percent; and Senator Miriam DefensorSantiago, 3 percent.

“Ang survey na ito ay patunay na hindi natitinag ang suporta sa amin ni Senator Grace sa kabila ng matinding tangka na siya ay hindi mapabilang sa listahan ng mga kandidato sa pagka-pangulo. Makakaasa po ang taumbayan na puspusan pa rin ang aming pagtatrabaho upang pangalagaan ang kanilang pagtitiwala sa kabila ng mga pagharang sa kanyang kandidatura,” Escudero said.

(This survey is proof that our supporters are not fazed by the attempts of removing Senator Grace from the list of candidates for the presidency. Our countrymen can count on our tirelwss efforts to keep their faith in us despite the thwarting of her candidacy.) Escudero admitted though that the unfavorable rulings of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) against Poe have affected her numbers, but these will not deter them.

“Hindi makakailang nakaapekto ang ang dalawang disqualification ng Comelec.

Mataas man o mababa sa survey, patuloy pa rin kaming mag-iikot para maiparating sa mga mamamayan ang aming mensahe,” he said. (It cannot be denied that the two disqualification cases in the Comelec had an effect. Whether our survey standing is high or low, we will continue doing rounds to deliver our message to our countrymen.)

He was referring to the decisions of the Comelec’s First and Second Divisions to disqualify Poe over her citizenship and residency.

The decisions were later upheld by the Comelec’s en banc.

Poe is set to appeal next week the en banc’s decision to the Supreme Court.

(MNS)

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SWS: VP Binay, Poe, Roxas and Duterte in tight race for presidency

Binay and Poe got the highest scores in the survey.

MANILA, Dec 23 (Mabuhay) – Vice President Jejomar Binay, Sen. Grace Poe, administration standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte are statistically tied as voters’ top picks to become the country’s next president based on the latest pre-election national survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS). Results of the SWS presidential preference survey from December 12-14, which was first published by BusinessWorld, showed Poe and Binay are tied with 26 percent, followed by Roxas with 22 percent and Duterte with 20 percent.

While Binay and Poe got the highest scores in the survey, SWS director Leo Laroza said they are statistically tied with Roxas and Duterte for the top spot since the poll had a margin of error of ±3% for national percentages.

“Broadly, we consider all four of them as statistically

tied [for the top spot] since the survey had a margin of error of ±3% Walang clear frontrunner sa survey na ito dahil napakalapit ng scores na nakuha ng apat na kandidato,” Laroza said.

For a candidate to be considered as the frontrunner in the presidential race, Laroza said he or she must have a lead of at least 7 percent.

The results for the other presidential candidates were: Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago with 4 percent, Jose Rizalito “Lito” David with 0.1 percent, and Camilo Sabio with 0.04 percent.

The rest of the presidential aspirants – Elly Pamatong, Rep. Roy Señeres, and Augusto “Boboy” Syjuco Jr. got 0 percent.

The question asked for the Presidential preferences was, “Sa mga sumusunod na pangalan sa listahang ito, sino po ang malamang ninyong iboboto bilang PRESIDENTE ng Pilipinas, kung ang eleksyon ay gaganapin

Chiz maintains lead; Robredo, Marcos tied in second place

Comelec trims list to 6 VP bets

MANILA, Dec 23 (Mabuhay) – Senator Francis Escudero remains the front runner in the vice presidential race based on the latest Social Weather Stations survey, with his 30-percent rating in November still unchanged.

Results of the voter preference poll, which was first published by BusinessWorld Wednesday, showed Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo catching up with Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for the second place, with both candidates getting a score of 19 percent.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano is in the third place with 17 percent, followed by Senator Gringo Honasan at 8 percent and Senator Antonio Trillanes at 5 percent.

Among all leading vice presidential contenders, Robredo posted the biggest gain in the SWS survey in less than a month’s time, gaining seven points from 12 percent in the previous survey conducted from Nov. 26 to 28 to 19 percent in the latest poll held on Dec. 12 to 14. Honasan’s score also rose by 33 percent from the 6 percent he had last month.

Marcos’ current score, meanwhile, represents a five-point decline from the 24 percent he posted last November, while Cayetano’s score also slipped from the 21 percent he previously got.

MANILA, Dec 23 (Mabuhay) – The Commission on Elections is trimming the list of official vice-presidential candidates for the 2016 election to six.

Comelec Commissioner Christian Robert Lim said the poll body is looking at a list of 23 presidential candidates, six vice-presidential candidates, 68 senatorial bets and 119 party-list groups for the 2016 polls.

Comelec Chairman Andy Bautista, however, said he expects the final list of presidential candidates to be whittled down to a single digit.

He said some of the candidates who have been dis-

ngayon? [Among the names found in this list, who will you probably vote for as PRESIDENT of the Philippines, if elections were held today?].

The SWS survey used face-to-face interviews with 1,200 registered voters, 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao (sampling error margins of ±3% for national percentages, ±6% each for Metro Manila, Balance of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao).

Among the national issues which took place when the SWS conducted its survey include the word war between Duterte and Roxas, the commemoration of the 11th death anniversary of Poe’s late adoptive father Fernando Poe Jr., and the onslaught of Typhoon Nona.

On Tuesday, Pulse Asia released its survey results on the 2016 presidentiables.

It showed Binay regaining the top spot in the presidential race with 33 percent of

qualified remain on the list since they have yet to receive the official Comelec order.

“It is still high because we have not been able to serve the decision to the candidates, some of whom live outside of Metro Manila. They are in far-flung provinces,” he told reporters.

He said the six official vice-presidential candidates are: Congresswoman Leni Robredo, Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Francis Escudero, Gregorio Honasan, Antonio Trillanes IV and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Bautista earlier con-

the 1,800 respondents saying they will vote for him as president if the elections were held during the survey period of December 4 to 11 2015.

In second place were Duterte with 23 percent and Poe with 21 percent.

They were closely followed

by Roxas with 17 percent, and Santiago with 4 percent.

Pulse Asia Research Director Ana Maria Tabunda said Poe and Roxas can be considered as in a tie.

“Considering the ± 2 percent error margin at the 95 percent confidence level, Poe and Roxas can be considered as tie pero hindi pwedeng sabihing tied din si Roxas sa second place kay Duterte dahil malayo na ang numero,” Tabunda noted.

With 21 percent, Poe’s preference ranges from 19 to 23 percent while that of Roxas’ ranges from 15 to 19. “Nagmi-meet ‘yung rating nila sa 19 percent kaya pwedeng tie sila,” Tabunda said. (MNS)

firmed that majority of the members of the en banc (full bench) voted to dismiss the motions for reconsideration (MRs) filed by Poe after the poll body’s two divisions ruled to cancel her certificate of candidacy for president.

