US told to explain surveillance in PH

Transcription

US told to explain
surveillance in PH
Embassy says object not a spy drone
reinforced protective measures
at houses of worship, stores,
media offices and transportation.
Top government officials were
holding an emergency meeting
and Hollande planned a nationally
televised address in the evening.
Schools across the French capital
closed their doors.
World leaders including
President Barack Obama and
German Chancellor Angela
Merkel condemned the attack,
but supporters of the militant
Islamic State group celebrated the
slayings as well-deserved revenge
against France.
The Islamic State group has
repeatedly threatened to attack
France. Just minutes before the
attack, Charlie Hebdo had tweeted
LUCENA CITY —A
militant youth party-list group is
demanding an explanation from
the United States following the
discovery of a US military drone
in Quezon province, saying it
indicated espionage activities by
the US government on Philippine
soil.
In a statement, Rep. Terry
Ridon of Kabataan party-list, a
left-wing youth organization, said
the US military was acting as if
the Philippines was part of US
territory. He said it was not the
first time a US spy aircraft was
discovered in the Philippines.
Ridon called on the US
government to explain the
deployment of US surveillance
drones in the Philippines.
But in a statement, the US
Embassy in Manila said the object
was actually not a drone but an
unarmed aerial target being used
for military exercises between
the US military and its allies,
including the Philippines.
The embassy said the supposed
drone was an “expended” aerial
target that was launched during
military exercises, dubbed Valiant
Shield, which took place on Sept.
(Please turn to Page 9)
Firefighters carry an injured man on a stretcher in front of the
offices of French satirical paper Charlie Hebdo after the shooting.
12 killed in attack
on Paris newspaper
PARIS — Masked gunmen
shouting “Allahu akbar!” stormed
the Paris offices of a satirical
newspaper Wednesday, killing 12
people including the editor and a
cartoonist before escaping. It was
France’s deadliest terror attack in
at least two decades.
With a manhunt on, French
President Francois Hollande
called the attack on the Charlie
Hebdo weekly, whose caricatures
of the Prophet Muhammed have
frequently drawn condemnation
from Muslims, “a terrorist attack
without a doubt.” He said several
other attacks have been thwarted
in France “in recent weeks.”
There was no immediate claim
of responsibility for the attack.
France raised its security
alert to the highest level and
Filipinos to reach 101.4M this year
MANILA - The country’s
population is expected to hit
101.4 million in the middle of
2015 and the Department of
Health (DOH) and Commission
on Population (PopCom) plan to
introduce a new artificial method
of family planning to improve the
dependency ratio in the country.
“Right now our population is
100.7 million or 100.8 million.
But by mid-2015, it will be around
101.4 million. So the big efforts
of the DOH and PopCom will
be on the implementation of the
Responsible Parenthood and
Reproductive Health (RPRH)
law this year and part of 2016,”
PopCom executive director Juan
Antonio Perez III told The STAR.
Dependency ratio pertains to
the number of working people and
their dependents.
Perez said the goal is to
decrease the country’s total
fertility rate from the current
three percent, or three children per
woman, to 2.1 percent, or two kids
per woman.
“We are still the highest in
Southeast Asia… (Our aim is
that) each woman will have
around two children. That is the
replacement rate. And at that
rate, the dependency ratio will
Philippine soldiers guard what is believed to be a surveillance
drone, but which the US government said is an aerial target, which
was found in the island town of Patnanungan in Quezon province
on Sunday.
PH to deploy 12,000
troops for papal visit
MANILA - The Armed
Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
will deploy 12,000 soldiers and
reservists to the Joint Task Group
the government has mobilized for
the massive security preparations
for the visit of Pope Francis next
week.
The 12,000-strong military
security contingent will augment
the 25,000 policemen that the
Philippine National Police (PNP)
will deploy to Metro Manila and
Tacloban City and Palo town in
Leyte to ensure peace and order
during the papal visit.
To further secure Pope Francis,
soldiers and policemen will be
occupying high-rise structures
located in areas where the pontiff
will be having engagements.
Pope Francis will celebrate
masses at the Manila Cathedral
on Jan. 16, Daniel Z. Romualdez
Airport in Tacloban City on Jan.
17 and Rizal Park on Jan. 18.
On Jan. 17, Pope Francis will
also have lunch with survivors
of Super Typhoon Yolanda at the
Archbishop’s Residence in Palo.
He will then bless the Pope Francis
Center for the Poor also in Palo
and attend a meeting with priests,
consecrated persons, seminarians
and families of Yolanda survivors
at the Palo Cathedral.
The Philippine Air Force is
utilizing all of its available air
assets to enforce the “no-fly
zones” and to provide air security
for Pope Francis and the papal
delegation.
“In a way, this is a security
Binay to be probed next on housing deals
Story on
Page 11
2
PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
www.thephilippinetribune.com
January 8-14, 2015
3
PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
January 8-14, 2015
4
VIEWS
& COMMENTARY
January 8-14, 2015
Baiting the poor
PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
GUEST EDITORIAL
Putting on a show
for the Pope
PASAY City says it plans to hide away unsightly street children
during the visit of Pope Francis this month, highlighting the
hypocrisy, myopia and the wrong headedness that characterize
our urban policies.
The ostensive reason for the campaign, says Pasay Social Welfare
Department head Rosalinda Orobia, is to prevent syndicates that
employ these children as beggars and street vendors, from taking
advantage of the Pope’s compassion for the poor.
The notion insults our intelligence and suggests that the Pope
is somehow too naïve to understand how criminal syndicates in
major cities around the world shamelessly use destitute children
to turn an illegal and immoral profit.
We all understand the natural tendency to put one’s best foot
forward when guests come calling, but hiding away poor street
children completely misses the point of the Pope’s apostolic
exhortation to “hear the cry of the poor.”
“Seeing their poverty, hearing their cries and knowing their
sufferings,” the Pope said, “we are scandalized because we know
that there is enough food for everyone and that hunger is the result
of a poor distribution of goods and income.”
Against the backdrop of this exhortation, we should all be
scandalized by the government’s artificial campaign to keep the
streets free of poor children only for the duration of the papal
visit, with no cogent plan to keep them in schools or their homes,
where they belong, and to instill discipline among their parents,
who should know better.
By various estimates, there are between 20,000 to 30,000 street
children in Metro Manila, and as many as 250,000 plying the streets
of major urban centers across the nation. Studies show that most
are boys aged 7 to 16, and about 75 percent of them return home
to families after working or begging on the streets.
Each child on the street represents a serious violation of
children’s rights, exposing the young to hunger, sickness, injury,
maltreatment, sexual abuse, exploitation and other dangers.
There is no question that children should be kept off the streets,
but a campaign to do so just for the duration of a dignitary’s visit
helps nobody except the officials who want to put on a show and
pretend that all is well in our cities.
Every day, as motorists and commuters, we are disturbed at the
sight of children begging, selling and playing on the streets. Why do
the officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Development,
city governments, the police and the Metro Manila Development
Authority, believe it is all right for them to do so--except when the
Pope visits? – Manila Standard Today
THE latest survey by the
Social Weather Station showed
that about 52 percent or 11.4
million Filipino families rate
themselves as poor, the worst in
eight years in terms of self-rated
poverty. It matched the self-rated
poverty percentage during the
Arroyo administration in 2006.
“We note the results of the
survey. And we continue with
our efforts to break the cycle of
poverty through interventions such
as the conditional cash transfer,” a
presidential spokesman said. “We
hope to provide the climate where
people can get out of poverty.”
While it is a standard reaction,
at least it was an improvement to
President Aquino’s reaction to a
poverty report by a government
agency, the National Census
and Statistics Board (NCSB),
which said that in July 2012, the
Philippine poverty rate was 27.9
percent, which was unchanged
from the 2006 and 2009 data
during the Arroyo administration.
This rate, unlike the SWS selfrated poverty report, was based on
the poverty threshold at the time,
which was a household income
of P7,821 a month for a family
of five.
Confronted with the
government report, President
Aquino, as usual, was in state
of denial, and raised doubts
on the finding, saying that the
agency made a mistake in a 2009
population survey. “I have my
doubts. Did they not make a
wrong report on the population?”
Aquino said, referring to an error
by the National Statistics Office
in which the wrong population
data was used for the Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao in
the majority of the people and
that the economic gains made
under his administration have not
been felt by the masses. But the
Aquino administration continues
to stand by the CCT, which,
according to a recent report by the
Commission on Audit, is fraught
with irregularities.
But is Aquino and other
Philippine politicians worried by
the recent poverty report? Not at
all, according to economist Romeo
G. David, a former administrator
of the National Food Authority.
“It is to the advantage of
corrupt politicians to keep the
status quo. All they need to do to
stay in power is religiously stay
with the winning formula… make
promises, provide sugarcoated
hope for a better life, ferment a
rich-poor divide, and provide a
semblance of benevolence to the
desperate in our society,” David
said in a recent article.
It is still 15 months before the
national elections in May 2016,
but we can already see politicians
posturing and making promises to
the poor.
For decades, Filipino
politicians have courted the poor
in their campaigns, and with good
Multipolar order in a shrinking world
AFTER the collapse of
the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics (USSR) in 1991, there
was only one superpower left in a
unipolar world order: the United
States of America. For the next
two decades, America was the
world’s hegemon. It kept peace
in an ever-increasing turbulent
world. Thus began the era of Pax
Americana (American Peace).
Today, America is being
challenged by two emerging
superpowers: the Soviet Union’s
progeny, the Russian Federation;
and China, the fastest growing
economy. While the two are still
far behind the U.S. in terms of
economic and military power, they
have embarked on an ambitious
path towards parity with -- or
superiority over -- the U.S. And
they are catching up, particularly
Philippine Tribune
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2009.
The NCSB stood by its report,
adding that it was not the NCSB,
but the NSO that made the mistake
the President was alluding to.
Socio-Economic Planning
Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, who
released the report, paid the price
for the embarrassing report when
he was removed from the roster
of government officials joining
Aquino in the ASEAN summit in
Brunei that year.
That was not the first time
Balisacan raised the alarm on
poverty. Earlier, Balisacan had
told congressmen that despite the
robust economic expansion the
previous year, the rising inequality
between the rich and the poor
remains a problem. Balisacan was
reacting to a report made by the
Social Watch Philippines and the
Philippine Rural Reconstruction
Movement, in coordination
with the United Nations, which
stated that the country’s poverty
situation was worse than in 2000
when it started the Millennium
Development Goals that the UN
designed to eliminate poverty.
Obviously, Aquino’s premier
poverty alleviation program,
the Conditional Cash Transfer,
has not improved the lives of
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in developing their nuclear power. And what concerns the U.S. is
that Eurasian and Asian powers
are teaming up to confront
America in a game of geopolitical
brinkmanship. The Russia-China
compact was sealed when Russian
President Vladimir Putin and
Chinese President Xi Jinping held
a summit in Moscow on March
22, 2013. In my article, “New World
Disorder” (March 26, 2013),
I wrote: “Upon his ascension
to the presidency, Xi’s first
venture outside China was to
visit his Russian counterpart
Vladimir Putin. At their summit
in Kremlin last March 22, the
two leaders agreed to form a
“strategic partnership” to advance
their countries’ interests. They
affirmed their mutual support for
each country’s geostrategic and
territorial interests, which include
territorial disputes. With more
than 20 territorial disputes that
China is embroiled with various
countries — including Japan,
Philippines, India, Malaysia,
Taiwan, Vietnam — this could
put Russia squarely on the paths
of conflict, which could involve
the United States who has mutual
defense treaties with at least four
of China’s adversaries.”
China Dream
Since then, China has become
more assertive – and aggressive
– in pursuing its territorial claim
over 90% of the South China Sea
and East China Sea. On November
24, 2013, China declared an
Air Defense Identification Zone
(ADIZ) covering most of the East
China Sea. L a s t D e c e m b e r, K a n w a
Defense Review, a Chineselanguage military magazine based
in Canada, reported that China
had secretly set up an ADIZ over
the South China Sea. The ADIZ
supposedly covers the area that is
demarcated by the nine-dash line,
which was the basis of China’s
territorial claim over the South
China Sea. Artificial islands
The U.S. military believes
that China is building an airbase
on the Johnson South Reef in
the Spratly archipelago in the
South China Sea. China’s other
reclamation projects include the
Fiery Cross Atoll, Gaven Reefs,
and Cuarteron Reef, which are
also claimed by Vietnam and the
5
PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
January 8-14, 2015
Practicing politeness
Binay’s aguinaldo
MONEY received from
benefactors during Christmas
in the Philippines is called
“aguinaldo”, a term and practice
imported from Mexico during the
Spanish colonial period where
it traditionally referred to the
annual Christmas bonus given
to employees. In the Philippines,
it is generically used to describe
monetary gifts given by all
benefactors, including godparents
and employers.
Like all other “presidentiables”,
Vice President Jojo Binay is also
expecting aguinaldos from his
wealthy financial supporters. But
down the road, he is also counting
on another kind of “aguinaldo”
from no less than the Philippine
Supreme Court. It is a special gift
that will allow him to succeed
President Aquino as the next
president of the republic.
Binay has a at least a 4 year
head start on all his rivals as he
has been campaigning relentlessly
for the presidency since his
election as vice-president in
May of 2010. He has built a
formidable infrastructure all over
the Philippines from Batanes
to Jolo, making contact with
every governor, mayor and barrio
captain throughout the land. He
has amassed a campaign war
chest that will likely exceed
the campaign funds of all his
opponents combined. But yet, he
is not the “shoo-in” candidate he
thought he would be.
Binay is presently facing two
privately-filed plunder cases
for the overpricing of the New
Makati City Parking Building
(P2.33 billion pesos) and the
Makati Science High School
Building (P1.33 billion pesos).
He is also under investigation
for his alleged ownership of a
350-hectare “high-end hacienda”
in Rosario, Batangas that has its
own world-class maze patterned
after the Pew Garden in London,
with an air-conditioned piggery,
a flower orchard and a cock farm.
The Ombudsman is reportedly
investigating these charges as
well as Binay’s foreign bank
accounts that were not declared
in his Statements of Assets and
Liabilities (SALN). His former
Vice Mayor, Ernesto Mercado, in
sworn testimony before the Senate
Blue Ribbon subcommittee,
produced records of 7 foreign
accounts in Hong Kong banks,
3 of which were under the “care
of” Eduviges Baloloy, Binay’s
long-time aide. Deposits in
these 3 accounts reached a total
of US$ 71,481,95 (1996) and
HK$957,912.93 (1996 and 1998).
The Ombudsman will likely
ask the assistance of the AntiMoney Laundering Council
(AMLC) to scrutinize Baloloy’s
bank records and any transfers
of funds to Binay. This tracing
of funds was successfully used
during the impeachment of former
chief justice Renato Corona
where the Ombudsman and the
AMLC tracked Corona’s multiple
bank accounts and numerous
transactions involving amounts of
P500,000 and above.
JUSTICE TAKES FOREVER
Binay has claimed that, as
vice-president, he can only be
removed by impeachment, a long
process that is unlikely to be
completed by the time of the May
2016 presidential elections. Even
criminal charges that may be filed
against him by the Department
of Justice or plunder charges by
the Ombudsman will take years
to resolve.
When Binay’s wife, Dr. Elenita
Binay, was mayor of Makati
in 2001 (when Jojo Binay was
termed out of office), criminal
charges were filed against her
in connection with the irregular
procurement of hospital beds
worth P36.43 million for the
Ospital ng Makati. It has taken
more than 13 years for the case to
even be set for trial last November
30 but even that was postponed
again after Dr. Binay’s lawyers
filed yet another motion to further
delay the proceedings.
If or when criminal and
plunder charges are filed against
Vice President Binay, the cases
TEXT: 1Corinthians 13:5a
(NIV). Have you ever been treated
rudely? Have you ever been
rude to someone? Politeness
is essential for building better
relationships.
Love is the foundation of good
relationships. ”It is not rude and
it doesn’t force itself on others.”
Therefore, if we love, we must
practice politeness. To do that it
requires knowing the answer to
four questions beginning with …
I: What is rudeness? Being
rude is being impolite. The
opposite of rudeness is politeness.
Politeness is basically “honoring
one another above yourselves”
(Romans 12:10).
Rudeness reveals you do
not love others enough and be
polite to them. You think you’re
a macho guy trying to intimidate
others. But rudeness is a person’s
imitation of strength.
The truth is, a person with
real strength is a person whose
attitude is, “I must show respect to
everyone and love them” (1Peter
2:17).
Does that include your spouses;
your kids; your parents; your boss,
etc.? Absolutely yes to all of them!
