Weekend Balita- September 21, 2019

ENTERTAINMENT

18 ABS-CBN Ball 2019: Most controversial red carpet outfits VOL. XXVIII NO. 38 LOS ANGELES

September 21 - 27, 2019

THE LEADING SOURCE OF NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR FELLOW FILIPINO-AMERICANS

ROMUALDEz PAINTS gLOSSy PICTURE OF RP’S ECONOMy

By ABNER GALINO

Prayers for clergymen accused of sedition in RP “Mary is the sure path to our meeting with Christ. Devotion to the Mother of the Lord, when it is genuine, is always an impetus to a life guided by the spirit and values of the Gospel.”

– St. John Paul II

F

AMBAssAdOR Jose Manuel Romualdez shakes hand with former Philippine actress G. toengi Walters as Consul General Adelio Angelito Cruz introduces them to each other. Photo by BOBBy CRisOstOMO

Philippine Ambassador to the United states Jose Manuel Romualdez said the homeland “is undergoing a profound transformation” and “is making a lot of headway in terms of economic growth and performance.”

Speaking before a crowd at the Philippine Consulate General headquarters in Los Angeles last Saturday (September 14), Romualdez said the last three years under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte has seen “great political resolve in addressing persistent problems that hamper Philippine growth.”

According to RP ambassador

to the US, government programs such as the universal health care, the comprehensive tax reform and the massive infrastructure ventures are all yielding positive results for the country.

“As a result of these initiatives the Philippines is projected to become a medium income country by the year 2022 --- it might even grow to be into a ROMULADEZ

Who’s in

LA?

PRAYERS

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Bernadette Manahan Sta. Maria: Ang Pagpupugay sa Ating Kultura ni ViCs MAGsAysAy

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Los Angeles holds first Press Freedom Week thE inaugural LA Press Freedom Week (September 16 to 20) took place on several venues in Los Angeles through a partnership between the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) and the Los Angeles Times.

Events were held where stakeholders had conversations around the protection of the First Amendment and on how to engage the public and the journalism community in and around Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES

TV host and actress Valerie Concepcion poses with local entertainment producer Ariane “Atet” Manalo shortly after embarking from a plane at the Los Angeles International Airport.

PHOTO BY TONY GARCIA

ilipinos, Latinos, Marian groups, civic organizations and other Catholic devotees will be holding a procession during the annual pilgrimage to Mary at 2:30 pm. on Sunday (September 22, 2019) at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels (500 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles).

This year’s celebration will include special prayers for the Catholic Church in the Philippines so that the clergy and the faithfuls would always have the courage to become instruments of God’s truth, love and peace.

Archbishop Romulo Valles, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has asked Filipinos to pray in solidarity for four Catholic Bishops, three priests and a religious brother among others who have been charged of inciting sedition, libel, and obstruction of justice

Marian Rivera posts an adorable photo of Baby Ziggy at 5 months old FULL stORy On PAGE 19

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ARtist Bernadette Manahan’s self-portrait

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alapit na naman ang buwan ng Oktubre. Ang buwang ito sa Amerika ay itinalagang "Filipino American History Month." Ito kasi ang buwan nuong 1587 napadpad at dumaong ang mga "Luzones Indios" sa Morro Bay, California.

BERNADETTE

»P4

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Saturday-Friday | September 21 - 27, 2019

PALA CASINO CELEBRATES THE MID-AUTUMN MOON FESTIVAL

PALA, CA – Pala Casino will celebrate the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival with exciting specials and promotions. The celebration includes restaurant specials, giveaway promotions, entertainment events, and more.

Noodles, Pala’s very popular Asian restaurant, will offer a special Black Pepper Fish with steamed rice. Available starting Friday, September 13 at 11am through Sunday, the dish will be $15.95.

On Saturday, September 14, the special Moonlight Lucky Money Giveaway will run 11am—7pm.

Every 8 minutes for 8 hours, one guest will be chosen to win a lucky $118 Added Play prize. All prizes will be loaded directly to each guest’s Privileges Card. To participate, guests must use their Privileges Card at a slot machine, table game or poker table. Guests must have their photo ID to claim, and guests can win more than one prize.

Guests can visit the Pala Privileges Center for more information.

Following the Moonlight Lucky Money Giveaway promotion on Saturday, Pala will present the Khoanh khac “Moment” Vietnamese concert featuring Lam Truong, Tran Thu Ha, Ngoc Ha, Truong Vu, Danh hai Kieu Oanh, Danh hai Hoang Nhat and MC Quoc Thai at 8pm. Admission to the show starts at $40 per person. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.palacasino.com

and clicking on Entertainment.

In addition, Pala Casino will also have a special decorative area in the casino lobby to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. The area is designed for guests to take selfies and photos. This photo area will be available all weekend long from Friday – Sunday.

For more information about these events, or other exciting events and promotions, visit the Pala website at www.palacasino.com. All events and promotions are subject to cancellation without notice.

About Pala Casino Spa & Resort

Pala Casino Spa & Resort includes a Las Vegas-style casino with 2,000+ slot machines, 84 table games, eight poker tables and a 15,000-square-foot smokefree casino area; a 507-room hotel; five swimming pools with two hot tubs and 14 luxury cabanas; a 10,000-square-foot, full-service spa and salon that features 17 treatment rooms, two cabanas and a stateof-the-art fitness center.

Pala also offers 10 restaurants and 40,000 square feet of meeting and convention space. Pala Casino Spa & Resort is an AAA Four-Diamond Award winner for 15 consecutive years. Pala received the award for Best Casino in LA Travel Magazine’s 2019 Readers’ Poll.

For more information, visit www.palacasino.com, www.facebook.com/palacasino, or www.twitter.com/ palacasino.

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CA making progress in assuring water as human right – UCLA study

i

n 2012, California became the first state in the country to declare that “Every human being has the right to safe, clean, affordable and accessible water” when the state legislature inserted that statement into its state water code. now, a new UCLA study (https:// tinyuri.com/UCLAProp1study) finds, the state may be making progress on turning that goal into a reality.

“From the start, the challenge was to meet the needs of some one million Californians who lacked access to clean, safe, reliable drinking water,” says Jon Christensen, the author of the study.

“Their tap water was -- and largely remains -- contaminated by nitrates from agricultural pollution, perchlorate from industrial pollution and other toxics such as arsenic.”

“Small, rural community water systems reliant on groundwater and lacking a connection to a water treatment plant are particularly at risk,” he adds.

But then came Prop. 1 in 2014. As drought conditions ravaged the state, voters surpassed the required twothirds majority threshold to approve a $7.1 billion water bond measure, which included special provisions to earmark funds for the most water-challenged communities.

The measure did not arrive without

By MARK hEdin, Ethnic Media services

criticisms, such as that it was fiscally irresponsible and favored interests such as corporate farmers over communities that most needed help.

But in August of 2014, when the state legislature voted to include Prop. 1 on the Nov. 4 ballot, only two members of the state Assembly opposed it, and it was unanimously approved by the state Senate.

A new study by the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability on Prop. 1 concludes the state “is meeting or exceeding the explicit goals for funding improvements in disadvantaged communities.”

Those are defined as ones where the annual median household income is less than $49,181, which is 80% of the statewide median household income of $61,488.

Forty-two percent of California families fit that description, and a third of the state’s population lives in communities where more than half of the households are in that lower economic bracket.

“When you prioritize equity, funding does go to the disadvantaged communities that most need it,” Christensen says.

Many of these areas, he added, are in the Central Valley, particularly in the San Joaquin Valley.

By way of example, the study notes, 31% of the $2.5 billion allocated assigned to projects so far -- $793 million

– has gone to projects serving disadvantaged communities.

Where the mandate of prioritizing the most water-challenged communities was not included in the state’s spending choices, it is often unclear how much disadvantaged communities and households benefited, the study found.

Of $395 million for flood management, for example, less than 1% was addressed to communities in need.

Nor have they benefited from the allocation of $2.7 billion for water storage projects. But those projects do serve some 23 million Californians, including many disadvantaged households, and 750,000 acres of agriculture.

The report recommends better clarity in the future about whom any state project is intended to benefit. And it encourages more emphasis on “technical assistance” – training, guidance and hands-on help in preparing plans and grant applications.

Larger cities and communities can support staff specifically skilled in environmental planning, compiling grant proposals and the like, and thus can arrive sooner and better prepared when spending decisions are being made. By the time a less affluent community can make its needs and proposals heard, the money may already be spoken for, particularly if that funding lacks specific guidelines about who it is intended to help.

The state needs to be more cognizant of the fact that not all communities are the same in their ability to access state funding procedures, the report states.

By late 2018, the state’s Department of Water Resources had approved 515 technical assistance requests, including 415 for drinking water projects, but it had already spent most of its funding in that category. This shows the importance of ongoing funding so that those projects can be implemented in the future.

Polling shows strong support in California for future bond measures to support water supply and quality, along with wildfire protection and natural resources restoration. The UCLA study aims to inform future planning for such projects.

“Prop. 1 represents a watershed in funding for infrastructure and environmental projects in California,” Christensen said. “This commitment to funding projects in disadvantaged communities that have not historically gotten these investments needs to continue.”

“Together with the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund, approved by the state this summer, it represents a large step forward. But we will need ongoing funding to ensure that all Californians have access to clean, safe drinking water, along with the other environmental benefits that water provides.”

Community Romualdez paints glossy picture of RP’s economy 4

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FROM PAGE 1

trillion dollar economy with a GDP per capita of $8,200 by 2032,” Romualdez predicted.

“Apart from a surging economy we also have a young dynamic and tech savvy population, and a democracy that is made even more vibrant by advances in the communications technology field.”

Romualdez said the United States remains to be Philippines third largest trading partner and number one destination of its exports estimated to be worth $16.6 billion, adding that the US, in turn, pumped in $3.6 billion worth of investment into the Philippine economy in the last five years.

With an emerging economy, Romualdez said “we are hopeful that in the near future, there will be economic prosperity for the majority (of the people) and economic independence for the Philippines.”

Romualdez, describing the Philippines as “Asia’s rising star,” added that the Philippines does not want to become a burden to its allies, particularly the US. “We are here in the US --- not to beg, but to show our hands in friendship. We want to be an equal partner … we are here as an ally and friend as it has been for the past --- more than 70 years.”

“The Duterte administration’s vision for secure and prosperous life for every Filipino is founded

on economic growth that is relevant, inclusive and sustainable. It’s a growth that is not just in statistics, but one that is tangible and certainly enjoyed through perceptible quality of life of every Filipino.”

Romualdez also mentioned during his speech the impending export of young coconuts from the Philippines to the US. The US Department of Agriculture has approved the importation of young coconuts from the Philippines later last year.

Last March, the Philippine Department of Agriculture announced the maiden shipments of young coconuts to be in the US in July.

At present, Thailand dominates the US market in the export of young coconut and other coconut products.

Romualdez went around Los Angeles and suburbs for three days where he met with Los Angeles City Mayor Eric Garcetti, Carson City Mayor Albert Robles, key officials of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and with Filipino American entrepreneurs and religious and civic leaders.

Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez speaks before the guests at the reception hall of the Philippine Consulate General Los Angeles.

Photo by Abner Galino

Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez poses with officials and staff of the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles. The photo is taken at the residence of the Philippine Consul General Adelio Angelito Cruz in Los Angeles.

Photo by Bobby Crisostomo

Bernadette Manahan Sta. Maria: Ang Pagpupugay sa Ating Kultura FROM PAGE 1 Ang buwang ito ay palagiang ipinag- pagmamahal sa nakagisnang kulturang didiwang ng Pamana ng Lahi, Filipino Pilipino.

Cultural Center at ng Filipino American Nabanggit nga ni Gat Jose Rizal, ang Community of Los Angeles sa pamamag- ating Dakilang Bayani ito: "Ang hindi itan ng pagtatanghal ng mga art o pho- magmahal sa sariling wika, daig pa ang to exhibit upang paibayuhin ang ating hayop at malansang isda."Ang ating wika

ay isa lamang bahagi ng ating kinagis- ng Historic Filipinotown ng L.A. nang kultura.

Kasama sa mga obra ng artist ay ang Nakatala nga sa diksyonaryo na saklaw mga ipinagmamalaki ng Pilipino tudin ng kultura ang arts, customs, litera- lad ng isa sa pinakamalaking agila sa ture, music, paintbuong mu ndo, ing, philosophy, ang Philippine Eahumanities at ingle; nandoon din tellectual achieveiyong sarimanok, ments ng isang isang maalamatbansa, o grupo ng ing ibon ng mga tao. taga-Maranao sa Kaya nga may Mindanao. sikat na kasabiMakikita rin ang hang puwede mong kinagigiliwang bualisin ang isang tao laklak nasanggusa kanyang bansa, may. Hindi kumpero ang bansa--o pleto ang rekado ang kultura--ay kung wala ang mga m a h i r ap m o n g damit na Filipiniana at ng ating mga maialis sa kanya.

Sa pakiwari ko ang katutubong mitao ay parang isang noridad. puno: Siya ay magSa ano mang kakaugat at kapag bagay, kapag atin lumak i na, ang itong nabibigyan kulturang kanyang ng focus, lalo itong nagisnan, nakapilnapapalapit sa ating ay tuluyang ing puso at isipan. mamumulaklak.

A ng pa la g ia ng Manahan’s rendition of Sarimanok Sa ika-5 ng Oktupaggunita sa ating bre, ang creative at talented artist na si kultura ay nararapat lang na magkaroon Bernadette Manahan Sta. Maria ay mag- ng buhay at kulay. kakaroon ulit ng kanyang solo exhibit sa Pasasalamat sa mga nag-sponsor sa art Filipino Cultural Center (1740 W. Temple exhibit: Fiesta Fastfoods, Guldjian Fasel St., Los Angeles, CA 90026) na nasa gitna Law Car Accident Attorneys.

Si Vics Magsaysay, Ph.D., ay isang Los Angeles-based writer, fine art nature photographer, graphic designer, pintor, makata, alternative healer at may doctorate degree sa clinical hypnotherapy.

5 BALITA Community UCLA Mobile Stroke Unit expands Supervisors voted for rent control in some areas Saturday-Friday | September 21 - 27, 2019

LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn, Torrance Mayor Pat Furey and other local officials and medical professionals recently celebrated the UCLA Mobile Stroke Unit’s expansion to several cities in the South Bay. “When it comes to a stroke, minutes matter,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn.

“If we can get a person experiencing a stroke the treatment they need quickly—we not only increase their chance of survival, we increase the chance that they completely avoid the debilitating brain damage that a stroke could cause.

I partnered with UCLA to bring the Mobile Stroke Unit here to the South Bay because I know this is technology that saves lives and I wanted to put it to work.”

The Mobile Stroke Unit is a specially-equipped ambulance, built with a mobile CT scanner, point-of-care lab tests, telehealth connection with a vascular neurologist, and therapies, all designed to deliver proven stroke treatments to patients faster than ever before. It is the West Coast’s first Mobile Stroke Unit and is operated by UCLA Health and sponsored by the Arline and Henry Gluck Foundation. In 2017, Supervisor Hahn secured County funding so that this project could be expanded to more cities across the county as part of a national study.

“Having the UCLA Mobile Stroke Unit in Torrance means our community is receiving individualized stroke treatments catered to their medical needs,” said Torrance Mayor Pat Furey. “It means they are being provided proven stroke treatments faster than ever before. It means lives will be saved.”

