Maniolas

Presidential candidate Grace Poe, her running mate Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero, and veteran lawyer Lorna Kapunan (extreme left), acknowledge crowd after the tandem endorse Kapunan’s senatorial bid on Friday (Oct. 23) at the Balay Kalinaw in UP-Diliman, Quezon City. (MNS photo) Vice-presidential race frontrunner Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero said it is high time the government seriously address the problem of land-grabbing and stop individuals or groups from illegally and forcibly taking the land of others, including those owned by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). “Land-grabbing involving both public and private lands should be stopped and land grabbers should be dealt with accordingly,” said Escudero, who is running as independent under the banner “Gobyernong may Puso” alongside leading presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe. Escudero said he received numerous complaints regarding land grabbing, particularly in Antipolo City, where property owners, mostly OFWs, lost their lands by force, intimidation or misinformation. “Land grabbing seems to be rampant in Antipolo City and yet authorities are not doing anything,” Escudero said, as he lamented that most of the victims are OFWs. “It is unacceptable that the properties bought by OFWs with their hard-earned money accumulated over the years of working abroad, go away just like that,” he said. Escudero, meanwhile, vowed to take back all government-owned lands illegally encroached by land-grabbing syndicates and use them for future socialized housing projects, if he and Poe are elected. “We will retrieve all state lands in adverse possession of land mafias across the country and turn them into housing projects Read More …

Jolina Magdangal (MNS photo) Jolina Magdangal is officially back in the recording scene and the singer-actress could not help but rave about her experience collaborating with other artists. In her brand new album “Back to Love,” Magdangal had duets with singers like Yeng Constantino and Kyla, rapper Gloc 9, and comedian Vice Ganda. Magdangal said: “Parang feeling ko ‘yung sa akin, very easy listening lang ako na straight singing. Tapos sasamahan mo ng Kyla with R&B, ng Gloc, so nag-iiba ‘yung tunog.” Magdangal said she had fun collaborating with them because they were able to put a twist to her previous hits, like “Chuvachoochoo 2.0,” which features Vice Ganda. “Yung kay Vice, bago siya nag-record, nag-usap kami kung puwede daw ba siyang mag-adlib sa kanta. Sobrang okay kasi ‘yung recording, masaya siya,” she said. “Yung with Gloc, nag-iba talaga yung tunog ng ‘Kapag Ako’y Nagmahal.’ Favorite ko talaga ‘yung kanta na ‘yun so okay na ni-remake ko na rin siya,” she added. Since her album contains mostly breakup songs, Magdangal said it felt weird while she was recording because she doesn’t feel any tinge of sadness at all. “Ano na kaya ang feeling ng malungkot? Kasi ngayon ang feeling ko lang, I’m just very grateful, thankful. Minsan, ‘yung pagkanta na lang ng malulungkot na kanta, doon ko na lang nafi-feel na ganito pala maging malungkot,” she said. Asked how the new album is different from her older ones, she said: “I can say na dito sa album na ito, naging Read More …

President Benigno Aquino III graces the turnover of Shared Facilities (SSF) in the province of Pangasinan, held at CSi stadia Judge Jose de Venecia extension Dagupan City,Pangasinan, The President distributed certificates of 23 Shared Service Facilities (SSF) projects to the leaders of the association. In photo is Milagros Buenafe President, Binmaley Rural Improvement Club Seafood Products.(MNS photo) MANILA, (Mabuhay) — President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday appealed to governors across the Philippines to continue supporting the “Daang Matuwid” or straight path and the candidacy of his anointed successor, former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II. Unlike other presidential candidates, there are no uncertainties when it comes to Roxas, Aquino, chairman of the ruling Liberal Party (LP) said. “Kung gumanda at dumali ang buhay niyo, gumanda lalo na ‘yung buhay ng mga kababayan niyo na pinangakuan nating pagagandahin na napapaglingkuran, palagay ko, tayo – lalo na yung mga gobernador sa bawat probinsya – ang pangunahing dapat magdala at panatiliin natin yung pagtahak dito sa Daang Matuwid,” he said. “At ulitin ko nga sa inyo, sa aking pananaw, in-endorso ko si Mar Roxas, in-endorso ko si Leni Robredo dahil wala akong kaduda-duda, kaya kong i-garantya ang gagawin nila. Sa iba, ‘yung pinakamaganda na, baka ituloy. Meron ho iba doon, sigurado ako na hindi itutuloy,” Aquino added. The LP vice-presidential candidate is Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo. “May kasabihan nga’ yung mga Amerikano diba, ‘If it ain’t broke, why fix it?’” Aquino said at the at the 7th League of Provinces of the Read More …

Senator Jinggoy Estrada arrives at the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City on Monday, June 30, for his arraignment over the plunder charges filed against him and businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles in connection with the alleged P10-B pork barrel scam. (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – The trial of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s cases in connection with the pork barrel scam is not set to commence anytime soon. At the scheduled pre-trial of his graft case before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division Monday morning, the prosecution and the defense admitted that they were not yet done with the marking of voluminous documentary evidence that they intend to present during the trial proper of the case. Under the rules of criminal procedure, only the pre-marked evidence and list of witnesses can be presented during the trial proper of the case. This prompted Fifth Division chairman Associate Justice Roland Jurado to order the setting of a weekly preliminary conference to enable both camps to finish marking their exhibits. The whole day preliminary conference was set every Tuesday starting March 22 until June 7. The pre-trial was set tentatively on June 13. Both camps committed to be present in all the preliminary conference dates. During a pre-trial proceeding, the prosecution and the defense are expected to submit the final list of their witnesses and evidence to be presented during the trial proper. Some issues and procedures for the conduct of an orderly trial are also expected to be discussed. Lanee David, lawyer of the alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Read More …

Vice President Jejomar Binay meets members of the Filipino-Chinese Club at the Manila Hotel on Friday. Binay promised to pursue the present administration’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipinong Program (4Ps) and implement changes in the Bureau of Internal Revenue.(MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – Vice President Jejomar Binay’s camp on Monday challenged other candidates to allow the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to examine their bank accounts here and abroad. Lawyer Rico Quicho, Binay’s campaign spokesperson, said the candidates should also allow the AMLC to look into the bank accounts of their spouses, other members of their families, friends and associates. “Perhaps at this point the other candidates should seriously consider allowing AMLC to look into their accounts – and those of their spouses, family, friends, and associates – both here in the Philippines and in other countries,” he said in a press statement. Quicho also said the candidates should also consider allowing AMLC to examine as well the bank accounts here and in other countries of businesses, corporations, and foundations identified with the candidate or their spouses, family, friends, and associates. “[These] were all scrutinized by AMLC in the Vice President’s case,” Quicho said. Quicho said other candidates should also make public their Income Tax Returns (ITRs) and Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) for the past 30 years. “This will allow the voters to see if the candidates’ professed net worth is truly justified and if the proper taxes were paid to the government,” he said. Sen. Francis Escudero, who Read More …