THE NATIONAL Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) provided further details of the NEDA Board’s decisions on Wednesday, saying the latter approved a new alignment for Metro Manila’s airport expressway, among others.
Jul 162015
Jul 162015
DUMAGUETE CITY — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) plans to deploy its funds to help the Region VII tourism sector, focusing on shared service facilities (SSF) for small and medium enterprises (SME) involved in the growing travel industry and related retail businesses.
Jul 162015
COMPANIES interested in the five regional airport maintenance contracts under the public-private partnership (PPP) scheme — worth a combined P108.19 billion — have been granted two additional weeks to prepare their bids, the Transportation department said.
Jul 162015
Yassi Pressman can do her own make-up in just five minutes!
Jul 152015
LBC Hongkong Though most celebrations for the country’s 117th Independence day are held in the Philippines, LBC Express, Inc., the leading courier service, logistics, and money remittance provider has brought festivities to Filipinos across the globe. In celebration and commemoration of Philippine freedom, LBC Express held a series of games, raffles and freebies across the Middle East, Asia Pacific, North America and Europe. Middle East “Among the regions, the Middle East is one of the most popular choice for overseas Filipinos,” said Barty Espino, Vice President for Middle East Operations. “So it only makes sense that we bring a touch of home, even if we’re thousands of miles away.” LBC Bahrain Over 20,000 Filipinos attended the Independence Day celebrations in malls in United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Kuwait, and Qatar, with the support of the Philippine Embassy and Consulate offices in the GCC. Our “Ka-LBCs” enjoyed games, raffles and freebies, such as discounts on cargo, and complimentary sea cargo services and balikbayan boxes. Some attendees were also treated to Shopping Suki deals to maximize their cargo sending. New members of the LBC Plus card were also gifted with premium LBC merchandise and Max’s Restaurant vouchers. In Bahrain, singer Angeline Quinto and model Daniel Matsunaga celebrated with Filipinos at Lost Paradise of Dilmun Water Park and visited the LBC Bahrain branch to meet and greet our Ka-LBCs. Asia-Pacific In the Asia-Pacific region, LBC held fun-filled activities in Malaysia and Hong Kong. In Malaysia, LBC set up Read More …
Jul 152015
Lovi Poe (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — FOR Lovi Poe, it’s not an issue if her Ate Grace is an adopted child. “I don’t know why some people are making a big issue out of it,” she says. “Natakot yata sa kanya now that she might run for higher office. Eh, never namang inilihim ang katotohanan maski noon pa. As far as I’m concerned, it’s no big deal and at the end of the day, I still consider her my sister. And I know anuman ang paninirang gawin nila sa kanya, she can handle it. The way I see her, matapang at matatag siyang babae na hindi basta mawawasak ng mga paninira ng ibang politicians sa kanya.” Lovi is now busy taping “Beautiful Strangers” that will be aired on GMA’s primetime Telebabad. She appears with real life beau Rocco Nacino and with good friend Heart Evangelista. How does she feel that Rocco and Heart have a kissing scene in the story? “Nakakatuwa lang, wala namang problema as we’re all aware that part ‘yun ng job namin as actors.” Lovi is sad that her new movie, “Lakambini”, about the life of Gregoria de Jesus or Ka Oryang, didn’t make it in the list of the top 8 of the entries in the Metro-Manila Filmfest this December. “Sayang nga, number 10 daw kami sa listahan. Pero in case merong hindi matutuloy roon sa mga nakuha nila, we will be reconsidered. But our producers say tuloy pa rin daw ang movie kahit hindi Read More …
Jul 152015
Citizens who have $50K or more are subject to probe PHL-US COOPERATION: Apart from the latest agreement on sharing of account information to prevent tax evasion, the two countries have been launching programs to benefit both nations as shown in this recent photo where Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. and NLRB General Counsel Richard Griffin signed the Memorandum of Understanding between the Office of the General Counsel of the NLRB and the DFA aimed at educating Filipino workers and business owners on their rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining, as provided under the National Labor Relations Act, which is the basic US law governing labor relations. (Photo by the National Labor Relations Board) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Philippines and the United States on Tuesday formally agreed to share information on the bank accounts of each other’s citizens to help fight tax evasion. Under the intergovernmental agreement (IGA), Philippine banks and other financial institutions have to audit and report on accounts of Americans who have at least $50,000. US banks will be required to do the same for accounts of Filipinos in the US. “The Philippines continues to stand at the forefront of fiscal transparency across the Asia-Pacific region, reaping measurable returns for our people. Tax evasion across borders is an alarming problem that we can beat back with openness and mutual cooperation. This IGA is an affirmation of that ideal,” said Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, who signed on behalf of the Republic of the Philippines. A total of 219 Read More …
