Maniolas

Associated Press 6:27 am | Friday, July 25th, 2014 FROM PH WITH LOVE Protesters wave mock missiles before the Chinese Consulate in Makati City during simultaneous protests on Thursday at Chinese embassies and consular offices around the world. The demonstrators denounce China’s “bullying” of their neighbor-claimants, including the Philippines, of the disputed islands in the South China Sea. JOAN BONDOC MANILA, Philippines–About 100 Filipinos carrying mock missiles marched Thursday to the Chinese Consulate in Makati City to protest China’s actions in asserting its territorial claims in the South China Sea. Carrying placards that read “Our Soil, Our Oil” and carton missiles stamped “From Philippines with Love,” the activists said similar protests were being held in front of Chinese embassies and consulates abroad. “This protest rally is just the start of something much bigger not only in the Philippines but worldwide in order to tell the world what is happening in our backyard—the bullying that’s being done by our big neighbor,” said former National Security Adviser Roilo Golez, one of the rally leaders. Former Interior Secretary Rafael Alunan III criticized China’s “belligerent and blatant disregard of international laws” and urged Beijing “to respect the rule of law and be a good neighbor.” The Philippines and Vietnam are embroiled in territorial rows with China over the South China Sea, where China claims most of the heavily traveled waterway and barren islands, reefs and atolls that are believed to be atop oil and natural gas deposits. Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan also have claims Read More …

• Measure seeks renewal of San Francisco’s Children & Youth Fund, Public Education Enrichment Funds • Would reorganize the City’s Rainy Day Fund COLEMAN ADVOCATES PHOTO SAN FRANCISCO, California— City Hall on July 8 presented a proposed Charter Amendment to extend the Children’s Fund and the Public Education Enrichment Fund for 25 and 26 years, respectively, for the November 2014 ballot. Mayor Edwin M. Lee and all 11 members of the Board of Supervisors said the proposed Charter Amendment also creates the “Our Children, Our Families Council” to plan for the improvement of city services for youth and families and reform Rainy Day Reserves that fund youth, family and education programs. “This November, we will ask San Francisco voters to renew the Children’s Fund and the Public Education Enrichment Fund – all without raising property tax rates,” said Mayor Lee. “We know we must invest in our schools and our families so we can do even more to prepare our young people for their future. “After many months of discussion, we are excited to bring together one unified measure that we can all support,” said Supervisor Norman Yee, primary sponsor of the proposed Charter Amendment. “This measure is a way for us to come together as a city and collectively prioritize children and families’ needs.  We hope that this cultural shift – putting families first – will entice others to choose San Francisco as a place to raise their children.” Supervisor John Avalos said, “With San Francisco’s affordability crisis we Read More …

INQUIRER.net US Bureau 6:17 am | Wednesday, July 9th, 2014 Participants at the First Cultural Exchange Summit at SMX Convention Center. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO More than a hundred guests attended the Philippines’ First Cultural Exchange Summit on June 27 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. Guests at the summit hosted by First Place Inc. included officials of the US embassy in the Philippines, visa sponsors visiting from the US, school presidents, academic partners from all over the country and alumni participants of overseas programs. Representatives from both the US and Philippine academe exchanged ideas, observations regarding the current state of student travel and experiences, and heard feedback from cultural exchange program alumni. Open dialogues established a list of best practices in the field of student cultural exchange programs. Additionally, the student alumni participants led the founding of the Philippines’ Cultural Exchange Alumni Association, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. Former J1 students, Work and Travel participants,Internship and Career Training participants and veterans of the U.S. State Department’s other overseas programs all met during the summit. The alumni association was formed to work with First Place Inc.’s embassy partners for the continuous improvement of program procedures and enrichment of future participants. First Place Inc. is a fully Filipino-owned cultural exchange and career training organization. Founded in 1997, it aims to promote cultural exchange with the USA, Australia, UK and other developed countries through official channels, such as the US State Department’s Work and Travel program and the Internship Read More …

Dr. Mariedel Leviste. AJPRESS PHOTO LOS ANGELES, California –The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday, July 2 confirmed Filipino American dermatologist and community leader Dr. Mariedel Leviste to the LA Commission on Community & Family Services. Leviste was appointed by Mayor Eric Garcetti, further boosting Filipino American representation in city government. George Villanueva was earlier named to the city planning commssion. The Commission on Community & Family Services acts in an advisory capacity to the City of Los Angeles on policy and issues on the needs, concerns and interests of children, youth and their families. Its mission is to create pathways out of poverty into self-sufficiency for residents of low-income communities through the integration of programs and services that help indigent families. After her confirmation in City Council Chambers, Leviste headed straight for the City Clerk’s office, where Deputy City Clerk Eric Villanueva administered her oath of office. Various Filipino community leaders event attended the event. Leviste is married to Filipino lawyer Roman P. Mosqueda, who is also a community leader in his own right. Leviste used to run her private dermatology practice in Beverly Hills and Sherman Oaks. Now, she is the president and CEO of National Healthcare Accountable Care Organization, Pacificare Medical, Biodermik, Inc. and Telemedicine USA, Inc. Leviste told Asian Journal that she and Mayor Garcetti go way back, to the days when he was still councilmember for District 13. Garcetti, she said, had previously nominated her for a different city commission, but that initiative didn’t pan Read More …

By Christine O. Avendaño |Philippine Daily Inquirer 4:42 am | Monday, July 7th, 2014 MANILA, Philippines–Australia has donated an additional P120 million toward the development of communities devastated by Super Typhoon Yolanda last year, bringing to more than P3 billion that country’s aid to the Philippines following the disaster. The Australian Embassy in Manila said Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop had announced the new assistance which would be coursed through the Resilience and Preparedness towards Inclusive Development (Rapid) program being implemented by the Philippine government along with the Climate Change Commission, the United Nations Development Program and the Australian government. Rapid was launched on July 3 by officials led by Australian Foreign Affairs and Trade Deputy Secretary Ewen McDonald, who was in the Philippines last week. Early warning “The program will help improve land use planning, building codes, risk assessments and the establishment of early warning systems in Yolanda-affected areas,” the Australian Embassy said in a statement. Along with the new assistance, Australia is sending six civilian corps specialists to join two Australian specialists in the country since December and help in the ongoing massive recovery and rebuilding effort. Recovery The embassy said Australia had provided an initial P1.6 billion (A$41 million) in direct assistance immediately after the disaster struck, followed by P1.4 billion (A$36 million) in other forms of aid for the recovery and rehabilitation effort, totaling P3 billion prior to the latest donation. Australia has been helping over half a million stricken Filipinos rebuild their lives Read More …