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Miyerkules, Disyembre 30, 2015

Grace should be allowed to run for president – Erap

  4:41:00 PM    


Manila Mayor and former President Joseph Estrada poses with The STAR employees after meeting with editors and reporters at The STAR office in Port Area, Manila yesterday. MIKE AMOROSO
MANILA, Philippines - Despite questions regarding her citizenship and residency status, Sen. Grace Poe should be allowed to run for president in May 2016 as it is for the people to decide whom to choose as their next leader, Manila Mayor and former President Joseph Estrada said yesterday.
“Vox populi, vox dei. They should let the people decide,” Estrada told The STAR editors and reporters yesterday.
Estrada maintained that Poe should be allowed to run as it is the people’s right to “decide who they want to vote.”
The Commission on Elections (Comelec), in two resolutions issued last Dec. 23, disqualified Poe for her reported failure to meet the constitutional requirements on citizenship and residency.
The rulings were based on the petitions for disqualification and cancellation of her certificate of candidacy (COC) for president filed by former Government Service Insurance System chief legal counsel Estrella Elamparo, former senator Francisco Tatad, De La Salle University professor Antonio Contreras and former University of the East-College of Law dean Amado Valdez.
Poe elevated the case to the Supreme Court which issued a 10-day temporary restraining order on her disqualification.
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When asked who among the presidential bets he would endorse, Estrada said, “that’s a secret.”
In an earlier interview, Estrada admitted that it was hard for him to choose between Poe and another presidential candidate, Vice President Jejomar Binay.
Estrada added that while Binay is his kumpare, Poe is the daughter of his best friend, the late actor Fernando Poe Jr. Estrada added he had stood as sponsor at Poe’s wedding with Neil Llamanzares.

Remembering Rizal

As the nation commemorated Rizal Day yesterday, Poe said Filipinos should remember and thank Rizal for helping them recognize the value of equal rights and education.
Poe made the pronouncement in her Rizal Day message as she battles efforts by some quarters to have her disqualified from the presidential race.
She said it was because of the sacrifices of Rizal and other heroes that “we value equal rights for all.”
Poe said Rizal has also helped Filipinos realize “that education is a weapon against exploitation and an instrument for progress.”
She said Rizal has made his countrymen recognize “the power of the pen can inspire a people to nationalism, that the youth can change the course of history by using our talents and enriching our knowledge and skills in the service of our country and people.”
Poe said lessons from Rizal still resonate today and will continue to guide Filipinos when they choose their next leaders in the 2016 elections.
The senator said Rizal has taught Filipinos to appreciate their identity and has also made his countrymen become known for their resilience and dedication.
Sen. Nancy Binay, for her part, pointed out that Rizal dedicated his life to helping shape a nation that is “free from the colonizers, free from injustice, free from apathy.”
“We are now being called to continue Rizal’s fight and give our countrymen a better Philippines, free from inequity, poverty and miseducation,” said Binay whose father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, is also running for president.

Valid reason

There is valid reason for Poe to seek the inhibition of three Supreme Court justices from her case, UP College of Law dean Danilo Concepcion said yesterday.
“For me, they should inhibit so that they won’t be accused of being biased against Grace,” he said in an interview, referring to Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo-de Castro and Arturo Brion. – With Marvin Sy, Edu Punay

  

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Pacquiao-Bradley 3 set for April 9

  4:39:00 PM    


Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley will clash for the third time. | File
MANILA, Philippines – Top Rank Inc. chief Bob Arum says Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley are set to face each other in a rubber match on April 9 (April 10 Manila time) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael said he has spoken to Arum, who confirmed that the fight is a done deal.

Pacquiao and Bradley fought twice, with the American escaping with a controversial decision in 2012 and the Filipino icon getting payback with a victory two years later.
Bradley is the current WBO welterweight champion, interestingly a title that used to belong to Pacquiao before he lost to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in boxing’s richest match ever last May.
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Prior to the Mayweather-Pacquiao bout, Bradley was the WBO interim welterweight champion after outpointing Jessie Vargas. But after Mayweather defeated Pacquiao to unify the WBC, WBA and WBO welterweight titles, the former relinquished the WBO diadem, prompting the organization to promote Bradley to full champion status.
Pacquiao, for his part, previously stated that it will be his final fight, after which he plans to concentrate on his political career. The Sarangani congressman is eyeing a Senate seat under the opposition party of presidential aspirant and incumbent Vice President Jejomar Binay.
Arum, however, isn’t ruling out a comeback by Pacquiao, who said that he has recovered from a shoulder injury he sustained in the weeks leading to the Mayweather showdown.
Veteran scribe Lance Pugmire of The Los Angeles Times tweeted that Arum has mentioned Pacquiao returning to fight again in November next year, possibly against rising star Terence Crawford.

On the upcoming third fight between Pacquiao and Bradley, Arum said it will be a different bout this time.
“We haven’t seen this fight already, because this is a new Bradley,” Arum told Pugmire.
“I don’t know that Manny has to prove anything other than he’s better than the current Bradley and his new coach. The Bradley who beat [Brandon] Rios was better than the Bradley I’ve seen of the last five years. Can that Bradley beat Manny Pacquiao? I don’t know, but I think it’s a close fight and he’s still coming off an injury.”

  

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8 Abus, 1 soldier killed in Sulu clash

  4:38:00 PM    


The latest casualty figure placed at 28 the number of militants killed by security forces in recent weeks when troops began closing in on an Abu Sayyaf camp in Al-Barka town in the neighboring province of Basilan. Philstar.com/File
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Eight members of terror group Abu Sayyaf were killed in an encounter with Army Rangers in the jungles of Patikul, Sulu yesterday.
One soldier was killed in the battle, which also left seven militants and four troopers wounded, Maj. Felimon Tan Jr., spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said.
The latest casualty figure placed at 28 the number of militants killed by security forces in recent weeks when troops began closing in on an Abu Sayyaf camp in Al-Barka town in the neighboring province of Basilan.
Yesterday’s encounter erupted at around 4 p.m. in Barangay Buhanginan.
The Abu Sayyaf is believed to be holding two Canadians, a Norwegian and a Filipina who were kidnapped from a marina in Davao in September. Rebels who identified themselves in an online video as belonging to the Abu Sayyaf demanded more than $60 million for the release of the three foreigners.
The group was also allegedly behind the beheading of a Malaysian hostage in Sulu.
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Tan said the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion special operation task group under Lt. Col. Eugene Boquio was on patrol when it ran into a group of some 100 Abu Sayyaf militants under Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan in Sitio Sangay.
Tan said the initial fighting resulted in the killing of eight militants and one soldier.
“Pursuit operation has been ongoing after the firefight ceased at dusk,” Tan said.
He said the operation was part of the relentless campaign to flush out the Abu Sayyaf bandits in Sulu.
In mid-December, the military reported killing 15 terrorists near their hideout in Basilan as the soldiers were advancing toward the militants’ camp in Al-Barka.
The military also reported killing five militants in Sulu later in the month.
The number of dead Abu Sayyaf members was based on accounts from troops, but the bodies were not recovered because they were taken away by their comrades, he said.
In an earlier firefight, Tan said troops had to advance slowly because of snipers.
“If we become careless in our advance, we will have many fatalities,” he said, adding that the militants’ camp is in a mountainous area and cannot be easily reached by armored vehicles.
The four-decade conflict in the southern Philippines is one of the world’s bloodiest, with a death toll estimated to have surpassed 150,000. Efforts between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to cement a peace deal were restarted in June.
The Philippines and the United States have listed al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf as a terrorist organization for kidnappings, beheadings, extortion and bomb attacks.
The Abu Sayyaf has been weakened but has survived more than a decade of US-backed offensives.

