1. law, govt and politics
2. government
3. embassies and consulates

Gov’t rules out VFA scrapping
Only guidelines being reviewed - De Lima
Militants demand scrapping of the Visiting Forces Agreement
(VFA) in a rally infront of the Department of Foreign Affairs in
Pasay City.
MANILA -- The Aquino
administration slammed the
door Friday on the abrogation
of the country’s Visiting Forces
Agreement (VFA) with the
United States despite calls for its
cancellation in the wake of the
killing of transgender Jennifer
Laude, allegedly at the hands of
a US Marine.
Justice Secretary Leila de
Lima said ongoing talks between
the Philippines and the United
States were intended to come up
with clear guidelines on some
of the more contentious issues
surrounding the treaty which was
ratified in 1999, but were not
aimed at amending or scrapping
the VFA.
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De Lima said, reacting to calls
for amendment or abrogation of
the VFA.
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just the implementing guidelines,”
she said, adding that these would
be consistent with the provisions
of the agreement.
De Lima said the guidelines
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gaps or loopholes in the agreement
which lead to the differing or
varying interpretations.”
De Lima declined to comment
when asked how the government
would address calls for an
abrogation of the treaty.
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position to make any declaration
with respect to that. That kind of
decision should be addressed at
the highest level,” De Lima said.
De Lima reiterated that the
(Please turn to Page 7)
(FonoPLVt VeeV gOoEaO
8S reFeVVLon ne[t year
WASHINGTON -- Four
years after the end of the Great
Recession, it looks as if the U.S.
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for breakout growth.
Monthly job growth in 2014
is, on average, faster than at any
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Overall economic growth appears
to picking up too, with real GDP
growing by more than 4% in
the second quarter of this year,
and many economists predicting
higher overall growth compared
to last year.
But news outside the U.S. isn’t
so bright. European economies
are still battling depression-era
levels of unemployment and the
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economies, like China, are having
trouble maintaining the kind
of growth they have become
accustomed to in recent years. The
most recent readings out of China Artist’s rendering of the Iloilo Convention Center. Inset Senate President Franklin Drilon.
(Please turn to Page 10)
PLnay aGPLraO taNeV KeOP
oI 8S naYaO FoPPanG
GUAM – One of the few
females holding a high-ranking
position in the United States Navy
is a Filipino.
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parents, US Navy Rear Admiral
Bette Bolivar was raised in a
traditional Filipino family.
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ang nanay ko ay taga Pangasinan
(My father is from Bicol and my
mother hails from Pangasinan),”
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Filipino.
(Please turn to Page 10)
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MANILA - President Aquino
ended speculations on a possible
term extension, telling a group of
businessmen that having six more
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solution” to sustain the country’s
growth.
Instead the solution, Aquino
said, is choosing the next leader
wisely.
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sustain this after 2016, then
perhaps I will vote for the right
Rear Admiral Bette Bolivar
(Please turn to Page 6)
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MANILA —Graft and plunder
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President Franklin Drilon, Tourism
Secretary Ramon Jimenez,
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Singson and other Department
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allegedly overpriced construction
of the Iloilo Convention Center.
Manuel Mejorada, a former
provincial administrator of
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malversation of public funds,
violation of procurement law,
anti-graft and corrupt practices
act and dishonesty and grave
misconduct against Drilon and
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The charges stemmed from
the allegedly overpriced Iloilo
Convention Center, a purported
P700-million pet project of Drilon
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Construction Corp., the contractor
of the allegedly overpriced Makati
parking building.
Mejorada said Drilon was
(Please turn to Page 9)
ABS-CBN wins $10-M award in Oregon court
Story on
Page 7
3
PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
www.thephilippinetribune.com
Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2014
4
www.thephilippinetribune.com
VIEWS
& COMMENTARY
PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2014
Modern-day heroes and slaves
GUEST EDITORIAL
The strangest stranger
EMPATHY is a word that this administration does not seem
to understand.
It calls the Filipino people its bosses, but acts as though it could
not care less about its bosses’ plight.
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other people’s shoes than President Aquino himself.
For instance, when a local businessman lamented the looting
that took place in the days shortly after typhoon Yolanda ravaged
the central Philippines and asked what the national government
intended to do about it, Mr. Aquino shot back: “But you’re still
alive, aren’t you?”
Another example would be this administration’s dismal record
in preventing the extra-judicial killing of journalists and solving
the murders that have already taken place.
On more than one occasion, Mr. Aquino emphasized that many
of the media workers were killed because of reasons other than
their ethical exercise of the profession. He uttered these words as
though some journalists deserved to die more than others did.
Challenged to take the perilous and daunting ride on the Metro
Rail Transit to experience what ordinary commuters go through
every day, Mr. Aquino sent his mouthpieces instead and hinted he
had better things to do.
The President’s most recent display of insensitivity was in
connection with the killing of transgender woman Jennifer Laude,
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The issue is highly emotional given the hateful nature of
the crime, complicated by the nuances of the Visiting Forces
Agreement, a pact between two nations where one wields more
power than the other.
Laude has already been buried in his hometown Olongapo
City, but on the days prior to the interment, Mr. Aquino has been
conspicuously silent and detached and in fact refused to attend
the wake if only to show solidarity to the family in condemning
the violence.
“I don’t usually go to wakes of people I don’t know,” the
President said, saying it made him feel strange.
We are willing to bet however that in his relatively long, albeit
unremarkable, career as a politician, he has attended the wakes
of numerous strangers.
The reasoning would make sense to an ordinary citizen, but
not to a leader—especially one who has styled himself as the best
thing that ever happened to Filipinos.
His spokespersons have tried to clean up after the very candid
statement, of course, but no amount of damage control could hide
what we already know: this president not only refuses to connect
with the people; he is simply incapable of doing so. – Manila
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25 teachers who were victimized
by unscrupulous recruiters went
to the Philippine Embassy in
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of Ambassador Jose Cuisia Jr. for
a resolution of their case.
The ambassador assured them
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them. At the same time, Cuisia
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out of the shadows so the embassy
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The relief that Cuisia was
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Cuisia said the Philippine
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released from detention despite
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and in the Philippines.
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many as 1,000 teachers whom he
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pay from $10,000 to $15,000 each
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The case of the teachers
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one of many such incidents of
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placement fees, a well as a $500
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teachers of thousands of dollars in
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their visas.
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10-percent of their second-year
salaries to the company. Teachers
who could not afford to pay the
fees up front were directed to loan
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‡ $ )ORULGD FRXSOH SOHDGHG
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hotels.
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(Please turn to Page 6)
Has Binay gone desperado?
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news report, Binay waited for two
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shown the door.
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quiet about what transpired at
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with speculation. But Inquirer
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Philippine Tribune
18012 Pioneer Blvd. #E, Artesia, CA 90701
7HO‡)D[
www.thephilippinetribune.com
e-mail: [email protected]
AILEEN GALON -- General Manager
VAL G. ABELGAS
BOBBY CRISOSTOMO
MEH GUEVARRA
DAISY MAE ORTIZ
CERES VILLANUEVA
RODERICK DE LA PENA
BUSINESS AID NETWORK
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and his wife, Melinda Morales,
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in April 2010 in Paso Robles
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homes for little or no pay. The
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the victims were recruited by the
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Once the victims arrived in
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entire days for as many as seven
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passports and threatened to harm
their families and/or deport them
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and slept in closets, hallways, and
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Editor
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The Philippine Tribune is published by the PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE INC. Views and opinions
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is independent. Besides, I have
so many problems -- the possible
spread of the deadly Ebola virus
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the evacuation of residents near
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But Binay pressed on. He
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GMA (former President Gloria
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to appease him, he achieved the
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told him that after Binay left,
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Scapegoat
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better that if there were one
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in his administration, it was
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a chance to be released from
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protective of its autonomy from
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Indeed, he has nobody to
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the two decades that he and
members of his family – wife,
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richest city in the country that is
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the revenues earned by the city,
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with little or no interference
from other political entities
(Please turn to Page 8)
5
PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2014
www.thephilippinetribune.com
The fruit of the Spirit
Watch out! Your words
are Àammable!
WATCH OUT!<RXU:RUGV
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Proverbs 18:21 teaches us that
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of our mouth can either heal or
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VISIT US AT
www.thephilippinetribune.com
call (562) 865-5620
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the unlovely and the unlovable.
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enemies. $JDSH is the Calvary
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(Please turn to Page 9)
6
PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2014
www.thephilippinetribune.com
Modern-day heroes...
(From Page 4)
President Aquino gestures during the open forum of the 13th CEO Forum and 118th General Membership Meeting of the Semiconductor and Electronic Industries in the Philippines (SEIPI) held at
the Rigodon Ballroom of the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati. Also in photo are, from left, TESDA
Secretary Joel Villanueva and SEIPI President Danilo Lachica.
Aquino: No second term
(From Page 1)
FDQGLGDWH$QG LI , FDQ DVN \RX
also to discern properly as to who
is extolling populist sentiments
with no substance as opposed to
those who not only say the right
things but whom you can trust to
GHOLYHUWKHVDPHµ$TXLQRWROGWKH
Semiconductor and Electronics
,QGXVWULHV LQ WKH 3KLOLSSLQHV
,QF 6(,3, GXULQJ LWV WK
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membership meeting in Makati.
He did not identify any
preferred successor.
´$WWKHHQGRIWKHGD\DJDLQ,
have to reemphasize, this is really
a collective effort. Even if there
DUHVRPHTXDUWHUVVD\LQJ,VKRXOG
WU\ DQG JR IRU D VHFRQG WHUP ,
don’t think that’s a right solution.
We all have a time card in this
world and we have to prepare for
the eventuality of being called to
meet our Maker. So there has to
be that continuation of people of
like mind who will deliver on the
SURPLVHVWKDWDUHUHDODQGQRWMXVW
self-serving or nice, pleasant to
KHDUµ$TXLQRVDLG
'XULQJ WKH WK 3KLOLSSLQH
Business Conference and Expo
in Manila last Friday, Aquino
also hinted before local investors
that he did not have any more
plans to extend his term as he
reverted back to saying that he
ZDVLQWKH´ODVWWZRPLQXWHVµRI
his administration.
Aquino was asked about how
the Philippines could maintain
or increase its competitiveness
after ASEAN integration and
how sustainable growth would be
DIWHU
Aquino reiterated his
administration had been
investing much on education
and skills training to equip the
people, especially the young, for
employment.
He said he would never be
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their targets.
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“We believe the greatest
single resource of the country
is the people, hence all of the
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but also in other social concerns
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the population had already been
enrolled in Philippine Health
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the… coverage in terms of people
but also coverage in terms of
diseases, so that a catastrophic
illness will not bring you back
EHORZWKHSRYHUW\OLQHµKHVDLG
service based in the Florida city
of Boca Raton. Manuel and
Baldonado promised the workers
high wages and two to three years
of steady work in the US, then
had the workers pay substantial
recruitment fees, including their
airfare, which put them in debt to
their US-based employers. Once
the workers were in the US, the
defendants compelled the victims’
labor and services through threats
to have the workers arrested and
deported, knowing the workers
faced serious economic harm
and possible incarceration for
non-payment of debts in the
Philippines.
When the workers arrived at
Manuel and Baldonado’s Florida
UHVLGHQFHWKHFRXSOHFRQÀVFDWHG
their passports and “housed them
in overcrowded, substandard
conditions without adequate food
or drinking water; put them to
work at area country clubs and
hotels for little or no pay; required
them to remain in the defendants’
service, unpaid, when there was
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‡7KH)%,LQYHVWLJDWHGLQ
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as seasonal worker for a big
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contract that guaranteed a salary
RIDQKRXU
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US in July. But instead of going
to Virginia, where they signed
contracts to become waiters, they
were driven to Mississippi, where
they were told to sign another
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salaries for which they signed up.
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Hospitality Services required
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day, which, De Guzman said,
ZDVFORVHWRLPSRVVLEOHWRÀQLVK
De Guzman said the recruiters
confiscated their passports and
threatened to have them deported
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,DPDJKDVWDWWKHFRXUDJHRI
these illegal recruiters to challenge
the US’ tough laws against human
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amazed that despite strict rules
and regulations imposed by
the Department of State and
the Department of Homeland
Security, these recruiters have
been able to forge documents
and smuggle these workers into
the country.
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only to workers being recruited
for Middle East and Southeast
Asia, where tens of thousands of
Filipinos have to suffer physical,
emotional and sexual abuse
from employers because of cruel
deception by illegal recruiters,
and where tens of thousands more
are stranded because there was no
work waiting for them and they
have no money to go back home.
What is even more revolting
is that the recruiters in the
Philippines are never prosecuted
despite the rampant crimes that
they commit.
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trafficking cases reported by
law enforcement agencies to the
Philippine Department of Justice,
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trafficking cases were actually
convicted, and that includes two
persons who remain at large.
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report said, was “widespread
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limit prevention and prosecution
of cases.
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must show its resolve to eradicate
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country owes so much to overseas
Filipino workers, whose nearly
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been buoying up the Philippine
economy for decades.
Overseas Filipino workers
have been hailed as “modernGD\ KHURHVµ 8QIRUWXQDWHO\ WHQV
of thousands of them have also
EHFRPH´PRGHUQGD\VODYHVµ
([email protected])
7
PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2014
www.thephilippinetribune.com
Gov’t rules out...
(From Page 1)
move to review the VFA came
months ahead of the Laude case.
In fact, she said it was initiated
to address issues emanating from
the2005 rape case of Suzette
Nicolas alias Nicole in Subic
involving four US Marines led
by Lance Corporal Daniel Smith.
