April 2015 – Page 34

Boracay declared favorite beach destination of Malaysians this year

News

Apr 042015

Boracay declared favorite beach destination of Malaysians this year

Boracay. DON LEJANO/INQUIRER.net The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur has declared Boracay the Favorite Beach Destination in 2015 by the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) for its annual Matta Fair at Putra World Trade Center in Kuala Lumpur recently. The announcement was made in a press conference held at the Matta Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. Matta organizing committee chair S. Jayakumar said that the Philippines is rich in natural resources and biodiversity, and also praised Boracay’s fine white sand beaches. “Boracay has consistently been part of the list of the best beaches in the world, as evidenced by awards bestowed on it by major travel magazines and organizations. It is a pleasure for Malaysians to discover the island, with its pristine white sands and breathtaking beaches, which captivated many visitors for nature tripping, watersports and beach hopping,” Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya says. At the press conference, the embassy also formally launched the Second Ambassador’s Tour to the Philippines, this time to Cebu and Bohol. Malaya says that now is the best time to visit the Philippines, amid the country’s hosting of major international conferences, and its strong economic growth. “Now is the best time to visit the Philippines. For one, the Philippine government has declared this year as Visit Philippines Year 2015 (VPY 2015). The flurry of festivals, concerts, conferences, other activities and events lined up will draw in both domestic and foreign tourists in the country. The country is also hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Read More …

In PH, Coca-Cola GM feels right at home

Economy

Apr 042015

DIEGO Eduardo Granizo, president and general manager of Coca-Cola Philippines A Kenneth Cobonpue dining table in Chile marked Diego Eduardo Granizo’s first encounter with the Philippines. Granizo, the newly appointed president and general manager of Coca-Cola Philippines, admits that he barely knew anything about the country when his wife chanced upon the table in 2008. “When we were in Chile, my wife fell in love with this one particular dining table, and she said, you know this is by a designer named Kenneth Cobonpue. And little did we know he was a Filipino designer. Actually, she even bought a couple of things that are from a Filipino designer,” Granizo tells the Inquirer. It thus came as no surprise that, when Granizo, his wife and two kids arrived in the country, the first thing they did was to travel to Cebu to visit Cobonpue’s showroom. Granizo, who is turning 46 this month, took over the helm of Coca-Cola Philippines last January, following a stint in Germany, where he served as the commercial strategy and operations director for the beverage company. Prior to that, Granizo was the franchise operation and key account director for Coca-Cola in Chile from 2009 and 2010. He also served as general manager for the Ecuador operations in 2007. Transitions The Ecuadorian in Granizo immediately felt at home in the Philippines, whose culture, language, weather and, to some extent, food, are fairly similar to what he grew up with. Even his family seems to agree. “I usually gauge Read More …

Turkey seeks pilgrimage tourists from PH

General

Apr 042015

Turkey seeks pilgrimage tourists from PH

The early Christians dug caves into the soft rocks of Cappadocia and constructed chapels, monasteries and underground cities. Photos By Tina Arceo-Dumlao Turkey, which straddles the continents of Asia and Europe, is home to the second most number of mentioned places in the Bible, next only to the Holy Land of Israel. This fact is lost, however, on most Filipinos who are in the market for pilgrimage tours. Nevertheless, the Philippines, where over 85 percent of the population of about 100 million profess to be Catholic, presents a potentially lucrative market for Istanbul-based D’Archo Travel founded by travel industry veterans Dogan Senay and Aysel Eroskay. D’Archo Travel has thus made it its mission this year to strengthen its presence in the Philippines, in partnership with local pilgrimage tour specialist Larry’s Classic Tours, and market Turkey as a top-of-mind destination for those who want to see some of the places mentioned in the Bible. “[We are] investing in the Philippines because Turkey is not widely known as the second most important biblical land in the world,” Eroskay told the Inquirer. “Our goal is to present Turkey as a new pilgrimage destination, particularly to those who have visited the Holy Land many times. The Philippines has the largest potential for Catholic pilgrimage tours.” Visitors today flock to these caves to marvel at the paintings. There is certainly a huge room for growth. Data from the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies showed that tourist arrivals in Turkey increased from 31.782 million in 2012 Read More …

