June 2014 – Page 55

It hurts when I pay my taxes

Economy

Jun 022014

EVERY TIME I get my pay slip, I get depressed. I see the amount of what I was supposed to have earned and, right below it, the amount of tax deducted from my income that I would never see again. Of course, some would argue that I do see the tax I paid in terms of infrastructure and public services. But even if I try to console myself with such platitudes, I find myself feeling more depressed every time I ride the MRT and get squeezed by the hordes of people also trying to get in, or when I go to a government office just to be practically ignored or, on special days, even snarled at.

CBCP: No stand on Edca

News

Jun 022014

Philippine Daily Inquirer 5:40 am | Tuesday, June 3rd, 2014 CBCP president and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas: No official stand. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines–Contrary to earlier reports that it had taken a critical stand, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said on Monday it had no official position on the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) between the Philippines and the United States. CBCP president and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said, “The CBCP has not taken an official position on the matter,” in response to news reports the 120-strong CBCP was critical of the agreement that would allow more US troops in the Philippines and give the US greater access to local military bases. Villegas added: “As president of the CBCP, I wish to make clear that we are fully cognizant of the complexity of the issues involved, including as they do issues of international law and relations, regional politics as well as the morality of the use of force and the threat of the use of force.” The Edca, which is being challenged in the Supreme Court, was signed by Filipino and US officials in April after eight months of negotiations. But Villegas said the bishops, like other Filipino citizens, were free to form and express their individual opinions on the issue. “We continue to entrust ourselves to the spirit of truth and to study the matter with assiduousness,” he said.–Jocelyn R. Uy Follow Us Other Stories: Fil-Ams urged to invest in PH economy ‘Kalayaan SF 2014’ Read More …

Fil-Ams urged to invest in PH economy

News

Jun 022014

• Investment Roadshow touts economic growth • Fil-Ams could join development investments” • Openings in IT, pharmaceuticals, etc, Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. and other members of the private-sector delegation from Manila hold one-on-one meetings with prospective investors on the sides of the 3rd Philippine Investment Mission in Atlanta. (PHILIPPINE EMBASSY PHOTOS/LILIBETH ALMONTE-ARBEZ) Ambassador Cuisia thanks Estrella Cramer of UPS Global Procurement at the end of the 3rd Philippine Investment Mission business forum at the UPS auditorium in Atlanta. ATLANTA, Georgia — Saying prospects for the Philippines have never been brighter, a high-level business delegation from Manila called on Filipino-Americans to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the improved business climate in their homeland. In their meeting with the Filipino-American community in Atlanta, members of the 3rd Private Sector-Led Philippines Investment Roadshow headed by noted economist Dr. Bernardo Villegas urged Fil-Ams to play a role in maintaining the Philippines’ upward economic trajectory. The meeting was part of the Philippines: Asia’s New Emerging Tiger business forum that was also participated in by Fred Austria, president of DMCI; Bong Borja, president of Expert Global; Martin Pascual, director of Pascual Laboratories; and Phillip Romualdez, president of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines. Villegas gave an overview of the positive investment climate in the Philippines and predicted that the country’s economic growth of 7.5 percent last year could even expand to 10 to 15 percent in the next decade. “The economy is so strong that even if the people decide to elect Read More …

‘Kalayaan SF 2014’ to celebrate ‘Filipino spirit’ with businesses, heroes, top entertainers

News

Jun 022014

‘Kalayaan SF 2014’ to celebrate ‘Filipino spirit’ with businesses, heroes, top entertainers

Apl.d.Ap revving up the crowd at last year’s Kalayaan fete. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS SAN FRANCISCO, California — Filipino-American community leaders and the Philippine Consulate General of San Francisco are gearing up once again for a day-long celebration of the 116th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence. “Kalayaan SF 2014” will be held on Saturday, June 21 from noon to 7:30 p.m., organizers announced, with the theme “Celebrating the Filipino Spirit: Resilience, Moving Forward, and Giving Back.” Radi Calalang, chairman of the Kalayaan SF Committee, explained, “We look forward to bringing more attention to our nation’s incredible economic successes and continued momentum, but we also need to ensure that we honor and continue the valiant efforts being made to overcome adversity after Typhoon Haiyan.” Kalayaan SF 2014 poster Calalang added, “We hope to encourage everyone to continue fostering that great Filipino tradition of bayanihan, the community spirit that brings together the powers of selflessness, unity and cooperation to achieve amazing things.” “Kalayaan SF 2014” will once again be held in the heart of the city, at San Francisco’s historic Union Square. Last year, more than 8,000 people gathered in the same venue in celebration of national pride and identity. “Kalayaan SF provides a venue to spotlight our communities’ significant contributions and make known our positive presence in the Bay Area,” said Jaimon Ascalon, San Francisco Deputy Consul General. UCSF Professor Jay Gonzales agreed: “The theme of giving back is definitely the most relevant to the Filipino experience this past year and Read More …

