Maniolas

Carson-based travel agency reaches 18-year milestone Now, 18 years later, Travel International Group has grown into one of the most reliable and knowledgeable players in the travel industry with its trademark professionalism, integrity, creativity, and quality service. Travel International Group was a small, unknown travel company organized and established by travel industry experts Rick Enrique and Jane Stark on May 1, 1997.  Now, 18 years later, the company has grown into one of the most reliable and knowledgeable players in the travel industry with its trademark professionalism, integrity, creativity, and quality service. While the early success of Travel International Group could be attributed to hard work, product knowledge and experience, the company’s current status in the marketplace is highly due to both management and staff’s dedication and passion in delivering excellent service to customers.  Repeat clients and countless referrals now make up Travel International’s huge client base. “It was our clients’ trust that has sustained us all these years,” stated Travel International’s president Jane Stark who explained that the company is now serving 2nd and 3rd generation clients, from the original client base they had 18 years ago. “We constantly educate and certify ourselves with destination specialist courses, and attend global travel trade conferences,” Ms. Stark said. “We make sure that before we design our tour packages and recommend them to our clients we experience everything first-hand – accommodations, meal plans, as well as selection of tour guides.” With its team of highly experienced specialists, and a staff that is Read More …

For half a decade, fans all over the world eagerly waited for news and confirmation about this much-anticipated battle between the undefeated American boxer who claims he’s “The best ever,” and  the 8-division Filipino boxing champion and congressman whom supporters refer to as “The people’s champ.” The Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Manny Pacquiao bout took five long years to finalize. But the wait is worth it, if only evidenced by the hype surrounding the May 2nd clash at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. “Normally I’m inviting the media and now I’m actually throwing them out,” said Fred Sternburg who has been in-charge of Pacquiao’s public relations since the first Eric Morales fight. “Manny has asked me to close the doors, to stop giving interviews. We will continue that,” he said in an interview during Pacquiao’s open media workout which was attended by an estimated 300 credentialed members of the media. Freddie Roach and Jannelle So Of course print and broadcast journalists, boxing analysts and bloggers came to see and talk to the man of the hour, since this training camp has been closed off to the public and to reporters. Security has been strict. And that is something that Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach had always wanted for his ward. “I’ve never seen Manny better. There’s no distractions. I want Manny performing for me and not the audience. The audience he can perform for on May 2nd.” Roach said. A historic fight and the largest purse Read More …

John Prats and Isabel Oli (MNS Photo) JOHN Prats officially proposed marriage to Isabel Oli in late September last year, staging a flash mob of dancers in Eastwood in front of the public. They’re now officially tying the knot on May 15. They’ve just released their pre-nup Nice Print photos and it has a four seasons theme: Winter, spring, summer, fall. This is their way of sharing one of the happiest moments in their lives with their fans. Isabel prefers a small intimate wedding and this will be held at the farm of the Prats family in Batangas. Only family members and very close friends will be invited to the affair.  Isabel will be wearing a creation of New York-based fashion designer Vera Wang, which John got for her when they had a vacation in the States last Christmas. She’ll actually wear two different gowns: One for the wedding ceremony and the other, for the reception. John was previously linked to Heart Evangelista, Nancy Castiglione, Rachelle Anne Go, Bianca Manalo and Shaina Magdayao. Isabel was, in turn, linked before to Marco Alcaraz, James Yap and Paolo Contis. It was John’s younger sister, Camille Prats, who acted as a matchmaker in introducing them to each other. Here’s hoping their wedding will be hitch free and that their marriage will last for a lifetime. They plan to have a baby right away. Isabel says they want to have at least four kids, but John jokingly says he wants 14 kids no less. Read More …

Janet Lim Napoles (center), the alleged pork barrel scam queen, is escorted out of the court room after being found guilty on her kidnapping and serious illegal detention case of scam whistleblower Benhur Luy at the Makati Regional Trial Court on Tuesday. Napoles was sentenced to permanent imprisonment. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Sandiganbayan Third Division will conduct the bail hearing of Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged brains behind the pork barrel scam, at the Correctional Institute for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City on Friday. In a press conference Thursday, clerk of court Dennis Pulma confirmed that the CIW has set aside a hall in the facility’s medium security area for the hearing. “For tomorrow’s continuation of Mrs. Napoles’ bail hearing, the venue will be inside the premises of the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong. Same time, 8:30,” Pulma said. The hearing will be the first since Napoles was convicted of serious illegal detention by the Makati Regional Trial Court. According to Pulma, Napoles’ bail hearings for her graft and plunder charges will be in the CIW since the Supreme Court has yet to act on the Sandiganbayan’s request for her to be brought out of jail every time she needs to attend a hearing. “So far we have not yet received any notice or resolution or action to the letter of the Presiding Justice. In the meantime, we made some arrangements with the officials of the CIW, to hold the hearing tomorrow in the premises,” Pulma said, referring Read More …

Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton when his mug shot was taken by Philippine National Police personnel. Pemberton is accused of murdering transgender Jennifer Laude in Olongapo, Philippines. BAGUIO CITY (Mabuhay) – The Supreme Court sought the side of Malacanang, the military, and the Department of Foreign Affairs on a petition seeking to transfer murder suspect US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton from Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City to the Olongapo City Jail. The SC, in an en banc summer session here, ordered respondents in the petition filed by Laude’s sisters to submit a comment “within 10 days from notice on the petition for certiorari.” Apart from Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, AFP chief Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., and Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, also named respondents in the petition were Judge Roline Jinez-Jabalde of the Olongapo Regional Trial Court Branch 74, Pemberton, and Olongapo City Chief State Prosecutor Emilie delos Santos. In their petition, Marilou and Mesehilda Laude asked the high tribunal to reverse two orders from Judge Jabalde denying their request to transfer Pemberton from an American military facility inside Camp Aguinaldo, to a city jail. The petitioners said Jabalde committed grave abuse of discretion when, on technicaliries, she dismissed a request to compel the Armed Forces of the Philippines to surrender custody of Pemberton the Olongapo City Jail. They also said that under the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), the Philippines should have primary jurisdiction over Pemberton while his case is being tried by a Philippine court. Read More …