Thanks to County funding, the latest South Bay expansion will allow the UCLA Mobile Stroke Unit to operate 7 days a week for the first time since it launched.

The unit will operate in the cities of Torrance, Hawthorne, Lawndale, Gardena, and Carson every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

“UCLA Neurology has top-flight physicians, researchers, nurses and technicians who are leaders in their fields, and the UCLA Mobile Stroke Unit is only one manifestation of that excellence,” said business executive and philanthropist Henry Gluck, who is also chair of the UCLA Health System Board.

“The Arline and Henry Gluck Foun-

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dation is privileged to help bring truly exceptional talent and modern technology into the field to help improve care and save lives.”

Hahn, Furey, philanthropist Henry Gluck and UCLA Arline and Henry Gluck Stroke Rescue Program Medical Director Dr. May Nour, marked this latest expansion and gave attendees an inside look at the UCLA Mobile Stroke Unit. Medical professionals also discussed signs of stroke that residents should be in the lookout for such as face drooping, arm weakness, and speech difficulty.

According to UCLA Health, someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds, while someone dies of a stroke every four minutes. One in six Americans will experience a stroke in their lifetime.

Three-quarters of strokes occur in people over the age of 65. The likelihood of having a stroke nearly doubles every ten years after age 65.

“The UCLA program is one of seven in the country participating in a national study assessing the clinical efficacy and health care utilization of early administration of clot busting medication in mobile stroke units versus later as is currently standard in the emergency room setting,” said Dr. May Nour, Medical Director of the UCLA Arline and Henry Gluck Stroke Rescue Program.

“The results of this study with expected outcomes in June of 2021 will likely inform reimbursement for clinical activities occurring in the mobile stroke unit and help support their expansion of service across the United States.”

Launched in September 2017, with the support of the LA County Board of Supervisors and LA County EMS, the UCLA Mobile Stroke Unit has now expanded clinical operations to seven days per week on a rotating schedule between 3 geographic sites in the County of Los Angeles: the Western Site (Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, rendezvous with patients transported from the Malibu to the city of Santa Monica), the Southern Site (Hawaiian Gardens, Signal Hill, Lakewood, La Mirada, Cerritos, Artesia, Bellflower, Paramount, unincorporated Whittier) and the most recently launched, South Bay Site (Torrance, Hawthorne, Lawndale, Gardena, Carson, with future plans to include participating Beach City fire departments and Compton Fire.)

Prayers for clergymen accused of sedition in RP FROM PAGE 1

by Philippine authorities.

Newly appointed Filipino Auxiliary Bishop Alejandro Aclan of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles will preside in the solemn concelebrated Mass.

Catholic columnist, Rev. Rodel Balagtas, will deliver the homily, as he leads his “kabalens” from Minalin who would be hosting event.

The highlight of the festivities is the reenactment of canonical coronation of Virgen De Los Remedios as bestowed by Pope Pius X11 in 1956.

Devotion to Virgen De Los Remedios dates back to the galleon trades between Mexico and the Philippines in the 15th Century. One of the oldest Marian images is the Virgen De Los Remedios enshrined at Malate Church.

In 1952, Bishop Cesar Maria Guerrero entrusted the province of Pampanga under her patronage. He sent out the image of Virgen De Los Remedios to visit every village, town and city so that people could gather in prayer and learn from Mary the right way to live, to find God and live in harmony.

These visitations continue up to the present day with daily Masses and recitation of the rosary.

“Kapampangans” in Los Angeles introduced the tradition of presenting a crown to Our Lady every September as “a symbol of her dominion over us, because we know that we will always be in good hands- in the hands of a mother.”

There are places all over Spain and Latin Americaincluding India dedicated in honor of the Virgen De Los Remedios.

At this time of the year, Mexicans pay homage to the 18th century image of Virgen De Los Remedios in the Cathedral of Naulcapan. Numerous miracles and answered prayers are attributed through the intercession of Virgen De Los Remedios.

Marriages are strengthened, families are reunited, sick people are healed and disputes are settled through Her intercession.

Everyone is invited to come dressed in their national costumes and to bring families and children.

Weekend

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 on Tuesday to make a temporary rent control ordinance a permanent law.

The measure would put a ceiling on rental rates in buildings that opened prior to 1995, except single-family homes in unincorporated neighborhoods.

Rental rates would be based on the Consumer Index Price that would change from year to year, but could not exceed 8 percent.

Precise language for the permanent measure will be drafted and returned to the floor on November 16 for a final vote.

Under the proposal, evictions without “just cause” would remain prohibited in all rentals, unless they broke the terms of their lease or failed to pay their rent.

The permanent ordinance would expand protections contained in the temporary version of the law, which required landlords to provide relocation assistance when tenants take buy-outs (also known as “cash for keys”) or are evicted without fault.

The regulations would apply to rental units in unincorporated areas of the county such as East LA, Altadena, Montrose, and Universal City.

The permanent rules is expected to protect some100,000 renters across the more than 120 unincorporated neighborhoods in LA County.

Los Angeles holds first Press Freedom Week

FROM PAGE 1

There were three anchor events, amid a series of satellite ones, wherein leading experts, top journalists including Lester Holt, anchor of NBC Nightly News and Dateline NBC, and supporting partners highlighted the threats to a free press.

The ways to defend press freedom were also discussed.

“As a journalist, it’s critical that press freedom is kept at the forefront of our conversation and that we, as a coalition forming LA Press Freedom Week, inspire and engage the public about the value of a free press and the critical purpose journalists serve in our democracy,” said Lorenzo Soria, president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

“For the last two years the HFPA used the organization’s on-stage time at the Golden Globe Awards to commit a total of $4 million to organizations like the Committee to Project Journalists, International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, that are focused on the protection of journalists, and the HFPA will continue to support journalistic

organizations through our philanthropic efforts. We are proud to work alongside such an esteemed publication as the Los Angeles Times to deepen awareness around the important issues journalists face each day.”

“As a global city and entertainment capital, Los Angeles has a unique opportunity to highlight and amplify the powerful stories that underscore the value of the First Amendment,” said Norman Pearlstine, executive editor of the Los Angeles Times and CPJ board member.

“At a time when the press is under attack, we’re pleased to tell the Los Angeles community about the importance of press freedom through this series of events.”

Three major events were held at Paley Center for Media on the topic of Press Freedon and Elections (Monday, Sept.

16); LA Central Library on the topic of Press Freedom and Diversity: Whose voice gets included? (Wedenesday, Sept. 18); and UCLA School of Law on the topic of Cross-Border Legal Threats to Press Freedom: The Experience of Documentarians (Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019).

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All roads lead to Bilibid: How Chinese drug lords control PH drug trade in prison ChINese drug lords inside the national penitentiary are able to control the illegal drug trade all over the Philippines by tapping gang members inside and outside prisons, a retired police general said Friday.

Benjamin Magalong, a former head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, said once a Chinese drug lord is sentenced to maximum security, prison gangs “bid” for the chance to “host” the new prisoner. He said the money put up by the top bidder is distributed to prison officials.

Once a Chinese drug lord is incarcerated, the “winning” prison gang takes charge giving the drug lord his own cellphone and all his needs met for a cut of the profit on the narcotics trade.

The drug lord is then able to remotely manage the illegal drug trade while inside prison.

“Pag nakuha ko ‘yung Chinese drug lord, sasabihin ko sa kaniya: ‘Akin ka. Dito ka.

Aalagaan kita. Pero meron akong parte sa kita mo.’ Ito telephono, ito lahat. Pero ‘yung mga gang ko sa labas, ‘yun ang gagamitin natin para meron din silang hanap-buhay,” he said, pointing out that gang members outside prison are used as couriers.

“Ang management, ang pagpapatakbo ng droga sa buong bansa ay duon pa rin nanggagaling sa loob [ng Bilibid],” he added.

Using imprisoned convicts as hired killers is also ongoing, he said. Under the scheme, corrupt jail officials “release” convicts for a short period of time to carry out hits and then bring them back to prison.

“Marami ‘yan pag malapit na elections (that is common when elections are near),” he said.

He added that this is the reason why the Philippine National Police and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology conduct more headcounts before the elections to check if prisoners are being “released.”

“Panay ang accounting sa presohan, visual,” he said.

Magalong said the problem of corruption inside New Bilibid Prison is structural and systemic, pointing out that some jail guards even get Chinese drug lords as their “ninong” (godfather).

He said there is a need for an organizational audit in the entire organization, noting that some jail guards and officials are related to each other.

“Pami-pamilya na kasi ang mga tao sa Bilibid,” he said.

The revolving door of BuCor chiefs is also a problem, he said, adding that each appointee brings his own men to the bureau even without the necessary skills-matching.

“There has to be vetting and background investigation on employees...There are good men there in BuCor pero nadadamay na rin sila,” he said.

Magalong said upgrading technology to better manage the country’s prisons would help curb the illegal drug trade all over the country. “Even if you spend a lot, the benefits would outweigh the cost. If you curb drug trading, of drugs being remotely managed from inside Bilibid Prison, can you imagine how many millions of young people that will be saved,” he said.

(ABS-CBN News)

Since 1995

San Miguel proposes 'elevated EDSA' with bus rapid transit to solve traffic

SAN MIGUEL CORP. PRESIDENT AND CEO RAMON ANG MANILA — San Miguel Corp. is proposing to build an "elevated EDSA" toll road that may include a bus rapid transit system to solve traffic congestion in Metro Manila, the company's head confirmed on Wednesday.

SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said the elevated road would be built on top of EDSA and would stretch from Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City to either Samson Road or Balintawak in Quezon City.

Ang said he has already talked to Transportation Sec. Arthur Tugade about this proposal.

The toll road would have 10 lanes, with 5 lanes each on both northbound and southbound directions. The elevated EDSA may also include dedicated lanes for a bus rapid transit system.

"Two lanes lagyan mo ng (you put) bus rapid transit, each bus rapid transit [can carry] 300 passengers-- it can

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carry 1.5 million passengers a day; solved ang traffic di ba (traffic is solved right)?" Ang said.

The SMC chief said they plan to release more details about the project and submit the proposal to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) next week.

"Yung details noon (The details), we will be submitting to DOTr siguro Monday or Tuesday," Ang said.

San Miguel formally signed an agreement with the DOTr on Wednesday to build a new 'Manila International Airport' in Bulacan.

EDSA, which cuts through several cities, is one of Metro Manila's most traffic-choked thoroughfares. Several measures have been proposed to address traffic on the roadway, including banning private cars during rush hour and barring buses from the avenue.

(ABS-CBN News)

San Miguel to start Bulacan International Airport project CLARK, PAMPANGA — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Wednesday gave San Miguel Corporation (SMC) the green light to begin construction of the Bulacan International Airport.

DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade announced the issuance of the Notice to Proceed after he and SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang signed the concession agreement.

The agreement formally grants San Miguel Aerocity Inc., a company wholly owned by San Miguel Holdings Corporation (SMHC), the task of handling the financing, design, construction, operations and maintenance of the Bulacan International Airport.

The concession period spans 50 years after the completion of construction of the first phase.

Tugade said the construction of the new

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international gateway would boost connectivity and mobility for Filipinos, as this would give them additional travel options.

"Ang mahalaga po diyan ay 'yung pasahero, 'yung riding public (The passenger, the riding public is important). Alam niyo 'ho kung bakit? ‘Pagkat kung meron nang (Why? If there are a variety of options to choose from -- ) Bulacan Airport, NAIA at Clark Airport, let it be a battle of commercial competitiveness. And if it becomes a battle of commercial competitiveness, who benefits? It is the riding public, because the riding public will be given a freedom of choice. Pwedeng mamili kung saang gustong paliparan. Pwedeng mamili kung saang comfort and convenience ang tutukuyin niya. Ito 'ho 'yung mahalaga dito (Passengers can choose which airport to go to. That's what's important),” Tugade said.

“It's all about comfort. It's all about convenience. It's all about putting life to the President's wish and desire for a comfortable life for Filipinos," he added.

During the signing ceremony, Tugade also lauded the SMC for ensuring that issues on right-of-way acquisition, “Material Adverse Government Action” (MAGA) or situations where the government deviates from contractual obligation that requires it to compensate a private entity, and subsidy, are expeditiously resolved.

“Napadali ang dayalogo. Napadali ang agreement sapagkat kinuha ni Ramon Ang ang responsibilidad. Sa dahilang ito, umusad tayo (The agreement was swift and easy because it was Ramon Ang who took responsibility. Because of this, we went forward),” Tugade said.

Ang touted the economic boost the new airport would bring, especially to Central Luzon.

"This will really benefit our people and it will create a lot of business opportunities for Filipinos. It will bring so many foreign tourists," Ang said.

The SMC top honcho also averred the conducive conditions for business with government under the Duterte administration.

"Marami na akong experience in dealing with government officials for the past

30 years. Alam niyo, importante sa government official, 'yung matapat na tao at masipag. Matapat, masipag, at magaling.

Itong administration na ito, ganun po sila (I have a lot of experience in dealing with government officials for the past 30 years.

A government official should be honest, hardworking, and good. This administration have those qualities),” Ang added.

The DOTr formally issued SMHC the Notice of Award on August 14, 2019, two weeks after the conclusion of the Swiss Challenge where SMHC’s unsolicited proposal went uncontested.

The Bulacan International Airport is envisioned to help decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and complement the operations of Clark International Airport, in order to serve the current and anticipated rapid growth in aviation traffic demand in the greater capital region.

The new gateway will have four parallel runways for faster turnover of aircraft, eight taxiways, a Passenger Terminal Building with a design capacity of 100 million to 200 million passengers per year, and airfield facilities and equipment.

Additionally, an eight-kilometer toll road connecting the Bulacan Airport to the North Luzon Expressway will be constructed to aid travelers to and from the airport.

Located in the municipality of Bulakan, the massive gateway is targeted for operations within four to six years. (PR)

◘ DEPARTMENT of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and San Miguel Corporation President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon S. Ang (Photo courtesy of DOTr)

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Saturday-Friday | September 21 - 27, 2019

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Duterte’s second visit to Russia set next month MANILA — President Duterte is going on a second official trip to Russia next month to further bolster the bilateral relations between Manila and Moscow, two years after his first official meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte has accepted the invitation of the Russian government for an official visit sometime in the first week of October.

“When you visit a country other than yours, it means you are trying to improve the relations, right? It could mean further improved relations between the two countries,” Panelo said.

The presidential spokesman is optimistic that Duterte and Putin will bring bilateral relations to greater heights, with the two leaders jumping off from the 2017 visit, which Duterte had to abruptly cut short to return home to address the Marawi crisis.

Panelo said the President revealed he accepted the invitation of the Russian president and will just announce what will happen there.

Apart from China, Duterte’s independent foreign policy has shifted also to Russia, which the President credits for providing the government with new firearms to boost the country’s defense capability.

Duterte cut short his trip sometime in May 2017 after crisis broke out in Marawi, prompting him to declare martial law in Mindanao.

1,000 work quotas As this developed, the Russian Labor Ministry granted a major international construction company more than 1,000 work quotas for Filipino professionals and skilled laborers of various specializations to work in two regions.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs granted Renaissance Heavy Industries with 773 work quotas in Amur Region and 325 in Tyumen Region for highly skilled Filipino professionals and

skilled laborers.

