Maniolas

Senator Teofisto Guingona III (right), chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, listens as subcommittee members Senators Antonio Trillanes IV, Aquilino Pimentel III, and Alan Peter Cayetano discuss the measures to be taken after Vice President Jejomar Binay did not show up at the Senate probe on the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall Building II on Thursday, November 6. Binay is in Cebu for several meetings. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Businessman Antonio Tiu on Wednesday said his legal team is now studying the possibility of filing charges against Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, over what the former claimed as defamatory words thrown by the lawmaker against him in the recent hearing of the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee. “Pinag-aaralan po ng ating mga abogado kung ano ang dapat gawin upang i-protekta ang interes ng aking kumpanya at ang aking pagkatao. So malalaman po natin sa darating na mga araw,” Tiu said at a press conference in Quezon City when asked if he was planning to file charges against Cayetano. At the same time, Tiu criticized Cayetano for allegedly making fun of the serious issue of kidnapping just to force him to waive bank secrecy and let the Senate scrutinize his bank accounts. “Hindi na nakontento si Senator Cayetano na maliitin ang pagkatao ko, nilagay niya pa sa panganib ang pamilya ko at ang buhay ko sa kanyang pagpilit saakin na isiwalat ang pera ko sa bangko. Sabi niya, hindi naman mapanganib na gawin ko ito dahil pwede naman akong Read More …

THE FIRST-EVER Salomon Brand Store outside Metro Manila finally opened in Davao City, at the second level of Abreeza of the Ayala Malls in on JP Laurel ave. in Bajada. “This only proves Salomon’s eminent growth in the Philippines,” said brand manager Janice Tanada. The brand has, so far, put up four brand stores in the past year – all in Metro Manila’ premier shopping malls, at SM Aura Premier in Taguig City, SM Megamall in Mandaluyong, SM North Edsa Annex in Quezon City, and Glorietta 3 in Makati City. Tanada said they are looking at Mindanao’s sports enthusiasts, particularly those engaged in trail running, hiking, climbing, adventure racing, skiing, and snowboarding. The brand’s presence in the Davao market also appeared to be taking advantage of Davao Region being promoted as “from islands to highlands” destination. Products available at the brand’s Abreeza stor include footwear, apparel, bags and gears. “Salomon promises value for money products, tested by the top international trail running champions such as Kilian Jornet, Ryan Sandes, Anna Frost, etc.,” Tanada said. She said Salomon maintains to be the number 1 brand in trail running and maintains its mantra – the world’s number 1 mountain sports products created by the world’s top mountain sports athlete. Salomon is exclusively distributed by Uniglobe Travelware Company, Inc. under the Primer Group of Companies, Asia’s next retail giant. Salomon is a Mountain Sports Company that originated in Annecy, France. The brand was born in 1947 in the middle of the Alps, producing Read More …

 Korbitec managing director Riaan Basson, Property24.com.ph country manager Steve Santos, Korbicapital chief financial officer Louis Malherbe MANILA, Philippines – It makes no sense to go on a wild goose chase when looking for that perfect home or office space. When schedules are tight and the idea of navigating through traffic-clogged thoroughfares becomes too daunting, trawling the Internet becomes so much more attractive. This allows prospective buyers to narrow down their choices before finally deciding to invest. Even for brokers, the Internet is a boon because it allows them to show their property inventory to a wider audience of qualified prospective buyers. Because photos and other specifics regarding a property are shared through the Internet, only those who are truly interested will visit a property that is for sale. Ergo, less time is wasted in showing a place to people who won’t like it anyway. Among the online property portals in the Philippines, there is Property24.com.ph. As the fastest growing real estate portal, it provides an effective online platform for leading real estate developers, agencies and brokers. The site has thousands of local real estate listings for prospective buyers to navigate with ease. By filtering the search depending on preferred location, price and property type, buyers can find properties and be in touch with licensed real agents. Property24 has its roots in South Africa where it is currently one of the largest property search portals. With over 10 years in the online property search industry, it is a leader in “developing innovative Read More …

MANILA, Philippines – The unresolved tax issues involving Philippine American Life and General Insurance Co. have been affecting the expansion plans of Philplans First Inc., a top company official said. Philplans chairman Monico Jacob said without the resolution and subsequent tax payments by Philam Life to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the tax clearances needed to register the sale of Philam Plans and Philhealthcare could not be obtained. The Tanco Groups’ Philplans acquired Philam Plans and Philhealthcare from Philam Life in 2009. However, the BIR has not released the certificate authorizing registration (CAR) due to certain tax issue. Without the CAR, interested local and foreign investors of Philplans have remained on the sidelines. All business arrangements and payments between Philam Life and the Tanco Group in relation to the sale through an auction have been long resolved, except for the CAR issue. In fact, Philplans, now the leading pre-need company, was formed from the acquisition exercise. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “The Tanco Group has suffered due to the five-year delay. Corporate integrity is an issue here,” Jacob said in a statement. Meanwhile, the AIA Group Ltd. and subsidiary Philam Life said in a joint statement that the issue of tax obligations “is a matter we have presented to the courts following advice from our legal counsel.” “The matter before the courts is the amount of the BIR assessment related to that transaction.  Since this is a matter before the court, we are not able Read More …

When my sister-in-law asked me what XO meant, I said, without hesitation, “Extraordinaire.” I was mistaken but not quite, because although it means “extra old,” it is really quite extraordinary. A little breathless from a rich and indulgent dinner, with your cheeks slightly flushed from copious amounts of wine, there is that ubiquitous pause as an enjoyable meal winds down, your lips still smacking sweet from a lingering dessert as it curls into a gentle smile of satisfaction. You have overindulged, and joyfully so because the food was good and the company excellent, but there is one thing missing, that perfect ending to a perfect epicurean experience, both equally meant to close a fine meal and open a spectacular late evening of meaningful conversation: cognac. I have always admired the beautiful, glinting amber liquid — inviting, temptingly glinting in the sensual afterglow of indulgence, an elegant digestive that enables the pleasures of the table to linger a little more. I don’t recall when I first tried it but I do vividly remember the rest of the moments after… long, delicious-tasting dinners with my husband, from canapés to mignardises, starting with Champagne and following through with white and red, culminating in a happy state of inebriation. We know we shouldn’t, really, as we are tottering on the border of tipsy and drunk, but it is our favorite guilty pleasure, savoring a nice cognac that splendidly puts us over the edge as we giddily stumble out of the restaurant doors as chicly Read More …