Senate invites VP Binay to testify on ‘overpriced’ Makati building

 Entertainment
Sep 172014
 
Senate invites VP Binay to testify on ‘overpriced’ Makati building

CAPITOL HILL MEETING. Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, accompanied by Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. and Rep. Abigail Binay-Campos, discuss bilateral issues with Rep. Ed Royce, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the United States House of Representatives, during a meeting in Washington, D.C. on Thursday. (Philippine Embassy Photo by Ariel Penaranda) MANILA (Mabuhay) – It’s now official. The Senate blue ribbon committee has formally invited Vice President Jejomar Binay to attend the panel’s subcommittee hearing regarding the alleged overpricing in the construction of the Makati City Hall building II. The letter signed by Senator Aquilino Pimentel III was sent September 11, when the committee held its fifth hearing on the issue, but was released to the media only on September 15, Monday. The letter stated that the committee “is requesting your presence in its sixth public hearing on Thursday, September 25, 2014, at 10 a.m. at the Senate session hall…to inform the committee about what you know regarding the subject matter under inquiry. We look forward to your Honor’s presence during the said hearing.” Binay was supposed to hold a live address on the issue Monday afternoon but he rescheduled it to go to northern Luzon and assess the damage brought by Typhoon Luis. Joey Salgado, Binay’s spokesperson, said they did not receive any invitation from the Blue Ribbon committee. “No invitation received,” Salgado said. Kickbacks, plunder complaint Last week, former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado accused Binay of receiving 13 percent kickback in every project the Read More …

PHL woos OFWs back with 40,000 job vacancies

 Entertainment
Sep 172014
 
PHL woos OFWs back with 40,000 job vacancies

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), in partnership with SM Malls conduct nationwide jobs fair in celebration of Labor Day (May 1). Over 310,000 jobs are offered to qualified applicants. Photo shows applicants line up at Mall Event Center of SM Manila. (MNS photo) HONG KONG (Mabuhay) – Government officials are urging Filipinos working in households here to consider the possibility of going back home to fill up 40,000 vacancies for teaching and non-teaching personnel of the Department of Education. In a recent forum held at the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong, Labor chief Rosalinda Baldoz said the government’s K to 12 program, which addresses the perceived two-year deficit in the Philippine educational system, will create new jobs for teachers and non-teachers in the Philippines. “Ang amin lang po naman ay mabigyan kayo ng option… Kung ganitong may opportunities po, dapat po binibigay namin sa inyo ang detalye ng mga opportunities na puwede ninyong pag-aralan,” Baldoz said. “Naisip ko po na sa tinagal-tagal po ng pagtigil dito whether as household workers or kung anuman po, baka po mas may mataas na skills sets na na-acquire kayo dito, at kung ma-assess po iyan at ma-certify, bibigyan din po kayo ng idea kung anong vertical at horizontal career path na puwedeng pag-aralan,” she added. The Philippines has implemented the K to 12 program beginning with the universal kindergarten in school year 2011-2012, while Grade 11 or the start of the senior high school will be implemented in academic year 2016-2017. Read More …

House panel approves bill granting students 20% discount on public transport utilities

 Entertainment
Sep 172014
 
House panel approves bill granting students 20% discount on public transport utilities

President Benigno S. Aquino III shares the stage with the students from the Center for Excellence (CENTEX) Elementary School for a group photo souvenir during the ceremonial signing of Republic Act No. 10533 or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 at the Rizal Ceremonial Hall of the Malaca?n 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 House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., and Senator Edgardo Angara. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The House Committee on Transportation has approved in principle a substitute bill granting students 20 percent fare discount on all kinds of public transportation utilities during school days. Rep. Cesar V. Sarmiento (Lone District, Catanduanes), chair of the house body, said the still unnumbered bill seeks to address economic concerns and the alarming rate of school dropouts. “This will alleviate the burden of the parents and guardians in the financial support given to the students with due consideration to the continued rise in the cost of education in the country, including their incidental expenses, such as transportation costs,” Sarmiento said. Sarmiento said students aged 30 years old and below need only to present their school-issued identification card or current validated enrolment form supported Read More …

