New poll commissioner Lim: My appointment is not a prize

 Entertainment
Jul 292014
 
New poll commissioner Lim: My appointment is not a prize

(COMELEC seal) MANILA (Mabuhay) – New poll commissioner Arthur Lim on Monday dismissed insinuations that his appointment is a reward for his role in the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona in 2012. “I don’t think it’s a prize but an opportunity to serve,” Lim told reporters of his appointment on his first day as a Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner. Lim, a former Integrated Bar of the Philippines president, was one of the 57 private prosecutors in the Corona impeachment trial in the Senate. During Monday’s interview, Lim, who has been in private practice for 44 years, said he sees his appointment as a late-minute opportunity to be a public servant. “I have been in the private sector for 44 years. I am thankful that in the twilight years of my life with God’s grace I am still healthy and I will be able to give it back to the government,” he said. Lim said the closest he ever came to working in the government was when he was part of the collaborating council of the Presidential Commission on Good Government in the early days of his career. As Comelec commissioner, Lim vowed to “serve faithful and sincerely. I will not promise anything regarding my performance. Time will tell.” “It is an honor that I was given the opportunity to be in the public sector, in my own little way can contribute whatever I would be able to do in the Comelec to fulfill its mandate,” he Read More …

Zamora skips signing impeach rap vs Aquino over failing kidneys

 Entertainment
Jul 292014
 
Zamora skips signing impeach rap vs Aquino over failing kidneys

Philippine President Benigno Aquino (2nd L) greets lawmakers after making a speech during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the House of Representatives in Quezon City, Metro Manila July 22, 2013. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – House Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora has opted not to back the impeachment of President Benigno Aquino III, citing among other reasons, his scheduled kidney transplant because of his failing kidneys. Zamora will go under the knife on August 19, 2014. He told reporters that his kidneys are failing so he looked for donors early on. “I’m going through surgery. It will take me out for a month. I have a date. With my surgeons, it will be next month. That’s when everything come out for impeachment, budget, Bangsamoro. These are things I don’t want to miss,” he said. But before this, Zamora intends to deliver a Kontra-SONA or a rebuttal speech to the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA). Zamora’s kidney transplant is partly why he won’t be supporting the impeachment complaints against Aquino that were filed by his colleagues in the minority bloc. “I have a personal problem. I will be absent from the House. I don’t want to be just signing an impeachment complaint forgetting I should be paying real attention to that. These are important reasons. My colleagues feel differently. Let’s see how the President or chosen defenders will defend himself,” he said. Zamora, however, concedes these issues have cast a shadow over the President’s SONA. “Makabayan Read More …

Finished or not finished

 Entertainment
Jul 292014
 
Finished or not finished

I feel like how I used to feel at the end of timed exams when the teacher would say: “Pens down. Now more writing. Finished or not finished, pass your papers.” I am both excited and anxious; relieved yet feeling like there are still a million things that needs to be done; because after about a lifetime of dreaming about it and 6 months of planning it, July 20 has come… It’s time to walk down the aisle. And whether or not we’re done with the planning, the wedding will go on. As I mentioned last week, I did learn a lot from planning this wedding – things I hopefully won’t be needing after my first and hopefully only wedding. And so I thought those lessons will be better shared. Here are the rest of what I’m calling “The 10 Commandments of Wedding Planning.” 6. Thou shall steal (or borrow) ideas. While as young girls, we grew up planning and visualizing our wedding, it’s good to be flexible with ideas. I read some magazines, checked out bridal shows, but more importantly, listened to the experts we hired to help with the wedding – coordinator, designer, florist, etc. I realized that even social media is a good source for wedding trends that are worth incorporating. I started following some accounts on Twitter and Instagram, to get more wedding ideas. 7. Thou shall not commit the mistake of thinking “There’s still time.” There will never be enough time. I learned to make decisions quickly Read More …

An open letter of gratitude

 Entertainment
Jul 292014
 
An open letter of gratitude

I have been saying this over and over again… that I feel blessed to have found my life partner and even more blessed to have been able to share the love with family and friends. It’s been about a week since that special day in scenic Mendocino Coast, California and my heart is still overflowing with wonderful memories from that weekend. For some of you who have seen the beautiful photos from last Sunday, I’m sure you will agree that one other thing that inspires my gratitude is the lovely weather we’ve been blessed with that day! There was slight drizzle as soon as Lester and I exited the church as Mr. & Mrs. Perkins. In our Filipino beliefs, that signals a blessing from heaven. But when it didn’t stop for the next 20 minutes or so, I started to worry. One of the reasons we chose the beautiful estate right next to the cliffs was because of the deck where we hoped to treat our guests with a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean. With the fog and mist, there wasn’t going to be anything to see. But as if on cue, as soon as the guests started arriving at the venue, the sky turned from gray to yellow and perfect blue hues. The sun came out showing all its glory over the dramatic cliffs and the mysterious ocean. Lester and I couldn’t believe our luck! We can now not just say; but fully affirm that Mendocino is indeed Read More …

Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Gran Coupé

 General
Jul 292014
 
Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Gran Coupé

MANILA, Philippines – Asian Carmakers Corporation (ACC), the official importer and distributor of BMW in the Philippines, has taken the wraps off its first-ever four-door 4 Series Gran Coupé. Wait, you ask, did I just describe a coupe as having four doors? Yes, and for those who are still getting used to BMW’s new nomenclature of odd-numbered series (1, 3, 5, and 7 Series) as four-door sedans or hatches and the new even-numbered series (2, 4, 6 Series) as coupes, a four-door “coupe” with the 4-Series designation might come as a shock. Well, it’s no shock if you follow BMW’s rationale of defining coupes not by the number of doors but by the body style or design. And BMW has certainly designed the 4 Series Gran Coupe to look like, well, a coupe (which, to the uninitiated, is French for two doors). The first four-door coupé in the premium midsize segment, the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé combines the sleek look of a sport coupe with the functionality provided by four doors. It is the latest model to join the BMW 4 Series range, along with the BMW 4 Series Sport Coupé—which was launched last February and which is the actual 4 Series model with just two doors. Get it now? “We are very excited to kick off the second half of 2014 with the launch of the newest model to join the BMW family: the first-ever BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe.” said Maricar Parco, ACC president “This is a Read More …

