View/Download

SHOWBIZ
USD TO PHP: $1=P44.99 as of Mar. 19, 2014
WE PROVIDE PRESS
COVERAGE FOR ANY EVENTS OR
PROMOTIONS.
Yael in tears as
Karylle walks
down the aisle
See page 12 for details.
- page 13
VOL. 2 ISSUE 22
TRENDING
Heart: “There
are certain guys
I should’nt have
dated” -page 13
WWW.SF-POST.COM
MAR 27, 2014- APR 2, 2014
FREE
Obama vows support for security of PH
W
Agents from the FBI and the IRS carry boxes from a home at
608 42nd Avenue in San Mateo, Calif., on Wednesday, March
26, 2014. FBI Agent Greg Wuthrich said the raid was part of an
investigation involving the arrest of State Sen. Leland Yee early
Wednesday morning. (John Green/Bay Area News Group)
State Senator Leland Yee
Arrested, Offices Raided In
Massive FBI Sweep
S
AN FRANCISCO — State Senator Leland Yee, one of the
most powerful Democratic politicians in California, was arrested Wednesday morning in a major series of federal raids in
the Bay Area and Sacramento targeting corruption and gang activity.
Federal agents arrested Lee at his home in San Francisco
Wednesday morning and he was driven to the federal courthouse
while his offices in Sacramento were raided.
Also arrested in the raid was Raymond “Shrimp Boy” Chow, a
former Chinatown gangster who currently heads the Ghee Kung
Tong masonic organization in San Francisco commonly referred
to as the Chinese Freemasons. Agents Wednesday also raided a
San Francisco Chinatown building at 36 Spofford St. which
houses the Ghee Kong Tong.
The federal complaint filed
March 24 and unsealed Wednesday alleges Sen. Yee was engaged
in wire fraud and involved in a
conspiracy to traffic firearms.
The complaint also alleges Chow
was engaged in money-laundering, conspiracy to transport stolen property and conspiracy to
traffic contraband cigarettes.
Sen. Leland Yee
(Cont. on Page 3)
ASHINGTON – President
Barack Obama on Monday reiterated his support for the security
of the Philippines in its dispute with
China over some islets and shoals in
the West Philippine Sea.
Deputy National Security Advisor
Ben Rhodes said the president also
expressed his support for the security
of Japan in talks with President Xi
Jinping in The Hague on the sidelines
of a Nuclear Security Summit.
In Manila, Spain expressed support
yesterday for a peaceful resolution of
territorial disputes.
Rhodes said President Obama
stressed the need to reduce maritime
tensions in the South and East China
Seas.
Rhodes said Obama expressed US
concern over the Chinese Air Defense
Identification Zone (ADIZ) created
by Beijing last November in the East
China Sea in an area that includes islands at the heart of a bitter territorial
row with Japan.
Japan and China are locked in a dispute over islands administered by Japan as the Senkakus but claimed by
China as the Diaoyu Islands.
There is concern in the Philippines
and the US that a similar ADIZ might
be formed in the South China Sea.
“He (President Obama) underscored
the need for resolutions to these issues
based on dialogue and international
law and expressed continued US support for that effort. In that context, of
course, the President reiterated his
support for the security of our allies,
Japan and the Philippines,” Rhodes
said in a video conference briefing to
reporters in Washington.
The situation in the South and East
China Seas was one of a number of
global bilateral issues that Obama
raised with Xi, Rhodes said.
The Obama-Xi meeting at The
Hague coincided with the 7th round
of Phl-US negotiations in Manila on
a deal granting the US greater access
to Filipino military bases as part of a
Philippine strategy to achieve “minimum credible defense” in the face of
Chinese aggressiveness in the South
China Sea.
President Obama will visit Japan,
South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines in April
to meet with the (Cont. on Page 11)
TPS: Call To Action
S
AN FRANCISCO -Thursday, March 27 has been
designated as the Community Call to Action Day urging members of the Filipino
community in the United
States to call the US State
Department
(202-6476575) and urge US Secretary of State John Kerry
to recommend Temporary
Protected Status (TPS) for
the Philippines to the US
Department of Homeland
Security (DHS).
The March 27 Call for
Action was agreed to by a
coalition of Filipino American community groups in a
national telephone conference call held on March 18
to discuss the status of the
campaign
to grant
(Cont. on Page 5)
Top Red leaders nabbed, charged
M
ANILA — Communist
Party of the Philippines
(CPP) leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon were charged yesterday with illegal possession of
firearms and explosives, tightening the government’s hold on
the couple amid questions on
the legality of their arrest.
A case of illegal possession
of firearms is a bailable offense
but the inclusion of possession
of explosives in the charge
sheet would make it a non-bailable offense.
Senior Supt. Robert Fajardo,
director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection GroupNational
Capital
Region,
(Cont.
on
Page
9)
Atty. Lozano went on and guested on the Kapatid network TV5’s
Aksyon Solusyon by Alex Tinsay then he went on live with “ Sa
Ganang Mamamayan” program of TV Net25 hosted by former
Congressman Rodante Marcoleto and Gen Subardiaga.
PAGE 2
Mar. 27, 2014 - Apr. 2, 2014
The San Francisco Post
NATIONAL
The San Francisco Post
14 killed, 100 missing in Washington
landslide
A house is seen destroyed in the mud on Highway 530 next to mile marker
37 on Sunday, March 23, 2014, the day after a giant landslide occurred near
mile marker 37 near Oso, Washington.
ARLINGTON, Washington -Authorities say the death toll
from a massive mudslide in a rural part of Washington state has
risen to 14 after searchers found
six additional bodies among the
debris, as dozens more remain
unaccounted for.
Authorities said earlier in the
day that over 100 missing person
reports have been filed, but the
accuracy of those reports could
not be immediately verified. This
is due to the fact that it is possible people have called in multiple reports about the same person, authorities told Fox News.
The 1-square-mile mudslide
struck Saturday morning in Snohomish County, critically injuring several people and destroying about 30 homes. Authorities
have described the search for
additional survivors to be “grim”
as crews battle uneven ground
and rising waters.
John Pennington, emergency
response managing director, said
there are reports of up to 108
people missing in the mudslide,
but noted that number is unconfirmed. “This is a large scale disaster event,” Pennington said.
“We have 108 individual names,
or likeness ... It’s a soft 108.”
Other authorities said they
have not been able to determine
whether there were multiple calls
about the same missing person.
“It was Saturday and probably
a higher number than what you
would see on a week day,” he
said of the victims during a press
conference Monday. Pennington said it remains unclear how
many structures were impacted
at the time.
(Cont. from page 1..SEN. LELAND) number of California Senate
committees and chairs three
The Democratic State Sen. Yee
committees, including the Serepresents California’s 8th District lect Committee on California’s Pubwhich includes part of San Francisco lic Record and Open Meeting Laws.
and the Peninsula. He is currently a
“That’s shocking news to me,” said
candidate for California Secretary of San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee when
State.
asked about the arrest of Sen. Yee.
Yee has been an effective lawmaker “It’s many years of public service so,
who has been dogged by controver- I don’t know what’s occurred there
sies over the years. He serves on a … I hope for the best.” (KPIX 5)
Bill giving incentive for
PH relief donations passes
US House
WASHINGTON, DC – A bill to spur contributions to Typhoon “Haiyan” relief in the
Philippines passed the House of Representatives, U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (Calif.-15)
today announced today, Mar. 24.
The Philippines Charitable Giving Assistance Act, H.R. 3771, a bipartisan bill, is
co-led by Reps. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.),
Joe Heck (R-Nevada), and Darrell Issa (RCalif.).
The version of H.R. 3771 seen by the
House will encourage Americans to donate
to Typhoon Haiyan relief efforts by allowing people to deduct contributions to Philippines recovery efforts from their 2013 taxes, if they
are made after the bill is signed into law and before
April 15, 2014. Without this bill, a person would
have to wait until he or she filed their taxes next year
to claim the deduction.
Typhoon Haiyan was the most powerful storm in
history to ever hit landfall. It is estimated that $788
million will be needed for the United Nations’ Strategic Response Plan through November 2014, but only
$369 million has been given so far. Congress enacted
a similar law in 2010 to encourage monetary donations to help Haiti after the devastating earthquake
there.
An identical version of this bill, sponsored by Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI), already has passed the
Senate. The bill will be sent to the President for his
signature.
“I am pleased that this bill is on its way for the President’s signature. Given the great deal of help still
needed, the Philippines Charitable Giving Assistance
Act will help spur another round of new contributions when charitable giving has tapered off and
help American families get more back from their
tax returns this year,” said Senator Hirono.
4 arrested in World
Trade Center jump
Three extreme-skydiving enthusiasts accused of
parachuting off the 1 World Trade Center tower last
fall were arrested Monday, authorities said, in a second criminal case in two weeks arising from surreptitious stunts at the nation’s tallest skyscraper.
The three daredevils and someone accused of being an accomplice were facing charges including
felony burglary in a Sept. 30 leap from the building, where a teenage boy was arrested on March 16.
Authorities said the teen had slipped through a gap
in a fence, eluded an inattentive security guard and
spent about two hours atop the 1,776-foottall tower.
BUSINESS
You need to report as income IRS Form
1099c unless exemption applies
received Form 1099c from By Atty. Crispin C. Lozano
uestion:
How should I
Ishortfyouryousale,lender
because of foreclosure,
Q
report my Form 1099c based on
loan modification or debt
insolvency in my tax return?
settlement, the general rule is it is a reportable income.
nswer: The analysis is complicated and requires
There are however few exceptions that may apply. The Alegal background. You need to consult with a
exceptions are Home Affordable Loan Modification Pro- bankruptcy attorney to help you how to report the
gram reduction of debt on principal residence. The other
exceptions are Bankruptcy and Insolvency.
uestion: My second home has been foreclosed and I
received a Form 1099c from the bank for the difference between the amount I owe and the fair market value
of the house. Should I file for bankruptcy?
nswer: Yes. The best way to resolve the issue that
you made an income on the forgiven indebtedness is
to consult with a bankruptcy attorney who will evaluate if
you need to file bankruptcy.
uestion: I was given a Form 1099c by my lender
for the forgiven debts as a result of debt settlement.
Should I file for bankruptcy?
nswer: The debt forgiven as a result of debt settlement
is also a taxable income. You must consult with a
bankruptcy attorney if you need to file bankruptcy.
uestion: How may I qualify for the Insolvency exception?
nswer: Insolvency means you have more liabilities
than asset or property. You need to figure out how
much you are insolvent to determine how much you can
exclude from income. Do not include a canceled debt in
income to the extent that you were insolvent immediately
before the cancellation. You were insolvent immediately
before the cancellation to the extent that the total of all
of your liabilities was more than the Fair Market Value
of all of your assets immediately before the cancellation.
For purposes of determining insolvency, assets include the
value of everything you own (including assets that serve
as collateral for debt and exempt assets which are beyond the reach of your creditors under the law, such
as your interest in a pension plan and the value of
your retirement account). Liabilities include almost
everything you owe.
Q
A
Q
A
Q
A
Form 1099c cancellation of debt based on insolvency.
B
1
ankruptcy Basics
. 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 of your debts are
paid in full.
. If you are being sued by your creditors, most money judgment can be eliminated in bankruptcy.
. Collection actions continue and you can be sued if
you are in debt settlement.
. Chapter 7 will eliminate all unsecured debts. If
you are near retirement age, you must eliminate
most of your debts.
. Bankruptcy will stop foreclosure actions. If your
trustee sale date is 10 days before, you can still file
for bankruptcy.
. 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.
. Bankruptcy is cheaper, faster and safer than debt
settlement which has no guaranteed success.
. Preserve your health, eliminate stress and live a
happy life by eliminating your debts which is the
root of all problems.
