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MANILA, July 21, 2014 (AFP) – The death toll is still rising and hundreds of thou-sands of homes are without power fi ve days after Typhoon Rammasun’s (known locally as Glenda) rampage through the Philippines, authorities said Monday.

Reports of fatalities from the typhoon, which struck the ar-chipelago on July 16, continued to come in from isolated areas, bringing the number of dead to 97, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said in a statement.

Offi cials have said most were killed by falling trees and debris

or knocked down by the storm’s powerful winds. Six people, most of them fi shermen who went out to sea, also remained missing, the council said.

The Department of Energy said power had been restored to many areas but about 280,000 households in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces were still without electricity. Other provinces that felt the storm’s fury also had only partial elec-trical service as power compa-nies struggled to repair tens of thousands of toppled electrical poles, said department spokes-woman May Militante.

The Manila Electric Co.,

which distributes power to the capital and surrounding areas, hopes to have electricity re-stored to virtually all affected areas by Wednesday, the de-partment said.

But areas outside the capital region may not get power back till the end of the month, Mili-tante warned.

However the country will likely be spared the fury of Ty-phoon Matmo.

It approached the archipel-ago over the weekend but now appears likely not to hit land but to move northwest towards Taiwan, the government weath-er station said.

President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the inauguration of Ciudad de Victoria (City of Victory) in Bocaue, Bu-lacan on Monday (July 21). Ciudad de Victoria is a 50-hectare tourism enterprise zone established by the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) in time for its centennial celebration on Sunday (July 27). (MNS photo)

MANILA, July 21, 2014 (AFP) – Philippine President Benigno Aquino presided over the opening on Monday of what is billed as the world’s largest indoor stadium, erected by a political-ly-infl uential religious sect.

The $175-million Philippine Arena, which can seat 55,000 people, was hailed as a showcase that will serve as a major venue for concerts and sports events as well as gatherings for its owners, the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) sect.

“You have proved that the Filipino can reach great heights, that we can have achievements as lofty as any in the world,” Aquino said in a speech to Iglesia members.

He hailed the 15-storey structure as “the largest domed arena in the whole world”, saying its capacity was “even double that of the Staples Center in Los

Angeles”, a major sporting and enter-tainment venue.

Ground-breaking was in July 2011 for the stadium, which has a fl oor area of about 99,000 square meters (1.065 million square feet) and a height of 62 metres, and the facility was formally completed this month.

Located in Bocaue town, just out-side the capital, the arena’s construc-tion is just one of many events marking the centennial of the Iglesia ni Cristo on July 27.

The Christian sect also said the sta-dium will have a capacity about double that of other popular indoor arenas like New York’s Madison Square Garden.

However the Singapore National Stadium, completed in June, also seats 55,000 people and has been hailed in the press as the world’s largest domed

LOS ANGELES, July 21, 2014 (AFP) – Texas Governor Rick Per-ry on Monday announced plans to send 1,000 military reservists to the state’s border with Mexico, to tackle a surge in immigrant children fl ooding into the United States.

Perry, a Republican regard-ed as a potential candidate for the 2016 presidential race, has taken a hard line against immi-grant children seeking to enter the United States from Central America.

He warned of a “monumental

The White House said a fl ight deporting 40 women and children back to Honduras served as a “signal” that new illegal immigrants were not welcome. More than 57,000 unaccompanied minors, from infants to 17-year-olds, were apprehended crossing into the United States between October 1 and June 30. US offi cials predict 90,000 by the end of September, compared with 39,000 in all of 2013, 25,000 in 2012 and 16,000 in 2011. In 2015, the government predicts, 145,000 children will be apprehended.

By Ivan Couronne

WASHINGTON, July 21, 2014 (AFP) – The arrival of huge num-bers of unaccompanied Central American children at the south-ern US border has overwhelmed authorities in the United States lacking the fi nancial and legal means to curb the illegal infl ux.

President Barack Obama has insisted new arrivals will be sent home, but it remains unclear how much that has done to stem the fl ow – although offi cials say the number of apprehended child mi-grants has decreased recently.

Scrambling to address the hu-manitarian crisis, US lawmakers introduced a plan last week to speed repatriation of the youths to their home countries.

The White House said a fl ight deporting 40 women and children back to Honduras served as a “sig-nal” that new illegal immigrants were not welcome.

On Friday, Obama meets with the presidents of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras to collaborate on ways to prevent young Central Americans from taking the perilous journey over-land through Mexico.

Unprecedented wave

More than 57,000 unaccom-panied minors, from infants to 17-year-olds, were apprehended crossing into the United States between October 1 and June 30.

US offi cials predict 90,000 by the end of September, compared with 39,000 in all of 2013, 25,000 in 2012 and 16,000 in 2011.

In 2015, the government pre-dicts, 145,000 children will be ap-prehended.

The total number of undocu-mented adult and child immi-grants arrested at the border reached a peak of 1.2 million in 2005. It dropped to 328,000 in 2011 before rising to 414,000 last year.

Unaccompanied minors Only recently, they were arriv-

ing at the rate of 200 to 250 per day, Homeland Security Secre-tary Jeh Johnson told lawmakers on July 10.

But on Monday, the White House said such daily apprehen-sions have dropped to an average of 150.

If they are alone and do not hail from US border nations Mexico or Canada, authorities are required to provide them shelter and move them within 72 hours to housing MANILA, July 19, 2014 (AFP)

– The Philippines ordered its some 100 nationals in Gaza to leave the besieged Palestinian territory Saturday, as the death toll from 12 days of Israeli strikes rose to 318.

“In view of the threats to secu-rity posed by the Israel-Hamas confl ict to Filipinos in the Gaza Strip, the Department of Foreign Affairs has raised Alert Level 4 in Gaza,” a statement said.

That level means “mandatory evacuation” of Filipinos by Phil-ippine embassy staff from Cairo, Tel Aviv and Amman and with the help of the United Nations, it added.

The department said there were an estimated 109 Filipinos living in Gaza when the deadliest border fl are-up since 2012 began nearly two weeks ago.

The fi ghting followed last month’s kidnap and murder of three young Israelis in the occu-pied West Bank and the brutal revenge killing of a Palestinian

Binibining Pilipinas USA winners: (From left) 2ND Runner Up Gabbie Gonzales; Binibining Pilipinas USA–Tourism Czarina Hermoso; Binibining Pilipinas USA 2014 Christelle Abello and 1st Runner Up Caitlin San Diego. Not in photo is 3rd Runner Up Lovely Jane Tanglao. Photo: Andy Edralin/Aze Media

Los Angeles, July 19 – After an eventful and dramatic Coro-nation Night at the Centinela Valley Center for the Arts in the South Bay, Los Angeles, organiz-ers of the 2014 Binibining Pilipi-nas USA, late Saturday evening, clarifi ed and confi rmed the offi -cial results for its second annual pageant.

The offi cial results: Binibining Pilipinas USA: Christelle AbelloBinibining Pilipinas US Tour-ism: Czarina Hermoso 1ST Runner Up: Caitlin San Diego2ND Runner Up: Gabbie Gonzales3rd Runner Up: Lovely Jane Tanglao With the fi nal two can-didates on stage for their crown-ing moments, it was initially announced that Binibini No. 4, Czarina Hermoso, a 17-year old beauty, won the title of Binibin-ing Pilipinas USA 2014.

Instead, Binibini No. 9, Christelle Abello, a 20-year old stunner, scored the highest rank-

ings and should have been pro-claimed the titleholder of Binib-ining Pilipinas USA, rather than her announced Binibining Pili-pinas USA-Tourism crown. Im-mediately after this on-stage an-nouncement and with the show at the close, the lead tabulator ran into the audience to tell the organizers that Abello was the actual winner.

By then the stage was in cha-os, and the executive team imme-diately began to investigate what transpired, leading to a confer-ence between tabulators and se-nior production staff.

“We have determined that this was not a tabulation error, as the votes were validated and certi-fi ed correct,” explained pageant co-executive producer, Norberto Reyes; “it was not an error com-mitted by the hosts, since they merely read the results given to them.

Glenda death toll rises

INC opens world’s largest indoor arena in PHL

Facts and fi gures on child migrants heading to US

Filipinos told to leave Gaza

Texas governor to send 1,000 troops to Mexico border

Controversy, fall mar Binibining Pilipinas USA coronation nightPageant organizers announce ‘real winners; Finalist Lovely Jane Tanglao ‘stable and recovering’ after freak accident

See INC OPENS, page 12

See CHILD MIGRANTS, page 12

See TEXAS, page 12

See FILIPINOS, page 12See CONTROVERSY, page 12See OBAMACARE, page 12

WASHINGTON, July 22, 2014 (AFP) – A US federal appeals court delivered a stinging and potentially crippling blow to Presi-dent Barack Obama’s health care law Tuesday, ruling that insur-ance subsidies may not be available to millions of users.

In a judgment it said has “major consequences,” the DC Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the Obama administration cannot subsidize Americans who purchased their coverage through a government website, and that tax credits established under the 2010 law can only be issued to residents of states that set up their own so-called exchanges for buying insurance.

The law unambiguously “limits the availability of premium tax credits to state-established exchanges,” two of the panel’s judges wrote in a 72-page ruling.

The decision could severely hamper the law’s mandate of bring-ing affordable health care to millions of Americans.

The decision impacts 27 states where predominantly Republican governors or state houses are opposed to so-called Obamacare, and another nine states that have partially opted out.

The ruling stated that the law “plainly distinguishes exchanges established by states from those established by the federal govern-

US appeals court deals blow to Obama’s health care law

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MANILA, July 19 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Saturday as-sured relatives of the three Fili-pinos who perished in Friday’s Malaysia Airlines MH17 trag-edy of assistance in trying to repatriate the remains of their loved ones. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said this includes facilitating the trips of the relatives to Malaysia or The Netherlands.

