BMI Online Editor

Sharon Cuneta has had enough, leaves Twitter

Jan 072014

Sharon Cuneta (MNS Photo) Sharon Cuneta has had enough of the “obscene, painful words” she has been receiving on Twitter, saying she has decided to leave the micro-blogging site. Early this week, the 47-year-old actress posted a series of tweets directed at those “hiding behind anonymity, enjoying a very false sense of power” and asked her followers to understand her decision to take a break. “I know you’ll understand if I do not use Twitter for some time and just go back to living my happy life with those who truly love me and who deserve my love,” she said. Cuneta noted her achievements in showbiz, saying she doesn’t deserve the kind of ridicule she gets from some netizens. “How easily people forget that I once maybe made them, or their mom, or someone they love, happy. The awards, the box-office queen trophies, the top-rating shows and #1 singles and albums. How easily they forget. “I hope they remember more than any contribution I have made to my beloved industry the way I lived my life, raised my daughter with only the help of my parents and friends, how good of a daughter I have been. And how much I loved my public. Maybe they’ll even remember how very much they loved me,” she said. Cuneta has already taken a break from Twitter last September, citing the need to rest from all the “meanness of people, the intrigues and questions.” The earlier decision came after Cuneta drew flak for congratulating Read More …

Universal health care for Filipino citizens pushed

Entertainment

Jan 072014

Universal health care for Filipino citizens pushed

Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada delivers his message during the launching of the Orange Health Card project at the City Hall on Friday (Jan. 3, 2014). The card entitles the holder to free admission to any government hospital in Manila. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – A lawmaker has filed a bill seeking to institutionalize a universal health care for all Filipino citizens 18 years old and above. Rep. Winston Castelo (2nd District, Quezon City), author of House Bill 2312, the funds shall be sourced from the earnings of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). “To better harness the people’s future role in society, Filipinos should enjoy the entitlement of a universal health care,” Castelo said. He said the funds intended for charity by profit-generating public establishments of Pagcor and PCSO can be utilized for the needed money for the universal health care program for Filipinos. Castelo also said the Pagcor and PCSO generate so much proceeds for government to the tune of billions of pesos annually. He said the government is already funding some government hospitals but most of these are located in urban centers.(MNS)

CAN BANKRUPTCY STOP A FORECLOSURE?

Entertainment

Jan 072014

Atty. Paul Allen There has been several articles in the press recently, that suggests we are about to experience a new wave of foreclosures this spring. Banks usually, try to avoid dumping their entire foreclosure portfolio at once, to prevent prices dropping so low, that it encourages even more people to default. Who wants to service a mortgage on a property that is significantly upside down? Personally, I think we are in a longer real estate recession than many realize. A few years ago, many home buyers took advantage of low start rates, hoping their property would appreciate faster than the rise in adjustable loan rates. Unfortunately, this didn’t happen for those on the tail end of the real estate boom. Many of them, unable to qualify for the new HARP2 refinancing, choose to let their properties foreclose, rather than service loans higher than the home is worth. So what happens when you stop paying your mortgage? After a few months in arrears, the mortgage lender starts a foreclosure process. Foreclosure is a legal procedure that involves mortgaged properties. If a homeowner defaults on his or her mortgage, by either failing to make mortgage payments or failing to follow other terms of the mortgage document, foreclosure may be the result. Usually there is a forced sale of the property at public auction; The home owner loses title, and in most cases, it is the mortgage lender who takes possession. The lender will subsequently lists the property for sale through a Read More …

2014 California laws: Blessings for employees and immigrants

Entertainment

Jan 072014

2014 California laws: Blessings for employees and immigrants

by : Rey Andres EDITH Z. DI VOLUNTEERS TO CELEBRATE A MILESTONE: Friends and family joined Edith Zambrano-Dimaculangan (CEO of Books ‘En More) and her husband Manny, celebrate her 50th birthday by volunteering at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank last Dec. 28 and fulfilling her passion to fight hunger in the community. The kind-hearted business entrepreneur is shown third at the 2nd row, left, kneeling, with her fellow volunteers. Californians woke up January 1st greeted by new laws many see as a bundle of blessings and protections for “vulnerable low income workers, immigrants who are in the country illegally, domestic care givers and farm workers.” Also benefitting from new laws are transgender students, same sex couples, women seeking abortions, the homeless, prison inmates who committed crimes as juveniles and celebrities with young children. Gov. Jerry Brown signed 805 bills into law in 2013 and said no to 96 others. The Democratic leaders of both the Assembly and the Senate had in mind the protection of the workers who are reeling from recession. The labor front has considered the year 2013 as a banner year for workers with the benefits of the laws being felt immediately and has established California as a “national leader in protecting the rights of workers.” The Republicans saw the new laws in a different perspective claiming they “will harm California’s business climate.” In a dramatic and far-reaching move, minimum wage workers will be paid $9 starting July pushing the base of the two-dollar –an-hour boost Read More …

