Christian Bautista, Martin del Rosario, etc. also reveal the hard part of being a celebrity.
Jul 072015
Jul 072015
Rhian Ramos shares how dad’s advice helped her to be brave enough for her role in The Rich Man’s Daughter.
Jul 072015
Wonder no more, here are the some of the perks enjoyed by stars and celebrities.
Jul 072015
A monitor connected to a body temperature scanner shows passengers arriving from South Korea at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Tuesday. The WHO said the outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in South Korea is the largest seen outside the Middle East. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Department of Health confirmed Monday that a foreigner from the Middle East who recently arrived in the Philippines has tested positive for MERS-Cov. Health Secretary Janette Garin said the 36-year-old foreigner was admitted to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine last Saturday after showing symptoms of MERS-CoV infection on July 2. “He was tested on July 4. At 5 p.m., the test yielded a positive result,” she said in a press briefing. She said the patient’s viral load is low, which meant that the patient could be recovering. She said the patient had no diabetes or high-blood pressure. One person who came in contact with the patient is in isolation after manifesting symptoms of MERS infection. A DOH task force is now doing contact tracing after the latest finding. It was the second case of MERS-COV in the Philippines. The first case was discovered in January, a Filipino nurse working in Saudi Arabia who survived. Garin noted that there is no documented community transmission of the MERS coronavirus, saying that most infections happen inside a hospital. “Health workers are usually at risk. Transmission also occurs during repeated and close contact with a family member or a household companion,” she Read More …
Jul 072015
Erich Gonzales and Daniel Matsunaga (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) -– Weeks after admitting that they are already a couple, Erich Gonzales and Daniel Matsunaga sat down together to talk at length about how they took their friendship to the next level. Gonzales and Matsunaga said it was when the Japanese-Brazilian model joined the series “Two Wives” in January that they started to get to know each other better. “Nung una niyang pagpasok [sa show], normal lang. Masaya ako to see him and maging parte siya ng ’Two Wives.’ Walang ilangan at all. Kahit nung una naming kilala sa Palawan, nandoon agad ‘yung connection. I don’t have to pretend na prim and proper ako dapat. Kung ano lang ako, nakita niya kaagad,” Gonzales said. At that time, Gonzales was still with her non-showbiz boyfriend although their relationship was already on the rocks. Despite Gonzales and Matsunaga’s growing closeness, the actress decided not to tell the latter about the status of her love life. “He had nothing to do with it naman so sa akin lang yun. Ang alam niya okay lang ako, okay lang lahat,” she said. For Matsunaga, working with Gonzales in “Two Wives” was more on just being professional. “[Gusto ko na siya] pero alam ko yung walls, what I can and what I cannot. Pero that time was really more on being professional. She was there all the time for me. Our friendship really became much stronger there. We got to know each other better. We were there Read More …
Jul 072015
‘Document’ portend to show what belongs to China, what’s ours By Abner T. Galino Los Angeles Fil-Am resident Rizal Reyes says he was given the “1743” Philippine map 10 years ago during a trip in Barcelona, Spain. Photo: Abner Galino It is certainly more than an amusing coincidence to find a burning fervor for the motherland on an expatriate named Rizal Reyes, a senior in his middle 80’s and a resident of mid-city Los Angeles. He confirmed that his father was indeed a fan of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal. But, – here comes the surprise – he was not a Rizal fan but of Andres Bonifacio, and for the same reasons just like many other Filipinos who favor the plebeian over the intellectual nationalist. Of course, Rizal and Bonifacio were never rivals. The debate on who should be crowned national hero came up during the American occupation of the Philippines. Rizal eventually got the prime spot at Luneta, aptly named Rizal Park, while Bonifacio got to stand in front of the Philippine Post Office building (which is just about four miles away). And so it came to be that the lovers would head to Luneta while the marchers who seek redress from government would gather at Liwasang Bonifacio. As far as politics is concerned, we know which of the two places became more exciting and relevant. 1743 Philippine map But this story is not about Rizal and Bonifacio. This story is about patriotism and a map, although not an Read More …
Jul 072015
