Vol. 2. No. 21 LOS ANGELES Wednesday - Tuesday, February 6-12, 2013

See HUMAN RIGHTS, page 6See DEATH-ROW INMATE, page 6

See JOURNALIST, page 6

See MIDTERM POLLS, page 6

See EXPLOITATION RAID, page 6See FILIPINO HOSTAGES, page 6

LOS ANGELES, Jan 31, 2013 (AFP) – Latinos will outnumber non-Hispanic whites in California by early next year for the fi rst time since it became a US state, according to offi cial forecasts released Thursday.

The number of Latinos will equal the white population by mid-2013, when each group is expected to be about 39 percent of the western state’s population, the Department of Finance predictions showed.

“Early in 2014, the Hispanic population will become the plurality in California for the fi rst time since California be-came a state,” it added.

By 2060, Hispanics will comprise nearly half – 48 percent – of the population, while non-Hispanic whites will have fallen from 39 percent now to 30 percent, and blacks from six percent to four percent.

Asians will grow only slightly as a proportion of the population, from just under 13 percent now to just over 13 percent in 2060.

California is the most populous US state, and if it were a country would be the world’s eighth or ninth biggest economy. Overall, its population will grow to 52.7 million, about 40 percent more than currently, the latest forecasts said. As the white post-World War II baby boomer population goes into retirement, Latinos and Asians will become the mainstay of the labor force and economy in California, according to the study.

California became the 31st US state in 1850, two and a half years after the United States signed a treaty to end the Mexican War with its southern neighbor.

By 2060, Hispanics will comprise nearly half – 48 percent – of the population, while non-Hispanic whites will have fallen from 39 percent now to 30 percent, and blacks from six percent to four percent. Asians will grow only slightly as a proportion of the popula-tion, from just under 13 percent now to just over 13 percent in 2060, reports say.

California Latinos to overtake whites within year

A performer smiles as she awaits their turn to dance during the Pasinaya CCP Open House Festival 2013, a multi-arts shows from music, theatre, dance, visual arts, fi lm, and literature focusing on Chinese Filipino arts and culture, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Manila February 3, 2013. (MNS photo)

ANILA, Feb 4 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang assured that it will go after politicians who maintain pri-vate armed groups as the country prepares for the midterm election this May.

Th e campaign of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to dismantle private armed groups and account for all loose fi rearms continues to

make the upcoming election safe and orderly, Presidential spokes-man Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefi ng in Malacanang on Monday.

It was reported that some mem-bers of Congress, particularly in the Zamboanga Peninsula, maintain private armies and the proliferation of unlicensed guns remains a con-

President Benigno S. Aquino III addresses the 5th Global Conference of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC) Opening Ceremony at the Reception Hall, Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City on Thursday (January 31, 2013).GOPAC is an international network dedicated to good governance and combating corruption throughout the world. GOPAC has provided information and analysis, established international benchmarks, and improved public awareness through a combination of global pressure and national action. (MNS photo)

Palace: No date yet for martial law compensation bill signing

MANILA, Feb 2 (Mabuhay) -- Malacañang on Saturday said there is no defi nite date yet for the sign-ing of the newly ratifi ed bill that will provide compensation to hu-man rights violations victims dur-ing Martial Law.

Deputy presidential spokesper-son Abigail Valte said that as of Saturday morning, the Palace has yet to receive the transmittal of the bill from Congress.

“Wala pa... [itse-]check namin,

BY JASON GUTIERREZ

MANILA, Feb 3, 2013 (AFP) – Islamist Abu Sayyaf militants have freed two Filipino television crew members seized along with a Jorda-nian journalist nearly eight months ago in the southern Philippines, police said Sunday.

Looking frail and gaunt, audio technician Roland “Buboy” Letriro and cameraman Ramil Vela walked free Saturday on Jolo island where they had been held since June last year, regional police chief Noel de-

MANILA, Feb 4 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Monday welcomed the release of two Filipino crewmen of Jordanian television journalist Baker Abdulla Atyani who were kidnapped last year by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) hoping that the reporter and other foreigner captives will be released soon.

“We certainly welcome the re-

lease of the two Filipino camera-men and, of course, we hope that all the captives will be released but, again, that will take some time,” Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefi ng in Malacañang.

Abu Sayyaf bandits released cameraman Ramel Vela and au-

Released Filipino hostages Rolando Letrero (left) holds Ramil Vela as he stands up inside a hospital in Sulu province, southern Philippines February 3, 2013. Gunmen freed the two Filipino television crew hired by a Jordanian journalist after nearly eight months in captivity in the troubled southern islands Philippines, local media reported (MNS photo).

MANILA, Feb 1, 2013 (AFP) – A Filipino sentenced to death by beheading in Saudi Arabia for kill-ing a man he said tried to sexually abuse him is to walk free after blood money was paid to the victim’s fam-ily, offi cials said Friday.

Rodelio “Dondon” Lanuza is expected to be released after more than 12 years in prison following the Saudi government’s decision to pay 2.3 million riyals ($615,000) to the victim’s family, Vice President Jejomar Binay said.

“I am glad to announce that our

compatriot has been spared from the death penalty,” Binay said in a statement. Th e remaining $245,000 of the compensation sought by the victim’s family was raised by Lanu-za’s relatives, he added.

Th e Saudi embassy in Manila confi rmed the deal, saying in a statement that Riyadh “has paid the balance of the blood money”.

Under the Saudi legal system, acceptance of blood money leads to the signing of a waiver by the vic-tim’s family signifying forgiveness,

President Benigno S. Aquino III is received by GOPAC’s chief executive offi cer John Williams, chairman Dr. Nasser Al Sane and secretary Mary King upon arrival for the 5th Global Conference of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Cor-ruption (GOPAC) Opening Ceremony at the Reception Hall, Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City on Thursday (January 31, 2013).

Jan. 29 – An Inland Empire task force and multiple local de-partments in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties conducted a two-night operation in the cities of Hemet, Ontario, and Riverside over the weekend that focused on the identifi cation and recovery of victims of sexual traffi cking, an-nounced Bill Lewis, the Assistant Director of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Offi ce. ADIC Lewis made the announcement on behalf of multiple departments in the two

New Asian, Pacifi c Islander report says immigration reform

‘most pressing’LOS ANGELES  – California’s

fastest growing racial groups, Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians and Pacifi c Islanders (NHPI) have consid-erable needs that should be addressed by policy makers, according to a report released today by the Asian Pacifi c American Legal Center (APALC) and Asian Law Caucus (ALC).  Us-ing the latest data from numerous

federal, state, and local agencies,  A

Militants free Filipinos seized with Jordanian journalist

Saudi Arabia spares OFW death-row inmate

Human rights victims will have to wait

Two minors rescued in Inland Empire child exploitation raid

Palace vows safe, orderly midterm polls

Palace welcomes release of two Filipino hostages in Sulu

See PACIFIC ISLANDER, page 6

MOTORING From boob jobs to Botox,

plastic surgery is on the riseSee WELL BEING 1

Ethel Booba gets another shot at hosting ‘Wowowillie’

See ENTERTAINMENT 6

‘Hypercar’ from Beirut on show in Qatar

See MOTORING 4

Visit www.usasianpost.com Wednesday - Tuesday, February 6-12, 2013 THE US ASIAN POST2

MANILA, Feb 4 (Mabuhay) – Some 30 members of the deaf community on Mon-day trooped to the House of Representa-tives to ask lawmakers to pass more bills protecting their welfare.

Dean Veronica Templo-Perez of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies called on Congress to have a “sense of ur-gency” in passing laws for hearing-impaired Filipinos.

“Th e deaf community hopes that some-day, we will have a Philippines that accom-modates everyone – not just the majority of Filipinos but every Filipino, and that’s including the deaf. Th is can only happen if we have lawmakers who are aware of the issues of the deaf and persons with disabili-ties and will work for their brighter future,” Templo-Perez said in a speech on Monday afternoon. Th e deaf community set up an exhibit at the north wing of the Batasan Pambansa building to promote awareness of the problems being encountered by its members in the Philippines.

Templo-Perez particularly urged the legislature to immediately enact bills that will institutionalize sign language insets on

news programs in the country, as well as the measure declaring Filipino sign language (FSL) as the national sign language of the Filipino deaf.

However, ACT Teachers’ party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, author of House Bill 6079 declaring the FSL as the national sign lan-guage, admitted that the current Congress has no more time to pass his measure.

“Th e struggle to have Filipino as our national language, which lasted for over a century, is parallel to our struggle for the Filipino sign language. Th ere is a mistaken notion that the American sign language is the international sign language, when in fact it is not,” Tinio said in a separate speech.

In a report published in The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Dr. Liza Martinez of the Philippine Deaf Resource Center described the FSL as “the ordered and rule-governed visual communication which has arisen naturally and embodies the cultural iden-tity of the Filipino community of signers.” Th e party-list lawmaker likewise pledged to re-fi le his bill, which only reached the committee level in the current legislature, next Congress.

President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomes Malaysia Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary His Excellency Dato Mohd Zamri Bin Mohd Kassim during the Presentation of Credentials at the Music Room, Malacañan Palace on Monday (February 04, 2013). Malaysia is considered as one of the country’s important partners, the 7th largest export market and 8th largest import market of the Philip-pines. In photo is Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario. (MNS photo)

MANILA, Feb 4 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomed the new ambassadors of Ma-laysia, the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Republic of Italy, who presented their respective credentials to the Chief Executive in Malacanang Palace on Mon-day. Th e President fi rst welcomed His Excellency Dato’ Mohd Zamri Bin Mohd Kassim, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Malaysia at the Music Room of Malacanang Palace. He was accom-panied by Deputy Chief of Mission/Minister Zakaria Nasir, Minister Counsellor Adnan Ababs, Defence Attache Colonel Hamzah Ali and Export Promotion Counsellor Har Man Ahmad.