Filipina beauty captures Miss Tourism International title for the second straight year

Entertainment

Jan 052014

Filipina beauty captures Miss Tourism International title for the second straight year

Miss Tourism International 2013/2014 Angeli Dione Gomez (center) is flanked by fellow winners at the end of the pageant coronation night held at the Marriot Hotel and Spa in Putrajaya. The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur reported that a Filipina emerged victorious for the second straight year at the Miss Tourism International pageant held on December 31, 2013 at the Marriot Hotel and Spa in Putrajaya. Twenty year old Angeli Dione Gomez bested 59 other contestants from around the world to win the title. She was crowned by Miss Tourism International 2012/2013 and fellow Filipina Rizzini Alexis Gomez. Rounding up the top five are Thailand’s Sunidporn Srisuwan (Miss Tourism Queen of the Year), first runner-up; Australia’s Sarah Czarnuch (Miss Tourism Metropolitan), second runner-up; Dominican Republic’s Michelle Alexis Torres (Miss Tourism Global International) third runner up and Malaysia’s Thaarah Ganesan (Miss Tourism Cosmopolitan International), fourth runner-up. Vietnam’s Phan Hoang Thu was named Ms. Southeast Asia. “Ms. Gomez’s victory in the Miss Tourism International pageant is a perfect way to cap the country’s impressive streak in the pageant scene and is wonderful news to start the new year. The Embassy extends our congratulations and wishes her well during her reign as Miss Tourism International,” said Embassy Charge d’Affaires, a.i. Medardo Macaraig, who was present during the coronation night. During the coronation night, the field was reduced to 20 delegates, where the contestants competed in the evening gown. It was then reduced to 10 for the interview portion. The candidates were asked how Read More …

Non-machine readable passports to be phased out by late 2015 – DFA

Entertainment

Jan 052014

Non-machine readable passports to be phased out by late 2015 – DFA

Philippine Passport Biometric Data Page from Wikimedia Commons. The Department of Foreign Affairs said on-machine readable passports to be phased out by late by 2015. MANILA (Mabuhay) – The use of all non-machine readable passports will not be extended beyond 31 October 2015 and must be completely phased out by 24 November 2015, the Department of Foreign Affairs said recently. Citing its own regulations and the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), DFA said all Filipino nationals holding machine readable-ready passports (MRRP, green passports) and machine readable passports (MRP, maroon passports) will no longer be allowed to apply for an extension of the validity of these passports after 31 October 2014. All Filipinos are told to apply for a new e-Passport as soon as possible before the expiry of their current MRRP (green) or MRP (maroon) passports. Those who fail to do so will likely encounter difficulty at immigration checks when traveling through any ports of entry around the world after October 2015, DFA said. Passport holders are also reminded that there are strict rules for applying for an extension of the validity of expiring or expired passports. Passports that are valid for less than six months or those that have already expired may be extended once only in the following instances: death in the family requiring the OFW and members of his/her dependent family to urgently travel to the Philippines; medical emergencies requiring the OFW and members of his/her dependent family to urgently travel to the Read More …

PHL allows phone use on planes

Entertainment

Jan 052014

Laptops, MP3s can now be used inflight – CAAP The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines circular allows conditional use of people on board the aircraft conditional use of laptops, cellular phones, Internet or short-based-messaging service, voice communications and other broadband services during flights on-board aircraft on all commercial aircraft operating within or en-route over the territorial jurisdiction of the Philippines. MANILA (AFP) – The Philippines’ civil aviation authority said Tuesday it would allow passengers to use mobile phones and laptops to make calls and access the Internet during flights. Civil aviation director general William Hotchkiss said the order covered “transmitting portable electronic devices”. With immediate effect, the move will allow “people on board the aircraft conditional use of laptops, cellular phones, Internet or short-based-messaging service, voice communications and other broadband services during flights”, he said in a directive. However, devices should still be turned off pre-flight, when the aircraft is refueling, and be switched to silent mode. “The use of MP3s should always be with earphones and not with additional or separate speaker or amplifiers,” Hotchkiss added. The United States and the European Union have also said they will relax restrictions on the use of mobile devices on planes. However there have been concerns that allowing voice calls would cause disturbance to other passengers. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) memorandum circular released on Tuesday allows conditional use of transmitting portable electronic devices (TPEDs), music players (MP3s), and global system for mobile communication on-board aircraft (GSMOBA) on Read More …