Rescuers unload a body bag containing the remains of one the passengers retrieved from the ill-fated M/V Kim Nirvana at the pier in Ormoc City, Leyte on Friday. A ferry loaded with nearly 200 people capsized 200 meters from the shore on Thursday, officials said, killing at least 41 people.(MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya on Monday said officials of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) may be held liable if the design of the ill-fated MB Kim Nirvana-B was approved despite its supposed deficiencies. “Kung may pagkakamali ng disensyo, nasa Marina ‘yan, nasa naval architect or kung sino man licensed na nag-approve ng design na ito. Titingnan din natin ‘yung anggulo na ‘yan,” Abaya said. The motor banca was bound for Camotes Island in Cebu when it capsized off Ormoc City port shortly after noon Thursday, killing at least 60 passengers. Engineer Nelson Ramirez of the United Filipino Seafarers earlier said that Marina officials must be held liable for approving the design of and issuing an accreditation to Kim Nirvana. “By merely looking at the picture of M/V Kim Nirvana, you don’t have to be a maritime expert to say that this motorized banca is seaworthy or not. You can immediately see that the stability of this double decker vessel is questionable. How it passed the safety standards is the most controversial question of the day,” he said. Abaya said he has tasked Marina Administrator Maximo Mejia, Jr. to probe the approval of Kim Nirvana’s design. Read More …
Jul 072015
Fishermen’s group Pamalakaya holds a protest outside Chinese Consulate office in Makati City on Friday to denounce the Chinese Navy’s action prohibiting Filipino fishermen in contested waters in the Spratly Islands. The United Nations arbitration court will hear the Philippines’ claim next week in The Hague, the Netherlands. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — A day before a United Nations tribunal hears the Philippines’ case against China, Beijing’s ambassador again asked Manila on Monday to consider direct negotiations to resolve their long-running territorial row over the South China Sea. Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua has repeatedly conveyed China’s offer to hold bilateral talks with the Philippine government on their maritime conflicts, saying its door for consultation “is still open and will be open forever.” “I think the best is to sit down bilaterally to talk. We need to resume our bilateral negotiation without any condition. I think this is the best way that we can discuss how to peacefully settle these disputes,” Zhao told journalists at his official residence after the Chinese government donated books to the National Library of the Philippines. For the first time since Manila filed the case against China before the The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration, a five-man panel of judges will conduct oral arguments from July 7 to 13 to determine jurisdiction over the Philippines’ complaint questioning Beijing massive claim in the resource-rich waters. “Our door for bilateral consultation and negotiation is still open and will be open forever,” Zhao said. But Philippine government officials said Read More …
Jul 072015
Seton Hall University President A. Gabriel Esteban & Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (Ret) Washington, D.C. “We are heartened by Carnegie Corporation’s July 4th tribute to immigrants and their vital contributions to this country,” says NaFFAA National Chairman JT Mallonga, in a statement praising the corporation’s “Great Immigrants: The Pride of America” initiative. This year, 39 naturalized citizens from more than 30 countries are being honored for helping strengthen American democracy and advancing U.S. society, culture and economy. Among the honorees are two Filipino Americans: Seton Hall University President Dr. A. Gabriel Esteban and U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (Ret.) “Our founder, Andrew Carnegie, came to this country as the son of impoverished immigrants and grew up to become one of the greatest contributors to American industry and philanthropy,” said Carnegie Corporation President Vartan Gregorian. “His devotion to U.S. democracy stemmed from his conviction that the new infusion of talent that immigrants bring to our country keeps American society vibrant.” Every July 4 since 2006, Carnegie Corporation pays tribute to immigrants and their accomplishments. “It’s a great honor to the Filipino American community that two of our leaders have been recognized for their valuable contributions to this country,” adds Mallonga. “Their inspiring accomplishments are a source of pride for us, and we will strive to do the same through our civic engagement and advocacy efforts.”
Jul 072015
Maya was a finalist in Star for a Night, where Sarah Geronimo was hailed as the champion.