Maniolas

Relatives and supporters of the SAF 44, members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) who were killed during the Mamasapano clash, march along EDSA on Sunday. The march turned out to be a solemn memorial honoring the troopers who died on January 25. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Reversing her earlier decision, Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday said that her committee report on the deadly Mamasapano incident will now be tackled in the plenary. “Magkakaroon ng plenary na ukol dito sapagkat si Senator Alan Cayetano ay nagsulat upang pabuksan ang hearing sa Mamasapano. I-e-schedule na nila kung kailan,” Poe told reporters. Poe, who chairs the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs that led the inquiry on the Mamasapano incident, said the tragedy that befell 44 elite members of the PNP Special Action Force and the substitute bill for the Bangsamoro Basic Law can be discussed side by side. “Para mas klaro,” she said. Just last month, Poe said she will no longer present before the plenary the committee report which held President Benigno Aquino III responsible for the incident for giving assent to, and for failing to prevent the unlawful exercise of official functions by then-suspended PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima in connection with the Mamasapano anti-terror police operation. Purisima has since been ordered dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman over an anomalous contract with a service courier in 2011. In saying that she will no longer present the report at the plenary, Poe Read More …

Angeline Quinto (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Rumored couple Erik Santos and Angeline Quinto are teaming up for a joint concert at the Araneta Coliseum on August 15. Although they have sang together in shows both here and abroad, this marks the first time they will be paired in a major concert in Manila since they have been romantically linked to each other. The two were “more than excited” about the concert when they faced the media. “Walang isang buwan na lang po ang natitira at marami po akong nilu-look forward sa concert namin ni Erik, lalo po ‘yung espesyal na kanta sa buhay ko,” Quinto said. “Before pa po siguro dumating ‘yung August 15 sobra na ‘yung pag-alalay sa akin ni Erik talaga. Hindi po nawawala ‘yung kaba ko talaga,” she added. Santos and Quinto also thanked Martin Nievera and Regine Velasquez for agreeing to guest in their concert. It is no secret that Quinto is a big fan of Velasquez. “Hindi pa nabubuo ang konsepto ng concert, sila na talaga ‘yung nasa (top of mind namin). We are thankful at sobra kaming blessed na pinaunlakan nila,” Santos said. Meanwhile, the two remained coy when asked about the status of their relationship, saying they are just happy being together. “Ako po naghihintay lang po ako ng tamang panahon po para masabi ko kay Erik na kami na po talaga,” Quinto said. “We take our time and whatever we have right now sobra kaming kumportable kung ano ang mayroon kami Read More …

Americans are still filing bankruptcy in record numbers, and with good reason. The economic downturn, including the fall of housing prices and the increase in unemployment has wrecked havoc on our finances. The truth is, that in many cases, bankruptcy is a wise decision for many, since it wipes away debt and interest payments that would take years to pay off, if you are only making minimum payments. Unfortunately, many people do not file bankruptcy because of misinformation. One of the most common questions people ask when contemplating bankruptcy is “will I lose my home?” However, in today’s economy, where few people actually have much equity, the answer is NO! The bankruptcy trustee will first determine whether your home has equity, and how much. This involves determining the current market value of the home, and subtracting the pay off amount, cost of sale, and any liens. If the equity is below specific homestead exemptions, you keep your home provided of course, you stay current on your monthly mortgage payments. The general rule of thumb is that if you continue to make your payments on time, the lender prefers that you stay in your house. Mortgage lenders, contrary to popular belief, are not anxious to foreclose on a property. It means a loss to them, as they will have to spend money holding the property and preparing it for resale. Bankruptcy is also helpful if you are seriously behind on mortgage payments. IT will stop a foreclosure in its tracks, and Read More …

The first “meta-study” pulling together data from nine trials covering 30,000 post-menopausal women found endocrine treatments based on a class of drugs called aromatase inhibitors yield higher survival rates after five years compared to standard endocrine therapy with tamoxifen. (Paris, France-AFP) – Two inexpensive classes of drugs available in generic form each reduce the recurrence of breast cancer in post-menopausal women as well as death rates from the disease, a pair of studies reported Friday. Taking the medications together may further boost anti-cancer benefits and help cancel out undesirable side-effects of one of the drugs, according to the research published in medical journal The Lancet. The first “meta-study” pulling together data from nine trials covering 30,000 post-menopausal women found endocrine treatments based on a class of drugs called aromatase inhibitors yield higher survival rates after five years compared to standard endocrine therapy with tamoxifen. The likelihood of cancer recurring was cut by about a third and the risk of dying by about 15 percent in the decade after treatment started. Compared to no treatment at all, the danger of dying from breast cancer fell by 40 percent, the study found. Most women have already passed through menopause when breast cancer strikes. Even after surgery has removed all detectable traces, tiny amounts of the body’s own hormones can cause cancer cells to grow. Endocrine therapies are designed to impede these hormones from stimulating the disease, and so help protect against relapse. “But aromatase inhibitor treatment is not free of side-effects and Read More …

Maps for autonomous driving require multiple layers of information and decimeter accuracy. ©Stephen VanHorn/shutterstock.com (Relaxnews) – As Daimler, Audi and BMW move to acquire Nokia’s Here mapping division, TomTom and Bosch have revealed that they’re now working together to develop ultra-accurate maps and the specifications that will enable autonomous cars to read them. Digital maps, the type we access every time we fire up a car’s satnav or reach for the smartphone, have been revolutionary in preventing people getting lost and helping drivers navigate unfamiliar surroundings. And while they’ll form the foundation of the guidance systems that will one day see the car take care of the journey while its occupants put their feet up, they need to become much more accurate, first. “Only with high precision maps will automated driving on freeways be possible from 2020,” said Bosch board of management member Dr. Dirk Hoheisel. How accurate? According to TomTom, they need to have decimeter precision and consist of several layers of information. The first layer is simply the route — where the car’s going and how it gets there. The second offers the accuracy needed for a car to determine if it is actually within a lane on a road. A third layer provides speed limits, information on the types of lane markings, slopes, curves and bends. And, only with all of these layers working in sync with a car’s sensors can it know exactly where it is and is able to calculate the next move – such Read More …