Trillanes: 2 more exposés vs. VP Binay this month

 Entertainment
Aug 112015
 
Trillanes: 2 more exposés vs. VP Binay this month

The Blue Ribbon Sub-Committee, chaired by Sen. Koko Pimentel, resumes its inquiry on the alleged overpricing of the 11-storey new Makati City II Parking Building, the 22-storey Makati City Hall Building and related anomalies. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senator Antonio Trillanes IV will be presenting two new allegations against Vice President Jejomar Binay when the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee resumes its investigation on the anomalies linked to the Binay family this August. “Merong dalawang bagong exposé,” Trillanes said in a text message to reporters Monday without elaborating. “Sa Aug. 20 at 26 ay may hearing po kami ulit dito kay VP Binay dahil nai-ready na ‘yung ilalabas natin,” he added. On Sunday, Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, who chairs the subcommittee, said they will not conclude their investigation until Binay’s trusted aide of Binay, Gerry Limlingan, who has also been linked to the anomalies, shows up. “Hangga’t wala si Limlingan, hindi kami hihinto. Sa dalas mabanggit ng pangalan niya, kailangan talagang mahanap itong taong ito,” he said, adding Limlingan is vital to their investigation. Binay, who linked the allegations to his expected run for the president next year, is accused of rigging bids, overpricing contracts, and involvement in illegal transactions during his term as mayor of Makati.(MNS)

COMELEC eyes revamp of poll officials before end of 2015

 Entertainment
Aug 112015
 
COMELEC eyes revamp of poll officials before end of 2015

Newly appointed Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman Andres Bautista (left) and commissioner Rowena Guanzon face the media at the COMELEC office in Intramuros, Manila on Monday. Bautista was the chairman of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) prior to his new assignment. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Commission on Elections is planning to revamp the assignments of its field officials before the year-end as part of its preparations for the May 2016 national elections. Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the possible reshuffle of personnel will involve Regional Election Directors (REDs), Provincial Election Supervisors (PES), and city/municipal Election Officers (EOs). “Part yan ng ating standard na preparation. Nagkakaroon tayo ng evaluation kung kailangan ng reshuffle,” Jimenez said. Jimenez said the reassignments are being planned to avoid any unwanted association between Comelec officials and employees and candidates in the next year’s elections. According to the Comelec Employees Union, are an estimated 16 REDs, 80 PES, and over 1,500 EOs nationwide. “We usually do that to avoid situations kung saan local Comelec officials are already very cozy with local personalities,” Jimenez said. Jimenez said the extent of the revamp would depend on the assessment of the Comelec en banc. “Depende sa need. There were times na hanggang REDs pa e. Definitely, ito ay hanggang level ng EOs,” Jimenez said. (MNS)

Jinggoy’s camp wants TG summoned in pork scam trial

 Entertainment
Aug 112015
 
Jinggoy’s camp wants TG summoned in pork scam trial

President Benigno Aquino III says Sen. Jinggoy Estrada (shown above while speaking on the podium) may know more about the alleged harassment and extortion attempts on Janet Lim Napoles in 2013, a few months before the pork barrel fund scam controversy hit the headlines. (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The lawyers of Senator Jinggoy Estrada requested that the Sandiganbayan 5th Division issue a subpoena to Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chair Senator Teofisto “TG” Guingona III. Estrada’s camp asked that Guingona or Blue Ribbon Oversight Office Management director general Rodolfo Quimbo personally appear before the anti-graft court on August 11, 12, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27 at 8:30 a.m. The senator’s camp wants the Senate committee which investigated the pork barrel scam to bring the forensic examination report by the National Bureau of Investigation on the external hard drive of whistleblower Benhur Luy, copies of the digital files, and the print-outs of those digital files. NBI special investigator Dario Sabilano continued his testimony at the 5th division today on Estrada’s bail hearing. Sabilano was offered by the prosecution as an “expert witness” on the integrity of the computer files in Luy’s hard drive. Sabilano said he handled more than 70 cases as a computer forensic examiner. These cases include the Mamasapano encounter video and the footage showing the killing of a Batangas journalist. The defense, however, in its cross-examination of Sabilano, questioned his expertise. (MNS)

Bulgari’s breathtaking blooms

 Entertainment
Aug 112015
 
Bulgari’s breathtaking blooms

“Magical Reflections,” with pear-cut diamonds, is inspired by the water chains of Villa Lante, a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture just a few kilometers from Rome. PARIS — Bulgari was in full bloom when it launched its latest collection, “Italian Gardens,” at their Paris boutique. There were 100 unique pieces inspired by the art of the garden — the geometric hedges and blooming flowers of the Italian Renaissance. Bulgari’s designers were inspired by nature, transforming precious stones and metals into works of art like the “Blue Iridescence” necklace — a showstopper featuring 184.48 carats of enormous blue sapphires that took Bulgari three years to collect from different parts of the world. This extraordinary set of gems is ringed with 81.13 carats of pink spinels and clusters of diamonds totaling 24.75 carats. Bulgari’s major executives were present for the launch, like lovely Lucia Silvestri, Bulgari’s jewelry creative director, who has been with the company for 35 years. In the early days, she was the only person besides Bulgari brothers Nicola and Paolo to make major gem purchases for the company. She was very young when she joined the company and was advised “to select and acquire gems only if you could see a possible use for them.” Her combined talent for spotting high-quality gems and envisioning the finished product in her mind is irreplaceable. Today she heads a team of specialized buyers, replicating what she used to do alone. She attributes her success to her passion for the job and believes that Read More …

