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LOS ANGELES EDITION VOL. XXII, NO. 46
DECEMBER 20 - 26, 2014
THE LEADING SOURCE OF NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR FILIPINO-AMERICANS
President Benigno S. Aquino III converses with former President Fidel Ramos during the 79th Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Day Celebration at the AFP General Headquarters Grandstand of the Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Thursday (December 18, 2014). This year’s theme is: “Sandatahang Lakas: Ika-79 na Taong Naglilingkod ng Tapat tungo sa Kapayapaan, Kaunlaran at Kasaganaan”. (MNS photo)
US rejects PHL demand Olongapo, Philippines | AFP | Friday 12/19/2014 – A US Marine asked a judge in the Philippines Friday to suspend his murder trial as he appeared in court for the first time since his detention over the killing of a transgender woman. Before the trial proceeds, Private First Class Joseph Pemberton wants the justice department to first resolve an application to have the charge against him downgraded from murder to the lesser charge of homi-
cide, court officials said. Homicide carries a maximum prison term of 20 years, compared to 40 years for murder. “It is a legal remedy available to them, but it is essentially a dilatory (delaying) tactic,” Virginia Suarez, a lawyer for the family of the alleged victim, told AFP. The judge agreed to set a hearing Monday on the American’s petition to suspend the murder trial, court clerk Gerry Gruspe
told reporters. The United States has earlier rebuffed a Philippine government request to hand over custody of a US Marine charged with murdering a Filipino transgender woman, Manila said Wednesday. A Philippine court on Tuesday ordered the arrest of Private First Class Joseph Pemberton to stand trial for the October 11 murder that has inflamed anti-American See US REJECTS, page 10
Crime lord enjoys jailhouse rock By Joel Guinto
An operative of a joint inter-agency government task force holds counterfeit music players raided from a warehouse in Binondo, Manila on Wednesday. The raid netted fake cellphones, electronic gadgets, and accessories worth an estimated P70 Million. (MNS photo)
DILG chief says ‘safest Christmas about to come’ MANILA, Dec 18 (Mabuhay) – A week before Christmas Day, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II said on Thursday that with the intensified anticrime campaign of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the people can expect to have the “safest Christmas” this year. “This will be our gift to the Filipino public: the safest Christmas season that we’ve all been working for,” Roxas told the leaders of more than 150,000 PNP
personnel stationed in different parts of the country. Roxas had previously confirmed a downward trend in criminality in the National Capital Region (NCR) mainly due to the deliberate, programmatic and sustained approach that the PNP has taken under OPLAN Lambat-Sibat. He also confirmed that the operation plan is set to be cascaded to all regions beginning early 2015. See SAFEST CHRISTMAS, page 10
Crime lord “Herbert C” was enjoying national fame and growing iTunes success after reinventing himself as a lovelorn balladeer from inside the Philippines’ biggest jail – until police cut short his career. Herbert Colanggo lost his recording studio and other bribe-induced musical privileges after a raid on the secret prison villas kept by 20 of the nation’s most notorious robbery, kidnapping and drug kingpins. The Philippines’ prisons have long had a reputation for graft, but Monday’s raid shocked the nation with the justice secretary expressing outrage that Colanggo and the others were “living like kings”. The raid at Manila’s Bilibid prison uncovered high-powered weapons, methamphetamines, blow-up sex dolls, a jacuzzi, a strip bar where prostitutes were brought in—and Colanggo’s fully equipped music studio. “We are very angry because they continue to live lives of luxury,” Dante Jimenez, chairman of the watchdog group Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, told AFP. “It’s like they just transferred from See JAILHOUSE, page 10
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Pope leads global praise for ‘historic’ US-Cuba By Clare Byrne
Paris, France | AFP | Wednesday 12/17/2014 – Pope Francis led a chorus of global plaudits for Wednesday’s breakthrough in US-Cuban relations, hailed as “historic” in Europe and South America and prompting celebrations on the streets of Havana. In a personal coup for the pope, it emerged that the Vatican had played a central role in bringing together the global capitalist superpower and the tiny communist island. The Argentinian pontiff sent “warm congratulations” to the former arch-foes for overcoming “the difficulties which have marked their recent history”. The Vatican said the pope had appealed to US President Barack Obama and his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro to end the standoff, offering negotiators his offices in October, paving the way for “solutions acceptable to both parties”. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper noted that his country—which never broke off ties with Cuba—had also played its part by hosting the first secret
talks in 2013, and welcomed the “overdue development”. The European Union, which is itself moving to normalise ties with Cuba, hailed the announcement as a “historical turning point.” “Today another Wall has started to fall,” said EU foreign affairs head Federica Mogherini, adding that the 28-member bloc hoped ultimately to be able to “expand relations with all parts of Cuban society”. In South America, the detente elicited a euphoric response from leaders of the fivenation Mercosur bloc meeting in Argentina, who broke into applause at the news. Best birthday present “We’re living a historic day,” said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, leader of Cuba’s closest ally and one of its biggest benefactors, at the Argentina summit. Maduro, whose forerunner Hugo Chavez was a close confidant of Fidel Castro, immediately claimed the thaw as “a moral victory” and “a victory for Fidel”. Praising Pope Francis, who turned 78 on Wednesday, Maduro noted: “It was with his help, and it’s the best birthday present.”
In Bogota, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos saluted “the audacity and courage” of the US and Cuban leaders in helping further “the dream of a continent where there will be absolute peace between nations and within them.” And Chile’s Foreign Minister Heraldo Munoz spoke for those in Latin America who were frustrated by the diplomatic divide, declaring: “This is the beginning of the end of the Cold War in the Americas.” In Europe, Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo said the move was “of great significance” and seized the opportunity to urge Cuba to improve its rights record. “This future can only be built on the basis of respect for democracy and human rights,” he told reporters in Madrid. German Foreign Affairs Minister FrankWalter Steinmeier called the breakthrough “very good news in these times rich with conflict”. Celebrations, anger In Havana’s historic centre, overjoyed Cubans took to the streets to celebrate the
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news, voicing hopes that the breakthrough would lead to an economic revival. “I have goosebumps all over,” said 52-year-old cafeteria worker Ernesto Perez. “It’s very important news that will change all our lives.” But among Cubans in Miami’s Little Havana, the reaction was one of anger and dismay. Dozens of people gathered outside Cafe Versailles, a Little Havana landmark, to protest the rapprochement. “It is a betrayal. The talks are only going to benefit Cuba,” said Carlos Munoz Fontanil in Calle Ocho, the heart of an exile community that has long pined for the fall of the Castro regime in Havana. Some Republican and Democratic lawmakers in Washington took a similar view and warned Congress would block efforts to lift the trade embargo. “The White House has conceded everything and gained little,” said Republican Senator Marco Rubio, blasting the deal as “inexplicable”.bur/cb/mfp/kjl© 1994-2014 Agence France-Presse
Seven out of 10 Pinoys expect a happy Christmas – SWS MANILA, Dec 18 (Mabuhay) -- Seven out of 10 Filipinos or 71 percent expect a happy Christmas this year, a marked improvement from past several years, a new survey by Social Weather Stations showed. In contrast, sadness this coming Christmas is at its lowest since 2003 at six percent, while 23 percent expect it to be neither happy nor sad. The SWS survey also showed three out of four or 75 percent said it is better to give this coming Christmas as against 23 percent who said it is better to receive. SWS conducted its fourth quarter social weather survey from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1 using face-to-face interviews of 1,800 adults nationwide.
This included 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, and Mindanao, and 900 in Visayas. Sampling error margins of ±2.3% for national percentages, ±5.7% each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon and Mindanao, and ±3.3% for Visayas, applied to the survey. Improvement in those who see a ‘merry’ Christmas SWS said the 71 percent who expect a happy Christmas was an improvement from the 62 to 64 percent since 2004. “The expectation of a happy Christmas was a high 82 percent when the series started in 2002, but declined to 77 percent the following year. From 2004 to 2013, the
percentages of Filipinos who expected a happy Christmas remained at the sixties: 64 percent in 2004, 62 percent in both 2005 and 2006, 64 percent in 2007, 63 percent in 2008, and 64 percent in 2009,” SWS said. It said the figure recovered to 69 percent in 2010, but fell to 64 percent in 2011 and 2012, and 62 percent in 2013. Lowest sadness level SWS said the six percent expecting a sad Christmas in 2014 represents the lowest since four percent in 2003. “In 2002 and 2003, only three to four percent reported having a sad Christmas, and then increased to 10 percent in 2004. From 2005 to 2010, sadness with Christmas fluctuated at 7-10 percent level,” it
said. Sadness with Christmas was highest at 11 percent in 2011, but fell to 9 percent in 2012 and 2013. Better to give than receive The last time that the percentage of people who said it is better to give than to receive hit 75 percent was in 2006, almost a decade ago. The SWS said the proportions of those who say it is better to give than to receive this Christmas are high across all areas and socio-demographic groups. It said up to 80 percent in Metro Manila and Balance Luzon (81 percent) say it is better to give than to receive this Christmas.
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When you can’t pay your business debts! If your business is in distress – you owe a lot of money but you can’t pay, your creditors will probably threaten legal action against your business and very likely, you personally as well. How much they can collect, and how they can go about collecting it, will depend on how your business is organized, and whether you personally guaranteed repayment of the obligation. To what extent you are personally liable depends on several factors, the most important being, how your business is structured and whether you personally guaranteed or secured the debt. bankruptcy. In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, your Sole Proprietors and Partnerships assets (except for property that is exempt If you are a sole proprietor, you and your which for the most part, usually includes your business are one and the same in the eyes home, car etc.) go into a bankruptcy estate to of the law, which means you are personally be sold, and the proceeds are distributed to responsible for all of the business’s debts. your creditors. At the end of the process, all If there isn’t enough money in the business of your debts that are eligible for discharge in to pay these debts, creditors can take your bankruptcy will be wiped out. In a Chapter personal assets to pay them. 13 bankruptcy, you propose a repayment plan Partners in a general partnership have simi- where you repay part or all of the debt over lar personal liability for business debts: Each three to five years. partner is personally liable for the entirety of How Bankruptcy Helps the business’s debts (and any partner can usuWhen you file for bankruptcy, something ally bind the entire partnership to a business called an automatic stay immediately stops deal -- a scary combination). This means that your creditors from foreclosing on your house if there isn’t enough money in the business or any other personal property that is at risk. to pay the debts, and your partners are broke, In some situations, this can be reason enough creditors can take your personal assets to pay to file for bankruptcy, because it will buy you all of the business’s debts, not just your share. time, if nothing else. Corporations and Limited Liability Unpaid Rent. If your business owes your Companies landlord back rent, you are probably personIf your business is organized as a corpora- ally liable for the debt. (Sole proprietors and tion or a limited liability company (LLC), partners are automatically personally liable your personal assets are usually protected for rent payments, and most small business from business creditors as a matter of law. corporations and LLCs also get stuck personShareholders and LLC members have a form ally guaranteeing the lease payments -- check of asset protection called limited personal li- your lease. If you didn’t, give yourself a pat on ability. Creditors cannot take owners’ personal the back for being a savvy negotiator.) assets to pay business debts, unless a business Filing for bankruptcy might keep the landowner specifically gives up that limited li- lord from taking your personal property to pay ability protection. the debt, especially if you file under Chapter Unfortunately, most small business own- 13 and come up with a payment plan. ers are forced to give up their right to limited Ordinary, Unsecured Debt personal liability, at least for some of their If your business owes suppliers, you will business debt. Many creditors require per- be personally on the hook if you operated your sonal guarantees and/or personal security from business as a sole proprietorship or partnersmall business owners before they will loan ship. Under the Uniform Commercial Code, money or extend credit to a business. And suppliers of goods usually have the right to many landlords require a personal guarantee take the goods back. Barring that, however, before they will lease commercial property to they can come after you personally for the a small business. unpaid amounts. A personal guarantee is a promise by a If you have a lot of this kind of debt, filing business owner to hand over the owner’s Chapter 13 could help you organize a payment personal assets to a creditor if the business plan (and Chapter 7 might wipe the debt out). can’t pay its debt and its assets are not worth If your business is a corporation or an LLC, enough to cover the debt. A creditor can also you may be off the hook for these debts. This ask a business owner to secure a business debt kind of debt is typically unsecured and is rarely by pledging specific personal property, such personally guaranteed. as an owner’s house, boat, or car. When you If your business has no money and no sign a personal guarantee or pledge personal assets left, the suppliers may be out of luck property, you give up your protection against -- your personal liability protection should personal liability, and creditors can come after protect your personal assets. So if your your personal assets if your business can’t pay. corporation or LLC has only unsecured, unThe Bankruptcy Option guaranteed business debt, there’s no need to If your business bank account is empty, a file a personal bankruptcy. bankruptcy might be a viable option. It would Does Bankruptcy Make Sense for You? certainly give you some breathing room while In the real world, just the threat of bankworking things out, and in the case of personal ruptcy may be enough to help you work things liability, a bankruptcy will protect your house, out. Many creditors will think twice before your car, and other assets. leaning on you too hard if they think you’ll Business vs. Personal Bankruptcy file for bankruptcy. Some creditors would If you are a sole proprietor, you can file for rather work out a payment plan, or settle for either Chapter 13 or Chapter 7 bankruptcy. partial repayment, than become a creditor in Either type of bankruptcy can be used for your bankruptcy case. personal debts or business debts. From a creditor’s perspective, bankruptcy If you are a corporate shareholder, LLC is an expensive and long process that eats into owner, or partner in a partnership and you profits. You can use that to your advantage in have signed personal guarantees or pledged negotiations and perhaps spread payments out collateral for business loans, putting your far enough to be manageable. business through bankruptcy will not protect If you think you are in imminent danger of your personal property. losing your family’s home or livelihood, and If you have placed your personal property you need help quickly, personal bankruptcy at risk, you must file for bankruptcy for your- might be a good option for you. But before self and your business separately to protect you file, get advice, call the law offices of Paul your personal assets. In this article, we assume M. Allen and take advantage of their free conyou are considering personal bankruptcy -- sultation. It could save you a lot of money and because only personal bankruptcy will protect a lot of heartache. Paul Allen also offers debt your personal assets. nenotiation services and debt work-out plans. Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Two convenient offices to serve you: GlenIf you file for personal bankruptcy, most dale and La Palma. Call the Law Offices of likely it will be a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 Paul Allen now at 818-552-4500.
