Author: Izel Abanilla

MANILA, Philippines – The Metro Manila Film Festival has officially announced the first set of entries officially participating this year in its grand launch on Tuesday. Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Don Artes announced that the 50th MMFF will have 10 entries instead of the usual eight. The official batch of entries include: Headlined by Vice Ganda, “And the Breadwinner Is…” also stars Gina Pareño, Maris Racal, Jhong Hilario, and Kokoy de Santos. Produced by ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc. and The Ideafirst Company, the movie is directed by Jun Robles Lana and written by Daisy Cayanan, Jumbo Albano, and Jun…

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Coast Guard reported on Tuesday that a China Coast Guard vessel conducted an “intrusive patrol” just 60 nautical miles off Lubang Island in Mindoro province. In a press briefing, Philippine Navy spokesperson for West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said the Chinese ship was on a “continuous passage” and was exercising its “freedom of navigation.” “The Philippine Navy has monitored the presence. It was a continuous passage west of Lubang Island 60 nautical miles from mainland Luzon,” Trinidad said. The Philippine side issued a radio challenge, said Trinidad, but the vessel did not…

MANILA, Philippines – As a “tribute to Philippine cinema,” the restored version of the 1998 historical blockbuster “Jose Rizal” will premiere for free at the Manila Metropolitan Theatre during the Cinemalaya Festival on Aug. 7 at 4 p.m. Headlined by award-winning actor Cesar Montano, the movie tells the life of the national hero from the time of his childhood, his ideologies and struggles for equality until his death at the Bagumbayan on December 30, 1896. Alongside Montano, the film starred Chin Chin Gutierez, Mickey Ferriols, Ronnie Lazaro, Gloria Diaz, Pen Medina and Joel Torre among others. It was directed by…

The Commission on Human Rights has ordered a parallel investigation following the death of the 19-year-old maritime cadet in Calamba City who was reportedly punished by performing physical exercises for sending a thumbs up emoji to their group chat. In a statement on Monday, the CHR called on authorities to conduct a motu proprio investigation, or a probe without a formal party request to “ensure justice for his family.” “The Commission has taken cognizance of the incident and conducted its own investigation, or motu proprio, through its regional office in Region IV,” it said. The CHR, through Chairperson Richard Palpal-Latoc…

MANILA, Philippines – Should strong connections between former President Rodrigo Duterte and illegal offshore gaming operators be established through his former economic adviser Michael Yang, focus might shift from suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo to the former state chief. In a virtual press conference on Monday, Sen. Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate committee on women and children conducting the hearing on illegal POGOs revealed that Yang’s brother allegedly had direct transactions with Baofuland Development Inc., the company suspected to be owned by the embattled town chief who is currently in hiding. Apart from being a presidential economic adviser…

Five executives of the Department of Education quit the agency ahead of the takeover of its newly-appointed chief, Sen. Sonny Angara, this week. Angara will assume the helm of the education sector starting July 19, following the resignation of Vice President Sara Duterte. The executives who will bid goodbye to the agency ahead of its change in leadership are Under Secretary Michael Poa – Duterte’s chief of staff, Undersecretary for Administration Nolasco Mempin, Assistant Secretary Sunshine Fajarda, Assistant Secretary for Procurement Reynold Munsayac and Assistant Secretary for Administration Noel Baluyan. Their resignation is also effective on the same day as…

MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Chiz Escudero assured “traumatized” suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo that her safety is a paramount concern. Escudero guaranteed that the facility where she and her siblings and co-accused will be detained is presentable, secured and ready to take them into custody. In an interview, Escudero said that the detention facility within the senate compound is guarded by personnel from the Philippine National Police. “Ininspeksyon ko na kanina at kung saka-sakali para matiyak ang seguridad ni Mayor Guo ay doon namin siya i-di-ditena kasama ang kanyang mga kamag-anak hangga’t hindi nag-i-schedule ng hearing ang komite,”…

MANILA, Philippines – Despite efforts of the Senate, suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo still remains at large but Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian assured that the embattled town chief is still in the Philippines. He has also ordered a lookout expansion throughout the country to find the former as well as her family members and co-accused. Gatchalian said authorities visited all of the mayor’s registered addresses in Valenzuela, Tarlac, Marilao and Quezon City and left an arrest order but failed to find her and her siblings Sheila, Seimen, and Wesley Leal Guo. Only her former accountant, Nancy Gamo was arrested over…

MANILA, Philippines – Suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo has been hiding from authorities pending her arrest but her lawyer said she will try her best to cooperate with the law and study her options. “Pipilitin niya, pipilitin niya,” her legal counsel Stephen David said of Guo with whom he was able to speak to on Sunday (July 14). He talked about his client in an interview on Teleradyo Serbisyo on Monday (July 15). Still undecided but the mayor will give it a good thought, the lawyer said, “I-co-contemplate niya daw ‘yun. I-co-consider niya ‘yun ‘yung mga options na ‘yan.” …

“Looking very divorced Mr. Estrada?” This was the comment of beauty queen Priscilla Meirelles when a netizen asked her husband, actor John Estrada, about his companion in Boracay suggesting that the two were having problems. In his latest Instagram post, the actor uploaded photos of himself enjoying the island which he captioned “What an awesome place.” A netizen then asked, “Sino kasama mo rigoooor? Si lena or marites?” making a reference to Rigor, Estrada’s character in Batang Quiapo. Lena and Marites were played by Mercedes Cabral and Cherry Pie Picache. This was unexpectedly answered by Meirelles, “Si @ Lily Hallman_”…