He's got a soft spot for

from Weekend Balita- January 4, 2020

He's an

It was confi rmed that Nadine packed up and left the Loyola Grand Villas (Quezon City) home of James that has served as their love nest for more than two years, and moved to a rented unit in a posh Makati condo. But even if they are now living apart, the un-couple is said to still see each other.

During their rEVOLution concert in 2016 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, James offi cially announced that he and Nadine were going steady, punctuated with a kiss and a reverberating “I love you.” In 2017, they began living together, prompting Nadine to hush up critics (who claimed that JaDine was setting a “bad” example for their fans) by saying, “Come on, guys, it’s 2017!” By Ricky Lo (The Philippine Star) D espite the protestations of JaDineans who seem to be in denial about their idols James Reid and Nadine Lustre’s reported breakup, the sad reality is that Jojo Gabinete’s scoop in pep.ph is true, and not fake news.

It was towards the end of 2019 that cracks in the relationship were reported. After James left Viva, the studio that built him up, he embarked on a solo fl ight, set to fi rm up his career as a singer under his own recording company called Careless Music Manila. ABS-CBN announced a project that would star James with KPop star Nancy Jewel DcDonie (of Momoland). Nadine frowned on James being paired with another actress.

According to a STAR source, James is handling the breakup with care to cushion the impact on Nadine who has admitted grappling with mental illness (he has a brother who committed suicide).

Jojo mentioned “irreconcilable diff erences” as the cause of the breakup. Was it a case of “too much, too soon”…too much togetherness and too soon to be living together?

A week ago, Nadine posted on her Instagram a picture of a bikini-clad girl standing in the veranda, captioned, “I can’t be who you want,” followed a few days later by a photo of four people in the sea, captioned “No questions, just go with it,” and still another (black and white) photo of hers surveying a city by night from her condo unit or hotel room, captioned “for good reason, lost all of my love.” Come on, Nadine, it’s 2020. James is not the only “fi sh” in the sea. (Philippine Star)

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‘No script, no fuss, no pretense’: Kathryn Bernardo launches own YouTube channel

MANILA — Box-office superstar Kathryn Bernardo is the latest A-list celebrity to launch her own YouTube channel, promising a look at her personal life with “no script, no fuss, no pretense.”

Bernardo, 23, had been teasing in the past week, through Instagram photos, a “new beginning.” On Friday, she finally unveiled the project to be her eponymous page on the leading video-sharing platform.

In her first-ever video, titled “Everyday Kath,” Bernardo is seen in a dreamy setting apparently inspired by fairy tales, with “So This Is Love” from Disney’s animated classic “Cinderella” as background music.

“She’s dressed like a princess but she walks around barefoot. She’s all dolled up but she’s not afraid to bask in the sun. She looks familiar so you believe you know her… but perhaps you don’t know her as well as you think you do; in fact, perhaps you don’t know her at all,” its description goes.

Within an hour of the channel’s launch, Bernardo became the top trending topic on Twitter, with her legion of fans expressing excitement over the prospect of getting to know the actress on a new level. Bernardo’s foray into vlogging is seen to help cement her status as a social media superstar, having been listed as among the top Filipino personalities across platforms, including Twitter and Instagram. (ABS-CBN News)

Aga Muhlach on Best Actor snub in MMF MANILA — As Christmas crowds trooped to cinemas for the 2019 Metro Manila Film Festival, “Miracle in Cell No. 7” star Aga Muhlach emerged as a fan favorite to clinch the Best Actor trophy.

However, Muhlach’s portrayal of a mentally challenged man who ends up in jail after being wrongly accused of a crime was snubbed for the top acting prize.

That award went to Allen Dizon for “Mindanao,” which was the big winner of the festival with 11 trophies, including Best Actress for Judy Ann Santos, Best Director for Brillante Mendoza, and Best Picture.

Despite “Miracle in Cell No. 7” not receiving a single award, Muhlach appeared in high spirits, and in fact “overwhelmed,” on Thursday during a thanksgiving dinner for the fi lm’s box offi ce success.

Speaking with ABS-CBN News’ Mario Dumaual, Muhlach only laughed when asked for his reaction to the movie reportedly leading ticket sales. Under MMFF rules, participating producers are not allowed to disclose box offi ce tallies.

Muhlach said he is also grateful to those who have been praising his performance in “Miracle in Cell No. 7,” in light of online reactions in the wake of his Best Actor snub.

“These guys are great actors. That night, ang pinili po si Allen. Allen, congratulations, really, to you. I’m just the happiest. Kahit sinong kasamahan ko sa industriya na mabigyan ng pansin, ako’y parating magiging pinakamasaya for all of them. Kahit kanino man, seriously,” he said. (ABS-CBN News)

Just like regular folks, the stars pondered what happened to them in 2019 with hopes of learning from it all in order to have better year ahead. LIZA SOBERANO ANGELICA PANGANIBAN JODI STA. MARIA JULIA BARRETTO

Among sentimental ones is 33-year-old actress Angelica Panganiban who described not only the last 12 months, but the entire decade as one “roller coaster ride.” She looked back on the time she met her biological relatives to losing loved ones, whether family or boyfriend. “May mga araw na hindi ko alam kung kakayanin ko pa bumangon. Nang literal. Ayoko nang tumayo. Ayoko na tumawa. Ayoko na. Pero ginawa akong matibay ng panahon at Panginoon,” she related. “Sa kabila ng lahat ng nawala, nakasakit at nasaktan ko, hindi ka dapat du’n mag tapos. Hindi ka dapat tapusin ng sakit. Kasi ang sakit ang magpapatibay sayo. ’Yun pala ang kailangan mo para makabangon.”

“Sa kabila ng lahat, takot pa rin ako magtiwala. Parte na siguro ’yun ng napag daanan. Sa kabila ng lahat hindi ako sumuko mag dasal. Dahil mas marami akong dapat ipagpasalamat. Naniniwala akong pinilit tanggalin ni Lord ang mga taong hindi mo na kailangan sa buhay mo. Dahil hinahanda ka niya sa mga tao na nararapat sa ano ka at kaya mong ibigay.” According to Angelica, the years taught her to forgive those who hurt her, and love herself more and those she took for granted.

“Naniniwala akong mas magiging mainam ang mga darating na taon. Ika nga nila, kapag lugmok ka na, wala ka ng ibang pupuntahan kun’di pataas,” she said. “Mabuhay ang mga taong patuloy na lumalaban, nagdadasal at hindi sumusuko sa pagibig. The best is yet to come.”

Angelica’s good friend, 32-year-old actress Bea Alonzo — whose name hogged headlines in 2019 both for her achievements and controversial love life — had a short post about the new year: “Take time to appreciate how far you’ve come.”

Julia Barretto, whose name was dragged into the Bea and Gerald Anderson breakup, said it was “a year of courage, strength and most of all bravery” for her.

“Life has proven, yet again, that the sun always rises. Feeling really optimistic about 2020… Love and light,” her message read.

Singer Morissette Amon, also a bit controversial in the latter part of last year, had this to say.

“Oh what a crazy year you’ve been, 2019…” she started. “Though despite all the setbacks and challenges, you still have been a good one.”

Morissette wrote she learned to be stronger and to rise again like a phoenix. The singer thinks there are more reasons to smile and make the most of her “beautiful fi erce life.”

“Looking into 2020, like the beginning of every year, is like being on a blank canvass of endless possibilities.. but somehow I’ve never been this excited! Praying and claiming next year to be a big one, not just for me but for everyone around me, bursting with colors and soaring beyond the sky’s limits. and this next decade… let’s make it extraordinary… All with Your grace and for Your greater glory, oh Lord,” read part of her post.

Actress Jodi Sta. Maria credited the Lord for the wonderful days.

