Maniolas

Photo above shows officers and staff of the Philippine Consulate General led by Consul General Leo-Herrera-Lim and Mrs. Fides Herrera-Lim. Los Angeles – The officers and staff of the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles joined the 11th Archdiocesan Filipino Marian Celebration of “Santacruzan” held last May 9 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles. Most Rev. Myloi Hubert Vergara, D.D.,  Bishop of Pasig, led the Eucharistic celebration with the auxiliary bishops and clerics of Los Angeles. This year’s event was held under the auspices of the Filipino Ministry of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the theme was “Holy Mary, Queen and Mother of Mercy”. Filipino-American children as angels in the Procession During the mass mentioned was a special prayer was said for the late Philippine Ambassador Domingo D. Lucenario, Jr. who died in a helicopter accident in Pakistan. The Philippine Consulate General joined the different parish ministries, Catholic associations, civic and non-governmental organizations and Filipino-American children as angels in the Procession that heralded the Eucharistic celebration.

Members of the Senate Blue Ribbon Sub-Committee investigating the alleged overpricing of a 12-story building for the University of Makati’s nursing school watch a presentation on Monday. The building’s construction cost of P1.140 billion is alleged to be overpriced to benefit then mayor Jejomar Binay back in 2007. (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Instead of wishing for the possible withdrawal of Vice President Jejomar Binay from the 2016 race, Senator Nancy Binay said Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and other would-be candidates should just show what they can do for the country. “Nakalulungkot kasi imbes na ipagdasal niya ‘yung mga kababayan natin na nangangailangan para mapabuti ‘yung buhay nila, I think pinagdadasal niya na ‘Lord, please, huwag nang tumakbo si Vice para may pag-asa ako’,” Binay told reporters Monday afternoon. Earlier, Trillanes said he believes the Vice President might withdraw from the 2016 race because of allegations of corruption and the latter’s declining survey ratings. “Naniniwala ako na di na tatakbo si Vice President Binay. Aatras na siya ngayong nararamdaman niyang gumuguho na ang mundo niya,” said Trillanes, one of VP Binay’s vocal critics. But Sen. Binay said there could be other people behind Trillanes who are wishing that they would win by default. Trillanes earlier expressed readiness to run for a higher post in 2016. “Kailangan by default para manalo sila? Bakit, ‘di ba? Magpakitaan kayo kung ano ang nagawa ninyo at kaya ninyong gawin. Hindi ‘yung mananalo ka kasi ‘yung kalaban mo e kung baka e tinechnical mo at Read More …

Senator Grace Poe (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — A political analyst believes Sen. Grace Poe has a good chance of beating Vice-President Jejomar Binay in the 2016 elections if she decides to run for president. Political analyst Ramon Casiple said Poe is already a sure win for the vice-presidency. “She is the candidate to beat, more than one third want her,” he said. But he also believes the senator has a good chance of beating Binay, who has long declared his intention to run for president, if she decides to run for the country’s top post. ”Pagdating sa presidente, ang interesting dito, medyo nagsimula siya sa malayo pero recently mabilis ang taas, halos 100% ang taas niya. At ngayon nasa posisyon na siya to contend even sa frontrunner na si VP Binay,” Casiple said. ”Kung itutuloy ang momentum na iyan, ako hindi nagdududa let’s say in six months pagdating ng filing ng candidacy, malamang baka lumampas pa siya.” Poe on Monday confirmed that President Aquino met with her shortly before his recent trip to the US and Canada to discuss the 2016 elections, but she said the president did not ask her to run for any particular position. At the meeting, Poe said the President only told her that the Liberal Party (LP) needs an alternative to the opposition candidate. Vice President Jejomar Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance has openly declared his intention to run for president in 2016. “Ang pinag-usapan namin ng ating pangulo ay ang kanyang layunin Read More …

(OTTAWA, Canada) President Benigno S. Aquino III looks at the red maple tree planted by his mother, former President Corazon C. Aquino at the Main Drive of the Rideau Hall for the Ceremonial Tree Planting during his State Visit to Canada. Also in photo are Their Excellencies The Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada and Mrs. Sharon Johnston. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — The process is underway to fill up the posts at the Commission on Human Rights after chairperson Loretta Ann Rosales and four commissioners ended their terms this week, Malacañang said Saturday. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said there is a short list of potential replacements for the commissioners but declined to name names at this time. “Sa alam ko may short list but I’m not at liberty to talk about it,” she said on government-run dzRB radio. “The process is underway,” she added. Last May 5, Rosales ended her term as CHR chairperson. Also vacating their posts were commissioners Cecilia Rachel Quisumbing, Ma. Victoria Cardona, Norberto de la Cruz and Jose Manuel Mamauag. President Benigno Aquino III had named Rosales to the CHR shortly after his election in 2010. Rosales was associated with Akbayan party list, which at the time had allied itself with the ruling Liberal Party. Meanwhile, Valte said there is still no one appointed to replace Presidential Commission on Good Government chairman Andres Bautista, who has been appointed head of the Commission on Elections. “Wala pa rin po. Wala pa rin po. Read More …

By Mynardo Macaraig Weather forecasters monitor the progress of typhoon Ruby inside the PAGASA head office in Quezon City on Sunday. Ruby is slowly making its way through central Philippines in a west-northwest direction at 15 kilometers per hour, and is expected to pass near Metro Manila on Monday. (MNS photo) Manila, Philippines | AFP | Sunday 5/10/2015 – 12:54 GMT – Typhoon Noul slammed into the northern tip of the Philippines Sunday, triggering warnings of possible flash floods, landslides and storm surges and prompting almost 3,000 people to flee their homes. The storm hit Cagayan province late Sunday afternoon and was expected to move north towards Japan, the government weather station said. The civil defense office said there were no immediate reports of storm-related deaths but the typhoon knocked out power in much of the province, making it difficult to get data. Meteorologists said Noul’s movement slowed slightly before reaching the Philippines, but it also strengthened to pack gusts of 220 kilometers (137 miles) per hour. In Taiwan, authorities warned sailors of strong winds and high waves and evacuated almost 1,000 tourists from an island off the southeast coast. “This is a very dangerous storm. It is the strongest so far this year,” said Rene Paciente, head of the Philippines’ marine weather division. More than 1,680 people in Cagayan were evacuated from coastal villages before the storm hit and the exercise was continuing, said Norma Talosig, regional civil defense chief. “They have to evacuate to higher ground, not in their Read More …