Th e Philippines and Malaysia have a long standing and good diplomatic relations and the new ambassa-dor to the Philippines has expressed his government’s interest in further promoting the whole range of bi-

lateral cooperation.Her Excellency Tuot Panha, Ambassador Extraor-

dinary and Plenipontentiary of the Kingdom of Cam-bodia, presented her credentials to the President. Th e presentation of credentials was witnessed by Charge d’ Aff aires Tan Chandaravuth, First Secretary Roth Phally and Accountant and Attache Vong Sopheap.

Panha reiterated her country’s commitment to bolster relations with the Philippines.

His Excellency Massimo Roscigno, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Italy met the Chief Executive to present his creden-tials. He was accompanied by his wife Agnes Ven-tura-Roscigno, of Filipino descent, Deputy Head of Mission Dr. Alfonso Tagliaferri, Administrative At-tache Dr. Anna Maria Salvini and Head of Consular Offi ce Dr. Antonio Gallo.

Congress urged to pass laws for deaf community’s welfare

Aquino welcomes new ambassadors of Malaysia, Cambodia and Italy

MANILA, Feb 2 (Mabuhay) – Th e Na-tional Parks Development Committee (NPDC) is inviting everyone to gather and show their love for one another at the fi rst-ever “Yakapalooza at the Park” on Valentine’s Day at the Rizal Park.

A free concert will be held before the “Yakapalooza at the Park” at 6 p.m. on Febru-ary 14 near the Musical Dancing Fountain.

Th e event will be graced by some of the country’s fast rising stars, bands and sing-ers such as Bea Binene, Barbie Forteza, Ju-lie Anne San Jose, Joshua Dionisio, Derick Monasterio, Enzo Pineda, DJ Joker, and all members of the group Jeepney Music led by Allan Pineda.

Also gracing the event are DCOY, Ikee, Jash Bagabaldo and jazz performers Jive Dis-ciples.

Top radio jocks DJ Rico Panyero and Lala Banderas of 101.1 Yes FM will serve as hosts.

NPDC spokesperson Kenneth Monte-grande said 9 p.m. will be declared as the “love hour” to give emphasis on “Yakapalooza at the Park.”

He said it will be the perfect time for loved ones, friends and family members to show the true meaning of love.

People are invited to join the countdown to the love hour to be led by NPDC executive director Dr. Juliet Villegas and other top of-fi cials of NPDC.

Th e event will be staged by Blitz Commu-

nications Philippines (BlitzCom) in coop-eration with Unisilver TIME, Mario D’ Boro, Coca-Cola, FEMSA Philippines, PLDT, Stage Crafts and Department of Public Works and Highways.

Montegrande said BlitzCom and NPDC aim to give the public a meaningful way to celebrate the day of hearts.

“Valentine’s Day is one of the most impor-tant ocassions where you can show to your loved one how he or she means to you with-out spending a single centavo. Love knows no boundaries even in this very empirical world that we live at. We want to prove that and Rizal Park will be the mute witness for that meaningful moment,” he said in a statement.

Montegrande also shared what he read from Th e Daily Mail, a leading tabloid in UK.

According to studies commissioned by the University of Vienna, a 20-second passionate hug increases humans’ memory level, lowers stress level and normalizes blood pressure.

“…Scientist found that a hormone – oxy-tocin – is released into the blood stream when you hold or hug a friend close. Th is lowers blood pressure, reduce stress and anxiety and can even improve your memory.”

“…According to a research from the Uni-versity of Vienna, you have to be, however, selective over who you hug. Giving a polite embrace to someone we don’t know well can have the opposite eff ect,” the offi cial report said. (MNS)

MANILA, Feb 2 (Mabuhay) -- Barring a last-minute change in plans, President Benig-no Aquino III is to attend the proclamation rally of the administration coalition’s senato-rial bets in Manila on Feb. 12, a member of the ruling Liberal Party said Saturday.

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone on Saturday said Aquino will participate in the event, which he said is “historic” for the LP as it will be held at Plaza Miranda.

“’Yan ang pagkakaalam ko, dadalo siya ... Base sa ating discussion sa leaders ng LP, siya ay sasama at makikiisa sa proclamation rally,” Evardone said on government-run dzRB radio.

Also, he said the Plaza Miranda venue is signifi cant for the LP as it was where a deadly bombing occurred in 1971 – during a politi-cal campaign rally of the LP.

Aquino has been taking part in the early campaign of the administration coalition’s senatorial bets – in the coalition’s television ads, he hinted some candidates claim to be supporting him but are merely posing.

He then named the coalition’s senatorial bets – some of them from the Nacionalista Party and Nationalist People’s Coalition. (MNS)

1st ‘Yakapalooza’ in PH on Valentine’s Day set

PNoy to join LP proclamation rally, says spokesman

THE US ASIAN POST Wednesday - Tuesday, February 6-12, 2013 Visit www.usasianpost.com 3

LEGAL NOTICE

To merchants who have accepted Visa and MasterCard at any time since January 1, 2004:

Notice of a 6+ billion dollar class action settlement.Notice of a class action settlement authorized by the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York.

This notice is authorized by the Court to inform you about an agreement to settle a class action lawsuit that may affect you. The lawsuit claims that Visa and MasterCard, separately, and together with banks, violated antitrust laws and caused merchants to pay excessive fees for accepting Visa and MasterCard credit and debit cards, including by:

Agreeing to set, apply, and enforce rules about merchant fees (called default interchange fees);

Limiting what merchants could do to encourage their customers to use other forms of payment through, for example, charging customers an extra fee or offering discounts; and

Continuing that conduct after Visa and MasterCard changed their corporate structures.

The defendants say they have done nothing wrong. They say that their business practices are legal and the result of competition, and have benefitted merchants and consumers. The Court has not decided who is right because the parties agreed to a settlement. On November 27, 2012, the Court gave preliminary approval to this settlement.

THE SETTLEMENT

Under the settlement, Visa, MasterCard, and the bank defendants have agreed to make payments to two settlement funds:

fund that will pay valid claims of merchants that accepted Visa or MasterCard credit or debit cards at any time between January 1, 2004 and November 28, 2012.

be based on a portion of the interchange fees attributable to certain merchants that accept Visa or MasterCard credit cards for an eight-

Additionally, the settlement changes some of the Visa and MasterCard rules applicable to merchants who accept their cards.

This settlement creates two classes:

A Cash Settlement Class (Rule 23(b)(3) Settlement Class), which includes all persons, businesses, and other entities that accepted any Visa or MasterCard cards in the U.S. at any time from January 1, 2004 to November 28, 2012, and

A Rule Changes Settlement Class (Rule 23(b)(2) Settlement Class), which includes all persons, businesses, and entities that as of November 28, 2012 or in the future accept any Visa or MasterCard cards in the U.S.

WHAT MERCHANTS WILL GET FROM THE SETTLEMENT

Every merchant in the Cash Settlement Class that files a valid claim will get money from the

merchants who exclude themselves from the Cash Settlement Class. The value of each claim, where possible, will be based on the actual or estimated interchange fees attributable to the merchant’s MasterCard and Visa payment card transactions from January 1, 2004 to November

based on:

The money available to pay all claims,

The total dollar value of all valid claims filed,

The deduction described above not to exceed

The cost of settlement administration and notice, money awarded to the class representatives, and attorneys’ fees and expenses all as approved by the Court.

Class that accept Visa and MasterCard during

valid claim will get money from the separate

possible, will be based on an estimate of one-tenth

credit card dollar sales volume during that period.

on:

The money available to pay all claims,

The total dollar value of all valid claims filed, and

The cost of settlement administration and notice, and any attorneys’ fees and expenses that may be approved by the Court.

Attorneys’ fees and expenses and money awarded to the class representativesthrough final approval of the settlement by the district court, Class Counsel will ask the Court for attorneys’ fees in an amount that is a reasonable

all of the lawyers and their law firms that have

administer the settlement, distribute both funds, and through any appeals, Class Counsel may seek reimbursement at their normal hourly rates, not to

Class Counsel will also request reimbursement of their expenses (not including the administrative

service awards for their efforts on behalf of the classes.

HOW TO ASK FOR PAYMENT

To receive payment, merchants must fill out a claim

and you do not exclude yourself from the Cash Settlement Class, you will receive a claim form in the mail or by email. Or you may ask for one

OTHER BENEFITS FOR MERCHANTS

Merchants will benefit from changes to certain MasterCard and Visa rules, which will allow merchants to, among other things:

Charge customers an extra fee if they pay with Visa or MasterCard credit cards,

Offer discounts to customers who do not pay with Visa or MasterCard credit or debit cards, and

to negotiate with Visa and MasterCard.

Merchants that operate multiple businesses under different trade names or banners will also be able to accept Visa or MasterCard at fewer than all of the merchant’s trade names and banners.

LEGAL RIGHTS AND OPTIONS

Merchants who are included in this lawsuit have the legal rights and options explained below. You may:

You will receive a claim form in the mail or email or file online at:

from the Cash Settlement

exclude yourself, you can sue the Defendants for damages based on alleged conduct occurring on or before November 27, 2012 on your own

exclude yourself, you will not get any money

and wish to exclude yourself, you must make a written request, place it in an envelope, and mail it with postage prepaid and postmarked no later than to Class Administrator,

written request must be signed by a person authorized to do so and provide all of the

name, address, telephone number, and taxpayer

identification number, (3) the merchant that

wishes to be excluded from the Cash Settlement

Class (Rule 23(b)(3) Settlement Class), and

what position or authority you have to exclude

the merchant, and (4) the business names, brand

names, and addresses of any stores or sales

locations whose sales the merchant desires to

be excluded.

Note:

(Rule 23(b)(2)

Settlement Class).

. The deadline to

. To learn how to

yourself from the Cash Settlement Class you

settlement.

IF THE COURT APPROVES THE FINAL SETTLEMENT

Members of the Rule Changes Settlement

Class are bound by the terms of this settlement.