““You are always faithful to do what You say you would do.” May it be rough or smooth, high or low, grief or joy, in the darkness and in the light… You have never forsaken me. I only have gratitude in my heart for every experience and for the journey this year. I have been stretched, disciplined, comforted, taught, but most importantly… LOVED,” she wrote.

The 21-year-old actress Liza Soberano is “grateful.”

“There were many obstacles that chanced upon me this year, but with God’s grace and with the help of some special people in my life, I was able to overcome all of the obstacles thrown at me,” she related in part. “Words can’t express how much I love my C M Y CM

‘Best way to welcome 2020’: Solenn Heussaff gives birth to fi rst baby

CMY

MANILA — "Best way to welcome 2020."

This was what Solenn Heussaff wrote as she shared to her followers on Instagram the happy news that she had just given birth to her fi rst baby with husband, Nico Bolzico, this Wednesday.

The couple, who spent New Year's Eve at St. Luke's Medical Center, are now parents with the arrival of their daughter, Thylane Katana.

Thylane Katana is their fi rst child since marrying in 2016. They fi rst announced that they were expecting last August.

(ABS-CBN News)

BEA ALONZO

JULIE ANNE SAN JOSE MORISSETTE AMON KYLINE ALCANTARA

family and friends, not to mention all my amazing supporters.”

Kyline Alcantara described 2019 as being “a tough one” for her.

“You taught me a lot, gurl! You made me realize that it’s okay to show who you really are, it’s okay to show your weaknesses, it’s okay to show your strengths, it’s okay to be down, it’s okay for people to leave you, it’s okay to feel pain…

“And the biggest life lesson that I learned is it’s okay for things to change. Because that is the only consistent thing in our lives. So we need to accept it, adapt to it and slay it!”

For the new year, Kyline declared she’s “dang ready” to face all of the battles God will give her. She promises to stand tall knowing she’s not alone.

“I’m ready for all the blessings, I will cherish every single thing,” she wrote.

Julie Anne San Jose welcomes the new year with positive mindset.

In her recent post, she shared that she used to always write down her immediate goals right before the year gives way to the next. However, 2019 felt diff erent for her that she opted to simply refl ect on the things she’s grateful for.

“It has surely been an amazing, overall a positive year for me,” she said. “My path has become clearer as I have learned through trial and error who I am and what I want; with courage, resilience, hard work, patience and a great amount of faith — although I’m still a work in progress — I have learned to cultivate myself in every aspect of my life, (especially in a personal aspect), and I couldn’t have done all this without our Lord God.”

She’s also thankful for the people who stood by her through good and bad times. “I am generating nothing but feelings of gratitude and positivity as I open and welcome another chapter. A new decade is rising, so… Here’s to more blessings, progress, love and friendships, happiness, and presence in all things because life is going by so fast. Every day is a gift, my friends.” Carla Abellana bid farewell to 2019 by acknowledging it broke her “psychologically, emotionally, and physically.”

“To say that it was tough is an understatement,” she related. “I fought so many quiet battles. And yet here I am, with God’s grace, still standing and choosing to remain grateful and faithful. Here’s to hoping and praying for a stronger and better year ahead.” (Manila Bulletin / Photos from their respective Instagram accounts) AARP_Census_Talker_4.75x7.5.pdf 1 12/30/19 10:36 PM

Infrastructure 14 Weekend BALITA Visit www.Balita.com Saturday-Friday | January 4 - 10, 2020 2019: Year of robust infra development

MANILA — Things seem to be looking up for the Department of Transportation (DOTr) as it continues to push the infrastructure agenda of the Duterte administration this year and several more in the pipeline.

AIRPORTS

According to a yearend report by the DOTr, the number of completed airport projects alone, from 2016 to 2019, has reached a total of 119 projects -- with 70 projects under the DOTr and 49 under the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

This does not include the 166 ongoing airport projects, with 138 projects directly under the DOTr and 28 under the CAAP. Some of the completed projects this year include the Marinduque Airport, inaugurated on April 11, 2019, which resumed commercial operations in the same month nearly six years after its last commercial operations in 2013.

The Sangley Airport, seen as one of the solutions to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), had its operational dry run on October 29 with general aviation and turboprop cargo operations beginning November.

The Camiguin Airport has been completed and ready for inauguration, with its expanded passenger terminal building, administration building, and a fi re station building.

For ongoing airport projects, the highlights include the Bulacan International Airport which had its notice of award issued to the San Miguel Holdings Corporation on August 14 and concession agreement signed on September 18.

The Clark International Airport is 87.61 percent complete as of October 2019, with a new runway to be completed in July 2020 and its operations and maintenance turned over to LIPAD Corporation on August 16. Following eff orts to increase the operational efficiency of airports and reduce day-time fl ight congestion, 23 out of 42 commercial airports have been night-rated, with another 15 targeted for night-rating in 2022.

RAILWAYS

The DOTr has also continued the construction of several railway infrastructure projects this year with even more to come.

A total of six railway projects are under construction including the Metro Manila Subway -- clearing phase of the construction began on December 21; the long-delayed Common Station which will connect the MRT-3, MRT-7, LRT-1 and the Metro Manila Subway; MRT-7 which is 49.95 percent complete as of November; the LRT-1 Cavite Extension, 30.74 percent complete as of October; the LRT-2 East Extension, 71.19 percent complete as of October 2019; and the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Clark Phase 1 (Tutuban to Malolos) which began its actual construction on February 15.

The rehabilitation of the MRT-3 is also ongoing which includes the overhaul of the rail line’s 72 light rail vehicles, replacement of mainline tracks, rehabilitation of power and overhead catenary systems, and other improvements to help the MRT-3 cope with the demand for efficient public transportation in Metro Manila.

Rail projects still in the pipeline include the PNR Clark Phase 2, PNR Calamba, PNR Bicol (Subic to Clark), Mindanao Railway, LRT-2 West Extension, LRT-4, and the Cebu Monorail.

ROAD TRANSPORT

For road transport, the country’s first landport, the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange continues to serve the public, with two other landports in the pipeline.

These landports include the Taguig City Integrated Terminal Exchange and the North Integrated Terminal Exchange.

MARITIME

The DOTr, with the help of its attached agency the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), has completed a total of 325 port pro

jects from 2016 to 2019 -- 181 commercial port projects under the PPA and 144 social and tourism port projects under the DOTr.

Aside from the completed projects, another 246 port projects are ongoing -- 58 under the PPA and 188 from the DOTr.

Some of the completed port projects include the completion of the country’s largest port terminal building at the Cagayan de Oro (CDO) Port which can hold 3,000 passengers daily -- triple its previous capacity -- and the port’s new electronic gate complex with weighbridge inaugurated on July 15.

The Cavite-Manila ferry service was also launched in November, with the MB Seaborne off ering free rides until January 9, 2020 and the MV Island Sabtang until January 31, 2020.

The Opol Port, designed as a back-up port to help decongest the CDO port and caters mainly to cargo vessels, was inaugurated on July 15.

The Batangas Container Terminal Expansion Project, completed on April 29, is seen to improve the effi ciency of the Port of Batangas by increasing the handling capacity of the port from 300,000 TEUs to 400,000 TEUs annually.

Ongoing projects include the Isabela Port in Basilan, 30.99 percent complete as of October; the Cebu International Container Port, which, once completed, would handle all foreign containerized cargo completing the Cebu Baseport; the PAGASA Seaport Project Phase 1, 75 percent complete as of October 2019; the modernization of light station -- with 551 of 600 lighthouses operational as of November, among many others. (PNA)

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priceless memories from the bargain capital

The country’s go-to place for bargain shopping underwent a little upgrade last year with Mayor Isko Moreno’s cleanup eff orts, but if you want to see the real face of urban hustle, Divisoria remains as honest as it gets.

