Vol. 4. No. 1 LOS ANGELES Wednesday - Tuesday, September 24 - 30, 2014

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

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MANILA, Sept 22 (Mabuhay) – “The biggest sin is to not to do anything at all.”

This was the explanation giv-en by Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla to lawmakers who are still hesitant about granting Section 71 of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA),

EPIRA prohibits the govern-ment from putting up power plants, but Section 71 states the President can ask Congress for

authority to contract additional generating capacity if there is a looming shortage.

“The President, upon determi-nation of an imminent shortage of supply of electricity, may ask Congress for authority to estab-lish additional generating capac-ity under approved terms and conditions,” the provision stated.

Petilla clarifi ed the govern-ment is not preventing the private sector from contracting additional

energy, even as it seeks addition-al powers for President Aquino to address a shortage next year.

But Petilla notes though they urged Meralco to save up to 400 MW to augment their supply, the utility fi rm was only able to sign up a fraction of that fi gure in a span of 8 months.

“I told them (Meralco), gather 400MW of ILP. Since December up to August, with all the pres-

BOSTON, Sept 22 (Mabuhay) – Calling it “fortune’s way of showing irony,” President Aquino spent the 42nd anniversary of Mar-tial Law with old friends and sup-porters here who gave his family refuge from the dictatorship back home.

“It is perhaps fortune’s way of showing its sense of irony that I meet you 42 years to the date that

appears on Mr. Ferdinand Mar-cos’ signed declaration of Martial Law,” the President said at a re-ception hosted by Boston College.

“Following that declaration, my father, who appeared on top of the order of battle, would be a political prisoner for 7 years and 7 months.”

The President was in Boston

MANILA, Sept 22 (Mabuhay) – Vice President Jejomar Binay, currently at the receiving end of corruption allegations, on Mon-day said he and his family are willing to undergo lifestyle check “anytime.”

Interviewed on the sidelines of the 2014 Bagong Bayani Awards, Binay noted that in all his years in public service, having served as Makati mayor for many years, he has never been suspended due to corruption.

“’Yun naman pagkatapos nito

ang babalikan yung aming pinag-daanan, yung bang mga kaso na hindi naman ako nasuspindi, hindi naman ako naparusahan. Yung mga bintang-bintang na-man sa Ombudsman na hindi naman nangyari. Mga kasong gi-nayak na hindi naman natuloy,” he said.

He was reacting to a call from advocacy group United Makati Against Corruption for him and his family to undergo lifestyle check following allegations that they benefi ted from the alleged

overpricing in the construction of the P2.7-billion Makati City Hall Building II.

Binay said the allegations thrown at him are not new.

“Wala namang bago roon kasi yun ay mga bintang na pinagda-anan ko nung ako ay mayor,” he said as he once again linked the accusations to his planned presi-dential bid in 2016.

A sub-committee of the Senate blue ribbon committee is current-ly investigating the controversy

BERLIN, Germany, Sept 20 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno S. Aquino III and German Chan-cellor Angela Merkel on Friday agreed that the territorial dis-putes in the South China Sea must be settled peacefully in ac-cordance with international law.

President Aquino, who is in Germany for the last leg of his four-nation European tour, met with Chancellor Merkel at the Federal Chancellery, the offi cial residence of the German leader.

“On this note, as regards the territorial and maritime disputes in Southeast Asia, the Chancellor and I share the conviction that these must be settled peacefully

BERLIN, Germany, Sept 20 (Mabuhay) – Bilateral relations between the Philippines and Ger-many reached another milestone with the signing of agreements on social security, technical voca-tional training and trade.

During the press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Federal Chancel-lery, President Benigno S. Aquino said the agreement on social secu-rity between the two nations will contribute to providing a context of equality of treatment in the workplace.

The President said the social security agreement would also improve the processing of claims

and prevent dual coverage, and would consequently redound to the benefi t of both Filipino and German nationals.

Another is a memorandum of understanding between the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Federal Institute for Vo-cational Education and Training, or BIBB, which will institutional-ize regular dialogue and sharing of best practices between Filipino and German policymakers and experts.

The President said cooperation in technical vocational education and training “will provide an in-

MANILA, Sept 22 (Mabuhay) – The number of people affected by Tropical Storm Mario (Fung-Wong) breached the one million mark as of Monday morning, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

In its 6 a.m. update, the NDRRMC said the death toll re-mained at 11 with 12 injured and two still missing.

Mario exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) be-fore dawn Monday.

According to the NDRRMC, Mario has so far affected 258,976 families or 1,160,050 people in 1,126 barangays in 27 provinces in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Cen-

tral and Southern Luzon, Bicol, Central Visayas, Cordillera, and Metro Manila.

Of these, 30,266 families or 129,676 people are staying in 324 evacuation centers.

The NDRRMC also said 425 houses were destroyed while 1,710 were damaged in Ilocos, Central and Southern Luzon, and Cordillera.

At least 81 roads and six bridg-es remained impassable in Ilocos, Central Luzon, and Metro Manila.

The Department of Public Works and Highways, meanwhile, said at least 22 road sections in Luzon are still closed.

Flood victims are evacuated in rescue boats after their homes were swamped by heavy fl ooding in Marikina, Metro Manila September 19, 2014. Heavy rain in the Phil-ippine capital, Manila, caused fl ooding in many areas on Friday, shutting schools, government offi ces and fi nancial markets as a tropical storm made landfall to the north. Thousands of residents in low-lying areas were moved to higher ground, of-fi cials said, as fl ood waters rose quickly after the equivalent of half a month’s usual rain fell in six hours. (MNS photo)

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept 20 (Mabuhay) – The rise of magma in Mayon Volcano appears to have stopped temporarily, but this does not mean the volcano has calmed down, a volcanologist said here Saturday.

Eduardo Laguerta, resident volcanologist of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seis-mology, said at a press briefi ng Saturday a decrease in the num-ber of volcanic quakes and rock-fall events was noted during the past 24-hour observation period, indicating that upward movement of magma has stopped. Pressure from within pushes magma up a volcano’s vent until it spills over as lava.

Laguerta said, however, that the fact the volcano’s magma was not rising did not mean that May-on had calmed down. It was likely that pressure was still building up for an eruption, he said.

In its bulletin on Saturday morning, Phivolcs said it recorded 4 volcanic quakes and 22 rock-fall events Saturday compared to Friday’s 22 volcanic quakes and 70 rockfall events. On Thursday, there were 142 volcanic quakes and 251 rockfalls.

Phivolcs noted, however, that the emission of sulfur dioxide had increased to an average of 1,290 tons per day on Friday compared to 757 tons per day on Wednes-

LYON, September 22, 2014 (AFP) – More than 660 people were arrested or put under investigation in a major police operation across 10 Asian countries that tar-geted criminal networks trading fake and potentially dangerous products, Interpol announced Monday.

The international police organization said security forces and border agencies in countries ranging from Cambodia and China to India and the Philippines had seized counterfeit goods worth nearly $50 million (39 million euros), including alcohol, cigarettes, cosmetics, clothing and electrical goods.

In one case, an organized criminal group operating a factory producing fake cosmetics and packaging was dismantled in China.

“Testing determined the fake cosmetics contained high levels of mercury, which can be toxic to humans,” Interpol said about the operation conducted in May.

In China overall, 589 people were arrested and $37 million in illicit goods re-covered.

Authorities in Hong Kong meanwhile discovered false compartments in con-tainer trucks during an examination, leading to the discovery of more than 600

Petilla urges Congress: Approve emergency powers

VP Binay, family ready to undergo lifestyle check ‘anytime’

Germany backs Philippine position to settle territorial disputes peacefully

PHL, Germany ink agreements on social security, technical vocational training, trade

Nearly 700 held or probed in PHL, other countries in major Asia counterfeit sweep

Magma movement stops but Mayon still restive – Phivolcs

Aquino: I wanted to get back at Marcoses

NDRRMC: More than 1 million people affected by ‘Mario’

See EMERGENCY POWERS, page 12

See VP BINAY, page 12

See GERMANY, page 12See AQUINO, page 12

See NDRRMC, page 12

See PHIVOLCS, page 12

See AGREEMENTS, page 12

See COUNTERFEIT, page 12

BERLIN, Germany) President Benigno S. Aquino III converse with Federal Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel upon arrival at the Federal Chancellery on Friday (September 19). (MNS photo)

BOSTON, Massachusetts – President Benigno Aquino III delivers his speech during the convocation and the presentation of the recipients of the Benigno and Corazon Aquino Scholarship held at the Boston College Robsham Theater. President Aquino visited the Boston College on Sunday (September 21) as well as met with the Filipino-American community here. President Benigno S. Aquino III arrived Saturday evening for a fi ve-day working visit to the United States. (MNS photo)

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MANILA, Sept 22 (Mabuhay) – Engineer Mario Hechanova, who claimed to have received allowances from Vice President Je-jomar Binay to rig Makati projects, is taking the Senate’s sugges-tion to join the witness protection program.

