MANILA, Philip-pines – US Sec-

retary of State John Kerry arrived in Ta-cloban City, Leyte on Wednesday morning.The Philippine Infor-mation Agency Region 9 over Twitter said Kerry and his staff ar-rived at the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport at 10:25 a.m.“Secretary Kerry was received and welcomed by DND (Department of National Defense) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin together with Philip-pine Ambassador to the US Jose L. Cuisia, OCD (Office of Civil Defense) Administrator Eduardo del Rosario, Ta-cloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez and other guests,” the post said. Kerry will go around Tacloban City,

MANILA - The Philip-pine government has

urged the United States to designate the country un-der Temporary Protected Status (TPS) following the recent super typhoon that ravaged Visayas region, the Department of For-eign Affairs (DFA) said on Monday. Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said that placing the Philip-pines under TPS would allow eligible Filipinos to stay and work in the Unit-ed States in order for them to assist in the country’s continuing recovery ef-forts after typhoon Haiyan that killed more than 6,000 people and affected more than 16 million others. US authorities will evalu-ate first the request of the Philippine government and it is expected to take some time, DFA spokes-

man Raul Hernandez said.“If approved, eligible Fili-pinos can start filing their applications which will be reviewed on a case-to-case basis,” he said. If the United States grants the request, the Philippines will join El Salvador, Hai-ti, Nicaragua and Hondu-ras that were placed under TPS after experiencing similar natural disasters. The request, which was made on Dec. 13, was of-ficially conveyed by Phil-ippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Cui-sia Jr. to the Department of Homeland Security through a note verbale sent to the US Department of State, Hernandez said. “Recognizing the intense desire of the Filipino-American Community to more effectively assist

MANILA -- Twenty-two people were killed and

20 others were injured after a passenger bus fell from the Skyway, an elevated highway, into a passing van on Monday along the west service road of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) in Paranaque City. Twenty of those who died in the accident were on board the bus, a Don Mariano Transit vehicle with plate no. UVC-

916 while the two were in the closed van (ULX 874). Initial reports said that more than a dozen died on the spot in the accident. “It (the death toll) could go even higher,” as some of the injured are in serious condi-tion,” traffic investigator Jose Abuyog said, adding that the cause of the accident was still being determined. The bus was en route to Pacita

in San Pedro, Laguna when the accident happened at around 5 a.m. Reports said the bus fell 20 feet from the Skyway into the road below. In Malacanang, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that in view of the inci-dent, they would ask Transpor-tation Secretary Jose Emilio Abaya to review the

VOL. 2 ISSUE 8 DEC 19, 2013- DEC 25, 2013WWW.SF-POST.COM

US receives PH request for TPS – DFA Hundreds of thousands of

Pinoys in US to benefit

FREE

Another Filipina shines in Int’l beauty pageant -page 13

(Cont. on Page 12)

Graphic shows how the Don Mariano Transit bus fell off the elevated Skyway of the South Luzon Expressway, hitting a closed van on the service road in Bicutan, Parañaque City, on Dec. 16, 2013. Newspaper sheets cover the bodies of the 18 victims of the horrific accident.

(Cont. on Page 15)

Misuari forces massing in Cotabato

MANILA -- The Philippine Army units is keeping an

eye on about 200 Moro Na-tional Liberation Front fight-ers who were massing at a vil-lage of Midsayap, Cotabato on Monday. The group was spotted gath-ering at the remote village as factions within the MNLF sought to replace its found-ing chairman Nur Misuari as the sole representative of the

Bangsamoro people in the Organization of Islamic Coop-eration. The Aquino administration said it would prefer a leader of the Moro National Liberation Front who can “push forward the peace agenda” amid efforts from within the MNLF to re-place its founding chairman, Nur Misuari, as the sole rep-resentative of the Bangsamoro people in the Organization of

Islamic Cooperation. “We would like to work with people who can push forward the peace agenda and the re-form agenda of the MNLF,” presidential spokesman Ed-win Lacierda said as he bared that the Aquino administration would prefer a leader of the MNLF who could “push for-ward the peace agenda.”Lacierda made the remark at a Palace

WE PROVIDE PRESS COVERAGE FOR ANY EVENTS OR PROMOTIONS.PH back to 7th

via boxing golds- page 12 See page 12 for full details.

22 killed in Skyway bus crash in PH

SPORTS

USD to PHP Rate $1.00 = P43.83

as of Dec. 11, 2013

Kerry visits Tacloban

(Cont. on Page 15)

US State Secretary John Kerry

(Cont. on Page 15)

SHOWBIZMerry Christmas to all!

PAGE 2Dec. 19, 2013 - Dec. 25, 2013 The San Francisco Post

The 18-year-old gunman who wounded a fellow student at a Colorado school before taking his own life Friday was described as a bright, politically opinionated young man who had a beef with the school’s librarian, who had kicked him off the debate team. Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson identified the gunman as Karl Halverson Pierson, 18, a senior at Arapahoe High School in Centennial. Authorities said he entered the school about 12:33 p.m. looking for a specific teacher with whom he’d had an earlier confrontation. But students who witnessed the attack later clarified that it was the school librarian and debate team coach, iden-tified as Tracy Murphy, who was the target of Pierson’s rage. Steve Miles is an English teacher who taught Pierson as a freshman, told the Associated Press that Pierson had

recently been cut from the debate team, but he didn’t know why. Authorities, who were expected to provide additional in-formation on the attack, which ended with Pierson dead by his own hand and an unidentified female student critically wounded, at a news conference sheduled for 5:15 p.m. ET.At a briefing on Friday, Robinson said that when the edu-cator learned of the threat, he immediately tried to lure Pierson away from other students by leaving the building.“It was very tactical for the teacher, for him to remove himself from the school,” Robinson said. Murphy escaped unharmed, KUSA reported, and was es-corted by an Arapahoe Coun-ty deputy on Friday night to pick up a few belongings as

police investigated a possible motive. “’Revenge’ is the word that I chose,” Robinson told re-porters. “This is where our initial investigation is taking us. We know that there was some controversy between the student suspect and the teacher.” Pierson shot a 15-year-old girl before using the same shotgun to kill himself, Robinson said. The girl, who wasn’t identified, was in critical condition Friday night, Littleton Adventist Hospital said.

PAGE 3Dec. 19, 2013 - Dec. 25, 2013The San Francisco Post NATIONAL

Filing bankruptcy will not affect your employment

Your employment will not be affected if you file bank-

ruptcy. One of the factors that keep professionals and employees from seriously con-sidering bankruptcy is the fear of how it may impact their employment. It is very important to know that the Bankruptcy laws and the Employment laws prohibit employers from discriminating or terminating employ-ees because they filed bankruptcy.

Question: Should I disclose my past bankruptcy when applying for a job?

Answer: You do not necessarily have to disclose your past bankruptcy when applying for a job un-

less it is required by the prospective employer. How-ever, companies often check credit when a job involves finance, accounting, cash or valuable merchandise and only when a job candidate will be working in a posi-tion of trust like cashier or custodian. If you’ve filed bankruptcy in the past and you have decided to disclose this information, be prepared to defend that decision to a potential employer. It’s illegal for an employer not to hire you because you filed bankruptcy.

Question: Will I be qualified for a job even though I have bad credit?

Answer: Yes! The fact that a potential employer pulls credit and that yours is poor doesn’t mean you

won’t be qualified for a job. Some companies do a cred-it check when they’re doing background checks, but they do it as a supplement to their background check. Companies might use it, but never as the primary reason for a decision to hire or not hire.

Question: How can I explain my bankruptcy to the interviewer if I am asked during my job interview?

Answer: If you have filed bankruptcy, be ready to provide your interviewer with a short, straightfor-

ward explanation and to redirect the conversation to your strengths and what you can do for the company. You can also explain that the reasons for filing bank-ruptcy or poor credit are divorce, medical problems while uninsured, etc. I hope you’ll see what is relevant is my ability to this company. If you call my former em-ployer, you’ll hear that I was an excellent....”

Question: What shall I do if the company I am ap-plying for used my bankruptcy as a reason to dis-

qualify me for the job?

Answer: If you believe a company is using your bankruptcy case as the reason not to hire you, call

the company and inquire if your credit was a problem and which area of your credit was the issue, so you’ll know what to disclose next time. If the answer is bank-ruptcy, you can file a complaint with the Equal Employ-ment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and call the

U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Response Center. You can also contact the local con-

sumer protection agency or your state attorney general. At the very least, make one more attempt to change the interviewer’s mind. After all, if you made it through to the credit screen, there must be something about you that appealed to the interviewer.

Question: What shall I do if my employer terminates me because I filed bankruptcy?

Answer: The Bankruptcy Code states that no em-ployer may terminate your employment or dis-

criminate against you if you have filed for bankruptcy relief. That means even if a potential employer performs a background check and sees that you have a poor credit report, that individual or entity is not allowed to dis-criminate against you. If you’re told only that the com-pany will do a “background” check, ask what that check includes and how the information will be used. To see what’s on your credit report, get a free copy.

