Lyca Gairanod, Darren Espanto, Juan Karlos Labajo, and Tonton Cabiles will do home study amid their hectic schedule.
Sep 172014
Sep 172014
The gamberetti at Raffaele in Bay Leaf Hotel: White shrimps, preserved lemon, garlic, chili and almonds If a restaurant is named after the genius that fathered the Italian pizza, one should expect that due respect be given to the creator. True enough, Raffaele, one of the newest stars on the Italian cuisine scene, rose to the challenge and, in my taste, has passed with honors. Home to the most delectable, authentic wood-fired pizza creations, Raffaele has secured a spot in the local firmament as a worthy ambassador of Italian gourmet. To label it as a pizza parlor would be an injustice. I know; I have been there and will likely be back for more. Located on the third floor of the charming Bayleaf Hotel, Raffaele (named after Raffaele Esposito, a 19th-century master pizzaoilo or pizza maker from Naples, Italy) has continually been praised since it opened two months ago. I found out why when I was invited to an informal gathering of food writers for lunch at this captivating trattoria. Our host, the president and owner of the Lyceum of the Philippines and Bayleaf Hotel, gave us a glimpse into the 60-seater chic restaurant. The feel of the place was elegant yet comfy, spacious yet warm. Natural sunlight streamed through the glass ceiling and walls and gave us a panoramic view of Intramuros’ old-world, nostalgic charm. The romantic ambience indeed served as an ideal backdrop for the food. Glancing at the special menu for the day, I realized that I Read More …
Sep 172014
Jessa Zaragoza (MNS photo) The country’s “Phenomenal Diva” Jessa Zaragoza will be interpreting “Bumabalik Ang Nagdaan,” an entry to this year’s Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs songwriting contest, written by Sarah Jane Gandia. Jessa will be performing the song live during finals night on Sept. 28, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. And she is nervous. “I know this is a songwriting composition but people will also expect a lot from the interpreter of the song. So, for me, I really want to give justice to ‘Bumabalik Ang Nagdaan,’ (to) make the composer happy as well as the people listening to it,” shared Jessa. This is not the first time that Jessa will interpret a song for Himig Handog. In 2004, She interpreted “Susubukan Kong Muli,” an entry written by Jan Lopez. She didn’t know that she was four months pregnant at the time, and when she found out, she opted to not to sing during the finals. “I didn’t want to be stressed,” Jessa recalled. According to Jonathan Manalo of Star Records, it was Arnee Hidalgo who took over Jessa’s role. Seeing the list of interpreters for this year’s competition added pressure to Jessa, noting how these include some of the country’s best. Among singers included in the list are Morissette (“Akin Ka Na Lang” by Francis Louis Salazar); Jovit Baldivino (“Dito” by Raizo Brent Chabeldin and Biv De Vera); Ebe Dancel with Abra (“Halik sa Hangin” by David Dimaguila); Angeline Quinto (“Hanggang Kailan” by Jose Joel Mendoza); Juris (“Hindi Read More …
Sep 172014
CAPITOL HILL MEETING. Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, accompanied by Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. and Rep. Abigail Binay-Campos, discuss bilateral issues with Rep. Ed Royce, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the United States House of Representatives, during a meeting in Washington, D.C. on Thursday. (Philippine Embassy Photo by Ariel Penaranda) MANILA (Mabuhay) – It’s now official. The Senate blue ribbon committee has formally invited Vice President Jejomar Binay to attend the panel’s subcommittee hearing regarding the alleged overpricing in the construction of the Makati City Hall building II. The letter signed by Senator Aquilino Pimentel III was sent September 11, when the committee held its fifth hearing on the issue, but was released to the media only on September 15, Monday. The letter stated that the committee “is requesting your presence in its sixth public hearing on Thursday, September 25, 2014, at 10 a.m. at the Senate session hall…to inform the committee about what you know regarding the subject matter under inquiry. We look forward to your Honor’s presence during the said hearing.” Binay was supposed to hold a live address on the issue Monday afternoon but he rescheduled it to go to northern Luzon and assess the damage brought by Typhoon Luis. Joey Salgado, Binay’s spokesperson, said they did not receive any invitation from the Blue Ribbon committee. “No invitation received,” Salgado said. Kickbacks, plunder complaint Last week, former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado accused Binay of receiving 13 percent kickback in every project the Read More …