“I’m not saying [he will kill me himself]. It could be that within his organization, his machinery, there may be someone. The Vice President wants to run for President. In order that his name will not be ruined, they would have me silenced,” Hechanova said.

Hechanova admitted that he has not received any death threats, but quickly added: “We all know the politics in the Phil-ippines.”

Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla, Binay’s spokesman for politi-cal affairs, dismissed Hechanova’s claims.

“The Vice President already said Hechanova is part of the po-litical theater,” Remulla said, adding that it is Hechanova who has a lot of explaining to do.

“It’s about time that the Bureau of Internal Revenue take cog-nizance of [Hechanova’s case], if he has been paying taxes,” he said.

Hechanova, the former head of the general services depart-ment, which he held from 2005 to 2009, had said that he received a monthly P200,000 allowance to rig the bidding of Makati proj-ects.

“I did not question anymore this rule in Makati. I was just told that if I remain a good boy, money will come my way… Who would not want his life to prosper?” he said.

He alleged that corruption is “already the character of Makati” and admitted “being sucked into the system.” (MNS)

MANILA, Sept 22 (Mabuhay) – The negoti-ating panels of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will meet in Ma-laysia before the month ends to set parameters for the decommissioning of fi rearms of MILF com-batants.

In a chance inter-view on the sidelines of a forum on the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), government peace panel chair Miri-am Coronel-Ferrer said members of both panels are set to meet in Kuala Lumpur from September 27 to 29 “to pull every-thing together.”

Part of the agenda for the three-day meeting is the fi nalization of the composition of the Tran-sitional Justice and Rec-onciliation Commission (TJRC) as well as the International Decom-missioning Body (IDB), Ferrer said.

She said they aim to establish these bodies within the month.

Under the Compre-hensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) signed by the govern-ment and the MILF last March, the TJRC is tasked “to study and recommend the appro-priate mechanisms to address legitimate griev-ances of the Bangsamoro people, correct historical injustices, and address human rights violations through land disposses-sion.”

ExpertsMeanwhile, the IDB,

to be composed of three foreign experts and four Filipinos, will validate the inventory of weapons and combatants that the MILF will submit.

Ferrer said they have already invited experts from Brunei, Turkey and Norway in the meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

“Doon na natin sa Kuala Lumpur ifa-fi nal-ize who will be members of the IDB,” she said. “But the most important thing, the fi rst order of business, is for the MILF to produce a list of weap-ons and combatants and submit it to the IDB.”

Meanwhile, MILF peace panel chair Mo-hagher Iqbal said they already have a list of fi rearms and names of combatants ready for submission to the IDB, but refused to give fi g-ures.

He, however, said that “the fi rearms are combi-nations of high-powered and light-powered.”

Iqbal said the gov-ernment peace panel also has its own tally of the MILF fi rearms to be compared with the list that the MILF will sub-mit.

The mother of actress Cherry Pie Picache was stabbed dead by still unidentifi ed assailants in-side her house in Sct. Dr. Lascano Street in Barangay Paligsahan, Quezon City on Friday, police said.

The victim, Zenaida Sison, was found lying lifeless on the fl oor in her house’s second fl oor.

Peter Serrano, Picache’s friend, said the actress decided to go to her mother’s house after she could not reach her through her mobile phone.

When they reached the house, Picache had to ask her driver to jump over the gate because her mother was still not responding to their calls.

Upon entering the house, they saw that the house’s second gate was open.

The actress then asked her driver to go up the second fl oor to check on her mother and found her dead.

Sison lived alone. She had three cleaning ladies who alter-

nately visited her house. She also employed a gardener.

Serrano added that Sison was well-known in her village, which made it easier for her to live alone.

Authorities have yet to check if there are missing items inside the victim’s house.

Investigation on the case is on-going. (MNS)

Vice Pres. Binay accuser Hechanova fears for life

Cherry Pie Picache’s mom stabbed dead amid storm

Cherry Pie Picache

Govt, MILF to meet in Malaysia over decommissioning of fi rearms

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MANILA, Sept 22 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Monday said the government has allotted P14.8 million for President Benigno Aquino III’s four-day visit to the United States.

The amount will cover the transportation, accommodation, food, equipment and other ex-penses of Aquino and his delega-tion.

Aquino arrived in Boston on September 22 to attend the Unit-ed Nations Climate Summit and to meet with business leaders, Ex-ecutive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said. He went straight tot he United States from his visit to Eu-rope.

Ochoa said Aquino will share with business leaders and the Fil-ipino community in the US “the experience and successes of our country in implementing reforms and in dealing with the problem of corruption in government to po-litical and business leaders in the

US.”“He sees this visit to the US as

an opportunity to push our agenda on trade, tourism, peace and secu-rity as well as further strengthen ties between our country and the US,” he added.

Among the key personalities he will meet are the chief ex-ecutive offi cer (CEO) of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the CEOs of the US Chamber of Com-merce and the US-Asean Busi-ness Council.

Aquino is also expected to give a speech during the climate sum-mit.

“President Aquino will empha-size the need for world leaders to stand together to address climate change and its adverse effects on people and economies. The Presi-dent is well aware of the impacts of climate change especially to vulnerable developing counties like the Philippines,” Ochoa said. (MNS)

BERLIN, Germany) President Benigno S. Aquino III arrives at the Berlin Tegel Airport for his offi cial visit on Friday (September 19). Also in photo is Minister and Consul General Mardomel Celo Melicor escorting the president. (MNS photo)

Gov’t spends P14.8 million for Aquino’s US trip

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Sept 22 (Mabuhay) – Presi-dent Benigno S. Aquino III has expressed his gratitude to Boston College and Filipino-Americans who had extended assistance to the victims of Ty-phoon Yolanda.

“Without the help of our friends in the international community, the path to recov-ery and rehabilitation would not have been traversed as early and as effi ciently,” the President said in his speech at Boston College here Sunday.

The President attended a convocation and a reception hosted by the Filipino-Ameri-can community here, and met with the recipients of the Be-nigno and Corazon Aquino scholarship.

“To all my countrymen here today and to the organizations you belong to and represent, I know that many of you here, including our host Boston Col-

MANILA, Sept 22 (Mabuhay) – A lawmaker is strongly pushing for the enactment of a measure that would provide a framework for a bicycle law on a national lev-el so that Filipino commuters may fi nd a cheaper alternative to get to their destination while saving the environment from harmful emissions.

Rep. Mark A. Villar (Lone Dis-trict, Las Piñas City) said House Bill 4912 proposes the creation of a Local Bikeway Offi ce (LBO) that would prepare plans and specifi -cations and manage construction of bikeway projects on all thor-oughfares and roads covered by the local government unit (LGU) concerned. Villar, chairman of the House Committee on Trade and Industry, said the development of the bicycle occurred over a pe-riod of around 70 years and yet, throughout that period, cyclists had no legal right to use the roads or walkways.

Villar said one of the fi rst laws related to bicycle use was enacted by the Marikina City Council in 1996, which dwells on the use of all streets, avenues, alleys, side-walks, bridges, parks and other public places as bicycle lanes.

Villar said the cities of Davao, Pasig, Makati and Valenzuela followed suit in enacting similar ordinances, owing to the need of growing bike users, and at the same time, promoting its health and pro-environment benefi ts.

Under the measure to be known as the “Bicycle Act of 2014,” the LBO shall cause the registration of all bicycles on the bikeways and determine the manner of registra-tion.

It shall maintain and keep a bicycle registry where the LBO shall have formulated a system of procedure pertinent to bicycle registration within 60 days from the approval of this Act.

Each city or municipality shall create, through the LBO and the city or municipal engineering of-fi ce, a bicycle park where provi-sions for bicycles are present such as but not limited to bikeways, bicycle parking areas and similar infrastructure.

The bicycle parks shall be funded by the city or municipality by allocating 30% of their respec-tive revenues raised from miscel-laneous activities like parking and license fees.

The bill also provides that all cyclists shall obey traffi c regula-tions, signs and other control de-vices applicable to vehicles, wear the appropriate gear and ensure that their bicycles are equipped with refl ective materials visible from both sides.

Further, all cyclists shall re-main inside the designated bike-way lane, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or a vehicle proceeding in the same direction. The cyclist shall also yield the right-of-way to all traffi c on such roadway when it enters or crosses a roadway.

Every cyclist shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pe-destrian, or any person operating a bicycle or other device propelled by human or animal power, upon any road, and shall give warning by sounding the horn when neces-sary.

Violators will be penalized with a fi ne of Php 1,000. (MNS)

MANILA, Sept 20 (Mabu-hay) -- Employers can now get a guide on complying with labor laws from the Internet, after the Department of La-bor and Employment posted a manual on the subject online.