What about people who are
not Christians and may even be
hostile to Christianity? It includes
them too.
Politeness is treating everyone
with the same courtesy. If you
are only polite to some people,
then, you are not polite and you
are a snob.
II: Why should I practice
politeness? There are at least
three reasons why. It’s because …
1: God created everyone.
The Bible describes the way
God created every human being.
Psalm 139:13 says, “God knit me
together in my mother’s womb.”
God’s character goes into the
creation of everyone. When you
feel worthless or even begin to
hate yourself, remember God’s
ALL FOR
JESUS
Spirit is ready and willing to work
within you. We are all the work of
God and so…
2: God commands us to be
polite. We tend to be polite to
people who are like us and rude
to people who are different.
However, if an unbeliever
asks you about the hope you
have in Christ, you are to always
be prepared to answer them.
“I should always answer with
gentleness and respect” (1Peter
3:15).
We must not forget, God created
everyone and He commands us to
be polite to them and when we
Politeness is
essential for
building better
relationships.
do...
3: God will compensate us.
Just remember, it never pays to
be rude. If you want to be treated
politely, you must be polite. If you
want people to smile at you, then,
smile at them!
The Bible says, “Your own soul
is nourished when you are kind,
but you destroy yourself when you
are cruel” Proverbs 11:17 (NLT).
If you forget this Proverbs, you
could end up with spit in your
food at some restaurant. So, don’t
be cruel.
It never pays to be rude.
Practicing politeness requires
answering these questions: What
is rudeness? Why should I
practice politeness? and …
III: How can you and I
practice politeness? Basically,
politeness is good manners. When
you really want to improve a
relationship, be polite.
Do you remember when you
were dating your spouse? Men
you always opened doors for her.
How about now? You’ve been
married for years, are you still
practicing politeness?
Practicing politeness involves
helping one another. It is a serious
matter for a husband to be rude to
his wife. God says, “Husbands, be
good to your wives. Honor them,
delight in them.”
And what are the consequences
of failing to obey that command?
Well, according to the last phrase
of 1Peter 3:7, “My prayers will be
hindered.” It means if a man is not
considerate and respectful of his
wife, his prayers will be hindered.
The reason is, a living
relationship with God depends
on right relationships with other
people. Jesus said that if you have
a problem with fellow believers,
you must make it right with that
person before coming to worship
Him (Mt 5:23-24).
This principle carries over to
family relationships. If a man
used his position to mistreat his
wife, the relationship with God
will suffer.
6
PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
January 8-14, 2015
20 drug inmates awash
with cash; NBI baffled
Boys dressed as Swiss Guards stand at attention during a rehearsal at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila yesterday. The young guards, all students of Our Lady of Lasallete in San Jose del
Monte, Bulacan, will welcome Pope Francis upon his arrival at the church when he celebrates mass
for priests on Jan. 16.
PH deploys 12,000 troops for...
(From Page 1)
challenge but we can do it. We just
make do with available forces,”
AFP chief Gen. Gregorio Pio
Catapang said.
Defense Secretary Voltaire
Gazmin said the joint security
forces of AFP and PNP have not
monitored any threat to Pope
Francis.
The venues of the papal
activities in Tacloban City and
Palo town are also ready, church
and government officials gave
assurance yesterday.
The Metropolitan Manila
Development Authority will
deploy a 190-man team to
Tacloban and Palo to assist in
traffic management and serve
as emergency paramedics. The
MMDA will also send ambulances
to Tacloban and Palo.
The PNP has advised all
pilgrims to be aware of the “dos
and don’ts” to be strictly imposed
by security personnel.
Region VIII Police Director
Chief Superintendent Asher
Dolina urged devotees to “travel
light” and cooperate with the
inspecting team to avoid delays
and hassles during the papal visit.
Medicine and food should be
inside transparent containers or
bags. The faithful are also advised
not to bring backpacks and belt
bags for easy inspection.
Those who will attend the
papal mass at the airport are
prohibited from bringing any
bladed weapons, sharp objects,
hard liquor and cigarettes for
security reasons. The use of
an umbrella is not allowed to
preserve the solemnity of the
mass.
Bottled water is prohibited, but
water stations are pre-positioned
at the airport, along papal routes
and in Palo Cathedral.
Pope Francis will don a locally
made chasuble and miter for the
three masses that he will celebrate.
The Vatican has made an
exception to allow the host
country to prepare the vestments,
chasuble and miter for the pope,
according to Fr. Carmelo Arada
Jr. of the service committee on
liturgy for the mass in Rizal Park.
Usually, the pope wears
his own clothes but “during
the meeting with the liturgy
team of the Holy Father, they
agreed that the vestments would
be manufactured here in the
Philippines,” Arada said.
MANILA -- Justice Secretary
Lei l a d e Lima o r d er ed an
investigation Sunday into how
20 high-profile drug convicts
being held at the National Bureau
of Investigation (NBI) were able
to receive up to P700,000 in cash
while under detention.
“I want to know when and
how it could have happened and
who are involved,” De Lima
said, saying it could be personnel
from the NBI or the Bureau of
Corrections.
De Lima ordered NBI director
Virgilio Mendez to conduct a
thorough probe focusing on
the NBI officers and security
personnel who were tasked with
securing the convicts, who were
transferred from the New Bilibid
Prison after they were found to
be running their drug operations
from inside their luxurious cells
in the prison.
Aside from cash, the NBI also
confiscated cell phones from the
20 “kings” of the NBP.
These were Noel Martinez,
Michael Ong, Willy Sy, Peter
Co, Eugene Chua, Chua Sam
Li, Vincent Sy, George Sy, Joel
Capones, Herbert Colangco,
Amin Imam Boratong, Clarence
Dongail, Tom Chua, Rommel
Capoines, Jojo Baligad, Jacky
King Sy, Willy Chua, Jacky King
Sy, Herman Agojo and a certain
Marcelo.
In a raid at the NBP in
December, Justice Department
officers seized illegal drugs, cash,
firearms and other contraband
from the 20 convicted drug lords.
Mendez confirmed that the
NBI agents were still able to seize
P1,000 and P500 bills from the 20
inmates, who were moved to the
NBI after the Dec. 15 raid inside
the NBP in Muntinlupa City.
The cash, worth P700,000,
was found hidden in garbage bins
and toilet tanks during a surprise
inspection over the holiday break,
Mendez said.
The inmates at first denied
owning the money, but when the
NBI said it would donate the cash
to charity, Colangco, Boratong,
Ong and Sy quickly claimed
ownership.
Mendez believed that the
money would be used to bribe the
jail guards at the NBI detention
facility.
“We have confiscated the
money from the convicted
prisoners and it has been duly
recorded. The money is not illegal
per se, but we have to do it due to
strong suspicions that it might be
used to bribe persons,” Mendez
said in a separate text message.
This incident prompted the NBI
chief to immediately assign NBI
– Anti Organized Transnational
Crime Division (AOTCD) chief
Head Agent Rommel Vallejo to
spearhead the investigation into
the security lapse at the NBI.
US told to explain...
(From Page 1)
15-23 last year off Guam.
The aerial target, according
to the embassy, does not carry
weapons and is not being used for
surveillance.
The Armed Forces of the
Philippines supported the embassy
statement, saying the drone, with
serial No. BQ55079, is a Northrop
BQM-74E Chukar that is used
to simulate enemy missiles and
aircraft during naval exercises.
It said the Chukar was washed
up on Philippine shores by the
ocean’s currents and tides.
“We would like to assure the
public that this type of drone is not
a surveillance equipment contrary
to the claims of some quarters,”
the AFP said.
It said no bilateral military
exercises between the Philippines
and the United States that
employed this type of training
equipment had been scheduled.
“Foreign military operations
in our seas and skies, even in
the guise of support, should be
condemned rather than tolerated,”
Ridon said.
On Sunday, the object believed
to be a US Navy drone was found
in the island town of Patnanungan
in Quezon.
It was the second time a similar
object was found.
On Jan. 6, 2013, a similar object
was also recovered in waters off
Ticao Island in Masbate province.
The US Embassy in Manila, in a
statement on the Masbate case,
has said the drone recovered
off Masbate was actually fired
during live exercises in Guam
and was only washed ashore in
the Philippines.
Senior Supt. Ronaldo Genaro
Ylagan, Quezon police chief,
said police were waiting for
instructions from higher Philippine
National Police officials on what
to do with the drone, which is still
in the custody of the police force
in the town where it was found.
Ridon said the Department
of Foreign Affairs had already
confirmed that US Navy
surveillance planes were
conducting routine maritime
patrol missions in contested areas
off the West Philippine Sea.
He said the US military could
be exploiting the growing tensions
in the disputed area to deploy spy
planes and warships in Philippine
territory.
Ridon said the US military
might be surveying the area
to assess the value of its oil
and mineral reserves that would
be of interest to them as the
United States was known for its
“aggressive pursuit of economic
and political supremacy in the
Asia-Pacific in recent years.”
He said the discovery of the spy
aircraft also revived the issue on
US espionage activities, through
the National Security Agency’s
Mystic program. The program,
Ridon said, was designed for
surveillance operations in the
Philippines, Mexico, Kenya and
the Bahamas.
Mystic is among the espionage
programs exposed by whistleblower Edward Snowden last
year, according to Ridon.
7
Baiting the poor
PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
(From Page 4)
reason, the poor having the most
number of votes and being the
most gullible among the nation’s
voting groups. Most of those who
associated themselves with the
poor or who claimed to champion
their cause have won election to
important posts in both the House
and the Senate and the presidency.
It is ironic that while the poor
have been responsible for the
election of nearly all of these
politicians, their economic
situation has worsened through
the years. In fact, their numbers
have grown through the years
that they have elected alleged
“champions of the poor” who
promised to uplift them from
poverty.
Aquino, although a scion of
the wealthy Cojuangco clan,
himself rose to the presidency
on the campaign slogan, “Kung
walang corrupt, walang mahirap,”
that promised to curb both
corruption and poverty. With all
the corruption scandals that have
emerged since his assumption of
the presidency in 2010 and the
persistent high poverty rate, it is
obvious that the slogan was just a
mere political promise, made to
bait the poor and not as an agenda
to uplift the poor.
Most, if not all presidents
from the time of President Ramon
Magsaysay, were elected on the
strength of being “champions of
the masses.”
Magsaysay was elected
president in 1953 by the masses on
the strength of his being a former
mechanic who rose to become one
of the most popular government
officials of his time. He defeated
the scandal-ridden reelectionist
President Elpidio Quirino and
went on to become one of the most
popular Philippine presidents
ever. He was well loved by the
masses because he championed
their rights and opened the gates
of Malacanang to them. But much
of his attention was diverted to
fighting the communists and
following the dictates of the
United States.
The poor image was also
used successfully by then Rep.
Diosdado Macapagal of the first
district of Pampanga when he
ran for vice president under the
Liberal Party in 1957. Using the
line “the poor boy from Lubao,”
Macapagal easily defeated Jose
Laurel Jr. although the Liberals’
standard bearer, former Speaker
Jose Yulo, lost to President Carlos
P. Garcia of the Nacionalista
Party.
Macapagal could not be faulted
for using the monicker “the poor
boy from Lubao” for he was
indeed born to a poor family and,
in fact, had to stop his law studies
at the Philippine Law School to
star in zarzuelas with boyhood
friend and later brother-in-law
Rogelio de la Rosa and raised
enough money to continue his law
studies at the University of Santo
Tomas, eventually graduating as
summa cum laude and topping the
1936 bar examinations.
And to his credit, Macapagal
championed the cause of the
poor as a congressman, authoring
such pro-poor legislation as Land
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Reform Law, Rural Health Law,
Minimum Wage Law, and the
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among others. He was unable
to pursue many of his programs
as president because of strong
opposition from the Nacionalistacontrolled Congress.
Although they were truly from
the poor and really championed
the poor man’s cause, Magsaysay
and Macapagal inadvertently set
the tone for other politicians to use
the poor for political gain.
Actor Joseph Estrada was
the most successful of these
politicians, having won by
landslide all the electoral contests
he joined on the strength of his
appeal as the “champion of
the masses.” Although he was
inarguably a scion of a wealthy
clan, the toughness and simple
ways he showed in his roles as
protector of the oppressed in
scores of films gained not just
acceptance from the masses, but
their unprecedented adulation as
well.
He became so popular
that the poor accepted even
his weaknesses as their own
weaknesses, and his vulnerability
and his failures as their own.
When he was ousted in a second
People Power Revolt that turned
out later to be a conspiratorial plot
hatched by then Vice President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and
some generals, his followers
launched their own EDSA revolt
and marched to Malacanang in
what this writer called “a poor
man’s rebellion.”
And yet, Estrada did not lift
a finger to uplift the poor from
poverty. Instead, he tolerated
jueteng that robbed money from
the poor. Instead, he displayed
a callous disregard for the poor
by building mansions for his
mistresses while the people he
claim to champion lived in abject
poverty. Instead, he allowed
corrupt cronies and colleagues to
rob the people blind.
When Arroyo took over, she
promised to combat poverty and
corruption. But her economic
programs were only meant to
promote the interests of the
wealthy businessmen, and she
placed even heavier burdens on
the shoulders of the poor with
her onerous taxation policies.
Instead of protecting the rights of
the poor people she had promised
to uplift, she allowed the wealthy
and the powerful to abuse them
and trample on their rights. As a
result, the poor became poorer and
the not-so-poor became poor, too.
In his article, David said
what the country needs “to
emancipate us all from poverty is
PRINCIPLED POLITICS.”
David added: “None of our
political parties stands for any
principles, except to conveniently
adopt whatever principle it takes
to get elected to stay in power.
The absence of principles explains
why it is so common in Philippine
politics to have political butterflies
that move from party to party, as
the wind blows. Our politicians are
not weighed down by principles or
by any political party.”
“If we want a better Philippines,
a Philippines with a strong middle
class to fuel our economy with
their disposable income, we
should all be more vocal and
demanding of our politicians,”
David concluded.
Amen. But will the poor ever
learn not to take the bait of these
politicians?
(valabelgas@aol.com)
January 8-14, 2015
Filipinos who fought with US in WW2
still await green cards for grown kids
By David Nakamura
Washington Post
HONOLULU —Philippines
native Art Caleda still carries
shrapnel in the left side of his chin
that he ruefully calls a “souvenir”
from assisting the American
military 70 years ago as a guerrilla
intelligence officer during World
War II.
For their service, Caleda
and about 26,000 other Filipino
nationals were granted U.S.
citizenship under a 1990
immigration law signed by
President George H.W. Bush,
and many of them received a onetime cash payment of $15,000 in
2009. But they are still waiting
for a final piece of compensation:
green cards for their grown
children to join them here from
the Philippines.
Caleda, 90, said he and
his wife, Luz, who settled in
Waipahu, west of Honolulu,
petitioned the federal government
in 1996 on behalf of their three
sons, who live in Manila. They
waited as U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services slowly
processed a global backlog of
more than 4 million family-based
green-card applications.
Caleda said the last time he
inquired about his sons’ status,
immigration officials “told me to
wait because they are processing
[applications from] 1993. They’re
processing 1993? The time is
2014.” Luz died last spring during
a trip back to the Philippines.
In all, about 250,000 Filipinos
responded to President Franklin
D. Roosevelt’s call to arms in 1941
and fought on behalf of American
forces in the Philippines, which
at the time was a U.S. territory.
They responded out of a desire to
defeat a common enemy, Japan,
After the war ended in 1945, Art
Caleda, 90, spent 38 years working in forestry before moving to
the United States in 1992.
but since the end of the war,
they have been pushing the U.S.
government to fully recognize
their contributions.
As their ranks dwindle, the
elderly veterans living here
as U.S. citizens have waning
hopes of being reunited with
their children, a casualty of
Washington’s inability to enact
a comprehensive immigration
overhaul. Although President
Obama announced in November
that he would use his executive
to shield millions of illegal
immigrants from deportation,
his actions did little to address
the lengthy backlogs in the legal
immigration system — something
the president said only Congress
can change, through legislation.
The United States has a cap
on family-based green cards of
226,000 annually, and no more
than 7 percent of the recipients are
permitted to come from a single
country. Aside from Mexico,
Asian countries, including China,
Vietnam and India, dominate
the list of nations with the most
applicants and the longest waits.
The average wait from the
Philippines — which has the most
family applicants after Mexico —
is more than two decades.
Opponents of easing
restrictions on family-based
green cards say it would open
the door to chain migration, in
which extended families flood
the United States, competing with
Americans for jobs and taxing
the nation’s benefits system. But
Mee Moua, executive director
of Asian Americans Advancing
Justice, said, “There is an inherent
unfairness in setting people up
for failure by accepting their
application fees but then having
them wait five, 10, 15 years before
they might possibly see their
family members.”
