Drilon orders review of lawmakers’ right to defer appointment of officials
MANILA, Feb 4 (Mabuhay) — Senate President Franklin Drilon on Thursday said he has ordered the Commission on Appointments secretariat to review the invokation of Section 20 of their rules after Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile used it to block the nomination of seven career officials. “I directed the CA secretariat to conduct a review […]
BIR’s Henares: Pia Wurtzbach has to pay taxes unless exemption law is passed
MANILA, Feb 4 (Mabuhay) — Unless a law is passed, the Queen still has to pay her taxes after all. Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach is still not exempted from paying her taxes in the Philippines unless she gets the approval of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, said Bureau of Internal […]
Asian Film Awards nominations rack up for ‘The Assassin,’ ‘Port of Call,’ ‘Mountains May Depart’
(Relaxnews) – Hou Hsaio Hsien’s first martial arts film “The Assassin” goes into the Asian Film Awards with nine nominations, including ones for Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actress. Also favorably elevated by the selection process are Philip Yung’s crime thriller “Port of Call” (five nominations), Jia Zhangke drama “Mountains May Depart,” Guan Hu […]
UC launches DREAM Loan Program to help undocumented students
More than 3,000 undocumented undergraduate students will have access to a system-wide student loan program for the first time as the University of California implements the California DREAM Loan Program it sponsored, UC President Janet Napolitano announced last Friday. The financial aid offices of UC’s nine undergraduate campuses will be reaching out to undocumented AB 540 undergraduates with offers […]
Aruba resort named most romantic hotel in the world: TripAdvisor
(Relaxnews) – Looking for a hotel that comes with a foolproof romance guarantee? Guests have vouched for an adults-only boutique in Aruba set against white sandy beaches and turquoise waters, helping it snag the title of world’s most romantic hotel. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, TripAdvisor has released a list of the most romantic […]
When is a new Honda worth twice as much as a new Rolls-Royce?
(Relaxnews) – It’s not a trick question and the answer is simple — when both cars are sold at auction. Hondas are many things — well built, reliable, practical — but collectible is usually not one of them. However, this weekend, a brand new Honda Acura NSX supercar, complete with VIN number 001 to indicate […]
Mercury in seafood not harmful to aging brain: study
(Miami-AFP) – Eating seafood may lead to higher levels of mercury in the brain, but a study out Tuesday found that increased mercury does not appear to raise the risk of dementia. The study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) was based on the autopsies of 286 people who died at an […]
Coffee diet woos Americans with ‘Bulletproof’ pledge
(Los Angeles-AFP) – A new coffee diet claiming to help lose weight and improve IQ is gaining a major following in the United States — and raising eyebrows among doctors skeptical of its benefits. Dave Asprey, the founder and CEO of the “Bulletproof Diet,” pulls no punches when making claims for his radical health recipe, […]
Aquino says Muslim peace bid to continue after his term
Manila, Philippines | AFP – Philippine President Benigno Aquino has ordered special efforts to ensure a peace agreement with Muslim rebels is implemented even after his term ends this year, his spokesman said Sunday. Congressional leaders have said they are unlikely to pass the peace bill before the president’s term ends in June. Aquino had ordered “consultation and […]
US envoy: Sea disputes not covered by EDCA
MANILA (Mabuhay) – US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg on Friday clarified that the disputes in the South China Sea are not covered by the Enhance Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). “EDCA isn’t directly related to the South China Sea issues. It’s about the United States helping its ally, the Philippines, as it goes about […]
Anne on Jasmine-Erwan viral photo: We are all okay
Anne Curtis refused to further talk about the controversy involving her younger sister Jasmine and boyfriend Erwan Heussaff after a photo of the two hugging went viral online. Dismissing the controversy, Anne assured that they are not affected by it. “Just so you know, we are all okay. We are all good,” she said. On […]
Luis admits problems in relationship with Angel
Luis Manzano neither confirmed nor denied that he and Angel Locsin have already broken up, but admitted that they are currently going through a rough patch. Manzano made the admission after the premiere screening of “Everything About Her” on Tuesday, which stars Locsin and his mother Vilma Santos. However, Mazano refused to go into details […]
AARP unmasks ‘Fearless at 50’ Filipina Roxanne Cai
WASHINGTON, D.C – Recognizing the milestone 50 represents, AARP recently launched “Fearless at 50,” a campaign to celebrate real people who are challenging outdated perceptions of what it means to be 50 and over. The campaign features real people boldly trying new things or just feeling good about who they are in video vignettes. Roxanne “Rock N […]
Pope warns gossiping priests, nuns to ‘bite your tongue’
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP – Pope Francis told gossip-loving priests and nuns to bite their tongues on Monday, and warned those breaking their vow of obedience to fall into line sharpish. “If you get an urge to say something against a brother or a sister, to drop a gossip bomb, bite your tongue! Hard!” the pontiff […]
Growing numbers of children in migrant sea crossings: UN
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | Tuesday 2/2/2016 – Children now make up more than one third of the migrants and refugees making the perilous sea journey from Turkey to Greece, marking a sharp increase in recent months, the UN said Tuesday. “Children currently account for 36 percent of those risking the treacherous sea crossing between Greece and Turkey,” the UN […]
WHO declares global health emergency over Zika situation
(AFP) – The World Health Organization on Monday declared that a surge in serious birth defects in South America was “strongly suspected” of being caused by the Zika virus and constituted an international health emergency. “We need to take action,” WHO chief Margaret Chan told reporters in Geneva. The UN health body said that a […]
Facebook-owned WhatsApp boasts a billion users
(San Francisco-AFP) – Facebook-owned smartphone messaging service WhatsApp has hit the billion-user mark, according to the leading social network’s chief and co-founder Mark Zuckerberg. “One billion people now use WhatsApp,” Zuckerberg said in a post on his Facebook page. “There are only a few services that connect more than a billion people.” Google’s free email […]
Japan doubles number of F-15s on southern island of Okinawa
Tokyo, Japan | AFP | – Japan has doubled the number of F-15 fighter jets deployed on the southern island of Okinawa, near disputed islands in the East China Sea, the defence ministry said Sunday. Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force now has about 40 F-15s on Okinawa’s Naha base, according to the defence ministry. The move comes as Japan and […]
High fiber intake in
(Relaxnews) – New American research suggests that young and adolescent women should increase their intake of fiber, especially from fruit and vegetables, to reduce the risk of developing premenopausal breast cancer. This is the first time such extensive research has been carried out to investigate the relationship between a fiber-rich diet and the onset of […]
Kristen Stewart is the new face of Chanel makeup
(Relaxnews) – On Tuesday, French luxury brand Chanel announced that the American actress would be the star of its upcoming 2016 eye makeup campaign. Kristen Stewart has already fronted fashion and accessories campaigns for the house, but it emerged Tuesday that she has been signed as the face of Chanel’s latest makeup campaign, “Collection Eyes […]