Amur is the site of the Amur Gas Processing Plant, the largest construction project in Siberia, which is set to become one of the largest natural gas processing facilities in the world.

Tyumen region is working on building what is touted to become the largest modern petrochemical facility in Russia.

To create legal opportunities for highly skilled Filipino professionals to work in Russia, the Philippine embassy in Moscow met with the officials of Renaissance Heavy Industries.

Philippine embassy in Moscow’s third secretary and vice consul Catherine Alpay joined Manila-based Rensol Recruitment chairman and chief executive officer Arnold Mamaclay in meeting with deputy director general of personnel Zahid Rahimov and Renaissance Heavy Industries lead human resources specialist Olesea Iularji at their office in Moscow.

Renaissance Heav y Industries specializes in the construction services sector and has been awarded large government tenders in many countries around the world.

In Russia a lone, t he company supplies thousands of workers, both Russian and foreign, to numerous job sites across the country on projects in the commercial sector and in hydrocarbons, power, mining and metallurgy, and processing

plants.

Renaissance Heavy Industries officials confirmed to the embassy that some 59 Filipino skilled workers are currently working in Amur.

They announced their plans to hire more Filipinos in the near future following the increase in work quotas requested for 2019.

They also mentioned that certain skills are in high demand in some of their major projects over the next few years, such as tungsten inert gas welders and planners.

Renaissance Heavy Industries officials and Mamaclay said there are ongoing efforts to bring more Filipino professionals and skilled workers to Russia through legal means.

(Philstar.com)

◘ The presidential spokesman is optimistic that Duterte and Putin will bring bilateral relations to greater heights, with the two leaders jumping off from the 2017 visit, which Duterte had to abruptly cut short to return home to address the Marawi crisis.

Philstar.com

No security breach in AFP-Dito telco deal: PCOO chief

MANILA — There is no security breach in the deal between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Dito Telecommunity which would allow the latter to build electronic communications facilities in military camps, the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) said on Wednesday.

PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar made this remark after Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan expressed concern that this deal would allow electronic espionage and interference given the record of Chinese firms involved in this activity.

Andanar assured that security and information technology experts at the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) have fully addressed these concerns with security measures in place.

“The Constitution is very clear: The prime duty of the government is to serve and protect the people. To serve and protect covers s a f e guarding their interests, s uc h a s security

ANDANAR

and cybersecurity interests,” Andanar said in a statement.

“We are confident there would be no breach in security as safeguard measures would be put in place as a matter and part of security protocols,” he added.

He said among the safeguards include strict security clearances to individuals and information to ensure that no unauthorized data can enter or get out of military facilities where cell sites would be installed.

Earlier, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo bared that Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana is not aware of the AFP-Dito deal.

Panelo, however, assured that the government would abandon the deal if it would put the country’s national security at risk.

AFP chief-of-staff, Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., said Lorenzana has the prerogative to cancel or revoke any deal entered into by the military with any entity or organization.

He clarified that he did not bypass Lorenzana when he approved the agreement, adding that it is procedural for him to sign it first before sending it to the DND chief and his staff for scrutiny.

Dito Telecommunity Corp., formerly known as Mislatel Consortium, is a consortium led by Davaobased businessman Dennis Uy and composed of Uy’s Udenna Corporation, its subsidiary Chelsea Logistics, and China Telecommunications Corporation.

Duterte awarded Dito Telecommunity permit to operate as the country’s third telco provider on July 8, 2019.

(PNA)

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Saturday-Friday | September 21 - 27, 2019

24-Hour In-Home Caregivers:

Are you paid for sleep time? If not, read this article CAReGIVeRs for the elderly are regularly required to provide overnight care to their clients when working 24-hour shifts. In fact, many caregivers provide full support and assistance to their elderly patients throughout the night, as well as general supervision and companionship. Overnight care is necessary for many patients who suffer from dementia, wake up confused or disoriented, or have trouble going to the bathroom on their own. The label of “sleep-time” is often inaccurate, because patients get up so often that the caregiver must wake up several times each night, thereby getting inconsistent sleep. Without overnight care, many patients would need to be institutionalized in a care facility or placed in group homes.

In the caregiving industry, unfortunately, it is common for private employers to deduct sleep time and other non-active time from the caregiver’s hours worked. Many private employers incorrectly believe that since a caregiver is allowed to sleep, and is provided a place to stay, they do not have to pay caregivers for the overnight supervision and coverage they provide.

However, this practice is illegal under California law. In-home caregivers must be paid for all hours they are required to remain on the premises, subject to the control of their employers, even to the extent that they are sleeping, inactive, watching television or surfing the net. Accordingly, if a caregiver is not allowed to leave a patient’s home at night, the caregiver must be paid for all overnight hours.

Although many employers require caregivers to remain on the presence at all times to ensure the client’s health and safety, when faced with a claim for unpaid overnight wages, they argue that the caregiver stayed at the client’s home for their own benefit, rather than for the client’s benefit. To limit liability, employers typically claim that the caregivers did not have a place to live, did not want to drive home or simply enjoyed staying at the residence. These claims are often untrue and tend to ignore the economic vulnerability that forces many caregivers to work overnight without pay.

If you are a 24-hour in-home caregiver, paid a daily rate for the services you provide, then you likely have a very valuable claim for unpaid overtime wages. For example, if you are a caregiver working 24-hours per day, 5 days per week, for a day rate of $270.00, then your daily unpaid overtime claim is approximately $675.00. The day rate of $270.00 does not compensate you, at all, for the 15 overtime hours you work each day. Based on this example, the caregiver’s regular rate of pay is $30/hour and the overtime rate is $45/ hour (15 x $45 = $675). Moreover, liquidated damages for a willful failure to

pay overtime wages could add an additional $165.00 per day to the claim, as well as interest, attorneys’ fees, and penalties.

In the above example, the hypothetical caregiver may claim over $4,000 in additional compensation per week. On a yearly basis, this claim would exceed $200,000.

We have helped many caregivers whose claims exceed $500,000 in potential damages when working several years for employers who fail to pay them the requisite overtime compensation.

The best way to keep your employer honest is document your time worked.

Text or email your employer if you are woken up at night and required to assist your client during night time hours. Keep a daily time log, documenting the activities and work you performed overnight, when caring for the patient. If you have emails or text messages from your employer, you should always save them. Save every communication, no matter how trivial it may seem, because it may end up being the most valuable piece of evidence to prove your claim.

Caregivers working in Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly may also be entitled to compensation for sleep time when required to work at night or supervise patients while they sleep. There are limited circumstances where facilities are legally permitted to deduct sleep time. In reality, many facilities do not meet the requirements to deduct sleep time from hours worked and, therefore, owe the caregivers overtime compensation for hours worked providing overnight care.

If you are a 24-hour caregiver who is not paid sleep time and is required to remain on the premises overnight, you may have a valuable claim. The lawyers at Chaleff Rehwald have litigated the issue of sleep time for in-home and facility caregivers countless times. We know the law and have detailed strategies to pursue these claims. Often, we are able to resolve claims without going to court. We want to hear from you to learn more about your claim.

Call us now for a free consultation. (818) 807-4168 This article is an attorney advertisement written by Daniel Chaleff, employment law attorney at Chaleff Rehwald in Woodland Hills. Our examples are of a general nature and are not a guarantee regarding the outcome of your individual matter. The law firm focuses on caregiver rights. Please call us at (818) 807-4168 for a free and confidential consultation. Or visit us at www.cr.legal/ebook to learn more about caregiver overtime law. We offer a 24-hour chat line on our website.

Prison officials confirm Go expose on ‘hospital for sale’ at NBP New Bilibid Prison (NBP) Hospital officials on Wednesday confirmed the existence of “hospital pass for sale,” which Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go had disclosed.

Grilled by Go during the continuing Senate investigation on the alleged sale of good conduct time allowance (GCTA) credits for the early release of prisoners at the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), Ernesto Tamayo, director of the NBP Hospital, said that there were ta lks about t he sa id “hospital pass” for

BONG GO

a fee at the BuCor. Tamayo later on added that “it’s given” or a public knowledge that the amount of P40,000 is being paid by a prisoner in exchange for a hospital pass.

Ursicio Cenas, a medical officer at the NBP Hospital, likewise said that talks were going around about the pass for sale.

Sen. Go bared the anomaly at the NBP last week.

“We have received reports that some inmates were moved into the New Bilibid Prison Hospital by faking their illness and buying the so-called ‘hospital referral pass’ from BuCor employees,” Go said.

“Nagpapanggap na may sakit para ma-admit sa ospital, pagkatapos doon na nagaganap ang illegal drug trading. Hindi lang pala ang GCTA ang for sale.

Pati na rin ang hospital pass, for sale rin pala sa Bilibid (They are faking illness to be admitted in the hospital, and the illegal drug trade is being carried out there. Even the hospital pass is now for sale in Bilibid),” Go said.

He pointed out that the hospital was established in the prison compound for humanitarian reasons, and yet it is now being abused and tarnished.

“Is it true that the hospital inside the NBP is now being used for drug transactions where drug lords come and go even if they have no illness?

Is it also true that big-time drug lords are the ones frequently requesting to be confined at the NBP Hospital?”

Go asked BuCor and Department of Justice (DOJ) officials.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has assured lawmakers that the DoJ would look into the complaints on the alleged anomalies in the issuance of hospital passes.

As for the hospital passes, Guevarra said the DOJ was “very much aware about the procedure,” admitting that hospital passes, in fact, “go all the way up to the DoJ.” “But they come with certifications with all the necessary documentations, like the doctor certification, the certification that the treatment is not available within the medical facilities

of the BuCor and so on,” he said.

“But as to the matter if these are fake or not is something that will have to be looked into. We will do that probably with the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI),” Guevarra said.

Meanwhile, Sen. Go said that he has requested Health Secretary Francis Duque 3rd to send some medicines to the NBP Hospitals instead of letting them rot at the DoH warehouses.

Go asked the DoH leadership not to allow drugs to rot since there were poor Filipinos who line up at health centers for rare medicines that government has bought for them.

“Ayusin ang distribution system niyo,” he said. (Keep your distribution system in tip-top shape.) (TMT)

DoH: Polio re-emerges in PH as 3-year-old girl falls ill THE Department of Health (DoH) announced on Thursday the first case of polio in the Philippines, 19 years after the country was declared polio-free by the World Health Organization.

A child receiving 2 drops of polio vaccine in Sindh, Pakistan.

WHO Pakistan/A. Zadi Secretary Francisco Duque 3 cited the case of a three-year-old girl from Lanao del Sur who was stricken with the disease.

“The DoH confirms that polio is re-emerging in the Philippines,” Duque said.

Polio is an infectious disease which spreads rapidly. It can cause paralysis and, on rare, occassions, can be fatal.

There is no cure for polio, it can only be prevented through multiple vaccines. (TMT)

Saturday-Friday | September 21 - 27, 2019

NEWS

Duterte government readies P110B for salary hike for all government workers, new SSL sought

The Duterte administration will grant salary increases to all government workers by setting aside P110 billion, and will spread the amount over a three year period to achieve it.

Albay Representative Joey Sarte-Salceda, chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, said the first tranche of P32 billion in additional pay will be available in 2020. The proposed pay adjustments will also apply to government nurses and teachers.

In fact, the amount, plus P4 billion in miscellaneous benefits are already included in the proposed 2020 General Appropriations Act that will be passed by the House of Representatives before October 4.

“Using the study commissioned by GCG-DBM, the Administration is set to spend P110 billion over three years for its civil servants including nurses and teachers,” said Salceda, referring to the Government Commission for Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations – Department of Budget and Management.

Salceda, also vice chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, stressed that the proposed allocation has “been programmed within the organic capacity of the government and need no new taxes to underwrite it.”

This will be the fifth SSL version to be implemented by government.

However, no SSL bill seeking to increase salaries of civil servants has been filed yet in the Lower House.

Two measures, authored by Reps. Elisa Kho (NPC, Masbate) and Rozzano Rufino Biazon (PDP-Laban, Muntinlupa City), were filed, proposing to exempt from SSL all government doctors and employees of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Bureau of Customs (BOC).

Salceda explained that compared to the past SSL, the Duterte government salary hike will “favor SG (salary grade 1-17) with higher increases while those SG 18-33, including the president and congressmen, will receive lower increases.”

The 2019 salary grade table shows that the president receives a maximum P399,739.00 monthly pay under SG 33, while a congressman’s highest monthly salary is P295,191.00 for SG 31.

“The adjustments will preserve and somewhat improve the purchasing power of civil servants considering the consumer price inflation of 3.4 percent over the past three years ( 2016 – 1.8 percent, 3.2 percent – 2017, and 2018 – 5.2 percent), and forward estimates three-year inflation of 2-4 percent per year,” said Salceda.

The salary increase for all government workers, instead of limiting the benefits to teachers and nurses, was by several House members.

Bayan Muna Representative Ferdinand Gaite said extending adjustment of salaries for teachers and nurses will only result to wage distortion in the government service.

Gaite, who used to head one of the biggest government employees groups in the country, said adjustment in salaries of State workers should be applied to all, instead of limiting such benefit to school teachers.

Representative Rufus Rodriguez (CDP, Cagayan de Oro City) shared the same view as he batted for an across-the-board salary adjustment to help government employes counteract the effects of rising cost of living.

“I would prefer salary increases for all government workers.

However, if government does not have enough money, we can start adjusting pay for teachers and nurses,” said Rodriguez, chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Reform.

The stand of the two lawmakers is supported by a recent Pulse Asia survey that indicated that 77 percent of Filipinos aged 18 years old and above are inf favor of full coverage of salary adjustments to all workers in the public sector.

In its June 24-30 survey, Pulse Asia disclosed that respondents from the National Capital Region, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao want all government employees be included in the next round of salary standardization. (mb.com.ph)

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Mayor Isko’s love advice for fresh grads: Don’t be in a hurry

Mayor Isko Moreno

MANILA—"Don't hurry. Use your time. Utilize it in your favor.

Sayang. Enjoy."

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Thursday gave this piece of advice as he discouraged fresh graduates from tying the knot shortly after earning their diplomas, saying it would be better for the youth to make the most out of their time and invest in their careers first before starting a family.

Moreno, who was the keynote speaker at the 10th Commencement Exercise of the Mapua University, said he received the same advice from his parents who were not fortunate enough to finish college.

"Landi, landi mo. Kere-kerengkeng ka diyan. 'Pag nakita kitang naligaw-ligaw, hihilahin ko 'yung buhok ng babae sa harapan ng bahay niya para ikahiya ka niya," the mayor said, mimicking how his mother stopped him from wooing girls while he was still studying.

"Anong nakakahiya? Nakakahiya 'pag wala kang mapalamon 'pag nabuntis mo 'yan," he said, noting that he eventually realized the value of his mother's wisdom.

Love entails expenses and one must be financially secured before taking on the responsibility of having children, the mayor said.

"Walang masamang mag-ibigan. Ang masama ay hindi mo tanggapin ang reyalidad ng lipunang inyong kakaharapin," he said. "'Wag muna. 'Wag magmamadali. Iraos niyo muna ang inyong sarili," he said. (ABS-CBN News)

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BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS: QUO VADIS?