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
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. [email protected].
PAGE 3
Mar. 27, 2014 - Apr. 2, 2014
FilAm teen climbs atop World Trade
Center undetected
NEW YORK—A 16-year-old FilipinoAmerican teenager described as a thrillseeker bypassed an inattentive security
guard in the middle of
the night and climbed
a ladder to the spire of
1 World Trade Center,
where he apparently
took pictures, authorities said Thursday.
Justin Casquejo was
arrested at 6 a.m. local
time Sunday at America’s tallest building
and was charged with Justin Casquejo
misdemeanor criminal
trespass, police said.
Nobody answered the door Thursday at
his Weehawken, New Jersey, home.
According to a criminal complaint,
Casquejo was quoted as telling police:
“I walked around the construction site
and figured out how to access the Freedom Tower rooftop. I found a way up
through the scaffolding, climbed onto
the sixth floor, and took the elevator up
to the 88th floor. I then took the staircase up to 104th (floor). I went to the
rooftop and climbed the ladder all the
way to the antenna.”
He was arrested, and his camera and
cellphone were seized after authorities
obtained a search warrant, said Joe Pentangelo, a spokesman for the police de-
partment of the Port Authority of New
York and New Jersey, which owns the
trade center site.
Casquejo was released without bail
after being arraigned
Monday on one count
of third-degree criminal trespass and one
count of trespass. His
lawyer declined to
comment. Casquejo’s
next court date was
scheduled for April 2.
‘Shocking, troubling’
The episode raised
questions about how
such a breach could have happened at
one of the most security-conscious sites
in the world. New York Mayor Bill de
Blasio called it “shocking and troubling.”
Casquejo got onto the construction site
of the nearly completed tower through
a 1-foot (0.3-meter) opening in a fence
and eluded an inattentive security guard
on the 104th floor, Pentangelo said. The
guard, who worked for a contractor, not the
Port Authority, has been fired, the spokesman
said.
The criminal trespass charge is a misdemeanor
punished by up to three months in jail. The
simple trespass is a violation punishable by up
to 15 days in jail.
PAGE 4
Mar. 27, 2014 - Apr. 2, 2014
OPINION
The San Francisco Post
Obama’s gambit
A
‘They just lie there, and they die there’
T
wo feisty woman
officials reminded
us last week why campaigns against corruption in the Philippines
never succeed. They
don’t succeed because
after the corrupt acts
are exposed and publicized, there is no
follow-up, much less
THE NUCLEUS OF
prosecution of the acTHE MATTER
cused.
Chairman Grace
By
Pulido-Tan of the
Val Abelgas
Commission on Audit
(COA) has ordered the
agency’s officials to monitor compliance with recommendations contained in annual audit reports to ensure that government agencies and institutions take them seriously and
act to implement such corrective measures.
Tan hopes the new system would put an end to auditors
reporting the same recurring problem every year because
there are no follow-ups to recommendations. Audit findings will then not suffer the same fate as dreams in the song
“Mona Lisa,” Tan said, where they “just lie there and die
there.”
Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, on the other hand, is exasperated that no charges have been filed in court against
those named in numerous exposes and Senate committee
hearings, and said the Ombudsman should start filing cases
against those implicated in the P10-billion pork barrel scam.
“Since it has been six months, I think it would be best if
the Ombudsman could at least file some of the cases in court
now because the public are getting jaded with these public
revelations in the Senate probe plus they are not seeing any
action,” Santiago said. “We don’t want public interest to die
on this matter because it’s just too important. Plunder is just
too important to the national economy.”
(An Employees owned Publication)
Distributed weekly in Northern California
1290 B Street, Suite 203,
Hayward, CA 94541
Tel # 510-885-8827, Fax # 510-538-7115
[email protected]
For Car Dealers, call 650-521-4555
Teresita Estanislao
Editor-in-Chief & CEO
Val Abelgas
Editorial Consultant
Atty. Crispin C. Lozano
General Counsel
Adda Humady
General Advertising Manager
Ben Bagalso
Automotive Advertising Manager
Don Orozco
One wonders why despite the voluminous evidence and
the many witnesses who have willingly testified to the extent of the corruption involving the Priority Development
Assistance Fund (PDAF) or the congressional pork barrel, the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) or the
presidential pork barrel, the Malampaya Fund and several
programs of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Agrarian Reform, the Ombudsman has not filed any
formal charges before the Sandiganbayan against those implicated in the shameless scams.
Are the exposes being squeezed dry by the administration
and its allies to damage the reputation of some leaders of
the opposition and possible contenders for either the presidency or the vice presidency? Is the Aquino administration
really serious in prosecuting the big fishes in these scams
regardless of party affiliations, or will these scandals go the
way of previous corruption scandals that have been left unresolved?
Let us look at the numerous corruption scandals that have
shocked the nation in the last few years, but have remained
unresolved:
The P1.3-billion election computerization deal with Mega
Pacific to supply the Commission on Elections (Comelec)
which the Supreme Court voided because the deal was tainted “with graft and legal infirmities;” the alleged P532.9million overpricing of the President Diosdado Macapagal
Boulevard in the Manila Bay reclamation area, which the
Ombudsman deemed as overpriced by 250 percent and the
bridge by 67 percent;
The P200-million Jose Pidal case, wherein Sen. Panfilo
Lacson accused Mike Arroyo of amassing more than P200
million from campaign contributions of her wife and putting the money in secret bank accounts, including that of
“Jose Pidal”; the $503-million Northrail project, which
former Senate President Franklin Drilon described as one
of the “colossal corrupt deals” of the Arroyo administration; the $329-million National Broadband Network; the
$466-million Cyber Education Project; the P728-million
fertilizer fund scam; the still to be probed P3.1-billion irrigation project just before the 2004 elections whose funds
the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas claims were diverted to the campaign; the P455-million ice making machine
scam also under the Department of Agriculture; the P5billion swine scam; and the P120-million Ginintuang Masagani Ani (GMA) project scam.
Add to these the P10-billion pork barrel scam, the P900Malapampaya fund mess, the billions DAP funds illegally
doled out to senators and congressmen before, during and
after the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona,
and the billions more in agriculture funds that were allegedly coursed through fake NGOs.
In most of these cases, the culprits remain free, the whistleblowers have either been silenced or are now six feet under,
and only the case against Abalos and Neri in the NBN-ZTE
deal has been filed by the Ombudsman, and the Executive
Department has blocked investigations by fraudulently invoking executive privilege.
The only case that landed in court – the $2-million bribery
case against former Justice Secretary Hernani Perez – was
obviously mishandled by the Ombudsman and was dismissed two years ago.
All these corruption scandals hogged the headlines for
days, only to die down when another scandal, either in
government or in show business, displaced them on the
headlines. In the Philippines, corruption scandals are never
resolved; they just fade away.
Or as the COA chief said: “They just lie there, and they die
there.” ([email protected])
series
of
events that
led to Russia’s
annexation
of
Crimea have made
many to wonder:
why didn’t the
western powers
do anything to
PERRY SCOPE
stop Russia from
By
grabbing Crimea.
Perry Diaz
What happened to
Crimea and what’s
likely to happen
next to Ukraine, reminds us of what happened to Europe
in 1938 when Hitler demanded for a tiny slice of Czechoslovakia. To appease Hitler, the European powers signed
an agreement that ceded Sudetenland in exchange for
peace. It was a small price to pay to preserve peace in
Europe. It became known as the “Munich Appeasement.”
Czechoslovakia was forced to abide by the agreement
after Britain and France told her that she either give up
Sudetenland or fight Germany… alone. Czechoslovakia
chose to surrender Sudetenland. But Germany got more
than what she bargained for: de facto control of the rest
of Czechoslovakia for as long as Hitler kept his “solemn
pledge” not to go any farther.
Britain and France didn’t realize that appeasing Hitler
was like feeding a hungry viper with little mice – it would
only increase the viper’s appetite for a much bigger meal.
And to their horror, Hitler broke his “solemn pledge” and
his tanks and troops rumbled into Prague on March 14,
1939. That’s when all hell broke loose and World War II
began!
What’s happening today in Ukraine has an uncanny similarity to what happened 75 years ago in Czechoslovakia.
Putin’s Putinism and Hitler’s Nazism, although they differ
in ideology, have similarities in their expansionist goals;
that is, to lord it over Europe. While Hitler surrounded
himself with the notorious Schutzstaffel (SS), Putin surrounds himself with the “siloviki,” a group of former
members of state security and intelligence agencies (e.g.,
KGB, GRU, FSB) who now occupy high-ranking positions in Putin’s government.
Step-by-step sanctions
While Obama had discounted the use of the military
against Russian aggression, he is using economic sanctions that had been successfully tested with Iran. Last
March 17, Obama signed an executive order freezing the
assets of 11 Russians and four Ukrainians involved in
Russia’s intervention in Crimea as well as visa bans and
economic sanctions. The sanctioned individuals won’t
have access to US financial institutions and would have
difficulty doing business in dollars.
On March 20, Obama announced sanctions against
Bank Rossiya and 20 officials and business tycoons who
are close friends or associates of Putin. Bank Rossiya is
Prosecute those responsible for rotten food aid
fter President Aquino finally
A
admitted and apologized for
the slow government response
in the wake of the devastation brought by super typhoon
Yolanda, comes now another apparent neglect on the part
of the agencies responsible for the relief and
recovery efforts in the areas hardest hit by the
typhoon, particularly Leyte and Samar.
It was first reported that several food and other
relief goods were secretly buried outside of Tacloban after they were found rotten and unfit
for human consumption. A week later, local officials and typhoon survivors were shocked to
find that many canned goods that were being
distributed to several survivors were similarly
rotten, some of them even teeming with worms.
That thousands of relief goods that were donated perhaps several weeks ago were not immediately
distributed, resulting in most of them being rotten and
contaminated with worms, is, to say the least, revolting and nauseating. Why these relief goods, which were
donated by overseas Filipinos and international organi-
Alvin Maglan, CPA
Controller
Content Syndication Partner
San Francisco FilAm Post, LLC
GLOBE TNT
1070 Mclaughlin Ave., San Jose, 95122
Publisher of San Francisco Post & SF Filam Post
(408)280-6099 or (408)425-4621
The San Francisco Post will be happy to hear from you.
Comments, letters to the editor, contributions, story/picture
submissions can be sent via email to [email protected] or
via snail mail to: ATTN: San Francisco Post, 1290 B Street,
Suite 203, Hayward, CA 94541. All submissions are subject to editing for style and accuracy. All Rights Reserved.
NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS
San Francisco Post reserves the right to refuse any advertising not in
keeping with the publication nature of San Francisco Post, sf-post.com,
and all or any other material published under Sf FilAm News, a Limited
Liability Company. For Corrections: Advertisers agrees to verify the
corrections of the advertisement. San Francisco Post will be responsible
for only one incorrect insertion. Any error must be reported immediately. For Damages: Advertisers agrees San Francisco Post, sf-post.com
and all or any other material published under the company shall not
be liable to the customer for damages resulting from failure to include
in the advertisement any item of advertising or from errors in spelling
or grammar or omission printed or not printed in the advertisement in
which the error or omission occurred, including but not limited to the
loss of business by Advertiser. For Content: Advertisers assumes full
responsibility containing the right to use any name, address, trademark,
service mark, trade name, or other copy in any advertisement. Advertiser assumes full responsibility for determining that the advertising
will conform in all respects to all applicable laws, including but not
limited to, all licensing requirements of federal, state or local licensing authorities.
zations, were kept in government
warehouses instead of being given
immediately to hundreds of thousands of survivors when they needed them most, should
be explained by whoever was responsible for these goods.
