Dasma residents tell Pacquiao: Stay home

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Manny Pacquiao and his family have been told to stay home by his neighbors in an exclusive village in Makati City after a video showing him partying with another lawmaker infected by the coronavirus went viral on social media.

In a letter to the senator, Barangay Dasmariñas homeowners said Pacquiao is effectively a “person under monitoring” after a video of Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III partying at Pacquiao’s house circulated on the internet.

Pimentel, who announced this week he contracted the disease, received public condemnation for breaching quarantine protocol when he accompanied his pregnant wife to a hospital and exposed health workers to the virus. He also went shopping at an S&R store.

Pacquiao earlier said members of PDP-Laban, including their president Pimentel, had a meeting at Pacquiao’s residence in Makati last March 4.

Pimentel said he received his test results on the evening of March 24. He took a swab test last March 20 after having experienced body pains.

“Many of your colleagues in Senate have been identified to be COVID-positive. Therefore, you have to be quarantined at your own house,” Barangay Dasmariñas residents told Pacquiao.

“For your own family and household’s safety, please have yourself self-quarantined, stay home. No one, including any of your household, can come out,” they added. “If you need something, please call the barangay... We can procure things for you and send it to your doorstep.” – philstar.com

S&R workers now also under quarantine because of Pimentel

MANILA, Philippines  — Corroborating social media reports, S&R Membership Shopping confirmed Sen. Koko Pimentel was at its Taguig branch days after he started experiencing symptoms linked to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The senator has been on the receiving end of much criticism after he repeatedly breached his self-quarantine despite knowing he could be a carrier of the virus.

This comes as the latest in a row between the senator and Makati Medical Center after Pimentel accompanied his wife to the hospital on Tuesday night despite the results of a COVID-19 test still pending.

According to a statement issued on S&R Membership Shopping's Facebook page Thursday afternoon, CCTV footage placed the senator at the membership shopping center's Bonifacio Global City branch on Monday, March 16, at exactly 1:59 p.m.

This was exactly two days after, in his own recounting, Pimentel began experiencing "flu-like symptoms," at which point he supposedly isolated himself from his family.

"As a result, S&R employees who were in contact with the senator were already placed in quarantine [while] S&R BGC also took extra disinfection steps," the statement read.

It is not clear how many workers of the shopping center were affected.

Supermarket staff and other workers in industries related to food are exempted from quarantine restrictions are allowed to report to work.

Unlike the many that they serve, essential workers—which includes medical frontliners and staff—have to also contend with the suspension of mass transportation because of the quarantine.

Makati Medical Center: Pimentel exposed health care workers to possible infection
In a separate statement issued earlier, Makati Medical Center slammed what it said was Pimentel’s “irresponsible and reckless action.”

“By being in MMC, Sen. Pimentel violated his home quarantine protocol, entered the premises of the MMC-DR, thus, unduly exposed health care workers to possible infection,” they said.

Meanwhile, the shopping center, in their statement, assured customers that their stores and equipment were disinfected daily while employees were "constantly reminded" of the precautions and safety measures to take amid the outbreak.

As of this writing, the national count of COVID-19 patients has eclipsed 600 after the Department of Health recorded 84 more patients on Wednesday.

This, as the country is still under a nationwide state of calamity after President Rodrigo Duterte said that the number of cases is still steadily rising despite government intervention.

The rising number of cases is expected is more patients get tested for COVID-19 — Franco Luna

philstar.com

Philippines logs 13 new COVID-19 cases; total now at 230

MANILA, Philippines  — The Philippines detected 13 additional novel coronavirus cases on Friday, raising the total to 230 since the country first confirmed an infection in late January.

A vast majority of COVID-19 infections are in Luzon, prompting President Rodrigo Duterte to place the main island under enhanced community quarantine.

The Department of Health also reported one new fatality, bringing the death toll to 18.

A 65-year-old Filipino male from Quezon City, identified as Patient 124, passed away on Tuesday. He had a travel history to Singapore, which has 345 confirmed cases.

Meanwhile, the number of recoveries in the Philippines still stands at eight.


There are additional 506 patients under investigation for possible COVID-19 infection and 6,321 persons under monitoring.

There are concerns that the number of new coronavirus cases in the Philippines may be bigger due to the country’s very limited testing program. Only 1,269 tests have been conducted since January.

Secretary Francisco Duque III on Friday designated the UP-Philippine General Hospital and the Dr. Jose M. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital as exclusive facilities for patients infected with the new coronavirus.

This, after 11 private hospitals called on the government to centralize efforts into one or two facilities as the escalating health crisis continues to overwhelm healthcare centers.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Thursday warned that millions of people could die from COVID-19 if the virus spreads unchecked as he appealed for a coordinated global response to the pandemic.

The virus has infected nearly 244,517 people across the globe and caused over 10,000 deaths. More than 86,000, meanwhile, have recovered.

philstar.com

Office space market sees growth in 2018 on back of BPO resurgence

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The office property market is expected to continue expanding next year with a resurgence of the information technology-business process management (IT-BPM) and growth of the offshore online gaming industry.

David Leechiu, chief executive officer of Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC), said they are anticipating a “dramatic resurgence” of the IT-BPM industry in 2018 resulting from reaffirmed relations with the US and the approval of the bicameral version of the comprehensive tax reform law, which is friendly to the IT-BPM industry.

Leechiu noted the recent upgrade of the country’s credit rating is also a positive development.

