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Elaine Gamboa-Cuneta, Sharon
Cuneta’s mom passes away
ANILA, Philippines―Elaine GamboaCuneta, the mother of Sharon Cuneta and
grandmother of KC Concepcion, passed away on
Wednesday.
(Story cont. on page 11)
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ENTERTAINMENT
‘PBB’ winner Myrtle goes sexy,
admits dating Grace Poe’s sonpage 13
Possible Immigration
Action
A
VOL. 3 ISSUE 2
VIEW US ONLINE: WWW.SF-POST.COM
House Republicans are refusing to advance legislation that
would strengthen border security, stimulate our economy and
register the estimated 11 million undocumented individuals with
the federal government so they may fully contribute to the U.S.
and earn their citizenship
fter the 2012 elections,
there was great hope that
the U.S. Congress would finally
enact comprehensive immigration reform. I spent a significant amount of time the last two
years with the House Group of
8 crafting a bipartisan bill, but
conversations with my Republican colleagues stalled as they
explored offering their own bill.
Unfortunately, it is now clear
that the Republican leadership
in the House will not offer their
own solution to our broken immigration system, nor will they
NOV 6, 2014 - NOV 12, 2014
Palace: Up to
Binay to resign
M
allow a vote on the bipartisan
legislation that passed the Senate in 2013.
House Republicans are refusing to advance legislation that
would strengthen border security, stimulate our economy and
register the estimated 11 million
undocumented individuals with
the federal government so they
may fully contribute to the U.S.
and earn their citizenship.
In the face of inaction, President Obama announced on June
30, 2014 that he would use his
(Cont. on Page 15 )
FREE
ANILA, Philippines — The
ball is in Vice President Jejomar Binay’s court.
Despite administration allies calling on President Benigno Aquino III
to boot out Binay from the Cabinet,
the decision will still come from the
vice president.
Based on Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.’s statement on Tuesday, it is unlikely that
Aquino will force the opposition
leader to resign as head of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and
Presidential Adviser on OFW (overseas Filipino workers) concerns.
This is despite the president’s remark that Binay is free to leave the
Cabinet if he feels they are on the
wrong path.
“The president has spoken about
the vice president’s
work as member
(Cont. on Page 9 )
Court Upholds Record FBAR UERM director: Mercado not
our patient
Penalties, Exceeding Offshore
M
Account Balance
T
ax lawyers have been watching
the case of Mr. Carl R. Zwerner of
Coral Gables, Florida, wondering how
it might impact others with foreign accounts. But now, the IRS and Justice
Department seem to be smiling after
chalking up another big victory in the
fight over offshore accounts. Tax advisers are less happy, and Mr. Zwerner
is almost certainly disappointed.
U.S. persons must report their worldwide income on their taxes. Plus, they
must file an FBAR annually if their
offshore accounts total over $10,000
at any time. If you have both failures,
the IRS wants you to go into the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program,
also known as the OVDP. It involves
reopening 8 tax years, and paying taxes, interest and penalties, but no prosecution.
But the penalties can be painful,
especially the one equal to 27.5% of
the highest balance in the offshore accounts. As a result, some people want
to amend their taxes and file FBARs
outside the OVDP. Some people are
willing to pay the taxes they owe, but
not the 27.5% penalty. The IRS calls
this a “quiet disclosure” and says it
will come after you if you try it.
That might include prosecution or
large civil FBAR penalties. That’s
where Mr. Zwerner
(Cont. on Page 15)
ANILA, Philippines–“We are
standing by the statement earlier
of our admission staff that we have no
records in our system that former Vice
Mayor Ernesto Mercado was confined
in our hospital.”
This was the statement to the Inquirer
by Dr. Maribeth de los Santos, director of the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay (UERM) Memorial
Medical Center, on Aurora Boulevard
in Quezon City following claims by
spokespersons of Vice President Jejomar Binay that Mercado was admitted to the hospital
last month.
De los Santos confirmed that
Mercado had requested a certification from the hospital that
he was not admitted to the hospital on Oct. 1-4.
She said UERM declined to issue a
certification to Mercado because he
had no hospital records.
“ How can we issue a certification to
someone who was not our patient,”
De los Santos told the Inquirer in an
interview at her office on Tuesday afternoon.”
De los Santos was also asked if hospital officials had identified the doctor
who supposedly signed the medical records of Mercado
(Cont. on Page 7)
Rights group accuses ISIS of torturing
captive Kurdish children
Story on page 3
TRENDING
Bianca and Bea: Back-to-back
victory? -page 13
PAGE 2
Nov 6, 2014 - Nov 12, 2014
NATIONAL
FIL-AM POST
SF minimum wage rises to $11.05 per hour
starting ‘15
Voters to decide Nov. 4 whether to raise it
to $15/hour in 2018
SAN FRANCISCO — The City’s minimum wage of $10.74 per hour will be adjusted to $11.05 per hour, effective January
1, 2015, the office of Mayor Edwin M. Lee
announced.
Tomorrow, November 4, San Francisco
voters will consider whether to increase the
local minimum wage to $15.00 by July 1,
2018.
In December, City Hall will be mailing
updated multilingual posters announcing
the new rate to registered businesses with
employees. Employers are required to post
the notice in their workplace.
“A hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s
pay,” stated Lee. “That’s why I worked
closely with Supervisor Jane Kim and the
entire Board of Supervisors and with large
and small businesses, nonprofits, labor
groups, and those who represent working
families to bring a fair and responsible
consensus measure to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour.”
“Given all that San Francisco has already
done to support a living wage, it’s no sur-
prise that we’re leading the nation again,”
said Supervisor Jane Kim, lead co-sponsor
of the Minimum Wage Ordinance on the
November ballot.
“Voters will get a chance to pass the most
robust minimum
wage increase in
the country on November 4th. Our
residents deserve
to be able to live
where they work
and support their
families, period.”
In November
2003, San Francisco voters enacted
a local minimum
wage rate, and the
law provides for
annual rate adjustments based on the previous year’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) for urban wage
earners in the San Francisco-Oakland-San
Jose metropolitan area.
The City uses the CPI adjustment published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Sta-
TSA grabs dozens of guns in October at
U.S. airports
Dozens of guns were confiscated in October from the carry-on bags of pistol-packing passengers trying to board planes at
major U.S. airports.
Last month the Transportation Security
Administration screeners found 181 firearms in carry-on bags at airport screening
points around the country. A total of 157
were loaded and nearly a third of those had
rounds chambered, according to the TSA
Blog.
The October confiscations also included
a 13-inch cane sword discovered at the air-
port in Charlotte.
The TSA Blog tallies the number of confiscated firearms each week. The blog also
said screeners continue to find inert grenades and other weaponry on a weekly
basis.
“Please keep in mind that if an item looks
like a real bomb, grenade, mine, etc., it is
prohibited,” The TSA Blog advises.
The TSA Blog said security screeners
grabbed the 181 firearms in carry-on baggage from Oct. 3 to Oct. 30.
tistics in September to set the following
year’s rate. Employers must pay San Francisco’s higher minimum wage for all covered work performed within the City.
When the San Francisco minimum wage
of $8.50 per
hour rolled
out in 2004,
the City had
the highest
minimum
wage rate in
the country.
Because the
legislation
called
for
increases
along with
CPI,
San
Francisco
still has the
nation’s highest minimum wage at $10.74
per hour.
Despite CPI adjustments, the minimum
wage has not kept pace with the true cost
of living in San Francisco. Earlier this year,
Mayor Lee convened a working group led
by labor, nonprofit and business experts to
consider a significant increase to the local
minimum wage. Their consensus proposal
would gradually increase the minimum
wage.
The Federal minimum wage is currently
$7.25 per hour. The California minimum
wage is $9.00 per hour, and is slated to
rise to $10.00 on January 1, 2016. Neither
the Federal nor the State minimum wages
are adjusted annually for inflation. San
Francisco was among the first local jurisdictions to enact a minimum wage higher
than Federal or State minimum wages.
A growing number of cities and counties
have passed or enacted local minimum
wage laws in the last two years, including
the City of Seattle, the City of San Jose,
the City of Richmond, Bernalillo County
in New Mexico, and Washington, D.C. Lee
also supports President Obama’s effort to
raise the Federal minimum wage to $10.10
an hour.
Additional information regarding San
Francisco’s Minimum Wage Ordinance
can be found at www.sfgov.org/olse/mwo
or by calling 415-554-6292.
World Trade Center reopens for
business 13 years after 9/11
devastation
Thirteen years after the 9/11 terrorist attack, World Trade Center is opening for
business again.
Conde Nast will start moving Monday
into One World Trade Center, a 104-story,
$3.9 billion skyscraper that dominates the
Manhattan skyline.
It’s the centerpiece
of
the 16-acre
site
where
the decimated
twin towers
once
stood
and
where
more
than
2,700 people
died on Sept.
11,
2001,
buried
under smoking
mounds of fiery debris.
“The New York City skyline is whole
again, as One World Trade Center takes
its place in Lower Manhattan,” said Patrick Foye, executive director of the Port
Authority of New York and New Jersey
that owns both the building and the World
Trade Center site.
He said One World Trade Center “sets
new standards of design, construction,
prestige and sustainability; the opening of
this iconic building is a major milestone
in the transformation of Lower Manhattan
into a thriving 24/7 neighborhood.”
With the construction fences gone, America’s tallest building is considered by Conde
Nast CEO Chuck Townsend as the, “most
secure office building in America.”
About 3,000 employees will join the 170
expected to move in Monday in 2015. The
publishing giants will take over five floors
of the building.
The building is 60 percent leased, with
another 80,000 square feet going to the advertising firm Kids Creative, the stadium
operator Legends Hospitality, the BMB
Group investment adviser, and Servcorp, a
provider of executive offices.
The tower
overlooks the
National September 11 Memorial and Museum. Its aim is
to honor those
who died in the
terrorist attacks.
For years, the
grisly pit where
workers found
mostly body parts was dubbed the “ground
zero” of the aerial terror attack.
At night, the incandescent steel-and-glass
behemoth can be seen from vessels in New
York Harbor approaching Manhattan.
Soon, an observation deck will be open to
the public.
The eight-year construction of the 1,776foot high skyscraper came after years of
political, financial and legal infighting that
threatened to derail the project.
The bickering slowly died down as two
other towers started going up on the southeast end of the site: the now completed 4
World Trade Center whose anchor tenant is
the Port Authority, and 3 World Trade Center that’s slowly rising.
The Associated Press contributed to this
report.
Mistaken identity causes red light camera
nightmare for California man
Lawrence Armstrong’s legal nightmare began when someone he’s never met was photographed running a red light.
Armstrong has a similar name as the Mitsubishi-driving man who was caught by a
red light camera in San Bernardino, Calif.,
in March 2012 -- and an unexplained error
led to a conviction for Armstrong, who was
hit with points on his license and a hike on
his insurance rates. While the conviction was
eventually overturned, justice for Armstrong
did not come without legal fees, elevated insurance rates and endless headaches, according to his attorney, Bob Conaway.
“There is an old law school action that
there’s a legal remedy for every wrong. Well,
not for red light cameras,” Conaway told
FoxNews.com. “The only remedy you have
is to spend money to undo their screw-up.”
Armstrong, who lives in San Bernardino
County, noticed his insurance rates increased
in March 2013, but did not know who was
responsible for raising them. The traffic citation was filed on March 22, 2012, but he
never received it, his lawyer said. Armstrong
sued his insurance company, Amco Insurance, along with American Traffic Solutions,
or ATS, which owns and operates the cameras, for violating the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) by misusing his
personal information.
Conaway believes everyone involved except his client - benefited from sticking
Armstrong with a ticket he didn’t earn. Red
light camera operators get a cut of every
ticket they issue and insurance companies
benefit when they have an excuse to raise
rates, Conaway said. And while he suspects
an error by the state department of motor vehicles started the chain of events, Conaway
said Armstrong could not get answers from
the government agency. U.S. District Court
Judge Jesus G. Bernal, who dismissed the
case against Amco and ATS, said state law
precluded Armstrong from finding out from
the state who made the mistake because, in
an ironic twist, that could violate the rights
of the violator.
THEFT OF FREE NEWSPAPER IS A CRIME IN THIS STATE.
WORLD BRIEF
FIL-AM POST
Rights group accuses ISIS of torturing
captive Kurdish children
BEIRUT – Islamic State militants tortured and abused for captives who had family members in the Kurdish miKurdish children captured earlier this year near the north- litia known as the YPG, which has been locked in heavy
ern Syrian town of Kobani, beating them with hoses and fighting with Islamic State militants for control of Kobani
electric cables, an international rights group said Tuesday. since mid-September.
Human Rights Watch based its conclusions on interThe children said the Islamic State group did not say why
views with several children who were among more than they were being released, other than that they had com150 Kurdish boys
pleted their religious training, the Human
from Kobani abRights Watch report said.
ducted in late May
Islamic State militants have taken hunas they were redreds of Kurds captive over the past year
turning home afas part of the group’s brutal campaign to
ter taking school
take over predominantly Kurdish areas of
exams in the city
northern and eastern Syria.
of Aleppo. It said
On Tuesday, the Britain-based Syrian
around 50 of the
Observatory for Human Rights said the
Kurds
escaped
extremists had released dozens of Kurds
early in their captaken captive in February. It was not imtivity, while the
mediately clear why the Islamic State
rest were released
group would release the captives now, nor
Islamic State militants tortured and abused Kurdish children whether a deal had been made with the
in batches — the captured
earlier this year near the northern Syrian town of Kolast coming on bani
Kurds for a prisoner exchange.
Oct. 29.