“Handa naman tayong mag-extend ng ganoong assistance (for repatriation). Normally we extend repatriation assistance to loved ones of Filipinos who may have perished in other

countries so handa tayo magbi-gay ng assistance,” she said on government-run dzRB radio.

“Kung nanaisin nila magpun-ta sa Malaysia or Netherlands, handa tayo magbigay ng tulong kung sakaling kailangan ng passport or visa,” she added.

Malaysia Airlines on Fri-day confi rmed three Filipinos were among the 298 who per-ished when MH17 went down over Ukraine. In the meantime, Valte said Philippine offi cials in Malaysia and Ukraine continue to coordinate with authorities there for more information. (MNS)

wKUALA LUMPUR, July 21, 2014 (AFP) – The remains of Flight MH17 victims will be handed over to the Neth-erlands, while Malaysia will receive the doomed plane’s black boxes after Kuala Lumpur struck a breakthrough deal with Ukrainian separatists on Monday.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said he had agreed with the prime minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, Alexander Borodai, that the remains of 282 people will be moved by train to the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv and handed over.

He also added that a Malaysian team would be handed the two black boxes at approximately 9:00pm Ukraine time (1800 GMT) on Monday, and that in-dependent international investigators would “be guaranteed safe access” to the crash site to begin their probe.

The doomed fl ight was downed Thursday – likely by a missile – in a region controlled by Ukrainian separat-ists and access to the crash site has been hampered by armed militants prompting global condemnation.

All 298 people aboard the Amster-dam-Kuala Lumpur fl ight were killed with bodies and debris strewn over a wide area. Of the people aboard, 193 were from the Netherlands and 43 from Malaysia, including the 15 crew mem-bers.

“We need to know what caused the

plane to crash, and who was responsible for it, so that justice may be done,” Na-jib said in a televised statement.

He urged “all parties (to) continue to work together to ensure that this agree-ment is honored”.

He added Malaysia had been work-ing “behind the scenes to establish con-tact with those in charge of the MH17 crash site”.

“That contact has now been made... Tonight, we have established the basis of an agreement,” Najib said, adding that he had earlier spoken to Borodai.

‘Anger and grief’ -During his statement the Malaysian

premier hinted at some of the frustration and anger his government had felt in the aftermath of the plane going down.

“In recent days, there were times I wanted to give greater voice to the anger and grief that the Malaysian people feel. And that I feel. But sometimes, we must work quietly in the service of a better outcome,” he said.

Under the agreement, six Malaysian members of the recovery team will ac-company the train carrying the victims’ remains, which would leave this eve-ning Ukraine time, Najib said.

An eyewitness saw the train carrying the bodies pull out of Torez station in eastern Ukraine around the same time as Najib was speaking.

The remains will then be fl own to

Amsterdam on board a Dutch C130 Hercules, accompanied by the Malay-sian team, Najib added.

The remains of Malaysian victims would be fl own back to Malaysia after “any necessary forensic work”.

“I must stress that although agree-ment has been reached, there remain a number of steps required before it is completed,” Najib said.

“There is work still to be done, work which relies on continued communica-tion in good faith.”

The United States and Ukraine has alleged that the Boeing 777 was shot out of the skies by a missile system, sup-plied by Moscow to separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine.

The rebels have blamed Ukraine for the shooting and Russia has insisted Kiev should be held responsible for the disaster.

US President Barack Obama insisted Monday that Russia must force rebels in the region to cooperate, calling chaos at the crash site an “insult” to the victims’ families.

MANILA, July 20, 2014 (AFP) – Philippine President Benigno Aquino, who has been criticized for his own inability to quit smoking, has signed a law requiring tobacco companies to print graphic warning pictures

on packets, his spokesman said Sunday.

The bill signed Friday has long been campaigned for by health advocates but is opposed by the tobacco industry.

It requires companies to de-vote about half the space on packets to warnings including photographs of internal organs rav-aged by smoking.

The Philippines has long had a confl icted at-titude towards smoking, with the government trying to discourage it even as it encourages a politically powerful to-bacco-growing industry.

In 2013 Aquino signed a “sin tax” bill dramati-cally raising the taxes on tobacco products.

The Philippines is the latest developing coun-try to follow Western na-tions in requiring shock pictorial health warn-ings.

A similar Indonesian law came into force in late June, but was ini-tially widely ignored.

According to a 2009 survey, 28 percent of adult Filipinos are smokers.

MH17 bodies to be handed over to Netherlands: Malaysia

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MANILA, July 21 (Mabuhay) – If the pres-idential elections were held last June, Vice President Jejomar Bi-nay would have emerged the winner by a wide margin, according to a new survey by pollster Pulse Asia.

Pulse Asia’s survey, conducted June 24 to July 2, had asked 1,200 respondents who among 11 personalities they would vote for as Presi-dent if the 2016 elections were held at the time.

Incidentally, the Pulse Asia results came on the same day polllster Social Weather Stations said that public satisfac-tion of Binay, along with several government in-stitutions, dipped in the second quarter of 2014.

Binay, who is pres-ently housing czar and presidential adviser on overseas Filipino worker concerns, got 41 percent of the vote nationwide

He also led in all geo-graphic areas and class-es, getting 44 percent of the vote in Metro Ma-nila, 41 percent in Bal-ance Luzon, 37 percent in Visayas and 42 per-cent in Mindanao.

Also, he got 36 per-cent of the vote among Class ABC, 42 percent among Class D, and 40 percent among Class E.

Sen. Grace Poe, who topped the senatorial race in 2013, was second with 12 percent of the overall votes for presi-dent.

Poe, who ran under the administration coali-tion’s senatorial lineup last year, was second in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon and Visayas, and Classes D and E, but was fourth in Mindanao and third among Class ABC.

Binay leads survey

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MANILA, July 21 (Mabuhay) – The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said the number of Special Allot-ment Release Orders (SAROs) does not indicate the reach of the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

The budget department also said the SAROs do not mean the lawmakers re-ceived cash.

“No cash nor projects are given to leg-islators. Instead, what lawmakers only do is nominate projects from a list of pri-orities that will benefi t their constituents or districts. The funds for these projects are then released to and implemented by national agencies,” the DBM Public Infor-mation Unit explained.

The DBM was reacting to a Philippine Daily Inquirer report that said lawmak-ers account for 90 percent of the SAROs from the DAP. The report went on to say that the individual SAROs were worth be-

tween P95,000 and P10 million.“Judging the DAP by these fi gures is

misleading to the public. When the DBM issues SAROs to implementing agencies for legislator-backed projects, that usu-ally involves several SAROs all at once,” the DBM said.

It said each allocation per legislator is used for different projects, thus different SAROs. “These include releases to State Colleges and Universities for scholarship grants, hospitals for medical assistance, and local governments for local infra-structure projects, among others.”

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad also said lawmakers use their allocation for several projects to respond to the differ-ent needs of their constituents.

“It’s not uncommon for lawmakers to use their respective allocations for sev-eral projects under various implementing agencies. The number of projects support-

ed by a single allocation can easily go up to around 20 projects per legislator, and if you multiply that by the number of House Representatives, you will naturally arrive at a large fi gure,” Abad said.

The DBM did not confi rm nor deny, however, if there were indeed 900 SAROs given to lawmakers.

Abad, who has been criticized for his lack of transparency in the DAP account-ing, said a detailed list would soon be available.

“Most of the funds released through DAP were in fact made to National Gov-ernment departments. After all, we were looking at accelerating government dis-bursements, and we could do that by sup-porting fast-moving and high-impact proj-ects, many of which are under national agencies. The list we will soon be releas-ing will show just that,” Abad claimed.(MNS)

MANILA, July 21 (Mabuhay) – The pub-lic prosecutor in Senator Ramon “Bong” Re-villa Jr.’s plunder and graft raps has moved to block his motion for reconsideration that sought to reverse the Sandiganbayan’s rul-ing fi nding probable cause to proceed with the case against the lawmaker.

“In the minutes of the proceedings held on June 19, the honorable court, in per-forming its mandated task to make a judi-cial determination of probable cause for the issuance of a warrant of arrest against the accused, upheld the Ombudsman’s fi nding of probable cause in the instant cases, and ordered the issuance of a warrant of arrest against the accused,” the prosecution said.

In his earlier motion, Revilla asked the Sandiganbayan fi rst division to reconsider its June 19, 2014 resolution, denying his Motion for Judicial Determination of Prob-able Cause.

Revilla reiterated that the court should rule a lack of probable cause since the in-formation listed businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles as the mastermind of the alleged multibillion peso fund scam that diverted pork barrel funds to bogus NGOs.

“With regard to Revilla’s assertion that the case for plunder against him should be dismissed considering that the information charges Napoles as the mastermind of said felony, the same is totally without basis.

The information clearly charges Revilla Jr. and/or Richard Cambe for having conspired with one another and with co-accused Na-poles, Lim and De Asis, in receiving kick-backs,” the prosecution’s comment added.

The prosecutors also said that Revilla shouldn’t be questioning the merits of the case. “With regards to accused Revilla’s claim that there is nothing on record to support the Ombudsman’s fi nding that accused Revilla committed the crimes charged against him in the instant cases, these are matters of evidence which are better subjected to the scrutiny of the court after a full blown trial on the merits,” the prosecution said. (MNS)

MANILA, July 21 (Mabuhay) – dSenate President Franklin Drilon urged the De-partment of Budget and Management (DBM) to release all documents relating to the Disbursement Acceleration Program, especially the special allotment release or-ders (SAROs) made available to lawmak-ers.

“The records are with the DBM and Sec-retary Florencio Abad said that the DBM is conducting a thorough research on the matter. Upon the completion of its report, the DBM should release them for the sake of transparency,” said Drilon.

Citing sources, the Philippine Daily In-quirer reported on Monday that lawmakers account for 90 percent of the SAROs from the DAP.

The report went on to say that the indi-vidual SAROs were worth between P95,000 and P10 million.

“These are public records and it is only right that the public be given access to these documents so that they can scruti-nize and fi nd out if public funds were in-deed put for public use,” Drilon said.

