Maniolas

By Martin Abbugao NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar) President Benigno S. Aquino III links arms with his counterparts in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the traditional group photo opportunity during the 24th ASEAN Summit Plenary at the Jade Hall of the Myanmar International Convention Center here on Sunday (May 11). (MNS Photo) NAYPYIDAW, May 12, 2014 (AFP) – Southeast Asian leaders have expressed “serious concern” over worsening territorial disputes in the South China Sea, presenting a rare united front against an increasingly assertive Beijing. Vietnam and the Philippines led a successful push for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to deliver a thinly veiled rebuke to China over the standoff in waters home to key shipping lanes and thought to contain huge energy reserves. But a defiant Beijing said Hanoi’s efforts to enlist the support of its neighbors in the row were “doomed to fail”. The 10-nation ASEAN, in a statement released on Monday after a summit on Sunday, called for a peaceful resolution to the maritime rows, which flared up this month after China moved an oil drilling rig into waters also claimed by Hanoi. “We expressed serious concerns over the ongoing developments in the South China Sea,” said the joint statement from the summit in Myanmar, without explicitly pointing the finger at Beijing. ASEAN called on all parties involved to “exercise self-restraint, not to resort to threat(s) or use of force, and to resolve disputes by peaceful means in accordance with the universally recognized principles of Read More …

Glendale,Ca. – The 4th annual Fashion for A Cause is set on May 24th , 2014 in Hollywood, California benefiting Bantay Bata or Child Watch program that provides relief and surgery to sick children with medical cases in the Philippines.   Executive director and fashion designer Lou Razon (www.lourazondesigns.com) , promises a one-of-a-kind event that will bring the community together with a common cause.  One mission of Miss Philippines USA organization is to raise funds for charity through fashion show and pageantry.  “Beauty pageant is an outlet to humanitarian work” , Joy Antonette Diaz, Miss Philippines USA Tourism 2012. The highlight of the occasion is the fun and exciting KIDS Fashion Show sponsored by Kids Dream USA. More than 30 adorable kids auditioned last April to volunteer their time and talent for the cause.Another important part of the event is a fashion parade by Elite Sposa USA, Life Clothing, Lou Razon couture and Claire’s Collection. FANtv President Dean Arcillas will host a live charity auction that will help raise more funds for Bantay Bata through ABS CBN Foundation International. Miss Philippines USA  and Miss Young Philippines USA delegates will be presented at the event through a fashion show by Life Clothing. Beauty queens Jasmine Sabio, Katrina Dimaranan, Danielle Walker, Jennifer Irene Gonzalez, Michelle Oblea, Anjanette Abayari, Holly Olalia, Jessica Lee will grace the event as runway models and hosts of the event. Top Fil-am artists Garie Concepcion, Lianna Gutierrez and Liana Bartolome will also showcase their world class performances . Sponsored by Elite Sposa USA, Philippine News, Creative Strategies LLC, Van and Marilou Dichoso, Read More …

Liz Uy (MNS photo) Celebrity stylist Liz Uy believes she is not picky when it comes to dating, saying that she only looks for a few traits in a man. The 32-year-old said she wants a man who has no vices and loves his family as much as she treasures hers. “Gusto ko [rin] masipag kasi hindi niya maiintidihan ‘yung trabaho ko kung hindi siya masipag,” she said. Uy, a well-known personality in the field of fashion, has styled local celebrities such as Toni Gonzaga, Anne Curtis and Kris Aquino, and Hollywood socialite Paris Hilton. “Gusto ko ‘yung style ni Toni Gonzaga, especially ngayon na parang lagi lang siyang clean, classic, elegant,” she described the”Pinoy Big Brother” host. “I’m really blessed to have styled all the celebrities na dream ko na makatrabaho,” she said, adding that she hopes to have the chance to work with controversial singer Miley Cyrus. While Uy feels blessed to have been given the chance to earn a living doing what she loves, she said that she would love to spend more time for herself, given her almost decade-long career. “I really need to make time for myself. Hindi naman tayo nabubuhay para sa trabaho lang,” she explained. (MNS)

Commission on Elections Chairman Sixto Brillantes said former President Gloria Arroyo, seen here with her husband Mike Arroyo (left), and the other elected officials failed to comply with the law by either 1) failing to submit a SOCE 2) failing to sign the submitted SOCE or 3) submitting a signed SOCE that was not in the proper form. MANILA (Mabuhay) − Former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Thursday filed before the Sandiganbayan’s First Division a motion for reconsideration of bail. Arroyo, who has been denied bail several times by the anti-graft court due to strong evidence against her in a P366-M plunder case involving funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, reiterated that she was not a flight risk, an issue she first raised in her supplemental motion for bail filed last February. However, that motion was denied, with the court adding that Arroyo’s “[invocation] of additional grounds on a piecemeal basis does not sit well with the Court.” In the motion filed by Arroyo’s camp Thursday, the former leader apologized to the court, noting that her being a non-flight risk was only raised in the supplemental motion since she changed legal counsel recently. Meanwhile, in her new motion for reconsideration, Arroyo and her counsel reiterated that the former President’s public status will prevent her from leaving the country. “The possibility of President Arroyo’s escape, bearing in mind her official and social standing and her other personal circumstances, is remote, if not nil. If [she] is Read More …

Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo (MNS photo) Teen star Kathryn Bernardo said she feels both pressured and excited to do the movie “She’s Dating the Gangster” with leading man and rumored boyfriend Daniel Padilla. This is her second movie with Padilla, who is also her leading man in the defunct ABS-CBN series “Got to Believe.” “Every soap, every movie, palagi naman ‘yung may pressure. Pero ngayon, excited talaga ako sa ‘She’s Dating the Gangster’ kasi maganda ‘yung story. Of course, directed by direk Cathy Garcia Molina… ‘yung writer namin ang galing talaga, alam nila kung ano ang maganda,” Bernardo said. “So itong ‘She’s Dating the Gangster,’ nae-excite ako, parang nakaka-pressure ako pero mas excited,” she added. According to Bernardo, she and Padilla have begun shooting scenes for their upcoming movie. She said she is exerting effort in playing her new role, adding that she wants it to be different from her portrayal of Chichay in “Got to Believe.” “Kailangang gawin ‘yung adjustment kasi dapat maalis ‘yung ginagawa ni Chichay, so kailangan kong mag-effort para maiba talaga,” she said. “Nakaisang shooting day na po kasi, tinapos muna ang debut at concert ni DJ para mag-focus na kami sa movie,” she added. (MNS)