A refreshing site: a wide-open Recto. Photo by Jilson Tiu

Butback to my mother’s rules. The reason behind them is basically that she was a kusturera and her source of living frequently brought her to Divisoria. My brother and I often tagged along with her to Divisoria, sometimes out of necessity, like when we needed to buy school supplies—but more often because we simply wanted to. You could call it our version of bring-yourkids-to-work day.

Going to Divisoria meant getting a new toy and getting to eat our favorite palabok from the Aklanon ladies at Divisoria Wet Market. The palabok with the thick orange sauce, squid ink and sprinkled with bits of deep-fried beef fat both crunchy and tasty. The palengke setting wasn’t the most palatable ambiance but we always wiped our plastic plates clean. The face of Manila hustle: the real Divisoria is in its alleyways. Yorme was here.

By shopping day’s end, we would be tired and sweaty from walking in and out of the pasilyos my mother would drag us to. The toy and palabok treat would provide just the right dose of energy we needed to face the final challenge of every Divisoria trip: finding a ride home. Carrying our many loaded plastic bags, our fam of three — my mother, brother and I— would run after moving jeepneys, chasing them along with a throng of people equally desperate to get out of Divisoria (and get their asses home to catch the evening’s Flor de Luna). We’d walk up still running jeeps, wiggle our way in to see if there were any more seats available. We only needed a space for one anyway. Like Blanche Dubois, my mother always depended on the kindness of strangers—strangers who would agree to have one of her kids sit on their lap, while I or my brother sit on my mom’s.

After a few days, as long as school’s out, we’re back in the chaos. We’d watch our mother haggle until she got her fair discount. We’d watch our belongings too with hawk-eyed seriousness. You are never more alive than when you’re in Divisoria. Your eyes never busier: watching out for hands that lurk near your mother’s shoulder bag, for quick fingers that knowingly miscount your change, for suspicious weighing scales. Your sense of pakiramdam is also heightened— for knives aiming to slash your bags or hands slipping into your pocket. Pro tips: Bags should always be on your front, securely guarded with your arm. Jewelry is not advised. Money should be kept where it won’t be easily stolen, like the bed of your shoes.

We didn’t think of it as education then but we could hold our own in Manila’s streets now because we were Divi-raised. What else did we learn? We learned that the worst times to visit are Saturdays, holidays, -ber month weekends, and everyday after 5pm. The best time is at 9am, just when the shops open, until lunch time. By Cristina Gomez-Verano | Photographs by Jilson Tiu

GROWING up, we had two rules about shopping: We can’t buy any kind of clothing my mother can make herself and we can’t buy from a mall anything we can get from Divisoria. The first rule limited us to mere undergarments and cotton tees while the second one limited us to, well, almost nothing. Because what do you really need in life that you couldn’t get from Divisoria?

All sorts of ready-to-wear apparel from baby onesies to school uniforms and all versions of the latest street fashion? Those line the sidewalks of C.M. Recto, from Tutuban all the way to Santo Cristo. Umbrellas, boots and raincoats for the rainy season? Head to Soler. The native crafts for decors and souvenirs are in Tabora, and at Yangco Market, you can find costumes for your kids, a prom gown, a ready-made barong, a dress for your own wedding. Down the next block you’ll find Carmen Planas, fabric hub by day and go-to for fruits and vegetables after dusk. Here, piles of fabrics for anything from daster to ball gowns, kukurs (kukurtinahin to those who didn’t grow up with gay lingo from the 80s) to French lace, await. Inside the buildings, tela is mostly sold per yard, while outside, overruns are sold per kilo. Did you know that the hautest of haute couturiers shop in Divisoria, too? Because, well, why not?

We learned the difference between cotton and polyester, between good silk and Gina silk. We learned the terms hemline and rick-rack and pelon and electric pleats. We learned that strange brands from China like Plum Blossom (bath soap) and Maxam (toothpaste) basically achieve the same things as the ones we grew up with (although we will never smell as mabango using Plum Blossom than when we use Dial or Irish Spring).

We learned that if you’re maabilidad, you’ll never grow hungry. And Divisoria, with its wealth of stuff, offers endless opportunities to make money and bring food to the table. You can get Made in China makeup that you can sell at the office, daster and underwear you can sell to the neighbors, stationeries to peddle to your classmates. In Juan Luna Street, you can get shirts at wholesale prices for a minimum order of six pieces. It’s also the place to get towels and handkerchiefs by the dozen, which you can have embroidered, um, wherelse? In Divisoria! In Sto. Cristo, you can get coffee, sugar and cocoa; fish balls, squid balls and chicken balls; as well as chichirias and nuts per kilo. Even Divi’s history is a lesson on never giving up easily: during the Spanish times, because the non-Christian Chinese traders were barred from taking up residence and conducting business inside the Walled City of Intramuros, these Chinese merchants started setting up their shops around Binondo, eventually giving birth to the most famous budget shopping complex in the country.

Looking back, maybe I also acquired a sense of entrepreneurship from all those years tagging along with my mother to Divisoria: apart from the textiles, she would buy makeup and a variety of grocery items for reselling, or raw peanuts for cooking and repacking—which might explain my own adventures into retail when I got a little older.

Eventually, my mother was able to grow her modest sources of income into a full-blown business, and she has continued on with her frequent trips to Divi up to present. As for me, while the malls have kept me from being a regular for years, I have returned to the Divi fold having decided to fully take on the entrepreneurial path and help in my mother’s business.

It’s a new day for the country’s bargain capital. Having also become a parent, I now find myself never missing out on an opportunity to take my little boy to Divisoria whenever he’s game to tag along. He doesn't like that it's crowded and far. But he gets into the swing of things when he sees something he likes—a selfie stick, a tripod, a Minecraft toy— which I don’t mind buying because they’re far cheaper here than anywhere else.

It’s not exactly the same Divisoria my brother and I frequented growing up, especially with Mayor Isko’s cleanup drive a few months back—but while there’s now a semblance of order, and patches of open space, the rush is still there, the chaos, the hundreds of people so determined to make a living on every inch of selling space they’re allowed to. The sweat and the grime, the smiles and exhaustion on vendors’ faces, the Good Morning towels on shoulders, the bedraggled alpombra slippers.

You can’t get a more honest image of Manila hustle than in this exuberant, borderless sprawl of low-price trading. It is where my mother taught us, maybe directly or indirectly, the value of every centavo saved, every centavo earned, and every centavo spent. Who knows, while looking for another toy or his nth selfie stick, my little boy might even pick up his own life lesson or two. After all, didn’t they say you can find everything here? (ABS-CBN News/ANCX)

16 Weekend BALITA Visit www.Balita.com Saturday-Friday | January 4 - 10, 2020 Home & Companion Organizing Your Pantry

Locsin Clear Out Your Pantry

1. Remove everything from your pantry. Place everything on the kitchen table. Toss out anything outdated or bottles that have less than a teaspoon on the bottom. If you have duplicates of an item that you rarely use, set these aside. You may want to reconsider buying that item in the future.

Check expiration dates. If something is very old, but not outdated, consider donating it. If it has lasted years, you probably aren’t going to use it.

2. Clean out your pantry. Dust your pantry and remove any sticky messes. If you clean your pantry, there will be more of an incentive to keep it clean. Sweep and clean the fl oor as well.

Use butcher paper to line the shelves, so that your pantry will be easier to clean in the future. Some people like to use wrapping paper for a more cheerful look. Wire shelves in particular can be drab and may need some dressing up.

3. Fit baskets or containers into your pantry. If your pantry is disorganized, then it is likely that you need separate containers to split it into sections. Find baskets with low or transparent walls, so that you can see what is in them without pulling them out.