“A handful of the world’s largest companies by market capitalization are in final stages of setting up shared services operations that will be employing tens of thousands of Filipinos, which will assure the world that all is well in the Philippines,” he said in a press briefing on Tuesday, Dec. 12.

Leechiu said there is a “very good chance” that Metro Manila office take-up would reach 800,000 to 850,000 square meters in 2018.

Metro Manila office take-up rate is forecast in 2017 to register at an all-time high of 750,000. As of end-November, take-up was at 728,305 square meters.

“The exponential growth from the offshore online gaming industry fuelled robust office demand and more than made up for a slack from the IT-business process manufacturing industry,” he said.

Leechiu further said online gaming expanded by 306 percent from only 56,700 square meters in 2016 to 230,102 square meters as of the end of November.

IT-BPM take-up, on the other hand, was 28-percent less at 347,660 square meters as of November from 485,100 square meters in 2016.

Online gaming firms took up spaces mostly in Bay City, the business districts rising along Manila Bay. Bay City accounted for 67 percent of all online gaming take-up as of last month.

Meanwhile, vacancy rate across Metro Manila registered at a manageable 6.62 percent. – Leslie Gatpolintan

source: interaksyon.com

LOOK | Rainbow cheers and love at the Metro Manila Pride March

On Saturday, June 24, some 7,500 members of the LGBTQ+ community and their supporters gathered in Marikina City for this year’s Metro Manila Pride March and Festival. Colorful floats, people in rainbow-inspired clothes and accessories, and big and small rainbow flags set the happy and safe atmosphere. Most of all, the unity was palpable as curious spectators were welcomed to join the parade and as a group condemning the community were peacefully tolerated by organizers and participants.

Known as the longest running Pride March in Southeast Asia and now on its 23rd year, “Here Together”—“calling for the community, its allies, friends, family, and even strangers, to come together in a safe space to celebrate love, rights, and pride.”

Nicky Castillo, Co-Coordinator of Metro Manila Pride said in a statement, “At the Pride March and Festival, we provide people with a space where they can express their true selves without fear. But this year, we also want to call on the non-LGBTQ+ people who support us to stand up, speak out, and march on for us. Our voices have been loud these last 23 years. But in our campaign for equality, we need more voices. We need your voices.”

Metro Manila Pride also brought its #PassADB (Anti-Discrimination Bill) campaign on the forefront.

Co-coordinator Loreen Ordoño also told InterAksyon, “It’s important to have these voices standing here together with us because we can’t do it alone. The non-LGBT folks are our family members, co-workers, schoolmates, etc who can help us in the fight against discrimination, hate, and can also help us lobby for the passage of the bill into law. We need their voices.”

 Marikina has been celebrating its own pride marches for the past years; this is the first time it is hosting the metro-wide march and festival. As such, organizers of the Metro Pride March praised Marikina as one of those cities helping to create a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community.

source: interaksyon.com

Silver ray in Black Nazarene's crown missing, rector says

MANILA, Philippines - One of the three silver rays of the Black Nazarene's diadem went missing, Msgr. Clemente Ignacio, rector of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quipo, Manila told reporters on Thursday.

Ignacio said the crown and hair were removed from the statue when it was being loaded onto the carriage. But when these were put back, they found out that one of the rays was missing.

Nevertheless, Ignacio is confident that the ray will be returned.

Last year, amid the January 9 Black Nazarene procession in Manila, one of the rays was also reported missing. It was found the following day by one of the devotees.

source: interaksyon.com

Close to 400 people hurt, fall ill during Nazarene procession - Red Cross

MANILA, Philippines - Close to 400 people were either hurt or fell ill during the annual procession of the statue of the Black Nazarene in Manila as of 3 p.m., Thursday, based on data from the Philippine Nationall Red Cross (PNRC).

PNRC recorded a total of 378 cases of mostly minor injuries.

It said 130 people suffered from abrasion, another 102 individuals complained of dizziness, 50 suffered from laceration, 37 more lost conciousness, while 33 others were punctured.



Nine other people complained of headache, seven sustained contusions, seven more had asthma attack, while three others were believed to have suffered from fractured bones.

Two hundred fifty people consulted medical aides for high blood pressure while six others were rushed to hospitals.

source: interaksyon.com

Lucio Co-owned company operating S&R to hike capital

MANILA – Businessman Lucio Co is beefing up the capital of the firm operating S&R Membership Shopping after merging the companies managing a shopping mall in Divisoria, Manila.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, Puregold Price Club Inc said Kareila Management Corp’s board of directors cleared the increase in its authorized capital stock from P500 million to P3 billion. The shares have a par value of P100 apiece.

Kareila, a wholly owned subsidiary of Puregold, operates eight S&R membership shopping warehouses located at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig; Aseana City in Paranaque; Congressional in Quezon City; San Fernando in Pampanga; Davao City; Alabang, Muntilnupa City; Cebu City; and Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City.

Cosco Capital Inc, another company owned by Co, has consolidated its subsidiaries that operate the 999 Shopping Mall in Divisoria, Manila.

In a separate disclosure, Cosco said the board of directors of Nation Realty Inc, Go Fay & Co Inc, SVF Corp and 999 Shopping Mall Inc agreed to merge these companies with Nation Realty as the surviving entity.

Nation Realty, Go Fay and SVF Corp are wholly owned subsidiaries of Cosco, while 999 Shopping Mall is owned by 118 Holdings Inc, a subsidiary of Cosco.

