Maniolas

Senator Bongbong Marcos (seated) discusses with fellow Sen. Bong Revilla (right), one of the three senators indicted in the so-called “pork-scam.” (Photo from a Facebook Page bearing the name Senator Bongbong Marcos) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Availing of the extended visiting hours for detainees at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center, Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado paid her husband Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. a visit Saturday noon. Mercado was seen getting off from a vehicle and going to the tightly secured Custodial Center. Revilla has been detained at the Custodial Center after he surrendered to the Sandiganbayan, which ordered his arrest on graft and plunder charges stemming from the P10-billion pork barrel scam. Aside from Revilla, Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada is also detained at the Custodial Center. A third senator facing charges for the pork barrel scam, Juan Ponce Enrile, surrendered Friday and was detained at the PNP General Hospital Friday night. The visiting hours were extended a week after PNP Custodial Center head Superintendent Mario Malana was suspended for supposedly failing to implement strict visitation rules for Estrada and Revilla. Under the new policy, visitors are allowed Tuesday to Friday at 1 to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The previous policy allowed visits only on Thursday and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  (MNS)

Concerts take place at county parks, outdoor amphitheatres, community centers, libraries, museums and more   Free family-friendly concerts featuring music from popular standards and jazz to mariachi and world music are taking place throughout Los Angeles County this summer.   Concerts are scheduled through October in parks, outdoor amphitheatres, community centers, libraries and museums. Since its inception in 1947, the Los Angeles County Arts Commission has sponsored free concerts at community venues throughout the County to provide access to quality music programming representing the diversity of County residents. Each County Supervisorial office funds the concerts in its district. Artists who perform at Free Concerts in Public Sites are chosen by the concert presenters from the Arts Commission’s Musicians Roster featuring more than 80 LA County based groups representing a range of musical styles. This online directory is accessible to the general public. Artists included are chosen by a panel of experienced and respected music professionals based on artistic excellence, cultural diversity and the ability to work cooperatively with other organizations as representatives of the Free Concerts program.

President Benigno Aquino III in a briefing of the propose Iloilo Convention Center (ICC) at Iloilo Bussiness Park,Brgy Old Airport, Mandurriao District Iloilo City on friday (June 27) in Photo Are Senate Pres. Franklin Drillon and DPWH Sec. Rogelio Singson . Photo by: Ryan Lim/ Malacanang Photo Bureau MANILA  (Mabuhay) – After it was disqualified from the bidding process, San Miguel Corp is asking Malacañang to reconsider its offer to build and operate the P34.5-billion Cavite Laguna Expressway (CALAX) Project of the government. In a 37-page memorandum appeal to Malacanang, San Miguel’s unit, Optimal Infrastructure Development Inc, (OIDI) asked President Benigno Aquino III to set aside the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) resolution that barred the company from bidding for the project and declare its bid security and proposal as compliant. The DPWH disqualified OIDI because of a defective bid security. In addition, OIDI wants Malacanang to accept its financial bid by way of “judicial notice” – amounting to P20.105 billion in concession payment—as officially opened. Its bid was higher than the P11.65 billion offered by the Aboitiz-Ayala consortium. Moreover, OIDI said the DPWH Appellees’ decision to disqualify OIDI from the bidding process “needlessly prejudices” private participation in public infrastructure projects just because of an “inadvertent and harmless typographical error (which was later on clarified and corrected).” “As such, this decision defeats the constitutional policy of encouraging private sector participation in national development, as well as the declared policy of the Amended BOT Law. This Honorable Office should Read More …

President Benigno S. Aquino III answers questions directed to him during the 67th Anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the Haribon Hangar of the Air Force City in Clark Air Base, Pampanga on Tuesday (July 01, 2014). This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme “Soar High PAF for Peace, Freedom and Development”. PAF was founded on July 1, 1947- two years after the end of World War II. It traces its lineage to the Philippine Army Air Corp, which was established in 1941. (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Describing impeachment calls unproductive and divisive, Vice President Jejomar Binay on Wednesday urged the public to support President Benigno Aquino III. “President Aquino is our leader duly elected by our people. He has the people’s mandate and we should support him. This is why talks of impeaching President Aquino is both unproductive and divisive,” Binay said in a press statement. The Vice President made this appeal amid impeachment calls triggered by the Supreme Court (SC) decision declaring parts of the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) unconstitutional. Binay called for sobriety and an end to partisanship and speculation on the extent of liabilities of government officials. “I would instead encourage all parties to set aside partisan political acts and just accept and respect the ruling of the SC,” Binay said. As to the accountabilities of other government officials, Binay appealed to let the effects of the SC decision take its course. ”As of now none of us has read the decision Read More …

CEO, Belina Calderon-Tagarao, accepting her award as Historic Filipinotown Ambassador of Goodwill. (Photo courtesy of 1Heart Caregiver Services Facebook page) Historic Filipinotown (HIFI) is a district of the city of Los Angeles, California and as a HIFI Ambassador of Goodwill and honoree, Bel Calderon will act as a role model and leader of the Filipino-American community of Southern California. The Historic Filipinotown Neighborhood Council is bestowing the title of HIFI Ambassador to carefully selected Filipino-Americans who are persons of integrity and impeccable leaders with exemplary achievements that have the ability to promote, reach out, influence and mobilize public interest in and support for the ideals, values, principles, programs and goals of Historic Filipinotown. The HIFI Ambassadors awarded have exemplified great success in their profession that had established themselves as movers and shakers in the community. HIFI Ambassador Bel Calderon is the founder and CEO of 3 companies: L.A. Jobs employment agency, Summit Medical Billing and 1Heart Caregiver Services. As President and CEO for one of the fastest growing in-home care service company 1Heart Caregiver Services, Belina has been responsible for the company’s increased productivity and consistent profitability for more than 10 years. Belina provided the vision, leadership and direction that the company needed to achieve its short-term goals and long-term goal. As her greatest accomplishment, the company is now equipped with expertise to expand its business operations to different States in the U.S. by third quarter of this year 2014. Belina’s company, 1Heart Caregiver Services is a certified member of Read More …