Maniolas

President Benigno S. Aquino III leads the singing of the National Anthem during the ceremonial signing of Republic Act No. 10533 or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 at the Rizal Ceremonial Hall of the Malacanang Palace on Wednesday (May 15). The K to 12 program covers Kindergarten and 12 years of basic education (six years of primary education, four years of Junior High School, and two years of Senior High School) to provide sufficient time for mastery of concepts and skills, develop lifelong learners, and prepare graduates for tertiary education, middle-level skills development, employment, and entrepreneurship. In photo are Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr., Senators Ralph Recto, Franklin Drilon and Edgardo Angara, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., and Representatives Rosenda Ann Ocampo and Neptali Gonzales II. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II warned Thursday that persistent questions over the quorum and attacks on the proposed 2015 budget could delay its approval or, worse, force a reenacted budget next year. “And they say that a reenacted budget makes the incumbent president a strong president,” he added. Gonzales’ warning came after the plenary deliberation of the budget was suspended around 10 p.m. Wednesday despite a pending motion to adjourn called by Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco of the United Nationalist Alliance. Now in its fourth day in plenary, the deliberation on the proposed P2.606-trillion 2015 budget has been marked by long debates and questions over the quorum, which requires the presence of at least 146 of the Read More …

Philhealth says its 600 members nationwide may stop honoring Philhealth benefits because of the delayed release of reimbursements for services rendered but assures that all regional offices have made a commitment to pay claims of all providers faster than the 60 days processing time as mandated by law. Photo shows thousands of PhilHealth cards for General Santos beneficiaries taken last September 13, at Lagao gymnasium. Photo: Russell Delvo/Gensan Info Office MANILA (Mabuhay) – Seeking to make health care more accessible to citizens, the Senate of the Philippines on Wednesday passed on second reading a bill aiming to extend the coverage of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to all senior citizens. Senator Ralph Recto penned Senate Bill 712 which mandates the PhilHealth to automatically enroll all senior citizens regardless of their socio-economic status. “Enrolling them must be automatic, not optional. The ideal is that the minute they blow out the candles on their 60th birthday cake to the moment they breathe their last – they should be PhilHealth members,” Recto said. At present, Republic Act 9994 or Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 only indigent senior citizens are automatically covered by the national health insurance program. Recto also added that the bill will cater to 2.2 million more senior citizens and will need P5.2 billion budget annually to be implemented. The senator also said that the third reading approval of the bill is expected to be done next week. (MNS)

(MADRID, Spain) President Benigno Simeon Aquino III leads the wreath-laying ceremonies at the Rizal monument here on Sunday (September 14). The President will first visit Spain, then proceed to Belgium, France and Germany for two days each. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Vice President Jejomar Binay on Wednesday indicated his opposition to proposals giving President Benigno Aquino III a chance at term extension through Charter change. “Basta’t ako I’m against Charter change except the economic provisions,” Binay told reporters when asked on his position on term extension. He was interviewed after his keynote speech at a mining conference in Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Pasay City. Pressed if he would oppose the term extension of Aquino, the Vice President just said: “Paghalu-haluin mo na muna lahat basta sinasabi ko no to Charter change.” The Constitution provides for a single six-year term for the President and bans the incumbent Chief Executive from seeking re-election. On Monday, the President said there was still a chance to amend the Constitution to give him opportunity to extend his term. “Di ba may kasabihan tayo, kapag gusto walang imposible, kapag ayaw, walang posible. If the vast majority thinks that this the road that has to be taken, then there will be a way, based on the Constitution, to afford this opportunity,” Aquino told reporters earlier this week on board the presidential plane en route to Belgium. (MNS)

Jeane Napoles, daughter of Janet Lim-Napoles, in a limo as posted in m.spot.ph apparently on her way to one of her evening sorties in Los Angeles, where she reportedly owns a Ritz Carlton apartment near Staples Center. The Philippine government has begun probing her lavish lifestyle as shown in social media and has asked the U.S. government to recover what may belong to Philippine coffers. MANILA (Mabuhay) -The Supreme Court has deferred ruling on the administrative case filed against Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Gregory Ong over his supposed ties with alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles. In a media briefing Tuesday, SC Public Information Office chief and spokesman Theodore Te said voting on the case did not push through although he did not give the reason why. A court insider, however, said the SC deferred action because of the absence of Associate Justice Jose Catral Mendoza, who has yet to return after extending his wellness leave. The SC earlier this year motu proprio or in its own initiative initiated an administrative case against Ong. Leading the investigation was SC Associate Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez, who was recently appointed by President Benigno Aquino III as a member of the Judicial and Bar Council. During the investigation, Ong was made to explain why he had been identified by Marina Sula and Benhur Luy, whistleblowers in the alleged pork barrel scam case, as a Napoles contact. Sula had said in her affidavit that she had seen Ong visit Napoles at her office at the Read More …

Kenneth Paul Cruz names Liza Soberano, Bea Binene and Kris Bernal as his crushes