Maniolas

By Abner Galino Philippines ‘defeats’ the World with WBO Jr. flyweight champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes defendeng his crown against Mexican Juan “Pinky” Alejo; IBF Inter-continental super bantamweight champion “Prince” Albert Pagara beating Nicaraguan knockout artist William “Chirizo” Gonzales; IBF youth featherweight champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo defending his crown against undefeated Mexican Yardley Suarez; and Albert’s brother, Jason “El Nino” Pagara also beating another Nicaraguan, Santos “El Toro” Benavidez THE Philippines vs World boxing event in Los Angeles turned out to be as explosive as it has been promoted, resulting in three breathtaking knockdowns and two other fights filled with  fierce exchanges of blows – all of them ending in the victory of Filipino pugilists. Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo lived up to his moniker, needing only two minutes to give Mexican Yardley Suarez his first taste of defeat in the latter’s professional career. Magsayo went in with a flurry of punches as the bell rang, most of them finding their marks on Suarez’s head and body. The Mexican went down but he was able to beat the count. But Magsayo gave Suarez no quarter when he stood up and released another flurry of punches. An upper cut landed on the chin of the Mexican boxer at the end of the outburst. The sensational win put Magsayo on 12-0 record, kept intact his IBF youth featherweight title and swelled the number of fans adoring his boxing skills. Jason Pagara dropped Nicaraguan Santos “El Toro” Benavides thrice in the second round, enough to get Read More …

This used to be a street. Rocks cover a street in Barangay Calabasa, Gabaldon town. (MNS Photo) MANILA, Oct. 20 (Mabuhay) — Stormy weather will continue to prevail in Northern Luzon as severe tropical storm “Lando” has maintained its strength as it moves slowly in the northeast direction, according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geohysical and Astronomical Services Administration on Tuesday. As of 4 a.m. Tuesday, the center of severe tropical storm Lando was estimated — based on all available data — at 130 km northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte (19.0°N, 119.7°E) packed with maximum sustained winds of 95 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 120 kph. It is forecast to move northeast at 5 kph. Public storm warning signal (PSWS) no. 2 (61-120kph expected in 24 hours) is hoisted over the provinces Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Apayao, Abra, Batanes, northern Cagayan including Calayan and Babuyan group of islands. Signal no. 1 (30-60kph expected in 36 hours) remains hoisted in the provinces of La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Mt. Province, Kalinga, Isabela and the rest of Cagayan Occasional rains and gusty winds will be experienced over provinces under signal no. 1 while those under signal no. 2 will have stormy weather. Residents in low lying and mountainous areas under storm warning signal are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. Storm surge may reach a maximum of up to 1.5 meters in the provinces affected by the severe tropical storm. The estimated rainfall amount is from heavy Read More …

Protesters rally in front of the Chinese Consulate in Makati City on Tuesday, denouncing China’s claim to most of the West Philippine Sea including areas claimed by the Philippines. The protest comes as a UN tribunal in the Hague begins a hearing the Philippines’ claim on the disputed Spratly Islands.(MNS photo) Manila, Oct 20 (Mabuhay) – A former Justice Secretary-turned-opposition lawmaker has asked the Aquino administration to study China’s proposed joint naval drills with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which, he said, could help ease the tension in the disputed West Philippine Sea. 1-BAP pary-list Rep. Silvestre Bello III, a member of the House minority bloc, urged the government to relentlessly pursue diplomatic means to resolve territorial issues with China. “The solution to the dispute between our country and China on the West Philippine Sea should be through diplomacy. A joint exercise on disputed territory could pave the way to a diplomatic solution,” he said in an interview. Like Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., he also called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of National Defense (DND) to study Beijing’s proposal. “It is worth considering as long as we make clear that we are not in any way compromising any of our claims in the West Philippine Sea,” Belmonte said in a separate interview. In an informal summit in Beijing, Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan expressed willingness to hold joint drills with the ASEAN countries, covering accidental encounters and search and rescue and Read More …

Several houses are submerged at the City Camp Lagoon in Baguio City on Monday after intense rains spawned by Typhoon Lando. More than 200 families were evacuated from the area, a perennial catch-basin for floodwaters in the summer capital during torrential rains. (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The state weather bureau said that the continuous rains from Typhoon Lando (international name Koppu) have brought a “beneficial effect” to major dams in Luzon. “Typhoons are disastrous but to the dams, it is beneficial,” said Pagasa hydrologist Danilo Flores in a televised press briefing on Monday. In Angat Dam in Bulacan, which supplies most of Metro Manila’s water needs, the water level increased by 7.21 meters. From 194.60 meters, it increased to 201.81 meters in 28 hours. In Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija, its water level of 195.18 meters increased to 200.37 meters. In Magat Dam, the water level increased from 191.97 meters to 193.83 meters. San Roque Dam’s water level increased from 276.36 meters to 278.14 meters. In Ambuklao Dam in Benguet, water rose from 749.27 meters to 751.35 meters. Both Ambuklao and Binga opened two gates, Flores said. Water from these dams will go to San Roque in Pangasinan, which is still far from its spilling level, he added. Lando is moving slowly due to a high pressure area and a typhoon outside the Philippine area of responsibility. Storm signals in several provinces in Luzon are still raised. The typhoon is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Read More …

Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. addresses some 200 exceptional students in the Hall of Laureates during the Global Youth Institute hosted by the World Food Prize Foundation in Des Moines, Iowa on 15 October 2015. Photo courtesy of Philippine Consul General Generoso Calonge. WASHINGTON, D.C – Exceptional high school students from across the United States and other countries learned about positive developments in the Philippines and its efforts to become climate-resilient, climate-smart, and food-secure. Some 200 high school students are participating in the three-day Global Youth Institute hosted by the World Food Prize Foundation in Des Moines, Iowa from 15 to 17 October 2015. Throughout the event, participants present and discuss their findings with international experts and peers, connect with other students from around the world, tour leading industrial and research facilities, and take part in symposium discussions with experts in science and industry. Students are also given the opportunity to meet global leaders. This year, Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. addressed the participants on behalf of President Benigno S. Aquino III on the first day of the event. “I would like to commend the World Food Prize Foundation for having a program such as the Global Youth Institute to inspire the next generation to study and work in fields related to global agriculture. By improving agricultural productivity and incomes, promoting fair trade and better nutritional practices at all levels, immediate access to food by those who are most in need can be enhanced,” said Ambassador Cuisia. According to the Read More …