Bautista only confirmed that members of the en banc voted on Poe’s appeals but did not reveal how the commissioners voted nor say if they ruled to dismiss the MRs of the senator.

Bautista added that the commissioners may still change their minds.

The Comelec is expected to promulgate the decisions on Wednesday.

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Poe, not a ‘natural-born’ Filipino: Comelec Manila, Philippines | AFP | Wednesday 12/23/2015 – A leading contender for the Philippine presidency, Senator Grace Poe, could be barred from standing next year after the election commission ruled Wednesday she was not a “natural born” Filipino.

The neophyte politician, who topped the senatorial election in 2013, was a foundling with unknown parents who was adopted and raised by Philippine movie stars.

She went to study in the United States in the late 1980s and lived there until April 2005, although she briefly returned to the Philipines to help her father in the 2004 presidential election campaign.

“Seven members of the commission believed that Senator Poe is not a natural born citizen,” Commission on Elections chairman Andres Bautista said, adding she has five days to get the Supreme Court to stop the commission enforcing Wednesday’s ruling.

Under the constitution, a Philippine president must be a “natural born citizen—meaning a Filipino at birth, be able to read and write, be at least 40 years old and a resident of the country for 10 years before the vote.

Bautista said the commission also found Poe, 47, failed to comply with the 10-year residency requirement.

Poe, who for a time became a naturalised US citizen, returned to the Philippines when her movie star father Fernando Poe Jnr died seven months after being defeated in the May 2004 presidential election.

She vowed Wednesday to fight on.

“I am a Filipino and qualified to offer myself as president of our country. The (commission) cannot change that much less deprive our people of their right to choose our next leader,” she said in a statement.

She vowed to appeal to the Supreme Court, urging the magistrates to be “objective and fair in their discernment of my case”.

“Until the high tribunal’s final ruling is out, I remain a candidate for president of the Filipino people,” said Poe, who has also maintained she has renounced her US citizenship and fulfilled the residency requirement.

Bautista said Poe’s name “is in the ballot as we speak”, but would not say if it would be culled if the Supreme Court fails to issue an immediate injunction.

He said the commission has until January 20 to prepare the final list of candidates to be included in the May 9, 2016 ballot.

Poe was the clear front-runner when she announced her candidacy in September.

However, she lost her outright lead amid legal challenges to her candidacy.

A Social Weather Stations poll of 1,200 registered voters nationwide, also released Wednesday, found Poe level-pegging with Vice President Jejomar Binay at 26 percent.

President Benigno Aquino’s preferred successor, former interior secretary Manuel Roxas, was in third place at 22 percent, just ahead of Rodrigo Duterte, a southern Philippines mayor with a hardline stance against crime.

Wednesday - Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2015- Jan. 5, 2016

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OPINION

Can Chiz run without Grace Poe?

MANILA, Dec 26 (Mabuhay) – Can Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero still continue his vice presidential bid if his running mate, Senator Grace Poe, is disqualified to run for president?

Atty. George Garcia, Poe’s legal counsel, on Saturday answered in the affirmative even if their camp were to fail in securing a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Supreme Court after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc cancelled her certificate of candidacy (COC).

Garcia said the same is true for the senatorial candidates running under the banner of the independent presidential candidate, who is being questioned on issues of her citizenship and residency.

“Tuloy-tuloy po and pati po iyung ating mga napili na senatorial candidates na independent din po, tuloy-tuloy po lahat ang kanilang pagtakbo.

Hindi naman po kasi sila isang partido at hindi naman po naka-base sa presensya o kawalan ng isang kandidato for president,” Garcia explained.

The Comelec en banc earlier voted 7-0 that Poe is not a natural-born Filipino. The commission also voted 5-2 that Poe does not meet the ten-year residency requirement.

The senator will bring the matter all the way to the Supreme Court, which serves as the last resort for her name to still be included in the election balllots.

Garcia bemoaned the poll body’s failure to consolidate the cases against Poe. This, Garcia said, has required their camp to secure two separate TROs on the disqualification case

filed by lawyer Estrella Elamparo before Comelec’s second division; and the consolidated petitions of former Senator Francisco Tatad, former UE Law Dean Amado Valdez, and De La Salle University Professor Antonio Contreras before the first division.

“Kung dalawa po ang aming petisyon na kukuwestyunin, ibig sabihin dalawang petisyon po ang aming gagawin, dalawang beses po kaming pupunta sa Korte Suprema,” Garcia explained.

“Nangangahulugan po na kung saka-sakali e kami ay makakuha halimbawa ng TRO doon sa isang kaso, subalit hindi po kami makakuha ng TRO sa pangalawang kaso, nangangahulugan po iyun na matatanggal pa rin sa listahan ang pangalan ni Senadora Grace Poe.” The lawyer also questioned the timing of the Comelec’s release of the decisions on December 23, noting that they can only file their appeals before the high court on Monday, December 29. Thursday (December 24) and Friday (December 25) are holidays. The Comelec has said its decisions will be implemented if Poe fails to get relief from the high court within five calendar days.

Garcia urged the Comelec to wait for the high court’s decision on his client’s case.

“Kumbaga po, sinasaktan na kami. Sana naman po, huwag nang masyadong ituloy iyang pananakit na iyan. Siguro po ang pinakamagandang approach ng Comelec dito, huwag muna i-implement at hintayin ang aksyon ng Korte Suprema kung makakakuha ng TRO o hindi,” he said. (MNS)

SWS: Number of Filipinos who expect happy Christmas highest in 12 years MANILA, Dec 24 (Mabuhay) – Seven out of ten adult Filipinos expect a happy Christmas this year, the results of the Social Weather Stations Fourth Quarter Survey has shown.

The survey also found that almost eight out of ten Filipinos, or a record-high 77 percent of the respondents, believe it is better to give than to receive.

The poll conducted nationwide from December 5 to 8 showed that 72 percent of 1,200 respondents are expecting this Christmas to be happy. Only seven percent expect it to be sad, and 20 percent expect it to be neither happy nor sad.

“This is the highest Christmas happiness score in 12 years, since the 75% in 2003,” SWS said in a press statement.

The survey also found a record-high 77 percent of the respondents thinking “It is better to give” while only 20 percent believe “It is better to receive.”

The 77 percent is higher than the 75 percent in 2006 and 2014 who thought it was better to give than to receive. Twenty-three percent in 2006 and 2014 believed it was better to receive.

The poll showed that the there is a higher expectation of a happy Christmas for the givers than the receivers.

Among givers, the expectation of a happy Christmas was 75 percent, 10 points higher than the 65 percent expectation of a happy Christmas among the receivers.

