To attract investors to our economic zones, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) recently launched the PEZA Electronic Application for Registration System (e-ARS). This system can be accessed thru the PEZA Web site (www.peza.gov.ph) by clicking the icon “e-ARS” or going directly to the URL http://ears.peza.gov.ph.
Filipino Artists Time and again, the Philippines have dominated the world stage as numerous Filipinos rake in top awards in various talent searches across the globe. Currently the reputation is such that if you are Filipino , people from different nations and the international community expect you to have an incredible talent. More often than not, their expectations are correct. Many searches have come and gone but the World Championships of the Performing Arts, known to be the world’s only Talent Olympics have been around for 19 years. A search where no less than 52 countries gather together in the entertainment capital of the world , Hollywood, California USA. Nations bring the best talents from their country to compete in various categories namely: Singing, dancing, acting, modeling, variety act. This is where Filipinos have constantly preserved that good reputation that we have earned worldwide and Team Philippines have remained to be the fiercest contender of every nation by being 1st in the rankings every year. Eversince the Philippines joined in 2005 with Jed Madela raking in all the gold medals and winning the top plum all across different categories, Filipino artists continued to shine year after year after year gaining the respect and adulation of artists from different countries. Celebrity mentors and hitmakers of big named artists in Hollywood, Nashville, New York such as Seth Riggs, Steven Dorff, Shele Sondheim to name just a few, have turned to Team Philippines to find new artists to groom. Team Philippines started joining Read More …
Growing-up without a father to love and protect us is devastating for some, but not when one is surrounded with father-figures around. Among the father-figures whom this author have learned to respect and admired was a respectable uncle who was the Dean of Physics at our hometown’s trade school. His name was Ricardo Oquendo – Rimando and he hailed from Agoo, La Union. He was a distinguished and well respected educator, but at home, he was just a simple man – the loving husband of my aunt, my mother’s sister who protected and helped raised us, his nephews and nieces, like his own children. Though he was not from our hometown, he was well-loved by everyone not only for his quiet demeanor but for his eloquence once anyone is left in the room with him. Tio Rim, as we all called him, was also a religious man who went to Church every day, along with my aunt, Tia Meding. We all looked up to him like our father, as he once led the group of Knights of Columbus religious organization. However, in spite of his distinguished hometown image, he was the most loving and humble man in our household. He relentlessly built one of the largest water stations in town and I’ll never forget an evening when I found him in their room, ironing his wife, Tia Meding’s newly-washed clothes and when he’s done, he went on to sew and hem some of her clothes. That sight left such an indelible mark in my memory, leaving Read More …
The Nissan 7 seat e-NV200. It can be specified with luxury trim, or for lugging cargo. ©Nissan (Relaxnews) – Officially the world’s first production seven-seat electric car, the latest derivation of the Nissan e-NV200 is aimed equally at business users and larger families. Incredibly quiet and very comfortable – thanks to the option of specifying it with the company’s highest Evalia trim levels – yet equally practical, Nissan’s latest electric car boasts a very impressive 2940 liters of luggage space when all but the driver and front passenger seats have been rolled forward, folded or stowed. Even when all seven seats are upright and transporting people, that stowage space figure only drops to 870 litres, meaning that it has enough room for people and luggage alike on a long family break. While it has a range of just 106 miles (170km) before it needs a recharge, the process at a rapid charging station can take as little as 30 minutes for an 80% top up. With the Evalia option, the car comes with a reversing camera, air conditioning, cruise control, a navigation system plus Bluetooth support for a smartphone, and auto-on headlights and wipers. And, Nissan is fully aware of the vehicle’s range-based shortcomings and has been investing heavily in improving the charging infrastructure across Europe and the US as well as its native Japan, particularly in and around major cities. Its latest contribution in this regard was in Berlin where it added new charging stations to enable more environmentally Read More …
Marian Rivera (MNS photo) If she has her way, actress Marian Rivera wants to have as many kids as she can. “Hanggang kaya ko, mas marami, mas masaya. Kasi solong anak lang ako kay mama at papa, so gusto ko mas marami,” Rivera said in an interview. Meanwhile, Rivera, who is now four-months pregnant, said she doesn’t mind if she will have a baby girl or boy. “Kahit ano wala akong pinipili basta healthy siya, okay na ako,” added the actress, who is looking forward to a normal delivery. The actress said they haven’t pick out the name of their baby but shared that that she would want the names Maria and Jose as part of the baby’s name. “Ang gusto ko talaga kapag babae ay palaging may Maria. Kapag lalaki palaging may Jose, pero first name lang ‘yon. Kasi ako Maria, si Dong ay Jose. At least gusto ko may ganoon, Maria and Jose,” she said. Rivera married Dantes last December 30 at Immaculate Concepcion Church in Cubao, Quezon City.(MNS)
