Maniolas

Job seekers search through available work and fill up forms during a job fair in Manila. The country’s unemployment rate jumped to a three-year high 7.5 percent in April, the statistics office said on Tuesday, despite a 7.8 percent annual GDP growth in the first quarter, the fastest pace in Asia. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Neophyte Senator Grace Poe has asked the Senate to conduct a study on youth joblessness in the country, citing the government’s record of 1.4 million unemployed last April. Poe filed Senate Resolution 771 directing the committees on youth and on labor to do the study “with the objectives of strengthening policies and introducing dynamic measures aimed at generating opportunities for young people and the unemployed.” The resolution said based on the Philippines Statistical Authority’s (PSA) Labor Force Survey for April 2014, the number of unemployed Filipino youth reached 1.456 million. “The same PSA study states that jobless youth account for half of the country’s total unemployed and for 16 percent of the total youth workforce,” it said. “The youth unemployment rate of 15.4 percent is more than twice the reported national unemployment rate of 7 percent.” “The information pointed out above offsets a relative decrease of 1.1 percent decrease in the youth unemployment rate from April 2013 to Aprile 2014 and points to need for greater vigilance and persistence in addressing the said problem,” it further said. The resolution then pointed out that under Article II, Section 9 of the 1987 Constitution, the “promotion Read More …

Lovi Poe and Rocco Nacino (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) –AFTER actress Lovi Poe admitted their new romance on national television, actor Rocco Nacino said he still prefers to keep the relationship private. In a recent interview with the Kapuso talent, Nacino said that he was in Cebu for work when the news came out on weekend showbiz program, “StarTalk”. They initially wanted to keep the relationship a secret that is why he was surprised upon receiving a couple of text messages congratulating him and Lovi. “Very happy of course. Hindi ko in-expect yun e. Sabi ni Lovi, Heart was there and telling her na go for it. Nakuha niya yung lakas ng loob na aminin,” he said. “Hindi namin napag-usapan yun and it was biglaan. I was not upset about it and natuwa talaga ako. Ngayon it’s much more easier that we’re out with it na. Yun nga lang it’s not private anymore. Nakakatuwa na walang negative kaming narinig,” he added. The actor shared the qualities he likes best in his girlfriend. “Her sense of humor is amazing. Lagi niya akong napapatawa. I look up to how open she is to changes, how understanding she is.” The actor admires Poe as she always makes time to be with her family. When asked about the possibility of settling down, the 27-year-old actor said he wants to get married in five years time and he has a good feeling that this relationship with Poe is for keeps. “We talk about it but Read More …

JM De Guzman (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) -– “Gumamit po ako ng droga.” This was the direct admission of JM De Guzman when asked about the real reason for his almost one-year absence from the limelight. De Guzman said he personally asked his late grandfather to send him to rehab. “Pinasok po ako sa rehab dahil unmanageable na ako. Gumamit po ako ng droga. Sinubukan ko ‘yung hindi dapat subukan… Naging iresponsable po ako. Nawala po ‘yung disiplina ko. Lumaki po yung ulo ko. I lost control,” he said. Asked what triggered him to plead that he be sent to a rehabilitation facility, the actor said: “Mentally, hindi na ako makapag-isip ng diretso. Hindi ko na mapagkatiwalaan ‘yung mga sarili kong desisyon, responsibilidad at disiplina nawawala na rin sa akin. Wala na, emotionally hindi ko na kaya i-control.” The “Angelito” actor said his drug use was also one of the reasons he and actress Jessy Mendiola broke up. “Sa bisyo ko, sa mga ginawa ko sa sarili ko, wala pong kinalaman si Jessy doon. Decision ko ‘yun, choices ko ‘yun, and naging rason ‘yun kung bakit kami naghiwalay. Isa po ‘yun sa maraming rason,” he said. Still under a 15-month rehabilitation program, De Guzman said his experience inside the rehab facility gave him a new-found perspective on life. “Na-appreciate ko ‘yung mga simpleng bagay na nabibigay sa akin, simpleng bagay na nilalatag sa akin ng Diyos. Kasi noon, wala akong kinikilalang kahinaan ko. Akala ko kaya ko lahat,” he said. Read More …

One dreams of becoming a director, another a food connoisseur, and the third, a scientist. Guess who?