Weekend Balita January 08, 2016

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VOL. XXIII, NO. 49

LOS ANGELES

January 9 - 15, 2016

THE LEADING SOURCE OF NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR FILIPINO-AMERICANS

China plane landings raise tensions: US Washington says recent landing on contested reef in South China Sea promotes instability

$)3 KDV EUDQG QHZ WUXFNV WR EH XVHG LQ FRPEDW RSV GLVDVWHU UHVSRQVH MANILA, Jan. 6 (Mabuhay) – The military has acquired over 700 brand new trucks that are expected to boost its mobility in the conduct of operations against various threat groups. Of the 717 KM450 trucks ordered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, 327 have already been delivered, said Army spokesman Col. Benjamin Hao on Wednesday. The trucks were acquired from South Korean Ă€rm KIA Motors for P1.93 billion, Hao said. Of the 327 trucks, 219 will go to the Army while the rest will be given to the Air Force and Navy, Hao said. “Right now, they are undergoing Ă€nal technical inspection,â€? Hao said, adding the vehicles will be subjected to a 1,000-kilometer road test as part of the inspection. The rest of the trucks are expected to be delivered before the end of January, Hao said. Aside from operations against threat groups, the trucks will also be used in disaster response. See NEW TRUCKS, page 8

Washington, United States | AFP | Thursday 1/7/2016 – China’s recent landing of aircraft on a contested reef in the South China Sea is raising tensions and promoting instability in the region, the Pentagon warned Thursday.

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A Department of Defense spokesman said three civilian Ă ights are now believed to have landed on one of the islands, corroborating Chinese state media reports that three civilian aircraft have landed on Fiery Cross reef in the disputed Spratlys island group.

See TENSION, page 8

Hillary Clinton launches 3HPEHUWRQ Âż OHV DSSHDO WR UHYHUVH AAPI for Hilary in San Gabriel FRQYLFWLRQ

The lawyer representing a US Marine found guilty of killing a transgender Filipina Àled an appeal on Wednesday seeking to reverse his conviction. Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton was convicted of homicide last month by an Olongapo court in a case that reignited long-simmering anti-American sentiment in the country. The American’s lawyer Rowena Garcia-Flores also Àled a separate motion seeking a reduced sentence for the marine in the event that the acquittal is not granted.

See PEMBERTON, page 8

Pacquiao ‘to retire’ after Bradley Âżght

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General Santos, Philippines | AFP | Tuesday 1/5/2016 – Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao said he would end his legendary career after Ă€ghting Timothy Bradley in April to concentrate on his political career, dousing hopes for a rematch with Floyd Mayweather. The winner of an unprecedented eight world titles, who has Ă irted with the idea of running for president, said he was confident of winning a senate seat in the May elections. Pacquiao is facing American welterweight Bradley for the third time on April 9, after losing to his biggest rival Mayweather in the sport’s richest Ă€ght in May last year. “I am retiring from boxing to concentrate on my political career.

“They forget a fundamental lesson about our great country. Being an open and tolerant society does not make us vulnerable. It’s at the core of our strength.� With these words, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton slammed the supposed “hateful rhetoric� of Republican presidential candidates before a well-attended gathering of Asian-Americans in a hotel in the town of San Gabriel, a suburb of Los Angeles. Clinton went on to attack her Republican rivals by going back to the Great Recession that happened at the end of the administration President George W. Bush. “Make no mistake about it. What we are hearing from all them (Republican candidates) is the same failed policies that led to the Great Recession. They want to slash taxes on the wealthy. Put consumers at the mercy of drug companies� Clinton went on, claiming that the economy “does better when you have a Democratic president.� “In fact, you are four times more likely to have a recession when you

See PACQUIAO, page 8

See HILLARY, page 8

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Weekend Balita, Sat.-Fri., January 9 - 15, 2016

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Attorney Paul Allen answers questions on creditor harassment and bankruptcy protection. Q: Creditors are harassing me but I lost my job, and cannot pay. How do I stop them calling? A: If you cannot pay your bills, creditors will take steps to collect. That’s natural, but continued harassment can be emotionally depressing. If you have lost your job, or simply cannot cope, because debts have grown to the point where you have to choose who gets paid this month, and who doesn’t, then you need to consider the beneÀts of Àling a bankruptcy. Q: Will a bankruptcy stop collection agencies from calling me? A: Yes, Àling a bankruptcy protects you from creditor harassment, and provides peace of mind. Creditors will not contact you if you Àled bankruptcy and have an attorney representing you. Otherwise they risk being cited for contempt of federal court, something they will not risk. Another reason to consider a bankruptcy now, even if you do not have assets to protect, is that after a bankruptcy, you can immediately begin the process of repairing your credit. This usually takes between 6 to 12 months, so an early start will get you there faster. Q: I have just received a summons from a creditor. Is it too late to Àle a bankruptcy? A: No. When you Àle for bankruptcy, an automatic stay goes into effect immediately stopping any lawsuit filed against you and any action against your property by a creditor, collection agency or government entity. This can be very important, Especially if you are at risk of being evicted or foreclosed on, being found in contempt for failure to pay child support or losing such basic resources as utility services, welfare or unemployment Here is how the bankruptcy Àling affects some common emergencies: Utility disconnections. If you’re behind on a utility bill and the company is threatening to disconnect your water, electric, gas or telephone service, the automatic stay will prevent the disconnection for at least 20 days. Bankruptcy will also discharge the past due debts for utility service. Although the amount of a utility bill itself rarely justiÀes a bankruptcy Àling, preventing electrical service cutoff might be justiÀcation enough. Q: Will Àling a bankruptcy stop the foreclosure on my home? A:If your home mortgage is being foreclosed on, the automatic stay temporarily stops the proceedings, but the creditor will often be able to proceed with the foreclosure sooner or later. If you are facing foreclosure and wish to save your home, Chapter 13 bankruptcy is the appropriate

remedy because it provides for a repayment plan on the arrears. Q: Can a bankruptcy stop an eviction? A: No, under the new rules, a bankruptcy will not stop a court ordered eviction, but it will prevent a landlord from seeking to evict you, at least for a while, perhaps just enough time to Ànd somewhere else to live. However, don’t Àle for bankruptcy solely because you’re being evicted. You’ll probably be better off looking for a new place to live or Àghting the eviction in Municipal court instead. Remember, the main idea behind bankruptcy is to discharge debt. Q: Will bankruptcy protect me; I’m behind in my child support payments? A: If you owe child support or alimony, bankruptcy will not interrupt your obligation to make current payments. And while the automatic stay will temporarily stop proceedings to collect back support you owe, usually the bankruptcy court will permit collection to go forward if the creditor requests it. In any event, these debts will survive bankruptcy intact and will have to be paid once the case is closed. Chapter 13, however, lets you pay the back support as part of the repayment plan. Q: A creditor is garnishing my wages. Will bankruptcy help me? A: Yes. Although no more than 25% of your wages may be taken to satisfy a court judgment (up to 65% for child support and alimony), many people Àle for bankruptcy to protect their income. For some people, any loss of income is devastating. Your employer may also get angry at the expense and hassle of facilitating a succession of garnishments and take it out on their employees. Although federal law prohibits you from being Àred for one garnishment, an employer can Àre you for multiple garnishments. Filing for bankruptcy stops garnishments dead in their tracks. Not only will you take home a full salary, but you also can discharge the debt in bankruptcy. If you need help in resolving your Ànancial problems, easing that debt load, and want to improve your credit scores, call the bankruptcy lawyer that people trust. Call the Law OfÀces of Paul M. Allen, at 818-334-5445 and 818-552-4500 and schedule a free consultation. With three convenient locations to serve you in Glendale, Cerritos and La Palma.

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Pia Wurtzbach a bridesmaid at Pauleen Luna’s wedding The full list of names included in the entourage for the upcoming wedding of television host Vic Sotto and actress Pauleen Luna has been revealed. Among the principal sponsors are Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Carmencita Garcia, Tony Tuviera and wife Madeleine Tuviera, comedian Joey de Leon, and Dr. Salvacion Gatchalian. Ruby Rodriguez will be the wedding’s matron of honor, while Franchesca Que will be Luna’s maid of honor. Sotto’s son with award-winning actress and producer Coney Reyes, Vico, will be the best man. Sotto’s siblings—Val and Maru—

are among the groomsmen, along with Anjo Yllana, Wally Bayola, Jose Manalo and Paolo Ballesteros. Luna’s bridesmaids, meanwhile, include Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach. Here is the full list of the wedding entourage: Principal sponsors: Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and Carmencita Garcia, Tony Tuviera and wife Madeleine Tuviera, comedian Joey de Leon and Dr. Salvacion Gatchalian. Matron of Honor: Ruby Rodriguez Maid of Honor: Franchesca Que Best Man: Vico Sotto Groomsmen: Val Sotto, Maru Sotto, Anjo Yllana, Wally Bayola, Jose

Sotto admits budget for contraceptives scrapped MANILA, Jan 7 (Mabuhay) – Senator Vicente Sotto III on Monday admitted that the budget meant for the purchase of contraceptives for poor couples was scrapped from the 2016 national budget. Health Secretary Janette Garin earlier said the P1 billion allocation for contraceptives was deleted from the budget during the bicameral conference. Garin said she only learned of the budget cut on Monday. She particularly blamed the Senate for the deletion. Sotto, a staunch opponent of the RH Law, said the budget for contraceptives was indeed deleted, but he said the budget for the rest of the programs under the RH Law remains in the budget of the DOH. “The budget of the DOH is P123 billion. RH budget is scattered all over that budget total. What was deleted was a mere small portion of their allocation for contraceptives including condoms and injectables that are considered abortifacients and in fact, covered by the Supreme Court TRO against the purpose of such. Less than P200 million that was cut was transferred by the Committee on Finance to augment the budget of State Universities and Colleges,” he said. “Do not be a victim of disinformation. For the record, I am now in favor of the RH Law after we passed it because we made sure it was [cleansed] of abortion, population control and the use of abortifacients.” Foreign and local authorities have long cited the need for improved birth control in the Philippines which has one of Asia’s highest birth rates as well as high maternal mortality rates. The country has a population well over 100 million with about 25 percent living in poverty. It was only in 2014 that the Supreme Court Ànally upheld a “reproductive health” law, striking down more than a dozen petitions against it from church-backed groups. The law requires government health centers to supply free condoms and birth control pills, as well as mandating sex education in schools. It also requires that public health workers receive family planning training, while medical care after an abortion will also be legalized. Nearly 80 percent of the population is Catholic, an inheritance of three centuries of Spanish colonial rule that ended in the late 1800s. The Catholic church opposes birth control and abortion and its hold is strong in the Philippines where divorce and abortion are illegal. Garin said the department would now seek private donors to provide funds for contraceptives. SOTTO CAUSED DELETION

OF CONTRACEPTIVES BUDGET: SOURCES Congressional sources told ABSCBN News that Sotto caused the deletion shortly before the Senate approved their version of the budget. The Senate approved their version of the budget with just 13 senators in session—the minimum required for a quorum. Thus, the absence of just one of the 13 would have forced the adjournment of the session and the derailment of the passage of the entire bill. The senators who voted for the approval of the proposed 2016 national budget include Senate President Franklin M. Drilon, Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, Deputy Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, and Senators Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, Nancy Binay, Pia Cayetano, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Francis Escudero, TeoÀsto Guingona III, Loren Legarda, Sergio Osmeña III, Grace Poe and Antonio Trillanes IV. Legarda chairs the Ànance committee which sponsored the budget in the Senate. Rep. Isidro T. Ungab (3rd District, Davao City) is the chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations. Previously, Ungab cited there were four substantial changes, restorations and augmentations in HB 6132 that were reÁected in the bicam report namely: an increase of P1.2 billion in the budget for indigent senior citizens; an increase in the budget of state universities and colleges (SUCs) by P2.7 billion to cover their capital outlays; the veterans’ pension totaling P4.7 billion was sustained; and provision of P7 billion to fully fund the Salary Standardization Law (SSL) of 2015 for its Àrst tranche of implementation next year. The bicameral report provides for a total programmed new appropriations of P2.071 trillion and unprogrammed funds of P67.5 billion. The Top 10 agencies in terms of budgetary allocations are: Department of Education (DepEd) P411.905 billion; Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) P384.287 billion; Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) P124.229 billion; Department of Health (DOH) P123.510 billion; Department of National Defense (DND) P117.521 billion; Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) P110.816 billion; Department of Agriculture (DA) P48.447 billion; State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) P47.414 billion; Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) P42.680 billion; and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) P28.492 billion. The annual national budget is a regular deliverable of Congress.

Manalo, and Paolo Ballesteros. Bridesmaids: Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, Anne Margaret Luna, Leah Camille Agcaoili, and Mara Isabel Sotto. Secondary sponsors: Danica Sotto and Marc Pingris (veil), Oyo Sotto and Kristine Hermosa (cord). Ring Bearer: Jean Michel Pingris Coin Bearer: Kristian Daniel Sotto Bible Bearer: Alessandro Jose Sotto Rosary Bearer: Marciano Dominico Antonio Flower Girls: Ryzza Mae Dizon, Anielle Micaela Pingris, Ondrea Bliss Sotto. (MNS)

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SACRAMENTO, CA (January 7, 2016) – On Thursday, California Governor Jerry Brown released a proposed budget for the 2016–17 budget year. Mayra E. Alvarez, the new President of The Children’s Partnership, responds on behalf of The Children’s Health Coverage Coalition: “We are pleased that the budget reflects the Governor’s continued commitment to health for all children in California, regardless of immigration status. Children enrolled in health coverage are more likely to graduate from high school and contribute to our state’s economy. “We urge the Administration to ensure timely implementation of coverage with a May 1 start date. The health of children cannot wait. We look forward to continuing to work with the Department of Health Care Services to clearly communicate this

new enrollment opportunity to families and to reach every uninsured child in California. “As the budget deliberations continue over the next several months, we also call on Governor Brown, the Legislature, and interested stakeholders to Ànalize the Managed Care Organization tax deal in order to move forward with important health priorities, including Medi-Cal provider rate increases. With more than half of California children enrolled in Medi-Cal, we need to ensure there are enough doctors, dentists, and specialty providers to give children the services they need in a timely manner. By increasing Medi-Cal provider rates, which are currently among the lowest in the country, we will encourage providers to participate in the Medi-Cal program so children can access care when they need it.”

