Approved by the World Bank Board of Executive Directors on December 1, 2011, this new US$50 million financing will fund the Regional Infrastructure for Growth Project (RIGP) designed to stimulate physical and economic integration among a number of local government units (LGUs) as well as support post-disaster initiatives through improved access to finance.

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The Philippines’ president, Benigno Aquino III, told reporters Wednesday that, yes, he is dating again. This time it’s a South Korean woman who grew up in Manila and works there as a TV show host and radio disc jockey.

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The PBRS is a web-based system that will serve as a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs who want to transact or register their businesses. The computerized registration systems will link several agencies so that applicants can register businesses even without their presence.

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Elliot Krieger of Jarvis, Krieger & Sullivan is a Harvard law graduate attorney

By Rhony Laigo
Balita Media

A high-profile attorney will represent Marissa Lapid, wife of Senator Lito Lapid, who was arrested last Jan. 15 at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas upon arrival from the Philippines.

Harvard Law graduate Elliot F. Krieger, a former Assistant United States Attorney with the United States Department of Justice, who is listed as one of the litigators in Southern California, has been hired to represent Mrs. Lapid, who is facing smuggling charges for allegedly failing to declare $50,000 when she came to the US last November. Arriving passengers in the US are required to declare money in their possession worth more than $10,000.

Krieger told reporters her client denies smuggling the money. “We will vigorously defend these charges,” he said. A spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security said Mrs. Lapid is charged with dollar smuggling, which is punishable for up to $500,000 in fines and a maximum 10-year jail sentence.

Krieger said Mrs. Lapid came back to the US “on the invitation of the Department of Homeland Security to deal with this issue.”

He said Mrs. Lapid wasn’t aware that criminal charges have been filed against her and that she willingly came back to the US in response to the “invitation.”

According to Krieger, Mrs. Lapid is presently out on bail in the amount of $500,000 bond by virtue of a lien placed on her property in Las Vegas. Asked how many properties Mrs. Lapid has, Krieger declined to answer, although current real estate prices of most homes in Las Vegas is worth much less than $500,000 each. Nevada is one of the most affected states racked by the home mortgage crisis.

When asked who’s paying for his services, Krieger also declined to offer an answer and refused to give further details about the case. A preliminary hearing has been set for Feb. 7, he said.

Reports from Manila said the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it will extend assistance to Mrs. Lapid. DFA sources said, however, that Filipino citizens are only provided with a method on how to get legal assistance but that the accused will have to shoulder their own attorney’s fees.

Krieger also confirmed reports that Mrs. Lapid wears a monitoring bracelet as “ordered by the court.” Reports said her passport was also seized and Krieger said her movement is limited within the Clark County that includes Las Vegas. He, however, did not disclose where exactly Mrs. Lapid is staying or if she is with family members.

When asked, Krieger said Mrs. Lapid has been in the US several times. Reports from Manila said Mrs. Lapid brought the money to “pay” for her properties in the US.

The jarvislawyers.com website says Krieger also has a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University and handles family law matters as well as criminal matters.

The superlawyers.com also named Krieger as belonging to the Super Lawyers list of top attorneys in Southern California. Krieger’s firm said “No more than five percent of the lawyers in California are selected by Super Lawyers.”

The public affairs office of the Customs and Border Protection said all arriving passengers are given the Form 105 from the Department of Treasury. US federal laws require anyone to declare any currency or monetary instrument, whether cash, checks, money orders, travelers’ checks, etc., if the total amount is more than $10,000. Penalties for not doing so are “severe” and violators will face both civil and criminal charges.

A specialist from the CBP Los Angeles said that last year the Los Angeles and Las Vegas jurisdiction seized a total of $4.2 million in undeclared currency from arriving passengers. This includes those from passengers who “failed to file a report, filing a report containing a material omission or misstatement, or filing a false or fraudulent report.”

Reports said Mrs. Lapid hid $20,000 in socks which were found in her luggage. Another $20,000 was in her bag. She only declared $10,000, reports said. The dollars were confiscated, although reports were unclear if all $50,000 were taken from her.

Reactions regarding her arrest were mostly unkind, if not outright vicious. A comment posted on the Philippine Star website even said that because she didn’t declare it, it was clear that it was “stolen from the Filipino people,” said rodel_polintan_tipco.

Another, identified only as “gatbon,” even asked both the U.S. and the Philippine governments to investigate if the property or properties belonging to the Lapids in the U.S. were paid for by “stolen money” and must be seized if the Lapids could not prove that they paid for them legally.

