Richard to Lucy: “You are the lovely face I see every waking morning.”
Dec 112015
Dec 102015
Iñigo Pascual to bashers: “I mean, tao rin kami. We get affected.”
Dec 102015
NaFFAA head speaks on the passing of Ambassador Willy C. Gaa The late Ambassador Willy Gaa (second from left) when he led Philippine officials and leaders during the hosting of the “Beterano” Photo Exhibit at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, DC. Photo: Eric Lachica “Ambassador Willy Gaa was a consummate diplomat, whose actions more than his words, helped make a difference in the Filipino American community’s aspirations for empowerment,” says NaFFAA National Chairman JT Mallonga. “As Philippine Ambassador to the United States from 2006-2011, Ambassador Gaa deeply cared for the community’s issues and concerns, notably the struggle of Filipino World War II Veterans for justice and equity. He championed this cause with determination and delight, walking the halls of Congress and meeting with U.S. leaders to speak for the thousands of veterans who needed a voice. He was there when the House finally voted for the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund on February 2007, staying late into the night to savor a measure of justice that had long been denied from our brave heroes. Thank you, Ambassador Gaa, for standing with us during our community’s most critical hours.” Adds community leader Gloria T. Caoile, “Ambassador Gaa came to us in Washington, D.C. with an open mind and a heart full of passion to serve us well. With his wife Linda, they opened their home to the community, relating to us as their family! His wry sense of humor and humility served him well in the rewarding relationships he forged, driven Read More …
Dec 102015
Carla Abellana (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — CARLA Abellana is happy to do a light drama like “Because of You”. “It’s not the usual heavy soap seen on primetime,” she says. “This one has liberal touches of comedy and it’s good I got my training na in ‘Ismol Family’ kaya hindi na ako nahirapan sa comic scenes ko rito. Feel-good show ito na iba talaga ang treatment.” Carla is one of the busiest Kapuso actresses. She’ll now be seen in “Because of You” from Monday to Friday. On Saturdays, she’s seen on “Karelasyon” and on Sundays, in “Ismol Family”. And she also hosts the cooking demos “DelMonte Kitchenomics”. “I can’t complain dahil ang dami talagang blessings na ibinibigay ni Lord sa akin.” She considers it a blessing to work with Gabby again after they worked in the movie “Yesterday Today Tomorrow” four years ago. “Ganun pa rin, masaya sa set. Kwela, Nagpapatawa kahit madaling araw at pagod na kami. Mabait siya sa lahat.” Gabby Concepcion (MNS Photo) Gabby’s eldest daughter, KC, is the same age as Carla’s Ate Ericka. “Pareho sila ng birthday. The same day sila pinanganak, April 7, 1985, in the same hospital at magkatabi pa ang rooms ng mom ko at ni Ms. Sharon Cuneta.” It’s good she has lost weight and is slimmer now. “Yes, when I was doing ‘Pari Koy’, ang laki ko noon. It took five months of working out and dieting bago lumabas ‘yung epekto ng hard work ko. Now, the challenge is Read More …
Dec 102015
President Benigno S. Aquino III exchanges pleasantries with Pacific Century Group Chairman and CEO, Richard Li, during the courtesy call at the Music Room of the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday (December 09). Also in photo are FWD Group Chairman, Ronald Arculli, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo . (MNS photo) MANILA Mabuhay) – President Benigno S. Aquino III received Richard Li Tzar Kai, founder and chairman of the Pacific Century Group (PCG), at the Music Room of Malacañang Palace on Wednesday. During his courtesy call with the President, Li was accompanied by top officials of his insurance business, the FWD Group – Chairman Ronald Arculli; Chief Executive Officer Huynh Thanh Phong; and Peter Karl Grimes, President and CEO of FWD Life Insurance Corporation, the Philippine arm of the FWD Group. While waiting for the President’s arrival, Li’s group had a brief conversation with Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, and Insurance Commissioner Emmanuel Dooc. President Benigno S. Aquino III exchanges pleasantries with Pacific Century Group Chairman and CEO, Richard Li, during the courtesy call at the Music Room of the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday (December 09). Also in photo is FWD Group Chairman, Ronald Arculli. (MNS photo) The FWD, the insurance business arm of Pacific Century Group, launched its business operations in the Philippines in 2014. It was the first foreign life insurer in nearly a decade to enter the Philippine market and the first to be granted a license under the new Read More …
Dec 102015
Various organizations lead by Nationalist Advocates for Filipino Ideology and Jesus Is Lord Fellowship hold a prayer rally at Luneta on Sunday against the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). The group said the BBL subverts the country’s sovereignty and will create a wedge among Moros, Lumads and Christians in Mindanao. (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — The members of the House of Representatives that met with President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday didn’t necessarily support the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, a top House leader said on Wednesday. House Majority Leader and Mandaluyong Representative Neptali Gonzales II made the remark after the House continued to experience quorum woes that again derailed the deliberations on the BBL. The BBL is the embodiment of the peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. However, it experiencing opposition in both houses of Congress despite both chambers being dominated by the allies of President Benigno Aquino III. “Di nangangahulugan porke pumunta sa Malacanang e in agreement of the BBL. Kahapon ang exercise is to hear the president. Di mo masasabi kasing lahat kasi nakakita rin naman ako ng mga tao na anti BBL. Di nangangahulugan na yung mga tao dun e committed sa BBL,” Gonzales said. Between 160 to 170 attended the meeting with the President in Malacañang on Tuesday. Gonzales admitted that the lawmakers who are against the BBL could be deliberately skipping the session. “Iyong iba na against sa BBL kahit pakiusapan mo talagang against the BBL. Ang Read More …
Dec 102015