Bankruptcy Basics 1. Bankruptcy will actually improve your credit

within one year because your unsecured debts are dis-charged. Although the bankruptcy will be in your re-cords for 10 years, not filing bankruptcy will make your credit even worse until most of your debts are paid in full.2. If you are being sued by your creditors, most money judgment can be eliminated in bankruptcy.3. Collection actions continue and you can be sued if you are in debt settlement.4. Chapter 7 will eliminate all unsecured debts. If you are near retirement age, you must eliminate most of your debts.5. Bankruptcy will stop foreclosure actions. If your trustee sale date is 10 days before, you can still file for bankruptcy.6. If your salary is being garnished, you have a court case about debts or you are being harassed by creditors, bankruptcy can stop garnishment, court cases, harassing creditors and eliminate the debt.7. Bankruptcy is cheaper, faster and safer than debt settlement which has no guaranteed success. 8. Preserve your health, eliminate stress and live a hap-py life by eliminating your debts which is the root of all problems.Note: This is not a legal advice. Our Law Firm has success-fully helped clients in filing for bankruptcy for the last 14 years . Crispin Caday Lozano is an active member of the State Bar of California, the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the National Association of Consumers Bank-ruptcy Attorneys.

By: Atty. Crispin C. Lozano

BUSINESS

Colorado school gunman targeted debate team coach

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Utilities, airports and road crews are on high alert as wintry weather heads toward the Northeast again, bringing with it ice and perhaps a foot or more of snow in parts of New England. The storm, which was forecast to move from the Ohio into New Eng-land over the course of the weekend, put utilities and airports on alert and is likely to affect travel and shoppers looking to hit stores as Christmas ap-proaches. The National Weather Service said 6 to 12 inches of snow are expected from Saturday to Sunday in New England. It said up to 14 inches are possible along the Maine coast but as little as 2 inches on Cape Cod. Ar-eas north and west of New York City and interior Pennsylvania could get 8 inches or more. About half a foot was forecast in parts of Ohio, where snow began falling overnight. In Connecticut, a saltwater solu-tion applied to roads before storms won’t work now because tempera-tures are too low and the saltwater

would freeze, said Kevin Nursick, spokesman at the state Department of Transportation. However, crews have treated high-ways before recent snowfalls with salt, helping to keep snow from bonding. And the storm will not af-fect work day commutes. “The timing is pretty good coming on a weekend,” Nursick said. Not so for retailers, who have less than two weeks before Christmas to clear their shelves and face the pros-pect of losing critical weekend sales. Kathy Grannis, a spokeswoman for the National Retail Federation, said consumers likely will shop online. And the weekend before Christmas gives retailers and shoppers another opportunity after this weekend. “If a big storm hits around the 21st, 22nd, it will be a completely different story,” Grannis said.

Matthew Brelis, a spokesman for Boston’s Logan Airport, said he expects the brunt of the storm to arrive Saturday night but will evaluate conditions as forecasts change. “At some point, we’ll start calling in more staff,” he said. Caroline Pretyman, a spokes-woman for Northeast Utilities, which serves electric and gas customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hamp-shire, said extra crews would be available beginning overnight Satur-day to respond to outages. And Metro-North Railroad, which runs trains between New York City and suburban Connecticut, Long Island and New York’s Hudson Valley, said on its website it may reduce or suspend service depending on the severity of the weather.

Northeast US braces for yet another snowstorm

If your busi -

n e s s o p e r -a t e s as a partner-s h i p , s u c h as an S

corporation or LLC, your odds of be-ing audited appear to be rising. The Internal Revenue Service plans to shift its business auditing focus away from corporations and concen-trate more on “pass-through” entities in coming years, Faris Fink, head of the IRS’s Small Business/Self-Em-ployed Division, recently told confer-ence attendees. The reason: Partner-ships are becoming more complex, and the IRS sees them as a type of business ripe for tax-fraud potential.

“The Service has for a long time focused its energy on corporations,” Fink said at the American Institute of CPAs’ National Tax Conference, according to Bloomberg. “Frankly, we’re a little bit behind the curve in getting around to developing a part-nership strategy.” According to IRS data, about 95 percent of businesses are structured as “pass-through” entities, such as S corps, LLCs or sole proprietors, where business income flows down to the individuals who pay taxes on it. The number of these types of entities grew 15.3 percent between 2007 and 2011, Bloomberg reported. Overall, partnerships have gotten more complex and sometimes have thousands of partners and various tiers, making them more susceptible to fraud, Fink said. The IRS has been training its auditors on how to better

evaluate these structures and identify red flags. The IRS has audited very few partnership re-turns—only 0.5 percent in 2012—according to the IRS Data Book. That’s compared with 1.6 percent of corporate returns and 1 percent of individual taxpayer returns. In other small-business tax audit news, the IRS also recently announced that it would allow small businesses with under $10 million in revenues to request fast-track settlement, similar to what large and midsize businesses have been able to do. The new rule would allow small businesses to appeal their audits early and get resolution within 60 days rather than having to wait until an audit is complete, which can take years. Al Maglan is a CPA licensed in Cali-fornia and Nevada. You can contact him @ 510 432 7438. You may e-mail tax questions at amaglan@aol.com or taxsaverspro@gmail.com.

Watch Out: The IRS Is Cracking Down On Partnerships

by: Alvin C. Maglan, CPA

Two dead in shooting at

Reno medical center

LOS ANGELES—Two people were killed and two injured in a shooting Tues-day at a hospital in Nevada, in which the gunman appar-ently took his own life, po-lice said. The incident occurred at a building connected to the Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno, reports said.“We have two people con-firmed deceased in the building,” said Reno Police Department deputy chief Tom Robinson. “The shooter is one of the deceased,” he said, adding that the fatal wound “ap-pears to be self-inflicted.” He gave no other details. The incident came days af-ter the anniversary Saturday of the Sandy Hook massacre which killed 26 people in-cluding 20 children in New-town, Connecticut.

MANILA -- Senator Juan Ponce Enrile said Monday he was done with politics as he belied reports he will run for governor of Cagayan in the 2016 elections.The 89-year-old lawmaker said he will re-tire from p o l i t i c s w h e n his term as sena-tor ends on June 30, 2016, when he w o u l d h a v e been 92.“ I ’ m d o n e . I have d o n e enough to help this country,” said En-rile, one of the leaders of the People Power Revolution that ousted President Ferdinand Marcos from power in 1986.“I didn’t succeed that much. In some I suc-ceeded, but that’s life,” he said.Enrile served his first term in the Senate

from 1987 to 1992, and his second from 1995 to 2001. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 1992 to 1995.Enrile, who was defense secretary dur-

ing Mar-cos’ time, said he would let his son, f o r m e r Cagayan Rep. Jack E n r i l e , p a r t i c i -pate in politics on his retire-ment. The y o u n g e r E n r i l e , who ran under the U n i t e d National-ist Alli-ance, lost

in the last senatorial elections.“I will finish that...I have nothing to do with it,” Enrile said when asked how he would deal with the controversies involv-ing him, including the alleged pork-barrel scam.Enrile, along with Senators Ramon Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada, are facing plunder charges before the Ombudsman in connec-tion with the alleged P10-billion pork bar-rel scam allegedly masterminded by busi-nesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.Enrile has repeatedly professed his in-nocence and insisted he has not been in-volved in any wrongdoing, especially in the alleged misuse of his pork barrel ap-propriations.He has vowed to answer all the charges be-ing hurled against him in court, saying he is confident he eventually will be cleared.His adversary, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, has written Justice Secretary Leila de Lima asking her to investigate Enrile for the alleged crimes he has com-mitted and which she had enumerated in a privilege speech.

PAGE 4Dec. 19, 2013 - Dec. 25, 2013 The San Francisco PostOPINION

For Filipinos who have been

outside of the Philip-pines for years, Christ-mas is both a time for rejoicing and a time for remembering. Even as the Filipino in America begins to feel the holiday mood immediately after Thanksgiving when people start shopping for gifts and Christmas decors, he feels at the

same time a longing for home. For nothing beats Christ-mas in the Philippines! After living on a distant shore all these years, I can truly say that nothing beats the way Filipinos celebrate Christ-mas. The genuine joy that the season brings to millions of Filipinos in the Philippines is the same reason why the hundreds of thousands of Filipinos living outside the Philippines yearn for home at this time of the year. For even just during those few days that Christmas is celebrated in the Philippines, many Filipinos feel they can share the blessings that the world brings. Because of the mandatory 13th month pay and the bonuses paid by nearly all companies, big and small alike, many people are able to afford what they can only dream about the rest of the year.

For the children of the poor, the Christmas season is only one of two instances when their parents can afford to buy them new set of clothes and new pairs of shoes, the other being the school opening. Christmas is also the only time for many of these children to own a brand new toy, often as a gift from their parents or from their ninong or ninang. The Christmas season is also their chance to earn some money to buy candies or toys. As early as December, young boys and girls prepare their instruments for their traditional carolling, making drums out of empty cans covered by plastic, tambourine out of bottle caps, and even just a pair of sticks to provide percussion. At dusk, they form into groups of three or four, and make their rounds starting on the night of Dec. 16 until Christmas eve. At the end of each night, the carolers count their earnings and divide them equally among themselves. While the kids look forward to the advent of dusk dur-ing those nine days to earn some money, the teenagers await with anticipation the coming of dawn during that same period. For these teenagers, it is a chance to be with their crushes, girlfriends or boyfriends as they walk to the church in the biting cold. As early as three in the morn-ing, from Dec. 16 to Dec. 24, they wake up and wear their best sweaters or jackets, have fun with their barkadas on the way to church, only to sleep while the mass is going on. After the mass, they bounce back to life to join their friends again, feast on bibingkas and puto bung-bong on their way home, and hang around a bit before being called home by their parents. Towards midnight on Christmas Eve, parents and their children don their Christmas clothes and trek back to church for the Midnight Mass. The church becomes a venue for both solemn celebration of Christmas and a chance to mingle with friends again. From the church, families retreat to their homes for the traditional noche buena, a minor preview of the grand celebration at lunchtime the next day. The noche buena often consists of pan amerikano (bread loaf) or pan de sal, keso (queso de bola for those who can afford), hot dog, coffee or hot chocolate, etc. Noche buenas are usually only for the family. But the grand Christmas celebration, usually at midday of Christmas Day, is for the entire clan. It is an occasion for children and grandchildren to gather together in the house of the patriarch or matriarch of the clan. Family members ex-change gifts, catch up on each other’s lives, and partake of the sumptuous meal. Children play games, the male family members drink beer or liquor, everybody participates in a singing ses-sion (using karaoke or otherwise), and the fe-male members engage in endless banter. Towards the afternoon, children, accompanied by their parents, visit their ninong and ninang to get their Christmas presents. Others visit friends, watch movies, and drink with friends. The merrymaking goes on till late at night. But the fun does not end there, because in six days, everybody gears up for a noisy New Year’s Eve revelry. (valabelgas@aol.com)