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Find the perfect piece of art for your home like having 50 galleries in one place,” said Mr. SH, Art and Framing Gallery’s store manager. Paintings are categorized accordA new one-of-a-kind art store has just ing to size and subject, so despite the huge opened at 381 North Western Ave. in Los number of paintings in their inventory, it Angeles. Located right at the heart of LA’s is not difficult to locate a certain type of furniture capital, Art and Framing Gallery painting if a customer already has a preferred design in mind. Understandably, some people tend to get intimidated by purchasing pieces of art and paintings. But actually, a person does not have to be art-savvy to use art in decorating one’s home or living space. Displaying artwork is a great way to spruce up your walls, create conversation pieces and create a flow to the decor of your home. Most Posters galore of the time, interior designers use paintspecializes in oil paintings, framings and ings or photos to set the color or mood posters. of the room. But regardless of a person’s The store has a huge selection of oil budget, taste or design philosophy, it is a paintings, frames and posters in stock in well-known fact that decorating with art various genres, designs and sizes. “It’s and paintings add character and panache to a certain space. (source Home Guides -SF Gate) “When you put a piece of art that you like in your home, every time you see it, it will raise your spirits, it will make you happy. People should surround themselves with things that make them happy. And we think that this grand opening is a great opportunity for everyone to find that piece of art that makes them happy at a reasonable Plenty of paintings to choose from at Art & Framing
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price!” said Mr. SH. Art and Framing Gallery is a wholesale supplier of art to galleries and interior designers. But they are now also open to the public. They also do custom paintings and custom framing of any design and of any size (sizes usually vary from 8×10″ to 48×72″). The management of Art and Framing
Gallery invites the Filipino community to come and visit the newly-opened showroom to find that perfect piece of art for your home or bring anything that you want to be framed. So hurry and take advantage of their grand opening and holiday sale! Readers of Weekend Balita and US Asian Post get an extra 10% off. (Hannah Abinuman)
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Thrill of a lifetime: Soaring high above LA for the holidays This writer’s family had the thrill of our lifetime when my sister, Marjorie D’Angelo pretended to invite my son, granddaughter and I to a “holiday dinner� to celebrate a “milestone� and the Filipino tradition of “Simbang Gabi� (evening Mass heralding nine days before Christmas) this week. Though it was a rainy day, the skies cleared up by sunset and through Margie’s relentless coordination with a Pilot/Flight Training Instructor Roscoe Gray, the evening became an eventful “thrill of a lifetime� when we helicopters through the backcoutries of arrived at the Van Nuys Airport hangar of Canada, Alaska and New Zealand. Davis Elite Helicopter Tours, owned by Pilot/ has long been intrigued by these helicopter Entrepreneur Simon Davis. rides and one day, when he was offered a Born and raised in Vancouver, Canada, free ride along with two of his buddies, he Simon Davis was formerly a profes- somehow developed a “bug� or an addicsional snowboarder who has travleled via tion to flying. This prompted him to enroll
The four of us rode on two separate Robinson R44 Raven 2 helicopters. Photo shows: Margie, yours truly, Christian and Crystal.
in flight school and was trained for a year. Subsequently, he moved to California and settled in Malibu in 2005. What started as a hobby for him made him pursue his passion for flying by working as a flight instructor, but in 2006, when he received his FAA license, he bought his first helicopter, a Robinson R44 for personal use, but he discovered not only the business side of it but also a way to connect with people’s emotional side, by way of seeing their “smiles� when they “soar above LA� and tour its wondrous sights. The 45-minute ride, driven by our handsome Certified Flight Instructor and Commercial Pilot, Sam Benigno took us soaring through significant LA sights such as admiirng the Christmas lights on top of
the US Bank building, which is the tallest building in downtown LA, then we hovered through the famous Hollywood sign, the ferris wheel at the Santa Monica Pier, the colorful Universal Studios, Staples Center, Dodger Stadium, Getty Center, Griffith Park Observatory, Sunset Strip and of course, the sceniic shores of Malibu and its mountains. As exhilarating as it was on a clear night after the rain, this was truly a “thrill of a lifetime� meant for all of us to share, bond and feel the joyous spriit that this holiday season brings. As we celebrate the holidays, may you all have good health, peace and blessings on Christmas and throughout the coming year!
Series for Covered California: Part 5 – HMO, PPO, EPO, etc Health plan types dictate what medical services are available and how they are delivered to you. All health plans deal with networks, basically a group of medical providers. In general, you want to use in-network providers or providers that are in contract with the health plan. So the first thing you should do is verify if the doctors are in the health plan. Why? To keep your costs down. Check also if your preferred hospital is contracted and available to you. A Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plan is a plan that requires you to have a Primary Care Physician (PCP). The PCP will be the one who refers you to the specialists. These specialists are typically within the same medical group as the PCP. If the specialists are not in that medical group, then most likely you won’t be able to see them. As for the services and the procedures they have to be arranged first by the doctors and approved by the medical group. This managed care plan essentially reduces the size of the network of providers to only the ones that are contracted with the medical group. This type of plan also demands your patience as time and effort is needed in seeking referral and approval. A Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan on the other hand has much wider network and gives you direct access to the specialists. So if you need to see say your ophthalmologist, you can just dial his number and set an appointment. You can go to both in-network and out-of-network
providers. But you want to use in-network providers in most cases. Why? Again, to keep your costs down. Although your PPO plan may pay to out-of-network providers, the amount will only be very little compared to your share. An Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) is similar to a PPO in that you don’t need to designate a PCP. You don’t need referrals to see specialists. The main difference between EPO and PPO is that you cannot use out-of-network providers at all. You should stay within the network exclusive to your plan. A Health care Savings Plan (HSP) is a hybrid between HMO and EPO. It’s like HMO because most HSPs will require you to designate a PCP. It’s like an EPO because you can see specialists without referrals but you can’t go outside the network. A variation of these types is a Health Savings Account (HSP) health insurance plan. If you have these, you can tax deduct the amount contributed into an HSP account and normally the amount here is used to pay high deductibles and other medical expenses. You can find updates on Covered CA at www.facebook.com/globalwealth.insurance. If you need help renewing or enrolling, please call 855-955-1800.
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What you need to know about Obama’s plan for immigration reform The executive action and its effect on the health care coverage of California By Hannah De Castro-Abinuman
StaffWriter Subsequent to President Barack Obama’s recent declaration of executive action to shield millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation, people are left with a thousand questions. How will Obama’s plan for immigration reform affect the country? Who are eligible to apply? How long will the deferred action last? These, and many more questions were answered recently by New America Media and Asian Americans Advancing Justice-LA at their special newsmaker briefing held on Wednesday, December 17, 2014 at the Japanese Cultural Center in Los Angeles, CA. In response to California’s pressing inquiries on the matter, these two organizations held a briefing and panel discussion led by experts on immigration and health care access. Members of the panel include Marielena Hincapie, executive director of National Immigration Law Center, Ronald Coleman, Government Affairs Manager of California Immigrant Policy and Doreena Wong, Health Access Project Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice-LA. There were also personal testimonies by Californians who have been directly impacted by these issues by being an undocumented individual or being related to someone who is undocumented. The president’s announcement of the Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) is certainly a pivotal moment in US immigration. The impact of this policy goes beyond deportation for undocumented individuals. This is a policy victory that has been fought for and won by immigrants themselves. Undocumented immigrants who have been in the country for more than five years will be granted temporary relief. They, who have been constantly putting their lives on the line by doing civil disobedience, hunger strikes or delaying medical attention due to lack of health coverage. The fear is real for these undocumented individuals. For instance, a mother may be concerned to drive her child to school in fear that she might be stopped and detained because she does not have a license. Or, a father afraid to go out in fear of being racially-profiled, getting picked up by the police and shoved into the deportation system. These are some of the constant struggles that will now be mended if the policy is implemented successfully. As said by Doreena Wong, project director for Asian Americans Advancing Justice-LA, the undocumented population in California is very diverse. Latinos or Hispanics comprise a large group, but the biggest group of undocumented individuals among Asians and Pacific islanders in California are Filipinos. And yet, in the implementation of DACA two years ago, Filipinos were the smallest in number to come forward. Other ethnic groups include Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai and Indian. Despite this good news to the undocumented population, many are still afraid to step out of the shadows. That is why confidential pro-
Immigration forum panel: (From Left) Marielena Hincapie, Ronald Coleman, Doreena Wong, Michelle Yoon & Imelda Plascencia
tection is very critical. Marielena Hincapie, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center said, “Now that the president has announced it, we’ve already started our advocacy with the Department of Homeland Security to make sure that we have confidentiality protection. There is strong protection so that for individuals who come forward, and if for any reason are not qualified, their information is not shared with immigration. Or if a person comes forward to apply and is eligible, but has a relative who is not, it won’t affect the status of the family in any way. The relative who is not eligible will not be at risk for deportation.” Although this reprieve is temporary, the National Immigration Law Center is hopeful that the qualified immigrants will not reach the end of the road after the 3-year period before a real immigration reform is implemented. “The more people who come forward to apply, the more successful the implementation program will be. And the more successful the implementation, the harder it will be for the future administration, even the Republican administration, to try to take that away from the people”, added Hincapie. As for access to health care, the California Immigrant Policy Center is very optimistic that California residents, even undocumented immigrants, will have better access to health insurance once DAPA has been implemented and California Senator Ricardo Lara’s “Health For All Act” proposed measure is approved. Ronald Coleman, government affairs manager for California Immigrant Policy Center said, “We know that the administrative relief does not cover the total undocumented population. For instance, people that are not connected to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident as their child will not benefit. And since we know that some people will be left out, we have to focus on making sure that anybody in California has access to affordable health care benefits, regardless of immigration status.” But Coleman also said through the implementation of DAPA, it is believed that some of the undocumented individuals who actually have professional skills, but may have had “work barriers” and are unable to access their desired field of work , will now be able to receive work authorization. And consequently, will be able to have economic mobility and be able to move in to jobs that offer employmentbased insurance. Here are the answers to the FAQs on Obama’s executive action/DAPA (source: New
America Media, news report by Elena Shore): Who will benefit from Obama’s executive action? There are three main groups that will benefit under Obama’s plan: parents of U.S. citizens or Legal Permanent Residents; undocumented immigrants who came to the US before the age of 16; and spouses and children of Legal Permanent Residents. Parents: If you are a parent of a U.S. citizen or a parent of a Legal Permanent Resident and you have lived in the US continuously since Jan 1, 2010 and can pass a background check, you may be eligible to apply for Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) and a work permit. The program should be up and running by May 20, 2015. Those who arrived before age 16: Obama is removing the age cap from Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). So, if you were too old to qualify before, you may be able to qualify under the new DACA if you came to the U.S. before the age of 16, and have continuously lived in the U.S. since Jan 1, 2010. The DACA expansion is likely to go into effect Feb 20, 2015. Spouses and Children: Obama’s new program will allow spouses and children of Legal Permanent Residents to apply for a waiver so that they can get a green card sooner. Under current law, undocumented immigrants must
leave the U.S. to get a green card, which may trigger a three-year or 10-year bar that prevents them from entering the U.S. for that amount of time. They will now be able to apply from within the U.S. If I am granted deferred action, how long will it last? This is a temporary program that will protect you from deportation for three (3) years and it is renewable. Why is this temporary? Executive action is by its nature temporary. An act of Congress would be needed to create a more permanent solution. Will I be able to get a Social Security Number? Yes. When you get your work permit, go to your local Social Security office to apply for your number. Can I travel abroad under deferred action? Yes, but only if you apply for and are granted something called, “advance parole,” which gives you the authority to travel without being concerned about being stopped at a U.S. port of entry. How do I know if it’s safe to come forward? With DACA, the administration included certain confidentiality provisions that are a kind of firewall between USCIS and ICE. The same firewall will also be included in this program. How do I avoid being scammed? Be wary of anyone who says they can help you for a fee, before the new programs go into effect. There is nothing to apply for now, except for the current DACA program that was announced in 2012. The new DACA expansion that Obama announced is likely to go into effect Feb. 20, 2015 and the new deferred action program for parents is expected to go into effect May 20, 2015. So there is no reason to start See IMMIGRATION REFORM, page 14
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Simbang Gabi tradition endures The tradition of Simbang Gabi has endured for more than 400 years. The nine-day pre-dawn celebration of the Mass serves as a prelude to the climatic celebration of Christmas. Catholic churches in hundreds of different locations in the Philippines, and even at the corridors of malls and shopping centers have become venues for holding Masses in the hope of faithful earning favors from the Jesus Christ of having petitions granted. Considered as one of the oldest Catholic traditions, the observance starts on the sixteenth of known as “Misa de Aguinaldo” for the atDecember culminating on Dec. 24, with tendance and the sacrifice in attending the the faithful enduring the coldness of the nine-day midnight Mass has come to be morning and harboring big hopes that by considered as a gift (aguinaldo) to Jesus completing the attendance to the Masses whose birth. The practice made in preparathey will have gained the favors for their tion for receiving the greatest of God’s gift to mankind in the person of Jesus Christ, wishes and petitions to be granted. Church bells will peel as early as 4 a.m. the Savior of the World. Misa de Gallo, the other name of Simand 5 a.m. for nine days with the Misa de Gallo celebrated on Christmas even shortly bang Gabi, has come to be identified with the rooster crowing at the break of dawn before midnight. Mass attendance is “a gift for the Child which has come to signal that it was time Jesus, a sacrifice that requires dedication for the farmers and the fishermen to get up and work. These folks drop by the church and discipline,” a Church official said. The tradition of Simbang Gabi traces first before going to work and ask for grace its roots to Mexico in 1587, with the pope for a good harvest. Over generations, Simbang Gabi has granting the petition of Fray Diego de Soria to hold Masses outdoors as the church undergone some adjustments that concould not accommodate the large number sidered the realities of the times. Many parishes in the United States celebrate Simof attendees to the evening Mass. The ‘Simbang Gabi’ is an old tradition bang Gabi around 7 o’clock in the evening, with deep roots in the country’s religious not just in the morning to accommodate culture, dating back to 1565 when Spanish the needs of people on a great variety of “conquistador” Miguel Lopez de Legazpi work schedules. The Catholic leadership has encouraged celebrated the first Feast of the Nativity. Originally, Simbang Gabi (or Dawn the faithful to attend Simbang Gabi Masses Mass) came to be known as Misa de Agui- as the practice “is a great source of spiritual naldo and Misa de Gallo (Rooster’s Mass). nourishment as we prepare for the birth of The religious tradition has come to be our Lord Jesus Christ”.
BAN ANIMAL TESTING
Sy, Al-Os Accountancy Corp.:The partnership of accountants Victor Sy and Arlene Al-os is expected to strengthen the delivery of accounting and other services to its clients whose patronage has enabled it to exist for more than 30 years. The executives and staff of the accountancy group take brief time out before the blessing of its offices (From L-R): Eliza Esquillo, Elma Balmeyo, Arlene Al-os, Fr. Jose Carlos Corral of St. Andrews parish who officiated the blessing, Victor Sy, Liz Breva, Veronica Dolatre and Grace Zaide.
Anaheim-Stanton West Group: The Anaheim-Stanton West Group of Cornerstone Christian Fellowship of Orange County had their early Christmas celebration at a clubhouse in Stanton. The group meets regularly at various locations for their spiritual nourishments at Bible Studies under the leadership of Deacon Willy Lising of CCF.
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JAILHOUSE From page 1
one mansion to another.” Colanggo entered Bilibid in 2009 after a near decade-long reign as the leader of a feared bank robbery gang. “His gang was so bold and daring that their presence alone literally swept the vaults of all banks in all urban areas nationwide,” former Bilibid prison head Venancio Tesoro said in a post on his blog. Police say one of his gang’s bank heists on the outskirts of Manila left 10 people dead, making it one of the country’s bloodiest robberies. Colanggo was sentenced to 12 to 14 years in jail. Bilibid is infamous for overcrowding and the brutal conditions – it was built to accommodate 8,900 inmates but currently houses more than 23,000. Colanggo, though, was able to quickly buy his way into the privileged world of the prison’s top criminal kingpins, some of whom have previously even been caught leaving the jail for short periods of time. A star is born With lots of time on his hands, Colanggo decided to pursue his long-held ambition of becoming a music star, and rebranded himself “Herbert C”. He had a music studio built inside his prison villa and recorded a 10-song album of syrupy love songs called “Kinabukasan”, which means “Future”. Colanggo, who is believed to be in his late 30s, was picked up by one of the Philippines’ big music labels, Ivory Music and Video, and his first album, released this year, was a chart success. In one of many clips about his career posted on YouTube and other social media, Colanggo appears at a concert in the
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Bilibid gymnasium where he accepts an Ivory “platinum” record award for selling 15,000 albums. He also celebrates being voted “best new male recording artist” by a group of entertainment journalists this year, an accolade that garnered mainstream media coverage. “I’ve always dreamt of becoming a recording artist,” Colanggo, who portrays himself on Facebook as a newly devout and repentant Catholic, told local broadcaster ABS-CBN in a recent jailhouse interview. “I was raised well. I am a victim who lost his way.” Colanggo’s album can be bought for $3.99 from Apple’s iTunes store, and is also available on the streaming music service Spotify. AFP contacted Ivory on Thursday to ask about its relationship with Colanggo, but a staffer who answered the phone said the person in charge of his career was on leave and unavailable for comment. In the album’s lead single, which like his other songs are posted on YouTube, Colanggo sings in a raspy baritone of the pain of not being able to profess his love to a woman. The song’s music video was filmed in his prison studio, with him wearing lipstick and thick make-up that fails to hide acne scars. Colanggo, in a long-sleeved Bart Simpson shirt and auburn-tinted shades, sits on a bar stool while singing, backed up by a full band like a lounge singer. Special privileges Bureau of Corrections’ director Ferdinand Bucayu insisted on Thursday he had not known about Colanggo’s music career or special privileges, and pointed the finger at corrupt prison officials.
