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(Manila Bulletin) Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla’s most-anticipated romantic comedy series, “2 Good 2 Be True, instantly captivated viewers and is currently the leading TV series on Netflix Philippines.

“Super thankful on how they wholeheartedly loved the series because we really worked hard for it,” said Kathryn in the special gap show of the series on Kapamilya Online Live.

The series’ pilot episode also spread laughter last Monday (May 16), which drew more than 130,000 concurrent viewers on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel.

In the first episode, the public saw the successful heist set-up by Eloy (Daniel) and his friends to take revenge against the hotel owner who run over Mang Ben (Earl Ignacio). However, they did not know that Ali (Kath), who accompanied her patient to the same hotel, might endanger them as she was able to remember the scent of Eloy.

Viewers can look forward to more exciting twists and funny confrontations as Ali tries to help the cops identify Eloy while he tries his best to block any piece of evidence the nurse has… Read More

(Radio Free Asia) China and countries from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will conduct face-to-face consultations on a Code of Conduct (COC) in the disputed South China Sea later this month in Cambodia, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has said.

Spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters in Beijing that the consultations will be done in person “in the latter half of this month… despite the impact of COVID-19.”

For the last two years, most of the negotiations over the South China Sea, the thorniest issue between China and ASEAN, have been conducted online because of the pandemic.

China and ASEAN agreed on a Declaration of Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the South China Sea in 2003, but progress on a COC has been slow going amid an increasing risk of conflict.

China’s diplomats are believed to be making fresh efforts to speed up COC negotiations with ASEAN, especially as China’s close ally Cambodia is holding the bloc’s chairmanship this year.

“Establishing a COC is clearly stipulated in the DOC, and represents the common aspiration and need of China and ASEAN countries,” said spokesman Zhao.

He said that China “is fully confident in reaching a COC,” which would provide a “more solid guarantee of rules for lasting tranquility of the South China Sea.”

Yet analysts say there are still major stumbling blocks to be addressed, such as China’s self-proclaimed historical rights over 90 percent of the South China Sea and the long-standing division within ASEAN over maritime disputes… Read More

(Manila Bulletin) On a normal Saturday afternoon, in their home in Milan, six-year-old Megan Chloe Quiambao would be holding coloring pencils, drawing on her sketchbook. At first glance, you may find nothing extraordinary. Megan is a kid like most any other: She goes to school, does gymnastics, and likes playing with her brother, Sean. But as you give her another look, you may get a feeling of déjà vu, like you’ve seen this little girl before. Well, you may be right. Perhaps you have.

Little do people know, this little tot is a big shot in the modelling scene. Megan has been the face of kid’s fashion in billboards all around the world. She modelled for famous brands like Gucci, Burberry, Moncler, and Roberto Cavalli, among many.

Born and raised in Milan, Italy to Filipino parents, Megan is a face your children may be able to identify with, and her family’s background story may be one that sounds much like your own. The Quiambao family had humble beginnings. The couple worked their way up by studying, juggling jobs to make sure their children will have a better future. The father, Augil, has his own studio in Milan and has become a known tattoo artist; and the mother, Leovelyn, is an entrepreneurial housewife. As for Megan, if anyone could be born a model, you may say she was born to be one. She was a natural… Read More

(Asia Pacific Report) Philippine Vice-President Leni Robredo will not allow the massive, volunteer-led movement she inspired in the 2022 presidential elections to just fade away following her loss to the late dictator’s son Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Facing tens of thousands of her supporters during her thanksgiving event at the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City on Friday, Robredo announced the creation of the Angat Buhay nongovernmental organisation, harnessing the so-called “pink revolution” her campaign inspired for the bigger battle ahead.

This NGO, set to be launched on July 1 or a day after Robredo steps down as vice president, will be named after the highly praised anti-poverty and pandemic response programme she has been running for the past six years… Read More

(Daily Tribune) The congregation of Filipino-Chinese businessmen is asking the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to focus on improving the health conditions of the Filipinos and the provision of more jobs to bounce back from the adverse effects of the contagion.

