Maniolas

Senators Grace Poe and Chiz Escudero stand for photos during the announcement of their bid as President and Vice President for the 2016 elections at the Club Filipino on Thursday. Poe and Escudero, the first tandem for next year’s election, promised to run as independent candidates. (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – Administration standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II on Tuesday downplayed the endorsement of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) on the candidacies of Senators Grace Poe and Francis “Chiz” Escudero, saying the party’s leadership is not solid behind the two candidates. “Kausap ko ang liderato ng NPC, at nananatiling wala silang pili sa pagkapangulo. Ito ay pili ng iilang miyembro ng NPC,” Roxas said in a chance interview in Parañaque City. According to Roxas, at least 20 members of the NPC at the local level have expressed support to the Roxas-Robredo tandem. Roxas and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo are both running under the ruling Liberal Party (LP). On Monday, the NPC, the second biggest political party next to the LP, adopted the Poe-Escudero tandem for the coming May polls. It was party president, House Deputy Speaker Diorgidi Aggabao, who made the announcement at a press conference. About 90 percent of party stalwarts, he said, favored endorsing the two candidates. But Roxas maintained that it was no party stand.  “Hindi po ito party stand ng NPC. ‘Yan ang sabi sa akin ng liderato ng NPC at mga taga-NPC.” “Hindi para sa akin ang magsalita para sa NPC. Siguro may mga Read More …

DJ Durano (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Wenn Deramas’ former boyfriend, actor DJ Durano, has spoken up about the death of the director. The 41-year-old Durano, who has worked in a number of television and film projects with Deramas, credited the director for giving him his “biggest break” in the industry. “Walang DJ Durano kung walang Direk Wenn,” he said. “It was difficult because everybody knows that Direk Wenn was my mentor …I’m lost for words because I only have gratitude.” Durano also shared his last conversation with Deramas. “Last time na nakapag-usap kami, sabi niya, ‘Alam mo [DJ], happy na ‘ko sa buhay ko. I’m happy where I am. I have my own life. Happy ako kung asan ako.’ Honestly, sabi ko, ‘Happy ako for you, Direk, kasi sobra kang naging kaibigan.” Asked for his message to Deramas, Durano, who first revealed his relationship with the director last 2014, replied: “I only have kind words for Direk Wenn. …Gusto kong sabihin sa kanya, thank you, thank you, thank you. Hindi lang sa akin [kung hindi] sa mga kasama ko, sa mga nabigyan niya ng break.” According to Durano, Deramas has been pushing for the actor to be included in his upcoming television project. “Sa mga nakausap ko sa ABS-CBN na ibinibilin niya, ‘Kayo na bahala kay DJ.’ Parang, ‘Huwag niyong pababayaan si DJ. Bigyan niyo ng work.” He added: “Lagi niyang sinasabi, ‘Dapat ang mga katulad mo, hindi nawawalan ng puwang sa industriyang ito, dahil maraming naniniwala sa talento Read More …

Rob Bonta (Photo courtesy of http://asmdc.org/) (SACRAMENTO, CA)- Today, Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Oakland), Chair of the Assembly Public Health and Developmental Services Committee and Co-Chair of the Conference Committee in the Second Extraordinary Session, spoke in support of ABX2 1 and SBX2 2, which both passed the legislature today and moved on to the Governor’s desk. “Today’s vote was the result of months of negotiations, and once again proved that politics is the art of the possible.  California’s existing MCO tax needed to be restructured, and I’m thrilled that we accomplished this goal while also providing critical funding for Medi-Cal, developmental disability services, and Distinct Part Skilled Nursing Facilities. “We made a promise to start repairing the Developmental Disability System, which has struggled with underfunding for the last decade. Today, we kept that promise and made clear how deeply we care for our most vulnerable Californians.” As of the time of this communication, ABX2 1 passed the Assembly 78-0 and the Senate 40 -0.  SBX2 2 passed the Senate 28-11 and the Assembly 61-16. Assemblymember Bonta represents the 18th Assembly District, which includes the cities of Oakland, Alameda, and San Leandro. Bonta Chairs the Assembly Health Committee, the Select Committee on the Status of Boys and Men of Color, and in the second Extraordinary Session, the Public Health and Developmental Services Committee. He is also a member of the following committees: Appropriations, Budget, Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Health and Human Services, Joint Legislative Budget, Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Read More …

So you decided to buy a house a few years ago and the market turned. Now, your house is worth less than you owe to the bank, and you are one month behind! Worse still, you have a large amount of credit card debt, that is growing larger by the month on minimum payments and your income is barely enough to get you and your family through the coming month (or maybe even the week). However, on the positive side, news reports suggest that home prices are turning around. You want to keep your home – so what are your options? Can you manage mortgage payments if you did not have to pay your credit cards? Do you have a second mortgage that could be stripped under current bankruptcy laws, and immediately give you a bump in home equity? What other options do you have? Is the IRS harassing you as well? Take the first step to ending sleepless nights, and let me help you come up with a plan to get you on top, and back in control. Doing nothing about your debts and ignoring what is happening to you may seem easier at first, but once the foreclosure notices and law suits begin to come in the mail, the thought of wage garnishments and liens on your house or even your car, can really make you and your spouse depressed. Being proactive about taking care of your debts should begin with a free consultation with consumer debt attorney Read More …

Joey Albert (MNS photo) Joey Albert is back home “more victorious” than the last time she was here. In an interview, the Canada-based singer said she has survived cancer a third time. Last year, during her Valentine’s Day concert with The Company, Joey kept her health condition under wraps as she wanted people to “come and watch the show not because I’m sick.” “(But) my manager knew, The CompanY knew (about it), and they were just extremely supportive,” she said. “They made everything easy for me. It was a meaningful performance.” Joey was first diagnosed with cervical cancer in 1995. After a successful operation, the cancer returned in 2003, this time affecting her colon. Despite having it removed through another operation, the cancer recurred last year. Joey said that more than the cancer itself, the real struggle for her was overcoming depression. “Akala nila, ‘Kayang-kaya naman ni Joey ’yan,’ but they don’t really see what’s inside, ’yung ’pag mag-isa ka na lang,” she said. “There are friends – they come once in a while – but in the quiet of your own room, this is when the battle really begins.” But giving up is not in her vocabulary and she remained positive throughout the ordeal. “It’s how you keep your head above the water, it’s how you carry yourself,” she said. “It’s how you use a lemon and turn into lemon juice.” Did she ever ask God, ‘Why me?’ “No. You will just end up disappointing yourself when you ask Read More …