In the wake of continued complaints from typhoon survivors of government neglect of their plight, the fact that
agencies allowed these donated relief goods to be wasted
is another black eye in the government’s ability to come
to the aid of hapless Filipinos.
In the few days after the tragedy in early November,
there were complaints from volunteers that instead of
bringing sacks of rice and other food items immediately
to Leyte and Samar for distribution, officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
and the National Food Authority ordered them stored in
government warehouses for repacking into small bags
that had the seals of the DSWD and NFA stamped on
them.
As a result, it took several days before the items could
reach the suffering survivors, who urgently needed to fill
their stomach at that time. I could imagine that the food
items that were found to be rotten and had to be buried
were the result of the same bureaucratic red tape and politicking by some government officials.
This should explain why many overseas Filipinos are
hesitant to course their donations, either in cash or in
kind, through government agencies, fearing a repeat of
past disasters when even donations meant for the victims
are pilfered by some officials, or given only to favored
supporters, or simply left rotting in warehouses because
of government red tape.
One reason being cited for the delay in the distribution
of relief goods is the hesitance of administration officials
to turn over donated items to towns controlled by politicians from the opposition. If this were true, the concerned
government officials should be condemned for playing
politics in the midst of disasters and suffering.
Another reason cited is the bad habit of certain officials
and politicians to take credit for every project, including
the distribution of relief goods. That is the reason the
DSWD and the NFA would rather repack the goods in
bags sealed with their agencies’ seals than bring them immediately to those in need.
The government must thoroughly investigate this
shameless criminal neglect by agencies concerned, such
as the DSWD, and dismiss and file criminal charges
against those found responsible.
While we are willing to give the government time to
push its rehabilitation program in the affected areas, we
simply cannot forgive those who laid to waste the thousands of tons of food that could mean life and death for
thousands of typhoon survivors.
By Atty. Crispin Lozano
Bureau Chief, Silicon Valley
Inquirer.Net
the personal bank for senior officials of the Russian government, and many bank officials and shareholders are
members of Putin’s inner circle. The sanctions prohibit
US banks, firms or individuals from doing business with
Bank Rossiya and likewise the bank is prohibited from
conducting transactions in dollars. In addition, US-based
MasterCard and Visa had stopped servicing Bank Rossiya.
Obama also announced that he signed a third executive
order authorizing the Treasury Secretary to put sanctions
on Russia’s financial services, energy, metals and mining,
engineering, and defense industries.
These step-by-step sanctions are bound to compel Putin to reassess his vision of the rebirth of an empire with
Mother Russia as the spoke that will hold together all of
the former Soviet republics including the Soviet Union’s
former client states, into a new world order, Pax Russica,
which would put an end to American dominion or Pax
Americana. However, he knows that his dream of restoring Russia’s former glory is beyond his reach for as long
as the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) remain cohesive militarily, politically, and economically.
NATO reaction
Indeed, the Ukraine crisis has brought the 28-member
NATO closer together. But one wonders how NATO
would react should Russia invade Ukraine? Would
NATO send her armed forces to defend Ukraine? If so,
would Putin use Russia’s nuclear arsenal? And would
NATO strike back with nuclear weapons? If that were
the case, then it would lead to a nuclear holocaust and
Putin knows that. But while Putin may be harboring delusions of grandeur, he is not crazy enough to press the “red
button” that will lead to MAD; that is, Mutually Assured
Destruction.
End game
However, Putin is aware that if he’d cross the border
into Ukraine – just like what he did in Crimea – the US
and NATO might not be able to deter Russia’s advancing
mechanized divisions with conventional weapons because
the US has withdrawn her Abrams battle tanks from Germany a year ago. That would leave Obama with limited
options, none of which is military.
His only viable option then are economic sanctions,
which would cut off the flow of natural gas from pipelines
that run through Ukraine to reach the European market,
which, by the way, is dependent on Russia for 30% of her
energy. The US, which is the world’s largest producer of
natural gas, can then provide Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
to her European allies. And this is where Putin would face
a dilemma. If he continues with his military incursion into
Ukraine, his largest exportable commodity – natural gas –
will be cut off; thus, plunging Russia into economic chaos.
On the other hand, if he stops his military incursions, he
will not fulfill his dream of Pax Russica.
At the end of the day, Obama’s gambit may have given
him an opening to checkmate Putin. (PerryDiaz@gmail.
com)
Samsung Galaxy Exhibit 4G LTE
BUY 1 GET 1 FREE!
Talk/Text $25
Text coming from the Philippines for 1 Peso only!
No Roaming Sim Card needed.
Smart/Globe Roaming Sims Available
MetroPCS | Simple Mobile | Boost Mobile | H20 Wireless
WORLD BRIEF
The San Francisco Post
US, allies oust Russia from Group of 8
THE HAGUE — The United States and its closest allies on Monday cast Russia out of the Group
of 8 industrialized democracies, their most exclusive club, to punish President Vladimir V. Putin
for his lightning annexation of Crimea, while
threatening tougher sanctions if he escalates aggression against Ukraine.
President Obama and the leaders of Canada,
Japan and Europe’s four strongest economies
gathered for the first time since the Ukraine
crisis erupted last month, using a closed twohour meeting on the sidelines of a summit about
nuclear security to project a united front against
Moscow.
But they stopped short, at least for now, of imposing sanctions against what a senior Obama
administration official called vital sectors of the
Russian economy: energy, banking and finance,
engineering and the arms industry. Only further
aggression by Putin — like rolling his forces into
the Ukrainian mainland — would prompt that
much-harsher punishment, the countries indicated in their joint statement, called the Hague
Declaration.
“The biggest hammer that can drop is sectoral
sanctions, and the clearest trigger for those is
eastern and southern Ukraine,” the senior administration official said.
Some critics of the administration said the
suspension of Russia from the G-8, which administration officials acknowledged was largely
symbolic, showed a lack of resolve among the
allies to take tougher steps to undo Putin’s annexation of Ukraine. But it signified a firming of
Western resolve compared with the early days of
the Crimea crisis, when Germany and some other
allies said it was premature to consider excluding
Russia from the club of industrial democracies.
Having Russia as part of that group since 1998
was meant to signal cooperation between East
and West, and its exclusion inevitably raises new
echoes of Cold War-style rivalry.
Russia may target Moldova next – NATO chief
sizeable and very, very ready,” the NATO
commander told an event held by the German Marshall Fund think-tank.
US President Barack Obama’s deputy national security adviser Tony Blinken said the
build-up
might
just be
aimed at
intimidating
Ukraine’s
new proWestern
leaders
but that
Russia
could invade the
country’s mainly Russian-speaking east.
“It’s possible that they are preparing to move
in,” he told CNN.
A meeting of the G7 group of industrialized nations has been hastily convened for
Monday in the Netherlands to allow leaders
to discuss a response to Russia’s actions.
Obama will also meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for bilateral talks.
Russia said it was complying with international agreements and had no plans to
invade. It has called the soldiers who took
over Ukrainian bases in Crimea “self defense forces”.
The United States and the European Union
have targeted some of Putin’s closest political and business allies with personal sanctions and have threatened broader economic
sanctions if Putin’s forces encroach on other
eastern or southern parts of Ukraine with big
Russian-speaking populations.
Germany, which has close trade ties with
Russia, said the European Union was united
in its readiness to impose sanctions on Russia if necessary, and that Moscow had the
most to lose.
“None of us wants to escalate, but if Russia changes things unilaterally, then it must
know that we won’t accept it and that relations will be bad,” Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble told German television.
Ukrainian marine standards were still flying on Sunday alongside the Russian flag at
the Crimean base of Ukraine’s top military
unit in Feodosia, but the Ukrainian troops
were getting ready to leave after the Russian
military takeover.
“Our only issue is that we want to leave this
place with honor, weapons and vehicles,”
one Ukrainian soldier said. Blinken said
Washington was considering all requests for
military assistance from the government in
Kiev, but that it would be unlikely to prevent
an invasion of Ukraine, which is not part of
NATO. Breedlove said the military alliance
needed to think about its eastern members,
particularly the former Soviet Baltic states
of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
(Cont. from page 1..TPS:CALL FOR) should be made to call in on March 27.
After a voice message is heard, press:
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to 4 for operator, then ask for the comment
the Philippines, a move that may benefit line, and then leave the following sugapproximately 200,000 Filipinos in the gested message: “Temporary Protected
United States who are currently out of Status for the Philippines must be desstatus.
ignated. I urge Secretary of State John
Arnedo Valera of the Migrant Heritage Kerry to recommend to the Department
Commission, the Washington D.C. group which of Homeland Security that TPS be desinitiated the call for TPS for the Philippines last ignated for the Philippines. My name is
November, reported that Philippine Desk Officer (say name) from (say city and state).”
David Arulanantham at the US Department of
A bipartisan group of 20 US senators led
State confirmed that the favorable recommenda- by New York Sen. Charles Schumer (Dtion for TPS for the Philippines is now on the New York) sent a letter to Pres. Barack
desk of Secretary John Kerry, awaiting his re- Obama urging him to grant TPS to the
view and signature.
Philippines. “Typhoon Haiyan has wrought
Under US immigration law, the Secretary of unparalleled destruction and tragic loss of life
the Department of Homeland Security, upon the in the Philippines,” declared the senators in their
recommendation of the Secretary of State, may letter to Pres. Obama.
designate a country, or portions of a country, for
“Victims of Typhoon Haiyan clearly meet the
TPS when conditions exist - such as an ongoing eligibility requirements for TPS, and we urge you
armed conflict or an environmental disaster in the to extend this designation as soon as possible.
country - that temporarily prevents the country’s The United States has demonstrated its commitnationals in the US from returning safely.
ment to assisting the Philippines with the recovOnce a country receives TPS designation, na- ery effort through foreign aid, military assistance
tionals of that country residing in the U.S. would and relief supplies,” the letter added.
not be deportable and may receive temporary
“Granting TPS to the Philippines would allow
legal status that allows them to receive employ- hundreds of thousands of Filipinos in the US to
ment authorization and even permission to travel send billions of dollars of their income to the
abroad.
Philippines to aid an economy that was devasCommunity groups represented at the confer- tated by Supertyphoon Yolanda,” said Dr. Celia
ence call were urged to ask everyone they know, Lamkin, a TPS advocate from Saipan who pareven non-Filipinos, regardless of their immigra- ticipated in the March 18 conference call.
tion status in the US, to call the US State Depart“For the sake of our mother country, we urge all
ment Comment Line at 202-647-6575 on Thurs- Filipinos in the US to save the date and make the
day, March 27. People can call that message time to call the State Department on March 27,”
board even before March 27 but an extra effort said Loida Nicolas-Lewis.
Lozano for his part even travelled to the Philippines recently to specifically promote awareness among Filipinos on the positive impact of
approving TPS by the US State Deparment. He
was a resource person in the morning program “
Good Morning Boss” hosted by Sandro Hermoso
and Dianne Medina on the government owned
PTV Channel 4. He was interviewed by Jake
Maderazo and Arlyn Dela Cruz, radio anchors at
DZIQ 990 which is the radio station for nationally known publication Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Attorney Lozano went on and guested on the
Kapatid network TV5’s Aksyon Solusyon
by Alex Tinsay. Finally, he went on live
with “ Sa Ganang Mamamayan” program of
TV Net25 hosted by
former Congressman
Rodante
Marcoleto
and Gen Subardiaga.
In all of those invites,
he actually encouraged
everyone to call or write
to the US Embassy in the
Philippines, the US State
Department, the US Department of Homeland
Security and even US lawmakers for the approval
of TPS.
The “Call To Action”
today is spearheaded by
several Fil-Am community
leaders and Atty Rodel Rodis, representing the group
US Pinoys On Good Governance..