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It Only Needs One Great Night to Keep Her Coming for More

  9:21:00 AM    

A one-night stand is a single sexual encounter without an expectation of more relations between sexual partakers. This is regardless of whether a single encounter was originally intended by either participant to be a one-night stand, or whether further relations between the participants afterward arises. Knockers of the practice describe it as "sexual activity without emotional commitment or future involvement.”

This is the life of Jake. Jake’s night out gone effortlessly well as he scored to an unknown woman. Then wildly went to bed and waking up with satisfaction. Like other one night stand, he woke up alone just remembering what happened last night. 

 The next day is another an ordinary day but an unexpected guess came in front of his apartment. It was her again. Then another night had just passed by just like the first night they were together. Then as the days goes by, it became disturbing to see the woman again in front of his door.

A sexy and hot date deserves repeats but not like this. Watch to see why this woman keeps on coming back to him and how he ended this alarming condition.





  

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Yearender: Time runs out for key House bills

  7:29:00 AM    


Photo taken on May 18, 2015 shows members of the House ad hoc committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law voting on a new draft of the measure, which includes suggested revisions. Ernie Peñaredondo
MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives was able to pass key reform measures this year, but the fate of some landmark bills – including the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and the resolution seeking to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution – remains uncertain, with only two months left in actual session work for the 16th Congress.
Among the significant economic and security bills passed by the House and enacted into law are Republic Act 10667 or the Philippine Competitiveness Act; RA 10668 or amendments to the Cabotage Law; RA 10708 or the Tax Incentives Management and Transparency Act; RA 10659 or the Sugarcane Industry Law; and RA 10697, Preventing the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction by Managing the Trade in Strategic Goods, the Provision of Related Services.
Faced with issues to combat the effects of climate change, the chamber also enacted measures to improve the preparedness of the people to reduce damage and casualties from natural disasters, such as RA 10692 or the PAGASA Modernization Law and RA 10654, to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, Amending the Fisheries Code of 1998.
With the aim of creating more employment opportunities, make Filipino professionals and workers more competitive and increase their take-home pay, the House enacted RA 10691, Defining the Role of the Department of Labor and Employment, the Local Government Units and Accredited Nongovernment Organizations in the Establishment and Operation of the Public Employment Service Office and Job Placement Offices; RA 10665, Establishing the Open High School System in the Philippines; RA 10679, Promoting Entrepreneurship and Financial Education Among Filipino Youth; RA 10693, Strengthening Nongovernment Organizations Engaged in Microfinance Operations for the Poor; and RA 10653, Adjusting the 13th Month Pay and Other Benefits Ceiling for Purposes of Income Taxation.
The chamber also approved a number of laws designed to improve the justice system, aside from the numerous laws creating additional trial courts all over the country, including RA 10660 or the Sandiganbayan Reform Act.
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the House was focused on quality and responsive legislation rather than quantity in the 16th Congress.
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“This is not how many legislation we’ve passed. We just did what was needed by our people,” Belmonte told reporters before adjourning session for the Christmas break last Dec. 16.
“We have been mindful of the demands and imperatives of our time as we have supported competitiveness-raising, job generation and more sustainable development through the policies we have enacted,” he said.
“We have a lot to be thankful for. I know that there were challenges during this year but I would like to believe that the year’s positive developments outweighed them,” he added.
He said the 16th Congress has established a “new norm” in the enactment of the annual General Appropriations Act on time to allow the government to operate on a new budget at the start of the year.
The timely enactment of the annual budget, he said, is a significant component in the improvement of public financial management and the country’s macroeconomic environment that has resulted in the upgrade of its credit rating and competitiveness ranking.
“The next government and succeeding congresses will have no more excuses for failing to pass the budget on time, so that re-enacted budgets will truly be a thing of the past,” Belmonte said.
He said the House is also fully aware of the need for Congress to prepare the country for the integration of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and that it will continue pursuing the passage of economic measures.

Bills still pending

Despite the approval of numerous reform measures, critics were quick to point out that the House has failed to act on landmark legislation like the FOI Bill, Anti-Political Dynasty Bill, the BBL and RBH 1.
Obstacles to the passage of these measures are mostly due to either lack of support from President Aquino or lawmakers, or both. The lack of quorum in recent months owing to the 2016 election fever also contributed the chamber’s inaction on the bills.
Lack of time also dims the prospects of the bills. Congress will resume session on Jan. 19 but adjourn on Feb. 5 to give way to the 2016 electoral campaign.
It will resume session on May 23 but a significant chunk of its work will be on canvassing of votes. The 16th Congress will finally adjourn on June 10.
Malacañang was supposed to turn over the draft BBL to the House in May 2014 but Aquino submitted it only the following September. The chamber’s leadership was optimistic that it could pass it by March this year but because of the Jan. 25 Mamasapano incident, support for the measure in the House as well as from the general public was greatly dampened.
The House committees on public order, safety and peace, unity and reconciliation, also conducted an inquiry into the Mamasapano incident but the first hearing was so rowdy that the chamber earned the ire of the public.
The panels wrapped up hearings last April but they have yet to release a committee report. Lawmakers also pooled their salaries for the families of the 44 Special Action Force commandos killed during the incident.
The House ended two weeks ago plenary debates on the BBL, now titled the proposed Basic Law of the Bangsamoro Region (BLBAR) with the hope of approving it on second reading when Congress resumes session in January.
Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chairman of the ad hoc committee on the BLBAR, said the title was changed while over 50 unconstitutional provisions were excised from the bill to make it acceptable to lawmakers, the Supreme Court – where it is expected to be questioned – and the general public.
The passage of the FOI Bill was a campaign promise of Aquino in 2010 and over 20 versions were promptly filed by pro-administration and opposition lawmakers.
The measure was approved by the House committee on public information last May but it has yet to be taken up in plenary.
Authors of the consolidated FOI Bill point to some of their colleagues who want to include right of reply provisions, as well as Aquino reneging on his promise to push for the transparency measure as causing the delay. The right of reply provision, which mandates guaranteed space in news for rebuttals, is strongly opposed by anti-corruption and news organizations.
The prospects of the passage of Anti-Political Dynasty Bill, which has been languishing in Congress for over two decades, also remain dim due to opposition from lawmakers who belong to political clans.
The House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms was set to approve the measure and endorse it for second reading approval in plenary but many congressmen wanted to relax the limitations set by the bill.
Under the present version, only two members of a political family would be allowed to occupy elective offices at the same time. All other relatives would be banned from running in an election, whether national or local, as long as the two are in office.
However, congressmen who belong to political dynasties want the proposed restriction eased to allow more family members to seek office in other districts, provinces, cities or towns far from the incumbents’ influence.
Authors of the bill said the original version would adversely affect at least 150 or more than half of the 287-member House.
RBH 1, principally authored by Belmonte, seeks to allow 100 percent foreign ownership of certain industries to generate investments and create jobs. It proposed to include the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” in the economic provisions, which means the restrictions remain unless Congress enacts laws to change them.
RBH 1 was on the verge of approval on third and final reading last June after the chamber was able to muster a rare large quorum or more than two-thirds of the members of the House needed to approve it.
However, Aquino intervened at the last minute and administration lawmakers proposed some amendments, which Belmonte believed was tantamount to delaying it.
“There’s no time to be arguing with them, I had to make a decision and I did… and there were also some movements by other (blocs), I felt things were now uncertain,” Belmonte told reporters.
The measure seeking to strengthen and institutionalize the public-private partnership (PPP) program was passed at the committee level and is set to be endorsed for plenary approval.
Aquino certified the PPP Bill as urgent last Dec. 16 so prospects for its passage and enactment into law are favorable.
The much-awaited proposal to reduce individual income taxes enjoyed the support of a majority of House members but Malacañang had exerted strong pressure to keep the measure from getting to plenary approval.