SAFEST CHRISTMAS From page 1
According to the latest update from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), robbery, theft, car and motorcycle napping incidents are at an all-time low of 534, compared to the weekly average of 900-1,000 petty crime incidents before the campaign was rolled out. “Wala nang bara-bara, kanya-kanya at ningas-cogon. With Tuwid na Daan, this is just the beginning of many other reforms,” Roxas said in Filipino. The DILG chief has already coordinated with PNP OIC Police Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina to ensure that high crime areas of convergence, especially malls in Metro Manila, will be under close watch of authorities.
“We saturate these areas with police personnel because criminals cluster around commercial areas,” said Roxas. Roxas has also coordinated with Espina to install checkpoints for public utility vehicles such as vans and taxis on major routes in Metro Manila. He explained that part of the operation plan is “Pasadya,” where police interventions have been designed based on the particular features of the environment. Force multipliers such as volunteer radio groups and barangay peacekeeping action teams (BPATs) have also been deployed with uniformed police personnel to help provide additional security in convergence areas.
US REJECTS
ished taking part in US-Philippine military exercises near Olongapo and had checked into the hotel with Laude, according to police. The high-profile case has inflamed antiUS feelings in the Philippines and strained diplomatic relations between the longtime allies, which both sought custody of the suspect. The US government has refused to hand custody of him over to the Philippine authorities. The American was first detained by his superiors aboard a US military vessel, then later transferred him to a Philippine military base in Manila, although under US military guard. Pemberton was driven before dawn from Manila to the Olongapo court, where he was booked and his mug shot taken before the judge ordered him remanded to the same detention facility, according to court officials. Journalists were barred from the court hearing which Pemberton, under heavy guard, attended as a procedural matter before the start of his trial.
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feelings and tested close military ties. The marine is under US military custody at a Philippine military base in Manila under a compromise arrangement, but the foreign department (ministry) sought full custody after the court issued its arrest warrant. “We are disappointed that the US has chosen to invoke their rights under the VFA to maintain custody of the accused,” foreign department spokesman Charles Jose said, referring to a 1998 Visiting Forces Agreement between the two military allies. He said the US embassy also reiterated a previous commitment to ensure Pemberton “complies with the requirement of any investigation or judicial proceedings in accordance with Philippine law”. Pemberton was charged with murder over the death of Jennifer Laude, 26, also known as Jeffrey, whose body was found at a cheap hotel in the red light district of the northern port of Olongapo in October. Pemberton, 19 at the time, had just fin-
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Getting around the residency requirement in a divorce case Under Family Code Section 2320, a judgment of marriage dissolution (divorce) may not be entered unless one of the spouses has been a “resident” of California for six months and of the county where the proceeding is filed for three months immediately preceding the filing of the petition. This poses a problem for divorcing couples that has not resided in California for at least 6 months. Couples that moved to California from other states or other countries are faced with this problem because they lar. Unlike a divorce, there is no residency cannot get divorced until they satisfy the requirement to filing an Annulment or a residency requirements. Even a bigger legal separation. problem is when they need immediate The advantage of this strategy is you temporary orders from the California Court would immediately have access to the regarding child custody, child support, courts and can ask the court for immediate management and control of community temporary orders needed to maintain the businesses and property. status quo or preserve the marital assets. If The solution for this type of problem is domestic violence is involved in the case, filing nullity or legal separation petition the domestic violence issue can be heard rather than a divorce and amending the in the same court room by the same judge petition later on to convert it to a divorce that would be hearing the divorce case. In once the residency requirement has been addition, service on the legal separation met by one of the parties. Millar v. Mil- petition (to be amended later to a divorce)
will also start the clock on the six-month “waiting period” for finality of a judgment terminating marital status, optimizing the time-frame within which the parties will be legally restored to “single” status. As far as the county where to file the legal separation or nullity, venue is proper in the county where either party resided at the time the petition was filed pursuant to CCP 395(a). Once the parties have satisfied the residency requirements, the Petition may be amended from legal separation to Dissolution without permission from the Court as long as notice is provided the opposing party under Marriage of Dick. The Petitioner would also be in a safer position if the intent to amend from legal separation/ nullity to a divorce is stated in the initial Petition. 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
Lives of danger, poverty on Philippines’ typhoon coast By Cecil Morella
Taft, Philippines | AFP | Saturday 12/20/2014 – Life is a constant throw of the dice for farmer Nilo Dilao and other residents of the Philippine island of Samar, the ground zero for many of East Asia’s deadliest storms. Homes, boats, crops, livestock and jobs are all on the line each time the monster winds roar in from the Pacific Ocean, leaving survivors to mourn their dead and pick up the broken pieces, year in and year out. “Life is a struggle here,” Dilao, 43, told AFP a few days after Typhoon Hagupit destroyed his shanty and killed more than 20 people this month. He likened the plight of local people to those of stray chickens. “We’re scratching at the soil non-stop in hopes of finding a scrap to eat,” he said.
Hagupit came a year after Super Typhoon Haiyan, the strongest ever storm recorded on land, killed 7,350 people on Samar and neighbouring islands. Samar, about half the size of Belgium, is often the first major Asian landmass hit by the more than 20 tropical storms or typhoons that are born in the Pacific Ocean each year. With much of the mountainous island stripped by deforestation, most of its 1.8 million residents live on narrow, sea-level strips along the coast, at the mercy of the storms’ ferocious winds and tsunami-like ocean surges. Living in the town of Taft on Samar’s east coast, the Dilao family survived both the storm surges of both Hagupit and Haiyan by fleeing to a nearby hill, waiting them out under a raggedy tent made
of bamboo frames and a tarpaulin sheet. In nearby San Julian, small-scale farmer Benjie Baldenero was also struggling to cope with having lost his home in Haiyan when it happened again in Hagupit. The 40-year-old spoke of pledging the next harvest as collateral so he could borrow money to rebuild his grass hut again and replace flooded rice seedlings. “We have not even repaid last year’s debts and here we are needing to take out more loans,” Baldenero told AFP. Typhoons and guerillas The vicious cycle ensures Samar and the neighbouring island of Leyte are among the poorest regions of the Philippines, accounting for just 2.2 percent of national economic output. “Bad weather plays a major role in shaping our economy because typhoons destroy
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, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Board 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, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com. practically everything in their path,” Ben Evardone, a congressman and former governor of Eastern Samar province, told AFP. Six in 10 people on Samar’s east coast are poor, according to government data, fuelling a decades-old communist insurgency that has largely petered out across the rest of the Philippines. Samar is one of only five regions of the country where New People’s Army rebels are still active, Philippine Army spokesman Colonel Noel Detoyato told AFP. “They continue to attract followers due to the poverty,” he said. Typhoons and guerrillas also mean the island attracts few outside investors, Evardone said. There are few jobs available except farming and fishing, which are among those most vulnerable to the extreme weather.
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Too much debt, not enough income? Are your growing debts causing you sleepless nights? Are you trying hard to pay what you can every month but feel like you’re just running on a treadmill? Do you get that sick feeling in your stomach every time you realize that you have gotten yourself in more debt than you can actually pay back? If it’s any consolation, you’re not alone. According to a recent survey, about one-third of households in this country are either just barely making it or are having trouble paying their your income is, how can you avoid debt debts each month. The Federal Reserve from creeping up on you? The banks and Board reports that the American consumer the credit card companies know that when debt is now at a record $2.5 trillion! For income is short, most people will resort to the first time in history, average Americans borrowing to make up for the shortage. owe more than they make. ABC News So now you know why consumer debt reported that in the last decade, credit is steadily increasing. Unless you get a card debt has increased 81 percent while handle on your finances and control your the average family’s income grew only by borrowing, you would be buried in a deep financial hole before you even realize it. 9%. This is scary. A lot of people owe so much that they If you are like the rest of the population and your debts are growing a lot faster than will never pay off their debts in their
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lifetime. Some of them have reached a point where they don’t even know how much they owe anymore. The only thing they do know is that they are broke every payday. They have zero savings and no money for unexpected emergencies. Any disruption or reduction of income can turn into a major financial emergency. Financial planners tell us that we should try to keep our debt-to-income ratio below 36% (about 28% for housing and 8% for other recurring debt payments). What’s your ratio? If you are caught in a vicious cycle of borrowing, you need to realize that this is a sure path to financial catastrophe unless you have the means to pay it all back. The
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first step is to review your finances in detail and know exactly where you stand, and then come up with a strategy to change course. Consult with an experienced and knowledgeable bankruptcy attorney in order to avert a potential financial disaster. Call my office at 866-477-7772 and request a free one-hour consultation to so that we can help you get out of debt and you can start fresh in 2015. DO IT NOW. (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, call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-866-477-7772).
Qualifying under the Expanded DACA Program Pres. Obama’s announcement of executive action on November 20, 2014, includes an expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that was implemented in 2012. To date, approximately 580,000 individuals have already been granted DACA benefits. It is estimated that approximately 290,000 individuals will benefit from the expansion of the program, raising the number of eligible individuals to approximately 1.5 million. To qualify for an initial grant of DACA under the expanded pro- significant misdemeanor, or three or more gram, all of the following requirements misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a must be fulfilled: 1) You must have arrived threat to national security or public safety; in the US before the age of 16; 2) You must and 7) If the individual has no final order have continuously resided in the US from of removal or pending removal case, be at before January 1, 2010, to the present; 3) least 15 years old. When the program was originally You must have been physically present in the US on November 20, 2014, and at implemented in 2012, it required applicants the time of filing the DACA application; to be under the age of 31 as of June 15, 4) You must have been out of status on 2012, to qualify. Realizing that this age November 20, 2014, either because you restriction arbitrarily disqualified too many entered the US without inspection, or very deserving individuals, the program because your lawful status expired; 5) On was expanded so that any individual could the date you file your application, you must qualify so long as they had entered the US either be in school, have graduated from a before the age of 16. US high school, have obtained a general The following are some common queseducation development (GED) certificate, tions related to the DACA program. Can I file a DACA application if I am in or were honorably discharged from the US Coast Guard or Armed Forces; 6) You removal proceedings? Yes. If you are in have not been convicted of a felony, a See AQUINO, page 15
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High Court’s pro-employer ruling on unpaid hours may not affect California claims
We previously reported on a case of warehouse employees at Integrity Staffing Solutions, Inc., a company which provides warehouse space and staffing to Amazon.com, who sued their employer in a class action, alleging that they spent as much as 25 minutes per day of unpaid time going through required security screenings at the end of their shifts. The employees argued that since the security screenings were intended to prevent theft and were even apply. thus is an integral and indispensable part Under California law, employees of the employer’s business, the time spent should be paid for all hours worked. for security checks should be paid as work “Hours worked” is that time during which hours. The case reached the U.S. Supreme an employee is subject to the control of Court. an employer. It includes all the time the Early this month, the high court ruled employee is suffered or permitted to work, that employees are not entitled to com- whether or not required to do so. Under pensation under the Federal Fair Labor this standard, we may not even have to Standards Act (“FLSA”) for the time they ask whether the time spent is part of the spend undergoing security screenings. employee’s “principal activities.” Under Even if the security screenings benefit- California law, employees must be paid for ted the employer, the Court explained that the time they are ‘subject to the control’ of employees should only be compensated for their employer even if they are not working pre-shift and post-shift activities that are (i.e., not performing their principal activan “integral” and “indispensable” part of ity) during that time. the employees’ “principal activities.” The Thus, so-called ‘unproductive’ time is Court reasoned that the workers’ principal still compensable. For example, employees activity is to retrieve products from ware- who were required to report to a particular house shelves and package those products site and travel on buses provided by their to Amazon customers. The security screen- employer are considered subject to the ings were not an integral and indispensable control of their employer, and must be part of retrieving and packaging products paid for their travel time, even if they were for shipment. The employer could have not performing their principal work while eliminated the screenings altogether travelling. without impairing the employees’ abilEmployees who spend time under their ity to complete their work. Therefore, employer’s control before or after their the employees do not have to be paid for scheduled shifts should not take their the time spent dealing with the screening time for granted. They should inquire procedures. with experienced employment attorneys Although the ruling is disappointing to to determine if additional wages are owed workers, we must note that the Integrity to them under the law. Staffing workers’ claim was brought un[C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is trial attorney der the FLSA, a federal law. For workers who has obtained several million dollar making a claim only under California’s recoveries for his clients against insurance laws on wages, this recent ruling may not companies and employers. He has been
selected as a Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, featured in the cover of Los Angeles Daily Journal’s Verdicts and Settlements, and is a member of the Million Dollar-Advocates Forum. He is a
graduate of Georgetown University Law Center Washington, D.C. and the University of the Philippines. Visit his website at www.joesayaslaw.com or contact his office at (818) 291-0088 for a no-cost inquiry.]
Aquino tells youth: Don’t just spend time on selfies, be involved in gov’t MANILA, Dec 19 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno Aquino III on Friday enjoined the Filipino youth to be involved in government instead of spending too much time on fads in the Internet age. Speaking before youth members of the Jesus is Lord Church Movement, Aquino said indifference among young Filipinos would put his administration’s reforms to waste. “Kung pipiliin ninyong magwalangbahala, mapepeste ang ating pinaghirapan at mababalik tayo sa lumang kalakaran,” he said in his speech. He further encouraged the youth to discuss politics among their friends. “Ngayong panahon po ng selfie at Internet, napakadali na ng pag-uusap tungkol sa pulitika at pakikisangkot sa lahat ng aspeto ng pamahalaan,” the President said. “Malinaw ang papel na ginagampanan ng ating mga kabataan sa pag-abot ng mga adhikain. Bilang mga magmamana ng bunga ng ating mga pagbabago, di hamak na mas matagal matatamasa ng mga kabataan bunga ng ating mga pagsisikap,” he added. A government census in 2010 showed that three in every ten Filipinos are below 15 years old, which means that the country has a young population. The same census showed that in 2010, half of the household population was younger than 23 years old. Be critical At the same time, Aquino reminded young Filipinos to be critical about what they see online.
“Huwag ninyo sanang kalimutang maging mapanuri. Hindi porket nakalagay sa Internet ay totoo lahat. Hindi porket viral o trending ay dapat pagkaabalahan,” the President said. Describing himself as “young at heart and young looking,” Aquino even made reference to current trends, such as taking selfies and mobile applications. He even described these fads as “distractions.” “Huwag puro selfie at pagpapalakas ng town sa Clash of Clans ang inyong aatupagin,” the President quipped, drawing loud applause from the audience.
