BMI Online Editor

Subic firm supplies world-class shelters for “Yolanda” victims, relief crew

Dec 092013

Actors and television host German “Kuya Germs” Moreno and Jake Vargas grace the Christmas tree lighting and fireworks display at the Tutuban Center in Divisoria, Manila.(MNS photo) SUBIC BAY FREEPORT (Mabuhay) – A Subic-based company is also helping rehabilitate areas devastated by super typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan) by constructing strong, light-weight tents for use by both victims and relief workers. Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Roberto Garcia said that Delta Production Philippines Corporation is sending at least 30 units of temporary shelters to TaclobanCity and other areas in Eastern Visayas that were visited by the recent calamity. “We are proud that the ingenuity and innovation of Filipino workers manufacturing these temporary shelters are being recognized world-wide,” Garcia said. “We are doubly pleased that these same Subic-made products are being put to good use in reaching out to our kababayans (countrymen) in their time of need,” he added. A registered company inside this Freeport zone, Delta is the manufacturer of easy-to-install, flexible scaffold systems and temporary shelters that are made mostly of steel and aluminum. The company is playing a significant role in providing its client, the World Food Program (WFP), with world-class temporary shelters that can accommodate up to 400 or 500 individuals each. Delta special project and sales manager Jon Allen Eschenburg said that the company is now working double-time to deliver on time collapsible tents ordered by WFP for shipment to typhoon victims and responders in Tacloban and other areas. Eschenburg said the tents, which have a standard Read More …

PHL cuts 2014 import, export targets

Entertainment

Dec 092013

President Benigno S. Aquino III presides over the Task Force Yolanda Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Plan Meeting at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the Malacañan Palace on Friday (November 29). (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Philippines on Friday lowered its import-export targets for 2014, citing lingering uncertainties in global demand – particularly from advanced economies led by the United States, a member of the Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee said. The DBCC, which manages the Philippine macroeconomic program, cut the exports target to 6 percent from 11 percent as originally programmed and brought import goal to 5 percent from 13 percent. The revisions were done after giving the latest demand indicators were given a closer look and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas modified the computations for the balance of payments, said Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balicasan, who sits on the budget committee. However, Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad, who also chairs the DBCC, said government is keeping its 2 percent deficit to GDP (gross domestic product) target for 2014, citing the Philippines’ strong fiscal position and better tax collections. The Aquino administration has enough leeway to absorb additional expenditures to cover post-Yolanda reconstruction while keeping deficit spending within original target, he added. (MNS)

In this time of adversity, Jessica Cox serves as an inspiration

Entertainment

Dec 092013

In this time of adversity, Jessica Cox serves as an inspiration

Filipina-American Jessica Cox, the world’s first armless pilot, and her husband Patrick with Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. A motivational speaker, Cox is helping raise funds for typhoon victims in the Philippines. (Philippine Embassy Photo by Majalya Fernando) WASHINGTON, D.C. – Typhoon victims in the Philippines, particularly those who lost arms or legs as a result of their injuries, should draw strength and inspiration from armless Filipino-American pilot and motivational speaker Jessica Cox. “Jessica has risen from adversity and can definitely inspire our people, especially those who are experiencing adversity as a result of the devastation wrought by Typhoon Haiyan in the Central Philippines,” said Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. after Cox offered to help typhoon victims during a recent visit to the Philippine Embassy. Ambassador Cuisia said typhoon victims, especially those who had to undergo amputations, should look up to Cox, who holds the Guinness World Record for being the first armless person in aviation history to earn a pilot’s certificate. “Although she was born without arms, Jessica never allowed her condition to limit her – she attained a college degree in Psychology, earned a black belt in taekwondo and learned to drive with her feet, play the piano with her toes and fly an airplane,” he said. The Arizona-based Cox, who was in Washington to attend a Senate committee hearing on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, has delivered numerous inspirational speeches around the world and is an advocate for Read More …

I have yet to see documents proving I misused public funds, Biazon says

Entertainment

Dec 072013

I have yet to see documents proving I misused public funds, Biazon says

Customs Commissioner Raffy Biazon as he inspects the submarine and Ducati motorcycle worth P19 million from Korea by the operatives of the Manila International Container Port (MICP) in Tondo, Manila on Friday, July 26,2013.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Ruffy Biazon, who heads the Philippine government’s second-largest revenue generating body, said on Friday that he has yet to see documents proving he misused public funds when he was a lawmaker. “I have yet to see the documents pertinent to this issue, but I welcome the opportunity to clarify and answer the accusations, whether before the National Bureau of Investigation, the Office of the Ombudsman, or the courts,” the Bureau of Customs Commissioner said in a statement. He was prompted to issue the statement on Friday after he was included in a second batch of officials who have supposedly misused their pork barrel allocations. “I am willing and ready to face the allegations raised today pertaining to the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocated to my congressional district during my term as representative of the Lone District of Muntinlupa,” the statement added. More popularly known as pork barrel, the use and disbursement of the PDAF gained widespread interest and scrutiny after businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles was found to have earned billions by launching bogus projects through fake non-government organizations. “I had always exercised prudence and fidelity in the performance of my duty as representative of Muntinlupa as well as in other responsibilities to the public, and pursued projects and programs that benefited my Read More …