The fight over Kobani, meanwhile,
“Since the behas raged on, with the Islamic State
ginning of the Syrian uprising, children have suffered the group pressing its assault despite fierce resistance from
horrors of detention and torture, first by the Assad gov- the town’s Kurdish defenders and heavy U.S.-led airernment and now by ISIS,” said Human Rights Watch’s strikes against the extremists. On Tuesday, clashes foFred Abrahams. “This evidence of torture and abuse of cused on the eastern and western sides of the town,
children by ISIS underlines why no one should support the Observatory and an Iraqi Kurdish fighter said.
their criminal enterprise.”
Iraqi Kurdish forces known as peshmerga have deployed
Four of the children who were released told the New to Kobani to help bolster their Syrian brethren defending
York-based rights group that they were held by the ex- the town. So far, the peshmerga are only playing a support
tremists in the northern Syrian town of Manbij. They de- role, using their heavy weapons and mortars to provide
scribed frequent abuse at the hands of the militants, who cover to YPG militiamen, said the Iraqi fighter, who only
used a hose and electric cable to administer beatings.
gave his first name, Rebwar, because he wasn’t authorized
The boys said that some of the worst abuse was reserved to speak to the media
Wife: Joran van der
Sloot stabbed in prison
Joran van der Sloot’s wife
says her husband was “seriously injured” in a stabbing at
the Peruvian prison where he
is serving time for murder, but
a top prison official is calling
her account an outright lie, according to reports.
Leidy Figueroa, the Dutch
convict’s wife,
told RTL, a
newsgroup in
the
Netherlands that is
also a CNN affiliate, that van
der Sloot was
stabbed twice.
She further
claimed
that
after
visiting
him
Sunday
at Challapalca
prison in Puno
Province, near
the Bolivian border, where he
is serving a 28-year sentence,
she smuggled his bloody polo
shirt out of the facility, RTL
reported.
Van der Sloot was stabbed in
the shoulder and in the waist,
and both wounds were about 2
centimeters (three-quarters of
an inch) deep, she told RTL.
Jose Perez Guadalupe, director of Peru’s National Penitentiary Institute, which oversees
the country’s prisons, told a
24-hour television station that
Figueroa’s assertions were
untrue and further labeled her
a “compulsive liar.”
He continued with an assault
on her character, telling Peru’s
Channel N, “For starters, no
woman in her right mind goes
to a maximum-security prison
and marries the biggest killer
there.”
Van der
Sloot was
convicted
in 2012
of robbing and
killing
Stephany
Flores.
He has
b e e n
linked to
the disappearance
of American teenager Natalee Holloway, who vanished in Aruba
in 2005.
Earlier this year, he married Figueroa at the notorious
Miguel Castro Castro Prison
in Lima where he was an inmate before being transferred
to Challapalca. Van der Sloot
is expected to become a father in September when the
Peruvian woman gives birth
to their child, lawyer Maximo
Altez told CNN in July.
Mexican mayor, wife
arrested in case of missing
students
Chilpancingo, Mexico (CNN) -- A Mexican mayor whom the
country’s
attorney
general has called a
“probable
mastermind” of a mass abduction of 43 students
has been arrested in
Mexico City, a federal police spokesman
said Tuesday.
Iguala, Mexico,
Mayor Jose Luis
Abarca and his wife,
Maria de los Angeles
Pineda, were taken
into custody at a
house they had rented in Mexico City’s
Iztapalapa neighborhood, Mexican media
reported. They did not
resist arrest.
Mexican Federal Police spokesman Jose
Ramon Salinas reported their arrests on
his Twitter account.
The victims, mostly men in their 20s
studying to become
teachers, were last
seen 39 days ago. Investigators probing
their disappearance
turned up human remains at hidden grave
sites, though they
haven’t definitely determined the students’
whereabouts.
Authorities had also
arrested dozens of
suspects, but not the
most
sought-after
ones -- until now.
Abarca and Pineda
went missing only
hours after the students’ reported September 26 abduction
by police officers,
whom authorities allege were working for
a criminal organization.
They had been sought
ever since, along
with Felipe Flores
Velásquez, Iguala’s
former police chief.
Mexican
Attorney
General Jesús Murillo
Karam has said the
three were the suspected “masterminds”
of the September 26
kidnappings.
The case has spurred
protests across Mexico, and the local
governor -- criticized
for not acting quickly
enough after the abductions -- has taken a
leave of absence.
Taiwan president will deal with China but not at
expense of sovereignty
Taipei, Taiwan (CNN) -- Taiwanese
President Ma Ying-jeou is faced
with a hugely delicate balancing
act: the need to maintain good economic relations with China while
trying to keep Beijing’s push for
reunification at bay.
The latter has become an increasingly tense issue.
During a recent session with reporters in the presidential office
building, Ma leaned back in a darkblue armchair under an oil painting
of Sun Yat-sen -- modern China’s
founding father whose legacy is
claimed by Taipei and Beijing-and delivered a clear message: economic relations with China should
be developed but not at the cost of
sovereignty.
“During my tenure as president,
I will not discuss unification with
mainland China,” he declared. But
he added that he would “not promote independence, let alone the
use of force” either.
“I believe this is essential to tice Taiwan back into the fold.
achieving a stable and lasting
China and Taiwan -- officially the
framework for peaceful develop- People’s Republic of China and the
ment,” he said.
Republic of China -- separated in
Ma
1949 following a
says his
civil war. But Chigovernna still claims Taiment is
wan as its territory
watching
and, to this day, is
pro-dereported to have
mocracy
missiles pointed at
protests
the island.
in Hong
Ma said he does
K o n g
“not fear that Taiclosely
wan will become
to
see
a second Hong
whether Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-Jeou, left, Kong,” as the two
B e i - waves from a warship during naval drills at were completely
jing will sea on September 17.
different cases. He
honor its
also admitted a soft
initial
spot for the former
promises on universal suffrage.
The city is regarded as a testing British colony that was also his
ground for the “one country, two birthplace.
“I feel a close affinity with Hong
systems” formula that China’s
leaders originally hoped would en- Kong.”
PAGE 3
Nov 6, 2014 - Nov 12, 2014
Al Qaeda forces in Syria amass near
Turkey border crossing
BEIRUT – Syrian activists say
Al Qaeda fighters are amassing
in a Syrian border town in what
appears to be an attempt to
seize a nearby Turkish border
crossing from
Syrian
rebels.
Assad
Kanjo
s a i d
Monday
that Nusra Front
fighters have
b e e n
gathering
in
the town
of Sarmada in the northern
Idlib province, some 4 miles
from Bab al-Hawa, an important Turkish border crossing.
If Nusra Front fighters seize
the crossing, it would block an
important supply line for Western-backed rebels.
Kanjo said Nusra fighters
have been gathering there for
days, as part of their weeklong
attack on Idlib province, where
they have wrested towns and
villages from rebels, mostly
belonging to the Westernbacked Syrian Revolutionary
Front.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
also confirmed the details.
PAGE 4
Nov 6, 2014 - Nov 12, 2014
OPINION
FIL-AM POST
People want to hear VP Binay, not his
gatecrashers
ow it is
clear why
Vice President
Jejomar Binay
does not want
to relinquish
the presidency
of the Boy
Scouts of the
As I See It
Philippines
by Neal H. Cruz
(BSP)—he has
been president
of the BSP for
more than 20 years already, the longestserving BSP president: He wants to grab
the 57.7-hectare jamboree site that the BSP
has leased (for one peso) from the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB).
The lease expires next year.
Officials of UPLB revealed that there were
at least three attempts by Binay’s allies in
Congress to grab part of the 4,244-hectare
Makiling forest reserve. The latest attempt
was made by his daughter, Makati Rep.
Abigail Binay, who filed House Bill No.
6352, or the “Boy Scouts of the Philippines
Charter of 2012.” There is no explicit mention of the Makiling property in HB 6352,
but it has the same intent as two other bills.
One, HB 4765, “an act vesting the (BSP)
with jurisdiction and administration over a
parcel of land located at Mt. Makiling, Los
Baños, Laguna, to be known as the Boy
Scouts of the Philippines Jamboree Site…”
was filed in 2001. The other, HB 3005,
filed in 2005, contained similar provisions.
Both bills were authored by former Marikina representative and now Mayor Del de
Guzman, a known ally of Binay. One of
these three bills was almost passed. It had
been quietly railroaded to a third and final
reading in the House when UPLB officials
were tipped off by a House employee who
happened to be a UPLB alumnus. If not for
him, that part of the UPLB campus would
now be another “Binay hacienda.”
Obviously, the ambition of Binay when
he was still “poor” was to be an hacendero. He pursued that ambition as soon as
he became a public official (as mayor of
Makati).
Details of how he apparently acquired
the 350-hectare “Hacienda Binay” in Rosario, Batangas, are slowly coming out in
the investigation being conducted by the
Senate blue ribbon subcommittee chaired
by Sen. Koko Pimentel. Credit should be
given to Pimentel for his courageous and
expert handling of the investigation and to
Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Antonio
Trillanes IV for their dogged pursuit of the
truth. If not for these three, the investigation would be over by now, and Binay and
his family would be laughing as they enjoy
the luxuries of Hacienda Binay in Batangas
and the other Hacienda Binay in UPLB.
N
Stalled
Editorial
he Philippines appears to have stalled in its quest to improve its business environment.
After being hailed as the most-improved economy in the 2014 World Bank survey on the
ease of doing business, the country’s ranking slipped in 2015 (under a new methodology).
The findings, reported in the World Bank’s flagship publication “Doing Business 2015: Going Beyond Efficiency,” indicate how hard it is still for businesses to operate in the Philippines compared with more developed countries.
The publication is the multilateral agency’s 12th in a series of annual reports measuring the
regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it. It looked into rules and
regulations affecting 11 areas in the life of a business. Ten of these areas were evaluated in
determining the 2015 rankings on the ease of doing business.
The 2015 survey covered 189 economies worldwide. It found that entrepreneurs in 123
economies saw improvements in their local regulatory framework last year. Between June
2013 and June 2014, it documented 230 business reforms—145 of these were aimed at reducing the complexity and cost of complying with business regulations, 85 at strengthening
legal institutions.
Sadly, none of these were in the Philippines. The fact is, in the 2015 survey’s 10 criteria, the
Philippines’ ranking slid in eight and posted no change in two.
In starting a business, the Philippines fell seven notches down—from 154th in 2014 to 161st
because the country required 16 procedures that needed 34 days to finish. In developed economies, starting a business required only 4.8 procedures that took only 9.2 days to complete.
In dealing with construction permits, the Philippines required 24 procedures that get completed in 94 days. Developed economies belonging to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) had only
11.9 procedures but these take nearly 150
days to complete. In this category, the Philippines ranked 124th from 123rd, because in
2014 it took less than 94 days to process construction permits. In registering property, the
(An Employees owned Publication)
Distributed weekly in Northern California
Philippines mandated nine procedures that
took 35 days to complete, while developed
1290 B Street, Suite 203, Hayward, economies required only 4.7 procedures that
CA 94541
could be done in 24 days. Our ranking here
Tel # 510-885-8827,
also slid down a notch—to 108th from 107th.
Fax # 510-538-7115
In the area of getting credit, the Philippines
[email protected] /
ranked 104th down from 99th. This index
measured in part the number of individuals
[email protected]
and firms listed by a private credit bureau with
www.sf-post.com
information on their borrowing history from
Teresita Estanislao
the past five years. The Philippines’ credit buEditor-in-Chief & CEO
reau coverage was just 11.3 percent as against
OECD’s 67 percent. In the field of protecting
Atty. Crispin C. Lozano
minority investors, the Philippines’ ranking
Exec. Vice President
plunged 11 notches, the biggest drop—from
Adda Humady
143rd to 154th. In this category, the PhilipGeneral Advertising Manager
pines was found to be weak in disclosure, director liability and governance structure.
Don Orozco
T
The other senators seem afraid of Binay
(who may, God forbid, become president
of the Philippines), and are not participating in the investigation.
The pressure on the subcommittee to stop
the investigation is daunting. Pimentel’s
fair treatment of the resource persons is
commendable. He constantly explains to
the witnesses, “Para maging malinaw lang
tayo,” or “Linawin lang natin” (Let’s make
it clear) to avoid any impression of deliberately confusing or deceiving the public—
as the Binay camp seems to be trying to do.
It would be pointless to stop the investigation of Binay who constantly refuses to
directly answer the allegations against him
and his family. The public should not be
denied the right to be informed of the alleged illegal activities of the second highest official of the land, who wants to go
even higher and become president.
It is comforting that Senators Cayetano
and Trillanes, unlike the other senators,
are as determined as Pimentel to expose
the truth on how the Binays amassed their
wealth. The efforts of the three senators
should not be wasted since public money
is involved and the hearings must continue
until the truth comes out.
Binay is doing everything except face the
Senate to defend himself. He goes everywhere delivering speeches during which
he repeats, like a broken record, that the
corruption allegations are “only politics,”
but refuses to answer them point by point.
His four mouthpieces are doing the same
thing, creating plenty of noise only but saying nothing to explain how the Binays acquired their immense wealth.
Binay challenged Senator Trillanes to a
debate and when the latter accepted it, he
got cold feet and he is now trying to find
excuses to avoid it. His mouthpiece, Rep.
Toby Tiangco, claims he is trying to dissuade Binay not to go through with the
debate.
Binay said that if it is the blue ribbon
mother committee that would invite him
he would attend the investigation. So the
mother committee’ chair, Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, sent him an invitation, but now
he is hemming and hawing and has not indicated, until now, if and when he is going
to the Senate investigation.
But while Binay refuses to show himself
in the Senate, his two noisy mouthpieces,
Tiangco and JV Bautista, tried to gatecrash
the investigation last Thursday. The two
have got it wrong: The senators wanted to
hear their boss, not them, so they were quietly escorted out the door.
Mr. Vice President, the people want to
hear you explain how you acquired your
unexplained wealth. Don’t hide behind
your mouthpieces. They only create noise,
nothing else.
