BMI Online Editor

Most foreign aid not directly given to PHL gov’t – Henares

Nov 232013

A Philippine Air Force helicopter is loaded with water at Tacloban airport, ahead of being deployed to a mountainous area inaccessible for vehicles to the west of Tacloban city, in the central Philippines November 17, 2013. The Philippine and U.S. Air Forces are flying rice, clothes and drinking water into remote areas of the central Philippines, which are unreachable by vehicles. A massive relief effort is finally kicking into gear, nine days after one of the most powerful typhoons on record wreaked havoc across the impoverished area in the central Philippines with monster winds and a deadly storm surge of sea water. Philippine authorities and international aid agencies face a mounting humanitarian crisis, with the number of people displaced by the catastrophe estimated at 4 million, up from 900,000 late last week (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – While foreign governments have pledged millions of dollars in donations for relief efforts in the Philippines, the government is not actually getting its hands on most of the funds. Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) chief Kim Henares clarified that foreign governments usually course their donations through their own aid organizations. “May misconception ang tao na ang laki-laki ng dinonate ng ibang bansa sa Pilipinas. Ang nangyayari ho, ang America mayroon sila donation eh hindi ho nila binibigay ang pera sa gobyerno. Ginagawa nila binibigay nila sa sariling charitable organization nila, like USAID. At yun USAID mismo ang magdistribute (ng relief goods),” Henares told dzMM. For instance, the US government provided $22.5 million worth Read More …

Sharon, Gabby have nothing against Paulo Avelino

Entertainment

Nov 232013

Sharon, Gabby have nothing against Paulo Avelino

Kc Concepcion (MNS photo) Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion have nothing against Paulo Avelino after the actor admitted that he is currently dating their daughter, actress KC Concepcion. Both said they are not going to intervene with their daughter’s love life as long as KC is happy. “Ay ayoko makialam! Pero okay lang sa akin basta masaya si KC. ‘Yun lang,” Cuneta said. As for Gabby, he said: “Basta kung sino ang mamahalin mo, at mahal mo okay sa akin yun. Basta ang importante doon, naipapakita nila ang concern nila sa isa’t isa.” Gabby added that he likes people who are respectful and kind. “Binati niya ako. It doesn’t matter [kung nagpapalakas], ang importante magalang siyang tao. Gusto ko ‘yung mga taong ganun, mabait, magalang and marunong rumespeto,” he said. Following Avelino’s admission on national television two weeks ago, KC clarified on her Twitter account that she is not exclusively dating the actor. “Hi. So… I am not dating anyone EXCLUSIVELY. At least not yet! Just wanted to clear the air! Goodnight, Philippines,” she said. KC then posted another tweet after several minutes confirming that she is seeing the “Honesto” actor but is still single as of the moment. “To those asking: Yes @mepauloavelino & I enjoy each others company, yes we spend time, but nothing serious right now! I am still single,” she said. Avelino, on the other hand, said he did not intend to make it appear that he and KC are already serious with each other. “Like Read More …