Bohol tourism not quite recovered 6 weeks after deadly quake

Entertainment

Dec 072013

Bohol tourism not quite recovered 6 weeks after deadly quake

Residents walk past a destroyed church belfry in Tubigon, Bohol , a day after an earthquake hit central Philippines October 16, 2013. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The 7.2 magnitude earthquake leveled many of Bohol’s old churches, including the HolyTrinityChurch in Loay town. Reuters Six weeks after a deadly magnitude-7.2 quake jarred Central Visayas, tourism in Bohol province has yet to fully recover. And after Typhoon Yolanda swept through the province, snatching more homes and livelihoods, and causing more power outages, it seems like a case of taking one step forward and three steps back. Department of Tourism Central Visayas regional director Rowena Montecillo said there are still trip cancellations by tourists, state-run Philippine Information Agency said. PIA quoted Montecillo as saying there are “trip cancellations of tourists coming to Bohol.” She also appealed to tourists “not to cancel their trips, but only to postpone” them. Still, she said Bohol tourism is “still up.” Indeed, there are still a few tourists who decided to push through with their vacation on Panglao beach, but the current numbers are a far cry from the tourism glory of pre-earthquake days mere weeks ago. The PIA added the DOT disseminates information on which accredited tour facilities are operating after the quake. Bohol and several neighboring areas in Central Visayas were devastated by the magnitude-7.2 quake last Oct. 15. Among the affected tourist attractions were the world-renowned Chocolate Hills and several churches on the waiting list of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. Livelihoods have been affected Read More …

Luis, Angel asked: Getting back together?

Entertainment

Dec 072013

Luis, Angel asked: Getting back together?

Angel Locsin and Luis Manzano (MNS Photo) Luis Manzano and Angel Locsin, who both recently separated from their respective partners, prefer to keep mum on the possibility of getting back together, four years after their split. The 32-year-old TV host did not give a direct answer when asked on his ties with Locsin, explaining it may complicate matters. “It’s very, very hard to comment on that kasi siyempre may pinagdaanan rin naman si Angel at ako rin, and to comment on that, siguro it will fuel certain flames na iwasan na siguro natin dahil baka mabigyan ng hindi magandang interpretasyon,” he said. The 28-year-old actress recently separated from her boyfriend of over a year, football player Phil Younghusband. Locsin confirmed the breakup in late October. They became a couple in May 2012. Manzano also confirmed his split with actress Jennylyn Mercado late last month. They would have celebrated their second anniversary last October 18. Coincidentally, Locsin and Manzano confirmed their breakup in October of 2009, four months after their actual separation. Asked on the possibility of getting back together with Manzano, Locsin similarly put off giving a direct answer. “Baka ‘yon po ang hindi ko masagot sa ngayon. Sa ngayon po, I’m very happy doing what I love most and helping people out,” said Locsin, who at the time was taking part in the relief efforts of Philippine Red Cross for the victims of the recent typhoon. “Hindi nalang muna ako nag-iisip kasi kakagaling ko lang rin naman po ng Read More …

Palace: Up to court to decide on Christmas furlough for Gloria Arroyo

Entertainment

Dec 072013

Palace: Up to court to decide on Christmas furlough for Gloria Arroyo

Christmas decors and amenities at Marikina Riverbanks.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Thursday said it will be up to the court to decide on whether to allow former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to spend the Christmas holidays with her family. “She is under the jurisdiction of the courts and we defer to the court’s jurisdiction of the courts and we defer to the court’s judgment if and when the former President of her lawyers will make such request,” Communications Secretary Hermino Coloma said. 1-BAP party-list Rep. Silvestre Bello III, who served in the Arroyo Cabinet, has called on the Sandiganbayan to grant a Christmas furlough for the former Philippine leader. Arroyo, now a congresswoman representing Pampanga’s second district, is under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City for a plunder case in connection with the alleged misuse of P366-million Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) intelligence funds during her incumbency. She was earlier allowed to post bail in connection with the electoral sabotage case pending before the Pasay Regional Trial Court. In Resolution No. 537, Bello said he is “requesting the Sandiganbayan to grant Honorable Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, former President of the Philippines and incumbent representative of the second district of Pampanga a Christmas furlough for humanitarian and compassionate considerations.” Bello, who is a current member of the Makabayan bloc within the minority, said he filed the resolution in consideration of Arroyo’s health. During the Arroyo administration, Bello held various government posts, including Cabinet Secretary and Presidential Read More …

