May 082015
 
Ai Ai back on primetime TV

Ai Ai delas Alas (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Mere days after turning Kapuso, Ai Ai delas Alas is already at work on “Let The Love Begin,” a primetime soap no less. Ai Ai is excited over her role, saying, “Masarap sa pakiramdam kasi makakaarte nanaman ako. May soap at marami nanaman akong work.” She looks forward to doing scenes with Ruru Madrid, Gabbi Garcia and Gardo Versoza. “Lalo na si Ruru. Magaling siyang umarte na bata. Parang maraming pinanghuhugutan. Ay naku, intayin mong tumanda yan… ang lakas ng hugot eh,” she said. Ai Ai’s last soap was in 2014 for another network. Although admitting she is nervous over her return on the primetime slot, the work is most welcome “na makatulong ako sa mga charity, mga pari, family at friends ko.” The actress believes paying it forward opens her up to blessings she continues to receive. “’Yung andito nanaman ako sa Kapuso ay big, big blessing na. Kumbaga, 25 years na ako pero hindi pa rin nila ako nakakalimutan,” she said. Aside from acting, Ai Ai is interested in directing and producing, too. She explained, “Usapan na namin ni Uge (Eugene Domingo) ’yan. Ako producer, siya director. Tapos kami din ang bida (sa balak naming project).” Directed by Gina Alajar, “Let The Love Begin” premiered May 4 on GMA-7.(MNS)

May 082015
 
Senate panel set to finish deliberations on BBL in two weeks

Senate President Franklin Drilon and Senator Bongbong Marcos receive the Citizens’ Peace Council report on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. Representing the Peace Council are former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., former Ambassador Howard Lee, former Education Secretary Edilberto de Jesus, Teach Peace, Build Peace founder Bai Rohaniza Sumndad-Usman, Ateneo de Davao University President Rev. Fr. Joel Tabor and Director Vicky Gatchitorena. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Senate panel which is deliberating on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is set to transmit to the plenary its committee report on the controversial measure in the next two weeks to have it passed before the Senate adjourns sine die on June 11. In a press conference on Tuesday morning, Senate President Franklin Drilon said that in his meeting with Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday, the latter agreed to finish the committee hearings on the BBL two weeks from now. “In our meeting yesterday, he said that his committee is prepared to terminate the committee hearings in about two weeks time, so that we will have enough time to debate on the report before we adjourn on June 11,” Drilon said. Marcos is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government, which is tasked to deliberate on the BBL before it gets voted upon at the plenary level. Marcos’ committee has been deliberating on the proposed measure since September last year, but the deliberations were suspended for about two months following the bloody Mamasapano incident on January 25. Read More …

May 082015
 
Escudero urges new Comelec chair Bautista to act fast for automated 2016 polls

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) — Senator Francis Escudero on Tuesday urged newly-appointed Commission on Elections chairman Andres Bautista to act fast and hit the ground running to ensure clean, honest, and automated elections in 2016. “Time is of the essence and he has to act fast in order to perform the mandate of Comelec in 2016 for clean, honest, and automated elections. He has to hit the ground running,” Escudero said. He added that Bautista, a former chairman of the Presidential Commission on Good Government, “is capable and he should be given all the help that he needs.” Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, for his part, expressed hope Bautista would live up to his track record and institute reforms in Comelec. “Atty. Andres Bautista, on paper, is a good choice. Hopefully, he would be coming in with a reform agenda. Otherwise, the operators there would run circles around him,” he said in a separate text message. Senate President Franklin Drilon said Bautista is respected in the legal profession and he will support the latter’s confirmation in the Commission on Appointments. “We support the appointment of PCGG chair Bautista as the new Comelec chair. A law dean and respected in the legal profession, he was an examiner in the Read More …

