Hollywood fashion designer Oliver Tolentino, the mesmerizer

 General
Apr 132015
 
Hollywood fashion designer Oliver Tolentino, the mesmerizer

Oliver Tolentino’s El Paseo show opening gown with model Tutay Maristela. PHOTO BY HYDEE ABRAHAN SAN FRANCISCO – High up on the 31st-floor Windsor Suite of the Westin Saint Francis Hotel one sunny spring afternoon, we found ourselves at the exclusive trunk show of Hollywood fashion designer Oliver Tolentino, dapper in his own bespoke black and cream jacket. We looked at the gowns on display and we were impressed. It is well worth the wait for an anxious bride, debutante, or celebrity. He proudly explained the details of the beaded gowns and how it is all well worth the big bucks since it take the beaders six months to finish the intricate designs. Just on the fragile jusi fabric alone, the labor intensive weaving, he said, takes one day to produce a yard. The ever smiling Oliver has made himself at home in the glitzy red carpets and runways of America, showing off his gowns and cocktail dresses with intricate, hand-made embroidery on gossamer fabrics such as Philippine-made jusi, pina (made from pineapple fiber) and silk. And he has built quite a following among would-be brides and celebrities such as Sophia Bush, Mayim Bialik and Anna Paquin. A week prior to his San Francisco visit, Tolentino’s press agent reported that his collection “mesmerized” Palm Springs when he brought his talents – and Philippine fabrics – to the jet-set vacation town when he showed a limited collection as part of Fashion Week El Paseo’s 10th Anniversary show.  Eight past “Designers of Read More …

Buying a used car is too stressful for most consumers

 Entertainment
Apr 132015
 
Buying a used car is too stressful for most consumers

Only 24% of people said that they felt excited after buying a car.©Dasha Petrenko/shutterstock.com (Relaxnews) – Nearly nine in 10 people believe that there should be an easier or better way of shopping for or selling their car. Whether it’s via a dealership, from an independent garage or an online listing service, US consumers believe that the playing field isn’t level and that the odds are stacked against them when searching for a quality used car. That is, according to a survey of 1000 US adults, commissioned by online peer-to-peer marketplace Beepi, who had bought or sold a pre-owned car in the past 12 months. When asked, 85% of all respondents and 88% of women quizzed said they believed women were more likely to be taken advantage of when buying or selling a car. Fewer than one in three (28%) of men said that they feel ill-equipped or too intimidated to negotiate with a dealer or sales representative when it came to buying or selling, compared with 42% of women. However, the perception of car salespeople at a dealership isn’t helping matters with 66% of respondents saying that they see salesmen as self-centered and out for themselves. Only 22% described car dealers as trustworthy. Yet, when the situation moves from a garage forecourt and from face-to-face negotiations onto the web, emails and messaging, things don’t become any easier; in fact, when it comes to using web services like Craigslist, three in four women said that they worried for their personal Read More …

New discoveries after marriage

 Entertainment
Apr 132015
 
New discoveries after marriage

Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera (MNS Photo) KAPUSO Network’s royal couple, Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, shared some stories about being married for more than three months now. The dashing Kapuso actor said he has realized how organized his wife is. “I have realized na masyado pala talaga syang maayos sa mga gamit. Pero hindi naman ibig sabihin nun na medyo makalat ako. Mas maayos lang talaga sya sa gamit,” said the 34-year-old lead star of “Pari ‘Koy”, one of the network’s newest primetime soaps. His 30-year-old gorgeous wife, on the other hand, revealed that she never knew that the actor actually snores not until they started living under one roof. “Kapag medyo pagod sya ay naghihilik pala sya. Humihilik,” said the former “Marimar” star who is set to take the lead in the upcoming primetime series “The Rich Man’s Daughter,” while laughing. Despite these little discoveries, the multi-awarded actor said that there is not so much to know more about each other. “Siguro sa mga technical stuff na lang like ‘yung mga finances. ‘Yung mga bagay na never namin napag-uusapan before,” he said. On having their own children, Dingdong was quick to say that he wants to have their first-born this year. “Sana this year. We’ll see kung ano. Syempre, we’re also considering many things right now pero syempre ang basehan namin parati ay kung ibibigay ‘yung gift na ‘yun ni God, ay syempre it’s really a great blessing for us,” he said. As to whether they want their Read More …

Watch AARP webinar on Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders age 50-plus