Lawmakers from Hawaii and
California, where most of the
Filipino veterans settled in the
1990s, have tried for years to get
them special exemptions from the
green-card caps. But each time,
the measures were swallowed
in the toxic debate over broader
changes to border control laws
— and ultimately went nowhere.
‘You must go’
There are estimated to be only
a few thousand Filipino veterans
still alive and living in the United
States.
8 PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
119 sued over garlic price manipulation
MANILA - More than 100
individuals, including a former
head of the Bureau of Plant
Industry (BPI) and two of his
subordinates, have been slapped
with criminal charges before the
Office of the Ombudsman for their
alleged role in the spike in garlic
prices last year.
The National Bureau of
Investigation (NBI) filed a
complaint against former BPI
director Clarito Barron for
violation of the Anti-Graft and
Corrupt Practices Act as well as
Article 210 of the Revised Penal
Code that punishes bribery.
“They’re so brazen. Last year
they thought they could get away
with it through shortage excuse,”
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima
said yesterday as she announced
that the NBI found 119 individuals
culpable.
De Lima said the NBI
would file a second set of
complaints – possibly today –
with the Department of Justice
(DOJ), which would conduct a
preliminary investigation before
filing appropriate charges.
Barron, sacked in the middle of
the investigation into the anomaly
last year, was the highest ranking
government official to be held
accountable for the sharp rise in
the prices of garlic, which was
blamed on the operation of a cartel
in cahoots with some officials.
Under the current system,
clearances from BPI serve as
import permits for garlic traders.
Findings showed that Barron
granted garlic importation permits
to questionable importers or
dummy companies of importer
Binay’s aguinaldo
(From Page 5)
will undoubtedly end up in the
Philippine Supreme Court where
Binay, a skilled and experienced
lawyer, will count on the Court
to dismiss all the charges against
him on the basis its previous
unanimous decision involving
Col. Rodolfo Aguinaldo.
Col. Aguinaldo was one of the
worst violators of human rights
during the Marcos dictatorship
although he was never criminally
charged in court for any of his
offenses.
After the fall of Marcos,
Aguinaldo joined the Reform the
Armed Forces Movement (RAM)
renegade forces of Senator Juan
Ponce Enrile and Senator Gringo
Honasan and attempted to topple
the government of President Cory
Aquino in December of 1989.
AGUINALDO’S RENEGADE
TROOPS
Prior to his involvement in the
failed coup, Aguinaldo ran for
governor of Cagayan province in
January of 1988. In a New York
Times article about his candidacy
that was published just before
the elections (“Renegade Officer
Seeks Philippine Governorship”
January 18, 1988), Aguinaldo
described to the New York Times
reporter what he would do to
anyone who tries to disarm his
1,400 renegade troops:
‘’They just start trying to
disarm my men and I hit their
houses and I wipe them out. At
a given signal, we chop off the
heads of anybody who is foolish.
We will send them straight to
hell, from the grandfather to the
grandson.’’
Needless to say, no one dared
to disarm Aguinaldo’s men and he
was easily elected to a four-year
term as governor.
Because of his active
involvement in the December
1989 coup attempt, Cory
Aquino’s Secretary of Local
Government Luis Santos issued
an administrative order removing
Aguinaldo from his post as
Cagayan governor. Aguinaldo
appealed the Santos order and,
while the appeal was pending in
court, ran for reelection in May
of 1992 and easily won again. He
then filed a motion to dismiss the
administrative charges against
him on the basis of his reelection.
On August 21, 1992 (the 9th
anniversary of Ninoy Aquino’s
assassination), the Philippine
Supreme Court decided
unanimously en banc in favor
of Aguinaldo. Writing for
a unanimous court, Associate
Justice Rodolfo Nocon invoked
the dicta of the Supreme Court
case of Lizares v. Hechanova:
“The Court should never
remove a public officer for acts
done prior to his present term of
office. To do otherwise would
be to deprive the people of their
right to elect their officers. When
a people have elected a man to
office, it must be assumed that
they did this with the knowledge
of his life and character, and that
they disregarded or forgave his
fault or misconduct, if he had
been guilty of any. It is not for
and Vieva Phils. chairman Lilia
Cruz, also known as Lea Cruz, in
exchange for P240,000.
“The charges for violation of
Section 3 (b) of R.A. 3019 and
Article 210 are in connection with
his having allegedly ‘accepted the
amount of P240,000 during his
incumbency as BPI director from
Ms. Lilybeth Valenzuela,’” the
NBI report read, referring to the
Vieva president.
He was accused of violating
RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and
Corrupt Practices Act for “willfully
giving the importers under Vieva
Phils., headed by subject Lilia/
Lea Cruz unwarranted benefits,
advantage and preference” in the
performance of their function as
the issuing authority of import
permits.
the Court, by reason of such fault
or misconduct, to practically
overrule the will of the people.”
“Clearly then,” the Supreme
Court decreed, “the rule is that a
public official can not be removed
for administrative misconduct
committed during a prior term,
since his re-election to office
operates as a condonation of the
officer’s previous misconduct to
the extent of cutting off the right
to remove him therefor.”
B I N A Y ’ S
A D M I N I S T R AT I V E
MISCONDUCT”
Most of the charges against
Binay involve “administrative
misconduct” during his term as
Makati mayor where he allegedly
awarded lucrative contracts to
cronies who rewarded him with
substantial kickbacks. His election
as president in 2016 will act as a
“condonation” by the voters
of this “previous misconduct”
immunizing him from being
removed from office.
So even if Binay is charged
with plunder, he will still run
for president while his case is
proceeding through the notoriously
long Philippine judicial process.
After he is elected president,
Binay’s lawyers will file a motion
to dismiss all the charges against
him on the basis of the Aguinaldo
precedent.
The Aguinaldo precedent
is an egregiously bad decision
that encourages people charged
with criminal offenses to run
for office to absolve themselves
of any criminal charges under
the doctrine of condonation. It
embeds into law the Philippine
culture of impunity.
(Send comments to Rodel50@
gmail.com or mail them to the
Law Offices of Rodel Rodis at
2429 Ocean Avene, San Francisco,
CA 94127 or call 415.334.7800).
January 8-14, 2015
HOMELAND NEWS BRIEFS
Troops overrun BIFF camp
COTABATO CITY – The military seized late Monday night a
training camp of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF)
after hours of mortar shelling and ground assaults on the rebel group’s
lairs bordering the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao, an
Army official said yesterday.
Dozens of BIFF rebels evaded pursuing troops backed by armored
personnel carriers, fleeing their camp at Sitio Pedtad, Barangay
Midpantakan in Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun, Maguindanao around noon,
Lt. Colonel Markton Abo, commander of the Army’s 33rd Infantry
Battalion, said.
Abo said the captured camp belonged to the 2nd division of the BIF.
It served as the rebel groups’ launching pad in attacking Army positions
in Pendatun town and in President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat province.
Howitzers were fired toward a portion of the Liguasan marshland
in Salipada Pendatun town, forcing BIFF combatants to disperse in
smaller groups towards different directions, he said.
Yesterday, the day after the attack, the military reported that 20
members of the BIFF were killed in the operation leading to the capture
of a major BIFF camp in Maguindanao.
Capt. Jo Ann Petinglay, 6th Infantry Division (6ID) public affairs
officer, said operating troops captured the headquarters of the 2nd
Division of the BIFF under Sukarno Sapal alias “Jok” located at Pedtad,
Barangay Midpandacan, Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun, Maguindanao.
Military to get P7-B upgrades
MANILA - The military is set to receive 67 upgrade projects this
year, including several air assets and drones.
Data obtained by The STAR from the Department of National
Defense (DND) showed that the upgrade projects have a total budget
of P7.04 billion.
The Army and general headquarters will get 18 projects each, the
Navy 16 and the Air Force 13. Two projects will be for the government
arsenal.
Officials said 18 of the 67 projects are classified items that cannot
be bared to the public.
The Air Force will get six units of close air support aircraft worth
P4.97 billion, eight units of combat helicopters worth P4.8 billion, eight
attack helicopters worth P3.44 billion, two lead-in fighter trainer jets
worth P3.16 billion, one medium-lift aircraft worth P1.76 billion and
two light-lift aircraft worth P813 million.
Other Air Force projects due for delivery include jet munitions worth
P2.24 billion, basing support system radar worth P825.52 million,
basing support for long-range patrol aircraft worth P187 million,
search and rescue basing worth P149 million, basing support system for
lead-in fighter trainer jets worth P135.99 million and a flight simulator
worth P252,400.
The Navy projects include the Marine Forces Imagery and Targeting
Support System or drones worth P684.23 million.
It will involve the acquisition of surveillance equipment to boost
Marines’ security and search and rescue operations.
Gov’t, Reds swap barbs anew
MANILA -- The Communist Party of the Philippines said if
the Aquino government is not keen on reviving the stalled peace
negotiations, it is more than willing to oblige and wait for the next
administration.
“If the reactionaries do not like peace negotiations, the revolutionaries
are more than happy to accommodate them,” CPP founding chairman
Jose Ma. Sison said in an interview with Manila Standard on Sunday.
“The corrupt Aquino regime and rotten ruling system of big
compradors and landlords like the Aquino dynasty need the peace
negotiations more than the revolutionary government and mass
movement of peasants and workers do,” Sison added.
Sison took exception to recent statements from presidential peace
adviser Teresita Deles and Armed Forces Public Affairs Office chief
Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc last week.
Cabunoc said the CPP needs the resumption of the formal peace
talks more than the Aquino administration because the strength of the
New People’s Army has dwindled to 3,200 rebels.
Deles, on the other hand, condemned recent attacks by the NPA over
the holidays, which left two unarmed soldiers and one militiaman dead.
“If the Aquino regime and its military mercenaries know how to read,
they can find out from the 46th anniversary statement of the Central
Committee of the CPP that the NPA in Mindanao has succeeded in luring
in, preoccupying and overcoming 60 percent of the enemy military
forces and that the regional commands of the NPA in the Visayas and
Luzon can now make their tactical offensives more often and more
fruitfully,” Sison said.
Teacher shortage in state universities
MANILA -- The Department of Budget and Management has to
create more plantilla positions for full-time faculty of State Universities
and Colleges so these can meet the shortage of 17,057 teaching staff,
improve performance and delivery of quality education and become
competitive.
This was the call issued by Rep. Roman T. Romulo (Lone District,
Pasig City), chairman of the House Committee on Higher and Technical
Education, who said the estimated shortage of faculty in SUCs is based
on the 2014 survey of the Philippine Association of State Universities
and Colleges.
“PASUC has estimated that the creation of the much-needed faculty
plantilla items will require approximately P5.5 billion ,” he said.
PASUC also cited that no additional plantilla items have been given
by the DBM to SUCs for the last 15 years and because of this, the SUCs
have utilized the “scrap and build policy” of the DBM.
9 PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE CA affirms
Celdran’s
convcition
MANILA – Echoing the
Manila Regional Trial Court’s
decision that “the right to free
speech does not guarantee an
unbridled license to say whatever
one may wish,” the Court of
Appeals affirmed the conviction
of activist tour guide Carlos
Celdran for offending religious
feelings under Article 133 of the
Revised Penal Code.
Celdran, a reproductive health
advocate, was meted with the
penalty of two months and 21 days
to one year, one month and 11
days of imprisonment for shouting
inside Manila Cathedral in 2010
in a call for the Church to stop
meddling with government affairs
while holding a “Damaso” sign
referring to “Padre Damaso,” the
antagonist priest in Rizal’s “Noli
Me Tangere.”
In a 23-page decision, the
appeals court’s 12th division,
through Associate Justice
Carmelita Salandanan-Manahan,
said “the RTC was correct when
it found that in conformity with
one’s right to free exercise of
religion, the faithfuls may, within
the limit set by laws, rightfully
practice and observe their beliefs,
unimpeded by unfair interference
from other people.”
“It goes without saying that
those people observing certain
form of religion or sect are equally
entitled to the state’s protection as
Carlos Celdran
any of its citizens,” the appeals
court added.
The CA rejected Celdran’s
argument that Article 133 of
the RPC shields religion from
criticism.
“It imposes a penal sanction
on anyone who performs acts
notoriously offensive to the
feelings of the faithful done
inside a place devoted to religious
worship or during the celebration
of any religious ceremony. The
petitioner (Celdran) cannot give
any additional meaning to the
clear and plain language of the
law,” the court added.
“It should be borne in mind
that religious freedom, although
not unlimited, is a fundamental
personal right and liberty, and
has a preferred position in the
hierarchy of values. It has been
said that the religious clauses of
the Constitution are all designed
to protect the broadest possible
liberty of conscience, to allow
each man to believe as his
conscience directs, to profess his
beliefs and to live as he believes
he ought to live, consistent with
the liberty of others and with the
common good,” the court said.
China’s WPS reclamation 50% done
MANILA, Philippines – The
military has expressed alarm over
the progress of China’ reclamation
activities in the West Philippine
Sea (South China Sea).
“About 50 percent na tapos
na sila. It’s alarming in the sense
that it could be used for purposes
other than peaceful use,” AFP
chief General Gregorio Catapang
Jr. told reporters Wednesday
afternoon.
“Mayroong isang nire-reclaim
na mahaba-haba, about 1 point
something or 2 kilometers. Di pa
siya developed as an airfield, pero
at that span it could be,” he said.
He did not identify however
which areas in the disputed seas
were being reclaimed.
The Philippines has a pending
case in the international court over
the sea dispute.
Reclamation activities were
reported in recent months in
Kagitingan Reef (Fiery Cross
Reef) in the Kalayaan Island
Group (Spratlys).
Last May, Defense Secretary
Voltaire Gazmin also said
reclamation activities were
observed in Mabini Reef (Johnson
South Reef).
Both are within the Philippines’
exclusive economic zone.
Chinese ships continued to
be observed in Panatag Shoal
(Scarborough) off Zambales, said
Catapang.
The AFP chief’s statements
came after the military leadership
held a command conference at
Camp Aguinaldo where they
12 killed in attack on Paris...
(From Page 1)
a satirical cartoon of that extremist
group’s leader giving New Year’s
wishes. Another cartoon, released
in this week’s issue and entitled
“Still No Attacks in France,” had
a caricature of an extremist fighter
saying “Just wait — we have until
the end of January to present our
New Year’s wishes.”
The 12 dead included two men
who went by the pen names: Charb
— the editor and a cartoonist as
well — and the cartoonist Cabu,
spokeswoman Agnes ThibaultLecuivre of the Paris prosecutor’s
office confirmed.
Two police officers were also
among the dead, including one
assigned as Charb’s bodyguard
after prior death threats against
him, a police official told The
Associated Press, speaking on
condition of anonymity because
of the ongoing investigation.
Just before noon, multiple
masked men armed with automatic
weapons attacked the newspaper’s
office in central Paris, nearby
worker Benoit Bringer told the
iTele network. The attackers
went to the second floor and
started firing indiscriminately in
the newsroom, said Christophe
DeLoire of Reporters Without
Borders.
“This is the darkest day of
the history of the French press,”
DeLoire said.
Video images on the website
of public broadcaster France
Televisions showed two gunmen
in black at a crossroads who
appeared to fire down one of
the streets. A cry of “Allahu
akbar!” — Arabic for “God is
great”— could be heard among
the gunshots.
Luc Poignant of the SBP police
union said the attackers left in
a waiting car and later switched
to another vehicle that had been
January 8-14, 2015
stolen.
Obama’s top spokesman said
U.S. officials have been in close
contact with the French since the
attack. “We know they are not
going to be cowed by this terrible
act,” spokesman Josh Earnest
said.
On social media, supporters of
militant Islamic groups praised
the move. One Twitter user
who identified themselves as a
Tunisian loyalist of al-Qaida and
the Islamic State group called
the attack well-deserved revenge
against France.
Elsewhere on the Internet,
the hashtag #JeSuisCharlie was
trending as people expressed
support for weekly and for
journalistic freedom.
Charlie Hebdo has been
repeatedly threatened for
its caricatures of the Prophet
Muhammad and other
controversial sketches. Its
offices were firebombed in 2011
after a spoof issue featuring a
caricature of the prophet on its
cover. Nearly a year later, the
publication again published crude
Muhammad caricatures, drawing
denunciations from around the
Muslim world.
Wednesday’s attack comes the
same day of the release of a book
by a celebrated French novelist
depicting France’s election of its
first Muslim president. Hollande
had been due to meet with the
country’s top religious officials
later in the day.
discussed the overall security
situation in the country.
