Maniolas

As we celebrate the beginning of winter solstice (time of the year when the sun is farthest south) last Sunday, Marlou Colina gathered his loyal clients, family, friends and staff to a sumptuous Christmas dinner and merrymaking in the atrium-turned garden setting situated on the first floor of his salon’s building in Long Beach. Gregarious Bona was the host of the evening, who welcomed all of us for taking our time from our busy holiday schedules to join in the celebration. Pastor Herbert Mirfaflor delivered his powerful message of goodwill and peace to our fellowmen. Marlou gave a special award to his topnotched staff, Leilani “Ate Lani” Hollman who pursued a two-year career in Cosmetology and who has recently passed the US Board Licensing exam with flying colors. Audience participation was encouraged when Bona sang the Christmas song “ Chestnuts Roasting Like An Open Fire,” followed by Marlou’s dad who showed us his singing prowess. A “Most Loyal” award was given to Erica who has worked with Marlou for the past five years. Shown at the “Aguilang Bato Gardens” Christmas lunch reception were: Charlie Hilario, a friend, yours truly, Danny Bajet and Adolfo Maynes. Part of the merrymaking included games such as: produce a “Target” receipt, an American Express card,  a $100 bill, a 100 peso bill and a wedding ring  Additional games include the hilarious “dance contest” of four guys to a variety of  songs by: Ricky Martin, Madonna, Michael Jackson and Jennifer Lopez. The choral contest included guest participation between five groups singing the Christmas song: “Three Turtle Doves.” Read More …

Jewel Mische (MNS Photo) Actress Jewel Mische is still undecided if she will continue to pursue her acting career after her wedding later this year to her American boyfriend. “It’s hard to say what’s going to happen in the future but I’m just so excited right now to get married. There’s so much right now in my plate, so I don’t know yet” Mische said in an interview. “But you know, an actor will always be an actor. That’s what I say,” she added. Mische has revealed that she will be have a winter wedding in Michigan with her fiance, whom she identified only by his first name, Alister. After their US wedding, Mische said they will be traveling and won’t kids right away. “We talked about that already, we don’t want to have kids right now, not yet. Maybe mga two or three years (pa),” the actress said. Mische also said she feels very welcome with Alister’s family. “I stayed there for six months and invested time with his family and friends. I love them so much and they love me so much. I am very much accepted, very much cherished and acknowledged,” says Mische. (MNS)

MANILA, Philippines – Healthway Medical, the country’s trusted and most preferred network of mall-based clinics, launches Healthy Gift Choices through its MEDI-access Gift Card, available at any Healthway and Clarity clinics. The MEDI-access Gift Card has a reloadable and transferable feature, which makes gift-giving easier and convenient. “We believe that gift-giving must be hassle-free. That is why we carefully designed this Healthy Gift Choices in line with the convenience that MEDI-access has been providing our clients,” says Carmie de Leon, VP sales and marketing.  The gift card which is worth P500 and P1,000, offers 20% discount on laboratory, diagnostic and imaging procedures, rehabilitation modalities, and use of Operating Room (OR).  The card may also be used to purchase products and services such as medicines, vaccines, aesthetic procedures, gift checks, and the health or beauty packages of Healthway Medical, including annual physical exam and promotional bundled services, among others. For more information, visit Healthway Medical clinics at Alabang Town Center, Festival Supermall, Greenbelt 5, Market! Market!, Healthway Manila, Shangri-La Plaza, and SM North Edsa-The Block. Call the Customer Care hotline 751-4929 or visit www.healthway.com.ph. Like Healthway Medical on Facebook.

Manila Archbishop Antonio Luis G. Tagle as announces the visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines on January 15-19 next year during a press conference July 29, 2014 in Intramuros, Manila. (MNS photo) Manila, Philippines  – Pope Francis will meet with leaders of various religions when he visits the Philippines next month, pushing a message of tolerance in order to combat global religious conflicts, a church official said Monday. The pontiff will hold a 10 to 15-minute dialogue with the dean of the Philippines’ largest Islamic studies centre and a Taiwan-based Buddhist leader on January 18, according to Father Carlos Reyes, a member of the committee organising the Pope’s visit. He will also meet with the Hong Kong-based regional head of the Greek Orthodox Church, as well as a Hindu leader, Protestant bishops, and a Manila-based rabbi, Reyes told reporters. The dialogue will be held at the 400-year-old church-run University of Santo Tomas in Manila, where the pontiff will also address a crowd of 25,000 youths. “The church is Catholic, it is universal, we are in dialogue with the world,” Reyes said. “It is our job as men and women of religion not to allow the fundamentalists or extremists to hijack the religion.” The event comes as the largely-Catholic Philippines is implementing a peace deal signed last March with its main Muslim rebel group to create an autonomous area for the Muslim minority in the southern islands. It also comes as the government fights a small band of hardliners that have reportedly Read More …

Gabrielle Current The 126th Rose Parade is just days away, and one Filipina worthy of a mention is on the Royal Court. Gabrielle Current, who lives in Pasadena and is a senior at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy was selected from over 800 young women who competed for the honor of serving as a member of the 2015 Tournament of Roses Royal Court. Gabrielle is a member of the National Honor Society and the California Scholarship Federation. As the President of Vivace & Friends, she was responsible for producing a benefit concert this summer that raised $5,000 for Youth Orchestra Los Angeles.  She is a model and is currently signed with LA MODELS and has been featured in ad campaigns for Pottery Barn, Macy’s, Target, Ross, Kohls, among many others.  Gabrielle loves musical theater and has performed in Phantom of the Opera, Titanic, God Spell, West Side Story, 9 to 5, and Xanadu.  She hones her voice by studying Classical Voice at the prestigious Colburn School of Music in Downtown LA.  Her plan is to attend college after graduating in 2015 and to major in music management. Gabrielle Current The Royal Court is comprised of seven girls who were chosen based on a number of criteria, including poise, personality, public speaking ability, academic achievement, and community and school involvement. They serve as ambassadors for the Tournament of Roses – It is a very prestigious honor, but not an easy feat to pull off with grace.  Gabrielle has attended over 100 public Read More …