Some people suggest using spice racks or lazy susans for easy access to items. Some things, like fl our or nuts, that you may accumulate a lot of, can be put into large jars and labelled with a tag and a sharpie.

For pantry food storage, I use clear pop-top canisters because I can store more in less space. Organize Your Pantry

1. Combine duplicate items in containers. If you have two bags of fl our, put them into one container. If you accidentally buy duplicate items, you can simply empty them into the containers.

Get square, stackable containers to make the most of the space that you have. 2. Organize what is left on the table. Gather like items together into groups that you will keep them in once you transfer them all to your shelves. Some people prefer to organize their pantry by meals-- breakfast foods, lunch foods, snacks, and beverages.

Some prefer to organize by type. Common groupings are as follows: fl our and sugar, canned and jarred goods, grains and beans, boxed items, spices, canned/bottled beverages, potatoes and onions, and paper goods.

3. Put the groupings into wire, cloth, or woven baskets. You can usually fi nd cloth baskets at a home goods store. Also be sure to check Goodwill or another thrift store.

Don’t be afraid to pack the basket a little bit tight-- you will be removing it from the pantry to grab your items. This will ensure that instead of reaching to the back of the pantry you will be able to pull out the basket, remove your item, and replace it.

4. Label your items. If you took items out of their original container, label the container. If you put items in an opaque container for grouping, put a tag on the container and write down which grouping is inside. You can also print labels onto stickers for more permanent staples, like fl our.

Labelling is essential for clarity, especially if many of your family members will be reaching into the pantry as well. If everything is clearly labelled, you will reduce the learning curve and minimize confusion.

5. Put the items back in your pantry. Organize your items by weight and necessity. Heavier items should be the most easily accessible. The same goes for healthy snacks and daily staples, like I f you reach into the pantry daily, you know how important it is to be organized when cooking. If you don’t organize your pantry, things can go bad, be unused for months or even years, and simply be hard to reach. If you group your items and follow a few simple inventory tricks, you can get organized and stay organized.

SIMPLE STACY

cereal and bread.

You may need to put things like cookies and other sweets higher, so that they stay out of the reach of small children. Keep heavy items on lower shelves, so that if they fall, they will be less likely to hurt someone.

Stay Organized

1. Create a pantry inventory list. These can be found online, or you can make your own. A pantry inventory list is just a list of your groups, the items in them, and how many there are. As you use and buy items, you update the list, so that you always know how much food you have in the pantry.

You can also buy a chalkboard at a thrift store, or chalkboard paint at a home improvement store. When you are running low on an item, you can write it on the chalkboard.

2. Use fun containers to keep your pantry beautiful and interesting. You will have more of an incentive to keep your pantry organized if you like the containers that things are kept in. Buy a couple of fun containers whenever you see them out shopping, and add beauty to your pantry.

You can usually fi nd vintage or antique containers at secondhand stores or junk shops.

Brightly colored containers can usually be found at a home goods store or big box store.

3. Use levels of storage so that you can see the back row of items. If you have a particularly deep pantry, you may want to elevate items that are in the back by putting them on low shelves. This way you can see their labels, and you will not buy duplicates when you visit the store. Big box stores sell low wire racks for this purpose, but you can also get creative. Old cigar boxes can be about the right height. If you have many duplicate items, sometimes you can stack them two high. (wikihow.com)

How Often Should

You Feed Your Dog? M ost experts recommend feeding your dog twice a day — once in the morning and once in the evening — though puppies under fi ve months of age should be fed three to four times a day, or as directed by your veterinarian.

While most dogs will dig in the moment you place the bowl on the fl oor, you may fi nd that your adopted dog is a fi nicky eater, at least at fi rst. After all, he’s been thrust into a new home with new people, and he may be too nervous to eat. If this is the case, you will need to teach him to eat on a schedule.

Leave the bowl on the fl oor for ten minutes and then pick it up, regardless of whether he has eaten. (If your dog is a slow eater, this period can be extended to twenty minutes, but only if he is still eating during that time and hasn’t gone off in search of other entertainment.) At the next scheduled feeding time, put the bowl back down, again for only ten minutes. Pretty soon your dog will learn that he needs to eat when the food is off ered. Having regularly-scheduled feeding times not only establishes a routine, it also allows you to monitor your dog’s health. If he picks at his food throughout the day, you may not notice right away if he’s not eating well. But if he normally eats heartily as soon as you put the bowl down, you will immediately see a sudden lack of appetite, which is often an indication that he’s not feeling well. If your dog’s appetite doesn’t improve in a few days, have him checked by your veterinarian.

Another benefi t of set feedings is that a dog who eats on a schedule poops on a schedule. In addition, if you live in an urban area, leaving a bowl of kibble on the ground all day can attract unwanted house guests, like cockroaches and mice. It is to everyone’s advantage to keep feeding times regular. (petfi nder.com)

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10. Gina Lopez’s lost years in Africa: “When one doesn’t have much, one treasures every little bit”

Many great names in Philippine culture passed away last year but none resonated as much with ANCX readers as ABSCBN’s own, the heiress and philanthropist Gina Lopez who, at 18, left her sheltered life in Manila to become a missionary in impoverished areas in Portugal, India, and Africa. In this self-penned essay she originally wrote for the now defunct Rogue, the former DENR secretary and Bantay Bata founder recounts the path that led her away from privilege and into enlightenment. 9. These men climbed the Kamuning Summit and survived to tell us of their journey

Many woke up on April Fools’ Day to a set of photos being furiously shared on Facebook of a group of men who, plowing through Quezon City pollution and bouts of gout, dared to climb the Kamuning Summit. Sure, the curious, comical, almost inexplicable looking overpass that looms over one section of EDSA can’t compare to an Everest, an Apo, or to, if we’re being honest, the nosebleed seats of the Philippine Arena. But it was an enthralling journey nonetheless, if we go by the accounts of the brave men who took the challenge—Albert Labrador, Mario Aglipay, and Bong Manayon— and the number of people who read our report and shared it. The ANCX top 10 stories of 2019 You made this list: By Jacs T. Sampayan Labrador and Aglipay at the Kamuning summit.

Photographs by Bong Manayon 6. Who was Nicko Falcis before Kris Aquino? He gave us a few answers

Before 2018, not a lot of people knew who Nicko Falcis was. When the story about Kris Aquino’s charges against Falcis broke, the erstwhile business partner of the erstwhile Queen of All Media needed to be formally introduced to the public. In this exclusive interview with Falcis, Aquino’s former “northern star,” the man shared his humble beginnings in Welcome Rotonda, his earlier plans of becoming a doctor, and the challenges he and his family faced well before he met and worked for the woman who will turn his world around. Doris Ho with Mayor Isko Moreno THERE were many stories in 2019, a boatload filled with everything imaginable and everything that challenged the imagination: election upsets, legal battles, parting of ways, the passing of beloved cultural icons, and WTF moments like the presence of the president in the biggest family squabble that happened in the history of Heritage Memorial Park. Weaving narratives and features that would service, entertain, and affect you, dear readers, can sometimes feel like overly complicated guesswork—but at the end of the day we really just document what we believe to be significant events and hope that it adds to your life one way or another. But having said that, these are the events whose significance you’ve confirmed just by investing in them a few minutes of your 2019. Nicko and Kris in happier times.