Tacloban building back better after Haiyan

Entertainment

Jun 022014

Tacloban building back better after Haiyan

Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. (left standing) speaks with businessmen for the Houston leg of the 3rd Philippine Investment Roadshow in the United States held late last month. The investment roadshow, initiated by Ambassador Cuisia, seeks to highlight the remarkable feat and success the Philippine economy achieved by highlighting positive macroeconomic developments under the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III, encouraging international investors to do business in the Philippines. ATLANTA, Georgia – In order to move forward, it is not enough to just build back. We need to build back better. This was the message of Philippine Chamber of Mines President Phillip Romualdez American corporate executives and investors who attended the 3rd Philippines Private Sector-Led Investment Roadshow here early this week. In his remarks during the Philippines: Asia’s New Emerging Tiger business forum, Romualdez provided a situation report on the devastating effects of Typhoon Haiyan, which struck Tacloban City and other parts of the Eastern Visayas in November, and shared with attendees the Proposed Tacloban Recovery and Rehabilitation Plan (TRPP). “Nine out of 17 regions, covering 44 provinces and 59 cities in the Philippines were hit by Typhoon Haiyan. Over 16 million people were affected, with over 4 million displaced,” said Romualdez. “The most severely damaged region is Eastern Visayas with over 4 million people affected by the typhoon and suffering 35 percent of total damages.” Romualdez said Haiyan also greatly affected the social sector, which sustained the most damage at 65 percent, followed by the economic sector at 31 percent, and infrastructure Read More …

California Senate passes higher minimum wage bill

News

Jun 022014

California Senate passes higher minimum wage bill

INQUIRER.net US Bureau 3:21 am | Tuesday, June 3rd, 2014 • Bill would give Californians top minimum wage in the nation by ‘17 • Automatically adjusted for inflation annually starting in ‘18 • Aimed at reducing poverty, income gap LOS ANGELES – California’s State Senate on Thursday, May 29, voted 21-12 to raise the state’s minimum wage to at least $13 per hour by 2017. The bill would also require the minimum wage to be automatically adjusted for inflation annually beginning in 2018. The adjustments would be calculated using the California Consumer Price Index and reductions in the minimum wage would be prohibited if inflation becomes negative in any given period. California Partnership (CAP) Director Vanessa Aramayo said “an increase in California’s minimum wage is long overdue as it is lower than it was in 1965 when adjusted for inflation. SB 935 sponsored Sen. Mark Leno would “reduce the number of Californians living in poverty, reduce the number of people going hungry, and increase economic activity in our communities that have been hardest hit by the economic recession and stagnation of wages.” A recent report by Human Impact Partners cites a study that predicts a minimum wage of $13 would help reduce the record-high income gap that exists in California today. The study predicts that the income of 7.6 million Californians in families in the lowest quarter of income distribution would rise while the net income of the top 75 percent of households would not change. California Partnership, a coalition Read More …

San Francisco nurses upset over hiring stall

News

Jun 022014

San Francisco nurses upset over hiring stall

• 235 positions need to be filled • Patient care undermined, they say • Health workers in region also demand workplace safety SAN FRANCISCO, California – Nurses, mostly from this city’s San Francisco General Hospital, rallied on the steps of San Francisco City Hall last week to protest what they believe has been a lack of transparency on the part of city leadership. The group assembled on the steps of the golden-domed building, where the protesters marched up its stairs to the door of Mayor Ed Lee’s office. They put on a show of defiance over unexplained vacant nursing positions, proceeding to dump out a large amount of cut-out paper scrub suits. Lee was not present; in fact, the door was locked. However, a representative for the office acknowledged the act of solidarity and promised to convey their message to the mayor. In the rally, the nurses alleged that City Hall has undermined patient care in its refusal to fill up positions for the 235 nurses that have been approved in the budget but whose hiring has been stalled. The group points to an unsafe ratio of nurses to patients in City facilities which, as a result, degrades patient outcomes and gives rise to incidents of abuse by patients against other patients, health workers and even visitors. “There are over 200 vacant positions and we want those filled. Originally, we were told there was a hiring freeze,” Nordissa Cooper, a registered nurse at SFGH since 2008, told FilAm Star. “We Read More …

