Christi Morales, Freelance Writer

U.S. Customs Rules You Should Know

2009-12-10T13:01:00.000-08:00

Taking a trip abroad soon? Well, it's a good idea to know about U.S. customs requirements to avoid any hassles when coming back home. Here's a segment that outlines some of the key things you need to remember.

Planning the Perfect Ski/Snowboard Getaway [Balitang America Travels]

2009-12-03T22:54:00.000-08:00

It's been snowing up a storm at several of the major ski resorts, which is good news for snow sports enthusiasts! If you haven't skied or snowboarded before, planning a trip may seem daunting. Here's a segment that provides some useful information on how to go about planning the perfect snowy getaway.

Thanksgiving Travel Tips [Balitang America Travels]

2009-11-24T22:56:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving travel can sometimes be a pain. With a little prep and a chipper attitude, you can survive the long lines and flight delays. Here's a segment that shares just a few ways you can prepare for the busiest time of the year to travel.

UCSF offers furloughed employees little help via ‘hardship loans’ [The Public Press]

2009-10-02T11:45:00.001-07:00

My latest piece for The Public Press was posted Wednesday afternoon. You can read the entire article below, or you can see the original posting here.

UCSF offers furloughed employees little help via ‘hardship loans’

By Christi Morales
The Public Press

To help employees suffering "additional financial stress" from pay cuts and furloughs, the University of California-San Francisco is letting workers borrow their lost wages and repay the money -- with interest.

But employees hoping to tap a UCSF emergency loan fund for help paying rent or bills are out of luck. These don't count as "an unplanned emergency situation."

Starting Oct. 1, full-time employees making $60,000 a year or less can apply for a single hardship loan from the new "Special Temporary Furlough Employee Emergency Loan Program." The maximum loan equals an employee's pay cut, which ranges between 4 percent and 10 percent based on the 11 to 26 unpaid days that faculty and staff must take in the next year. The Oct. 1 paychecks will be the first to reflect the cuts, which began Sept. 1.

UCSF lists several examples of unplanned emergencies: "unanticipated break down of only car, death or terminal illness of an immediate family member, payment of security deposit for an apartment necessary as a result of divorce, domestic violence, sudden eviction, or emergency non-elective surgery."

What doesn't count? Being behind on rent, bills, taxes, insurance or legal fees. Tuition also does not qualify. And part-time, casual, contract, student and leased employees are not eligible.

Loan payments will be deducted from monthly paychecks over 24 months, plus interest, currently 3.66 percent. That rate will change next month, but UCSF officials haven't said whether it will go up or down. The temporary program ends Aug. 31, 2010.

For struggling workers who do not qualify for a furlough loan, the university also offers its regular emergency loan fund, so long as they haven't already borrowed from the school within the past year.

Why does UCSF have money to loan if it had to cut salaries to save money?

"The answer is money for this program is provided through the UCSF Short Term Investment Pool and because employees begin to repay the University with interest immediately, the loans are possible," Corinna Kaarlela, director of news services at UCSF’s Department of Public Affairs, wrote in an e-mail to the Public Press.

Many employees and union leaders aren't buying the explanation.

"It clearly shows that they have the money," said Kevin Rooney, president of the University Professional and Technical Employees Local 7-UCSF. "They don’t need the savings from the employee pay cuts and the furlough program."

Rooney's union, which represents 9,000 UC workers, is negotiating a new contract, along with the pay cuts and furloughs.

State Sen. Leland Yee, a critic of UC policies and governance, called the furlough loan program "more of a PR stunt than anything else.”

"It’s like, 'we feel guilty, we feel bad that we give you very little increases, we’re furloughing you, we’re cutting back on your hours -- all kinds of bad things -- and then, by the way, we realize we did all these bad things, so we’re going to try and make it up to you with this loan,' " he said.

UC Berkeley spokeswoman Marie Felde said Cal is not offering furloughs loans. The UC Office of the President did not respond to queries about the other eight campuses.

In July, the UC Board of Regents approved $184 million in pay cuts and furloughs to help close the system's $813 million budget gap. UC President Mark Yudof said the furlough plan would save jobs and preserve the quality of education.

Reach the reporter at cmorales[AT]public-press.org.

Support Filipinos affected by the flood at Intramuros Restaurant. Free music event on Thursday, 10/1/09 at 6 pm-1:30 am

2009-09-29T18:31:00.000-07:00

Posting the details of an upcoming fundraiser being held this Thursday:

Barry Picazo and Mark de Leon, co-owners of Intramuros Restaurant, are hosting a fundraiser for the flood disaster in the Philippines.

Here's the info:

Thursday, October 1st at 6 PM to 1:30 AM
101 Brentwood Drive, South San Francisco, CA 94080
650-877-7736

Intramuros in cooperation with ABS-CBN Foundation and the Beerhouse Gypsies Band, Rendezvous Band, Fusion Band, Younce Once Band, Studio 1 Band, Feelosophy Band & DJs Gilby, Willie, Randy and Mixterious, invite anyone and everyone to show support for Philippine flood victims. The "Bands at DJs for Bayan Ko, Mahal Ko"is a FREE musical event to raise awareness and funds to benefit Filipinos impacted by the flooding caused by Ondoy.

UC fees to rise by additional $2,500 within the year [The Public Press]

2009-09-16T17:23:00.000-07:00

Here's a follow up to the University of California stories I've covered for The Public Press. You can read the story below or on The Public Press website.

By Christi Morales

The cost to attend the University of California could skyrocket by more than 30 percent next fall, which would bring fees to a level like never before, the Associated Press and others news sources are reporting.

If approved by the UC Board of Regents, who will discuss details with President Mark Yudof next week, the proposed fee hike would include a 15 percent increase effective for the winter and spring semesters, as well as an additional 15 percent for fall 2010. This means in-state undergraduate students would pay $2,500 more in fees, about $10,302 a year. Graduate and out-of-state students would also have their tuition raised.

Yudof’s fee proposal comes at a time when UC labor leaders have clamored for him to step down, because of budgetary policies that include a contentious employee furlough program and layoffs. He said these measures and the student fee raises are necessary to preserve the quality of education.

In May, the regents had already approved a 9.3 percent fee increase for this fall semester. This newest proposal would make this the ninth time the 10-campus system has raised fees in seven years.

UC employees cast 'no-confidence' vote in Yudof [The Public Press]

2009-09-04T11:53:00.000-07:00

My latest piece for The Public Press was posted yesterday evening. It highlighted the ongoing tensions between UC employee unions and the administration. I included the article below, but you can see the original posting here.

By Christi Morales
The Public Press

Union employees at the University of California gave an overwhelming vote of no confidence in the leadership of UC President Mark Yudof, election organizers said Thursday.

The UC union coalition would not disclose how many people out of their 60,000 members actually voted. But Sanjay Garla, coalition member and organizer of AFSCME 3299, said out of those who did vote, 96 percent cast a ballot of “no confidence” in Yudof at polling stations across the 10-campus system.

The union coalition, which represents UC employees, includes the American Federation of Teachers, Coalition of University Employees, University Professional and Technical Employees and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

While the election was merely symbolic, it’s a reflection of the anger that many of the unions harbor against Yudof and the policies he created to decrease the system’s $813 million budget deficit.

One of the most contentious policies is the recently implemented system-wide furlough program -- where employees have to take 11 to 26 unpaid days, which amounts to a 4 percent to 10 percent pay cut. The higher the pay, the more days an employee takes off.

“California deserves university leadership working to maintain the UC mission during these tough times, not destroy it,” Lakesha Harrison, a UCLA licensed vocational nurse and president of AFSCME 3299, said in a press release. “Yudof’s plan instructs campuses to make the cuts visible by eliminating classes, laying off workers, increasing class sizes and making it harder for students to graduate on time. This is unacceptable."

“Meanwhile President Yudof and the Regents continue to raise the pay of top bureaucrats, while they claim there is no money,” she added.

The UC administration, which has accused the union of spreading misinformation in the past, issued a statement in response to the election.

“The no-confidence vote is just another example of the antics choreographed by union leaders who refuse to accept the reality that everyone else in the University of California system is sharing the pain of cuts triggered by the state fiscal crisis,” said Dwaine Duckett, UC vice president for system-wide human resources.

Yudof is still locked in negotiations with several of the unions -- including the Coalition of University Employees and the University Professional and Technical Employees -- over the furlough program.

AFSCME leaders said Yudof cannot legally furlough its members, since this was not part of the contracts negotiated and signed this past school year.

At the Board of Regents meeting in July, UC officials warned that union resistance to the furloughs would force unnecessary layoffs.

“Union members may start to ask themselves what level of confidence they have in leaders who have led them to the brink of unnecessary layoffs when a fair, far less painful alternative has been set forth by the university,” said Duckett.

Although union leaders were barred from entering Yudof’s office in Oakland to deliver the voting results Thursday, AFSCME’s Garla said the coalition is not giving up and plans to announce the results at the Regents’ meeting on Sept. 16-17 at the UCSF Mission Bay campus.

Reach the reporter at cmorales[AT]public-press.org.

UC faculty say proposed cuts unfair, show favoritism [The Public Press]

2009-08-24T14:01:00.001-07:00

This story was originally filed on August 2nd, just a few days after Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the $84.5 billion spending plan for California's 2009-2010 fiscal year. The budget removed a $24 billion deficit mostly by cutting funding to education, health and human services, prisons, and other state services. This story tells how the budget cuts are affecting the staff and programs of the state's higher education system. I'm reposting the article below, but you can see the original post on The Public Press website.

By Christi Morales
The Public Press

Now that California has finally passed a budget, public higher education officials are moving forward with the difficult task of implementing cuts that will greatly impact students and educators.

And as University of California officials discuss additional reductions, some faculty members at the UC Berkeley campus say cuts are being distributed unfairly. Certain sciences reportedly are seeing less than a quarter percent cut while the school’s physical education program funding is being cut in half.

Richard Walker, a UC Berkeley geography professor, said he’s not surprised that administrators would spare the budgets of science departments at the expense of others. His department faces a 16 percent reduction in its budget.

“It's no doubt that the university favors big science,” Walker said. “Science and labs are extremely expensive operations and as science has gotten more elaborate, I understand they need a lot of money, a lot of equipment and a lot of labs.

“But the question is, overall, ‘Do we need as much natural science as we have and do we need less humanities and social sciences that educate us in other ways about other things?’” he said.

In a February article from The Daily Californian, Schlissel said that cuts to the physical education program would “ensure that there is enough money for students who take introductory biology classes and teaching assistants who manage the labs.”

UC Berkeley spokeswoman Marie Felde did not return calls. However, when asked via e-mail how university administrators decide what departments and programs to cut, Felde directed The Public Press to UC Berkeley’s budget Web site.

A higher education dilemma

The UC Board of Regents recently approved employee furloughs to help bridge the 10-campus system’s $813 million gap. The furloughs will provide an estimated $184 million in payroll savings for 12 months beginning this September, but more cuts are expected.

Like UC, the California State University Board of Trustees approved employee furloughs, as well as a 20 percent student fee hike. The CSU also will accept about 40,000 fewer students.

Faculty and staff members at throughout both systems are being asked to make sacrifices and some stand to lose their jobs.

"Everyone in the UC community is being asked to share the pain of our short-term solution, which is just one step toward finding the best ways to ensure long-term excellence and access for students and everyone we serve," said UC President Mark Yudof.

Other side of the coin

Sue Li-Jue teaches dance in UC Berkeley’s physical education program. Shortly after the spring semester ended in May, Li-Jue and 11 of her physical education colleagues received layoff notices that would take effect in fall 2010.

“It has been frustrating and disappointing,” she said. “I’ve been here for 23 years and all of a sudden, I feel like the rug has been pulled out from under me.”

The layoff notices could be rescinded if the university’s financial situation improves. But Li-Jue and swim instructor Elmar Stefke said they have no illusions about the state’s economic woes and recognize that the university could potentially lay them off if things don’t improve.

“We were told that these layoff notices are only pro forma - that they are required in case they want to lay us off at the end of next spring,” Stefke said. “But obviously, these are legal, enforceable documents.”