Bureau Chief, Silicon Valley
‘Our place in Batangas’
Alvin Maglan, CPA
Controller
Inquirer.Net
Content Syndication Partner
San Francisco FilAm Post, LLC
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f any lingerImained
ing doubts reabout the
ownership of the
luxury mansion
and grounds in
Rosario, Batangas,
these should have
been
banished
by the Instagram
By
posted by Joanna
Solita Collas - Munsod
Marie
Bianca
(aka jmblicious)
and presented by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano in
the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee’s Thursday hearing. If Jojo Binay denies his youngest
child’s posting of pictures showing “our place
in Batangas,” he will essentially be calling her
a liar in public.
That Binay spokesperson Jonvic Remulla
immediately pooh-poohed the pictures with a
“nag-videoke ka lang, may-ari ka na” is unworthy of the Cavite governor. But I guess he had
to say something.
That Binay had a microphone in his hand (“it’s
karaoke time” was Joanna’s description) was
not the point. Where he was singing was what
mattered. The background of the four pictures,
presumably taken by Joanna using her camera,
showed the house and its surroundings, which
she described as “our place”—the same house
and garden of which the media had taken photos
when Sen. Antonio Trillanes visited the place.
That posting represented the coup de grace on
Binay’s denials of ownership. Together with all
the other pictures of different groups related to
the Binays in one way or another (the orchid society, Binay’s UP High School Class ’58, etc.),
the boundary stones of the property engraved
with “EB” (Elenita Binay), the wrapped vases
seen by Raissa Robles in the Binay house in
Makati on which were written “Batangas” and
“Alfonso,” the posting shows indubitably who
owns the property. Add to this what the major
TV stations unearthed: people who claimed (on
camera) that they had sold their property to Jojo
Binay, which form part of “Hacienda Binay.”
Then there was the testimony of the resource
persons at the hearing, which tended to discredit
the claims of businessman Anthony Tiu, who
has at various times claimed that he was owner,
usufructuary, and now lessee, of “Hacienda Binay.”
Agrarian Reform Secretary Gil de los Reyes,
who was invited to the Batangas property for
the “launching” of Tiu’s agri-tourism venture,
recounted that he had asked questions about
the large landholding and how such a property
could be consolidated without the knowledge of
the Department of Agrarian Reform. Tiu’s answer was that he had only leased the property,
which of course Cayetano jumped on, because
Tiu had earlier claimed ownership before describing himself as the usufructuary. And now
the lessee. Will the real Tiu stand up? De los
Reyes also said he had ordered the Batangas
DAR to look into it.
Then there were Kim Henares and Tess Her-
bosa, chiefs of the Bureau of Internal Revenue
and Securities and Exchange Commission, respectively.
Henares’ contribution at the hearing was to go
through the taxes that had to be paid accompanying a land sale (capital gains tax), and who
would pay (the buyer should withhold the tax
and remit it to the BIR). There were apparent
anomalies with respect to the Batangas property, and Cayetano blamed Tiu for not exercising the due diligence required of a corporation
listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange. This,
Tiu denied.
Herbosa’s contribution to the conversation was
that the SEC had examined the financial statements of Tiu’s companies. The Reader will remember that Tiu said he had made two down
payments of P5 million and P6 million, but
these were not reflected in his firm’s financial
statement. (Tiu later clarified that he had paid
with a personal check, but he has not presented
any evidence of this.) Herbosa said the SEC had
some adverse findings, and was in the process
of issuing notices of clarificatory conferences to
the companies and their auditors.
The summary of events as I see them: Binay
owns the Rosario property. Tiu’s actions—his
failure to do real due diligence, his inconsistencies, his cavalier treatment of the
property that he claims he owns/leases/can
use exclusively—indicate that he is merely
holding the property until Binay wants it
again, or is holding the property for Binay
to use.
HOMELAND
FIL-AM POST
Tiu: Cayetano put me, my family at risk
Antonio Tiu on Wednesday lashed out at Sen. Alan Peter
Cayetano and the other members of the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee for insulting him and putting at serious risk not only his own life but those of other legitimate Filipino-Chinese businessmen as well.
Tiu, the chairman of Sunchamp Agri-tourism park in
Batangas which Cayetano and other members of the subcommittee insist belongs to the family of Vice President
Jejomar Binay, called a press briefing to denounce what
he described as “baseless” and “unfounded” accusations
that have hurt not only his family but also those who depend on his businesses.
“The Senate blue ribbon sub-committee of three is complainant, prosecutor and judge. I am standing by my
statement that I am a buyer of the Rosario [Batangas]
property in good faith. I made a sound business decision.
The papers for the transfer of the titles to Sunchamp is
still ongoing and I know Sunchamp, its investors and
partner farmers will turn a good profit from the agri-tourism revenues in the future,” Tiu said.
He said he “quietly suffered the insults hurled against
me by the senators.”
“I am not a dummy. I am not a money launderer. I am
not guilty of any crime. I am a legitimate businessman
who has built my business through hard work and perseverance for nearly two decades,” he said.
Tiu asked Cayetano and his fellow subcommittee members Antonio Trillanes 4th and Aquilino Pimentel 3rd
why he and Sunchamp was linked to the Makati City
Hall Building 2 which was allegedly overpriced so that
Binay and his associates could get kickbacks from the
project.
“Because the senators could not get hold of solid evidence against me, they have unleashed against my companies the full arsenal of the government—the BIR
(Bureau of Internal Revenue, AMLAC (Anti-Money
Laundering Council), DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources), DAR (Department of
Agrarian Reform), NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) and the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission),” Tiu said.
Militant solon to file raps vs ERC over
delay in baring of collusion report
MANILA, Philippines—A mili- P5.35/kwh increase by 70% durtant lawmaker warned Tuesday ing the Malampaya shutdown bethat he would file charges against cause the rates were not ‘reasonthe Energy Regulatory Commis- able and competitive’ as a result of
sion (ERC) over its
delayed report that
would expose the
alleged collusion
among power providers.
Bayan Muna representative
Neri
Colmenares said
that he is mulling filing charges
against the ERC
before the Office of
the Ombudsman.
“This (collusion
report) has taken
far too long and the Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares.
people do not want
to be taken hostage
by the collusion of energy players ‘contrived supply shortage’. This
while the regulatory body tasked is now merely a question of who
to guard them is dilly dallying. among the generation companies
The ERC can be charged under created the artificial supply shortRA 3019 or the Anti-Corrupt and age, so the delay is no longer jusGraft Practices Act Section 3 Para- tified. It is but reasonable for the
graph E for injury to the public and people to charge ERC before the
Paragraph F for failing to resolve a Ombudsman for their failure to
pending matter before them,” said perform their job,” Colmenares
Colmenares.
added.
The House Senior Deputy MinorThe militant lawmaker earlier
ity Leader hit the ERC for needing quoted an executive of the Philmore documents to file the collu- ippine Electricity Market Corp.
sion report.
(PEMC) stating that the Malampa“On March 3 this year, the ERC ya shutdown in 2013 was marred
issued an order reducing the with anomalies.
Crush Abu Sayyaf,
Aquino orders AFP
PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino 3rd wants
the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
and other law enforcement agencies to
continue operations against the Abu Sayyaf
Group (ASG) until it is wiped out.
The President on Monday said the government has “sufficient forces” to do the job.
“My instruction to those concerned is to
continue their operations without let-up
until they [ASG] are all crushed, meaning
arrested and brought to court, all members
of the Abu Sayyaf,” Aquino said in an interview.
“Just picture this imagery, you confined
them in one camp because of your relentless pursuit until they all get tired of running and get caught,” Aquino said.
He added that the AFP and the Philippine
National Police leaderships had assured
him that their forces are sufficient to “wipe
out these criminal elements.”
The President said there are only about
200 ASG members and the group has at
least 200 sympathizers.
Senate gathers documents ahead of
Drilon graft probe
MANILA, Philippines—
The Senate blue ribbon
committee has started
gathering
documents
in connection
with its
planned investigation into
the allegedly overpriced
pet project of Senate
President Franklin Drilon
in Iloilo City.
Senator Teofisto Guingona III, chairman of the
committee, sent separate
letters dated November
3, 2014 to Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez,
Public Works Secretary
Rogelio Singson, and
former Iloilo Provincial
Administrator
Manuel
Mejorada, asking them
to furnish the committee
documents relevant to the
issue.
“Among the allegations
in the said resolution is
that the construction of the
Iloilo Convention Center (ICC) is overpriced by
P531 million,” Guingona
said in his letter, referring
to the resolution filed by
Senator Miriam DefensorSantiago seeking a Senate
inquiry into the alleged
overpricing of the ICC.
“In relation thereto, may
we be furnished documents
relevant to this allegation.
We will appreciate it very
much if the documents are
submitted to us before the
endif this week,” he added.
The committee though
has not scheduled yet the
first hearing on the issue.
The ICC is the subject of
a plunder and graft complaint filed by Mejorada at
the Office of the Ombudsman against Drilon and
other personalities. Drilon
has denied Mejorada’s allegation that the project
was overpriced.
Sen. Teofisto Guingona III. RYAN
LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net file photo
In a statement on Monday,
the Senate leader expressed
confidence that the Department of Public Works and
Highway (DPWH) would
be able to defend the regularity of the project.
“The DPWH, which supervised the ICC, can easily disprove the malicious
allegations made against
the implementation of the
project,” Drilon said.
“I have no involvement
in any way in the bidding
process for the project. I
was nowhere near that process to intervene, let alone
nominate anyone to be the
contractor of the project,”
he added.
Ombudsman files graft case vs ex-Cavite governor Maliksi
MANILA, Philippines—Ombudsman Conchita Carpio
Morales approved the filing of criminal charges before
the Sandiganbayan against former Cavite Governor
Erineo “Ayong” Maliksi for the questionable purchase
of medicines worth P2.5-million.
In an order dated Oct. 22 but released to the media
Tuesday, Maliksi was charged with violation of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Morales denied Maliksi’s motion for reconsideration
for the Ombudsman’s July 8 resolution finding probable cause to charge the former governor in court.
The Joint Res-
Murder case filed vs cops tagged in summary
execution of alleged motorcycle thieves
MANILA, Philippines—A complaint for
murder and car theft has been filed with the
Department of Justice (DOJ) in connection
with the death of three men in Aurora, Isabela last May 3.
Named in the complaint by the National
Bureau of Investigation (NBI) were AntiOrganized and Transnational Crime Division – Death Investigation Unit (AOTCDDIU) Senior Police Officer1 Randolph
Cauan, Senior Inspector Sherwin Concha,
Insp. Rey Lopez, SPO3, Julian Obrero III,
PO2 Alex Abalos, PO2 Jose Soliven II, and
PO2
Eduardo
Apan.
Facing a separate complaint
for obstruction
of justice are incumbent Aurora,
Isabela Mayor
William Uy, Bienvenido Abalos
and Edna Salvador, Administrative Officer for
Isabela Municipal Office.
Based on the complaint, the victims Johnny L. Bangit, Noel Lacuata Te-od, and Gabriel Dapio Ternio were arrested May 3 at
the Aurora Public Market in Aurora, Isabela
for alleged stealing a motorcycle with plate
number 3297 BS. They were subsequently
brought to the Aurora PNP Office.
However, the victims went missing and
were later found dead in a shallow grave in
a farm in Barangay (Village) Bagong Tanza,
Aurora, Isabela owned by one Bienvenido
Abalos, father of PO2 Abalos on June 2.
They sustained gunshot wounds in the head.
Included in the complaint is the sworn state-
PAGE 5
Nov 6, 2014 - Nov 12, 2014
ment of motorcycle owner Jeffrey Asuncion.
Asuncion claimed that his motorcycle was
stolen between 9 p.m. on April 30 up to 1
a.m. on May 1. He reported the matter to
the police.
On May 3, he was informed by his relative that his motorcycle was spotted near
the Aurora Public Market, which led him to
proceed to the area.
Upon reaching the location, Asuncion
claimed policemen prevented him from going near the motorcycle so that they would
be able to arrest
the
“carnapper.”
Asuncion said
he saw the policemen arrest
the victims, one
of whom was
about to board
his motorcycle
and the other
two about to
board a separate
motorcycle.
Asuncion also
claimed that he went to the police station to
retrieve his motorcycle but was instructed
by the policemen to just go home and await
their call.
He said he was then summoned at the
house of Mayor Uy and Salvador told him
not to tell anything about the arrest last May
3.
The sworn statements of the relatives of
the victims also formed part of the complaint where they claimed that the three
were bound for Tabuk, Kalinga to sell corn
and buy a motorcyle on the day they were
last seen alive.
olution stated that in February 2003, the province of
Cavite entered into a Memorandum of Agreement
(MOA) with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) for the purchase of medicines under a P10
million grant, the first tranche of which in the amount
of P2.5 million was released to the province of Cavite
on Feb. 4, 2003.
But investigation showed that no public bidding was
conducted and the supporting documents (Purchase
Request, Purchase Order, and Inspection and Acceptance Report) show that the procurement was made
three months prior to the release of the first tranche.
TAX CORNER
PAGE 6
Nov 6, 2014 - Nov 12, 2014
In 2015, Various Tax Benefits
Increase Due to Inflation
Adjustments
ASHINGTON — For
tax
year
2015, the Internal Revby: Alvin C. Maglan, CPA enue Service
announced
today annual
inflation adjustments for more than 40 tax provisions, including the tax rate schedules,
and other tax changes. Revenue Procedure 2014-61 provides details about
these annual adjustments.
The tax items for tax year 2015 of
greatest interest to most taxpayers include the following dollar amounts The tax rate of 39.6 percent affects singles whose income exceeds
$413,200 ($464,850 for married taxpayers filing a joint return), up from
$406,750 and $457,600, respectively.
The other marginal rates – 10, 15, 25,
28, 33 and 35 percent – and the related
income tax thresholds are described in
the revenue procedure.
