MANILA, May 19 (Mabuhay) – “I am not sleeping with the en-emy.”

This was the assurance given by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima as she belied an accusa-tion by Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero that she seemed to be “lawyering” for alleged pork bar-rel fund scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

“I do not think anyone can use me (to lawyer for Napoles),” De Lima told reporters on Monday, insisting she was merely being careful about releasing Napoles’ testimony because she was still

unsure of its truthfulness.“I do not want to vet this in or-

der to aid or assist Mrs. Napoles. So walang basehan iyong mga nag-aagam-agam na I’m practi-cally lawyering for Mrs. Napoles or that I am probably being used by Mrs. Napoles. I don’t think anyone can use me. I don’t think anyone can infl uence me in the discharge of my mandate,” De Lima told reporters.

Once again, De Lima appealed for “more space to fulfi ll my truth-seeking mandate.”

Last week, following the Sen-ate blue ribbon committee’s de-

cision to release the Napoles list from De Lima, the Justice Secre-tary reminded the public that the list “does not represent the truth per se,” adding that further verifi -cation is still being conducted by investigators.

The said list, also dubbed “Na-polist,” has the names of lawmak-ers and individuals allegedly in-volved in the P10-B pork barrel scam involving lawmakers’ al-location of the Priority Develop-ment Assistance Fund.

There are three lists released by the Napoles camp: one sent to

MANILA, May 19 (Mabuhay) – Other media workers who alleg-edly benefi tted from the multibil-lion pork barrel scam have come forward to deny the accusation.

Aside from Mike Enriquez and Korina Sanchez of GMA Network and ABS-CBN, respectively, ra-dio announcer Rey Pacheco and TV5 news and public affairs head Luchi Cruz-Valdez dismissed the Philippine Daily Inquirer report linking them to the scam.

“Kaugnay sa balitang lumabas sa Inquirer, ako ay na-shock at nalulungkot. Pero para sa kaala-man ng lahat: Una, wala akong natanggap na pera mula kay Mrs. Napoles batay sa listahan ni Ben-hur Luy. Pangalawa, hindi ko siya kilala at hindi ko makita ang dahilan kung bakit nasama ako sa kanyang listahan,” said Pa-checo in a statement.

The Inquirer report, which

came out Sunday, listed names of media personalities who allegedly received payoffs from detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Na-poles, tagged as the scam’s mas-termind. It said Pacheco received P715,000 from Napoles from 2004 to 2008.

The Inquirer cited the fi les pro-vided by pork barrel scam whis-tleblower Benhur Luy, a former employee in Napoles’ JLN Corp., as the source of its report. The fi les were reportedly contained in a hard drive that Luy’s parents gave to the Inquirer.

Valdez, for her part, denied personally knowing both Luy and Napoles.

“I deny and denounce any im-putation or suggestion that I ben-efi tted in any way from the PDAF Funds facilitated by Mr. Benhur Luy. I have not even met Mr. Luy,

1-877-35-NOPAY(1-877-356-6729)818-334-5445

Vol. 3. No. 36 LOS ANGELES Wednesday - Tuesday, May 21 - 27, 2014

KC says she’s cautious

about love

See PAGE 15W W W . U S A S I A N P O S T . C O M

See MEDIA, page 6The Inquirer report, which came out Sunday, listed names of media personalities, including Korina Sanchez of ABS-CBN (shown above), who allegedly received payoffs from detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, tagged as the scam’s mastermind. It said Pacheco received P715,000 from Napoles from 2004 to 2008.

Last week, following the Senate blue ribbon committee’s decision to release the Janet Napoles (seated left, foreground) list from Justice Sec. Leila De Lima (right, seated foreground), the Justice Secretary reminded the public that the list “does not repre-sent the truth per se.” The said list, also dubbed “Napolist,” has the names of law-makers and individuals allegedly involved in the P10-B pork barrel scam involving lawmakers’ allocation of the Priority Development Assistance Fund.

BY BOONRADOM CHITRADON BANGKOK, May 20, 2014

(AFP) – Thailand’s army on Tues-day declared martial law across the crisis-gripped kingdom to restore order following months of anti-government protests that have left 28 people dead and hun-dreds wounded.

An announcement on military-run television said martial law had been invoked “to restore peace and order for people from all sides”, stressing that the move “is not a coup”.

“The public do not need to pan-ic but can still live their lives as normal,” it added.

The dismissal of prime min-ister Yingluck Shinawatra ear-lier this month in a controversial court ruling has sent tensions soaring in the kingdom, which has endured years of political tur-moil.

“Red Shirt” supporters of Yin-gluck and her elder brother Thak-sin Shinawatra, who was deposed as premier in a 2006 coup, have

MANILA, May 19 (Mabuhay) – The trial of 9 of the 11 arrested Chinese poachers off the Hasa-ha-sa Shoal (Half Moon Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea will proceed, despite the refusal of the accused to participate in the proceedings.

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said even the United Na-tions Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) recognizes member-states’ legal processes.

“Tuloy ang kaso. Nandyan na-man sila in custody, they are in detention, they are in custody, and therefore, the appropriate le-gal proceedings need to continue. Nasa mga batas natin yan, that’s also sanctioned in UNCLOS na nirerespeto naman ang judicial proceedings ng member-states pagdating within the EEC (ex-clusive economic zone),” De Lima said.

The Chinese fi shermen were indicted before a Palawan court for violation of section 87 (Poach-ing in Philippine Waters) and section 97 (Fishing or Taking of Rare, Threatened or Endangered Specis) of the Philippine Fisheries

A photo from Philippine National Police Maritime Group showing live sea turtles seized from a Chinese vessel fl ying a Chinese fl ag off the Hasa-hasa Shoal (Half Moon Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea on May 6, 2014. The Philippine government said the trial of 9 of the 11 arrested Chinese poachers off the Hasa-hasa Shoal (Half Moon Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea will proceed, despite the refusal of the accused to participate in the proceedings.

MANILA, May 16, 2014 (AFP) – Several hundred Filipino and Vietnamese protesters united in a march in the Philippine capital on Friday, demanding that China stop oil drilling in disputed South China Sea waters.

Filipino riot police blocked the entrance to a high-rise building that houses the Chinese consul-ate in Manila’s fi nancial district as around 200 protesters marched on the offi ce.

The street action, which re-mained peaceful, came after

deadly riots in Vietnam that Ha-noi said were triggered by China’s deployment of a deep-sea oil rig in a part of the South China Sea.

The protesters, some wearing green cardboard cut-outs of turtle shells, carried placards that read “Vietnam-Philippines join hands to kick off China”, “China Stop Bullying Vietnam and the Phil-ippines” and “We Support Viet-nam”.

The Philippines this week fi led criminal charges against nine

MANILA, May 19 (Mabuhay) – Ignoring the contrarian views taken by industry offi cials, Presi-dent Benigno Aquino III on Mon-day vowed that the Philippines will break the 10-million mark in the number of tourist arrivals by the end of his term in 2016.

“We remain committed to breaching the 10-million mark by the time my term ends in about two years and one month,” Aqui-no said in his speech at the UN World Tourism Organization-ASEAN International Conference

on Tourism and Climate Change in Legazpi, Albay.

He issued the statement despite statements by tourism industry offi cials that the Philippines will have a tough time achieving the 10-million target because of bad roads and unexpected setbacks.

However, Aquino cited the 4.68 million international tourist ar-rivals in 2013, which he said is 10 percent higher than the year ear-lier fi gures despite the calamities that ravaged the country.

MANILA, May 17 (Mabuhay) – Isabela Rep. Rodolfo “Rodito” Albano on Saturday expressed his support to the measure that seeks to provide a single, overall identi-fi cation card for Filipino citizens for easier transaction in both pub-lic and private offi ces.

“It is about time that we have a single, universal, national ID system for every citizen of the Re-public because of the numerous

(MANILA-AFP) – Top Philip-pine conglomerate San Miguel is seeking to build a new inter-national airport for Manila in a project worth $10 billion, the company confi rmed Thursday.

San Miguel, which owns a stake in fl ag carrier Philippine Airlines, told the Philippine Stock Exchange in a disclosure that reports of its bid to build the four-runway hub in Manila Bay were “accurate”.

Ramon Ang, president and chief operating offi cer of both

San Miguel and Philippine Air-lines, raised the proposal during a meeting with Philippine Presi-dent Benigno Aquino this week, presidential spokesman Hermin-io Coloma said.

Airlines are frustrated with heavy congestion and other woes at Manila’s existing internation-al airport, which has been named the worst in the world for two years running by an online travel guide.

The airport was hit by air

Media personalities in ‘pork’ scam list

De Lima denies lawyering for Napoles: ‘I don’t sleep with the enemy’

De Lima: Trial of Chinese poachers to proceed Thai army invokes martial law to quell unrest

Filipinos, Vietnamese unite in anti-China street protest

San Miguel seeks to build $10-B Manila airportAquino keeps focus on 10M tourist arrivals by 2016 despite contrarian views

Isabela solon backs national ID system

See DE LIMA, page 6

See POACHERS, page 6

See 10M TOURIST, page 6 See ISABELA, page 6 See SAN MIGUEL, page 6

See PROTEST, page 6

See MARTIAL LAW, page 6

Visit www.usasianpost.com Wednesday - Tuesday, May 21 - 27, 2014 THE US ASIAN POST2

BEIJING, May 19, 2014 (AFP) – More than 3,500 Chinese citi-zens were evacuated from riot-hit Vietnam by sea on Monday, as Hanoi stifl ed fresh protests over a territorial dispute and foreign investors counted the cost.

Passenger ships Wuzhishan, Tongguling, Zijing 12, and Baishi-ling collected a total of 3,553 Chi-nese nationals and were headed home, China’s offi cial news agen-cy Xinhua reported.

The vessels, each with a capac-ity of about 1,000 people, had left the central Vietnamese port of Vung Ang and were en route to the southern Chinese port city of Haikou, Xinhua added.

Relations between the commu-nist neighbors have plummeted following Beijing’s move earlier this month to send a deep-water drilling rig into contested waters in the South China Sea.

Two Chinese nationals were killed and about 140 injured

when enraged mobs torched or otherwise damaged hundreds of foreign-owned businesses in Viet-nam last week.

More than 3,000 Chinese have already returned home from Viet-nam by sea and air, reports said at the weekend.

Authorities deployed hundreds of security personnel Sunday to quell the violence and more than 300 suspected perpetrators are being prosecuted, Vietnamese of-fi cials said.

There were no reports of any further disturbances in Vietnam on Monday and Hanoi was calm, with authorities scaling back the heavy security presence that had blocked access to the Chinese em-bassy and other key points in the city.

Activist groups have said sev-eral of their members were de-tained as they sought to demon-strate. Their status was unknown Monday.

BEIJING, May 16, 2014 (AFP) – A state-run Chinese newspaper backed the use of “non-peaceful” measures against Vietnam and the Phil-ippines Friday, as it considered the possibility of war in the strategically vital South China Sea.

Vietnam is experiencing its worst anti-China unrest in decades follow-ing Beijing’s deployment of an oil rig to disputed waters, with at least one Chinese worker killed and more than 100 injured.

“The South China Sea disputes should be settled in a peaceful manner, but that doesn’t mean China can’t resort to non-peaceful measures in the face of provocation from Vietnam and the Philippines,” the Global Times newspaper, which often takes a nationalistic tone, wrote in an editorial.

“Many people believe that a forced war would convince some countries of China’s sincerely peaceful intentions,” the paper added.

Beijing claims almost the whole of the South China Sea, including areas close to the coasts of other littoral states, and the Philippines has provoked its fury by seeking United Nations arbitration in the dispute be-tween the two.

China’s foreign ministry has condemned both Manila and Hanoi, and accused Vietnam’s leaders on Thursday of “indulgence and connivance” with anti-China demonstrators for failing to rein in the protests.

Foreign minister Wang Yi denounced the riots in a telephone conver-sation Thursday night with his Vietnamese counterpart, according to the Global Times.

Beijing has also dispatched to Vietnam a working team led by assistant foreign minister Liu Jianchao, according to a diplomatic statement.

At a news conference on Friday, Chinese Commerce Ministry spokes-man Shen Danyang warned that the riots could have repercussions for Vietnam’s business interests. “The incident has led Chinese companies to stop operations and suffer enormous property losses,” Shen said.

The state-run China Daily newspaper weighed in, warning that if the violence continues to escalate, “it will only add to the distrust and enmity between the Vietnamese and Chinese peoples”.

Chinese ships evacuate 3,500 from Vietnam: report

China paper backs ‘non-peaceful’ steps against Vietnam

MANILA, May 20, 2014 (AFP) – A South Korean fi rm has won an $82.9-million contract to upgrade an airport at one of the Philip-pines’ hottest tourist destina-tions, authorities said Tuesday.

The government named Kum-ho Industrial Co. as the success-ful bidder for the Puerto Princ-esa project, in a process that was largely funded by a $71.6-million Korean Export-Import Bank soft loan and was only open to South

Korean companies.Puerto Princesa is the capital

of Palawan island in the country’s southwest, with beautiful rain-forests and beaches that is being marketed as an ecotourism desti-nation.