GAAF to hold Gospel Musicfest for victims of Haiyan

Entertainment

Nov 222013

GAAF to hold Gospel Musicfest for victims of Haiyan

The Guardian Angels of America Foundation (GAAF) responds to the call for HELP in Tacloban and Bohol by holding the 1st Fil-Am Gospel Music Festival and Fair on November 23, Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center, 3330 Civic Center Drive Torrance, CA. 90503. The Gospel Festival and Fair is being presented in cooperation with Forex Cargo International, Fil-Am TV 31.3, and Mabuhay Manor. The event is GAAF’s “thanksgiving tribute to our Creator,” according to its founder and president, Loi Herrera. Proceeds will be used to help the victims of typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in the Philippines. The whole-day event will feature worship music, on-stage live bands performances, food, snacks, desserts and drinks, gift bazaar, religious arts and jewelries, every hour indoor concert, exhibits and merchandise displays, kids face painting, balloon twisting, and magic show by well known “The Magic of Arnel.” Tickets cost $20 each (concert and admission to fair). 50% discount will be given to those who will bring at least $5 worth of donations: corned beef, spam, sausage, general medicine supplies & over the counter medicines, hygiene kits, toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, shampoo, baby formulas, wipes, unexpired cookies, crackers, instant coffee, energy bars, flashlights, airbeds, blankets, pillows, towels, mosquito repellant & power generator (no clothing). The concert will feature songwriter and recording artist Steve Kuban and local Filipino-American gospel performers. Steve Kuban is a musician, recording artist, worship leader and teacher who dedicated his life to help people experience God’s presence through worship music. He composes and records Christian songs that bring healing, deliverance and victory in the name Read More …

‘Yolanda’ death toll nears 4,000-mark

Entertainment

Nov 212013

Residents carry a coffin containing the body of a victim of Typhoon Haiyan during a funeral in Tanauan, Leyte, central Philippines November 14, 2013. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Monday morning the official death toll from supertyphoon “Yolanda” has reached 3,976, while the number of families affected also rose slightly as relief efforts from the government and other sectors continue for the victims. The death toll is broken down by regions as follows: CALABARZON, 2; MIMAROPA, 7; Bicol, 5; Western Visayas, 161; Central Visayas, 74; Eastern Visayas, 3,725; Zamboanga Peninsula, 1; and CARAGA, 1. NDRRMC said that 18,175 persons were injured, broken down as: 2 for CALABARZON, 21 for Bicol, 228, Western Visayas; 102, Central Visayas; 17,821, Eastern Visayas; and 1, Zamboanga Peninsula. Still missing are 1,598 individuals and these can be broken down into 19 for Western Visayas, 5 for Central Visayas, and 1,574 for Eastern Visayas. NDRRMC said a total of 2,212,955 families (10,306,318 persons) were affected in 44 provinces, 574 municipalities, and 57 cities. Of the total number of affected residents, 850,058 families or 4,008,894 persons were left homeless, NDRRMC said, prompting over 74,000 to stay inside evacuation centers. Number of damaged houses also rose to 571,806. The cost of damages breached the P10-billion mark at P10,384,690,061, with P1,295,508,600 for infrastructure facilities and P9,089,181,461 for agriculture. NDRRMC spokesman Major Reynaldo Balido said the province with most damages is Leyte with P1.2 billion in agriculture, P1.6 million Read More …

Battered church offers shelter from the storm

Entertainment

Nov 212013

Battered church offers shelter from the storm

By Jason Gutierrez TACLOBAN(AFP) Santo Nino church stands battered but tall in the ruins of its typhoon-shattered parish, a 124-year-old beacon of physical and spiritual sanctuary for a devout, traumatised community. A priest (left) invites evacuees staying in the church after surviving Super Typhoon Haiyan, to attend Sunday mass inside the Redemptorist Church in Tacloban city, central Philippines November 17, 2013. The Philippines is facing up to an enormous rebuilding task from Typhoon Haiyan, which killed at least 3,681 people and left 1,186 missing, with many isolated communities yet to receive significant aid despite a massive international relief effort. (MNS photo) At the height of the super typhoon that laid the Philippine city of Tacloban to waste last week, 250 men, women and children were sheltering inside the walls of the Catholic church. As the storm waters rose, Father Oliver Mazo, 37, said he led them to the cramped living quarters on the second floor. “I blessed the room and we all huddled together,” Mazo told AFP. “The wind was devastating, really terrible and we could hear trees falling and crashing against the walls. There was a lot of screaming,” he recalled. “Fortunately, all those who were here were saved, and I believe what saved us is our prayer,” he added. The Philippines is the Roman Catholic Church’s most important outpost in Asia, with Catholics making up nearly 80 percent of the country’s 100 million people. In the aftermath of the storm that destroyed their homes, shattered their livelihoods, and Read More …