The administration has been heavily criticized for the alleged lack of transpar-ency in the spending of the DAP.

The DAP fi rst came to the public’s at-tention when Senator Jinggoy Estrada re-vealed it was used as incentive for those who moved to oust Chief Justice Renato Corona.

The Supreme Court would subsequently declare acts under the DAP unconstitu-tional.

Drilon, who has supported the DAP, also reiterated his call to the COA to conduct a comprehensive audit.

“The COA should heed calls for a com-plete audit of DAP. Only a COA report would dispel fears that these funds were used for personal gains,” he said.

COA is allegedly one of the recipients of the DAP.(MNS)

MANILA, July 21 (Mabuhay) –The impeachment complaint fi led against President Benigno Aquino III is “unwar-ranted” because he did not violate the law in implementing the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), Malacañang said Monday.

“We are asserting that the actions that were taken in connection with the DAP were done within the parameters of the law. That is our position,” Com-munications Secretary Hermino Coloma Jr. said.

In a text message, Coloma described the impeachment raps as “premature,” since the executive branch is still ap-pealing the Supreme Court decision de-claring certain acts under the DAP as unconstitutional.

Earlier in the day, progressive party-list lawmakers endorsed the fi rst valid

impeachment complaint against Aquino at the House of Representatives fi led by 27 complainants.

Aquino is being accused of betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution for supposedly using funds under the DAP as “presidential pork barrel.”

Let House decideDuring a separate press briefi ng on

Monday, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda maintained that Aquino did not use the DAP to undermine congres-sional powers.

“We have a difference of opinion in that. The SC has already mentioned the positive effects of this [DAP]. This is our understanding on how we can use sav-ings, to make sure that savings are used effectively,” Lacierda said.

Asked if the absence of pork bar-

rel funds allocated by the executive to lawmakers will affect the actions of the House on the impeachment complaint, Lacierda said, “I think the Congress peo-ple have their own discernment on the allegations in the complaint, so we will let them use their own discernment to judge the complaint.”

The Palace offi cial added that it will let the House, which is dominated by ad-ministration allies, to determine if the President needs to be impeached.

“We will defer to the House. They have House rules to deal with the impeach-ment complaint. As you know, the role of the House in impeachment complaints is to be the fi scal. They will assess, and based on their rules, they will look into these allegations,” Lacierda said.

Earlier this month, the SC unani-mously declared certain acts under

DBM: Lawmakers didn’t get DAP in cashDrilon to DBM: Release DAP SAROs of lawmakers

Prosecution opposes Revilla’s motion for reconsideration

Impeach raps vs. Aquino unwarranted – Palace

the government’s DAP as unconstitu-tional, including the declaration of un-programmed and unobligated funds as savings, the transfer of funds from one government branch to another, and the funding of projects not stated in the na-tional budget.Last Friday, the executive branch asked the high court to recon-sider its DAP ruling, maintaining gov-ernment offi cials acted in good faith in implementing the spending mechanism. (MNS)

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OPINIONMANILA, July 21 (Mabuhay) -- Facing eroding public satisfaction

ratings and controversies involving the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), President Benigno Aquino III on Monday appealed to his critics to stop casting doubts on his administration.

During a speech at the inauguration ceremonies of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC)’s multibillion-peso Philippine Arena in Bulacan, Aquino quoted Bible verses several times, and told his detractors to act like Christians.

“May iilan ho na makakahanap ng batikos kahit sa pagdalo ko rito. Ang masasabi ko lang po, kung kapwa ko kayo na Kristyano, tungkulin nating magmahalan sa halip na maghasik ng agam-agam,” the Presi-dent said.

Members of the Iglesia ni Cristo met Aquino’s Bible quotes with loud applause, prompting the President to say in jest, “Napapaisip po ako ...kapag nag-quote po ako sa Bible kahit matagal ko na kasama-han, nabibigla po.”

The Iglesia ni Cristo is a religious group known for voting as a bloc during elections, with an estimated command vote of 5 to 8 million. It has ministries in 102 countries.

During the 2010 elections, the Iglesia ni Cristo supported Aquino’s successful presidential bid.

In his speech, the President likewise thanked the religious group for its continued support for his administration.

“Maraming salamat po sa pagiging kabalikat ng administrasyon sa pagsulong ng mabuting pamamahala,” Aquino said.

The Aquino administration has been facing criticism for the past months over the DAP, the administration’s controversial spending mechanism declared partially unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. The executive branch appealed the DAP ruling last Friday.

Pollster Pulse Asia earlier reported a signifi cant drop in Aquino’s trust and approval ratings based on a survey covering he period when certain acts under the DAP were struck down by the high court.

Progressive members of the House of Representatives have already expressed intention to fi le impeachment complaints against Aquino over the DAP. (MNS)

By Marion Thibaut with Stephane Orjollet in Donetsk

TOREZ, July 21, 2014 (AFP) - Dutch forensic experts on Monday began ex-amining the bodies from the MH17 plane disaster, as world leaders denounced the “shambolic” state of the crash site left in the hands of pro-Russian rebels.

Kiev’s prime minister said the remains of some 250 victims of the 298 killed when the fl ight went down last week, apparently shot by a surface-to-air mis-sile, had been recovered and moved to train cars, and could be transferred to the Netherlands.

But the bodies are in rebel-held territory where Kiev holds no sway, near the city of Donetsk where intense shelling broke out again on Monday.

The UN Security Council is expected on Monday to adopt an Australia-backed resolution demanding that pro-Russian separatists grant unrestricted access to the crash site for international experts.

Patience was wearing thin over Moscow’s stance, even as President Vladimir Putin pledged Russia would do “everything in its power” to resolve the Ukrainian confl ict and to open access to the site.

The under-fi re Russian leader appeared to seek to temper world fury after Washington said it had overwhelming evidence the missile system used to shoot down the Malaysia Airlines jet was transferred from Russia to the rebels.

After speaking with Putin, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott noted he had “said all the right things” but that he would “hold the president to his word”.

“That is certainly my intention, and it should be the intention of the family of nations to hold the president to his word,” Abbott said, as concerns rose over tam-pering with evidence including the victims’ remains and the plane’s black boxes.

Twenty-eight Australian nationals and nine residents were among the passen-gers from a dozen countries on the doomed fl ight.

At the Torez station, close to Donetsk, an AFP reporter witnessed the Dutch investigators, wearing masks and headlights, open each of the train wagons hold-ing the remains of recovered bodies, amid an overpowering stench.

Civilians fl ee Donetsk fi ghting -Even as Putin pledged to work toward dialogue between the Ukrainian rivals,

intense shelling rained down in the rebel stronghold Donetsk, just 60 kilometers from Torez where the bodies are being held.

Insurgent fi ghters had closed off the roads in the area on the edge of the city and terrifi ed civilians were fl eeing the fi ghting in minibuses and on foot.

A rebel fi ghter told AFP that government troops had attacked their positions close to the transport hub at around 10 am (0700 GMT).

“They came within about two kilometers of the station,” insurgent gunman Volodya told AFP.

Crash site ‘shambolic’ -Even as Dutch teams were inspecting the bodies, international investigators

have yet to gain access to the actual crash site in Grabove, with debris spread out for kilometers.

“As anyone who has been watching the footage will know, this is still an abso-lutely shambolic situation,” Australia’s Abbott said.

Malaysia’s transport minister Liow Tiong Lai has also expressed concerns that “the sanctity of the crash site has been severely compromised”.

Only a team of confl ict monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) were allowed briefl y to access the main crash site.

US Secretary of State John Kerry has slammed as “grotesque” the manner in which “drunken separatist soldiers” were allegedly “unceremoniously piling bod-ies into trucks, removing both bodies, as well as evidence, from the site”.

Insurgents defended their actions, with a rebel chief saying they had moved scores of bodies “out of respect for the families”.

‘Russia-supplied missiles’? -Washington has pointedly blamed Moscow for supplying rebel with the missile

system used to shoot down the passenger jet.

MANILA, July 21 (Mabuhay) -- Donning red and black colors, judiciary employees nationwide staged their ‘Black and Red Monday’ protest amid Mala-canang’s perceived defi ance of the Supreme Court (SC) ruling striking down as unconstitutional the Aquino administration’s Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

The Judiciary Employees Association (Judea) said the action is in defense of judicial independence and the Constitution amid President Aquino’s ti-rades against the high court amid the unanimous DAP decision, in a televised speech.

Aside from wearing black and red, several court employees also pinned red and black reports, with several wearing ‘Labanan ang Diktador’ shirts with a yellow ribbon taking the place of the letter “o.”

The protest action is also aimed at expressing the court employees’ dismay towards Bureau of Internal

Revenue (BIR) Memorandum No. 23-2014, dated June 20, 2014, which taxes their benefi ts by 32%.

In an open letter to all judiciary offi cials and em-ployees, Judea said Monday’s protest is but the “fi rst wave of actions.”

“The Aquino presidency is taxing as much from salaried workers and employees while allowing tax holidays to big business and worst impounding our taxes to form part of the unconstitutional DAP.

“We all know that these benefi ts form part of our take-home pay since our earned salaries are not enough to support a decent life for our families, more importantly of the rank and fi le employees,” the letter read.

Judea also thanked the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Em-ployees (Courage), which joined judiciary employees in their ‘Red and Black Monday’ protest.(MNS)

BOCAUE, Bulacan, July 21 (Mabuhay) – Presi-dent Benigno S. Aquino III was all praises for the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) on Monday as it celebrated its 100th anniversary with the historic unveiling of the 75-hectare, one-stop multi-purpose complex called Ciudad de Victoria (City of Victory).

“Angkop nga po ang pangalan ng lugar na ito – na may kahulugang ‘Lungsod ng Tagumpay’ — lalo pa’t sinasalamin nito ang mga nakamit na tagumpay ng Iglesia sa nagdaang siglo,” President Aquino told a jam-packed Philippine Arena in a speech following the inauguration ceremony.