Among the contentious issues
cited by De Lima were “custody,
Poor Filipinos live in squalor condition along a Manila estero
MXULVGLFWLRQDQGRIÀFLDOGXW\µ
US Ambassador Philip Golderg
said Washington was willing to
review contentious provisions of
M A N I L A – A t o t a l o f poverty was 50 percent while self- still has a lot of work to do to the treaty.
“We’ve been engaged in talks
12.1 million Filipino families rated food poverty was 37 percent. reduce poverty, following the
over time with the Department
considered themselves poor in
Last month’s self-rated poverty SWS survey.
of
Foreign Affairs with the
September, while 9.3 million and food poverty rates (52 percent
“The consistent and focused
families said they were food-poor, and 39 percent, respectively) were poverty alleviation measures that Department of National Defense
according to a Social Weather above the 2013 average.
the government has undertaken about clarifying various aspects of
Stations (SWS) report.
The survey used face-to-face shows a positive effect on the 9)$WRWKHSDUWLHV·VDWLVIDFWLRQµ
T h e n a t i o n w i d e s u r v e y, interviews with 1,200 respondents UHGXFWLRQRISRYHUW\µSUHVLGHQWLDO Goldberg said.
“Any additional suggestions
conducted from Sept. 26 to and had a margin of error of plus- spokesman Edwin Lacierda told
are up to the Philippines’ side,
29, found 55 percent of the or-minus 3 percentage points.
reporters.
respondents saying they were
On self-rated poverty, SWS
“But, of course, we would if they want to make additional
poor, the same as in the previous asked 1,200 household heads to always prefer to do better than suggestions. But they have to be
mutually agreed. It’s a mutual
quarter.
plot their family on a card with ZKDWZHKDYHGRQHQRZµ
The survey also found 43 LQGLFDWRUVVWDWLQJ´QRWSRRUµ´RQ
In a separate statement, agreement between two countries.
percent saying they were food- WKHOLQHµDQG´SRRUµ
Communications Secretary It has to suit both our interests and
poor in September, slightly more
For self-rated food poverty, Herminio Coloma Jr. noted that REMHFWLYHVµWKHHQYR\DGGHG
B u t G o l d b e rg s a i d a n y
than the 41 percent recorded in respondents were told to plot the poverty incidence dropped by
June. Results of the survey were their family on a card indicating WKUHHSRLQWVIURPWKHÀUVWTXDUWHU adjustments should not be done
ÀUVWSXEOLVKHGLQ%XVLQHVV:RUOG ZKHWKHUWKH\ZHUH´QRWSRRUµ´RQ of 2012 to the same period the in the midst of the controversy
The latest self-rated poverty WKHOLQHµRU´SRRUµRQWKHEDVLVRI following year, based on the over the Laude killing.
“While we’re always open
and self-rated food poverty levels their food situation over the past Family Income and Expenditure
were higher than those in the same three months.
Survey (FIES) of the Philippine to talking to our friends and
allies about these issues, this
period last year.
M a l a c a ñ a n g o n M o n d a y Statistics Authority.
shouldn’t be done in the middle of
In September 2013, self-rated acknowledged that the government
something that we have to handle
WKURXJK UXOH RI ODZµ *ROGEHUJ
said.
“We can continue talking about
MANILA –It’s the paradox VWRPDFKVµVKHVDLGLQDSULYLOHJH WKHVHVXIÀFLHQWIXQGLQJ
of our times: A great number of speech.
T h e n e o p h y t e s e n a t o r it but it’s not part of this process.
Filipinos, including 15 million
“We should let the issue of encouraged civic action to help It’s part of the process between
children, remain hungry or hunger gnaw at bureaucracy’s end hunger, including small deeds the countries to clarify what these
malnourished while the Philippine WKLFN ZDOOV RU WKH RIÀFLDOGRP·V that, taken together, could go a things mean. If the Philippines
wants to bring additional things
economy continues to soar, Sen. thick hides the way an ulcer long way.
Grace Poe lamented on Monday, ODFHUDWHVWKHJXWµVKHVDLG
For instance, politicians could to the table as [Justice Secretary
as she called for concrete action
Poe called for an increase in donate the tarpaulins they use as Leila de Lima] suggested, that’s
to address this scourge.
the budget next year for children’s ´JUHHWLQJFDUGVµWRIDUPHUVZKR WKH 3KLOLSSLQHV ULJKWµ *ROGEHUJ
Poe said the government and feeding programs, which could could use these as drying mats for said.
“The Philippines is free to raise
every Filipino should do their part be done by doing away with their crops.
issues that they want, but that
to help end hunger.
´IULYRORXVµEXGJHWDU\LWHPV
“We shouldn’t allow the
She also called for sincere
applause of rating agencies efforts to invest in and improve
drown out the grumbling of empty agricultural programs by giving
12-M Filipinos say they are poor
15-M Filipino kids are hungry -- Poe
doesn’t mean on the other side that
it is immediately agreed to. There
DUH WZR VLGHV WR DQ DJUHHPHQWµ
he added.
Goldberg said the transfer of
the suspect, PFC Joseph Scott
Pemberton, to Camp Aguinaldo
ZDVDOUHDG\DQ´XQVXDOVWHSµIRU
the US in consideration to the
people’s sentiments, which was
in contrast to Smith, who was
detained inside the US embassy
when he was on trial for rape in
2005.
The US envoy agreed that
different parts of the VFA need
to be clarified and Manila and
Washington are already doing
that, but that is not enough reason
to rescind a good agreement.
“I can’t imagine abrogating
VFA, but I don’t want to get into
DSROLWLFDOGHEDWHKHUHµ*ROGEHUJ
said.
At a budget hearing in the
Senate, Foreign Affairs Secretary
Albert del Rosario reaffirmed
De Lima’s statement that the
ongoing talks would not lead to
any amendments to the VFA.
The review is procedural and
had noting to do with the death of
Laude, Del Rosario said.
While the treaty is being
reviewed, it is not being
renegotiated, Del Rosario said
in response to a question from
Senator Loren Legarda on the
possibility of revising provisions
on jurisdiction and custody of
American personnel accused of
crimes.
Legarda pointed out that
the provision on custody and
jurisdiction of the country’s VFA
with Australia, ratified in July
2012, was more sensitive of
Philippine laws.
But Del Rosario said that while
the US currently has custody
of Pemberton, the Philippines
can formally seek custody once
FULPLQDOFKDUJHVDUHÀOHGDJDLQVW
him.
8
PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
www.thephilippinetribune.com
Binay slams Aquino administration anew
MANILA,QDEDUHO\YHLOHG
attack on the administration
of President Benigno Aquino
III, embattled Vice President
Jejomar Binay on Saturday night
enumerated the chief complaints
of the public that, according to
him, his detractors must deal with.
“There is a power crisis, the
rising prices of oil and other
commodities, the rampant crimes
plaguing the country, the hellish
traffic jams, unsafe MRT and
/57 WKH UHFXUUHQW ÁRRGLQJ DQG
the wrath of nature that we must
all prepare for,” Binay said in a
speech at the 32nd anniversary
celebration of the Lions’ Club
'LVWULFW ' DW WKH 0DQLOD
Hotel.
“But instead of giving all their
time and thoughts to achieve
solutions to these problems,
they chose to advance their own
interests by destroying my name
and those of my loved ones,” he
said, referring to administration
allies in the Senate who have
mounted an inquiry into alleged
corruption in Makati during his
term as the city’s mayor.
He said those members of the
Senate had been blinded by their
ambition and were now using
a blue ribbon subcommittee to
“unjustly persecute” him and his
family.
“Their recent activities and
actuations are no longer in
aid of legislation but in aid of
political persecution. Indeed, they
have made the Senate inquiry a
platform to unjustly persecute my
SHUVRQDQGRIÀFHP\IDPLO\DQG
in fact anyone who has had even
the remotest association with me,”
Binay said.
Then, without directly
referring to President Aquino,
Binay pointed to many pressing
problems of the country.
House approves P2.6-T nat’l budget
MANILA – Despite the
minority’s efforts to block
its passage, the House of
Representatives overwhelmingly
DSSURYHGRQWKLUGDQGÀQDOUHDGLQJ
the P2.606 trillion national budget
for 2015.
But not without the minority
EORFSXWWLQJXSDÀJKW
The group claimed that
the President’s certification of
the budget bill as urgent does
not mean it has to be passed,
especially with its errata portions.
At least 198 representatives
moved to approved the budget,
while 18 voted no and none
abstained. Meanwhile, there were
no abstentions.
Among those who voted no
are members of the Makabayan
bloc, Abakada Rep. Jonathan Dela
Cruz, Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza,
and United Nationalist Alliance
interim president, Navotas Rep.
Toby Tiangco.
The minority had traditionally
opposed the budget in the plenary.
The bloc in a press conference
claimed the 2015 budget is the
President’s campaign kitty as it
comes on the heels of the 2016
presidential elections.
Majority leader Neptali
Gonzales II moved for the
plenary to approve the bill on
Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2014
“We thought they had been
solved in the 1990s. But they are
here like ghosts haunting us now,”
Binay said.
Asked later if his statement
was directed at the administration
of President Aquino, Binay said:
“It was not against the President.
I was just saying a factual
information.”
The Senate blue ribbon
subcommittee is investigating
allegations of corruption against
Binay, including the alleged
RYHUSULFLQJ RI WKH 3ELOOLRQ
Makati City Hall Building II,
which was constructed when he
was the city’s mayor.
Has Binay...
(From Page 4)
including the country’s Executive
and Legislative branches of
government. And for as along as
you keep your nose clean, nobody
is going to bother you. But the
moment you’re involved in some
kind of anomaly or scandal, then
everybody would gang up on
you. And that’s precisely what
happened to Jojo Binay.
Public opinion
With all the allegations of
corruption against Binay that
spans more than a quarter of a
century since the time of the
late President Cory Aquino who
DSSRLQWHG KLP DV WKH RIÀFHULQ
charge (OIC) of Makati City,
third reading, but Act Teachers Binay had left no stone unturned in
Rep. Antonio Tinio objected to
the motion, saying under the covering his tracks. He allegedly
House rules a budget bill must be used dummies for the properties
FHUWLÀHG DV XUJHQW LI LW FRQWDLQV KHDFTXLUHGZKLOHLQRIÀFH:LWK
funds for calamities.
no solid evidence of corruption,
%XW3UHVLGLQJ2IÀFHU'HSXW\
Speaker Carlos Padilla said as Binay is presumed innocent by
in the previous congresses, a law. But Binay is facing charges
EXGJHWELOOQHHGRQO\EHFHUWLÀHG of corruption not in a court of law
as urgent by the President even but in the court of public opinion.
without calamity funds.
When the Senate opened an
“All we ask is time to review
the submission by the Department investigation into the allegations
of Budget and Management of corruption against Binay and
(DBM). Is that unfair?!” Atienza his family, he refused to appear
said.
before the Senate Blue Ribbon
subcommittee, saying that it was
a “kangaroo court.” He said that
he’d rather go directly to the
people to explain his side.
But the latest survey of Social
Weather Station (SWS) shows
that 79% of the respondents want
him to face the Senate and address
the allegations, which begs the
question:
Why is Binay scared of
appearing before the Senate Blue
Ribbon subcommittee?
While there may be several
reasons why Binay is not
appearing before the Blue Ribbon
subcommittee hearing, one reason
might be that by not appearing
before the panel he is not going
to say something that would
haunt him in the 2016 presidential
campaign. By not saying anything
now, he could tell the people then
that he’s a victim of political
persecution. He’d just have to
keep repeating his innocence.
And since he didn’t appear
before a Senate hearing, his
opponents wouldn’t have any
ammunition to disprove his
arguments. As Joseph Goebbels,
Hitler’s Propaganda Minister,
once said: “If you tell a lie big
enough and keep repeating it,
people will eventually come to
believe it.” Yes, if Binay keeps on
denying the corruption charges,
the people will eventually believe
him… and vote for him. But that’s
based on the supposition that his
opponents don’t have anything to
tie him to corruption.
And what if they have an
“April surprise” that would rattle
skeletons in the closet two weeks
before the May 9, 2016 election?
If Binay indeed has secrets
about allegations of “unexplained
wealth,” then he knows that the
probability of his rivals knowing
about them is pretty high. He
ought to know that in politics,
secrets are revealed at a time
when it will hurt the most, which
makes one wonder: Has Binay
gone desperado?
([email protected])
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PLEASE CALL
(562) 865-5620
9
PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
www.thephilippinetribune.com
Binay-Trillanes debate on amid qualms
MANILA -- The highlyanticipated debate between Vice
President Jejomar Binay and
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV
will happen in two weeks, but
this early, both sides have aired
misgivings on what the exercise
would accomplish.
Binay had challenged Trillanes
to a face-off on Wednesday,
apparently irked by the manner by
which Trillanes and fellow Blue
Ribbon subcommittee members
Peter Allan Cayetano and Koko
Pimentel had been investigating
the Vice President’s and his
family’s alleged corrupt practices
during his term as Makati Mayor
and allegations of ill-gotten
wealth.
Binay had described the
investigation as “farcical” and an
“inquisition.”
Trillanes took on Binay’s dare
and agreed to the debate and
allow himself to be stripped of
parliamentary immunity.
The debate will be hosted by
media group Kapisanan ng mga
Brodkaster ng Pilipinas.
Binay’s spokesman, Cavite
Gov. Jonvic Remulla, said the
Vice President has requested
that the deans of the College
of Law of the University of the
Philippines, Ateneo de Manila
University, and San Beda be
invited as moderators.
Remulla, however, said Binay
may have more to lose than gain
in the upcoming debate.
“I admit, the Vice President
has more to lose because he will
be stooping down to the level of
Senator Trillanes. But the debate
will push through,” Remulla said.
