Maniolas

Star Power Grand Champion and Queen of Teleserye Theme Songs show Nov. 30 at Alex Theater The multi-talented Angeline Quinto has won all the major singing awards and competitions of her generation. She began her meteoric ascent in 2003 at “Star for a Night,” the national TV contest hosted by Asia’s Songbird, Regine Velasquez, wherein she dueled with Sarah Geronimo, Mark Bautista and Mau Marcelo – all certified stars – in the exciting grand finals, in a performance that impressed Sharon Cuneta, one of the judges. At her next major TV competition, “MTB: Teen PopStar” in 2005, she ousted international winner Jonalyn Viray during the pre-finals and tied with Sherilyn Flores for the grand prize. In 2010, she joined GMA-7′s “Diz Iz Kantahan: Challenge the Champion,” where she was a wildcard finalist. In 2011, Angeline was invited by Sharon Cuneta to compete in the singing contest she hosted, “Star Power: Sharon’s Search For the Next Female Pop Superstar.” After three rounds of competition, she emerged victorious, winning $1 million and a recording contract from Star Records. Later, Angeline joined Sharon Cuneta in her U.S. concert tour. Aside from singing contest champion, Angeline has earned another title – “Queen of Teleserye Theme Songs” – for singing on several soundtracks of top-rating ABS-CBN television dramas and films, including “Princess and I,” “Ina Kapatid, Anak,” “Kahit Konting Pagtingin,” “Apoy sa Dagat,” “Juan de la Cruz,” “Muling Buksan ang Puso,” “Ikaw Lamang,” and “Sana Bukas pa ang Kahapon.”  She has released four solo albums – three certified double platinum, one certified triple Read More …

President Benigno S. Aquino III during the exhibit on the 75th Founding Anniversary Celebration of the Department of National Defense at the AFP Theater in Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Monday (November 17). Also in photo is Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Philippine government lost nearly P4 billion in tariffs from 38 million kilos of pork allegedly smuggled into the country last year, according to Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) on Tuesday. Comparing data from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI)  and the United Nations Commodity Trade Division (UN ComTrade), SINAG came up with a discrepancy of about 38 million kgs pork, presumably smuggled into the Philippines. BAI data showed total pork imports of 199 million kgs, while the UN ComTrade recorded 237 million kgs. “Multiplying the 38 million kilos unaccounted for with the correct duties for prime cuts misdeclared as pork fats or offal, the result is a staggering P3.85 billion in lost revenues for government,” SINAG chair Rosendo So said in an emailed statement. He added that of the 237 million kgs cited by UN Comtrade, 15 million kgs came from China, which the Department of Agriculture banned due to an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Beijing. “We’re fighting smuggling on two fronts: one is outright smuggling and the other is technical smuggling where illicit importer-traders misdeclare imported prime pork cuts as pork offal to evade paying the right taxes (tariff),” So explained. SINAG said some importers declare their Read More …

Some of the 86 contestants vying for the Miss Earth 2014 crown are presented to the media in Manila on Monday. The winner of the Miss Earth 2014 pageant will be crowned on November 29 at the University of the Philippines Theater. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) is asking the organizers of the Miss Earth beauty pageant to scrap one of its events in a Palawan resort allegedly owned by former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, a critic of former Makati Mayor and now Vice President Jejomar Binay. “I have serious misgivings about the holding an international event in the controversial 100-hectare Coron Underwater Garden Resort in Palawan,” UNA interim president Toby Tiangco told Carousel Productions’ Ramon Monzon, Lorraine Schuck, and Stella Araneta. He said the organizers should think of the repercussions of holding the event at the 100-hectare Coron Underwater Garden Resort. The event will be held on November 23 to 25. “It may be wise for Carousel Productions to think over the holding of the Miss Earth 2014 event in the said resort in order to protect the reputation of the pageant and the Miss Earth franchise,” he added. Tiangco accused Mercado of acquiring the property through illegal means. He said Mercado “has admitted that he got kickbacks during his term as vice mayor and the money he used to acquire the island and build the resort came from illegal sources.” Tiangco had previously asked the Senate and the Bureau of Internal Revenue Read More …

President Obama’s planned immigration overhaul will benefit thousands of Filipinos staying without proper documentation here in the United States, most of them living here in California. Immigration records have stated that there are roughly about 2.6 million undocumented immigrants residing in the State of California, including thousands of Filipinos. These undocumented immigrants have been found out to have lived in California for at least 10 years. The proposed plan, according to immigration advocates, could bring some legal status to thousands of Filipinos working without legal papers here in California, most of them in restaurants, nursing homes and board and care facilities for the elderly. Some Filipinos who have been here for a number of years but were unable to change their immigration status were so elated about the prospect of finally achieving their “American dream” come true. They said that if what they have been hoping pushes through, it would be an early Christmas present for all of them and hopefully they can be reunited with their loved ones back home. It was reported in the news that these undocumented immigrants are likely to be given work permits, while those on deportation proceedings will probably be granted a temporary stay, if they have lived in the US for at least five to 10 years. If the proposed plan becomes a reality despite strong objections from the Republican-dominated Congress, it would surely help any democratic presidential candidate to win the national elections in less than two years. Speaking of elections…I see Read More …

Manny Pacquiao (left) poses with next foe Chris Algieri in Macau, where two will meet on November 22. MANILA (Mabuhay) – House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said only 11 lawmakers have secured travel authorities (TA) from his office coinciding with the upcoming boxing match of Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao. Belmonte declined to name the 11 saying, “nothing spectacular. Eleven lang ang TA, others must have gone using regular passport as I would if I were going. [There is] much work, so I cannot go. I would have wanted to give moral support to Manny in addition to watching the fight.” Pacquiao takes on Chris Algieri in Macau, China this Sunday morning. Pacquiao has continued his boxing career and started playing professional basketball even as he sits as an incumbent lawmaker. Pacquiao is one of the top absentees in Congress.(MNS)