The 55,000-seater Philippine Arena, recognized as the largest domed indoor arena in the world, is part of the Ciudad de Victoria.

President Aquino noted that a lot of organizations pay a great deal of respect to the INC as an institu-tion, not only in the Philippines but throughout the world, since its establishment in 1914 by the honor-able Felix Manalo.

“Talaga naman pong ikinalulugod ko ang pagka-kataong maging bahagi ng pagtitipong ito. Personal nga po nating sinusuportahan ang isang istitusyong tulad ng Iglesia sa maalab na paghubog ng inyong mga miyembro bilang mga tapat na alagad ng ating Panginoon,” he said.

The INC is known as a close-knit religious organi-zation, whose congregation leaders visit their mem-bers and actively encourage them to participate in various church activities and other community ser-vices.

Ciudad de Victoria, the President said, serves as a concrete example of the exceptional unity mani-fested by the people of INC throughout the years.

“Naipatayo ito mula sa buong-pusong paghahan-dog ng inyong mga kasapi, kaakibat ang hangar-ing makatulong sa mabubuting gawain at misyon

ng Iglesia. Patunay din po ito sa tayog ng mithiing kayang maabot ng mga Pilipino, at sa kakayahan nating makipagsabayan sa buong mundo,” he said.

President Aquino said he was amazed at how the Philippine Arena managed to live up to its billing upon completion of its construction, as it is double the size of the famous Staples Center in Los Ange-les, California, USA.

The Philippine Arena alone reportedly cost more than $200 million to build and is sturdy enough to withstand natural calamities, including super ty-phoons and earthquakes.

“Pero batid nating itinayo ang istrukturang ito, hindi para makipagpaligsahan. Ipinagawa ito para sa banal at dakilang layuning noon pa man ay pinangarap na ni Ka Eraño Manalo – ang magta-guyod ng espasyo upang maglingkod at ibahagi ang biyaya ng Panginoon sa lokal at pandaigdigang ko-munidad,” the President said, referring to the late executive minister of the INC.

Apart from the world’s largest arena, other major infrastructure expected to rise soon in the Ciudad de Victoria are the Philippine Sports Stadium, New Era University, Eraño G. Manalo Medical Center, as well as housing projects, shops, and leisure parks.

Offi cials of the INC said these structures were built not only for their members, but for other Fili-pinos of different religious affi liations and foreign tourists as well, who would like to experience the convenience these facilities provide.

“Taos-puso po tayong nagpapasalamat sa Iglesia ni Cristo sa pagmamalasakit ninyo sa ating kapwa; tunay pong ipinapamalas po ninyo ito, hindi lang sa salita, kundi sa gawa. Maraming salamat po sa pagiging kabalikat ng ating administrasyon sa pag-susulong ng mabuting pamamahala,” the President said. (MNS)

MELBOURNE, July 18, 2014 (AFP) - The world AIDS community was in mourning Fri-day with as many as 100 passengers reportedly on a crashed Malaysia Airlines plane heading to Australia for a global conference on the epi-demic.

Flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, which US offi cials believe was hit by a surface-to-air missile over Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board, was due to connect with another fl ight to Melbourne.

The Sydney Morning Herald said as many as 100 of those who died were delegates en route to Melbourne for the 20th International AIDS Con-ference, which is due to begin on Sunday.

The Australian broadsheet reported 108 at-tendees and family members were killed, in-cluding prominent former International AIDS Society president Joep Lange.

Also on board was Glenn Thomas, a spokes-man for the World Health Organization, who was similarly headed for the conference, the UN agency said Friday.

Denis Napthine, the premier of Victoria state which is hosting the conference, said a “sub-stantial” number of those attending were on the plane.

“We know it has been confi rmed a number of senior people who were coming out here – re-searchers, medical scientists, doctors, people who have been at the forefront of dealing with AIDS across the world – were on that fl ight,” he said.The exact number was not yet known, he said, “but there is no doubt that it is a substan-tial number”.

The International AIDS Society confi rmed that “a number of our colleagues and friends” were killed, but did not say how many.

Asked by reporters whether 108 people at-tending the conference were on the fl ight, In-ternational AIDS Society president Francoise Barre-Sinoussi said she was not sure.

“We don’t have the confi rmation (of num-bers),” said the Nobel laureate.

In a tweet, UNAIDS executive director Michel Sidibe said “many” delegates were on board.

‘They would want conference to go on’Held every two years, the International AIDS

Conference is a forum for campaigners to high-light developments in fi ghting the disease and discuss fi nancing problems.

It was this year also expected to channel an-ger about laws in Africa that stigmatize homo-sexuality and in the former Soviet Union that punish intravenous drug users – a crackdown

now extended to Russian-annexed Crimea.Barre-Sinoussi said it would go ahead despite

the tragic news.“The decision to go on, we were thinking

about them because we know it’s really what they would have liked us to do,” she said.

Some 12,000 participants are due to take part, joined by former US president Bill Clinton and rock singer and poverty activist Bob Geldof.

Barre-Sinoussi paid tribute to Dutchman and leading AIDS researcher Lange, who has been involved in HIV research and treatment since 1983, saying he had dedicated his life to “the benefi t of mankind”.

Offi cials from the PharmAccess Foundation, which Lange launched in 2000 to facilitate ac-cess to treatment for HIV and AIDS patients across Africa, said his death was “a massive loss”.

Lange’s “dedication to the treatment of HIV/AIDS and global health in general has been groundbreaking,” PharmAccess managing di-rector Onno Schellekens said in a statement.

WHO offi cials also marked the loss of Thom-as, the agency spokesman. “It is with deep sad-ness that WHO lost one of our colleagues in the Malaysia crash,” communications offi cial Greg-ory Hartl told reporters in Geneva of the Briton.

“His twin sister said he died doing what he loves,” Hartl said, adding that no other UN staff were aboard the doomed airliner.

American academic and AIDS activist Gregg Gonsalves tweeted that there were “lots of AIDS researchers, activists, offi cials on downed Ma-laysia Airlines fl ight to Melbourne for Intl AIDS Conference”.

Of the 298 onboard the plane, 154 were Dutch nationals. There also were 43 Malaysians and 28 Australians, as well as passengers from In-donesia, Germany, Belgium, the Philippines, Britain and Canada.

London-based AIDS campaigner Mark Get-tleson said some of those on the fl ight were from the STOPAIDSNOW group, which works to of-fer care and treatment to those affected by HIV and AIDS, and support prevention initiatives.

The fl ight took off from Schiphol airport in Amsterdam and was supposed to land in Kuala Lumpur early Friday. A scheduled connection to Melbourne was due to arrive Friday evening.

Some 35 million people live with HIV, al-though global AIDS-related deaths and new in-fections have fallen by more than a third in a de-cade, raising hopes of beating the killer disease by 2030, the United Nations said Wednesday.

Bible-quoting Aquino tells critics: Stop casting doubts on my administration

Experts examining Ukraine crash bodies

Judiciary protest fi ghts ‘yellow dictatorship’

President Aquino extols Iglesia ni Cristo on its 100th anniversary

World AIDS community mourns colleagues on crashed Malaysian plane

THE US ASIAN POST Wednesday - Tuesday, July 23 - 29, 2014 Visit www.usasianpost.com 5

Offi cials of the US Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division paid a courtesy call on Philippine Consul General in Los Angeles Leo Herrera-Lim on July 14.

The Labor offi cials came to wel-come Consul General Herrera-Lim and discuss joint commitments be-tween their offi ce and the Philip-pine Consulate General in Los An-geles on ensuring workers’ rights of Philippine nationals. The meet-ing also touched on proposed ac-tivities for the Labor Rights Week in August including joint outreach programs and exploration of col-laboration in consonance with

the alliance agreement signed on 28 October 2013 between the Consulate General and the US Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (US DOL WHD), Western and Southwest Regional Offi ces, to educate Filipino work-ers, both legal and illegal, on their rights to fair wages and working conditions.

The alliance agreement estab-lishes a collaborative relation-ship to provide “low wage, at-risk” workers in Southern California, Southern Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas with informa-tion, guidance, and access to edu-

US Dept. of Labor offi cials meet with ConGen Herrera-Lim

The Panorama Knights, a non-profi t community organization, will be holding its Induction of Offi cers and Dinner Event on Wednesday, August 27, 2014 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The guest speaker and inducting offi cer will be Deputy Consul General Imelda Panolong of the LA Philippine Consulate. The event will also be attended by prominent community leaders and offi cials from the local govern-ment.

The Group has been actively involved in Church and Community Projects over the previous years. Past projects include the Fundrais-ing event in one of the Parishes in the Valley, and active participa-tion in the ‘Kalayaan’ Philippine Independence Day and community activities hosted by the Philippine Consulate like the ‘Leyte Land-ing’, Bonifacio Day, ‘Bataan/ Corregidor Commemoration events.

The upcoming main project of the organization is the operation of its Charity Bingo to help the various charity recipient benefi ciaries that include Rancho San Antonio (Boys Town) in the San Fernando Valley, starting this coming October 2014.

The Executive Board is composed of Teddy Ortega – President, Vladi Rivera – Vice President, Rene Maylad - Secretary, Ben Chico-Treasurer, Tony Florendo – Auditor, Nick Mananghaya - Director, Sabie Cacananta – Director – Willie De Castro, Henry Osio – Direc-tor and Raul Baldomero – Director.

The Panorama Knights in action

US Labor offi cials (left photo) meeting with Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim and Deputy Consul General Imelda Panolong (right photo, Director of Public Relations Priscilla Garcia, Consul General Herrera-Lim, Community Outreach and Resource Planning Specialist Justin Emerick and Vice Consul Rainier Casis.cation and training resources to help workers understand the

rights and responsibilities of both employers and employees

under the US Fair Labor Stan-dards Act.

LOS ANGELES – In recent weeks, the delivery of balikbay-an boxes to the Philippines has been encountering long delays, prompting the Pilipino Ameri-can Shippers Association to reach out to tens of thousands of customers to explain the delays.