Photo courtesy of Nicko Falcis. 3. Nicko Falcis: “I was so devastated. I thought I was in a Shake, Rattle & Roll chapter”

Our most read story on the Kris Aquino-Nicko Falcis saga was a co-written piece by ANCX editor-in-chief Jerome Gomez and executive editor Ces Oreña Drilon. The second of a two part series, this featured an interview with Falcis which took place in a restaurant in Bonifacio Global City, with his brother and “Olivia Pope,” lawyer and radio personality, Jesus Falcis, on hand. In the story, the brothers shared, from their perspective, sordid details of Nicko’s working history with Aquino—including the incident at the latter’s house which Nicko remembers to be so devastating, as the title said, that he thought he was in a chapter from Shake, Rattle, and Roll. 5. “I wanted to be nurtured, Nicko. I have to be supported. I am the queen.” There was no shortage of powerful lines and quotable quotes all throughout the public feud between Kris Aquino and her former managing director Nicko Falcis. The latter claims that the title of this piece were uttered by the super celebrity when he committed the mistake of having her Crazy Rich Asians photos land exclusively on an ABS-CBN website. This oversight triggered the end of their 18-month working relationship. “There are three versions of Madam,” Falcis says in this story. “I always wanted to meet the hyper one or, you know, the one that can be as active and as passionate as me.”

Sarmenta and Gomez’s schoolmate, Jesse Vera Acebes, recounts a frightening brush with “R. Corcolon,” one of Sanchez’s henchmen. 4. “Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez weren’t the first”

There was public outcry several months ago when news broke about the possible early release of Antonio Sanchez. The former mayor of Calauan, Laguna was tagged and charged as the mastermind of the rape-slay of Eileen Sarmenta and murder of Allan Gomez, who then were still students at the Los Baños campus of the University of the Philippines. This piece, written by Sarmenta and Gomez’s schoolmate Jesse Vera Acebes, recounts a frightening brush he and his classmates had with a gun-wielding man, whose military jacket tag he says distinctly read “R. Corcolon,” one of Sanchez’s henchmen. 1. One last look at Harrison Plaza, the first mall of all our childhoods

While nostalgia is a big part of our readers’ interests, we were still delightfully surprised by the massive outpouring of sentiment about this 43-year-old commercial complex in Pasay. Writer Patricia Chong and photographer Renzo Navarro, both HP habitues, painted an elegant picture of the storied shopping establishment, a story that turned viral and is our most read article to date. It seemed that everyone who shared, commented, and read the article had scores of memories and stories about the rundown property, from former stall and shop owners to frequent visitors who enjoyed the homey, pedestrian fare, colorful wares, and sometimes barely there airconditioning. Rumors of its closing have been around for years, but this “mall stuck in the past” finally relented to development and ceased operations on the last day of 2019.

(ABS-CBN News/ANCX) The 43-year-old commercial complex in Pasay has left indelible memories to many people's heart.

Photograph by Renzo Navarro 2. A guide to the Barretto battles: 15 years of family feuds and reconciliations

Years of resentment and social media back-and-forth among the Barretto siblings came to a head last October when a scuffle broke out at the wake of the family patriarch Miguel. The physical altercation between Gretchen and her younger sister Marjorie happened right in front of no less than the President, who tried in vain to keep the peace. Days and weeks after the incident, the dirt kept being slung via one-on-one interviews, seemingly incriminating photos, and, of course, even more cryptic Instagram posts. This timeline of more than a decade of celebrity feuding gave the very public fight context, and was our second-most read article last year. 8. The Tulfos are the face of Philippine Justice, and that should bother us

“It’s easy to argue why such a formula is unhealthy for any society. It’s trial by publicity. Instant justice—fallible, extralegal, and prone to abuse. It makes a spectacle out of suffering,” says Gian Lao, the writer of this feature/think piece about the phenomenon that is Raffy Tulfo in Action. In the last few years, the host (and his brothers) have gone beyond celebrity nouns to verbs; in the same way you would “google” an answer or “Xerox” a document, a disgruntled Pinoy would just as easily utter “ipapa-Tulfo kita” to his or her would-be abuser. It has very strong numbers and a very loyal following. It also proves justice in this country, through normal means, is out of the public’s reach. 7. What happened at Doris Ho’s dinner for Mayor Isko and the country’s next gen taipans

ANCX’s Man of the Year Isko Moreno was someone the public couldn’t get enough of in 2019. Through visits to his favorite tumbongan, his highly-publicized cleanup drives, and Martha Stewart hobnobbing, and every time the Manila mayor brought in the numbers. But what caught the most attention from readers was our inside story on Doris Ho’s dinner for Yorme and guests that included the country’s next gen taipans. At the intimate affair, Moreno made a strong pitch to these influential, moneyed group: buy Manila’s old buildings and invest in the country’s capital once more. Said the mayor: “I would rather try and fail by coming up with a solution than not try at all.”

Caffeine may offset some health risks of diets high in fat, sugar

CHICAGO — Caffeine may offset some of the negative effects of an obesogenic diet by reducing the storage of lipids in fat cells and limiting weight gain and the production of triglycerides, according to a study in rats posted on the website of the University of Illinois (UI) this week.

For four weeks, the rats in the study ate a diet that contained 40 percent fat, 45 percent carbohydrate and 15 percent protein. They also ingested one of the forms of caffeine in an amount equivalent to that of a human who drinks four cups of coffee daily.

The researchers performed cell culture studies in which they exposed adipose cells from mice to synthetic caffeine or the coffee or mate caffeine extracts, and found that regardless of its source, caffeine decreased the accumulation of lipids in adipose cells by 20 percent to 41 percent.

To be specific, the rats that consumed the caffeine extracted from mate tea gained 16 percent less weight and accumulated 22 percent less body fat than the rats that consumed decaffeinated mate tea.

The researchers also

Higher body weight can increase certain cancer survival

CANBERRA — Australian scientists have found that higher body weight could increase the chance of beating certain cancers.

In the study, a team from Flinders University revealed that an above average or high body mass index (BMI) can boost the body's response to atezolizumab, a common treatment for non-small-lung cancer (NSCLC).

They found that patients with a high BMI in four trials had a significant reduction in mortality after being treated with atezolizumab compared to those of an average weight.

Ganessan Kichenadasse, the lead researcher from the Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, said the result was surprising because a high BMI has previously been linked to diabetes, cancers, and cardiovascular diseases.

"This is an interesting outcome and it raises the potential to investigate further with other cancers and other anti-cancer drugs," he said in a media release.

"Previous studies have explored a con cept called as 'obesity paradox' where obesity is associated with increased risks for developing certain cancers and, counter-intuitively, may protect and give greater survival benefits in certain individuals. "Our study provides new evidence to support the hypothesis that high BMI and obesity may be associated with response to immunotherapy."

According to data published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in June, two thirds of Australian adults, the equivalent of 12.5 million people, were either overweight or obese as of 2017-2018. It also found that one quarter of children aged between five and 17 were either overweight or obese.

Despite the results of the study, the Flinders University team stressed the need for a healthy lifestyle to maintain normal weight because of other health problems associated with high BMI. (pna /Xinhua)

tracked the expression of several genes associated with obesity and lipid metabolism, including the fatty acid synthase gene (Fasn) --an enzyme compound involved in the synthesis of fatty acids from glucose, and the lipoprotein lipase gene (Lpl), which codes for an enzyme that breaks down triglycerides.

All of the caffeine treatments, regardless of origin, have significantly downregulated the expression of both Fasn and Lpl.

In the cell cultures, Fasn expression diminished by 31 percent to 39 percent, while Lpl expression decreased by 51 percent to 69 percent among cells treated with synthetic caffeine or the caffeine from mate tea or coffee, the researchers found.

In the rats that consumed the mate tea caffeine, expression of Fasn decreased by 39 percent in their fat tissue and by 37 percent in their livers.

The decreased expression of Fasn and two other genes in the liver evoked lower production of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides in the liver as well, according to the study.

Mate tea is an herbal beverage rich in phytochemicals, flavonoids and amino acids that is consumed as a stimulant by people in southeastern Latin American countries. The amount of caffeine per serving in mate tea ranges from 65-130 milligrams, compared with 30-300 milligrams of caffeine in a cup of brewed coffee.

