PNP probers of Mamasapano encounter named

 Entertainment
Feb 042015
 
PNP probers of Mamasapano encounter named

President Benigno S. Aquino III condoles with the family of the fallen Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) Troopers during the Necrological Service at the NCRPO Multi-Purpose Center of Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City on Friday (January 30). (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday reiterated its vow that justice will be served for the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) troopers killed during a botched anti-terror raid in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr. said “no stones will be left unturned” as the Board of Inquiry prepares its investigation on the Mamasapano, Maguindanao encounter. PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director Benjamin Magalong will head the BOI. He is joined by Chief Supt. Catalino Rodriguez, head of the PNP Directorate for Research and Development; and Chief Supt. John Susito. An Operational Audit Team will also be looking into the details of the operation “from start to finish.” It will be composed of Sr. Supt. Benigno Durano, Sr. Supt. Ceasar Binag, and Sr. Supt. Robert Po. Cerbo again assured that the families of the slain policemen will be receiving financial assistance amounting to at least P1 million. The families will also be receiving other benefits such as a monthly pension and scholarships. An officer will be assigned to each family to help them with the requirements. Meanwhile, 13 SAF members remain in hospitals, most of them in Metro Manila. The PNP said they will be receiving benefits as well. (MNS)

MILF to decommission firearms in February

 Entertainment
Feb 042015
 
MILF to decommission firearms in February

PEACE ADVOCATES UNITE FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE. Peace and social justice advocates led by former Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani, Atty. Christian Monsod and Akbayan Chairperson Risa Hontiveros reiterated their call to render justice to all those who perished in the Mamasapano incident and for lasting peace in Mindanao. KUALA LUMPUR (Mabuhay) – The peace panels on Saturday announced that the ceremonial decommissioning of forces and firearms of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) would take place in February. The decommissioning or disarmament of the MILF is considered the most tangible proof that the Moro secessionist movement had ended and the rebels were now ready to lay down their firearms. “To the MILF, decommissioning is not only an emotional issue, it is an ultimate sacrifice. It is also sensitive, that it is almost a taboo to discuss. But there is no other way, there is no escaping that decommissioning MILF weapons and combatants – and putting beyond use –  have to be undertaken by MILF, as part of the comprehensive normalization process of the Bangsamoro (under the CAB),” MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said. The peace panels led by Iqbal and government chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer held a joint press conference to address the bloody Mamasapano incident that threw a monkey wrench in the peace process. Turkish ambassador Hayder Berk, head of the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB), said at the press briefing that “decommissioning is an important and integral part” of the peace process. He also stressed the need for “trust and Read More …

LTFRB to regulate Uber, other taxi apps

 Entertainment
Feb 042015
 
LTFRB to regulate Uber, other taxi apps

Firefighters struggle to put out the fire at a residential area in Andrews Avenue in Maricaban District, Pasay City Sunday. The fire, which reached its fourth alarm, razed 3,000 houses, according to reports. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairman Winston Ginez said they are planning to regulate taxi booking apps such as Grab Taxi, Easy Taxi and Uber. During a hearing of the House committee on transportation, Ginez said the draft order would officially categorize these apps as “transport network companies.” These are distinct from transport service vehicles which can be public utility vehicles accredited by the TNCs. Ginez insisted that these companies will be regulated, citing public safety. They will be required to have certificates of public conveyance before operating once the rules are implemented. The draft rules are the product of consultations with stakeholders. Ginez said TNCs cater to “millennials” who have access to digital apps. TNCs will be be required to have separate insurance aside from passenger insurance of operators. TNCs must have zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use by their drivers. The LTFRB said they will not accredit TNCs who won’t take liabilities for any problems in the operations. The TNC definition doesn’t cover pre-booked taxi services via text or phone call, and should be done by a digital platform. The LTFRB said TNCs are not to be considered public utility vehicles but they will still be accredited. Ginez said the LTFRB is supportive of new approaches to addressing Read More …

Record 56.4 million tourists flocked to NY in 2014

 Entertainment
Feb 042015
 
Record 56.4 million tourists flocked to NY in 2014

Ice skaters in New York’s Central Park©Stuart Monk/shutterstock.com (New York–AFP) – A record 56.4 million tourists visited New York last year, drawn by its diverse culture, low crime and “dynamism,” and generating $61.3 billion for America’s largest city, officials said Monday. The number of visitors tops the previous record of 54.3 million in 2013, with steady increases every year since 2009, city hall said. More than 42 million tourists came from elsewhere in the United States, while among foreign visitors those from Britain, Canada, Brazil, France, China, Australia and Germany were the most common, in that order. “Our excellent quality of life, low levels of crime and constant dynamism continue to attract record tourism each year, and 2014 was no exception,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. The New York tourist industry employs 359,000 people and generates $21 billion in wages, city hall said.