Reasserting the power of the purse

The House also moved this year to reassert its power over the purse and slammed budgetary policies of Malacañang that it said “threaten the independence” of Congress as a co-equal branch of government.
Belmonte, committee on accounts chairman Eleandro Jesus Madrona, Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II and Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora led the filing of House Concurrent Resolution No. 10, which was “affirming, ensuring and operationalizing the fiscal independence of the Congress of the Philippines.”
“The present budgetary policies formulated by the executive, through the Department of Budget and Management, insofar as they apply to the Congress of the Philippines, threaten its independence, encroach on its exclusive domain and violate the principle of separation of powers, upon which the entire fabric of our constitutional system is based,” House leaders said.
The lawmakers said there were numerous instances where the DBM would actually reduce the budgets of both the House and the Senate, and withhold the release of savings of the two chambers.
They stressed the legislative power vested in the Congress of the Philippines is plenary, complete, unimpaired and subject only to such limitations as are found in the Constitution.

‘Emergency powers’

The chamber also managed to resist pressure from Malacañang to grant Aquino emergency powers ostensibly to address a looming power shortage in the summer months.
The committee on energy, chaired by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, held several public hearings to determine the actual power available and demand during the peak months. It found out that there is enough supply available.
The House instead pushed for the implementation of the interruptible load program (ILP) that allowed the government to shut down large power users if needed during peak demand.
This year also saw the chamber participating in the government’s efforts to defend the country against Chinese encroachment in the West Philippine Sea.
Belmonte joined the Philippine delegation that participated in the first oral arguments before the Arbitral Tribunal in The Hague to defend the case against China.
Other lawmakers also joined subsequent hearings of the tribunal.

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Philippines joins China-led AIIB

  7:28:00 AM    


Filipino workers arrange metal rods at a government road project in suburban Quezon City. The government said it is joining the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, aimed at boosting infrastructure development and connectivity. AP/Aaron Favila
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines will officially join the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), becoming its last member before the end of the year, the government announced on Wednesday.
"The Republic of the Philippines will be signing the Articles of Agreement (AOA) of the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank before year-end, joining the newly created multilateral institution aimed at boosting infrastructure development and connectivity," the Department of Finance (DOF) said in a statement.
According to the DOF, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima was given authority by President Aquino to sign the AIIB Articles of Agreement. If unable to do so, Erlina Basilio, Philippine ambassador to China will sign the pact on behalf of the Philippines.
The authority was just given on Wednesday, two days before the deadline for prospective founding members (PFMs) to sign with AIIB.
The country will be the last of the 57 PFMs which have signified intention to join the AIIB early this year. The AIIB pact came into force on Christmas Day with the ratification of the agreement by 17 countries.
The AIIB will have a paid-in capital of $20 billion and total authorized capital of $100 billion.
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Days before the deadline, there was little sign the Philippines will join the Beijing-based multilateral lender seen to rival the US-led World Bank and the Japan-chaired Asian Development Bank.
The US and Japan have opted out of the AIIB for governance concerns, while the Philippines has weighed its options considering its ongoing territorial dispute with China.
It did not help also that the Permanent Court of Arbitration recently ruled it has jurisdiction to hear the Philippines' complaints against China on the West Philippine Sea. Beijing has denounced the hearings and would not participate.

  

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If elected, Duterte vows to deploy more troops to Mindanao

  7:27:00 AM    


Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte continues to push for federalism. STAR/Geremy Pintolo
MANILA, Philippines - Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte says he would add 3,000 more special forces troops to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for deployment in Mindanao should he be elected as the country’s next president.
"I will add 3,000 more regular men in the armed forces, and train them either as scout rangers or special forces to combat lawless elements. Matapang ang mga kriminal. Kaya kailangan matapang din ang solusyon. Hindi pwede dito ang pateka-teka. This problem is not for the faint-hearted," Duterte said in a statement.
Duterte said there is a need to beef-up internal security forces in the country especially following the attack by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Central Mindanao on Christmas eve that left at least 10 persons dead.
"If they will continue with their atrocious acts despite our efforts to spread economic development, decentralize and democratize governance, then we will meet them head on. We will hunt them down. I will not subject my people to worse suffering," Duterte said.
For his part, Duterte’s running mate, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said inclusive economic growth is also necessary to achieve peace in Mindanao.
Cayetano said he and Duterte are pushing for a Mindanao Peace and Development Plan, which will address the region’s decades-old problems on economic instability and armed rebellion, among others.
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"Through this plan, Mayor Duterte and I want to allocate at least P800 billion worth of guaranteed funds for 10 years in order to harness the potentials of various sectors in the region, including education, health, agriculture, livelihood, housing, tourism, infrastructure and transportation. On top of this, we plan to allot P1 billion per region, particularly to Mindanao for micro, small and medium enterprise financing," Cayetano said.
Cayetano added that they are pushing for federalism as a unifying peace framework in Mindanao. They said any discussion about peace and development in Mindanao must be based on a just, inclusive and lasting framework among all stakeholders.
"We will be inclusive and talk to all relevant stakeholders to achieve real and lasting peace. That's why we see federalism as a unifying framework for peace and governance," Cayetano said.
"Ang pederalismo ang sasagot hindi lamang sa kawalan ng pagkapantay-pantay sa ating bayan. Ito rin ay pundamental na konektado sa ating layunin na ipamahagi ang kaunlaran sa iba pang rehiyon at probinsiya at makamit ang hinahangad na kapayapaan sa Mindanao," Cayetano said.
The Duterte-Cayetano tandem is also advocating for the establishment of the Mindanao Railway System to connect all food-producing provinces in the region to seaports or cargo-loading airports, and ensure a more efficient and low-cost transport of food commodities throughout the country.
"The Mindanao Railway Project (MRP) would link major cities including Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Zamboanga City, Butuan, Surigao, Davao and General Santos. It will play a major role towards improvement of Mindanao’s intra island accessibility, linkages and seamless multimodal transport networks," Cayetano said.