Easter treat at Festival Supermall

General

Apr 042015

MANILA, Philippines – The Easter bunny will pop and hop at River Park, Festival Supermall in Alabang, Muntinlupa City as the mall recreates Easter Magic today 5 at 5 p.m. For a P700-minimum single or two-receipt purchase from any Festival Supermall or River Park tenant (excluding exhibits, carts and kiosks, Pearls and Precious Stones and Bayad Center) on April 5, customers may avail of the following: Free-face painting, free glitter tattoo, one free ticket to the magic show at the River Park Amphitheater, a free loot bag and participation at the Easter egg hunting activity. Customers must present their receipts to the promo girl at the central Acacia tree in River Park. The Easter egg-hunting activity is open to kids age five to 10. Children must go around the River Park area and collect at least three eggs. The first 10 to collect the required number of eggs gets a prize. Children may be accompanied by their parents or guardians. River Park comprises the first phase of the massive expansion that Festival Supermall has embarked on and is set to complete next year.

Top Asian News at 10:30 a.m. GMT

General

Apr 042015

BEIJING (AP) — A Chinese-born American geologist was released from prison in China after serving more than eight years on charges of procuring state secrets, a human rights group said Saturday. Xue Feng returned to his family in Houston, Texas, on Friday after being deported immediately following his release, the San Francisco-based Dui Hua foundation said. BENJINA, Indonesia (AP) — At first the men filtered in, by twos and threes, hearing whispers of a possible rescue. Then, as the news rippled around the island, hundreds of weathered former and current slaves streamed out, many with long, greasy hair and tattoos. They came from trawlers and villages, even out of the jungle, running toward what they had only dreamed of for years: Freedom. PANAJI, India (AP) — Indian police arrested four people Friday following a federal government minister’s complaint that a niche boutique in the southwestern resort of Goa had a closed-circuit TV looking into a changing room where she was trying out clothes. Police officer Umesh Gaonkar said the four boutique employees face charges of insulting a woman and outraging her modesty, which carry a maximum prison sentence of two years. They will be formally charged in a court at the end of the police investigation. SAN PEDRO CUTUD, Philippines (AP) — Screaming in pain, Filipino devotees had themselves nailed to wooden crosses to mimic the suffering of Jesus Christ on Good Friday in Asia’s largest Roman Catholic nation. Church leaders have spoken against the annual practice mixing Catholic devotion Read More …

Spring makeup: Eyes go bold

Entertainment

Apr 042015

Dior Five Couleurs Kingdom Of Colors. ©Dior. All rights reserved. (Relaxnews) – It’s time to give spring an eyeful! The look for this season is bold and playful, with flashes of vibrant color really bringing out your peepers. From chalky pastels to disco-inspired metallics, the key hereis boldness. A good way to begin is with Guerlain’s “Ecrin 4 Colors” palette, which includes easier golden and smoky bronzed shades as well as a pastel pink and deep khaki, which can be used at the inner or outer corners of the eye or run across the lids for effect. Chanel, too, has played things relatively safe with its pretty “Les Quatre Ombres” palette ($61) coming in various combinations of strong gun metals, soft creams and cherry pinks. An excellent in-between option is Lancome’s Spring Multipalette “My French Palette” ($58), which combines soft pink and beige shades with bolder turquoises and emeralds. Dior, meanwhile, has embraced the theme wholeheartedly, launching a “Five Couleurs Kingdom Of Colors” especially for the season (€59, approximately $63), with the collection divided into pinks and greens. It is followed by the younger and punkier brand Urban Decay, which has launched its “Moondust” eyeshadows ($20 each) in six new iridescent metallic hues.

Aquino says ‘worst airport’ now looking much better

Entertainment

Apr 042015

Aquino says ‘worst airport’ now looking much better

President Benigno S. Aquino III is briefed on the status of passenger volume and traffic, airport security and assistance measures by Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) OIC, general manager (Ret.) MGen. Vicente Guerzon, Jr.,during the Inspection of Major Passenger Terminals in Metro Manila at the Departure Lobby of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City on Wednesday (April 16, 2014) during the Inspection of Major Passenger Terminals in Metro Manila. The President wants to make sure that all security preparations are in place to ensure safe travel during the Holy Week. Also in photo are Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and NAIA Terminal 3 manager Engr. Octavio Lina.(MNS photo) Manila, Philippines, AFP – President Benigno Aquino Wednesday hailed renovations to the Philippines’ main international airport, expressing optimism it would soon shake off its ranking on one website as the world’s worst airport. Almost a year after he personally apologized for the failure of air-conditioning at Terminal 1 of Manila’s international airport, Aquino said the facility appeared to be completely different. “It is like I have entered a completely different airport,” he told reporters as he inspected the 34-year-old terminal. Asked by reporters if the terminal would no longer be called the world’s worst, Aquino told reporters: “That’s up to you, but they even raised the ceiling.” Ninoy Aquino International Airport – named after the president’s father, who was assassinated there in 1983 – topped the list of worst airports on the travel website “The Read More …