Even before the layoff notices were handed out, Stefke said UC Berkeley officials had already proposed cutting the physical education program by 50 percent beginning this fall. Officials confirmed the cut in June, which will reduce full-time lecturers’ workloads to halftime.

The cuts would save the university $250,000, Li-Jue said.

Every academic year, the program attracts 5,000 students – 2,500 a semester – who take classes in dance, swimming, yoga, team sports and other activities. Li-Jue said as result of the proposed cuts, hundreds of students will be turned away because there will be fewer classes offered.

During this past spring semester, Li-Jue and her students tried to fight the cut by petitioning on campus, talking to administrators and writing letters about the need for physical education to help reduce student stress.

Dean Mark Schlissel of UC Berkeley’s biological sciences division, which oversees the physical education program, did not respond to requests for comment about the cuts.

How cuts are distributed

While some claim administrators value science programs more than others, UC astronomy professor Sandra Faber said it’s not a matter of playing favorites and that no one in the university system is immune to cuts.

In July, Faber helped gather more than 300 UC science faculty signatures for a letter sent to state lawmakers. The letter highlighted the negative impact the proposed 20 percent system reduction would have on the quality of UC’s science divisions, which are at risk of “slipping into mediocrity,” because prominent faculty would take better paying positions at other institutions, she said.

Faber, who is also the UC Santa Cruz department chair of physical and biological sciences, said her department is being cut by 5 percent this coming school year.

In deciding how to distribute cuts, Faber said, administrators look at “the quality of faculty in a given department, student demand and whether a program is nationally ranked.”

“Can we use this entity, whatever it is, to advertise UC and generate more revenue?” she said.

However, when asked about the reductions in physical education at UC Berkeley, Faber said she’s not in favor of this.

“I think it’s a tragedy that P.E. would be cut by 50 percent by any university,” she said.

Meanwhile, UC San Francisco is losing 25 percent of its state funding for the 2009-10 fiscal year.

UCSF has other sources of funding from sponsored research, private endowments and clinical revenues, but Chancellor Michael Bishop said the campus still has to cut 355 faculty positions.

The UCSF spokesperson declined to comment about the claims suggesting science units of the system are valued more than others.

“Soft” money a factor in weighing program value

At San Francisco State University, health education professor Ramon Castellblanch had a response similar to Faber’s about how cuts are distributed.

“The programs and departments that have high ratios of students to teachers tend to be the ones that the administration wants to keep,” said Castellblanch, who also is the president of San Francisco State’s faculty union. “The ones that have low ratios of students to teachers are probably more vulnerable – it’s pretty straight-forward math.”

SF State is dealing with $36 million in cuts, Castellblanch said, as the CSU system tries to plug its $584 million budget hole. Although CSU schools operate differently than UC, he said factors other than student demand come into play when officials consider where to make reductions. He said “the capacity to pull in soft money (non-state funding) is the thing that protects hard sciences at (UC Berkeley or UCSF).”

“We get some soft money at SF State, but nowhere near as much as they do,” Castellblanch said. “The CSU’s are a lot more hard money (state funding) institutions.”

“UCSF is built on soft money,” said university Chancellor Michael Bishop at the UC Regents meeting on July 15. “Ninety-two percent of our operating budget and 82 percent of our payroll are non-state funds.”

But a loss in state funding will still hurt the university and patient care, said Bishop, who pleaded -- and convinced -- the regents to spare key UCSF employees from the 8 percent salary reduction and furlough program.

Mark Laret, UCSF Medical Center’s chief executive officer, recently announced that medical center employees and non-physician and clinically related employees at the School of Medicine and School of Dentistry will not be furloughed or have their pay decreased, as part of a plan Yudof approved. Instead, UCSF officials will implement other measures that will create $45 million in savings: an option for employees to leave voluntarily with severance; elimination of vacant positions; program closures; staggered layoffs and time reductions; as well as salary cuts for senior management.

In the meantime, Yudof said, as additional reductions are being decided, everyone in the UC system will have to “share the pain” – including top administrators like himself, who are on track to receive 10 percent in salary cuts for 2009-10.

For UC Berkeley lecturers like Li-Jue, whose jobs are on the line, the cuts that administrators face provide little consolation.

“We understand that there’s a budget crisis,” she said. “But why are the cuts not across the board?”

Reach the reporter at cmorales[AT]public-press.org.

Tips for Finding Good Fares

2009-08-20T11:33:00.001-07:00

I was the guest "travel expert" on the last episode of ADOBO NATION, the weekly magazine talk program airing Sundays at 6:40pm on The Filipino Channel (TFC). In the ATM: Anong Tanong Mo segment, I talked with host Michi Valeriano about holiday travel and gave a few tips and tricks for finding good airfare deals. For those of you who missed the show or are interested in more details, I thought that I would repeat the points that I made and offer up some more advice that I didn't have time to mention on the show.

Tip 1: Look and book early

In general, you want to book your airline tickets at least 3 weeks in advance. Topaz International – a travel industry auditor - released a study in May that said you can save about 20% for international destinations and up to 50% for domestic trips if you purchase your tickets 21 days or more before the day of your flight.

For travel during the Thanksgiving or Christmas holiday seasons, you want to start looking for deals even earlier, like beginning around August or September. If you see a good price a few months before your trip then you should go ahead and book it if you can afford to, because the really great deals don't last very long before selling out.

It's also helpful to know that many airlines recalibrate their prices on Tuesday or Wednesday, sometimes in response to changes made by their competitors, so if you research fares on those days you are more likely to see "fresh" deals. If you make a habit of checking the price of an itinerary every day, you will be less likely to miss out on a great price.

Tip 2: Be flexible

When choosing dates for your flights, it generally helps if you aren't tied down to specific travel days. If you can, try to fly on a Tuesday or Wednesday -- prices will be better on those days since most people fly on Fridays, Sundays and Mondays. You will also get a better deal if your trip includes a Saturday night stay. It helps to think of the days that a business traveler would want to fly to be at work during the week and at home during the weekend -- and then do the opposite!

It also helps if you are in a big metropolitan area with multiple airports and you don't mind which airport you fly out of. You should look at flights from all airports within a convenient driving distance from your home. For example, if you live in San Francisco, you should look at flights out of the airports in Oakland and San Jose in addition to ones leaving out of San Francisco.

Holiday travel requires a different kind of flexibility. For Thanksgiving, most people tend to fly out on Wednesday and come back Sunday or Monday, so try to avoid those days if you can. If you plan on spending a few weeks away for Christmas, try booking a flight out for the first or second week in December since prices will go up the closer the flight day is to the 25th. Another option is to fly on the actual holiday itself -- my husband and I have flown on Christmas morning for the last few years and we see better prices on that day than the day before (Christmas Eve).

Tip 3: Research the web

There are lots of travel search engines on the internet -- it's hard to know which one to use! Some respected websites are Kayak, Mobissimo and Bing. These are not booking sites but aggregators that pull prices from multiple airlines and travel providers’ databases, let you easily sort the information so you can find the exact flight that you want, and then send you directly to the source to complete your purchase.. Kayak and Bing also allow you to run the same search through multiple sites like Travelocity, Expedia, Hotwire and Priceline all at once – these will pop up in different windows, so you can easily do a direct comparison.

Kayak has been our favorite flight search website for the last few years, but I recommend that you try each of them to see which one you are most comfortable using and which one is easiest for you to find the best prices.

Each of the websites have additional tools that can make it easier to find good deals. For example, Kayak has a handy chart that tells you the special fees for each airline. You can automatically add baggage fees to the list of prices if you know how many bags you are checking in for your flight. Kayak also has a special "weekend" search that quickly shows you the best fares over every weekend in a specific month. The website also has "Fare Charts" that show you in a graph how the price has changed for a specific itinerary over the last 90 days.

Bing (Microsoft's travel website, which bought and integrated Farecast.com) also has fare history and takes it to the next level by predicting if the current price is going to go up or down or stay the same, and advising you if you should "buy now" or hold off for a better deal.

Priceline still has a "name your own price" feature that may provide even better discounts but may involve multiple layovers and early/late flight times.

Even if you find a good deal through one of these aggregator sites, you should still check directly on the website of the airline with the best deal, because they may have a even better deal that you can only find on their website. It's also helpful to know that fares for Southwest Airlines can only be found on southwest.com so you should always check that website too if you know they fly to your destination city.

Tip 4: Use a fare tracker

If you start looking early enough, you can use websites like Kayak and Bing to track fares – meaning you can punch in a departure and return date for a specific destination and they will continuously monitor the price and send you an email alert when it drops and/or rises.

Even after you buy a ticket, you can still use Yapta to continue tracking the fare -- if the price goes down below what you paid, you may be eligible for a voucher or credit from the airline for the price difference. There is a cost to re-book your flight for the lower price, so Yapta will only alert you when the refund is greater than the fee. This gives you some peace of mind if you are worried that you are booking too early and think that the price might drop a lot.

Tip 5: You may get a better deal from a travel agent

There are still some benefits in booking with a travel agent, especially if you have a complex itinerary with multiple destinations or are traveling in a big group. The agent may have good business connections in a certain destination and can arrange for transfers, hotel upgrades, discounts and other conveniences that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to get if you did things on your own through a website.

Most importantly, if something goes wrong during your trip -- like for example you miss a flight -- the agent will be the one to straighten things out for you. Or if for some reason you need to cancel part or all of your trip, it’s easier for a travel agent to void a booking, something which is either very difficult or impossible to do if you booked online.

If you’re just buying a simple domestic flight from Point A to Point B, chances are you’re going to be able to find the best savings online. But if you’re going abroad, some travel agents have cheaper deals because of special relationships with airlines and providers. The best thing to do is shop: get a couple of quotes from some trusted travel agents and then see if you can find a better price online.

Ecotourism [Balitang America Travels]

2009-08-10T13:38:00.000-07:00

If you've never been to the Philippines, you can get a taste for what it's rich, marine life is like at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. In one of my recent "Travels" segments on Balitang America, I interviewed research scientist Terrence Gosliner who is the senior curator of the Philippine Coral Reef exhibit: an impressive 212,000 gallon, 25-foot deep aquarium tank filled with fish, live coral and other aquatic life from the waters of the Philippines. The country is famous for having a unique and very diverse marine ecosystem.

Gosliner hopes visitors who see the exhibit at the Academy are inspired to see the real coral reefs in the Philippines. The reefs in the Verde Island Passage between Southern Luzon and Northern Mindoro, he said, are the "richest coral reefs of anywhere in the world."

But Gosliner said the coral reefs are in danger and has noted the damage to the marine ecosystems, since he began leading diving and conservation expeditions to the Philippines in 1992. Human activities such as dynamite and cyanide fishing threaten this fragile ecosystem, as well as on-shore construction projects, which remove protective barriers of mangrove trees or cause dirt, silt and sand to erode into the water and smother the coral. There are also tourists who break the coral while diving or take pieces home as souvenirs, and dive operators who damage the reefs with the anchors of their boats.

Visitors to the Philippines can do their part to help save the reefs by following careful diving practices and by choosing tour operators who promote ecological tourism. "Ecotourism" (as it is more commonly known) is a growing segment of the tourism industry that focuses on low impact travel to environmentally fragile areas. It means choosing activities, housing and transportation options that help preserve and protect your destination's natural beauty and animal/plant ecosystems for future generations. It also involves supporting the area's indigenous cultures and making choices that benefit the local communities economically and encourage them to wisely manage and maintain their natural resources.

The Department of Tourism is promoting ecotourism in the Philippines and several local tour companies offer eco-friendly activities like visiting the underground caves in Palawan, interacting with dolphins and whalesharks, birdwatching at Villa Escudero, or seeing the tarsirs in Bohol.

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Photo credit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/japes18/ / CC BY-ND 2.0

Public Press Story: UC regents approve furlough plan; standoff foreseen with unions

2009-08-04T12:46:00.000-07:00

This story was originally filed on July 16th, which was the last day of the University of California Regents' three-day meeting in San Francisco. It resulted in the approval of a controversial, system-wide furlough program. I'm reposting the article below, but you can see the original post on The Public Press website.

