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VP OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT PROMOTED TO CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER AT PECHANGA RESORT & CASINO

Oct 282017

Bill Anderson – New Chief Marketing Officer at Pechanga Resort & Casino California’s largest resort/casino, Pechanga Resort & Casino, has just named Bill Anderson its chief marketing officer. Bill will be responsible for overseeing all marketing divisions and player development. He will now oversee a total of 165 team members. Bill Anderson is a 27-year casino veteran with over 21 years of VP/Director experience in casino marketing. He started working at Pechanga in 2011 as the director of player development and has quickly worked his way up due to the outstanding growth of VIP and Asian market guests brought in under his leadership. He also tremendously increased the satisfaction of his team internally as well as led the player development division to receive the best customer service results they’ve ever seen. Bill has held several casino positions, predominantly in leadership, with some of the most prestigious properties across the country. “Bill’s proven ability to take a vision from the concept stage and develop it into a plan and reality will help Pechanga to continue our proud history of innovation and success,” said General Manager Lee Torres. “We are excited with the direction Bill is taking this new combined marketing division and can’t wait to see how these divisions will evolve as our resort expansion nears completion.” Pechanga is currently under a $285 million resort expansion set to open at the end of this year. It includes the addition of 568 rooms and suites, 70,000 additional square feet of event space, Read More …

Duterte: Becoming a dictator not in my nature

Entertainment

Oct 282017

Duterte: Becoming a dictator not in my nature

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, in his speech during his attendance to the 38th MassKara Festival at the Bacolod City Public Plaza in Negros Occidental on October 22, 2017, urges the Negrenses to show their gratitude to the government troops who have risked their lives to maintain peace and order. ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO MANILA, Oct 21 (Mabuhay) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday stressed he has no plans of becoming a dictator as he again defended his earlier threat to establish a revolutionary government in the event destabilization efforts plunge the country into chaos. “[Iyung] sabi na diktador diktador, susmaryosep, ‘di ko ugali iyan,” Duterte said in a speech in Cagayan de Oro. “I will serve during my time. Iyung sabihin mo na mag-ambisyon ako, it must be crazy.” The President had earlier said he does not intend to stay in power beyond 2022, when his term as President expires, following his controversial declaration that he would set up a revolutionary government. Duterte’s declaration has worried human rights groups and opposition figures, including Vice President Leni Robredo, who said such threats sow fear among Filipinos. The opposition has many times denied mounting an ouster plot, asserting that dissent should not be taken as destabilization. The President’s pronouncements also drew the ire of some lawmakers, particularly members of cause-oriented group Tindig Pilipinas. The group blasted Duterte for his remarks, saying only a “paranoid and insecure little man” would feel the need to declare a revolutionary government. Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, Read More …

AFP ready to declare Marawi crisis over soon — WESMINCOM

Entertainment

Oct 282017

AFP ready to declare Marawi crisis over soon — WESMINCOM

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte expresses his high praises to the troops of the 1st Infantry Battalion (1IB) who were preparing to leave at the Laguindingan Airport in Cagayan de Oro City on October 20, 2017. The 1IB were among the first units deployed in Marawi City when the battle against the terrorists broke out almost five months ago. ACE MORANDANTE/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO MANILA, Oct 21 (Mabuhay) — If things go as planned, the military may be ready to declare the conflict in Marawi City over by Sunday, or five months since it began, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command (WESMINCOM) chief said Saturday. “I believe we can,” Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez told reporters in Camp Ranao, Marawi City. While close to finishing clearing operations in the main battle area, the AFP has been holding off any declaration as remnants of Islamic State-linked terrorist forces remain in the conflict zone with several hostages. President Rodrigo Duterte had on Tuesday declared the city “liberated from terrorist influence” following the killing of terror leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute. On Thursday, he confirmed the killing of Malaysian terrorist Mahmud Ahmad, known to be Hapilon’s right-hand man. Still, the military is looking for several individuals, including Hapilon’s three sons, known to still be in the battle area, and two remaining foreign terrorists. Authorities earlier said foreign terror leaders took over after Hapilon and Maute were killed. At least 1,108 people, mostly terrorists, have died since clashes erupted in the city on Read More …