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Weekend Balita, Sat.-Fri., January 9 - 15, 2016

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&2$ KLWV VORZ UHKDE ZRUNV LQ DUHDV California allots budget to provide Dႇ HFWHG E\ %RKRO TXDNH <RODQGD health coverage for all children MANILA, Jan. 6 (Mabuhay) – The Commission on Audit (COA) has called on the attention of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) over the slow implementation of recovery and rehabilitation projects in areas affected by the 2013 Bohol earthquake and super typhoon Yolanda. Based on an annual audit report recently published on its website, the COA said that of the 1,079 rehabilitation projects earlier identiĂ€ed to be part of the DILG’s Bohol Earthquake Assistance (BEA) program, only 12 have been completed as of the end of 2014. “Of the 1,079 projects with Bohol Earthquake Assistance (BEA) fund allocation of P2.413 billion, only 12 with a total cost of P3.139 million were completed as of December 31, 2014 due to delayed downloading of fund by the Bohol Provincial Government to the municipalities,â€? the state audit body said. The same report further revealed that of the total of 323 identified projects under the P1.778-billion Rehabilitation Assistance on Yolanda (RAY) – Batch 1, only 138 were completed as of December 31, 2014. “Despite the full release of P1.778 billion for Rehabilitation Assistance for Yolanda Victims (RAY) - Batch 1 to the regions within the first semester of the year, only 138 or 42.72 percent out of the 323 targeted projects were completed while no accomplishments were reported for the projects under RAY-Batch 2 because fund was released only in June 2015,â€? the COA report read. The DILG is the lead agency tasked to implement both the BEA and RAY programs. Bohol Earthquake Assistance Based on the COA’s records, the P2.413-billion fund for the BEA projects was released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to the DILG Regional OfĂ€ce 7 on May 2014 under special allotment release order (SARO) No. BMB-D-14-0006009. The COA noted that the DBM also released an additional P72.4 million to the DILG Central OfĂ€ce for “administrative expensesâ€? relative to the implementation of the projects. The COA, however, revealed that while the DILG Regional OfĂ€ce 7 was able to transfer the P2.413 billion funds to the Bohol provincial government in August 2014, only P359.504 million was actually released to the

affected municipalities as of end of 2014. “As of December 31, 2014, of the total amount transferred to the Province of Bohol, only P359.504 million or 15 percent was released to the affected LGUs leaving an unreleased balance of P2.03 billion or 85 percent,â€? the COA said in its report. The state audit body pinned the blame on the Bohol provincial government, saying it was the one responsible for the downloading of funds to its localities. The COA further pointed out that the provincial government was also the one that drew up the Post Great Bohol Earthquake Rehabilitation Plan, which serves as the guidelines for the implementation of the BEA projects. A 7.2-magnitude quake hit Bohol and some part of Cebu province in October 2013. Three weeks later, on November 8, Typhoon Yolanda devastated Eastern and Central Visayas, especially the provinces of Samar, Leyte, Bohol and Cebu. Based on the allocations for the BEA program, P789.05 million was earmarked for the construction of 70 municipal halls in Bohol and eight municipal halls in Cebu, while P419.39 was allocated for the construction of public markets. A total of P380.99 million was also allocated for the construction of barangay facilities; P322.11 for the restoration of water supply; P269.19 for the construction of bridges; and P232.61 million for the construction of civic centers. However, the COA said based on its updated records, the Ă€nished BEA projects as of 2014 only included Ă€ve barangay facilities, two public markets, two water supply projects, two civic centers, and one municipal hall. The COA noted that not a single bridge was completed for the entire 2014. It noted that while 85 percent or P20.3 million out of the P23.86 million total allocation for Cebu was already distributed to the municipalities of Alcoy, Alegria, Argao, Boljoon, Carcar, Dalaguete, Moalboal, Samboan, and Sibonga, only two of the 13 identiĂ€ed projects were completed in 2014. In the case of Bohol, the COA said that only 10 projects were completed in 2014, while 73 were still listed as “on-going construction,â€? 316 were under bidding process and 667 were still under the “program of work stage (PWS)â€? or more commonly referred as the planning stage.

SACRAMENTO, CA (January 7, 2016) – On Thursday, California Governor Jerry Brown released a proposed budget for the 2016–17 budget year. Mayra E. Alvarez, the new President of The Children’s Partnership, responds on behalf of The Children’s Health Coverage Coalition: “We are pleased that the budget reĂ ects the Governor’s continued commitment to health for all children in California, regardless of immigration status. Children enrolled in health coverage are more likely to graduate from high school and contribute to our state’s economy. “We urge the Administration to ensure timely implementation of coverage with a May 1 start date. The health of children cannot wait. We look forward to continuing to work with the Department of Health Care Services to clearly communicate this

new enrollment opportunity to families and to reach every uninsured child in California. “As the budget deliberations continue over the next several months, we also call on Governor Brown, the Legislature, and interested stakeholders to Ă€nalize the Managed Care Organization tax deal in order to move forward with important health priorities, including Medi-Cal provider rate increases. With more than half of California children enrolled in Medi-Cal, we need to ensure there are enough doctors, dentists, and specialty providers to give children the services they need in a timely manner. By increasing Medi-Cal provider rates, which are currently among the lowest in the country, we will encourage providers to participate in the Medi-Cal program so children can access care when they need it.â€?

&ROOHJHV XQLYHUVLWLHV LQ &$ UHFHLYH RYHU KDOI D ELOOLRQ GROODU ERRVW Administration says commitments to student success must be kept Governor Jerry Brown’s 2016-17 budget proposal increases funding for the state’s public colleges and universities by $596 million while making ongoing investments in access and student success. The Governor proposes encouraging investments in California Community Colleges, including expanding enrollment funding by 2% to serve an additional 50,000 students, $248 million for programs that support career technical education and student transition to the workforce, and $25 million for Innovation Awards to – among other things – improve transfer pathways. Particularly encouraging is the $30 million proposal to continue investment in better preparing students for college level work. The budget proposal adds $174 million from the General Fund to the University of California (UC) and $151 million to the California State University (CSU) budgets. For the Ă€fth year in a row, the Administration expects the UC and CSU to hold tuition Ă at for students. The Governor is also very clear that delivering on commitments to improve time to degree, transfer, and remedial education are key to future funding for the state’s universities. “We applaud Governor Brown for proposing more money for California colleges and universities with the expectation that they maintain affordability, signiĂ€cantly improve student success, and close persistent gaps by race and ethnicity,â€? said Jessie Ryan, executive vice president of the Campaign for College Opportunity. The budget includes no new increases to the state’s Ă€nancial aid program, but does provide the funding necessary for an increase in the number of students eligible for the competitive Cal Grants (as determined by the 2015 budget), as well as funding for continued implementation of the Middle Class Scholarship. “Reinvestment in higher education, holding our colleges and universities accountable for expanding access, and ensuring more students graduate is good news for California. What we need now is a bold, visionary statewide plan for higher education that can guide investment and align our colleges and universities

around goals over time. Students and our state deserve a sustainable vision for success that goes beyond the limitations of the annual budget process,â€? said Ryan. Bonta Responds to Governor’s Proposed Budget Meanwhile, Filipino-Amerocan Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Oakland) said “California’s recent budgets have successfully moved our state from the depths of recession, giving the Legislature and Governor a Ă€scally sound foundation from which to lift up California’s children, working families, and those in deep poverty.â€? Bonta said, “The investments made by the Governor’s proposal in early childhood education are laudable, but insufĂ€cient given the well-documented life-changing impact of preschool on children from low-income communities. As housing costs continue to skyrocket, working families and those on Ă€xed incomes are being forced out of their homes and neighborhoods and require greater support.â€? On health care coverage for all children, the Fil-Am legislator said “our poorest Californians who rely on Medi-Cal for their health, as well as other critical safety net programs, continue to struggle with access to the services they need to survive. We can and we must do more. I look forward to additional discussion with the Governor and working with my colleagues in the Assembly and the Senate to craft a Ă€nal budget that lifts up all in California.â€? Bonta represents the 18th Assembly District, which includes the cities of Oakland, Alameda, and San Leandro. Bonta Chairs the Assembly Health Committee, the Select Committee on the Status of Boys and Men of Color, and in the second Extraordinary Session, the Public Health and Developmental Services Committee.

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David nixes merging of Poe’s Comelec, SET cases

MANILA, Jan. 6 (Mabuhay) – Presidential aspirant and Senator Grace Poe’s plea for the consolidation of all three cases involving challenges to her citizenship and residency qualiÀcations for the presidency has been formally opposed by Rizalito David. David was the petitioner before the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) who challenged Poe’s natural-born citizen status; his quo warranto petition was aimed at unseating Poe as senator for alleged failure to comply with this constitutional requirement. In his 5-page urgent manifestation with the high court on Wednesday, David stressed that “the actions pending before the court en banc are by and between different parties and originated from different electoral tribunals (SET and Commission on Elections), and have different causes of action, issues, reliefs, and eventualities.”

“Actual consolidation - which is what [Poe] is moving for - cannot be had since the subject actions are not between the same parties. To illustrate, if the assailed SET decision is reversed and set aside, [Poe] will be removed from the Senate... whereas, if the [SC] will sustain the assailed Comelec resolution/s, she will not be included in the ballot or barred from running for president in the May 9, 2015 national elections,” David said. David lost his case before the SET; the tribunal ruled that Poe, a foundling, is a natural-born Filipino citizen. In two separate petitions, Poe went to the high court to reverse two Comelec rulings that disqualiÀed her from the 2016 presidential race on grounds of citizenship and residency. Poe was able to secure two temporary restraining orders (TROs) to stay her disqualiÀcation.(MNS)

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MANILA, Jan 7 (Mabuhay) – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday Àled a comment with the Supreme Court opposing the petitions filed by Sen. Grace Poe challenging her disqualiÀcation from the 2016 presidential race. The Comelec’s 73-page comment was Àled by Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon. The Comelec was earlier left to fend for itself and look for its own lawyer after the OfÀce of the Solicitor General declined to represent the poll body before the Supreme Court because it was already defending the Senate Electoral Tribunal on a Poe-related case. In its comment, the Comelec denied Poe’s claim that it committed grave abuse of discretion when its en banc upheld two resolutions from two of its divisions canceling her certiÀcate of candidacy (COC) for president for the 2016 presidential polls. “How can Comelec be then considered to have capriciously and whimsically exercised its discretion, when its decision was arrived at with due regard to its rules, after hearing, with full appreciation of the pieces of evidence present, and after a thorough study of the pertinent laws and jurisprudence?” read the poll body’s comment. In the December 23, 2015 ruling that Poe was contesting before the SC, the Comelec en banc junked Poe’s petitions against the separate rulings of the First and Second Divisions canceling her certiÀcate of candidacy (COC) for president. The Comelec en banc voted 5-2 to uphold the First Division’s decision disqualifying her from the 2016 presidential election based on questions of citizenship and residency raised by former Senator Francisco Tatad, political analyst Antonio Contreras and former law dean Amado Valdez. The en banc, meanwhile, voted 5-1-1 upholding the decision of the Second Division on lawyer 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. A week after Poe formally contested the Comelec en banc ruling before the SC, the high tribunal issued the TRO against her disqualiÀcation. In its comment, the Comelec also

said the case Àled against Poe before the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET), which voted in her favor, and the one Àled against her before the Comelec are independent of each other. “The ruling of the SET however with respect to her citizenship does not negate and overturn, nor preclude, the Ànding made by the Comelec that Petitioner is not a natural-born Filipino,” the Comelec said, stressing that it is constitutionally independent and separate from the SET. “The decision of the SET does not bind the Comelec. It is not a legal precedent. The SET ruling cannot circumvent nor does it preclude the Comelec from making a contrary conclusion based on applicable law and jurisprudence,” it added. The Comelec also defended the petition Àled by Tatad, saying despite being denominated a “petition for disqualiÀcation,” the grounds he invoked were for the cancellation of Poe’s COC. The Comelec insisted it has jurisdiction to rule on the citizenship issue of Poe despite a July 18, 2006 order from the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation that granted Poe and her children a reacquisition of Filipino citizenship. The Comelec also reiterated its earlier position that Poe committed misrepresentation in the COC she Àled for her 2016 presidential bid. It said Poe, a foundling from Iloilo, is not a natural-born Filipino because she could not show direct blood relationship to a Filipino parent. “Unless Petitioner can show that a foundling with no known parentage or deÀnitive blood relationship is an exception to the requirement of jus sanguinis, her claim that she is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines does not stand,” said the Comelec. “The provision of the 1935 Constitution is clear. The letter of the law is unmistakable. And it is settled in our legal system that where the law is clear and unambiguous, there is no room for construction, only application,” it added. The Comelec also said despite Poe’s reliance on international law to defend her citizenship, “there is nothing however in international law which vests upon and commits to Petitioner the status of a natural-born Filipino citizen.” (MNS)

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Palace accuses VP Binay of politicizing Zapanta’s execution in Saudi MANILA, Jan. 6 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Wednesday accused Vice President Jejomar Binay of using the execution in Saudi Arabia of migrant worker Joselito Zapanta to criticize the administration. “It’s in bad taste to politicize a tragedy whereas dapat, we should all rally behind…We have always stated that this is a team effort and they are now trying to politicize the whole situation,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a press brieÀng. Lacierda said the opposition presidential candidate was being “disingenuous” in claiming that Malacañang was to blame over Zapanta’s death for failing to act on his proposals for the payment of blood money. Zapanta was sentenced to

death in April 2010 by the Riyadh Grand Court for killing a Sudanese national over a rental dispute. He was executed in December after his family raised only P23 million of the P48 million blood money asked by the victim’s widow. In a statement on Tuesday, Binay said that his ofÀce submitted policy recommendations on providing assistance to Zapanta as early as 2012, but these were not immediately acted upon. Binay served as the presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers’ (OFW) concerns until he resigned from the Cabinet in June last year. Lacerida said it was unfair for Binay to single out President Aquino, who exhausted all efforts to try to save the life of Zapanta.

