Weekend Balita January 16, 2016

LOS ANGELES

Emotional; Ara surprises Cristine See ENTERTAINMENT, page 16 VOL. XXIII, NO. 50

LOS ANGELES

January 16 - 22, 2016

THE LEADING SOURCE OF NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR FILIPINO-AMERICANS

PHL to offer multiple bases to US: official M a n i l a , P h i l i p pines | AFP | Wednesday 1/13/2016 – The Philippines is set to offer the US military use of eight bases, a military spokesman said Wednesday, after the country’s supreme court upheld a security agreement with Washington forged in the face of rising tensions with China.

The facilities include the former US Clark airbase and air and naval facilities on the southwestern island of Palawan which faces the South China Sea, the focus of territorial disputes with China.

Military spokesman Colonel Restituto Padilla said the facilities would be used to store equipment and supplies.

He added that the offer had still to be finalized after the Philippine Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a 10-year security accord.

The decision allows for the full implementation of the Enhanced Defense Co-operation Agreement (EDCA), signed in 2014 but not implemented due to legal challenges from groups opposed to US military involvement in the Philippines, a US colony from 1898 to 1946.

It will see more US troops rotate

Secretary Albert del Rosario and US Secretary of State John Kerry hold a follow up meeting on Wednesday, January 13, 2016 to discuss several points raised during the 2nd Two-PlusTwo Ministerial Dialogue held the day before.

through the Philippines for war games and help Manila build military facilities.

“We have resumed talks now that there is a go-signal that EDCA is constitutional,” Padilla said.

“We are continuing talks and we will finalize the agreement on the locations,” he said without giving a timetable when the decision would

be reached.

The Philippines hosted two of the largest overseas US military bases until 1992, when the senate voted to end their leases, a decision influenced by anti-US sentiment.

The new pact does not authorize a return of US bases.

China and the Philippines – as See MULTIPLE, page 8

No China in Aquino’s thank you list MANILA, Jan. 14 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno Aquino III thanked specific members of the diplomatic corps for their work in his toast during his last New Year’s vin d’honneur on Thursday, including envoys of the Pope, the United States and Japan, and notably skipped mentioning China.

Among those mentioned by Aquino included papal nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto for the success of last year’s papal visit; Ambassador Guy Ledoux of the European Union for their support in the country’s “achievements” in aviation, agriculture, trade, and the peace process; See NO CHINA, page 8

The USS Topeka (SSN-754), a Los Angeles-class attack submarine, prepares to dock at the Alava pier of Subic port in Zambales Tuesday, for a three-day port stop. Subic Naval Base is one of the agreed locations that the US government identified as part of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. (MNS photo)

PHL concerned over ‘emerging’ terror threat Palace defends M a n i l a , P h i l i p - of Iraq and Syria, was suspected of Aquino’s SSS pines | AFP | Thursday 1/14/2016 carrying out the killings, though the Philippine security forces expressed identities of the attackers have yet to pension hike bill veto –concern over an “emerging threat” be established.

MANILA, Jan. 14 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Thursday defended the move of Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III to veto the bill providing a P2,000 across-the-board increase in the monthly pension of Social Security System (SSS) members, noting the government is ensuring the stability of the entire SSS system to benefit majority of its members for the next 27 years.

See PENSION HIKE, page 8

of terrorism, after suicide attackers struck the Indonesian capital on Thursday.

Police said five suspects and two civilians were killed, while 10 other people were injured, after a series of explosions and gunfire tore through a Starbucks cafe in Jakarta and shook an embassy district.

Indonesian police said a local group linked to Islamic State jihadists, which control large swathes

“Our security forces are well aware of the emerging threat and have been conducting operations to prevent terror acts anywhere in the country,” said a joint Philippine military and police statement on the Jakarta incident.

Military spokesman Colonel Restituto Padilla told AFP there had been no recent specific threats picked up by the authorities in the Philippines.

See TERROR THREAT, page 8

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Weekend Balita, Sat.-Fri., January 16 - 22, 2016

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Can bankruptcy stop a foreclosure?

There has been an incredible amount of press recently that suggests a significant improvement in the real estate market. However, there is still a way to go before mortgage balances once again are lower than the property’s current value. In the interim, many are still facing foreclosure due to increases in mortgage payments, or decreases in household income. The major banks have recently released a statement that foreclosures are set to increase during the second half of 2013.

In fact, one of the reasons, real estate professionals see an improvement in demand for homes for sale, (a buyer’s market), is because ironically, there is a shortage of homes for sale.

Home owners cannot list a home for sale if it’s worth less than they owe.

Their choices are limited. Foreclose, abandon, shortsale or bankruptcy.

For those with a second mortgage, bankruptcy might be a solution, since it can strip away (discharge) the second lien if it is totally unsecured by the property’s current value. This decreases the amount owed, and increases the owners equity. Now they can sell, if that’s what they want to do. Better yet, stay in the home, and watch the value go up, without paying for the second mortgage.

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.

Bankruptcy is a legal procedure that begins when an individual has more debt than assets. dismiss the filing if the debtor’s income is greater than the state median income. However, the US bankruptcy code also provides for a restructuring of debt, through a Chapter 13 procedure.

This is the procedure that allows for wiping off that second mortgage.

Instead of liquidating all assets as in a regular bankruptcy Chapter 7, an individual filing for bankruptcy under Chapter 13 agrees to repay creditors out of his or her future income. Chapter 13 is only available to individuals with regular incomes whose debts do not exceed $1,000,000 ($315,000 in unsecured debts and $1,010,000 in secured debts). Each Chapter 13 debtor, through his or her attorney, writes a plan, which must be approved by the bankruptcy court.

The debtor must pay the Chapter 13 Trustee the amounts set forth in the plan and complete an education course in personal financial management as approved by the U.S. Trustee. Debtors receive a discharge after

they complete their Chapter 13 plan.

For those in foreclosure, a chapter 13 bankruptcy repayment plan may be the answer. You will still have to make your regular mortgage payments on time, but mortgage arrears can be amortized over several years, so you don’t have to catch up all at once.

It is a solution for those struggling with both mortgage payments and unsecured debt like credit cards, because the bankruptcy can discharge the unsecured debt, and give you a chance to use that money to save your home, 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 five years.

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

A Chapter 13 bankruptcy filing can stall or derail foreclosure proceedings. That’s because of bankruptcy’s “automatic stay” 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 filing 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 § 1322©.

Clearly, you should hire a bankruptcy attorney to guide you through this complex process. That’s why the Law Offices of Paul M. Allen is here to help you. Attorney Allen and his Pinoy staff can re-structure your finances and stop that foreclosure through the flexibility of a Chapter 13 plan.

Take steps to save your home today. Find out what your options are.

Call the law offices of Paul M. Allen and schedule a free consultation.

Three convenient offices to serve you: Glendale, La Palma and Cerritos.

Call now at 818-552-4500.

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Weekend Balita, Sat.-Fri., January 16 - 22, 2016

Japan’s Mitsubishi UFJ invests $744-M in BDO

By Cecil Morella

M a n i l a , P h i l i p pines | AFP | Thursday 1/14/2016 – Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ is to invest nearly $774 million in the Philippines’ Security Bank, the Filipino lender said Thursday in another sign of the Southeast Asian nation’s rising tiger economy status.

The transaction, still subject to regulatory approvals, would be the largest equity investment by a foreign lender in a Philippine bank, securities analysts in Manila told AFP. A Philippine Stock Exchange disclosure by listed Security Bank said the 36.92 billion-peso (about $744 million) investment would buy the Japanese lender a 20-percent stake in one of the Philippines’ bigger banks.

“They are looking to expand their horizons especially as returns on their domestic market are so low,” Jonathan Ravelas, chief market strategist for top Philippine lender BDO Unibank, told AFP. “They see the big investment potential of the Philippines.”

The Philippine economy has been growing strongly since President Benigno Aquino came to power in 2010 vowing to root out widespread corruption that he said was responsible for turning the country into an Asian basket case.

Economic growth was likely 6.0 percent last year, according to the government.

And in contrast to Japan, the Philippines’ population is growing rapidly, recently surpassing 100 million people, offering the prospects of string demand over coming decades.

The Philippines loosened rules on foreign ownership of banks in 2014, and Aquino on Tuesday graced the opening ceremony of Sumitomo Mitsui’s first branch in the Philippines.

Aquino said five other foreign lenders had been granted operating licenses, but did not name them.

Security Bank said Thursday it accepted Mitsubishi’s offer to buy 150.7 million new common shares at 245 pesos each and 200 million preferred shares at 0.10 peso each.

The bank’s shares closed at 135 pesos in Manila trading on Wednesday.

Trading was suspended Thursday prior to the announcement.

Juan Rafael Supangco, research chief of local securities firm Angping and Associates Securities, said Mitsubishi paid a hefty premium for Security Bank, which he said was the fifth or sixth largest Filipino lender in asset terms.

“The Japanese tend to pay such a premium.... it’s more of a long-term transaction for Mitsubishi,” Supangco told AFP. He said he expected more foreign players to invest in the Philippines financial sector.

“There is still a large part of the population that is unbanked. There’s a potential to beef up their asset base and deposit base. There is still a huge potential to get more customers,” Supangco said.

Security Bank recently embarked on a rebranding campaign to push its retail services and expand its market share, slashing transaction fees and employing celebrity endorsers. jfgcgm/kma/fa © 1994-2016 Agence France-Presse

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Comelec signs MOA with KBP, media giants on presidential, VP debates MANILA, Jan. 14 (Mabuhay) – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) signed yesterday a memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) and media giants on the conduct of the presidential and vice presidential debates which will start next month.

At the signing ceremony held at the Comelec office in Intramuros, Manila yesterday morning, Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista also cautioned those running for president and vice president in the May 2016 elections that seats with their names on them will be allotted to all candidates whether the person is attending or not.

“If a candidate is absent, the seat will be left vacant during the debate. I believe in freedom. They are free to attend or not to attend,” Bautista said.

Present during yesterday’s signing were representatives from media organizations who have teamed-up for the May elections. They include the Manila Bulletin ABS-CBN, Philippine Star, TV 5, Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA Network, Nine Media, Business Mirror, and Rappler.

The MOA paves the way for the Comelec, with help from the media organizations, to assist voters in making an informed choice and also to encourage candidates to focus on substantive issues and public policy pronouncements.

The Comelec has scheduled three presidential debates, one in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, and one debate for the vice presidential candidates in Metro Manila.

Bautista said if a candidate will not attend, the person will miss the opportunity to speak to the Filipino people and present their platform of governance to the voters on a nationwide scale.

“We just think that them not showing up is already a message in itself,” he added. “These debates will be telecast all over the country,” Bautista said.

SCHEDULE OF DEBATES The first presidential debate in Mindanao will be held at the Capitol University in Cagayan de Oro City on February 21 from 5 to 7 p.m.

The Visayas leg of the debates will be held in Cebu on March 20.

The Luzon leg will be on April 24, and the venue will either be in central or southern Luzon.

The Manila Bulletin together with ABS CBN will be the lead organizer of the debate in Luzon.

There will only be one vice presidential debate and it is set to be held on March 10 in Metro Manila.

Under Republic Act 9006 or the Fair Election Act, the Comelec may require national television and radio networks to sponsor at least three national debates among presidential candidates and at least one national debate among vice presidential candidates during the campaign period.

(MNS)

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Weekend Balita, Sat.-Fri., January 16 - 22, 2016

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Filipina on death row in Indonesia has family birthday visit

Yogyakarta, Indonesia | AFP | Tuesday 1/12/2016 – A Filipina on death row in Indonesia was visited by family Tuesday for a late birthday celebration, as her supporters maintained the single mother would be proclaimed innocent and escape the firing squad.

Mary Jane Veloso was reunited with her parents and two children at a prison in Yogyakarta two days after her birthday, where they presented her with gifts and letters from her supporters in the Philippines.

The 31-year-old was granted a temporary reprieve in April just moments before she was due to be executed alongside eight other convicted drug traffickers, including seven foreigners.

The Indonesian government, which has some of the world’s toughest anti-narcotics laws, maintains her death sentence for drugs trafficking still stands.

But her supporters insist Veloso is innocent and was duped into carrying a suitcase lined with 2.6 kilograms (5.7 pounds) of heroin.

“We are very hopeful. We believe we can set her free, as it’s very clear that she is innocent,” Laorence Castillo, an activist from Filipino migrant workers organization Migrante International told AFP Tuesday.

Veloso was sentenced to death after her arrest in 2009, but was granted a temporary reprieve after a woman suspected of recruiting her was arrested in the Philippines.

Castillo said legal proceedings against Veloso’s alleged recruiter were ongoing in the Philippines, and the matter would return to court again in February.

A spokesman for the Indonesian attorney general’s office told AFP that Veloso’s position remained unchanged, despite the ongoing trial in the Philippines.

Supreme Court affirms TRO on Grace Poe DQ cases MANILA, Jan 12 (Mabuhay) – The Supreme Court has affirmed its temporary restraining order against the cancellation of Senator Grace Poe’s certificate of candidacy for president by the Commission on Elections.

A highly-placed source said the High Court has voted 12-3 to affirm the TRO. Poe ran to the Supreme Court on December 28 after the Comelec en banc affirmed two divisions’ ruling canceling Poe’s COC. The country’s highest tribunal granted same-day TROs against the two rulings that same day. This was after Chief Justice Maria Lourdes

Sereno approved members-in-charge Associate Justices Mariano del Castillo and Marvic Leonen’s respective recommendations to issue separate TROs on the Comelec’s rulings.

The TRO paved the way for Poe to remain on the ballot for the presidency until final resolution.

Former Sen. Francisco Tatad, who filed one of the Comelec cases against Poe, asked the SC on January 4 to lift the TRO. But his comment was apparently not enough for the High Court, which has set oral arguments for the Poe case on January 19.

(MNS)

“In Indonesia, her status is still as a death row convict. There has been no new updates, the situation is still the same,” spokesman Amir Yanto said.

Yanto said while there was a possibility executions would resume in

2016, none had been scheduled yet because the government was focused on Indonesia’s economy.

Indonesia invoked the ire of several countries last year when it executed 14 death row inmates, including 12 foreigners, for drugs offences.

Napoles willing to testify in graft cases with Jinggoy MANILA – Alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles is willing to testify on her graft cases with Senator Jinggoy Estrada over their alleged involvement in the P10-billion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam.

Napoles is among the proposed witnesses on her pre-trial brief submitted to the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division.

Her brother, Ronald John Lim, and another accused, John Raymond de Asis, are also on Napoles’ list of witnesses. The two alleged aids of Napoles are still at large.

In the proposed facts for the stipulation of the case, Napoles wants to prove that she is not connected to SDPFFI and MAMFI, the alleged bogus non-government organizations (NGOs) used to divert Estrada’s pork barrel. At the same time, Napoles also aims to prove the legitimacy of the said NGOs. Napoles also proposed to establish the following: She was not a payee of any check issued by the implementing agencies to the said NGOs; She and de Asis did not participate in the preparation of the memorandum of agreement with the implementing agencies; Napoles and de Asis are private individuals who do not have role in identifying the projects and beneficiaries for the pork barrel allocation; Napoles’ proposed stipulation also included that aside from Estrada, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the implementing agen-

cy and the NGO are also involved in the case.

Aside from Napoles, Lim and de Asis, over 50 witnesses are proposed to take a stand on the trial of the graft case including the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) members initially assigned to handle to pork barrel case, and state auditors lead

by Susan Garcia, which investigated the PDAF utilization.

Napoles is also looking at inviting the photographers who took the photographs of the goods supposedly delivered to the beneficiaries.

