By Allison Lopez
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines – Around 400 people lost their houses in a pre-dawn fire that hit a three-story residential building in Barangay Pio del Pilar, Makati City, Monday.

SFO1 Gerson Moncada of the Makati Fire Department said the fire broke out in the building called the Barokan Compound at the corner of Medina and Villar Streets at 3:40 a.m.

The flames quickly spread throughout the building, which was made of light materials. Read More »

By Izah Morales
Inquirer.net

DECORATING a Christmas tree should not be that expensive.

Anything can be hung on a Christmas tree as long as it is light and colorful, according to Alice Tesoro-Guerrero, chairman of Tesoro’s marketing corporation. In fact, the decoration can be unrelated to Christmas.

Guerrero’s Christmas trees, namely her Heritage tree and the Filipiniana tree displayed at the Tesoro Handicraft store, are examples. Read More »

By Mitch Felipe
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DO a lot of mall walking this holiday season.

It helps improve one’s endurance and strength. Walking also tones your lower body and decreases body fat.

Last-minute Christmas shopping burns calories. You can burn 150 to 200 calories just by walking 5,000 steps. It’s better if you use a pedometer. Read More »

You don’t approach a “bank holiday” with anticipation; you think of it with trepidation. There are no party hats, treats and food. There’s confusion. Even anger and frustration.

As bankers and the media use this expression, it refers to a regular banking day when a bank closes its doors and refuses to service depositors, normally because of liquidity (cash) problems. Read More »

FOUR YEARS ago, Ailene Co got a space at the Greenhills tiangge to start her own fashion store. She named it U.R.U. which means exactly how you spell it: you are you. “Wear what you like and what suits you. Women should wear what they feel like wearing, and not dress to impress others,” explains Co, who studied at the Fashion Institute of the Philippines in Ortigas Center. Read More »

By Recah Trinidad
Philippine Daily Inquirer

The call of the moment, from the whole boxing world, is for us ecstatic Filipinos to do a Manny Pacquiao.

Let’s all play it generous, please, dear countrymen.

That, of course, is an impossible demand.

First, we definitely don’t have the Pacman’s millions.

Second, we definitely don’t have Manny’s one-in-a-million golden heart. Read More »

By Riza T. Olchondra
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines – The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) Thursday said its Baclaran-Monumento (Line 1) and Recto-Santolan (Line 2) systems will close earlier than usual on Dec. 24 and 31 to give way to maintenance works.

The LRTA periodically conducts maintenance checks and repairs on all physical facilities, rolling stocks, carriageways, signaling system and catenaries. Read More »

Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—“My wish is for more movies. I also wish that more talented actors and directors be given big breaks this coming year. Dahil sa marami ang artista at kaunti lang ang pelikula, ’di nakikita kung sino talaga ang magagaling.” Marinel Cruz

By Marinel Cruz
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—Rust and gold are the colors of Christmas in the Belo home this year.

For three years now, since they moved into the 1,888-square-meter property in a posh Makati village, the Belos have relied on designer Adel Cordova for their holiday decorations.

“In the beginning, I had requests. I once chose violet for the color scheme because it’s my favorite color—ang pangit. After that, I decided to just listen to her,” celebrity cosmetic surgeon Vicki Belo told the Philippine Daily Inquirer. “Adel doesn’t change everything every year. She incorporates materials previously used.” Read More »