Weekend Balita December 19, 2015

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VOL. XXIII, NO. 46

LOS ANGELES

December 19 - 25, 2015

THE LEADING SOURCE OF NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR FILIPINO-AMERICANS

No stopping Duterte’s run in 2016 Comelec accepts Davao mayor’s COC for president MANILA, Dec 17 (Mabuhay) – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc on Thursday decided to accept the substitution of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as presidential candidate for PDP-Laban in the 2016 polls.

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Pacquiao allies to support Duterte instead of Binay GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Dec 16 (Mabuhay) – Members of Sarangani Representative and senatorial aspirant Manny Pacquiao’s local party, the People’s Champ Movement, are publicly supporting Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte instead of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

At a press conference, Comelec chair Andres Bautista said the en banc voted 6-1 to accept Duterte as substitute for Martin Diùo, who Àled a certiÀcate of candidacy for president under PDP-Laban in October then eventually withdrew it, citing Duterte as replacement.

Duterte Ă€led his COC to substitute through a lawyer last Nov. 27. He came to the Comelec main ofĂ€ce in Manila last Dec. 8 to “reafĂ€rmâ€? it. “This means he is now in our list of candidates,â€? Bautista said. “It is an administrative move on the part of Comelec en banc.â€?

Bautista declined to name the lone dissenting vote in the en banc’s decision, saying the resolution has yet to be signed by all seven members.

The resolution, as read by Bautista at the press conference, said the Comelec resolves to “acknowledge and accept the certiĂ€cate of candidacyâ€? of Duterte, as part of the poll body’s “ministerial function.â€?

Bautista explained: “’Yung pagtanggap ng substitution is administrative in nature. Kumbaga titingnan mo lang yung form... ‘Yung form nga mismo may kaunting [issue], pero See DUTERTE, page 8

This, despite local members renewing their allegiance to the Binayled United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) during Sarangani province’s Munato Festival celebration in November.

Even though Pacquiao is Àrm in See PACQUIAO, page 8

6HQ *UDFH 3RH VWLOO KRSHIXO Grace-Chiz camp hopes ‘honest mistake’ would be forgiven MANILA, Dec 17 (Mabuhay) – The camp of Senator Grace Poe is hopeful that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) would also accept the “honest mistakeâ€? in her certiĂ€cate of candidacy (COC) in 2013 after the poll body decided to accept the COC of her rival, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. “We welcome the decision of Comelec to accept the COC of Mayor Duterte. As stated before, we believe that in a true democracy, individuals should be allowed to offer themselves to the electorate to serve the country, as well as people should be allowed to choose their next leaders from a complete list of candidates. In a democracy, the freedom to choose is the most powerful tool of the people,â€?

Poe’s spokesman, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gathalian, said in a text message on Thursday. “With this positive decision we are hopeful that the Comelec en banc applies consistency in rendering decision on the MR of Sen. Poe. In this case (Duterte case) they accepted See GRACE POE, page 8

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1LQH NLOOHG DV 7\SKRRQ 1RQD FDXVHV FKDRV LQ FHQWUDO 3KLOLSSLQHV MANILA, Dec 16 (Mabuhay) – Nine people were killed and hundreds spent the night huddled on their roofs in the central Philippines as à oods generated by a powerful typhoon inundated villages, disaster ofÀcials said on Wednesday.

Typhoon Nona (international name: Melor) had paralyzed Manila by late Tuesday, with Ă oodwaters chest-deep in some areas disrupting train services and causing traffic gridlock on major roads. Five people were listed as missing.

The typhoon was about 150 km (95 miles) northwest of Mindoro island, just to the south of Manila, with winds at its center of 130 kph (80 mph).

Mindoro Governor Alfonso Umali said in a radio interview four people were killed in what he described as

one of the strongest typhoons to hit the province in years.

Another Ă€ve people were killed in Northern Samar, where Nona Ă€rst made landfall further south. About 90 percent of the province was affected, said disaster ofĂ€cial Jonathan Baldo. “Many people will spend Christmas in evacuation centres without power and potable water,â€? Baldo said.

Thousands of lightly constructed houses had been reduced to “matchsticks,� he said. “It may take three to four months to restore power in the province after power lines and electricity posts were toppled by strong winds,� Baldo said.

Five Àshermen were missing in Albay gulf on the heavily populated main island of Luzon, ofÀcials there See TYPHOON NONA, page 8

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&DQ EDQNUXSWF\ VWRS D IRUHFORVXUH" Recent press reports now indicate that banks are ready to begin a new push on delinquent mortgages through foreclosures and trust deed sales.

Although the recession seems to have bottomed out, and house prices are no longer falling, many home owners are still behind on their payments, or sitting in homes that remain upside down in value versus debt, or both. Bottom line, home values have not yet appreciated to the point where it makes sense to stay, or pay off large delinquencies in order to avoid a foreclosure.

Even with the new lower mortgage rates, few home owners will succeed in refinancing under the government’s Harp 2 program, that provides re-Ànance options for properties under water. For most, if your credit is compromised, or you do not have at least 40% equity, you are out of luck. Therefore a bank foreclosure may well be unavoidable during this new foreclosure wave that’s about to begin.

So how does that work? When you are unable to make your mortgage payments on time, the bank starts a foreclosure process. Foreclosure is a legal procedure that involves mortgaged properties. If a homeowner defaults on his or her mortgage, by either failing to make mortgage payments or failing to follow other terms of the mortgage document, foreclosure may be the result. The homeowner relinquishes all rights to the property, and the mortgage lender takes possession of the property.

Usually there is a forced sale of the property at public auction; the proceeds of this sale are applied to the mortgage debt.

The most widely used remedy in dealing with foreclosure, is bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is a legal procedure that begins when an individual has a cash flow deficiency caused by debts they cannot manage. It can also protect against judgments, pay garnishments, evictions and buy time in foreclosure situations.

For those with little income, a chapter 7 bankruptcy gives debtors a fresh start. All unsecured debts are discharged. If you do have a regular income that is greater than the cost of living index for your area, you can still qualify for a chapter 13 bankruptcy.

The U.S. Courts’ publication Bankruptcy Basics refers to a Chapter 13 bankruptcy as “an adjustment

of debts of an individual with regular income� where the debtor works with the bankruptcy court to develop a repayment plan for the debtor to follow over the next three to Àve years.

Upon completion of the repayment plan, the bankruptcy court will discharge any remaining eligible debts.

A Chapter 13 bankruptcy Ă€ling can stall or derail foreclosure proceedings. That’s because of bankruptcy’s “automatic stayâ€? provisions that force creditors to the sidelines while the bankruptcy court sorts things out. The lender can petition the court to allow it to continue with the foreclosure, depending on where you are in the foreclosure process, but it should buy you some time.

The following, is from page 24 of the U.S. Courts’ publication Bankruptcy Basics: By virtue of the automatic stay, an individual debtor faced with a threatened foreclosure of the mortgage on his or her principal residence can prevent an immediate foreclosure by Àling a chapter 13 petition.

Chapter 13 then affords the debtor a right to cure defaults on long-term home mortgage debts by bringing the payments current over a reasonable period of time.

The debtor is permitted to cure a default with respect to a lien on the debtor’s principal residence up until the completion of a foreclosure sale under state law. 11 U.S.C § 1322Š.

Clearly, you should hire a bankruptcy attorney to guide you through this complex process. That’s why the Law OfÀces of Paul M. Allen is here to help you. Attorney Paul Allen can re-structure your Ànances through the à exibility of a Chapter 13 plan, and provide you with options that will help you through many difÀcult situations.

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.

&2$ UHSRUW TXHVWLRQV 3&62 RQ 67/ RSHUDWLRQV ORWWHU\ SUL]HV MANILA, Dec. 15 (Mabuhay) – The Commission on Audit (COA) questioned the lack of accountability in the remittance of billions of pesos in Small Town Lottery (STL) income to police and local government units beneÀtting from its operations in a recently released COA report on the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes OfÀce (PCSO) 2014 disbursements and Ànancial transactions.

The report also raised serious questions over the non-remittance of STL prizes that have not been claimed for over a year and thus, have been deemed forfeited.

According to auditors, the PCSO management committed “improper allocation� of P805 million in forfeited lottery prizes to a high-yielding savings account.

The state audit agency said transfer of the unclaimed lotto prizes may have

deprived “potential beneficiaries of additional funds for their health and medical assistance services.â€? State auditors tasked to examine PCSO Ă€nances have been invited to the congressional hearings on the alleged lapses in STL operations that may have cost the state lottery agency and its charity fund unrealized revenues reaching billions of pesos.

P879-M Taxes Owed In the 2014 annual audit report, COA said that for 2013 and 2014 alone, authorized agent corporations running STL operations already owed the Bureau of Internal Revenue a total of P879.40 million in documentary stamp payments. “Direct remittance to LGUs and PNP resulted in non-establishment of accountability of the remittance of the share of LGUs and PNP local ofĂ€ces,â€?

COA said.

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Duterte insists Mar is not a Wharton graduate MANILA, Dec 16 (Mabuhay) – Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday night insisted that one of his presidential rivals, Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer Mar Roxas, is lying about his academic background. “That’s my simple truth na hindi talaga siya sa Wharton,� Duterte told reporters after a dinner meeting with congressmen members of the National Unity Party in Quezon City.

Duterte said that after hearing Roxas “boast� about being an alumnus of Wharton, he had it checked. “We had it checked actually. Si Mar, [sa] University of Penn. Undergrad siya don, he was taking special courses. Ang wharton kasi pala is MBA, masters ‘yan. Di siya pumunta roon. He was never there, but he was

using Wharton,� the mayor insisted.

He said that during the meeting with NUP, two congressmen who went to Wharton told him that they did not see Roxas in the prestigious school. “Pero meron dito, I will not reveal the names, dalawang congressman na nagpunta ng Wharton. Sabi nila hindi talaga nila nakita. Sabi nila hindi talaga,� he added.

Duterte said that his revelation against Roxas’ claim that he was a Wharton graduate could be the reason why the LP bet has been challenging him to a slapping match and a Ă€stĂ€ght. “Uminit si Mar kasi in all of the previous speeches sinabi niya Wharton... Kaya uminit siya siguro

napahiya o nabuko. Kaya ganon,� the mayor said.

He added that a lot of people are also now saying that Roxas should not say that he is a Wharton alumnus, but a UPenn graduate.

Replying to Duterte’s claim, Roxas said that he will ask Wharton School to conÀrm that he is an alumnus.

He said he will allow Duterte to slap him if it was proven that he is not a Wharton graduate, but said that he will have to slap the mayor if he proves that he is a graduate of the

prestigious business school.

Rebecca Ricalde, a digital commerce executive who was a member of the Wharton MBA Class of 2011, said that undergraduates can claim to be Wharton graduates. “Undergrads can deĂ€nitely claim to be Wharton grads. In fact, the undergrad is maybe more competitive than the MBA program,â€? Rebecca Ricalde. The Wharton School has conĂ€rmed that Roxas graduated in the school in 1979 with an economics degree. (MNS)

3DUW\ OLVW FRDOLWLRQ PXOOV EORF YRWLQJ IRU VHQDWRULDO UDFH MANILA, Dec. 15 (Mabuhay) – With around 15 million voter constituents, the 40-member party-list coalition (PLC) in the House of Representatives is considering voting as a bloc for six senatorial candidates in the May 2016 elections. “To ensure their victory, we might stick to supporting six candidates instead of completing the 12 names [needed for a complete senatorial slate],� House Deputy Majority Leader and CIBAC party-list Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian said in a press conference Tuesday.

The PLC said they will back the following senatorial candidates: Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian, former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Joel Villanueva, PhilHealth Director Risa Hontiveros, ACT-CIS party-list Rep.Samuel Pagdilao and COOP-NATTCO party-list Rep. Cresente Paez.

PLC acting president and Butil party-list Rep. Agapito Guanlao said the group arrived at the six names after ranking them based on certain criteria, such as ties to a member party-list and commitment to advance causes of the party-list sector in the Senate.

He said that Bayan Muna par-

ty-list Rep. Neri Colmenares, who is part of Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero’s Team Galing at Puso, was not included in the list of endorsed candidates because he has his own group, the Makabayan bloc.

With the exception of Gatchalian and Romualdez, who are district representatives, the other senatorial candidates are former and incumbent party-list lawmakers.

Hontiveros, Paez and Villanueva will run under the Liberal Party’s banner, while Pagdilao and Gatchalian are part of the Poe-Escudero senatorial slate.

Romualdez, meanwhile, is a guest candidate of the United Nationalist Alliance.

Given that none of the candidates have yet to make it to the winning circle of senatorial candidates in recent surveys, PLC chairman and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe acknowledged that the group would have to work double to raise awareness about the six bets.

He said the coalition will lend all of its member party-lists’ machinery and resources to the candidates to ensure their victory in the upcoming polls. “We want to prove in the 2016 elections that we’re a force to reckon with. We’ll mobilize all of our resources to make our bets win,� he said. (MNS)

6& XSKROGV Âľ1R %LR 1R %RWRÂś SROLF\ MANILA, Dec 16 (Mabuhay) – The Supreme Court (SC) junked the petition against Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) “No Bio, No Botoâ€? policy.

SC justices voted unanimously in junking Kabataan Party-list’s petition assailing the constitutionality of the policy.

With this ruling, the temporary restraining order earlier issued by the SC on the policy has been lifted.

In its petition, Kabataan Party-list assailed the constitutionality of the “No Bio, No Boto� policy of the poll body, which is said to deprive more than three million registered voters without biometrics of their right to participate in the upcoming 2016 synchronized national and local elections.

In its 32-page petition, Kabataan Party-list said the Comelec’s move to deactivate the registration of voters without biometrics is unconstitutional, and asked the high court to strike down certain provisions of Republic Act No. 10367 or “An Act Providing for Mandatory Biometrics Voter Registration.�

Petitioners also sought the nulliÀcation of Comelec Resolution No. 9721, dated June 26, 2013, Resolution No. 9863, dated April 1, 2014, and Resolution No. 10013, all related to deactivation of voter registration records in the May 9, 2016 National and Local Elections.