Joel P. Longares, one of the founders of PASA, an organiza-tion of balikbayan box forward-ers in the United States, said the delivery of balikbayan boxes are experiencing from three to six week delays because of at least three reasons.

The fi rst, Longares said, is the mandatory physical inspec-tion of all balikbayan boxes by the Department of Homeland Security in the Ports of Los An-

Cargo forwarders explain delays in balikbayan box deliveriesgeles and Long Beach and other ports in the US. He said before the inspection was random with only those that show signs of suspicious cargo during the X-ray screening sent for physical inspection.

“Now, it has become manda-tory for all containers leaving the US ports,” said Longares, who is president and CEO of At-las Shippers International, one of the biggest balikbayan box forwarders in the US. “When a container is subjected to DHS in-spection, it takes another two to three weeks before it can fi nally be loaded for shipping.”

With the 21-day sailing time, it takes six weeks for the boxes to reach Philippine ports.

But the biggest problem now,

their truck ban impositions are causing a big dent on the Phil-ippine economy, not to mention the troubles it is causing the ba-likbayan box industry.”

Longares said many marginal balikbayan box forwarders have already closed shop because of the added costs resulting from the inspections and the truck bans.

It now takes 40 to 45 days to deliver boxes in Metro Manila and up to 60 days to the prov-inces, according to several ba-likbayan box forwarders. The PASA is appealing to the public for patience and understanding. Atlas Shippers has sent an open letter to its customers all over the US to explain the delays.

Longares said the PASA is continually making representa-tions with the DHS offi cials to institute measures to expedite inspections, and with Manila and MMDA offi cials to remove or minimize the truck bans.

Longares said Philippine business leaders have protested the truck bans, saying that the impositions are affecting eco-nomic growth.

Alfredo Yao, president of the Philippine Chamber of Com-merce and Industry (PCCI), said that growth in the second quar-ter will be slower than the fi rst because of the backlog caused by the truck ban. The truck ban is seen to adversely impact growth for the whole year. “This has re-sulted in slower trade, lack of materials and opportunity lost for more production,” Yao said.

Victor Abola, economist at the University of Asia and the Pa-cifi c, said that the truck ban is a major internal threat to growth as it tends to produce higher prices due to disruptions in the delivery of goods.

Longares said, is the ongo-ing truck bans imposed by both the City of Manila and the Metro Manila Develop-ment Authority (MMDA). The truck ban has resulted in massive backlog and con-gestion in both the Port of Manila and the Manila In-ternational Container Port. It has also extended the turnaround time of cargo trucks from the ports and back to three days, instead of the usual one day.

This has resulted in con-tainers with the balikbayan boxes and other imported goods being stalled in the ports’ warehouses for anoth-er two to three weeks.

“The days of the 30-day delivery time from the send-ers’ door to the benefi ciary’s door is gone,” Longares said. “The DHS and customs in-spections may be around for-ever and it may take some time before the Manila and MMDA offi cials to realize

Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) will be replacing a section of one of its natural gas pipelines along Victoria Street from South Central Avenue to South Broad-way Stree. Expect traffi c delays on these streets starting July 28. Construction is expected to take approximately 3-4 months to complete.

The project, managed by SoCalGas, includes pipeline ex-cavation and pipeline installation. Work will be conducted in a series of short, approximately 200-foot sections, one-at-a-time.

At least one lane will be closed for the length of the pipe-line being installed on westbound Victoria Street. The lane closure will be in effect Monday thru Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

City of Carson is working with other agencies to keep residents and commuters informed.

Delays on Victoria St. starting July 28

The Miss Philippines USA 2014 Swimsuit Competition was held last Saturday (July 19) at the Inifi nity pool area in the Orange County estate of Carlito and Elizabeth Jocson (owners of The Yardhouse Restaurant). Swimsuit Competition Judges were com-posed of (inset from left) Richard Maghanoy, Vic Perez, Elizabeth Jocson, Chechel Joson, Imee Ong-Maghanoy and Joel Joves. There are 26 candidates vying for the title of Miss Philippines USA 2014. Photos: Marc Pijuan

Visit www.usasianpost.com Wednesday - Tuesday, July 23 - 29, 2014 THE US ASIAN POST6

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Washington, DC. July 20, 2014 – Chino Roque has his highest dreams come true, not only to be an astronaut, but the bonus of the being the fi rst Filipino astronaut. In 2015, Chino Roque is expected to travel to outer space with 22 other people who are now the proud recipients of a highly most likely a once-in-a-lifetime dream and expe-rience of traveling to space and back.

Last year, 2013, over 28, 000 Filipinos applied to the AXE contest, hoping to make the mark as the fi rst Filipino astronaut. The Philippines was fourth on the list of countries with the most applicants, follow-ing the top three, United States (108,000), United Kingdom (80,000) and France (42,000). Tickets for the space fl ight is sponsored by AXE, a brand of male groom-ing products owned by the British-Dutch company, Unilever. AXE is marketed to-wards the young male demographics. Each space travel ticket costs about $95,000.

Early December last year, after the number of applicants had been very seri-ously dwindled down to more than 100 ap-plicants from over 60 countries. Several screening tests to becoming an astronaut were set up consisting of mental aptitude tests, combat training in a fi ghter jet and zero-gravity fl ights, all meant to have the candidates prove themselves worthy of the highly coveted free space travel by Space Expedition Corporation, (SXC), a project by the makers of AXE. SXC manages space travel trips aboard the reusable XCOR Aerospace Lynx spacecraft. Lynx is the near future of space travel, as it is expected to begin fl ying customers in 2014 or 2015. Chino Roque said it has helped him a lot to focus on the task at hand to becoming an astronaut with the help of his training as

a sports coach. “Calmness is a virtue most necessary in the game” Roque beamed. The fi nal 23 were chosen after a yearlong com-petition and a week of astronaut training.

The XCOR Lynx is a sub-orbital horizon-tal take-off, horizontal-landing (HTHL), rocket-powered space plane being devel-oped by the California-based XCOR Aero-space. It is designed to compete in the emerging suborbital spacefl ight market. The concept had been under development since 2003, at a time, when a two-person suborbital space plane was announced with the name “Xerus.” Lynx Mark I is currently being fabricated and assembled.

Earlier, the La Salle Philippines Alumni Association and the Philippine American Foundation for Charities, amidst the cel-ebration fun with pizza and drinks, set up a very warm reception for Chino Roque. Roque shared a lot of his personal experi-ences and thoughts such as bringing a ro-sary, the Philippine fl ag and a third secret item with him to space. The La Salle Alum-ni members, of course, wanted to make their historical mark and requested the fourth item he can bring to space is a green t-shirt commemorating the 20th anniver-sary of their alumni association. Roque’s parents, relatives and close friends were there to share merriment with the commu-nity and offi cers and members of the two organizations. Roque mentioned that when he comes back from the Philippines, he dreams of being a commercial plane pilot and set up an aviation school in the Philip-pines when he comes home from his space travel.

Down-to-earth, sporty, intelligent, young and handsome, Roque signed auto-graphs and posed for pictures with every-one delighted to acknowledge his new ce-lebrity status.

Chino Roque, the fi rst Filipino astronaut and the future space travel

Chino Roque is expected to travel to outer space with 22 other people who are now the proud recipients of a highly most likely a once-in-a-lifetime dream

LOS ANGELES

THE US ASIAN POST Wednesday - Tuesday, July 23 - 29, 2014 Visit www.usasianpost.com 7

(Relaxnews) – Researchers at Queens University in Canada challenged the common associa-tion of yoga and other exercise-based relaxation activities with relief from tension, stress and anxiety, concluding they can be benefi cial to those with social anxiety.

According to clinical psycholo-gy PhD candidate Adam Heenan, such activities are quite literally able to change people’s perception of the world, reducing threaten-ing and negative feelings.

“This is a big development be-cause it helps to explain why exer-cising and relaxation techniques have been successful in treating mood and anxiety disorders in the past,” says Mr. Heenan.

In the study, subjects were asked to either perform muscle re-laxation exercises similar to yoga, jog on a treadmill or, in the case

of the control group, just stand on the treadmill.

A total of 66 male and female par-ticipants between the ages of 17 and 29 were assessed, although no infor-mation on their state of mental health at the time of the study is mentioned and their level of social anxiety was assessed solely by means of Heenan’s tests.

To test subjects’ perception, Heenan asked participants to view a point-light display of a human walking and asked them to identify whether the fi g-ure was approaching them or not.

More subjects said the fi gure was walking towards them, a sign of social anxiety and intimidation, before their relaxation exercises rather than after.

“We found that people who ei-ther walked or jogged on a tread-mill for 10 minutes perceived these ambiguous fi gures as facing towards them (the observer) less often than those who simply stood

on the treadmill,” says Heenan.Heenan added that the result was the

same when the group who performed progressive muscle relaxation exercis-es was compared to the control group.

The fi ndings were published in the journal PLOS ONE, although this is not the fi rst academic study to con-clude that relaxation exercises have signifi cant health benefi ts.

In 2011 researchers in New Orleans found that not only does yoga reduce anxiety, it can also improve heart health. Researchers worked with 49 patients who suffer from atrial fi bril-lation, a condition characterized by irregular heart rhythms provoked by miscommunication among the heart’s natural electrical signals.

The test groups showed signifi cantly reduced symptoms after a three-month yoga intervention.

The study was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

According to clinical psychology PhD candidate Adam Heenan, exercise activities are quite literally able to change people’s perception of the world, reducing threatening and negative feelings.

(Relaxnews) – Everyone knows dancing is great exercise, so this sum-mer we’re taking that idea one step further and looking at opportunities to learn and practice various dance styles wherever you may go. If you’ve ever dreamed of being able to impress the crowd at a wedding or in a club, going aerial with your partner is a sure way to do it.

Acrobatic partner dancing fi rst wove its way into the Lindy Hop, which came into fashion in 1920s Harlem and has since spread to Europe and beyond.