A distant Christmas

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THE NUCLEUS OF THE MATTER

By Val Abelgas

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After many people were left wondering

why the Philippine gov-ernment was not taking advantage of the opportu-nity to enable thousands of undocumented Filipinos in the United States to obtain Temporary Protected Sta-tus that would allow them to legally stay and work in the US for a certain period, it finally did. The Department of For-eign Affairs, responding favorably to petitions by several community leaders, filed a formal request to the US government for TPS designation on December 13 through Philippine Am-bassador Jose Cuisia Jr. The request was made to the Department of Home-land Security through a note verbale to the Depart-ment of State. “Recognizing the intense desire of the Filipino-American Community to more effectively assist victims, we would like to formally request that eli-gible Filipino nationals in the US be granted Tempo-rary Protected Status under Section 244 of the US Im-migration and Nationality Act,” said the letter signed by Ambassador Cuisia and addressed to Acting Secre-tary of Homeland Security Rand Beers. Temporary Protected Sta-tus is granted to a particular country “due to conditions in the country that tempo-rarily prevent the country’s nationals from returning

safely, or in certain circum-stances, where the coun-try is unable to handle the return of its nationals ad-equately.” The Secretary of the De-partment of Homeland Security may designate a country for TPS due to tem-porary conditions, includ-ing an “environmental di-saster” such as earthquake or hurricane. The Philip-pines was recently devas-tated by typhoon Yolanda, which is considered the strongest typhoon to hit land in recorded history. During a designated pe-riod, TPS beneficiaries or those preliminarily eligible for TPS upon initial review of their cases are: not re-movable from the United States, can obtain an em-ployment authorization document (work permit); and may be granted travel authorization to visit the Philippines. Although the TPS is a tem-porary benefit that does not lead to lawful permanent resident status or give any other immigration status, it would allow thousands of Filipinos who have been living under the shadows for years to legally stay and work in the country. With a TPS, many Filipinos can lead more productive lives and thus be able to send more money to the Philip-pines. With remittances from

overseas Filipinos compris-ing more than 14% of the Philippines’ gross domestic product (GDP), the money can help put the affected ar-eas and the country back on their feet. Over the weekend, I start-ed e-mailing a petition to the Filipino community to gather enough signatures so we can send the appeal to President Aquino to act immediately in request-ing Temporary Protective Status for the country and its nationals in the US. It turned out, however, that thankfully, the Embassy had already submitted the formal request. The Philippine govern-ment should not have wast-ed time in making the for-mal request because many Filipinos have family and friends in the affected areas and would want to either visit them or make more money to send to their af-fected families. The move to designate the Philippines as a TPS country has gained bipar-tisan support from at least 20 members of the US Congress, including politi-cal heavyweights such as Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), John McCain (R-AZ), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Harry Reid (D-NV) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI). It is now in the hands of the Department of Home-land Security. Let us all hope that the DHS acts on the request promptly and favorably.

PH requests for TPS, finallyBy: Atty. Crispin Lozano

Enrile done with politics, to retire after Senate job

PAGE 5Dec. 19, 2013 - Dec. 25, 2013The San Francisco Post WORLD BRIEF

ASEAN closes ranks for regional peaceTOKYO – The Philippines and its re-gional ally Japan scored a major coup of sorts as member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Na-tions (ASEAN) closed ranks to foster regional peace and stability through internationally accepted rules-based approach. The move Saturday by the ASEAN heads of state, who were here for the 40th anniver-sary of ASEAN-Japan relations, was seen as a tacit rebuke to China’s expansionist move in the region. In a joint statement, the ASEAN and Japan emphasized “the importance of maintaining peace, stability, and prosper-ity in the region and promoting maritime security and safety, freedom of naviga-tion, unimpeded commerce, exercise of self-restraint, and resolution of disputes by peaceful means.”

The statement referred to the “universally recognized principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Con-

vention of the Law of the Sea ( U n -clos)” as mecha-nism for r e so lv -ing ter-r i to r i a l disputes in the region. Territo-rial dis-

pute between Japan and China served as backdrop to the special summit, as tension simmered between Tokyo and Beijing af-ter the latter issued the Air Defense Identi-fication Zone (ADIZ) that overlapped the Senkaku islands under Japanese control. The ADIZ requires that foreign aircraft passing through the air space provide

flight plans to Chinese authorities in Hain-an or face “defensive measures.”Maritime And Air Cooperation Ahead of the summit, host country Ja-pan had hoped the ASEAN could come up with a collective statement on regional peace and security. The Philippines, which is also engaged with China over territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), had earlier backed Japan’s concerns over China’s unilateral ADIZ declaration. The Philippines has batted for the adop-tion of the Code of Conduct in the West Philippine Sea to temper any competing claims. President Aquino had earlier told ASEAN leaders that the Philippines had been advocating rules-based approach and arbitration to resolve territorial issues with China.Other ASEAN nations are now joining the bandwagon, in a move that could isolate China.The joint statement recognized there is a need to strengthen air and maritime coop-eration and linkages further promote un-impeded trade.

A day after typhoon Yolanda (Hai-yan) struck Tacloban Police Chief

Superintendent Elmer Soria , chief of the Philippine National Police Region 8 command was relieved after giving the foreign correspondents covering Taclo-ban an estimate of 10,000 dead. Presi-dent Aquino have insisted back then that the typhoon claimed no more than 2,500. Now one month after the typhoon the number of casualties has now grown to 6,057 dead and about 2,000 still missing. Many believe that the missing will even-tually all be found dead. Which justifies

the earlier estimate of Chief Superintendent Soria at 10,000. Do we see some-one sacking PNoy for his estimate blunder? I guess it Pays to be the Boss. ….. My conscience is clear, thus said PNoy in response when asked on his reac-tion regarding the allegations and counter allegations of both Tacloban City

Mayor Alfred Romualdez and DILG Secretary Mar Roxas. A video that went viral on YouTube showed Roxas telling off Romualdez in one meeting: You have to understand, You are a Romualdez and the President is an Aquino. So, what is in the name when people needs help. It Pay to be the Boss. ….. A pending impeachement against some Supreme Court Justices is being floated by some of the legislators in the House. This occurred when the Su-preme Court issued a disqualification order for some or several congressional officials. The House contends that it is not for the Court to decide but for the House Election Tribunal. That is where the disconnect appear. But the LP hierarchy in the person of their secretary general Representative Mel Senen Sarmiento clarified that the LP as a party does not support such move against the Supreme Court justices even if Congressman Rey Umali, a Liberal stal-wart move to impeach justices who ruled that pork barrel was illegal. It Pays to be the Boss. …..Attorney Ferdinand Topacio, lawyer of the Arroyo family blasted PNoy the other day for playing hard ball with his client. Apparently, PNoy and his minions have disallowed any member of GMA’s immediate family members

from staying overnite at the Veteran’s Hospital. He also added that the usual 2 hour exercise regimen outside the hospital premise was significantly reduced. Topacio reminded the administration that during the incarceration of Benigno Aquino, President Marcos allowed him to be visited and was even allowed to seek medical treatment outside the country considering that in the case of Ninoy he was already found guilty while GMA is still just an accused. It Pays to be the Boss. ….. As it is, everything boils down to lip service. Everyone remembers how PNoy during his well applauded oath taking as President of the Republic, made it known that the Filipino populace is the Boss, “ KAYO ANG BOSS KO”. But Mar Roxas says, “BAHALA NA KAYO SA BUHAY NINYO”. So who really is the Boss? I think you know the answer to that question. It pays to be the Boss. …..In the meantime, I wish all our readers the best this Holiday sea-son. Enjoy every minute of it! ( For comments please email me at don.orozco@sf-post.com)

It Pays To Be The Boss

LET’S HAVE COFFEEBy

Don Augusto Orozco

Nelson Mandela laid to rest

QUNU, South Africa — A 21-gun salute and full hon-or guard escorted the coffin of Nelson Mandela as his state funeral got underway Sunday in the rolling hills of his rural boyhood home.A Xhosa hymn, ‘’Fulfill Your Promise’’, sounded the start of the ceremony, organized to reflect the traditions of his tribe and the pride of the country he transformed as dissident and president.The specially constructed marquee venue held 4,500 people, with pride of place going to Mandela’s family, including his widow Graca Machel and ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.Top government officials and foreign dignitaries and celeb-rities, ranging from Britain’s Prince Charles to US talk show queen Oprah Winfrey, were also in attendance.Mandela’s flag-draped casket was brought to the ceremony on a gun carriage as the 21-gun salute rang out over the surrounding hills of Eastern Cape province.The funeral closes the final chapter on a towering public figure whose courage and mor-al fortitude turned him into a global symbol of freedom and hope.And it ends 10 days of na-tional mourning during which hundreds of thousands of South Africans turned out in torrential rain and searing sun-shine to grieve, remember and celebrate the life of their first elected black leader.The formal section of the state funeral was to last two hours and was broadcast around the

world.The public was shut out of the interment itself, which the family has insisted will be a private affair with close friends.The graveyard sits on the sprawling family estate Mandela built in Qunu af-ter his release from prison in 1990.‘’It was in that village that I spent some of the happiest years of my boyhood and whence I trace my earliest memories,’’ he wrote in his autobiography.Overseen by male mem-bers of his clan, the burial will include the slaughter of an ox; a ritual performed through various milestones of a person’s life under the clan’s traditions.During the ceremony, Mande-la will be referred to as Dalib-hunga; the name given to him at the age of 16 after undergo-ing the initiation to adulthoodMourners will wear traditional Xhosa regalia, with blue and white beaded headgear and necklaces.Xhosa speakers are divided into several groups, including the Thembu people, of which Mandela is a member.Although Mandela never pub-licly declared his religious de-nomination, his family comes from a Methodist background.Funeral plans were briefly overshadowed by an outcry after Mandela’s old friend and fellow Nobel peace laureate Desmond Tutu said he had not been invited.In the end Tutu did attend, and the government tried to brush off the confusion as a misun-derstanding.

