News & Current Events

AKB48 sister group in Manila to be called MNL48
March 29, 2016

AKB48 sister group in Manila to be called MNL48

AKB48, a famous Japanese girl group of 48 members from Achihabara, Tokyo, will soon have a sister group in Manila called MNL48, as announced in their concert last Friday (March 26).   AKB48. The “A.K.B”. stands for “Akihabara,” which is the place where the group was formed, and “48” is the number of members.   Known for their unique concept, AKB48 performs everyday in a theatre in Achihabara and has a sub-group that enables them to have simultaneous performances in other events. Occasionally, they have “handshake events,” which is like a meet and greet for their fans. Being known as a social phenomenon, they announced the birth of their sister […]
PH campaign period for local posts officially begins
March 29, 2016

PH campaign period for local posts officially begins

With the approaching Philippine nationwide election this May, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has already given the go signal for local candidates to start campaigning this March 26 for their respective government posts.   LOCAL CAMPAIGN PERIOD STARTS. Expect motorcades and proclamation rallies in provinces and cities in Metro Manila. (Photo by Mark Balmores via mb.com.ph)   Originally scheduled to start on March 25, Friday, it was moved days after in observance of Good Friday during the Holy Week. The schedule is set to run until May 7, 2016. With the start of the campaign period, various acts are prohibited during its extent, such as the appointment or hiring of […]
‘Wicked’ to return in Manila this 2017
March 28, 2016

‘Wicked’ to return in Manila this 2017

In a post by Concertus Manila on their Facebook page, it was announced that the beloved Broadway musical phenomenon Wicked is coming back to Manila this 2017.     Dubbed as one of the greatest musicals of all time, the spectacular world of wizards and spells will soon enchant us again as the people from the Land of Oz returns after their show in Manila last January 2014. With its successful run in 2014, Wicked comes back to stage another great show, reported to be on February 2, 2017. “Wicked: The Untold Stories of the Witches of Oz” is based on Gregory Maguire’s novel called “Wicked: The Life and Times of […]
DPWH to conduct road repairs on Holy Week
March 23, 2016

DPWH to conduct road repairs on Holy Week

  This Holy Week, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will be conducting some road constructions along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA). Starting 2:00 am on Maundy Thursday (March 24) until 2:00 pm on Easter Sunday (March 27), the following roads will be closed for repairs and reblocking: • Northbound between Madison St. in San Juan City and Ortigas Avenue in Mandaluyong City • Southbound between Ortigas flyover and Boni Avenue Motorists are advised to take other routes.   Source: Manila Bulletin Photo via Manila Bulletin
Apple unveils the newest iPhone SE
March 22, 2016

Apple unveils the newest iPhone SE

Apple users, here’s the next Apple product to purchase! Just recently, Apple wowed the world with its newest addition the iPhone legacy—the iPhone SE.     Many people have long been waiting on what’s next for Apple, as a lot of news apparently surfaced the internet on what the next iPhone brings. Now that it’s here, iPhone SE is tagged to be the most powerful 4-inch phone ever. According to Apple, this iPhone has been reinvented with its 4” retina display, with still the A9 chip used in the iPhone 6s. It has a 12-megapixel iSight camera which can capture postcard perfect photos, plus it has 4K videos as well. […]
Albay, one of UNESCO’s newly-declared biosphere reserves
March 22, 2016

Albay, one of UNESCO’s newly-declared biosphere reserves

In a meeting held by The International Co-ordinating Council of Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO, the Philippines’ Albay in Bicol became part of the 20 sites of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves last March 18 and 19.   Photo via itsmorefuninthephilippines.com   The Man and The Biosphere Program (MAB) was created by UNESCO in the 1970, which is said to be “an intergovernmental scientific endeavour to improve relations between people around the world and their natural environment.” Each year, different reserves are designated by the council, formed by elected 34 UNESCO representatives from member states. According to the UNESCO website, Albay was described below: “Located at the […]
A recap on the 2nd leg of the #PiliPinasDebates2016
March 22, 2016

A recap on the 2nd leg of the #PiliPinasDebates2016

VISAYAS LEG. Four out of five presidentiables showed up for the 2nd debate held at UP Cebu last Sunday (March 20). Photo by Krizjohn Rosales via philstar.com For the 2nd part of the PiliPinas Debates 2016 series, a more-heated exchange took place as TV5, Philippine Star, and BusinessWorld co-presented the live simulcast of the much-anticipated presidential debate that took place at the University of the Philippines Cebu last March 20. Video courtesy of TV5 Philippines via youtube.com As administered by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), this debate aims to let the presidentiables have a platform to present their opinions on important issues in the country. For the Visayas leg, TV5 […]
March 18, 2016

