GMA kapuso artist Dingdong Dantes and ABS-CBN kapamilya home-grown talent Angelica Panganiban are working together as the new image models for the shoe brand, Mario d’ Boro. Incidentally, starting July 14, their teleseryes would be “rivals” as ABS-CBN releases Iisa Pa Lamang to match GMA7’s Dyesebel. 

Individual paying members of the Social Security System (SSS), such as self-employed and voluntary members, farmers, fishermen and other informal sector workers, non-workings spouses, and overseas Filipino workers, can now make their contributions and loan payments through the SM Payment Center in 26 SM Malls around the country.

This was announced by SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Corazon de la Paz-Bernardo, who added that the newest collection agreement between SSS and SM would benefit busy SSS members.

The acceptance of SSS payments started on May 15, 2008, initally at payment centers at SM North EDSA, SM South Mall, SM Fairview, and SM Megamall. With the positive response from SSS members, the number of branches that accept SSS payments was expanded to include SM malls in Manila, Sta. Mesa, San Lazaro, Sucat, Taytay, Bicutan, Bacoor, Dasmari?as, Batangas, Lipa, Sta. Rosa, Marilao, Lucena, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, Pampanga, Clark, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Baguio, and at the Mall of Asia.

When paying at SM Payment Centers, members must use either SS Payment Form RS-5 (for contributions), SS Form ML-1 (for salary loans), or SS Form REL-9 (for real estate loans). These payment forms are available at all SSS branches or can be downloaded through the SSS Website (www.sss.gov.ph). The deadline for payments is every 10th of the month following the applicable month or quarter. If the 10th of the month falls on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, the deadline is moved to the next immediate working day.

The Senate has passed a bill seeking to lower amusement tax on movie house tickets. Approved on June 4, Senate Bill 2325 is titled “An Act Amending Section 140 (A) of Republic Act No. 7160, Otherwise Known as The Local Government Code of 1991. The bill was prepared jointly by the committees on Local Government and on Ways and Means, with Senators Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr,  Loren Legarda, Benigno Aquino III and Francis Escudero as proponents. A similar bill is now pending in the lower house.  Ric Camaligan, president of the Motion Picture Anti-Film Piracy Council, related that some cities in the country already lowered amusement tax prior to the passing of Senate Bill 2325. Camaligan recounted, “Quezon City decreased it to zero, Manila to 15 percent, Baguio and San Fernando (Pampanga) to 20 percent.”

Typhoon Frank hits Metro Manila under strong storm signal number 3 causing brownouts in several areas including Fairview, Caloocan, Paranaque, Pasay, Novaliches, and Muntinlupa.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) also reports that more than 40,000 families have been affected by Typhoon Frank. Public transport systems MRT and LRT also suspended operations.

President Macapagal Arroyo has recently signed Republic Act 9504 (RA 9504) which is also called the Tax Relief for Minimum Wage Earners Act last Tuesday, June 17, 2008.

The official title is “An Act Amending Sections 22, 24, 34, 35, 51 And 79 of Republic Act 8424, As Amended, Otherwise Known As The National Internal Revenue Code Of 1987.”

This means that all individual taxpayers will have an exemption of Php50,000 from their annual income. That means if you have Php200,000 in annual income, only Php150,000 is subject to tax. Anyone with income less than Php50,000 will not have to pay any tax at all.

The ff. are the Tax Schedule based on Annual Income:

“Not over P10,000 –> 5%

“Over P10,000 but not over P30,000 –> P500+10% of the excess over P10,000

“Over P30,000 but not over P70,000 –> P2,500+15% of the excess over P30,000

“Over P70,000 but not over P140,000 –> P8,500+20% of the excess over P70,000

“Over P140,000 but not over P250,000 –> P22,500+25% of the excess over P140,000

“Over P250,000 but not over P500,000 –> P50,000+30% of the excess over P250,000

“Over P500,000 –> P125,000+34% of the excess over P500,000 in 1998

Ces Drilon and the cameraman from ABS-CBN has been released late last night by their abductors. They are currently in Zamboanga City where they will undergo a complete medical check-up before they will be flown back to Manila.

Sources said there was no ransom money given to the kidnappers.

Microsoft Corporation and Harrah’s Entertainment Incorporated introduced a high-tech interactive bar table Wednesday that lets customers order drinks, watch YouTube videos, play touch-screen games and even flirt other. The six rectangular tables with built-in 30-inch flat screens using Microsoft Surface technology were installed in a lounge at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, with custom applications built for Harrah’s. This innovation, somehow, determines the behavior of the customer so that casino and other can create new tricks for them not to lose their appetite in playing. This makes physical reality and virtual reality more and more on hand.

PowerLotto is the newest and biggest lotto game run by Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). Jackpot prize starts at P50 million and the first draw for the PowerLotto will be at 9 p.m. tonight.

The latest news about the abduction of ABS-CBN host and reporter Ces Drilon has reached a tipping point. Updates sent in indicate a ransom demand was made:

The abductors of journalist Ces Drilon have set a noontime deadline tomorrow Tuesday for the payment of P15M as board and lodging fee in exchange for their release of Drilon, her cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion and professor Octavio Dinampo, according to Jolo radio broadcaster Zeny Masong.

Ces Drilon and two of her camera men were reported missing in Mindanao a week earlier. It has been confirmed that they were kidnapped by an Abu-Sayyaf faction.

Four dreamers of Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2 are on the waiting list: Hera “Hera” Redoblado, Lamberto “Lambert” Reyes, Catherine “Poy” Palma, and Ranjit “Jet” Singh.  Their fate will depend on your votes.

Vote for your bet wait-listed Dreamer, all you have to do is type PDA (name of the Dreamer) and send it to 2331 for Globe, Touch Mobile, Sun Cellular, and Bayan Wireless Landline subscribers or to 231 for Smart and Talk and Text subscribers.
 
Ex. PDA Jet (then send to 231 for Smart)