POP NEWS PHILIPPINES

Re-elected Sen. Cynthia Villar, the No. 1 in the last May midterm elections, and the other winning senators, who ran under Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), take their oath of office before President Rodrigo    Duterte.  Villar, known as “Misis Hanepbuhay,” wants to remain chairperson of the Senate committee on agriculture and food in the coming 18th Congress to continue her programs in improving the lives of Filipino farmers and fisherfolks. She also prefers to retain her chairmanship of the environment and natural resources committee to further pursue her advocacy on environmental protection.  Villar was    joined by Senators Sonny Angara, Pia Cayetano, Ronald Dela Rosa, Imee Marcos, Francis Tolentino and Bong Revilla during the oath-taking ceremony  at the Malacanang Palace.

The Beauty Empire Face and Body Center held recently the soft opening of a new and bigger branch to provide its world-class services to more clients. This top-notch skin care and aesthetic center, the brainchild of husband-and-wife team of Dr. Alvin and Mrs. Dorothy Joy Matulac, offers a wide array of quality beauty treatment services, enhancement procedures and beauty products. The palatial-like, gold-colored interiors of The Beauty Empire also features exceptional beauty equipment that renders beauty treatments, all priced within reach but guarantees favorable and successful results that exceeds expectations. The Beauty Empire takes pride in its line of treatments that represent the latest breakthroughs in beauty trends and technologies. These include their popular services like Empire Popular Facial, Celebrity Facial, Diamond Peel, Oxygen Infusion Facial, Empress Glass Skin, Hydra Facial, Jetpeel Facial, Hydra Peel Facial, Biolift Facial and Acne Control. Other ser...

SAS Philippines, the leader in analytics, has expressed support to the government by partnering with them in area of analytics which would eventually help the public in fraud management, anti-money laundering, public safety, and cybersecurity. "These days we are trying to expand our investments with the Philippine government," said Ryan Guadalquiver, ASEAN director for business solutions, SAS, during a press conference dubbed "SAS Government Forum 2019 Agenda" held at the Edsa Shangrila in Mandaluyong City recently Quadalquiver added: "We're trying to see how we can expand a bit in terms of analytics in some areas where the administration is trying to focus on." SAS has been the leader in analytics for more than 40 years now, he said. "I would say we invented analytics since 1976," said Quadalquiver. SAS started in North Carolina in the US as a simple means of trying to help the American state's agricultural sector in ter...

Re-elected Sen. Cynthia A. Villar and Philippine Army Brig. Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. led the wreath-laying before   the 22-feet bronze statue of Dr. Jose Rizal in Calamba, Laguna.  The ceremony was observance of the  158 birth anniversary of the Philippines’ national hero last June 18.

  Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) President Dr. Henry Lim Bon Liong has offered assistance to 22  Filipino fishers whose boat figured in an allision with a Chinese ship near the Recto (Reed) Bank.     Liong made the offer during the Pandesal Forum of Kamuning Bakery Café, Quezon City recently. His  full statement:       "On the recent unfortunate mishap involving 22 Filipino fishermen and their boat, while the Philippine and China governments are now still ascertaining what really happened, so far the real truth that we are already sure of is that our 22 Filipino brothers had lost their fishing vessel and their means of livelihood;    "The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc.(FFCCCII) as a business and civic organization appeals for sobriety from all sectors of our Philippine society;    "The FFCCCII wishes to offer our sincere...

Samantha Bernardo, Binibining Pilipinas 2019 2nd Runner-Up, slammed bashers who claim she did not accept the decision of the judges during the grand coronation of Bb. Pilipinas 2019 beauty pageant last June 9. In a lengthy post on Instagram June 18, Bernardo said: "What I always read now on my social media is, "Samantha, you are too strong kasi. You are too rehearsed. You are too pageant patty, your makeup is so dark and so on.. that's why you are a runner up again" "Where is Samantha? She's so bitter. Why is she not attending activities? She deserves to be 2nd runner up because she's not fulfilling her duties now. She has a bad attitude and etc" "Dummy accounts, seriously? 😅 "What we allow you to see is just the surface, you guys don't know anything. I've been so sick for almost 2 weeks until Coronation night (all the staff can attest that I used oral spray and nasal spray every now and then before going out on stage j...

When you say gin in the Philippines, only one brand comes to mind: Ginebra San Miguel.  Wherever you are, whatever your status, whether celebrating milestones or unwinding at the end of the day, it has become part of the Filipino’s way of life. Perhaps this is because Ginebra San Miguel represents more than a drink. It is a testament to the passion, perseverance and the unwavering spirit of the people it has served for almost two centuries. The Birth of an Icon The story of Ginebra San Miguel is the story of a drinking culture that began on March 10, 1834. From its humble beginnings in a small distillery in Quiapo, Manila, Ginebra San Miguel, the first-ever gin in the Philippines, was initially produced to cater to the affluent and colonial elite who stayed on in Manila and later shared with other wealthy Filipinos. Back then, Ginebra San Miguel was bottled in 20-liter glass jars wrapped in rattan weave called the dama juana. The brand, already an awa...

