Maniolas

President Benigno S. Aquino III reviews the honor guard during the send-off ceremony at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal II on Thursday (December 12). To attend the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit in Tokyo, Japan. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — President Benigno S. Aquino III is scheduled to attend the 24th ASEAN Summit, to be held in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on May 10 to 11. Department of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Charles Jose said during a press conference on Wednesday that the President will have a tight schedule in Myanmar. Upon his arrival on Saturday, the President is slated to attend the welcome dinner to be hosted by Myanmar President U Thein Sein for all ASEAN leaders and their delegations. On Sunday, the President will attend the 24th ASEAN Summit Plenary; the 24th ASEAN Summit Retreat; the ASEAN Leaders’ Interface Meeting with Representatives of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA); the ASEAN Leaders Interface Meeting with Representatives of the Civil Society Organizations; and the ASEAN Leaders Meeting with ASEAN Youth. During the ASEAN Summit Plenary, the leaders will discuss and exchange views on the progress of the implementation of the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community, the initiative for ASEAN Integration Work Plan II and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity, said Jose. They will also discuss and exchange views on the future of the ASEAN community, as well as external relations and future directions, he added. At the 24th ASEAN Summit Retreat, the leaders are expected to exchange views on current Read More …

Aiza Seguerra and Liza Dino (MNS photo) Engaged couple Liza Dino and Aiza Seguerra are planning to have a rustic theme for their upcoming wedding, which will most likely be held in the United States. Dino admitted that it is Seguerra who is more involved with the planning. “We have a coordinator doing everything for us. Pero sa aming dalawa, siya yung tutok talaga. Groomzilla nga siya eh. Siya ‘yung everything. Down to the centerpiece, meron na siyang pegs,” she said. Fortunately, Dino and Seguerra have the same likes, making the planning less stressful. “It’s good kasi pareho kami ng gusto, pareho kami ng hilig, pareho kami ng colors na gusto so it’s easy for us to agree on things. Rustic something [ang theme] kasi pareho kami ng gusto,” she said. As to her gown, Dino said, “Wala pa. Kasi I only have an idea on what I want pero wala pang gagawa.” As they gear up for the big day, the couple said they spend as much of their free time together. “Mahalaga kasi we really value our time together since she’s doing her show na din and ako, I’m busy na din. Kapag may time off kami, tuwang tuwa kami kasi hindi kami mapaghiwalay,” she said. “Every time we spend time together, mas lalo naming nakikilala ang isa’t isa. It’s in those moments na nakikita naming kung gaano talaga kami, ako how I really see her as the person I want to be with,” Dino said. While they Read More …

CAPITOL HILL MEETING. Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, accompanied by Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr., Rep. Abigail Binay-Campos and Mayor Jejomar Erwin S. Binay discuss bilateral issues with Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin, Chair of the Sub-Committee on East Asia and Pacific Affairs of the United States Senate, during a meeting in Washington, D.C. on Thursday. (Philippine Embassy Photo by Ariel Penaranda) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Vice President Jejomar Binay said local and national laws must be harmonized to ensure orderly business operations in the country. In a speech before the delegates of the Banyan Tree Leadership Forum at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington D.C., Binay said: “We must keep our promise to maintain a clean and transparent government with a stable policy regime into 2016 and beyond.” He noted the Philippines must “further liberalize” its economy to improve the country’s competitiveness as well as to attract local and foreign investments. “We must cure the policy and infrastructure misalignments that emerge as we cascade our gains to the grassroots,” he said. He also said the country needs a true open skies policy complete with an aggressive airport development program. He also sought reforms in the electric power industry and the modernization of the agriculture sector. Members of the administration have been lobbying for changes in the economic provisions to allow more foreign investments. Binay has not announced his position on calls to change the constitution. Binay recently topped a list of presidential aspirants as he garnered 40% Read More …

Alex and Toni Gonzaga (MNS photo) Television host Toni Gonzaga finally broke her silence amid online speculations that the latest season of “Pinoy Big Brother” is all scripted. Gonzaga said there is no truth to such rumors because the housemates definitely went through the audition process. “Definitely nag-audition. Sa Araneta may nakuha silang tatlo, sabi ni Direk Lauren (Dyogi). Tapos sa ibang bahagi ng Pilipinas, may nakuha din sila,” she said. Gonzaga said this rumor is not new to them because they have been plagued with this kind of criticism since the reality show’s very first season. “Sanay na kami sa ‘PBB.’ Season 1 pa lang, wala pang social media noon, sangkaterbang e-mail na ang nakuha namin noon na scripted, haters, bashers. Pero I love the environment here sa ‘PBB’ because we welcome all of it. We welcome all of them. Lalo na ngayon, ‘All In.’ Okay lang sa amin lahat dito ‘yun,” she said. Gonzaga said what’s important is that Kapamilya viewers still continue to watch “PBB.” “Kasi even if they bash the show, even if they say a lot of things about the show, interested pa rin naman sila manood kahit paano,” she said. Asked if she has any message to loyal viewers of PBB, Gonzaga said, “Nagpapasalamat tayo sa ating mga Kapamilya na tumutok, nag-abang at na-miss ang ‘PBB.’ Maraming salamat po sa mainit na pagtanggap at sa ratings po na nakukuha namin every night.” Missing Alex Meanwhile, Gonzaga shared that she and her parents miss her Read More …

U.S. and Filipino military officers salute during the opening ceremony of the Balikatan 2014 Joint Exercise inside the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon city, metro Manila May 5, 2014. According to an AFP news release, around 3,000 Filipino soldiers and 2,500 U.S. soldiers will participate in the Philippines-U.S. Balikatan 2014 military exercises which will focus on maritime security and humanitarian assistance and disaster response. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The “Balikatan 2014” Exercise between the Philippine and United States troops officially opened on Monday morning, focused mostly on humanitarian civic assistance (HCA), humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) and maritime security. The opening ceremonies took place at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Commissioned Officers’ Clubhouse in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City at around 8:30 a.m. Among those in attendance were Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario, Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg, AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Emmanuel T. Bautista, Philippine exercise director Major Gen. Emeraldo Magnaye and U.S. exercise director Lt. Gen. Terry Robling of the U.S. Marine Corps. Lt. (SG) Annaleah Cazcarro, Combined-Joint Information Bureau co-director, said “Balikatan 2014” is the 30th iteration of the annual military maneuvers. “This year’s exercise will focus on HCA, HADR and maritime security,” she added. “Balikatan” is an annual bilateral combined exercise initiated by the governments of the Philippines and the United States. For this year, it is scheduled in the Philippines from May 5 to 16. Cazcarro said the Read More …