“We continue to monitor
what’s happening in the West
Philippine Sea; we are appraised
on the situation. We know there
is still ongoing reclamation,” he
said.
Practicing politeness
(From Page 5)
Women are the weaker vessels,
but that doesn’t mean women
are inferior, because in many
marriages the wife is intellectually
superior.
But how does Ephesians 5:33b
sum up a wife’s responsibility
to her husband? “The wife must
respect her husband.” This means
a wife should build up, not tear
down her husband.
Politeness is essential for
building a home the Lord’s way.
Psalms 127:1 says, “Unless the
Lord builds the house, its builder
labor in vain.”
To p r a c t i c e p o l i t e n e s s ,
answer these questions: What
practice politeness? How can I
practice politeness and..
IV: Who is our model of
politeness? At the Last Supper,
the disciples are arguing among
them about who would be greatest
in His kingdom (Luke 22:24).
Hearing their argument, Jesus
gets up from the meal, takes off
His outer garment, wraps a towel
around His waist like an apron,
walks over and pours water into
the basin (Jn 13:4-5). Then, what
does He do?
He begins to wash the disciples’
feet, drying them with the towel
that was wrapped around His
waist.
The disciples are astonished at
their Master’s actions. Here is the
Creator of the universe washing
their dirty feet. And when Jesus
finished washing their feet, He
returns to His place at the table
and asks if they understand what
He had just done.
Then, Jesus tells them “I have
given you an example to follow,
do as I have done to you” John
13:15.
Jesus is not teaching that we
are to literally wash each other’s
feet, but that we must be willing
to serve one another. That begins
with practicing politeness.
Practicing politeness requires
answering these questions: What
practice politeness? How can I
practice politeness? And Who is
our Model of politeness?
If you want to learn more,
you’re cordially invited to join
us in one of our meetings. Be
a support partner of All for
Jesus Ministries as well. In the
meantime pray this prayer:
“Lord Jesus, I am a sinner.
10 PHILIPPINE
TRIBUNE
Multipolar order in...
President Petro Poroshenko were
Philippines.
met with strong opposition from
C h i n a ’s c o n s t r u c t i o n o f the U.S., European Union (EU),
military bases -- including air and and the North Atlantic Treaty
naval bases – in the South China Organization (NATO). Putin
Sea would allow it to reach a wide reportedly bragged that Russia
swath of area bounded by the is a major nuclear power and
First Island Chain that runs from also made threatening remarks
Japan’s southern tip through the to Poroshenko: “If I wanted, in
Ryukyu string of islands, through two days I could have Russian
Taiwan, through the Philippines’ troops not only in Kiev, but also
islands of Luzon and Palawan, in Riga, Vilnius, Tallinn, Warsaw
and all along the western part of and Bucharest.” Borneo. Interestingly, the First
But little did Putin realize that
Island Chain runs parallel to the such braggadocio won’t make
nine-dash line.
the US and EU cower in fear. But
Indeed, that’s what Chinese Obama and the EU leaders had a
President Xi Jinping’s “China different weapon to use against
Dream” is all about. Xi dreams Putin – economic sanctions.
of the revival of imperial China
Collapse
that had maintained Chinese
And then the unthinkable
hegemony in Asia during the reign happened: the price of oil
of the Ming dynasty. “The great plummeted, from $115/bbl
revival of the Chinese nation is the (barrel) in June 2014 down to
greatest Chinese Dream,” Xi said $53/bbl today! With oil exports
before taking office in November comprising 70% of Russia’s total
2012.
exports, it accounts for more than
Lake Beijing 50% of its budget. For the budget
During the summit meeting to stay in the black, the price of oil
between Xi and President Barack should be no less than $100/bbl. Obama in California last June, Xi
The ripple effect is devastating! told the media that he and Obama The Russian ruble lost 50% of its
were meeting “to chart the future value since the Ukraine/Crimea
of China-US relations and draw a “invasion.” The ruble is now
blueprint for this relationship.” trading at 58.7 to $1. Its value has
Then he added: “The vast Pacific nearly halved and capital outflows
Ocean has enough space for two have reached $120 billion. And
large countries like the United inflation is projected to be 8% at
States and China.”
the beginning of 2015.
It is now apparent that Xi
And the sanctions are working,
wants the U.S. completely out of causing innumerable damages to
the South and East China Seas. Russia’s financial sector, military,
China’s next move is to control and others that Russia’s economy
the entire Western Pacific waters is dependent on.
along the Second Island Chain
With that grim outlook on
which stretches from Japan all the Russia’s economy, Putin’s
way to Papua New Guinea by way imperial ambitions suffer a huge
of the U.S. territories of Guam and setback. How can he go to war
Saipan. That would put China’s when the economy is in shambles? navy at America’s doorsteps. If
Meanwhile, Xi offered
that happens, that would turn the Putin billions in loans to help
entire Western Pacific waters into Russia’s economy stay afloat
Lake Beijing; thus, fulfilling Xi’s and save Putin’s neck from the
China Dream.
economically depressed Russian
Imperial Russia
people who are expected to ask
Meanwhile, Russian President him to step down when the food
Vladimir Putin has been trying lines start forming. But Putin
hard to restore Russia to its said that Russia would only seek
old imperial glory. In 2014, he China’s help as a last resort,
made several moves to assert which begs the question: Would
his leadership over the Eurasian his generals remain loyal to him
subcontinent that includes all of come hell or high water?
the defunct Soviet Union’s former
A t t h e e n d o f t h e d a y,
republics and client states. planet Earth is going through
While Putin had succeeded a tectonic social upheaval; that
i n a n n e x i n g C r i m e a , h i s is, a multipolar world order in a
efforts to bring down the pro- shrinking world.
west Ukrainian government of
(PerryDiaz@gmail.com)
(From Page 4)
January 8-14, 2015
SC asked to stop MRT, LRT fare hike
MANILA -- The Supreme
Court was asked yesterday to
stop the implementation of the
fare increases in the Light Rail
Transit (LRT) Lines 1 and 2, and
the Metro Rail Transit (MRT)
Line 3 that took effect last Sunday.
Despite protests against the
fare hikes, commuters continue
to patronize the elevated train
service as shown by the familiar
chaotic scene and long queues at
the MRT North Avenue station in
Quezon City during the morning
rush hour yesterday.
In two petitions filed yesterday
by the Bagong Alyansang
Makabayan (Bayan) led by its
secretary-general Renato Reyes
and by former Iloilo Rep. Augusto
Syjuco Jr., the Supreme Court was
asked to issue a status quo ante
order (SQAO) or any injunctive
relief that would restore the LRT
and MRT fare rates to the levels
prior to January 4 increases.
Assailed in the petitions was
the Department of Transportation
and Communications (DOTC)
Department Order No. 2014-014
dated December 18, 2014 which
provided the “distance-based
fare scheme using the P11 base
fare plus an additional P1 per
kilometer thereafter in accordance
with the board resolution of
the Light Rail Transit Authority
(LRTA) with concurrence of the
Land Transportation Franchising
Commuters protest fare hikes for Metro Rail Transit and Light
Rail Transit on Monday.
Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and session.
the recommendation of the MRTNamed respondents in the
3 Office.”
petitions were DOTC Secretary
As examples of the increased Jose Emilio A. Abaya, MRT
rates, an MRT-3 trip from North 3 officer-in-charge Renato Z.
Avenue in Quezon City to Taft San Jose, Light Rail Transit
Avenue in Manila now costs P28 Authority (LRTA) Administrator
pesos from the original P15; an Honorito D. Chaneco, the Metro
LRT 1 trip from Roosevelt Avenue Rail Transit Corporation, and the
in Quezon City to Baclaran in Light Rail Manila Consortium
Parañaque City is now P30 from (LRMC).
P20; and an LRT 2 trip from C.M.
Senators belonging to different
Recto in Manila to Santolan Road political parties assailed Abaya for
in Pasig City is now P25 from the unilaterally imposing increases in
original P15.
LRT and MRT fares.
The SC justices are still on
Acting Senate Minority Leader
recess until January 9. But the Vicente C. Sotto III said he and
rules provide that Chief Justice his colleagues in the 24-man
Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno can Senate would demand that Abaya
act on any urgent petition subject justify the fare increases and
to confirmation by majority of the explain the below par state-funded
justices in the following full court improvements on LRT and MRT.
Filipinos who fought with US in...
(From Page 7)
Salome Calderon, 89, was just
17 when her home in Angono was
commandeered by the Hunters
ROTC guerrilla movement
resisting the Japanese army for
use as a de facto headquarters.
The guerrillas dropped off
intelligence reports on Japanese
bombing targets, and Calderon,
who worked as a clerk and radio
operator, helped ensure that
the reports were delivered by
submarine to U.S. commanders
based in Australia.
In the living room of her home
in Waipahu — where she lives
with her son Edwin, who married
an American and has two children
of his own — Calderon said she
can still picture the “pointy nose
and sparkling eyes” of a U.S. pilot
who had survived a plane crash
and was transported to her house
briefly and presumably evacuated
to safety later.
After the war, she and her
husband, Enrique, a mechanic
whom she met during the
resistance, had 10 children.
In 1990, Bush signed the
Immigration and Nationality
Act, passed by Congress, which
expanded the number of visas
allotted for family reunification
and for employment. Under the
act, the Filipino veterans were
granted citizenship and allowed
to move to the United States with
their spouses and children younger
than 21.
Enrique had died in 1977, and
Calderon’s other children were too
old to qualify. But they told her:
“Nana, you are entitled. You must
go. You must enjoy the benefits.”
She stayed with two brothers in
San Francisco after arriving in
1992 and moved to Hawaii three
years later to live with Edwin.
Having waited so long,
Calderon seems ambivalent
about whether she wants her
six surviving children in the
Philippines to join her in Hawaii,
because their roots are so firmly
planted back home. She shows
off a Filipino magazine featuring
her son Gerardo, who has been the
mayor of his town for nine years.
Because of the expense, those
children rarely visit her. She
and Edwin will return to the
Philippines on Monday for a
family reunion in honor of her
90th birthday.
“They want to, but it’s hard to
come,” Calderon said. “Sometimes
I tell them, ‘For me, I’m not really
interested in you coming here.’
But one thing I want is for them
to experience life in the U.S. They
can come and go if they want to.”
In 2013, the Senate approved
a comprehensive immigration bill
that included provisions to speed
up processing and slim down the
green-card backlog. It lifted the
caps for spouses and children
of legal permanent residents
while eliminating categories for
foreign siblings of U.S. citizens,
who would instead be ranked on
a new points-based system, with
credit for family ties, education
and work skills.
The Senate bill included an
amendment from Sen. Mazie
Herono (D-Hawaiithat granted the
children of the Filipino veterans
green cards immediately on
humanitarian grounds. But the
Republican-controlled House
rejected the Senate legislation
last summer amid fierce resistance
over another provision that
offered a path to citizenship for
illegal immigrants.
Estimates from advocacy
groups suggested that as many
as 20,000 children of Filipino
veterans would have been covered
by the Senate bill, though not all
were expected to apply for green
cards.
Filipinos to reach 101.4M this year
(From Page 1)
improve in the next few years,”
he explained.
He noted that while the
country’s population growth rate
of 1.9 percent is going down, it
is declining at a very slow pace.
Perez said that part of the
campaign is to include “subdermal
implants” in the family planning
program.
A subdermal implant is a
flexible plastic rod about the size
of a matchstick that releases the
hormone progestin into the body.
The subdermal implant is
inserted into a woman’s upper
arm to suppress ovulation for three
years. If a woman wants to get
pregnant, the implant will simply
be removed.
The implants will be included
in the list of contraceptives being
supplied and supported by the
DOH and PoPCom, namely
injectables, pills and condoms.
Perez said the DOH and
PoPCom would also scale up
the promotion of tubal ligation,
vasectomy methods and three
natural scientific family planning
methods: lactational amenorrhea
based on breast milk production,
standard days method, and the
Billings ovulation method.
The agencies do not promote
calendar and withdrawal methods
and “people who are on those
methods will be encouraged to
move to scientific methods.”
Due to the rising trend in
teenage pregnancy, a campaign
on comprehensive sexuality
education will also be strengthened
among the youth.
This will be done with
Department of Education,
Department of Social Welfare
and Development and with other
government agencies and civil
society groups, Perez said.
11
PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
Vice President Jejomar Binay
Nancy sets
probe on cash
transfer plan
MANILA –The Senate will
train its sights on controversies
surrounding the government’s
conditional cash transfer (CCT)
program when session resumes in
two weeks.
Sen. Nancy Binay said her
committee on social justice,
welfare and rural development
would initiate a hearing on the
administration’s centerpiece
antipoverty program in response
to resolutions filed by Sen. Miriam
Defensor-Santiago.
“I prefer to focus on things
that answer the needs of our
countrymen,” Binay told reporters
yesterday.
No date has been scheduled for
the inquiry, however.
The Senate blue ribbon
subcommittee also is scheduled
to resume its long-running
investigation on corruption in
Makati City during the term of
Vice President Jejomar Binay, the
senator’s father.
Santiago has filed two
resolutions on the CCT program,
which provides a monthly cash
assistance to the poorest of the
poor families in the country.
One resolution seeks an inquiry
into findings of the Commission
on Audit (COA) that state-owned
Philippine Postal Corp. (Philpost)
had accumulated P5 billion in
unliquidated cash advances from
the Department of Social Welfare
and Development (DSWD).
Philpost stations, which
distribute the CCT cash assistance,
attribute their failure to account
for the funds to glitches in the
computerized system of Land
Bank of the Philippines.
In September, the DSWD said
Philpost’s unliquidated CCT funds
amounted to P1.6 billion, and the
liquidation process was ongoing.
Social Welfare Secretary
Corazon Soliman said all CCT
funds had been accounted for.
January 8-14, 2015
Binay to be probed on housing deals
MANILA –Next episode
in the long-running corruption
investigation of Vice President
Jejomar Binay in the Senate: The
award of contracts to favored
developers in government mass
housing projects.
Government agencies
concerned are now investigating
the contract awards and the
irregularity will be scrutinized
by the Senate blue ribbon
subcommittee that is looking into
allegations of corruption against
Binay, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV
said on Monday.
“There are now anomalies
being uncovered in his present
position as chair of HUDCC
(Housing and Urban Development
Coordinating Council),” Trillanes
told reporters in a phone-patch
interview.
Quoting government agencies,
Trillanes said Binay awarded
deals to “favored contractors”
with existing arrangements with
Pag-Ibig Fund for the construction
of government housing projects.
“What we know is that this is a
partnership,” he added. “In effect,
they split the earnings.”
Trillanes, however, could not
immediately cite figures, but he
said the irregularity involved PagIbig funds.
Binay’s camp scoffed at
Trillanes’ claim of corruption
in HUDCC and Pag-Ibig Fund,
saying that reforms introduced by
the Vice President had prevented a
repeat of housing scams, such as
the P6-billion Globe Asiatique
mess of 2011 for which the realestate developer’s president,
Delfin Lee, is now in jail facing
charges of syndicated fraud.
J o e y S a l g a d o , B i n a y ’s
spokesman, said Pag-Ibig Fund
“services have improved, benefits
have been expanded, and the fund
[has grown] under the leadership
of the Vice President.”
Salgado criticized Trillanes
for resorting to character
assassination.
“Since he has admitted casting
a moist eye on the presidency,
Trillanes should show what he
has done . . . to help [the] people
and explain where and how he
spent his millions in [Priority
Development Assistance Fund]
and [Disbursement Acceleration
Program] funds,” Salgado said.
Binay is proving tough to
dislodge from the lead in voter
preference for president in 2016.
Early polls show him still leading
other potential presidential
candidates despite the the Makati
scandal.
Trillanes said President Aquino
was aware of the investigation
by government agencies of the
housing contract awards.
While the new hit on Binay
is not covered by the resolution
he filed seeking an inquiry into
allegations of corruption against
Binay when the Vice President was
mayor of Makati City, Trillanes
said he expected the blue ribbon
subcommittee to take it up.
Comelec-Smartmatic deal could cost P2B
MANILA –Hocus PCOS?
Chop-chop?
Smartmatic and the
Commission on Elections
(Comelec) may have concluded
a contract to refurbish 82,000
voting counting machines that
could cost up to P2 billion, but
they still have a lot of explaining
to do, according to Sen. Aquilino
Pimentel III.
On Sunday, Comelec Chair
Sixto Brillantes Jr. announced the
conclusion of the contract with
Smartmatic and that it was worth
P1.2 billion.
