Marcos admits endorsing Napoles’ NGO, denies approving cash release

 News
Aug 222014
 
Marcos admits endorsing Napoles’ NGO, denies approving cash release

Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. admitted Friday that he had requested the mayor of General Nakar in Quezon province to have a non-government organization controlled by Janet Lim Napoles implement a livelihood project funded by his pork barrel allocation in 2012. Marcos, however, said that “at no time did I direct, authorize or cause the approval of the disbursement of P10 million to the SDPFFI (Social Development Program for Farmers Foundation, Inc.),” one of Napoles’ alleged bogus NGOs. SDPFFI was then headed by whistleblower Benhur Luy, at that time a close aide of Napoles. In a press statement, Marcos said that he received sometime in 2012 a request from the municipality of General Nakar to finance a livelihood project. He granted the request for financial assistance as the project was included in the menu of projects allowed to be funded under the Priority Development Assistance Fund pursuant to the 2012 General Appropriations Act or GAA.   “This request, together with other projects proposed for funding under the Senator’s PDAF was submitted for review to the Senate Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office and the Committee on Finance for the endorsement of the Senate President,” Marcos said. Marcos added that the Senate President transmitted these requests to the DBM and it was the DBM that determined the validity of the requests and projects prior to the issuance of Special Allotment Release Orders (SARO).   He said the DBM bases its evaluation on whether the requests for financial assistance were in accordance Read More …

Educators discuss changes in protecting integrity of education at recent forum

 Entertainment
Aug 222014
 
Educators discuss changes in protecting integrity of education at recent forum

New America Media sponsored a recent forum at the UTLA auditorium to discuss changes in protecting the integrity of education. Among those invited in the panel of discussion were: newly-elected National Education Association (NEA) President, Lily Eskelsen-Garcia, Alex Caputo-Pearl, UTLA President and Mikki Cichocki-Semo, California Teachers Assn. (CTA) Secretary-Treasurer. NEA is the nation’s largest professional employee organization representing 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers. As the newly-elected NEA President, Ms. Garcia initially related her humble beginnings as a Latina, whose parents were not educated. Her mother was a native of Panama and her dad was from Nicaragua and she recalled how she started as a lunch lady in a school cafeteria in Utah after she graduated from high school. Further she said, she was actually the “salad girl” because the cafeteria management refused to allow her near the “hot food.” Through the encouragement of her teacher, she pursued her college education at the University of Utah through student loans and by “singing at bars and coffeehouses accompanied by her first husband, Ruel Eskelsen. She graduated magna cum laude with a BA in Elementary Education and earned a masters degree in Instructional Technology and taught for nine years at the Orchard Elementary School in West Valley, Utah, where she was named Teacher of the Year. She rose up the ranks and joined the NEA executive committee in 1996. Currently, as the newly elected President of the 3 million member Read More …

PNoy and family, AFP chief of staff visit Ninoy tomb for death anniversary

 Entertainment
Aug 222014
 
PNoy and family, AFP chief of staff visit Ninoy tomb for death anniversary

President Benigno Aquino III arrived at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City Thursday to attend a Mass marking the 31st death anniversary of his father, former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. (MNS Photo) MANILA, Aug 21 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno Aquino III arrived at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City Thursday to attend a Mass marking the 31st death anniversary of his father, former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. Aquino arrived in time for the Mass that started after 10:20 a.m. Members of the Aquino family including the President’s sisters Viel, Ballsy and Kris had also arrived there for the Mass. Another sister of the President, Ballsy Aquino, and Pangasinan Rep. Georgina “Gina” de Venecia were among those who arrived early. Newly appointed Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang also arrived for the Mass. The nation marks Thursday the 31st death anniversary of former Sen. Aquino, who was gunned down at the tarmac of the Manila International Airport on Aug. 21, 1983. The MIA now bears his name. Aquino’s assassination triggered a series of protests that led to the EDSA I revolt in 1986. The 1986 revolt catapulted his widow, Cory Aquino, to the presidency. (MNS)

179 pass Geodetic Engineer Licensure Exam –PRC

 News
Aug 222014
 
179 pass Geodetic Engineer Licensure Exam –PRC

A total of 179 out of 479 passed the Geodetic Engineer Licensure Examination given in Manila earlier this month, the Professional Regulation Commission announced Friday. [Click here for complete list of passers.] Registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will be on September 1 and 2, the PRC said. The date and venue for the oathtaking ceremony of the successful examinees will be announced later. —KBK, GMA News

