Celebrities grace MMFF Parade of Stars

 Entertainment
Dec 232014
 
Celebrities grace MMFF Parade of Stars

FANS lined up the streets on Tuesday to see their favorite celebrities who are part of the 2014 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). Actor Robin Padilla and Vic Sotto led this year’s roster of celebrities who rode their movies’ respective floats for the much-anticipated Parade of Stars that kicked off the festival. Padilla was joined by “Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo” co-stars Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Rommel and Daniel Padilla and leading lady Vina Morales. Sotto, an MMFF regular, appeared with “My Big Bossing” co-actors Ruby Rodriguez, Pauleen Luna, Niño Muhlach with son Alonzo and child star Ryzza Mae Dizon. “Shake, Rattle and Roll XV” featured “Pinoy Big Brother: All In” winner Daniel Matsunaga, model John Spainhour and Cebuano actor Matteo Guidicelli. Queen of All Media Kris Aquino failed to make it at the start of the parade but joined the rest of the cast of the sequel of horror movie “Feng Shui” at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila. She was with leading man Coco Martin and director Chito Rono. Comedian Vice Ganda also did not catch the start of the parade but made sure to join co-stars Tom Rodriguez, Alex Gonzaga, Richard Yap and director Wenn Deramas in promoting “The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin” in Quirino Grandstand. A report said Vice Ganda interviewed President Benigno Aquino III earlier in the day in Malacañang for an episode of the comedian’s late-night talk show “Gandang Gabi Vice.” Ex-Laguna Governor ER Ejercito led the “Muslim Magnum .357” float with leading lady Sam Pinto while romantic comedy Read More …

‘Fresh Off The Boat’ is coming soon on ABC

 Entertainment
Dec 222014
 
‘Fresh Off The Boat’ is coming soon on ABC

Comedy is first Asian American TV show in 20 years By Hannah De Castro-Abinuman “When they first told me about the idea of making an all-Asian TV show on network TV, I thought, Good luck. I didn’t think it was going to be picked up. So now that it’s finally happening, we are very excited and hopeful that the viewers will be able identify with the characters.” – Film and TV actor, Randall Park, who plays Louis Huang in the show (also known for The Interview, Neighbors & Larry Crowne). On this year’s Conference for Creative Content (C3), Visual Communications presented ABC’s newest comedy TV show – “Fresh Off The Boat.” A special screening of the pilot episode was held last December 6 at the David Henry Hwang Theatre in Los Angeles for students, creatives, media executives and community organizations of the entertainment media. The screening was then followed by a panel discussion, moderated by actor and Asian American community leader, Amy Hill. During the panel discussion, attendees of the event were able to learn more about how the show came about and the challenges faced by the producers and media executives in creating and presenting an Asian-centered show in today’s TV industry in the United States.  Members of the panel include actor and producer, Randall Park (who plays Louis Huang in the show), the show’s creator for television and executive producer, Nahnatchka Kahn, Executive Producer Melvin Mar and ABC’s  Executive Vice President for Comedy Development, Samie Kim Falvey. “Fresh Read More …

Death penalty: Let people decide – Sotto

 Entertainment
Dec 222014
 
Death penalty: Let people decide – Sotto

Senator Vicente C. Sotto III (photo courtesy of www.senate.gov.ph) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto said he would withdraw his proposal to revive the death penalty in the country if majority of Filipinos would say that they are against it. Aside from his bill pending in the Senate seeking the reimposition of the death penalty for heinous crimes, Sotto  said he would file in January next year another measure seeking capital punishment for high-profile drug traffickers. The senator said he was confident that his proposals would pass the Senate. Told that various sectors were strongly opposing his proposal, Sotto said: “Ah hindi, mas maraming in favor. I challenge them to conduct a survey. Let the people decide.” (Oh, no. More people are in favor.) He added that he was confident that his bills would be approved despite him being in the opposition. “Kasi mararamdan nila ito ang gusto ng taumbayan,” Sotto explained. (They [other senators] feel that this is what the people want.) But he added that should a survey be done and majority of Filipinos oppose the death penalty, he would withdraw his proposals. “Kung majority sasabihing ‘Huwag,’ I’ll withdraw,” the lawmaker said. (If majority would say ‘No,’ I’ll withdraw.) “Tandaan nila vox populi, vox dei.” (They [opposition] should remember that the voice of the people is the voice of God.) The senator said he was ready to present his arguments on why there was a need to reimpose capital punishment in the country. Responding to claims that Read More …