US warns N. Korea after executionSEOUL – The United States has warned North Korea against any ”provocative acts” following the shock execution of leader Kim Jong-Un’s uncle, as the reclusive state cam-paigned to rally support behind the young supremo. Washington also sought to step up talks with its Asian allies, voicing concern over regional stability after Jang Song-Thaek – seen as Kim’s po-litical regent and the country’s unof-ficial number two – was executed on Thursday following a special military trial. ”Certainly, it’s something we’re con-cerned about, and we would urge the North Koreans not to take provoca-tive acts, not to do so going forward, because it’s not in the interest of re-gional stability,” US State Depart-ment spokeswoman Marie Harf said on Friday. The comments came after South Korea’s defense chief Kim Kwan-Jin

pledged to increase military vigilance against any potential provocations, s a y -ing the stunning p u r g e indicat-ed Kim J o n g -U n ’ s firm re-solve to t i gh ten his grip on pow-er. ”We w i l l he ight -en readiness against North Korea as (Jang’s execution) can lead to provo-cations against the South,” he said in the parliamentary defense meeting on Friday. ”This case can be seen as part of the

reign of terror by Kim Jong-Un as he is seeking to consolidate his power

with an iron fist.” He said the Stalinist regime risked misjudg-ing the security situa-tion on the peninsula, voicing concern over rivalry among North Korean military leaders eager to prove their loy-alty to the young leader. Meanwhile, the reclu-sive state on Saturday launched a fresh media blitz in a bid to ration-alise Jang’s elimination and rally support be-hind the young leader.

Rodong Sinmun, the official daily, splashed on its front page a colour photo of Kim, wearing a great coat with his hands in his pockets, touring a military design institute in his first public activity following the purge.

The San Francisco PostHOMELANDPAGE 6Dec. 19, 2013 - Dec. 25, 2013

MANILA -- Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Friday the Inter-Agency Anti-Graft Coordi-nating Council will look into another pork barrel scam, this time involving lawmakers linked to non-government organizations controlled by the Godofredo Roque group. De Lima said the council will probe the new Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam after the labor group Bukluran ng Mang-gagawang Pilipino asked the Depart-ment of Justice (DOJ) to investigate Rep. Niel Tupas of Iloilo and spous-es Sen. Cynthia Villar and former Sen. Manuel Villar. In its complaint, Bukluran pre-sented Commission on Audit (COA) reports linking Tupas with Roque, and implicating the Villars to ques-tionable pork barrel releases.

“I think Mr. Roque, along with oth-ers who also operated their NGOs in amassing PDAF, will be covered by the investigation of the inter-agency task force,” de Lima said. De Lima said the probe will cover lawmakers named in the COA report, but were not investigated by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) because they were not linked to Janet Lim-Napoles, accused as the mastermind of the P10-billion pork barrel scheme. The council is composed of representatives from the DOJ, NBI, Office of the Ombuds-man and COA. De Lima said Roque’s case would be treated separately from those involving Napoles. “As I’ve said many times,

the coverage of the NBI probe is only Napoles, particularly NGOs related to her and there-fore within the knowledge of our whistleblowers,” she said. “We continue to build up cas-es on those within the knowl-edge of our whistleblowers but are not supported yet with doc-umentary evidence either from DBM [Department of Budget and Management] and COA,” de Lima said. The council will make an indepen-dent evaluation of and build up cases from the COA special audit report not covered by the NBI investiga-tion, she said. In Bukluran’s complaint, its presi-dent Leody de Guzman asked the DOJ and the Office of the Ombuds-man to investigate the Villars and charge them in court.

Villars, Tupas face new pork inquiry

MANILA– Malacañang stood firm on Satur-day that President Benigno S. Aquino III can-not grant former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo a Christmas furlough, saying only the court can do it. Arroyo’s lawyer Ferdinand Topacio had said that President Aquino can grant Christmas furlough for the former president, just like what she did for former President Joseph Es-trada when he was still in detention on plunder charges. “Mukhang may disagreement tayo on that point with Atty. Topacio kasi nasa ilalim ng ju-risdiction ng korte si dating Pangulong GMA,” Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said. [I think we have a disagreement on that point with Atty. Topacio because former President GMA is under the jurisdiction of the court. “Yung detention niya is by virtue of the power of the court so ‘di tayo nakikialam,” she added.

[Her detention is by virtue of the power of the court so we are not going to meddle with it. Valte said the Executive Branch lets the court decide if the Arroyo camp files a motion. Whatever would be the decision of the court, we leave it to them because she is under the court’s jurisdiction,” Valte said. The Palace official added that she is unaware of any plans of President Aquino to visit former President Arroyo during the Christmas holi-days. Former President Joseph Estrada had earlier revealed his plans to visit Arroyo for Christ-mas. Former President Arroyo is currently in hospi-tal detention at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City. Some members of the House of Representa-tives have signed a resolution in favor of al-lowing former President Arroyo a break from detention at the VMMC this Christmas.

Aquino can’t grant GMA Xmas breakDucut served as pork agent of Napoles–Luy

MANILA -- Former Pam-panga Rep. Zenaida Cruz-Ducut allegedly demanded a 5-percent kickback for every pork barrel project she delivered to her close associate, businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, ac-cording to whistle-blower Benhur Luy. Ducut is currently the chair of the Energy Regu-latory Commission (ERC), which last week approved Manila Electric Co.’s huge rate increase of P4.15 per kilowatt-hour amid Depart-ment of Energy suspicion of collusion among power generators to make a killing from the monthlong shut-down of the Malampaya gas pipeline. Ducut represented the sec-ond congressional district of Pampanga from 1995 to 2004. In 2008, Ducut was appointed ERC chair by then President Gloria-Ma-capagal Arroyo, who now

represents Pampanga’s sec-ond district. Ducut has so far ignored calls from lawmakers to ei-

ther take a leave of absence or resign as ERC chair af-ter being implicated in the P10-billion pork barrel scam. “Attorney Ducut is a

friend of Madam Janet and acts as an agent to ob-tain projects using various government funds. I know

her as a former con-gresswoman from the second district of Pam-panga and she is now the chair of ERC,” Luy said in his latest testi-mony given on Nov. 26 to National Bureau of Investigation agent Allan Pascual and his lawyer Levito Baligod. When the Inquirer reached her by phone to get her comment on Sunday, Ducut said: “I hope you respect my silence as of now.” In his testimony, Luy claimed that Ducut used to regularly visit

Napoles’ 25th-floor office at Discovery Suites in Pa-sig City to get her commis-sion and the kickbacks of six lawmakers then.

Collusion angle in power rate hike bolstered

DOE: Power plants didn’t fulfill commitments Power producers initially assured officials of the Department of Energy (DOE) they would meet the supply gap expected to be caused by the scheduled monthlong maintenance shut-down of the Malampaya gas pipeline, accord-ing to a DOE preliminary investigation report. But when the Malampaya pipeline was shut down from Nov. 11 to Dec. 10, the DOE was caught flat-footed as power industry players failed to live up to their commitments. Their generation plants went down for un-scheduled maintenance during the period, forc-ing Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) to purchase more expensive electricity from the spot market controlled by the same power plant operators and pushing up a near tripling of the expected rate increase. “The combined effect of Malampaya mainte-nance and unplanned outages [caused] tight and insufficient supply into the WESM (Wholesale Electricity Spot Market) resulting in price set-ting [by] oil-based plants,” said the DOE pre-liminary report, a copy of which was obtained by the Inquirer. While the Malampaya pipeline was shut down, natural gas-using plants that supplied Meralco with power had to shift to more expensive fuel to keep on generating power, jacking up Meral-co’s generation charge by P4.15 per kilowatt hour. The DOE noted that the oil-based plants “cleared” the WESM with bids ranging from P20 to P62/kWh for nearly half the time during the Malampaya downtime. The DOE listed the plants that cleared the peak of P62/kWh as Bauang, Therma Mobile (TMO) and Limay. Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said the DOE preliminary report showed the power in-

dustry players “shamelessly ignoring the gov-ernment’s plea for compassion to the public interest.” The DOE and the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) and Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) held their first meeting on July 30 or more than months ahead of Malampaya’s scheduled pre-ventive maintenance. DOE’s market intervention was meant to keep Meralco’s cost of power at a range of P7.37 to P7.86/kWh, or roughly 20 percent higher than the normal seasonal rate of P6.31 to P6.58/kWh. If the DOE did not intervene, Meralco’s blend-ed generation charges would have doubled to P12.54 to P12.67/kWh during the Malampaya shutdown. The DOE conducted two more “coordination” meetings—on Aug. 16 and Nov. 4—to ensure that the power industry players would live up to their commitments to keep major plants Ma-laya, Pagbilao and CBK (Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan) available during the period and for Meralco to sign a power supply agreement with Therma Mobile to reduce its dependence on WESM. “An increase of P1.58/kWh is expected on the generation charge on the assumptions that First Gas (Sta. Rita and San Lorenzo) power plants will run on alternate fuel (light fuel oil); Ilijan on biodiesel and (Meralco’s) supply agreement with Therma Mobile,” the DOE said in its re-port. Meralco ended up demanding a P4.15/kWh rate increase in its generation charge, which the Energy Regulatory Commission chaired by Ze-naida Cruz-Ducut approved for collection over the next three months. The generation charge goes directly to Meralco’s power suppliers.

