Feb 022016
 
Emotional Angel denies split with Luis

Angel Locsin (MNS photo) An emotional Angel Locsin denied reports that she and Luis Manzano have called it quits. Locsin clarified that she and Manzano are still a couple but are currently going through a rough patch. “Hindi pa po,” the “Everything About Her” star said. “May pinagdadaanan lang po kami. Pero inaayos naman po namin.” Asked how she is coping with the first test to their relationship since getting back together back in February 2014, Locsin explained: “Sa lahat ng tao na nagmamahal sa akin.” “Kahit kay Luis, humuhugot pa rin ako sa kanya. Hindi pa rin naman nawawala iyung – kahit may problema kami, nandiyan pa rin ang pagmamahal. May mga kailangan lang kaming ayusin. And I’m hoping na maayos,” she added. Locsin refused to go into details. She said: “Natatakot ako na baka may masabi ako na imbis na maayos namin, makasama pa. Ayaw ko naman kasi manloko o magsinungaling.” Manzano admitted that his relationship with the actress has hit a snag. He, like Locsin, also refused to go into details. Locsin and Manzano first became a couple in July 2007, but separated two years later. They confirmed their first break-up in October 2009, four months after their actual separation. Manzano and Locsin decided to give their relationship another try in February 2014. (MNS)

Feb 022016
 
Cuisia briefs DC-based journalists on PHL foreign policy

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. and National Press Club President Thomas Burr after the Ambassador’s special briefing for NPC members on 27 January 2016 at the Romulo Hall, Philippine Embassy. WASHINGTON, D.C. — “In the past seven decades, the Philippines and the US have seen themselves become treaty allies, strategic partners and close friends. We believe that bilateral relations are truly at their best as they are comprehensive, dynamic and forward-looking,” Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. said in the opening of his special briefing for the members of the National Press Club on 27 January 2016 at the Philippine Embassy. The Ambassador briefed the audience on the outcomes of the recently-concluded 2nd Philippines-US Ministerial Dialogue, the Philippine Supreme Court’s favorable decision on the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), and the Philippines’ position and advocacies on the South China Sea issue, the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). “The Philippines and the United States recognize EDCA as a security component of our treaty alliance. It is especially critical to enhancing joint capacities for the provision of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and to increasing the inter-operability of the Philippine and US Armed Forces,” the envoy remarked. Capacity-building efforts form a significant part of Philippines-US defense cooperation. “We appreciate the commitment and assistance of the United States towards enhancing our capacity for maritime domain awareness and maritime security,” Ambassador Cuisia said. ARY News Read More …

Feb 022016
 
Alessandra Ambrosio revealed as new face of L’Oreal Professionnel

Alessandra AmbrosioInstagram picture : So happy to be part of the L’Oreal Professionnel glam team©2016 Instagram (Relaxnews) – Model Alessandra Ambrosio has been revealed as the new face of L’Oreal Professionnel. The Brazilian beauty and Victoria’s Secret angel is fronting the new campaign for the brand’s Dia Richesse semi-permanent hair color, and has dyed her signature brunette tresses red for the occasion. She revealed her new look on Instagram via a photo showing off a poker straight style in a rich red hue. She captioned the image: “So happy to be part of the L’Oreal Professionnel glam team.” Recent ambassadors at L’Oreal include Susan Sarandon, who was named ‘beauty ambassador’ in January, and blogger Kristina Bazan, who was named ‘brand ambassador’ last October. sm/cm