BRUSSELS – NATO’s top military commander said on Sunday Russia had built up
a “very sizeable” force on its border with
Ukraine and Moscow may have a region
in another ex-Soviet republic, Moldova, in
its sights after annexing
Crimea.
Russia was acting more
like an adversary than
a partner, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, US Air Force
General Philip Breedlove said, and the 28-nation alliance should rethink the positioning and
readiness of its forces in
eastern Europe.
Russian troops, using
armored vehicles, automatic weapons, and
stun grenades, seized some of the last military facilities under Ukrainian control on
Saturday in Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula
that Russian President Vladimir Putin formally annexed the day before.
Breedlove was one of several Western officials and politicians to warn on Sunday
that Russia may not stop there in a crisis that
has taken East-West relations lurching back
towards the Cold War since pro-Western
protests in Ukraine ousted Moscow-allied
President Viktor Yanukovich last month.
“The (Russian) force that is at the Ukrainian border now to the east is very, very
TAX CORNER
Facts about the Health Care Law
for Individuals
by: Alvin C. Maglan, CPA
T
here are a few basic tips to
keep in mind about the new
health care
law. Health insurance choices you
make now may affect the income
tax return you file in 2015.1. Most
people already have qualified
health insurance coverage and
will not need to do anything more
than maintain qualified coverage
throughout 2014.2. If you do not
have health insurance through
your job or a government plan,
you may be able to buy it through
the Health Insurance Marketplace.3. If you buy your insurance
through the Marketplace, you may
be eligible for an advance premium tax credit to lower your out-ofpocket monthly premiums.4. Your
2014 tax return will ask if you had
insurance coverage or qualified
for an exemption. If not, you may
owe a shared responsibility payment when you file in 2015.
What should you do now?
If you or your family does not
have health insurance, find out
more now. Talk to your employer
about the coverage they offer, or
visit the Marketplace online.
This article was provided by
the IRS to help consumers on
making tax preparation choices.
Al Maglan is a CPA licensed
in California and Nevada. You
can contact him @ 510 432
7438. You may e-mail tax questions at [email protected] or
[email protected].
PAGE 5
Mar. 27, 2014 - Apr. 2, 2014
Ukraine orders troop pullout from
Crimea
NOVOOZERNOE, Crimea — Russia’s
foreign minister met with his Ukrainian
counterpart for the first time on Monday and demanded more autonomy for
Ukraine’s regions, even as Ukraine under pressure ordered its troops out from
Crimea after the Russian seizure of military bases there.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
in an unexpected
move agreed to
the highest level
meeting yet between the Russian
government and
a representative
of the new Ukrainian government
that Moscow has
opposed vociferously over the past month.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of a nuclear security summit in the
Hague, Netherlands.
Lavrov told Ukrainian Foreign Minister
Andriy Deshchytsia that Russia continues
to want constitutional changes in Ukraine
that would give more autonomy to all regions of Ukraine.
Russia is eager to retain its influence in
Ukraine’s Russian-speaking eastern regions and prevent Ukraine from joining
NATO. It has pushed for the new Ukraine
to become a loose federation — demands
the new Ukrainian government has rejected.
Before the
meeting, Deshchytsia said his
government fears
a Russian military buildup near
Ukraine’s border.
“The possibility
of a military invasion is very high.
We are very much
worried about this
concentration of
troops on our eastern border,” he said.
The concerns have been deepened in
by the intense military pressure Russia
has applied in Crimea since Russian President Vladimir Putin formally annexed the
peninsula last week. Russian forces have
commandeered ships and broke into walled
military installations with armored personnel carriers.
Relatives sob after
announcement on missing plane
BEIJING—Relatives shrieked and
sobbed uncontrollably. Men and women nearly collapsed, held up by loved
ones. Their grief came pouring out
after 17 days of waiting for definitive
word on the fate of the passengers and
crew of the missing Malaysia Airlines
jet.
Malaysia’s prime minister gave that
word late Monday in a televised announcement from Kuala Lumpur, saying there was no longer any doubt that
Flight 370 went down in the southern
Indian Ocean.
Relatives of passengers in Beijing
had been called to a hotel near the airport to hear the news, and some 50 of
them gathered there. Afterward, they
filed out of a conference room in heartwrenching grief.
One woman collapsed and fell on her
knees, crying “My son! My son!”
Medical teams arrived at the Lido
hotel with several stretchers and one
elderly man was carried out of the conference room on one of them, his face
covered by a jacket. Minutes later, a
middle-aged woman was taken out on
another stretcher, her face ashen and
her blank eyes seemingly staring off
into a distance.
Wang Zhen, whose father and mother, Wang Linshi and Xiong Yunming,
were aboard the flight as part of a group
of Chinese artists touring Malaysia,
heard the announcement on television
from another hotel where he had been
staying.
He said some of the relatives had
received a text message in English
from the airliner advising of the findings to be announced in a late-night
news conference by Malaysian Prime
Minister Najib Razak. Najib said an
unprecedented analysis of satellite
data concluded that the flight, which
disappeared March 8 with 239 people
aboard while on a night flight from
Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, must have
ended in the sea far from any possible
landing site.
“My mind is a mess right now. Can
we talk later?” he said in a telephone
interview.
HOMELAND
PAGE 6
Mar. 27, 2014 - Apr. 2, 2014
Aquino orders probe of P515M pork
MANILA—President Benigno Aquino
III has ordered an investigation into the
findings of the Commission on Audit
(COA) that more than P500 million in
pork barrel funds went to questionable
nongovernment organizations through
the National Commission on Muslim
Filipinos (NCMF), an agency under the
Office of the President.
Aquino on Monday said he had instructed Executive Secretary Paquito
Ochoa, Budget Secretary Florencio
Abad and Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene
Almendras to provide him with “a thorough report on this particular issue.”
“I told them I need it as soon as possible and I want it as thorough and as
complete and as correct as possible,”
he told reporters in an interview in
Malacañang.
The President admitted the NCMF
had been used for the implementation
of projects funded through the Priority
Development Assistance Fund (PDAF)
of lawmakers, popularly known as pork
barrel.
“To be perfectly candid about it, there
are so many functions embodied in
their charter which I reviewed today,
and I was not clearly aware or immediately aware that they were a conduit
or an implementing agency for various
PDAF projects,” he said of the commission.
Based on the COA findings, more than
P514 million was allegedly coursed
through the NCMF in 2012, or two
years after Aquino took office.
Of the amount, P25 million was allegedly made available through the administration’s Disbursement Acceleration
Program (DAP), whose constitutionality is being questioned in the Supreme
Court.
The President said he was still seeking “clarification” if the information
was based on a COA “finding” or an
“observation audit moratorium.” He
said the latter “means that there are certain questions and they await answers
or replies from the government entity
concerned.”
“The second step is, even before we get
their answer, I want [to know] exactly what
went to whom, and why it was coursed
through the NCMF,” he said.
Jalandoni says trained cadres to
replace Tiamzons
MANILA – The chairper- People’s Army.
son of the National DemoThe NPA has been waging
cratic Front of the Philippines one of Asia’s longest running
(NDFP) rebuked the military’s claim that the arrest of two top communist
leaders would result in a
“leadership vacuum” for
the organization.
NDFP chair and peace
negotiator Luis Jalandoni
said in an interview over
Inquirer Radio 990AM
that the group may replace the spouses Benito
escort Communist Party of the
and Wilma Tiamzon with Police
Philippines chairman Benito Tiamzon
“trained” and “effective” and his wife Wilma after their inquest in
cadres.
Camp Crame on Monday.
“There are many cadres and leaders who were
trained in their several years communist insurgency.
of struggle,” Jaladoni said in
Meanwhile, Wilma TiamFilipino on Monday.
zon was a top-ranked central
Benito Tiamzon was said to committee member and CPP
be a head of the Communist finance officer.
Party of the Philippines (CPP)
The spouses were arrested in
and its armed wing the New Cebu City on Saturday over
Obama signs Yolanda tax relief law
WASHINGTON -- United States President Barack
Obama signed into law Tuesday a bipartisan bill that
provides expedited tax relief for Americans making
charitable donations in support of typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) recovery efforts in the Philippines.
The bill, initially co-sponsored by Rep. Mike Thompson and three other congressmen, allows taxpayers to
claim a charitable deduction on their 2013 tax returns
for donations made by April 15.
Taxpayers usually must wait until the following year to
claim any deduction for charitable donations.
The House, known for partisan gridlock, unanimously
approved the bill on a voice vote Monday and sent it
to President Obama’s desk with the tax filing deadline
three weeks away.
“A lot of people in our communities have family and
friends who were impacted by the typhoon,” Thompson
said in a written statement. “Passing this bill will help
make sure aid keeps coming during these early stages of
a long-term rebuilding effort.”
Thompson and Reps. Eric Swalwell, Darrell Issa,
and Joe Heck were lead co-sponsors of the Philippines
Charitable Giving Assistance Act, which ultimately
The San Francisco Post
gained 34 co-sponsors.
The United States has provided $87.7 million in relief funding to the Philippines following the devastation
caused by typhoon Haiyan on Nov. 8, 2013. Other governments have pledged an additional $573 million.
More than four million people were displaced and 16
million affected by the typhoon, which killed 6,201
people.
The American Red Cross has received $76 million
in donations for Philippine typhoon relief, including
$250,000 from the organization’s California Northwest
Region with offices in Santa Rosa, Napa and Eureka.
Red Cross has spent or committed $28 million through
Jan. 27, 2014.
Catholic Relief Services has spent $8.4 million, with
$600,000 donated by the Diocese of Metuchen, New
Jersey.
Thompson said he backed the bill because many residents of his district, which includes Santa Rosa, Rohnert
Park, Cotati and Sonoma Valley, have relatives in the
Philippines.
He also considers the Philippines “one of our closest
allies” and believes that “when tragedy like this strikes,
Americans don’t sit on the sidelines, we help.”
murder charges particularly
involving 15 civilians in Inopacan, Leyte, who were buried in a mass grave that was
later discovered in 2006.
Jaladoni asserted that their
“revolution” would persist even with the leaders’
fall.
He cited the arrest of CPP
founder Jose Maria Sison
during the Marcos regime
that failed to dampen the
armed insurgency then.
“(The Tiamzons’) defiance
and militant opposition inspire our cadres and other
militant and revolutionary
forces to continue the struggle of the masses,” Jalandoni
said.
The NDFP chairman was
reacting to a military report
that said “the NPA will suffer a leadership vacuum that
will eventually spell doom for
their organization.”
BIR wants bank secrecy law repealed
MANILA -- The Bureau of
Internal Revenue (BIR) wants
the law on bank secrecy repealed as this hinders the
government’s anti-corruption
campaign and may soon affect
the country’s economic development.
BIR Commissioner Kim S.
Jacinto-Heneres said the removal of Republic Act 1405,
a law protecting the secrecy of
bank deposits, is inevitable as
several countries, particularly
those developed nations like
the United States, have winded
down their secretive policy on
bank records.
“Sooner or later, we have
to remove that bank secrecy
law for tax purposes, because
globally that will be a requirement. That’s the movement in
the OECD and the US — all of
them are requiring that there’s
transparency in data, including
bank data,” Jacinto-Henares
told reporters.
OECD, which stands for Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development,
is an elite group of rich and
developed nations that helps
governments in tackling economic, social and governance
challenges of a globalized
economy.
“Whether we will like it or
not, eventually, we will get to
that point [where there’s bank
data transparency]. Otherwise,
we will be blacklisted as a
country, so our economic development will be affected by
it,” Jancinto-Henares said.
But Jacinto-Henares admitted that the removal of the
bank secretary law is currently
a wishful thinking and will not
happen during President Aquino’s term as BIR knows that
several groups would block
such a proposal.
