A MEASURE creating a trust fund controlling the assets from the Marcos-era coconut levy will soon be up for plenary vote at the House of Representatives after it clinched committee approval yesterday.
Oct 052015
Oct 052015
The call for tax reform is ever growing in the Philippines, out of fear we are being left behind by our neighbors in Southeast Asia, coupled with concerns that our people are at the mercy of the current tax system. Our legislators have put forward revenue bills to finally amend the almost two decade-old income tax brackets set forth in the 1997 National Internal Revenue Code of the Philippines. Unfortunately a few days ago, the House of Representatives shelved the bill proposing the reforms.
Oct 052015
Kiray Celis (MNS Photo) Young actress Kiray Celis revealed that she is currently working with actor Derek Ramsay for an upcoming film. Celis, 19, admitted that she is excited to work with the sexy actor. “Nakakaloka kasi Derek Ramsay ‘yon, hindi mo ‘yon mala-lang. Isang Derek Ramsay ‘yon tsaka inano nga [sinabi] sa akin ng mga kaibigan ko na ‘Nakasama na niya si Anne Curtis, si Cristine Reyes, si Coleen, tsaka ikaw?’” the actress said. Since she is working with the 38-year-old actor, Celis was asked if she would do sexy scenes with Ramsay. “Pwede dahil sexy si Derek so hindi tayo puwede magpatalo pero ngayon hindi pa ready,” she said. Celis, however, revealed that viewers can expect a new “Kiray” in the film. “May mga scenes kami na bagong Kiray, sobrang bagong Kiray. First time kong magiging ganito,” she stated. The former child star also said she is now ready to accept more challenging roles. “Basta arte na kaya ko at pag binigay sa akin at tingin ko kaya ko at na-challenge ako why not? At least nakita ako na bago ulit,” she said. Prior to this film, Celis already worked with singer-actor Kean Cipriano in the upcoming romantic-comedy film “Love Is Blind.”(MNS)
Oct 052015
Come to Pacific BMW and be merry in a new car Oktoberfest date for one-off BMW M3 “Münchner Wirte.” The car will make its debut on September 19. ©BMW Group (Relaxnews) – Despite being incredibly busy outlining new technologies, innovations and models at this year’s Frankfurt motor show, BMW’s designers have still found time to put together the BMW M3 “Münchner Wirte,” a special model to mark the start of Munich’s world-famous beer festival, which gets underway on Saturday. Inspired by BMW’s ties to both Munich and motorsport, the special car’s hand-painted external finish incorporates visual elements including Munich’s Olympic Stadium, BMW’s headquarters and the Wiesn-Schänke beer tent at the Oktoberfest event itself. The flowing blue-on-white mural is the work of Walter Maurer who, over three decades ago, was the creative mind behind the livery on the BMW M1 Procar racer that competed at a number of high-profile competitions including Le Mans. “Although the two cars are very different, it was surprisingly straightforward to carry over the design from the two-door BMW M1 racer to the four-door BMW M3 Sedan,” said Maurer. The “Münchner Wirte” is the second special ‘M’ car that BMW has showcased this week. Over in Frankfurt where it has been detailing its plans for greener cars with undiluted driving dynamics, it caught motoring journalists off guard by also showing off the M6 Competition Edition. The Standard M6 coupé is BMW’s performance flagship, and is capable of catapulting its owner and up to four passengers plus luggage Read More …
Oct 052015
Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima’s gesture during press conference on Mamasapano incidence that killed 44 SAF troopers on Tuesday at the DOJ Office. The DOJ filed criminal cases against MILF and BIFF members involved in the killings. (MNS Photo) MANILA, Oct 5 (Mabuhay) – Justice Secretary Leila de Lima will resign from the Department of Justice next week. De Lima confirmed this to reporters via a text message on Monday, with a short “Yes” when asked to confirm reports that she would be leaving the DOJ on October 12, the start of the period for the filing of certificate of candidacy (COC) for those who want to run in the 2016 elections. She, however, has yet to respond to questions on whether she would run for the Senate or when will she file her COC. De Lima has reportedly confirmed her decision to run for the Senate in a television interview earlier in the day. De Lima was at the Liberal Party (LP) gathering at Club Filipino in San Juan on Monday morning, where Camarines del Sur Rep. Leni Robredo officially accepted the offer to be the runnig mate of administration standard bearer Mar Roxas in next year’s elections. The Justice secretary’s confirmation came a week after she revealed that Roxas had told her that the LP was including her on its senatorial slate. At the time, however, De Lima appealed to the public to await the LP’s official announcement first. “Sinabi na po sa akin ‘yan ni Read More …
Oct 052015
A monitor connected to a body temperature scanner shows passengers arriving from South Korea at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Tuesday. The WHO said the outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in South Korea is the largest seen outside the Middle East. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday announced that a Saudi national who arrived in the country last September 17 and showed symptoms of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has died. Health Secretary Janette Garin said in a press conference that the 63-year-old Saudi national died last September 29. Garin said that the Saudi national started showing MERS-CoV symptoms on September 26. The patient asked to be brought to the hospital on September 28 and died the next day. DOH spokesperson Lyndon Lee Suy clarified during the briefing that they were not able to test the Saudi national and confirm if his death was caused by MERS-CoV. Lee-Suy said that the patient had to be flown back to Saudi Arabia, where he was buried according to Islamic religious laws. The DOH said that 55 hospital staff, 16 hotel workers and three workers at a funeral parlor had contact with the patient. It said that 81 of these people have been interviewed and tested negative from MERS-CoV. The DOH said that 12 of 55 healthcare workers, who showed symptoms, have been quarantined. It said that the healthcare workers have tested negative in initial tests. They will remain under observation for Read More …
