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ENTERTAINMENT
Saicy sizzles in her ‘most daring’
shoot page 13
FREE
Can House GOP stay on
immigration script
VOL. 3 ISSUE 7
VIEW US ONLINE: WWW.FILAMPOST.COM
W
A wave breaks at Mavericks at Half Moon Bay in Monterey Bay, California.
Northern California residents are being warned to be bracing a powerful storm that
could be the biggest in five years and prompted the National Weather Service to issue
a high wind and flash flood warning.
Ex-solon, DAR execs face
charges over fertilizer scam
ANILA, Philippines –
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales has ordered the filing of charges
against former Marinduque
Representative Edmundo
Reyes and officials of the
Department of Agriculture
(DA) in connection with
the fertilizer fund scam.
Aside from Reyes, to be
charged before the Sandiganbayan are DA officials
Dennis Araullo, Raymundo
Braganza, Balagtas Torres, Rodolfo Guieb, Lucille
Odejar, and Dory Iranzo.
Included in the charges
was Margie Tajon Luz,
president and chairman of
the board of trustees of Gabaymasa Foundation, Inc.,
a nongovernment organization.
The Ombudsman found
them liable for malversation of public funds and
violation of Section 3(e) of
Republic Act No. 3019 or
M
the Anti-Graft and Corrupt
Practices Act.
In her order, Morales said
Reyes and the DA officials
chose Gabaymasa as a project implementor under the
government’s Farm Inputs
and Farm Implements Program even when it was not
a properly accredited NGO.
Commission on Audit
(COA) Circular No. 96-00
provides that NGOs should
undergo
accreditation,
verification and validation
before being allowed to
implement projects.
Earlier, the Department of
Budget and Management
(DBM) identified Marinduque as one of the beneficiaries in the program to
supply farmers with fertilizers. The province was
then given P5 million from
the P728-million allotted
for the program.
(Cont. on Page 15)
ASHINGTON (AP) After declaring President Barack Obama’s new
policy on deportations “null
and void,” House Republicans are ready to fund the
federal government before
a Thursday deadline without additional immigrationrelated controversy, adjourn
for the year and await a new,
GOP-controlled Senate in
January.
Maybe.
If so, it would mark a rare
occasion since a tea party-
DEC 11, 2014 - DEC 17, 2014
heavy Republican majority took over four years ago
that Plan A went according
to script. Last year’s partial government shutdown,
higher tax rates for millions enacted in 2012 and a
humbling 2011 surrender on
payroll taxes are evidence of
that.
Nor is there any certainty Republicans will force
Obama to back down, even
if they do stick to the path
they are
(Cont. on Page 9)
on.
Hazardous storm
heads toward
California’s Bay area
S
AN FRANCISCO - The
National Weather Service
has issued a high wind and
flash flood warning in preparation for a strong storm headed
to the San Francisco Bay Area.
The storm is expected to arrive Wednesday and pelt the
region through Thursday.
The National Weather Service in Monterey, California,
said Monday that this storm
is “expected to be one of the
strongest storms in terms of
wind and rain intensity” since
storms in October 2009 and
January 2008 respectively.
Heavy rainfall is expected,
especially in the North Bay.
Overall, the heaviest rainfall totals are expected from western Washington to
Northern California, with numerous
3-to 5-inch rainfall
totals
expected.
This includes much
of the San Francisco Bay Area and
A vehicle drives through a flooded street in Sacramento,
Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014.
Heavy rain from a powerful Pacific storm
swept through California providing some relief from a three-year drought.
PULSE ASIA SURVEY:
BINAY
FALLING,
POE
SURGING
ANILA,
Philippines–Vice
President Jejomar Binay’s
voter preference ratings continued
to take a dive, going down 5 percentage points in November after
plunging 10 points in September,
according to a Pulse Asia survey.
In contrast, the ratings of neophyte
Sen. Grace Poe surged, dislodging
Interior Secretary Mar Roxas from
second place on the list of candidates voters would choose to head
the country.
Results of the nationwide survey, conducted from Nov. 14 to 20,
showed that Binay continued to lead
the pack of potential candidates for
president with a 26-percent rating.
But this was down 5 percentage
points from his previous 31-percent
rating in September and 41 percent
in July.
Poe’s rating, on the other hand,
jumped to 18 percent from 10 percent, placing her in second place, up
from fourth place in September.
M
(Cont. on Page 7)
(Cont. on Page 5)
TRENDING
Cristalle Henares Not Rushing
To Get Married -page 13
FIL-AM POST
NATIONAL
Obama fills in for Stephen Colbert
Senate report: CIA misled public
Washington (CNN) -- Barack Obama may
“I think that is where Disney got the idea
on torture
be the President of the United States, but for Frozen,” the President said to laughs.
PAGE 2
Dec 11, 2014 - Dec 17, 2014
Washington (CNN) -- The CIA’s harsh interrogations of terrorist detainees during
the Bush era didn’t work, were more brutal
than previously revealed and delivered no
“ticking time bomb” information that prevented an attack, according to an explosive
Senate report released Tuesday.
The majority report issued by the Senate
Intelligence Committee is a damning condemnation of the tactics -- branded by critics as torture -- the George W. Bush administration deployed in the fear-laden days
after
the
September
11,
2001
terrorist attacks. The
techniques,
according to
the report,
were “deeply flawed,”
poorly managed and often resulted
in
“fabricated” infor- Senate Itelligence Committee
mation.
The report is reigniting the partisan divide
over combating terrorism that dominated
Washington a decade ago. Democrats argue the tactics conflict with American values while leading members of the Bush
administration insist they were vital to preventing another attack.
The CIA immediately hit back at the report, saying in a statement that the program
was “effective” and substantially helped its
understanding of al Qaeda’s tactical operations and goals. But President Barack
Obama said the report reinforced his view
that the harsh interrogation methods “were
not only inconsistent with our values as
a nation, they did not serve our broader
counterterrorism efforts or our national security interests.”
In its most graphic details, an execu-
tive summary of the report finds that conditions for detainees at top secret overseas
interrogation sites were much harsher than
the CIA has previously admitted. It finds
that high value detainees were subjected to
methods like waterboarding and sleep deprivation “in near nonstop fashion for days
or weeks at a time.”
“In many cases, the most aggressive techniques were used immediately, in combination and nonstop,” the report says.
“Sleep deprivation involved keeping detainees awake for up to
180 hours, usually standing or in painful stress positions, at times with their
hands shackled above their
heads.”
In one facility, a detainee
was said to have died of
hypothermia after being
held “partially nude” and
chained to a concrete floor,
while at other times, naked
prisoners were hooded and
dragged up and down corridors while being slapped
and punched.
Multiple CIA detainees subjected to the
techniques suffered from hallucinations,
paranoia, insomnia and tried to mutilate
themselves, the report says.
On one occasion, high-value al Qaeda
suspect Abu Zubaydah became completely unresponsive after a period of intense
waterboarding. He had “bubbles rising
through his open full mouth,” the report
says.
Meanwhile, the confessed mastermind of
the September 11 attacks, Khalid Shaikh
Mohammed, was subjected to a “series of
near drownings.”
The report finds that at least 119 detainees
went through the CIA detention program
and at least 26 were held “wrongfully,”
partly because there was no information to
justify their detention.
for a few minutes on Monday, he was also
Stephen Colbert, outgoing host of “The
Colbert Report.”
Obama sat down for an interview with
Colbert in Washington -- his third appearance on the show -- and surprised the host
by taking over the taping for a segment.
“You’ve been taking a lot of shots at my
job, I’ve decided to take a shot at yours,”
Obama said before taking over for Colbert
on “The Word,” a segment where Colbert
(in this case, Obama) says a line or two before a witty word or phrases flashes to the
right. “How hard can this be? I am just going to say whatever you were about to say.”
From there, Obama launched into a monologue about Obamacare, congressional Republicans and his last two years in office.
“Nation,” Obama said, referring to his audience like Colbert does. “As you know, I,
Stephen Colbert, have never cared for our
President. That guy is so arrogant. I bet he
talks about himself in the third person.”
After talking about Obamacare, the President asked, “How do you stop something
that more and more people are starting to
like?”
Next to Obama flashed “Move it to CBS,”
a nod to the fact that in two weeks Colbert
will be stepping down from his Comedy
Central show to take over for David Letterman at the “The Late Show” on CBS.
The President went on to detail how Republicans could stop Obamacare.
“They could pass a bill repealing Obamacare. But the President still has the veto
and if I know that guy, he is willing to use
it,” Obama said. “And let’s face it, even if
Republicans somehow did repeal it, they
would have to replace it with their own
health care plan. Once they touch it, they
own it, and then if anything goes wrong,
suddenly everybody will be complaining
about Mitch McConnell-care.”
“Walk It Off.gov” then flashed next to the
President.
Near the close of the segment, Obama
joked, noting that last year’s Obamacare
rollout was “a little bumpy.”
Obama stayed in character for the end of
the segment, too.
“We will be right back with the leader of
the free world,” the President said, looking at his page like he couldn’t remember his own name before adding, “Barack
Obama.”
Following a break, Obama and Colbert
sat down for a somewhat more traditional
interview, where the President defended
his decision to issue an executive action on
immigration reform and the recent positive
jobs report.
“The economy is growing at a faster rate
than it has for years,” Colbert said. “Why
didn’t you fix the economy before the midterm elections? I would have done it before
the midterms so people were happy when
they voted.”
“Actually, the economy has been on a
pretty good run,” Obama said, before listing a number of economic indicators about
job creation and growth that his White
House regularly pushes.
“I’ll give it to you. You’ve employed a lot
of people, mostly as secretary of defense,”
Colbert said, a crack at the fact that Obama
recently parted ways with his third, Chuck
Hagel, and nominated his fourth, Ash Carter.
On immigration, Obama said his decision
to issue an executive order is “scrupulously
within the law” and something that both
Democratic and Republican presidents
have done.
“You realize you are an emperor now. It
has been declared,” Colbert joked, referring to an attack some Republicans used
against the President during his immigration decision. “You are Barackus Maxamus
the First.”
Obama seemed to enjoy his time behind
“The Colbert Report” desk, too.
“I will say, I felt more powerful behind
that desk,” Obama said.
Colbert responded with a self-deprecating
joke: “With great power comes medium
cable ratings.”
Governors Are Urged to Sign Port
Authority Reform
Legislation to overhaul the Port Authority
of New York and New Jersey remains unsigned by both states’ governors even after
a second report was released on the politically connected lane closures at the George
Washington Bridge and despite renewed
calls from legislators.
Lawmakers from the two states on Tuesday held a news conference aimed at pressuring Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris
Christie and Democratic New York Gov.
Andrew Cuomo to sign the measures,
which both states’ legislatures have passed.
Republican New York state Sen. Marty
Golden said for too long the Port Authority, which oversees the bridge, has operated in the dark and the best disinfectant
in government is sunlight. Democratic
New Jersey state Sen. Bob Gordon said the
overwhelming support in both states was
astounding.
“I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say
that it’s historic,” Gordon said.
The bills are aimed at increasing transparency at the Port Authority, which has
responsibility over the region’s airports,
tunnels, ports and bridges. At the George
Washington Bridge, workers closed access
lanes in Fort Lee, New Jersey, last September as part of a scheme led by a former
Christie aide and a Port Authority official
with longtime ties to Christie.
Democratic New Jersey state Sen. Loretta
Weinberg, who co-chairs the panel investigating the lane closures, said she’d assume
the governors don’t need any pressure to
get the bills signed.
“They know about the excesses. They
know about the toll increases,” she said.
“If they need any more pressure ? well, I
won’t complete that sentence.”
Cuomo spokesman Richard Azzopardi
said Monday the legislation hadn’t been
delivered to the governor’s office and was
still under review. Christie spokesman
Kevin Roberts also said the bills remain
under review.
A storm with destructive potential is coming to the Bay Area tonight and through
tomorrow. Crews have been working nonstop to prepare for all the problems expected to result.
Winds in the Bay Area will be gusting at
more than 50 miles per hour in urban areas
and 70-80 miles per hour in the mountains
and hills means.
This could easily be the storm of the
decade and preps are being made across
the Bay Area to step-in if needed. Marin
County is getting set to activate its emergency operations center and make reverse
911 calls to homeowners if needed. In Mill
Valley, they’ve put up this huge sign telling folks to be ready for the storm. Over in
Tiburon, sandbags are in place at the Cove
Shopping Center.
San Francisco’s Emergency Operations
Center is on alert to respond to any major
storm-related issues. Crews will be out
again today clearing catch basins across
the city. The mayor is also asking people to
clear away leaves and debris that may clog
storm drains.
The Coast Guard is also advising the public to use extreme caution if you are on
or around the water. Strong winds are expected to churn up some dangerous waves.
Boat owners are also being asked to secure
their vessels, because many break free during big storms.
For the city of Santa Cruz, the incoming
storm is just more of a good thing. After
last week’s rain, the city lifted its water
restrictions, which are some of the state’s
stiffest. Officials say they want to show
mandatory rationing will only be imposed
when it’s absolutely necessary which is not
the case right now.
The fact we knew this storm was coming
is giving everyone plenty of time to prepare. That means all hands on deck at the
Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
in Sacramento with coordinators communicating with the national weather service
and local agencies. One of those agencies
is the Red Cross. They’re now encouraging
us to use this early warning wisely.
Bay Area preparing for huge storm
THEFT OF FREE NEWSPAPER IS A CRIME IN THIS STATE
FIL-AM POST
WORLD BRIEF
Kenya investigates Al-Jazeera over ‘death
squad’ report
ing the report “scandalous and
unethical”.
Rights groups have in the past
accused Kenya of carrying out
extrajudicial killings.
The Kenyan interior ministry
accused the Al-Jazeera network of trying to “derail” Kenyan efforts to fight militancy.
“The documentary was deliberately planned and aired at
a time when Kenya is seeking
support to strengthen its war
against terror,” the ministry
tweeted.
The most high-profile killings were aimed at Muslim
radicals, including those with
links to the al-Shabab militant
group, according to the report.
It also alleged that Western
The report alleged an Islamist fighter was gunned down by police in Mombasa
intelligence agencies provided
some of the information needKenya has ordered Al-Jazeera be investigated and face
possible charges over a report alleging the country’s po- ed to carry out the assassinations.
