Lacson: WPP should explain Mercado’s presence at casino

 Entertainment
Mar 082016
 
Lacson: WPP should explain Mercado’s presence at casino

Presidential Adviser on Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Panfilo M. Lacson answers questions from the media in an interview after he delivered his address at a forum in Makati City last January 23. The former senator had refused to accept his pork barrel funds from the start. He said in a privilege speech that the funds had corrupted legislators. Now, even the members of the media are being named as those who received “payolas.” (MNS photo) CLARK, Pampanga  (Mabuhay) – The Witness Protection Program has a lot of explaining to do in connection with the presence of former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado in a casino here, senatorial candidate Panfilo Lacson said Monday. “Yung WPP has a lot of explaining to do. Dapat, kung high security risk at dapat talaga sine-secure, I don’t see any business for him to be in a casino, much less sa malayong lugar,” Lacson told reporters in a chance interview here. “I think WPP should really explain bakit ganoon ang manner nila ng pagse-secure ng kanilang witness. Sa alam ko sa witness under WPP, sa safehouse na binabayaran ng national government, ng taxes natin,” he added. Lacson said a whistleblower like Mercado—considered as a key witness in the corruption allegations against Vice President Jejomar Binay—could only get out of the safehouse if he is to attend an activity connected to his duty as a witness. “Puwede lang siya lalabas kung may connection, may relation sa kanyang pagwi-witness. So talagang dapat mag-explain ang WPP,” he said. Asked who Read More …

What’s new in 2016 Honda Civic Coupe? A lot…

 Entertainment
Mar 082016
 
What’s new in 2016 Honda Civic Coupe? A lot…

2016 Honda Civic Coupe The creation of this new 10th-generation Civic represents one of the most comprehensive and ambitious new-model developments ever undertaken by Honda, requiring an unprecedented commitment of R&D resources and Honda engineering prowess. While the development of the Civic Coupe, together with the Civic Sedan, was led by a North American team – a first for Honda and Civic – the overall Civic series involves design and engineering teams from Honda R&D, as well as sales and manufacturing operations from around the world, especially in North America and Japan, but also in Europe, South America and Asia. In seeking to realize a “dynamic rejuvenation” of Civic and create a new interpretation “in a league of its own,” as the development team defined its mission, Honda engineers set out early during platform development to benchmark the world’s best C-segment vehicles—not only products in Civic’s traditional competitive set, but luxury compact class vehicles as well. Their evaluation of the world’s best products involved extensive real-world testing, ultimately targeting European luxury vehicles for the new Civic’s ride, handling, steering and NVH (noise, vibration and harshness), and also its interior quality and refinement. Achieving these lofty aims while meeting requirements for an affordable compact car, in terms of cost, fuel efficiency and manufacturability, stretched the limits of the global Civic team’s engineering capability and demanded new thinking and new approaches to body construction, vehicle aerodynamics, powertrain and chassis design. The result of these efforts is a completely reimagined and reinvented new Read More …

Daniel Matsunaga saving up for future with Erich

 Entertainment
Mar 082016
 
Daniel Matsunaga saving up for future with Erich

Daniel Matsunaga (MNS photo) Daniel Matsunaga is excited to become a first-time uncle now that her sister, Vanessa, is due to give birth to their first baby in the family anytime soon. But he also wants to have his own children someday with girlfriend Erich Gonzales. Matsunaga said: “Mag-asawa, siyempre gusto ko. May plans ako with Erich especially. Pero siyempre trabaho muna. Ipon muna, and plan things first before you do anything in life. In God’s timing.” For now, Matsunaga said he and Gonzales are focused on their daytime soap “Be My Lady.” “Kaunti lang ang tulog, parating puyat pero sobrang saya and sobrang blessed. Actually this is the first time I’m really doing extra effort talaga kasi mahal ko ‘yung show. ‘Yung role ko doon, it really affects me. It’s super nice,” he said. Matsunaga said he and the rest of the cast are also happy about how the show is doing in terms of ratings. Daniel Matsunaga and Erich Gonzales (MNS Photo) “I’m really enjoying this acting stint. Kahit mainit, kahit always under the sun, super enjoy ko ‘yung show. Maganda ‘yung story and very positive ‘yung feedback. Everything is going well and this is just the third week,” he said. According to data from Kantar Media, “Be My Lady” debuted strongly in January, earning a remarkable 18.3% rating, almost 10 percentage points higher than its rival show. Directed by Ted Boborol, “Be My Lady” also stars Priscilla Meirelles, Janice de Belen, Al Tantay, Yayo Aguila, Yves Flores, Read More …