Meanwhile, the expectation of a sad Christmas was 10 percent among receivers which was twice as high among givers (5 percent).

Most areas in the country expect a happier Christmas this year than the last, even those among the poor or Class E. The expectation of a happy Christmas rose by seven points in class E, from 65 percent in 2014 to 72 percent in 2015.

The survey also found out that the expectation of happy Christmas was highest among the youth.

“Expectation of a happy Christmas rose by eight

points among 18-24 years old, from 74 percent in 2014 to 82 percent in 2015. This is the highest in 22 years, since the 82 percent in 2003,” the SWS said in its report.

Over the past two years, the expectation of a happy Christmas rose across all education, according to the report.

It also stated that the sense of giving also rose in most areas even those from Class E and the youth but the stronger sense of giving comes from those with more formal education.

SWS said it first surveyed people’s expectation of a happy Christmas in 2002, when it scored an all-time high of 82 percent.

It went to 77 percent in 2003 before settling to 60s levels from 2004 to 2013, ranging from 62 percent to 69 percent.

It returned to the 70s level of 71 percent in 2014 and 72 percent in 2015.

The SWS said the items on expectation of a happy Christmas and sense of giving are non-commissioned and are included on SWS’s own initiative and released as a public service.

The survey used face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide, 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao (sampling error margins of ±3% for national percentages, ±6% each for Metro Manila, Balance of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao).

The area estimates were weighted by National Statistics Office medium-population projections for 2015 to obtain the national estimates.

The respondents were asked, on expectation of a happy Christmas: “Sa pangkalahatan, masasabi po ba ninyo na ang inyong Pasko ngayong taon ay magiging (READ OUT)? (MASAYA, MALUNGKOT, HINDI MASAYA AT HINDI RIN MALUNGKOT).”

On sense of giving, the question asked was: “Sa inyong opinyon, mas mabuti po bang magbigay o tumanggap ng regalo ngayon darating na pasko?

(MNS)

DSWD on spoiled Yolanda relief goods: ‘Heads will roll’ MANILA, Dec 23 (Mabuhay) – An official of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Wednesday assured that officials of the agency responsible for the spoilage of relief goods intended for the victims of super typhoon Yolanda will face administrative and criminal charges over the incident.

In a press briefing in Quezon City, DSWD Social Marketing Service director Cezario Joel Espejo said the team ordered by Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman to investigate the spoilage of the Yolanda relief goods had already came up with their initial findings about the incident.

“Meron na po tayong initial investigation findings kung sino ang mga may sala kaugnay sa insidenteng ito. Though hindi po muna namin pwedeng ilabas sainyo because the report is not yet complete,” Espejo told the media.

“Pero ina-assure po ng ating kalihim na kung sino man ang mga may sala ay mapapanagot.

Ine-ensure din po namin na yung mga kakulangan pagdating sa handling ng relief goods ay natutugunan na,” Espejo added.

Espejo said that while the team is still finalizing its report, some officials proven to be liable behind the incident will face charges.

“Sasampahan po natin ng kaso, both administrative and criminal charges,” Espejo said.

Soliman had earlier confirmed the findings of a Commission on Audit (COA) report saying that a total of P2.784-million worth of food packs meant for families affected by Yolanda went to waste due to spoilage attributed to “improper handling”.

Following the release of the COA report, Soliman ordered a thorough investigation on the incident early this year.

Yolanda hit the country on November 8, 2013,

killing more than 6,000 people and leaving thousands homeless and millions displaced.

Based on the 2014 COA report, a total of 7,527 family food packs composed of 95,472 assorted canned goods; 81 packs of noodles; and, 21 sacks of rice went to waste due to improper handling in Yolanda devastated areas, particularly in Central and Eastern Visayas.

To prevent a similar incident, Espejo said the DSWD launched early this year a mechanized system of repacking of relief goods.

“Hindi na po manual ang repacking of relief goods natin. We now have machines for faster and more organized repacking system. Right now, we can pack 15,000 boxes of relief goods daily,” Espejo said.

Espejo said that unlike before, when relief items were contained in plastic bags, “relief goods are now contained in sealed boxes”.

Espejo said that to further prevent spoilage, rice is now being packed in vacuum sealed containers before placing them the family relief boxes.

Meanwhile, DSWD Disaster Response Division chief Maricel Deloria said the agency has also recently changed the composition of the boxes to include items that have longer shelf life and more nutritional value.

“Inalis na po natin yung mga madaling mabulok and yung wala gaanong nutritional value such as instant noodles,” Deloria said.

Deloria said each relief box now includes six kilos of iron-fortified rice, coffee, sardines, corned beef and cereals.

“Sa ngayon inaaral parin natin ang nutritional contents ng mga relief items na isasama pa natin.

We intend to include more iron-fortified items,” Deloria said.(MNS)

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Seven tips to keep your heart healthy Wednesday December 23 2015 (Relaxnews) – New research published in the American Heart Association’s journal “Circulation: Heart Failure” has listed seven steps that people can take to reduce the risk of heart failure.

For 13 years, researchers at Boston University followed 3,201 participants with an average age of 59. During the study, 188 of the participants developed heart failure.

The researchers gave each patient a score based on the American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7 checklist for a healthy heart: – Manage blood pressure – Control cholesterol – Reduce blood sugar

– Get physically active – Eat better – Lose weight – Stop smoking The study found that for each one-point higher cardiovascular health score, there was a 23% lower risk of developing heart failure. Those in the middle third cut their risk of heart failure nearly in half and those in the top third reduced their risk even further.

“Even though there is awareness about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, many people don’t act on those messages,” said Vanessa Xanthakis, assistant professor of medicine at Boston University. “This study points to the importance of knowing your numbers and speaking to your

doctor about improving your score on each health metric and trying to get as close to ideal status as possible.”

The researchers found a link between not respecting these healthy heart measures and unhealthy changes in the heart’s structure and function. These changes appeared to put people at a greater risk of heart failure.

Previous research has shown that improving these measures reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. The same has now been done for heart failure, which one in five 40-year-olds has a chance of developing in their lifetime, according to the American Heart Association’s statistics.

At age 40, a person has a one in five chance of developing heart failure in their lifetime. ©kokouu/Istock.com

Children’s toys can affect language learning according to new study Thursday December 24 2015 (Relaxnews) – A US study has found that traditional children’s toys such as wooden puzzles, rubber blocks, and shapesorters are more effective in increasing the quantity and quality of language in young children than modern electronic toys that produce lights, words, and songs.

In the study, published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, a team of researchers from Northern Arizona University, USA, carried out a controlled experiment with 26 children aged

10 to 16 months old.

