Rafael Rosell, a staunch vegan, reveals fascination for medicinal plants.
Dec 072015
Dec 072015
AJLC Ribbon cutting.Anchor dedication WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Philippines and the United States further strengthened their friendship and people-to-people ties through a special dedication ceremony of the Kempsville Road – Princess Anne Intersection and the Philippine Sister Anchor of Friendship on 30 November 2015 in the Kempes Landing Park in Virginia Beach. The dedication ceremony was a symbolic gesture between sister cities Olongapo City and Virginia Beach. The event was attended by Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr.; Virginia Senator Frank Wagner; Virginia Beach Mayor William D. Sessoms, Jr.; Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino; Ron Villanueva, Delegate of the Commonwealth of Virginia; Council Lady Amelia Ross-Hammond; Ms. Naomi Estaris, COO/VP of Sister Cities Association of Virginia Beach; Mr. Roy Estaris, CEO and President of the Travel Outlet; and Mr. Elliot Gruber, President and CEO of The Mariners’ Museum and Park. The President of Sister Cities Association of Virginia Beach, Ms. Ruth Hodges Fraser, moderated the program. During the dedication ceremony, Ambassador Cuisia thanked members of the Sister Cities Association of Virginia Beach and the local government officials of Virginia Beach for making the partnership possible. The envoy also talked about the significance of the anchor as a symbol of friendship between the two cities. “It is apt that an anchor was the symbol chosen to represent this friendship. Aside from the fact that both cities have rich maritime and naval histories, the anchor is a symbol of stability, confidence, and hope—traits that are important in any partnership,” said Ambassador Cuisia. In his remarks, Read More …
Dec 072015
Alex Reyes and Engracia “Asiang” Cruz were both born in the fishing town of Navotas, Rizal. In their youth, they both persevered and worked hard for a living, though the vibrant Asiang only finished her fourth grade, Alex became a prominent lawyer, who graduated from the University of the Philippines and worked in government such as Legal Counsel for the Court of First Instance and Court of Appeals, until he became Secretary of Justice during President Quezon’s time. After they wed, both Alex and Asiang belonged to the circle of Manila’s elite and they loved to entertain. Their love for each other grew, producing a large family of 15 children. For them, each child was a blessing, so in July of 1936, through their circle of friends’ encouragement, they opened their first restaurant called ‘Lapu-Lapu.” right in front of St. Theresa’s Catholic School in Malate, on the first floor of their 2-story house. When their son Andy was born, they changed the restaurant’s name to Andy, but when Andy was growing up as a teen, he told his parents that his classmates always teased him of their restaurant’s name, to which then Dona Asiang said: “Bakit nahihiya ka ba sa mga kaklase mo na mga aristocrata?” Thus, the name “Aristocrat,” was born. Alex and Asiang Amorsolo The Reyes family’s philosophy in running their restaurant was and still is: quality of service, dignity of labor and meritocracy. They treat all their employees like their own family that is why they have Read More …
Dec 072015
(VATICAN) President Benigno S. Aquino III and His Holiness Pope Francis view the gifts at the Sala dei Papi of the Apostolic Palace during the private audience on Friday (December 04, 2015). (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – President Benigno Aquino III has invited Pope Francis to return to the Philippines during his state visit in Rome, Italy. “Doon sa Secretary of State ko yata nabanggit. So, sabi ko, my countrymen have instructed me to extend the invitation to the Holy Father anytime that he’d want,” the President said, speaking with Filipino journalists in Italy on Friday. Aquino said that Pope Francis could not immediately confirm that he will return to the Philippines. “They understand that the invitation is open, but para clear, hindi niya sinabing pupunta siya sa atin dahil ang klaro napakarami niyang kailangang puntahan pang ibang lugar,” he said. (VATICAN) President Benigno S. Aquino III and His Holiness Pope Francis exchanges views during the private audience at the Papal Library of the Apostolic Palace on Friday (December 04). (MNS photo) quino said that he told the Pope how special was his visit in the country early this year and the anticipation of his return “”seemed like the church was revitalized and continues to be revitalized.” “In fact, sabi ko, up to now the tarpaulins and posters, et cetera, that were there for your visit a lot of them appear to be in very pristine condition. They were being kept by our countrymen and displayed. They will probably be handed Read More …
Dec 072015
Huawei makes wishes come true by giving away free wifi devices and giving the Singles Club members the opportunity to have a selfie with a hottie!
