Maniolas

Members of the New Peoples Army (NPA) belonging to the Pulang Bagani Command celebrate the 40th Founding Anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) somewhere in Davao City on Friday, December 26, 2008. The NPA, which is the armed wing of the CPP, has been fighting for the establishment of the Marxist state in the Philippines since 1968. AKP Images/ Keith Bacongco BUTUAN (AFP) – Communist insurgents raided two banana plantations in one day in the southern Philippines in some of their most brazen attacks for months in the face of recent setbacks, authorities said Sunday. The attacks by the New People’s Army (NPA) in the strife-torn island of Mindanao on Saturday caused extensive damage but no one was killed, officials added. About 50 guerrillas raided an aircraft hangar at a plantation owned by Del Monte Philippines in the town of Tubay on Saturday evening. “The rebels disarmed the security guards and seized their two shotguns, tied their arms… then proceeded to the hangar and poured gasoline onto the (crop-duster) plane. It took only less than thirty minutes to burn the area,” said investigating police officer Jomar Ascares. Just hours before the burning of the plane and hangar, about 60 NPA fighters raided another banana plantation in Pantukan town, disarming 10 security guards, burning a building and equipment and cutting down about 300 banana plants, said the area’s police director Senior Superintendent Abraham Roxas. The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, which Read More …

I consider myself blessed that whenever I need water for many reasons, the refreshing commodity is still available to me and my household to meet our needs. But as things are with the water condition of California, I could not help but ponder on how long I will be enjoying this basic comfort of life. California’ Drought Monitor reports that “drought has covered nearly 99.8 percent of California “and has been classified as “severe on a five-level scale” which makes me wonder seriously how far worse the situation could go. Drought conditions may have leveled off across California with close to 100 percent of the state still remaining in the third harshest category of dryness, according to the latest measurements. Nature has been kinder to us for the two weeks with the drought condition remaining the same stalling the march to the worse condition. CCF Mexico Mission: The indigenous community in San Antonio Las Minas in Tecate, Mexico was the site of this year’s Vacation Bible School of the Cornerstone Christian Fellowship of Orange County whose 10-member team led by its Senior Pastor Joan Martinez, his wife Gigi and Youth Worker Orange Andres ministered to the spiritual needs of over 80 youth attendees. The Filipino American church has been bringing the Word of God to the Mexican mission field for last 6 years. In the meantime, close to 82 percent of Californians continue to suffer “extreme drought where more than half of the State is under the driest exceptional drought category”. Conserving whatever remains of Read More …

President Benigno S. Aquino III arrives for the oath taking of newly appointed generals of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), led by AFP Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr., at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Monday (August 11). (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Civil society groups, organizations and several personalities, including supporters of President Benigno Aquino III, on Monday launched a coalition to counter what they called were “enemies of reforms” and pursue the administration’s “tuwid na daan” advocacy beyond 2016. They said that critics of the administration are undermining the reforms that the Aquino government had started, and that it was time that the backers of the President took an “open and pro-active stand.” They also insisted they were not  set up to push for Charter change and a term extension for Mr. Aquino. The launch of the Koalisyon ng Mamayan Para sa Reporma (KOMPRe) was held at the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City, simultaneous with the gathering of activitists and sectoral groups at the Luneta Park in Manila, who are pushing for a People’s Initiative to remove the pork barrel system in the national budget. What was originally planned as an anniversary rally to mark last year’s Million People March against pork barrel has included, this time around, issues on Charter change and term extension, as well as other issues resonating with the mostly-labor ralliers in Manila. Among them were organizations of state workers, primarily from COURAGE, who have Read More …

A Catholic nun is joined by students of St. Scholastica’s College as they hold signs and chant slogans to demand the abolition of a misused fund for legislators’ pet projects, outside their campus in Manila August 28, 2013. On Monday, tens of thousands Filipinos marched through the centre of Manila and other cities to express indignation at the misuse of “pork barrel” funds under the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). (MNS photo) MANILA, Aug 25 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno Aquino III got a negative rating from hundreds of anti-pork protesters after a Catholic prelate conducted an impromptu survey before the crowd at Rizal Park on Monday. With a paper and pen, Archbishop emeritus Oscar ‎Cruz asked the rallyists, who were composed of both militants and religious, to rate the President and the programs under his administration. “For those who are complaining that the SWS (Social Weather System) did not include them in the survey, this morning, I’ll be surveyor,” he deadpanned. Cruz then asked the audience, who were composed of both militants and religious, to raise their hands if they approve of the question he will be asking. “Who is in favor of PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund)?” he said. The crowd shouted “Wala! (none),” to which Cruz replied with “Kayong bahala dyan, nagtatanong lang ako (It’s up to you. I’m just asking.)” ‎The prelate noted their answer and jotted it down on a paper. For his following questions, including their stand on the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), Charter Change, Read More …

Fil-Ams partake of lechon (roasted pig) served during lunch for the 9th ACGTDT participants. Lunch was hosted by the Municipal Governor of Nasugbu, Batangas and the Department of Tourism-Southern Tagalog Regional Office last month. “This tour is great!” says Josh Ken Artero, a young professional from Agana, Guam. “I’ve been living in the U.S. for 41 years.  I’ve participated in four ACGTDTs and will join future tours even if I come here on my own to help the ABS-CBN Foundation with school-building projects,” Los Angeles fashion designer Arcadio Boy Lizaso remarks. “It’s our first ACGTDT and we’re enjoying it.  We stayed at the Solaire Resort and Casino for two weeks on our own last year, but will still avail of the optional ACGTDT trips later,” discloses Dr. Aquilio Agliam with his wife, Salve, who live in Cleveland, Ohio. These are the testimonials gathered from a few participants of the 9th Ambassadors, Consuls General and Tourism Directors Tour of the Philippines (ACGTDT).  This year’s tour had a total participants of 260 visitors coming from New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Guam and Hawaii.  Filipino-Canadians have formed their own separate homecoming tour “Winter Escapade” which was held in the Visayas last January this year. For a reasonably-priced long-haul basic tour package, the ACGTDT participants were here from July 28 to 31 to relax, enjoy and spend precious time with families and friends as well as explore investment and retirement possibilities here at home. “We encourage Filipinos here to invite their relatives and friends in the Read More …