Villars, local water districts face prelim investigation over graft raps

CALAPAN CITY— The grounding of passenger vessel M/V Roromaster 5 has raised concerns over its impact on a marine protected area (MPA) in the town of Abra de Ilog, including a core conservation zone, local disaster officials said Thursday evening The roll-on, roll-off vessel struck the seabed and was beached near Sitio Sigman, Barangay Udalo,

MANILA, Philippines — National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag is confused why Davao City Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte is reacting to the agency’s investigation of anomalous flood control projects in the lawmaker’s district. The NBI head is puzzled because he said the subject of the probe are contractors, and not Duterte or other lawmakers.

Heart Evangelista and John Prats are bringing their love team back to the big screen after more than two decades, as they reunite for a film set for release in February 2027. The actors and former couple announced their upcoming project that will be directed by Prats himself, during a media conference on Friday, Sept.

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — The provincial government of Oriental Mindoro is stepping up border biosecurity measures after the first African Swine Fever (ASF) case struck neighboring Occidental Mindoro last week.  Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Vinscent B. Gahol, Acting Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Alfredo Manglicmot, and Provincial Administrator Atty. Earl Ligorio R. Turano

COTABATO CITY—At least three students have died in a shooting incident inside Banga National High School here at past 1 p.m. on Friday, authorities said. Banga Mayor Albert Palencia told Bombo Radyo Koronadal on Friday afternoon that the students were declared dead upon arrival at a local hospital, citing a report from the Municipal Disaster

The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) faction affiliated with Raul Rocha has revoked the franchise agreement with Nawat Itsaragrisil following an exchange of accusations between the two warring sides. In a statement released on the official Miss Universe Instagram account, the organization said Nawat Itsaragrisil’s established “Miss Universe Easern Pte. Ltd.” has no authority to use

LUCENA CITY – A 57-year-old motorcycle rider died while a 22-year-old rider was seriously injured in a collision at Indang town in Cavite on Thursday night, police said. Their two motorcycles crashed into each other along the national highway in Barangay Calumpang Cerca at 6:10 p.m. Police said the older rider overtook another vehicle, occupied

Makati Medical Center’s Skin and Laser Hub is adding Ultherapy Prime to its aesthetic services, the latest evolution of its noninvasive lifting technology, offering patients a personalized approach to skin tightening.  Launched Sept. 10 at the MakatiMed WellnessHub, the new treatment builds on the hospital’s longstanding experience in laser and aesthetic medicine.  The launch brought together members of the medical community and guests, with actress and former Miss World Megan Young and actor, entrepreneur and content creator Mikael Daez introduced as Ultherapy Prime ambassadors.  For Dr. Ma. Lourdes Aragon de Veyra, head of the Skin and Laser Hub, the arrival of Ultherapy Prime represents another step in the development of ultrasound technology, which has been used in medicine for decades.  De Veyra traced ultrasound’s history from its early use in medical imaging to applications that harnessed its biological effects.   “In 2000, they started harnessing the potential of this ultrasound by actually causing it to be micro-focused. With the use of this micro-focused ultrasound, it has been used to actually tighten the skin to create a thermal damage to the skin so that it can cause healing. With healing comes the formation of new collagen tissues and renewal of the cells,” De Veyra said.   The treatment targets the subdermis and SMAS, or superficial muscular aponeurotic system, while delivering energy at targeted depths. She said the technology can reach temperatures of about 60 to 70 degrees without damaging the surface of the skin.   Still themselves While technological advancement is central to Ultherapy Prime, De Veyra said the objective of aesthetic treatment should remain grounded in helping patients look like themselves.  “We’ve talked about the science, the technology, and the precision behind Ultherapy Prime. Ultimately, people want the treatment where they will still look like themselves and not look like somebody else,” she said.   She said responsible aesthetic care should focus on preserving a patient’s individuality rather than creating a dramatically different appearance.  “The goal of responsible doctors is to make our patients feel confident about how they are, how they look. You can probably refine it a little bit, but in the end, our goal is to make our patients flaunt their uniqueness, how they look but with la little twitch. That’s it,” De Veyra said.   Endorses on self care  Celebrity couple Young and Daez brought a personal perspective to the launch as the new ambassadors of Ultherapy Prime.  For Young, beauty has always been closely associated with character and confidence. The former Miss World, who won the title in 2013, said her perspective has remained consistent through the years.   “I guess throughout the years, even when I was younger, beauty comes from within. Once you have that beautiful personality or that beautiful heart, then of course, that shines outward,” Young said.   She said her view of beauty has evolved around maintaining her appearance while keeping her skincare routine manageable.  Daez said he and Young approach self-care as something that encompasses more than physical appearance.  “Megan and I have always had this mindset of taking care of ourselves holistically, so emotionally, physically. It’s also about taking care of the way that we look,” Daez said.   “Part of that is also feeling good and looking as great as you can. So that’s why we’re here,” he added.   The couple also shared how they came to try Ultherapy. Daez admitted that he was the one who initially suggested exploring the treatment.   “I’m also the one always looking out. What are the things that we can do? I mean, working out, running, getting good sleep,” Daez said.    “We came across Ulthera and we decided to ask about it. We felt that it fit what we wanted so we tried it out,” he added.  With Ultherapy Prime now part of its aesthetic offerings, MakatiMed’s Skin and Laser Hub continues to combine medical innovation with patient-centered care, giving patients another option for achieving subtle lifting and tightening without surgery.

Jonathan Sterling was in the audience when Celeste Cortesi walked the Manila Fashion Week runway for designer Chris Nick. But the support viewers saw came after an argument that nearly kept her from the show. “Celeste and I had an argument that day, and we were not on very good terms at that time,” Sterling

SEPTEMBER brought another happy occasion for the Rabano family, known for its ties to the tuna industry, as they gathered with the Lim family for a birthday celebration and family reunion at Vikings in Mall of Asia The gathering brought together relatives and loved ones for an evening of good food, lively conversations and cherished family moments. Guests enjoyed a buffet dinner at Vikings, with a wide selection of dishes for everyone to enjoy.  The children had their own share of fun as they indulged in an array of desserts, from colorful cakes and creamy ice cream to refreshing ice drops. Their excitement and laughter added to the cheerful atmosphere of the celebration.  Making the occasion more meaningful were family members who flew in from Japan to join the birthday celebration. Their presence gave everyone an opportunity to reconnect despite the distance and their busy schedules.  Throughout the evening, family members caught up, reminisced about old memories, shared stories and exchanged jokes. Laughter filled the gathering, reflecting the warmth and closeness of the two families.  More than a birthday celebration, the September get-together served as a joyful reunion and a reminder that, despite distance and busy schedules, there is always something special about coming together, sharing a meal and enjoying each other’s company.

ALAMINOS CITY, Pangasinan — The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) explored a long-term plan to reduce flooding, including river clearing, dredging, drainage improvements, and upgrades to bridges and spillways during an inquiry on Tuesday. The council investigation stemmed from a privilege speech by Councilor Cirilo Radoc, who asked for an examination of the causes of Alaminos flooding.