The past few weeks, Bucor landed again on the front page. Unlike before when it was bruited that illegal drugs are manufactured in a factory within the prison camp (but which was later debunked as myth), this time the agency figured in what a congressman termed as the biggest jailbreak in prison history facilitated by no less than the corrections leadership.

To be fair, this should not have happened. The appointed Director General is a mile away from the scene of the accident so to speak. His signature is ministerial.

There is jurisprudence on this. Well, on top of that, he is guiltless. He is a novice, a new comer, so called new kid in town and therefore uninitiated. There were matters that could have been properly addressed but his neophyte status gave him away. He cannot feign innocence though, neither can admit being ill prepared. He could have pleaded that he knew nothing about correctional administration as soon as he was called. However, the mere fact that he accepted his appointment presupposes his competence in the field.

There are in one estimate around 1,914 inmates serving time for various types of heinous crimes who were served with discharged papers and released from confinement. RA 10592 or the expanded Good Conduct Time Allowance afforded the move to compute the service of sentence of a prisoner in relation to his earned points for good conduct. If the prisoner or what the law called him as PDL or person deprived of liberty, is sentenced to ten years, RA 10592 as applied could mean a reduced prison term of almost one half.

There are celebrated cases in the past that virtually restored death penalty and these cases came in on borderline. They were given life terms. In law, a life term with GCTA credits could mean 25 years.

Since the perpetrators of heinous crime have spent the legally binding period serving time under incarceration, release is in

order. Around hundreds of them actually have served time and were given the papers to re-enter the mainstream of free society. As a consequence, media and the families of victims were petrified. Had there been death penalty, the offenders could have been exterminated already.

But they were given instead Life terms.

For the public and the victims, this meant imprisonment for the rest of their lives. In law however a single life term is 30 years, two life terms or more is 40 years. This is further reduced if granted with executive clemency.

For the families of victims, death was easier for their nemesis. They preferred to see their respective predator suffering, rotting even, behind bars until the end of their biological clock. Their release was therefore unexpected. According to the Senate, the release of thousands of convicts is not only suspect but could have been facilitated through irregularity. A series of Senate inquiry in aid of legislation have been called. A number of prison officers were grilled. The top man was fired. Ombudsman came out with a list of 30 personnel most likely liable for the anomaly and instantly issued a preventive suspension order without pay.

There were instigations as to where the Senate intends to treat the correctional agency. Some senators wanted the Muntinlupa facility rented out so that the proceeds would be used to build regional prisons. There were so suggestions that a “Super Max” be organized in some vacant island so that the inmates would feel the real deal of incarceration. Some political advisers wanted the whole officer corps of BuCor be dismissed outrightly to signal a new start. Congress is also salivating to have its own show if only to divulge shameful incidents obtaining in the penitentiary.

Where the Bucor would go, depends now on how a new leadership would assume responsibility.

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10 Tips When Preparing for a Refinancing or purchase Mortgage

“Lowest mortgage rates in 33 years!” Have headlines about once-in-alifetime rates and feds might continue to lower rate two more times this year? Have you checked your credit and decided the time is right to buy?

Check these ten steps before you venture out to your mortgage broker and you’ll be ahead of the game!

1. Start with your credit report The first thing lenders will probably do when you apply for a mortgage loan is to check your credit; you should, too. There’s no better time for regular credit monitoring than when you’re trying to prove your creditworthiness to a lender so you can get the best possible rates. You want to make sure that your credit report is as accurate as possible, your scores are where you want them to be, and no one else is getting access to your credit, possibly harming your scores.

2. Then, get things in order Once you’ve been keeping regular tabs on your credit report, you’ll be able to see how you’re doing. Dispute any inaccuracies with the 3 credit bureaus and get everything cleared up. If your debt-to-credit ratio is too high, monitoring your score over time will show you how your score might change. If you see accounts that you didn’t open or addresses that aren’t yours, take immediate steps to investigate what could be identity fraud.

3. Learn what lenders want to see in your bank statements.

Times have changed, mattress money or cash deposits are no longer allowed to be used as your down payment. Understand how to verify or source your down payment, there are several option that you can prepare prior to buying as far as showing your down payment. Ask about gift funds and avoid making cash deposits into your bank account three months prior to you getting a loan.

4. Be realistic about what you can afford Home ownership may be the American dream, but keep one foot on the ground, always calculate your payments with taxes, insurance and PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance) if you have it. Factor in your regular monthly obligations, expenses and normal usage and try to at lease be able to save at least 10% of your net income monthly, set that aside as your emergency funds.

5. Understand how lenders operate Your credit score, on which lenders base much of their decision about your loan amounts and rates, is a reflection of their confidence in your ability to repay them. In a nutshell, the higher your credit score is, the easier it will be to get the amount and rate you want.

6. Decide how you’ll finance it Once you research the types of financing available, determine which is best for your financial situation when buying a home: 15-year mortgage or 30, adjustable or fixed. If you are looking for security and a guarantee that payments won’t increase, a fixed rate mortgage might be the way to go. If you believe mortgage rates could still fluctuate and you want more flexibility, consider an adjustable rate mortgage.

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7. The larger your down payment, the wider your options See number 4, it’s important to be realistic. So within a realistic framework of what you can afford, the more you put down, the better your terms.

The days of zero down payments, especially on a mortgage, seem to be winding down. Putting more money down up front will help ensure you pay less each month.

8. Find out if you can bring in co-signors to help you qualify.

Buying a house will require for you to qualify with a certain debt to ratio income. Therefore, if your income is not enough, you need to know if your family can help you qualify for a higher mortgage. Can you bring in friends and relatives to qualify? Learn on how to qualify with another person to be able to get approved for a higher mortgage.

9. Take a targeted, rather than shotgun approach to mortgage applications Remember that whenever you apply for a loan, including a mortgage, the “hard inquiry” the lenders make shows up on your credit report and temporarily lowers your score. Applying for several mortgages in a two week period only counts as one inquiry, but if you drag it out and canvas as many lenders over a longer period, you’ll end up doing damage to your score, which could result in a lower rate than you were hoping for.

10. “Not now” doesn’t mean “never” Home ownership is just not a realistic option for everyone right now, despite what may look like once-in-lifetime mortgage rates. If you fall into this category, don’t despair. Your financial circumstances could change, the economy is still very much in flux, and remember that the current mortgage crisis involved a lot of home buyers getting in over their heads.

When it comes to a major purchase like a home, timing is critical.

Call Ken Go of 1st Innovative Finance Group at 562-508-7048 to get prequalified and maybe have your credit report checked. There are options to increase your credit scores in a matter of 3 days. Write to kennethgo@ verizon.net CABRE 01021223 NMLS 238636

Saturday-Friday | September 21 - 27, 2019

VIEWPOINT

Do I need a Premarital Agreement before getting married?

IN the absence of a premarital agreement, the general community property presumption under California family code section 760 controls which provides “ ….all property, real or personal, wherever situated, acquired by a married person during the marriage while domiciled in this state is community property.” Family Code §760.

This becomes a problem if you are the spouse that has the substantially higher income or the one who accumulates the majority of the assets during the marriage. You are called in family law lingo “the in spouse.” The other spouse (or in our lingo also called the “out spouse” gets a half interest on everything accumulated during the marriage even if the asset is under your name alone or it was accumulated solely due to your sweat and hard work. The out spouse, who stayed at home most of the marriage, gets a one half interest on all the accumulations during the marriage under California community property law. For example, if you opened a savings account during the marriage under your name alone for which you religiously and diligently stash away 25% of your earnings during the marriage while your spouse blows away his/ her salary during the marriage, your spouse still gets a half interest in the money you saved in your savings account. Another example would be if you purchase a piece of real property during the marriage under “your name alone” and have your spouse sign a “quit claim” deed, your spouse may still have a claim for a half interest in your real property.

Another example would be if you owned a business prior to marriage, but due to your hard work, long hours of labor, and efforts, the business grew exponentially during the marriage, your spouse may still have a claim for an interest in the business.

Signing a premarital agreement may serve as added protection to the future “in spouse” and a hurdle for the future “out spouse” by avoiding or altering the applicability of California community property law to assets 1) already owned by each and 2) to property and income to be acquired or earned during their marriage. Marriage of Dawley (1976) 17 C3d 342, 349, 131 CR 3, 7; Marriage of Grinius (1985) 166 CA3d 1179, 1186, 212 CR 803, 807 Premarital agreements may validly provide that the earnings and accumulations of each party during marriage will remain that party's separate property, free of any claims, community property or otherwise, of the other party.Marriage of Dawley, supra, 17 C3d at 350, 131 CR at 8; Cheney v. City & County of San Francisco Employees Retirement System (1936) 7 C2d 565, 569, 61 P2d 754, 756. Premarital agreements may also serve to preserve a person’s estate for his or her heirs, free of the other party's inheritance claims.

Estate of Wamack (1955) 137 CA2d 112, 115, 289 P2d 871, 872.

Pursuant to Family Code §1612(c ),“ Parties to a premarital agreement may contract with respect to all of the following:(1) The rights and obligations of each of the parties in any of the property of either or both of them whenever and wherever acquired or located. (2) The right to buy, sell, use, transfer, exchange, abandon, lease, consume, expend, assign, create a security interest in, mortgage, encumber, dispose of, or otherwise manage and control property.(3) The disposition of property upon

separation, marital dissolution, death, or the occurrence or nonoccurrence of any other event.(4) The making of a will, trust, or other arrangement to carry out the provisions of the agreement.(5) The ownership rights in and disposition of the death benefit from a life insurance policy.(6) The choice of law governing the construction of the agreement.

(7) Any other matter, including their personal rights and obligations, not in violation of public policy or a statute imposing a criminal penalty. However, the right of a child to support may not be adversely affected. Family Code §1612(b).

Premarital agreements that are entered into voluntarily by parties who are each represented by independent counsel and aware of the effect of the agreement, a post 1985 premarital waiver of post dissolution support does not offend contemporary public policy and is not per se unenforceable. Fam.C. § 1612(c); Marriage of Pendleton & Fireman (2000) 24 C4th 39, 53–54, 99 CR2d 278, 288–289; Marriage of Facter (2013) 212 CA4th 967, 981, 152 CR3d 79, 90.

Under both the Uniform Premarital Agreement Act and prior law, the spouse claiming the agreement is invalid or not enforceable bears the burden of proof on that allegation. Family Code. § 1615(a); Marriage of Bonds, supra, 24 C4th at 27, 99 CR2d at 269; Marriage of Iverson (1992) 11 CA4th 1495, 1502, 15 CR2d 70, 74–75; However, the UPAA (as amended effective 1/1/02) deems that a premarital agreement was not executed voluntarily unless the court makes five prescribed findings provided for under Family Code. § 1615(c) (1) The party against whom enforcement is sought was represented by independent legal counsel at the time of signing the agreement or after being advised to seek independent legal counsel, expressly waived, in a separate writing, representation by independent legal counsel. (2) The party against whom enforcement is sought had not less than seven calendar days between the time that party was first presented with the agreement and advised to seek independent legal counsel and the time the agreement was signed. (3) The party against whom enforcement is sought, if unrepresented by legal counsel, was fully informed of the terms and basic effect of the agreement as well as the rights and obligations he or she was giving up by signing the agreement, and was proficient in the language in which the explanation of the party's rights was conducted and in which the agreement was written. The explanation of the rights and obligations relinquished shall be memorialized in writing and delivered to the party prior to signing the agreement. The unrepresented party shall, on or before the signing of the premarital agreement, execute a document declaring that he or she received the information required by this paragraph and indicating who provided that information.(4) The agreement and the writings executed pursuant to paragraphs(1) and (3) were not executed under duress, fraud, or undue influence, and the parties did not lack capacity to enter into the agreement.

(5) Any other factors the court deems relevant. In addition, the parties are required to provide each other with full disclosure of all material financial information.

A premarital agreement may be unen-

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forceable if found to be unconscionable when it was executed and the requisite disclosures were lacking and not waived Additionally, a spousal support provision in a premarital agreement executed under the UPAA, whether before or after January 1, 2002, is not enforceable if found to be unconscionable at the time of enforcement. Family Code § 1612(c). If you are the higher earning spouse and have assets to protect, it is important to seek the representation of experienced counsel in drafting a premarital agreement to make sure that all statutory requirement are met which increases the likelihood that your premarital agreement will be deemed enforceable when attacked in court in case of a divorce.

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11

discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APLC This article is not a solicitation.

Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist.

He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section, Estates and Trusts section, and Immigration law sections 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 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 3881611 or e-mail kenneth@kenreyeslaw. com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw. com.

Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic

Drowning In Debt? Your Choices Determine Your Destiny

ARe you always worried about not having enough money for yourself and your family no matter how hard you work? Do you live paycheck to paycheck with no savings? Is the problem why your income is never enough is the fact that you have gotten yourself in a situation where you are simply drowning in debt with no way out?

If so, you are not alone. Did you know that there are thousands and thousands of people just like yourself who have more debts than they can handle? Why is this situation so common these days? What has gotten you in the current financial mess you are in?

Everyday, we are faced with situations where our choices seem endless.

The path you take, whether right or wrong will take you to a certain destination. Have you ever gotten lost while driving to go somewhere and realized that you were heading in the wrong direction? Without doing a complete turnaround, you wouldn’t have reached your intended destination.

The same is true in life. Which way should you go? What kind of future do you want to have for yourself or your family 5, 10 or 20 years from now? Will you be living in the same apartment or house? If you have children, what school will they be attending? Will you still be working the same job 5 years from now? Will you be driving the same car? Or will your life be the same 5 or 10 years from now? Will it be a life of comfort and security? Or will it be a life of lack and scarcity?

The choices you make will determine your outcome. If you know your outcome, you will be careful with the choices that you make today. As a Bankruptcy Attorney, I see a lot of people who feel stuck with their present

4 Days 3 Nights

financial circumstances because of unwise choices that they have made in the past. The choice to get into debt seems like an easy one to make especially when it only takes 5 minutes to fill out a credit application and get a credit card. It seems so easy to charge everything on that plastic card you carry in your wallet every day.

The decision to be wealthy or to be poor is a personal decision. Don’t ever be misled into thinking that some people are destined to be rich while others are destined to be poor. I think this is a big lie. If everything in life has been pre-arranged, life here on earth would be pointless. I think that the greatest gift that we have all been given is our freedom of choice. What we do with this free will determines the quality of life we get to experience. Our choices can either make or break us.

The refusal to decide is also a decision in itself. By refusing to decide what kind of life you want to have, you have made the decision to leave everything to chance and be a victim of circumstances. Don’t let this happen to you. There is power in decision-making. If you are burdened with financial problems, find out what options you have available and decide once and for all to get out of debt as soon as possible.

For a free consultation, call Toll-Free 1-866-477-7772. I have offices in Glendale, Cerritos and Valencia.

(None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped over 5,000 clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call RJB Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-866-477-7772).

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Saturday-Friday | September 21 - 27, 2019

"Superheroes" celebrate the 9th Birthday of Kayden Dela Cruz (Feature by Lydia Solis on behalf of columnist)

W

hat a blast of a 9th Birthday Party on september 9, 2019 celebrated by Kayden Christopher dela Cruz with his superheroes' friends and family at the Jungle Zone Laser tag in the City of Glendale. it was an awesome laser game experience for this writer's grandson, Jethro Lota, who last met Kayden at the latter's 5th Birthday Party.

