Maniolas

$15-M military assistance withheld earlier due to human rights abuses CLARK AIR FIELD, PAMPANGA – Philippine Air Force Airman 1st Class Villegas Ramwyl carries U.S. Marine Cpl. Abraham Bernado during aircraft rescue and firefighting training at Clark Air Field, Pampanga, Republic of the Philippines, Sept. 26 part of Amphibious Landing Exercise 2014. The day of training familiarized the Armed Forces of the Philippines members with egress procedures should an aircraft mishap occur. The Philippine and U.S. militaries often engage in bilateral training in the common interest of regional security. Bernado is power line mechanic with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Photo : Lance Cpl. Anne K. Henry Manila, Philippines | AFP | – The United States has lifted restrictions on a small portion of its military assistance to the Philippines that was withheld over human rights concerns, the foreign minister said Thursday. The gesture affects about $15 million dollars that have been withheld over the last five years, a fraction of Washington’s total military assistance to the South East Asian island. Albert del Rosario told reporters that the aid restriction had been lifted “sometime last year”, but did not explain why it had been lifted. A day earlier, US assistant defense secretary David Shear said that the Washington had provided $300 million in military-related assistance since 2001 and would provide another $40 million in 2015 as part of America’s support to modernize the poorly-equipped Philippine military, which Read More …

Vice President Jejomar Binay (left) is given a tour of the Toledo copper mine in Toledo City, Cebu on Thursday, November 6. Binay did not attend the day’s Senate probe on the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall Building II. He is in Cebu to attend the Philippine Scouting Centennial Jamboree and meet with local officials to check their housing programs. Also in photo is Adrian Ramos (right), COO of Carmen Mining Corp. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senator Antonio Trillanes is accusing Vice President Jejomar Binay of accepting P200 million in kickbacks from a joint venture between Alphaland and the Boy Scouts of the Philippines for the development of a prime property in Makati City. Trillanes said the P200 million was an initial “commission” or advance given to the Vice President for approving the Alphaland-BSP deal. The senator said the Boy Scouts organization owns several properties including a property on Malugay Street and Ayala Avenue Extension. “Kaya pala interesadong-interesado itong si Binay na manatili bilang presidente ng Boy Scouts of the Philippines,” he said, noting that Binay forced the BSP board to retain him as Boy Scouts president. Trillanes said that under the Alphaland-BSP deal, the Boy Scouts would provide the land and Alphaland would develop the property. “Supposed to be joint venture yun. Boy Scouts sa kanya yung lupa tapos yung developer sa kanya yung capital paggawa ng building. Pero ang nangyari yung lupa ng Boy Scouts yun din ang ginawang collateral for loan. So walang capital itong developer. Read More …

Inigo Pascual (MNS Photo) Following reports that Inigo Pascual is pursuing both Julia Barretto and Sofia Andres, the son of Piolo Pascual set the record straight, saying he is not courting either of the two actresses. “Hindi po totoo na nililigawan ko si Julia, and hindo po totoo na pinagsasabay ko silang dalawa,” he said. However, the actor admitted that despite not having established an official relationship with Andres, his “Relaks, It’s Just Pag-ibig” co-star, Andres, they had “something special” and remain good friends. “We’re good friends. Not officially together, but we were talking and I can say we had something special. No label to it,” he said. Having been assigned to different projects – Andres is now in “Forevermore,” while Pascual will appear in an upcoming season of “Wanspanataym” with Barretto, the actor said they talked about how things can’t always go their way in the industry. “We didn’t give up on each other, I mean I had to tell her that it’s our job… We have different love teams, we can’t control things,” he explained. “We were never officially together. I mean, we had a good talk, we just hugged… It wasn’t a goodbye,” he added. When asked if the idea of courting Barretto crossed his mind, the actor noted that they are both still young and that having a relationship is not a priority at the moment. “Parehas kaming 17 and hindi naman po sa takot… [but] we’re both young and it’s not something that we’re really Read More …

Senate President Franklin Drilon delivering his eulogy for former Senator Flavier. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – A simplified toll collection system in the North Luzon and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressways (NLEX and SCTEX) may soon come about after Senate President Franklin Drilon met with officials of the Bases Conversion Development Authority and the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation last week. In a statement Monday, Drilon said he imposed a deadline for BCDA and MPTC to approve and implement the NLEX-SCTEX integration as a way of avoiding the dilemma and inconvenience experienced by commuters, especially during peak seasons. At the height of the holiday exodus last month, Drilon complained that he was on the road for more than 11 hours traveling from San Juan to Baguio City. He cited the inefficient toll collection system. Early last week, the Senate leader met with the officials of the Department of Transportation and Communication, BCDA, MPTC, Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), and Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) to iron out issues in implementing the planned integration for NLEX and SCTEX, which has been pending for years. Among those present were DOTC Undersecretary Jose Lotilla, Ramoncito Fernandez of MPTC, Rodrigo Franco of MNTC, Arnel Casanova of BCDA, and Robert Suansing of TRB. Drilon urged the officials to fast-track the integration plan by signing the agreement scheduled on February 12 this year in the Office of the Senate President. “To expedite the process, the TRB will simultaneously monitor and review the toll collection systems integration agreement to make sure it Read More …

Pinoys all over the country hailed “ Pope Francis, mahal na mahal namin kayo!” We all felt that we were blessed, honored and enthralled by the Pontiff’s visit. From day one of his four-day visit, Pope Francis graciously accepted true Pinoy hospitality, which we are known for. He smiled and acknowledged initially receiving the lovely, fragrant sampaguita leis from TV personality, Boots Anson-Roa to President Benigno Aquino’s gift of the wood sculpture of Our Lady, the Undoer of Knots, for which Pres.Aquino was made aware of the Pontiff’s special devotion to her. At his Mall of Asia speech, Pope Francis stressed the importance of family. Families from various communities in the country spoke on their struggles in “keeping the family together.”  The Pope’s family encounter included prominent families such as the family of former Senator Francisco “Soc” Rodrigo, the family of Sixto Dizon of Quezon, who fought during the Japanese time, the family of Renato Cruz who are both deaf and whose mission is to have a ministry to empower and help those who are deaf, mute and hard-of hearing. Pope Francis lauded all of the families that spoke and recounted the memories of his family while growing up in Argentina.  His father and mother dreamt of a happy family.and on that note, he said “never lose the ability to dream, or you lose the capacity to love. It is important “to dream with your family and find solutions to family problems.” As he recalled his youth, he interjected humor Read More …