Pasig City to provide cash aid for poor families excluded from DSWD's coronavirus crisis list

MANILA - Pasig City will provide about P8,000 each for some 113,000 families who were not included in the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) list of cash aid beneficiaries, Mayor Vico Sotto said Sunday.

Under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, DSWD-identified beneficiaries will receive P8,000 twice, but only 93,000 of the 206,000 indigent families in Pasig City were included in the list, Sotto said.

"Lahat po ng hindi mabibigay sa listahan ng DSWD Social Amelioration Program, sasaluhin po ng Lungsod ng Pasig. Hindi sa buong halaga na P16,000 pero kung ano yung kaya, ibibigay natin," the mayor said.

(Pasig City will shoulder all those who were not included in the DSWD's Social Amelioration Program. We cannot match the P16,000 cash aid, but we will give what we can.)

"Medyo magkakaproblema po tayo kung 93,000 lang ang mabibigyan... [Kasi] kung yung kapitbahay niyo nabigyan tapos kayo hindi, baka magkaron ng mga akusasyon na may palakasan," he said.

(We might have a problem if only 93,000 will receive the cash aid because if your neighbor receives it and you don't, there might be accusations that the government is playing favorites.)

The amount of P8,000 per family may still change as the city government is still "studying its cash position," Sotto said.

The city government is in the process of finding cash sources to fund the supplemental cash aid program, the mayor said.

"'Yung pera ng Pasig na nasa trust fund, ilalabas natin... Magsasakripisyo tayo, maghihigpit tayo ng sinturon, may mga programang kakanselahin muna natin," he said.

(We will use the money from Pasig's trust fund... We will have to sacrifice, we will have to tighten our belts, there will have to cancel some programs.)

Sotto said the city government will try its best to provide for all Pasig City residents, but appealed to well-off Pasigueños to decline receiving aid.

"'Yung may kaya naman o yung may savings naman, wag na po kayo kumuha sa Pasig Social Amelioration Program natin," he said.

(For those who are well-off or have savings, please don't get from the Pasig Social Amelioration Program.)

"Hindi naman po ito Christmas gift. Ito po ay tulong sa mga nagugutom o mga magugutom," he said.

(This is not a Christmas gift. This is aid for those who are starving or those who are about to starve.)

Cases will be filed against residents who will try to get more aid than what is due to them, Sotto said.

The city government will start convening barangay officials this week to finalize how the supplemental aid will be distributed in communities, the mayor said.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Partial #HalalanResults: Vico Sotto leads Eusebio in Pasig mayoral race

MANILA — Vico Sotto, the son of screen of veterans Vic Sotto and Coney Reyes, was set to topple the decades-long leadership of the Eusebios in Pasig, based on partial and unofficial results for the mayoral race tallied Monday night.

Sotto, a first-term councilor running for Pasig City mayor under Aksyon Demokratiko, was ahead of reelectionist Bobby Eusebio, according NAMFREL Pasig.

Sotto had 63,658 votes, as of the group's 10 p.m. count, while Eusebio trailed by nearly half with 34,127.

Sotto's potential win will see the first change in leadership in Pasig since 1992 — a challenge that has been likened to the Biblical David and Goliath, given the newcomer's self-confessed inability to match the "machinery" of the Eusebio political family.

The 29-year-old — now poised to be the lone, if not one of the few millennial chief executives in Metro Manila — also campaigned without a vice mayor or councilor in his slate.

Owing to his last name and likeness to his film icon-father, Sotto has been a familiar name and face to many even outside Pasig — even as he shunned the idea of following in his parents' footsteps even in his younger years.

While he is backed by household names thanks to his kinship, Sotto focused the messaging of his "Iba Naman" campaign on key issues he has promised to address, including healthcare, corruption, and the disparity of wealth and opportunities between the eastern and western parts of Pasig.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

WATCH: Lawson tries Pinoy food in Pasig carinderia

It's not every day that we get approached by a record label and asked to bring one of their talents to eat, Pinoy-style, in a carinderia. So when we got a call from MCA Music a few days ago, we grabbed the chance to give Andy Brown, Adam Pitts, Joel Peat and Ryan Fletcher — from British pop rock band Lawson — something to write home about.