Members of the Cash Settlement Class, who

do not exclude themselves by the deadline, are

bound by the terms of this settlement whether or

not they file a claim for payment. Members of

both classes release all claims against all released

parties listed in the Settlement Agreement. The

settlement will resolve and release any claims

by merchants against Visa, MasterCard or other

defendants that were or could have been alleged

in the lawsuit, including any claims based on

interchange or other fees, no-surcharge rules,

no-discounting rules, honor-all-cards rules and

other rules. The settlement will also resolve any

merchant claims based upon the future effect of

any Visa or MasterCard rules, as of November

27, 2012 and not to be modified pursuant to the

settlement, the modified rules provided for in

the settlement, or any other rules substantially

similar to any such rules. The releases will not

bar claims involving certain specified standard

commercial disputes arising in the ordinary

course of business.

see the settlement agreement at:

THE COURT HEARING ABOUT THIS SETTLEMENT

On September 12, 2013, there will be a Court

hearing to decide whether to approve the

proposed settlement, class counsels’ requests for

attorneys’ fees and expenses, and awards for the

class representatives. The hearing will take place

at:

United States District Court for the

Eastern District of New York

You do not have to go to the court hearing or hire

own cost. The Court has appointed the law firms

QUESTIONS?

In re Payment Card Interchange Fee and Merchant Discount Antitrust Litigation, MDL 1720), you

may:

Write to the Class Administrator:

for any updates relating to the settlement or the

settlement approval process.

www.PaymentCardSett lement.com

LOS ANGELES

Visit www.usasianpost.com Wednesday - Tuesday, February 6-12, 2013 THE US ASIAN POST4

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OPINION

MANILA, Feb 2 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang said the

economic gains posted by the Aquino administration were

solely the result of the present government’s initiatives and

not from the momentum set by the previous administra-

tion.

In a statement, former President Gloria Macapagal-Ar-

royo on Friday commended President Benigno Aquino III

over the 6.6-percent growth in the country’s gross domes-

tic product in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Arroyo’s Friday statement is a complete turnaround

from her previous comments two years ago saying Presi-

dent Aquino obscured the economic gains of the Arroyo

presidency to allegedly make up for his own shortcomings.

In a radio in interview over government-run dzRB Radyo

ng Bayan on Saturday, Deputy Presidential spokesperson

Abigail Valte said the recent development is “a classic case

of the student already surpassing the teacher.”

President Aquino was a former student in economics at

Ateneo de Manila University by President Arroyo.

But Valte said the former President’s statement isn’t true

particularly on her claim that President Aquino’s adminis-

tration just sustained the gains of the previous government

after the former leader left offi ce in 2010.

Arroyo said she welcomed the development in the coun-

try’s economy noting the President is on track to restoring

the growth of 7.9 percent where it was before the fi rst half

of 2010.

“But, we all have to remember that 2010 was an election

year, and historically, if you look at all the data, simulan na-tin: Kapag election year, mataas talaga ang growth, mata-as talaga ang GDP. Bakit? Because of election spending,

and ask any economist, they’ll tell you the same thing,”

Valte said.

Based on historical fi gures, Valte said election years real-

ly have high GDP growths. For instance in the 1988 elec-

tion, the GDP was 6.8 percent; in 2004, the GDP was 6.7

percent; and in 2007, it was at 6.6 percent.

“But if you take out all the election years noon, when you

look at the GDP, if you exclude all the election years, ‘yung

6.6 percent natin for 2012 is the fastest growth the Philip-

pine economy has seen in the past 30 years, surpassing all

the past presidents, beginning from the former President

Cory Aquino,” she added.

Commenting on criticisms saying the government’s

campaign against corruption must uphold the rule of law,

due processes and the independence of the judiciary, Valte

said the anti-corruption fi ght of the administration is

within the bounds of the rule of law.

“Th e anti-corruption fi ght of the President has always

been within the bounds of the rule of law with respect

to other institutions, which is why it translates into good

governance, and good governance translates to good eco-

nomics,” she said. (MNS)

BY ADRIAN AVILA Silicon Valley De-Bug / New America Media

Feb. 3 –In a packed high school gym in Las Ve-gas, Nevada, President Barack Obama calmly spoke on the real possibility of comprehensive immigra-tion reform. As I sat in my chair just 15 feet away from the president, I was trying to understand what was going on in front of me. As an individual that was undocumented for 22 years here in the United States, I couldn’t believe that I was about to hear a speech that I have dreamed of my entire adult life.Only four months prior, I would have not been allowed in to this event since I wouldn’t have been able to provide proper identifi cation. Back then, I was an undocument-ed immigrant with very little opportunity in this country.Words can’t and never will truly explain what it means to be undocumented.

It would be like describing what a marathon feels like to someone who has never ran more than a mile. But as someone who has seen both side of the undocumented line, I am hopeful that, this time, change will come.After surviving as an undocumented immigrant since the age of six, I am now a current U-Visa holder, which grants me legal status in this country for four years.

I also now have a path to perma-nent residency and one day citizenship.I am following the path that millions of hopefuls would walk if the plan Obama proposed on January 29th passes. That plan includes a background check with biometrics, and penalty fees for entering the country il-legal – all things I was more than willing to partake in.As the president gave his speech recounting stories as to why reform is needed, I thought of some of my older relatives who raised me, as they worked and lived with little hope that their status would ever change.

I had images of them driving to their jobs, bet-ter new jobs, with a new drivers license they al-ways needed but were always denied. That abil-ity of being able to share the road with all the other citizens of this country, without the fear of pros-ecution, is a freedom that really feels life-changing.What some – even advocates for immigration reform – may not know is that legalization is not only about

basic privileges, like being able to drive and work le-gally, but that it relieves the unbelievable, and at times debilitating, stress of being undocumented. Becoming legal transforms a person’s being. I know because I’m experiencing those feelings now. I can have moments now that I’ve always dreamed of – being able to drive my wife around, being able to present proper identifi -cation when asked, and being seen as a human being while doing so, and not some kind of Mexican boogie monster. Now imagine the 11 million undocumented immigrants who will be given the same opportunity – it will change this country in ways that are practically un-imaginable. You will have millions of individuals that are willing to work harder than ever before. It would be one of the best investments that this country could make for its people.

When the president introduced deferred action this past June of 2012, it was a small step toward achiev-ing this long awaited aspiration. That policy allowed qualifying undocumented youth who came here before the age of 16, and are under the age of 31, to get a work permit. But the change it brought is small compared to what we have on our hands – a broken immigration system that is a big problem needing big solutions.

We need to fi x the old broken down laws that govern our immigration system and allow access to individu-als of all ages that meet the requirements to be Ameri-cans. One never knows at what age they will achieve greatness. So to say, through the deferred action, that America only validates young smart people, is wrong.

I know that the road to victory is a long one, one that will have to travel through the craziness that is the U.S. legislative process, but I hope and pray that the same opportunity that was afforded to me will be given to those individuals wanting to be a positive part in this nation.

One thing that many forget is that not all of the 11 million want to be citizens in this country. But for those persons willing to go through the process, whatever it may be, I know that the rewards will be more than worth it. You can’t benefi t from anything you don’t put work into, and compared to what immigrants face on the daily, this battle should be a walk in the park.

Washington, DC – Today, the Congressional Asian Pacifi c American Caucus (CAPAC) unveiled its top pri-orities for a common sense immigration process.

“Asian Americans and Pacifi c Islanders have a critical stake in the immigration debate, but all too often their voices are not

heard,” said Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacifi c American Caucus. “Today, CAPAC is announcing our immigration priorities to high-light the community’s most pressing concerns. To create an immigration process that works, we must provide a roadmap to citizenship for aspiring Americans, keep families together, strengthen our economy and workforce, promote integration, and pursue smarter and more eff ective approaches to enforce-ment. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Con-gress to fi x our broken immigration system and establish a fair process that refl ects our values and furthers our interests as a nation.”

“Asians and Pacifi c Islanders are now the largest group of

new immigrants emigrating to the U.S.,” said  Congress-man Mike Honda (CA-17), Chair of CAPAC’s Immigra-tion Taskforce. “Our communities face a broken system that is particularly harmful to families stuck in immigration backlogs and graduates with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fi elds. As CAPAC Immigration Taskforce Chair and Silicon Valley’s representative, I am com-mitted to ensuring that our families, students, and workers are not left out of immigration reform. Our communities deserve a comprehensive fi x to our broken system that strengthens these families and honors their contributions to our economy.” 

CAPAC’s priorities are outlined below and available on-line at http://capac.chu.house.gov/immigration2013.

Immigration Priorities for the Asian American & Pacifi c Islander Community Creating a common sense immigration process is a top priority for the Congres-sional Asian Pacifi c American Caucus (CAPAC) and the diverse constituencies that we represent. America has always

been a nation of immigrants. Over the last few years, Asians have become the single largest demographic of new im-migrants moving to the U.S. and make up the fastest grow-

ing racial group in the country.Th e Members of CAPAC are committed to working

towards fair, bipartisan solutions for our broken immi-gration system. We support comprehensive immigration reform and believe it must:

1. Provide a Roadmap to Citizenship for Aspiring Citizens

Of the estimated 11 million undocumented immi-grants residing in the U.S., 1.4 million identify as being of Asian or Pacifi c Islander descent. Asian Americans and Pacifi c Islanders also account for one in ten youth who would qualify for the DREAM Act.

Immigration reform must include a roadmap to per-manent residency and citizenship for immigrants who work hard, pay their taxes, and undergo criminal and na-tional security background checks. Th is is especially true for those who were brought to this country at a young age through no fault of their own, and who are already Americans in every sense except for on paper. 

2. Support America’s Long-standing Tradition of Family-Based Immigration

 In November 2012, there were 4.3 million people in the family immigration backlog, nearly half of whom were from Asian countries. Asian Americans and Pacifi c Islanders sponsored over 40 percent of all family-based visas in 2010. Some Asian immigrants have been forced to wait as long as 23 years to be reunited with their fami-lies in the United States, largely due to the limitations and ineffi ciencies of our legal immigration system. Any eff ort to address immigration reform must prioritize the unity and sanctity of families. We need to reduce visa backlogs, reunite divided families, and recognize same-sex, bi-national partnerships as family ties and perma-nent relatives.

