Maniolas

(Bureau of Customs logo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – A Bureau of Customs (BOC) intelligence officer has been dismissed from her duties by the Office of the Ombudsman over unexplained wealth. The BOC said Marissa Rae Rollo Galang, Intelligence Officer II and acting chief of the BOC-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, was proven to have falsified her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) to conceal ill-gotten wealth. Galang was dismissed on October 28 for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act as well as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. She was indicted on seven counts of perjury and found guilty of serious dishonesty and grave misconduct after investigation showed that her assets, including real estate and personal properties, travels and expenses, did not add up with the income she was earning as a government official. The BOC said that Galang attributed her extra earnings to her sideline as a franchisee of Mitsukoshi products, but she failed to present documents to prove her claim. Mitsukoshi is a major Japanese international department store. Galang was also found guilty of simple dishonesty, as she was found to have falsified her Daily Time Record (DTR) when she was on vacation in the Republic of Palau, as proved by a flight manifest presented to the Office of the Ombudsman. Aside from being dismissed from service, Galang also faced penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification for reemployment in the government service. A petition Read More …

President Aquino tours and views the exhibit on the promotion and advancement of solutions and initiatives on energy efficiency during the Energy Smart Philippines (ESPhil) 2014 in Pasay City (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The House of Representatives ways and means committee on Wednesday thumbed down a provision to grant value-added tax (VAT) exemption to businesses that will use their power generating facilities to help ease the looming energy crisis. Instead, the panel amended House Joint Resolution No. 21, a proposal to grant emergency powers to President Benigno Aquino III, to stipulate that the costs for VAT under the Interruptible Load Program (ILP) will be reimbursable. Panel chair Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo said the committee opposed any kinds of tax exemptions. “It’s contrary to a fiscal policy of having a transparent system. It will distort the market,” Quimbo said. Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla said the amendment will not dissuade business participants under the ILP because either way, they won’t be incurring costs under VAT. Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares raised concerns on granting a VAT exemption, saying it connotes that the ILP is being used as a business. Petilla gave assurance that the ILP would not be used by businesses to generate profit. Under the ILP, participating businesses will have to use their generator sets while they are deloaded from the power grid during peak hours. The draft resolution said the government was expected to reimburse the business owners of these generators for fuel expenses and “reasonable recovery for Read More …

Jennifer Lawrence©AFP PHOTO / Robyn BECK (Relaxnews) – The Oscar-winning actress’s latest film, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1,” hit cinemas this week. Here’s how to get some of her best beauty looks. For Christian Dior – youtu.be/q8giFWjR_hk Inspired by a Christian Dior Spring 2014 shoot, this video from Stephanie Samuel starts with her evening out her face with tinted moisturizer, concealer and powder, before adding a little color on her cheeks. She fills in her brows, adds a layered eyeshadow look and uses a light lip color to finish. Smoky eye & tips for Asians – youtu.be/SVSePJz3LA8 This film from Korean Australian beauty blogger Meejmuse offers her take on the signature Jennifer Lawrence smoky eye look. She has lots of useful eye-makeup tips for Asian girls trying to work a J-Law style. She also has advice for false eyelashes. Vanity Fair shoot – youtu.be/Q8OcYm4PXnI Shelbey Ashburn created this makeup tutorial in an attempt to recreate the star’s recent Vanity Fair photoshoot. She recommends starting with a natural primer and concealer, then adds some contouring. The final look is completed with dark kohl eyes and a reddish-orange lipstick layered over a brown lipstick. jt/kc

A couple of years ago, a dear friend and former media colleague, Dave Casuco, who suddenly passed away this year, included this writer in  his poignant Thanksgiving article thanking me for our “five-o’clock let’s beat the happy-hour rendezvous at Glendale Americana’s Cheesecake Factory” so this time, I’d like to honor him by thanking him for teaching me how to be tolerant of people’s idiosynchrasies and forgive those who have trampled on our righteous ways, for in their simple-minded ways, some virtue of goodness might come along the way. I am thankful for being part of the BMI Communications Group, whose achievements are reflected in its hardworking staffers’ work ethics as well as the familyatmosphere that abound, which makes the work environment all the more pleasureable making each one an integral part of its success.. I am thankful to know a media colleague and friend, Lydia Solis, whose integrity I admire among the superlatives of virtue in her, including the superb handling of our Press Club treasury during the succesful four-years of my term as President, highlighted by our donation of $9,000 to the Typhoon Sendong victims back home. I am thankful to Dindo Reyes, entertainment editor/writer and former producer of the Miss Asia USA Beauty Pageant whose knowledge and support were there when we needed him most on some of our production endeavours. I am thankful in cherishing childhood memories with old  friends from my hometown, (Arlene Vallesteros, Nanette Jongco and Princit Tinio) who all remain to be in touched via facebook and electronic communication systems. Read More …

Pinoy-health-workers-ebola-prep-protestNews/NationTitle: Filipino health workers seek adequate response for Ebola.Health workers wearing Ebola protective gear protested at the Department of Health (DOH) headquarters on Wednesday. Protesting in solidarity with health workers from the US and other countries, the workers denounced government’s inadequate preparations against the threat of the Ebola virus. (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Acting Health Secretary Janette Garin may have to wear a protective gear when she goes to the Senate next week during the budget deliberations of the agency’s proposed 2015 budget. This, after acting Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III expressed concern over the presence of Garin at the Senate session hall. Department or agency heads are required to be at the chamber during budget deliberations. “It has been the practice of the Senate that we take up the budget of a department or agency if the agency or department head is present. When do you plan to take up the Department of Health budget?” Sotto said at the start of the Senate plenary budget deliberation. Responding to Sotto’s query, Sen. Francis Escudero, chairman of the Senate finance committee, said the DOH budget is set to be discussed on November 24, Monday. “Uunahan ko na po kayo, kung gusto nyo magsuot siya [Garin] ng protective gear para maprotektahan tayo, hindi po ako mago-oboject,” Escudero said in jest. Sotto’s concern came following the recent visit of Garin and Armed Forces chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. to the Filipino peacekeepers from Ebola-hit Liberia under quarantine on Caballo Island. Read More …