Also invited are the officers and bank representatives of the NGOs, and representatives from NABCOR, TRC, NLDC, SSS, PhilHealth, BIR and banks of the whistleblowers and NGOs. The initial date of pre-trial is set on March 14. The list of witnesses and documents to be presented, as well as the schedule of hearings are discussed during the pre-trial.

Aside from 11 counts of graft, Napoles is also facing a plunder case with Estrada, who allegedly pocketed P183.793 million from his PDAF allocation.

Napoles, who is pointed as the mastermind of the pork barrel scam, allegedly created fake NGOs that lawmakers may use to shelve kickbacks from the government funds.

Under the scam, billions of pesos from the government funds were diverted to “ghost projects” instead of delivering aids to the rightful beneficiaries such as farmers and fishermen.

Globe seeks Open Access Law to boost connectivity MANILA, Jan 12 (Mabuhay) – Globe Telecom Inc. wants an Open Access Law in place to speed up the release of permits for telecommunications facilities and improve connectivity.

“Prioritizing the Open Access law for the telco industry would help fast track fiber builds that will increase Internet access and speeds in the country,” Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu said on Tuesday.

The government can come up with the legislation to mitigate red tape and other political hurdles that stand in the way of the deployment of telecommunications and broadband infrastructure such as cell sites, the telco executive noted.

Globe has about 500 cell sites waiting to be built at any given time, Cu noted.

“In addition to enhancing and improving access to education, government services, entertainment and social media, a robust internet infrastructure provides tremendous opportunities for business and greatly impacts economic growth,” Cu said.

“This is where the government can

help by providing the right regulatory environment as we build an internet infrastructure that would develop ICT (information and communication technologies) capabilities of local industries for stronger economic growth and wonderful Philippines,” he added.

Cu emphasized that the harmonization and equitable distribution of the 700-megahertz (Mhz) frequency is sufficient in providing for higher data traffic and improving internet speed in the country.

Globe earlier said that San Miguel Corp. currently holds 90 MHz of its 100 MHz from the 700 MHz bandwidth. 80 MHz is controlled by the conglomerate’s wi-tribe, 10 MHz controlled by High Frequency Telecommunications, and 10 MHz by New Century Telecommunications.

“Giving active and operating telecommunications companies access to this band will allow the industry to provide broadband and data services at faster speeds and in a more cost-efficient manner,” Globe general legal counsel Froilan Castelo said in November.(MNS)

Life and Leisure News for Filipino-Americans www.usasianpost.com

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Weekend Balita, Sat.-Fri., January 16 - 22, 2016

Legal experts: Grace Poe’s citizenship woes different from FPJ’s

MANILA, Jan. 14 (Mabuhay) – Two legal experts on Wednesday frowned at Senator Grace Poe’s latest political campaign advertisement that compared her disqualification cases with that of her father, the late Ferdinand Poe Jr. Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal and former Integrated Bar of the Philippines president Vicente Joyas both said that Poe’s disqualification cases were different from that of her father, who ran but lost to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the 2004 presidential election.

“Pareho silang nagkaroon ng disqualification case pero hindi pareho ang case nila dahil ang issue kay Senator Poe ay foundling and residency while FPJ was direct disqualification on citizenship,” Macalintal said in a statement.

He said FPJ’s parents were known, while the senator is a foundling with unknown parents and only later adopted by the action star and his wife Susan Roces.

Macalintal added that the residency issue is present in Poe’s case and not in FPJ’s.

In the new 30-second ad, four neighbors could be seen discussing the disqualification cases against the lawmaker, with one of them, a woman, insisting, “Lola, kandidato pa rin po siya bilang presidente.”

Her male neighbor proclaims, “Eh ganyang-ganyan din yung ginawa nila sa tatay niyang si FPJ eh,” as the woman continued: “Pero sa huli,

pinayagan ng Korte Suprema na tumakbo.”

The man then says: “Parang pelikula lang yan ni FPJ, nagpapabugbog sa simula!”

Poe is currently challenging before the SC an en banc decision by the Comelec upholding the separate disqualification cases filed by Estrella Elamparo and a consolidated one from former Sen. Franciso Tatad, political analyst Antonio Contreras and former law dean Amado Valdez.

In FPJ’s 2004 case, the Supreme Court ruled he was a Filipino even if he was an illegitimate son with an American mother. The SC said FPJ takes after the citizenship of his Filipino father.

For his part, Joyas, like Macalintal, said the cases of Poe and her father should not be compared.

“The facts in the case of FPJ are not similar to that of Sen Poe. The biological parents of FPJ were not unknown, unlike in the situation of Sen Poe,” Joyas said.

He suspected the Poe’s new ad is aimed at shoring up support from the public, despite disqualification issues hounding her.

“The ads may have been conceptualized to bolster their arguments to let the people decide premised on the vox populi vox dei dictum,” he said.

But the former IBP chief stressed that no matter how popular a candidate may be, like Poe, the Constitution and the rule of law should prevail. (MNS)

Duterte hopes to personally apologize to Pope Francis MANILA, Jan . 14 (Mabuhay) – He may not be flying to the Vatican City any time soon, but tough talking presidential aspirant Rodrigo Duterte has expressed a desire to personally apologize to Pope Francis.

“Maybe just to talk... But if I meet him personally, then say I’m sorry,” the Davao City Mayor told reporters on Thursday.

“He [could] pray for my tongue that it would not go astray again,” he added.

In a speech on national television formally declaring his presidential bid last November 30, Duterte laced his speech with profanities. It did not

ur o y y d Sen ine’s Da s xe nt Valeaster bo &E

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stop when he told an anecdote about Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines last year.

“Sabi ko, ‘Bakit?’ Sabi sarado na [ang daan]. Sabi ko, ‘Sinong darating?’ Sabi si Pope. Gusto kong tawagan, ‘Pope, p _ _ _ __ ina ka, umuwi ka na. ‘Wag ka nang bumisita dito,” he quipped.

Duterte’s speech drew flak from church officials in the Philippines, who also slammed his reputation as a womanizer.

The tough-talking mayor, meanwhile, met with clergymen from Davao City to try to put the issue to rest. (MNS)

tro We deliver in Medays Manila within 40ths! not 2 or 3 mon

Mar ready to attend Mamasapano probe ‘anytime’: spokesman MANILA, Jan. 14 (Mabuhay) – Former Interior secretary and Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas is ready to face the Senate investigation on the Mamasapano clash “anytime” if ever he is asked to attend, the spokesperson for the administration coalition said.

“Kahit anong araw naman, handang humarap si Mar sa Senado kung ipatawag siya,” said Akbayan party-list Rep. Barry Gutierrez, spokesperson for the LP-led Daang Matuwid coalition, in a statement on the rescheduling of the probe.

Gutierrez issued the statement a day after Sen. Grace Poe, who will lead the investigation, announced that the reopening of the probe will not push through on January 25, the first anniversary of the bloody clash that left over 60 people dead, 44 of them policemen.

Poe, one of Roxas’ rivals in the 2016 presidential race, had earlier said she will not grill Roxas if ever he is asked to attend the hearing to avoid speculations that the hearing is being used for political grandstanding related to the 2016 elections.

Roxas was head of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) when the clash between Special Action Force (SAF) commandos and Moro rebels occurred in a remote village in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

Gutierrez said they are “concerned” that the reopening of the investigation, which was requested by Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, will be used in politics, noting that Poe has refused to inhibit from the hearing.

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Passengers alight from Philippine National Railway train after it broke down Monday morning.

The train system is currently operating from Tutuban in Manila to Alabang in Muntinlupa while rehabilitation is underway for better transport service to Naga City, Camarines Sur, and eventually to Legazpi City, Albay.(MNS photo)

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Weekend Balita, Sat.-Fri., January 16 - 22, 2016

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SC asks parties in Poe DQ case to stop discussing the issue in public MANILA, Jan. 14 (Mabuhay) – The Supreme Court on Thursday advised the camp of Senator Grace Poe and those pushing for her disqualification to refrain from discussing the merits and substance of the case in public to avoid enflaming emotions.

“Pinagbawalan ‘yung mga parties na huwag naman comment nang comment sa mga bagay na magta-tackle ng merits ng kaso,” Poe’s lawyer, George Garcia, told reporters after the preliminary conference that lasted less than an hour.

“At the same time, this is a very legal and technical issue, hindi dapat gawing pulitikal,” he added.

Poe has filed two petitions with the SC challenging the rulings of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to cancel her certificate of candidacy

for president for allegedly failing to meet the citizenship and residency requirements set by the Constitution.

The high court has consolidated her petitions.

Garcia also said the SC ordered the supporters, either of Poe or the petitioners, to “refrain from doing anything inside the session hall during the oral argument that might enflame the already very heated arguments.”

The lawyer, however, clarified that it is not a gag order.

Oral arguments On Tuesday’s oral arguments, Garcia said their camp will be the first ones to speak, followed by the Comelec represented by Commissioners Arthur Lim and Rowena Guanzon, who will each have 10 minutes

to present their arguments.

The private respondents – lawyer Estrella Elamparo, former Senator Francisco Tatad, Antonio Contreras, and Dean Amado Valdez — will be given a total of 20 minutes to present their arguments.

Last to speak will be the Solicitor General, who was invited as “tribune of the people” and who also has 10 minutes to present his case.

Fast finish Garcia said the SC justices wanted to finish the proceedings immediately.

“More or less po matatapos agad ang oral arguments in a matter of minutes naman. More or less hindi magtatagal kasi nga the SC would like to at least terminate everything kaagad. Siguro one day lang ‘yung oral arguments,” he said.

He further said that they will not be bringing up the earlier rift between Comelec chairman Andres Bautista and Guanzon regarding the allegedly unauthorized submission of the poll body’s comment with the SC. He said this will only divert the issue.

“Hindi na tatalakayin ‘yun, pag nag-discuss pa ng ibang bagay maliban sa nakalagay sa preliminary conference notice, masyadong mada-divert ang issue,” Garcia said.

“As to whether unauthorized or authorized yung nai-file dati, hindi na mahalaga ang importante mabilis na makapagdesisyon ang SC,” he added.

Case of a lifetime In a separate interview, Tatad said they would just present the facts they have already submitted before the Comelec.

“We have the best lawyers representing us. We’ll simply put forward what we have been saying at the Comelec based on the Constitution and the facts of the case. There should be no surprises,” he said.

Lawyer Manuelito Luna, Tatad’s counsel, said they are now preparing for their presentation “because this will be a case of a lifetime.”

“This is unprecedented and we can expect a highly intense interpellation by the justices, so we have to prepare very hard,” he said.

Asked if the five minutes given to them to present would be enough, Luna said it is as they will just focus on the crucial and salient points of their arguments.

“We can expect a longer interpellation by the justices, that is what we are more concerned about. We have to sit down and plan a strategy,” he said. (MNS)

Leni Robredo: Grace Poe should inhibit from Mamasapano probe MANILA, Jan 12 (Mabuhay) – Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo on Tuesday said that Senator Grace Poe should inhibit from the reopening of the Mamasapano probe.

“Sana [mag-inhibit] para hindi nagagamit ang politika sa trabaho,” Robredo said at the Pandesal Forum in Quezon City, when asked if she thinks the senator should inhibit from presiding over the hearing.

Poe is the chairwoman of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, which handles the Mamasapano probe.

“Dahil election time na, sana mas maging maingat na hindi nagagamit ang trabaho sa furtherance ng politika,” Robredo reiterated.

She any move that every candidate would make would be perceived as suspicious because they are running for elective posts in the upcoming elections.

“Palaging magiging suspicious ang aming ginagawa dahil ba sa gusto lang namin mapalawig ang popularity…sana umiwas na ang trabaho ay magagamit sa pulitika,” she said.

Poe is running for president and

her running mate is Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero while Robredo is the running mate of Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas.

Poe’s spokesperson, Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian, said in a press statement on Monday that the senator will not inhibit from the probe.

“Sen. Poe has shown her impartiality in the past Mamasapano hearings and she will continue to do so in the upcoming hearings,” Gatchalian said.

Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, who moved for the reopening of the investigation, said on Monday night that does not want Poe to inhibit from the hearings.

“Hindi ko kailangan inhibit si Poe. I need a fair and impartial chairwoman in this investigation,” Enrile said.

The hearing is set on January 25, the first anniversary of the Mamasapano encounter in Maguindanao province.

Forty-four elite officers of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force died and 12 others were wounded in the incident.

MANILA, Jan 12 (Mabuhay) – Administration vice presidential bet and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo on Tuesday said the Aquino administration should have been more bullish in addressing the transportation problem in the country.

“While this government has done so much as much as infrastructure is concerned, dahil nagla-lag behind tayo sa infrastructure sa transportation, I think we should be more bullish,” Robredo said at Pandesal Forum in Quezon City.

She believed that being very careful in the conduct of business caused the delay in the implementation of projects.

“Naiintindihan din natin dahil sa dami ng controversies na naghang sa mga kontrata ng gobyerno in the past, palagay natin isa ‘yun sa dahilan na nakaka-delay,” she said, referring to the Arroyo administration which has been accused of corruption.

“Masyadong careful ‘yung gobyerno in the sense na ayaw mapagdudahan na merong hindi magandang nangyayari. Ayaw mapagdudahan na ganito, na ganyan,” she added.

The lawmaker further said problems regarding the Metro Rail Transit and traffic should not solely be blamed on Transportation Secretary Joseph Abaya.

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7

Business owner seeks Chapter 7 relief from employee lawsuit for backpay of $100K Oh, the woes of owning and running a business come in all shapes and sizes! Even when a business is profitable, something can go wrong that wipes it out. This is particularly true with small businesses when an unexpected lawsuit literally kills the business. Client has operated a successful small business for 5 years.

He turns a profit of $50K a year, just enough to pay for his home mortgage all household expenses for his young and growing family.

About five years ago, client hires an employee to help him run the business for a salary of $1,500 a month.

That’s all the small-scale business can afford to pay the employee who was enthusiastic to accept the job.

Employee had been out of work for three years and drastically needed income. Client informed employee that $1,500 was the most he could afford to pay him, and that because this was a small business, the two of them would have to do everything to make sure everything was running smoothly. In other words, this was not a regular nine to five job.

Deliveries would be made after five, and if there were a lot of orders, he would have to come in earlier and leave later to ship out the orders in time. Employee said that there was no problem, that he was willing to work hard, and would consider the salary heaven sent.

After working for three years at $1,500 a month, he starts to complain to client that he’s not getting

paid enough because of all the overtime work that he has put in.

Client reminds him that he already informed him at the very beginning that the business could not afford to pay more than $1,500 a month, and that employee willingly accepted the terms of the offer of employment that it would have a lot of overtime work that would not be paid, and that he accepted those terms. Nevertheless, employee filed a complaint with the labor department asking for back pay for unpaid overtime for 3 years.

The labor department computed that unpaid overtime work to be $2,500 monthly for 3 years. With interest and penalties, the labor department award came out to be $100K for 3 years of back pay! What a turn of events. Client helps this man by giving him employment, and then he comes around and sues him for $100K. Employers beware. You may be hiring a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

In any event, client does not have $100K. Client decides to have a fresh start in life with a Chapter 7 bankruptcy to wipe out the labor department award of $100K for back pay.

In another case, client sold a parcel of land to a developer couple of

Goldman in $5.1-B deal to settle mortgage bond fraud claims New York, United States | AFP | Thursday 1/14/2016 – Goldman Sachs said Thursday that it had reached a tentative $5.1 billion deal with US and state authorities to settle allegations related to fraudulent marketing of mortgage bonds before the financial crisis.

The Wall Street investment bank said that it would pay a civil penalty of $2.4 billion to settle with the authorities, as well as payments of $875 million and $1.8 billion in consumer relief. Goldman said the “in principle� agreement is with the Department of Justice’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force which has been investigating fraud by banks in marketing residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS), the financial assets that were at the heart of the 2007-2008 meltdown of the US financial sector. The settlement related to Goldman’s securitization, underwriting and sale of RMBS from 2005 to 2007, it said.