The DOLE said the Manu-al on the Labor Law Compli-ance System can be viewed or downloaded from the web-site of the Bureau of Working Conditions, www.bwc.dole.gov.ph.

“Accountability, integrity, transparency, and uniformity of action have all been in my mind when I instructed the formulation of this Manual on the Labor Law Compliance System. I have been thinking that a manual such as this be-fi ts the singular importance of the reform that the LLCS is,” said DOLE Secretary Ro-salinda Baldoz.

The manual was the work of the Bureau of Working Conditions in cooperation with some DOLE agencies.

MANILA, Sept 20 (Mabuhay) – Unspent royalty payments from Malampaya and other energy proj-ects are expected to reach P180 billion by the end of year making it an abundant source of funds for projects that the government may undertake once Congress grants President Benigno Aquino III emergency powers to tackle the looming energy crunch.

“If you read the 2015 budget documents, it says there that there is a balance of P148.8 billion as of December 2013 in government shares from Malampaya and oth-er energy development projects,” Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto said.

“If you add the remittances for 2014, which is projected at P31.6 billion, and deduct about P757 million in withdrawals this year, then the end-year balance is about P179.7 billion,” the senator said.

“Those are not my fi gures. They’re the ones stated in the Bud-get of Expenditures and Sources of Financing,” Recto said, refer-ring to a document more known in lawmaking circles by its acronym “BESF” which accompanies the proposed national budget.

With this hoard, Recto said, “Theoretically, the government can fully subsidize the estimated P6 billion cost of contracting 600 megawatts of electricity next year in order to bridge supply gaps which are expected to worsen dur-ing the summer months when electricity use spikes up.”

“Kung tutuusin pwede ngang sa-gutin na ng gobyerno ‘yan. Pwede ngang libre, from the point of view of fi nancial capacity,” Recto said.

“P6 billion is what we spend in 30 days for the CCT (Conditional Cash Transfer). That’s equivalent to the government’s payroll and pension expenses in three days.

So ‘yung anim na bilyon, 72-hours lang ‘yan na pangsweldo at pang-pension ng ating gobyerno ngay-on,” Recto said.

The senator was referring to the P761 billion earmarked for personal cost or PS of the bureau-cracy for 2015. CCT’s proposed budget on the other hand is P64.7 billion but other fi nancial aid proj-ects of the DSWD has pushed the latter’s budget to P109 billion for next year.

After Department of En-ergy (DOE) offi cials warned of a 400-megawatt to 1,000-megawatt short-fall in the Luzon power supply in the fi rst half of 2015, Malacañang is scrambling to se-cure emergency powers from Congress so it can contract private power providers to supply 600 megawatts.

The contracted power will be divided equally for reserves which can be kicked in during peak demands and to bolster baseload capacity.

Under current laws, government is barred from building power plants but the Presi-dent may ask Congress for authority to contract additional generating capacity if there is an imminent electricity supply shortage.

Now that the Presi-dent has asked for emer-gency powers, Recto said the debate will not cen-ter on the wordings of the joint resolution Con-gress may issue, but “on the costing, the pesos required.”

Aquino thanks donors from Boston for helping typhoon-devastated Visayan region

DOLE posts labor law compliance manual online

Lawmaker pushes bill creating Local Bikeway Offi ce

Tap unspent P180-B Malampaya, energy royalties for emergency power needs – Recto

lege, raised funds and sent mate-rial help to the Yolanda survivors,” he told his audience. “I would like to thank you for your generosity and kindness.” The compassion ex-pressed by donors from Boston is similar to core Filipino values that remain to be a shining example of the best that humanity has to offer, he said.

“It is the same sense of commu-nity that welcomed us and allowed my family some warmth and light so many years ago, when the dark-

ness of the dictatorship threatened to overwhelm us,” he added.

Prior to his meeting with the Filipino-American community and Boston College offi cials and stu-dents, the President attended a mass celebrated at St. Ignatius Church at the Boston College cam-pus. The President, who arrived here Saturday night, was accompa-nied by some members of his Cabi-net and Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Cuisia, Jr. (MNS)

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OPINION

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BOSTON, Massachusetts, Sept 22 (Mabuhay) – The Philippines has changed a lot and has created more oppor-tunities for its people because of the reform measures un-dertaken by the government, President Benigno S. Aquino III said Sunday in a speech before students of Boston Col-lege and the Filipino-American community here.

Among the major changes that have taken place in the Philippines are the country’s big strides in the economic front, the peace in Mindanao, and government initiatives to fi ght corruption, he said.

The President recalled that from 2006 to 2009, average growth was at 4.3 percent, saying this was largely consum-er-driven, fueled by the remittances of overseas workers who had lost hope in the motherland.

Since taking offi ce in 2010, President Aquino said, his administration has worked to foster sustainability by re-balancing the economy towards investments.

“Since 2010, our economy has been growing at an aver-age of 6.3 percent, and last year, we posted an economic growth of 7.2 percent, making us one of the fastest growing economies in our part of the world,” he told his audience.

The World Economic Forum Competitiveness Report showed that the Philippines jumped from 85th place in 2010 to 52nd in 2014, the biggest improvement by any country in that particular time frame.

The three major credit ratings agencies, namely Fitch, Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s, also upgraded the country for the fi rst time to investment grade in 2013, he said, add-ing that these upgrades reduced the cost of borrowing and reinforced confi dence among investors to put their money in the Philippines.

On its anti-corruption drive, the President said the for-mer chief Justice of the Supreme Court was impeached and is facing charges in regular courts.

A former president and three incumbent senators are also in detention, all of them facing charges of plunder, he added.

Focusing on social protection, he said, is also a major thrust of the government.

The President said that 4.1 million poor Filipino fami-lies have committed to vaccinating their children, keeping them in school, and sending pregnant mothers for regular check-ups under the expanded Conditional Cash Transfer program.

Job generation initiatives by the government have also started to bear fruit, the Chief Executive said.

He said that 1.65 million more Filipinos hold jobs in April 2014, compared to April 2013. From the fi rst semester of 2012 to the same period in 2013, 2.5 million Filipinos have risen above the poverty line.

“And we are not satisfi ed; the government continues to work to ensure that citizens not only surpass the poverty line and fi nd gainful employment, but also are shielded from once again falling below it again,” the President said.

After several decades, permanent peace is already evi-dent in Mindanao, he told the Boston College community.

The Executive Branch of the government, he said, has submitted the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law to Congress, after the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro was signed in March this year.

“Our achievements thus far are merely the beginning of a new era of transformation,” he said, noting that the coun-try is at the threshold of sustained and positive change.

Current reforms have shifted the Filipino mindset, from indifference and despair to having feelings of hope for Fili-pinos to dream again, he said. (MNS)

PARIS, France, Sept 20 (Mabuhay) --Given the unprecedented investor confi dence enjoyed by the Philippines, President Benigno S. Aquino III on Thursday said he expects 2015 to be a banner year for the country.

Speaking before a forum organized by the French Institute for International Relations here, President Aquino said all the factors needed to allow the coun-try to build the momentum are already in place.

“Given the unprecedented confi dence enjoyed by our country, we expect 2015 to be a banner year. Af-ter all, the factors that can allow us to build on our momentum are in place,” President Aquino said, adding that the country is entering a demographic sweet spot by 2015, which will last for around 35 years.

“We have been investing in our greatest resource – our people, resulting in an expanding, productive labor force now even more prepared to seize all the opportunities,” he said.

President Aquino also said the Philippines has a strategic location and vast potential to be a crucial hub of trade, investments and services.

During his speech, the President cited the admin-istration’s signifi cant achievements in terms of im-proving the lives of Filipinos, as well as the reforms in key government agencies. “Together with ensur-ing that government would no longer be a party to wasting our people’s hard-earned money, we intro-duced landmark reform to agencies once known as hotbeds of corruption,” he said.

According to President Aquino, his administra-tion’s commitment to good governance is now bear-ing fruit, and that the money that once went to the corrupt now goes to massive investments into the Filipino people.

“All these investments were made to ensure that the Filipino people, who are our greatest competi-tive advantage, are enabled to make the most of opportunities borne of renewed confi dence in our country,” he said. “Indeed, good governance has redounded to a more capable and more active citi-zenry full of hope and optimism, and the combina-tion of an increasingly-competitive population and a sustainable, prudently-run economy, has gained global notice,”

This was affi rmed by the investment grade status given by Moody’s, Fitch and Standard and Poor’s, he said, and just recently by Korea’s National In-formation and Credit Evaluation Ratings, Inc. The French Export Credit Agency has likewise upgrad-ed the country’s risk rating.

“All this happened at a time when agencies have been very conservative with their evaluations due to an uncertain global economic climate. In fact, even in a period when various countries were being downgraded, the Philippines emerged as the world’s most upgraded sovereign,” he said.