By Christi Morales
The Public Press

In a 20-1 vote, the University of California Board of Regents decided Thursday to move forward with a contentious furlough plan that will affect more than 108,000 employees, setting the stage for a standoff between UC officials and labor unions.

Beginning Sept. 1, UC faculty and staff members will have to take 11 to 26 days off a year, depending on their salary level, which amounts to pay cuts ranging from 4 percent to 10 percent. Those making $40,000 or less will have to take 11 furlough days, with the number of days off increasing for those with higher salaries.

The plan is expected to create $184 million in savings for the 10-campus university system, which is saddled with an $813 million deficit.

UC President Mark Yudof must negotiate with the unions in order to implement the furloughs for represented employees, whose contracts fall under collective bargaining agreements. Some lab and student employees, as well as others paid through grants, are exempt from the plan.

Jeff Myers, vice president of patient care for AFSCME Local 1399 and a UC San Francisco surgical technician, said he’s disappointed by the outcome, but not surprised.

“It’s a slap in the face,” Myers said. “We had a lot of people who gave testimonies against this plan -- faculty, students, workers -- during yesterday’s meetings, but [Yudof’s] determined to do what he wants to.”

While it’s too soon to say what the unions will do, he said, “there could be legal action” involved.

“People are not going to just take this lying down,” Myers added.

He explained that a broad coalition of union leaders plan to meet in the coming days to discuss the next move. Among the unions in the coalition are the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Coalition of University Employees and the University of Professional and Technical Employees.

In closing the UC Regents' three-day meeting at UCSF Mission Bay, Yudof warned that if the unions resist the plan, layoffs could follow.

Meanwhile, faculty and staff aren’t the only ones who will feel the pinch. UC students could be in for another fee hike. In addition to the 9.3 percent raise this fall, Yudof said it’s likely there will be another fee increase by January.

Reach the reporter at cmorales[AT]public-press.org.

Public Press Story: UC Regents back furloughs and pay cuts; staff protest

2009-07-16T13:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I covered part of the University of California Board of Regents' meeting, where faculty, staff and other UC employees expressed displeasure over the systemwide furlough plan with protests and sporadic outbursts during the public comment portion. In the end, a key committee moved forward in support of the furlough proposal, which will be voted on by the full board today. Included below is the full text article and you can see the original post on The Public Press website; the top of the story was written by Michael Winter, while the grafs under the subhead "Anger outside the meeting" were done by me.

By Christi Morales and Michael Winter
The Public Press

More than 108,000 full-time University of California faculty and staff face extended unpaid furloughs and pay cuts under an emergency plan endorsed Wednesday by a Board of Regents' committee. Senior managers would also see their salaries cut an additional 5 percent.

The plan passed, 11-1. The full board will vote Thursday.

In addition to the estimated one-year, $184.1 million in payroll savings, the proposal calls for more than $300 million in cost cutting at the 10 UC campuses. Chancellors would decide those reductions as part of the effort to compensate for the projected loss of $813 million in state funding.

If approved, the plan would take effect Sept. 1. UC faculty and staff would be required to take from 11 to 26 unpaid days by Sept. 1, 2010, which works out to a pay cut of 4 to 10 percent. Higher earners would take more furlough days and deeper pay cuts.

The exact number of furlough days would be based on a sliding scale across seven pay grades — from under $40,000 to more than $240,000.

UC's senior management would be restricted to no more than 10 furlough days per year, although UC said "their actual pay cuts will be among the highest." Top managers who voluntarily agreed to a 5 percent salary cut in May would lose an additional 5 percent during the next year.

Roughly 27,000 staff and faculty would be exempt from the cuts — most student employees, including graduate students; researchers and staff funded entirely by grants; and employees of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

UC said it would negotiate the cuts with its unionized employees, who make up 35 to 40 percent of the workforce.

Other measures to close the $813 million gap include $200 million from a previously approved student fee increase and $100 million from additional spending cuts and refinancing of debt.

"There is no doubt that these reductions will be painful for our faculty and staff," said UC President Mark Yudof. "Unfortunately, the university is facing a financial crisis unprecedented in the past quarter century, and everyone is going to be called on to be part of the solution. No plan is perfect, but we have worked hard to make it as fair as possible while preserving, to the extent possible, excellence and access to opportunity for students, researchers and patients."

Anger outside the meeting

Outside the meeting, on the UC San Francisco Mission Bay campus, dozens of union workers expressed anger over a plan they said would cause great hardship.

“We represent the lowest paid in the system. So no matter whatever cut or furlough or whatever they give them, this is a difference between bread or medication for our workers,” said Lakesha Harrison, a licensed vocational nurse at UCLA and president of AFSCME Local 3299, which represents 20,000 hospital workers.

“Yudof’s going to take a 5 percent cut off his million-dollar salary. That’s arrogant and it’s a slap in the face, and they’re asking the worker that makes $30,000 a year to take a 4 percent cut,” she added.

Noting the additional pay cut being proposed, Lynn Tierney, UC associate vice president of communications, accused the unions of spreading "misinformation" to their members.

Joining the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees were members from the Coalition of University Employees and the University Professional and Technical Employees.

Jeffrey Branner has been an AFSCME member and UCSF senior custodial worker for six years. The father of seven said a 4 percent cut is equivalent to losing one day of pay.

“It would devastate us,” said Branner. “It would not only set me back, but it would throw me to the fringe, where I would probably run into problems paying my bills.”

'Union needs to deal with reality'

Tierney said the furlough proposal is the only way to save jobs, adding that while 4 percent for the lowest paid workers hurts, everyone is sharing the pain. She also said that health coverage among other benefits would stay the same for all workers.

“Nobody likes this, but if we want to preserve the quality of the UC and preserve jobs, something has to be done,” she said. “We’re facing a severe crisis. The union needs to deal with reality and deal with the truth.”

But for Jeff Myers, vice president of patient care for AFSCME Local 1399 and UCSF surgical technician, that reality will mean sending less money to his sick mother in South Carolina.

“If my funds are cut, then I have to give her less funds,” said Myers. “In South Carolina, they don’t make hardly any money really. The cost of living is low, so she barely makes enough money to survive.

“A lot of us are hurting throughout the nation,” he continued. “But if you have a university like this one that is very wealthy — has a lot of resources and has good members who want to work and who are the backbone of the university — they should really consider our proposals to try to find other ways before making extreme cuts like this.”

Reach Christi Morales at cmorales[AT]public-press.org.

Balitang America Travels: Traveling with Children

2009-06-10T16:00:00.000-07:00

Traveling abroad with kids in tow can be a daunting task. But with research and good planning, you can still have a great trip and minimize stressful situations...especially when it comes to health issues.

In one of my recent "Travels" segments on Balitang America, I interviewed Louis Rodrigo - operations manager of Mango Tours in San Francisco - about his experience in bringing his 8-month-old child to the Philippines. Long story short, the baby ended up spending a week in the hospital because Louis said he and his wife weren't prepared to deal with the potential health risks. What's the moral of the story: do your research and plan ahead.

Parents should consult with a pediatrician when planning to travel outside the country with young children. The doctor can give parents an idea about what things they should bring with them on a trip abroad. You may even be referred to a travel medicine specialist if your child will need certain vaccinations.

It's also a good idea to take a look at family travel resources on the web - from what to put in your first aid travel kit to general safety tips. The Centers for Disease Control has a section devoted to traveling with kids. Other great resources packed with family travel tips include sites like Travel With Your Kids and Independent Traveler. Aside from health and security issues, there might be other things you need to do in order to bring your child abroad.

You may need to have a child travel consent form. It's a document needed when only one parent will be traveling with the child abroad. The form needs to be signed by both parents and notarized, because the government wants to make sure the child is not at risk for abduction; this is a big concern especially when divorce or custody issues are involved. Without the consent form, you won't be allowed to board the airplane.

The more prepared you are...the better off you'll be, so do your homework when it comes to taking a trip with the tots.

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Public Press Story: Ideologies continue to divide same-sex marriage isse

2009-05-29T13:17:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, May 26th, The Public Press news team covered the California Supreme Court ruling on Proposition 8 - the voter approved ban on same-sex marriage - that was upheld 6 to 1. I led our team which consisted of myself and reporters Michael Pistorio, Kevin Stark, Stephen Robert Morse, along with photographers Monica Jensen (who also shot video) and Vivian Morales.

Below is the actual article that links to the original post which has video of clergy reactions to the decision and audio from an interview I conducted, featuring an argument between a Prop. 8 advocate and gay marriage supporter. As a result of this interview, I also ended up in New York Times's coverage of the news event here.

You can see the original post on The Public Press website.

By Christi Morales
The Public Press

As hundreds gathered in front of the Earl Warren Building on Tuesday waiting to hear the California Supreme Court’s ruling that upheld Proposition 8, a war of words erupted and some even turned into screaming battles that reinforced the deeply divided ideologies about same-sex marriage.

The scene of people arguing amidst the flurry of pro and anti-gay marriage banners illustrates the chasm among Californians that has played out since same-sex marriage took center stage in 2000, when voters passed Proposition 22. This was the original measure that banned this type of union, but was later ruled unconstitutional by the California Supreme Court in May 2008 – which lead to Prop. 8’s inclusion on the 2008 ballot.

The Public Policy Institute of California found that more voters opposed same-sex marriage back when Prop. 22 passed – 38 percent in favor and 55 percent opposed. After Mayor Gavin Newsom allowed same-sex couples to get hitched at City Hall in 2004, attitudes shifted in 2005, splitting people in the middle with 46 percent supporting and the same number opposing. The numbers have remained relatively unchanged as the most recent institute survey shows 47 percent approve, while 48 percent oppose same-sex marriage showing just how deeply divided the two groups continue to be.

A March 2009 Field Poll revealed that among the general California population, 49 percent approved of the idea of same-sex marriage, while 44 percent disapproved – a slight drop from a May 2008 Field Poll, which pegged the number of supporters at 51 percent.

George Popko, a biology student from American River College in Sacramento, stood in front of the Warren Building Tuesday holding a pro-Prop. 8 banner and engaging in debates with at least three gay marriage supporters who initiated the confrontations. His school was the first college in the state to endorse Prop. 8 last year.

“What I've seen from the opposition, as you can tell with this gentleman here, I see a lot of oppression,” he said, as a familiar face from the opposite side stood right in front of him.

The face was that of “Sister Maudlin Mascara” -- a gay rights activist and member of a local group called the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence -- who was involved in a similar encounter with Popko during a past Civic Center Plaza rally on the issue. What ensued was a 10-minute heated exchange.

“You went to the ballot to stop a minority of individuals from having the right to have equal rights,” Mascara fired back at Popko. “If I choose to engage in homosexual behavior, how does that make me a bad person?"

“They're oppressing those with what I would call the traditional values: This is what America was founded on -- freedom of speech, freedom of religion, First Amendment [rights],” said Popko.

After the early morning gathering at the Warren Building, anti-Prop. 8 protestors moved down the street to Van Ness and Grove to engage in civil disobedience by sitting in the streets. Eventually about 160 of them were arrested.

Among the arrested was Dianna Gewing-Mullins who “married” her wife in a commitment ceremony 15 years ago and two other times, including the occasion when Newsom opened up City Hall for same-sex marriages in 2004.

“We're fed up with [this] and it's time for change,” Mullins said. She is standing in the street and getting arrested, she added, for her wife and their four adopted children – two of them stood in the streets with Mullins before she was arrested.

“We want changes for our little sister - she's 10,” said Mullins’s 20-year-old daughter Krystle, tears streamed down her face. “We have a lot of friends in school whose parents wouldn't let them come over to our house because of our parents.

“We need to do something for her (the sister),” she added. “I don't want her to go through the same thing that we had to go through.”

While Mullins has been steadfastly fighting for equal marriage rights for 15 years and says she intends to forge on, others who once agreed with her are having a change of heart.

Maria, 31, a San Francisco resident and recently converted Christian who would not permit use of her full name because of the nature of her work, said “the old me would have supported gay marriage” and stood against Prop. 8.

Six months ago she started becoming open to the teachings of the bible.

“I used to be very liberal,” said Maria. “Something just made me decide to start reading the bible and start living my life a certain way for myself, not for anyone else, but just for myself.”

