Maniolas

Bamboo Mañalac lines up surprise projects to celebrate his  20 years in the industry. – Eunice Blanco  MANILA, Philippines- It is Bamboo Mañalac’s 20th year in the industry and he would like this year to be something special. “I’m gonna be there until you get sick of me,” he replied with a laugh when asked about his plans this year in an interview Tuesday afternoon, January 28. “So I’d rather surprise them na lang. I mean, it’s my 20 years in the business, so I wanna be as busy as possible. So again it’s my 20th year and hence, I want to celebrate that.” First among his surprises is the regional tour of his concert with Yeng Constantino dubbed “By Request,” which was first  staged in August. It will be as interactive and fun as their first concert, Bamboo promised, only they would change the line up of songs they would perform in each concert that will held on  February 7 at Cebu City, March 8 at Davao City and on March 16 at Baguio. Bamboo has been through a lot in his 20 years in the industry: he’d been a member of the band Rivermaya for five years and formed his own band Bamboo which lasted for eight years until in 2011 when he decided to go solo. Entertainment ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Bamboo considers going solo as one of the highlights of his career. He recalls “when I went solo, I was playing in Toronto Read More …

TWO property giants that teamed up to bid for the P17.5-billion Mactan-Cebu International Airport rehabilitation project have teamed up once again for a new mixed-used development in Cebu. Publicly-listed firms Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) and AboitizLand Inc. signed last Friday a joint venture agreement for the operation and development of a 15-hectare city center in Subangdaku, Mandaue City. The agreement, according to a press statement, aims to solidify their partnership in developing what is envisioned “as one of Cebu’s most impressive growth centers.” It added that the partnership would bring together ALI’s track record in developing master-planned, sustainable communities and AboitizLand’s “vast and deeply-rooted real estate experience” in Cebu. “We are very excited to work with AboitizLand in developing another city center that will further boost Cebu’s economy. The development shows great promise and will provide new opportunities for business expansion and employment, while providing the community with quality spaces for convergence,” said Antonino Aquino, chief executive officer and president of Ayala Land Inc. (ALI). The 15-hectare city center will house residential developments and commercial spaces with retail and office components. ‘Place-making’ The project is targeted to be launched by 2015. Andoni Aboitiz, chief executive officer of AboitizLand, said he is “looking forward to embarking on this venture together with a strong partner, who shares the same vision, passion and commitment with us, in building Cebu through what we do best, ‘place-making’.” The Mandaue City development will be ALI’s fourth major mixed-use district in Metro Cebu, following the Cebu Business Read More …

Anti-government protesters make their way on a street during a rally opposing an advance voting, in Bangkok, Thailand ,Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014. AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration imposed a ban Monday on the deployment of newly hired Filipino workers to three places in Thailand in light of the declaration of a state of emergency in Bangkok and surrounding areas. Thai capital Bangkok has been reeling from protests calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. “The POEA Board, in a meeting after consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs, has approved a resolution to this effect,” Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, chair of the POEA governing board, said at a news release. The members of the board who signed the resolution were Hans Leo J. Cacdac, POEA administrator and governing board vice-chair; Felix M. Oca; Estrelita S. Hizon; Alexander E. Asuncion; Milagros Isabel A. Cristobal, members. Baldoz said R.A. 10022, which amended RA 8042 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, authorizes the POEA board, after consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs, to impose a ban on the deployment of Filipino migrant workers in pursuit of national interest or when public welfare so requires. On January 23, 2014, the DFA raised Crisis Alert Level 2 (restriction phase) in Bangkok, Nonthaburi Province; Lad Lum Kaew District (Pathumthani Province); and Bang Phli District (Samutprakan Province), in light of the declaration of a 60-day state of emergency due to the escalating civil unrest and insecurity Read More …

Horses can tutor human beings about faith and affection. Practicing psychiatric therapists use them in their treatment programs with psychologically embattled patients, who often connect with their equine buddies even when they are not capable of establishing relationships with other people. Horses are quick to smell deceit, compel people to depend on their gut feelings and to be authentic.  In another horse tale, writer Ariana Strozzi powerfully revealed how horses reflect your inner world and provide dramatic, transformative changes in the way you see yourself. She mapped out a path to leadership that begins with self-understanding from an organic viewpoint. She declared, “When you learn to think more like a horse, you develop your instinctive imagination and create new possibilities for your life. And rather than focusing on what is wrong with you, shift your attention towards what you’re naturally good at. On this path, you focus on staying connected to what has meaning and purpose.” Horse sense is common sense. A horse shows you what you truly need to do to inspire and lead people. It’s about understanding how to inspire people, because a horse cares about how much you care, not about your titles or positions. A horse reacts to you exactly as you present who you are, reflecting your leadership style, and how you’re perceived and received. It considers its rider a partner, and focuses on what it does, acting and reacting with total awareness. The book Horse Sense: How to Pull Ahead On The Business Track, authored by Read More …

Figure 1. NDRRMC and media reported landslides and floods, as of NDRRMC SitRep #9, Jan. 16, 2014. Background A low-pressure area (LPA) has been dumping heavy rains over Mindanao and parts of the Visayas since Jan. 10. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), local DRRM councils and the media have reported numerous landslides and flashfloods resulting from the continuous rainfall. As of the NDRRMC report on the night of Jan. 16, the effects of the LPA had claimed over 31 lives, while seven people were missing and 36 had been injured. The heavy, continuous rainfall has affected around 376,000 people (approximately 79,000 families). Thousands of families from Regions 10, 11 and Caraga have been evacuated and are being served by relief operations. Several local government units (LGUs) have declared a state of calamity. However, according to the DPWH, many roads are still impassable due to the damages caused by landslide debris and floods, which washed out and completely destroyed some bridges along the Surigao del Sur-Davao Oriental Coastal Road, among many other roads. Classes and flights were suspended or cancelled due to inclement weather conditions. The Libuganon River and Saug River swelled from the immense amount of runoff. Communities and households near the rising Magpayang River were evacuated. Southern Leyte, recently devastated by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) two months ago was also affected by the LPA, with reported landslides in Sogod municipality. In addition, some of these strong floods and rainfall-induced landslides occurred in the provinces of Davao Read More …