The standard deduction rises to
$6,300 for singles and married persons
filing separate returns and $12,600 for
married couples filing jointly, up from
$6,200 and $12,400, respectively, for
tax year 2014. The standard deduction
for heads of household rises to $9,250,
up from $9,100.
The limitation for itemized deductions to be claimed on tax year 2015
returns of individuals begins with incomes of $258,250 or more ($309,900
for married couples filing jointly).
The personal exemption for tax year
2015 rises to $4,000, up from the 2014
exemption of $3,950. However, the exemption is subject to a phase-out that
begins with adjusted gross incomes
of $258,250 ($309,900 for married
couples filing jointly). It phases out
completely at $380,750 ($432,400 for
married couples filing jointly.)
The Alternative Minimum Tax exemption amount for tax year 2015 is
W
$53,600 ($83,400, for married couples filing jointly). The 2014 exemption amount was $52,800 ($82,100 for
married couples filing jointly).
The 2015 maximum Earned Income
Credit amount is $6,242 for taxpayers filing jointly who have 3 or more
qualifying children, up from a total of
$6,143 for tax year 2014. The revenue
procedure has a table providing maximum credit amounts for other categories, income thresholds and phaseouts.
Estates of decedents who die during
2015 have a basic exclusion amount
of $5,430,000, up from a total of
$5,340,000 for estates of decedents
who died in 2014.
For 2015, the exclusion from tax on
a gift to a spouse who is not a U.S.
citizen is $147,000, up from $145,000
for 2014.
For 2015, the foreign earned income
exclusion breaks the six-figure mark,
rising to $100,800, up from $99,200
for 2014.
The annual exclusion for gifts remains at $14,000 for 2015.
The annual dollar limit on employee
contributions to employer-sponsored
healthcare flexible spending arrangements (FSA) rises to $2,550, up $50
dollars from the amount for 2014.
Under the small business health care
tax credit, the maximum credit is
phased out based on the employer’s
number of full-time equivalent employees in excess of 10 and the employer’s average annual wages in excess of $25,800 for tax year 2015, up
from $25,400 for 2014.
Alvin Maglan is a CPA licensed in California
and Nevada. After working for SyCip, Gorres,
Velayo and Company, he emigrated to California and had varied experiences as an audit manager of a regional accounting firm, an internal
auditor and controller of Dole, Inc., a fortune
500 company and three decades experiences as
a tax consultant for various individuals, professionals, small business firms, corporations,
partnerships, and other non-profit entities. You
may contact him @510 432 7438 for your tax
problems. You may e-mail tax questions @
[email protected].
Taxpayers Warned On Obamacare
Tax Credits
The US Association of Enrolled Agents has
recommended that taxpayers urgently review
their tax situation and make any necessary adjustments to withholding or estimated tax payments, in response to the Affordable Care Act.
As part of the ACA, from 2014, eligible taxpayers have the option of receiving a tax credit
to help pay monthly health insurance premiums. The credit is paid directly as a subsidy to
the health insurance carrier and is based on estimated household size and income. However, a
taxpayer does not have to wait until his or her
earnings are verified by the Internal Revenue
Service when filing an annual tax return to benefit from the tax credit, but may choose to apply
it to health insurance premiums each month.
Mary Olson, Enrolled Agent and Manager of
The Iola Tax Place in Wisconsin said: “This
year, many tax professionals need to devote
more time to understanding the impact of the
new ACA on their clients. Taxpayers who obtained health insurance through the ACA Marketplace may be in for a big surprise at tax
time.”
Generally, the NAEA pointed out, individuals and families with estimated household incomes for the year between 100 percent and
400 percent of the federal poverty level for their
family size are eligible for the subsidy. That is
equivalent to annual household income between
USD11,490 and USD45,960 for a single individual; between USD15,510 and USD62,040
for a family of two; and between USD23,550
and USD94,200 for a family of four.
FIL-AM POST
Adults Under Age 65 Now Eligible
for Medi-Cal Without Asset or
Disability Test
By Gene L. Osofsky, Esqq.
Dozens of guns were confiscated in October from the carry-on bags of pistolpacking passengers trying to board planes
at major U.S. airports.
Last month the Transportation Security
Administration screeners found 181 firearms in carry-on bags at airport screening
points around the country. A total of 157
were loaded and nearly a third of those
had rounds chambered, according to the
TSA Blog.
The October confiscations also included
a 13-inch cane sword discovered at the
airport in Charlotte.
The TSA Blog tallies the number of
confiscated firearms each week. The blog
also said screeners continue to find inert
grenades and other weaponry on a weekly
basis.
“Please keep in mind that if an item looks
like a real bomb, grenade, mine, etc., it is
prohibited,” The TSA Blog advises.
The TSA Blog said security screeners
grabbed the 181 firearms in carry-on baggage from Oct. 3 to Oct. 30.
Last week a total 41 guns were confiscated. Thirty-four were loaded and 10 had
rounds chambered.
The TSA Blog says screeners at the Denver airport were busy. They found three
guns on two dates, October 27 and 28.
Last year, the TSA confiscated 1,813
firearms from carry-on bags.
PLANNING FOR THE
2014 TAX SEASON
ow is a good time to do some
year-end tax planning to save
money for this year and to plan for the
future as well. The basic for tax planning is to minimize this year’s taxes
by postponement of income and to
accelerate deductions. This is easier
said than done. It is a question of employing the best strategy--are you better off minimizing the taxes this year,
or would upcoming changes in taxes
next year would mean that you are
better off paying taxes this year.
The new minimum tax brackets for
high income individuals--39.6%,
starting at $406,750 for single taxpayers and $457,600 for joint filers.
There are higher capital gains tax rates
as part of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, 3.8% net investment
income tax and 0.9% Medicare surtax
enacted as part of the 2010 health care
reform.
It is a good time to look at the timing
of income and deductions, retirement
plan contributions, investments, and
charitable gifts to consider a taxpayer’s situation this year and in the future. Here are some strategies to can
be considered to postpone income, accelerate deductions and reduce taxes
for 2014:
1. Increase tax withholding. If you
have substantial nonwage income in
addition to salary, then you should
consider adjusting your withholding
to cover required estimated tax payments to avoid penalty for failure to
make estimated tax payments.
2. Minimize tax on Social Security
Benefits. When a social security recipient’s modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) plus 50% of his or her
social security benefits exceeds certain base amounts, the benefits can be
taxable. MAGI thresholds are 25,000
for single, $32,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return and zero for
married individuals filing separately.
If a taxpayer’s income is close to these
thresholds, consider deferring income
to avoid the tax on social security benefits.
3. Bonus Deferral. Request your employer, if they cooperate, to consider
delaying any 2014 bonus until early
2015.
4. Bundle miscellaneous itemized deductions in one year. Miscellaneous
itemized deductions are deductible
only to the extent they exceed 2%
of adjusted gross income. Consider
grouping such expenses in one year
to meet the threshold. Examples are
professional dues or job related tuition
should be paid in December instead of
January to avail of the early deduction.
N
5. Prepay certain expenses using credit card. Contributions to charity and
deductible medical expenses are deductible when charged to a taxpayer’s
credit card, rather than when one pays
the credit card bill.
6. Make Gifts. Year-end gifts of appreciated property can move taxable
gain to family members in lower tax
bracket. A taxpayer can make gifts
to any number of donees before year
end and as long as each gift does not
exceed $14,000, the gifts will not be
taxable or count against the donor’s
unified estate and gifts tax exemption.
7. Dispose of passive activities to
take advantage of suspended passive
losses. Losses from a passive activity
that cannot be realized in a particular
tax year because of the passive loss
limitations are suspended and carried
forward until they can be used. Examples of these are gain on the sale
of stocks than can be applied against
passive losses.
8. Section 179 expenditures. Taxpayers can elect to deduct currently the
cost of new or used tangible properties
rather than depreciating them over a
period of years. For 2014, the maximum amount that can be expensed is
$25,000 and the deduction is phased
out when the qualifying property
placed in service during the year exceeds $200,000.
9. Realize stock losses to offset gains.
If a taxpayer is holding appreciated
investments, but also lost money on
some stock investments in 2014, they
should consider selling the appreciated investments and offset them with
the losses.
10. Start a retirement plan. Those who
are eligible to contribute to an IRA or
start a KEOGH PLAN (if self employed) but who don’t currently have
such a retirement savings account
should consider setting one up to take
advantage of deductible contributions
for 2014. Making contributions from
pretax income is always a good strategy, but can be beneficial if it brings
one’s income down into a lower tax
bracket.
Alvin Maglan is a CPA licensed in California and Nevada. After working for
SyCip, Gorres, Velayo and Company, he
emigrated to California and had varied
experiences as an audit manager of a regional accounting firm, an internal auditor and controller of Dole, Inc., a fortune
500 company and three decades experiences as a tax consultant for various individuals, professionals, small business
firms, corporations, partnerships, and
other non-profit entities. You may contact
him @510 432 7438 for your tax problems. You may e-mail tax questions @
[email protected].
BANKRUPTCY
FIL-AM POST
Disadvantages of reaffirmation
in bankruptcy?
n a Chapter 7 bank2. Approval of Lawyer
ruptcy, the debtor By Atty. Crispin C. Lozano
is Needed - Your lawyer
must submit to the court
must review and examine
a schedule (Schedule D- Creditors Hold- all the circumstances and only sign the
ing Secured Claims) indicating all of reaffirmation agreement if he believes it
their secured debts (mortgages, vehicle will not inflict an undue hardship on you
loans, and purchase money loans for and your family. Your lawyer must defurniture, jewelry, or household goods, termine and decide if you are in a good
as well as any other debt for which you financial position to repay the debt.
have pledged property as collateral to the 3. Approval of the Court is Needed - Recreditor). In addition to filing a list of all affirmation Agreement is not accepted
secured debts, Chapter 7 debtor also file until the U.S. Bankruptcy Court approves
a form called the ‘Statement of Inten- the terms. Usually, bankruptcy courts are
tion’.
not delighted to let you carry on personal
. What is a Statement of Intention?
liability when you have already shown
. The Statement of Intention is that your expenses go beyond your postrequired to be filed in Chapter bankruptcy income.
7 cases. It is not required in Chapter 13
, What are the basic considerations
cases. Statement of Intention is a form
when signing reaffirmation agreecompleted by the debtor that advises the ment?
court, the Trustee, and your creditors
. The following are some tips when
what you intend to do with your secured
signing a reaffirmation agreement:
collateral such as your home or car. This 1. Try to reduce the principal and interdocument also applies to leases. It must est, or stretch out the payment length.
be filed within thirty (30) days after the This is restructuring the payment terms
debtor files a petition under Chapter 7 or to be more favorable.
on or before the 341(a) Meeting of Cred- 2. You have 60 days to change your mind.
itors. It requires the debtor to state the 3. In California, most secured creditors
following:
are willing to let you keep making pay1. whether the property will be surren- ments without signing a reaffirmation
dered or retained,
agreement. Chapter 7 Bankruptcy law2. whether it will be claimed as exempt,
yers often refer to this as the KEEP and
3. whether the debtor intends to redeem PAY OPTION or RIDE THROUGH.
the property, and
Note: This is not a legal advice and
4. Whether the debtor intends to reaffirm you should consult with an attorney
the debt secured by the property.
about your case.
. What is redemption in bankruptcy?
. nIn redeeming a debt, a Chapankruptcy Basics
ter 7 debtor pays the fair market value of the collateral, usually in one 1. Bankruptcy will actually improve your
lump sum — in full satisfaction of the credit within one year because your undebt. This option can be especially help- secured debts are discharged. Although
ful when the debtor’s collateral is under- the bankruptcy will be in your records
water, meaning the value is less than the for 10 years, not filing bankruptcy will
loan amount.
make your credit even worse until most
. What is Reaffirmation in bankrupt- your debts are paid.
cy?
2. If you are being sued by your credi. In reaffirming a debt, the debtor tors, most money judgment can be elimiagrees to remain responsible on the nated in bankruptcy.
debt after bankruptcy and will continue 3. Collection actions continue and you
making payments to the creditor, while can be sued if you are in debt settlement.
keeping the collateral. Once the debtor 4. Chapter 7 will eliminate all unsecured
signed the reaffirmation agreement, he or debts. If you are near retirement age,
she will have 60 days from the date of you must eliminate most of your debts.
the signing or up until the day the court 5. Bankruptcy will stop foreclosure acdischarges the case, whichever is later, to tions. If your trustee sale date is 10 days
change his or her mind and withdraw the before, you can still file for bankruptcy.
agreement.
6. If your salary is being garnished, you
However, once the court enters the have a court case about debts or you are
Chapter 7 discharge, the agreement is being harassed by creditors, bankruptcy
binding and in effect. If the debtor de- can stop garnishment, court cases, hafaults on a reaffirmed debt after the court rassing creditors and eliminate the debt.
entered the discharge, the creditor can 7. Bankruptcy is cheaper, faster and safer
repossess the collateral and sue the debt- than debt settlement which has no guaror for any deficiency balance, fees and anteed success.
costs.
8. Preserve your health, eliminate stress
. What are the disadvantages of Re- and live a happy life by eliminating your
affirmation Agreements?
debts which is the root of all problems.
, The following are the disadvantages of reaffirmation agreements:
Crispin Caday Lozano is an active
1. Instant Liability - A reaffirmation member of the State Bar of Califoragreement binds you in contract. If you nia, the American Immigration Lawmissed payments in the future, it could yers Association and the National
mess up your new credit, cause you to Association of Consumers Bankruptlose the property, and make you respon- cy Attorneys. He specializes in immigration law and bankruptcy law.
sible for the balance of the loan.
I
QA
QA
Q
A
B
Q
A
Q
A
(Cont. from page 1... UERM DIRECTOR )
released by Rep. Toby Tiangco and lawyer
JV Bautista, both spokesmen of the Vice
President.
“They were photocopies, it’s difficult to
ascertain their authenticity,” De los Santos
said.