Aside from the country’s
compliance with international
standard, Jacinto-Henares also
said that transparency on bank
record will boost the government’s tax collections as BIR
will have access to assess a
person’s real income based on
bank accounts.
“Right now with the bank
secretary law, we cannot get
the whole picture of a taxpayer’s income because we can’t
monitor his or her bank accounts. If this law is removed,
then the BIR can easily say
what’s the correct taxes that
need to be settled,” the tax collector chief said.
Congratulations and Good Luck II
s of my last
A
count the official list of members
of the House of Representatives is 289.
A new report on the
PDAF or Priority
Development Assistance Fund that was
allegedly funded to
LET’S HAVE COFFEE
NGO’s( Non GovBy
ernment OrganizaDon Augusto Orozco
tions) by members
of congress is 141.
Since most of these
funding are in question, I think it is safe to say that most of the members
of the House, if not all is needed to be investigated or
looked at how they used their respective PDAF funds.
The amount of money involved is so staggering leaving
the ordinary Filipino to ask where did the funds went?
The only problem is the investigative body is also the
body needs to be investigated. What a predicament.
…..
Commission on Audit Chairperson Grace Pulido-Tan has
sounded of ( in other words
“ nagpaparinig”) this early to PNoy that she is ready for
another government post. Critics say Tan is eyeing the
position of Supreme Court Associate Justice Roberto
Abad who is set to retire on May. Well, she might just
get it after a successful selective special report on the
congressional pork barrel that implicated several known
Presidential timbers for 2016. Good luck.
…..
Greetings to all the newly elected PCCI or Philippine
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Board of Directors. They are Alfredo M Yao; President, Atty Miguel B
Varela; Chairman, Dr Francis Chua; Chairman Emeritus,
Sergio R Ortiz Luis Jr and Edgardo G Lacson both as
Honorary Chairman, Amb Donald Dee; Honorary Chairman/COO, Jose T Pardo; Chairman Council of Business
Leaders. They were all sworn into office by PNoy in
Malacanang together with some officers of PhilExport.
Also taking their oath are Antonio S Abacan Jr; Banking & Taxation, Roberto C Amores; Agriculture, Jose S
Alejandro; Energy, George T Barcelon; Services, Ra-
mon D Escueta; Business Councils, Felipe L Gozon;
Environment, Alegria S Limjoco; Corporate & Social
Responsibility, Antonio A Lopa; Membership, Joseph C
Sy; Mining, Benedicto V Yujuico; International, Danilo
A Sanchez; AVP for NCR, Alfonso T Lao; AVP for North
Luzon, Eduardo R Nicolas III; AVP for South Luzon, Jose
T Ng; AVP for Visayas and Annie O Ty AVP for Mindanao. Congratulations and good luck. May you bring
business to the Fil-Am Community and to the rest of the
Filipino community all over the world. Good luck.
…..
FACC. Greetings and congratulations also to the newly
elected set of Board of Directors of the Filipino American
Chamber of Commerce of Santa Clara County. They are
Debbie Abad; Accounting Manager of Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, Benjie Fernandez; General Manager of
La Quinta Inns and Suites, Alma Ramirez; Assistant Vice
President / Branch Sales Manager of Bank of the West,
Anne O Ramirez; Founder / CEO of Core Dimensions
International and yours truly. The newly elected Board
will serve for 2 years with 5 other Board members who
were past presidents of FACC. Good Luck.
…..
SHORTS. Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner
Kim Henares is proposing a lifting on the Bank secrecy law for tax purposes. Some senators namely Francis
Escudero, Grace Poe, Vicente Sotto, Nancy Binay and
Sonny Angara are wary since the commissioner has a
penchant to overdo things especially on taxation….Erwin
Tulfo, TV5 news anchor has a filed a libel case against the
Philippine daily Inquirer for reporting that he allegedly
benefited from the pork barrel funds. This is mediaman
versus mediaman…..According to Senator JV Ejercito,
chairman of the Senate committee on urban planning and
housing he will be asking PNP Chief Alan Purisima to
the mysterious arrest and removal from the police force
the name of Delfin Lee from the most wanted list ( Bakit
nga kaya?)…..Communits leaders Benito and Wilma
Tiamzon, who has remained defiant has been captured in
an entrapment in Cebu Saturday. Jose Maria Sison has
hinted an escalation of war between the government and
the CPP/NPA people…..The Philippine Postal Service
have launched a stamp honoring our current Miss World
Megan Young. I think this is something the government
should do for all Filipino achievers. For comments please
email me at [email protected].
PAGE 7
Mar. 27, 2014 - Apr. 2, 2014
The San Francisco Post
4 reasons why city cars are the future of
driving pleasure
T
here was a time where the only cars to lust after were
the big Germans, sharp Italians, suave English, a smattering of hatches that would blow your socks off and some
Japanese rockets. All for different reasons these kinds of
cars would evoke the sense of want, the desire to be driven.
In most recent times, though, the more people are able to
afford those big Germans and the like, the less appealing
these cars have become. It’s a mix between everyone in the
neighborhood driving one
With the ever-growing need to make more efficient cars,
manufacturers have had to go back to basics. Smaller, simpler and lighter machines are much more efficient and make
the world a happier place. But they have very seldom made
the driver a happier person. The ‘cheap and cheerful’ slogan
Top Gear often heralds is a double edged sword: ‘cheerful’
usually depicts the ‘so nice you want to punch it in the face’.
And they haven’t been just cheap, but generally shit cars.
The new crop of city cars, though, are starting to turn this
all around. They are starting to mate that good kind of cheerful to a cheap that doesn’t equate to the thing falling apart
in a matter of weeks. It’s an exciting time for young people
especially. No longer does the younger generation have to
wait until the golden age of 50 -plus to own a desirable car.
1. Cheap - City cars are not only billed to be cheaper to buy
initially, but are significantly cheaper to run. Not only fuel
expenses, but general maintenance, insurance and that ever
more expensive road tax. Depending where you live, road
taxes are becoming astronomical. The only way to really afford it and not be a millionaire be reasonable with your ride.
As much as you may not want to look at it, economics are a
fact of life. It comes as no surprise that some of VW’s most
interesting cars in the past couple years have had a mind for
efficiency. Take the VW XL1, a limited production supercity car, if you will.
Made from super light materials like Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer, it weighs well under 800kg, and is powered
by a hybrid system. This allows it to go 100km for each liter
of fuel, making it the most fuel efficient car in the world.
This may not be a cheap option at the moment, but the VW
Up Is looking to follow in its footsteps, and that is almost as
cheap as they come.
2. Small -- Cities may be getting bigger, but living space is
becoming anything but. If you’ve ever tried to parallel-park
a big saloon car on the side of a busy road, you know what
an absolute ball-ache it can be. And if you try to go out on
the town somewhere busy, parking alone is a nightmare. If
you’re in a small car, you may just get lucky. Smaller goes
hand-in-hand with cheaper too. Smaller is lighter, meaning
the engine doesn’t have to work as hard, and nor does the
driver to keep control over the car. It’s also much easier to
negotiate around town. Simple maths, really.
3. Fun and plenty quick -- James May of Top Gear is a
bit fan of the small car. Instead of driving a big German
like the other lads, he drives a Fiat Panda — a 1.1 liter. His
reasoning? That you can reach the limits of its performance
at a much more reasonable speed, like those you can do on
the road legally.
It might not be the safest idea to try and reach the limits
of your car on the public road, but you don’t have to reach
the limits to have fun in a car. It’s mighty hard to have much
fun in an expensive car these days, what with all those electronic aids. This isn’t to say that the only fun to have is when
a car is out of control, but when the car is doing the driving
for you, what’s the point?
The engines you can find in small cars will rival
those big cars of not too long ago, and factor in
the size, and you pretty much have gokart-like handling.
If you live anywhere near a city, you know how handy a car
like that can be. And if you can do 0-100kph quicker than a
bus, what’s to complain about?
4. No-nonsense and all you need -- Unless you’re making
millions of pound-dollars, you really don’t need to be looking for anything fancy when it comes to four wheels. The
Fords out there are competing well with the BMWs in as
much as you can reasonably want in a car.
Status symbols aside, the fun and practicalities of a car can
be had pretty cheap — if you live in a city, then perhaps
even cheaper. Fun is most-definitely a factor, but doesn’t
have to have a price. When’s the last time you saw a Mercedes driver looking like they were having fun in their car?
Now compare that to the last time you saw a Ford Fiesta
driver having fun.
Cars need to be fun again. And it’s hard to have fun if
you’re constantly thinking about how much it’s costing you
to keep it on the road, or when you’ll find your next parking
or if you’re going to hit that guy’s side mirror. It’s the simple
things in life that can sometimes take the edge off of living.
BMW Active
Assist: Sheer
automated driving
pleasure
T
HE driverless car of tomorrow is far
closer than most of think. At the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES)
2014 in Las Vegas, BMW showed us just
how close it is.
To demonstrate its ActiveAssist system, a package of partially and highly
automated driving technology, BMW let
loose two research prototypes for highly
automated driving onto a predetermined
closed course marked out by a target line.
The goal was to let these systems actively intervene and guide the car close to
the target line, to demonstrate maximum
safety up to the car’s dynamic limit.
The prototype adheres to a marked out
circular course, piloting its way at high
speeds and with precision on a slalom run
between cones, regardless of the friction
coefficient of the road surface, and executes an obstacle-evading lane change
to perfection. It makes optimum use of
the potential of both engine and chassis.
Even when the rear is deliberately provoked into sliding out (oversteer) — the
very edge of a vehicle’s grip — the highly automated prototype makes the necessary corrections to follow its path safely
and consistently, time after time.
PAGE 8
Mar. 27, 2014 - Apr. 2, 2014
The San Francisco Post
The San Francisco Post
PAGE 9
Mar. 27, 2014 - Apr. 2, 2014
Family members of U visa holder may also qualify for U visa
I
f you are granted U status, you will be given
the opportunity to stay in the U.S. for up to
four years and you may also be eligible for permanent residence (a “green card”) after three
years of continuous presence in the United
States.
. Which Family Members Qualify for Derivative U Status?
. The crime victim who applies for U status
is known to USCIS as the “principal applicant” and – if approved – will be granted U-1
status allowing the person to live and work in
the U.S. for a specified period of time not longer
than four years. If you are a principal applicant,
you can also petition for derivative U status for
certain family members by submitting Form
918A, Petition for Qualifying Family Member
of U Visa Recipient, either at the time of your
application or after you receive approval.
Which relatives qualify for derivative U status will depend on your age – and in some instances, your family member’s age and marital
status.
If the principal applicant is over 21 years old, he
or she can include the following family members in the application:
• a spouse (U-2) and
• unmarried children under age 21 (U-3).
If the principal applicant is under 21, the following relatives qualify for derivative U status:
• a spouse (U-2)
• unmarried children under age 21 (U-3)
• parents (U-4), and
• unmarried siblings under age 18 (U-5).
Please note that principal applicants older than
21 cannot petition for derivative visas for their
parents or siblings. Derivative U-4 parents and
U-5 siblings will not lose their eligibility if the
principal applicant turns 21 years old before
their derivative visas are issued. In addition,
U-5 siblings who reach their 18th birthday before their applications are decided upon maintain their eligibility as long as they do not marry
before entering the United States. USCIS also
recently issued a new rule that will prevent U-3
derivative applicants from “aging out “if they
turn 21 while their application for U status is
pending.
Derivative U visa applicants do not need to
meet the U visa eligibility requirements that the
principal applicant does – such as being the victim of a serious crime, suffering serious abuse,
and possessing helpful information for law enforcement.
Q
A
of waiver of misrepresenHowever, the grounds of
By Atty. Crispin C. Lozano
tation from Immigration
inadmissibility listed at
Judge for a client who
I.N.A. § 212(a) will apply to
entered as single but acderivative applications for
tually married.