“The ecotourism showcase that is Puerto Princesa, as well as the rest of Palawan, will soon have a modern, world-class airport which we can be as proud of as the desti-nation itself,” Transportation Sec-

South Korea’s Kumho to upgrade Puerto Princesa airport

Personal Attention. Honest Answers. Real Solutions

THE LAW OFFICES OFPAUL M. ALLEN

STOPSTOPNO WAY OUT?

TOO MANY DEBTS?

We are a federally designated debt relief agency. We help people file for Bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy code. All attorneys are members of the California State Bar and all services are supervised by an attorney. This is a legal advertisement. Nothing contained in this advertisement implies any guarantee, warranty or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter or the result of any legal representation.

Glendale:520 E. Wilson Ave. Ste. 110. Glendale, CA 91206

Cerritos:17215 Studebaker Rd. Ste 380. Cerritos CA 90703

CALL US FOR FREE CONSULTATIONSaturday and evening appointments available.

• Foreclosure • Repossessions • Wage Garnishments • Creditor Harassment • Lawsuits • IRS Levies

• Foreclosure • Repossessions • Wage Garnishments • Creditor Harassment • Lawsuits • IRS Levies

818-334-5445

GOLD REMODELING INC.100% Customer Service Top Quality Work Affordable Prices

We specialize in: Bathrooms, Kitchens and Roofing

Up todiscount on 40%with this admaterials

100% Financingw/ 0% Interest

No Money Down!No payment for 1 Year!

Exterior & Interior Painting Stucco Patio Cover OUR SERVICES:Electrical Work Plumbing & Re-piping Windows Doors Tile Work Driveways Cement Work Air Conditioning & Heating AND SO MUCH MORE...

CALL NOW! 213-908-7235www.goldremodelinginc.com License #955584

retary Joseph Abaya said.Puerto Princesa airport han-

dled 1.335 million passengers last year, way beyond its annual capacity of 350,000 passengers, according to the transport depart-ment.

The upgraded airport will be able to process two million pas-sengers each year.

Kumho and its Korean consor-tium partner, GS Engineering and Construction, must deliver

new passenger and cargo ter-minals and an air navigation system, as well as an apron and connecting taxi-ways, by early 2017.

The Philip-pines is racing to modernize major airports to help it double annual tourist arrivals to 10 million by 2016.

THE US ASIAN POST Wednesday - Tuesday, May 21 - 27, 2014 Visit www.usasianpost.com 3

MANILA, May 19 (Mabuhay) – Senator JV Ejercito on Monday said he is considering suing al-leged pork barrel scam master-mind Janet Lim-Napoles’ camp after her lawyer admitted that the lawmaker was erroneously in-cluded in the so-called “Napolist.”

In a text message, Ejercito said that while he appreciates the ges-ture of Napoles’ lawyer, Bruce Ri-vera, of admitting the error in the controversial businesswoman’s list of alleged conspirators, he is thinking about fi ling charges against their camp for the “dam-age” that “has been done to [his] person.”

“I hope the persons respon-sible correct their mistake. They should be more prudent in releas-ing list without documentary evi-dence,” the senator said.

Over the weekend, Rivera said Ejercito was not supposed to be included in the “Napolist.” The lawyer said the person who encod-ed the list committed a mistake.

Two versions of Napoles’ sup-posed list of conspirators – one

from rehabilitation czar Panfi lo Lacson, and the other, from Jus-tice Secretary Leila de Lima – were submitted to the Senate blue ribbon committee last week.

Lacson earlier claimed he ob-tained his “Napolist” from Na-poles’ relatives, while De Lima’s version of the list was signed by the alleged pork barrel scam mas-termind herself.

Both lists included Ejercito and nine other incumbent senators, as well as two Cabinet members and over 70 past and present members of the House of Representatives.

Another list was given by Na-poles to President Benigno Aqui-no III. De Lima is set to submit Napoles’ sworn statement to the Senate on or before Thursday this week.

Napoles and three incumbent senators – Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., Juan Ponce Enrile and Jing-goy Estrada – are facing plunder charges before the Offi ce of the Ombudsman for allegedly pock-eting kickbacks from the alleged scam. (MNS)

MANILA, May 19 (Mabuhay) – Ousted former Chief Justice Re-nato Corona has formally asked the Sandiganbayan to throw out all his criminal cases, saying the Offi ce of the Ombudsman was bi-ased against him.

“The Ombudsman’s approval of the joint resolution …fi nding probable cause against accused, clearly show the hostility, preju-dice and biased manner by which the purported preliminary inves-tigation was conducted,” he said.

In his 10-page motion, Corona called out Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, saying she has prejudged his guilt, and cannot be trusted to make a fair decision on the cases due to her testimony be-fore the Senate.

He also added that Morales’ “hand-picked” members of the panel of investigators is proof that what happened was not an inves-tigation but rather a case-build up.

Corona called on the Sandigan-

bayan to review his cases, saying an “even-handed evaluation” of the Ombudsman’s cases would show that his right to due process was violated.

In May 2012, the Senate sitting as the impeachment court con-victed Corona for betrayal of pub-

lic trust and culpable violation of the Philippine Constitution, rul-ing that he was guilty of Article II of the impeachment complaint: the chief magistrate did not fully disclose what he owned in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).

In March this year, the Offi ce of the Ombudsman ordered the fi ling of criminal and civil charges against Corona and his wife, Cris-tina Corona, before the Sandigan-bayan after denying their motion for reconsideration on their unex-plained wealth case. Eight counts of perjury were fi led against Co-rona for alleged misdeclaration of assets, especially his bank ac-counts and real estate properties, in his SALNs from 2004 to 2010.

Another eight counts of viola-tion of Republic Act (RA) 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Offi cials and Employees were also fi led against the former chief magistrate. (MNS)

MANILA, May 20 (Mabuhay) – The Philippine Health Insur-ance Corp. on Tuesday called on private hospitals to continue honoring the benefi ts of their pa-tients and warned that not doing so “constitutes a violation of their Performance Commitment.”

Philhealth president and CEO Alexander Padilla assured that, “All our regional offi ces have made a commitment to pay claims of all our providers faster than the 60 days processing time as mandated by law.”

MANILA, May 19 (Mabuhay) – Exactly a week after the process-ing of application started, only 128 of the estimated 10,000 Mar-tial Law victims have so far fi led for compensation.

Noting that the claimants only have until November 10 this year to fi le their applications, Lina Sarmiento, chief of the Human Rights Victims Claims Board (HRVCB), advised the victims against last-minute fi ling.

“We are asking the victims and their families to fi le their ap-plications as early as possible,” Sarmiento said Monday. “Don’t wait for the deadline.”

Sarmiento said failure of the victims to fi le claims during the six-month period, as stipulated in Republic Act 10368, will be con-sidered a waiver.

“We would like to reiterate that all victims of martial law have to apply in person, including those conclusively presumed as human rights violations victims (HRVVs) so that the Claims Board will be able to determine the kind of human rights violations and determine appropriate awards, as provided by RA 10368,” said Sarmiento.

The HRVCB opened its offi ce at the E. Virata Hall in UP Dili-man last Monday for the fi ling of applications for recognition and reparations to the Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board.

Sarmiento said the process has so far been smooth.

“The process of applications went smoothly, without a glitch so far – from the submission of ap-plications, scanning of documents and giving of acknowledgment re-

ceipts,” she said.Aside from those who applica-

tions were received, several oth-ers were asked to complete the necessary documents.

Assistance guaranteed“As much as possible, we do not

want the victims to face diffi cul-ties,” Sarmiento said as she prom-ised assistance to senior citizens and disabled claimants.”

“The Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board and the staff pre-pared very well for the process so that we can be of service to the victims,” she said.

Sarmiento said the applicants had come from as far as the USA, CARAGA, Samar, Batangas, Min-danao, Bicol and many areas of Metro Manila.

To further expedite the fi ling of application, Sarmeinto said they will open offi ces in some provinc-es.

RA 10368 recognized as con-clusively presumed human rights violations victims (HRVVs) the class suit and direct action plain-tiffs of cases fi led in Honolulu and other US courts against the late President Ferdinand Marcos, and those recognized by the Bantayog ng mga Bayani.

MANILA, May 17 (Mabuhay) – Lawmakers are seeking the grant-ing of tax incentives to broadcast and print media that devote time and space for gender equality, human rights, environmental protection, family values, patriotism, transparency and accountability, national peace and unity and other positive advocacies that heighten public awareness and responsiveness.

AKO-Bicol Party-list Reps. Christopher Co and Rodel Batocabe raised the tax incentives proposal through House Bill 4274, noting that broadcast and print media have been proven to be effective avenues of and alternatives to education and knowledge transfer to the popu-lation. They further noted that media serves as a means to reshape behavior especially of the younger members of the population. Co said the importance of media in national development is enshrined in the Constitution under Article II, Section 24, which provides that “The State recognizes the vital role of communication and information in nation-building.” Batocabe said their proposal likewise complements other sections of Art. II namely: Sections 13 (role of youth in nation-building); 14 (role of women in nation-building); 15 (right to health of the people); 16 (right of the people to balanced and healthful ecology); 17 (priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, among others); 22 (rights of indigenous cultural communities); 23 (encourage-ment of non-governmental, community-based sectoral organizations); and 27 (maintaining honesty and integrity in the public service). House Bill 4274, now pending at the House committee on ways and means chaired by Rep. Miro Quimbo (2nd District, Marikina City) provides that all broadcast facilities shall hereby be required to allocate a minimum of three minutes airtime a day, and all print media facilities shall be required to allocate a minimum of fi ve column inch space for write-ups per edition that will raise awareness of the people on matters concern-ing positive values and advocacies.

Corona asks Sandigan to quash all 16 cases, says Ombudsman was ‘biased’

Convicted Chief Justice Renato Corona

Only 128 Martial Law victims fi led for compensation so far – board

Philhealth urges hospitals to continue honoring benefi ts

JV mulls charges vs. Napoles camp over error in ‘Napolist’

Solons want media outlets airing, publishing positive advocacies given tax incentives

LOS ANGELES

Visit www.usasianpost.com Wednesday - Tuesday, May 21 - 27, 2014 THE US ASIAN POST4

MANILA, May 19, 2014 (AFP) – Philippine President Benigno Aqui-no on Monday accused China of violating the “Declaration of Conduct” it signed in 2002, after it allegedly began reclaiming land on a disputed reef in the South China Sea.

Manila last week publicly accused Beijing of large-scale reclamation activity at Johnson South Reef, which is also claimed by the Philip-pines. Filipino offi cials fear this could lead to China building its fi rst airstrip in the disputed region.

“In my view... what they are doing now, this is all seemingly in viola-tion of what we agreed in the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea,” he told reporters.

He stressed that China, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) signed the declaration in 2002 in a bid to ease tensions over the South China Sea, but this agreement was not binding.

Aquino said the statement effectively called on all parties to refrain from building new structures in the disputed area until the confl ict is settled.

China claims almost all of the resource-rich waters, parts of which are also claimed by ASEAN members, the Philippines, Brunei, Malay-sia and Vietnam and non-member Taiwan.

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying would not confi rm Manila’s claim over the Johnson South Reef activity, but as-serted the outcrop was Chinese territory.

Aquino said the problem was that the Declaration was non-binding, adding that the incident showed the need for a binding “Code of Con-duct that would stop these actions that have a potential of causing violence and unrest”.

The dispute over the reef, which the Chinese navy seized from Viet-nam in a deadly 1988 skirmish, is among a tangle of maritime rows in the sea involving the Asian superpower and its smaller and weaker neighbours.

The Philippines had asked a United Nations tribunal in March to declare what Manila said was China’s claim to 70 percent of the sea as illegal.

The Philippines also fi led a separate diplomatic protest against Chi-na’s reclamation works on Johnson South Reef last month, but Beijing also rejected it on grounds the reef is part of Chinese territory.

In another area of the sea, China moved an oil rig into waters claimed by Hanoi, sparking a clash between Chinese and Vietnamese vessels earlier this month.

The dispute has triggered the worst anti-Chinese rioting in Vietnam in decades, targeting Chinese and other foreign-owned factories.

BY STEPHEN COLLINSONWASHINGTON, May 17, 2014 (AFP) – The most

powerful man in the world is getting frustrated he can’t get big things done.

President Barack Obama is speaking with intro-spection about constraints on his power at home and abroad, as mid-term election inertia stifl es Washing-ton and his hopes of major legislative wins this year.

Early skirmishes of the 2016 presidential cam-paign – and the unquenchable media obsession with all things Clinton – are already forcing Obama to share the political stage.

When power ebbs at home, second term presi-dents often fl ex muscle abroad.

But no overseas playground awaits Obama: in Asia, Europe and the Middle East, US dominance is under siege, fueling a Republican narrative that the president fi res blanks and lacks a coherent foreign policy doctrine.

In friendly company, Obama’s frustration is be-ginning to show.

“I’ve got a drawer full of things that we know would create jobs, help our middle class, boost in-comes, make us more competitive,” Obama told wealthy New York Democrats.

“But we have a party on the other side that has been captured by an ideology that says no to any-thing.”

What a yearThe president’s gloom is partly self-infl icted.Obama botched the rollout of his health care law

and saw his approval ratings – and consequent pow-er to persuade in mid-term polls erode.