Cosco has interests in retail through Puregold, real estate, liquor distribution and oil storage.

 source: interaksyon.com

The Peninsula Manila and The Farm at San Benito create new wellness menu

The Peninsula Manila Hotel invites us to embrace wellness and experience the restorative powers of nature with its newly expanded 360º Wellness, Naturally, Peninsula menu, a collaborative effort between the talented culinary teams of The Peninsula and The Farm at San Benito, one of the world’s foremost health and wellness resorts, located 90 minutes away from Metro Manila.

The new menu introduces a wide variety of lighter dining fare using natural herbs and spices, together with other organic produce from reputable and sustainable sources, live and raw foods and no meat, fish, fowl, dairy, eggs, butter, cholesterol or saturated fats from animals or animal by-products.

This echoes The Peninsula Manila’s “Naturally Peninsula” cuisine philosophy that focuses on a non-clinical and holistic approach to wellness by harnessing the botanical benefits of nature.

This same philosophy is shared by the chefs of The Farm at San Benito  who have won numerous best cuisine awards, including  winning the “Spa Cuisine of the Year” two years in a row from Asia Spa Magazine. Upon the guidance of The Farm’s chefs, the Peninsula Manila’s new 360° Wellness, Naturally Peninsula menu does not use any flour, wheat, grain, sugar, canned, or anything that is processed, boxed or packaged.

Dishes under this menu are also to be cooked only with certified organic extra virgin olive oil and Absolutely No Heat Process (ANH) virgin coconut oil. Working closely with the Peninsula’s Executive Chef Richard Green and his team, both stellar kitchens have identified and incorporated local ingredients into signature dishes that will ultimately enhance a guest’s destination-inspired experience.

Guest dining in the hotel’s various dining outlets will delight not just in the surprisingly more flavorful take on health food, but also in the knowledge that they are eating ingredients that are free of toxins and harmful chemicals and at the same time helping preserve the environment.

To celebrate the new collaboration, The Farm at San Benito and The Peninsula Manila are launching a joint wellness program package, starting at approximately USD873 (PhP34,916) for two, which includes one-night accommodation at The Peninsula Manila and two-nights’ accommodation at The Farm.

Early Chowbuzz recommendations includes; the Smoked Eggplant-Szechuan dip (90 calories per tablespoon), Mushroom-nut ragout stuffed, Coconut Ravioli with cumin carrot sauce (274 calories per serving), and Penang Curry (174 calories per serving).

• The Peninsula Manila, corners of Ayala and Makati Avenues, Makati City. Tel. no. (+632) 810-3456 or (+632) 887-2888.

source: interaksyon.com

Ex-NBA star Stephon Marbury donates thousands of shoes for underprivileged kids

Former NBA all-star Stephon Marbury made good on his promise, donating thousands of pairs of shoes for underprivileged children in the Philippines.

He led the distribution of his Starbury line of shoes on Thursday to different parts of Metro Manila along side Air 21 Express stalwarts Asi Taulava and Ren-Ren Ritualo. The two PBA players are represented by agent Sheryl Reyes, who is instrumental in bringing Marbury to the Philippines.

Marbury went to Juan Sumulong High School in Quezon City in coordination with Air 21 coach Franz Pumaren, who is also a city councilor, and mayor Herbert Bautista. They proceeded to Boystown in Marikina to deliver shoes as part of the Alagang PBA outreach program by the league.

The group also made shoe donations to the Ahon Pamilyang Lansangan foundation as well as for kids from Iloilo province, spearheaded by Petron Blaze swingman Ronald Tubid, who hails from that region.

source: interaksyon.com

'A year is too long for Ombudsman to file plunder cases vs. lawmakers who misused pork funds'

One year is too long for the Office of the Ombudsman--which prosecutes government officials--to file plunder complaints against lawmakers who have been found to have misused their Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) before the Sandiganbayan.

This was emphasized by the minority bloc in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, adding that cases should be lodged by December.

The government by this time should have the evidence to back its allegations against those who have erred in using their pork barrel funds, Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora said.

"Let us remember that this is not a new case. We are not looking for new evidence. All of these things are being talked about, many whistleblowers have spoken. There are voluminous documents presented about the case. If this is not probable cause, then what does probable cause mean?" Zamora said in a news conference.

The bloc was reacting to a statement by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, who said that her office would be able to decide in a year or less the plunder case against Janet Lim Napoles and three senators and several former congressmen involved in the pork barrel scam.

On Monday, the Department of Justice filed cases against Senators JuanPonce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, and Ramon Revilla Jr., former Housemembers and several others for allegedly channelling pork barrel fundsinto bogus projects.

In the same news conference, Representative Silvestre Bello of 1-Banatat Ahapo partylist said the filing of charges before the anti-graft court should not take a year "because in effect, they will only be affirming the DOJ findings."

Zamora said that it was important that the case can be brought to the court to try and punish the guilty and absolve the innocent.

"Between now and one year, malaki ang possibility na magkakaron ng iba pang malaking kaso, baka makalimutan ang impotance ng kasong ito," he added.

Zamora said they are awaiting the other names that the DoJ will include in the pork barrel case, including lawmakers who allegedly misused their PDAF based on the Commission on Audit special audit report.

He said they would ask the DoJ about the progress of the case when its budget is tackled in plenary within the week.

source: interaksyon.com

Bargain hunters to flock to Divisoria, Baclaran as Christmas Season fast approaches

MANILA, Sept. 15—With the “ber” months now at hand and the Yuletide Season just a few knocks away, Filipino bargain hunters are expected to make an exodus at the various malls in Divisoria and Baclaran that are known to sell cheap but quality goods such as clothes, shoes and even Christmas fares.