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Chapter 13 plan confirmed but job loss imminent went bankrupt in 2007. Wife parents qualify for Obama amnesty Employer could not find another employer, so she CHAPTER 13 CONFIRMED This week, the court approved my client’s Chapter 13 case in Riverside. In Riverside, the 341 meetings presided by the Chapter 13 trustee are held in the morning, and the confirmation hearing of the case before the judge is held at 1:30 PM of the same day. In Los Angeles, Woodland Hills or Santa Ana, the 341 meetings precede the confirmation hearings by at least a month, with some judges, 3 to 6 months. The gap between the first and 2nd hearing allows debtors to case based on her testimony. But after the comply with trustee requirements to have hearing, client informed me that she may the plan confirmed before the judge at the lose her job next month because the comconfirmation hearing. In Riverside, you pany she worked for had been sold, and don’t have this convenience since both the sale requires all employees to leave and hearings are held within hours of each reapply, without assurance that she would other. Consequently, as much as possible, be rehired. What sad news. I suggested you want everything to go smoothly at the to husband that if he could drive around, morning hearing, so the court can confirm he could use “UBER� and make money the plan in the afternoon. Otherwise, you’ll driving people around with his own car, have to return in two weeks and go through and that they take in renters to create some the same process. In yesterday’s case, cli- income, because if future plan payments ent filed Chapter 13 to prevent foreclosure are not made, or future mortgage payments on her home for a mortgage default of are not made timely, case will be dismissed about $20,000. Her mortgage payment or bank can get permission from the court was very reasonable at $1,040 a month at to continue foreclosure. This may take 2% interest after a loan modification, but one or two months but certainly, eventuhusband lost his job 18 months ago and has ally, clients will lose their house, and they used up all unemployment benefits. Thus, would still have rent that is more than their even a mortgage payment that is even less mortgage payment. Nevertheless, I am than rent can be burdensome when house- sure our God will provide for their needs because He loves them so. hold income is reduced. PARENTS QUALIFY The trustee requested for some docuFOR OBAMA AMNESTY ments at the morning hearing, and would Client entered the United States in not object to confirmation provided they were filed in by 1:30 PM. I filed the docu- 1995, undocumented, through the Mexican ments requested, and the only problem left border, and has been living in Los Angeles was that the December mortgage due yes- since then. When he came, he was 25 years terday had not been paid. At the afternoon old. He is now 44 years old and still illegal. hearing, I presented client to the court to He married his wife 10 years ago. His wife testify that she would make the mortgage entered the United States in 2003 by H1-B payment, and so the judge confirmed the visa, and started working for the employer.
has been out of status for 7 years. Wife is 38 years old, and a professional. Client and wife are employed but getting much less than what they should, if they were authorized to work. Husband is an engineer but works in a gas station, working long hours as a cashier. Wife works as a customer service rep. They have 3 children aged 6, 4 and 2 who were all born in Los Angeles. Husband and wife now seek a work permits under the President’s immigration program. Do they qualify? The law requires that on November 20, 2014, applicant must have a son or daughter who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. Since all their children are born here, children are U.S. citizens, so they meet this condition. The law requires the applicant to have continuously resided here since before January 1, 2010. Client entered through Mexico in 1995, and wife entered in 2003, so they meet this condition. The law requires applicant to have no lawful status on November 20, 2014. Client and wife are both out of status for many years. Further, the law requires that applicant be physically present here on November 20,
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2014; and at the time of application, applicant has no criminal record and there are no other factors, in the exercise of discretion, makes approval inappropriate. So, it looks like clients have a good case. The problem is the evidence required to prove all of the above circumstances, particularly, client’s entry through Mexico in 1995. Since all applications will be decided on a case-by-case basis, evidence presented must be credible. Act now, and set an appointment to see me for a free consultation to see if you qualify. I look forward to help qualify under this immigration program. “PRAISE BE TO THE LORD, TO GOD OUR SAVIOR, WHO DAILY BEARS OUR BURDENS.� Psalms: 68:19. 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.
Make your healthy life worth something – For you and for others For around 4 years now, I have been writing articles on Medicare and Obamacare. These are 2 pieces of legislation that revolutionized the way Americans secure their health – one (Medicare) enacted in 1965 and the other (Obamacare), in 2010. Another legislation – MediCaid, a federal program administered by the state, works hand in hand with the other 2, to provide financial assistance to the low-income population. ers; never too useless to make a difference I would like to think that these legisla- in someone else’s life. tions would somehow add years to your If you can’t walk, try reading a book to lives. My wish for you this Christmas is a young boy or a dying man; if you can’t that all of you would live up to a hundred, read, try telling your story of struggle to or even more. someone who may draw lessons therefrom; My articles’ intent has been invariably if you can’t travel far, join your neighborto inform, to engage your minds, to discuss hood council and advocate for the values current events, to take sides on a question, that you hold dear. to raise hidden issues, and to inspire. There is always something you can do. I have so much faith on people that And even if others become ungrateful, heed I trust you will not waste your healthy Mother Teresa’s call when she said: “Do lives on irresponsible discourses (tsimis), it, anyway.� rude name calling of others, uneventful Merry Christmas, everyone! activities (tong its), or just do nothing (isLeo Monsalud hails from Sta. Cruz, tambay). These activities have their time Zambales. He studied for MBA and Law and place, as in if they serve a particular at the University of the Philippines. He purpose. worked for United Laboratories, Inc. where I believe that no matter what state your his last position held was vice-president life is in right now, you can make yours a assigned as general manager of a division. healthy great life. Somehow, in your past, He was a joint-venture partner of the there are memories that you just don’t want San Miguel Corporation in an agri-business to throw away. Build on that great memory project. He holds CA license # 0G55218 to chart the course of your future. For you, and a Non-Resident license for Nevada. He your loved ones, relatives and friends. is a Certified Insurance Agent for Covered You are never too poor to share your California. He may be reached at 323-535blessings; never too destitute to inspire oth- 7373 or, e-mail at: leo.balita@gmail.com.
OBAMA REFORM From page 7
paying anyone for immigration services now, especially if they promise to get you to the front of the line, to receive extra benefits, or anything else that sounds too good to be true. How Much Will It Cost? The application fee will be $465. However, you can inquire about microloan programs and other means of help for lowincome families. What Happens After Three Years? There is no guarantee, but the more people that come forward and apply and received deferred action, the harder it will be for future administration to rescind this program. Will this include adoptive parents and stepparents? Yes, parents with adoptive children and
step-children count, but only if the parents were married before the stepchild was 18, or if the child was adopted before the age of 16 and has lived with the parent for two years. Will the expansion include LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender)? Yes, but additional guidance is needed to make sure this program is accessible to all LGBT parents. For example, it is unknown how this will affect couples who live in one of the 35 states where there are no explicit protections for same-sex couples to petition for second-parent adoptions. Where Can I go for more information? Stay tuned to USCIS.gov for the latest information on immigration reform: www. uscis.gov/immigrationaction or contact Asian Americans Advancing Justice - LA at 1-888-349-9695 for information on health care, DACA and other concerns.
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Refinancing to remove your PMI or lower your rate It’s been five years since the financial system collapsed and the housing bubble burst, and it’s been a long and steady road to recovery. The housing market has only been on the mend over the last year, and according to experts, it still has some healing to do. New home sales hit their highest level since May 2008 in June, fewer homeowners are underwater and home prices in the country’s 20 largest cities were up 12.1% in June from a year earlier. refinancing, make sure you do the no cost I think we are 72% back to normal and refinancing. Adding costs of refinancing to a lot of what is driving the housing market’s your loan will sometime defeat the purpose strength is existing home sales, but prices of your intention and just line up pocket have also helped push the recovery. of the lender. Sales of new U.S. single-family homes There are loans available for borrowers vaulted to a five-year high in June, accord- with only a 10% equity that do not need to ing to the Commerce Department. It is carry a PMI payment, please inquire about slower now due to the weather and this is this program. the typical season where the real estate Real prices bottoming in 2012 market tends to slow down, mainly because Housing experts say U.S. home prices agents are taking a break too. peaked in early 2006 and fell to record lows If we continue to see good sales next in 2012. The widely-watched Case-Shiller year, we expect them to increase 5%-8% home price index fell to its lowest level at as prices continue to rise. The market isn’t the end of 2008. fully running on eight cylinders yet, we are Smith says home prices began to imnot really out of the woods yet. prove in 2011 when the market had almost What do you do when you were fortu- digested the crisis and left the average nate enough to have bought home within median home price at $166,100. Now he the past three –four years? Work out your says the average price is $213,500 -- up payment terms and get rid of your PMI if 15% from last year. you are still paying on it. Conventional and Distressed Sales FHA loan that was written with more than a Smith from the NAR says during the 80% loan to value most likely carried PMI. height of the crisis, distressed sales, which First thing you should do is to make include foreclosures and short sales, made sure you have the equity requirement from up 49% of the market. Now, that number your lender to be able to remove your PMI, is closer to 12%. Last year, RealtyTrac you can obtain an appraisal and submit the reported foreclosure filings fell 34% in report to your lender. Before you do that August as first-time defaults dropped to the please check if you have any time restric- lowest level in almost eight years, thanks tions, some pmi companies will require to rising home prices. for you to keep the PMI for 5 years, some Refinancing your loan even when you maybe 2. are unemployed. If your interest rates are above 4% If you are unemployed MHA Making and you cant take out the pmi with your Home affordable can help you get relief lender, maybe you should consider a full to avoid foreclosure. MHA could offer
AQUINO From page 12
removal proceedings, you can file a DACA application with CIS. If you are currently detained, then you need to request deferred action from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. You may also apply for DACA if you have a removal order, an administrative closure, or voluntary departure order. What documents can I use to prove continuous residency and physical presence? School transcripts, tax returns, payroll records, bank accounts, lease agreements, and other contracts or receipts that show you were in the US at the requisite times are helpful. Bank accounts should show activity, and tax returns should illustrate that you worked throughout the year. This is not a complete list. Any documents that show you were in the US would be helpful. What crimes are considered serious misdemeanors? A serious misdemeanor includes two types of misdemeanors. First, a conviction for one of the following crimes, regardless of the sentence, is considered a serious misdemeanor: burglary, domestic violence, sexual abuse or exploitation, unlawful possession or use of a firearm, driving under the influence (DUI), or drug distribution or trafficking. Second, any other misdemeanor for which you were sentenced to more than 90 days imprisonment is considered a serious misdemeanor. If I did not graduate from high school, what can I do? If you did not graduate high school, you can enroll in school now to qualify for DACA. The types of programs that the DHS will accept for current enrollment are as follows: 1) Public or private elementary, junior high or high schools; 2) Vocational or career training programs; 3) Certain English as a Second Language
courses; and 4) Educational programs assisting individuals with obtaining a high school diploma or GED. If my application for DACA is approved, will I be able to travel outside of the US? Individuals granted DACA may obtain an advance parole travel document if they are able to demonstrate that there is a legitimate humanitarian, educational or employment purpose necessitating travel. There may be consequences to traveling outside the US, however, so individuals should seek legal advise before traveling. How long is the grant of deferred action valid? The expansion of DACA included extending the validity period from 2 years to 3 years. Individuals must note that DACA is only an executive policy, and therefore can be changed at any point in the future. Applicants should therefore proceed with applying as soon they are eligible. The DACA program is certainly a bright light in what has been such a struggle for so many. The implementation of the expanded program is estimated to be on or about February 18, 2015. Individuals who qualify under the original program, however, may continue to apply now. It is vital that individuals take advantage of the golden opportunities that DACA provides and not allow fear to prevent them from realizing their full potential and opportunities. For further information, please schedule an appointment with an attorney at Aquino & Loew, Certified Immigration Law Specialists; (888) 797-1140 or (626) 799-3089; info@aquinoloew.com. Please also visit Aquino & Loew at www.aquinoloew.com and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter. Aquino & Loew also handles family law and criminal matters. Providing Personalized Service Nationwide & Abroad Since 1996.
solutions that could help you: Get mortgage relief while searching for re-employment. Reduce your monthly mortgage payments and rates. Get help when you owe more than the home is worth. Leave your home without the sting of foreclosure. I spoke to a government employee who I have a direct contact, she says the program will require your lender to do a forbearance payment while you are looking for work to avoid foreclosure. Please call me for further details or call Making home affordable direct 888-995-4673. I have mentioned before that these programs will evolve to help more borrowers towards the later stages of the process, it might be too late for some but not all. So, now that the government finally or maybe got their programs to help homeowners in
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order, this is the time for some to try and get that help . For those who tried to modify on their own and is not getting anywhere with their lenders, please send an email to : escalations@hmpadmin.com. Write a complete scenario of what is going on with your loan mod and MHA is suppose to act quickly and call your lender to speed up the approval. I hope all of you can take advantage of these low interest rates before they start to go up, get rid of your pmi, convert your adjustables to fixed rate mortgages, call now to know how you can save on your monthly rates and payments without paying for anything at all. Call Ken Go of 1st Innovative Finance , 28 years of helping homeowners save and move thru the right path of homeownership. Call Ken at 562-508-7048 or write to kennethgo@verizon.net. Like us on Facebook at 1st Innovative Finance.
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OPINION
Cuba coup for pope with the popular touch By Jean-Louis De La Vaissiere
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Wednesday 12/17/2014 - Pope Francis’s pivotal role in a landmark breakthrough in US-Cuba relations was the latest coup for a pontiff whose personality and popularity have made him an influential player on the global stage. As the world digested news of the historic rapprochement, it emerged that the Vatican had played a central role in bringing together the global capitalist superpower and the tiny communist island whose mutual animosity once brought the planet to the brink of nuclear war. The success reflects how, barely 18 months after he was elected the leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics, Francis has given Vatican diplomacy the kind of profile it has not enjoyed since Jean-Paul II was being seen as a key player in the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of communism in eastern Europe. Congratulating Barack Obama and his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro for taking a major step towards the normalisation of relations, Francis revealed that he had offered his offices in October to “facilitate a constructive dialogue on delicate matters, resulting in solutions acceptable to both parties.” Underlining the extent to which Vatican diplomacy has been given new impetus under Francis, a statement said the Argentinian pope would continue to support the opening of a new chapter in relations between the former adversaries. As a Latin American himself and as a long-standing critic of unfettered capitalism, Francis was well-placed to be regarded by the Cubans as a man they could do business with. But he also enjoyed credibility with the American side thanks to the Vatican’s long involvement in efforts to promote democracy in Cuba, a predominately Catholic island despite being run by communists since the 1959 overthrow of a brutal US-backed dictatorship by forces led by Fidel Castro. Visits by John Paul II in 1998 and Francis’s now-retired predecessor Benedict XVI in 2012 were seen as milestones in the rapprochement between the Vatican and communist regime, but also significant events in terms of indicating to the world that the Cuban regime was open to change. Popular touch With his popular touch and willingness to take a stance on issues such as development, exploitation, immigration and social injustice, the pope has become a personality that other world leaders feel obliged to listen to. That has been reflected by the string of heads of state and government beating a path to the Vatican in the hope that some of Francis’s star quality will rub off on them. His interventions on the diplomatic stage are led by Italian cardinal Pietro Parolin, a softly-spoken veteran of Vatican diplomacy who was this year dispatched to Venezuela to act as an intermediary during a tense stand-off between the government and opposition in the South American state. Francis’s style is different from that of the Polish pope, Jean Paul II, who was far more overtly political and never shied away from revealing his hostility to the principles and practice of communism in his homeland and the rest of the Soviet empire. Francis likes to insist he is but a humble priest, constantly emphasising the pastoral over the political. He sees his role in international politics as a facilitator, someone who can take a strong moral stance on a particular situation, make the case for dialogue and then withdraw, leaving the parties to a particular conflict to make the moves required for peace themselves.
Aquino Stay nuetral neutral Aquino to to soldiers: Stay MANILA, Dec 18 (Mabuhay) – President Aquino exhorted members of the military to stay neutral and not to allow themselves to be used by those with vested interests. During the 79th AFP Day celebration at Camp Aguinaldo, Aquino also told the troops to ensure peaceful elections in 2016. “Huwag kayong magpapadala sa tukso o magpapakaladkad sa sinumang nagbabalak na ilihis tayo sa tuwid na landas,” Aquino said. “Nalalapit na po ang 2016, at alam naman po natin na sa panahon ng halalan, talagang may mga magpupumilit pa ring gamitin kayo para sa pansariling interes. Ang atas ng taumbayan: Tungkulin nating siguruhin ang katiwasayan pagdating ng halalan. Inaasahan ang inyong hanay na manatili sa panig ng taumbayan.” The AFP paraded its latest equipment as a result of the military’s modernization program. Aquino said more will be coming and left strong words directed at those he said who would want to bring back the old system. “...Sa mga nagnanais pang ibalik ang inyong institusyon sa lumang kalakaran: Mahiya naman kayo, at matakot din. Hindi titigil ang reporma, at hindi titigil ang aming pagsisikap para masigurong mananagot ang mga tiwali,” Aquino said. Aquino lauded military personnel who served in notable missions, including disaster response, peacekeeping efforts in Golan Heights, and the supply mission to Ayungin shoal. Awards were given to 28 outstanding personnel, including leaders of Filipino peacekeepers in Golan Heights and Ebola-stricken Liberia.