Derived from swing dancing, Lindy Hop soon gave way to boogie woogie and fi nally rock ‘n’ roll dancing in the days of Elvis Presley.

The aeriel tricks of Lindy Hop are attributed to dance legend Frankie Man-ning who became famous for fl ipping his partner Frieda Washington over his shoulder during a ballroom competition

in Harlem.Today, lifts, dips, jumps, drops and

balances can be seen in partner dances around the world, from the six count rock in Paris to swing dancing in North America to the quebradita in Mexico. Due to the physical demands and poten-tial for danger, acrobatic tricks are not a standing obligation in any form of part-ner dancing, although there are plenty of moves easy to learn that pose little risk, yet are sure to be crowd pleasers.

Dancers who don’t plan to travel this summer can sign up for free to learn Lindy Hop aerial moves like the hat trick at LindyHopMoves.com.

Here, instructors point out that many acrobatic moves can be applied to a range of partner dances.

Starting in Ontario, Canada, the Swing Dynamite performing group shares its talent by offering acro-batic Swing and Lindy Hop classes, the

most advanced of which require audi-tions.

For a relaxed social dancing atmo-sphere and top level instruction from award-winning dancers, Cat’s Cor-ner of San Francisco offers a range of Swing and Lindy Hop acrobatic classes as well as Wednesday night swing so-cials to live music.

In upstate New York, Ithaca Dance offers various acrobatic partner dance classes including swing and Lin-dy Hop. If your summer vacation plans don’t include a trip to the Finger Lakes or the Adirondacks, Ithaca Dance of-fers a beginner level DVD that teaches basic dips. The group’s website offers a detailed description and instruc-tions for acrobatic moves, although classes are recomended for safety rea-sons. Acrobatic rock ‘n’ roll dancing became popular in Europe in the 80s, most notably among the French, who

Exercise, physical relaxation can help with social anxiety, study fi nds

are well known to embrace “le rock” with great exuberance.

Notable studios offering class-es in acrobatic rock in Paris in-clude Acro’swing and the Vincennes Rock Club, which offer instruction in English.

Professionals from Acro’Swing are currently touring Sweden to teach Lindy Hop and boogie woogie although the studio is large enough for classes to continue in Paris.

Nearby in Switzerland, the BC-Swing acrobatic rock club is home to many champion competitors and offers classes for all ages and levels.

London’s 2Rock acrobatic rock club invites thrill seekers to defy gravity this summer in its Monday night series at the Westminster Academy Sport Dance Studio, which occurs weekly from 8pm to 10pm for £14.

Quebradita is thought to have

been developed on the US-Mexican border and came into fashion in the late 1990s in Los Angeles.

Danced to fast banda music, on a base of ultra-sporty trot steps, it em-phasizes acrobatic tricks, of which it incorporates many, most of which can apply to other forms of acrobatic part-ner dancing.

The dance is said to be learned on the spot and is rumored to have fallen out of fashion among studio owners for that reason, although many salsa stu-dios may offer private lessons.

In Chicago, Latin Street Dance offers private quebradita les-sons for $65 per hour.

Although formalized competi-tions have increased the level of risk over the years, incorporating tricks like the double somersault, don’t mistake the term “acrobatic” to imply tumbling and contortionism.

Dance yourself fi t: Rule the fl oor with acrobatic partner dancing

LOS ANGELES

Visit www.usasianpost.com Wednesday - Tuesday, July 23 - 29, 2014 THE US ASIAN POST8

FAMILY FEATURES

You can heighten the fun of every outdoor gathering with the right nibbles, noshes and refreshments. A fruitful al fresco experience involves lively conversation with good friends, easy fi nger foods

and tasty, versatile drinks that fi t the laid-back atmosphere. For the hosts who long for a successful backyard bash, consider serving palate-pleasing Moscato. Th is deliciously sweet wine varietal has become very popular as its approachable fl avor profi le is a guaranteed crowd pleaser.Mix it up with fun fl avorsIn addition to the classic peach taste of the Gallo Family Vineyards Original White Moscato, try the aromatic orange blossom notes of their Pink Moscato or the yummy red berry fi nish of their Red Moscato.

Or, dust off your fi nest barware and make a splash by serving simple wine cocktails. Whether it’s a refreshing spin on a classic, like the Moscato-lini below, or your own recipe, Moscato’s fruit-forward fl avors make it a great and unexpected base for cocktails. Add a bit of fl areTo keep outdoor gatherings exciting, Gallo Family Vineyards off ers these refreshing tips: Label your food off erings for

guests in a fun way by cutting a slit in wine corks and insert-ing a small card.

Help guests cool down by serving sweet wine cocktails on ice.

Give your guests a fun way to keep track of their drinks by painting the bottom of wine glasses with chalkboard paint. Guests can use chalk to write their names and draw pictures.

For other ideas to make outdoor entertaining a hit, visit www.GalloFamily.com.

Food Pairing NotesMoscato is more than just a dessert wine. It tastes great with a variety of food and particularly helps balance out spicy dishes that heat up the night. No matter what cuisine you’re cooking up, a chilled glass of Gallo Family Vineyards Moscato and the pairing guide below are the perfect combination to elevate your outdoor engagements. White Moscato: Th e honey notes are a perfect match for grilled

seafood, such as shrimp or trout. Pink Moscato: Great paired with spicy Asian or Mexican dishes,

and complements everyday desserts. Red Moscato: Th is refreshing red is served cold. Try it with light

cheeses and juicy burgers.

Moscato Meatball SkewersPrep time: 15 minutesCook time: 30 minutesServings: 32 meatballs

2 pounds bulk spicy Italian sausage 1/2 cup Gallo Family Vineyards Red Moscato 1 cup plain Greek yogurt 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1/2 cup diced cucumber 1 lemon 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped Parmesan cheese, optionalPreheat oven to 350°F.

In large bowl, stir together sausage and Moscato until combined. Using medium cookie scoop, form meatballs and place on baking sheet, evenly spaced. Bake for 25–30 minutes or until no longer pink.

Meanwhile, in small bowl stir together all other ingredients to create yogurt sauce.

Th read meatballs onto skewers and serve alongside yogurt sauce. Garnish with additional cilantro and grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Strawberry Pink Moscato Ice PopsPrep time: 15 minutes (plus at least 10 hours to freeze)Cook time: 1 minute Servings: 16 Fruity layer: 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup water 1 pound ripe strawberries, hulled 1 pinch of fi ne sea salt 8 fl uid ounces Gallo Family Pink MoscatoCreamy layer: 1 can (14 ounce) sweetened condensed milk 1 1/2 cups half and half 1 cup heavy cream 1 tablespoon orange blossom water 1 pinch of fi ne sea saltTo make fruity layer, combine sugar and water in small saucepan. Heat over low, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and let cool completely.

Add cooled syrup, strawberries and salt to jar of blender and puree until almost smooth, leaving bit of texture. Stir in pink moscato.

To make creamy layer, place everything into a 4-cup capacity measuring cup with a spout and whisk together until well combined.

To freeze, fi ll ice pop molds about one-fi ft h of way with either mixture (layers can be any size or amount you choose). Put in freezer until fi rst layer is set enough to hold another layer, 60–90 minutes. Store mixtures in fridge between layers.

Remove and fi ll another one-fi ft h with opposite mixture. Return to freezer until layer is set. Repeat until molds are fi lled to top, adding ice pop sticks in once third layer is added (adjust to type of ice pop mold).

Aft er fi nal layer is added, freeze at least another 6–8 hours before serving. To serve, run bottom of molds under hot water for few seconds, or until able to pull ice pop free from mold. (If using paper cup, just peel cup away.)Note: If you don’t want layers, whisk mixtures together. You can also make each layer into its own ice pop, if you choose.

Blackberry Moscato BelliniServings: 1 1/4 cup blackberries 1 tablespoon water 5 ounces chilled Gallo Family Vineyards Moscato 1 whole blackberry for garnishCombine blackberries and water in blender and puree until smooth. Strain through fi ne-mesh strainer, discarding seeds and solids. Fill bottom of chilled Champagne coupe with blackberry puree. Top with Moscato and garnish with fresh blackberry.

Moscato Moscow MuleServings: 1 4 ounces ginger beer 3 ounces Gallo Family Vineyards Moscato 1 ounce lime juice

1 lime wheel 1 mint sprig for garnishPour ginger beer, Moscato and lime juice into ice-fi lled copper mug. Garnish with lime wheel and mint sprig.

Moscato Mango MojitoServings: 1 1 lime, cut into eighths 5 leaves basil, plus more for garnish 1/2 teaspoon demerara sugar 1 1/4 ounces Gallo Family Vineyards Moscato 1 ounce white rum 1 1/4 ounces mango puree or mango nectarMuddle lime, basil leaves, and sugar in bottom of cocktail shaker. Fill with ice; add Moscato, white rum and mango nectar. Shake and strain into ice-fi lled rocks glass. Garnish with basil sprig.

THE US ASIAN POST Wednesday - Tuesday, July 23 - 29, 2014 Visit www.usasianpost.com 9

Actress Iza Calzado has been working on the set of the upcom-ing soap “Hawak Kamay” with her former boyfriend, an actor who recently made a showbiz comeback.

Both Calzado and Victor Neri are part of the cast of “Hawak Kamay”, which stars Piolo Pas-cual.

In a press conference for the show, the two gamely answered questions about their past rela-tionship as well as their current working ties.

“Dati magkahawak ang kamay namin briefl y. Victor is a friend, kahit na umalis siya, bago niya pinalitan ang kanyang Facebook account ay updated ako sa buhay niya. But after a few years, hindi ko na alam ang nangyari sa kan-ya. tapos biglang isang araw, tu-mawag sa akin ang manager ko na si Noel Ferrer, tinatanong at nagpapaalam kung pwede bang maging kapatid namin sa gru-

pong mina-manage niya si Victor Neri. And I was like, ‘Oh my God! Buhay pa siya! Ano, ano ang nangyari!’” Calzado said.

