1986 People Power participants recall the day that ended the Marcos regime

 News
Feb 252015
 
1986 People Power participants recall the day that ended the Marcos regime

Memories of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolt are vivid in the memory of 58-year-old church volunteer Leo Mabansag.  He recalls telling his girlfriend back then that he will join the mass revolt to topple authoritarian regime of then President Ferdinand Marcos. “It’s still fresh to me, nandun sa lahat ng mga taong present yung emotions of fear at the same time yung excitement. Nasa gitna ka ng EDSA mismo, ang dami ninyo. Halos hindi ka makagalaw sa dami ng tao pero maayos,” Mabansag said to GMA News Online. Unknown to him, his girlfriend also went to EDSA to join the protesters. “I didn’t know that she went there also. Hindi kami nagkita dun pero nung  nagkwentuhan kami a few days after the event, dun namin nalaman na pareho pala kaming nagpunta,” Mabansag said. That same year of 1986, Mabansag, then a 28-year-old former seminarian, married his girlfriend. The couple was blessed with two children. Twenty-nine years after, Mabansag went back to EDSA Shrine – not to call for the resignation of any government leaders but just to offer a prayer and to remember those days. But Mabansag was quite surprised and a bit disappointed. When he arrived at EDSA Shrine to attend a Mass Wednesday morning, only a few people were there, mostly security personnel. It was then that he found out that the Mass usually held at the EDSA Shrine stage was now inside the EDSA Shrine chapel also known as the Mary Queen of Peace church, where Read More …

The other Chiz in Heart’s life

 Entertainment
Feb 252015
 
The other Chiz in Heart’s life

Say “Chiz!”: Heart Evangelista’s heart belongs to Chiz Escudero, but her taste buds pine for Uncle Tetsu’s super delicious cheesecakes.   MANILA, Philippines – Actress and TV host Heart Evangelista reveals the other Chiz in her life: Uncle Tetsu cheesecake! The new Mrs. Chiz Escudero is Uncle Tetsu’s brand ambassador. The popular Japanese cheesecake brand recognizes Heart’s gentle, elegant, and multi-dimensional image as a reflection of the light, delicate, and flexible character of its cheesecakes achieved through a tradition of careful selection of the finest and freshest all-natural ingredients. “We are excited to announce Heart as the brand ambassador for Uncle Tetsu cheesecakes. Being a fine woman, she perfectly represents our fine line of cheesecakes,” says Walter Co, owner of the Uncle Tetsu franchise in the country. Originating from its Japanese hometown, Fukuoka, in 1985, Uncle Tetsu was named after its founder Mizokami Tetsushi. Freshly baked in-store every day, these cheesecakes boast a rich heritage of baking perfection with a reputation for being exceptionally delicious. With its unique flavor and a melt-in-your-mouth goodness unchanged over the past decades, Uncle Tetsu cheesecakes have found their way to China, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan. It opened its first store in the Philippines in July 2014. Growing faster than any other Japanese cheesecake franchise in the country, Uncle Tetsu now has seven branches: SM Fairview (tel. no. 374-1339), SM Mall of Asia (831-8690), Alabang Town Center (374-1339), SM San Lazaro (831-8690), SM Bacoor (831-8690), The Podium (374-1339), and SM Manila (831-8690). It will open in SM Megamall Read More …

Lone bettor wins P50M Ultra Lotto jackpot

 News
Feb 252015
 
Lone bettor wins P50M Ultra Lotto jackpot

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office had its first big-time Ultra Lotto winner last Sunday, Feb. 22. In a post on its website, the PCSO said the bettor won the P50-million jackpot with the combination 47-05-17-16-57-58. But the PCSO, as in past draws, is not likely to name the winner for security reasons . Ultra Lotto is the newest game with the highest minimum jackpot at P50 million. With the Ultra Lotto game, a player can select six numbers from 1 to 58 at P20 per combination. After the first draw Feb. 8, there will be two draws every week, on Friday and Sunday. The draws will be televised on state-run People’s Television.  — Joel Locsin/ELR, GMA News

Ex-intel officer stumped by number of commandos in Mamasapano

 News
Feb 252015
 
Ex-intel officer stumped by number of commandos in Mamasapano

A former intelligence officer of the Philippine military is wondering why there were so many policemen involved in the January 25 operation of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao.  In a phone interview, retired Navy commodore Rex Robles pointed out that troop movement of that size could easily catch the attention of the residents. “What were those people doing there? Those 300 or so?… Let’s say if you move 50 men in an enemy’s territrory, diba ang danger of detection is very high?… What were these men supposed to do according to operations order? ” Robles told GMA News Online.  The PNP also previously said that 392 SAF commandos were part of the operation to arrest Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan. Only 74 clashed with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front,  Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and private armed groups. “Ano ba ang scenario na prinoject nila para magkaroon sila ng ganoon karaming tao?” Robles further asked.  He also explained that the SAF needed at least 10 trucks to bring the police officers to the highway, “Let’s say 30 (people) per truck. You need 10 trucks to bring those people. Sampung truck na nagtatravel, hindi pa sila madedetect?”  He also said that for that kind of operation like Oplan Exodus, three teams of around 100 men are only needed to avoid unwanted attention.  “Troop movements of this size will have to pass through Army check points. The fact should have been reported to GHQ (general Read More …

Who's the PNP-SAF’s third high-value target in Mamasapano? 

 News
Feb 252015
 
Who's the PNP-SAF’s third high-value target in Mamasapano? 