The Kenyan authorities have been under pressure
lice run death squads.
The report heard from men claiming to be anti-terror since last year’s deadly Westgate shopping mall attack.
President Uhuru Kenyatta replaced his interior minisofficers, who said they killed suspects on government
ter and police chief earlier in December after al-Shabab
orders.
The Kenyan government denied the allegations, call- massacred 36 quarry workers.
Iraq PM asks Hagel for more
help fighting ISIS
Asked later about al-Abadi’s
BAGHDAD -- Iraqi Prime
Minister Haider al-Abadi request, Hagel told reporters,
told U.S. Defense Secretary “I appreciated his directness,”
Chuck Hagel on Tuesday but he was not more specific
that his army is taking the about how he responded.
U.S. officials assert that the
offensive against the Islamic
State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) Iraqis’ biggest need is comgroup but needs more air petent military leadership,
power and heavy weaponry not additional military hardware.
to prevail.
The prime
Hagel,
m i n i s who flew to
ter
said
Baghdad to
ISIS
had
get a firstacquired
hand report
extensive
on
progweaponry
ress against
and
reISIS milimained
tants, held
able
to
a series of
move back
meetings
and forth
with
top
between
Iraqi govIraq
and
ernment ofSyria. That
ficials and
c o n f e r r e d U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel c o n t r a s t s
with statewith Amer- in Baghdad, Dec. 9, 2014
ments by
ican miliU.S. commanders who say
tary commanders.
He met with al-Abadi at the the militants’ ability to resupprime minister’s office after ply their fighters in Iraq has
addressing a group of U.S. been severely constrained by
and Australian soldiers at airstrikes.
In remarks to reporters later,
Baghdad International AirHagel said Iraqi forces are
port.
Al-Abadi told Hagel as their preparing for broader counmeeting began that “Daesh teroffensives.
Hagel said he was leaving
(ISIS) is on the descent at the
moment.” He said their capa- Iraq encouraged by progress on
bilities had been reduced.
the battlefield against the mili“We are very thankful for tants and by the Iraqi governthe support that’s been given ment’s renewed efforts to unify
to us,” al-Abadi said. “Our the country.
forces are very much advanc“As Iraqi leaders and the peoing on the ground. But they ple of Iraq know, only they can
need more air power and bring lasting peace to their
more ... heavy weaponry. We country if they are resolved
need that.”
to do that,” he said.
Haiti Commission Seeks
New Government
Consensus
A commission recently
appointed by Haitian
President Michel Martelly is calling for his
prime minister to resign so a new consensus government can be
formed, according to a
report obtained Tuesday by The Associated
Press.
The 11-member panel
made up of former officials and religious leaders was appointed by
Martelly on Nov. 28 to
help resolve a political
stalemate holding up
long-delayed legislative and municipal elections. In recent months,
there has been an uptick in street protests
by government critics
demanding
government resignations and a
chance to vote.
The commission’s report says Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe’s
resignation would pave
the way for a consensus government to be
created. It also calls
for members of Haiti’s
Provisional Electoral
Council and the president of the Superior
Judicial Council to step
down as “appeasement
measures.”
Among other recommendations, the commission says “political prisoners” not yet
taken before a judge
should be immediately
released and a “truce”
should be adopted by
political opponents to
allow dialogue to take
place.
Martelly was expected
to hold a news conference about the commission’s findings. There
was no immediate comment from Lamothe,
Haiti’s No. 2 official.
Martelly was supposed
to call elections in 2011
for a majority of Senate seats, the entire
Chamber of Deputies
and local offices. But
he hasn’t done so over
the last year because
the Senate has yet to approve an electoral law
authorizing the vote.
The Chamber of Deputies has approved the
legislation, but it has
been held up in the Senate because of six senators who have blocked a
vote. The six opposition
senators argue the measure is unconstitutional
and favors the government.
Martelly administration officials blame the
senators for the standoff, insisting the government wants to hold
the elections but can’t
because the lawmakers
are preventing a quorum.
Israel’s parliament dissolves amid political upheaval
Jerusalem (CNN) -- Israeli law- week that a divided government
makers voted to dissolve the na- was one of Israel’s problems, saytion’s parliament Monday amid ing there was a lot of debate, contradictions and ultimatums.
mounting political upheaval.
He ordered letters of dismissal for
The bill dissolving the 120-seat
Knesset passed with 93 votes in
favor. No one voted against it.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had called for the dissolution
as he sacked two senior members
of his coalition Cabinet for criticizing government policy. Last
week the speaker of the Knesset
said new elections would likely
be held on March 17.
The moves come at a tenuous
time in Israel, which has been be- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
set by a number of recent terrorist
attacks against citizens in Jerusa- Finance Minister Yair Lapid and
Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, two
lem.
The head of the right-wing Likud members of his Cabinet from rival
party, Netanyahu has been Israel’s parties.
“During the last few weeks and,
Prime Minister since 2009. But
he’s had to rely on members of in particular, the last few days, the
other parties -- many of them to the ministers have intensely attacked
left of Likud on the political spec- the government that I am leading,”
trum -- to govern.
Netanyahu said. “... I will not tolNetanyahu told reporters last erate ministers attacking the gov-
ernment’s policy and its head from
inside the government.”
The call for new elections means
Israel is effectively in a state of political paralysis until March.
Israel held its last election just
22 months ago. A poll for Israel’s
Channel 2 suggested that 55% of
those surveyed were against another election being held so soon.
Monday’s vote makes the 19th
Knesset one of the shortest serving
parliaments in Israel’s 66-year history, according to Natan Sachs, a
foreign policy fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Center for Middle
East Policy in Washington.
The moves come at a tumultuous
time for Israel, Sachs wrote in an
opinion column for CNN.com last
week.
“With the dramatic challenges
Israel faces, domestically, regionally and internationally, expect the
sense of malaise in Israeli politics
to deepen,” he wrote. “These elections may simply be a prelude to a
deeper political crisis.”
PAGE 3
Dec 11,2014 - Dec 17, 2014
US Senate Report on CIA Could
Help Poland’s Probe
The U.S. Senate’s report on
CIA practices could help conclude a probe into whether Poland hosted a secret CIA detention site, Prime Minister Ewa
Kopacz said Tuesday.
A summary of the 6,700-page
report released by the Senate Intelligence Committee on
Tuesday condemned the CIA
for inflicting suffering beyond
its limits on detainees in secret
prisons. It didn’t identify the
host countries, but described
the harsh treatment of prisoners after the Sept. 11 attacks.
Poland, a staunch U.S. ally,
has been investigating allegations since 2008 that it hosted a
secret prison from 2002-2003.
Three terror suspects were given victim status in the probe.
The prime minister at the time,
Leszek Miller, has denied the
existence of a secret CIA prison in Poland.
The spokesman for prosecutors in the investigation, Piotr
Kosmaty, said Tuesday they
will want to see the report as
they seek evidence.
Former CIA officials have
told The Associated Press that
a prison in Poland operated
from December 2002 until
the autumn of 2003. Human
rights groups believe about
eight terror suspects were held
in Poland, including Khalid
Sheikh Mohammed, the selfproclaimed mastermind of the
Sept. 11 attacks.
Kopacz said that prosecutors
will assess the value of the report for their investigation.
“I am hoping for a quick conclusion of the matter,” Kopacz
said.
Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said that publication of
the report will undermine the
trust that its allies have in the
U.S.
President Barack Obama
called Kopacz on Monday and
expressed hope that the publication will have no negative
effects on bilateral ties.
OPINION
PAGE 4
Dec 11, 2014 - Dec 17, 2014
FIL-AM POST
Comparing Typhoons
‘Yolanda’ and ‘Ruby’
O
As I See It
by Neal H. Cruz
Still in bandit hands
hree years of harrowing captivity ended last Dec. 6 for Swiss national Lorenzo Vinciguerra, when he managed to escape from his Abu Sayyaf captors while they were
engaged in enemy fire with government forces that attacked the bandits’ base in Sulu. Exhausted, emaciated, with a gaping wound on his face, Vinciguerra was rescued by Army
Scout Rangers and brought to a hospital. He is now at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City
for further treatment and recuperation.
All’s well that ends well? Not at all. Vinciguerra was in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf for
an unforgivably long time, along with Dutch national Ewold Horn, who was unable to escape with him at the height of the firefight. Vinciguerra said Horn was simply too weak to
flee; presumably, the Dutchman is still subject to the misery and deprivation of living in
the jungle and the terrorizing ways of his captors even as he grows progressively weaker.
While it took an attack by government soldiers on the Abu Sayyaf camp to hand Vinciguerra the opportunity to free himself, his escape was largely his own doing. He said he
was able to wrestle a bolo knife away from Abu Sayyaf subcommander Juhurim Hussein,
wounding himself in the face during the scuffle but eventually hacking Hussein in the
neck and running away to a safe area. According to reports, the bandit subcommander
died from his wounds. If this were a cheap action movie, we’d be cheering Vinciguerra’s
derring-do and the bloody comeuppance he was able to visit on his captors.
But this is not, so even as we rejoice at Vinciguerra’s escape, our elation is tempered by
the grave realization that another kidnap victim continues to languish in the hands of the
bandits—and, worse, that the group repeatedly described by the military as a spent force
remains, from all indications, a deadly presence in the area.
The national government has poured billions of pesos into the campaign against the
Abu Sayyaf, and has even enlisted the help
of American forces supposedly in intelligence-gathering and the training of local
troops. Yet the bandit group has rampaged
far too many times in parts of Mindanao,
terrorizing communities and kidnapping
(An Employees owned Publication)
people, with an impunity and self-assurance
Distributed weekly in Northern California
that has only highlighted the continuing in1290 B Street, Suite 203, Hayward, effectiveness of the government’s campaign
against it. What gives?
CA 94541
Vinciguerra and Horn are not even military
Tel # 510-885-8827,
personnel, which would have made them
Fax # 510-538-7115
logical targets of the rogue forces. They
were in Mindanao for a most innocuous [email protected] /
tivity—bird-watching. Along with Filipino
[email protected]
guide Ivan Sarenas, they were snatched by
www.sf-post.com
the Abu Sayyaf in Tawi-Tawi in February
2012.
Teresita Estanislao
T
n
Dec.
8, 1941.
Japanese warplanes bombed
Manila, Clark
Air Base and
Baguio, a day
after bombing
Pearl Harbor.
Exactly on the bombing’s anniversary last
Monday, Manila and southern Philippines
was again raided, this time by a typhoon
named “Ruby.”
By the time you read this, Ruby would
have already left and a little sense of normalcy would have returned to many areas
not heavily devastated by it. The death
toll at this writing ranges from the official
government figure of only two (a baby and
an old man, both of whom were reported
to have died of hypothermia) to the Red
Cross tally of 21. (The official death toll is
now 11, and the Red Cross tally has risen
to 27.—Ed.) Either way, this is a far cry
from the more than 6,000 dead left by Typhoon “Yolanda,” with thousands more
still missing.
Also, thousands of Yolanda survivors
are still living in tents and bunkhouses—
which were damaged by Ruby—whereas
many evacuees of Ruby have returned to
their homes by Monday. Some store owners opened for business as soon as Ruby
passed over their communities.
What was the difference between Yolanda
and Ruby? Aside from the fact that Ruby
weakened considerably after it made its
first landfall in Samar and blew through
other islands in the Visayas, it was the
people’s preparedness. After learning a lesson from Yolanda, the people fled to evacuation centers as Ruby approached with
winds first reported to be stronger than
those of Yolanda. National and local government officials forcibly evacuated those
who did not want to leave their homes and
prepared everything from rescue boats to
food packs to medicines and doctors to
evacuation centers. Classes in all levels
were suspended and government and private offices were closed.
With Yolanda, the people who had experienced many other storms before were
not worried, even lackadaisical. They had
withstood many other past storms, they
would withstand this one, too. Many of
them didn’t.
But after Yolanda killed thousands of
people and devastated homes and infrastructure, the people learned their lesson:
Don’t underestimate the fury of nature.
They hunkered down early, long before
Ruby struck, expecting the worst. In fact,
it was an anticlimax when Ruby weakened
considerably.
Another difference is that as soon as Ruby
passed, the people roused themselves and
went back to the business of living. One
year after Yolanda, however, many of its
survivors are still living in tents and bunkhouses and receiving food packs from relief agencies.
In Metro Manila, which was supposed to
be hit by Ruby, people began asking in the
late evening of Monday when it was supposed to strike: Where is the storm?
There were no strong winds, and the rains
were very light. The storm was right there
but it skirted the metropolis.
Paradoxically, the threat of Ruby brought
a modicum of comfort to Mega Manila.
Traffic was very light as motorists stayed
home, fearing the floods that usually inundate the cities during heavy rains. It was a
joy to drive through the streets of the cities.
The huge billboards that pollute the skyline
have been taken down; only the bare steel
frames were left standing like skeletons.
On the negative side, the governmentoperated elevated rail lines stopped operations very early, just when people needed
transportation to get home. The government’s Philippine National Railways also
stopped operations to Laguna. They were
all afraid of Ruby. But in times of emergency, it is supposed to be the government
that provides services to the people, come
hell or high water.
At this writing there are still no reports
on the damage to homes, infrastructure
and agriculture, but it’s expected to be
lighter than that wrought by Yolanda. That
is good and bad news. When the next typhoon arrives, the people may be overconfident again, thinking that it may be another Ruby, so that when another Yolanda
strikes, the death toll and the damage to
property would again be as devastating.
In the wake of the typhoon, some people
were asking: Where was Vice President
Jojo Binay? Interior Secretary Mar Roxas
was seen everywhere directing preparations and aid before and after the storm,
even falling off a motorcycle. But VP Binay was nowhere in sight. Was he afraid of
Ruby? Why not? If he is afraid of Sen. Antonio Trlllanes, ex-Makati vice mayor Ernesto Mercado, and the Senate blue ribbon
committee, why not Typhoon Ruby, too?
Editor-in-Chief & CEO
The few who control our country
Atty. Crispin C. Lozano
Exec. Vice President
Adda Humady
General Advertising Manager
Don Orozco
Bureau Chief, Silicon Valley
Alvin Maglan, CPA
Controller
Inquirer.Net
Content Syndication Partner
San Francisco FilAm Post, LLC
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nly a few families control our politics,
government and country.
