Maniolas

President Benigno S. Aquino III leads the Ceremonial Switch-on of the 300- Megawatt (MW) Davao Baseload Power Plant, Davao Base load Power Plant Complex, Boundary of Bgy. Binugao, Toril, Davao City and Bgy. Inawayan, Sta. Cruz, Davao Del Sur on Friday (January 8, 2016). Also in photo are Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa) chairperson Luwalhati Antonino, Department of Energy Secretary Zenaida Y. Monzada, Aboitiz Power Corporation CEO Erramon I. Aboitiz, Davao City OIC Mayor Karlo S. Bello and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.This Power plant is one of the critical projects needed to finally solve long term the perennial Mindanao power shortage. This power plant supplies power to more than twenty (20) electric cooperatives and distribution utilities all over Mindanao. (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – It is up for senators running in the 2016 national elections whether or not to participate in the re-investigation of the Mamasapano tragedy, Malacañang said on Monday. “Nasa pagpapasya nila ang kanilang partisipasyon,” Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said. President Benigno Aquino III said last week that he saw political interests at play with the Senate’s re-opening of the inquiry into the Mamasapano incident. The investigation will start on Monday, January 25, exactly a year after more than 60 persons, including 44 police commandos, were killed in clashes after Malaysian bomb-maker Marwan was killed in a known territory of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Senator Grace Poe, who is running for president, will president over the hearing as the chairman of the Committee on Public Order Read More …

Supporters rally outside the Indonesian Embassy in Makati City on Friday appealing for clemency for Filipino Mary Jane Veloso, convicted of drug trafficking in Indonesia. Veloso has been moved to an island prison and is awaiting final word on her execution from Indonesian authorities. (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Friends, family and supporters gathered in Nueva Ecija on Sunday to mark the 31st birthday of Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipina drug convict in Indonesia who was temporarily spared from execution nine months ago. Connie Bragas-Regalado of Migrante party-list, one of the groups supporting Veloso, said the gathering was to express their “continued support and commitment to save” Veloso’s life. “Mary Jane’s birthday is reason to celebrate because it symbolizes a new chapter of her life after her temporary reprieve,” Regalado said in a statement Monday. “But it is also reason for continued vigilance and renewed vigor to save her life.” Masses and prayers were held in honor of Veloso at the Baclaran Redemptorist Church and by the Church Task Force to Save Mary Jane, Regalado said. On Tuesday, Veloso will be visited by her mother and two kids in her Indonesian jail in a trip arranged by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The family will be accompanied by Veloso’s Filipino lawyer Edre Olalia and Migrante members. “The Veloso family, together with Atty. Olalia, is expected to visit Mary Jane in jail on Tuesday to Thursday, possibly Friday (January 12-14, possibly January 15), at 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.,” Regalado Read More …

Since arriving on the U.S. shores more than four decades ago, people of Vietnamese descent has traditionally celebrated Tet, the most significant holiday of the lunar year, in the beginning of Spring to start life fresh on a clean slate. Celebrating the festival, a family holiday akin to the U.S’s Thanksgiving celebration, is a shadow of the event in their native Vietnam where “everyone is expected to return home shortly before midnight light firecrackers and spend  the next few days eating, drinking, and dancing”. For 30 years in Orange County, the Union of the Vietnamese Student Associations Southern California (UVSA) has been the host of the Tet Festival driven as an important event by which the members establish connections to their native land,  kindle the spirit of volunteerism and work hard work to bring the bring life to the festivities. The nonprofit group had been granted the exclusive right to host the event in 2002 which was able to accomplish collateral benefits to the student volunteers who were able to develop strong leadership skills, enhance their cultural awareness and earn valuable life experience.  Most important of all, holding the event benefited community associations and other sectors in terms of the benevolent sharing of the proceeds from the event to make their programs viable. Over the past years it is estimated that more than $1-M from the festival proceeds had been awarded to various nonprofit community groups. Torres High School (Manila) Alumnae Remember: Former students of Torres High School (in Manila) Read More …

Mariel Rodriguez, Toni Gonzaga, and Bianca Gonzalez (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Television hosts Mariel Rodriguez, Toni Gonzaga, and Bianca Gonzalez opened up about their respective marriages. The three, who were all alumnae and hosts of the reality television show “Pinoy Big Brother,” were quizzed about how being married changed them in a television interview. The 31-year-old Rodriguez, who has been married to actor Robin Padilla for more than five years to date, answered: “Feeling ko I’m still the same but better.” For her part, Gonzaga, who tied the knot with husband Paul Soriano earlier in 2015, said: “Ako sa akin, kasi six months na kaming married so nandoon pa ako sa process ng transitioning.” She explained: “Mahirap ‘yung stage ng transitioning –separation from family, Alex, everything. So nandoon pa ako sa stage na iyon but it is a good stage that I know I’ll be able to overcome. That’s why my plan this year is to be the best wife.” Meanwhile, Gonzalez shared that her marriage with basketball player JC Intal has taught her to take things slowly, especially since the couple recently welcomed their first child, Lucia Martine. “Ang pinakabago is natutunan ko na okay lang mag-slow down. Kasi dati nung single, go lang ng go, work lang ng work. Nung kinasal, parang okay din pala na mas magpahinga ng unti, i-prioritize ang family,” she said. (MNS)

Senator Grace Poe (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – Sen. Grace Poe on Saturday urged Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Andres Bautista to launch an investigation on “personalities” within the poll body who are allegedly trying to sabotage her chances of joining the 2016 presidential race. Poe’s camp made the call in light of the reported infighting between Bautista and Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon over the latter’s filing of a comment with the Supreme Court on the Poe cases without the chairman’s signature. In a statement, Poe’s spokesman Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian blasted Guanzon for her actions. “We believe that the actions of Commissioner Guanzon is wrong, as she is usurping the powers reserved for the en banc,” he said. “The actions of Commissioner Guanzon is undermining our electoral process and endangering our very democracy,” added Poe’s spokesman. Gatchalian said Guanzon’s actions only bolstered the senator’s suspicion that there are people within Comelec trying to derail her presidential bid. “From day 1 we have been saying that certain personalities inside Comelec have political agendas against Sen. Poe. These personalities have been driven by political and partisan biases against Sen. Poe,” he said. “We are calling on Chairman Bautista to investigate these personalities inside the commission that should be impartial. Chairman Bautista should unmask these personalities and make them publicly accountable,” the lawyer added. “It’s alarming to see that the very institution tasked to oversee the conduct of orderly elections in disarray. We are calling on the good Chairman of Comelec to Read More …