COA official’s testimony clears Napoles – defense lawyer

 News
Aug 222014
 
COA official’s testimony clears Napoles – defense lawyer

Lawyer Stephen David, counsel of businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles on Friday said he was satisfied with how the testimony of the prosecution’s witness, Commission on Audit (COA) assistant prosecutor Susan Garcia, worked in favor of his client.   During her testimony before the Sandiganbayan Third Division, Garcia said the COA found irregularities with how the PDAF of Senate Minority Floor Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, amounting to P345 million was released to the non-government organizations (NGOs) associated with Napoles.   “No projects implemented at all considering our review of the documents and the reply of the supposed beneficiaries,” Garcia told the court, referring to the COA’s special audit report on the PDAF allocations of several lawmakers, including Enrile, from 2007 to 2009.   She said that after the findings of their audit report, the COA issued Notices of Disallowance (NDs) to Enrile, his chief of staff Lucila “Gigi” Reyes, his deputy chief of staff Antonio Evangelista, as well as the presidents of the NGOs the PDAF money was allocated to.   “The Notice of Disallowance is to inform them of their civil liabilities as well as to order them to return the money,” Garcia said. ‘Notices of Disallowance still under appeal’ Garcia said the NDs are still under the period of appeal. Under COA rules, disallowed sums must be returned to the government once appeals are denied with finality by the Commission when the period for filing an appeal has expired without the subject officials seeking a reconsideration of the ND. David, however, said Read More …

DOH predicts Filipinos with HIV/AIDS to hit 32,000 by end of 2014

 Entertainment
Aug 212014
 
DOH predicts Filipinos with HIV/AIDS to hit 32,000 by end of 2014

HIV cases up 500% in PHL: The new HIV cases has increased by 532 percent from 2008 to 2013 and for January to June this year alone, recent reports from Manila said. Out of the 19,330 reported cases from 1984 to June 2014, a total of 1,766 are AIDS cases. File photo shows applicants line up at Mall Event Center of SM Manila. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – By the end of 2014, the number of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the Philippines is projected to hit 32,379, according to the Department of Health. During the Senate inquiry on six bills that will strengthen policies on HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment, DOH Assistant Secretary Enrique Tayag said the reported HIV cases has reached 19,330 since 1984 when the first Filipino HIV case was confirmed by the DOH. “The new HIV cases has actually increased by 532 percent from 2008 to 2013 and for January to June this year alone, the total reported cases hit 2,814,” Tayag told the Senate committee on health and demography chaired by Sen. Pia Cayetano. Tayag said out of the 19,330 reported cases from 1984 to June 2014, a total of 1,766 are AIDS cases. He said the number of persons who do not voluntarily undergo testing for HIV infection are included in the projected number of persons with HIV by end of this year. Based on data presented by Tayag, the populations at risk to Read More …

KC Concepcion joins ‘Ikaw Lamang’

 Entertainment
Aug 212014
 
KC Concepcion joins ‘Ikaw Lamang’

KC Concepcion (MNS photo) MEGA daughter KC Concepcion will return on television this August via the hit ABS-CBN primetime series “Ikaw Lamang.” After the success of the soap’s book one, Kim Chiu and Coco Martin’s character will continue as next members of the Hidalgo and Severino families. Coco will now play Gabriel while Kim will breathe life to Andrea. KC, on the other hand, will take on the role of Natalia, the elder sister of Chiu’s character. Aside from KC, “Ikaw Lamang” will also feature seasoned actors such as Amy Austria, Joel Torre, Rio Locsin, Nonie Buencamino, and Christopher de Leon. Completing the new cast are Smokey Manaloto, Arlene Muhlach, Jojit Lorenzo, and Mylene Dizon. “Ikaw Lamang” started with the love story of Samuel and Isabelle, played by Coco and Kim, respectively. Their love was tested by time, personal and political conflict. The soap also featured performances of Jake Cuenca, who recently won the Best Male Kontrabida trophy at the 4th Yahoo! Celebrity Awards, Julia Montes, Angel Locsin, Cherie Gil, Cherry Pie Picache, Tirso Cruz III, Ronaldo Valdez and more. The Kapamilya series, which is under the production of Dreamscape Entertainment Television, is directed by Malu Sevilla, Manny Palo, and Avel Sunpongco. (MNS)