In fact, only 178 families control our political system, according to the 2014 study of
Julio Teehankee, college dean at De La Salle University in Manila. Around 75 percent
of the members of Congress and around 80
percent of the governors and mayors belong to political dynasties, according to the
2014 study of Ronald Mendoza, director of
the Asian Institute of Management’s Policy
Center.
These dynasties have captured Congress
and the leaderships of local government
units. They have become a “major obstacle”
to progress in the rural areas. Too often,
public funds and other resources intended
to develop the rural areas get hijacked by
corrupt local politicians and do not reach
the people. As a result, the wealth and businesses of politicians often flourish, while
their constituents remain poor.
One of the findings of the Mendoza study
is that poverty is highest in areas controlled
by political dynasties, with a few exceptions. Thus, even if many of these dynasties
have been in power for decades, and their
members simultaneously occupy positions
of leadership in their areas, poverty in these
areas remains high.
The same is true at the national level. Political dynasties have also become a “major obstacle” to national development and
progress. Because the dynasts have captured Congress, they determine what laws
to pass. They would not pass a law to abolish the pork barrel system because they and
their relatives in the LGUs are the biggest
beneficiaries of it. They would not pass the
freedom of information or antidynasty bills
because these are against their interests.
Political dynasties are a worsening problem. In the 1980s, it was unheard of for
spouses or for a parent and his/her child
O
to become by Alex Lacson the mayor and
vice mayor
of a town or
city.
Today, it is the
trend—and it is increasing at an alarming rate. Perhaps at least 20 percent of our
LGUs today have this notorious tandem of
husband-wife and parent-child as governorvice governor or mayor-vice mayor. If the
20 percent becomes 70 percent, ours will
become a totally failed democracy; it will
become a “familicracy,” a system where a
few families control our political system,
government and country.
In the 1970s, there was only one dictatorship in the country: the Marcos dictatorship.
Today, we have many “small dictatorships”
in the form of political dynasties.
In business or in any organization, leadership is paramount. The rise and fall of
a nation, or a community, depends on the
leadership. While a good president can do
a lot, it is still the leadership of the representatives, governors and mayors that spells
progress in the countryside.
The tragedy is that many of our leaders
have become a big part of our problems.
Our tragedy is that, despite our Christianity, we have some of the most unchristian
leaders. Our tragedy is that many, if not
most, of our leaders do not truly love our
people. They do not see God in their fellow Filipinos, though more than 80 percent
of them are Christians, and despite the fact
that one of the most fundamental teachings
of Jesus Christ is: “Whatever you do to the
least of your neighbors, you do to Me.”
If our next president will not consider the
political dynasties and the pork barrel system as a big part of our problems, the situation in our country will get even worse.
The dynasties will consolidate their political fiefdoms. The pork barrel system will
continue to feed the dynasties. Public funds
intended for the poor in rural areas will con-
tinue to be hijacked by corrupt politicians
under the pork barrel system. Our GDP may
continue to grow, but the growth will continue to be noninclusive.
What is needed in the countryside is leadership—sincere, competent and dedicated
leadership in the LGUs.
What our country truly needs is a leader
who clearly sees corruption as a problem
and understands that the leaders who engage in it and the evil system that allows it
are the bigger part of the equation; a leader
who clearly sees that political dynasties
are a big obstacle to our development and
progress; a leader who clearly sees that the
corruption in the pork barrel system is the
most hideous of all, for the public funds are
set aside by law for the people, and stealing them is stealing food, medicines, books,
schools and roads from our people.
Jose Rizal talked of a “social cancer” in
Philippine society during his time. But the
Spanish colonizers, the major cause of this
cancer, left the country more than a century
ago. Yet the cancer has remained, and it is
worsening.
A cancer is caused by a few bad cells that
keep multiplying until they become the
dominant cells in one’s body. That’s what is
happening in our society today. The few bad
leaders in our society are the major cause of
our present-day social cancer. They are in
control of our politics, Congress and LGUs.
Their insatiable greed for wealth and power
cause our people to suffer. They are destroying our society.
We must find a solution to our present-day
social cancer. We must find a way to heal
our nation.
Support the People’s Initiative for the Abolition of the Pork Barrel System. This will
do away with the carcass that feeds political
vultures.
HOMELAND
FIL-AM POST
Mar Roxas on bike crash: I needed to reach ground zero
BORONGAN, Eastern Samar—If he had wings, he
would have flown.
Instead, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas used a motorcycle in an attempt to overcome debris-strewn roads and
reach Dolores town, first landfall of the most powerful
typhoon to slam into the country this year.
In the process, Roxas, wearing a baseball cap, crashed.
He was uninjured but the incident, caught on video that
made it to YouTube, sparked comments, some nasty, on
social media.
The interior secretary, who had his hands full leading
the government’s response to the devastation wrought
by Typhoon “Ruby” (international name: Hagupit), on
Tuesday laughed off the snide remarks, calling them a
“nonissue.”
Instead, Roxas asked the public to just focus on the
government’s relief and rehabilitation work, which was
obviously better and faster than during the aftermath of
Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan)
last year.
“If I fail to reach Dolores, they will ask why I did not go
to Dolores. Now that I reached Dolores, I’m still being
criticized. I rather not pay attention to those criticisms,”
Roxas told reporters after the meeting of the Provincial
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
“It was my job to reach ground zero. We were able to do
that within 24 hours. My job was to report to (President
Aquino) since I was there in the frontline and as forward
observer,” he added.
He said he decided to find a way to go to Dolores on
Sunday “because that’s the ground zero” of the typhoon’s
fury.
“If I had wings, like what they say of Capiz natives like
me, I would have flown to that area,” he said in jest, apparently referring to the myth that natives of the province
were aswang, a winged, vampire-like creature.
House body approves P22.5B
extra budget
He said the executive branch
MANILA, Philippines–At least P5billion worth of “amendments” will would like to take advantage of the
be inserted by the Department of excess revenues to use them to fiBudget and Management (DBM) nance additional projects, mainly
into the P22.46-billion supple- the reconstruction and rehabilitamental budget it is seeking from tion of the areas devastated by last
Congress, ostensibly because the year’s Supertyphoon “Yolanda.”
government had an excess of
revenues.
But House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said he
“won’t allow it,” arguing
that the House of Representatives would not condone an
“errata [-filled] supplemental
budget.”
“This [supplemental budget] was P23 billion, then
they reduced it by P1.5 billion. Now, just because they
have found new revenues,
they’re saying they will in- Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.
crease it?” he said.
10-2 vote
But late Tuesday, at the very first
hearing on the supplemental budget, the appropriations committee
chaired by Davao City Rep. Isidro
Ungab voted 10 to 2 to approve the
original P22.46-billion supplemental budget. The measure will be
taken up in the plenary in the next
few days for approval on second
reading.
Earlier Tuesday, when the hearing opened, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said his department
would introduce the changes to
reflect the additional income from
corporation dividends and bond
sales whose targets were exceeded
this year.
P28B excess
National Treasurer Rosalia de
Leon told the committee the excess
cash collections that were currently
available amounted to more than
P28 billion.
As of July, she said income from
dividends from government-owned
and -controlled corporations had
already reached P23.6 billion
against the full-year target of P5.5
billion, resulting in an excess of
P18.1 billion.
On the other hand, income from
the bond-sinking fund, as of September, had already exceeded by
more than P10 billion the government’s P37-billion target for 2014.
(Cont. from page 1... HAZARDOUS STORM)
the weather service reports.
The amount of rain is expected to overwhelm waterways and roadway drainage
systems, possibly leading to flash flooding.
Mark Ghilarducci, the director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, issued a warning that the storm will
present a risk of flash flooding and debris
slides in certain areas.
“This year was also a significant fire season for Northern and Southern California
and burned areas are especially at risk for
debris slides. Even regions that don’t experience regular seasonal flooding could see
flash flooding during this intense storm system, which could be the largest to date of this
year’s rainy season,” he said in a statement.
Bay Area winds easily gusting past 50 miles
per hour in urban areas and 70-80 miles per
hour in the local mountains were forecast,
CBS San Francisco reported.
Authorities are warning motorists to avoid
driving through standing water; stay clear of
outside roadway lanes, especially at night;
keep headlights on at all times; and drive
slowly to prevent hydroplaning. People
should also have emergency contacts available and a stock a small emergency kit that
can sustain each person for three days.
PAGE 5
Dec 11, 2014 - Dec 17, 2014
Zamboanga City council seeks
Aquino’s help to stop rice
smuggling
ZAMBOANGA
CITY,
In August, some P3.2 milPhilippines—The
city lion worth of jasmine rice
council is appealing to was also intercepted off
President Benigno Aquino Sta. Cruz Island.
III for help to stop what a
In April, a small boat
council resolution said was carrying some P7 million
the rampant smuggling worth of Malaysian rice
of rice that Mayor Ma. was also intercepted by the
Isabelle ClimacoSalazar likened to a
“pest” that was killing local farmers.
In a resolution
passed last week,
the council also
called on the Bureau of Customs
to organize an independent
body
to investigate the
smuggling and on UNDER cover of darkness, a shipment of sussmuggled rice is unloaded at a private
the Senate blue rib- pected
wharf in Zamboanga City recently. JOREM
bon committee to GARCIA/CONTRIBUTOR
conduct a parallel
investigation.
Councilor Charlie Mari- Philippine Navy as it was
ano, the resolution’s main sailing to the city.
author, said the city was be- Mariano said the city was
coming a haven for smug- either being used as a transglers who appeared to be shipment point for rice
operating with impunity.
smuggled from Vietnam
Mariano did not provide and Malaysia or as a mardetails, but records from ket for the contraband.
law enforcement agencies
The smuggled goods, he
here showed that tons of said, were being brought in
rice had been smuggled through Tawi-Tawi provinto the city and seized in ince or Sulu province.
recent months.
“There are no huge rice
In September, police fields in Tawi-Tawi or Sulu,
seized at least 8,000 sacks yet thousands of sacks of
of rice, believed to be rice are being brought in
smuggled, from a ship from there,” Mariano said.
docked at the port here.
PNP summons 2 guards wielding rifle, bat in Taguig mall
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine National Police (PNP)
has summoned the two security guards who were caught on video
brandishing an M-16 rifle and a baseball bat at a mall in Taguig
City last week.
Chief Supt. Noel Constantino, head of the PNP Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (Sosia), said that the
guards and a representative of Jarton Security Agency had been
ordered to report to him and explain their side after the footage
went viral on social media.
“Today, I signed a letter-order to conduct an investigation of the
incident. I have sent an investigation team there,” he added in an
interview on Tuesday.
The unnamed security guards were relieved following the incident
Hagupit weakens into tropical storm
Hagupit (pronounced HA’-goo-pit), which
SAN JUAN, Philippines - Typhoon Hagupit
weakened into a tropical storm Monday after first made landfall in Eastern Samar late Satleaving at least 21 people dead and forcing urday, was moving slowly at 10 kph (6 mph)
more than a million into shelters, while sparing and could dump heavy rain that could possibly
most of a central Philippine region still reeling trigger landslides and flash floods, according to
forecasters.
from last year’s monster Typhoon Haiyan.
Many of those in eastern areas who evacuated
Hagupit made landfall shortly before nightfall in the resort town of San Juan in Batangas to shelters started to troop back home after the
typhoon had blown past
province,
about
their provinces, Philip100 kilometers (60
pine Red Cross Secremiles) south of
tary-General GwendoManila, the capilyn Pang said.
tal, with maximum
Manila Mayor Joseph
sustained winds of
Estrada said more than
85 kilometers (53
5,000 residents of a
miles) per hour
shantytown on the edge
and gusts of 100
of Manila Bay have
kph (62 mph). But
been evacuated due to
a few hours later,
Manila still was Residents living along coastal areas in Manila possible storm surges.
experiencing only evacuate to safer grounds as the local govern- Sandbags were stacked
slight winds and ment ordered the pre-emptive evacuation in an- along a portion of a seawall to prevent possible
light rain.
ticipation of Typhoon Hagupit.
storm surges in Manila
Forecasters, howBay from spilling into
ever, said Hagupit
could still generate storm surges that could a scenic boulevard and a tourist belt of restauoverwhelm coastal villages. In the capital, po- rants and hotels.
“We’ve prepared and trained for this,” Estrada
lice officers were asking people to stay away
from a promenade beside Manila Bay for safety told The Associated Press, adding that his greatest fear was widespread flooding. Metropolitan
reasons.
More than 2,800 villagers moved to emergen- Manila has a population of more than 12 milcy shelters in San Juan, a low-lying and flood- lion people.
Like villagers in the central Philippines, Esprone town popular for its beach resorts, including 220 people huddled inside a gymnasium as trada said Manila residents were readily moving to safety because of haunting memories of
torrential rains pounded.
“It’s really scary if you’ve watched what hap- Haiyan.
The strongest typhoon on record to hit land,
pened during Haiyan,” said Amy de Guzman,
a 34-year-old mother of three who sought ref- Haiyan’s tsunami-like storm surges leveled
uge in the gymnasium. “I hope the storm blows entire villages and left more than 7,300 people
dead or missing in November last year.
away from here as far as possible.”
Hagupit left at least 21 people dead, includWhile officials expressed relief that the typhoon had not caused major damage in Taclo- ing 16 villagers who drowned in Eastern Saban and other central cities that were devastated mar province, where the typhoon made its first
by Haiyan, they warned that it was still barrel- landfall, according to the Philippine Red Cross.
ing across the southern tip of the main northern The government disaster-response agency has
island of Luzon, where Manila is located. The reported only five other deaths, including three
storm was expected to blow away Tuesday into people who died of hypothermia, saying it was
the South China Sea.
still verifying other reported casualties.
at the Market! Market! in Taguig City on Saturday night.
Two videos showed the guards as they separately brandished an
M-16 rifle and a baseball bat in an area of the mall where late-night
drinking was allowed. According to reports, they were trying to
quell a rowdy group.
One of the guards was seen aiming his gun at people while the
other was shown pointing a baseball bat at other people, banging it
on a table and breaking glass in the process.
Constantino explained that aside from ordering the security
agency and the security guards to appear before the Sosia, he also
directed the security agency and the Taguig City police to submit
their reports on the investigation they conducted of the incident.
