EB Dabarkads set to bring joy to Pinoys in Toronto, Canada on April 12.
Apr 102014
Apr 092014
Discover great tips on how to improve your business by meeting the current market also known as the “Me Generation.”
Apr 092014
Juan Edgardo Angara (photo courtesy of www.ivoteph.com) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara has filed a bill that grants a tax incentive for first-time home buyers in the form of home mortgage interest relief. Angara’s Senate Bill No. 2148 seeks to provide for home mortgage interest relief, an individual income tax incentive, which allows homeowners to deduct the interest they pay on a qualified mortgage loan used for the purchase or construction of their first family home. “Nothing gives a person a sense of stability and security than having a place to call his or her home” Angara said. He said at present, more and more developers are offering affordable housing options through low down payments and easy payment terms for potential home buyers. ”The only remaining deterrent faced by would-be buyers is the financing aspect, more specifically the interest rates imposed by banking institutions and by these developers themselves,” the lawmaker said. “This is where the government should step in by providing an incentive to those who would be purchasing their first family home,” he added. Angara said that by removing interest rates in the equation, potential homeowners will only have to pay the principal amount of the property, and thus avoid the stress of dealing with ballooning interest payments,” he explained. Angara, chair of the Senate committee on ways and means, said that aside from providing tax savings, the proposed measure also aims to promote home ownership by encouraging families to purchase their own property instead Read More …
Apr 092014
Yam Concepcion (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — “I am not a bold star. I am a sexy actress.” These were the words of Yam Concepcion in reacting to the uploading of her sex scene in the Erik Matti film “Rigodon” on pornographic websites, which she said was “more than surprising.” The Kapamilya actress is set to star in ABS-CBN’s adaptation of the Korean TV series “Pure Love”. According to Concepcion, a sex scene between her and “Rigodon” co-star John James Uy is now making the rounds in adult websites similar to video-streaming platform YouTube. “Medyo nakakabastos kasi ‘yung ibang comments na naririnig ko. Parang nakakabastos sa art na ginawa ng direktor namin na si Erik Matti. This wasn’t a joke when we did the movie,” Concepcion said. “Pinaghirapan po namin ito and it was well thought of. I believe it was tastefully done naman. I think they should respect that also.” Produced by Viva Films, “Rigodon” was the launching movie of Concepcion as the film outfit’s new “sex goddess.” Released in November 2012, it starred her as 25-year-old Sarah Dilag, whose one-night stand with a married man portrayed by Uy leads to a murderous encounter with his wife. “Hindi naman siya porn, e,” Concepcion said. “It’s a movie. It’s an adult drama movie. Medyo may ibang interpretation lang ‘yung ibang tao na baka sabihin nila gano’n.” “I am not a bold star. I am a sexy actress. I get paid to act, right? I don’t sell my body.” (MNS)
Apr 092014
President Benigno S. Aquino III huddles with the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 76 women’s volleyball champion Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) Lady Eagles, led by Season and Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) Alyssa Valdez, for a selfie shot during the group’s courtesy call at the President’s Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Thursday (April 03). (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – President Benigno S. Aquino III administered the oath of office of newly appointed ambassadors and government officials in a ceremony at Malacanang’s Rizal Hall on Monday. The newly appointed ambassadors were former Foreign Affairs spokesperson Raul Hernandez as Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Petronila Garcia as Philippine Ambassador to Canada, and Joseph Gerald Angeles as Philippine Ambassador to South Africa. Under the Department of Foreign Affairs, Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Jesus Yabes and Special Envoy of the President to the Gulf Cooperative Council Amable Aguiluz were also sworn into office. Former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Eduardo Oban and Marciano Paynor Jr. were both sworn in as Undersecretaries under the Office of the Executive Secretary. Other officials who took their oath of office were Jess Anthony Yu as Undersecretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office; Jose Emmanuel Reverente as Undersecretary of the Department of Finance; Edwin Carillo as Assistant Government Corporate Counsel under the Department of Justice; Victorio Mario Dimagiba as Undersecretary of the Department of Trade and Industry; Rodolfo Isorena as Vice Admiral of the Philippine Coast Guard under Read More …
Apr 092014