Goldman said the agreement will resolve civil claims on the issue with the Justice Department, the National Credit Union Administration – which represents some financial institutions that failed after their RMBS

investments soured – and Federal Home Loan Banks in Chicago and Seattle. Also in the settlement are the state attorneys general of Illinois and New York. “We are pleased to have reached an agreement in principle to resolve these matters,� said Goldman chairman and chief executive Lloyd Blankfein in a statement.

Goldman said the settlement will reduce after-tax earnings for the fourth quarter of 2015 by about $1.5 billion. The Justice Department declined to comment on the deal. A spokesman for the National Credit Union Administration would only confirm they are involved in the agreement, but offered no details.

Goldman is just the latest in a series of major banks fined billions of dollars for selling RMBS and other housing market-linked securities as safe investments when the underlying assets were low quality and highly risky.

Investors in them, including a number of banks and credit unions, suffered heavy losses, with many forced to close, when the value of the securities plummeted with the collapse of the housing market.

Zamboanga City under state of calamity due to El Niùo MANILA, Jan 13 (Mabuhay) – Zamboanga City has been placed under a state of calamity due to the effects of El Niùo.

The city council made the declaration after a meeting on Tuesday, based on the recommendation of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC).

The declaration would allow the city government to release its ca-

lamity fund to mitigate the effects of El NiĂąo.

CDRRMC chief Elmier Apolinario said that the El Niùo phenomenon’s estimated damage to agriculture in the city was already at P10.8 million.

Apolinario said that the El NiĂąo has affected 587 hectares of farmland in the city. The city council also declared a state of calamity in April 2015 due to dry spell. (MNS)

years ago for $2.0M in installment payments. Developer ran into some problems with city zoning. Developer’s intent was to develop the land into commercial property, a strip mall. Unfortunately, the property was re-zoned into a residence putting a monkey wrench into developer’s business plan. Client decides to foreclose on the property. On the eve of the foreclosure sale date, developer files for Chapter 11 reorganization.

Under Chapter 11, debtor can stop payments to client for 3 months, but must start paying client interest or monthly mortgage payments after 90 days. Otherwise, client can ask the court for relief from the bankruptcy stay and proceed with foreclosure.

Client entered into an adequate protection agreement to restart monthly payments at $10K monthly immediately. Further the court found that the value of the property had been reduced to $1.1M because of the rezoning. However, developer has not been able to present a viable chapter 11 plan to the court for 2 years. Why not? The reason nothing really is going on. Developer is basically stuck, dead in the water, except for new money being infused by new investors, if any, it’s future looks really bleak.

However, recently, developer has asked the court to find that the current value of the property is now $400K, and proposed a plan that crams down the secured portion to $400K, and the $1.6M unpaid balance as unsecured. In other words, developer wants client’s property for free! Client now needs to get his property out of developer’s bankruptcy and proceed with foreclosure. “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.� JOHN 3:16 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 five thousand successful bankruptcy cases in California. He speaks Tagalog and looks forward to discussing your case with you personally.

Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S Fremont Ave, MAILSTOP 58, BUILDING A-1 SUITE 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803 OR at 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789.

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LOS ANGELES

Weekend Balita, Sat.-Fri., January 16 - 22, 2016

IS suicide attackers hit Indonesian capital

By Nick Perry / Dessy Sagita

J a k a r t a , I n d o n e sia | AFP | Thursday 1/14/2016 – Islamic State suicide bombers and gunmen struck the capital of Muslim-majority Indonesia Thursday, in an assault that left at least seven dead, which police said bore the hallmarks of the Paris attacks.

The assault on a district packed with malls, embassies and United Nations offices left the five attackers, a Canadian and an Indonesian man dead and 20 others injured, in what the country’s president called “acts of terror”. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility, saying the attack was carried out by “soldiers of the caliphate” who targeted a gathering of citizens from the “crusader

coalition,” referring to the US-led alliance combating the jihadists.

Jakarta police said the attack – which also destroyed a police post – was carried out by a network with links to IS in Syria and indicated Indonesian extremist Bahrum Naim, thought to have joined the jihadists, may have been involved in plotting it.

The IS attack will send a chill through Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia with Muslim populations, where there are fears extremists bloodied on Middle Eastern battlefields could have brought their jihad home. Police said the five-strong cell that struck Thursday included three suicide bombers who initially targeted a Starbucks near a major shopping mall.

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TERROR THREAT From page 1

However, he said the police and military forces continued to monitor the “usual threats from local terrorist groups, such as the BIFF and ASG.” The Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), blamed for many of the Catholic nation’s deadliest bombings, as well as the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom

Fighters (BIFF) Muslim guerrillas, have pledged allegiance to Islamic State fighters.

The military has said both groups had in the past sheltered foreign militants fleeing prosecution for the 2002 Bali bombings in Indonesia.

PENSION HIKE From page 1

“Ang pangunahing layunin ng pamahalaan ay tiyakin ang katatagan ng pondo ng SSS para tugunan ang pangmatagalang pangangailangan ng lahat ng 31 milyong miyembro nito [The government ensures enough funds in the long run for SSS and all its 31 million members],” said Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. in a Palace press briefing.

Citing Pres. Aquino, Coloma said the SSS pension increase will seriously comprise the stability of the entire SSS benefit system in favor of two million pensioners and their dependents.

He said the pension increase, with a corresponding adjustment of the minimum monthly pension, will result in substantial negative income for the SSS. The Palace official added that SSS will be constrained to use its Investment Reserve Fund (IRF) to meet a deficit in total payment for pensioners of P16 billion to P26 billion annually.

With 2.1 million pensioners, the

proposed pension increase of P2,000 per retiree will result in a total payout of P56 billion annually, much higher compared to SSS’s annual investment income of P30 billion to P40 billion.

“Yung sobrang laki nung epekto nito na hinihigitan pa ‘yung kontribusyon at ‘yung investment income at dahil dito ay iikli ang buhay ng pondo, na sa halip hanggang 2042 ay hanggang 2029 lamang [It would have a huge effect... the funds would last only until 2029 instead of 2042],” explained Coloma.

“Hindi magiging responsable ang pamahalaan kung hahayaang mapariwara o masira ang katatagan ng pondo. Ito na ang magiging sukdulan ng kawalan ng malasakit sa ating mga Boss, ang mamamayang Pilipino, kung hahayaan nating mangyari ito [It would be irresponsible on the part of government if we let SSS lose funds],” he added.

Nonetheless, Coloma assured that the SSS management is studying other benefits it could provide to its members while ensuring the stability of its fund.(MNS)

NO CHINA From page 1

US Ambassador Philip Goldberg for stronger Philippine-US bilateral relations, former Japanese Ambassador Toshinao Urabe and current Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa for elevating Philippine-Japan to a strategic partnership; and envoys from Australia, Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia.

He also mentioned countries supporting the peace process such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Japan, Norway, the European Union, Libya, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

Aquino explained he has a lot more to thank but cited time constraints.

“There are so many more I wish to thank, but I am afraid that if I were to name all of you one by one, the length of this toast could rival or even exceed my last State of the Nation Address,” Aquino said.

Last week, the President urged Southeast Asian neighbors to put pressure on China to agree on a binding code of conduct to ease tension in West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) following Chinese test flights to

an island it has built.

China claims almost the whole of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion of world trade passes every year, and has been increasingly assertive in staking its claim. Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and the Philippines have rival claims to parts of the sea, which is believed to have rich deposits of oil and gas.

Aquino said the Philippines had done everything it could to push forward discussions on the code - a set of rules setting out how claimant states should behave, and imposing sanctions on countries that violate it, aimed at preventing provocative action, the raising of tension and conflict.

The Philippines has filed a protest against China’s test flights on Fiery Cross in the disputed Spratly archipelago.

Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Charles Jose said the test flights were “provocative actions” that will restrict the freedom of navigation and overflights in the South China Sea. (MNS)

MULTIPLE From page 1

well as Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan—have conflicting claims to the South China Sea which is a major shipping lane, rich fishing ground and potential source of mineral resources.

The Philippines has been seeking closer defence ties with the United States, accusing China of increased aggressiveness in the South China Sea.

In April 2012, after a tense standoff with Philippine ships, Chinese vessels took control of a shoal just 220 kilometres (135 miles) off the main Philippine island of Luzon.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino negotiated the EDCA to help the Philippines improve its military capabilities and draw the United States closer, partly to counter China’s increasing presence.

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Weekend Balita, Sat.-Fri., January 16 - 22, 2016

9

A tale of two of Orange County’s member-driven nonprofits Orange County is the third most populous county in California with its more than three million people.

It is the sixth most populous in the United States and the second most densely populated in the U.S., second only to San Francisco. Of the 34 cities comprising the county, four largest cities- Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine, and Huntington Beach, have populations exceeding 200,000.

Of the 34 incorporated cities Anaheim was the first to be incorporated in 1870.

Orange County is home of attractions to world-class tourist magnets like Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, and several beaches along its more than 40 miles coastline.

Orange County was at one time in U.S. history “the largest county to have declared bankruptcy in 1994” but has since recovered from the unfavorable image.

Orange County is one of the most diverse in terms population with over 50 ethnicities represented in its diversified demographic and serves as a microcosm of California’s increasingly diversifying make up.

Asians make up 3 percent of the total population. Of the total Asian population, the Vietnamese at 6.1 percent, Koreans (2.9%), Chinese (2.7%), Filipinos (2.4%) Indians (1.4%), Japanese (1.1%), Cambodians (0.2%), Pakistanis (0.2%), Thais (0.1%), Indonesians (0.1%) and Laotians (0.1%).

Orange County has also the largest proportion of Asian Americans in Southern California where one in five residents are Asian American.

Orange County is also home to two of the most active nonprofit organizations which serve the needs of its members in the lucrative and thriving business community- the Asian Business Association of Orange County (ABAOC) and the Filipino American Chamber of Orange County (FACCOC).

ABAOC was founded in 1992 “to meet the needs of the growing Asian businesses in Orange County” and envisions “to build an organization that would provide all Asian Americans the opportunity to gain access to economic advancement through networking, education and community representation”

For the last 24 years, ABAOC has been able to organize major events, networking mixers, procurement events and outreach programs with support coming from its members and other sectors.

ABAOC is one of the most diversified organizations in the county with its membership culled from various cultural and ethnic communities which enabled it to successfully implement projects that include Small Business Development Day, Business Matchmaking Workshops, Business Universities, Procurement Conference and Export Opportunities, Awards and Recognition Galas and monthly mixers.

FACCOC on the other hand, was organized in 1994, a crucial era in Orange County when the need arose for an organization to represent and highlight the Filipino entrepreneurs’ presence in the county. The birth came at a time when Orange County was experiencing the exodus of many Filipinos from the neighboring Los Angeles County who were increasingly wary of its congestion and were attracted to Orange County’s wide and healthy spaces.

FACCOC has provided the venue for Fil-Am entrepreneurs and professionals to network and establish camaraderie with people of similar inclinations.

The collaborative nature of FACCOC has enabled it to implement far-reaching programs for its members and the communities which it serves and has been successful in eliciting support from its pool of volunteers, the political community, and other organizations.

Both ABAOC and FACCOC concluded 2015 with impacts their implemented projects that will permeate 2016 and with both organizations’ memberships endowed with strong spirit of volunteerism a definite feature for the next level of community involvement.

ABAOC Connects: A panel of experts shares their experiences with the members of the Asian Business Association of Orange County at one of the events sponsored by the organization in Orange County. ABAOC President Tom Nguyen is at the podium moderating the exchange.

FACCOC Courtesy Call: Officers of the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Orange pays a courtesy to Consul General Leo M. Herrera-Lim in this file photo to apprise the Consul General of the Chamber’s projects for Fil-Am entrepreneurs and professional in Orange County.

Tom Nguyen serving serving his second term as President of ABAOC-

,while Edwin Baloloy is this year’s FACCOC president.

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Weekend Balita, Sat.-Fri., January 16 - 22, 2016

Balita

Leonardo Di Caprio captivates his audience in his latest performance!

As an award-winning actor and a three-time Academy Award nominee, this author believes that this time, Leonardo Di Caprio will finally receive the best actor award for his captivating performance in “Revenant.” Di Caprio portrayed Hugh Glass, the long-bearded fur trapper left for dead in the snow-filled wilderness by his own hunting team, after being mauled by a humongous bear who ripped his throat apart and amost killed him.

“Revenant,” is a French word which means “a person that returns supposedly after death or a long absence;” root word, “revenir” or “to return.” Di Caprio thoroughly immersed himself portraying Glass’ fight for survival through snow-covered forests, being swept away in freezing waterfalls, grossly sleeps inside the carcass of a disemboweld horse and eats raw bison liver before finding his way back to their camp.

In a recent TV interview, he said that “when one is challenged out in the wilderness, that person learns to adapt to its environment and trust their instincts in order to survive.”

Leonardo Wilhelm Di Caprio was born in Hollywood on December 11, 1974, the only child of Irmelin Indenbirken who had German/Russian ancestry and George Di Caprio, of Italian and German ancestry, who later on lived in our neighborhood in Ventura County. He grew up in what he called the “ghettos of Hollywood” around the Western and Sunset. areas.” He went to school at John Marshall High School and his first film role was in 1993 in the screen adaptation of Tobias Wolf’s autobiographical drama “This Boy’s Life.” That same year, he co-starred

in Lasse Hallstrom’s “ What’s Eating Gilbert Grape,” where he earned his first Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for his perfomrance as a mentally-handicapped young man. For this portrayal, he won the National Board of Review Award as a Best Supporting Actor and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association’s New Generations Award.

Two years after in 1995, Di Caprio starred in three different films: Sam Raimi’s western film called “The Quick and the Dead,” “The Basketball Diaries,” where he portrayed Jim Carroll, a drug addict and Agnieska Holland’s “ Total Eclipse,” where he portrayed Arthur Rimbaud, as a disturbed, pansexual poet. The following year, he starred in Baz Luhrmann’s screen adaptation of Shakespear’s “Romeo and Juliet,” for which he won the Best Actor Award at the Berlin International Film Festival.

In 1997 Di Caprio along with Kate Winslet portayed the lovers in the multi-awarded James Cameron film “Titanic”. He also joined an all-star ensemble cast in “Marvin’s Room,” sharing a SAG Awards nomination for Ourtstanding Motion Picture Cast Performance. He was also nominated as a member of the ensemble cast of “The Departed.” and in 2004, he earned an Academy Award nomination for his performance in Martin Scorsese’s “The Aviator,” where he portrayed Howard Hughes, which

Award-winning actor Leonardo Di Caprio

also earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Drama as well as Critic’s Choice and BAFTA Award nominations. Additionally, Di Caprio was honored with two Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award nominations, one for Best Actor and another for Outstanding Motion Picture Cast Performance as part of “The Aviator” cast, which was produced by his production company called Appian Way. In 2007, Di Caprio earned an Oscar nomination for his performance in Edward Zwick’s drama “Blood Diamond,” again receiving a Golden Globe’s Critic’s Choice and SAG Award nominations for the same film.

That same year, he garnered Golden Globe, BAFTA Award, Critic’s Choice Award and SAG Award nominations for his role in the Oscar-winning Best Picture film, “The Departed,” directed by Martin Scorsese, where he shared SAG Award nominations for Outstanding Cast Performance as a member of the ensemble cast of the same film.

