Maniolas

Hollywood, CA   – As Straw Productions presents the World Premiere of As Straw Before The Wind, a new play that offers a window into the life experience of a Filipina nurse who survives the trauma of World War II, only to discover that her war is not yet over. Written by Felix Racelis, under the direction of Lesley Asistio, the production will be presented for four weekends at the Ruby Theatre at The Complex, 6476 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90038, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and on Sundays at 3 p.m., August 13 – September 4, 2016.  Saturday, August 13, 2016 marks the World Premiere Opening Night of the play.  A Discounted Preview performance will be given on Friday, August 12, 2016 at 8 p.m.  To learn more, visit www.strawbeforewind.com. As Straw Before The Wind stars Tita Pambid (Nene Santos), Muni Zano (Poncing Enrile), Sarnica Lim (Pilita Santos), Anita Borcia (Mildred Novak), Rochelle Lozano (Maria Enrile), Doan Nguyen(Loan Officer, Swing 1) and Gabriel Garcia (Mr. Martinez, Jr., Swing 2) As Straw Before The Wind recounts the story of Nene Santos, a Filipina nurse and enterprising owner/operator, of a fictionalized San Gabriel Valley convalescent home.  Nene has ambitious plans to expand her business, which she intends to leave to her daughter and primary assistant, Pilita, who has her own agenda.  So, what will become of the elderly and fragile resident patients of the convalescent home – Poncing Enrile, a retired Filipino American Army Captain, and Mildred Novak, a chain smoking retiree widow with Alzheimer’s Disease?  Nene confronts a string of setbacks and obstacles in her quest.  Flashbacks of the horrendous experience she and her family endured during WWII Read More …

By Jelly F. Musico Barong, jeans, no socks: The “working” President Rodrigo R. Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo shares a light moment prior to the Cabinet meeting at Malacañan Palace on Tuesday.(MNS photo) MANILA  (PNA) – Malacañang on Wednesday described the impressive trust rating of President Rodrigo Duterte as “very encouraging” and a positive sign the public appreciates the way the new government addresses the problems it inherited from the previous administration. ”It’s a positive sign and very encouraging to know that the people trust the judgment, decisions and actions of the President,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Martin Andanar said in a text message to the Malacañang media. Based on the latest Social Weather Station (SWS) survey conducted from June 24-27 among 1,200 adult respondents nationwide, Pres. Duterte garnered a net trust rating of 79 percent, a big leap from his trust rating of 26 percent in May. ”The mandate is clear, the government cannot stop what it has started,” Andanar said, referring to the anti-illegal drug campaign of the Duterte administration. Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said President has yet to give comment on the SWS survey but noted that “I’m sure he would appreciate that.” ”And he would also say, if I know him, that trabaho lang ‘yan, that’s part of the job’ and that he will continue to do our part,” Abella said. The second quarter survey of SWS showed that only five percent of the respondents have little trust while 11 percent were undecided on Read More …

By Joann Santiago An employee counts U.S. dollar bills before changing it to Philippine Pesos inside a money changer in Manila September 19, 2013. The Philippine central bank said remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have allowed households to save money, boosting the country’s savings rate.(MNS Photo) MANILA  (PNA) – An economist of ING Bank Manila is optimistic that the Philippines’ external payments position could sustain its strength this 2016, backed by robust growth of revenues of the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector and remittances. In a research note, ING Bank Manila senior economist Joey Cuyegkeng projects BPO sector revenues to rise by 16 percent this year to USD 25 billion. These inflows are seen to get further boost from remittances from Filipinos overseas, which is seen to rise by three percent this year. For May 2016 alone, Cuyegkeng sees remittances to rise by four to five percent to USD 2.2 billion, to bring the five-month amount to USD 10.9 billion. Cuyegkeng said recent hikes in oil prices “should deliver some relief that remittances are unlikely to contract year-on-year for the whole of 2016.” ”In addition, the deployment of higher skilled Filipinos abroad would likely support a modest growth not only this year but in the coming years,” he said. Last April, cash remittances rose by 4.1 percent year-on-year to USD 2.2 billion while end-year growth rose by 3.1 percent to USD 8.67 billion. In 2015, cash remittances grew by 4.6 percent, higher than the central bank’s four percent target, Read More …

Liza Soberano (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Liza Soberano has expressed interest in playing Filipino superhero Darna, saying she would like to try action roles for a change. The 18-year-old is reportedly among the actresses who are being considered to replace Angel Locsin in an upcoming movie about the komiks icon. Soberano was asked about a scene in a recent episode of “Dolce Amore” where she screamed “Darna” and asked co-star Enrique Gil, “Bagay ba?” This created a buzz among Soberano’s followers, who immediately created fan-made Darna posters of their idol. Soberano, however, dismissed the speculations, saying the line was “only part of the script.” “It doesn’t mean anything naman talaga. Because there’s speculation before I think so they were just teasing the audience,” she said. However, she added that “it would be an honor” if she is cast. “It would be an honor to play Darna but I don’t know if I’m ready just yet,” she said. But whether or not she bags the role, Soberano wants to play physically challenging roles in the future. “I want to do action talaga. Wala lang, parang cool lang na parang mga superhero or like a zombie or something like that,” she said. “Darna” director Erik Matti agreed that Soberano can play the role. “She has the strength physically, ‘yung itsura at katawan. And then tama ‘yung edad and you can do a lot of things sa mukha niya. Puwede siya mag-iba-iba ng itsura and she could still look really good. At Read More …

The Hague tribunal upholds PHL rights over West Philippine Sea By Janice M. Cave Residents join advocates for Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea in offering thanksgiving prayer and sampaguita flowers to celebrate the historic and favorable ruling of the UN Permanent Court of Arbitration at the seawall of the Manila Bay on Tuesday (July 12, 2016). (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)lam/acd MANILA, July 13 (PNA) – The landmark decision of an international tribunal in The Hague upholding the Philippines’ sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea is a “victory for all,” former President Benigno S. Aquino III said. Now that the United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration has clearly rejected China’s expansive claims to the entire West Philippine Sea, Aquino said the ruling “establishes better conditions that enable countries to engage each other, bearing in mind their duties and rights within a context that espouses equality and amity.” In a statement, Aquino lauded the historic ruling on the case lodged by the Philippines against China in 2013, as he expressed elation that all points raised by the Philippines have been affirmed. ”We want to thank the Permanent Court of Arbitration for their fair judgment, and we would also like to extend our gratitude for the clarity with which they presented their ruling,” Aquino said. The tribunal ruled that there is no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to a “nine-dash line”; that three disputed areas Panganiban Reef, Ayungin Shoal and Recto Bank form part of Read More …