Maniolas

President reminds voters he’s the son of dictator Ferdinand Marcos By Cecil Morella Victims who endured human rights abuses during the late Ferdinand Marcos’ two-decade-long reign, on Monday, protest against the possible return of any Marcos to the presidential palace. The group vowed to derail the vice-presidential bid of Sen. Bongbong Marcos in the May 9 elections.(MNS photo) Manila, Philippines | AFP |   – Philippine President Benigno Aquino urged voters Thursday to stamp out the stunning political resurgence of Ferdinand Marcos’ family, as the nation marked 30 years since a “People Power” uprising toppled the late dictator. The election campaign is the latest chapter in an almost Shakespearean tale of feuding between the Aquino and Marcos families, two of the most powerful clans in a nation famed for elite dynasty rule. Human rights groups say tens of thousands were thrown in prison and tortured during the elder Marcos’ 20-year rule, and the government estimates the family plundered $10 billion from state coffers. But pollsters say a young electorate is likely to help the charismatic and unrepentant Ferdinand Marcos Jnr become vice president in May elections. “Mr. Marcos’ rule was not the golden age. It was a very painful chapter of our history,” Aquino told about 3,000 students and government workers at a ceremony marking the 1986 uprising. Aquino’s late father and namesake was shot dead by pro-Marcos soldiers and police at Manila airport in 1983 as he tried to return from US exile to lead opposition to the dictator. Public outrage over the murder Read More …

Protesters from different social movements form the word dignity (dignidad) during a protest in Quezon City, Monday. The coalition urged candidates to adopt social protection in their election agenda, citing what it described as unequal access to basic social services like health care, jobs and education.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Even with the hefty decline registered in December, the government is confident that imports will continue to be supported by the strong demand and growing investor confidence in the country. “Despite this decline in December, strong domestic demand will prop up imports in the near term, as we expect continued expansion in inward shipments of power-generating machines, office and electronic data processing machines, and telecommunications equipment,” NEDA Deputy General and OIC Margarita R. Songco said in an emailed statement. “Investor confidence in the country is still growing and is seen to increase investments. This will in turn boost demand for imports of capital goods as well as raw materials and intermediate goods,” Songco added. This developed after the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Monday announced that imports dropped nearly 26 percent in December, its sharpest fall since 2009 as semiconductor shipments contracted by almost 40 percent. The same sentiment was shared by University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) Economic Program Vice Dean Cid Terosa who said that the drop in December was expected but it is not seen to linger for the rest of the year. “It was expected to drop but it was surprising that it dropped by Read More …

Camarines Sur 3rd District Representative Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo delivers her acceptance message to be the official LP Vice Presidential Candidate for the 2016 National Elections during the “Daang Matuwid: To Be Continued…” of the ruling Liberal Party (LP) at the Corazon C. Aquino Kalayaan Hall of the Club Filipino in San Juan City on Monday (October 05). (MNS photo) LAUR, Nueva Ecija  (Mabuhay) – Joining the ruling Liberal Party (LP) should come without expectations, administration vice-presidential candidate Leni Robredo said on Wednesday, as she dismissed a newspaper report in Bicol that said she received P500 million to run alongside administration standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II. Robredo said the allegation from the local paper was just “black propaganda” from political foes. “May black propaganda na lumabas na binigyan daw ako ng P500 million at palagay ko kayo na rin makakapagsabi, kung P500 million siguro, matutulog na lamang ako,” Robredo said. “Kung titingnan ninyo ang newspaper na pinanggalingan noon ay newspaper ng kalaban sa politika kaya hindi na dapat patulan,” Robredo, the incumbent congresswoman of Camarines Sur’s third district, said. Robredo said LP wasn’t a party of financial favors but of the same political beliefs. “Mula noong sa asawa ko pa hanggang ngayon, alam naman ng aking mga kasamahan na ang samahan namin ay hindi talaga tungkol sa pera,” she said. The same report said Robredo’s allies in the local level have jumped ship because of the lack of financial support. “Kung ang dahilan kaya ka sumama sa partido ay Read More …

Washington, D.C. – “Bamboo Flowers,” a critically acclaimed film by multi-awarded director Maryo J. delos Reyes, charmed audiences during the 8th Bridges to the World Film Festival held at six separate venues in Maryland. The Bridges to the World Film Festival is an annual flagship event organized by the World Artists Experiences (WAE), a non-profit organization with the mission to bridge international understanding through cultural and citizen diplomacy. “World Artists Experiences (WAE) looks forward to presenting the film, Bamboo Flowers, in partnership with the Embassy of the Philippines, as way to bridge our people and countries. The film is a wonderful means of people being taken to the Philippines and better understanding the spirit of the people, the culture, and the country through the arts,” WAE President and founder Betty McGinnis said. “We celebrate the Philippines-US relations for over seventy years. Our hope is that WAE can continue to build bridges between the people of the Philippines and the US,” she added. “Bamboo Flowers” is a 2013 production that tells the stories of diverse characters experiencing major changes to their otherwise idyllic lives in the Philippine province of Bohol. It takes on themes such as school bullying, urban migration and vice versa, the problematic path of establishing careers and making ends meet in a limited economic environment. “The Philippines has so much to offer in terms of culture and heritage. ‘Bamboo Flowers’ is only one of the many Philippine films that have been able to successfully combine exposition of local Read More …