It's the band's second time in Metro Manila and since they liked it so much the first time around, they've been begging the label to bring them back here. This time around, they were willing to go out of their comfort zones and experience a most authentic Filipino culture first-hand.

"Last time we played, the crowd in the Philippines was one of the best crowd and still remain as the best crowd we've ever played to," said Joel, the guitarist. "We were gonna go straight to Australia... we really wanted to go back here so we made it happen," Ryan, the bassist, echoed.

We took them to Caruz Eatery in Pasig, a not-so easy on the eyes eatery along Pasig Boulevard (something the Brits might call "charming") that's known for its beef caldereta and papaitan. We ordered those and threw in sinaing na tulingan and nilagang baka for good measure. We also showed the guys how to order Pinoy style, by pointing at the dish they want to eat (they chose ginataang puso ng saging).




“Where are the knives," vocalist Andy asked as he tucked into the caldereta — which turned out to be the band’s favorite ("like a very nice beef stew"). The tulingan reminded one member of mackerel, but it was the puso ng saging that got the most hilarious reaction ("I expected it to be banana!" "It tastes like vodka!" "My problem with it is that it's got an unexpected taste." )

The four-meal lunch, plus rice and soda, cost less than P800. “That’s like a tenner,” said Ryan, clearly impressed.

Caruz Eatery, 220 Hillcrest Drive, Bgy Oranbo, Pasig City; +63 2 6715277. Daily 24/7.

This story first appeared on Coconuts Manila.

LINK ON COCONUTS MANILA:

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

LOOK: Baron Geisler in car accident

MANILA – Baron Geisler figured in a car accident early Tuesday morning, a DZMM report said.

According to the Traffic Division of Pasig City, the actor was driving a black Fortuner when he got involved in an accident before 4 a.m. Tuesday along Imelda Avenue in Pasig City.

The right portion of Geisler’s SUV was wrecked after it collided with a truck with plate number RJA 151.

Both Geisler’s vehicle and the truck were brought to the Traffic Bureau office of Pasig City for investigation.

While no one suffered injuries from the accident, Geisler was dismayed at the slow response of authorities.


On Instagram, the actor said he waited for over an hour because “the investigator is busy with something else.”

“It's been more than an hour and no Pasig investigator has showed up despite several calls to the police station. A traffic enforcer came and 2 police officers came but they cannot investigate the matter. They are saying that the investigator is busy with something else. I am very disappointed at the response I am getting in this emergency situation,” he said.

Geisler claimed that he was driving through Karangalan in Pasig City when a speeding 16-wheeler truck hit his vehicle.

Before the incident happened, the actor said he just came from work and that his taping got packed up a little past 3 a.m. - report from Johnson Manabat, DZMM

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Ortigas & Co opens new mall

MANILA, Philippines - Ortigas & Co. has opened its new upscale mall at Capitol Commons in Pasig City.

With over 30,000 square meters in three levels, Estancia will be home to over 70 retailers such as Isaac Mizrahi, P.S. from Aéropostale, French clothing brand Eden Park, jewelry and accessory brand AGATHA Paris, Spanish retailer Cortefiel, British shoe brand Kurt Geiger, and Swiss shoe label MBT.

"Estancia means ‘to stay a while’. We built it to create an atmosphere that celebrates food, fashion, and entertainment; we built it in such a way that people will indeed be drawn to stay and linger at the mall," Cathy Casares-Ko, General Manager of the Shopping Centers Division of Ortigas & Co, said.

Estancia will also feature New York-based furniture design brand West Elm and three Pottery Barn brands -- Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids and Pottery Barn Teens.

The new mall will also have various restaurants such as Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen, Peanut Butter & Co., TWG, Banana Leaf, Pepper Lunch, Craft Coffee, and Clockwork.

New restaurant concepts are also opening at Estancia such as the Shoju bar, Eum Ma Ne, Bap Bap, the first Buffalo Wild Wings in the country, and Japanese curry house CoCo ICHIBANYA.

"We made it a point to continue offering unique dining experiences in Capitol Commons through Estancia. We invite everyone to come to our Urban Flavors Weekends on December 13 & 14 as we give a preview of some of our gastronomic choices in both Estancia and the Gastro strip," Casares-Ko said.

Estancia is holding an Urban Flavors Weekend this month.

