PAL intrigue clarified

 Economy
Dec 172014
 
PAL intrigue clarified

Michael Tan and Joseph Chua who are both friends of mine called me to clarify that there is no “intrigue at PAL” (Spy Bits Dec. 16). They both denied the existence of any demolition job or intrigues within the family against Joseph. As pointed out to me by businessman Tony Garcia, the delay of the Macau PAL flight incident was caused by the offloading of the baggage of a passenger who failed to show up. Our PAL source tells us the “mountainous” uproar over radio and television regarding the matter must have been encouraged by outside “intrigueros.” Trouble at SCTEX Bases Conversion Development Authority CEO Arnel Casanova is in the news again after Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) interim operator Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC) aired its concern over BCDA’s decision to publish an advertisement inviting bidders for the so-called “price challenge” on the privatization of SCTEX. Apparently, BCDA did not even bother to consult MNTC on the terms of reference for the bidding – a clear violation of the Business and Operating Agreement (BOA) both parties signed in 2011, according to informed sources.  If one can remember, Casanova was the same guy who tried to prevent mall developer SM from completing the construction of the Mckinley Parkway access road leading to SM Aura just before the high-end mall was set to open in May last year. A YouTube video showed Casanova with his retinue of security guards looking like they were gearing up for battle – armed with automatic assault weapons Read More …

Balisacan sees faster growth in Q4

 Economy
Dec 172014
 
Balisacan sees faster growth in Q4

MANILA, Philippines – Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan remains confident the Philippine economy will grow faster in the October to December period than in the previous quarter. “Based on the available information, it (fourth quarter) is expectedly better than the third quarter,” he said in a yearend press briefing yesterday. In the third quarter this year, the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew 5.3 percent, the slowest pace in nearly three years. On the average, the economy grew 5.8 percent in the first nine months of the year. But to be able to achieve the lower end of the government’s target of 6.5 percent, the fourth quarter must expand by 8.2 percent. “For the first three quarters of this year, the economy grew at an average of 5.8 percent. While this falls below our target of at least 6.5 percent, the Philippine economy remains among the brightest spots in the region,” Balisacan said, also the director general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). He said export performance in 2014 has been notable, especially for high-value products, and this bodes well for the economy as a whole. The growing household consumption indicates greater consumer confidence, which could boost growth. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 In the first eight months of the year, growth of the industry sector has outpaced that of the services sector dating back since the second half of 2012. “This is consistent with our strategy to promote the resurgence of industry Read More …

DOH: Nothing wrong with OIC using Ona’s office

 News
Dec 172014
 
DOH: Nothing wrong with OIC using Ona’s office

Ona’s personal effects removed, shipped out . The second batch of personal effects of Health Secretary-on-leave Enrique Ona, contained in 12 boxes that will be delivered to his residence in Pasig, is piled up on Tuesday, December 16, at the inner foyer of his office at the DOH building in Manila. Among these were 11 paintings and works of art. Ona went on leave on Oct. 28. Ibarra Mateo Department of Health spokesperson Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy on Wednesday said that there was nothing wrong with Acting Secretary Janette Garin using Health Secretary-on-leave Enrique Ona’s office, a report on 24 Oras said.  “Siya naman talaga currently ang acting secretary at napakahirap naman talaga mag-maintain ng dalawang office,” he said.  Suy also explained that most of the documents are being sent to Ona’s office, hence, it’d be easier for Garin to look over them.  Luy made the remarks after Ona reportedly asked his staff to gather his belongings in his office and take them to his residence.   On Monday afternoon, boxes containing Ona’s documents, plaques, clocks, and other personal effects were seen being loaded into a dark green van.  Meanwhile, DOH’s Administrative Service Director Angelina del Mundo denied that Ona was being kicked out of his office.  “Wala. Wala pong official na information about that,” she  said.  Ona is being investigated in connection with the DOH’s controversial procurement of P833.6 million worth of anti-pneumonia vaccines, Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine 10 (PCV-10), two years ago. He has since denied wrongdoing and claimed Read More …

