Maniolas

Angel Locsin (MNS photo) Just two days before Valentine’s Day, “Everything About Her” star Angel Locsin seemed to have confirmed her split with her boyfriend, actor and “Pilipinas Got Talent” host Luis Manzano. On her official Instagram account, the 30-year-old Locsin posted a video of Manzano singing part of Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself.” In the caption, Locsin referred to Manzano as her former boyfriend. “On the eve of my neck procedure, I saw my ex singing ‘Love Yourself’ sa IG. Kung umiyak na kayo sa taong paulit-ulit kang sinaktan,” she wrote. Locsin returned to Singapore on Thursday to undergo further medical treatment for a disc bulge on her spine. Last December, the actress flew to the country and successfully underwent the first stage of neuro-spine surgery. “Ang priority ko po kasi talaga ay magpagaling,” Locsin said when asked about the possibility of her being recast as Darna after the procedures. “May kaunting usap-usap pero ang kailangan lang po talagang mangyari ay maging successful po ‘yung operation at walang mangyayaring masama after that. So iyon lang po ang iniisip ko,” she explained. Last month, Locsin and Manzano admitted having problems with their relationship. The two, however, maintained that they are working on a solution. (MNS)

Sen. Antonio Trillanes with members of Magdalo party, shows his certificate of candidacy (CoC) for vice president, at the Palacio del Gobernador in Manila, Tuesday. Trillanes will be running as an independent candidate, but expressed support for Sen. Grace Poe’s presidential bid in the 2016 elections. (MNS photo) MANILA, Feb 18 (Mabuhay) – Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on Thursday said it was quite “inconsistent” that the Bible-quoting Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao, who drew flak for relegating gays as “worse than animals,” was included in the senatorial slate of a “thief.” Pacquiao is running under the opposition ticket of Vice President Jejomar Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance. “Sa inaaplayan niyang trabaho bilang representative ng mga tao sa Senado, kailangan bukas ang isipan niya sa pagkokonsulta. Although I respect ‘yung kanyang opinyon, ‘yang ganyang sarado ang pag-iisip, nagiging self-righteous pero nandoon naman siya sa slate ng magnanakaw,” Trillanes told reporters in a Senate forum. (In the position he is applying for as a representative of the people in the Senate, he has to be open-minded for consultation. Although I respect his opinion, his way of thinking makes him self-righteous. On the contrary, he is in the slate of a thief.) Trillanes, who initiated the Senate probe on corruption allegations against Binay, lamented how Pacquiao had the guts to “judge” other sectors when he turned a blind eye on the supposed wrongdoings of the vice president. “Hindi naman ako nanghuhusga. Kung magbubulag-bulagan siya eh paano nila masusugpo ang korupsyon,” Trillanes said. “Baka ang tingin Read More …

Vice President Jejomar Binay addresses the crowd during United Nationalist Alliance proclamation rally in Mandaluyong on Tuesday. The 90-day campaign period for the May 2016 election officially started Tuesday, with candidates organizing their respective campaign sorties around the country.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — The campaign promise of Vice President Jejomar Binay, to scrap the income tax for workers earning P30,000 and below when is elected as President, was doable. Binay’s present stance on the matter goes against the the position of President Benigno Aquino III, who insisted that the government cannot afford to lose tax revenues. In a statement on Thursday, Joey Salgado, Binay’s communications director, said they were not surprised by the reaction of the Vice President’s critics on reforming the tax structure of the country. “Our detractors will always find reasons to reject a move that will improve the lives of those in the below-middle class and the middle class levels,” he said. At 32 percent for individual fixed-income earners and 30 for corporations, the Philippines has one of the highest income tax rates in Asia. The Aquino administration has rejected the proposal to lower corporate and individual income tax rates, saying tax revenues are needed to keep the economy growing. “This is no surprise as they come from a group whose knee-jerk reaction is to protect the status quo where factory workers, government employees and call center agents pay the same taxes as millionaires. This is the mark of an insensitive leadership,” Salgado claimed. Menu of options Read More …

BANGSAMORO BASIC LAW: Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., chair of the Senate Committee on Local Government, listens to Datu Abul Khayr Alonto, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Central Committee chair, during Monday’s (May 18, 2015) hearing on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. Alonto said they stand together with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — The non-passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in Congress has caused “widespread frustration” among the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the people of Mindanao, according to Mohagher Iqbal, chief peace negotiator of the MILF. “[T]here is widespread frustration on the ground by our people and members of the MILF,” Iqbal said during a meeting with government negotiators in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Wednesday. “They accused the government of resorting again to delaying tactic and just managing the conflict in Mindanao,” he added. The government and MILF peace panels met in Malaysia to discuss their plan of action following Congress’ failure to legislate a law formalizing the creation of an autonomous Bangsamoro political entity in Mindanao, the centerpiece of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) signed by both parties in 2014. “Dangerous situation” Despite the BBL’s non-passage in Congress and the frustration it caused among MILF members, Iqbal said they will continue to work with the government in addressing “this dangerous situation.” “[T]he MILF and the government shall jointly find ways and means to address this dangerous situation and avoid actions that Read More …

President Benigno S. Aquino III to present the TAYO award during the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations Year 12 (TAYO 12) Awarding Ceremonies at the Heroes Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday (February 24). Since 2002, TAYO Awards recognizes and supports the outstanding contributions of youth organizations to the country. Also in photo are TAYO Awards founding president and Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization Francis Pangilinan and Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines vice chairman Juan Ramon Felix. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — For administration senatorial bet Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, the presidential race is anybody’s game. Pangilinan, who is running under the Liberal Party-led “Daang Matuwid” coalition, said it would be unreasonable to count anyone out of the presidential derby without a clear frontrunner less than three months before the polls in May. “We don’t count anyone out. We still have 80 plus days at marami pang pwedeng mangyari,” Pangilinan told a forum in Quezon City. “Every percent matters in a tight race like this. It’s the tighest since 1992,” he noted, recalling the elections that put Fidel Ramos into power by a slim margin. The former presidential adviser on food security said he was confident that the placing of LP standard-bearer Mar Roxas in preference polls would improve in the coming days, despite public perception of elitism and lack of appeal. “We are in a good place and we’d like to be in a better place. (Mar’s number) has increased from single digit Read More …