Weekend balita april 25, 2015 with supplement

LOS ANGELES

VOL. XXIII, NO. 12

See INSECURITY, page 7Democratic presidential candidate and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (center) presents the Hillary Rodham Clinton Award for Advancing Women in Peace and Security to Dr. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer (left), the Philippine government’s chief negotiator in the Mindanao peace talks, at Georgetown University in Washington, DC on Wednesday. (MNS photo)

MANILA, Apr 23 (Mabuhay) -- Fol-lowing Customs chief John Phillip Se-villa’s resignation, Malacañang admitted Thursday that reforming the bureau is a “big challenge” for the administration.

At a press briefing, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said Presi-dent Benigno Aquino III, who won on an anti-corruption platform during the 2010 elections, wants reforms in the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to continue even after Sevilla’s resignation.

“Ang direktiba po ng Pangulo ay ipag-patuloy ‘yung mga repormang naumpisa-han na, ipagpatuloy ‘yung paglaban sa korapsyon,” Coloma told reporters.

“Talagang kinikilala na malaking hamon ito at sa kabila niyan ay kahanga-hanga ‘yung naging performance ni Com-missioner Sevilla,” he added.

Coloma particularly said that the ad-

ministration wants to pursue “institutional strengthening” and further modernization at the BOC.

“Maraming mga sistema na nagbibi-gay daan doon sa pagpasok ng personal influence. Kaya ang isa sa mga tinukoy diyan ay ‘yung systemic reforms, ‘yung automation, ‘yung pagtitiyak na ‘yung mga transaksyon ay aboveboard sa pamamagi-tan nga ng mas maayos na sistema ng mga transaksyon diyan,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Sevilla announced that he is quitting his post since he could no longer stand the “political nature” hound-ing the BOC.

Coloma said he has no information yet on Sevilla’s replacement.

Prior to Sevilla, two Customs chiefs under the Aquino administration also resigned: former Rep. Ruffy Biazon, who

Manila, Philippines, AFP, Wednesday 4/22/2015 – The Philippines on Wednes-day chided China for its “insecurity” over its claim to the South China Sea, after a Beijing-based tabloid dubbed the country a “cute little submissive” of the United States.

The response from President Benigno Aquino’s spokesman Edwin Lacierda came after the Global Times newspaper – with close ties to the ruling Communist Party – featured an editorial Tuesday saying it was “laughable” imagining Philippine person-nel “stumbling after US forces”.

“We don’t understand where this inse-curity of the Chinese towards us is coming from. Where do we have the wherewithal to compete against China as a superpower?” Lacierda said.

He defended the massive military exercises between the Philippines and its main defence ally the United States that began this week, saying these were regular events not related to the territorial dispute with China.

He said the exercises were more than just wargames and have shown their ben-

MANILA, Apr 22 (Mabuhay) – Why did three Supreme Court magistrates vol-untarily inhibit themselves from hearing the Ombudsman’s petition assailing the Court of Appeals decision to stop the preventive suspension order issued against Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr?

Supreme Court spokesman Theodore Te said Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. inhibited in the case after a news item questioned the magistrate’s continued participation in the case even after his previous inhibition in a case involving Binay’s mother, former Makati Mayor Dr. Elenita Binay.

Velasco explained his continued participation in the younger Binay’s case “might create a misimpression of bias.”

“Justice Velasco nonetheless maintains that he does not know nor has he even met respondent Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay and his previous recusation in the case involving the mayor’s mother was not due to his relation to Dr. Binay but that he knew one of the parties in the earlier case,” he said.

Meanwhile, Associate Justice Arturo Brion said he will inhibit himself from the case because his wife is a “confidential attorney in the chambers of one of the respondent justices in this case.”

For his part, Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza said “his previous participation as a Solicitor General in a pending case before the Court may affect his participa-tion in the current case.”

An amphibious assault vehicles lands on the beach with ground troops during a demonstration in the ongoing Balikatan exercise in San Antonio, Zambales. The war games are seen as a demonstration of Philippine-US military capabilities in the face of China’s expansion in the Spratlys. (MNS photo)

MANILA, Apr 22 (Mabuhay) -- Philip-pine lawmakers on Wednesday slammed senior Hong Kong politician Regina Ip for portraying Hong Kong men as victims to the supposedly wily ways of Filipina domestic helpers when it’s usually the male employers who usually take advantage of the maids.

OFW party-list Rep. Roy Señeres Sr. said Ip was more likely unaware of the bit-ter truth about the abuses Filipina domestic helpers have to suffer over the years when she branded them as home wreckers.

“Many Filipinas have been subjected to rape and other forms of brutality abroad precisely because they refused to give in to sexual overtures of their male employers. I have come across a big number of cases when I was still a labor attaché and later an ambassador,” Señeres, a former chairman of the National Labor Relations Commis-sion, told reporters.

“Apparently, [Ip] is not aware that many male employers have been taking advantage of their ascendancy to seduce Filipinas. Despite offers of money and good life, Filipino women resist such advances, thus, are often punished with

Reforming Customs ‘a big challenge’ – Palace

3 SC magistrates inhibit selves in Binay case

PHL chides China’s ‘insecurity’ over disputed sea territories

PHL lawmakers blast HK politician for ‘racist’ remarks vs. Pinay maids

See CUSTOMS, page 4

See RACIST REMARKS, page 4See BINAY CASE, page 7

THE LEADING SOURCE OF NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR FILIPINO-AMERICANSAPRIL 25 - MAY 1, 2015

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3Visit www.Balita.comBalita Weekend, Sat. - Fri., April 25 - May 1, 2015 LOS ANGELES

credit reporting agencies and ask that the record be corrected

Methods of Re-Establishing CreditA debtor seeking to re-establish credit

should consider applying for a secured card, usually a Visa or Master Card. This is a credit card issued by a bank to a customer who is required to establish a savings ac-count at the bank, which is used as security or collateral for the card. Typically, the limit on the card is based on the amount of collateral put up in the form of the sav-ings account. Often, the bank will have an annual fee. The benefit of the secured card is that banks will issue them to persons with poor credit reports in the past, but who have the ability to pay the deposit to secure the account.

Major store cards are also a good ad-dition to building credit. Once you have a major credit card, even a secured card, it’s usually all that’s required to open an account at a major store, such as JCP, Kohls, etc.

Other methods include buying a car from a local car dealer who advertises that it specializes in making car loans to persons with bad credit or recent bankruptcies. Also, a debtor with a personal relationship with someone at a local bank should not hesitate to seek assistance from that source.

There are also financial institutions that target recent bankruptcy people seek-ing credit. This also includes mortgage companies. Several major companies will consider a mortgage within 1 to 2 years from the bankruptcy discharge.

The reason these companies are inter-ested in bankruptcy discharge consumers, is because they cannot file a bankruptcy again for 8 years, do not owe money, have a good debt to income ratio (Income from employment, all debts discharged in bankruptcy), and finally, they get to charge more than regular financial institutions. Bottom line – it’s a business, and a good business at that.

Caution in Rebuilding CreditUltimately, however, debtors emerg-

ing from bankruptcy should use their experience to avoid getting into the same financial traps, which snared them before. All too often, this was the easy availability of unsecured credit in the form of unsolic-ited, pre-approved, credit cards. Debtors should take steps to budget properly, not spend beyond their means, and resist the temptation to incur debt beyond their rea-sonable ability to repay just for the purpose of re-establishing credit. Debtors should avoid being enticed by so-called “credit repair” agencies. These are often simply unregulated rip-offs, who prey on the financially-distressed, and who do nothing more than what debtors themselves can do by exercising their legal right to have their reports properly list their outstanding obligations.

Income Taxes in Bankruptcy As a general proposition, older income

taxes (more than 3 years old) can be wiped out in bankruptcy; newer income taxes (less than 3 years old) cannot. A debtor/employer can wipe out the employer’s por-tion of older, but not newer, payroll taxes. The discharge ability of state and local, such as sales and use taxes, will depend upon their true nature, i.e., whether they are excise or withholding taxes. The trust fund portion of payroll taxes is generally not dischargeable. Prior to filing bankruptcy,

the debtor should have his own particular tax situation assessed.

Test for Wiping Out Income TaxesThe Test for wiping out income taxes in

bankruptcy include:The tax return was due more than 3

years prior to the filing The tax return was filed at least 2 years

prior to the filing The tax has been assessed for at least

240 days prior to the filing The tax is not based on a fraudulent

return There was no willful tax evasion by

the debtor.In Chapter 13, income taxes can be

wiped out if the return was due more than 3 years prior to the filing, and was assessed at least 240 days prior to the filing. In some cases, the tax may be dischargeable even if not assessed prior to the filing.

Income Tax LiabilityUnder the Internal Revenue Code, as a

general rule, forgiveness of indebtedness constitutes income to the debtor. However, there is an exception where the debtor re-ceives a discharge in bankruptcy.

Can Utility Debts Be Discharged in bankruptcy?

Public utilities, such as the gas and electric company, are not permitted to discontinue service because of a bank-ruptcy filing. However, if the utility bill is included in the bankruptcy and not paid, then the utility has the right to demand that the debtor pay a deposit within 20 days to ensure the continuation of service. Some-times, the requested deposit is several times the amount of the bill, so it often makes sense for a cash-strapped debtor to simply pay the bill. Utility bills for service arising after the bankruptcy filing is not included in the bankruptcy, and must be paid.

Does the Bankruptcy Code prohibit discrimination based on a bankruptcy filing?

The Bankruptcy Code contains an “anti-discrimination” provision, stating that gov-ernment units and private employers may not discriminate against a person solely because that person has filed bankruptcy or was insolvent. Also, if a debtor has lost his driver’s license solely because of his inability to pay damages resulting from an accident, then a bankruptcy discharge will allow the debtor to get his license back.

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Credit after bankruptcy – Yes you can!After a debtor receives a discharge in bankruptcy, credi-

tors whose debts are discharged are required to report that the account has a zero balance. The fact of the filing itself can remain on the credit report for 10 years from the date it was filed. A debtor interested in re-establishing credit after bank-ruptcy should obtain credit reports from the 3 largest credit reporting agencies, (Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union) and ensure that the account balances have all been zeroed out. If not, the debtor should contact the


CUSTOMS

RACIST REMARKS

From page 1

From page 1

was tagged in the alleged multibillion-peso pork barrel scam, and Angelito Alvarez, who was also linked to various controver-

sies including vehicle smuggling in Min-danao, where borders are porous because of corruption.(MNS)

sexual molestation, if not fired and sent home to the Philippines,” he added.

Ip, an assemblywoman eyed as Hong Kong’s future chief executive, drew flak after claiming in an op-ed article in Chinese-language newspaper Ming Pao last Friday that Filipina domestic helpers seduce husbands of expatriate women, cit-ing complaints she has received from the allegedly aggrieved wives.

“Rather than reporting improper be-havior by local employers, should we pay more attention to Filipina maids becoming sexual resources for foreign men in Hong Kong?” she asked.

No supporting evidenceSome 173,000 of the estimated 300,000

domestic helpers working in Hong Kong are Filipinas, government figures show.

Gabriela party-list Rep. Emmi de Jesus branded Ip’s remarks as “anti-women, anti-migrant and racist” as she expressed sup-port for protest actions that would compel the Hong Kong politician to issue a public apology and retract her statement.

“Regina Ip’s attack against migrant workers is not supported by data and has no official legislative purpose other than raise public intrigues against Filipino domestics, take away their dignity and force them to

accept their constant sexual and economic abuse in silence,” she said in a statement.

De Jesus’ fellow party-list representa-tive, Luz Ilagan, was incredulous at Ip’s belief that Filipina domestic helpers could be so powerful and “super gorgeous” to seduce Hong Kong men into leaving their wives. She noted that in cases of sexual harassment, it is the person who occupies the position of power who imposes condi-tions or forces the other party to submit to sexual demands.

Citing this argument, she said it is usu-ally Filipina maids who are harassed, raped and abused by their employers.

“Pinay domestic helpers will not jeop-ardize thier jobs by flirting with their employers,” Ilagan said.

Anecdotal experienceBayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Col-

menares demanded an apology from Ip for her remarks, which he said were merely based on anecdotal experience that may or may not be true.

“These discriminatory remarks are unacceptable,” he said. “[Her] anecdotal experience is not empirical. May maganda kang karanasan, mayroong di maganda sa ibang lahi pero you don’t condemn them for their race.”

By Ed Rame“The increasing interconnectivity of

nations in today’s global economy under-scores the need for robust partnerships between communities around the world. Organizations like Sister Cities Interna-tionalfoster such relationships, increasing mutual knowledge and understanding be-tween cities and cultures. These collabo-rations promote collaboration and trust among citizens and nations, create op-portunities for technological and economic innovation and development, and lay the foundations for continued peace and pros-perity. I am proud to serve as your Honor-ary Chair.” – President Barack Obama The concept of the Sister Cities of Los Angeles is truly timeless. Sister Cities International was created at President Eisenhower’s 1956 White House confer-ence on citizen diplomacy. Eisenhower envisioned an organization that could be the hub of peace and prosperity by creating bonds between people from different cities around the world. By forming these rela-tionships, President Eisenhower reasoned that people of different cultures could celebrate and appreciate their differences and build partnerships that would lessen the chance of new conflicts.

In our times right now, there are enor-mous conflicts from all sectors of our existence. Greater understanding among nations and The Sister Cities is a micro approach to reach out deeper to the differ-ent communities of the world. There are a lot of miscommunication, intolerance, misunderstandings, religious differences and entire gamut of indifferences which are recipes for multi pronged disasters that would put the world at the edge of a deadly war outbreak. Makati our foremost city and is in a great position to reach out to more of the world to share our culture and define our uniqueness as a friendly, hospitable and progressive center of trade,

finance and culture. It is the microcosm of the aspirations of every community in the Philippines yet Makati continues to prosper as a city with its residents at the fore as recipients of great and personal programs that would alleviate their lives.

The city has grown leaps and bounds and its largesse have spilled to the lives of everyday people. Simple thoughtfulness like birthdays cakes, free movies, medical benefits and numerous discounts afforded to its senior citizens are quite endearing. There are educational and training pro-grams, healthcare and other ameneities enjoyed by its residents.

This is Makati’s own legacy to share to the world. Makati has a heart. It has a long way to go and it does a good job firm-ing up its structural policy foundations to balance its prosperity to flow and benefit its people.

The world can see Philippines’ aspira-tions as a nation thru Makati’s evolution from a marshland to soaring skyscrapers and world class amenities that the city gov-ernments has worked so hard to achieve. Makati is success and no one can argue with success. The city leadership works well with the founding fathers of Makati, the Ayalas and Zobels in achieving one vision in making it a premier city. Makati is the financial center of the Philippines. Makati is a top notch entertainment destination. Their restaurants are world class. Shopping is an ultimate experience. It is the home of choice of most multina-tional companies. It has great educational institutions and excellent healthcare and hospital facilities.

Success has a lot of fathers, so Makati has grown exponentially with the Philip-pine elites setting their turfs in the once sleepy marshland. Makati is a dream city in the Philippines and is a great example of what the Philippines can be and what it can share to the world.

Sister Cities Los Angeles and Makati Grand Gala Night at The Omni Hotel May 3

Makati City skyline at nighttime.On May 3, 2015 at the Omni Hotel in

downtown Los Angeles, Makati will be the host city and will be holding a Grand Fundraising Gala Night that will showcase the culture and arts of the Philippines. To celebrate the occasion, there will be an entertainment galore top billed by Miss Cora Manimbo, Ms. Manimbo is a world acclaimed fashion guru of Philip-pine indigenous fabrics like pina and jusi. She will showcase the richness of Filipini-ana couture from the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Complimenting her collections will be the exquisite fine filigree jewelry of Oscar Atendido. The Malaya FilAm Arts will perform the ethnic dances of the regions. The Philippine Chamber Singers of Los Angeles will serenade the guests with our own songs from our great Filipino compos-ers. Geneva Cruz of the Smokey Mountain fame and Garie Concepion both endorsers of Image Spa MD will also be performing in the event. Christine Love will be singing the Star Spangled Banner.

KC Concepcion will be awarded Anak ng Makati in recognition of her exemplary contribution as a model youth being the Philippine’s National Ambassador against hunger of the United Nation’s World Food Programme and as a popular movie and TV personality. Ms. Grace Mercado of

FoodTrients and G & E Healthcare Ser-vices Group of Companies is a benevolent community benefactor so well deserving of the LA -Makati Sister Cities Inc. award. Ms. Grace Mercado is the power shaker and mover of the community. Her sup-port to various arts and community proj-ects are generous and simply legendary. Miss Nymia Cocueco is another awardee who is an active community leader.

Atty. Abraham Lim is the President of the Los Angeles-Makati Sister Cit-ies, Inc. Ms. Trinity Foliente is the Vice President . Members of the Board are Ms. Grace Mercado, Ms. Annie Cuevas-Lim, Ms. Cora Aragon-Soriano, Ms. Jannelle So-Perkins, Lordes Garcia, Atty. Ernie Ocampo, Michaella Bantillan-Andrawis , Dr.Mohammed Sellami,and Mr. Vic Perez.

Sponsors of the event are Grace Merca-do of Foodtrients, Island Pacific Supermar-kets, Leelin Bakery, Arcadia Retirement Village, Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Im-age Spa MD, Virgelia Productions of Miss Asia USA, Asian Journal Publications, Balikbayan Magazine, Filipino Heritage Festival, Colina Salon, Mike Cocueco, Lydia and Jessie Alfonso, Leila Aquino, Cora Manimbo, Oscar Atendido, Balita Media, Inc., publisher of Weekend Balitaand US Asian Post, For ticket inquiries, please call Vic at 818-458.9258.


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when a group of our friends would meet at a restaurant and instead of engaging in warm conversations to get updated on each

other, some people tend to grab their cell phones and would endlessly engage in tex-ting, which at times can be tremendously

annoying, to the point of being impolite.And speaking of texting, I tend to

point out that group texting is not advis-able because on a group text, people don’t generally all know each other and some-times one person is at a loss as to what the conversation is all about, and that simply becomes offensive.

There were instances when I was in-cluded in a group text which had private messages sent by someone from an out-of-state area code meant for one person , but read by all of us. With due respect to those

Cell phone group texting can sometimes be offensiveThe baby boomer generation grew up with simple things in

life. Though some of us were raised in the city, we longed for country life whenever we can, so our mom would make sure we visit our hometown every couple of months, not only to savor good food and swim in its pristine, white sand beaches but to appreciate the beauty of nature and its surroundings.

Unlike this modern technological age where kids are so engrossed with their tech toys and they can’t be bothered with anything else. There were times

Los Angeles, 22 April 2015 – The Phil-ippine Consulate General hosted a briefing by Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, Chair of the Philippine Government Panel to the Peace Process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on 17 April 2015.

The meeting was attended by members of the media, leaders from the Filipino community in particular the Mindanao groups.

Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim, as moderator remarked that the public should read the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) instead of relying on politicians to explain the proposed law. He said that Professor Coronel-Ferrer’sextensive experience in the Peace Process and conflict resolution and management, makes her the foremost authority to explain the complex issues surrounding the BBL. Coronel-Ferrer has been in the forefront of driving the peace process forward and in convincing the political leaders and the Filipino people on the importance of the BBL and what it will contribute to peace and development in Mindanao.

Herrera-Lim urged the members of the Mindanao groups to be stakeholders in the peace process by getting involved in small projects such as micro-financing in Mindanao. He also encouraged AC-

Gov’t panel chair to Muslim peace process holds forum with Fil-Am

Photo above shows Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim acting as moderator during the Q&A session with Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and members of the audience.

TIVE discussion in the political view of the BBL by expressing concerns through social networks.

Professor Coronel-Ferrer gave a brief-ing on the developments in the Peace Process with the MILF and the BBL. She clarified contentious issues and events related to the Peace Process and the BBL. She also informed the audience on the importance of passing the BBL to replace the existing ARMM, leading to peace in Mindanao and genuine economic devel-opments in the areas that will be covered by the Law.