CA orders Meralco to refund customers P5B in overpayments

 Entertainment
Dec 222014
 
CA orders Meralco to refund customers P5B in overpayments

President Benigno S. Aquino III leads the ceremonial laying of the San Gabriel Power Plant Project time capsule in Brgy. Sta Rita, Batangas City January 14 that include Batangas Governor-turned actress Vilma Santos, among the many manifestations of continued economic growth in the Philippines. (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) will have to refund its customers the P5 billion the power utility would be getting from the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp (PSALM) and the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) in overpayments as a result of double-billing transmission line charges from 2006 to 2012. The Court of Appeals Special Second Division, in a 20-page ruling, upheld the orders of the Energy Regulatory Commission on March 4 and July 1, 2013 that directed the Meralco to refund its 5.4 million customers. The ERC ordered Meralco to refund its customers by way of automatic deductions to the computed monthly “Generation Rate” that the power utility will recover from PSALM and NAPOCOR. Ruling on the case, the appellate court said it cannot grant PSALM’s request to stop the ERC from ordering the P5-billion refund. “The court notes that the undisputed transmission charges are mere Meralco’s pass-through charges, In truth, it is the public that has been doubly charged,” said the CA. Sought for comment, Meralco head legal William Pamintuan said the firm would follow the appelate court’s ruling. “Meralco shall abide and comply  with any executable order from the court or the ERC in this regard,” Pamintuan said. Read More …

Miriam: Let rich inmates pay for their ‘kubols’

 Entertainment
Dec 222014
 
Miriam: Let rich inmates pay for their ‘kubols’

Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago announces during a press conference on Wednesday (July 2, 2014) that she has been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. “God never asks us for an opinion. God just goes ahead and does whatever is in His hands. I just say okay,” Santiago says. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago reiterated Wednesday her proposal for the government to let rich convicts pay for their “kubols” since these have already been built. In an interview with reporters, Santiago said she recommended several years ago that the Philippines should follow the practice in the United States where inmates are allowed to avail of improved cells. Unfortunately, the senator said her proposal was not taken seriously. “Several years ago, I recommended that we should follow the procedure in the United States where they are allowed, not necessarily luxurious, but at least improved circumstances of detention over those who are just treated in a regular manner. Then we can make them (inmates) pay and give the money for government funds,” she said. “If you cannot prevent it, then you must mitigate it. This has been going on for, perhaps, decades and it has never been stopped. That means that it has been institutionalized,” she added. In a surprise inspection at the National Bilibid Prisons, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima found rooms filled with luxury items including a 50-inch flat screen TV, a split-type aircon, a home theater system, an LCD projector, a sauna facility, and a jacuzzi Read More …

Ping thinking of ‘transition period’ for 2016 plans

 Entertainment
Dec 222014
 
Ping thinking of ‘transition period’ for 2016 plans

President Benigno S. Aquino III administers the oath of office to Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery former Senator Panfilo Lacson in a ceremony at the President’s Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday (December 10, 2013). The “rehabilitation czar” is the man in charge to oversee the overall efforts being undertaken by the national government in reconstructing the areas destroyed by super typhoon Yolanda in the Visayas region (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Running for higher office, even the presidency, is always an option for former senator Panfilo Lacson. “How to get there is a different matter altogether, what your chances are. That’s why there are surveys. Then you start thinking your position… Everybody does that, try to figure out the way forward, and it’s normal,” he said. He said it would be hypocritical for someone to say he or she is closing doors on such an opportunity if voter-perception is positive. He said he is “tickled” by the results of recent surveys showing a strong probability of him winning, specifically in the senatorial elections. “I’m also thinking of a transition period where I can exit so that I can chart my own course,” he said. Besides, there is still one year left before politicians think of filing their certificates of candidacy, he added. Lacson currently heads the rehabilitation of Yolanda-affected areas. Lacson, who rose to fame as PNP chief before making it in politics, said all options at this time are “open-ended.” He said the strongest option, for Read More …

ADB further trims 2014 PHL growth estimates on weak gov’t spending

 General
Dec 222014
 
ADB further trims 2014 PHL growth estimates on weak gov’t spending

An employee counts U.S. dollar bills before changing it to Philippine Pesos inside a money changer in Manila September 19, 2013. The Philippine central bank said remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have allowed households to save money, boosting the country’s savings rate.(MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has further lowered the growth outlook for the Philippines this year while downgrading economic forecast in most Southeast Asian countries, saying the momentum has slowed down. In a supplement to its Asian Development Outlook 2014 Update released Wednesday, the Manila-based lender trimmed its growth estimates for the Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) to 6 percent in 2014 from 6.2 percent it announced in September. The Philippine economy grew by 6.1 percent in the first half but the growth pace fell back to 5.3 percent in the third quarter, making it the fourth fastest growing economy in Asia. This brought the GDP in the first nine months of the year to 5.8 percent. “Robust private consumption and higher private investment and net exports were insufficient to balance unexpectedly weak public spending,” ADB said in the report. Of the six countries monitored by ADB, Malaysia was the only country with an outlook maintained for 2014, a situation that helped bring down growth estimates for the subregion. In the latest update, Southeast Asia’s aggregate GDP is expected to expand by 4.4 percent in 2014 and 5.1 percent in 2015, compared with 4.6 percent and 5.3 percent, respectively, in previous estimates. While Read More …

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