Maniolas

President Benigno Aquino III arrived at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City Thursday to attend a Mass marking the 31st death anniversary of his father, former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. (MNS Photo) MANILA, Aug 21 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno Aquino III arrived at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City Thursday to attend a Mass marking the 31st death anniversary of his father, former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. Aquino arrived in time for the Mass that started after 10:20 a.m. Members of the Aquino family including the President’s sisters Viel, Ballsy and Kris had also arrived there for the Mass. Another sister of the President, Ballsy Aquino, and Pangasinan Rep. Georgina “Gina” de Venecia were among those who arrived early. Newly appointed Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang also arrived for the Mass. The nation marks Thursday the 31st death anniversary of former Sen. Aquino, who was gunned down at the tarmac of the Manila International Airport on Aug. 21, 1983. The MIA now bears his name. Aquino’s assassination triggered a series of protests that led to the EDSA I revolt in 1986. The 1986 revolt catapulted his widow, Cory Aquino, to the presidency. (MNS)

KC Concepcion (MNS photo) MEGA daughter KC Concepcion will return on television this August via the hit ABS-CBN primetime series “Ikaw Lamang.” After the success of the soap’s book one, Kim Chiu and Coco Martin’s character will continue as next members of the Hidalgo and Severino families. Coco will now play Gabriel while Kim will breathe life to Andrea. KC, on the other hand, will take on the role of Natalia, the elder sister of Chiu’s character. Aside from KC, “Ikaw Lamang” will also feature seasoned actors such as Amy Austria, Joel Torre, Rio Locsin, Nonie Buencamino, and Christopher de Leon. Completing the new cast are Smokey Manaloto, Arlene Muhlach, Jojit Lorenzo, and Mylene Dizon. “Ikaw Lamang” started with the love story of Samuel and Isabelle, played by Coco and Kim, respectively. Their love was tested by time, personal and political conflict. The soap also featured performances of Jake Cuenca, who recently won the Best Male Kontrabida trophy at the 4th Yahoo! Celebrity Awards, Julia Montes, Angel Locsin, Cherie Gil, Cherry Pie Picache, Tirso Cruz III, Ronaldo Valdez and more. The Kapamilya series, which is under the production of Dreamscape Entertainment Television, is directed by Malu Sevilla, Manny Palo, and Avel Sunpongco. (MNS)

Arnold Reyes (MNS Photo) Award-winning actor Arnold Reyes wants same sex marriage to be accepted in the Philippines. Apparently, he believes that marriage is a right that people should be able to enjoy, regardless of their sexual preference. He reasoned, “We’ve undergone a lot of changes through the years and we have learned to accept a lot of things. Why don’t we give same sex marriage a chance?” Arnold starred in the Cinemalaya film entry “Kasal,” which tackles same sex marriage. In the story, he plays a closeted gay lawyer in a relationship with a filmmaker played by Oliver Aquino. The filmmaker wants to marry the lawyer who is having second thoughts on the matter. “It is because in the story I caught Oliver’s character with another man,” Arnold explained. He related the thrill of working with Oliver. “We did a lot of improvisation in a lot of our scenes. Like in our fight scene, we didn’t have a script to follow. We based our actions on how much we know each other, our characters and our emotions. We even ended-up in a fist fight,” he described. So what do you think is the message of “Kasal,” we asked Arnold. “It is about doing whatever makes you happy. Also, if you’re getting married, make sure that you know that person very well and that you know what you’re getting in to. It’s not something you could easily give up. Marriage is forever,” commented Arnold. “Kasal” is Arnold’s 10th Cinemalaya movie. Read More …

President Benigno S. Aquino lll attends to the Good Governance Summit 2014 with the theme of ” Good Governance through Open Government and Sustainable Procurement ” at the Philippine International Convention Center, CCP Complex in Pasay City,Wednesday,July 15. Also in photo are from left, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda,Deped Secretary Armin Luistro, DILG Secretary Mar Roxas II, DOJ Secretary Leila De Lima, DBM Secretary Florencio Abad, Secretary to the Cabinet Rene Almendras, Central Bank Governor Amando Tetangco, Presidential Legislative Liason Officer Manuel Mamba.(Photo by Benhur Arcayan/Malacañang Photo Bureau) MANILA (Mabuhay) -– Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Florencio Abad on Tuesday said the proposed Php 2.606-trillion national budget for 2015 will intensify the government’s journey to achieve inclusive and sustained economic growth and to sustain an irreversible good governance reforms. ”Certainly our work is not yet done,” Abad told the Senate finance committee members during the briefing of the Development Budget Coordinating Council (DBCC) on 2015 National Expenditure Program. Abad said sustaining the economic growth and to make it truly felt by the people is one of the two major challenges that the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III is aiming to address in its two remaining years. ”The second challenge is how do we sustain and intensify the reforms we have already rolled out,” Abad said. The DBM chief said remarkable growth must translate into real and tangible benefits for the people specially the poor. ”We have to ensure that public funds go not only to our priority Read More …

Philippine Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of the main guest speaker at the observance of the 3rd Anniversary of the Maguindanao Massacre along with Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Benjamin Pimentel (left), shares his thoughts before the members of the media and other guests who attended the event held Wednesday at the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) Social Hall in the Filipinotown. Photo: Benny Uy MANILA, (Mabuhay) – Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero intends to file a resolution to look into the alleged bribery of prosecutors involved in the Maguindanao massacre case and the kin of victims of the gruesome murders. “Ang plano kong ihaing resolution na pinag-aaralan na namin ngayon ay ‘yung diumano suhulan sa DOJ (Department of Justice) at sa NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) kaugnay ng Ampatuan [Massacre],” the senator said in the weekly “Kapihan sa Diamond Hotel” on Monday. “Tuwid na daan at ang walang kurap kung walang mahirap ang slogan ng administrayong ito, napakasama sa panlasa ang mga kwento o alingasngas tulad nito na lumalabas at tila hindi mawala-wala,” he pointed out. Escudero said his staff is trying to reach the whistleblowers on the alleged payoffs. “Hopefully, this week, we will be able to contact the whistleblowers if they are willing to testify without need of a subpoena.” The private and public prosecutors in multiple murder case are squabbling over allegations of bribery. Prosecution witness Lakmodin Saliao, a long-time Ampatuan househelp, recently claimed that his former employer tasked him with handing over Read More …