She highlighted what she called “game changers” in the BBL: 1) A new structural government with a parliamentary system where proportional representation will be observed. She said that under such a system, political parties will really matter and that they will be institutionalized as the electoral machine.; and, 2) better fis-cal arrangement, with more taxes to be devolved to the region, and the creation of the Bangsamoro Commission on audit.

With this arrangement, the region can generate its own income and lessen its dependence on the national government. For decades the Muslim areas in Mindanao have been receiving the least amount of national government expenditures and

subsidies. ARMM, for instance, has been receiving P15,000 per capita compared to P34,000 that the NCR receives. The Cordillera Autonomous Region and the Samar/Leyte region receive more than the ARMM. With better fiscal arrangement the region will hopefully generate its own resources that it can tap to implement the much-needed poverty alleviation programs that will raise the standard of living of its people. The BBL also provides an An-

nex on Normalization, which calls for the decommissioning of armed groups and individuals who will turn in their firearms and reintegrate into the mainstream society.

Professor Coronel-Ferrer also clarified the issues concerning Malaysia and the Philippine claim on Sabah. She empha-sized that Sabah was never mentioned during the negotiations and it was never included in any of thedocuments that were produced as a result of the negotiations.

who “didn’t mean” to do it, please beware of doing this unfavorable practice.

Unlike a group email where one can read the names of the people in the distri-bution list, group texting is totally unac-ceptable. So dear readers, please refrain from sending group texts; individual text messages are always preferable. And re-member, texting while driving could also be fatal.

If you have any opinions/ideas you may wish to impart, we will most certainly take a look at them. My contact address is: [email protected].


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book in the Bible was also necessary to win. Winners romped off with the honors and the bragging rights to claim of at least winning in the areas- finance, physical and spiritual, with the last being the most important part of the competition having committed Bible verses in the mind.

While all the 63 finalists showed exem-plary discipline by not succumbing to the lure of quitting at Temptation Night which occurred on the 30th day of the contest,

some had already distinct advantages in hurdling the agonizing process by virtue of their profession and lifestyles.

Arnel Fontanilla and Kharzma Tan emerged winners in the Men and Women Divisions, respectively, and went home each with $12,000.

Fontanilla, a former boxer, knew and had been through the discipline of how to lose weight. He also had the benefit of the privilege of running alongside Pacquiao

in his daily grind. Even Pacquiao com-mented on the stamina of Fontanilla who still would run to his home after the joging which was a good three miles still.

It was just “hard work and discipline” for Fontanilla, a member of Team Pacquiao who woke up at the crack of dawn to join Pacquiao in jogging and considered it an “honor to run with him daily”.

Fontanilla lost close to 15.4 kg in tip-ping the scales before a crowd at the Flo-rentine Gardens in Hollywood. A throng of reporters from the U.S. and the Philippines were on hand to witness the five-hour event at the 1930 vintage entertainment center.

Tan, on the other hand, trimmed down on crackers, fruits and exercise to win in the women’s division and was surprised her self as she took it easy resting in her home in the final six days leading to the ultimate weight in.

Tan, who has been working in Los Angeles since 2009 said the competition

was “fun but tiring” and just wanted to sleep and eat to make up. “I didn’t expect to win because these last six days I didn’t workout.

I just stayed home and rested.” She shed off a little over 22% of her weight.

The added feature at the Team Pacquiao camp to the “Fight of the Century had over 100 had signer up with high hopes of win-ning the $ 10,000 top prize. Contestants had to “lose big”,( at least 15 percent of their initial weight in five weeks), to take home at least $2,000. Those with lesser resolve were satisfied to a modest amount when they quit when prodded to do so at the Temptation Night held a week earlier.

Apart from dropping weight, the par-ticipants were also required to memorize and recite three verses from three di ferent books from the Bible. he contest was managed by some members of Team Pacquiao and a nutritionist monitoring the participants.

Manny at Rest: Behind the Philippine colors as backdrop in his training room at the Wild Card Boxing Gymn, Manny Pacquiao concludes his day’s hectic training at he prepares for his May 2nd encounter with Floyd Maywearther in Las Vegas.

Biggest Losers Win: Winners of the Biggest Loser Contest sponsored by Manny Pacquiao for hit Team Pacquiao and their families beam as they scored triple victories in terms of weight loss and cash prizes for their efforts, and spiritual nourishment.

Biggest losers win big in MP’s contest leading to the big fi ghtIt takes more than discipline and determination to land on

top of the heap of the weight loss contest sponsored by boxing great Manny Pacquiao for his team.

Sixty three finalists made it to the challenge to lose 15 per-cent or more of their body weight with some confessing to the hardship they had to undergo to reach that goal.

As if the physical torment was not enough, the mental ability to commit three verses from any

Los Angeles – The 3rd PH Indepen-dence Day Celebrations Organizing Com-mittee that will organize and prepare the celebrations of the 117th PH Independence Day Celebrations is all set for the 2 day event.

The 3rd HFT Celebrations Committee is now composed of the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) Ms. FILAM International who is responsible for the Lakambini Ng Kalayaan Contest, the newly formed national organiza-tion, Pilipino American Kultural Society in Action (PAKSA), the Pilipino Institute For Language Arts and Culture , The His-toric Filipinotown Neighborhood Council, Search To Involve The Pilipino Americans, Filipino American Service Group Inc (FASGI), Pilipino Workers Center, Justice for Filipino American Veterans, Los Ange-les Land Trust.

Other groups include the Knights of Rizal-HFT Chapter, Pilipino Women’s Club of LA , the District 13 Office of Council Member Mitch O” Farrell and the Philippine Consulate General of Los Angeles (PCG-LA)

The last meeting of the organizing group was held at the Office of District

13 last April 16, 2015 and was presided by Angelo Yenko of the District 13 office.

This time the 117th Philippine Inde-pendence Day Celebrations has grown bigger and better and will have three major features:

1) The Lakambini Ng Kalayaan 2015 Contest that will be held on June 5 at the Castaway Restaurant in Burbank CA, 91501.

1)The winner of the said contest will be the Lakambini Ng Kalayaan Muse for the 3rdHistoric Filipinotown Parade on the next morning, Saturday, June 06, 2105.

2) The 3rd Historic Filipinotown Ph Independence Day Parade to be held on Saturday, June 06, 2015 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The parade will go around the Historic Filipinotown Temple and Beverly Corridor.

3)The Historic Filipinotown Indepen-dence Day Celebration And Fair to be held after the parade at FACLA Cultural Center on June 6 from 12;00 to 4;00PM..

For more information please call Al Garcia at(213)241-0995 or Sid at (213)3995042 or email us [email protected] or visit our website at www.newfacla.org

117th Philippine Independence Day celebrations and 3rd Historic Filipinotown Parade all set for June 6


kids and several promotions ago. With the passing of time, you’re wondering where all the space went?

Looking for More Room or An Up-grade?

Like many growing families, that cozy feeling of your current California home has gradually drifted into wishing there were more room. You realize it’s time for more space and an upgrade. You figured it’s worth tackling the challenges involved in moving even if it’s across town. This much we know - it makes no difference if you’re moving across town or across the

country, moving is never easy. It’s tough on you physically and mentally.

Plus you have to work through the lo-gistics of selling the home you live in and purchasing a new one, often at the same time. That’s when it gets real complicated and you know you need an expert real estate professional who has experience managing two transactions at the same time. Contingent closings are very com-mon now, but not easy. The hardest part would be to get your offer accepted with a sale contingency. Sellers are sometimes opting for a quick and guaranteed escrow,

Tips for move up sellers/buyers: It’s time to move up!therefore giving contingency buyers a dust on their shoulders. That is why you need to have a very strong offer with a very convincing agent on your side.

Here are some tips we recommend to clients moving into a larger, more expen-sive home.

Preparing for Moving UpBefore you think about buying a bigger

or newer home, begin by prioritizing your home buying needs. Things have changed since you last bought your current home, so your needs have changed dramatically. Just in case you may have forgotten, here are some of the more important aspects of buying a home.

Select an experienced real estate profes-sional to help protect your interest

Get loan pre-approval or at least pre-qualified for a mortgage

Budget for the costs of the new home. 1. Arrange funds for the down payment. 2. Reserve funds for your transition.

Knowing the available housing inven-

tory and the type of market your area is experiencing - Looking before you leap

Getting your current home really move in ready, possibly upgraded too

Price it right!What if you find a new home for your-

self before selling your current homeThe need for a longer closing period

– All parties may not be in favor of this!What if you have to make a contingency

sale offerBe prepared to rent-back your home

between the sale of your current home and the purchase of your new home

Change is good, don’t be discourage to move up. Now should be a good time to sell, buying is another story. But this would be a good time to start this process.

Thanks for your inquiries and com-ments, please call Ken Go of 1st Innova-tive Finance Group at 562-508-7048 or write to [email protected] for any inquiries or your financial or Real Estate needs. Thank you.

It’s time to sell and buy a newer house, most likely a big-ger house and most definitely in a better location that might be closer to your day to day activities! it was the right size and place for your family’s needs when you started but things changes and your kids grow fast.

It was the perfect home that fit your finances, located in a great school district, and cozy enough to be relatively low-maintenance. That was three

INSECURITY

BINAY CASE

From page 1

From page 1

efits through the US assistance provided after Super Typhoon Haiyan struck in 2013, leaving at least 7,350 people dead or missing.

“China wants to make their own com-ments. That’s their opinion. But we are not bound by their opinion and we certainly do not agree with how they described us,” he added.

Lacierda dismissed calls to engage Chi-na in bilateral talks, saying other countries were also involved in the dispute.

China’s Global Times published the remarks after the Philippines expressed in-creasing alarm over China’s claim to most of the South China Sea, a vital sealane and valuable fishing ground.

The Philippines has also said Chi-

nese ships recently used water cannon to drive Filipino fishermen away from a disputed shoal – just 220 kilometres (137 miles) from one of the sites of the 10-day wargames.

Aside from improving defence ties with the United States, the Philippines has been seeking greater US military aid in the face of Chinese “aggressiveness” in disputed waters.

China claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, including areas just off the coasts of other Asian nations, using vague demarcation lines that first appeared on Chinese maps in the 1940s.

The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have overlapping claims.

Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta had previously inhibited himself from partici-pation in the case against the mayor and did not sit during the the first session of the oral arguments.

Last week, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales directly defended in open court before her former colleagues at the Supreme Court (SC) the 6-month preven-tive suspension order she issued against Binay.

The suspension involved the admin-istrative charges for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service for the

allegedly anomalous P2.7 billion Makati City Hall Building 2.

Morales said “conspiracy was apparent” based on evidence before her office against Binay and his co-respondents.

Morales said that there is a “necessity” to place Binay under preventive suspen-sion in order to “preserve” documentary evidence in connection with the case.

The Ombudsman, however, told mag-istrates that it has not yet been established whether there is “substantial evidence” against Binay and this will be determined in the course of the continuing investiga-tion. (MNS)

The champ takes time to be with Fil-Am friends and fellow Christians: Manny Pacquiao’s guests from Las Vegas were among those who were with him at his recent exclusive pre-fi ght press interview with Pastor Dudley Rutherford at the Shepherd Church in the VA Campus of West Los Angeles. Shown are: Benny Pascual, Nelson Enriquez, Olive Lucido, May Causing and Princess Julpha Dianalan.


By Leo MonsaludCongrats to my friends there at FACLA

on your 70th Anniversary!FACLA is considered the oldest non-

profit association of Filipino Americans in Los Angeles County. The “Founding Fathers” organized to empower the Filipino American communities and...promote their economic and social wellbeing.

MembershipToday, membership at FACLA stands

scantily at two hundred (200), more or less. What happened to the thousands of registered members before? Is this good or bad for FACLA? Whatever, FACLA lead-ership should seriously study this matter and act accordingly to gain the “strenght in numbers” if she wants to achieve the goal of empowerment.

ElectionsThere is an scheduled elections for mem-

bers of the Board of Directors this November. And, only those registered members by May 31, 2015 will be allowed to vote. To me, this is a golden opportunity for those who wish to revitalize FACLA and inject fresh ideas to make FACLA relevant to the present Filipino American communities in L.A. FACLA lead-ership should welcome and even encourage this development.

Construction of a new buildingI am happy to learn that construction for

a new building at FACLA grounds will start soon. Again, my congratulations! Forget that critics will bark that the current mem-bers of the Board will benefit by enjoying “perks.” This should be a non-issue. This goes with the territory. The real question should be: Is the Filipino American inter-est properly protected? This promise of protection should not be made verbally; the guarantee should be enshrined in the written provisions of the contract. The $4M asset value FACLA is bringing to the table should not be lost in the process. Otherwise, the Board will be “jointly and severally” liable for treason (traitors to the race) – acts or omissions inimical or contrary to the best interests of the Filipino

American communities of L.A.But, I believe in the intelligence of the

Board members. I trust that they have not left any stone unturned and performed their “due diligence” responsibility before they agreed to any and all provisions of the contract.

FocusMuch have changed from the nature and

extent of the FilAm communities’ needs since. From mostly farmer communities then, the Filipino diaspora has transformed into a group of professionals, retirees, unemployed, sick and poor scattered all over L.A. Many need help with their im-migration status. Many are sick and poor and need help securing proper healthcare. Many need help getting a decent shelter. Many need help finding a job. Now, this new building should not distract FACLA from its mission of attending to the needs of the Filipino American communities in L.A. Will FACLA help?

In the redFACLA, I’ve heard, is in the red. That

it finds difficulty sustaining its daily op-erations financially. If this is true and this happens to the San Miguel Corporation or United Laboratories, and the CEO cannot deliver, the next thing we know is that CEO will be looking for another job. Or, has FACLA become a mirror of the Philippine government where old bureaucrats cling to their positions no matter what, like leeches and parasites?

FACLA certainly needs leadership that can clearly define its visions and missions and have the capability and passion to see these carried through.

My wish for FACLA, on your 70th an-niversary, is this: That you will be blessed with competent and dedicated leaders capable of turning FACLA around into a powerful organization addressing Filipino American needs in L.A., in whatever form. Good luck, FACLA!

Leo Monsalud is contributing articles to Balita Media on Medicare and Obamacare topics. He is a FACLA member.

Quo vadis, FACLA?

Client No. 1Client is 58. His income for the past few years is good. He

grosses about $150K a year. However, because he has been helping his daughter finish college, he hasn’t been paying his income taxes for the last 3 years. He owes the IRS about

Client converts Chapter 13 to Chapter 7Senior with reverse mortgage seeks Chapter 7 discharge of $37k credit cards; Client reopens Chapter 7 to cover unlisted debt

$40K. He has also maxed out his credit cards to pay for her tuition and owes $110K of credit cards.

She graduated last year with a degree in Biology, with the intention of going to medical school to become a physician. But she has a boyfriend, and the boyfriend wants to get married. So I guess she junked her future as a doctor in favor of being a wife and mother. She could have actually done both, be a wife and mother, and still pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. But when reality sets in, the responsibili-ties of being a wife and children cannot

be taken lightly, and really, her options will change. But who’s to say, what God’s plan is for her. I think she should discuss her options first with our Lord. Maybe He wants her to become a physician and not a wife and mother?

I don’t know what it is, but young women often think that marriage is the end all and be all. That without the guy, her life is incomplete, until of course, Prince Charming becomes the beast after mar-riage, then she just blew a medical career

for what, for a guy whose not worth the sandals she wears. In any event, client has just become partially disabled so he can’t make $150K anymore. Client’s income has decreased by $2K a month right now because of his disability. Considering that his plan payment is $1,345, the reduction in monthly income wipes out the disposable income required to pay the plan payment.

Hence, there is no sense in continuing with the Chapter 13 because the reduction in income now creates a financial hardship for client to set aside $1,345 a month for his Chapter 13. I advise him to convert to Chapter 7, which will discharge all of the $110K of credit card debt. However, the $40K owed to the IRS has to be treated separately since the amount owed is still not eligible for a discharge.Client No. 2

Client is 64. He just retired last year. He was able to get a reverse mortgage on his house. So, he does not have any mortgage payments, which is good. However, his social security is $1,400 and his wife’s social security is $500, for a combined total retirement income of $1900, which is a little tight but good enough to cover all other monthly expenses, except for one major expense. This major expense is minimum credit card payments of $1,200 a month for $35,000 of credit cards which he has paid for in the last 10 years.

His monthly expenses for food, gas, medicine & insurances are $1,800. So, there’s really nothing left for credit card payments. Their social security income is only $1900. Mathematically, that’s the end of the road. Client really must get a

Chapter 7 discharge of his credit cards. In fact, American Express has already filed a lawsuit for $4,800, and Capital One has also just filed a lawsuit for $7,300. Besides, he has already paid over $144,000 to keep the $35,000 debt current in the last 10 years. So these cards have been paid four times over. It seems unjust that after pay-ing $144,000 he would still owe the same $35,000. But that’s the reality of it. If he discharged the cards ten years ago, then he would have $144,000 now in savings, and would owe zero.

Client decides to file Chapter 7 to discharge all of his credit cards. Unfor-tunately, his wife has also decided to dis-charge him because she decided to go back to their country of origin so she can spend the rest of her life with her own family. I’ve actually encountered several cases like this where one spouse just decides to pack up and leave because she or he is tired of the life here or the passion for the spouse has been “discharged.”

It’s just gone. They say they’re just like roommates. Sometimes when the kids become adults, parents go their own separate ways because it was only the responsibility of raising the children that kept them together. Maybe wife has a high school sweetheart back home whose now single again or widowed. Anyway, client says he likes his life now as simple as it is with no mortgage to pay, and living by himself. He’s not sick and in good health, so he takes each day one day at a time, simply being alive, enjoying what’s left of his earthly life. Everything in this world

See YANG, page 13


S.W. was 15 years old when Luis Morales offered her a job at U.S. Metro Group, Inc., where Morales worked. S.W., who was best friends with Morales’ daughter, ac-cepted Morales’ offer. She started working with Morales cleaning buildings at night. Morales then began sexu-ally molesting S.W. He was later caught and criminally prosecuted.

S.W. sued Morales and Morales’ employer, U.S. Met-ro Group, Inc., in civil court for sexual assault and battery, harassment in violation of the law, negligent hiring, negli-gent training and supervision, and negligent infliction of emotional distress. Accord-ing to S.W. the employer knew about Morales’ criminal conduct and did nothing to prevent or stop it.

The employer countered that it had no reason to be-lieve that Morales posed an undue risk to third persons, and that he had no criminal background that suggested he was unfit for the work at U.S. Metro. Furthermore, the employer argued that S.W. was not its employee, and that Morales violated company policy by bringing a minor and nonemployee to work-sites. Also, the employer said no one ever reported S.W. was present at worksites, that Morales’ interactions with S.W. were completely unre-lated to his work duties, and that Morales molested S.W. at Morales’ home, and con-tinued to molest her outside employer’s premises.

The jury had to address this question: Is the employer liable for the criminal act of its employee towards another person, when that act may be unrelated to the employee’s work duties and done outside the workplace?

In California, an employ-ee’s unauthorized conduct may be within the scope of his employment if the conduct was committed in the course and scope of employment or if the conduct arose from a risk inherent in or created by the employment.

Furthermore, an employ-ee’s wrongful or criminal conduct may be within the scope of employment even if it breaks a company rule. This is because an employer’s liability extends beyond its actual or possible control of the employee to include risks inherent in or created by the enterprise.

Therefore, even if the em-ployee is not engaged in his primary tasks at the time of his wrongful act, if the wrong-ful act occurred in the course and scope of his authorized duties as an employee, then the employer may be liable for its employee’s wrong-ful act.

The Daily Journal re-ported that the jury issued a verdict in S.W.’s favor and found the employer 60 per-cent liable and Morales 40 percent liable. The jury then awarded her $2.65 million in damages.