If you go by the bible, she said, marriage is supposed to be between a man and woman.

“I'm leaning towards that,” Maria said.

She also said she feels torn and refrained from saying she is completely against the idea of same-sex marriage, adding that she doesn’t think that homosexuality itself is wrong.

The recent survey by the Public Policy Institute of California found that staunch supporters of Prop. 8 had strong ties to religion. The findings show that evangelicals were most likely to support Prop. 8 at 85 percent, along with 60 percent of Catholics and 66 percent of Protestants. Meanwhile, the survey revealed that those with no religion very much opposed the measure with 79 percent voting against it.

But anti-Prop. 8 supporters like air force veteran Peter Fiske, who knew slain San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk back in the 1970s, said he refuses to let anti-gay marriage groups have the last word.

“We’ll put it on the ballot every two years until we win,” said Fiske. “We’ll never give up.”

On the scene:

Listen to a heated debate between pro and anti-gay marriage supporters

Watch video of clergy protest following the court's decision

Balitang America Travels: Family Adventures

2009-05-21T19:24:00.000-07:00

Planning a trip to an exotic locale like Turkey or Tanzania may seem intimidating when you are traveling with children. Not only are safety and comfort a huge concern, but parents also worry that their kids won’t like the local food or be bored with the cultural tourist sights. If your children are not having a fun time, then you probably won’t enjoy the trip either.

Luckily, there are tour companies that specialize in family vacations, so you can still fulfill your travel dreams and have fun taking the kids with you. In my April 20th "Travels" segment on Balitang America, I highlighted Thomson Family Adventures, voted by National Geographic Adventure magazine as the #1 family adventure tour operator for the last two years.

Thomson Family Adventures has been arranging tours for parents and their children since 1998. At the Bay Area Travel Show, I talked to General Manager Jim Kackley about what the company’s tours are like.

On a Thomson Family Adventures tour, all of the logistics are planned out for you, a staff member will travel with you to make sure everything goes smoothly, and local guides will be on hand to give an authentic, inside look at the destination. In addition to covering the “must see” attractions like the Great Wall of China and Peru’s Machu Picchu, the tours include activities designed for kids of all ages. For example, you can go white-water rafting in Panama, try river kayaking in Portugal, zipline through a rainforest in Costa Rica and, of course, go on safari in Eastern Africa.

Special effort is put into providing a unique experience for children, starting before you even leave for the trip. “We line them up with a pen-pal in the country and that allows them to have a cultural immersion experience,” explained Mr. Kackley. “They meet the pen-pal when they go down there and it adds a new dimension.”

Thomson’s staff are also prepared if your child is a finicky eater. “That’s one of the hardest things for parents when they travel overseas,” said Mr. Kackley. “My kid is not going to eat anything and we know that. We find out that information ahead of time and we pass it on and say make sure you have some chicken or make sure you have this.”

Right now, the company’s most popular tours are to China, Turkey, Tanzania, Costa Rica and the Galapagos. So if you are looking for a new and exciting experience for your family, check out the experts at Thomson Family Adventures to see if they have a tour that’s right for you.

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Balitang America Travels: Philippine Tourism Stimulus Package Extended

2009-05-19T20:57:00.000-07:00

Americans are spending less money on travel this year, which means providers are cutting prices to compete for your business. If you've managed to save some money for a vacation, now may be the right time to find a good deal to the Philippines. In my "Travels" segment on April 13th on Balitang America, I highlighted the Philippine Tourism Stimulus Package again -- just in case you missed it the first time back on March 9th.

Originally scheduled to end on May 23rd, the deal has been extended to June 10th. Still priced starting at $999, the Stimulus Package includes round-trip airfare to Manila on Philippine Airlines (from San Francisco, Los Angeles or Las Vegas), two nights in Manila at a luxury hotel (breakfasts included), and a one-way transfer between the airport and your hotel. If you book your stay at the Dusit Thani Manila, Discovery Suites or Diamond Hotel then you now get an extra third night for free.

Check out the Philippines official tourism website to find the contact information for the consolidators and travel agents that can help you book this package. If you purchase your ticket from Mango Tours, you are also issued a free raffle ticket for a drawing to be held on July 4th. The winner of will receives a free round-trip ticket from Los Angeles or San Francisco to Manila courtesy of Mango Tours.

Remember, the rainy season starts in June, so be sure to weigh the pros and cons of traveling to the Philippines at this time of year. But if you are itching to get away this summer, contact your travel agent to see what discounts are being offered on tour packages, airfare and hotel accommodations. You may be pleasantly surprised at how many deals you have to choose from.

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Public Press Story: Closer Look at Propositions 1A & 1B

2009-05-18T21:52:00.000-07:00

There's been extensive coverage done about California's May 19 special election. Basically, it boils down to two messages: one side says Propositions 1A through 1F will help the state out of its estimated two-year $42 billion budget hole and prevent deeper cuts to education and other social services; the other side considers them hastily drawn measures with short-term fixes that could end up causing more damage than good in the long run.

My post isn't meant to tell you how to vote, but instead to encourage voters to do their due diligence. If you simply watch the commercial ads and read the election mailers, there's not enough substance there to help voters truly make an informed decision.

The Public Press article, entitled "Whatever Happens, we're still in a deep hole," published today aims to help voters accomplish this by reading between the lines. This analysis piece is kicked off by Lizzy Tomei and is followed by links to further examination of the ballot measures by me and Michael Pistorio. My section, which I've included below, points out just some of the less obvious provisions of Propositions 1A and 1B.

Propositions 1A and 1B

Christi Morales
The Public Press

Of the six propositions on the May 19 Special Election ballot, Proposition 1A — the “rainy-day fund” — has garnered the most attention, and for good reason. The measure seeks to change how the state’s general fund would be balanced at a time when revenues are faltering and the need for public services is great.

Pushing 1A are Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, his political allies, corporations and business leaders. Opposing it are largely the public university and state employee unions. In the media, much of the focus has been on the impact this measure would have on the state’s education systems because public universities and K-12 schools receive a large chunk of the general fund and have suffered the biggest cuts.

Photo by woodley...

Although the idea of a rainy-day fund may sound appealing, the most vocal opponent — the California Faculty Association union for California State University educators — argues that the restrictions put on how this rainy-day fund could be used are too rigid. Even in good economic years, there would be limits on its use. This is troubling to the CFA, which has seen several rounds of cuts fall on the CSU and University of California systems. CFA officials also say the fund wouldn’t resolve the current fiscal crisis anyway, since the state doesn’t expect revenues to come in until after two years.

“We could be coming out of this recession and see better revenues and better tax receipts and nevertheless, Prop. 1A will keep public higher education, healthcare, a whole lot of programs in the hole that they're already in,” said Lillian Taiz, who is a CSU professor and the president of the CFA. With such restrictions over how the reserve fund can be used, she said, the CSU budget will not be restored to the level it should be.

Parties on both sides of the issue have been busy spreading their messages about what the passage or failure of this measure would mean for Californians.

Budget Reform Now, the coalition backing Prop. 1A and the five other measures, said aside from the rainy-day fund, which the group argues would stabilize funding for public services, this measure would prevent the government from overspending.

But if you read the mailers and watch the TV ads in favor of Prop. 1A, they don’t mention the state tax hikes that would be extended if this becomes law. This includes, extending for up to two years, the 1 percent sales tax increase, vehicle registration fee and the state income tax rate, while reducing the dependent tax credit amount, according to the California Budget Project – a non-profit organization that conducts non-partisan research and analysis on the state’s fiscal matters. Prop. 1A would also give the governor power to make budget cuts without oversight from the Legislature.

In San Francisco, this means the sales tax jump of 9.5 percent experienced in April and scheduled to expire on July 2011 would remain; sales tax increases vary from county to county. The same extension would apply to the California vehicle registration fee, which is already set to increase from 0.65 percent to 1.15 percent on May 19, and 0.25 percent of a percentage point increase for personal income tax rates. This means a person’s tax rate would rise anywhere from 1 percent to 10.3 percent depending on income; the bigger the income, the higher the tax rate.

If voters approve Prop. 1A, these tax increases would provide California with $16 billion in revenues from 2010-11 through 2012-13, according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office.

Even if Prop. 1A passes and money starts going into the reserve, it would not help the current budget situation because the state would not see revenues until two years out. This detail is something not all voters realize, just as some are unaware of how Prop. 1A is linked to Prop. 1B — the “Education Funding. Payment Plan,” which aims to give back money reduced from the K-12 and community college budgets.

In a recent Field Poll, about 43 percent of those surveyed did not know that Prop. 1B would not take effect without the passage of Prop. 1A. Not only has this provision confused voters, it has also divided the CFA and its affiliate, the California Teachers Association, which represents 340,000 of the state’s K-12 educators.

"We parted company with CTA because we know that [1A] is going to hurt our program,” said Taiz of CFA. “Because 1B won't pass if 1A does not, we are on opposite sides.”

“We have not taken a position on 1B,” she added. “We have only taken a position on 1A because we think that that's the lynch pin.”

The CTA is backing all six ballot measures.

Even though the CFA and CTA are not on the same side, they have steered clear from any mud slinging. The CTA has stuck with focusing on how much Prop. 1B would help public schools and community colleges that have suffered budget reductions of $11.6 billion. The passage of Prop. 1B would restore $9 billion in funding to them.

“The repayment of some of the money cut from education will allow local school districts to restore student programs, reduce class sizes and rehire educators who have been laid off,” CTA President David Sanchez said in a statement released after the union's governing board endorsed the propositions in March.

“Many of these initiatives, especially Propositions 1A and B, are dependent on each other and if they fail, the state is back to square one in trying to balance the budget and our schools could face even deeper cuts,” said Sanchez.

What some voters may not know, however, is that lawmakers are already mandated to provide K-12 schools and community colleges with a guaranteed amount of funding because of the passage of Proposition 98 in 1988. But since that amount was reduced by 20.3 percent because of the state’s fiscal crisis, what Prop. 1B is asking voters to do is decide on whether that money gets paid back starting in 2011.

Reach the reporter at cmorales[at]public-press.org.

PROPOSITION 1A - STATE BUDGET. CHANGES CALIFORNIA BUDGET PROCESS.
LIMITS STATE SPENDING. INCREASES “RAINY DAY” BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND.

PROPOSITION 1B - EDUCATION FUNDING. PAYMENT PLAN.

Here are also some reliable, non-partisan resources and analyses to take a look at before you head out to the polls:

The League of Women Voters
The California Budget Project
EdSource

Balitang America Travels: Couchsurfing

2009-05-15T16:10:00.000-07:00

If you are a traveler like me, making new friends from other cultures and experiencing new places from a local's perspective are two of the best things that can happen on a trip. In my "Travels" segment that aired April 6th on Balitang America, I talked about how to connect with people at your destination who share these views -- and you can do this before your trip instead of leaving it up to chance that you will randomly meet someone there.

There are many online communities whose mission is to help bring travelers and locals together. Locals can often help with things like logistics, recommend restaurants not found in the tourist guides, and sometimes they even like to take visitors around to the sights and hidden hot spots.

Websites like CouchSurfing.org, GlobalFreeloaders.com and HospitalityClub.org take this concept a step further by connecting travelers with hosts who are willing to let you crash at their pad for free on a couch or spare bed. As a guest, you are expected to be friendly, courteous and encouraged, but not required, to play host to them if they ever visit your area.

In my interview with Susanna Zaraysky, author of Travel Happy, Budget Low and a veteran couchsurfer, she explained how these websites have allowed travelers and hosts to make successful connections. All travelers and hosts create profiles (identities can be verified through an optional credit card transaction). Naturally, people seek out hosts with whom others have had good experiences with. Furthermore, hosts and surfers are free to turn down a connection request and are also encouraged to rate each other.

"Someone stays at your house and they're a good guest, then you write them a good recommendation," Susanna explained. "The same way if someone is a bad guest or host, you can give them a poor recommendation."

Susanna introduced me to a group of her friends whom she met through the CouchSurfing.org network. Hearing their tales about either hosting or surfing in places like Beijing, Berlin, Costa Rica, Chicago and Las Vegas, was fascinating. They all had good experiences and funny stories. So, I'm looking forward to giving couchsurfing a try on my next big trip!