TAX CORNER
PAGE 6
Dec 11, 2014 - Dec 17, 2014
Interest Rates Remain the
Same for the First Quarter
of 2015
W
A S H I N G TON – The Internal Revenue
Service today
announced that
interest rates
by: Alvin C. Maglan, CPA will remain the
same for the
calendar quarter beginning
Jan. 1, 2015. The rates will be:
- three (3) percent for overpayments (two
(2) percent in the case of a corporation);
- three (3) percent for underpayments;
- five (5) percent for large corporate underpayments; and
- one-half (0.5) percent for the portion
of a corporate overpayment exceeding
$10,000.
Under the Internal Revenue Code, the rate
of interest is determined on a quarterly basis. For taxpayers other than corporations,
the overpayment and underpayment rate is
the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points.
Generally, in the case of a corporation, the
underpayment rate is the federal short-term
rate plus 3 percentage points and the over-
payment rate is the federal short-term rate
plus 2 percentage points. The rate for large
corporate underpayments is the federal
short-term rate plus 5 percentage points.
The rate on the portion of a corporate overpayment of tax exceeding $10,000 for a
taxable period is the federal short-term rate
plus one-half (0.5) of a percentage point.
The interest rates announced today are
computed from the federal short-term rate
determined during October 2014 to take
effect Nov. 1, 2014, based on daily compounding.
Revenue Ruling 2014-29 announcing the
rates of interest, is attached and will appear in Internal Revenue Bulletin 2014-52,
dated Dec. 22, 2014.
A
lvin 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 nonprofit entities. You may contact him @510 432
7438 for your tax problems. You may e-mail tax
questions @[email protected].
MASSIVE TAX FRAUD:
Woman Files 1,700 Tax Returns
Using Illegal Immigrant IDs.
Just Tip of the Iceberg
Linda Avila filed more than 1,700 tax returns with stolen identifications used
by illegal immigrants, mainly from
Mexico, to obtain more than $7.2 million in refunds by exploiting the federal
government’s child tax credit program.
More than a year after it was reported
the IRS sent thousands of refunds to
the tiny town of Parksley, VA, Avila
has pleaded guilty to conspiracy and
mail fraud.
The Virginian-Pilot reported that
Avila, 50, operated a landscaping and
cleaning business in Parksley, VA.
She cleaned up on American taxpayers
Investigators found copies of refund
checks ranging from $4,000 to over
$7,000. The tax returns often cited foreign dependents, which increased the
refund amounts.
Avila had refunds mailed to various
post office boxes in Maryland and
Delaware, according to court records.
Workers cashed the checks and gave
It’s official: America is now No. 2
Hang on to your hats, America.
And throw away that big, fat styrofoam
finger while you’re about it.
There’s no easy way to say this, so I’ll just
say it: We’re no longer No. 1. Today, we’re
No. 2. Yes, it’s official. The Chinese economy just overtook the United States economy to become the largest in the world. For
the first time since Ulysses S. Grant was
president, America is not the leading economic power on the planet.
It just happened — and almost nobody
noticed.
The International Monetary Fund recently
released the latest numbers for the world
economy. And when you measure national
economic output in “real” terms of goods
and services, China will this year produce
$17.6 trillion — compared with $17.4 trillion for the U.S.A.
As recently as 2000, we produced nearly
three times as much as the Chinese.
To put the numbers slightly differently,
China now accounts for 16.5% of the
global economy when measured in real
purchasing-power terms, compared with
16.3% for the U.S.
This latest economic earthquake follows
the development last year when China surpassed the U.S. for the first time in terms
of global trade.
I first reported on this looming development over two years ago, but the moment
came sooner than I or anyone else had
predicted. China’s recent decision to bring
gross domestic product calculations in line
with international standards has revealed
activity that had previously gone uncounted.
These calculations are based on a well-established and widely used economic measure known as purchasing-power parity (or
PPP), which measures the actual output as
opposed to fluctuations in exchange rates.
So a Starbucks venti Frappucino served in
Beijing counts the same as a venti Frap-
FIL-AM POST
pucino served in Minneapolis, regardless
of what happens to be going on among
foreign-exchange traders.
PPP is the real way of comparing economies. It is one reported by the IMF and
was, for example, the one used by McKinsey & Co. consultants back in the 1990s
when they undertook a study of economic
productivity on behalf of the British government.
Yes, when you look at mere international
exchange rates, the U.S. economy remains
bigger than that of China, allegedly by almost 70%. But such measures, although
they are widely followed, are largely
meaningless. Does the U.S. economy really shrink if the dollar falls 10% on international currency markets? Does the recent
plunge in the yen mean the Japanese economy is vanishing before our eyes?
Back in 2012, when I first reported on
these figures, the IMF tried to challenge the
importance of PPP. I was not surprised. It is
the majority of the money to Avila,
keeping a small fee for their services.
Avila’s case is only the tip of the iceberg.
Sen Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, said
the IRS mailed $4.2 billion in child
credit checks to undocumented immigrants around the country.
J. Russell George, Treasury inspector
general for tax administration, estimated last May the IRS allowed more
than $13 billion in tax credits through a
related earned-income program.
Disbursements via the Additional
Child Tax Credit program have increased rapidly with the IRS’ increased
issuance of Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers, substitutes for Social
Security numbers, which don’t require
proof of legal residency, and are running at a rate of about 1 million a year.
Under the Obama administration’s
new law with its looser rules, holding
a Social Security card or an ITIN number wouldn’t matter.
not in anyone’s interest at the IMF that people in the Western world start focusing too
much on the sheer extent of China’s power.
But the PPP data come from the IMF, not
from me. And it is noteworthy that when
the IMF’s official World Economic Outlook compares countries by their share of
world output, it does so using PPP.
Yes, all statistics are open to various quibbles. It is perfectly possible China’s latest
numbers overstate output — or understate
them. That may also be true of U.S. GDP
figures. But the IMF data are the best we
have.
Make no mistake: This is a geopolitical earthquake with a high reading on the
Richter scale. Throughout history, political
and military power have always depended
on economic power. Britain was the workshop of the world before she ruled the
waves. And it was Britain’s relative economic decline that preceded the collapse of
her power.
Which IRS Offshore Amnesty
Program Is Right For You?
Offshore accounts and the tax problems
that come with then can keep you up at
night. Starting in 2009 with changes in
2011 and 2012, the IRS has given taxpayers a way start sleeping easier. Over the
last 5 years, thousands of
people have done it. And
since June 18 of 2014, there
are now several programs
to choose from. Depending
on how you count, I come
up with 5: OVDP, Domestic Streamlined, Foreign
Streamlined, Transitional
Relief, and Delinquent
FBAR.
The IRS has kept the vanilla OVDP, involving 8
years of amended tax returns and FBARs. You pay
taxes, interest and a 20%
penalty on whatever you
owe. For most people, there’s also a 27.5%
penalty on your highest offshore account
balance. In some cases, that penalty may
be 50% depending on the bank and timing.
Understandably, many people ask about
the other main flavor, the Streamlined
one. It’s not for everyone, and it’s important to know the differences. For instance,
the OVDP protects you from prosecution,
while the Streamlined program does not.
The OVDP costs more, but you get more.
And if bad facts that you hope not to discuss come up, the OVDP absolves them.
In contrast, the Streamlined program is rigid. Most importantly, the Streamlined program hinges on you certifying under penalties of perjury that you made mistakes
but were non-willful. Be careful, though,
since the IRS can examine you. Especially
if there are signs your tax missteps were
willful, beware that the IRS may be harsh.
On the Streamlined menu, there’s a Domestic Streamlined program for people in
the U.S., and a Foreign Streamlined program for those living abroad. Whether you
are abroad for the requisite
time is its own issue, but
the real difference is in the
penalty. For clients who
are comfortable with the
willfulness issue, either
Streamlined program is a
comparative bargain.
Both Streamlined programs involve 3 years of
tax returns, not 8. Both
Streamlined programs require FBARs for 6 years
instead of 3, to match the
FBAR statute of limitations. The Foreign Streamlined program has no
penalty at all. The Domestic Streamlined
program is still a good deal, applying a 5%
penalty to the highest account balance over
the 6 FBAR years.
If you are not worried about the willfulness element on your facts, comparing the 27.5% OVDP penalty and the 5%
Domestic Streamlined penalty seems like
a no-brainer. Yet as it turns out, there are
differences in how the 5% and the 27.5%
penalties are computed. This isn’t apples
to apples.
First, the Domestic Streamlined penalty
is calculated on the year-end account balances and year-end asset values. This is
different from the OVDP which typically
requires you to take the highest value of
the account during the year. See 2014
OVDP FAQ#31.
Dec 11, 2014 - Dec 17, 2014
BANKRUPTCY
Proposed U.S. bankruptcy rule
Your bank may deduct from your
bank account their unsecured loans changes spark debate from lenders
(Reuters) - Lenders are concerned their
efore you file bankright of set off under state investments in broken companies would While certain of the recommendations
By
Atty.
Crispin
C.
Lozano
B
ruptcy, you may
law. Debbie has the right lose protections under proposed changes to could be imposed now — namely, those
need to determine if you
to file for bankruptcy and
PAGE 7
FIL-AM POST
have a bank deposit and a credit card
debt with the same bank because your
deposit may be set off against your debt
by the bank.
Question:May a bank set off (deduct) an
unsecured debt against a debtors bank
deposit with the same bank?
Answer: Yes, Section 553 of the Bankruptcy Code preserves the right of a
creditor to offset mutual debts with the
debtor under common or statutory law.
There are exceptions to this right of set
off.
Question: What are the exceptions and
limitations in which a bank may set off a
loan against your deposit?
Answer: Section 553 does not necessarily preserve an actual setoff, and a setoff
effected within 90 days prior to a bankruptcy filing can potentially be recovered. Whether a prepetition setoff can
be recovered depends on the “insufficiency” (that is, the amount by which the
debt owed by the debtor exceeds the debt
owed to the debtor) measured on the date
of the setoff and compared to the insufficiency on the later of the date that is 90
days before the bankruptcy filing or the
first date within that period that there is
an insufficiency.
Question: May a creditor deduct a debtors credit card debt from his deposit after
the filing of bankruptcy?
Answer: A creditor that offsets mutual
debts runs a risk that the amount offset
might be recovered from the creditor, in
cash payable to the bankruptcy estate, if
the debtor files bankruptcy at some time
within 90 days after the setoff.
Question: What is an example of a set off
while in bankruptcy?
Answer: Debbie owes Bank of Finance
$1000 in credit card debts. Bank of Finance is the depository bank of Debbie
where her salary is automatically deposited. Debbie filed for bankruptcy in September 1, 2013. She has at that time a
credit card balance of $1000 and a deposit to her account in the amount of $1500
representing her salary. On September 2,
2013, the bank set off the credit card debt
of $1000 from her deposit of $1500 that
leaves her bank balance to become $500.
Did Bank of Finance do the right thing?
Analysis: Bank of Finance has a limited
discharge the debt to Bank of Finance.
Debbie has a right to exemptions under the bankruptcy code for her deposit. Here the right of the bank to set off
is limited to a 90 day prior to filing of
bankruptcy. Since the set off happened
within 90 days of the filing of bankruptcy, Bank of Finance will have to refund
the amount set off to the bankruptcy estate. The bank may not set off a debt if
the debtor is in bankruptcy without filing
a motion for relief from automatic stay.
Note: This is not a legal advice and you
need to speak to an attorney. The Law
Offices of Crispin C. Lozano has 14
years of experience in bankruptcy cases.
Bankruptcy Basics
1. Bankruptcy will actually improve your
credit within one year because your unsecured debts are discharged. Although
the bankruptcy will be in your records
for 10 years, not filing bankruptcy will
make your credit even worse until most
your debts are paid.
2. If you are being sued by your creditors, most money judgment can be eliminated in bankruptcy.
3. Collection actions continue and you
can be sued if you are in debt settlement.
4. Chapter 7 will eliminate all unsecured
debts. If you are near retirement age,
you must eliminate most of your debts.
5. Bankruptcy will stop foreclosure actions. If your trustee sale date is 10 days
before, you can still file for bankruptcy.
6. If your salary is being garnished, you
have a court case about debts or you are
being harassed by creditors, bankruptcy
can stop garnishment, court cases, harassing creditors and eliminate the debt.
7. Bankruptcy is cheaper, faster and safer
than debt settlement which has no guaranteed success.
8. Preserve your health, eliminate stress
and live a happy life by eliminating your
debts which is the root of all problems.
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.
Irregularities in Makati
The ratings of the Vice President
have been taking a hit since a Senate
blue ribbon subcommittee began its inquiry into alleged irregularities in Makati City
during his term as mayor, starting with
the alleged overprice of the P2.28-billion
Makati City Hall Building II.
The subcommittee has since heard testimony from Binay’s former allies, led by
former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, that he
had
received
kickbacks from
infrastructure
projects
and
used dummies
to hide his
wealth, including a 350-hectare
high-end
agriculture estate in Rosario
town, Batangas.
Binay has vehemently denied the allegations. He and
his camp branded the inquiry a farce that
was intended to bring down his high ratings, especially since two of the active
members of the Senate panel, Cayetano
and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, have plans
to run for higher office.
The Pulse Asia survey was conducted not
long after Binay backed out from a debate
with Trillanes. It was the Vice President
who proposed holding the debate.
Trillanes castigated Binay’s decision and
disclosed that the then Makati mayor had
conspired with rebel soldiers for the overthrow of the Arroyo administration. Binay,
however, allegedly reneged on his word
to send support for the renegade soldiers,
Trillanes said.
(Cont. from page 1... PULSE ASIA SURVEY..)
Poe declined to comment on the results,
saying she has yet to see the report.
The Inquirer obtained the survey results
from Pulse Asia, which officially released
the survey results Tuesday night.
Question
The survey covered 1,200 respondents, 18
years old and above, and had a margin of
error of plus or minus three percentage points.
The respondents
were asked, “Of
the people on this
list, whom would
you vote for President of the Philippines if the 2016
elections
were
held today and
they were candidates?”
In third place was Sen. Miriam DefensorSantiago, who had 12 percent, followed by
former President and now Manila Mayor
Joseph Estrada, with 10 percent.