Sexual misconduct in the workplace occurs in various

Employer held liable for employee’s sexual misconduct outside the workplaceforms. Several theories of liability may be used against the employer of the person who actually committed the misconduct. The choice of these theories, and the evidence presented at trial, are important to ensure payment of compensation to the victim of sexual misconduct.

[C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is trial attorney who has obtained several million dollar recoveries for his clients against insurance companies and employers. He has been selected as a Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, featured in the cover of Los Angeles Daily Journal’s Verdicts and

Settlements, and is a member of the Million Dollar-Advocates Forum. He is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center Wash-ington, D.C. and the University of the Philip-pines. Visit his website at www.joesayaslaw.com or contact his office at (818) 291-0088 for a no-cost inquiry.]

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(overstays)Status/ Visa violationsAdmitted in the US in transit without

a visaAdmitted in the US as a non immigrant

visitor without a visaThese bars will prevent an alien from

getting their green card inside the US even if they are eligible to receive a green card through a Petition that is current. Aliens that with the above issues who try to adjust may encounter problems with the USCIS.

INA section 245(i) waives these in-admissibility grounds for aliens that are grandfathered (covered) by INA section 245(i). How does someone get grand-fathered by section 245(i)? An alien is grandfathered if the alien is a beneficiary of a qualifying petition filed prior to April 30, 2001 and the principal beneficiary was physically present in the US on 12/21/2000. For petitions filed on or before 1/14/1998, no physical presence in the US is required. Qualifying petitions are I-130s, I-140s, some I-360s and I-526s, labor certification applications, that are filed and approvable when filed. In addition, under Matter of Jara RIERO and Jara ESPINO L, 24 I&N Dec. 267(BIA 2007), the applicant must demonstrate bona fide marriage for I-130 filed based on marriage.

Derivative beneficiaries that existed at the time the qualifying petition was filed are independently grandfathered under section 245(i). They may adjust under a separate petition. After acquired de-pendents may adjust under 245(i) but are not independently grandfathered. After acquired dependents must adjust pursu-ant to the original qualifying petition that grandfathered them under section 245(i). If an alien is covered by section 245(i), the alien can adjust to a legal permanent resident by paying a $1,000 penalty and submitting evidence that the alien was a beneficiary of a qualifying petition.

Being covered by section 245(i) makes a lot of difference for aliens who lost their I-94. It is a common situation for aliens not to have their I-94 and passports if they en-tered the US many years ago. Sometimes, the I-94 and old passport are lost through

the years when the alien move from one residence to another. The problem with this is the alien might have problem proving in-spection into the United States specially if the alien is unable to obtain a replacement I-94 or present other proof of inspection such as the immigration admission stamp or a copy of the visa.

Another common situation are crew men under a C-1 visa that were inspected but admitted as “in transit.” Many of these crew men never make it to their final des-tination. The crew men instead decides to remain in the United States. What they do not realize is that they cannot adjust to legal permanent residence even if they end up marrying a US Citizen. However if they are grandfathered by section 245(i) such as if their parents were petitioned when they were minors, the crew men will be able to adjust and get their green card by paying a $1,000 penalty and presenting evidence of the qualifying petition.

Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation.

Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a member of American Immigration Lawyers Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail [email protected]. Visit us in the web Kenreyeslaw.com.

How can INA section 245(i) benefi t you?Certain aliens are barred from adjusting to legal permanent

residents by virtue of having entered the United States under the following conditions:

Entering the US as an alien crewman (C-1 visa/ jumpship)Accepting unauthorized employmentEntering the US without

inspection (No I-94 or crossing the border without a visa)

Remaining in the US past the expiration of their status

FACLA celebrates platinum 70th year anniversaryLos Angeles – The Filipino American

Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) will celebrate its Platinum or 70th Anniversary this weekend, April 25 to 26, at the Social Hall at 1740 W. Temple St. Los Angeles, CA 90026.

FACLA President Austin Baul Jr said, Anniversary Committee Chairs Susan Oca and Linda Nery reported that the celebrations for April 25, 2015 will for loyal FACLA members and supporters. It is $10 donation and no one turned away. The event will be from 12 noon to 4 p.m.

On the other the April 26 at 6 p.m., grand celebrations will be a $ 50 ticketed event. Many government officials and top personalities were invited to the affair.”FACLA’s Checkered 70 Year History

FACLA is celebrating its Platinum 70th Anniversary on April 26, 2015. FACLA was founded on April 26, 1945 in Los Angeles.

On the closing stages of World War II , on April 26, 1945, a Filipina named Petra

Hernandez, and three Filipinos; Jose A. Reyes, B.G. Aquino and Alex G. Velasco, all farm workers and residents of Los An-geles established the Filipino Community of Los Angeles (FCLA) as a non-profit organization and made it the oldest existing non-profit organization in California and the United States;

From 1945 until 1963, FACLA grew from two halfway houses into growing facilities. They were able to add a big an-nex with a social hall and planned to build a cultural center.

This became that became a reality in 1965 when a modest one-story building with a social hall was built. It was named as the Filipino American Cultural Center. Basically a center for Filipino American Cultural identity.

For more information about the FACLA please call Al Garcia at (323)253-1818 and Cording and Claire at (213) 484-1527 or email us at [email protected] and visit our website at www.newfacla.org.


offence led to a conviction and the passage of time to render a person inadmissible or rehabilitated.

In general, Canada will not allow a person to enter its country if a person has not been rehabilitated and/or found inadmissible. This was the case of singer Chris Brown who was recently denied entry to Canada and was forced to cancel two concerts in Toronto at the last minute.

There is little doubt that his past assault charges were the reason for his denial and the special temporary resident permit was not issued on time.

In your particular case, you have not mentioned the specific crime but if it was serious I will assume it was punishable in Canada for a term of at least ten years. Your actual sentence is not relevant. It is the Canadian equivalent that matters.

Similarly, there is a difference between a conviction and if an act occurred that is a crime in Canada. If a person committed an act (although not convicted) that if it occurred in Canada, would be a criminal offence – that person could also be ren-dered inadmissible.

A person is not likely not to be rehabili-tated if only a few years have passed. In some cases, a passage of ten years renders a person automatically rehabilitated and no special permission is required.

Given the above, it would seem that if you file a spousal application at this time you will face hurdles in order to be successful.

If refused, you have a right to appeal. If you have sufficient humanitarian and compassionate grounds you may be able to win an appeal.

Q. I became a permanent resident in 2005. I never applied for Canadian Citizenship. I was charged with a narcotics offence and assault last year. I finished my sentence of 2 months in jail and I thought my life was getting back on track until Canada Borders Agency sent me a letter requesting an interview for removal pro-ceedings. What do I do?

A. Firstly, the CBSA letter is not an invitation but mandatory. You must attend. Second, there are several steps to removing someone and you can appeal. Therefore, it is unlikely you will be removed on the day of that interview. They probably want to gather more information about you to determine if they should proceed to the next step.

Be sure to bring with you evidence of all ties to Canada ( marriage certificate, birth certificate of children, job letter, car, bank account) to convince them that your life is stable and your place is Canada. If they wish to proceed you will need to face

a judge for an admissibility hearing. That is appealable. If you get to that stage, it’s serious and you should seek a professional lawyer’s help.

Q. I want to hire my niece in the Phil-ippines as a caregiver. I live in a small town in Ontario and have two baby girls. I understand that the caregiver program allows workers to be live-out but I doubt my niece will want to live alone. Can I just hire her a live-in caregiver?

A. No. All LMIA applications sent by employers after November 30, 2014 fall under the new rules. You cannot force your niece to be live-in. If she does come to Canada and lives with you, you cannot reduce her pay for room and board.

Under new rules, she must apply for a

regular low skill work permit as a care-giver.

It should be noted that applicants who do come to work as caregivers under the new rules must be aware of what lies ahead.

In particular, such applicants will only be able to become permanent residents after 24 months of employment if they pass an English test and have their education as-sessed (with a passing grade of at least one year post secondary Canadian equivalent).

Attorney Henry Moyal is a certified and licensed immigration lawyer in To-ronto, Ontario. The above article is general advice only and is not intended to act as a legal document. Send questions to Attor-ney Moyal by email [email protected] or call toll free 1-888-847-2078.

Criminal charges may keep you out of CanadaI’m a US Citizen and I have married a Canadian lady in Los

Angeles. I want to live in Canada and start the immigration processing but I am afraid that I will be denied. I was charged with a serious criminal offence four years ago. I am embar-rassed about it but I did my time and completed my sentence. Will I still be able to immigrate?

There are several factors that one must look at when it comes to criminal offences. They are: the Canadian equivalent of the foreign offence, whether the


MANILA, Apr 23 (Mabuhay) – To avoid his critics, President Benigno Aquino III is thinking of shifting careers from politics to mechanics.

During a speech on Thursday before high school graduates who are benefi-ciaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer program, Aquino shared that a graduate of government’s technical-vocational pro-gram is already a mechanic in Australia, earning twice the salary of the President.

Aquino, a car enthusiast, then quipped that he should have trained as a mechanic instead of seeking the presidency so he would no longer have to deal with his “attention-deprived” critics.

“Naisip ko nga po: Siguro, kung nag-training na lang ako para maging mekan-iko sa ilalim ng TESDA [Technical Educa-tion and Skills Development Authority], maaabot ko rin pala ang sahod niya, at hindi pa ako sasalubungin ng araw-araw na panlalait ng mga kulang sa pansin,” the President said.

He then said that his anecdote about the TESDA-trained mechanic is proof that Filipinos’ lives are improving under his administration.

“Dahil napakaraming Pilipino ang umaangat ang kalidad ng buhay dahil natutulungan sila ng gobyerno, asahan ninyong magsisimula sa mas maayos na

estado ang susunod na salinlahi,” Aquino said.

“Kung mamumuhunan ka sa edukasyon ng Pilipino, asahan mong mapapaunlad niya ang kanyang sarili, pamilya, komuni-dad, at samakatuwid, ang buong bansa,” he added.

In the same speech, Aquino also boasted of his administration’s accomplishments, which he said makes all the criticisms and insults being hurled towards him worth it.

The President is facing record-low satisfaction and trust ratings following the botched January 25 Mamasapano opera-tion, which left over 60 individuals dead, including 44 police commandos.

Meanwhile, Aquino vowed more re-forms in the fishing industry after the European Union (EU) revoked the warning it issued on the Philippines for its failure to control illegal fishing.

In a statement, Aquino said his adminis-tration “worked tirelessly” to comply with the EU’s requirements to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in Philippine waters.

“Had the situation worsened, this would have alienated one of the biggest importers of fish for the Philippines, which would have been a blow against our fish-ing industry and Filipino fishermen,” the President said.

PNoy, the mechanic? Aquino jokes about alternative job to avoid critics

idea of filing for bankruptcy relief has crossed your mind, your first instinct may have been to immediately dismiss the idea as “the last thing you’ll ever do”. After all, you’ve probably heard from friends, family and co-workers that bankruptcy is “bad” and that “it is the worst mistake you can ever make.” So instead of taking action, you’ve probably found it easier not to do anything instead, wishing that your problems would just somehow magically disappear if you ignore them long enough.

Stop kidding yourself: The worst thing that you can ever do when you’re in this situation is to remain in denial. The truth of the matter is that debt problems actually tend to get worse, the longer you put them off. Sooner or later, you will have to face the music- and the consequences of your apathy and inaction.

Some people fear that they will some-how be “talked into filing” against their will once they see a bankruptcy attorney about their situation. This is ridiculous. First of all, no one can ever force you to do anything that you don’t want to do yourself. Bankruptcy attorneys are there to help you understand and exercise your legal rights to protect yourself. Secondly, if you have assets that you need to protect such as your home, vehicles, bank accounts, etc., there’s a risk of losing what you’ve worked so hard

for if you wait until the last minute to take action. If you’ve tried everything to solve your financial problems on your own and this has not gotten you anywhere, it’s time to seek professional help.

The reality is that there are a lot of people out there who have already been to several different attorneys and were probably given the same advice by every attorney they’ve seen.

So they actually already know what they need to do- They just don’t do it because they are afraid of making needed changes in their lives. See, change can sometimes be uncomfortable- but unless you get out of your comfort zone when necessary, you’ll just be running on a treadmill for the rest of your life and you will remain stuck where you are. You do want your life to change for the better, don’t you?

Don’t misunderstand what I’m saying. Bankruptcy is certainly NOT for every-one. As a matter of fact, I often advise AGAINST bankruptcy unless it is the best solution for the client.

But when it is the best option, postpon-ing it can only work to your disadvantage. Why continue to suffer needlessly when the very solution that you need to end your problems once and for all may be right under your nose? We are a nation governed by laws intended to protect our welfare.

Why not find out how the legal process may benefit you and your family?

For a free consultation, please call Toll-Free 1-888-752-8211 or (661) 775-4880 and let me review your situation. We have offices in Pasadena, Cerritos and Valencia.

(None of the information herein is

intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped over 5,000 clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-888-752-8211).

Bankruptcy: Are you stuck in debt with no way out?In spite of the negative things that you may have heard

about it, bankruptcy relief still remains to be the best option to many individuals who need help in recovering financially. There is nothing “illegal” or “criminal” about filing for bankruptcy. As a matter of fact, obtaining relief from debt under federal law is an important legal right that you have as a consumer provided that you are eligible.

If you are in debt and the


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Winning in the U.S. ArmyShe’s not your typical dalagang Pili-

pina – commonly used to describe women who are meek, shy and delicate. In fact, United States Army Sargeant First Class (SFC) Melanie Domaoan Williams was strong, brave and opinionated enough to decide for herself that she wanted to be a soldier.

She was recruited at a mall in Daly City, California, by a fellow Filipino recruiter. The young Pinay signed up for four years. But like most Filipino parents who are protective of their children and have some misconceptions about the Army in general, SFC Williams’ mom was apprehensive.

“My mom didn’t want me to join. I guess because I’m a female and she didn’t think I’d be able to complete the training. It took a lot of convincing,” SFC Williams said of her mother Nadia’s hesitation to give her blessing to join the U.S. Army.

“She was scared because she thought I was going to go to war. I think that’s the main misconception. When we go to combat environment, we are there to do our job. I’m a human resources specialist, so even in a combat , when I’m deployed, I’m doing my HR job. We’re not all gonna fight the enemy. We’re there to support the guys who are actually fighting,” SFC Wil-liams explained.

While stationed at Fort Drum, SFC Williams deployed to Iraq for 15 months in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In August 2008, SFC Williams was reas-signed to Fort Jackson, SC and served as the Battalion human resources sergeant for 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment. In February 2011, she was reassigned to Fort Hood, TX as the senior human resources sergeant for 720th Military Police Battal-ion. While at Fort Hood, she completed a 12-month deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In April 2013, SFC Williams attended the Army Recruiting Course in Fort Jackson, SC and is currently assigned to LA Bat-talion, Long Beach Company, Lakewood Center.

Looking back during the interview, SFC Williams Admitted she had fears before she entered the Army; but not the same things her mother was afraid of. She said she was afraid she wasn’t going to be fit enough to complete the training.

“But in the army, you have to have a lot of self motivation. I think that’s what got me through,” she said.

While SFC Williams’ self motivation carried her through training, she said she also developed one of life’s most important virtues while serving in the Army: “Disci-pline is one of the biggest things I learned. If I didn’t join the Army, I wouldn’t be as disciplined as far as physical fitness and general discipline in life, making sure that everything is organized. Now I follow my

schedule all the time.”SFC Williams’ schedule for her life

and short term goals are to complete her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and immediately start a master’s program in counseling.

Her long term goals are to attain the rank of Command Sergeant Major, retire with 20 plus years of service and continue to work for the Army as a civilian coun-selor for soldiers and family members.

She stressed that she believes educa-tion is the biggest reward from joining the military: “You only have to sign up for four years. When you complete that, even if you no longer want to extend your contract, you can get out with your G.I. Bill, which will pay for a college degree. Then you won’t have to pay for anything. That’s the biggest benefit.”

SFC Williams is currently a senior at Troy University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, while being mar-ried to husband, Anthony and mother to son Malcolm.

“Being in the Army helped me to become a stronger and more dedicated person, for my family as a spouse and as a mom,” she said.

Aside from school and family, the hu-man resources specialist continues to serve the Army as a recruiter in Long Beach, CA. And because she experienced the same hesitation from her own parents, she had this to say to parents of young hopefuls who are wanting to sign up to the U.S. Military: “Para sa mga parents nang mga applicants na gustong mag-sign up, they should know that in the Army, we get all the training we need. Your kids will be trained and taken care of. There’s nothing to worry about because we are trained for everything that we do. We are prepared.”

Stressing the misconception that all who enlist in the Army go to combat, SFC Williams said there are several job op-portunities in the in the U.S. Military: “If you join the army, you’ll get a job, whether HR, engineer, whatever it is you qualify for. That’s your career. That’s your specific role in the army.”

And as added benefit which may be useful to Filipinos, “Some people who join without their citizenship, they will get their citizenship pretty fast,” SFC Wil-liams added.

MAVNI is Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest. Qualified applicants must posses proficiency in one or more of the languages listed in the program. They have to have been in the US for at least 2 years with legal status, and must satisfy the basic requirements for joining the Army: must be 17-35 years old; at least a high school graduate; must have a Valid visa, be a citizen or green card holder. There are some law violations that are not quali-

fied for the army, some medical issues and physical requirements. The U.S. Army also has a tattoo policy.

“When applicants join through MAVNI, part of processing is language test - listen-ing and speaking. If they pass and they join, it takes about 4-6 months before they ship out to basic training and during basic training, they get their citizenship,” SFC Williams said and added that she wants to encourage more Filipinos to enlist.

“Sa tingin ko dapat mas marami pang Filipinos sa US Army. We’re known for our discipline and our drive. The Army

will benefit if there are more Filipinos who are hard-working and are always willing to help out the team to be successful,” said SFC Williams.

With all the benefits and lifelong values one learns from the Army, as manifested by SFC Williams who’s also a recent recipient of the Sgt. Audie Murphy Award, it seems that no matter what combat environment a soldier gets assigned to; or what job he or she fulfills within the organization, there’s only winning in the military. For more information, log on to: www.goarmy.com. Or call – 1.562.496.3815.

is temporary. When you get older you will understand this.Client No. 3

Client got his discharge last year. Went out of the country after the discharge and came back with a small claims judgment against him for $9K in his mailbox.

Apparently, he thought that insurance would pay for the entire cost of water damage to his house, but insurance was short $9K. So, the contractor sued him in small claims.

Fortunately, the contact for repair was executed one month before his bankruptcy was filed. This means the $9K is still discharged.

The small claims judge allowed him 120 days to reopen his bankruptcy case and amend his list of debts to include the contractor.

So, we filed a motion to reopen to file the amendment to discharge it.

“IN THE MORNING, LORD, YOU HEAR MY VOICE; IN THE MORNING I LAY MY REQUESTS BEFORE YOU & WAIT EXPECTANTLY.” PSALM 5:3.

Lawrence Bautista Yang is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and has been in law practice for thirty years. He specializes in bankruptcy, business and civil litigation and has handled more than five thousand successful bankruptcy cases in California.

He speaks Tagalog and looks forward to discussing your case with you personally. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S Fremont Ave, MAILSTOP 58, Building A-1 SUITE 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803 OR at 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789.

YANGFrom page 8

14 Visit www.Balita.com Weekend, Sat. - Fri., Apr. 25 - May 1, 2015 Balita LOS ANGELES

OPINIONMANILA, Apr 22 (Mabuhay) – The recent comments of a

Chinese tabloid calling the Philippines a “cute little submis-sive” of the United States showed Chinese insecurity towards Filipinos, a Malacañang official said Wednesday.

At a press briefing, presidential spokesman Sec. Edwin Lacierda lashed back at the Global Times, a Chinese tabloid with close ties to the ruling Communist Party, for making such comments towards the Philippines.