Drilon urges DOT to revive Roxas Boulevard

 Entertainment
Sep 172014
 
Drilon urges DOT to revive Roxas Boulevard

“Every time I passed through between the U.S. embassy and yacht club, Jesus Christ, a lot of vendors, I see a lot people lying around. It is unsightly,” Senate President Franklin Drilon said. Photo: Rhony Laigo on Roxas Blvd. by Manila Hotel MANILA (Mabuhay) – For Senate President Franklin Drilon, it’s not more fun in the Philippines when a tourist would see vendors and people lying along Roxas Boulevard, specifically between the United States embassy and Manila Yacht Club. “Every time I passed through between the U.S. embassy and yacht club, Jesus Christ, a lot of vendors, I see a lot people lying around. It is unsightly,” Drilon said. With this, the Senate leader urged the Department of Tourism (DOT) to address the problem which can affect the government’s effort to entice more tourists to visit the Philippines under the DOT’s marketing slogan ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines.’ ”Can you do something about this, Mr. Secretary,” Drilon asked DOT chief Ramon Jimenez during the recent Senate public hearing on the proposed Php2.15-billion 2015 budget of DOT and its attached agencies. Jimenez explained that making the boulevard more presentable to foreign and local tourists specifically coming from the airport remains difficult due to ‘nightmare jurisdiction’ of the 7-kilometer road. ”Roxas Boulevard is a nightmare of jurisdiction issue. It travels three cities – Manila, Pasay and Parañaque while the center island is being maintained by the MMDA (Metro Manila Development Authority),” Jimenez told the Senate sub-finance committee. Despite the jurisdiction issue, Read More …

Filipino singing star Angeline Quinto, with special guest Jon Secada, at Pala, Nov. 22

 Entertainment
Sep 172014
 
Filipino singing star Angeline Quinto, with special guest Jon Secada, at Pala, Nov. 22

Angeline Quinto PALA, CA … Popular Filipino singing star Angeline Quinto, with special guest Jon Secada, will appear in concert at 7 p.m., Saturday, November 22, in the Infinity Showroom at Pala Casino Spa & Resort. Quinto came to prominence in 2011 after she won Star Power: Sharon’s Search for the Next Female Superstar in Manila, which earned her a recording contract with Star Records.  Her career exploded after her album, Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs, went platinum in 2012. Secada is an international star who has won two Grammy awards, has sold over 20 million albums and was one of the first bilingual artists to achieve international crossover appeal.  His latest single, “I’m Never Too Far Away,” is his first collaboration with Rudy Perez,   Billboard magazine’s five-time producer of the year and producer of the decade (2000-2010). Angeline Quinto with Special Guest Jon Secada at 7 p.m., Saturday, November 22 at the Pala Casino Spa & Resort Jon Secada Infinity Showroom. Tickets: $98, $78. Tickets on sale, with no service charge, at the Pala Box Office in the casino, or call 1-877-WIN PALA (1-877-946-7252).  Tickets also are available at Star Tickets, 1-800-585-3737, or www.startickets.com. Pala is located in Northern San Diego County; from San Diego/Riverside, take I-15 to Highway 76 east five miles; from Los Angeles County and Orange County, take I-5 south to Highway 76 east, then travel 23 miles.  Pala is 15 miles north of Escondido, 12 miles south of Temecula. Address:  11154 Highway 76, Pala, CA 92059; Telephone: 1-877-WIN-PALA (1-877-946-7252);Web site: http://www.palacasino.com Read More …

Is Binay an Aquino ally?

 Entertainment
Sep 172014
 
Is Binay an Aquino ally?

