Can you spot what’s wrong with the Japanese Imperial couple’s photo?

MANILA, Philippines- Several netizens have expressed their disappointment over the Japanese Imperial couple’s picture at the Rizal monument in Luneta park in Manila.

Can you spot what’s wrong with the Japanese Imperial couple’s photo?
PHOTO CREDIT: Facebook/Official Gazette

On Wednesday, January 27 Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko laid wreath at the monument of the country’s national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, to pay tribute. Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada also appeared during the wreath-laying ceremony.

A photo of the Imperial couple during the said event was shared on the Facebook page of Official Gazette. Netizens questioned as to why the photo had to be taken from the side.

Several members of the online community pointed out that this was done in order to hide Torre de Manila, the infamous “photobomber” in the historic site.

“Greatest photo bomber of all time.. torre de manila..haha,” commented Facebook user Jerick Rupinto.

A certain Seph Moore wrote: “Tingnan nyo di na makunan ng magandang angulo yung himlayang ng pambansang bayani natin. Dahil sa building na tinatayo sa likod nito”

(They can’t take a photo of our national hero’s shrine on a good angle. That’s because of the building erected at it’s back.)

Netizen Rez Gaud added: “Ganyang angulo na lang para hindi kita ang photobomber, grr.”

(Take it on that angle only so that the photobomber won’t be seen.)

To mark the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between the Philippines and Japan, the emperor and empress of Japan have visited the country for a historic five-day state visit. The two were welcomed by President Benigno Aquino III during their arrival on Tuesday, January 26 and will be staying until January 30.

In 1962, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited the Philippines as crown prince and princess of Japan.

“Their visit underscores the abiding friendship between the Japanese and Filipino people. As our country charts the path that leads to sustainable, inclusive growth we are fortunate that Japan is our steadfast partner and ally,” said Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. -Mini/The Summit Express

14th month bonus set to be given to government employees

MANILA, Philippines - A bonus equivalent to one month pay is scheduled to be given to government workers this June 2016, highlighting the need for the House and the Senate to break their impasse over a pay hike bill for state workers, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said today.

Recto said the proposed Salary Standardization Law IV for government workers provides for a 14th month pay to be given in the middle of the year.

Under its section on "compensation system," the measure seeks the grant of a "a mid-year bonus equivalent to one month basic salary to be given not earlier than May of every year."

"This mid-year bonus becomes the 14th month pay. The traditional 13th month pay being the year-end bonus," Recto said.

"In the past, the 13th month pay was given in 'two gives.' Half in May or June, so that government employees will have money for the school enrolment of their children, and the balance in December. The SSL IV makes what is given mid-year and year-end equivalent to a full month pay each," Recto said.

He said these two bonuses will be tax exempt for most state workers.

By one estimate, both the 13th and 14th month bonuses of 970,943 employees - or 83% of total national government workforce - will be tax-exempt, Recto said.

"There's research which shows that those in the Salary Grades (SG) 1 to 16 will get these bonuses tax-free," he said.

"The mid-year bonus translates to an eight percent increase in the annual pay of government workers and, if early calculations are correct, they will be getting it without any tax deduction," Recto said.

He added most employees holding SG 17 to 23 positions will also get their 13th month pay with no withholding tax.

Recto is the principal author of Republic Act No. 10653 which adjusted the 13th-month pay and other benefits tax-exempt ceiling from P30,000 to P82,000.

The SSL IV also retains the P5,000 Christmas cash gift for all government workers.

In addition, the measure authorizes a "performance-based bonus" of up to two months salary which Recto said should be based "on conditions to be met, like meritorious service, exemplary performance and increase in productivity. While he admitted that the SSL IV has some weaknesses, "it, however, has many good provisions, like the 14th month pay."

"This underscores the need for the House and the Senate to ratify SSL IV's final version, so it can be sent to the President for his signature, and so that payroll can be made," he said.

At present, the SSL IV bill is caught in deadlock after the House and the Senate panels in the conference committee failed to resolve the issue on whether to include the pension of military retirees in the pay hike.

The first tranche of the salary hike in SSL IV is supposed to be included in the January payroll of state workers.

SSL IV spreads the pay adjustments over four years, with the first year costing P57.9 billion. Fully implemented, SSL IV will cost P225.8 billion a year.

Senator decries DoJ's shabby treatment of SAF 44 kin

MANILA, Philippines - Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos, Jr. decried on Thursday the Department of Justice's shabby treatment of the kin of the 44 commandos of the Special Action Force commandos slain in the Mamasapano massacre.