“We don’t understand where this insecurity of the Chinese towards us is coming from. Where do we have the wherewithal to compete against China as a superpower?” Lacierda said.

The Palace official also refuted the Chinese paper’s claim that the Philippines’ actions to resolve its territorial dispute with China over parts of the South China sea are supposedly not working.

“We recognize where they are coming from. We recognize that China wants to make their own comments. That’s their opinion. We are not bound by their opinion. We certainly do not agree with how they describe us,” Lacierda said.

The Global Times ran an editorial on Tuesday criticizing the Philippines for holding joint military exercises with the United States.

The editorial described the joint military exercises as “laugh-able” and called the Philippines a “cute little submissive” of the US.

“Can anyone believe that China can be bluffed to make compromises when others show off their military muscle?” the Chinese tabloid affiliated with the Communist Party mouthpiece the People’s Daily said in its editorial.

Lacierda further said that the Philippines’ joint military exercises with the US are being done to fulfill existing agree-ments between the two countries, and are not meant to counter China’s military power.

“We are doing this for the good of our country. I think national interest should prevail over the comments by that tabloid,” the Palace official said.

Manila and Beijing are locked in a territorial dispute over resource-rich parts of the South China Sea.

The Philippines, which calls the disputed areas the “West Philippine Sea,” has sought international arbitration before a Netherlands-based tribunal to nullify China’s massive claims.

China uses the so-called “nine-dash line” to claim ownership of almost the entire South China Sea, while the Philippines uses the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as basis for its claim.

Beijing earlier rejected international arbitration proceedings to settle its territorial dispute with the Philippines, insisting instead on bilateral talks to settle the matter.

China also has overlapping claims over parts of the South China Sea with Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Taiwan. (MNS)

MANILA, Apr 21 (Mabuhay) – President Be-nigno Aquino III does not see the need to convene the National Security Council (NSC) amid China’s recent actions in disputed areas in the South China Sea, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Asked via text message if there is a necessity for Aquino to meet the NSC to tackle China’s ag-gression, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte replied, “In the President’s view, not at this time.”

Valte added that the Cabinet’s security cluster – which is composed of defense, military and police officials – regularly tackles the Philippines’ territo-rial dispute with China in its meetings with Aquino.

“I am not aware of any discussions regarding convening the NSC at this time to take up the West Philippine Sea dispute,” the Palace official said.

The NSC is chaired by the president. Its other members are the Vice President, the Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff, the NSC director-general, the executive secretary, the secretaries of foreign affairs, national defense, interior and local government, justice, and labor and employment.

“The security cluster discusses the WPS as a regular item in their agenda as warranted, with the relevant departments present,” she added.

On Monday, Senator Francis Escudero urged Aquino to convene the NSC, in light of Beijing’s increasing efforts to stake its claim in disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea.

President Aquino earlier said that the world should fear China’s reclamation and construction work in the South China Sea, calling these a global problem. Beijing, however, maintained that the situation in the area is stable.

PNoy never convened NSCAt the same time, Valte said that as far as she

knows, President Aquino has never convened the NSC.

“I don’t recall that he has convened it during his administration,” the Palace official said in a text message.

The NSC was created during President Elpidio Quirino’s administration through Executive Order 330. It was reorganized by President Ramon Mag-saysay via Executive Order 115.

Under these executive orders, the NSC is tasked to “advise the President on matters of national defense and security.”

These documents do not specify how often the NSC should meet. Instead, the NSC was directed to make recommendations to the President “from time to time.”

The NSC is composed of the President, the Vice President, the Senate President, the House Speaker, Cabinet members, the Armed Forces chief, the Foreign Affairs undersecretary, the National Civil Defense administration, and chairpersons of the defense and foreign affairs committees in Congress.

Secretary Cesar Garcia Jr. currently heads the NSC.

China’s aggressionRecent satellite images showed China building

an airstrip suitable for military use on reclaimed parts of Kagitingan Reef in the disputed Spratly archipelago. Beijing is also reportedly undertaking reclamation work on Subu Reef in the Spratlys.

China has overlapping claims over parts of the South China Sea with the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Taiwan.

The Philippines, which calls part of the disputed areas the “West Philippine Sea,” has sought inter-national arbitration before a Netherlands-based tribunal to nullify China’s massive claims over South China Sea.

China uses the so-called “nine-dash line” to claim ownership of almost the entire South China Sea, while the Philippines uses the UnitedNations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as basis for its claim.

Beijing earlier rejected international arbitration proceedings to settle its territorial dispute with the Philippines, insisting instead on bilateral talks to settle the matter. (MNS)

MANILA, Apr 22 (Mabuhay) – Philippine law-makers on Wednesday slammed senior Hong Kong politician Regina Ip for portraying Hong Kong men as victims to the supposedly wily ways of Filipina domestic helpers when it’s usually the male employ-ers who usually take advantage of the maids.

OFW party-list Rep. Roy Señeres Sr. said Ip was more likely unaware of the bitter truth about the abuses Filipina domestic helpers have to suffer over the years when she branded them as home wreckers.

“Many Filipinas have been subjected to rape and other forms of brutality abroad precisely because they refused to give in to sexual overtures of their male employers. I have come across a big number of cases when I was still a labor attaché and later an ambassador,” Señeres, a former chairman of the Na-tional Labor Relations Commission, told reporters.

“Apparently, [Ip] is not aware that many male employers have been taking advantage of their ascendancy to seduce Filipinas. Despite offers of money and good life, Filipino women resist such advances, thus, are often punished with sexual molestation, if not fired and sent home to the Philip-pines,” he added.

Ip, an assemblywoman eyed as Hong Kong’s future chief executive, drew flak after claiming in an op-ed article in Chinese-language newspaper Ming Pao last Friday that Filipina domestic helpers seduce husbands of expatriate women, citing complaints she has received from the allegedly aggrieved wives.

“Rather than reporting improper behavior by local employers, should we pay more attention to Filipina maids becoming sexual resources for for-eign men in Hong Kong?” she asked.

No supporting evidenceSome 173,000 of the estimated 300,000 domestic

helpers working in Hong Kong are Filipinas, govern-ment figures show.

Gabriela party-list Rep. Emmi de Jesus branded Ip’s remarks as “anti-women, anti-migrant and rac-ist” as she expressed support for protest actions that would compel the Hong Kong politician to issue a public apology and retract her statement.

“Regina Ip’s attack against migrant workers is not supported by data and has no official legislative purpose other than raise public intrigues against Filipino domestics, take away their dignity and force them to accept their constant sexual and economic abuse in silence,” she said in a statement.

De Jesus’ fellow party-list representative, Luz Ilagan, was incredulous at Ip’s belief that Filipina domestic helpers could be so powerful and “super gorgeous” to seduce Hong Kong men into leaving their wives. She noted that in cases of sexual harass-ment, it is the person who occupies the position of power who imposes conditions or forces the other party to submit to sexual demands.

Citing this argument, she said it is usually Fili-pina maids who are harassed, raped and abused by their employers.

“Pinay domestic helpers will not jeopardize thier jobs by flirting with their employers,” Ilagan said.

Anecdotal experienceBayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares de-

manded an apology from Ip for her remarks, which he said were merely based on anecdotal experience that may or may not be true.

“These discriminatory remarks are unaccept-able,” he said. “[Her] anecdotal experience is not empirical. May maganda kang karanasan, may-roong di maganda sa ibang lahi pero you don’t condemn them for their race.”

Palace on China paper’s comments vs. PHL: Why so insecure? Aquino sees no need to convene National

Security Council over China – Palace

PHL lawmakers blast HK politician for ‘racist’ remarks vs. Pinay maids

15Visit www.Balita.comBalita Weekend, Sat. - Fri., Apr. 25 - May 1, 2015 LOS ANGELES

posite. Aside from doing nothing in terms of negotiation with China, he ordered all Philippine navy vessels in the disputed areas to pull back on the pretext that the ships were threatened constantly by typhoons.

It is known to all our neighboring Asian countries that we are not capable of defending the disputed areas in the South China Sea. Most of our weapons are outmoded and our military aircraft and vessels donated by the United States, are either obsolete or second-hand.

In 2012, a bloody confrontation be-tween the Philippine Coast Guard and Chinese coast guard almost erupted. Our coast guard tried to apprehend Chinese poachers in the Scarborough Shoal, about 124 nautical miles from Manila. They however were prevented by heavily armed Chinese Coast Guard from arresting the poachers.

It must have been hard for our maritime security sailors to “turn their cheek the other way” to avoid bloodshed know-ing that they were both outgunned and outmanned.

But what is hard to swallow was an in-sulting story which came out recently from a Chinese newspaper which described the Philippines as a “cry baby” for seeking international support in protest against

China’s island building.Chinese officials were so cocky that

it said the Beijing government does not need to apologize to anyone or will it justify its ongoing construction works in the South China Sea which they claimed belongs to them.

China has claimed sovereignty over most of the resource-rich and strategi-cally important South China Sea. China is claiming ownership on the disputed mari-time territory based on the “nine-dash-line. The Philippines, on the other hand, uses the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS, as the basis of its claim.

In an effort to deter China from further doing reclamation activities in the dis-puted areas, the Philippine government, as usual, is seeking military assistance from The United States. President Aquino is asking America to increase its military presence in the country and its coastal waters through expanded and frequent military exercises.

I wish we have a leader who should be man enough to stand up and tell the Chinese to stop its incursion into Philip-pine waters. President Noynoy does not have that kind of personality or leadership, especially in times of crisis. He has proven that so many times before.

President Noynoy was nowhere in sight during the Manila hostage crisis when eight Hong Kong tourists aboard a bus were killed in Luneta by a disgruntled cop. It was DOTC Secretary Mar Roxas and Fred Lim, who was then Manila mayor, who were in charge of negotiating with the disgruntled cop.

He was also nowhere during and after Typhoon Yolanda hit the southern part of the country. About 6,300 residents in the area were killed. Again, it was Roxas who did cover for Aquino’s absence. And most recently, the Mamasapano massacre where 44 police commandos were slaughtered by Muslim rebels in Mindanao. All President Aquino did was blame other people, ex-cept himself.

Senator Chiz Escudero was right in saying that President Aquino should convene the National Security Council (NSC) to draw up plans to counter China’s aggressive acts in the South China Sea. Escudero’s proposal was prompted by satellite photos showing that the Chinese had made recent construction in seven reefs and shoals in the Spratly archipelago.

This is the best time for all Filipinos to come together as one, regardless of political or religious affiliations. Chinese incursion in Philippine territory is a threat to our sovereignty as a nation.

AFP Chief Gen. Gregorio Catapang Jr, also voiced his concern over the “show of force” the Beijing government is doing in the disputed areas. He is right in say-ing that what China is doing in the South China Sea will not only limit freedom of navigation but would eventually capitalize it for military purposes.

I doubt if America will lift a finger to stop China from claiming the disputed ter-ritory. The U.S. government owes a great

deal of money from China. The Beijing government bailed out the United States from the brink of bankruptcy by lending trillions of dollars to resurrect its dying economy.

The Philippine government has sought international arbitration before a Nether-lands-based tribunal to counter China’s massive claim over the South China Sea.

The Philippines also filed a case against China with the United Nations Conven-tion of the Law of the Sea Tribunal.

Hopefully, this ongoing dispute could be settled amicably instead of resorting to a bloody war, in which the Philippines has no chance of winning against the giant neighbor, which is an emerging economic and military giant.

When bullied, call Uncle SamPresident Benigno S. Aquino and the Armed Forces of the

Philippines (AFP should take a more assertive action to defend our country’s sovereignty in the ongoing feud between the Philippines and China over the disputed islands in the South China Sea.

China has recently stepped up its actions to press its maritime claims by sending more military vessels within the disputed areas.

President Aquino, on the other hand, apparently is doing the op-



ENTERTAINMENTAnnabelle Rama is at it again.The talent manager posted several mes-

sages criticizing a woman who has bad taste in men.

Rama described the woman as very intelligent, hardworking and studied in expensive schools here and abroad but failed to choose a good partner.

Rama also claimed that the person spends more money for her boyfriend than her children, calling her a “certified sugar mommy.”

She also criticized the woman’s friends, calling them “B.I.” or bad influence.

The talent manager added that everyone should be wary of men who refuse to work because they might look for another part-ner in the future. After posting the tweets, Rama’s followers were quick to assume that she was pertaining to only daughter, television actress Ruffa Gutierrez.

Rama does not approve of Gutierrez’s new boyfriend, French-Arab businessman Jordan Mouyal.

In October, Rama and Gutierrez had a brief falling out after the former voiced her concerns over the latter’s new partner.

Rama wrote: “Since day 1 yan lagi nat-ing pinag-aawayan, love life mo. Mahirap bang humanap ng guy na stable? May de-gree, businessman, naghahanap buhay?”

Gutierrez, for her part, said she respects her mother’s opinion and that Mouyal is still respectful of her parents.

She even dared Rama to pick the right guy for her. (MNS)

Is Annabelle Rama in Twitter spat again with Ruffa Gutierrez?

“Sisterakas” co-stars Vice Ganda and Kris Aquino have addressed speculation that they are not on good terms, suppos-edly after a misunderstanding involving the comedian’s idea to come up with a blog and signature shirts.

Vice Ganda said, “Alam mo, hindi na-min alam kung kaninong addict nanggal-ing ‘yan... Hindi ko alam kung ano ang intensiyon ng mga tao, pero nakakadiri lang. Ang tanda-tanda namin para mag-away sa T-shirt… Ano kami, mga bata?”

“We share everything. Kris and I, we share everything,” he said.

The “It’s Showtime” co-host was referring to rumors that Aquino went ahead a business idea that Vice Ganda had supposedly shared with her.

Aquino recently re-launched her of-ficial website with more blog content,

categorized into family, travel, home, kitchen, reading, fashion and faith.

According to Vice Ganda, he even called Aquino to ask her what they should tell reporters about the rumor, since even they were confused as to how it started.

In fact, the comedian pointed out, he was among the first to get in touch with Aquino and her son, Bimby, after their minor road accident last Wednesday. Vice Ganda had just landed in Manila from the United States when he learned of the incident early Thursday.

On Instagram, Aquino shared a photo of flowers Vice Ganda had sent her and Bimby, who co-starred with the comedian in “The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin,” and thanked him for being her “first caller of the day.” (MNS)

Actress Shaina Magdayao is exploring the world outside show business by open-ing a franchise of Engineering for Kids, an educational program that originated in the United States.

The course aims to introduce kids ages four to 14 to science, technology, engineer-ing and math through a variety of work-shops that would enhance their problem solving skills. Shaina, along with several business partners, launched the endeavor on April 7.

“Ito ang bago kong pinagkakaabala-han. You know Shaina the actress but this is really something interesting (since) alam niyo naman gaano ako kalapit sa mga bata and at the same time, gaya nga ng sinasabi ko, showbiz is not forever dapat we should make wise investment,” she told ABS-CBN News in an interview.

The actress feels blessed to find career-driven business partners, admitting they encouraged her to make the investment.

“Grabe ’yung mga business partners ko eh, mga mommies, ako lang ang walang anak. Pero they are super women talaga for me. Na-inspire nila ako to enter this (business). Tinutulungan nila ako, napaka-laki na ng mundo (ko) outside of showbiz,” Shaina said.

The Kapamilya talent said one of her partners even went to the US to study the program’s curriculum, saying, “Ang laki ng potential nitong program especially ’yung generation now, pwede itong learning at the same time enjoying for kids.”

She says she is most proud of the Robot-ics and Electronics Game Design subjects in the program.

“’Yung robotics amazing talaga kasi ’yung robots na ifo-form nu’ng kids shinip pa ’yun from US. We can’t use or create our own,” she explained.

Aside from this new venture, Shaina is also busy working on the upcoming ABS-CBN teleserye “Nathaniel.”(MNS)

Vice Ganda, Kris address rumored rift Vice Ganda and Kris Aquino

Shaina Magdayao makes ‘wise investment

Ruffa Gutierrez




SPORTS

Organized chaos during Manny Pacquiao’s open media workout as he prepares for his May 2 bout against Floyd Mayweather, Jr. 300 credentialed media members showed up to talk to Pacquiao since most of this training camp has been closed off to the public and even to reporters.

Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.“Normally I’m inviting the media and

now I’m actually throwing them out,” said Fred Sternburg who has been in-charge of Pacquiao’s public relations since the first Eric Morales fight. “Manny has asked me to close the doors, to stop giving in-terviews. We will continue that,” he said in an interview during Pacquiao’s open media workout which was attended by an estimated 300 credentialed members of the media.

Of course print and broadcast journal-ists, boxing analysts and bloggers came to see and talk to the man of the hour, since this training camp has been closed off to the public and to reporters. Security has been strict. And that is something that Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach had always wanted for his ward.

“I’ve never seen Manny better. There’s no distractions. I want Manny performing for me and not the audience. The audience he can perform for on May 2nd.” Roach said.

A historic fight and the largest purse in boxing history, so what’s important for the

fighters, legacy or money?“A little bit of both, my legacy. But of

course being a prize fighter, I want to make money. A little bit of everything plays a major key in a fight of this magnitude,” Mayweather said during his media day.

And during Pacquiao’s media day, Top Rank bossman Bob Arum answered the question: “Victory. I can’t wait to fly with him (Pacquiao) to Manila week after the fight, for the biggest victory parade in the history of the Philippines. Manny Pacquiao is going to knock Mayweather out. Guaranteed.”

This is also the guarantee that Roach offers, especially since according to him, they have devised a way to attack May-weather’s famous defense.

“He holds his hands up well and that’s good for defense. But his body is wide open when he does that.

I think we will work the body a little bit in this fight and if we do that, I think we will be successful. We just have to mix it up a little bit,” he said to a throng of reporters asking the same question about strategy. “Manny will win with speed. We’re faster,”

he added.Some observers, however, say that

while Pacquiao may have the speed and power, Mayweather has the brains. And Roach responded with this: “The brain doesn’t score points. The hands do. We will outscore him and outpoint him.”

In fact, he added that his only concern is that Mayweather might not even engage, “I hope he (Mayweather) stays to fight. I hope he doesn’t run. But whatever he does, we are 100% ready to deal with.”

Sternburg, who has been witnessing the closed door training of Pacquiao, attests to

Arum’s and Roach’s guarantee.“If Manny and Freddie perform the

way they’re rehearsing, it will be a great performance,” he said.

For now, while everyone awaits the big show, there are speculations about who’s in control in the background; and more importantly, where are the tickets?

“The show is being run by Mayweather Promotions and Top Rank. But as far as tickets are concerned, contractual, it’s MGM,” Arum said.

So has anyone seen or bought a ticket yet? Or is it as legendary as the unicorn?

Speculations, hype and strategy around Mayweather-Pacquiao fi ghtFor half a decade, fans all over the world eagerly waited

for news and confirmation about this much-anticipated battle between the undefeated American boxer who claims he’s “The best ever,” and the 8-division Filipino boxing champion and congressman whom supporters refer to as “The people’s champ.”

The Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Manny Pacquiao bout took five long years to finalize. But the wait is worth it, if only evi-denced by the hype surrounding the May 2nd clash at the MGM

By Greg HeakesLos Angeles, United States, AFP, Thursday

4/23/2015 – Never one to talk himself down, Floyd Mayweather declared Wednesday that he isn’t just good, he’s better than Muhammad Ali, the man many call “The Greatest.”

With just over a week to go before his super fight in Las Vegas against Manny Pacquiao, Mayweather said his career and flawless record – he has never been beaten – speak for itself.

“I feel like I have done just as much in the

sport as Ali,” Mayweather said.“It is hard for a guy to be like me, still

sharp at 38. No disrespect to Ali, but I feel like I am the best.”

Mayweather pointed out that while Ali lost to the unheralded Leon Spinks in 1978, among others, he has a perfect 47-0 record.

“Ali lost in his career to Leon Spinks. He lost some other fights and is still known as the greatest. That is what it is.”