For a minimum fee of P500, one can try tasting portions from establishments such as Ba Noi’s, Black Olive, Nomama, XO46 Bistro Filipino, Eum Ma Ne, Cara Mia Gelato, Jipan Café & Bakeshop, and Larcy’s Cupcakery Café.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Student's 'selfie' death an accident: probers

MANILA, Philippines - The death of a student who fell down a flight of stairs at the Rizal High School while taking selfie photos was accidental, the Pasig City police said yesterday.

City police chief Senior Superintendent Mario Rariza said that according to investigators, several witnesses – including the classmates of victim Christine Rosello, 13 – testified that there was no foul play involved in her death.

According to Rariza, Hanah Jane Calces, a classmate of Rosello and the owner of the cell phone the victim used to take selfies, was some distance away when Rosello fell nine steps from the third floor and landed on the second floor platform of the school building.

“The victim was observed drinking an energy drink while taking a selfie and all of a sudden she fell off the stairs, catching her classmate and other students by surprise,” Rariza said in an interview.

She died while being treated at the Rizal Medical Center.

According to Rariza, Rosello’s family said she had been experiencing dizzy spells days before the accident.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Starbucks founder visits award-winning PH store

MANILA, Philippines - Starbucks founder and chief executive officer Howard Schultz visited the coffee chain's store at The Grove by Rockwell in Pasig City, Thursday morning.

Schultz did a quick tour of the store, which recently won Starbucks' "Best New Core Store Design in Asia" in 2013. The Starbucks store at The Grove beat out designs submitted by 111 Starbucks outlets around Asia.

The Starbucks shop has a uniquely Philippine resort theme that matches the aesthetics of The Grove by Rockwell. Located along C5, the 5.4 hectare The Grove property will feature six residential towers.

Schultz, who is in Manila only for a day, said this was his second visit to the Philippines. He chatted with the store manager and baristas, and posed for photos with some customers.

He also attended the opening of the new Starbucks store with drive-thru in Libis.

Rustan Coffee Corp., local franchise holder of Starbucks and a member of the Rustan Group of Companies, opened the first store in the Philippines at 6750 Ayala Avenue in December 1997.

At that time, the Philippines was only the third market to open outside North America. According to the Starbucks Philippines website, to date there are 195 Starbucks branches throughout the country.

The coffee chain now has 18,000 outlets around the world, with revenues of $13.3 billion in 2012. Starbucks has seen strong growth in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly China where it has more than 800 stores and Japan where it has 975 stores as of end 2012.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Mother Lily undergoes lung operation

MANILA, Philippines – Regal Films matriarch Lily Monteverde underwent an operation on Thursday morning to remove an abnormal growth in her lungs.



According to entertainment website Pep.ph, Monteverde went under the knife around 7 a.m. Thursday at The Medical City in Pasig.

Prior to Monteverde’s operation, a Mass was held for her speedy recovery at the Imperial Palace Suites in Quezon City, which was attended by Monteverde’s friends in and out of showbiz.

In an interview with Pep.ph, Monteverde's daughter Meme said their family was really concerned after they learned that there’s a two-centimeter mass growth in her mother’s lungs.

Despite this, Meme said their entire family was able to hold on because Monteverde herself is handling the situation very well.

“She’s really a strong woman. She’s really amazing. So, kami, ako, I just let her be. Kung ayaw niyang magpahinga, I let her because I also don’t want to keep reminding her of her condition. In fact, kagabi, nag-e-exercise pa siya. I just let her,” she said.

“It’s a good thing naikuha ko na siya ng medical insurance two years ago. So it’s taken cared of. Hindi na kami ma-i-stress sa bagay na ’yon. And we can just all focus on taking care of her,” she added.

Meme said their family decided to just have Monteverde’s operation in the Philippines and they are all hoping for the best.

Meanwhile, Monteverde’s daughter Roselle thanked those who are continuously praying for their mother.

"We're so thankful to all our friends and relatives for their support and prayers. They stood by Mother during the time she was diagnosed. She felt so much love and care which made her really strong and hopeful,” Roselle said in a statement.

Roselle said they also appreciate the gesture of President Benigno Aquino III and Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas when they paid her mother a visit days ahead of her operation.

“Mother was so enlightened upon knowing of the President's visit. She couldn't believe it that a person so powerful will have time to visit her,” she said.

source: abs-cbnnews.com