Maniolas

NAIA terminal 3. FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines–Rebook, cancel or simply go with the flow? A Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) official on Thursday laid out these options to passengers who have scheduled departing flights in the country’s main airport on the arrival and departure dates of Pope Francis next year. Alvin Candelaria, officer in charge of the airport operations unit of MIAA, made the suggestion following the announcement of the closure of several roads around the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) complex in specific hours on Jan. 15, the Pope’s arrival, and on Jan. 19, the Pope’s departure. Ma. Consuelo Bungag, officer in charge of the public affairs division of the MIAA, said that on the first day, the “whole stretch of Sales Avenue all the way to Andrews Avenue; Domestic Road all the way to Park and Fly; and MIA Road going to Roxas Boulevard” will be closed from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. On the second day, she said the same roads will be closed from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Jump-off point “So what do we expect to happen? [Some] Naia terminals can only be accessed via South Superhighway through Bicutan, Alabang and Sucat Road,” she said in a press conference at the Naia Terminal 1 Boardroom on Tuesday. To enable travelers to get to these last two terminals on those days, she said airport authorities had designated Naia Terminal 1 Parking B as a “jump-off point.” “From [this] staging area, those travelers will be brought to Read More …

Pope Francis kisses a statue of Baby Jesus as he celebrates the Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014. AP VATICAN CITY—Pope Francis condemned the “brutal persecution” of minorities by Islamic State (IS) insurgents in his Christmas message on Thursday and urged people not to be indifferent to the suffering of so many around the world. On a day that brings joy to little ones in much of the world, Francis expressed anguish for children who are victims of violence, including the recent terrorist attack on a Pakistani military school, or those who are trafficked or forced to be soldiers. “Truly there are so many tears this Christmas,” he said. Tens of thousands of people turned out on St. Peter’s Square to hear the Argentine Pope deliver his “Urbi et Orbi” (Latin for: To the city and the world) blessing and message, marking the second Christmas since his election last year. The Pope also appealed for an end to conflicts in African countries, urged dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians, condemned the attack by Taliban militants that killed more than 130 students in Pakistan last week, and thanked those helping the victims of the Ebola epidemic. But he reserved his toughest words to defend the victims of IS fighters who have killed or displaced Shiite Muslims, Christians and others in Syria and Iraq who do not share the group’s ideologies. “I ask Him, the savior of the world, to look upon our brothers and Read More …

Holidays are sweeter with “balikbayan” boxes around. Chocolates, candies and clothes top the list of favorite balikbayan box contents, with three in every five readers citing them as among their all-time favorites. The Inquirer’s “What’s in Your Balikbayan Box?” contest, which ran from Dec. 14 to Dec. 21, asked readers to name their all-time favorite items found inside balikbayan boxes sent through the years by family members living or working in other countries. Readers from the provinces of Ilocos Sur, Cebu, Leyte, Pangasinan, Batangas, Bulacan and Cavite shared their lists of favorite goodies in boxes sent by loved ones from the United States, Canada, Italy, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Japan, South Korea and Singapore. Sixty-seven percent listed “chocolates and candies” while 63 percent had “clothes” as among their top favorite goodies. Others wrote shoes (56 percent) and food (52 percent). Toiletries (44 percent) and canned goods (41 percent) were also on the lists, as were bags (22 percent), toys (19 percent) and watches (15 percent). The sweetest things “Chocolates [are] the sweetest. A balikbayan box would never be complete without them,” said Eilen Pajimula, who receives the boxes from her mother in Dubai. “Every year, my sister Marie gives us chocolates and other goods and sends [them] to us, usually during the Christmas season,” said Gee Lorena, whose sister is in South Korea. Alice Pineda is likewise excited about the balikbayan boxes her sister Arlene sends from San Diego, California. One of the things she most looks forward Read More …

popular Pangasinan execs axed over black sand Viber goes public North Korean websites back online after shutdown Liberal Party eyes Roxas-Poe tandem Slain Lucena cop hailed as hero 2 kidnap-slay suspects found guilty Gay cure scam: Beijing court orders apology Azkals to get $300,000 Fifa aid next year videos Simbang Gabi at the Gesu ( Day 9 – Dec. 23, 2014 ) Baldwin wants Olympics stint, Fiba Asia gold for Gilas ‘Parade of Stars’ opens 40th Metro Manila Film Festival Homebody: Boots Anson-Roa New coach says Gilas program in ‘good shape’ INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine National Police will be deploying 25,000 policemen for the much-awaited visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines in January next year. The policemen will be securing the immediate vicinity of the venues Pope Francis will be visiting during his stay in the country. Others will be deployed for perimeter and route security detail, according to PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor. “The PNP is preparing for elaborate security measures for the papal visit as we will provide operational support to the Presidential Security Group and close-in security services to Pope Francis’ entourage,” the police official said. The papal visit will be from Jan. 15 to 19, 2015, with Pope Francis visiting Tacloban City, the area hardest hit during Supertyphoon “Yolanda” in 2013. The PNP is part of the committee on security, peace and order, which is made up of 18 government agencies involved in security preparations for the papal visit. Mayor said the Read More …