But in a TV interview on
Monday, Brillantes indicated
that the cost of refurbishing
the machines, bought from
Smartmatic in 2012 for P1.8
billion, could reach P2 billion.
“The proposal of Smartmatic
was a three-stage contract, which
means they will have to go into
what is known as diagnostics or
examination of the machines,
which they pegged at P300
million. Then they will do the
actual repair, maintenance and
corrections of any mistake or
error with another P900 million.
That would be the second stage,”
Brillantes said. “There’s a third
stage. It’s another P800 million for
the upgrading, which is a totally
different contract.”
Pimentel, chair of the
joint congressional oversight
committee on the automated
election system, told reporters on
Monday the cost of reconditioning
the precinct count optical scan
(PCOS) machines used in the
2010 and 2013 elections seemed
too high.
“What happened to ‘economies
of scale?’ Why is it so expensive?
Isn’t it supposed to be cheaper
on a per machine basis given
than there are more than 80,000
machines to be serviced?” he
asked.
Both the Comelec and
Smartmatic have also yet to
address adequately the cause of
the digital lines that reportedly
appeared on some ballots during
the 2013 elections and affected
the counting of votes, Pimentel
said.
He said the cost of refurbishing
the PCOS machines should have
been lower considering the
number of machines involved
in the contract, awarded to
Smartmatic before the new year
holiday.
Some Comelec insiders said
the poll body resorted to the
“chop-chop method” to go around
Executive Order No. 424, which
allows entering into negotiated
contracts as long as project costs
do not exceed P500 million.
“They went around the EO 424
to allow direct contracting instead
of conducting a public bidding,”
said one official, who asked not to
be named.
12
PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
TRAVEL
January 8-14, 2015
Jane Stark, (middle) with husband and wife friends Ms. Min Zhang
and Mr.Xiao Chen in a Shanghai Restaurant.
Shanghai food trip
By Jane Stark
CHINESE people love to
eat. Because food plays a very
important role in the Chinese
culture, it not surprising that when
people meet, the first greeting is
the question “Chi le ma?” which
means “Have you eaten?”
Chinese cuisine is regarded as
one of the greatest in the world,
so that visitor to the country
can always expect a sensational
gastronomic experience. If you’re
traveling to China as part of
a group tour, it is more than
likely that you’ll taste and eat
dishes and that are fairly ordinary
and generic. However, for the
more adventurous, there are other
dishes that are extremely unique,
expertly prepared in a ways and
practices that have evolved over
the years, which foreign visitors
may find quite interesting and
different from what they are used
to back home.
Because the Chinese not only
love to eat but they also love
to cook, there are things that
foreign visitors should understand
and learn about Chinese food in
general and Chinese cooking in
particular.
Chinese cuisine is rich and
colorful. The cuisine is not only
tasty but it is also a work of art for
them. Color, smell and taste are
the three important characteristics
of real Chinese cuisine. Chinese
cooking aims for balance of
flavors, textures, and ingredients.
Chinese believe that certain
fods possess yang (warming)
or yin (cooling) properties and the
presence of one property is ideally
complemented by the other.
The soul of Chinese food lies
in its great taste, which varies
depending on the choice of the
person: bitter, sour, salty, hot
or sweet. In addition, Chinese
cuisine reflects that harmonious
blend of meat and vegetables.
Different regions in China
have different tastes in their food.
The variety of regional cuisine
reflects the different ingredients
available in a particular region.
Each region also emphasizes
different cooking methods.
When in China, visitors are
encouraged to try as many of these
different cuisines as possible.
Chances are that these food will
not taste anything like the ones
13
PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
Food fads
for 2015
By Angelo Comsti
THE YEAR 2014 fed
us well—cookies, pork buns,
foreign restaurants, and fried
chicken—and had us loosening
our belts and letting out a burp of
contentment. This year, we can
expect another round of exciting
eats to tickle our taste buds. This
lineup of predicted trends is pretty
interesting; nothing outrageous,
mostly familiar. So tuck that
napkin into the neck of your shirt
as we get ready for 2015’s food
trends.
GREEN IS IN
In line with the people’s pursuit
for a healthier lifestyle, matcha
will be added to sweet and savory
dishes not just to add a greenish
hue and a sweet flavor, but also
to provide health benefits. Ice
cream and pastries like cupcakes
and cookies have already been
affected by the upcoming matcha
madness. Let’s see what follows.
CRAFT FOOD CONTINUES
The idea of food made in small
batches suggests exclusivity and
has a certain appeal to it, that’s
why producers will continue to
latch on to the concept of craft
food. Expect to be introduced
to more brands of craft beer this
year, not just internationally but
also locally.
THE GOOD KIND OF
SMOKE
Oven smokers and smoking
guns will be working extra hard
this year as chefs will try to
smoke just about anything—from
vegetables and cheeses to proteins
and cocktails—to achieve that
lovely hot-off-the-grill flavor. And
people will be turning up the heat
not just in professional kitchens
and at their backyards, but also
in their own homes as cooks use
their stoves and MacGyver knowhow to add a bold, smoky flavor
to their food.
LOCO OVER LOCAVORE
Local producers are finally
getting the support they have
long wanted. More and more
restaurants are going for what’s
available in the country, rather than
importing foreign goods, creating
more sustainable livelihoods for
the farmers and fishermen. Instead
of looking out, chefs will work
around with what’s within the
confines of the country.
SOUR TASTE IN OUR
MOUTH
Move over umami as sour takes
the throne in 2015. Restaurants
in America have already started
including sour notes in their rich
dishes as it helps cut through the
bold flavors. Well, it is expected
to dominate in every aspect of the
FOOD
January 8-14, 2015
ENTERTAINMENT
January 8-14, 2015
Kris Aquino (rightmost) and Ai-Ai delas Alas (second from right)
with co-sponsors Helen Gamboa (leftmost) and Batangas Gov.
Vilma Santos at the DongYan wedding.
Kris and Ai-Ai
are friends again
A NECKLACE with three
Mama Mary pendants bridged
the year-long gap between Kris
Aquino and Ai-Ai delas Alas.
End of December in 2013, Ai-Ai’s
adoptive mother died and she was
hurt when Kris, who was abroad
at that time, failed to sympathize
with her. Between BFF’s, little
things could mean a lot, couldn’t
they?
Ai-Ai let loose quite a mouthful
against Kris who, since she turned
positive, kept mum. Kris has made
peace with ex-husband James Yap
and befriended James’ girlfriend
Michela Cazzola. Peace becomes
Kris, bless her!
The two ladies inevitably
met at the wedding of Marian
Rivera and Dingdong Dantes
last Tuesday, Dec. 30, where AiAi stood as secondary sponsor
and Kris as principal sponsor.
It was Kris who initiated the
reconciliation with a hug and a
necklace as peace offering. With
that, they buried the hatchet not,
luckily, on each other’s back.
Ai-Ai is a Marian devotee and
the three Mama Mary pendants
could be read as “I love you!” It
melted the heart of Ai-Ai who is
actually pusong mamon.
Good thing Ai-Ai ended 2014
on a happy note. She also realized
her dream of spending Christmas
with all her children after four
years. Her US-based children
Sophia and Nicholo (who are
staying with their father Miguel
Vera) came home to join brother
Sancho (the new Kapuso) and
their mom’s boyfriend Gerald
Sibayan in an outing in Boracay.
Nicholo flew back to resume
work in L.A. on Dec. 26 but only
after he did a family pictorial for
a perfume which is Ai-Ai’s new
business venture to be launched
anytime soon, called Fruits &
Blooms with four different scents
— Fruits & Blooms by Martina
(Ai-Ai’s real name), Fruits &
Blooms by Sancho, Fruits &
Blooms by Nicholo, and Fruits &
Blooms by Sophia.
Incidentally, Ai-Ai has deleted
her social-media accounts
(Instagram and Facebook) after
she and Gerald (who is half her
age) were subjected to bashing.
Good move. Now, the lovers can
enjoy their togetherness without
the public eavesdropping or
monitoring them.
15
PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
ENTERTAINMENT
January 8-14, 2015
Marian: Kapag hindi magaling mag-English, bobo na?
MARIAN Rivera lamented the
apparent mindset among Filipinos
that those who speak English
fluently are more intelligent,
saying she is not one to claim
proficiency in the language.
“Hindi ko alam kung paano
ko bubuksan ‘yung mga pag-iisip
ng ibang tao,” the 30-year-old
actress said in a recent interview
on “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho.”
“Kapag hindi ka magaling magEnglish, kahit nakatapos ka ng
college mo, kahit mabait kang tao,
kahit mapagmahal ka sa pamilya
mo, kahit matulungin ka sa kapwa
mo, feeling nila bobo ka.”
“Pero ‘pag matalino ka, kahit
ipokirta ka, kahit sinungaling ka o
ano mang definition nila, bakit ang
tingin ng tao, maayos pa rin, basta
nakakapag-Ingles ang isang tao?”
She added: “Hindi ko makuha
‘yung analyzation na gano’n. Iyon
ba ang basehan ng mga tao sa
pagiging isang matalino? Kapag
hindi ka magaling mag-Ingles,
pero maprinsipyo ka sa buhay,
mapagmahal kang anak, mabait
kang kaibigan, ibig sabihin ba
noon, bobo ka?”
Rivera talked about the
topic during a visit to her alma
mater, De La Salle UniversityDasmariñas, where she finished
B.S. Pyschology, leading up to
her widely publicized December
30 wedding with actor Dingdong
Dantes.
‘Isa po akong pyschology’
During the presidential
campaign in 2010, Rivera and
Dantes were among the highprofile supporters of President
Benigno Aquino III. The actress
became the target of criticism
and ridicule at the time when, in a
televised interview, she defended
the then-senator over allegations
about his mental health.
Referring to her degree, Rivera
said, “Isa po akong psychology at
nakikita ko na wala naman siyang
(Aquino) diperensya.”
The grammatically incorrect
reply drew different reactions
online. Some made fun of the
actress, but others were quick to
come to her defense.
“Ang sakit lang isipin na...
At sana maging malawak ang
pag-iisip ng mga tao tungkol
sa definition ng pagiging isang
matalinong tao,” Rivera said.
“Kasi para sa sa akin, ang
matalinong tao, marunong
dumiskarte sa buhay.”
Rivera stressed the importance
of good values over the ability to
speak English fluently, adding
that mastery of the language, after
all, is not the only indicator of
intelligence.
“Aanhin ko ang kagalingan sa
pag-i-Ingles kung hindi naman
ako marunong dumiskarte at
hindi ako mapagmahal sa mga
magulang ko, o nakakalimutan
ko ang mga kaibigan ko? Kung
ang definition ng matalino ay
pag-i-Ingles lang, huwag nalang
ako maging matalino.”
While admitting she is not
proficient in English, Rivera
said finishing a college degree is
testament enough to one’s skills
and intelligence.
Marian Rivera takes the runway
as FHM’s ‘Sexiest Woman Alive’
in 2013.
TRIBUNE
16 PHILIPPINE
ENTERTAINMENT
January 8-14, 2015
Noli de Castro and Winnie Cordero during the newscast
Noli de Castro slammed for
‘rudeness’ during newscast
NETIZENS slammed veteran
broadcaster Noli de Castro for
being “rude” to seasoned reporter
Winnie Cordero during her
account of the city of Manila’s
preparation for the annual Feast
of the Black Nazarene.
De Castro was bantering with
Cordero on his nightly newscast
TV Patrol on Monday night
when he asked her about the
city’s preparation for the Black
Nazarene procession.
After Cordero’s report, De
Castro commented that Manila
Mayor Joseph Estrada should act
on the complaints of devotees
against ambulant vendors, who
cause obstruction and pose danger
during the yearly procession.
Cordero said the city
administrator already pointed out
the matter during their meeting
but De Castro interrupted her
and insisted that it was not
implemented last year even though
Estrada assured him during an
interview that he would act on it.
Cordero looked like she was
ready to clarify the anchorman’s
concern, but De Castro already
cut her off to lead to the segment’s
extro.
On Twitter, @dudeinterrupted
said De Castro should know
the difference between being
“assertive and rude.”
De Castro is a well-known
devotee of the Black Nazarene who
has made it a point to participate
in the yearly “traslacion” even
when he was the country’s vice
president.
In December last year, De
Castro’s fellow TV patrol news
anchor Korina Sanchez also
angered netizens after making a
comment that typhoon “Ruby”
should hit Japan instead of the
Philippines.
Congress to
honor Pinoy
filmmaker
MANILA -- The House of
Representatives is set to honor
writer and director Jason
Paul Laxamana whose film
“Magkakabaung” (The Coffin
Maker) won the Best Asian Film
Award for the Network for the
Promotion of Asian Cinema
(NETPAC) category in the 3rd
Hanoi International Film Festival
(HANIFF) held in Hanoi, Vietnam
on November 27, 2014.
The 3rd Hanoi International
Film Festival was organized by
the Ministry of Culture, Sports
and Tourism in conjunction with
the Hanoi People’s Committee,
the municipal department of
Culture, Sports and Tourism
a n d t h e Vi e t n a m C i n e m a
Department. It kicked off in
Hanoi on November 23 with the
theme “Cinema – Integration and
Sustainable Development”.
In House Resolution 1744,
Rep. Winston Castelo (2nd Dist.,
Quezon City) said out of 411
movies submitted from all over
the world, 130 from 32 countries
and territories were selected to
attend the festival.
17
PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
German Moreno under
close watch after stroke
THE NEXT 48 hours are
critical.
That was the prognosis of
doctors at St. Luke’s Medical
Center (Quezon City) for Kapuso
TV host German “Kuya Germs”
Moreno, who suffered a stroke
early yesterday morning, Jan, 3,
at home.
“Doctors are keeping a close
watch over Germs,” said Marichu
“Manay Ichu” Maceda, who
considers Kuya Germs a member
of the Vera-Perez family. “100
percent of his right arm is affected
and his right leg, 50/50. He suffers
from a slight slur and facial
distortion, that’s why doctors said
that the next 48 hours are critical.”
Kuya Germs’ son Federico,
an archery champion, informed
Manay Ichu that when his father
woke up yesterday morning, he
couldn’t move his hands which
were feeling numb. After an hour,
Kuya Germs called Federico who
rushed him to St. Luke’s a few
minutes way from where father
and son live near the former
Sampaguita Studio.
“Germs is hypertensive and
he’s taking some medication,”
added Manay Ichu who, with
sister Lilibeth Nakpil, checked on
Kuya Germs’ condition yesterday
at the ICU. “But we didn’t let him
see us because he might cry and
his condition might worsen.”
Cause of the stroke could
be stress and over fatigue. On
Wednesday night, Kuya Germs
even joined his fellow Kapuso
stars in the network’s countdown
to 2015 show at Mall Of Asia
(MOA).
“That morning,” said Manay
Ichu, “we reminded him of the
family mass at the studio (now
converted into an events place)
but he begged off because he was
preparing for the countdown. It’s
his yearly devotion because he
Regine Velasquez Alcasid
Regine denies
she’s pregnant
R E G I N E Ve l a s q u e z Alcasid on Monday denied that
she’s pregnant.
Recently, there have been
reports saying that the Asia’s
Songbird is pregnant, after her
husband posted in his Facebook
account that “I am pregnant,”
which many assumed pertained
to his wife.
“We’ve been trying but
unfortunately hindi pa,” Regine
said in an interview aired in “24
Oras” on Monday. “Pero wala
naman makakasagot no’n kundi
si God lang. Kung gusto pa Niya
kaming bigyan ng baby, we’ll be
very, very happy.”
The Kapuso singer-host
has been very vocal about her
desire to have another child. She
even posted a photo which she
captioned “I want another one @
ogiealcasid”
ENTERTAINMENT
German Moreno
believes that the countdown is
what gives him good luck and
continued blessings.”
According to sources close
to Kuya Germs, he underwent
an angiogram 20 years ago. A
workaholic, he hosts a daily
program on dzBB and the lateSaturday night GMA show Walang
Tulugan (Master Showman).
“Doctors are closely
monitoring Germs’ condition
because it might lead to another
stroke in the next 48 hours,” said
Manay Ichu.
January 8-14, 2015
18
PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
U.S.
& WORLD NEWS
US imposes sanctions on North
Korea after Sony Pictures hacking
WA S H I N G TO N - - T h e
United States imposed new
sanctions Friday on North Korea
in retaliation for a cyber attack on
Hollywood studio Sony Pictures.
In an executive order President
Barack Obama authorized the
US Treasury to place on its
blacklist three top North Korean
intelligence and arms operations,
as well as 10 government
officials, most of them involved
in Pyongyang’s arms exports.
