Short, pixie, bob, long and straight, long and wavy—which hairdo looks best on Marian Rivera?
Jan 272015
Jan 262015
Cheska Garcia-Kramer, Divine Lee, Gretchen Ho, Laureen Uy, Patty Laurel-Filart, and Nicole Andersson talk romance.
Jan 262015
Vice President Jejomar Binay (left) is given a tour of the Toledo copper mine in Toledo City, Cebu on Thursday, November 6. Binay did not attend the day’s Senate probe on the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall Building II. He is in Cebu to attend the Philippine Scouting Centennial Jamboree and meet with local officials to check their housing programs. Also in photo is Adrian Ramos (right), COO of Carmen Mining Corp. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Police have not found any connection linking the murder of former Makati engineer Nelson Morales, alleged bagman of Vice President Jejomar Binay, to his alleged involvement in some anomalies in Makati City. At the resumption of the Senate Blue Ribbon sub-committee hearing on the corruption allegations against Vice President Jejomar Binay on Thursday, Chief Superintendent Jose Erwin Villacorte said there are six suspects in the killing of Morales in 2012, one of whom – a certain Roderick Saraan – is already behind bars and facing trial. Villacorte said one suspect, Ramson Concepcion, was killed in a police encounter. Two others, Gilbert Concepcion and Winifredo Rabaca, are still at large. Two more suspects remain unidentified. The police said politics is the only the motive police have identified so far with respect to Morales’ killing. Morales, provincial chair of United Nationalist Alliance, was shot dead in Albay on September 7, 2012 after a wedding. “Ang lumalabas sa investigation is political. At that time, 2012, he is planning to run for mayor,” Villacorte said. Villacorte also Read More …
Jan 262015
Two days before Christmas and with thousands of Metro Manila denizens on vacation outside the metropolis, MRT riders experience a rare comfortable ride to their destinations on Tuesday, December 23. Malacañang on Monday stood firm on the government’s decision to raise fares of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) amid calls from some senators to defer the fare hike scheduled on January 4, 2015.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – A group led by party-list lawmakers on Tuesday asked President Benigno Aquino III to use his “power to control” to stop the controversial fare rate hike ordered by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) for the mass rail transit system in Metro Manila. The petitioners ran directly to Aquino after the group failed to secure a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court last week. They have filed a petition against DOTC Order No. 2014-14 delineating the fare increase for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and the Metro Rail Transit (MRT). “With no immediate relief in sight for the riding public, we look forward to President Aquino to respond favorably to our petition and provide respite to the fare hike while exploring ways to spare commuters of the burden of the rate adjustments,” said Akbayan Rep. Barry Gutierrez. “In addition to the constitution, the powers of the President are also provided by the Executive Order No. 292, s. 1987, otherwise known as the Administrative Code of 1987. Specifically, Book III, Title I, Chapter I, Section 1 Read More …
Jan 262015
Members of ProGay and women’s rights group in a rally to denounce the alleged government inaction on violence against women. After days of a thorough investigation, the suspect in her death, as US Marine, has been charged with murder. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Gabriela Women’s Party (GWP) has filed a bill that will make legal separation simpler to untie some of the legal hurdles under the Family Code. Legal separation, one of the existing remedies provided by the Family Code to women suffering from abusive spouses, has unfortunately many arcane governing provisions making it inaccessible and impractical for the poor womenfolk. The women’s Party-list hopes to untie some of the legal hurdles when it filed House Bill 5238, An Act Expanding the Grounds for Legal Separation, Amending for the Purpose Article 55 of the Family Code on the occasion of the 2014 global commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women. Rep. Emmi De Jesus said the amendments will not only give women and their children additional State protection consistent with Republic Act No. 9262, also known as the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004, but also benefits women’s spouses. De Jesus pointed out that one of the grounds for separation, the frequency of violent acts, will be replaced with the severity or gravity of the acts, which is also broadened to more clearly define violence to include financial, economic and serious attempts to inflict violence against the woman and her children. Read More …
Jan 252015
I’m back in the US for a few weeks, to give a series of lectures on Philippine culture and politics as a Pacific Leadership Fellow with the Center on Emerging and Pacific Economies at the School of International Relations and Pacific Studies (IR/PS) of the University of California, San Diego. The PLF is a post usually reserved for senior government officials and business leaders engaged in economic and political affairs, and it’s the first time they’re bringing over someone from the humanities; some years ago, I was preceded in this fellowship by former Central Bank Governor and NCCA chairman Jimmy Laya. I have a major talk coming up this week on the ponderous topic of “Democracy and Cultural Expression: Confronting the Challenge of Modernization in the Philippines,” but last Wednesday, I sat down with a group of graduate students from IR/PS for a more personal chat. The general topic was “The Youth and Social Reform,” and I decided to share some of my experiences as a former student activist in the 1970s and to observe how protest movements and actions have changed since then. I began by talking about the First Quarter Storm — our own version of Tiananmen, to use a metaphor more familiar to my audience, and the subject of my current research — my arrest and imprisonment in 1973, and the novel that I wrote about that experience. I recalled the many friends and comrades I lost, remarking on the ironic truth that “If I hadn’t been Read More …