As head of his own Appian Way

Production company, Di Caprio has written, produced and narrated the “acclaimed environmentally-themed” documentary called “ The 11th Hour.” Other productions they have done were: “Shutter Island,” “The Ides of March,” “Red Riding Hood,” ‘Orphan,” “Public Enemies,” “The Aviator, and the soon-to-be- released film “Out of the Furnace,” starring Christian Bale and Woody Harrelson.

Finally, as an environmentalist, he has founded the Leonardo Di Caprio Foundation, whose mission is “to dedicate the long term health and well being of all earth’s inhabitants.

Through collaborative partnerships, they support universal projects that protect wildlife extinctions while maintaining a balance to protect ecosystems and conservation.”

For his relentless passion for excellence in his craft, there is no doubt that hopefully, this time, Leonardi Di Caprio will finally receive his most coveted Oscar Award as Best Actor for his powerful portrayal of Hugh Glass in “Revenant.”

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Weekend Balita, Sat.-Fri., January 16 - 22, 2016

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

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Children who eat fruit and veg are no less likely to eat junk food Tuesday January 12 2016 (Relaxnews) – A new study from American researchers challenges the idea that good food choices in a child’s diet, such as fruit, vegetables and milk, automatically replace poorer choices such as junk food.

Researchers at Ohio State University found that children who regularly ate fruit, vegetables and dairy products several times a day were no less likely to eat foods high in sugar, salt and fat than kids eating healthy foods less frequently.

The researchers asked parents of

357 children aged between two and five (around 60% were black and from underprivileged neighborhoods) how often their children ate certain foods in the past week.

The list of foods was then split into a category of healthy choices – such as fruit, vegetables and milk – and a category of junk food items, such as sweetened drinks, fast food, sweets and salty snacks.

The results, published in the Maternal and Child Health Journal, came as a surprise to the team.

The study showed that feeding a

good-quality diet to children did not automatically make them less likely to consume unhealthy, nutrient-poor foods.

Only a third of the children did not drink sugary drinks such as soda, and 29% had not eaten fast food.

Around 50% of children ate at least two pieces of fruit per day.

According to the researchers, the discovery that “good” food does not automatically replace “bad” food in children’s diets, suggests that solutions for tackling childhood obesity and ideas surrounding children’s

diets could need rethinking.

The study’s co-author Phyllis Pirie, professor of health behavior and health promotion at Ohio State University, clarified that parents and policy makers should continue encouraging children to eat more nutritious food.

However, she also said that the study “suggests that we have to have two conversations,” as combating childhood obesity often focuses on teaching children about adding “good” foods to their diets rather than avoiding “bad” foods.

Mid-life crisis is just a myth according to new study Wednesday January 13 2016 (Relaxnews) – New research released this week challenges the long-held belief that our happiness levels hit a low point in middle age, causing us to embark on a spending spree of sports cars as part of the ‘mid-life crisis.’

According to the results of a 25-year study by the University of Alberta, Canada, an increase in our level of happiness starts in our teens and early twenties, but doesn’t necessarily fall as we grow older and reach mid-life.

To research more about happiness levels as we age, and to observe the ups and downs of happiness at different ages and life stages in the same individual, the team of researchers followed two groups of participants for up to 25 years.

A group of high school seniors were followed from age 18 through to 43, and a group of university seniors were followed from age 23 to 37.

At different stages during the study the participants were asked questions such as ‘How happy are you with your life right now?’ The researchers did not ask for examples of happiness; participants simply answered using a rating scaled from ‘not very happy’ to “very happy.” The researchers also did not give any definitions of happiness to the participants.

The results showed that after leaving high school and university, happiness levels increased right through to the 30s in both samples, showing that happiness is not only

for the young. And only a slight decrease in happiness was seen by age 43 and only in the ‘high school’ sample, going against the myth of the mid-life crisis.

However there are other factors that can influence happiness levels such as marital status, unemployment, and physical health, and levels of happiness can differ in different individuals based on these factors.

“If I’m divorced and unemployed, and I have poor health at age 43, I’m not going to be happier than I was at age 18,” commented Nancy Galambos, one of the study’s authors, “It’s important to recognize the diversity of experiences as people move across life.”

The team believe that the results are important as happiness is key to our well-being, with happier people known to be healthier and live longer. The Canadian government is even collecting information about happiness as part of Statistics Canada’s General Social Survey questionnaire.

“It’s seems trite – ‘just be happy’ – but behind that are the policies shaping society,” says Harvey Krahn, another of the study’s co-authors, “The policy implications of the study are about changing the conditions that cause grief, like being unemployed, like losing your home, inequality, being a refugee, crime, addictions – these things will make you less happy, age notwithstanding.”

The study was published in the journal Developmental Psychology.

According to new research happiness doesn’t drop as we reach middle-age. ©racorn/ shutterstock.com

New research suggests that giving birth to more children can slow down biological aging. ©wavebreakmedia/shutterstock.com

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Weekend Balita, Sat.-Fri., January 16 - 22, 2016

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Putative spouse status as a defense to a petition for nullity of marriage All property, real or personal, wherever situated, acquired by a married person during the marriage while domiciled in California is community property. Family Code 760. However, there are situations in which the marriage may be held to be null and void. These situations include, but are not limited to entering into a bigamous marriage, fraud and misrepresentation in entering into a marriage, etc. The legal consequences of having your marriage annulled by your spouse is that it results to you not having any community property interest on property acquired by your spouse during the marriage. A nullity may also cut off your claim for spousal support.

What options do you have if your spouse files a nullity against you?

You may still have a claim to com-

munity property and support as a putative spouse. A party to a void or voidable marriage has “putative spouse� status only if he or she believed in good faith the marriage was valid. Family.Code. § 225; Marriage of Guo & Sun (2010) 186 CA4th 1491, 1493, 112 CR3d 906, 908; Marriage of Vryonis (1988) 202 CA3d 712, 721, 248 CR 807, 813. A party who has the requisite objectively reasonable “good faith� belief may be a putative spouse where any legal infirmity in formation of the marriage renders

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ital property divided pursuant to § 2251 is also liable for the parties’ debts to the same extent as if it had been community or quasi-community property. Family.Code. § 2252.

In addition, “temporary� and “permanent� spousal support may also be awarded in a nullity proceeding in favor of a putative spouse “in the same manner as if the marriage had not been void or voidable� Family Code Section 2254. The court may also award attorney’s fees pursuant to family code section 2030 in favor of a party found to be “innocent of fraud or wrongdoing in inducing or entering into the marriage, and free from knowledge of the then existence of any prior marriage or other impediment to the contracting of the marriage for which a judgment of nullity is sought.� Family Code Section 2255.

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-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific 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 Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APLC. This article is not a solicitation.

Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist.

He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association.

He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APLC. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com.

New law increases H-1B and L-1 petition Fees

Approvals are what we get from Immigration Services for our clients WE SPEAK TAGALOG MANDARIN, CANTONESE & FUKIENESE

the marriage invalid. Domestic Partnership of Ellis & Arriaga (2008) 162 CA4th 1000, 1005, 76 CR3d 401, 404; Estate of DePasse (2002) 97 CA4th 92, 107, 118 CR2d 143, 155; see Marriage of Vryonis, supra, 202 CA3d at 718–719, 248 CR at 811–812.

A party’s “good faith� belief in the validity of the marriage is not tested by whether he or she believed a “marriage� lawfully occurred under some private, secular or spiritual set of standards. A putative spouse must have had a good faith belief in the existence of a lawful California marriage. Estate of DePasse (2002) 97 CA4th 92, 107–108, 118 CR2d 143, 156; Welch v. State of Calif. (2000) 83 CA4th 1374, 1378–1379, 100 CR2d 430, 432–433; Marriage of Vryonis (1988) 202 CA3d 712, 723, 248 CR 807, 814–815 “Good faith� belief is tested by an objective standard based on facts that would cause a reasonable person under the circumstances to harbor a good faith belief in the existence of a valid California marriage. Domestic Partnership of Ellis & Arriaga, supra, 162 CA4th at 1005, 76 CR3d at 404; Marriage of Guo & Sun (2010) 186 CA4th 1491, 1497, 112 CR3d 906, 911; Marriage of Ramirez & Llamas (2008) 165 CA4th 751, 756, 81 CR3d 180, 183. Whether a party had an objectively reasonable “good faith� belief is a question of fact to be determined in light of all the circumstances.

Successfully proving putative spouse status or putative marriage status in court gives rise to certain property, support and attorney fees/ costs rights, as well as certain other rights that ordinarily attach only between lawfully married persons.

Property that would have been community or quasi-community property had the marriage been valid is deemed “quasi-marital property� and, in a proceeding to terminate the invalid marriage, “shall� be divided between the parties as if it were community.

Family.Code. § 2251(a)(2); Marriage of Tejeda (2009) 179 CA4th 973, 983, 102 CR3d 361, 368; Quasi-mar-

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Office Hours: Monday - Friday • Saturday by Appointment

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (Public Law 114-113), signed into law by President Obama on December 18, 2015, increases fees for certain H-1B and L-1 petitioners.

These petitioners must submit an additional fee of $4,000 for certain H-1B petitions and $4,500 for certain L-1A and L-1B petitions postmarked on or after December 18, 2015.

The additional fees apply to petitioners who employ 50 or more employees in the United States, with more than 50 percent of those employees in H-1B or L (including L-1A and L-1B) nonimmigrant status. These petitioners must submit the additional fees with an H-1B or L-1 petition filed: Initially to grant status to a nonimmigrant described in subparagraph (H)(i)(b) or (L) of section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act; or To obtain authorization for a nonimmigrant in such status to change employers.

This fee is in addition to the base processing fee, Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee, American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of 1998 fee (when required), as well as the premium

processing fee, if applicable. Public Law 114-113 fees will remain effective through September 30, 2025.

USCIS is in the process of revising Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker and Form I-129S, Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition to reflect the provisions of Public Law 114-113. Petitioners should continue to complete Item Numbers 1.d. and 1.d.1 of Section 1 of the H-1B and H-1B1 Data Collection and Filing Fee Exemption Supplement (Page 19 of Form I-129) and Item Numbers 4.a. and 4.b. of the L Classification Supplement (Page 22 of Form I-129).

USCIS may begin rejecting petitions received on or after Feb. 11, 2016 that do not complete Item Numbers 1.d. and 1.d.1 ofSection 1 of the H-1B and H-1B1 Data Collection and Filing Fee Exemption Supplement and Item Numbers 4.a. and 4.b. of the L Classification Supplement, or include the additional Public Law 114-113 fee, if applicable.

During the 30 day period immediately following this web alert, USCIS may issue a Request for Evidence (RFE) to determine whether the additional fee applies to the petition.

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Weekend Balita, Sat.-Fri., January 16 - 22, 2016

Chiz urges gov’t to look into funding ‘blood money’ for OFWS on death row Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero wants the government to study the possibility of utilizing public funds to raise “blood money” for distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East in order to save them from death penalty. But before making such move, however, Escudero said the government should first determine its legality by seeking guidance from the Commission on Audit and the courts.

“Dapat suriing maige ng pamahalaan ang paggamit ng public funds sa pagbabayad ng blood money para mailigtas ang buhay ng ating mga kababayang nalalagay sa bingit ng kamatayan,” Escudero said.

Escudero made the suggestion in the wake of the execution of Filipino construction worker Joselito Zapanta in Saudi Arabia on Dec. 29 after government efforts to raise $1 million, or roughly P47 million, in blood money fell short.

The government was only able to raise P23 million for the 35-year-old Zapanta, who was convicted of robbery and murder of his Sudanese landlord in 2009.

It is the policy of the government to help raise funds for blood money from voluntary sources, but not to allocate funds from the national treasury for this purpose.

Escudero said this policy should be reviewed considering that there are still around 79 Filipinos on

death row around the world based on the record of the Department of Foreign Affairs, with some of them requiring blood money.

At the same time, Escudero said the government should go beyond raising blood money by making sure that every OFW facing criminal charges abroad is accorded legal assistance—from the time the crime was committed until the case is resolved.

He said it is the duty of the government, through its embassies and consulates, to make sure that the rights of a Filipino accused of any crime or wrongdoing abroad are protected at all times, whether he or she is guilty or not.

“Nagsisimula pa lang ‘yung kaso, kinasuhan pa lang o dinemanda pa lang, o hinuli pa lang ‘yung Pilipino, dapat ang ating embahada at konsulado ay nandoon na agad,” Escudero pointed out.

“Hindi ‘yung kapag na-convict na o napatawan na ng parusang kamatayan ay doon lamang po sila papasok at biglang tutulong,” he added.

Escudero, the frontrunner in the vice-presidential race, also said that he and his running mate Sen. Grace Poe plan to pass legislation that would prohibit Philippine embassies and consulates worldwide from “acting as tour guides” to visiting lawmakers and local officials.

Bankruptcy: Should you file Chapter 7 or Chapter 13?

If you’ve made the decision to file bankruptcy in order to get a fresh financial start, here are some things to consider in choosing between Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. Be aware, however, that your income and expenses have a lot to do with which chapter you will be able to file because the courts do consider your ability to pay when you’re applying for debt relief.

For starters, below are some of the basic things you need to know.

Under Chapter 7, you receive a fresh start by having most debts wiped out (“discharged”). This includes most unsecured debt except student loans, alimony, child support, most taxes and debts incurred by fraud. If you have non-exempt assets, you may possibly have to sell them in order to pay creditors.

However, most filers do not. For example, almost 100% of my clients keep everything and lose nothing at all by filing Chapter 7.

Under Chapter 13, you must still pay off all or some of your debts over a 3-5 year period. Priority debts must be paid in full while unsecured debts are paid either a percentage or in full, depending on how much you can afford.

The discharge of debt under Chapter 7 usually occurs within 5 months, as opposed to the 3-5 year repayment plan under Chapter 13. Chapter 7 stays on your credit report for 10 years while Chapter 13 stays on it for 7 years- both from the date of filing.

Most people are able to rebuild their credit, however, much sooner than 7-10 years from their bankruptcy case filing date by timely paying debts that are reported to the major credit bureaus.

There is no limit on the amount of

debt you may have if you are filing Chapter 7. However, Chapter 13 does have limits for both secured and unsecured debts.

The important thing to remember is that not because you want to file Chapter 7 necessarily means that you can do so. Not everyone is eligible.

If the court thinks that your income is sufficient to fund a Chapter 13 repayment plan, then your Chapter 7 petition will be denied. Under current law, you can only file a Chapter 7 once every 8 years so if you’ve had a recent bankruptcy and you find yourself in debt again, you may not have a choice but to file a Chapter 13. Your bankruptcy attorney can review all relevant dates and advise you what is possible and best for your situation.

If you need help in getting your finances back on track, call my office at 866-477-7772 to schedule a free confidential consultation. Since 1998, I have represented more than 5,000 clients in bankruptcy. Let me help you get out of debt once and for all. I have offices in Los Angeles, Pasadena, Cerritos and Valencia.

(None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific 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 Offices at TOLL FREE 1-866-477-7772).

13

PHL exports down 1.1% in November: PSA MANILA, Jan 12 (Mabuhay) – Philippine exports registered a slight drop in November 2015, the latest data on merchandise trade released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Tuesday showed.

The country’s shipments for the month reached $5.117 billion, down 1.1 percent down from $5.175 billion a year earlier.

Electronic products, the Philippines’ top export earner, accounted for 54.2 percent of the total shipments at $2.774 billion, up 9.3 percent from $2.539 billion in the same comparable period.

Of the top 10 commodities shipped in November, apparel and clothing accessories declined by 42.7 percent, chemicals were down 40.2 percent, woodcraft’s and furniture lost 9.5 percent, other manufactures fell by 6.0 percent, and metal components were off by 3.7 percent.

The latest figures brought the January to November merchandise exports to $53.988 billion, down 5.8 percent from $57.299 billion in the same comparable period in 2014.

