Maniolas

Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle (3rd left) announces on Friday the official schedule of Pope Francis for his forthcoming visit to the Philippines in January. Tagle is joined by Papal Nuncio Giuseppi Pinto (3rd right) and Cabinet officials representing President Aquino. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Pope Francis is set to meet leaders of other religions during his visit to the Philippines in January 2015, priests said Thursday. Fr. Melvin Mejia, secretary-general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said the meeting will take place at the University of Santo Tomas on January 18. During that day, the Pope will also meet with the youth sector. “One of the things close to the heart of Pope Francis are the different religions and faiths. Inter-religious dialogue is an important dimension of his papacy,” Mejia told reporters during the first CBCP media briefing on the papal visit. “Even before he became Pope, he was already engaging in inter-religious dialogue with other religions and denominations, so it is part of the visit.” Fr. Anton Pascual, president of Radio Veritas Philippines, said details of the meeting will be discussed in a press briefing on December 29. The Pope will arrive in Manila on January 15, 2015 on board the Sri Lankan flag carrier. He will be welcomed personally by President Benigno Aquino III. The following day, the Pope will pay a courtesy call to Aquino in Malacanang. He will also celebrate mass at the Manila Cathedral, then meet families at the Mall of Read More …

Residents try to put out a fire in Malabon city, north of Manila, October 21, 2013. The fire razed fifty houses and displaced an estimated 100 residents, local media reported.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division on Thursday found seven former officials of the Quezon City engineer’s office and two private individuals guilty of graft in connection with the deadly fire at the Ozone Disco in 1996, 18 years after the tragedy claimed 162 lives. They were sentenced to six to 10 years in jail. Convicted of graft and corrupt practices are: City Engineer Alfredo Macapugay Former City Engineer Renato Rivera Jr. Building Inspector Edgardo Reyes Chief, Enforcement and Inspection Division, Francisco Itliong Chief, Processing Division, Feliciano Sagana Engineer Petronillo De Llamas Building Inspector Rolando Ma Maid Private respondents Hermilo Ocampo and Ramon Ng, members of the board of directors and stockholders of Westwood Entertainment Co. Inc. which managed the Ozone disco, were also found guilty of similar charges. In a decision penned by Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta, the court said that the officials had been remiss in approving the building permit of the disco bar. “There can never be a slapdash approval of a building permit and certificate of occupancy. To shrink from this duty will certainly run at risk all safety standards contemplated by the National Building Code,” the decision said. The Sandiganbayan in 2007 acquitted Macapugay of criminal liability in the same case. The Sandiganbayan Third Division at that time said the court Read More …

A promise is a promise: Even during his first term, President Barack Obama has wanted to reform the broken immigration system. Prior to Thursday’s announcement, Obama has been telling America of his plan to overhaul the immigration system as in his remarks on immigration reform at Del Sol High School in Las Vegas back way back in January 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) WASHINGTON (AFP) – President Barack Obama takes executive action Thursday to left the threat of deportation for some five million people, 44 percent of the estimated 11.3 million immigrants living illegally in the United States. The nation’s undocumented people hail mostly from Mexico and Central America, and 60 percent of them live in just six US states: California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York and Texas. Half of them have lived in the US for 13 years or more. Here are details of Obama’s sweeping plan. Authorization for three years A new deferred action program will shield up to four million undocumented immigrants from deportation, allowing them to apply for three-year work permits. Those eligible must have been in the United States for more than five years, and be a parent of a US citizen or of a legal permanent resident born on or before November 20, the date of Obama’s order. Applicants must have a clean criminal record, pass a background check and pay taxes. They will also need to cover a processing fee of $465. The Department of Homeland Security will begin accepting Read More …

AARP members receive $10 discount until December 7 Joseph Lim Kim and Michael Hagiwara in East West Players’ production “Takarazuka” sponsored by AARP. Photo by Michael Lamont. WASHINGTON, D.C. – AARP is a proud sponsor of “Takarazuka,” the latest production of East West Players, the nation’s premier Asian American theater company. AARP is underwriting a special performance on Sunday, November 23 at 2pm at the David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center of the Arts in Los Angeles. AARP members receive a $10 discount on all performances of “Takarazuka” until Sunday, December 7. “AARP is proud to support organizations and programs that reflect the culture and diversity of our members,” said Daphne Kwok, AARP Vice President of Multicultural Markets and Engagement, Asian American and Pacific Islander Audience. “We applaud East West Players for producing artistic works and educational programs that portray the experience of Asian Americans age 50+ and congratulate them on their golden 50th anniversary season.” In the production, Yuko is the Top Star of the Takarazuka, an all-female Japanese performance troupe that has put on lavishly staged spectacles for decades. Facing retirement, Yuko begins to be haunted by the ghost of a former top star. Mysterious events happen at the theater as Yuko’s sayonara performance looms and a new star is set to rise to the top in this thrilling and seductive new play. “We’re grateful to AARP for their ongoing and generous support,” said Tim Dang, Producing Artistic Director of East West Players. “Our partnership has enabled us to continue Read More …

BEIJING, China: President Benigno S. Aquino III shares a light moment with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Commonwealth of Australia Prime Minister Tony Abbott during the 22nd Apec Leaders’ Meeting Tree Planting Ceremony at the Summer Garden of the International Conference Center at Yanqui Lake here on Tuesday (November 11). (MNS photo) SINGAPORE (Mabuhay) – Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong commended President Benigno S. Aquino III on his recent meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Tuesday. Lacierda said President Aquino’s pull-aside meeting with the Chinese leader, after a tree-planting event at the recently concluded Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Beijing last week, was among the topics raised by Prime Minister Lee with the visiting Philippine head of state. President Aquino and Prime Minister Lee met during a courtesy call made by the former at the Istana main building shortly after arriving here for a two-day working visit. The Palace spokesman said President Aquino showed Prime Minister Lee a note bearing President Xi’s statement written in Chinese language, which the Singaporean leader read and took positively. “The first remark (of Prime Minister Lee) after reading the statement was: ‘This is quite a generous discussion,’” Lacierda told Manila-based reporters during a press briefing. He added that the Singaporean leader hoped for a “just and amicable outcome” in the relations between China and the Philippines following that discussion between the two leaders. President Aquino and President Xi touched on the issue of West Philippine Sea (South Read More …