Petitioners stressed that the said law and Comelec issuances “impose an unconstitutional, additional substantive requirement imposed on the exercise of suffrage, thus violating Section 1, Article V of the 1987 Constitution.�

But the Comelec argued that the policy is anchored on on Republic Act No. 10367, or the Mandatory Biometrics Registration Law, which aims to clean out the voters’ list.

Comelec chairman Andres Bautista had earlier said that the inclusion of supposedly deactivated voters would mean 1,000 people will have to share one poll machine instead of the more manageable 800. (MNS)

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,56 VHHNV WR GLVPLVV FOLHQWÂśV &KDSWHU Client with good income wants Chp 7 to discharge $70k credit cards

No one has anything good to say about the IRS. Tax collectors were much hated even during the time of Jesus two thousand years ago. Jesus was walking along the street when He saw Matthew sitting in his tax collector booth, then Jesus called Matthew to be His disciple. Client had a confirmed Chapter 13 plan since 2013. The plan paid for her 2013 income tax owed of $10K, and $50K arrears in her mortgage. These are the only creditors that she owed.

She had a 2nd trust deed of $100K, which was fully forgiven by Bank of America after we Àled her motion to avoid the 2nd trust deed. She had $60K credit card debt which all got discharged in her Chapter 7 case the year before. This was really an extreme reorganization of her Ànancial affairs that we were doing. Phase 1, she discharged all unsecured debt.

Phase 2, was to handle the IRS and the $50K arrears on the mortgage.

Things had gone quite well. The $100K second trust deed had completely disappeared in an instant right after we Àled the LAM motion.

We really did not expect that Bank of America would just forgive the entire 2nd mortgage. Our strategy was to argue that client did not have to pay Bank of America anything as unsecured debt upon approval of the motion to avoid lien because the previous chapter 7 discharge wiped

out the promissory note, so there was nothing to pay even as the lien was stripped. I wasn’t sure that the court would buy this argument but it was logical and legally correct.

The next step we took was to work on a loan modiÀcation for the Àrst mortgage. This worked out really well too. Not only did Nationstar reduce payment by $800 a month, it updated the loan such that there were no more arrears. Therefore, the loan modification cured the $50K arrears. With the LM in place, client was now completely current on her mortgage. Nationstar wrote a letter to the trustee saying that the LM cured the default and no more payments in the plan to Nationstar were needed!

So, the only debt left unpaid was the IRS of $10K. However, client failed to pay IRS her 2014 tax liability, which was $14K. This created a big problem because non-payment of the 2014 tax liability is a violation of the terms of the conÀrmed plan. A violation of the terms of the plan is legal ground to dismiss the case. Thus, the IRS Àled a motion

mortgage payment of $1800 and two-car payments total of $1,000. He takes it easy nowadays. Does a little part time work here and there. His wife still works. With his pension and part time income, there’s enough to cover monthly expenses, but there is no money left to make minimum payments of $2K on his $70K credit cards. These have to go. With his fresh start in life, he will have no more $70K of credit card debt. This is what he wants, and it makes a whole lot of sense. “COME TO ME, ALL OF YOU WHO LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.â€? Matthew 11:28 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.

to dismiss case. To set things right, we had to oppose the IRS motion to dismiss on the ground that if Nationstar withdrew its prepetition proof of claim which showed a $50K default which no longer exists, the plan could be modiÀed to pay the IRS in full over the rest of the life of the plan. We also Àled an objection to the proof of claim of Nationstar because the loan modiÀcation wiped out the arrears of $50K. Hopefully, these will all combine to prevent the case from being dismissed.

Second client is 57 years old. He had a good paying job for 20 years.

He cleared $150K a year every year for the last 20 years working 18 hours a day because he was so dedicated to his work. Although he was paid well, the kind of work he did was very stressful and it affected his mind. He would have nightmares involving what he saw at work. A lot of gore and blood, and he saw the evil that men do. He decided that it was time to start again in life without too much stress. Anyway, he had already qualiÀed for a good pension. He said the money wasn’t worth the stress that he had to go through every day.

The guy was a nervous wreck. He still owed $70K of credit cards. He owned a house with a reasonable

'ULORQ 6HQDWH ELOOV HQDFWHG LQWR ODZ LQ MANILA, Dec 17 (Mabuhay) – Senate President Franklin Drilon lauded Thursday what he called as the strong legislative performance of the chamber with 66 of the 148 local and national bills it passed signed into the law by President Benigno Aquino III this year. “This year has proven to be a bountiful harvest for the Senate, in terms of new legislation that will improve the life of Juan dela Cruz through expanding the economy, advancing social welfare, and strengthening the judicial system,� Drilon said.

Since the start of the 16th Congress on July 22, 2013, 89 laws have been passed.

At the weekly Kapihan sa Senado news forum, Drilon said the Senate will not let up in its legislative efforts. “Even with the elections drawing close, we have much work to do in the in the Senate. We intend to make good on our promise to the Filipino people on the start of the 16th Congress that we will help the poor, widen the delivery of education and other social services and improve the economy,� he said.

He added the Senate will continue to be a working chamber and “we will maximize our remaining time to continue our mandate and work on relevant, important and much-needed laws for our people.�

Drilon said included in the 66 new laws passed were new legislations aimed at increasing the take-home pay of Filipinos, such as the P82,000 tax exemption cap for 13th Month Pay (RA 10653) and other beneÀts and Joint Resolution No. 5 that increases the daily subsistence allowance of all enlisted and uniformed personnel.

He said the Senate also has passed HB 5842, or the P2,000 across the board increase to the monthly pension received by retirees under the Social Security System (SSS) and

now awaits the President’s approval and signing into law. It also passed on third reading the measure that will grant education assistance and beneÀts to dependents of all members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Philippine Coast Guard, and Bureau of Correctional. It likewise passed the bill that will provide retirement beneÀts to barangay ofÀcials, including barangay tanods, members of the Lupon ng Tagapamayapa, barangay health workers, and barangay day care workers.

Drilon expressed hope they will be able to pass the Salary Standardization Law IV, which will increase the salaries of about 1.6 million government employees, on third reading upon the resumption of the session on Jan. 18, 2016.

The Senate also passed the Philippine Competition Act (RA 10667), which enforces a national competition policy and prohibits unfair and anti-competitive business practices; and the amended Cabotage Law (RA 10668), which allows foreign-Ă agged ships to call at multiple ports within the country. “The passage of the Philippine Competition Act and the amendments to the Cabotage Law, which had languished in the legislative mill for decades, is the deĂ€ning point of this year’s session. It is a victory for the average Filipino who will beneĂ€t the most from improved market policies,â€? Drilon said.

The Tax Incentives Management and Transparency Act (RA 10708) aimed to make transparent the Àscal incentives being issued by the government to the private sector was also enacted into law while Drilon expects the Customs and Tariff Modernization Act to be approved on third reading in January.

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MRT-LRT unified ticketing system good to go, says DOTC MANILA, Dec 17 (Mabuhay) – The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) on Thursday said the uniÀed ticketing system is good to go, and has Ànished its trial period.

The Contactless Automated Fare Collection, DOTC’s Ă€rst public-private partnership project, has reached Full Systems Acceptance after a limited trial. “We have reached another mile-

stone through the rollout of a modern, unified ticketing system,� DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya said in a statement. “We have been informed that we are the fastest in the world to achieve FSA, which means the system passed the standards and requirements we have set,� he added.

The tap-and-go ticketing scheme, which aims to cut queuing time and make switching rail lines easier, was

made available as early as July for the Light Rail Transit Line 2. The tap-and-go card was rolled for the LRT-1 in August and for the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 in October. The system let commuters to use a single

beep card for all three lines.

As of Dec. 14, a total of 1,063,022 beep cards were sold, the DOTC said.

The department plans to eventually use the beep card in other modes of transportation. (MNS)

3LQR\ VHDIDUHUV PLVVLQJ DIWHU FDUJR VKLS VLQNV Rႇ ,QGRQHVLD MANILA, Dec 18 (Mabuhay) – Four Filipinos were reported missing while six others were rescued when a Danish cargo ship sunk after colliding with a chemical tanker off Indonesia’s Batam island last Wednesday.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday said search and rescue operations are being carried out by the Singapore Police Force Coast Guard to locate the four missing Filipino crewmen.

The six Filipinos who were rescued, meanwhile, are currently conĂ€ned in a hospital in Singapore and have already been visited by Philippine ofĂ€cials, the DFA said, citing the Philippine Embassy in Singapore. “The Embassy is coordinating with Singapore authorities and manning agent on the repatriation of the six Filipino seamen,â€? the DFA said.

According to a report by the Associated Press, the collision between Danish cargo ship Thorco Cloud and chemical tanker Stolt Commitment ripped a large hole below the water line on the cargo ship, causing it to sink.

The tanker, operated by Stolt Tankers, suffered only minor dam-

age, it said.

The cargo ship reportedly had 12 crew members from Ukraine and the Philippines and was operated by Copenhagen-based Thorco Shipping.

The AP report also said more than 100 rescuers were deployed on three navy ships and seven rescue boats to search for the missing crew members.

Two soldiers were injured after a government relief convoy was ambushed by suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in typhoon-hit Samar province Friday morning, authorities said.

According to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Restituto Padilla, troops from the Army’s 546th Engineering Battalion and 81st Division Reconnaissance Company, on board two M35 trucks, one elf truck and a mini dump truck, were attacked in Barangay Pahug, Pinabacdao at around 7:30 a.m.

Department of Social Welfare and Development Assistant Secretary Vilma Cabrera said the convoy had just delivered relief items to victims of typhoon “Nona� in Oras, Eastern Samar and was on its way to pick up another set of relief goods for delivery in Catarman, Northern Samar.

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Candaba, Philippines | AFP | Friday 12/18/2015 – Tens of thousands of people struggled Friday through waist-deep floods in typhoon-battered farmlands near the Philippine capital, as yet another storm threatened to dump more rain.

Large parts of four farming provinces on the main northern island of Luzon have been submerged in water since Wednesday due to Typhoon Melor, which left at least 27 people dead in its wake.

Hundreds of thousands of people there had yet to recover from Typhoon Koppu, which claimed 54 lives while causing Ă ooding that lasted for more than a week and destroyed vast swathes of rice crops just before harvest in October.

President Benigno Aquino on Friday declared a “state of national calamity� to hasten the government response, his spokesman, Herminio Coloma, told reporters.

Truck driver Roberto Mariano, who has been out of work since Koppu, again found the small bungalow he shared with 15 relatives submerged. “The Ă oods mean no work and no money for me,â€? the 51-year-old told AFP, trying to keep his balance as he walked through strong Ă ood currents in Candaba, around 50 kilometres (30 miles) north of Manila.

Mariano, who used to earn 500 pesos ($10) driving, was on his way to his parents’ house to borrow money to buy rice. “It’s very hard out here. I have to go out because we’ve run out of food in the house,� he said.

Mariano said he had spent the last two nights sleepless, anxiously watching as the waters nearly submerged the children’s wooden beds. ‘We’re used to this’ Flooding was expected to spread to other parts of the country with a tropical depression, locally dubbed Onyok, on course to hit coastal villages on the main southern island of Mindanao late Friday.

In Surigao del Sur province, where Onyok was expected to make landfall Ă€rst, authorities prepared for possible evacuation and readied trucks and excavators to clear landslide debris, governor Johnny Pimentel told AFP. “We are prepared for this storm... the biggest threat here is the Ă oods,â€? he said.

While Onyok will hit land about 700 kilometres from the farming regions currently enduring Ă oods, it could still bring rain to those areas, said Esperanza Cayanan, a state weather bureau forecaster.

The weather misery comes a week before Christmas, the most celebrated holiday in the predominantly Catholic nation of 100 million people. “We should not be in holiday mode,� Cayanan told reporters.

In the Candaba town centre, residents with groceries in hand rode small wooden boats and makeshift rafts made from refrigerator doors.

Others showed commitment to their daily routines, eating at roadside canteens waist-deep in flood waters. “We’re used to this, but it doesn’t make it any less difĂ€cult,â€? said Candelaria Balagtas, a 68-yearold retired policewoman.

The country is ravaged by an average of 20 major storms a year, many of them deadly.

Balagtas said she risked triggering her arthritis by wading through the frigid waters to the market to buy rice and sardines for her daughter after they ran out of food. “I’m lucky I have my pension, but the people here, their farms were destroyed, the Ă€shermen can’t go out to Ă€sh,â€? she told AFP. The islands of the Philippines are often the Ă€rst major landmass that storms hit after they emerge over the PaciĂ€c Ocean.

In November 2013, Super Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest storms on record, à attened entire communities in poor farming and Àshing communities, leaving 7,350 people dead or missing.

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said. About 120 domestic flights were grounded and nearly 200 ferry services were stopped.

The storm forced the evacuation of about 800,000 people to shelters.

Another storm is expected to hit the southern Philippines later this week,

forecaster Accuweather said.

An average of 20 typhoons pass through the Philippines each year.

In 2013, typhoon Haiyan killed more than 6,300 people and left 1.4 million homeless in the central Philippines.

(MNS)

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pinagpasyahan, 6-1, na tanggapin na natin administratively, but subject to sa kaso.â&#x20AC;?

Asked about the basis of the decision, Commissioner Christian Robert Lim said that as part of their ministerial duty, they looked at the COC only in its form. â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Yung intrinsic issues, it has to be resolved by the [First] Division and then it goes to the en banc,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Bautista said there is still â&#x20AC;&#x153;a potentialâ&#x20AC;? that the mayor may be disqualiĂ&#x20AC;ed, as provided by the resolution.

It reads: â&#x20AC;&#x153;This (the en bancâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision) is entirely without prejudice to the pending disqualiĂ&#x20AC;cation case in SPA No. 15-94BC entitled Ruben H. Castor vs. Martin Dino, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, and Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban, or any other case that may be Ă&#x20AC;led against him.â&#x20AC;?

The said case, which questions the validity of Dinoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s COC, was submitted for resolution on Tuesday.

However, the First Division set a hearing for it on Friday morning.