Long-time patrons are convinced that items sold in these establishments are cheaper by as much as 40 to 50 percent compared to the other well known malls in Metro Manila.

“Polo shirts (in Divisoria and Baclaran) that are normally sold for P500 in well known malls can be bought for as low as P200 or P150 depending on your ability to bargain with the sales staff,” Eva Alejo, 47, a resident of Barangay Muzon, Malabon said in Filipino.

Aside from shirts, leather and rubber shoes are also for the picking, provided that one is patient enough to walk through the maze of stalls where they are located.

Alejo said that she is now saving money so that she can buy Christmas clothing for her grandchildren.

She added that she will drop by these malls within November or the early weeks of December.

Another bargain hunter, Catherine Encarnacion, also of Malabon City, said that what she likes about these malls is the preponderance of cheap electronic appliances like DVDs and cellphones which are usually sold at very fair prices.

“Prices are usually 50 percent lower than those being sold in high-end malls and the quality is not that bad either,” she stressed.

And for someone working overtime to make both ends meet, Encarnacion said that this is godsend.

Some stalls in Divisoria and Baclaran are also known to sell copies of “designer or signature clothes” 70 to 50 percent lower than the actual cost of the legitimate product.

And since some Filipinos are very brand conscious, the trade in these items are usually brisk despite the risk to the stall owners caught selling such items.

Violators are usually charged with trademark Infringement under the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines or Republic Act 8293.

Recently, P20-million worth of fake “Lee” pants were seized by operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation-Intellectual Property Rights Division (NBI-IPRD) during operations in Pasay City last September 6.

This is equivalent to around 13,759 pairs of fake “Lee” pants. These items were seized from the two stockrooms of Willie Ang located at One Shopping Center and Khatar Region, Kapitan Ambo, Pasay City and showroom and two stockrooms of Willie Cheng located at New Galleria Baclaran Shopping Mall and at Park Avenue Shoe Plaza (HSP2), Park Avenue, also in Pasay City.

The government is expected to crack down hard on stall owners selling “counterfeit goods” in the coming Yuletide Season due to complaints raised by manufacturers who are claiming that the distribution and selling of such items are detrimental to their product.

source: interaksyon.com

Google releases crisis map to monitor disaster-prone areas

MANILA - Google on Tuesday said it has released a crisis map to help Pinoys monitor disaster-prone areas in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon.

Google's announcement comes as half the Philippine capita is submerged in flood water because of heavy rains spawned by Typhoon "Maring."

Google Map, which Pinoys can access on their desktops and mobile browsers, provides information about the tropical storm’s path, the rainfall warning, and the 24-hour forecast of accumulated rainfall across the country. The map also shows clouds imagery, landslide and flood-prone areas, as well as rainfall and flooding forecast

“Coming from our experience during recent typhoons, we realize that we are in a unique position to help our fellow Pinoys through technology. We will continue to assist in disseminating information to the public," said Aileen Apolo, head of outreach at Google Southeast Asia.

"This crisis map is made possible with the help of the government, first responders and our volunteer mappers, and we hope it will be useful to those who want to help out," Apolo added.

Anyone can share the maps or embed them in websites. “Simply hit the ‘Share’ button at the top of the map to get the HTML code,” Apolo said. “We will continue to update the maps as more information becomes available.”


For data on typhoons and other crises, go to www.google.org/crisisresponse.

Luzon has been battered by the southwest monsoon brought by Maring since Saturday, displacing 600,000 families. Seven have been reported dead due to the torrential rains.

source: interaksyon.com

88 flights cancelled, 5 others diverted to Clark; NAIA 3, 4 operations stalled

A total of 88 domestic and international flights had to be cancelled Tuesday and five others diverted to Clark International Airport in Pampanga due to the torrential monsoon rains strengthened by tropical storm Maring (international codename: Trami). The rains and floods also prevented booked passengers from leaving for the airports.

Ramp operations at terminals 3 and 4 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport also had to be suspended at 10:30 a.m., although operations remained normal at terminals 1 and 2. Terminal 1 handles international flights of most foreign carriers.



According to NAIA’s Media Affairs Division, cancelled flights as of 3 p.m. Tuesday were:

Philippine Airlines (PAL)

    PR 209 Manila-Melbourne (Original ETD: 9 p.m.)
    PR 300/301 Manila-Hong Kong-Manila
    PR 306/307 Manila-Hong Kong-Manila
    PR 318/319 Manila-Hong Kong-Manila
    PR 330/331 Manila -Xiamen-Manila
    PR 336/337 Manila-Shanghai-Manila
    PR 358/359 Manila-Beijing-Manila
    PR 408 Manila-Kansai
    PR 416/417 Manila-Pusan-Manila
    PR 432 Manila-Narita
    PR 438 Manila-Nagoya
    PR 468/469 Manila-Incheon-Manila
    PR 501/512 Manila-Singapore-Manila
    PR 503/504 Manila-Singapore-Manila
    PR 507/508 Manila-Singapore-Manila
    PR 517/518 Manila-Kuala Lumpur-Manila
    PR 537 Manila-Denpasar (Original ETD: 8:40 p.m.)
    PR 730/731 Manila-Bangkok-Manila
    PR 736/737 Manila-Bangkok-Manila
    PR 8488/8489 Manila-Incheon-Manila
    PR 894/895 Manila-Taipei-Manila