Some even alleged that the “stolen money” came from pork barrel funds that Sen. Lapid got for being a member of the Senate. He has been serving the august body since 2004.

Under the Constitution, a senator receives an annual salary of only P200,000 or a mere $5,000 in one year. This led to another comment from someone identified only as “garysc8philstar” who asked how the Lapids were able to acquire lots of money and properties. The same posted that “it was good that she was arrested in the U.S.,” as if implying that since her husband is a sitting senator, he is “exempted” from any form of investigation in the Philippines.

Other reactions also criticized the Foreign Affairs department for reportedly stating that it will assist Marissa, to which “makulot” posted “Why will the DFA assist Mrs. Lapid? She’s a civilian and her action is a major offense, smuggling $$ into the U.S.”

A post by “traderman” said that the money was for “good time” since she went to Las Vegas and not intended to pay for the house which you can “amortize in 30/40 years.”

Another, identified only as “happyfalcon” said “She is the wife of a foreign dignitary just bringing loot. Gamble as high roller.”
In the Philippines, Sen Lapid was said to have been “saddened” by his wife’s arrest but that “she is ready to defend herself.”

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Elliot Krieger of Jarvis, Krieger & Sullivan is a Harvard law graduate attorney

By Rhony Laigo
Balita Media

A high-profile attorney will represent Marissa Lapid, wife of Senator Lito Lapid, who was arrested last Jan. 15 at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas upon arrival from the Philippines.

Harvard Law graduate Elliot F. Krieger, a former Assistant United States Attorney with the United States Department of Justice, who is listed as one of the litigators in Southern California, has been hired to represent Mrs. Lapid, who is facing smuggling charges for allegedly failing to declare $50,000 when she came to the US last November. Arriving passengers in the US are required to declare money in their possession worth more than $10,000.

Krieger told reporters her client denies smuggling the money. “We will vigorously defend these charges,” he said. A spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security said Mrs. Lapid is charged with dollar smuggling, which is punishable for up to $500,000 in fines and a maximum 10-year jail sentence.

Krieger said Mrs. Lapid came back to the US “on the invitation of the Department of Homeland Security to deal with this issue.”

He said Mrs. Lapid wasn’t aware that criminal charges have been filed against her and that she willingly came back to the US in response to the “invitation.”

According to Krieger, Mrs. Lapid is presently out on bail in the amount of $500,000 bond by virtue of a lien placed on her property in Las Vegas. Asked how many properties Mrs. Lapid has, Krieger declined to answer, although current real estate prices of most homes in Las Vegas is worth much less than $500,000 each. Nevada is one of the most affected states racked by the home mortgage crisis.

When asked who’s paying for his services, Krieger also declined to offer an answer and refused to give further details about the case. A preliminary hearing has been set for Feb. 7, he said.

Reports from Manila said the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it will extend assistance to Mrs. Lapid. DFA sources said, however, that Filipino citizens are only provided with a method on how to get legal assistance but that the accused will have to shoulder their own attorney’s fees.

Krieger also confirmed reports that Mrs. Lapid wears a monitoring bracelet as “ordered by the court.” Reports said her passport was also seized and Krieger said her movement is limited within the Clark County that includes Las Vegas. He, however, did not disclose where exactly Mrs. Lapid is staying or if she is with family members.

When asked, Krieger said Mrs. Lapid has been in the US several times. Reports from Manila said Mrs. Lapid brought the money to “pay” for her properties in the US.

The jarvislawyers.com website says Krieger also has a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University and handles family law matters as well as criminal matters.

The superlawyers.com also named Krieger as belonging to the Super Lawyers list of top attorneys in Southern California. Krieger’s firm said “No more than five percent of the lawyers in California are selected by Super Lawyers.”

The public affairs office of the Customs and Border Protection said all arriving passengers are given the Form 105 from the Department of Treasury. US federal laws require anyone to declare any currency or monetary instrument, whether cash, checks, money orders, travelers’ checks, etc., if the total amount is more than $10,000. Penalties for not doing so are “severe” and violators will face both civil and criminal charges.

A specialist from the CBP Los Angeles said that last year the Los Angeles and Las Vegas jurisdiction seized a total of $4.2 million in undeclared currency from arriving passengers. This includes those from passengers who “failed to file a report, filing a report containing a material omission or misstatement, or filing a false or fraudulent report.”