Dec 072015
Newly appointed Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman Andres Bautista (left) and commissioner Rowena Guanzon face the media at the COMELEC office in Intramuros, Manila on Monday. Bautista was the chairman of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) prior to his new assignment. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Commissioners from the three-member Second Division of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) would most likely stick to its decision disqualifying Sen. Grace Poe from the 2016 presidential race for her failure to meet the residency requirement. High-profile litigation lawyer Raymond Fortun said he does not see Comelec Commissioners Al Parreno, Arthur Lim, and Sheriff Abas reversing their ruling on the matter, especially since they voted unanimously. “From experience, a unanimous decision is already an ominous sign. It is highly unlikely that these same commissioners would change their mind,” said Fortun. While acknowledging Poe’s right to appeal and move for the reversal of the decision, he said Poe has the burden of showing “compelling grounds to convince the four other members of the en banc so they can overrule the three from the division.” Apart from Parreño, Lim, and Abas, the four remaining members of the seven-member Comelec en banc are chair Andres Bautista and poll commissioners Christian Robert Lim, Luie Tito Guia, and Ma. Rowena Amelia Guanzon. “As a general rule, the Poe camp needs to present compelling reasons before the en banc commission of serious errors by the Second Division,” said Fortun. In a separate open letter that he posted on Read More …
Dec 072015
(PARIS, France) President Benigno S. Aquino III witnesses the turn-over of a copy of the Youth Sector Stand on Climate Change handed by National Youth Commission head Dingdong Dantes to Annick Gerardin, Secretary of State for the Development of France during the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) High Level Event at Le Maroni of the Blue Zone UNFCCC Le Bourget site on Monday (November 30). Earlier the President delivered his National Statement on the Framework Convention on Climate Change. (MNS photo) ROME, Italy (Mabuhay) – President Aquino said he hopes that the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP 21) that he attended in Paris will yield enforceable commitments from countries to address climate change. The President, who attended the Paris climate conference on November 30, said the good thing about the debate on climate issue is that countries now start to recognize that climate change is real. Super Typhoon Haiyan, or Yolanda, which hit the Philippines in 2013, painted a very grim picture of exactly what climate change is all about, he said. “Not too long ago, if everybody recalls, there was even a debate as to whether or not there was climate change. Here, I think there was nobody that I heard who was denying that climate change is a problem,” the President said in an interview with the Philippine media here on Friday. “It was really just a question of whether the two-degree goal or the 1.5-degree goal is the central topic. So the negotiations are still ongoing.” “We Read More …
Dec 072015
President Benigno Aquino III and Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Vice President Jejomar Binay has expressed outrage over the admission of Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman that hundreds of food packs and sacks of rice were spoiled and dumped in Dagami, Leyte. “Such act borders on criminal neglect. Thousands of Filipinos suffer from hunger every day, especially those affected by calamities, and yet we have a government that allowed food to rot,” Binay said in a statement on Saturday. On Thursday, Soliman admitted that sacks of rice discovered dumped in Dagami, Leyte were from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) warehouses. Soliman said the goods buried in the area were “no longer fit for human consumption.” “The admission by Secretary Soliman only highlights the reality that she has failed to provide the department the efficiency and compassion required in providing immediate aid to calamity victims,” he said. Binay said it “was not only the first time food for calamity victims had gone to waste.” In the 2013 annual audit report of the Commission on Audit (COA) on the DSWD, Binay said that family food packs worth P2.8 million for 7,527 families affected by super typhoon Yolanda were lost to spoilage “due to improper handling.” The vice president also cited Ithe2014 COA report, saying that the DSWD had been left with P141 million worth of undistributed and expired or about-to-expire relief goods. READ: DSWD admits P2.8M worth of relief goods for ‘Yolanda’ Read More …
Dec 072015
National Park Service Arrowhead (courtesy of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Park_Service) WASHINGTON – The National Park Service turns 100 years old in 2016 and wants everyone to celebrate! All national parks, including Joshua Tree National Park will waive entrance fees on 16 special days in 2016. The 16 entrance fee-free days for 2016 will be: January 18 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day April 16-24 – National Park Week August 25-28 – National Park Service Birthday Weekend September 24 – National Public Lands Day November 11 – Veterans Day Superintendent, David Smith said, “We are committed to ensuring that all Americans have a chance to enjoy their National Parks – regardless of ability to pay. We recognize that entry fees can be a barrier to some of our park users and are pleased that we have been allowed some flexibility in regularly suspending entry fees.” Joshua Tree National Park usually has an entrance fee of $20 per car. The entrance fee waiver does not cover campsite fees, Key’s Ranch Tours or special use events. Annual passes for Joshua Tree are $30 per car and provide a full year of park access. While the 2015 numbers have not been released yet, Joshua Tree National Park had 1.6 million visitors in 2014. Those visitors spent $74 million dollars in local communities and helped to support 1030 jobs. About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 409 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local Read More …
Dec 072015
Robin Padilla (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Robin Padilla, who recently turned 46-years old, revealed he and wife Mariel are again on a honeymoon. Apparently, Mariel’s doctor advised them to try to conceive anew a year after she had undergone dilation and curettage. Robin said it took his wife quite some time before having the procedure done. “Good news sa akin ‘yun. Sa kanya kasi proseso ‘yun. Una alam mo naman babae ‘yan and gusto niya magkaanak kaya nang sinabing wala na umasa na lang siya sa milagro. Pero ang tagal nun. ‘Yung doktora niya nagpunta pa sa Hungary eh nandun kami sa Budhapest. Nagpunta siya doon para sabihin lang sa kanya na kailangan ng tanggalin baka kung ano pang maging resulta nun. Hindi pa rin. Ang tigas ng ulo niya. Itong naglabasan na mga kaibigan niya sinuportahan siya medyo lumakas ang loob. Para sa akin good news,” related Robin. He added that he understood what Mariel went through because he saw how devastated she was. He even said that his wife gained much weight due to depression. “Sandali Lang ako na-depress. Sa ‘Happy Wife’ ang payat niya pero after mangyari ‘yun biglang lumaki,” described Robin. “Pero na-shock ako. Tatlo ‘yun eh. Tatlong nabuo na ‘yung mga pangarap. Nabuo na mga plano biglang ganun na lang pala ‘yun.” Mariel Rodriguez (MNS photo) He also recalled that during his wife’s depression he deemed himself “a clown” who would always try to make her smile and happy. With regards to their respective Read More …