News & Current Events

State-of-the-art cinema to be unveiled in Uptown Mall BGC
February 15, 2016

State-of-the-art cinema to be unveiled in Uptown Mall BGC

Now, your movie experience is made more luxurious.     If you’ve been looking for a place to spend a great movie date with your loved one, we know a place for you. Uptown Mall in Bonifacio Global City opens its world-class theatre this February for a better movie experience for us all. Uptown cinemas will be located at the 3rd floor of the mall, which will be composed of five theaters that will have the latest screen and sound systems for a great movie experience. It will make use of the Dolby Atmos sound program which is known for being an award-winning sound system. Movie goers will surely love […]
DPWH issues road advisory for NAIA Expressway Phase 2
February 12, 2016

DPWH issues road advisory for NAIA Expressway Phase 2

Planning to go to the airport this weekend? The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) says you should plan your trip accordingly and expect heavy traffic as connection works for the NAIA Expressway Phase 2 are set to begin this Feb 13.     Starting this Saturday, civil works contractor DMCI will commence test pitting activities from Piers 1 to 18 to connect NAIA Expressway Phase II project with the existing Phase I. DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson advises the public to plan their trips accordingly and anticipate heavy traffic at Villamor Airbase Section along Sales Road in Pasay City. The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has also approved […]
Mitsubishi to create more jobs through its participation in CARS program
February 12, 2016

Mitsubishi to create more jobs through its participation in CARS program

In line with its P4.3B investment, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) vows to create more employment opportunities in the Philippines.   JOB OPPORTUNITIES. Mitsubishi Motors PCorporation CEO Osamu Masuko announced in the press briefing that there will be employment opportunities for Filipinos through their participation in CARS program.   In a press briefing held regarding the Car Manufacturing Operations in the Philippines, MMC CEO Osamu Masuko expressed his determination to participate in the PH government’s CARS program. The Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) program allows the automotive industry of the country to be competitive in ASEAN. With this program, the country’s auto industry will be able to create employment opportunities in […]
Ash Wednesday marks beginning of 40-day Lenten season today
February 10, 2016

Ash Wednesday marks beginning of 40-day Lenten season today

A lot of people may view today as an ordinary Wednesday, but this day holds a particular place in the Catholic calendar. February 10 marks the beginning of the 40-day Lenten season, known to Catholics as Ash Wednesday.   THE FAITHFUL LINE UP. Office workers from Makati line up just outside the Greenbelt Chapel earlier today to celebrate Ash Wednesday. Lay ministers mark the people with a cross using burnt ash from palm fronds.   Lent is the time of the year when most Christians abstain from what most people consider as luxury food: meat, eggs, and dairy products. Devout Catholics in particular fast for 40 days, replicating the time […]
Attention, travellers! Cheaper flights to ASEAN cities arrive this 2016
February 10, 2016

Attention, travellers! Cheaper flights to ASEAN cities arrive this 2016

If you’ve been dreaming to explore the world as part of your bucket list, 2016 is the right time to do so.     This will be possible through Protocols 5 and 6 of the ASEAN Multilateral Agreement in Air Services (MAAS) signed by President Aquino which will let Filipinos have better access and extensive flight options to and beyond capital cities of ASEAN nations. This great news will help not only travelers, but also it can enhance trade and investment opportunities for PH businesses. Also, this news is a great opportunity for local tourism and economy as more flight options and ticket prices will be available. With that, foreign […]
Conrad Manila to open this 2016
February 05, 2016

Conrad Manila to open this 2016

Looking for a new luxurious place to have a staycation? Look no more as one of Hilton’s worldwide luxury brands, the first Conrad-brand hotel in the Philippines, is set to open in Manila this 2016.   LUXURY AT ITS FINEST. The iconic luxury hotel named Conrad Manila has an impressive architectural concept of a mega yacht which is located along Manila bay.   Conrad Manila will be featuring 347 guest rooms for its hotel with high-proportioned suites to cater to the growing number of travelers and businesspersons in Manila. Also, the hotel will have ballrooms, lounges, restaurants, an infinity swimming pool, and facilities such as gym and a luxury spa. […]
Shangri-La at the Fort introduces Manila to heightened luxury and lifestyle
February 05, 2016

Shangri-La at the Fort introduces Manila to heightened luxury and lifestyle

BGC welcomes yet another high profile name among its ranks as the Shangri-La at the Fort, Manila is set to open on March 1.   LUXURY AND LIFESTYLE. It all comes together at Shangri-La at the Fort, Manila.   Standing at 250 metres high, the Shangri-La will be one of the tallest towers in the country, featuring five key components: • Shangri-La Hotel, a 576-room hotel with over 6,000 meters of event space along with 7 restaurants and bars; • Shangri-La Residences, 97 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments for people who want to enjoy apartment-style living in a hotel setting; • Kerry Sports Manila, a dedicated recreation club covering over […]
PETA offers reward up to PHP50,000 to catch cat killers
February 02, 2016

