Maniolas

— Vice President Jejomar Binay files separate libel complaints against Senator Antonio Trillanes and former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado before the Makati Regional Trial Court on Thursday. The raps pertain to claims made by Trillanes and Mercado in connection with city’s Senior Citizens program and a Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) deal with Alphaland. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Vice President Jejomar Binay on Friday filed a libel complaint against former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado over the latter’s supposed malicious accusations that Binay extorted units from condominium developers in Makati City. The nine-page complaint was filed before the Makati City prosecutor’s office. “This claim has been publicly belied by the developers themselves. It only shows that Mercado is a pathological liar and has zero credibility,” Binay’s lawyer, Atty. Claro Certeza, said. In a Senate blue ribbon subcommittee hearing last year, Mercado alleged that Binay was given units in 60 to 70 percent of condominium buildings in Makati City, where he was mayor for two decades. He said Binay has a 150-square meter unit in The Peak Condominium, which is named under Engineer Ariel Olivar, the surveyor of the so-called Hacienda Binay in Rosario, Batangas. In his complaint, Binay argued that Olivar himself admitted that it was Mercado who asked him if his name can be used as the registered owner of the condominium unit. “Nung panahon na magkasama pa sila ni Vice Mayor Mercado, sinabi ni Mercado na kung pwedeng gamitin ang pangalan ko para sa condo. Read More …

New research reveals how young children learn. The gist? Give them time to absorb new information, say the researchers.©Olesia Bilkei/shutterstock.com (Relaxnews) – While adults’ memories fade over time, kids can recall information in even better detail than they did just after learning it, according to a new study. “An implication is that kids can be smarter than we necessarily thought they could be,” says co-author Kevin Darby of Ohio State University (OSU) in the US. “They can make complex associations, they just need more time to do it.” In the study, 82 four and five year olds were observed playing a video game that involved learning the associations between pictures. The game flashed pairs of objects — a baseball cap and a rabbit, for example — each object associated with a fictional owner such as Mickey Mouse or Winnie the Pooh. The object was to match each pair of objects with its owner, using their memory, which came easily to the children, whose overall scores rose from 60 percent to 90 percent at the end of the trial. After playing the game once, the researchers mixed up Mickey and Pooh’s belongings, requiring the kids to learn a new set of associations, and asked them to replay the game immediately. Again, they scored in the same pattern, starting out at 60 percent and finishing at 90 percent, yet the researchers wondered if they still remembered the associations from the first time they played. Half the kids played another round, this time Read More …

10% fuel economy improvement on core models; highest MPG without a plug 2016 Toyota Prius LAS VEGAS – The same vehicle that pioneered the hybrid category just disrupted the status quo again. The all-new, fourth-generation Prius starred in a spectacular evening production of music, food and special effects to celebrate an industry icon in a way that was anything but expected. More than 350 journalists, social influencers and Toyota guests watched the all-new 2016 Prius elevate into the Las Vegas night sky. After almost twenty years of shaping the world view on alternative energy vehicles, and more than 3.5 million global sales, Prius is setting out to change the world again. But you can enjoy the new 2016 Prius or any other Toyota vehicle here in Southern California at Wondries Toyota in Alhambra. Today’s consumers expect environmental credentials, and the new Prius delivers. Smaller, lighter hybrid system components, higher-energy density in the batteries, and an internal combustion engine touting ground-breaking thermal efficiency (more than forty percent), contribute to a significant advancement in fuel economy.   With an expected ten percent improvement in EPA estimated MPG on core models, Prius will offer best-in-class fuel economy among vehicles without a plug.  A soon-to-be unveiled Eco model will achieve an even greater improvement, strengthening Toyota’s leadership in hybrid fuel efficiency. But it’s not just about MPG anymore.  Today’s customers want all the traditional benefits of a hybrid, but don’t want to compromise on looks and performance.  So Toyota upgraded the Prius inside and out Read More …

The City of Irvine, one of the 34 cities comprising the County of Orange, is not only one of the nation’s largest master-planned communities, culturally diverse and fully integrated city of 250,384 residents but also holds the distinction of being ranked as the top city in California and listed as one of the Best Places to live in America of CNN Magazine of 2012. Irvine has grown strategically into one of the safest cities in the country since its incorporation in 1971 and has been at the forefront “of promoting environmental stewardship, state-of-the-art transportation programs and systems, an enterprising business environment and an enviable high quality of life”. Irvine as a family-friendly city has more than 16,000 acres of parks, sports fields and dedicated open space. It is also home to the Orange County Great Park – the first great metropolitan park of the 21st century. Global Village Festival Fil-Am Chamber joins Festival: More than 50 cultures will be represented at the day-long multicultural, multi-ethnic Irvine Global Village Festival in Irvine on September 26. The Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Orange, whose officers are shown here during a courtesy call to Consul General Leon M. Herrera-Lim recently, will participate in the annual event. All roads lead to Bill Barber Park at the Civic Plaza on September 26 as people of many nations converge for a day-long celebration at the 14th edition of Irvine’s annual Global Village Festival. For many years, thousands have trekked to this venue to celebrate the Read More …

Police secure a blast site at a bus terminal in Zamboanga City on Friday. A strong explosion caused by an improvised explosive device wrecked a passenger bus originating from Barangay Labuan, killing an 11-year-old girl and leaving 32 others injured. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Police has started a 24-hour security patrol around Zamboanga city following a bus explosion that left a girl dead and 33 others injured on Friday afternoon. According to Superintendent Glenn Dulawan, Pagadian City police chief, tighter security is being implemented around the city, particularly in public areas. Dulawan said aside from the 24-hour security patrols, additional checkpoints have been installed in areas leading to the city and more policemen have been deployed in bus terminals. He added that policemen deployed in bus terminals will inspect the passengers’ bags and luggages as part of the stricter security measures due to Friday’s bombing. A bomb exploded inside the bus of the D’ Biel Transit Company while parked at a transport terminal at past 2 p.m. Friday. Five individuals, who were found with wires in their bags, have been taken into police custody. Mayor Beng Climaco said on her Facebook account that the incident was being investigated as an act of extortion. In January, another bus exploded in the outskirts of Zamboanga City, which police readily blamed on al-Qaeda-linked Islamic militants. Double murder and frustrated multiple murder charges were filed against the suspects, who used a car rigged with an improvised explosive devise to blow up the bus. Read More …