Lim, presiding commissioner of the division, said there is no rule that stops them from calling for a hearing even after the case has been submitted for resolutionâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a practice that can be seen also in some cases before the Supreme Court.

Earlier, Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, a member of the First Division, said they subpoenaed the two lawyers who notarized Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s COC for president and certiĂ&#x20AC;cate of withdrawal of his COC for reelection in Davao City to â&#x20AC;&#x153;verify some factsâ&#x20AC;?

about the documents.

Asked if the validity of Dinoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s COC will be tackled on Fridayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hearing, Bautista replied, â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Yun siguro nga, malamang, ang lalabas sa hearing bukas.â&#x20AC;? Bautista and Lim explained that the Comelec performs two functionsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;administrative and quasi-judicialâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;both of which applies in dealing with Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s case. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Remember that the en banc, in accepting the substitution, is essentially performing an administrative function,â&#x20AC;? Bautista said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When the First Division is hearing the case, it is performing a quasi-judicial function. Then the decision of the division can be appealed to the en banc.â&#x20AC;? For Limâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part, he explained that the Comelecâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s administrative function may be likened to being an â&#x20AC;&#x153;election manager,â&#x20AC;? while its quasi-judicial function puts it as judge in cases Ă&#x20AC;led before it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you compare the Comelec in the Philippines to the other electoral bodies, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re one of the few [in the world] that performs two functionsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; administrative and quasi-judicial.

We say quasi-judicial, parang hukom, para kang judge,â&#x20AC;? he said.

He added: â&#x20AC;&#x153;[When we say] administrative, more as an elections managerâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;making sure that elections happen, all paraphernalia are there, all the candidates are properly listed.

Our administrative functions are more as election managers.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;So pagdating sa amin [ng aspirant], checklist lang: kung kumpleto â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung papeles, okay, kasama ka,â&#x20AC;? Lim said. (MNS)

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the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;mistakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of Mr. Dino, hence we believe that they should be consistent and accept â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;honest mistakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of Sen. Poe in her 2013 COC when she ran for senator,â&#x20AC;? Poeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spokesman added.

Gathchalian was referring to Martin DiĂąo, the original standard-bearer of PDP-Laban, who later withdrew his COC. DiĂąo was replaced by Duterte.

DiĂąoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s COC indicated, however that he was running for mayor of Pasay City.

Meanwhile, Poe has a pending appeal at the Comelec en banc after its Ă&#x20AC;rst and second divisions ruled to disqualify her from the 2016 presidential race for allegedly making

false statements about her period of residency in the country and her status as a natural-born Filipino.

In its decision to disqualify Poe from next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presidential race, the Comelecâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Second Division ruled that there was a deliberate attempt on Poeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part to mislead, misinform or hide a fact when she stated in her COC for President that her period of residency in the Philippines up to the day before the May 9, 2016 elections was 10 years and 11 months.

But such declaration, it said, was false based on her own COC for senator in 2013 where she stated that she has been a resident of the country since November 2006.(MNS)

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supporting Binay, most of his local candidates in General Santos City and Sarangani are supporting Duterte. Former General Santos City mayor and now city councilor Rosalita Nunez said she would have supported Binay if Duterte is not running. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You know that by heart, si Congressman Manny Pacquiao is really for Mayor Duterte but he showed commitment to VP Binay already,â&#x20AC;?

Nunez said.

Nunez said Pacquiao, being the chairman of the party, has been well-informed of their personal decision and Pacquiao did not force any of his allies to support Binay, but encouraged all to stay with UNA. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nagpaalam na ako sa kanya and he knows very well na I am for Duterte because he is a Mindanaoan and we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afford to miss the golden opportunity that maybe the next president of the Philippines is from Mindanao,â&#x20AC;? Nunez explained.

Other local councilors under Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Champ Movement have been very vocal about supporting Mayor Duterte. Kagawad Jeng Gacal, Pacquiaoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s close friend said he is excited for Mayor Duterte.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think he is a very charismatic leader and the country needs a Duterte to lead the country,â&#x20AC;? Gacal said.

Gacal, who is originally a member of the PDP-Laban, hopes Duterte will not be disqualiĂ&#x20AC;ed. He also warned that the public might get angry if the Commission on Elections (Comelec) decides to disqualify Duterte. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sa tingin ko, talagang magkakagulo if Comelec will disqualify Digong. I hope he wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be disqualiĂ&#x20AC;ed,â&#x20AC;?

Gacal said.

Back in October, Pacquiao said it would be an embarrassment if he would not support Duterte for president. Back then, Duterte had yet to decide whether to run for the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highest post.

However, after Duterte did not Ă&#x20AC;le his certiĂ&#x20AC;cate of candidacy for president, Pacquiao Ă&#x20AC;rmed up his alliance with Binay.

The boxing champion said he is staying with Binay because he does not want to be accused of being Ă&#x20AC;ckle-minded. But Pacquiaoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s afĂ&#x20AC;nity with his fellow Mindanaoan became evident when he defended the latter, who drew Ă ak over his controversial remarks against the Pope. (MNS)

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'R \RX GUHDP RI KDYLQJ D GHEW IUHH OLIH"

A debt-free life is something that a lot of people aspire to have. And yet it is a known fact that sadly, many will never attain it because of their unwillingness to make the necessary adjustments in their lifestyle to make it possible. I am talking about people who continue to accumulate debt for immediate gratiĂ&#x20AC;cation (i.e., the â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want it, and I want it nowâ&#x20AC;? mentality) instead of making temporary sacriĂ&#x20AC;ces for long-term gain. The truth is that most of the good things in life take time, not overnight.

Of course, not all debt is bad debt.

For example, if you are borrowing money to start a business or purchase a home with the intention of making a proĂ&#x20AC;t, there is an expected return on your investment that may justify the loan. But if you are borrowing money to purchase a rapidly depreciating asset, you may end up paying the debt back for the rest of your life way after the item you purchased has become worthless. So there is a difference between a â&#x20AC;&#x153;good debtâ&#x20AC;? and a â&#x20AC;&#x153;bad debtâ&#x20AC;?. Or how about those people who have no money to go on vacation so they end up charging everything on their credit cards? And then they dread getting their credit card statement the following month because they know that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve spent more than they can afford.

In this article I would like to talk about how it may be possible to live a life that is free from the stress caused by excessive indebtedness. If you are currently stuck in too much debt, perhaps you should ask yourself the following questions: What led me to this difĂ&#x20AC;cult Ă&#x20AC;nancial situation?

Could I have done things a little differently and put more thought into my Ă&#x20AC;nancial decisions? These are important questions to ask because unless we learn from our mistakes, we are bound to repeat them again.

Large debts start from small debts.

Oftentimes, people are caught in the vicious cycle of borrowing because it is too easy to get credit these days.

They fall into the trap of thinking that they can make small minimum payments, anyway, so whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the

big deal? Before they know it, they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even afford to make the minimum payments on their credit cards.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s when the problem starts.

Unless credit card borrowing is controlled, it often leads to bankruptcy.

I know because as a bankruptcy attorney, I know that credit cards are the main reason people end up in bankruptcy court.

Borrowing more money than you can pay back is not only irresponsible but will have serious implications for you. All actions have consequences and if you are not careful, you are likely to regret what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done.

You need to stay on top of your debt balances at all times and know exactly how much you owe, how much youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re paying in interest charges and how long it will take you to pay the debt back.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good thing that credit card companies are now required by law to print this on your monthly statement. Is it working? I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know.

Apparently, some people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even read whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s there. Many times Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m shocked to hear from people that they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even know how much they owe because theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve lost track. If this is you, you have a Ă&#x20AC;nancial disaster waiting to happen. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just a matter of time.

Another thing that gets most people in Ă&#x20AC;nancial trouble is spending more than they make. Their expenses are simply out of control and they are paying for a lot of things that they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even need or can afford.

They have huge mortgage and car payments that are way too high for what they make and they are living a high-consumption lifestyle that makes them look good on the outside but unknown to their friend and family, they are financially broke and they have zero savings. They

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It is very common for beneĂ&#x20AC;ciaries of family based petition to wait many years before their petitionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s priority date becomes current. This is usually the case with US Citizen parent petitions to adult son or daughter.

This is also common among petitionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s between Siblings. What happens when the Petitioner dies? Are all those years of waiting wasted? Not quite. Normally, the Petition is automatically revoked once the Petitioner dies.

However, all is not lost by the death of the Petitioner. The beneĂ&#x20AC;ciary has a couple of options depending on whether they are inside the US or outside the US. The beneĂ&#x20AC;ciary may either avail of the INA § 204(l) which was signed into law in 2009 if the beneĂ&#x20AC;ciary is inside the US at the time the petitionerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death and continues to reside inside the US. Alternatively, if the beneĂ&#x20AC;ciary is outside the US, beneĂ&#x20AC;ciary may seek to reinstate the petition based on humanitarian grounds. The DHS (Dept. of Homeland Security) may exercise discretion â&#x20AC;&#x153;for humanitarian reasonsâ&#x20AC;? to reinstate the petition and to allow the AfĂ&#x20AC;davit of Support requirements to be satisĂ&#x20AC;ed by the qualifying I-864 of a spouse, parent,

mother-in-law, father-in-law, sisterin-law, brother-in-law, grandparent, or grandchild or legal guardian of the beneĂ&#x20AC;ciary, as long as the petition was â&#x20AC;&#x153;approvedâ&#x20AC;? prior to the Petitionerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death.

If the beneĂ&#x20AC;ciary is inside the US either in legal status or grandfathered by INA §245(i) and the priority date on the petition is current, the beneĂ&#x20AC;ciary may apply for adjustment of status. The beneĂ&#x20AC;ciary may also apply for an employment authorization card.

DHS discretion does not mean â&#x20AC;&#x153;guaranteedâ&#x20AC;? approval. The case will be evaluated on a case by case basis.

Some of the factors that the DHS may consider are 1) disruption of an established family unit; 2) hardship to US citizens or lawful permanent residents; 3) beneĂ&#x20AC;ciary is elderly or in poor health; 4) beneĂ&#x20AC;ciary has had lengthy residence in the US; 4) See REYES, page 12

are living a lifestyle Ă&#x20AC;nanced by the banks and credit card companies and once they lose their income, they lose everything overnight. Why because they own nothing. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve mortgaged everything they own to the greedy banks and Ă&#x20AC;nancial institutions who are happy to loan them money in exchange for blood.

If you wish to live a debt-free life, you need to develop the personal discipline of spending less than what you earn. Did you hear that? I know it sounds simple but that is the only way that you can ever save. If you think you may be over-extended in debt, make it your priority to repay your debts so that you are not wasting money paying interest charges.

This is money you should be saving, not giving away to the credit card companies.

9

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get me wrong. Being in debt doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make you a bad person.

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve made some mistakes in handling your personal finances, acknowledge responsibility for where you are and Ă&#x20AC;nd a way to change course if you are going in the wrong direction. Yes, a debt-free life is possible but it takes work, dedication and prudence in making Ă&#x20AC;nancial decisions For a free consultation, call my ofĂ&#x20AC;ce at 866-477-7772. I have ofĂ&#x20AC;ces in Los Angeles, Pasadena, Cerritos and Valencia.

(None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any speciĂ&#x20AC;c 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 RJB Law OfĂ&#x20AC;ces at TOLL FREE 1-866-477-7772).

10

Weekend Balita, Sat.-Fri., December 19 - 25, 2015

Balita

7KH &DWKHGUDO RI 2XU /DG\ RI WKH $QJHOV VSHDUKHDGV 6LPEDQJ *DEL FHOHEUDWLRQ Southland Pinoys celebrated the 13th annual Archdiocesan ‘Simbang Gabi,” or Midnight Mass, last Tuesday, December 15. Though back home in the Philippines, we have all learned that ‘Simbang Gabi’ usually starts on December 16, which runs through December 24, Chirstmas eve, thus designating a 9 – consecutive day celebration. This year’s ‘Simbang Gabi’ was held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles and it was sponsored by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the Filipino Ministry of the San Fernando Region.

As I recall from our Philippine history lessons, “Simbang Gabi,” or Midnight Mass originated during

the early days of Spanish rule in our country. Their rule over the Philippines spanned almost 300 years and as a “practical compromise to the farmers who worked before sunrise to avoid the noonday heat out in the Àelds, the Catholic priests conducted Mass every morning instead of evenings. This was patterned after the

Spanish custom of conducting early morning Masses.”

As an agricultural country, the Philippines was known for producing rice, coconut and sugarcane and it is “understandable that the farmers (known as ‘saccadas’ or ‘campseinos,’ toiled all day with one break at noon when the heat would be at its peak.”

There were times when farmers would “lose an hour due to unbearable temperatures, so while they worked hard, they budgeted their time out of fear of the local ‘encargado,’ whose role was to administer land for the Spanish feudal lord or ‘hacendero.’

Archbishop of Los Angeles, The Most Reverend Jose H. Gomez, DD

was the principal celebrant at the “Simbang Gabi’ last Tuesday. The ceremony began with a choir song of “Pasko Ng Pag-Ibig” as a Prelude, Pre-Liturgical Movement, and subsequently followed by the Parade of Parols and the Mass went on, concluding with a recessional rite which included Archbishop Gomez’ solemn blessing, plus the choir singing “Ang Pasko Ay Sumapit” and “Simbang Gabi Medley.”

It was really astounding to see hundreds of Southland Filipino-Americans attending this year’s highly-attended event at the Cathedral.

To all of you dear readers, wishing you all peace and abundant blessings on CHRSTMAS and NEW YEAR!

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San Francisco, United States | AFP | Thursday 12/17/2015 – California motor vehicle department ofÀcials on Wednesday proposed self-driving car regulations that included mandating that a person could take the wheel if needed. The draft set of rules released by the California Department of Motor Vehicles for a public comment phase would not allow for legal operation of an autonomous car being tested by Google because it lacks a steering wheel or foot pedal controls.

“We’re gravely disappointed that California is already writing a ceiling on the potential for fully self-driving cars to help all of us who live here,” Google said in an email response to an AFP inquiry.

California rules-of-the-road for self-driving cars would have the potential to set precedent, and the proposed regulations were seen at sure to slow down the speed with which the technology would go mainstream.