    PR 813/814 Manila-Davao-Manila
    PR 849/850 Manila-Cebu-Manila
    PR 853/854 Manila-Cebu-Manila
    PR 855/856 Manila-Cebu-Manila

PAL Express

    2P 014/015 Manila-Tuguegarao-Manila
    2P 033/034 Manila-Busuanga-Manila
    2P 039/040 Manila-Caticlan-Manila
    2P 047/048 Manila-Caticlan-Manila
    2P 051 052 Manila-Caticlan-Manila
    2P 065/066 Manila-Surigao-Manila
    2P 263/264 Manila-Naga-Manila
    2P 525/526 Manila-Cagayan-Manila
    2P 527/528 Manila-Cagayan de Oro-Manila
    2P 543/544 Manila-Dumaguete-Manila
    2P 581/582 Manila-Legaspi-Manila
    2P 587/588 Manila-Dipolog-Manila
    2P 773/774 Manila-Tagbilaran-Manila
    2P 907/908 Manila-Bacolod-Manila
    2P 918/919 Manila-Laoag-Manila
    2P 943/944 Manila-Puerto Prinsesa-Manila
    2P 965/966 Manila-Cagayan-Manila
    2P 967/968 Manila-Butuan-Manila
    2P 985/986 Manila-Tacloban-Manila

TigerAir

    DG 7002/7003 Manila-Cebu-Manila
    DG 7004/7005 Manila-Cebu-Manila
    DG 7014/7015 Manila-Cebu-Manila
    DG 7044/7045 Manila-Tacloban-Manila
    DG 7062/7063 Manila-Puerto Princesa-Manila
    DG 7072/7073 Manila-Iloilo-Manila
    DG 7082/7083 Manila-Bacolod-Manila

Cebu Pacific

    5J 327/328 Manila-Legazpi-Manila
    5J 339/340 Manila-Kalibo-Manila
    5J 373/374 Manila-Roxas-Manila
    5J 385/386 Manila-Cagayan de Oro-Manila
    5J 506/507 Manila-Tuguegarao-Manila
    5J 523/524 Manila-Naga-Manila
    5J 563/564 Manila-Caticlan-Manila
    5J 659/660 Manila-Tacloban-Manila
    5J 787/788 Manila-Butuan-Manila
    5J 791/792 Manila-Butuan-Manila
    5J 857/858 Manila-Zamboanga-Manila
    5J 899/900 Manila-Caticlan-Manila
    5J 901/902 Manila-Caticlan-Manila
    5J 965/968 Manila-Davao-Manila
    5J 975/966 Manila-Davao-Manila
    5J 995/996 Manila-General Santos-Manila

To rebook

For rebooking of PAL and PAL Express flights, passengers are asked to log on to www.philippineairlinescom and www.flypalexpress.com or call PAL hotline 855-8888 or PALex reservations at 855 9000.


At the same time, PAL said six flights, which were diverted to Clark, have returned to Manila. These are: PR 808 Davao Manila, PR 810 Davao-Manila, 2P 022 Masbate-Manila, 2P 202 Roxas-Manila, 2P 268 Naga-Manila, and 2P 092 Calbayog-Manila.

TigerAir Philippines also issued a statement saying all its Tuesday flights to and from Manila have been cancelled until further notice, although the airline has yet to give details of how many flights are affected and the outbound destinations.

"We will waive charges and issue refunds to affected passengers," TigerAir said.

TigerAir passengers may call its hotline 798-4488.

‘Normal at Clark’

Two PAL Airbus A319 aircraft from Davao, two Airphil Express A-8s from Masbate and Calbayog, and a Cebu Pacific Airbus A-320 from Thailand were diverted to Clark at 9:05 a.m. because of poor visibility caused by heavy rains.

Since Saturday, the southwest monsoon has been causing massive floods in many parts of Metro Manila, as well as Central and Northern Luzon.

On Sunday, a Qantas Airbus A-380 aircraft from Hong Kong was diverted to Clark Airport due to traffic congestion and lack of parking space at the NAIA.

Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) President and CEO Victor Jose I. Luciano said that Clark Airport is ready anytime to accommodate diverted flights as a result of poor visibility and traffic congestions at the NAIA.

“Clark Airport had been accommodating diverted flights, and the airport is always ready of such emergency,” Luciano added.

He said that flight operations at Clark Airport have remained normal since Saturday despite several diverted flights from NAIA, adding that emergency hotlines at Clark Airport are open 24 hours a day.

source: interaksyon.com

The ConjuRain, 'immortal' office workers now showing in your favorite flooded theaters

MANILA - Filipinos still manage to smile through rains and floods as #Maring and #Habagat continue their tryst in Luzon.

source: interaksyon.com

Half of Metro Manila is under water - MMDA

MANILA – Fifty to sixty percent of Metro Manila is under water as the southwest monsoon enhanced by tropical storm Maring continued to affect the metropolis and nearby provinces, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino said Tuesday said.

Areas submerged in deep floodwaters are Paranaque City, Pasig City, Quezon City, Manila, and Marikina City, he said. 






“But that doesn’t really mean that the whole of Metro Manila is covered with water, the situation varies (from area to area) …that (estimate) is just a general statement,” he clarified.

‘No number coding’

Tolentino also said that as of 9 a.m. Tuesday, the number coding has been suspended but advised motorists to avoid areas with perennial flooding.

