Maniolas

GMA News has partnered with various malls and establishments nationwide to present the special coverage of Pope Francis’ visit from January 15 to 19. The following malls have agreed to show GMA News’ live special coverage via big screens: Mega Manila SM North Edsa SM Manila SM San Lazaro SM Sta. Mesa SM Marikina SM Masinag SM Taytay SM Novaliches SM Fairview SM BF Paranque Luzon  City Walk Mall, Tarlac SM Clark SM San Fernando, Downtown SM Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecijia LCC Mall Legazpi LCC Mall Naga LCC Mall Polangui  VISMIN The District Ayala Mall, Bacolod Public Plaza, Bacolod Marymart Mall, Iloilo GT Mall, Iloilo Gaisano Mall, Davao City Abreeza Ayala Mall, Davao City Limketkai Mall, CdeO Gaisano Mall, CdeO Centrio Mall, CdeO Provincial Capitol, Misamis Oriental These bus companies will also join in showing the live coverage of the papal visit on their fleets: G Liner Fariñas Bus Transit Five Star Bus company (including bus stations) Mercury Drug in Quiapo also agreed to show GMA News’ special coverage through their big screen. The special coverage can be followed from: January 15, Thursday: Arrival Of Pope And Open Air Motorcade GMA 7: 5:15pm – 8:00pm January 16, Friday: Manila Cathedral Mass GNTV Channel 11: 11:15am – 1:30pm, 5:00pm – 8:30pm January 17, Saturday: Going to Tacloban City GNTV Channel 11: 9:30am-7:00pm January 18, Sunday: Pope Travels from Nunciature to UST, UST Motorcade, Meets w/ Young People GMA 7: 9:45am –12:00pm, 2:00pm – 6:00pm Pope Francis will be arriving in the Philippines Read More …

The arbitration proceedings conducted by the interim Appeals Panel of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in connection with Maynilad Water Services’ rate adjustment proposal ended in the same way it started almost a half-year ago: with zero fanfare. But with the ICC panel’s decision after Christmas to uphold the rate-adjustment proposal by Maynilad Water Services Inc. (MWSI), the post-arbitration phase went the opposite direction: so much fuss, most of it coming from left-wing and bleeding-heart types who see any upward adjustment in public services as yet another cross to bear by ordinary consumers. After staying under the radar since Maynilad formally sought ICC arbitration in October 2013, the Appeals Panel started hearing the case in August last year and then made its ruling last Dec. 29. But Maynilad learned about it only last Jan. 5. Maynilad’s parents Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) and DMCI Holdings disclosed that “in a decision dated 29th December 2014, the Appeals Panel… upheld the alternative rebasing adjustment of Maynilad,” both disclosures read. “This will result in a 9.8 percent increase in the 2013 basic water charge of P31.28/cu.m., inclusive of the P1 currency exchange rate adjustment (CERA), which the MWSS has now incorporated into the basic charge.” For Maynilad president-chief executive officer Victorico Vargas, the ICC decision “confirms that the concession agreement works and restores investor confidence in the public-private partnership program of the government.”  Vargas said the decision once ensure the continued implementation of Maynilad’s capital expenditure projects that are intended to benefit its customers. Read More …

Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. waves from a double decker bus of City Sightswrapped inPhilippine tourism promotion ads at the Union Station in Washington, DC. (PHILIPPINE EMBASSY PHOTO/MAJALYA FERNANDO) WASHINGTON, DC — In light of the subfreezing temperatures and arctic blasts in large parts of the United States, the Department of Tourism is enticing Americans in major East Coast cities to make a tropical getaway to the Philippines. For the past several weeks, double decker hop-on-hop-off tour buses with wrap-around photographs of popular tourist destinations in the Philippines such as Bohol, Boracay and Camarines Sur could be seen cruising Washington, DC, New York, Philadelphia and Miami. The Philippine Embassy said the campaign is part of the tourism department’s efforts to promote 2015 as “Visit the Philipines Year.” “This harsh weather presents the perfect opportunity for Americans to travel to the Philippines and experience the beauty and warmth the country has to offer,” according to Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. “Our American friends will also find it easier to head off to Manila when Philippine Airlines starts its regular flights from New York in March,” he added. Cuisia said the bus wraps that showcase warm Philippine beaches will definitely catch the attention of Americans who are experiencing one of the coldest winters in recent history. Josh Levee, General Manager of City Sights, the bus tour company carrying the Philippine tourism ads agrees. “In this weather, it is definitely enticing. I want to go!” he said. Vector Media’s Jordan Perlmutter said tens of Read More …

THE Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) is cooperating with the City Government by agreeing to bury its telephone wires underground, covering more than three kilometers from Gen. Luna in the city center to El 98 in Jaro district. In a report to Senate President Franklin Drilon and Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog recently, Rene Lescano of PLDT said the P100-million project will be completed before the city hosting of two ministerial meetings of the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (Apec) on September and October this year. The project, which started November 2014 and slated for completion by April 2015, will be using fiber optic to upgrade the connection wires. Lescano said the fiber optic is more efficient, less expensive and attractive to the business process outsourcing (BPO) companies. Mabilog said the project is a good preparation for the Apec in projecting Iloilo City as business-friendly area for using modern and efficient technologies on telecommunications. DISCLAIMER: Sun.Star website welcomes friendly debate, but comments posted on this site do not necessary reflect the views of the Sun.Star management and its affiliates. Sun.Star reserves the right to delete, reproduce or modify comments posted here without notice. Posts that are inappropriate will automatically be deleted. Forum rules: Do not use obscenity. Some words have been banned. Stick to the topic. Do not veer away from the discussion. Be coherent and respectful. Do not shout or use CAPITAL LETTERS!

member of the Philippine National Police (PNP) shows the new Glock 17 Generation 4 pistols after a distribution ceremony of the pistols at the police headquarters in Manila July 2, 2013. Philippine President Benigno Aquino attended the ceremony in which 22,603 pistols were distributed to PNP officers as part of the government’s effort to arm each police officer in the country with a handgun in order to strengthen the police force, local media reported. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – A lawmaker wants to put an end to police authorities’ practice of naming criminal gangs after their hometown or ethnic community, saying the reputation of innocent townsfolk shouldn’t be soiled just because of the sins committed by a few. Misamis Occidental Rep. Henry Oaminal has filed House Bill 4758 prohibiting the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies from using the names of places of origin of suspects in describing crime suspects, felons, wrongdoers, offenders and other malefactors. The measure, now pending before the House committee on public order and safety, provides for a jail time lasting from six months to six years for any police officer who is found guilty of using the names of hometowns or ethnic communities in identifying gangs. In the bill’s explanatory note, Oaminal noted that the police like to use monikers in tagging suspects when they fail to solve a crime. “Worst and far more unwarranted is the police predilection to identify criminals and gangsters from their suspected places of origin. Thus, we Read More …