Feb 012016
 
Nadine admits feeling ‘unconditional love’ for James

Nadine Lustre and James Reid (MNS photo) “He’s important to me.” These were the words of actress Nadine Lustre when asked to define her current relationship with onscreen partner James Reid. The 22-year-old Lustre continued to fuel speculations about her relationship with her “On the Wings of Love” co-star. “I guess I have this unconditional love na din po for him, kasi nga, since we do everything together. He knows what I feel, I know what he feels,” she shared. Lustre added that she enjoys taking care of Reid while shooting for the hit primetime series. “I take care of him din most of the time, kasi nga walang nag-aalaga sa kanya.” “And he’s very carefree and careless until now. So parang kailangan may nagbabantay talaga sa kanya,” said Lustre, who admitted that she’s naturally a very caring person. And while the two remains “best friends” as of now, Lustre explained that she is not closing any doors on a possible romance between her and Reid. “Hindi naman zero ang chance. Kami, talagang hindi po muna namin iniisip. May chance naman po. Huwag lang muna talaga,” she said. (MNS)

Jan 312016
 
The big difference that is the past

It’s said that the past is a different country. Not one for old men? It is, too. In fact sometimes it seems to be the only country we are left to relish. Each time we lose someone from an era, we are sad but somehow regaled by memories of how sweetly that time and country had nourished us. The losses are mounting. David Bowie reminded us of Major Tom and Ziggy Stardust of a space age long gone, but soon a ninth planet is discovered and we say it’s obviously him out there.  I wish we could say the same of Carlos “Caloy” Loyzaga, the best basketball player we ever had, bar none. He passed away last week at the age of 85 — when five planets were in east-northeast configuration, a basketball team to the naked eye at dawn. The fellow with jersey number 14 was “The Big Difference.” And he was the towering center of our recollection of boyhood days in the 1950s. His exploits as a cager have been sung of late— two-time Olympian (1952 Helsinki and 1956 Melbourne, where we placed 9th and 7th, respectively) among his citations, individually topped with inclusion in the mythical team in 1954 after our bronze finish in the World Championships in Brazil, next only to USA and the host country. Numerous other data of half-a-century past fill up his stats sheet: seven consecutive championships with the fabled MICAA team Yco Painters; four Asian Games and two Asian Basketball Confederation titles Read More …

Jan 282016
 
Emperor Akihito expresses remorse over lives lost during WW2

President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomes Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko on their arrival in Manila Tuesday (January 26) for a five-day State Visit to pay their respects for those who lost their lives here during World War II and to promote international goodwill. (MNS photo) MANILA, Jan 28 (Mabuhay) – Japanese Emperor Akihito on Wednesday evening acknowledged that numerous Filipino lives were lost during the Second World War but he stopped short of claiming responsibility for the abuses committed by Japanese imperial soldiers against Filipinos. “Last year, Japan marked the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. During this war, fierce battles between Japan and the United States took place on Philippine soil, resulting in the loss of many Filipino lives and leaving many Filipinos injured. This is something we Japanese must never forget and we intend to keep this engraved in our hearts throughout our visit,” the Japanese emperor said during the State Banquet in Malacañang Palace. President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomes Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko on their arrival in Manila Tuesday (January 26) for a five-day State Visit to pay their respects for those who lost their lives here during World War II and to promote international goodwill. (MNS photo) Elaborating on the statement of the Japanese emperor, Hatsuhisa Takashima, the emperor’s secretary, explained that while the emperor has not been known to point out the necessity of an action to the Japanese government, his words, nevertheless, have some degree of Read More …

Jan 282016
 
If removed as senator by SC ruling, Poe says it will be ‘tragic and sad’

Senator Grace Poe (MNS photo) MANILA, Jan 28 (Mabuhay) – Senator Grace Poe on Thursday vowed to exhaust all legal means possible should she lose the disqualification cases at the Supreme Court (SC) but said it would be “tragic” and “sad” if she would also be removed as senator. Poe, however, remained hopeful that she and her lawyers have a “very viable legal standing” at the SC based on the evidence that they submitted before it. “I remain hopeful and very positive that we’ve offered to the Supreme Court the truth, and also that we’ve a very viable legal standing. I offer to the Supreme Court not only my situation but the situation of hundreds of thousands of foundlings who are in the same plight. So I remain hopeful as I said,” Poe said when she faced the Meet Inquirer Multimedia Forum. “On the other hand, as a lawmaker, I’ll respectfully abide by the decision of the Supreme Court but I will exhaust all legal means possible to be able to fight for our case,” she said. If the SC rules that she did not meet the 10-year requirement to run for the highest position in the land, Poe said should would not be able to join the May presidential race. “If the ruling included my situation as a foundling, then that also removes my position now in the Senate and that will be tragic and sad,” she said. However, the senator expressed readiness to return to her private life Read More …