Born on September 17, 2001 at the Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City, (a suburb near San Francisco), Kayden is the son of Kristine Lleva and Christian Dela Cruz.

He has an older sister, Crystal Lynn who likewise celebrated her 18th birthday on April 14, 2019 and a new graduate of Glendale High School, now in her freshman year at the Pasadena City College.

Kayden is an active kid who's into sports such as soccer with the AYSO League and basketball with the Foothill Kayden Christopher Dela Cruz League, both groups of Photo taken by his Mom, Kristine Lleva which are in the City of Glendale.

At the Jungle Zone Laser Tag, Kayden's friends had so much fun playing Laser tag, which they all did twice. Each game lasts 25 minutes and the kids were even joined by adults like Kayden's parents, his cousin Max and his parents Ken and Tina Florendo and a handful friends such as: Jethro Lota, Giovanni, Axel, Alaina, Jeremy and Josette to name a few, including some of his sister Crystal's friends: Malik and Kaylin.

Laser tag is a game where players use a phaser (a functional

With vest lights flashing, targets on shoulders, back, and chest, “superheroes” hold their ‘Star Trek’ phasers led by Kayden. Photo by Lydia V. Solis Kayden’s family with Mom, Christine (left) and Dad, Christian (right), sister Crystal, behind with grandma Myrna Aquitania, cousin Max and his parents: Tina and Ken Florendo.

Photo by Lydia V. Solis

"the phaser emits a light beam when the trigger is pulled. The target maybe on the vests or equipment of another player or located throughout the laser tag arena at t he Z one. Players are able to see the purple laser beams crisscrossing throughout the arena during play.

However, number ONe rule was NO RUNNNG!" Players formed two teams: Red and Masks for all the superheroes. Photo by Lydia V. Solis Blue. Kayden's team won, while t his writer and grandson, Jethro weapon introduced in the Star Trek TV series) to tag was in the red team. Though targets and rack up points. According to the guide,

that was the case, Jethro said," I had the highest score," as noted also by Kayden's Dad, Christian, who likewise belonged to the Blue team.

Overall the two-hour party had a blast with the kids and guests, who all enjoyed their choices of Pepperoni and Veggie Pizzas including a variety of toppings, as well as Chicken wings, French Fries, Fried Chicken strips, beverages such as Coke and Lemonade and of course, Kayden's extra huge Avenger's Birthday cake.

Thank you, dear Kayden for inviting all of us to your FUN Birthday celebration! We all wish you MANY more celebrations to come!

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Bea Alonzo, Gerald Anderson, Julia Barretto on going solo at ABS-CBN Ball 2019

A

recent alleged cheating scandal made actors Bea Alonzo, Gerald Anderson and Julia Barretto among the most anticipated stars at the ABS-CBN Ball red carpet in Shangri-La The Fort in Taguig City last Saturday night.

Would Bea, Gerald, and Julia attend the ball after the fiasco? Would Gerald escort Bea or Julia? Would they come with different dates? These were among the questions that loomed in the heads of those that followed the real-life drama that unfolded among the three. Well, here is what happened at the red carpet.

Bea came in powerful in a regal black and lacey Jun Escario creation.

“It’s like a Spanish señorita,” she said of the inspiration behind her one-shoulder gown with an oversized butterfly sleeve, a modern variation of the Terno.

“So that we could showcase Spanish influence in the Philippines,” she explained in an exclusive interview with

Philstar.com.

When asked why she was alone at the red carpet, Bea said: “Yes! Alam mo, I just realized, it’s my first time to actually walk the red carpet alone after 10 years.

So it feels great naman.”

Later that night, Bea was hailed Best Dressed Female. Richard Gutierrez won it for the male category. Bea and Richard are set to do a new TV series and a movie together.

“I had such a wonderful time being at the ABS-CBN ball last night. I have to say, it was one of my most memorable nights,” Bea declared on Instagram.

“Thank you Jun Escario @junescario for making this beautiful dress and @

Catriona Gray becomes the first Filipino celebrity voice on Waze

CATRIONA GRAY becomes the first Filipino celebrity voice on Waze, the navigation app announced in a press statement.

Partnering with BDO, which Catri-

ona endorses, Waze has added the 2018 Miss Universe’s voice to the app’s Change Voice settings.

“I’m truly honored to be the first Filipino Waze celebrity voice,” Catriona said. “Being the newest voice on Waze enables me to share positivity to Filipinos who are on the road – going to school, work, or wherever they need to be.”

Cat’s navigation features the beauty queen issuing reminders, safety tips like “in my experience, u-turns are best made slowly.”

To make Catriona your daily navigator, simply go to settings > voice directions > Catriona Gray. (GMA News)

Bea

Gerald

pamquinones @qurator_studio for creating this look! I really felt like a spanish señorita!” she enthused.

“Thank you also @tingduque @hairbybrentsales and @mimsqiu for making me look like a million bucks! I love you guys!! We won best dressed.”

When Julia walked on the red carpet, a member of the press described her Rajo Laurel gown as “angelic.”

“You know what, I full-heartedly trusted Rajo for this whole gown and I’m so happy and enjoying it,” she told the press of her off-white terno.

“It’s very empowering, actually. It’s empowering,” she said when Philstar. com asked her how it felt to be on the red carpet unaccompanied.

“Last night I had the honor of wearing a Philippine Terno for the very first time in my life. It was a beautiful @rajolaurel Filipiniana gown featuring individually hand-painted sampaguitas with encrust-

Julia

ed seed pearls and crystals,” she said on Instagram.

“My personal goal for this look was simple that is to show respect to our national dress by letting it be the one to shine.”

Unlike Bea and Julia who walked alone, Gerald came in with his fellow actors who also went on a recent army training with him for a new TV series, "A Soldier's Heart."

“This is a classic Barong. I wanted to stay true to our national costume. Si Joey Espiritu ‘to,” he said of his Barong Tagalog, which came in military green, matching those of his fellow actors from their upcoming soap opera, where they would portray soldiers.

“I came with my friends, bodyguards, boss,” he quipped.

None of the stars mentioned about the recent brouhaha among them. (Philstar. com)

14

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Shopee Smashes Records for 9.9 Super Shopping Day, Orders Triple from 2018

S

hopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, concludes its most successful 9.9 Super Shopping Day to date. With the tremendous support from users, sellers, brands, and partners across the region, Shopee registered its best-ever performance on September 9, highlighted by: • 3 times the number of orders compared to 2018 • At its peak, 187,606 items were sold in a minute

ball icon tackled various questions from fans in the region and even delivered a special performance of the Shopee Dance. During the countdown to 9.9 Super Shopping Day on September 8, Shopee users also enjoyed an exclusive broadcast of another interview with Cristiano Ronaldo on Shopee Live.

Shopee records best-ever 9.9 Super Shopping Day in the Philippines

In the Philippines, users enjoyed the largest collection of unbeatable promotions and nonstop entertainment on September 9, including free shipping with no minimum spend.

Shopee garnered record-breaking views for its exclusive Shopee Live with blockbuster stars Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards. Users were able to score over P500,000 worth of vouchers and exciting hourly giveaways during a 7-hour long livestream.

In addition, brands and sellers in Shopee Philippines saw an outstanding performance on September 9. Top-performing brands saw an average of 3,269 times increase in traffic and 809 times growth in sales compared to a usual day. Shoppers also hunted for the best deals on their favorite brands and products, with the following trends observed: • Most Popular Brands: Maybelline, P&G, Huawei • Top Categories: Mobile & Accessories, Women’s Apparel, Home & Living • Best-selling Items: Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation, Pampers Baby Dry Pants, SanDisk Ultra 32GB microSD • Hottest Keywords: “Sling bags”, “iPhone Case”, “Helmet” Yu closed, “We are happy to kickstart the year-end shopping season with a successful 9.9 Super Shopping Day. We look forward to delivering more value to our users, sellers, brands, and partners in the months ahead.” (mb.com.ph)

Over 113 million deals offered

Shopee’s popular in-app features continued to attract users over the entire 9.9 Super Shopping Day period. Users tuned in to Shopee Live every day to enjoy an upsized live streaming calendar, garnering 50 million views in total. In addition, Shopee’s collection of in-app games, including all-time favorites Shopee Shake and Shopee Quiz were played millions of times.

Martin Yu, Associate Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “9.9 Super Shopping Day has exceeded all expectations. We are thankful for the incredible support as we capped off a truly memorable day on 9 September. This year, we hit new milestones as more brands, sellers, and partners joined Shopee for our signature shopping event. We are proud to see 9.9 Super Shopping Day become a key date in our region’s online shopping calendar.”

Shopee ignites worldwide excitement with Cristiano Ronaldo

Shopee enjoyed a successful start to its partnership with brand ambassador Cristiano Ronaldo. Cristiano Ronaldo’s first television commercial with Shopee is a global hit with 35 million views online to date, as the football icon’s Shopee Dance performance trended worldwide.

In addition, Shopee brought users and fans closer than ever to Cristiano Ronaldo with its live streaming feature, Shopee Live. On August 28, Shopee hosted an exclusive interview with Cristiano Ronaldo live from Italy. The foot-

Saturday-Friday | September 21 - 27, 2019

Facebook a hit among sports lovers in PH

F

ilipino sports lovers also love posting about sports on Facebook, according to data from market research company Global Web Index.

The study found that about a fourth (26%) of Facebook users in the Philippines post about sports events and matches that they have watched. This proportion, the highest in the world, is higher than the Asia Pacific average of 18%, and even averages in other areas such as Latin America (16%), Middle East and Africa (20%), Europe (9%), and North America (9%).

The study, which covers the first quarter of 2019 and includes internet users aged 16 to 64, also found that 22% of consumers surveyed worldwide use social media like Facebook and Twitter to watch events.

“Social media offer fans other ways to keep up with the action,” Global Web Index said, adding that social media platforms keep fans engaged by building a community and helping them access exclusive content.

A recent Global Web Index flagship survey also showed that Filipinos spend the most time in social media globally, with an average of around four hours a day—longer than 44 other countries included in the study.

Filipinos have consistently topped the list of heavy social media users around the world. Since 2012, the amount of time spent by Filipinos on social media has almost doubled from 2 hours, 49 minutes to 4 hours, 1 minute in 2019.

More Filipinos also use their mobile phones to access the Internet and social media (97%), compared to those who use their desktop or laptops to view and update their socmed accounts (80%).

“Our continuous network expansion efforts across the country are aimed at supporting this growing appetite among Filipinos for social media, video streaming and other online content,” said Mario G. Tamayo, senior vice president of Network Planning and Engineering for leading telecommunications and digital services provider PLDT and its wireless arm, Smart Communications.

Aside from going on social media, Filipinos also watch sports events by streaming them on their mobile phones. In the first half of 2019, data traffic on Smart’s network doubled because of growing video usage, propelled by its Video Everyday promo, which more than doubled the number of viewers in video services like the NBA app and iWant, where the games of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) can be livestreamed.

“Aside from improving our network, we are also working hand-in-hand with top device manufacturers to make LTE-capable handsets more accessible to our customers, so that they can fully experience the superior quality and full capability of our network,” Tamayo added.

This increasing data usage for video has boosted PLDT’s consumer wireless business revenue for the first half of 2019, which grew 20% year-onyear to P34.4 billion.

PLDT has provided for a historic capital expenditure program in 2019 amounting to P78.4 billion, which includes allocations for the further enhancement of the reach and capacity of PLDT’s fiber-powered fixed line broadband network and Smart’s LTE and 3G mobile data networks, as well as the modernization of PLDT-Smart’s IT support systems. (mb.com.ph)

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Next Gilas coach could be European

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine men’s basketball team could be handled by a European coach in the future.

This after the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) bared it is immediately looking for a replacement for Yeng Guiao, who resigned following Gilas Pilipinas’ winless campaign in the recently concluded FIBA World Cup in China.

A report by Spin.ph on Tuesday quoted SBP president Al Panlilio as saying the next Gilas coach could either be a local or a foreign one.

Panlilio said Guiao himself suggested that the national team be sent to Europe for regular trainings in preparation for international stints. Guiao likewise brought up the idea of tapping a European coach to help the squad adopt a European style of play.

The last time the Nationals were coached by a European was from 2009-2011, under Serbian Rajko Toroman.

The Philippines will co-host the 2023 FIBA World Cup with Japan and Indonesia.

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Kobe Paras makes 20 as UP overcomes Adamson in OT, 83-82

T

he UP Fighting Maroons are back in the winning track after escaping the Adamson Soaring Falcons, 83-82, Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

With 2:22 left in the game, a goaltending call on Javi Gomez de Liaño gave Adamson a comfortable lead, 82-75. However, turnovers marred Adamson in the remaining minutes of the game, giving the Diliman-based squad an advantage to steal the game.

Bright Akhuetie made two from the line 82-77, with 1:24 left to start a run for the Maroons. Kobe Paras and Jun Manzo made baskets late in the stretch to eventually take the lead, 82-81. Akhuetie then sank two freebies after a Lenda Douanga foul at the 2.8 mark to seal the deal for the Fighting Maroons.

Paras led the Maroons with 20 points and six rebounds in his debut game, while Akhuetie registered a double-double performance, 18 points and 18 rebounds.

With the win, the Fighting Maroons now hold a 2-1 win-loss record, while the Soaring Falcons are at 2-2.

Earlier in the day, the UST Growling Tigers drubbed the NU Bulldogs in overtime as well, 87-74.

The Tigers stormed the Bulldogs in the extra five minutes of the game, making 17 against NU’s 4, after being tied at 70.

Rhenz Abando listed 21 points while bigman Soulemane Chabiyo made 23 points and 20 rebounds. (GMA News)

Kobe Paras

(Philstar.com)

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Spain captures first FIBA World Cup title since 2006 BEIJING -- Spain defeated Argentina, 95-75, here on Sunday (September 15) to claim the 2019 FIBA World Cup title.

The last time Spain captured the crown was 13 years ago in 2006.

Ricky Rubio pocketed 20 points, Sergio Llull added 15 off the bench, Marc Gasol collected 14 and Rudy Fernandez had an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double. The Hernangomez brothers combined for 22 points.

“Spain played greater than us.

Their plan and execution were perfect. They have great players with more experience. They were really better than us tonight. We were not tired, we wanted to win, we really felt great before the game, but this is basketball. If you play better than the other team, you’ll win, and Spain was the better team today,” said Argentina head coach Sergio Hernandez.

“Argentina deserved all our respect. They are fierce competitors.

It’s a joy, and I can only be proud of what these guys did. We were not the tallest or most talented or in the odds when the tournament started, but we worked hard. They didn’t lose faith in themselves, and basketball rewarded them,” Spain head coach Sergio Scariolo said.

Gabriel Deck contributed 24 points for Argentina, followed by 17 from Nicolas Laprovittola. Facundo Campazzo finished with 11 points and Luis Scola scored 8, while only shooting 3-of-21 from the field together.

Spain opened up the game with an 11-2 run before Argentina hit back with 11 unanswered points to trim the deficit to 1 point on 13-14. Spain surged to a 17-1 run again to expand the lead to 17 points on 31-14 in the second quarter, in which Spain played good defense and kept Scola scoreless.

Spain opened up the third quarter with a 12-2 run, up to 55-33 before Argentina made it back to 55-39 after back-to-back three-pointers by Facu Campazzo and Gabriel Deck.