The hospital director also said hospital officials would comply if issued a subpoena
by the Senate.
“We will comply if officially asked,” De
los Santos said.
The Senate blue ribbon subcommittee is
looking into allegations that Binay, while
serving as mayor of Makati City, had enriched himself by using dummies.
Mercado, a vice mayor under Binay, is
one of the subcommittee’s witnesses.
Mercado said he wrote UERM to issue a
certificate that he was never confined at the
hospital following news releases issued by
the camp of Binay.
“I am certain I was nowhere near your
hospital, I was never there for any consultation or tests, much less confinement,
whether on the dates mentioned or ever,”
Mercado said in his letter addressed to
UERM dated Nov. 3, 2014.
“I now request you to issue a certification to declare with certainty and in order
to erase all doubts if one named Ernesto
Salvador Mercado, born on April 28, 1953,
was the subject of the certifications/tests
you issued in the name of ‘Ernesto Mercado.’”
The hospital earlier said it had no records
of a confinement of a certain Ernesto Salvador Mercado on Oct. 1-4.
Mercado has challenged the Binay camp
to present evidence that he was confined at
UERM for a heart ailment.
“My challenge to them still stands that if
they could show proof that I was confined
in any hospital anywhere in the country on
the dates they mentioned, I will volunteer
to take back all my statements against the
Vice President,” Mercado said, referring to
his Senate testimony.
Tiangco, Navotas representative and
United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) interim
president, and Bautista, UNA interim secretary general, said they had evidence to
dispute Mercado’s statement that he had
not been hospitalized.
UNA is Binay’s political party.
PAGE 7
Nov 6, 2014 - Nov 12, 2014
High-yield E&P energy bonds are
risky temptations
NEW YORK, Oct 31 (IFR) - Investors betting that oil prices will
recover are starting to support the
battered prices of high-yield bonds
from exploration and production
(E&P) energy companies.
But market strategists warn they
could
f a c e
s t e e p
losses
ahead if
the price
of
oil
remains
under
pressure
- particularly if
they are
not more
selective
about
which
credits
to buy.
West
Texas
Intermediate, a benchmark for crude pricing,
has fallen more than US$20 a barrel
since June, from over US$105 at the
time to US$82.65 this week.
That tumble has hit bonds in the
E&P sector, which have taken a
beating in the secondary market.
According to the Bank of America
Merrill Lynch Master Index, energy
sector spreads widened from around
360bp in June to 576bp on October
15.
But those spreads then tightened
80bp to 496bp by October 24, as the
low cash prices drew in opportunistic bargain-hunting investors.
“Clearly there is some optimism
that the sector offers value versus
the broader market,” said UBS strategist Matthew Mish, who believes
investors need more due diligence
on single B rated E&P names.
At BNP Paribas, credit strategist
Mark Howard said the whipsaw
price movements were
the result of a
“tug of war”
between differing views
on where oil
prices
are
headed.
“Highyield investors
think
oil
prices
will
stabilize and see
E&P bonds
as
cheap
relative
to
the rest of
the market,”
Howard told
IFR.
“Distressed
and event-driven funds are rolling
up their sleeves and betting oil will
fall into the mid/low 70s.”
Without question, oil prices will
determine the fate of many E&P
companies, which typically have
bank lines dependent on production
volumes and oil prices being at certain levels.
Those that do not achieve enough
production at a time when prices are
lower - or have not yet started production at all - may lose access to
debt capital markets to fund further
production growth or survive until
prices rise.
PAGE 8
Nov 6, 2014 - Nov 12, 2014
FIL-AM POST
IMMIGRATION
FIL-AM POST
PAGE 9
Nov 6, 2014 - Nov 12, 2014
What are the benefits of self-petition for green
card based on spousal abuse
self petitioner who married an abusive U.S. citizen may file an adjustA
ment of status at the same time that
the self petition is filed. If the spouse
of the self petitioner is a lawful permanent resident he or she will have
to wait until the I-360 petition is approved and the priority date for the second preference is current. VAWA also
applies to men who are abused by their
spouse. Spousal abuse includes physical or psychological abuse. In physical abuse the best evidence is a police
report or medical report while in a psychological abuse the evidence could
be an evaluation by a psychologist or
psychiatrist. If the petitioner is in removal proceedings, she has a choice of
filing I-360 petition or cancellation of
removal under VAWA. There is strong
confidentiality given to self petitioner
under VAWA including keeping their
name out of public records and not
contacting the abuser.
uestion: Who qualifies for self-petition and cancellation of removal
under Violence against Women Act
(VAWA)?
nswer: The following qualify for
self-petition and cancellation of
removal:
1. Abused spouse, former spouse, or
intended spouse of a U.S. citizen or
lawful permanent resident.
2. Abused child of U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
3. Non-abusive parent of a child who
was subjected to domestic violence or
extreme cruelty by a U.S. citizen or
lawful permanent resident parent.
Q
A
uestion: When can a self petitioner
file an application for work authoQ
rization?
nswer: A self petitioner is eligible for employment authorizaA
tion upon approval of the self petition
or upon filing of adjustment of status
whichever comes first.
uestion: What are the advantages of adjustment of status under
Q
VAWA compared to the regular adjustment of status?
nswer: VAWA adjustment of status
has the following advantages:
A
1. VAWA self petitioner need not have
been inspected or admitted into the
U.S. This means that “Entered without
Inspection” or “present without authorization” are eligible under VAWA.
2. Having worked without authorization is not a bar to adjustment.
3. Having overstayed a nonimmigrant
visa or having violated the terms of
nonimmigrant visa is not a bar to adjustment.
4. Having been admitted as a nonimmigrant under “D” [crewmember],
“C” [alien in transit without a visa],
or “S” [government witness] does not
disqualify self petitioner from adjustment of status. The regular adjustment
of status provision does not allow them
to adjust.
(Cont. from page 1... PALACE TO BINAY )
of the Cabinet and only Vice President
Binay
can
answer that
question,”
Coloma said
in response
to calls for
Binay to resign out of
“delicadeza.”
He added
that
only
Binay
can
respond to
accusations
that he refuses to leave
the Cabinet
because he
wants to utilize government resources for his presidential campaign for 2016.
In an ambush interview in Laguna on
Monday, Aquino recognized Binay’s ef-
5. Having been admit- By Atty. Crispin C. Lozano migration Court for
waiver of misrepresented under Visa Waiver
tation for a client who
program is not a bar to
entered the U.S. as single but actually
adjustment.
6. Self petitioners do not have to pay married.
the $1000 penalty if they adjust status 17. On January 24, 2014, we received
another approval for waiver of misunder Sec. 245(i).
representation from the Immigration
Note: This is not a legal advice. The Court for an alien who entered as sinLaw Offices of Crispin C. Lozano has gle but actually married.
successfully represented numerous 18. On January 14, 2014, we received
an approval from USCIS of a green
cases of spousal abuse.
card under law on Registry for a person
who has been in the U.S. since before
UCCESS STORIES
1972.
1. On October 7, 2014, we received 19. On January 6, 2014, we received an
an approval from the U.S. Embassy in approval of waiver of misrepresentaManila an immigrant visa for a client tion from Immigration Judge for a cliwho entered the US without inspection
under the Provisional Waiver Program.
2. On September 26, 2014, we received
an approval from the Immigration
Court for waiver of misrepresentation
for a client who entered as single but
actually married at the time of entry to
the U.S.
3. On September 9, 2014, we received
an approval from Immigration Court
of adjustment of status for a client who
was previously denied an asylum.
4. On September 8, 2014, we received
an approval from USCIS of Form I601A provisional waiver for two clients.
5. On September 5, 2014, we received
an approval from USCIS for Fiancée
visa based on same sex petition.
6. On September 4, 2014, we received
an approval of DACA for a client who
has problem in her birth certificate.
7. On August 28, 2014, we received an
approval of green card based on spousal abuse.
8. On August 25, 2014, we received an
approval of green card based on same
sex marriage with big age difference.
9. On August 1, 2014, we received an
approval of waiver of joint filing of
I-751 based on spousal abuse. With
the approval she was granted permanent residence.
10. On July 21. 2014, we received an
approval of green card based on marriage that was initially denied due to
inconsistencies in interview response.
11. On July 19, 2014, we received an
approval of I-751 removal of condition
on residence waiver based on battered
spouse.
12. On June 11, 2014, we received an
approval from USCIS of green card
under Violence against Women Act.
13. On May 12. 2014, we received an
approval from USCIS of green card
under the same sex marriage law and
the corresponding waiver of certain
misrepresentation.
14. On April 21, 2014, we received an
approval of green card after the denial
was appealed to the Board of Immigration Appeals.
15. On March 31, 2014, we received an
approval of green card for a client under Violence against Women Act.
16.
On March 25, 2014, we received another approval from the Im-
S
forts in the housing sector but pointed out
his inability to present solutions to his complaints. He said it is the obligation of all
Cabinet members to contribute ideas on
how to improve
the work of the
government.
Hours later,
Binay released
a statement saying he has high
respects
for
Aquino and will
“continue to be
a team player.”
Coloma refused to comment on that,
saying he has no
new information
to share.
“That is his response and I think the vice
president is entitled to give his response,”
he merely said.
ent who entered as single but actually
married.
20. On November 21, 2013, we received an approval from USCIS for
adjustment of status under SAME SEX
MARRIAGE.
Crispin Caday Lozano is an active member of the
State Bar of California, the American Immigration
Lawyers Association and the National Association of
Consumers Bankruptcy Attorneys. He specializes in
immigration law and bankruptcy law. He earned his
Juris Doctor at Western State University College of
Law in Fullerton, California. He is also a Certified
Public Accountant, a Real Estate Broker and a Bachelor of Business Administration Cum Laude graduate.
He has offices in San Francisco, Hayward, San Jose,
and Cerritos, California. You can contact him at
1-877-456-9266. Email questions to crispinlozano@
gmail.com/. Visit our website at www.crispinlozanolaw.com.
PAGE 10
Nov 6, 2014 - Nov 12, 2014
IMMIGRATION
Senator Sessions: Obama wants immigration
amnesty; your vote can stop it
A nation’s first loyalty must be to its own
Democrats running for Senate pour milcitizens.
lions into ads complaining special interests
But the immigration policies of President have too much influence. And yet every
Obama and Congressional Democrats help Senate Democrat candidate has voted for
only billionaire special interests, amnesty the crown jewel of the corporate lobbyist
activists, and the citizens of other countries agenda: mass amnesty and uncontrolled
– while reducing jobs and pay for our own. immigration.
Every single Senate Democrat voted for
Their plan is championed by open borders
the Obama-backed plan to provide imme- billionaires like Facebook’s Mark Zuckerdiate work permits to 12 million illegal berg – global CEOs who don’t think you’re
immigrants – allowing them to compete entitled to the same protections their gates
for any job in America.
This legislation would
also double the rate at
which low-wage guest
workers are brought
into the U.S. to fill jobs
throughout the economy.
Further, the legislation
would triple the rate of
permanent
immigration, giving lifetime
work permits and citizenship to over 30 million immigrants over
the next ten years.
Immigration lobbyists Job seekers line up to speak to a recruiter during a job fair in
have so little regard for Irving, Texas. (AP)
you, that they are meeting in secret with the
White House right now to plan executive and fences provide them.
amnesty orders.
In fact, these immigration lobbyists have
These orders, planned for after the elec- so little regard for you, that they are meettion, would implement by executive fiat ing in secret with the White House right
the sweeping amnesty that was rejected by now to plan executive amnesty orders.
the Republican House.
These orders, planned for after the elecAmerica already has the world’s most tion, would implement, by executive fiat,
generous immigration policy. The foreign- the sweeping amnesty that was rejected by
born population is at record levels, qua- the Republican House.
drupling since 1970. Since 2000, the U.S.
The planned order would include work
has issued nearly 30 million lawful visas to permits for millions of illegal immigrants
foreign guest workers and permanent im- while substantially boosting the supply of
migrants. During that time, all net employ- new foreign labor– taking precious jobs diment gains among the working-age went to rectly from struggling Americans.
immigrant workers.
Efforts by Republican Senators to block
This large surplus of labor has also pulled this illegal amnesty were repeatedly
down wages –family incomes are down thwarted by Leader Harry Reid’s Senate
more than $3,000 since 2009 alone.
Democrat majority.
Harvard Professor Dr. George Borjas esImmigration enforcement has already
timates that our current high immigration been decimated. Interior removals have
rates result in a wage loss of $402 billion plummeted more than 40% since 2009.
every year for competing American work- Forty thousand illegal immigrant family
ers.
members who had just recently crossed the
Imagine then what will happen if we dou- border were released by the feds and failed,
ble the supply of foreign labor. For many predictably, to appear in court. People just
Americans, who will be pushed out of the show up at the border and are simply reworkforce altogether, their wages will be leased into the country – free to claim local
reduced to zero.
benefits funded by U.S. taxpayers.
FIL-AM POST
Texas soldiers found guilty of
smuggling immigrants
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Three Fort
Hood soldiers who used their U.S. Army
identification or gear to help hide immigrants have been convicted in a South
Texas smuggling ring.
Eric Alexander Rodriguez of Odem,
Brandon Troy Robbins of San Antonio and
Christopher David Wix of Abilene face
federal prison terms of up to 10 years.
Rodriguez and Robbins on Thursday
pleaded guilty in Brownsville to transport-
ing undocumented immigrants. Wix pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport and
harbor undocumented immigrants.
Investigators say all three soldiers, in separate incidents since April, were driving in
South Texas and had stopped at the Sarita
checkpoint. Individuals suspected of being
in the U.S. illegally were found hiding under military gear during each of the stops.
Officials eventually linked the human
smuggling cases.
HEALTH
Exercise May Be the Most Effective
Weapon Against Aging
Keeping active may be the secret to staying
young for both mice and men. Researchers
from Canada’s McMaster University discovered that endurance exercise could halt the aging process in a group of mice, even though
they were genetically engineered to age faster.