The children were given three different sets of toys, electronic, traditional, and books, for playtime with a parent their own home.

The sound of the playtime was recorded in the home using audio equipment for researchers to analyze later.

After listening to the recordings, the team found that when compared to playing with books and traditional toys, playing with the electronic toys decreased the quality and quantity of language used by both children and par-

ents, with fewer adults’ words, fewer parental responses, less contentspecific language, and less back-and-forth conversation.

Parents also used fewer words and less contentspecific words when playing with the traditional toys than with the books, however the authors noted that the largest and most consistent differences were between electronic toys and books, followed by electronic toys and traditional toys.

The researchers concluded that both book read-

ing and play with traditional toys are effective for facilitating language and encourage “a rich communicative interaction between parents and infants,” whereas playing with electronic toys, which are often promoted as being educational and are often more expensive than traditional toys and books, should be discouraged.

Limitations to the study, funded by a research grant from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation, include the small sample size and a lack of diversity in the

participants who were all of a similar race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status.

However the study still supports previous research, with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) releasing last year their first official policy on the benefits of reading to children in infancy.

Reading with young children “stimulates optimal patterns of brain development and strengthens parent-child relationships at a critical time in child development, which, in turn, builds language, literacy and social-emotional

skills that last a lifetime,” the AAP guidelines said.

The AAP also advised that the best kind of learning for children is through interactive play with humans and toys, not electronic gadgets and screens.

“We can stimulate greater brain development in these months and years,” commented Peter Richel, a fellow of the AAP, adding, “I do see earlier word recognition, earlier phrases and sentence formation, and singing – I always recognize that in those who are exposed to daily reading.”

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Maria Ozawa eyes new career, says PHL is new home

Maria Ozawa

The Japanese adult film sensation is shedding off her old image, as she eyes a new era in her career.

Maria Ozawa, previously known as a pornographic film actress in Japan, is now planning to establish

a long-term career in the Philippines, starting with her movie, Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry, ‘Nilalang.’

Ozawa said she’s hoping to start anew, even find love while in Manila.

“Adult industry isn’t an industry you can [stay in] forever,” Ozawa said.

She said that while she has no regrets joining the adult film industry, Ozawa laments that her career choice brought embarrassment to her family.

“It was really hard, industry or family? I was stuck in the middle for years,” she said.

“I’ve been handling that struggle over 10 years since the day I debuted,” added Ozawa.

The transformation had not been easy either.

Ozawa said adult film girls get spoiled a lot but “they don’t respect you” and that “in the backstage, they treat you like crap.”

And while plenty of men fantasize about her, Ozawa said she has yet to find the kind of love she wants. “[There is] this guy really hitting on me, and he really likes me [only for my] character, he’s staying around with me because I am Maria Ozawa,” Ozawa added.

“It’s hard to find a decent guy, now I have a second chance in the Philippines,” said Ozawa. (MNS)

Aiko Melendez admits seeing Spanish guy

Aiko Melendez

Actress Aiko Melendez admitted on Monday that she is now seeing a Spanish guy who may be the answer to her prayers.

Melendez, 40, said she met the 34-year-old guy who has “never been married” through a common friend.

“Wala pa kaming label, parang dating, dating lang,” Melendez said.

“He flies in and out of Manila, then Spain. Kasi yung main business nila sa Spain, then dito nagkoconstruct sila ng buildings.”

Because of their busy schedules, Melendez said they seldom see each other, although they do get to communicate regularly.

“Kasi nga busy ako, Baler ako lagi, so hindi kami nagkikita palagi kaya di ko masabi na mag-boyfriend kami. Ako lang ang kini-

kita niya, ako siya lang din naman, I guess it’s exclusively dating,” she said.

Melendez said the guy already introduced her to his parents as the “love of my live.”

Melendez, who has a son with former husband Jomari Yllana and a daughter with chef Martin Jickain, feels he might be the answer to her prayers.

She said she has been praying for someone who is responsible and who will love her children.

“Sanay ako sa sobrang intense na relationship na kailangan every day tatawag, every day magkikita, so binigyan ako ni Lord ngayon na maaring maging partner ko in the future na kalma lang, very secured na kahit di kami magkita madalas alam kong mahal niya ako,” she explained. (MNS)

Jericho thinks John Lloyd will win Best Actor Jericho Rosales is not expecting to win the Best Actor award for his performance in the movie “Walang Forever.”

Rosales said he’s already giving the award to his good friend, John Lloyd Cruz.

Cruz is the lead actor in the Erik Matti film “Honor Thy Father.”

“Ibibigay ko na kay pareng John Lloyd ‘yun.

Mabigat ‘yung pelikula niya,” he said. “I’m going to watch ‘Honor Thy Father’ dahil siyempre si Erik Matti ‘yan and si John Lloyd. Bagong partnership. John Lloyd is so excited about it. Ibang tema ‘yun eh.”

Rosales said he also does not want to put a pressure on him to win any award.

“We did our best, kaming dalawa ni Jennylyn (Mercado) so ayaw namin ng pressure. Gusto lang namin makita nila [’yung ginawa namin]. Confident kasi kami na magugustuhan ng tao ‘yung ‘Walang Forever.’ Mamahalin nila yun. Maganda ‘yung mate-

Jericho Rosales

rial talaga ‘yun lang ang masasabi ko,” he said.

Directed by Dan Villegas, the film is an official entry to the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival. It reunites Mercado with Villegas, who also helmed the hit “English, Only Please.”

The movie also features appearances from actor

Carlo Aquino, director Cathy Garcia-Molina, and “Rak of Aegis” stars Kim Molina and Jerald Napoles.

The film first made headlines when it was announced that JM de Guzman dropped out of the lead role due to scheduling conflicts. (MNS)

John Lloyd and Angelica Panganiban

John Lloyd speaks up on rumored break-up with Angelica In the past weeks, people have rarely seen John Lloyd Cruz and Angelica Panganiban together. This resulted in rumors saying they have ended their relationship.

Cruz clarified the issue, saying that he and Panganiban are still a couple and they were doing their own commitments for the past weeks.

Cruz starred with Bea Alonzo in the highest grossing local non-MMFF entry of all time “A Second Chance.” Panganiban, on the other hand, went on a solo trip to New York City.

According to Cruz, he

and his girlfriend are currently on the “work season” and that’s why they are rarely seen together.

“It’s a work season for us. It has been for quite a while mula ng mag-soap siya,” he said. “Ngayon lang siya nakakuha ng break dahil kailangan sa istorya nila, ako naman ng magpunta siya sa New York may tinatapos ako na pelikula.”

