Maniolas

Protesters from different social movements form the word dignity (dignidad) during a protest in Quezon City, Monday. The coalition urged candidates to adopt social protection in their election agenda, citing what it described as unequal access to basic social services like health care, jobs and education.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Even with the hefty decline registered in December, the government is confident that imports will continue to be supported by the strong demand and growing investor confidence in the country. “Despite this decline in December, strong domestic demand will prop up imports in the near term, as we expect continued expansion in inward shipments of power-generating machines, office and electronic data processing machines, and telecommunications equipment,” NEDA Deputy General and OIC Margarita R. Songco said in an emailed statement. “Investor confidence in the country is still growing and is seen to increase investments. This will in turn boost demand for imports of capital goods as well as raw materials and intermediate goods,” Songco added. This developed after the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Monday announced that imports dropped nearly 26 percent in December, its sharpest fall since 2009 as semiconductor shipments contracted by almost 40 percent. The same sentiment was shared by University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) Economic Program Vice Dean Cid Terosa who said that the drop in December was expected but it is not seen to linger for the rest of the year. “It was expected to drop but it was surprising that it dropped by Read More …

Camarines Sur 3rd District Representative Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo delivers her acceptance message to be the official LP Vice Presidential Candidate for the 2016 National Elections during the “Daang Matuwid: To Be Continued…” of the ruling Liberal Party (LP) at the Corazon C. Aquino Kalayaan Hall of the Club Filipino in San Juan City on Monday (October 05). (MNS photo) LAUR, Nueva Ecija  (Mabuhay) – Joining the ruling Liberal Party (LP) should come without expectations, administration vice-presidential candidate Leni Robredo said on Wednesday, as she dismissed a newspaper report in Bicol that said she received P500 million to run alongside administration standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II. Robredo said the allegation from the local paper was just “black propaganda” from political foes. “May black propaganda na lumabas na binigyan daw ako ng P500 million at palagay ko kayo na rin makakapagsabi, kung P500 million siguro, matutulog na lamang ako,” Robredo said. “Kung titingnan ninyo ang newspaper na pinanggalingan noon ay newspaper ng kalaban sa politika kaya hindi na dapat patulan,” Robredo, the incumbent congresswoman of Camarines Sur’s third district, said. Robredo said LP wasn’t a party of financial favors but of the same political beliefs. “Mula noong sa asawa ko pa hanggang ngayon, alam naman ng aking mga kasamahan na ang samahan namin ay hindi talaga tungkol sa pera,” she said. The same report said Robredo’s allies in the local level have jumped ship because of the lack of financial support. “Kung ang dahilan kaya ka sumama sa partido ay Read More …

Thirty years after the EDSA Revolution, the Philippines has gone from bad to worse. Most people will say that the Edsa Revolution did not change the lives of millions of Filipinos for the better. But not the Aquinos, Cojuangcos, Oretas and their cronies. These people made a fortune by cornering all lucrative government contracts and running the “billion peso-jueteng” syndicate  in the country during the six-year presidential term of Cory Aquino. Since the ouster of former President Ferdinand Marcos  in 1986, corruption in government has become more pervasive, particularly in Congress.The pockets of lawmakers are bulging with P1000 bills, courtesy of President Aquino and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, through the DAP and PDAF scheme. There is widespread poverty in the country, sale and distribution of illegal drugs remain unabated and the unemployment rate keeps soaring, prompting more Filipinos to seek employment overseas. Even members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) have been involved in either holdups, gun-for-hire killings and carnappings, to augment their meager earnings or support their vices in life. The only thing visible that has changed after the Edsa Revolution is the transformation of Hacienda Luisita from being an outmoded sugar mills plantation to one of the best and modern sugar mills plantation in Asia. Of course, Hacienda Luisita is owned by the family of the late former President Cory Aquino, mother of current President Aquino, who was installed as Philippine President after Marcos was ousted through a bloodless military coup in 1986. Even the roads leading to Hacienda Read More …

A Simba armored fighting vehicle bedecked with flowers and with soldiers and a military chaplain on board was among the features of the reenactment of the famous 1986 “Salubungan” in front of the Corinthian Gardens along Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue in Quezon City during the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution on Thursday (Feb. 25, 2016). (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday morning lashed out at those saying the Marcos years were the “golden age” of the Philippines. “Napapailing na lang ako, dahil may nagsasabi raw na ang panahon ni Ginoong Marcos ang siyang ‘golden age’ ng Pilipinas. Siguro golden days para sa kanya—matapos masagad ang termino, gumawa siya ng paraan na kumapit sa kapangyarihan,” he said. “Golden age nga po siguro noon para sa mga crony ni Ginoong Marcos, at sa mga dikit sa kanya,” Aquino added. Aquino, only son of popular opposition leader Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. and former President Corazon Aquino, said the government’s debt ballooned to P192.2 billion after Marcos’ term. He also cited several abuses committed by the Marcos regime against the Moro people, and the so-called brain drain during that period. “Sa nagsasabing hindi dapat sisihin si Ginoong Marcos sa mga pangyayari sa ilalim ng kanyang rehimen, ang tugon natin: Hindi ba kung sinamsam mo ang lahat ng kapangyarihan, dapat angkinin mo rin ang lahat ng responsibilidad?” he said. “Hayagan kong sinasabi ngayon, bilang bahagi ng henerasyong pinagdusa ng diktadurya: Hindi golden age Read More …

Liberal Party (LP) chairman President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the Meeting with Local Leaders and the Community at the PAG-ASA Gymnasium in Barangay F.E, Marcos, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija on Wednesday. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — President Benigno S. Aquino III on Thursday expressed his frustration over the non-passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), which he said was deliberately derailed by opposition senators. In his speech during the 30th anniversary celebration of the EDSA People Power Revolution, the President recalled the excesses committed by former president Ferdinand Marcos to Muslim Filipinos during Martial Law. He said Marcos and his minions seized lands and tolerated those who committed abuses. “Imbes na katarungan ang gawing tugon, o gumawa ng batas para isaayos ang sitwasyon, Philippine Constabulary at Sandatahang Lakas ang itinulak na solusyon,” he said. With regards to the Mindanao peace process, the Chief Executive said the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front have come up with the Framework Agreement and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, and have worked hard to pass the BBlL. The President said it is regrettable that the BBL, which is expected to bring lasting peace to the region, has not been passed by Congress. “Nanghihinayang ako, dahil ang tanging batas na maghahatid ng katarungan at kapayapaan, sadya pa po talagang hinarang,” he said. “At di po ba: Ang BBL, naipit sa Senado sa kumite para sa lokal na gobyerno, na pinamumunuan ni Senador (Bongbong) Marcos? Di ba nung pinakahuling Read More …