Maniolas

President Benigno S. Aquino III is the guest of honor in the El Shaddai Charismatic Renewal Movement 31st anniversary celebration, coinciding with the 76th birthday of its spiritual leader-founder Mariano Z. Velarde, also known as Brother Mike, at the El Shaddai House of Prayer at Amvel Business Park in Paranaque City Sunday morning, (August 23). After the program, the President, along with Bro. Mike, DILG Sec. Manuel Roxas III, and DND Sec. Voltaire Gazmin had a private breakfast. (MNS photo) CEBU CITY (Mabuhay) – President Benigno Aquino III on Monday assured overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that safeguards will be put in place to prevent abuse in balikbayan box inspections. At a media briefing here, Aquino said he will review the Bureau of Customs’ proposed new policies in balikbayan box inspections with customs and finance officials on Monday afternoon. The BOC has earlier announced that it will issue stricter guidelines on balikbayan boxes by October in an effort to curb technical smuggling. In various posts on social media, OFWs complained that the measure would be an additional burden to them. Others have urged their fellow migrant workers to stop sending their packages until BOC clarifies the plan. Meanwhile, Customs chief Alberto Lina defended Monday the agency’s plan to open balikbayan boxes, saying the bureau is mandated to prevent the entry of contraband items as well as assess the value of items that need to be taxed. Lina said that under the law, the bureau can inspect all balikbayan boxes entering the Read More …

President Benigno S. Aquino III is the guest of honor in the El Shaddai Charismatic Renewal Movement 31st anniversary celebration, coinciding with the 76th birthday of its spiritual leader-founder Mariano Z. Velarde, also known as Brother Mike, at the El Shaddai House of Prayer at Amvel Business Park in Paranaque City Sunday morning, (August 23). Accompanying the President are DILG Secretary Manuel Roxas III and DND Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. (MNS photo) CEBU CITY (Mabuhay) – President Benigno Aquino III on Monday rejected an administration lawmaker’s call for him to be Interior Secretary Mar Roxas’ running mate for the 2016 polls. In a media briefing here, Aquino said running for vice president will not sit well with his family. “Habang tinatanong mo sa akin ‘yan parang nakikita ko na ‘yung mga kapatid ko naiyak na at ‘yung mga pamangkin ko humahagulhol na,” the President told reporters. Aquino added that he could have agreed to earlier proposals for him to extend his term if he really wanted to stay in power. “Kung gagawin na rin naman lahat ‘nung trabaho, siguro dapat sumang-ayon na ako doon sa mungkahing pagtingin ‘nung Konstitutsyon ulit at term extension,” he said. The President further said that he should allow Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, whom he endorsed as his preferred successor last month, to continue the reforms that he started. “Kung sa atin parati iaasa ‘yan baka hindi tayo nakakatulong doon sa manigurado na tuluy-tuloy itong arangkadang nangyayari sa ating bansa,” Aquino said. Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga, a Read More …

Vilma Santos (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — BATANGAS Governor Vilma Santos said she is not interested in running for vice president in 2016 elections but she is contemplating a run for Congress. Santos said she is not ready for a national position. “Wala akong plano, wala akong ambisyon. Hindi kasi madali na trabaho yun. Yung governor, sakripisyo na, how much more kung pag-uusapan natin (yung bise) na hindi biro. Alam ko yung kakayanan ko. Hindi ako prepared for that,” she said. She said she is seriously contemplating to run as representative of Batangas. “I may run for Congress, kasi hindi naman siya ganun kahigpit like 24/7, 8 days a week. Eight days a week, as in literal, hindi ko kaya ‘yon. Ito, legislative, pero not as heavy kasi batas din ito. That’s part of my learning too, pero hindi ganoon kalaki ang burden,” she said. Santos, who spent nine years as a mayor of Lipa and another nine years as governor of Batangas, said it was not an easy job but a fulfilling one. She said that it entails a lot of sacrifice, especially from her family life, but she made a promise to the people, which is to serve them, and does not regret a thing. “Hindi madali. Marami akong sakripisyo at sa totoo lang, kung iisipin mo yung public service, sacrifice yan. Hindi totoo na masarap yan. Hindi kung gusto mo na maging epektibo,” she said. “Wala akong regrets kahit marami akong natapon na pagkakataon, income number one. Read More …

Just how serious is the issue of land grabbing in the Philippines to merit the attention of the Committee of Foreign Affairs of California Legislature under the chairmanship of Congressman Ed Royce of the 39th Legislative District. Serious enough for the close to 50-member Foreign Affairs Committee and the first hand experience of its Chair who visited the Philippines recently to look into the matter personally as part of  the fact-finding effort. With a colleague from the United States Agency for International Development, he visited the place in question at Antipolo City, Philippines and did not like the experience that lent credence to the allegations. Committee Hearing: Congressman Ed Royce’s Foreign Affairs Committee, (second from left) shown here with Buena Park Mayor Art Brown, Civic Leader Atty. Linda Sarno and Representative Young King of the 65th Legislative District at a recent function, will look into the problem of land-grabbing in the Philippines at a public hearing at Cal Pomona University. Royce represents California Legislative District 39. The veteran congressman sounded his concern on the apparent injustice to land grab victims as gathered from an interview at Cal State Fullerton where he delivered a short remarks at a Grant Seminar that his office sponsored recently as part of a community outreach. What he experienced during his exploratory trip in the Philippines gave him reasons to dig deeper into the matter and seek measures in order to correct the perceived injustice. The veteran lawmaker has also gone to other parts of Asia Read More …

President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the 45th anniversary celebration of the Presidential Management Staff held at the Reception Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on Thursday (August 20) with the theme: “Sustaining the Tradition of Excellence in Public Service.” (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Saturday assured the public that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is doing what is needed to resolve the issue of the death of Philippine eagle “Pamana.” This is amid a supposed threat against Mt. Hamiguitan’s status as United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) World Heritage Site. The three-year old female Philippine eagle was found dead in the Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a Unesco heritage site and protected area. “I think DENR already released a reward to get to the bottom, really, of what happened to ‘Pamana,’” Deputy President Spokesperson Abigail Valte said over state-run Radyo ng Bayan. “I’m sure that everyone wants to make certain that we are not delisted and that we do not lose that designation,” she added. Environmental group Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE) earlier criticized the government for not prioritizing conservation efforts. It said that unchecked poaching in the area was because of lack of funding and manpower. Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary was included in the World Heritage list in 2014 and was then recognized as an area that “provides critical habitat for a range of plant and animal species.” “The property showcases Read More …