PETA offers reward up to PHP50,000 to catch cat killers

Group Hopes to Bring Person or Persons Responsible for Appalling Cruelty to Justice Makati City — Twelve community cats from Dasmariñas Village have gone missing, and some have been found dead, apparently from unnatural causes. The circular released by village management reports that one cat died slowly and painfully from chemical burns after paint thinner was poured over him. The community cats in Dasmariñas Village have been spayed and neutered through CARA Welfare’s Trap-Neuter-Return program and are fed by residents of the village. The management and security of Dasmariñas Village are looking into this barbaric series of crimes, which began on January 13, 2016, but so far no suspects have […]
BSP to release new P100 bill on Feb 1
February 01, 2016

BSP to release new P100 bill on Feb 1

Having problems distinguishing a P100-bill from a P1000-bill? Worry not. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) just released their new P100 bills today, Feb. 1, 2016. MORE MAUVE, LESS BLUE. The new P100 bill (bottom) is more mauve or violet compared to the old (top) P100 bill. In a press release, the BSP said the move was in response to suggestions from the public to make it easier to distinguish from the P1,000 bill. Comparing both bills, the new P100 bill has a stronger mauve or violet color compared to the old P100 bill. Everything else, including all the security features, will stay the same. This does not mean the […]
‘Love in the Time of March Madness’ makes it to Oscar’s shortlist
January 29, 2016

‘Love in the Time of March Madness’ makes it to Oscar’s shortlist

Another Filipino creates waves in the US Film industry as Fil-Aussie director Robertino Zambrano’s “Love in the Time of March Madness” makes it to Oscar’s Animated Short Film Category shortlist. The movie, which is also co-directed by Melissa Johnson, is about a 6’4’’ basketball star struggling to find true love. It’s a story of Melissa, an 8th grader, who ensues in a hilarious and at the same time awkward misadventures. It’s also about embracing differences that will tell people a lot about love and other life experiences. According to Zambrano, his film was intended to be a six-month project that turned into a three-year project. It has also screened at […]
PAL to fly to Saipan this year
January 29, 2016

PAL to fly to Saipan this year

If you’ve always wanted to travel to Saipan, this year is the best time to do so. MANILA-SAIPAN. Philippine Airlines is set to have Manila-Saipan route this June 2016. Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is set to start flights to Saipan, the largest island in the Northern Mariana Islands, by June this year. In the current setting, people from Manila still has to pass by Guam or Korea to get to Saipan, said PAL President and Chief Operating Officer Jaime Bautista in a phone interview with Philippine star. Now with the airline’s newest flight offering, Filipinos will have a more convenient access to the place as 35% of Saipan’s total […]
GrabTaxi is now called ‘Grab’
January 28, 2016

GrabTaxi is now called ‘Grab’

On its official Facebook page, GrabTaxi formally announces its rebranding with its name now known as “Grab” through a Facebook post. This rebranding was made because of its growing services being offered in Southeast Asia. The said transport platform which was built in 2012, only started as a taxi booking application. At present, the application now has different transportation services such as cars, bikes, deliveries, and more. In a newsletter, Grab CEO Anthony Tan assures Grab customers that the transportation booking app will be more accessible to everyone, anytime and anywhere. Also, it commits to deliver safer and more reliable transport options along with its rebranding. Southeast Asia’s leading ride-hailing […]
DOST to launch free WiFi in PH
January 27, 2016

DOST to launch free WiFi in PH

In an effort to enhance internet accessibility in the Philippines, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through its Information and Communications Technology Office (ICT Office), offers to provide internet access to public places in the Philippines nationwide. FREE INTERNET. The DOST offers to provide internet access to public places in PH. The project, named as “Free Wi-Fi Internet Access in Public Places,” shall install hotspots having a speed of 256 kbps being the lowest prevailing speed requirement for a broadband service. This project will serve 105, 000 concurrent users each with that speed. A data volume based Fair Usage Policy will be implemented so that there will be an […]
LTFRB to stop GrabBike operations
January 27, 2016