“The accused has the right to
face his accuser in a neutral and
sterile and scholarly atmosphere,”
he added.
R e m u l l a s a i d Tr i l l a n e s
has abused his parliamentary
immunity in cutting off witnesses
from explaining and in making
“rude and unsubstantiated”
is to be our perfect example of comments during the course of
PHHNQHVV 7KH ÀQDO SDUW RI WKH the Senate hearing.
“In a debate where he
fruit of the Spirit is…
9: TEMPERANCE. It refers ( Tr i l l a n e s ) i s s t r i p p e d o f
to self-control. Perhaps the best parliamentary immunity, one can
illustration of self-control is explain or elucidate fully without
seen in Jesus in the Garden of fear of being on the receiving
Gethsemane. He said, “Not my end of rude comments,” Remulla
added.
will, but thy will be done.”
Another Binay spokesman,
The list of the fruit of the Spirit
ends with “against such, there is United Nationalist Alliance
interim
president Navotas Rep.
no law” (Galatians 5:23). The Law
could not produce such fruit in us. Tobias Tiangco said that while
Only the Holy Spirit can. Amen! the debate will push through, he
If you want to learn more, feels that it will be a pointless
you’re cordially invited to join exercise because Trillanes is a
us in one of our meetings. Be known “liar.”
“How can you debate with
a support partner of All for
Jesus Ministries as well. In the someone who is a liar? That
meantime pray this prayer: debate will go nowhere. But I
“Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. DP FRQÀGHQW WKH 9LFH 3UHVLGHQW
My sin deserves judgment but will be able to prove to the public
I need mercy. I open my heart during the debate that he is in the
now to you. I turn from my sin. right,” Tiangco said.
I take my place at your feet. My
blessed Redeemer, I give you
my heart. Come into me and
be my Lord and Savior. Thank
you for saving me. In Jesus’
name, amen.” Come and visit us
soon. WORSHIP AND BIBLE
STUDY SCHEDULE: Sunday
@ 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday and Thursday @
7:00 p.m. Email us at all4jesus@
ca.rr.com or call us any time at
562-896-0107 and let us know
you’re coming. Our meeting
place: 10356 Monterey Street,
%HOOÁRZHU&$ 90706.
The fruit of the Spirit
(From Page 5)
produce “longsuffering.” After
longsuffering comes…
5: GENTLENESS. To be
gentle is to be fair. Gentleness
avoids causing pain whenever
possible. It tries to put people at
ease when things are not going
well for them. The next fruit of the
Spirit after gentleness is…
6: GOODNESS. Goodness is
love in action. Not only it seeks
the welfare of others, but it also
does something to see the welfare
is realized. Being good is more
than being righteous.
And how did God show His
goodness to us? “God showed His
great love for us by sending Christ
to die for us while we were still
sinners” (Romans 8:28). He sent
His Son to die for sinners. He did
not just love.
So, longsuffering, gentleness,
and goodness are revealed in our
relationship to others. Now look
at...
7: FAITH. Faith is the “fruit
of the Spirit” emphasizing our
relationship to God. This faith,
cause us to be true and faithful
to our God. Jesus said, “He who
is faithful over a few things, I
will put him in charge of many
things” (Matthew 25:21). After
faith comes…
8: MEEKNESS. Meekness is
not weakness. But it is strength
under control. Meekness means
we have the mind of Christ. Jesus
Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Vice President Jejomar Binay
In accepting Binay’s challenge,
Trillanes even suggested that
the debate be held at the alleged
property of the Vice President in
Batangas.
Binay has refused to attend the
Senate sub-committee hearing,
since he claimed that he had
already been prejudged by the
senators.
“Why would I go there? That’s
beyond in aid of legislation. This
is really a demolition,” Binay said.
“And they’re saying, this
investigation is to show that the
Vice President is not qualified
to be a president. So there’s
politics there. That’s hypocrisy,”
he added.
But while Binay’s camp aired
their misgivings on the outcome
of the debate, Trillanes said he
was ready to take all the risks to
“ferret out the truth.”
“If it’s the only way to
know the truth on all these
allegations, I’m willing to take
chances. I’m willing to face all
the consequences of what he
will do, “ said Trillanes said
during the sidelines of an ocular
inspection by the committee on
the vast Batangas agricultural
land allegedly owned by the Vice
President, as claimed by former
Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto
Mercado.
Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2014
Raps...
(From Page 1)
behind the allegedly overpriced
convention center.
“Siya po ang namuno nito.
Siya ang nag conceive nito at siya
po ang lumakad para sa project,”
he said in an interview over Radyo
Inquirer 990AM.
(He led this project. He
conceived this, and he arranged
this project.)
He said he has documents to
prove that the supposed public
bidding was rigged.
“Mayroon akong matibay na
dokumento kung paano nilitson
o nilutong Macau ang bidding
ng Iloilo Convention ni Drilon,”
he said.
(I have strong evidence as to
how Drilon rigged the bidding
for the Iloilo Convention Center.)
He claimed that Drilon set
aside P200 million from his
Priority Development Assistance
Fund (Pdaf), P200 million from
the Department of Tourism and
P100 million from Malacañang’s
Disbursement Acceleration
Program (DAP), parts of which
were declared unconstitutional by
the Supreme Court.
An additional of P200 million,
he said, was also funded by DAP.
Mejorada said the cost of the
construction ballooned from P192
million to P488 million.
The project was supposed to be
concluded by March 2015.
Aside from Drilon, Jimenez and
Singson, Tourism Infrastructure
and Enterprise Zone Authority
board director Mark Lapid, Public
Work Undersecretaries Jaime
Pacanan and Romeo Momo,
DPWH Regional Director
Edilberto Tayao, DPWH Iloilo
E n g r. M a r i l y n C e l i z , W. V
Coscolluela and Associates and
Hillmarcs Construction Corp. also
face charges.
10 PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
Pinay admiral...
(From Page 1)
Bolivar came from humble
beginnings, the second of four
children of Teddy Sereno Bolivar
and Virginia Dolor Bolivar. Her
father joined the US Navy as a
steward and retired as a chief
SHWW\RIÀFHUDIWHU\HDUVLQWKH
service.
The first woman to assume
the position of Commander Joint
Region Marianas, Bolivar also
holds the distinction of being the
ÀUVWIHPDOHFRPPDQGHURI1DY\
Region Northwest.
6KHLVDOVRWKHÀUVWZRPDQWR
hold a number of other important
positions. She is the US Defense
Representative for Guam,
Commonwealth of the Northern
Marianas Islands, Federated States
of Micronesia and the Republic of
Palau, and Commander of Naval
Forces Marianas.
As US Defense Representative
for the Marianas Region, Bolivar
reports to Admiral Samuel
Locklear, Commander of US
3DFLÀF &RPPDQG DQG$GPLUDO
William French, Commander of
Naval Installation Command. She
also plays an important role in the
Joint Interagency Task Force as
Commander of Task Force West.
Bolivar’s area of responsibility
includes the US territory of Guam,
which is the closest US naval base
to Philippines. Her command
plays a pivotal role in shaping
US policy in the Asia Pacific
region, particularly in the face of
President’s Obama’s “pivot” to
WKH$VLD3DFLÀF
As a young child, Bolivar
would tag along when her father
went to work on military bases.
She had fun wearing her daddy’s
Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2014
www.thephilippinetribune.com
Navy hat, but in those days she
had no idea that someday she
would wear the same hat with the
same great pride.
Her early exposure to the
military community played a huge
part in her career choice, but she
thought of joining the service as
payback for giving her father the
opportunity to become a member
of the US Navy.
“My father didn’t serve as a
warrior like me. Back in those
days, Filipinos, African Americans
and Chamorros could only enter
the service as a steward or cook. I
feel like I have to give back to the
Navy because they gave my father
a chance,” she said.
Although her father inspired
her, Bolivar said the decision to
join the Navy was her own and
was not something imposed by
her parents.
Her older sister has a career
outside of the military in Hawaii
while her two younger brothers
both served in the Navy. One is
now a veteran and the other a
UHWLUHG VHQLRU FKLHI SHWW\ RIÀFHU
residing in Annapolis.
She said her father used to call
her the “tomboy” of the family
because her parents wanted a boy
as a second child. At that time,
ultrasound was not available to
determine a child’s gender but
their doctor kept telling her father
that their next baby would be a
boy because the heartbeat was
so strong.
She confessed she knew early
on that she would be in the military
like her father, but this early vision
was almost sidetracked by the
thought of studying law at the
University of Hawaii.
Economist sees...
(From Page 1)
Sen. Grace Poe
Poe says no
presidential
run in 2016
MANILA –People should
not read too much into her use of
her father’s altanghap campaign
line in her privilege speech on
hunger, Sen. Grace Poe said on
Tuesday, as she continued to be
skittish when the topic of 2016
was brought up.
Poe insisted that she had no
intention to run in the country’s
next presidential election. “No
plans at all,” she told reporters
on Tuesday.
She said her use of altanghap,
shorthand for almusal, tanghalian,
hapunan (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
should not be an issue.
In her privilege speech on
Monday on the growing number
of hungry Filipinos, Poe said that
as her late father Fernando Poe
Jr. had noted, altanghap remained
the problem of ordinary citizens.
A political analyst made much
of the term, saying it was possible
that Poe was positioning herself
for 2016.
The late Poe used the term
(Please turn to Page 11)
have the world’s second-largest
economy growing at roughly
7.5% per year, down from the
10% growth it averaged for two
decades before its economy
began to slow in 2012. And this
pattern holds for other emerging
economies like Brazil and Russia.
Optimists hope that an
accelerating U.S. economy will
have what it takes to drag the rest
of the world out of the doldrums,
as it has done during so many
past recoveries. But David Levy,
economist and chairman of the
Jerome Levy Forecasting Center,
argues that the problems of the
rest of the world will end up
taking the U.S. down, rather than
the other way around.
Levy is calling for a 65%
chance that there will be a global
recession by the end of 2015, based
on the simple fact that emerging
markets have continued to invest
in an export infrastructure to sell
goods to the West that it no longer
has the wherewithal to buy.
Levy is an intellectual
descendant of the economist
Hyman Minsky, a heterodox
thinker who spent many years
working at the Jerome Levy
Economic Institute and whose
theories were largely ignored
by economists up until the latest
ÀQDQFLDO FULVLV 2QFH WKH FULVLV
struck, however, Minsky’s ideas
seemed to make a lot more
sense. He argued that capitalist
economies slowly and naturally
become unstable over time, as
banks and private businesses take
on more and more debt, until the
system finally snaps under the
weight of these obligations. After
surveying the wreckage caused
by an over-leveraged banking
system, which had gorged itself
on debt backed by overvalued
real estate, the economics world
has begun to pay much closer to
attention to Minsky and his views
RQÀQDQFLDOLQVWDELOLW\
Indeed, Minsky and his ideas
have captured the attention of
ELJQDPHÀJXUHVOLNHKHGJHIXQG
titan Ray Dalio and economist
and Financial Times columnist
Martin Wolf, who began his
latest book with a quote from
Minsky arguing that economists
ought to formulate theories in
which depressions are a naturally
occurring state for capitalist
economies. These thinkers have
been drawn to the Minksian notion
that, over the long run, capitalist
economies will inevitably suffer
from the kind of trouble we’ve
been in recently because capitalist
systems encourage the growth
of debt.
We hear a lot of people
warning about the dangers of
GHEWVSHFLÀFDOO\WKHJRYHUQPHQW
variety. But for Minksy and his
followers, it’s private sector debt
that is the problem.
Minsky argued that
FRQYHQWLRQDO YLHZV RI ÀQDQFLDO
crisis were too narrowly focused
RQWKHVSHFLÀFLVVXHRIEDQNUXQV
In Minsky’s vision, excessive
leverage—too much reliance on
borrowed money—creates a risk
of crisis whoever the borrower.
Banks, which in effect borrow
money short-term from their
depositors but invest in assets that
can’t easily be converted to cash,
may be especially vulnerable.
But business and household debt
also expose the economy to the
possibility of a self-reinforcing
downward spiral.
11
PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
HOMELAND NEWS BRIEFS
P500-M for LP war chest?
Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2014
www.thephilippinetribune.com
Poe...
(From Page 10)
altanghap when he ran for
president in 2004. He said the
MANILA -- More than 200 pages of “errata” that the Department main problem of Filipinos was
of Budget and Management is inserting into the 2015 spending plan almusal, tanghalian, hapunan.
“Don’t make an issue of
without congressional scrutiny will constitute a P500 billion blank
check for President Benigno Aquino III and the ruling Liberal Party altanghap. I just used it because
that can be used in the 2016 national elections, opposition lawmakers it sounded good and it is hard to
forget,” Senator Poe said.
charged Monday.
She said that she used the line
The bulk of the amount or some P423 billion has been allocated
to the Department of the Interior and Local Governments, headed by in 2013 when she ran for senator
DQGWKDWVKHZDVMXVWIXOÀOOLQJKHU
the presumptive Liberal Party standard bearer in 2016, Manuel Roxas promise, which was why she was
II, said House Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. pushing to address the problem.
Neri Colmenares.
The lunch program for children is
Colmenares said the funds, on top of the department’s regular P33 close to her heart, she said.
billion allocation, has been earmarked for “Assistance to LGUs.”
´$V,VDLGÀJKWLQJFRUUXSWLRQ
6RPH SDJHV RI HUUDWD ZHUH ÀUVW VXEPLWWHG RQ 6HSW EXW is crucial, infrastructure is vital,
withdrawn the same day, hours before the P2.606 trillion national Bangsamoro is necessary, but
let’s not forget the most important,
budget for 2015 was approved on second reading.
The Budget Department withdrew the errata after ACT Teachers capital, our people, especially the
Rep. Antonio Tinio protested that the changes represented “midnight children,” she said.