The actress shared that she was even excited to meet her ex-boyfriend again on the set of “Ha-wak Kamay.”

“Well anyway, noong un-ang araw namin sa set, ako pa ‘yung, ‘Nandiyan na ba si Victor? Nandiyan na ba si Victor?’ Kasi gusto kong maki-tsismis, ano na ang nangyari sa buhay niya. And I’m happy to see na he has found his center, and now he is very happy and ang saya to catch up on things.

“Kasi isa siya sa rason kung bakit na-inspire ako na pagbuti-han ang pagiging aktres ko. Lagi akong pinapangaralan niya noon pa, ‘You want to be a good ac-tress? Do this, do that, please your director.’ Ang daming itinuro sa akin. So malaking parte po siya kung bakit pinag-iigihan ko rin

at marami din akong natutunan sa kanya kahit ilang buwan lang ang aming pagsasama noon,” she added.

Neri, for his part, praised Cal-zado and called her a “gifted” ac-tress.

“Siguro magkasama kami ni Iza, 2002 or 2003. Way, way back. And I’ve seen her grow. I saw her dedication to her craft and I like that because ako, I think a lot of you know naman na I’m more of about the work and about the craft. And I’m very shocked na napapanood ko na ngayon, I saw her perform, I think she is one of the gifted actresses now,” he said.

Neri said that he took a break from show business in 2007 to pursue his dream of becoming a chef.

Aside from being a chef and an actor, Neri is a happy family man. Calzado, meanwhile, is in a relationship with British-Filipi-no Ben Wintle. (MNS)

Aiko Melendez said she has not only for-given her former boyfriend Patrick Men-eses and actress Ara Mina, but now even prays for them.

Melendez credited her complete “heal-ing” for being able to pray for the well-being of Ara Mina and Meneses.

“I’ve actually not just forgiven them, but I pray for them, mahirap man isipin... Dapat pag healed ka na, ‘di ba, mapagda-dasal mo na ‘yung tao, so that’s what I do now. I pray for them,” she said.

Mina also happens to be a former girl-friend of Melendez’s ex-husband Jomari Yllana. Mina and Meneses, the incumbent mayor of Bulacan, Bulacan, are reportedly expecting their fi rst child.

Asked if she is looking forward to have good ties with Meneses or Mina, Melendez said, “Friends, I do not know yet, kasi I just want to take it one day at a time.”

“I’ll pray for it,” she added.Meanwhile, Melendez denied speculation that

she and Yllana, with whom she has a son, have got-ten back together.

“Magakaiban lang talaga kami. Siguro nabigyan lang ng malisya ‘yung pictures namin sa Instagram together,” she said.

She surmised that rumors of them being a couple anew stem from Yllana referring to her as “my wife” when he introduces her.

“Sometimes he does that, eh, that’s why nung min-san nga, sabi ko kay Jom, ‘Ba’t mo ba ako pinapaki-lalang wife mo? Nako-confuse ‘yung tao.’ Unfair sa

akin, kasi siya, siyempre, obviously, lalaki, puwede siya manligaw. Ako, natatakot ‘yung mga taong gus-tong akong ligawan, kasi akala siya pa rin ‘yung asawa ko!”

Recalling Yllana’s answer, Melendez said: “’Asa-wa pa rin kita sa mata ng Diyos!’”

Melendez and Yllana’s marriage has yet to be an-nulled.

“But, yes, we are very, very good friends,” Melen-dez said.

Asked what her considerations are in fi nding a new partner, the actress said she would prefer if they share the same faith. “Si Jom kasi ngayon, sagradong Katoliko. I have nothing against his re-ligion. But, kasi, I prefer na maging Christian din ‘yung magiging future partner ko.” (MNS)

Actress Lovi Poe has further opened up about current beau Rocco Nacino, several days after ad-mitting their ongoing romance on national TV.

Lovi described Rocco as a great traveling com-panion, a very organized one at that. She added that the 27-year-old is also quite good in planning their dates.

She shared, “Baliktad kami kasi he plans for ev-erything. The girl is supposed to plan everything, ‘di ba?”

Lovi says Rocco has another talent: haggling.“One time, I fell in love with a painting so lu-

mapit ako I asked for the price and it’s really ex-pensive. Then he started to do his move and we got two paintings at half price. So sabi ko, ‘Kasama na kita wherever I go,’” she said.

Lovi further described her relationship with Rocco as “parang mag-bestfriend,” noting, “When you date someone, may mga moments kasi na you’re trying to put your best foot forward all the time, but with me and Rocco, nothing.”

She shared how Rocco inspired her to love her job more. “I’ve always been inspired with work but with this one, it’s extra inspiration.”

Lovi is happy enough to simply be content with

what they have now. “We know what is just right for our age,” she said. “Kasi when you love some-one there is always a sacrifi ce and it’s always a compromise.”

Lovi, who plays one of Dingdong Dantes’ wives on “Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real,” feels “blessed” to work on the series, citing in particular how inspir-ing it is to work with veteran actors Maricel So-riano, Tommy Abuel and Susan Africa.

“Ang sarap nilang kasama. Kumbaga, they would actually treat you like their own child,” she said.

She also fi nds it quite amusing how netizens are quite vocal about their reactions to the show via Twitter, saying, “Ang dami nilang parang mga side comments like kung ano dapat gawin ng mga character… I’m glad that they are affected.”

This assuaged her initial concern about her role. “I didn’t picture this to be interesting… parang I was like, ‘how would this go?’”

Eventually, the character proved challenging enough for Lovi, who also felt excited that the sto-ryline has been “quite unpredictable.”

“Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real” airs Monday to Fri-day on GMA-7. (MNS)

Comedian Ryan Bang snatched the limelight during the press conference of the upcoming series “Hawak Kamay” as he talked about actress-host Alex Gonzaga, who recently turned him down.

Speaking with members of the entertainment media, Bang couldn’t help but admit that he felt hurt by Gonzaga.

While he did not formally court Gonzaga, Bang said he knew that the actress-host also had feelings for her.

Having said this, he referred to Gonzaga as “echosera.”“Hindi naman ako busted kasi hindi naman ako todong [nan-

ligaw]. Pero echosera siya... Hindi naman ako talagang tanga eh. Kung hindi niya ako pinaasa... Siyempre ako rin may naramda-man ako, may feelings siya sa akin,” he said, drawing laughter from those who were present at the press conference.

“Ako rin tao ako. Hindi ba lahat naman tayo may feelings... ‘Yung kapag naramdaman niyong may kembot siya sa akin kaya hinayaan mo. Eh kung alam ko lang na sobrang ayaw niya sa akin eh hindi ko na siya papansinin. May naramdaman ako na may pagtingin sa akin kaya ko siya gusto. Pero ‘yun pala, hindi niya gusto... tapos sabi niya the door is closed. Ayaw kong ipilit na buk-san ang pinto,” he added.

The “It’s Showtime” host also cried foul over Gonzaga’s comment that she fi nds him “pangit.”

“Mabait po si Alex kasi dahil sa kanya ay nagpunta ako sa sim-bahan. Pero kasi ‘yung biro niya, ayaw ko ng biro niya eh. Kasi pangit ako, sabi niya, ‘Ryan, pangit ka.’ Nasaktan ako kasi totoo eh, hindi ba? Saka ang ganda niya. Kung pangit siya at nagsabi sa akin, okay lang pero maganda siya na nagsabi sa akin. Eh alam ko naman, kaya nasasaktan ako,” he said.

Despite this, however, Bang said that he has moved on, sharing that he is in a relationship with a non-showbiz personality that he met through common friends.

“May GF ako na taga-FEU (Far Eastern University). Koreana po siya. Napakabait, simple and happy ako kapag kasama ko siya,” he said. In a previous interview, Gonzaga said that she has no time for love, stressing that her priority now is her showbiz career.

Aside from co-hosting “Pinoy Big Brother: All In”, Gonzaga is also busy with her afternoon series, “Pure Love.” (MNS)

Iza works with ex-boyfriend in new soap

Iza Calzado

Ryan Bang on Alex Gonzaga: Echosera siyaAiko on Ara, Patrick: I pray for them

Aiko

Lovi taking it slow with Rocco Lovi and Rocco

Visit www.usasianpost.com Wednesday - Tuesday, July 23 - 29, 2014 THE US ASIAN POST10 LOS ANGELES

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THE US ASIAN POST Wednesday - Tuesday, July 23 - 29, 2014 Visit www.usasianpost.com 11

BMW i

The UltimateDriving Machine®

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(Relaxnews) – The German man-ufacturer is entering the premi-um compact car market with the launch of the 2 Series Active Tour-er, a new range aimed at combin-ing comfort and functionality with dynamics and elegance. The new BMW models will compete main-ly with those in the Mercedes B Class.

The driver and passenger are seated slightly higher than they would be in a typical sedan, offer-ing a panoramic view and easier entry. The sliding rear seat en-ables more fl exible seating, allow-ing passengers to increase either their legroom or the storage space in the luggage compartment. An-other element to improve passen-ger comfort: all of those aboard can take advantage of the online services of the BMW Connected-Drive system.

Under the hood, the 2 Series

Active Tourer will be offered with a choice of three next-generation engines, all of which are equipped with the BMW TwinPower Turbo technology and in line with the Euro 6 emissions standard. The BMW 218i Active Tourer is pow-ered by a three-cylinder fuel en-gine with 136hp and has a fuel consumption rate of between 4.9 and 5.2l/100km (CO2 emissions: 115-120g/km). The top-of-the-range BMW 225i Active Tourer has a four-cylinder fuel engine with 231hp, allowing it to acceler-ate from 0 to 100km/h in 6.6s and to hit a top speed of 240km/h. The model’s fuel consumption is list-ed at between 5.8 and 6l/100km (CO2 emissions: 135-139g/km). Between the two, the BMW 218d Active Tourer is equipped with a four-cylinder diesel engine with 150hp.