His administration is now struggling to contain a scandal after 40 military veterans died while wait-ing for treatment at a Phoenix medical facility.

The White House meanwhile blasts endless Re-publican probes into the death of four Americans in the US consulate in Benghazi in 2012 as blatant partisan hackery.

“What a year, huh?” Obama quipped at the White House Correspondent’s gala this month, in a speech packed with the usual zingers but delivered in an unmistakably joyless tone.

Top Obama aides say the president should not be judged on what he gets through a hostile Congress. That’s just as well because he has so far no major legacy-enhancing legislation in his second term.

With two and a half years to go, the president’s sense of his ebbing term is acute.

He warned this week that only a two- or three-month window remained to pass comprehensive im-migration reform before November’s congressional polls. Given Capitol Hill’s record of achievement, that timetable seemed wildly optimistic.

Dreading lame duck status, Obama declared 2014 a “year of action” and is using executive power to fi ght climate change, boost the middle class and re-pair US infrastructure.

While presidential orders can be effective, they pale in comparison to what a like-minded Congress

could do.With Republicans tipped to add Senate control to

their grip on the House of Representatives though, Obama is unlikely to ever again fi nd compliance on Capitol Hill.

But hope still lingers for a bipartisan transpor-tation bill and for legislation reframing National Security Agency surveillance in the post-Edward Snowden era this year.

A Republican Congress could also prove amena-ble to endorsing the Trans Pacifi c Partnership trade deal that is the centerpiece of Obama’s foreign policy pivot to Asia.

And if latest data showing nearly 300,000 jobs were created in April is a harbinger, Obama’s ad-ministration could yet enjoy an economic Indian summer.

Trouble abroadObama also has it tough overseas.Often, his efforts to cool national security crises

have revealed limits of his infl uence rather than his power to shape events.

Warnings to President Bashar al-Assad went un-heard across Syria’s killing grounds and Secretary of State John Kerry’s personal Middle East peace push foundered.

And Obama’s rallying call to Europe to isolate Moscow over its annexation of Crimea is at best a work in progress, while prospects for a nuclear deal with Iran – a potential big win – remain deeply un-certain.

Still, Obama’s chief foreign policy legacy may rest in fulfi lling a mandate voters gave him in 2008 -- get-ting American troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan.

And he still has time to cement the rebalance to Asia, following a successful regional tour in April.

Increasingly, Obama seems to see the contradic-tion of his position.

“I have this remarkable title right now – presi-dent of the United States – and yet every day when I wake up and I think about young girls in Nigeria or children caught up in the confl ict in Syria... there are times I want to reach out and save those kids,” he said recently in California.

“I think ‘drop by drop’ that we can erode and wear down those forces that are so destructive.”

That may be a doctrine of US power forged by frustrating experience.

But it’s minimalist compared to Obama’s 2008 vision as an untested candidate in Berlin that “im-probable hope” could “remake the world once again.”

The narrowed sights have not gone unnoticed.“Instead of shaping world events, he has often

simply reacted to them,” said Republican Senator Marco Rubio – a possible 2016 candidate.

But Obama now sells incrementalism abroad – defi ned by avoiding military quagmires – as a virtue.

“That may not always be sexy. but it avoids er-rors,” he said in Manila last month, using the “disas-trous” war in Iraq as a case study.

BY MICHAEL MATHESWASHINGTON, May 18, 2014 (AFP) - She sounds

increasingly like a presidential contender, but as Hillary Clinton mulls a run, Republicans are taking aim at her record in a bid to smother the momentum building around her prospective campaign.

With critics dragging her into the political fray before she has announced 2016 plans, Team Clinton is pushing back against Republican storylines that she may not be fi t for another grueling White House race, and that she was an ineffectual secretary of state crafting her own political future instead of ad-vancing US interests.

Hillary, hawking a new memoir, insisted she adeptly handled an “endless set of tough calls” as the top US diplomat, prodding Iran into nuclear talks and nudging the Mideast peace process forward.

Republicans see it differently.“History will judge” her record, Senator Bob Cork-

er, top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told AFP.

Below are issues that could be Clinton’s Achilles’ heels, and the defense she is building against them.

HealthClinton would be 69 should she win in 2016,

younger only than president Ronald Reagan when he fi rst took offi ce.

Republicans tiptoed around the subject – until strategist Karl Rove attacked Clinton’s health head on last week, suggesting she suffered traumatic brain injury from a 2012 fall.

Her husband, former president Bill Clinton, in-sisted she works out regularly and is in “better shape” than him. And while he said there was noth-ing to Rove’s charge, the ex-president acknowledged a candidate’s health is fair game in national cam-paigns.

BenghaziThe terrorist attack in Libya that killed four

Americans on September 11, 2012 occurred on Clin-ton’s watch.

While she has deemed it her darkest hour and taken responsibility, Republicans latched on like pit bulls, stressing that President Barack Obama’s ad-ministration bungled consular security and misled Americans about what triggered the attack.

“What difference does it make?” Clinton told law-makers when pressed about whether the assault was planned or spontaneous.

Vowing to get to the “truth,” the GOP set up a select committee on Benghazi, expecting Clinton to be the chief witness.

“Should we as a country have a commander-in-chief who didn’t provide adequate security in Libya, didn’t send reinforcements and then gave us nothing

but spin?” asked Senator Rand Paul, himself a likely 2016 contender.

Clinton devoted an entire chapter to the tragedy in her forthcoming book, and her husband insisted “Hillary did what she should have done” on Beng-hazi.

DiplomacyClinton said Wednesday she “worked, cajoled and

implored” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netan-yahu and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas into face-to-face negotiations over a two-state solution.

Republicans counter that the Middle East peace process collapsed, Syria is plagued by civil war and Egypt seethes with unrest.

And poignant criticism came from the Democratic camp, with former president Jimmy Carter saying Clinton “took very little action to bring about peace.”

On Iran, Clinton boasts co-authoring Obama’s strategy of threatening tough economic sanctions while urging negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear pro-gram, culminating in a November preliminary ac-cord.

In 2009 Clinton declared a “reset” with Moscow, but President Vladimir Putin snubbed his nose at Washington and annexed parts of Ukraine.

Republican Senator Marco Rubio, another pos-sible presidential candidate, gave Clinton an “F” on foreign policy, saying her diplomacy “has failed ev-erywhere in the world.”

Boko HaramThe kidnapping of more than 200 Nigerian school-

girls by Islamist extremists Boko Haram is Clinton’s newest political headache.

While she stands with nations worldwide in ef-forts to “bring back our girls,” Republicans point to her failure to brand the group a foreign terrorist or-ganization, leaving it to successor John Kerry.

“Had she done so, it would have made it easier to go after them years ago and could have perhaps prevented them from carrying out despicable acts,” Republican National Committee co-chair Sharon Day said Friday.

Clinton would be the presumptive Democratic frontrunner, but with president George W. Bush’s brother Jeb considering a campaign, the prospect of another Bush-Clinton matchup is stomach-churning for many.

Hillary’s candidacy could also dredge up an un-savory scandal from her days as fi rst lady: Bill Clin-ton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky, who recently broke her silence with a tell-all account in Vanity Fair.

But Clinton pointed to her husband’s successes, saying the 1990s enjoyed “a balanced budget that resulted in surpluses as far as the eye could see.”

BY ROB LEVERWASHINGTON, May 16, 2014 (AFP) – The fi ring of top New York

Times editor Jill Abramson has sparked debate on the role of women in media and about equal pay in the industry.

The storied US media group has said Abramson, abruptly dismissed earlier this week, was not paid less than her male counterparts, al-though some reports dispute this.

Still, the incident prompted renewed concerns about gender dis-crimination and leadership roles for women in the industry.

“The fury of women journalists who identify with Abramson stems from what we know: that excellent performances are not enough,” said Emily Bell, director of the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Co-lumbia University, in a column in The Guardian.

“Women must be completely different from the men they replace (or who replace them), apparently – they must adapt to the power they are briefl y allowed to hold without transgressing the gender roles they aren’t allowed to escape.”

Some said the unceremonious axing of Abramson set back the cause for women, just three years after she ascended to arguably the most prestigious job in American journalism.

“Abramson’s presence allowed a new generation of women at the Times to begin to see a possible future in leadership at the paper, but it also helped disrupt the paper’s masculine approach to news coverage,” writes Amanda Hess for Slate.com

A report released last month by the Women’s Media Center, a group founded in 2005 by Jane Fonda and activist Gloria Steinem, suggests that progress has stalled for women in the news media.

Lack of newsroom progress? -The report said that the percentage of women newsroom staff last

year was 36 percent “a fi gure largely unchanged since 1999.”The report said snapshot in 2013 of articles appearing on The New

York Times’ front page showed that men were quoted 3.4 times more often than women, though the rate was not as high when women wrote the story.

A separate Indiana University study found the median income for women employed at newspapers in 2012 was about $5,000 less than for men. And Pew research Center analysts painted a similar picture.

“Our data analysis fi nds that overall there has been little signifi cant change in the share of women newsroom employees and news manag-ers in recent years,” said Monica Anderson of the Pew Research Center Journalism Project.

Anderson said in a blog post that “virtually the same proportion of women (35 percent) worked in supervisory positions in newspapers in 2012, a number that has also barely changed since 1998.”

A report by New Yorker journalist Ken Auletta said Abramson’s starting salary in 2011 as executive editor was $475,000, compared to $559,000 for her predecessor Bill Keller.

Aquino: China violates ‘Declaration of Conduct’

NY Times axing sparks debate on women in media

Obama frustrated he can’t get big things done

As Clinton touts record, critics dig for Achilles heel 

Vice President for OperationsAlan Michael

Automotive Advertising ManagerLiza Rafallo

Of ce Manager/Classi ed AdvertisingLyn Mendoza

PhotographerPhillip Ner

Executive EditorRhony Laigo

Advertising CoordinatorMyra Portez

Circulation ManagerRonnie Villo

OPINION

g

THE US ASIAN POST Wednesday - Tuesday, May 21 - 27, 2014 Visit www.usasianpost.com 5

Older AAPIs are more likely to be married, live in three-gener-ation households, and be un-der more fi nancial strain than the general U.S. population

Month, AARP is presenting ten important facts about Asian Americans and Pacifi c Islanders (AAPIs) age 50 and older, an un-derstudied population that has unique needs and challenges.

“There is a gap in our knowl-edge about older AAPIs,” said Daphne Kwok, AARP Vice Presi-dent of Multicultural Markets and Engagement for the Asian Ameri-can and Pacifi c Islander Audience. “The demand for disaggregated data about AAPI sub-groups is critical in identifying the needs of AAPIs so that organizations like AARP, other community-based non-profi ts, and policymakers can address the concerns of a booming segment of our community.”

Compared to the general U.S. population, older AAPIs are more likely to be married and live in three-generation households. AAPIs age 65+ are also likely to be under more fi nancial strain than other Americans. One out of seven older AAPIs live in poverty and are on food stamps compared to one out of eleven in the general population.

Research shows that older AA-PIs are at a high risk of being socially isolated. The majority of AAPIs 50+ are foreign-born and may have limited English profi -ciency. Almost one in four older AAPIs are linguistically isolated and don’t live with someone who can speak English well. Those who are alone most of the time are at risk for accidents, illness, and overall poor health.

Data also shows that older AA-

PIs are also more likely to travel internationally and be more envi-ronmentally conscious than other Americans in the same age group.

Top 10 facts about AAPIs age 50 and older:

1) The majority (87%) of older AAPIs were born outside of the U.S., but most have become natu-ralized citizens (64%).

2) More than eight in ten (86%) older AAPIs speak a non-English language at home. Almost a quar-ter (24%) of older AAPIs are lin-guistically isolated and live in a household where no person over the age 14 speaks English very well.

3) Compared to other older Americans (60%), older AAPIs are more likely to be married (70%) and tend to live in three-gener-ation households (17% of AAPIs age 50+ vs. 7% of total U.S. popu-lation age 50+ and 25% of AAPIs age 65+ vs 6% total U.S. popula-tion age 65+). The high marriage rate may be due to the fact that Filipinos, the second largest Asian group in the U.S., come from the only country in the world where divorce is illegal.

4) AAPIs age 65 and older are at more risk for economic insecu-rity in their later years compared to those in the total U.S. popula-tion of the same age:

• 14% are on food stamps vs. 9%

• 13% live in poverty vs. 9%• 68% receive social security

income vs. 86%•22% have retirement income

from pensions and various retire-ment plans vs. 37%

5) AAPIs age 65 and older are more likely to be concerned about housing costs compared to the to-tal U.S. population of the same age:

• 29% own their home free and clear vs. 48%

• 42% own their home with a mortgage vs. 31%

• 24% rent their home vs. 16% 6) Twenty percent of AAPIs

age 50-64 have no health insur-ance, compared to 15% of the total U.S. population. Older AAPIs are almost twice as likely than older Americans to get their insurance from a health maintenance orga-nization (27% vs. 15%).

7) Older AAPIs are more likely to access the Internet than other older Americans (75% in the past 30 days vs. 67%).