Solons want solar panels installed in public schools without electricity

 General
Aug 212014
 
Solons want solar panels installed in public schools without electricity

President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by SACASOL’s chairman Jose Maria “Jomari” Zabaleta and president Jose Maria “Sech” Zabaleta, Jr., leads the Ceremonial Switch-on of the San Carlos Solar Energy, Inc in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental last May 15 as lawmakers mull a bill mandating the installation of solar panels in public schools in isolated places in the country without electricity to improve the learning capabilities of students in the areas. MANILA (Mabuhay) – Lawmakers have filed a bill mandating the installation of solar panels in public schools in isolated places in the country without electricity to improve the learning capabilities of students in the areas. Reps. Mariano Piamonte and Julieta Cortuna (Party-list, A TEACHER) filed House Bill No. 4715 in consonance with the policy of the State to improve the quality of education in all areas nationwide. Piamonte said in far-flung areas of the countryside where electricity is not available, public school classrooms are also without electricity. “This fact simply demonstrates that public schools in some areas could not be provided with computers as a learning support tools because of the absence of electricity,” Piamonte stressed. Piamonte said it is logical to conclude that students who came from these schools could not learn much of the basics in today’s information technology age. “Because of the absence of electricity in some areas, the students in public schools suffer from educational content gap – an important content at that,” Piamonte stressed. Cortuna said when electricity is not available, support technology Read More …

Arnold Reyes bats for same sex marriage

 Entertainment
Aug 212014
 
Arnold Reyes bats for same sex marriage

Arnold Reyes (MNS Photo) Award-winning actor Arnold Reyes wants same sex marriage to be accepted in the Philippines. Apparently, he believes that marriage is a right that people should be able to enjoy, regardless of their sexual preference. He reasoned, “We’ve undergone a lot of changes through the years and we have learned to accept a lot of things. Why don’t we give same sex marriage a chance?” Arnold starred in the Cinemalaya film entry “Kasal,” which tackles same sex marriage. In the story, he plays a closeted gay lawyer in a relationship with a filmmaker played by Oliver Aquino. The filmmaker wants to marry the lawyer who is having second thoughts on the matter. “It is because in the story I caught Oliver’s character with another man,” Arnold explained. He related the thrill of working with Oliver. “We did a lot of improvisation in a lot of our scenes. Like in our fight scene, we didn’t have a script to follow. We based our actions on how much we know each other, our characters and our emotions. We even ended-up in a fist fight,” he described. So what do you think is the message of “Kasal,” we asked Arnold. “It is about doing whatever makes you happy. Also, if you’re getting married, make sure that you know that person very well and that you know what you’re getting in to. It’s not something you could easily give up. Marriage is forever,” commented Arnold. “Kasal” is Arnold’s 10th Cinemalaya movie. Read More …

CHED, DepEd remind schools of guidelines on field trips

 News
Aug 212014
 
CHED, DepEd remind schools of guidelines on field trips

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Department of Education (DepEd) reminded schools, colleges, and universities on Thursday to observe the policies and guidelines on field trips after seven Bulacan State University students died during a school-sanctioned trip. In Marisol Abdurahman’s report on “24 Oras”, Atty. Julito Vitriolo, CHED executive director stressed that the trip’s destination should be safe for the students. It should also not be far from the school.  CHED also reminded schools to conduct a risk assessment of the trip, to get an accredited chartered bus, and to never force the students to join the activity. Those who can’t or won’t join the activity should be given a parallel activity, Vitriolo added.  There should also be written consent from the parents or guardian of the student before they are allowed to join the trip.  DepEd spokesman ASec. Tonisito Umali said, however, that written consents and waivers can’t automatically absolve a school of accountability. “Maski ilang waiver pa, if there’s an issue ng pagpapabaya, kailangang managot,” he said. According to DepEd, educational tours and field trips are important to the learning of the students because not everything can be learned inside a classroom. However, schools should keep the safety of the students in mind, DepEd reiterated. — Trisha Macas/JDS, GMA News

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