Obama said he ordered
the sanctions because of “the
provocative, destabilizing, and
repressive actions and policies
of the Government of North
Korea, including its destructive,
coercive cyber-related actions
during November and December
2014.”
The activities “constitute a
continuing threat to the national
security, foreign policy, and
economy of the United States,”
he added, in a letter to inform
congressional leaders.
“The order is not targeted at
the people of North Korea, but
rather is aimed at the Government
of North Korea and its activities
that threaten the United States and
others,” Obama added.
The sanctions come after
hackers penetrated Sony’s
computers in late November,
stealing and releasing over the
Internet employee information,
unreleased films and an
embarrassing trove of emails
between top company executives.
The hackers -- a group calling
itself Guardians of Peace -- then
began to issue threats against
the company over the looming
Christmas release of the comedy
film “The Interview”, which
depicts a fictional CIA plot to kill
North Korea’s leader.
The threats led first to worried
movie theater owners dropping
the film and then Sony cancelling
the public debut altogether, before
releasing it online.
After the hackers invoked
the 9/11 attacks in their threats,
the White House branded it a
national security threat, and an
investigation by the FBI said
North Korea was behind the Sony
intrusion.
Pyongyang repeatedly denied
involvement, but has applauded
the actions of the shadowy
Guardians of Peace group.
The White House stressed
Friday that its response will be
“proportional”, but also that the
sanction actions were only “the
first aspect of our response.”
“We take seriously North
Korea’s attack that aimed to create
destructive financial effects on a
US company and to threaten artists
and other individuals with the goal
of restricting their right to free
expression,” said White House
press secretary Josh Earnest.
In parallel with the White
House announcement, the
Treasury named the first targets
of sanctions in the Sony case.
Doomed Air Asia jet’s tail found
JAKARTA, Indonesia—
Indonesia said Wednesday it had
found the tail of AirAsia Flight
8501, potentially marking a major
step towards locating the plane’s
black boxes and helping shed light
on what caused it to crash into the
sea ten days ago.
Search and rescue agency
chief Bambang Soelistyo said
he was sure of the discovery
after seeing photographs of the
underwater wreckage, on which
the company logo could be seen.
The “black box” flight data
recorders, crucial to determining
the cause of the crash, are usually
housed in an aircraft’s tail.
“We have successfully obtained
part of the plane that has been our
target. The tail portion has been
confirmed found,” Soelistyo told
reporters in Jakarta.
The plane vanished from
radar screens during a storm
on December 28 when it was
flying from the Indonesian city of
Officers carry objects believed parts of the crashed Air Asia plane.
Surabaya to Singapore with 162
people on board, most of them
Indonesian.
Despite a huge recovery
operation assisted by various
countries, progress has been
patchy with poor weather
conditions hampering the search.
So far 39 bodies have been found,
all of them floating on the sea.
Search chiefs earlier said five
large parts of the plane had been
detected but had not confirmed
which parts of the aircraft.
“I am led to believe the tail
section has been found. If right
part of tail section then the black
box should be there,” AirAsia
boss Tony Fernandes wrote on
Twitter after the announcement.
“We need to find all parts soon
so we can find all (our) guests to
ease the pain of our families. That
still is our priority.”
January 8-14, 2015
WORLD NEWS BRIEFS
Abe to stand by past apologies
TOKYO — Japan’s conservative Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said
Monday he would release a fresh statement on World War II this year,
but would stand by previous apologies for wartime misdeeds.
The comment may help allay fears that the nationalist premier,
who has equivocated on Japan’s guilt for its formalized system of sex
slavery, would play down a landmark 1993 statement on the subject
which both China and South Korea say is vital to regional relations.
During his first news conference of the year, the premier said he
would record his government’s thinking on the future when he issues
the statement — expected on August 15, the 70th anniversary of
Japan’s surrender.
“During the past 70 years… Japan moved ahead as a pacifist nation
and made a big contribution to peace, development and democratization
in the Asia-Pacific and the world,’’ Abe told the conference near a
Shinto shrine in Ise, central Japan.
“Over the next 80, 90 and 100 years, we have to make further
contributions under the flag of proactive pacifism,’’ he said.
“By bringing together the wisdom, I want to write a new statement
on how Japan can do more for the Asia-Pacific region and the world,’’
he added.
But Abe also said he would stick to statements by previous
governments about the nation’s wartime behavior, including an official
1995 apology by then-Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama.
Extreme cold grips Canada, US
MONTREAL, Canada – Extreme cold gripped Canada and
northern parts of the United States on Monday, prompting calls
for residents to stay indoors amid increased risks of frostbite and
hypothermia.
Freezing rain on top of snow over the weekend draped most of
eastern Canada under a sheet of ice, making driving impossible. Minor
accidents were reported all over.
Hundreds of thousands in Quebec province were without electricity
overnight, but most power was to be restored by the end of the day,
according to the local utility.
In Montreal and Toronto, dozens of flights were delayed or cancelled
due to ice build-up and blowing snow. Chicago, Minneapolis and
Buffalo airports also reported delays.
In the Great Lakes region, snowdrifts closed several roads. Snow
clearing is expected to take at least two days.
Meanwhile in westernmost British Columbia province, officials
warned of an increased risk of avalanches following a heavy snowfall
in mountain regions.
Residents of alpine towns were urged not to travel unless absolutely
necessary, and to bundle up if they went outdoors.
IS seizes dozens of men in Iraq
KIRKUK, Iraq – The Islamic State (IS) jihadist group seized dozens
of men from two villages in northern Iraq on Friday while searching
for people who burned its flag, officials and residents said.
An intelligence officer said that a total of 170 men were taken from
the villages of Al-Shajara and Gharib in Kirkuk province, after two IS
flags were burned in the area, an account confirmed by other officials
from the province.
”Members of the (IS) organization who were driving around 30
vehicles took the kidnapped (people) to the center of Hawijah,” a nearby
town where they have a court and a prison, the officer said.
A resident of Al-Shajara said that women pleaded with the IS
militants not to harm the men, to which the fighters responded that
they would investigate and only punish those responsible for the flag
burning in the village.
Food fads in 2015
(From Page 13)
menu, from appetizers and mains
to drinks and dessert. And that’s
exactly the reason why Filipino
cuisine is also said to create buzz
internationally, pushing Latin
American cuisine to the side, as
many of our dishes have sour
flavors in them, like sinigang,
kinilaw, and paksiw.
DRINKS BECOME LESS
DARING
Cocktails became complicated
in 2014 and people have become
tired of it. Next year, we will see a
demand for simpler drinks. What
our grandparents used to drink
will be more in trend, stuff like the
Old Fashioned and Moscow Mule.
No more fancy foams or herbs
that deter the alcohol flavor. Still,
beverages, in general, will be big.
The coffee and cocktail culture
will still be active. Even colas are
becoming more aggressive.
H E A LT H I S S T I L L
WEALTH
Diet delivery programs and
healthy juices will still have
people watching their weights, but
slowly incorporating themselves
into regular diets are healthier
ingredient alternatives like
coconut sugar. People seem to
have had enough of kale and so
now they turn to cauliflower—as
“steak” or “rice”—and radish,
pickled and roasted among other
things. Quinoa has already become
lodged in many restaurant menus
and kitchen cupboards. And so
now enters kaniwa (pronounced
ka-nyi-wa), a super healthy,
gluten-free seed.
FERMENTED FOOD TO
THE RESCUE
Thanks to gluten-free food,
many digestive systems have
gone better. Now, people will
seek further improvement via
fermented food. Food items like
yogurt, kombucha, pickles, and
kimchi will be heavily relied
on for aid in digestion and,
consequently, better skin. They
won’t be considered side dishes
anymore, but will most likely be
the stars of the plate.
19
PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
US
& WORLD NEWS
BUSINESS
SOLUTIONS
Claro R. Perez
Homeowners’ guide
to financial freedom
MANY homeowners are going
through very difficult financial
situations. During downturns
in the Real Estate Market, many
homeowners find themselves
borrowing on credit card to
stay afloat, unable to refinance
and unable to afford payment
adjustments on their mortgage.
In addition to these factors, some
homeowners also have to deal
with additional hardships such as
loss of job, medical issues, and
family issues such as divorce and
death in the family. Most home
owners who encounter these
difficulties usually owe more on
their property than what it is worth
and overextended unsecured debt.
Traditional solutions for
this crisis situation include
Forbearance, Debt Negotiations,
Loan Modification, Deed in Lieu,
or Bankruptcy. We have found
that when homeowners seek
these solutions, it usually leads
to failure or rejection due to nonqualification. We must learn how
to face the reality when to get
out of debt and stay out. First,
homeowners must examine their
income and ability to tackle the
present financial situation and
make some sacrifices, and the real
solution is to cut down on monthly
liability. Before you go to any
given solution, like mortgage
modification, unsecured debt
negotiation, short sale or short
refinance.
DIFFERENT OPTIONS
AVAILABLE
Short Sale: Also known as
short pay-off, this is when lenders
accept a discounted payoff on an
existing mortgage to be sold based
on the present market value. This
allows the homeowners to sell the
property to avoid foreclosure on
their credit. Contrary to popular
belief, lenders do not want to own
a property and they simply want
to recapture a respectable amount
on their original investment.
There are no upfront cost from
the borrower, and the homeowner
can even stay on the property
during the short sale process at
no cost. Short sale is an option
if the homeowner has no means
to continue paying the mortgage
obligation due to insufficient
income.
HARP Refinance: If your
property market Value is less than
the existing loan, short refinance is
an option, you can lower your loan
amount and mortgage payment.
Other benefits are you will have
an affordable mortgage payment
and one mortgage payment that
includes your property tax, hazard
insurance, mortgage insurance,
principal, and interest. Besides,
you are locked to a 30-year fixed
and lower interest rate loan.
This option requires a two year
employment, sufficient income
and a credit that have no existing
open collections, tax liens, and
judgment. Important benefit is
to contribute a huge factor to
balance your debt income ratio.
FHA Streamline Loan Program
accepts homeowners with late
mortgage payment. HARP Home
Affordable Refinance Program.
Loan Modification: This
option is to negotiate with your
existing lender in lowering your
monthly payment because of a
current adjustable loan. Criteria
and guidelines are: you are behind
in your mortgage payment because
of mortgage increase in payment
due to a current adjustable loan
program that caused your inability
to make your payment on time. To
be able to avail of this program,
you have to support new modified
payment by providing an income
that will give you the ability to
make payment on time. Its just
common sense. Insufficient
income is the important factor for
this program.
Second Mortgage Settlement
Program: This option is
applicable only if your second
lien became unsecured debt due
to reduction property value and
January 8-14, 2015
New US Congress sworn in
with Republicans in charge
WA S H I N G T O N
-Republicans assumed full control
of Congress on Tuesday for the
first time in eight years in a
day of pomp, circumstance and
raw politics beneath the Capitol
Dome. “We will get to work right
away,” pledged House Majority
Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.
As required by the Constitution,
Congress convened at noon. On
the Senate floor, newcomers
mixed with veterans as, with Vice
President Joe Biden presiding,
Mitch McConnell of Kentucky
was automatically ascended
to majority leader following
the approval of rank-and-file
Republicans last year.
Across the Capitol in the
House, a similar scene unfolded
as familiar faces and new ones
crowded the aisles and lawmakers
of both parties recited the Pledge
of Allegiance. But in the House,
there was an element of slight
suspense as Speaker John Boehner
of Ohio faced a tea party-backed
effort to unseat him, though it
looked certain to fall short.
Seeking unity despite the
internal party dissension, the
GOP moved swiftly toward a
veto showdown with President
Barack Obama over the longstalled Keystone XL pipeline, a
taste of things to come in divided
government.
At the White House, Obama
planned to meet with the new
congressional leadership next
week as both sides positioned
themselves for two years of
clashes and, perhaps, occasional
cooperation that will help
shape the outcomes of the 2016
presidential and congressional
elections.
McConnell replaces Democrat
Harry Reid of Nevada, who was
a surprise no-show from the
day’s proceedings after he injured
himself exercising.
Reid, who broke several ribs
and bones in his face when a piece
of equipment snapped last week,
said his doctor had ordered him to
work from home Tuesday. A photo
Reid posted to Twitter showed
him with his right eye taped over
as he met with lawmakers.
Newcomers and veterans
alike were to raise their hands
to swear the oath of office,
many with spouses, children
and grandchildren looking on to
witness the biennial display of
pageantry. The spectacle drew
political veterans back to the
Capitol as former Vice President
Walter Mondale, a Democrat, and
former Senate Majority Leader
Bill Frist, a Republican, mixed
with lawmakers on the Senate
floor.
McConnell and Boehner both
were to deliver remarks as they
began laying down markers for
legislative battles ahead.
First, Boehner had to survive
his re-election as speaker - the
main event on any opening
day’s agenda. Tea party-backed
Reps. Louie Gohmert of Texas
and Ted Yoho of Florida put
themselves forward as challengers
to Boehner, and more than a dozen
Republicans announced they
would oppose Boehner.
Boston bombing
trial opens with
jury selection
BOSTON, Massachusetts–
The long-awaited trial of Boston
Marathon bombing suspect
D z h o k h a r Ts a r n a e v b e g a n
Monday with jury selection, 20
months after the shocking attack
that killed three at the city’s
signature race.
Ts a r n a e v, a 2 1 - y e a r- o l d
Muslim of Chechen origin, faces
the death penalty if convicted in
federal court for what was the
worst act of terror on US soil since
the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001.
Dressed in a dark pullover
and light pants and with a shock
of tangled hair and small beard,
Tsarnaev appeared opposite two
separate groups of 200 to 250
potential jurors as US District
Judge George O’Toole briefly
In this courtroom sketch, Boston Marathon bombing suspect
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, left, is depicted beside U.S. District Judge
George O’Toole Jr., right, as O’Toole addresses a pool of potential
jurors in a jury assembly room at the federal courthouse Monday.
reviewed the charges against him.
“What you need is a
commitment to justice,” O’Toole
advised the first batch, insisting on
getting a “fair and impartial” jury.
He instructed them not to
discuss the case with anyone,
read about it in the newspapers
or consult Google or social
networking sites.
Tsarnaev has pleaded not guilty
to the 30 charges.
COMMUNITY
REELECTION LAUNCHED. Cerritos Mayor Mark Pulido (front row holding poster) launched his
bid for reelection to the Cerritos City Council last Friday with friends and supporters at the Eriel’s
Bakery and Cafe at Norwalk and Artesia Boulevards in Cerritos. Pulido was also joined by Frank
Aurelio Yokoyama (front row, second from left) who also launched his own candidacy for the Cerritos
City Council. Beside Pulido is his wife Gloria and their two children. The event was hosted by Eriel’s
Cafe owners Greg and Gloria Uy. (Photo by Bobby Crisostomo)
Pechanga Resort’s New Year’s gift:
Sarah Geronimo concert Jan. 16 & 17
FILIPINA Pop Star Princess
Sarah Geronimo is poised to
open New Year with a bang for
a two-night concert to endear
followers and avid patrons of
the only getaway for music and
game lovers, Pechanga Resort
& Casino in Temecula, California
on January 16 and 17 at 8 p.m.
Pechanga Resort & Casino is
well-known for hosting the
best and the brightest Filipino
entertainers and performers such
as Mega Star Sharon Cuneta,
veteran actor Richard Gomes
and OPM (Outstanding Pilipino
Music) legend Rico J. Puno, who
gave wholesome entertainment
to the delight of the crowd in
previous engagements.
Variety is the name of the
game for Pechanga Resort &
Casino, the reason why it is
hosting in January 2015 the firstever two-day concert of Geronimo
dubbed as ‘Perfect 10’ by Viva
Live group.
At age two, Geronimo, who
was gifted with talent in both
singing and acting, started a series
of shows in the malls. She born
July 25, 1988 by Filipino parents,
Divine and Delfin and is the third
of four children.
When she turned four, her
mother led her to audition to
different TV programs where she
Sarah Geronimo
January 8-14, 2015
became part of the kiddie show,
Pen-Pen de Sarapen (4-6 years
old), Ang TV (7-8 years old), and
NEXT (8-9 years old).
She also performed in various
other venues as hotel lounges and
huge shopping malls and in 1995
became one to perform for the
1995 visit of Pope John Paul II.
In 2003, when Geronimo was
just 14 years old, she joined the
singing competition Star For
A Night hosted by Ms. Regine
Velasquez. On finals night, Sarah’s
rendition of Celine Dion’s To Love
You More won her the P1-million
and a managerial contract at Viva
Artist Agency grand prize in the
singing tilt.