Solon wants fines up to P200K for obstruction of justice

Entertainment

Apr 042015

Solon wants fines up to P200K for obstruction of justice

Labor groups stage their own passion play in Mendiola, Manila on Tuesday in time with Holy Week. As Filipino Catholics observe religious traditions during the week, the workers used the occasion to depict contemporary “crosses” being carried by workers. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — A fine as high as P200,000 and jail time of up to 20 years await those who will obstruct the apprehension and prosecution of criminal offenders should the bill filed by Albay Rep. Fernando Gonzalez becomes a law. House Bill 5521 filed last March seeks to amend Presidential Decree No. 1829, entitled “Penalizing Obstruction of Apprehension and Prosecution of Criminal Offenders.” The bill seeks to increase the penalties for the obstruction of justice from prision correccional in its maximum period of six years to reclusion temporal in its maximum period of 20 years. The maximum fine will likewise be raised from a maximum of P6,000 to P200,000, while the minimum fine will go up from P1,000 to P50,000. The penalties shall be imposed on any person who prevents witnesses from testifying in any criminal proceeding or from reporting the commission of any offense or the identity of any offender/s by means of bribery, misrepresentations, deceit, intimidation, force or threats. In the bill’s explanatory note, Gonzales said the penalties imposed under PD 1829 have remained unchanged since it was enacted by then-President Ferdinand Marcos in 1 981. The decree was issued to penalize any person who knowingly or willingly obstructs, impedes, frustrates or delays the apprehension and Read More …

LTO ‘no registration, no travel’ policy lawful — Abaya

General

Apr 042015

LTO ‘no registration, no travel’ policy lawful — Abaya

President Benigno S. Aquino III lays the replica of “vara de mando” (cane of command, which is the symbol of authority of General Emilio Aguinaldo as “capitan municipal” or “gobernadorcillo” of Cavite El Viejo (old name of Kawit) in a special casing to signal the formal inauguration of the Museo ni Emilio Aguinaldo at the Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite on Friday (March 20). The museum chronicles the life and times of Aguinaldo, especially during the revolution against Spain and war against the United States. Also in photo are National Historical Commission of the Philippines chairperson Dr. Maria Serena Diokno and Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Abaya. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya justified on Wednesday the implementation of the “no registration, no travel” policy of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), saying it was in accordance with the law. LTO is under the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) being headed by Abaya. “We are merely applying the law. Unregistered vehicles are prohibited from being driven on roads,” he said in a text message, when sought for comment on opposition by some sectors, including the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), on the policy that took effect Wednesday, April 1. “If we don’t, LTO may be sued for not enforcing the law. At the end of the law is for vehicle owners and passengers safety,” Abaya added. And as to the MMDA’s reported refusal to apprehend violators, the transportation chief said: “I’m sure MMDA is a Read More …

Heart admits taking birth control pills

Entertainment

Apr 032015

Heart Evangelista (MNS Photo) Actress Heart Evangelista admitted that she is taking birth control pills since she does not want to get pregnant yet. Evangelista explained that still has to finish all her obligations before she can have a baby. “If I stop, I’ll get pregnant. My doctor advised me not to stop yet, and then, after months, I’ll stop, and I’ll do… ‘yun. I’ll finish first ‘yung [obligations], then I’ll get pregnant. Ang hirap din kasi ‘yung nagsu-shoot ako for a commercial, tapos buntis ako,” she said. But the actress stressed that she wants to build her own family with husband, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero. “If it’s a boy, I might name him Francis, like Chiz. If girl, I might name her Sofia. Exciting talaga. ‘Yung kids naman niya (Chiz), they’re asking kung kailan. Kung prepared na ako? More or less,” she said. Meanwhile, the actress shared that she enjoys spending time with Escudero’s kids with former wife Christine Flores. “The boy is very easy, nasa stage siya na nagba-basketball siya. So hindi na siya maka-relate sa scrapbook mode namin ni daughter. He’s on his own na. The girl, she needs more attention, I think,” she said. “As of now, we’re living separately, but in the same village, so nilalakad lang. Hindi pa naman siya drastic, pero slowly din, which is okay. Like today, it’s summer, nasa bahay sila lagi,” she added. Escudero and Evanglista tied the knot last February 15 at the Balesin Island Club. (MNS)

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