Maniolas

Sharon Cuneta (MNS Photo) Megastar Sharon Cuneta does not mind if her daughter KC Concepcion decides to rekindle past romance with ex-boyfriend Piolo Pascual. According to the seasoned actress, Concepcion is old and wise enough to make her own choices. Concepcion is already 30 years old while Pascual is 38. “Okay lang sa akin. Kahit sino basta masaya ang anak ko. So whatever she decides, I will support her 100 percent,” she said. Cuneta added: “She’s old enough. I don’t see her quite often. Kahit hindi kami laging magkasundo o hindi kami nagkikita, alam naman niya na mahal ko siya at alam kong mahal niya ako.” Recently, Concepcion and Pascual fueled speculations of them getting back together after they were seen during the taping of ABS-CBN’s Christmas Special at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. Piolo Pascual and KC Concepcion (MNS Photo) The latest sighting came months after they settled their differences in London where variety program “ASAP” had a show last September. Cuneta, who also mended fences with the actor this year, said she is friends with Pascual and the actor will remain close to her family. “Piolo ay kaibigan namin at malapit sa puso. You know that Piolo and I are friends now, right? Marami kasing hindi alam ang tao sa samahan before everything… before nagkagulo. But I’m very happy. God talaga works in mysterious ways,” she said. She also wished that Pascual and Concepcion will be given a chance to work in one project. “Piolo and KC, Read More …

Workers wrap fireworks at a makeshift factory in Bocaue, Bulacan. Production of fireworks has stepped up in anticipation of New Year celebrations despite the Department of Health advisory to avoid the use of firecrackers as numerous incidents have led to scores of injuries.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The number of firecracker-related incidents continues to increase as the New Year draws near, figures from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Health (DOH) show. As of 6 a.m. of December 28, the PNP has recorded 61 gun- and firecracker-related incidents, including 39 cases of illegal possession/use/sale of firecrackers, 10 cases of fire/injuries due to firecrackers, six cases of stray bullet, and another six cases of illegal discharge of firearms. The PNP report noted that no casualty has so far been recorded due to firecrackers or stray bullets. The report, however, said that a total of P629,506 worth of firecrackers has so far been confiscated by authorities. The PNP report also said four people have been arrested due to indiscriminate firing, two of them civilians, one a police official and another a security guard. Meanwhile, the DOH reported much higher figures. In a press briefing Monday morning, DOH Undersecretary Lyndon Lee-Suy said that as of December 28, a total of 111 individuals, mostly children, have been injured by firecrackers. This was a big jump from DOH’s figure on Sunday when a total of 81 firecracker-related injuries were recorded. Suy said 77 percent of the recorded injuries as of December 28 Read More …

“Honor Thy Father” Official theatrical poster (courtesy of https://en.wikipedia.org) MANILA, Dec 28 (Mabuhay) – An actor-lawmaker who is part of the cast of the film “Honor Thy Father” asked Congress Monday to investigate the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) executive committee’s decision to disqualify the movie from the Best Picture race to know if any irregularity has been committed. In House Resolution 2581, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez asked the House Committee on Metro Manila Development to conduct a probe in aid of legislation on “Honor Thy Father’s” disqualification as a Best Picture nominee as he slammed the lack of due process behind the MMFF executive committee’s move. Although Fernandez appeared in the film, he clarified that his move to launch a congressional inquiry into the MMFF controversy was not a retaliatory act but a bid to prevent similar instances from happening in the future. “Hindi natin ito ginawa dahil kasama tayo [sa pelikula]. What happened to ‘Honor Thy Father’ might happen again. It’s high time we do something about this. I’ve heard lots of things already about some injustices that have been committed regarding this matter. That’s what we want to shed light on with this investigation,” he said. The MMFF’s decision to exclude “Honor Thy Father” from the Best Picture race became controversial because the film’s producers were only informed about it in a letter sent less than a day before the awards night on Sunday. Fernandez said the film’s producer, Ronald Stephen Monteverde, was deprived of due process Read More …

Manila, Philippines | AFP   – Communist insurgents in the Philippines have attacked military convoys bringing aid to victims of a recent typhoon, killing one soldier in the latest ambush, police said Thursday. The incidents came just before a Christmas truce called by the rebels took effect on Wednesday. In the latest incident on Tuesday, guerrillas of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) ambushed an army truck on a relief mission in the storm-hit eastern island of Samar, national police said in a statement. One soldier was killed and two wounded in the attack. The police condemned the attack, saying the rebel movement “has evolved from an ideological revolutionary group to one conducting acts of banditry out of desperation”. The attack followed an earlier NPA ambush of a military truck carrying relief goods for storm victims in Samar last week, which wounded two soldiers. The impoverished island of Samar, located almost 530 kilometers (325 miles) southeast of Manila, was one of the areas hardest hit by Typhoon Melor when it struck the country last week, killing at least 45 people. The island is also a stronghold of the NPA who have been waging a 46-year-old rebellion that has claimed about 30,000 lives by official estimates. The insurgents are now estimated to number fewer than 4,000. The military said the group sustains itself by extorting from businesses. Repeated efforts by successive governments to arrange peace talks have failed to end the rebellion. Recently, the communists declared a unilateral ceasefire for Christmas, from December 23 to January Read More …