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This author was a year ahead, on batch hierarchy within our fraternity/sorority group. He joined the Upsilon SIgma Phi in 1966, so we were their more senior sisters. One of his most famous batchmates was former TV newscaster, Angelo Castro, who was the brother of my batchmate, Grace Castro. Grace and I belonged to Batch ‘65 and as “seniorâ€? fellowships with all of us, since his sisters, we learned to take care of our wife Linda was a hands-on excellent “younger brods.â€? cook, who we were priveleged to call There were 26 of us “senior sis- an “honorary Sisâ€? along with the tersâ€? of Willy in our Batch who “wel- former Ex-President Cory Aquino, comedâ€? him and his Batch ‘66 brods. whose husband Ninoy was also a He was this shy, humble, quiet and brod. During these fellowships, Wilunassuming guy from Romblon who ly would challenge everyone to sing seldom joined our campus activities karaoke with him, but no one dared due to his diligent studies in Law School, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1970. In the same year, he passed the Philippine Bar examination, and worked as Trial Attorney at the OfĂ€ce of the Solicitor General from 1971 to 1974 afterwhich he worked brieĂ y as Tax and Compliance Attorney at Petrophil Corporation, 1974-1975. After graduation, unbe- 6RXYHQLU SKRWR ZLWK PH knownst to all of us, Willy’s diplomatic career began when he was appointed Foreign Service Officer in December, 1974 and he was sworn in after passing the FSP examination in 1975. As a career diplomat, Willy rose through the ranks, serving in various positions within the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila, first as Principal Assistant at the OfĂ€ce of Administration in 1975. His foreign assignments 6LQJLQJ ZLWK /LQGD VRURULW\ VLVWHU 7RRWV (YLGHQWH began when he became Vice Consul challenge him because he always and Consul at the Philippine Con- received the highest scores. sulate in San Francisco from 1975 There were other weekends when through 1980. He became Consul he would play golf with the brods, in New York, 1981 through 1985.. so our sorority group would pick-up He also pursued further studies and “Sisâ€? Linda and we would treat her received his Master of Laws degree to the movies or go out and dine. One from New York University in 1985 of this author’s fondest memories of and in the same year, he became Brod Willy was this one particular Secretary at the Board of Foreign day, when we were with Linda and Service Administration and Board went back to their house just to see of Foreign Service Examiners, then if Willy was back, and sure enough, followed by a position as Acting Chief surprisingly he was home early, but Coordinator, Office of the Acting Linda knew we still wanted to go Minister of Foreign Affairs, through see a movie. Like an “olderâ€? brother, February, 1986; Executive Director, Willy advised all of us to “go home; OfĂ€ce of Consular Services, August, meron pang bukas!â€? On that note, we 1986 through February, 1987; Dep- all left giggling at Willy’s amazing uty Consul General in Los Angeles sense of humor. 1987 - 1990; Ambassador to Tripoli, A UP alumni friend, Evelyn PorLibya, and non-resident Ambassador tugal also mentioned her fondest to Tunisia, Malta and Nigger, 1992- memories of Willy. She recalled 1997; Consul General in New York, that she first knew him 28 years 1997-1999; .Assistant Secretary, Of- ago, while she was working at the Ă€ce of Asian and PaciĂ€c Affairs, May, Philippine News . At the time, Willy 1999 to Janaury 11, 2002 and Ambas- was Vice-Consul at the Philippine sador to Australia and non-resident Consulate in LA, but subsequently Ambassador to Nauru, Tuvalu and returned as a “much-lovedâ€? Consul Vanuatu, 2002-2003. General. She also recalled how “perFor three years, Willy served as sonable and friendly he was, and how Ambassador to the People’s Republic he always had a certain smile, along of China, 2003-2006, followed by his with his willingness to help anyone post as Consul General in Los An- in need.â€? geles and as Charge’D’Affairs at the For all of us, his fraternity brothPhilippine Embassy in Washington, ers and sorority sisters, who have exD.C., thus Ă€nally becoming Philip- perienced his kindness and sincerity pine Ambassador to the US, his most as a friend, we will all truly miss him. prestigious position before he retired. May he rest in eternal peace with his Inspite of his diplomatic achieve- Creator. ments, Willy remained humble and Our beloved brod, Willy C. Gaa sincere as our dear friend and frater- was born in Romblon in 1949. He is nity brother. During his tenure in LA, survived by his most loving wife, Eron numerous occasions, their fam- linda Concepcion and their two sons, ily would host spur-of-the-moment Wendell and Warren.

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&OLHQW IRRG UHWDLOHU VHHNV &KDSWHU UHOLHI Client is a specialty food retailer that started operations in a commercial center two years ago. Five partners invested $50K each for a total of $250K for a food business that sells a specialty product that everyone likes to eat. The problem with a business that’s based on a retail outlet in a commercial center is that the business lives or dies depending on the foot trafĂ€c of the commercial center. If the foot traffic is slow, there’s practically nothing the business can do to sell more. Indeed, if the foot trafĂ€c is slow, even if the business gives away the product for free, it will still be stuck with inventory. Every businessperson knows that when you go into business, you make money; break-even or you lose money. If the business is losing money, the owners will have to continue Ă€nancing the loss by giving new money to cover the loss. There are no two ways about this. Some businesses make money from day one. I have a client who opened a specialty restaurant with a $100K investment, and in the Ă€rst year, he made $500K of proĂ€t. The problem was that he had partners who decided to compete with him by opening their own. On the other hand, there are businesses that never make money, no matter what the owners do to improve it. It’s just a money loser. In this case, client had a good concept but made the mistake of opening the business in a commercial center that had slow foot trafĂ€c. How did client end up in such a sorry commercial center? Apparently, there was some misrepresentation on the part of the commercial center owner who said that the foot trafĂ€c had doubled in the last 12 months, without stating any Ă€gures. When you say double, it doesn’t really mean anything does it? If the foot trafĂ€c was 20 people a month showing up in the place last year, and this year there’s 40 people showing up monthly, the trafĂ€c doubled, but its still not enough to sustain a proĂ€table business that relies on “goodâ€? foot trafĂ€c. The Ă€ve partners checked out the center a couple of times for foot trafĂ€c before making the plunge, and for some reason, they must have seen “goodâ€? foot

trafÀc. But when they actually started doing business, the center was almost a ghost town most of the time. The only good month was December when they made some money. The rest of the year, the partners had to cover a deÀcit of $3K monthly. This is not a big loss, but this becomes $36K a year, or $72K loss in two years. Including the initial investment of $250K, the partners are staring at a $320K loss in two years. The kicker is that the lease is for another 4 years at $5K a month. So, even if they stop the business, the business will still owe $240K on the commercial lease! Add that to the $320K lifetime savings that already evaporated into thin air, the partners are looking at a potential loss of half a million dollars. Even good business may suffer serious set backs initially. Even, Walt Disney’s Àrst venture into the famous mouse did not work, and Mr. Disney had to Àle for Chapter 7 for a fresh start. After bankruptcy, Disneyland opened in 1956 in Anaheim. Now, of course, Disney is a multi billion-dollar business with another theme park opening in Shanghai this year. Who knows, my clients may now Àle for Chapter 7 relief but their business may later on become successful beyond their wildest imagination. This is America after all where capitalist dreams still come true. One may be bankrupt today but become a billionaire in the future. Just look at the failed business as a practice test that makes one better prepared to become successful later. Another problem that surfaced is that each partner signed a personal guaranty for the commercial lease. So, each partner is on the hook for $250K each! Business people should never execute a personal guaranty for the debts of the business. It’s a good idea to incorporate the business so the business can assume its own

Aquino tasks DFA to ensure safety of Filipinos in Middle East amid Saudi-Iran row MANILA, Jan. 6 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno Aquino III has directed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to ensure the safety of Filipinos working in the Middle East amid the escalating tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Aquino met with members of his Cabinet Wednesday afternoon to discuss the tension in the Middle East, where more than a million Filipinos are working. Present during the meeting were Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Jesus Yabes, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, and National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia Jr. “President Aquino directed the DFA to continue monitoring closely the situation in the Middle East, in view of political tensions in the region,� said Communications Secretary Hermino Coloma Jr. “He emphasized that government’s top priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of Filipinos.

He said that comprehensive contingency measures must be put in place and implemented with maximum coordination among all concerned agencies,� Coloma added. The DFA earlier said there is no immediate threat against Filipinos in Saudi Arabia and Iran, and that the Philippine government is not considering issuing a travel advisory and raising a security alert level at the moment in the two countries. In Saudi Arabia alone, Filipino workers are estimated at 800,000. There are no available Àgure for Iran, but Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said most of Filipinos there are married to Iranian nationals. Relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran were strained following Riyadh’s execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr on Saturday. Protesters in the Shiite-majority Iran attacked Saudi’s embassy in Tehran hours after the execution, forcing Riyadh to cut ties with Iran. (MNS)

liabilities. There is absolutely no sense that the shareholders should personally guaranty the debts of the business. If the business goes down, only the business Àles for bankruptcy. The investors keep their good credit and have no personal liability. If the landlord asks you to guaranty personally the proposed lease of the premises by your company business, just say no. You will not regret it. If the landlord will not lease the premises to the business without your personal guaranty just look for another place where you do not have to give a personal guaranty. I have had a client who was on the hook for $800K for unpaid commercial lease by way of personal guaranty when all he had to do to prevent this from happening was to not execute the personal guar-

7

anty. Think twice before you sign that personal guaranty. “TRUST IN HIM AT ALL TIMES, O PEOPLE; POUR OUT YOUR HEARTS TO HIM, FOR GOD IS OUR Lawrence Bautista Yang is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and has been in Law practice for thirty years. He specializes in Bankruptcy, Business and Civil Litigation and has handled more than Ă€ve thousand successful bankruptcy cases in California. He speaks Tagalog and looks forward to discussing your case with you personally. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S Fremont Ave, MAILSTOP 58, BUILDING A-1 SUITE 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803 OR at 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789.

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9LHWQDPHVH 7HW )HVWLYDO DW WZR YHQXHV 8QLW\ RI 3XUSRVH Since arriving on the U.S. shores more than four decades ago, people of Vietnamese descent has traditionally celebrated Tet, the most signiĂ€cant holiday of the lunar year, in the beginning of Spring to start life fresh on a clean slate. Celebrating the festival, a family holiday akin to the U.S’s Thanksgiving celebration, is a shadow of the event in their native Vietnam where “everyone is expected to return home shortly before midnight light Ă€recrackers and spend the next few days eating, drinking, and dancingâ€?. For 30 years in Orange County, the Union of the Vietnamese Student Associations Southern California (UVSA) has been the host of the Tet Festival driven as an important event by which the members establish connections to their native land, kindle the spirit of volunteerism and work hard work to bring the bring life to the festivities. The nonprofit group had been granted the exclusive right to host the event in 2002 which was able to accomplish collateral beneĂ€ts to the student volunteers who were able to develop strong leadership skills, enhance their cultural awareness and earn valuable life experience. Most important of all, holding the event benefited community associations and other sectors in terms of the benevolent sharing of the proceeds

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have a Republican in the White House,� she concluded, which drew cheers from the crowd. The presidential hopeful also stressed that President Barack Obama was not getting the credit that he deserved for saving the collapsing economy and bringing it back to life. Clinton recalled that the US was losing around 800,000 jobs a month, the stock market was down and the automotive industry was on the brink of collapse when the government was handed to Obama. Clinton’s campaign stop in the San Gabriel Valley to woo Asian Americans and PaciÀc Islanders totally ignored her Democratic presidential campaign rival Bernie Sanders. Her tactic amazed many political kibitzers because her speech did not attempt to solicit support for her for the upcoming causeses in Iowa and New Hampshire which are expected to become tough as Sanders gain

from the event to make their programs viable. Over the past years it is estimated that more than $1-M from the festival proceeds had been awarded to various nonproĂ€t community groups. UVSA will host this year’s Tet Festival from February 12-14 at OC Fair and Event Center in the city of Costa Mesa with the other celebration centered in Garden Grove, the choice city of the Vietnamese people. Some in the Vietnamese community view holding the event at the same date on two different venues just a few miles from each other as “a proof that the Vietnamese community is maturing and growingâ€? and the events being held at two different sites is an endeavor for itself and for the rest of Orange County. Some say that the Tet Festival is all about the community coming together and both venues “are meaningful and great for holding the festival.â€? This year is going to be the 34th momentum on the said states. Clinton doesn’t need to work hard to win Asian Americans and PaciĂ€c Islanders in California because they tend to vote Democratic anyway. The political inĂ uence of the said minorities are critical in some swing states but obviously not in California which is a blue state. In her speech that lasted for about half an hour, Clinton promised to Ă€x the nation’s broken immigration system, improve access to higher education, and increase wages. She also promised to reduce the visa backlogs, which she understood, differ from one country to another. “Ultimately this is more than an economic or political issue. It’s a family issue,â€? Clinton said. Meanwhile, a big delegation of Filipino Americans came to the event to show their support for Clinton. The delegation was led by millionaire-philanthropist-lawyer Loida Nicolas Lewis who paid for the buses that brought the Filipino American

edition of the Tet Festival, considered to be the largest Vietnamese celebration outside of Vietnam and “the longest continuous celebration in the United Statesâ€? for UVSA. The threeday weekend event will feature hundreds of booths where the expected thousands who join in the festiv- 7RUUHV +LJK 6FKRRO 0DQLOD $OXPQDH 5HPHPEHU )RUPHU ities will be immersed VWXGHQWV RI 7RUUHV +LJK 6FKRRO LQ 0DQLOD ZKR KDV KDG WKH in “a vibrant array of JRRG IRUWXQH RI DFKLHYLQJ D PRGLFXP RI FRPIRUW LQ WKHLU traditional foods, live Âż QDQFLDO OLYHV KDYHQÂśW IRUJRWWHQ WKHLU DOPD PDWHU 2UJDQL]LQJ WKHPVHOYHV DV 7RUUHV +LJK 6FKRRO $OXPQL $VVRFLDWLRQ WKH entertainment, cul- DOXPQDH KDG ODXQFKHG D IXQGUDLVLQJ HYHQW IRU WKHLU VFKRODUVKLS tural displays, festive SURJUDP WR GHIUD\ WKH FRVW RI VHQGLQJ SRRU VWXGHQWV WR VFKRRO games and fireworks 7KH Rႈ FHUV RI 7*$$ DUH VKRZQ EHLQJ VZRUQ LQ Rႈ FH DW D to celebrate the Lunar 0RQWURVH JDWKHULQJ munity being informed of the new New Year’. Last year’s celebration at the location and availability of parking Fairgrounds attracted more than space. Even at two different venues of the 30,000 visitors, a far cry from the average 100,000 its attracted at the Tet Festival, the community spirit original venue of the UVSA-hosted among the revelers is expected to celebration in Garden Grove the remain the same in commemorating a deeply-rooted tradition that brings previous years. Event organizers hope to surpass pride in the Vietnamese culture. “Chuc Mung Nam Moiâ€?‌ Happy the number of visitors to the festivities in Costa Mesa with the com- New Year groups to San Gabriel Valley. In a pep talk while on their way to the forum, Nicolas-Lewis reminded the delegates that World War II Ă€rst received social security beneĂ€ts during the term of Democratic President Bill Clinton. The beneĂ€ts continue up to this day, she said, and have been very helpful to the war veterans because they can access around 75 percent of these beneĂ€ts even if they come home to the Philippines to retire for good. “That is why I am really passionate about the prospect of Hillary Clinton becoming the next president of the United States,â€? Nicolas-Lewis said. The prominent community leader added that as the second largest Asian American group in the US, the Filipino community is not getting the appropriate attention that it should get from political parties and the government. “So I want her (Hillary Clinton) to see us in that rally, at least 150 Filipinos will be there to raise our banners. So that when we need something (in the future), she has seen us,â€? Nicolas-Lewis said.

3(0%(5721 )URP SDJH “Of course, we want an acquittal but what is the likelihood the court will grant that?� she told AFP. Pemberton met the transgender Filipina Jennifer Laude in October 2014 in a bar in Olongapo after the marine took part in a joint US-Philippine military exercise. During the trial, the court heard that Pemberton and Laude agreed to have sex after meeting in Olongapo’s red light district, but that the drunken marine turned violent when he discovered Laude still had male genitals. He acted out of “passion and obfuscation,� the court said.

3$&48,$2 )URP SDJH My Ă€ght with Timothy Bradley will be my last,â€? Pacquiao said in an interview in his mansion late Monday. The 37-year-old member of parliament dismissed reports that he would not step away from the sport without a rematch with American Mayweather, who himself retired after beating Pacquiao. “I did not say anything like that. Nobody interviewed me about that. I will retire after my April 9 Ă€ght,â€? he said.

1(: 758&.6 )URP SDJH “It will help our troops move from one point to another faster,� Hao said. “They will help us not only for operational purposes but also in HADR (humanitarian assistance and disaster relief).� (MNS)

7(16,21 )URP SDJH “We clearly are concerned by these Ă ights... and we’re concerned by all of these activities being conducted by the Chinese in disputed islands in the South China Sea,â€? Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook told reporters. “Anything being done by any country to try and raise tensions over these disputed islands, and to try and militarize or engage in reclamation activities in these islands, we think only adds to instability in the South China Sea.â€?

