'Junior Citizens Act' by Senator Poe Proposes Discount Privileges for Kids

"Junior Citizens Act" proposes discount privileges for kids

Senate Bill No. 1295, known as the “Junior Citizens Act of 2017," grants children aged 0 to 12 belonging to poor families a 20-percent discount from the value added tax (VAT) on goods and services. Through the Bill authored by Senator Grace Poe, children whose family's annual income is below P250,000 may enjoy the discount when purchasing medicines, vaccines and essential medical supplies, accessories and equipment. The 20-percent discount also applies to professional fees of medical and dental doctors, laboratory fees in all private hospitals, medical facilities, outpatient clinics, health care services and service providers; admission fees in theaters, cinemas, and leisure and amusement parks. If enacted into law, the Bill would also make junior citizens automatic members of the state health insurer Philippine Health Insurance Corp (PhilHealth). "This proposed legislation would surely help every poor Filipino family’s financial constraints, raise their level of living, and improve their quality of life," Poe said. (inquirer.net)


Ryan Agoncillo on wife Judy Ann Santos: "Super wife, super mom"

In a video posted on the Facebook page of Eat Bulaga, Ryan was asked to share what he loves most about Judy Ann. "Talagang devoted sa family. Galing! Super wife, super mom. Hindi kailangang hatiin ang attention, may attention siya para sa lahat," Ryan said.  Ryan picked two words to describe their love life and he chose "sweet and salty", stressing "hindi sour ha!" he quipped. Asked about when she knew that Judy Ann was "the one," Ryan said it was on their third year of being a couple. "Magkaibigan kasi kami. Medyo maganda yung pinagdaanan namin na ups and downs. Noong third year ng relationship namin as boyfriend-girlfriend, doon na naisip ko na kahit anong mangyari sa amin, I will have her undivided love and attention," he recalled, and said that was when he started saving up for an engagement ring. The dad of three also shared that after 12 years, he's glad he could still make Judy Ann kilig. Awww! (gmanetwork.com)


DOH and DepEd take other options to stop spread of HIV/AIDs among the youth
Department of Health (DOH) secretary Paulyn Ubial said the plan to distribute condoms in high schools was no longer a priority for the department after secretary Leonor Briones of the Department of Education (DepEd) said they would not support the program. "The DOH respects the decision of the DepEd to develop and disseminate an age-appropriate reproductive health education in schools which will raise awareness on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) among the youth," Ubial said in a statement. However, the two departments have agreed that they will still work together by taking "different options that shall complement each other's respective mandates." The DepEd will focus on strengthening and enriching its curriculum, especially on spreading awareness and information on reproductive health. The DOH, on the other hand, will "work with other partners to ensure information is linked to service provision, including, but not limited to, condom access," Ubial said. (gmanetwork.com)


Film about Manila "baby factory" wins at Sundance

Filipino filmmaker Ramona Diaz's documentary Motherland bagged the Special Jury Award for Editing in the World Cinema category at the recently-held 2017 Sundance Film Festival. Motherland is set at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, one of the busiest maternity hospitals in the country, and focuses on struggles, strengths, humor, and hopefulness of the mothers who come in, give birth, and then leave the hospital. "They’re very impoverished, marginalized women. But they’re strong, funny, sexual-body, sassy women, and I’ll always remember them," Diaz told ABS-CBN. The film also underscores the importance of the Reproductive Health Law in the country and its proper implementation. Hopefully, Motherland would get a release date in local cinemas soon. (abs-cbn.com)


Beyoncé posts more maternity photos!

IMAGE beyonce.com

IMAGE beyonce.com

IMAGE beyonce.com

IMAGE beyonce.com

IMAGE beyonce.com

IMAGE beyonce.com

IMAGE beyonce.com

After posting a photo on Instagram to announce that she's pregnant with twins, Beyoncé gave her fans an intimate look at her latest journey on motherhood, posting belly-baring pics on her website. The photo album entitled "I have three hearts" -- that's her own heart plus the twins’ hearts -- contains maternity snaps from her current pregnancy and some choice shots from her pregnancy with daughter Blue Ivy, precious moments when she was born, and throwback photos of her mom. "“Venus has flooded me, second planet from the sun, I wake up on her foamy shore. She wants to take me to meet my children. I’ve done this before I’m still nervous,” part of the poem that accompanied the photos read. To see more photos, visit her website. (people.com)