As for their wedding plans, the 32-year-old actor said that he is not yet thinking of it. He added that it will come in the right time.

“I’d like to believe na

walang ganoon. I’d like to believe na it’s going happen as organic as it’s happening in my head, parang kapag naramdaman mo at nandoon na ang moment, parang doon na lalabas.

Medyo ideal ako sa ganyang aspeto,” he shared.

Cruz stressed that he considers the opinion of his parents and Panganiban’s.

“Ang tingin ko doon dapat kung sino ang mapili na mahalin mo ay dapat mahalin din nila dapat, may blessing nila, dapat malinaw iyon sa pamilya at katanggap-tanggap,” he said. (MNS)

Myrtle Sarrosa

Who is Myrtle Sarrosa’s new suitor?

Six months after her breakup with Brian PoeLlamanzares, young actress Myrtle Sarrosa confirmed that she has a new suitor.

In an interview, Sarrosa was caught by surprise when asked about a young director who is courting her.

“May direktor po sa ABS-CBN na nagpaparamdam sa akin ngayon,” Sarrosa confirmed.

“Nagte-text, naghahatid ng food. Kasi lagi kong nakakalimutang kumain, especially kapag dire-diretso ang taping.

So minsan dumaraan lang siya pero I’ve never exactly worked with him. Parang binibigay lang niya ako ng onigiri kasi mahilig ako sa Japanese food,” she added.

Recently, an emotional Sarrosa narrated how Llamanzares apologized to her for their sudden breakup.

Sarrosa said she received a message from Llamanzares on Facebook on her birthday last December 7.

“For the past six months, hindi kami nag-uusap na.

But during my birthday, he messaged me, apologizing... Sabi niya sa akin na parang, ‘I’m sorry if I hurt you.’ Sabi niya sorry it took so long for him to message me,” she recalled.

Llamanzares was Sarrosa’s first boyfriend. (MNS)

Xian Lim

Xian Lim dispenses advice on love, marriage How do you know if you are ready to tie the knot?

For Xian Lim, who has been romantically linked to Kim Chiu, doesn’t believe in waiting for the right time.

“I think walang perfect timing sa kahit anong bagay,” the 26-year-old actor said at a bloggers conference on Tuesday for his upcoming movie “All You Need is Pag-ibig.” “Once maramdaman mo siya, you just have to go for it.”

Lim added that there are many factors one must consider before getting married. “Una sa lahat ‘yong foundation ninyo.

Dapat talagang kilala ninyo ‘yong isa’t isa ng sobra sobra,” he stressed.

He also feels that both parties must be financially stable to avoid many issues.

Despite this, he also believes that one must also follow one’s instincts to avoid having regrets.

“Kung nararamdaman niyo pareho na gustong gusto niyo nang magpakasal, then don’t hesitate,” he saod. “Mamaya sabihin niyo sayang naman hindi nangyari. Baka masulot pa.”

Meanwhile, Lim was also asked on how to keep the love burning and he said mutual growth is key.

“Other than the surprises and ‘yong makampante, you both have to grow with each other,” he said. “Kasi once na nagstay ka, tapos ‘yong isang isa nag-go-grow lang, doon mo mare-realize na what happened to our marriage?”

A entry to this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival, “All You Need Is Pag-ibig” also stars Kris Aquino, Jodi Sta. Maria, Ian Veneracion, Derek Ramsay, Pokwang, and James “Bimby” Yap Jr., as well as Julia and Talia Concio. (MNS)

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Hollywood celebrities speak out on migrant crisis

By Jocelyne Zablit

Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Thursday 12/24/2015 – As Europe grapples with its biggest migrant crisis in recent history, Hollywood celebrities are rallying to raise awareness about the issue and lashing out at calls to turn away refugees.

Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon this month became the latest star to arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos, a frontline for the crisis, where she is spending the Christmas holiday helping new arrivals and writing about her experience for the Huffington Post and RYOT.org, a virtual reality news company.

The 69-year-old actress, who is known for her support of humanitarian causes and is a goodwill

ambassador for the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), said she was trying to raise awareness on the crisis to honor her grandparents, who were Italian immigrants.

“I hope that I can make it possible for them (the refugees) to have a voice so we can understand,” she wrote in one posting.

“Understand that ‘these people’ are just like us, wanting to keep their children safe. Wanting them to have a future.”

The support by Sarandon and other celebrities comes against a backdrop of inflammatory remarks in the United States, where leading Republican presidential candidates and politicians have backed calls to prevent Muslims or Syrian refugees from entering the country.

Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump has also called for registering all Muslims in the US while his rival Ben Carson has said allowing Syrian refugees into the country was tantamount to exposing a neighborhood to a “rabid dog.”

Actor Mandy Patinkin, who plays CIA operative Saul Berenson on the hit television series “Homeland” and who visited Lesbos earlier this month, said such rhetoric only served to fan the flames of intolerance.

“This fear-mongering and hatred that’s going on by people running for the president of United States is so misguided,” he said during an appearance on the popular “Late Show” with Stephen Colbert.

“It is important that we

New York frets over homeless ‘explosion’

By Brigitte Dusseau

New York, United States | AFP | Thursday 12/24/2015 – It is America’s biggest city, home to world-famous sights from the Empire State Building to Broadway. For many it is synonymous with the American Dream.

But that is only one face of New York.

The other is the estimated 75,000 people, according to US Department of Housing and Urban Development figures, who are homeless in the Big Apple.

The Coalition for the Homeless, a non-profit organization, says that in recent years homelessness in the city has hit its highest levels since the 1930s Great Depression.

New York City Hall counts its numbers slightly differently, but either way, the homelessness issue is a growing embarrassment for Mayor Bill de Blasio, who stands accused by some of underestimating the scale of the problem.

Gilbert Taylor, commissioner of the Department of Homeless Services, became the latest high-ranking official to pay the price for failing to get a grip on what many New Yorkers say is a growing legion of homeless people in the city.

Another official resigned in September.

“It is a problem that now goes back in this city, 30 and 40 years,” de Blasio said, defending his record on the homeless and warning that “this will be a long fight, this is a challenge that will not be solved easily.”

He added: “More and more of our homeless are homeless for economic reasons, not because of substance abuse or mental

health problems.”

De Blasio, who called for a thorough review, highlighted the efforts of his administration to get people off the streets and into their own homes – a severe challenge in a city where wages have failed to keep pace with some of the highest rental prices in the world.

New York is legally required to provide housing for those without it.

City hall initiatives include a long-term plan to build apartments for the homeless – New York is legally required to provide housing for those without it – while in the near term there are additional shelter beds, longer hours for dropin centers and expanded outreach programs, among a raft of measures.