Sustainability through innovations – key to international development

Netherlands, Philippines strengthen ties through collaboration    The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands introduces “Inspire Innovation: Leading Sustainable Innovations toward a Progressive World,” a series of events geared toward the promotion of innovative solutions for international sustainable development.     Manila, Philippines – This year, the Netherlands marks its 65 years of diplomatic ties and 150 years of consular relations with the Philippines through a celebration entitled “Inspire Innovation: Leading Sustainable Innovations toward a Progressive World”. The celebration will focus on promoting innovative solutions to sustain international development, capitalizing on the common interests of Dutch and Filipinos. It will feature a series of lectures, a film festival, and […]
Philippines, 82nd happiest nation in the world
March 17, 2016

Philippines, 82nd happiest nation in the world

82ND HAPPIEST. Philippines ranks 82nd in the recent happiest nation survey. Photo grabbed from heartshaper.asia   Are you happy living in the Philippines? You should be, because the Philippines was listed 82nd in the world’s happiest nations, according to a recent global survey released March 16 (Wednesday). The report, released by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and the Earth Institute at Columbia University, used factors such as per capita gross domestic product and healthy years of life expectancy to quantify happiness levels. Also, it used “having someone to count on in times of trouble” and freedom from corruption. The top 10 are Switzerland, Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Canada, the […]
Mother Teresa to be declared saint on September 4
March 16, 2016

Mother Teresa to be declared saint on September 4

Mother Teresa, a Roman Catholic nun who worked in the Indian city of Calcutta, will be declared as saint on September 4th, as announced by Pope Francis on Tuesday (March 15).   MOTHER TERESA. Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta is to be declared saint on September 4. (Photo courtesy of thestationofthecross.com)   Known for her charitable works, Mother Teresa lived a life for the poor. She founded the Missionaries of Charity, which is a Roman Catholic religious congregation that is active in over a hundred countries, having 4,500 sisters worldwide. Also, Mother Teresa received numerous awards, such as the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. In 2003, six years after her […]
Meralco to lower power rates this month
March 15, 2016

Meralco to lower power rates this month

Summer is just around the corner, and as the temperature rises, the more electricity is consumed to beat of the heat! And it doesn’t help if it costs a fortune.     Luckily, the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has recently announced that consumers might see lower electric bills this month due slightly lower fuel cost and a higher  dispatch of power plants. The overall rate for their residential customer is expected to go down by P0.19 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), as reported by The Philippines Star. The bills will be reduced by P38 for households consuming 200 kWh, P57 for 300kWk, 76 for 400 kWh and 95 for 500 kWh, while […]
GrabCar given green light to pick up passengers from NAIA
March 11, 2016

GrabCar given green light to pick up passengers from NAIA

Passengers coming from NAIA can now breathe a sigh of relief, as the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) will now allow GrabCar to pick-up passengers from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) beginning on Monday, March 14.   GRABCAR IS NOW ALLOWED.   Officials from MIAA and Grab signed an agreement on March 10 allowing passengers to book via GrabCar with NAIA as your pick-up point. According to MIAA spokesperson David De Castro, they will only allow GrabCar and not GrabTaxi as the service is still in its experimental stages. “This first year of implementation will be experimental then we will be assessing operations as we go through the month”, […]
P30 flagdown rate for taxis to take effect on March 19
March 09, 2016

P30 flagdown rate for taxis to take effect on March 19

The wait is finally over. On Tuesday, March 8, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced new rates for taxis nationwide starting March 19, 2016. This comes a year after they announced a provisional P10 cut on taxi flagdown rates.   FLAGDOWN DOWN FOR GOOD. Rates for distance and waiting time have also been adjusted.   The new taxi rates are as follows: Flagdown P30 Distance P3.50 for first 500 meters P3.50 for every succeeding 500 meters Waiting time P3.50 for every 90 seconds   Airport taxis will also sport new rates: Flagdown P60 Distance P4 for first 500 meters P4 for every succeeding 500 meters Waiting time […]
‘Facebook Live’ is now available on personal profiles
March 09, 2016

‘Facebook Live’ is now available on personal profiles

If you have been receiving notifications on your Facebook that your favorite page is “live”, then you’re probably seeing the biggest social network’s Live feature.     Facebook Live is a streaming service for pages to broadcast a live chat or show directly from their timeline. In 2015, it was only available for selected verified public figures. Now, some users can do a live streaming, which can be viewed by their Facebook friends, although it is not available to everyone yet. But if you are one of the lucky people who have this option, Facebook has provided a simple tutorial for you to follow, so you can broadcast from your […]
Is Zika Virus in PH? Updates and Zika 101
March 08, 2016