Matteo Guidicelli wins Best Actor trophy for indie film

Entertainment

Nov 212013

Matteo Guidicelli wins Best Actor trophy for indie film

Matteo Guidicelli Matteo Guidicelli bagged his first acting trophy in the recently concluded Cinema One Originals Film Festival. Held Saturday evening at Dolphy Theater in ABS-CBN Compound in Quezon City, the awards night recognizes the best films, actors and production team in this year’s festival. Matteo won the Best Actor trophy with co-actors Joseph Marco and Rayver Cruz for their movie “Saturday Nights Chills” in the Currents Category. Actress Vivian Velez bagged the Best Actress award for “Bendor” while “Bukas Na Lang Sapagkat Gabi Na” was named Best Picture in the said category. Arnel Mardoquios’s “Riddles of my Homecoming” bagged a total of four awards including Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design and Best Music. Meanwhile, “Banana Split” host Angelica Panganiban (“Alamat ni China Doll”) and seasoned actor Joel Torre (“Kabisera”) bagged the top acting awards in the Plus Category. “Alamat ni China Doll” also took home major awards such as Best Picture, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Music and Best Sound. Here’s the complete list of winners in Cinema One Originals 2013: Plus Category Best Picture: “Alamat ni China Doll” Jury Prize: “Sitio” Best Director: Borgy Torre (“Kabisera”) Best Actress: Angelica Panganiban (“Alamat ni China Doll”) Best Actor: Joel Torre (“Kabisera”) Best Supporting Actress: Bing Pimentel (“Kabisera”) Best Supporting Actor: Peque Gallaga (“Woman of the Ruins”) Best Screenplay: Mes de Guzman (“Sitio”) Best Cinematography: Albert Banzon (“Alamat ni China Doll”) Best Editing: Charliebebs Gohetia (“Alamat ni China Doll”) Best Production Design: Marielle Hizon (“Blue Bustamante”) Best Music: Lav Read More …

Typhoon survivors turn cave-dwellers

Entertainment

Nov 192013

A member of the Belgian state rapid reaction unit, the Belgian First Aid and Support Team (B-FAST), carries tent poles at a makeshift hospital, jointly set up with German NGO International Search and Rescue (ISAR-Germany), for Typhoon Haiyan victims in the yard of the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Palo, near Tacloban in central Philippines November 16, 2013. (MNS photo) MERCEDES, November 18, 2013 (AFP) – Victims who survived the Philippines’ super typhoon by huddling in a cave as a tsunami-like wave obliterated their community have now made it their home – reduced to Stone Age conditions with nowhere else to go. Manuel Isquierdo and his wife sought refuge in the limestone den as Haiyan – one of the strongest storms ever recorded – flattened the town of Mercedes on Samar island, washing away residents’ livelihoods in the devastating early hours of November 8. “It was past midnight when my wife and I decided to run up to the cave behind our house,” the fisherman told AFP. “We were just in time. Our house crumpled to the ground soon after,” the 38-year-old added. The couple were joined by two other families and spent more than six hours in the dark, damp cavern as rising storm surge waters edged dangerously closer and closer to its entrance, frightened that they would drown or be swept out to sea. “We could hear the typhoon outside. It sounded like a bulldozer,” Isquierdo said. “We were afraid of the sea, afraid that the storm Read More …

