Baby Mela, daughter of Melai Cantiveros and Jason Francisco, turns one on April 3.
Apr 072015
Apr 072015
Sharon Cuneta: “Gusto kong tumanda like Meryll Streep, Helen Mirren.”
Apr 072015
More than 200 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) had been evacuated from Yemen by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) due to increasing violence and chaos. “DFA successfully evacuated from Yemen on April 6 a group of 243 Filipinos and one Yemeni national. The group consisted of 111 males, 112 females and 21 minors,” DFA said in a statement on Tuesday. BACKSTORY: DFA pleads to Filipinos in Yemen: Come home, conflict to worsen “As the situation in Yemen remains volatile and uncertain, the DFA firmly reiterates its urgent call to the remaining Filipinos there to register with the Crisis Management Team (CMT) … so that they can join what may be the last remaining land evacuation being scheduled in the coming days,” DFA said. DFA urged all Filipinos still in Yemen to contact the DFA CMT in Movenpick Hotel Sana’a and in Al-Sherif Hotel Hodeidah or through the following numbers: +967-73-019-4165 / +967-73-742-6292 / +967-73-384-4958 / +967-73-845-1828. They may also contact the team at the email address cmt-sanaa@riyadhpe.com READ: Filipinos in Yemen told to repatriate due to ‘deteriorating’ security situation Yemen is slowly descending into chaos with Houthi rebels having taken over the capital city of Sanaa and forcing Yemeni President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi to flee. Saudi Arabia and its allies struck back at the rebels with military air strikes over the past several weeks resulting in the destruction a lot of infrastructure in the country. Hundreds have been reportedly killed from the continuous fighting between the rebels and forces Read More …
Apr 072015
A resident of Maguindanao on Sunday turned over six round of 60mm mortar ammunition to the Armed Forces of the Philippines after finding them on a national highway. According to the AFP, these were turned over by Nasrudin Demalanes to the AFP’s 33rd Infantry Battalion. The AFP said Demalanes discovered the mortar ammunition in Barangay Kauran, Ampatuan, Maguindanao. AFP Western Mindanao Commander Lt. General Rustico Guerrero said they appreciate the action of Demalanes and other civilians that support the Army’s operations. “The support of the local populace has greatly contributed to the security efforts of the AFP and PNP, especially in pursuing these lawless groups responsible for the series of bombings and other criminalities in the province,” Rustico said. The mortar ammunition were brought to the AFP’s Explosive Ordnance Team headquarters in Tacurong City for proper disposal. —Andrei Medina/NB, GMA News
Apr 072015
Del Rosario: SAF officers used Google maps, not tactical maps. At the resumption of the House hearings on the January 25 Mamasapano incident on Tuesday, April 7, Army Col. del Rosario tells lawmakers that the Special Action Force officers only used Google maps, not tactical maps, to show location of trapped SAF commandos. GMA News The House committees investigating the Mamasapano clash on Tuesday asked three military officials to submit their mobile phones for forensic examination to check whether they were telling the truth or not. On the motion of Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop, Basilan Rep. Jim Hataman Salliman, the chairman of the House Committee on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity, asked Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, head of the Western Mindanao Command; Brig. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, commander of the 6th Infantry Division; Col. Gener del Rosario, head of the Army 1st Mechanized Brigade to submit their phones for examination. “If you could please, those mentioned persons, comply,” Salliman said. Acop was asking the military officials the reason why they did not fire the artillery as reportedly requested by the Special Action Force officials. “In your standard operating procedure, you were given the sole prerogative to fire artillery support, it was there and you did not exercise that. This is for Colonel Del Rosario, you sent a text message to your boss, tama? Nagsasabi na kayo ng iba, iba yung sinsabi ng Philippine National Police,” he said. “Could you please submit your celphone for forensic exams so that we can find out Read More …
Apr 072015
House resumes hearing on Mamasapano debacle. Members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, April 7, resume the hearings on the Mamasapano incident that claimed the lives of more than 60 Filipinos, including 44 members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force, on January 25. GMA News Some P76 million in funds have already been given to the families of the fallen and surviving members of Special Action Force (SAF) commandos involved in the January 25 Mamasapano clash, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said Tuesday. “Total roughly P76 million have already been released as of yesterday,” Roxas said during the resumption of the House of Representatives’ inquiry on the clash, upon the questioning of Masbate Rep. Scott Davies Lanete. Not yet included in the amount was the P5.3 million from the House of Representatives. Roxas said the President’s Social Fund (PSF) released 44 cheques amounting to P11 million each, at P250,000 per family of the fallen SAF members. Likewise, the PNP special assistance also released 44 cheques amounting to P7.682 million. “This is dependent on the rank of the person, while the PSF is equal irrespective of rank,” Roxas pointed out. He added that there is also an automatic commutation of all accumulated leave allowances amounting to P9.604 million that have already been released. He said the National Police Commission released 56 cheques for burial and gratuity benefits amounting to P14 million and another 29 cheques amounting to P490,000. The PNP pension also releases P1.2 million every month, said Roxas. “This Read More …
