Maniolas

SAN FRANCISCO, California—Fil-Am singer Ellona Santiago instantly became the pride of Filipinos worldwide after her solo debut on the Fox Channel hit music television competition, “X Factor.” Her passion for music, upbeat performances and strong vocals gained her international attention as she worked her way deeper into the competition. But this teen singing sensation did not happen over night.  Her music abilities have been honed since she could barely walk. “I’ve been singing since I was about two-and-a-half years old. I would perform at various events like birthdays, weddings and fiestas,” Ellona recalls. “My dad was actually the one who has been with me from the start. He would always play songs on our stereo machine and everywhere we go so I would listen to it and one day I started to sing through our karaoke machine. My family thought I could read but I really just memorized the song.” The “X Factor” stage was no mystery to Ellona, who had competed previously. Taking a big step and moving into a solo career, she competed for the second time and won the hearts of not only the audience, but judges as well.  Her time on “X Factor” has given her the experience, exposure and opportunity to further her music and move towards a more serious singing career. “I’ve always been so passionate with music especially because my whole family is musically inclined,” Ellona explains. “I’ve always wanted to inspire others through my singing and performance. My favorite part is actually performing Read More …

This handout photo provided by the Office of the Defense Secretary (OSD), taken Aug. 19, 2014, shows a Chinese fighter jet that the Obama administration said Friday conducted a “dangerous intercept” of a U.S. Navy surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft off the coast of China in international airspace. AP WASHINGTON—A Chinese fighter jet flew perilously close to a US military aircraft this week in a “very dangerous” incident in international air space east of Hainan Island, the Pentagon said Friday. The episode raised tensions and underlined the growing rivalry between the United States and China, with Beijing building up its military and asserting its territorial claims across the Pacific. “On August 19, an armed Chinese fighter jet conducted a dangerous intercept of a US Navy P-8 Poseidon patrol aircraft that was on a routine mission,” spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby told a news conference. The close call occurred about 135 miles (220 kilometers) east of China’s Hainan, he said. “We have registered our strong concerns to the Chinese about the unsafe and unprofessional intercept, which posed a risk to the safety and the well-being of the air crew and was inconsistent with customary international law,” Kirby added. The move also threatened to jeopardize longstanding US efforts to bolster relations with China’s military, he said, at a time when officials have touted progress in forging a dialogue with Beijing’s top brass. The armed Chinese warplane came close to the surveillance aircraft three times, flying underneath the American plane, at the P-8′s nose Read More …

A handout picture received from Taiwan’s National Security Council on Sept. 1, 2012, shows Interior Minister Lee Hong-yuan holding a national flag at Itu Aba or Taiping, the biggest islet of the disputed Spratlys on Aug.31, 2012. Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza may have committed a “grave mistake” in his handling of the Philippine case against China in the United Nations arbitral tribunal when he directed the government’s international lawyers to exclude the Taiwan-occupied island of Itu Aba from the 4,000-page memorial before it was submitted to the tribunal in The Hague in March. AFP PHOTO/Taiwan’s National Security Council Itu Aba, the largest island in the disputed Spratlys, is occupied by Taiwan and administered by its Coast Guard. The 37.7-hectare island, 463 kilometers away from Palawan province and some 1,600 km southwest of Taiwan, has sophisticated facilities, including a 1,200-meter runway and its own freshwater source. According to earlier reports, Taiwan is also building a $100-million port next to the airstrip. The port is reportedly designed to accommodate 3,000-ton naval frigates and coast guard cutters. The runway is also being upgraded for Hercules C-130 transport planes. Taiwan officials said the improvements would be finished by late next year. China and Taiwan share claims to virtually the entire South China Sea, a legacy of the Chinese civil war when the Communists split from the Nationalists and eventually took control of the Chinese mainland in 1949. The Nationalists settled in Taiwan and still claim to be the legitimate rulers of greater China. Vietnam, Read More …

INQUIRER.net US Bureau 5:47 am | Wednesday, August 20th, 2014 CALIFORNIA REPORT BERKELEY, California – While the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare has helped millions of Californians gain health insurance, millions more remain uninsured and dependent on a safety net system that is inadequately funded and difficult to navigate, a new report by a policy think tank argues. The Greenlining Institute interviewed staff from safety net providers, foundations that support health work and a policy nonprofit. The report is titled “Voices from the Front Lines: California’s Remaining Uninsured and the Safety Net.” “Even after the Affordable Care Act is fully implemented, millions of Californians will remain uninsured,” said Greenlining Institute Health Policy Director Carla Saporta. “Right now these Californians face a safety net system that’s complex, fragmented and underfunded and ultimately that hurts us all.” While a significant number of the uninsured are undocumented, many are not. Interviewees repeatedly expressed concern about funding levels and the difficulty of accessing care – particularly for families of mixed immigration status, who must navigate a minefield of complex rules and differing eligibility requirements. “If you don’t insure every single person, the system is not going to work,” one safety net provider commented. “It’s going to be pieces falling apart.” Greenlining’s report concludes with a series of policy recommendations, including passage of SB 1005 (Lara), which would extend private insurance and Medi-Cal so that coverage is available to all Californians. The bill was held in suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee earlier this year. Read More …

INQUIRER.net US Bureau 4:42 am | Monday, August 18th, 2014 SAN FRANCISCO, California — The Philippine Consulate and the Philippine American Press Club will host a discussion of “Labor and Employment in the United States” observance of US Labor Week Free and open to the public, the Talakayan will be held on Friday, 29 August 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Philippine Center, 447 Sutter Street. A discussion and open forum will be held at the Consulate’s waiting area on the 6th floor from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., featuring resource speakers from the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission, and the San Mateo County Government’s Job Information Center. The resource speakers will then hold a labor and employment clinic at the ground floor of the Philippine Center, from 1O:30 to 12:30 p.m. to offer one-on-one counseling sessions on matters pertaining to labor and employment. For more information regarding the clinic, or to indicate your interest in participation, kindly email cultural@philippinessanfrancisco.org, subject line: TALAKAYAN – LABOR WEEK. Follow Us Other Stories: Filipino crewmen stranded on ship ask for ‘humanitarian parole’ Filipino caregiver in Alaska shot dead by patient California bans mug shot ‘shakedowns’ by websites Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in Read More …