De Blasio pointed out that homelessness is by no means unique to New York and said that other cities across the United States, notably San Francisco and Los Angeles, have higher proportions of homeless.

But de Blasio’s critics point out that while across the United States the number of homeless is falling –from 647,258 in 2007 to 564,708 this year, according to a recent study by Department of Housing and Urban Development – New York appears to be going in the opposite direction.

‘Exploded’ Advocates say that New York’s homeless problem is something of a hidden scourge.

An estimated 3,0004,000 people sleep rough in parks, train or subway stations, or on sidewalks, according to official figures.

But there are tens of thousands of others – among them children of homeless

families – in temporary residences and shelters, city officials say.

New York Police Department Commissioner Bill Bratton last month said the situation “has exploded over the last two years” and suggested that de Blasio, in office since January 2014, had initially underestimated the scale of the problem.

“There’s a lot of folks who are in shelter by day, who you never see because they go to work. There’s a lot of folks who are in shelter by day, who you never see because they’re kids who go to school,” said de Blasio.

“But there are folks who are in shelter, and the typical practice has been to ask them to leave during the day and come back at night, and if they don’t have a productive place to go, it’s not surprising they’re on the street – and for a lot of people, that raises a concern.”

Another concern are the conditions that homeless families find themselves in.

On Monday, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer detailed the plight of families in shelters, in a highly critical official report.

“Over 23,000 homeless children in our city slept in nightmare conditions last night, many of them surrounded by peeling paint, some feeling the chill from broken windows, and others sharing space with vermin,” he said, hitting out at New York’s Department of Homeless Services (DHS).

Stringer, an independent elected official who oversees the functioning of municipal services, said that just 14 staff oversee 12,500 homeless families in shelters.

Japanese tire giant Bridgestone sweetens its offer for Pep Boys San Francisco, United States | AFP | Friday 12/25/2015 – Bridgestone raised its bid Thursday for US auto service chain Pep Boys, a merger that would catapult it to the ranks of top players in the US car maintenance business.

Bridgestone, already the world’s largest tire maker, increased its offer for the US company to $17.00 per share, from its last offer of $15.00. The boosted bid brings the total value of the deal to about $947

million, according to a press release from the two companies. Through the merger, Bridgestone would add Pep Boys’ 800 US locations, and car maintenance services, to its own 2,200 US outlets.

“In addition to our long and successful histories in this industry, Pep Boys and Bridgestone share a common vision for the future – to continue to build upon this 100-year foundation to form an even stronger company,

one that is renowned for its commitment to being the most trusted provider of automotive service in every neighborhood it serves,” said Stu Crum, president of Bridgestone Retail Operations.

Bridgestone’s sweetened bid leaves open the possibility of a counter offer from activist investor Carl Icahn, who reportedly wants to combine the retail sales side of Pep Boys with his Auto Plus car parts network of 2,300 outlets.

open up our arms and our hearts to refugees that are fleeing a horrifying situation.”

‘Need to reach out’ Actor Edward Norton has also spoken out on the migrant crisis and has raised nearly $460,000 on behalf of a Syrian refugee whose story prompted him to act.

The Syrian, a scientist who lost seven members of his family in a bombing two years ago—including his wife and a daughter – was featured on the website “Humans of New York” earlier this month.

The man has been living in Turkey for the past two years but is expected to move to the US state of Michigan.

“I saw this story on one of my favorite sites, Humans of New York, and it

moved me to tears,” said Norton, who has starred in films including “The Incredible Hulk,” “Fight Club” and Oscar-winning dark comedy “Birdman.”

“Let’s reject the ‘antihuman’ voices that tell us to fear refugees and show this man and his family what Americans are really made of,” he added.

British actor David Morrissey, best known for his role in the popular zombie series “The Walking Dead,” said it was essential for the world to act on the crisis.

“We can’t turn a blind eye to this,” said Morrissey following his trip this summer to Lesbos with the UN refugee agency (UNHCR).

“We need to reach out, to help, as we would want people to reach out and help us.”

Across Europe, A-listers are similarly rallying to the migrant cause.

In October, Oscar-nominated British actor Benedict Cumberbatch grabbed headlines after telling a theater audience in London “fuck the politicians” before making a despairing plea on behalf of the thousands of refugees arriving daily in Europe.

According to the UNHCR, more than one million migrants and refugees reached Europe this year, including 970,000 who made the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean.

US President Barack Obama has pledged to take in 10,000 Syrian refugees over the course of the next year, five times the number the US has taken in since 2012.

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MEMORIES THAT WILL LAST FOREVER.

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9

UTREACH

Gas leak in Porter Ranch forces relocation of thousands since October

By Jocelyne Zablit

Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Friday 12/25/2015 – A massive natural gas leak has forced the relocation of more than 2,000 families in a California community, with many reportedly falling ill from the noxious fumes spewing into the air since October.

Under a court-ordered settlement reached this week between the gas company and Los Angeles city attorneys, Southern California Gas (SoCal Gas) must find temporary housing within 72 hours for any residents of Porter Ranch who ask to be relocated.

As of Wednesday, the company said it had relocated 2,147 families in temporary housing, while hundreds more have left the area on their own.

The gated community, located some 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of downtown Los Angeles, sits near one of the largest natural gas storage fields in the United States, where a leak was detected on October 23.

SoCal Gas says it would take several more months to repair the leak at its

Aliso Canyon site, while insisting that it poses no danger to human health as methane dissipates quickly into the air.

But many families report falling ill from the fumes – with symptoms including nose bleeds and nausea – and have filed a class action suit against the company and pulled their children from area schools.

‘Potential health consequences’ Residents also fear that property values in the area – described by the local council as an idyllic “dream” community – will plummet because of the leak.

The Los Angeles city attorney earlier this month filed suit against SoCal Gas saying that no community “should have to endure what the residents of Porter Ranch have suffered from the gas company’s continued failure to stop the leak.”

“It’s not only the odor, it’s the potential health consequences from the long-term exposure to chemicals like benzene,” attorney Mike Feuer add-

ed.

According to the California Air Resources Board, the leak is releasing between 44,000 and 58,000 kilograms (97,000 and 127,000 pounds) of methane into the air per hour.

The last estimate on December 22 showed 30,300 kilograms of methane released per hour.

The board estimates that the leak is so large that it has increased the West Coast state’s greenhouse gas output by 25 percent – this in a state that prides itself on being an environmental leader nationwide.

The Federal Aviation Administration has meanwhile banned aircraft flights over the area as a precaution.

A spokesman for SoCal Gas told AFP that the company’s priority was to stop the leak while addressing the needs of the community and the environmental impact.