U status.
If your application for derivative U status is 5. On November 21, 2013, we received an apapproved and you live outside the U.S., you will proval from USCIS for adjustment of status unneed to undergo additional processing in your der SAME SEX MARRIAGE.
6. On November 14, 2013, we received an aphome country.
. How may Derivative Family Members proval of adjustment of status from ImmigraApply for Work Authorization?
tion Judge for a client who was originally de. The principal applicant will be automati- nied adjustment by USCIS.
cally issued an employment authorization 7. On November 4, 2013, we received an apdocument (also known as an “EAD” or a work proval of waiver of misrepresentation from the
permit) if his or her U visa application is ap- Immigration Judge for a client who entered the
proved. However, derivative family members U.S. as single but actually married.
must submit separate EAD applications if they 8. On October 24, 2013, we received an apwish to legally work in the United States.
proval by an Immigration Judge on the review
. May a family member apply for U status of I-751 Application to Remove Condition on
as “Indirect Victim”?
Residence that was previously denied by US. If the principal applicant is unable to file CIS.
for U status or if his or her application is 9. On October 2, 2013, we received an approval
denied? Unfortunately, if the principal applicant’s U petition is denied, family members no
longer qualify to be derivative beneficiaries of
that petition.
However, certain family members who would
otherwise qualify for derivative status (see the
list above) may have the option to apply for U
status as an “indirect victim” of the qualifying
crime. The family member may be eligible to
apply for U status as a principal applicant if the
direct victim is:
• dead due to murder or manslaughter, or
• incompetent or incapacitated (due to age or
disability) and is unable to provide helpful information about the crime to assist law enforcement.
Q
A
Q
A
S
UCCESS STORIES
1.On March 25, 2014, we received another approval from the Immigration Court for waiver
of misrepresentation for a client who entered
the U.S. as single but actually married.
2. On January 24, 2014, we received another
approval for waiver of misrepresentation from
the Immigration Court for an alien who entered
as single but actually married.
3. On January 14, 2014, we received an approval from USCIS of a green card under law on
Registry for a person who has been in the U.S.
since before 1972.
4. On January 6, 2014, we received an approval
Atty. Crispin. C. Lozano represented Mr. Conrado Orante. Jr with USCIS in his application for naturalization. His case was approved although some attorneys believed he could
not pass.
(Cont. from page 1..TOP RED LEADERS)
said the case stemmed from the four firearms and two hand grenades seized from
them during their arrest in Cebu province
last Saturday.
President Benigno S. Aquino III said
the arrest of the CPP leaders is a “serious
blow” to the communist rebels.
“I believe it does deliver a serious blow.
And it shows you also the competency of
our security forces,” Aquino said, adding
that the Tiamzons were the “big fish” he
was mentioning last week that the law enforcers were already tracking.
The Tiamzons and five other communist
leaders were subjected to inquest proceedings yesterday in Camp Crame.
“They were subjected to inquest proceedings here based on the authority of the Department of Justice,” said Fajardo.
But the legal counsels of Tiamzons questioned the legality of the inquest proceedings, saying the proceedings against couple
and their five other companions should
have been held in Cebu where they were
arrested.
Lawyer Rachelle Pastores, legal counsel
of the CPP leaders, said they were surprised by the move of the Philippine National Police to hold inquest proceedings in
Camp Crame.
“The inquest officers have no jurisdiction
to conduct inquest proceedings here (Camp
Crame). The alleged crime was committed
in Cebu so why hold inquest here in Manila,” she added.
But Fajardo stood ground and argued that
inquest proceedings could be done anywhere based on the authority of the DOJ.
He argued that it was the hearing of the
charges that should be done in the area
where the crime was committed. In the
case of the Tiamzons and the five other arrested, he said they expect the trial to be
done in Cebu.
Pastores, however, stressed that the proceedings are invalid.
“We will not recognize this process,” said
Pastores.
of adjustment of status based on SAME SEX
MARRIAGE.
10. On June 3, 2013, we received an approval
from USCIS of a petition that continued despite
the death of the petitioner under Public law 11183.
11. On May 8, 2013, we received an approval of
adjustment of status for a client who has a problem with entry document but has Sec. 245(i)
eligibility.
Crispin Caday Lozano is an active member of the
State Bar of California, the American Immigration
Lawyers Association and the National Association of
Consumers Bankruptcy Attorneys. He specializes in
immigration law and bankruptcy law. He earned his
Juris Doctor at Western State University College of
Law in Fullerton, California. He is also a Certified
Public Accountant, a Real Estate Broker and a Bachelor of Business Administration Cum Laude graduate.
He has offices in San Francisco, Hayward, San Jose,
and Cerritos, California. You can contact him at
1-877-456-9266. Email questions to crispinlozano@
gmail.com/. Visit our website at www.crispinlozanolaw.com.
PAGE 10
Mar. 27, 2014 - Apr. 2, 2014
V
The San Francisco Post
SPECIAL FEATURE
Hundreds flock to Keepin’ It Island daily for
Chicken Kelaguen and other Guamanian foods
ALLEJO – It has been almost two
The native Guamanians are happy that
months since Keepin’ It Island opened they can finally taste again the many native
in this city and people are still talking about foods that they enjoyed when they were
the Guamanian restaurant that serves deli- still in Guam and nearby islands while the
cious and authentic Islander foods topped non-Guam natives are just thrilled to taste
with warm home-like service.
the different, but delicious food from the
More than 3,200 came to the grand open- Islands. They come in groups to the restauing weekend
of Keepin’
It Island last
January 18
and 1,400
more on the
soft opening day on
January 4,
and
now
hundreds
continue to
flock daily
to the Guamanian restaurant
at
at 3730 Sonoma Blvd.,
Vallejo , Ca
94589; Tel.
Mesa, mother of owner Joey Mesa (right), cutting the ribbon at the
(707) 552- Patricia
Grand Opening of “Keepin’ It Island”, Saturday, January 18th, 2014.
7500.
Couple
Joey and Lisa Mesa, the owners, are just rant every single day to enjoy the authentic
thrilled to see fellow Guamanians and even Islander cuisine and the native Guam amnon-Guamanians come in droves to have a biance.
Some come
from faraway
cities, such as
Hercules, Monterrey, San Jose,
Bakersfield and
Salinas, which
are an hour or
more drive to
Vallejo.
And
they are all excited to feel like
being in the Islands again.
The very positive reviews in
Yelp and other
social network
are encouraging
Joey and Lisa
Just a fraction of the first wave of customers who came out to support “Kee- to keep the high
quality of their
pin’ It Island” on the day of their grand opening.
food and bakery
products.
One Jessica
Ann of San
Francisco, for
example, who
was so thrilled
by both the food
and
service,
sums up the
enjoyment that
Keepin’ It Island provides its
customers daily:
“I walk in and
am greeted by
a young girl
with a friendly,
“Hello, how are
you?” I place
my order for
The line was out the door and extended into the parking lot full of people
the BBQ Tri Tip
from far and wide eagerly waiting to try the restaurant’s “Chamorro CuiCombo
Plate
sine”
and a side of
Digao. I grab a
seat and when
taste of their exquisite Islander dishes, des- my food was ready, I just started digging in.
serts and cakes.
The food was soOo ONO (Delicious) that
I don’t think I
ever put my fork
down or took
a breath. The
tri tip wasn’t
dry and had a
nice flavor to
it. The red rice
was bomb diggity and I liked
the spice to the
digao as well. I
totally enjoyed
my meal and
the chill vibe of
the restaurant
(Bonus points
for playing island jams in
the background,
Hafa Brown Designs, just one of the many vendors that came out to suport
who
doesn’t
the Grand Opening of Keepin’ It Island.
love listening to
J-Boog while they eat?!). As I was sitting
at my table a really nice lady asked me
how I was doing. I’m going to guess
that her name was Lisa because as
more customers started to roll in that’s
the name I kept hearing. She offered
me a sample of the chicken soup she
made, but I politely declined since I
was already so full. I did ask if there
were any desserts since I have a major
sweet tooth. She named a few and offered
me a sample of the Latiya. OMG!!! Can
onions, donne peppers and shredded coconut), BBQ Tri Trip combo, the red rice,
chicken empanada, lumpia, finadene
and latiya.
Keepin” It Island serves Guamanian
and Pacific islands dishes like chicken
kelaguen, barbecued tri-tips, ribs and
chicken, red rice, chicken empanada,
coconut tamales, pickled papaya, and
potu, which is very similar to Filipino
puto but with coconut milk.
The bakery section accepts orders
Joey and Lisa Mesa (far left) with Mesa Family and friends before the Grand Opening.
I just say that the Latiya was AMAZING, my tummy was doing backflips
because it was so happy. I ended up
ordering two containers of the Latiya
and an order of coconut candy to go.
The food and warm hospitality will
most definitely keep me coming back.
Thank you Keepin’ It Island for turning
my gloomy day right around.”
The favorites of customers so far
are the Chicken Kelaguen (the restaurant’s signature dish that is a barbecued
chicken cooked with lemon juice, green
for cakes for special occasion such as
weddings and birthdays, cup cakes and
cake pops.
“We’re very happy that people are enjoying our food and our service. We are
happy to introduce Guam and Pacific
islands foods to Americans, and we’re
even happier to let our fellow Guamanians enjoy a piece of their beloved island,” Lisa said. Advertorial.
(Pictures by Jong Arcega Photography)
AROUND TOWN
The San Francisco Post
Prime Star Productions, based in San Jose is introducing the Bay Area’s new rising stars, “The
Prime Star 6” in a gala concert showcasing hit songs from the favorite Playlist of these new young
talented amazing voices. The show titled “Playlist” slated, Saturday, April 26, 2014 at Union City
Apostolic Church. Written and directed by Gene Granadosin of Show Masters Entertainment.
Watch and be a part of a unique nostalgic musical experience.
(Cont. from page 1..OBAMA VOWS)
leaders of all four nations and discuss diplomatic, economic and security issues with
them, the White House said.
At The Hague, Xi told Obama that the US
should adopt a “fair” attitude on the East
and South China Seas, where China is involved in a series of increasingly bitter territorial disputes.
“On the issues of the East and South China
Sea, the US side ought to adopt an objective and fair attitude, distinguish right from
wrong, and do more to push for an appropriate resolution and improve the situation,” state news agency Xinhua cited Xi
as saying. It provided no other details.
China has repeatedly urged the US not to
take sides in the maritime disputes, and
has watched warily as Washington moves
to strengthen its military alliances in the
region, especially with Tokyo and Manila.
Xi added that he hoped China and the US
deepen their military cooperation and carry
out more joint exercises to help “prevent
misunderstandings and miscalculations.”
China’s foreign ministry said the two leaders reached 10 agreements, including one
to form rules for safe maritime and airspace
military actions in international waters, the
official China Daily newspaper reported on
Tuesday.
The risks of a mishap in the region were
highlighted in December when the guided
missile cruiser USS Cowpens had to take
evasive action in the South China Sea to
avoid hitting a Chinese warship operating
in support of Beijing’s first aircraft carrier,
the Liaoning.
Amid China’s bullying in the West Philippine Sea, Spain reiterated its support for
peaceful resolution of the maritime dispute
in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on
the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Visiting Spanish foreign minister Jose
Manuel Garcia-Margallo declared his
country’s position on Monday during a
joint press conference with Foreign Affairs
Secretary Albert del Rosario.
“On the issue of South China Sea, or the
West Philippine Sea, I’d like reiterate that
we share the view of a peaceful and negotiated settlement, always mindful of international law. Let us be reminded that in that
part of the sea over 40 percent of the world
trade goes through it,” Garcia-Margallo
said.
