MONEY SENT home by overseas Filipinos will continue to sustain economic growth, the Finance department said, with the slight dip in remittances in August only “temporary.”
Oct 292015
Oct 292015
ONLINE HOME-RENTAL marketplace Airbnb, Inc. is projecting Philippine home listings and clients to grow 300% by the end of 2015, amid a pushing to expand outside Metro Manila.
Oct 292015
THE PHILIPPINES is one of two Asia-Pacific economies expected to be least affected by China’s slowdown, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) said, joining the host of credit raters expecting the country to be immune from its impact.
Oct 292015
Bea Alonzo (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) -– There is no rest for Bea Alonzo. Following the success of her last film “The Love Affair,” Alonzo is back in front of the cameras for the sequel of her 2007 movie “One More Chance,” which also marks her big-screen reunion with long-time leading man John Lloyd Cruz. Alonzo said she missed working with Cruz. Their last movie together was “The Mistress” in 2012. Asked what changed in their working relationship, Alonzo said: “Siyempre ibang tao na kami ngayon. Marami na kaming natutunan from the past and what’s exciting is that every time magkatrabaho kami together, laging may sorpresa para sa isa’t isa.” “Lagi akong mayroong nakikitang bago sa kanya at sana gano’n din siya sa akin. Siguro nago-grow kami sa bawat proyektong na ginagawa namin na hindi magkasama that’s why nakakatulong ‘yun, na we’re growing apart. And then when we do a project together again, it’s a totally different feel na naman kasi nag-grow na kami as actors, as individuals,” she added. Star Cinema first released the teaser trailer for what it simply called the “‘One More Chance’ sequel” in August. The four-minute clip shows the lead characters Popoy (Cruz) and Basha (Alonzo) as a married couple. (MNS)
Oct 292015
By Abner Galino Mark Pulido, the first Fil-Am to become mayor of Cerritos, pays tribute to Fil-Am labor leader Larry Itliong at the first Larry Itliong Day in Historic Filipinotown in Los Angeles. Photo by Joy Marivic S. Macainan THE celebration of the 1st Larry Itliong Day in California was a huge success. Thousands of Filipino-Americans came out and participated in a three-day marathon of community activities held in many cities around the state that started in October 23. Art Garcia, a prominent community leader in Los Angeles said the commemoration of union leader Larry Itliong greatly enhanced the significance of the Filipino-American history month as Filipino-Americans were able to relate to an actual Fil-Am hero whose struggles as an agricultural worker epitomize the journeys of most immigrants here in the United States of America. Garcia claimed that the celebration of the Filipino-American history month was primarily based on a “myth.” The Larry Itliong Day, he added, provided Filipino-Americans the faces and stories that can actually be retold and celebrated for their value and consequences to the history and evolution of their community. On Saturday, October 24, simultaneous celebrations were held in downtown Los Angeles and Carson City. The activities included dedicated masses in churches, parades, film showings, awarding of recognitions to exemplary individuals and cultural shows – portraying Philippine indigenous dances and attires. There were also presentations of contemporary Filipino-American progressive arts, poems and music. The son of the Fil-Am hero, Johnny, who was present during the celebration in Read More …
Oct 292015
President Benigno S. Aquino III answers questions during the annual Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) Presidential Forum at the Solaire Resort in Parañaque City on Tuesday (October 27). The FOCAP forum is a traditional event where the President discusses key policies and answers questions on foreign affairs, politics, the economy and social issues from the foreign media. Also in photo are Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan; Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz; Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo; Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr.; FOCAP president Simone Orendain; Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima; Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin; and Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Marcos family should apologize for the implementation of Martial Law in the Philippines, President Benigno Aquino III said Tuesday. “I’ve said that time and again and in so many decades, yes,” said Aquino when asked by members of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) during their annual presidential forum held at Solaire Resort in Parañaque City. “I’m also of the belief that we shouldn’t revisit the sins of the children on the parents [but] the start of the solution is the identification of the problem” he said. Aquino’s father and namesake Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. was jailed during Martial Law and was assassinated on August 21, 1983. His mother Corazon Aquino, meanwhile, was installed as president in 1986 after the EDSA People Power Revolution toppled the Marcos government. With Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. seeking the second highest Read More …
Oct 292015
