Maniolas

By Nimfa U. Rueda LOS ANGELES – Sen. Grace Poe reminisced about her life as an immigrant in the United States as she addressed Filipino-Americans celebrating the 116th Philippine Independence Day. “I was once an overseas Filipino like you,” Poe, told hundreds of Fil-Ams attending the annual “Kalayaan Grand Gala” at the Westin LAX Hotel in Los Angeles Saturday evening (Sunday in Manila). “I know how hard it is to start a new life in a foreign land. Tulad nyo, naranasan ko maging homesick, kung papaano mag drive para sa mga anak, pumasok sa trabaho, magluto, maglinis ng bahay at kung anu-ano pa (Like you, I felt homesick, I had to drive the kids to school, go to work, clean the house and do miscellaneous errands).” After graduating in 1991 from Boston College with a degree in political science, Poe started her family life with husband Neil Llamanzares in Fairfax, Virginia. They lived a quiet life for 12 years, raising their children – Brian, 21, Hanna, 16, and Nika,10. Poe, the adopted daughter of movie icon and national artist Fernando Poe, Jr. and wife Susan Roces, said that just like most Filipino immigrants in the US, she decided to move to the US for economic reasons. “Noong ikasal ako, sabi ko, naku papaano ito? Kahit gaano kaganda ang edukasyon, hindi ka mabibigyan ng sweldo na makakayang bumuhay ng pamilya (When I got married, I asked myself, what am I supposed to do? Even the best education can’t get you a salary that’s enough to raise a family),” she recalled. “Nahiya ako sa tatay ko. I felt so embarrassed because I married right after I graduated.” Poe said she did not want to keep depending on her parents. So when her husband got a job in the US, they decided to live as immigrants in a country Read More …

Jessy Mendiola (MNS Photo) Mendiola admitted she is quite nervous about working with Xian Lim in an upcoming ABS-CBN series because his and Kim Chiu’s fans might get mad at her for “getting in their way.” Mendiola, however, said that she is also hoping that the fans of Lim and Chiu would still support their upcoming show because they will just be doing their job. “Kinakabahan [ako] kasi fan din ako ni Kim Chiu. Kinakabahan ako na baka magalit sila sa akin pero at the same time, may fans din kasing supportive so I’m excited naman to work with someone different. Actually I’ve worked with him already before pero ngayon Xian na siya so nakakakaba,” she said. Hoping no one will bash her in various social media sites, Mendiola said, “Sana wala naman kasi as early as now kung galit sila sa akin, dapat nag-bash na. Parang wala naman.” Mendiola said it matters to her that she has Chiu’s support in this project. “Napanood ko yung movies nila ni Kim, yung ‘Bakit Hindi ka Crush ng Crush Mo’ and ‘Bride for Rent.’ Ngayon, ka-partner ko na siya. Si Kim naman, sobrang bait sa akin so walang problema,” she said. Mendiola said she is just as excited as everyone to know what the soap’s story will be about. Meanwhile, Mendiola stressed she is genuinely happy for her former leading man Jake Cuenca, who is now in a relationship with an Australian model. “Sobrang happy ako para sa kanya. Sobrang ganda ng Read More …

Senate Minority leader Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, one of the accused in the so-called pork barrel scam, stresses a point in interpellating Senator Koko Pimentel III, sponsor of the Sandigan Bill, who sought the support of his colleagues for the passage of the measure, seeking to improve the disposition of cases in the Sandiganbayan on Wednesday (March 5) at the Session Hall, Senate Bldg in Pasay City. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Saturday said it sees nothing irregular with the possible long “wait” for the arrest of personalities charged before the Sandiganbayan for the P10-billion pork barrel scam. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said there are “voluminous” documents to be studied by the graft court justices handling the graft and plunder cases against the respondents. “That is not out of the ordinary considering [the] voluminous documents…Talagang totoo namang marami ang dokumento na isinumite,” Valte said on government-run dzRB radio. “Hindi tayo magugulat kung… hindi lang kumplikado but the sheer volume ng mga dokumento. Ito ang review nila, …they will need some time,” she added. Among those charged for the scam are suspected mastermind Janet Napoles and Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., and private individuals. On Friday, the cases against the personalities charged were raffled off in the Sandiganbayan. While the justices have 10 days to determine if there is probable cause for trial and issue a warrant of arrest, the arrest warrants could take longer than 10 days, depending on how Read More …

President Benigno S. Aquino III while delivering his speech during the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) joint celebration of the 116th Philippine Independence Day & 13th Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day at the Tent City of The Manila Hotel in Rizal Park, Manila City on Tuesday (June 10). MANILA, June 16 (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Monday shrugged off China’s recent comment that the Philippines was trying to draw the world’s sympathy through deception in the dispute over territories in the South China Sea. “It is part of the dynamics of international relations to conduct information campaigns or to propagate a national policy by utilizing the mass media as a channel of communication. So we are not unduly perturbed by this action,” Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a news briefing. He issued the statement after Beijing claimed before the United Nations that the root cause of the dispute in the South China Sea was the Philippines’ illegal occupation of the disputed islands. It also said that the Philippines “trying to win international sympathy and support through deception.” Coloma, however, indicated that there was no need for the government to launch a media offensive to clarify the country’s position to the international community. “Nakikita naman natin na mayroong mataas na antas ng pagiging interesado ang mga major mass media organizations at sila mismo ang nagsisikap na malaman ang posisyon ng Pilipinas… nagkakaroon [na] ng traction ang ating katwiran hinggil sa pagpapairal ng international rule of law, Read More …

KATRINA Halili with daughter, Katrence (MNS photo) KATRINA Halili shared giving birth to Katrence, her daughter with R&B singer Kris Lawrence, brought so much changes in her personal and professional life. In a recent interview with the actress, the 28-year-old said she’s now more conscious of her actions on and off camera. “Nung nagkaanak ako, mas naging conscious ako sa mga ginagawa ko. Ayaw ko na yung anak ko pag nagka-boyfriend, live-in sila or mag-baby sila. Gusto ko maging magandang impluwensya,” she said. “Mas nag-mature, mas nagkaroon ng discipline sa sarili ko. Mas nagkaroon talaga ng direction. Hindi na ako yung dati na uunahin ko yung sarili ko. Mas focus din ako sa trabaho ko,” Katrina said. She now prefers doing goody roles as opposed to her past kontrabida projects. She even decided to live separately from Lawrence, as they are not married yet, to set a good example to her daughter. “Kasal muna bago magsama. After ko manganak doon ko na-realize yung mga mali ko kaya kailangan itama mo na.” She declined to answer queries about her relationship with Kris, whom she described as a good and responsible father to their nearly two-year-old daughter. “Okay siya sa responsibilities niya as a father. ‘Pag wala ako siya yung andiyan. Matiyaga siya sa bata, actually mas matiyaga siya sa akin. Ang priority namin ay si Katie,” she said. Meanwhile, Katrina said she is happy to be part of the newest primetime series “Niño,” starring teen actor Miguel Tanfelix. Directed by Maryo Read More …