Cubans in Miami Slam ‘betrayal’ after historic move By Diego Urdaneta
Miami, United States | AFP | Wednesday 12/17/2014 – Cubans in Miami’s Little Havana reacted with anger – and a sprinkling of hope –to President Barack Obama’s dramatic bid Wednesday to end a half-decade Cold War with the communistruled island. “It is a betrayal. The talks are only going to benefit Cuba,” said Carlos Munoz Fontanil in Calle Ocho, the historic heart of an exile community that has long pined for the fall of the Castro regime in Havana. He spoke as dozens of people gathered outside Cafe Versailles, a Little Havana landmark, to protest the rapprochement announced almost simultaneously in Washington and Havana by Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro, 83. Declaring a “new chapter” in US relations with Cuba, Obama agreed with Castro to restore full diplomatic relations severed since 1961 and to work to lift a US trade embargo imposed in 1960. The agreement was capped with a Cold War-like prisoner swap. “I knew this was going to happen,” said a frustrated Osvaldo Hernandez, of the anti-Castro organization Vigilia Mambisa, clearly unhappy with the developments as he joined protesters carrying a sign denouncing Washington’s “betrayal.” Hernandez, 50, said he suspected Obama had been planning the opening for a long time, but pinned his hopes on a Republican-controlled Congress. “The trade embargo will never be lifted,” he said. Outrage toward Obama An equally outraged Felix Tirse, who arrived from Cuba 53 years ago, said Obama’s surprise announcement showed “a lack of respect.” “He is more communist than the rest of them,” he said. Munoz Fontanil also fulminated against Obama and warned that the United States was “marching toward disaster, the country is marching to the left.”
Tomas Regalado, the Cuban-born mayor of Miami, arrived on Calle Ocho to commiserate. “It’s sad that the US has given everything in exchange for nothing,” he said, referring to Cuba as “still a terrorist nation.” “You would hope that request for democracy or free elections or to free Cuban political prisoners would have been part of the deal,” he said. A senior US administration official said 53 Cubans regarded by Washington as political prisoners will be released as part of the agreement reached with Havana. ‘Not all bad’ A few Cubans, who have forged deep roots in the United States, shrugged off the news. “I have no interest in Cuba. It doesn’t affect me,” said Pedro Alvarez, a 79-year-old retiree who has spent the last 52 years in the United States. Alvarez was at another Calle Ocho landmark, a park where Cubans and others gather during the day to play dominos. “Will relations improve? I doubt it, after more than half a century of quarrelling,” he said. The older generation of Cuban-Americans—who lost property and businesses, and family to political violence—tends to be far more passionately antiCastro than their Cuban-American grandchildren. The same is true for the thousands of CubanAmericans who migrated here in recent years, who grew up under the communist regime, now in their 20s, 30s and 40s—and are far more open to engaging with Havana. Normalizing ties “is better because my people are going to benefit from it,” said Eduardo Deido, a 19-year-old student who arrived in Miami at age five. Deido, who said he feels more comfortable speaking English than Spanish, still has relatives to whom he sends money in Cuba. His new dream, he said, would be to help them more, or help them immigrate to the United States. du/jm-mdl/rcw/pst © 1994-2014 Agence France-Presse
Take custody of Pemberton now: Chiz Centerlaw welcomes the issuance of the Warrant of Arrest against Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton of the United States Marine Corps for the murder of Jennifer Laude. Centerlaw represents the family of Jennifer Laude. According to Ethel Avisado, lawyer and Bertha Foundation Fellow with Centerlaw, “We are closely monitoring what actions that the government will take, in particular the Department of Foreign Affairs, to ensure that the Warrant of Arrest is served and we get custody of Pemberton at the soonest possible time.” Centerlaw’s position is that the custody of Pemberton should be with the Philippine authorities and that he should be jailed in the same manner in which any other person charged with a crime in the Philippines is jailed. According to the provisions of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), in Article V(1)(a), Philippine authorities shall have jurisdiction over United States personnel with respect to offenses committed within the Philippines and punishable under the law of the Philippines. Further, the VFA provides, in Article V(4), 4. Within the scope of their legal competence, the authorities of the Philippines and the United States shall assist each other in the arrest of United States personnel in the Philippines and in handing them over to authorities who are to exercise jurisdiction in accordance with the provisions of this article. While Article V(6) of the VFA allows for the United States to request for custody over any US personnel over whom the Philippines is to exercise jurisdiction, the Philippines may opt not to refuse such a request. This is clear from the Senate deliberations on the VFA and the text of the VFA itself. The official position of the Philippione government as contained in the Department of Justice
(DOJ) Opinion No. 094 dated August 10, 1998 where former Secretary Serafin Cueves stated that in extraordinary cases or cases of particular importance, the Philippines may deny the US request for custody and even demand to retain custody of the US offender. Centerlaw Chair Harry Roque states, “We demand that the Philippine government immediately take custody of Pemberton. This does not only concern justice for Jennifer Laude’s family now. It is justice for every Filipino now as well. The government must prove that is will not cower to the demands of the Americans and fully assert the rights of the Filipino people.” Roque added that, “ DOJ Undersecretary Jose F. Justiniano should stay away from this case for he has a clear conflict of interest being part of the legal defense team of US soldier Lance Corporal Daniel Smith in the People of the Philippines versus Smith rape case”.
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Who has legal authority over US Marine?
The bigger issue regarding the murder trial of U.S. Marine Joseph Pemberton which needs to be resolved without damaging the American-Philippine relations is who has the legal authority over the murder suspect. Both the United States and the Philippines are claiming that their government has the right to claim legal custody of a U.S. military personnel under criminal investigation or indictment as stated in the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) in 1998. If we are going to base it on a Philippine Supreme Court ruling handed down in 2009 involving another found probable cause against the U.S. American military personnel accused of serviceman. They said Pemberton used raping a Filipino woman also in Subic “treachery, abuse of superior authorCity, then it is the Philippine govern- ity and cruelty” against the victim. ment which has legal custody of any Although Pemberton is incarcerated at the American soldier accused of a crime if Joint US Military Assistance Group (JUScommitted within Philippine jurisdiction. MAG) headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo The United States is seeing it differently since the start of the preliminary investigabased on their own interpretation of the tion in October, he is still not considered 1998 VFA. under Philippine custody since the place It is the hope of everybody that both where he is right now is considered “U.S. U.S. and Philippine government officials territory.” will be able to negotiate amicably the “cusWith the formal filing of murder charges tody issue” without damaging the cordial against Pemberton, the court, through the relationships nurtured through the years by Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) , both countries. requested that the U.S. government transfer I hope too that they will resolve this sen- Pemberton to Philippine custody while sitive issue before it becomes a full blown undergoing trial. “tug-of-war” between both countries. However, the U.S. Embassy in Manila No less than President Aquino in a state- rejected the request and instead informed ment said that the case should not “sour” DFA that U.S. would retain custody of the country’s relations with the United Pemberton as provided by the US-PhilStates – the Philippine’s most important ippine VFA, which allows the temporary diplomatic and military ally. Because of stay of American military forces in the what seems to be an unabated Chinese country during military exercises. aggression in a long-running territorial Embassy officials were saying that dispute with the Philippines in the South under the VFA, which allows American China Sea, President Noynoy has been soldiers to conduct military drills in the asking for greater American presence in Philippines, the Philippine government the country. can prosecute American servicemen but Pemberton has been formally charged the U.S. government has custody over them in court last week for the murder of “from the commission of the crime until Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude, a Filipino the completion of all judicial proceedings.” transgender woman inside a motel in Subic city, Zambales. He will not be The U.S. government, through its emallowed to post bail. Pemberton will bassy in Manila, also reiterated its pledge serve a 40-year jail term if convicted. to cooperate fully in the prosecution of the The Olongapo City Regional Trial Court American soldier. (RTC) issued last week a warrant for A press release coming from the U.S. the arrest of Pemberton. Prosecutors Embassy also stated that the U.S. govern-
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ment will ensure that it will continue to work closely with the Philippine government to help ensure that justice is served and the rights of all persons are protected. It added that the U.S. will make Pemberton available for all appearances required from time to time by the court in the course of his trial. However, by not “honoring” its previous pledge to cooperate fully in the prosecution of Pemberton by not turning him over to the Philippine government, the DFA had expressed disappointment that its number one ally in Asia has chosen to invoke its rights under the VFA to maintain custody of the murder suspect. Meanwhile, if Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago will have her way, she would rather have Pemberton detained at the overcrowded Manila City Jail for the murder of Laude. Santiago is the chairman of the Senate’s foreign relations committee. Santiago made the comment while being interviewed by reporters in the Senate lounge. Senator Santiago, who is also the chairman of the Senate’s legislative oversight committee on the VFA, has a different view on the matter. The senator said Pemberton should be turned over to Philippine authorities and detained in a local facility. According to the feisty lady Senator, her view on the VFA is that jurisdiction should be with Philippine authorities over a suspect in a crime committed within its territory once he or she has been identified and after a warrant of arrest has been issued. She also said that the Philippine govern-
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ment has the authority to determine where the person will be detained. She added that normally, any person who has been formally charged in court goes to a city jail. Senator Santiago is right. A former regional trial court judge herself, Santiago said Pemberton should be held in a city jail. She also said that Pemberton should be treated like an ordinary person arrested by law enforcers and should not be given preferential treatment if and when he will be detained in a city jail. The Pemberton case is the second incident involving U.S. personnel since the VFA was signed by United States and the Philippines. In 2005, an American soldier named Daniel Smith, was arrested and charged for allegedly raping a Filipino woman after a night of drinking also in Subic city. Smith was held at the U.S. Embassy in Manila throughout the trial. After being convicted and sentenced to life in prison by a Philippine court, the “custody issue” on the VFA was raised by the U.S. However, the Philippine Supreme Court ruled in 2009 that a convicted American military personnel must serve sentence in Philippine detention and asked the government to negotiate with Washington the transfer of Smith from the U.S. Embassy to the National Bilibid Prison. While negotiations were going on, the Court of Appeals overturned Smith’s conviction when the victim recanted her previous testimony against Smith. Several left leaning organizations and women’s rights organizations were disSee Parazo, page 27
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obsession with dieting lies an oft-pondered question that not even many healthcare professionals can answer correctly: Where do the lost pounds go? A new study from the University of New South Wales says the mass is exhaled as carbon dioxide. “There is surprising ignorance and confusion about the metabolic process of weight loss,” says Professor Andrew Brown, head of the UNSW School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences. Losing 10 kilograms of fat necessitates inhaling 29 kilograms of oxygen, according to Dr. Brown and his research team, who say this process produces 28 kilograms of carbon dioxide and 11 kilograms of water. The authors traced the atoms in 10 kilograms of fat during the weight loss process and said 8.4 of them were exhaled through the lungs as carbon dioxide, becoming part of the atmosphere. The rest of the weight – 1.6 kilograms to be exact – becomes water that leaves the body in the form of fluids such as urine, feces, sweat, breath and tears. The authors interviewed 150 health professionals including doctors, dieticians and personal trainers, 50 percent of whom had mistakenly thought the fat was converted into energy or heat.
Mass,” says co-author Ruben Meerman, a physicist and Australian TV science presenter. “We suspect this misconception is caused by the energy in-energy out mantra surrounding weight loss.” Other troubling misconceptions revealed themselves, for some respondents thought that the fat’s metabolites were excreted in feces or converted to muscle. A frequently asked question was whether breathing more can cause weight loss, the answer to which is no, say the authors. Breathing more than the body’s metabolic rate requires leads to hyperventilation, which can cause dizziness, palpitations and loss of consciousness, according to the authors. Still others were curious to know whether weight loss could contribute to global warming. “This reveals troubling misconceptions about global warming which is caused by unlocking the ancient carbon atoms trapped underground in fossilised organisms,” says Mr Meerman, who also presents the science of climate change in high schools around Australia. “The carbon atoms human beings exhale are returning to the atmosphere after just a few months or years trapped in food that was made by a plant.”
Mandaluyong Civic Group of Southern California (MANDACAL) during their Christmas Carol in front of Cara Mia Gelato shop in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles.
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FOOD & DINING Honey Nut Dressing Servings: 6 1 cup Minute® Brown Rice, uncooked 1 tablespoon butter or margarine 1/4 cup chopped walnuts 3/4 cup chopped onion 3/4 cup chopped celery 1/2 cup raisins 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional) 2 tablespoons honey 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1/4 teaspoon salt Prepare rice according to package directions. Melt butter or margarine in large skillet over medium heat. Add walnuts; cook and stir until lightly toasted. Add onions and celery; cook and stir until crisp-tender. Stir in rice and remaining ingredients. Heat thoroughly, stirring occasionally. FAMILY FEATURES
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hen you are looking for a taste of yesteryear this holiday season, look no further than your pantry for a staple you can incorporate into holiday meals, including snacks, breakfast, the big dinner and even desserts. Instant white or brown rice and multi-grain blends provide easy ways to put a fresh twist on traditional recipes your family knows and loves. For a delicious, modern take on classic family favorites, look for ways to integrate current or seasonal flavors that complement the original recipe. Start new family mealtime traditions with easy recipe makeovers. For example, traditional broccoli, cheese and rice casserole only gets better with bacon, and using quinoa adds a subtle new texture. You can also give your sweet potato casserole a lift with white or brown rice for an updated take on this revered dish. Using a quick and wholesome ingredient like fluffy Minute Rice saves cooking time so you can transform your favorite recipes while spending less time in the kitchen and more time with loved ones. These recipes demonstrate how to update recipes from a frittata and casserole to dressing and stuffing for new ways to enjoy the classics this holiday season. Explore more recipes and preparation tips at www.minuterice.com.
Sweet Potato Rice Casserole Servings: 6 1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple in natural juice, drained (reserve juice) 1 cup Minute® White Rice or Minute® Brown Rice, uncooked 1 large egg, lightly beaten 1 can (5 ounces) evaporated skim milk 1 can (15 ounces) sweet potatoes, drained 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups miniature marshmallows Preheat oven to 400°F. Measure reserved pineapple juice and add enough water to make 1 cup. Prepare rice according to package directions using juice-water mixture. In large bowl combine pineapple, rice, egg, milk, sweet potatoes and cinnamon. Mix well. Spread in 2-quart casserole dish. Top with marshmallows. Bake 20 minutes, or until marshmallows begin to brown.
E. Gladstone St.
468 W. ARROW HWY. COVINA, CA. 91722
S. Citrus Ave
Servings: 6–8 1 cup Minute® Brown Rice 4 thick cut bacon slices, cut into 1/2-inch pieces 4 scallions, thinly sliced (whites and greens divided) 1 cup frozen shelled edamame 6 eggs 3/4 cup sour cream, divided 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt Preheat oven to 400°F. Prepare rice according to package directions. While rice cooks, sauté bacon pieces in 10-inch ovenproof skillet over medium heat until starting to crisp, about 5 minutes. Drain off all but 1 tablespoon bacon fat, then add scallion whites and edamame (or if desired, use 1 cup frozen green peas) to the bacon in the pan and sauté 1 minute. Add cooked rice, and sauté 1 minute. In a bowl, whisk together eggs, 1/2 cup sour cream and salt. Add egg mixture to pan, swirling gently to distribute mixture evenly throughout other ingredients. Cook undisturbed for 2–3 minutes, until edges look set. Then place pan in preheated oven until set in center, about 10 minutes. Mix together scallion greens with remaining 1/4 cup sour cream. Serve frittata in wedges topped with a dollop of scallion cream.
Servings: 4 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/2 cup chopped onion 1/4 cup chopped fresh celery 1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning 1/2 cup dried cranberries
S. Azusa Ave
Brown Rice Frittata with Bacon and Edamame
Cranberry Pecan Multi-Grain Stuffing
1 cup chicken broth 1 bag Minute® Multi-Grain Medley, uncooked 1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted Salt and ground black pepper, optional Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and celery, and cook 2 minutes. Add poultry seasoning, cranberries and broth. Bring to boil, and stir in rice. Cover, reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat, and let stand 5 minutes. Stir in pecans and season with salt and pepper, if desired.