8) Older AAPIs visited Face-book at about the same rate as other older Americans in the past 30 days (39% vs. 38%), but are more likely to visit LinkedIn (13% vs. 8%) and three times more like-ly to visit Yelp (9 % vs. 3%).

9) Older AAPIs are more en-vironmentally responsible com-pared to the other older Ameri-cans:

• 82% recycle glass, plastic, or paper vs. 69%

• 46% recycle electronics like batteries, cell phones, and com-puters vs. 37%

• 33% drive less or use alterna-tive transportation vs. 28%

• 50% use cloth or other reus-able shopping bags vs. 41%

• 52% use less water at home vs. 41%

• 24% buy organic food vs. 15% 10) Older AAPIs travel inter-

nationally frequently. More than half (53%) took a foreign trip in the past three years vs. 32% of other older Americans. AAPIs’ most likely travel destinations for the past three years were Asia and Europe (both 16%). Canada and Mexico are the third and fourth most likely destinations (13% and 10%).

The AARP Research Center analyzed data from the 2012 American Community Survey

LOS ANGELES, May 20, 2014 (AFP) – One of California’s worst droughts in decades could cost the US state’s farmers $1.7 bil-lion, a study warned Monday, a week after alarmingly early wild-fi res forced tens of thousands of homeowners to evacuate.

The drought could leave 14,500 workers without jobs in Califor-nia’s Central Valley, known as America’s food basket for provid-ing vast supplies of fruit, vegeta-bles and meat.

The new study, by the Univer-sity of California’s Davis Center for Watershed Sciences, found that farmers in the Central Val-ley would get only two-thirds of their normal river water this year.

Some six percent of irrigated cropland will have to lie fallow, while groundwater pumping will cost $450 million, more than a quarter of the estimated $1.7 billion the drought will cost the farming industry.

“Without access to groundwa-ter, this year’s drought would be truly devastating to farms and cities throughout California,” said Jay Lund, director of the Center for Watershed Sciences.

The Central Valley, which runs for about 450 miles (700 kilome-ters) south to north, is the “rich-est food-producing region in the world,” it said. Much of America’s fresh fruits, nuts and vegetables are grown on its seven million acres of irrigated farmland.

PUMS and a 2013 Scarborough USA English-language survey of more than 1,800 Asian Americans age 18 and older.

For more information about how AARP helps Asian American & Pacifi c Islander families get more out of life, visit www.AARP.org/AAPI, www.facebook.com/AARPAAPICommunity andwww.twitter.com/AARPAAPI.

About AARPAARP is a nonprofi t, nonpar-

tisan organization, with a mem-bership of more than 37 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fi ghts for the issues that matter most to families such as health-care, employment and income security, retirement planning, af-fordable utilities and protection from fi nancial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help

our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services. A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and edu-cational information, AARP pro-duces AARP The Magazine, the world’s largest circulation maga-zine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanish-language website ad-dressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not en-dorse candidates for public offi ce or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. AARP Foundation is an affi liated char-ity of AARP that is working to win back opportunity for strug-gling Americans 50+ by being a force for change on the most seri-ous issues they face today: hous-ing, hunger, income and isolation. AARP has staffed offi ces in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org.

10 Facts about Asian Americans and Pacifi c Islanders 50+

California drought ‘to cost farmers $1.7 billion’ 

LOS ANGELES

Visit www.usasianpost.com Wednesday - Tuesday, May 21 - 27, 2014 THE US ASIAN POST6MEDIAFrom page 1

10M TOURISTFrom page 1

ISABELAFrom page 1

MARTIAL LAWFrom page 1

DE LIMAFrom page 1

POACHERSFrom page 1

Ms. Janet Liim-Napoles, or anyone from JLN Corp,” she said in a sepa-rate statement.

“For the record, the Philippine Daily Inquirer should be aware that, in the period of 2004-2008… I was no longer part of [Probe Team],” she added. Based on the newspaper report, Luy supposedly paid out “representation expense for Luchi Cruz of Probe Team charge from COA (Commission on Audit) reports on NGOs (sic).” “I denounce the reckless inclusion of my name in a list that has no legal legs to stand on,” Valdez said.

Meanwhile, Sanchez released a statement to Inquirer. She said, “I only met Ms Janet Napoles and her family in late 2013 after hav-ing been assigned to interview the Napoles Family after the news had broken out about the alleged PDAF scam. I had never met Ms Napoles

President Benigno Aquino III, one given to De Lima, and another one handed to former Senator Panfi lo Lacson by Napoles’ husband Jaime.

On Friday, Escudero said it is not De Lima’s job to validate Napoles’ claims.

“Ang magandang tanong siguro kay Sec. De Lima: May deal na ba sila? Why is she acting (like) a law-yer and going to the vetting the affi -davit, drafting the affi davit, typing the affi davit?” the senator said.

De Lima is allowing herself to be used by Napoles’ camp, Escudero added.

Napoles is facing plunder charg-es before the Offi ce of the Ombuds-man for allegedly orchestrating the pork barrel scam.

The Ombudsman has also recom-mended plunder charges against Senators Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile for allegedly pocketing pub-lic funds from the supposed Napoles scam.

Napoles submitted an initial af-fi davit and list of people involved in the scam as part of her applica-tion to be considered state witness. (MNS)

Code of 1998.Two of the fi shermen are minors.

The cases against them have been dismissed and the Department of Justice (DOJ) recommended their repatriation.

The 9 who stand trial have re-fused the services of a public lawyer

The President noted that in 2011, the industry was able to beat its 2016 target of 35.5 mil-lion domestic tourists by two million. “We met our target for 2016 fi ve years ahead of sched-ule. This pushed us to set our sights higher,” he said.

Now, his administration is working on reaching the new target of 56.1 million domestic tourists by 2016, the President said.

“We will remain in active pur-

suit of this target as well,” he said.

Aquino said his administra-tion is bent on improving the tourism sector, because it is “cer-tainly one of the best sectors to focus on and one of the shortest and most effi cient paths to inclu-sive growth.”

He cited the situation of Don-sol in Sorsogon. The President claimed Donsol was elevated to a fi rst class municipality from sixth on account of tourism.

“Largely due to the economic and social benefi ts of the proj-ect, as well as the participation of the local community, Donsol went from a sixth class munici-pality to a fi rst class municipal-ity in less than fi ve years,” he said.

A sixth class municipality earns less than P15 million an-nually compared with a fi rst class municipality with an an-nual average income of P55 mil-lion, he added. (MNS)

benefi ts that it provides, espe-cially in business transactions, and so many other requirements that a citizen has to possess in his lifetime,” Albano said on the revival of a measure that seeks to institutionalize a national ID system intended “to cut red tape and increase productivity among Filipinos.”

Albano said there is so much waste and expense because of the absence of a national ID sys-tem.

“This has resulted in a citizen having to secure so many IDs just to transact or perform any transaction or meet any require-ment in the public or private sec-tors,” Albano said.

“From a barangay ID to a Comelec ID; an SSS or a GSIS ID, a PhilHealth card, a TIN card, and a driver’s license – if one drives a vehicle; and so

many other IDs are required of any citizen. If only for reasons of expediency, practicality and effi ciency in any undertaking of a Filipino citizen, this national ID system must be turned into a reality as soon as possible,” Al-bano, member for Minority Bloc of the House Committee on Pub-lic Order and Safety added.

He said he believes that insti-tutionalizing a national identifi -cation system will cut red tape and increase productivity among Filipinos.

Albay Rep. Al Francis Bicha-ra, author of House Bill 11, said the idea of a national identifi ca-tion system has been proposed time and again in Congress due to the benefi ts that a unifi ed in-formation system would bring to the country and its citizens.

Bichara said the Filipino ID will serve as the offi cial iden-

tifi cation of a Filipino citizen whether residing in the Philip-pines or abroad, and can be used in both public and private trans-actions.

The congressman also admit-ted that his proposal will meet possible opposition especially by human rights groups and other similar organizations fearing that this might be used by the State to violate the rights of in-dividuals.

But Bichara said his measure ensures that any information under the system will not be made available to third parties or entities but only under cer-tain exceptional circumstances.

The bill also provides that any information given in the system shall be considered as privileged and cannot be used as evidence against the holder in any crimi-nal proceedings. (MNS)

warned of the threat of civil war if power is handed to an unelect-ed leader, as demanded by the opposition.

The country’s embattled gov-ernment was not consulted in advance about the imposition of martial law, said Paradorn Pattanatabut, chief security ad-viser to Prime Minister Niwat-tumrong Boonsongpaisan.

“The caretaker government still exists with Niwattumrong as caretaker prime minister. Everything is normal except the military is responsible for all na-tional security issues,” he said.

Anti-government demonstra-tors have vowed a “fi nal battle” in the coming days to topple the prime minister.

Protest leaders now occupy a wing of the government head-quarters, holding press confer-ences in an attempt to show the government lacks the authority to rule.

Troops report for duty In a nationally televised

statement, army chief General Prayut Chan-O-Cha announced that the government security agency overseeing the handling of the protests had been sus-pended.

“All army, air force and navy

personnel should return to their respective units for duty,” he added.

Under Thailand’s constitu-tion, the military has the right to declare martial law—which gives the military control of na-tionwide security – if urgently needed.

The move risks angering sup-porters of the government if it is seen as tantamount to a coup.

But the movement gave a cautious initial reaction to the news, saying that it would wait to listen to a full announcement by the army chief.

“With the declaration of mar-tial law the government still ex-ists and the constitutional laws still exist so basically it is not against our anti-coup stance,” senior Red Shirts leader Nat-tawut Saikuar told AFP.

Thailand’s army previously declared martial law in Septem-ber 2006 following the bloodless military coup that ousted Thak-sin Shinawatra.

The kingdom has suffered years of political turmoil since his overthrow, which angered supporters of the billionaire ty-coon-turned-populist politician.

Political deadlock Thailand’s military has

staged 18 successful or attempt-ed coups since 1932 but govern-ment supporters have warned that they will not accept anoth-er move by the generals to seize outright power.

Southeast Asia’s second big-gest economy has been without a fully functioning government since December, disrupting gov-ernment spending, spooking investors and deterring foreign tourists.

The economy shrank 0.6 per-cent year-on-year in the fi rst quarter of this year, offi cial data showed Monday—the fi rst such contraction since 2011.

Anti-government protesters refuse to participate in elections without political reforms fi rst, and say Yingluck’s Puea Thai party administration lacks the legitimacy to govern.

They are calling on the upper house of parliament, the Sen-ate, to invoke a vaguely worded clause in the constitution to re-move the caretaker prime min-ister.

The Election Commission said last week that a general election scheduled for July 20 was “no longer possible” as polls could not be held without the support of the protesters.

PROTESTFrom page 1

SAN MIGUELFrom page 1

Chinese crew members of a fi shing boat seized by Filipino police in the disputed waters for col-lecting hundreds of pro-tected giant sea turtles.

The protesters also chanted “Paracels Viet-nam”, referring to the South China Sea island chain where the Chinese oil rig is deployed.

Filipino politicians joined members of Ma-nila’s Vietnamese com-munity at the demon-stration.

conditioning failures in sweltering weather last month, just as mil-lions of Filipinos began travelling for the Eas-ter holidays— - forcing Aquino to make a public apology.

Ang made a “brief mention” of the proposal during his meeting with Aquino on Wednesday, Coloma said.

San Miguel would build and operate the new airport on a near-800-hectare (2,000-acre) patch of reclaimed land that it already owns in Manila Bay.

Ang has spoken previ-ously about his ambition to build a new airport to ease congestion at the current facility.

nor had any associations with her, her family, her employees or associ-ates before then, nor after my inter-view with her and her family.

I am astounded to learn that I was supposed to have received a birthday gift from her one-time 10 years ago in 2004. This never hap-pened. I did not receive any such gift, in cash or kind, from Ms. Na-poles or her company nor through emissaries then and up to now.

I am dismayed that an unsub-stantiated lie such as this should be given as much attention. Because how do you prove a negative?

I know a Mon Arroyo who is an ex husband of a high school class-mate but I have not seen nor spoken nor heard of this person since he and my friend separated more than 10 years ago.

But since his name is mentioned I have asked my friend to obtain from her long estranged husband a statement regarding his alleged in-volvement in this matter.”

designated by the DOJ to represent them during the court of the inquest proceedings.

They refuse to participate in the proceedings, insisting they were fi sh-ing in Chinese waters.

The Philippines has raised its ter-ritorial dispute with China over the disputed waters before the Interna-tional Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).(MNS)

LOS ANGELES

THE US ASIAN POST Wednesday - Tuesday, May 21 - 27, 2014 Visit www.usasianpost.com 7

(Relaxnews) – Asian-American “tiger mothers” may be better at motivating their children to com-plete diffi cult tasks, but children raised in the US by European-American mothers could be de-scribed as more independent.

Those are some of the fi nd-ings of a new study that builds on the conversation started in 2011 when self-proclaimed tiger mom Amy Chua penned a controversial parenting memoir, “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother,” which was criticized for typecasting Asian mothers as unforgivingly strict and demanding.

For their study, published in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, researchers from Stanford University asked high school students to describe their relationships with their mothers and challenged them to a series of tasks that were designed

to make the students fail. The ob-jective was to test the kids’ levels of motivation and perseverance.

