Maniolas

Eligible immigrants strongly urged to take the first step now to have a chance of becoming a U.S. citizen before November election   Over 300,000 Asian immigrants in L.A. County currently eligible to naturalize and become a U.S. Citizen LOS ANGELES – Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Los Angeles (Advancing Justice-LA), in close partnership with community-based organizations and local government, announced an unprecedented campaign to encourage and increase the number of Asian American immigrants applying for U.S. citizenship. Community based organizations serving the Asian American community will receive additional funding and support to process citizenship applications. In addition, Asian ethnic media will be invited to join the effort as official campaign partners, to promote the benefits of citizenship. In Los Angeles County, over 300,000 Asian American immigrants are currently legal permanent residents who are eligible to naturalize and become U.S. citizens. “The United States was founded by immigrants and continues to thrive because of the contributions of immigrants,” said Stewart Kwoh, President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice – LA. “For many Asian Americans, the risk of leaving their native countries in pursuit of better opportunities outweighed all their fears of the unknown. Today, we are launching ‘Endless Possibilities. Citizenship Now!’ in seven Asian languages, drawing on an unprecedented partnership between nonprofits, government, and media, with the purpose of reminding immigrants that citizenship is a pathway to the many benefits and opportunities many hoped to achieve for themselves and their families by coming to America.” “More than 1 million people in Read More …

President Rodrigo Duterte elaborates more on the allegations against Senator Leila De Lima during a press conference held at the Presidential Guest house in Davao City on August 20. (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – President Rodrigo Duterte will convene an advisory body with lawmakers to boost his plans to overhaul the country’s creaking infrastructure and untangle crippling traffic jams in the capital, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said Tuesday. The Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), which is chaired by the President, will meet as early as next month, Pernia told reporters. Duterte’s predecessor, Benigno Aquino, convened the LEDAC only twice, compared to past presidents who met with lawmakers every quarter. Duterte will propose drafting a national transport policy, amendments to the Build-Operate-Transfer law to resolve “right of way” problems and raising the minimum cost for projects that will require approval by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board to P5 billion from P1 billion. The measures will “fast-track the appraisal and approval process while still ensuring quality” of the projects, Pernia told reporters. The LEDAC will also tackle amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) and the creation a “super body” for water resources, he said. Pernia said immediate solutions to ease traffic in Metro Manila include constructing a bridge from Bonifacio Global City to Ortigas Center to divert 25 percent of traffic on EDSA. The construction of a common station that will connect LRT Line 2 and the MRT 3 will also be fast-tracked, he said. The Read More …

Martial Law victims raise their fists after they filed a petition on Monday asking the Supreme Court to intervene and stop the planned hero’s interment for the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani next month. President Rodrigo Duterte recently ordered the military to prepare for Marcos’ burial scheduled on September 18.(MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – Former President Ferdinand Marcos would not be laid to rest at the Libingan ng mga Bayani for the next 20 days, the Supreme Court said Tuesday in response to petitions by various groups seeking to deny the late strongman a hero’s burial. At a press conference, SC spokesman Theodore Te said the high court issued a status quo ante order directing the parties to observe the status before Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana came out with a memorandum on August 7 instructing the military to facilitate the burial. The SC also postponed the oral arguments on the issue, initially set for Wednesday, to 10 a.m. of August 31. Petitioners of the burial, some of them Martial Law victims and former government officials, have urged the SC to shot down the impending burial backed by President Rodrigo Duterte, citing Marcos’ dubious record as a war soldier and massive human rights violations and corruption that tainted his 20-year rule. The government opted to go strictly by the book, emphasizing that the directive is within Duterte’s powers under the Constitution and the Administrative Code. Marcos, however, would not gain the status of a “hero” as Read More …

Even before the Honorable Consul General  Adelio Angelito S. Cruz, was formally introduced to the various members of the Filipino American community of the Los Angeles area last Aug. 17 changes at his new assignment had already become visible and people were leaving the premises with smile on their faces after transacting their businesses with the consulate. Faces of Change at Consulate: The public is expected to experience “changes” at the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles, led by Consul General Adelio Cruz at the center, in terms of prompt delivery of services for thousands in its covered areas. Hundreds welcomed the new Consul General at a reception given in his honor at the Consulate August 17. The committed staff that held the fort when the previous envoy ended his tour of duty did a wonderful job of making the local expats experience what the new Philippine administration herald as an  era of change. As a frequent visitor to the Consulate, I can attest to the changes starting at the reception with a new security guard in place. In a short span of time, change has been actualized in a Philippine government office thousands of miles away and people like it and expects more. The Consular staff at the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles were successful in “manning the fort” at the end of the tour of service of the previous envoy. Drawing inspiration from the new dispensation determined at infusing more meaning and urgency in serving the public may have Read More …

Martial Law victims raise their fists after they filed a petition on Monday asking the Supreme Court to intervene and stop the planned hero’s interment for the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani next month. President Rodrigo Duterte recently ordered the military to prepare for Marcos’ burial scheduled on September 18.(MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – Families of victims of enforced disappearances during Martial Law have joined former political detainees in asking the Supreme Court to prevent the burial of the late President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB) in Taguig City. The Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance (FIND) urged the high court on Monday to issue a temporary restraining order on the planned burial in September because the petition would be rendered moot with the interment of Marcos at the heroes’ cemetery. The second petition raised almost the same issues brought by some Martial Law victims such as former Bayan Muna Representatives Satur Ocampo and Neri Colmenares who found the government’s plan contrary to the Constitution and the law. One of the arguments was that the burial will not achieve closure on an issue that has divided the nation for years. The petitioners also insisted that Marcos was not a decorated soldier and that he was not worthy to be buried at LNMB. “Verily, the late President Marcos was not the protector of the Filipino people. He was its tormentor and oppressor until he was ousted as a tyrant by the 1986 Read More …