Janno Gibbs (MNS Photo) Longtime fans of both Ogie Alcasid and Janno Gibbs are well aware that the friendship of the two singers slash comedians slash actors slash TV hosts dates back to “Small Brothers”, the popular ABS-CBN weekly variety show they headlined following the EDSA Revolution in the late 1980s. But it wasn’t until they became co-hosts of three long-running Sunday noontime variety shows (“SOP,” “Party Pilipinas” and “Sunday All-Stars”) on GMA Network dating back to 1997 that the bond between the two was cemented. So when Ogie left GMA to sign with TV5 in 2013 and Janno decided to stay on, it was not easy for many fans to imagine one without the other, even as both had their respective shares of individual success even while working together on the same shows. Ogie Alcasid (MNS Photo) Last month, it was reported that Janno was leaving GMA to transfer to TV5. Not a few fans believed that even if it’s not because he and Ogie will again star on the same show, it will only be a matter of time before the two start to work again with each other since that they’re now under one network. TV5 officially launched its upcoming new Sunday noontime variety game show, “Happy Truck ng Bayan”, which will be headlined by Derek Ramsay, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Mariel Rodriguez, Gelli De Belen,Tuesday Vargas, Empoy, Kim Idol and, yes, Ogie and Janno. Although Ogie is quick to clarify that he has nothing to do with Janno’s Read More …
Chynna Ortaleza (MNS Photo) Experience has ripened 32-year-old actress Chynna Ortaleza and she is out to prove it to fans, taking on the character of Batchi Luna, a lesbian, on GMA7’s “The Rich Man’s Daughter.” Having already completed a number of episodes for the series, Chynna now attests to the role being quite challenging. “Sometimes when you’re a woman you wish you’re a man. But in the story, my gosh, ang hirap. Ikaw talaga ang inaasahan ng lahat na mag hold ng mga bagay-bagay. Ikaw ang stronghold nila and kailangan mong maitawid ‘yan lahat. While others breakdown, you have to be strong. Hindi siya ganun kadali,” she said. She is enjoying every second of it though. “Yung role kasi talaga cool, chill and walang arte. Gusto ko ‘yung fact na ang masculine side talaga mas masaya. They don’t stress themselves with problems,” she related. Chynna admitted that her characterization is still a work in progress. “Every time I see people or when people come up to me and tell me they’re excited about the series, I ask about their expectations. I try to learn from them so I could do better with my portrayal,” Chynna remarked. Also a big help is series director Dominic Zapata. “Gusto niya natural as possible ang performance ko. Kaya kung napansin ninyo there’s no voice modulation. Hindi siya naglalakad na pinapakitang ‘macho ako.’ Sinasabi nga niya sa akin na just be natural. ‘Yung pinaka-masculine side na pwedeng marating ni Chynna as a person na ‘yun Read More …
Photo of the Rizal Monument with Torre de Manila (already 19 floors high) rising behind it, taken on August 20, 2014. Photo from the Office of Sen. Pia Cayetano MANILA (Mabuhay) – THE Supreme Court has issued a restraining order against the construction of the 46-story Torre de Manila. Petitioner Knights of Rizal said the construction mars the view of the Rizal Monument in Luneta. In its petition, they said when Torre de Manila reaches the full height of 46 floors by the target date of 2016, it would completely dominate the vista and, consequently, substantially diminish in scale and importance the most cherished monument of the national hero. They added that the building’s developer has also violated Republic Act 7356 (law creating the National Commission on Culture and the Arts), Republic Act 4846 (Cultural Properties Preservation and Protection Act) and Republic Act 10066 (National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 or an Act Providing for the Protection and Conservation of the National Cultural Heritage). Aside from this, the petitioner also asserted that DMCI violated the zoning ordinance of the city of Manila since the building is located in an area reserved for schools and government buildings as mandated under Manila City Ordinance 8119 (Zoning Ordinance of Manila). (MNS)
Suspected Chinese crime lord Wang Bo appears at the House of Representatives during a hearing on Tuesday, June 16, to shed light on reports that he bribed Immigration officials in exchange for his freedom. Wang Bo arrived in handcuffs and was surrounded by members of the Legislative Security Bureau. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Suspected Chinese crime lord Wang Bo on Tuesday denied bribing officials of the Bureau of Immigration to sign his release papers, as he dismissed the allegation that he gave $10 million to members of the House of Representatives as bribe. Wang made the categorical denial in response to the questions posed by AVE party-list Rep. Eulogio Magsaysay, who, during the day’s hearing at the House, asked him three times if he was involved in any bribery attempt to gain his freedom. Addressing Wang, Magsaysay asked: “For the third time, do you have any involvement in the bribery attempt of BI officials?” “No, I didn’t. No, I don’t have [any involvement], Your Honor,” Wang Bo replied. Magsaysay followed his question up with another query on whether Wang Bo bribed lawmakers. “No, I didn’t,” Wang Bo said. A report published by The Standard earlier this month said Wang Bo’s camp shelled out P100 million as bribe to BI officials to sign his release papers. It also claimed that the suspected Chinese criminal gave $10 million for Malacañang to bribe lawmakers for the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). Some funds were also reportedly given as contribution Read More …
Jennylyn talks about investing her earnings wisely.