Other commodities which recorded gains were ignition wiring set and other wiring sets used in vehicles, aircrafts, and ships (13.3 percent), coconut oil (17.9 percent), and electronic equipment and parts (19.7 percent).

The bulk or 90.4 percent of total export receipts went to manufactured goods at $4.627 billion, up 3.6 percent from the $4.465 billion.

Japan remained the top export destination of Philippine goods, accounting for 21.3 percent at $1.091 billion.

The USA bought $716.73 million, Hong Kong took in $557.71 million, China bought $502.74 million and Taiwan accounted for $386.50 million.

At $713.98 million, exports to ASEAN member countries comprised 14.0 percent of the total shipments, while the European Union bought 12.1 percent at $617.17 million.(MNS)

Guanzon to politicians: Do not interfere with Comelec MANILA, Jan 13 (Mabuhay) – Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon on Wednesday appealed to politicians not to interfere with the poll body in settling its issues and respect its standing as an independent body.

“I would like to reiterate my appeal that the politicians should not interfere with our independence,” Guanzon said in an interview.

“Please respect our independence under the Constitution.”

The Comelec en banc on Tuesday announced it was ratifying the comment Guanzon filed with the Supreme Court regarding the First Division ruling on three petitions calling for the cancellation of Sen. Grace Poe’s certificate of candidacy for president.

It also announced, through Commissioner Arthur Lim, that all issues within the collegial body “have been resolved.” All seven members of the en banc were present during the announcement, in an apparent show of force after a rift erupted between Guanzon and Chairman Andres Bautista regarding the comment.

“The Commission on Elections en banc has shown to everyone, especially the electorate that we are united in upholding the integrity of this Commission,” Guanzon said.

Earlier, Bautista issued a memo-

randum addressed to Guanzon and law department director Maria Norina Casingal asking why the comment was not shown to him and the other commissioners before it was submitted to the high court.

The supposedly internal memo leaked to the media, which prompted Guanzon to hit back at Bautista through social media, saying she was not his subordinate and that he had bias toward Poe. The chairman later said that according to the audio minutes of their Jan. 5 meeting, Guanzon was authorized only to draft the comment, which would still be subject to the approval of the en banc.

In light with this, Poe urged Bautista to launch an investigation on “personalities” within the Comelec who are allegedly trying to sabotage her chances of joining the 2016 presidential derby.

In a statement, Poe’s spokesman, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian, blasted Guanzon for her actions, accusing the poll official of “usurping the powers reserved for the en banc.”

He added that Guanzon “is undermining our electoral process and endangering our very democracy,” adding her actions strengthen Poe’s suspicion that there are people within the Comelec who are trying to derail her presidential bid.

14

Weekend Balita, Sat.-Fri., January 16 - 22, 2016

OPINION

6& GHFLVLRQ RQ ('&$ LQVXUHV $PHULFDQ WURRSV RQ 3+/ VRLO In declaring EDCA constitutional, the Supreme Court kowtowed to strong pressure for more massive, more permanent US presence in the Asia PaciÀc.

Despite clear provisions in the Philippine Constitution – Article 18, Section 25 – that any foreign military bases, troops, or facilities shall not be allowed in the Philippines except under a treaty duly concurred in by the Senate, the SC uses a roundabout argument to justify US military presence in the Philippines by mere presidential prerogative.

Ruling that EDCA is merely an implementing agreement hinged upon previous treaties missed the historical and legal opportunity to assert afresh Philippine sovereignty over Philippine territory.

The SC sidestepped the main argument: EDCA, so different from MDT or VFA, enables the US to set up military bases anew in the Philippines .

US troops who will enter the Philippines through VFA are now entitled to operate within and openly control pockets of our territory through EDCA. And as in the case of convicted felon US Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton, their welfare and interests will come before our own. When they Ă out Philippine laws, there is too little the Philippine government can do for their victims like Nicole, Jennifer Laude, and Juan dela Cruz.

It is indignantly disappointing, more so, that the SC pitted two branches of our government against each other when it passed over powers of the President against the Senate’s. Ultimately, the SC decision protects US interests in the Philippines, at the expense of our own.

Statements that Philippine defense and disaster response depends on EDCA have largely been exposed as devious ploys to force support not only for US military presence in the Philippines, but for US wars around the world.

The Public Interest Law Center, counsel for petitioner Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, et al, will Àle a motion for reconsideration of the decision.

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Drilon: No US military base will be built under EDCA MANILA, Jan 13 (Mabuhay) – Senate President Franklin Drilon on Wednesday reiterated that no American military base will be constructed in the country under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the United States, which was recently upheld by the Supreme Court. “Hindi po ‘yan mangyayari dito sa EDCA dahil kung magtatayo ng base militar, dapat may bagong treaty na dapat ratipikahin ng Senado,� Drilon said.

He mentioned the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), which has been in effect since 1999 and is the “controlling treaty� of the EDCA. “Matagal na ang Visiting Forces Agreement at wala namang naitayo na base militar dito,� Drilon stressed.

Leftist organizations have blasted the agreement, saying it will allow the return of military bases in the country. “The [Supreme Court] decision will pave the way for the construction of new US military facilities in different parts of the country,� said Renato Reyes of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, one of the petitioners against EDCA. “It likewise paves the way for the use by US troops of existing PH military facilities, rent free and tax free,� he added.

Bayan Muna party-list Representative Neri Colmenares, for his part, said the agreement was highly disadvantageous to the Filipino people as it “provides for rentfree, tax exemptions for US forces and their contractors, as well as the unlimited term of the EDCA which may go beyond 10 years.�

In upholding EDCA’s constitutionality, the high court sided with its proponents that it is an executive agreement and therefore does not need the ratiÀcation of the Senate, contrary to the claim of several senators.

In November, the Senate adopted a resolution, sponsored by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, stating that EDCA is invalid without the chamber’s concurrence. Fourteen senators voted in favor of the resolution.

Dispute with China In the interview, Drilon noted the importance of EDCA in the face of the country’s dispute with China over parts of the South China Sea. “Ito ay dokumento na magde-deĂ€ne ng ating security agreement lalo na po at mabigat ang hinaharap natin sa South China Sea,â€? he said, adding that the Philippines and the US have a common interest, which is freedom of navigation.

He believed the obligation of the two countries under the VFA will prevail if ever there will be an outbreak of violence as a result of the dispute. “Whatever is the obligation of US under the VFA, walang dinagdag, binawas sa EDCA,� Drilon said. “Ito ay implementation lamang ng ating obligasyon at ng obligasyon ng Amerika sa VFA.� For his part, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, who is in favor of EDCA, said the SC ruling validated his position and his vote against the Senate resolution. “Sabi ko more importantly, we can now take advantage of the security opportunities that this agreement has offered,� he said in a phone interview with reporters.

Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, in a radio interview, lauded the SC for its decision. “Ako papalakpakan ko ang Korte Suprema dito sa ginawa nila sapagkat wala tayong preparation to secure this country,� he said. “Wisely, the Supreme Court made a courageous decision in spite of the public reaction to sustain the EDCA in order to protect the Filipino people and this nation for possible enslavement for centuries by a giant power in Asia,� he added, referring to China..

Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, one of those who voted in favor of the Senate resolution, said he has yet to see the SC decision “but at the very least it puts to rest whatever uncertainty there may have been regarding EDCA’s status.�

Santiago, meanwhile, has yet to issue a comment as her ofÀce is still trying to get a full copy of the SC decision. (MNS)

%DQJVDPRUR ODZ FDQ VWRS JOREDO H[WUHPLVP 'HOHV VD\V MANILA, Jan 13 (Mabuhay) – The OfÀce of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) on Wednesday urged anew Congress to approve the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), saying the completion of the peace negotiations is crucial not only to the Philippines, but more so the global community.

In her message delivered by Undersecretary Luisito Montalbo at the Regional Consultative Meeting for Heads of Posts in Europe organized by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Secretary Teresita “Ging�

Deles said the Bangsamoro law will help curb the growing threat of religious extremism not only locally but even among international communities. “[T]he success of the Bangsamoro peace process can help us arrest the spread of extremism around the globe by showing clearly that an Islamic movement can address its grievances and pursue its interests through a legitimate mode of democratic political engagement while still remaining within the country’s territorial integrity and constitutional framework, and without losing their culture and identity,â€? said Deles. “[The completion of the peace negotiations] can show the global ummah that even Muslim minorities can thrive and contribute to development through the mutually-beneĂ€cial interaction of distinct cultures,â€? she added.

Deles said the international community

supportive of the peace process awaits for the passage of the BBL, which is seen as a solution to the armed struggle in Mindanao.

The BBL is the legal framework of the peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). It seeks to create a Bangsamoro political entity that would replace the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The peace adviser continues to be optimistic that the proposed BBL will be passed under President Benigno Aquino III’s term, which will end in June this year. “Delays are, understandably, of great concern for communities on the ground. With every passing day of delay, they grow more anxious. With each new unmet deadline, they ask – will this mean a return to war? With Ă€rm hope and unwavering courage, we say: no, not under our watch,â€? Deles said. “We cannot give up, because families cannot be torn by war yet again; because communities on the verge of recovery cannot revert to their broken state. We dare not and we will not give up, because hopes and lives and dreams hang in the balance,â€? she added.

Time is running out on lawmakers to have the BBL approved under the Aquino administration. Congress is set to resume its legislative session next week and will go on a long break starting February 6 for the campaign period.

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15

Aquino belittles Binay lead in latest SWS poll MANILA, Jan 15 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno Aquino III on Friday belittled the lead garnered

by Vice President Jejomar Binay in the latest survey of pollster Social Weather Stations (SWS) on the presidential hopefuls.

“It’s a snapshot right now. Wala pa tayo sa talagang kampanya... Baka may parte na walang naalalang negative sa kasalukuyan ‘yung mga natanong. Pero pag dating ng eleksyon, hindi na pwede iwasan ‘yun,” Aquino said in an interview with reporters on Thursday.

Binay, who is the presidential candidate of opposition United Nationalist Alliance, is facing graft and plunder charges over during his term as the mayor of Makati City.

The Jan. 8-10 SWS poll, involving 1,200 validated voters, showed the Vice President was picked by 31 percent of the respondents. The Àgure was 5 percent higher than what he got in the previous SWS survey last month.

Statistically tied after Binay were three other presidential candidates: Sen. Grace Poe at 24 percent (down by 2 percentage points from December), followed closely by Liberal Party’s Mar Roxas at 21 percent (down a percentage point) and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, still at 20 percent.

SWS assigned a ±3 points margin of error for national percentages and ±6 percent for Metro Manila, Balance of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Another presidential hopeful, Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, got 3 percent or a percentage point lower from December.

Binay emerged as the top choice for president based on the latest BusinessWorld-Social Weather Stations pre-election survey conducted early this month.

The results of the survey, conducted from Jan. 8 - 10 on 1,200 validated voters, showed that Binay got the nod of 31 percent of the total respondents.

The Àgure was Àve percent higher

compared to the one he obtained in the previous SWS survey on presidential candidates in December.

Statistically tied after Binay were three other presidential candidates: Sen. Grace Poe with 24 percent (down by two percentage points from December), followed closely by Liberal Party’s Mar Roxas with 21 percent (down a percentage point) and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte still with 20 percent.

Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, meanwhile, got three percent, which was a percentage point lower compared to the one she obtained in December.

The nationwide survey had a margin of error of ±3 points for national percentages and ±6% each for Metro Manila, Balance of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The SWS on its website said the survey used face-to-face interviews with 1,200 validated voters — 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Likewise, the SWS said “the area estimates were weighted by the 2015 Commission on Elections data on registered voters to obtain the national estimates.”

The SWS deÀned a validated voter as “a registered voter whose biometrics have been captured digitally (i.e., digital images of his/her photograph, Àngerprints, and signature have been recorded) by the VRM.” Per Comelec Resolution No. 9721, “only validated voters will be allowed to vote in the 2016 elections,” it added.

Among the national issues that took place at the time the survey was conducted were the word war between Comelec chair Andres Bautista and Commissioner Rowena Guanzon over the poll body’s comment to the Supreme Court regarding the disqualiÀcation cases of Poe, the announcement of the reopening of the Mamasapano probe and Malacanang’s decision to keep Transportation Secretary Joseph Abaya despite calls for his resignation.

3DODFH VKUXJV Rႇ 5R[DV¶ GHFOLQH LQ HOHFWLRQ SROO MANILA, Jan 15 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Friday shrugged off the results of the recent Social Weather Stations survey showing a decline in the ratings of administration presidential candidate Manuel “Mar” Roxas II. “Public opinion survey results continue to be in Áux as the start of the campaign period draws nearer,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in text

statement.

Coloma said Filipinos should instead look at the candidates’ stand on issues instead of survey results.

“It is best that voters give greater attention to knowing and understanding the candidates’ platforms of government to ensure that the country can build on the concrete gains that have been achieved and sustain our present high growth trajectory,” he said.

$TXLQR KRSHV QH[W SUHVLGHQW ZRXOG FRQWLQXH WKH &RQGLWLRQDO &DVK 7UDQVIHU SURJUDP MANILA, Jan 13 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno S. Aquino III on Wednesday expressed hope that his successor would continue government programs that assist the poor, such as the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program, to make the country’s economic growth more inclusive.

In a speech delivered during a conference on sustaining the gains of the CCT, held at the Asian Development Bank headquarters in Mandaluyong, President Aquino reported that the government has continued to develop ways to make the CCT program more sustainable, Àne-tuning its various components to ensure that it yields the maximum beneÀts.

“We have modiÀed the program to provide support to families that are not covered by the regular CCT, such as those in the streets, as well as indigenous peoples,” he said.

Another reform measure is the use of remittance and money transfer services to ensure the safe and timely delivery of grants to beneÀciaries in far and isolated areas, he added.

The Aquino administration has also increased the budget of the CCT program since its implementation, from P10 billion in 2010 to P62 billion in 2015. “This has allowed us to increase the beneÀciaries from some 786,000 poor households when we assumed ofÀce, to close to 4.4 million poor households and homeless families empowered by the program nationwide, in Àve years,” he said.

The President further said that for

2016, the government has increased the budget allocation to P62.7 billion to cover 4.6 million households, including those who have graduated from extreme poverty and are now considered “near poor” or those who are at risk of sliding back to an impoverished state with just one catastrophic disease or a natural disaster.

Noting that CCT beneÀciaries will only be able to reap the full beneÀts of the government’s support long after his term, President Aquino emphasized that sustaining and reÀning the program will be left to the hands of his successor.

He lamented the possibility that the next president would opt to put a stop to the CCT, “leaving the fate of millions of our countrymen in limbo”.

If this were to happen, he said, the Philippines would deÀnitely lose its hard-earned momentum.

“I believe the Filipino people have seen that Daang Matuwid is a correct path, with proven results, towards ending the vicious cycle of poverty.

They have indeed seen that good governance is good economics,” the President said.

“It is my deepest hope that, coming into the elections, our people have realized that they can demand for more good governance, and I believe that they will choose the right leader—one who has integrity and experience, who will sustain our gains, and who will deÀnitely put country above self.”

He expressed faith that Filipinos will not allow all the work of his government to be undone.

The SWS survey, conducted January 8 to 10 among 1,200 registered voters, showed Vice President Jejomar Binay (with 31 percent of the votes) leading the race, followed

by Senator Grace Poe (with 24 percent).

While Binay enjoyed an increase in ratings, Poe and Roxas both suffered a slight decline.

Roxas placed third (with 21 percent), followed by Davao City Mayor

Rodrigo Duterte (with 20 percent).

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile said he had questions to ask Mar Roxas and other resource persons when the Senate probe on the Mamasapano incident reopens on Jan. 25.

