Maniolas

popular Highest bridge in PH in danger of collapsing Drones ‘twinkled at night’ NPA rebels storm police station in Mati, Davao Oriental Heart Evangelista: He likes to talk things to death; Chiz Escudero: You’re a dream Man arrested for using dead man’s credit card for 2 years Michele Ferrero, maker of Nutella, dies on Valentine’s Day Did you know: From Sta. Lucia Barracks to PMA Resignation at what cost? videos ‘EATS: Where To Eat Now’ book launch Salud on resigning as PBA commissioner: It’s time for new, fresh leadership Boyce Avenue Live in Manila 2015 Binibining Pilipinas beauties sing, dance, paint on Valentine’s Day Gabriela joins One Billion Rising event for 3rd time MANILA, Philippines — A Chinese businesswoman was abducted in Sulu on Sunday, the military said. A report from Joint Task Group Sulu said that Hja Dingkim Yap, 58, was taken by about six unidentified armed men boarding a blue Tamaraw FX in Chinese Pier in Sulu at about 12:30 p.m. It did not say who abducted the businesswoman. The military is doing an all-out law enforcement operations against the Abu Sayyaf group, is holding several hostages in the area of Sulu, after the release of its German captives last November for a reported P250 million. Several hostages were also released in the following months. Joint follow up operations are being conducted by Jolo and Patikul police for the Chinese businesswoman, the report said. RELATED STORIES Chinese teenager kidnapped in Zamboanga Sibugay China issues travel ban vs PH Read More …

Senior Officials of the 21-member countries of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation pose for a formal picture during the opening of the First Senior Officials’ Meeting in Clark, Pampanga. Nestor Corrales/INQUIRER.net CLARK, Philippines— The 21 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) are bolstering their anti-terrorism defenses to ensure security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. “Apec members are strengthening capacity in the Asia-Pacific region to fight terrorism and ensure the security of our people and our economies,” Oscar Valenzuela, chair of the Apec Counter-Terrorism Working group said in a statement. Valenzuela said coordination among member economies is underway as terrorism continues to elevate risks in the Asia-Pacific region. “We continue to see a rise in the spread of violent extremism worldwide,” he said. Valenzuela said the brutal death of two Japanese hostages by the Islamic State group signals an increased threat in the region. He said the new developments in technology and communications are posing new counter-terrorism challenges that put lives and livelihoods at risk, citing “it is critical to move swiftly to address these advances.” The Apec official pointed the importance of aligning government policies of member economies as well as with existing anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism regimes to clamp down the financing of terrorists. He said a stepped up cooperation “to boost relevant prosecutorial and law enforcement capacities in the region. According to him, discussion on travel-related aspects of increasing terrorist flows is also underway among Apec member economies. “The movement of terrorist recruits traveling to and from Read More …

Marwan. PHOTO FROM FBI.GOV ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Inside a beachfront resort here, several Americans planned the botched Jan. 25 operations in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, which killed Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, but also left 44 police commandos, 18 rebels and four civilians dead. A Philippine Daily Inquirer source who refused to be identified due to security reasons said the Mamasapano operation was “fully funded by the US.” “The Americans, who have a secret facility inside the La Vista del Mar Resort, planned and funded the operation,” the source said. La Vista del Mar Resort, located in Barangay (village) Upper Calarian some six kilometers from the city’s downtown area, is owned by the family of first district Rep. Celso Lobregat. Lobregat denied knowing anything about the operations to get Marwan or accommodating American operatives to plan the secret operations in his hotel. “I do not know anything about it,” Lobregat, in a text message to the Inquirer Thursday afternoon, said. The source described the “facility” inside La Vista del Mar as having a blue gate and having been “occupied by the Americans and the biggest number of elite forces of the 84th Special Action Force Company.” According to Joel New, the barangay chair of San Jose Gusu and a former employee of the resort, the facility belongs to Special Action Force (SAF). “It’s a camp of the SAF and it is located beside the resort. They (SAF) do tactical operations training and swimming, including speedboat operations, there,” New said. Read More …

Pope Francis, center right, walks beside Philippine President Benigno Aquino III before boarding his plane as he departs Manila, Philippines on Monday, Jan. 19, 2015. AP MANILA, Philippines – Pope Francis was “very very happy” with the warmth of Filipinos during his five-day visit to the Philippines, which concluded on Monday, President Benigno Aquino III said. “So tuwang-tuwa siya doon sa hospitality na ipinakita. Damang-dama daw niya yung warmth,” he said in an ambush interview with reporters after leading the send-off for Pope Francis at Villamor Air Base. “May reflection siya dito sa buong biyahe niya at talagang gaano katuwa nga daw siya — gaano sila natutuwa nga dito sa mga — yung ipinakita ng ating sambayanan. So ang sabi ko: “Kaya nga ho sa aking pananaw kong pribilehiyo mag-lingkod talaga sa sambayanang Pilipino” he added. Asked if the Pope would return to the Philippines, Aquino said: “Hindi ko na natanong kung kailan babalik. Klaro naman na napagod siya doon sa buong byaheng ito,” he said. The Pope’s visit was one of the biggest security operations in the Philippine history with a deployment of nearly 40,000 soldiers and policemen. Before Pope Francis went to Villamor Air Base for his flight on Monday, he met with the government organizers to thank them. The government also declared a three-day holiday to clear traffic in Metro Manila. Aquino, Cabinet and Church officials were part of the delegation that bade Pope Francis goodbye. The pontiff was bound for Rome after his weeklong Asian trip. Read More …

Pope Francis greets the crowd at the corner of Quirino and Taft Avenues, Manila on Thursday.INQUIRER PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA Dec. 17, 1936. Jorge Mario Bergoglio is born to Italian immigrants Mario, an accountant employed by the railways, and Regina Sivori, a homemaker, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. March 11, 1958. Bergoglio chooses the path of priesthood and enters the novitiate of the Society of Jesus at the Diocesan Seminary of Villa Devoto. 1963. After completing his studies of the humanities in Chile, Bergoglio returns to Argentina and finishes his Philosophy degree in Colegio de San Jose in San Miguel. 1964-1965. Bergoglio teaches literature and psychology at Immaculate Concepcion College in Santa Fe. 1966. Bergoglio teaches the same disciplines at the Colegio del Salvatore in Buenos Aires. Ordained as priest Dec. 13, 1969. Bergoglio, 32, is ordained a priest by Archbishop Ramon Jose Castellano. April 22, 1973. Bergoglio makes his final profession with the Jesuits. Previously, he was novice master at Villa Barilari, San Miguel; professor at the Faculty of Theology of San Miguel; consultor to the Province of the Society of Jesus; and Rector of the Colegio Maximo of the Faculty of Philosophy and Theology. July 31, 1973. Bergoglio is appointed Provincial of the Jesuits in Argentina and takes the helm for six years. March 1986. Pursuing higher studies, Bergoglio goes to Germany to finish his doctoral thesis. May 20, 1992. Pope John Paul II appoints Bergoglio, 55, the titular Bishop of Auca and Auxiliary of Buenos Aires. May Read More …