Michael Mizrahi said the relief well being drilled to intercept and plug the damaged well – at more than 8,000 feet underground – could be com-

pleted by late February or late March.

“The relief well drilling process is expected to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” he said. “A second relief well is being prepared as a backup operation, and drilling is expected to begin in January.”

He added the possibility of pumping fluids directly down the affected well to stop the flow of gas was also under consideration.

Attorney Matthew McNicholas, who has filed suit on behalf of several Porter Ranch families, said the gas company had acted recklessly by not informing the community immediately as to the nature and extent of the leak and by not implementing appropriate safety measures.

“SoCal Gas did not maintain their facility properly, leading to issues involving the health and safety of residents and the community at large,” he said in a statement.

“They created the conditions allowing the well to fail, causing children and families to suffer.”

Hyatt Hotels computers infected with malicious sofware US regulators push San Francisco, United States | AFP | Thursday 12/24/2015 – Hyatt Hotels on Wednesday revealed that it recently discovered malicious computer code on computers used for processing payments at locations it manages.

In a short statement, Hyatt did not disclose what, if anything, the cyber attack accomplished but said that the company immediately “launched an investigation and engaged leading third-party cyber security experts.”

Hyatt also said it strengthened the security of its systems and that “customers can feel confident using payment cards at Hyatt hotels worldwide.”

The hotel group advised customers, as a precaution, to watch payment card account statements for unauthorized charges.

Cyber threats blogger Brian Krebs at KrebsonSecurity.com said in an online post that “Hyatt

joins a crowded list of other hotel chains similarly breached in the past year.”

Hyatt competitors Hilton, and Starwood Hotels which operates the Sheraton and Westin chains, last month separately announced that payment systems had been targeted by hackers.

US hotel chain Hilton said that hackers infected some of its point-of-sale computer systems with malware crafted to steal credit card information.

Malicious code that infected registers at hotels had the potential to take cardholders’ names along with card numbers, security codes and expiration dates, Hilton said in an online post.

Starwood Hotels said that hackers had infected payment systems in some of its establishments, potentially leaking customer credit card data.

The hack occurred at a “limited number” of its hotels in North America,

according to Starwood, whose other well-known chains include St Regis and W Hotels.

The cyber attacks on Hilton and Starwood sounded similar to one disclosed earlier in the year by Trump Hotel Collection.

“We believe that there may have been unauthorized malware access to some of the computers that host our front desk terminals and payment card terminals in our restaurants, gift shops and other point-of-sale purchase locations at some hotels,” Trump Hotel Collection said at a website devoted to details of the incident.

Locations affected were listed as Trump SoHo New York, Trump National Doral, Trump International New York, Trump International Chicago, Trump International Waikiki, Trump International Hotel & Tower Las Vegas, and Trump International Toronto.

for distinction between online ads, articles San Francisco, United States | AFP | Wednesday 12/23/2015 – With marketers creating online ads that are meant to blend in as real news stories, US regulators are trying to make sure Internet users are able to differentiate the two.

Freshly released Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines are calling for advertisers to make it obvious that their advertisements aren’t unbiased articles.

“The FTC’s policy applies time-tested truth-inadvertising principles to modern media.” “People browsing the web, using social media or watching videos have a right to know if they’re seeing editorial content or an ad.”

Advertisements should make clear that they are sponsored marketing messages to provide perspective on how information should be weighed, according to the FTC.

Norovirus is on the rise in California SACRAMENTO – California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith today announced that California is experiencing an increase in norovirus cases, commonly referred to as stomach flu or winter vomiting disease. CDPH has confirmed 32 outbreaks of norovirus in California since Oct. 1, 2015 – likely resulting in hundreds of reported sicknesses in the state. These outbreaks far exceed the number reported at this time in 2014.

“One of the most important things you can do to avoid norovirus and other illnesses this holiday season is to wash your hands frequently with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds,” Dr. Smith said. “This is especially important after using the bathroom, changing diapers, and before preparing or eating food. Hand sanitizers are not effective against norovirus.”

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes gastroenteritis, an illness that usually involves vomiting and diarrhea. It is the most common cause of gastroenteritis in the United States, and is responsible for approximately 20 million illnesses each year, with 570-800 deaths reported annually. The virus can spread quickly in closed and crowded environments such as hospitals, nursing homes, daycare centers, schools, cruise ships and food service settings like restaurants.

People with norovirus are very contagious and can easily spread the illness from person to person. The virus may be found in both stool and vomit and ill persons can still be contagious up to two weeks or more after recovery. People can become infected in several ways, including: having direct contact with another person who is infected, eating food or drinking liquids contaminated with norovirus, or touching contaminated surfaces or objects and then touching your mouth.

It is particularly important for ill persons to practice good handwashing and to avoid preparing food for others while they are sick and for at least 48 hours after symptoms are no longer present, as to prevent norovirus from spreading. Food workers should not work while they are sick and for 48 hours after symptoms stop. Persons caring for someone who may have norovirus disease should be particularly careful about handwashing and cleaning contaminated surfaces and materials.

Symptoms usually begin 12 to 48 hours after the person has been exposed to the virus and last for one to three days. The most common symptoms include vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and stomach cramps.

Other symptoms may include low-grade fever, headache and body aches. Norovirus symptoms can lead to dehydration, especially in young children, older adults and people with other illnesses.

Safe food handling practices can prevent the spread of norovirus and other infectious diseases. In addition to washing your hands after every bathroom visit, this includes washing fruits and vegetables before eating, cleaning and disinfecting food preparation equipment and surfaces, and thoroughly cooking all meats, fish and poultry.

The CDPH website has more information about norovirus.

Life and Leisure News for Filipino-Americans Mag

Tayo!

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KITCHENOMICS

FAMILY FEATURES

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11

MOTORING Could 2016 be the beginning of the end of the auto show as we know it?

Friday December 25 2015 (Relaxnews) – As the US gets ready to host the first official international auto show of the new year in the heart of its Motor City (Detroit), the list of carmakers choosing to pass on the event is almost as long as the list of new cars expecting to make their debut.

When the North American International Autoshow opens its doors to the public on January 11, it will do so without Jaguar, Land Rover, Mini or McLaren.

That doesn’t mean that the show will be a disappointment – the new Mercedes E Class, one of the marque’s most important cars, will be making its global debut, as will the new Porsche 911 Turbo.

However, as the list of attendees at this year’s event has contracted, the

number of car companies heading to the International CES – a trade show for consumer electronics – has never been longer.

“Ford was the first automaker to have a significant presence at CES nine years ago, and we are proud to continue that legacy of innovation in 2016,” said Mark Fields, President and CEO of Ford Motor Company. “CES is the perfect venue for sharing news on our efforts to change the way the world moves and provide new solutions in the areas of connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience and data and analytics.”