“It doesn’t matter if he’s a candidate, I’m not going to deal with his candidacy. I’m going to ask about performance of duty while you’re in ofÀce,” Enrile said.

16

Weekend Balita, Sat.-Fri., January 16 - 22, 2016

ENTERTAINMENT

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Coco Martin to Kuya Germs: ‘Mahal po kita, Tay!’ Coco Martin, the star of “Ang Probinsyano,� was saddened to learn about the passing of industry icon German Moreno, more fondly known as “Kuya Germs.�

On his Instagram account, the 34-year-old Martin shared a photo of him with the beloved television host. The caption read: “Isa siya sa mga tao na nag tiwala sakin at nag bukas ng pinto sa mundo ng showbiz.� “Nung nag sisimula ako sa indie nung mga panahon na hindi pa ako kilala at wala sa aking pumapansin siya nag papasok sa akin sa ‘Master Showman’ para magkaroon ng pagkakataon na makapag-promote

ng mga pelikula ko at hinding-hindi ko yon makakalimutan.� “Nakakalungkot dahil wala na ang tao na tunay na nagmamahal sa industriya ng showbiz; ang taong pinaglalaban ang karapatan namin; ang taong nagbibigay break sa mga nagsisimula sa showbiz.� “Mahal na mahal po kita, Tay! Ilang beses ko po sinasabi ito sa tuwing nagkikita tayo hinding-hindi kita makakalimutan RIP Tay,� he concluded.

Moreno passed away last Friday due to cardiac arrest. He was 82.

As the news broke, many members of the Philippine showbiz industry expressed their condolences. (MNS)

Celebrity couple Aiza Seguerra and Liza DiĂąo have learned to ignore the “homophobicâ€? comments they have been getting on social media.

Earlier, the the couple revealed that they are planning to have children through in vitro fertilization (IVF). According to them, they are currently saving enough funds for the procedure, which will be done in the US. This plan, however, attracted homophobic attacks on social media.

Meanwhile, Seguerra’s partner took to Facebook to express her reaction. “Dati umiiyak ako, lalo pag below the belt na ang mga sinasabi – ‘yung tipong ipapa-rape nila kami o kaya titirahin nila ko para makatikim daw ako ng lalaki – but napansin ko today... hindi na ‘ko ganon kaapektado. Masakit pa rin ‘yung iba pero mas natatawa ako sa mga sinasabi nila,â€? DiĂąo wrote.

She added that she has “evolved and matured as a human being,� making her more open to the opinions of other people. “Natuto akong maging assertive kesa maging defensive pagdating sa mga ganitong usapin. But at the same time, mas lalo kong nakita ang

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kahalagahan ng ginawa namin para kilalanin ang karapatan ng mga LGBT dito sa Pilipinas,� she wrote. “2016 na. Walang mawawala sa’yo kung rerespetuhin mo ang karapatan ng bawat isa.�

She ended the note with the hashtags #lovewins #respect#outandproud.

The couple got married on December 8, 2014 in California. A month later, they held a “symbolic� exchange of vows in Batangas. (MNS)

Emotional Ara surprises Cristine An emotional Ara Mina took part in a surprise number for her sister Cristine Reyes recently.

Reyes is set to tie the knot with her ÀancÊ, Ali Khatibi, on January 27.

Mina said she couldn’t stop her tears because she rarely sees Reyes these days. “Kasi siyempre nakatira ako sa north, nakatira siya sa south so medyo bihira kami magkita. But siyempre, alam ko matagal na niya dream magkaroon ng family. Wish ko lang sa kanya, sana ilagay niyo sa center si God para lalo kayo magtagal and sana lagi kayong masaya,� she said.

Mina also reminded her sister to always be an understanding wife and to have an open communication with Khatibi all the time. “Dream naming lahat na magkakapatid na buo ‘yung family kapag nagkapamilya kasi alam naman ng

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mga tao na broken family kami. I am happy for her,� she said.

As for Mina’s message to Khatibi, she said: “Ingatan mo ang kapatid ko. Parang awa mo na.�

Aside from Mina, two of Reyes’ childhood friends also surprised her on “ASAP.� They all sang Edwin McCain’s “I Couldn’t Ask for More.�

(MNS)

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Heart Evangelista is really taking art and fashion to the next level.

It was in August when the actress and wife of Sen. Chiz Escudero started painting on her Hermes bags and totally aced it.

This time, she is on to a new “fashion x art� endeavor where she is collaborating with her close friend, designer Mark Bumgarner in “Mark Bumgarner X Love Marie.�

The collaboration will showcase embellished and hand-painted dresses and shoes that Evangelista and Bumgarner have been working on for months now.

In a recent presscon, the two let the members of the press have a glimpse of the unÀnished dresses that will be auctioned off in a fashion show at Dusit Thani Manila on January 18, which will be for the beneÀt of Thalassemia Association of the Philippines and Corridor of Hope.

Hear has been helping patients suffering from thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder, through her annual gift-giving project “I Heart Thalassemia Kids.�

Meanwhile, Heart was able to teach art for the Ă€rst time to cancer survivors, cancer patients and some members of St. Luke’s Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City through the cancer support group, Corridor of Hope. The art workshop was called “Heart of a Hero.â€?

The actress has Ànally found a way to merge her passion for art and fashion with her advocacy to help the sick. Indeed, her name suits her for having a big heart for those in need. (MNS)

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17

Limited edition ‘Year Of The Monkey’ collection The collection features exclusive Asian tea-inspired chocolates and kicks off the chocolatier’s 90th Anniversary New York (Jan. 11, 2016) – In celebration of Lunar New Year, legendary Belgian chocolatier GODIVA debuted the Year of the Monkey collection in North America. Building off of the success of its previous Lunar New Year collections, including last year’s sold-out gift boxes, GODIVA brings its Asian-American consumers another unique treat to celebrate an important cultural holiday. The launch of the Year of the Monkey collection also kicks off the GODIVA 90th year anniversary and serves as a sweet beginning to a milestone year for the company.

The GODIVA Year of the Monkey collection featuring pieces in the shape of a monkey is the perfect gift for family and friends for Lunar New Year and a perfect treat for yourself during this holiday. The new collection features ganache pieces delectably crafted with enticing and aromatic Chinese teas enrobed in white, milk and dark Belgium chocolate. The chocolates that are sold as a part of the Lunar New Year gift box include: Dark chocolate green tea – smooth ganache made of fresh green tea and white chocolate, covering a layer of crunchy Piedmont hazelnut pralinĂŠ, coated by a Ă€ne 50% dark chocolate Milk chocolate pu-erh tea – delectable macadamia pralinĂŠ with cocoa nibs surrounded by mellow, Peruvian dark chocolate infused with aged pu-erh tea, coated in smooth milk chocolate White chocolate oolong tea – a center of sumptuous pecan and hazelnut pralinĂŠ with crunchy soy nuts enveloped by 71% Ecuadorian dark chocolate infused with aromatic oolong tea, covered in silky white chocolate “As 2016 marks the 90th anniversary for GODIVA, it is important to us that we not only celebrate our own traditions and milestones but also those of our customers,â€? said Michelle Chin, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at GODIVA. “GODIVA is proud to continue our brand’s tradition of creating some of the most innovative and delicious chocolates, like this year’s Asian tea-infused pieces. We know that many Asian families gift sweets during the Lunar New Year to signify the beginning of a sweet new year, and we want to be a part of that tradition, with a fun, modern twist. Our Lunar New Year collection is one of our bestselling products year after year, and we don’t expect the Year of the Monkey collection to be any different.â€? The 20-piece Year of the Monkey collection is enclosed in a luxurious red gift box featuring a whimsical gold monkey. Customers who purchase the Year of the Monkey gift box will also receive a $10 reward card while supplies last toward a future GODIVA purchase so they can continue treating their loved ones or themselves after the holiday.

The GODIVA Year of the Monkey collection is available as a 20-piece luxury gift box for $50 at select GODIVA boutiques in the U.S. and Canada.

Year of the Monkey chocolate pieces will also be available for individual purchase in the chocolate case at select GODIVA boutiques. The Year of the Monkey collection will be in stores and online for a limited time until Feb. 8, or while supplies last.

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Visit http://www.godiva.com for more information and for store locations.

About GODIVA Chocolatier With a Belgian heritage dating back to 1926, GODIVA Chocolatier is the global leader in premium chocolate. Inspired by the values of Lady Godiva â&#x20AC;&#x201C; her passion, generosity, and pioneering spirit â&#x20AC;&#x201C; GODIVAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

legendary name has become a universal symbol of luxury, quality and the most delicious chocolate. The company has a presence in more than 80 countries with over 500 boutiques, in addition to a presence in Global Travel Retail, department and specialty stores, and online. GODIVA offers a range of chocolate creations and is

dedicated to innovation and excellence in the Belgian tradition. From its famous trufĂ es and shell-molded chocolate pieces to its European-style biscuits, individually wrapped chocolates, gourmet coffees, hot cocoa and other indulgences, GODIVA is committed to bringing the ultimate chocolate experience to the world.

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FOOD & DINING

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23

Cuisia talks South China Sea tension in DC

WASHINGTON, D.C. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. addressed issues surrounding the South China Sea and the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in a speech to the prestigious Foreign Policy Discussion Group (FPDG) of Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, arguing that an atmosphere characterized by tension and insecurity does not bode well for economic prosperity and integration.

The Ambassador outlined the Philippine position on the South China Sea. He expressed the view of the Philippines that Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 9-dash line claim is excessive, expansive and in gross violation of international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to which both the Philippines and China are signatories. He explained further that the Philippines turned to arbitration as a transparent, friendly, durable, and peaceful dispute settlement mechanism consistent with international law, including UNCLOS. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What is happening in the South China Sea, if not managed adeptly, could have a profound impact on world trade, Ă&#x20AC;sh supply, and international norms and values, speciĂ&#x20AC;cally the rule of law and a rules-based system,â&#x20AC;? Ambassador Cuisia told the FPDG. The Ambassador also stated that freedom of navigation in the critical sea lanes of the region must be preserved. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Philippines welcomes the freedom of navigation exercise (FONOPs) conducted by the USS

Lassen in October 2015 and look forward to sustained FONOPs,â&#x20AC;? he added.

Ambassador Cuisia concluded that as the Philippine economy continues to develop and improve its competitiveness, of which regional integration is an important building block, peace and stability in the South China Sea is vital.

On the AEC, Ambassador Cuisia described the opportunities presented by an integrated ASEAN market and the state of ASEAN economic integration as of the end of 2015. He also referred to the importance of the AEC 2025 vision.

The envoy also brieĂ y described the key results from the Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; hosting of the Asia PaciĂ&#x20AC;c Economic Cooperation in 2015, and how these are building blocks to achieving the Bogor Goals for free and open trade and investment in the Asia PaciĂ&#x20AC;c.

Ambassador Cuisia likewise reiterated the keen interest of the Philippines in joining the Trans PaciĂ&#x20AC;c Partnership. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Foreign Policy Discussion Group was honored to hear the views of Ambassador Jose Cuisia, Jr. at a dinner at the City Tavern Club on January 12. His comments on important South China Sea issues and on the ASEAN Economic Community were well-received by our members, including a wide range of former U.S. Government ofĂ&#x20AC;cials and international business executives,â&#x20AC;? said Mr. Thomas J. Reckford, President of the FPDG. The FPDG was created to promote

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greater knowledge and understanding of problems affecting foreign policy among its members.

It was established to offer a platform and a framework conducive to frank discussions of problems of foreign policy.

Members of the FPDG are primarily from the Washington area and include former and present government ofĂ&#x20AC;cials, lawyers, representatives of the business sector, bankers, and academicians who are knowledgeable in foreign affairs.

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many of whom say they are getting sick from the rotten-egg smell of the odorant put into the gas to help detect leaks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have been getting nausea and headaches,â&#x20AC;? said Linda Noel, 50, as she waited outside a center set up by the gas company to assist area residents. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everyone in the family has been to the doctor or to urgent care. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All I want is to get out of here and get some fresh air.â&#x20AC;?

Suna Najar, 46, said she has been getting rashes on her neck and face, and her 12-year-old daughter regularly has nose bleeds. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are four in the family and they are offering to relocate us to one hotel room,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You feel like this is totally out of your control and that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re at everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mercy.â&#x20AC;?

More than 10,000 residents have so far been relocated by the gas company and hundreds more have asked to be moved. Two local elementary schools have shut down, and the students are being shuttled to other districts.

Meanwhile some 1,000 people have joined a class-action suit against SoCalGas, many encouraged by wellknown environmental activist Erin Brockovich, who works for a legal Ă&#x20AC;rm and who has held several town meetings with residents.

Brockovichâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story of taking on corporate America was made into a movie in 2000 that earned Julia Roberts an Oscar.

The gas company and health ofĂ&#x20AC;cials say the gas leaking from the facility poses not health risk.

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Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Saturday 1/9/2016 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; For several weeks, Sam Mongeauâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s three-year-old daughter Bella has had a lingering cough, while other members of his family have experienced nose bleeds, headaches and fatigue.

Mongeau, 40, blames it all on a massive gas leak near his home in Porter Ranch, a sleepy middle-class community northwest of Los Angeles, where a state of emergency was declared by Californiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s governor earlier this week. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been getting sick,â&#x20AC;?

Mongeau, a sales manager at an area auto dealership, told AFP. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s almost like you wake up every day from anesthesia, feeling groggy, tired.â&#x20AC;?

The leak was detected on October 23 in an underground natural gas well at the Southern California Gas Companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (SoCalGas) Aliso Canyon siteâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;one of the largest gas facilities in the United States.

The well sits about 8,700 feet (2,651 meters) underground, and the leak is thought to come from a broken pipe about 500 feet below the surface.

Repeated efforts to stop the leak by pumping liquid and mud down the well have failed, and the gas company is now drilling a relief well to intercept and plug the damaged well.

The operation is expected to take until late February or March. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Get some fresh airâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; That timeline is not soon enough for the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 30,000 residents,

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US Supreme Court appears poised to rule against unions %\ 6pEDVWLHQ %ODQF

Washington, United States | AFP | Tuesday 1/12/2016 – The US Supreme Court appeared likely Monday to deal a major blow to public employee unions that could see them lose millions of dollars in fees that state laws force non-union members to pay.

Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Anthony Kennedy, who often holds the balance between the court’s progressive and conservative wings, both hinted they could side against the unions.

The nine justices are weighing a challenge brought by a group of California public school teachers who say they should not be forced to pay dues to the state union that negotiates their collective contract.

Under California law, non-unionized teachers at public schools cannot go it alone, the government having decided that negotiating with a single interlocutor is in the best interest of all.

The system, upheld in a 1977 Supreme Court decision, has been adopted by more than 20 US states and has been consistently reafÀrmed by the courts.

Union membership in the United States has dropped since the late 1950s, leaving public sector unions as one of the last bastions of the American labor movement.

Education, police and ÀreÀghters are the most highly unionized sectors, with a workforce that is about 35 percent unionized, compared to about 11 percent for the rest of the country, according to 2014 data.

Millions of workers affected Monday’s hearing comes against

the backdrop of a so-called “right to work” offensive led by conservatives in recent years.

Both Roberts and Kennedy were skeptical of the California Teachers Association’s claim that non-union members would be freeloading if they are no longer required to pay the union’s fees because they would benefit from collective bargaining for free.

Since most of the California teachers union’s members appear to support collective bargaining, “it seems to me the free-rider concern that’s been raised is really insigniÀcant,” said Roberts.

Kennedy said the unions are “making these teachers ‘compelled riders’ for issues on which they strongly disagree.”

Justice Antonin Scalia also expressed sympathy with the teachers’ argument that their free speech rights as guaranteed under the US Constitution are violated when they

are forced to pay union dues.