“The primary focus of the deployment regulations is the safety of autonomous vehicles and the safety of the public who will share the road with these vehicles,” DMV director Jean Shiomoto said in a release.

“We want to get public input on these draft regulations before we initiate the formal regulatory rule making process.”

Workshops were planned to gather feedback from industry, consumer, academic and advocacy groups as well as from the general public.

The proposed regulations call for a licensed driver to be in a self-driving car and able to take control in the event of a technology failure or other emergency.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

0HGLFDUH SRUWDELOLW\ XQGHU 6SHDNHU 3DXO 5\DQ Today, a Medicare member enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan or some Medicare Supplement plans is covered if he/she meets medical emergency while visiting the Philippines. The amount of coverage ranges from a few thousand dollars to â&#x20AC;&#x153;unlimitedâ&#x20AC;? coverage, depending on the insurance carrier.

IF Speaker Paul Ryan is successful in passing a bill into law transforming Medicare from â&#x20AC;&#x153;fee for serviceâ&#x20AC;? to a â&#x20AC;&#x153;voucherâ&#x20AC;? system, at least 2 salutary results are expected to happen.

The Medicare market will be wide open to competition. Prices for medical services will not remain stale as it is today, being dictated by appointed government bureaucrats. Medical providers (doctors, hospitals, labs, pharmacies) and insurance companies will improve their services and

bring down their prices to compete in the market.

The Medicare member will control his health care. As the term â&#x20AC;&#x153;voucherâ&#x20AC;? suggests, the member is expected to act responsibly in spending his limited budget. He/She will deĂ&#x20AC;nitely search for needed medical services that promise quality at the lowest possible cost.

This event will create tremendous opportunities for the Philippines.

The twin features of qualiĂ&#x20AC;ed Filipino specialists performing quality

medical and surgical procedures at â&#x20AC;&#x153;very low pricesâ&#x20AC;? will serve as a perfect match to a Medicare memberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s need.

Aside from the â&#x20AC;&#x153;medical emergency coverageâ&#x20AC;? beneĂ&#x20AC;t currently obtaining, the market for elective medical and surgical procedures will be created. Armed with a voucher, what will prohibit the Medicare member from outsourcing the services from a country that can provide â&#x20AC;&#x153;quality and affordabilityâ&#x20AC;? like the Philippines?

And, IF the Philippines is successful in attracting the Medicare market, the Individual and Family Plans as well as the Large Employers markets will certainly follow suit.

The event may happen. This early, the Philippines should start establishing its position to tap the opportunities when they arrive. The

11

opportunities are too huge and important to leave the planning to the Philippine government.

The Philippine providers (doctors, hospitals, labs and pharmacies) must lead in this endeavor as they (the providers) will be the first direct beneĂ&#x20AC;ciaries.

The Ă&#x20AC;rst step is learning What Is Medicare.

If you need help, call me at 323535-7373 or e-mail at: leo.balita@ gmail.com.

Leo Monsalud has been helping members choose the right Medicare plan for them for more than five years now. He holds CA license #0G55218 as well as Non-Resident license # 837521 for Nevada. He is also a CertiĂ&#x20AC;ed Insurance Agent for Covered California and HealthLink of Nevada.

/HVV WKDQ KRXUV VOHHS D QLJKW FRXOG EH OLQNHG WR REHVLW\ DFFRUGLQJ WR QHZ VWXG\ Tuesday December 15 2015 (Relaxnews) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A recent US study has found that short sleep, deĂ&#x20AC;ned as less than seven hours a night, increases the consumption of sugary drinks, and could increase the risk of obesity.

Researchers at the University of Alabama looked at data from 28,150 American adults between the age of 21 to 65 who took part in the American Time Use Survey between 2006 and 2008. Using the data the researchers analyzed the time that participants spent on primary eating and drinking, secondary eating and drinking, and the amount of hours they slept each night.

Secondary eating is eating â&#x20AC;&#x153;while

primarily engaged in another activity, such as television watching,â&#x20AC;? and secondary drinking also occurs while engaged in another activity, but is â&#x20AC;&#x153;drinking beverages other than water -- such as sugar-sweetened beveragesâ&#x20AC;?.

The team found that the participants who reported short sleep, less than seven hours a night, engaged in secondary eating for an extra 8.7 minutes a day compared to those who reported normal sleep, seven to eight hours a night.

In addition, they also reported engaging in secondary drinking for an extra 28.6 minutes a day on weekdays, and 31.28 minutes on weekends.

Gabriel S. Tajeu, one of the authors

of the study, commented on the Ă&#x20AC;ndings saying as short sleep is associated not only with secondary eating, but also secondary drinking of sweetened beverages, â&#x20AC;&#x153;This potentially suggests a pathway from short sleep to increased caloric intake in the form of beverages and distracted eating and thus potential increased obesity risk, although more research is needed.â&#x20AC;? The Ă&#x20AC;ndings were published online in the American Journal of Health Promotion.

A French study published earlier this year also found that â&#x20AC;&#x153;sleeping less than six hours in a 24 hour period means exposing oneself to risk of obesity.â&#x20AC;?

The study, which was carried about

This could be my best move yet.

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

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

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

To learn more, visit aarp.org/aapi or call 1-866-805-1986 today.

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

Caregiving â&#x20AC;˘ Health & Wellness â&#x20AC;˘ Fraud Prevention â&#x20AC;˘ Volunteer â&#x20AC;˘ Life Reimagined

by the French National Institute of Sleep and Vigilance (INVS) and French health insurer MGEN, looked at data from 49,086 individuals to Ă&#x20AC;nd that failing to get enough sleep is linked to an increased risk of obesity, with the Ă&#x20AC;ndings suggesting that sleeping less than six hours a night increases the risk of being seriously overweight by 34% for women, and by 50% for men.

The study also found that poor sleeping habits can lead to poor eating habits, with those sleeping less snacking more between mealtimes, and particularly at night when tiredness sets in, leading to cravings for sugary foods to boost energy.

12

Weekend Balita, Sat.-Fri., December 19 - 25, 2015

Balita

Âľ6LPEDQJ *DELÂś DQG Âľ3DUROÂś HQGXUH WKURXJK WKH DJHV The Christmas season is the most favorite time of the year to millions of Christians around the world where traditions have evolved and refuse to yield to the trappings of the modern era.

Filipinos in the U.S. could not have but feel emotional and nostalgic thinking of how different Christmas is celebrated in their home county.

The signs begin to manifest when the months end in â&#x20AC;&#x153;berâ&#x20AC;? and the frenetic preparations commence. The Philippines is said to be a country that celebrates Christmas the longest.

While Christmas in the Philippines conjures up memories of time honored traditions introduced to its shores by foreign inĂ uences, the practices and symbolisms still persist and have been embellished by touches of modernity,

In their adopted county the Christmas scenery is almost similar â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a warm house fully decorated, Christmas tree, light and families, and friends coming together to enjoy sumptuous meals- except for snow.

The Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Christmas traditions are representations of the deep and religiosity and fervor brought about by foreign inĂ uences.

The observance of the tradition of the nine-day devotion called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Simbang Gabiâ&#x20AC;? has endured for more than 400 years. The prelude

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pre-dawn celebration of the Mass where the faithful brave the coldness of the morning to hear Mass tells of profound piety and religiosity of the people.

Catholic churches in hundreds of different locations in the Philippines, and even at the corridors of malls and shopping centers are venues for the celebration of the Mass with the participants hoping to earn Divine favor for their petitions..

Simbang Gabi is considered as one of the oldest Catholic traditions and traces its origin from Mexico in the 15th century with the granting of a petition by a certain Father Diego de Soria to hold the celebration of the Mass out the church perimeters owing to the large number of attendees which the church was unable to accommodate.

Simbang Gabi traditionally starts on the 16th of December and culminates on the 24th where church bells peel as early as 4:00 or 5:00 a.m. to invite the pious to hear The faithful endures the coldness of the morning harboring big hopes that by completing the attendance to the ritual they will have their prayers answered.

After Mass, attendees reward themselves with a variety of native delicacies with bibingka and puto bumbong always being the top favorites.

Over time, Simbang Gabi has undergone some adjustments that

took into consideration the realities of the modern time. Many parishes in the United States celebrate â&#x20AC;&#x153;Simbang Gabiâ&#x20AC;? at around 7 oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;clock in the evening, not just in the morning to accommodate the needs of people with varying work schedules.

The Catholic leadership has encouraged their Ă ock to attend Simbang Gabi Masses as the practice as â&#x20AC;&#x153;it a great source of spiritual nourishment in preparation for the birth of Jesus Christâ&#x20AC;?.

The hanging home-made lanterns (parol) by the windows is another tradition that has persisted for centuries. It is not only a decoration, but a work of artâ&#x20AC;? that symbolizes oneness with the community spirit of celebrating and honoring the birth of Jesus Christ,â&#x20AC;?

The parol-making tradition began after the Philippines was Christianized. The word parol has its origin from the Spanish farol, which means lantern which originated from the Mexican piĂąata which like the parol is decorated with crepe paper, the most commonly used materials.

Originally from Italy, the piĂąata took a journey to Spain, Mexico and Ă&#x20AC;nally to the Philippines when the Spaniards brought Christianity to its shores.

The parols were used originally to illuminate the way of the church-goers on their way to attend the traditional Misa de Gallo.

5(<(6 )URP SDJH

beneĂ&#x20AC;ciary has no home to go to; 5) undue delay by USCIS or consular ofĂ&#x20AC;cer in processing petition and visa; 6) and BeneĂ&#x20AC;ciary has strong family ties in the United States.

The beneficiary must be prepared to show proof of the original I-130 that was Ă&#x20AC;led, proof of I-130 approval if approved, a copy of the Petitionerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death certiĂ&#x20AC;cate, proof of substitute sponsorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s relationship to the beneĂ&#x20AC;ciary, and meet all the I-864 requirements.

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-speciĂ&#x20AC;c legal information.

This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The speciĂ&#x20AC;c 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 OfĂ&#x20AC;ces of Kenneth U. Reyes, APLC. This article is not a solicitation.

Attorney Kenneth Reyes is a graduate of Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of the American Immigration Lawyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Association (AILA) and the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Immigration and Family Law Sections.

You may contact Atty. Reyes at (213) 388-1611 or via e-mail at kureyeslaw@gmail.com. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APLC. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA. Visit us at Kenreyeslaw.com to learn about our Ă&#x20AC;rm.

FOR MORE NEWS AND INFORMATION VISIT OUR WEBSITE

balita.com

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Weekend Balita, Sat.-Fri., December 19 - 25, 2015

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Pechanga breaks ground on $285-M resort expansion, ushers in thousands of construction & hotel/casino jobs

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PECHANGA INDIAN RESERVATION, Calif. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; (Dec. 16, 2015) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians held a ceremonial ground breaking today on its much anticipated $285 million resort expansion. Tribal ofĂ&#x20AC;cials gathered around a circular mound of dirt near the propertyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hotel entrance and sunk their gold-gilded shovels into the ground as Tribal Members, local ofĂ&#x20AC;cials, the media and resort management looked on and cheered.

When completed in approximately two years, the Pechanga Resort & Casino will more than double the size of its resort amenities, and add more than 3,500 jobs to the region. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Today, with the Eagle IV Expansion, we celebrate the beginning of the next chapter of Pechanga Resort & Casino and our history,â&#x20AC;? said Tribal Chairman, Mark Macarro. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This development will build upon the quality and reputation of the original resort and continue our Tribeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entrepreneurial spirit for future generations. We are grateful and proud as a Tribe to be in a position to strengthen tourism in the Temecula Valley and Southern California with this project.â&#x20AC;?

The project involves adding a new, AAA Four Diamond, 568-room and suite hotel wing; a stand-alone luxury two-story spa and salon with 17 treatment rooms, a Ă&#x20AC;tness center and hydrotherapy pool terrace; a resort-style pool complex with eight pool areas; two new restaurants; and an additional 67,000 square feet of event space.

Tutor-Perini, the projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s builder, estimates the expansion to be completed in 24 months. Pechanga ofĂ&#x20AC;cials say guests and the public will be notiĂ&#x20AC;ed when the new resort areas (hotel, spa, pool, restaurants) will begin taking advance reservations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We estimate the expansion will result in an economic output of over $550 million, generating roughly 2,944 jobs up front as a result of construction-related activities,â&#x20AC;? said Dr. Christopher Thornberg, Founding Partner of Beacon Economics. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We estimate the local economy will beneĂ&#x20AC;t from an additional 560 jobs per year going forward as a result of expanded operations at Pechanga Resort & Casino.â&#x20AC;?

A 2014 study by the Rose Institute of State and Local Government at Claremont McKenna College found the combined economic impact of Pechanga tribal and resort activities resulted in the direct employment of 5,257 people, making the tribe one

of the 10 largest employers in the Inland Empire region of Southern California.

Pechanga has also committed nearly $20 million to mitigate the effects of the expansion on the surrounding south Temecula area. A recent agreement reached with the City of Temecula provides funds for a new Temecula Parkway off ramp, widening of Pechanga Parkway, and annual payment of an additional city police ofĂ&#x20AC;cer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are completely committed to making Pechanga Resort & Casino a world-class resort destination,â&#x20AC;? said Patrick Murphy, President of the Pechanga Development Corporation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have consistently provided our guests with excellent quality and customer service, and now weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re making their experience even better. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve brought in some of the best designers, architects and builders who have worked with other iconic properties to create stunning resort features. We are very excited for the future.â&#x20AC;?

The design team is led by Delawie architects, the original designers of the Pechanga Resort & Casino when it was built in 2002. Lifescapes International has been selected as the pool area and landscape architects.

Over the past Ă&#x20AC;ve decades, the Ă&#x20AC;rm has designed iconic landscapes at world-class resorts including the Bellagio, Wynn, and Venetian hotels. CLEO Design out of Las Vegas and Los Angeles-based KNA Design will be leading the interior designs.