Ac-ac–national artist from Paete in the making

The town of Paete in Laguna has long been known for its talented sculptors but it has yet to come up with a nationally recognized artist. Luis Ac-ac was nominated in 2009 for the “Iskultura” segment and is still in the running for the title and recognition. According to Ac-ac, it often takes many years before a decision is made, like perhaps a decade or so. Ac-ac grew up around woodworking shops. He narrated that as early as Grade 6, he would be sent by his parents to help out in surfacing work. Sculpting involves four steps, namely blocking, detailing, surfacing, sanding/varnishing. He eventually went to the UP College of Fine Arts but only reached third year in college due to limited funds. It was around that time that he also apprenticed with the well-known Abueva but lasted for just a month. “Hindi ko kursunada ang abstract (I’m not fond of abstract art),” he recalls. Even then, he already had a sense of his own design philoso-phy that he describes as “conservative classic.” By 1974, he would work for the advertising agency of Pete Roa (Cabrera, Cruz, Roa, and Associates) for about a year then moved on to work as book illustrator for other companies and eventually pursued freelance work as com-ics illustrator. It was around 1978 to 79 when Ac-ac finally decided to stay in Paete and focus on woodcarv-ing. He started sculpting religious figures such as the Sto. Niño and Sacred Heart and would sell to shops in Evangelista or Quiapo for ap-

proximately P190 to P250 a piece. When the 80s came around, Ac-ac started to find interest in doing exhibits and thus he shift-ed some of his work into producing handcrafted sculptures of Filipino rural scenes, somewhat reminiscent of the themes used by the renowned painter Amorsolo. His first one-man exhibit happened in the late ’80s at the Vizcarra Gallery in Mabini. He re-members how he felt as he arrived at the gallery, “Parang excited at nag-aalangan nang umakyat sa gallery kasi baka walang dumating. Nang umakyat, maraming bisita pala.” (Felt excite-ment and trepidation as I went up the gallery thinking that perhaps no one will come. When I went up, I discovered there were many visi-tors.” According to Ac-ac, his works were prac-tically sold out on the first day. From 1987 to 1997, Ac-ac did regular exhibits (every other year) with Gallery Genesis at SM Mega Mall. During a chat in the late ’90s with his former UP Professor, he received an advice. “Puwede ka nang hindi mag-exhibit dahil may pangalan ka na. (You can already stop doing ex-hibits because you already have a name.)” Ac-ac continues that he took the advice to heart and has chosen to do occasional exhibits only such as his recent display at the St. Benedict Parish Church in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. His customers now visit him in Paete and he can also do portraits for around P35,000. He would usually require four pictures: one front, two sides, and one back.

PAGE 7Dec. 19, 2013 - Dec. 25, 2013MOTORINGThe San Francisco Post

Toyota to enter settlement negotiationsSANTA ANA, California – After a four-year legal battle, Toyota is entering settle-ment talks on hundreds of lawsuits that allege sudden unintended acceleration problems with its vehicles led to deaths and injuries.A motion filed late Thursday in US District Court in Santa Ana indicated both sides would begin an “intensive settlement pro-cess” next month.The Japanese automaker, which has re-called millions of cars since 2009 over the issue, agreed to the negotiations to make resolving the cases more efficient, spokes-woman Carly Schaffner told The Associ-ated Press on Friday.“We continue to stand behind the safety and quality of our vehicles,” she said.Lead plaintiffs’ attorneys Elizabeth Ca-braser, Todd Walburg and Mark Robinson

Jr. did not return calls seeking comment.The settlement negotiations come less than two months after an Oklahoma jury award-ed a total of $3 million in damages to the injured driver of a 2005 Camry and to the family of a passenger who was killed.The ruling was significant because Toyota had won all previous unintended accelera-tion cases that went to trial. It was also the first case where attorneys for plaintiffs argued that the car’s electronics – in this case the software connected to the Camry’s electronic throttle-control system – were the cause of the unintended acceleration.At the time, legal experts said the Oklaho-ma verdict might cause Toyota to consider a broad settlement of the remaining cases. Until that case, Toyota had been riding the momentum from several trials where juries found it was not liable.

New BMW M3 and M4 are hereBMW has finally, officially, taken the wraps off the hotly anticipated, straight-six-powered, M4 Coupe and M3 saloon. The M3 is the four-door, the M4 the two-door (and upcoming convertible). And, though it’s lost a pair of cylinders, this is the most powerful M3 in history. Both cars pack a 3.0-litre straight six with a pair of mono-scroll blowers, return-ing 431bhp with a 7,600rpm redline, and a whopping 406lb ft. The old naturally aspirated V8 made 414bhp and 295lb ft. Even more impressive figures are the bor-ing-but-practical digits: consumption and emissions are down by 25 per cent, giving 32.0mpg and 204g/km. This power is fed through a standard-fit six-speed manual gearbox with an auto throttle-blipping function, though you can spec the seven-speed double clutch (DCT) transmission featuring something BMW officially calls (and we’re really, really not making this up)... the Smokey Burnout func-tion. Both M3 and M4 are, of course, staunchly

rear-wheel-drive, and that extra power moves less weight: both are roughly 80kg lighter than their predecessors, with the M4 weighing in at 1500kg, and the M3 saloon just 23kg heavier. Both will do 0-62mph in 4.3 seconds (4.1s with the DCT ‘box) and

run on to a lim-ited 155mph.BMW says the M Dynamic Mode “allows greater wheel slip and there-fore easy drift-ing”, which is the sort of tech-nical insight of which we very much approve. There’s also some serious aero going on:

air curtains on the front bumper and air breath-ers in the front arches that massage the air around the front of the car, a smooth underbody, a Gurney flap on the M3’s bootlid, and a CSL-style CFRP rear-end on the M4 (oh, and speaking of CFRP, both models get a roof made of the stuff, saving up to 6kg). There are carbon ceramic brakes, too. Inside, you get standard bucket-style M Sport leather seats that look fantastic, an illuminated ‘M’ logo on the backrests, a decent-sized boot and a BMW M lap timer.

PAGE 8Dec. 19, 2013 - Dec. 25, 2013 The San Francisco Post

PAGE 9Dec. 19, 2013 - Dec. 25, 2013

The San Francisco Post

PAGE 10Dec. 19, 2013 - Dec. 25, 2013

The San Francisco PostIMMIGRATION

If your received a Notice to Appear in Immi-gration Court, you should seek immediately

a legal advice on how to proceed with your case. Do not disregard any Notice from US-CIS or Department of Homeland Security about your immigration case. Always be on top of your situation. You should also seek a second opinion about your case from other immigra-tion attorney because attorneys have different ways of handling immigration cases. Some at-torneys will dismiss you if you have no case. Others are willing to work on your case while you are waiting for the priority date of your pe-

tition. Still other attorneys can strategize your case so that you can maximize the time and opportunity while working on your case. In our Law Firm we al-ways strategize every case we handled so that the client will be able to maximize the opportu-nity of staying legal and making the best out of our client’s present situation.

Question:What is the benefit of going to Im-migration Court if I received a Notice to

Appear?

Answer: It is to your

lifetime ad-vantage if you go to I m m i g r a -tion Court if you received a Notice to Appear. Some aliens with no im-mediate im-m i g r a t i o n relief disre-garded the Notice to Appear they received in the hope that they can get away from it. The truth is that it is better to go to the im-m i g r a t i o n hearing be-cause there are many b e n e f i t s available if they are rep-resented in court by an immigration a t t o r n e y . Aside from immigration

relief available unknown to the alien, the new poli-cy of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement

(ICE) may allow the alien to stop the proceed-ings under the ICE power of “prosecutorial dis-cretion”

Question:What is a Notice to Appear (NTA)?

Answer: An NTA is a charging document stating that the alien must appear before

Immigration Court to answer allegations of removability or deportability. It has the same effect of a warrant of arrest wherein the alien is required to appear in court. If the alien failed to appear in court, he will be deported in his absence. Once deported in absentia, he or she could not immigrate or adjust status unless his or her case is reopened on appeal.

Question: What is the ICE power to stop the removal proceedings?

Answer: The new memo of ICE Director on June 17, 2011 authorized ICE officers

to stop the removal proceedings of an alien, or grant a continuance until the alien become eli-gible for relief at a later date or grant a deferred action wherein an alien can get a work autho-rization.

Question: What should I do if I received an NTA?

Answer: The first thing to do is to consult with an experienced immigration attorney

who will discuss with you the options and the whole strategy from the beginning to the end of the removal proceedings. You may qualify for any of the following options: (1) filing for asylum, (2) cancellation of removal, (3) waiver of inadmissibility or (4) adjustment of status (5) seek a prosecutorial discretion from ICE for a deferred action or parole-in-place. If these op-tions are not available, they may be available at a future date.