Sen. Francis Escudero had a 7-percent rating, while former second placer Roxas was
sixth with 6 percent, down from his previous 13 percent.
Senators Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Alan
Peter Cayetano ranked seventh and eighth
with 4 percent and 3 percent, respectively,
while former Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Franklin Drilon both got 2
percent.
Sen. Bong Revilla, former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and former Sen. Richard Gordon all got 1 percent. Speaker Feliciano Belmonte had a 0.4 percent rating.
U.S. bankruptcy rules.
A 400-page report nearly three years in
the making, released on Monday by the
American Bankruptcy Institute’s Commission to Study the Reform of Chapter 11,
laid out hundreds of recommended changes to law, some of which give companies
more leeway to impose restructuring plans
over creditors’ objections.
The commission also recommends requiring secured lenders to
share a piece of their profits
with more junior creditors
in the event that a bankrupt
company regains financial
health. Proposed changes
also would alter the method
for valuing certain payments
made to a lenders, reducing
some protections.
“It’s a hell of a way to reform a restructuring code
that was already the envy of
the world,” said Elliot Ganz,
general counsel for the Loan
Syndications & Trading Association, a loan market
trade group.
Members of the commission say reform
is fair, and badly needed. The ABI, a trade
group of 12,000 bankruptcy lawyers and
other restructuring professionals, formed
the commission in 2012 amid concerns that
rising costs of Chapter 11 were deterring
companies from filing for bankruptcy. Of
those who do file, more are being liquidated or sold quickly than comprehensively
restructured, said restructuring attorney Al
Togut, the commission’s co-chairman.
“It used to be that a small company under
stress could rehabilitate itself in the bankruptcy court,” Togut said in an interview.
“When it did, it was given the chance to operate successfully following emergence.”
The commission plans to present Monday’s recommendations to Congress.
Broad legislation moves slowly, and previous changes to the bankruptcy code took
years to implement.
that aim to interpret currently disputed case
law — the bulk of the report will remain
for the time being limited to theory, not
practice.
Attorney Raymond Lyons, a former New
Jersey bankruptcy judge, said that if he
were still on the bench he would gladly impose some of the recommendations.
He said he likes the idea of an “estate neutral,” a position proposed by the commis-
sion that, on the request of parties, would
be appointed to help parties negotiate a
restructuring plan. “That’s an experiment
I’d like to see tried out,” Lyons said in an
interview.
Ganz takes issue with the idea that fewer
companies are successfully restructuring
in bankruptcy, citing an LSTA study that
found only 9 percent of companies who
took out large bankruptcy loans between
1996 and 2012 wound up liquidating, while
three-fourths restructured successfully.
Keith Sambur, a bankruptcy attorney at
Richards Kibbe & Orbe who represents
lenders, cited possible uncertainty in the
lending community, particularly with respect to the requirement that secured lenders who recover a profit in a restructuring
must allocate some of that profit to junior
creditors.
COMPUTER SERVICE
AND
RESTORATION
CENTER
SERVICES:
* TFC IPTV (Authorized Agent)
Sales: Mobile Phones
* Service & Accessories
* Computer Repair
* DVD Movie Sales (Filipino)
* Phone Card Sales,
* Pinless Phone Cards
*For Rent Magic Sing Microphone Requires 2 week reservation.
Tel: (510) 324-8553
Fax: (510) 397-3545
31852 Alvarado Blvd. Union City, CA 94587
Located inside Dollar Star Store.
PAGE 8
Dec 11, 2014 - Dec 17, 2014
FIL-AM POST
IMMIGRATION
FIL-AM POST
PAGE 9
Dec 11, 2014 - Dec 17, 2014
How can a Fiancée who did not marry the
petitioner get a green card?
any fiancée who came to the United
States and did not marry the U.S.
citizen petitioner could not adjust status
unless they qualify under the Violence
against Women Act. However, there is a
new provision in the law that allow these
fiancée to waive the immigration violation of unlawful presence. This new law
requires that they apply for Provisional
Waiver of unlawful presence in the United
States
This provisional waiver will allow the following aliens who are married to U.S. citizens to seek waiver of unlawful presence
and be able to go to their home country to
apply for green card. To qualify, they must
prove extreme hardship to the U.S. citizen
spouse or parents if their application for
permanent residence is denied. The beneficiaries of this provisional waiver will
include:
1. Those who entered as Fiancée and did
not marry the visa petitioner.
2. Seamen who entered the U.S. on a C or
D visa and overstayed their visa and are
not beneficiaries of Sec. 245(i).
3. Those who entered without inspection
and are not beneficiaries of Sec. 245(i)
4. Those aliens who have lost their passports and have no proof of legal entry to
the U.S.
M
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for a provisional unlawful
presence waiver you must fulfill ALL of
the following conditions:
1. Be 17 years of age or older.
2. Be an immediate relative of a U.S. citizen (not a preference category immigrant
who has a visa available). An immediate
relative is an individual who is the spouse,
child or parent of a U.S. citizen.
3. Have an approved Form I-130, Petition
for Alien Relative, or Form I-360, Petition
for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant.
4. Have a pending immigrant visa case with
DOS for the approved immediate relative
petition and have paid the DOS immigrant
visa processing fee.
5. Be able to demonstrate that refusal of
your admission to the United States will
cause extreme hardship to your U.S. citizen spouse or parent.
6. Be physically present in the United
States to file your application for a provisional unlawful presence waiver and provide biometrics.
7. Not have been scheduled for an immigrant visa interview by DOS before January 3, 2013.
8. Meet all other requirements for the provisional unlawful presence waiver, as detailed in 8 CFR 212.7(e) and the Form I601A and its instructions.
You are not eligible for a provisional unlawful presence waiver if any of the following conditions apply to you:
1. You are subject to one or more grounds
of inadmissibility other than unlawful
presence.
2. DOS initially acted before January 3,
2013, to schedule your Immigrant Visa
(IV) interview for the approved immediate
relative petition upon which your provisional unlawful presence waiver application is based, even if your immigrant visa
interview has been canceled, you failed to
appear for the interview, or your interview
was rescheduled on or after Jan. 3, 2013.
Note: The date and time that you are
scheduled to appear for your immigrant
visa interview at the designated U.S. Embassy or Consulate is not the date USCIS
will use to determine if you are eligible to
file a Form I-601A. If DOS initially acted
before January 3, 2013, to schedule your
immigrant visa interview, By Atty. Crispin C. Lozano proval of green card for
you are not eligible to
a client under Violence
file a Form I-601A, even
against Women Act.
if you failed to appear for your interview
or if you or DOS cancelled or rescheduled Crispin Caday Lozano is an active member of the
your interview for a date on or after Janu- State Bar of California, the American Immigration
Lawyers Association and the National Association
ary 3, 2013.
Instead, you may file a Form I-601, Ap- of Consumers Bankruptcy Attorneys. He specializes
plication for Waiver of Grounds of Inad- in immigration law and bankruptcy law. He earned
missibility, from outside the United States
after you have been interviewed for your
immigrant visa, and the consular officer
has found that you are inadmissible for a
ground that may be waived.
3. You are in removal proceedings that
have not been administratively closed.
4. At the time of filing, you are in removal
proceedings that have been administratively closed but have been placed back on the
EOIR calendar to continue your removal
proceedings.
5. You do not meet one or more of the requirements, as outlined in the Form I-601A
and its instructions.
For more information about PROVISIONAL WAIVER please call 1-877-4569266 for more information. He are currently processing many PROVISIONAL
WAIVER applications.
SUCCESS STORIES
1. On October 7, 2014, we received an approval from the U.S. Embassy in Manila
an immigrant visa for a client who 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 I-601A 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 apat midnight.
The third is to mount a fresh challenge
to Obama’s immigration policy after
the new, Republican-controlled Senate takes
office in January.
The approach has its dissenters.
“Having said we’re going to do everything
we can to stop this - and then to do nothing to
stop it - really hurts,” said Rep. Mick Mulvaney
of South Carolina, a recognition that the standalone deportation bill will die in the Senate.
It will be midweek at the earliest before it is
clear if the in-house critics are able to force a
new strategy on Boehner and the leadership.
After four years of struggling with an unruly rank and file, the speaker said he wanted
it known that this was not merely a leadership-devised approach to the latest clash with
Obama. “We listen to our members, and we listen to some members who are, frankly, griping
the most. This was their way to proceed,” the
Ohio Republican said on Thursday.
(Cont. from page 1... CAN HOUSE GOP SAYS)
“We think this is the most practical way to fight
the president’s action,” Speaker John Boehner
recently told reporters, stopping short of predicting success. “Come January we’ll have a
Republican House and Republican Senate, and
we’ll be in a stronger position to take actions.”
For better or worse, the strategy has three
parts.
The first is to approve symbolic legislation
that declares Obama’s order to shield millions
of immigrants from deportation to be “null and
void and without legal effect.” That was accomplished on Thursday on a vote of 219-197.
The second is to approve funding for the Department of Homeland Security through February or March without tying it to any immediate change in immigration policy, while also
funding the rest of the government through the
Sept. 30 end of the budget year. Without action,
most agencies will run out of money Thursday
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 [email protected]/. Visit our website at www.crispinlozanolaw.com.
PAGE 10
Dec 11, 2014 - Dec 17, 2014
IMMIGRATION
Judge on immigration case had
criticized US policy
WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal judge
“Instead of arresting (the child’s mother)
assigned to rule in the lawsuit over Presi- for instigating the conspiracy to violate
dent Barack Obama’s changes to immi- our border security laws, the (Homeland
gration rules last year accused the Obama Security Department) delivered the child
administration of participating in criminal to her — thus successfully completing the
conspiracies to smuggle children into the mission of the criminal conspiracy,” Hanen
country by reuniting them with parents liv- wrote.
ing here illegally.
The judge compared the cases to the govIn the case last year, U.S. District Judge ernment seizing weapons being smuggled
Andrew Hanen suggested that the Home- across the border and delivering them to
land Security Dethe criminals inpartment should be
side the United
arresting
parents
States who orliving in the U.S. ildered them.
legally who induce
The order hightheir children to
lighted the growcross the border illeing problem of
gally and often pay
unaccompanied
for the trip. Instead,
child immigrants
the government has
being
caught
generally been temat the border in
porarily reuniting
South Texas. Dursuch children with
ing the fiscal year
their relatives inside
that ended in Septhe United States
tember, the govpending deportation
ernment
apprethis Nov. 20, 2014 file photo, people chant during a hended more than
proceedings, which In
demonstration in front of the White House in Washington
take many years.
as President Barack Obama announced executive ac- 68,000 unaccom“DHS has sim- tions on immigration during a nationally televised ad- panied children at
ply chosen not to dress.
the border.
enforce the United
Most of those
States’ border seyoung immigrants
curity laws,” the judge wrote. He said the were from Honduras, El Salvador or Guagovernment’s failures to enforce immigra- temala. Under federal law, those children
tion laws were “both dangerous and uncon- cannot be quickly deported and are often
scionable,” although he separately noted, reunited with a parent or other relative al“This court takes no position on the topic ready living in the United States. The govof immigration reform, nor should one ernment does not generally ask about the
read this opinion as a commentary on that immigration status of parents or relatives.
issue.”
Texas is leading a coalition of states suHanen was assigned through an automat- ing the government. It argued in the lawed system to be the judge who will preside suit filed last week that Obama’s decision
over a lawsuit filed by 20 states trying to “tramples” key portions of the Constitution.
block Obama’s expansive executive ac- The states, including Arizona, Alabama,
tions to spare nearly 5 million people liv- Georgia, Idaho, Indiana and the Carolinas,
ing in the U.S. illegally from deportation aren’t seeking monetary damages but want
and refocus enforcement efforts on “fel- Hanen to block the president’s actions.
ons, not families.” Hanen is one of only
It’s not unusual for plaintiffs in sensitive
two judges in the Brownsville division of civil cases to shop for a court jurisdiction
the U.S. District Court for the Southern friendly to their point of view, but the loDistrict of Texas, and he is assigned to half cation of the court generally must have
of all civil cases filed there.
some connection to the case. In this case
Last December, Hanen wrote a 10-page just about any court in Texas would suffice.
order in an immigrant smuggling case in Hanen’s ruling last year — which generwhich he expressed his frustration over ated some publicity then — likely swayed
four cases in a month in which a child who lawyers for Texas to file the lawsuit in
arrived in the U.S. illegally alone was re- Brownsville, not far from the central point
united with a parent also in the country il- of the summer’s crisis over child immilegally.
grants in nearby McAllen.
FIL-AM POST
Anti-illegal immigration activists look beyond
California for action
For years, Raul Rodriguez Jr. would let out
an exasperated sigh, then move on, whenever
he read or heard news about illegal immigration. But something clicked last summer
when he saw reports of multitudes of Central
Americans illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.
“I’ve got to do something,” Rodriguez, 72,
said he told himself. “I’ve got to get off the
couch and need to get people involved.”
Rodriguez crafted signs denouncing illegal
immigration for various rallies, including one
in Murrieta a few days after busloads of Central
American detainees were turned back amid vocal protests.
After President Obama announced his immigration reform plan last month, the Apple Valley
resident started contacting congressional leaders
to express his displeasure.
California’s anti-illegal immigration movement has lost a lot of steam in the 20 years since
voters passed Proposition 187, the ballot measure intended to deny taxpayer-funded services
to those in the country illegally.
Polls consistently show that Californians don’t
see illegal immigration as the same type of
threat they did in the 1990s, and a September
USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll showed
73% of voters support some type of path to citizenship for those here illegally.
But the last few months have shown that the
anti-illegal immigration forces remain small but
potent — and a movement that backers hope
will get stronger with Obama’s action.
Tactics this time are changing. Robin Hvidston,
president of We the People Rising, a Claremont
organization, said her group and other California
activists have focused on targeting congressional leaders outside the state because they know
there’s little they can do here.
“They see their only hope being the national
government,” said Roy H. Beck, who heads
NumbersUSA, a powerful national advocacy
group opposing illegal immigration. “They don’t
see a solution coming from inside California.”
People Rising and other groups campaigning
against illegal immigration say they are experiencing a modest uptick in public interest and
support as immigration has emerged as a big issue this year, a trend confirmed by the Southern
Poverty Law Center.