“It is clear: good governance is good economics. Again, let me emphasize that this is not an empty pronouncement. Our Business Process Manage-ment Sector continues to mark impressive growth; manufacturing has rebounded impressively; and tourists all over the world are fl ocking to our beach-es and cities, seeing for themselves how truly it is more fun in the Philippines,” he added.

Prior to his attendance to the forum, President Aquino visited the facility of Dassault Systèmes, a 3DEXPERIENCE company. During the visit, the President toured the 3Ds Paris campus and wit-nessed simulations on urban planning and disaster risk reduction. (MNS)

PHL better off today with ongoing reforms, says Aquino

Aquino sees 2015 a banner year for PHL economy

By Joel Guinto

CAPAS, September 19, 2014 (AFP) – After nearly two decades on the frontlines against Muslim in-surgents in the Philippines’ violence-plagued south, Army Captain Teodoro Nicor is looking forward to guarding a war zone abroad.

Nicor is training with hundreds of other battle-hardened troops to join a United Nations’ peace-keeping mission overseas, continuing a tradition that began more than 50 years ago when Filipino soldiers went to the Congo.

“We are very excited,” said Nicor, 39. “There is fear but we have prepared really well for this.”

The Philippines participation in the UN’s blue helmet brigades came under the spotlight last month when 75 soldiers fended off an attack by Al-Qaeda-linked Syrian rebels in the Golan Heights.

While the incident made world headlines and prompted the UN to withdraw its peacekeeping force from the Syrian side of the territory, training for Nicor and his colleagues is very much focused on charm offensives.

At a military base dedicated solely to UN peace-keeping training, Nicor last week led a seven-vehicle convoy through a mock war zone to deliver supplies when they were stopped by “civilians” desperate for food.

With the rifl e slung on his back pointed to the ground, he sought out the group’s leader and offered a handshake while his men in blue helmets and bul-letproof vests stood on guard behind him.

“My friend, good morning,” a smiling Nicor said.Angry, repeated demands for food ensued, with

Nicor slowly defusing the situation through calm ne-gotiations while maintaining a friendly demeanor.

Warrior peacekeepersColonel Roberto Ancan, commander of the train-

ing camp, said Filipinos brought a unique mix to the UN’s peacekeeping missions with their internation-ally renowned friendliness and battlefi eld experi-ence.

“We wave, we smile, we shake hands, we greet good morning, good afternoon and good evening and in the local language as well,” said Ancan, himself a former peacekeeper in Timor Leste.

He said the Filipinos had a term for themselves that refl ected their unique qualities: “warrior peace-keepers”.

The warrior element was on full display in the

Golan Heights stand-off, after the rebels surrounded the Filipinos at their outposts and demanded their weapons.

The rebels had just launched a similar assault against 45 Fijian peacekeepers, who surrendered and were taken hostage.

In what proved to be a highly controversial move, the Filipinos defi ed an order from their UN com-mander, an Indian, to also surrender, and eventual-ly escaped after four days. The Fijians were released after two weeks.

The Philippines lodged a formal complaint against the UN commander for issuing the surrender order, as President Benigno Aquino heaped praise on his troops.

“Every Filipino soldier there, from the privates to the colonel, showed cleverness and expertise,” Aqui-no said.

The trainees at the base, in the farming commu-nity of Capas about three hours’ drive from Manila, said they were not surprised that their compatriots did not surrender.

“Our guns are like our wives, we don’t give them up,” Nicor said.

Battle hardened Nicor speaks with the experience of having spent

most of his career in the southern Philippines, where Muslim rebels and communist guerrillas have been waging two of Asia’s longest insurgencies.

He is the leader of a battalion whose members were selected to join the UN efforts because of their success battling the Muslim rebels, who have been fi ghting since the 1970s for an independent home-land.

Nicor and the other 330 soldiers in training were due to replace the Golan Heights crew next month.

However Aquino decided to end the Philippine presence in the Golan, contested by Syria and Israel, due to the rising security threats.

The troops were part of the UN force monitoring a 1974 ceasefi re in the Golan Heights, where Israel seized 1,200 square kilometers (460 square miles) in 1967.

More than 100 troops serving with a peacekeep-ing force in Liberia were also recently pulled out be-cause of fears they may contract Ebola.

This will leave only about 150 Filipino troops wearing the UN’s blue helmets in Haiti, plus a handful of observers in the Ivory Coast, India and Pakistan.

The Filipino ‘warrior peacekeepers’ guarding the world’s war zones

WASHINGTON, September 22, 2014 (AFP) – President Barack Obama is “concerned” about an incident in which an intruder with a knife entered the front door of the White House, directly below the fi rst family’s living quarters, offi cials said Monday.

The US Secret Service is reviewing new security measures inside and outside the White House fence after the man made it all the way inside the presi-dential mansion on Friday before being tackled.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Obama had been repeatedly briefed on the massive security breach, and had expressed disquiet about the incident. “His family lives in the White House, and so he is obviously concerned by the incident that occurred on Friday evening,” Earnest said.

“At the same time, the president continues to have complete confi dence in the professionals at the Secret Service.”

Obama later said in a brief comment to reporters that he thought the Secret Service did “a great job.”

“I am grateful for all the sacrifi ces they make on my behalf, and on my family’s behalf,” Obama said.

Seconds to act -Earnest said the probe by the elite presidential

protection branch would test the feasibility of what he called the “positioning of tactical and non-tactical assets inside and outside the fence line.”

The probe will also look at Secret Service staffi ng,

procedures, and physical and technical security en-hancements, he said.

The incident happened a few minutes after the president and his daughters had left the White House by helicopter on Friday for a weekend at his offi cial retreat at Camp David in Maryland.

The drama has whipped up intense media and public interest, prompting Homeland Security Sec-retary Jeh Johnson to warn against jumping to pre-mature conclusions about the drama.

“I encourage all of us to not rush to judgment about the event and not second-guess the judgment of security offi cers who had only seconds to act, until all the facts are in,” Johnson said in a statement.

“It is important to remember that the US Secret Service remains one of the best, if not the best, pro-tection services in the world.”

The intruder, Omar Gonzalez, 42, is facing charg-es of unlawfully entering a restricted building or grounds while carrying a deadly or dangerous weap-on. He faces up to 10 years in prison.

The Texas man served two tours of duty in Iraq with the US Army. His former stepson told CNN that Gonzalez suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and paranoia.

The fence-jumper caused a rare evacuation of much of the staff and journalists on the White House grounds on Friday evening.

Obama ‘concerned’ about huge White House security breach

THE US ASIAN POST Wednesday - Tuesday, September 24 - 30, 2014 Visit www.usasianpost.com 5

(Note: Earlier, news reports in-dicated that the “Free Multicultural Health Fair” will be held on September 28. Organizers clarifi ed that the event will actually be held on September 27, which falls on a Saturday)

LOS ANGELES, September 18, 2014 – The Multicultural Health Awareness and Preven-tion (MHAP) Center at St. Vin-cent Medical Center held a press conference on September 18, in partnership with the consulate generals of the Philippines, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Korea, Mexico, Nicara-gua, Peru and Thailand to encour-age the community to attend the Free Multicultural Health Fair on September 27 from 9 a.m. - 3p.m.

Location of health fair: St. Vin-cent Ocean View Building at 2222 Ocean View Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90057 (near Third and Alvara-do Streets).

At the press conference, St. Vincent Medical Center President and CEO Cathy Fickes said, “The annual health fair is an introduc-tion to people and it’s a lot of fun but the health fair also provides the opportunity for people to get some basic health measures test-ed and checked. What is signifi cant about the annual health fair is that it is a partnership that enjoys the power of

an entire health community and would greatly advance our goal of pro-viding health access in our com-munities”.

The annual health fair sup-ports St. Vincent Medical Cen-ter’s mission to serve the sick and the poor and also in response to the population needs of each con-sulates to provide low-income, uninsured and undocumented in-dividuals with free access to pri-mary care, health screenings, and education and health and social-welfare referrals.

Pedro Ramirez, director for the Multicultural Health Awareness and Prevention (MHAP) Cen-ter encourages everyone to avail themselves of the free health services such as mammography screening, fl u shots, cholester-ol screening, dental screening, glucose/diabetes screening, ul-trasound screening, pap smear screening, blood pressure screen-ing, anemia screening, body fat screening, osteoporosis screen-ing, HIV/STD screening, vision screening, acupuncture, depres-sion and anxiety screening, and free or low-cost health insurance information and enrollment. In-formation about cancer, heart dis-ease, diabetes and nutrition, and other chronic diseases will also

be provided. Ramirez adds that these services are available at no cost to anyone on that day, with or without any insurance coverage.

The event is made possible by the generous support of the Los Angeles City Councilmem-ber Mitch O’Farrell and Council-member Gil Cedillo, St. Vincent IPA, AltaMed and the Pico Union Neighborhood Council.