In Lucena City, Vice President
insertions” that the plenary had neither scrutinized nor debated.
Jejomar Binay shrugged off the
On Oct. 3, while Congress was on a three-week break, Budget opinion of a political analyst that
Secretary Florencio Abad resubmitted the errata to Davao City Rep. Poe was presenting herself as an
Isidro Ungab, chairman of the House committee on appropriations and alternative presidential candidate
concurrent head of the small appropriations panel, which continued to in 2016.
Binay maintained that all
hold meetings and scrutinized the amendments.
TXDOLÀHG)LOLSLQRVFRXOGVHHNWKH
presidency.
Revilla questions garnish move
“The people will be the judge,”
MANILA -- Detained Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. brushed the Vice President told the Inquirer
off on Tuesday as “premature” a bid by government lawyers to garnish in an interview after gracing the
his multi-million-peso assets through a writ of preliminary attachment. affair of Quezon senior citizens
Revilla said the motion of the Ombudsman asking the Sandiganbayan in Lucena on Tuesday.
to issue a writ of preliminary attachment against his assets is a diversion
to the dismal performance of an Anti-Money Laundering Council
(AMLC) witness last week.
A writ of preliminary attachment functions like a freeze order that
would prevent an accused from disposing of or hiding his wealth, which
the state seeks to recover for allegedly being ill-gotten.
,QDPRWLRQÀOHGEHIRUHWKHDQWLJUDIWFRXUW·V)LUVW'LYLVLRQ\HVWHUGD\
prosecutors said a notice of garnishment covering cash and properties
totaling P224.5 million would preserve the assets while the accused
is on trial. The assets include multiple bank accounts, real properties,
shares of stocks as well as vehicles.
Revilla had maintained that he can defend all the transactions in his
bank account as examined by the AMLC, but questioned the motion
seeking to have his assets attached as the court has yet to rule on his
petition for bail.
“I have not been proven guilty by the Sandiganbayan and yet the
lawyers of the Ombudsman are now moving heaven and earth to garnish
my assets,” Revilla said in a statement issued from his detention cell
at the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters at Camp Crame,
Quezon City.
ABS-CBN wins $10-M
against Internet pirate
PORTLAND, Oregon –
Filipino broadcasting mainstay
ABS-CBN received a judgment
from the US Federal District
Court in Oregon against Jeffrey
Ashby for damages of $10
million resulting from his
infringing the copyrights and
well-known trademarks of ABSCBN by rebroadcasting ABSCBN’s popular TV shows and
movies on his pirate websites.
Among the many pirate
sites that Ashby owned
were watchfilipinotv.com,
watchfilipinomovies.com and
pinoytalaga.com.
“I wish to warn anyone who
may be copying and/or publishing
content owned by ABS-CBN
without their permission, to stop
immediately. Continuing without
authorization can and will lead
to very serious consequences,”
Jeffrey Ashby said in a statement
after the $10 million judgment.
“Jeff Ashby is the first
of many pirates that we are
pursuing,” said Elisha Lawrence,
associate vice president of Global
Anti-Piracy for ABS-CBN
International, “We have begun
a relentless campaign to enforce
against all pirate websites due to
the numerous reports that these
sites contain dangerous malware
which cause substantial harm
LQFOXGLQJLGHQWLI\WKHIWRIÀQDQFLDO
information and phishing attacks.”
ABS-CBN has recently
partnered with Crime
Stoppers USA. Call 1-800-222TIPS (8477) or text TIPLA plus
your tip to 274637 if you have any
information on a pirate website,
and you could be eligible for a
reward if your information leads
to the conviction of the pirates
involved.
ABS-CBN is represented
in Oregon by Matt
Levin of Markowitz Herbold PC,
in New York by Tony Onorato of
Steptoe & Johnson and in
)ORULGDE\6WHSKHQ*DIÀJDQ
ADVERTISE. CALL (562) 865-5620
12
PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
ENTERTAINMENT
www.thephilippinetribune.com
Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2014
Anabelle Rama attacks Ruffa on
Twitter for choosing ‘poor’ beau
SHOWBIZ matriarch
Annabelle Rama threw shade
on her daughter, actress and
television host Ruffa Gutierrez,
over Twitter Sunday evening for
FKRRVLQJ DQ DOOHJHG ÀQDQFLDOO\
unstable boyfriend.
In a series of tweets posted on
KHURIÀFLDO7ZLWWHUDFFRXQW5DPD
told Gutierrez that it is never too
late to break ties with her partner.
Gutierrez is said to be in a
relationship with French-Arab
businessman Jordan Mouyal.
However, Gutierrez repeatedly
denied that Mouyal is her new
boyfriend.
1.) Akala mo sa pag walk-out
mo sa birthday dinner ko last night
nasira ang gabi ko? Hindi!!! Tuloy
pa rin ang saya…
— Annabelle Rama (@
annabellerama2) October 26,
2014
2.) Hindi ako nakikialam sa
buhay mo. As a mother I have
all the rights to give advice sa
naliligaw na landas kong anak…
— Annabelle Rama (@
annabellerama2) October 26,
2014
3.) Since day1 yan lagi nating
pinag-aawayan, love life mo,
mahirap bang humanap ng guy na
stable? May degree, businessman,
Anabelle Rama and daughter Ruffa Gutierrez
naghahanapbuhay?
— Annabelle Rama (@
annabellerama2) October 26,
2014
4.) Hindi ka naman namin
pinalaki ng Daddy mo at pinagaral sa best schools para lang
pumatol sa mga P.G.
— Annabelle Rama (@
annabellerama2) October 26,
2014
5.) Wake up!!! It’s not too late
yet. Sayang ang beauty mo at
pagiging matalino mo. Waste of
time yang mga P.G na yan.
— Annabelle Rama (@
annabellerama2) October 26,
2014
6.) Palagi mong sinasabi kung
bakit ako pumatol sa Daddy mong
gwapo. You always compare me
to you…
— Annabelle Rama (@
annabellerama2) October 26,
2014
7.) Daddy is Handsome,
Hardworking and 10 years
older than me at marunong mag
hanapbuhay…
— Annabelle Rama (@
annabellerama2) October 26,
2014
8.) Gustong-gusto mo
siyang manood every Sunday
sa #ittakesgutztobeagutierrez
(Please turn to Page 14)
Angelica Panganiban
Wedding bells for
Angelica, John Lloyd?
ANGELICA Panganiban will
be celebrating her birthday next
week but will this special day
become even more so with a
marriage proposal from boyfriend
of two years, John Lloyd Cruz?
She is, after all, turning 28
— also her ideal marrying age,
something she’s been candid
about in interviews. In fact,
Angelica had once said she is
more than ready to say yes if and
when Lloydie pops the question.
These days, however, even she
seems more flexible about her
future plans. Speaking on “The
Buzz” over the weekend, she said,
“Puwede namang 29, puwede
ring 30. Madali pong magbago
isip ko.”
Angelica added in jest, “’Wag
kang magalala Lloydy, ’wag kang
ma-pressure, ’wag kang makinig
sa kanila. Chismis lang ‘to!”
The couple plans to celebrate
Angelica’s birthday in the US,
where she hopes to be reunited
anew with her American biological
father, Mark Charlson.
Angelica said, “First time kong
makakasama family ko. Pupunta
kami ng States, makakasama
din niya (John Lloyd) pati ’yung
daddy ko, (na) first time kong
makakasama sa birthday ko. So
sobra (akong) excited… Bagong
experience, medyo malaking
bagay po talaga ’yun sa akin.”
Angelica couldn’t ask for
anything more on her birthday,
saying, “Happing-happy na ako.”
Angelica may not hesitate
discussing marriage but her
attitude towards work is a little
different.
Admittedly picky with
projects, her last mainstream
project was the Metro Manila
Film Festival entry “One More
Try” in 2012. On TV, she only
appears on the week-night show
“Banana Nite” and its weekend
counterpart “Banana Split.”
She explained, “Ayokong
sayangin ’yung pera ng mga tao.
Ayokong sayangin ’yung panahon
nila, oras nila.”
Although she says her home
network has always given her
a lot of options, noting, “Hindi
naman nila ako pinababayaan,”
she opts to give her fans more
quality work.
“Gusto ko kapag pinapanood
nila ako, kapag nagbibigay sila
ng oras sa akin, sulit ’yun, ’yung
(sasabihin nila) ‘Ay, sulit ’yung
pera ko kasi natuwa kami kay
Angelica ngayon.”
Some 22 years in the business
has taught Angelica that a bit of
mystery goes a long way. “Siguro
isa rin ‘yun sa mga sikreto para
mas nangigigil sayo ’yung mga
tao ’di ba? Pero ’pag nandyan ako,
pasabog, paandar.”
13
PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
Antoinette Taus as Betty Rizzo in “Grease”
Antoinette Taus stages
theater comeback in ‘Grease’
SHE’S known for doing
mostly teenybopper roles in the
’90s shows “Ang TV,” “Oki
Doki Doc,” “Anna Karenina”
and “T.G.I.S.” to name a few.
After living abroad for years in
hiatus, 34-year-old Antoinette
Taus is back in the limelight
as character Betty Rizzo in 9
Works Theatrical’s restaging
of the award-winning musical,
“Grease.”
Although not new to the stage
having appeared in the adaptations
of “Les Misérables” and “The
Wiz,” Antoinette admits being
both nervous and excited taking
on her new role.
“I know it’s a role that has to be
portrayed properly and I feel like
it’s a kind of role that if you pull it
off, ‘Yehey!’ But if you don’t, oh
my god, it’s gonna be very bad,”
said she.
Though far from being a “bad
girl,” Antoinette said she can
relate to Rizzo in that they’re both
“hopeless romantics.”
“Rizzo still actually believes
ENTERTAINMENT
www.thephilippinetribune.com
in love pero sobrang jaded siya
dahil sobrang dami niya nang
pinagdaanan at an early age,”
Antoinette explained. “Ako
naman, I may not have gone
through those kind of things but
ang dami ko na ring experiences.”
Based on Warren Casey and
-LP-DFREV·PXVLFDOÀOPRI
the same title, “Grease” is about
the lives of some students from
ÀFWLRQDO5\GHO+LJKDPRQJWKHP
Rizzo as with young sweethearts
Sandy Dumbrowski and Danny
Zuko, who will have the chance
to revive their interrupted summer
romance having enrolled in the
same school.
Asked what part of her life she
would want to have a “rerun,”
she said, “Love deserves a
rerun. Never give up on love. If
something makes you happy, don’t
give up on it.”
Unless misconstrued, she
added, “I just mean that ang
love, kahit ano pang pinagdaaan
mo, love (itself) always deserves
another chance.”
Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2014
15
ENTERTAINMENT
PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2014
www.thephilippinetribune.com
Anne Curtis and Erwan Heussaff
Anne Curtis denies
engagement to Erwan
ANNE Curtis vehemently
denied reports that she is already
engaged to her longtime boyfriend,
food blogger and restaurateur
Erwan Heussaff.
This comes after a popular
wedding blog reported that Curtis
and Heussaff are set to tie the
knot soon.
In an interview with “The
Buzz” on Sunday, Curtis said she
ÀUVW KHDUG RI WKH UXPRU WKURXJK
her sister after she watched a
UAAP basketball game early this
month.
“That was pretty crazy because
that day, I remember I was going
WRWKHÀQDOVRIWKH8$$30DODER
‘yung signal sa loob tapos all of
a sudden, when I came out, sabi
NR¶:KDW·VKDSSHQLQJ"·0\VLVWHU
Jasmine called me, ‘Ate, are you
engaged?’ I was like, ‘Sorry, what
are you talking about?’ She’s like,
‘I just heard it on the radio. Are
you engaged? How come I don’t
know?’ Sabi ko because it’s not
true,” she shared.
Curtis said she also got text
messages from her friends
congratulating her.
But what’s funny, Curtis said,
was when Heussaff himself sent
her a screen capture of the blog
post, which reported that they
supposedly got engaged.
“Si Erwan screen captured
it and sent it to me and said
‘Congratulations love.’ Because
we had no idea what was
happening,” she said laughing.
The “Blood Ransom” actress,
meanwhile, said those behind
wedding blog already got in touch
with Heussaff to apologize.
“They got in touch with Erwan
naman and explained that it was a
mistake of an intern who misread
DQDUWLFOH)RUPHLW·VÀQH,W·VMXVW
funny, maybe because everyone is
getting engaged. It’s this season,”
she said.
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Map Not
To Scale
16 PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
TRAVEL
www.thephilippinetribune.com
www.thephilippinetribune.com
Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2014
Seated from L-R , Cesca, Pat, Aileen; standing from L-R, Jane
and Mrs. Makino
Destination: Cambodia
By Jane Stark
GETTING together with
friends is something I always
enjoy. It gives us precious
opportunity to bond and strengthen
our friendship. That’s why going
on a trip with a group of friends
is always a blast.
I have a small group of
friends who share my enthusiasm
for traveling. It has become
customary for us to meet once a
year. We pick a destination and
we travel together to have nothing
but fun, adventures, camaraderie
and memorable moments together.
Last September, my friends
Hong and his wife Cesca from
Amsterdam, Pattanee from
Bangkok, Aileen from Manila,
and Yoshino and her husband
from Japan, and I embarked on
our annual trip. Our chosen
destination was Cambodia.
The four days-three nights tour
specially prepared for us took
us from Cambodia’s capital of
Phnom Penh to Takeo, Kampot,
Bokor and the islands of Sihanouk
Ville.
Phnom Penh is the largest city
of Cambodia. Located on the
banks of Tonle Sap and Mekong
River, Phnom Penh has been
the national capital since the
French colonization of Cambodia.
