From picking Oscar winners to frying a tilapia

 Entertainment
Mar 032014
 
From picking Oscar winners to frying a tilapia

Ruben and Janet Nepales as guests on  Kababayan Today’s Academy Awards Special with TV host Jannelle So. They agree on who will and who should win an Oscar award this Sunday; but they disagree (and sometimes argue) on how to fry a tilapia. “Our biggest argument was how to fry a tilapia. Two writers attempting to be chefs bring out the worse in us,” said kababayan Hollywood journalist Janet Nepales. Janet and her husband, Ruben Nepales are both members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA.) Every year, they guest on Kababayan Today’s Academy Awards Special, as they predict who will win and discuss who should win a gold statuette in four categories: Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Picture. “We did not talk about each other’s choices,” both disclosed before taping; adding that they wanted to surprise each other and see each other’s reactions about their picks. But as it turned out, they surprised each other by making the same choices – Janet’s List: Best Director – WILL: Alfonso Cuaron for “GRAVITY,” SHOULD: David O’Russell for “AMERICAN HUSTLE;” Best Actor – WILL: Matthew McConaughey for “DALLAS BUYERS CLUB,” SHOULD: Matthew McConaughey for “DALLAS BUYERS CLUB;” Best Actress – WILL: Sandra Bullock for “GRAVITY,” SHOULD: Cate Blanchett for “BLUE JASMINE” Ruben’s List: Best Director – Should win: David O. Russell, Will win: Alfonso Cuaron; Best Actor – Should win: Matthew McConaughey, Will win: Matthew McConaughey; Best Actress – Should win: Cate Blanchett, Will win: Cate Blanchett And even Read More …

Nikki’s dating again

 Entertainment
Mar 032014
 
Nikki’s dating again

Nikki GIl (MNS Photo) Nikki Gil has finally decided to start a new chapter in her life, seven months after her five-year relationship with singer-host Billy Crawford came to an end. The Kapamilya actress and TV host admitted to being back in the dating game, intimating how the moment “felt right.” The 26-year-old Gil described the guy three years his senior as, doing an “adult job.” “I mean, sobrang different from what we do,” she explained. Asked if she was afraid to trust again after her breakup with Crawford, Gil remarked: “Surprisingly hindi.” She explained, “Kasi alam kong it’s not like that all the time. Parang ito (her past relationship with Crawford), nagkataon lang. Love isn’t supposed to be like this. Hindi siya dapat masakit. Hindi ka dapat umiyak.” Despite the split, Gil is nevertheless thankful that all the publicity around it seemingly provided a dating “filter” of sorts. “I think that in itself, parang napi-filter na ‘yung mga i-de-date mo. Parang for them to come up to you, knowing where I came from, they must mean business,” she explained. She stressed that this is a good thing as, “Hindi ako ‘yung type na susubok nang susubok, kasi alam ko kung ano ‘yung gusto ko. Binigyan ko rin naman ang chance ko to meet (other guys). Pero kasi hindi ko kaya. I don’t have to play the game. Hindi ko kaya.” She maintained, “Huwag lang ‘go and explore,’ kasi maha-hurt ka rin in the process. Oo, makikipag-date ka, pero sana Read More …

Filipinos challenged to join revolution vs poverty

 Entertainment
Mar 032014
 
Filipinos challenged to join revolution vs poverty

Former President and Philippine Constabulary chief, Fidel V. Ramos, pays tribute to Philippine soldiers during a wreath-laying ceremony Monday (Feb. 24, 2014) at Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City in commemoration of the 28th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power revolution. This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme ‘Kapig-Bisig Tungo sa Pagbangon.’ (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay)—As the nation commemorates the 1986 EDSA People Power revolution Tuesday, neophyte Senator Paolo Benigno ‘Bam’ Aquino IV on Tuesday challenged the Filipinos to join hands in a new battle against poverty. ”As we came together in1986, once again, let us join hands to help the country’s poor and give everyone a chance to gain employment and livelihood,” Aquino, a multi-awarded youth leader and social entrepreneur before being elected into the Senate said. Aquino said the country has achieved freedom from the clutches of dictatorship through peaceful and bloodless protest 28 years ago but the fight will continue, this time, against the prevalent inequality and lack of economic opportunities. ”At present, the revolution to end poverty continues and more than ever, we need to unite to fulfill the full promise of EDSA,” Aquino said. Aquino, the youngest senator of the present 16th Congress, was only nine years old when a bloodless people power ended dictatorship of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and catapulted his aunt, former President Corazon Aquino to power in 1986. Another neophyte senator Nancy Binay said EDSA Revolution is still “a work in progress as many of our countrymen Read More …

