Maniolas

Evangeline “Vangie” Paredes with Embassy’s Chargé d’ Affairés, Minister Patrick A. Chuasoto at the Romulo Hall of the Philippine Embassy on 25 August 2016. WASHINGTON, DC – Members of the Filipino-American community in the Metro DC area came together on 25 August 2016 at the Romulo Hall of the Philippine Embassy to fete Ms. Evangeline “Vangie” Paredes, who turns 100 years old this year. Ms. Paredes is a former secretary of President Manuel Quezon and has been a prominent member of the community for the past seven decades. The celebration was also part of the Philippines’ observance of National Language Month and History Month. “The month of August means many things to many people in many places. For Filipinos, the month of August is very significant. Filipinos celebrate Buwan ng Wika – National Language Month – under Proclamation No. 1041 of 1997 by former President Fidel V. Ramos. The national commemoration used to beLinggo ng Wika, a week-long celebration that happened every August 13 to 19, coinciding with the birthday of former President Manuel L. Quezon, known as Ama ng Wikang Pambansa, or Father of the National Language, who was born on 19 August 1878,” said the Embassy’s Chargé d’Affairés, Minister Patrick Chuasoto, in his welcome remarks. “August has also been designated as ‘History Month,’ under Proclamation No. 339 signed by President Benigno Aquino III in 2012. August is indeed a month that witnessed many turning points in Philippine history,” Minister Chuasoto added. Rita Cacas, founder and President of the Rita M. Cacas Foundation, Inc., Read More …

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operatives conduct an inventory of ingredients used in the manufacture of illegal drugs at the Henson Plastic factory warehouse in Valenzuela City on Friday. PDEA agents raided the alleged shabu laboratory and confiscated an undetermined amount of ingredients used to make shabu.(MNS photo) MANILA, Aug 29 (Mabuhay) – With hundreds of thousands of individuals surrendering to authorities for admitted drug use, Malacañang on Sunday declared success in the administration’s campaign against illegal drugs. “Kung makikita po natin ‘yung first phase ng laban kontra droga ay nagwagi na tayo, ‘yung first phase po ito. Ito ‘yung susumahin natin ‘yung mahigit 700,000 na sumurrender or who turned themselves in para magpa-rehabilitate,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in an interview over state-run dzRB radio. Data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) released on August 2 shows that nearly 600,000 drug users have surrendered from July 1 to August 2. Andanar said the government was now ready to “move on to the second phase of the drug campaign,” which will be explained by President Rodrigo Duterte himself. Andanar recalled Duterte’s commitment during the campaign to suppress the problem of illegal drugs, crime, and corruption in the country within three to six months. “Ito’y ginagawa naman ng Pangulo, sa mas lalong madaling panahon. Ang pangako ng ating Pangulong Duterte, ay ito ay malinis, within three to six months, mga 70 to 80 percent, ay malinis na ito,” he said. The Palace official said the “matrix” released by Duterte establishing the Read More …

MANILA, Aug 29 (Mabuhay) – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has temporarily suspended the printing of ballots for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. According to Comelec chief Andres Bautista, this is in line with a seeming agreement to push the elections back anew between President Rodrigo Duterte and Congress. “As you know, it seem that it’s already a consensus between the President and Congress to postpone the barangay and SK elections. We deemed it prudent to first suspend the ballot printing,” Bautista said. Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista personally observes the biometric registration of voters for the forthcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections at the Lucky China Mall in Binondo, Manila on Friday (July 22, 2016). (MNS photo) The poll chief said they “are hopeful that Congress will pass a law quickly regarding the postponement.” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said printing will resume by September 1 if there is no confirmation of postponement. The poll body has to print a total of 85 million ballots—57 million for barangay elections, and the remaining 28 million for SK. Printing began on August 21, with a deadline slated on October 21. So far, at least 411,000 ballots have been printed for Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur. The postponement of the said elections is deemed the “most prevailing sentiment” among lawmakers. Duterte—who earlier said barangay and SK polls must push through this year—said Friday that he is now in favor of the postponement because of the possibility of “drug Read More …

President Rodrigo Duterte delivers a speech during the oath-taking ceremony for newly-promoted generals and flag officers at the Rizal Hall in Malacañan on August 23. (MNS photo) CAMP GENERAL MATEO CAPINPIN, Tanay, Rizal  (PNA) – President Rodrigo Duterte urged the Commission on Human Rights to consider the safety of the 104 million Filipinos before criticizing his intensified anti-illegal drugs campaign. ”Itong mga human rights, mamili kayo: Is it the comfort and safety of the population? Or the lives of criminals?” President said in his speech before the more than 300 soldiers belonging to 2nd Infantry Division of Philippine Army here. President Duterte said illegal drug is destroying the country and “there’s always a price to pay.” ”Itong mga… those who are pag magkaharap itong mga ganito, lumalaki ‘yung bunganga pati ‘yung ulo eh and they talk nonsense,” the President said. Police have reported that over 700 drug pushers and users have been killed already in legitimate police operations since aggressive war against drug started almost two months ago. ”We are supposed to protect the integrity of our Republic and the safety of the citizens there,” the President said. Meanwhile, Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Wednesday said that the agency has witnesses to provide the evidence against Senator Leila De Lima and former DoJ Undersecretary Francisco Baraan link to the illegal drug trade in New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City. However, Aguirre said the agency did not go into details on what evidence they have against Read More …

President Rodrigo Duterte, along with non-uniformed personnel of the 2nd Infantry Division, does the fist gesture at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal on August 24. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — The military must have access to every inch of the country, including areas of indigenous peoples or lumad in Mindanao, President Rodrigo Duterte said at past midnight Thursday. Asked about the issue of militarization of lumad communities that IP leaders believe should be eased with the advent of the ceasefire and peace talks with communist leaders, Duterte said, “There is no such thing as a militarization.” “Every inch of this property of republic must be occupied by soldiers of the government,” Duterte said in a news conference in Davao City. “There is no such thing as hindi kayo papasok diyan kasi no militarization there,” he added. President Rodrigo Duterte, along with the 2nd Infantry Division army troopers, does the fist gesture at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal on August 24. (MNS photo) What may be prevented, Duterte said, are open conflicts between the military and the lumad, and the influences behind each. “Siguro yung overt acts , yung makipagway, ‘yun ang iniiwasan,” Duterte said. Duterte said conflict only developed because of the involvement of the Alamara paramilitary group and the Communist Party of the Philippines. “Kanya-kanyang sphere of influence,” Duterte said.(MNS)