With a great defensive output, Spain repelled Argentina’s comeback and put the game beyond reach in the last period.

(Xinhua)

18

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Entertainment

ABS-CBN Ball 2019: Most controversial red carpet outfits

Saturday-Friday | September 21 - 27, 2019

Gerald Anderson’s Scout Ranger pin

n events in the country. Apart hio fas ted ipa tic an st mo the of ays ABS-CBN Ball is one ing event, social media users alw at ais d-r fun ll’s ba the d an ur mo experts from glitz and gla Internet users become fashion as s tfit ou ’ es riti leb ce e se to look forward this time of the year. t ABS-CBN Ball outfits this year. ou ab d ke tal st mo the of 10 are Lo and behold, here

Vice Ganda and Anne Curtis' 'anti-dengue' gowns

Kim Chiu's Benj Leguiabdesigned Terno

Gerald Anderson in a military-inspired Joey Espiritu Barong Tagalog reminiscent of his recent military training. Philstar.com/Kat Leandicho

From left: Vice Ganda in Paul Cabral; Anne Curtis in Mich Dulce.

Philstar.com/Kat Leandicho The “It’s Showtime” buddies defended their outfits in the ball. Vice said the Paul Cabral-designed gown was inspired by the Manila Carnival Queen in the 1930s, but netizens described it as an “anti-dengue” outfit.

Internet users also said the same of Anne’s “Classic meets Modern” Mich Dulce creation because of its oversized sheer butterfly sleeves.

Jane De Leon's 'Narda' gown Jane walked on the ball’s red carpet for the first time since getting the role of Darna. Fashion experts and netizens had been waiting for this new face of the iconic Filipina superhero on the red carpet, but some were disappointed with her rather simple baby blue Vania Romoff-designed gown.

The Darna-inspired ensemble lacks punch, so instead of seeing Darna, some Internet users compared the dress to Narda, Darna’s plain Jane counterpart, no pun intended.

“Nilamon ni Liza (Soberano),” one comment on Jane’s Instagram post on the outfit said.

Jane at the red carpet.

Philstar.com/Kat Leandicho

This was the first time in a while since Gerald walked on the ball’s red carpet without a date. Sporting a green Joey Espiritu-designed Barong Tagalog reminiscent of his recent army training and upcoming action series where he would play a soldier, netizens criticized him for wearing a Scout Ranger pin. Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Demy Zagala, however, called the gesture a “manifestation of his support” for the military.

Vivoree Esclito’s ‘unfinished’ dress

The young and energetic actress didn’t fail to capture everyone’s attention when she walked on the ball’s red carpet. Her gown that night, however, has given birth to social media memes as she was edited in different scenarios such as a shawarma, shuttlecock, flowers and table stand, to name a few.

“Ang dami na narating ng gown ko!!” she said of the memes in an Instagram story.

Bea Alonzo's 'not Filipiniana' Filipiniana

Maja Salvador's gown a copycat?

“The Killer Bride” star really looked like a killer in her one-shoulder white dress at the ball. But website Fashion Pulis couldn’t help but compare Maja’s gown made by Puey Quinones to Elie Saab’s. “Inspiration or imitation,” the site captioned the post.

Maymay Entrata gets another nod from Tyra Banks

Bea Alonzo in a Spanish senoritainspired Terno. Philstar.com/Kat Leandicho

From left: Sassydaily.com's photo showing model Cindy Bruna in Elie Saab Couture early this year; Maja Salvador wearing a Puey Quinones creation and together with boyfriend Rambo Nunez at the red carpet.

Philstar.com/Kat Leandicho

The young actress reportedly donned an unfinished gown to the ball, which made her fans wonder how it happened. Her stylist Vanessa Mercado took to Twitter to explain, saying that the day before the ball, the heavy beadwork for the top half of the design damaged the gown’s fabric. This led the designer to redo the whole upper portion of the dress.

Because of what happened, Vivoree’s dress was among those listed by some news sites as Vivoree Esclito. Philstar.com/ among the “worst” that night.

Kat Leandicho

Like her former boyfriend Gerald, this was the first time in a while since Bea walked on the red carpet alone. Although she was hailed as Best Dressed Female in her Jun Escario-designed, Spanish senorita-inspired black gown, some netizens insisted that her gown was not a Filipiniana.

Created by Dubai-based fashion designer Furne One, Maymay’s Manila cathedral-inspired gown t h at n ig ht was definitely a head-turner, so much so t hat it c aught t he attention of supermodel Tyra Banks, w ho a ga i n liked some of Maymay's photos on Twitter.

(Phil star. com)

Maymay Entrata and Edward Barber in Manila Cathedral-inspired Furne One creation. Philstar.com/Kat Leandicho

Entertainment

Saturday-Friday | September 21 - 27, 2019

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Alden Richards sparks hope in ‘The Gift’

B

eginning September 16, a glimmer of hope will shine through in the midst of darkness with GMA Network’s inspirational drama, “The Gift.”

The original primetime soap is headlined by no less than Asia’s Multi-media Star Alden Richards as the street-smart and high-spirited Sep, a visually-impaired vendor in Divisoria who will be blessed with the gift to perceive past and future events.

Richards, who has undergone blind immersion training to be able to fully understand the culture of the visually-impaired people, shared his realizations upon accepting the challenging role.

“Sometimes we take things for granted, normal lang na nakakakita tayo but once na mawala siya, parang that really got me.

“Actually, nalungkot ako ng ma-experience ko kasi ang hirap mawalan ng paningin. After that immersion, I interviewed people who can see before sila nabulag and na-inspire ako sa kanila na tipong ‘what can be my contributions to society now that I’m blind? Iyon ‘yung gusto kong mabaon ng mga manonood sa “The Gift” — bibigyan natin sila ng

peek sa mundo ng mga taong hindi nakakakita para mas maintindihan natin sila,” he said.

Giving life and meaning into Sep’s journey are: Elizabeth Oropesa as Lola Char, Sep’s adoptive grandmother who saved him from an attempted kidnapping in Quiapo when he got lost as a kid; Victor Anastacio as Andoy, comical leader of young delinquents in Divisoria who adores Amor; Mikoy Morales as Bistek, outgoing friend of Sep and Amor who sells anything under the sun in Divisoria; Thia Thomalla as Faith, fancied by Sep and dubbed as the ‘Princess of Divisoria’ for her beauty and for being the daughter of a wealthy fabric store owner; Mikee Quintos as Amor, a spunky vendor who secretly admires Sep; Jo Berry as Strawberry, Sep’s adoptive and overprotective mother who doesn’t let her disability get in the way of providing for her family; and Jean Garcia as Nadia, Sep’s biological mother who loses her faith in God after the death of her first husband and the

Alden Richards

disappearance of her son.

As the show progresses, viewers will find out if Sep’s God-given talent will be of blessing to others or ignite another misfortune in his already complicated life.

The show’s creative team is composed of creative director Aloy Adlawan; creative head RJ Nuevas; creative consultant Arlene Navarro-Punio; headwriter Agnes Gagelonia-Uligan; writers Rona Lean Sales, Patrick Ilagan, Loi Argel Nova; brainstormers El Agustin Ortizluis, Meryl Margaux Bunyi.

This original series, created by the GMA Drama group, is headed by the SVP for Entertainment Group Lilybeth Rasonable, VP for Drama Redgie Magno, AVP for Drama Cheryl Ching-Sy, Senior Program Manager Helen Rose Sese and Executive Producer Shielyn Atienza.

Under the helm of esteemed Director LA Madridejos, “The Gift” will begin airing tomorrow and will continue to do so every weeknights, after “Beautiful Justice” on GMA Telebabad.

(TMT)

Marian Rivera posts an adorable Ricky Reyes: ‘Kalokohan para photo of Baby Ziggy at 5 months old sa isang bading na pumasok Baby Ziggy and mom Marian

Much like before, celebrities gushed over Baby Ziggy, leaving compliments in the comment section of her post.

Her post has garnered almost 100,000 likes just an hour after it was posted.

Marian and Dingdong welcomed Baby Ziggy last April. Their firstborn Zia is now three years old.

(GMA News)

M

arian Rivera posted an adorable photo of Baby Ziggy as they celebrate his 5th month on earth.

On Instagram, The Kapuso Primetime Queen posted a photo of Baby Ziggy with an embroidered bib.

In the caption Marian greeted his son “Happy 5 months to this little boy and youngest tribu member! ???? Love you Sixto.”

Ziggy and dad Dingdong

Kris Aquino wants to grow her personal FB friends list, looking to accept friend requests of single men aged 41 to 55

A

Kris Aquino

ctress and TV host Kris Aquino recently created a personal Facebook account, where she is open to accepting friend requests from men fitting a particular criteria.

On Instagram Tuesday, Aquino enumerated her check list, saying: “If you’re male, please be between 41 to 55, single (pwedeng widowed, divorced, legally separated, or annulled), and if you’re a doctor, (especially a rheumatoid, immunology, allergy specialist, neurologist, anesthesiologist, pain

sa banyo ng pambabae’

C

elebrity hairdresser and TV host Ricky Reyes, who’s gay himself, said that it’s ridiculous for gays to enter women’s bathrooms.

In an interview with “Dobol B sa News TV” Wednesday, Reyes said, “Alam mo, kalokohan para sa isang bading na pumasok sa banyo ng pambabae. There’s so many friendly toilets for all. Bakit ka pupunta sa general? Punta ka sa Jollibee, sa Max, may unisex bathroom, eh ‘di doon ka pumasok kung saan hindi ka mao-ostricize.”

In light of the incident in Quezon City where transwoman Gretchen Diez was dragged by a mall personnel and handcuffed by police officers after wanting to use the women’s bathroom, Reyes commented, “Lalaki naman kami eh. Bakit kailangan kong magbistida at kumalat-kalat sa kalye?”

For Reyes, there’s no difference among the LGBTQ+ community.

At the end of the day, all are gay with just different labels.

“Buhay ng bakla ay buhay ng ilusyon, buhay ng make-believe. Sometimes kailangan mong batukan ang mga bakla sa katotohan ng buhay,” Ricky Reyes the famous hairdresser said.

The incident in Quezon City sparked outrage, with many pushing harder for the passage of the Sexual Orientation Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Equality bill, also known as the anti-discrimination bill.

However, Reyes said that there are other things the government has to address aside from this bill.

“Ang dami na nating problema. May droga, may corruption, maraming nagugutom, maraming hindi nag-aaral,” he said. “Bakit hindi ‘yun asikasuhin? Bakit ang pag-ihi ng bakla ang kailangan natin asikasuhin?” (GMA News)

management specialist, or cardiologist), promise accept agad ang friend request.”

According to Kris, Bimby and Josh also shared that they’re okay with Kris dating a pilot who has an international route.

In the video she posted on

Instagram, she said, “Most people sa online nagkakakilala. That’s why gusto ko na nga gumawa ng Facebook account eh.”

Currently, Kris only has eight friends on her personal Facebook.

(GMA News)

me and show me herein you are my Mother. O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor me in my necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (3 times). Holy Mary, I place this cause in your hands (3 times). 3 Our Father, 3 Hail Mary, 3 Glory BeSay this prayer for 3 consecutive days. You must publish it, and it will be granted to you.- KORY

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PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

Holy Spirit Thou who make me see everything and show me the way to reach my ideal, You who give me the divine gift to forgive

and forget the wrong that is done to me and who are in all instances of my life with me. I, in this short dialogue, want to thank You for everything and confirm once more that I never want to be separated

Most Holy Apostle St. Jude Thaddeus, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the name of the traitor who delivered your beloved Master into the hands of the enemies has caused you to be forgotten by many, but the Church honors and invokes you universally as the patron of hopeless cases and of things despaired of. Pray for me who am so needy; make use, I implore you of that particular privilege accorded to you to bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolations and succor of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings particularly (here mention your petition) and that I may bless God with you and all the elect throughout eternity. I promise you, O blessed Jude to be ever mindful of this great favor, and I will never cease to honor you as my special and powerful patron and to do all in my power to encourage devotion to you. Amen. THANK YOU - ARDY

PRAYER TO SAINT THERESE

O Glorious St. Therese, whom Almighty God has raised up to aid and inspire the human family, I implore your Miraculous Intercession.

You are so powerful in obtaining every need of body and spirit from the Heart of God. Holy Mother Church proclaims you ‘Prodigy of Miracles... the Greatest Saint of Modern Times.’ Now I fervently beseech you to answer my petition (mention here) and to carry out your promises of spending Heaven doing good on earth...of letting fall from Heaven a Shower of Roses. Little Flower, give me your childlike faith, to see the Face of God in the people and experiences of my life, and to love God with full confidence. St. Therese, my Carmelite Sister, I will fulfill your plea ‘to be made known everywhere’ and I will continue to lead others to Jesus through you. Amen THANK YOU - SHAHELA

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PRAYERS

RENT HERE

Enjoy Having Pet Fish

PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

Holy Spirit Thou who make me see everything and show me the way to reach my ideal, You who give me the divine gift to forgive and forget the wrong that is done to me and who are in all instances of my life with me. I, in this short dialogue, want to thank You for HYHU\WKLQJ DQG FRQÂżUP RQFH PRUH WKDW , QHYHU ZDQW WR EH VHSDUDWHG from You no matter how great the material desires may be. I want to be with You and my loved ones in Your perpetual glory. Amen.

(A person must pray this for three consecutive days without stating his wish. After the 3rd day the wish will be granted, no matter how GLIÂżFXOW LW PD\ EH 3URPLVH WR SXEOLVK WKLV DV VRRQ DV \RXU IDYRU KDV been granted. Grateful Thanks) - God bless - ATE VIV

Home & Companion PRAYERS

PRAYER TO SAINT JUDE

Most Holy Apostle St. Jude Thaddeus, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the name of the traitor who delivered your beloved Master into the hands of the enemies has caused you to be forgotten by many, but the Church honors and invokes you universally as the patron of hopeless cases and of things despaired of. Pray for me who am so needy; make use, I implore you of that particular privilege accorded to you to bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolations and succor of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings particularly (here mention your petition) and that I may bless God with you and all the elect throughout eternity. I promise you, O blessed Jude to be ever mindful of this great favor, and I will never cease to honor you as my special and powerful patron and to do all in my power to encourage devotion to you. Amen. THANK YOU - ABA

PRAYERS PRAYER TO SAINT THERESE

WikiHow

ish make wonderful pets.

They don’t ask much of you, they are beautiful and soothing to watch and they’re fun to have around. Even better, you can always manage more ďŹ sh than you’d ever be able to deal with lots of puppies or kittens at the one time! Enjoying having a pet ďŹ sh is simple. Take good care of your ďŹ sh, feed them regularly and give them an interesting environment to live in.

ice ToBrand. o V g n i v i G Your

email: adver tising@balita.com

SERVICES FOR RENT

Female only. $350 toPark. $425/mo.

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Reseda &area, close to store &Free bank. utils, complete bed set, internet, Call 818-534-7866.

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Excellent location, very nice & quiet home. Call 818-477-2027.

2121

Enhance the Housing 1. Create a beautiful environment. A well designed aquarium will not only be pleasant to look at, but decorations and plants will give your fish an interactive habitat.

Broaden your Fish Varieties

O Glorious St. Therese, whom Almighty God has raised up to aid and inspire the human family, I implore your Miraculous Intercession.