But it’s not exactly a groundswell.
The protests in Murrieta garnered days of national attention and inspired similar demonstrations throughout the nation, according to activists and the poverty law center.
Obama’s plan, which would give work permits
and temporary protection from deportation to
nearly 5 million who are in the country illegally,
did generate some protests, but they were decidedly small-scale. One last month in Rancho Cucamonga drew just six demonstrators.
Activists in California say that once the new
Congress takes office in January, they are
planning a phone and fax blitz in response to
Obama’s move. Plans to join rallies in Washington, D.C., are also in the works.
Movement leaders said they want Congress to
fight Obama’s executive action and to further secure the border with Mexico.
The renewed activity opposing illegal immigration in California reflects what’s happening on a
national level, Beck said.
“They’re all enraged and engaged,” Beck said.
“This issue is a white-hot priority within our followers.”
Leo Chavez, professor of anthropology at UC
Irvine who has researched and written about the
movement against illegal immigration, said an
uptick in such activity is common when there
are national events with high-media exposure,
such as the border crisis last summer.
HEALTH
How Aging Affects Your Bladder
Some age-related changes, such as gray
hair and wrinkles, are obvious.
But other shifts are occurring inside your
body with each passing year. Your bladder
and urinary system change with age, often
in ways that aren’t desirable.
Understanding these changes and taking
steps
to cope can
improve
your health.
Infections
Are
Still
Common
Roughly
10 percent
of
postmenopausal
women experience
a
urinary
tract infection
each
year. This
rate
isn’t
as high as
for younger
women, 17
percent of whom report having a UTI every year. But the symptoms among older
women can be different.
According to a recent study in Archives of
Gerontology and Geriatrics, older women
are more likely to experience strong urges
to urinate, leakage, and lower back and abdominal pain. Meanwhile, younger women
urinate more frequently and are more likely
to feel pain and burning when they do so.
To ward off these painful infections, drink
plenty of water—six to eight 8-ounce
glasses per day—and wear cotton underwear. Women should wipe from front to
back after using the toilet and should empty the bladder after sexual relations.
Your Urethra May Become Blocked
For both men and women, changes in the
reproductive system are linked to bladder
troubles. In men, the prostate—the walnutsized gland that surrounds the urethra—often enlarges as they get older. For women,
weakened pelvic muscles may lead to the
bladder’s slipping out of position, which
could lead to difficulty emptying the bladder.
Both these problems can block the flow of
urine. See your doctor if you have symptoms linked to an obstruction. These include abdominal pain, difficulty passing
urine, or, in some cases, bleeding or dis-
charge.
Your Bladder Wall Stiffens
The muscles lining your bladder become
weaker and less flexible with age. This loss
of strength and stretchiness means your
bladder may not empty fully when you go
to the bathroom. If you’re having problems
with voiding fully, a
specialist
such as a
urologist or
urogynecologist may
be able to
help.
Leakage
and Stones
Become
More Frequent
It’s true
that incontinence—
leaking
urine when
you don’t
intend to—
is more common the older you get. But you
don’t have to accept it as a normal part of
aging. Talk with your doctor about whether
lifestyle changes, medications, or surgery
can help relieve your symptoms.
Aging also increases your risk for bladder
stones—painful, hard crystals of minerals that build up inside the organ. They’re
much more common in men than women
and usually occur along with an infection
or enlarged prostate.
Some small stones can be passed by drinking water. Others can be removed using a
small tube that passes through the urethra,
or during surgery.
Your Risk for Cancer Increases
Bladder cancer is the sixth most common
type of cancer in the United States, affecting far more men than women. But everyone’s risk increases with age. Smoking,
chemical exposure in the workplace, and
family history also boost your odds.
Symptoms of bladder cancer include
blood in your urine, pain when you urinate,
having to bear down to empty your bladder,
and low back pain. These signs can also be
caused by many other health problems. If
you experience them, tell your doctor, so
he or she can determine the cause and begin treatment if needed.
AROUND TOWN
FIL-AM POST
PAGE 11
Dec 11, 2014 - Dec 17, 2014
Net 25 23
ANAK TV SEALS AWARDS
s part of
the
Net
25 TV family
from the Philippines as the
Silicon
Valley news correspondent it
LET’S HAVE COFFEE
is a pleasure
By
Don Augusto Orozco
and of great
pride to see
my mother network achieve
so much as a independent and always
forward moving station. It has grown in
leaps and bounds. It has garnered several
awards from different award giving bodies
not only in the Philippines but also in the
international arena.
But we the station is more proud of is that
Net 25 recently garnered 23 ANAK TV
SEALS AWARDS which make Net25 a
program for people from all walks of life.
It is my honor to be a part of this ever
growing broadcast family. All of this we
achieve through the help of Our Almighty
Father. To thie awards we say thanks be to
God. We offer this to him for all the glory
the network has thus received.
The following is the PRESS RELEASE
from Eagle Broadcasting Corporation network which I would like to share with my
readers in the Fil Am Post.
NET 25, Eagle Broadcasting Corporation’s
very own TV channel, once again proved
that it is a bastion of television programs
that is not only full of family values but
guaranteed kid-friendly as well.
Four NET 25 programs won this singular
honor. First is Spoon, our very own celebrity cooking and talk show, hosted by
A
Ms. Janice De Belen, which gives us not
only mouth-watering recipes but good and
meaningful conversations as well.
Landmarks, our travel and history show
and one of the first television programs
in the Philippines that is shot in HD, also
won. Landmarks is hosted by Faye de Castro and gives us an in-depth look not only
in the beauty of the destinations of our
country – but their rich history as well.
Aprub, our very own public service program that helps ordinary citizens understand our government’s various agencies.
Aprub is hosted by Ms. Ellaine Fuentes.
And finally, NET 25’s musical program,
Sessions on 25th Street, which features
acoustic performances of OPM artists.
The Anak TV Seal is given by thousands of
Filipinos to television programs that kids
can watch even with little or no supervision.
To our viewers, thank you for your continued support and recognition!
By the way, the following are the programs
that won recognition from ANAK. They
are ; Ang Iglesia Ni Cristo, Aprub, Chinoy
TV, Gabay sa Mabuting Asal, Global 3000,
Homepage, Iglesia Ni Cristo International, In focus, In Good Shape, INC Giving
Show, Landas ng Buhay, Landmarks, Moments, My Life, Paninindigan, Pasugo:
Ang Tinig ng INC, Sessions on 25th Street,
Spoon, Stories of Faith, Taga rito Kami,
That’s In the Bible, The Chronicles,The
Message.
We would like to extend our deepest gratitude for your continued support! And we
promise to continue in our mission to be
the most family-friendly and values-oriented channel in the country!( for questions
email me at [email protected])
It was a fun-filled evening for the PPBS members and guests. PPBS President Gus Olmedo
handed the $500 check donation to Dr. Arline Macaraeg and our long-time Fll-Am senior
Sally Panis to benefit the Fil-Com Senior Program. Our beloved Milpitas Mayor Jose Esteves
gave a very inspiring speech. We were entertained by the Freelance Group Dancers and our
very own, Elvis, Fernando Saraya. We all enjoyed dancing, eating and of course singing the
Christmas carols. Oh, what a night! Thank you to Romy H. Navarro who did a wonderful job
as emcee and his lovely wife, Alice tending to our treasury. To all our guests and supporters,
PPBS officers and members, thank you and have a blessed Christmas!
FACC SCC Holiday Dinner. The Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of the Santa
Clara County recently held their board meeting and holiday dinner at the Dynasty Restaurant in San Jose California. On top of the agenda is the Trade Mission which is scheduled on
Ocotber 2015. From left are Hamilton Tee, Alma Ramirez, Florencio Andy Andres, Benjie
Fernandez, Debbie Abad, Don Orozco, Rudy Goltiao and Manny Valencia. Seated from left
are Elvie dela Vega, Ana Andres and FACC President Anne O Ramirez.
Burgos Pangasinan Association of NorCal. Members and Officers of the Burgos Pangasinan Association of Northern California gathered for their annual 2014 christmas party. Also
in photo is Alma Ramirez of the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Santa Clara
County together with her better half.
ARE YOU CELEBRATING YOUR BIRTHDAY, ANNIVERSARY,
GRADUATION OR BUSINESS GRAND OPENING?
Fil-Am Post can cover an exclusive feature of your event!
Call us at
1-855-454-7678
or email us at [email protected] to learn more.
REAL ESTATE
PAGE 12
Dec 11, 2014 - Dec 17, 2014
The 3% down payment
mortgage makes a comeback
In an effort to open up lending to more low-income
and first time home buyers, Fannie Mae and Freddie
Mac announced Monday that they will start backing
mortgages with down payments of as little as 3% of
the home’s price.
But borrowers will still need to meet strict criteria
first, the two government-backed mortgage giants
said.
The new loans will only be doled out to those who
buy private mortgage insurance, have a credit score
of at least 620 and offer complete documentation of
their income, assets and job status. And, to further
mitigate risk, the agencies will require borrowers to
receive home ownership counseling.
Both programs are for fixed-rate loans given to first
time homebuyers and those seeking to refinance.
Fannie will start backing the loans as soon as December 13, while Freddie will start offering them
March 23.
The move should expand access to credit for firsttime homebuyers, typically younger buyers who
have not have had enough time to save a big lump
sum.
Fannie and Freddie already back mortgages with as
low as 5% down. And the Federal Housing Administration insures 3.5% loans.
Still, according to Mark Palim, who directs economic and strategic research at Fannie Mae, it’s a
welcome expansion of credit.
“It’s not a radical departure from what we’re doing
now, but anything at the margins helps,” he said.
The 3% loans from Fannie and Freddie should also
offer some advantages over the 3.5% down loans offered by FHA, according to Palim.
For example, the FHA loans require borrowers to
pay for private mortgage insurance premiums for
the entire term of the mortgage -- typically 30 years.
That means adding an extra 1.35 percentage points to
monthly mortgage rates. A loan carrying a 4% rate,
for example, becomes a 5.35% mortgage.
In dollars, that’s about an extra $80 a month for every $100,000 borrowed or $960 a year. That adds up
to nearly $30,000 over the life of the loan.
Under Fannie and Freddie’s programs, borrowers
are permitted to cancel their private mortgage insurance premiums once the mortgage balance drops
below 80% of the home’s value -- either because
they’ve made enough payments or the home’s value
has risen.
FIL-AM POST
Millions of Americans are spending too
much on housing
Millions of Americans are
spending too much of
their monthly income on
housing.
Thanks to rising costs
and
stagnant
wage
growth, nearly 40 million
Americans are spending
more than 30% of their
income on housing payments, property taxes and
other home expenses,
according to a survey of
10,000 U.S. households
conducted by the Demand Institute, a nonprofit think tank run by
the Conference Board and
Nielsen.
Faring most poorly are renters, 49% of which are “cost
burdened” by their monthly
rent payments, the report
found. That’s compared to
26% of homeowners.
A spike in foreclosures af-
ter the housing bubble burst
forced many Americans to
start renting. That sent rents
soaring by more than 25%
since 2005, according to
the Census Bureau. Since
wages have been relatively
stagnant its also meant that
renters were spending a
larger percentage of their in-
come on housing costs each
month.
Home
p r i c e s
have risen
too,
but
they
are
still down
about 18%
from their
mid-2006
peak. That,
combined
with historically
low interest
rates
on mortgages, makes home
buying a much more affordable choice in most markets
right now.
“Home ownership has become more affordable but
many renters have still been
unable to transition into
homeowners,” said Jeremy
Burbank, vice president at
The Demand Institute.
Tight lending standards and
a slow job recovery have
prevented many prospective
home buyers from buying
homes. Unlike during the
boom years, lenders require
buyers to come up with significant down payments.
The hardest hit group has
been the Millennial generation, said Burbank. Normally, this group would form a
large cohort of home buyers,
but heavy student debt loads
and a lack of well paying
jobs have many postponing
home buying.
Demand’s survey found
that 53% of renters still aspire to buy a home and 77%
of respondents agreed that
home ownership is an excellent long-term investment
right now.
Brooklyn is the least affordable place in America
Brooklyn is known as the borough of
hipsters, beer gardens and Coney Island. But it’s got a new feather to add
to its fedora: the least affordable place
to live in the country.
Residents of the New York City borough would have to spend nearly 98%
of the median income to afford a median-priced home of $615,000 in that
area, according to a report from RealtyTrac.
“It’s unlikely that people who are
making the median income are buying homes in that area. That’s why
Brooklyn has such low home ownership rates,” said Daren Blomquist, vice
president of RealtyTrac.
More than six years after the housing
market collapsed, one in five counties
in the U.S. is less affordable than its
historical norm, the report showed.
But that doesn’t mean the housing
market is staring at another bubble
quite yet.
“We are certainly not saying it’s another bubble yet, but it is one sign of
a potential emerging bubble in those
markets that have gone past their historical affordability,” said Blomquist.
The real estate company’s latest report
identified 98 counties (21% of all 475
counties analyzed) where home affordability in October was higher than the
county’s historical average.
Overall, buying a median-priced home
in October required 26% of median
income on average, a lot less than the
average 41% needed in each county’s
peak month of the housing bubble.
At the top of the list of unaffordable
markets was Brooklyn, followed by
San Francisco, San Mateo and Alameda counties in the San Francisco metro
area.
Six counties were identified as being
even less affordable than during the
2005-2008 housing bubble, including
Suffolk County in the Boston metro
area and Travis County around Austin.
“Those markets are at risk ... if price appreciation doesn’t slow down they will
be in bubble territory,” said Blomquist.
Rising prices have been good to the
housing market, but it could be too
much of a good thing. RealtyTrac’s
report showed 12% of counties had a
median home price in October that was
higher than the average reached at the
peak of the 2005-2008 bubble.
SPORTS
PH Azkals train sights on
upset of Thais
BANGKOK—The Philippine Azkals arrived in this bustling metropolis Monday
with their sights trained on pulling off what
could be an even bigger upset than the one
t h e y
p r o duced
f o u r
years
a g o
in the
Asean
Footb a l l
Federation
Suzuki
Cup.