Pechanga Expansion Has an Economic Output of over $550 million â&#x20AC;˘ Nearly 3,000 jobs up front from construction-related activities â&#x20AC;˘ 560 total new jobs going forward from expanded operations Local Improvements Funded by Pechanga as Result of Expansion â&#x20AC;˘ $5 million to widen Pechanga Parkway and improve local roads.

Over $9 million in funding for local law enforcement â&#x20AC;˘ $14 million contributed for Interstate 15/Temecula Parkway Ultimate Interchange Snapshot of Pechanga When Resort Expansion Is Complete: â&#x20AC;˘ Casino square footage: 200,000 â&#x20AC;˘ Event/meeting/convention square footage: 100,000 (indoor) 174,500 (outdoor) â&#x20AC;˘ Number of hotel rooms: 1090 â&#x20AC;˘ Number of restaurants: 13 â&#x20AC;˘ Number of pools: 13 â&#x20AC;˘ Number of employees: 4,560 About Pechanga Resort & Casino Pechanga Resort & Casino offers one of the largest and most expansive resort/casino experiences anywhere in the United States. Voted the Number One casino in America by readers of USA TODAY and rated a Four Diamond property by AAA since 2002, Pechanga Resort & Casino provides an unparalleled getaway. Offering more than 3,400 of the hottest slots, table games, world-class entertainment, 517 hotel rooms, dining, spa and championship golf at Journey at Pechanga, Pechanga Resort & Casino features a destination that meets and exceeds the needs of its guests and the community. Pechanga Resort & Casino is owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of LuiseĂąo Indians.

For more information, call toll free 1-888-PECHANGA or visit www.

Pechanga.com. Follow Pechanga Resort & Casino on Facebook and on Twitter @PechangaCasino.

Pechanga Resort & Casino is open 24-hours. Guests must be 21 and older to enter the casino.

13

14

Visit www.Balita.com

Weekend Balita, Sat.-Fri., December 19 - 25, 2015

OPINION

$TXLQR WKDQNV 3LQR\V VD\V KH GUDZV VWUHQJWK IURP WKHP

MANILA, Dec. 15 (Mabuhay) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; President Aquino on Monday thanked his â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bossesâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Filipino people â&#x20AC;&#x201C; for helping his administration achieve reforms in government and for being his steady source of strength as he faced the rigors of governance in the past six years.

In his speech at the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pamaskong Handogâ&#x20AC;? of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), his last before he steps down in 2016, Aquino said it is a time of thanksgiving to his Bosses for their support to his administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Daang Matuwid.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kayo pa rin ang aking lakas, at kayo pa rin ang gumagawa ng pagbabago. Sana po, kahit papaano, ay masuklian ng munting handog ng inyong gobyerno ang wagas na sakripisyo at dedikasyon ninyo sa inyong kani-kanyang trabaho [You are my strength and you allow these changes to happen. I hope the government is able to repay all your sacriĂ&#x20AC;ces and hard work],â&#x20AC;? he said.

The President also expressed optimism that his â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bossesâ&#x20AC;? will choose the right candidates who will continue the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Daang Matuwid.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kayo pong mga Boss, nasa mga kamay ninyo ang kapalaran ng ating minamahal na bayan; nasa kamay ninyo ang kinabukasan ng inyong mga anak, ng inyong mga mahal sa buhay, at ng inyong kapwa. Tiwala naman ako, sa gabay at tanglaw ng Panginoon ay talagang maitutuloy natin ang maganda nating nasimulan [My Boss, the future of this country is in your hands. I am conĂ&#x20AC;dent that with Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s guidance, we will be able to continue the good that we have started],â&#x20AC;? he said.

The President led in the distribution of gift packs to 50 beneĂ&#x20AC;ciaries out of 3,100 composed of street sweepers, senior citizens, members of the Tricycle Operators and Driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Association (TODA), and support staff from the 4th District of Quezon City.

He also witnessed the handing over of Pagcorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s P2-billion check for various school buildings to the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The President thanked Pagcor for the reforms within the system, particularly for shunning corrupt practices. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sa loob lamang ng mahigit limang taon, nagawa ninyong ikabig ang Pagcor mula sa dating ahensiyang pugad ng katiwalian, patungo sa isang ahensiyang bukal ng serbisyo sa sambayanang Pilipino. Taos-puso rin po akong nagpapasalamat sa inyong lahat [In more than Ă&#x20AC;ve years, Pagcor was able to transform from an agency riddled with corruption to an agency of service to the Filipino people],â&#x20AC;? he said.

For Pamaskong Handog 2015, Pagcor gave away noche buena gift packs containing ham, cheese, pasta noodles, cookies and other grocery items.

Pagcorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pamaskong Handog 2015 also beneĂ&#x20AC;ted indigent and homeless families; orphaned and abandoned children; underprivileged kids with congenital heart disease; children with mental retardation, autism and multiple disabilities; the elderly; cultural minorities; abused and disadvantaged women; barangay health workers; and disaster volunteers, among others.(MNS)

Balita

Aquinoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s satisfaction rating down in SWS Q4 survey MANILA, Dec 16 (Mabuhay) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; President Benigno Aquino IIIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s public satisfaction rating suffered a nine-point drop from +41 in September to +32 this month, results of the fourth quarter Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released on Wednesday showed.

The survey conducted from December 5 to 8 among 1,200 adults nationwide found 58 percent were satisĂ&#x20AC;ed, 16 percent undecided, and 26 percent dissatisĂ&#x20AC;ed with Aquino.

Despite the nine-point decline, Aquinoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s net satisfaction ratings were still considered â&#x20AC;&#x153;good.â&#x20AC;?

SWS classiĂ&#x20AC;es net satisfaction ratings of

+70 and above as â&#x20AC;&#x153;excellentâ&#x20AC;?; +50 to +69 as â&#x20AC;&#x153;very goodâ&#x20AC;?; +30 to +49, â&#x20AC;&#x153;goodâ&#x20AC;?; +10 to +29, â&#x20AC;&#x153;moderateâ&#x20AC;?, +9 to -9, â&#x20AC;&#x153;neutralâ&#x20AC;?; -10 to -29, â&#x20AC;&#x153;poorâ&#x20AC;?; -30 to -49, â&#x20AC;&#x153;badâ&#x20AC;?; -50 to -69, â&#x20AC;&#x153;very badâ&#x20AC;?; as well as -70 and below as â&#x20AC;&#x153;execrable.â&#x20AC;?

In Luzon areas outside Metro Manila, Aquinoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s net satisfaction rating plunged by half from +46 in September to +23 in December.

His ratings also dropped by eight points in Mindanao from +39 in September to +31 in December.

In the National Captial Region and Visayas, Aquinoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ratings improved from +18 to +23, and +50 to +58, respectively.(MNS)

Right to vote more important than biometrics: ex-poll chief Monsod MANILA, Dec. 15 (Mabuhay) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Christian Monsod on Tuesday added his voice to those opposing the poll bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;no biometrics, no botoâ&#x20AC;? policy for the 2016 elections.

In a phone interview, Monsod said the right to vote should be the primary right to be considered by the Comelec, citing the 1987 Constitution. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Comelec has plenary power to implement and execute lahat ng batas tungkol sa elections,â&#x20AC;? Monsod said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Number 1 diyan na batas is the Constitution. And the Constitution says na the right of suffrage can be exercised by everybody.â&#x20AC;? Monsod added that the Constitution did not state that biometric data is required to exercise the right to vote.

The Comelec launched the â&#x20AC;&#x153;No Bio, No Botoâ&#x20AC;? campaign during the registration pe-

riod to encourage voters. However, Comelec data showed 3,059,601 registered voters remained without biometrics as of September 30, 2015 and thus stand to lose their right to vote.

According to Monsod, the Comelec should instead revise the system to accommodate alternative ways of conĂ&#x20AC;rming votersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; identities instead of disenfranchising millions of voters. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ang dapat gawin ng Comelec ay gumawa ng paraan para magkaroon ng sistema for using alternative IDs,â&#x20AC;? Monsod said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In fact, nasa old election code yung mga alternate way of identifying,â&#x20AC;? he added.

The Supreme Court has already issued a temporary restraining order against the implementation of â&#x20AC;&#x153;No Bio, No Botoâ&#x20AC;? policy after groups, including Kabataan party-list, questioned its legality. (MNS)

2):V PLJUDQWV PDNLQJ PDUN LQ JOREDO ZRUNIRUFH ,/2 Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | Wednesday 12/16/2015 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Migrants are increasingly participating in a globalised economy, notably in the services sectors, according to a report released Wednesday by the ILO. The International Labour Organization shed light on new data which quantiĂ&#x20AC;es for the Ă&#x20AC;rst time the extent to which a global migrant workforce estimated at 150.3 million people â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 44 percent of them women â&#x20AC;&#x201C; is carving a professional niche in the countries receiving them.

At a time when mass migration, heightened by the conĂ ict in Syria and economic crisis, has become a political hot potato the ILO said its calculations showed migrant workers make up almost three quarters â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 72.7 percent â&#x20AC;&#x201C; of a global migrant population which it puts at 206.6 million people of working age.

Manuela Tomei, Director of the ILOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Conditions of Work and Equality Department, said she believed the data, which relates to 2013, would allow for â&#x20AC;&#x153;better informed debatesâ&#x20AC;? about migrants in general and their contribution to the societies they join. â&#x20AC;&#x153;These are people who make important contributions to the labour market and the economy of countries of destinations,â&#x20AC;? Tomei asserted. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We believe the most important contribution is that very often the debates surrounding migration are inflamed debates and are characterised by a mismatch between perceptions and realities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So we believe and we hope that these estimates may indeed help in terms of providing further insights and greater clarity to this debate,â&#x20AC;? said Tomei.

For ILO statistical director Rafael Diez

de Medina, â&#x20AC;&#x153;this report sets a new standard in the quest to have sound global Ă&#x20AC;gures to guide policy makersâ&#x20AC;? and said the issue would over the coming years be at the forefront of the development agenda.

The ILO estimates the total global migrant population at 232 million people but its Ă&#x20AC;gures do not show what proportion have migrated illegally or at least not through an established, legal process.

However, Tomei referred to previous ILO Ă&#x20AC;ndings estimating â&#x20AC;&#x153;irregular migrantsâ&#x20AC;? at â&#x20AC;&#x153;between 10 and 15 percent of the totalâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; including people without proper paperwork or those who living in a country after overstaying a visa.

The ILO said its findings suggested migrants generally do not compete for employment with native populations with â&#x20AC;&#x153;the vast majorityâ&#x20AC;? of them based in the services sectors, followed by industry.

Tomei stated that the study of date from 176 countries showed most people migrate to better themselves and the ILOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s methodology would â&#x20AC;&#x153;add signiĂ&#x20AC;cantly to our knowledge base on migration and provide a strong foundation for the development of effective migration policies.â&#x20AC;?

But the ILO warned there was a need to monitor domestic work, describing a sector which typically sees a strong concentration of migrant women as requiring regulation owing to â&#x20AC;&#x153;relatively low visibilityâ&#x20AC;? prone to â&#x20AC;&#x153;multiple forms of discrimination.â&#x20AC;?

The ILO also warned this week of the perils of forced labor, calculating that 21 million people are victims â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 11.4 million women and girls â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with the vast majority exploited by private individuals or enterprises.

Balita Weekend Balita, Sat.-Fri., December 19 - 25, 2015

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$Q\RQH EXW 0DU 5R[DV

It seems that Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s hatred for former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas is unparalleled.

Although the word war between Duterte and Roxas seemed to have cool down a bit lately, the feisty and Áip-Áopping Davao City mayor cannot hide his disdain for the Liberal Party presidential candidate.

In his recent television interview, Duterte said he will support the presidential bid of Vice President Jojo Binay once he and Senator Grace Poe Llamanzares are disqualiÀed. But the Comelec has just voted en banc in his favor, paving the way for his presidential run.

The latest presidential poll surveys conducted by the Social Weather Station (SWS) showed that Duterte is preferred by 38 per cent respondents nationwide.

Binay and Poe Llamanzares were tied with 21 per cent. Roxas came in third place with only 14 per cent and Senator Mirriam Defensor Santiago with 4 per cent.

As of this time, Sen. Poe Llamanzares is waiting for the decision of the Comelec en banc based on the motion for reconsideration which her lawyers Àled on her behalf. The Comelec’s First and Second Divisions ruled recently that she is not eligible to participate in the 2016 presidential election for failing to meet 10year residency requirement under the Constitution.

In Duterte’s case, the Comelec has allowed as a substitute candidate and so we may yet see a president coming from Mindanao this time. That is if he wins against Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Although being pilloried by his political opponents of being corrupt, there is no denying that Binay has done a lot for the poor residents of Makati such as free college education from the University of Makati, free hospitalization from the Ospital ng Makati and free medicines for the poor.

I am sure that Binay will do a lot

for the poor that what Roxas will intend to do. Binay can easily relate to poor people because he came from a poor family. Roxas, on the other hand, came from a very rich family. *** The recent verbal tussle between Duterte and Roxas showed what kind of a president the Philippines will have if one of them gets elected to be the next president.

Duterte is a Áip-Áopping macho guy while Roxas is onion skinned or “pikon.” For two days, they traded barbs, insults and even hurled challenges. From slapping, to Àst Àght and eventually to a gun duel.

We all know nothing of that sorts will not happen. This is what I call political strategem. Mayor Duterte is a master of this political ploy. He knows how to get public attention whenever he needs one.

Roxas, for the good image he has been trying to project for many years, should not have gone down and dirty with Duterte, who is known for having a foul-mouth. His political handlers should have advised Roxas to keep silent and instead focus on his so called “Daan Matuwid (kuno)” platform.

By being silent, Roxas would have probably won the sympathy of undecided voters to his side. At least, for a change, he would have come up as the winner in their recent verbal tussle.

Good thing, the word war between the two presidential aspirants ended.

It has not done anything good to both men, especially to Roxas. I hope both men will Ànd time to renew their friendship. I think it is possible since Duterte said that he is not closing any doors to a possible reconciliation with Roxas.

Duterte was apparently irked by

93 %LQD\¶V &KULVWPDV ZLVK µ3ROLWLFDO FHDVH¿ UH¶ MANILA, Dec 18 (Mabuhay) – Presidential aspirant VP Jejomar Binay on Friday called for a “political ceaseÀre” among candidates for the May 2016 elections.

