Heart Evangelista chooses a Monique Lhuillier bridal gown!
Dec 202014
Dec 202014
Avoid taking colorum vessels and make sure your vehicles are roadworthy. These were among the pieces of advice transport officials offered to Filipinos joining the exodus to the provinces for the Christmas and New Year holidays. On Sunday, the Philippine Coast Guard reminded people going to the provinces by boat to steer clear of colorum bancas. Such vessels are likely not registered and have no guarantee of safety, radio dzBB’s Mao dela Cruz reported. For its part, the Land Transportation Office reminded motorists to keep their vehicles in top shape. This is to avoid accidents on the road as many people flock out of town, radio dzBB’s Manny Vargas reported. More Filipinos are expected to head for the provinces in the coming days as the holidays draw closer. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News
Dec 202014
For Inquirer readers, the holidays are merrier when there’s a balikbayan box from a loved one to open. In a country where most families have members working or living abroad, sending balikbayan boxes, or packages of personal effects or gifts, has helped maintain ties despite the distance. While migrant workers now send balikbayan boxes at any time of the year, it is still a source of excitement for many during the holiday season. The Inquirer’s “What’s in your Balikbayan Box?” contest, launched on Dec. 14, asks readers to name their all-time favorite items found inside balikbayan boxes sent by relatives abroad through the years. Netizens who responded to our call on Twitter expressed gratitude and joy as they cited their Top 5 all-time favorite balikbayan box contents in 140 characters. “Thank you, relatives,” netizen @purpletooth gushed after citing her choices. “You can’t call it a balikbayan box without…” netizen @krisbayleley said before citing his all-time favorite balikbayan box items. Readers from Cebu, Leyte, Pangasinan, Batangas, Bulacan and Cavite shared their families’ stories of joy and gratitude after receiving balikbayan boxes from loved ones working abroad. All excited “We just received a balikbayan box from my sister-in-law,” said Lisa Maiquez of Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan. “We are all excited to open it, especially the kids. They cannot wait to see what’s inside.” “I know how hard it is to work abroad, especially when you’re far away from your family. It is not easy living and working so far away. But to make Read More …
Dec 202014
PEOPLE, quality and service. After 20 years in the Philippines, TGIFriday’s Restaurant still puts a premium on these three elements. THE BISTRO Group COO Jean Paul Manuud And The Bistro Group—the business that launched the first American casual dining chain here in the Philippines—believes that these three ingredients will carry it through many more years in the competitive industry. Jean Paul Manuud, president and chief operating officer of The Bistro Group, admits that the journey to the 20-year mark was not all smooth sailing. “We were pioneers in the serving of huge portions of food, refillable iced teas, Jack Daniel’s, huge hats and the singing of the birthday songs to the celebrant. All these concepts were ‘alien’ to the Philippine food industry,” he says. Manuud adds that the competition was tough even back then. The most important challenge was to be consistent in terms of food and service quality “We prepare our food fresh, from scratch every day. There is no compromise on quality. We used premium ingredients,” he adds, noting that customers can really tell if short cuts were made. “This is why we don’t make it difficult for our customer. Before they leave, we fix the problem. It’s our way of turning garbage into gold,” he says. It has been a long-standing rule in TGIFriday’s to make the experience of the customer its top priority. “We don’t spend much on mainstream or on TV. Rather we focus on providing the best customer service. If the customer is not Read More …
Dec 202014
President Benigno S. Aquino III listens to the updates on the on-going rehabilitation efforts by Guiuan Municipal Mayor Christopher Sheen Gonzales at the Guiuan Public Market in Barangay 6, Poblacion, Guiuan during the visit to the province of Eastern Samar on Friday (November 07, 2014). It was in Guiuan where super typhoon Yolanda, the strongest typhoon ever recorded, made its first landfall on November 08, 2013. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – A Partylist lawmaker on Wednesday lauded the passage of a bill that seeks to promote positive and non-violent forms of discipline among children and said that it was a major step towards securing the safety and well-being of children in their homes, schools and communities. Akbayan Partylist Rep. Barry Gutierrez said House Bill 4907, also called the Positive Discipline Act, when enacted into law, would protect children against corporal punishment and secure an environment that fosters positive reinforcement of children’s behavior to facilitate learning and growth. HB 4907 was unanimously approved Tuesday on third and final reading at the House of Representatives. “Effective and positive discipline establishes the foundation for children to learn self-discipline, protects them from dangers of violent discipline and help inculcate in them the value of self-control and responsibility,” Gutierrez said. “We strongly discourage parents and guardians to discipline with sticks, which, in the long run, may prove counterproductive, for both parents and children,” the co-author of the proposed legislation said. According to the lawmaker, the measure prohibits all forms of corporal punishment, humiliating or degrading Read More …
Dec 202014
Rizal Park Management personnel install colorful native lanterns, or parols, at the park on Wednesday. Less than a month before Christmas, establishments are busy beautifying and adding Christmas decorations for the Yuletide season. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Banks are closed from December 24 to January 4, except on December 29 – the only time during the long holidays when the public can do business directly with bank personnel. There’s no need tighten your belts though as Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) gave the assurance that automated teller machines (ATMs) will have ample supply of cash. “Nag-pe-prepare naman po ng maaga ang banks sa kanilang ATM… Ang supply ay tinitignan nila na okay kahit holiday, mayroon naman po ‘yang enough supply,” BSP spokesperson Grace Malic said in an interview. “Ang mga banko may mga measures para hindi tayo maubusan ng pera,” Malic said. “Hindi naman po pababayaan ng mga bangko ‘yan. In fact, nag-co-coordinate ang BSP at mga bangko tungkol dito sa supply kung papano i-i-schedule ang supply,” she noted. (MNS)