Today it has grown to become
the nation’s center of economic
and industrial activities, as well
as the center of security, politics,
cultural heritage and diplomacy
of Cambodia.
Once known as the “Pearl
of Asia,” Phnom Penh was
considered one of the most
beautiful French-built cities in
Indochina in the 1020s. Today, the
city, which is noted for its beautiful
and historical architecture and
VWUXFWXUHVLVDVLJQLÀFDQWJOREDO
and domestic tourist destinations
for Cambodia.
2Q WKH ÀUVW GD\ RI RXU WRXU
we left Phnom Penh to continue
south following the picturesque
drive to Kampot at the southern
coast of Cambodia. The coast
edges the border with Vietnam.
With their have tree-lined,
wide roads fringing the oceans,
large statues, luxury villas and
casino overlooking the Gulf of
Thailand, the coastal towns of
Kep, Sihanoukville and Kampot
reminds one of the French Riviera
towns along the Mediterranean
coast.
We traveled through a delightful
scenery of rice paddies, sugar
palm trees, traditional wooden
houses, and karst limetone
outcrops on the way to the cave
of Phnom Chhnork. The ancient
cave temple of Phnom Chhnork
gave an interesting glimpse
of the older, animistic strains
that make up Khmer religious
sensibility. There are three layers
to the site: the natural ‘wonder’
of the extraordinary stalactite
formations, the 7 th century
Shiva temple within the cave,
and the more recent Buddhist
transformation and ritual. To
reach the cave, we walked through
(Please turn to Page 20)
17
PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
HOME & HEALTH
www.thephilippinetribune.com
www.thephilippinetribune.com
Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2014
How much caffeine is safe?
CAFFEINE is a tried and
tested stimulant that can perk up
one’s day. We derive caffeine
mostly from coffee, but it is also
present in differing amounts in
tea, chocolate, and soda; and
in relatively large quantities, in
energy drinks.
The amount of caffeine in a
cup of coffee varies depending
on how strong it is made. A
rounded teaspoon of instant coffee
typically yields 57 mg of caffeine.
Leelin B&C introduces its spectacularly delectable Gourmet
In contrast, an eight-ounce
(QVDLPDGDV ZLWK VL[ GLIIHUHQW JOD]H ÀDYRUV DQG ORWV RI \XPP\
brewed coffee contains roughly
WRSSLQJVWRFKRRVHIURP$YDLODEOHDWDOO/HHOLQORFDWLRQVLQ/RV
95 milligrams, a single ounce of
Angeles County.
espresso gives 65 milligrams,
and one cup of decaf has about
10 mg of caffeine. Energy drinks,
on the other hand, contain an
assortment of substances in
MOVE over, doughnut! Step ubiquitous doughnut and cupcake differing quantities, but most have
aside, cupcake!
in the months ahead, “ explained sugar and stimulants (principally
There’s a new dessert snack Leelin Enterprises president caffeine) in common. Depending
on the brand, the caffeine that
that’s about to drive people crazy Mendrei Leelin.
in America and it’s none other
Menard Leelin, president energy drinks contain is equal
than our very own ensaimada!
of Goodness Corporation of to that present in one to three
Leelin Bakery and Café is California (GCOC) which is the teaspoons of instant coffee.
Caffeine is a central nervous
pleased to announce the launch manufacturing arm of Leelin
of “Ensaimadness”, a new (QWHUSULVHV DGGHG ´7KH FODVVLF s y s t e m s t i m u l a n t t h a t c a n
campaign that proudly promotes ensaimada variants will still be improve mental and cognitive
the Filipino brioche bun as available at all our stores but performances as well as increase
Gourmet Ensaimadas, all dressed we are most excited to offer this subjective alertness. Coffee also
up and covered in extraordinarily innovative take on a traditional has some possible long-term
delectable glaze flavors with Filipino favorite. Our goal is to
generous sprinkles of the most make our Gourmet Ensaimadas
colorful and yummiest toppings. a v a i l a b l e t o m a i n s t r e a m
The soft and creamy Gourmet customers and young Filipino
Ensaimadas come slathered Americans so that they can also
with your choice of six different come to appreciate and love all
XQLTXHJOD]HÁDYRUV8EHOLFLRXV these wonderful products that we
Naughty Berry, Honeydewdis, Filipinos enjoy all the time.”
Choco OMG, Mocha Loca and
For more information, log on
Creamy Dreamy. With a wide to www.leelinbakerycafe.com
range of colorful toppings such and follow on Facebook, Twitter,
as mini marshmallows, almond Instagram, Foursquare and YouTube.
The Leelin Bakery and Café
praline, oreo bits, fruit loops, Gourmet
Ensaimadas are available
chocolate shavings, cashew DWWKHIROORZLQJORFDWLRQV
SUDOLQH XEH FUXPEV VXQÁRZHU
Cerritos
11489 South Street
m&ms, rainbow sprinkles, and
Cerritos, CA 90703
choco drip, you can absolutely
Tel. no. (562) 924-5990
go crazy creating your very own
Eagle Rock
“Ensaimadness”!
2700 Colorado Blvd. Ste.110
8VXDOO\HQMR\HGDVDVQDFNRU (inside Eagle Rock Plaza)
Los Angeles, CA 90041
dessert, the traditional Filipino
Tel. no. (323) 543-2676
ensaimada is made from flour,
Panorama City
water, sugar and eggs, then patted
8340 Van Nuys Boulevard
with butter and sugar or topped
Panorama City, CA 91402
Tel. No. (818) 891-5253
with grated cheese. During the
North Hills
holidays, it takes center stage
16130 Nordhoff St.
when served as part of the holiday
North Hills, CA 91343
meal.
Tel. no. (818) 895-9100
West Covina
“With our Ensaimadness
2429 So. Azusa Avenue
campaign, Leelin Bakery and
West Covina, CA 91792
Café aims to totally transform the
Tel. no. (626) 964-1811
traditional ensaimada or brioche
Los Angeles
bun into the new and innovative
207 So. Vermont Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90004
Gourmet Ensaimada that is poised
Tel. no, (213) 382-2351
to overtake the popularity of the
Leelin Bakery and Cafe
launches ‘Ensaimadness’
health benefits, although it is
not known whether these are
due to the caffeine or the other
substances that coffee contain.
For one, it is a good source of
antioxidants. Antioxidants are
substances that protect the cells
of the body from getting damaged
by free radicals. Free radicals are
highly reactive atoms or groups
of atoms that are by-products of
the normal metabolic activities
of cells. If present in excess, they
injure cells and contribute to such
disorders as cancer, heart disease,
and many conditions associated
with aging. Thus, coffee can
help protect against cancer and
certain chronic diseases; and,
scientific studies bear this out.
Many researches have shown that
coffee consumption is associated
with substantially lower risk of
clinical type 2 diabetes, cirrhosis
of the liver, and prostate and liver
cancers.
C a f f e i n e , h o w e v e r, h a s
unwelcome effects. If taken
in amounts that is equivalent
to that present in one to two
cups of coffee, caffeine’s acute
effects include increased heart
rate and blood pressure, although
(Please turn to Page 18)
18
PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
www.thephilippinetribune.com
U.S.
& WORLD NEWS
Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2014
Second Ebola nurse is cured
WASHINGTON² $ 7H[DV
nurse who was the second US
healthcare worker infected with
Ebola while caring for a Liberian
patient left the hospital on Tuesday
after being declared cured of the
virus.
“I’m so grateful to be well and
ÀUVWDQGIRUHPRVW,ZDQWWRWKDQN
God,” Amber Vinson, 29, said
at a press conference at Emory
University Hospital in Atlanta,
Georgia.
Wearing a gray suit and pink
blouse, Vinson appeared healthy
and smiled often, occasionally
wiping away tears as the medical
team at Emory University
Healthcare surrounded her and
her doctor spoke about her care.
She also thanked her family
DQG WKH PHGLFDO WHDPV LQ 7H[DV
and Georgia, and asked for people
to continue to work to eradicate
the Ebola outbreak abroad.
“While this is a day for
celebration and gratitude, I ask that
we not lose focus on the thousands
of families that continue to labor
under the burden of this disease in
West Africa.”
Her colleague Nina Pham,
26, who also worked in the
LQWHQVLYHFDUHXQLWRI7H[DV+HDOWK
Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, was
treated for Ebola at the National
Institutes of Health Clinical
Center in Bethesda, Maryland
and was released on Friday.
Both became infected while
caring for a Liberian man, Thomas
Eric Duncan, who was diagnosed
ZLWK(ERODLQ7H[DVDIWHUÁ\LQJWR
the United States from his native
Liberia, the country hardest hit by
West Africa’s Ebola epidemic. He
died on October 8.
Ebola has killed more than
4,900 people and infected more
than 10,000 since the beginning
of the year, according to the World
Health Organization.
'RPHVWLFÁLJKW
Vinson’s story sparked alarm
across the United States after
the Centers for Disease Control
DQG 3UHYHQWLRQ VDLG VKH ÁHZ RQ
D GRPHVWLF DLUSODQH IURP 7H[DV
to Ohio and back, and reported a
low-grade fever before boarding
WKHÁLJKWKRPH
The CDC cleared her for travel
at the time — about a day before
she was diagnosed with Ebola —
but said later she should not have
been traveling on a commercial
President Obama welcomes nurse Ebola survivor Nina Pham at
airliner.
Vinson’s family hired a high the White House.
SURÀOH:DVKLQJWRQODZ\HU%LOO\
Martin, after issuing a statement
earlier this month saying they were
“troubled by some of the negative
public comments and media
WASHINGTON – President
Obama stressed the importance
coverage that mischaracterize
Barack Obama on Tuesday of supporting health workers on
Amber and her actions.”
hailed progress against the Ebola the front line in Africa, and said
outbreak in West Africa but the US government was capable
said Washington would remain of monitoring and responding to
“vigilant,” saying science, not any potential isolated cases of
fear, should guide the response Ebola.
to the virus.
Seeking to reassure public
Citing his phone conversation fears, Obama noted that, of seven
with members of a US team Americans treated for Ebola in the
dispatched to help combat Ebola, United States, “all have survived.”
Obama said “the good news is that
The one patient who has died
it’s starting to have an impact.”
of Ebola in a US hospital was a
“They’re starting to see some Liberian, Thomas Eric Duncan.
progress in Liberia, and the
Another patient, American
infrastructure is beginning to get doctor Craig Spencer, is still being
built out,” he said.
treated for the virus, at Bellevue
The American team was sent by Hospital in New York.
the US Agency for International
Obama was asked about an
Development to try to help stem apparent contradiction in his
the spread of the virus, which has administration’s policies on
killed more than 4,900 people, Ebola after the Pentagon said
mainly in Guinea, Liberia and top commanders had urged a 21Sierra Leone, since the beginning GD\TXDUDQWLQHIRUDOO86WURRSV
returning from West Africa.
of the year.
Civilian health workers sent
Obama said the disease “can be
contained” and vowed: “It will be by the US government to the
region were not being subjected
defeated.”
But “we’re going to have to WRWKHVDPHTXDUDQWLQHPHDVXUHV
stay vigilant here at home until we as American troops, as health
RIÀFLDOVKDYHFRQFOXGHGWKDWVXFK
stop the epidemic at its source.”
The United States would VWHSV DUH QRW QHHGHG RU MXVWLÀHG
continue to play a leading role in by the science on how the virus
the international effort against the spreads.
But Obama said “the military
outbreak, Obama said.
In addition to the USAID is in a different situation,” because
workers, the United States has troops were not in West Africa
sent some 600 troops to Liberia voluntarily but were ordered
and 100 to Senegal to help in the there.
“It’s part of their mission that’s
ÀJKWDJDLQVW(ERODDQGRIÀFLDOV
have said the number of soldiers been assigned to them by their
commanders
and ultimately by
could climb to nearly 4,000.
“America in the end is not me, the commander in chief. So
ZH GRQ·W H[SHFW WR KDYH VLPLODU
GHÀQHG E\ IHDU 7KDW·V QRW ZKR rules for our military as we do for
we are. America is defined by our civilians,” Obama said.
possibility. And when we see a
Defense Secretary Chuck
problem, and we see a challenge, Hagel has yet to make a final
WKHQZHÀ[LWµ2EDPDVDLG
decision after receiving the
The country does not react TXDUDQWLQHUHFRPPHQGDWLRQIURP
“based on our fears” but on the the chiefs of all the armed forces,
RIÀFLDOVVDLG
basis of “facts,” he said.
Obama urges vigilance
in ¿ght against Ebola
How much caffeine...
(From Page 17)
these are transient and do not
cause permanent damage to the
cardiovascular system. However,
H[FHVVLYH LQWDNH FDQ OHDG WR
FDIIHLQH LQWR[LFDWLRQ ZKRVH
symptoms include headache,
UHVWOHVVQHVVDQ[LHW\H[FLWHPHQW
ÁXVKHGIDFHGLXUHVLVLHIUHTXHQW
urination), palpitation, insomnia,
indigestion, muscle twitching,
rambling flow of thought and
s p e e c h , a n d o c c a s i o n a l l y,
disturbances in heart rhythm,
which, as evidently is the case
in your friend’s son, can be fatal.
The long-term effects of habitual
caffeine intake meanwhile include
increased stress level, stained
teeth, heartburn, hyperacidity,
insomnia, increased blood
cholesterol levels, and increased
risk of osteoporosis or brittle bone
disease.
How much caffeine is safe?
While some people may be able to
handle more caffeine than others,
most people will develop mild to
moderate symptoms after intake
of 250 to 500 mg of the substance.
In any case, the US Food and
'UXJ$GPLQLVWUDWLRQ 86)'$
says that people should never take
more than 600mg of caffeine in
any given day.