W. Arrow Hwy
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ENTERTAINMENT Aiko wants another baby with Jomari Actress Aiko Melendez wants to have another baby with former husband Jomari Yllana The actress stressed she and Yllana have remained good friends, although she denied that they are back in each other’s arms. “Sabi ko, ‘Dada, sana pag-40 ko ay magkaroon pa ako ng isa pang anak. Ayaw ko naman magkaroon ng anak sa iba na naman. Gusto ko na kung sakali 40 years old at single ka at single ako bakit hindi natin subukan na tayo na lang,’” admitted Melendez, who is turning 39 next month. “Siyempre tinawanan na naman ako ng lolo mo at nagwet ng lips niya, the very Jomari Yllana acting. So sabi
ko, ‘Huwag ka ngang kiligin diyan.’ Sabi niya, ‘baliw ka talaga.’ Sabi ko, ‘Hindi ba kaya mo ako mahal kasi baliw ako?’ Sabi niya sa akin hindi naman magbabago ang pagtingin niya,” she added. Asked how she and Yllana have maintained their friendship, Melendez replied: “Prayers. Kasi ipinagdasal ko talaga na maging okay ako, not only kay Jomari, pati kay Martin (Jickain), ‘yung tatay ni Marthene and kay Maggie (Tirol), wife ni Martin whom I love and respect kasi sobrang close kami ni Maggie... lahat ‘yan pinagdasal ko. That’s one thing na ni regalo sa akin ng Diyos.” Yllana is the father of Melendez’s son Andrei. (MNS)
Aiko Melendez
Regalo ng Pechanga Resort & Casinio sa Baong Taon: Filipina pop star Princess Sarah Geronimo Live sa Enero 16, 17 Sa pagsalubong sa Bagong Taon, ang natatanging Filipina Pop Star Princess na si Sarah Geronimo ay mag-aalay ng dalawang-araw na konsiyertong musikal upang aliwin ang mga masugid na tagasunod at panauhin ng Pechanga Resort & Casino sa Temecula, California sa January16 at 17 alas-8 ng gabi. Ang Pechanga Resort & Casino ay kilala sa pagtangkilik ng magagaling at mahuhusay na mga Pilipinong artista at mang-aawit kagaya ng Mega Star na si Sharon Cuneta, beteranong actor na si Richard Gomez at OPM (Outstanding Pilipino Music) at maituturing na isang institusyon sa larangan ng pagkanta na si Rico J. Puno, na bigay todong umaaliw sa kagalakan ng mga manonood. Kaibahan ang tanging laro ng Pechanga Resort & Casino, at siya ring dahilan kung bakit ngayon January 2015 ay tampok si Geronimo na magtanghal sa dalawangaraw na konsiyerto at ito’y binansagang “ Perfect 10” ng grupong Viva Live. Sa edad na dalawang-taon, si Geronimo ay may taglay na talento sa pag-awit at pag-arte. Siya ay nagsimula sa serye ng pagtatanghal sa mga malls. Siya’y ipinanganak noong July 25, 1988 mula sa mga Pilipinong magulang na sina Divine at Delfin. Siya’y pangatlo sa apat na magkakapatid. Nang maging kwatro anyos, pinagaudition si Geronimo ng ina sa ibat-ibang programa sa TV kung saan siya’y nakasali sa kiddie show, Pen-Pen de Sarapen (4-6 taon), Ang TV (7-8 taon), at NEXT (8-9 taon). Gayundin, gumanap si Geronimo sa ibat-ibang tanghalan gaya ng hotel lounges, naglalakihang shopping malls, at noong 1995 isa siya sa nagtanghal sa pagbisita ni Pope John Paul II. Taong 2003 ng siya’y 14-anyos ay lumahok ito sa timpalak pagkanta- Star for a Night – na pinamumunuan ni Ms. Regine Velasquez. Sa gabi ng pinale, kinanta ni Geronimo and rendition ni Celine Dion- ‘ To Love You More ‘ kung saan napanalunan niya ang P1-milyon at managerial contract sa Viva Artist na grand prize sa singing. Mula noon, naging abala na si Geronimo sa albums, mga konsiyerto, soap operas, show hosting sa ASAP, pelikula at mga endorsements. Naging huwaran si Geronimo sa napakaraming baguhang mang-aawit at binansagang ‘Pop Star Princess.’ Naging bituin din si Geronimo sa mga teleserye- Bituing Walang Ningning, Pangarap na Bituin, at ang panandaliang TV musical na IDOL. Siya’y laman ng pelikula sa Pilipinas,(katulad ng) Captain Barbell, Masikip sa Dibdib, Annie Batumbakal, Lastikman: Unang Banat at Hating Kapatid. Ngunit natatangi ang kanyang papel na naghatid ng box office star sa kanyang
ginawang ‘A Very Special Love at You Changed My Life ‘ katambal si John Lloyd Cruz. Ang dalawang pelikulang romantic-comedy ay kapwa box office hits. Ang aktres ay kabilang din sa katatapos na pelikula kasama si Coco Martin noong nakaraang Agosto. Sa TV, si Geronimo ay regular sa ASAP. Siya’y dating may musical variety showSarah G. Live tuwing Linggo at ngayoy isa sya sa apat na hurado sa popular show na “The Voice of the Philippines”. Taun-taon, ang Pechanga Resort & Casino ay naghahatid ng kagalakan sa mga tagasubaybay na Panauhin hindi lamang ng ibat-ibang aliwan at pagtatanghal gayundin, ang kakaibang aktibidad, mga natatanging pagkain, at ang napakaraming papremyo at ipinamimigay na raffles sa lahat ng mga bisita. Kaunti na lamang ang nalalabing panahon. Bumili na kayo ng tickets—mula $85, $75, $70 at $65. Ang tickets ay mabibili sa Pechanga Box Office o kaya’y sa www. Pechanga.com/tickets. Ang room at show packages ay pwede ring bilhin. Upang makabili ng wheelchair na upuan, tumawag lamang sa Box Office 1-877-711-2946. Ang mga palabas sa Pechanga Theater ay naghahandog ng komportable at matiwasay na pakiramdam habang nanonood ng mga konsierto. May 1,200 na upuan sa teatro, ipinagmamalaking perpektong tunog sa (loob at labas at) kabuuan. Ang paghahatid ng kagalakan sa panonood ng mga paboritong artista sa Pechanga maliban sa ibang lugar ay walang katumbas gayundin ng libreng pagparada ng sasakyan at sariling pagpaparada sa mga bisita, libreng casino/shuttles, gourmet at kaswal na kainang pamimilian sa lugar, gayundin ang komportableng upuan at kaaya-ayang tanaw mula sa kani-kanyang upuan sa teatro. Inaalok ng Pechanga Resort & Casino ang isa sa mga pinakamalaki at malaganap na kasiyahan na pang resort/casino kahit saan sa buong bansa. Hinirang na “Four Diamond property” ng AAA mula pa noong 2002, ang Pechanga Resort & Casino ay nagbibigay ng walang katumbas na paraan para sa isang araw o pangmatagalang marangyang bakasyon.
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COMMUNITY
‘Fresh Off The Boat’ is coming to ABC By Hannah De Castro-Abinuman StaffWriter
Photo above shows Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim with Madam Fides Herrera-Lim together with the officers and staff of the Philippine Consulate General with the Parol (Lantern) of the PCG-LA.
Consulate joins parishes across Los Angeles in Simbang Gabi And 12th Annual Parade of Parols Los Angeles, 16 December 2014 – The Philippine Consulate General joined parishes across Los Angeles at the Simbang Gabi and the 12th Annual Parade of Parols (Lanterns) held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels located in downtown Los Angeles held on 15 December 2014. Most Reverend Jose H. Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles, led the Eucharistic celebration with the auxiliary bishops and clerics of Los Angeles. This year’s event was held under the auspices of the
Filipino Ministry of San Gabriel Region in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, with the theme “Come Jesus, Fill Us With Your Mercy and Compassion” (Halina Hesus, Puspusin Mo Kami Ng Iyong Awa At Habag). The Philippine Consulate General joined the different parish ministries, Catholic associations, and civic and nongovernmental organizations in the Parade of Parols (star lanterns) that heralded the Eucharistic celebration.
On this year’s Conference for Creative Content (C3), Visual Communications presented ABC’s newest comedy TV show – “Fresh Off The Boat.” A special screening of the pilot episode was held last December 6 at the David Henry Hwang Theatre in Los Angeles for students, creatives, media executives and community organizations of the entertainment media. The screening was then followed by a panel discussion, moderated by actor and Asian American community leader, Amy Hill. During the panel discussion, attendees of the event were able to learn more about how the show came about and the challenges faced by the producers and media executives in creating and presenting an Asian-centered show in today’s TV industry in the United States. Members of the panel include actor and producer, Randall Park (who plays Louis Huang in the show), the show’s creator for television and executive producer, Nahnatchka Kahn, Executive Producer Melvin Mar and ABC’s Executive Vice President for Comedy Development, Samie Kim Falvey. “Fresh Off The Boat” is the first Asian American network television show in twenty years, since All American Girl, which aired in the same network back in the 1990’s. And being part of the cast of All American Girl, it was just fitting for Amy Hill to be chosen as the moderator of Fresh Off The Boat’s panel discussion. Inspired by a true story, the show is based on the memoirs of celebrity chef and television personality Eddie Huang. Fresh Off The Boat is centered on the life
of a hip-hop loving, 11-year old, Chinese boy (Eddie) trying to fit in. Set in Suburban Orlando, it also illustrates his family’s struggles of living in America during the 1990’s. The show is a classic immigrant story seen through the eyes of a first generation Asian American child. Samie Kim Falvey (EVP for Comedy Development at ABC) said, “For years we’ve been looking for an immigrant family show because we felt that this was the original American story, and we felt that it was not being told. We knew that a show like this will transcend race and will be a love letter to America, if executed properly.” “Fresh Off The Boat” will surely tickle your funny bone as Natch Khan’s creative comedic genius is very apparent in the dialogue (she’s also known for her work in Don’t Trust the B---- in Apartment 23). And though the show’s genre is comedy, it also depicts the more serious issues that immigrants face in their journey towards the American Dream. With the show having a very diverse set of writers, it was important for them to make the script appear authentic and very specific but still feel universal. The show is not just about Asians but about being an outsider in your world. It’s about how an individual gets judged or ostracized for being different, which is something that a person of any race can relate to. Fresh Off The Boat stars Randall Park as Louis, Constance Wu as Jessica, Hudson Yang as Eddie, Forrest Wheeler as Emery and Ian Chen as Evan. Eddie Huang provides the voice over narration. The series is produced by 20th Century Fox Television and is set to air on ABC in 2015.
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Pops Fernandez, Society of Seven in Filipino concert, Feb. 7, at Pala PALA, CA, December 10, 2014… Pops Fernandez, the Filipino “Concert Queen” will perform with the Society of Seven in a special Filipino concert at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, February 7, in the Events Center at Pala Casino Spa & Resort. Lhey Bella, a rising Filipino star, also will perform with the Society of Seven. Fernandez, one of the most popular performers in the Philippines, has recorded numerous chart-topping songs and attracted sell-out crowds throughout her 20+-year career. The Society of Seven is a variety group and show band that traces its roots back to the ‘60s and performs throughout Asia and the United States. Lhey Bella enjoys a wide musical range and performs jazz standards, dance tunes, R& B and rock and roll. Tickets on sale at 10 a.m., Friday, December 12, with no service charge, at the Pala Box Office in the casino, or call 1-877-WIN PALA (1-877-946-7252). Tickets also are available at Star Tickets, 1-800-585-3737, or www.startickets. com. Pala is located in Northern San Diego County; from San Diego/Riverside, take I-15 to Highway 76 east five miles; from Los Angeles County and Orange County, take I-5 south to Highway 76 east, then travel 23 miles. Pala is 15 miles north of Escondido, 12 miles south of Temecula. Address: 11154 Highway 76, Pala, CA 92059 Telephone: 1-877-WIN-PALA (1-877946-7252) Web site: http://www.palacasino.com Other shows coming to Pala: Kathy Griffin, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, January 10, 2015, Events Center. Tickets, $60. $50, $40, $30 at www.startickets.com Tu Quy (Fantastic Four) Vietnamese Concert, 7 p.m., Saturday, January 17, 2015, Events Center. Tickets, $100, $55, $45, $35, at www.startickets.com and all
center; swimming pool with 12 private poolside cabanas, and dual-temperature outdoor whirlpool hot tub. Pala also offers 10 restaurants and 40,000 square feet of meeting and convention space. Pala Casino Spa & Resort is an AAA FourDiamond Award winner for 11 consecutive years. Its state-of-the-art Pala Spa was named the number one spa on the West Coast and one of the top 100 spas in the United States for 2013 by Spas of America. Previously, Pala Spa was named the
2009 Best Casino Spa by Spas of America, the 2009 Best Casino Spa by the Southern California Gaming Guide and in 2012 received a spaAward and was selected by Spas of America as one of the top 100 spas in the United States. In 2011, Pala Casino Spa & Resort was voted Best Casino in San Diego by the public in the 10News.com annual A-List poll sponsored by KGTV-TV 10 Newsin San Diego. For more information, visit http://www. palacasino.com.
Miss South Africa crowned Miss World By Robin Millard
Pops
Vietnamese ticket outlets. One Night Only California’s Best Elvis Impersonators with Travis Allen, James “King” Kruk, Rob Ely, 7 p.m., Saturday, January 24, 2015, Infinity Showroom. Tickets, $30, at www.startickets.com Arrival From Sweden The Music of ABBA, 7 p.m., Saturday, February 14, 2015, Infinity Showroom. Tickets, $45, $37, atwww.startickets.com Jim Jefferies, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, February 21, 2015, Events Center. Tickets, $40, $30, at www.startickets.com Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 14, 2015, Events Center. Tickets, $125, $100, $95 atwww. startickets.com About Pala Casino Spa & Resort Pala Casino Spa & Resort includes a Las Vegas-style casino with 2,000 slot machines, 87 table games and 13 poker tables; a 507-room hotel; a 10,000-square-foot, full-service spa and salon that features 14 treatment rooms; a state-of-the-art fitness
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Sunday 12/14/2014 – Miss South Africa, 22-year-old Rolene Strauss, was crowned Miss World 2014 at the contest’s glitzy final in London on Sunday, with an estimated billion viewers watching on television around the globe. Miss Hungary, Edina Kulcsar, was judged the runner-up and Miss United States, Elizabeth Safrit, came third in the 64th annual competition, contested by women from 121 countries. Medical student Strauss clasped her hands together in surprise and was crowned by the outgoing Miss World, Megan Young of the Philippines, to huge cheers in the ExCeL exhibition centre. “South Africa this is for you,” Strauss said. “I think I will brace myself for what’s about to happen. It’s a huge responsibility.” She told AFP she wanted to help spread education in her homeland and thereby help other people realise their dreams. “I am what I am today because of the opportunities I have received and I would love to give others the same opportunities; educating, the opportunity to be educated, to make healthy choices and also to live their dreams,” Strauss said. And she was already getting used to the glittering crown. “I’ll definitely keep it on as long as I
Miss South Africa Rolene Strauss is crowned Miss World 2014. ©AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL
can but my parents are staying around here so they’ll be hugging me and I’m afraid that it might fall off,” she said. This year’s event has been rocked by the murder of Miss Honduras, 19-year-old Maria Jose Alvarado, who was shot dead along with her sister last month. Police in Honduras accuse her sister’s boyfriend of shooting them after seeing his partner dancing with another man at a party. Strauss and other contestants will travel to the crime-plagued central American nation to build a school named in the sisters’ honor. “We hope that it will really start to impress on the people in Honduras that the violence, and hurting people like those two innocent women... maybe they can think again before they take a gun,” Miss World chairwoman Julia Morley told AFP. Sunday’s show started with a spectacular choreographed dance routine, with all the beauty queens on stage in costumes inspired by their homelands – including Miss Bolivia in a colourful feathered headdress. While beauty remains central to the event, the women taking part are chiefly judged on their talents and involvement in good causes. Miss Malaysia won the talent competition in a live sing-off with Miss Scotland. In the Beauty with a Purpose section – the heart of Miss World – contestants present a charitable project they have been working on in their homeland. In this section, the judges gave equal first place to Misses Brazil, Guyana, India, Indonesia and Kenya, unable to separate them. In rounds held since the contestants arrived in London, Miss Finland topped the sporting competition; Miss United States was the multimedia winner; Miss Bosnia and Hercegovina won the top model round and Miss Sweden triumphed in beach fashion. Bollywood star honored The event also featured a special 20year award for 1994’s Miss World, Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai. The 41-year-old Indian actress appeared on stage with her film star husband Abhishek Bachchan, their daughter Aaradhya and her mother.