Senate Minority leader Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, one of the accused in the so-called pork barrel scam, stresses a point in interpellating Senator Koko Pimentel III, sponsor of the Sandigan Bill, who sought the support of his colleagues for the passage of the measure, seeking to improve the disposition of cases in the Sandiganbayan on Wednesday (March 5) at the Session Hall, Senate Bldg in Pasay City. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The three senators accused in the pork barrel scam should show some delicadeza and resign now, according to the Scrap Pork Network. The Scrap Pork Network, whose members were among those who organized the “Million People March” protest in Luneta last year, said it is time for Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada to step down after the Office of the Ombudsman said it had found probable cause to file plunder and graft charges against them. The group’s spokespersons Peachy Tan and Betty Romero said these three lawmakers no longer have the trust of the people. According to the Ombudsman, Enrile, Revilla and Estrada amassed a total of P172 million, P242 million and P183 million, respectively, as kickbacks from their illegal transactions with alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles. Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. Romero said this is “enough reason” for the people to call for their resignation also “to restore honor in the Senate.” “Let’s give these gentlemen the opportunity to prove that they still have delicadeza. Hindi na Read More …
Apr 092014
Senator Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV during a discussion on “Enhancing Competitiveness Amidst A Changing External Economic Environment.” Aquino warns that lives of 300,000 people are at stake due to substandard reinforcement bars created from wire rods and used in estimated 60,000 houses in different parts of the country. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senator Bam Aquino warned that lives of 300,000 people are at stake due to substandard reinforcement bars created from wire rods and used in estimated 60,000 houses in different parts of the country. “Sixty thousands houses is no joke. That’s 300,000 lives we’re talking about,” Aquino said during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, which he chairs, on the rampant selling and distribution of substandard and smuggled steel in the country. This is just the tip of the iceberg as Aquino said the available data is only for substandard reinforcement rebars alone and not for all substandard steel products, like angle bars. “What happened in Bohol and Cebu during last year’s earthquake could happen again anytime and anywhere due to the use of substandard steel in some structures,” Aquino said During the hearing, stakeholders, led by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Philippine Iron and Steel Institute (PISI), revealed that substandard and smuggled steel are being sold in different parts of the country. From 2009 to 2013, the DTI’s market monitoring enforcement team discovered that 49 percent of outlets it visited in 61 provinces were selling substandard angle bars. Read More …
Apr 092014
Julia Montes shows off more skin—and a leaner figure—in a slitted dress.
Apr 092014
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned the public against cheap and unregistered bottled water being sold mostly to commuters stuck in traffic. A report on “24 Oras” on Wednesday said some bottled water that didn’t pass the FDA are being sold on the streets and on sidewalks at relatively cheaper prices. “Dito natin malaman sa likod [ng plastic container] kung ang isang produkto ay rehistrado,” said FDA spokesperson Joyce Cirunay in the report. “Mayroon siyang registration number.” The report said a registration number means the product — both the water and plastic container — passed FDA standards. Cirunay asked the consumers to inspect the packaging of the product to determine if they are “fake.” “Sa isang mapanuring mamimili, tignan yung cover. Kung ni-refill lang, tignan nila kung talagang unbroken yung seal. Inspekin nila kung yung integridad ng packaging material ay nandoon pa. Tignan din kung merong mga lumulutang,” she said. The report said refilling stations, although regulated by local government units, are not allowed to sell bottled mineral water. “They are just there to refill,” Cirunay said. “May certain specifications na sinusunod sila according to the requirements of the refilling station.” — KBK, GMA News
Apr 092014
The elder brother of one of the minors allegedly molested by Italian Ambassador to Turkmenistan Daniele Bosio claimed he was also abused by the diplomat, a report on “24 Oras” said Wednesday. The 13-year-old boy said Bosio invited him and other children to the place where he was staying with the promise of giving them food, clothes and P1,000 cash. But upon arriving at the place, Bosio allegedly locked them in the shower and bathed them while taking pictures, the report said. The victim’s father said one of the friends of his children was acting as their pimp. “Mayroon pong isang taong bugaw. Bata rin na kalaro din nila. Galit na galit din ‘yung isang magulang bakit daw sila silang magkakabarkada nagkakabugawan pa,” he said. His younger son, who was reportedly victimized by Bosio in a resort in Biñan, Laguna, is currently under the care of the city welfare office, the report said. “Parang binaboy niya yung pagkatao ng anak ko. Dapat talaga sa kanya makulong,” he said. Bosio, who was in the Philippines for a vacation, was arrested last Saturday while in the resort together with three minors. Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs suspended him from his diplomat duties following his arrest. — Andrei Medina/KBK, GMA News