Maniolas

By Cielito M. Reganit President Rodrigo R. Duterte assures wounded soldiers of continuous financial assistance during a fellowship dinner in Malacañan’s Heroes’ Hall on August 29, National Heroes Day. (MNS photo) MANILA  (PNA) – President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said that he is amenable to meeting with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chieftain Nur Misuari in Kuala Lumpur, or anywhere in the Philippines – even in Malacañang – in order to speed up the peace process in Mindanao. “I talked with Misuari last night (Tuesday), and he proposed that we meet in Kuala Lumpur in front of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Sabi ko: Dalian mo Nur, we are wasting lives here,” Duterte said during an interview with reporters at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) prior to his departure for Zamboanga City. The President went to Zamboanga to visit the wake of the 15 fallen soldiers who died in an ongoing operation against the extremist Abu Sayyaf group. Duterte said he also told Misuari that is also willing to waive the arrest warrant against the MNLF leader so that a dialogue could be undertaken in the Philippines if the latter so desired. “Nur, I have no intention of detaining you or placing you in the custody of the government. You can simply walk out there, ask any soldier and police to escort you. Kung saan ako, mag-usap tayo,” the President related. He said this could easily be done since as Commander-in-Chief, he would just order the police and Read More …

Miss Universe Pia Alonzo-Wurtzbach visits the new Department of Tourism Office: Miss Universe Pia Alonzo-Wurtzbach receives a token of appreciation from Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo during the former’s visit at the new DOT Headquarters along Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. in Makati City on Monday (July 18, 2016). In a press conference after their meeting, Secretary Teo said she is grateful for the full support the reigning Miss Universe is giving to DOT’s efforts to host the upcoming Miss Universe contest in the country. “We are really hopeful that President Rodrigo R. Duterte will grant our request, especially now that this undertaking would practically entail no expense on the part of government. More importantly, it would give a big boost to businesses and livelihood of millions of people, in line with our ‘shared tourism’ program,” the DOT Chief said. (PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.) MANILA  (PNA) – The country stands to gain from its hosting of the 2016 Miss Universe Beauty Pageant in January 2017, Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said Thursday. “I’m sure that after the Miss Universe, the Philippines will be in the world map. Everybody will be looking at us because during the Miss Universe contest, all the beautiful places, the destinations will be featured,” Teo said during a press briefing in Malacañang. It will be a two-week event, with the candidates and their delegation arriving as early as January 13. Teo said that with the hosting, the country is expected to surpass Read More …

Several UCLA Pilipino alumni and students at UCLA PAA’s send-off event. Last August 20, at Cerritos Heritage Park, the University of California,Los Angeles (UCLA) Pilipino Alumni Association(PAA) proudly welcomed new Pilipino UCLA students by hosting an event that served as a networking opportunity for students, parents, and alumni. Students and parents spoke with alumni about what to expect during their first year at UCLA. Alumni offered helpful tips and pledged to continue supportingthe next generation of Pilipino Bruins.A phenomenal Pilipino buffet lunch was served for all attendees and students had opportunities to participate in team building exercises with their new peers. PAA Board Members also spoke with attendees about UCLA Pilipino Alumni’s 25th Anniversary Dinner, which will take place on Saturday, October 15th at UCLA’s Covel Commons.The dinner will celebrate the inauguration of the Pilipino Living Learning Community, the first-ever residential community dedicated specifically tolearning about Pilipino culture, UCLA SamahangPilipino’s 45th Anniversary,and the awardingof UCLA Pilipino Alumni Scholarship recipients. To date, UCLA Pilipino Alumni Association(PAA) has awarded over 100 scholarships through the UCLA Pilipino Alumni / Lovell Sevilla Scholarship Program. The UCLA Pilipino Alumni Association’s mission is to create an environment for current students, alumni, and community members to network, both socially and professionally, as well as support initiatives that include scholarships for incoming high school students, undergraduates, and graduate students at UCLA.  If you have are interested in learning more about UCLA Pilipino Alumni’s 25th Anniversary Dinner, please contact UCLA PAA Benefit Chair Bobby Rimasat Bobby.Rimas@alumni.ucla.edu.

Senate Committee on Sports Chairman and Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquaio and Senator Loren Legarda give words of encouragement to the members of the Philippine Chess Olympiad Team, headed by Asia’s first grandmaster (GM) Eugene Torre, during their visit to the Senate on Tuesday, August 30, 2016. Torre and the other members of the Philippine’s men and women’s chess teams will fly out to Baku, Azerbaijan tomorrow to compete for the 42nd World Chess Olympiad which will be held from September 1 to 14, 2016.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senator Manny Pacquiao and officials of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) on Tuesday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to release the PSC’s share of funds from the annual income of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) as mandated by law. Under Republic Act (RA) 6847 or the Philippine Sports Commission Act, “five percent of the gross income” of PAGCOR “shall be automatically remitted directly” to the PSC. During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Sports however, PAGCOR explained that the five percent remitted to the PSC is computed from the deducted 15 percent of government share. PSC chairman William Ramirez said he intends to raise the matter with the President. Senator Manny Pacquiao, chair of the Senate Committee on Sports, discusses a proposal which seek to establish the Philippine Boxing Commission. “Considering the growing popularity of this sport and the number of champions it has produced for the country, it is about time that we give attention and consideration to this sport Read More …

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III (middle) discusses to the media how Congress will play an important role if the country decides to shift to nuclear power, during the Conference on the Prospects for Nuclear Power in the Asia-Pacific Region organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Tuesday, August 30, 2016 at the Diamond Hotel, City of Manila. “Because of the huge expenditure involved, plus the controversial nature of the decision, I believe that we need a law to be in place before we can pursue nuclearization of our energy sector,” he said. Also in photo are Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi (left) and IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Energy Mikhail Chudakov (right). (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Tuesday denied that he was deliberately shying away from the “word war” between President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Leila de Lima. “Di naman ako tahimik (I am not being silent about it). I’m just respectful,” Pimentel said at the sidelines of a conference on the prospects of nuclear power held in Manila. “I know the chairmanships have been distributed. I know that the chairman or the chairperson calls the shots with his or her committee,” he said. De Lima is currently the chairperson of the Senate committee on justice, which has been holding hearings on the increasing number of summary killings linked to the President’s anti-illegal drugs campaign. Because of her inquiry and her previous investigation, as head Read More …