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Don’t leave safety hanging while decorating for the holidays ROSEMEAD, Calif., Dec. 8, 2014 – When it comes to decorating, there’s nothing like the winter holidays. This holiday season, Southern California Edison (SCE) reminds its customers that nothing is more important than safety because of the shocks, fires and injuries posed by holiday decorating. Power lines can be a potential hazard when decorating outdoors. People should never install light strands or decorations on or near power lines — or on utility poles — and they should stay at least 10 feet away from them. It is important to inspect light strands for broken fuses and bulbs in addition to worn wiring. And, it’s vital to keep Christmas trees watered daily– driedout trees are an extreme fire danger– and at least three feet away from heat sources, like fireplaces and space heaters. “Electricity helps create wonderful displays during the holidays,” said James Mackenzie, SCE principal manager of Corporate Safety Programs. “But one minor mistake installing or using them could lead to a major issue. The best prevention is education, awareness, careful inspection and following instructions.” U.S. fire departments respond to about 230 home fires annually that start with Christmas trees, resulting in an average of six deaths, 22 injuries and $18.3 million in property damage, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Electrical problems factored in 32 percent of those fires, the fire association said. Home-candle fires also peak in December, leading safety experts to suggest using battery-operated candles. Meanwhile, about 5,800 people are treated annually at hospitals for injuries – usually falls from rooftops or ladders – sustained while decorating, the fire association said. SCE recommends some other safety tips for the holidays: • Use wooden or fiberglass ladders when decorating outdoors. Metal ladders conduct electricity. • Make sure outdoor decorations are marked for outdoor use and plugged into GFCI-protected outlets. • Keep lights directly away from carpeting, furniture, drapes and other flammable materials. • Be sure electrical cords are not placed at an angle or position that pinches them, like in windows. • Use plastic zip cords when hanging lights instead of staples, tacks or nails. • Use no more than three strands of lights per extension cord. • Use only decorations bearing the (UL), (CSA) or (ETL) labels. Always unplug decorative lights when leaving home or before going to bed. For more on holiday safety, visit on.sce. com/holidaylighting. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. About Southern California Edison An Edison International (NYSE:EIX) company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving a population of nearly 14 million via 4.9 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and Southern California.
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CAREGIVER LIVE-IN Orange County, good working environment. Will train. Call (562) 598-2777 leave message.
LIVE-IN CAREGIVER Full-time live-in caregiver needed immediately for a board & care facility for elderly in Northridge. With experience but not necessary. We will train. Pls call 818-742-8045. CAREGIVERS Caregivers needed right away. Irvine Cottages / Memory Care. Assisted Living or Board& Care experienced req’d. Full-time & part-time live-in female & male. 949-533-1136 or 949-633-1595.
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CARE PROVIDER Experienced Care Provider, light cooking. New Chatsworth RCFE part time or full time. Call John (310) 560-5710
CAREGIVER WANTED For a nice elderly board & care facility in Northridge, CA. PT or FT. Call Noel at 818-582-9560.
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CLASSIFIED ADS TEL.: (818) 552-4503 ext 402
JAY D� PLUMBERHANDYMAN Plumbing repair, drain cleaning, copper repipe, bath & kitchen, remodel hydro jetter, toilet, disposal, heating water heater, iron works, electrical & carpentry. Free estimate. (818) 730-6571
SAVE THE PLANET
APT. FOR RENT Hollywood. 1 BR $1,250; Single $1,050; Bachelor $900. Brand new hardwood Àr, intercom entry, a/c, TFC cable ready, gated parking, pool, near Sunset & Wilcox, no pets. Manager speak Tagalog. 323-462-3573.
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Fax: (818) 550-7635
APT. FOR RENT 1 BR, 1 BA, $750/mo. utils paid. Separate unit, 1 car park. Very close to N. Hollywood frwy. Call 818-4229351.
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MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED
ROOM FOR RENT Furnished w/ bath, 3rd & Vermont Sts., L.A. close to everything. Good for one (1) person only. Please call or text messages at (213) 219-9293 (serious caller only).
ROOM FOR RENT Couple $600, single occupancy $450. Closer to Alhambra, Temple City, Arcadia & El Monte. Pool, gated & laundry room. No security deposit. Happy Holidays! 626-626-0561.
2 BEDSPACERS Preferred a lady. $250 bedspacer. 7800 Woodman Ave. Panorama City. Close to Kaiser Permanente hospital. Contact Luz 747-9983647.
APTS. FOR RENT 1 Door apt. 2 BR. Filipino Town area - Temple / Rampart. 2BR 1 BA, parking space. Preferably nonsmoker. For inquiries call Vicky @ (213) 944-8887 or (213) 384-1955.
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PRAYER to the BLESSED VIRGIN
*NOVENA of CONFIDENCE O Lord Jesus Christ, To your most Sacred Heart, I conÂżde this/ these intention. (Here, mention your request.) Only look upon me, then do what your Heart decides. I count on You. I trust in You. I throw myself on Your mercy, Lord Jesus! You will not fail me. Lord Jesus, I know You will not fail me Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.Sacred Heart of Jesus, I believe in Your love for me. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I have asked you for many favors, but I earnestly implore this one. Take it, and place it in Your Sacred Heart. When the Eternal Father sees it covered with Your precious blood. He will not refuse it. It will no longer be my prayer, but Yours. O Jesus, Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in You. Let me never be confounded. Amen.-CARMEN
PRAYER to the BLESSED VIRGIN
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Oh most beautiful Àower of Mt. Carmel, fruit wine splendor of Heaven.Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh Star of the Sea. Help me and show me here you are my Mother. Oh Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succour me in my necessity. (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. Oh Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee (3 times). Holy Mary, I place this prayer in your hands (3 times). Say this prayer for three consecutive days and then you must publish and it will be granted to you. Grateful Thanks.- CARMEN
(Never known to fail)
Oh most beautiful Àower of Mt. Carmel, fruit wine splendor of Heaven.Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh Star of the Sea. Help me and show me here you are my Mother. Oh Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succour me in my necessity. (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. Oh Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee (3 times). Holy Mary, I place this prayer in your hands (3 times). Say this prayer for three consecutive days and then you must publish and it will be granted to you. Grateful Thanks.- LUCY
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SPORTS Pacquiao prods Floyd Mayweather Jr. with another tweet Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Tuesday 12/16/2014 – Philippine boxing legend Manny Pacquiao wants to give faithful fight fans a Christmas present – the promise of a blockbuster world title faceoff with Floyd Mayweather. The talk of the long-anticipated bout between the two gained steam in recent days, with Mayweather on Friday proposing a May 2 date and Pacquiao responding with a vow to chase him into submission. On Tuesday, Pacquiao tweeted another teaser: “@FloydMayweather, don’t be a boxing humbug. Let’s give the fans the fight they want. They have waited long enough.” The two were long-time rivals as the “best pound-for-pound” boxers of their generation, but the dream fight has never materialized to the disappointment of the boxing world. Speaking to Showtime Sports in the
US on Friday night, Mayweather, 37, said he wants his next fight to be against the Filipino star. However, the American nicknamed “Money” said – without giving details – that the expected richest fight in boxing history will only happen if he receives a much bigger share of the purse than his opponent. Hours later, Pacquiao told AFP from his southern Philippines home city of General Santos that money was not the issue. “As early as January this year, I challenged him to a charity fight,” said Pacquiao, winner of an unprecedented eight world titles in different weight classes. “Until now, he has not agreed to it. So, money is not the issue in our fight.” “This fight is about legacy, this is about making the fans happy and, above all, this is for the good of boxing,” Pacquiao said Saturday.
ITS A WIN: Ramel Tumaneng celebrates after clinching the 1872 Golf Club Of Los Angeles California. USA. The 2014 Player Of The Year Award. Upoin receiving the award, Ramel said, “I am so so pleased to win the Player Of The Year Award . Receiving this award is such an amazing honor. I never thought I would win such an honor, let alone playing with fantastic people. I couldn’t have done it without you guys because, you made this moment possible for me.” The 1872 Golf Club Of Los Angeles, is the oldest and one of largest Fil- Am Golf Association in Southern California. USA. The awarding ceremony was held at Industry hills Palm Resort. City of Industry. California. USA.
US-Cuba thaw likely to shake up Major Leagues Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Friday 12/19/2014 – A seismic shift in relations with Cuba had many in US baseball salivating Thursday at the prospect of a flood of talent from the Caribbean country where America’s “national pastime” is a passion. Major League Baseball made a measured response to the news on Wednesday that the United States and Cuba would end five decades of Cold War hostility and move to revive diplomatic ties and ease a crippling US trade embargo. The sanctions, and Cuba’s refusal to allow players there to seek employment in the United States, have made for an arduous path for Cuban baseballers who defy their government and seek to pursue careers in America. Amid speculation that the trickle of talent from Cuba could become a torrent, and the country could surpass the Dominican Republic and Venezuela as top Latin American sources for Major League players, MLB and the players’ union were cautious. “While there are not sufficient details to make a realistic evaluation, we will continue to track this significant issue, and we will keep our clubs informed if this different direction may impact the manner in which they conduct business on issues related to Cuba,” Major League Baseball said in a statement. Added the union: “We will watch this situation closely as it continues to unfold and we remain hopeful that today’s announcement will lead to further positive developments.” Before Fidel Castro’s rise to power in 1959, Cuban-born players played in Major League Baseball and the American Negro Leagues. Once ties were cut between the countries, Cuban players often faced an arduous journey if they were to pursue professional careers. In April, Los Angeles Magazine published a dramatic account of Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig’s flight from Cuba involving human trafficking, a Mexican drug cartel and death threats. In November, a federal judge in Miami sentenced Eliezer Lazo to 175 months in prison for smuggling more than 1,000 Cubans, including several baseball players, to the United States.
From left: Aldrin Edar, H. P. Del Blanco, Christopher Brion, Robert Garcia, Atty. Arnel Jalbuena, Robert Padre, Lito Sapidiente, Jose Tejada, 1872 Golf Club President Danilo Mirto, Player Of The Year Awardee Ramel Tumaneng, Atty. Justo Justo, Atty. Rudy Bunagan, Bonifacio Cuevas.
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MOTORING
Design elements key for car consumers: study (Relaxnews) – Forget reliability, performance or high-tech features: when it comes to cars, consumers are more likely to fall for looks than anything else. Researchers from San Francisco State University, led by associate professor of marketing Minu Kumar, set out to understand what it is about a particular car or marque that creates loyalty or ignites a spark of passion among consumers. They examined data from over 700 consumers relating to their opinions of 30 vehicles based on elements such as styling, perceived workmanship, safety and cost and discovered that looks have the biggest influence. Aesthetes are obviously the major draw of supercars because, take the exterior design elements away and often the car, be it a Ferrari, Porsche or Aston Martin, is near identical under the skin in terms of power and on-road performance. However, what the researcher weren’t expecting was to discover the same rules apply even at the utilitarian end of the market – the 30 vehicles selected for the study were chosen because of their small size and perceived practicality. “In product design, if you focus more on the aesthetics of the product, the connections that you create with the consumer at the brand level will result in more loyalty and a more sustainable relationship,” said
A car’s looks are a bigger draw than its performance, practicality or green credentials.
Kumar. “You might think that segment [of consumers] wants more functionality, more bang for their buck. That may not necessarily be true. The customer might forget the functional attributes of the product over time, but they will love the brand if it has beautiful products.” But perhaps the biggest surprise the researchers found was that a car’s altruism – i.e., its green, environmentally friendly attributes – does not have a significant affect on a consumer’s brand affection. In fact it has less of a pull among consumers than a vehicle’s economic value. “In the national sample, people don’t seem to give a lot of importance to sustainability,” said Kumar. The study, “Enhancing Consumers’ Affection for a Brand Using Product Design”, co-authored by Janell D. Townsend and Douglas W. Vorhies, will be published in the Journal of Product Innovation Management in January.
Photo above shows (from left) Salvation Army Executive Director Joshua Sneed, Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim and Toyota Glendale General Manager Patrick Kane.
Toyota of Glendale raises $25,000 for Typhoon Haiyan-Yolanda relief efforts Angeles, 17 December 2014 – Toyota Glendale General Manager Patrick Kane presented a check to the Salvation Army for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan Relief Efforts at Toyota’s dealership in Glendale, Los Angeles on 16 December 2014. Toyota Glendale raised US$ 25,000 for the Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda Relief Efforts with its slogan “We Care We Share” for the global community by donating $100 for each vehicle that was leased or purchased in December 2014. Toyota Glendale President expressed messages of sympathy and support for those affected by the Typhoon. Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim conveyed appreciation for the efforts of Toyota Glendale for the donation to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda.
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American Honda sets new November sales records; Core vehicles lead the way Check out Diamond Honda and find out why Honda Fit shatters November record, jumping 55.1 percent TORRANCE, Calif., December 2, 2014 – American Honda Motor Co., Inc. today reported a new November Honda and Acura vehicle sales record of 121,814 units, an increase of 4.6 percent versus November 2013. Overall AHM truck sales also set a November record, increasing 12.9 percent on sales of 60,384 vehicles. The Honda brand set a new November best, recording sales of 106,957 vehicles – an increase of 4.9 percent for the month. The Acura brand posted sales of 14,857 units in November, increasing 2.0 percent over the same period last year. Honda Three core vehicles in the Honda lineup contributed to a best-ever November for the brand. The newly redesigned CR-V led the Honda division’s record month, posting its best November sales ever while Pilot showed fresh strength with a double-digit increase; the two vehicles boosted Honda Trucks to a new November record. The Honda Fit also set a new November mark. CR-V smashed its previous November milestone, with 32,378 units sold last month for an increase of 37.7 percent versus 2013. The Pilot showed new strength in a robust truck market for November with sales of 9,228 vehicles for an increase of 13.2 percent. Together, CR-V and Pilot helped push Honda Trucks to a best-ever November, gaining 18.3 percent for the month on sales
of 51,735 vehicles. Honda Fit sales shattered the popular subcompact’s previous November best, recording a remarkable 55.1 percent rise on sales of 6,421 units. “While the market seems to be constantly changing, Honda products continue to march on with strong performances month after month,” said Jeff Conrad, Honda division senior vice president and general manager. “Even with plummeting gas prices, compact models like the CR-V and Fit continue to resonate with buyers.” Meanwhile, Steve Center, Vice President, Environmental Business Development, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., said “Earlier this year, we were pleased to recognize Rossi Honda in Vineland, New Jersey, for becoming the nation’s very first ‘electric grid neutral’ dealer, producing as much, or more power on-site from renewables than is consumed from the local utility. This is a pinnacle example of the effort being made by many Honda and Acura dealers to reduce their environmental footprint through the Environmental Leadership Program we established roughly three years ago.
“Since the launch of the program, we’ve learned a great many things about the opportunities and challenges of helping dealers to adopt more environmentally sound business practices that also contribute to their bottom line. And now we’re sharing what we’ve learned with the public release of the Honda “Green Dealer” Guide. “The Guide offers detailed recommendations on how auto dealerships – or any business – can cost-effectively reduce their energy and water use. “We hope that the Guide will help lead more dealerships and other businesses
with similar energy-intensive operations to adopt more energy-efficient business practices. If more dealerships apply the principals we’re sharing in the “Green Dealer” Guide, and work toward a cleaner and more sustainable future, they’ll soon realize that “green” business is good business.” Lastly, 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 kababayans Tito Adriosula, Cruzella Clemente and Orly Roque, who are more than ready to serve you and find you your new Honda Hybrids or any other Honda vehicle and be assured of top fuel efficiency 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!
Honda FCV Concept showcases the styling evolution of the next-generation zero emissions Honda fuel cell vehicle.