 Entertainment
Apr 132015
 
Watch AARP webinar on Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders age 50-plus

AARP-Report-Screen-Shot-19December2014-300×387 WASHINGTON, D.C. – AARP convened a panel to discuss key issues – caregiving, economic security, health and healthcare – impacting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) age 50-plus. The webinar was open to the public and transmitted live from Washington, D.C. earlier today. Watch it online at https://aarp.webex.com/aarp/ldr.php?RCID=740efb030b01c7b7ed3c9c009003fd33 “There is a lack of disaggregated data about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Yet data is the key to unlocking policy, resources, and solutions that address the critical needs of AAPI communities,” said Daphne Kwok, AARP Vice President, Multicultural Markets & Engagement for Asian American and Pacific Islander Audience. “We are committed to bringing attention to the gaps in knowledge about these groups and hope that our research will help individuals, non-profit groups, and funders make informed decisions about the concerns of our communities.” The panelists discussed AARP’s recent three-part research series (available for free download at www.AARP.org/AAPI), including data that AAPIs age 50-plus: Are more likely to provide caregiving for older family members at home Appear more financially secure than the general population, but many more Asian ethnic groups are at or below poverty levels compared to the general population of the same age Lack health insurance and access to quality, affordable health care compared to other Americans the same age The other panelists were Dr. Xenia Montenegro, AARP Research Team Lead for Multicultural Markets; Angela Houghton, AARP Research, Senior Research Advisor; and Ron Mori, AARP Manager, Multicultural Markets & Engagement for Asian American and Pacific Islander Audience. The presentation Read More …

Why are local officials the Ombudsman’s top subjects? Pimentel wants to know

 General
Apr 132015
 
Why are local officials the Ombudsman’s top subjects? Pimentel wants to know

Senator Koko Pimentel, chair of the Blue Ribbon Sub-committee, together with Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes IV, listen to businessman Roberto Ongpin as he faces the Senate panel for the first time. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senator Aquilino Pimentel III wants to know the extent of graft and corruption practices allegedly committed by local officials that make them the top subject of the cases filed by the Ombudsman in the last four years. In Senate Resolution 1260 he filed on April 6, Pimentel urged the Senate committee on local government to conduct an inquiry into the Ombudman’s report that for four consecutive years since 2011, local officials top the list of the most number of cases filed before the anti-graft body. “It becomes imperative to conduct an inquiry into the Ombudsman report to find out the varying forms of graft and corrupt practices that have been committed by the LGU officials, which led to the filing of graft cases against them,” Pimentel said. Also, he said it is necessary “to determine if the existing anti-corruption laws such as Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act); Republic Act No. 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees); Republic Act No. 9485 (Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007); and other related laws are sufficient to deter graft and corruption.” A total of 2,053 cases were filed against local officials in 2014, the Office of the Ombudsman’s report showed. However, the anti-graft body Read More …

VP Binay's satisfaction rating takes another dip in Q1 2015 – SWS

 News
Apr 122015
 
VP Binay's satisfaction rating takes another dip in Q1 2015 – SWS

Vice President Jejomar Binay’s public satisfaction rating sunk to an all-time low in the first quarter of 2015, while those of other top officials and key institutions appeared to recover or remained steady, a poll taken by the Social Weather Stations found. While Binay’s latest rating remained in “good” territory at +31 (satisfied percentage minus dissatisfied percentage), it had dropped 13 points from December’s +44. This was also the fourth straight quarter in which Binay’s ratings took a dip since the +73 in March 2014. Respondents satisfied with his Binay fell to 58 percent in the first quarter from the 65 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014. Those dissatisfied went up to 28 percent from 20 percent. Binay faces charges of corruption, including a complaint that alleged the Makati City Hall Building II was overpriced. The vice president has denied the charges, countering that these were politically motivated. Other officials Senate President Franklin Drilon’s ratings improved, as his net satisfaction rating rose to a “good” +35 in the first quarter, from a “moderate” +28 in December. Those satisfied with Drilon’s performance increased to 57 from 53 percent, while those dissatisfied fell to 22 from 25 percent. Drilon had a “good” net satisfaction rating in three quarters since September 2013, and “moderate” in four. House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., meanwhile, saw his net satisfaction rating stay at “moderate” +12. Some 38 percent were satisfied with Belmonte, compared to 36 percent in 2014’s fourth quarter. Those dissatisfied increased slightly to 26 Read More …