A man works on an Eiffel Tower display in a Christmas decorations shop in Quezon City on Friday. Shop attendants say that the Eiffel Tower display, which costs P18,000, became a hit after the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, France. The miniature tower is already their tenth model to be constructed for the holidays. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – A Palace spokesperson cautioned Filipinos not to buy illegal and dangerous fireworks as the Christmas and New Year celebrations draw near. Communications Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said that Filipinos should stay away from illegal fireworks to have a safe holiday season. “Nanawagan ang pamahalaan sa mga mamamayan na umiwas sa pagbili o paggamit ng mga mapanganib at ipinagbabawal na paputok para sa ligtas na pagdiriwang ng darating na Pasko at Bagong Taon,” Coloma said in a statement issued on Wednesday. (The government is urging Filipinos to avoid buying or using dangerous and illegal fireworks so that they will have a safe celebration of Christmas and the New Year.) Coloma said that the Department of Health (DOH) is coordinating with local governments to ensure the implementation of the government’s campaign against contraband fireworks. Last Monday, the DOH activated its anti-firecracker campaign with the theme ““Sa Ingay Walang Sablay, sa Paputok Goodbye Kamay.” The health department urged Filipinos to use alternative ways of celebrating the holidays. “For this year, instead of firecrackers, the public is encouraged to use safe merry-making instruments and alternative noise-makers such as ‘torotot’, car horns, or by playing Read More …
Dec 102015
Airport security screeners wear pink armbands during a Mass at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Friday. The security screeners appeal for public understanding while investigation of the “tanim-bala” scam is underway. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The National Bureau of Investigation has submitted to the Department of Justice its probe results on the “tanim/laglag bala” (TaLaBa) scheme. Department of Justice spokesman and Undersecretary Emmanuel Caparas on Wednesday said that Justice Secretary Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa still has to go over the report before releasing it to the media. “The report has just been submitted by the NBI. Kindly give Sec Caguioa time to read and study it,” Caparas said in a text message to reporters. The report was due today, Wednesday, after the NBI was given a 15-working day extension. The bureau was supposed to hand over its findings to the DOJ on November 18, but it requested an extension as it was still interviewing concerned individuals on the matter at the time. Caparas said that he would be discussing with the media updates on the submission of the NBI report during his regular briefing on Thursday. Caguioa formed the task force after travellers, including an American tourist, alleged that they were held by authorities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport after live bullets were allegedly found in their hand carried luggage. The travelers denied the bullets belong to them. The family of American tourist Lane Michael White claimed that airport personnel attempted to extort P30,000 from them in exchange Read More …
Dec 102015
Vice President Jejomar Binay speaks to senior citizens in Amapola St., Barangay Pembo, Makati, Thursday. The city government of Makati has been under public scrutiny amid new allegations of having “ghost” senior citizens who reportedly receive benefits. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Vice President Jejomar Binay on Wednesday accused the administration of President Benigno Aquino III of deliberately underspending funds to save up for the 2016 presidential elections. Binay made the allegation during his visit at the Bais City public market in Negros Oriental. During his visit, Binay promised that he will work for higher salaries for teachers and government employees if he is elected president in next year’s election He also promised to provide better benefits for senior citizens, just like what he started in Makati City, where he served as mayor for several years. Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, meanwhile, dismissed Binay’s allegation. “Huli sa balita si VP Binay tungkol sa underspending,” Lacierda said in a text message to Palace reporters. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) recently reported that national government spending continued to pick up with another two-digit year-on-year growth of 16.6 percent in September to conclude a quarterly growth of 19.3 percent. Spending for September reached P186.3 billion, surpassing the P160 billion disbursements in 2014 by 16.6 percent. Third quarter spending performance was P558.5 billion, which was P90.2 billion higher than the P468.4 billion gained during the same period last year. Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said he expects the momentum to be sustained until the Read More …
Dec 102015
Rodrigo Duterte (left), seven-term Davao City mayor and presidential candidate, raises his hands with running mate Senator Alan Peter Cayetano during their proclamation ceremony in Manila on Monday. Duterte filed his candidacy last week following weeks of speculation on his intention.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Presidential aspirant Roy Señeres has denied a newspaper report that claimed two Associate Justices attempted to convince him to withdraw his candidacy in favor of his fraternity brother, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. Señeres said although he met with Associate Justices Jose Mendoza and Bienvenido Reyes, it was only for a simple lunch meeting hosted by his fraternity brothers. “It’s not true in the sense that while I can confirm that the two were present during the lunch meeting, they did not utter any word about the possibility of my giving in for Mayor Duterte. We were talking about some other things,” Señeres said. The meeting has raised issues of conflict of interest should qualification issues reach the Supreme Court. Seneres admitted however that the topic of his possible withdrawal was brought up during the said lunch meeting. “When the matter of my possible withdrawal was discussed, it was one of the two lawyers who were there who brought it up, but the two [Associate] Justices just sat there,” he said. Señeres said he did not give in and is determined to pursue his presidential bid. (MNS)