“Light vehicles should not pass by these areas because you might get stalled…but we are hoping that the floodwater will subside by 4 p.m.,” he added.

He said the gates in Manggahan Floodway in Pasig City were already opened to divert the water to Laguna de Bay, which he claimed somehow helped ease the flood situation.

Tolentino said all the 51 flood-pumping stations located throughout the metro are all operational and have sufficient fuel.

source: interaksyon.com

Enjoy Smart’s super fast and wide 4G LTE coverage with Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3”

Enjoy the latest perks of Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) as the country’s largest fourth-generation (4G) Long Term Evolution (LTE) continues to expand its super fast coverage not just in Metro Manila but in more areas as well.

Smart LTE is now present in over 170 cities and municipalities across the country, including the province of Rizal, North Luzon, South Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.  Smart LTE also covers all 17 cities and municipalities of Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Manila, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, Pateros, Quezon City, San Juan, Taguig, and Valenzuela.

“We foresee how access to a reliable and pervasive LTE network can help create so many new ways for our subscribers to benefit from the technology. These benefits include access to multimedia entertainment, and the use of technology as a tool for education, health, governance, among others,” said Rolando G. Peña, head of technology at Smart and its parent company PLDT.

“By continuously expanding our LTE coverage, we are ‘investing’ in local communities and economies, and making sure that the best of our services are available to our subscribers, wherever they are in the country,” added Peña.

The increasing number of areas covered allows Smart subscribers using LTE-compatible devices to wirelessly access the Internet at speeds of up to 42 megabytes per second (Mbps). This means enjoying movies or videos, uploading or downloading photos, among others, on their mobile device with no lag, no buffering, and no delays.

To get more people to experience and take advantage of LTE, Smart disclosed that that it will exclusively carry the new Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3”, one of the world’s most advanced Android ‘phablets’. A phablet is a ‘hybrid’ category of smartphones that offer the supersized screen of a tablet.

Available at Smart All-In Plan 1200*, and free at Unli Data Plan 2000, the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3” is the largest LTE-capable smartphone in the market today, bringing into one handy device the perfect combination of super-fast LTE connectivity and the maximized viewing experience of a phablet.

“In the same way that this phablet is the perfect device for people who cannot quite decide whether to get a smartphone or a tablet, so is Smart LTE the perfect ‘partner’ to a device as advanced as the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3”,” said Smart Postpaid Business Head Kathy Carag.

“Not only is Smart LTE faster and more reliable, but it is also the Philippines’ most widely-available LTE service. This ensures that users can maximize their Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3” and enjoy its features right in the areas where they live, work and play,” added Carag.

Smart’s expanded LTE coverage is supported by over 71,000 kilometers of fiber optic cables connecting the wireless leader’s base stations to the core network, enabling it and its parent company PLDT to deliver the best data services at the speed of light.

For more information on other Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3” offers and to know more about Smart’s postpaid plans, visit www.smart.com.ph/postpaid.

source: interaksyon.com

A journey of faith with a Pilot

It was a scorching Holy Week, but the streets of the Metro Manila were empty and driving was a joy.

My first destination was Pampanga. I was test-driving a Honda Pilot and was excited to see just how this SUV would do in the heat of the summer sun.

For starters, I think the Honda Pilot stands apart from the majority of crossovers. What I really like about it is its rugged and macho look. While I’ve noticed that most SUVs have become more aerodynamic and carlike in the past decade, the Pilot has opted to go in the opposite direction. It started life as a wagon, and in the past years has adopted a more SUV-like shape.

Although, the Pilot might have a more rugged look and seem daunting to most women drivers, it’s still a crossover and it makes driving it such a pleasure. No heaviness to the steering. Shifting lanes and maneuvering it into small paces was really quite easy for a small driver like me.

The Pilot’s boxy body has an especially roomy interior, as well as great versatility for busy weekend-hauling needs. Yet with a carlike unibody design, bolstered structurally with some of the benefits of an SUV, the Pilot is able to draw from the best of both worlds.

I decided to take the Pilot on a trip to Pampanga and in keeping with the Holy Week tradition I opted to head for Visita Iglesia and visit a few churches there.




The Pilot’s five-speed automatic transmission, its 250-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine, was a little cause for alarm for me as I thought that I might have to spend all my money on gas. But I was pleasantly surprised at how fuel-efficient this SUV is. I kept it on “eco” mode all throughout my drive to Pampanga.

The stop-and-go traffic on the NLEX was really bad. It took me almost four hours to reach the San Fernando exit. I had planned to make it to Sta. Rita Church first, then on to Betis Church and then to the Cathedral of San Fernando. That was not to be the case.

As I sat in the driver’s seat (yes, I was driving solo) I had time to fiddle with my chair and adjust it to the right height. The traffic did not bother me; matter of fact I welcomed it, as it gave me a better feel of the ride of the Pilot.

It was smooth and easy to maneuver in situations where I did have to overtake at a moment’s notice. At first I was cautious, but once I got a feel of the size of the Pilot and just how quickly it responded to quick lane switching — it was an enjoyable ride to Pampanga.

The real traffic, though, started at the Gapan-Olongapo road where traffic had built up really bad. There was chaos from the cars on the road, and the men walking while flagellating themselves was a riot.


I opted to turn back. And this is where the Pilot was truly a joy to drive. I was able to steer this SUV into small spaces — even with cars refusing to let a few of us drivers turn back. At the same time I felt truly safe inside the Pilot as its rugged body persuaded smaller cars to give way.