A choice of fi ve trim packages

will be available on the 2 Series Ac-tive Tourer. Among the standard features included all around are a Bluetooth interface for hands-free phone use, the BMW iDrive control system with its central control screen, a rain sensor and automatic headlight activation, a leather-covered sports steering wheel, a smart emergency contact system and collision warnings.

The trim packages offer addi-tional extras including two-zone automatic temperature control, rear parking radars, fog lamps, cruise control with braking and a multifunction steering wheel.

The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer range will go on sale in Germany from September. The new model will go on display at the Paris Motor Show in October, two years after the premiere of the BMW Active Tourer Concept that inspired it.

The new BMW 218d Active Tourer and 225i Active Tourer. ©BMW

(Relaxnews) – Japanese manufac-turer Mazda has presented the latest generation of its sub-compact city car, which now boasts a new on-board con-nectivity system and an updated style. The model is slated to make its public debut at the Paris Motor Show in Oc-tober. The design of the new Mazda2 is based on the Hazumi concept dis-played at the Geneva Motor Show last spring. According to Mazda, the Japanese word “Hazumi” means both “bound” and “spring up” and was chosen to describe a vehicle that is small but “bursting with energy.”

The future model will be available with the new Skyactiv-D 1.5 diesel

engine with 105hp or with one of the Skyactiv-G 1.5 fuel engines ranging in power from 75 to 105hp. On the inside, the driver and passengers will enjoy the MZD Connect system, which offers access to a range of internet features through a 7-inch screen.

Mazda announced that it has just begun producing the vehicle in Japan, where it is marketed as the Demio. The new vehicle will be unveiled to the public at the Paris Motor Show in October before its global launch in the following months.

Since the launch of the fi rst Mazda2 in 1996, the car has sold over 2.4 mil-lion units.

The fourth-generation Mazda2 will make its debut at the Paris Motor Show in October. ©Mazda

(PARIS-AFP) – Why waste your time looking for a place to park when your car can do it for you? An idea that was pure science fi c-tion only a few years ago is becom-ing reality thanks to automatic robot cars.

A car with no one on board drives into a car park at walking pace, lets a pedestrian pass, and then backs into a narrow parking space without the merest bump or scrape.

The technology that makes this possible has been developed

by the Swedish car company Vol-vo and the French parts maker Valeo. It is still at the prototype stage but could be widely avail-able within six years.

Some cars are already able to drive themselves in certain cir-cumstances. The Mercedes CLS coupé brakes by itself when the driver fails to react to the risk of an accident. Some BMW models also warn drivers they are about to go over the white line and they can go onto automatic pilot in traffi c jams.

BMW rolls out new 2 Series Active Tourers

Next-gen Mazda2 to be connected

Really smart cars are ready to take the wheel

Visit www.usasianpost.com Wednesday - Tuesday, July 23 - 29, 2014 THE US ASIAN POST12

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INC OPENSFrom page 1

TEXASFrom page 1

OBAMACAREFrom page 1

CHILD MIGRANTSFrom page 1

FILIPINOSFrom page 1

CONTROVERSYFrom page 1

structure.The builders have said the arena will be resis-

tant to earthquakes which are a frequent threat to the country which sits on the Pacifi c Ring of Fire.

The Iglesia ni Cristo sect wields consider-

able political infl uence in the Philippines as its members, believed to number about three million people, vote as a bloc for whoever their leaders endorse.

tragedy” if they are not sent back as soon as possible.

“I directed adjutant general John Nich-ols to immediately prepare for deployment of up to 1,000 of his troops,” Perry told a press conference in Austin.

Perry said the decision to deploy troops was taken after repeated requests to the federal government to secure the US bor-der.

“Over the years I have repeatedly called on the federal government to lift up their responsibilities of protecting this great na-tion by securing the border, because there is no national security without border secu-rity,” Perry said.

Some 57,000 unaccompanied minors from Central America have crossed the

“Rather, this was a simple but, unfortu-nate transmittal error, as the form used by the production team to convey the results to the emcees was misinterpreted, and the ranking of the fi nal two candidates was re-versed,” he added. “It was not discovered until after the proclamation. The tabula-tion forms correctly listed the fi nalists in reverse order.

“However, the form used to deliver the results to the hosts listed the order of announcement, (instead of by rank-ing), which called for 5th, 4th, 3rd, then 1st, explained Reyes. “We deeply and truly regret that this inconsistency in the two forms resulted in the confusion.”Per pageant policy, copies of the tabula-tion scoresheets were made available to all top ten candidates.

After conferencing, organizers immedi-ately shared all gathered fi ndings back-stage with the two involved candidates and their parents. After some discussions with their parents, both Hermoso and Abello graciously offered to embrace the true outcome, accept their blessings and simply exchange their crowns and sashes. “This touching display of graciousness and uncommon maturity from these two young women should be greatly admired and re-spected,” said co-executive producer, Mil-

continue to monitor Tanglao’s condition.Special Awards Winners:

a. Binibining Popularity – Caitlin San Diego

b. Binibining Social Media – Flor Me-lendrez

c. Binibining Best in Talent – (tie) Cait-lin San Diego, Sheri-Lynne Ducusin

d. Binibining Fil-Am Insider Reader’s Choice- Brigid Hitalla

e. Binibining Best in National Costume – Gabbie Gonzales

f. Binibining Friend-ship – Sheri-Lynne Ducusing. Binibining Photogenic – Christelle Abello

h. Binibining Best in Swimsuit – Cza-rina Hermoso

i. Binibining Best in Evening Gown – Christelle Abello

List of Top Ten Semi-FinalistsBinibini #2 – Caitlin San DiegoBinibini #4 - Czarina HermosoBinibini #5 – Bianca FilartBinibini #6 – Tiffanny MiehlsBinibini #9 – Christelle AbelloBinibini #10 – Amanda AbernathyBinibini #11 – Kathleen TagaraoBinibini #13 – Gabbie GonzalesBinibini #16 – Lovely Jane TanglaoBinibini #17 – Krystal Neag

teenager by Jewish extremists.The Philippine government also ordered

its more than 36,000 nationals working in Israel not to venture within 15 kilometres (nine miles) of the Gaza border.

About 10 million Filipinos live and work

abroad, many of the throughout the Middle East, having left their homeland in search of better-paying jobs.

Some 318 Palestinians have died in the latest confl ict, the deadliest in Gaza since 2009.

where they can then receive medical care and legal aid services.

They spend 34 days on average in such housing before being released, in 85 per-cent of the cases to a relative already pres-ent in the United States.

They are then ordered to appear in immi-gration court where their cases are heard.

But about 2,000 children were still in de-tention centers operated by border patrol agents beyond the 72-hour limit.

Three emergency temporary shelters have been set up by the Department of Health and Human Services, on military bases in California, Oklahoma and Texas.

US offi cials told senators last week that authorities are spending $250 to $1,000 per child per day for housing and care.

From where, to where?

About three-quarters of the child mi-grants come from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. The number of Honduran children apprehended at the US border spiked from 968 in 2009 to 15,000 this year.

The vast majority were arrested in the Rio Grande Valley in southern Texas.

And unlike in previous migration waves, “this population for the most part wants to be apprehended,” Johnson told lawmakers. “They’re not seeking to evade law enforce-ment.”

The number of child migrants soared in previous years as well, with more than 100,000 per year between 2004 and 2006. But while the undocumented youths caught on the border then were overwhelmingly Mexican, most of them now come from Cen-tral America.

dred Deang. “Many adults could learn a few lessons in grace and humility from these two, impressive young women. One could only commend their loving parents for the outstanding values and behavior of these two beautiful Filipina-American role models. They are the real story here.”

Deang said, “We could not be more proud of the way these two young ladies handled themselves during this trying situation,” added Deang. “As the produc-ers of Binibining Pilipinas USA 2014, we accept full responsibility and assure our contestants, attendees and sponsors alike that integrity, transparence and quality remain paramount in our continued com-mitment to deliver top-quality events for the Filipino-American community.”

Following a tearful embrace, Abello and Hermoso playfully – and impromptu – exchanged crowns and sashes and posed for pictures with their respective crowns. They then proceeded to the VIP after party to celebrate with their families, friends and fellow candidates after orga-nizers announced the clarifi ed results.At the VIP party, a photo session with the top fi ve winners took place, absent 3rd Runner Up Lovely Jane Tanglao, who had suffered an unfortunate accident after the proclamation. Organizers are pleased to report that as of Sunday afternoon, Tan-glao was treated and released and was said to be recovering. Organizers said they will

southwestern US frontier since October in the search for a better life, many arriving in Texas.

Perry said the surge in immigrants has diverted resources away from law enforce-ment operating in the region.

“As the men and women of the border patrol are pulled away from their law en-forcement duties to give humanitarian aid, drug cartels, human traffi ckers, individual criminals are exploiting this tragedy for their own opportunities,” Perry said.

The tide of immigrant children has be-come a major political headache for Presi-dent Barack Obama, who has warned par-ents in Central America not to send their children to the US.

Obama is to host talks later this week with leaders from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala to discuss how to tackle the problem.

ment,” the judges wrote.“At least until states that wish to can set

up exchanges, our ruling will likely have signifi cant consequences, both for the mil-lions of individuals receiving tax credits through federal exchanges and for health insurance markets more broadly.”

The Obama administration immediately called for a review of the decision.

The case may eventually be decided by the US Supreme Court, which has already ruled in favor of the constitutionality of an-other part of the law in 2012.

“We believe that this decision is incor-

rect, inconsistent with congressional in-tent, different from previous rulings, and at odds with the goal of the law: to make health care affordable no matter where people live,” Department of Justice spokes-woman Emily Pierce said.

She stressed that for now, the tax sub-sidies – which can dramatically reduce insurance costs for low income families or individuals – remain intact and available across the country.

But House Speaker John Boehner, the top Republican in Congress, hailed the ver-dict as a victory over White House execu-tive overreach.

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