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+RZ WR SUHSDUH IRU D KRPH ORDQ DQG ZKDW \RX VKRXOG NQRZ EHIRUH DSSO\LQJ Getting a home mortgage now may be easier, lenders will make more efforts to try to understand the borrowers need in order to help them Ànance more loans Lenders will still be very sensitive to debt to income ratios, credit, fund reserves, employment history etc. but I suspect soon they will have to ease up on some guidelines I noticed a great number of homebuyers Àrst time or repeat home buyers inquiring more about lending guidelines and basically how to rebuild credit. There are plenty of alternative lenders that has easier ways to qualify but might require a higher down pay and they will want a higher rate of interest. So, I have gathered some important guidelines from our source of underwriting mainly thru Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and thought of sharing them with you. There are several types of Ànancing, Conventional with minimal 5% down and Government loan FHA with a minimum of 3.5% Down. The guidelines are similar maybe a little bit more leniency towards FHA but here are the juice of what you need to know and to prepare for: Non Occupant Co-borrower: The income of a non-occupying co-borrower may be considered for qualifying purposes, subject to additional criteria: Down Payment: The occupant borrower must provide 5% of the purchase price towards the down payment using their own funds (which must come from an acceptable source). Qualifying Ratio: The qualifying ratio for the occupying borrower cannot exceed 35%/45% The occupant-borrower must demonstrate the ability and willingness to make the mortgage payment and maintain homeownership. The income from the non-occupant

co-borrower can offset certain weaknesses of the occupant-borrower, such as limited financial reserves, limited credit history, or a higher-than-normal qualifying ratio. However, the income from a non-occupant co-borrower cannot be used to offset signiÀcant or recent instances of major derogatory credit in the occupant-borrower’s credit history or an occupant-borrower’s inability to make the mortgage payment without regular and significant assistance from the non-occupant co-borrower. Credit Requirements: A 3 bureau merged in-Àle report must be obtained that contains at least three credit scores for each borrower. A “representative score” (lower of 2, middle of 3) will be chosen for each borrower on the loan. Then, the lowest of all the borrower’s “representative scores” will be the score used for qualifying. The borrower’s established credit history needs to consist of a minimum of 4 trade lines (installment, revolving accounts, mortgages, etc.), one of which has been open a minimum of 24 months, the other 3 must be rated for at least 12 months. Authorized accounts are not included in the minimum trade line requirements. All transactions require a minimum 620 credit score regardless of the automated approval Borrowers without credit scores are not permitted. Loans utilizing non-traditional

credit are not permitted Acceptable income source: Wage Earner Income Self-Employed: Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, Corporations and S Corporations. Non-Employed Income: Alimony/ maintenance/Child Support/Separate maintenance, Foster Care, Unemployment/Welfare/ADC, Disability/ Worker’s Compensation, Retirement/ Pension, Social Security, Annuity, IRA, Military/VA Benefits, Trust, Interest & Dividend, Inheritance/ Guaranteed Income, Note Receivables, Mortgage Differential/COLA and Rental. Income from sources other than the ones addressed may be considered provided the borrower has received the income for a least 2 years and documentation supports that it will continue for at least 3 years. Asset Documentation: Liquid assets include checking accounts, savings accounts, CD’s, gifts, money market, mutual funds, stock, trust funds, net equity, bridge loans, bonds, secured borrowed funds, etc. Retirement accounts (IRAs) are valued at 60% of the vested amount of the asset. Funds from personal assets that are sold prior to closing are acceptable as long as the individual purchasing the asset is not a party to either the property sale transaction or the mortgage Ànancing transaction. The borrower must document ownership of the asset, the value of the asset, provide a bill of sale and proof of receipt of funds. Assets are veriÀed with 2 months consecutive bank statements. Internet statements are only acceptable if it reÁects the same information as the bank statement would reÁect. The URL must reÁect at the bottom of the statement and all pages must be provided.

Bank statements must be dated within 45 days from the date of the application. All pages must be provided regardless if blank GIFT FUNDS ARE ALLOWED AS DOWN PAYMENT FOR OWNER OCCUPIED LOANS WARNING: Avoid Cash deposit, they are very difÀcult to paper trail and trace. A lot of concerns about credit with Foreclosures or Short Sales or Bankruptcy ? usually for bankruptcy 4 years from Discharge of chapter 7 or 11. For Foreclosures the guideline states 7 years from foreclosure dates. For Short Sales which states “Account Paid for less than amount owed” with zero balances on their accounts, the guidelines states 4 years but mostly lenders now will allow 3 years and if you did not have any mortgage lates prior to the short sale closing, FHA supposedly will allow 2 years from the time the Short Sale closed. There is a very imbalance scale now between buyers and sellers, much more buyers than sellers. So, make sure you a prepared to be patience and fully ready to close at a drop of a dime once your offer is accepted. Good luck, I strongly believe the bottom of the Real Estate is behind us therefore it’s a great time to start to set goals towards homeownership for Àrst time buyers and investors. 2016 will have a more balanced inventory to buyers ratios, therefore it evens out the playing Àeld for Àrst time buyers. Thanks for all your support and Comments, please call Ken Go of 1st Innovative Finance at 562-697-7028 or write to kennethgo@verizon.net for further inquiry in getting the best loan for you. We are currently working on 1st Time buyers seminars on how to prepare to buy a house, call for further details. BRE 01021223 NMLS 238636.

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0F'RQDOGÂśV 86$ LQWURGXFHV QHZ YDOXH PHQX JLYHV FXVWRPHUV PRUH Ă€ H[LELOLW\ Oak Brook, IL, Jan. 5, 2016 – McDonald’s is introducing a new value menu promotion that allows customers the choice of mixing and matching value menu items to make a personalized combination meal. Named McPick 2 for $2, this menu gives customers the option to mix and match two value items for $2. The McPick 2 for $2 Menu will be available from Jan. 4 through Feb. 8 and includes the choice of the McDouble, McChicken, Small Fry or new Mozzarella Sticks. For example, customers can choose a McDouble with a small fry for $2 or a McChicken with an order of Mozzarella Sticks, also for $2. “A learning from offering All Day Breakfast is that when we listen to our customers, they reward us,â€? said Deborah Wahl, chief marketing ofĂ€cer, McDonald’s USA. “Not

everyone wants the same thing, so we are offering a new way to help our customers have a more personalized experience. Offering both great tasting food and value is another example of how we are changing and building a better McDonald’s.� The announcement builds on a number of notable changes McDonald’s USA made throughout 2015, including: – Bringing customers their number one request – All Day Breakfast Refreshing some customer favorites like the new Egg McMufÀn now served on a warm, toasted English mufÀn with real butter and prepared with a freshly cracked grade-A egg plus extra lean Canadian bacon and a slice of melted American cheese – Bringing back Cuties, California-grown clementines, as a seasonal fresh fruit choice in Happy Meals

– Moving from liquid margarine to real butter on English mufÀns, biscuits and bagels on the breakfast menu – Offering Yoplait Go-GURT low fat strawberry yogurt with 25% less sugar than the leading kids’ yogurt* – Adding kale and spinach to our salads – Using real buttermilk in our Buttermilk Crispy Chicken – Committing to source chicken raised without antibiotics important to human medicine** in the U.S. by 2017*** Transitioning to cage-free eggs over the next 10 years in the U.S. and Canada About McDonald’s McDonald’s USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to approximately 25 million customers every

day. Nearly 90 percent of McDonald’s 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by businessmen and women. Customers can now log online for free at approximately 11,500 participating Wi-Fi enabled McDonald’s U.S. restaurants. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter and Facebook. GoGurtŽ at McDonald’s has 6g of sugar per 2.25 oz. The leading kids’ yogurt has 9g of sugar per 2.25 oz. ** Antibiotics important to human medicine is a WHO classiÀcation. *** Farmers will still use a class of antibiotics called Ionophores to keep chickens healthy Assets provided below related to the McDonald’s McPick 2 for $2 Menu.

Let’s Get Healthy California announces local innovations to improve California’s health Finalists are invited to present at 2016 Innovation Conference

SACRAMENTO – The California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHS) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) today announced 23 community-based health innovations that advance the Let’s Get Healthy California effort to make California the nation’s healthiest state by 2022. These innovations will be recognized and discussed as part of an Innovation Conference in Sacramento on January 26, 2016. “We invited communities across the state to submit innovative ideas and projects that further the Triple Aim of better health, better care, and lower cost in California,� said CHHS Secretary Diana Dooley. “This is a great opportunity to recognize and

learn from the work going on at a local level to meet the goals of our Let’s Get Healthy California initiative.� “The Let’s Get Healthy California Innovation Challenge was designed to promote improvement in population health and care through new pathways,� said CDPH Director Dr. Karen Smith. “It encouraged the state and locals to collaborate, share ideas, and learn from one another to support new and creative ways to make California the healthiest state in the nation.� CHHS and CDPH received nearly 100 submissions from community and health advocates, health care providers, community based organizations, civic and data enthusiasts, and many other individuals as part of this past summer’s Innovation Challenge. January’s conference

will showcase and also measure California’s progress to meet the six goal areas of the Let’s Get Healthy California report. In 2012, Governor Brown issued Executive Order B-19-12 to create the Let’s Get Healthy California Task Force with the goal of making California the healthiest state in the nation by 2022. The Let’s Get Healthy California initiative focuses on furthering the Triple Aim – better health, better care and lower costs – and promoting health equity. It consists of two strategic directions – Health Across the Lifespan and Pathways to Health – and six major goal areas – Healthy Beginnings, Living Well, End of Life, Redesigning the Health System, Creating Healthy Communities, and Lowering the Cost of Care. For more information on the Innovation Challenge and conference, visit the Let’s Get Healthy California webpage. The 23 selected health innovations are listed below. For more information on each of the innovations, please visit CHHS’ Let’s Get Healthy California webpage. Goal 1: Healthy Beginnings “Bright Beginnings�, Ventura County Public Health, Ventura County “Building Broccoli Smiles through Food Literacy�, Food Literacy Center, Sacramento, Sacramento County “Collaborative Partnerships and Environments for Early Childhood Health�, Healthy & Active Before 5 , Contra Costa County “Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait Community Program�, March of Dimes, Barstow, Victorville, Apple Valley, Hesperia, and Adelanto, San Bernardino County Goal 2: Living Well “AARP Livability Index�, AARP “Ending Hunger in Orange County�, Waste Not OC, Anaheim and Orange, Orange County “Growing Healthy Habits—A Community Garden Model�, Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency, Woodland, Yolo County “Skid Row Healthy Food Micro-Enterprise Project�, Los Angeles Community Action Network, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County “Street Vendors: Bringing Healthy Food to Central Valley Residents�, Cultiva La Salud—Public Health Institute, Southeast Fresno, Fresno County Goal 3: End of Life “How to Make Advance Care

Planning Easierâ€?, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco County “Medical-Legal Partnership for Seniorsâ€?, University of California San Francisco/University of California Hastings Consortium on Law, Science & Health Policy, San Francisco, San Francisco County “UCLA Health/Coalition for Compassionate Care of California Advance Care Planning Initiative (ACPI)â€?, University of California, Los Angeles, (UCLA) Health and Coalition for Compassionate Care of California, Los Angeles County Goal 4: Redesigning the Health System “Clinic in the Park: Connect, Screen, Educateâ€?, Clinic in the Park: Connect, Screen, Educate, a Ă€scally sponsored project of OneOC, Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Santa Ana and Tustin, Orange County “The MobileMAMA Text Program: Integrating Medical Care and Social Services for Pregnant Women in the Safety Netâ€?, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program “Santa Rosa Community Health Centers Care Coordination Programâ€?, Santa Rosa Community Health Centers (SRCHC), Santa Rosa, Sonoma County Goal 5: Creating Healthy Communities “A Culture of Health: Creation of the Healthy RC Steering Committeeâ€?, City of Rancho Cucamonga, Healthy RC, Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino County “Active Design Guidelines and Iconâ€?, Sacramento, Sacramento County “Live the Challengeâ€?, Building Healthy Communities South Kern, Arvin, Lamont, Weedpatch, and GreenĂ€eld, Kern County “Walk With Friendsâ€?, Health Education Council, South Sacramento Valley Hi neighborhood, Sacramento County Goal 6: Lowering the Cost of Care “Care Transitionsâ€?, Partnership HealthPlan of California, Northern California “Improving Healthcare Quality & Safety While Reducing Costs Through Clinical Pharmacy Service Integrationâ€?, University of Southern California School of Pharmacy and AltaMed Health Services, Los Angeles County and Orange County

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

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Overweight young adults can reduce diabetes risk if they lose weight early enough: study Thursday January 7 2016 (Relaxnews) – New research has found that the risk of diabetes associated with obesity can be reversed if obese young people make efforts to lose weight before middle-age. The team of researchers from St George’s University of London wanted to look at the effect of BMI in earlier life on the risk of heart attack, stroke or diabetes in later life, three major diseases in which obesity is an established risk factor. To look at a possible link the team measured the body mass index (BMI) of 7735 middle-aged men between 40 and 59 years of age. The measurements were then compared to data collected on the BMI of the men aged 21, taken from their military service records or previous participation in a medical study. From the 4846 men that provided complete data, and taking into account their varying ages and smoking status, the researchers found that men who had had a high BMI at aged 21, but had lowered it by aged 50, had

similar or even lower rates of diabetes than those who had a normal BMI when they were younger. However a similar reversible effect was not seen for the risk of heart attack or stroke, and a high BMI when aged 21, although associated with a higher risk of diabetes in later life, showed no effect on the risk of heart attack or stroke later in life. Lead researcher Professor Christopher Owen commented on the results saying, “Even in men who carried out UK National Service and were relatively thin in early life compared to more recent men, higher levels of fatness in early adult life appear to be associated with later diabetes. However, effects of early body mass appear to be reversible by subsequent weight loss. These findings have important implications for Type 2 diabetes prevention, especially in more recent adults with high levels of obesity.� Men who were obese at aged 50 however, still showed an increased risk of diabetes, as well as an increased risk of heart disease

:K\ 0HGLFDUH DQG 2EDPDFDUH" 2016. Let me share my life story. Why I do what I do. 2008. America was in recession. Jobs were hard to Ă€nd. Americans were doubtful of their future. 2009. I got my insurance license. I “stumbledâ€? on this industry thru Craigslist. The “employerâ€? advertised for a manager. Armed with an MBA education and 24 years of experience in sales, I believed I qualify for the position. The “employerâ€? disagreed. I was rejected. Upon entering his ofĂ€ce, without uttering any word, I was told I did not qualify. The “employerâ€? seemed to be a taskmaster who would not waste his time giving me the courtesy of a quick interview. Thereupon, challenged, I politely asked why. Without giving him the opportunity to respond, I immediately proceeded to proudly inform him that “I am a Filipino Americanâ€?. We were, and have been, a growing community. No better way to serve that market than dispatch one of its own. Besides, my pharmaceutical marketing experience will deĂ€nitely enhance insurance industry’s marketing discipline. Right there and then, I got the job. Thus, started the saga of my insurance career. Nobody told me it was easy. It wasn’t. People had very little disposable income. Whatever money they had, they prioritized on the necessities like food, shelter, utilities. Insurance protection to them was far in the future. They were concerned with the present. Thus, I chose to specialize on Medicare. Members do not have to pay monthly premiums to qualify for richer beneĂ€ts one of which was “medical emergencyâ€? coverage while in the Philippines. Moreover, very few licensed brokers would certify what with the difĂ€cult exams and stringent regulations and compliance requirements.