After
holdi n g
three
t i m e PH Azkals
champ i o n
Thailand to a goal-less draw in the first
leg of their semifinal tie, the Azkals have
no recourse but to deliver another brilliant
performance Wednesday night, this time in
enemy territory, to keep their bid for a first
major title alive.
The Filipino side is no stranger to hammering out big feats, having beaten then
defending champion Vietnam in Hanoi
four years ago, but the Thais are a challenge unlike any other as they have been
the benchmark in the sport in the region for
the past two decades.
While the league where the players in the
Philippines are culled from is still developing, the Thai Premier League, where the
War Elephants get their pool of players is
considered one of the strongest in the continent.
And even with a young side, the War Elephants are brimming with confidence they
can get past the Azkals.
“One hundred percent, we will go to the
next round,” said Thai midfielder Charyl
Chappuis. “For us, it was important that the
Philippines did not score [in the first leg].
We are not so happy because we wanted
to get the win, but we think we have the
advantage at home.”
The Azkals
likewise
believe there were
plenty of positives coming out
of their performance in the first
leg.
“I thought we
were excellent
and the commitment was what
exactly I expected it would be,”
said skipper Rob
Gier.
Gier is relishing the thought
of the Azkals
defying the odds
once more on
Wednesday at the iconic Rajamangala Stadium where a
sellout crowd of 80,000 is expected.
“They thought the Thais were
going to walk over us and
we’ve proven that they are in a
game now and that they have to
bring their A Game if they want
to beat us,” said Gier.
The away goals rule give the
Azkals another glimmer of
hope as a scoring draw will be
enough for them to advance to
their first finals appearance in
the tournament.
“I think if we put in a performance like in the first leg
there’s no way we could not
score a goal,” said Gier, predicting that the Thais will be
having trouble dealing with
teammate Phil Younghusband
whom he considers the “best
striker in Southeast Asia.”
Camacho: PH to bring home 45-50
SEAG golds
Philippine chief of mission Julian Camacho is expecting that Filipino athletes will
bring home between 45 to 50 gold medals
from the 28th Southeast Asian Games in
Singapore.
Although he declined to name them,
Camacho got the assurance from top national sports association officials who will
field in their athletes in the June 5 to 16
biennial meet.
“I don’t want to make any prediction as
far as placing in the overall standing is concerned, but we’ve been counting the possible medals,” said the Philippine Olympic
Committee treasurer and secretary general
of the Wushu Federation of the Philippines.
The Philippines has projected the participation of at least 500 athletes from 34
sports to improve on its seventh-place performance in the Games held in Burma last
year.
There are 36 sports in Singapore where
402 gold medals are up for grabs.
“This is the last international competition
for this government and the PSC (Philippine Sports Commission) is throwing its
full support behind this endeavor,” said
Camacho.
Camacho’s gold-medal target is equivalent to fifth place overall in Burma where
Filipino athletes came home with 29 gold,
34 silver and 38 bronze medals.
So far, the only problem that Camacho
sees during the Games is the mobilization
of the medical team since the athletes will
stay in hotels near the venues of competition.
Athletes, coaches and officials from the 11
competing countries normally stay inside
the Games village built by the host country
for the entire meet.
In Singapore’s case, however, the organizing committee decided to do away with
the usual practice and maximize the overabundance of hotels within the wealthy
city-state.
“The medical team needs to go around
and look after the health and well-being
of the athletes. How can you efficiently do
that when you have 500 athletes staying all
over the city?” said Camacho.
SHOWBIZ
FIL-AM POST
Richard Yap ready to be seduced by
Kris Aquino; Vice Ganda reveals how Kris
interfered with Bimby’s scenes
Kris Aquino recently revealed that she will play romantic moment.”
the mistress of Richard Yap’s character in The
In a separate interview, Vice Ganda said about
Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin.
his co-star: “May harutang magaganap sa amin
The TV host-actress will appear in two Metro ni Richard Yap.”
Manila Film Festival entries this year: the horKRIS AQUINO ON THE SET. Kris is vocal
ror film Feng Shui 2 and the comedy film Pray- in saying that she is a stage mother. Were there
beyt Benjamin 2.
times when Kris interfered on
Kris will have
the set?
a role in the
Vice Ganda recalled: “Kacomedy movie
hapon nandun siya, behave
starring
Vice
lang naman siya sa shooting
Ganda, Richard
pero noong una, nangingialam
Yap, Alex Gontalaga siya.
zaga, and her son
“Noong unang shooting naBimby Aqunomin, mahirap yung pinagawa
Yap.
kay Bimby na kahit ako naawa
She disclosed her
sa bagets.
role when Rich“Kasi pinag-Chinese siya.
ard appeared as a
Lahat ng linya niya puro Chiguest on Aquino
nese at pati yung bata hindi rin
& Abunda Tohanda.
night, which Kris
“Merong Chinese instructor
co-hosts with Boy
dun na nagbibigay ng mga
In The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin, Richard Yap (right) is
Abunda.
linya niya in Chinese. Tapos
as the commanding officer of Vice Ganda’s character.
“I’m your wife cast
Bimby Aquino-Yap (not in photo) plays the son of Richard’s si Kris papalit siya papalit.
there!” she told character in this MMFF 2014 entry.
[Sinasabi niya] ‘Huwag ‘yan,
Richard who is
yung mas maikli pa.’ Babacast as a general in the film.
guhin ng instructor then sasabihin niya, ‘Yung
Kris said with a laugh: “I’m the mom of Bimb. mas simple pa.’
We had an affair. Inakit ko siya [Richard]. Inakit
“Naloloka yung Chinese instructor then sabi ni
ko yung heneral! Nagtagumpay ako and I’m Kris, ‘Huwag ‘yan, Tagalog na lang.’
bad. Ang saya!”
“E, di nag-Tagalog na lang si Bimby.”
During the December 7 press conference of
Did Kris have special instructions on how
Praybeyt Benjamin, Richard was asked how it to take care of her son while shooting for this
was like to shoot scenes with Kris.
movie?
“Wala pa naman kaming scenes together so
“Wala naman siyang bilin kasi kahit hindi siya
hinihintay ko pa lang.”
mag-bilin, sigurado namang aalagaan siya ng
Is he ready to be seduced by Kris Aquino?
Star Cinema at Viva Films...ni Direk Wenn saka
“Ready naman,” he said with a smile.
ako, lalo ako kasi parang anak ko na rin yun.”
How was it like working with Bimby AquinoVice Ganda then revealed that Kris actually
Yap and Rhed Bustamante?
likes it when Bimby is treated like any other
“They’re both very nice kids and masunurin kid.
naman sila. Si Rhed parang bihasang-bihasang
“Tuwang-tuwa siya pag napaglalaruan si
artista na.
Bimby. Pag tinatrato siyang pangkaraniwan
“Very professional.”
lang o hindi tinatratong anak ni Kris Aquino o
Did Richard Yap have sweet moments with pamangkin ng Pangulo [referring to President
Vice Ganda in this MMFF 2014 entry?
Noynoy Aquino] o apo ng bayani [referring to
“Abangan n’yo na lang. Meron kaming very Ninoy Aquino].
Cristalle Henares Not Rushing To Get Married
Cristalle Henares was the one who organized the sixth bridal shower for Kapuso actress Marian Rivera. This was
sponsored by Belo Medical
Group. Marian and Dingdong Dantes will get married on December 30.
Cristalle was the one who
organized the photo and
video shoot for Marian.
She’s very happy for Marian, and she can see how
much she enjoyed the bridal
shower. She has a different
glow in her, the businesswoman added.
What’s good with Marian
and Dingdong is they have
been together for more than
six years already, so there’s
nowhere to go but get married.
Marian was the one who suggested to
Cristalle to make it a bridal shower-press
conference-Christmas party. Marian is
also the endorser of the Belo Bridal Collection.
Dra. Vicki Belo, Cristalle’s mother, is a
primary sponsor of Marian’s and Dingdong’s wedding.
Dingdong has been a longtime endorser
of the Belo Medical Group, so it’s only
right to include Marian in their team,
Cristalle said. Marian was the endorser
for the summer and bridal collection,
which was a product of Vicki back when
she was supposed to
get married to Dr.
Hayden Kho Jr.
Vicki said that back
then, she was fearful
to have pimples on
her wedding day.
She doesn’t want
other brides to experience that. Now,
they have packages
for five months,
three months, two
weeks or a week
before the wedding.
They will make sure
the bride is pampered and polished.
Is Cristalle also ready to settle down
anytime soon with her Australian boyfriend Justin Pitt? She joked that she took
Justin to Marian’s pictorial, and he might
have been pressured to propose.
She and Justin haven’t talked about it
yet, but she is hoping to settle down anytime soon because she’s turning 31 years
old. Although she is not wishing for Justin
to be her “the one,” she wants to confirm
that they are really meant for each other.
PAGE 13
Dec 11, 2014 - Dec 17, 2014
Saicy sizzles in her ‘most daring’ shoot
MANILA - Saicy Aguila,
“Banana Split” dancer and
former “Pinoy Big Brother”
housemate, returns as an
FHM babe three years after she posed for the men’s
magazine.
The 31-year-old Aguila,
who is featured as the “December Babe” of FHM’s
official website, was photographed by Ejay Leung
wearing only leopard print
lingerie.
She was styled by Debra
Bernales with hair and
makeup by Dimple Callada Former ‘Pinoy Big Brother’ housemate Saicy Aguila poses for FHM. Photo by Ejay
and Cha Montenegro, re- Leung from FHM’s official website
spectively. (Check the full
kahit na anong gawin mo hindi siya mawawala.
gallery here.)
In her interview with FHM, Aguila said she as- Every time I step onto a stage, it’s always prespires to be like American superstar Jennifer Lo- ent,” she said.
“But once I start performing na, nawawala
pez, who is known as both a singer and a dancer.
“I tried singing and dancing din before, I can na siya, until hindi mo na siya maramdaman.
say keri naman. When I do shows, more on Maybe because I’m starting to enjoy what I’m
dancing siya, but I also mix some singing din doing na, kusa na siyang lumalabas.”
The same can be said for Aguila’s FHM comelalo na kapag medyo pagod na ako,” she said.
back,
which she considers as the most daring
Over the years since she exited the “Pinoy Big
Brother” house and joined showbiz in 2007, she has done in her career.
“Siguro ito na ‘yung mako-consider ko na
Aguila said she has learned to manage “stage
sexiest
na nagawa ko kasi first time ko talaga
fright.”
“Sa simula, ‘yung kaba talaga nandoon siya, nag-topless! But it’s a good experience kasi I
learned na kaya ko pala,” she said.
Agot loses P3M to
‘dugo-dugo gang’ :report
MANILA – Singer-actress Agot Isidro reportedly lost around P3 million in cash and
jewelry to alleged members of “dugo-dugo
gang” in Quezon City
over the weekend, police
said Sunday.
Citing Police Officer
2 Marlon dela Vega of
the Quezon City Police
District-Criminal Investigation and Detection
Unit, The Pilipino Star
Ngayon reported on
Monday that Isidro lost
her money and properties after her house help
Maenelyn Omapas received a call from an unidentified woman.
Agot Isidro
The caller supposedly
told Omapas that Isidro figured in a vehicular accident and the singer-actress needs
money to settle with a certain Ana Chua.
Omapas followed the caller’s instructions,
taking Isidro’s cash and jewelry in a bag
to the Wilcon Home Depot
store in Balintawak.
After she gave the bag containing the money and jewelry, Omapas was allegedly
instructed to return home to
Isidro’s residence at Blue
Ridge Subdivision in Quezon City.
Omapas said it was only
then when she found out that
she was just deceived by the
caller as Isidro was still at
work.
Dela Vega said authorities
are still investigating the incident.
Isidro has yet to issue a statement regarding the matter.
Aiko Melendez denies dating
younger man
MANILA – Aiko Melendez reacted
to reports that she is dating a younger
man after several photos of them together made the rounds online.
The man in the photos has been identified as Michael Pate, a college varsity
player in his early 20s.
In an interview with “The Buzz” on
Sunday, Melendez said there is nothing
romantic going on between them, adding that they are always with a group
of friends.
“It’s pangit naman na it would come
from me. Probably siguro he has a
crush on me. Ganun lang. Barkada namin nila Edwin Tan. We just hang out
as a group,” she said.
In one of Pate’s Instagram posts, he
captioned a photo of Melendez with
the hashtag “true love.”
Asked if she has any idea why Pate
made such a remark, Melendez said:
“Probably kasi I’ve been single for the
past five years. Anybody na matabi sa
akin, [nali-link]. Ewan ko sa kanya
bakit siya nag-post ng [true love daw
ako]. Sinasabi lang niya na humahanga
siya sa akin pero walang [panliligaw].”
Even if she said in the past that she
still wants a happy ending when it
comes to her love life, Melendez said
Pate is “just too young.”
Meanwhile, the actress said she is taking back her statement last week that
she wants to have another baby with
her former husband, Jomari Yllana.
“I take it back. Two nights ako, parang
nagdasal ako na huwag na lang. I’m
content na with two kids. I have a boy
and a girl so parang okay na,” she said.
Melendez said she is fortunate to have
Yllana as a friend despite their failed
marriage.
“We are okay. Jom and I are best of
friends. If we go further than that, it
will complicate things. If we are more
than friends, masisira lang whatever
we have right now,” she said.
Claudine Barretto, Raymart Santiago Legal Battle Nearing End
Atty. Ferdinand Topacio,
the legal counsel of Claudine Barretto, said that his
client’s legal battle with estranged husband Raymart
Santiago is nearing the end
already. There are two cases
currently pending--the custody battle and the Permanent Protection Order.
The two camps already
submitted all the evidences
for their case.
The court will come out
with a decision anytime
soon, the lawyer said, but
he cannot discuss the merit
of the case because of a gag
order.
After this case, Claudine
can put things behind her
and just focus on her showbiz comeback. Hopefully,
people will also learn that
all the allegations against
Claudine are lies. Raymart’s
camp alleged that the actress is a drug addict, and
is suffering from a mental
illness.
The cases started in July
last year. Claudine also filed
a case against her estranged
husband for violating RA
9262 or the Anti-Violence
Against Women and their
Children Act.
Atty. Topacio is even
thinking of writing a book
on how, systematically,
Claudine’s reputation was
besmirched by those around
her. He doesn’t know what
the motivations are. Maybe
Claudine’s sisters are envious of her, the lawyer said.
