Los Angeles Edition

PESO- DOLLAR

EXCHANGE RATE

$44.90

AS OF 04/5

VOL. XVIII, NO. 110 WEEKEND, SAT.-TUES., APRIL 03 - 06, 2010

INSIDE

Jobs report ‘encouraging’ – economic advisor Romer..................................Page 4

RP insists airlines safe despite EU ban....

............................................................Page 5

Boy killed at Disney World... .............Page 7

Embattled pope recalls Jesus preaching to turn other cheek...........................Page 8

$88 BILLION FIL-AM MARKET: Professor Antonio Villegas, GMA Pinoy TV’s Josh Andowitt and MoneyGram’s Ivy Wisco as they speak about the burgeoning Filipino-American market and its contribution to the U.S. economy during last Friday’s event held at the Universal City Hilton, hosted by Balita Media Inc. led by its Publisher Luchie Allen (right).

PHOTOS: BENNY UY/BNS

Balita’s ‘$88 Billion Niche: Selling to the Filipino American Market’ event a great learning experience – audience

IF THE sponsors’ words of kudos would serve as a gauge, then we could humbly say that BALITA MEDIA’s “$88 Billion Niche: Selling to the Filipino American Market” event held last Friday at the Hilton Universal City was a rousing success. This is because most, if not all, spon- sors have already expressed their intention and willingness to support our next event on the very same day of the event itself, right after what was supposed to be “just an ordinary Friday mixer” that turned into a huge convention-like affair. Not only that, other companies have already offered to become part of BALITA MEDIA’s next event, according to Publisher Luchie Allen,

who said that such intentions “show the need for more business activities to explore the very rich Filipino-American market.” The dinner forum gave guests a two- hour lecture on how they can improve their business and expand their Filipino- American clientele. Organized by the men and women behind Balita Media Inc., the mixer focused on Filipino-American de- mographics which the audience said was very relevant and interesting, especially the businesses that have found, or are finding, the community as a rich niche source. According to Allen, people were call- ing to congratulate the BALITA MEDIA family on Monday for holding the event

where they learned something that they thought was very important for their business, and even about themselves as Filipino-Americans. “Much to our surprise, we have been getting a lot of calls as early as Monday morning from the people who attended and they were asking for a copy of the lectures that they heard that evening.” The main speaker was College of Alam- eda Professor Antonio Villegas, who gave an in-depth picture of the Filipino-Amer- ican population, its habits, buying power and most importantly its contribution to the U.S. economy. The Filipino-American business law professor presented statistical data on Filipino-Americans, who comprise

U.S. sees biggest job growth in three years

BY ANDREW BEATTY

WASHINGTON, April 2, 2010 (AFP) – The U.S. economy created 162,000 jobs in March, its largest rise in three years, according to official figures released Friday, spurring hopes of an improving job market and a quick- ening recovery.

The U.S. Labor Department said job creation leaped dramatically in March after months of losses, but not enough to budge the unemployment rate from 9.7 percent. With close to one-in-10 American workers unable to find a job, the monthly job count – always an eagerly awaited indicator – was seen as a key sign of the health of the economic recovery.

Job creation rose markedly from February, when the economy lost 14,000 posts, according to revised figures, also published on Friday.

“In March, the number of unemployed persons was little changed at 15.0 million, and the unemployment rate remained at 9.7 percent,” the Labor Department said in a statement.

GOOD FRIDAY: Filipino-Americans join their Christian brothers (and sisters) in the observance of Good Friday in the Philippines, where some penitents reenact the passion of Christ, some going to the extreme extent of getting nailed to the cross.

WASHINGTON, April 2, 2010 (AFP) – The United States will announce Friday it plans to begin profiling U.S.-bound passengers in a major shake up of air travel security measures, U.S. media said.

Under the new measures to begin this month, which will apply to U.S. citizens as well, the level of screening of travellers will depend on how closely their personal characteristics match against intelligence on potential terrorists.

News that the economy is again creating jobs came as a relief to the White House, which lauded the report as a sign that the still-fragile economy is on the mend. “Today’s employment report shows continued signs of gradual labor market healing,” said Christina Romer,

See GROWTH, page 20

U.S. to begin profi ling air passengers

The measures will replace mandatory enhanced screen- ing of all passengers travelling to the United States from 14 mostly-Muslim nations, put into place following a failed Al-Qaeda attempt to blow up a Detroit-bound flight on Christmas Day. “It’s much more tailored to what intelligence is telling us and what the threat is telling us, as opposed to stop- ping all individuals from a particular nationality,” said

See PROFILING, page 19

the second largest Asian ethnic group in the U.S., including their most favored bank (Wells Fargo), store chain (Wal-Mart), food chain (McDonald’s), etc. Villegas also talked about the Fil-Am’s current median household income, which according to him is now $76,874, which is second highest among all Asians in the U.S. (Indians are first with $83,000; national average is $50,740).

Basing his research on the 2007 U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, Villegas also said that the Filipino- Americans’ contribution to the U.S. is $88 billion, which is second only to the

See 88B NICHE, page 20

MARK JASON MELLIGEN trains with Tony Martin as he prepares for his April 10 fi ght against Mexican Norberto Gonzales at the Hard Rock Café in Las Vegas.

PHOTO: ROD MIJARES/BNS

‘Top Rank Live’ Battle At the Hard Rock Cafe

BY ROD MIJARES

WATCHING Melligen went six rounds of sparring sessions and additional four rounds with his Englishman trainer Tony Martin in mitt training at Mayweather gym on Thursday in Las Vegas was like watching a newly reinvigorated boxer reinvent himself after that daunting loss he suffered at the hands of Mexican Michel Rosales. Thursday’s training in preparation for his upcoming fight in 10 days on April 10 was characterized by him throwing more punches, his speed more pronounced and he went in and out of the huddle with so much confidence in himself. His sparring partner barely landed a glove on Melligen whose defense and timing were becoming second nature to him. His 2009 campaign in America produced four straight wins that started on March 7, 2009 in Denver, Colorado, but met a dent at the hands of Rosales last November 13 at Mandalay Bay Casino’s House of Hues on his fifth and last fight in 2009.

See MELLIGEN, page 19

Melligen headlines Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68