"The consumption of caffeine from mate or from other sources alleviated the negative impact of a high-fat, high-sucrose diet on body composition due to the modulation of certain lipogenic enzymes in both adipose tissue and the liver," said Elvira Gonzalez de Mejia, a co-author of the study and director of the division of nutritional sciences at UI. "The decreased expression of Fasn and Lpl brought about lower synthesis and accumulation of triglycerides in the adipose tissue."

The study was published in the Journal of Functional Foods. (PNA/Xinhua)

DOH reports 1st vape-related lung injury case in C. Visayas

CEBU CITY – The Department of Health (DOH) in Region 7 (Central Visayas) is closely monitoring a 16-year-old girl, who is reported to be the first victim of e-cigarette or vape-associated lung injury (EVALI) case in the region.

Dr. Jaime Bernadas, regional director of DOH-7, said surveillance personnel from his office are doing further examinations to support the findings of a private pediatric pulmonologist who reported a female patient suffering from lung injury due to

Dr. Jaime Bernadas

vaping.

He said the DOH-7 did not have any idea about the case until their central office informed them about it last week, as the private physician directly reported the case to Manila.

“We were called by the central office to follow up the patient who is supposed to go to the attending physician today. So, there were initial findings that were submitted by the attending physician to the central office in particular because the physician wrote (to them) directly,” he said in a press

conference on Tuesday.

As reported by the private physician, the female patient from Consolacion, Cebu smoked both the traditional combustible cigarette and electronic cigarette known as vape, he said.

Bernadas said the patient who was ad mitted at the Mendero Medical Center in the town of Consolacion initially showed difficulty in breathing.

Upon further evaluation by the attending physician, he said the patient met the case criteria for EVALI based on the guidelines of the US Centers for Disease Control.

After several dosages of medications, however, the patient was reportedly discharged from the hospital.

“As per initial report by the physi cian, this is attributed to e-cigarette use. We will be trying to do further examinations,” Bernadas said, adding that they based their findings on the diagnosis from the hospital records. The regional director of DOH-7 warned smokers about the effects of “vaping”. He said he supported the move of the Food and Drug Administration to regulate the sale of vape or e-cigarette in the market.

“Because they are still smoke. Second, it has chemical components. If there are chemical components, there are tenden cies for lung injury irritation, allergies if you have (it), chemical intoxication if you have (it),” he said.

He urged parents not to allow their children, especially minors, to use vape and e-cigarettes. (PNA)

Pia Wurtzbach linked to globetrotting hunk Jeremy Jauncey N early a month after confi rming her breakup with race car driver Marlon Stockinger, Pia Wurtzbach is now being linked to globetrotting hunk Jeremy Jauncey.

Pia Wurtzbach and Jeremy Jauncey are rumored to be dating. Photos from @piawurtzbach and @jeremyjauncey on Instagram

Eagle-eyed fans were quick to notice the similarities in the posts of Wurtzbach and Jauncey on Instagram Stories, with others claiming that they welcomed the new year together.

In his posts, Jauncey revealed that he is staying at the luxury private island Bawah Reserve in Indonesia.

Some even went as far as pointing out the timing of the posts, and that the sunglasses of Wurtzbach and Jauncey looked the same.

The rumors also caused the circulation of a November 2019 photo of Wurtzbach with a fan in Hong Kong, with a man resembling Jauncey seen in the background.

Jauncey, 34, is the founder and

CEO of the social media-savvy creative agency Beautiful Destinations, which has worked with hotel chains like Hilton and Marriott, and the tourism boards of the Philippines and Ireland, to name a few.

The Scotland-born former rugby player is also the travel editor-at-large of Asia Tatler.

In 2017, Jauncey became a model for the homegrown clothing brand Bench.

Wurtzbach, meanwhile, rose to fame after winning the Miss Universe crown for the Philippines in 2015.

She has her own travel show on the Metro Channel titled “Pia’s Postcards,” on top of her many other endeavors. (ABS-CBN News)

Catriona Gray welcomes 2020 with letter to 15-year-old self C atriona Gray continues to use social media to spread positivity as she marked the start of a new decade.

Through a letter to her 15-year-old self, the beauty queen recalled her own feelings about her cancer-stricken father and not knowing what to do with her life. Now 25, Gray told her younger self to “trust in the process.”

“To my 15-year-old self: Firstly, don’t be scared, daddy is going to beat the cancer. I know it seems scary now, but he will still be by your side 10 years later, still singing along to Elvis tunes in the car and stealing all the chocolate from the fridge,” she said.

“I know you’re beginning to feel the pressure of expecting to know what to do with your life. You won’t find it for a few years, but it’s okay. But please be kind and patient with yourself. Like you’ve always done, you’ll place the weight of the world on your shoulders. Trust in the process,” added Gray in the post, which showed photos of her in the past decade.

“Eventually, you’ll discover work that you love that makes you feel fulfi lled. And it’s nothing that you’d expected, but it’s greater than you’ve ever, ever dreamed. Never, ever lose your faith. Sincerely, me.”

In previous interviews, Gray has repeatedly said that her life has changed dramatically after winning the Miss Universe crown in 2018. She has been aiming to use pageantry and her wide social media reach to inspire others and push for her youth-oriented causes.

(ABS-CBN News)

NHCP warns against disrespecting national anthem after Bretman Rock video resurfaces MANILA — The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) on Friday issued a notice against disrespecting the country's national anthem after a clip of Internet sensation Bretman Rock "twerking" to it resurfaced online.

The commission, without mentioning Rock's name, said that it has received complaints over a video showing a man dancing to the national anthem.

It reminded everyone that doing so constitutes a violation of the Flag law and could lead to a P5,000 to P20,000 fi ne, or imprisonment of not more than one year.

The NHCP also said that the national anthem should be respected at all times, and that it shall not be played for mere amusement and entertainment purposes, with a few exceptions.

There was no reference to Rock's video in the letter, but the timing has led many to assume that it was calling out the Internet star.

It was right before the end of 2019 when the video of Rock lip syncing and then dancing to "Lupang Hinirang" began popping up again on online sites such as Facebook and YouTube.

The video, which was fi rst uploaded by Rock on Instagram Stories three months ago, also saw him "twerk" to the national anthem for a few seconds. He has nearly 14 million followers on the site. Moments after he originally posted it, Rock himself admitted that his video had been disrespectful and immediately took it down.

Rock is a Philippines-born vlogger who moved to Hawaii when he was 8. He has since become a bonafi de online star, landing deals with several international beauty brands.

He was recently named the Beauty Infl uencer of 2019 at the E! People's Choice Award in Los Angeles, and made his New York Fashion Week debut last September after being invited to events by Elle Magazine and Vanity Fair.

Last month, he made headlines when he decided to donate part of the proceeds of his own game to a six-year-old fan with cancer. (ABS-CBN News) The NHCP issued a warning against disrespecting the national anthem after a video of online star Bretman Rock dancing to it resurfaced. @bretmanrock on Instagram

Siargao’s popular lagoon to be closed off for a month

MANILA — Heads up to those looking to travel to Siargao this month.

The popular Sugba Lagoon is due to be closed off to tourists for a month for rehabilitation.

This is part of the annual initiative by the local government to preserve its popular tourist spots, reports online said, and this year's cleanup will run from January 10 to February 10.

The Sugba Lagoon is best known for its pristine, blue-green waters and has been one of the go-to places for cliff divers. Local website Spot also noted the place for its delicious seafood.

It was featured in the movie, "Siargao," starring Kapamilya stars Jericho Rosales and Erich Gonzales, which was named Second Best Picture of the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival.

During the closure, boats and tourists will not be allowed in the area. (ABS-CBN News)

THE Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) will declare a partial ban on the deployment of household workers to Kuwait, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd said.