For the past 12 years, MHAP Center Team is responsible for the organization, management and leadership of the hospital’s community outreach and health services program as well as the health education and prevention program, which includes commu-nity building, access to healthcare and continuum of care for the un-derserved individuals. MHAP or-ganize and maintain an amazing network of community partners from ten consulates, schools, com-munity and faith-based organiza-tions, medical providers, and gov-ernment agencies and has served tens of thousands of underserved individuals, providing them with health access to preventive screenings, opportunities to learn about healthy behaviors and re-ferrals for medical treatment and follow-up services to augment their health needs.

St. Vincent Consulate Partners (from left, fi rst row) Consul Adriana Lucia Argaiz Parr of Mexico, Cathy Fickes, SVMC President/CEO, Ambassador Liliana Cino of Peru, Sr. Patricia Miguel, SVMC Vice President, Mission Integration; (2nd Row L-R) Jan Stein, Vice President & Executive Director, St. Vincent Foundation, Consul Jong Han Kim of Korea, Consul General Leo Herrera Lim of the Philippine, Consul General Pablo Garcia Saenz of Guatemala, Consul General Pablo Ordonez Guzman of Honduras, Pedro Ramirez, SVMC MHAP Center Director, and Deputy Consul General Sorasak Samonkraisorakit.

St. Vincent Medical Center ‘Free Multicultural Health Fair’ Sept. 27

MHAP Center is one of St. Vin-cent Medical Center’s key com-munity outreach and benefi ts programs that focuses on health education, disease prevention, early detection and information and referral services for at-risk ethnic multicultural communi-ties. MHAP Center is recognized in the Los Angeles healthcare community as a signifi cant com-munity outreach program. Its services are a cornerstone of the St. Vincent Medical Center’s mis-sion to serve the sick and poor in the timeless tradition of the Daughters of Charity.

About St. Vincent Medical CenterProviding compassionate

healthcare and serving the sick poor has been the mission of St.

Vincent Medical Center for more than 156 years. Located near downtown Los Angeles, St. Vin-cent is a world-renowned, 366-bed facility, offering comprehensive medical services, including ear surgery and neurosurgery, gen-eral orthopedics spine care, joint replacement, cancer treatment, cardiovascular services, thoracic surgery, electrophysiology, inter-ventional cardiology, and multi-organ transplantation.

St. Vincent Medical Center is part of the Daughters of Charity Health System, a nonprofi t Cath-olic health system spanning the California coast.

For more information on the health fair, please call the MHAP Center (213) 207-5766.

uncle was among the thousands of soldiers who were reported miss-ing during World War II. The moment was both emotional and nostalgic for him, after he imme-diately called his family in the United States to inform of his dis-covery.

At Taal Vista Lodge in Tagay-tay, the Fam Tour participants were not only amazed with the spectacular view of the famed Taal Volcano, but were also pampered with a sumptuous lunch buffet while watching a cultural show.

In Cebu, the participants had as much fun as they did in Manila. Adding to their excitement was the Island Hopping Tour, where snorkeling and diving were among their activities. Rajah Tours’ Jojo Clemente and Erin Lord of Cor-porate Traveler were joined by other participants in diving and everyone enjoyed exploring Cebu’s dive sites that were teeming with amazing corals and wide variety of fi shes. One of the many highlights of the Fam Tour was a sumptuous dinner at Via Mare in Greenbelt, Makati, hosted by Tourism Promo-tions Board led by Ms. Susan del Mundo. Centerpiece of the dinner was a “Lechon de Leche” and Via

Mare’s famous Arroz a la Valenci-ana which elicited “ohhs” and “ah-hhs” from everybody.

Capping the participants’ Fam Tour experience was a hearty lunch hosted by Manila Hotel that followed immediately after the half-day Manila City tour that in-cluded a visit to Rizal Monument, Manila Cathedral and the Walled City of Intramuros.

Based on the experiences and comments made by the partici-pants, the Fam Tour was an enor-mous success. The participants have promised to to include the Philippines in their tour and travel packages, and both DOT and PAL are confi dent that future bookings will result from the tour.

The PDoT-Los Angeles offi ce and PAL , through its Los Angeles area manager, Ms. Marie Jemma Saranillo would like to thank the following partners for contributing to the success of DOT-PAL’s Fam Tour: PHITEX, Tourism Promo-tions Board, DOT-Region VII, Ra-jah Tours, Holiday Inn & Suites-Makati, Crimson Hotel Filinvest City-Alabang, Crimson Hotel & Spa-Mactan Island, and Quest Ho-tel-Cebu City, including all the ho-tels’ and restaurants’ staff.

DOT-PAL fi rst Fam Tour a resounding successTravel agents eager to promote the Philippines to mainstream American market By Manny V. Ilagan, PDoT-Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES – The Philip-pine Department of Tourism (DOT) in partnership with Philippine Air-lines (PAL) held its fi rst Familiar-ization Tour to the Philippines on September 2 – 9, 2014. Attended by mainstream American tour op-erators and travel agents, the 8-day Fam Tour covering Manila and Cebu was a resounding success.

The host hotels, Holiday Inn & Suites-Makati, Crimson Hotel Fil-invest City-Alabang, Crimson Hotel & Spa-Mactan Island, and Quest Hotel-Cebu City, rolled out their red carpets for the guests offering them VIP accommodations throughout their stay.

The purpose of the Fam Tour was to enhance the tour operators’ knowledge of Philippine destination through their personal experiences to effectively promote the Philip-pines to both individuals and group travelers, especially American trav-elers looking for destinations that appeal to a broad and diverse audi-ence.

DOT and PAL exposed the Fam Tour participants to the rich cul-tural tapestry of the Philippines and the world-renowned hospitality of the Filipinos through en-tertainment, unique island destinations, food and din-ing, and shopping in both Cebu and Manila. Guests were shown the best that both cities have to offer.

With the participation of the DOT-Region VII, the Tourism Promotions Board, and Rajah Tours plus the generous support of local sponsors, DOT and PAL was able to present the Philippines in a way that the Fam Tour participants had never experienced be-fore, including attending the Philippine Travel Show 2014 (PHITEX) where they had the opportunity to meet thousands of travel sellers and buyers coming from all over the world.

“Phitex was a very orga-nized event. It was very productive and I didn’t mind staying spending the whole day at the event, im-mediately after our arrival in Manila,” Lloyd Coleman from AAVAN Vacations said.

Presently, all Fam Tour participants are receiving communications and emails from the many travel sellers they met at Phitex.

The participants were also treated to a guided tour of Manila including a visit to the Manila American Cem-etery and Memorial in Fort Bonifacio. Here, Coleman discovered a link to his fam-ily’s historic past when he found the name of his uncle, Frank Coleman of Alabama engraved on the wall of the missing soldiers. Coleman’s

Visit www.usasianpost.com Wednesday - Tuesday, September 24 - 30, 2014 THE US ASIAN POST6

Internationally known for their beautiful dance performance of “Avalok-itesvara Bodhisattva,” the world famous China Disabled People’s Per-forming Art Troupe will be returning to Pechanga for two shows on Satur-day, October 11, 2014 at 4pm and 8pm. The China Disabled People’s Per-forming Art Troupe uses its unique artistic charm and profound spiritual connotation that is be-yond the boundaries of language, culture and ethnic background, to let everyone enjoy the ar-tistic blend of spiritual and emotional enlighten-ment.

The China Disabled People’s Performing Art Troupe was established in 1987 and composed series of large-scale mu-sic and dance for “My Dream” in 2000, enabling the troupe to become a world-class perform-ing arts group. “My Dream” and the perfor-mance of “Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva” has also become a world known trademark. The performance will be assembled with variet-ies of: vocal music, instrumental music that covers different ethnic and western back-grounds. The dance performances include different cultural styles including ballets, Latin American, modern, opera, musical theater, sign language poetries, dances of the blind, and sign language dances. The Art Troupe also fi lmed a documentary fi lm entitled “My Dream,” published a book and distribute pictures profi ling the special art and life of disability actors.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.Pechanga.com or call Pechanga Resort & Casino toll free at 877-711-2946.

Shows in the Pechanga Theater offer a comfortable and intimate concert experi-ence. With 1,200 seats in its theater, each show features state-of-the-art and acous-tically perfected sound. Enjoying favorite artists at Pechanga versus other venues proves effortless with free valet and self-

parking for guests, complimentary casino/resort shuttles, gourmet and casual dining options on site, plus comfortable chairs and an up-close view from every theater seat.

About Pechanga Resort & CasinoPechanga Resort & Casino offers one of the largest and most expansive resort/casino experience anywhere in the country. Rated a Four Diamond property by AAA since 2002, Pechanga Resort & Casino provides an unparalleled getaway, whether for the day or for an extended luxury stay. Offer-ing more than 3,000 of the hottest slots, table games, world-class entertainment, 517 hotel rooms, dining, spa and champion-ship golf at Journey at Pechanga, Pechan-ga Resort & Casino features a destination that meets and exceeds the needs of its guests and the community. Pechanga Re-sort & Casino is owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians. For more information, call toll free 1-877-711-2946 or visit www.Pechanga.com. Follow Pechanga Resort & Casino on Facebook.com/Pechanga and on Twitter @Pechanga-Casino. Pechanga Resort & Casino is open 24-hours. Guests must be 21 and older to enter the casino.