Sep 172014
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), in partnership with SM Malls conduct nationwide jobs fair in celebration of Labor Day (May 1). Over 310,000 jobs are offered to qualified applicants. Photo shows applicants line up at Mall Event Center of SM Manila. (MNS photo) HONG KONG (Mabuhay) – Government officials are urging Filipinos working in households here to consider the possibility of going back home to fill up 40,000 vacancies for teaching and non-teaching personnel of the Department of Education. In a recent forum held at the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong, Labor chief Rosalinda Baldoz said the government’s K to 12 program, which addresses the perceived two-year deficit in the Philippine educational system, will create new jobs for teachers and non-teachers in the Philippines. “Ang amin lang po naman ay mabigyan kayo ng option… Kung ganitong may opportunities po, dapat po binibigay namin sa inyo ang detalye ng mga opportunities na puwede ninyong pag-aralan,” Baldoz said. “Naisip ko po na sa tinagal-tagal po ng pagtigil dito whether as household workers or kung anuman po, baka po mas may mataas na skills sets na na-acquire kayo dito, at kung ma-assess po iyan at ma-certify, bibigyan din po kayo ng idea kung anong vertical at horizontal career path na puwedeng pag-aralan,” she added. The Philippines has implemented the K to 12 program beginning with the universal kindergarten in school year 2011-2012, while Grade 11 or the start of the senior high school will be implemented in academic year 2016-2017. Read More …
Sep 172014
President Benigno S. Aquino III shares the stage with the students from the Center for Excellence (CENTEX) Elementary School for a group photo souvenir during the ceremonial signing of Republic Act No. 10533 or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 at the Rizal Ceremonial Hall of the Malaca?n Palace on Wednesday (May 15). The K to 12 program covers Kindergarten and 12 years of basic education (six years of primary education, four years of Junior High School, and two years of Senior High School) to provide sufficient time for mastery of concepts and skills, develop lifelong learners, and prepare graduates for tertiary education, middle-level skills development, employment, and entrepreneurship. In photo are House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., and Senator Edgardo Angara. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The House Committee on Transportation has approved in principle a substitute bill granting students 20 percent fare discount on all kinds of public transportation utilities during school days. Rep. Cesar V. Sarmiento (Lone District, Catanduanes), chair of the house body, said the still unnumbered bill seeks to address economic concerns and the alarming rate of school dropouts. “This will alleviate the burden of the parents and guardians in the financial support given to the students with due consideration to the continued rise in the cost of education in the country, including their incidental expenses, such as transportation costs,” Sarmiento said. Sarmiento said students aged 30 years old and below need only to present their school-issued identification card or current validated enrolment form supported Read More …
Sep 172014
“Every time I passed through between the U.S. embassy and yacht club, Jesus Christ, a lot of vendors, I see a lot people lying around. It is unsightly,” Senate President Franklin Drilon said. Photo: Rhony Laigo on Roxas Blvd. by Manila Hotel MANILA (Mabuhay) – For Senate President Franklin Drilon, it’s not more fun in the Philippines when a tourist would see vendors and people lying along Roxas Boulevard, specifically between the United States embassy and Manila Yacht Club. “Every time I passed through between the U.S. embassy and yacht club, Jesus Christ, a lot of vendors, I see a lot people lying around. It is unsightly,” Drilon said. With this, the Senate leader urged the Department of Tourism (DOT) to address the problem which can affect the government’s effort to entice more tourists to visit the Philippines under the DOT’s marketing slogan ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines.’ ”Can you do something about this, Mr. Secretary,” Drilon asked DOT chief Ramon Jimenez during the recent Senate public hearing on the proposed Php2.15-billion 2015 budget of DOT and its attached agencies. Jimenez explained that making the boulevard more presentable to foreign and local tourists specifically coming from the airport remains difficult due to ‘nightmare jurisdiction’ of the 7-kilometer road. ”Roxas Boulevard is a nightmare of jurisdiction issue. It travels three cities – Manila, Pasay and Parañaque while the center island is being maintained by the MMDA (Metro Manila Development Authority),” Jimenez told the Senate sub-finance committee. Despite the jurisdiction issue, Read More …