Bello said the partial deployment ban would not cover returning workers, skilled workers and professionals. He said the partial ban was recommended by Labor Attache Nasser Mustafa as Kuwaiti authorities are investigating the killing of Jeanelyn Villavende. Based on preliminary reports submitted by Mustafa of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Kuwait, Villevende was beaten to death. She was already dead when brought to a hospital. Attending nurses reported that she was “black and blue.”

Villavende’s family last talked to her in October. On December 13, the family again called Jeanelyn but her female employer said she was busy.

The exact date of Villavende’s death has yet to be determined.

Her employer has been detained in Kuwait.

“This should serve as a clear message to Kuwaiti authorities. The partial ban may ripen into total deployment ban if justice for Jeanelyn Villavende is not met,” Bello said.

“We will also ask Villavende’s recruitment agency to explain their inaction. As early as September, she already complained about maltreatment and underpayment of salary. She also repeatedly requested the agency for repatriation, but they did not do anything,” he added. Malacañang on Wednesday expressed outrage over Villavende’s death, saying it was “a clear disregard” of the agreement between the Philippines and Kuwait.

“The Palace expresses its outrage over the death of Filipino worker, Jeanelyn Padernal Villavende, allegedly in the hands of her female employer who is now in the custody of Kuwaiti authorities,” Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

“We consider Jeanelyn’s tragic death a clear disregard of the agreement signed by both our country and Kuwait in 2018 which seeks to uphold and promote the protection of the rights and welfare of our workers in Kuwait,” he added.

At the House of Representatives, Rep. Enrico Pineda sought an investigation of the possible violation of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the Philippines and Kuwait.

Pineda said the MoA requires both countries to uphold ethical recruitment policies, systems, and procedures for the recruitment and employment of domestic workers subject to their laws and regulations. It also requires employers to provide food, housing and clothing to their workers; and for the countries to take legal action against erring employers.

“As chairman of the Committee on Labor and Employment and likewise the senior vice chairman of the Overseas Workers Affairs Committee, I am pushing for our government to impose a deployment ban to Kuwait until we are satisfied with their government’s actions with respect to the death of Jeanelyn Villavende; until justice is served,” Pineda said.

“If the Kuwaiti Government is actually concerned about our workers, it should ensure that they are well protected. Because we will not allow our vulnerable Filipinos to be deployed to work in foreign lands without the assurance that the foreign state will give them the protection they need. I call upon all our government agencies to shed light on the matter so that Congress may act upon these issues and consider necessary legislation and policy direction,” he added. ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Eric Go Yap said Villavende’s death was “a blatant disregard not only to the agreement between Kuwait and Philippines on OFW (overseas Filipino workers) welfare but to human dignity as a whole.”

“Dapat maparusahan ang gumawa nito sa ating kababayan at gumulong ang hustisya sa kasong ito (The perpetrators must be punished and justice must be served),” Yap said.

(The Manila Times)

MANILA — US Sen. Edward Markey (Massachusetts) said that the Philippine government’s travel ban against him for voicing support to Sen. Leila De Lima will not silence him.

In a statement, Markey said: “President [Rodrigo] Duterte is sorely mistaken if he thinks he can silence my voice and that of my colleagues.”

Markey is the third American senator that the Philippine government banned from entering the country.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Markey was included in the ban for supporting the travel restriction against officials involved in the detention of De Lima. Amid the travel ban, Markey remains unfazed and pointed out that Duterte “has already failed to silence Sen. De Lima, Maria Ressa and others in his country who have spoken truth to power.”

“I stand with the people of the Philippines with my state’s vibrant Filipino-American community in fighting for the highest democratic ideals and against the strongman tactics of the Duterte government,” he added. Ban vs Durbin, Leahy

Last December, US President Donald Trump approved the passage of the US 2020 budget bill that included the provision, which touches on Financial Management and Budget Transparency.

The budget contains an amendment that authorizes US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to prohibit individuals behind De Lima’s detention from entering the US.

A provision on “Prohibition on Entry” allows the secretary of state to deny US entry to officials involved in De Lima’s detention “based on credible information,” as well as apply the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act by imposing sanctions on individuals tagged in human rights violations, including freezing their US assets. US resolution for De Lima, Ressa

Markey is also one of the five senators who filed a bipartisan resolution highlighting human rights concerns in the Philippines and urging the Duterte administration to respect freedom of expression.

He was joined by Sens. Durbin, Marco Rubio (Florida), Marsha Blackburn (Tennessee) and Chris Coons (Delaware).

They filed a resolution specifically raising the cases of De Lima and Ressa, Rappler CEO and veteran journalist who faces a string of legal suits. They called De Lima a “prisoner of conscience” in detention “solely on account of her political views and legitimate exercise of her freedom of expression.” (Philstar.com) Sen. De Lima, Maria Ressa and others in his country who “I stand with the people of the Philippines with my state’s vibrant Filipino-American community in fighting for the highest democratic ideals and against the strongman tactics of the Duterte government,” he added.

Duterte earlier ordered a ban on Philippine soil against US Sens. Dick Durbin (Illinois) and Patrick Leahy (Vermont), who proposed the amendment to deny officials implicated in the detention of De Lima of entry to the Last December, US President Donald Trump approved the passage of the US 2020 budget bill that included the provision, which touches on Financial Management and Budget Transto respect freedom of expression.

He was joined by Sens. Durbin, Marco Rubio (Florida), Marsha Blackburn (Tennessee) and Chris Coons (Delaware).

They filed a resolution specifically raising the cases of De Lima and Ressa, Rappler CEO and veteran journalist who faces a string of legal suits. They called De Lima a “prisoner of conscience” in detention “solely on account of her political views and legitimate exercise of her freedom of expression.” (Philstar.com) ◘ Malacañang confi rmed that Massachusetts Sen. Edward Markey has joined fellow Democratic Senators Dick Durbin and Patrick Leahy, authors of the entry ban amendment, in the list of American lawmakers barred from entering the Philippines. US Sen. Ed Markey website

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Pacquiao, Sea Games, Yulo top newsmakers

Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao and athletes who brought pride and glory to the country were the top sports newsmakers in 2019.

Members of the Philippine team that ruled the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and athletes who shone on the international stage were The Manila Times’ biggest winners in sports in 2019.

The country got back to the top of the SEA Games this year, claiming the overall championship with a medal haul of 149 gold, 117 silver and 121 bronze medals.

It was worth the long wait for Team Philippines as it topped the biennial meet 14 years after last snagging the overall title.

“We are thankful for all the sacrifi ces and hard work that went behind pushing their chances for a shining moment of victory,” said Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Butch Ramirez.

At the end of the regional competition, the Philippine fl ag shone the brightest among 11 nations.

MANNY PACQUIAO

The Filipino boxing legend once again defi ed Father Time this year.

At the age of 40, Pacquiao retained his World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight title via a unanimous decision over the 29-year old Adrien Broner last January.

The lone eight-division world champion

then silenced the brash 30-year-old Keith Thurman six months later in their WBA super welterweight title fi ght, scoring a split decision to become the oldest welterweight to grab a major belt in history.

“He’s a truly great, legendary boxer,” said Thurman of Pacquiao.

The fi ghting senator was nominated for the “Fighter of the Decade” and “Fighter of the Year” awards by the Boxing Writers Association of America while his match against Thurman was also shortlisted for the “Fight of the Year.” He previously got the “Fighter of the Decade” honors from the World Boxing Council for 2001-2010.

CARLOS YULO

Pint-sized gymnast Carlos Yulo rose to fame when he became the fi rst male Southeast Asian to win a gold in the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships with his dazzling routine in the fl oor exercise last October in Stuttgart, Germany.

That historic performance made the teenage sensation the second Filipino athlete to punch an Olympic ticket.