Pechanga Resorts & Casino presents the amazing dance performance of ‘My Dream’

THE US ASIAN POST Wednesday - Tuesday, September 24 - 30, 2014 Visit www.usasianpost.com 7

(ROME-AFP) – Want to discov-er Rome and keep fi t in the pro-cess? Jogger guides in the eter-nal city are taking tourists from around the world on a trot from the Colosseum to the Vatican.

For those worried what all those pizzas and ice-creams are doing to their waistline, taking to the streets of the historic cen-tre at dawn not only lets visitors stay trim but gives them an expe-rience of Italy’s capital when the tourist crowds are still tucked up in bed.

Kristin Karstensdotter, a young Swedish expat, founded her jogging guide company in 2012 to fi ll a gap in the market after training for the Rome mara-thon.

“I was out all the time, run-ning the city, and I saw all these tourists walking in groups or running by themselves and I thought it would be very cool to be able to show them the same side of Rome I see when I’m out running,” she told AFP during a morning sprint.

From nine o’clock in the morn-ing (0700 GMT), a small group of maximum six people meets in front of the imposing Castle of the Holy Angel on the banks of the Tiber river and sets off on a tour which takes in the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon.

With Romans busy sipping espressos or already at work at that hour, the cobbled streets are relatively empty and the group can take time to stop and hear all about the history of the city’s prized monuments from their guide. From Americans to Japa-nese, Lithuanians and Swedes, the runners come from across the world.

“All types of people take part in the visits, from 14 year-olds to 65-year-olds. Many come from the US, but also from Japan, Is-

rael, Africa and Europe,” said Karstensdotter, sporting a jazzy jogging outfi t and running shoes.

‘Electric atmosphere’The groups cover about seven

kilometres (just over four miles) in an hour, and don’t need to be particularly athletic. While most who take part describe them-selves as “sporty”, Karstensdot-ter said she also welcomes begin-ners.

“Some are a bit nervous at the start because they’re worried whether they’ll make it or not, but in the end they’re pleasantly surprised,” she said.

Karla, a Salvadorian student taking part in one of the tours, said she had been attracted by the idea of seeing the city in a dif-ferent way.

“You discover things at a more leisurely pace walking, but run-ning is more fun, particularly in a group,” she said.

Her running companions, Americans Kevin and Maura Quinn, said they had decided to kick off their stay in Rome with this “nice little running tour”.

“Loved the tour, it was a great way to see Rome. It will be quite a memory to have,” Maura said, adding that she liked “the foun-tains, the ambiance, the people and the pulse of Rome. It’s just electrifying.”

The couple are used to donning their running shoes on holiday, and though they said they’ll go for another run in Rome, just the two of them, doing it with a guide makes all the difference the fi rst time around.

“It gives you a feel for the peo-ple and the streets, geographi-cally I get a sense of where I am. And you cover a lot of ground in an hour, you get to see a whole city quickly,” Kevin said.

Finally, a trip to the spaghetti heartland of Italy can actually be good for your fi gure.

A novel way of touring combines visiting the sites and staying fi t at the same time. ©Maridav/shutterstock.com

Discover Rome at a run with jogger guide tours

(Relaxnews) – From ombre lips to sexy disheveled hair, the shows at London Fashion Week provided some real beauty treats: here’s our pick of the best runway look tutorials.

TopshopThe Spring-Summer 2015 look

at Topshop Unique was inspired by faded British seaside glamour. Han-nah Murray was on makeup duties and built up the look from the ombre lip which was simple: “not precise, not overworked”. Hair was styled by Anthony Turner who went back to the “quintessential Topshop girl” with a boyish, messy parting.

http://youtu.be/W5fY_ZEO-YZM

Jean Pierre BraganzaThis show went for disheveled, soft

hair as a contrast to the hard, dystopi-an themes in the collection: summed up as “sex on a motorbike” by the de-signer. Indira Schauwecker of Toni & Guy used a blowout spray for texture, which she set with a hairdryer, and then used tongs at the end to add some extra movement.

http : / /youtu.be /nJ5Gmb-KJy1A

Burberry After watching Burberry’s makeup

artist Wendy Rowe, vlogger Rae rec-reates the runway makeup from the Spring/Summer 2015 makeup look. The look uses a mix of new cosmet-ics products from the British brand to give a fresh but fl awless complexion with a red lip to fi nish.

http://youtu.be/rnUwotHd5Dk

Beauty tutorials: Hair and makeup from London Fashion Week

Bare faces and red lips at Burberry Pror-sum. ©AFP PHOTO / CARL COURT

Visit www.usasianpost.com Wednesday - Tuesday, September 24 - 30, 2014 THE US ASIAN POST8

FAMILY FEATURES

You’ve probably heard that eating seafood rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids can help protect against heart disease while delivering other important nutrients. In fact, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recom mends eating seafood

twice a week for such benefi ts. Salmon is one fi sh long-heralded for its nutritional value, and Alaska canned salmon off ers a convenient way to add more deliciously nourishing seafood to your diet.

Whether your tastes lean toward a traditional croquette drizzled with a light dill sauce, or a refreshing take on a pesto pasta salad, canned salmon is easy to prepare and surprisingly versatile.

Because canned and pouched salmon is shelf-stable, you can always have some on hand for a quick, tasty meal or fl avorful snack. At the grocery store, simply look for “Alaska” on the lid or label to ensure a top-quality, wholly natural product with nothing added but a pinch of salt for fl avor.

Th ese recipes showcase how Alaska canned salmon can be adapted to a wide range of meals and life styles, from the indulgent to the über-healthy. For additional preparation tips and recipes, visit www.wildalaskaseafood.com.

Alaska Salmon Salad SandwichesPrep time: 15 minutesServings: 41 can (14.75 ounces) traditional pack Alaska salmon or 2 cans or pouches (6 to 7.1 ounces each) skinless, boneless salmon, drained and chunked1/3 cup light mayonnaise1 tablespoon lemon juice2 teaspoons Dijon mustard1 tablespoon capers, drained, chopped if large (optional)1/3 cup fi nely diced celery1/3 cup fi nely diced onion

Alaska Salmon Pesto Pasta SaladPrep time: 25 minutesServings: 8 to 108 ounces dry, small shell pasta2 to 3 teaspoons garlic, fi nely minced1/2 cup prepared basil pesto1/2 cup light Italian salad dressing1 zucchini, cut in 1/2-inch half-moon slices1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved1 small red onion, thinly sliced 3/4 cup frozen peas, defrosted1 can (14.75 ounces) traditional pack Alaska salmon or 2 cans or pouches (6 to 7.1 ounces each) skinless, boneless salmon, drained and chunkedSalt and pepper, to tasteCook pasta according to package directions; drain well. Let cool slightly then toss with garlic, pesto and dressing. Set aside. Cook zucchini in covered microwav able container on high 2

1/4 cup dill or sweet pickle relish, drainedDash Tabasco sauce or pinch of black pepper1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill or 1/2 to 1 teaspoon dried dill weed8 slices whole-grain bread24 thin slices cucumber4 leaves green or red leaf lettuceIn medium bowl, combine salad ingredients. Add salmon and stir to combine well.

Divide salad among 4 slices of bread. Top each with 6 slices of cucumber and a leaf of lettuce. Top with remaining slices of bread and cut in half, crosswise.Nutrients per serving: 381 calories (36% from fat), 15 g total fat, 3 g saturated fat, 65 mg cholesterol, 27 g protein, 34 g carbohy-drate, 5 g fi ber, 1236 mg sodium, 291 mg calcium and 1900 mg omega-3 fatty acids

minutes or until just tender and bright green.

Toss blanched zucchini, tomatoes, onion and peas into pasta and stir to combine. Gently fold in drained salmon; season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve immediately or chill before serving.Nutrients per serving: 310 calories (46% from fat), 16 g total fat, 3 g saturated fat, 30 mg cholesterol, 17 g protein, 26 g carbohydrate, 3 g fi ber, 485 mg sodium, 214 mg calcium and 1300 mg omega-3 fatty acids

Alaska Salmon and Chipotle WrapPrep time: 15 minutesServings: 42 to 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice1 tablespoon chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro 2 tablespoons chopped red bell pepper 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped red onion 1 teaspoon chopped garlic 1/4 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon pepper1 can (14.75 ounces) traditional pack Alaska salmon or 2 cans or pouches (6 to 7.1 ounces each) skinless, boneless salmon, drained and chunked3 tablespoons light cream cheese or light sour cream1 teaspoon adobo sauce4 whole wheat tortillas (8-inch) 4 large lettuce or cabbage leaves, shreddedIn bowl, mix lime juice, chiles, cilantro, bell pepper, red onion, garlic, salt and pepper. Gently stir in salmon until blended.