3. Strengthen the U.S. Economy and Workforce  Immigration is not a threat to the U.S. economy –

if anything, it makes us stronger. Immigrants fi ll criti-cal gaps in our workforce, invest in new businesses, and bring much needed skill sets in science, technology, en-gineering, and math (STEM). In 2010, nearly one in fi ve Fortune 500 companies had at least one immigrant founder. In 2007, Asian-owned small businesses alone had sales and receipts of over half a trillion dollars and employed 2.8 million people. Any plan for immigration reform should include provisions to attract and retain the best talent from around the world, especially those with backgrounds in much needed STEM fi elds. It must also provide legal routes through which aspiring citizens can fi ll gaps in the U.S. workforce, as well as labor protec-tions to prevent employers from exploiting and abusing immigrant workers.

4. Promote the Integration of New AmericansNearly three-fourths of Asian American adults are

foreign born and more than 4.6 million Asian Ameri-cans report speaking English “less than very well.”

Our immigration process must promote the full inte-gration of new Americans by supporting programs that provide for English language acquisition, civic education, and aff ordable healthcare and social services.

5. Establish Smarter, More Eff ective EnforcementImmigration enforcement should be focused on keep-

ing our borders secure, targeting serious criminals, and stopping those who pose threats to our public safety and national security. Smart enforcement should avoid imposing burdensome mandates on local police forces, prohibit the use of racial profi ling, and end practices that place undue strain on legitimate travel and commerce. Enforcement policies should also refl ect our values by respecting the civil liberties of those who are detained, reducing undue hardships on children and families, and operating with full transparency and accountability. Sim-ilarly, the use of mandatory employment verifi cation sys-tems should only be implemented widely after important privacy, civil liberty, budgetary, and technological fl aws have been resolved.

Palace: Economic gains achieved purely through Aquino administration’s efforts A Once undocumented

immigrant refl ects upon

Asian Pacifi c American caucus unveils immigration priorities

THE US ASIAN POST Wednesday - Tuesday, February 6-12, 2013 Visit www.usasianpost.com 5

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ROSEMEAD, Calif., Jan. 29, 2013 – This Valentine’s Day, think of your loved ones with chocolates, fl owers and maybe some jewelry. And if your gift of choice is a Mylar, or metallic balloon, make sure to tie it down.

That’s because helium-fi lled metallic balloons, often given as gifts during this special day, can fl oat into power lines and cause outages that could last from a few minutes to hours at a time. Southern California Edison (SCE) asks that customers keep the balloons inside or keep them tightly secured to a weight heavy enough to prevent them from drifting away.

“Southern California Edison wants customers to enjoy their Valentine’s Day, but would like them to keep in mind that metal-lic balloons can easily fl oat away into power lines causing short-circuits and outages,” said Bill Messner, SCE’s manager, Cor-porate Health and Safety. “We don’t want avoidable outages to ruin this special day.”

In the last several years, SCE has experienced close to 2,000 power outages caused by balloons. In 2012, there were 583 balloon-related outages, with a 110 percent increase in outages in February compared to January. The number of outages in 2012 was the highest since 2007.

SCE recommends some simple safety tips for handling metallic balloons:

Keep metallic balloons indoors, and never release them outside.

Helium-fi lled metallic balloons can drift and come in contact with high-voltage lines and cause power outages, so be sure to attach a weight heavy enough to prevent them from fl oating away.

Never attach streamers to any balloon — latex or metal-lic.

If you buy and fi ll your own balloons with helium, be sure to tie them securely to a weight heavy enough to pre-vent them from drifting away.

Do not attempt to retrieve a balloon or any foreign object tangled in power lines. Instead, call SCE at 800-611-1911 and report the problem.

More information on metallic balloon safety can be found at www.sce.com/metallicballoons.

Follow us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/SCE) and like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SCE).

About Southern California EdisonAn Edison International (NYSE:EIX) company, South-

ern California Edison is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving a population of nearly 14 million via 4.9 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and Southern California.

 VIENNA, Jan 31, 2013 (AFP) – Arnold Schwarzenegger called Thursday for an end to “doom and gloom” environmen-talism as he hosted the fi rst conference of his new green move-ment fostering action by local governments and individuals.

“If we want to inspire the world, it is time for us to forget about the old way of talking about climate change, where we crush people, where we overwhelm people with data,” the for-mer California governor, bodybuilder and fi lm star said.

“There is a new way, a more sexy, a more hip way. Instead of using doom and gloom and telling people what they can’t do, we should make them part of our movement and tell them what they can do,” he said.

“I mean I still drive my Hummers but now they are all on hydrogen and biofuel ...We need to send a message that we can live the same life, just with cleaner technology.”

Following his success implementing environmental legisla-tion in California ahead of federal US action, Schwarzeneg-ger’s created the R20 Regions of Climate Action movement in 2010.

It is aimed at getting other regions, states and cities to follow the Golden State’s example in the absence of effective national and international agreements on reducing carbon emissions widely blamed for the Earth’s climate becoming more volatile in recent decades.

“The old way was to wait for the capitals, or an interna-tional agreement to create a sustainable energy future, is over,” Schwarzenegger, 65, told the conference of around 800 people in his native Austria.

“We believe in a new way, in moving forward at a subna-tional level. We can’t be paralysed, waiting for an international agreement or federal action or anything else,” Schwarzenegger said.

“I believe we should move forward at a subnational level, in the states, in the provinces, in the cities, in the private sector, in the academic sector and in the non-profi ts. These should be defi ned by our momentum, not our hesitation.”

Attendees in Vienna included Jose Manuel Barroso, Euro-pean Commission president, but absent were green pressure groups such as Greenpeace or WWF, who complained last week that the event risked being “elitist” and “Greenwashing”.

LOS ANGELES, Feb 04, 2013 (AFP) – At least eight peo-

ple were killed and more than 30 were injured in a multiple ve-

hicle accident in southern California that involved a passenger

bus from Mexico, offi cials said.

Th e accident occurred at about 6:30 pm local time (0230

GMT Monday) in a rural area north of of the town of Yucaipa.

Th e bus, operated by InterBus Tours, a Tijuana, Mexico-

based company, apparently hit two other vehicles and rolled

over, local fi re department chief Ronald Walls told reporters.

In all, 43 people were involved in the crash, 38 passengers

and the driver on the bus and two people in each of the other

vehicles, according to Walls.

It took fi refi ghters more than two hours to extricate all the

injured from the wreckage. In all, 27 were taken to area hos-

pitals, at least six of them in critical condition. Some of the

injured were children.

A representative of the Mexican consulate was at the scene.

According to media reports, the bus was headed back to Ti-

juana after visiting Big Bear Lake, a popular mountain ski re-

sort northeast of San Bernardino.

Witness Betty Harvey, a local resident, was driving behind

the bus and thus was one of the fi rst to arrive at the scene.

“People were waving and screaming,” she said. “It was quite

horrifi c.”

Details of the tragedy remain sketchy.

“It happened so fast, I don’t know how it all happened,” one

unnamed passenger told Th e San Bernardino Sun newspaper.

“Th is was supposed to be a good day out with my companions

and then this happened.”

InterBus offi cial Jodi Garcia said initial examinations point

to brake failure as the cause of the crash.

“Th e information that we have is that the bus’s brakes failed

and the accident occurred,” Garcia said.

San Bernardino County Fire Department spokesman Eric

Sherwin said some people were trapped inside the overturned

bus and had to be removed by emergency personnel.

“Th ose injured range from minor to life-threatening,” Sher-

win explained.

A spokesman for Loma Linda University Medical Center

told Th e Los Angeles Times that the hospital had received four

victims from the crash—two adults and two children. One adult

and one child were in critical condition.

“We’re expecting more people from the crash,” the spokes-

man, Herbert Atienza, is quoted as saying.

Highway 38, where the accident occurred, was closed for

traffi c in both directions.

This Valentine’s Day, don’t get carried away – Tie your metallic balloons down

Customers reminded that helium-fi lled metallic balloons can cause power outages

Schwarzenegger calls for ‘hip, sexy’ environmentalism

At least 8 killed in California bus accident

Visit www.usasianpost.com Wednesday - Tuesday, February 6-12, 2013 THE US ASIAN POST6

MID TERM POLLSFrom page 1

JOURNALISTFrom page 1

PACIFIC ISLANDERFrom page 1

HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONFrom page 1

DEATH ROW INMATEFrom page 1

EXPLOITATION RAIDFrom page 1

FILIPINO HOSTAGESFrom page 1

cern.“Yes. Loose fi rearms are cer-

tainly frowned upon. We are going to strengthen the security in that area,” Lacierda told reporters.

“We are going to go after all those individuals who are holding loose or unlicensed fi rearms. Dis-mantling private armed groups is part of the directive of the Presi-dent.

He said the PNP should go after private armed groups regardless of who they are,” he added.

Th e President has ordered the PNP to make sure that fi rearms are accounted for and the gun ban should be strictly enforced particu-larly in Zamboanga.

“Walang sinasanto ang Pan-gulo. Pag sinabing private armed groups, di ba bawal yan? Yan ang instruction ni Pangulong Aquino. We had a meeting several months back on the private armed groups and the President made it clear that these groups must be dismantled” Lacierda said. (MNS)

los Reyes told AFP.Delos Reyes said there was “no

word” on the fate or exact where-abouts of the Jordanian journalist, Bakr Atyani, of the Dubai-based Al Arabiya network.

“Shortly after they were freed they called their families from a ho-tel room in Jolo,” delos Reyes said. “Th ey were then taken by authori-ties to the provincial hospital to be checked up.”

As they lay on their hospital beds, the two tearfully recounted their ordeal in the hands of the mil-itants in Jolo’s harsh jungle terrain, according to Jolo deputy provincial police chief Roy Gabor.

“We went through so much dif-fi culty. We didn’t know whether we would make it out alive,” Gabor quoted the two as saying as they were fed bread and water.