These furry creatures continued to exhibit
the same youthful appearance as normal mice
after engaging in a treadmill exercise routine
over a period of several months. In addition,
the exercise program prevented premature
aging in almost every organ of the morphed
mice. Details on the mighty mice can be found
in the journal .
The results of the analysis indicate that not
only can exercise help
to prevent
an
early
death, it can
also delay
the aging
process. The
researchers said that
the exercise
routine provided nearly
100 percent
protection against
graying fur,
hair
loss,
brain and muscle atrophy, and more.
According to lead study author Mark Tarnopolsky, a Professor of pediatrics and medicine
at McMaster’s DeGroote School of Medicine,
“What really shocked us was the gonads, the
spleen, liver -- every tissue we looked at was
made better with the exercise. It has a systemic effect and even prevented a slight shrinkage
of the brain.”
The mice in the study were genetically engineered to have an age-inducing defect in their
cell powerhouses, known as mitochondria. As
mitochondria age, less energy is generated for
cells in the body to run on. The mice were assigned to either an exercise or non-exercise
group. The exercise group was forced to jog
at a brisk pace on a treadmill for 45 minutes,
three times weekly.
After a five-month period, the researchers
found that prevention of premature aging had
occurred among all the mice in the exercise
group. While these mighty mice remained
active and looked as young as ever, the sedentary mice were inactive, more socially isolated, and less fertile, as well as balding and
turning gray. Whereas the muscle tissue of
the active mice was found to be completely
normal, the tissue of the inactive mice showed
signs of damage.
But the biggest discovery was seen in the
mitochondria of the morphed mice. The mitochondria among these mice had gone from
damaged to young and healthy. Experts have
long-suspected that the accumulation of mitochondrial DNA mutations over the lifespan
leads to the progressive decline in tissue and
organ function, which results in aging.
Tarnopolsky
noted that the results of the study
are applicable to
humans and he is
hopeful that the
outcome for the
exercising mice
will
motivate
people to get on
the move. He remarked, “When
you see the video
with the mice
barely
moving
and their sisters
moving around
healthy, that may
shock them into getting their butts off the
couch and get some exercise.”
Previous studies on genetically engineered,
premature-aging mice have included calorie
restriction and a variety of drugs that have had
far less promising results. Regarding the benefits of exercise on health, Tarnopolsky pointed out, “Many people falsely believe that the
benefits of exercise will be found in a pill. We
have clearly shown that there is no substitute
for the ‘real thing’ of exercise when it comes
to protection from aging.”
The good news is that it’s never too late to
get on that treadmill. Tarnopolsky noted that
studies have shown that even those who have
spent far too much time being sedentary can
still reap the benefits of exercise, and gain energy, mobility and promote healthier organs.
Take Tarnopolsky’s advice to “Get moving,
get active and get your kids moving while they
are young.” The road to fitness just may lead
to the fountain of youth.
FIL-AM POST
AROUND TOWN
PAGE 11
Nov 6, 2014 - Nov 12, 2014
Brother Paul Membrere:
Hero of Faith
s a proud Districts of Mountain Province (1956m e m b e r 1958), La Union (1958-1960), Ilocos
of the Iglesia Norte (1960-1963), La Union (1963-1965)
Ni Cristo ser- and Mountain Province (1965-1967).
vice to God
On December 9, 1970, Bro. Paul was sent
and to our Lord to the United States, becoming one of the
Jesus
Christ first ministers to receive an assignment outis of outmost side the Philippines. He was subsequently
LET’S HAVE COFFEE
By
i m p o r t a n c e . appointed as the first Supervising Minister
Don Augusto Orozco
In my column outside the Philippines from 1976-1988.
for the week I His administrative function required him
dedicate this to travel extensively throughout the Unites
piece to our States, Canada and Europe. He pioneered
late Brother Paul B Membrere, and for and witnessed first-hand the continuous
members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo especial- spiritual progress of the Church outside the
ly here in the United States considers him Philippines. After 12 years, Bro. Paul’s suour Hero of Faith. The following are taken pervisory functions came to an end due to
from the website created for Brother Paul ( health problems. He underwent two major
www.bropbm.net)
Brother Paul B. Membrere is the eldest
of three children (Federico-deceased and
Rafaela) of Jacinto Corpuz Membrere
and Dionisia Cardinez Bravo. He was
born on July 9, 1921 in the small barrio
of Nagatiran, near the town of Bacnotan,
La Union, Philippines.
He was the first in his family to convert to the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church
Of Christ). He was baptized on August
27, 1939 in Lingsat, San Fernando, La
Union. Because of this decision, he experienced severe persecution from both
his family members and friends. Nevertheless, he remained active in serving
God and in living a true Christian way
of life.
He faced great challenges in his pursuit
of education. He had to travel several
kilometers to go to school. And since
his family was not well-off financially,
he also had to contend with the pains of
hardship. But, what began as an unbear- Paul Membrere
able situation for a youngster resulted in
a greater development of his character. He operations in 1988 and 1990. On April 23,
learned at a very tender age the value of 1993, Bro. Paul was given an award known
patience, endurance and determination— as the Gawad ng Katapatan or “Loyalty
qualities that would make him successful Award.” Bro. Paul continued to serve in
in life and prepare him for a much greater the U.S. Main Office until 2010.
journey down the road. Although he exAside from playing an important role in
celled in academics, was a leader in the the Church, Bro. Paul Membrere fulfilled
classroom and involved in various extra- another important duty, that of being a huscurricular activities, his education was cut band and father. Bro. Paul was married to
short due to the outbreak of World War II.
Isabel Fabro on October 27, 1951 in San
He entered the holy ministry of the Fernando, La Union. They bore six chilChurch in 1943 when he began attending dren, namely: Grace, Dan Paul, Rey Gloministerial classes in San Fernando, La rioso, Luz, Paulino Jr., and Lynbel. He is
Union. In August 1944, he was elevated to also survived by 17 grandchildren, 2 great
the status of Regular Evangelical Worker. grandchildren, and another great grandHe was ordained as a full-fledged minister child on the way.
on May 9, 1950 in Quiapo, Metro Manila
In 2 Timothy 4:7 in the World English
by Bro. Felix Y. Manalo.
Bible, Apostle Paul thus declared “ I have
On May 31, 1953, Bro. Paul was given fought the good fight. I have finished the
his first assignment as a District Minister. course. I have kept the faith.”Thank you
This was in the District of Ilocos Norte Brother Paul. Rest in peace.
where he served until 1956. His other as(For comments please email don.orozco@
signments as District Minister were in the sf-post.com)
A
FACC BUSINESS MIXER. The Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Santa Clara
County recently held a Business Mixer held at J Lohr Vineyards with Ms Eva Levine, discussing Financial Planning. Participating in the mixer are Ben Menor of Ace Capital Group;
Arnold Pedrigal of Power ng Pinoy; Luming Pestanas of TFC; Elemer Manuel of Synergy
Prime; Better Editor Carey Giudici, Realtor Josie Schooler; Mylah Spears of Vista Verde
Corporation and some other guests. FACC is under the leadership of Anne O Ramirez.
TENALI, INDIA. Members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo in Tenali, India under the District of Qatar pose to greet INC Executive Minister Brother Eduardo V Manalo on his 59th Birthday.
The local of Tenali is under the supervision of Srinivasu Rao Vankaminidi or more popularly
known as Brother Vasu.
INC WORLDWIDE BAPTISM. Sister Consuelo Cruz and Brother Glenn Gruspe were officially baptized into the Iglesia Ni Cristo last October 31, 2014. They were greeted by Abe and
Jane Gorgonio, Helen Avila, Florentina Calpito, Don Orozco, Nenita Mallare, Sister Letty,
Georgina Beceril, Edgar Embalsado and Rosing Regino with Brother Ronald Carlos of Hayward.
STATE OF DELAWARE. Brother Rex Rosquites, Iglesia Ni Cristo District Minister of the Ecclesiastical District Northeastern Seaboard is accompanied by Brother Sonny Santiago of the INC US Main
Office and some church officials to officially register the INC in the State of Delaware. Both Brother
Rex and Brother Sonny are Minister of the Gospel.
She also posted on her Instagram account
(Cont. from page 1... ELAINE GAMBOA) a picture of her grandmother smiling and
clad in a hospital gown.
She was 79.
“I will miss you laughing this much, this
KC Concepcion took to Twitter and Instagram to express her grief on the death of her way. I shared so many fun times with you
that I will recreate forever. You are my sungrandmother.
Concepcion said that she has lost the “love shine, Mita,” the actress said on her Instaof her life” and referred to Gamboa-Cuneta gram post.
Concepcion earlier tweeted that Cunetaas the “best grandma ever.”
“Hi. I just lost the love of my life today. My Gamboa will undergo a “make-or-break”
Mita will forever be the BEST GRANDMA operation Wednesday morning and asked
EVER. She will forever be with me. I love for prayers for her grandmother from her
you, my Mita,” Concepcion said in a tweet. fans.
Cuneta-Gamboa was a former beauty
The actress also said that Gamboa-Cuneta
queen and singer. She had two children, Cewill forever be her inspiration.
“My grandma will forever be my inspi- sar “Chet” Cuneta and Sharon Cuneta, from
ration. She loved life, gave us all beautiful her marriage with former Pasay City mayor
adventures. She knew me more than I knew Pablo Cuneta. She was also the sister of
myself. #SuperLola,” Concepcion tweeted. veteran actress Helen Gamboa.
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PAGE 12
Nov 6, 2014 - Nov 12, 2014
The Best and Worst Uses
for HELOCs
Home equity is a valuable asset for every homeowner and can provide funds for just about anything. However, when deciding to tap into your
home equity, homeowners should use extreme
caution and decide how valuable the investment
will be in a few years.
An advantage to tapping into your home equity
loan is the interest is often tax-deductible. But
before you decide to borrow from your home equity, make sure it makes sense to put your home
at risk.
Here a three uses for cashing out your home
equity that will help you in the future:
Home Improvements Homeowners can improve
the value of their home with updating the style
of the home, adding square footage, and bringing the house up to code. Updated kitchens and
bathrooms will add the most value to the house.
Paying for an Education Using a home equity
loan to further your education or your children’s
education is an efficient way to pay for college. A
higher education will also make you more valuable in the workplace.
Consolidating Debt The most common use for
a home equity loan is consolidating multiple balances into a single home loan. Since the loan is
secure on your home, the interest on the loan will
be lower than interest on a credit card. This can
also be very risky and will require discipline. It is
best to cut up all your credit cards and keep one
for emergencies only, to prevent you from running up your credit card balance. If you do run
your credit card balance up again, you’ll be in
worse shape than before.
FIL-AM POST
REAL ESTATE
Regulators Promise Thaw in Mortgage
Credit Underway
Regulators who oversee Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and
the Federal Housing Administration are telling mortgage
lenders that they’re ready
to cut them some slack, and
mortgage lenders say they’re
ready to run with the ball.
Speaking at the Mortgage
Bankers Association’s annual
convention, Mel Watt — who
runs Fannie and Freddie’s
regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency — said
a pact with the mortgage giants to be unveiled in coming
weeks should ease many of
the fears lenders have about
extending credit to riskier
borrowers.
Watt acknowledged lenders’
complaints about the lack of
clarity around exactly what
circumstances can trigger
buyback demands from Fannie and Freddie.
The “representation and
warranty” requirements that
lenders must agree to when
selling mortgages to Fannie
and Freddie were designed to
protect the mortgage giants
from sloppy and fraudulent
lending practices. But lenders
have said that as written, the
requirements can create liability for them on all but the
safest loans to the most creditworthy borrowers.
“We know that this issue has
contributed to lenders imposing credit overlays that drive
up the cost of lending and
also restrict lending to borrowers with less-than-perfect
credit scores or with less
conventional financial situations,” Watt said in a speech
to bankers.
Watt confirmed media reports that FHFA has reached
an agreement with Fannie
and Freddie on revising the
representation and warranty
an incorrect debt-to-income
ratio calculation on a single
loan.
Fannie and Freddie also will
be allowed to bring back programs allowing them to guarantee some mortgages with
down payments of as little as
requirements, and said lenders can expect to get more
clarity in coming weeks.
The revisions will still allow Fannie and Freddie to
demand that loan originators
buy back a loan at any time
when there has been a “pattern of misrepresentations or
data inaccuracies,” Watt said.
But Fannie and Freddie will
no longer be able to demand
that lenders buy back loans
if they fail during quality
control reviews to discover
mistakes made during the underwriting process, such as
3 percent. Like other loans
made to borrowers making
down payments of less than
20 percent, Fannie and Freddie will require them to obtain mortgage insurance at
additional expense.
Mortgage Bankers Association President David Stevens
called Watt’s speech, and similar remarks from Housing
Secretary Julián Castro, “extraordinary announcements
and extremely positive” for
mortgage lending, the Wall
Street Journal reported.
In his address, Castro noted
that even former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has said that he had trouble
refinancing his mortgage.
“If the former Fed chair is
having trouble, imagine the
frustration of average folks,”
Castro told mortgage bankers. “The pendulum has
swung too far in the
other direction. There’s
been a vacuum in the
market and it needs to
be filled.”
Castro said FHA is revising its Single Family
Housing Policy Handbook to give lenders
greater clarity on rules
governing loan originations, and is finalizing a new performance
metric designed to ensure that lenders aren’t
unfairly punished for
trying to serve borrowers with lower credit
scores.
Many lenders have
already “stepped up and
been successful in expanding credit to a wider range
of responsible borrowers,”
Castro said, noting that half
of the top 10 FHA lenders are
new to the list in the last three
years. “My question for you
is where do want to be in this
market opportunity? On the
frontlines? Or do you want to
leave business on the table?”
For more info, contact Genex
Realty office at 510 432 7438.
You may e-mail tax questions at
[email protected].