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PNoy encourages Filipinos to be inspired by Rizal’s heroism

  7:26:00 AM    


Armed Forces of the Philippines commander-in-chief and President Benigno S Aquino III leads the 119th commemoration of the martyrdom of National Hero Jose Rizal at the Luneta Park. Philippine Air Force/SSg Amable B Milay Jr.
MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday urged Filipinos to be inspired by national hero Jose Rizal, and be a hero in their own way.
Aquino called on the public to reaffirm their commitment to "righteous path" for the common good.
"May we all be inspired by Dr. Jose Rizal’s courage and intelligence, his sense of duty, hunger for knowledge, passion for reform, and undying love of country," Aquino said in his message released on Tuesday.
"Let us all be heroes in our own way, and reaffirm our commitment to the Daang Matuwid. Only by traversing this road towards fairness and progress can we translate our dreams into tangible realities for our people,” he added.
For the commemoration of Rizal’s 119th martyrdom on Wednesday, Aquino also reminded Filipinos about Rizal’s hard work and sacrifices that helped in shaping the nation and the country at present.
Aquino said the country celebrates every December 30 to reflect and remember that national hero’s sacrifices that freed the country from Spanish colonization.
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The president cited Rizal’s writings and deeds as a big contribution to the country’s forefathers and united citizenry. He noted that because of Rizal Filipinos “both capable and determined to win the liberties we now enjoy.”
"Dr. Jose Rizal worked hard to pursue our independence, serving as a catalyst for change; his works remain relevant to this day, a reminder of a past when freedom seemed beyond our reach," Aquino said.
"Let us remember him on this occasion, along with other heroes who shared their strength and vision to make the Philippines the nation it is today,” he added.
Aquino led the commemoration of Rizal’s martyrdom at the Luneta park on Wednesday morning.
December 30 of every year was declared as a regular holiday in observance of the death anniversary of Rizal.

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Martes, Disyembre 29, 2015

GF vs ex-GF war spreads online..The Maglulupa Serye

  6:29:00 AM    

The story revolves around Anette LM who posted a convo between her and her ex’s new girlfriend. She said that the new GF is still bitter with her. According to her, the new girlfriend, who was identified as Phoebe Alison sent her some messages for Christmas.
It seems like Anette really wants attention and shared this to Senyora, check out the photos below:

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And the story heats up! The new girlfriend is being bashed by netizens, after they stalked her profile. Because of this, the Maglulupa Serye continues, and Anette and Phoebe seems to be unstoppable.
Netizens have been going at it since Senyora posted it on her page. They even compared their looks and their manners.

  

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WATCH the Controversial videos of Kakai and Ahron

  6:22:00 AM    


We all know for a fact that Ahron Villena is one of the hottest men of his generation, a lot of girls have been dreaming to at least see Ahron in person. 

Meanwhile, there are rumors involving Ahron Villena and Kakai Bautista, rumors claim that these personalities are dating.

The said rumor was actually confirmed when Kakai guested on Tonight With Boy Abunda. They claim that the happiness is indeed written in Kakai's face! 

Photos and videos of Kakai and Ahron are circulating in different social media sites, that were taken from Kakai and Ahron's Instagram accounts! 




The netizens couldn't really believe with their pair-up and girls are indeed jealous of Kakai, for she has captured the heart of an incredible man.

  

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Maria Ozawa's coaster bumps into a car but the owner of the car still take pictures with her with a smile

  6:15:00 AM    


The lead star of an MMFF (Metro Manila Film Festival) entry entitled Nilalang, has recently got into trouble! 

The famous sexy star from Japan who's  known as Maria Ozawa has bumped her coaster into a car in front of them.

A netizen named Eric Borromeo posted on Facebook that Maria Ozawa was with Meg Imperial, Yam Concepcion, Trixie Dauz and the producer of Nilalang when their coaster bumped into the car in front of them.

They didn't know what to do, that's why the movie producer immediately hop off the coaster and talked to the drivers. When the drivers found out that Maria was with them, they simply asked for photos with her.



They even claim that the guys looked happy while taking photos with Maria, despite that their car's been bumped into her coaster.

  

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Before Rico Yan passed away he made a Love Letter for Claudine Barretto..Find Out What's in the Letter!

  6:08:00 AM    


The netizens were left in tears as they saw that Claudine Barretto's latest Instagram update is actually her photo with Rico Yan with a love letter beside it. 

We can still recall that Claudine and Rico Yan's team up was one of the best and most remarkable love team in the 90s, right? That's why we were all left in tears when the news broke out saying that Rico Yan was found stiff and lifeless in his room.


Rico Yan's love letter for Claudine Barretto before he passed away!

The love letter that Rico Yan has written for Claudine reads: "To my honey, by the time you read this, I must be in CDO. Just want to thank you for last night. You were wonderful! And because of that, I’m sure I’m gonna have a hard time sleeping without youby my side tonight. But nevertheless, I still love you very much! – Rico” 

As people read the letter, they realized how hard it was for Claudine when Rico Yan passed away.
Via WhenInManila

  

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AlDub love team Defended by Angelica Panganiban and Luis Manzano Against Bashers

  6:01:00 AM    


After the disqualification of "Honor Thy Father" for the Best Picture Category in the MMFF awards night 2015, people, especially the movie goers are questioning the decision of the MMFF committee.

On Sunday, Angelica Panganiban, the long time girlfriend of John Lloyd Cruz had re-posted the photo of Ricci Chan to show some support for John Lloyd's 'Honor They Father.'

But then a netizen quickly posted a comment on Angelica's post saying that AlDub is nothing, compared to John Lloyd Cruz, and that they'll never be as good as him.

Angelica quickly defended the AlDub love team saying that they don't have the need to compare them with each other and that they should at least show some respect, for all the actors are working hard just to make the viewers happy! 

Angelica Panganiban and Luis Manzano defended the AlDub love team!

Meanwhile, it's not just Angelica Panganiban who's defending the AlDub love team, in fact, even her co-actor Luis Manzano posted a tweet about Maine Mendoza.


Angelica Panganiban and Luis Manzano defended the AlDub love team!

He claims that he appreciate and he admires Maine for being able to deal with her bashers. And also, he stated that he doesn't know where those bashers are rooting! 

Angelica Panganiban and Luis Manzano defended the AlDub love team!

This has just proven that some celebrities are indeed open minded!
ook

  

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This is a Kind of Disrespect For Old Lady!

  5:56:00 AM    

Elderly people have the same rights for their safety and security as anyone else, so help them to know their rights and services available to them. Respect is the key in preventing them from being badly treated by those people that surrounds them.
Image from Sizzling Feed
Recently, a picture of an old lady sitting at the back of a running jeepney goes viral online. This is an example of disrespect for old people. The photo was uploaded by a concerned citizen, Marjohn Parayno Sante from Pangasinan last December 17, and looks like he’s telling how cruelty stands nowadays.

Even the senior citizen volunteered to sit at the back of the vehicle; it is still not right to let her be on that kind of dangerous situation. According to Sante, no one gave their sit for the old lady, she ride the jeep in that way from terminal in Jollibee, Calasiao and she waited to have her seat until there is a passenger who alights at Bued, Calasiao.

Sante wanted to let the people know what is happening in this generation. Every public transportation vehicles have priority seats for persons with disability, senior citizens and pregnant women but they didn’t prioritize it now.



  

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Experts Teaches Us on How to Properly Clean Female Genital Organs

  5:52:00 AM    

It is very important for every girls to have a proper knowledge in cleaning their female genital organs. Ladies thought that they should use genital wash or cream whenever there are unexpected white discharge that also causes for itching or pain, but according to experts, its not healthy for the organs to use such thing as it is affecting the natural bloom from inside.

Most of women are also using panty liners or napkin just to carry the discharge releasing from the organs, it is advised to wash it with scentless soap to avoid getting any skin problems like allergies.

Don't wear any silk or not cotton type of underwares, its better to change at least three to four times a day. Aside from that wear those clothes that can still give air inside, it is to help it breathe and to avoid it from sweating. Watch this video and better to follow her advice.