Reports said Mrs. Lapid hid $20,000 in socks which were found in her luggage. Another $20,000 was in her bag. She only declared $10,000, reports said. The dollars were confiscated, although reports were unclear if all $50,000 were taken from her.

Reactions regarding her arrest were mostly unkind, if not outright vicious. A comment posted on the Philippine Star website even said that because she didn’t declare it, it was clear that it was “stolen from the Filipino people,” said rodel_polintan_tipco.

Another, identified only as “gatbon,” even asked both the U.S. and the Philippine governments to investigate if the property or properties belonging to the Lapids in the U.S. were paid for by “stolen money” and must be seized if the Lapids could not prove that they paid for them legally.

Some even alleged that the “stolen money” came from pork barrel funds that Sen. Lapid got for being a member of the Senate. He has been serving the august body since 2004.

Under the Constitution, a senator receives an annual salary of only P200,000 or a mere $5,000 in one year. This led to another comment from someone identified only as “garysc8philstar” who asked how the Lapids were able to acquire lots of money and properties. The same posted that “it was good that she was arrested in the U.S.,” as if implying that since her husband is a sitting senator, he is “exempted” from any form of investigation in the Philippines.

Other reactions also criticized the Foreign Affairs department for reportedly stating that it will assist Marissa, to which “makulot” posted “Why will the DFA assist Mrs. Lapid? She’s a civilian and her action is a major offense, smuggling $$ into the U.S.”

A post by “traderman” said that the money was for “good time” since she went to Las Vegas and not intended to pay for the house which you can “amortize in 30/40 years.”

Another, identified only as “happyfalcon” said “She is the wife of a foreign dignitary just bringing loot. Gamble as high roller.”
In the Philippines, Sen Lapid was said to have been “saddened” by his wife’s arrest but that “she is ready to defend herself.”

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The World Economic Forum is an independent, international organization whose mission is to improve the state of the world by engaging leaders from the business, political and academic arenas to shape global, regional and industry agendas. Now, through this new community, they are joined by philanthropists, doctors, and social entrepreneurs from the Philippines, who have the idealistic mindset and the active initiative to make an impact on the lives of others.

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Attorney Lorna Schofield

Washington DC – On Monday, Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) recommended Attorney Lorna Schofield to the White House as a candidate for federal district court judge in the Southern District of New York. If nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate, she would be the first Filipino American to serve as an Article III federal judge.

“When I select judges, I always look for three things – excellence, diversity, and moderation – and Schofield exemplifies all of these qualities. I’m pleased to recommend her to President Obama for the Southern District Bench,” said Schumer.

A litigation partner at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP for almost 20 years, Schofield has extensive trial experience in both the private and public sectors. She became the firm’s first minority partner in 1991 and now serves as Of Council. Prior to joining Debevoise, she served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the criminal division of the Southern District of New York. She was the first Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) to chair the Litigation Section of the American Bar Association, and the National Law Journal named her one of the nation’s 50 most influential minority lawyers.

Currently, AAPIs are underrepresented on the federal bench. In New York alone, where AAPIs represent 10% of the population, there is only one AAPI judge serving among the 90 active and senior Article III judges in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Article III judges are nominated by the President, confirmed by the Senate, and appointed lifetime tenure. However, of the 875 federal judges, there are now 14 active AAPI Article III judges in the nation, seven of whom were nominated by President Obama. Moreover, the number of AAPI women on the bench has tripled from two to six. Although much progress has been made under the Obama Administration, the number of AAPI federal judges still do not meet parity.

KAYA applauds Senator Schumer’s efforts to bring talent and diversity to the federal court. “Attorney Lorna G. Schofield represents many Filipino Americans in this country that grew up with independence and self sufficiency as essential values. Her life is an example of creating a future that is achievable for Filipino Americans in the United States,” said KAYA National Co-Chair, Genevieve V. Jopanda.

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Ner De Leon on sax, Dexter on base, Tateng Katindig on keyboards and Paul Aguas on drums playing "Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang", an Ogie Alcasid original, at Sining Para sa Bayan concert on January 21, 2012 at Noypitz Bar and Restaurant in Glendale, California. Photo: Phillip Ner

’Twas an SRO Sining Para sa Bayan concert at Noypitz 

Nimfa U. Rueda

LOS ANGELES – Filipino American journalists here have raised $9,000 for media colleagues who were among those who died and lost their homes when typhoon Sendong struck Northern Mindanao last month.