May 082015
 
BBL constitutional, peace council concludes

Senate President Franklin Drilon and Senator Bongbong Marcos receive the Citizens’ Peace Council report on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. Representing the Peace Council are former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., former Ambassador Howard Lee, former Education Secretary Edilberto de Jesus, Teach Peace, Build Peace founder Bai Rohaniza Sumndad-Usman, Ateneo de Davao University President Rev. Fr. Joel Tabor and Director Vicky Gatchitorena. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Malacañang-created peace council tasked to review the provisions of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) on Tuesday maintained that the measure was overall “constitutional” despite some phrases that need to be inserted or deleted. “In conclusion, the Cluster declared that the BBL complies with the Constitution’s mandate for the creation of autonomous regions ‘within the framework of the Constitution and the national sovereignty as well as territorial integrity of the Republic of the Philippines,” former Chief Justice Hilario Davide told the Senate committee on local government during the continuation on the panel’s deliberations on the BBL. Before the start of the hearing, the peace council submitted to Senate President Franklin Drilon and Senate committee on local government chairman Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. its 50-page report containing the findings and recommendations on the BBL. Marcos’ committee is the one deliberating on the proposed law. At the start of the hearing, peace council member and Ateneo de Davao University president Fr. Joel Tabora, S.J. said their report was a product of almost a month of deliberations that culminated in a peace summit held Read More …

May 082015
 
Pacquiao could face criminal charges for hiding shoulder injury — report

Filipino boxing icon and WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao and WBC/WBA welterweight champion American Floyd Mayweather Jr. face off during their official weigh-in on Friday (Saturday in Manila) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada for their welterweight unification bout on May 2. (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Manny Pacquiao could face sanctions for not disclosing his injury to the Nevada State Athletic Commission prior to his fight against Floyd Mayweather. Francisco Aguilar, the chairman of the commission that oversaw this past weekend’s mega-fight, told True.Ink that it is “something we’re looking at, and an issue we’ll be discussing with the Attorney General.” According to the report, Pacquiao could be guilty of perjury for not disclosing the injury on his pre-fight health checklist. “In Nevada, perjury is considered a D-class felony, a crime punishable by as many as four years in prison, criminal guidelines state,” the report added. After losing via unanimous decision, Pacquiao cried foul over the fact that the commission refused to allow him to take painkiller shots for his shoulder. In a statement, the Pacquiao camp contended that it had filed the necessary paperwork to have the shots available to him, with disclosures having been made to the authority in charge of testing the fighters. “Manny’s advisors notified the United States Anti-Doping Agency (‘USADA’) of the shoulder injury and the treatments being proposed by the doctors during training and on fight night. USADA spoke to Manny’s doctors twice, investigated, and confirmed in writing that Read More …

May 082015
 
Pacquiao to have surgery for shoulder injury, postpones homecoming

Manny Pacquiao throws a punch but doesn’t his target as he fails to beat Floyd Mayweather, Jr. during their welterweight WBO, WBC and WBA (Super) title fight in Las Vegas, Nevada. (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Filipino boxing champ and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao may not be able to get home this Friday as he will undergo surgery on his right shoulder. This was the advice of Pacquiao’s doctors after an MRI scan. Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz said doctors told the boxer his injury worsened after his fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Saturday (Sunday, PHL time). The operation is scheduled for this week. Doctors will give a complete medical report before and after the operation. The surgery will be for Pacquiao’s torn rotator cuff, with the recovery time expected to put Pacquiao out of action for nine to 12 months. Trainer Freddie Roach earlier said Pacquiao injured his shoulder after colliding with another fighter during sparring and their arms got entangled. During his post-fight press conference on Sunday, Pacquiao said he was not able to do the things he needed to do during the bout with Mayweather because of his injury. “It was because my shoulder hurt,” Pacquiao said. He lost to Mayweather via unanimous decision last Sunday in the four-belt unification bout. Pacquiao admitted his team decided not to inform the public about the injury prior to the fight. “Ayaw ko na mag-alala sila,” Pacquiao said. Initially, the champ was scheduled to return to the Philippines this Read More …

