Maniolas

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) NAYPYIDAW (AFP) – China on Thursday offered $20 billion in loans and floated the possibility of a “friendship treaty” with Southeast Asian nations, in an apparent bid to defuse regional tensions which spiked this year over contested seas. Attending the East Asia Summit in Myanmar, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said $10 billion would be made available to the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in cheap loans and a further $10 billion for infrastructure projects. “These measures will help speed up the building of regional connectivity,” Li added, in the official translation of his speech. Beijing also agreed to set up a hotline to help avert flashpoints in the bitterly disputed South China Sea, and stood ready to sign a “treaty of friendship and cooperation” with the bloc, according to Li. Four ASEAN states – Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam – claim parts of the South China Sea, a key shipping lane believed to be rich in undersea gas deposits. But China says almost all of the sea is its own, including waters near to the shores of its smaller neighbours. A series of incidents earlier this year led Vietnam and the Philippines to decry Chinese Read More …

BEIJING, China – President Banigno S. Aquino III joins fellow world leaders for the Leaders Retreat meeting during the 22nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) at the Hongyan Hall of the International Conference Center (ICC) on Tuesday (November 11, 2014). Working with this year’s theme: “Shaping the Future through Asia-Pacific Partnership.” APEC members have developed extensive and in-depth consensus on Advancing Regional Economic Integration, Promoting Innovative Development, Economic Reform and Growth, and Strengthening Comprehensive Connectivity and Infrastructure Development. (MNS photo) NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar (Mabuhay) – President Benigno S. Aquino III has called on fellow ASEAN leaders to continue negotiations with China on the forging of a legally binding code of conduct in the South China Sea, amid tensions over territorial claims in the region. In his statement during the plenary session of the 25th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit here, President Aquino underscored the need to create the code in building a “more inclusive” and “more prosperous” region. “The President called on the ASEAN member countries to ‘continue negotiations with China on the forging of a legally binding Code of Conduct’ of parties involved in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea),” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said in an interview with the media after the plenary session, which was held at the Myanmar International Convention Center here on Wednesday. “Speaking at the plenary session of the 25th ASEAN Summit, he said that this will lead to ‘building a better, more inclusive, and more prosperous Read More …

Pilita Corrales (MNS Photo) In entertainment, there are artists that are superbly stellar, and Pilita Corrales is one of them. She has the distinction of being the first female artist to top the Australian pop music charts long before Kylie Minogue and Olivia Newton-John did. At the 1st Tokyo Music Festival in the ‘70s, Pilita even defeated Olivia Newton-John as the Best Performer. Many years and countless accolades later, the one and only Asia’s Queen of Songs continues to be well-loved for her works, humor, and genuine good nature, not just by audiences, but by her fellow artists. No wonder why they are more than happy to collaborate with her, just like in her latest album called “Duets.” When Viva’s Boss Vic Del Rosario commented that it’s been a while since Pilita last released an album, she raised the idea of coming up with a Visayan album. But to her surprise, Boss Vic had something better in mind. “He said, ‘Mag-‘Duets’ album ka na lang with all the icons in the music industry,” Pilita recalled. “And I said, ‘My God, definitely!’” Whatever concerns she had about the difficulty in the scheduling of the artists were assuaged when Boss Vic said, “We can do it.” “So I’m very happy that it happened,” she beamed. With Martin Nievera, Basil Valdez, Vic Sotto, Chad Borja, Sharon Cuneta, Regine Velasquez, Joey Albert, The Company, and Sarah Geronimo on board, the next step was to select the songs. “What Viva did was to ask the Read More …

Washington, D.C. As the Filipino American community prepares to mark the first year anniversary of Typhoon Haiyan, the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) is renewing its call on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to do the right thing and grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to 200,000 Filipino nationals in the U.S. “Allowing undocumented Filipinos this immigration relief for at least 18 months will help the Philippines tremendously in its rebuilding efforts,” says NaFFAA National Chair JT Mallonga. “It’s been a year since Nov. 8, 2013, when the devastation wreaked by Typhoon Haiyan took thousands of lives, displaced thousands more and destroyed their source of livelihoods. Immediate and positive consideration of this request is critical to their recovery.” Mallonga added: “As we observe the first year anniversary of Typhoon Haiyan, we are grateful to the remarkable outpouring of international, U.S. government and community support and assistance. But we need to be constantly reminded that more needs to be done. And the granting of TPS will help immensely in the country’s reconstruction efforts. The one year anniversary would be a timely opportunity for the U.S. government to act.” NaFFAA is mobilizing its members in all 13 regions to continue putting pressure on DHS. As a partner to the Relief to Recovery Coalition, which has been at the forefront of this campaign, NaFFAA is also joining efforts by several national organizations urging DHS and the US Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) “to act and implement this important measure of relief on behalf Read More …

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. delivers his speech at the opening of the Second Regular Session of the House of Representatives at the Batasang Pambansa Bldg. in Quezon City on Monday morning (July 28, 2014). (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has hailed the landmark meeting between President Benigno Aquino III and Chinese President Xi Jinping as an “icebreaker” that could pave the way for the possible resolution of current and long-standing conflicts between the two countries. In a statement late Wednesday, Belmonte expressed optimism the territorial row between the Philippines and China can be resolved “when harmonious dialogue is possible.” “I congratulate both our President and Chinese President Xi Jinping for their sincerity at seeking peace and stability in the region through this brief but significant meeting that sets the stage not only for harmony but also for a future that sees more vibrant diplomatic relations with our Asian neighbors based on mutual trust and confidence,” he said. Although the Philippines’ relations with China has become strained in recent years over the territorial dispute over parts of the South China Sea which Manila calls the West Philippine Sea, Belmonte said the existing cultural and economic ties between the the two countries “cannot be denied nor ignored.” “We must not limit our relations to views regarding current maritime conflicts,” he said. Aquino had a 10-minute informal talk with Xi Tuesday following a tree-planting ceremony held on the outskirts of Beijing. He was in China for the Asia-Pacific Read More …