The media practitioners spearheaded a benefit concert and art auction, dubbed Sining Para sa Bayan, in Glendale, California last Jan. 21. The two-part event featured top-notch performers, musicians and artists, including Pinoy folk rock pioneer Florante and Emmy-award winner Jess Española, a visual animator for the cartoon series “The Simpsons”.

Proceeds will go to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) fund for media workers who were among the victims of the deadly typhoon that left more than 1,000 people dead and displaced around 330,000 residents in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.

“Fil-Am media professionals in the Los Angeles area have come together to show support for and solidarity with colleagues in the Philippines who need help,” said Myrna Aquitania, president of the Filipino American Press Club of Los Angeles (FAPCLA), which organized  the event in collaboration with NUJP-US, Frontliners Media Group, F7 Media and Philippine Press Photographers-USA.

Other performers included the Fil-Am back-up singers of Justin Bieber, Legaci, singer and songwriter Becca Godinez, internationally acclaimed tenor Jonathan Badon, Louie Reyes, Paco Arespacochaga, and  jazz musicians Tateng Katindig and Ner de Leon and Philippine folk legend Florante.

“This event is our way of reaching out to colleagues who need our help,” said Jannelle So, host and producer of KSCI 18’s Kababayan LA, the first and only Filipino talk show on a mainstream broadcast station. She co-hosted the three-hour concert with well-known thespian Bernardo Bernardo.

Among those who participated in the art auction was Texas-based artist Glenn Bautista, who created the Jorge Bocobo mural at UP Diliman, and painters Vics Magsaysay, Rafael Maniago, Mat Relox, Boi Sibug and Magoo Valencia. Participants also included top-notch photographers Phillip Ner, Benny Uy, Joe Cobilla and Noli Yu.

“We have come together to offer our talents for kababayans who need our support,” said Española, who won an Emmy for his work in the cartoon series “TheSimpsons” as assistant director for animation.

The organizers initially targeted to raise $5,000, but the “overwhelming support the event received from the community” raised the amount to $9,000, said FAPCLA treasurer Lydia Solis.

Both Solis and Aquitania thanked all the sponsors who donated handsomely and to all those who purchased their tickets for the show that lasted more than four hours.

Highlights of the show included Jo Awayan getting the crowd to sing with her with 80s hit “Always Something There To Remind Me” while April Velasco rocked Noypitz with her songs backed up by the foursome of Katindig, De Leon, drummer Paul Aguas and bassist Dexter, so did Malou Toler and the Friends of Mine Band that got the crowd dancing on their feet late into the night.

Guitarist and songwriter Mon Concepcion rendered original songs while another guitarist Alan Del Rosario jazzed up the night with bossa nosa hits from Jobim.

Other artists who wowed the crowd included the youngest performer in Sam Santiago, Alex Arrieta who sang movie hits, while Annie Nepomuceno, Lianna Gutierrez and Janine Bernardo and Joni Villamil sang familiar pop hits.

Bob Schroeder played the flute, while Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO) co-founder Andy Tecson brought back memories with his traditional Filipino folk music. Paco Arrespacochaga of the former Introvoys sang original hits of the band.

Not only did  Vicoy BagongSigaw rap his way on stage, he wrote his own music about the typhoon and the calamities it brought as his way of paying his respects to the victims. Balita editor Rhony Laigo also played the guitar and sang Joey Ayala’s “Bathala” and Agila” that spoke of the destruction of forests by illegal loggers fueled by greed.

Last month’s typhoon killed at least 1,200 people in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City, who were either buried by mudslides or swept away by flashfloods into the sea.

At least 35 journalists from Cagayan de Oro and Iligan were affected by the storm. Two Iligan-based journalists died while others lost their homes and belongings.

Among the journalists displaced by Sendong were newspaper correspondents Leonardo Vicente “Cong” Corrales, Jigger Jerusalem, Bonita Ermac and television correspondent Merlyn Manos. Iligan City radio reporter and news anchor Michael Kundiman was swept away at the height of the storm. His body is yet to be found.

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MANILA (AP) — Call center operators in the Philippines who serve mostly U.S. clients on Wednesday shrugged off President Barack Obama’s initiative to bring outsourced jobs back home.

The Business Processing Association of the Philippines that groups 250 companies said that outsourcing has allowed U.S. companies to survive the global financial crunch by lowering costs and to expand – thereby creating more jobs for Americans.

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