Maniolas

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino and Freyssinet project manager Alexandre Gros on Monday inspect the seismic damper that will be attached beneath the Ayala Bridge to help strengthen its foundation. MMDA advised motorists to take alternative routes, as the bridge will remain closed until October 1. (MNS photo) MANILA, Oct 7 (Mabuhay) — At least 12 labor groups on Wednesday filed before the Office of the Ombudsman a joint criminal complaint against Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Francis Tolentino over the controversial dance performance of a girl group during the oath-taking of some members of the Liberal Party (LP) last week. In their 10-page complaint, leaders of various labor groups charged Tolentino with violation of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and violation of the Magna Carta of Women. “Women, in the persons of the ‘Playgirls’ were completely discriminated by allowing them to portray obscene show in public, which is scandalous, contrary to good morals, good customs, public policy and public interest,” a copy of the complaint read. The complainants alleged that it was Tolentino, as the chairman of the MMDA, who should be held accountable over the incident as he has the power to stop the show. “Public officials and employees behaving with decency and in pursuing good morals, good customs and sensitivity, should not incite, encourage or tolerate acts that appeal to prurient interest or those that are deemed dirty and intended to arouse sexual cravings more particularly Read More …

Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao (center) is assisted by medical personnel for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) on his injured right shoulder, at a hospital in Manila on Monday. The injury, which Pacquiao sustained in training before his fight with US boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., was healing well. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao said he will give his full focus on being a senator should he win in the 2016 elections. Pacquiao said he will work harder should he win, recognizing the much bigger responsibilities that a senator handles. “Kaya po ako natagalan magdesisyon is because of that. Kapag magdecide ako – although nag-decide na nga ako – ang inisip ko, kapag pumasok ako kailangan seryoso, walang absent, palaging papasok, dahil buong bansa ang responsibilidad mo,” the boxing champ said. Pacquiao’s announcement of his senatorial bid did not sit well with some of his fans, who believe he is not capable of handling the tasks of a lawmaker. His frequent absences at the House of Representatives is not helping him defend his track record as a politician. Pacquiao said despite his frequent absences, he never took his constituents for granted. “Nagkakataon na may fight ako, so nasa training ako. Kailangan 3 buwan training ko, so hindi ako nakakapasok,” he said. “Pagbalik ko may inaasikaso ako sa distrito, nag-aasikaso ng project. Kahit di pera ng gobyerno, sarili nating pera ang mga project doon. I’m sure ang Sarangani ang magpapatunay na marami tayong nagawa.” Pacquiao said he Read More …

Maja Salvador (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — All seems well between Maja Salvador and Gerald Anderson following their controversial break-up, which at one point was described by the former as devastating. The 26-year-old Salvador revealed that she ran into Anderson at the 9th Star Magic Ball. The “Ang Probinsyano” star shared that Anderson’s niece, Lyra, was the first one to approach her but was quickly followed by the actor. “Nakakatuwa kasi okay lahat,” said Salvador, who made headlines after she walked the red carpet at the prestigious ball sans a date. “Alangan naman maghatak ako bigla ng partner tapos kung sino dala ko, baka mabigla kayo, gawan niyo pa ng issue,” she quipped. The former couple first confirmed their split back in April. They were together for nearly two years. (MNS)

A new study provides insight on how individual fruits and vegetables could help us – or not – with weight management. ©Subbotina Anna/Shutterstock.com (Relaxnews) – Eating more fruits and non-starchy vegetables such as artichoke, avocado, asparagus and cucumber leads to weight loss, according to a massive new study analyzing the effect of each one. “The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults and children should eat a variety of fruits and vegetables to help them achieve and maintain a healthy weight,” writes study author Monica Bertoia of Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health and Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston. “But are all fruits and vegetables equally good at controlling weight?” Vegetables that contain lots of fiber and low carbohydrates such as broccoli and Brussels sprouts led to greater weight loss, which Bertoia says is likely because they make you feel full. Starchy vegetables like corn, peas and potatoes seemed to cause weight gain, according to the study. Weight loss benefits that came with increasing your consumption applied more so to fruits than to vegetables, and were most notably seen with berries, apples and pears, tofu and soy, cauliflower and cruciferous and green, leafy vegetables. Working with 133,468 men and women living in the US, Bertoia, whose study was published in PLOS One, relied on self-reported data on eating and weight change. After adjusting for factors such as smoking that could affect the result, she observed that increasing consumption of fruits and non-starchy vegetables led to a significant weight change Read More …

Activists from women’s rights group Gabriela pose with placards to protest the killings of lumad leaders in Surigao del Sur on Thursday. Left-wing groups raised concern on the involvement of government militia in the killing at least 3 people in the region. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – An anti-crime group on Thursday filed plunder, graft and malversation charges against former Puerto Princesa City mayor Edward Hagedorn in connection with the alleged anomalous reimbursement from local government funds amounting to P60.567 million. In a 13-page complaint filed with the Office of the Ombudsman, Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) chairman Martin Diño and a private individual from Puerto Princesa City, Oscar Lapida Jr., alleged that Hagedorn and four other former city officials committed plunder as defined under Republic Act 7080 or the Anti-Plunder Law, violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and malversation thru falsification of public documents. In their complaint, Diño and Lapida said that between 2011 to 2012, Hagedorn, in an alleged “conspiracy” with the four other respondents, reimbursed from the city government through a series of transactions a total of P60,567,071 with himself as the sole payee. The complainants said the reimbursements were done “despite the lack of official receipts, vouchers, or other documents to support and/or authorize payment of claim for reimbursable expense,” with Hagedorn claiming to have spent his own money for various  purposes that were supposedly part of the official business of the city government. “Hagedorn Read More …