Maniolas

Senator Grace Poe (MNS photo) MANILA, Jan 28 (Mabuhay) – Senator Grace Poe on Thursday vowed to exhaust all legal means possible should she lose the disqualification cases at the Supreme Court (SC) but said it would be “tragic” and “sad” if she would also be removed as senator. Poe, however, remained hopeful that she and her lawyers have a “very viable legal standing” at the SC based on the evidence that they submitted before it. “I remain hopeful and very positive that we’ve offered to the Supreme Court the truth, and also that we’ve a very viable legal standing. I offer to the Supreme Court not only my situation but the situation of hundreds of thousands of foundlings who are in the same plight. So I remain hopeful as I said,” Poe said when she faced the Meet Inquirer Multimedia Forum. “On the other hand, as a lawmaker, I’ll respectfully abide by the decision of the Supreme Court but I will exhaust all legal means possible to be able to fight for our case,” she said. If the SC rules that she did not meet the 10-year requirement to run for the highest position in the land, Poe said should would not be able to join the May presidential race. “If the ruling included my situation as a foundling, then that also removes my position now in the Senate and that will be tragic and sad,” she said. However, the senator expressed readiness to return to her private life Read More …

Members of Bayan Muna hold a picket in front of Chinese consulate in Makati on Friday April 17 to protest against China’s reclamation activities in Panganiban Reef, part of the disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea. Recent satellite pictures showed the Chinese constructing facilities in the area. (MNS Photo) MANILA, Jan 28 (Mabuhay) – In a rare comment concerning Taiwan, the Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday expressed its opposition to outgoing Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou’s visit to Itu Aba off the disputed South China Sea. “We remind all parties concerned of our shared responsibility to refrain from actions that can increase tension in the South China Sea,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said in a statement on Ma’s trip that came amid lingering concerns over the waters where China has rapidly transformed formerly submerged disputed rocks into huge man-made islands. The DFA normally do not comment on issues related to Taiwan since Manila and Taipei have no formal diplomatic ties in deference to the One-China Policy. Taiwan separated from mainland China in 1949, but Beijing considers it as its renegade province. Ma’s visit to Itu Aba, called Taiping by Taiwan, was a bid to reaffirm its claim over the island – the largest feature in the South China Sea equipped with modern facilities like a hospital, runway and a lighthouse. There was no immediate comment from Taiwan’s representative office in Manila. Washington, a Taiwan ally, also criticized the trip, with the State Department, calling it a “disappointment.” Competing Read More …

Mark Herras (MNS photo) It’s been 12 years since Mark Herras won GMA-7’s talent reality contest “StarStruck” and started fulfilling his dream of being an actor. All these times, Mark has gone through a lot of ups and downs in his career. He played a variety of lead roles, too, as well as minor roles. And while there were phases when he did not have regular shows, it did not stop him from pressing on. These days, things are looking up. Mark welcomes 2016 with multiple projects, particularly “Little Nanay” with Nora Aunor, Kris Bernal, and Eddie Garcia. “Ang ganda ng pasok ng taon, not just because sunod-sunod ang trabaho, well, isa iyon sa dahilan. November pa nag-start. It’s been a year and a half na wala akong regular show na ginagawa. I’ve been doing a lot of guestings sa GMA, pero syempre masarap pa rin ’yung feeling na kasama ka sa isang show,” Mark said in an interview in Cebu right before his performance at the Ayala Terraces in time for Sinulog Festival 2016. Aside from “Little Nanay,” Mark stars on “Dangwa” and “Wish I May.” “It’s been a long time, actually, na naging ganito ako ka-busy. Ang huli kong project was ‘Rhodora X.’ After noon, lagi akong nasa mga pilot episodes tapos mamamatay ako (’yung character ko). “Then, pumasok ako sa ‘Batang Yagit.’ Then ’yung kay Christian Bautista. Sa ‘Pari ’Koy’ hindi naman ako namatay, pero nakulong ako doon. So ang daming guestings…” The year is looking good Read More …

Many questions remain about when to screen and how to treat depression.©Andrew Lever/shutterstock.com (Miami, United States-AFP) – An influential US panel on Tuesday called for all adults to be screened for depression, including women during and after pregnancy, marking the first time it has urged a focus on maternal mental health. The non-binding call was issued by the US Preventive Services Task Force, an independent, volunteer panel of experts that makes recommendations about the effectiveness of various health and counseling services. “The USPSTF found convincing evidence that screening improves the accurate identification of adult patients with depression in primary care settings, including pregnant and postpartum women,” said the statement in the Journal of the American Medical Association. It also found evidence that combining screening with “adequate support systems” may improve clinical outcomes by reducing or eliminating depression. The guidelines update those issued in 2009 which did not specifically mention depression in women of childbearing age, but called for adult screening for depression when and where support systems allowed. “Depression is among the leading causes of disability in persons 15 years and older,” said the latest report. It is “also common in postpartum and pregnant women.” The USPSTF “found convincing evidence” that treating adults with depression with antidepressants, psychotherapy, or both could improve patient outcomes. It also pointed to “some harms” associated with antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) because they may increase suicide risk and are associated with “potential serious fetal harms.” Since many questions remain about when Read More …

President Benigno S. Aquino III confers the Medal of Valor to PO2 Romeo Cempron, one of the slain SAF soldier in the Mamasapano Massacre, received by his wife Cristin Cempron at Camp Crame Monday (January 25). (MNS photo) MANILA, Jan 26 (Mabuhay) – Senator Grace Poe and Senate President Franklin Drilon are taking opposite sides on the issue of listening to an audio recording of an alleged attempt to cover up the events of the Mamasapano encounter. Poe said she is open to playing the audio clip when the Senate reopens its investigation on the bloody clash that saw 44 police commandos killed in an anti-terror operation. “Welcome sa atin iyan e kapag may magtutunton ng kung ano mang nais nating malaman na katotohanan,” said Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public order. On the other hand, Drilon said any evidence obtained through wiretapping is inadmissible in court hearings and legislative inquiries. “We are the lawmakers, we should not be the lawbreakers. Iyan po ay nasa Anti-Wiretapping Act, maliwanag po na hindi pwedeng tanggaping ebidensya ang unauthorized recording lalo na sa legislative investigation,” he said in a separate DZMM interview. A retired police officer and senatorial aspirant, Diosdado Valeroso, earlier said he has a digital audio recording of a conversation between a high-ranking government official and a legislator that occurred a day or two after the clash that left 44 Special Action Force (SAF) troopers dead. In the conversation, one of the parties was telling the other not to Read More …