LTFRB to stop GrabBike operations

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has ordered MyTaxi.ph to stop GrabBike operation, which is a motorcycle taxi service being offered in Metro Manila. In a Rappler report, LTFRB statement said that it ordered Mytaxi.ph to cease GrabBike operation “until the Board and the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has promulgated guidelines to authorize the service.” The operator of the Grab services, MyTaxi.ph, was accredited by the LTFRB to provide Transport Network Vehicles (TNVS) pursuant to Department Order (DO) No. 2015-011. However, it does not authorize GrabBike, which uses motorcycles or bikes for local transport. According to LTFRB Chairman Winston Ginez, this is done to ensure the […]
Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan, to visit PH
January 26, 2016

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan, to visit PH

Japanese royals Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko is set to visit the Philippines this January for a four-day friendship visit, which also marks as their first visit to Southeast Asia. ASIAN LEADERS. President Aquino is here seen with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan in Aquino’s state visit to Japan last June 2015. Photo by Gil Nartea of the Malacañang Photo Bureau The visit also marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Manila and Japan. Their majesties will be arriving in Manila on January 26 (Tuesday) and will be here up to January 30 (Saturday) only. Here is the itinerary of the Japanese royals as they visit PH: […]
IN PHOTOS: Pia Wurtzbach’s Homecoming Parade
January 25, 2016

IN PHOTOS: Pia Wurtzbach’s Homecoming Parade

Thousands of Makati employees gathered at the streets to witness the coming of our one and only Miss Universe 2015, Pia Wurtzbach! Crowds started forming along the busiest Makati thoroughfare around 3 p.m. The parade, which started at 2 p.m. from the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City, passed by the Ayala Triangle around 5:40 p.m. The parade is expected to make its way to the Smart Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City after Pia Wurtzbach looked stunning in her green terno made by Albert Andrada. She waved jubilantly at the screaming crowd as the parade passed by the Ayala Triangle. At one point, she pointed skyward, looking at the rainbow […]
Filipina wins as Mrs. Grandma Universal 2016
January 26, 2016

Filipina wins as Mrs. Grandma Universal 2016

Following Ms. Universe Pia Wurtzbach’s victory, another Filipina brings home the crown from the Mrs. Grandma Universe 2016 pageant held in Sofia, Bulgaria last Thursday (January 21). BEAUTY QUEEN AT 48. Babylyn Decena-Newfield brings home the crown as Mrs. Grandma Universal 2016. Photo by Richie Lopa of Interaksyon.com Babylyn Decena-Newfield, 48, an entrepreneur, is the first Filipina to ever win the crown. She bested other 50 contestants for the said international pageant wherein she was handpicked by the pageant’s local franchisor Ovette Ricalde to join. At her age, Babylyn still regularly maintains her fitness as she is into Muay-thai, a combat sport, which is also what she demonstrated for the […]
Facebook’s birthday is #FriendsDay
January 15, 2016

Facebook’s birthday is #FriendsDay

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FACEBOOK! On February 4, Facebook will be celebrating its 12th birthday. Photo from AP And because we all have our own special day, it’s only fitting that we also celebrate the day that the revolutionary social networking site which made us stay connected with friends and loved ones was launched. On February 4th, Facebook will be celebrating its 12th anniversary. In a Facebook post by Mark Zuckerberg, the man behind the world’s largest social network Facebook, Zuckerberg shared the detail of how he made Facebook as a portal wherein he could unite his college community altogether. He first wrote the code of Facebook in January 2004 hoping it […]
7 pesos minimum jeepney fare, effective January 22
January 24, 2016

7 pesos minimum jeepney fare, effective January 22

Commuters, rejoice! According to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), the minimum fair for jeepneys in NCR (National Capital Region), Region 3 (Central Luzon) and Region 4 (Southern Tagalog) has gone from PHP 7.50 to PHP7.00 only effective today, January 22, 2016. However, the charge for succeeding kilometres will remain at PHP1.5o/km. The LTFRB ordered the fare reduction with the jeepney operators’ agreement relating to the series of oil price reductions. The gasoline prices have decreased seven times since October of 2015, and they now range from PHP33.00 to PHP40.00 per liter. On the other hand, the diesel prices has decreased ten times since October from PHP23.00 to […]
Rare planetary conjunction to be visible in Philippine skies
January 22, 2016

Rare planetary conjunction to be visible in Philippine skies

Look up to the sky just before dawn from Jan. 22 to March 3 as five planets will be taking center stage for the first time in 11 years. CELESTIAL TREAT. An image of the moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter as seen from Cerro Paranal, Chile on May 2011.1   Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn have been visible just above the east south-eastern horizon since January 1, but Mercury will soon be joining them in a rare 5-planet conjunction that will not be seen until 2040, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). According to PAGASA astronomer Jose Mendoza, the rare celestial event was last seen […]