“Last year, I was looking at my [bronze] medal and I was like, ‘I will get the gold medal next year,” said Yulo.

Yulo captured two gold and fi ve silver medals in the SEA Games, emerging as the most bemedalled Filipino in the biennial meet to receive more than P3.2 million in cash incentives.

CARLOS YULO

EJ OBIENA MANNY PACQUIAO NESTHY PETECIO

EJ OBIENA

Coming back from an anterior cruciate ligament injury in 2017, pole vaulter EJ Obiena was the fi rst Filipino athlete to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The 24-year-old Obiena vaulted his way to the Summer Games with a gold-winning jump of 5.81 meters in the Salto Con L’asta In Piazza Chiari in Italy in September — surpassing the Olympic qualifying standard of 5.80m.

Prior to that, Obiena set a new record in the Asian Athletics Championships with a gold-clinching 5.71m performance and also ruled the Summer Universiade with a 5.76m jump.

He capped his amazing year with a record-breaking 5.45m eff ort for his fi rst gold in the SEA Games.

“It felt really good, amazing and just overall joy. The hardships along the way made it even better,” Obiena told The

Manila Times.

NESTHY PETECIO

Less than 24 hours into Yulo’s victory in Germany, the Philippines got another world champion in female boxer Nesthy Petecio.

Petecio nipped hometown bet Liudmila Vorontsova via split decision to seize the gold in the featherweight division of the 2019 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Ulan-Ude, Russia.

The 27-year-old Petecio became the second Filipina fi ghter to win in the world tournament after Josie Gabuco in 2012. Unsurprisingly, Petecio copped her fi rst SEA Games gold after crushing Oo Nwe Ni of Myanmar.

Petecio and the rest of the Philippine boxing team now have their sights set on getting to the Olympic ring.

(manilatimes.net)

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2020 Nissan Altima. Model #13110. Lease for $189 per month plus tax for 36 months. Lease based on an agreed upon value of $23,871.MSRP $25,205 Customer Due at Signing $3,900 Nissan My Altima Rogue Holiday Bonus Cash $500. NMAC Lease Cash $550. Total Drive Off $5,650. 12K miles per year. See dealer for details. Image for illustration purposes only, may not be actual vehicle. VIN #1N4BL4BV5LC162120 Model #13110

2019 Nissan Rogue Sport S. Model #27119. Lease for $189 per month plus tax for 36 months. Lease based on an agreed upon value of $20,4443. MSRP $24,010. Customer Due at Signing $1,800. NMAC Lease Cash $1,750. Total Drive Off $3,550. 12K miles per year. See dealer for details. Image for illustration purposes only, may not be actual vehicle. VIN #JN1BJ1CP9KW241871, JN1BJ1CP3KW241896 Model #27119 VIN #JN1BJ1CP9KW241871, JN1BJ1CP3KW241896

PRE-OWNED CARS AVAILABLE ‘18 KIA SPORTAGE LX SUV ‘18 NISSAN ROGUE SPORT SV SUV ‘18 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SV SEDAN ‘16 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY TOURING MINIVAN ‘18 NISSAN VERSA SEDAN SV SEDAN

$ 10,675 Stock#: U7170 | Vin: 810789

Stock#: U7077 | Vin: 471990 $ 13,975

Stock#: U7100 | Vin: 207916 $ 13,475

‘18 CHEVROLET EQUINOX LT SUV ‘18 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT 2.4L SUV ‘18 TOYOTA CAMRY L SEDAN

Stock#: K35831 | Vin: 197774 $ 13,294

Stock#: U6968 | Vin: 150314 $ 14,695

‘16 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA ‘18 NISSAN FRONTIER S PICKUP

Stock#: U7058 | Vin: 290212 $ 16,295

Stock#: U7046 | Vin: H072191 $ 13,995

Stock#: U7174 | Vin: 580971 $ 16,995

Stock#: K32461 | Vin: 108135 $ 18,895

Stock#: O11771 | Vin: 723105 $ 19,945

888-588-7635 www.nissanofmissionhills.com | 11000 Sepulveda Blvd. Mission Hills, CA 91345 WE SERVE ALL AAA, COSTCO, AARP, CREDIT UNION, SAM’S CLUB MEMBERS Offers subject to availability. Net cost based on current rebates. *Nissan Customer Cash in lieu of Special Financing. ** Must finance through NMAC. ***All U.S. Military personnel (active and reserve) All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document processing charge, any electronic filing charge, any emission testing charge and dealer add-ons or accessories. Vehicles subject to prior sale. Interest accrues from date of contract. NMAC financing may be required on some vehicles see dealer for details. All financing subject to credit approval. Factory rebate in lieu of special APR. Certificate Program, see dealer for details.

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2019 SUBARU Impreza 2.0i CVT 5-Door

$ 109 PLUS TAX PER MONTH LEASE/ 39 MONTHS @10k MILES PER YEAR

$2,899 Down Payment $0 Security Deposit $0 First Months Lease Payment

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$ 239 PLUS TAX PER MONTH LEASE/ 36 MONTHS @10k MILES PER YEAR PLUS TAX PER MONTH LEASE/

$2,899 Down Payment $0 Security Deposit $0 First Months Lease Payment

$2,899 Total Due Lease Signing (tax, title, license & doc fees extra)

FINANCE OFFER As low as 2.90% Limited term financing on ALL 2020 Foresters in stock Offer Expires 01/10/20 Model Code: LFF-14 — LH436615 & LH424202

2020 SUBARU Outback Premium CVT

$ 219 PLUS TAX PER MONTH LEASE/ 36 MONTHS @10k MILES PER YEAR PLUS TAX PER MONTH LEASE/

Crosstrek 2.0i Premium CVT2019 SUBARU

PLUS TAX PER MONTH LEASE/ 39 MONTHS @10k MILES PER YEAR $ 159

$2,899 Down Payment $0 Security Deposit $0 First Months Lease Payment

$2,899 Total Due Lease Signing (tax, title, license & doc fees extra)

FINANCE OFFER As low as 2.9% Limited term financing on ALL 2020 Outbacks in Stock Offer Expires 01/10/20 Model Code: LDD-11 — L3109413 & L3102161 $2,899 Down Payment $0 Security Deposit $0 First Months Lease Payment

$2,899 Total Due Lease Signing (tax, title, license & doc fees extra)

FINANCE OFFER As low as 2.90% Limited term financing on ALL 2019 Crosstreks in stock Offer Expires 01/10/20 Model Code: KRD-11 — K8322771, KH320792 & KH341478

2020 SUBARU Legacy Premium CVT

$ 199 PLUS TAX PER MONTH LEASE/ 36 MONTHS @10k MILES PER YEAR PLUS TAX PER MONTH LEASE/

2020 SUBARU Ascent Premium – 8 Passenger CVT with Keyless Access with Push Button Start, Power Rear Gate with Height Memory & Reverse Automatic Braking

$ 289 PLUS TAX PER MONTH LEASE/ 39 MONTHS @10k MILES PER YEAR

$2,899 Down Payment $0 Security Deposit $0 First Months Lease Payment

$2,899 Total Due Lease Signing (tax, title, license & doc fees extra)

FINANCE OFFER As low as 2.9% limited term financing on ALL 2020 Legacys in stock Model Code: LAD-11 — L3010853 & L3003419 Offer Expires 01/10/20 $2,899 Down Payment $0 Security Deposit $0 First Months Lease Payment

$2,899 Total Due Lease Signing (tax, title, license & doc fees extra)

FINANCE OFFER As low as 0.90% Limited term financing on ALL 2020 Ascents in stock Offer Expires 01/10/20 Model Code: LCB-12 — L3411233 & L3418183

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Weekend Balita- January 4, 2020