“Ang Christmas wish ko? Alam mo, peace...Pwede ba ho tigilan na ang paninira, tigilan na ho yung pagsisinungaling, tigilan na ho yung nagpe-personalan, doon ho sa pagkakahati-hati,” Binay said on a radio interview in General Santos City.

“Kita mo naman, yung NPA (New People’s Army) may ceaseÀre pati ang pamahalaan. Sana sa larangan ng politika may ceaseÀre din. Dapat ang mag-prevail ay peace,” he added.

Also, he said his appeal for political peace is for all candidates – local or national – for the coming May polls “Kung magkikita ay magkamayan, magyakapan at sama-sama sa pagdarasal,” he said.

Moreover, he said he plans to spend the holidays in Makati City, where he resides, and visit sick patients in hospitals there. “Hindi ako katulad ng ibang mga namumuno o yung mga halal, na pagdating ng pasko nawawala. Nandito lang ako. Sa Makati, nandoon lang ako,” he said.

Binay is the standard bearer of the opposition party United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

Meanwhile, the broadcaster who Àled a petition against Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Martin Diño said he has nothing against the mayor and even wants him to be president.

In an interview after the Commission on Elections First Division hearing on Friday, Ruben Castor said he wants Duterte to run only through legal means.

He said he is doing this as a fellow member of Guardian International, where Duterte is a high-ranking member. “Lagi niyang ipinagbibilin sa amin, sumunod sa batas, so ‘yun lang. Mahal namin si Mayor,” he told reporters.

Asked if he wants Duterte to be president, he replied, “Aba, siyempre!” “Isa ako sa tagahanga dahil Guardian ako, Guardian siya. Kaya gusto ko, ‘yung ginagawa niya nasa tuwid na landas,” he said.

Castor’s camp is arguing that Diño’s certiÀcate of candidacy, where Duterte’s substitution is grounded on, is void because of its errors.

They are also recommending that Duterte seek another party and standard-bearer to substitute for, such as the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) and presidential aspirant Augusto Syjuco Jr.

a remark made by Roxas that Davao City’s reputation as the safest city in the Philippines was a myth. Duterte Àred back at the LP presidential bet, claiming that Roxas graduation from Wharton business school was also a myth. *** President Aquino is still relentless in pushing for the enactment of the controversial Bangsamoro Bill in Congress.

In a luncheon meeting with some 120 congressmen, mostly from the Liberal Party, President Aquino sought their cooperation in pushing for the eventual passage of the BBL. However, the principal author and co-sponsor of the controversial measure in the Lower House appears to have given up hope for its eventual passage.

Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City said there are only 10

15

days left within which to pass the bill.

There is doubt that the measure will be enacted before Congress adjourns this month. Their problem is how to muster the required quorum in the House of Representatives. Most Congressmen seem to be avoiding from being known as giving any form of support to the controversial bill, which many people believed will not solve the peace and order situation in Mindanao.

Despite the rumored “payola” being dangled by Malacañang to members of the Lower House in exchange for the approval of the bill, the BBL appears to be dead in Congress.

Even House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte admitted that there is no way they could pass the bill before Congress adjourns December 19.

Maybe, the BBL will eventually be approved but not on President Aquino’s time.

16

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ENTERTAINMENT

.LP &KLX

.LP $OO , QHHG LV ;LDQ Kim Chiu sent her supporters abuzz when she said during the press conference of “All You Need is Pagibig” that all she needs is her longtime onscreen partner, Xian Lim. The actress made this statement when asked whether their relationship has leveled up since both of them have been vocal in their previous interviews that they consider each other special.

She shared that she got to spend some quality time with Lim while shooting scenes in Palawan.

“Ngayon halos every day kami magkasama. Nakadalawang balik kami sa Palawan, yung isa for our teleserye (The Story of Us) tapos ito naman [for the movie] sa Coron, parang six days kami doon. Nakapag-bonding naman kami nang maayos,” she said.

As if the “kilig” wasn’t enough, Lim said Chiu supposedly asked him about how he feels for her.

“Nung ginagawa namin yung ‘The Story of Us,’ tinanong ako ni Kim. Sabi niya, from the Àrst time na nagkaeksena ba kami up to now, pareho pa rin daw ba ang pagtingin ko sa kanya, meron pa rin daw bang nagsa-spark, kung pareho pa rin ba yung nararamdaman, kung meron pa rin ba?” he said. “[Sabi ko sa kanya] Siyempre.

Every time nakikita kita, mas dumadagdag pa yung nararamdaman ko sayo.”

According to Lim, his feelings for Chiu never became “stagnant” from the Àrst time that they got to work with each other in “My Binondo Girl” until today. (MNS)

SAVE THE PLANET

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Katrina Halili relishes current villainess role Katrina Halili is not new to portraying kontrabida roles, having done so in numerous teleseryes since establishing her career in 2003.

These include nemesis roles on “Darna” (2009) and “Marimar” (2007).

Nowadays, Katrina makes the life of Joey/Destiny Rose (played by Ken Chan) miserable on “Destiny

Rose.” As the scheming Jasmine, she is certainly good when gone bad, proven by the many bashers the actress has online. “Nanggigigil na sila sa character ko at siyempre ganu’n ’yung ine-expect namin,” she said in an interview. Katrina has crafted Jasmine to be different from past villains she portrayed in that

2\R GHIHQGV GDG 9LF 6RWWR DJDLQVW EDVKHU Oyo Sotto defended his father, veteran comedian Vic Sotto, who is set to marry long-time girlfriend Pauleen Luna.

Oyo posted a photo of him and his kids on his Instagram account when one of his followers lambasted the elder Sotto in the comments section.

This did not sit well with Oyo, who called out the basher and asked him to “stop the hate.”

Sotto, 61, is engaged to marry the 27-year-old Luna.

2\R 6RWWR The comedian hinted that the wedding might happen early next year.

“For me, personally, before the Year of the Goat ends,” he earlier said.

According to the Chinese calendar, the Year of the Goat will last until February 7, 2016.

Sotto has four children with his previous partners – Danica and Oyo with Dina Bonnevie, Vicco with Coney Reyes, and Paulina with Angela Luz. (MNS)

“mas matapang at parang hindi siya nagiisip ng mga ginagawa niya.”

“Praning din ’yung character ko,” she quipped with a laugh.

She added that Jasmine tends to get physical, too, and does not hesitate in slapping or pushing Joey/Destiny Rose (Ken) who is now getting cozy with her lover, Gabriele Antonioni (Fabio Ide).

“Alam ko na may nangyayari na sa kanila kasi nanlalamig na si Gabriele sa akin at wala na siyang time kumain at makipag-date (kasama ang character ko),” Katrina said.

The 29-year-old praised Ken for his performance on the series, noting that she has been giving him advice on how to be a woman.

“Nagtatanong talaga siya kung paano ’yung tamang lakad niya, kung paano tumingin lalo na nu’ng nag-ramp siya,” she said.

Katrina is grateful that the show continues to receive high ratings and praises from netizens. On social media, the hashtags of #DR are among top trending topics. It won’t be a surprise if the show goes on an extended run.

Katrina is happy to be working with Jackie Lou Blanco on “Desti-

.DWULQD +DOLOL

ny Rose.” The two play kontrabida mother-daughter pair.

“Minsan nga nakaka-miss siya kapag hindi kami magkasama sa taping. Kasi kapag kaming dalawa ang magkasama, maingay at magulo,” Katrina said.

She and Jackie Lou have worked on other teleseryes in the past, namely “Magdusa Ka” and “Indio.” Katrina said she learns a lot from her.

“Madalas kinokontrabida niya ako. Pero ngayon sa show ang minamaldita namin eh, si Destiny Rose,” she said.

“Destiny Rose” also stars Manilyn Reynes, Irma Adlawan, Joko Diaz, Sheena Halili, Jeric Gonzales and JC Tiuseco. The show airs weekdays on GMA Afternoon Prime. (MNS)

Kris Aquino undergoes ‘complete voice rest’ for 5 days Kris Aquino has been given a medical certiÀcate advising her to undergo medication and complete voice rest for the next Àve days. Aquino’s physician, Dr. Keith Aguilera, wrote in the certiÀcate that the 44-year-old actress went to his clinic complaining about the “hoarseness” of her voice.

In the caption, Aquino wrote: “I’m home, signing off & obeying my doctorCOMPLETE vocal rest. Bago nyo ko pagalitan na pinilit kong magtrabaho,

uunahan ko na po kayo. 1. I honored my commitments 2. The people I work closely with shouldn’t be deprived of Christmas income kung kakayanin ko pa naman and 3. We tried 2 days vocal rest but it wasn’t enough. GOOD NIGHT. According to Aquino, she was prescribed with an anti-inÁammatory and anti-allergy medicine. She also revealed that before she was brought to the hospital, she was shooting with Erich Gonzales, Pokwang, and Team Kramer for an advertisement.

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COMMUNITY

6XVWDLQDEOH DUW IHDWXUHG LQ (PEDVV\ H[KLELW DQG 7DODND\DQ

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A young artist whose creative works are inspired by a love for the environment and a hope for a better future was featured by the Embassy as a culmination of its celebration of Philippine design, textiles and fashion.

Francis Sollano, a twenty eight year-old visual artist and self-made social entrepreneur from Cebu, is making waves in the international fashion scene with his innovative pieces made from upcycled trash. A portmanteau of trash and fashion, the trashion movement has helped mobilize the local community and has empowered women and youth.

Sollano traveled to Washington, DC to showcase his work and share his story during a talakayan and exhibit entitled “From Waste to Hip: A Creative Paradigm” on 14 December 2015 at the Philippine Embassy.

Featured in the exhibit were statement dresses, bags, dolls, jewelry, and sculptural pieces made from recycled trash such as plastic bags, PET bottles, drinking straws, and sticker paper.

During the exhibit opening, Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. talked about the signiÀcance of Sollano’s art at a time of climate vulnerability.

“Tonight’s event is in support of the Philippine and global vision on sustainable development and climate change adaptation,” said Ambassador Cuisia.

“Francis and the Youth for a Livable Cebu are showing us the way from Waste to Hip. Upcycling is the new wave of sustainable fashion. It produces beautiful and original works from what are often considered waste materials. The new term trashion is truly an apt description of what this exhibit is about. However, as you look around tonight, I want you to think of the signiÀcance of displaying

these crafts that represent not only a means of livelihood but also a labor of love and expression of creativity in the midst of material scarcity,” said the Ambassador.

The motivation for using trash came from a love for the environment and an experience Sollano had three years ago while driving home in heavy rain.

“Three years ago while I was driving, my car’s carpet started to wave. It was then that I realized that it was Áooding after just a few minutes of rain. Aside from the kids bathing in the Áood rain, garbage was also all over the place. It was a painful picture. I immediately felt the urge to do something about it in the way I feel most comfortable—trashion,” said Sollano.

He added, “It was never a difÀcult decision to choose trash as material.

It is painful to see garbage littered all over our cities, much worse seeing Filipinos throw their garbage in the streets as if our country is a huge trash bin. I wish to re-ignite a culture that truthfully values our environment and to take responsibility over our waste. It would be a very beautiful country to live in with products that speak the language of the earth.”

Creating fashion and art pieces from trash is no longer a solo endeavor for Sollano. Through a partnership with the non-proÀt Youth for a Livable Cebu (YLC), local communities have become an integral part in Cebu’s trashion scene.

“I can recall my childhood playing with candy wraps and turn them into trinkets. It was when I joined YLC that I started to take trashion seriously. YLC, as a youth group, advocates for sustainability and part of its programs is upcycling. I saw this as a wonderful platform to

2OLYHU 7ROHQWLQR FRPHV WR 3LD :XUW]EDFK¶V UHVFXH ZLWK JRZQ Hollywood Filipino fashion designer Oliver Tolentino snapped into action to rescue the Philippines’ candidate for the Miss Universe pageant when she was facing the prospect of not having an evening gown for today’s preliminaries.

Tolentino, who was on vacation after the successful grand opening of his new Beverly Hills boutique last weekend, received a panicked phone call from Las Vegas just a day before the preliminaries. People with Pia reported that an off-the-rack gown purchased by the organizer did not Àt the Philippine bet and she had no real alternative.

According to Tolentino, “I’m in Aspen on vacation when my cell phone rang as I was skiing down the mountain. I took the call and told them I would do whatever I could to help the Philippines.

I had 9 gowns from the new Beverly Hills boutique sent that afternoon to Las Vegas in order for Pia to have as many choices as possible for the right design, and of course, to make sure something Àt,” added the designer.

“I was told Pia loved a red-orange silk crepe de chine mermaid gown with a bodice fully embellished with red Swarovski crystals and a front slit at the center,” reported Tolentino.

“They said she loved it and felt good in it and was Ànally able to relax – which is so important the night before a candidate’s preliminaries. I have no idea why this was all so last minute, but anyway, I was happy to help Pia and the Philippines, even though I was not there,” shared the designer.

Tolentino has some experience regarding high-profile events and clientele. He’s the Àrst Filipino in 53 years to have dressed an Oscar winner at the Academy Awards and only the second Filipino to dress nominees at the Emmy and Grammy award shows.

More than 75 Hollywood celebrities have worn his creations. He also proudly promotes Philippine fabrics in Hollywood with celebrities Jessica Alba, Emmy Rossum, Sophia Bush, Ceelo Green, Tara Lipinski, Maria Menounos, and Carrie Underwood all having worn piña (Underwood performed on American Idol in it).

Oliver maintains a brand new boutique in Beverly Hills and also a boutique in Makati near Greenbelt.

For more info: www.OliverTolentino. com.

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introduce my art pieces and network with commercial establishments,” said Sollano.

Women also play an active role in the production process. According to Sollano, trashion has allowed the women of the community to not only earn an income but also to rediscover their worth.

“Under YLC’s pillar of Work, the social enterprise of trashion aims to provide alternative sources of income to women from Ànancially deprived communities. During one of our evaluations, we found out that most women felt happier about the exercise because they had found a new sense of worth in themselves, that they are able to contribute in their community and produce designs that are beautiful for the world to own. Instead of having a routinely lazy day, the women now enjoy creating trashion. Money has become secondary,” said Sollano.