He described the pair as very emotional, and said they emerged from the jungle looking thin and with unkempt hair and beards.

“Th ey were a bit confused. Th ey said they were just told to leave the hostage lair,” Gabor told AFP.

He said the two related that they were separated from Atyani on the fi fth day of their captivity, and that they had not seen him since.

Th e gunmen gave them a horse because Vela could not walk due to a swollen leg, and both left the jun-gle hideout unescorted until they reached a highway.

Th ey then rode a tricycle to Jolo’s main port where went to a hotel and sought help, Gabor said, add-ing that they would soon fl y back to Manila to be reunited with their

families.Delos Reyes denied a ransom

was paid for their release.Th e two travelled with Atyani to

Jolo island in June of last year after they were locally hired in Manila by the Jordanian to fi lm the militants.

Th ey went missing a day af-ter they arrived, and police subse-quently said the trio were held cap-tive by the Abu Sayyaf—a group of self-styled militants blamed for the country’s worst terrorist attacks as well as other kidnappings.

Th e group was founded with seed money from Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda network to fi ght for an in-dependent Islamic state, though it later degenerated into a criminal gang.

US special forces have been ro-tating in the southern Philippine for over a decade to train local troops in crushing Abu Sayyaf which is on Washington’s list of wanted foreign terrorist organisations.

At least four other foreign hos-tages are believed still held in the south by Abu Sayyaf and other mil-itant outfi ts—a Dutchman, a Swiss national, an Australian and a Japa-nese man.

Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr last month welcomed news that Warren Rodwell, 54, was alive after being held hostage for more than a year, but said his prolonged captivity was a “major concern”.

European birdwatchers, Dutch-man Ewold Horn, 52, and Swiss national Lorenzo Vinciguerra, 47, were kidnapped in February last year. Th e Japanese man, Toshio Ito, was seized in July 2010.

Community of Contrasts: Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacifi c Islanders in California, 2013 counters perceptions of these groups as universally successful.The need for humane immigration reform is among the most press-ing. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over 3.1 million Asian Americans and 47,000 NHPI in California are foreign-born. Data from the Department of Home-land Security show that one mil-lion immigrants from Asia and the Pacifi c obtained legal permanent resident (LPR) status in Califor-nia between 2000 and 2010 alone, making up 40% of all LPRs state-wide. There are roughly 416,000 undocumented Asian Americans living in California, 15% of the state’s undocumented residents.“Issues that affect immigrants and the undocumented in California af-fect Asian Americans and NHPI,” said Stewart Kwoh, president and executive director of APALC in Los Angeles. “Our communities urge President Obama and Con-gress for reform that promotes family unity, provides a path to legalization and citizenship for the undocumented, and creates a pro-cess for immigrant students who have lived here for most of their lives to obtain legal residency.”The report can be found on APALC’s website:  www.apalc.orgThe report also notes the impact of the economic crisis on Asian American and NHPI communities. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of unemployed Asian Americans in California grew 196% between 2006 and 2010, the most of any racial group statewide. Data from

the U.S. Census Bureau show the number of NHPI and Asian Ameri-cans living below the poverty line statewide increased 138% and 50%, respectively, over a simi-lar period. Today nearly 540,000 Asian Americans and nearly 27,000 NHPI in California live in poverty.“Asian Americans and NHPI in California were hit hard by the recession,” said Hyeon-Ju Rho, executive director of ALC in San Francisco. “As the state legislature begins to tackle a new policy agen-da, safety net programs remain crit-ical to those in our community who are trying to get back on their feet.”Healthcare is another critical is-sue. Approximately 14% of Asian Americans and 15% of NHPI in California do not have health in-surance, rates higher than Whites (10%). Among ethnic groups, 27% of Korean Americans and 25% of Samoan Americans statewide lack coverage. As California works to implement the Affordable Care Act (ACA), it should ensure accessibil-ity to the limited English profi cient; just over one in three Asian Ameri-cans and one in 10 NHPI statewide experience some challenge com-municating in English that impacts his or her ability to access basic services, including healthcare.“We hope the report promotes a better understanding of our grow-ing and diverse communities,” said Joanna Lee, senior research analyst at APALC. “California can’t craft good public policy on Asian Ameri-cans and NHPI without good data.”The report was made possible through the generous support of the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation, the Cyrus Chung Ying Tang Founda-tion, and Bank of America.

hindi pa namin na-receive ang transmittal,” she said on govern-ment-run dzRB radio, when asked if the bill would be signed into law on Feb. 25.

Feb. 25, 2013 is the 27th anniver-sary of the EDSA-1 People Power revolution, which ousted Marcos and installed President Benigno Aquino III’s late mother Corazon to the presidency in 1986.

Some reports had said President

Aquino might sign the bill into law on that date.

Valte also said the Palace is still waiting for another measure, the bill for the K-to-12 basic education program, to be transmitted after its ratifi cation.

Earlier this week, both houses of Congress ratifi ed the human rights violation victims’ compensation bill, a landmark measure that will fi -nance claims by victims of Martial

Law.Under the measure, a P10-billion

fund plus interest is to be appro-priated to the claimants. Th e fund will be sourced mainly from funds transferred to the government by the Swiss Federal Supreme Court and held in escrow.

On the other hand, both houses of Congress also ratifi ed the K-to-12 Basic Education Reform pro-gram. (MNS)

Binay’s offi ce said.Lanuza, a 39-year-old draughts-

man, went to work in Saudi Arabia in 1995. He was sentenced to death after he admitted stabbing his vic-tim to death in 2000.

However, Binay said another Filipino death row prisoner, Joselito Zapanta, is expected to be behead-ed soon unless more than $800,000

in blood money is paid to the fam-ily of his Sudanese landlord, who he murdered in 2009.

Th e construction worker won a four-month stay of execution in mid-November to give him more time to raise the amount but is still believed to be a long way short of raising the required funds.

Labour rights monitor Gary

Martinez, who runs Migrante Inter-national, a migrant workers’ rights group, said about 125 Filipinos were on death row abroad – most of them in China on drug convic-tions. About nine million Filipinos work overseas. Th eir remittances are a mainstay of an economy that has struggled to create well-paying do-mestic jobs.

counties.Th e member agencies whose

offi cers and agents participate on the Inland Empire Child Exploi-tation and Prostitution Task Force (ICEP) include: the Ontario Police Department; the Pomona Police Department; the Riverside Police Department; the Riverside Coun-ty Sheriff ’s Department; the San Bernardino Police Department; and the FBI. Th e task force investi-gates matters of child exploitation, primarily the sexual traffi cking of minors. On Th ursday and Friday night, the ICEP Task Force coor-

dinated and led several operations to identify and recover victims of sexual traffi cking, resulting in the recovery of two juveniles, as well as multiple arrests on charges includ-ing pandering, pimping, prostitu-tion, and human traffi cking. Th e various investigations are ongoing.

Th e ICEP Task Force coordinat-ed these eff orts with the Riverside County Anti Human Traffi cking Task Force (RCAHT), as well as with the Hemet Police Department; the Upland Police Department; and the Chino Police Department.

Th e cases for those arrested will

be presented to the District Attor-ney’s Offi ces in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.

Th e ICEP is part of the FBI’s National Innocence Lost Initia-tive, established in 2003, to address criminal enterprises involved in the domestic sex traffi cking of children.

Th e program combines the re-sources of state and federal law enforcement agencies; prosecutors; social service providers; and non-governmental organizations, and training is provided with the as-sistance of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

dio technician Roland Letriro last Saturday in Jolo, Sulu. Th e two, to-gether with Atyani, have been held by the notorious bandit group since June last year. Authorities believed that Atyani is still alive and is still in the hands of the ASG.

Vela and Letriro, meanwhile, were brought to Camp Crame in Quezon City to undergo further

investigation. Th e two earlier said that they were clueless why they were released by the bandit group and there was also no information whether ransom money was paid for their freedom.

Th e Abu Sayyaf reportedly had demanded P130 million ($3.1 mil-lion) for the release of Atyani and his team. Meantime, Malacanang

said the government will continue to impose a news blackout in eff orts to save the remaining hostages of the ASG. “Any sensitive operation would require government not to disclose to the public for operation-al reasons and I’m sure the public would sympathize with why we do not disclose sensitive operations,” said Lacierda. (MNS)

The FBI South Sound Gang Task Force (SSGTF) has arrested fi ve subjects believed to be responsible for takeover-style bank robberies in Washington. The sub-jects entered banks in groups, covered head-to-toe in loose clothing and gloves, and demanded money while jumping over teller counters.

The SSGTF arrested Anthony V. Mosley, 46, of Tacoma, Washington; and four residents of Los Ange-les, California: Kevin L. Brown, 38; Curtis W. Smith, 22; Douglas L. Smith, 22; and Jeanine M. Daniel, 32. Per the arrest warrant, investigators are still pursuing two additional subjects from Los Angeles, California: Charles A. Williams, 39, and Janalisa Estrada, 33.

According to the federal criminal complaint, the seven individuals conspired to commit the crime of bank robbery and committed at least three bank rob-beries in Washington state: on September 6, 2012, a U.S. Bank Branch in Lakewood, Washington; on Oc-tober 22, 2012, a Wells Fargo Bank branch in Seattle, Washington; and on December 20, 2012, a Wells Fargo Bank branch in Kirkland, Washington.

The SSGTF continues to investigate the possible connection between these subjects and additional bank robberies conducted with similar methods – a Septem-

ber 13, 2012 robbery of a Washington Federal Bank in Federal Way, Washington; at least 10 bank robberies in Michigan committed between August 2011 and August 2012; and at least one bank robbery in Ohio in 2012.

FBI agents initially arrested the fi ve subjects on De-cember 22, 2012, on state bank robbery charges. The SSGTF arrested the subjects as they prepared to board a 2:55 p.m. Greyhound bus to Los Angeles, California. Investigators were waiting at the bus station, based on information that the group frequently traveled to Los Angeles by Greyhound bus within days of a bank rob-bery.

The charges contained in the complaint are only al-legations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendants will make their initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Seattle at 1:30 p.m. today.