Sen. Cynthia A. Villar led the ceremonial transplanting of agricultural crops at the Villar SIPAG Farm School in Bacoor, Cavite.    To continue her advocacy in uplifting the lives of Filipino farmers and fisherfolks. Villar will retain the chairmanship of the Senate agricultural and food committee in the upcoming 18th Congress.  Since the Philippines is an agricultural country, the senator underscores the need for agricultural growth to spur economic development. The senator was joined by more than 300 participants, including officials from the East West Seed Foundation led by Executive Directors Bing Van Tooren and Crisanto Boysie Sabino. 

Pageant fans are asking: "Where is Samantha Bernardo?" This after Bernardo was absent in two succesive events of the media tour for the winners of Bb. Pilipinas 2019 beauty pageant which started Tuesday, June 11. Bernardo, last year's second runner-up, won the same placement in the Bb. Pilipinas 2019 pageant last June 9. The beauty queen from Palawan did not show up at the exclusive photo shoot for the Philippine Star held at Gateway Araneta Center last June 11. On June 13, Bernardo was also a no-show during the winners appearance in "Umagang Kay Ganda" on ABS CBN. A representative from the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. commented on the absence of Bernardo in the two events. "She is not feeling well," the rep told Pop News Philippines. Unconfirmed reports said that Bernardo was emotional backstage after the grand coronation night of Bb. Pilipinas 2019 pageant. - ROBERT R. REQUINTINA

Re-elected Senator Cynthia Villar was among the awardees of the Rotary Club of Manila's (RCM) 15th Tourism Awards held at New World Hotel in Makati. Villar was recognized for her valuable contributions to the country’s tourism through various programs in the agriculture sector.  She authored the  Farm Tourism Law, which enabled small farmers to earn additional income by converting their farms into tourist farms and learning sites.  When the law was passed in 2014, there are 300 farm schools which grew to 1,855 at present.   RCM headed by its President Jesus Pineda and Director Bobby Joseph presented to Villar a Plague of Appreciation for her role in “the development and promotion of farm tourism which led to the promotion of economic growth of the Philippines and attracted local tourism.

Swimsuit diva Domz Ramos of DR SWIM admitted that he is not in charge of the swimwear for the finals of Bb. Pilipinas 2019 pageant. But Ramos said that he would always be grateful to Stella Marquez Araneta, chair of Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc. for the wonderful opportunity of being part of the most prestigious national pageant. "I am forever grateful to Madam Stella Marquez Araneta," said Ramos in an exclusive interview. Ramos also said that there is no bad blood between DR SWIM and Bb. Pilipinas despite the change of swimwear provider in the finals. To show his support to the pageant, Ramos said that he will attend the grand coronation of Bb. Pilipinas 2019 at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City Sunday, June 9. "Watch out for my outfit!" Ramos laughed. Ramos has been the official swimwear provider of Bb. Pilipinas pageant for four years now. - ROBERT REQUINTINA

The woman behind Nouvelle Haute Couture known for elegant, timeless and edgy designs is fashion designer and entrepreneur Marianne Martin. Martin started her RTW business at a very young age and early exposure to fashion inspired her to pursue further studies in Fashion design. Armed with knowledge, skills, and passion for fashion . . . Nouvelle Haute Couture was created. Empowering the woman of today and celebrating every woman's uniqueness is reflected in her creations, confidence, individuality with elegance and grace is a trademark of Martin designs. She believes that beauty starts at the moment when you decide to be yourself. On June 15, Martin will join forces with 19 of the biggest names in fashion for an unforgettable moment in the bridal fashion scene. Come watch this celebration of love and commitment dubbed "She Said Yes! The 2nd She Said Yes Bridal Fair: A Crowne Plaza Wedding and Engagement Showcase" at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galler...

The results are in! Thirty of the country's respected and popular members of pageant media have finally revealed their top 3 Binibinis who they believe have the strong chance of winning the Miss Universe Philippines 2019 crown during the grand coronation of Bb. Pilipinas pageant at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on June 9. Miss Universe Philippines represents the country in the Miss Universe pageant. From Day 1, these media personalities from TV, print and blogs have chatted with, swapped opinions on issues ranging from skin care to politics or simply observed these 40 Binibinis in numerous pre-pageant activities. I wrote the article. Thus, I did not include my personal choices in the survey. In my survey, I asked our media friends to name their top 3 Binibinis for the title of MUP 2019. Many of those surveyed gave three names but some only gave two. One of our media friends only shared one name. After more than three months of covering these stunning Bi...