“The problem is that everything that is collectively bargained with the government is within the political sphere, almost by deÀnition,” he said.

The court’s progressive justices expressed a clear reluctance to overturn a system that has been shown to work over four decades.

“These contracts affect millions of employees, maybe as high as 10 million employees,” said Justice Elena Kagan.

She warned that throwing the state laws out would create a “heavy burden.” Labor unions and think tanks also raised alarm this week over the likely impact of overturning the state laws.

“The intended effect is to essentially bankrupt public sector unions, including many nurse unions that advocate for patient safety,” said Jean Ross, co-president of National Nurses United, the country’s largest

nurses’ union.

Ross said it would allow public employees to gain the advantage of union membership, including wage increases, health coverage and retirement beneÀts, “while avoiding any Ànancial responsibility to help support the work done by their union on their behalf.”

Michele Jawando, of the Center for American Progress, said striking down the laws would make it harder for workers to organize.

“While some may see this attack as only impacting unions, the reality is this is a direct strike at the middle class,” she said.

“If the court sides with right to work conservative advocates, employers will have an increasingly upper hand in negotiations.”

Outside the court, several dozen protesters gathered before the start of the hearing in support of the union position and denouncing “corporate greed.”

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25

:LOO EH D EX\HUÂśV PDUNHW GXH WR IDOOLQJ VWRFN SULFHV" Sales of single-family homes should rise modestly again in 2016 and median sales prices should be up 3% to 5%, trade groups and researchers say. While rising mortgage rates and a shortage of Ă&#x20AC;rst-time buyers may temper that outlook some, this year should be another sellerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s market for real estate.

Our stock market is not doing so well so far, will this trickle down to the real estate buyers and sellers not having enough conĂ&#x20AC;dence to make a move this year? In my personal opinion, I feel that in most areas that are still anemic on housing inventories, they will have a very minimal run this year. However , the high end homes will see a decline in market values and homes that are located pockets that have had the highest rates of foreclosures previous will also see a slight decline in values.

While a 6-month home supply is considered a balanced housing market, most markets are well below that, some signiĂ&#x20AC;cantly. Moreover, supporting fundamentals are far more solid than about a decade ago in the pre-bust years of 2006-2007.

What to do in 2016.

1. Buyers: Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Overbid and research your market carefully.

A bidding war might spur you to overspend, but paying an inĂ ated price can make it tough to resell when prices stabilize or when market corrects. Weight your options, to overbid on a very desirable area that you think you will stay and afford for a while might be smart but think 5-7 years ahead.

2. Sellers: Exercise your clout, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t overplay it If you set a price from 5% to 10% above the market, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re more apt to get an offer close to your homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s real value than if you start much higher and force your listing to go stale.

However, if your home has better qualities than area comps, you have a bit more advantage. Interview a few Realtors and ask what their strate-

gies are in getting you the best price.

3. Buyers: Buying new?

Get what you pay for. Builders are cranking production to pre-recession levels. But some are cutting corners so be sure the builder is established and that you research online reviews, complaint pages and consumer ratings. Ask speciĂ&#x20AC;c questions about the crewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience and certiĂ&#x20AC;cations.

Builder incentives might be a sign that they are not selling their project fast enough. This is your bargaining chip if you really like the property.

4. Sellers: Know your inĂ uential rooms Upgrades rarely pay for themselves, but there are 2 spaces that can make or break a home sale: the kitchen and master bath.

A new faucet, new lights, fresh caulking, a new towel rack or new mirror may be in order. Clean out the medicine cabinet. Of course, this doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean you shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t declutter, depersonalize, paint and scrub the rest of your space, too.

5. Sellers: Consider the replacement Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re getting multiple offers on your home, with several over asking price. Wow, that was fast! But can you Ă&#x20AC;nd your next home in time to move once you sign?

If not, one option would be to request a lease-back from the buyer, allowing you to remain in your old home for the time you need to shop for the replacement. This will be contingent on when the new owners need to occupy, and the period is usually limited to 60 days.

The other option is to slow the selling process by asking for a longer period before closing.

86 HFRQRP\ PRVWO\ JURZLQJ VRPH DUHDV Ă&#x20AC; DW )HG UHSRUW Washington, United States | AFP | Wednesday 1/13/2016 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The US economy grew in most parts of the country, while the New York and Kansas City regions reported essentially Ă at growth, a closely watched Federal Reserve report showed Wednesday.

The Beige Book report said that nine of the Fedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 12 districts had reported increased economic activity that was either â&#x20AC;&#x153;moderateâ&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;modestâ&#x20AC;? and the outlook for future growth from persons surveyed was â&#x20AC;&#x153;mostly positiveâ&#x20AC;? in six districts.

The latest Beige Book, tracking recent economic conditions through January 4, comes two weeks before the Federal Reserve holds its Ă&#x20AC;rst monetary policy of 2016, after making a landmark decision last month to raise interest rates for the Ă&#x20AC;rst time in more than nine years.

The collection of anecdotal information helps to inform policy decisions by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC).

The prior Beige Book, released on December 2, had reported an increase in consumer spending in most districts and â&#x20AC;&#x153;robustâ&#x20AC;? automobile sales.

The new report gave a lackluster picture on consumer spending, which drives about two thirds of the economy, saying growth â&#x20AC;&#x153;ranged from slight to moderateâ&#x20AC;? in most districts, while auto sales were â&#x20AC;&#x153;somewhat mixed.â&#x20AC;?

Though labor markets continued to improve, with some signs of tightening, overall the districts reported little change in wage and price pressures, with â&#x20AC;&#x153;wage increases running from Ă at to moderate, while price increases tended to be minimal.â&#x20AC;?

The FOMC is widely expected to leave the benchmark federal funds rate range between 0.25-0.50 percent at the January 26-27 meeting, after raising it on December 16 from near zero, where it had been pegged for seven years to help support the recovery from the Great Recession.

Fed ofĂ&#x20AC;cials on average expect the benchmark federal funds rate to reach 1.4 percent by the end of 2016. That outlook implies four quarter-point increases this year.

But bond market prices suggest investors expect only two increases, and the recent China-driven economic turmoil has pushed some investors to expect just one hike.

6. Sellers and buyers: Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t play the bubble game Thousands of would-be sellers and buyers are agonizing over how they can time their next sale or purchase to coincide with the â&#x20AC;&#x153;popâ&#x20AC;? of this housing bubble, either by selling soon for optimal proĂ&#x20AC;t or swooping in with cash to pounce on post-pop pricing.

Most real estate cycles donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t explode like the last one; they just deĂ ate slowly. Real estate continues to be a reliable long-term investment prone to usually modest peaks and valleys, done on a deal-by-deal basis and subject to local economies.

Reminder, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t over spend, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t over extend and see yourself within the next Ă&#x20AC;ve to seven years of your

sale or purchase.

This way you might make a informative decision on your succeeding move towards financial freedom.

Interest rates could be a factor but not the only factor in your decision.

I would rather pay a higher premium knowing my property will appreciate, rates you can always reĂ&#x20AC;nance and control while property value will be more difĂ&#x20AC;cult.

Thanks for your support and inquiries. Happy new year to all.

Please call Ken Go of 1st Innovative Finance Group for your financial and real estate needs. Call Ken at 562-508-7048 or write to kennethgo@ verizon.net. BRE 01021223 lic and NMLS 238636.

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2016 Nissan Altima gets highest â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Top Safety Pick Plusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; IISH award Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Altima Joins 2016 Nissan Maxima, Murano with IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus; Rogue and Sentra with Top Safety Pick (When Equipped with Forward Emergency Braking) NASHVILLE, Tenn. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Today the Insurance Institute for Highway

Safety (IIHS) recognized the 2016 Nissan Altima with its Top Safety Pick Plus (TSP+) designation.

The 2016 Nissan Altima joins the previously announced 2016 Nissan Maxima and 2016 Nissan Murano in earning the TSP+ rating, the highest safety designation awarded by IIHS. The Altima scored â&#x20AC;&#x153;Goodâ&#x20AC;? in all

Ă&#x20AC;ve TSP categories and earned TSP+ status with a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Superiorâ&#x20AC;? rating for front crash prevention for models equipped with optional Forward Emergency Braking.

This latest announcement, along with 2016 Nissan Rogue and Sentra earning TSP designations, gives Nissan North Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s three top selling

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vehicles TSP or better ratings and underscores Nissanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment to safety throughout its lineup. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nissan is very proud to have our best-selling vehicle recognized by IIHS for excellence in vehicle safety,â&#x20AC;? said Michael Bunce, vice president, Product Strategy and Planning, Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA). â&#x20AC;&#x153;Like the new Maxima and Murano, Altima sets high standards in a very competitive class for styling, performance and value as well as safety.

We at Nissan are gratiĂ&#x20AC;ed to see that another of our core models has been recognized for excellent design and vehicle safety.â&#x20AC;?

For the 2016 model year, IIHS tightened its standards by requiring a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Goodâ&#x20AC;? or better rating in all Ă&#x20AC;ve of the crashworthiness categories to earn a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Top Safety Pickâ&#x20AC;? and making an available front crash prevention system mandatory for all awards.

To earn the IIHS â&#x20AC;&#x153;Top Safety Pick Plusâ&#x20AC;? designation, a vehicle must earn a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Goodâ&#x20AC;? or better on all Ă&#x20AC;ve crashworthiness categories and also receive an â&#x20AC;&#x153;Advancedâ&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;Superiorâ&#x20AC;? rating for front crash prevention.

All-New 2016 Nissan Altima Safety and Convenience Features The 2016 Altima offers a long list of standard safety features and also an expanded suite of available safety and convenience features, including: Predictive Forward Collision Warning (with SL Tech Package) - Uses radar to constantly monitor not just one vehicle ahead in your lane, but two. When it detects sudden deceleration, it gives an audible warning and visual signal on instrument panel.

Blind Spot Warning (standard on SV and SL grades) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; When a vehicle is detected in the blind spot area, an indicator appears in the driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s or passengerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side door and on the display. Put turn signal on, and the indicator flashes with a warning chime.

Forward Emergency Braking (with SL Tech Package) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Keeps an eye on your speed and proximity to the vehicle ahead and can apply brakes if a potential forward collision is detected and you fail to respond.

Intelligent Cruise Control (with SL Tech Package) - Uses radar to maintain a set distance between car and the vehicle ahead.

If you have been desiring to own a new Nissan vehicle, come down to Nissan Mission Hills and check out our kababayan Manuel Lava of Nissan Mission Hills. Call now toll-free 888-588-7635. For more information on Nissan of Mission Hills call or visit www.nissanofmissionhills.com.

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The 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Final Edition: Limitedproduction model bids farewell to legendary sports sedan October 05, 2015 – CYPRESS, Calif. – Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) has announced the details of the limited-production 2015 Lancer Evolution Final Edition. Arguably the originator of the four-door sports car genre, the Lancer Evolution has seen ten generations – three of which were sold in the U.S. over 12 years. To send it off in style, Mitsubishi Motors will offer 1,600 numbered Final Edition models to the U.S. market with a MSRP of $37,995.

The Lancer Evolution Final Edition is based off the current GSR model, with exterior and interior enhancements not previously offered on the GSR. The heart of the Final Edition is a 5-speed transmission paired with a turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder 2.0L engine, producing 303 horsepower at 6,500 revolutions per minute and 305 lb-ft torque at 4,000 rpm.

Performance is further enhanced by use of lightweight two-piece Brembo brake rotors up front, accompanied by Bilstein shock absorbers and Eibach springs at all four corners. As with all 2015 Lancer Evolutions, the Final Edition model features Mitsubishi’s innovative and unmatched Super All-Wheel control system.

The Final Edition model receives exterior upgrades including a Final Edition badge in the rear, black painted aluminum roof, dark chrome painted Enkei alloy wheels, gloss black center bumper and hood air outlet and dark chrome front grille surround. Final Edition models will be offered in four colors: new Pearl White, Rally Red, Mercury Gray and /DQFHU (YROXWLRQ )LQDO (GLWLRQ Octane Blue.

Inside, a numbered plaque on “With its incredible combination of the center console denotes each of power, agility and Super All-Wheel the 1,600 units created. In addition, Control, the Lancer Evolution is one Final Edition models receive a black of the most well-known sports sedans headliner, pillars, sun visors and and is revered by ‘gearheads’ around assist handles, and red accent stitch- the globe,” said MMNA executive vice ing for sport seats, steering wheel, president, Don Swearingen. “The shift knob, console lid, Áoormats and Final Edition model pays homage to e-brake handle.

Evo’s remarkable place in automotive

history and takes it one step further as the most powerful mass-production Lancer Evolution ever built.”

For more information on the 2015 Lancer Evolution Final Edition please visit media.mitsubishicars. com and be sure to visit us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube Located in the heart Cerritos Auto

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Square, home of a huge Filipino community in the Southbay, come and see their friendly staff Euge C, Enrique M and Marial T. If you are looking for a new Mitsubishi, please come and visit Cerritos Mitsubishi located at 10944 South St. Cerritos CA 90703 or call toll free at 1-888-835-6136.

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All-new 2016 Honda Civic Sedan is IIHS’ Top Safety Pick 2016 Civic Sedan joins 2016 Accord, CR-V and Pilot in achieving top IIHS safety ratings Jan 14, 2016 - TORRANCE, Calif. – The dynamic, new-from-theground-up 2016 Honda Civic Sedan, 2016’s North American Car of the Year,ting of TOP SAFETY PICK+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), including a SUPERIOR rating for frontal crash prevention when equipped with the Honda Sensing™ suite of safety and driver-assist technologies, available on all 2016 Civic Sedan models.

The 2016 Civic Sedan has earned a top rating of GOOD in Àve IIHS crash test modes, including the rigorous small overlap frontal crash test. The 2015 TOP SAFETY PICK+ designation is reserved for vehicles that also have an available front crash prevention system that earns an ADVANCED or SUPERIOR rating from the Institute.

“As these new safety ratings demonstrate, the 2016 Civic Sedan not only brings new value to the compact segment with its hefty upgrades to fun-to-drive performance, fuel efÀciency, reÀnement and technology, it also delivers advanced collision safety performance,” said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of the Honda Division. “With its available Honda Sensing technologies, including our Àrst application of Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow, the new Civic Sedan offers customers a suite of technologies unlike anything else in the class.”

The 10th-generation Civic Sedan offers a wide range of advanced active and passive safety and driver-assist features and technologies, including Honda Sensing™, which is available on all trims. Honda Sensing™ technologies include: Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™)1 Forward Collision Warning (FCW) – integrated with CMBS2 Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS)3 Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)4 Lane Departure Warning – integrated with RDM5 Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow6 Honda Sensing™ is available as a standalone option on LX, EX, EX-T and EX-L trims and is offered as standard equipment on the Touring trim.

The greater use of high-strength steel and advanced crash engineering features, including its next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, new crash stroke front frame structure and tailor-tempered B-pillars and rear frame structures, help better protect occupants in a collision

while minimizing vehicle weight for superior fuel efÀciency. In addition, standard passive safety features on the 2016 Civic Sedan include a new front passenger’s safety vent airbag, SmartVent® front side curtain airbags and side curtain airbags with rollover sensor.

All Civic Sedan models also come standard with Vehicle Stability Assist® with Traction Control, 4-channel Anti-Lock Braking System with Brake Assist; a highly responsive, fully independent suspension; Motion-Adaptive Electric Power Steering; a Multi-Angle Rearview Camera; Expanded View Driver’s Mirror; indirect tire pressure monitoring system; and Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) child seat mounting system.