Apr 062015
Georgina Wilson: “I don’t think you should ever let society dictate your relationship goals…”
Apr 062015
(2nd from left), Honeybee Foods Corporation Officials, Chowking Operations Director Donny Reyes, Jollibee Operations Director Mackey Dimaculangan, Jollibee, Red Ribbon & Chowking General Manager Maribeth Dela Cruz, Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim, Jollibee, Red Ribbon & Chowking Marketing Director Carol Rodriguez and Red Ribbon Operations Head Rey Viguilla. Los Angeles – Honeybee Foods Corporation paid a courtesy call on Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim at the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles on 25 March 2015. Officials from Honeybee Foods Corporation representing the famous Filipino fast-food chains, Jollibee, Red Ribbon and Chowking called on Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim on 25 March 2015. The officials updated the Consul General on the latest developments with their corporation which now has 86 stores around the United States. The combined presence of Jollibee, Red Ribbon and Chowking in the U.S. provides employment to around 3,500 employees. 75% of these employees work in California. The Consul General informed the officials that the Consulate is always open to promoting Philippine products, including Filipino-themed food. It is great news that one of the largest corporations in the Philippines is successful in the U.S. and continues to look forward to growing in other areas and other States in the country.
Apr 062015
Here is something positive, for a change, to say about what the Aquino administration is doing for the good of the country. Of course, this is not about the Mamasapano massacre or President Noynoy’s desire to railroad the approval of the now controversial Bangsamoro bill pending in Congress. This is about the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) now sporting a new look to the delight of hundreds of passengers arriving and departing in Manila on a daily basis. The government has spent a huge amount of money to rehabilitate the 34-year old Terminal 1 to ensure the safety, comfort and convenience of arriving and departing passengers. Unlike before, passengers were thrilled and happy about the big changes in the airport – from the air-conditioning system to the spotless bathrooms in the airport. The once yellow-stained and foul-smelling lavatories are reportedly being cleaned from time to time by airport janitors who also make sure that there are toilet papers available at all times. The balding President BS Aquino was reported to be grinning from ear to ear after he and his yellow-clad t-shirt rah rah boys personally inspected the operations and security set ups at the airport. The balding President was in a joyful mood as he spoke with reporters while touring the newly rehabilitated facility. This was a far cry from his interview with airport reporters in October of last year wherein NAIA was named as the world’s worst airport by most travel guide websites. Known for being irritable whenever Read More …
Apr 062015
Equipped with 10 different ‘selfie’ cameras inside and outside the vehicle; Honda develops cutting-edge, selfie technology to engage younger buyers Honda Introduces All-New 2016 HR-V SLF ‘Selfie’ Edition With one-third of all photos taken by people aged 18–24 being selfies, and more than one million selfies being taken each day, Honda is introducing a unique trim model to appeal to this key, influential segment. The Honda HR-V SLF, on sale in the U.S. this summer, features 10 selfie cameras throughout the vehicle to capture every moment of the day, in addition to the multi-angle rearview camera which comes standard on all Honda vehicles. The HR-V SLF blends the styling of a coupe, and the space and utility of an SUV in one versatile vehicle and takes its fun-to-drive spirit to another level with the addition of the selfie cameras. To beta-test the hands-free selfie technology, the automaker worked with 15 social media influencers over a period of six months and chose Ashley H., a self-proclaimed selfie fanatic who boasts a 99 SMIR score (social media influencer rank) to participate in making a product video. Ashley was given an HR-V SLF to test the technology and selfie functions, which only operate when the car is in park, and demonstrates how easy the cameras are to use by connecting her smartphone toHondaLink, which enables her to both take selfies and upload directly to social media. “Honda is embracing the selfie phenomenon and the creative, artistic sensibilities of millennials with this versatile, youthful trim model,” Read More …