Philippines opens mammoth casino-resort, seeking high-rollers

 General
Feb 042015
 
Philippines opens mammoth casino-resort, seeking high-rollers

Signature Club: Located at the lobby of Crown Towers, exclusive members-only Signature Club presents a lavish private gaming experience with its very own private salons and more unparalleled privileges for the favored few. Manila (Philippines) –  AFP (Joel GUINTO) A new mega-casino opened in the Philippines Monday as the fast-growing southeast Asian nation ups its bid to become a world gaming destination. Manila aims to rival Macau and Las Vegas in terms of gaming revenues, and the ‘City of Dreams’ is the latest in a string of casinos that have opened in recent years. The new casino is an imposing structure on Manila Bay with six gleaming golden towers surrounding a giant egg-shaped dome, and industry and government leaders hope that it will attract cashed-up tourists from other parts of Asia. The casino is a joint venture between the country’s richest man Henry Sy, Australian billionaire James Packer and Lawrence Ho, son of Macau casino mogul Stanley Ho. “The goal is to find the best (sites) in Asia… The Philippines is one of the fastest growing economies anywhere in the world. We’ve seen the market really pick up,” Ho told reporters. Ho also acknowledged the huge cost of building the resort. The Philippine government requires a minimum $1 billion investment for new casinos built in the area. Packer said jokingly that the resort was inspired by Hollywood movies “Casino” and “Oceans Eleven”, and Robert de Niro, Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio have appeared on giant billboards and TV commercials to Read More …

Cheaper IDD calls for Pinoys in Japan with Globe-Brastel partnership

 Economy
Feb 032015
 
Cheaper IDD calls for Pinoys in Japan with Globe-Brastel partnership

(From left) Carmina Velayo-Villo, Globe marketing head for international business; Jorge Tatsuki Takata, Brastel general manager for carrier operations and support; and Rizza Maniego-Eala, Globe senior vice president for international business. MANILA, Philippines – Globe Telecom launched Tuesday a reloadable call card, which offers cheaper IDD calls in Japan, as they partnered with Japanese telecommunication company Brastel. Globe Senior Vice President for International Business Rizza Maniego-Eala said in a press conference that the partnership allowed them to offer calling rates up to 50 percent lower than many alternatives in Japan. The Globe-Brastel Card lets overseas Filipinos in Japan call their loved ones in the Philippines for as low as 20 yen or about P7 per minute from a Japanese landline number to a Globe or TM mobile number. Eala said they chose to partner with Brastel because the company has been serving non-Japanese citizens in Japan for nearly 20 years, noting that Japan has also been an important market for Globe. According to Jorge Tatsuki Takata, Brastel general manager for carrier operations and support, an initial payment of 2,000 yen or nearly P750 is required to start using the call card. The maximum denomination for recharging is 10,000 yen. A call can be made by first dialing the access number found on the back of the call card, the country code, and the phone number. The card can be reloaded easily in any partner convenience store of Brastel like Family Mart, Mini Stop, Circle K, and Lawson through the SmartPit Read More …

Getting to know money- and yourself

 Economy
Feb 032015
 
Getting to know money- and yourself

MANILA, Philippines – Have you ever dared to ask yourself this question: If money were a person, who would it be? What will he or she look like? Is he or she going to be a friend, a special someone, a parent or an enemy? Reality TV show star and Canadian entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary said, “Here’s how I think of my money: As soldiers. I send them out to war everyday. I want them to take prisoners and come home, so there’s more of them.” The way you think about money directly impacts your financial behavior and decisions. If you think you need to change the way you view money and get to know yourself a little bit more in this area of your life, you will need to consider these following principles: 1. Get rid of guilt. If you must start anew with your financial life, you should forget the past and the guilt from your mistakes. Focus on the future instead. Shun those thoughts that keep reminding you of what you should have done before with your finances so you could have been this and that today. Those thoughts will never help. Consider investing in the market. There are many ways to do so. Begin by exploring your options. You can also open a small business or a savings account (if you haven’t done so before) to start getting your finances in order. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 2. Be friends with money. Some Read More …

Marian Rivera happy with married life

 General
Feb 032015
 
Marian Rivera happy with married life

MANILA, Philippines – Marian Rivera said she’s happy about her married life with Dingdong Dantes. The two tied the knot on December and had a honeymoon in Europe. “Sobrang happy, sabi ko akala ko, e, ‘yon na ‘yong kasiyahan na ‘yon. More and more pa pala everyday. So nakakatuwa, ang sarap isipin na ang sarap magmahal,” she said in an interview with Lhar Santiago, aired in “24 Oras” on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Kapuso Primetime Queen has already chosen the next soap opera that she’ll be working on this year. “Kasi kapag may binibigay sa akin na project, ‘ay, aang ganda niyan! Gusto ko ‘yan!’” she recalled about doing previous projects. However, with her upcoming project, “pinag-isipan ko talaga kasi first time ko siyang gagawin.” Entertainment ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Marian is currently seen in the “Sugod Bahay” segment of the noontime show “Eat Bulaga!”

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