Kerwin Espinosa pleads not guilty to illegal drug trading charges

Entertainment

Oct 282017

Kerwin Espinosa pleads not guilty to illegal drug trading charges

PNP chief Dir. Gen. Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa presents suspected Eastern Visayas drug lord Kerwin Espinosa to media at Camp Crame early Friday morning, November 18, 2016. Espinosa, son of slain Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa, is the alleged Eastern Visayas drug lord. Espinosa was brought to Manila after five months of hiding in Abu Dhabi. (MNS photo) MANILA, Oct 20 (Mabuhay) — Self-confessed drug distributor Kerwin Espinosa on Friday entered a not guilty plea in connection with his illegal drug trading case. Escorted by government agents, Espinosa maintained his innocence from the charges filed against him before Judge Silvino Pampilo Jr. of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 26. Espinosa is also facing separate cases for illegal possession of explosives and firearms before Judge Marivic Balisi-Umali of the Manila RTC Branch 20. The court earlier dismissed the cases for possession of dangerous drugs, illegal drug trading and illegal possession of firearms and explosives against Espinosa’s father and co-accused, Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., following the latter’s death during a bloody police search operation at a jail facility in Leyte on November 5 last year. Under Article 89 of the Revised Penal Code, a person’s criminal liability is extinguished upon his death. The cases stemmed from the police raid on the Espinosa residence in Binolho village in Albuera on July 28 last year where authorities seized illegal drugs and assorted firearms. It was Judge Carlos Arguelles of the Baybay City RTC Branch 14 who handled the cases until the Supreme Read More …

Duterte confirms Doc Mahmud’s death

Entertainment

Oct 282017

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, in his speech during the launch of CGY which is the 7th domestic hub of Cebu Pacific at the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental on October 20, 2017, reiterates that his mandate is to uphold the law regardless of social status. SIMEON CELI JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO MANILA, Oct 20 (Mabuhay) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday confirmed that the alleged financier of the Marawi City siege, Malaysian national Dr. Mahmud Ahmad, had been killed. “Sabi nila si Doc—iyong tatlo. Tatlo iyan Hapilon, Omar, at iyong Doc. I think he’s an Arab. He was taken this afternoon. And that completes the story,” he said at the 43rd PHL Business Conference and Expo. Sought for confirmation if Duterte was referring to Mahmud, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Major General Restituto Padilla said, “Yes.” “Hostages rescued know who he is and reported he was killed last night,” Padilla said. The military believed Mahmud was one of the funders of the siege that lasted several months in Marawi. “He is a foreign fighter, at ayun nga po, siya ang isa sa mga nag-fund, nag-provide ng funds for this siege,” said Colonel Romeo Barwner, Joint Task Force Marawi deputy commander. Mahmud’s death is seen as a huge great blow to ISIS-inspired bandits in southeast Asia. Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute were eliminated during rescue operations conducted by soldiers of the 1st Cavalry Squadron of the Philippine Army’s Mechanized infantry Division early Monday morning. Hapilon was said to be Read More …

James Reid starts training for ‘Pedro Penduko’ role

Entertainment

Oct 282017

James Reid starts training for ‘Pedro Penduko’ role

James Reid (MNS photo) MANILA, Oct 20 (Mabuhay) –He has been tasked to reintroduce one of the biggest names in komiks lore to a younger generation of Filipinos. And James Reid isn’t about to take for granted his newest role as the talisman-wielding Pedro Penduko, sharing on Tuesday a clip of him going through his first day of weapons training. The short video shows him practising stances with an array of weapons, a “Star Wars” lightsaber included. Reid was revealed to be the new Pedro Penduko in August, inheriting the mantle from the likes of Janno Gibbs and Matt Evans. He will portray a re-imagined version of the superhero, created by Francisco Coching, a national artist for the visual arts. In the original komiks, Pedro Penduko is your ordinary Filipino who fights off evil forces with the help of a magical amulet. In the re-imagined version, written by Regene Estolatan under Epik Studios, the next “chosen one” is a wimpy teen named Peter Harris, who was raised in the US by his adoptive father. His official origin story is as follows: “Peter Harris feels like he doesn’t belong. A Filipino who lived all his life in the US where he grew up being bullied since grade school. Now 20 years old, he has had enough and wants to escape. “Just then, his adoptive father passes away in a tragic accident involving something supernatural that nobody can explain. “It will all unfold to him when he goes back to the Philippines Read More …