Sep 172014
Angeline Quinto PALA, CA … Popular Filipino singing star Angeline Quinto, with special guest Jon Secada, will appear in concert at 7 p.m., Saturday, November 22, in the Infinity Showroom at Pala Casino Spa & Resort. Quinto came to prominence in 2011 after she won Star Power: Sharon’s Search for the Next Female Superstar in Manila, which earned her a recording contract with Star Records. Her career exploded after her album, Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs, went platinum in 2012. Secada is an international star who has won two Grammy awards, has sold over 20 million albums and was one of the first bilingual artists to achieve international crossover appeal. His latest single, “I’m Never Too Far Away,” is his first collaboration with Rudy Perez, Billboard magazine’s five-time producer of the year and producer of the decade (2000-2010). Angeline Quinto with Special Guest Jon Secada at 7 p.m., Saturday, November 22 at the Pala Casino Spa & Resort Jon Secada Infinity Showroom. Tickets: $98, $78. Tickets on sale, with no service charge, at the Pala Box Office in the casino, or call 1-877-WIN PALA (1-877-946-7252). Tickets also are available at Star Tickets, 1-800-585-3737, or www.startickets.com. Pala is located in Northern San Diego County; from San Diego/Riverside, take I-15 to Highway 76 east five miles; from Los Angeles County and Orange County, take I-5 south to Highway 76 east, then travel 23 miles. Pala is 15 miles north of Escondido, 12 miles south of Temecula. Address: 11154 Highway 76, Pala, CA 92059; Telephone: 1-877-WIN-PALA (1-877-946-7252);Web site: http://www.palacasino.com Read More …
Sep 172014
President Benigno S. Aquino III converses with Vice President Jejomar Binay during the 115th Anniversary of the Philippine Navy at the Commodore Posadas Wharf, Headquarters, Naval Sea Systems Command in Naval Station Pascual Ledesma, Fort San Felipe, Cavite City on Tuesday (May 21). At present, the Philippine Navy is a force of 26,000 personnel composed of sailors, marines and civilian employees. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – You should ask the Vice President. That was the answer of Malacañang on Monday when asked if it considers Vice President Jejomar Binay an ally of President Benigno Aquino III. “He supports the agenda of the president…but there are some areas that they disagree with,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said during a televised press briefing. “I think that is up to the Vice President to say,” he said, adding that Binay’s camp had consistently said they support Aquino’s agenda. The statement came as Aquino left for Europe without putting the Vice President in charge of the country. Binay was also noticeably absent during the President’s “agenda setting” meeting at Malacañang last week. On Monday morning, it was announced that Binay’s 15-minute address to clear his name against corruption charges has been postponed. Instead, the he flew to typhoon-hit provinces. He said that while the speech could be postponed, help needed by Filipinos cannot, especially since Aquino was away. On the other hand, Lacierda said there was no need to assign a “caretaker” during the President’s absence since “the reins of government will be handled Read More …
Sep 172014
Gerald Anderson (MNS photo) Kapamilya stars Gerald Anderson and Julia Montes will be working with each other for the first time in Star Cinema’s upcoming horror movie, which also features JC de Vera. To be directed by Manny Palo, whose previous movies include the indie “Sta. Nina” and the romance drama “A Moment in Time,” the yet untitled horror movie also includes a love story. The movie will be shot entirely in Baguio City. “It’s a love story between the three of them pero at the same time mayroon talagang nangyayari sa kanilang tatlo, an external force that would prevent ‘yung love story to fully bloom and blossom,” the director said. Anderson and de Vera both noted that it is their first time to do a movie such as this. “I’m confident to say na kahit kayo as viewers, it’s gonna be a first-time experience. I’ve never made a movie like this and I’m excited para sa inyo, I’m excited ngayon pa lang sa research, sa mga kailangan kong gawin sa role ko na I’ve never done also in my career. It’s going to be exciting romantic horror story,” Anderson said. Julia Montes (MNS photo) “Napakaganda ng story alam mong malalim siya. Alam mong makaka-relate ang tao dahil sa love angle niya at para mag-add ng taste doon sa movie, nilagyan ng horror. So magandang mix siya,” de Vera added. Montes, meanwhile, is also excited to shoot in Baguio. “May mga element dito para sa akin na nakaka-excite na gampanan Read More …