Note: This is not a legal advice

SUCCESS STORIES

1. On May 8, 2013, we received an approval of adjustment of status for a client who has a prob-lem with entry document but has Sec. 245(i)

eligibility.2. On January 25, 2013, we received an ap-proval from the Immigration Court for an ad-justment of status for an alien who originally entered as a Philippine Government Official under A2 visa.3. On November 30, 2012, we received an ap-proval from Immigration Court of waiver for use of different name upon entry to the U.S. and adjustment of status.4. On October 25, 2012, we received an ap-proval of green card from the Immigration Court based on Cancellation of Removal of a client under the Violence against Women Act. She originally entered under a Fiancée visa but the marriage did not worked and she ended up filing a self petition.5. On October 23, 2012, we received an approv-al of green card for a client whose petitioner has already died. She took care of her petitioner father before he died 10 years ago. She thought this will never be possible until the new law came into effect.6. On September 21, 2012, we received approv-al of adjustment of status and waiver of mis-representation for a client who used a different name or passport upon entry to the U.S. 7. On May 25, 2012, we received an approval from the Immigration Court for a waiver of misrepresentation for a green card holder who entered the U.S. as single but actually mar-ried at the time of entry. The grant of waiver stopped his removal and allows him to apply for naturalization. Crispin Caday Lozano is an active member of the State Bar of California, the Ameri-can Immigration Lawyers Association and the National Association of Consumers Bankruptcy Attorneys. He specializes in immigration law and bankruptcy law. He earned his Juris Doctor at Western State University College of Law in Fullerton, California. He is also a Certified Public Accountant, a Real Estate Broker and a Bachelor of Business Administration Cum Laude graduate. He has offices in San Francisco, Hayward, San Jose, and Cer-ritos, California. You can contact him at 1-877-456-9266. Email questions to crispinlozano@gmail.com/. Visit our web-site at www.crispinlozanolaw.com/. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Should I go to court if I received a Notice to AppearBy: Atty. Crispin C. Lozano

PAGE 11Dec. 19, 2013 - Dec. 25, 2013The San Francisco Post AROUND TOWN

Paskuhang Pinoy in Union City. Winners of the Parol Contest were happy to get $500 cash and a whole Lechon courtesy of Robert Reyes of UFC. (Second from right) In picture are Bay Area local artists modeling the parols with the winners and Cecilio Lorenzo of Cor-nerstone Intl. College (right). The said festival was produced by JSCamins Productions. (Photo by Pixel Creations)

Congressman Mike Honda leads effortsto help Typhoon Haiyan victims

Rep. Mike Honda (D-Silicon Valley) led 44 members of Congress on a letter urg-ing Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, and USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah to emphasize protection of Filipino women and chil-dren during Typhoon Hai-yan relief and recovery ef-forts. The letter follows a Google Hangout he hosted last week with USAID of-ficials to discuss ways that Filipinos here and abroad can become more involved in aid activities. The UN estimates that 49,000 Fili-pinas between 15 and 49 years old are at high risk for sexual violence in the aftermath of Haiyan. “As the people of the Philippines try to recover from one of the worst di-sasters in their history, we must remain cognizant that violence against women and children rises dramati-cally in the aftermath of these catastrophes,” Rep.

Honda said upon delivery of the letter. “I am proud of the generous American spirit that supports our global neighbors, and want to ensure it is reflected in our relief efforts. I urge our diplomatic leadership to remain attuned to the need for specialized protection of women and children.” Since the impact of the typhoon, Rep. Honda has been at the forefront of assistance efforts. He in-troduced a resolution urg-ing Congress to provide assistance to the victims of the typhoon, joined his colleagues in urging the Department of Homeland Security to designate Tem-porary Protected Status to the Philippines, and con-ducted phone meetings with Red Cross officials and Philippines Ambassa-dor Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. “Words and well-meaning policies alone will not stop the violence and exploita-tion that so often accom-

panies disasters like Hai-yan,” said Ritu Sharma, co-founder and president of Women Thrive World-wide, a Washington-based women’s advocacy orga-nization. “The U.S. must make a material commit-ment in our recovery assis-tance to help women and girls stay safe so they can rebuild their lives.” Bringing further atten-tion to recovery endeav-ors, Rep. Honda hosted a Google Hangout last Wednesday with Jeremy Konyndyk, director of US-AID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, the lead federal agency re-sponsible for coordinating the government response to international disasters. Key leaders from the Fil-ipino-American commu-nity joined the video chat to collaboratively discuss important steps on the road to reconstruction for those impacted by the typhoon.

This are some of the Church officials if Iglesid Ni Cristo at the San Jose Local Congreation. They are with their Resident Minister Noel Gasmen, Assisting Minister I C Cruz with Head Deacons Brian Avery, Menar Adriano, Ruben Neria, Ozzy Balgos, Abe Gorgonio, Wilson Lubong and Mac Campos

The Costaleses, Rodrigo’s and Navalta’s. The family picture may not be complete but nevertheless showed one happy family gathering. This was taken at the San Di-ego Navy Hub with Florencio & Lourdes Costales together with Joseph, Luz, Joan & Albert Rodrigo of San Diego; Dennis, Stephanie, Kelsi & Kameron Navalta of San Jose & Flo, Alma, Marissa & Reese Navalta of Modesto, California

VHSAAA (Villamor High School Alumni Association of America) headed by it’s current Presi-dent Joji Isla held it’s Executive Board meeting and Christmas party last Dec. 14, 2013 in San Diego, California

PAGE 12Dec. 19, 2013 - Dec. 25, 2013 SPORTS The San Francisco Post

Floyd hints Pacquiao’s tax case behind ‘meeting’NAYPYITAW—Wor ld

champion Josie Gabuco, London Olympian Mark Anthony Barriga and ban-tam Mario Fernandez quenched the thirst for gold medals with boxing victo-ries Saturday as the Philippines began a difficult climb out of the pits halfway through the 27th Southeast Asian Games here.Gabuco, the reign-ing pinweight champion, punched her way to a major-ity decision victory over Indonesian Beatrix Suguru, 40-36, 40-36, 38-all, in the finals of the women’s light flyweight division.Barriga, a 20-year-old southpaw from Panabo City, Davao del Sur, scored a convincing win over In-donesia’s Konelis Langu, 30-27, 30-27, 30-27, for the men’s light flyweight gold, while Fernandez nailed the third gold with a unani-mous win over Donchai Tathi of Thailand, 29-28,

29-28, 29-28.Ramon Antonio Franco added to the country’s gold tally after downing Bru-nei’s Fidaly Sanif Mae, 8-6,

in the men’s -55kg kumite in karate.Franco, part of the team kumite that brought home the silver in Indonesia, was training in Iran when Supertyphoon “Yolanda” whipped hit his hometown Tacloban City.After a dry harvest the last two days, Team Philippines moved ahead of Cambodia to seventh overall with sev-en golds, nine silvers and

15 bronzes.The Filipinos also have a sure gold in men’s basket-ball after blasting Indone-sia, 83-52. They go for a

sweep against Ma-laysia Sunday with an unlikely loss still not enough to deprive them of the title since they had already beaten the second-running Thais by a big mar-gin.While Gabuco, who clinched a third SEA Games crown, offered her victory to victims of the recent spate of disasters that

struck the country, Nesthy Petecio could only shake her head in disbelief after falling to a nasty hometown decision in the women’s featherweight division.Petecio dominated Myan-mar’s Nwe Ni Oo for three rounds but the referee raised the hand of the Bur-mese after the fight to the delight of the crowd at the packed Wunna Theikdi In-door Stadium here.

the US Immigration and Nationality Act,” said the letter signed by Ambassador Cuisia and addressed to Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Rand Beers. The request was made in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan, which killed more than 6,000 people; displaced more than 4 million and affected more than 12 million during its violent rampage across the Central Philippines last month. More than 200 Filipino-American organizations across the US, backed by members of the US Senate and House of Rep-resentatives, the Catholic Church and other NGOs have re-quested for the additional immigration relief measures that a TPS designation would be able to provide to Filipinos. Ambassador Cuisia said the Embassy has also been in dis-cussions with the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State and the DFA in Manila since the TPS was first brought to his attention a few days after Haiyan struck the country. Ambassador Cuisia said the Philippine Embassy and the Philippine Consulates General in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu and Agana made the rec-ommendation to Secretary Del Rosario during their annual conference in Washington, D.C. last week and after extensive consultations with leaders of the Filipino Community in their respective jurisdictions. Ambassador Cuisia explained that a TPS designation for the Philippines would allow eligible Filipinos currently in the US to support the long-term relief and rehabilitation efforts in the country because they could be given temporary authorization to stay and work for a limited period. He said the request will have to be evaluated by US authori-ties and may take some time. If approved, eligible Filipinos can start filing their applications, which will be reviewed

on a case-to-case basis. He said that in addition to TPS, Filipinos already in the US can also take advantage of the immigration breaks an-nounced by the US Citizenship and Immigration Service on November 15, of which some Filipinos have already availed themselves. Meanwhile, the National Federation of Filipino Ameri-can Associations (NaFFAA) commended the Philippine Government for favorably acting on the petition signed by more than 200 community, civic, church and labor or-ganizations urging President Benigno Aquino to make a formal request to the US administration designating Tempo-rary Protected Status (TPS) for Filipinos. NaFFAA National Chairman Ed Navarra hailed President Aquino’s action as “a necessary step in securing the U.S. ad-ministration’s prompt response. We are confident TPS will be granted on humanitarian grounds as it will benefit many Filipinos who have lost relatives in the storm or suffered tre-mendous hardships.” Navarra also thanked mbassador Cuisia “for conveying our utmost concerns to the President and Secretary Del Rosario. The Ambassador understood the urgency of our request and he acted promptly to make sure it happens.” NaFFAA and other community and civic organizations have met with Philippine consular officials across the U.S. in the past two weeks. “We are heartened that these meetings were fruitful because it’s really critical, although not required, that the Philippine Government weigh in favorably on this mat-ter,” Navarra said. Last month, a bipartisan group of 20 US senators and 30 US representatives urged the Obama administration, specifi-cally the Department of Homeland Security, to “exercise its authority to designate the Philippines” for TPS in light of the devastation suffered by the country as a result of Typhoon Haiyan.