You are so powerful in obtaining every need of body and spirit from the Heart of God. Holy Mother Church proclaims you ‘Prodigy of Miracles... the Greatest Sainttank of Modern Times.’ I fervently over food from the floor, and Now should get beseech you to answer my petition (mention here) and to carry along with most fish (provided beout your promises of spending Heaven doingthey good don’t on earth...of letting fall dinner!). from Heaven a Shower of Roses. Little Flower, give come me your childlike faith, to see the Face of God in the people and H[SHULHQFHV RI P\ OLIH DQG WR ORYH *RG ZLWK IXOO FRQÂżGHQFH 6W 7KHUHVH P\ &DUPHOLWH 6LVWHU , ZLOO IXOÂżOO \RXU SOHD ÂľWR EH PDGH known and INever will continue to lead othersfito 1. everywhere’ Be gentle. startle your shJesus or through you. Amen THANK YOU - ABA

Interact with your Fish

tap on the glass. This will only teach them to hide when you walk by. Try to avoid fre1. Experiment with different kinds of fish.

A single betta or goldfish can be beautiful quent, large water changes as these can send to watch, and these intelligent fish often form your fish into shock. Instead, maintain your bonds with their caretakers. These and other water chemistry with weekly small (10-25%) solitary fish like bettas, goldfish, and oscars water changes.

2. Spend time with your fish. Find a comcan often be taught simple tricks, and many Care for your fish will perform entertaining antics without any fortable spot nearby and watch your fish.

Settle in and let the gentle movement relax 1. Make sure your tank is big enough to hold encouragement. your fish. The little betta bowls at pet shops are A large tank with many community fish is you. Fish tanks are great stress relievers, and JOB OPPORTUNITIES? SERVICES? RENTAL SPACES? NEW OR PRE-OWNED CARS? not big enough even for one fish. always busy. Small schooling fish, such as beautiful living works of art. With time, you 2. Take good care of your fish. Happy fish will danios and tetras, will interact with one an- will get to know each fish individually, and be more alert, active, and colorful, and will live other, often chasing each other about. You may even be able to spot illness in time to longer. Always use a filter to keep things clean, can mix large groups for dazzling color com- treat it.

3. Train your fish. If you’re patient and and make sure your fish have enough room. binations, or create one large school. When carefully planned, many different kinds of your fish is willing, it may be possible to train Feed your fish fish can be peacefully kept together, and their your fish to do basic tricks.

Get a flake of fish food and put it next to 1. Feed a varied diet. Proper nutrition is part individual personalities will delight you. of good care and will have a marked effect on Guppies are prolific breeders and come your fish tank.

Put your finger in the water. the color and behavior of your fish. Try to feed in every color and pattern you can imagine.

Put your wet finger on the flake of food; it breed-specific food (betta pellets for bettas, They do great in a tank of their own and get should stick there. Make sure your finger is tropical flakes for tropicals, etc.) mixed with along with most community fish too. nutritious treats such as bloodworms, brine 2. Don’t forget about invertebrates. While not too wet, just damp.

Hover your finger just over the water and shrimp, algae wafers and even fresh veggies. not strictly fish, small shrimp and apple wait.

Your pet fish should jump up and get its 2. Research which foods your fish like best snails are fascinating to watch. Ghost shrimp before trying anything new. Feed small porhave transparent bodies, and when they eat food. (Chinese fighting fish are usually happy tions twice a day, and your fish may come to you can see their organs working. These in- to do this.) If your fish does not jump, it may associate you with food, darting out to greet vertebrates will also help keep everything not be big enough. (wikihow.com) you when you walk by. clean, eating algae off the walls, and the left-

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RECIPES / MEAL IDEAS / COOKING GUIDES

Ginisang Sardinas, Miswa, at Pechay (Sautéed Sardines, Wheat Noodle, and Bok Choy) IT’S cold in here. And what better way to deal with the cold weather than to eat some soup, that alltime favorite that takes us back to our happy childhood...back in the Philippines — sautéed sardines with miswa and pechay. Yum! This dish may appear simple but most of us don’t realize that sardines are rich with Omega-3 fatty acids that help reduce the risk of blood clots and lower blood pressure. They also may help protect those who’ve had a heart attack in the past.

Sardines are also an excellent source of Vitamin B12. This helps our cardiovascular system and gives us energy. They also contain a healthy amount of Vitamin D necessary for good bone health throughout our lives.

Added with green leafy vegetable that is pechay or bok choy, it’s doubly healthy and nutritious.

Let’s get cooking!

INGREDIENTS 1 can sardines in tomato sauce 1/2 bundle miswa (thin wheat noodle) 1 bundle pechay or bok choy, sliced 2 tbsp vegetable oil 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced 1 pc small onion, peeled and sliced 2 ½ cups water 1 sachet 8g MAGGI® MAGIC SARAP® 1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper DIRECTIONS 1. Heat the oil in pan. Sauté the garlic, onion, and sardines. Pour the water and simmer.

2. Stir in the miswa. Season with MAGGI® MAGIC SARAP® and pepper.

3. Add the pechay. Transfer into a serving bowl and serve.

Tuna and Tokwa Sisig LET’S get a little healthy here. Instead of plain pork with lots of fat in your sisig, prepare its nutritious version using tuna and tokwa (tofu) for that delicious, flavorful, not to mention, healthy take of this popular dish/appetizer.

For one, tuna is an excellent source of protein, potassium, selenium, and Vitamin B12, plus, niacin and phosphorous. Tofu is also a good source of protein and contains nine essential amino acids. It is also loaded with iron, calcium, and the minerals manganese, selenium, and phosphorous.

How can you go wrong with this dish? Let’s get cooking!

INGREDIENTS 1/2 kg tokwa or tofu, sliced 1/2-inch thick 1/2 cup vegetable oil 2 cans spicy canned tuna in oil, strain and reserve oil 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced 1/2 sachet 8g MAGGI® MAGIC SARAP® 1 pc large red onion, peeled and chopped 2 tbsp mayonnaise 1 tbsp toasted garlic 1 tbsp sliced spring onion 1 pc calamansi, sliced open

(Image and Recipe: Maggi)

This is how local chocolate Lala is made

DIRECTIONS 1. Fry tokwa in oil until light golden brown. Set aside to drain excess oil.

Cut into cubes.

2. Heat reserved tuna oil and sauté garlic, tuna and tokwa. Season with MAGGI® MAGIC SARAP®. Transfer into a bowl.

3. Add onion and mayonnaise. Serve into a hot sizzling plate. Top with toasted garlic, spring onion, and calamansi.

REMEMBER Lala chocolate? The local chocolate treat distinguished itself from the other local brands with its incredibly chewy consistency and its distinct taste of milk.

On Pinas Sarap, journalist Kara David took a tour of Lala Chocolate’s 39-year-old factory and witnessed how it is made.

Unlike other chocolates, Lala isn’t fat based.

Its basic ingredients are pure cocoa and milk.

“Other chocolates begin as liquid because its base is oil. Kami, pure milk and cocoa,” Lala Yabut, the current owner of Lala Chocolate said.

Because Lala Chocolates is milk-based, it doesn't have added fats from oil.

Lala Chocolates is the invention of her father, Salvacion Belaro. From Bicol, his family moved to Manila, and then set up shop in Bulacan. In a barong-barong, he started making molido, a delicacy from Bicol made with kamote and sugar, before conjuring up Lala.

Why Lala you may ask? It’s an acronym of his four children, Louie, Arlet, Luisa, and Arlene.

When the product hit relative success, they named their fifth child after the chocolate: Lala. (GMA News)

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LONG TERM CARE (LTC): STATISTICS TELL THE STORY

W

hat is long term care (LTC)? It is a broad range of skilled, custodial, and other care services provided over an extended period of time in various care settings, due to chronic illness, physical disability, or cognitive impairment.

Roughly 60% of the U.S population will need LTC. Majority of them will be aged 65 and over. Currently, 10 – 12 million people in the U.S. need LTC. The U.S. population is aging. In 2010, there were 42 million people over age 65; this is projected to increase to 84 million in 2050. In 2010, there were 5.8 million people over age 85; this will increase to 19.3 million in 2050.

People today are living longer. In the 1900’s, the average life expectancy was 47 years; in 2008, 78 years; projected to increase to 79.5 years in 2020. If you reach the age of 65, you have a life expectancy of 83.2 years.

70% of those who reach age 65 will need some type of LTC. 40% of people will need LTC in a nursing home at some point. Most are discharged within the first 90 days. However, 20% of the population will need care

S

cientists in Japan have, for the first time, treated a damaged cornea using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS). According to the surgeon, the person’s vision has improved since the procedure.

This process converts the cells into embryonic-like cells, which means that they can develop into any other type of human cell, including nerve, pancreatic, liver, and corneal cells.

Although iPS cells have great potential to treat a range of conditions, they have been slow to make it from the laboratory to the clinic.

In carrying out a new groundbreaking procedure, ophthalmologist Kohji Nishida from Osaka University in Japan has taken the next step.

for at least 5 years. 1.5 million Americans reside in a nursing home. Many do not want to, but they have to because the level of care they need are not available in their own homes.

Family members deliver 70% of all LTC. These are mostly unpaid services that put a heavy strain on the caregiver. Between 52-65 million people in the U.S. are involved with family-provided LTC services.

46% of people receiving care are over 75 y/o. 60% of the family caregivers have other jobs.

Alzheimer’s (dementia) tops the list of illnesses that need LTC. In fact, 1 in 5 LTC insurance claims cites this as the main reason. This is followed by arthritis, cancer, stroke, and nervous system conditions in that order.

Costs of LTC can be staggering. Full time home nursing care can cost $432/day! This totals to roughly $150,000/year. Nursing home cost for a semi-private room was $75,000/year in 2010; $81,000 in 2012. Of course, cost ranges depending on location

The importance of iPS cells

World first: Doctors use ‘reprogrammed’ stem cells to repair cornea

Corneal repair

The cornea is the transparent front section of the eye, which covers the iris and pupil. Stem cells in the cornea ensure that it becomes refreshed and repaired when necessary, keeping it clear so that light can enter.

However, if these stem cells sustain damage due to disease or injury, maintenance of the cornea is no longer possible, and this can lead to corneal blindness.

Individuals with damaged corneas must wait for donor tissue to become available, and — as with any organ transplant — this can be a lengthy process.

The person who underwent the recent surgery has a genetic condition that affects the stem cells of the cornea. Her vision was blurry, and she would eventually have lost her sight.

The researchers implanted thin sheets of iPS cells into the patient’s eye, hoping that they would take root and Medical News Today fill in the gaps that her missing corneal stem cells had left.

Health groups warn public vs. e-cigarettes, vaping MANILA -- Health groups on Monday said there is no scientific evidence to support claims that e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are safe.

“Even in the UK, where e-cigarettes are heavily promoted, no public health authority has claimed that these products are safe. The public and public servants in a position to protect public health must be fully apprised of the risks inherent to vaping,” Dr. Ulysses Dorotheo, Executive Director of Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) said in a statement.

SEATCA is a multisectoral alliance

and services provided. Inflation-adjusted real cost of nursing home care is expected to double in the next 23 years. Average cost in an assisted living facility is $3,300/month.

Do you think you have adequate funds to finance your LTC needs someday?

Do you have a plan? If you don’t, you certainly expect your spouse and/or children to take care of you.

The question is: Have they agreed to it?

If you need help, you may call me at 323 535 7373 or e-mail at: leo.balita@gmail. com.

Joleo “Leo” Monsalud holds CA life and health license# 0G55218 as well as Non-Resident licenses for Nevada and Michigan.

He studied for MBA and Law at the University of the Philippines. He worked for United Laboratories, Inc. where his last position held was vice president assigned as general manager of a division. He helps members choose the right Medicare health plan for them.

By Maria Cohut Fact checked by Carolyn Robertson

supporting effective tobacco control policies in Asean countries in line with the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

PHOTO COURTESY OF Jackylyn Llagas FB acc

Japan is the front-runner in iPS technology. In 2006, Shinya Yamanaka first presented his research on these experimental cells.

Although stem cells had caused excitement in medical circles, iPS cells appeared to promise more. Scientists could not unshackle stem cells from the ethical concerns of using fetal tissue, but they derive iPS cells from adult skin cells, sidestepping this issue entirely.

Additionally, because scientists derive iPS cells from the patient’s own tissue, there should be no issue with transplant rejection. Preventing the rejection of embryonic stem cells has proven to be a significant challenge.

In Japan, researchers have already tested iPS cells against a number of conditions in clinical trials, including spinal cord injuries and Parkinson’s disease. In October 2018, a neurosurgeon implanted 2.4 million cells into the brain of a patient with Parkinson’s disease.

More procedures to come

Following successful research in an animal model, the Japanese health ministry gave Nishida permission to carry out the corneal repair procedure in four people.

So far, the first treatment appears to be a success. According to Nishida, the person’s cornea is still clear, and their vision has improved in the month since the operation.

Nishida plans to carry out the second procedure later this year, and he is hopeful that the surgery will be available to more people within 5 years.

The authors of a recent global survey of corneal transplantation concluded that there is “only one cornea available for 70 needed.” Hopefully, this groundbreaking technology will, eventually, go some way toward closing that gap. (medicalnewstoday.com)

Dorotheo was reacting to a proposed Pasig City ordinance that seeks to regulate vaping, and to the claims of vaping proponents who claim that the safety of e-cigarettes is “based on evidence.”

On August 23, the Pasig City’s joint committees on appropriations, ways and means, trade, commerce and industry and health, sanitation and nutrition conducted a public hearing about the proposed ordinance.

Mary Ann Fernandez-Mendoza, president of HealthJustice, said the tobacco industry “is behind the vaping lobby -- brainwashing the public into thinking e-cigarettes are safe”.

“The vaping industry is just the tobacco industry in different clothes. Because it is undisputed that smoking traditional cigarettes is a public health hazard, the tobacco industry would now have us believe that vaping or smoking e-cigarettes is safe. It is PNA not. It’s just another form of ad-

diction and the tobacco industry’s new source of income,” Mendoza said.

Dorotheo urged smokers to focus on quitting smoking rather than shifting to vaping.

“Quitting smoking is possible. It is the best thing that can happen to a smoker, and millions of people have successfully quit even before the advent of vaping,” he said.

Dorotheo also cited that the first death worldwide linked to vaping happened in Illinois where the victim developed a severe lung disease.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States is investigating 215 reported cases of severe lung disease associated with e-cigarette use across 25 US states.

Mendoza said vaping is a public health issue which must be dealt with collective efforts.

“As such, it is most prudent to exercise caution. Stop spreading word that e-cigarettes are safe if only to prevent more people, especially our youth, from falling prey to yet another public health hazard,” she added. (PNA)

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Vigan included in CNN’s most picturesque towns

Pinoy Speaking

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism (DOT) is lauding the inclusion of Vigan City in Ilocos Sur in CNN Travel’s list of 13 of Asia’s most picturesque towns.

“The City of Vigan’s heritage, the Hispanic architecture and the food make it a picture-perfect site and deserving of the spot in the CNN list,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.

CNN described Vigan as “one of the best places to experience Spanish colonial-era architecture in Asia.”

“The CNN citation of the City of Vigan means that sustainable tourism is not just about environmental protection but also the preservation of the country’s history and culture,” Puyat said.

