Maniolas

President Benigno S. Aquino lll views the solar rooftop project of SM Supermalls at Northlink Building in SM City North Edsa Complex, Quezon City, during Lunching of Solar Rooftop Project on Monday, November 24, 2014.The solar panels spread across 11,511 square meters of the mall’s rooftop have the capacity of 1.5 MW. The energy of the sun captured by the panels is converted to electricity by 60 inverters which can provide 5 percent of daily supply of 179,793 average kilowatt. Also in photo is SM Prime Holdings President Hans Sy.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – President Benigno S. Aquino III attended Friday the 60th anniversary of the Araneta Center likening its success story to feats that the nation could achieve if Filipinos work together and love their country. In his message during the event, the President reminisced on his childhood experiences at the Araneta Center, where he and his family attended social and sports events. The President praised the Araneta family for their love of their property in Cubao, developing the Araneta Center into a major commercial and entertainment center instead of just concentrating on the family’s agricultural business. He admired the visions and achievements of patriarch Don Amado Araneta. At the 60th anniversary of the Araneta Center, the President said the dreams of the new generations of Aranetas is not completed yet and there are many more to come. For instance, the family, together with its partners are building 18 towers of the Manhattan Garden City, with 10 already erected. Read More …

By Hannah De Castro-Abinuman The first gated condominium subdivision in Cebu, Banawa Heights offers leisure, luxury and privacy. AppleOne Properties successfully culminated their US Road Show on November 19, 2014 at the Sheraton Hotel in Cerritos, CA. The road show focused in three key areas in the US – New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Numerous Filipinos, mostly Cebuanos, flocked the said events looking for the perfect property investment in their homeland. The property road show highlighted AppleOne’s most recent project – The AppleOne Banawa Heights in Cebu City, which derives inspiration from the vibrant spirit and colorful living of the San Francisco Bay area, with charming Victorian-themed facades. Situated right at the heart of Metro Cebu, AppleOne Banawa Heights is the first distinctly-themed gated residential condominium subdivision in the city. Yvet Andalis, Executive Vice President of AppleOne Properties During the event in Sheraton Hotel, Cerritos, Yvet Andalis, Executive Vice President of AppleOne properties, candidly started the program with an anecdote. “In my last visit to Qatar, I asked our kababayans, how many of you have Louis Vuitton bags? Ang dami pong nagtaas ng kamay. How about Hermes? May nagtaas din. Then I asked, how many of you actually own properties?” It is a sad truth that not all of us are fortunate enough to have financial literacy. In fact, most people work very hard for their families but retire without really saving a dime or making the right investments. Andalis then said, “Put your money in solid investments. Read More …

James Reid and Nadine Lustre (MNS Photo) James Reid’s former girlfriend, singer Ericka Villongco, clarified that the actor’s onscreen partner, Nadine Lustre, had nothing do do with their breakup early this year. Villongco said she and Reid had been together for three years when they broke up in March, a month before the release of “Diary ng Panget,” the actor’s first film with Lustre. “No, there was no third party. James was loyal, he was faithful, very loving,” said Villongco, without going into details about the reason behind the split. The singer quashed speculation that Reid’s tandem with Lustre affected their relationship, saying she even spoke with the actress after the breakup. “Nadine is very lovely, down-to-earth. After I broke up with James, we even talked. She told me, ‘I’m here for you.’ I’m happy for her team-up with James,” she said. According to Villongco, she met Reid in 2010 when he made an appearance in the music video of her single with sister Krissy, with whom she was identified as an acoustic duo at the time. “We started out as friends,” she said. “He was very honest. He has a unique style of courting, direct to the point, very honest.” While Villongco did not say if she and Reid are still in touch, the actor hinted that they have yet to become friends again after the split. The actor acknowledged the statements of Villongco, adding that “everything she said is the truth.” Addressing Villongco, Reid added: “I just want Read More …

President Benigno S. Aquino III tours and inspects the Coca-Cola FEMSA Philippines Canlubang Plant Expansion during the inauguration ceremony at the Silangan Industrial Estate in Canlubang, Calamba City, Laguna on Monday (November 03). With the President are Coca Cola officials and some members of the local government of Laguna. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Palace said it expects business confidence in the Philippines to continue in the coming years after a new survey found high expectations for the Philippines. The survey shows a rosy picture of business confidence for the Philippines in the last quarter of 2014. “Nakita din natin itong survey na ito conducted by the BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) at umaasa tayo na magpapatuloy ang kumpyansa ng ating mga negosyante dahil malaking bahagi rin po ang ating mga negosyante doon sa paglago ng ating ekonomiya,” Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview Saturday. Valte also told dzRB Radyo ng Bayan that the Philippines faired well in the recent anti-modern slavery index. In the 2014 Global Slavery Index (GSI), the Philippines placed first in Asia and third in the Asia Pacific region. It is ranked 29th globally among 167 countries covered by the GSI, Valte said. With the country’s good standing, Valte said she expects the report to encourage the Inter-agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) to work harder. The IACAT is under the Department of Justice and the Department of Social Welfare and Development and other government agencies. (MNS)

Xian Lim and Kim Chiu (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Although they have already done two movies together, not to mention several TV dramas and even live shows, actress Kim Chiu still finds it “refreshing” to be working again with onscreen leading man Xian Lim. “Parang ang tagal na naming hindi nagkatrabaho, so parang nakakatuwa. Kwentuhan, chikahan, mga ganyan,” Chiu said during the press conference for their latest movie “Past Tense,” which also stars Ai Ai delas Alas. After honing their chemistry in teleseryes like “My Binondo Girl” and “Ina Kapatid Anak,” the rumored couple took their partnership to the big screen with the hits “Bakit Hindi Ka Crush Ng Crush Mo?,” which was released in July 2013, and the even bigger follow-up “Bride for Rent” just last January. After that, Chiu was given a new leading man, Coco Martin, for the recently concluded primetime ratings bonanza, “Ikaw Lamang.” Before shooting started on “Past Tense,” Chiu noted that both she and Lim were busy with their respective concert tours abroad. “Nasa Australia siya, nasa Canada kami, magkabilang mundo kami lately. So pagbalik namin ay everyday na kaming nagsho-shooting,” she said. Chiu is hoping that their fans will once again show their support fo0r their upcoming movie. “Ipinagdarasal namin na sana hindi nawala ang suporta nila sa amin. Sana kung paano nila kami sinuportahan sa ‘Bride For Rent,’ sana nandiyan pa din sila para suportahan ulit kami,” Chiu said. “Siyempre may kaba sa lahat pero mas nakakakaba lang ngayon, kasi may Read More …