Maniolas

MANILA, Philippines—Government of Singapore Investment Corp. (GIC) is investing P10.2 billion in the Metro Pacific group led by businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan, coming in as a strategic partner in the hospital business where it could choose to acquire an interest of as much as 39.9 percent. Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) signed a deal with GIC that allowed the sovereign wealth fund to invest P3.7 billion for an initial 14.4-percent stake in Neptune Stroika Holdings Inc. (NSHI), a wholly owned subsidiary that will be the holding company for all of its hospital investments. On top of the outright purchase of shares in NSHI, the Singaporean fund will also advance to MPIC some P6.5 billion through an exchangeable bond that it can swap for an additional 25.5-percent stake in NSHI in the future, subject to certain conditions. The deal, which is subject to a few conditions and expected to be completed sometime in the middle of this year, allows MPIC to keep a controlling stake in the hospital group while raising fresh funds for an ongoing group-wide expansion program. Proceeds from the bond would be used by MPIC for continuing investments in roads, power and water, MPIC said. “We are very happy with this new relationship with GIC, a highly reputable global fund manager. We are looking forward to developing a long-term partnership with them,” MPIC president Jose Ma. K. Lim said. NSHI and MPIC hospital group president Augie Palisoc Jr. said: “Over the last few years, we have been Read More …

AP FILE PHOTO NEW YORK—General Motors announced a new round of recalls Thursday, totaling nearly three million vehicles worldwide, as the US automaker works to speed up its response to safety issues. GM said that five recalls affected 2.99 million vehicles, with most of them—2.71 million—in the United States. The company said it expected to book up to $200 million in charges in the second quarter, mainly to cover the costs of recall-related repairs. “We have redoubled our efforts to expedite and resolve current reviews in process and also have identified and analyzed recent vehicle issues which require action,” said Jeff Boyer, vice president of GM Global Vehicle Safety. “These are examples of our focus to surface issues quickly and promptly take necessary actions in the best interest of our customers.” GM shares fell 0.7 percent to $34.70 in early trade in New York. GM said no deaths were tied to any of the defects in the newest recalls. The largest recall involves 2.7 million vehicles to fix a brake-lamp problem linked to 13 crashes and two injuries. Corrosion in the wiring harness “could result in brake lamps failing to illuminate when the brakes are applied or brake lamps illuminating when the brakes are not engaged,” GM said. That recall affects the 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2007 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura. GM also recalled 120,620 Chevrolet Corvettes in model years 2005-2007 due to a problem with the low-beam headlamp. The three other recalls were for Read More …

In Photo: Bernard Palanca and Jerika Ejercito together with their newborn son Isaiah Joseph.-Bernard Palanca’s Instagram account  MANILA, Philippines- Bernard Palanca is one proud dad again as his girlfriend Jerika Ejercito gave birth to a baby boy Wednesday, May 7. Bernard posted a photo of their new born child on Instagram. In the caption he said: “My son ISAIAH JOSEPH EJERCITO PALANCA has arrived! :)) thank you LORD for the safe and healthy arrival of my boy! :))” Isaiah is Bernard’s second son as he has a six-year-old son with ex-wife and now good friend Meryll Soriano named Elijah. Meryll and Elijah actually visited Isaiah, as shown on Jerika’s Instagram account. Entertainment ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 In the caption she said: “Thank you for visiting auntie Meme and kuya Eli #brothers #family #isaiahejercitopalanca” Meanwhile, in an interview aired on “Startalk” Sunday, May 11, Bernard said that “kailangan ko mag-concentrate ngayon sa work and at the same time ‘yong pag-alaga sa bata.” The actor also said that he plans to marry Jericka as soon as he gets the approval of her parents Laarni Enriquez and Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada. “If mayro’n man akong, let’s say gustong makasama na, siya na ‘yon,” Bernard said. “So kung kailangan kong dumaan sa [butas ng] karayom o tatlong karayom pa, I mean pagdadaanan ko ‘yon. “Kung papakasalan ko man siya in the future, that is going to be because I deserve it. Meaning dahil nakuha ko na ‘yong blessing ng Read More …

MANILA, Philippines – Viva’s rap/hip-hop duo Blaze N Kane has gone through a lot as artists. Blaze is a Spanish-American-Filipino who is Adlai Stevenson H. Gurrea in real life and originally a rocker. To reach Manila, he sold his speakers. He saved money to do a demo cut only to be rejected by record labels. Fil-Egyptian-Arab Christopher Dantes, who is a cousin of actor Dingdong Dantes, was hooked on Rod Stewart, Ugly Kid Joe and Metallica. He turned to Dr. Dre and Snoop Dog in the early ’90s. He was then introduced to Francis M and Masta Plann by his brother. The two rap artists met during a hip-hop event (FUBU) and have been jamming together since then. Blaze N Kane’s self-titled album under Viva Records bears the influences of Francis M whom they idolize so much. Cuts like Laging Nandyan, Change and rapid-fire rap of 3-Min MicKilla are proudly OPM. In fact, all of the songs in the tandem’s 17-track CD are original. Entertainment ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Blaze N Kane stressed that its music is not rap or all noise. “It is singing, too, melodic style rap,” the duo said. The memory of the master rapper Francis M is alive everytime they perform. “Francis was a great guy to be with and he was always ready to render advice. We hope to inspire people and motivate them with the hardships we went through,” Blaze said. “We want to be remembered not only as rappers but as entertainers as well.”

(From left) News anchor Kathy San Gabriel, ACF Director Javad Amoozegar, EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux, ECHO Head David Sevcik, PLAN Director Carin van der Hor and community journalist Alfredo Padernos talk about EU efforts to rehabilitate Yolanda-hit areas. By APRIL ANNE BENJAMIN THE Aquino government, which is being criticized for the slow pace of rehabilitation of typhoon Yolanda-hit areas in the Visayas, has found defenders in international humanitarian organizations. At the opening of the Haiyan (the international name of Yolanda) exhibit at the AIM Conference Center 180 days after the super typhoon hit the Philippines, Javad Amoozegar, Philippine Director for the Action Against Hunger – ACF International and one of the panelists in a press conference of European Union partner agencies, said that they have seen so many delays on the ground but they have also seen how the Philippine government “worked hard to ensure that the needs of the communities are met at the immediate possible time.” It was unfair to criticize the rather “slow-paced” rehabilitation of the Yolanda-stricken places, said Amoozegar whose organization works towards the goal of ending world hunger. Yolanda ravaged Central Philippines, particularly Leyte and Samar on November 8, 2013 leaving more than 6,000 casualties and destroyed infrastructure worth millions of pesos. Carin van der Hor, Philippine Director for the international children’s rights group Plan International Inc. (PLAN) who was among the panelists said, “I can understand the frustration, but I would also want to emphasize that we are only six months in. And I Read More …