To reach my target audience, Balita Media was kind to allow me to post articles regularly. I met new Medicare members just turned 65. I met members who were disabled. There were those who just lost employer-sponsored coverage. I encountered those who had difÀculty paying for their prescription medications. I met Medicare members who were also Medi-Cal beneÀciaries. I secured a Nevada license to cater to those who need my help in Pahrump and Las Vegas. To help my clients, I had to learn Social Security retirement beneÀts, Extra Help with Prescriptions, Home Health Care, In-Home Support Services, and SSI. There were even those who had problems with immigration that I had to refer to free legal advisors. To be updated, I had to attend seminars and conferences, sometimes held in other states. 2010. Obamacare was born. My legal education in the Philippines prepared me in understanding the law. Health care systems in America was permanently changed. Most Americans are confused. They need a person who will not only enroll them on a health plan. They need someone who will patiently explain to them the ramiÀcations of their health plan so they can navigate the intricacies of the new law. They need a ready advocate who will stand by them when, in the use of their coverage, they run in conà ict with the interest of their medical providers and/or insurers. Leo Monsalud holds CA license 0G55218 and NV 837521. He may be reached at 323-535-7373 or e-mail at: leo.balita@gmail.com.

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and stroke. The study was published in the journal BMJ Open. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) worldwide obesity has more than doubled since 1980. As well as being a major risk factor in diabetes and cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and stroke, obesity, commonly mea-

sured by BMI, is also a risk factor in musculoskeletal disorders such as osteoarthritis, and cancers such as endometrial, breast, and colon cancer. According to the WHO’s deÀnitions, an individual with a BMI greater than or equal to 25 is overweight, and an individual with a BMI greater than or equal to 30 is obese.

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Weekend Balita, Sat.-Fri., January 9 - 15, 2016

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The purpose of spousal support is not deĂ€ned by the legislature in that its purpose varies according to the facts and circumstances of each case. The facts and circumstances of a particular case may be such which call for no spousal support, or for support for a very limited period of time, with the purpose to assist the supported spouse to “get back on his or her feetâ€? as a single person, or until community property is distributed. On the other hand, the facts and circumstances of another case may call for support for an extended period of time, perhaps until death of the supported spouse, the purpose for which to provide assistance to one who cannot support himself. The two situations mentioned hereinabove are extreme cases, on opposite ends of the spectrum. Quite obviously, the facts and circumstances in a particular case may be such which call for some amount of support for some period of time, though not until death of the supported spouse. For example, the court may order support for that period of time required for the supported spouse to obtain or complete an education, to allow the supported spouse to take care of the children until they reach an age where a return to employment would be more feasible, or to become self-supporting within a reasonable time. Although the use of standard guidelines based on income is encouraged in the award of temporary support, such guidelines cannot be used in awarding permanent spousal support. As indicated hereinabove, the award of support is in large part based on the facts and circumstances of the particular case. In determining spousal support, the court con-

siders numerous factors, set forth in Family Code Sec. 4320. They include: 1) The extent to which the earning capacity of each party is sufÀcient to maintain the standard of living established during the marriage, 2) The extent to which the supported party contributed to the attainment of an education, training, a career position, or a license by the supporting party, 3) The ability of the supporting party to pay spousal support, taking into account the supporting party’s earning capacity, earned and unearned income, assets, and standard of living, 4) The needs of each party based on the standard of living established during the marriage, 5) The obligations and assets, including the separate property, of each party, 6) The duration of the marriage, 7) The ability of the supported party to engage in gainful employment without unduly interfering with the interests of dependent children in the custody of the party, and 8) The age and health of the parties. The factors set forth hereinabove are only several of the many factors the court will consider in deciding the issue of spousal support. In that the amount and duration of an award is largely based on the facts and circumstances of the case, it is advised that one who is requesting support, or is opposing a request for support, obtain experienced counsel, who will be able to present the facts and circumstances in the best light

possible. Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-speciÀc legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The speciÀc facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law OfÀces of Kenneth U. Reyes, APLC. This article is not a solicitation. Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a CertiÀed Family Law Specialist.

He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APLC is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 3881611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail. com. Visit our website at kenreyeslaw.com.

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/%& %2& FROODERUDWH WR HQVXUH VSHHG\ EDOLNED\DQ ER[ GHOLYHULHV PASAY – Following through on their discussions in the recently concluded Asia Logistics Summit 2015, LBC Express, Inc., the country’s largest logistics, remittance, and courier company, and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) are working hand-in-hand to ensure that Balikbayan boxes, especially ones targeted for Christmas, arrive promptly and safely. BOC Chief Bert Lina was one of the guests of honor at the Asia Logistics Summit 2015. In his keynote speech, he mentioned “[In] logistics, the name of the game is speed.� He then followed it up with a clamor for the logistics companies and government to work together to ‘accelerate the pace of getting things done across all members of the supply chain.’ In response to Lina’s call, LBC has been working with the Bureau to hasten their turnover times. “The Balikbayan Box is where the OFWs translate their hard work and effort into something that is tangible and can be felt by their families back home. Its more padama than it is padala,� said Rene Fuentes, LBC’s Head of Global Retail. “Through the years, LBC has always been trusted with sending those important gifts and gestures of love, so we’ve synchronized our systems with Customs to be able deliver packages as quickly as possible,� he continued. In this cooperation between LBC and the BOC, both entities have streamlined their processes and systems to create a cohesive structure that will facilitate the movement of Balikbayan boxes from point to point. The method ensures that the boxes will be handled safely, and will guarantee that the boxes will never have to be opened unless there is a compelling reason to do so. In August 2015, the BOC issued Customs Memorandum Order No. 27-2015 stipulating that “Balikbayan boxes of OFWs shall not be subjected to random or arbitrary physical inspection. Instead, they shall undergo mandatory X-ray scanning.� This X-ray scanning is conducted at

the Designated Examination Area (DEA), for preliminary non-commercial shipments. However, should any box be tagged “suspectâ€? after X-ray scanning (containing goods of commercial value), these will be physically inspected by duly authorized BOC inspectors. In this regard, all senders are encouraged to properly adhere to the procedures and policies of the BOC, while likewise preparing complete documentation (packing list). To further assist senders, and respond to queries and concerns in real-time, LBC and the BOC also initiated a regular live chat with BOC ofĂ€cials, where OFWs may directly communicate with BOC ofĂ€cials. “We hope that through our collaborative efforts [with the BOC], we can further improve our services to our customers, as well as upgrade the standards for the industry-at-large,â€? Fuentes said. “At the end of the day, all we want is for our OFWs to be able to send their love to their families, so that they will have a very Merry Christmas,â€? he concluded. To know more about the services of LBC Express, you may visit http:// www.lbcexpress.com. About LBC Express LBC Express, Inc. was founded in the 1950’s as a brokerage and air cargo agent. Known as the largest Express Courier, Cargo, and Money Remittance Service Company in the Philippines, LBC now offers its services in over 18 countries in North America, Canada, Middle East, Australia, Asia PaciĂ€c, Oceania, and European Territories. Currently, LBC operates in over 3,000 branches and partner agents in the Philippines. Since then, LBC has been moving anything and everything for the global Filipinos. For more than 60 years, LBC has provided hassle free delivery via air, land, and sea cargoes; from cash remittance to simple packages and container loads of business logistical needs. Its clientele comprises of local and multinational corporations, and several government agencies.

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*RW GHEW EXW IHHOLQJ DVKDPHG WR JHW KHOS" Glendale resident guilty of stealing avionics If you are experiencing debt probtrade secrets of former employer lems, you may Ànd it difÀcult to talk

to other people about it to the point that you are not getting the help that you need to Ànd a solution. I understand. Debt is a very personal matter so most people don’t feel comfortable discussing it with anyone. So they keep it to themselves and don’t do anything about their problem until it gets worse. Like most people, you’ve probably worked hard, paid your taxes and have done your best to pay all your bills on time. But at some stage in life, all of us get into debt. Money problems can easily overlap into other areas of our lives. FACT: Many people feel hopeless and powerless over their debt problems. I have seen marriages become unstable and relationships destroyed forever. If you are currently in debt, rather than allowing your money problems to affect your life in such a dramatic way, Àling for bankruptcy protection may help you get your life back on track. If your liabilities exceed your total assets, you’ve suffered a job loss, are facing foreclosure or have bills you can no longer afford to pay, Congress has enacted bankruptcy laws that can help you get your Ànances in order. I know that the mere thought of bankruptcy makes most people nervous so they avoid exploring their options until it’s too late. I Ànd this unfortunate because in a lot of cases, people could have turned their situation around much sooner had they taken the time to Ànd out what their legal rights are. Some people wait too long to file bankruptcy even when it is their only option. In the process, they use up hard-earned assets like their retirement plan, savings accounts, etc. but in the end they realize that this

was nothing more than a temporary Àx to a lingering problem. If you’ve come to the end of your Ànancial rope and don’t know what else to do, it is time to face your debt problems with dignity and do what your situation calls for. I am not saying that bankruptcy is for everyone but after being a bankruptcy attorney for almost 14 years now and having represented thousands of clients in bankruptcy, what I have seen is that oftentimes, bankruptcy is THE ONLY WAY for most people in debt to get a fresh start when they are in over their heads in debt. If bankruptcy is the best option for you, you don’t need to keep living paycheck to paycheck while digging a deeper Ànancial hole every single month. Yes, bankruptcy may be a scary thing for a lot of people who don’t understand the process but once you’ve taken the time to Ànd out how it works and how it could help you get out of debt, you may realize that it’s actually not as difÀcult as you Àrst may have thought. To schedule a free consultation, please call Toll-Free 1-866-477-7772. We have ofÀces in Los Angeles, Pasadena, Cerritos and Valencia. (None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any speciÀc situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped over 5,000 clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call his ofÀce at TOLL FREE 1-866-477-7772).

&RQJUHVV VFUDSV EXGJHW IRU FRQWUDFHSWLYHV M a n i l a , P h i l i p pines | AFP | Wednesday 1/6/2016 – The legislature in the mainly Catholic Philippines has eliminated the government’s budget for contraceptives, the health department said Wednesday, despite a law mandating the state provide them to the poor. Health Secretary Janette Garin has confirmed the department’s 2016 budget for contraceptives was scrapped when it passed through Congress, the bureau’s press ofÀce said.“This will have a huge effect since a lot of mothers depend on what the Department of Health provides,” the ofÀce quoted Garin as saying. Foreign and local authorities have long cited the need for improved birth control in the Philippines which has one of Asia’s highest birth rates as well as high maternal mortality rates. The country has a population well over 100 million with about 25 percent living in poverty. The government of President Benigno Aquino had allocated a sum for contraceptives in the 2016 budget but this was removed as the legislature

was debating the bill, the department said. Garin said she only learned of the budget cut on Monday. The government and the dominant Catholic church have waged a bruising struggle over the issue for years. The church has long opposed efforts to make birth-control more available. It was only in 2014 that the Supreme Court Ànally upheld a “reproductive health” law, striking down more than a dozen petitions against it from church-backed groups. The law requires government health centres to supply free condoms and birth control pills, as well as mandating sex education in schools. It also requires that public health workers receive family planning training, while medical care after an abortion will also be legalised. Nearly 80 percent of the population is Catholic, an inheritance of three centuries of Spanish colonial rule that ended in the late 1800s. The Catholic church opposes birth control and abortion and its hold is strong in the Philippines where divorce and abortion are illegal.

LOS ANGELES – An electrical engineer from Glendale has been convicted of 32 counts of violating the Economic Espionage Act for stealing trade secrets belonging to his former employer – a Pasadena-based aircraft avionics company – and distributing the proprietary material to three competitors. Derek Wai Hung Tam Sing, 44, was found guilty by United States District Judge Christina A. Snyder, who presided over a bench trial in September. Judge Snyder yesterday issued a 28-page ruling in which she convicted Sing of 32 counts and acquitted him of one charge. Sing worked at Rogerson Kratos (RK) in 2012. Until he was Àred by the company, Sing had access to RK trade secrets, and he signed a conÀdentiality agreement that prohibited him from disclosing any conÀdential information and trade secrets that belonged to the company. According to Judge Snyder’s ruling, Sing’s “performance at RK was marked by delays in completing assignments, late attendance and an unprofessional attitude.” After being terminated, Sing retained materials that he had collected while working at RK, despite being speciÀcally asked to return all trade secrets. Instead, Sing “packaged the trade secrets with sufÀcient supporting documentation and instructions so that other competitor companies would be able to use the trade secrets and reverse engineer RK’s products,” according to Judge Snyder’s ruling, which noted that Sing testiÀed at trial that he “wanted to get back at Rogerson Kratos” for not appreciating his work as an employee. Sing prepared packages that included schematics of RK products and prepared a “readme” document that explained the importance of the proprietary information and instructed competitors to reverse engineer the products. Using email addresses created under a false name and a public wi-À connection

at a Starbucks, Sing sent the stolen trade secrets in early 2013 to other companies that produced avionics, including a company outside of the United States. Sing also used physical Áash drives to send the trade secrets to companies. Judge Snyder found that Sing illegally sent seven schematics to three different companies, and that he illegally possessed four of those schematics. “Sing attempted to hurt his former employer by stealing its trade secrets, making the material easily understood by engineers at other companies, and using an assumed identity to send the propriety information in the hope it would be used to develop a product to compete with his former employer,” said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “If not for the ethical conduct of one competitor, Mr. Sing might have succeeded in delivering a crippling blow to the company that once employed him. The Department of Justice recognizes that intellectual property is a vital part of the economy of both Southern California as well as the nation.” Judge Snyder acquitted Sing of one count of illegally possessing trade secrets from Precision Engine Controls Corporation, where Sing worked as a contract employee in 2010 and 2011. Judge Snyder wrote that there was no evidence that Sing had shared the trade secret information with third parties. At a hearing Monday afternoon in which Judge Snyder announced her tentative decision in the case – a ruling that was made final with Tuesday’s written order – the court modiÀed Sing’s $20,000 bond to impose conditions of home detention with electronic monitoring. Judge Snyder is scheduled to sentence Sing on March 21, at which time the defendant will face a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for each of the 32 counts on which he was found guilty. The case against Sing was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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OPINION

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MANILA, Jan. 6 (Mabuhay) – Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. is not keen on reopening the House of Representatives’ investigation on the Mamasapano clash even if the Senate is set to hold another hearing on January 25, the bloody encounter’s Àrst anniversary. Belmonte said the Senate’s action should not necessarily be followed by the House. “I see no reason why we should be a copycat of the Senate,” he said in a text message. More than 60 individuals, including 44 members of the police Special Action Force, were killed when SAF troopers swooped down on a remote village in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, to arrest terrorists ZulkiÁi bin Hir alias Marwan and Abdul Basit Usman. The area was a known bailiwick of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and the encounter occurred despite the peace agreement between the group and the government. The MILF lost 18 men in the clash. The House committees on public order and safety, and peace, reconciliation and unity, conducted three public hearings on the Mamasapano encounter before terminating their investigation in April 2014. Findings of the investigation have not been made public yet. Negros Occidental Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer, one of the lawmakers who led the House probe, already said a draft investigation report has been created but it has yet to be Ànalized. “We have to move on” For Liberal Party’s membership and organizing committee chair Iloilo Rep. Jerry Treñas, reopening Congress’ investigation on the Mamasapano encounter will only be a waste of time. The lawmaker said some sectors might only be interested in probing the incident again as a form of political gimmick ahead of the May 2016 elections. “Stop Áogging a dead horse. We have to move on and let the lessons of Mamasapano guide us for the future,” Treñas said. “Re-opening this Mamasapano issue for the purpose of politicking is the highest form of disrespect and dishonor on the memories of our fallen policemen,” he added. Senator Grace Poe, head of the public order and dangerous drugs committee, announced the reopening of the Senate investigation into the Mamasapano clash upon the request of Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, who cited the possible existence of new evidence. Poe’s panel earlier released a report following its investigation stating that President Benigno Aquino III is responsible for the Mamasapano operation. Overacting As the legislative chamber, Treñas said it is none of Congress’ business to reopen the investigation of a case even on the back of alleged new evidence. He said it is the job of judicial bodies to look into the encounter again if there is credible reason to do so. “Overacting na ito. Instead of re-opening a Senate probe on this Mamasapano raid issue, Congress should already start crafting measures that provides more government support for policemen and soldiers who are killed in the line of duty,” he said.

