Maniolas

By Jill Beltran 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) – Traffic gridlock in Metro Manila and public safety are among the major concerns of the Department of Tourism (DOT) in hosting the Miss Universe pageant in the country next year. These were the key issues discussed during the first meeting of the Philippine Host Committee (PHC) recently, which comprises several agencies, in preparation for the highly-anticipated beauty pageant. “The maddening traffic mess is obviously the one single problem that beset our daily economic activities in Metro Manila, and we will find ways so as not to aggravate this with the hosting of Miss Universe,” said Read More …

President Rodrigo R. Duterte, members of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) Peace Panel, and members of the National Democratic Front (NDF) Peace Panel join hands at the President’s Hall in Malacañan Palace on August 15. MANILA (Mabuhay) — A Malacañang official on Thursday said that President Rodrigo Duterte’s tirades against Senator Leila de Lima are rooted in her supposed assumption that the chief executive himself is linked to extrajudicial killings. In a statement, presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella pointed out that Duterte understands that “public discourse has its dynamics and perimeters,” as exhibited in his previous exchange with the Supreme Court Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno. “However, he has taken umbrage with Sen de Lima’s approach, of not only taking the moral high ground with regard to drug-related deaths, but her assumptions that said deaths are directly attributable to PRRD’s War on Drugs,” he stated. President Rodrigo R. Duterte and members of the National Democratic Front (NDF) Peace Panel do the fist gesture at the President’s Hall in Malacañan Palace on August 15. (MNS photo) The newest word war started Wednesday afternoon in Camp Crame when Duterte hinted that a senator was linked to the narcotics trade through her driver who happened to be her lover. He said that the senator went to Davao City to investigate his connection to the so-called vigilante group Davao death squad and its violation against human rights. Press to reveal the name of the human rights crusader in a news briefing later that afternoon, Duterte Read More …

Senate to probe killings of drug suspects Confiscated FAs presented to PNP chief in General Santos City (August 16, 2016) – Dir. Gen. Ronald dela Rosa, Philippine National Police chief, presents to journalists during his visit at the police regional office on August 11 the cache of seized assorted high-powered firearms from police operations in Central Mindanao Region. (Isagani Palma–Malungon Information Office/with PRO-12 PNP Press Corps) MANILA  (Mabuhay) — Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa assured the senators on Tuesday that police officials “will bare all” during the scheduled Senate investigation on the spate of killings of drug suspects next week. “Yung pagpunta lang namin dun sa Senado is a sign that we are true to our words, we are true to our deeds. Wala kami[ng] itatago, kung ano ang gusto nilang malaman, ibibigay namin,” Dela Rosa said at a press conference before a command conference with his officials. “Huwag silang mag-alala, ilalabas naming lahat, lahat ng kailangan nilang data ibibigay namin, lahat ng gusto nilang malaman, sasabihin namin,” he added. The Senate committee on justice and human rights, chaired by Sen. Leila de Lima, is set to conduct its probe on August 22 and 23. Dela Rosa had earlier expressed his readiness to attend the investigation. Asked on the advice of Sen. Panfilo Lacson that the PNP should keep its cool during the Senate probe, Dela Rosa said he appreciates the concern of the former PNP chief. “I appreciate the concern of our former boss, Sen Read More …

Protesters rally in front of the Chinese Consulate in Makati City on Tuesday, denouncing China’s claim to most of the West Philippine Sea including areas claimed by the Philippines. The protest comes as a UN tribunal in the Hague begins a hearing the Philippines’ claim on the disputed Spratly Islands.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — A Chinese Coast Guard vessel entered the country’s exclusive territory and crossed paths with the Philippine Coast Guard, PCG spokesperson Commander Armand Balilo said Thursday. “Very polite naman yung exchange of messages. Nagpakilala lang sila (Chinese Coast Guard) at nagpakilala lang din kami. Nagtanungan lang,” Balilo said in a chance interview with reporters at the sidelines of the turnover of a search and rescue vessel loaned from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Balilo said the face-off, which happened three weeks ago, occured 73 to 100 nautical miles from Subic coast, a traditional fishing area for Filipino fishermen. Balilo said the two PCG vessels were accompanying the fishermen when one Chinese Coast vessel passed by in the area. “We have been patrolling the area, assisting our fishermen. Kaya nandun yung mga barko ng Coast Guard. We intend to continue patrolling doon. It is part of the West Philippine Sea. It is within our exclusive economic zone,” Balilo said. Balilo admitted that the two PCG vessels were comparably smaller than the passing Chinese Coast Guard vessel. “But they were very cordial. No untoward incident happened. Hindi rin naman pinigilan makapangisda ang ating fishermen,” Balilo clarified. This was Read More …

Mr. Ted Wilson (right) shows Mr. Roberto Mercado the Philippine stamps that were on display at the Postal Museum’s William H. Gross Stamp Gallery. WASHINGTON, DC – The Mama Sita Foundation officially handed over a donation of Mama Sita commemorative stamps to the Smithsonian National Postal Museum during a simple turnover ceremony held at the museum lobby on 15 August 2016. The late Teresita “Mama Sita” Reyes was an iconic figure in Philippine culinary arts history, pioneering the use of mixes and seasonings that accompany Filipino food. The series of commemorative stamps were issued by the Philippine Postal Corporation in honor of her contribution and influence in the propagation of authentic Philippine cuisine as well as to honor her birth centenary in 2017. Mr. Roberto Mercado (5th from left) hands over the commemorative Mama Sita stamps to Mr. Ted Wilson (6th from left) of the Collections Department of the National Postal Museum on 15 August 2016. “The stamps signify the flavors that the Philippine cuisine offers as well as the country’s vision of sharing our biodiversity to the rest of the world,” Mr. Roberto Mercado, consultant and representative of the Mama Sita Foundation said. “We love to have it,” Mr. Ted Wilson of the Postal Museum’s Collections Department received and welcomed the inclusion of the stamps to the museum’s collection on display. After the ceremony, Mr. Wilson took Mr. Mercado and other Philippine Embassy representatives to a brief tour of the Postal Museum’s William H. Gross Stamp Gallery. The turnover ceremony was organized by the Mama Sita Foundation in collaboration with Read More …