Dec 202014
popular Pasay City cops sue Aiko Melendez’s drunk gun-toting ex, pal Beermen drown Texters, takes game one in semis series 4 cops charged over summary killings Employer of OFW killed by lion charged Pemberton submits to court custody, seeks reduction of murder rap to homicide Sandiganbayan denies Jinggoy Estrada holiday furlough Gov’t seeks bidders for P781-M Bicol airport contract Jollibee Foods Corp. to operate Dunkin’ Donuts network in China videos Simbang Gabi at the Gesu (Day 6) Simbang Gabi at the Gesu (Day 5 – Dec. 19, 2014) 8 children killed in home in northern Australia Hack attack vs Sony Pictures spurs call for more North Korea sanctions Laude family wants Pemberton in local jail during trial MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Olongapo City released Saturday the mugshots of Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton. Pemberton was charged with murder for allegedly killing Filipino transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer “Laude in Subic on Oct. 11. The United States government has denied the request for custody of the Philippines as Pemberton remained detained at a detention facility jointly managed by Philippine and US governments inside the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. PHOTO from Olongapo City Police PHOTO from Olongapo City Police PHOTO from Olongapo City Police PHOTO from Olongapo City Police PHOTO from Olongapo City Police RELATED STORIES Pemberton submits to court custody, seeks reduction of murder rap to homicide Security tightened in Olongapo as court, PNP await Pemberton’s arrest Tags: Death Features Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude Read More …
Dec 202014
MANILA, Philippines – North Luzon Renewable Energy Corp. (NLREC), the developer and operator of the 81-megawatt wind farm in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, has bagged recognition for its overall safety performance. NLREC is owned by AC Energy Holdings Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Ayala Corp., UPC Renewables and the Macquarie PINAI fund. In a recent announcement, Ayala Corp. said NLREC bagged the 2014 Shapes Safety Awards by the Safety and Health Association of the Philippine Energy Sector. “The award recognizes energy companies as well as their safety and health professionals for their exceptional performance in workplace health and safety,” Ayala Corp. said. According to the Safety and Health Association of the Philippine Energy Sector and the Department of Energy, the award is given to companies who have had no lost time accident, a broad and adequate measure of overall health and safety performance, for at least one year, and have had no outstanding safety violation with the Department of Energy (DOE) or the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Recipients of the award must also have had no violation of any DOE or DOLE safety and health laws, rules and regulations. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The company welcomed the recognition, saying that it would remain committed to ensuring the safety of its workers. “NLREC is both honored and encouraged to be recognized by this award as it attests to our continuous effort to ensure the health and safety not only the facility and our employees, Read More …
Dec 202014
MANILA, Philippines – The Insurance Commission (IC) has sold a foreclosed property owned by the shuttered Prudential Plans Inc. (PPI), the biggest sale since the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) sold a 1,600-square meter property at the Bonifacio Global City (BGC). In a press briefing yesterday, IC commissioner Emmanuel F. Dooc said the 1,100-sqm property was sold for P402 million, 31 percent higher than the minimum bid price of P307 million. “It ended up higher as the buyers also took over all back taxes,” Dooc said. The property, located along 21st Drive corner 20th Drive in BGC, reflected an accommodative value of P365,456.36 per sqm for a total gross floor area of 8,800 sqm. In terms of gross floor area, the lot was sold at P45,682.05 per gross floor area, while the recent GSIS sale of 1,600 sqm was sold at P41,666.67 per gross floor area. “This is a new record as the last highest sale in BGC by government,” Dooc pointed out. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Another PPI property in Pasig City worth P12.5 million is also being sold to raise more funds to pay out planholders. It involves the 450 sqm lot where the Prudentialife building stands, along Riverside Ave. in Brgy St. Lucia. The buyer of the for-liquidation pre-need company was Q-Creativs and Imageers Inc. headed by its chairman Wilfred T. Siy. He is also the chief operating officer of Fil-Pacific Apparel Corp., a garments manufacturer of well-known brands such as Jag. Read More …
Dec 202014
MANILA, Philippines – The joint venture undertaking the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) project has secured through debt more than half of the financing required for the airport’s rehabilitation and expansion. In a statement, the tandem of Filipino-owned Megawide Construction Corp. and Bangalore-based GMR Infrastructure said it has bagged 70 percent of the amount needed to finance the MCIA project through an omnibus loan and security agreement with a syndicate of six local banks. BDO Capital and Investment Corp. has been the lead arranger while the Bank of the Philippine Islands, Development Bank of the Philippines, Land Bank of the Philippines, Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., and Philippine National Bank are the participants in the lending consortium. With the transaction, the joint venture called GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC) said it has tied-in the required funding for delivering the improvements in Terminal 1 as well as the construction of a new Terminal 2. “Hence, this is an important milestone in GMCAC’s journey in turning MCIA into an airport of international standards and one that all Filipinos will be proud of,” GMCAC said. “This transaction, and the wide participation in it, is also a validation by the banking industry of the financial sustainability of the project as well as the value it creates for the local and national economy,” the Megawide and GMR team added. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The joint venture that is 60 percent owned by Megawide and 40 percent owned by the Read More …