The case is being investigated by the FBI South Sound Gang Task Force, in partnership with the Lake-wood Police Department’s Gang Unit and the FBI Se-attle Safe Streets Task Force. FBI entities nationwide collaborated in the investigation, including the Ann Arbor, Toledo, and Los Angeles offi ces.

FRESNO, CA, Jan. 31 – A federal grand jury re-turned a nine-count indictment today charging Antho-ny Edward Fuerst, 51, of Modesto, with seven counts of armed bank robbery and two counts of brandishing a fi rearm during a crime of violence, United States At-torney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

According to court documents, Fuerst was arrested after he robbed two Modesto banks in less than two hours. During those robberies, he brandished a sawed-off shotgun. Further investigation revealed that he was responsible for fi ve other armed bank robberies in Modesto. They are as follows:

Citibank, 1340 Oakdale Rd.: March 9, 2012; June 12, 2012; and August 27, 2012;

Farmers and Merchants Bank, 901 N. Carpenter Road, August 13, 2012;

Chase Bank, 2609 McHenry Avenue, on September 17, 2012;

Farmers and Merchants Bank, 3001 McHenry Av-enue, January 18, 2013; and

BBVA Compass Bank, 2601 Oakdale Road, January

18, 2013.This case is the product of an investigation by the

Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Modesto Po-lice Department. Assistant United States Attorney Mel-anie L. Alsworth is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Fuerst faces a maximum statutory pen-alty for each count of armed bank robbery of 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fi ne. The mandatory mini-mum statutory penalty for the fi rst count of brandish-ing a fi rearm during a crime of violence is 10 years’ imprisonment, with a maximum of life imprisonment. A subsequent conviction for brandishing a fi rearm dur-ing a crime of violence carries a mandatory minimum statutory penalty of 25 years, with a maximum of life imprisonment. Any sentence, however, would be deter-mined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sen-tencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

FBI South Sound Gang Task Force arrests subjects wanted for takeover-style bank robberies

Modesto man indicted for seven armed bank robberies

LOS ANGELES

THE US ASIAN POST Wednesday - Tuesday, February 6-12, 2013 Visit www.usasianpost.com 7

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MANILA, Feb 5, 2013 (AFP) – Strug-gling Philippine farmer Liezl Balmaceda has never heard of Madonna, but the US pop star’s endorsement of coconut water may help change her life for the better.

After centuries of replenishing Filipinos, the mineral-rich liquid has become a must-have health drink thanks to aggressive mar-keting by a beverage industry looking to off -set soda sales that have lost their fi zz.

Balmaceda, 33, and her husband process truckloads of coconuts at their backyard each week to get the meat that is turned into veg-etable oil. Th e arduous labor earns the family of fi ve about $9 a day, barely enough to get by on.

“We just throw the water away when we extract the copra (coconut meat). But if you tell me people actually pay money to drink it, we could use the extra cash,” she told AFP in rural Mulanay town, four hours’ drive south of Manila.

In his most recent state of the nation ad-dress, President Benigno Aquino hailed coconut water as one of the country’s most promising new export opportunities.

He cited industry fi gures showing exports jumping more than nine-fold to 16.76 mil-

lion litres (4.4 million gallons) in 2011.Manila-based Fruits of Life is one local

business to have started profi ting from the growing appreciation in the West for coconut water as an alternative to sugar-laden carbon-ated drinks.

“People have become more health-con-scious in general,” said Phoebe de la Cruz, sales manager for Fruits of Life.

“Athletic types have taken to coco water for its natural electrolytes.”

Fruits of Life, which began exporting its own branded product in 2006, now exports about 240 tonnes in cans and tetra packs a year directly to supermarket chains in the United States and Canada.

Th e biggest players in the global bever-age industry, including Coca-Cola and Pep-si, have also jumped into the coconut water health drink craze in recent years.

ZICO, a US coco water brand majority owned by Coca-Cola, has supermodel Gisele Bundchen and basketball star Kevin Garnett as its endorsers.

Meanwhile, pop stars such as Madonna and Rihanna, as well as baseball player Alex Rodriguez, are among celebrity shareholders in Vita Coco, one of the other major brands

now dominating the world market of coconut products.

Its 0.33-litre (11-ounce), $3 drink is tout-ed as a healthier alternative to energy drinks for athletes and the company boasts an offi ce in New York’s Flatiron District.

Held back by logisticsTh e Philippines is already the world’s big-

gest exporter of coconut products.Big Philippine mills have for years pro-

cessed desiccated coconut meat and turned it into powder for baking biscuits, snack bars, cakes and pastries.

Coconut fl esh is also turned into vegetable oil used for cooking and in a range of com-mon household products, including bath soap.

Supply is not a problem in the Philippines with 350 million coconut trees growing from the beaches up to its hills and yielding 15 bil-lion fruits a year, according to industry regu-lator the Philippine Coconut Authority.

In the Philippines, coconut water remains a popular, cheap drink, with stalls selling it straight from the fruit—a common site throughout the big cities as well as the coun-tryside.

However, because of a lack of demand as

well as the costs required to process and pre-serve it, the water had never been profi table enough to sell overseas, Philippine Coconut Authority chief Euclides Forbes told AFP.

“From mere waste it’s being turned into gold,” Forbes said.

Nevertheless, Agriculture Secretary Pro-ceso Alcala said that while coconut water holds the potential of improving the lot of impoverished Filipino coconut farmers, lo-gistical issues held the industry back.

“Th e demand is huge. Th e only problem is how to bring the liquid to the processing cen-tres before it spoils, since most coconut farms are in hilly areas without good roads,” Alcala said.

Meanwhile, some farmers remain skeptical that they will cash in on the Western craze, citing the fact they have remained poor for decades while big business has profi ted from other coconut exports.

Among them is Rodolfo Aquino, 68, who is paid by traders to haul coconuts by ox-drawn cart about two hours’ drive from Ma-nila.

“Whether they want the meat and water or just the meat, we get paid the same,” Aqui-no told AFP.

Magsasakas hope for coconut craze windfall

MANILA, Feb 5, 2013 (AFP) – Th e Philippine Supreme Court has again stopped the government from enforcing a controversial cybercrime law, offi cials said Tuesday, amid concern it would severely curb Internet freedoms.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said a fresh “temporary restraining order” (TRO) issued by the Supreme Court meant the law passed last year could not take eff ect.

“We submit to the court’s discretion and respect such decision to extend the TRO,” she told AFP in a text message. “It’s not a total defeat. It’s just a TRO pending deter-mination of the merits of the petitions.”

President Benigno Aquino signed the law in September last year, amid huge on-

line protests, to stamp out cybercrimes such as fraud, identity theft, spamming and child pornography.

But opponents swiftly sued over provi-sions that authorize heavy prison terms for online libel and give the state powers to shut down websites and monitor online ac-tivities.

Th e court in October issued a four-month injunction that was to have lapsed this week, as it scrutinised the law for pos-sible violations of constitutional provisions on freedom of expression.

De Lima did not say how long the new injunction would be in force and Supreme Court offi cials declined to comment.

Aquino spokesman Ramon Carandang

said the government acknowledged the public’s concerns.

He noted that even its chief lawyer, Solicitor-General Francis Jardeleza, had publicly acknowledged that shutting down websites may be illegal.

“As the president said, it’s not a perfect law and even ( Jardeleza) had questions about the takedown provisions,” Carandang told AFP.

Jardeleza however has also said this provision was not enough reason to strike down the entire law.

Democracy.Net.PH, a Philippine online group advocating Internet freedom, in a statement applauded the court’s “respon-siveness to public sentiment”.

“While we hope that the Supreme Court will settle the unconstitutionality of the (law), the ultimate resolution lies with Congress,” it said, urging parliament to pass a law promoting online rights and security.

Aquino specifi cally backed one of the most controversial elements of the law, which mandates that people who post de-famatory comments online be given much longer jail sentences than those who com-mit libel in traditional media.

“I do not agree that it (the provision on libel) should be removed. If you say some-thing libellous through the Internet, then it is still libellous...no matter what the format,” Aquino, son of assassinated Sen. Ninoy Aquino, told reporters.

Philippine Supreme Court again blocks the new cybercrime law

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(Relaxnews) – For plastic surgeons around the globe, business is booming, at least according to the latest market report.

Th ursday in Paris, the IMCAS, a con-gress dedicated to plastic surgeons and dermatologists, kicked off its annual meeting, and, in conjunction with the event, has released the latest industry fi g-ures.

Th e global market for plastic surgery and anti-aging techniques – including Botox and fi llers, lasers and equipment for body contouring, and breast implants – was about €4.4 billion in 2012, up by 10 percent compared to 2011. Th e world market is expected to hit as high as €5.2 billion this year, according to the report.

From 2013 to 2017, estimates show that Europe’s interest in plastic surgery will continue to grow, despite a tough economic climate, by about 6.6 percent.

Th e US and Latin America market will grow at a rate closer to 10 percent a year, while Asia-Pacifi c region will grow at a rate of more than 14 percent per year.

Th e American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reported this month that men account for almost 10 percent of plastic surgery procedures in the US, a 121 percent increase from 15 years ago. 

According to a recent Los Angeles Times

article, plastic surgeons in Kabul, Af-ghanistan, are seeing an increasing num-ber of patients who want a nip and tuck.

Plastic surgery clinics are report-edly a growing trend, refl ecting both a rise in independence for wom-en and the infl uence of Bollywood.

The global market for plastic surgery and anti-aging techniques was about €4.4 billion in 2012, according to industry reports. Photo: CandyBox Images/shut-terstock.com

From boob jobs to Botox, plastic surgery is on the rise

Anti-aging surgery has soared in the UK as well, according to Th e Guardian this week.

A total of 43,172 surgical procedures were carried out last year, according to the British Association of Aesthetic Plas-tic Surgeons.

Th e majority of those procedures were breast augmentation surgeries, but last year saw a rise in brow lifts and face and neck lifts. 