Mayweather spoke to reporters Wednesday in a teleconference call for his May 2 wel-

Ali? I’m the best, says Mayweather terweight showdown with Filipino superstar Pacquiao, which is expected to generate a record $400 million in revenue.

In addition to being the greatest, May-weather added that even boxing fans from Pacquiao’s home country – where Pacquiao is an icon – will be cheering him on at the MGM Grand.

Filipino support for Mayweather “I am pretty sure I got Filipino fans that

like me,” said the American boxer, who is arguably the current number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Pacquiao is a hero and celebrity in the

Philippines, where he worked on the streets before his success in the ring helped launch careers in politics, music and film.

Mayweather said he has a solid game plan for this fight and had made sure not to go overboard.

“I have trained extremely hard. You don’t want to over train. You want to train so you are completely ready,” he said.

Mayweather said he is trying not to get caught up in the hoopla surrounding the block-buster fight which is expected to be the richest in boxing history. He will get 60 percent of the total revenues from the fight.

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FAMILY FEATURES

Whether she’s your mom or a “like-a-mother” mentor, chances

are you’ve got a lot to thank her for this Mother’s Day. It’s a time for celebrating your biggest supporters, number one fans and best friends.

In life, we’re lucky to form relationships with women we can learn from and grow with. Beth Somers, Elizabeth Nelson and Emily Tatak from the Wilton Test Kitchen consider themselves lucky.

Beth Somers, Director of Creative Content Development, owes her start to her former boss Milette Raz. Raz is trained in the Wilton Method of Cake DecoratingTM and taught Somers how to decorate. But Somers thinks of Raz as so much more — calling her a mentor, her second mother and her friend. Years aft er working together, the duo teamed up for Cupcake Wars on the Food Network, returning home as champions of season six with winning recipes like Tropical Getaway Cupcakes.

Elizabeth Nelson, Assistant Culinary Specialist, attributes her love of baking to her grandma Ann, learning the basics with her and picking up passed down recipes that she brought with her to college. She looks up to her mother, her grandmother and her great-grandmother, whom she’s told she also gets her competitive nature from. Nelson and her grandmother went through a lot of trial and error together to come up with what they believe is the perfect cinnamon roll recipe, very similar to this recipe for Cinnamon Rolls with Caramel Glaze.

For Emily Tatak, preserving family recipes and continuing the traditions around the holidays and in the kitchen led to her career at Wilton as an Assistant Culinary Specialist. She owes her inspiration to her mom,

(About 1/4 pound)For rolls, stir together warm milk, yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in large bowl. Let stand 5–10 minutes or until foamy. Add butter, remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, egg yolks, vanilla and salt. Mix with electric mixer using dough hook on medium speed until combined. Gradually add fl our, 1 cup at a time, and mix on medium speed until smooth, elastic dough forms, about 5 minutes.

Spray large bowl with vegetable pan spray. Form dough into ball, place into bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let stand in warm place for 45 minutes or until doubled in size.

For fi lling, stir together butter, sugar, fl our and cinnamon in medium bowl until well-combined. Prepare 13-by-9-inch pan with vegetable pan spray.

Punch dough down and roll out to 18-by-14-inch rectangle on fl oured surface. Spread fi lling onto dough and roll up from long end, like a jelly roll. Pinch seam to seal, trim ends and cut into 12 equally-sized pieces.

Place rolls into prepared pan; cover with plastic wrap and let rise 25–30 minutes or until doubled in size.

Meanwhile, heat oven to 350°F. Remove plastic wrap from rolls and bake 25–29

Grandma’s Kolachy CookiesServings: 6 1/2 dozen cookies 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, soft ened 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, soft ened 2 cups all-purpose fl our 1 teaspoon Wilton Pure Vanilla Extract 1/2 teaspoon salt Poppy seed, apricot and strawberry pastry fi lling Confectioners’ sugar, for dustingIn large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter with electric mixer on medium speed until well com bined. Add fl our, vanilla and salt; beat until just combined. Divide dough into 2 disks. Wrap with plastic wrap and chill at least 12 hours.

Heat oven to 375°F.Working with 1 disk at a time, roll each

to 1/8-inch thickness on generously fl oured surface. Cut cookies using 2-inch round cutter. Place on cookie sheet and make indentation in dough with thumb. Spoon 1/2 teaspoon pastry fi lling into each indentation.

Bake 16–18 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool cookies on pan on cooling grid 5 minutes. Remove from pan; cool completely on grid. Dust with confectioners’ sugar before serving.

Cinnamon Rolls with Caramel GlazeServings: 1 dozen rollsRolls: 1 1/3 cups warm milk (105°F) 2 packages (1/4-ounce each) active dry yeast 1/4 cup granulated sugar, divided 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, soft ened 2 egg yolks 1 teaspoon Wilton Pure Vanilla Extract 3/4 teaspoon salt 4 cups bread fl our, plus more

for dustingFilling: 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, soft ened 1/3 cup granulated sugar 2 tablespoons bread fl our 2 tablespoons ground cinnamonGlaze: 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter 1/2 cup lightly-packed light brown sugar 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream 1 teaspoon Wilton Pure Vanilla Extract 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup confectioners’ sugar

Award-Winning GoodiesCelebrate that special mother fi gure in your life with this fruity and fl avorful recipe for Tropical Getaway Cupcakes, created by Beth Somers and Milette Raz.

minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack while preparing glaze.

For glaze, melt butter in saucepan over medium heat. Add brown sugar and cream. Cook over medium-high heat until

who taught her how to bake. Together they iced cakes, decorated sugar cookies and even made a gingerbread house from scratch. Keeping with tradition, celebrating the holidays without grandma Irene’s Kolachy recipe just wouldn’t be the same.

For more recipe ideas to honor your mother or special mentor, such as Tropical Getaway Cupcakes, visit s.wilton.com/MentorKnowsBest.

mixture reaches a simmer; cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and salt. Whisk in confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Pour glaze over warm rolls. Serve warm.


Three months into officially marketing to the public its Franchise offering, 1Heart Care-giver Services awarded Kamran Ghasri as its first franchisee a pro-tected territory in the Beverly Hills area. Mr. Ghasri has over 10 years of experience being a successful franchisee of a Printing company in the East Coast.

With his background in owning a franchise business, Mr. Ghasri saw the opportunity and

Randy Clarito (1Heart Caregiver Services Director for Business Development and Training), Kamran Ghasri (1Heart Franchisee Owner) and Belina Tagarao (1Heart Caregiver Services Founder & CEO).

1Heart Caregiver Services welcomes its fi rst franchisee

Travel International Group was a small, unknown travel company organized and established by travel industry experts Rick Enrique and Jane Stark on May 1, 1997. Now, 18 years later, the company has grown into one of the most reliable and knowledgeable players in the travel in-dustry with its trademark professionalism, integrity, creativity, and quality service.

While the early success of Travel International Group could be attributed to hard work, product knowledge and experience, the company’s current status in the marketplace is highly due to both management and staff’s dedication and passion in delivering excellent service to customers. Repeat clients and countless re-ferrals now make up Travel International’s huge client base.

“It was our clients’ trust that has sus-tained us all these years,” stated Travel International’s president Jane Stark who explained that the company is now serving 2nd and 3rd generation clients, from the original client base they had 18 years ago.

“We constantly educate and certify our-selves with destination specialist courses, and attend global travel trade conferences,” Ms. Stark said. “We make sure that before we design our tour packages and recom-mend them to our clients we experience everything first-hand – accommodations, meal plans, as well as selection of tour guides.”

With its team of highly experienced specialists, and a staff that is dedicated to provide excellent service, Travel Interna-tional has developed a reputation in the travel industry as among the most depend-able and most professional in the field.

Its mission of course has never changed – that is total customer satisfaction, build-ing memories, and fulfilling their clients’ dreams by delivering products that are unique, and providing adventures that are safe and memorable.

“We have captured different markets because we have diverse products that fit our clients’ needs. We offer flexibility and work with our clients’ travel requirements,” Ms. Stark explained.

As proof of its expertise and leadership, Travel International has received multiple recognitions from various organizations

agencies. It has been appointed as the choice travel agency for the City of Carson from the City Mayor, the City Council members and its staff’s travel needs. It is also the official travel agent for the Taiwan Celebrity Tours project of the Taiwan Tour-ism Bureau and KSCI LA18. As the ap-pointed tour operator, Travel International remains very active and work closely with Gawad Kalinga’s Bayani Tour series. They also regularly conduct immersion trips to the Philippines in support of the Depart-ment of Tourism’s campaign of “Visit Philippines Year 2015.” It is also doing its share of campaign to promote Festive Malaysia.

Travel International has expanded its tour packages to include exciting and ex-otic destinations in many Southeast Asian counties, North America, South America and Central America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East.

With high demand from its Europe market, the company is also scheduling a Marian Tour covering Lourdes and Fatima Pilgrimage in addition to its special Holy Land tours that features Israel, Jordan and Egypt. Following its very successful November 2014 and February 2015 Holy Land tours, it is now one of the most sought after and most popular tour packages from Travel International. There are also cus-tomized packages that fit the specific needs of clients who may want to visit and tour specific destination.

Travel International’s continued up-grade of its existing travel products and tour packages reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to delivering in-novative, unique, safe and good value for money tours.

“We always strive to offer our clients something new and unique travel op-portunities,” Ms. Stark said. “That means not only providing a hassle free travel but also creating a memorable experience for the traveler,” she stressed. “We provide a whole new dimension of sightseeing and offer our clients a more meaningful expe-rience by giving them opportunity to im-merse themselves in the local culture of the places they visited. By so doing, the travel experience becomes more memorable and

Travel International Group celebrates 18 successful years in travel industry

See TRAVEL INT’L, next page

maintaining quality and excellence thru its 1Heart Caregiver University, 1Heart Brain Fitness and 1Heart Business Academy.

And third, the company has 10 years of Master Franchising experience. “We’ve learned a lot from mistakes we made in the first few years of our existence. Now we know what works and what doesn’t. This knowledge plus the 1Heart Selling System that we have mastered are some of the valuable information that we can give to our franchisees.

It’s easy enough to start your own mom and pop company. Most people think it’s cheaper to do it that way but what they don’t realize is that in the long run, it will cost them more to reach the level of success that they could achieve carrying an estab-lished brand and using a proven system in a shorter period of time.”

Tried and tested, 1Heart Caregiver Services is on its way to being a widely recognized national brand in the US.

If you’re interested in owning a home care business franchise that is sustainable, recession-resistant, and offers a low invest-ment cost, then choose 1Heart Caregiver Services. Call 1-844-8-1HEART (1-844-8-143278) today for more details or visit their website at 1heartcares.com.

business sustainability of 1 Heart’s busi-ness offer.

“The Homecare industry is bound to explode in the next 20 years. The timing is right to start a business in this industry now. I know how it is to be a franchisee. Having a “big brother” that would teach and support me as I grow this business makes more sense than start something on my own and make some costly mistakes.”

So what makes 1Heart Caregiver Services a viable franchise business op-portunity?

According to Belina Tagarao (CEO), there are 3 key differentiators that makes the 1Heart Franchise an excellent business model and a great choice for anyone start-ing their own home care business.

First, the company is comprised of a professional team with 50 years of collec-tive healthcare experience. The company also has a strong relationship with national retirement facilities and hospitals making it the brand of choice for reliable and profes-sional in-home care services.

Second, 1Heart Caregiver Services growth and success is attributed to its unique concepts, efficient systems and training programs. 1Heart Caregiver Ser-vices shows its unwavering commitment of

Now, 18 years later, Travel International Group has grown into one of the most reliable and knowledgeable players in the travel industry with its trademark professionalism, integrity, creativity, and quality service. Travel International has also expanded its tour packages to include exciting and exotic destinations in many Southeast Asian countries, North America, South America and Central America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East. Photo shows Jane Stark, President of Travel International Group, Inc. (second from left) as she personally escorts one of the company’s group tours to the Ancient City of Petra in Jordan.


HEALTH & BEAUTY(Miami, United States-AFP) – Yet

another scientific study has found no link between autism and the vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), according to US research published on Tuesday.

The findings in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) are based on a study of about 95,000 chil-dren with older siblings, some of whom had autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

“Consistent with studies in other populations, we observed no association between MMR vaccination and increased ASD risk among privately insured chil-dren,” said the study, led by Anjali Jain, a doctor in Falls Church, Virginia.

“We also found no evidence that re-ceipt of either one or two doses of MMR vaccination was associated with an in-creased risk of ASD among children who had older siblings with ASD.”

Autism is on the rise, and affects as many as one in 68 children in the United States, but its causes remain poorly un-derstood.

Fears about vaccines and autism began to spread after the publication in 1998 of an article by Andrew Wakefield that pur-ported to find a link between the MMR vaccine and autism in 12 children.

It was later found to be fraudulent and

The fi ndings in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) are based on a study of about 95,000 children with older siblings, some of whom had autism spectrum disorder (ASD). “Consistent with studies in other populations, we observed no association between MMR vaccination and increased ASD risk among privately insured children,” said the study, led by Anjali Jain, a doctor in Falls Church, Virginia.

Another study fi nds no link between vaccine, autismsociate the vaccine with ASD,” said the JAMA study.

“Surveys of parents who have children with ASD suggest that many believe the MMR vaccine was a contributing cause.”

Children who have an older sibling are less likely to be vaccinated than children without autism in their family, the study found.

The MMR vaccination rate for the children with unaffected siblings was 92 percent by age five.

In contrast, the MMR vaccination rates for children with older siblings with ASD was 86 percent by age five.

An accompanying editorial by Bryan King, a doctor at the University of Wash-

ington and Seattle Children’s Hospital, said the data is clear.

“The only conclusion that can be drawn from the study is that there is no signal to suggest a relationship between MMR and the development of autism in children with or without a sibling who has autism,” King wrote.

“Taken together, some dozen studies have now shown that the age of onset of ASD does not differ between vaccinated and unvaccinated children, the severity or course of ASD does not differ between vaccinated and unvaccinated children, and now the risk of ASD recurrence in families does not differ between vacci-nated and unvaccinated children.”

was retracted by the journal that published it. Britain has also stripped the author, An-drew Wakefield, of his medical license.

But concerns over vaccine safety, par-ticularly in the Internet age, have proven difficult to quell.

“Although a substantial body of re-search over the last 15 years has found no link between the MMR vaccine and ASD, parents and others continue to as-

meaningful,” she added. Travel International is a Certified Travel

Specialist to the following destinations: Philippines, Singapore, The British Virgin Islands, Japan, Dubai, Israel, Jordan, Ma-laysia, Taiwan, and Honduras. In addition, it is a certified Thailand Golden Agent, a certified Palm Spring Producer, and a Hon-eymoon & Destination Wedding Specialist.

The company’s accomplishments speak clearly of the incredible work that the team has done in providing excellent service.

“Over the last 18 years we have been very customer-focused and driven to pro-vide total customer satisfaction. And we will continue to do so,” said Ms. Stark. “We are very blessed that throughout these years we earned the trust of our clients, developed lasting relationship with them, gained the support of our industry partners and became good friends with them. We are like one big family now.”

While the past 18 years has been a fantastic ride for Travel International, the company is not merely sitting on its laurels.

Plans are in the drawing board for more exciting tour packages such as the group

Holy Land Tour scheduled for November 2015, and February 2016; and Group’s Europe Highlight Tour scheduled for Oc-tober 2015 which Ms. Stark herself will escort is now 90% booked. We also have scheduled Brazil and Argentina group tours in May 2016.

The company is also offering interest free easy installment plan for all our escort scheduled group tours in 2015 and 2016. Another highlight of Travel International’s activities are new product lines catering to LGBT travel packages, plus culinary and wine tasting tours in the Southern California region.

“We are truly looking forward to the coming years,” said Ms. Stark, who is constantly in the lookout for new travel concepts for their expanding client base. To meet their needs, Travel International promises to continue its commitment to its core values of quality, innovation and service. After all, building business doesn’t happen by accident. “It takes lots of hard work, planning, daring and a little luck to achieve success,” she added. You can contact the company at 310-327-5143 or check out the website www.travelinterna-tional.net.

TRAVEL INT’LFrom page 22


JOB MARKETFor advertising, call (818) 552-4503 402 • Fax (818) 550-7635 • email: [email protected]

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PRAYER to the BLESSED VIRGIN(Never known to fail)

Oh most beautiful ower of Mt. Carmel, fruit wine splendor of Heaven.Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh Star of the Sea. Help me and show me here you are my Mother. Oh Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succour me in my necessity. (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. Oh Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee (3 times). Holy Mary, I place this prayer in your hands (3 times). Say this prayer for three consecutive days and then you must publish and it will be granted to you.Grateful Thanks.- CARMEN

PRAYERS

Mag Tayo!

PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRITHoly Spirit Thou who make me see everything and show the way to reach my ideal, thou who give me the divine gift to forgive and forget the wrong that is done to me and who are in all instances of my life with me. I, in this short dialogue, want to thank You for everything and con rm once more that I never want to be separated from Thee no matter how great the material desires may be. I want to be with thee and my loved ones in Your perpetual glory. Amen. A person must pray this for 3 consecutive days without stating his wish. After the 3rd day, the wish will be granted no matter how dif cult it may be. Promise to publish this as soon as your favor has been granted. -TLC

PRAYERSPRAYER TO SAINT EXPEDITE

Saint Expedite, you lay in rest. I come to you and ask that this wish

be granted. (Clearly express what you want, and ask him to nd

a way to get it to you.) Expedite now what I ask of you. Expedite

now what I want of you, this very second. Don't waste another day.

Grant me what I ask for. I know your power, I know you because

of your work. I know you can help me. Do this for me and I will

spread your name with love and honor so that it will be invoked

again and again. Expedite this wish with speed, love, honor, and

goodness. Glory to you, Saint Expedite! - Ryan

PRAYERS

GOGREEN

PRAYER to the VIRGIN OF JUQUILA For Dif cult Cases

Beloved Mother, Virgin of Juquila, virgin of our hope, please forgive me of my sins for they are many, yours is our life, deliver us from all evil in this world of injustices, sin, and misery and you see that our life is disturbed, do not leave us. Our Dear Mother, protects the pilgrims, be with us as we go along our roads, care for the poor who have nothing and return the bread that has been taken from them. Accompany us in all our life of sin and free us of all type of sin. Amen Pray this prayer and say 9 Ave Marías, pray this prayer for 9 days, lighting a white candle every day and publish it on the 9th day. Your wish will be granted although you don´t believe it. I give thanks to the Virgin of Juquila for the favors received. - Ryan

PRAYERS PRAYER TO PADRE PIO

O humble and beloved Padre Pio, Teach us, we ask you, humility of heart so we may be counted among the little ones of the Gospel, to whom the Father promised to reveal the mysteries of his Kingdom. Help us to pray without ceasing, certain that God knows what we need even before we ask Him. Obtain for us the eyes of faith that will be able to recognize right away in the poor and suffering the face of Jesus. Sustain us in the hour of the combat and of the trial and, if we fall, make us experience the joy of the sacrament of forgiveness. Grant us your tender devotion to Mary, the Mother of Jesus and our Mother. Accompany us on our earthly pilgrimage toward the blessed homeland, where we hope to arrive in order to contemplate forever the glory of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. -Ryan

PRAYERS

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5 at this offerClosed-end lease for 2015 Honda CR-V LX 2WD Auto for $289 per month plus tax for 36 months on approved tier 1+ credit. $0 due at lease signing, includes 1st payment, $0 security deposit, tax, license and fees. Drive-off example based on the current Los Angeles County tax rate and actual amount may vary. 12,000 miles per year with $.15 per mile thereafter. Dealer contribution may affect consumer cost. After dealer contribution, only $0 due at signing on approved credit. Offer expires 4/30/15.