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Public Press Story: UC, CSU students brace for budget cuts fallout

2009-05-07T12:56:00.000-07:00

I wrote the following article which was published yesterday on The Public Press. It sheds light on the ways the state's budget crisis has impacted public college students. Below the article is also a video news segment I wrote and produced to accompany The Public Press article. The video focuses on the budget situation at UC Santa Cruz.

By Christi Morales
The Public Press

Photo by Victor Morales

It’s yet another blow to Bay Area public college students who have already felt the negative effects of budget cuts spurred by California’s fiscal crisis – if university administrators have their way, educators say.

University of California and the California State University officials are in the process of raising tuition fees to offset the budget cuts. On Thursday, UC Board of Regents will discuss a $662 undergraduate fee increase during a meeting, while the CSU Board of Trustees will meet to consider raising fees by $306.

“Not only are we shutting people out of the university cause we’re not funding the institution, but now we’re piling barrier upon barrier upon barrier on all those kids whose families are not going to be able to pay the extra fees,” said Lillian Taiz, president of the California Faculty Association.

City College of San Francisco officials also are concerned that university fee increases could put additional pressure on junior colleges.

“If they cannot afford to go to a four-year college, they will explore the California community colleges,” said Martha Lucey, City College’s dean of marketing and public information. “We are funded at a certain level from year to year and if there is a spike in enrollment, the state will not reimburse us sufficiently for the growth.”

The proposed fee hike would bring full-time undergraduate fees to $3,354 per academic year, while graduate student fees would amount to $4,134. CSU officials said the fee hike would generate $127 million in revenues to help offset the loss in state funds, adding that even with a hike, CSU fees are still among the lowest in the nation.

Meanwhile, UC regents are proposing a $662 undergraduate fee increase, which would provide $152 million in revenues.

Federal stimulus funding and increases in the education tax credit will offset the higher fees for many students, according to UC officials.

"The average Pell Grant is going up almost as much as our fee increase," said UC President Mark Yudof in announcing Friday the proposed 9.3 percent increase. "More than 81 percent of the families below $180,000 in household income won't pay the increase as a result of the federal tax credit and the increased Pell Grants."

UC and CSU officials proposed the fee hikes to maintain the quality of education and cope with budget reductions, which come at a time when the state is grappling with a projected $42 billion deficit.

After Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger released the proposed budget for 2009-10 earlier this year, CSU estimated that it would face a two-year fiscal deficit of $600 million, while UC’s shortfall would amount to $450 million over the same period. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, UC and CSU will split $537 million in stimulus funds – about $268 million per system. The money backfills cuts already made, bringing the two institutions no closer to filling the multi-million dollar gap each must tackle.

"We still face a major budget shortfall of at least $437 million at the University of California,” said Yudof in a statement about the stimulus funds.

Aside from proposed fee increases, UC and CSU officials have trimmed enrollment, frozen senior management salaries and curbed new hiring among other tactics. UC also instituted a voluntary separation option, which gives staff members the choice of leaving their positions with severance pay. Even with these measures, university officials have no illusions about what could lie ahead.

“We don't know how deep the cuts will be when everything settles, next summer or fall,” said George Breslauer, UC Berkeley executive vice chancellor and provost, in a discussion about the budget earlier this year.

UC Berkeley’s estimated shortfall could total between $60-70 million, which includes reductions for the coming school year and previous cuts carried over from 2008-09.

At UC Santa Cruz (UCSC) – where a large percentage of students are from the SF Bay Area – spokesman Jim Burns said officials are bracing for deeper cuts beyond its campus’s $13 million budget reduction figure.

“We don’t even have an official number yet,” Burns said. “Since these cuts have to take effect July 1, we’re using $13 million as a planning figure.”

The UC and CSU budget outlook also hinges on the outcome of Proposition 1A, which voters will take up during the state’s Special Election on May 19. Proponents of Prop 1A, including the governor, say this will restrict state spending while protecting education funding. Opponents counter that education will suffer further.

While officials from the UC and CSU systems feel the pressure to slash costs and implement cuts by July, both currently enrolled and aspiring college students are running into serious challenges of their own.

Tighter enrollment, stricter requirements

Photo by Victor Morales

In November, CSU officials announced for the first time that the system would have to turn away qualified students because of budget cuts. CSU Chancellor Charles Reed confirmed that the 23-campus system would receive $2.97 billion in state funds for 2008-09, the same amount as the previous year and $215 million less than what was needed to cover enrollment growth and other costs. UC system funding also stayed flat – at $3.3 billion – with no extra money for enrollment increases.

As a result, the CSU, with an enrollment of almost 450,000, is accepting 10,000 fewer students for the 2009-10 school year. UC officials followed saying it would reduce its enrollment by 2,300 students. Officials from both camps expressed their reluctance to cap enrollment, but said this was a necessary move to maintain the quality of education.

At San Francisco State University, about 300 fewer students are being accepted for the fall semester, which breaks down to 100 fewer freshmen and 200 fewer returning students or those with a Bachelor’s degree. To accomplish this, the university moved up registration date deadlines, considered students with slightly higher GPAs and test scores and required applicants to be living in one of nine Bay Area counties to get in, said Jo Volkert, SF State associate vice president of enrollment management.

While UC Berkeley’s enrollment is staying steady, UCSC has reduced its freshmen admissions by 335 students, employing tactics similar to CSU in deciding which students get accepted. UCSC had the biggest drop in its admission rate out of all the nine UC schools, accepting 10.6 percent fewer students than the previous year. About 30 percent of previously enrolled freshmen were from the San Francisco Bay Area, according to UCSC’s most recent statistics.

Although fewer freshmen were granted admission, the one bright spot for both university systems is an agreement to increase the number of transfer students. The UC is taking in 500 more transfer students for the 2009-10 school year, while CSU campuses like SFSU are admitting the same number of transfers as last year.

“High school graduates may not be as affected by the enrollment restrictions as transfer students who must move onto a four-year institution,” replied SF State’s Volkert, when asked why transfer rates would remain steady. “High school graduates still have the option of attending a community college.”

But senior Sarah Wong from Dinuba High School in the Central Valley believes many students who didn’t get into universities where they applied may be discouraged from going to college altogether.

“Getting rejected and then having to go to a community college may not be what they want to do,” she said.

Wong and her closest friends are set to go to CSU schools, but she worries about entering SF State at a time when the number of classes are shrinking.

Decline in quality of education

At SF State, Shell Ramos, 21, an international relations major, was supposed to graduate next May. But because of course reductions, she can’t get enough classes.

“It was kind of like a nightmare,” she said. “It’s really difficult not being able to get classes and then having to get on all these wait lists.”

Now, it could take up to two years more for her to graduate. By then she’ll have been in college for five to six years, which was not part of her plan.

SF State Assistant Professor Ramon Castellblanch, also president of the campus’s chapter of the California Faculty Association union, said the university cut 150 course sections this spring semester and about 141 last fall.

“There’s fewer classes,” he said. “It’s basically denying access to students, which affects their entire careers and lives.”

Because of course reductions, class sizes are ballooning, bringing down the quality of education at the university, said Castellblanch, who has taught upper-division courses in health education for seven years. At this level, he said, students should be able to work more closely with the professor to maximize their learning experience and receive mentoring. But since he has 60 students in each of his two classes instead of the ideal 30, he said it’s impossible to get to know all of them.

When asked for a response from SF State officials about Castellblanch’s concerns, spokeswoman Ellen Griffin said comment should be reserved for Dean Don Taylor of the College of Health and Human Services to which Castellblanch’s program belongs. Taylor did not return phone calls or answer emails from The Public Press.

While CFA’s Taiz said it’s difficult to quantify how class size and course reductions impact the quality of education, she did say “with so many students and less classes, it makes it almost impossible to do the kind of job you want to do to help your students. It can’t help but hurt the education the kids are getting.”

“Those are very realistic concerns,” said Debbie Cochrane of the Institute for College Access & Success in Berkeley, a non-profit organization that conducts non-partisan research around higher education issues. “You can’t continue to decrease the amount of funding that a system has or that any program has and continue to maintain the level or amount of service that it’s currently providing.”

At Santa Cruz, the potential for growth in class sizes is a real possibility, according to university spokesman Jim Burns.

“Will there perhaps be larger classes? Possibly. Will there be reduced services if departments are consolidated or staff are let go? There’s no doubt about that,” said Burns. With the scale of cuts, he added, there will be pain and impact – something even UC Berkeley officials have acknowledged.

Lecturers and support staff jobs on the line

Late last month, more than 200 UCSC students staged a walkout and rally to protest budget cut proposals. Many of the students and supporters voiced their concerns that the budget axe would fall heavily on the Community Studies and the Latin American and Latino Studies departments. Earlier this month rumors surfaced that UCSC officials planned to eliminate the community studies program, a major focused on social activism and that two prominent LALS lecturers would be let go.

Photo by Victor Morales

“If they let go of the two lecturers, we’re losing 12 classes,” said student Robert Gutierrez, an LALS minor. “That’s 20 percent of the LALS department, so in a way they’re cutting classes because they’re not going to be able to find anyone else to teach those classes.”

Burns said students and supporters are assuming incorrectly that decisions have been made. School officials have until May 15 to decide how cuts will actually be implemented. Even before the student rally, Sheldon Kamieniecki, dean of the Social Sciences division that oversees community studies, attempted to allay students’ fears that the program would be eliminated.

“Contrary to rumors, there has been no decision, or even a formal proposal, to discontinue the community studies major," Kamieniecki said in a campus-wide memo. "We are considering eliminating administrative-support positions in community studies. Administrative support for this academic program will continue and will be provided by one or more of our social science departments.”

But community studies lecturer Sean Burns – who is not related to UCSC spokesman Jim Burns – said even if the major itself isn’t in danger of going away, the proposal to eliminate staff members could eventually lead to the program’s demise.

“The notion that, no, the administration is continuing the department, is disingenuous in the sense that, de facto, if you cut out the number of staff positions, the lecturers who have been teaching critical studies in the department and try to disperse the faculty in other places around campus, the 40-year-old program of community studies will end,” he said.

Both Sean Burns, a longtime UCSC lecturer, and Castellblanch of SF State agree that California’s public higher education is in crisis and that state and federal officials need to do more before it gets worse.

“Community college and the public university system is the gateway into being a worker in the 21st century,” said Burns. “For us to be undermining fiscally these programs from K through university is just so short-sighted.”

UCSC Students Rally Against Budget Cuts from The Public Press on Vimeo.

Reach the reporter at cmorales[at]public-press.org.

Balitang America Travels: High, Low and Shoulder Travel Seasons

2009-05-06T08:55:00.000-07:00

When is the best time of the year to take a trip? Is it when the weather is warm and sunny, but the fares and rates are high and the sights are crowded with other tourists? Or is better to travel when the prices are low and hotels have lots of room, but you have to deal with bitter cold or heavy rain showers?

The answer for most people is somewhere in between, and if you are a budget traveler with flexible vacation dates, you can still find some bargains without suffering through extreme weather conditions. Sure, you might have cooler weather and the occasional light rain, but the savings will probably be worth it.

In my "Travels" segment that aired March 30th on Balitang America, Juan Francisco of Mango Tours confirmed that there are often good deals during the "shoulder" seasons between high and low peak travel. (You can check out actual video segment here.)

A good example is around Easter time when flights from the States to the Philippines are slightly cheaper, because demand peaks during winter when the weather is milder and families gather for Christmas. During spring, the weather isn't too bad because the monsoon season usually doesn't start until June.

Of course, the peak and off-peak periods are different in every country. You can visit Ricksteves.com to find out when the shoulder season hits Europe.

Away.com and smartertravel.com also have great resources about ideal travel times in different parts of the world.

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Balitang America Travels: Managing Your Money Wisely

2009-05-05T09:22:00.000-07:00

Ah, money…it’s fun to spend while on vacation or shopping. But when it comes to managing your Benjamins or creating a budget, it feels like all work and no play. Money management, while on vacation, isn’t rocket science and no one says you have to cut corners on everything.