Liberal Party chairman President Benigno S. Aquino III attends the “Daang Matuwid: To Be Continued…” of the ruling Liberal Party (LP) at the Corazon C. Aquino Kalayaan Hall of the Club Filipino in San Juan City on Monday (October 05, 2015). Also in photo are LP Presidential Candidate former DILG Secretary Manuel Roxas II and wife Korina Sanchez-Roxas; LP Vice Presidential Candidate Camarines Sur 3rd District Representative Maria Leonor Robredo and daughters Jessica Marie and Janine Patricia Robredo. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Administration presidential bet Mar Roxas said Tuesday that the proposal to lower income tax should not be an election issue as it must be discussed in a more sober time. At the presidential forum of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Roxas clarified that he is not against the proposal but it should be studied very carefully as it may create a dent in the financial status of the country. “I’m not putting out this argument to say why I’m not for it, I’m just saying that we ought to have a very, very sober, non-populist discussion of where this money is presently going and where and why it should go back to taxpayers,” he said. “It should not be discussed in the heat of political battle of elections. What’s to stop somebody from saying let’s bring that income tax down to zero, that’s the most popular thing to do,” he added. He said the proposal to lower income tax is a complex question to answer Read More …
Oct 292015
President Benigno S. Aquino III condoles with the family of the fallen Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) Troopers during the Necrological Service at the NCRPO Multi-Purpose Center of Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City on Friday (January 30). (MNS photo) MANILA, Oct. 28 (Mabuhay)– The Department of Justice has summoned to a preliminary investigation the 90 suspects in the killings of 35 of the 44 elite policemen in the January 25 Mamasapano encounter. Prosecutor General Claro Arellano said the preliminary probe hearings would be done on November 11 and 27, at 10 a.m. at the DOJ main office in Manila. He said subpoenas for the implicated members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front had already been sent to the rebel group. Meanwhile, subpoenas for members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and private armed groups had already been sent to the office of the Mamasapano mayor. The NBI-NPS last September filed the first batch of criminal complaints against the 90 individuals behind the deaths of the 35 Special Action Force commandos of the Philippine National Police who belonged to the 55th Special Action Company. The slain policemen were part of a team trying to serve arrest warrants and capture two international terrorists said to be hiding in Mindanao, including Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan. Marwan was killed in the operation but the other terrorist Basit Usman was able to escape. Usman was subsequently killed in an encounter with Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters in May. A Read More …
Oct 292015
Comelec Commissioner Athrur Lim take his biometric registration as overseas voters of Hongkong at DFA Aseana voting field registration center in Macapagal Ave. Pasay City on Wednesday. (MNS Photo) MANILA, Oct. 28 (Mabuhay) – The Commission on Elections will rule on the disqualification cases filed against independent presidential candidate, Senator Grace Poe, before the middle of December. “Sa palagay ko as soon as possible consistent with due process. Hindi patatagalin ang kaso. Kami ay handa ilabas ang decision sa bagay na yan at sa ibang bagay tungkol sa mga kandidato we will see,” Comelec Commissioner Arthur Lim told reporters after facing a congressional hearing. “Definitely we will act on this perhaps not later than the middle of December or even earlier.” The poll body is expected to finalize the list of candidates by December, ahead of the beginning of the printing of the ballots. Ballots are expected to be customized according to each local jurisdiction. The Comelec has asked all but 5 of the 130 who filed their certificates of candidacy for president to explain why they should not be declared nuisance candidates. They will be subjected to preliminary conference before being heard by the divisions of the Comelec. The poll body will start those hearings next week. “We will be observing a strict timeline so the timeline for the printing of ballots will not be affected. We will have all the time to scrutinize and weed out nuisance candidates,” Lim said. He added their rulings may be appealed before Read More …
Oct 292015
Janet Lim Napoles arrives at the Senate for the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the alleged P10 billion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam, which reportedly involves her group and several legislators. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — A year after charges have been filed before the Sandiganbayan, the first pork barrel scam-related plunder case in now set for trial proper. Alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles, lawyer Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes, and two others will be tried before the Sandiganbayan Third Division thrice a week starting January 13, 2016. The proceedings against Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, with respect to the case, is temporarily suspended pending the Supreme Court’s final ruling on his petition for Bill of Particulars. Enrile and Reyes are accused of pocketing P172 million worth of kickbacks after allocating the senator’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to Napoles-linked fake non-government organizations from 2004 to 2010. Among the documents to be presented are liquidation documents of PDAF-related special allotment release orders and Commission on Audit’s Special Audit Report, confirmations letters and replies. Aside from the whistleblowers, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Commissioner Kim Henares and representatives from COA, Department of Justice, Department of Agriculture and Anti-Money Laundering Council will be invited to testify for the prosecution panel. The trial will take place every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday starting January 13, 2016 at the Sandiganbayan Third Division. Third Division senior member Associate Justice Samuel Martires said the court is targeting to rule on the plunder case before the end of Read More …