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Apr 10, 2015 - TORRANCE, Calif. – The all-new, third generation 2016 Honda Pilot will go on sale this summer ready to take the mid-size SUV segment by storm, with more of what active families seek in a three-row SUV – sleek and athletic styling, outstanding power, sophisticated technology and, new for 2016, an all-new Elite model with a panoramic roof and a vast array of other standard features.

Building on the solid reputation estab-lished from the June 2002 introduction of the first generation 2003 model, the 2016 Pilot brings a whole new level of refinement and available content to the segment. This includes a more powerful direct injected 3.5-liter SOHC i-VTEC EarthDreams Tech-nology engine producing 280 horsepower1 and 262 lb-ft of torque2, and new 6-speed and 9-speed automatic transmissions.

Providing outstanding dynamic han-dling are a new Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4) AWD System and all-new selectable Intelligent Traction Management system featuring Normal, Mud, Sand, and Snow modes on the AWD model and Normal and Snow modes on the 2WD model.

Also significantly upgraded are the Display Audio and navigation systems. The available Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver assistive technologies brings available features that include Collision Mitigation Braking System with Forward Collision Warning4, Road Departure Mitigation Sys-tem5, Lane Keeping Assist System6 with

Lane Depar-ture Warning7 and Adaptive Cruise Con-trol8.

P r o v i d -ing customers with a greatly i n c r e a s e d range of trim l e v e l s , t h e 2016 Pilot is available in a new top-of-the-line Elite

trim together with LX, EX, EX with Honda Sensing, EX-L, EX-L with Honda Sensing and Touring trims. Honda Sensing is stan-dard on both Touring and Elite trims.

The Pilot Elite offers an extensive feature content list, including a panoramic glass roof, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row captain’s chairs, LED headlights with auto high-beam, rain sens-ing windshield wipers and much more. And these are in addition to a long list of standard features throughout the Pilot trim range.

EarthDreams Technology Powertrain The 2016 Pilot delivers more refined,

powerful and fuel-efficient performance than ever before courtesy of its new 3.5-li-ter, direct-injected i-VTEC V-6 engine with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) cyl-inder deactivation technology. The engine is matched to a choice of two new advanced transmissions – a Pilot-first 6-speed au-

tomatic transmission or, on upper trims, a Honda-first 9-speed automatic transmission – both delivering more refined, responsive and fuel-efficient performance.

The Pilot’s available new Intelligent VTM4 (i-VTM4) is the most sophisticated and technologically advanced all-wheel-drive system offered in a mainstream, three-row SUV.

This entirely more capable system progressively distributes optimum torque between the front and rear axles and, for the first time ever in a Honda vehicle, dy-namically distributes engine torque between the left and right rear wheels using the new, lightweight rear drive unit. Benefits include superior all-weather handling and neutral, accurate steering under power that is unmatched by front-drive, rear-drive or conventional all-wheel-drive systems.

Intelligent Traction Management This new Pilot features a new button-

operated Intelligent Traction Management System that offers different operating modes, for the AWD: Normal, Mud, Sand and Snow; and for the FWD: Normal and Snow. Reflecting Pilot’s role as a key U.S. export model, this system was developed, tuned and tested at various locations in the U.S. and around the world – including Impe-rial Dunes “Glamis”, California; Moscow, Russia; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Intelligent Traction Management sys-tem allows the driver to select the operating mode that best suits the driving conditions by simply pushing a button on the vehicle’s

center console. Based on the setting selected, the system adjusts the drive-by wire map, transmission shift map, Vehicle Stability Assist and i-VTM4 torque distribution for AWD equipped models for optimal perfor-mance in varying road or surface conditions.

Display Audio and NavigationHonda’s latest thinking for advanced,

family-friendly technology is embodied in the new Pilot. New features include the available 8-inch capacitive touchscreen Display Audio telematics interface with An-droid operating system and all-new Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ developed in cooperation with the experts at Garmin®24.

Find out why Honda is the world’s top brand, get in touch with Patrick Lucas, the Filipino Internet Sales Manager of Norm Reeves Honda West Covina. Call him at 1-888-868-9779. Patrick can show you the new Honda Pilot’s best features or all the features of any Honda vehicle for that mat-ter. Norm Reeves Honda West Covina is lo-cated at 1840 East Garvey Ave., South, West Covina, CA 91791. Or visit their website at www.normreeveswestcovina.com.

Beauty, Brawn and Brains: The 2016 Honda Pilot is the triple threat poised to top the three-row SUV

Filipino Internet Sales Manager Patrick Lucas of Norm Reeves Honda of West Covina.

2016 Honda Pilot


Offer Expires 5/02/15



TORRANCE, Calif., Feb. 19, 2015 – The votes are in and the people have spoken! Three popular Toyo-ta models, Camry mid-size sedan, Highlander mid-size crossover and Sienna van, have made the list of “15 Best Family Cars” by KBB.com.Judges for the 15 Best Family Cars was made up of recruited families and the expert editors from KBB.com. Together, each vehicle evaluation was based on real-life testing, including comfort and driv-ing, safety, child seats, cargo space, rear-seat entertainment, and extra features.Camry, the best-selling car in America for the last 13 years, received a new design for the 2015 model year.

Toyota went bumper to bum-per and floor to roof, changing or re-engineering nearly 2,000 parts, making it the boldest Camry ever.The 2015 Highlander sets itself apart from its competitors with a distinct balance of style, comfort, performance and utility. Highlander offers fami-lies three powertrain choices, head-turning exterior styling, and a roomy and refined interior with advanced technologies and exceptional utility.Sienna was refreshed for 2015 with a more expressive exterior design and upgraded interior comfort and styling.

Sienna oozes fun and function as it has something for every member of the fam-ily. Kids enjoy Sienna’s Blu-Ray Dual View Entertainment Center while parents easily communicate with them through Toyota’s Driver Easy Speak system.

For parental peace of mind, Sienna was named a 2015 IIHS Top Safety Pick

+, and is the only van in its segment to offer all-wheel drive.

meanwhile, call it a trio of firsts in the Second City as the refreshed Toyota Avalon and sporty Camry and Corolla Special Editions made their world debuts at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show.

The three models rode into Chicago with a head of steam as the Avalon, Cam-ry and Corolla are each the sales lead-ers in their respective segments, a first for Toyota. All three vehicles are 2016 models and will go on sale later this fall. Refreshed 2016 Avalon

Unveiled as all-new in 2012, the fourth-generation Avalon was the first vehicle to meet Toyota President Akio Toyoda’s challenge to create cars that spark people’s emotions.

Toyota mixed its legendary Quality, Durability and Reliability (QDR) with a strong dose of emotion through fresh new styling, improved performance, and high-tech features.

They proved to be winning ingre-dients as Avalon quickly grabbed the attention of mid-size premium car buyers in segment leading numbers. Five distinct grades on the V6 models will give customers a wide array of choice (XLE, XLE Plus, XLE Premium, Limited and Touring). Hybrid customers can choose from three separate grades, adding luxury features and technology options as they move up the chain from XLE Plus to XLE Premium and Limited.Two unique suspension systems were developed for the 2016 Avalon to better align with diverse customer preferences. One retuned suspension prioritizes a

comfortable ride for the XLE through Limited grades.

The other, provides a more dy-namic and responsive driving ex-perience for the Touring grade. Both of these suspension tunings are new and represent significant improvements over the current production Avalon.

Whether you prefer the Camry, the Sienna, the Highlander or the flagship Avalon, the folks at DCH Toyota of Tor-

rance are more than happy to help you choose which vehicle suits you, your needs or just for pleasure of having a Toyota. DCH Toyota of Torrance is locat-ed at 2909 Pacific Coast Hwy Torrance, CA 90505. You can reach Loyd Aler, the dealership’s Filipino Department Manager and Senior Sales Consultant, or his fellow kababayans, Sales & Leasing Consultants Phillip Rivera and Teddy Villafuerte at 1-888-311.0102.

Weekend Balita readers Pehric, Cheryl and daughter Chayra with their newly-purchased vehicle at DCH Toyota of Torrance pose for posterity with Filipino Department Manager and Senior Sales Consultant Loyd Aler (left). Loyd wants the public to know that DCH Toyota of Torrance also welcomes those coming from far locations.

Toyota earns three spots in Kelley Blue Book’s 15 Best Family Cars of 2015


Kia’s all-new Sedona boasts world-class refi nement and unmatched interior design

IRVINE, Calif., April 16, 2015 – Kia Motors America’s (KMA) all-new 2015 Sedona has earned a spot on the Ward’s 10 Best Interiors list. The Sedona was recognized by the editors for its impressive interior style, comfort, and overall execu-tion, including the available second-row “First-Class” lounge seating.

“The all-new Sedona completes Kia’s design-led transformation under the direc-tion of chief design officer Peter Schreyer. It combines CUV styling, inside and out, with exceptional quality and offers unique interior features,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning, KMA. “This is the second-consecutive year that Kia has earned a spot on the Ward’s 10 Best Inte-riors list, following last year’s inclusion of the ultra-popular Soul. This award is a testament to Kia’s continued commitment to world-class quality and top-notch design that is as beautiful as it is functional.”

Starting at $25,900, the completely transformed Sedona comes in seven- and eight-passenger seating configurations and offers available Nappa leather trimmed seating surfaces.

Exclusive Slide-N-Stow second-row seats slide and fold upright for enhanced cargo hauling without the hassle of remov-ing heavy seats. Sedona’s front center console is unique to the segment and al-lows for generous storage space between the front seats, while the large dual glove box offers a cooled lower storage area for convenience.

“Minivans may not be as popular as they used to be, but the all-new Kia Sedona gives us reason to think this segment is in

store for a resurgence,” said Tom Murphy, executive editor, WardsAuto World maga-zine. “Kia takes stylistic chances with the Sedona interior. Sedona is unique in its interior design with two-tone leather set off with white piping and orange contrast stitching. The van’s comfortable and spa-cious, with way-cool second-row lounge seats with footrests. It’s also flexible, with third-row seats that fold into the floor. Fi-nally, a minivan that is truly cool!”

About the 2015 SedonaAvailable in L, LX, EX, SX and SX

Limited (SXL) trims and a choice of seven-passenger or eight-passenger seat-ing configurations, the 2015 Sedona has something for everyone.

The Sedona comes standard with Kia’s proven 3.3-liter V6 engine, which puts out 276 horsepower and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission routed to the front wheels. The Sedona sets itself apart in the segment as its wide stance exudes a modern, CUV-like appearance and cab-forward design.

Sedona offers a wide array of available driver-aid technology including Surround View Monitor, Smart Cruise Control, Blind Spot Detection and Lane Departure Warn-ing. Inside the spacious cabin, Sedona combines generous use of soft-touch ma-terials, premium amenities such as “First Class” lounge seating, and Kia’s latest UVO infotainment and telematics system.

If you want to find out why Kia is among the leading car brands of today, drop by Car Pros Kia of Carson at 21243 S Avalon Blvd, Carson, CA 90745 (tele-phone # 310-221-9131), or at Car Pros Kia Huntington Beach at 18835 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach, CA 92648 (714-613-1119) and last but won’t be the last, at Car Pros Kia Glendale at 400 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91204 (818) 745-1400.

2015 Kia Sedona named to Ward’s 10 Best Interiors List

2015 Kia Sedona

By Robert MacphersonToms River, United States, AFP,

Wednesday 4/1/2015 – Don Robertson isn’t the type to let a snowstorm on the first day of spring – or his age – stop him from doing his appointed rounds.

“Driving means to keep motivated,” says “Mr. Don” as he set outs in his SUV to pick up a fellow Jersey Shore senior who no longer holds a driver’s license.

“You don’t be still and you don’t get stiff,” adds the sexagenarian New Jersey native who once drove 2-1/2 ton trucks for the US army.

“As long as you keep moving, you can keep going.”

With 20,000 Americans turning 65 every day, seniors behind the wheel – and their ability to keep driving safely into their 70, 80s and 90s – is a hot topic.

Nearly 85 percent held driver’s licenses in 2010, compared to barely half in the early 1970s, according to American Au-tomobile Association (AAA) research.

“We know through research that older drivers are among the safest on the road,” said Jacob Nelson, the AAA’s director of traffic safety advocacy and research.

“They’re most likely to buckle up, least likely to speed and drink-and-drive,” he told AFP.

Yet, with age comes the prospect of ill-nesses that impact on the ability to safely drive—from macular degeneration and hearing loss to dementia and Parkinson’s disease.

More than 90 percent of older driv-ers are also on some kind of prescription medicine, the AAA’s Foundation for Traf-fic Safety says.

High demand They are “vulnerable road users,” said

Nelson, statistically more likely to be injured or killed in a crash that a younger driver might walk away from.

Robertson is part of a team of senior drivers at Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey who give rides to other seniors who can no longer drive themselves.

Demand is high. In Ocean County – home to 92 retirement communities, and where one in five residents is over 65 – a ride to the doctor or dentist needs to be booked two weeks in advance.

“The need for transportation in our area is just huge,” Lynette Whiteman, Caregiver Volunteers’ executive director, told AFP.

Waiting for Robertson at her tidy bun-galow was Mary Roberts, 88, who sadly remembered the day in June 2006 when she took herself off the road for good.

She was the passenger in a vehicle that crashed on the Garden State Parkway, a major north-south thoroughfare, throwing her head against the windshield.

After a weekend of rest, Roberts thought she was fine—until she attempted the otherwise routine drive to a local com-munity services bureau where she helped manage the accounts.

“I found myself going on sidewalks and all over the place. I couldn’t seem to control the car and I didn’t know what to do when I saw a light,” she said.

“Finally I did manage to get to the office and I just cried and cried and cried”—and yet to be told by doctors that she suffered irreversible brain damage.

“Not being able to drive has changed my life in every aspect,” said Roberts from the front passenger’s seat of “Mr Don’s” ride. She is open to the idea of a robot ve-hicle, like the self-driving car that Google is developing with an eye in part on the ever-growing retiree market.

Senior drivers strive to stay on the road



Over 1 million vehicles to millennials over past 11 years

Apr 2, 2015 - TORRANCE, Calif. – The Honda Accord and Civic are the two best-selling cars with under-35 buyers over the past 11 years, according to Honda analysis of cumulative registration data from IHS Automotive.1 The Accord and Civic – which were also the top retail-selling cars in their respective segments in 2013 and 20142 – with combined registra-tions of more than one million vehicles in the U.S. to “Millennials” from 2004-20141, more than any other two cars across the industry. Either Civic or Accord has held the top spot in retail car sales to un-der-35 buyers in each of the past 11 years.

Civic took top honors in retail sales to under-35 buyers from 2007 to 20133.

Accord took the #1 position in 2014, with Civic finishing a close second.

Accord also was #1 with under-35 retail car buyers from 2004 to 2006.

“Honda is a company with a youthful spirit, and that comes through strongly in our products and our appeal with younger buyers,” said John Mendel, Executive Vice President of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

“The epic new Civic that we’re launch-ing this fall, together with all-new products like the HR-V crossover coming this spring and the new Fit, will really strengthen our relationship with young buyers in the days ahead.”

Honda is preparing to launch an all-new Civic that will further strengthen the mod-el’s appeal with younger buyers, offering dynamic styling and higher levels of fuel efficiency and turbocharged performance, along with more cutting-edge technology

and customer choice. Honda took the wraps off the Civic Concept at the New York International Auto Show on Wednesday, showing off the dynamic, sporty and so-phisticated new design direction it will take with its all-new 10th-generation Civic.

Meanwhile, Honda unveiled its ultra-sporty Civic Concept at the New York International Auto Show as the brand pre-pares to launch its completely reimagined 10th-Generation Civic models beginning this fall.

With a sharper focus on spirited per-formance and class-leading versatility, the new Civic lineup will include Civic Sedan, Coupe and Si models along with the return of the Civic hatchback, followed by the launch of a new Civic Type-R as the per-formance flagship of the Civic lineup. The new Civic also will be the first U.S. model to apply new VTEC Turbo engines from the company’s Earth Dreams Technology powertrain series.

“The new Civic will be, flat out, the most dynamic, the most technologically advanced and the most refined and stylish Civic we’ve ever made,” said John Men-del, executive vice president, Automobile Division, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “In every way, this will be an epic Civic.”

The Civic Concept provides a tantaliz-ing glimpse forward to the thrilling design

direction for the all-new 10th-generation Civic lineup launching in the U.S. this fall. Featuring a longer wheelbase and lower, wider stance, the new Civic emphasizes its aggressive personality and the engag-ing experience it will provide behind the wheel.

Proportionally it boasts a longer hood, a shorter front overhang, a more set-back greenhouse and a shorter rear deck, lending the Civic a more athletic and “in motion” appearance.

The low and wide proportions are un-derscored by its more aggressive wheel-to-body relationship and pronounced fender arches. Its sporty and expressive face is highlighted by bright new LED headlights flanking the “Flying H” Honda grille which is supported by deeply sculpted lower air intakes.

“Charismatic, connected and athletic, our goal was to create a design that is emotional and sporty yet with a sense of timelessness and simplicity,” said Guy Melville-Brown, Exterior Design Leader of the Civic concept, Honda R&D Americas, Inc. “In this we set out to create a vehicle that goes beyond the superficial and em-braces the very philosophy of what a true Civic should be; it’s a real game changer.”

The 10th-generation Civic is based on a compact platform that targets benchmark

levels of efficiency, dynamic performance, safety and manu-facturing productivity. Lever-aging this new platform in con-junction with new Earth Dreams Technology powertrains – in-cluding a new 1.5-liter VTEC Turbo engine with direct injec-tion, a short-shifting 6-speed manual transmission, and a new, more sporty and efficient con-tinuously variable transmission

(CVT) – the Civic will target class-leading fuel economy ratings and fun-to-drive per-formance with near-luxury levels of cabin quietness and ride refinement.

Meanwhile, if you want to belong to the select group of Honda owners, all you have to do is visit the Diamond Honda of Glen-dale and get in touch with our kababayans Tito Adriosula, Cruzella Clemente and Orly Roque, who are more than ready to serve you and find you your new Honda Hybrids or any other Honda vehicle and be assured of top fuel efficiency as well as safety and maintenance.

These are just some of the reasons why Pinoys come to the dealership. Above all, at Diamond Honda of Glendale, custom-ers are treated like Diamonds! That state-ment is backed up by General Manager Philip Keung, who has endeared himself to Filipino customers because of his pro-fessionalism and his recognition and vast understanding of Honda’s multi-ethnic market.

“He is a great anchor. We rely on his wisdom and professional savvy all the time. He is very helpful to the Filipino salesmen and customers alike,” says Tito. Diamond Honda of Glendale is located at 138 S. Glendale Avenue, Glendale, CA 91205. Its toll-free number is 1.866.237.7092.

Honda Civic and Accord lead industry in sales to young buyers

Plano, Texas – Toyota went to the head of the class today, taking the top spot in the motor vehicles sector of Fortune maga-zine’s list of the World’s Most Admired Companies. The automaker also scored well in a larger pool of peers, No. 24 overall.Fortune’s annual list is widely con-sidered to be the definitive report card on corporate reputation. The survey measures nine attributes considered

crucial to a company’s global success, including quality of management, social responsibility, people management and global competitiveness, among others. Toyota’s overall rank increased from 25th in 2014, and its No. 1 spot in the Motor Vehicles category also repre-sented a bump (from No. 2 last year). Toyota was also sixth for Community Responsibility and eighth in Effectiveness

in Conducting a Global Business across all companies.

To y o t a i s t h e o n l y J a p a n e s e company in the overa l l Top 50 . “We’d like to thank Toyota team mem-bers, associates and partners worldwide for helping us achieve this honor,” said Jim Lentz, Toyota Motor North America chief executive officer. “We are dedicated to our customers, communities, and to

leading the future of mobility. We’re proud to be recognized as one of For-tune’s World’s Most Admired Com-panies and a leader in our industry.” The full list appears in the maga-zine’s March issue, available now on Fortune’s website atfortune.com/wmac and hits newsstands Feb. 23. Fortune’s “World’s Most Ad-mired Companies” Methodology.