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AF 44 widows hope new probe would hasten justice for commandos MANILA, Jan. 6 (Mabuhay) – Widows of two of the so-called SAF 44 are pinning their hopes for a faster delivery of justice on the re-opening next week of the Senate investigation into the Mamasapano incident. They reminded the Senate that the families of the 44 fallen police commandos are still seeking justice for their loved ones. “Sana lang po right after the re-investigation, mag-serve na po agad ng warrant of arrest not just subpoena or whatever they want to call it kasi masyado na pong mahaba ang due process na ginawa nila,” Rachel Sumbilla said in a message on Wednesday. She is the widow of PO3 John Lloyd Sumbilla. Rachel was pregnant with their Àrst child when the Mamasapano incident happened. “We cannot afford to wait for another year,” Sumbilla said. The widow of Inspector Joel Gamutan,

Merlyn, said she welcomed the reopening of the Senate probe if it can help them attain justice. “Sana hindi nila lang gamitin ang issue para sa sariling kapakanan. Sana sa simula pa lang kung ano man iyong katotohanan, ilabas nila at tulungan kami hanggang makamit ang hustisya,” Gamutan said. The Senate will reopen its hearing on the Mamasapano incident on January 25, exactly a year after the bloody police operation which resulted in the deaths of over 60 people, including 44 elite police ofÀcers and at least 17 Àghters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Senator Grace Poe, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, said the hearing would commence following the Senate Committee on Rules’ decision to return the Mamasapano report to the committee level. (MNS)

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Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Thursday 1/7/2016 – Mass shootings from Newtown to San Bernardino are weighing ever more heavily on Americans, with signs of post-traumatic stress spreading far beyond the circle of survivors and loved ones, experts say. Gun violence kills about 30,000 Americans every year and mass shootings – extremely rare in most countries – have been on the rise in the United States. According to tracking website gunviolencearchive.org, there were 330 mass shootings in the United States last year, up from 281 in 2014. They affected nearly every part of the country, reaching into both big cities and small towns. When you add up the dead, the wounded, emergency personnel, relatives and other loved ones close and far, these massacres have “an impact on all of us,” said Merritt Schreiber, a psychology professor at the University of California, Irvine. The searing images of the young and innocent dying before their time have become harder to escape, especially as ofÀces, hospitals and even elementary schools have begun holding regular “active shooter” drills. That, experts say, has led to a rise in anxiety, depression and exhaustion, all the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. “Has America become a PTSD nation?” George Washington University psychology professor Jean Kim asks on the AlterNet website. President Barack Obama, in announcing

limited gun control measures Tuesday, wiped away tears as he remembered 20 elementary school children—some as young as Àve or six—shot dead three years ago in Newtown, Connecticut. “We do not have to accept this carnage as the price of freedom,” he said. Obama formally unveiled a handful of executive measures intended to make it harder to buy and sell weapons. But many Republicans immediately expressed opposition to the measures—though Donald Trump conceded that he thought Obama’s tears were sincere—and even the president admitted that the new steps would not stop the scourge of mass shootings. Indeed, on the very Àrst day of this year, one such event in Texas wounded four people. Climate of fear With every passing incident, images of the dead and wounded carried out on stretchers, loved ones breaking down, pictures of the killers and the dark faces of authorities permeate television screens and 24-hour news channels. “There is an emerging scientiÀc evidence that suggests that spending a lot of time watching this sort of incident entails anxiety for adults and children,” Schreiber said. This, specialists say, translates into hyper-vigilance, a type of permanent state of alert close to paranoia, like the fear of sitting in a restaurant with your back to the door. The repeated cycles of violence “perpetuate fearfulness and can create these divisions between us and the others,” explained Eric Bergemann, a Los Angeles psychologist.

Bonta ¿les bill to streamline Marijuana Law (Sacramento, CA) – Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Oakland)has introduced AB 1575, a bill to clarify and improve implementation of the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act (MMRSA), which took effect on January 1st. MMRSA established the Àrst comprehensive regulatory framework for the state’s medical marijuana industry and is considered one of California’s landmark legislative efforts of 2015. AB 1575 is authored by the same bipartisan coalition of Assemblymembers who authored MMRSA—Assemblymembers Rob Bonta, Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova), Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer, Sr. (D-Los Angeles), Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale), and Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg). “The passage of MMRSA ushered in a new era for California,” explained Bonta. “For the Àrst time in nearly two decades, California is about to regulate medical marijuana to protect patients, businesses, our communi-

ties, and the environment. MMRSA resulted from an unprecedented collaboration among stakeholders, from local government, law enforcement, industry, patient advocates, environmentalists, and organized labor. AB 1575 builds on that historic success by reÀning a few outstanding issues in order to improve implementation and ease the transition for existing operators, local governments, and the general public.” AB 1575 includes a number of provisions that address implementation, such as providing explicit authorization for current collectives and new businesses to operate for proÀt, establishing guidelines for the research and development of medical marijuana, adding reÀnements to testing and dispensary licenses, and requiring the exploration of different methods to address medical marijuana businesses’ access to Ànancial services.

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Embattled presidential candidate Grace Poe Llamanzares is not about ready to give up her lofty ambition to become the next president despite glaring evidence that she is not qualiĂ€ed to run in the 2016 national elections based on her questionable citizenship and residency requirements. Senator Poe Llamanzares has a remarkable trait as a persistent candidate despite overwhelming odds against her in the pursuit of her presidential quest. Even after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc’s recent decision upholding two earlier rulings on Poe’s disqualification cases, the neophyte lady solon is still refusing to give up her presidential dream. And why not? There are rumors that she is now apparently getting support from MalacaĂąang. Reliable sources have said that Malacanang had a hand in the recent issuance of a temporary restraining order lby Supreme Court Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno against Comelec on her disqualiĂ€cation case. With the TRO, Comelec is barred from effecting its disqualification ruling on Poe Llamanzares and from removing her name from the list of presidential candidates. There are also rumors circulating that Poe Llamanzares is actually the preferred presidential candidate of President Aquino. The anointed one – Mar Roxas – is still way behind the other presidential candidates in all surveys. Sen. Poe Llamanzares and her sycophant political allies and supporters are still dreaming that with the “behind-the-sceneâ€? backing of President Aquino, the neophyte Senator will be able to hurdle all her current legal problems concerning her citizenship and residency requirement issues. However, her chances of Ă€nally going “over the humpâ€? on the numerous legal obstacles she is facing before the Supreme Court appears to be dim.

On one hand, there is now way for her to submit as evidence concrete proof that she has Filipino parents and relatives that have resided in the Philippines. Being a foundling and adopted by screen idols Susan Roces and the late Fernando Poe Jr, Poe Llamanzares can only hope and dream that the Supreme Court will rule in her favor. I expect the Supreme Court to decide on her political fate based on the country’s current election laws requirements for all candidates seeking elective position in government as mandated in the Constitution. Only last week, the Supreme Court upheld an earlier decision of the Comelec disqualifying a mayoral candidate from Northern Luzon for repeatedly using his American passport despite reacquiring Filipino citizenship. This is bad news for presidential candidate Poe Llamanzares. She has a similar case with that of the disqualiÀed mayoral candidate. It was found out that the aspiring town mayor candidate used his American passport twice in 2011 and 2012. In her case, Bureau of Immigration records showed that the neophyte solon used her US passport 21 times from 2003 to 2009 every time she travels. It was also found out that based on US records and unearthed by her political opponents, she only renounced her American citizenship in June 2012. Her US passport was last renewed in December of 2011 based also on US records. The Supreme Court should act immediately on her disqualiÀcation in order to prevent any confusion or legal problems that might arise in the event that she wins the

93 %LQD\ JHWV KLJKHU DSSURYDO WUXVW UDWLQJV 3XOVH MANILA, Jan. 6 (Mabuhay) – Vice President Jejomar Binay scored higher approval and trust ratings in the last quarter of 2015, results of the latest Pulse Asia survey revealed Wednesday. The survey, conducted last December 4 - 11, 2015, showed Binay getting a 52 percent approval rating last quarter. This is nine percentage points higher than the 43 percent he got in September 2015. Similarly, Binay’s trust rating also improved from 39 percent in September 2015 to 49 percent in December 2015, or an increase of 10 percentage points. Only President Benigno Aquino III got higher approval and trust ratings than Binay. The President got 55% approval rating in December, up one percentage point from the 54% he got in September. The President’s trust rating also improved by four percentage points, from 49% in September to 53% in December. Pulse Asia said only President Aquino enjoys the trust of most Filipinos in December 2015. MalacaĂąang welcomed the results of the survey, saying these only show the continued trust of the Filipino people on Aquino’s programs. “We welcome the continued high approval ratings of the President. Ordinarily, if you look at the historical surveys on the last term of a president, normally the approval ratings go down. For one reason or another, it happens. In this President, you see a reversal of that trend. It has been marked by a consistent high approval ratings and we welcome that,â€? presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said. “It shows the continued trust of the people on the programs and the efforts of President Aquino and in his principle that no one should be left behind. So patuloy po namin gagawin ang aming trabaho sa nalalabing anim na buwan sa kanyang pagka-Pangulo,â€? he added. The camp of Binay, likewise, expressed gratitude for the public’s continued support for the vice president. “As the Vice President welcomes the increase in his performance and trust ratings, he vows to vigorously push for his pro-poor agenda and tirelessly talk directly to the people,â€? said Atty. Rico Quicho, vice presidential spokesperson for political concerns.

election and later on disqualiĂ€ed. *** I commend Senator Juan Ponce Enrile for initiating the reopening of the Mamasapano Massacre last year, which resulted in the death of 44 gallant members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Mindanao. It is only proper and Ă€tting that relatives of the slain members the PNP’s Special Action Force (SAF) get the justice they deserve. President Aquino promised the relatives of the slain cops Ă€nancial aid, justice and even scholarship for the orphans. But up of this time, only half of what President Aquino have said were fulĂ€lled. It is almost a year now, yet no one has been charged for the gruesome killing of the 44 PNPO officers. Worse, to the detriment and dismay of many of those who survived the massacre, President Aquino rescinded the proposal of the PNP Command to bestow medals to some police ofĂ€cers who took part in the botched police operation in Mindanao. *** It is now too late for former MRT General Manager Al Vitangcol to lay the blame on Transportation Secretary Joseph Abaya regarding the anomalous $1.5 million maintenance contract for commuter trains. He should have â€œĂ€ngeredâ€? Abaya and presidential candidate Mar Roxas as the responsible parties involved in the awarding for the contract long before Vitangcol resigned from his post. Vitangcol should now have the “ballsâ€? to name the people who he claimed , tried to silence him from “spilling the beansâ€? regarding the anomalous contract. Abaya, I believe, should be charged too since he was the one who signed and approved the anomalous con-

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tract, without the beneĂ€t of a public bidding. Abaya and 19 other co-respondents were dropped by the Ombudsman from the case, however. And Vitangcol is now facing graft charges before the Ombudsman in connection with the controversial contract. The case of Vitangcol is no different from the case of the Customs Commissioner Philip Sevilla who quit from his post because of his inability to prevent smugglers from plying their trade in Port Area. He then blamed Senators and Congressmen and Cabinet members and their families for coddling smugglers. When pressed by the media to identify these inĂ uential politicians and cabinet members and their families, he refused to “spill the beans.â€? I hope “Balsyâ€? and her husband gave Sevilla a nice “pabaonâ€? when he left the customs bureau.

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It was ‘Showtime’ at the 127th Rose Parade %\ $EQHU *DOLQR

First, the news: Skywriters beneÀtted from a cloudless blue sky off the scenic town of Pasadena to trash Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Five planes circled the skies and wrote: America is great. Trump is disgusting. Anybody but Trump. The letters that formed out of white smoke spewed out from the planes frittered away almost as fast they were written in the sky. But the buzz that was created by the messages lingered in all of social media channels. It turned out that the skywriters were paid by someone from Alabama who was identiÀed by mainstream news sources as Stan Pate. The same sources disclosed that Pate was actually someone who has a lot of similarities with Trump, among them: he is also a Republican, also a millionaire (or a billionaire), also involved in real estate business, also active in politics and also somewhat raucous. Apparently, the skywriting was meant for the Iowans – who were from a state that conducts its party candidates’ nominations ahead of the other US states – who à ew in to Los Angeles in droves to support their football team known as the Hawkeyes. The Iowa Hawkeyes were routed by the Stanford Cardinals in a subsequent football showdown in

a related event known as the Rose Bowl to a blowout score of 45-16. A lost that was not spared from political intrigues as the social media went awash with innuendoes about the football team supposedly being jinxed by another Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina. Fiorina, a Californian who lost both bids for senator and governor of the state, rooted for the Hawkeyes despite being an alumnus of Stanford University. “Love my Alma mater, but rooting for a Hawkeyes win today,â€? Fiorina tweeted. Her tweet was met with widespread mockery as many saw her words as pandering to Iowan voters who will caucus on February 1. The skywriters could have not taken anything away from the 127-year tradition called Rose Parade or Tournament of the Roses – aside from the fact that the planes appeared in the sky as soon as the last Ă oat left the parade’s staging gate. But apparently, they stole the lights out from the supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders who marched along Colorado Boulevard behind the parade’s last Ă oat. The supporters of the US senator from Vermont came in huge number and were equipped with attention-grabbing placards and efĂ€gies. However, they hardly got attention from the mainstream media and the social media.