According to the report, Americans un-derwent nearly 14 million cosmetic pro-cedures in 2011.

(Relaxnews) – Turns out that fl u suff erers can emit small virus particles into the air at greater distances than previously thought – at a whopping six feet, or nearly two meters.

Researchers from Wake Forest School of Medicine in North Carolina screened 94 patients with fl u symptoms admitted to the emergency room or care center of Wake Forest Baptist Medical during the 2010-2011 fl u season.

“Our study off ers new evidence of the natural emission of infl uenza and may provide a better understanding of how to best protect health care providers dur-ing routine care activities,” the researchers wrote in the report.

Th e team collected air samples from around the patients at varying distances, and also jotted down the number of times the patients coughed or sneezed, rat-ing the severity of the symptoms.

Th e study authors found that 65 percent of the patients tested positive for the fl u. Of this group, 43 percent released particles containing the virus into the air. What’s worse is that the sickest people released the highest levels of virus into the air. Plus some were “super emitters,” as the researchers described, emitting up to 32 times more virus particles into the air than other patients.

Flu sufferers can spread germs up to nearly two meters away

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(Relaxnews) – If you consider sex the same as a good workout, think again. You’re (sadly) only burning on average 21 calories, researchers claim.

David Allison, a biostatistician at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, tested the “sexercise” theory—that sex can be exercise – but found that sex lasted only six minutes on average, burning a paltry 20 or so calories. Despite the many times you’ve likely heard that sex burns between 100 and 300 calories, that’s based on an old, small study, the researchers say.

Th e fi ndings, published online Th ursday in the New England Journal of Medicine, claim that false assumptions like this are part of the reason for the obesity epidemic.

Other misconceptions include the concept that eating a little less and exer-cising a little more, over the long term, won’t produce large, long-term weight changes. Recent data, the authors say, shows that people lose much less weight when they burn it over a longer period of time.

Also while some believe that skipping breakfast can cause weight gain, the research team found that that depended on whether or not people were used to skipping breakfast.

Marriage is good for the heart: studyMarried people are less prone to heart attacks than singletons and more likely

to recover if stricken, according to a Finnish study published Th ursday.Researchers collected data on 15,330 people in Finland between the ages of

35 and 99 who suff ered “acute coronary events” between 1993 and 2002.Just over half of the patients died within 28 days of the attacks.Th e team found that unmarried men in all age groups were 58-66 percent

more likely to suff er a heart attack than married ones.For women the nuptial benefi t was even greater -- single women were 60 to

65 percent more likely to suff er acute coronary events, the Finnish researchers wrote in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.

For both genders, wedlock also considerably lowered heart attack mortality.Unmarried men were 60-168 percent and unmarried women 71-175 percent

more likely to die of a heart attack within 28 days, compared to their unhitched counterparts.

‘Sexercise’ burns a paltry 20 calories per sessionResearch fi nds that sex burns on average 21 calories. Photo: Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock.com

(Relaxnews) – After decades of lobby-ing from animal rights groups, the Euro-pean Union is set to ban sale of animal tested cosmetics from March 11 this year.

Th e European Union will ban the im-port and sale of animal-tested cosmetic products (including ingredients) for member states from March 11; from this date onwards anyone selling new cosmet-ic products and ingredients in the EU will not be allowed to test them on animals anywhere in the world.

Th is isn’t just for high-end products: all toiletries and beauty products, from skin cream to toothpaste, will be aff ected. Th e ban has been planned since 2009, but some activists feared a delay to the deci-sion.

EU Commissioner Tonio Borg wrote an open letter to animal testing cam-paigners informing them that the ban is due to go ahead as proposed, and stating that he was “not planning to propose a

postponement or derogation to the ban.”Earlier this year, Israel also passed a ban

on animal testing. Chief Executive of charity Cruelty Free

International Michelle Th ew said: “Th is is truly an historic event and the culmi-nation of over 20 years of campaigning. Now we will apply our determination and vision on a global stage to ensure that the rest of the world follows this lead.”

One of the world’s largest markets, China still demands animal testing as a safety precaution. According to PETA, Chinese companies are required by law to pay for testing before some cosmetics can be marketed to the public. Th e animal rights group has recently been working in Beijing, training scientists to test cosmet-ics with alternative in-vitro methods.

L’Oreal earlier has given $1.2 million to the Environmental Protection Agency to help develop chemical tests which do not involve using animals.

EU bans animal testing for cosmeticsThe late Anita Roddick, founder of the Body Shop, was a leading campaigner for cruelty-free beauty. Photo: PR NEWSWIRE EUROPE

East Hanover, N.J., January 23, 2013 – Novartis announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Exjade (deferasirox) for the treatment of chronic iron overload in patients 10 years of age and older with non-transfusiondependent thalassemia (NTDT) syndromes and with a liver iron concentration of at least 5 mg of iron per gram dry weight and a serum ferritin measurement greater than 300 micro-grams per liter. Exjade is the fi rst treat-ment indicated for patients with these types of thalassemia in the United States.

Th e approval is based on results from the fi rst prospective placebo-controlled study of iron chelation in NTDT pa-tients, THALASSA, which showed a sig-nifi cant dose-dependent decrease in iron burden compared to placebo (p<0.001).

In this pivotal study, Exjade signifi cant-ly reduced the concentration of iron in the liver, known as liver iron concentra-tion (LIC), as well as the amount of iron anywhere in the body, measured by serum ferritin. Th e overall adverse event rate for Exjade was similar to the placebo arm.

“Patients with NTDT can suff er se-vere and life-changing complications from chronic iron overload,” said Elliott Vichinsky, MD, Medical Director, He-matology/Oncology, Children’s Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, Califor-nia. “In these thalassemia patients, excess iron starts to accumulate at birth yet is often undetected until serious symptoms appear in early adulthood. With this ap-proval of Exjade, physicians will be able to off er NTDT patients a treatment op-tion, helping fulfi ll a critical unmet need.”

Novartis drug Exjade fi rst treatment approved by FDA for chronic iron overload in patients with non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia

Th alassemia refers to a diverse group of genetic disorders that aff ect red blood cell production, causing anemia. Unlike patients with other types of thalassemia, those with NTDT syndromes don’t re-quire regular transfusions, a signifi cant cause of chronic iron overload. However, even without transfusions, NTDT pa-tients still accumulate excess iron through intestinal absorption, leading to debilitat-ing health complications like liver

fi brosis and cirrhosis, blood clots, bone disease, pulmonary hypertension, and vascular and endocrine diseases.

“For years, Exjade has eff ectively treated chronic iron overload in transfused thal-assemia patients,” said Alessandro Riva, Global Head, Oncology Development and Medical Aff airs, Novartis Oncology. “Now, for the fi rst time, thalassemia pa-tients who do not receive regular trans-fusions but suff er the same debilitating eff ects from chronic iron overload, have an approved treatment option.”

According to published studies, at least three quarters of a million people world-wide have NTDT syndromes, although as understanding of the disease increases it is probable the number will grow. Because NTDT patients are not symptomatic at birth, when most thalassemias are diag-nosed, they are often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Many complications associ-ated with chronic iron overload begin to ap-pear as early as age 10 and become increas-ingly common as patients reach their 20s or 30s. Most NTDT patients are of South and Southeast Asian, Mediterranean or Middle Eastern origin, with immigration broaden-ing the global prevalence.

Patients with NTDT accumulate excess iron increasing their risk of complications,

including liver fi brosis, cirrhosis, blood clots, and bone and vascular disease

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(Relaxnews) – Th e Arab world’s fi rst true super-car, the LykanHypersport 2013, is turning heads in its offi cial debut at the Qa-tar Motor Show this week.

Designed and developed to redefi ne the concepts of performance, luxury and exclusivity, the LykanHy-persport 2013’s creators, Beirut-based W Mo-tors, claim that its fl at-six, twin-turbocharged engine

delivers 750hp and will propel the car from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in 2.8 seconds to reach the breakneck maximum speed of 390 kilometers per hour. In doing so the car is entering Bugatti Veyron territory in terms of performance levels.

But to be a true hypercar, performance and luxury must go hand in hand, and so for those who demand

the fi ner things in life, the car’s LED headlights are diamond-encrusted while the seats feature real gold stitching. Th e instrument panel uses a revolution-ary 3D virtual holographic display and many of its functions and commands are motion- and gesture-activated.

Only seven examples of the LykanHypersport 2013 will ever be produced

‘Hypercar’ from Beirut on show in QatarA man walks past the fi rst Arabian supercar, LykanHypersport, dur-ing the third International Qatar Auto Show on January 28, 2013 in Doha. Created by Beirut-based W Motors the LykanHypersport is labeled as the most exclusive, luxurious and technologically ad-vanced Hypercar in the world that boasts never seen before cutting-edge technologies inside and out. AFP PHOTO / AL-WATAN DOHA / KARIM JAAFAR

and each one will come with a 24/7 concierge ser-vice and a special edition $200,000 Cyrus Klepcys Watch also limited to sev-en examples.

Of the car, Ralph Deb-bas, W Motors’ Chairman and Chief Executive Offi -cer said: “We only worked with the best in the fi eld, and not by coincidence, a majority of these compa-nies are based in Italy, a country with a proud tra-dition of producing some of the most iconic sports cars in history. And now, through this partnership, not only did we produce a one-of-a-kind car, but also, with great pride, the fi rst exclusively Arab brand of hypercars, an icon about to mark the industry forever.”

Th e LykanHypersport 2013 will retail for $3.4 million with the fi rst or-ders expected to be ful-fi lled in September 2013.

(Relaxnews) – Th e Japa-nese carmaker’s US arm follows Mercedes and Chevrolet by becoming the third company to of-fer Apple’s Siri Eyes Free feature on a number of its upcoming 2013 models.

Th e feature, which will be off ered as a dealer-in-stalled option on the 2013 Honda Accord and Acura RDX and ILX models, enables owners with an iPhone to connect their devices via Bluetooth and direct its Siri personal as-sistant to perform a num-ber of specifi c tasks with-out having to press the smartphone’s home key.