SPORTS
Ali doctor queries Parkinson’s link
Filipino jins grab six more medals
in World Poomsae
The national poomsae team continued to
deliver some good news as it bagged six
medals including a gold-medal finish in
mixed pair) in the tournament sanctioned
by the World Tae kwon do Federation.
Rodolfo Reyes Jr., Dustin Jacob Mella
and Raphael Enrico Mella (recognized poomsae
male team 30-under), and Rinna Babanto (recognized
poomsae
junior
individual female
and freestyle Under 17 individual
female) pocketed
the bronzes for the
country.
Overall, the Philippines has two
gold, two silver and
three bronze medals for sixth place
in the medal tally.
World champions
Jean Pierre Sabido,
Ernesto Guzman
Jr. and
GLITTERING GOLDS! Senior team event gold medallists Jean G l e n n
Pierre Sabido, Ernesto Guzman Jr. and Glenn Lava during the L a v a
awarding ceremony of the 9th World Tae kwon do Poomsae Cham- t o o k
pionsips in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Photo from World Tae kwon do the first
gold on
Federation Facebook account.
Day 1
by rulthe team event of the 9th World Tae kwon ing the men’s senior team event.
do Poomsae Championsips being held in
“Not yet time to celebrate. We
Aguascalientes, Mexico.
still have one day left and the
Jeordan Dominguez, Glenn Lava, Janice team is on fire. This is going
Lagman, Rani Ortega and Jaylord Seridon to be our best finish yet,” said
showcased a near flawless routine to rule Sabido.
the freestyle mixed team 17-over category.
Powerhouse South Korea is
They scored 7.88 points to beat Turkey’s leading the medal board with
Murat Sarikus, Seyyid Firat, Sedar Can, 10 golds, one silver and two
Fatma Torehan and Kubra Dagli, who had bronzes followed by Vietnam
7.64 and settled for silver.
(3-2-4), China (3-0-0) and USA
US and host Mexico got one bronze each. (2-3-9). Mexico, Taiwan, Spain
The silver medals of the team were from and Germany earned one gold
Ernesto Guzman (recognized poomsae in- each in the event participated
dividual male 40-under), and Dominguez by more than 50 countries.
and Jocel Lyn Ninobla (freestyle Over 17
LONDON – Muhammad Ali’s doctor has
said he cannot be certain that the boxing
great’s remarkable career in the ring contributed to the former world heavyweight champion suffering from Parkinson’s Disease.
It has long been asserted that the effect of
taking punishing head blows in fights against
the likes of George Foreman in the ‘Rumble
in the Jungle’, whose 40th anniversary was
celebrated this week, have been a key factor
in Ali suffering from Parkinson’s, a neurological condition which can cause its sufferers to
shake and have problems with their balance.
However, plenty of Parkinson’s victims
have not suffered anything like the head trauma that came Ali’s way during a 21-year ring
career.
And Dr. Abraham Lieberman, the Medical
Director of the Muhammad Ali Parkinson
Center, said Sunday it was impossible to be
sure regarding the root cause of American
sporting hero Ali’s condition.
“It’s only over the last 10 years that he’s had
a lot of trouble walking, with falls,” Lieberman told BBC Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek
program.
“So his course has been more that of typical
Parkinson’s Disease. If you look at the MRI
of his brain it looks pretty good but it’s very
difficult to factor in what sort of role did boxing play.
“People ask me about this and I tell them:
look at George Foreman. He boxed longer
than Muhammad did, took many more blows
to the head and he’s on television selling his
cookware.
“I think that he (Ali) has typical Parkinson’s
Disease. Did the boxing contribute? I don’t
know. It may have.”
Lieberman added: “He’s had Parkinson’s
since about 1984, that’s almost 30 years,
that’s a long time in Parkinson’s.
“He’s in good spirits, he has some trouble
walking but overall for having had Parkinson’s for 30 years, he’s doing OK.
“Muhammad is now 72 so you can have a
heart attack or you can have a stroke.”
“I don’t know that he’s more or less at risk
than anyone else but anything can happen
to you,” said Lieberman of Ali, who at the
height of his fame could lay claim to being
the most famous man on earth.
SHOWBIZ
FIL-AM POST
Bianca and Bea: Back-to-back victory?
Arnel Pineda gives back
Journey frontman mounts Asia-wide search for
next big rock band
“Somewhere in world right now, there are four
of five people sitting in a room, playing great
music, looking for that hope for their dreams to
come true; Arnel Pineda has the answer, and it’s
called the Asian Music Camp.”
This is how Rene Walter, chief executive officer of Sanre Entertainment, who manages the
international career of legendary band Journey’s Filipino frontman, introduced his ward’s
upcoming large-scale venture.
Owing his rise to fame from small clubs and
venues around Manila to headlining one of
the world’s most famous rock bands, Pineda
launched this week what is touted as the “newest and biggest Asian music talent competition
for bands.”
“I just want to give others the same amazing
opportunity I had to make it on the international
stage, so I’m inviting bands all over Asia—including Asian musicians in other parts of the
world—to send in one cover song and one
original song to www.asianmusiccamp.com,
for a chance to become the next big thing in the
music scene.”
Indeed a first-of-its kind talent search, Asian
Music Camp will progress from an online based
competition to a TV reality search in the tradi-
tion of Big Brother.
Arnel Pineda is giving other musicians the same amazing
opportunity he had to make it internationally.
“For three months beginning January 1, 2015,
we welcome raw videos of bands to join the
competition from which we will first select the
top 50 entries, then the top 20 and 10, and finally the top five contenders for the music camp,”
explained Arnel.
At the camp, cameras will be all over the place
as the bands are mentored by international music industry professionals, and like other reality
shows, depend on public votes for in selecting
the grand champion.
Derek Ramsay finally speaks up about amicable settlement with Mary Christine Jolly
“I’m lost for words. I got an opportunity to Avenue, Makati City, kagabi, November 4.
see [my son] now for more than one hour.” Ito Matatandaang nagbigay ng sulat si Austin kay
ang masayang pahayag ni Derek Ramsay, 37, Fiscal Erwin Dimayacyac ng Makati Prosecutungkol sa pagkakaayos nila ng estranged wife tor’s Office, kung saan inihayag ng bata ang
galit nito sa mga
na si Mary Christine
diumano’y pagkukuJolly, 34. Sa kaunalang ni Derek bilang
unahang
pagkaama. Sa preliminary
kataon ay ibinahagi
investigation noong
ng TV5 actor ang
September 25, ang
tungkol sa pagkikita
naturang sulat ay
nila ng 11-taongkasama sa mga inigulang na anak nila
haing
supporting
ni Mary, matapos
documents ni Mary
magkasundo ang eskaugnay ng reklamtranged couple. “He
ong paglabag sa R.A.
said a lot of things
that melted my Yeah, I spoke with Angelica [about the concubinage com- 9262 o Anti-Vioheart, great things. plaint]. I apologized to her family and everything is okay. I lence Against Wom“’Di ba, alam na- also informed the mom [of Angelica] that everything is all en and their Children
man natin yung su- over,” says Derek Ramsay in a one-on-one interview with PEP. Act na isinampa nito
lat na he hates me? ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) last night, November 4. laban kay Derek.
Ngunit
ngayong
“That’s not what he
maayos na ang lasaid to me when we
spent time together. “He’s a great kid, a smart hat sa pagitan ng estranged couple, umaasa si
kid. “I know we’re taking baby steps. But in Derek na tuluy-tuloy na ang pag-usbong ng
the few times that I’ve seen him, we’ve taken magandang samahan nila ng kanyang anak.
huge leaps in creating a father and son bond,” Sa katunayan, nakatakdang magkita muli ang
saad ni Derek tungkol sa huling pagkikita nila mag-ama ngayong araw, November 5. “I’m
excited to see him and spend all day with him.
ng anak.
Eksklusibong nakapanayam ng PEP.ph Maybe we’re gonna look for a dog. He wants
(Philippine Entertainment Portal) si Derek sa a dog. “Basically, we’ll do whatever he wants
25th anniversary celebration ng Swatch, na to do. We’re taking baby steps. “I’m gonna be
ginanap sa Swatch+Swatch center sa Arnaiz his friend.
BACK-TO-BACK - Highspeed’s beauty
expert (second to none) Jay P. Delgado
notes that Venezuela scored a back-to-back
victory in the Miss Universe beauty pageant, 2008 and 2009. India did the same in
Miss World, 1999 and 2000. Ditto Sweden,
1951 and 1952 and United Kingdom, 1964
and 1965.
How about Miss International?
“Wala pa,” says JPD.
How about the Philippines? Is there a
chance reigning Bb. Pilipinas-International
Bianca Guidotti will be crowned by outgoing Miss International Bea Rose Santiago
in Tokyo?
Let’s see. Why not?” JPD smiles.
• FLUENT IN – JPD writes more about
Bianca.
Bb. Pilipinas-International 2014 Mary
Anne Bianca Garcia Guidotti, a 25-yearold, 5’10” multi-lingual beauty from Taguig City, has big shoes to fill when she left
for Tokyo, Japan to vie for the 54th Miss
International Pageant.
The reigning titleholder is Bea Rose Santiago, who won the Philippines’ fifth Miss
International crown last year, a feat that
wonderfully capped 2013 with equally
stunning victories by Megan Young as the
first Pinay Miss World and Mutya Datul as
he first Asian Miss Supranational.
Guidotti, fondly called “Marianne” or
“Bianca,” shrugs off the pressure, keeps a
positive outlook and intends to do her best
and enjoy the entire journey. A graduate of
European Studies major in International
Relations at Ateneo de Manila University,
Bianca fluently speaks English, Pilipino,
Spanish and Portuguese. She has a working knowledge of Nippongo, as part of her
preparations for the Tokyo pageant.
Bianca was born on Sept. 5, 1989 in Quezon City and currently resides in Taguig
City. She lived in Brazil for 6 years while
her grandmother was a Diplomat for the
Department of Foreign Affairs, and then in
her later years when her mother remarried
a Brazilian citizen.
• HUMANITARIAN – Prior to winning
the Bb. Pilipinas-International 2014 title
said. “(But) she knows na mahal na mahal
namin siya and she knows na we are always
there for her nagbabantay, tumatawag kung
ano na ang nangyayari.”
The actress wishes that Elaine, whom
she considers the “best lola in the whole
world,” would get well in time for Christmas and her 80th birthday on December
31.
“She loves life, I’m sure ngayon iniisip
na niya anong ihahanda niya sa Christmas.
I’m sure gusting-gusto na niyang umalis sa
hospital,” KC related.
The daughter of Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion noted that her grandmother,
whom she fondly calls Mita, is the one who
usually decorates the house and cooks food
for Noche Buena.
The actress went on to thank the doctors and nurses who are taking care of her
grandmother, who has undergone an operation for stomach ulcer in September.
at the Big Dome last March 30, she was
working as a technical assistant in a nongovernmental organization – Community
and Family Relations International – which
is engaged in the humanitarian response to
loss of life and livelihood due to natural
Bb. Pilipinas-International 2014 Mary Anne
Bianca Garcia Guidotti
and man-made disasters.
Bianca’s family, friends, mentors and fellow Bb. Pilipinas titleholders and members
of media attended the despedida last Oct.
23, giving good luck wishes that made the
5-foot-10 beauty queen emotional and extremely grateful to all her supporters.
Bianca will be competing against 80 other
delegates worldwide in the two-week long
pageant in Japan. The finals will be held at
the Grand Prince Hotel Tanakawa in Tokyo
on Nov. 11.
Pinoy pageant fans are enjoined to log on
to www.miss-international.org and vote for
Miss Philippines Bianca Guidotti and support her campaign for a first ever back-toback victory in Miss International history.
‘PBB’ winner Myrtle goes sexy, admits
dating Grace Poe’s son
Emotional KC misses grandmother
Actress KC Concepcion broke into tears
sharing her longing for her ailing grandmother Elaine Cuneta, who has been confined at a hospital for some two months
now.
On “Kris TV,” Monday, KC admitted that
her lola has been placed in Reverse Isolation to
k e e p
h e r
f r o m
acquiri n g
infections.
“That’s
why we
are not
allowed
to visit
(yet),”
KC with grandmother (Screengrab/’Kris TV’) K
C
PAGE 13
Nov 6, 2014 - Nov 12, 2014
“Pinoy Big Brother” Myrtle Sarrosa is the cover girl for the November issue of FHM Philippines. FHM/Publicity photo
MANILA, Philippines - “Pinoy Big Brother”
winner Myrtle Sarrosa strips her wholesome
image and dons a sexier look as she becomes
the cover girl for the November issue of men’s
magazine FHM Philippines.
Aside from winning the ABS-CBN reality
show in 2012 , the 19-year-old Myrtle is best
known for wearing anime-inspired costumes as
a cosplayer.
In an interview with ABS-CBN’s showbiz talk
show “The Buzz” on Sunday, Myrtle explained
why she decided to do the sexy pictorial for the
popular men’s magazine.
“I guess it’s my way of saying, ‘Hello Philippines, hello world, hindi na ako yung teenager
dati.’ Kasi I’ve been stuck in that image,” she
said. “I’m not a kid anymore. I’m ready for
more mature roles.”
Myrtle, who is currently studying at the University of the Philippines, also admits dating
Bryan Llamanzares, the son of Sen. Grace Poe
Llamanzares.
“Well, sabi niya nililigawan niya ako. [Sabi
ko] we’re dating, getting to know stage,” she
said of her relationship with Bryan.
She also said, “We both believe in courtship.
Hindi pa ako nagkaka-boyfriend. Sabi nga ng
mom ko, ‘Magku-cover ka na sa men’s magazine, hindi ka pa nagkaka-boyfriend!’
The ABS-CBN artist revealed she even asked
for the permission of Sen. Grace Poe before
posing for FHM.