By budgeting how much you want to spend on your trip, you minimize overspending and lessen the risks associated with carrying money when traveling. In my "Travels" segment that aired on Balitang America on May 4th, I mentioned some tips on how to go about planning ahead and managing your trip money wisely:

BEFORE YOU LEAVE:

Call your bank and credit card company: if you use your cards abroad and you don’t inform them, their fraud detection software or monitoring systems might mistake transactions for fraudulent activity and block them.

Pack a money belt or other travel wallet you can wear close to your body to prevent anything from getting stolen.

If you’re traveling to a destination for the first time, find out if your cards will work in that specific area by asking the bank or card company. Always have cash as back up. It might even be helpful for you to exchange a small amount of money into the local currency even before you hop on a plane, so that you can get from the airport to your hotel, lodge or place where ATMs are found.

DURING THE TRIP:

Estimate how much you will be spending for the duration of your trip. Besides authorized banks, money can be exchanged at many major airports and even some hotels.

Some places like the Philippines and other Asian countries have “money changers.” Often rates are high, but some of these places have reportedly scammed people…so exercise caution.

Don’t exchange all of your trip money in one go. You risk either losing money or getting it stolen – this way it’s not a total loss if something like this happens. If you do exchange it all at once, carry only what you need during the day and store the rest in the hotel safe or a secure storage device.

If you plan to get money from ATMs, then withdraw more versus less. For example, in the Philippines, try to take out $100-$200 instead of $20-$40, because each time you withdraw there are currency conversion fees that can add up. Again, take only what you need and securely store the rest.

On top of the conversion rate, Bankrate.com says credit cards have foreign transaction fees. So, use it for big expenses like hotel or costly purchases, but not on smaller things…unless you don’t mind being charged extra fees each time. Check out Bankrate's site which has an updated list of the foreign conversion fees most major credit card companies charge.

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Balitang America Travels: Europe on a Shoestring

2009-05-04T09:19:00.000-07:00

Playing catch-up on my televised "Travels" segments...In my March 23rd segment on Balitang America, I talked about how to save money on a European vacation. I shared some expert advice from travel guru Rick Steves whom I interviewed at the Bay Area Travel Show.

Even if you are on a shoestring budget, Rick said you can still take a trip to Europe for $120/day per person, or even down to $60/day if you are willing to stay in youth hostels and eat cheaply. That budget excludes transportation expenses, but includes money for lodging, food and sightseeing. "The major expense is eating and sleeping," he said. "People who know how to find good alternatives to hotels and restaurants, they’ll save a lot of money."

My husband and I used Rick Steves' guidebooks to plan our trip when we visited France and Italy in 2007. Here are some general tips for cutting costs on your European vacation:

LODGING: Stay at a bed and breakfast or rent an apartment with a group of friends... or stay in a simple hotel with few amenities, especially if you plan to spend most of your time sightseeing away from the hotel.

FOOD: Avoid high-priced restaurants near tourist traps and look for good, cheap, hole-in-the wall places where the locals eat... always look to see if the service charge is included in your check and research the appropriate tip percentage for the city you are in.. buy snacks and water at the local market... and pack a few picnic lunches to save money and time.

SIGHTSEEING: Plan out which museums and attractions you want to visit, and see if there is a pass that covers more than one of them and is less expensive than buying a separate ticket for each one... buy tickets in advance, so you don't have to waste time in long lines at the ticket counter once you get to the attraction.

Rick said the best thing you can do to save money is to "travel smart" -- research and plan ahead before your trip, so you can be prepared with all of the information you need and be your own tour guide there. It may seem daunting to plan so much ahead of time, but chances are you will enjoy your trip more, and most importantly, save time and money too!

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.

First Story for The Public Press...much ado about swine flu

2009-05-03T15:09:00.000-07:00

For those who have been following my blog (hopefully still) or just happen to chance upon it, you will notice that I'm a little behind in posting. That's because I've been in researching and reporting mode for The Public Press. I'll be playing catch up over the next few weeks.

In April, I came on board as a contributing reporter for The Public Press. If you haven't heard of The Public Press, the sheet below basically spells out what the organization is all about:

I truly believe in what they're trying to achieve. Last Wednesday, I helped write a piece on swine flu and how San Francisco health officials have emphasized that there's no need to panic. You can check it out here. I will be working on more stories for The Public Press, so stay tuned. :-)

Video: Party in Manila with Mango Tours

2009-04-03T11:01:00.000-07:00

This Travels segment on Spring Break originally aired on March 2nd. It highlighted a specific package offered by Mango Tours, the segment sponsor and travel agency specializing in trips to the Philippines. Their spring break trip kicks off on April 15th.

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Video: Benefits of Online Booking

2009-03-25T09:45:00.000-07:00

On February 16th, I did a Travels segment on the benefits of booking travel online. Mango Tours, the travel agency that sponsored the story, posted it on their blog. Check out the actual segment below.

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Balitang America Travels: Philippine Entry/Visa Requirements

2009-03-24T13:33:00.000-07:00

If you're planning to take a trip to the Philippines, you will want to make sure you've got the entry and visa requirements covered. You will need a visa depending on how long you stay in the country, and the rules differ for U.S. citizens and residents. I discussed this and other requirements in my March 16th "Travels" segment on Balitang America.

It's simple for U.S. citizens who need just their passports to enter the Philippines. That's if they will be staying for 21 days. Anything beyond that requires a visa. However, if you are a U.S. citizen traveling with parents who are former Philippine citizens, then you can be in the country visa-free for up to a year as part of the balikbayan program; this same rule applies for U.S. citizen spouses traveling with their husband or wife who is a former Philippine citizen.

For U.S. legal permanent residents who are Philippine citizens, the requirements include a green card for re-entry into the the States and a Philippine passport. By 2010, these passport holders will need to have the new machine-readable passports, also known as MRPs.

To Apply for an MRP:

* Appear in person at the closest Philippine consulate, the embassy in Washington, D.C. or at qualified processing centers like Mango Tours

* Provide 2 passport photos with royal blue as the background

* Fill out an application form

* Pay the $50 fee

Processing can take up to 6 weeks, so plan ahead. U.S. citizens who are non-balikbayans and will be staying beyond 21 days need to get a visa which allows them to stay in the country for up to 59 days.

To Apply for a Visa for U.S. Citizens (who are non-balikbayans):

* Appear at the closest Philippine consulate or the embassy in Washington, D.C.

* Provide 2 standard passport photos

* Fill out a visa application

* Show U.S. passport and a copy of trip itinerary

* Pay the $50 visa fee

For more information, visit the Philippine Embassy’s website at www.philippineembassy-usa.org or call your local Philippine Consulate.

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Balitang America Travels: Philippine Travel Stimulus Package

2009-03-16T17:31:00.000-07:00

It may take time for Obama's stimulus package to kick in, but the tourism industry isn't one to wait. In fact tour operators, travel agencies and other providers have been quick to come up with their own travel "stimulus packages." I mentioned one such deal in my March 9th "Travels" segment.

Priced at $999, the Philippine Stimulus Package gets you roundtrip airfare from San Francisco, Los Angeles or Las Vegas to Manila via Philippine Airlines, one-way transport from the airport to the hotel or vice versa and daily breakfast. Included is a two-night, three-day stay at one of the participating five-star hotels, namely the Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Crowne Plaza Galleria, Diamond Hotel or the Dusit Thani Manila Hotel. The fuel surcharge and U.S. taxes are already included in the price.

There's also a choice of excursion add-ons for three nights or four days starting at $370 to places like Boracay. Other destinations that can be added to the basic stimulus package include Bohol, Camiguin, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu or Palawan. Even with these extras, the Philippine Department of Tourism says this package is 30-40 percent lower than anything they've ever offered.

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Balitang America Travels: Spring Break Packages

2009-03-04T13:18:00.000-08:00

Right about now college students across the country are gearing up for Spring Break, and they're not letting the sluggish economy rain on their travel plans. In fact, students are probably finding deals like never before as providers desperately try to get people to travel. If you haven't made any plans yet, there are still lots of deals to be had.

International Destinations:

Student City - Deals include $399 Bahamas Cruise Party or 4-5 nights & flight packages at the Nassau Palm Hotel in the Bahamas starting at $659

Sun Splash Tour s - All-inclusive vacation package to Jamaica starting at $699

Mango Tours - Philippine packages to Boracay/Manila ranging from $1820 from the West Coast and $1950 from the East Coast. These include roundtrip airfare, transportation, 7 nights at two 5-star hotels, daily breakfast and more.

U.S. Destinations:

Paradise Parties - 5 nights at Panama City Beach's Paradise Palm Resort starting at $384 and 5 nights at the Saida/Royal Towers in South Padre Island (Texas) for $399

Pleasant Holidays - Hawaiian vacations for 3 nights with air from $299

US Airways Vacations - Vegas air and 2 nights packages starting at $108

Spring Break for Families:

CNN, Deep Discounts for Spring Break Travel

Away.com, Top 10 Spring Break Destinations for Families

Other Articles with Spring Break Deals:

USA Today, Top 5 Bargain Destinations for Spring 2009

Frommers, Spring Break Deals: Where to Snag a Last-Minute Bargain

L. A. Times, Bargains for Spring Break

There are actually loads of deals for trips to Mexico, but with the recent State Department and ATF advisories about the increase in violence, I decided not to list them. I'm not big on fear mongering, but from the looks of the reports coming out of Mexico, my message to students is to err on the side of caution. Still, I imagine many students are going to flock to Mexico regardless, and I realize there are parts that have seen more violence than others. To find out more about what's going on in Mexico, visit the U.S. State Department's website or check out some of the recent news stories.

If you're interested in seeing the actual Travels segment from Balitang Ameria, which focused on specific deals to the Philippines, you can see it here.

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Balitang America Travels: Cruising's Hidden Costs

2009-02-24T19:48:00.000-08:00

When it comes to cruises, the phrase "all-inclusive" is used often. But what exactly does "all-inclusive" really mean. Don't be fooled by that phrase because while all the basics - your room, transportation (often including flight to the ship port), food and entertainment - are typically covered, the extras are not part of the package.

Extra-cost Items on Large Cruise Ships (600+ passengers):

* Shore excursions & meals (not included on any cruise ship, large or small)
* Cancellation insurance
* Gratuities
* Specialty restaurants
* Ice cream
* Alcohol
* Espresso beverages
* Soda
* Bottled water
* Laundry
* Spa services/massages
* Gambling
* Certain classes: yoga, kickboxing and others

If you want to know the price ranges of these things, Cruise Critic can give you a good idea. In any case, cruising still offers great value if you're on a budget. According to Douglas Ward, a well-respected cruise critic and author of Cruising: All Questions Answered, a seven-day trip on a mid to large-sized ship with accommodation in an outside cabin costs approximately $1,200. Factor in $100 in port charges, if not already included in the fare, and about $50 in gratuities which brings the cost to $1,350 per person. So, that's about $200 per person per day, Ward explained in his book. That amount, he pointed out, won't even get you a nice hotel room in places like New York or London.

Don't forget the economic slump has opened the door for some unbelievable deals. If you're not big on putting together a budget, Independent Traveler has a budget calculator with a list of typical cruise expenses. Type in your costs and add them up to at least arrive at a starting figure for your trip.

USA Today's Cruise Log also has some helpful information on cruising, deals and a forum where cruisers can exchange tips or experiences. Here's just a sampling of some of the discounts out there.

Deals mentioned in my Travels segment:

Holland America 7-Day Alaskan Cruise
Starting at $499/person

MSC Cruises 7-Night Trip to the Caribbean
* For seniors & those 50+, starting at $499/person
* Kids 17 and under sail free on all MSC Cruises.

Norwegian Cruise Line
Kids and any third guest or more rate, starting at $99/person
*Persons must be sharing cabin to get that rate.

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Balitang America Travels: Online Booking & Travel Resources

2009-02-17T12:22:00.000-08:00

If you’re looking for travel information online, chances are you already know which sites to visit. But in case you don’t, this post will at least tell you where to start. I shared this information in my February 16th "Travels" segment, but will also include some additional websites travelers might find helpful.