“iPhone has become so integral to people’s lives that they continue to use them in their vehicles,” said Vicki Poponi, assis-tant vice president of auto-mobile product planning, American Honda. “Of-fering Honda and Acura owners Siri and its Eyes Free mode via Bluetooth is an incredible opportunity to provide next-generation connectivity and meet our customer’s ever-changing needs.”

Apple debuted Siri’s Eyes Free mode, a feature aimed at the automotive market, at the 2012 World Wide Developers Confer-ence. In its showcase dem-onstration, a driver could access, via the press of a dedicated button on a car dashboard, a number of the iPhone’s features and use voice commands to in-struct Siri to make search-es or to read back emails and take dictation.

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It was no surprise that many of the questions during Wednesday’s press conference for the launch of “Wowowil-lie” were addressed to Ethel Booba, a surprise addition to the show’s bevy of female co-hosts.

Willie Revillame, the main man behind “Wowowillie”, told her pointblank: “May talent ka, gami-tin mo ng tama. I am giving you the chance uli. Sana, huwag mo na say-angin!”

Th e singer-comedienne arrived very early for the presscon – a good sign that she was taking this shot at redemption seriously. Th is might be the last chance she’ll get to revive her career.

Ethel used to be the funniest woman on television. She shot to stardom a decade ago as one of the hosts of “Extra Challenge”, a reality adventure show whose phenomenal success owed much to her comic antics. But her career went south even before the show ended in 2006, thanks to the notoriety she achieved with her tempestuous personal life.

Th anks to “Extra Challenge”, the word “pasaway” became synonymous with her with its original positive connotation – naughty, yes, but mostly adorable. But when she became pa-saway in real life in a reckless, self-destructive way, the public

stopped laughing and turned away.Is she ready to turn over a new leaf ? Ethel is confi dent that

her talents as an entertainer remain as bountiful as the bosom that gave her her stage name.

“Nasisira lang naman ako when it comes sa love life ko, eh. Pero ngayong binigyan ako ni Kuya Willie uli ng chance rito, excit-ed na akong mag-work uli. At maintriga,” she quipped.

She added, “Celebrity na ba ang peg ko now? Ano ang ipinangako ko? Sabi ko, magiging mabait na ako. Hindi naman ako salbahe. Natuwa ako nung tumawag sa akin si Kuya Willie. Sabi niya, pumunta raw ako sa kanya. And ito na pala ‘yun.”

Ethel did not exactly disappear from showbiz. Besides the occasional TV guest-ings, she became a fi xture on the comedy bar circuit and, as she put it, “May mga booking pa rin naman sa mga shows here and there.”

She recalled the fi rst time she worked with Willie. Th at happened on a taping of “Extra Challenge” in Bali, Indonesia where the main host, Paolo Bediones, had to leave

after only one day. Willie had come as a guest but pinch-hit for Paolo.

“Ang ending, siya ang naging host, at ako ‘yung gumawa ng mga challenge. Pinag-bungee jumping niya ako. Sabi niya, tanga nga ako, eh. Pumayag ako. Pero ‘yun ang isa sa

nagkaroon ng highest ratings na episode ng show. Kaya ako ngayon, pasalamat na lang sa mga gaya ni Kuya Willie. Na naaalala kaming mga minsang nakasama niya,” she said.

For Ethel, “Wowowillie” marks not only a reunion with Willie but also a return to the TV channel where she actually got her start. Th e year before “Extra Challenge” launched her career, Ethel had made her TV debut as a singing champion on the ABC-5 talent contest “Sing Galing”.

So, can we expect to see the nasty rumors about her laid to rest from here on?

“Pagdating naman sa trabaho ko, hindi naman ako pas-away. Nagiging pasaway lang ‘pag naloloka sa pag-ibig. Pero ngayon, wala muna ‘yun. Napagod na muna ang puso ko. Tama, sarili ko naman ang isipin ko. Alam n’yo naman ang pagka-tao ko. Na hindi naman ako masamang tao. Pas-away na kung pasaway. Sa puso.

“Sa trabaho eh, raket na lang nang raket. Para maka-ipon pa. Lahat ng kanegahan, tapos na, burado na. Ibang Ethel Booba na ito. Pero ‘yung istura ‘yun pa rin, ha? Parang may kalong lang na puwet ng bata sa dibdib. tattoo sa buong likod. Basta!”

Ethel declared on Saturday during the premiere telecast of “Wowowillie”: “I’m back!”

Willie then told her, mindful of the 70 countries and ter-ritories reached by global channel Kapatid TV5, “O say hello around the world.

She quipped, funny as ever, “Around the world, hello!”If Ethel can continue to be at her best behavior, Filipinos

everywhere might want her to greet them “Hello!” everyday from now on. (MNS)

Ethel Booba gets shot at redemption with ‘Wowowillie’ hosting gig

Ethel Booba

Veteran actor Eddie Garcia joined the cast of much-awaited series “Juan dela Cruz” which stars Coco Martin.

“Well I’m really looking forward to it dahil si Coco he has a lot of following and he is a good actor. So, sa palagay ko ay magkakasundo kami and we will try to make the best for ‘Juan dela Cruz,’” Garcia said as he signed a contract with ABS-CBN for the said soap.

Garcia, said that he is physically ready for the action-packed series.

“I was sick for about two weeks, OK na naman. Still alive and kicking,” he said.

In the series, the veteran actor will play the role of the lead character’s grandfather.

“Lolo ako ni Coco, parang mentor niya ako dito,” he said.

“Juan dela Cruz,” Garcia’s fi rst series with Kapamilya network. Th e series will pilot on Monday (February 4) after TV Patrol.

As one of the best actors of his generation, Garcia also

gave unsolicited advise to young stars.“Well mahalin mo ang trabaho mo , huwag mong bigyan

ng sakit ng ulo ang co-stars mo especially the directors. Be prompt, know your role and avoid tsismis,” Garcia said.

“Ang paggawa ng pelikula o telebisyon ay trabaho lang, dapat pagbutihin mo because it would be your best recom-mendation for your next as-signment,” says Garcia, who’s also a good director.

Last year, Garcia won two best actors awards for his performance in the fi lm “Bwakaw.”

He is also hoping to bring home the best actor trophy from 7th Asian Film Awards this March. (MNS)

Eddie Garcia joins Coco in ‘Juan dela Cruz’

Eddie Garcia

Vice Ganda will portray four characters in an up-coming comedy fi lm co-starring Maricel Soriano and Gabby Concepcion.

Following the blockbuster success of “Sisterakas” and “The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin,” Vice Ganda and director Wenn V Deramas will work to-gether anew for “Girl Boy Bakla Tomboy.”

Th e Viva Films production will see the fi rst team-up of the “It’s Showtime” host and Soriano.

“Sobrang masayang masaya ako dito sa paparating na project ko kasi kasama ko si Inay Maria (Soriano). Eh noon ko pa ‘yun wini-wish eh,” Vice Ganda said.

Th e comedian-host related that he had been asked in an earlier interview on what he wants to achieve in his career.

“Sabi ko, ‘Dream ko masampal ni Maricel Sori-ano.’ ‘Di ba kumpleto na ‘yung pagiging artista ko ‘pag masampal ako ni Maricel Soriano? Sa movie lang ah, hindi sa totoong buhay,” he said, laughing.

Referring to his four characters in the movie, Vice Ganda said his roles “Girl Boy Bakla Tomboy” may be his most challenging to date.

“Gusto ko pag lalaki ako, gusto magpalaki ng ka-tawan. Gusto ko pag girl ako, bigyan sana nila ako ng time magpapayat ulit, para mukhang babae,” he said.

According to Vice Ganda, Soriano and Concep-cion will play his parents in the movie.

“Pinangarap ko ‘to, pinagdasal ko ‘tong pelikulang ito, kaya gagalingan ko,” the comedian-host said.

Th e big screen project, which is set to start fi lming on February 12, comes after a recent controversy in-volving Soriano and actor Gerald Anderson.

Last week, reports on Soriano’s alleged outburst on the set of the upcoming drama series “Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin” circulated online.

Soriano’s manager and ABS-CBN – which is pro-ducing the TV series – have since decided to exclude the “Diamond Star” from the cast. Actress Dawn Zulu-eta will replace Soriano in the project.

Commenting on the contro-versy, Vice Gan-da said, “Lahat naman tayo, lahat naman ng tao, marami pang pagka-kataong darat-ing pa. Hindi naman natata-pos ang lahat sa isang pang-yayari lang.” (MNS)

Vice Ganda, Maricel to team up for new film

Vice Ganda

Fans of actress Anne Curtis will once again see her on the silver screen this year as she is gearing up to do another movie.

In an interview dur-ing People Asia maga-zine’s People of the Year Awards, Curtis said she is working on a movie but is not allowed to re-

veal any details about the project yet.

“I’ ll be doing an upcoming film starting soon. Aban-gan niyo na lang ‘yung announcement kung what it is. We don’t know yet if it’s gonna be a (romantic-come-dy) so we still have to see. Surprise,” she said.

Curtis’ last big screen project was “A Secret Af-fair” which was shown in October last year. Prior to that, she starred in the blockbuster movie “No Other Woman.”

Her last romantic-com-edy project, however, was “Babe I love You” in 2010 with her former boyfriend Sam Milby.

Meanwhile, Curtis said she is “very grateful” for the People of the Year recogni-tion given by the magazine.

Having been recognized for two years in a row, Cur-tis said such recognition always gives her a sense of achievement.

“I’m actually very, very happy. This is my second year. Thank you to People Asia talaga for yet again making me People of the Year. It makes you feel ap-preciated in this industry. You can’t help but be thank-ful that there are people who appreciate your craft,” she said. (MNS)

Anne Curtis gearing up for new movie

Anne Curtis

THE US ASIAN POST Wednesday - Tuesday, February 6-12, 2013 Visit www.usasianpost.com 7

Visit www.usasianpost.com Wednesday - Tuesday, February 6-12, 2013 THE US ASIAN POST8