  

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Farmer claims to be Grace’s stepfather

  1:50:00 AM    


Sen. Grace Poe Philstar.com/Jonathan Asuncion, file
BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – A 75-year-old farmer from Murcia town, Negros Occidental is claiming he acted as stepfather to Sen. Grace Poe for a few days after her birth, before she reportedly went missing in a church.
Alfredo Ledesma Arsenio of Barangay Caliban said in an interview over dyRL that he and Poe’s alleged biological mother Ma. Luz Reyes were penpals and that she was already pregnant with Poe out of wedlock when they decided to meet for the first time in 1968 in Iloilo.
Arsenio said the baby’s biological father – a certain Felix Aquilesca – went to Mindanao after getting Reyes pregnant.
Arsenio said he and Reyes decided to live together as couple in El 19th Street in Jaro, Iloilo City.
Reyes gave birth at the Mandurriao Provincial Hospital and named her baby Mary Grace Aquilesca, he said.
He said the baby he had called Mary Grace was only 12 days old when he and Reyes brought her along to Jaro church to attend mass.
Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
He related that while inside the church, Reyes – who was not feeling well at the time – suddenly had chills and died.
He said the baby was lost during a commotion triggered by Reyes’ suddenly falling dead.
Arsenio said he is very sure that the baby and the now Senator Poe are one and the same based on their looks.
He said he had tried to look for the missing Mary Grace until financial constraints forced him to give up and just return to Negros with borrowed money.
A retired Bacolod judge earlier offered a reward of P300,000 to anyone who can provide credible information regarding the real parents of Poe, whose presidential bid is being threatened by questions regarding her citizenship and residency status.

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SC issues TRO on Poe DQ

  1:25:00 AM    


In a press conference, SC spokesman Theodore Te explained that the Chief Justice issued the orders upon recommendation of two justices to whom the two petitions for TRO filed by Sen. Grace Poe earlier in the day were assigned. CBCPNews
MANILA, Philippines – With just a few hours before the disqualification of Sen. Grace Poe from the presidential race was to take effect, the Supreme Court ordered the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday to temporarily stop enforcing its ruling barring her from running for president.
Even while the high court is on holiday recess, Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno issued temporary restraining orders (TRO) enjoining the Comelec from implementing the disqualification ruling of its two divisions against Poe.
In a press conference, SC spokesman Theodore Te explained that the Chief Justice issued the orders upon recommendation of two justices to whom the two petitions for TRO filed by Poe earlier in the day were assigned.
The TROs, effective immediately and until further orders, allow Poe to keep her slot in the ballots to be printed by the Comelec in early February, Te said.
Under court rules, the TROs would be subject to confirmation of the full SC when justices resume session on Jan. 12, 2016.
In the same orders, the high court directed the Comelec to answer Poe’s petitions within 10 days from receipt of notice.
Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
The court also set the case for oral argument on Jan. 19, 2016.
Poe filed her petitions for TRO through her lawyers led by George Garcia earlier in the day.
The lawyer explained there was urgent need to issue the TRO as the Comelec order would become executory should a disqualified candidate fail to secure a restraining order from the court within five days from promulgation of the ruling on disqualification.
“This is a matter of extreme urgency. Through arbitrary, capricious and seemingly orchestrated acts over the past two months, the Commission on Elections has single-handedly imperiled the sovereign right of the Filipino people to elect the 16th president of the Republic of the Philippines,” read the petitions filed at 10 a.m.
Garcia said they were not able to immediately file the petitions because of the holidays last week.
He added that if the high court fails to resolve their plea for a TRO on time, it could always issue a status quo ante order that would keep Poe in the running for the presidency.
While the SC is on holiday recess, the chief justice may issue a TRO or status quo ante order upon recommendation of the justice in charge of the case – but subject to confirmation of the full court in its next session on Jan. 12.
Poe’s petitions were included in the regular raffle of cases yesterday and assigned to Associate Justices Mariano del Castillo and Marvic Leonen, according to an SC insider.
Leonen is also the justice in charge of a related petition of Rizalito David questioning the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) ruling that declared Poe a natural-born Filipino eligible for the 2013 senatorial polls.
Poe’s camp has also asked the High Tribunal to reverse and set aside the separate resolutions of the Comelec’s First and Second Divisions canceling her certificate of candidacy (COC) due to misrepresentation on her citizenship and residency in the country.
The Comelec First Division canceled Poe’s COC due to questions on her citizenship and residency status raised by former senator Francisco Tatad, De La Salle University professor Antonio Contreras and former University of the East law dean Amado Valdez.
The poll body’s Second Division, on the other hand, canceled Poe’s COC based on a petition filed by lawyer Estrella Elamparo stating that Poe failed to meet the constitutional requirement of a 10-year residency for presidential candidates.
“The Comelec gravely abused its discretion when, instead of requiring private respondent (Elamparo) to prove, in the first instance, her allegation that Senator Poe is not a natural-born citizen, it placed the
burden on Senator Poe to prove that she is born of Filipino parents,” Garcia said in their petition.
“But the only way that private respondent can prove that Senator Poe committed a false representation, with the intent to deceive is for her to prove that Senator Poe indeed was born of alien parents, and hence cannot be a natural-born citizen,” Poe’s lawyer pointed out.
But even before the SC order, Elamparo filed at around 3 p.m. a manifestation objecting to Poe’s plea for TRO and status quo ante order.
The former Government Service Insurance System chief counsel cited “the long standing jurisprudence that no one has a vested right to any public office, much less a vested right to an expectancy of holding of holding public office.”
Earlier, election lawyer Romulo Macalintal said the SC may consolidate the Comelec and SET cases of Poe.
“There is a possibility that the SC would consolidate the SET and Comelec cases to expedite their resolution since they involve similar issues,” he said.

Thankful, hopeful

Reacting to the SC issuance of TROs, Poe expressed gratitude to the chamber, calling its move “just and compassionate.”
“From the start, I put my full faith in the judicial process. The Comelec denied our people their choices in an open election but I am confident that the Supreme Court will uphold the truth and the spirit of the Constitution,” Poe said.
“We are confident the SC will honor previous jurisprudence on the rights of foundlings to a country and citizenship. I also pray that they will carefully look into the facts of my residence and my actual physical presence in the country,” she added.
Her running mate Sen. Francis Escudero also praised the SC for its decision.
“I thank and commend the SC for issuing the TRO in order to uphold justice and to ensure that, despite all the black propaganda and negative efforts of her opponents... Grace Poe is, and remains, a candidate for president,” Escudero said.
He said he remains “hopeful that the SC will soon make this restraining order permanent and put the Comelec in its rightfully disdainful place in the annals of our history.”
“I trust that our magistrates’ unquestionable wisdom and integrity will once and for all settle questions surrounding Senator Poe’s qualifications to seek the highest post in the land,” he said.
Poe’s spokesman Mayor Rex Gatchalian said the SC decision was a confirmation of Comelec’s grave abuse of authority in handling Poe’s cases.
At Malacañang, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the administration would like to “join our people’s hope and trust that any decision that will eventually be rendered on the matter would be imbued with fairness and justice.”
“In our system of laws, decisions on qualifications of presidential candidates are made by the Comelec and are appealable to the Supreme Court as the final arbiter,” Coloma said.

