Maniolas

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman speaks with AFP Chief of Staff General Gregorio Catapang during the 4th public hearing on the Mamasapano incident. Beside Catapang is Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, Western Mindanao Command. (MNS photo) MANILA, May 4 (Mabuhay) — The military is verifying reports that wanted bomb maker Abdul Basit Usman died during a gun fight within his group, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said Monday. Speaking to reporters, Catapang confirmed Usman’s death but said the military is still gathering and verifying pieces of information about the wanted terrorist’s demise. Catapang said he received reports that Usman died after his own men started fighting each other on Sunday. “There was in-fighting among his bodyguards. Because we were able to kill his most of his trusted bodyguards – when he was killed, he had 7 bodyguards – but these bodyguards were not the most loyal to him,” he said. He said the military is still verifying whether Usman, who carries a $1 million bounty on his head, was killed when the infighting broke out or after Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters engaged Usman’s men in a firefight. “Nagpunta din ang MILF doon to verify. We are still finding out kung patay na si Usman nung dumating ang MILF o there was a firefight.” Earlier reports said Usman and five of his men died in an exchange of fire in Barangay Muti, Guindulungan, Maguindanao on Sunday. Police and military reports had said Read More …

Snacking on an apple before grocery shopping could lead to healthier food choices, according to a new study.©Lucky Business/Polyvore (Relaxnews) – Eating an apple upon entering the grocery store led to shoppers buying 25 percent more fruits and vegetables than those who did not in a new study from the Cornell Food & Brand Lab. “What this teaches us,” says Aner Tal, PhD of Cornell, “is that having a small healthy snack before shopping can put us in a healthier mindset and steer us towards making better food choices.” Tal and co-author Brian Wansink conducted three experiments to make their case, the first of which involved 120 shoppers. They were given at random an apple, a cookie or nothing at all as they arrived at the grocery store. Tracking their purchases, the researchers concluded that those who had eaten an apple bought 28 percent more fruits and vegetables than those who had consumed a cookie and 25 percent more fruits and vegetables than those who were not given a snack. In the second experiment, 56 participants who were given either a real cookie or a real apple to eat and then shown 20 images containing two products each. They were asked to select which one they would purchase and each image featured one healthy item and one unhealthy item, calorie count being the distinguishing factor. Results were similar to the first experiment, with the cookie eaters opting for a disproportionate amount of unhealthy items. At this point, the researchers wanted Read More …

Southern California Edison ROSEMEAD, Calif. — Southern California Edison (SCE) today celebrates its business and community partnerships in the Asian community at its 10th annual Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month Celebration at SCE’s Energy Education Center in Irwindale. Ted Craver, chairman, president and CEO of Edison International, the parent company of SCE, will speak at the event, which brings together Asian businesses and community partners, recognizes AAPI energy-efficient champions and highlights SCE’s partners with its mission to give back to the communities it serves. This year’s award recipients are Foreign Exchange, RePET Inc., Asian Pacific Community Fund and Chinese American Construction Professionals. Ted Nguyen, a national award-winning social media, public relations and marketing communications professional, is the keynote speaker. “Celebrating Business & Community Partnerships,” with a special focus on giving back, is this year’s theme. “Our Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage event celebrates our cultural diversity and the achievements of Asian-American business and communities partners,” said Lisa Cagnolatti, vice president of SCE’s Business Customer Division and Customer Service Safety. “It’s also an opportunity for Southern California Edison to show our appreciation to the communities we serve.” Receiving SCE’s 2015 Energy Efficiency Participation Award are: Foreign Exchange, a new clothing company with more than 30 stores in California, including nine in SCE’s service territory. Foreign Exchange has played a proactive role in energy savings and its participation in SCE’ Energy Efficiency Express Solutions program has led to reduced electricity usage and incentives. RePET, Inc., a recycling center, that has Read More …

PRESSCON WITH DRILON, OIC SECRETARY GENERAL: Senate President Franklin M. Drilon (right) and H.E. Iyad Bin Amin Madani, Secretary General of the Organization Islamic Cooperation (left), answer questions from the media during a press conference after a courtesy call at the Senate on Monday/April 20, 2015. Madani said that the OIC supports the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, and vowed to help in bringing all groups in Mindanao towards the peace process, “to ensure an inclusive process, which involves and benefits all.” (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Once Congress resumes sessions on Monday, the Senate will give “special legislative attention” to the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law to make sure that it will be constitutional, fair, and inclusive, Senate President Franklin Drilon said Friday. “It will receive a special legislative attention in the coming weeks,” Drilon said in a statement. “We will devote extra time and effort to ensure the passage of a BBL that is constitutional, fair and inclusive – one that will help end the decades of strife in Mindanao.” He said once the committee on local government, chaired by Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., submits its report on the BBL, they will immediately calendar it for discussion. “We expect strong debates on the floor over the passage of this bill. We all acknowledge the necessity of this piece of legislation to ensure genuine peace and growth for our brothers and sisters in Mindanao,” he said. Marcos earlier said that he expects to conduct two to three more hearings Read More …

Two lucky raffle winners will see Lani Misalucha perform live at Pechanga Resort & Casino on May 22, 2015. The winners, whose names were chosen from several raffle participants, are among the latest of lucky participants who have seen live concerts of Filipino artists in the prestigious resort located just south of Los Angeles. The raffle contest begun last April 11 and ended on April 29.  Entry forms were submitted via email at advertising@balita.com where all the participants did was to put “LANI” as subject and with their complete name, age and phone number in order for their name to be included in the raffle drawing. In the raffle, contestants were asked to answer the two trivia questions about Lani Misalucha. The questions were: What was Lani Misalucha called since she arrived in Las Vegas in 2004? What is the name of the Hawaiian troupe performing with Lani Misalucha in Las Vegas? Filipino recording artists Lani Misalucha and a special guest performer are coming to the Pechanga Resort & Casino Theater on May 22, 2015. Both well-known stars, Lani Misalucha is known as the “Siren of the Las Vegas Strip” after a long time headlining residency. Lani Misalucha is a Filipino singer now based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dubbed “Asia’s Nightingale,” she is a multi-faceted artist, from pop, rock, jazz, soul, rhythm and blues and operatic arias. Having moved to Las Vegas in 2004, Misalucha became the first Asian to headline a main showroom of the Las Vegas strip performing Read More …