2 Coast Guard ships ready to guard Panatag Shoal on gov’t go-signal

 News
Mar 032014
 
2 Coast Guard ships ready to guard Panatag Shoal on gov’t go-signal

AFP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — Not a single Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel has been deployed to Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) since PCG ships and their Chinese counterparts faced off in the West Philippine Sea rock formation for two weeks in mid-2012. But Commander Armand Balilo, PCG spokesperson and chief of the public affairs office, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Monday, that at least two Coast Guard ships—the search-and-rescue vessel BRP Corregidor (001) and the buoy tender BRP San Juan (AE-391)—were “on standby” at the PCG headquarters in Port Area, Manila and could be sent to the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) rock formation “if ordered by the higher-ups.” Balilo was referring to “Malacañang through the DOTC,” not the Western Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, tasked by the government to oversee security in the West Philippine Sea. The 540-ton Corregidor is 56 meters long, has a cruising speed of  26 knots and a range of more than 1,000 nautical miles. Built by the Australian shipbuilding firm Tenix, the multi-role vessel was commissioned by the PCG in June 2002. In November, it was one of several PCG vessels that ferried relief goods to Eastern Visayas provinces ravaged by Super Typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan). The 730-ton San Juan, nearly 57 meters long, was built by Niigata Engineering, a Japanese shipbuilding company. It runs at a slow 12 knots but has a cruising range of over 2,000 nautical miles. The ship was commissioned in February 1998 by the Read More …

Chinese caught with shabu-making instruments charged in court

 News
Mar 032014
 
Chinese caught with shabu-making instruments charged in court

By Julie M. AurelioPhilippine Daily Inquirer 8:49 pm | Monday, March 3rd, 2014 MANILA, Philippines — A Chinese national arrested over the weekend has been charged before the Quezon City courts for allegedly smuggling instruments used in manufacturing illegal drugs. A case of possessing equipment, apparatus and other paraphernalia has been filed against Zhang Youhou, 46 of Jianxi, China, after he was caught with boxes of glassware with illegal drug residue. Chief Superintendent Richard Albano, the Quezon City Police District director, said they have been checking with the Chinese Embassy and the Bureau of Immigration the suspect’s real name, his background, immigration status, and his criminal record. Zhang was arrested at 3 p.m. Friday after a security guard at the Araneta Center Bus Terminal inspected his packages, which yielded the glass equipment. Senior Inspector Roberto Razon, head of the District Anti-Illegal Drugs-Special Operations Task Group, said the foreigner was subjected to inquest proceedings for violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Inquest prosecutor Rogelio Antero recommended a P40,000 bail for the suspect. Razon said two 25-ml volumetric pipettes were found to have traces of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu. Zhang’s contraband included beakers, petri dish, glass flasks, test tubes, exhaust fan, and electric stove stashed inside a styrofoam box initially declared to be mining equipment. The Chinese national was supposed to board a bus bound for Masbate when security guard Alxander Bayle accosted him for the equipment. Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Read More …

Peso dips on Monday

 Economy
Mar 032014
 
Peso dips on Monday

MANILA, Philippines – The peso closed weak against the dollar on Monday, settling at 44.715 from the 44.63 posted on Friday. Total volume transacted at the Philippine Dealing System amounted to $764.6 million, higher than the $696.4 million posted the previous day. The peso opened the week at 44.74.