When instructed to think about their mothers, students of Asian-American moms were observed to be more moti-vated to complete a task despite expe-riencing failure, compared to students born to Western or European-Amer-ican moms. In fact, these students performed better when prompted to think about themselves during the exercises.

The fundamental difference: Children of Asian-American kids draw on their connectedness to their mothers to overcome diffi -culties, while children of Western moms view themselves as inde-pendent.

“In European American con-texts, overcoming failure is a per-sonal project not a group project,” researchers said.

Another notable fi nding: While

children of Western moms con-sidered the pressure they get from their mothers as negative, interestingly, students of Asian-American moms said they still feel supported by their mothers regardless of the pressure they experienced.

Researchers also say their fi ndings extend beyond the home, as kids from Asian-American mothers are more likely to ob-serve hierarchy and respect the authority of a teacher than Euro-pean-American students.

It’s the latest study to come from the “tiger mom” contro-versy. Findings out of Michigan State University found that high-achieving Chinese students were more depressed and anxious than their white peers. The 2012 study emphasized the importance of rearing happy children more than academic scholars.

A new study looks at the parenting differences between Asian-American ‘tiger moms’ and Western or European-American moms. ©shutterstock/mamahoohooba/shutter-stock.com

How children of ‘tiger moms’ and European-American moms diff er

(Relaxnews) – Over one third of new handsets shipped over the last three months featured a dis-play of 5 inches or more – that’s a 369 percent jump in terms of de-mand based on the same period in 2013.

As well as absolute numbers – an incredible 279.4 million hand-sets shipped over the fi rst quarter of 2014 -- the latest report form re-search and analyst fi rm Canalys also breaks down the shipments by screen size. And if, as the com-pany claims, the demand for big-ger screens is rocketing, Apple will soon be at a serious disadvan-tage compared to many of its pre-mium Android rivals.

Although the majority of hand-sets (66%) that left manufacturers had a screen size below 5 inches, 22 percent had a 5- to 5.4-inch dis-play and 10 percent a 5.5- to 5.9-inch display, and the fi nal 2 per-

cent was made up by handsets that are closer to tablets than phones, with screens measuring 6 inches or more from corner to corner. Nevertheless, combined, these big phones represent over one-third of total shipments and 43 percent of shipments to the Asia Pacifi c region.

“Consumers now expect high-end devices to have large displays, and Apple’s absence in this mar-ket will clearly not last long,” said Canalys Analyst Jessica Kwee. She points out that currently the world leader in this segment is Samsung. Its phones made up 44 percent of all devices with a 5-inch or greater screen shipped over the period and 53 percent of all phones with a display of 5.5 inches or more.

“But many other vendors, such as Lenovo, Huawei, LG and Sony, have also achieved signifi cant vol-

umes in this space with products at the top end of their portfolios,” Kwee says.

She also notes that nearly half (47%) of premium phones – i.e., those with a price tag of $500 or more when sold without a con-tract – had a display measuring 5 inches or more.

“Of the remaining 53% of high-end smart phones, 87% were iPhones. Apple plainly needs a larger-screen smart phone to remain competitive, and it will look to address this in the coming months,” says Kwee.

(Relaxnews) – UHD TV may still be a novelty and an expensive one at that – most TVs cost upwards of $5000 – but uptake is growing and at a faster rate than the technol-ogy it’s looking to replace, the fl at screen HD TV set.

In 2012, just 72,000 UHD TVs shipped globally, but just one year later that number jumped to 1.7 million. And while the majority of TVs were snapped up by Chinese consumers – over 80 percent of all sets shipped were shipped to or within China – the US will soon overtake China for demand and, by 2020, Europeans will be snap-ping up the sets in large numbers too.According to the Strategy Ana-lytics report, “Ultra High-Defi ni-tion TV Displays: Global Market Forecast 2012-2020”, by 2020, 41 percent of all fl at panel TV ship-ments will be UHD variety. By the end of the decade, 32 percent of US homes will have a UHD TV, as will 22 percent of Western Euro-pean homes – i.e., the UK, France,

Germany, Italy and Spain – while penetration in the Asia Pacifi c re-gion will have passed 18 percent.

A number of other studies, sur-veys and reports into the market in recent months have highlighted that interest in the televisions is gaining quickly but that at the moment, in Europe in particular, consumers are wary of the cost of upgrading. While Sony may offer a very good entry-level model for ‘just’ $5000, most TV sets boasting the technology from the world’s leading brands – Samsung, LG, Panasonic and Sony – run into the tens of thousands and beyond.

And while one or two budget brands have announced sub-$1000 UHD TV sets for 2014, the consen-sus seems to be that until one of the trusted TV brands offers an entry-level model, consumers will remain wary. Strategy Analytics’ report predicts that this price drop is imminent and the sub-$2000 branded UHD TV will be a reality before the end of 2014.

Demand for bigger smartphone screens is growing

One third of US homes will be watching in ultra-high defi nition by 2020

The companies made it clear that the detente does not include licensing their technology to each other. ©LDprod/shut-terstock.com

LOS ANGELES

Visit www.usasianpost.com Wednesday - Tuesday, May 21 - 27, 2014 THE US ASIAN POST8

developing osteoarthritis of the knee.A chronic degenerative condition,

osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. Seen most frequently in women over age 50, osteoarthritis causes sustained pain and swelling of the joints due to abnormal deteriora-tion of cartilage and bone. In the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 27 million people suf-fer from osteoarthritis, and the knee is among the joints most commonly af-fected. Risk factors for osteoarthritis

include advanced age, obesity, prior in-jury or repetitive use from some types of sports.

Dr. Bing Lu, together with a team of researchers at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, sought to investi-gate a possible link between dairy in-take and the progression of the disease.

The study looked at a sample pop-ulation of 888 men and 1,260 women (3,064 knees in total), all between the ages of 45 and 79. Each volunteer re-ported how often he or she consumed

milk, yogurt and cheese, and the re-searchers measured joint space width (JSW) between the femur and the tibia in the knee. The participants returned for a follow-up every 12 months over a four-year period.

“Our fi ndings indicate that women who frequently drink milk may reduce the progression of OA,” said Dr. Bing Lu.

Interestingly, the study did not indi-cate similar benefi ts from eating cheese or yogurt.

(WASHINGTON-AFP) – Ever won-dered why cultures can be so differ-ent, with Westerners more focused on the individual than people in the East?

Psychologists said Thursday that the divide may come down to which crops are historically farmed in different regions.

This “rice theory,” described in the journal Science, holds that peo-ple who traditionally grow paddy rice become more collective and holistic over time because of the in-tense labor involved and the need for cooperation among neighbors.

In contrast, those who live in re-gions that grow wheat think more independently and analytically, in large part because the crop re-quires half the labor and not near-ly the same need for cooperation as rice, researchers argued.

“We propose that the rice theory can partly explain East-West dif-ferences,” said the study led by Thomas Talhelm, a University of Virginia doctoral student in cul-tural psychology.

“You do not need to farm rice yourself to inherit rice culture,” he added.

Since a host of differences exist between cultures across the world

and could be linked to religion, politics, climate or technology, re-searchers decided to narrow their focus to China, where the Yangtze River roughly divides the wheat-growing north from the rice-grow-ing south.

Researchers tested 1,162 Han Chinese – China’s majority – stu-dents from six different loca-tions using measures of cultural thought, implicit individualism and loyalty or nepotism.

Some tasks involved picking two related objects from a basic dia-gram of a person’s social circle; and dealing with friends versus strang-ers in a business transaction.

They found that people in rice-growing regions tended to choose more abstract pairings, while peo-ple from wheat cultures tended to pick more analytical pairs.

People from rice-growing re-gions tended to draw themselves smaller than wheat-region people when constructing diagrams of social networks, suggesting wheat people saw themselves as more im-portant than others.

Those from rice provinces were also more likely to reward their friends and less likely to punish them, showing how the ties within

the group prevailed in social and business interactions.

“It’s easy to think of China as a single culture, but we found that China has very distinct northern and southern psychological cul-tures and that southern China’s history of rice farming can explain why people in southern China are more interdependent than people in the wheat-growing north,” said Talhelm.

He said he fi rst noticed differ-ences in outlook and attitude while studying in China for several years from 2007.

Co-authors on the study came from Beijing Normal University, South China Normal University, and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

The study also found evidence that more successful patents for inventions came from areas where less rice was grown, signaling a po-tential link between wheat grow-ing and innovation.

“This doesn’t nail it, but is con-sistent with the broader idea and will no doubt drive much future inquiry,” said an accompanying Perspective article in Science by Joseph Heinrich of the University of British Columbia.

Drinking milk could prevent arthritis in women(Relaxnews) – Drinking low-fat or

skim milk could slow the progression of knee arthritis, according to a recent study published in Arthritis Care & Research, the journal of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).

While cow milk certainly has its de-tractors, its role in promoting healthy bone structure has long been estab-lished. This latest study provides addi-tional evidence in favor of the bever-age, particularly for women at risk of

Rice or wheat? How grains defi ne cultural identity

LOS ANGELES

THE US ASIAN POST Wednesday - Tuesday, May 21 - 27, 2014 Visit www.usasianpost.com 9

(Relaxnews) – Young Americans are taking more and more care when it comes to healthy aging, a new study has revealed.

Millennials between 18 and 36 years old are increasingly driv-ing sales in health care categories, such as supplements, vitamins and preventive care, according to re-cent research from Nielsen and the Natural Marketing Institute (NMI).Three-quarters of all American adults over 18 years old say they are taking more personal responsibility for their health

today compared to 10 years ago, so as not to have to rely on others later in life.Consumers of all ages are highly con-cerned with the integrity of their cog-nitive functioning, as emerging science shows that losing your mental facul-ties is not necessarily an inevitable consequence of age but could also de-pend on diet, daily activities, fi nancial stress, social isolation and even anxiety. Financial health is also important to all ages, and consumers who are on track with their fi nancial plans for retirement are more likely to

rate their physical health as very good to excellent, the report states. However, Millennials are much more open to the idea of alternative medi-cine, with younger Millennials 40 percent more likely to use them than the general population, and older Millennials 32 percent more likely. Millennials of all ages are more likely to use acupuncture, herbal remedies and massage therapy and less likely to use prescription drugs, compared with older generations, to maintain their health as they age.

Young Americans are taking a healthier approach than ever towards aging

(Relaxnews) – Pregnant women in their third trimester may want to make an effort to hit the sack earlier after a new study found that poor-quality sleep in the last stretch of pregnancy might lead to adult obesity in their offspring.

That’s the conclusion of research from the University of Chicago, where scientists interrupted sleep patterns in pregnant mice and followed the health of their offspring.

During the third trimester of their pregnancy, scientists sent a motorized brush through their cages, forcing the animals to wake up briefl y, step over the brush and try to resume their sleep.

Another batch of pregnant mice were allowed to sleep uninterrupted in another cage.

Though newborns from both groups weighed roughly the same, research-ers noted that their weight and health outcomes differed signifi cantly as they grew into adults.

Male mice born to sleep-disturbed mothers weighed 10 percent more than their counterparts – the equivalent of 15 extra lbs (7 kg) in a human adult.

A few of the animals became mor-bidly obese and died earlier as well. Researchers focused on male mice because their hormone levels are less complex and easier to track.

Overall, babies born after fragment-ed sleep also scored poorly on glucose tolerance tests and developed dispro-portionately high amounts of visceral white fat or “bad fat,” as well as elevat-

ed levels of “bad cholesterol.”The fi ndings were published recent-

ly in the journal Diabetes.The results of the study may come

as poor comfort to women in their third trimester who have to deal with pro-truding bellies and kicking babies.

But the National Sleep Foundation in the US offers a few tips on how to prepare for a good night’s sleep. Here’s a selection:

• Sleep on your left side to allow for the best blood fl ow to the fetus and to your uterus and kidneys. Avoid lying fl at on your back for a long period of time.

• Drink fl uids during the day, but cut down before bedtime.

• Exercise regularly to help you stay healthy, improve your circulation, and reduce leg cramps.

• Try frequent bland snacks (like crackers) throughout the day. This helps avoid nausea by keeping your stomach full.

• Special “pregnancy” pillows and mattresses may help you sleep better. Or use regular pillows to support your body.

• Napping may help. An NSF poll found that 51 percent of pregnant or recently pregnant women reported at least one weekday nap.

• Learn to relax with relaxation and breathing techniques, which can also help when the contractions begin. A warm bath or shower before bed can be helpful.

The results of a new study on pregnant women underscore the importance of getting a good night’s sleep, particularly in the third trimester. © Pressmaster/shutterstock.com

How a good night’s sleep in pregnancy can do your unborn child favor

(PARIS-AFP) − People who use mobile phones intensively appear to have a higher risk of developing certain types of brain cancer, French scientists said on Tuesday, reviving questions about phone safety.

Individuals who used their cellphone for more than 15 hours each month over fi ve years on av-erage had between two and three times greater risk of developing glioma and meningioma tumors

compared with people whose used their phone rarely, they found.

The study, appearing in the latest issue of British journal Occupational and Environmen-tal Medicine, is the latest foray in a long-running exploration of mobile-phone safety.