(Cont. from page 1...PH REQUESTS)

The foreclosure crisis is showing signs that it’s fi-nally fading away.The number of new fore-closure filings -- which in-cludes default notices, auc-tions and bank repossessions -- dropped 15% to a to-tal of 113,454 properties in N o v e m b e r , according to Real tyTrac , an online marketer of f o r e c l o s e d properties.That was the biggest monthly de-cline since N o v e m b e r 2010, and foreclosure filings are now at the lowest level since December 2006. From a year ago, filings are down 37%.“[T]he depth and breadth of the decrease provides strong evidence that we are entering the ninth inning of this foreclosure crisis with

the outcome all but guar-anteed,” Daren Blomquist, vice president at Realty-Trac, said in a statement.Along with general eco-

nomic improvements that have made it possible for homeowners to stay on top of mortgage payments, people are also trying hard-er to hold onto their homes as housing prices continue. “People have more to lose if they lose their home,” said Jed Kolko, chief econ-

omist at Trulia.While filings are much lower than the average of 300,000 filings per month during the height of the

foreclosure cri-sis, they haven’t quite recovered to the level of around 86,000 that was seen in 2005 and 2006, before the hous-ing bubble burst. And certain mar-kets, like Florida, Delaware, Mary-land and South Carolina, are still struggling with high rates of fore-closures.“While foreclo-sures will likely continue to stage a weak rally in

certain markets next year as the last of the distress left over from the Great Recession is dealt with, it is highly unlikely that there will be a foreclosure come-back that poses any major threat to the solid housing recovery that has now tak-en hold,” said Blomquist.

REAL ESTATEForeclosures drop to lowest level

in 7 years

PH back to 7th via boxing golds

MANILA – Unbeaten American boxer Floyd Mayweather can under-stand why Filipino ring icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao wants to person-ally meet with him and discuss a potential multi-million dollar showdown.It was reported last week that Pacquiao will travel to the United States this week for a family vacation, and is hoping to have a meeting with Mayweather.Speaking to Fight Hype, Mayweather did not di-rectly address his meeting with Pacquiao or even con-firmed that it would take place.But he noted that he un-derstands why the Filipino boxer would want to meet with him.

“My thing is, you know, I don’t really like to get into anyone’s financial busi-ness, because I don’t really want anyone in my finan-cial business,” Mayweather said, obviously referring to the tax problems hounding Pacquiao both in the Phil-ippines and in the United States.“You know, from what I hear… He has problems, some real, real big prob-lems, you know? It’s three letters, and the first one begins with an ‘I,’” added Mayweather, referring to the Internal Revenue Ser-vice (IRS).It was reported last week that Pacquiao owed the IRS over $18 million, aside from the P2.2 billion that he owes the Bureau of In-

ternal Revenue in the Phil-ippines.“Would I be trying to get a potential fight with Floyd Mayweather if I’m in a very, very bad predica-ment, from what I hear?” Mayweather asked. “Abso-lutely, I would.”A Pacquiao-Mayweather bout is still among the rich-est fights that can be made in boxing, even though in-terest in the match-up has waned over recent years due in part to Pacquiao’s recent losing streak.Mayweather has remained coy about a potential fight against Pacquiao, however, and has still not named his opponent for his next fight, scheduled for May 2014.

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PAGE 13Dec. 19, 2013 - Dec. 25, 2013The San Francisco Post SHOWBIZ

UTAH - Former beauty queen Melanie Marquez is recov-ering from a horrific car crash in which her SUV fell into a 12-foot ravine near the Utah-Arizona border on December 7.While driving from Las Vegas to her home in Annabella, Utah, Marquez hit a patch of black ice and slid off the highway around 5:30 in the evening. She, along with three others, including her 12-year-old son Adam, were transported to a hospital in St. George, Utah, about two hours after the accident.Marquez suffered a fractured spine as well as a fractured sternum, while her son was able to escape with

just a few cuts and bruises. Shortly after the slide-off, Marquez, despite her injuries, climbed out of the vehicle and hiked to a place where she could call for assistance -- something she considers a miracle.“I was pleading there for someone to stop,” an emotional Marquez told ABS-CBN News. “No one stopped.”“I [was] just waiting, hoping, praying that be-fore it gets dark, we would be rescued. I know it’s an angel who lifted me up. I know very well I [had] someone with me there... Climbing that hill, it was a miracle. I just felt someone carry me so I could walk.”

Melanie Marquez recounts horrific car crash

Heart decides to ‘be with Chiz for the rest of my life’

DESPITE her parents’ strong disapproval of her relationship with Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Heart Evangelista said she has decided that she wants to be with the politician for the rest of her life.Speaking with HOLA! Philippines in its De-cember 2013 issue, the 28-year-old actress confessed that even though she’s not ready to marry just yet, she’s cer-tain that Escudero would be the man waiting for her down that aisle one day.“I can see marriage down the road, just not tomorrow. [But] I have already made a decision to be with Chiz for the rest of my life,” she said.Whether Evangelis-ta’s parents would be at the wedding still remains a ques-tion. Her parents earlier voiced their concerns over the relationship, citing that age difference and Escudero’s marital his-tory could pose problems.The 44-year-old lawmaker’s 10-year marriage with ex-wife Christine Flores was annulled in June 2012.Since her parents publicly criticized Escudero last year, Evangelista said she has yet to speak and iron things out with her mother, Cecilia Ongpauco.“I saw her once on my dad’s birthday, but I haven’t spoken to her. I speak to my dad (Rey Ongpauco) though. My dad’s already 70, and he just wants to be okay with me,” she shared.

‘Becoming a better person’Evangelista, whose previous partners include actors Jericho Rosales and Daniel Matsunaga, said that her relationship with Escudero has helped her mature and become a better person.“It’s so much better to be with somebody older for the times when i’m being childish. He lets it

go. Or he would re-ally talk to me when there’s something I don’t understand. It’s really nice,” she explained.“I used to fear the bank before. I didn’t know anything. I didn’t hold any money. He told me, ‘You have to learn to handle your money and how to save. You need to know how to world works, you have to know these things.’ And I’ve learned so much,” the actress added.Escudero, who ex-pressed his desire to keep things private between them, has admitted that the

public attention on their relationship has actu-ally been helpful to the both of them.“We are secure in who we are already, we have less to prove to other people, especially to the other person,” he said. “That’s the best thing about having a public life--whether in showbiz or in politics--it’s so easy to find things out, and it’s difficult to hide whatever.”But Escudero, who has twins with his former wife, emphasized that he wants to keep things private when it comes to his children. “I want them to decide when they come of age what they want up,” he said.

Heart Evangelista with boyfriend Sen. Francis Escudero.

Zanjoe feels secure on 2-year relationship with Bea

Zanjoe Marudo and Bea Alonzo is one couple that’s ad-mired by many in the showbiz industry.Both managed to have a good career and a happy love life, which according to Zanjoe has gone to different “stages” that gave them a good foundation.“Hindi rin kasi namin yun naplano or na-expect na tatagal or meron kaming set up o plano na para mag-tagal kami ganito gagawin namin—hindi, e, hindi ganun,” he said in an in-terview Friday afternoon, Dec. 13. He then added, “dahil siguro sa ugali nam-ing dalawa na maging un-derstanding sa ginagawa ng isa’t isa, ayun parang kusa na lang siyang dumat-ing sa punto na wala nang issue, wala nang nagagalit, wala nang nagseselos, wala nang hindi ka lang makasagot issue na ito, parang nai-intindihan nyo na yung isa’t isa.”He also commended his girlfriend who since the start of their relationship made him feel secure, which he recip-rocated.“Siyempre sinecure niya ako, and ako rin, siguro nara-ramdaman niya yun. Kahit saan siya mapunta, kahit sino kasama ko, never niya pinaramdam sa akin na kailangan mapraning kasi kailangan magselos—hindi ko naramda-man yun.”

But the most important thing that the Kapamilya actor thinks made them stick with each other is the content-ment on what each of them can give to the relationship, and acceptance of who they really are.“ Huwag kang maghanap ng wala,” he said about having

a strong relationship. “Wag ka lang humiling pa ng iba. Para sa akin ha, yung ito karelasyon mo, gusto mo ganito, gusto mo ganyan, e, hindi naman siya ga-nun, dun kayo magka-kaproblema, e.“Siguro kung tatang-gapin mo siya kung ano siya, tatanggapin ka niya kung ano ka, magkkakaintindihan kayo. And pag na-paramdam mo naman at alam mong mahal ka

ng tao, alam niya din na mahal mo siya, iyon nay un, e. Susunod na na lahat, e.”Besides a happy relationship, Zanjoe is thankful for the good run of their ABS-CBN primetime show “Annaliza,” which could probably run until March 2014.“Dapat kasi isang season na kami, pero medyo mahaba-haba na yung tinatakbo ng istorya,” he said about the extension of the show. “Masaya kasi habang mas tumata-gal mas nagiging close kami ng mga artista. Yung mga kasama mo parang totoo na yung nangyayari.