The grades are in: Toyota tops motor vehicles category in Fortune study





Floyd Mayweather is

‘biggest challenge of

my life’ – Pacquiao

trainer Freddie Roach

Fight of the Century:

Manny Pacquiao says

his ‘killer instinct’

is as strong as ever

A BALITA MEDIA Special Supplement

APRIL 25, 2015

2 Visit www.Balita.com Balita Media Supplement Saturday, April 25, 2015

By Cecil Morella

Manny Pacquiao’s face is on shirts, dolls and postage stamps, his life story is playing in movie houses and mil-

lions in the Philippines and where Filipinos reside all over the world get ready to party as the Philippine boxing hero’s “fight of the century” takes place on Saturday, May 2.

Pacmania is sweeping the Southeast Asian nation of 100 million people ahead of the Las Vegas bout against unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. to decide who is the best boxer of their generation.

“The mood is upbeat. Of course, it’s the fight of the century,” Manila film pro-ducer Lucky Blanco told Agence France Presse.

Blanco is a co-producer of the Pac-quiao film: “Kid Kulafu”, now showing at scores of theatres across the country and a high-profile scene-setter for the world’s richest fight.

For many, the 36-year-old Pacquiao, winner of an unprecedented eight world championships in different weight divi-sions, symbolizes their hope of escaping the grinding poverty that afflicts one in four of his countrymen. The movie tells the story of the runaway high school dropout who, years before becoming a ring legend, sold doughnuts on the streets and stacked shelves with “Vino Kulafu,” a cheap Chinese wine brand.

Years later, as he became one of the world’s richest sportsmen and one of the most famous Filipinos, a Manila televi-sion network would give the left-hander another name: “The National Fist.”

Pacmania always sweeps the Philip-pines ahead of his fights, but the intensity dropped in recent years after Pacquiao lost an unprecedented two straight bouts.

He then had three wins, reviving excitement and hopes Pacquiao still has what it takes to be the world’s best.

But Mayweather is the opponent his fans have always wanted him to fight.

Souvenir frenzyMillions of Filipinos will don Pacman

paraphernalia to cheer their idol on live television screens during the fight, which will take place on a Sunday morning in the Philippines.

Baseball caps, T-shirts, $68 boxing gloves signed by Pacman himself, and $565 vinyl dolls of Pacquiao boxing against the Disney character Mickey Mouse are flying off shelves.

“On fight day everyone wants to be seen wearing something that will symbol-

ise their support,” Joy Saransate, manager of a Pacquiao-owned Team Pacquiao memorabilia shop in Manila, told AFP.

Government agencies have even been swept up in Pacmania, with the state postal authority this week releasing half a million stamps of a fighting Pacquiao.

“This... is a fitting tribute to his ex-ceptional character and ability that truly unites the nation whenever he fights,” postmaster-general Josie de la Cruz said.

Pacquiao, a sometime actor, politician and professional basketball player on the

side, also released a video last week of a new song: “I Will Fight for the Philip-pines”, to be used for his ring entrance in Las Vegas, that is getting widespread publicity in the media.

Whetted by saturation newspaper and television coverage, and primed by train-ing clips fed through his official social media sites, Filipinos are clearing their schedules to make sure they will be able to watch the fight.

It will be shown live on pay-per-view television, while local networks also struck an unprecedented deal to air it without ads and on a slightly-delayed basis on free television.

However, in keeping with tradition throughout his career, many Filipinos will prefer to watch the fight in public places, including at gyms and parks across the country or in restaurants and watering holes.

A popular pizza chain in Manila is taking reservations for 200 seats at $16 each so fans can cheer their hero on while swigging beer and munching on buffalo

wings.“Pacquiao fights always pack them in,

but this time we expect even more people to come because of the quality of the opponent,” restaurant manager Hershey Ebalo told AFP.

Blanco, the Pacquiao film producer, said he expected the streets of the Philip-pine capital, a sprawling metropolis of 14 million, to be empty on fight day, with criminals also taking a day off.

“Definitely there will be no crime on the streets, just like in past Pacquiao

fights,” he said.‘Historic’ Mayweather-Pacquiao fight

Boxing legend Marvin Hagler’s fabled clash with Sugar Ray Leonard was the superfight of its day – but the massively anticipated showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather will eclipse it, he says.

The 60-year-old said the fight between the world famous welterweights would be the “biggest fight in history”, regardless of who wins.

The fight has echoes of Hagler’s 1987 showdown with Leonard, also staged in Las Vegas, which saw him lose on points in a decision which remains controversial to this day.

“Whether Pacquiao loses in the first round, whether he knocks out Mayweather in the first round, it’s still going to be the biggest fight in history,” said Hagler.

Mayweather, 38, has previously re-called watching the Hagler-Leonard clash.

“I remember being a kid and saying there would never be another fight bigger than this,” Mayweather said in an inter-

view before his 2007 fight against Oscar De la Hoya, then the highest-grossing fight.

‘Fight of my life’The 36-year-old Pacquiao called the

face-off with undefeated Mayweather “the real fight of my life.”

Hagler was undisputed world middle-weight champion for seven years until his fight with Leonard at Caesar’s Palace, which was dubbed “The Super Fight”.

Reluctant to draw parallels with the Pacquiao-Mayweather clash, Hagler said that both fighters would just be focused on the result. “Once you start getting yourself into the fight, it’s not about the money, it’s about the win.”

Hagler said it was too early to call a favorite, despite Las Vegas oddsmakers pegging Mayweather as having the upper hand, noting that “anything can happen from now until May.”

“Mayweather, he’s using his head, he’s using his skills and strategy and let’s hope Pacquiao don’t fall into his tricks.”

Hagler said that if Pacquiao won, he would be “a worldwide figure, bigger than what he expected.”

Fight will be ‘great for the sport’The superfight will be great for the

sport of boxing, no matter what the out-come, Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach said. “It’s going to generate a lot of inter-est in boxing,” Roach told AFP.

“I can see a lot of people are going to be coming in after that fight,” added Roach.

Not that Roach is short of work. Despite battling the debilitating effects of Parkinson’s disease, he will be in the corner for two other fighters on the Amnat-Zou undercard Saturday, junior middleweight Glen Tapia from the US and China’s junior welterweight Ik Yang.

“I still have a lot of young boxers coming through,” said Roach, despite the rising popularity of competing sports such as mixed martial arts (MMA).

“There’s a total of 22 kids on the team and six who have a chance of winning titles. And there’s also a little girl called Christy, 16 years old and (she has) won the nationals something like five times now. She might be the best fighter in the gym,” added the man who was last week voted US trainer of the year for the seventh time.

The gym won’t be throwing its doors open until after the megafight though. With ‘Pacman’ in training, Wildcard is now under security lockdown as Roach and his team try to plot their way to vic-tory over Mayweather – in secret.(AFP)

WORLD TO WITNESS ‘FIGHT OF THE CENTURY’

PACMANIA SWEEPS PHL AHEAD OF MAYWEATHER CLASH

3Visit www.Balita.comSaturday, April 25, 2015 Balita Media Supplement


It is perhaps memories of his younger impoverished days that prompt Pacquiao never to refuse requests from family and friends.

His philanthropy and generosity are well known, and resulted in the Filipino icon paying for two Airbus A320s em-blazoned with his face to fly his 300-plus entourage the two hours from General Santos to Macau for the fight. His fame and fortune in the ring also enabled him to study and finally pass his high school exams in 2007 at the age of 28.

A college degree followed in 2009 and a further qualification in legislation and governance paved the way for him to be elected with 66 percent of the vote in May 2013 as a congressman in his wife Jinkee’s home province of Sarangani. He was re-elected unopposed in 2013.

Back in his pompNow just two weeks away from his 36th

birthday he shows no little sign of slowing down his hectic life.

Boxing and politics aside, he is also a singer, actor, church minister, army reservist and player-coach for Kia Motors in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), playing seven minutes of their season opener earlier in the tournament to the dismay of his long-time Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach.

Pacquiao won his first world title at flyweight in 1998 and added a super

bantamweight title a year later, but it wasn’t until he teamed up with Roach in 2001 that his career really took off as they forged one of the most successful partner-ships in boxing history.

Pacquiao went on to win multiple world titles, sweeping aside the world’s best.

Marc Antonio Barrera, Oscar de la Hoya, Juan Manuel Marquez, Erik Morales, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto were all demolished by the Filipino.

Two defeats in 2012 – a devastating knockout against Marquez and a contro-versial points decision against Timothy Bradley – led some to think Pacquiao’s star was fading.

But a year ago in Macau he regained his pomp with a comprehensive win against Brandon Rios, and then took Brad-ley apart in their rematch.

There remains just one thing missing on his considerable CV – a megafight with the unbeaten American great Floyd Mayweather. The pair will finally touch gloves next year in the richest event in the history of sport – it will generate an estimated $1 billion.

Pacquiao down to work for ‘fight of my life’

Pacquiao called his boxing showdown with Floyd Mayweather “the fight of my life” as he got down to work pounding the streets and gym in Los Angeles.

“I have prepared hard for this fight to give the boxing fans the kind of entertain-ment they want. This is what I consider the real fight of my life,” said Pacquiao.

Pacquiao (57-5 with two drawn and 38 knock-outs) will face Mayweather (47-0 with 27 knock-outs) has plunged into training after arriving from the Philip-pines, where his distractions include play-ing professional basketball and a seat in the national congress.

Arriving at the airport, Pacquiao apolo-gized for ducking a crowd of journalists at the Los Angeles International Airport after immigration officials whisked him out of a back door on Saturday.

“The head of the immigration in LA led us to the backdoor. So I was not aware that many journalists were already wait-ing for us outside,” Pacquiao said. “My heartfelt apology to all of them.” Come Sunday, the devout Christian attended a Bible service before beginning his training in earnest the following morning.

Whoever suggested that a scrawny Manila street kid should go to the gym could never have imagined where it would lead. (AFP)

PACQUIAO, THE STREET KID WHO CONQUERED THE WORLD By Daniel Hicks

In 1992, a 14-year-old boy dropped out of school in General Santos City in the southern Philippines because of

extreme poverty.With his single mother was unable to

support him and his five siblings, he made his way to Manila and ended up living on the streets.

When someone suggested to the young Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao that he di-vert his energies to a local boxing gym, it turned out to be a shrewd piece of advice.

“I kept winning and almost became a boxer without knowing,” said the man who would go on to make history as the only winner of world titles in eight weight divisions.

He soon caught the attention of national amateur selectors and made the Philippines team.

With lodging and subsistence provided, it proved the beginning of one of the most glittering careers the fight game has ever known.

“Manny” (as he became known) Pac-quiao’s natural talent and speed, coupled with a fearsome work ethic, saw him work his way up to being lauded as “the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world”.

Pacquiao (56-5-2) will command a payday in excess of $20 million dollars after he dismissed Chris Algieri at the Venetian Macau, one of the world’s largest and grandest casino resorts, last Sunday morning – a far cry from his desperate beginnings.

A devout Christian, Manny Pacquiao calls his boxing showdown with Floyd Mayweather “the fi ght of my life” as he got down to work pounding the streets and gym in Los Angeles. “I have prepared hard for this fi ght to give the boxing fans the kind of entertainment they want. This is what I consider the real fi ght of my life.” (BMI File Photo)

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Manny Pacquiao says he will “use my left and right (fi sts)” when asked how he planned to deal with undefeated American champion Floyd Mayweather who has the height and reach advantage, as well as famed defensive skills. “If I hurt him I expect him to run. Otherwise he might fi ght me toe-to-toe,” says Pacquiao. Photo: Chris Farina/Top Rank

By Cecil Morella

He may be the underdog Manny Pacquiao said Wednesday he has a simple tactic to beat Ameri-can favorite Floyd Mayweather in history’s

richest fight by two longtime rivals for the planet’s top “pound-for-pound” boxer crown.

“Use my left and right (fists),” the Filipino boxing hero told reporters when asked how he planned to deal with his undefeated foe’s height and reach advantage, as well as famed defensive skills.

“If I hurt him I expect him to run. Otherwise he might fight me toe-to-toe.” The Philippines is in the throes of “Pacmania” as the 36-year-old, dubbed “The National Fist” by local media, is set to fly to the United States to train for the May 2 Las Vegas bout.

The 38-year-old Mayweather, tipped as the favorite by bookmakers after announcing the megabucks fight last weekend, has not lost any of his 47 fights, in which he has scored 26 knockouts.

Pacquiao has 57 victories and five defeats to his name, including two suffered as recently as 2012. He has two

draws and 38 knockouts.But he exuded confidence as of late as he gave out free

pizzas to supporters while preparing for his third game as a basketball player in the Philippines’ top professional league before flying to the U.S. for the fight against Mayweather.

His determination to play for his Kia Carnival team has raised fears he might get injured before the fight, which US media report could net him an $80 million pay check. But naysayers could dismiss that for now.

Injury fears“I know what I’m doing,” said the 5-foot 6-inch Pac-

quiao, a devout Christian who is also the shortest and old-est player in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

“My Lord, my God, He is the Creator of everything. He knows everything,” he added, pointing to the ceiling and repeating his mantra that God will keep him from harm.

Unlike his boxing, however, Pacquiao’s basketball career has been underwhelming.

He has scored one solitary point, off a free throw, in his rookie season as player-coach for Kia Carnival.

“That’s fine. What’s important is my team won. I needed to play to inspire my teammates,” he said Wednesday as his courtside struggles continued, go-ing 0-2 with an airball in just under six minutes of play. With him riding the bench for the rest of the game, his team beat the Talk N’Text team, 106-103, their third win against four defeats.

Pacquiao downplayed criticism by ex-National Bas-ketball Association player Daniel Orton, who was fired by a rival PBA team last week for describing the boxing champ’s basketball skills as a “joke.”

“Poor guy,” Pacquiao said, adding: “I will not react because I would be going down to his level.

“It’s like this: No person has ever succeeded without being criticized.” His courtside fans also backed him.

“Everyone has a right to strut their stuff,” 36-year-old housewife Ginalyn Lacsana told AFP as she cheered the Kia team from her ringside seat.

“You have to show respect,” agreed Ramli de las Ar-mas, 29, who went to the PBA games while on vacation from work abroad as a machine operator in Saudi Arabia. (AFP)

‘USE MY LEFT AND RIGHT’

PACQUIAO’S MAYWEATHER TACTIC?


By Greg Heakes

Floyd Mayweather says it will be two “hall-of-famers” in their prime when he and Manny Pacquiao

clash in the richest fight in boxing history on May 2 at the MGM Hotel.

In the only Las Vegas news confer-ence he is giving ahead of fight week, Mayweather said Tuesday that he is not worried about spoiling his perfect 47-0 record. “He’s a future hall-of-famer. I am a future hall-of-famer and we are meeting at the pinnacle of our careers,” May-weather said. “From the matchup, it is going to be a very exciting fight.

“Our styles are totally different. I fight with smarts. Every move is calculated. Every move is thought about.”

He also discussed how his training is progressing, Pacquiao’s strengths and weaknesses, retirement, and revealed that the thrill of boxing is gone and that at this point in his career, it just feels like a job.

‘Over all of that stuff’ “No. I don’t enjoy it like I once did,”

said Mayweather, who was fashionably

late for his workout session. “It is at a point where it is business. It

is my job. I go to the gym. I train. I know what I have to do,” he added, speaking from a tent outside his Las Vegas gym located in the middle of the desert city’s Chinatown district. “There was a time when it was fun but I am to a point now where I am really over all of that stuff.”

The welterweight unification fight, which has been the subject of on-off negotiations for six years, will not only be the richest fight but it will go a long way towards determining who was the greatest fighter of the era.

The fight is expected to shatter records for total revenue with Mayweather earn-ing about $120 million, while Pacquiao could receive about $80 million.

Mayweather did allow reporters to watch him work out Tuesday. He said he is trying to rekindle his passion for the sport by using some different training methods, like chopping wood and swim-ming laps.

“I can have a good day in the gym and the sparring partners can have a good day

on me. That don’t count. It counts under the lights when it is for all the marbles,” he said. There was no sign Tuesday of the controversy that arose prior to his 2014 Marcos Maidana fight.

In September, Mayweather was or-dered to appear before the Nevada State Athletic Commission after being accused of forcing fighters at his gym to allegedly endure 31-minute training rounds without a break.

Mayweather testified to the commis-sion that the marathon sparring sessions were staged in order to boost pay-per-view sales for his personal cable TV show to promote his next fight.

In the episode Mayweather referred to his gym as the “dog house” adding “guys fight to the death. It is not right but it is dog house rules.”

Mayweather is now being sued by two of the fighters in question, 18-year-old Shariff Rahaman and his brother, Hasim, 23, who allege battery, tortious assault, false imprisonment and negligent hiring and training.

Still the “dog house” featured a carni-

val-like atmosphere that will continue to follow this mega title fight until May 2.

Mayweather’s longevity in the sport has been attributed to his superb defen-sive skills.

The May 2 fight is expected to be decided by Mayweather’s brilliant coun-terpunching skills or Pacquiao’s blazing speed and power. But Mayweather says he sees some flaws in the boxing style of Pacquiao.

‘Reckless fighter’Mayweather described the 36-year-old

Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs) as a “reckless fighter” who takes too many chances, referring to Juan Manuel Marquez’s knockout of Pacman in December 2012.

“He fought very, very recklessly in the Marquez fight,” Mayweather said.

“I could have had the same type of career but my career wouldn’t have lasted this long.”

Mayweather is in the fifth fight of a six-fight contract with Showtime, and he says this year will be his last on the job.

“My last fight is in September,” he said.(AFP)

Filipino boxing star Manny Pacquiao has matured a lot since his six-round

knockout loss to Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012.

“He has learned a big lesson out of that. He became more cautious and has matured a lot as a fighter,” says Restituto “Buboy” Fernandez, a long-time associate and the assistant trainer for Pacquiao.

Fernandez said Pacquiao was win-ning the fight and was about to finish off Marquez when he became hasty.

“He is a fearless fighter inside the ring. In his desire to end the fight in a convinc-ing fashion just to make the fans happy, he went for the kill in the dying seconds of the sixth round. And he paid dearly for it,” recalled Fernandez.

Now, Fernandez says, Pacquiao has remained ferocious but is no longer a careless fighter.

“His punches now are sharper and harder than before. We’ve been training together for years and I can say it based on actual experience,” said Fernandez, who suffered a cut on his mouth during the punch mitts session at the Fortune Gym on Tuesday.

Several times during the punch mitts session, Fernandez was dazed due to non-stop pounding from the Pinoy boxing superstar.

“I was accidentally caught with his left

upper cut. His punches were controlled but coming from someone like Manny Pacquiao, you’d really be hurt,” Fernan-dez said.

Fernandez believes that Pacquiao’s barrage of powerful punches will eventu-ally break down Floyd Mayweather’s defense.

The unbeaten welterweight Mayweath-er (47-0, 26KOs) faces eight-division champion Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38KOs) in Las Vegas on May 2 in the richest fight of all time.

“Mayweather has not fought in his en-tire career a fighter with so much power, speed and a fearless heart like Manny Pacquiao. His defence would be shat-tered,” Fernandez said.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao was unperturbed by reports that Floyd Mayweather’s camp was bribing his prospective sparring mates. “It’s okay. I’m not bothered. Coach Freddie (Roach) had already hired a few sparring partners who are Mayweather’s look-alike,” Pacquiao said.

“During the fight, there’s no other guy atop the ring except the two of us. I know what to do. And that’s what we’re practis-ing now,” Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao vowed to pursue May-weather relentlessly from pillar to post, adding that “He can run but he cannot hide.”(AFP)

MAYWEATHER SAYS PACQUIAO TOO ‘RECKLESS’ TO WIN MEGAFIGHT

good luck to Manny Pacquiao!