No change in timeline

The Comelec said the SC issuance of TROs would have no effect on the poll body’s timetable since Poe’s name has not been removed from the list of candidates anyway.
“Comelec has been given 10 days to comment and I think the oral arguments have been set for Jan. 19. Right now I guess all that is left for the Comelec is to comply with the order of the court,” spokesman James Jimenez told reporters.
He said the overall effect of the TROs would “probably be minimal.”
“Remember when we started loading the (names of candidates) in the Election Management System, we left the name of Senator Poe,” he said.
But he said he is not sure yet what would happen in the final editing of the EMS on Jan. 19 and 20.
“Yes, we set a final editing period and there will be oral arguments on the 19th which is right in the middle of that period. But as we’ve seen, these things can happen. Things can change and we have to just be ready for whatever happens,” he said.
Meanwhile, a group backing the candidacies of Poe and Escudero said it is condemning efforts by some quarters “to break the formidable Poe-Escudero tandem.”
“From the very beginning, the Poe-Escudero ticket is the team to beat as shown by various nationwide pre-election surveys, but it has also been the subject of incessant vilification campaign in an attempt to erode their popular mass support,” the Gawa at Prinsipyo Coalition said in a statement.
Earlier during the filing of Poe’s petition, about a hundred of her supporters gathered outside the SC compound on Padre Faura street to protest what they said was the “abandonment” of Poe by Escudero.
“It is unfortunate that a few infiltrators dispatched by the rivals of the Poe-Escudero tandem tried to join a gathering of Senator Poe’s supporters in time for the filing of petitions before the Supreme Court to contest the disqualification rulings of the Commission on Elections. We should be united in condemning the Comelec decision, instead of sowing intrigue,” the Gawa at Prinsipyo Coalition said.
“The fact that it coincided with Senator Poe’s filing of petitions validates our suspicions of orchestrated efforts to take her out of the presidential race, confuse the public and sow dissension between and among their supporters,” it said.
The coalition said it is confident that “the High Court will not allow politics to cloud its judgment on the issue and will rule based on the merits of Sen. Grace Poe’s petition, existing international and local laws and long established jurisprudence.”
“We strongly believe that our Supreme Court justices will side with the truth and will allow us, the voters, to choose the next leaders of this country,” the group maintained.
Earlier yesterday, members of a group calling itself Philippine Crusaders for Justice (PCJ) led by secretary general Joe Villanueva alleged that Escudero betrayed Poe when he convinced her to run, knowing she would be disqualified in the end.
“We pity Sen. Grace because Sen. Chiz abandoned her in the disqualification cases when he is supposed to be the campaign strategist and primary counsel of Poe,” Villanueva told reporters.
Carrying placards branding Escudero as “Ahascudero,” “Boy Laglag” and “Boy Abandon,” the group recalled that the senator also supposedly abandoned the tandem of President Aquino and Mar Roxas in the 2010 elections to support Aquino and Vice President Jejomar Binay instead.
“It is disgusting that certain groups continue to destroy our candidates – first individually and now as a tandem. The recent story being circulated that Sen. Chiz has abandoned Sen. Grace is baseless and a bare face lie,” Gatchalian said in a statement. – Marvin Sy, Jess Diaz, Christina Mendez, Sheila Crisostomo, Aurea Calica

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Duterte to Comelec: Junk COC petition

  1:24:00 AM    


In a 25-page memorandum submitted to the Comelec First Division, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said the petition of broadcaster Ruben Castor should be dismissed for lack of merit. File photo/GEREMY PINTOLO
MANILA, Philippines – Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte yesterday asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to junk the petition seeking the cancellation of his certificate of candidacy (COC) for president.
In a 25-page memorandum submitted to the Comelec First Division, Duterte said the petition of broadcaster Ruben Castor should be dismissed for lack of merit.
Duterte noted that the poll body has accepted his substitution for Martin Diño as standard bearer of the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino (PDP)-Laban so the issue has become moot.
“The Comelec en banc, in its Resolution No. 10028 promulgated on Dec. 17, had accepted the COC of respondent Duterte… The resolution merely confirms the previous acts of the Comelec, all of which recognized the validity of the COC of respondent Diño,” the memorandum read.
The memorandum further stated that such acceptance “deals a death blow to the petition in this case as well as other petitions seeking to disqualify respondent Duterte, predicated on the ground that the COC of respondent Diño is ‘null and void’ due to the alleged errors in the document.
“By accepting the COC of respondent Duterte, the Comelec en banc did recognize that a valid substitution of candidacy for the position of president had taken place by operation of law between respondent Diño as the withdrawing candidate and respondent Duterte as the substitute candidate,” it added.
Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
Duterte also argued that Castor had “waived his presence during the preliminary conference held on Dec. 15.”
At the hearing on Dec. 18, Castor appeared but did not mark any documentary evidence to support his petition.
“Hence, there is no documentary evidence submitted by petitioner to which respondent Duterte can comment or object,” the memorandum read.
In his petition, Castor charged that the substitution is not valid because Diño was not running for president but for mayor of Pasay City as indicated in his COC.

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Lunes, Disyembre 28, 2015

Iza Calzado's comment to Maine Mendoza's Best Supporting Actress award

  9:29:00 AM    

According to the report, Iza Calzado and Maine Mendoza are both nominated for the said category 2015 MMFF.
Even though this is the first movie appearance of Maine Mendoza she still managed to bag the Best Supporting Actress award for the MMFF 2015.
On social media many netizens online who watched the movie "My Bebe Love"claimed that Dub smash Queen "Yaya Dub" deserved to win the award. 

  

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The reason why Maine Mendoza deserve the award as the Best Supporting Actress in the MMFF 2015

  2:04:00 AM    


The annual Metro Manila Film Festival Awards Night happened last night, December 27, 2015 at the KIA Theater, Cubao, Quezon City.

Maine Mendoza was in total shock after she finds out that she was hailed as the Best Supporting Actress after she played the role of a spoiled daughter of Vic Sotto in the film My BebeLove #KiligPaMore! 

We can still recall that this is Maine Mendoza's first ever film, to think that she's been in the showbiz industry for six months. Because of this, people are questioning as to why she won the said award.

But then, even before she was bashed by the netizens, she quickly posted on Twitter:


The reason why Maine Mendoza was hailed as the Best Supporting Actress in the MMFF 2015!

Maine wasn't able to attend the awards night because she's in Japan with her whole family.

  

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WATCH How Does a Girl Gets Pregnant and How to Prevent Early Pregnancy

  1:40:00 AM    


This video will explain it well how a child can grow into your body, Ladies. This is especially created for all teenagers, for them to know how important the life with a right decisions. Teenagers are natured to be more curios that is the reason why they always want to try things that didn't experience or taste it yet.

Early pregnancy is most highlighted topic on this video, it is not only for all the girls but for young men as well. Being a parents in early stage can cause leads you to have difficulties in reality of life, emotionally and financially unless your family are rich. But then, its still not normal for a teenagers to do this adult thing.



 In a careless ways and not knowledgeable with this thing can cause you to be a parent in unexpected time as you might miss the exciting things and moments in your age.

 Watch this video to lighten up you in making decisions in life, you can also share to help the others.


