Maniolas

The Christmas season is the most favorite time of the year to millions of Christians around the world where traditions have evolved and refuse to yield to the trappings of the modern era. Filipinos in the U.S. could not have but feel emotional and nostalgic thinking of how different Christmas is celebrated in their home county. The signs begin to manifest when the months end in “ber” and the frenetic preparations commence.  The Philippines is said to be a country that celebrates Christmas the longest. While Christmas in the Philippines conjures up memories of time honored traditions introduced to its shores by foreign influences, the practices and symbolisms still persist and have been embellished by touches of modernity, In their adopted county the Christmas scenery is almost similar – a warm house fully decorated, Christmas tree, light  and families, and friends coming together to enjoy sumptuous meals- except for snow. Paying Homage: Pilgrims from the U.S. marvel at the slab in Golgotha, Jerusalem where claimed as the place where Jesus was given customary burial treatment. Christians worldwide will celebrate His birth on December 25 amid the tumultuous state of the world that He offered Himself to save. The Philippines’ Christmas traditions are representations of the deep and religiosity and fervor brought about by foreign influences. The observance of the tradition of the nine-day devotion called “Simbang Gabi” has endured for more than 400 years. The prelude pre-dawn celebration of the Mass where the faithful brave the coldness of the morning Read More …

Manila, Philippines (April 27, 2015) Philippine marines assigned to the 67th Company Marine Special Operations Group with U.S. Navy Sailors assigned to Coastal Riverine Squadron 3 in training aboard a riverine patrol boat during Balikatan 2015. Balikatan, which means “shoulder to shoulder” in Filipino, is an annual bilateral training exercise aimed at improving the ability of Philippine and U.S. military forces to work together during planning, contingency, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. The Philippines also plans to have similar exercises with Japan, a former World War II occupier. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua Scott/Released) MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Supreme Court (SC) deferred anew the voting on the constitutionality of the Philippines-United States Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca), with deliberations expected to resume next month. The high court did not make any official announcement on the case at a press conference Wednesday morning, but sources privy to what transpired during the special en banc session said deliberations would continue early January. Militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), among petitioners against the deal, held a rally outside the Supreme Court amid rains as deliberations went on, keeping watch of the results. They later dispersed upon getting word that there was no official update. The high court’s ruling has been highly anticipated as it would seal the fate of the contentious defense pact, signed as an executive agreement between Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg in April last year, just before Read More …

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima (2nd right) and Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. (right) inspect the maximum security compound of the New Bilibid prison in Muntinlupa City on Tuesday. The inspection is part of efforts to clear the prison of illegal activities. (MN photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) personnel seized dozens of sachets of illegal drugs and hundreds of sex enhancer capsules during another raid at the maximum security compound of the New Bilibid Prison on Wednesday morning. BuCor personnel seized at least 22 sachets of shabu from the Building 8 at Quadrant 3 of the maximum security compound. Several improvised handguns and knives were also seized in the building. Also from Building 8, the BuCor raiders seized hundreds of sex enhancer pills and capsules. Meanwhile, the authorities seized 17 more sachets of suspected shabu and two mobile phones from Building 5C, Quadrant 4 of the maximum security compound. Alegre said that according to his source, a sachet of shabu is sold at P5,000 in the jail facility. The BuCor has conducted eight raids in the NBP since November. It said that aside from more surprise inspections in the coming days, they will also impose stricter visitation rules during the Christmas season. (MNS)

Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach rehearses for the upcoming Miss Universe telecast while at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday. The 2015 Miss Universe contestants are touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the pageant in Las Vegas, to be televised on December 20.(MNS photo) Hollywood Filipino fashion designer Oliver Tolentino snapped into action to rescue the Philippines’ candidate for the Miss Universe pageant when she was facing the prospect of not having an evening gown for today’s preliminaries. Tolentino, who was on vacation after the successful grand opening of his new Beverly Hills boutique last weekend, received a panicked phone call from Las Vegas just a day before the preliminaries. People with Pia reported that an off-the-rack gown purchased by the organizer did not fit the Philippine bet and she had no real alternative. According to Tolentino, “I’m in Aspen on vacation when my cell phone rang as I was skiing down the mountain. I took the call and told them I would do whatever I could to help the Philippines. I had 9 gowns from the new Beverly Hills boutique sent that afternoon to Las Vegas in order for Pia to have as many choices as possible for the right design, and of course, to make sure something fit,” added the designer. “I was told Pia loved a red-orange silk crepe de chine mermaid gown with a bodice fully embellished with red Swarovski crystals and a front slit at the center,” reported Read More …

Presidential candidate Grace Poe, her running mate Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero, and veteran lawyer Lorna Kapunan (extreme left), acknowledge crowd after the tandem endorse Kapunan’s senatorial bid on Friday (Oct. 23) at the Balay Kalinaw in UP-Diliman, Quezon City. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Sen. Grace Poe, a presidential aspirant in the 2016 elections, will have to spend Christmas and greet the new year without a final Supreme Court ruling on a disqualification case filed against her by Rizalito David. The court, sitting in a special en banc session, has decided to hold next month the oral arguments on the petition by David, a defeated senatorial candidate in 2013 who is seeking to reverse a Senate Electoral Tribunal ruling declaring Poe as a natural-born Filipino and thus qualified as a senator. In a media briefing, SC spokesman Theodore Te said the oral arguments were set for January 19, 2016. Meanwhile, the nine-member SET composed of senators and Supreme Court justices was given 15 days from receipt of notice to comment on David’s petition. The high court had earlier been urged to rule with dispatch on cases regarding Poe’s qualification before the printing of ballots for the 2016 national and local elections. (MNS)