All told, available data indicate
that the good in caffeine outweighs
the bad. But as with all good
things, moderation is the key.
One to four cups a day of coffee
is ok, but more than that may no
longer be.
19
PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
www.thephilippinetribune.com
US
& WORLD NEWS
BUSINESS
SOLUTIONS
Claro R. Perez
Home loan and home retention
programs CRP wants you to know
BACK to Work Program
FHA/HUD Loan Program:
This loan program allows home
buyers who have a previous
discharged bankruptcy, short sale
and foreclosure that is one year
old to buy a home. This program
requires the following:
D3URRIRIÀQDQFLDOKDUGVKLS
like curtailment of income before
economic events happen like
foreclosure, bankruptcy and short
sale, best evidences is the tax
return to show the real drop of
income before the economic event
happen.
Other evidences are illness,
divorce, and loss of job prior to
filling the mentioned financial
remedy requires evidence.
c. One (1) month paystubs (
must be in the job for 24 months.)
d. Two (2) Bank Statements
e. Copy of Driver License and
SSS Card.
f. Consumer must be permanent
residence or US Citizen.
g. First time or previously a
homeowner are acceptable.
h. This FHA Back to Work
Loan Program is applicable for
condo that are FHA approved.
i. Middle credit score must be
620 and up.
j. Debt Income Ratio must be
43% below.
k. Requires 3.5% down and
1.5% closing cost (6 mo. Property
tax, 6 months Home Insurance,
Escrow Fee, Title Insurance, &
Appraisal Fee.
l. No broker origination,
Processing, credit report, and
other fee pertaining to broker.
m. Mandatory requirement is
+XG&RXQVHOLQJ&HUWLÀFDWHIURP
accredited counseling agency.
Important factors on this
Back To Work Program is
before the economic financial
incident happen with extenuating
circumstances like curtailment
of income that will show on tax
UHWXUQ WKDW FDXVHG WKH ÀQDQFLDO
economic incident.
FHA .5% Down Program:
Home loan for low income
borrower with income limit not
to exceed $78,000.00 per year.
Same guidelines with FHA Back
To Work Loan Program.
Stated Income Verified
Asset Loan Program: This loan
program is for home buyer that
are in business for two years and
up. Below are the guideliness of
this program:
1. Requires letter from CPA
that indicate applicant is in
business for over three years.
2. Requires credit score of 720
and up.
3. For a loan under $ 417,000.00
needs 20% down and reserve of 6
month mortgage payment plus the
20% down.
4. For a loan from $ 417,500.00
and up to $1.2million requires
30% down and $100,000. reserve
plus the 30% down.
5. Does not require tax return
and paystubs.
6. Business license and
evidence that applicant is a
business owner: S corporation or
sole ownership.
For consumer with credit
score below 600 CRP has an in
house program to enhance/repair
your credit to be acceptable.
For homeowners with existing
hardship CRP has traditional
solutions for this crisis situation
includes Forbearance, Debt
1HJRWLDWLRQV/RDQ0RGLÀFDWLRQ
Deed in Lieu, or Bankruptcy.
We h a v e f o u n d t h a t w h e n
homeowners seek these solutions,
it usually leads to failure or
UHMHFWLRQGXHWRQRQTXDOLÀFDWLRQ
)LQDQFLDOHYDOXDWLRQDQGÀQDQFLDO
counseling is a must to determine
what kind of solutions are
available.
DIFFERENT HOME
RETENTION OPTIONS
AVAILABLE
Short Sale: Also known as
short pay-off, this is when lenders
accept a discounted payoff on an
existing mortgage to be sold based
on the present market value. This
allows the homeowners to sell the
(Please turn to Page 20)
Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2014
PH more tempting for China in
sea showdown, says The Atlantic
WA S H I N G T O N – T h e
Philippines and Vietnam are
China’s main frontline opponents
in the South China Sea dispute,
the US monthly magazine The
Atlantic reported.
In its November issue, the
magazine said China might
view the Philippines as a more
attractive target “to bully and
humiliate as an object lesson to
other neighbors that resistance is
futile and decisive help from the
United States unlikely to come.”
It reported China was
intensifying efforts to remake its
maritime borders to gain exclusive
access to potentially rich oil and
gas reserves, secure its supply
lines and create a much larger
buffer against what it regards as
US naval intrusions.
A new Cold War – in which a
rising China gradually seeks to
push the US military out of the
:HVWHUQ 3DFLÀF ² LV LQHYLWDEOH
said the lead article by Howard
W. French entitled “China’s
Dangerous Game.”
´$Q\ VXFK FRQÁLFW ZRXOG RI
course be dangerous whenever
it happened, because the United
States is likely to resist these
efforts strenuously,” the article
said.
Many Western analysts view
China’s approach in the South
China Sea as a sort of calibrated
incrementalism, whereby a
Chinese presence and de facto
Chinese rights in disputed areas
are built up gradually, in a series of
provocations that are individually
small enough to make forceful
resistance politically difficult,
but that collectively establish
precedents and, over time, norms.
The Chinese name for this
approach is the cabbage strategy.
An area is slowly surrounded
E\ LQGLYLGXDO ¶OHDYHV· ² ÀVKLQJ
boat here, a coast guard vessel
there – until it’s wrapped in
lawyers, like a cabbage. “Salami
slicing” is another metaphor for
the approach.
One might think that a defense
treaty the Philippines has with the
US would prove to be a deterrence
to Beijing but if the goal is to cut
the US down to size in what China
regards as its own backyard then
Chinese leaders might view the
Philippines as a more attractive
target than Vietnam, The Atlantic
said.
This thought was captured
vividly in comments in June
by Maj. Gen. Zhu Chenghu, a
professor at China’s National
Defense University who warned
America’s allies in Asia that
the United States had become a
paper tiger, the article said. Zhu
likened Washington’s response
to the Ukraine crisis to “erectile
dysfunction.”
NASA supply rocket explodes at liftoff
C A P E C A N AV E R A L ,
Florida—An unmanned
commercial supply ship bound
for the International Space Station
exploded moments after liftoff
Tuesday evening, with debris
IDOOLQJLQÁDPHVRYHUWKHODXQFK
site.
No injuries were reported
following the first catastrophic
launch in NASA’s commercial
VSDFHÁLJKWHIIRUW
Orbital Sciences Corp.’s
Antares rocket blew up over
the launch complex at Wallops
Island, Virginia, just six seconds
after liftoff. The company said
everyone at the launch site had
been accounted for, and the
damage appeared to be limited to
the facilities.
Flames could be seen shooting
into the sky as the sun set.
“Maintain your consoles,”
Orbital Sciences’ Mission Control
informed the roomful of engineers
and technicians. All data were
This image taken from video provided by NASA TV shows Orbital
Sciences Corp.’s unmanned rocket blowing up over the launch
complex at Wallops Island, Virginia, just six seconds after liftoff.
being collected for use in the
ensuing investigation.
The Cygnus cargo ship was
loaded with 5,000 pounds (2,268
kilograms) of experiments and
equipment for the six people
living on the space station. It was
the fourth Cygnus bound for the
RUELWLQJODEWKHÀUVWÁHZMXVWRYHU
a year ago.
NASA spokesman Rob Navias
said there was nothing urgently
needed by the space station crew
RQWKDWÁLJKW,QIDFWWKH5XVVLDQ
Space Agency was proceeding
with its own supply run.
www.thephilippinetribune.com
20 PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
US
& WORLD NEWS
Home loan and home...
(From Page 19)
property to avoid foreclosure on
their credit. Contrary to popular
belief, lenders do not want to own
a property and they simply want
to recapture a respectable amount
on their original investment.
There are no upfront cost from
the borrower, and the homeowner
can even stay on the property
during the short sale process at
no cost. Short sale is an option
if the homeowner has no means
to continue paying the mortgage
obligation due to insufficient
income.
6KRUW5HÀQDQFH+$53)+$
6WUHDPOLQH: If your property
market Value is less than the
H[LVWLQJORDQVKRUWUHÀQDQFHLVDQ
option, you can lower your loan
amount and mortgage payment.
2WKHUEHQHÀWVDUH\RXZLOOKDYH
an affordable mortgage payment
and one mortgage payment that
includes your property tax, hazard
insurance, mortgage insurance,
principal, and interest. Besides,
\RXDUHORFNHGWRD\HDUÀ[HG
and lower interest rate loan.
This option requires a two year
HPSOR\PHQW VXIÀFLHQW LQFRPH
and a credit that have no existing
open collections, tax liens, and
MXGJPHQW ,PSRUWDQW EHQHÀW LV
to contribute a huge factor to
balance your debt income ratio.
FHA Streamline Loan Program
accepts homeowners with late
mortgage payment. HARP Home
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monthly payment because of a
current adjustable loan. Criteria
and guidelines are: you are
behind in your mortgage payment
because of mortgage increase
in payment due to a current
adjustable loan program that
caused your inability to make
your payment on time. To be able
to avail of this program, you have
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by providing an income that
will give you the ability to make
payment on time. Its just common
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important factor for this program.
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applicable only if your second
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the property value. It can be
negotiated to pay off the existing
second mortgage from 80%-90%
reduction.
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for you because of reduction of
income, insolvency or hardships,
your may seek advise from a
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discharge all your debt and start
fresh.
Previously declined on your
Loan Modification and Home
Loan Application due to income or
credit score? CRP can help. CRP
assisted thousands of clients with
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Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2014
Syrian Kurd troops in formation prior to deployment to Kobane
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0856,73,1$5 7XUNH\
-- A small group of Syrian rebels
entered the embattled border
town of Kobani from Turkey on
Wednesday on a mission to help
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State extremists in Syria, activists
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The group of around 50 armed
men is from the Free Syrian
Army, and it’s separate from Iraqi
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were also en route Wednesday to
Kobani, along the Syrian-Turkish
border.
Idriss Nassan, a Kurdish
RIÀFLDOIURP.REDQLVDLGWKH)6$
group crossed to Kobani through
the Mursitpinar border crossing
in Turkey. Nassan, who spoke in
Mursitpinar, said they travelled in
cars but did not have more details.
The FSA is an umbrella group
RI PDLQVWUHDP UHEHOV ÀJKWLQJ WR
topple Syrian President Bashar
Assad. The political leadership of
the Western-backed FSA is based
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VHHNUHVSLWHIURPWKHÀJKWLQJ
The 150 Iraqi peshmerga
troops arrived in Turkey from
Iraq early on Wednesday and were
expected to cross into Syria later
in the day. Their deployment came
after Ankara agreed to allow the
peshmerga troops to cross into
Syria via Turkey.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu told the BBC that
sending the peshmerga and the
Free Syrian Army was “the only
way to help Kobani, since other
countries don’t want to use ground
troops.”
A Kurdish journalist in Kobani
and the Britain-based Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights
also confirmed that a group of
about 50 FSA fighters entered
Kobani Wednesday.
After a rousing send-off
from thousands of cheering,
flag-waving supporters in the
Iraqi Kurdish capital of Irbil, the
peshmerga forces landed early
Wednesday at the Sanliurfa airport
in southeastern Turkey. They left
the airport in buses escorted by
Turkish security forces and were
expected to travel to Kobani also
through Mursitpinar crossing.
The Islamic State group
launched its offensive on Kobani
and nearby Syrian villages in
mid-September, killing more than
800 people, according to activists.
The Sunni extremists captured
dozens of Kurdish villages around
Kobani and control parts of the
town. More than 200,000 people
KDYH ÁHG DFURVV WKH ERUGHU LQWR
Turkey.
The U.S. is leading a coalition
that has carried out dozens of
airstrikes targeting the militants
in and around Kobani.
The deployment of the 150
peshmerga fighters, who were
authorized by the Iraqi Kurdish
government to go to Kobani,
underscores the sensitive political
tensions in the region.
Destination: Cambodia
(From Page 16)
lush paddyfields, in a typical
Cambodian landscape of irrigation
channels and causeways.
We then explored the caves
of Phnom Sla’ang, where
after scrambling through it we
magically appeared on top of a
hill – out into the sunlight. Before
us lay the most spectacular views
of Cambodia – the traditional
countrysides stretching off into
the Gulf of Thailand and its many
islands.
To complete our countryside
tour for the day, we visited a local
pepper plantation where we saw
how pepper grows, learned the
difference between green, red,
black and white pepper, and tried
some of the pepper dishes in the
local restaurant that uses genuine
Kampot pepper.
We then drove up to Bokor
Mountain for our overnight stay
at Thansur Bokor Hotel.
On our second day we visited
Bokor National Park. Located at
the southern tip of the Elephant
Mountains near the CambodiaVietnam border, Bokor National
Park is one of Cambodia’s largest
protected natural areas. The
1,581 sq. km national park is
famed for its refreshingly cool
climate, lush primary rainforest,
and the Bokor hill station, once a
famous altitude resort during the
French Protectorate and Prince
Sihanouk’s regime in the 1960s.
The hill station was abandoned
WZLFHLQLWVKLVWRU\²ÀUVWGXULQJ
World War II and later during
the Khmer Rouge period. The
area still bears the remains of
the gutted casino and walking
though the ghostly ambience of
the crumbing hotel and other
buildings makes the experience a
little spooky.
Threatened animals still live
in the park, including leopard,
Indian elephant, Asiatic black
bear, Malayan sun bear, pileated
gibbon pig-tailed macaque, slow
loris and pangolin. Unfortunately,
sightings of these animals are
quite rare nowadays.
We then traveled along the
southern coast towards Sihanouk
Ville, where we spent the
night. Sihanouk Ville has long
been a place of relaxation for
Cambodians. Sihanouk Ville is a
port city, a tourist destination and
a steadily growing urban center
located on Cambodia’s peninsula.