Another Filipina shines in Int’l beauty pageant

THE Philippines continued its winning streak in com-petitions abroad after Miss Phil-ippines Koreen Medina won third runner-up at the 42nd Miss Intercontinental beauty contest held in Madge-burg, Germany, last Saturday night, the high-est Filipino can-didate to place in this pageant since 1994.Medina, 18, of Quezon City, also won the Miss I n t e r c o n t i n e n -ta l -Cont inenta l Queen of Asia and Oceania in one of Europe’s most popular beauty pageants.This is the third straight time this year that the Phil-ippines won third-runner up in inter-national pageants. Ariella Arida was third runner-up at the Miss Universe pageant held in Moscow, Russia, last Nov. 9. Ali Forbes won the same honor at the Miss Grand International contest in Bangkok, Thailand, last Nov. 19.The last time the Philippines made a splash in

the beauty pageant was in 1994 when Maria Soveitskaya Bacud also won third runner-up.Miss Russia Ekaterina Ple-khova won the 2013 Miss Intercontinental crown. First runner-up honors went to Miss Puerto Rico Aley-da Ortiz. Miss Colombia Margarita Peralta won sec-ond runner-up while Miss South Africa Kayla Nel was fourth runner-up.Others who made it to the Top 15 semifinals were rep-resentatives from Argen-tina, Costa Rica, Cucaraco, England, Germany, Hunga-ry, New Zealand, Panama, Poland and Thailand.Medina is a mass commu-nications freshman at St. Paul University. She enjoys singing, dancing, acting and modelling. Given the chance, she wants to pursue a career in show business. At the 2013 Mutya ng Pili-pinas pageant, Medina re-ceived five special awards namely Mutya ng Sheri-dan, Best in Talent, Mutya ng Zen Institute, Mutya ng Careline and Mutya ng

Lancaster Hotel Manila.The Miss Intercontinental crown valued at US$361,446 (roughly P16,265,070) holds the record for the most expensive pageant crowns. Designed by FUQI China, the crown has 720 diamonds.

Koreen Medina is shown here in an undated file photo after winning the Mutya ng Pilipinas Asia Pacific International 2013 title. Medina won third runner-up in the 42nd Miss Inter-continental beauty contest held in Madgeburg, Germany, on Saturday night.

PAGE 14Dec. 19, 2013 - Dec. 25, 2013 CLASSIFIED The San Francisco Post

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among the most devastated by Superty-phoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) in November to see first-hand the relief operations facilitated by the US mili-

tary and aid organizations. He is expected to discuss how the US can further contrib-ute to the rehabilitation efforts in the city and other devastated areas.On Tuesday, Kerry met with President Be-nigno Aquino III and Department of For-eign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario.

briefing a day after the OIC rebuked Misuari for master-minding a three-week hostage siege in Zamboanga City last September.“But the leadership of the MNLF is a matter that is best decided by the stakeholders within the MNLF,” Lacierda added, noting that some MNLF groups have already formally asked the OIC to withdraw its rec-ognition of the Misuari as the sole representative of the Bangsamoro people.MNLF spokesman Abasalom Cer-veza declined to comment on the OIC missive because they had not received a copy of the OIC resolu-tion on Monday.But news that OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu had chided Misuari for the “wrong move” of stating the Zamboanga City hostage crisis sparked fears that the group would again stage another action

that would dis-turb the peace the Mindanao.

But the military claimed that the MNLF 200 men who were seen massing at Midsayap, Cotabato around 7 a.m. Monday were after people who were supposedly in-volved in a killing, according to Capt. Antonio Bulao, spokesman of the 602nd Infantry Brigade,Bulao said the men were led by three MNLF commanders, known only as Noran Oto, Hasan and Dumo who were allegedly looking for relatives of village chief Peng Kolilong who were purportedly involved in the killing of Kasanudin Guialal, a vil-lage elder of Datu Piang in neighbor-ing Maguindanao.The 40th Infantry Battalion was monitoring the situation, Bulao said.Meanwhile, Lacierda said the gov-ernment welcomes Ihsanoglu that the Zamboanga City seige was a mistake on the part of Misuari.“We certainly welcome the state-

ment of OIC where they have viewed the action of Chairman Misuari as a wrong move. We in the Philippines saw it’s a wrong move, and we are certainly happy that the organization of Islamic states has realized that the action taken by Chairman Nur Misu-ari was damaging to his cause and to Zamboanga and to the cause of the MNLF,” Lacierda said.According to a high-level diplomat source who attended the recently concluded 40th Council of Foreign Ministers in Conakry, Republic of Guinea, Ihsanoglu called for a closed-door meeting to discuss the Zamboanga attack.The siege left more than 200 indi-viduals killed and displaced some 120,000 residents in Zamboanga City.The OIC also adopted a resolution calling on its Peace Committee on the Southern Philippines “to exert their efforts in order not to allow these unfortunate events to derail the peace process.”

PAGE 15Dec. 19, 2013 - Dec. 25, 2013The San Francisco Post

govern-m e n t ’ s ” o n e -

strike policy” against erring buses. “That’s something we can refer to Secretary Abaya if one-strike policy is something practicable but, we’ll re-fer to Secretary Abaya. The other thing also, Secretary Abaya also ordered Toll Regulatory Board Executive Di-rector Edmund Reyes to review the tapes and to talk to Skyway; to study on what kind of infrastructure improve-ments that we can do to avoid another incident of a bus falling from an elevated tollway.” Lacierda said that Abaya had directed Land Transporta-tion Franchising and Regulatory Board Chairman Win-ston Ginez to conduct an investigation, including subject-ing the driver to a drug test. He also ordered a review of the performance of the Don Mariano Transit. He also observed that there appears to be too many buses plying the EDSA route. “You’ve got 12,000 units plying EDSA on a daily basis. We don’t need 12,000 units plying EDSA on a daily ba-sis,” Lacierda said. Ginez, meanwhile, said that the bus driver, Carmelo Ala-pcap, was critically injured but survived the accident. He will undergo tests and questioning, he added. Ginez said that he had already ordered the suspension of the 78 other buses of the Don Mariano Transit bus com-pany pending an investigation. Under a preventive suspension order, the bus company is obliged to surrender all of its yellow plates, subject its fleet to a road-worthiness test at the Land Transportation Office, subject its driver to a drug test, and compel all its drivers to attend the mandatory road safety seminar at the University of the Philippines’ National Center for Transportation Studies. Ginez said he also asked Lim to justify why the LTFRB should not cancel her franchise to operate. The LFTRB also ordered Don Mariano Transit to allow a team of the agency to conduct road-worthiness tests of all their vehicles. On Sept. 13, the LTFRB grounded 21 units of Don Mari-ano Transit for 60 days when one of its buses crashed into a railing in EDSA Avenue-Ortigas flyover on July 4, 2012, injuring eight people. The bus driver was reportedly texting when the incident took place. On Aug. 5, 2012, a Don Mariano bus hit a motorcycle on the north-bound Magallanes flyover in Makati City, resulting in the death of the motorcycle rider. Based on LTFRB records, Don Mariano Transit tops the list among the most dangerous bus operators in Metro

Manila based on damage to property in 2010 and in the first half of 2011. Ginez said he had also received complaints that the Don Mariano Transit owner, a Dr. Melissa Lim, also operates other bus companies, such as the Nova Auto Transport, which also made it to the list of the most dangerous op-erators for their involvement in fatal road mishaps. “I will look into such report if there is an interlocking of companies (belonging to Lim),” Ginez said. Ginez also reminded Lim that of her responsibility to take care of the financial assistance of the injured passen-gers and burial assistance for the families of the victims. The Labor Department, meanwhile, said that the Don Mariano Transit Corporation was not supposed to oper-ate because its Labor Standards Compliance Certificate (LSCC), has expired on July 17, 2013. The DoLE requires all bus companies to renew their LSCC annually to ensure that cemployees, particularly drivers, comply with the labor and safety standards of the government. Many died on the spot but some others expired at various hospitals near the scene of the accident, which is several kilometers from the Magallanes Interchange and some four kilometers to the Bicutan exit. The bus was facing north when it landed on top of the van. Both were mangled beyond description. The bus was lying on its passenger side, the wheels almost facing the sky. Rescuers began pulling the bodies several minutes after the accident that awakened the neighborhood although it happened just before the rush hour at 6 a.m. Many of the victims never reached the hospitals and the bodies were lined up in the street covered with news-papers as police and rescuers worked their way through the mangled steel, broken seats, and shattered windows of the Don Mariano bus. “This is the worst accident that happened in Metro Ma-nila in the past years that I know,” said Supt. Elizabeth Velasquez, spokesperson of the police’s Highway Patrol Group (HPG). Quoting reports from their field investigators, Velas-quez said the accident occurred while the Don Mariano Bus with plate number UVC-916 was traveling along the southbound lane of the Skyway a few minutes before 6 a.m. A survivor who gave his name as Pepe Padilla, 54, said the bus suddenly swerved along the Skyway before it lost control and plunged to the West Service Road. It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the accident but the highway was wet from rain, said Ivy Vidal, a spokes-woman from Skyway Operations and Maintenance Corp.

(Cont. from page 1..22 KILLED)

(Cont. from page 1..MISUARI FORCES)

(Cont. from page 1..KERRY VISITS)

PAGE 16Dec. 19, 2013 - Dec. 25, 2013 The San Francisco Post