Jul 152015
Research published in The Lancet Psychiatry suggested daily tobacco use may be a contributor to mental illness. ©milan2099/Shutterstock.com (Paris, France-AFP) – People who suffer from psychosis are about three times more likely to be smokers, but scientists have long scratched their heads over which one leads to the other. On Friday, research published in The Lancet Psychiatry suggested daily tobacco use, already known to cause cancer and stroke, may be also be a contributor to mental illness – not necessarily result of it. Analysing data from 61 studies conducted around the world between 1980 and 2014, a team found that 57 percent of people first diagnosed with psychosis were smokers. The studies contained data on nearly 15,000 smokers and 273,000 non-smokers, some of whom were diagnosed with psychotic illnesses like schizophrenia. “People with first episodes of psychosis were three times more likely to be smokers,” said a statement from King’s College London’s Department of Psychosis Studies, which took part in the meta-analysis. “The researchers also found that daily smokers developed psychotic illness around a year earlier than non-smokers.” It has long been hypothesized that higher smoking rates among psychosis sufferers could be explained by people seeking relief from boredom or distress, or self-medicating against the symptoms or side-effects of antipsychotic medication. But if this were so, researchers would expect smoking rates to increase only after people had developed psychosis. “These findings call into question the self-medication hypothesis by suggesting that smoking may have a causal role in psychosis,” said the Read More …
Jul 152015
2016 Scion iA and iM 001. ©Scion/Toyota (Relaxnews) – The Toyota-owned automobile brand Scion has just announced the prices for its latest models: the iM hatchback and iA sedan. In accordance with brand policy, Scion’s new iM and iA are priced within an affordable price bracket, designed to attract a younger consumer base. The flat-fee approach, with no additional options, is consistently in line with the brand’s previous releases. The iM five-door hatchback starts at an MSRP $18,460 for manual transmission, and $19,200 for the CVTi-S model. Scion’s first sedan, the iA, comes in at $15,700 for the manual transmission and $16,800 for the 6-speed automatic version. Both models will be available in North American dealerships from September 1, 2015.
Jul 152015
President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by outgoing AFP Chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr., and newly appointed AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri review the Honor Guards during the Testimonial Honors and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Change of Command Ceremony at the Tejeros Hall of the AFP Commissioned Officer’s Club (AFPCOC), Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Friday (July 10, 2015). (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senator Ferdinand “Bong-bong” Marcos Jr. feels relieved that President Benigno Aquino III has appointed a new chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP). Marcos expressed belief that Director Ricardo Marquez was competent and trustworthy of leading the PNP’s 155,000-strong force. “Palagay ko may kakayahan siya. Meron siyang karanasan at malaki ang tiwala natin na siya ay magbibigay ng direksyon ulit sa ating kapulisan,” (I believe he is capable. He has experience and I trust that he can give direction to the police force) Marcos said. The senator said he knew the two-star general because he was a director of the Ilocos Region. “Itong si Police Director Ricardo Marquez ay kilala namin dahil nag-admin ito sa Region I. Palagay ko gagawin niya nang mabuti ang katungkulan bilang PNP Chief,” (I know Police Director Ricardo Marquez because he administered Region I. I think he will do well as PNP Chief.) Marcos had pushed for the appointment of a new chief following the resignation of Director General Alan Purisima over the botched counter-terrorist operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, in January. Marcos Read More …