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But California being a Democratic Party majority state, the supporters of Sanders were able to draw applause from many parade spectators. All these incidents also combined to somewhat upstage the dramatic effect of the retirement of the parade’s longtime hosts Bob Eubanks and Stephanie Edwards. Eubanks started hosting the event in 1979 and Edwards joined him three years later. To the loyal fans, the retirement of the duo was arguably a big episode in continuing history of the Rose Parade. The sidelights It was somewhere around 40 degrees Fahrenheit when we got to Colorado Boulevard at about 5:30 a.m. I wore three layers of clothes but as soon as I stepped out of the car, I instantly wished I brought a blanket to wrap myself up. As expected, the sidewalks were already teeming with people – mostly sitting on folding chairs while some were bundled up in blankets and lying right on the concrete. I was told that the temperature dropped to around 35 degrees during the night. Well, that certainly spelled the difference between watching the Rose Parade on TV and being right there on Colorado Boulevard. Without the roof and the walls to protect you from the elements, enduring 35 degrees and below was an adven-

life-risking adventure for people like me who lived most his life on tropical weather. Had we camped out like the most of the people here, I might’ve certainly found a personal meaning to this year’s parade theme: Know your Adventure. A mild wind was blowing and the smell of grilled bacon-wrapped hotdogs cooking with onions permeated the air. There were sporadic bursts of laughter from different directions. People were generally cheerful but noticeably observant of every new person entering their enclave. There were no known threats but the recent tragic mass shooting in San Bernardino prompted organizers to install more security measures and call up more security personnel. Around 700,000 people come every year to watch the Rose Parade and the Rose Bowl. This year was no different despite a considerable hype over possible terrorist attacks against parade spectators weeks before the event. There were 44 à oats, 18 marching bands and 19 equestrian units in the parade and Colorado Boulevard did not seem as spacious as it usually was. And if you don’t have a paid seat or didn’t camp out to secure a spot on the sidewalks, viewing the parade could be a real challenge. In fact, for about a dozen times that I tried to situate myself by the sidewalks,

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were as much times I wished I was at least three inches taller. (And I was simply standing behind clusters of women in many of those instances). The Los Angeles Lakers float, despite a losing record, still drew big applauses from the crowd. The float, titled “Every Second Is An Adventureâ€? carried basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and pop star Paula Abdul, formerly a member of the Lakers’ cheer squad. But Disney’s Star Wars-themed Ă oat drew the biggest cheer with its white robot-like “storm troopersâ€? and characters from another hit movie

“Frozen.� The so-called “white suiters,� who were actually volunteers wearing the traditional parade white uniform, were also routinely given hoots of laughter and applauses as they marched behind equestrian units with their shovels, brooms and wheeled trash bins. The white suiters gamely returned the audiences’ adoration by vowing or by making other friendly gestures. Fun, of course, wasn’t an unbroken chain roped throughout Colorado Boulevard. When nature calls, if you have to pee or do the other thing,

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a trip to portable restrooms would be much like a queue for an MRT ride in Manila. So, beer drinkers are forewarned. Persistence could pay off. As in my case, after several attempts, I

was able to get close enough as to be able to smell the scent of the Ă owers as the Ă oats pass by. Well, that was certainly one of the reasons why people put up with all the troubles of being there from midnight to dawn.

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ConGen graces Rizal Day in Carson Rizal Monument Movement (JPRMM), Kalayaan, Incorporated and the Knights of Rizal, commemorated the 3rd Annual Rizal Day and the 119th Martyrdom of Dr. Jose S. Rizal with a wreath laying ceremony on 30 December 2015 at the International Sculpture Garden, City of Carson, California. The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, led by Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim, and the City Council of Carson, led by Mayor Pro Tem Elito Santarina, laid their respective wreaths at the foot of the Rizal Monument. The event was participated in by leaders of the various Filipino-Amer-

ican associations in Southern California. The program included welcome remarks by JPRMM Chairman Mr. Chito Mandap followed by brief messages from Consul General Herrera-Lim and City of Carson, Mayor Pro Tem Santarina. The messages given extoled the relevance of the teachings and values of Dr. Rizal in the Filipino-American culture and history. The Rizal Monument, standing at 8 feet on top of a 7-foot granite pedestal, was unveiled in September 2012 and is the Àrst monument to be installed in the International Sculpture Garden of the City of Carson.

State Water Board to sell $1.2-B in bonds for clean water fund SACRAMENTO – The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) adopted a resolution today authorizing the sale of $1.2 billion in revenue bonds for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (Clean Water Fund) to meet Ànancing demands for water projects. With nearly a 40 percent increase in commitments in Àscal year 2014-15, and a greater demand expected in Àscal year 2015-16 and beyond, the Clean Water Fund will need additional capital in 2016 and 2017. To meet the increased demand, the State Water Board plans to sell revenue bonds to meet current and near-term funding commitments. The Clean Water Fund is a Ànancial assistance program associated with the federal Clean Water Act and state water quality laws. The fund provides Ànancial assistance for construction or implemen-

tation of projects that address water quality problems and prevent water pollution. The program provides low-interest loans and other Ànancing tools for construction of publicly-owned wastewater treatment facilities, local sewers, sewer interceptors, water recycling facilities, storm water treatment facilities, as well as implementation of nonpoint source projects, and the development and implementation of estuary comprehensive conservation and management plans.The State Water Board’s Division of Financial Assistance has been working with a Ànancial advisor, the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (I-Bank), and the State Water Board’s Division of Administrative Services to determine the need for additional bonds; I-Bank has the authority to sell Clean Water Fund bonds on behalf of the State Water Board.

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6WDWH¶V ZDWHU VDYLQJV FRQWLQXH WR PHHW WDUJHW Monthly conservation average decreases for second month in a row; Per Person water use declines statewide with lowest average ever SACRAMENTO – Californians have reduced water use by 26.3 percent in the six months since emergency conservation regulations took effect in June, continuing to meet Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.’s 25 percent mandate despite a decline in the statewide water-savings rate for the last two months. In November, when outdoor water use dramatically drops, the statewide conservation rate was 20.3 percent, down from 22.3 percent in October. In contrast, average statewide water use declined from 87 gallons per person per day in October to 75 in November – the lowest observed since the Water Board’s emergency regulation went into effect. “We expected the percentage drop in the cooler fall and winter months when we use less water in general so we are still on track,” said Felicia Marcus, chair of the State Water Resources Control Board. “The fact that per person water use dropped to 75 gallons per person per day on average is proof that Californians are clearly thinking twice before turning on the tap. As welcome as recent rain and snow are, we’ve been in such a deep drought that we won’t know until spring whether we can let up on conservation.” In November 2015, the Governor issued an additional Executive Order directing the State Water Board to extend and revise the emergency water conservation regulations based on conditions through January. Out for public review is a staff-proposed framework for the next iteration of the drought emergency water conservation regulation, which is intended to replace the current regulations, set to expire in the middle of next month. Following public review of the framework, staff will release a draft updated emergency regulation for public comment in mid-January. State Water Board consideration of an extended emergency regulation is anticipated Feb. 2. Small water suppliers (those with 3,000 or fewer customers) were required to report water use by Dec. 15, and to date about half of these small water suppliers have submitted reports. Of those reporting, 1,232 small water suppliers (80 percent) are in compliance with the emergency regulation; 209 suppliers (13 percent) are not in compliance; and compliance

for 109 suppliers (7 percent) could not be assessed. The full report of information submitted by small water suppliers is available here. November Conservation Data For June through November, the cumulative statewide reduction was 26.3 percent, compared with the same months in 2013. That equates to over 1 million acre-feet, putting the state more than 80 percent of the way to meeting the 1.2 million acre-feet savings goal to be achieved by February 2016. Statewide water savings for November 2015 was 20.3 percent (94,236 acre feet or 30.7 billion gallons), a decrease from October 2015’s 22.3 percent savings. See fact sheet here. Statewide average R-GPCD for November 2015 was 75 gallons, a signiÀcant decrease from the 87 residential gallons per capita per day reported for October. Conservation Must Continue Through Winter Despite recent rain and snow, most of California is still experiencing severe drought. Residential water users are urged to keep up their efforts to conserve through the winter months. That includes complying with urban water supplier directives to switch to watering schedules of once a week as well as a prohibition against watering during a rain event and 48 hours directly following a rain event. Background In his April 1, 2015 Executive Order, Gov. Brown mandated a 25 percent water use reduction for cities and towns across California. In May 2015, the State Water Board adopted an emergency regulation requiring an immediate 25 percent reduction in overall potable urban water use. The regulation uses a sliding scale for setting conservation standards, so that communities that have already reduced their R-GPCD through past conservation will have lower mandates than those that have not made such gains since the last major drought. The State Water Board tracks water conservation for each of the state’s urban water suppliers (those with more than 3,000 customers) on a monthly basis, but compliance with individual water supplier conservation requirements and the statewide 25 percent mandate is based on cumulative savings. Cumulative tracking means that conservation savings will be added together from one month to the next and compared to the amount of water used during the same months in 2013.

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'RFWRU LQ 0 IUDXG SUHVFULSWLRQ VFKHPH VHQWHQFHG WR \HDUV LQ SULVRQ LOS ANGELES – The medical doctor at the center of a conspiracy linked to a sham medical clinic in Glendale was sentenced today to nine years in federal prison for his role in a $20 million scheme to defraud the Medicare and Medi-Cal programs. Dr. Kenneth Johnson, 49, of Ladera Heights, received a 108-month prison term from United States District Judge S. James Otero. Johnson was sentenced for his role in a scheme that, among other things, fraudulently prescribed expensive anti-psychotic medications and then re-billed the government for those drugs over and over. Johnson presigned thousands of prescriptions that were later used to Àll millions of dollars in fraudulent prescriptions for anti-psychotic drugs. Observing that Johnson’s involvement in the conspiracy caused “signiÀcant loss by any measure,” Judge Otero stated that the sentence was necessary to “deter others from engaging in this type of conduct, es-

pecially physicians.” Johnson is one of three people found guilty after a trial in 2014 – and one of a total of 16 defendants who have been convicted – in relation to the scheme run out of Manor Medical Imaging in Glendale. The scheme generated fraudulent billings of more than $20 million, of which Medi-Cal and Medicare actually paid more than $9 million. Using prescriptions that were pre-signed by Johnson, employees of Manor Medical generated thousands of prescriptions for identify theft victims – such as elderly Vietnamese beneÀciaries of Medicare and Medi-Cal, military veterans who were recruited from drug rehab programs, and denizens of Skid Row. Members of the conspiracy created or doctored patient Àles to make it falsely appear the drugs were necessary and the patients were legitimately treated. After the prescriptions were Àlled at pharmacies and paid for by Medicare and Medi-Cal, they were sold on the

black market and redistributed to pharmacies, where the drugs would be subject to new claims made to Medicare and Medi-Cal as though they were new bottles of drugs. “Dr. Johnson essentially sold his prescription pad when he became part of the conspiracy that defrauded the government out of millions of dollars,” said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “Johnson played a crucial role in this scheme, which could not have functioned without his medical license lending an air of legitimacy to the clinic.” The case was the Àrst in the nation involving an organized scheme to defraud government health care programs through fraudulent claims for expensive anti-psychotic medications. At a prior hearing, Judge Otero noted that the conspiracy was “particularly devious,” because the participants believed they targeted “under-the-radar” drugs in an effort to evade the attention of law enforcement.

In its sentencing brief, the government argued that Johnson “used his skill and professional licensure – issued in order to help people – to fraudulently take millions of dollars from programs designed to help the nation’s most vulnerable citizens.” Previously in this case, another leader of the conspiracy – Lianna “Lili” Ovsepian, 35, of Tujunga, the manager and owner of Manor Medical – was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to health care fraud charges. Her brother Artak Ovsepian, 34, of Tujunga – who was convicted with Johnson at trial – received a 15-year prison term in August. The third person convicted at trial – Nuritsa Grigoryan, 51, of Glendale – the holder of an Armenian medical license, who pretended to be an American doctor when she saw homeless “patients” and who Àlled out the bogus prescriptions presigned by Johnson – Áed the United States after being found guilty and remains a fugitive.

Chipotle norovirus outbreak under US criminal probe New York, United States | AFP | Wednesday 1/6/2016 – US officials have launched a criminal probe into an August 2015 norovirus outbreak at a Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurant in California, the company said Wednesday in a securities Àling. Chipotle in December received a federal grand jury subpoena following the outbreak that reportedly led to the illness of some 80 customers and about 20 employees. “The subpoena requires us to produce a broad range of documents related to a Chipotle restaurant in Simi Valley, California, that experi-

enced an isolated norovirus incident during August 2015,” Chipotle said in the Àling. “We intend to fully cooperate in the investigation.” The subpoena is from the US attorney’s ofÀce for the central district of California, which is investigating the case with the Food and Drug Administration’s OfÀce of Criminal Investigations. Chipotle also said that restaurant sales have fallen more steeply since a separate norovirus outbreak in Boston in December 2015 hit customer trafÀc, adding to its woes following several food-safety problems. In the wake of the Boston noro-

virus outbreak in early December, which received national media attention, comparable restaurant sales fell 34 percent, Chipotle said. Sales fell further in the week of December 21 after the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that it was investigating Àve new cases of E.coli contamination. Those were on top of earlier E.coli cases that led Chipotle in November to shut 43 restaurants on the US west coast. Chipotle said the Àve new cases “were the same strain of E.coli 025 but with a different DNA Àngerprint.”

Chipotle now expects to spend $14-16 million in the fourth quarter on lab tests, food replacement and food safety upgrades, up from the prior range of $6-8 million. Fourth-quarter diluted earnings are now expected at $1.70-$1.90 per share, down from the $2.45-$2.85 per share projected a month ago. The restaurant chain, a Wall Street darling until the current rash of problems, has vowed to become an industry leader in food safety. Shares of Chipotle were down 4.1 percent at $430.43 at midday. jmb/pmh© 1994-2016 Agence France-Presse

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KC wants family to be ‘closer than ever’ Actress-host KC Concepcion only has one wish for 2016 - for her family to be “closer than ever.â€? Concepcion said she speciĂ€cally wants to improve her relationship with her mother, Megastar Sharon Cuneta, and her teen sister, Frankie Pangilinan. “Malaki na rin si Frankie. She’s a teenager, she’s blooming. So I just want the family to be closer than ever, and I can’t do it alone.

It’s teamwork. I want all of us to be happy and all of us to keep trying to keep each other happy,� she said. “Ngayon na wala na ‘yung lola ko, I really wish that my mom and I become closer than ever. I really want the best for her,� she added. Last October, Cuneta criticized Concepcion’s “unnecessary toosexy poses� in some of her pictorials. It led to an alleged rift, which

ended when Concepcion visited her mother at the hospital. In a previous interview, Cuneta said she only wants one thing from Concepcion, and it is to feel loved. Concepcion is Cuneta’s daughter from her past marriage with actor Gabby Concepcion. Frankie is one of Cuneta’s three children with former senator Francis Pangilinan. (MNS)

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/L]D .DWKU\Q UDQN LQ PRVW EHDXWLIXO IDFHV ZRUOGZLGH OLVW MANILA, Jan 6 (Mabuhay) – Liza Soberano is the sixth woman with the most beautiful face in the world according to a British-based critic community. “The 26th Annual Independent Critics List of the 100 Most Beautiful Faces of 2015Äź by TC Candler was released on December 26. Only Soberano and her co-Kapamilya star Kathryn Bernardo were the Filipinas to join the list. Bernardo landed on the 80th spot, ahead of American-Irish actress Olivia Wilde. South Korean singer Nana, whose real name is Im Jin-ah, topped the list. She is followed by Israeli actress Gal Gadot, British model Jourdan Dunn, ‘Harry Potter’s’ Emma Watson, and Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahni.