Face it, unabated criminality remains a problem: Binay

 Entertainment
Mar 082016
 
Face it, unabated criminality remains a problem: Binay

— Vice President Jejomar Binay and Sen. Gringo Honasan show their certificates of candidacy at the Commission on Election in Manila on Monday, the first day of filing of COCs. Binay and Honasan will run under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) for the 2016 election. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) –Vice President Jejomar Binay on Saturday said that it’s high time to accept that unabated criminality is a problem that Filipinos face. Speaking to reporters after campaigning before market vendors at Mega Q-Mart in Quezon City, the opposition standard bearer highlighted the recent shooting in Zamboanga City of Saudi cleric Dr. Aaidh Ibn Abdullah Al-Qarni and Saudi diplomat Sheikh Turki Assaegh. “Dalawa ‘yon, ‘yong cleric at saka [Saudi diplomat]. ‘Yon ay itinatago sa atin ng pamahalaan,” Binay said. Al-Qarni and Assaegh were shot by a student in Western Mindanao State University where the prominent cleric spoke in a forum. After undergoing surgery, the two were declared out of danger. The gunman, Rugasan Misuari III, was however killed by Al-Qarni’s security escort, while two other suspects were arrested and charged with frustrated murder and attempted murder. “Laging sinasabi maganda ang peace and order. It’s high time already to accept that it is a problem. ‘Yong crime incidence, peace and order problems, drugs, ‘di ba?” he said. “Paulit-ulit na, that means it is very alarming. It is already 12 o’clock so kailangan nating harapin ‘yong problemang ‘yon,” he added. Binay also reiterated his intention to appoint his running mate, Sen. Gringo Honasan, as Read More …

PHL story of inclusive growth, people-centered dev’t brought to the fore in NY forum

 Entertainment
Mar 082016
 

NEW YORK CITY – “It is my hope that the main lesson you will take away from the Philippine story is not only one of good governance, competitiveness, and economic growth; rather, might you share with the rest of the world the inspiring narrative of inclusivity, of a development centered on people, on an investment that reaps dividends with a human face.” This was how Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. concluded his Opening Remarks at the Philippine Business and Investment Forum (PBIF), which took place on 03 March 2016 at the Sheraton Hotel Times Square in New York City. The PBIF brought together influential leaders from the Philippine Government and private sector, along with their U.S. and international counterparts for an in-depth analysis of the Philippine economic and political situation and the opportunities it holds for investors, both in capital markets and in industry. The discussions also focused on the outlook for continued growth in the Philippines, the sustainability of reforms because of their institutionalization through legislation, and US investor sentiment. Ambassador Cuisia framed the discussions at the PBIF by asserting that the narrative of Philippine economic growth is not only an exciting story about the exceptional economic performance of the country, but also how inclusive growth became an important objective of national economic policy. The message of inclusivity was likewise a central theme of the Lead Panel composed of Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima; Chairman Arsenio Balisacan of the Philippine Competition Commission; Nouriel Roubini, Read More …

Parents are grumpy about Disney’s price hikes at the happiest place on earth

 General
Mar 082016
 
Parents are grumpy about Disney’s price hikes at the happiest place on earth

Disneyland in Anaheim, California © AFP PHOTO/Hector MATA There’s a lot of grumbling about the happiest place on earth following news that Disney is hiking admission prices in an effort to ease traffic during peak season. Introduced this week, Disney’s new tiered system for one-day tickets will make visits to the parks more expensive during peak periods like spring break, the winter holidays and weekends, compared to a random weekday in October. Prices are split across three categories – value, regular and peak – and schedules will be made available online eight to 11 months in advance. In a blog post, Disney said the move is aimed at easing congestion at the parks during peak season. The new pricing is also in anticipation of upcoming attractions that are expected to draw huge crowds such as Avatar, Toy Story and Star Wars-themed lands. In April, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will debut a new stage show entitled “Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away,” that will play out iconic moments from the film saga, as part of the ongoing roll-out that will end with the opening of the dedicated Star Wars theme park. But fans are expressing their displeasure at the new pricing scheme, pointing out that the parks are becoming increasingly unaffordable. “Such a shame. It was already expensive. This just pushes it over the top. I can travel to Europe for less than a Disney vacation,” reads a comment in response to the Disney blog post. Over on Twitter, another disgruntled fan Read More …

Monetary Board standing pat after tame Feb. inflation — ING

 Economy
Mar 082016
 

BENIGN INFLATION seen in February will allow the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to keep monetary policy settings unchanged during this month’s meeting, an economist from ING Bank NV said, as the markets also await fresh hints from the United States about the next “lift-off.”

Drilon: Aquino TV ad to boost Mar’s numbers

 Entertainment
Mar 072016
 
Drilon: Aquino TV ad to boost Mar’s numbers

Liberal Party (LP) chairman President Benigno S. Aquino III raises the hands of LP Presidential Candidate former DILG Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and LP Vice Presidential Candidate Camarines Sur 3rd District Representative Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo during the Meeting with Local Leaders and the Community at the PAG-ASA Gymnasium in Barangay F.E, Marcos, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija on Wednesday (February 24, 2016).(MNS photo) MANILA, Mar 7 (Mabuhay) – Senate President Franklin Drilon is optimistic that the recent television advertisement of President Aquino endorsing Liberal Party bet Mar Roxas will add “at least 10%” in the survey ratings of the administration bet. “Alam mo si President Noy, at this stage of his presidency, he has the highest trust rating. We are confident that his endorsement will bring at least 10 points,” Drilon said. In his television advertisement, President Aquino described Roxas and his running mate, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, as the only tandem who “loves” the Filipinos. Senator Francis Escudero, a leading vice-presidential candidate, lamented Aquino’s decision to come up with a TV endorsement for the LP bets, saying this goes against the values of fair play supposedly being espoused by the “Daang Matuwid” governance. Meanwhile, Drilon also said that he is hoping that the Supreme Court, which is “duty-bound” to decide on Senator Grace Poe’s cases, will decide on the matter tomorrow as it holds an en banc session. Drilon also said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) decision allowing on-screen verification of votes instead of giving the Read More …

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