Maniolas

HIV cases up 500% in PHL: The new HIV cases has increased by 532 percent from 2008 to 2013 and for January to June this year alone, recent reports from Manila said. Out of the 19,330 reported cases from 1984 to June 2014, a total of 1,766 are AIDS cases. File photo shows applicants line up at Mall Event Center of SM Manila. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – By the end of 2014, the number of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the Philippines is projected to hit 32,379, according to the Department of Health. During the Senate inquiry on six bills that will strengthen policies on HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment, DOH Assistant Secretary Enrique Tayag said the reported HIV cases has reached 19,330 since 1984 when the first Filipino HIV case was confirmed by the DOH. “The new HIV cases has actually increased by 532 percent from 2008 to 2013 and for January to June this year alone, the total reported cases hit 2,814,” Tayag told the Senate committee on health and demography chaired by Sen. Pia Cayetano. Tayag said out of the 19,330 reported cases from 1984 to June 2014, a total of 1,766 are AIDS cases. He said the number of persons who do not voluntarily undergo testing for HIV infection are included in the projected number of persons with HIV by end of this year. Based on data presented by Tayag, the populations at risk to Read More …

Arnold Reyes (MNS Photo) Award-winning actor Arnold Reyes wants same sex marriage to be accepted in the Philippines. Apparently, he believes that marriage is a right that people should be able to enjoy, regardless of their sexual preference. He reasoned, “We’ve undergone a lot of changes through the years and we have learned to accept a lot of things. Why don’t we give same sex marriage a chance?” Arnold starred in the Cinemalaya film entry “Kasal,” which tackles same sex marriage. In the story, he plays a closeted gay lawyer in a relationship with a filmmaker played by Oliver Aquino. The filmmaker wants to marry the lawyer who is having second thoughts on the matter. “It is because in the story I caught Oliver’s character with another man,” Arnold explained. He related the thrill of working with Oliver. “We did a lot of improvisation in a lot of our scenes. Like in our fight scene, we didn’t have a script to follow. We based our actions on how much we know each other, our characters and our emotions. We even ended-up in a fist fight,” he described. So what do you think is the message of “Kasal,” we asked Arnold. “It is about doing whatever makes you happy. Also, if you’re getting married, make sure that you know that person very well and that you know what you’re getting in to. It’s not something you could easily give up. Marriage is forever,” commented Arnold. “Kasal” is Arnold’s 10th Cinemalaya movie. Read More …

President Benigno S. Aquino lll attends to the Good Governance Summit 2014 with the theme of ” Good Governance through Open Government and Sustainable Procurement ” at the Philippine International Convention Center, CCP Complex in Pasay City,Wednesday,July 15. Also in photo are from left, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda,Deped Secretary Armin Luistro, DILG Secretary Mar Roxas II, DOJ Secretary Leila De Lima, DBM Secretary Florencio Abad, Secretary to the Cabinet Rene Almendras, Central Bank Governor Amando Tetangco, Presidential Legislative Liason Officer Manuel Mamba.(Photo by Benhur Arcayan/Malacañang Photo Bureau) MANILA (Mabuhay) -– Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Florencio Abad on Tuesday said the proposed Php 2.606-trillion national budget for 2015 will intensify the government’s journey to achieve inclusive and sustained economic growth and to sustain an irreversible good governance reforms. ”Certainly our work is not yet done,” Abad told the Senate finance committee members during the briefing of the Development Budget Coordinating Council (DBCC) on 2015 National Expenditure Program. Abad said sustaining the economic growth and to make it truly felt by the people is one of the two major challenges that the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III is aiming to address in its two remaining years. ”The second challenge is how do we sustain and intensify the reforms we have already rolled out,” Abad said. The DBM chief said remarkable growth must translate into real and tangible benefits for the people specially the poor. ”We have to ensure that public funds go not only to our priority Read More …

Philippine Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of the main guest speaker at the observance of the 3rd Anniversary of the Maguindanao Massacre along with Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Benjamin Pimentel (left), shares his thoughts before the members of the media and other guests who attended the event held Wednesday at the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) Social Hall in the Filipinotown. Photo: Benny Uy MANILA, (Mabuhay) – Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero intends to file a resolution to look into the alleged bribery of prosecutors involved in the Maguindanao massacre case and the kin of victims of the gruesome murders. “Ang plano kong ihaing resolution na pinag-aaralan na namin ngayon ay ‘yung diumano suhulan sa DOJ (Department of Justice) at sa NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) kaugnay ng Ampatuan [Massacre],” the senator said in the weekly “Kapihan sa Diamond Hotel” on Monday. “Tuwid na daan at ang walang kurap kung walang mahirap ang slogan ng administrayong ito, napakasama sa panlasa ang mga kwento o alingasngas tulad nito na lumalabas at tila hindi mawala-wala,” he pointed out. Escudero said his staff is trying to reach the whistleblowers on the alleged payoffs. “Hopefully, this week, we will be able to contact the whistleblowers if they are willing to testify without need of a subpoena.” The private and public prosecutors in multiple murder case are squabbling over allegations of bribery. Prosecution witness Lakmodin Saliao, a long-time Ampatuan househelp, recently claimed that his former employer tasked him with handing over Read More …

Bryan Lim, vice president of business development of Suyen Corporation, the group behind the Bench Group, chooses new brands and concepts based on products he and his family really enjoy and believe in. St. Marc Café recently opened at the SM Mega Fashion Hall. It’s perhaps because I did not succeed with my own restaurant business that I can truly appreciate the workings behind the birth of new concepts and establishments in our country. Today, more than ever, the food scene is growing and changing and there is one thing that seems truly crucial to success. It’s a word we often throw around without giving much thought to it but brands are more significant now than ever especially in this day and age where choices are abundant and overwhelming. The power of a strong brand identity by way of consumer confidence can truly influence our lifestyles and eventually society. A brand is described by the American Marketing Association Dictionary as being a “name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller’s product distinct from those of other sellers.” It takes years to build a brand that people can trust, one that is unique and appealing backed by quality and consistency. In our country people are drawn to the comfort of branding and it’s a phenomenon that crosses over to the food and beverage industry where franchises and chains are often the key to success. That being said how does one pierce an already saturated market and hope Read More …