Although trashion is a fairly new concept, Sollano believes there is a lot of potential for it to become a thriving industry.

“The future of trashion is very

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23

promising, most especially with the new consciousness that the upcoming designers bring with them. There are also fashion brands that have started to adopt the same principles of upcycling. For our brand, we hope to preserve its aesthetic with its products as pieces of art while we aim to grow its reach in different regions across the globe,” said Sollano.

YLC is the youth arm of the Movement for a Livable Cebu (MLC).

Started in June 2012, the MLC is a network of young professionals and volunteers collaborating in creative and sustainable ways to make Cebu a better place to live in.

Earlier this year, the Embassy featured Philippine hand-woven fabric and the Grand Dame of Philippine Fashion, Ms. Patis Tesoro. From Waste to Hip: A Creative Paradigm caps off 2015 as a year of Philippine textiles, design and fashion.

Talakayan sa Pasuguan is the Embassy’s ongoing forum series which serves as a venue for the discussion of timely and relevant issues that affect the Filipino-American community.

Photo 1 caption:

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:KDW Hႇ HFWV ZLOO \RX VHH DIWHU WKH )HGV UDLVH WKH LQWHUHVW UDWHV The Federal Reserve is expected to announce a rate hike this week. IF the feds did, Dow would go up above 17, 500 points and the economy is Ànally recognizing a better future, but is it really better for us.

Rising interest rates should only modestly slow rebounding industries, such as housing. The Federal Reserve’s expected hike in its benchmark short-term interest rate this week — combined with rate increases the next few years — is likely to ripple across the U.S. economy, nudging up rates on everything from mortgages to bank savings rates and corporate bonds.

But Fed policymakers have stressed they intend to move gradually and in small increments, and will pull back if the economy falters, tempering the impact on consumers and businesses. We have not had a rate hike in almost a decade and it’s Ànally good to see some beneÀts from it, but there are two sides to this.

The Fed is expected to boost rates only a quarter of a point last Wednesday and move gradually after that. A 1 percentage point increase in the Fed’s rate over the next year could curtail economic growth the following year by 0.15 percentage points and monthly job gains by 30,000, according to Moody’s Analytics. Here’s how players in various sectors view the coming rate rise.

Housing Perhaps no sector has beneÀted more from ultra-low rates than housing, which was devastated by the real estate crash. Home sales are expected to total about 5.7 million this year, up from 5.4 million in 2014 and 4.6 million in 2011. The recovery can at least partly be traced to 30-year Àxed mortgage rates that

remain below 4%, down from about 6% in 2008, keeping borrowing costs low for buyers.

But today’s housing market is supported by far more than low mortgage rates — namely steady job and economic growth. What’s more, 30-year mortgages are priced off 10year Treasury note yields, which do rise as short-term rates climb, but not as steeply.

Doug Duncan, chief economist of Fannie Mae, the giant government-sponsored funder of mortgages, expects this week’s Fed hike of a quarter of a percentage point to have virtually no immediate impact on Treasury or mortgage rates, noting markets already have priced in the move.

Assuming the Fed raises its rate by a percentage point over the next year, Duncan expects 30-year mortgage rates to drift from 3.9% to 4.1% during the period. That would boost the monthly cost of a typical $225,000 mortgage by $26 to $1,454 — not enough to deter most buyers.

Adjustable-rate mortgages, many of which are modiÀed annually, could increase about twice as rapidly, by about a half a percentage point. Yet as long as job growth and aggregate U.S. incomes increase proportionally, Duncan expects any market impact to be modest. A far bigger restraint on home sales, he says, is a limited supply that should push up

prices by nearly 5% both this year and in 2016. As a result, Duncan expects home sales to increase 4% in 2016, down from 8% this year, with higher rates holding back 1% to 2% of deals.

“As long as the rate rise is gradual, I don’t see it as a hugely important factor,” he says.

Autos Auto sales are likely to top 17 million this year for the Àrst time since the Great Recession, juicing the economy.

Auto loans have been pretty low but only for those who really qualify and have really high credit scores, but for those who really needs a car, a quarter or half a percent in their interest rates probably would not make a difference.

Auto loan companies are very innovative in structuring auto loan for all types of buyers in all types of market condition. I believe they will do Àne.

Construction Construction spending is up a healthy 10.7% this year as manufacturing, hotel and ofÀce building takes off. Slightly higher borrowing costs for projects is unlikely to alter that dynamic.

“If anything, a move by the Fed might provide a signal to nervous investors that the Fed is conÀdent about the strength of the U.S. economy,” says Ken Simonson, chief economist of trade group Associated General Contractors. “Higher rates could also attract more foreign investors in all types of assets, including real estate.” Especially in the commercial sector.

Banks The nation’s banks are among the few winners spawned by a Fed rate

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hike. Low rates have forced banks to make do with smaller margins between the interest rate they offer depositors and the rates they charge consumers and businesses for loans.

The most immediate impact of a Fed move will be on the credit cards and home equity loans offered by the nation’s largest banks. Those rates are variable and so should rise quickly in response to a higher fed-funds rate, which is what the Fed charges banks for overnight loans. In other words, banks will pass along their higher borrowing costs to consumers and businesses.

Rates on deposits, however, are tied to market forces, he says. Currently, banks are Áush with deposits from risk-averse consumers and businesses and so don’t need to lift savings rates immediately to attract more deposits for lending, he says.

Deposit rates could rise by a portion of that amount in about six months, he says, leaving the bank a fatter margin.

Money Market Mutual Fund Money market funds are another beneÀciary. The liquid funds invest in a mix of safe, short-term securities, such as Treasuries. But with yields well below 1%, investors have Áed the assets in recent years. Total investment in the funds has fallen by nearly half since the 2007-09 recession, says John Carbone, principal and portfolio manager for The Vanguard Group.

Hope you are will have a great Christmas and a very Happy New Year, please call Ken Go of 1st Innovative Finance for all your mortgage Ànancing needs and real estate inquiries. Call Ken at 562-508-7048 or write to kennethgo@verizon.net BRE 01021223 NMLS 238636.

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:DLYLQJ IUDXG GXH WR H[WUHPH KDUGVKLS For individuals who are seeking to obtain lawful permanent residency, any past fraud or misrepresentation renders the individual inadmissible and ineligible to legalize status unless they are granted a fraud waiver.

This includes all individuals who have committed fraud, even those who are married to a United States citizen.

Immigration fraud occurs when an individual willfully and knowingly provides material information and/or documentation that is false for an immigration beneÀt. An individual commits fraud if, for example, they entered the US under a false name, date of birth, or marital status. Another example is if they Àle an application with the US Embassy or Department of Homeland Security based on invalid information, such as a LULAC legalization application that falsely claimed entry before the required date. Yet another example of fraud, in certain situations, are false claims made on a Form I-9 Employment Eligibility VeriÀcation form.

A fraud waiver under section 212(i) of the US Immigration and

Nationality Act can be granted if an individual can show that his US citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse or parent (i.e. qualifying relative) would experience extreme hardship if he is denied permanent residency. Individuals should note that the fraud waiver does not allow a showing of extreme hardship to children. So, unless an individual has a US citizen parent or spouse, they would not qualify to apply for a fraud waiver.

The laws do not speciÀcally define what qualifies as “extreme hardship.” Rather, the deÀnition has been developed over time on a case-by-case basis. As well, the DHS and US Embassies have established various criteria that they consider in assessing whether extreme hardship has been demonstrated. There are

6DIH GHFRUDWLQJ LV DQRWKHU SHUIHFW JLIW IRU WKH KROLGD\V ROSEMEAD, Calif., Dec. 7, 2015 — Christmas trees are the divas of holiday decorations.

They are often the center of attention and they are very high maintenance. They also can be very dangerous.

Two reminders of this occurred in less than a week last January when a Àre that followed a Christmas tree being ignited by a candle destroyed a home in Azusaand a blaze fed by an aging, brittle tree demolished a North Hollywood home. Though three firefighters were injured in North Hollywood, it could have been worse.

To help prevent accidents, Southern California Edison reminds its customers that nothing is more important than safety when putting up and maintaining their decorations this holiday season.

“Christmas tree fires can be explosive and Àll a room with choking smoke and heat very quickly,” said Paul Jeske, SCE director of Corporate Health and Safety. “For safety, live trees should be watered daily and artiÀcial trees should be fire resistant, and they must be kept at least three feet away from heat sources like space heaters and candles. They also should never

be decorated with worn light stands or broken bulbs.”

Christmas tree Àres, while not very frequent, are usually serious. U.S. Àre departments respond to about 210 home fires annually because of the trees that cause an average of seven deaths, 19 injuries and $17.5 million in damage. Home Christmas tree Àres are Àve times more likely to end in a death compared to home Àres not involving trees. One-third of Christmas tree Àres result from electrical issues.

Meanwhile, power lines should be a major concern when decorating outdoors. Lights or decorations should never be installed on them or utility poles and decorators should stay at least 10 feet away from power lines.

SCE recommends some other safety tips for the holidays: Use wooden or Àberglass ladders when decorating outdoors. Metal ladders conduct electricity. Stay at least 10 feet away from overhead power lines when using ladders.

Keep lights directly away from carpeting, furniture, drapes and other Áammable materials.

Be sure electrical cords are not placed at an angle or position that pinches them, like in windows.

no speciÀc requirements as to what must be shown; rather, the DHS and Embassies take a look at the totality of the circumstances to determine extreme hardship. The following are some criteria used in evaluating extreme hardship: Health: Ongoing or specialized treatment requirements for a physical or mental condition; availability and quality of such treatment in the applicant’s home country, anticipated duration of treatment; whether a condition is chronic or acute, or long-or-short term.

Financial Considerations: Future employability; loss due to sale of home or business or termination of a professional practice; decline in standard of living; ability to recoup short-term losses; cost of extraordinary needs such as special education or training for children; cost of care for family members (i.e. elderly and inÀrm parents).

Education: Loss of opportunity for higher education; lower quality or limited scope of education options; disruption of current program; requirement to be educated in a foreign language or culture with ensuing loss of time for grade; availability of special requirements, such as training programs or internships in speciÀc Àelds.

Personal Considerations: Close relatives in the US and/or the individual’s own country; separation from spouse/children; ages of involved parties; length of residence and community ties in the US. Special Factors: Cultural, language, religious, and ethnic obstacles; valid fears of persecution, physical harm or injury; social

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ostracism or stigma; access to social institutions or structures.

With respect to these factors, it is reminded that the key term in the law is “extreme” hardship and therefore only in cases of real, actual or prospective injury to the qualifying relative will a fraud waiver be granted. Applications must therefore clearly address the reasons why extreme hardship would be encountered by the qualifying relative and supporting documentation evidencing the hardship claims are essential.

The fraud waiver is a viable solution for those who have made a prior mistake of committing fraud or misrepresentation. Unfortunately, some individuals are unethically counseled to commit further fraud to try to handle a prior incident of fraud. This approach should never be taken as the DHS is highly unlikely to thereafter grant a fraud waiver when an individual has repeatedly committed fraud. The road may not be easy, but peace of mind can be attained when handling matters legally and appropriately.

For further information, please schedule an appointment with an attorney at Aquino & Loew, CertiÀed Immigration Law Specialists; (888) 797-1140 or (626) 799-3089; info@ aquinoloew.com. Please also visit Aquino & Loew at www.aquinoloew. com, watch us on Kababayan Today every 1st Tuesday, connect with us on Facebook and Twitter, and read about us on Yelp. Aquino & Loew also handles family law and criminal matters. Providing Personalized Service Nationwide & Abroad Since 1996.

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A message of thanks from Travel International %\ -DQH 6WDUN

With close to two decades in the travel and tour industry, there are many things I am grateful for. Every year Travel International Group grows as a business and I thought this is a perfect time to spend a few moments giving thanks to the folks that impact our business every year.

Without a doubt, I am extremely thankful for our clients. Without them, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d had nothing.

To all our wonderful and valued clients â&#x20AC;&#x201C; present and past â&#x20AC;&#x201C; for giving us the opportunity to assist with your travel needs and provide you with the best service possible.

Thank you for the pleasure of travelling with you, of exploring distant places, of discovering new cultures,

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of experiencing exciting adventures, of building memories, building partnerships and relationship and developing bonds of friendships.

We are pleased to say that our group tours have been nothing but exciting and memorable, providing

us the opportunity to share countless, unforgettable and incredible travel memories.

We cannot fully express our appreciation by giving thanks once a year, or even every day of the year.

Our clients have been â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and always

will be â&#x20AC;&#x201C; our key drivers for success.

For any of your travel needs, please call us at Travel International Group at (310) 327-5143 or at our tollfree number at 1-844-320-1499. Fore more information, visit our website at www.travelinternational.net.

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ROSEMEAD, Calif. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Panda Cares, the philanthropic arm of Panda Express and its parent company, Panda Restaurant Group, hosted its 8th annual Leader In Me Holiday Carnival on Friday, Dec. 11.

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

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

Through Panda Cares, Panda has supported The Leader in Me program in over 550 schools throughout the country. Encinitas Elementary School, sponsored

by Panda since 2009 is one of 27 schools sponsored by the company that has earned the prestigious Lighthouse School designation from the program. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are proud to bring leadership development to schools nationwide,â&#x20AC;? said Peggy Cherng, co-chairman of Panda Restaurant Group. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Through this program, students have the opportunity to become insightful and conĂ&#x20AC;dent leaders who will contribute to their communities.â&#x20AC;?

The Leader in Me program was inspired by Stephen Coveyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,â&#x20AC;? that integrates timeless leadership principles with practical character and life skills relevant to todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s challenges. By building self-conĂ&#x20AC;dence, interpersonal skills, elevating student achievement, and reducing school-wide discipline problems, this program helps children become leaders in their Ă&#x20AC;eld of interest.

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

About Panda Restaurant Group Founded in Southern California in 1973, Panda Restaurant Group Inc. is the world leader in Asian dining experiences with more than 1,800 locations in 46 states along with stores in Puerto Rico, Guam, Canada, Mexico, Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Korea.