1) The usual suspects: travel search engines for looking and booking

Travelocity, Expedia and Orbitz – These sites allow you to search for deals and book discounted accommodations, airfare, car rentals, cruises and even vacation packages. But remember since these act like virtual travel agents, there can be fees when you book with them.

Priceline – Bid for discounted luxury accommodations or airfare and see if the price you named is right. But you won’t know the hotel name or specific location until you’ve paid, and the site won’t refund your money if you decide to cancel. For flight deals, you can adjust the date but not the return and departure times, so you need to be flexible.

Hotwire – Get your hands on discounted hotel stays and airfare, but you also have to be flexible as the site uses blind-booking as well, meaning you pay first and then you get the specific details. But deals are consistently low.

2) Just shopping around: looking but not booking.
These sites are aggregators that show you where the deals are, then you can book those deals directly with the site or provider where they came from.

Kayak – Searches through more then 140 sites (including the usual suspects listed above) all at once for the lowest airfare, hotels, cruises and car rentals

Mobissimo – Similar to Kayak because it just shows you the source of the deals on airfare, hotels, cruises and car rentals. While it does list deals originating from U.S. travel providers, it often times leans towards international suppliers or agencies.

Vayama – Also an aggregator showing the prices and deals for strictly international flights, hotels and car rentals.

3) Monitoring airfare and travel deals.
These sites allow you to sign up for email alerts that inform you when prices change.

Farecast.com – Shows deals on airfare and hotels from various websites, but also gives you its analysis on whether prices are projected to change – drop, rise, hold steady - within the next 7 days, so you can decide if you want to wait or buy now.

Farechase.com – Just like Farecast.com, only it also shows how flight prices on or near a selected date of travel vary according to departure and return times, the airport you fly from, along with the airline you choose and whether it’s a non-stop flight. So, by adjusting any of these options, you can try to get cheaper airfare. NOW DEFUNCT

Farecompare.com – Finds deals on airfare and has a calendar illustrating the price differences according to the day of travel, even spelling out the best time or month to buy airfare for your particular destination.

Yapta.com – Finds the best airline deals, but also tracks airfare prices for your specific flight. If you’ve already purchased a ticket for that flight and the price drops before the trip, Yapta will work to get you a refund or travel credits from the airline.

There are so many other websites that function in very similar ways to the ones I’ve listed. These are just some of the more known sites out there. But like anything else on the vast worldwide web, you need to zero in on what exactly it is you are looking for or hoping to achieve. Hopefully, these sites will at least get you started and on your way to that next great trip.

To see the actual Travels segment that aired on Balitang America, check it out here.

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Memorable People in Rwanda (Part 2)

2009-02-13T10:40:00.000-08:00

Pictured above are more awesome people whom we met in Rwanda and will always remember. Starting from the top left, clockwise, is our guide Oliver whom we trekked with through the Virunga Mountains in search of mountain gorillas. The next is a woman named Winnie, who taught me how to make two Rwandese dishes, followed by our Amahoro Tours guide Abi and his sidekick Omar. In the last photo, is an American named Julie, a passionate conservationist. Each of them left lasting impressions on me and my view of life.

Oliver was such a knowledgeable guide. His eyes lit up whenever he talked about the mountain gorillas. Since my trip to Rwanda in 2006, we managed to exchange emails here and there. I fondly remember one of our last emails in which he shared his excitement about the birth of some baby gorillas; it's a time to rejoice when a baby gorilla is born, because they are the future - little by little their species is inching away from the clutches of extinction. There are about only 700 mountain gorillas left in the entire world.

Oliver was featured in an Animal Planet documentary as part of a group of rangers and guides, who took Sigourney Weaver to see the gorillas she came to know during the filming of Gorillas in the Mist. The feature also revisited the work of late naturalist Dian Fossey and how she paved the way for stronger conservation efforts.

Winnie worked for our tour operator Greg Bakunzi. Giggly and friendly, she would laugh at how I mispronounced the names of the Rwandese dishes we prepared in Greg's native outdoor kitchen. It was in meeting Winnie that I realized how hard some African women have to work. She told me many women work in the fields all day and then come home to cook, clean and tend to their children. There are those who've risen to political positions and hold careers; still many toil in the fields, tilling the soil and harvesting the crops. I have so much admiration for hardworking African women like Winnie.

Julie, the American conservationist, was a smiley person with kind eyes and a jovial spirit full of hope. She'd been in Rwanda for some time teaching artisans and locals to become self-sufficient: helping Rwandans utilize their artistic talents to make a living and all the while instilling in them the importance of wildlife conservation. Her dedication serves as an example of what can be achieved when people open their hearts and share their knowledge with others.

Our guide Abi was a soft-spoken Rwandan who liked listening to our stories about life in America. One day he told us his story: he was the only one in his family to survive the 1994 genocide. At first, I was surprised and humbled by his willingness to share such painful memories and misfortune. But in the end, I came to understand that this was his way, as it is for many Rwandans, to continue the healing. Not to ignore what happened but to tell the story of their horrific past to others, so such a tragedy will never happen again.

And last but definitely not the least, there was our driver Omar. He couldn't speak or understand much English. However, he spoke perfect French - a language I manage to butcher when I try to speak it. Every morning I'd greet him with "bonjour" and "como ca va?" (how are you in English). During our excursions, I'd turn to him and say "como ca va" every once and a while. We would laugh at our inability to communicate anything else other than that. But what we lacked in words, we made up for this in smiles.

Balitang America Travels: Last Minute Valentine's Day Deals

2009-02-10T13:23:00.000-08:00

Uh-oh! Haven't made Valentine's Day plans yet? Well, have no fear because as I mentioned in my Balitang America Travels segment yesterday, there are still some reasonably priced hotel packages out there for under $300. Notice I didn't use the word "cheap" hotel packages. Number one, cheap is relative because what one may consider cheap might not be for others. But mostly, "cheap" in the context of making Valentine's Day plans, isn't going to earn you brownie points with the ladies.

Remember V-Day falls on a Saturday this year and Monday is President's Day, so what do you get - a long, romantic weekend. Unless of course your company is lame and they don't give you Monday off. ;-)

I know you don't need to go away for the weekend to have a great Valentine's Day, but with hotel occupany rates the lowest they've been in 30 years, properties are slashing prices left and right. Believe it or not, even five-star hotels have been brought to their knees, offering deals unheard of during good economic times. If you can, take advantage!

Here are just some of the romantic getaways mentioned on Balitang America and others you can still get your hands on from all over.

Hotel Packages Under $300 (per night per couple)

Apple Core Hotels (New York)

Art & Love Package $199:

* Accommodations in the heart of New York City

* Two priority-entrance guest passes to The Metropolitan Museum of Art

* Complimentary bottle of champagne

* Free breakfast and in-room coffee

Affinia Hotels
New York $289
Chicago $209
Washington, D.C. $189

Naughty and Nice Package:
* Accomodations and room customizable by you through My Afffina
* Rose petal turn-down service
* Champagne
* Box of Jacques Torres hand-made chocolates
* Agent Provocateur Strip Poker Set
* Romantic in-room movie
* 4pm late check-out

Intercontinental Hotel (Chicago)
Rates start at $249 (one-day advance booking required)

* Accommodations
* Welcome amenity of premium Champagne and strawberries upon arrival
* 30-minute in-room Swedish massage for two
* Decadent wine, cheese and chocolate tasting for two
($50 credit will be provided by ENO loung on lobby level)

JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa
Rates start at $279

Romance Package includes:

* Deluxe Guestroom
* Champagne and Strawberries delivered upon arrival
* Buffet Breakfast for two at Ceres
* One, 50-minute European Facial or Swedish Massage for that special someone

Personality Hotels San Francisco
Rates start at $139

XOXO Package:
* Deluxe accommodations
* "The Best Places to Kiss in Northern California" book
* $25 gift certificate to the Farallon Restaraunt
* Late checkout upon availability

The Campton Hotel (San Francisco)
Rates start at $275

Leave Your Heart in SF Package:
* Deluxe room accommodations
* Champagne and strawberries upon your arrival
* Daily special breakfast in bed for two
* Special bath amenities
* Wine tasting and a special dinner prepared by the chef
at the Campton Place Restaurant once during your stay

Tampa Bay Online
Links to article with hotel packages and romantic getaways in Florida

Links to Nationwide Deals & Packages

Hotels.com
Valentine's Day Promotions

Budget Travel Magazine
U. S. Valentine's Getaways, From $140

Away.com: Where Next?
Article about Valentine's deals around the web

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Memorable People in Rwanda (Part 1)

2009-02-06T17:50:00.000-08:00

Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be revisiting past international travels like I did in the entry entitled "A Picture Paints a Thousand Words." As I mentioned in that post, the trip to Rwanda was only 3 1/2 days and 4 nights, but the memories I collected there will live on forever. The places we visited and friendly people made the whole trip unforgettable.

My husband, Darren, and I met wonderful people like Greg Bakunzi, the owner of the eco-tourism company Amahoro Tours. The moment we met Greg, at the Gregoire Kayibanda Airport in Kigali, there was an instant connection. During the two-hour drive to the Mountain Gorillas Nest lodge in Kinigi, we chatted it up with Greg about everything from food and religion to politics and our personal lives. When we told Greg how excited we were to sample the local cuisine, he eventually invited us to dine with him in his home and gave me the honor of helping cook the Rwandese meal.

It was great getting to know Greg who felt comfortable enough to share intimate details of his life with us. Greg didn't grow up in Rwanda, but in a refugee camp in Uganda where his parents fled during the 1959 revolution. He moved to his native Rwanda with nothing - no money, no possessions - after the 1994 genocide, brimming with hope to start anew. Eventually, he built up his eco-tourism company which has been very successful.

Through Amahoro we visited villages and interacted with the locals. We also had an opportunity to visit an orphanage where we spent a good amount of time playing with the children. Greg and his guides gave us an understanding and appreciation of Rwanda's culture, heritage, history and people - an experience that went above and beyond what I expected. And, one that I will always cherish.

Balitang America Travels Segment on February 2nd: Finding a Good Travel Agent

2009-02-03T22:12:00.000-08:00

Looking to visit a destination that’s normally off your radar or planning to plunge into new travel territory? Maybe it’s time to talk to a travel agent. Even my husband and I, who are pretty independent travelers, tapped an agent for our trip to Indonesia in 2004. But how do you find a good travel agent? This was the topic I explored in my Balitang America Travels segment yesterday, Monday.

Let’s put it this way: it’s not like finding a needle in a haystack, but it does require some research and initiative. What travelers want is an agent who will listen and give them exactly what they want. Not someone who pressures them into buying the vacation package or airline fare that’s going to earn he or she, the agent, a fat bonus or commission.

In addition, consumers should be aware of scammers perpetrating travel fraud. In my travel segment, I revisited the story of how a woman paid upfront with a check for airline reservations through a travel agent who promised to send her the tickets in the mail. What she didn’t know is that, today, U.S. travel agents no longer issue physical tickets. Instead agents give a receipt or invoice with an electronic ticket number that passengers show the day of travel. By the time she realized she’d been had, the scammer was long gone with her money.

Don’t be shy to probe a little. After all, this person is working for you, and you want to make sure he or she is looking out for your best interest. Here are some things to keep in mind in your search for a travel agent:

When starting out…

* Be careful about booking with a travel agency that only accepts cash.

* Research the company to make sure they don’t have a bad record with the Better Business Bureau.

* See if the company or travel agent has any certifications. Travel agents aren’t required to have any specific kind of certification, but if they are certified, it may provide insight as to their level of experience and professionalism. You can also check to see if they are affiliated with any respected travel organizations.

Once you’ve identified a company or travel agent…

* Interview them and ask how long they’ve been in the industry, as well as what they can do for you.

* Make sure they are upfront about fees and the cancellation policy.

* Check to see how available they are, because if something goes wrong you’re going to want them to step in to resolve the issue or dispute.

* Ask yourself: is this travel agent listening to my needs? Do they really know about the destination?

If this is too much effort for you, ask friends or family if they can recommend the company or travel agent they've used before. Also, below are some helpful websites that provide information about travel fraud and how to avoid it.