Coleen on ties with Billy: May something

Entertainment

Jun 022014

Coleen on ties with Billy: May something

Coleen Garcia and Billy Crawford (MNS photo) Coleen Garcia denied that Billy Crawford is already her boyfriend but she was quick to add that what they have is “special.” Garcia said she is not fond of putting labels on any relationship. “May something, may special something. Not girlfriend and boyfriend but I guess the way we see each other. It’s kind of like that already. We see each other in a special way but no labels. Siguro yun yung parang awkward stage in between,” she said. Asked what she thinks is holding them back to be officially together, Garcia simply quipped, “Ako lang, I think I’m waiting for the right time. I’m just very guarded.” “I learned a lot kasi from things in the past. I’m continuing to learn. I just want to take things slowly. There were a lot of things that I rushed in the past. And I’m just enjoying every stage of this,” she added. As she waits for the “right time,” Garcia said she is not worried that Crawford might get impatient. “He’s patient. He’s actually one of the most patient people I know and I always tell him that,” she said. Garcia said she cannot say for now when they will finally decide to be a couple. “Wala naman sa number of months. I guess it’s just kapag nararamdaman mo na,” she said. Last January, Crawford admitted that he is courting Garcia but was quick to add that she was not the third party that Read More …

Kris Aquino to do a ‘Feng Shui’ sequel

Entertainment

Jun 022014

Kris Aquino (MNS Photo) QUEEN of All Media Kris Aquino confirmed she will soon work on the sequel of her 2004 hit horror movie “Feng Shui.” The television host said that the upcoming movie, under the helm of ace director Chito Roño, will be included in the 2014 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) this December. She also confirmed that Kapamilya Primetime King Coco Martin will be part of the project. If in the 2013 MMFF, Kris and son James Jr. (Bimby) were pitted against best friend Vice Ganda, in this year’s festival, the child star and the comedian will be featured in one flick. Bimby will join Vice in the sequel of one of the highest grossing Filipino films of all time, “Praybeyt Benjamin.” “Exciting ang festival na ito kasi hindi ko alam paano hahatiin ang sarili ko. I’m so excited kasi tinanong ko si Bimb. Sabi ko, ‘Honey, it’s your choice. Do you want to do the movie?’ And ang sabi ni Bimb nung nalaman niyang ‘Praybeyt Benjamin’ at sundalo and his dad there is a general, pumayag siya,” she said. Kris added: “Sabi din niya na si Tito Vice naman daw yun and sabi ko, ‘You better be at your best dahil wala ako diyan and ikaw ito talaga and you’re not playing yourself.” Bimby’s only request is to be included in some of the fight scenes of the movie. “Buong-buo naman ang tiwala ko kay Vice na aalagaan niya ang anak ko and of course kay Direk Read More …

JFAV calls on Fil-Am youth orgs to join HFT Kalayaan 2014 Parade

Entertainment

Jun 022014

JFAV calls on Fil-Am youth orgs to join HFT Kalayaan 2014 Parade

http://newfacla.org/ Los Angeles – More and more organizations have joined as the preparations for the 2nd Historic Filipinotown Kalayaan 2014 Parade on June 07, 2014 revs up. with 2 weeks to go on its D-Day. This developed as the Justice for Filipino American Veterans National Coordinator and also 2nd Historic Filipinotown Parade Coordinator Arturo Garcia called on the different Filipino American youth and student organizations in California led to participate in the 2nd HFT Philippine Independence Day Parade. “We call on the Filipino American youths and students to attend and participate on this parade on June 7. This is the good opportunity for patriotic and progressive Fil-Am youths to get out of their cozy academe and enclosed communities and from the ritual of their socials and PCN’s and be with the real community in Historic Filipinotown. of Los Angeles. Be proud and let us celebrate the declaration of Asia’s first republic and its independence against a European colonial power –Spain in June 12, 1898. Let us all celebrate our freedom from colonialism.” Garcia said. PTI Mayor Jerry Esguerra also said, “ we call on all Filipino-American organization and our allied organizations among the Asian Pacific Islander Community to participate in our celebration and commitment for freedom at the parade on June 07 in Historic Filipinotown. The 2nd HFT Independence Day Parade will start and end at Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) in Historic Filipinotown of Los Angeles. Assembly time will be at 7 a.m. Parade will start promptly at 9 a.m. Participating Organizations The groups who Read More …

Older Entries Newer Entries