DOJ offers witness protection to hazing suspect Trangia

Entertainment

Oct 212017

DOJ offers witness protection to hazing suspect Trangia

Ralph Trangia emerges from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1, under heavy police escort, as he arrives in Manila from Chicago, Tuesday. Trangia was tagged as one of the suspects in the death of University of Santo Tomas (UST) law freshman Horacio Castillo III, during initiation rites of the Aegis Juris Fraternity last September 17. (MNS photo) MANILA, Oct 10 (Mabuhay) — Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Tuesday his office is ready to offer witness protection to Ralph Trangia, one of the suspects in the hazing death of University of Santo Tomas law freshman Horacio “Atio” Castillo III last month. Trangia’s return from the United States is a “welcome development” in the department’s investigation on Castillo’s death, Aguirre said. “Hopefully, Mr. Trangia’s return is covered in good intentions to clear his name and to tell the truth,” he said in a statement. “While he may be a suspect as of the moment, depending on what he will tell our investigators, he could be a potential witness. And for this reason, the DOJ (Department of Justice) offers to him and to his family, the protection of our Witness Protection Program (WPP),” he added. Trangia, a member of the Aegis Jvris Fraternity, returned to Manila Tuesday, three weeks since he left for the United States. He went overseas on Sept. 19, two days after Castillo was declared dead at a hospital after suffering massive injuries during fraternity initiation rites. Authorities earlier sought the cancellation of his passport to compel his Read More …

SWS: Net satisfactory rating for VP Robredo, Pimentel up

Entertainment

Oct 212017

SWS: Net satisfactory rating for VP Robredo, Pimentel up

Senator Loren Legarda (left), Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, talks with Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Gerona Robredo during the Plenary Budget Deliberation of the OVP’s 2018 budget held at the Senate in Pasay City on October 9, 2017. The Senate provided the OVP with an additional PHP20 million for its anti-poverty program in its PHP443 million budget for 2018. (MNS photo) MANILA, Oct 13 (Mabuhay) — The net satisfaction rating for Vice President Leni Robredo is higher in the third quarter 2017 Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey. The net satisfaction rating of Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III is also higher. Meanwhile, the ratings for House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno have dropped. In the latest survey that was conducted from Sept. 23 to 27, Robredo gained +41 or “Good” satisfaction rating which is higher than the +36 rating she got in the second quarter SWS survey. There are 1,500 respondents in the latest survey with a margin of error of ±2.5 percent. The survey found 62 percent satisfied and 21 percent dissatisfied with the performance of the Vice-President. Based on the SWS report posted on its website, the 5-point rise in the overall net satisfaction rating of Vice-Pres. Robredo was due to increases of 7 points in Balance Luzon, 7 points in the Visayas, and 3 points in Metro Manila, combined with a steady score in Mindanao. It stayed very good in the Visayas, at +60 in September, up by Read More …

Senate OKs 2018 budget for Office of the President in 2 minutes

Entertainment

Oct 212017

Senate OKs 2018 budget for Office of the President in 2 minutes

Senators Vicente Sotto III and Franklin Drilon talk to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea during the deliberations on the proposed 2018 budget of the Office of the President. (MNS photo) MANILA, Oct 11 (Mabuhay) –The Senate on Wednesday approved the proposed P6.03-billion budget for the Office of the President (OP) for 2018 in just two minutes. Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea was present during the Senate’s budget interpellations. Senate Minority Franklin Drilon said no questions will be raised on the OP’s budget “out of inter-departamental courtesy.” “Traditionally, in the chamber, we do not raise issues on the budget of the Office of the President out of inter-departamental courtesy; and therefore, we would move to a motion that the budget of the Office of the President be submitted for the consideration of the plenary without any further question,” Drilon said. The motion was approved without any objections.(MNS)

Duterte threatens revolutionary gov’t if ‘destab’ continues

Entertainment

Oct 212017

MANILA, Oct 14 (Mabuhay) –President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to declare a revolutionary government in case destabilization moves by his critics, particularly the Left, continue and start slipping into chaos. “‘Pag ang destablization ninyo patagilid na at medyo magulo na, I will not hesitate to declare a revolutionary government until the end of my term,” he said in a report on state-run PTV News on Friday. “I will arrest all of you and we can go to a full-scale war against the Reds,” Duterte added. He said he will declare the revolutionary government if he thinks his critics are “about to take over the nation” and install a new government. Duterte said he would not declare martial law because he would need to report to Congress for it. He also said that declaring a revolutionary government would be akin to what late President Corazon Aquino did during her term. “Just like your hero, heroine, President Corazon Aquino declared a martial law. Then… about to then changed her mind a few hours and declared a revolutionary government,” he said. Duterte’s statement was part of a taped interview with broadcaster Erwin Tulfo that aired on Friday night. While Duterte urged both the communists and Liberal Party to band against him, he singled out the Left in his recent rants. “And pagka dumating ‘yang panahon ng revolutionary government, lahat kayo, lahat kayo, especially the left. As of now, itong mga legal fronts nila are part of the conspiracy. They are as equally guilty Read More …

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