Maniolas

The Venturi America will be produced in a limited edition of 25 units. ©Venturi (Relaxnews) – Venturi, the Monaco-based company specializing in all-electric vehicles, came to the Paris Motor Show with a new, more powerful version of its America sports buggy. Boasting over 400hp, the model will be produced in a limited edition of just 25 units starting in May 2015. An open two-seater sports buggy with a generous ground clearance and an electric motor, the America is designed to be driven in perfect harmony with nature across wide open spaces. In its latest version, unveiled in Paris, the America is equipped with a 407hp electric motor, allowing it to go from 0 to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds and to reach a top speed of 220km/h. The ground clearance has been increased to 280mm. The chassis is made of Kevlar and aluminum, while the body is carbon fiber. The battery charges in 3.5 hours at an electric charging station and enables a range of 250km over a combined driving cycle. Production on the new America will be limited to just 25 units, each made to order and sold for just under €400,000 (around $502,000). The first models are expected to go on sale around the time of the Monaco Grand Prix next May. Cutting-edge tech on four wheels or two Venturi is also the owner of the motorcycle manufacturer Voxan, which created a stir in 2013 by presenting the Wattman, the world’s most powerful electric motorcycle. The model boasts 200hp, a top Read More …

The controversial resthouse owned by PNP chief Dir. Gen. Alan Purisima in Barangay Magpapalayok, San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija was opened to the media on Monday, October 6. Purisima is facing plunder complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman over alleged ill-gotten wealth. He has denied the charges. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Sen. Sergio Osmeña III does not believe that Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima only spent P17,000 to P18,000 for a gazebo in his San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija property. Osmeña said Purisima’s house is “well designed and clean, and the interiors are of a very high quality.” He said the swimming pool inside the property would cost as much as P500,000 because the design and sidings are professionally done. The pool measures 7.5 meters by 15 meters. The senator, however, said he does not believe Purisima only spent P17,000 to build the gazebo inside the property. He said one pole inside the gazebo could cost P17,000 if it is molave. “That is not small. That is the design I see in Panglao, Boracay…No way (its P17,000). One pole there will cost P17,000. One pole! Those are solid, probably a pitong or molave,” he said. (MNS)

President Benigno S. Aquino III leads his official family in prayer before presiding over the meeting on Yolanda rehabilitation updates at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the Malacañan Palace on Friday (May 16, 2014). (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – A bill has been filed in the House of Representatives to declare November 8 the “Day of Rising” to commemorate the Filipino “Bayanihan” or community spirit in the wake of Super Typhoon “Yolanda” last year. Oriental Mindoro Representative Salvador Leachon proposed setting that date as a day to plant trees and to rekindle the sense of camaraderie among Filipinos that occurred in the aftermath of Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) in eastern Visayas. In an explanatory note, the congressman said there was a strong need to raise awareness among the people of the various ways to curb the effects of natural disasters aggravated or enhanced by climate change. The planting trees as a national endeavor is one such approach, said Leachon, a vice chairman of the House committees on good government and public accountability, and on Millennium Development Goals. He noted the strength of Yolanda, the strongest storm ever to make landfall in recent history. The super typhoon ravaged large parts of Leyte and Samar on Nov. 8, 2013, killing more than 6,000 people and injuring almost 30,000 others. Damage was estimated at P36.69 billion, half on infrastructure and the other half on agriculture, across seven regions in the Visayas. “Planting trees on a national level will help address the ill Read More …

Coco Martin (MNS photo) Actor Coco Martin met with party list group Gabriela and the Philippine Women Commission (PCW) to formally apologize over his controversial segment on “The Naked Truth” fashion show of local brand Bench. The “Ikaw Lamang” star was was heavily criticized after he paraded onstage with a woman on a leash at the fashion event held last month. Gabriela referred to the performance as “a disturbing throwback to concepts of enslaving and subjugating women to male fantasies.” The PCW, meanwhile, said the act “dehumanizes and demeans the dignity of women, treating their bodies as mere sex objects and commodities.” On Monday, Martin acknowledged that he is responsible for his actions, especially since he is a celebrity. “Responsibilidad ko ito bilang tao, bilang artista. May responsibilidad ako sa aking kapwa, lalo na sa mga kababaihan na naapakan ko. Hindi ito yung parang hihingi ako ng [apology] after that ‘yun na ‘yon,” he said in at the meeting, “On my part kailangan kong i-clarify, kailangan kong humingi ng dispensa o paumanhin sa lahat mga taong concern at sa mga kababaihan na naapan ko. Humihingi po talaga ako ng dispensa sa aking ginawang pagkakamali,” he stressed. “Honestly, ako po mismo inaako ko na. Ako po ay tumatayo at nagkaroon po ako ng pagkakamali sa pangyayaring ito. Sa lahat po ng aking nasaktan at naapakan, sana po ay mapatawad niyo po ako.” After their meeting, the Gabriela and PCW formally accepted Martin’s apology and said it’s now time to move on. Read More …

It has long been known that Octoberfest is one of the world’s largest (if not the largest) funfair held annually in Bavaria, the southern part of Germany.  It is a 16-day festival which usually runs from late September to the first weekend in October, with around 6 million people worldwide participating in the event  It has been a significant part of Bavarian culture, “having held it since 1810. This was a time when life was hard and farmers plowed their horses day and night, when the reigning Prince Ludwig I had preparations for his upcoming marriage to Princess Therese of Sachsen-Hildurghausen. The grand wedding was to take place on the 12th, right in the middle of the farmers’ harvest time.” The wedding was to be held in a spectacular place called ‘Wiese’ or meadow, which was just outside the gates of Munich.” As the big event approached, the whole town of Bavaria  though exhausted from their harvest work, planned on attending the grand wedding as this was their last chance of celebrating before the cold, winter days ahead. Thus, when the wedding took place, there were around 40,000 guests in attendance. It became the largest party in history which impressed the Prince, so he decided to treat his subjects with an impromptu horseracing in the great meadow,”  which eventually was renamed “Theresewiese” or Therese’s meadow, in honor of Prince Ludwig’s bride. And to this day, the townspeople of Bavaria still celebrate this tradition. when Bavarians consume large quantities of Octoberfest Beer with “almost 7 million liters Read More …