The Philippines and Spain held high-level
political consultations in keeping with the
two countries’ framework Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation signed in 2000.
Meanwhile, an advocacy group headed
by a former military rebel is launching a
nationwide motorcycle caravan to protest
China’s occupation of some areas in the
West Philippine Sea.
The caravan will start in Davao del Oriental on April 1 and end in Palawan, according to the National Center for Unity and
Patriotism (NCUP) headed by ex-Marine
Nicanor Faeldon.
“This is aimed at promoting national consciousness and support for our country’s
position at the West Philippine Sea as well
as rallying international consciousness
and support and also establishing possible
world record,” Faeldon said.
ERRATUM
The story on our issue last Mar. 20- 26, 2014 on page 11 titled “Congressman Mike Honda to host Korean Ambassador to US as he honors
Korean War Veterans” should have read “INC embark on housing and
eco-farming to benefit typhoon victims”.
PAGE 11
Mar. 27, 2014 - Apr. 2, 2014
Angel Lobaton of GLOBE TNT in San Jose California recently celebrated his birthday with family
and friends. File picture was taken recently with his wife Marivic, daugther Angelica and his only
son in front of their store at Story Road.
SPORTS
PAGE 12
Mar. 27, 2014 - Apr. 2, 2014
Bradley to Pacquiao: Be ruthless
MANILA -- As if pleading on
bended knees, Timothy Bradley is asking Manny Pacquiao
Bradley and Pacquiao
to be ruthless, someone who
is devoid of feelings and emotions, when they get it on for the
second time on April 12 at the
MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Reacting to a statement from
Pacquiao’s camp last week with
trainer Freddie Roach saying
the Filipino star simply “took it
easy on him (Bradley)”, the unbeaten US fighter told The Desert Sun, his hometown paper,
that he wants none of that stuff
come fight.
“Don’t show no compassion.
Don’t show me none of that,”
said Bradley, still bitter that he
didn’t receive the credit due him
for beating Pacquiao on a split
decision in June 2012.
Bradley stressed: “If he’s compassionate, he
won’t
be able
to deal
with me,
period.”
Roach
has also
ordered
P a c quiao to
set aside
being
a good
g u y
since he
is in dire
need of a huge victory.
A few days ago, Roach said
from the Wild Card Boxing
Club in Hollywood, training
headquarters of Pacquiao, that
he wants his No.1 fighter to
show “no mercy.”
Recently, Pacquiao, 35, has
been doing just that as reported
by those given access to see him
spar and train.
Bradley, 30, said Pacquiao better come armed to the gills because he will be hard to beat.
“I’m so fired up, I’m so determined, Manny Pacquaio gotta
kill me to stop me.”
The San Francisco Post
Farenas in TKO win
MICHAEL Farenas scored a controversial second
round technical knockout win over Hector Velazquez
late Sunday due to a cut suffered by the Mexican.
In the main event of MAG PACMAN Boxing International Promotions second fight card, Farenas kept his
knockout streak alive but the ending of the bout was
highly questionable.
Farenas and Velazquez clashed heads which caused
an ugly gash on the Mexican’s right brow but veteran
referee Bruce McTavish decided the cut came from a
punch to reward Farenas with the TKO victory.
Farenas upped his ring record to 38-4-4 with 30
knockouts as he gears up for a possible world title shot
in his next fight. Velazquez on the other hand dropped
down to 56-21-3 as he moves closer to retirement.
The outcome took the luster somewhat from what
had been highly touted as a battle royale, with Farenas looking for a resounding victory over an opponent
who once went up against ring icon Manny Pacquiao.
The accidental head clash and the referee’s disputed
decision put an end to all that however.
In the undercard, Dave Penalosa scored one of the
best victories of his career against Alem Robles of
Mexico. Penalosa invested with body punches early
in the fight but the tough Mexican refused to give the
young Filipino an inch. The two battled for six back and forth rounds
but in the end, Penalosa won a unanimous decision victory with scores
of 58-56, 58-56, and 59-56.
Penalosa raised his record to eight wins with five
knockouts without a defeat.
Donaire arrives in PH, sets up camp
MANILA - Former three-time world boxing champion Nonito Donaire,
Jr. arrived from Las Vegas on Monday to set up training camp here in
preparation for his fight against WBA/IBO featherweight titlist Simpiwe
(V12) Vetyeka of South Africa at the
Cotai Arena in the Venetian Resort
Macau on May 31.
Donaire flew in with wife Rachel,
their 8-month-old son Jarel and a few
friends. They will stay at their home
in Alabang Hills Village. Donaire will
start working out at the Elorde Gym
in Sucat next week. His father-trainer
Nonito Sr., however, will join the
camp in two weeks after a work assignment in Mexico.
Donaire, 31, will take a brief break
from camp and appear as a commentator on Wowow TV in Tokyo for the
Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley
bout on April 12. A Japanese translator will facilitate Donaire’s commentary. Right after Pacquiao’s fight, Donaire
Donaire will head back to Manila and
resume training for Vetyeka.
Donaire said former world superfeatherweight champion Robert Garcia is not sure to work his corner in Macau.
“At the moment, Robert is busy training (Marcos) Maidana for his fight
against (Floyd) Mayweather on May 3,” said Donaire in an overseas
telephone interview. “Robert has other commitments so it’s not certain if he’ll have the time to
work with me for this fight.
But I’m comfortable with
my dad. Nobody knows me
better than Papang. We’ve
been together from the start.
We were together when I
won the WBC flyweight
title in 2007. My strength
and conditioning coach
(Mike Bazzel) will also not
be around but we’ll be in constant
communication through skype.”
Donaire said his father will assemble a gang of sparring partners to get him ready for Vetyeka.
“We’re not bringing over any
sparring partner from the US,”
he said. “There are a lot of tough
Filipino featherweights whom Papang will line up for sparring so that’s not a concern. I’m confident we’ll
get competitive sparring done.”
HEALTH
College women: Have a healthy
spring break
Spring break offers college
women -- and men -- a welcome respite from the pressures of school,
but they need to
make sure they
protect
their
health
while
having fun.
For women
looking ahead to
spring break, the
U.S. Food and
Drug Administration offers a
number of tips,
starting with sun
safety.
Wear a hat and
protective clothing, and stay
in the shade as
much as possible. Use sunscreens that protect against
UVA and UVB rays and
have an SPF of 15 or higher.
Reapply sunscreen at least
every two hours, or every 40 to 80 minutes when
swimming or sweating.
If you use spray tans or
bronzers, understand that
they do not protect against
UV rays.
If you take medications,
get information about them
before you go on your trip.
For example, ask your doctor about possible side effects and interactions. Don’t
skip doses, don’t share
medication and don’t take
more than the recommended dose. Keep a detailed list
of the medicines you’re tak-
ing and carry your medicine
with you when traveling.
Be sure to drink enough
water to stay hydrated. If
you plan to spend a long
time at the beach, for instance, be sure to bring water and drink even before
you’re thirsty. Avoid ice or
tap water in regions where
water isn’t safe for drinking. If safe drinking water
isn’t available, consume an
internationally known brand
of a sugar- and caffeine-free
carbonated beverage, said
Shirley Blakely, a senior nutrition advisor at the FDA.
Healthy eating is also
important. To get enough
fiber and other essential nutrients, fill half your plate
with fruits and vegetables
and be sure
that half of
your grains
are whole.
“If you’re
faced with
a smorgasbord, build
your plate
with fruits,
vegetables
and whole
grains first,
then add
the protein
source,”
Blakely
said in an
FDA news
release.
Think twice about getting
a permanent tattoo or temporary henna decorations.
Tattoos can cause allergic
reactions and put you at risk
for infections such as HIV
or hepatitis. Henna is not
approved by the FDA for
skin use, and some people
have experienced serious
problems, including allergic
reactions such as rashes and
scarring.
Never use colored or decorative contact lenses sold in
beauty-supply stores and
in boardwalk shops. These
products can damage your
eyes.
WE PROVIDE PRESS COVERAGE FOR ANY
EVENTS, PROMOTIONS and PUBLICITIES.
Coverage for Business Grand Opening, Advertising
Promotions and other private functions.
Call us at
1-855-454-7678
or email us at [email protected]
SHOWBIZ
The San Francisco Post
Bruno Mars donates $100,000 for ‘Yolanda’
FIL-AM hitmaker and two-time Grammy
After the turnover, Mars noted, “I’m really
awardee Bruno Mars turned over yesterday a excited to be back here in Manila.” He added,
check for $100,000 for the relief of super-ty- “One of the most special moments for me in my
phoon “Yolanda” victims.
career, coming here a few years ago and perMars donation was received by the Bantay forming with my whole Filipino family watchBata 163 of ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya ing.”
Foundation, Inc., represented by Program DiMars is back in the country for a sold-out
rector Tina Monzon Palma and members of the one-night concert tonight at the Mall of Asia
board of advisers.
Arena as part of
The funds are to be
his “The Moonutilized by Bantay
shine
Jungle
Bata 163 to initially
Tour.” Trending
conduct feeding proon Twitter on the
grams, medical misday of his arrival,
sions, and delivery of
Friday, his fans
basic needs.
are expecting a
They will also carry
show tonight that
out stress debrieftakes a cue from
ing to deal with the
some of his best
children’s emotional
performances of
and mental trauma,
late – including
as well as hold work- Bruno Mars with ABS-CBN executives.
a show-stopping
shops on disaster
performance at
preparedness. Ultimately, the funds will be used the Super Bowl half time just last February.
for scholarships that should help the children
Born Peter Gene Hernandez in October, 1985,
build a brighter future.
in Honolulu, Hawaii, to a Filipino mother, BerMars faced select members of the media yes- nadette Bayot, and Puerto Rican/Eastern Euroterday at Solaire Resort and Casino’s Eclipse pean father Peter Hernandez, Mars grew up in
Entertainment Lounge to award his donation.
a musical household. Mars’ mom – who died
Mars’ return to the country had been a promise mid-2013 from a brain aneurysm – was a singer
he made in 2011 to his fans, but it has taken and a hula dancer, while his father was also a
a deeper meaning with his intent to help those musician. They exposed their six children to a
who lost their homes and families in the on- diverse mix of rock to R&B and everything in
slaught of Yolanda.
between.
Before Mars was called on stage, Palma said,
Mars began performing at young age with the
“I would want to tell him that you turned the family band, becoming known in the island for
lives of the kids (around) when you visited us his impressions of Elvis Presley. He would conin 2011… The children are not here because tinue performing through high school and later
most of them have come back to their homes, learn to play the guitar before eventually movinspired to become better… They must be grad- ing to Los Angeles to pursue his musical career
uating from college now.”
further.
REAL ESTATE
Subprime mortgages making a comeback
NEW YORK -- Borrowers with
bad credit were shut out of the
mortgage market after the housing
bubble burst, but now a handful of
small lenders are starting to offer
subprime loans again.
Once synonymous with toxic, adjustable-rate mortgages -- like the
“exploding ARMs” that led many
homeowners to lose their homes
to foreclosure during the housing
bust -- subprime mortgages are
once again being offered to borrowers who pose a higher credit
risk, typically those with credit
scores that fall below 640.
But this time around, the loans
are much more costly. During
the housing bubble, lenders were
handing out subprime loans with
cheap teaser rates and
little or no down payments. Now, lenders are
charging interest rates of
as high as 8% to 10% and
requiring borrowers to
make down payments of
as much as 25%-35%.
The premium price is worth it
for some borrowers who are trying to build or repair their credit,
according to Bill Dallas from Skyline Financial, of Calabasas, Calif.
Skyline started offering subprime
loans a few months ago under its
NewLeaf Lending division.
Among his firm’s subprime mortgage customers: young, first-time
homebuyers and former home-
owners whose credit was ruined
in the housing bust.