Jan 282016
 
Comelec deposits 1st set of codes for 2016 polls use

Comelec chairman Andres Bautista (R) hands BSP deputy governonr Vicente Aquino on Wednesday, January 27, a sealed and signed envelope containing the first set of source codes to be used in the upcoming automated national elections. (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – The Commission on Elections on Wednesday deposited to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas the first set of codes that will be used in this year’s automated polls. The said code, for the election management system (EMS), will be held in escrow in a vault inside the BSP, where the codes used in 2010 and 2013 are also stored. According to Comelec Commissioner Christian Robert Lim, the safety deposit box that has been placed in the vault contains the following: a certification of the hashcodes from the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC), international certifier SLI Global Solutions, and Comelec; a thumb drive containing the “human-readable” code; and the binary code of the EMS. The depositing of the codes came after the processing of the final trusted build, or the code that will be used for the machines, which was finished on Tuesday night. The Comelec will deposit the codes of the vote counting machine (VCM) and the Canvassing Consolidation System (CCS) on Feb. 9. According to poll chief Andres Bautista, putting the codes in escrow is mandated by law. For his part, Lim said: “Kasama sa certification na ii-issue ng TEC (Technical Evaluation Committee) is that the source code has been escrowed in the BSP.” Asked for an assurance of the Read More …

Jan 282016
 
PHL to Taiwan: Don’t increase tensions in the South China Sea

Members of Bayan Muna hold a picket in front of Chinese consulate in Makati on Friday April 17 to protest against China’s reclamation activities in Panganiban Reef, part of the disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea. Recent satellite pictures showed the Chinese constructing facilities in the area. (MNS Photo) MANILA, Jan 28 (Mabuhay) – In a rare comment concerning Taiwan, the Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday expressed its opposition to outgoing Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou’s visit to Itu Aba off the disputed South China Sea. “We remind all parties concerned of our shared responsibility to refrain from actions that can increase tension in the South China Sea,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said in a statement on Ma’s trip that came amid lingering concerns over the waters where China has rapidly transformed formerly submerged disputed rocks into huge man-made islands. The DFA normally do not comment on issues related to Taiwan since Manila and Taipei have no formal diplomatic ties in deference to the One-China Policy. Taiwan separated from mainland China in 1949, but Beijing considers it as its renegade province. Ma’s visit to Itu Aba, called Taiping by Taiwan, was a bid to reaffirm its claim over the island – the largest feature in the South China Sea equipped with modern facilities like a hospital, runway and a lighthouse. There was no immediate comment from Taiwan’s representative office in Manila. Washington, a Taiwan ally, also criticized the trip, with the State Department, calling it a “disappointment.” Competing Read More …

Jan 282016
 
Sunshine Cruz’s wish for 2016: Annulment

Sunshine Cruz (MNS photo) Sunshine Cruz has a couple of wishes for 2016 and one of them concerns her strained marriage to actor Cesar Montano. On Instagram, the actress said she is hoping her 13-year marriage to Montano will finally be annulled this year. “I had an awesome 2015 but expecting 2016 will be a better year for me and my kids. More work for me so I can provide well for my tres marias, and good health for my loved ones. Oh and one more thing, hoping my annulment will be granted this 2016,” she said. Cruz and Montano separated in January 2013 due to the actor’s alleged affair with model Krista Miller. Cruz filed for annulment before Holy Week in 2014. “Para naman bago ako mag-40, makahanap ako ng kaligayahan ko,” Cruz said in a past interview. Despite her decision to move on, Cruz stressed that she’s ready to be friends with Montano. (MNS)