I was only able to make it to San Fernando Cathedral that day. The church was filled with folks doing the Stations of the Cross and others getting ready for the Washing of the Feet Mass that was going to take place in a few hours.

Before I left the Cathedral, I took a photo of the Pilot at the Cathedral parking area and I gave it a pat on the hood for being so good to me. I hopped on the Pilot and made my way back to Manila. The drive was a breeze as the NLEX was traffic-free coming into Manila.

I recalled having read recently that the Pilot has for years been a top safety achiever, and it includes side-curtain bags cover all three rows, along with the usual roster of security items. For this year, a rearview camera system is standard on all models and helps with visibility.  The rearview visibility really made backing up quite easy.

On Good Friday it is a tradition that I take my Mom to visit a few churches. Being in her 80s, she prefers to go to the churches early on Friday morning, as there are less people there. I can’t blame her.

I took her on a ride in the Pilot and we took Vodka, my little Bichon Frise, with us. We visited three churches that day — all within the vicinity of Metro Manila. Our first stop was Mount Carmel Church in Quezon City. I like this church because it has such a big parking area. Our Next stop was Mary the Queen Church in Greenhills. I had to let my mom down first and then drive around because parking is a hassle in this area.

Our last stop was Santuario de San Jose in Geeenhills, another church where parking can be a problem. I did get to maneuver the Pilot into a small parking space.

“I like this car,” my mom said. “The seats here at the back are comfy and the air-conditioning is really cool considering it’s so hot outside.”

After I dropped my mom off at home, I headed south. My destination was the Cathedral of Calamba.  On that really hot Friday, by noon the Pilot kept me cool, not just with its air-conditioning, but also through the ease of driving it along the SLEX.

I got to the Cathedral of Calamba in 45 minutes. The church was full, but there was parking. Again lots of squeezing into small spaces for the Pilot, which was now feeling like my ever-reliable companion, and it did not fail me.

I took a walk through the Garden of Gethsemane in Calamba, which had the Stations of the Cross etched in woodcarvings.

That done, I drove back to Manila and opted to go to BGC and check out the interactive Way of the Cross there.

It was quite interesting, the way BGC had set up its rather modern, interactive way of the cross. So that one does not just read a prayer book, the Stations of the Cross were written on a black cloth and then at the end of each station, the faithful are asked to perform an act. For example, in the Station where Jesus carries the Cross, there was a cemented area where people were asked to carry a cross that weighed seven pounds to get a feel, even if just a small feel, of what Jesus might have felt when he carried the cross.





Interesting.

I had made a vow to complete seven churches this year. So, my next stop was Padre Pio Chapel on C5.

I did not know that if I wanted to get into the area where the Stations of the Cross were in this church, I had to carry a cross. The crosses came in different sizes with the bigger ones for the men and the smaller ones for the women. I was given a small cross.

Since this was the second interactive Stations of the Cross chapel I had visited, it made me wonder if the new generation of people needed to have physical proof to strengthen their faith.  It was not like that while I was growing up, yet I believe the reality of Christian faith was no less real to me.

My last stop was Christ the King Church in Quezon City. I had fun with the Pilot getting into the parking area, as it was full and uphill to boot. But then, easy driving is an understatement in this SUV.

I headed home that day with much to ponder faith and how it seems to be changing.  Or perhaps the churches are trying to find ways to keep the faithful coming back — and to remain relevant to Catholics.

At the same time, I smiled amid my “profound” thoughts about faith and thanked God for the Pilot, which kept me safe through my journey of faith.

source: philstar.com

Borderless Cuisine

The term atelier is more commonly used to describe the workspace of a chi-chi fashion designer or gallery-worthy artiste. But in this case, Atelier 317 is the workstation of one of Philippine society’s glam girls who, not content with being a statistic on the Manila’s Best Dressed list, slips out of the designer dresses to don a chef’s jacket and cook for her customers. We refer, of course, to Stephanie Zubiri, Cordon Bleu alum, food writer, young fashion icon, entrepreneur, and now, after a gorgeous wedding to Jonathan Crespi at Misibis Bay, a newly-wed.

Because of her rep as an “it” girl, she may seem intimidating and stand-offish – until you get to sit down and chat with her about her many passions, with a side-trip stories of her teenage escapades in Europe. The same may be said of the restaurant, by virtue of the owner’s background. It may seem intimidating on paper, but a step inside Atelier 317 brings you to a homey atmosphere, with an artsy touch to the knick-knacks on the tables, the assortment of unusual plates and cups, down to the mismatched chairs of the dining area.

There is even an old sewing machine that she had converted at a local shop into a conversation piece/eating area. It’s all hers, she says, “I took my time decorating because I wanted it to reflect my tastes. Everything here, I chose myself. We didn’t get an interior decorator – I bought every piece, and I am actually surprised at how well it all came together.”

The food is also quite eclectic. “I am always asked what kind of cuisine I offer,” she grins. “People like to box you in, and probably because of my culinary training background, they always think I make fancy French food. No, I don’t make fancy French food!” she mock groans. “For me, why does a restaurant have to have a specific cuisine? For me, it is about world food, not just French cuisine. Almost all these recipes are what I eat at home. I like simple ingredients, I like using herbs and spices. These dishes comprise my personal comfort food.” One of these is the Spicy Lamb Bolognese, which she swears is one of her favorites and is a staple in her own home kitchen.