Soon enough, Geronimo
became busy with albums,
concerts, soap operas, hosting
chores in Sunday variety show
ASAP, movies and endorsements.
She became a role model for
many aspiring young singers and
dubbed as the Pop Star Princess.
She starred in such teleseryes
as Bituing Walang Ningning,
Pangarap na Bituin, and the short
lived TV musical series 1DOL.
She was cast in such films
as Filipinas, Captain Barbell,
Masikip sa Dibdib, Annie
Batumbakal, Lastikman: Unang
Banat and Hating Kapatid. But
she really made an impact as a box
office star when she did A Very
Special Love and You Changed
My Life opposite John Lloyd
Cruz. The two romantic-comedy
films were both box office hits.
She also starred with the recently
concluded film opposite Coco
Martin, released in August 2014.
On TV, Sarah Geronimo is a
regular on ASAP. She also had
a Sunday night musical variety
show entitled, Sarah G. Live.
Sarah also sat as one of the
four coaches of reality singing
competition. All year-round, Pechanga
Resort & Casino delights its
Filipino college prep plan
gets $100K grant from SF
SAN FRANCISCO — In
what is seen as a groundbreaking
initiative by a city government,
the City of San Francisco in
December approved the release
of $100,000 to a Filipino-led
nonprofit to launch a one-of-akind, culturally sensitive college
preparatory program for lowincome Filipino immigrant youth
and other communities of color in
the South of Market district.
With the strong support of
District 6 Supervisor Jane Kim,
the South of Market Community
Action Committee, and the South
of Market Youth Collaborative,
City Hall granted the funds that
would allow West Bay Pilipino
Multi Service Center, the oldest
Filipino American nonprofit in
Northern California, to launch a
college prep program early next
year.
“This is a historic moment
for the Filipino American
community,” said Vivian Zalvidea
Araullo, West Bay Pilipino’s
executive director. “As far as I
can tell, there is no other city
government that has shown
tremendous support for the
welfare of underserved Filipino
immigrant youth aspiring for
higher education.”
According to a May 2014
study commissioned by the API
Council, Filipinos have among the
highest high school dropout rates
in San Francisco, with an alarming
increase from 2.3 percent in 2009
to 3.8 percent as of 2012, which is
more than half the San Francisco
average of seven percent.
The college prep program aims
to help low-income youth from the
Filipino American community and
other communities of color bring
up their SAT scores to increase
their chances of qualifying for
college.
It will assist youth in getting
financial aid and scholarships
that would allow them to afford
college. Other features include
college campus tours and career
talks to enable youth and their
families to make informed
choices.
In the context of Filipino
culture, youth who obtain college
degrees are expected to help lift
their own immediate families out
of poverty, as well as start their
own future families on the right
foot.
Consulate to move to new location
LOS ANGELES – The
Philippine Consulate General is
pleased to announced that it will
move to a new location at 3435
Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
beginning the 1st week of March
2015.
The change of location that
is four blocks from its present
location is part of a wider
effort of the Consulate towards
delivering better client experience
and enhanced image and
representation of the Philippines
in Southern California.
“At these times when the
respect for our people and
our country has increased
considerably,” said Consul
General Leo Herrera-Lim, “it is
timely that we establish a presence
in Los Angeles that matches up
with that achievement.”
The Filipino community
is one of the fastest growing
communities in the Midwest
region. Based on the 2010 US
Census, there is about one million
Filipinos within the jurisdiction of
the Philippine Consulate General
in Los Angeles.
Homeowners’ guide...
(From Page 19)
the first mortgage is higher than
the property value. It can be
negotiated to pay off the existing
second mortgage from 80%-90%
reduction.
Debt Reduction or
Negotiation Program: If you
overextend your unsecured debt
and behind on your payment and
having hardship, this program will
help to reduce your debt by 50%
as well as your monthly payment
by 70%. This program will help
you make your debt-income
ration healthier. When you utilize
the stated options, then you can
achieve a better Debt to Income
Ration, meaning your debt will be
manageable which will eliminate
stress due to financial difficulties.
Loan Programs: FHA half
percent (.5%) down payment
program is available to home
buyers with income not to exceed
$ 78,000.00 per year income. FHA
Back to Work program will allow
to buy a home with one year BK,
Foreclosure and Short sale its
must be one of any. Conventional
loan also offer three percent (3%)
loan program. For business owner
Stated Income Verified Asset
program and 12 months bank
statement program require no
income and no tax return. Call for
evaluation if you qualified on this
above-mentioned loan program
while interest rates and property
value are still low.
Provided you have 20% to 30%
down payment.
In the even that the abovementioned options don’t work
for you because of reduction
of income, insolvency or
hardships, your may seek advise
from a Bankruptcy Lawyer
and discharge all your debt and
start fresh OR STRIP YOUR
SECOND LIEN All of us must
remember this saying:
“Revealing and Accepting the
Truth is Not A Crime But Full of
Honesty and Self Convenience”.
In addition to that, most of the
time Ego and Pride play a big
factor in our present financial
situations which need to be
addressed and always Pray to
God for blessings. Exercise
moderation in everything. Also
Wisdom is the key to everything,
both material and spiritual being.
Previously decline on your
mortgage? CRP can help 1st step
is undergo a Financial Evaluation
and Debt Counseling to determine
which program that will fits your
current financial situation.
For detailed information call:
Claro R. Perez 626-3318889 or 626-922-4916 Loan
Modification Specialist, &
Certified Debt Settlement/Credit
Enhancement Advocate CRP
Business & Mortgage Solution
Inc.
For Purchase, Short Listings
and Home Loans: Call Fe A. Perez
1-626-905-2531 DRE Broker
Providence Realty and Mortgage
Inc. and Carlo A. Perez 1- 626922-4013 DRE Broker Division
Capital Inc.
We are open Monday to Friday
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday with
appointment only.
We are located at 279 W.
Badillo St., Covina, CA 91723
Shanghai food trip
(From Page 12)
you’re used to having from your
neighborhood Chinese restaurant
back home; if anything else, the
food you’ll be tasting in China are
guaranteed to taste better.
Shanghai Cuisine
Although Chinese cuisine is
very diverse in Shanghai, very few
ethnic Chinese cuisines made it to
Shanghai entirely intact because
of the locals’ preference for sweet
which invariably found its way
into most menus and popular
dishes.
Shanghai’s traditional cuisine,
also known as benbang cai,
is considered a branch of the
Huaiyang’s style of cooking,
which favors the use of sugar, soy
sauce, and oil. Seafood is also
featured prominently in Shanghai
cooking. Traditional Shanghai
cooking does not tend towards the
oily and the over-sweet.
Some of the typical and more
popular Shanghai dishes you’ll find
in local restaurants include: cold
appetizers such as xunyu (smoked
fish), kaofu (braised gluten), zui
ji (drunken chicken marinated
in Shaoxing wine), and pidan
doufu (tofu with “thousand-yearold” eggs); snacks like xiaolong
bao (steamed pork dumplings
with gelatinous broth), shengjian
bao (pork-stuffed fried
bread dumplings), and jiucai
hezi (leek pie); traditional dishes
such as chao niangao (fried
rice cakes), Shanghai cu
chaomian (Shanghai fried thick
noodles), shizi tou (braised “lion’s
head” meatballs), tipang (braised
pig trotters), meicai
kourou (braised pork with
preserved vegetables), youmen
sun (braised fresh winter
shoots), jiaobai (wild rice
stems), shuijing xiaren (crystal
prawns), dazha xie (hairy
crab), xuecai maodou baiye (beancurd sheets with soy beans and
salted winter greens), and the
soup yanduxian (pork-based
broth with ham, bamboo shoots,
and bean curd skin). Desserts
include babaofan (eight-treasure
glutinous rice) and dousha
subing (red bean paste in flaky
pastry).
Chinese food is usually eaten
family-style, with a number of
dishes to be shared by all. If by
any chance you’ll be dining alone,
you can ask for xiao pan (small
portions), usually about 70% of
the full dish and the full cost,
though not all restaurants will
accommodate this request.
Dishes are served in random
order. Most meals begin with cold
appetizers (liang cai), followed by
seafood, meat, and vegetable main
dishes. Soup is usually served
last, except in Cantonese cuisine
where it is taken as one of the first
courses. Plain rice is typically
eaten as an accompaniment in the
average proletarian setting, but
is seldom voluntarily offered in
finer dining, where the emphasis
is supposed to be on the subtle
flavors of each dish and ingredient,
and rice is considered a mere filler.
(You can always request rice if it’s
not automatically offered.)
Outside of the more
sophisticated restaurants in
Shanghai, the food in many places
throughout China can be a bit
more greasy than foreigners are
used to.
Average Chinese restaurants
in Shanghai do not offer desserts,
although Shanghai and Cantonese
cuisines feature choices of sweets
such as red bean pastries (dousha
subing), and sesame seed
paste (zhima hu). Tea is usually served free,
though if you›re asked what
kind of tea you want, you›ll
probably be charged for it. A
vintage like longjing tea (from
the Hangzhou) is considerably
more expensive than the average
chrysanthemum (juhua cha) or
jasmine tea (molihua cha). Table napkins and chopsticks
are free. If you›re given a prewrapped package of tissues, you›ll
likely be charged for opening
it. Tipping is not a common
practice in Shanghai, however,
some restaurants add on a service
charge.
For those who are interested in
exploring, sampling and enjoying
food and cuisine in Shanghai, the
Hairy Crab Season happening in
autumn is the most interesting
part of the year. At this time of
the year, hairy crabs are found
in every market and restaurant.
They are also available in vending
machines at subway stations in
nearby Nanjing.
The Best Way to Eat Hairy
Crab
According to locals, the best
way to prepare hairy crab is to
simply steam it. It is best eaten
with a sauce of rice, vinegar,
sugar, and ginger to dip it in.
There are eight different tools
used to deconstruct the Crab, each
designed for specific parts. It is a
mark of skill, and in fact a show
of status, to be able to eat crab
without cracking the exoskeleton,
so that you can reassemble the
crab with its shell. However, for
the uninitiated tourist it can turn
into a rather protracted and messy
affair, crab will go everywhere.
Here’s a sound advice to anyone
going out to try eating hairy crab:
don’t wear your best clothes, as
they will just get crab on them.
These days however, many
restaurants in Shanghai served
the hairy crab already shelled and
ready to eat.
Pair it with ‘Yellow Wine’
No matter how the hair crab is
prepared, Chinese for centuries
has paired it with “yellow wine,”
or the Shaoxing style Huangjiu,
to bring out the delicate flavor
of the dish and for its medicinal
properties as well.
Chinese medicine places great
importance on balancing the
body’s hot and cold energy – or
the yin and the yang. Chinese
believes that failure to keep these
forces balance blocks the body’s
qi, which results in body pains,
aches and lethargy. Hairy crab
is regarded as a yin, and the
Huangjiu as yang.
For more information you
can call 310-327-5143 or
check our website at www.
travelinternational.net.
IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE
WITH THE
PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE.
Call (562) 865-5620
COMMUNITY
January 8-14, 2015
FilAm teen blooms in Rose Parade
By Nimfa U. Rueda
PASADENA—Wearing the
Rose Princess crown, a FilipinoAmerican teenager waved
to hundreds of thousands of
spectators lining the route of the
spectacular 126th Tournament
of Roses Parade in Pasadena,
California, on New Year’s Day.
“I’m very proud to represent the
Filipino-American community,”
said Gabrielle Current, one of the
seven young women selected to
serve as ambassadors for the Rose
Parade and Rose Bowl events
viewed by tens of millions around
the world.
Current, 17, was selected from
nearly a thousand young women
who competed for a spot in the
2015 Tournament of Roses Royal
Court.
“It feels amazing to be a part of
this magnificent event,” she told
the Inquirer.
The parade featured marching
bands, equestrians and flowercovered floats highlighting
historic figures, celebrities and
popular culture around the theme
“Inspiring Stories.”
After the parade, Current and
the rest of the Royal Court were
presented at the Rose Bowl, where
more than 90,000 watched the
college football playoff featuring
Oregon and Florida State.
Current recalls watching the
Rose Parade for the first time
when she was about six years old
and being enthralled by the Rose
Princesses. “I knew then I wanted
to be a part of this beautiful
event,” she said.
More than just a dream come
Fil-Am Rose Gabrielle Current, 17, blooms along the route of
the traditional Rose Bowl Parade during the 126th Tournament
of Roses in Pasadena, California, viewed by millions around the
world.
true, being a Rose Princess has mother Kathy Castillo-Current,
also been a source of pride for a former beauty queen, and her
Current as a member of the father Jerry, who was the first Mr.
Pasadena community.
Asia-USA.
“It’s an honor for me to be able
The members of the Royal
to serve my community, where I Court were chosen based on a
grew up,” said Current, who spent number of criteria, including
the three months leading up to the poise, personality, public speaking
New Year’s Day parade attending ability, academic achievement
125 events as a Tournament and community and school
ambassador.
involvement.
It’s a grueling schedule for
Current also serves as Historic
any teen, and when added to Filipinotown Teen Ambassador of
Current’s commitments as a Goodwill.
senior at Flintridge Sacred Heart
She is a member of the National
Academy—an all-girls Catholic Honor Society and the California
high school—a student leader and Scholarship Federation. As
an aspiring musical artist, it can president of Vivace & Friends,
get overwhelming.
she produced a benefit concert that
“At one point, I wasn’t sure if raised $5,000 for Youth Orchestra
I could handle it all, so my family Los Angeles.
and I prayed about it,” she said.
She studies classical voice at
“We left it in God’s hands.”
the prestigious Colburn School of
Current said she is also very Music in Los Angeles. She plans
grateful for the support of her to major in music management.
Pechanga Resort’s New Year’s gift...
(From Page 20)
audiences not only in presenting
innovative entertainment shows
but more importantly, in varied
gaming activities and foods
galore, plus a tons of raffles
and giveaways for visiting
participants.
Time is running out. Buy your
tickets now-- from $85, $75, $70
and $65. Tickets are available at
the Pechanga Box office or online
at www.pechanga.com/tickets.
Room and show packages are
available.
To p u r c h a s e w h e e l c h a i r
seating, please call the Box Office
at 1-877-711-2946. Shows in the Pechanga Theater
offer a comfortable and intimate
concert experience. With 1,200
seats in its theater, each show
features state-of-the-art and
acoustically perfected sound.
Enjoying favorite artists at
Pechanga versus other venues
proves effortless with free valet
and self-parking for guests,
complimentary casino/resort
shuttles, gourmet and casual
dining options on site, plus
comfortable chairs and an upclose view from every theater seat. 22 PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
BUSINESS
& FINANCE
Strong dollar: Good or bad?
WASHINGTON — As the
global economy has weakened,
a forcefully stronger U.S. dollar
has emerged.
The fallout from the greenback’s
appreciation is reverberating
around the world. A more valuable
dollar translates into cheaper oil
and the imports lining U.S. store
shelves. That represents both a
boon for American consumers and
a hardship for major oil producers
such as Russia, Nigeria and Saudi
Arabia.
Major companies such as Nike,
Costco and ConAgra Foods warn
that the stronger dollar is cutting
into their overseas revenue — a
trend that could pressure some
of the biggest brand names in the
stock market.
The combination of falling oil
prices and a rising dollar has even
led some economists to suggest
that average U.S. consumer
inflation could approach zero
early this year. If it does, the
Federal Reserve might have to
alter its calculations about when
to raise a key interest rate for the
first time since the financial crisis
erupted in 2008.
The dollar’s rise has been
fueled by a dim outlook for
the global economy. Europe is
muddling through a slowdown,
and accordingly, the dollar has
appreciated roughly 12 percent
against the euro in the past year.
Japan is mired in a recession,
while Brazil just crawled out of
one. The Japanese yen has shed
about 16 percent of its value
against the dollar in the past 12
months, the Brazilian real about
13 percent. In Russia, the ruble’s
collapse has left homeowners
struggling to repay their dollar-
denominated mortgages.
All of that spills over into other
markets. Investors seeking to
escape the turmoil crowded into
U.S. Treasury on Tuesday, causing
the yield on the 10-year note to dip
below 2 percent.
Crude oil prices fell more than
4 percent to under $48 a barrel.
And the Standard & Poor’s 500
stock index declined nearly 1
percent amid fears about the
global economy.
Here are five economic sectors
that could be reshaped by a
stronger dollar and the global
sluggishness:
Crude oil prices have more
than halved from $107 a barrel
since June. The global appetite for
petroleum has diminished because
of the worldwide economic
slowdown, which extends to
commodity-hungry nations
such as China. Meanwhile, oil
rigs in countries such as Saudi
Arabia, which are competing for
market share, are pumping out
oil anyway. As a rule, continued
supply and falling demand cause
lower prices.