President Benigno S. Aquino III converses with Vice President Jejomar Binay during the 115th Anniversary of the Philippine Navy at the Commodore Posadas Wharf, Headquarters, Naval Sea Systems Command in Naval Station Pascual Ledesma, Fort San Felipe, Cavite City on Tuesday (May 21). At present, the Philippine Navy is a force of 26,000 personnel composed of sailors, marines and civilian employees. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – You should ask the Vice President. That was the answer of Malacañang on Monday when asked if it considers Vice President Jejomar Binay an ally of President Benigno Aquino III. “He supports the agenda of the president…but there are some areas that they disagree with,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said during a televised press briefing. “I think that is up to the Vice President to say,” he said, adding that Binay’s camp had consistently said they support Aquino’s agenda. The statement came as Aquino left for Europe without putting the Vice President in charge of the country. Binay was also noticeably absent during the President’s “agenda setting” meeting at Malacañang last week. On Monday morning, it was announced that Binay’s 15-minute address to clear his name against corruption charges has been postponed. Instead, the he flew to typhoon-hit provinces. He said that while the speech could be postponed, help needed by Filipinos cannot, especially since Aquino was away. On the other hand, Lacierda said there was no need to assign a “caretaker” during the President’s absence since “the reins of government will be handled Read More …

Gerald paired with Julia Montes in horror film

 Entertainment
Sep 172014
 
Gerald paired with Julia Montes in horror film

Gerald Anderson (MNS photo) Kapamilya stars Gerald Anderson and Julia Montes will be working with each other for the first time in Star Cinema’s upcoming horror movie, which also features JC de Vera. To be directed by Manny Palo, whose previous movies include the indie “Sta. Nina” and the romance drama “A Moment in Time,” the yet untitled horror movie also includes a love story. The movie will be shot entirely in Baguio City. “It’s a love story between the three of them pero at the same time mayroon talagang nangyayari sa kanilang tatlo, an external force that would prevent ‘yung love story to fully bloom and blossom,” the director said. Anderson and de Vera both noted that it is their first time to do a movie such as this. “I’m confident to say na kahit kayo as viewers, it’s gonna be a first-time experience. I’ve never made a movie like this and I’m excited para sa inyo, I’m excited ngayon pa lang sa research, sa mga kailangan kong gawin sa role ko na I’ve never done also in my career. It’s going to be exciting romantic horror story,” Anderson said. Julia Montes (MNS photo) “Napakaganda ng story alam mong malalim siya. Alam mong makaka-relate ang tao dahil sa love angle niya at para mag-add ng taste doon sa movie, nilagyan ng horror. So magandang mix siya,” de Vera added. Montes, meanwhile, is also excited to shoot in Baguio. “May mga element dito para sa akin na nakaka-excite na gampanan Read More …

Rushed evacuations as Philippine volcano spews lava

 General
Sep 172014
 
Rushed evacuations as Philippine volcano spews lava

Lava cascaded down the Philippines’ most active volcano on Wednesday as authorities rushed to evacuate thousands ahead of a possible deadly eruption. Mostly women, children and the elderly carrying bags of clothes were hauled out of farming villages near Mayon volcano’s slopes on board army trucks and minibuses. Soldiers went from house to house asking residents to evacuate, after authorities on Monday raised the third highest alert in a five-step scale, meaning a full-scale eruption is possible “within weeks”. Before dawn Wednesday, Mayon’s crater glowed red as molten rocks flowed as far as halfway down its slopes. The volcano’s world-renowned perfect cone appeared to have been deformed, swollen with lava that had risen from the Earth’s core. At least 8,000 of the target 50,000 people had been moved to temporary shelters, with the operation expected to run for three days, regional civil defence director Bernardo Alejandro told AFP. However he said the evacuation operation was sapping precious disaster-relief funds and manpower in Albay province, which is regularly battered by typhoons at this time of year. “The province can sustain them (in evacuation centres) for not more than a month… we cannot exhaust all our disaster funds on Mayon,” Alejandro said. The deadliest and most powerful of the roughly 20 typhoons that batter the Philippines every year happen towards the end of the year, bringing floods, landslides and storm surges to eastern provinces such as Albay that face the Pacific Ocean. State volcanology agency director Renato Solidum said more magma was Read More …

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