Federal Trade Commission
National Consumers League
Fraud Guides

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.

A Picture Paints a Thousand Words

2009-01-31T12:49:00.000-08:00

The title sounds cliche, but the experience I had in this picture was far from being that. It was taken in Kinigi, Rwanda, during my three-week trip to East Africa in July of 2006. I had always wanted to write about the wonderful, eye-opening experiences I had there. It's been more than two years, but it feels just like yesterday that I was dancing with the Batwa in Rwanda. Most people have only heard of the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups, especially after relations between the two exploded into the horrific 1994 genocide.

More than a decade later, Rwandans are still trying to heal from this tragedy. Despite all they've been through, some Rwandans have chosen to feel the pain of their past treating it like an open wound. Not because they're masochists, but because many believe it's the only way to make sure something like this will never happen again. Our tour operator Greg Bakunzi told us he believes it's important for Rwandans to talk about what happened and to tell visitors the truth, not only because it's cathartic, but it's also a way of facing mistakes of the past head on without denial.

My visit to Rwanda may have only lasted 3 1/2 days, but I felt so connected with the people I met there. Most of all, as the picture of me dancing with the Batwa may not fully convey, I felt alive and filled with hope. If Rwandans can survive such a painful past, my heart is hopeful that the rest of the world can one day be at peace. But what do I know...I'm an eternal optimist =).

Visual Aid: Keeping Art Alive

2009-01-29T17:04:00.000-08:00

What do you get when you combine fine art and philanthropy? You have non-profit organizations like Visual Aid who have been reaching out to artists with life-threatening illnesses and helping them carry on their work as professional artists. It was founded in 1989 to help the Bay Area arts community which suffered a devastating blow by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The organization stepped in to provide assistance – both financial and emotional – to the artists affected by the disease and continue to do so today. They’ve expanded their mission to help not only artists impacted by HIV/AIDS but other illnesses as well, including cancer, hepatitis C and other serious diseases.

In November 2008, I covered Visual Aid's 15th Annual Big Deal Fundraiser for a piece I wrote, shot and produced for San Francisco IAM.com. More than 600 pieces of art were either sold or auctioned off at the fundraiser. What was amazing about this event, and other grassroots efforts like it, is the outpouring of community support. Artists donated the work for the sale and auction. Volunteers built the spaces where the art was displayed and also worked at the event from start to finish. Everyone involved was passionate about the cause.

In a world full of harsh realities, it’s heart-warming to know that people are still willing to dedicate themselves to improving the lives of others. My story went behind the scenes to show how volunteers and art enthusiasts made this event happen. Check it out and you can also visit Visual Aid’s website to learn more about their wonderful work.

Correction: Balitang America Travels Segment on Airplane Precautions aired on January 23rd

2009-01-28T17:17:00.000-08:00

Oops, I originally posted that my segment about airline precautions would air on Monday, January 26th on ABS-CBN's The Filipino Channel, but it was actually a part of the Friday newscast on January 23rd. In the segment I interviewed Captain Bob Norris, a former commercial airline pilot who was employed with a major carrier for 30 years. The piece did talk about the harrowing US Airways landing made by pilot Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger (whom Katie Couric will interview for a 60 Minutes piece slated for February 8) in the Hudson River, but that wasn’t the focus. I didn’t want to sensationalize the piece or scare people with a dramatized story on how to survive a crash. Instead, the segment aimed to remind travelers about the importance of knowing airline safety measures.

Norris said too often frequent flyers dismiss the pre-flight safety demonstration given by the flight attendants. He pointed out not all airplanes are designed exactly alike: things like the operation of the exit doors and safety rafts can differ, as well as the flotation devices. Yes, there are flight attendants who are trained to take the lead in an emergency. But in a life or death situation you never know what can happen because people panic, and if that's the case, you may need to help yourself.

Norris highlighted the following as being the most important things travelers should keep in mind:

- Identify your exits and how to operate them (even if you’re not seated in an exit row). All of this can be found on the safety cards inside the seat pockets.

- Pay attention to the flight attendants during the safety briefing.
For frequent flyers, it may sound like a broken record, but you’ll be better off knowing all the particular aircraft’s safety features.

- Remember to leave everything behind in an emergency landing. Flight attendants and crew are trained to get everyone off the plane in 90 seconds. Why 90 seconds? It’s the amount of time it takes for a fire to engulf a cabin. In a panicky situation, people can drop bags or items, which can end up blocking the evacuation path, potentially causing a human pile up and endangering lives. In addition, there may not be room for extra weight or baggage on a life raft full of people especially in a water landing. What’s more important: your bag or your life?

I have to admit I’m a nervous flyer. One very bad plane ride is to blame. Not just bad turbulence but a sudden dip that sent a male flight attendant, who was easily 250 lbs., flying upward and smacking his head up against the aircraft ceiling; secured containers in the galley flew out of cabinets and landed with a bang leaving the floor a mess. So, yes, when a major airline incident happens my mind wanders, and I find myself visiting sites like Popular Mechanics which has an article on how to survive a crash.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not a person who dwells on doom and gloom. I know flying is statistically the safest mode of travel, but I also recognize that accidents happen. All I can say is being aware of all safety measures makes you better prepared to deal with an emergency situation.

Curious about what some say is the safest place to sit in an airplane? Check out this article or take a look at a video of a mock evacuation. Also, here's a recent Time Magazine piece with additional tips on how to cope in an airplane emergency.

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Scouting Out Travel Deals at the Bay Area Travel Show

2009-01-24T18:53:00.000-08:00

Longing for a vacation but not big on researching destinations or seeing what’s out there? Well, if you live in the area, you may want to check out the Bay Area Travel Show where local, national, and even international travel companies are sharing the lay of the land on deals and destinations. I attended the show today to interview some travel experts and professionals for my Balitang America Travels segments.

While I’ve never been a fan of going to trade show-type events, I found that many of the exhibitors had good information to share. Not only about their services, but also about the resources available to help travelers find that perfect vacation. Speakers like European travel guru Rick Steves and Bay Area Backroads’ Doug McConnell are on hand to share their experiences and give people ideas on everything from budget travel to itineraries.

It’s a buyer’s market right now and travel agencies, outfitters, cruise lines and the like are working in cahoots trying to get your business: partnering to create packages and prices that will entice people to book that trip. And, maybe that’s not so bad because in the end the consumer wins. You name it: upgraded rooms, amenities, bundled services, discounted prices are up for grabs. All because the sluggish economy is cramping the travel industry’s style.

Oh, one more thing: it’s only $6 if you buy the ticket online ($12 at the door) and parking is free. Tomorrow (Sunday) is the last day. You can catch Rick Steves or Doug McConnell who will be giving talks starting at noon. For a full schedule, visit www.bayareatravelshow.com.

Hike, Bike or Take in Magnificent Bay Area Views on San Bruno Mountain

2009-01-21T18:44:00.000-08:00

It was great while it lasted – the warm San Francisco Bay Area weather that is. It’s back to the usual late winter rain and gloom for the rest of January. Boy, am I glad I got to enjoy the sun. That’s just what I did on MLK day, Monday. My husband, Darren, and I decided to enjoy the great outdoors with a hike. We didn’t want to drive too far, so we were delighted to discover nearby San Bruno Mountain State and County Park.

Ever notice the radio and microwave towers between San Francisco and South San Francisco when zooming down 101? Well, they're sitting on San Bruno Mountain, an urban oasis located in the city of Brisbane about seven miles south of San Francisco. The park features 2,750 acres of rugged landscape surrounded by lush vegetation, rare species of flowers and eucalyptus trees among others; I’m not into botany, so can’t really comment on the plants, but I do appreciate being around such natural beauty.

Darren and I ventured up the mountain on the Summit Loop Trail and caught breath-taking views of the urban sprawl below. On the way up, there were several vista points where we stopped to gaze at the sights. Atop the summit at 1,314 feet is a panoramic view featuring a stretch of the Peninsula to the south, the deep blue ocean to the west, as well as views of San Francisco and even a glimpse of Mount Diablo off in the east. We also hiked a small portion of the Ridge Trail and the Bog Trail, but by far the Summit Loop was the most scenic. There are eight trails total ranging from easy to moderate with the Ridge Trail being the most strenuous.

If you’re ever looking to do a day hike, San Bruno Mountain is a great spot. There are also places in the park to ride a bike or jog. And, if you’re not big on any of those activities, you can just drive up to the summit. I promise it will be worth it.

No Balitang America Travels Segment on January 19th

2009-01-20T11:39:00.000-08:00

I didn't have my usual Monday travels segment on Balitang America for a good reason. The newscast was devoted to stories about Martin Luther King Day and preparations for Barack Obama's inauguration. The travels segment, which was originally scheduled for January 19th, will air this coming Monday, January 26th. Keep an eye out for it. I interview a former commercial airline pilot who shares some practical airplane safety information.

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Wine and Dine in Elegant San Francisco Restaurants...without paying an arm and a leg!

2009-01-14T14:05:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder what it would be like to dine in a fancy-schmancy restaurant in San Francisco? Well, this is your chance because the city kicks off its 8th Annual Dine About Town 2009 event on Thursday, January 15th (until Saturday, January 31st). Choose from more than than 100 restaurants and get a specially-prepared three-course lunch for $21.95 or dinner for $34.95.

Sure, the rib-eye steak or prime rib won't be part of the menu, but many of the places offer delectable options. Don't forget many of these restaurants are some of the best the city has to offer with a few of them landing a spot on the San Francisco Chronicle's Top 100 list. Not all establishments are participating for both lunch and dinner, so check the list and also see if you'll even be able to get in.

Many of the restaurants allow you to make reservations through Opentable.com; otherwise, you have to call them directly. So, get out there and embark on your own culinary journey...I know I'll be out there.

Balitang America Travels: New Year Airfare Sales

2009-01-12T18:21:00.000-08:00

It's time to start thinking about that next vacation! But you better be quick because "winter airfare sales" will be over soon. The skinny on these deals was part of my recent travel segment that aired Monday, January 12th, on Balitang America's 5:30pm newscast. Below are highlights of some of those hot deals arranged by the dates that the offers end, and keep in mind these are one-way prices (but even then, it's still a bargain):

- Jet Blue: West Coast escapes for $39 (ends Jan. 14)

- Air Tran: Fares for as low as $39 to select U.S. cities (ends Jan. 15)

- American Airlines: Fares starting at $39 (ends Jan. 16); international fares to popular spots for as low as $90 (ends Jan. 16); European sale includes destinations like London for only $168 (ends Jan. 21)

- Southwest Airlines: Fly for $49 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and $59 on other days (ends Jan. 19)

- Virgin America: West Coast flights for $59 and transcontinental routes for $139 (ends Jan. 20)

- Alaska Airlines: West Coast routes starting at $59 (ends Jan. 24)

Most of these airfare specials are good for travel through Spring and some even until early Summer. This is just a partial list as many airlines have promotions right now. Typically, airlines offer lower prices around this time, but the industry is making an extra effort because of the economic slowdown. However, even if we're in a recession don't expect to see killer deals throughout the year.

In my segment and interview with CEO Beatrice Tarka of Mobissimo.com, she said airlines will be reducing the number of planes in their fleets to cut costs. Translation: deals will be scarce. If you find a really awesome deal now for Spring or Summer vacation, grab it!

Here are some great sites that track airfare and travel deals:
Mobissimo.com
Fare Compare.com
Farecast.com

Travels is a weekly TV segment written and produced by Christi Morales. It airs every Monday during Balitang America's (News in America) 5:30pm PST newcast on ABS-CBN Global's The Filipino Channel (TFC). Balitang America can also be seen on KTSF Channel 26 at 6:45pm PST in the San Francisco Bay Area.

New Year, New Blog

2009-01-12T10:48:00.000-08:00

It's out with the old and in with the new...old outlook that is. I'm kicking off 2009 with a new blog which will include a different range of topics including things I've covered as a freelancer. I have found that there's usually much more information to share, but not enough space to include it all in my professional pieces. Then I thought to myself: why not share the rest of these helpful tidbits online? So, that's what I've decided to do. Stay tuned...