But the U.S. dollar also plays
into this trend. Financial markets
price oil in dollars. This gives
petroleum a uniquely inverse
relationship with the almighty
buck. When oil prices fall, the
U.S. dollar often rises against
other currencies. As a result,
Americans are reaping more of
the benefits at the gasoline pump
from falling oil prices than are the
German, French or Portuguese
consumers who buy their gas in
euros.
Gasoline is a must in most
family budgets. So when prices
at the pump fall — and they’re
down a third over the past year
nationwide to $2.19 a gallon,
according to AAA — people can
direct that spending elsewhere.
They can splurge on a winter
jacket, an SUV or an evening out
at a restaurant.
But that increased spending
usually lags.
“It takes time for people to
realize the extent to which their
finances have been improved by
the drop in gas prices and for
them to be convinced the gain will
last, and finally for the money to
be spent,” said Ian Shepherdson,
chief economist at Pantheon
Macroeconomics.
U.S. consumer spending rose
3.2 percent during the JulySeptember quarter of 2014.
Shepherdson forecasts that it will
top 4 percent in the first quarter
of 2015 because of the boost from
cheaper gas.
When consumer spending
surges, higher inflation usually
follows. But not necessarily this
time.
U.S. consumer prices
will likely be flat in 2015 —
unchanged on average at 0
percent, predicts Kevin Logan,
chief U.S. economist at HSBC
Securities. This would be due
largely to falling oil prices, with
an assist from a stronger dollar
making foreign-made imports
cheaper for American shoppers
and businesses. The rising
exchange rate causes denim from
Osaka, Japan, that was originally
priced in yen to become more of
a bargain at U.S. boutiques. Prices
have already fallen for vehicle
imports.
Fed Chair Janet Yellen has
hinted that the U.S. central bank
may lift the federal funds rate
from its near-zero level at some
point in 2015. That rate has been
at near-zero since the financial
crisis in 2008 and ensuing global
recession put the Fed on an
emergency footing. The Fed
usually would raise the rate as jobs
return and inflationary pressures
increase. The unemployment rate
has plunged to 5.8 percent from
6.7 percent at the start of 2014.
Yet inflation appears to be moving
further below the Fed’s 2 percent
target.
“It creates a little bit of a
quandary,” said HSBC’s Logan.
He thinks the Fed won’t make
a move to raise this key rate until
January 8-14, 2015
September, somewhat later than
other analysts who have been
predicting June.
Investors seem to think the Fed
will be slow to lift the rate over
time, as the 10-year U.S. Treasury
has slid beneath 2 percent for the
first time in three months. This is
also likely a sign of international
investors seeking a haven with a
reasonable return. The U.S. dollar
and government debt provide this
shelter. Germany is staring down
a financial mess across the euro
zone, but a German can earn a
1.94 percent yield on a 10-year
U.S. Treasury compared with just
a 0.44 percent yield on 10-year
German bond.
This causes more international
investors to buy 10-year U.S.
Treasurys, further lowering the
yield. That then translates into
lower mortgage rates for U.S.
homebuyers.
A stronger dollar means U.S.
exports are more expensive
abroad, which could affect the
earnings of companies on the
stock market. About a third of
sales for the companies in the
S&P 500 come from outside North
America, said John Butters, an
analyst for the data firm FactSet.
Some companies are already
saying the stronger dollar could
squeeze their foreign sales.
Nike described the rising dollar
as a “headwind” despite its efforts
to hedge the currency market. The
consulting firm Accenture said its
net revenue increased 10 percent
in “local currency” during the
previous quarter but only by 7
percent in U.S. dollars. It means
the exchange rate subtracted from
their growth by 3 percentage
points. Cheerios-maker General
Mills said currency differences
lowered its sales by 2 percentage
points
January 8-14, 2015
Best nations for doing business: PH 82nd
Refinancing again in three
months, does it make sense?
MY ADVICE has always been
towards homeowners refinancing
without paying loan fees at all.
This is why most home borrowers
are refinancing and buying home
mortgages without paying any
fees. Rates just took a huge nose
dive to around 3.75% no points for
purchase loans. Mostly everyone
can get a possible 3.875% rate
on refinancing without any fees.
But if you had just paid fees to
refinance, you can still do it but
you might have thrown good
money away on that cost of the
recent refinance. But if you
can reduce by even .25-.375%
without having to pay fees, please
consider this opportunity to lower
your payments. This window
of opportunity might not stay
forever.
Refinance your Mortgage
Without Extending the Term?
Obviously, the simplest way to
refinance without extending the
term is to select a new mortgage
with a shorter term. How do you
refinance your 30 year loan after
paying for a few years to another
30 years loan without extending
the terms is the questions. This is
what banks don’t really want you
to know if order for you to keep
paying your mortgage sometimes
never really paying it off. Much
the best method is to refinance at
the same term or a shorted term,
but increase the payment by the
amount required to amortize
over the period you wish. Let me
explain:
“I want to refinance my 4.25%
30-year mortgage, taken out in
2010, without starting the 30year amortization period all over
again. I read recently that the
best way to do this is to borrow
an amount equal to the original
balance, then immediately prepay
an amount equal to the difference
between the original balance
and the current balance. Do you
endorse this?”
No, there are better ways to
accomplish your objective.
Assume you took out a
$250,000 fixed-rate mortgage
in 2010 for 30 years at 4.25%.
Your monthly mortgage payment
was $1229.85. If you made no
extra payments, your balance 5
years later would be $227,019.24.
You now have an opportunity to
refinance at 3.875% on a new
30-year loan with zero cost, but
you want to pay off in 25 years,
as you would have if you hadn’t
refinanced. There are 2 ways to
do this.
S h o r t e n t h e Te r m
The simplest way is to make the
term on the new loan 25 years
instead of 30. Then your new
payment will be $1187.79, which
would still be below your current
payment. The rate on 25-year
loans is usually the same as that
on the 30, but 20-year terms carry
lower rates..
Increase the Payment
A much better alternative is to
refinance the current balance for
30 years, but increase the payment
by the exact amount you were
previously paying $ 1229.85,
instead of paying $1187.79 which
will take you for another 25 year
full interest payment.
The beauty of this approach is
that it is exact. If you are able to
continue the $ 1229.85 payment,
that means you are actually
reducing your principal balance
from day 1 by $ 157.00 and that is
all applied towards your principal
reduction therefore will translate
to your term reduction.. Now
your savings, if this is applied
you would have saved additional
1years and 4 months of interest
payments totaling $ 37,589.02 .
If you would have stood still now
and do nothing you wont enjoy
the savings, even if you sell or
refinance again, your balance
would have been much lower
due to your principal reduction
options. This option is a zero
cost loan where you don’t have
to pay lender fees, escrow fees or
title fees.
My best advice is to be able
to refinance without any out of
pocket loan fees and no closing
cost added to your loan balance.
If you are refinancing again,
remind your lender that you don’t
want to pay closing cost and also
MANILA - The Philippines
moved up eight places to rank
82nd out of 146 countries in
Forbes’ Best Countries for
Business List for 2014, up from
90th in the previous year.
Forbes’ list ranks nations based
on 11 indicators: trade freedom,
monetary freedom, property
rights, innovation, technology,
red tape, investor protection,
corruption, personal freedom,
tax burden and stock market
performance.
The list used data from
reports of organizations such
as Heritage Foundation, World
Economic Forum, Transparency
International, Freedom House,
World Bank, Central Intelligence
Agency and Property Rights
Alliance.
The Philippines moved up in
the list amid improvements in
eight out of 11 indicators.
The biggest gains were seen
in terms of market performance
as the country’s ranking rose by
50 places to reach the 13th spot
in 2014 from 63rd in the previous
year.
In terms of innovation, the
country climbed 15 notches to
land in 51st spot from 2013’s
66th spot.
Other indicators where the
Philippines made improvements
were in monetary freedom (up
five places to 56th spot), property
rights (up seven places to 67th),
technology (up six places to 68th),
red tape (up one place to 130th),
corruption (up eight places to
78th) and personal freedom (up
two places to 67th).
The country’s rankings were
unchanged in terms of trade
freedom and tax burden at 86th
and 101st, respectively.
In terms of investor protection,
the Philippines slid by 21 places
to 124th in 2014 from the 103rd
spot a year earlier.
The Philippines was in the
middle of the pack within the
Southeast Asian region.
Forbes’ list showed the
Philippines behind Singapore
(8th), Malaysia (37th), Thailand
(62nd) and Indonesia (77th).
T h e c o u n t r y, h o w e v e r,
performed better compared to
Vietnam (111th), Cambodia
(121st), Laos (130th) and
Myanmar (143rd).
Forbes noted that while
the Philippine economy has
weathered global economic
and financial downturns better
than its regional peers, given its
minimal exposure to international
securities and lower reliance on
exports, challenges still remain.
Oil goes below $48; Saudis defend stand
NEW YORK – Oil prices
tumbled Tuesday to fresh 5.5year lows as Saudi Arabia blamed
weak global economic growth and
said it would stick to its guns on
production policy.
US benchmark West Texas
Intermediate for delivery in
February sank $2.11 to $47.93 a
barrel, a low last witnessed in late
April 2009.
Brent North Sea crude for
delivery in February dived $2.01
to $51.10 per barrel, the lowest
level since early May 2009.
“The market is still worried
that there are no signs that the
supply glut will start falling,”
Nordea Markets analyst Thina
Margrethe Saltvedt told AFP.
James Williams of WTRG said
the weakness in the market could
take prices below $40 a barrel.
“Basically, there are continuing
concerns about OPEC not cutting
back, particularly Saudi Arabia,
and US production continuing to
grow,” he said.
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince
Salman, in a speech on behalf of
ailing King Abdullah Tuesday,
said weak growth was to blame
for the price fall, which has sliced
deeply into the income of the
world’s largest exporter.
“This development is not new
in the oil market, and the kingdom
has in the past dealt with it firmly
and wisely,” he said, adding that
Saudi Arabia will maintain its
“same approach” towards the
market.
That appeared to confirm
Riyadh’s determination to defend
its market share rather than reduce
output, even if that pushes prices
lower.
On Monday Saudi Arabia
reportedly cut its European and
US export prices in order to
maintain market share.
Airbus SAS making PH int’l trading hub
MANILA–Philippine aviation
just got a huge boost.
The world’s biggest aircraft
manufacturer, Airbus SAS, will
soon set up an international
training hub in Manila, which
should boost the local aviation
sector and raise the bar of
pilot training in the country,
the Civil Aviation Authority of
the Philippines (CAAP) said on
Tuesday.
Airbus SAS picked Manila to
be its sixth training center—after
Toulouse in France, Miami in
the United States, Hamburg in
Germany, Beijing in China and
Bangalore in India—to serve its
Southeast Asian markets.
In a statement, CAAP Director
General Lt. Gen. William K.
Hotchkiss III said he endorsed
Airbus SAS’ request for support
in establishing the training center
to the Board of Investments under
the Department of Trade and
Industry.
He said Airbus’ representative,
Thierry Martin, called on him
recently to seek CAAP support
for the project.
The aircraft manufacturing
division of the Airbus Group is
based in Blagnac, a suburb of
Toulouse.
According to the CAAP, the
center in Manila will be the first
to be equipped with full flight
simulators of the wide-bodied
A330 and A340 aircraft, a suite
of devices, on top of two A320
simulators.
SPORTS
January 8-14, 2015
Arum says there’s movement
in Mayweather negotiations
TOP Rank promoter Bob
Arum told the Manila Standard/
Viva Sports that talks with the
camp of Floyd Mayweather Jr.
about a megabuck showdown with
eight-division world champion
and Fighter of the Decade Manny
Pacquiao are ongoing, but whether
a fight will ultimately happen,
nobody really knows.
In an overseas telephone
conversation, Arum said: “The
talks are slow, but at least there is
movement.”
When asked whether the
negotiations, as mentioned by
Pacquiao’s longtime adviser
Michael Koncz was going back
and forth on the issue of the
fighters’ purses and the pay-perview split, Arum replied: “It’s
always about money.”
The astute Top Rank promoter
said he isn’t sure one way or
another, whether the fight will
happen.
“Until a deal is made and
contracts signed, we’ll never
know,” Arum said.
Meantime, Koncz, reacting to
a story by John F. McKenna that
Mayweather had turned his back
on a deal offered by Pacquiao’s
adviser for a 55-45 pay-per-view
split, with the winner getting the
bigger share, which included a
guaranteed purse of $50 million,
told the Manila Standard/Viva
Sports that he had “not given an
interview in over a month.”
“There’s nothing new and it’s
a long and slow process,” Koncz
said.
In his story, McKenna said:
“Apparently, Floyd is so paranoid
about losing his ‘0’ on his fight
record that he must be absolutely
certain of winning before he
enters the ring with any fighter.”
McKenna also said Arum
is aware of Koncz’ offer to the
Mayweather camp.
Alaska rallies, stuns San Miguel in OT
MANILA— Alaska had come
back from huge deficits before
but none bigger than what the
Aces had to climb out from on
Wednesday night.
The Aces, who won despite
trailing by at least 17 points in two
semifinals games against Rain or
Shine, rose from 22 points down
to steal Game 1 of the 2015 PBA
Philippine Cup Finals from San
Miguel Beer, 88-82, in overtime
at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Calvin Abueva was all over
the floor to finish with 22 points
and 10 rebounds while rookie
Chris Banchero and veteran
swingman Dondon Hontiveros
came through with 16 and 15
points, respectively for Alaska,
which equaled its franchise low
in a quarter after scoring only five
points in the opening period.
“I thought that we had about
as bad of a start as we could have
in the first quarter and I thought
that the credit should go to San
Miguel,” said Alaska head coach
Alex Compton with a hoarse
voice. “But we really came out
flat, it’s like we were the ones who
came from a layoff.”
“But in the second half, that’s
what I love about these guys.
They just never gave up. They
kept on chipping away, chipping
away and they turned up their
intensity. We got contributions
from all around,” Compton added.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao
Boxing record website:
Manny-Floyd on May 2
MANILA - The super fight
between Manny Pacquiao and
Floyd Mayweather Jr. has got
everything on it – except the
contract signed by both fighters.
The betting lines opened
more than a month ago, putting
the unbeaten Mayweather a
3-1 favorite over the surging
Pacquiao.
Wi k i p e d i a , t h e o n l i n e
encyclopedia, has dedicated an
entire page for the fight, the most
talked about boxing contest that
has yet to happen.
On Monday, www.boxrec.
com, the most extensive boxing
website carrying the updated
records of professional boxers,
both active and retired, fanned
the fire.
BoxRec posted the schedule
of Mayweather vs Pacquiao on
May 2, 2015. It’s got the venue,
too, and it’s the MGM Grand in
Las Vegas.
Boxing observers jumped on it
and slowly, word spread.
The post was deleted a couple
of hours later.
The question being asked
now is: What made BoxRec
post the fight schedule when no
announcement had been made
yet?
Or is BoxRec privy to the
“ongoing” negotiations between
P acq u i ao an d M ay w ea th er
representatives?
Has the fight been sealed?
BoxRec, which draws no less
than 50,000 visitors and around a
million page views each day since
2008, holds the record of 17,000
active and 345,000 non-active
boxers in its database.
It has a massive reputation to
hold.
“Anyone in boxing who says
he doesn’t use BoxRec is either
a complete imbecile or lying,”
boxing promoter Lou DiBella
once said.
But it may not be the first
time BoxRec did it because
someone (@boxingadvocate)
tweeted that BoxRec once posted
a Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight
for March 13, 2010.
Refinancing again...
(From Page 23)
you want a no points no fees loan.
Don’t get fooled by just looking at
the rates being offered, remember
to look at the overall picture. A
“No Cost” loan might be worth
while for you to do without having
to pay cost to line up pockets of
your lenders.
Paying closing cost will
take years to break even on the
payment adjustments, if you
happen to refinance or sell within
less than the break even period,
you would have lost that money.
Please call me if you have any
questions pertaining your existing
mortgage or new mortgage, there
are a lot of refinancing options
even for FHA Streamline where
they might actually not require an
appraisal done on the property.
Please call Ken Go of 1 st
Innovative Finance Group at 562508-7048 or write to kennethgo@
verizon.net.
Call for details of an ongoing
buyers/homeowners seminar on
Tuesday. Call Ken 562-5087048. Like us on Facebook at:1st
Innovative Finance.
January 8-14, 2015
January 8-14, 2015
January 8-14, 2015
January 8-14, 2015

US told to explain surveillance in PH

Transcription

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