Established by the Spanish in 1572, Vigan is among the World Heritage Cities of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

“Travelers will find the vast majority of the colonial buildings around the central square, Plaza Salcedo, including the white and yellow St. Paul’s Cathedral. The beautiful Baroque structure was first built in 1641 and then restored after several earthquakes and fires,” CNN’s Kate Springer said.

She also mentioned the plethora of must-see Instagrammable landmarks at Vigan City including Plaza Salcedo and the trade center at cobble-stoned Calle Crisologo.

“A short walk south, Calle Crisologo is another major landmark. The cobbled street features well-preserved heritage houses, alfresco bars and kalesa (horse-drawn carriages) that transport you back in time,” Springer said.

Vigan is joined by other Asian cities such as Hoi An in Vietnam, Yufuin in Japan and George Town in Malaysia, among others.

Puyat said Vigan City showcases the local government’s

efforts in preserving its ancestral houses by mandating thorough research and documentation of the buildings’ original design before permitting any restoration work.

“A touch of Spanish colonial style is also a requirement for the design of new structures in the area to complement the City’s preservation and tourism program,” the DOT said.

“Family ancestral houses are transformed into museums, souvenir and antique shops and restaurants

Big things in tourism up for small town in Southern Leyte

ANAHAWAN, Southern Leyte -- People in this small town are thrilled by big things lined up in their local tourism industry.

Development plans have been laid down for four tourism sites in this sleepy coastal town, endowed with eco-tourism “gems” unfamiliar to tourists and even among Southern Leyte residents.

Tagged as major attraction is the highest elevation of Anahawan town, offering a perfect view of its town center and four nearby Pacific coastal towns in Southern Leyte: Silago, Hinunangan, Saint Bernard, and HinunRosmin Farm dayan.

From the top, these rural communities are like white and brown dots in camping and extreme-mountain trekking. the middle of thick vegetation and blue sea.

It also offers alternative access to Lake Danao “We propose to build a viewing deck on the in San Juan town, a popular destination among top of the mountain for tourists using indigenous mountaineers in Eastern Visayas. materials, but we have to consult with eco-tourThe Kagingkingan village is about seven kiism experts because we want to do things right,” lometers from the town center. In the past, the Anahawan Mayor Alfredo Luna told the PhilipPhilippine National Oil Company established a pine News Agency (PNA) recently. trail to the area for its geothermal power exploLuna asked the central government to finance ration. the concreting of the road going to the KagingkThe local government also asked the Departingan village, as the site is also ideal for group ment of Tourism (DOT) to send a team of mountaineers to inspect the village and recommend specific eco-friendly structures meant for campers and nature lovers.

while maintaining its original Spanish style influence,” it added.

Selected as one of the New Seven Wonders Cities in 2014, Vigan’s attractions include the pottery workshop, food adventures with its established culinary scene that features unique native dishes such as bagnet, a deep fried crispy pork belly dish; poqui-poqui, a mixed vegetables dish and empanada, a stuffed fried pastry.

The more extreme is the 20-meter high Kabigong Falls since one has to take an hour trek downhill from the community and cross a neck-deep river. In some portions, a trekker has to cling to roots and plant their feet firmly on rocks to advance.

For nature lovers, it is worth the effort and the sweat as visitors will see rare ferns, insects, and frogs along the way and breathe the cold and fresh forest air.

Elmerito Lariba, 46, who volunteered to take trekkers to the waterfalls, hopes that more tourists will visit their village so he could shift from being a motorcycle driver to a tour guide.

“These waterfalls have been there even before my great grandfather was born and this is my first time to hear about plans to promote it as an eco-tourism destination. I am very excited!” Lariba told the Philippine News Agency.

Hot spring in Mainit

Just three kilometers away from the centennial tree is the Mainit village, a community known for a hot spring of sulfuric water believed to have healing properties. The site, initially developed by a local businessman, is being poised for recreation and wellness.

DOT Eastern Visayas regional director Karina Rosa Tiopes said although there are cottages set up within the hot spring, they still consider the destination as raw since there are more facilities needed to further develop the site.

“The hot spring has a huge potential for wellness, especially that we only have few tourism assets like this in the region. We have to tap experts to determine if the sulfur quantity is really good for wellness,” Tiopes told reporters.

Farm destination

From the town center, a visitor can just take a walk or ride a motorcycle to Rosmin Farm in San Vicente village, owned and managed by event specialist Miguel Miñana.

The farmhouses and cottages are situated amidst the lush greenery of coconut trees

(Philstar.com)

and expansive grassland and the sea.

“This is not a resort, but a farm destination to enjoy farm life and the convenience of staying in a resort,” said Miñana, who headed ThemeWorks Events, a firm that handles many prominent corporate and social events, including Malacañang’s State Dinners.

The accommodation facility and 65-hectare coconut farm tourism destination are considered as the only tourist-ready facility in the town.

It’s guest rooms and cottages can accommodate up to 40 guests. The rate for a room for a couple or a family of three is PHP3,500 per night while the guest house designed for eight to 10 people can be rented at PHP6,500 per night.

“We’re not adding up new structures here because we want to keep the place as a family farm,” said Miñana, who has been working to secure a DOT accreditation.

Tiopes is confident that with the commitment of Anahawan local government to develop tourism, the town will progress through tourism-related livelihood opportunities.

“If the local government will be able to develop these sites, these areas can be very attractive, Let’s tackle one thing at a time given the available funds we have and possible funding sources,” Tiopes said.

The tourism department brought a team of experts from Tacloban City and Metro Manila to this town last week to come up with recommendations on how to develop the town’s raw tourism assets.

Hinunangan Beach

This is a 5th class town in Southern Leyte with a population of 8,211.

From the airport in Tacloban City, visitors have to make a two-hour land trip to get to the town. There are regular trips from the city to nearby Hinunangan and Saint Bernard towns.

The town’s name is derived from “Anahaw” or the round-leaf fountain palm, the country’s national leaf. It is one of the smallest town in the region with a total land area of only 58 square kilometers.

(PNA)

Century-old acacia, 2 waterfalls

Hot spring in Mainit

A few kilometers downhill from the highest elevation is the century-old acacia tree in Capacuhan village. Earlier, the Southern Leyte provincial government officially recognized it as one of the century-old trees in the province.

“When I was in Grade 1, this was already a huge tree and we used to play around here. We hope that more people will come and visit our place,” said Anahawan Vice Mayor Nestor Vestal, who is now 61 years old.

Capacuhan village is also known for two waterfalls - Kamagong and Kabigong. Kamagong, a 15-meter high waterfall can be reached by a 20-minute hike.

Hinunangan Beach

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Saturday-Friday | September 21 - 27, 2019

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L.A.’s Historic Filipinotown listed as one of the world’s coolest neighborhoods

G

lobal media company Time Out put together 50 of the coolest neighborhoods in the world, and making it to the list is Historic Filipinotown in Los Angeles.

Time Out described Historic Filipinotown, or HiFi for short, as “a convergence of cultures” that “reflects L.A. as its best.”

Everything Filipino can be found in this cool neighborhood: Pinoy street food (even balut), gin-infused drinks, and even jeepneys!

Here are some of the restaurants recommended by Time Out.

Genever

The Park’s Finest

Porridge + Puffs

Kindness & Mischief Coffee

Jimuel Pacquiao’s first car is a Corvette Stingray — and here’s how much you need to get one

I

“Okay for a first car,” quips Pacman’s son Emmanuel Jr. about his Chevrolet Corvette Stingray — which he test-drove recently.

ts sex appeal is undeniable, inspiring a devotion in tweens and car aficionados; inspiring Prince to sing about it (“Little red Corvette/Baby, you’re much too fast”); and stirring billionaire sports stars slash senators to gift their son with a spanking new one.

Some gearheads insist Pixar’s Lightning McQueen isn’t even a NASCAR stock car at all, but a Corvette C6. There really must be something about the Corvette. Few cars can boast of such significance.

Make no mistake about it, the Corvette exists in a hallowed automotive space as one of those cars that absolutely everyone knows.

After all, as children playing with Matchbox cars, we learn the name Corvette the same time we learn about Porsche and Ferrari. Our Corvette love story begins at a tender age and goes deep.

And now, with the Corvette Stingray available in the Philippines, it’s possible to consummate that love for P8.546 million.

With a pricetag like that, you have to ask, “Who is this car for?” Is it for an 18-year old like Manny Pacquiao’s Emmanuel Jr. more popularly known as Jimuel, who appeared in a YouTube channel video feature recently test-driving the car, his first.

For that much moolah, you could go for some Teutonic precision and get an Audi RS5. Or you could go Japanese and get another legend like the Nissan GT-R and still have a cool million left for gas money. But this much

is certain: The Corvette Stingray is more than just a sexy car.

The Corvette is the quintessential American sports car — and that’s saying a lot. It signifies freedom on the open road in a convertible, with rock n’ roll blaring from the stereo. It’s flexing all that American muscle under the hood in a drag race on the half-mile. It’s a work of art: a Fender Stratocaster, but with wheels. The seventh generation Corvette Stingray, called the

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

C7, is all that and more. The spirit of the Corvette is strong here, but the C7 has been updated to be a thoroughly modern beast The Corvette Stingray’s engine —a 6.2-liter V8 — produces 460 horses and 630Nm of torque. That’s the automotive equivalent of the combined muscles of John Cena and The Rock, but with the looks of Lana del Rey. It propels the Corvette Stingray to 100kmh in 4.1 seconds (or if you speak American, that’s 60mph in just 3.7 seconds).

In case you’re wondering, the ultra-luxurious 3LT version is what’s available in the Philippines. It comes with Napa leather seating surfaces, a custom leather-wrapped interior package (with lightweight aluminum and carbon fiber trim), and a premium Bose sound system. Brembo brakes come standard as well as Available Magnetic Selective Ride Control that “reads the road every millisecond” and makes adjustments in under 15 milliseconds.

All in all, it’s a compelling package for anyone with millions sitting idly in the bank, waiting to be spent. But at the end of the day, the Corvette Stingray offers drivers the American dream.

And it is this love affair with that dream — and the Stingray’s undeniable, curvaceous, sensual appeal — that sets its apart from the pack. Does Jimuel Pacquiao have the same dream? Does it matter? For Manny’s 18-year old at least, one dream has come true. (ABS-CBN News)

26

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Saturday-Friday | September 21 - 27, 2019

More Pinoys going choco loco?

I t’s amusing to think many Filipinos will abandon meat and rice to lose weight, but they will never stop eating chocolates.

This is why many more Filipino investors are now into making their own chocolate brands. It is a lucrative business, they said, but the problem is that the country’s supply of cacao — the primary ingredient in making chocolates — still can’t meet the growing demand.

Raul Matias, founder of Manila Choco¬latier, said it would be nice to make chocolates that are “100 percent Pinoy,” but he still can’t avoid sourcing cacao from other countries to sustain his business.

Manila Chocolatier is the company behind the local gourmet chocolate brand Machia¬velli Chocolate, which features flavors that couldn’t be more Pinoy — Pili Nut, Mango, Ube, Barako Coffee, Palawan Honey, Lam¬banog, BukoPandan, Salabat, among others.

Every month, the company manufactures 500 kilos of processed cacao, 95 percent of which comes from the Philippines. The rest normally comes from Malaysia and Indone¬sia.

Kelly Go, managing director and co-found¬er of Auro Chocolate, also has some concerns. Although her company currently has a steady supply of cacao right now, she said the growing local and global demand for the commodity could start a problem in the future.

“The problem is everyone is focused on Davao,” Go said.

Right now, the Philippines exports about $6 million worth of cacao to the international market. This means that even if there’s already a huge demand coming locally, a number of companies abroad have also set their eyes to cacao being produced here.

With Filipino firms and foreign firms fighting over a limited supply, some com¬panies here actually gave up already and decided to look elsewhere. Every year, the country imports more than $100 million worth of cacao from other cacao-produc¬ing countries, a data from Department of Trade and Industry showed.

To keep up with this, Go believes the Philippine government should already start promoting cacao farming in other ar¬eas than Davao, but that’s a plan that the country gave itself until 2022 to achieve.

The Philippines is among the coun¬tries in Asia seen to have a competitive advantage on cacao production given its strategic location and climatic condi¬tion.

But the country’s cacao supply only largely comes from Davao region, pro¬ducing 80 percent of the total production each year. This is out of the 10,000 to 12,000 metric tons (MT) of cacao the country produces every year.

The rest of Mindanao contributes 10 percent of the total cacao production, while the remaining 10 percent is being shared by Luzon and Visayas.

Based on the 2017 to 2022 Cacao Indus¬try Roadmaps crafted by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the target is for the country to produce 100,000 MT of dried fermented cacao beans by 2022, which is eight times higher what is being produced now.

Massive rehab needed

Aglamesis Brothers

With the challenge of low produc¬tion and increasing demand in both na¬tional and international market, DA has launched a massive rehabilitation effort to revive the cacao industry.

Reynaldo Visanta, a farmer in Davao region, said the rehabilitation has started to give them competitive advantage.

“With our rehabilitation activities in the farm, our trees have sort of renewed their abilities to produce. From 100 kilos of wet beans we know harvest 300 kilos per tree,” he said.

Similarly, the World Bank-funded Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP), also a project of DA, is pouring in millions to further boosts cacao industry in Davao del Norte alone.

To be specific, PRDP awarded a total of P14.34 million for the province’s Cacao Production and Beans Marketing, cover¬ing the towns of San Isidro, Kapalong, Ta¬laingod and Asuncion. The project is being managed by Kapalong Cooperative.

Local chocolates versus imported chocolates

Matias said there is another challenge to manufacturing local chocolate brands.

They are normally more expensive than imported brands, he said.

“We have to make up for scarcity of cacao,” Matias said. “And prices still dictate Pinoys.”

He was talking about the country’s working class population who are still at what he calls “Cadbury stage,” wherein people prefer popular chocolate brands that are produced globally in a massive scale.

“Locally produced chocolate is more expensive than well-known brands be¬cause in the economies of scale, the latter has a huge demand,” Matias said.

To address this, he suggested the government to start educating cacao farmers how to improve both the quality and quantity of their production and most importantly, give them financial support.

Nevertheless, Matias is optimistic about his business and the local chocolate industry. He also plans to export soon.

(PIXBAY/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Go has same sentiment. In a phone interview, she even called the local manufacturing of chocolate a “thriving industry.”

Auro Chocolate, her company, is a Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)-certified bean-to-bar manufac¬turing company in the Philippines that produces delicately crafted chocolate products.

The company sells its own line of Auro Chocolate brand here and abroad as well as caters to some industrial users. Its wellknown partners here in the Philippines include Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and the newly opened Shake Shack.

Go said that while “Filipinos think imported is always better,” the perception towards local chocolate brands is now “slowly changing.”

“Our own products are competitive even in other countries,” Go said. “So you can now see Filipinos also changing their minds and they are becoming more and more interested in locally made products.”

But like Matias, she said cacao pro¬duction and the local chocolate industry in general definitely need more support from the government.

“I hope the government can help the farmers improve the quality of their production through innovation and tech¬nology. On the commercial side, there is a need for the Philippines to really promote the product,” Go said.

“A lot of farmers now started planting cacao but there’s no linkage. They also need support in being able to reach the market.” (Manila Bulletin)

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