Is Zika Virus in PH? Updates and Zika 101

With reports of an American woman being diagnosed with Zika virus after coming from the Philippines, people are understandably afraid. Zika has been associated with birth defects and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), an uncommon sickness that affects the nervous system. It has also been declared as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization.   AEDES AEGYPTI. The mosquito known to transmit yellow fever is also a known transmitter of Zika virus.   According to reports from Inquirer.net, Philstar.com, and CNN Philippines, the non-pregnant US resident was in the country for 4 weeks in January. It was during her last week of stay that she developed […]
P1 bus fare rollback to be expected this week
March 08, 2016

P1 bus fare rollback to be expected this week

Heads up, commuters! There may possibly be a P1.00 cut on your bus fare this week.   BUS FARE. A P1 rollback is expected to happen this week for both air-conditioned and regular buses. (Photo grabbed from securitymatters.com.ph)   In a petition filed by representative Julie de Jesus from the group Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor sa Pilipinas (STOP), a fare rollback was sought to be reduced to P11.00 for air-conditioned buses and P9.00 for regular buses. The reason for the said petition was the diesel price drop in the country. According to Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Winston Ginez, Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., said […]
Gone too soon: Award-winning director Francis Xavier Pasion found dead
March 07, 2016

Gone too soon: Award-winning director Francis Xavier Pasion found dead

The entertainment mourns anew as award-winning ABS-CBN director Francis Pasion was found dead in his Quezon City apartment around 3 p.m. last Sunday, March 6. Pasion was 38.   REST IN PEACE, DIREK. ABS-CBN director Francis Xavier Pasion.   According to a report from ABS-CBN News, his body was found near the door of the comfort room inside his house. Initial findings by PNP SOCO suggest he died of cardiac arrest. Members of the entertainment industry took to social media to express their condolences and pay tribute to Direk Francis. Quark Henares, one of his friends, gave a tribute on his Facebook account, citing working conditions in TV production as […]
7 foreign airlines eyeing Clark for new destination
March 04, 2016

7 foreign airlines eyeing Clark for new destination

Here’s to possibly more flights in Clark!   CLARK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. 7 international airlines express interest in operations at the former US military airbase. (Photo courtesy from dmia.ph)   According to Clark International Airport Corp. CEO Emigdio Tanjuatco III, seven international airlines have expressed intentions to establish operations in the said airport during their stay in the country to attend Asian Routes, an airlines and aviation stakeholders event. These seven airlines are V-Air of Taiwan, Jet Star of Singapore, Thai Smile, Rayani Air of Malaysia, Express Air of Indonesia, Air India, and Airline 4.0, a new carrier from the US. This visit will happen on March 5, where these 7 […]
11 Filipinos make it to Forbes’ annual billionaires list
March 04, 2016

11 Filipinos make it to Forbes’ annual billionaires list

This 2016, 11 wealthy Filipinos have made it again to the Forbes billionaires list, securing a place in a roll dominated by mostly US-based entrepreneurs.   PH BILLIONAIRES. Eleven Filipinos make it to the annual Forbes list, albeit some of them are seen with a decline in fortune. (Infographic by CNNPhilippines.com)   With the highest rank among other Filipinos, well-known tycoon Henry Sy of SM Investments Corporation lands at #71 spot with a net worth of $12.9B. He is then followed by chairman emeritus John Gokongwei, Jr. of JG Summit Holdings, Inc., on the #270 spot with a $5B. Lucio Tan of various industrial conglomerate operations lands at the #380 […]
Gallery Vask hailed as one of Asia’s Best Restaurants for 2016
March 04, 2016

Gallery Vask hailed as one of Asia’s Best Restaurants for 2016

Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants for 2016 was announced last Monday, February 29, and it featured one of the Philippine’s best: Gallery Vask, located in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.   CONGRATULATIONS! Gallery Vask is recognized as the 39th Best Restaurant in Asia, and the Best Restaurant in the Philippines.   Gallery Vask’s concepts was described by William Reed Business Media as being “set in a constantly evolving art space inspired by people, nature, memories, textures, techniques, travels and history.” True to form, their ever-changing menu is now 100% Filipino, a change of gears from their initial Spanish-inspired line-up with a Filipino twist. Gallery Vask’s Tiradito was hailed as their standout dish. […]