She talks about her mission to make an Atelier meal a memorable experience. “When I was starting out, I was looking for an alternative to my catering business. I wanted to make a restaurant that people will not go to only for special occasions. I want to offer what people like and look for every time they eat at the restaurant, which is comfort food. From our catering, we had a lot of things that were really doing well, like the Bicol Express Chicken. I want people to come here with an open mind, and try new versions of the things that they like or are familiar with.”

Her travels also have a strong influence on her menu. “My menu constantly evolves. I visited Vietnam three times last year to explore, and I loved the food. I went to cooking classes in Thailand. I go around asking people for their recipes. These are the techniques and flavors that I try to translate with my own dishes. I love Indian food, so I am developing South Asian dishes. I talk to friends in the food industry to find out what is happening.”

Still, she insists on keeping it simple and relatable. For all the prestige of Cordon Bleu, she candidly says she did not exceptionally enjoy the experience. “It was too serious, too difficult! I like to cook from the heart!” Her tapa is a recipe from her Lola Zubiri, and aside from the addition of foie gras bits in her molo soup, the bola-bola follows the family formula. “She used to make her bola-bola with tomato sauce, and on some days, I offer that as well,” Stephanie says.

She adds that her philosophy is all about offering the best quality within more reasonable price points. Her hollandaise sauce for the fab Eggs Benedict is made fresh from scratch. Her best-selling Caprese salad is made with kesong puti, instead of the more expensive mozzarella. “I don’t want to charge P500 for a Caprese salad when there is a good alternative that will offer better value!” she says.

Here, she flame-broils the cheese and plump tomatoes to give them a smoky flavor, and drizzles these with olive oil and balsamic reduction, followed by a smattering of fresh basil leaves. A must-try is the melt-in-the-mouth Balsamic Beef Adobo, slow-cooked US Black Angus Short Rib served with Portobello Mushroom Sinangag Rice.

For those who are not inclined to “sin,” Atelier 317 offers healthy vegetarian options such as the Falafel Pita Burger and the creamy Spiced Pumpkin Soup, along with salmon dishes like her Red Curry Salmon Parmentier – flaked, poached salmon topped with lemongrass and fried shallots, served with red curry sauce.

The restaurant, which is now equipped to handle small gatherings for cooking demos at the top floor, is a favorite haunt of well-known personalities for its laid-back vibe. The location, a stone’s throw away from the Powerplant mall, is perfect for a weekend brunch away from the maddening crowds. Stephanie says that her decision not to locate at a mall offers some kind of freedom. “There is no pressure to have a high turnover, and guests are more inclined to linger over coffee or good wine.”

Atelier 317 is located at the Palm Rock Bldg., 6060 Palma corner Osias Sts. (near Makati Science High School) in Poblacion, Makati City. The restaurant is open Mondays to Fridays from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 358-0987, 0917-8308393 or e-mail atelier317@epicurusinc.ph.

source: mb.com.ph

BlackBerry Z10 all set for March 19 availability in the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — BlackBerry’s latest attempt at regaining the mobile crown will soon hit stores in Metro Manila, bearing a price tag of P29,990 and support for high-speed LTE mobile Internet, executives announced Wednesday.

The BlackBerry Z10, the first-ever smartphone to carry the Canadian phone maker’s revitalized BB10 operating system, will be available on March 19 through the top three telecom firms in the Philippines — Smart Communications, Sun Cellular, and Globe Telecom. LTE plans, however, have yet to be disclosed by the telcos.

For interested users, BlackBerry Philippines is already accepting reservations from interested Filipino users via their Facebook page and an official website.

Featuring perhaps the most radical design transformation since the inception of BlackBerry, the Z10 will be powered by a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor aided by 2GB of RAM, and will carry 16GB of onboard storage expandable up to 64GB via a microSD card.

It also includes the latest in “high density pixel and screen technology” that allows for a clearer and crisper display on a compact form factor. Executives announced that the Z10 will come in black and white colors for Philippine consumers.

But perhaps the most noteworthy feature to come to BlackBerry’s latest smartphone is the operating system, called BB10, which is tipped to clash head-on with popular mobile operating systems such as Android and iOS.

Largely gesture-based, BB10 features certain user-interface features that make it stand out among other mobile platforms, such as: BlackBerry Hub, which pools all contact information about a certain person into one location; BlackBerry Balance, which allows the user to quickly switch between work and personal profiles; and BlackBerry Peek, the OS’s multitasking facility, which gives the user the ability to quickly scroll between open applications and peek at notifications.

Executives said as much as 70,000 apps are already available on the BlackBerry World store front upon launch, aided largely by the opening of an online app generator that gives developers the facility to easily port their apps from other platforms and into the BB10 store front.

Announcing the latest BlackBerry device during the company’s 10th year of operations in the country, BlackBerry Philippines Country Director Cameron Vernest said: “BlackBerry 10 offers a faster and smarter experience that continuously adapts to you. Every feature, every gesture and every detail is designed to keep you moving.”

Touted as a platform that will “transform mobile communications into mobile computing,” BB10 is being hailed as the company’s last-ditch effort at staying relevant in the increasingly competitive smartphone market now dominated by the likes of Samsung, Huawei, ZTE, and Apple.

BlackBerry 10 devices will be offered in an all-touchscreen version as well as in a model that keeps a physical keyboard, which many “crackberries,” or loyal fans of the platform, have come to love. Local availability for QWERTY models, however, were not disclosed by local executives.

source: interaksyon.com