In small bowl, blend cream cheese and adobo sauce. Spread 1/4 mixture over each tortilla to within 1 inch of edge. Spread 2/3 cup salmon mixture over cream cheese. Top with 1/4 of lettuce and roll up burrito-style. Repeat for remaining tortillas. For appetizers, cut each

wrap into thirds (makes 12 appetizer servings).

As a meal, cut each wrap in half (makes 4 entree servings).Serve immediately.

Nutrients per serving (4 entrees): 305 calories, 8.5 g total fat, 2 g saturated fat, 25% calories from fat, 88 mg cholesterol, 32.5 g protein, 26.5 g carbohydrate, 4 g fi ber, 1228 mg sodium, 130.5 mg calcium and 1290 mg omega-3 fatty acids

Alaska Salmon Cakes with Yogurt Dill SaucePrep time: 21 minutesServings: 41 egg1/4 cup small-curd nonfat cottage cheese1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill or 1 teaspoon dried dill weed1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning1/4 cup sliced green onions1 can (14.75 ounces) traditional pack Alaska salmon or 2 cans or pouches (6 to 7.1 ounces each) skinless, boneless salmon, drained and chunked3 tablespoons garlic-and-herb bread crumbsVegetable oilYogurt Dill SauceIn medium bowl, whisk egg lightly. Add cottage cheese, dill, lemon pepper and green onions; mix well. Mix in drained salmon, then sprinkle in bread crumbs and mix well. Shape mixture into 4 patties, 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick and 3 inches in diameter.

Heat nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and brush skillet with oil. Fry salmon cakes for about 2 1/2 to 3 minutes per side. Cakes should be crisp and golden on the outside and still moist on the inside.

Serve with Yogurt Dill Sauce.

THE US ASIAN POST Wednesday - Tuesday, September 24 - 30, 2014 Visit www.usasianpost.com 9

MOTORING The C-HR – a compact cross-

over concept – will be making its debut at the Paris Motor Show where it will give visitors a sense of where Toyota will be heading in terms of design for future models.

The car’s angular stance makes it look large and imposing but it’s only as big as the Toyota Auris, the company’s Ford Focus and VW

Golf competitor, so if it does go into production, it should be quite easy to maneuver even in inner-city areas.

Toyota has made no mention of off-road credentials but has con-fi rmed that the concept “combines a powerful new design language with an engaging driving experi-ence and a hybrid powertrain.”

There’s also a chance that a visually toned-down production version will be coming to market. Demand for SUV styling has never been greater across all market seg-ments and Car Magazine reported back in July that a crossover based on the Auris had been spotted being put through its paces at the Nurbur-gring. Toyota C-HR Concept

Toyota hints at baby SUV with latest concept car

(Relaxnews) – Last year’s “Need for Speed Rivals” is coming round for another lap with an ex-pansion-inclusive Complete Edition timed for release the week of Octo-ber 21 on PS4, Xbox One, 360, PS3 and PC.

It covers a gap in Electronic Arts’ schedule, with UK racing game stu-dio Criterion taking a break to pro-totype a different sort of game, a multi-vehicular runabout shown as a work in progress at E3 2014, while “Rivals” studio Ghost Games bea-vers away on a 2015 installment.

The Complete Edition at least en-ables “Need for Speed” to have some

sort of presence this holiday season, when shiny and exciting new titles are readying for launch.

“Forza Horizon 2” (on September 30) boasts of a wide open southern European environment to barrel through with friends, whether rac-ing or up for a recreational drive on Xbox One and Xbox 360.

“DriveClub” (from October 7) is the PlayStation 4’s exclusive equiv-alent, priding itself on just-one-more-go socially driven multiplayer, plucking from global locations, and with a lite version available for free to all PlayStation Plus subscribers.

“The Crew” (from November 11),

meanwhile, releases on PS4, Xbox One, 360 and PC, attempting to build on the concept behind Hawaii-based “Test Drive Unlimited” with a compressed USA to roll around, competitive and co-operative tasks to complete, again emphasizing shared multiplayer experiences.

And then there’s “Project CARS” (from November 18), with consider-able crowd-funding and an excited congregation of beta testers on PC, numerous fan-made gameplay vid-eos and trailers, plus Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions due, and a Wii U equivalent in the works for 2015.

“Need for Speed Rivals” pits players against police – or each other. ©All rights reserved – Ghost Games / EA

‘Need for Speed’ reissue joins cohort of 2014 racers

By Joe Szczesny

WASHINGTON, September 20, 2014 (AFP) – Japanese automaker Nissan is dismissing speculation that it intends to scale back electric car bat-tery production at its US plant in Ten-nessee.

Nissan’s ambitious electric vehicle program has been a signature initiative of Carlos Ghosn, the chief executive at both Renault and Nissan.

“The Renault-Nissan Alliance re-mains 100 percent committed to its in-dustry-leading EV program,” spokes-man Travis Parman said in a statement.

“This global commitment continues for the foreseeable future, and we have not taken any decision whatsoever to modify battery sourcing allocation.”

Parman said Nissan has no plans to “impair” its battery investments in the United States or Britain.

His comments came after media reports suggested that the Renault-Nissan alliance was re-evaluating its battery strategy. The proposal un-der consideration includes curtailing production at Nissan-operated bat-tery plants in England and the United States in order to instead purchase electric vehicle batteries from the Ko-rean company LG Chem.

The speculation about Nissan’s cut-

backs circulated as Tesla, the electric vehicle maker based in Palo Alto, out-side San Francisco, joins with Pana-sonic to build a new $5 billion battery factory in Nevada set to build 500,000 batteries a year by 2020.

Tesla currently sells about 1,500 ve-hicles per month but has new smaller, less expensive models on the drawing board, according to the company’s founder billionaire Elon Musk.

Parman noted the Nissan Leaf is the best-selling electric vehicle in the US, having set records for 18 consecutive months. Leaf sales are up 34 percent through August. In addition, electric-powered Leaf sales have topped 3,000 units in three of the last four months, Parman said.

‘No Charge to Charge’Nissan is promoting the Leaf

through a “No Charge to Charge” in-centive offering two years of no-cost charging to new Leaf buyers, in 11 key markets around the US such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.

Nissan has helped install more than 650 quick chargers in markets across the US, and Nissan is working with partners on 500 additional chargers over the next year, Parman said.

Nissan has also announced plans for introducing for a battery electric cargo van in the US.

Nissan USA aims to keep electric battery production

Visit www.usasianpost.com Wednesday - Tuesday, September 24 - 30, 2014 THE US ASIAN POST10

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Television host Kris Aquino denied a report claiming she has an “ardent” suitor who will gladly “give her the moon if she asks for it.” The “My Little Bossings” star admitted that while she went on a couple of “casual dinner dates” since her relationship with Que-zon City Mayor Herbert Bautista ended, she denied dating the man mentioned.

“The man in the article has been thoughtful, to the point that my home could be a fl ower shop already, but I politely told him that even if I’m single, I am not interested,” she wrote.

Aquino also explained a photo of a bouquet of fl owers she up-loaded on her social media ac-count, which she downplayed.

“Mali ako to have posted the

fl owers because it may have sent the wrong signal, wrong move on my part. Of course I still pray to not grow old alone, to have a part-ner who will marry me in Church and who will be someone who is comfortable with my past, accepts my two sons, and who will want to build a good future together,” she added.

Aquino continued: “But I real-ize with my job, my schedule, and my responsibilities at present, a lasting, loving relationship is not possible. Kaya bakit ko ipipilit ang alam kong hindi pa pwede?”

She also revealed that while she may not be perfectly happy about being single, she is “con-tent” and that she believes that the right man will come at a right time.

“My mom used to always re-mind me that it’s impossible to have it all, that I should priori-tize and be grateful for what I do have. Bongga ang career, happy and alagang alaga ang mga anak ko, close and loving kami ng mga kapatid ko. For now okay na yun,” she added.

Aquino ended the message by saying that she lied on an episode of “The Buzz,” admitting that he has yet to move on from her re-lationship with Bautista, which only lasted a few days after being made public.

“Further truth, I lied when I said sa Buzz before the ice bucket challenge that I’ve moved on, I haven’t. May bubog pa sa puso. So I’ll repeat, all in God’s time,” she said. (MNS)

Kris: No time for a ‘lasting relationship’

Kris

Actor Paulo Avelino has clarifi ed why he de-leted photos of his ru-mored girlfriend, actress KC Concepcion, on his Instagram page.

Avelino made it clear that he deleted several photos on his Instagram account, not just Concep-cion’s, to keep up with his page’s black and white theme.