May 072015
 
Katrina Halili reconciles with Hayden Kho, Vicki Belo

Vicky Belo,Katrina Halili, and Hayden Kho (MNS Photo) Six years after the sex video scandal that even merited a Senate probe, actress Katrina Halili, Hayden Kho, both subjects of the controversy, and celebrity doctor Vicki Belo, have proven that time heals all wounds. Belo took to image-sharing application Instagram to share a photo with Halili, Kho and talent manager Lolit Solis. The picture was taken 10 days ago. “I always believe in forgiving but I have to admit that it’s not easy. But, if God can forgive us for all our sins, who are we not to do the same. Being bitter and unforgiving enslaves you and not the other person. To God be all the glory,” Belo said. Kho confirmed the reconciliation. “After seven years of enmity, Katrina, Vicki, and myself are now reconciled. And I want to say that just like the restoration of my medical license, the restoration of my relationship with Vicki, Katrina, and many others happened because I first sought to restore my relationship with God,” he said. It was reported early this week that it was Halili who wanted to make peace with Belo. And through the help of Solis, the meeting happened. The sexy actress filed legal complaints against Kho, who lost his medical license for years before regaining it in 2014. Still active in showbiz, Halili is now a single mother while Kho and Belo remain a couple. Kho is also hosting a medical show on TV5. (MNS)

May 072015
 
Jane Oineza to do movie with Joshua, Manolo

Jane Oineza (MNS Photo)  “Pinoy Big Brother” ex-housemates Jane Oineza, Joshua Garcia and Manolo Pedrosa are set to do a movie under Star Cinema. The young actors inked a contract with Star Cinema recently. “Mayroon po kaming pinirmahan na contract for two pictures sa Star Cinema. Super happy and blessed kami na finally may contract na kami with Star Cinema. [I’m] Super happy, hindi ako makapaniwala,” said Oineza, who turned emotional over her newest showbiz break. “Opo, sobrang happy na mayroon na agad, I didn’t know, at masaya kasi kasama ko si Joshua at si Jane,” Pedrosa said. “Masayang-masaya po,” added Garcia. Oineza, Garcia and Pedrosa will star in a youth-oriented movie with the working title “Bloody Crayons.” Pedrosa said he plans to use his acting experience in the hit series “Oh My G!” with Janella Salvador in preparation for the upcoming film. Garcia, on the other hand, said he is learning a lot from his co-actors in the series “Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita” with Oineza, Vina Morales and “PBB” ex-housemate Loisa Andalio. Oineza, a former child star, for her part said she is ready to face any challenge. “Hindi ko papalagpasin ang chance na ito and gagawin ko ang best ko sa lahat,” she said. (MNS)

May 072015
 
‘Jasmine’ and ‘Twinsters’ take top honors at 2015 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival

2015 LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL GRAND JURY PRIZE FOR BEST FEATURE GOES TO JASMINE, DIRECTED BY DAX PHELAN. HERE, THE TEAM FROM JASMINE CELEBRATES ITS FIVE AWARDS. FIFTH FROM LEFT: CHRIS CHAN LEE (WINNER, BEST EDITING); SEVENTH FROM LEFT: JASON TOBIN (WINNER, BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA); THIRD FROM RIGHT: DAX PHELAN (DIRECTOR); SECOND FROM RIGHT: GUY LIVNEH (WINNER, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY). (PHOTO courtesy of STEVEN LAM) Los Angeles, CA – The 2015 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (LAAPFF) held its closing ceremony with Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature JASMINE directed by Dax Phelan. The festival’s Best Director award was given to Jennifer Phang for her film “Advantageous.” Jasmine was also recognized by additional four awards – best cinematography by guy Livneh; best sound for Lisa Fowle; best actor for Jason Tobin; and Chris Lee for best editing. “Advantageous” took home two more awards – best music score for Timo Chen; and best editing  for Sean Gillane and Jennifer Phang; Jaqueline Kim, co-writer and lead actress likewise received the Linda Mabalot Renaissance Award. Miss India America was honored  with best screenplay written by Ravi Kapoor and Meera Simhan as well as best comedy actor award to Tiya Sircar. THE TEAM FROM ADVANTAGEOUS, WINNER OF MULTIPLE AWARDS AT THE 2015 LAAPFF, CELEBRATES ON CLOSING NIGHT AT THE DGA. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: ACTRESS JACQUELINE KIM; DIRECTOR JENNIFER PHANG; COMPOSER TIMO CHEN. (PHOTO courtesy of STEVEN LAM) Best Ensemble Cast went to Ktown Cowboys directed by Daniel Park. Read More …