Claudine is not in good
terms with sisters Marjorie
and Gretchen.
Because of this case, he
saw all the evidences and
was able to interview all the
people related to Claudine.
“Nakita ko kung papaano
yung career niya at personal
life niya ay sinira nga systematically.”
He’s not going to divulge
the details now, but he wants
to write a book to reveal the
truth. There’s a conspiracy,
Atty. Topacio alleged.
There are witnesses and
evidences that show how
Claudine was maligned by
those around her. She is the
true victim in this ordeal, he Claudine Barretto and Raymart Santiago
added.
CLASSIFIED
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Dec 11, 2014 - Dec 17, 2014
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USED CARS
INCOME PRODUCING
LAND 11 HECTARES
ALL TITLED, GOOD FOR
RESORT / MUST SELL
HAIR CUT STATION
NOW HIRING
SELLING
YOUR CAR?
PROPERTY
FOR SALE
FIL-AM POST
*120 young carabao mango trees
harvesting approx. P1.5/ year.
*3 Bed home surrounded with
cashew trees, guavas,
calamansi, coconuts, etc.
*1/4 Hectares tilapia fish pond
approx. income of
P80,000+ a year.
*1/2 Hectares rice plantation
harvesting 100 sacks/ year.
*Close to Olongapo City, Subic
Hanjen Castillejos, Zambales
Philippines
*Asking price is P15M or
$645,000 or BO
Susan (408) 930-4377
Hair Cut Station to rent.
$600 / month
WEEKEND
SALES AGENTS
Call (510) 895-1963
WANTED
CAREGIVER
FOR A FILIPINO TELECOM.
8MUST LIVE IN UNION CITY,
MILPITAS OR SAN JOSE AREA.
*WITH PER HOUR RATE &
COMMISSION.
CALL US AT
650.290.0542 /650.290.4457
IF INTERESTED.
for Residential Care
Facility for the Elderly
(RCFE)
located in Elk Grove,
Sacramento
Call (916) 505-1933
ADVERTISE
WITH US!
ADVERTISE NOW!
[email protected]
FOR
SALE
95’ BLACK
LINCOLN TOWN CAR
STRETCH LIMOUSINE
w/ bar & TV port.
Good for Limo business.
$3,000 or BO.
Call 650.290.0542 for
more details.
CARDS & COUPONS
TRAVEL TOUR PACKAGES
BUS TOURS of Orchid Farms, Gardens, Historical Sites, etc. from $80.00.
CRUISES - round-trips from San Francisco or LA, CA to Mexico ($550.00), Canada ($250.00),
Hawaii ($1,449.00). Fascinating tour onto the life Pope Francis in Argentina and
learn it’s history and role of the church on its culture, society; and their famous tango
(land /tour w/ some meals $2,950.00).
FOR MORE INFO PLEASE EMAIL US AT [email protected]
All prices are for double occupancy and subject to chage. CST 2099748
VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT
WWW.SF-POST.COM
Become a nursing professional
in few weeks!
ACADEMY OF
HEALTH CAREERS
Certification Classes 2014
CNA, HHA & Sterile Processing Training
Classes (Day & Night Classes Available)
777 Southland Dr., Suite 240
Hayward CA 94545
(510) 712-4009
GAMES & ENTERTAINMENT
CROSSWORD
Across
1. 10-percenters:
Abbr.
5. Billy Joel’s
“___ It Goes”
10. Theater
award given by
The Village
Voice
14. Jacob’s wife
before Rachel
15. U.S.-Canada
mil. acronym
16. Linked addresses on the
Web
17. Rear of the
roof of the
mouth
19. Dialogue
20. Blender
maker
21. Kind of baby
23. ___ Puente,
the Mambo
King
26. Later’s
alternative
27. Exciting
football game
ender
32. Raises, as
the ante
33. Love
34. ___ example
38. Common
eBay caveat
40. Cutting
utensil
42. Gulf of
Greece
43. Funnelshaped
45. Letter-shaped
girder
47. Spot in a
river
48. Classic
battles between
the
Giants and
Dodgers, e.g.
51. Pop crooner
Neil
54. Kemo___
(the Lone
Ranger)
55. Trattoria
beverage
58. Decree of a
Muslim ruler
62. ___ Mujeres
(neighbor of
Cancun)
63. King of Hollywood
66. Gender:
Abbr.
67. Major blood
carrier
68. Follow along
69. Existence:
Lat.
70. Computer
button
71. Discordia
Down
1. By the same
token
2. Prizms and
Storms, e.g.
3. President before
Wilson
4. Jewish village of
Eastern
Europe, formerly
5. Santa ___, El
Salvador
6. ___ pros: legal
entry
7. Mild expletive.
8. Fill to repletion
9. Ukrainian bay
10. 1997 film starring Jack
Lemmon and
Walter Matthau
11. Explorer I team
director
Wernher Von ___
12. ‘Would you
look at that!’
13. Sandy ridge
18. Bandleader
Louis
22. Sleep restlessly
24. Tent floor,
maybe
25. Confer holy
orders on
27. 1950’s Communist-hunting
grp.
28. Lhasa ___:
small dog
29. “Love ___
the air”
30. ___ Linda,
Calif.
31. Primps.
35. ___ II (Gillette
razor)
36. Play to: draw
37. Singer Cole
et al.
39. Split up
41. Pro ___ (proportionate)
44. Hockey fake
46. ‘Sex and the
City’ character
whose first name
was revealed
to be John in the
final episode
49. Daytona 500
org.
50. Put fizz in
51. English Channel feeder
52. Twisty curves
53. Poor grade
56. ___ gin fix
57. Rowing pair
59. “Two guys walk
into ___...”
60. Mid-sixth
century date
61. Skinny swimmers
64. Road-map abbr.
65. Cartoondom’s
Krazy___
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)
VIEW ALL OF OUR
PAST WEEKLY ISSUES AT
WWW.SF-POST.COM
HOROSCOPE
Aries March 20 - April 18
Do other countries represent real openings
for you? This is a question that you will soon
have to answer. This may be true, but it may
also be an illusion that gives you a simplistic
explanation for the dissatisfaction you feel
now in your professional life.
Taurus April 19 - May 19
You’re going to think this is a strange period.
It isn’t, Taurus. It’s just that today won’t be
like others. Look around and you will see
that people are either depressed or trying to
keep up a good façade.
Gemini May 20 - June 19
Today, Gemini, you might get the chance to
take a trip around the world to visit fabulous
palaces and experience a timeless love,
and all - get this - totally free! This could be
called a sensitivity test to the universe of
Walt Disney.
Cancer June 20 - July 21
You will float today, Cancer. You won’t talk,
you will be sleepy, and your mood won’t be
the best. OK, perfect! Get back into your
novel, take several siestas, and do as little
as possible, because that’s what you want
to do.
Leo July 22 - August 21
You’re certainly in a strange mood today,
Leo. True, things have been going smoothly
for the past few days, but be careful not to
be fooled. Pride goes before a fall, as they
say. Today you should be wary of your behavior toward your lover.
Virgo August 22 - September 21
It will be as though you’re in a new and
hopeful world today, Virgo. The people you
meet will be cordial and caring, and the future will seem like a bright, attractive place
to live. In other words, it’s like a fabulous
dream, and the alarm clock is bound to wake
you up soon.
Libra September 22 - October 21
Because you have a tendency to brood over
everything right now, Libra, a day like this
can’t be anything but beneficial. It has been
difficult for you to find satisfaction within the
realm of the known world lately, but today
offers you a journey into another perception, one that’s intangible and unreal.
Scorpio October 22 - November 20
There are days when you feel wonderful
without being able to attribute the feeling to
any real event. Of course, your rational mind
will search for a reason for your happiness.
But if you count the number of times when
you do things against your will, it becomes
obvious that logic and reason don’t always
apply to this world.
Sagittarius November 21 - December 20
The day ahead should be excellent, Sagittarius. For the past several days you’ve
been searching for meaning in life. There
have been changes in your chief occupation, new relationships, bursting ambitions.
Capricorn December 21 - January 18
You will probably be perfectly in tune with
the day ahead, Capricorn. Of course, it’s
tempting to run away from the reality and
hardships of the moment. But at other times,
when you’re so compassionate and find it
easy to listen, like today, life is really rewarding.
Aquarius January 19 - February 17
Don’t try to control what happens today,
Aquarius, because you won’t be able to
fathom what’s going on. How could it be
otherwise when collective currents are interfering with your life? You may do some soulsearching because you may feel that you’re
only a grain of sand in a vast universe.
Pisces February 18 - March 19
This kind of strange day doesn’t come around often,
Pisces. It will seem as though you no longer know
what you want. Do you have a yen to take off for the
other side of the globe? People won’t understand
you, and you will think that explaining yourself is
pointless.
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AUTOMOTIVE
FIL-AM POST
PAGE 15
Dec 11, 2014 - Dec 17, 2014
VW brand suffers biggest drop in global car sales this year
Sales of Volkswagen’s core passenger-car
brand fell 4 percent in November, the biggest monthly drop this year, as demand
contracted in eastern Europe and Latin
America and VW switched to a new-generation Passat late in the month.
Deliveries of the VW namesake brand
declined to 508,400 vehicles last month
from 529,500 a year ago, the company
said in a statement Monday, marking the
fourth straight month of little or no volume
growth at Europe’s No. 1 automaker.
VW brand sales slipped 0.4 percent in
October and were almost flat in September
and August.
“The challenging developments on mar-
officers
Reyes, Araullo, Braganza, Torres, Guieb, Odejar,
and Iranzo, in conspiracy
with Luz consented or,
through
abandonment
or negligence, permitted
Gabaymasa to take the
P5M fund in the guise
of lawful disbursement”
exhibiting “a deliberate
lack of care or diligence
in the performance of
their respective duties…
to achieve a common
design of defrauding the
government.”
At the same time, the
Ombudsman
found
Araullo, Braganza, Torres, Guieb, Odejar and
Iranzo administratively
guilty of serious dishonesty, grave misconduct
and conduct prejudicial
to the best interest of the
service.
It then ordered their dismissal from the service
with accessory penalties
of forfeiture of retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification from
holding public office.
(Cont. from page 1... EX-SOLON, DAR...)
According to the resolution by the Ombudsman’s
Task Force Abono, the DA
Regional Field Unit IV
represented by Araullo,
and Reyes representing
Marinduque entered into
a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Luz on
March 10, 2004, to buy
P5-million worth of fertilizers. Named supplier of
the fertilizers was B.T.
Mangrubang.
Task Force Abono said
Gabaymasa was not
based in the community
where the project was
to be implemented as its
place of business was in
Quezon City. Also, it only
submitted its 2003 financial statement in violation of the COA circular
which requires the submission of FS for the last
three years to ensure that
was financially stable.
The task force also noted
that Gabaymasa had no
proven track record in the
field of the agriculture.
Ombudsman Morales
concluded that “public
kets worldwide will continue for the remainder of this year,” VW sales chief
Christian
Klingler
said. The brand “was
not entirely immune to
their impact.”
Klingler said one of
the main factors affecting deliveries in
November was the
Passat model change.
VW has just introduced a new European
version of the Passat,
which is the region’s
top-selling
midsize
car. Not only did people hold off buying
the expiring Passat, but also demand for
a new volume model
tends to start slow
and build gradually.
“The new Passat
has been enjoying a
strong tailwind since
it made its market
debut two weeks
ago. We are in a positive mood, given the
model’s winning performance in numerous comparison tests
plus the high level
of orders received from all over Europe,”
Klingler said.
Political risks weighed on sales in central and eastern Europe, which declined 8
percent through November, with Russia
alone posting a 20 percent drop, according
to VW.
Deliveries in Latin America plunged 18
percent through November, with Brazil
posting a 13 percent drop.
North American deliveries fell 6 percent in the first 11 months, with U.S. sales
down 11 percent.
China sales increased 12 percent to 2.26
million.
GM lays off 450 at Lansing Grand River Assembly
General Motors will lay off 450
employees at its Lansing Grand
River factory, The Detroit News
reports, which is 100 more than
the company said it’d be letting go
last month.
Lansing Grand River Assembly currently builds the Cadillac
ATS and CTS, both of which have
suffered sluggish sales, with the
smaller sedan down 20 percent
through last month and the larger
model down 2.3 percent, The Detroit News reports.
“We are adjusting plant produc-
tion capacity to better align with
market demand. Beginning in January 2015, the plant will operate
on a single shift,” a GM statement
read, before explaining that not all
the laid off Grand River employees
will be jobless.
Of the employees that have been
laid off to make room for the single
work shift, around 200 will transfer to the Lansing Delta Township
factory, home of the Lambda-platform crossovers, GM’s statement
confirmed. The News expects this
one-shift arrangement to continue
until at least late next year, when
the Alpha-platform Chevy Camaro
transitions from General Motors’
Oshawa, Ontario factory to Lansing.
Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen said at last month’s LA Auto
Show, “It may not necessarily be
permanent, a time may come when
we’ve gained momentum and we
can reinstate it. But for now, the
adjustment to production capacity
is in alignment with our plans for
2015.”
Tennessee bans semi trucks from Tail of the Dragon
The state of Tennessee is following
the lead of North Carolina in banning
commercial vehicles (longer than 30
feet) on US 129, parts of which are
known as The Dragon and Deals Gap.
According to the Tennessee Department of Transportation, there have
been a number of traffic incidents involving large trucks.
The section of highway known as The
Dragon is a favorite of motorcycle and
car enthusiasts, providing 11 miles of
smooth pavement and 318 curves.
The road is tight enough that bigger
semi trucks have to split both lanes to
make some of the turns. Even the most
careful of drivers and riders have been
surprised when they come around a
blind corner to find a Mack truck grille
headed their way.
According to the Tennessee DOT
press release, there were a total of
204 crashes from 2010 to 2012 in
Blount County--which is where the
Tail is--six of those resulted in fatalities. Only one of those involved
a tractor trailer, but many of the other incidents with the big rigs have
blocked the narrow highway for hours.
New signs noting the change will be
installed in January, according to the
Tennessee DOT. Questions can be directed to www.tn.gov/tdot.
PAGE 16
Dec 11, 2014 - Dec 17, 2014
FIL-AM POST