Over the last 15 years, most investigations have failed to turn up conclusive results either way, although several have suggested

a link between gliomas and in-tensive, long-term use.

“Our study is part of that trend, but the results have to be confi rmed,” said Isabelle Baldi, of the University of Bordeaux in southwestern France, who took part in the probe.

In 2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) said radiofrequency fi elds used by mobile phones are possi-bly carcinogenic.

French study raises questions on mobile phone safety

Three-quarters of all American adults over 18 years old say they are taking more personal responsibility for their health today compared to 10 years ago, so as not to have to rely on others later in life.

LOS ANGELES

Visit www.usasianpost.com Wednesday - Tuesday, May 21 - 27, 2014 THE US ASIAN POST10

LOS ANGELES, May 18, 2014 (AFP) – Mexican veteran Juan Manuel Mar-quez rallied from a ninth-round knock-down to win a unanimous decision over Mike Alvarado in a 12-round non-title welterweight fi ght Saturday.

The 40-year-old Marquez, who scored a knockdown of his own in the eighth, has likely earned a shot at a fi fth fi ght with Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao with this victory.

“He was strong, fast and very worthy,” Marquez said of Alvarado. “I wanted to put on a good performance for the fans.”

Marquez dominated the early rounds but then had his hands full in the second half of the fi ght as the hard-punching Al-varado showed a lot of heart in coming

back from being knocked down.Marquez improves to 56-7-1 as two

judges scored it 117-109 and the third had it 119-108. He also landed more punches, 278-178, than Alvarado in front of a crowd of 12,090 at The Forum arena.

Marquez knocked Alvarez down late in the eighth round with a blistering right hand on the chin that was set up by a left jab. Alvarado got up just in time to hear the bell sound, ending the round.

The knockdown seemed to help wake up the 33-year-old American as he came out for the ninth with more energy and focus. With just over two minutes left in the round, he got into a wild exchange and beat Marquez to the punch with a short right that dropped the seven-time

world champion to the canvas.

Alvarado also stag-gered Marquez twice in the fi ght, hurting him in the seventh with a similar short right hand then almost knocking him down again in the 11th. Marquez’s knees bent and he fell back slightly but somehow managed to stay on his feet.

‘I like wars’“I like wars,” Alvara-

do said.In between rounds,

Alvarado’s corner kept urging their fi ghter to “beat up this old man up.”

“It was a great fi ght,” said Alvarado. “He felt the power from me. It was a good experience.”

Alvarado, who fell to 34-3, took a lot of pun-ishment in the fi rst six rounds and fought the second half of the fi ght with a cut under his left eye.

Alvarado said he wishes he had been busier in the fi rst six rounds.

“I was warming up a little too much before getting off. I needed to let my hands go,” Al-varado said.

Marquez, who has won titles in four weight classes, is expected to next fi ght Pacquiao in the fall which would be their fi fth bout. In 2012, Marquez spectacularly knocked out the Filipino congressman in fi ght number four in Las Ve-gas. Pacquiao wants to get another shot at Mar-quez.

Asked if he wants to fi ght “Pacman” one more time, Marquez sounded more like a promoter than a challenger.

“I don’t know at the moment, but whatever decision it will be good for me, my family, and all my Mexican fans.”

Boxing afi cionados have been wanting to see unbeaten American Floyd Mayweather to fi ght Pacquiao, which may or may not take place after all even if Pacquiao said he al-ready yielded to the de-mands of Mayweather involving blood tests right before the fi ght and that Mayweather will get a bigger share of the purse that is ex-pected to be the richest.

Mayweather had faced Marquez instead and was able to beat the Mexican slugger in 2009 via a unanimous deci-sion.

Saturday’s match marked the fi rst box-ing match at the refur-bished Forum facility in 13 years. Marquez kept his perfect record intact at The Forum as he fought there several times as a much young-er boxer.

This was the second straight defeat for for-mer champ Alvarado who lost to Ruslan Pro-vodnikov in his last fi ght.

 Marquez survives knockdown to beat Alvarado; 5th showdown with Pacquiao expected 

Fans want a Pacquiao-Mayweather fi ght, but may settle for a fi fth matchup between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez (right). Photo: Benny Uy

ATHLETICS

626.723.3833

91

E. Gale Ave.

S. A

zusa

P o m o n a F w y

60

10

605

57

Fulle

rton

Rd.

Advertised vehicles subject to prior sale. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge, “plus Dealer Installed options. *Valued OwnerCoupon- Must be owner of registered eligible vehicle. Excludes Kia (see dealer for details). *HMF Rebate - Must finance through Hyundai Finance Company on approved credit. Restrictions apply. All offers expire 48 hrs after publication.

Puente HillsRent-A-Car

(626) 581-5377On-site Rentals

America’s Best Warranty10-Year/100,000-Mile

Powertrain Limited WarrantyTerms and Conditions available

*See dealer for LIMITED WARRANTY details.

626.723.3833To l lFree

www. hyundai.comph17621 Gale Ave.City of Industry

36 Months Close End Lease, $2,999 Due At Lease Signing + $750 Valued Owner Coupon +$500 Military Rebate, + $400 College Grad Rebate.

NEW!

Puente Hills HyundaiDrive Hyundai Happy. www. hyundai.comph

Model# 63402F452014 Hyundai Sonata Fe Sport 2.4

Savings SpecialsMom’s-A-Hero Mom’s-A-Hero Savings Specials

PRE-OWNED VEHICLES

2014 Hyundai Elantra SE

Model# 45432F45

The Redesigned

is Here @ Puente Hills Hyundai!!

2015 Hyundai Genesis

2015 Hyundai GenesisSedan

with MSRP $26,265with MSRP $26,265159159$$ /month + tax/month + tax

Leaseit for Leaseit for

36 Months Close End Lease, 12k Miles Per Year, $3,499 Due At Lease Signing, $750 Lease Cash, $500 Valued Owner Coupon, $500 Military Rebate, $500 Boost Up Cash & $400 College Grad. Rebate. On Approved Credit.

with MSRP $22,415with MSRP $22,415All in Stock All in Stock Lease

it for Leaseit for 8989$$ /month

+ tax/month + tax

Model# 27412F4PFerry Maringka

GozonFerry Maringka

GozonFilipino Fleet ManagerFilipino Fleet Manager

Cell# (626)-202-9687Cell# (626)-202-9687Cell# (626)-393-4070 Cell# (626)-393-4070

Hanzel FraguereHanzel

FraguereFilipino Fleet ManagerFilipino Fleet Manager

NEW!NEW! NEW!NEW!

2014 Hyundai SonataNEW!NEW!

#1#1 in Retail Sales-District WE8

36 Months Close End Lease, $3,999 Due At Lease Signing + $500 Lease Cash + $500 Valued Owner Coupon + $500 Military Rebate + $400 College Grad Rebate. On Approved Credit.

with MSRP $19,135with MSRP $19,135All in Stock All in Stock Lease

it for Leaseit for 6969$$ /month

+ tax/month + tax

SPECIAL SAVINGS!MEMORIAL DAYPre -

All in Stock All in Stock All in Stock All in Stock

THE US ASIAN POST Wednesday - Tuesday, May 21 - 27, 2014 Visit www.usasianpost.com 11

MOTORING

Nelson Sioson, the Filipino Fleet Manager at Mercedes-Benz of Long Beach.

MONTVALE, NJ, May 08, 2014 − The 2014 Mer-cedes-Benz M-Class sport utility has COLLISION P R E V E N T I O N ASSIST as stan-dard equipment on all four 2014 M- Class models. Using a dedicated radar sensor to monitor the dis-tance to a vehicle in front and closing speed. If the system senses a risk of imminent collision, it alerts the driver with a warning tone and light in the instrument cluster. COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST also net-works with brakes to prepare for emergency braking, so that as soon as the driver applies the brakes, appropriate power can be applied, up to the maximum. In addition, the new system can rec-ognize and adapt its response to a number of driving situations.

Four M-Class ModelsThe third generation of a

highly successful Mercedes-Benz that began the industry trend to-ward SUVs with a more car-like ride, the dramatically styled M-Class is instantly recognizable as a sport utility vehicle. With its large wheel openings and “two-box” profi le of its nose and cabin, this eye-catching interpretation of a modern SUV makes a strong presence that projects trend- set-ting design and quality.

The M-Class line for 2013 is comprised of four models, all with direct injection – the thrifty ML350 BlueTEC diesel (240 horsepower, 455 lb.-ft. of torque), the popular ML350 with its V6 gasoline engine (302 hp, 273 lb.-ft.), the biturbo V8- pow-ered ML550 (402 hp, 443 lb.-ft.) and the high-performance ML63 AMG (518 hp, 516 lb.-ft., and

550 hp, 560 lb.-ft. with the AMG Performance Package).

4MATIC Four-Wheel Drive Sets a Trend

All four models come with proven Mer-cedes-Benz 4MATIC all-wheel drive (the ML350 is also available with rear-wheel drive). As modern all-wheel-drive systems become more refi ned, they are

becoming more popular, especial-ly in the luxury car market. With negligible weight and fuel-effi -ciency tradeoffs, full-time four-wheel drive provides year-round traction and stability benefi ts on both wet and dry roads. Fuel effi -ciency has been optimized, due to a number of innovative measures that minimize the energy needed to turn the extra gears and shafts.

Seven-Speed TransmissionThe M-Class line is equipped

with a transmission that provides even better fuel mileage, more responsive driving, quieter op-eration and increased durability. The latest transmission features a more advanced torque convert-er lock-up clutch and is designed to work best with a new type of low-viscosity ATF transmission fl uid, colored blue instead of the usual red.

ATTENTION ASSIST Cau-tions “Time For A Rest?”

Among the many standard life-saving features on the M-Class is the innovative ATTENTION AS-SIST system that can alert the driver to the fi rst signs of drowsi-ness, a factor that causes more than 100,000 accidents a year in the U.S.

A steering sensor is coupled to smart software that uses 70 pa-rameters to establish a unique driver profi le during the fi rst 20 minutes of driving. Between 50

and 112 mph, the system identi-fi es the erratic steering correc-tions drivers make as they begin to get drowsy and triggers an au-dible warning, and a “Time for a Rest?” message with a coffee cup icon appears in the instrument cluster.

Other examples of trail-blazing M-Class innovations include: Lane Keeping As-sist, which alerts the driver by simulating rumble strip vibra-tion in the steering wheel if the car drifts from its lane without the turn signals on. It operates at speeds above 37 mph via a system that recognizes lane markings, thanks to a small camera in the windshield and a computer that

analyzes the video images.Blind Spot Assist monitors

both blind spots behind and to the side of the vehicle. Whenever a turn signal is activated with a ve-hicle in the blind spot, the driver gets visual and audible warnings. A separate option, Active Lane Keeping Assist and Active Blind Spot Assist incorporate an inter-vention feature, in which ESP braking automatically helps cor-rect the car’s course if the driver doesn’t heed the initial warning.

PRE-SAFE® Gives M-Class Refl exes to Protect Occupants

PRE-SAFE® is a revolutionary safety system that can actually sense an impending collision be-fore it happens and take mea-

sures to protect occupants during those valuable seconds before im-pact.

Now, isn’t it about time you join the list of new Mercedes-Benz owners? Why not? Call our kababayan Nelson Sioson, the Filipino Fleet Manager at Mer-cedes-Benz of Long Beach for the best in deals, among the best, if not the best in Southern Califor-nia. He will guide you in choosing what Mercedes-Benz is right for you. And don’t worry, Mercedes-Benz is not just for those who “can afford it.” Ever wonder why your kababayan neighbor or your relative has one? Call Nelson now toll free at 1-866-870-2966 and fi nd out how.

Mercedes-Benz M-Class features Collision Prevention Assist

A MERCEDES-BENZ FOR MOTHER’S DAY: Mother’s Day ranks second after Christmas where gift-giving reaches its feverish height. It is a day of remembrance that has catapulted the event into over a billion-dollar industry, thanks to the idea created by Anna Jarvis in 1908 which became a U.S. holiday in 1914. Traditionally it involves presenting mothers with fl owers, cards and other gifts – in the case of a Hawthorne restaurateur, Rafael Vanegas, a Mercedes Benz C250 for the beloved mother of his children. Mr. Vanegas had the special day to present his ribboned gift which was personally delivered by Nelson Sioson, Filipino Fleet Manager of Mercedes-Benz of Long Beach, at a designated place in the City of Torrance right after the Vanegas family had their Mother’s Day lunch. The Vanegas family operates the Pupuceria El Cerro Verde in Hawthorne that “continues the great tradition of excellent food of El Salvador.” Photo: Rey Andres

Visit www.usasianpost.com Wednesday - Tuesday, May 21 - 27, 2014 THE US ASIAN POST12

(Relaxnews) – The Jap-anese manufacturer will present its new 5-door se-dan, the Pulsar, on Tues-day, May 20. Described as a compact family car, the new model is slated to hit European dealer-ships in fall 2014.

Following the success of the Qashqai and X-trail in the cross-over and SUV markets, Nissan decided to adopt the same design language for its latest sedan.