Drilon to senators: Set aside 2016 and work together to renew Senate

 Entertainment
Jul 292014
 
Drilon to senators: Set aside 2016 and work together to renew Senate

President Benigno Aquino III clears his throat as he delivers his fifth State of the Nation Address at the start of the second regular session of the 16th Congress on Monday, July 28. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senate President Franklin Drilon on Monday asked his colleagues to set aside politics and work together to renew the Senate amid the controversies it is facing. “My dear colleagues, let us set aside 2016 and work hand in hand for the rebirth of the Senate,” Drilon said in his speech during the opening of the 2nd Regular Session of the 16th Congress. “I view this day – and the days, weeks and months ahead – as our opportunity to recover the people’s faith in their Senate, regain their trust and revive their confidence. Though not within easy reach, I believe that with hard work and perseverance we would in time walk past the difficult path ahead,” he added. Three of its members – Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. – are currently detained in connection with the pork barrel scam while the chamber is also under scrutiny over the use of the Disbursement Acceleration Program fund. Drilon said he is saddened about the year’s events. “It pains and saddens me to witness and bear that the events in the past 12 months, the intense public beatings, the avalanche of intrigues and the arrows of insults shot into our gates, may have succeeded in reducing the Read More …

Living alone helps Jasmine mature, grow up

 Entertainment
Jul 292014
 
Living alone helps Jasmine mature, grow up

Jasmine Curtis-Smith (MNS Photo) Jasmine Curtis-Smith was proud to share that she is now living a “domesticated life” months after she moved out of the house of her sister, actress Anne Curtis. Curtis-Smith said this is her way of learning new things on her own, adding that it is high time that she matures and grows up. “Of course you want to grow up, you want to mature, you want to learn how it is to live on your own and be a real woman. You have to really put yourself out there and be adventurous in terms of living on your own and really finding out what it’s like to be a mature woman,” she said. While she is only 20 years old, Curtis-Smith said: “Of course I’m still young but at the same time, it’s nice to know that I can hold all these responsibilities on my own.” Months back, Curtis-Smith said she now lives in her own condominium unit and her sister has been supportive of her decision. Asked if she also prepares her own food, the actress said: “I cook like chicken nuggets, not yet real meals (laughs). I have someone to cook for me. Someone helps me cook at home. Hindi pa ako ready ng totoong meals na ang daming ingredients. Mga simple pa lang.” Curtis-Smith said she is grateful that someone is helping her at home, and that the hardest thing she has to do is to take care of her dog. “Thankfully, I Read More …

Rep. Lani Mercado too busy for Aquino’s SONA

 Entertainment
Jul 292014
 
Rep. Lani Mercado too busy for Aquino’s SONA

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. opens the Second Regular Session of the House of Representatives of the 16th Congress Monday morning (July 28, 2014) at the Batasang Pambansa Bldg. in Quezon City. The House and the Senate will hold a joint session in the afternoon to hear the fifth State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) of President Benigno S. Aquino III. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – True to her words, Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado, wife of detained Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., will skip President Benigno Aquino III’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday. “I have an appointment to attend to, important district duties, sorry,” Mercado, who was present during the opening of the 16th Congress’ second regular session, told reporters after having lunch with other independent minority lawmakers. Mercado last month said she will snub the SONA as she expects Aquino to mention her husband’s arrest and detention over the P10-billion pork barrel scam. Mercado declined to comment on what she expects from Aquino’s SONA, saying she would rather wait and see what the President will say. “Let us listen to him, yun na lang,” she said. Revilla is facing graft and plunder charges before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the multibillion-peso scam. Mercado had earlier accused Aquino of coming up with ways to shame her and her husband. (MNS)

Kris Aquino ‘gives up’ on love

 Entertainment
Jul 282014
 
Kris Aquino ‘gives up’ on love

Kris Aquino (MNS Photo) QUEEN of All Media Kris Aquino said she is giving up on love and wants to focus her time and attention to her two sons and her showbiz career. “Give up na! Hayaan na lang muna. Parang hindi doon ang swerte,” Aquino said on the sidelines of the Yahoo! Celebrity Awards 2014, where she received the Female TV Host of the Year trophy. Aquino shared she realized that maybe God gave her a loving children and successful career because she is not meant to be with someone now. “Hindi na. Okay na ako with my two sons. Okay na ako sa takbo ng career ko. Siguro yun nga ang sinabi ni God, ‘Uy, wag ka masyadong maraming hinihingi. Makuntento ka na sa kung anong meron ka,” she said. “As it is now, nasasabi ko ito kasi kailangan pa ako ng mga anak ko. Seven lang si Bimb and nine lang si Josh, pero pag hindi na siguro nila ako kailangan, doon ko mafe-feel na sad ang buhay. While I feel needed and love, it’s okay,” she added. The TV host said that even cosmetic surgeon Dr. Vicky Belo tried to hook her up with a non-showbiz guy but it did not work out. Meanwhile, Aquino was asked if how her close friend, Derek Ramsay, helped her cope with her recent breakup with Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista. She said the actor has been her “sounding board” and would often encourage her to move on, look at Read More …

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