The 2016 Civic Sedan is the Àrst in a series of new 10th-generation Civic variants that will include a sedan, coupe, sports-minded Si models, a Àve-door hatchback and the Àrst-ever Civic Type-R model for the U.S. market, comprising the most diverse and innovative lineup in Civic’s 43-year history.

The new Civic Sedan’s design and development was led by Honda R&D Americas, and is manufactured by Honda of Canada Manufacturing in Alliston, Ontario and by Honda Manufacturing of Indiana in Greensburg, Indiana, using domestic and globally sourced parts.

Honda has a long history of leadership in the development and application of advanced technologies designed to enhance the safety of all road users, including automobile occupants, motorcycle riders and pedestrians. The company operates two of the world’s most sophisticated crash test facilities, in Ohio and Japan, and is responsible for numerous pioneering efforts in the areas of crashworthiness, airbag technology, collision compatibility and pedestrian safety.

Based in part on advancements to Honda’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, Honda is a leader in third-party crash test ratings within the industry.

The company also is broadly applying advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies to its product lineup. All 2015 and newer Honda vehicles also come equipped with a rearview camera as standard equipment.

Meanwhile, if you want to belong to the select group of Honda owners, all you have to do is visit the Diamond Honda of Glendale and get in touch with our kababayan Orly Roque, who are more than ready to serve you and

Ànd you your new Honda Hybrids or any other Honda vehicle and be assured of top fuel efÀciency as well as safety and maintenance.

These are just some of the reasons why Pinoys come to the dealership.

Above all, at Diamond Honda of Glendale, customers are treated like Diamonds!

That statement is backed up by General Manager Philip Keung, who has endeared himself to Filipino customers because of his professionalism and his recognition and vast understanding of Honda’s multi-ethnic market.

“He is a great anchor. We rely on his wisdom and professional savvy all the time. He is very helpful to the Filipino salesmen and customers alike,” says Orly. Diamond Honda of Glendale is located at 138 S. Glendale Avenue, Glendale, CA 91205. Its tollfree number is 1.866.237.7092.

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*RRJOH H[SHFWV SDUWQHUV IRU VHOI GULYLQJ FDU SURMHFW D e t r o i t , U n i t e d States | AFP | Tuesday 1/12/2016 – Google plans to partner with automakers on its self-driving car project, but is not yet ready to announce anything concrete, the head of the project said Tuesday.

“We are going to be partnering more and more and more,” Google self-driving project chief executive John Krafcik said at a conference held in the shadow of the Detroit

Auto Show.

As the project evolves, Google is going to need a “lot of help” expanding self-driving cars, said Krafcik, a longtime auto executive, most recently at Hyundai.

Major automakers will be able to help it produce “at scale,” Krafcik said.

Google has been testing self-driving cars in two US states, California and Texas.

Other automakers, including Audi, BMW, Lexus, Mercedes and Tesla, have also been working on bringing self-driving capacities into vehicles.

Krafcik was tight-lipped about details of the program, declining to tell a moderator how many Google staff work on the project or to estimate when self-driving cars might reach the general public.

The chief motivation is to expand

mobility to more people, including the elderly and disabled, Krafcik said.

The tech giant also sees the technology as critical to addressing deadly car crashes.

Short-term goals include improving the technology’s performance in bad weather and in complex trafÀc scenarios.

Google is among the pioneers in self-driving cars in the world.

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Subaru earns top honors in Kelley Blue Book 2016 best resale value Subaru earns Best Resale Value Brand for second year in a row; Subaru earns Best Resale Value in four vehicle segments g Cherry Hill, N.J. - Cherry Hill, NJ â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December 15, 2015 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Kelley Blue Book, the leading provider of new and used vehicle information,

announced today that Subaru won its prestigious Best Resale Value Brand Award for two consecutive years as well as four model awards in their

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respective categories: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Subaru is back on top once again for 2016 as the best mainstream brand for resale value across its entire lineup,â&#x20AC;? said Eric Ibara, director of residual values for Kelley Blue Book.

The Best Resale Value Awards recognize 2016 model-year vehicles for their projected retained value through the initial Ă&#x20AC;ve-year ownership period. Since depreciation (or loss of value) is typically a car-buyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s primary expense during ownership, these awards, like all of KBB.comâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new- and used-vehicle information, are designed to help consumers make more informed car-buying decisions. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are proud to receive the 2016 Best Resale Value Brand Award along with multiple segment honors from Kelley Blue Bookâ&#x20AC;? said Thomas J. Doll, president and chief operating ofĂ&#x20AC;cer, Subaru of America, Inc. â&#x20AC;&#x153;These awards highlight our vehiclesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; inherent value stemming from our class-leading safety, reliability and durability.â&#x20AC;?

Kelley Blue Bookâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Best Resale Value Awards are in their 14th year and are based on projections from the Kelley Blue Book OfĂ&#x20AC;cial Residual Value Guide. Kelley Blue BookResidual Values are established by experienced automotive analysts that review statistical models built upon millions of transactions. Vehicles that earn the highest Ă&#x20AC;ve-year residual values, expressed as a percentage of their original Manufacturerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), are selected for these prestigious awards.

Low-volume vehicles and vehicles with an MSRP of more than $60,000 are excluded from award consideration, except in the plug-in vehicle, luxury and high-performance categories.

For more information about Kelley Blue Bookâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Best Resale Value Awards, please visit http://www. kbb.com/new-cars/best-resale-valueawards/.

About Kelley Blue Book Founded in 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource, is the only vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the automotive industry.

Each week the company provides the most market-reĂ ective values in the industry on its top-rated website

KBB.com, including its famous Blue BookÂŽ Trade-In Values and Fair Purchase Price, which reports what others are paying for new and used cars this week.

The company also provides vehicle pricing and values through various products and services available to car dealers, auto manufacturers, Ă&#x20AC;nance and insurance companies, and governmental agencies. Kelley Blue Bookâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s KBB.com ranked highest in its category for brand equity by the 2015 Harris Poll EquiTrendÂŽ study and has been named Online Auto Shopping Brand of the Year for four consecutive years. Kelley Blue Book Co., Inc. is a Cox Automotive company. For additional information visit (www.kbb.com).

But while we all ponder as to why Subaru continues to become a favorite of many, come to Subaru Glendale where you will Ă&#x20AC;nd that indeed these cars are selling like hotcakes just get in touch with our kababayans at Subaru Glendale, who have been serving the Filipino-American market and who have made Filipinos love the Subaru brand and the Subaru vehiclesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; versatility.

What are you waiting for, come on down to Subaru Glendale and our kababayan Christian Marilla will be more than happy to inform you why Subaru is becoming a favorite of Filipinos and the whole American market. Subaru of Glendale is located at 1308 S Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91204. You can reach them at 1-855230-1547 or you can visit their website at www.subaruofglendale.net.

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Washington, United States | AFP | Tuesday 1/12/2016 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; US environmental regulators turned down Volkswagenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s initial recall plan for its diesel cars equipped with illegal emissions cheat devices Tuesday, a day before its chief holds high-level talks on the scandal in Washington.

The California Air Resources Board rejected Volkswagenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recall proposals for its 2.0 liter diesels, and the federal Environmental Protection Agency agreed the plan was not acceptable.

CARB said VWâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plans â&#x20AC;&#x153;are incomplete, substantially deĂ&#x20AC;cient, and fall far short of meeting the legal requirementsâ&#x20AC;? to rectify the emissions problem.

The EPA, itself awaiting VWâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s formal proposals, backed the California regulator. â&#x20AC;&#x153;EPA agrees with CARB that Volkswagen has not submitted an approvable recall plan to bring the vehicles into compliance and reduce pollution. EPA has conveyed this to the company previously.â&#x20AC;?

Volkswagenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chief executive, Matthias Mueller, is scheduled to meet in Washington with EPA head Gina McCarthy to discuss how the German automaker plans to deal with nearly 600,000 of its cars in the US equipped with illegal â&#x20AC;&#x153;defeat devicesâ&#x20AC;? that concealed excessive emissions.

The issue, which extends to 11 million VW, Audi and Porsche 2.0 and 3.0 liter diesel cars worldwide, has severely damaged Volkswagenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reputation and spawned a host of investigations in several countries.

In the United States alone the German company is facing potentially tens of billions of dollars in Ă&#x20AC;nes over the scandal.

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2016 Mitsubishi Outlander earns IIHSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Top Safety Pick+ Cypress, Calif., December 10, 2015 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) announced today that its redesigned and reengineered seven-passenger crossover, the 2016 Outlander, has been named an IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ with the availability of Forward Collision Mitigation*. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is an independent non-proĂ&#x20AC;t scientiĂ&#x20AC;c and educational organization that researches, performs evaluations, and assesses safety ratings in crash testing of production vehicles. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Since its redesign in 2014, the Mitsubishi Outlander with available Forward Collision Mitigation has been an IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+,â&#x20AC;? said Don Swearingen, executive vice president, MMNA. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With over 100 improvements from the previous model year, the 2016 Outlander truly serves as an ambassador for the brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dedication to superior safety and reliability.â&#x20AC;?

Standard safety features found on the Mitsubishi Outlander include seven air bags, Active Stability Control with Traction Control Logic, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, and Anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Brake Assist. Additional available features include Forward Collision Mitigation, Lane Departure Warning and Adaptive Cruise Control.

Unlike previous model years where advanced safety features were only available at the highest trim level, Mitsubishi has created the SEL Advanced Safety Package to make these features available at a more attainable price point on lower trim levels. The 2016 Outlander SEL with 2WD and SEL Advanced Safety

Package is available for $26,545 and features Forward Collision Mitigation, Lane Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control, rain-sensing windshield wipers, power folding side-view mirrors, auto on/off headlights and front wiper de-icer.

The 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander was launched in August of this year and in its Ă&#x20AC;rst four months, sales are up 97 percent over the same four months of the prior year. Overall, Mitsubishi Motors continues its sales momentum and has reported year-over-year sales increases for 21 consecutive months.

For more information on the Mitsubishi Outlander visit media. mitsubishimotors.com.

If you are looking to buy a new

Mitsubishi vehicle, our kababayan lander ES. So tawag na!

Richard Samaco at Glendale MitThe Glendale Mitsubishi is located subishi is moe than willing to give at 1235 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, you the best deal in town, if not in CA. You can also visit them at www. whole Southern California. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tawa- glendalemitsubishi.com. Ę&#x201E; gan po kami,â&#x20AC;&#x153; is their calling. Just dial -1888397-7397 for 0% rebates up to $4,500, 0 down and no payments till October 2011.

If that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t catch your attention, they also 0% APR financing on other Mitsubishi vehicles including the new 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer ES, the 2011 Mitsubishi )RU WKH EHVW 0LWVXELVKL GHDOV FDOO RXU NDEDED\DQV 0DUN Outlander Sport ES and 'H /HRQ DQG &HVDU 0DFDQGLOL DW *OHQGDOH 0LWVXELVKL DW the 2011 Mitsubishi Out-

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7R\RWD 3ULXV F JRHV VPDOO RQ IXHO FRQVXPSWLRQ ELJ RQ VDIHW\ DQG EROG RQ FRORU Toyotaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most affordable hybrid model has roomy, versatile interior The 2016 Toyota Prius c may be the smallest of the brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eight hybrid models, but the new-for-2016 Toyota Safety Sense-C system gives it a big advantage over other small cars. And no other car in the compact segment can touch its remarkable 53MPG EPA-estimated city fuel economy, making Prius c big on eco and fun. A new Persona Series Special Edition combines eye-grabbing color combos and other upgrades.

Toyota gave the Prius c a major styling and interior upgrade for 2015, and so the big news for 2016 is the available Toyota Safety Sense C (TSS-C), which equips the car with an array of driver-assist technologies: Pre-Collision System, Lane Departure Assist, and Automatic High Beams.

Toyota is giving the Prius c an infusion of playfulness for 2016, too, with the Persona Series Special Edition. This distinctive model goes on sale in December and is limited to just 1,500 units. The Persona Series Special Edition comes exclusively in Black, with a choice of two unique color accents that amp up the fun: Electric Lime and Cherry Pearl. The contrast color accents can be found on the lower front grille trim, beneath the headlights and on trim beneath the side windows.

The accents also cover the outside power mirrors and interior rear-view mirror shell. You may have seen such paint schemes on customized exotics driven by pro ballplayers, but the

effect costs far less on a 2016 Prius c Special Edition, which also includes 15-inch black alloy wheels and a custom â&#x20AC;&#x153;Persona Seriesâ&#x20AC;? badge.

The Prius c is offered in four numbered grades, and the Special Edition is built on the Two. That means itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s equipped with extras including fabric-trimmed two-tone seats; 6-way adjustable driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seat; 60/40 split fold-down rear seats; cruise control, a cargo area cover and engine immobilizer.

Toyota remains the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hybrid leader in terms of both models offered and total sales. Since the Ă&#x20AC;rst generation Prius in 1997 (2000 in the United States), about four million Prius vehicles have been sold worldwide.

Prius remains the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier eco-vehicle brand, and has also been instrumental in establishing consumer trust in hybrid technology. (Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re welcome, competitors.) c Stands for â&#x20AC;&#x153;City,â&#x20AC;? but â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cleverâ&#x20AC;?

Works, Too Urban dwellers like the packaging of the Prius c, which at 157.3 inches long must be one of the easiest-to-park cars on the market. So itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no wonder that c stands for city. And what could be more appropriate than bright lights in the big city?

The Prius c shines the way with standard single LED projector lowand high-beam headlights and LED tail and brake lights. Colors like Electric Lime Metallic, Sun Fusion, Tangerine Splash Pearl and Sparkling Sea Metallic sound tasty enough to

drink, and they ensure a glowing appearance in daylight, too.

The Prius câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clever design strategically locates key drivetrain components to maximize cabin space. The compact gasoline engine, transaxle and power-control unit are optimally placed within the vehicle to help enhance weight distribution and lower the center of gravity. The hybrid battery and fuel tank are positioned beneath the rear seat, ideally distributing their masses within the carâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wheelbase to improve weight distribution and, therefore, handling agility.

As a result, the Prius c offers 104 cu. ft. of total interior volume (87.4 cu. ft. passenger volume plus 17.1 cu. ft. cargo volume). The 35-inch rear legroom rivals some larger compacts.

Small But Mighty Prius c Three layers on the technology with the Smart Key System on the front doors and liftgate, plus with Push Button Start and remote illuminated entry; Touch Tracer Display and Entune Premium Audio with Integrated Navigation and App Suite.

Talk about comprehensive multimedia â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this Entune system includes everything on the standard setup and adds six speakers; the Entune App Suite; HD radio; HD predictive trafĂ&#x20AC;c and Doppler weather overlay; AM/FM cache radio; SiriusXM All Access Radio with three-month complimentary trial and GracenoteÂŽ album cover art.

Frugality meets refinement in the Prius c Four, which adds integrated LED fog lights and 15-in. eightspoke alloy wheels with P175/65R15 tires. The Four also steps up the comfort and convenience with a power tilt/slide moonroof with sliding sunshade; integrated backup camera; SofTexÂŽ-trimmed seats, plus heated front seats, steering wheel and outside mirrors.

Toyotaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 36-month/36,000 mile basic new-vehicle warranty applies to all components other than normal wear and maintenance items. Additional 60-month warranties cover the powertrain for 60,000 miles and against corrosion with no mileage limitation. The hybrid-related components, including the HV battery, battery control module, hybrid control module and inverter with converter, are covered for eight years/100,000 miles.

For economy and a taste of the Toyota Hybrid or for other Toyota vehicle of your choice, call our kababayans Sales Manager Nile Villanueva and Sales Professional Philip Rivera at 1-888-311-0102. DCH Toyota of Torrance is located at 2909 PaciĂ&#x20AC;c Coast Hi-way, Torrance, CA 90505.

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