NBI to track down high-profile convicts’ phone pals

 News
Dec 172014
 
NBI to track down high-profile convicts’ phone pals

The National Bureau of Investigation will track down the calls made by the high profile New Bilibid Prison inmates, a report from GMA’s “24-Oras” program said Wednesday. According to the report, the NBI will do this to identify who the inmates were calling outside the prison in hopes of discovering their other illegal activities. The Bureau will do this by examining the mobile phones they confiscated during a massive prison raid involving over a hundred agents last Monday. Aside from the mobile phones, luxury items such as appliances, watches, shoes and even sex toys were discovered in “kubols” during the raid. There were also stacks of cash worth at least P2 million and illegal drugs seized from the convicts. Even with the seizure, some NBI officials said the raid was tipped off to the convicts since they were expecting more illegal items. Still, some confiscated items such as vaults from high profile inmate Herbert “Ampang” Colangco have yet to be opened and may provide more information to illegal activities in NBP. There are also notebooks and log books that have Chinese characters with corresponding amounts of cash written beside the names.  Last Monday, the Justice Department and the NBI conducted a raid on the NBP and discovered luxurious “kubols” inside the prison’s maximum security compound. Twenty high profile convicts were transferred to an undisclosed holding facility following the raid where they will stay until the kubols have been dismantled. —Andrei Medina/NB, GMA News

Pinoys look forward to meeting ‘healing Pope’

 News
Dec 172014
 
Pinoys look forward to meeting ‘healing Pope’

With Pope Francis having earned a reputation as a healing pope, many Filipino families hope to experience his healing touch when he visits the Philippines in January. Several Filipinos experiencing various hardships also hope to be spiritually healed by the Pope, GMA News’ Jessica Soho reported on “24 Oras” on Wednesday. “Natawagan siyang healing pope, healing of relationships. Sinabi niya, the Church is like a field hospital where the wounds of humanity are treated,” said Fr. Francis Lucas, executive director of the Catholic Media Network. Pope Francis has time and again showed solidarity with the sick, going out of his way several times to bless them. In one instance, he had his vehicle stop in Calabria in Italy, just so he could get off and approach a sick woman. The Pope also issued a message for victims of the Ebola virus disease, saying his thoughts “go out to those countries in Africa that are suffering.” “I ask you to pray for them and for those who have so tragically lost their lives,” he said at the time. He also brought hope and strength to those suffering from various conditions. One of the Filipino families hoping to experience the Pope’s healing touch is the Galanto family, whose one-year-old child Joseph is suffering from hydrocephalus – a medical condition where there is an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. “Naniniwala po ako sa himala na baka sakali kung makita ko siya at mag-pray ako, bigyan siya ng ano ni Lord Read More …

Pope names Pinoy to commission on protection of minors

 News
Dec 172014
 
Pope names Pinoy to commission on protection of minors

Pope Francis has named a Filipino as one of the new members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, the Vatican said Wednesday. Vatican Radio said Dr. Gabriel Dy-Liacco is one of the new members chosen from different parts of the world, to have a full representation of diverse cultures. The pontifical commission seeks to safeguard the welfare of minors, including improving sex abuse prevention and better care for victims.   Its next plenary session is scheduled in the Vatican from Feb. 6 to 8, 2015. Vatican Radio, citing information from the Holy See Press Office, described Dy-Liacco as an adolescent psychotherapist and pastoral counselor for various mental health concerns “including of individuals, couples, families and groups, including victims and perpetrators of abuse.”  Commission members It said the commission is headed by Boston Archbishop Cardinal Seán O’Malley (United States). O’Malley is a member of the Council of Cardinals which advises the Pope. Msgr. Robert Oliver (United States) serves as the Secretary of the Commission. He served many years in child protection work for the Archdiocese of Boston, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith as the Promoter of Justice. Other members are:  Rev. Luis Manuel Ali Herrera (Colombia), Director of the Department of Psychology, professor of pastoral psychology in the Conciliar Seminary of the Archdiocese of Bogotá, and as a parish priest. Dr. Catherine Bonnet (France), a child psychiatrist, psychotherapist, researcher, and author on child sexual abuse and perinatal violence Read More …