Photo Credit: Philippine National Police (PNP)

Marcos said his privilege speech last Tuesday was prompted, among others, by actual requests, sent to him through e-mails, from the family of one of the SAF 44 requesting his assistance to seek justice for the slain police officer and complaining of questionable delays in the preliminary investigation of the cases pending before the DOJ.

He noted that in the first e-mail sent to him dated December 8, 2015, the SAF 44 kin, whom he did not name for security reasons, complained about the cancellation of the scheduled preliminary investigation on the Mamasapano case on November 11 and 27.

The complainant noted that the Nov. 27 hearing was cancelled anew despite the presence of the representatives of 35 SAF commandos from the 55th Seaborne Company as well as the lawyers of some of the respondents.

"Many of the families of the slain SAF 55 are from Visayas and Mindanao. We were travel weary and we spent money for our fare in going to Luzon and hotel accommodation only to be informed later that the hearing is cancelled," the letter-sender said.

In a subsequent e-mail to Marcos, dated January 18, 2016 the SAF 44 kin said they were again told the scheduled January 14, 2016 hearing was cancelled because the case is already submitted for resolution.

"If this is how we treat those that have given their lives in defense of the country, what fate for the ordinary citizen? What fate for those we love and care for in life?" Marcos said.

Marcos further noted that upon receiving the first e-mail, he immediately wrote then Acting Justice Secretary Alfredo Caguioa on the status of the preliminary investigation but he has yet to receive any response. "More than a month has passed since I wrote the DoJ to endorse that email for appropriate action but until now I have not received even a cursory reply to assure that they would attend to the matter," Marcos noted.

With the appointment of Caguioa to the Supreme Court, Marcos had also urged his replacement, undersecretary Emmanuel Caparas to prioritize the resolution of the Mamasapano case, noting that a year after the tragic incident no case has been filed in court against the suspects.

He said no word or gesture can assuage the pain of the families of the slain policemen.

VIDEO: Here’s Pia Wurtzbach’s response to a 17-year-old Pinoy’s “promposal"

MANILA, Philippines- Who would have thought that a teenage Pinoy will have the guts to ask Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach to go the prom?

Jerel Labra, a 17-year-old Filipino from Texas, courageously asked Wurtzbach to go to the prom with him during the Twitter event #AskMissUniverse on Thursday, January 28.

In the 29-second video clip, Labra said: "I may not be as handsome as James Franco or as funny as Seth Rogen, or may be as ripped as Channing Tatum, but I can say this. I am a runner up. This is my question for you. Pia, will you go to prom with me on April 23rd?”

@MissUniverse here's my question: @PiaWurtzbach will you go to my senior prom with me? 😁 #AskMissUniverse #prom2k16 pic.twitter.com/zEcHb2JKPk

— Jerel Labra ن (@JerelLabra) January 28, 2016

Apparently, the Pinoy teen’s video of his “promposal” caught the attention of the 26-year-old Filipina beauty queen.

"I'd love to go if my schedule permits. So, we'll see. I can't promise anything yet right now, but your message was really sweet,” Wurtzbach replied.

@JerelLabra @MissUniverse pic.twitter.com/zPnlatiJn8

— Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach (@PiaWurtzbach) January 28, 2016

Wurtzbach Wants Atom Araullo to Join Her in Miss Universe Travel

During the #AskMissUniverse Twitter event, Wurtzbach was asked by one Twitter user to choose three words from a list which includes : love, family, pizza, traveling, Miss Universe crown, Araullo, money, enough sleep and happiness.

Instead of just choosing three words, Wurtzbach gave a creative answer entwining words in order to create a sentence. Araullo was also tagged in Wurtzbach’s tweet.

She wrote: “Traveling as Miss Universe while being interviewed by Atom. (Boom!) haha.”

@eyetolow @atomaraullo Traveling as Miss Universe while being interviewed by Atom. (Boom!) haha - Pia

— Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach (@MissUniverse) January 28, 2016

More popularly known as PiAtom, the love team of Wurtzbach and Araullo rose to fame after the ABS-CBN news reporter interviewed the beauty title holder during an episode of “Umagang Kay Ganda”. After discovering that Wurtzbach wasn’t dating anyone at the moment, the two were teased by Araullo’s co-hosts.

However, Wurtzbach revealed during one of her interviews that her busy schedule and obligations as the reigning Miss Universe would make it difficult for her to date anyone.