  

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Linggo, Disyembre 27, 2015

Winners: 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival awards night

  5:36:00 PM    


Jennylyn Mercado was named best actress for the film “Walang Forever” at the 41st Metro Manila Film Festival awards night. Philstar.com/ Jonathan Asuncion
MANILA, Philippines – Jericho Rosales and Jennylyn Mercado won big at the 41st Metro Manila Film Festival.
Jennylyn takes home the best actress award, opposite Jericho who bagged the best actor award at the awards night held on Sunday at the Kia Theater in Cubao, Quezon City.
Meanwhile, “Nilalang” bagged the most number of awards. It won best editing, best film editor, best cinematography, best festival sound, and best festival musical score this year.
The best supporting actress and actor went to Maine Mendoza and Tirso Cruz III, for the films “My Bebe Love” and “Honor Thy Father” respectively.
Named best picture is “Walang Forever.” Second in line is “Buy Now, Die Later,” while the third best picture is “My Bebe Love.”
Here is the complete list of winners for the 41st Metro Manila Film Festival.
Entertainment ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
Best Actor: Jericho Rosales ("Walang Forever")
Best Actress: Jennylyn Mercado ("Walang Forever")
Best Picture: "Walang Forever"
Second Best Picture: Buy Now, Die Later
Third Best Picture: “My Bebe Love”
Best Supporting Actress: Maine Mendoza ("My Bebe Love")
Best Supporting Actor: Tirso Cruz III ("Honor Thy Father")
Best Child Performer: Krystal Brimmer ("Honor Thy Father")
Best Director: Erik Matti ("Honor Thy Father")
Best Story: "Walang Forever"
Best Screenplay: Paul Sta. Ana ("Walang Forever")
Best Festival Editing: "Nilalang"
Best Film Editor: Jason Cahapay ("Nilalang")
Best Festival Cinematography: Pao Orendain ("Nilalang")
Best Festival Sound: Ditoy Aguila ("Nilalang")
Best Musical Score: Jessie Lasaten ("Nilalang")
Best Festival Original Theme Song: "Tao" by Armi Millare ("Honor Thy Father")
Best Make-up Artist: Ryan Panaligan ("Honor Thy Father")
Best Visual Effects: "Nilalang"
Best Festival Production Design: "Buy Now Die Later"
Best Float: "Buy Now, Die Later"
FPJ Memorial Award for Excellence: "Walang Forever"
Gatpuno J. Villegas Cultural Award: "My Bebe Love"
Short Film Best Picture: "Mumu"
Best Animation Film: "Momento"
New Wave Animation Special Jury Prize: "Lights Lights"
New Wave Full-Feature Special Jury: "Toto"
New Wave Full-Length Best Supporting Actress: Bibet Orteza ("Toto")
New Wave Full-Length Best Actor: JM De Guzman ("Tandem") & Francisco Quinto ("Ari")
New Wave Full-Length Best Director:John Paul Su ("Toto")

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Entertainment in 2015: Stories that made you click

  5:19:00 PM    


It was the year of the Kalyeserye and the one that ended the 42-year Miss Universe drought. These are the stories that made waves in show business in 2015.

AlDub


Split-screen love team of Alden Richards and Maine "Yaya Dub" Mendoza. Facebook/Eat Bulaga
An accidental love team eventually turned into a phenomenon. The Alden Richards-Maine “Yaya Dub” Mendoza team-up, popularly known as AlDUb, took the noontime TV block by storm.
Entertainment ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
A new character named Yaya Dub joined the "Juan For All, All For Juan" segment of "Eat Bulaga!" who was introduced as Lola Nidora’s maid. In July, the camera accidentally panned toward Alden and the host Allan K noticed how Yaya Dub’s snob image turned soft after she saw the Kapuso actor.
Since then, viewers followed how their love story developed, until the day they finally met in person at the "Tamang Panahon" event at the Philippine Arena in Meycuayan, Bulacan in September. Now their love team will go a notch higher as they star in their first film "My Bebe Love," which also features Vic Sotto and Ai Ai delas Alas. The film is an entry to the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival.

'Eat Bulaga!' vs. 'It's Showtime'


Noontime shows Eat Bulaga of GMA7 and It's Showtime of ABS-CBN.
As the Alden Richards- Maine "Yaya Dub" Mendoza gained popularity, the already booming rating of "Eat Bulaga" increased further. This made netizens say that rival ABS-CBN noontime show "It's Showtime" is nearing its end.
Yet even before the show started, "It's Showtime" host Vice Ganda acknowledged that "Eat Bulaga" could not be defeated. He even described the show's hosts, particularly Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon and Tito Sotto, as their "idols."
Vice Ganda's co-hosts Anne Curtis and Billy Crawford agreed to what he said. Anne said that the shows' "competition" somehow proves that "people are still into noontime shows." While Billy said that the two shows' intention is clearly to make people laugh and have fun.

Celebrity weddings


Toni Gonzaga and Paul Soriano tied the knot on June in a Methodist Church in Taytay, Rizal. Oly Ruiz
Some of the most talked-about weddings this year were those of Heart Evangelista and Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero, Toni Gonzaga and director Paul Soriano, and Nikki Gil and BJ Albert.
But the ceremonies themselves were not only those that made the news. Even at the preparation stage, some weddings stirred controversy. Heart and TV host Cesca Litton had a rift over their reservation for Balesin Island in Quezon province. Cesca claims that her February 14 reservation was "bumped off" since Heart and Chiz are friends with the owner of the club. The Kapuso actress then claimed that she and her lawmaker boyfriend are reserving the place for their February 15 wedding. In the end the ladies were able to iron out their issues, with Cesca opting to wed in Eskaya Beach Resort in Bohol.
Fans, meanwhile, were abuzz over the wedding the wedding of Toni and Paul, dubbed the "ideal couple." It was well known that Toni comes from a protective family that set up dating rules for her and Paul.
Nikki's wedding to BJ was also the talk of the town for two reasons: Critics said the wedding was her vindication for her failed relationship with Billy Crawford, while others find their wedding too sudden. Yet for Nikki, it was the "perfect time" since she felt "at peace" with their relationship.
Other celebrity weddings that made news in 2015 were:
  • Saab Magalona and Jim Bacarro (Jan 24, St. Ignatius Chapel, Baguio City)
  • Yeng Constantino and Victor Asuncion (Feb 14, Hacienda Isabelle, Indang Cavite)
  • Cesca Litton and Tyke Kalaw (Feb. 14, Eskaya Beach Resort & Spa, Bohol)
  • Heart Evangelista and Francis "Chiz" Escudero (Feb 15, Balesin Island, Quezon Province)
  • Eric Tai and Rona Samson (March 6, The Church of Jesus Cjrist of Latter Day Saints, Cubao, Quezon City)
  • Patrick Garcia and Nikka Martinez (March 21, Blue Leaf Filipinas, Paranaque City)
  • Gab Valenciano and Tricia Centenera (March 27, Highlands Golf Club, Tagaytay City)
  • Diana Zubiri and Andrew Smith (May 10, Sampaguita Events Place, Quezon City)
  • John Prats and Isabel Oli (May 16, Nuestra Senora Dela Paz Y BUen Viaje, Batangas)
  • Toni Gonzaga and Paul Soriano (June 12, Methodist Church, Taytay Rizal)
  • Nikki Gil and BJ Albert (November 21, Sta. Elena Gold and Country Club)

First-time celebrity moms


Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes welcome their little bundle of joy, Maria Letizia this year. Instagram/Dingdong Dantes
After the big wedding, another highlight of a couple's life is the first child.
Marian Rivera's pregnancy with her first child with Dingdong Dantes was highly anticipated. Last year, the couple was planning to have a child two years after their wedding in 2014, but it was given to them in February 2015. The Kapuso actress gave birth to Maria Letizia on November 23.
After the announcement of her pregnancy in August last year, Cristine Reyes gave birth to her daughter with boyfriend Ali Khatibi. It was on February 8 when she gave birth to Amarah, the same year the couple got engaged.
Some other first-time moms who gave birth this year were Melissa Ricks, who gave birth to Kiera Kelly on January 12. After years of waiting, Ciara Sotto and husband Jojo Oconer finally had a child on February 28, whom they named Vincezo Xose.