Nissan says that the Pulsar, which will be produced at its plant in Barcelona, Spain, was developed specifi cally to meet the needs of consumers in Europe. In April of this year, at the Bei-jing Motor Show, Nissan presented its Lannia sedan concept, which will likely inform a future model designed specifi cally for Asian markets.

The Nissan Pulsar will be unveiled in a live web streaming presentation on Tuesday, May 20 at 1pm CET at www.nissan.eu/awesome, before going on display to the public at the next Paris Motor Show in October. The Pulsar name is not new, as Nissan has marketed sedans under the same name in Australia and certain Asian markets since 1978.

Nissan to present Pulsar sedan on May 20

NEW YORK, May 18, 2014 (AFP) – US auto parts supplier Johnson Controls will outsource its manufacturing of interior car parts in a merger with a subsidiary of Chinese automaker SAIC, according to a statement Sunday.

Johnson Controls said it will have a 30-percent stake in the shared enterprise, which it claimed would be “the largest auto-

motive interiors company in the world with rev-enues of approximately $7.5 billion.”

The remaining 70-per-cent ownership in the company will be held by a subsidiary of SAIC, Yan-feng Automotive Trim Systems.

The new company will be based in Shanghai and will have development centers and clients in the United States, Europe and Asia. It will produce instrument panels and cockpit systems, door panels and fl oor consoles.

For several months, Johnson Controls had been examining options for its interior car parts production, which are worth around $4.2 billion a year, a spokesman said.

Johnson Controls chairman and chief ex-ecutive Alex Molinaroli said in the statement the new venture “is a natural extension of our already very successful existing partnership with Yan-feng in automotive seat-ing.”

“It creates a strong combined company with a market leading posi-tion and a foundation for sustained global growth, he added.

US auto parts maker to outsource interiors to China

(Relaxnews) – The Japa-nese car company arrived at- this year’s ZDayZ - the annual gathering of Ameri-can Nissan and Datsun performance car enthusi-asts - with a surprise guest: the latest iteration of its hardcore sports coupe.

Due to hit the dealer-ships in July, the 2015 370Z NISMO is more a sub-tle reworking than a com-plete overhaul. It still has a 350-horsepower 3.7-liter DOHC V6 engine under the hood, but suspension has been tweaked signifi -cantly for the new model so more of that power can be used more of the time.

But for the fi rst time, the car will be offered with a seven-speed automatic transmission complete with rev-matching on the downchange and a manual mode complete with paddle shifts. However, the pur-ists needn’t worry as the six-speed manual trans-mission is still alive and well and will continue to be offered as the standard confi guration on the car.

Apart from the trans-mission, the biggest chang-es are in terms of exterior styling and internal in-car tech and comfort. The car gets new alloy wheels and a redesigned aerodynamics package which includes a smaller rear spoiler.

Inside, the sports seats have been redesigned in collaboration with Recaro, meaning that they’re ex-clusive to the 370Z NISMO and have been developed to offer comfort, feedback and support tuned to the car’s handling and perfor-mance characteristics. And they’re trimmed in leather and Alcantara too.

Nissan wows fans with 370Z NISMO reveal

All legal services are provided by and under the supervision of active members of the State Bar of California. *Some restrictions apply. Please call for details. **Employer sponsorship not guaranteed & based on qualified education, training & experience in specific professions

in fo@korenimmigrat ion.com • www.korenimmigrat ion.com

• REMOVAL/DEPORTATION DEFENSE • FAMILY-BASED IMMIGRATION • BUSINESS AND INVESTOR VISA• EMPLOYMENT-BASED• HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS• PERM (Approval Guaranteed or we'll Refile for FREE*)

• NATURALIZATION/CITIZENSHIP• DACA/Deferred Action

1-714-300-0606 • 1-888-838-38181475 S. State College Blvd., Suite 110,

Anaheim, CA 92806(corner of Cerritos, between Ball and Katella roads)

WE WILL WORK HARD FOR YOU TO FULFILL YOUR IMMIGRATION GOALS!

15260 Ventura Blvd., Suite 1200Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

(City National Bank building)

We Handle ALL Immigration Matters:

Law Offices of

Gali Koren, PLCImmigration rights for samesex married couples.Contact us for details.

NEWS!!!

Attorney Gal i Koren is the firm's founder and managing attorney. She received her Juris Doctor Degree, Magna Cum Laude , f rom Weste rn State University. She obtained her LLM in International Law from the Universi ty of San Diego Law School, majoring in Immigration Law. Ms. Koren is a member of the State Bar of California and is authorized to r e p r e s e n t c l i e n t s o n immigration matters in all 50 states.

Graduate of Ateneo de Manila University.Member of State Bar

of California andPhilippine Bar.

Licensed Attorney

Licensed AttorneyAtty. Gali KorenAtty. Gali Koren

Atty. Carlo BorjaAtty. Carlo Borja

Our experienced attorneys & staff will help you navigate the complex immigration system and offer you personalized attention on your specific case. All of us understand your goals because we all come from immigrant backgrounds. Our mission is to provide effective and aggressive representation of your interests in all immigration matters in an efficient manner.

CONTACT US FOR A FREE* INITIAL CONSULTATION WITH ATTY. KOREN

NEW ‘14 TOYOTA CAMRY

DOWN INTEREST0%0%

THE US ASIAN POST Wednesday - Tuesday, May 21 - 27, 2014 Visit www.usasianpost.com 13

FAMILY FEATURES

Here comes the sun — and the fun of dining al fresco. When it comes to summer fare, familiar favorites are always welcome,

such as burgers on the grill, sandwiches, salad, lemonade and dessert. But if the tried-and-true choices are getting a little too familiar, maybe they need a makeover. New al fresco favoritesTh ese deliciously doable ideas start with time-saving, quality prepared products, such as Aunt Nellie’s jarred vegetables and READ classic bean salads, that provide real homemade fl avors. Here’s how: Elevate burgers from basic to sensational with a dollop of Red Cabbage,

Onion & Bacon Jam, made with sweet-and-sour red cabbage, sauteed onions and smoky bacon.

Need a new sandwich inspiration? Mediterranean Bean & Pita-Wiches are a combination of 3 or 4 bean salad, vegetables, olives and feta cheese stuff ed into whole grain pita pockets.

Trade the traditional greens or potato salad for Herbed Beet & Tomato Salad, an updated combo of colorful sweet-tangy pickled beets, garden-fresh yellow tomatoes and herb vinaigrette.

What’s for dessert? Try Fudgy Beet Brownies, which are made with Harvard beets to keep them extra moist and yummy.

Lemonade is always a welcome thirst quencher, especially if it’s pink. Here’s the simple secret: Just stir pickled beet liquid into prepared lemonade — it’s pink in a wink.

Cheers to a new twist on favorite al fresco fare. For additional recipes and serving suggestions, visit www.auntnellies.com and www.readsalads.com.

Mediterranean Bean & Pita-WichesPrep time: 30 minutesServings: 6 1 can (15 ounces) READ 3 or 4 Bean Salad 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes 1/2 cup coarsely chopped baby spinach 1/4 cup sliced celery 1/4 cup sliced pitted black or Kalamata olives 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano or basil 6 whole grain pita pocket halvesDressing: 2 tablespoons reserved bean liquid 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 clove garlic, minced Black pepper, coarsely groundDrain bean salad; reserve 2 tablespoons liquid.

In large bowl, toss together bean salad and next six ingredients.

For dressing, whisk ingredients together. Add dressing to bean mixture; toss. Fill pita pocket halves with bean mixture.

Red Cabbage, Onion & Bacon JamPrep time: 20 minutesCook time: 25 minutes 1 jar (16 ounces) Aunt Nellie’s Sweet & Sour Red Cabbage 1/4 pound bacon (thick cut or regular) 1 large yellow onion (about 8 ounces) 2 tablespoons granulated or brown sugar 2 tablespoons white balsamic or white wine vinegar 1–2 tablespoons fresh thyme (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme) 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or to taste) Green onion or parsley (optional)Drain cabbage; reserve liquid.

Cut bacon into pieces (about 1/4 inch). Cook in large skillet over medium to medium-low heat until browned and crisp. Transfer bacon to paper towel-lined plate; reserve. Measure 2 table spoons drippings and return to skillet. Discard remaining drippings.

Meanwhile, cut onion lengthwise in quarters. Cut crosswise into very thin slices (about 1/8 inch thick).

Heat bacon drippings over medium-low heat until hot. Add onion slices, reduce heat to low and cook 5 minutes or until onions begin to soft en, stirring occasionally.

Stir in sugar, vinegar, thyme, peppers, bacon and 1/2 cup reserved liquid. Add cabbage and continue cooking over medium-low to low heat 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and mix-ture is very soft and thick, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle with thinly sliced green onion or chopped parsley before serving, if desired.

Serve warm or at room temperature as topping for burgers or crostini, as sandwich spread, condiment for meats or tossed with pasta.

Flavorful al fresco dining ideas

Fudgy Beet Brownies

Mediterranean Bean & Pita-Wiches, Red Cabbage, Onion & Bacon Jam, and Herbed Beet & Tomato Salad

Pink Lemonade

Pink LemonadeMakes: 2 quartsAdd 2 to 4 tablespoons pickled beet liquid to 2 quarts prepared lemonade; stir. For deeper pink color add additional beet liquid.

Herbed Beet & Tomato SaladPrep time: 20 minutesServings: 4 1 jar (16 ounces) Aunt Nellie’s Sliced Pickled Beets 2 medium yellow tomatoes, sliced 1/4 inch thick 1/4 cup olive or vegetable oil 1/4 cup white wine or rice vinegar 1 tablespoon fi nely chopped fresh herbs (such as thyme, parsley, basil, oregano or chives) 1 clove garlic, minced Salt and pepperDrain beets well.* Cut beets in half. Cut tomato slices into quarters.

For vinaigrette, whisk together oil, vinegar, herbs and garlic. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Place tomatoes in large bowl. Toss with dressing. Gently toss in beets. Serve immediately or chill.*Reserve liquid for pink lemon ade, if desired.

Fudgy Beet BrowniesPrep time: 15 minutesCook time: Per package directionsServings: 24 brownies 1 jar (15.5 ounces) Aunt Nellie’s Harvard Beets, not drained 1 box dark or milk chocolate brownie mix (for 13-by-9-inch pan)* 1/4 cup vegetable oil 2 eggs 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks Confectioners’ sugar (optional)Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray bottom of 9-by-13-inch pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place beets in blender or food processor. Puree until smooth; set aside.

Combine brownie mix, oil, eggs and pureed beets in large mixing bowl; stir until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour into prepared pan. Bake as directed on package, checking aft er shortest recom mended baking time. Remove from oven; cool. Lightly dust with confectioners’ sugar, if desired.*Note: Package sizes may vary accord ing to brand.

Visit www.usasianpost.com Wednesday - Tuesday, May 21 - 27, 2014 THE US ASIAN POST14

TEL.: (818) 552-4503 ext 402 • Fax: (818) 550-7635 • MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED

For advertising, call (818) 552-4503 ext 402 • Fax (818) 550-7635 • email: advertising@balita.com

HOW TO SEND US

editor@balita.comBY E-MAIL

PRESS RELEASES

Press releases should include your signature, full name and complete address (as well as

telephone number). Letters that do not meet these requirements will not be used.

All contributions are subject to editorial standards. Articles are printed subject to space

availability and at no cost to the sender.

The Editor

ANNOUNCEMENTS

advertising@balita.com

INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO PLACE CLASSIFIED/JOB MARKET ADS

BY PHONE BY FAX BY SNAIL MAILOR E-MAIL

818-552-4503 818-550-7635Please have this information ready: Company Name, Contact Person, Address, Phone # and Fax #. Payment is made using a credit card.

Faxed ads should include this information: Company Name, Contact Person, Address, Phone # and Fax #. Payment is made using a credit card.

Check or Money Order should be made payable to Balita Media Inc.

520 East Wilson Ave. Ste. 210Glendale, CA 91206

advertising@balita.com

NOVENA of CONFIDENCE

O Lord, Jesus Christ, to Your Most Sacred Heart I con de this intention. (Here,

mention your request) Only look upon me, then do what Your Heart decides....I

count on You...I trust in You...I throw myself at Your mercy...Lord Jesus! You

will not fail me. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You. Sacred Heart of Jesus,

I believe in Your love for me. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I have asked for many

favors, but I earnestly implore this one. Take it, place it in Your Sacred Heart.

When the Eternal Father sees it covered with Your Precious Blood, He will not

refuse it. It will be no longer my prayer but Yours, O Jesus. O Sacred Heart of

Jesus, I place my trust in You. Let me never be confounded. Amen. - FELYN

PRAYERS

ADVERTISE WITH US TODAY!

CAR PROS KIA$$$$$$ RARE OPPORTUNITY $$$$$$#1 KIA Retailer in the Nation, HAS OPENING FOR TALENTED

TOP PERFORMERS!!!We sell over 600 cars per month.

If you're serious about your career and want to earn a 6 figure income in a fun environment this is the place for you.

TOP PERFORMERS NEED ONLY TO APPLY!!! Straight Sales…

HUGE COMMISSIONS!!! And HUGE BONUSES!!! 401k and Health insurance.

