Maniolas

President Benigno S. Aquino III presides over the Cabinet Budget Presentation meeting at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the Malacañan Palace Monday (July 6). (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Government posted a budget surplus of P67.3 billion in May, the second straight month a surplus was recorded. May’s budget surplus was P55.6 billion higher than the surplus registered last year. Year-to-date, the budget balance was at a surplus of P86.4 billion, up P77.9 billion than a year ago. In April, government post a P52.6 billion surplus due to annual tax payments during the month. Total revenues in May reached P242.5 billion, 41 percent or P70.3 billion higher from revenues in the May 2014. Total revenues for the first five months of the year reached P922.2 billion, expanding 16 percent year-on-year. The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) collected P128.5 billion in May while the Bureau of Customs (BOC) collected P26.7 billion. Meanwhile, income from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) amounted to P11 billion for May, up by P6.8 billion year-on-year. Other offices contributed P76.4 billion in May, reflecting the P60.1 billion Coco Levy-related remittance to the special account in the general fund. Government disbursements in May reached P175.2 billion, expanding by 9 percent compared to May 2014. For the period of January to May, expenditures reached P835.7 billion, reflecting an increase of 6 percent from year-ago levels. “Various volatile events in the global landscape serve as stark reminders of the importance of the hard work of reform carefully sustained Read More …

Land Rover’s trio of Defender Limited Editions: Land Rover has launched three ‘farewell’ editions of the car for 2015. ©Land Rover (Relaxnews) – The original rugged off-roader, one of the most iconic and recognizable vehicles in the world, was meant to be heading out to pasture at the end of 2015 after a job well done. The company had even built three celebratory models to highlight the car’s glorious past as a last hurrah, before turning its attention to a replacement model. However, according to a report in the Birmingham Post, the regional newspaper published in Solihull where the final Land Rovers are being assembled, a plant worker is quoted as saying: “It is going to be extended until at least the end of February [2016].” The same source also suggests that production could in fact continue until April. Following the initial story, Land Rover issued a statement neither confirming nor completely denying the reports. The company said that that it does not production to continue past the end of January but accepted that no confirmed termination date has been set. The Land Rover (called the Defender since 1989) has been in constant production since 1948 and has changed so little in terms of chassis and underpinnings in all that time that as legislation surrounding engine emissions and passenger and driver safety continue to tighten, it is no longer cost effective and in some cases, even possible, to adapt the vehicle to keep it in production in its current form. It’s Read More …

Janella Salvador (MNS Photo) This old saying is definitely true for teen star Janella Salvador, whose hit daytime series “Oh My G!” is counting down to its last weeks. The ABS-CBN program will conclude on July 17 after six months on air, according to a televised announcement early this week. Star Music announced via Instagram that Salvador will soon be launching her self-titled album. Star Music, who has dubbed her “Pop Sweetheart,” said in a post that now is the time for Salvador to shine. Salvador is not new to the music industry. In 2014, she interpreted “Mahal Kita Pero,” which was an entry to the songwriting tilt “Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs” that year. Salvador is the daughter of singer-actress Jenine Desiderio and singer-songwriter Juan Miguel Salvador. (MNS)

President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by outgoing officer-in-charge and Deputy Director General Espina, troops the line to signal the start of the PNP change of command ceremony and retirement honors for P/DDG Leonardo Espina in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Thursday (July 16, 2015). The Commander-in-Chief has appointed Police Director Ricardo Marquez as the new PNP Chief replacing Espina following the latter’s retirement. (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Saturday made another pitch for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law in the wake of a new Social Weather Stations survey showing 43 percent of Filipinos do not see much “real” improvement in the situation of Muslims in the Philippines. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the SWS survey result confirmed the need for a “comprehensive” solution to peace, order and security in Mindanao. “I think this only confirms the resolve why we need to have a comprehensive solution when it comes to peace, order and security in Mindanao,” she said on state-run dzRB radio. “Naniniwala pa rin (tayo na) magandang solusyon ang pagpasa ng BBL para ma-address hindi lang political na pangangailangan pero pangangailangan sa peace (at pangangailangan sa) security at magkaroon ng magandang pamayanan para tumulong sa kanilang mga buhay,” she added. She had been asked to comment on the SWS survey’s finding that 43 percent of Filipinos do not see much “real” improvement in the situation of Muslims in the Philippines, according to a new survey by Social Weather Stations. The SWS survey noted such a Read More …