Maniolas

Environmental activists light candles at UP Diliman on Thursday, to commemorate the second year since Typhoon Yolanda hit the central Philippines on November 8, 2013. The Category 5 super typhoon claimed the lives of more than 6,300 people and caused severe damage in Eastern Visayas.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The government is having difficulty acquiring lands that would serve as relocation sites for the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda that’s why there are some delays on the transfer of families who are still living in bunkhouses especially in Tacloban City, a Palace official said on Saturday. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview on Saturday that the tracts of land initially identified by the government have some problem forcing it not to buy the land. “Hindi po nagkatuluyan (land purchase) dahil mayroon po palang problema doon sa mga lupa na in-identify para naman po sa national government,” she told dzRB Radyo Ng Bayan. “Malaki po talagang challenge ang land acquisition pagdating doon sa pagtatayo po natin ng mga permanenteng pabahay para po doon sa mga biktima.” Asked to compare the post-‘Yolanda’ rebuilding problems to US government efforts to rebuild communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina, Valte said even a wealthy country as the US has struggled to rehabilitate disaster areas. Typhoon Yolanda was also devastating compared to Hurricane Katrina that hit the US. But the Philippines fairs well in its rebuilding initiatives, Valte said noting that even multilateral agencies like the United Nations and the World Bank have praised Read More …

Sen. Grace Poe (bottom center) flanked by supporters during her arrival at the Commission on Election Headquarters to file her Certificate of Candidacy, Thursday. Sen. Poe will be running independently with Sen. Chiz Escudero as her running mate for the 2016 election. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday said that he was willing to undergo a DNA test if it would help Senator Grace Poe in her quest to find her biological relatives. Marcos made the remark after Poe said in radio interview that DNA tests with several probable biolagical kin showed no match. “Sure, pa DNA ako. walang problema. I don’t see how that will help her but if it will, why not?” Marcos told reporters when asked if he was willing to help Poe find her biological parents. Poe is a foundling who was adopted by the late actor Fernando Poe Jr and his wife, actress Susan Roces. Poe’s biological parents have yet to be traced. Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr There have been persistent rumors that she was the child of the late former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and her aunt, actress Rosemarie Sonora. Both Senators Poe and Marcos have denied the rumor but taken it quite lightly as they took to calling each other “bro” and “sis.” In a radio interview Wednesday, Poe said tests showed that her DNA did not match any of those taken from her probable biological relatives. The test was conducted to have additional evidence to prove Read More …

Dawn Zulueta (MNS Photo) Dawn Zulueta only has good words for Jessy Mendiola, who plays her daughter in the upcoming ABS-CBN series “You’re My Home.” Zulueta said Mendiola has remained professional on the set despite the controversies which she has been facing through these past few weeks. “Jessy is always very professional and very sweet. Tahimik lang siya magtrabaho,” she said. “Ngayon, napansin ko lang na si Jessy is very serious, very quiet. She likes to sit by herself. Kunyari nagpe-prepare lang kaming lahat, parang tahimik lang siya.” Asked if Mendiola ever opened up to her, Zulueta said: “Hindi naman makuwento si Jessy. Pinakikiramdaman ko lang. I just make her feel that if she needs to talk to someone or if she wants to ask me anything, she’s always welcome to do so. I make her also feel that way.” Jessy Mendiola (MNS Photo) While she does not want to interfere with Mendiola’s personal life, Zulueta said she is always willing to listen if case she approaches her. “I wouldn’t know what advice to give her until I know kung ano ‘yung pinagdadaanan niya. I only have a hunch but I’m not going to speculate,” she said. Directed by Jerry Lopez Sineneng and produced by Star Creatives, “You’re My Home” will mark the return of the Richard Gomez-Dawn Zulueta tandem on television. It will also launch the tandem of Mendiola and JC De Vera, who are working with each other for the first time. The show also features Sam Concepcion, Read More …

Members of the Quezon City Police District -Tactical Motorized Units hold a rehearsal on tactical convoy at Camp Karingal in Quezon City on Friday. The group is currently preparing for the upcoming APEC Summit on November 16-19 in Manila, where cops will be securing and escorting foreign delegates.(MNS photo) MANILA (mabuhay) – Malacañang on Friday denied the allegation that it plans to hide street dwellers from the view of state leaders attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit from November 16 to 20 . Quoting Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman, the Palace denied that the department is giving out P4,000 to the homeless to rent temporary homes while the APEC summit is ongoing. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said all initiatives for the homeless of the agency are under their regular programs. “Again, hindi po ‘hidden from view.’ Naipaliwanag po natin na ‘yung modified CCT (conditional cash transfer) ay isang programang matagal na, ‘yung ginagawa ng DSWD, at ‘yung pagtulong po nila ay hindi po limited sa tuwing mayroon malaki pong event ngunit nakikita po natin itong pagkakataon na simulan ‘yung pagtulong sa kanila para makapag-transition naman po sila from the streets into dignified living quarters,” Valte said. Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo on Thursday criticized the government for its supposed plan to hide street dwellers during the APEC Summit by giving them money to rent a temporary home. Instead of providing permanent solutions to the plight of the poor, the government just conceals homeless families every time Read More …

Mark Lapid, along with his wife Tanya and father Senator Lito Lapid, files his certificate of candidacy for senator at the Comelec office in Manila on Wednesday, October 14. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Senator Lito Lapid and five other individuals are facing graft charges for their alleged involvement in the multi-million peso fertilizer fund scam in 2004. In a case filed with the Sandiganbayan on Wednesday, the Office of the Ombudsman, through its Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), charged Lapid and his five co-accused with violations of Sections 3 (e) and 3 (g) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Aside from Lapid, named as respondents in the case were Pampanga provincial account Benjamin Yuzon and provincial treasurer Vergel Yabut. Also charged were three private individuals namely, Ma. Victoria Aquino-Abubakar and Leolita Aquino, incorporators of Malayan Pacific Trading Corporation (MPTC) and Dexter Alexander Vasquez, proprietor of D.A. Vasquez Macro-Micro Fertilizer Resources (DAVMMFR). Based on the information of the case, in May 2004, the provincial government of Pampanga during the term of Lapid as governor, purchased from MPTC 3,880 liters of liquid fertilizers formulated by DAVMMFR amounting to P4.761 million. The Ombudsman said the purchase was done without public bidding as required under Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act. The Ombudsman said the respondents also violated the procurement rules by resorting to direct purchasing “despite the availability of a suitable substitute offered at a much lower price in the locality.” The Ombudsman Read More …