The ideal candidate will have experience as Closers, F&I Managers, and Sales Managers who are talented and desire to make BIG $$$. There are opportunities for advancement for the proven professional. If you believe you're qualified

to be a part of our #1 TEAM apply in person.

21243 S. Avalon Blvd. Carson CA, 90745

MAG

TAYOwww.usasianpost.comVISIT OUR WEBSITE

I will make your computer working again, fast and virus-free,install new parts or even upgrade your computer software (if applicable). Desktop or laptop, I'll find out why your computer is malfunctioning and fix it right away!

COMPUTER REPAIRGot virus? Is your computer so sloooowww; has a blue screen; the videos are not playing; or your Internet's not working?Is there something wrong with your computer?

I WILL Fix IT*For a flat fee of

Call us at (818) 823-5388 Email us: LAComputerShop@yahoo.comLA Desktop & Laptop Services

d f

p

YOUR ADHERE!

818-552-4503CALL

BAN ANIMAL TESTING

WANTED FEMALECAREGIVER

LIVE-IN ONLY 5 DAYS A WEEKLAKEVIEW TERRACE AREA

MUST HAVE GOOD REFERENCESCAN DRIVE

(pls leave clear msg. name & tel #)

ENGINEER, BROADCAST

For more info on job duties and qualificationsplease visit: www.la18.tv/broadcast-engineer

Submit resume and cover letter to: LA 18 KSCI-TV

E-mail: info@la18.tv

LIVE-IN NANNYLooking for l ive-in Nanny/Housekeeper in Sherman Oaks. Tuesday through Sunday mrng. Duties are cleaning, cooking & taking care of 3 children. Please call 646-342-7655.

CALL RONNIE AT (213) 400-9127

FOR SALE

LIVE-IN CAREGIVERMale or female. With car/driver’s license, live scan and SS#. Rancho Cucamonga or Riverside. Call 951-533-3035.

Coord. activities of residents in a skilled nursing facility.

B.S. in any medical field.

RESIDENT

Send resume: Gladstone Care & Rehabilitation Center

ADVISOR

435 E. Gladstone St., Glendora, CA 91740Attn: M. De Paz.

CARM

I will make your computer working again, fast and virus-free,install new parts or even upgrade your computer software (if applicable). Desktop or laptop, I'll find out why your computer is malfunctioning and fix it right away!

COMPUTER REPAIRGot virus? Is your computer so sloooowww; has a blue screen; the videos are not playing; or your Internet's not working?Is there something wrong with your computer?

I WILL Fix IT*For a flat fee of

Call us at (818) 823-5388 Email us: LAComputerShop@yahoo.comLA Desktop & Laptop Services

d f

p

7

DIRECT BUYERS ONLY

2002 FORD WINSTAR LX VAN, SILVER GRAY

$2,500 OR BEST OFFER

MID-WILSHIRE-APT.1 BR 1 BA $1,095, a/c, new paint, carpet, w/ parking. 322 N. Oxford Ave. Beverly & West-ern. Filipino manager. (626)795-7888.

INTERNET SALESSelling products online. PT or FT sale & shipping clerk to help in online retail business in West-wood close to UCLA. Experi-ence pref’d. T: 310.779.7979 Email res: treasure26@yahoo.com

IMMEDIATE OPENINGMale full-time live-in caregiver for board and care in Sylmar and Valencia. Age 30 to 65 yrs old. Call 818-364-5877; 818-381-3449.

LIVE-IN CAREGIVERLive-in couple or single. DD or dementia experience & CA driver’s license required. Pls call 909-636-7848.

BALITAGETS

RESULTS

ADVERTISEWITH USTODAY

LOS ANGELES

DSP/CAREGIVERLooking for full-time/part-time DSPs or caregivers. Experience a plus.

ADMINSTRATORLooking for full time home administrator. Experience preferred. Must have good communication skills, and good leadership qualities.

RN/LVNLooking for full-time RNs and LVNs. Low census patients. Competitive pay rate and company benefits. Experience a must.

Please call for details: 626-926-7186 714-519-8997310-400-7808 626-991-4075

National Support Service Inc.is looking for

VISAYAN INTERPRETER CAREGIVER

Live-inFax your resume:

323-661-6875(Call first in the morning before 12 noon)

THE US ASIAN POST Wednesday - Tuesday, May 21 - 27, 2014 Visit www.usasianpost.com 15

In a bid to protect herself from any more heart-aches, KC Concepcion has become wary about go-ing into a relationship.

In fact, she said that she doesn’t want to be hurt anymore. “Nakakapagod,” she was quoted.

KC, seemingly recalling her controversial split with actor Piolo Pascual years back, added, how she “gave too much before” and it’s about time “to take care of me.”

She insisted, “I’m taking it slow, talagang very slow. I’m very careful with my heart right now. I’m being good to myself, welcoming enough but also putting limits,” said she. “Masyado akong nagbi-gay dati so (ngayon) mag-iwan para sa sarili.”

Prodded to speak more about her love life, the actress maintained she is single.

Seemingly confi rming speculations about her supposed budding affair with Paulo Avelino being nipped in the bud after they unfollowed each other on Instagram and Twitter some weeks back, she added, “I’m not committing to anyone right now…”

She reiterated, “It’s not my priority right now. Honest naman ako, the people involved know my state of mind right now and my limitations.” (MNS)

Anne Curtis just laughed off rumors that she and her long-time boyfriend, restaurateur and food blogger Erwan Heussaff, have split up, as re-ported by popular showbiz blog Fashion Pulis.

In an interview after her “AnneKapal” concert on Friday, Curtis said she doesn’t know who is be-hind the rumors.

“I think whoever started that, nice try of mak-ing negative publicity but it’s not true,” she said. “I don’t know who started it pero at least nalinawan naman kagaad, within the same day. It was clear naman that it’s not true.”

Last Wednesday, Heussaff took to Twitter to address the story on the blog, which cited a “very reliable source” in confi rming the alleged breakup.

“Thanks for the concern, but let’s remember that FP isn’t BBC, there are more veracious sourc-es of information out there. We are fi ne,” he said.

Heussaff also reacted to the story’s comment on his and Curtis’ “behavior” on their respective so-cial media accounts.

“Also, I’m not in showbiz, so my relationship is

mine to keep precious and not yours to devour,” Heussaff said. “If I don’t post about it, that’s my prerogative.” Asked why Heussaff seemed sarcas-tic in his tweets, Curtis said, “He’s not showbiz so he does not really get the whole ‘Bakit may tsismis na lumabas?’ Hindi niya pa nage-gets kaya medyo sarcastic ‘yung dating nung post.” She, however, reiterated that both of them are “super fi ne.”

Meanwhile, Curtis heaved a sigh of relief her second major solo concert at the Araneta Coliseum turned out to be successful.

“Sobrang ikling panahon lang [kami nag-pre-pare] because every day kami nagte-tape ng ‘Dye-sebel.’ That’s why may sense of relief kasi kahit na alam kong konting panahon lang ‘yung meron kami to prepare, na-achieve naman ‘yung kailan-gan naming gawin,” she said.

Asked what she thinks is the highlight of her concert, Curtis said, “Masaya ‘yung opening. ‘Yung death-defying stunt ko, I think ‘yun ‘yung parang surreal. Sobra akong nagpapasalamat sa Araneta for allowing me to do it.”

KC Concepcion cautious about love

KC Concepcion

Anne breaks silence on rumored split with Erwan

Visit www.usasianpost.com Wednesday - Tuesday, May 21 - 27, 2014 THE US ASIAN POST16

e’ll help you fulfill your American Dream. e’ll help you fulfill your American Dream.

•FAMILY PETITION •FIANCÉ VISA •U.S. CITIZENSHIP •H-1B WORK VISA •DEFERRED ACTION PROCESS

•SPOUSAL PETITION •GREEN CARD •EMPLOYER PETITION •STUDENT VISA

Glendale:520 E. Wilson Ave. Ste. 110. Glendale, CA 91206

Cerritos:17215 Studebaker Rd. Ste 380. Cerritos CA 90703

CALL US FOR FREE CONSULTATION. Saturday and evening appointments available.

818-334-5445

W

The Law Offices of Paul M. AllenPersonal Attention. Honest Answers. Real Solutions

TOKYO, May 19, 2014 (AFP) – New Tokyo governor Yoichi Masuzoe on Monday pledged aggressive deregulation drives to lure foreign talent to his city to spur growth and take back its reputation as Asia’s business hub from rivals such as Singapore.

Japan has very strict immigration policies and business has to battle reams of red tape to attract skilled workers, two factors that tend to put off global fi rms and foreign investors.

“We have to import many intelligent people from abroad. We badly need young talented per-sons,” he said in a press conference for foreign media,” Masuzoe said.

By working with the central government, Ma-suzoe promised to relax labor regulations in a planned special district of his metropolis to make it easier for foreigners to live and work.

The pledge is part of his wider drive to make Tokyo a more vibrant hub for fi nance, health care and pharmaceutical development.

His initiatives come amid a general view in Japan that Tokyo has lost its appeal as an in-ternational business centre after two decades

of economic stagnation and because of archaic regulations ill-suited to an era of globalisation.

Masuzoe, who said he regards Singapore as the top Asian hub for fi nance and pharmaceuti-cal development, said Tokyo can shine again.

“I will bring those centers... back to Tokyo be-fore 2020,” when the Japanese capital hosts the summer Olympic games, Masuzoe said.

He also pledged to amend the tax system and residential requirements to encourage business startups, including those by foreign students.

Masuzoe came to power in February on a plat-form of reform, enjoying a wide-range of support, including from conservative Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as well as labor unions.

Japan has been having population problems but should be able to stabilize it at about 100 million people, stemming an expected dramatic fall over the next 50 years in the rapidly-greying country, a panel proposed Tuesday.

If the plan is adopted by the government, it would be the fi rst numerical population target in the country. The current population of 127 mil-lion is projected to fall to 87 million in 2060.

WASHINGTON, May 13, 2014 (AFP) – President Barack Obama warned Tuesday a narrow window remained to pass immigration re-form before mid-term elections, seeking to keep alive perhaps his last hope for a major second-term domestic achievement.

Obama told police chiefs and top law enforcement offi cers that bitter party politics ahead of No-vember’s polls would threaten hopes of moving a reform bill, cur-rently stalled in the US House of Representatives.

“We have got this narrow win-dow – the closer to the mid-term elections, the harder it is,” Obama said.

“It is hard to believe that this place could get a little more dys-functional,” he quipped about Washington.

“It is very hard right before an election. We have got a window of two, three months to get the ball rolling in the House of Represen-tatives.”

The Democratic-led Senate passed a bipartisan immigration reform bill last year.

But the bill ground to a halt in the Republican House, with con-servatives arguing that they can-not trust Obama to enforce border laws cracking down on undocu-mented workers.

Conservatives in the restive Republican caucus are also loath to pass a bill many see as offering amnesty to millions of illegal im-migrants.

And Republican party chiefs want to keep the focus on Obama’s health care law – a key motivator for the party’s base voters.

Obama did give House Speaker John Boehner credit for backing the idea of immigration reform.

But he lashed out at a “hand-ful of House Republicans” he said were blocking legislation.

‘Political peril’ for RepublicansThe Senate bill includes a path

to eventual citizenship for more than 11 million illegal immi-grants, tighter border monitoring, an overhauled work visa program and other key reforms.

Boehner has said the House will not take up the Senate bill but will deliver its own product.

His spokesman Michael Steel said Tuesday it would be “impos-sible to make progress until the American people—and their elect-ed representatives – have faith that the president himself will ac-tually enforce the law as written.”

Even if the House did pass its own legislation, prospects of win-ning Senate agreement are uncer-tain with some lawmakers wary of tough votes before an election in which Republicans hope to win control of the Senate.

Republican Senator Marco Ru-bio, an architect of the Senate plan, was the target of a fi erce backlash by conservatives who believe his bill translates to am-nesty.

But he stood his ground Tues-day, saying that while he acknowl-edged that acting on immigration comes “with some political peril” for Republicans, “we have to ad-dress that reality that we have 12 million people living in this coun-try who are here illegally.”

Cuban-American Rubio, a pro-spective 2016 presidential candi-date, said he regretted not having more support for his bill.

“If there’s a better way to do it, I’m obviously open to those sug-gestions,” he said.

Long-term, Republican leaders warn that the party cannot afford to alienate Hispanic voters—an increasingly important demo-graphic bloc in national elections for which immigration reform is an article of faith.

Even if there is little prospect of immigration reform passing be-fore the election, it does Obama no harm to keep the effort in the headlines as it is a key motivator for Hispanic voters, who tend to favor Democrats.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles and Southern California will welcome 6,744 newly naturalized citizens on Wednesday, May 21, 2014. The soon-to-be new citizens, lawful permanent residents who have met all the requirements for citi-zenship, represent more than 140 countries.

Thirty members of the Armed Forces will also join the group of people becoming U.S. citizens who will take their pledge.

Obama warns of narrow window for immigration reform

President Barack Obama greets students during a youth and science event at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Tokyo, Japan, April 24, 2014. (Offi cial White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Tokyo unveils plan to lure foreign talent

LOS ANGELES