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Filipino boxing icon is now more mindful of mistakes


Floyd Mayweather’s blockbuster May 2 bout with Manny Pacquiao will help make the

American fighter’s 2015 earnings shatter the all-time record for a sportsman’s annual pay, Forbes.com calculated on Thursday.

Forbes noted that Mayweather will likely earn at least $150 million and Pacquiao more than $100 million for the welterweight world title showdown in Las Vegas.

The financial news website said payouts could be higher still if more than three million pay-per-views are sold.

Mayweather’s haul would represent the high-est yearly earnings ever by an athlete, surpassing Tiger Woods’ inflation-adjusted record of $125 million in 2008, Forbes said.

Woods currently occupies both first and sec-ond place on Forbes’ list of all-time highest paid athletes in a given year, adjusted for inflation, his adjusted earnings of $120 million in 2009 number two on the list.

NBA legend Michael Jordan is next, with inflation-adjusted earnings of $115 million in both 1997 and 1998. Woods’ $113 million in 2007 and 2010 are next.

The highest boxer on the list is former heavy-weight world champion Mike Tyson, with infla-tion adjusted earnings of $112 million in 1996.

Forbes said its figures were the result of 25 years of tracking athletes’ earnings.

Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum has predicted that record-shattering revenue totals for the May 2 mega-fight could surpass $400 million.

That includes $74 million from just over 15,000 tickets at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

The foreign rights to the fight sold for a record $35 million, according to Arum.

As Forbes noted, the big X-factor in a final revenue figure is pay-per-view sales.

Boxing’s record for pay-per-view purchases is the 2.4 million buys from Mayweather’s split-decision win over Oscar de la Hoya.

The record for pay-per-view receipts is the $152 million set by Mayweather’s 2013 bout with Saul ‘Canelo” Alvarez.

Mayweather-Pacquiao, a fight more than five years in the making between the men consid-ered the best pound-for-pound fighters of their generation, is expected to “crush” both pay-per-view numbers, Forbes noted.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that the pay-per-view price for the fight will be a record $99 for the high definition feed, with a standard definition version costing a slightly cheaper $89.

Mayweather-Pacquiao revenue over $400-MPromoters first aimed for $40 million, then

boosted the ticket prices from $1,000 to $1,500 at the low end and $5,000 to $7,500 for the best seats due to huge demand for the ducats, Arum said.

But organizers have now shuffled the number of seats in various price ranges and boosted top seats to $10,000 to raise the live gate total from $50 million to $74 million. That is if you can find any tickets for sale.(AFP)

Writing on his Instagram “Help me out with a caption,” Floyd Mayweather Jr. has nicknamed himself as Floyd “Money” Mayweather. He is currently the lone athlete to have earned the most money in sports history.

Mayweather set for richest sports year ever – Forbes




MITSUBISHI SUPER STORES GOT YOUR BACK, MANNY!

Abbas Ahmadi, Owner, President & CEO of Mitsubishi Super Stores (with shades), a great friend and supporter of Manny Pacquiao, shows his love for the great boxer, who’s always by Manny’s side during fi ght nights, trainings or even just hanging out with friends and staff of Mitsubishi Super Stores as can be seen in these photos.

Despite receiving support from Vice President Jejomar Binay and even

former US President Bill Clinton, world boxing champ and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao has yet to decide on his political plans for the 2016 polls.

Recently back in General Santos City, Pacquiao said he will make up his mind if he will seek a higher government post at “the right time.”

“Wala pa naman. Ngayon, enjoy ako sa pagiging congressman. Enjoy ako sa pagiging boksingero. Enjoy ako sa pagiging father sa mga anak ko. Pag-isipan natin iyan at the right time,” Pacquiao told reporters during the press conference.

Pacquiao has said he was considering running for a position in 2016 but he fi rst wanted to focus on the task at hand as the congressman of Sarangani province.

“I’m considering it, 2016, but it’s still too far away,” Pacquiao said after his victory parade with Makati Mayor Junjun Binay. “My decision, though, is not yet fi nal if I will run for a national position.”

Clinton said he hopes Pacquiao “goes right on up the ladder” in his political career.

Vice President Binay, who is eyeing the presidency in the 2016 polls, said that he was planning to tap Pacquiao as one of his senatorial candidates. Binay earlier said he was courting the “Pambasang Kamao” to run as senator under his United Nationalist

Alliance.Pacquiao said, however, he would

fi rst concentrate on the matter at hand and not the near future. For now, the Filipino boxer said he just wants to spend time with his family and in prayer. “I must fulfi ll my responsibilities as a congressman, as a boxer and as a family man.”

The “Pacman” was pummeled by Filipino politicians and on social media after he told Agence France Presse in Macau in 2013 that he aspired to be president, with critics saying this meant he planned to run in 2016, chief of staff Franklin Gacal told AFP. “He knows very well that he will not be qualifi ed to run for president in 2016 because of the age requirement,” Gacal said.

The constitution says a presidential candidate must be at least 40 years old on election day.

Gacal insisted Pacquiao, 36, a world champion in eight weight divisions who is now serving a second term in the lower house of the Philippine parliament, knows his law.

He said Pacquiao was “saddened” by the ferocity of criticism over his comments, which were made to AFP while promoting his November fi ght with American Brandon Rios in Macau.

“He was ridiculed on the Internet as somebody who does not know his law,” he said.(MNS)

Pambansang Kamao, Pambansang Pangulo?


Manny Pacquiao pronounced himself ready to fight Floyd Mayweather,

saying he’s willing to engage the unbeat-en American in the middle of the ring if that’s what it takes to win.

The eagerly-anticipated May 2 wel-terweight unification showdown in Las Vegas promises to be the most lucrative fight in boxing history.

“I am very excited,” Pacquiao said Wednesday at the Wild Card gym in Hol-lywood. “My training and my condition-ing is good. I can feel it. I am ready.”

Pacquiao says that is why he is train-ing harder and with more drive and determination than for any other fight in his career.

“I know this is one of the biggest fights ever in boxing,” he said.

“I am not saying it is the biggest, be-cause that would be insulting to the other fights that have been done already.

“But it is one of the biggest.”Pacquiao defended his aggressive style

after Mayweather, 38, on Tuesday called the 36-year-old Filipino superstar a “reck-less” fighter whose careless actions leads to knockouts.

Pacquiao said boxing fans appreciate a fighter who comes to box and put on a good show.

“Reckless fighter, that is how people like me and love me,” Pacquiao said.

“Fans like an exciting fight. Our sport is called boxing, people like a boxer.”

Pacquiao was speaking in Hollywood at the final news conference he is giving before he heads to Las Vegas for the fight at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino.

The boxer said he doesn’t need a blockbuster fight with Mayweather to define his legacy, that winning titles in eight divisions has far exceeded his expectations.

“My entire career defines my legacy. Everything I have done in boxing,” he said. “I have had some great, great accomplishments and achievements in my career. I won titles in eight different weight divisions.”

His hall-of-fame career has surpassed anything he could have imagined when he got into sport after someone told him he could earn 100 pesos (about $2) for a fight.

The 12-year-old used the money from that first decision victory to buy rice for his poverty-stricken family in the Philip-pines.

“I don’t want to boast and talk about the eight different weight divisions, but that accomplishment is amazing. Beyond my expectation,” he said. “When I started boxing, I never imagined it.”

Pacquiao spoke to a small group of re-porters in the basement of the Wild Card

gym in Hollywood. He then went upstairs to the main gym

for a workout in front of a standing-room only crowd of photographers and televi-sion cameras.

Pacquiao began his workout with a shadow-boxing session without gloves.

Wearing a grey t-shirt with the words Team Pacquiao on the back, he worked out on his own for several minutes, while trainer Freddie Roach watched from the corner as the throng of media pressed up against the outside of the ring.

Failed test penalty Pacquiao said the fight would have

never seen the light of day if he hadn’t agreed to a 60/40 split of the purse, with Mayweather getting the bigger share.

He sought, but failed to get May-weather to agree on a $5 million penalty for anyone who fails a drug test in the buildup to the fight.

Mayweather had previously accused Pacquiao of using performance-enhancing drugs, which became one of the stum-bling blocks that helped scuttle previous negotiations.

“I suggested it. I was surprised he turned it down,” Pacquiao said.

“I was surprised because I was not the one making accusations. They were the ones blaming me because I didn’t want to drug test.”

Pacquiao said he has already been tested about six times since the May 2 fight was announced.(Greg Heakes, AFP)

The time has come to trade blows “I will try my best to make this a thrilling and entertaining fi ght. But I doubt if he’s gonna engage me in a slugfest,” says Manny Pacquiao, winner of an unprecedented eight world titles in different weight classes. “You all know his fi ghting style. Most of his previous fi ghts, if not all, induced us to sleep,” said Pacquiao from his southern Philippines home city of General Santos.


By Daniel Hicks

Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, who turned 55 on Thursday, has seen it all during a legend-ary career as a cornerman to the world’s greatest

fighters.But he told AFP Thursday that training Manny

Pacquiao to face the unbeaten Floyd Mayweather in boxing’s most lucrative fight yet will be “the biggest challenge of my life.”

Roach has trained a string of world champions such as Bernard Hopkins, Julio Cesar Chavez and Oscar De La Hoya. He has been in Pacquiao’s corner for 15 years, been voted US trainer of the year seven times, and en-dures a constant battle against Parkinson’s disease.

Yet he still insisted in an exclusive interview that beating Mayweather would top all that.

“It’s the biggest challenge of my career, by far,” the American said in Macau, where he is preparing China’s Zou Shiming to challenge Thailand’s Amnat Ruenroeng for the IBF flyweight championship at Cotai Arena on Saturday.

“Floyd’s undefeated. He’s talented, He’s unique. Here’s a guy I first saw when he was five years old in the gym. And he was a good fighter then,” Roach said.

The unbeaten welterweight Mayweather (47-0, 26KOs) faces eight-division champion Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38KOs) in Las Vegas on May 2 in the richest fight of all time.

“He’s trained himself his whole life. He’s a natural fighter and he makes the moves himself, I mean Floyd is a self-made fighter. He was born into this sport. He just grew with it.

“I’m happy this fight is here. Yes, it’s the biggest chal-lenge of my life but I think it’s going to be the greatest moment of my life also.”

Roach spoke to AFP straight after getting off the phone to Los Angeles, when he had received a special greeting.

“I just talked to Manny,” said Roach. “He wanted to call me. He sang ‘Happy Birthday’ and he had the whole gym singing to me!”

Roach said Pacquiao could beat Mayweather but cautioned it would take a near-perfect performance and supreme concentration from ‘Pacman.’

‘No room for error’“The strategy to win the fight is very complicated and

very precise,” said Roach. “Manny has to make the right moves at the right time to win the fight and this time there is no room for error.

“Mayweather is very good at moving and when he gets you to follow him he will walk you into shots, score

points and win rounds.“But he does make mistakes here and there. Not a

lot, but a couple and that’s something a southpaw like Manny can take advantage of.”

Roach clearly admires the ringcraft of Mayweather, but said the man known as ‘Money’ left a lot to be de-sired as a person.

“I think Manny will do the world a public service to beat this guy because he’s not a good role model,” said Roach.

“Manny’s a really good role model – he’s someone I would want my kids to look up to.”

Stay or go?Pacquiao, who has carved out a parallel career in poli-

tics, arrived in training camp at Roach’s Wildcard gym in Los Angeles last Saturday, just as Roach was about to leave for China with Zou.

Roach revealed his first thoughts were to stay behind to help ‘Pacman’ prepare for Mayweather, but the Fili-pino superstar was having none of it.

“He came to camp early because the Philippines is crazy,” said Roach of the media and fan circus that fol-lows the adored Pacquiao around.

“So I said to him: ‘I’ll see you on Monday’. “And Manny said: ‘No, I’ll see you when you get

home from Shiming’s fight. Go help Shiming win the world title. Because with you there he has a much better chance of winning. I can train myself for five days. I’m OK.’

“I think I should be with Manny who’s got the biggest fight of his life coming up but so has Zou. Not too many guys would do that but Manny’s such a nice person.”

Roach directed a blast at Mayweather’s father, Floyd Snr, who will be in the opposite corner come May 2.

Roach believes Mayweather would be better off with his uncle, Roger Mayweather, as his trainer.

“He was a really good fighter at five and I saw him grow up with his uncle Roger. I’m kind of happy that Roger is not the trainer anymore because the father isn’t as good,” said Roach.(AFP)

Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, seen here with Weekend Balita columnist Jannelle So, says the fi ght will be his most lucrative fi ght yet will be “the biggest challenge of my life.” His ward Manny Pacquiao will face the unbeaten Floyd Mayweather on May 2.

Los Angeles, United States, AFP – Manny Pac-quiao said Wednesday his “killer instinct” and will to win is as strong as ever, rejecting suggestions he is past his prime for the May 2 blockbuster bout with Floyd Mayweather.

The Filipino was speaking in Hollywood at the final news conference he will give before he heads to Las Vegas for the eagerly anticipated welter-weight unification showdown with the unbeaten Mayweather, set to be the most lucrative in boxing history.

Boxing fans say the two men are getting it on five years too late, with Pacquiao now 36 and May-

weather two years older, and both showing tentative signs of slowing down in recent fights.

Pacquiao, who has also faced accusations that he has neglected his boxing and concentrated too much on his political career, hit back, saying: “I feel very motivated.

“The inspiration and determination is back and the killer instinct is there. I love it. I like it.”

Pacquiao described the upcoming fight as one of the biggest ever and said that more people are interested in it now because it took years of on-off negotiations to put together.

“It is a good thing that it is happening now

rather than five years ago because more people are informed,” he said, denying that the outcome of the Las Vegas fight would define his glittering career.

“My entire career defines my legacy. Everything I have done in boxing,” he said.

“I have had some great, great accomplishments and achievements in my career. I won titles in eight different weight divisions.”

Pacquiao spoke to a small group of reporters in the basement of the Wild Card gym in Hollywood.

He then went upstairs to the main gym for a workout in front of a standing-room only crowd of photographers and television cameras.

Mayweather is ‘biggest challenge of my life’ – Freddie Roach

Pacquiao says ‘killer instinct’ as strong as ever



GO MANNY!

By Jannelle So

He trains hard from Monday to Saturday. But on the Lord’s day, Sunday, Philippine fighting

congressman Manny Pacquiao focuses on his family and his faith, making it a point to attend Sunday worship service at Westside Shepherd of the Hills.

“Before I came to this church, I was praying and crying to the Lord. ‘Lord, I don’t know where I’m going. Where will I go every Sunday, what will I do?’ The Lord brought me here,” said Pacquiao who has been attending this particular church since he was introduced to it by his Aunt Lillia.

Pastor Dudley Rutherford, leader of the church, had this to say about meeting the 8-division world boxing champion: “I know that God has the future lined up for both of us. I don’t know when he’s done fighting, if I’d see him again. If I’ll go to the Philippines, to help start a church over there. But I do believe that God put it in my heart just to help him. I don’t want anything from him. I don’t need anything from him. I just want to help him. I want to help him grow spiritually. Because so many people are pulling on him. And I just want to help him to be the man God

wants him to be.”The one-on-one live interview Ruther-

ford had with Pacquiao, started with the Filipino pride narrating how he started in boxing. He said that at a young age of 12, even without knowing what boxing was, he put his name in a signup sheet, “because all I know [sic] is you can get money. And I needed money to give to my mother to feed our family.”

He said that he ended up actually win-ning that day, earning himself PhP100; “that’s $2,” he said, with his popular smile. The crowd cheered. “If you lose [sic], you get [sic] PhP50. That’s $1.”

Rutherford also showed clips from the “Manny,” the movie about Pacquiao’s life, documenting his rise to fame and fall to vices, “gambling, drinking, girls and womanizing,” Pacquiao said.

Through the whole hour or so of the interview, Vice Governor Jinkee Pacquiao got emotional while watching her hus-band’s testimony.

“Kasi naiisip ko ‘yung buhay namin dati and now; more on the happiness side. Answered prayers talaga, na ‘yung mga pinagdaanan namin, nakayanan namin,” she said in an interview, after the service. And even offered an advice to people go-ing through hard times: “Be strong. If you

Where Rep. Manny Pacquiao sees himself ten years from now

have a relationship with God, you can do everything when you have God by your side. Just never give up.”

As for their family, husband and wife agree in separate interviews that their

future includes serving God.When Rutherford asked him where he

saw himself 10 years from now, Pacquiao replied: “Serving God and serving the people.”

Manny Pacquiao says he has renewed his faith and given up vices following an “encounter with God” during a dream. Now immersed in Bible study, he now spends more time when not in training with wife Jinkee and his children. Photo was posted on Jinkee’s Instagram account @jinkeepacquiao.


By Allen V. Estabillo

Days before even meeting Timothy Bradley in their rematch, world boxing sensation and Sarangani Rep. Emman-

uel “Manny” Pacquiao has considered giving up his boxing gloves for good in favor of his faith and “Bible-centered” life.

Pacquiao has disclosed that he was seriously leaning on retiring from boxing after his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title fight against American brawler Timothy Brad-ley in Las Vegas, Nevada. But instead of hang-ing up his gloves, he went on to demolish Chris Algeri and now will face Floyd Mayweather in the “Fight of the Century” on May 2.

“Hindi maganda na nagse-share ako ng salita ng Panginoon tapos nananakit ako ng kapwa (It’s not right that I share God’s word and at the same time hurt other people),” he once told reporters after gracing the oath-taking of newly-promoted personnel of the Army’s 73rd Infantry Battalion in Maasim town in Sarangani.

The Sarangani lawmaker, who already made a good fortune from his boxing exploits since his ring, said he wants to concentrate more on sharing his faith and at the same time on helping his poor constituents. “I’ve gained more than enough blessings these past years so I think it’s time for me to return the favor,” he

said in Filipino. Earlier, even Pacquiao’s promoter Bob

Arum of Top Rank was reported in the media as saying that the former supposedly planned to retire from boxing by the end of 2013 after run-ning for governor of Sarangani province.

Pacquiao’s mother Dionisia had asked him several times to quit boxing and just focus on his businesses and budding political career but to no avail.

On the other hand, Pacquiao said he would only retire from boxing once his famed trainer Freddie Roach sees him slowing down or his vaunted punching power waning out.

Mayor Reynaldo Constantino of Malungon, Sarangani, a close ally of Pacquiao, has said the latter has so far become a “changed man” as a result of his new found passion for studying the Bible.

Pacquiao, who made the headlines in the past for his alleged affairs with other women as well as his gambling and drinking habits, has reportedly sold a casino that he operates in a Manila hotel and disposed of his fighting cocks.

He also shut down recently his J-Mix restau-rant and bar, where he used to treat his friends for drinks and billiard games.

Pacquiao also accepted an offer from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines to become the Church’s “Bible ambassador.”

The influential Catholic church in the Philip-

pines said it had asked boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao to follow in the footsteps of NFL hero Tim Tebow and become a “bible ambassador”.

Bishop Pablo Virgilio David said Pacquiao could follow the example of the Philippine-born National Football League star Tebow, a devout Christian dubbed by some in the press as “God’s quarterback.”

“Tim Tebow became very popular by pro-moting the word of God,” David said. “Some have referred to Manny Pacquiao as the Tim Tebow of the Philippines.”

Tebow was born in Manila in 1987 to a Baptist missionary couple.

In an interview with Philippine TV station ABS-CBN this month, Pacquiao said he had recently renewed his faith and given up vices following an “encounter with God” during a dream.

In the dream, Pacquiao said he found himself in a forest, where a bright light shone, believed to be God, asking the fighter why he was veering away from Him.

“I woke up crying. I remember I was crying in my dream and when I touched my pillow, it was wet,” he said.

“If I had died last year or in the last two years, I’m sure I would have gone straight to hell. My faith in Him was there, 100 percent, but behind it, after prayers, I would still do evil things.” (Philippine News Agency)

o

IS THIS MANNY’S SWAN SONG?

Photo: Darren Decker

Miss Universe 2014


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Weekend balita april 25, 2015 with supplement