The Philippine National Police-Special Action Force was not only after Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan and Filipino bomb maker Basit Usman when it carried out Oplan Exodus in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao on Jan. 25. They were also after a third target: Malaysian bomb maker Amin Baco alias Jihad.  The third target was mentioned in the exchange of text messages between President Benigno Aquino III and resigned PNP chief Dir. Gen. Alan Purisima.  When Purisima told Aquino about SAF’s status in Mamasapano, the President replied, “Are they still in contact with the two other targets? If not and the opposing force has escaped, are we now back in square one?”  Oplan Exodus included a profile or a target analysis of Baco. It said that he was also an expert bomb-maker and a member of Southeast Asian militant terrorist organization Jemaah Islamiyah. He was wanted for kidnapping two people in Sabah, Malaysia.  Security expert Rommel Banlaoi also explained that in the organizational structure of Mindanao-based terrorist group Khilafa Islamiya, Usman is under Marwan, leading a group in South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Maguindanao. Meanwhile, Baco is also under Marwan, leading a group in Metro Manila.    Retaliation Former PNP intelligence officer retired Chief Supt. Rodolfo “Boogie” Mendoza also revealed that he once received reports that Baco was in Manila last year.  “Itong si Amin Baco kasi meron nga tayong na-monitor last year na nandito ‘yan. Siyempre cause for concern ‘yan kasi hindi naman natin alam kung ano ang misyon Read More …

Ex-congressman Valdez taken to PNP hospital on Sandiganbayan's order

 General
Feb 252015
 
Ex-congressman Valdez taken to PNP hospital on Sandiganbayan's order

The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan has ordered that former party-list congressman Edgar Valdez be taken to the Philippine National Police General Hospital in Camp Crame. Valdez, who’s facing plunder charges in connection with his alleged involvement with the pork barrel scam, earlier told the court that he was suffering from several illnesses. The Sandiganbayan has yet to rule on Valdez’s motion that he be detained at the PNP Custodial Center because of its proximity to a hospital, in apparent reference to the PNP hospital. “This is without prejudice to the court’s action on his motion re his place of detention,” Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang told GMA News Online in a text message. Tang signed the transfer order as justices of the Fifth Division, which is handling Valdez’s plunder case, were hearing cases out of town. Valdez left Sandiganbayan around 9:30 p.m. with police escorts. Valdez, who surrendered to the sheriff of the Sandiganbayan on Wednesday, said he needed easy access to a hospital for regular monitoring of his health. He was temporarily detained at the Sandiganbayan before the order to be taken to the PNP hospital. “On July 8, 2013, Valdez was diagnosed with Lumbosacral Spondylosis with multilevel disk duldge (posterior and intraosseus) and L1-L2 disk space narrowing; foreign body (bullet) embedded in the L2 vertebral body with left lateral wedged shape compression deformity. The condition limits the mobility of Valdez and likewise necessitates regular and immediate medical attention. Should the Honorable Court order his detention at the PNP Custodial Read More …

Cebu visit included in Ambassadors’ Basic Tour 2015; 10th ACGTDT edition launched

 Entertainment
Feb 252015
 
Cebu visit included in Ambassadors’ Basic Tour 2015; 10th ACGTDT edition launched

Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim giving the Welcome Remarks. Los Angeles – The Philippine Consulate General and the Department of Tourism in Los Angeles launched on 17 February 2014, the 10th Ambassadors, Consuls General, and Tourism Directors Tour (ACGTDT) to the Philippines scheduled for July 6-10, 2015. The 10th ACGTDT is a joint project of all Philippine Foreign Service Posts in the United States (Agana, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.) in cooperation with the Department of Tourism, Philippine Airlines, China Airlines, EVA Air, Korean Air and Rajah Tours Philippines. The theme for the 10th ACGTDT is “Join, Explore and Experience.” About 65 tour representatives, friends from the media and members of the Filipino-American Community attended the official launch at the Rizal Hall of the Consulate. The ACGTDT is organized to enable Filipinos based in North America to revisit their homeland and experience the beauty of the country’s top tourist destinations, take a vacation with family and friends, and explore business opportunities. The Basic Tour is from 06 to 10 July 2015 and covers an Economy roundtrip airfare for the Los Angeles-Manila-Cebu-Manila-Los Angeles route with choices either via Philippine Airlines  (PAL), China Airlines or EVA Air.  The tour program includes;  one (1) night stay at Sofitel Hotel with buffet breakfast; Manila City Tour or Corregidor Tour w/add-on of US$67/passenger; followed with three (3) night stay at Radisson Blu and Shangri-La Mactan in Cebu with daily buffet breakfasts, dinners with cultural show and entertainment; Cebu City Tour; Suroy-Suroy sa Sugbo Tour and Island Hopping Tour. Optional tours to Bohol, Boracay and Palawan are offered at additional cost.

Kris will not run in 2016

 Entertainment
Feb 252015
 
Kris will not run in 2016

Kris Aquino (MNS Photo) Actress-host Kris Aquino confirmed on Sunday that she will not run for any government position in the 2016 elections. Speaking on “The Buzz”, Aquino answered guest Nora Aunor’s question about her plans to run for public office. “Hindi po,” she told the veteran actress, adding that she was surprised when she learned that people have been talking about the topic. “You all know what my priority is, mga anak ko,” Aquino said, noting that her son’s nanny is also getting married later this year and will soon leave them. “Kasi ‘yung yaya ni Bimb ikakasal sa September. The yaya was there from the start, siyempre wala kami ni James…so I really promised him na for the entire adjustment period, I’m gonna be there,” Aquino explained. “Ang pulitika requires someone who has no other responsibility but the responsibility to serve the constituents. Boy, I want to be the best mom I can be, and I cannot be the best mom I can be if hahatiin ko,” she told co-host Boy Abunda. Instead of entering politics, the youngest sister of President Benigno Aquino III vowed to instead create more jobs for Filipinos, which she believes is her “calling.” She also added that she needs to be available next year to take care of her brother once his term as president ends. (MNS)

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