Maniolas

By Manny V. Ilagan MANILA – Another ‘FUN’ homecoming full of exciting activities marked this year’s 9th Ambassadors, Consuls General and Tourism Directors Tour to the Philippines (ACGTDT). Despite the threat of Tropical Depression Inday brewing at the northeast of the Philippines area of responsibility, the 9th ACGTDT, held from July 28 to 31, was generally blessed with good weather with only scattered rain showers that did nothing to dampen the high spirits of this year’s tour participants. Close to 300 Filipino-Americans from all over the United States under the jurisdiction of Foreign Service Posts in Agana, Honolulu, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington D.C. arrived to a VIP reception on July 28 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The next three nights and four days were a whirlwind of activities for the participants who were entertained, serenaded, wined, dined and were accorded with some of the best receptions organized by Tourism Promotions Board, DOT’s marketing arm and Rajah Tours Philippines, the ground handler of ACGTDT. Cultural presentations highlighted the welcome reception especially arranged for the tour participants held at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia Jr., who headed the delegation from Washington D.C., warmly welcomed the participants and further encouraged them to often visit the Philippines for deeper appreciation of all things Filipino. Meanwhile, the fellowship night hosted by Western Union at Dusit Thani Hotel on July 29 was marked by lots of music, entertainment by a live band, Read More …

The Wraith has been a huge hit and a drop-top version could be bigger still. ©Rolls- Royce motor cars LTD (Relaxnews) – The world’s leading luxury carmaker has confirmed that its next new model will be coming in 2016 and promises that it will offer a “perfect marriage” of style, elegance and exhilaration. In a statement issued to the press on Tuesday, Rolls-Royce’s CEO, Torsten Müller-Ötvös, said: “We are currently developing an exciting and thoroughly contemporary interpretation of a pinnacle drophead tourer which will introduce even more discerning men and women to Rolls-Royce ownership.” It is understood that the car is already in an advanced prototype stage, meaning that it will be ready to make its first public appearance at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2015. Despite being one of the most exclusive and elusive brands in the industry, Rolls Royce has already sold 1,968 cars this year, up 33.4% year-on-year according to its latest accounts, which were also published Tuesday. This growth in demand has been spurred on in no small part by the introduction of the Wraith. Revealed at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, it is a true GT tourer that’s as fast as it is comfortable and is a serious, luxurious alternative to anything with four seats that Ferrari, Aston Martin or Porsche can offer. The company has made no secret of the fact that the new car has indeed poached clients from all of those marques. And while the company isn’t offering many clues as Read More …

A sack of rice gives way as a man salvages rice at a destroyed warehouse after super typhoon Haiyan battered Tacloban City, in central Philippines on November 15, 2013. The death toll the powerful typhoon were more than 2,000. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Department of Agriculture on Wednesday reported that 65 percent of farmers in areas ravaged by Typhoon Yolanda in November of last year had already harvested their crops even as the agency continues its efforts to help all those affected by the super typhoon. Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the crop harvest was due to the joint efforts of the DA and UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to distribute sacks of certified seeds and fertilizer to affected farmers in 44 out of our 81 affected provinces barely a month after the passage of the strongest typhoon in history. “The DA is proud to announce that farmers from Leyte and Samar have already harvested crops four months after replanting their farms. They have now planted their second crop for the season,” Alcala said. Additionally, he said the DA had also provided willing farmers with fast-growing crops, among them pechay and mustard, which can be harvested in 20 to 45 days. The DA also has a midterm program for raising ruminants – either goats or sheep – for every five kilometers of the areas damaged by Yolanda. Alcala said the department provided planting materials for the grass that the animals will eat. “Every five kilometers, we will Read More …

Bangsamoro (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Malacanang on Wednesday admitted the possibility that the passage of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law by Congress may have to wait until the next quarter of 2015 instead of December as earlier announced. However, even with the delay, Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda said there would still be enough time to conduct a plebiscite on the creation of the new homeland and put in place the Bangsamoro Transition Authority next year, ahead of the 2016 elections. “We are certainly still hoping for the best … We hope we can expedite the process,” Lacierda said in a briefing aired over state-run Radyo ng Bayan. He said the leaderships of the Senate and House of Representatives were just being “practical” in extending the target period for the passage of the draft BBL. On Monday, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the continued delay in Malacañang’s submission of the draft BBL to Congress made it impossible to commit to the passage of the measure by year’s end. “Time is running out. Moreover there are many congressmen from Mindanao who would be more concerned,” Belmonte said. The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front peace panels are currently in Davao City working to break an impasse over the draft law, which is the result of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro signed by both parties in March to end decades of fighting in Mindanao. Earlier, the MILF accused Malacañang of substantially diluting the draft BBL submitted for review by the Read More …

Senator Jinggoy Estrada leaves the residence of his father, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, in Greenhills, San Juan on Monday, June 23, to proceed to Camp Crame to surrender following the issuance of an arrest warrant against him and several others in connection with the alleged pork barrel scam. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito on Wednesday refused to comment on the statement of his brother, detained Senator Jinggoy Estrada, that the counter-State of the Nation Address (SONA) set to be delivered next week does not have the blessing of the minority bloc. Ejercito said he does not want to argue with his brother who is currently detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame over plunder and graft charges in connection with the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam. “I would not like to comment anymore. Bakit naman ako mang-aaway pa kung nasa ganon na ang kalagayan niya di ba? Intindihin ko na lang,” he said. Senator Vicente Sotto III, now the Senate minority leader, said what Estrada “probably meant is that the speech is a point of personal privilege.” On Tuesday, Estrada said the counter-SONA to be delivered week lacks the inputs of other senators belonging to the minority bloc. “I think he is doing it on his own without any authority coming from the minority bloc. Si Minority Floor Leader namin nakakulong din, walang input si Senate Minority Floor Leader Enrile, wala akong input. I don’t think may input si Senator (Vicente III) Read More …