Corruption unabated under Aquino – COA

Entertainment

Dec 072013

President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) Grand Breakfast at the Function 2 – 4, SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on Wednesday (October 02, 2013). The BCBP identified, trains and develops Christian leaders to become agents for justice and sound development in the work environment. (MNS Photo). MANILA (Mabuhay) – The chairwoman of the Commission on Audit confirmed Tuesday that corruption remains unabated under President Benigno Aquino III but not in the same scale as in the past. COA Chairwoman Grace Pulido Tan said audits of local government units in Dinalupihan and Pilar, Bataan; Antipolo, Rizal and Nueva Ecija shows that corruption continued even after President Aquino took over in 2010. She said the same pattern of corruption emerged in the local government: funds being coursed to non-government organizations with questionable existence. “Ano talaga unabated talaga yung corruption and misuse of government money maski iba na yung ating presidente,” she said. “Sa akin, there are two ways of looking at it. One, siguro nga mas dumami or hindi naman pero ngayon kasi mas masipag kami na mangalkal kaya ngayon naglalabasan lahat yan and I think that it is the latter kasi ngayon yung mga nakikita na namin ngayon marami pa rin misuse but none in the scale that we saw in the past,” she added. Tan earlier said at least 300 former and current lawmakers misused their pork barrel funds for the period of 2007-2009, based on the special audit of COA. Read More …

Central Health plan receives Senior Choice Gold Award for Excellence in 2014 Medicare plan benefits in Los Angeles & Orange Counties

Entertainment

Dec 072013

Central Health plan receives Senior Choice Gold Award for Excellence in 2014 Medicare plan benefits in Los Angeles & Orange Counties

Central Health COLUMBUS, Ohio – Central Health Plan is one of 40 Medicare plans nationally to be recognized for cost-sharing effectiveness and value in the design of their 2014 medical and Part D prescription drug benefits for Medicare beneficiaries. Central Health Plan’s Medicare plan is the only Medicare Advantage plan offered in Los Angeles and Orange counties to qualify for the 2014 Senior Choice Gold Award. The award recipients were selected from over 140 Medicare managed care plans based on cost-sharing comparisons conducted by HealthMetrix Research Inc., a national independent managed care research firm. In announcing the 2014 Senior Choice Gold Award recipients, HealthMetrix Research and MedicareNewsWatch.com president Alan Mittermaier pointed out the importance of the award for Medicare beneficiaries: “This award addresses the concerns that beneficiaries may have with both Medicare plan performance and the out-of-pocket costs incurred after they enroll. Central Health Plan has demonstrated a commitment to delivering maximum value in the design of their plan benefits, copayments, deductibles, and premiums. Coupled with achieving exemplary measurable performance, informed beneficiaries can rely on this award as an indication of overall high value and quality.” The award selections were based on the 2014 estimated cost-sharing comparisons conducted in over 100 cities during October 2013 by HealthMetrix Research Inc. The annual comparisons estimate the out-of-pocket costs for beneficiaries based on health status categories (healthy/episodic/chronic) and corresponding utilization of the most common plan benefits (physician office visits, emergency or urgent care, hospital care, prevention care, prescriptions). The comparisons identify the Medicare plans with the Read More …

Mariel remains happy even without kids

Entertainment

Dec 072013

Mariel Rodriguez (MNS photo) Years since marrying Robin Padilla, TV host Mariel Rodriguez still has no plans of having a baby. She said that being happy with what she has now could be a reason having kids is far from their minds. The celebrity couple has been traveling a lot lately with stops in Amsterdam, Netherlands and Venice, Italy. “Robin is really big star. We cannot really go around here in the Philippines ‘di ba? Kasi do’n, naglalakad kami sa kalye, ang saya namin. We’re not doing anything just walking, ‘Ang ganda dito no?’ Enjoy kami,” she said. Her relationship with Robin is on its third year and she describes the relationship as her longest and one that she hopes would last forever. As for work, Mariel neither confirmed nor denied her rumored return to ABS-CBN. (MNS)

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