Oct 052015
International e-commerce platform Shopify is now being made available to local entrepreneurs with Globe myBusiness. Shopify partners with Globe myBusiness [via Globe] Small medium enterprises (SMEs) can avail of the service which is being used in 150 countries by over 175,000 businesses to set up and manage online stores on the web, mobile, and social media channels. Shopify provides features such as the view of marketing and analytics information, track orders and customer data, the ability to design the storefront, manage inventory, and many other requirements of online sellers. Globe official Martha Sazon, Senior Vice President for Globe myBusiness, talked about the new offering to SMEs as part of a mission to make the small business owner’s digital journey easier. “The looming digital age requires us to offer innovative business solutions to SMEs so that we can help them run their operations smoothly and more efficiently,” said Sazon in a press statement. Related posts: PHL major telecoms partner up to help entrepreneurs Handicapped financial analyst is Happiest Pinoy The Joy of Mentoring Entrepreneurs Loans for Entrepreneurs
Oct 052015
Contestants participate in the press presentation of the Miss World Philippines 2015 pageant at the Solaire Resort and Casino in Paranaque City on Tuesday. The Philippine edition of the beauty pageant will have its coronation night at the same venue on October 18. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Saturday distanced President Benigno Aquino III from the “twerking” controversy following an appearance of sexy dancers after the swearing in of new Liberal Party (LP) members in Sta. Cruz, Laguna on Thursday. “In this particular case alam naman po nating walang kinalaman ang Pangulo diyan. Wala ho siya doon sa vicinity,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte told state-run radio dzRB in an interview. She added: “The President had no idea that it was happening.” Valte said that the President does not condone such acts. “I think we were pretty categorical that the President will not and has never condoned any action that in any way would demean women, that would debase women…” she said. Valte, meanwhile, declined to comment on the President’s take on the LP’s investigation on the incident. An online petition has been put up asking President Aquino, as chairman of the LP, to apologize for the incident. “While the President is chairman of the Liberal Party, I think hayaan na po natin ‘yung partidong umaksyon, at sinasabi naman po nila nga na magpapatawag po sila ng kanilang sariling imbestigasyon,” she added. LP standard-bearer Mar Roxas on Friday said that the LP has already launched an investigation on Read More …
Oct 052015
Palace welcomes results of latest World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators report President Benigno S. Aquino III shovels dirt during the groundbreaking ceremony of the new Supreme Court Complex at the Philippine Army Security and Escort Batallion Area in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City on Friday (October 02). Also in photo are SC Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Bases Conversion and Development Authority president Arnel Casanova. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Friday welcomed the results of the latest World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) survey, which were attributed to the Aquino administration’s Daang Matuwid advocacy. “Along with the World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Competitiveness Report 2015-2016, the latest World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) survey again affirms the extent of our country’s transformation under Daang Matuwid,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a statement. The Palace official noted that the Philippines has shown improvements in all six indicators since 2010 and this year, the country scored higher in five indicators as compared to last year. “Scores for our country show improvements in all six indicators since 2010. Compared to the previous year’s results, the Philippines scored higher in five out of six indicators: voice and accountability; political stability and absence of violence; government effectiveness; regulatory quality; and rule of law,” said Valte. She said positive developments such as this “make clear that good governance and reform lead to increased peace, harmony, and citizen participation in government”. “Such an environment encourages not only a more vibrant democracy but Read More …
Oct 052015
A monitor connected to a body temperature scanner shows passengers arriving from South Korea at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Tuesday. The WHO said the outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in South Korea is the largest seen outside the Middle East. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) –A Filipino female nurse in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, tested positive for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) two weeks ago. Amelito Adel, welfare officer of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa), said the nurse contracted MERS from patients in the hospital where she was working. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) also confirmed the news through the Consulate General in Jeddah, but noted that the nurse’s condition was getting better in the past days. “After several days of treatment in the intensive care unit, the patient showed good improvement. Laboratory tests for MERS CoV turned positive,” DFA said. “She was unhooked from the mechanical ventilator a few days ago and is already breathing on her own. She will probably be taken out of the ICU and transferred to an isolation room in a few days,” it added. MERS was first identified in Saudi Arabia in April 2012. (MNS)