Pope to visit PHL disaster victims

 Entertainment
Jul 102014
 
Pope to visit PHL disaster victims

Cardinal Tagle with President Benigno Aquino III (MNS Photo) MANILA (AFP) – Pope Francis is to visit the Philippines, Asia’s bastion of the Catholic faith, in January 2015 to comfort victims of disasters including Super Typhoon Haiyan, local church leaders said Monday. Specific details of the trip were not released, but Manila’s Archbishop Luis Tagle said the pope viewed Asia as crucial in spreading the faith. Tagle said the pontiff had told him during a recent meeting at the Vatican that “Asia is important for evangelization”. “The Christian population of Asia may be numerically small but it is significant,” he quoted the pope as saying. The planned visit comes as the Philippines struggles to recover from a series of disasters in 2013 that claimed thousands of lives. In November, Super Typhoon Haiyan – the most powerful storm to make landfall in history – left about 8,000 dead and millions homeless, devastating communities across the central Philippines. A month earlier, a 7.1-magnitude earthquake destroyed many historic churches and killed more than 200 people, also in the central region. “Our compassionate shepherd comes to show his deep concern for our people who have gone through devastating calamities,” said Socrates Villegas, head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. “Pope Francis comes to revive our drooping spirit and to lead us to greener pastures,” he told reporters. The visit would be the fourth by a pope to the Philippines, where more than 80 percent of the 100 million-strong population are Catholics. Tagle Read More …

JV admits fault, willing to reimburse DAP funds

 Entertainment
Jul 102014
 
JV admits fault, willing to reimburse DAP funds

Senator Jinggoy Estrada shows some documents during his privilege speech on the controversial Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) issue at the Senate on Wednesday (March 12, 2014). (MNS photo) MANILA July 9 (Mabuhay) – Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito admitted he made a mistake in accepting some P10 million in disbursement acceleration program (DAP) allocations without asking where the funds were sourced. He said he is willing to return the money out of his own pocket. Ejercito said he got the P10 million while he was still a congressman. The additional fund was on top of the regular P70 million yearly allocation he got as lawmaker. “At that time, when you were in Congress, whatever you are getting you will always be grateful because you have something to bring back to your constituents. Being a neophyte, I was really excited,” Ejercito said. However, he also admitted he did not bother to check or investigate where the funds would be sourced. “Normal talaga, you don’t ask…I did not bother to ask. That would be my fault,” he said. With the allocation, however, came a set of rules. The DAP funds could only be used for projects under the National Dairy Authority and the Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC). Ejercito said the funds were used for a milk program for schoolchildren and training. The senator said he is willing to return the money out of his own savings if asked by a court. “If the courts find me in violation or Read More …

PNoy might still certify FOI bill urgent – Poe

 General
Jul 102014
 
PNoy might still certify FOI bill urgent – Poe

Senator Grace Poe said Thursday that she is optimistic that President Benigno Aquino III will finally certify the long-delayed Freedom of Information (FOI) bill urgent.   “Malay n’yo i-surprise tayo ni PNoy (Aquino’s nickname) at i-certify. Hindi natin alam, pero sa pagkakaalam ko at sinabi naman ni House Speaker (Feliciano) Belmonte Jr. na sa kanyang termino ay maipapasa ang FOI. Ngayon sana itong termino na ito sa 16th Congress,” Poe said in an interview over radio dzBB.   She believes that the bill has earned supporters in the Lower House who will push for its passage. Up to the House “Ang aking sinasabi, marami na rin po tayong kakampi sa Lower House. Sa tingin ko maipapasa. Siguro para sa media, mas interesado kayo, yung right of reply (bill) po ay parang hiniwalay na nilang bill. Hindi po nila isinama sa FOI kasi yun po ang nakakasira, so at least kung hiwalay na bill iyan ay puwede nating batikusin nang hiwalay iyan sa FOI,” she said. FOI seeks to mandate public access to information on government transactions. The Right of Reply provision, on the other hand, will legally require media to give the subjects of reports equal space or airtime to reply. “Bakit ito (FOI) importante? Alam niyo, sa pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin, sa haba ng pila sa MRT at LRT, bakit nagkakaroon ng mga ganyang klase ng maintenance na talagang masama… malalaman natin kung sino ang mga nag-bid at puwede nating kaagad imbestigahan para mapigil,” Poe said. She added the FOI would Read More …

Grace-Chiz tandem in 2016?

 Entertainment
Jul 102014
 
Grace-Chiz tandem in 2016?

President Benigno S. Aquino III raises the hands of Team PNoy during the Miting de Avance of the Liberal Party (LP) – Quezon City Chapter at the Amoranto Sports Complex in Barangay Paligsahan, Quezon City on Friday (May 10, 2013). Team PNoy includes Aurora Lone District Representative Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, former National Youth Commission (NYC) chairperson Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, former Akbayan Partylist Representative Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros-Baraquel, Senators Alan Peter “Compañero” Cayetano and Francis Joseph “Chiz” Escudero, former Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) chairperson Mary Grace Poe-Llamanzares, Senator Loren Legarda, former Senators Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal and Ramon Magsaysay, Jr., Senators Aquilino Martin “Koko” Pimentel III and Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV, and former Las Piñas Representative Cynthia Villar. (Photo by: Jay Morales/ Malacañang Photo Bureau). MANILA (Mabuhay) – Two more candidates could be throwing their hats in the ring for the 2016 elections. Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday said she is open to running alongside her good friend, Senator Francis Escudero, in the next election. Poe, daughter of the late actor and presidential bet Fernando Poe Jnr, remained mum on who will run for the presidency. She added that even Escudero has yet to finalize his plans. She also said though she welcomes opinions that she should run for higher office, she feels she still has a lot to prove as a senator. “Di ba mas bagay kami magkakampi kesa magkalaban? Siempre whatever his decision, di ba? He helped me a lot also Read More …