Bong Revilla asks Sandiganbayan to reconsider bail petition

 General
Dec 172014
 
Bong Revilla asks Sandiganbayan to reconsider bail petition

Detained Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. on Wednesday asked the Sandiganbayan division hearing his graft case to allow him to present more evidence against the accusations leveled against him, 15 days after his petition for bail was denied. Revilla is accused of funneling millions of pesos in his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel fund to fictitious non-goverment organizations for kickbacks. In his Omnibus Motion for Reconsideration, Revilla’s main argument centered on his defense that his signature was forged in some of the documents to make it appear that he endorsed the dubious NGOs of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles as recipients of his PDAF. Revilla’s camp has repeatedly said that whistleblowers who were formerly employed by Napoles had admitted forging signatures in documents to secure millions of pesos in PDAF allocations for her NGOs. “The Court erred in finding the signatures of Senator Revilla in the PDAF documents were not forged. On the contrary, Sen, Revilla was able to sufficiently establish that his purported signatures were forged. This assertion, in fact, has been confirmed by the prosecution’s own witness, [Benhur] Luy,” the 32-page motion said. During his bail hearing, Revilla hired handwriting analyst, lawyer Desiderio Pagui, to boost his case. Pagui admitted in open court that Revilla paid him P200,000 to examine documents related to the senator’s PDAF allocations. Paqui examined photocopies since the originals were unavailable. But in his motion for reconsideration, Revilla asked the court to compel the Commission on Audit to provide Read More …

Campaign to promote Filipino core values launched

 General
Dec 172014
 
Campaign to promote Filipino core values launched

KREM Top formally launched its annual Change for the Better campaign in Davao City for 2015, focusing on elevating the five Filipino core values in creating change in the community. Nikki Tan, assistant brand manager for Krem Top, at a press briefing at Marco Polo Hotel Davao on Wednesday, said when the the campaign started in 2012, it was mainly focused on individualistic change. “In 2015, we want to harness [the five core] Filipino values — mapagpasalamat (gratitude), matatag (reslience), masigasig (diligent), mapagmalasakit (compassionate), and magalang (respectful), and use it as a medium to become a better Filipino,” she said. Tan said they will promote the campaign through their digital content, social media, and the traditional media like TV, radio, and print. She said the campaign is something worth investing for by the company since it gives the brand a purpose for the Filipinos. The Change for the Better Campaign for 2015 was formulated based on the “The Filipino Worldview and Values” by Dr. Mina Ramirez, president of the Asian Social Institute. Ramirez was also part of the formulation of the campaign. “The mission of the brand is not just to build business but it also advocates creating change for a better country,” said Blen Fernando, Alaska Milk Corporation’s vice president for marketing and Krem-Top Change for the Better campaign lead. Tan said they launched the campaign in Manila on December 3 while they will be launching their Visayan leg on Friday. Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on December Read More …

RTL CBS Entertainment to air 1st People Magazine awards night

 General
Dec 162014
 
RTL CBS Entertainment to air 1st People Magazine awards night

Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson and Jennifer Lopez are three of the celebrities who will attend the PEOPLE Magazine awards night. PR Photo MANILA, Philippines – The RTL CBS Entertainment HD will air the inaugural “The PEOPLE Magazine Awards” live via satellite on December 19. The two-hour star-studded special, which starts 10 a.m., will include appearances by the world’s top celebrities including Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Hart, Kate Hudson, Michael Keaton and Jennifer Lopez, among others. The ceremonies will include performances from 5 Seconds of Summer and Maroon 5. People Magazine is the world’s most popular magazine and celebrity brand reaching more than 59 million consumers each week. They will celebrate and give recognition of the year’s most influential and talked-about people in pop culture, celebrity and Hollywood that have fueled the conversations around the world. It will bestow an assortment of newly-created top honors capturing the year in pop culture, including the Biggest Phenomenon of 2014 and the show’s top honor of the night given to the year’s Most Popular Person. Awards in other categories include the Most Stylish Person, Funniest Person, Sexiest Woman of 2014 and more. Entertainment ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The People Magazine Awards is produced by Dick Clark Productions. Executive Producers of the awards night are Allen Shapiro, Mike Mahan, Barry Adelman from Dick Clark Productions, and joined by Carol Donovan and Michael Dempsey.

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