Day three was to be the
highlight of our 4-days/3-nights
tour of Cambodia with island
WRXUVÀOOLQJXSRXUGD\·VLWLQHUDU\
2XUÀUVWVWRSZDV.RK7KDVD
small deserted island which lies
close to the mainland. The waters
around the island is shallow and
crystal clear. The place is perfect
for snorkeling and swimming.
After exhausting ourselves
from swimming it was time to
cool down. Cool icy drinks were
served and then lunch served
buffet style which we enjoyed
tremendously. We then motored
to the nearby islands of Koh Rong
and Koh Rong Samloem. Koh
Rong island is predominantly
hilly and is almost completely
forested. Koh Rong Samloem
island is famed for its diverse
amrine life and offers many diving
spots.
After an exhausting day, we
motored back to Sihanouk Ville
where we spent the night at the
Sokha Angkor Hotel.
Waking up the following
morning, we realized our tour
of Cambodia was almost over.
After breakfast, we bid farewell
to Sihanouk Ville and drove back
to Phnom Penh.
The days had gone by so
swiftly. After having bonded for
four days, it was time for us to go
our separate ways – but keeping
a promise to meet a year later for
another fun and memorable trip
together.
If you want to visit and
explore Cambodia or any other
destination of your choice, Travel
International Group has special
WRXUSDFNDJHVWDLORUHGÀWIRU\RXU
individual needs. Call us at (310)
327-5143, we will be more than
happy to assist you. For further
information, visit our website at
www.travelinternational.net.
21 PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
COMMUNITY
www.thephilippinetribune.com
Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2014
BAYANIHAN SPIRIT AWARDEES. The Historic Filipinotown Neigborhood Council presented the Bayanihan Spirit Awards on Oct. 17 to 21 members of the Filipino
community. The awardees were: For lifetime achievement: Dr. Luis Calingo, president of Woodbury College, for higher education; Carson Mayor Protem Elito Santarina,
government service; Atlas Shippers president Joel P. Longares, immigrant services; Carmen Kleiner, entrepeneurship; Van Dichoso, accountancy; James Von Trapp,
engineering; Giovanni del Rosario, culinary arts; Dr. Felix Lapuz, veterinary medicine; and Joe Cobilla, photo journalism; For leadership excellence: Leo Maranan,
KRPHKHDOWKVHUYLFHV9DO9LOODUEXVLQHVV5KHD5DFKHOOH(VSLQRHQWUHSUHQHXUVKLS1RQLH%HODUPLQRSK\VLFDO¿WQHVV,VLGULF3DQJDQLEDQYLGHRSURGXFWLRQ(OHQD/DSLG
Salonga, food manufacturing; Tony Cabrera, broadcast journalism; Cecile and Mighty, entertainment; and Gelly Aganon, concert promotion For youth achievement:
Sara Mislang, Bea del Rosario and Angelique Cobilla.
Fil-Ams plan global Filipino school, credit union
OAKLAND, California – An
ambitious plan is afoot to connect
Filipinos around the globe with
one another, through an online
and bricks-and-mortar school
and a global credit union through
a movement called One Filipino.
This was bared October 13 at
the 2nd Annual Filipino American
History Month Town Hall meeting
lhosted by California 18th District
Assembly Representative Rob
Bonta.
A brainchild of Gawad Kalinga
USA Chief Executive Officer
and Chairman of the Board Tony
Olaes, the One Filipino grand plan
has the vision of connectivity not
just among all Filipino Americans,
but also of Filipinos across the
globe.
It would involve, among
others, the establishment of a
school (both regular and online)
and a credit union that would have
for its members Filipinos around
the globe.
Filipinoschool.com
Filipinoschool.com will be
online starting early next year. The
actual school scheduled to start
next quarter will be spearheaded
by a group responsible for about
72 Filipino classes being taught
in junior high, high school and
college levels in San Diego,
California.
It will teach history and
language as the foundation and
courses on business, political
HPSRZHUPHQW ÀQDQFLDO OLWHUDF\
and food as well.
“Since it is going to be an
online portal, people not only get
to learn in the United States but
in the entire diaspora and even in
the Philippines as well,” explained
Olaes.
“So it going to be so huge it
can be a game changer for who
we are globally once we get the
foundation of who we are,” Olaes
said. “Thus, we are bridging that
gap between the Fil-Am and the
Filipino. We are getting the best
of the Filipino to meet up with
the best of the Fil-Ams here and
we are saying look we are all one
Filipino.”
“Being born and raised here in
the US, you only know what you
know. And when you go back to
the Philippines you think you are
separate from them. But when
I went to visit the Philippines,
I was inspired by how friendly,
how nice and generous everyone
from the squatter community was.
Seeing how they lived but still
happy to live that way and how
warm they treated me made me
ask, ‘What makes them different
from me?’ What I came up with
through my inquiry is that we are
all connected,” Olaes explained.
For Bonta, the vision created
by Olaes of the school, the credit
union, and the web portal was
most welcome.
“He is an amazing visionary
and strategist,” Bonta said of
Olaes. “He recognized that great
work is being done by Filipino
American leaders in different
initiatives that are making
progress but are not connected
together. And we have a larger
vision of connectivity among all
Filipino Americans and Filipinos
across the globe as well. That was
what one Filipino movement was
all about. And we have a lot of
Filipinos now supporting it and
helping it move forward and it is
very exciting,” Bonta exclaimed.
Bonta also expressed elation
that the Olaes plan is very apt to
this year’s Town Hall theme of
“Awakening the Sleeping Giant,”
referring to the Filipino American
community that has yet to reach its
full potential.
Bonta acknowledged that
Filipinos must do away with
the many barriers and walls that
cause too much divisiveness that
keep Filipinos Americans from
speaking with one voice on issues.
For his part, Consul-General
Henry Bensurto revealed that
LW ZDV WKH ÀUVW WLPH KH VDZ DQG
listened to the Olaes plan.
22 PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
www.thephilippinetribune.com
BUSINESS
& FINANCE
Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2014
6HQDWHWRSDVVÀVKHULHVODZ
DQGDYHUWEDQRQ3+SURGXFWV
This greenhouse facility employs new techniques to develop new
irrigated breeding populations. Technicians (from left) Joseph
Beredo, Rhulyx Mendoza, and Herman Hermosada grow the
ULFHSODQWVLQVPDOOWUD\VWRTXLFNHQÀRZHULQJDQGPDWXULW\
IRRI promotes new and
heirloom rice varieties
BANGKOK — A senior
scientist and rice breeder for
over 20 years of the International
Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in
Los, Banos, Laguna, batted on
Monday for Filipino farmers’ use
of science in farming.
Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, deputy
head of IRRI’s Plant Breeding,
Genetics, and Biotechnology
Division, made the pitch here
at the 2014 International Rice
Congress, still only the fourth time
it is being conducted.
The road toward global food
security is not without challenges.
The population will balloon to
9 billion in 2050. The signs of
climate change have never been so
UHDO³IUHTXHQW ÁRRGV GURXJKWV
and storm surges. Storm surges
make farmland in coastal areas
too salty for most crops to grow.
Also, pathogens and pests evolve.
Therefore, a rice variety may lose
its resistance to new strains of
pathogens or insects.
“With so many challenges
that we are facing now, we can’t
just continue with what we are
doing,” said Eero Nissilä, head
of the IRRI Plant Breeding,
Genetics, and Biotechnology
Division at the International Rice
Research Institute. “There need
to be changes in the way we do
breeding at IRRI.”
IRRI plant breeder Bert
Collard agrees. “A revolution in
rice breeding is what we need
now,” Dr. Collard said. “Not
much has changed for the last 50
years. The methods used today
in Asia are generally the same as
the ones used in the 1960s-1970s.
More importantly, the rate of
yield increase or genetic gain for
irrigated varieties is less than 1%
per year.”
MANILA -- The Senate
will rush the passage of the
bill strengthening the country’s
PDULQHDQGÀVKHULHVODZVEHIRUH
the year-end in a bid to prevent
being blacklisted by the European
Union (EU) which can bring dire
economic consequences.
Senate President Franklin
Drilon said the Senate would pass
its version of the bill, Senate Bill
2414, which amends the Fisheries
Code of the Philippines, today on
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The bill specifically seeks
amendments to the Fisheries Code
WRKHOSDGYDQFHWKHFRXQWU\·VÀJKW
against illegal, unreported and
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“Failure to act on the yellow
tag and the observations made by
the EU on its 2012 audit report
on the Philippines may result in
the blacklisting of all Philippine
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the European Union market,”
Drilon said in a statement.
“We must pass our amendments
to the Fisheries Code before the
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would categorize us as a noncooperating country by failing
to discharge our commitment to
eliminate IUU fishing,” Drilon
cautioned.
The Senate leader said a ban
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and the country’s economic
growth noting that a study by the
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources (BFAR) shows that the
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2.1 percent of the nation’s entire
gross domestic product (GDP).
Drilon said the bill also
aims to ensure the Philippines’
compliance with international
conventions and standards in
ÀVKLQJ
The Senate chief noted that
presently, the country’s laws,
rules and regulations lack
sufficient disincentives and
sanctions against IUU fishing
and is among the major issues
raised by the European Union
through its Directorate-General
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
(DG-MARE) on its 2012 audit
report on the Philippines.
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punitive actions against serious
violations on Philippine aquatic
resources that would ensure
“sanctions are dissuasive and
have deterrent effect.”
Senators have increased the
penalty against violators under
the proposed law. Violators would
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to P10 million, or twice the value
of the catch, whichever is higher,
if found committing large-scale
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For medium-scale and smallVFDOHFRPPHUFLDO,88ÀVKLQJWKH
ÀQHV ZLOO UDQJH IURP 3
to P2-million and P50,000 to
P200,000, respectively.
The existing Philippine
Fisheries Code only imposes
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P500,000.
PH should focus on key reforms -- IMF
MANILA - The International
Monetary Fund (IMF) said the
country should keep its focus
on key structural reforms and
continuity even after a new
administration takes office in
2016 to sustain the gains it has
achieved in the past years.
IMF Resident Representative
to the Philippines Shanaka
Jayanath Peiris said the strong
economic growth the country has
been seeing in the last two years
was an offshoot of the various
reforms instituted by the current
and past administrations.
To further grow the economy,
Peiris said the country should
“focus on continuity, focus on
what kind of structural reforms
can drive investments.”
This should be done in order
to take advantage of its young
population through fostering an
environment conducive to attract
more investments to create more
jobs, he said.
“The Philippines has the
youngest population in Asia and
that alone is a huge opportunity…
But demographic dividend
without creating jobs won’t mean
high growth and won’t mean
better income,” Peiris said.
Peiris said the decline of the
credit to GDP (gross domestic
product) to below 40 percent in
the first quarter, the relatively
ORZLQÁDWLRQZKLFKDYHUDJHG
percent as of September, and the
strong six-percent growth in the
first half gives the country the
cushion to take on more measures
to accelerate economic growth.
23 PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
www.thephilippinetribune.com
Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2014
Business groups buck proposal to
re-bid Cavite-Laguna Expressway
How to avoid closing costs
when getting a home mortgage
ARE closing costs keeping you
IURPUHÀQDQFLQJDPRUWJDJH"2U
is it keeping you from purchasing
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to line up their own pockets again
ZLWK\RXUKDUGHDUQHGPRQH\",I
so, a no-closing-cost mortgage
may be for you. With this type of
mortgage, you won’t need to pay
thousands of dollars in upfront
fees. We have been doing this
types of loans for purchases and
UHÀQDQFLQJIRU\HDUVOHW·VJHW\RX
on board.
How do we do it, and is
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and investors have gotten so
competitive nowadays that the
spread between rates and rebates
( YSP- Yield Spread Premium)
have been so minimal and so
much favorable for a no cost loan
WREHPRUHEHQHÀFLDOWRDEX\HURU
DKRPHRZQHUUHÀQDQFLQJ
Find the best mortgage rates
Always initially ask for the
actual rates, then ask for total
lender fees. Once provided, ask
for options to do a no points and
fee loan, they will present the
rate (with) closing costs and if
you don’t want to pay, you’ll take
a slightly higher rate to do a no
closing cost loan.
For example, you may be
RIIHUHGDPRUWJDJHDWDUDWHRI
percent and pay closing costs. Or,
you can take a no-closing-costs
mortgage at a higher 4.00 percent
rate. Bank pays lenders a YSP
(Yield Spread Premium) to offer
clients a higher rate to avoid
paying fees. The tricky part here
is sometimes, the lenders will
pocket your fees charged and
the lenders premium rebates,
therefore making money on your
behalf twice over. Understanding
how to read a GFE ( Good Faith
Estimate) is a job or a TIL (
Truth In lending). So, you have
to make sure you will be able to
shop around for the best rates and
lowest to no fee loan you can get.
When it pays off
Closing costs include services
such as the loan origination,
appraisal and title search fees and
title insurance premiums. These
costs vary from state to state, but
on average the costs have been
rising.
Usually the origination fee
and third-party fees on a $200,000
mortgage cost an average of
7KDW·VDORWEXWLWZDVD
$301 decline from a year before.
No-closing-cost mortgages are
attractive to borrowers who don’t
have the cash to pay fees upfront.
Waiving the closing costs may be
the ticket to getting a mortgage for
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It makes more sense to
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because it takes years to recoup
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What if the rates drop again and
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short while, the cost initially paid
would have been wasted. People
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same loan without any cost to
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“No Brainer” especially if your
loan balance is larger.
If you don’t plan to stay in your
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a no-closing-cost mortgage also
makes sense. With a traditional
mortgage, it could take more than
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costs.
The slightly higher mortgage
rate associated with a no-closingcost mortgage is still likely less
expensive over five years than
what you would pay upfront in
closing costs.