International lawyers plead with Widodo

 News
Apr 122015
 
International lawyers plead with Widodo

Indonesian President Joko Widodo AFP PHOTO/ROMEO GACAD CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Philippines—The Belgium-based and United Nations-accredited International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) has asked Indonesian President Joko Widodo to overturn the death sentence on Mary Jane Veloso due to the lack of legal services and representation accorded her during her drug trafficking trial. Jeanne Mirer, IADL president, wrote Widodo on April 9 to express her group’s opposition to the death sentence the Indonesian government handed to Veloso of Cabanatuan City in the Philippines. The National Union of People’s Lawyers, an IADL affiliate, gave the Inquirer a copy of Mirer’s letter on Sunday. 2 copies Copies were also sent to President Aquino and Christof Heyns, UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions. Veloso was convicted of attempting to smuggle 2.611 kilograms of heroin into Indonesia in 2010. She was caught with the heroin at the airport. Recently, Indonesia’s Supreme Court rejected her application for a judicial review of her case. She is set to be executed later this month. “We are gravely concerned about [Veloso’s] case because of the numerous reported violations of her human rights, including the right to a fair trial and due process as guaranteed under both domestic and international law,” Mirer said in her letter. Poverty IADL was founded in 1946 with René Cassin, principal author of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as its first president. Mirer said information gathered by IADL showed that Veloso, a mother of two, was forced by poverty to work abroad. “Her Read More …

150 Filipinos back from war-battered Yemen

 News
Apr 122015
 
150 Filipinos back from war-battered Yemen

Pacquiao super fast, says Arum Binay camp: Filipinos do not need ‘highly unproductive’ Trillanes Justin Timberlake, Jessica Biel welcome baby boy 3 boats believed used in abduction of Zamboanga Sibugay town mayor found 16 PH cities not ready for climate change challenge, says study Twitter, YouTube, Instagram work on stealth advertising Nora Aunor, Cherie Gil, Filipinos bring home 5 awards from Malaysia Judge stops Delfin Lee from going to Senate MANILA, Philippines–Some 150 Filipinos evacuated from war-battered Yemen returned to Manila in two batches on Saturday and more than 220 more will arrive soon, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Sunday. The repatriates were welcomed by Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. With him were Undersecretary Jesus Yabes, Assistant Secretaries Charles Jose and Julius Torres and incoming Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Villa. Del Rosario expressed appreciation for the repatriates’ “quick decision” to return home due to the situation in Yemen. In February, the DFA raised Alert Level 4 in Yemen after Shiite Houthi rebels occupied Yemen’s capital and engaged in massive fighting against progovernment forces there. A crisis management team deployed by the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia had evacuated 464 out of the 800 Filipinos there. Of the 464, 240 have been repatriated while the crisis management team is arranging the return flights of the rest. There are still 400 Filipinos in Yemen. “Secretary Del Rosario also reassured (the repatriates) that the government will prioritize the provision of employment, placement Read More …

World records in reunion, pizza eating, gargles eyed

 News
Apr 122015
 
World records in reunion, pizza eating, gargles eyed

Filipinos on Sunday attempted to set world records in holding a reunion of those who had been born in the same hospital, the fastest time in eating a 12-inch diameter pizza, and the most number of mouthwash users in one place. By nightfall, thousands had already assembled for the mouthwash event at the celebration of the World Record Week in the Philippines held at Market! Market! in Taguig City. The Medical City in Pasig City gathered 1,221 people at the mall’s Central Plaza to claim the Largest Reunion of People Born in the Same Hospital title. People of all ages, including 1-month-old babies, were placed in a holding area for about 10 minutes under the sweltering sun. Guinness adjudicator Pravin Patel announced that the Medical City, in fact, broke the previous record set by the Tung Wah Group Hospitals in Hong Kong in 2011—all of 958 souls. 1,000 respondents The Medical City corporate communications manager Anne de la Cruz told the Inquirer that the registration for the event took about a month, with more than a thousand responding just on the eve of the reunion. “We required from them only their birth certificates and physical presence during the 10-minute holding period required by Guinness,” De la Cruz said. To be verified For the Fastest Time to Eat a 12-inch Diameter Pizza record, Shakeys lured 12 challengers to consume the pizza in less than 41.31 seconds, the record set by Burbank, California. The results of the attempt, however, will still be Read More …

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