Pinoy artists go international


El Gamma Penumbra was named the first “Asia’s Got Talent” champion last May at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Facebook/Asia’s Got Talent
Aside from beauty queens taking home the crown, a number of Filipino talents also raised the Philippine flag internationally. Singer Rachelle Ann Go, meanwhile, became part of the West-End musicals "Miss Siagon" as Gigi and "Les Miserables" as Fantine. Both roles were portrayed before by Lea Salonga.
Another big winner was the shadow dance group El Gamma Penumbra, hailed the first grand winner of "Asia's Got Talent" in May. Three other Filipinos were made it to the finals of the competition namely Gerphil Flores, Junior New System and Gweyneth Dorado.
More Filipinos tried their luck in different international competitions. Filipino-Australian Cyrus Villanueva was named "X Factor Australia." On "X Factor UK," Filipino girl band 4th Impact made it to the third week before being eliminated, while Neneth Lyon made it to the top ten.

'Heneral Luna' / 'A Second Chance'


Two independent films and a sequel of a movie from 2007 hit the box office.
"Heneral Luna" and "A Second Chance" couldn't be more different from each other. One is an independent historical movie starring John Arcilla and directed by Jerrold Tarog—two names who aren't exactly known for their box office draw. The other is a sequel of the 2007 romantic movie "One More Chance" starring John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo, two of the country's biggest movie stars. But would the sequel to what is essentially a modern pop culture classic live up to the hefty expectations attached to it?
Yet somehow, the two movies managed to become the country's biggest movies of the year. "Heneral Luna," despite being a slow burn in the box office, became an online sensation, a hit among millennials. In a way, its lack of box office appeal was its appeal.
Viewers in general were tentative to the idea of a "One More Chance" sequel at first (although the property was alive and well this year, even without it; a novelization and an anniversary DVD were released even before the movie was announced to be in the offing). But in the end, it seems people wanted to know what happened to Popoy and Basha. According to its producer Star Cinema, "A Second Chance" is now the Philippines's highest grossing movie of all time.

Philippines owned international pageant scene


Pia Alonzo-Wurtzbach ends the 42-year drought of Philippines in Miss Universe, while Ann Colis wins the Miss Globe Pageant and Angelia Ong hailed as Miss Earth 2015.
Three-time Binibining Pilipinas aspirant Pia Wurtzbach did what scores of Filipinas have failed to do: win the Miss Universe crown. The 26-year-old bested 79 other candidates in the 64th Miss Universe pageant—the second Miss Universe pageant this year, after the 2014 contest was held in January 2015. Her win was not without controversy. Show host Steve Harvey erroneously announced Colombia's Ariadna Gutierrez as the winner first; it took more than two minutes before he realized the mistake and fixed the mix-up. She's the first Pinay to win the crown since Margarita Moran took home the crown in 1973
But Pia isn't the only titleholder this year—Ann Colis won the Miss Globe pageant and Angelia Ong won the Miss Earth pageant. Angelia's victory was also historic as this is the second year in a row a Filipina won the Miss Earth crown, following Pinay Jamie Herrell's victory in 2014.
These victories overshadowed a number of pageant issues earlier this year: the flak against the Philippines's bet Mary Jean Lastimosa's national costume and evening gown during the 63rd Miss Universe and the criticism against Toni Gonzaga's lively but flamboyant hosting during the 2015 Binibining Pilipinas pageant.

No more showbiz talk shows?


Showbiz talkshows "Startalk" of GMA7 and "The Buzz" of ABS-CBN went off air this year. Facebook/Eat Bulaga
Local TV had many big moments this year—AlDub, 64th Miss Universe and the Pope Francis news coverage come to mind—but there is a sobering note to 2015's television victories. In April, Boy Abunda unceremoniously announced that the ABS-CBN showbiz talk show The Buzz is ending its run after 15 years of being on the air.
It was a huge deal: showbiz talk shows were staples in local television since the early 90s, dating back to Cristy Fermin's "Showbiz Lingo" with Butch Francisco (and perhaps even further). Its long-time rivals in GMA-7—for "S Files" to "Showbiz Central" to "H.O.T. TV"—had long folded. For a time, the network pitted its Saturday showbiz talk show "Startalk" against "The Buzz" on Sundays, but later returned it to its original timeslot.
But later this year, GMA-7 also canceled "Startalk." In its place is "CelebriTV," still headlined by Joey de Leon, Lolit Solis, STAR entertainment editor Ricky Lo—but with Ai Ai delas Alas added to its cast. The show, however, is more of a game show than a talk show. Hence, the end of an era in local television—an era where showbiz talk shows are no longer part of the weekend viewing habit of Filipinos.

Celebrities misbehaving


Bad publicity is still publicity.
One of the year's biggest scandals is Enrique Gil's "drunk incident" on an airplane en route to London for a show. The incident allegedly involved his onscreen partner Liza Soberano, actress Jessy Mendiola and TV host Luis Manzano; according to reports, Enrique's allegedly disrespected Jessy and Liza on the plane, heading to a confrontation that was stopped by Luis. None of these are confirmed, although the young actor apologized for his actions. The incident coincided with reports that Jessy and boyfriend JM de Guzman have broken up—amid reports that the "That Thing Called Tadhana" actor will be sacked from his TV show "All of Me" and movie "Walang Forever." The reports turned out to be true.
This scandal lords over the other controversies that happened this year, although not by much—Melissa Mendez's altercation inside an airplane, Jiro Manio's vagrancy inside an airport due to personal problems and Chris Brown being barred from the leaving the country due to his failure to fulfill his earlier commitment to perform at the Philippine Arena for the INC's New Year countdown celebration on Dec. 31, 2014.

Kris Aquino makes news


The Queen of All Media Kris Aquino. Philstar.com/Chuck Smith
It's not a year in showbiz without Kris Aquino making some sort of news, and 2015 is no exception. This year, the Queen of All Media became the talk of the town by simply being herself.
She was criticized by netizens for defending her brother, President Benigno Aquino III, from being blamed for the tragedy in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. She was similarly panned for allegedly trivializing the hardships of Metro Manila residents during the APEC summit by equating it to her sunburn (after hosting the APEC leaders' spouses for lunch in Intramuros). She was even criticized for working despite being sick. All of these made the headlines, simply because the subject of criticism was Kris Aquino.
But perhaps her lowest moment this year was when she was criticized yet again for backing out of the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival entry "All You Need is Pag-Ibig." She gave out a couple of reasons, although fans and haters were quick to point out that the real reason for her decision was her relationship (or non-relationship) with Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, her supposed leading man in the movie. All turned out well in the end though, as most Kris Aquino stories do: she ended up doing the movie after all, without Herbert.

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