No tax on cash donations from abroad – BIR

Entertainment

Nov 192013

No tax on cash donations from abroad – BIR

U.S. Marine helps deliver relief goods to areas affected by Typhoon “Yolanda” on Friday (Nov. 15) at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City. US Agency for International Development (USAID) was managing relief assistance for the victims of Typhoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan). (MNS photo) MANILA, Nov 18 (Mabuhay) – The Burea of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Monday clarified that no donor’s tax is imposed on cash donations from overseas. “Kung pera from abroad, wala naman binubuwisan ang gobyerno. Kasi kung donation, ang batas ng ibang bansa ang iiral, kung may donor’s tax sila or wala. As far as the Philippines is concerned, cash donations from abroad, walang donor’s tax yun. Kung meron babawasan, bank charges yun at di napupunta sa gobyerno,” BIR chief Kim Henares said. She added that there is no donor’s tax on local cash donations given to the government or accredited foundations. Donors can also deduct their donations from their income. However, cash donations made to organizations that are not accredited with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and NDRRMC may be taxed. “Kung nag-donate kayo sa isang hindi accredited (na organization), if beyon P100,000 ang donation niyo meron ho donor’s tax. Graduated yun. Up to P100,000 exempted naman yun,” Henares said. “Yung kumakalat sa Facebook na sinasabi nag-donate sila sa GCASH or Pasa Load ng P3,000 eh nabasawan pa, hindi ho buwis yun, charges ho yun at dapat magtanong sila sa telco nila,” she added. As for in-kind donations sent from abroad, the BIR chief Read More …

Drilon wants to use funds for unfilled gov’t posts for Yolanda rehab efforts

Entertainment

Nov 162013

Drilon wants to use funds for unfilled gov’t posts for Yolanda rehab efforts

A resident holding an umbrella walks on ruins of houses which were devastated by Typhoon Haiyan, near a coastal town in Tacloban city, central Philippines November 13, 2013. Desperation gripped Philippine islands devastated by Typhoon Haiyan as looting turned deadly on Wednesday and survivors panicked over delays in supplies of food, water and medicine, some digging up underground water pipes and smashing them open. Five days after one of the strongest storms ever recorded roared over cities and towns in the central Philippines, survivors in remote regions complained they had yet to receive any aid.(MNS photo) MANILA, Nov 14 (Mabuhay) – Senate President Franklin Drilon on Thursday proposed the use of funds for unfilled government posts next year for rehabilitation efforts in areas hit by recent natural disasters, including super typhoon Yolanda. In a statement, Drilon proposed that the Senate realign P15 billion from the proposed Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF) next year to create a calamity assistance and rehabilitation effort (CARE) fund. The MPBF is a stand-by allocation for the filling up of unfilled government posts, and for the creation of new positions in the bureaucracy. “The 2014 national budget must provide for funds badly needed by our countrymen, who suffered the misfortunes brought about by the series of massive natural and man-made disasters,” the Senate leader said. He added that allocations for rehabilitation efforts in next year’s spending plan, such as the P7.5-billion calamity fund, seem not enough considering the extent of the damage caused by Yolanda and Read More …

Binay visits victims of typhoon in Capiz

Entertainment

Nov 162013

Binay visits victims of typhoon in Capiz

Residents carry a coffin containing the body of a victim of Typhoon Haiyan during a funeral in Tanauan, Leyte, central Philippines November 14, 2013. (MNS photo) MANILA, Nov. 14 (Mabuhay) – After visiting Iloilo on Wednesday, Vice President Jejomar Binay on Thursday flew to another Yolanda-hit province- Capiz, to continue his conduct of ocular inspection and oversee the ongoing relief efforts for the survivors. The vice president arrived with his team at Roxas City, the Capiz’ capitol, at around 1 p.m. today. While at Capiz, Binay will meet with Gov. Victor Tanco to update him on housing sector’s assistance for Yolanda victims. He is also set to meet with Cuartero Mayor Tito Mayo, Dumalag Mayor Amado Eriberto Castro, Jr. and Dao Mayor Joselito Escutin in their respective municipalities. Moreover, Binay will distribute some relief goods to the typhoon victims. The whole province of Capiz was declared under state of calamity since Sunday after the super typhoon affected 90 percent of its towns. The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) said the typhoon totally damaged 20,000 houses, affecting 92,753 families composed of 400,000 individuals. According to provincial disaster council’s latest record, the death toll in the province climbed to 42 and 34 persons were reported injured. (MNS)

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