According to TC Candler, the Independent List is not a popularity poll. “Rather, the list attempts to inform public opinion instead of reĂ ecting it.â€? The criteria for judging include aesthetic perfection, grace, elegance, class, poise, joy, promise, and hope. The public sends suggestions to T.C. Candler which the community puts together and make a list representing “the modern ideal of beautyâ€?. Meanwhile for the male division, three Filipinos were able to enter the list — Enrique Gil on the 13th spot, overshadowing Ryan Gosling and David Beckham among others; Daniel Padilla, 22nd; and Xian Lim, 99th. All the aforementioned Filipino personalities were categorized under the “new entryâ€?. (MNS)

Actress and singer Patricia Javier, who is part of the cast of afternoon drama “Doble Kara,â€? celebrated her 10th wedding anniversary on Wednesday with husband, American chiropractic doctor Robert Walcher. The couple marked the milestone by renewing their wedding vows in a Christian wedding ceremony, which was attended by close friends and family, held at the Azure Urban Resort Residences in ParaĂąaque. “I’m so thankful to God kasi talagang you’re the one that I will always pray for,â€? an emotional Javier told Walcher. “Thank you so much for all the support, for embracing Philippines, and for being here with my family. I know this is not easy for you, but you’re still here.â€? Walcher said he felt “sobrang blessedâ€? to be with Javier, whom he Ă€rst married in front of a county court judge in San Diego in 2005. “The past 10 years has been absolutely life-changing. These are the best years of my life. I’m looking forward to the next 10 years,â€? he said. Javier, who Ă€rst met Walcher in California in 2003, has two kids with the American, namely Rob and Ryan James. (MNS)

Is Albert Martinez open to marrying again? MANILA, Jan 5 (Mabuhay) -– Nine months after his wife Liezl Martinez lost her battle to cancer, actor Albert Martinez admitted that he has thought about marrying again. Martinez, however, said that he also has to consider how his children would feel in case he ties the knot again. “It crossed my mind. Kaya lang iniisip ko, what if mag-asawa ako, how will my kids accept kung sino ang magiging asawa ko? Hindi ko matimpla pa. Kasi si Alyssa, ‘yung anak kong youngest super selosa. Siya ‘yung maraming tanong kapag hindi pa ako umuuwi. So binabalanse ko rin kasi ayoko namang magdagdag pa ng heartaches sa mga bata,� he said. Asked if there are women who are showing interest to him now that he’s “single,� Martinez said: “You know what, in reality, ‘yung predicament ko ngayon mas mahirap compared

noon. Kasi dati, kaibigan mo lang, okay lang. Ngayon, meron ng malisya. Medyo mahirap na talaga.� “Ako naman, mas lalo akong nagiging maingat ngayon. Ayaw ko namang makasakit ng iba kaya I don’t allow myself to be in that position,� he explained. According to Martinez, he still thinks of his late wife most of the time. “She is 80 percent of my life. ‘Yung buhay ko sa kanya lang umiikot. Gigising lang ako sa umaga para magtrabaho. Dati lahat automatic na, pag gising ko sasakay na lang ako sa kotse, taping na. Ngayon, ako na lahat,� he said. Saying he misses Liezl every day, Martinez said: “Mahirap din talagang mawalan ng partner sa buhay.� To help him ease his longing for Liezl, Martinez said he enjoys spending time with his children, who are all young adults now.

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American Honda sets new all-time annual sales record Honda CR-V maintains position atop SUV market with fourth straight annual record: American Honda also sets all-time record for month of December

Jan 5, 2016 - TORRANCE, Calif. – American Honda Motor Co., Inc. today reported all-time record annual sales of 1,586,551 Honda and Acura vehicles for 2015, an increase of 3.0 percent to beat the previous record set in 2007. Honda and Acura truck sales also set a new annual record, gaining 9.7 percent on sales of 770,424. Honda Division sales topped last year‘s record to set a new annual mark, rising 2.6 percent on sales of 1,409,386 units. Acura sales totaled 177,165, a 5.6 percent increase for the year and the division’s best result since 2007. “What better way to celebrate the “Year of Hondaâ€? than with an alltime automobile sales record,â€? said John Mendel, executive vice president of the Automobile Division of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “We are grateful to our customers who embraced our entire product lineup and are the true power behind the Honda brand.â€? Honda The Honda Division maintained its strong momentum through the end of 2015, grabbing both annual and December all-time records for the second straight year. Core models CR-V, Civic and Accord all Ă€nished strong, with CR-V setting

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a new annual mark, while the Pilot and Odyssey continued to Ă ex sales muscle. The addition of the HR-V to the lineup also helped push the division to new annual heights. CR-V set a new all-time annual

record, gaining 3.2 percent on sales of 345,647 as it maintains its position as best-selling SUV in America. Core models CR-V, Accord and Civic combined for over 1-million in sales for the third straight year.

In addition to the new annual record, Honda Division sales set a new combined car & truck December mark of 134,070 units, rising 12.2 percent for the month. Both cars and trucks set individual December records as well. Car sales were up 13.3 percent on sales of 72,839 units, while trucks gained 11.0 percent with sales of 61,681 vehicles. “While we are excited about the all-time sales record, we continue to have incredible momentum driven by the relentless cadence of new and successful products we introduced in 2015 that will give the Honda brand tremendous energy going into the new year,� said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of the Honda Division. “With a similar pace of new products coming this year, we’re anticipating a very robust 2016.� Earlier, Honda claimed two Hispanic Motor Press Awards with the all-new 2016 Honda Civic named “Best Compact Sedan� and the allnew 2016 Honda Pilot named “Best SUV.� The awards honor the best all-new or heavily refreshed vehicles for Hispanic families in 2016. Although a Honda is a Honda wherever you see one, Filipinos flock to Carson Honda because of the friendly Filipino staff at the dealership and of course because of the service our kababayans provide. One of them, Rohmer Manalese, has even earned the “Best in Customer Satisfaction,�an honor he keeps consistently, along with the three other Filipino sales staff in the persons of Ricky Agagas, Terzo Pallen and Christian Reyes, all of whom are veterans in the car sales industry. “We have a great staff and this is a great dealership,� Carson Honda General Manager Krisztian Kratky said. “We have a friendly atmosphere.� Carson Honda is located at 1435 E. 223rd Street, Carson, CA.

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Hyundai Motor wins five 2015 Good Design Awards

December 23, 2015 – Hyundai Motor has won Àve GOOD DESIGN Awards, in recognition of consistent successful application of its design philosophy. The company received awards for the upcoming IONIQ alternative fuel compact vehicle, All-new Tucson, All-new Elantra, Santa Cruz concept model and the company’s ‘Sculpture in Motion’ art installation. “Being recognized as five-time winners in the GOOD DESIGN Awards strengthens Hyundai Motor’s position as an automotive design leader - not only for traditional combustion-engine vehicles, but also for eco-friendly vehicles and ambitious design concepts,” said Byung-Seob Lee, Senior Vice President and Head of the Hyundai Design Center. The annual awards program has been developed by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, in recognition of the most innovative and cutting-edge industrial, product, and graphic designs from around the world. The oldest and the most prestigious architecture and design awards program organized worldwide, the GOOD DESIGN Award brought together an international jury of design professionals, architects, experts and cultural leaders in New York in November 2015 to select their favorite designs and graphics. Among the thousands of world-leading industrial and graphic design Àrms and manufacturers being evaluated, Hyundai Motor stood out for its products and design approach, highlighting the competitiveness of the brand’s design strategy and output. The soon-to-be-launched IONIQ, Hyundai Motor’s advanced alternative fuel compact vehicle, was recognized for its class-leading aerodynamics and striking design details. Shaped around the Visual Aero design concept, IONIQ was developed not only with aesthetics in mind, but also with careful consideration of efÀciency, aerodynamics and functionality. The interior design concept of ‘PuriÀed Hi-tech’ creates a futuristic overall image, with simpliÀed surfaces and intuitive layout of buttons. The world premiere of the IONIQ will be on January 14, 2016 in Seoul, Korea. The All-new Tucson adopts the strong proportions and proÀle of a sleek and agile SUV. The vehicle is longer, wider and has a longer wheelbase than its predecessor, allowing for increased interior space and improved versatility. The front view presents a hexagonal-shaped grille, a key element of Hyundai’s design signature, Áanked by high-efÀciency LED twin-projector headlights. From the rear, Z-shaped character lines above the rear wheels accentuate an aggressive, sporty side-profile. All of these design features help to create an athletic, bold and striking appearance. Also recognized in the GOOD DESIGN Awards and new to Hyundai Motor’s product line-up is the All-new Elantra. Building on the celebrated design of the preceding Elantra, the new model showcases the evolving design direction being adopted for all Hyundai compact cars. The All-new Elantra displays refined

exterior body surfacing with simplebut-strong lines running along the body side from front to back. Design details all around the car show modern, sporty and advanced style, beÀtting of Hyundai Motor’s exclusive Dynamic Precision design concept. Further complementing Hyundai Motor’s success at the GOOD DESIGN Awards, the Santa Cruz concept gained success for its interpretation of truck utility for a new generation of buyers. Having been introduced at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the concept truck was designed to meet the needs of those looking for greater design individuality, efÀciency and maneuverability. The Santa Cruz delivers with a wide, sure-footed stance and an aggressive side-proÀle. To provide sufÀcient cargo room and access to the rear seats, the Santa Cruz offers an innovative tailgate extension that allows the bed length to be expanded. It also incorporates rear-hinged, reverse-opening rear doors that integrate seamlessly with the front door design. Last but not least, Hyundai Motor’s design philosophy is realized in innovative ways through the Sculpture in Motion project, which earned its own GOOD DESIGN Award. The Sculpture in Motion project forms the look of a living wave, celebrating Áuid motion as art and referencing the relationship between movement and car design in the natural and automotive worlds. All of the winners of the GOOD DESIGN Award are posted on the Museum’s website at www.europeanarch.eu and will be published in the GOOD DESIGN Award Yearbook for 2015-2016. Hyundai named best certiÀed preowned car program by Edmunds.Com Meanwhile, as certiÀed pre-owned (CPO) vehicles are more popular than ever, Hyundai announced today that it was recognized for having the best CPO program in the industry, according to car-shopping destination Edmunds.com. Hyundai ranked No. 1 for offering extraordinary powertrain bumper-to-bumper and roadside assistance coverage compared with oth-

er luxury and mainstream brands. Hyundai CPO vehicles earned the top honor for being backed up with a manufacturer’s warranty. In addition to the striking design, safety, technology and uncompromised workmanship found in all Hyundai vehicles, a Hyundai CPO vehicle comes fully equipped with a suite of beneÀts that Hyundai values at more than $2,000.1 “A typical non-luxury CPO car has only seven years of powertrain coverage from the original date of purchase. Hyundai betters that by three years,” said Edmunds.com. “The bumper-to-bumper coverage is also better by a year on average, and the roadside assistance term is exceptional.” Edmunds recognized Hyundai for going above and beyond for its CPO program. Hyundai includes vehicles up to Àve years old and with 60,000 or fewer miles. Its CPO program also includes a warranty for the remainder of the original Àve-year/60,000mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Furthermore, owners have access to 10 years/unlimited miles for roadside assistance, $50 deductible for warranty repairs, and rental car and travel interruption reimburse-

ment for covered repairs. In addition, owners can transfer the vehicle to a private-party buyer and, as an added bonus, get a three-month subscription to Sirius/XM satellite radio and a complimentary CARFAX Vehicle History Report™. “The award-winning Hyundai certiÀed pre-owned program offers peace of mind to owners - whether they are in the market for their Àrst car or replacing an existing model,” said Derrick Hatami, vice president, national sales, Hyundai Motor America. “We strive to provide our owners with less to worry about now and down the road by offering a wide selection of Hyundai CPO vehicles that are confidence-inspiring, high-quality choices.” And if you would like to check out why Hyundai is among the best selling cars, call our kababayans Jun Milan or Jay Trinidad, Filipino Sales & Leasing professionals at Win Hyundai of Carson at 1-888-718-7473. Better yet, drive down to Win Hyundai and feel the luxury of Sonata Àrst-hand. Win Hyundai is conveniently located at 3462 N Peck Road, El Monte, CA 91731 in San Gabriel Valley and at 2201 East 223rd St. in Carson, CA 90810.

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Toyota Tops the IIHS 2016 ‘Top Safety Pick+’ Awards Several Toyota models earn institute’s highest recognition for crashworthiness and front crash prevention

TORRANCE, Calif. (Dec. 11, 2015) — Toyota once again led the industry on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) annual list of safety awards. Nine Toyota, Lexus and Scion models received the IIHS’ highest award for 2016, the TOP SAFETY PICK+, the most of any manufacturer. “At Toyota, we continue to focus on the safety and peace of mind of our customers,â€? said Dino Triantafyllos, Toyota’s North American Chief Quality OfĂ€cer. “We are proud that IIHS has recognized our commitment to helping protect drivers and passengers.â€? According to IIHS, automakers were required to meet tougher criteria to be considered for the 2016 awards. For this year’s TOP SAFETY PICK+ awards, the IIHS recognized the addition of Toyota’s pre-collision system to the Avalon and the RAV4, rating both models superior for front crash prevention. The Scion iA, which received an advanced rating for front crash prevention, was also acknowledged as the only low-priced car sold with a standard pre-collision system. All award winners were required to achieve good ratings in Ă€ve crashworthiness tests and have an available front crash prevention system.

TOP SAFETY PICK+ award winners must also have a superior- or advanced-rated front crash prevention system with automatic braking capabilities The full list of 2016 Toyota, Lexus and Scion TOP SAFETY PICK+ winners are: Toyota Prius v, Toyota Camry, Toyota Avalon, Toyota RAV4, Lexus CT 200h, Lexus ES, Lexus RC, Lexus NX, and Scion. Meanwhile, Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., reported November 2015 sales up 12.4 percent on a daily selling rate (DSR) basis, with sales of 189,517 units. On a raw volume basis, with two less selling days in November 2015 than in November 2014, sales were up 3.4 percent. Toyota Division posted November 2015 sales up 11.7 percent on a DSR basis with sales of 160,177 units, up 2.8 percent on a volume basis. “The auto industry is on-track to exceed 2015 expectations,� said Bill Fay, group vice president and general manager for the Toyota Division. “With the best Black Friday weekend in eight years, Toyota’s record sales of RAV4 and Light Trucks overall contributed to double-digit growth in November.� Lexus reported November 2015 sales up 16.1 percent on a DSR basis with sales of 29,340 units, up 6.8 percent on a volume basis. “Lexus had its best November sales in the brand’s history with record performances in sales, parts, service, customer care and vehicle

quality,â€? said Jeff Bracken, group vice president and general manager, Lexus Division. “Considering the industry momentum and the strong early sales pace of the 2016 RX, Lexus is well positioned to post its best-ever calendar year sales.â€? November 2015 Highlights: • Camry posted sales of 30,945 units, up 7.3 percent • All-new Scion iA and iM posted combined sales of 2,876 units • Total Toyota Division light trucks up 5.5 percent; a best-ever November • Highlander posted sales of

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