“This is my boyfriend for now,” Wurtzbach announced as she gestures to her crown. -Mini/The Summit Express

VIDEO: 'Lucky blogger' has entire PAL plane to himself on flight to Boracay

MANILA, Philippines - A lucky Austrian travel blogger had the entire plane to himself from Manila to Boracay flight as he was the only passenger who showed up, reports said.

Austrian blogger Alex Simon boards PAL flight to Boracay alone

MailOnline shared that Alex Simon, 28, from Ischgl, Austria, was surprised when no one else boarded the Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight – leaving him alone with two attendants and two pilots.

"When I arrived to the airport I just heard my name on the speaker, "Sir Alexander Simon, please come to the information."

Simon get the chance to to enter the cockpit and talked to the pilots before the plane took off.

"So the lady explained to me that I don’t need to wait two more hours on my connecting flight, we’re gonna start in 30 minutes because there are no more passengers except me," Simon said.

"I was little bit surprised and I couldn't believe it. I thought I was dreaming. Later while boarding I just realised that it’s gonna be a special flight because this time I didn´t even need to line up," Simon added.

He added: "I took my seat then I asked the flight attendant lady if I can sit next to the window. She just answered, “You can sit anywhere, because you’re the only one passenger”."

He said that PAL staff member told him flights on the same route are usually packed.

"It was an unforgettable feeling to take a flight to the one of the most beautiful islands of the world, but to be alone and feel like a superstar it made it more special."

"I just had luck, I think, that no one else was interested on this day to fly to paradise."

Simon posted the video of his rare experience on YouTube last February, but it went viral this week after being shared by some international websites.


Meanwhile, PAL management is yet to release statement on the said viral video.

Starbucks, former barista debunk 'dead mouse in coffee' issue

MANILA, Philippines - A former barista of Starbucks debunked the 'dead mouse in a coffee' issue which went viral recently.

Marco Carlo Calibara, a former barista of Starbucks says it is impossible for a rat to sneak inside a coffee cup.
Photo Credit: Facebook/Marco Carlo Calibara and abc7chicago.com

In a lengthy post on Facebook, Marco Carlo Calibara who claimed to worked in the said company for three years said the alleged incident is unlikely to happen as the coffee shop is following strict quality standards.

"Unang-una, Ate, WALA KAMING KUSINA, ginagawa namin yung drinks nyo sa harap ninyo ng may sinusunod na beverage quality standards. Kahit subukan kong maglasing para mas dibdibin yung hinanaing mo eh hindi ko maintindihan kung saan ka kumuha ng apog para ipagpilitan yang katangahang pakulo mo," Calibara said.

Calibara also questioned how the mouse will get into the coffee since the the chain has meticulous process of serving drinks. He points out that all Starbucks use high-powered blenders which would have resulted in anything inside the blender chopped to pieces and would have made the coffee red with blood and look like an order of Red Velvet Frappuccino.

"Ang malaking tanong: Paano, PAANO mapupunta yung bubwit na yun doon?? Mas malabo pa sa sabaw ng pusit na sa process ng pag gawa ng drink sya mapupunta — Oh sige, isipin nalang natin na na blend yun ate tulad ng kathang isip na pakulo mo, HELLO?! High-powered yung mga Blenders namin (Vitamix / BlendTec ) sa store, at kahit cellphone mo, oh kamay mo eh kayang durugin no'n kaya wag kang ano dyan! Ano, may pag Matrix na sa pag iwas sa blades ng blender?! Damn bubwit got them skills, eh?!?"

Here's his full post to debunk the allegation against Starbucks:

I've worked with Starbucks for more than 3 years and this is my opinion Re: the issue, (Tataglish-in ko nlang para...
Posted by Marco Carlo Calibara on Thursday, January 28, 2016

On Tuesday, the complainant named Jessica shared that she already drank half of her drink from the world-famous coffee branch in Mandaluyong when she noticed the dead mouse.

VIDEO: Customer allegedly finds dead mouse in her Starbucks coffee

Jessica reported the incident to the Philippine National Police (PNP). On Thursday, the Health and Sanitation Office of the city immediately took action and sent their staff to conduct an investigation at the said branch.

Meanwhile, upon consulting a doctor, Jessica was diagnosed to have been suffering acute gastroenteritis and leptospirosis.

Starbucks Philippines in a statement revealed that they are currently conducting an investigation on the incident.

“We want everyone who visits our stores to enjoy their visit, and we take such claims very seriously. Ensuring all our products meet Starbucks high quality assurance standards is a top priority, and we are actively investigating this customer’s concern, “ Starbucks Philippines said.