‘Pagpag’ earns P23.6 million on first day

Entertainment

Dec 272013

‘Pagpag’ earns P23.6 million on first day

Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo (MNS Photo) Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo could not put into words how grateful they are that a lot of people lined up to watch their movie, “Pagpag: Siyam na Buhay,” during the opening day of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). Bernardo said she is glad to be part of the horror film which, according to her, also has lessons for its viewers. “Importante na may matututunan kayo sa movie na ito. Horror siya na comedy na suspense, lahat na. Okay siya panoorin ngayong Pasko, para exciting,” she said. Bernardo said the good reviews of their movie make all their hard work worth it. She also attributed the success of “Pagpag” to their directors as well as the other people behind the movie’s production team. “Sa totoo lang, ngayon lang namin nakita ‘yung buo na maayos na lahat. Masaya ako na napanood ko siya. Hindi ko ine-expect na [ganito ang final output]. Gusto ko i-congratulate din ‘yung mga directors namin kasi sila talaga ‘yung nakipagpuyatan, and yung sa mga effects,” she said. Padilla, for his part, thanked their supporters who even held block screenings. “Thank you na nagpapa-block screening para sa amin. Gusto ko mapanood nila. Kahit hindi na po para sa amin, ‘yung palabas po talaga ‘yung maganda,” he said. “Masayang masaya po kami na nandito sila lahat. Maraming salamat po sa lahat ng nanood at mga manonood pa,” he added. According to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), “Pagpag” placed third in Read More …

Anaheim intensifies effort vs homelessness

Entertainment

Dec 272013

Anaheim intensifies effort vs homelessness

by Rey Andres Photo Caption:CHRISTMAS SPIRIT: The Anaheim members of Cornerstone Christian Fellowship of Orange County join the millions of Christians worldwide in celebrating Christmas by way of singing carols in tribute to the Reason for the worldwide observance, shown here after their performance at Calvary Community Church in the City of Fullerton. They provide a great contrast to the image of affluence California conjures and highlight and points to a need at concerted action. As of last count, there are more than 12,700 of them – the homeless -in Orange County that “remains in dire need of emergency shelters” according to Santa Ana-based OC Partnership in its report that it hopes will be referenced by nonprofits, politicians and businesses in addressing the issue of chronic homelessness and achieve the 10-year plan of the Commission to End Homelessness. The Commission is composed of public officials, nonprofits and business leaders. There are only two seasonal emergency shelters that can house, at most, 200 people – at the California National Guard Armories in Santa Ana and Fullerton in addition to the few small ones run by nonprofits that serve a few dozen people around Orange County. These are typically open between December and March. Mercy House which operates the armories, has not turned anyone away and hopes to have a “year-round emergency shelters that would help the homeless population”. The nonprofit that seeks “to end the cycle of homelessness of those who enter its system of care” tailors its services to meet the specific Read More …

Christmas in mud as rain pelts Tacloban

Entertainment

Dec 272013

People in Tacloban City swarm the public market area on a sunny Thursday (December 26, 2013) after their Christmas celebration, including kids’ caroling activities and visit to godparents and relatives, was spoiled by continuous rains on Christmas Day. (MNS photo) TACLOBAN (Mabuhay) — Survivors of the country’s deadliest typhoon spent a gloomy Christmas Day surrounded by mud Wednesday as heavy rain drove many inside their flimsy shelters, dampening efforts to retain some holiday cheer in the deeply devout nation. Groups of children in plastic raincoats braved the incessant rain in the devastated central city of Tacloban, knocking on doors in trick-or-treat fashion and beseeching pedestrians for candies, coins and other Christmas presents. But housewife Susan Scala sat glumly under a white tarpaulin in one of Tacloban’s many tent cities that have sprung up for those made homeless by Super Typhoon Haiyan (local name: Yolanda). At a time when her family should be celebrating, all she could think about was her missing husband. “Even if it’s not Christmas I don’t stop thinking about him,” the mother of five said of her husband Oscar, a telephone utility worker believed lost at sea when giant waves whipped up by the November 8 storm swept away homes in the city’s San Jose slum. Like many of the city’s typhoon survivors, the miserable weather made Scala nervous. “This incessant rain is scary. It reminds me of what happened (during the typhoon),” the 53-year-old said. Haiyan left more than 6,100 people dead and nearly 2,000 others Read More …

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