“They’re just Americans who
want to buy homes but can’t,”
said Dallas, who used to run First
Franklin, a subprime lender that
went bust in the mortgage meltdown.
Most of these borrowborrow
ers have nowhere else to
turn. Fannie Mae and
Freddie Mac, which
back 80% of all U.S.
home loans, won’t
back loans issued to
sub-
prime borrowers.
Only the Federal Housing Administration continues to support
low-credit score borrowers in the
wake of the housing bust. But it
has hiked fees and premiums.
To help protect borrowers, the
Consumer Financial Protection
Bureau requires strong consumer
protections. The loans cannot carry interest rates that increase after
default, or prepayment penalties,
for example. And lenders must
provide these borrowers with
homeownership counseling from
a representative approved by the
U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development.
In addition to the
small lenders
who are issuing
subprime loans,
Wells Fargo recently lowered
the minimum
credit score it
requires of borrowers to get
FHA loans.
Wells Fargo is now approving
applicants who have scores of bebe
tween 600 and 640 for FHA loans,
which remains well within FHA’s
guidelines, according to spokesspokes
man Tom Goyda.
“It will open up access to
credit for many lower inin
come families, including
first-time homebuyers,”
said Goyda.
And Dallas points out
that these borrowers don’t necessarily have to pay those high interest rates for the life of the loan.
Once they demonstrate they can
repay their loans regularly, their
credit scores should improve and
they should be able to refinance
into a lower-rate loan.
PAGE 13
Mar. 27, 2014 - Apr. 2, 2014
Bianca and JC set wedding this year
NEWLY engaged couple Bianca Gonzalez
and JC Intal want to get married before
the year ends, especially since the latter
doesn’t believe in long engagements.
The Barako Bull Energy told ABS-CBN
News, “I asked her if it’s okay if we get
married this November or December and
okay naman sa kanya… I think it’s about
time na rin sa amin (to settle down). Basta
church (wedding).”
Gonzalez, on the other hand, took to Instagram to express happiness following her
engagement to Intal.
Among photos she posted on Thursday is
that of her two-carat diamond engagement
ring.
She also posted a series of photos depicting the many ways Intal surprised her
while she was on board a plane bound to
London.
“My fiancè is the sweetest part 1: during breakfast on the plane, I was served
this note (‘Thank you for saying YES my
love’) in a wine glass,” she wrote.
“My fiancè is the sweetest part 2: around
5 hours into the flight, while eating my inflight adobo lunch, this note (‘I am the hap-
piest
m a n
in this
world
right
now’)
came
in another
wine
glass,”
t h e
second
p o s t
Gonzalez shows off her 2-carat
read.
Gon- diamond engagement ring
zalez
also posted Intal’s last note, which read:
“Let’s plan your dream wedding when you
get back, Sweetheart. I love you.”
She shared, “When I woke up on the plane,
the pilot (yes, as in the pilot of the plane!!)
comes out to talk to me and congratulate
me, hands me JC’s passport holder (that I
was borrowing from JC before I left pero
he said no), and inside was this third and
final note.”
Heart: “There are certain guys I should’nt have dated”
Last year, Heart Evangelista was scouting Escudero.
around for another place she could call home.
It took Heart three months to renovate this
She had earhouse and retrofit it to suit her style.
lier left her posh
“May mga binaklas and talagang inMakati
condoayos siya, pati ’yong mga floor, lahat.
minium
unit,
But it’s sulit for me, kasi matagal din
which was in the
naman ako titira dito, e. I mean, I’ll
same building as
stay here till I get married, and it’s still
the unit occupied
a while.”
by her estranged
In the YES! April 2014 issue, Heart
parents.
opens her home and her heart about
Luckily, she
her passion for painting, her “not norfound one such
mal” relationship with her parents,
place in a quiet
and her perfect match—her boyfriend
village in New
Chiz.
Manila, Quezon
“I know they said you shouldn’t reHeart Evangelista and her bf, Chiz
City.
gret things,” she tells YES! “But really, if I
It was a three- Escudero
just knew the things that I know now, there
story townhouse
are so many things I wouldn’t have done benot too far from GMA, her home network.
fore. There are certain guys I wish I didn’t date,
It was also a mere 120 or so steps from the if I knew that Chiz was coming into my life. I
home of her boyfriend, Senator Francis “Chiz” would have probably just waited…”
Yael in tears as Karylle walks down the aisle
SPONGE COLA vocalist Yael Yuzon was in
tears on Friday afternoon as his bride, singeractress Karylle, walked
down the aisle to finally exchange wedding
vows after more than
three years as a couple.
Yuzon and Karylle got
married at San Antonio ng Padua Church
in Silang, Cavite, a day
before the “It’s Showtime” mainstay’s 33rd
birthday.
Karylle wore a white,
all-lace gown by Francis Libiran. Her mother,
singer Zsa Zsa Padilla,
had on a similar dress,
only in pink.
The wedding entourage was composed
of several celebrities,
including Karylle’s co-host, Anne Curtis, who
handled the candles with Tim Yap as secondary
sponsors.
Yuzon’s three Sponge Cola band mates -- Tedmark Cruz, Gosh Dilay, and Armo Armovit
-- were among the
groomsmen.
Karylle’s bridesmaids, meanwhile,
included celebrities
Iza Calzado and Divine Lee.
Among the principal sponsors were
celebrities
Kris
Aquino, Kim Atienza, Jose Mari Chan,
Martin
Nievera,
Ryan
Cayabyab,
Sharon Cuneta, Ben
Chan, Ricky Reyes,
Robin Padilla, Lorna Tolentino, Gary
and Angeli Valenciano, and Audie
Gemora.
The 30-year-old Yuzon had singer Paolo Valenciano as
one of his best men, while Karylle had both her sisters Zia
and Coco as her maids of honor.
CLASSIFIED
PAGE 14
Mar. 27, 2014 - Apr. 2, 2014
To advertise, call (510) 885-8827 or
email us at [email protected]
PROPERTY
HOUSE AND LOT FOR
SALE BY OWNER
Located in Pacdal, Baguio
City, Philippines
2 Story detached house,
steel gated enclosure. 4 huge
bedrooms, (1 private room
- 1st flr, 3 rooms -2nd flr) 3
huge bathrooms, 2 car garage
At the back of St. Joseph
Church, Botanical Garden &
Mansion house
PROPERTY
JOBS
JOBS
USED CARS
ROOM FOR RENT?
HAIR CUT
STATION
HELP WANTED
SELLING
YOUR CAR?
ADVERTISE WITH
US!
Hair Cut Station to rent.
$600 / month
Call (510) 895-1963
IMMEDIATE
POSITION IN
VALLEJO
Email us at
advertise@sf-post
or call us at
(510) 885-8827
Can make $60,000+ yearly.
Great benefits.
ADVERTISE
Contact :
Vernon McCarney at
(707)704-4602
YOUR
FOR SALE
HOUSE & LOT
RESIDENTIAL
LOT FOR SALE
Baguio City, Philippines
330 sq. meters
Price: $65,000 or best offer
10-15mins to downtown
CALL ANGIE
510-301-3079
*PROMO FOR FIRST TIME ADVERTISERS:
Only $40 for 4 issues (Classified Section - 6 liner) and $60 for 4 issues (Coupons Section)
Trying to rent your
room / house / in-law
apartment?
CALL ZOSIMO
AT (C) 650-219-0600 /
(H) 650-952-2340
The San Francisco Post
Call us at
(510)
885-8827
P/T Merchandiser
Supervisor
or email
[email protected]
JOB # 11545- managing
“general merchandise” items
stocked in supermarkets in &
around Pleasanton. PT, approx 20-30 hrs/ wkly, 1 yr exp
req, DOE.
www.ataretail.com or
925-621-4700 X 671
F/ T Warehouse
Supervisor
Must have a min 5 yrs warehouse super and mgmt exp of
50 employees or more, Must be
Bi-lingual- Spanish, Must provide
valid CA Driver’s License and
Clean DMV printout, Must be
able to lift 70 lbs., Forklift Cert, ,
M-F 8:30-5pm, but flex.
Send resumes & salary req to
[email protected]
Looking for
Caregivers / CNA’s
(Needed Immediately)
To schedule an interview,
call us at
(650) 206-5200 or
1-800-380-7988
ADVERTISE NOW!
[email protected]
FOR SALE
95’ LINCOLN
TOWNCAR
STRETCH
LIMOUSINE
Good for Limo business.
Call 650.290.0542 for
more details.
ADVERTISE
YOUR
USED CARS
HERE
TAX SAVERS PRO
Looking for Accountants &
Licensed Income Tax
Preparers
CALL (510) 538-7115
(510)885-8827
CARDS & COUPONS
GET
15%
OFF
FREMONT
TOYOTA
Call 888.439.3082
when you advertise your
business in SF Post!
FILIPINO AUTO
FINANCE
CENTER
DUBLIN KIA
Call us now at
Call 888.216.6865
Call 510.885-8827
10% OFF
TAX PREPARATION
FEES
TAX SAVERS PRO
Call 510-538-7188
We build Ponds,
Gazebo & Waterfalls
for your backyards.
Call (707) 419-2881
GAMES & ENTERTAINMENT
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
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.
HOROSCOPE
Aries March 20 - April 18
Memories welling up today could trigger
a desire to get in touch with old friends,
Aries, or relatives you haven’t seen in
a long time. Don’t hang on to these ancient grievances.
Taurus April 19 - May 19
Business-oriented social events could
take up a lot of your time today, Taurus.
You could either be planning or attending them. If the latter, however, it could
well be more than one.
Gemini May 20 - June 19
Your innate charm and good manners
have brought you good relationships
with both co-workers and superiors,
and today you might find that this has
served you well, Gemini.
Cancer June 20 - July 21
Work on your own projects may be very
much on your mind today, Cancer. They
could involve studies of some kind or
the arts. It’s possible that you may be
considering innovative ways of earning
extra money.
Leo July 22 - August 21
Long-term investments, especially those involving real estate, could pay off now, Leo.
If you’ve been thinking of buying or selling a
home, this is the time to do it. All signs indicate that your patience is likely to bear fruit,
so at least one of your longtime goals should
bring success right now.
Virgo August 22 - September 21
Kicking ideas around with colleagues
today could lead to planning social
events and bringing important people
together in order to ensure cooperation
on ambitious projects.
Libra September 22 - October 21
A lot of paperwork, perhaps involving
contracts, could lead to financial gain on
the job, Libra. You could make or save
some money for your employer, which
could prove important.
Scorpio October 22 - November 20
Today you might want to put your innate
business sense into making a success of a
pet project of your own. This is a good idea,
Scorpio, because all signs indicate that
whatever you begin today, whether it’s for
your employer or yourself, could well lead
to success.
Sagittarius November 21 - December 20
Today you might want to put your innate
business sense into making a success of a
pet project of your own. This is a good idea,
Scorpio, because all signs indicate that
whatever you begin today, whether it’s for
your employer or yourself, could well lead
to success.
Capricorn December 21 - January 18
You may have plans to get together with
friends, and you’re probably looking forward
to it. However, Capricorn, delays could get
in the way, although you aren’t likely to let
them stop you.
Aquarius January 19 - February 17
Your hard work on the job may appear to be
finally paying off, Aquarius, as all signs indicate that a raise, promotion, or other form of
advancement is coming your way.
Pisces February 18 - March 19
Studying in solitude may appeal to you today, Pisces. A new interest has captured
your imagination, so you may decide to
sequester yourself at home or in the library to learn about it.
The San Francisco Post
PAGE 15
Mar. 27, 2014 - Apr. 2, 2014
PAGE 16
Mar. 27, 2014 - Apr. 2, 2014
The San Francisco Post