Maniolas

The fighter best known for his unblemished boxing record and best-hated for his arrogance and big talk is seeming likable these days, less haughty in interviews and even talking about things other than money. “The main thing that’s important is family,” said five-division world champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr. during his media day at the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas, Nevada. The upcoming fight is the biggest purse in history. It is speculated that the match that was 5-years in the making could generate up to as much as $500 million. But it’s also one of the most historic fights ever. Mayweather was asked what was more important for him: money or legacy? “A little bit of both, my legacy. But of course being a prize fighter, I want to make money. A little but of everything plays a major key in a  fight of this magnitude,” he said. “But the most important thing is family.” Jannelle So and Manny Pacquiao The undefeated American boxing champion holds a record of 47-0. No loss in all of 47 fights, which is the justification behind him branding himself as “The Best Ever.” While it may be the case, fans see this kind of self-branding and promotion as arrogance, turning many would-be supporters off. “Money May” has also been hated for his flashy ways. The fact that he served 60 days of a 90-day sentence at the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas, after pleading guilty to domestic violence charges involving a Read More …

A Philippine flag flown at half-mast at Fernando Air Base Tuesday as soldiers mourn the death of 44 members of the PNP Special Action Force killed during an encounter with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters. The MILF claims the clash Sunday erupted due to lack of coordination, when the elite cops tried to capture Malaysian bomb expert Marwan. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Some 90 members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and private armed groups had been recommended to be criminally charged for the Mamasapano clash, according to a report by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the National Prosecution Service (NPS). Justice Secretary Leila De Lima on Thursday said the 224-page report was the first part of the joint team’s findings. She said she still has to go over the joint team’s findings before baring its contents to the public. De Lima described the joint team’s initial findings as the result of “a very comprehensive work although hindi pa tapos ang trabaho nila.” She said the team was given two more months to complete its report on the Jan. 25 clash that killed more than 60 people, including 44 members of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force, 18 MILF members, and five civilians. De Lima said the initial report focused on determining who was responsible for the death of 35 of the 44 commandos, who were the 55th SAF company. The second part of the report will dwell on those responsible Read More …

From left to right: Bobby Rimas, UCLA Pilipino Alumni Scholarship Director, Trish Eusala, UCLA Prep Student Coordinator, and Dr. Jeffrey Mariano of Kaiser Permanente On Saturday, April 11th at the UCLA Carnesales Commons’ Venice Room, the UCLA Pilipino Recruitment and Enrichment Program (PREP) and the UCLA Pilipino Alumni Association presented a panel of Pilipino professionals who graduated from or taught at UCLA.  Panelists included professionals in the fields of education, nursing, engineering, entertainment, and medicine.  UCLA Pilipino Alumni Chair Roselyn Castro moderated the panelists as they offered prospective students and their parents insights and advice relating to their experiences as undergrad and graduate students, the challenges they encountered, their accomplishments, and how they entered into their professions.  One of the panelists, Dr. Jeffrey Mariano who recently became a Partner at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in West Los Angeles, indicated that “the students and their parents and families are inspirations to me and countless others.  Education is key!” Patricia “Trish” Eusala, UCLA PREP Student Coordinator, who spearheaded the event, ensured that the panel ran smoothly and warmly answered questions from prospective UCLA students and their families before and after the event.  Bobby T. Rimas, the UCLA Pilipino Alumni Scholarship Director, spoke with students and their families immediately after the event to discuss details regarding available scholarships through the UCLA Pilipino Alumni / Lovell Sevilla Scholarship Program.  The UCLA Pilipino Alumni / Lovell Sevilla Scholarship Program usually culminates in the awarding of the UCLA Pilipino Alumni Endowment Scholarship at UCLA Pilipino Alumni’s annual Read More …

By Karl Malakunas President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc. bell ringing ceremony at the PSE Ayala Trading Floor in Ayala Avenue, Makati City on Tuesday (April 14). The PSE has broken past the 8,000 level on March 30, and has since then extended its winning streak to finish at an all-time record of 8,127.48 last Friday (April 10), the 27th time the PSEi closed at an all-high since the start of the year. Also in photo is Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo. (MNS photo) Manila, Philippines, AFP, Thursday 4/16/2015 – Like the bullet embedded in his neck that may kill him if removed, Philippine President Benigno Aquino believes it is safer that some atrocities of his nation’s previous dictatorship remain buried. But like the thousands who were tortured, jailed or lost relatives during the reign of Ferdinand Marcos a generation ago, Aquino is still seething. In a lengthy interview with AFP this week from the presidential palace that was once the domain of his nemesis, Aquino offered rare insights into his struggle to ensure anger did not impact his running of the country. “I am 55 years old right now. I cannot act like I am a hot-headed 16-year-old,” Aquino said when asked to reflect on the Marcos dictatorship. “It doesn’t mean I don’t have emotions. It doesn’t mean I’m not frustrated. It doesn’t mean I am not angry. But I do know that letting go of my emotions does have Read More …

Cardinal Tagle with President Benigno Aquino III (MNS Photo) MANILA, Apr 16 (Mabuhay) – Keep the Santacruzan simple and dignified. This was the reminder of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines to Filipino faithful as they prepare for the yearly May pageant. CBCP public affairs committee executive secretary Fr. Jerome Secillano particularly warned devotees against turning the event into a spectacle like a beauty pageant or fashion show, Church-run Radyo Veritas reported. “Panatilihin ang kabanalan, ang kasagraduhan, dignidad ng pagdiriwang. It’s all about Mary, it’s all about how are we going to give our reverence to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Kaya huwag naman sana itong gawing parang katawa-tawa. Madalas ginagawa nila itong beauty pageant… so it loses the spirit of the celebration which is giving reverence to very important person to Blessed virgin Mary,” Secillano said on Church-run Radyo Veritas. “Make it simple, ang importante dito ay hindi naman yung magarbo ang palamuti, yung maraming bulaklak. Ang importante rito ay yung ma-involve mo ang mga tao para magdasal at para mahikayat na magkaroon ng debosyon sa Mahal na Birhen. Iyon ang mahalaga, hindi yung mga panlabas na trimmings, kundi yung talagang hikayat ang mga tao na magkaroon ng marubdob na debosyon sa Mahal na Ina,” he added. Santacruzan is the pageant on the last day of Flores de Mayo. Secillano said the activities here recall Queen Helena’s search for the cross on which Christ was crucified. He added the flower offering is religious in nature, giving reverence to the Read More …