“We are very close kasi lagi akong bumibisita sa family niya kasi ‘yung little sister ni
Bryan, I’m friends with her. Nung nakita ko si
Tita Grace, I told her na I might cover for FHM
and I asked permission from her,” Myrtle said.
“And she said susuportahan nila ako as long as
wala akong super hubad na photo.”
Why Karylle is all smiles
Singer-actress and theater
performer Karylle is still the
blushing bride half a year into
her marriage to SpongeCola
vocalist Yael Yuzon. Besides
her personal happiness, she is
also doing a great job juggling
her roles as a celebrity and
young wife.
As if life couldn’t get any better, she just landed a brand new
endorsement that is very close
to her heart. The It’s Showtime host happily revealed to
The Manila Times that she is
now the brand ambassador of
mouthwash brand OraCare, a
responsibility she believes she
can perform credibility what
with having a dentist for a dad.
According to Karylle, she had
learned the importance of oral
hygiene at a very young age.
“A lot of people don’t regularly go to the dentist so my
dad’s always reminding me
what I should do in between
so I don’t neglect my teeth and
oral health in general,” she explained.
A self-confessed foodie, she
learned from her father that in
order to avoid bad breath from
spices and the like, brushing is
not enough.
“A good mouthwash is always necessary,” Karylle declared. “With Oracare, there
is no sting or burning sensation that other people dislike
about mouthwashes. Still, its
active ingredient—stabilized
chlorine dioxide—kills bad
bacteria and neutralizes volatile sulfur compounds, the
main culprits of strong mouth
odors,” she said like a true
dentist’s daughter.
Moreover, as a singer and
host, oral hygiene is a top
priority for Karylle since her
mouth and voice are her key
tools.
“It’s important for me to have
a healthy mouth and fresh
breath because it gives me a
certain level of confidence I
performing,” she continued.
“So at the end of the day, this
endorsement is one that’s really up my alley. I’m very happy
to be OraCare’s newest brand
ambassador,” she concluded
Karylle
with a smile.
CLASSIFIED
PAGE 14
Nov 6, 2014 - Nov 12, 2014
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GAMES & ENTERTAINMENT
CROSSWORD
SUDOKU
To solve a Sudoku puzzle, place a number into each box
so that each row across, each column down, and each
small 3x3 square within the larger diagram (there are 9
of these) will contain every number from 1 through 9. In
other words, no number will appear more than once in any
row, column, or smaller 3x3 square. Working with the numbers already given as a guide, complete each diagram with
the missing numbers that will lead to the correct solution.
(Answers for Crossword and Sudoku on page 15)
Across
1. That, in France
5. Spreads on
breads
10. Rain torrentially
14. Landlocked
Asian sea
15. Shoe specification
16. High mountain, to Henri
17. TV, movies,
comics, etc.
19. 20’s-30’s cars
20. Without face
value, as
stock
21. Soundabsorbing
flooring
23. ___ Rivera,
Calif.
26. Treat for an
elephant
27. Spotted
ocean predator
32. NYPD alert
33. Country in
the West Indies
34. “White
April” poet
38. “Hud” actress
40. Way beyond
well done
42. They were
once “The most
trusted name in
television”
43. Italian salami
city
45. Roadside inn
47. RunD.M.C.’s music
48. Fail magnificently
51. Third-century
pope
54. Implement
55. Back section
of seats
58. Doggy
62. Place to put a
thimble
63. Musical with
the song
“Singapore Sue”
66. Senora’s son
67. Certain
rocket engine
68. Via, informally
69. It follows 11
70. Dutch river
71. Gawky types
Down
1. ___ Crunch
(cereal brand)
2. Slangy suffix
with smack or
sock
3. Northern Scandinavian
4. Creator of Li’l
Abner
5. Bird of prey
6. Torched
7. The “E” of
N.E.A.: Abbr.
8. Other, south of
the border
9. Everest climber’s
porter
10. Person who
joins in
11. Vegetable oil
component
12. Western
Samoan island
13. Computer
button
18. Dickens’ Heep
22. Gourmet
Graham
24. Fiddler, for one
25. Deep dislikes
27. “M” director
28. Type of foil
29. Scottish port
30. ___ Brewery
Co., of Detroit
31. Suggest subtly
35. Neutral tone
36. European
industrial area.
37. “Stump the
Schwab” cable
channel
39. When said three
times, a
real estate mantra
41. Sinew: Comb.
form
44. ‘Rule, Britannia’ composer
Thomas
46. Parkinson’s
disease drug
49. Hang out on
the line
50. Drunk, in slang
51. Wharton’s sch.
52. 2:1 or 5:2, e.g.
53. Disney dog of
“Cinderella”
56. Actress Charlotte and
family
57. Ambulance grp.
59. Workers’
protection org.
60. Bennett of
“What’s My
Line”
61. Deutschland
dwelling
64. “But I heard
him exclaim,
___ he ...”
65. Old ____ (the
sun)
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PAST WEEKLY ISSUES AT
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HOROSCOPE
Aries March 20 - April 18
At the end of the day, you’re the one who has
to look in the mirror and know who you are,
Aries. Think about this the next time you’re
tempted to make a rude comment or spread
a displeasing fact about someone else.
Taurus April 19 - May 19
When it comes to romance, your body is apt
to turn to jelly today. You may be so emotional that you can’t function, Taurus. That’s
love. And even though it can be heavenly, it
can also be debilitating.
Gemini May 20 - June 19
Will you go out with me? Be careful if a person says yes when you ask that question
today, Gemini. You could take the nature
of this situation to the extreme. Saying yes
doesn’t mean you’re suddenly in charge of
his or her life.
Cancer June 20 - July 21
Powerful issues arise in your life that make it
difficult to find peace, Cancer. Perhaps your
first tendency is to confide in your partner.
More than likely, this person is contributing
to the difficulties you’re now having.
Leo July 22 - August 21
You may be trying to get to the end of the
road too quickly without really enjoying all
the steps along the way, Leo. This is especially true when it comes to any sort of artistic project or romantic partnership that you
might be involved in at this time.
Virgo August 22 - September 21
When your heart is gently touched, it feels
loving, generous, and supportive of everyone, Virgo. If your heart is lonely, it feels deserted by everyone. It would be impossible
to try to make sense of why things need to
be so extreme for you, but the fact of the
matter is that you don’t need to figure it out
rationally.
Libra September 22 - October 21
You may be like a giant trying to befriend a
small bug, Libra. You have absolutely nothing in common and don’t even speak the
same language. With one accidental move,
you could easily squash that little bug.
Scorpio October 22 - November 20
There is irony in today’s situation, Scorpio.
The only real remedy for situations like this
is to accept them and joke about it. If you
try to take yourself too seriously, especially
when it comes to art or romance, you will
inevitably fail.
Sagittarius November 21 - December 20
The hungrier you get, the more determined
you will become, Sagittarius. Be careful that
your determination doesn’t turn into desperation and neediness. It’s unattractive and
will get you nowhere. Keep on the upward
spiral, and let determination turn into inspiration and cooperation.
Capricorn December 21 - January 18
If you’re in the market for romance, Capricorn, whether with a new partner or rekindling the fire with a current partner, be
careful. Small issues could rage out control
today. Extreme conditions are likely to occur,
thanks to your sensitive emotions combined
with a surge of energy from the outside.
Aquarius January 19 - February 17
Things may get a bit difficult in your romantic
life because of someone in the partnership
who isn’t necessarily taking a very realistic
approach to the situation, Aquarius. There’s
a bit of a power play going on as someone
tries to throw their weight around without
considering the other person’s feelings.
Pisces February 18 - March 19
Your creative juices are flowing freely, Pisces, but
there appears to be a roadblock. Something or
someone apparently doesn’t want you to continue
down the path you’re on. Perhaps he or she is
scared that you’re going to discover a whole new
passion in life that they don’t necessarily agree with.
Don’t forget who is running your show - you and no
one else.
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AUTOMOTIVE
FIL-AM POST
PAGE 15
Nov 6, 2014 - Nov 12, 2014
Nissan sales rise 13% on car, crossover volume
DETROIT -- Nissan Motor Corp., aided
by strong crossover and small-car demand,
reported a 13 percent increase in October
sales.
Sales at the Nissan division rose 15 percent to 94,072 -- an October record -- but
volume slipped 1 percent at Infiniti, the
company said today.
Overall, the Nissan Group’s car deliveries rose 15 percent and light-truck volume
climbed 11 percent. Demand for the Nissan Rogue crossover increased 14 percent while sales of the Murano crossover
jumped 38 percent.
Sales at the Nissan brand have now increased 13 consecutive months.
Fred Diaz, head of U.S. sales, marketing
and aftersales for Nissan, credited “high
consumer confidence and low gas prices”
for the company’s results and predicted
those factors “will continue to boost auto
sales for the last two months of 2014.”
Nissan said deliveries of the Versa and
Leaf each rose 29 percent,
and Sentra volume jumped
56 percent.
The all-electric Leaf set
an October sales record of
2,589. Nissan said the Leaf
has already set a record for
most U.S. sales in a year
by an EV at 24,411 -- with
two months to go.
Other automakers are
scheduled to release October results later today in
what is expected to be another solid month
and start to a strong fourth quarter.
Light-vehicle sales are projected to increase 6 percent to 1.28 million across the
nouncement is
made, I share the
following general information as a guide to begin
to help prepare our community for
the future announcement.
One important way to prepare is
by collecting documents that help
establish your identity, demonstrate your presence in U.S. communities, and show family ties to
U.S. citizens and legal residents.
This type of documentation may
be required to show eligibility
for deportation relief. I have prepared a list below of the types of
documents that may be helpful to
gather now in order to be better
prepared for any future announcement by President Obama.
We will update this list once the
President announces the details
about the steps that he will take
to improve our immigration system and the specific requirements
to qualify and apply. Be sure to
check back for updates and additional information.
(Cont. from page 1... POSSIBLE IMMIGRATION)
executive authority where he
could to fix our immigration system and improve our security.
The Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson was tasked by the
President to recommend a range
of actions that the Administration
could take under existing law. The
Congressional Hispanic Caucus
prepared a memorandum for the
President and Secretary Johnson
outlining adjustments that can be
made by the Executive Branch to
improve our immigration system
to support family unity, to make
immigration enforcement more
humane, and to focus federal resources on criminals rather than
on relatives of U.S. citizens who
have long-standing community
ties and no criminal records.
WARNING: The President has
not yet announced what improvements he will make to our immigration system. And while it is impossible to know who will qualify
for deportation relief until the an-
industry in October, based on a survey of
eight analysts polled by Bloomberg. The
annualized sales rate, adjusted for seasonal
factors,
may rise
to 16.4
million
f r o m
1 5 . 4
million
a year
earlier,
forecasts
show. In
August,
the SAAR surged to 17.5 million, the highest since January 2006.
If the SAAR projection holds, the annualized pace of sales will have topped 16 mil-
lion every month beginning with March.
Light-truck demand, which has propelled
the market this year, is expected to get another boost from falling gasoline prices,
automakers and analysts say.
“Crossover sales are booming,” said Diaz.
In many parts of the country, average
gasoline prices have dropped below $3 a
gallon.
J.D. Power said last week that falling gas
prices were prompting big pickup owners
to remain in the segment when it came time
to trade in -- a development that bodes especially well for the Detroit 3.
In March 2013, when gasoline prices
averaged $3.71 a gallon, J.D. Power said
nearly 32 percent of large-pickup owners
trading in their vehicle decided to switch
to another segment that offered higher fuel
economy.
(Cont. from page 1... COURT UPHOLDS) IRS Criminal Investigation and make a voluntary disclosure. Mr.
comes in. His facts are complex,
and he tried to come forward in Zwerner disclosed the existence of
2009 even before the IRS had a his offshore account (including inspecial program. You’d think that come generated by the account) on
might immunize him, but it didn’t. his timely filed 2007 tax return and
The IRS went after Mr. Zwerner paid the taxes.
But it was not done perfectly. His
for $3,488,609.33 in penalties for
FBAR violations. How did it get to former tax lawyer asked the IRS
that huge number? It’s 50% of the anonymously, so in IRS parlance,
highest balance in the account each Mr. Zwerner didn’t fully come
year. Mr. Zwerner fought the pen- forward. Still, he did file amended
alty in court, but a jury has upheld returns for 2004, 2005 and 2006
the IRS. The jury found Mr. Zw- and FBARs. But in 2010, the IRS
erner willful for 2004, 2005 and began an audit.
It didn’t go well, and the IRS
2006, but not for 2007. See Florida
Man Penalized Record 150% for pushed hard. In fact, it was going
so badly that Mr. Zwerner tried to
Swiss Account.
That meant FBAR penalties join the 2011 IRS program called
of $2,241,809 for an account the OVDI. However, the IRS reworth$1,691,054, less than the fused to allow him to participate
penalties. What was considered because he was under
willful? Mr. Zwerner kept the ac- audit. These are unusual
counts under two different en- facts, but should have
tity names, and his tax return said helped Mr. Zwerner, not
“No” he didn’t have any foreign hurt him.
Remember, the governaccounts. Still, there were some
ment carries the burden of
sympathetic facts here.
Mr. Zwerner is 87 years old. He proving willfulness. Yet
had his tax counsel in 2008 contact there may be little sympa-
thy for someone with large financial resources who fails to inquire
about reporting requirements. Plus,
willfulness can include conscious
efforts to avoid learning about the
FBAR reporting. It is sometimes
called willful blindness.
Are these penalties excessive?
Some say they are, and this legal
question may now be squarely
raised. The court is expected to
address that next, even considering whether such penalties could
be unconstitutional. The Excessive
Fines Clause of the Eighth Amendment suggests that a civil penalty
may be unconstitutional if it is part
punishment, and if the punishment
is grossly disproportionate to the
conduct.
For questions, email lozano4law@
yahoo.com
PAGE 16
Nov 6, 2014 - Nov 12, 2014
FIL-AM POST