Treat, blur, and protect skin with Murad

 Entertainment
Aug 112015
 
Treat, blur, and protect skin with Murad

Multi-tasking beauty: Murad’s Invisiblur Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 30 PA+++ is a multi-tasking formula that immediately treats the visible signs of aging, blurs imperfections, and protects skin against UV damage. Available at Rustan’s. RISSA, I’ve been reading about blur creams in magazines. I want to try one, but I can’t seem to find one with built-in SPF. Maybe you’ve come across one? TRISH That’s my frustration, too. Blur creams work wonders, but most brands on the market don’t contain SPF. That’s why I was so excited when dermatologist-created brand Murad launched its Invisiblur Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 30 PA+++. I’ve tried it and I love how this multi-tasking product saves time. This three-in-one translucent wonder treats skin while blurring out imperfections and protecting skin against UV damage.  It boasts invisible sunscreen, so you never need to worry about an unflattering white sheen on your complexion, which most sunblocks give off. So with one swipe, you can treat, blur, and protect  your complexion.   I’ve been using it recently and it feels silky upon application, yet dries into a soft matte finish. What excites me most is that it has broad-spectrum sunscreen, so it allows you to skip that extra layer of sunblock in your beauty routine. Since this product also acts as a blur cream, it visibly improves skin texture upon application and refines pores, fine lines, and wrinkles. But since the product is translucent, it does not provide coverage and hide blemishes. I like wearing this on its own, but it can be worn under makeup for extra coverage. Read More …

Fancy footwork with Ford’s all-new Everest

 Economy
Aug 112015
 
Fancy footwork with Ford’s all-new Everest

CHIANG RAI, Thailand—Companies that make things like cars, computers, smartphones, or even sportswear are always out for the next big thing. Game-changers, they like to call them. They like to claim that their new car/phone/shoe will redefine the genre. Well Ford is up to those exact same word-mongering this time around. And are they putting their money where their mouth is! Never mind ABS and EBD. Those acronyms (initialisms, actually) are par for the course even for subcompacts. Let’s try Hill Descent Assist, Blind Spot Information System, Cross Traffic Alert, Curve Control, Active Park Assist, Active Transfer Case with Torque on Demand, and Active Noise Cancelation. Let’s try intelligent four-wheel drive and a cutting-edge Terrain Management System. Let’s try power-folding third row seats and a power liftgate. Add to that a fold-flat second row to add flexibility and versatility. Just a few years ago, those cutting-edge features could be found only in a Range Rover, a Mercedes-Benz, BMW or a Volvo—vehicles that cost anywhere from almost four to over eight million pesos. And it’s now on a Ford SUV that starts at a little over P1.3 million. Okay, those features are found in the top-of-the-line version costing just under P1.9 million. But that’s still one heck of a bargain considering the level of equipment—or the lack thereof—of its predecessors and its rivals.   The new Everest, which is made in Ford’s Auto Alliance plant in Rayong, Thailand, is still based on a body-on-frame construction but boasts a coil spring suspension with Read More …

Foreign tourist arrivals expand in 1st 5 months of 2015

 News
Aug 112015
 
Foreign tourist arrivals expand in 1st 5 months of 2015

Hong Kong tourists Kayaking in El Nido [via Lakbay Pilipinas] Foreign tourist arrivals in the Philippines grew by 8.15 percent to 2.23 million visitors in the first five months of the year from the 2.06 million visitors a year ago. Latest data from the Department of Tourism (DOT) showed that for May alone, tourist arrivals rose 13.53 percent to 413,937 visitors, the biggest growth recorded so far since this year. According to DOT, earnings generated from tourism activities in the first five months of 2015 grew 2.74 percent to P93.91 billion from P91.4 billion last year. In May, visitor receipts amounted to P16.77 billion, up 2.4 percent from P16.38 billion a year ago. By visitor market, Korea remained the top contributor of international arrivals with a 24.5-percent share, equivalent to 546,031 arrivals, as of end May, the DOT reported. The United States was the second biggest market with 15.74 percent share (350,776 visitors), followed by Japan, which ranked third with 9.18 percent (327,702 visitors). Last month, the DOT and the Philippine Embassy in Japan organized the Philippine Business Mission (PBM) 2015 as they sought to boost Japanese tourist arrivals here to a million. Local tourism officials, along with 43 Philippine sellers composed of hotels, resorts, travel wholesalers and airline companies, made the pitch before members of the Japan Association of Travel Agencies (Jata) during the three-day promotions and marketing campaign, the Philippine Embassy in Japan said. Deputy Chief of Mission Gilberto Asuque had reportedly encouraged the travel and tourism executives Read More …

 Older Entries  Newer Entries