First Pinoy astronaut to bring rosary, PHL flag to space

 Entertainment
Jul 102014
 
First Pinoy astronaut to bring rosary, PHL flag to space

By Nimfa U. Rueda THE WINNER. 22-year-old Crossfit coach Chino Roque bested 28,000 applicants to be the first Filipino to go to space. Photo courtesy of Axe Philippines LOS ANGELES – The first Filipino astronaut, Chino Roque, has said he would bring with him two items on a space flight scheduled next year: a rosary and the Philippine flag. A third item, if allowed, would be a family photo, said Roque, who was honored at a family reunion held at a church hall in Torrance over the weekend. “I am proud of my pamangkin,” said Carson Mayor Pro Tempore Elito Santarina, one of the more than 200 maternal relatives of Roque who attended the Maniquis (also spelled Maniquiz) clan reunion. Santarina handed Roque two plaques of recognition – one from the City of Carson and another from the clan, whose members trace their roots in Bulacan and Nueva Ecija. The 23-year-old crossfit trainer is one of 22 people from around the world who will fly in space – and the first Filipino to do so – aboard a suborbital Lynx space plane built by the U.S. company XCOR Aerospace. The psychology graduate of De La Salle University won the lone slot for the Philippines after a series of grueling physical and mental challenges at the AXE Apollo Space Academy (AASA), a global contest that promised to send 22 winners to the edge of space and back aboard the private spaceship. More than 100 candidates from 60 countries took part in the Read More …

The challenge in making ‘Pure Love’ Filipino

 Entertainment
Jul 102014
 
The challenge in making ‘Pure Love’ Filipino

Alex Gonzaga (MNS Photo) It is something to be proud of because it’s made in the Philippines but whether “Pure Love” will amass a following like “49 Days,” the original Korean series from which it was adapted, depends largely on awarded filmmaker Veronica Velasco. “Pure Love” is Veronica’s first soap opera and one of her goals is to make it more palatable to local viewers. “I love the way Koreans craft their soaps. I wanted to retain elements of the original series but at the same time inject elements relating to Filipino culture to make it more interesting. It’s a well-loved story and I believe it’s worth retelling,” remarked Veronica. “Pure Love” talks about death, and for Veronica, it is most opportune as “when tragedies like that happen, Filipinos automatically turn to their families. And that’s the biggest difference of our version from that of the Koreans.” Airing July 7 on ABS-CBN, “Pure Love” is top billed by Alex Gonzaga and Yen Santos, housemates from different seasons of the Reality TV show “Pinoy Big Brother.” Other cast members are Aaron Villaflor, Arjo Atayde, Joseph Marco, Matt Evans, Yam Concepcion and Anna Luna. Also lending their support and experience to the show are seasoned actors Sunshine Cruz, John Arcilla, Ana Capri, Bart Guingona, Dante Ponce and Shey Bustamante. Having young actors play the main characters in “Pure Love” also helps Veronica achieve her goal. “They’re young and they have something new and different to offer,” she opined. “I like that they Read More …

The Tea of Friendship: A Bridal Shower

 Entertainment
Jul 102014
 
The Tea of Friendship: A Bridal Shower

By Rocio Nuyda “Tea became more than an idealization of the form of drinking; it is a religion of the art of life”, Kakuzo Okakura.  Then, there is one from George Gissie who was quoted to say, “The mere chink of cups and saucers turns the mind to happy repose” In this vein, I, along with dear friends John Mina, Josie Castro and Benel Liban hosted an afternoon tea for our bride-to-be, Jannelle So. In an attempt to portray the worlds of Jannelle, a Filipina and her fiancé, Lester, a British national; the hosts conceptualized to celebrate her forthcoming marriage by infusing the Filipino guests into the most symbolic of all traditions, the “Britishness” of an afternoon tea. Through the seasons, through the years, it’s your friends who carry you through. What better way to celebrate the warmth and intimacy of beautiful friendship than with the warmest and most intimate of celebrations – a tea. Jannelle’s friends (from left John Mina, Benel Liban, Jannelle, Rocio Nuyda, Josie Castro) gathered on this one glorious afternoon in June to wish her well and send her off to the next journey of her life. A bridal shower it was, but it was more than that…it was an expression of love in this, the most genteel way, over a cup of tea. Photos by Josie Castro & Luchie Allen Though physically absent, Lester “attended” the affair with his phot plastered on the wall, for a game- “Pin the mustache on Lester’s face,” which the little Read More …

China’s Military Base on Mabini Reef Violates the Philippine Constitution

 News
Jul 092014
 

While searching for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 on March 11, 2014, a Philippine Air Force plane flying over the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea sighted Chinese reclamation activity in the Mabini Reef of the Kalayaan Island Group within the 200 mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Philippines. His aerial photographs were transmitted to the Philippine government for analysis …

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