Jan 232015
All he aspired for when he was starting his boxing career was to be the champion of the Philippines. But after 20 decades in the sport, Manny Pacquiao has become not only his beloved nation’s champ; but also a well-respected world boxing record-holder – the first and only eight-division world champion, with an impressive ten world titles. “Of course I never think [sic] that I’m going to be like this. My dream is [sic] to help my mother and to be the champion in the Philippines,” he said in a recent interview. “I’m really thankful to God for what he has done in my life. I think God has a purpose in raising me like this. I believe it is to serve as an example and inspiration to others and bring them closer to God.” Jannelle So and Manny Pacquiao Even as a devout Catholic, Pacquiao’s dedication to the traditions of the church was inspiring to many, regularly attending church on Sundays and praying the rosary religiously. His pre and post-fight Catholic masses were well-attended by supporters and fans. So were his rosary novenas that started on the ninth night before each fight. Entering the ring, he’s been seen wearing the beaded article around his neck; and making the sign of the cross at the start of each fight. But all that changed when he started reading the Bible more. “We must read the bible because that’s the manual to life, so that we will be careful to do everything Read More …
Jan 232015
PAG-IBIG Chair Atty. Darlene Berberabe attends the Blue Ribbon Subcommittee hearing for the first time. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) president Darlene Marie Berberabe was unaware that the agency providing her security was allegedly connected with Vice President Jejomar Binay, who recommended it to her, and Pag-IBIG director Tomas Lopez. Berberabe admitted that it was only now that she heard the connection between Omni Security Investigation Inc., Binay, and Lopez. “Ngayon ko lang din tinignan yung GIS (general information sheet ng Omni) andun nga yung Hirene Lopez, hindi ko sya kilala nang personal. Hindi naging apparent yung connection dahil it (security contract) did not reach the board,” she said during the resumption of the hearing of the blue ribbon subcommittee on the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall Building II and other corruption allegations against Binay. Hirene Lopez, treasurer of Omni, is the wife of Tomas Lopez who is a member of the Pag-IBIG board of directors and president of University of Makati. Berberabe’s close-in security personnel are employees of Omni. Former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado earlier claimed the Lopezes are dummies of Binay. During the hearing, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said Berberabe should scold her office’s legal department for not pointing out the conflict of interest in getting the contract. He also asked Berberabe if Lopez is attending their board meetings, to which the latter replied in the affirmative. “Bakit sa inyo naga-attend tapos dito nawawala siya? Kelan ang susunod ninyong meeting, Read More …
Jan 232015
Firefighters try to extinguish the fire on a burning bus at the northbound lane of the Ayala flyover Wednesday. No one was reported hurt in the incident that caused massive traffic and suspension of the of the Metro Rail Transit operation. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Thursday revealed that he has filed a resolution expanding the scope of the Senate Blue Ribbon sub-committee probe on the corruption allegations against Vice President Jejomar Binay. Trillanes said he filed last Tuesday, January 20, proposed Senate Resolution 1114 which seeks to look into the alleged anomalies at the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) and the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP), where Binay serves as Board of Trustees chairman and president, respectively. He said Senator TG Guingona, chair of the mother Blue Ribbon Committee, referred the resolution to sub-committee, chaired by Senator Koko Pimentel. “He (Guingona) believes that it is consistent as far as the personalities involved dito sa ongoing investigation natin. Para doon sa mga nagtatanong kung anong koneksyon nito doon sa first resolution, ito po, meron na pong bagong resolution kaya konektado na siya directly,” Trillanes said. The ongoing sub-committee probe was launched by virtue of Senate Resolution 826, which deals with the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall Building II and “other related anomalies committed by past and present Makati City Hall officials.” Pimentel confirmed the move, saying “we will simultaneously… have hearings on Senate Resolution 826 and Senate Resolution 1114.” Trillanes and Senator Read More …
Jan 232015
$15-M military assistance withheld earlier due to human rights abuses CLARK AIR FIELD, PAMPANGA – Philippine Air Force Airman 1st Class Villegas Ramwyl carries U.S. Marine Cpl. Abraham Bernado during aircraft rescue and firefighting training at Clark Air Field, Pampanga, Republic of the Philippines, Sept. 26 part of Amphibious Landing Exercise 2014. The day of training familiarized the Armed Forces of the Philippines members with egress procedures should an aircraft mishap occur. The Philippine and U.S. militaries often engage in bilateral training in the common interest of regional security. Bernado is power line mechanic with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Photo : Lance Cpl. Anne K. Henry Manila, Philippines | AFP | – The United States has lifted restrictions on a small portion of its military assistance to the Philippines that was withheld over human rights concerns, the foreign minister said Thursday. The gesture affects about $15 million dollars that have been withheld over the last five years, a fraction of Washington’s total military assistance to the South East Asian island. Albert del Rosario told reporters that the aid restriction had been lifted “sometime last year”, but did not explain why it had been lifted. A day earlier, US assistant defense secretary David Shear said that the Washington had provided $300 million in military-related assistance since 2001 and would provide another $40 million in 2015 as part of America’s support to modernize the poorly-equipped Philippine military, which Read More …