He stressed that peo-ple should not make an issue out of his Instagram account, which has the username pauavelino.

“Sa Instagram kasi ang theme ko is black and white. So parang nilinis ko lang sila lahat, lahat ng colored. Actually, ang dami ko talagang tinang-gal, not just ‘yung picture niya but also pictures with others. Tinanggal ko sila lahat. So if you see my page, it’s just black and white. It’s all quotes, fi lms and me. Wala namang is-sue,” he explained.

Some netizens recently speculated that Avelino and Concepcion are not on good terms after the actor deleted their photos on Instagram.

Avelino maintained that he and Concepcion are doing well.

“Siguro nabibigyang malisya lang ng mga tao pero wala, wala. We’re okay,” he said. “It’s still the same.”

The Kapamilya actor admitted, however, that they barely have time for each other given their hectic schedules. He is currently one of the lead stars of “Sana Bukas Pa Ang Kahapon,” while Concepcion is part of “Ikaw Lamang.”

Both are primetime shows on ABS-CBN.

“Well, busy pareho eh. Pareho kaming may soap ngayon. May ginagawa rin akong movie ngayon. Mahirap, ang hirap lalo pa ngayon may Cosmo (bachelor bash), may Bench (fashion show) pa… Ngayon, concentrate muna kami sa mga career namin. That’s what we’re doing now,” he said.

When asked about the last time that they got to spend some time togeth-er, Avelino briefl y said: “Ayoko nang [masyadong mag-share], ayoko nang bigyan ng malisya ng tao.”

Meanwhile, Avelino said he is happy with how things are going with his life, reacting to comments that his black and white Instagram page may be refl ecting his melancholic self.

“Masaya, maraming nagpapasaya sa akin. Ev-erything’s going great,” he said. “Personal choice ko rin namang gawing black and white [ang In-stagram page ko]…

Kung ‘di nila ma-ap-preciate, may follow and unfollow.”

Why Paulo Avelino deleted KC’s photos on Instagram

Visit www.usasianpost.com Wednesday - Tuesday, September 24 - 30, 2014 THE US ASIAN POST12

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sure we’ve been giving Meralco, they were only able to sign up 115MW,” he said.

Petilla adds letting the private sector do all the sourcing will lead to higher electric-ity costs for consumers.

“Can they build one? The answer is yes. Will they build? If they can’t recover costs, it’s a business, they won’t, of course... If they actually built one and they’re allowed to recover, ipapasa sa tao. The costs will be exuberant. The government won’t allow it. So they won’t build it if nobody foots the bills,” he said.

But granting the President extra power doesn’t mean there won’t be any rate in-creases, the hike will just be lower.

“Ang stand ng gobyerno is basically, we don’t want to give this for free. Why? Lahat ay mag-dadasal na may power crisis kasi libre ang kuryente. On the other hand, you don’t want to pass it on to people because the cost will be exuberant,” he said.

Asked if government will subsidize costs, Petilla said: “It will be subsidized,

otherwise, it would be very high.”Government is looking at three options

for contracting additional energy supply, which include renting, buying existing power plants or purchasing power from private companies under the interruptible load program. But each comes with its own set of obstacles.

In the summer of 2015, power demand will exceed supply which will lead to elec-tricity outages. Congress has to act fast and those who still have misgivings should be informed about the real power situation.

“They’re saying they want to make sure they’re not giving the President blanket authority. They don’t understand what’s going on kumbaga. Ako naman I’ve been meeting with JCPC (Joint Congressional Power Comission) on Congress side, may-be we can help to them various options in place,” Petilla said.

Petilla adds once the 2015 shortage is fi xed, supply for the succeeding years should also be secured. (MNS)

surrounding the Makati City Hall Building II, which was constructed in 2007 when Bi-nay was Makati mayor.

Binay did not respond to questions if he will attend the hearing scheduled on Thursday. (MNS)

and should be based on international law,” the President said in a press conference af-ter his talks with Merkel.

Chancellor Merkel supported the Phil-ippines’ position to seek resolution of dis-putes in accordance with international law, including United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The German leader said both countries share the concerns on the increasing ten-sions in the region. “We believe in good, pragmatic approaches. But we also believe in solid, legal settlements of the disputes,” she said during a press conference.

“So I think the international dispute set-tlement arrangements that we have on the basis of UNCLOS is a very good way for-ward in order to settle those differences,” Chancellor Merkel added.

During a forum organized by French Institute for International Relations in Paris on Thursday, President Aquino un-

derscored the importance of maintaining peace and stability in Southeast Asia. “We continue to invite other claimant countries to join us, to accelerate the resolution of this very long standing dispute, which has lately caused much tension in our region,” the President said.

“The international community as a whole stands to gain when the rule of law is upheld—for only through such legal mech-anisms can a truly just and stable world order be ensured,” he added.

day.“When the magma becomes stationary,

the rockfall events will also stop also but this does not mean that it (magma) will not move again,” he said.

Laguerta said the magma might have hardened at the upper portion of the mag-ma chamber that would contribute to the “infl ation” of the volcano and added pres-sure inside.

stitutional foundation to expand practical cooperation between our respective minis-tries as well as with the private sector.”

“I am told that German technical exper-tise were instrumental in the development of the Philippines’ ‘Dual Training System Act of 1994,’ and we continue to harness those expertise towards our mutual gain,” he said during the press conference.

Meanwhile, President Aquino said a co-operation in trade through the exchange of drafts that will formally establish the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Manila, is a welcome sign now that the Philippines is more open for business.

“With this development, we can see en-hanced trade and investments, especially among the German Mittelstand; it will

also establish the cooperation arrange-ments with, and between, local German Chambers in Germany and the Philip-pines,” he said. President Aquino said the all the three agreements “underscore our common vision to build a Germany and a Philippines where equitable prosperity and shared development are realities enjoyed by our peoples.”

“It is this very context that informs our collective resolve to deepen relations, at a time when we are confronted by complex challenges and needs that require not only the cooperation and understanding be-tween our two countries—but that of the entire community of nations,” he added.

President Aquino is in Germany for the last leg of his four-nation European tour. (MNS)

smuggled electronic items, it added.In Vietnam, hundreds of counterfeit items were

seized from street hawkers and shops, Interpol said. “Many people are not aware of the different types of everyday items which are being counterfeited and traded to profi t criminal organizations,” said Brian Chan, Criminal Intelligence Offi cer with Interpol’s counterfeit unit. This is not the fi rst major transna-tional operation of its kind.

In February, Europol – the European Union’s law enforcement agency – announced that an operation targeting counterfeit schemes in 33 countries in Eu-rope, North and South America, Africa and Asia had netted more than a thousand tonnes of fake food and drink.

for the fi rst time since leaving in 1983, in the aftermath of his father Senator Ninoy Aquino’s assassination.

Saying it was one of their family’s lowest points, Aquino admitted he had wanted to exact revenge on the Marcoses.

“As the only son, I felt an overwhelming urge to exact an eye for an eye. Mr. Marcos and his ilk were like rabid dogs who had lost all reason. There was no longer any po-tential for dialogue; the only solution when confronted by a rabid dog is to put it down,” he said. During the reception, the Presi-dent recalled the years he spent in Boston - describing himself as “the dog-handler, carpenter, plumber, and baggage-carrier.”

He also said he never got used to the bit-ter winters here, and had to sleep in his thermal underwear under a large pile of comforters.

“To those of you who remember me back then ...you must be thinking how things have changed,” he said.

“Boston played a signifi cant role in this. It gave us a sense of normalcy in what can only be described as abnormal times: Back home, every aspect of life was controlled by

the dictator,” he added.He said he purposely didn’t return to

Boston since leaving in 1983, not even when his mother President Cory Aquino visited in September, 1986.

“I actually had several opportunities to come earlier, and I kept begging off, I said ‘let me make sure that my emotions are in check before I do make a homecoming,’” he said.

The President issued a stark reminder of conditions under Martial Law: curfew lim-iting the time outside; offi cial permission required for travel abroad; no such thing as free speech, or freedom of assembly.

“Accountable to no one but themselves, the dictator, his wife, and their cronies turned the public treasury into their pri-vate purse. Checks and balances in govern-ment were replaced by the dictator being the sole judge, jury and executioner, giving his regime total impunity to abduct, tor-ture, jail, and kill its critics,” he said.

For Aquino, the time spent in Boston will always be linked to the revolution that reclaimed Philippine democracy and na-tional dignity.

As of 6 a.m. Monday, 379 areas in Ilo-cos, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Metro Manila are still fl ooded, according to the NDRRMC.

Meanwhile, power was restored in Apa-yao, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon and Rizal.

In an advisory on Sunday evening, the National Grid Corporation of the Philip-pines said it has completed restoration work on transmission facilities affected by the storm.

Classes on Monday remained suspended in some areas in Region 1 and the National Capital Region even as the storm exited PAR. (MNS)