Maniolas

Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano MANILA  (Mabuhay) − Vice presidential candidate Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday warned that the Philippines is on the brink of becoming a narco state. “Papasok na tayo sa area na pwede maging tipping point na maging sa narco-state,” he said in a radio interview. He said that in some areas, the drug trade is so worse that shabu is used to buy votes. There are also other areas where residents purchase illegal drugs using farm animals. He added that even in Taguig City, where his wife Lani serves as mayor, there are employees who would rather resign from their job than take a random drug test. “You’ll never know when you’re already a narco state eh,” Cayetano claimed. A week ago, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Arturo Cacdac confirmed narcopolitics in some areas. Cayetano also cited the murder of then newly elected mayor of Temixco in Mexico last January 2. Anti-drug advocate Gisela Mota was killed just a day after she took office. He said in extreme cases this is how drug lords show their force. The vice presidential candidate admitted that such events disturb him. “You have to choose kung kanino ka pinakatakot. In my sense, I am more afraid of God than of people. Whether corruption iyan, MILF issue, I have to do my job. Si Mayor [Rodrigo Duterte] naman sabi niya, he is not afraid of dying. He has lived a full life. But that doesn’t mean that Read More …

President Benigno Aquino III with PCOO Secretary Sonny Coloma grace the ceremony of Manila Bulletin 116th anniversary, offered a toast along with Vice Chairman and Executive Vice President Dr. Emilio Yap III and President of Manila Hotel Joey Lina in celebration of the anniversary. Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation (MB) was founded as the Daily Bulletin on February 2, 1900 for the purpose of engaging in the publishing business. (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) − President Benigno Aquino III on Monday joined the Filipino-Chinese community in celebration the Lunar New Year, calling it “a treasured component of our nation.” In a message, Aquino wished Tsinoys “happiness, prosperity, and good health” for the coming year. Aquino highlighted the heritage of Chinese-Filipinos, which he said, “adds depth and vibrancy to our Republic’s history.” “Your contributions are as far reaching as they are varied; your unique culture has become part of our collective identity as Filipinos,” he said. “Thus, the government is one with you in celebrating the Lunar New Year − one of the most significant events in the Chinese calendar. May this event enrich, highlight, and promote the qualities, values, and ideals that make your community a treasured component of our nation; may it embody the harmony and hope signaled by the turn of the year,” Aquino added. “The strong, resilient, and vibrant country that we are today is powered by our multifaceted milieu. Let us rejoice in the stable environment that has allowed us to harness this multiplicity of talents and perspectives Read More …

Businessman Antonio Tiu and Senator Atonio F. Trillanes IV as they walk along the Rosario property, that people are reffering to as the Binay Farm in Rosario Batangas. October 23 MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Makati Regional Trial Court denied on Friday the petition of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV to quash the libel case filed against him by dismissed Makati Mayor Junjun Binay. Branch 142 of the Makati RTC also refused Trillanes’ petition to recall the warrant of arrest issued against the senator. Judge Dina Pestaño Teves said Trillanes has a pending petition for review at the Department of Justice. Teves added Trillanes cannot be arrested as long as he posts bail as soon as he arrives in the Philippines from the US. Trillanes’ legal counsel gave the assurance that the senator will surrender and will post the P10,000 bail for the libel case. The case stemmed from a comment reportedly given by Trillanes that the young Binay bribed justices of the Court of Appeals to get a temporary restraining order on the six-month preventive suspension order issued by the Ombudsman in 2015. The arrest warrant was issued on Feb. 1 by the court after it found probable cause on the case filed against the senator. His lawyer on Monday said Trillanes is on an official trip abroad attending an international forum but will submit himself to court and face the libel raps. (MNS)

ROSEMEAD, Calif  — Records might be made to be broken, but Southern California Edison just experienced one that it never wants to come close to again. SCE saw an all-time high 924 power outages caused by free-floating metallic balloons last year, far surpassing its previous high of 714 in 2012. With Valentine’s Day near, SCE strongly urges its customers to make sure their balloons are always tied to a weight — as required by California law — and to never release them outdoors because of the thousands of customers left without power when the metallic balloons float into power lines and other electrical equipment. Serious injuries and property damage can occur when the balloon contact is severe enough to bring down power lines — which happened 96 times last year for SCE. Anyone who sees a downed line or dangling wire — even if it appears not to be live — should not touch or approach it or anything in contact with it and call 911 immediately. “Metallic balloons look harmless, but there’s no way to overstate how dangerous they can be when released outside,” said Paul Jeske, SCE’s director of Corporate Health and Safety. “Merchants should always ensure that balloons are property weighted and remind their customers to never release them outdoors.” To illustrate the spike in balloon outages that typically begins in February and peaks in June, they rose 82 percent last year from January (33) to February (60), peaking with an all-time monthly high of 152 in Read More …

Los Angeles, CA   – This Spring, GK 1 World Foundation (dba Gawad Kalinga USA), in cooperation with Seafood City, will host the Hope Summit 2016, a three-day event on March 4-6 at Radisson Hotel Los Angeles at USC. A team from the GK global network that includes GK founding father Tony Meloto and GK Executive Director Jose Luis Oquinena, along with social entrepreneurs, will lead discussions on inspiring social innovations toward sustainable transformation. Leaders and advocates of GK in the United States will share collaborative solutions to attaining their mission. Gawad Kalinga, headquartered in Manila, aims to end poverty for five million families by 2024. In the United States, GK is officially represented by GK USA, a 501 ©(3) not-for-profit organization registered in California. The event aims to bring together 200 of GK’s existing strategic supporters and welcome new partners.  Rod and Tess Castro, Summit leads, say the event will be a celebration of the strides made employing GK’s model of Social Transformation in ending poverty in the Philippines.  Partners and GK friends will re-connect as they revisit GK’s history and propel plans in delivering results-oriented programs and projects. While the Philippine economy is rising steadily and is one of the fastest growing in the world today, GK has been recognized as one of the most credible organizations that is dedicated to ensuring that the poor are not left behind. GK has now evolved as a global movement, with a large philanthropy platform spanning over 2,500 villages in the Philippines and Read More …