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Why is Mitsubishi Lancer IISH’s ‘Top Safety Pick’ Lancer compact sports sedan joins the 5-passenger Outlander Sport and 7-passenger Outlander crossover/SUV as IIHS “Top Safety Picks” Cypress, Calif. – Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) announces its affordably-priced and fun-to-drive 2014 Lancer compact sports sedan (excludes Ralliart and Evolution models) has been named a “Top Safety Pick” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). In its latest evaluation, the IIHS subjected a total of twelve “small cars” to their small overlap front crash test that has 25 percent of the vehicle”s frontal area on the driver”s side impact a barrier at 40 mph. Introduced in 2012, the small overlap front crash test “replicates what happens when
2015 Mitsubishi Lancer
China’s Baidu invests in controversial taxi app Uber
(BEIJING-AFP) – Chinese search engine Baidu, the country’s equivalent of Google, announced Wednesday it has bought a stake in Uber for an undisclosed sum, as the controversial US web-based taxi app seeks to expand into an already crowded market. Baidu will also link users of its mapping and search functions with Uber drivers, the two companies announced at a ceremony in Beijing. The investment has previously been reported to be as much as $600 million, according to state-run China National Radio. “Our efforts here in China are unique and will continue to be, let’s call it, more unique than anywhere else,” Uber’s CEO Travis Kalanick said at a press conference after the signing ceremony. “You have to do things differently here in China,” he said, without elaborating. Uber, which connects riders and local drivers, currently operates in nine cities across China, including the capital Beijing and financial hub Shanghai. But its presence is dwarfed by China’s two dominant taxi-hailing apps -- Kuaidi Dache, in which e-commerce behemoth Alibaba has a stake, and Didi Dache, backed by technology giant Tencent. Kuaidi secured a 54.4 percent share in China in the third quarter, while Didi held 44.9 percent market share, research firm Analysys International said. Uber is embroiled in several controversies around the world, and earlier this month complied with an order to stop operating in New Delhi after an Indian woman said she was raped by one of its drivers. It has drawn protests from established taxi operators in many cities and been ruled illegal in some jurisdictions, while the company has seen its image tarnished by executives’ gaffes and concerns on privacy.
the front corner of a vehicle collides with another vehicle or an object such as a tree or utility pole,” according to the IIHS. Half of the vehicles evaluated achieved Cerritos Mitsubishi non-passing GSM Mark Mercado g r a d e s o f “marginal” or “poor”; the IIHS requires that a vehicle earn a grade of “good” or “acceptable” to pass the test. According to the IIHS, their small overlap front crash test is “more difficult than either the head-on crashes
conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the longstanding IIHS moderate overlap test.” “It is great to see our very popular Mitsubishi Lancer once again named as a “Top Safety Pick” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety,” said Don Swearingen, Executive Vice President of MMNA. “Lancer is a versatile compact sports sedan that has an exceptional degree of safety, excellent fuel economy, sporty performance and plentiful standard features all at price to fit almost any budget.” The “Top Safety Pick” designation by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) – a U.S.-based non-profit agency that performs research and crash test evaluations of production vehicle models marketed in America – is also applicable to the new 2015 model year Mitsubishi Lancer making its way to Mitsubishi Motors dealerships across the country this summer. The new 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer includes a host of welcome new standard and available features and technologies for the new model year including heated side view mirrors with turn indicators (standard on all models); an advanced next-generation continuously-variable transmission (CVT) that mimics the operation of a precision 7-speed transmission (standard on SE AWC model and available on other versions); and expanded new standard features including redesigned 16-in. two-tone alloy wheels, FUSE Hands-Free Link System® with USB port, high contrast meters with color multi-information display, chrome interior door handles, soft-touch upper door trim, 6 speaker audio system, fog lights, and Sport front fascia with color-keyed center bumper (SE AWC model). New available content packages for the 2015 Lancer
include a feature-rich Value Package (ES model) and Sun and Sound Package (GT model). The 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer is available in four distinct versions for the 2015 model year: the low price/contentrich Lancer ES (starting MSRP of only $17,195 and fuel economy of up to 34 mpg); the more powerful Lancer SE AWC with standard All-Wheel Control (AWC) all-wheel drive ($20,995); the luxury/performance-oriented Lancer GT ($20,595) and the exhilarating turbocharged Lancer Ralliart with sure-footed Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) and an available rapidfire 6-speed Twin-Clutch Sportronic Shift Transmission ($29,495). For those who are loyal or have been wanting to own a Mitsubishi, you can now avail of your favorite Mitsubishi brand by visiting Cerritos Mitsubishi where our kababayans will help you choose the right car for you, whether it’s the Mitsubishi Outlander, Lancer or other Mitsubishi vehicle. Come and visit our kababayan Mark and his Fil-Am crew at the Cerritos Mitsubishi, where kababayans are always treated as special customers. Even their marketing thrust is anchored on that magical Tagalog word: Kababayan. They also have a Kabayan Price. “We have the best lease payment program, we offer huge discounts on many of our models,” said Mark. “And for new immigrants, first time buyers, and those without credit or are now having a bad credit just like everybody else, approval is not a big deal, he added. “ We have a way of doing it.” Along with Mark, Eugene C., Alfie A. and Arvin backstop the sales operation for the Filipino market. Call now toll free at 1-888-887-6090 to get the same Number 1 customer service from our very own kababayans.
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Lexus shatters limits with first-ever RC Coupe and RC F Performance Coupe Automaker’s latest performance vehicles introduced in new marketing campaign TORRANCE, Calif. (Nov. 3, 2014) – To announce the first-ever RC 350 sport coupe and RC F performance coupe, Lexus today launches a comprehensive marketing campaign that showcases the vehicles across a variety of media platforms. The RC/RC F marketing campaign mirrors the story of the coupe itself – which was built from a blank canvas, unconstrained by existing designs and convention – and is centered on the theme of shattering limits. “The RC and RC F highlight Lexus’ continued progress in engineering vehicles that push boundaries in both design and performance,” said Brian Smith, Lexus vice president of marketing. “This marketing campaign visually represents the goal of breaking barriers and speaks to adventurous consumers who are looking for the next big thing.” Two general market TV spots begin airing today, each tailored to one of the distinct new models. “Face Off” introduces the RC 350 sport coupe and tells the story of a man, played by actor Wes Bentley, who happens upon a coupe unlike any he has seen before. Walking with purpose, he enters a dark warehouse and encounters the RC; he instantly has a visceral connection with the coupe. The man clicks his key fob, unleashing the power of the vehicle, and illuminated light bulbs burst throughout the space. The
two are united through the same spirit of adventure, and he gets in the car and peels out of the warehouse. “No Limits” was inspired by the RC F reveal video, featured at the 2014 North American International Auto Show. Shots of the RC F rounding turns on a racetrack are intercut with shots of athletes viscerally defying limits with their bodies. It draws a parallel between the groundbreaking engineering behind the Lexus coupe and the powerful athleticism it takes to break performance barriers. Utilizing existing footage of the general market spots, three additional RC F commercials geared toward multicultural audiences will also air at launch. “Flex Your Drive” is tailored for the black audience and draws a connection between the strength, power and exhilaration of performing one’s best and driving the all-new RC F. It speaks to the confidence of this consumer in their present and future successes, and acknowledges
a deep appreciation for all it takes to shatter limits and create something as groundbreaking as the RC F. “Shatter” is geared toward the LGBT consumer and shows how the RC F breaks through barriers by standing out from the crowd. Focusing on bold styling and powerful performance, the progress both the brand and the audience has made. “Control Power” targets the Latino auto enthusiast and highlights the performance aspect of the RC F. Images of other impressive machines allude to the similar power of the 467-horsepower RC F. The spot speaks to consumers up for the challenge of controlling true power. All spots end with a voiceover that states, “Once driven, there’s no going back.” The ads will air during prime time, late night, cable and network television and cable sports. Notable sports properties include multiplatform ownerships within the Thursday Night Football Halftime Show on CBS and NFL Network, NHL First Intermission Halftime Report, NCAA Football Halftime Show on ESPN and DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket. Additional broadcast highlights include FS1 “Shut Up and Drive,” a branded content series, and a first-to-market CNNgo exclusive launch partnership, a TV Everywhere experience. To create a truly integrated campaign, the RC visual language will extend through supporting print, digital and out-of-home media elements. The print campaign will be featured in titles such asFast Com-
pany, Wired and Motor Trend, and will appear in GQ’s “Men of the Year” issue. In addition to heavy digital presence through paid media and high-traffic websites, online content partnerships include a custom Lexus RC Flipboard magazine, which will curate original Lexus content with content from publishing partners such as Esquire and Bon Appétit. A partnership with Engadget and AOL called “Your Brain on the RC F” will demonstrate the science and technology behind the adrenaline rush associated with driving the RC F. Lexus will also be one of the first advertisers to run targeted video ads on Tumblr. Key out-of-home elements include Lexus Design Disrupted – a live, technology-meets-fashion event that took place during this year’s New York Fashion Week – full-motion video boards at DC Gallery Place, and digital boards in New York City’s Times Square. Additionally, RC F creative elements will run in cinema beginning Nov. 7. The RC spot, directed by music video director Sophie Muller and featuring music by British electronic act UNKLE, will also have a ”making of” video of additional content. This video and the spots themselves are available for viewing at youtube. com/Lexus. A series of short-form teasers will also be available for viewing on Lexus social channels. For the real Lexus thing and real deal, better call our kababayan and veteran car sales expert Nash Jimenez, who is one of the best known car specialists in Southern California for his dedicated and decades of customer service. You can visit Nash or you may also want to call General Manager Doug Pearson anytime at Crown Lexus located at 1125 S Kettering Dr, Ontario, CA 9176. Call them now toll free at 1-800-434-5793 and be a proud owner of a brand-new Lexus today!
2014: The year the crossover crossed over SUVs and crossovers have never been in higher demand and the trend looks like it’s here to stay. But what is it about cars with a utilitarian vibe that is proving so popular? Automotive trends don’t start or stop overnight. It takes billions in investment and five years of development work to bring a new car from the sketchpad to the forecourt. Rather they start slowly then keep building momentum year after year. A perfect example is the SUV ‘crossover,’ where demand for cars with a utilitarian look but a refined feel seems to be showing no signs of abating. In fact, according to IHS Automotive, demand for cars that fall into the SUV segment is up 88% since 2008, which makes it the fastest growing segment around the world. One in five new cars on the road is of the SUV variety and everywhere you turn a manufacturer is offering either a new serious off-roader from the likes of Land Rover or a fun crossover such as the Fiat 500X. The Chinese and American markets are currently driving global car sales – two regions where the SUV look has long been coveted – and therefore trends. But in Europe too utility vehicles grew from 8% of the market to 19% between 2008 and 2013. And driving much of that demand in
Europe is the Nissan Qashqai, which in November set a new sales record for a vehicle built in the UK – taking just six years to achieve 2 million vehicles sold. But when there is so much choice on the market, from people carriers, to coupés and luxury sedans, why are consumers gravitating towards vehicles like the Qashqai and its growing list of competitors? Nissan’s Ian Tonkin says that, simply put, they offer owners the best of both worlds: “Modern crossovers and SUVs provide owners with enhanced space and practicality when compared to a C- or D-segment car. In addition, a high-riding driving position gives drivers a good view of the road ahead. Crossovers in particular also deliver, in some cases, greater efficiency than D-segment rivals, which is attractive to buyers.” In the US, where the love affair with the traditional SUV is so entrenched that the relationship only gets put on hold when emissions laws change, tax legislation is altered or there is uncertainty about gas prices, the popularity of the Crossover segment has been nothing short of remarkable. If IHS’s figures are broken down so that ‘true SUVs’ and crossovers are separated, then in the US, crossovers are currently outselling SUVs and minivans combined and are second only to ‘cars’.
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All-new 2015 Nissan Murano on sale now New third-generation Murano crossover arrives at Nissan dealers nationwide just in time for the holidays Features a starting M.S.R.P.* of $29,560 NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nissan dealers across the country have something a little extra to dress up their showrooms this December beyond the usual oversized red bows and ribbons – the all-new 2015 Nissan Murano. The halo vehicle for Nissan’s expanding range of bold crossovers and SUVs, the bold new Murano design projects a sense of refined intensity, creating an immediate “wow” response.
“Nissan dealers have been clamoring for the new Murano ever since the design was previewed in the futuristic Nissan Resonance Concept,” said Derrick Hatami, vice president, Sales - U.S., Nissan North America, Inc. “Now that Murano has arrived in their showrooms, there’s another great reason to celebrate the holiday season.” The 2015 Murano is offered in four trim levels – S, SV, SL and Platinum – and in a choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive. The starting Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the Murano S FWD is $29,560 USD, while the top-ofthe-line Murano Platinum AWD is priced at $40,600 USD (full pricing is available at NissanNews.com). Every 2015 Murano comes with a standard 260-horsepower 3.5-liter DOHC V6 connected to an advanced Xtronic transmission. Fuel economy has increased 20 percent for combined mpg from the previous generation and is rated at 21/28/24 mpg city/highway/combined for both frontwheel drive and all-wheel drive models. Murano’s new magnetic exterior design includes its dramatic V-motion front end,
LED boomerang lights and the unique floating roof – which utilizes prominent glass areas and D-pillars that appear disconnected from the roof that help visually lighten the cabin appearance. The sleek, aerodynamic styling offers a low coefficient of drag of just 0.31, without compromising cargo or passenger space. LED Signature lights and LED taillights are standard on all 2015 Murano models. The breakthrough exterior design carries into the interior, which offers an engaging social lounge feel through features such as the refined instrument panel, low center console, advanced Zero Gravity front and outboard rear seating, and the airy atmosphere created by the large windows and oversized Power Panoramic Moonroof. The Murano interior offers best-inclass** total interior volume of 147.7 cubic feet and best-in-class cargo** volume (with seats up) of 39.6 cubic feet. Available technology features include NissanConnectSM with Navigation and Mobile Apps, 8-inch color display with multi-touch control, Around View Monitor, 8-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar support, SiriusXM® Satellite Radio (SiriusXM subscription required, sold separately), Nissan Intelligent Key® with
Push Button Ignition, iPod interface, 11-speaker Bose® premium audio system (including dual subwoofers), and Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System with streaming audio. Available safety and security systems include Around View Monitor (AVM) with Moving Object Detection (MOD), Blind Spot Warning (BSW), Predictive Forward Collision Warning (PFCW), Forward Emergency Braking (FEB) and a new Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) system that utilizes radar sensors (located in the rear) that can help warn you while backing up of a moving vehicle you may not see approach-
ing from either side. The all-new 2015 Murano is assembled in Canton, Mississippi. If you want to find out more about Nissan Murano, Altima, Rogue or Nissan Quest, get in touch with our kababayans Cristina Madlangbayan, Augusto Montemayor and Mariefe Alipio of Nissan of Van Nuys, each of whom are experts in helping customers choose the best Nissan vehicle for their use. You may reach them on their mobile phones at 818-943-5471 (for Augusto) and 818-442-1983 (for Marie). Nissan of Van Nuys is located at 5425 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys, CA CA 91401.
GM ignition-switch death toll rises to 42 New York, United States | AFP | Monday 12/15/2014 – General Motors on Monday raised the death toll related to its defective ignition switches to 42 as it weighs compensation claims following its long-delayed recall of millions of cars. As of Friday, there were four more deaths eligible for compensation than a week earlier, said Kenneth Feinberg, the attorney in charge of the independent compensation fund set up by GM after recalling 2.6 million cars over the ignition-switch problem since February. Feinberg announced 251 death claims had been filed, and of those 34 were under review. All types of claims received by the fund totaled 2,326. Seven claims for crippling injuries such as brain damage or double amputation were deemed eligible, out of 156 filed. Fifty-one out of 1,919 claims for hospitalization or outpatient medical treatment were eligible. The fund began accepting claims on
August 1. In mid-November Feinberg extended the year-end deadline for filing claims by a month, to January 31, citing “an abundance of caution” as GM tries to reach all possible owners of the recalled vehicles, models sold from 1998-2011. GM will pay a minimum $1 million for the victim, $300,000 for the surviving spouse and another $300,000 for each surviving dependent. Financial and medical treatment compensation of at least $20,000 will also be offered to those with eligible physical injury claims from an accident. GM set up the program earlier this year after acknowledging the faulty ignition switch could turn off power to a car’s power steering and safety airbags while it is in motion. The company knew about the problem for a decade or more, but only took recall action beginning in February, after hundreds of possible accidents and deaths in the affected cars.
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