The family-owned and operated chain of fast casual, full service and quick service restaurant concepts includes Panda Express, Panda Inn, and Hibachi-San. For more information visit www.pandarg.com, or become a fan on Facebook.

About Panda Cares Established in 1999, Panda Caresâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; mission is to bring hope to children in need purpose is to foster the spirit of Giving within Panda by directly serving the health and educational needs of underserved children.

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BMW hybrid system balances power with responsibility (Relaxnews) – At a special event at its company headquarters this week, BMW took the wraps off a new plug-in hybrid system and with it, signalled the direction that Europe’s leading carmakers are going in order to meet increasingly stringent pollution, (G 7HPSR emissions sand fuel economy regulations that are coming into force.

Called the Power eDrive and demonstrated in a special prototype BMW 5-Series GT, the new powertrain promises the sort of power one expects from a 6-liter V12 RollsRoyce but combined with the CO2 emissions more associated with a Toyota Prius.

By 2021, companies will have to meet a ‘Áeet average’ emission

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level of 95g of CO2 /km. In simple terms it means when the emissions levels of all of a manufacturer’s different cars are added together and the average taken, it needs to be 95g of CO2 /km.

That’s an easy target to hit for a company like Smart, which only builds two, highly efÀcient, tiny city cars. But for brands like Volvo, VW and BMW, with potent luxury sedans, serious sportscars and heavy SUVs in their ranges, the challenges

$ /DPERUJKLQL K\SHUFDU DQQRXQFHG IRU WKH *HQHYD PRWRU VKRZ Tuesday August 18 2015 (Relaxnews) – According to the magazine Road & Track, the Italian Lamborghini manufacturer will debut an 800 bhm (596 kW) sports car at the Geneva International Motor Show.

The rumor regarding the existence of a Lamborghini hypercar is not new. In fact, the hypercar was expected to perhaps be revealed at Pebble Beach or the Frankfurt Motor Show. Road & Track now reports that Lamborghini director Stephan Winkelmann has conÀrmed the car’s ofÀcial world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show from March 3-13, 2016.

Little is known about the characteristics of the automobile but it has been suggested that it will be a hybridized vehicle equipped with an 800 bhp engine. Production will inevitably be limited to a mere dozen units.

The new model, which could be called “hyperVeloce,” should be similar to the Bugatti Veyron, McLaren P1, Ferrari, Porsche 918 Spyder and Koenigsegg Regera – the supercar of all vehicles with a horsepower of 1500 bhp and the ability to go from 0 to 248 mi/h (400km) in 20 seconds.

Lamborghini’s most powerful Roadster revealed in the US Meanwhile, Lamborghini has only just revealed the Roadster version of the Aventador LP750-4 SV (Superveloce) in Pebble Beach. The 750 bhp vehicle will be limited to 500 units. Interested buyers will need to fork out close to 500,000 euros (550,000 dollars) to bring this jewel home come spring 2016. The Roadster should be able to reach a top speed of 217mi/h and go from 0 to 62mi /h in only 2.9 seconds.

(86th Geneva International Motor Show, March 3-13 2016, Palexpo of Geneva, web site: salon-auto.ch)

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and costs are major—a point that was high on the agenda at this year’s International Conference on Advanced Automotive 48V Power Supply Systems, held in Düsseldorf earlier in November.

“Until we have a really signiÀcant breakthrough with battery chemistry or fuel-cell technology, the high voltage approach to hybridization and pure battery electric vehicles will remain too expensive for universal application across high volume vehicle platforms,” said Paul Bloore, product validation manager for CPT, a multinational company that provides “clean technology” to car companies, at the event.

Instead, car companies will gravitate towards solutions that balance efÀciency with expense, which means evolving existing engines, powertrains and hybrid technologies in the hopes of hitting emissions targets.

Thrill of the ride not sacriÀced But even with that approach, the BMW eDrive shows that the cars of the next decade will be able to meet increasingly stringent targets yet still be exhilarating to drive. The eDrive uses a 228bhp turbocharged four cylinder engine and two electric

motors which can deliver an incredible 670bhp when working together— more power than any car in BMW’s range (including Rolls-Royce) can currently offer.

The gas engine’s main job is to generate power for the electric motors but can also send power to the wheels for extra acceleration. The car can travel for 62 miles (100km) on electric power alone and despite only having a 30-liter fuel tank will cover 370 miles (595km) before it needs to be plugged in and the tank topped up.

The new drive train is expected to be offered on BMW’s premium SUVs and could soon be powering its smaller Rolls-Royce models, too.

BMW hasn’t mentioned CO2 Àgures, but an earlier incarnation of the technology was demonstrated at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show capable of emitting just 90g/km when powering a BMW X5 SUV. If you want to check out the latest BMW vehicles, all you have to do is visit our friendly kababayans _ Eduardo tiempo at (818)-601-5667 and Ronald Rodillas at (323) 683-9351 _ at the PaciÀc BMWlocated in 800 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale CA 91204.

Close end lease for 2015 Nissan Altima 2.5S for $149 per month plus tax for 36 months on above average approved credit. Payment net of $1950 Nissan Lease Cash Rebate and $500 Nissan Customer Bonus Cash Rebate. $2999 cash or trade equity, plus plus tax, license and registration fees due at lease signing. No security deposit. 12,000 miles per year, 36k total miles with 15 cents per mile thereafter. Subject to availability and charges for excess wear and tear. Not all lessees may qualify, higher lease rates apply for lessees with lower credit ratings. Offer expires 12/31/15.

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Nissan Murano tops Midsize SUV segment in 2015 J.D. Power Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout 1$6+9,//( 7HQQ ยฑ 7KUHH 1LVVDQ PRGHOV KDYH EHHQ UHFRJQL]HG DV EHLQJ DPRQJ WKH PRVW DSSHDOLQJ YHKLFOHV WR RZQ DQG GULYH LQ WKHLU VHJPHQWV LQ WKH MXVW UHOHDVHG - ' 3RZHU 8 6 $XWRPR WLYH 3HUIRUPDQFH ([HFXWLRQ DQG /D\RXW $3($/ 6WXG\60 ยฑ OHG E\ WKH WRWDOO\ UH GHVLJQHG 1LVVDQ 0XUDQR FURVVRYHUยถV WRS ยฟ QLVK LQ WKH 0LGVL]H 689 FDWHJRU\ 0XUDQR VFRUHG D WRWDO RI SRLQWV D SRLQW LPSURYHPHQW RYHU WKH SUHYLRXV JHQHUDWLRQ 0XUDQR GHVLJQ DQG SRLQWV DERYH WKH VHFRQG SODFH ILQLVKHU LQ WKH VHJPHQW 7KH $OWLPD 1LVVDQยถV EHVW VHOOLQJ YHKLFOH LPSURYHG WKUHH SRVLWLRQV RYHU WKH VWXG\ WR WLH IRU VHFRQG SODFH ZLWK D VFRUH RI MXVW WZR SRLQWV EHKLQG WKH OHDGHU LQ WKH 0LGVL]H &DU VHJPHQW 7KH 1LVVDQ )URQWLHU ILQLVKHG WKLUG LQ WKH 0LGVL]H 3LFNXS VHJPHQW EHKLQG WZR UHFHQWO\ LQWURGXFHG SLFNXSV 7KH DQQXDO $3($/ 6WXG\ QRZ LQ LWV WK \HDU VXUYH\V SXUFKDVHUV DQG OHVVHHV RI QHZ YHKLFOHV JLYLQJ RZQHUV D SODWIRUP WR HYDOXDWH WKHLU FDUV WUXFNV DQG 689V DFURVV VSHFLยฟ F DWWULEXWHV 7KH UHVXOWV DUH FRPELQHG LQWR DQ RYHUDOO $3($/ VFRUH PHDVXUHG RQ D SRLQW VFDOH 7KH VWXG\ IRXQG WKDW VRPH VDIHW\ IHDWXUHV VXFK DV EOLQG VSRW ZDUQLQJ DQG SDUNLQJ DVVLVW V\VWHPV VXEVWDQWLDOO\ LP SURYHG RZQHUVยถ VHQVH RI VHFXULW\ ยฑ DQG VDWLVIDFWLRQ ยฑ ZLWK WKHLU YHKLFOHV 1LVVDQ FRQWLQXHV WR Rเตต HU D UDQJH RI DGYDQFHG VDIH W\ DQG FRQQHFWLYLW\ V\VWHP WHFKQRORJLHV DFURVV D ZLGH DSSOLFDWLRQ RI YHKLFOHV DQG WULP OHYHOV ยฑ LQFOXGLQJ 3UHGLFWLYH )RUZDUG &ROOLVLRQ :DUQLQJ 3)&: 'ULYHU $W WHQWLRQ $OHUW '$$ DQG $URXQG 9LHZย 0RQLWRU $90 ZLWK 0RYLQJ 2EMHFW 'H WHFWLRQ 02'

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Toyotaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s off-roader: Cruising back into the spotlight Thursday December 20 2015 (Relaxnews) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Toyota has unveiled the newest edition of its iconic Land Cruiser, which has been in a state of constant innovation both inside and out 1HOVRQ 6DPVRQ since making its debut some 60 years ago.

The new Toyota Land Cruiser is an evolution from the outside â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a sharper but familiar grille, daytime LED running lights and special attention paid to eliminating anything that could possibly impede on the carâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s off-road approach or departure angles.

And thanks to new Multi-Terrain-Select (MTS) technology to simplify everything from locking differentials, to stepping-down gear ratios and feeding the right amount of power to the right wheel at the right time, taking full advantage of the carâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s off-road capabilities has never been easier â&#x20AC;&#x201C; especially if speciĂ&#x20AC;ed with automatic transmission.

MTS has five default settings for coping with everything from mud and sand to loose rocks and will take over the throttle angle, braking and traction control to suit. The car also offers a choice of Ă&#x20AC;ve speed settings â&#x20AC;&#x201C; think of it as off-road cruise control â&#x20AC;&#x201C; for careful, controlled ascents and descents and for automatically getting unstuck from mud or snow.

Serious off-roaders can go for the

7R\RWD +LJKODQGHU /HDGHU RI WKH PLGVL]H FURVVRYHU SDFN The Toyota Highlander started the midsize crossover SUV category 15 years ago, so it had a head start on becoming a benchmark. The third-generation model, now entering its third year, offers room for up to eight, a choice of three powertrains and four model grades. It all adds up to the ideal family vehicle.

The Highlander didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need much to get even better for 2016, but Toyota went ahead and made the towing package standard on all V6 models.

The package includes a heavy-duty radiator with engine oil cooler, 200watt fan coupling, supplemental transmission oil cooler and 150-amp alternator and allows the V6 models to tow a trailer up to 5,000 pounds.

Other powertrain choices include a 2.7-liter 4-cylinder in the LE front-drive model, and Hybrid Synergy Drive with 280 total system horsepower.

The four-cylinder and the V6 are both teamed with a sixspeed automatic transmission.

The Highlander is sized for families with up to 158.7 cu. ft. total cabin volume.

That includes 13.8 cu. ft. with the third seating row in use â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a 34-percent increase over the previous generation (2013 model). With the 60/40 split fold-Ă at third-row seats lowered, cargo space expands up to 42.3 cu. ft. and then up to 83.7 cu. ft. with the 60/40 split fold-Ă at second row also lowered.

manual transmission option and get more hands on with the Land Cruiserâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capabilities, but even they will appreciate the carâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s self-leveling suspension, sonar (for gauging wading $OH[ $OPDOYH] depth and clearance) and the fact that the wheels are digitally rather than physically linked via the suspension system so that the whole shell doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sway from side to side when one wheel hits a dip.

Inside, creature comforts and materials are on a par with the Land Roverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s smarter sibling, the Range Rover. Piano black woodgrain veneer is a new dashboard option, for example as is a standalone multimedia system for rearseat passengers. As for engines, the new Land Cruiser gets a new 2.8-liter diesel engine that has been tailored to deliver optimum torque off road and the best fuel efĂ&#x20AC;ciency and predictability when cruising at motorway speeds. Toyota claims that thanks to a urea selective catalytic reduction system, 99% of NOx emissions are eliminated and while itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not lightning quick -- 0-100km/h in 12.7 seconds, it offers an economy of 7.4l/100km. )RU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ RQ WKH YDULRXV 7R\RWD YHKLFOH FKRLFHV YLVLW :RQGULHV 7R\RWD DW : 0DLQ 6W $OKDPEUD &$ RU FDOO 3DXO

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7R\RWD 5XQQHU 7KH JR WR 689 IRU JR DQ\ZKHUH FDSDELOLW\ Outdoors enthusiasts have turned to the Toyota 4Runner for three decades as the go-to, go-anywhere SUV that also excels as an everyday driver. The TRD Pro Series introduced for 2015 continues for 2016, underscoring the 4Runnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s off-road persona, and all models feature upgraded Entune multimedia systems.

Whether the destination is a difĂ&#x20AC;cult-to-reach bike trail, a hidden access point for river rafting or simply a spectacular view, the Toyota 4Runner has been getting owners there for 30+ years.

The current-generation model is the roomiest and most capable in its history and sacrifices none of its rugged function to deliver everyday comfort and versatility.

The 4Runner really is the do-it-all SUV. Available third-row seats

allow up to seven-passengers to experience great outdoor adventures.

For 2016, the 4Runner does it all again, this year while treating occupants to more functionality from upgraded Entune multimedia systems. In the SR5 and Trail models, the Entune Audio Plus with Connected Navigation (ScoutÂŽ GPS Link) uses the customerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s smartphone to provide navigation functionality through the head unit.

All Entune units are upgraded to 2.5 version status, which includes SiriÂŽ Eyes Free mode.

The SR5 Premium and Trail Premium grades feature standard Entune Premium Audio with Integrated Navigation and App Suite, and the Limited gets Entune Premium JBL Audio with Integrated Navigation and App Suite.

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You can reach Nile Villanueva or his fellow kababayan, Sales & Leasing Consultant Phillip Rivera at 1-888-311.0102.

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