You have to look at the breakeven if you want to pay for a
lower rate.
When it doesn’t pay
If your loan amount is smaller
and the rate differential is much
higher, then you have to think
twice about a no closing cost
loan.
Do you plan to stay in your
KRPHPRUHWKDQÀYH\HDUV",IVR
a no-closing-cost loan likely will
end up costing you more than a
loan with closing costs. That’s
true whether you’re taking out a
mortgage for a new purchase or
UHÀQDQFLQJDQH[LVWLQJORDQ
Typically, you’ll break even on
your closing costs in a few years.
Going with a no-closing-cost loan
saddles you with a higher interest
rate over the rest of the home
loan. That could end up costing
you a lot more than the upfront
fees if you keep the mortgage for
a long time.
Take the hypothetical example
RI WZR FKRLFHV IRU D ORDQ 2QH KDV D UDWH RI MANILA - Business
chambers oppose a rebidding of
the Cavite-Laguna Expressway
(CALAX), saying this would have
a negative impact on the country’s
effort in improving its standing in
the investor community.
In a joint statement issued
yesterday, the Makati Business
Club (MBC) and various chambers
of commerce, said the Department
of Public Works and Highways
(DPWH) conducted a fair bidding
for the project, in full compliance
with the Build-Operate-Transfer
(BOT) law.
“The proposed rebidding of
the Cavite-Laguna Expressway
(CALAX) would be an inopportune
and ill-advised decision that
would surely have a negative
impact in our improving standing
in the investor community,” said
the chambers. “As such, we
believe there is no legal basis for
rebidding the project. We share
the concern of our colleagues in
the private sector that a disregard
of the present rules through a rebid
will adversely impact investor
FRQÀGHQFH LQ WKH 333 3XEOLF
Private-Partnership) Program
and in our bidding procedures,
which the DPWH and the PPP
Center have been painstakingly
reforming for the better, and
consequently promoting here and
SHUFHQW ZLWK LQ FORVLQJ
FRVWVWKHRWKHUKDVDUDWHRI
percent, with no closing costs.
Going with the higher-rate, noclosing-cost option runs $43.24
D PRQWK PRUH RU PRUH
over 30 years. In this scenario, it
takes six years and nine months to
break even and recoup the closing
costs via the lower monthly house
payments. But if you have a lot
of equity and intended to stay
there long term and almost are
sure rates will no longer go down,
then pay some cost and keep your
loan forever.
Call Ken to get your best
rate option and advise. Call
st
1 ,QQRYDWLYH )LQDQFH DW RU ZULWH WR .HQ DW
[email protected].
abroad,” the statement added.
The chambers urged the
government to remain consistent
with the provisions of the BOT
law.
“Not just in this particular
case, but for the other projects
in the pipeline,” said the MBC.
“Consistency and predictability
in policy and adherence to rules,
among other factors, form the
EHGURFN RI LQYHVWRU FRQÀGHQFH
in any economy,” the groups said.
The statement was issued
by the MBC along with the
American Chamber of Commerce
of the Philippines (AmCham);
Australian-New Zealand Chamber
of Commerce Philippines
(ANZCham); Canadian Chamber
of Commerce of the Philippines
(CanCham); Employers
Confederation of the Philippines
(ECOP); European Chamber of
Commerce of the Philippines
(ECCP); Japanese Chamber of
Commerce of the Philippines,
Inc. (JCCIPI); Management
Association of the Philippines
(MAP).
Under the BOT law, a rebid
of a project would only be done
if there is a pronouncement of
failure of bidding.
President Aquino recently said
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billion CALAX project “to get the
best deal for the people.”
PAL expands reach in US
MANILA -- Flag carrier
Philippine Airlines (PAL) plans
to expand operations to other
areas of the United States, where
there is a huge Filipino immigrant
population.
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Honolulu starting December this
year, Maria Socorro Gonzaga,
PAL vice president for external
affairs, said last week during a
business forum organized by the
Center for Philippine Futuristics
Studies & Management Inc.
PAL currently mounts four
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daily flights are set to begin
on Dec. 11, information on the
company’s website showed.
The move comes ahead of
flights to New York, where
the carrier will be returning to
after economic and feasibility
constraints prompted PAL to scrap
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of operations.
PAL long wanted to increase
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prevented from doing so since
That changed when the US
Federal Aviation Administration
earlier this year restored the
Philippines’ Category 1 status,
reflecting safety reforms
undertaken in recent years.
The upgrade also allowed
PAL to replace its older Boeing
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helping bring down costs.
PA L’s n e w l y a p p o i n t e d
president Jaime Bautista said in a
previous interview that the carrier
would focus more of its longhaul resources on the US market
against Europe, where he said it
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PAL previously announced
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York, via Vancouver, Canada, in
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24 PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
SPORTS
www.thephilippinetribune.com
Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2014
3DFTXLDR¶FURVVLQJÀQJHUV·
IRU0D\ZHDWKHUQH[W\HDU
HONG KONG – Filipino
boxing star Manny Pacquiao said
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with arch-rival Floyd Mayweather
next year as he denied he was
taking his upcoming opponent
Chris Algieri lightly.
Pacquiao, mobbed by his
supporters during a promotional
trip to Hong Kong, said “I’m
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Manny Pacquiao and Chris Algieri
anticipated Mayweather fight
could happen in 2015.
“Hopefully that fight will
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AFP in an interview.
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MANILA – Manny Pacquiao bigger man even though we’re
and Chris Algieri will hold ÀJKWLQJLQWHFKQLFDOO\KLVZHLJKW WKDW ÀJKW ZLOO KDSSHQ EXW ULJKW
their November 23 fight at a FODVVµ WKH XQGHIHDWHG$PHULFDQ now my mind is already set to
focus on my next fight with
catchweight of 144 pounds – at the explained.
insistence of the Filipino’s camp.
´,QIDFW,ZDQWHGWKHÀJKWWR Algieri. I think the time to talk
Algieri made the revelation EH DW , ZDQWHG WR ÀJKW IRU
in an interview with Fight a true welterweight title. The
Hype’s Ben Thompson, saying catchweight was on their side 100
FILIPINO-American rookie
he originally wanted to face SHUFHQWµKHDGGHG
Pacquiao at welterweight (147
Though currently the WBO Jordan Clarkson made his NBA
pounds) where the Filipino has light welterweight champion, the debut for the Los Angeles Lakers
been seeing action for a long New York-based Algieri enjoys on Tuesday at Staples Center.
Clarkson, the 46th pick in the
while.
a huge height advantage over
“Absolutely! Absolutely! [on Pacquiao. He stands at 5-foot-10, 2014 NBA Draft, came off the
whether he prefers welterweight]. three and a half inches taller than bench and scored eight points and
And even being around him on the fighting congressman, the had four rebounds and two assists
in 20 minutes.
the press tour, I think that was WBO welterweight titlist.
The 6-foot-5 guard Clarkson
painfully evident that I am the
made quite an impression in the
Algieri: Pacquiao camp
insisted on catch weight
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The eyes of the boxing world
have long been on a showdown
between the unbeaten American
and eight-division world
champion Pacquiao (56-5-2),
two of the greatest boxers of their
generation.
The two regularly exchange
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recently posting pictures of
Pacquiao’s losses, and the Filipino
last month telling his rival to stop
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Pacquiao, 35, said he had a
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retiring — seemingly ample time
to secure the money-spinning
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can settle their differences.
“I’m not thinking yet about
retirement. I will continue my
boxing career, the journey will
continue in my boxing career and
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But he said his immediate
focus was on his November
23 World Boxing Organization
welterweight title defence in
Macau against former kickboxer
Algieri.
Pacquiao previously dismissed
the American as only an ´RND\µ
ÀJKWHUDQGWKLVPRQWKKHWRRND
break from training to make his
professional basketball debut in
the Philippines’ domestic league.
But he denied underestimating
Algieri (20-0) and said he had
been training to face a taller
fighter. Algieri is about nine
centimetres (3.5 inches) taller than
the 1.69-metre (5ft 7in) Pacquiao.
Lakers’ Fil-Am rookie makes NBA debut
NBA Summer League where he
led the Lakers in scoring and
was later signed by the team last
August.
The 22-year-old Clarkson went
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most of his points at the free
throw line.
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regular season game was a loss
with the Lakers falling to the
Houston Rockets, 90-108.
Mikaela Arroyo
Arroyo grandkid shines in golf
MANILA - Mikaela Arroyo
powered Assumption San
Lorenzo to a sweep of the overall
individual and team titles in the
Developmental Division of the
2014 ICTSI-JGFP Interschool
golf championships conducted
by The Junior Golfers League at
various courses.
The 161-point effort of the
granddaughter of former president
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in the
best three rounds out of six format
played the past three months at
the Ayala South Links, Ayala
Greenfield, Club Intramuros
and Philippine Navy courses
won her the overall individual
championship, beating Jamina
Uttoh of the Notre Dame of
*UHDWHU0DQLODE\ÀYHDQG7ULVKD
Lazatin of San Beda Alabang by
10.
Mikaela’s consistent play in the
competition backed mainly by the
International Container Terminal
Services, Inc. and sanctioned by
the Junior Golfers Foundation of
the Philippines also helped steer
Assumption San Lorenzo, which
included sister Monique Arroyo,
Iya Fianza and Daniella Antonio
to the overall team diadem. They
aggregated 305.
The boys team title went
to Ateneo made up of Rafael
Gusi, Karl dela Torre, Kirk dela
Torre and Sean Ibuyan with their
combined 201 points.
Siblings Javi and Trisha
Lazatin won the mixed team event
for San Beda Alabang.
Joining Mikaela Arroyo, who
also topped the girls Grade 4-7
bracket with her rounds of 55, 53
and 53, in the roster of individual
winners were Ken Shibata of
Japanese School Manila in boys
Grade 4-7, Princess Pascua of El
Rio Pasig in the girls Grade 1-3,
Javi Lazatin the boys Grade 1-3,
Josh Jorge of Gabby Christian
Academy in the boys Grade 8-12,
Marjorie Espanola of Foundation
Youth in girls Grade 8-12 and
Rocco Pineda of The Bridge
School in the Kindergarten
Division.
25 PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
www.thephilippinetribune.com
Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2014
26 PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
www.thephilippinetribune.com
Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2014
FACC-SLAA INDUCTION
‘BLOOD RANSOM’
Tectonic Films announced the reOHDVHRILWV¿OP³%ORRG5DQVRP´
VWDUULQJ $OH[DQGHU 'UH\PRQ
DQG$QQH&XUWLV¿UVWDQGVHFRQG IURP OHIW VHDWHG GXULQJ D
press conference in Los Angeles.
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US thaters beginning Oct. 31.
Also in photo are Consul General
DQG0UV/HR+HUUHUD/LPVHFRQGDQGWKLUGIURPOHIWVWDQGLQJDQGSURGXFHU$QD&R3XQR
3KRWR E\ %REE\ &ULVRVWRPR
&KLHI3KRWRJUDSKHU
The officers of the FilipinoAmerican Chamber of Commerce-SouthBay Los Angeles
(FACC-SLAA) are sworn into
RI¿FHE\&RQVXO0DUORZH0LUDQGDDWWKH/RQJ%HDFK0DUriott on October 25. From left:
+HQULFN 0DFDOLQWDO%RDUG
0HPEHU )H .RRQV%RDUG
0HPEHU$ULHO$\DD\7UHDVXUHU&\QWKLD7DQ9LFH3UHVLGHQW
-HUU\4/HH3UHVLGHQW(YHO\Q
$QGDPR%RDUG0HPEHU/RL
+HUUHUD%RDUG 0HPEHU 3D]
9HODVTXH]5HFRUGLQJ 6HFUHWDU\)UHGHULFN$ODLQ'RFGRFLO
&RUUHVSRQGLQJ6HFUHWDU\0DUOHQH5REELQV%RDUG0HPEHU
3KRWRE\9LFV0DJVD\VD\
US court: NY
7-11 owners
exploited
Pinoys, others
SAN FRANCISCO — Five
7-Eleven franchise owners
pleaded guilty to knowingly
hiring undocumented aliens,
many of them Filipinos, stealing
their earnings and forcing them
to live in miserable conditions in
various houses in Suffolk County,
Long Island, according to court
papers.
The defendants skimmed a
total of $2.6 million that was
owed to the workers, according
to a New York Post report on
September 22.
The exploited mostly
Pakistani and Filipino workers
served wealthy customers at
locations including Sag Harbor
and Greenport while living in
squalor, prosecutors said.
They routinely worked up
to 100 hours a week behind the
counter and were paid just $350
to $500 in cash — about a quarter
of what they had earned, the NY
Post reported.
“Using the 7-Eleven brand,
the defendants dispensed wire
fraud and identity theft, along
with Big Gulps and candy
bars,” said US Attorney Loretta
Lynch in a statement. “In our
backyards, the defendants not
only systematically employed
illegal aliens, but concealed their
employment by using the names
of children and even the dead.”
Farrukh Baig, leader of the
scheme, faces up to 20 years in
prison. The NY Post described
him as a “Pakistani bigshot who
counts former Prime Minister
Pervez Musharraf as a pal.”
Prosecutors said Farrukh Baig
lived in fancy Head of Harbor
on Long Island and freely spent
the profits from their fourteen
7-Eleven locations on cars and
other luxuries.
Baig and his henchmen
stole the identities of American
citizens —including kids, the
deceased and a US Coast Guard
cadet — and assigned them to
their staffers. Several of those
who pleaded guilty are members
of the Baig family.
27 PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
www.thephilippinetribune.com
Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2014
28 PHILIPPINE TRIBUNE
www.thephilippinetribune.com
Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2014