In a statement sent to the Daily Tribune, Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) president Dr. Henry Lim Bon Liong called on Marcos Jr. to bolster investor and consumer confidence, invest in better education and research and development, and pursue sustainable and inclusive economic initiatives.

The head of the 170 umbrella organizations of Filipino Chinese chambers of commerce from Aparri to Tawi-Tawi also asked the next administration to focus on the modernization of agriculture for food security, price stability and rural progress.

“We also want to urge Marcos Jr. to enhance widespread coverage, transparency, and efficiency of social safety nets and ayuda or assistance to marginalized sectors of Philippine society; continuity and expansion of ‘Build, Build, Build’ program for new infrastructures; all-out support for micro, small and medium-scale enterprises (MSME); protection and assistance to local manufacturing, especially export enterprises; and the revival of strategically develop the tourism industry,” Dr. Liong stressed.

Other aspirations of the said group include attracting more foreign direct investments to accelerate economic growth and recovery by continuing anti-red tape and other reforms; ratification of the world’s biggest free trade area, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), comprising 10 ASEAN countries, China, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand and Australia… Read More

(Journal Online) The 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) is here and it has already sparked Filipino pride and awakened our inner athletes. Whether you know it or not, there’s an inner athlete in all of us. Some are just lucky enough to have found the right sports for them, while others are still looking. If getting in the sports industry has always been a dream, it’s important to note that everything starts with what and how you eat.

“Health and nutrition play a vital role in the performance of every athlete or any individual who is active. Having a balanced and healthy eating pattern not only provides all-day energy, but also helps build strength for optimal performance during training and competitions,” says Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation Executive – Science Communication Deborah Fajarda, RND.

Since 2003, building on its expertise in Amino Science, Ajinomoto Co, Inc (AJICO) has been working on the Victory Project® to support the conditioning of top-level athletes in Japan and conduct nutritional support activities by utilizing the power of amino acids. The project included the distribution of aminoVITAL® products and promotion of the Winning Meals Kachimeshi® program. Ajinomoto’s Kachimeshi® (“Winning Meals”) concept aims to support elite athletes in building winning physiques for optimum performance… Read More

(Manila Bulletin) The United States said it looks forward to working with the next Philippine President and sees to renew its cooperation with the country on key human rights and regional priorities.

In a press briefing in Washington on May 10, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said they are monitoring the election results here, adding that from a technical standpoint, the elections “have been conducted in line with international standards.”

He said while they wait for the next president to be declared, they are looking forward to “strengthen the enduring alliance between the United States and the Philippines.”

“We’re monitoring the election results, and we look forward to renewing our special partnership and to working with the next administration on key human rights and regional priorities,” Price said.

Presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos is leading the partial, unofficial count by a wide margin against rival Vice President Leni Robredo.

When asked if the US has concerns about Marcos being the president, Price said, “What I can say from a technical standpoint is that we understand the casting and counting of votes to have been conducted in line with international standards and without significant incident.”

“Again, the counting is still underway. It is not for us to declare a winner. We’ll wait for the Philippines election authorities to do that,” he added.

Once the next president is officially named, Price said, they will continue to work with the president-elect on the shared values and the shared interests that h”ave united our countries across generations.”.. Read More

(Radio Free Asia) Philippines’ president-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr., will likely seek to turn the country to an ally of China, despite lingering anti-Beijing sentiment, analysts said following his landslide election victory on Tuesday.

“Bongbong” Marcos, the son of long-ruling dictator Ferdinand Marcos, garnered more than 30.8 million votes by an unofficial count on Monday, and looks likely to take office in June.

Sara Duterte-Carpio, daughter of incumbent Rodrigo Duterte, is expected to serve as his vice president.

Marcos has already said he wants to pursue closer ties with China, including disregarding a 2016 ruling from The Hague invalidating China’s massive territorial claims to the South China Sea.

Marcos has sought to distance himself from the ruling, which has been rejected by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in Beijing, and said he will likely continue to develop Duterte’s policy of closer ties with China… Read More