As well as a headline sponsor in the shape of Ford, Audi will be demonstrating its productionready semi-autonomous car, Volkswagen will

be showing off a plugin electric reimagining of its iconic Microbus campervan and BMW is expected to raise the roof on a convertible version of its ultra high-tech i8 environmentally-friendly supercar.

January’s CES will also be the venue where Toyota formally outlines its plans for artificial intelligence and gives its first demonstrations of connected vehicle and telematics systems.

All of which means that as the convergence between high-tech and cars continues apace, the motor show as we know it could be coming to an end. There has not been an official auto show in the UK for a decade due to the high cost of attendance – £5 million per car company, plus the small European market share

Ford returns to CES 2016 with Ford GT as official show vehicle. ©Ford Motor Company

the country represents.

It’s also likely that other shows that were once an integral part of the calendar could soon go the same way.

As well as Detroit, the US hosts the Chicago, New York and LA auto shows every year while in Europe, which is just

as large a market, there are only two shows a year: Geneva and, for 2016, Paris.

Over the past 12 months, Volvo has been experimenting with different digital ways of reaching and interacting with customers – from virtual reality headsets to

virtual, online showrooms — while at the same time drastically reducing the number of car shows it attends. Ironically, Detroit is one of only three shows that Volvo will attend in 2016.

However, expect the company to be at the International CES as well.

Ford and Google could team up to produce autonomous cars by 2020

This self-driving Ford Fusion is in the test phase at Mcity, Michigan in the US.©Ford

Tuesday December 22 2015 (Relaxnews) – Ford and Google could announce a self-driving car partnership at CES 2016 in Las Vegas, reports Yahoo! Autos.

It’s reported that this new joint venture would begin production of a 100% autonomous car by 2020. This partnership could be announced at CES 2016, which will be held in Las Vegas in the US from January 6 to

9. It’s worth noting that the former Ford CEO Alan Mulally has been a member of Google’s board since 2014. The door is also open to other manufacturers to work together on this ambitious project to which Google will contribute all its leadingedge technology, while Ford has the facilities to mass produce this type of vehicle.

While Google has been testing its self-driving

cars in California, Florida, Michigan and Nevada for a long time, Ford decided to put its research into practice in the streets of Mcity, a 32-hectare simulated city built on the University of Michigan’s campus, in Ann Arbor. This car operates using numerous sensors which explore its surrounding environment within a range of several tens of meters, and are able to detect the smallest

obstacles, including other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, animals, etc.

The various prototypes of entirely autonomous cars developed by Google have proven to be extremely reliable and relatively safe, with only 11 minor accidents recorded for nearly 3 million kilometers traveled in 6 years. None of these incidents were directly attributable to the autonomous car.

12

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POE FAILED

From page 1

tista, however, agreed with the commissioners in saying that the senator does not meet either requirement.

Bautista wrote two separate opinions for the rulings—a three-page concur-

Wednesday - Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2015- Jan. 5, 2016

LOS ANGELES

ring and dissenting opinion on the First Division ruling, and a 53-page opinion on the Second Division’s.

The poll body chief said Poe did not commit material misrepresentation on either citizenship or residency.He

voiced disagreement with the Second Division ruling, which granted the petition of lawyer Estrella Elamparo on the basis of Poe’s misrepresentation about her citizenship in her COC for president.

THE US ASIAN POST

BULLYING

From page 1

Christmas and the holidays thus giving her very little and difficult time to seek redress in the Supreme Court.

Escudero said the Comelec was also bullying Poe by claiming to have the power to decide over her qualifi-

cation to run “when in fact only the Supreme Court can, either sitting en banc or as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, decide with finality on such issues.”

“Christmas is always a time for loving, sharing and

giving. And it seems that the Comelec has imbibed the Christmas spirit by loving and sharing and being giving to the opponents of Sen. Poe but not to her, not to us, and certainly not to the Philippine electorate,”

strength in continuing to ensure we have a nation that is always free to speak its mind,” he added.

Magsanoc reportedly died on Christmas Eve at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. No information has been released yet as regards to the cause of her death.

In breaking the news to

the public through a statement posted on its website, Thursday evening, the Inquirer said: “The country has lost a bedrock of journalism.

And we, the Inquirer family and her family in the profession, feel the incalculable loss of a well-loved leader, a mentor, a friend. We pray for strength in this hour of bereavement.” (MNS)

free from disaster-traps that knock back the poorest and most vulnerable,” he added.

Super Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines in November 2013, one of the strongest ever storms to hit land, leaving more than 7,350 people dead or missing.

Total damage and losses reached 571.1 billion pesos ($12.9 billion), cutting economic growth by about 0.9 percent in 2013, and another

0.3 percent in 2014, pushing about 2.3 million people below the poverty line as a result, the bank said.

Typhoons Koppu and Melor, the two latest extreme weather events that hit the Philippines this year, claimed nearly 100 lives combined according to official counts.

It is the second time the World Bank has given the country money to help deal with such catastrophes.

fraudsters is covering the space with commercially available glossy or metallic paper.

These are just a couple of the practices employed by fraudsters as observed by the BSP in recent months.

Genuine banknotes with fake security thread automatically lose their value and are considered fake as well, the BSP said.

“In view of this, the public is advised to be extra vigilant to the new trick / modus

operandi of counterfeiters,” it added.

The BSP advised consumers who may come across this type of counterfeit banknote to surrender it before the Currency Issue and Integrity Office at the Cash Department of the central bank along East Avenue in Diliman, Quezon City.

Consumers may also surrender the counterfeit banknotes to the nearest BSP branch or regional office. (MNS)

EDITOR

From page 1

“To her loved ones and colleagues, you are not alone: we are all called to living up to her courageous example, one that will continue to inspire all of us to fight for freedom by ensuring we have a discerning and informed public,” President Aquino said.

“May she rest in peace and her example lend us

WB LOANS

From page 1

and damage.

The country is also highly exposed to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. “Financial shocks caused by natural disasters undermine economic growth and poverty reduction,” said Philippine finance secretary Cesar Purisima.

“This is the environmental equivalent of the middle income trap. Governments need to be agile in mobilising resources if we are to break

FAKE PESO

From page 1

and transferring it onto counterfeit money, particularly the P500 and P1,000 bills. The WST is vertical broken band that appear like thick silver stitches on banknotes. “This is done by pasting the extracted genuine WST on counterfeit P500 and P1,000 banknotes,” the central bank said.

The missing security thread on genuine bills is then simulated by using a ballpen filled with semigloss ink. Another trick