Envoy wants UK-Phl trade to grow 5x in 3 years

 Economy
Mar 032014
 
Envoy wants UK-Phl trade to grow 5x in 3 years

MANILA, Philippines – British Ambassador to the Philippines Asif Ahmad on Monday said he is looking at a 5-billion-pound (P374 billion) bilateral trade between the United Kingdom (UK) and the Philippines in the next three years. “My minister said I need to make it 5 billion (British pounds) before I leave in three and a half years time. So I need to work really hard,” Ahmad said. Currently, trade between the two countries stands at 1 billion pounds, he said. Ahmad said bBritish companies are looking into investing in retail, energy and infrastructure in the Philippines. ”There is so much more that could come here. That’s why I keep talking about infrastructure. If this country can really get some (infrastructure); and there (are) some big announcements (on infrastructure projects) already. We want more of that. More roads, a serious look at ports, airports, so really we can make it faster to get things that are not here… That requires organization, arrangement of transport,” he said. He added that UK is also in talks with the Philippine government to build bridges in the county. “I think on bridge building, we’re working one very big transaction. It’s a direct discussion we have with the government because the government actually needs to build steel bridges and concrete bridges in damaged areas and other places. And we’re quite involved with that,” he added. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Ahmad said the British Embassy in the Philippines has a business process Read More …

Water cannon incident an act of aggression—Akbayan

 News
Mar 022014
 
Water cannon incident an act of aggression—Akbayan

By Bong LozadaINQUIRER.net 1:50 pm | Monday, March 3rd, 2014 MANILA, Philippines—In another episode on the Philippine-China dispute over the areas in the West Philippine Sea, a militant group said that the water cannon incident at Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) is a “clear” act of aggressive behavior. Akbayan picketed outside the Chinese Consular Office at the World Center in Makati Monday morning to protest Chinese claims on the Panatag Shoal and uphold Philippine claims on the disputed islands. “They sent their maritime vessels in a territory which is an integral part of the Philippines,” Emman Hizon, deputy Secretary-General of Akbayan said. “They did not only infringe Philippine sovereignty, but an act of aggression against Filipino fishermen who were only undertaking fishing activities for Philippine nationals.” Hizon said that the water cannon incident was not only an act of “bullying,” but also a “clear act of aggression.” He added that China is offering incentives to the Philippines to ease the dispute, like the pulling out of their ships and increasing business investments in the country. “We are telling them the Philippine government that Philippine sovereignty is non-negotiable; we are not taking the incentives,” Hizon said. Multilateral talks According to Hizon, his group is supporting President Benigno Aquino III’s stand after the Chief Executive said that the key to the dispute would be through multilateral talks between the countries, which lay claim to the shoal. “We believe the resolution to this dispute should be settled on a multilateral, pluralistic fashion and reject Read More …

No Coast Guard vessels near Panatag Shoal, says spokesman

 News
Mar 022014
 
No Coast Guard vessels near Panatag Shoal, says spokesman

This undated handout photo taken by the Philippine Navy and released April 11, 2012, by the Department of Foreign Affairs shows Chinese surveillance ships off Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal. AFP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines – Not a single Philippine Coast Guard vessel has been deployed to Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) since Coast Guard ships and their Chinese counterparts faced off in that part of the West Philippine Sea for two weeks in mid-2012. The Inquirer learned this Monday from Cmdr. Armand Balilo, chief of the Coast Guard’s public affairs office, who said, however that the search-and-rescue vessel BRP Corregidor (001) and the buoy tender BRP San Juan (AE-391) were “on standby” at the PCG headquarters in Manila and could be sent to the area “if ordered by the higher-ups.” By higher-ups Balilo was referring to “Malacañang through the DOTC,” not the Western Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which has been tasked by the government to oversee security in the West Philippine Sea. The Coast Guard is now under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transport and Communication. It used to be part of the Philippine Navy. The 540-ton Corregidor is 56 meters long, has a cruising speed of  26 knots and a cruising range of more than 1,000 nautical miles. Built by the Australian shipbuilding firm Tenix, the multirole vessel was commissioned by the PCG in June 2002. It was one of several PCG vessels that ferried relief goods to Eastern Visayas provinces ravaged by Supertyphoon Yolanda in Read More …

 Older Entries  Newer Entries