Senator Cynthia A. Villar recognizes the significant contributions of the recipients of the 2018 Rice Achievers award in ensuring that rice remains a staple in the Filipino household’s daily meal.  Villar, chair of the Senate agriculture and food committee, said she is happy that many reforms in the country’s agricultural sector like sufficient irrigation happened under the Duterte administration.  During the event, the re-elected senator posed with the rice achiever awardees at the awarding ceremony held at the PICC in Pasay City.

Miss E sthe Facial Salon and Skin Care, a franchise of a popular facial salon chain in Japan, was one of the proud sponsors of the recent Miss Teen Philippines 2019. Miss Esthe gave P10,000 worth of products and services to this year's winner, 15-year old, Nikki de Moura from Cagayan de Or o.   Before the coronation night, the candidates visited Miss Esthe's branch at the 2 nd  Level of Bonifacio Uptown Mall where estheticians (beauty and skin care technicians) welcomed them and explained about the facial salon's products and treatments. Miss Esthe gave its all-out support for the success of Miss Teen Philippines 2019 because it believes that every teen Filipina should be beautiful inside and out, confident and ready to face to face the world in pursuit of their dreams. Miss Esthe Facial Salon and Skin Care is known for its instant lifting, anti-aging, whitening, acne, sensitive skin, deep whitening, deep acne and open pores treatments as ...

Avita Philippines, a global enterprise based in Singapore, marks its 5th year this year as it taps the natural ingenuity of Filipinos to generate growth. "Through a unique business model, Avita has offered a profitable business opportunity to thousands across Asia. Now we are sharing the prospects of a prosperous future to Filipinos," said Jinnie Uy, CEO/President, Avita Philippines, during a talk at Crowne Plaza recently. Uy added: "In the course of our business, we remain committed to the mantra that fuel's Avita's global emrgence: striving to deliver innovative and premium healthcare products, inspiring moments of optimism and happiness, creating value, and making a difference by enhancing the quality of life of people around us." This year, Avita looks to emulate the success of its mother brand based in Singapore by introducing Celergen, a groundbreaking Swiss marine oral cell therapy treatment system. Celergen is a powerful, multi-facete...

Reigning Miss Universe Catriona Gray arrived in Manila from New York on June 2 to headline a benefit gala and to crown  her succesor during the grand coronation of Bb. Pilipinas 2019 pageant. On June 4, Gray is expected to attend the benefit gala dubbed "Universe Gives Back" at a hotel in Pasay City. She will co-headline the event with Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach. The gala is a joint project of the Miss Universe Philippines and Binibining Pilipinas groups. It will benefit the organizations Love Yourself which Wurtzbach actively supports and Young Focus which Gray assists long before they became Miss Universe. The participating Filipino designers in the charity show are Albert Andrada, Michael Leyva, Rhett Eala, Ito Curata, Jot Losa, Avel Bacudio, Cherry Veric, and Martin Bautista. On June 9, Gray will pass on her crown to the new Miss Universe Philippines during grand coronation of Bb Pilipinas 2019 pageant which will be held at the Smart Aranet...

Reelected Senator Cynthia Villar has tapped the help of a group of women in Dasmariñas, Cavite to make bags out of the tarpaulins used during her campaign for the recent elections. Villar, chair of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, said this recycling project benefits a small tailoring business, which employs mothers as sewers. “We are very glad that we have now a way for the proper disposal of these used tarpaulins. Through this initiative, we were not only able to recycle used tarpaulins into something useful, we were also able to help women earn additional income for their families, ” Villar said. Christine Joy Ferrer, 27 years old,  just started  MXD Tailoring two months ago in the garage of the apartment she is renting. For five years, she worked for her older sister’s tailoring shop until it closed down. She then borrowed the sewing machines and started her own business. “Tuwang tuwa po ako kasi nagsisimula pa lang ako tapos nagtiwala na p...

Re-elected Senator Cynthia Villar has pushed for the establishment of more fisheries research centers in the country to help solve the problem of dwindling fish supply and help secure the livelihood of small fisherfolk. Villar, chair of the Committee on Agriculture and Food, pushed for the passage of House Bill 7491, which seeks to establish a provincial fisheries and aquatic resources training, development and product center in Aklan; HB 7500, which seeks to establish a freshwater multispecies hatchery and research center in Balo-I, Lanao del Norte; and HB 7484, which seeks to establish a fisheries research center in Abulug, Cagayan. “These bills will help resolve overfishing and dwindling fish catch for the small fisherfolk in these areas since they will be given priority access to their own town’s marine resources and new technologies including the processing and preservation of their fish catch,” Villar said. The Nacionalista Party senator was also instrumental in ...