Maniolas

President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2015 kick-off ceremony at The Eye Ballroom of the Green Sun Hotel in Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati City on Monday night (December 01). (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific are cancelling at least 378 domestic and international flights as part of security measures for the APEC Leaders Meeting in Manila during the third week of November. Leaders from the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation are converging in Manila to discuss the latest developments in trade and investments. Bilateral meetings are also expected to take place on the sidelines of the two-day summit happening on November 18 and 19. PAL has revealed more than 200 flights are affected from November 15 to 20, including 115 domestic and 96 international flights. Passengers have the option to rebook their flights with no rebooking and penalty charges. Several runways at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) will be closed to give way for the arrival and departure of the APEC delegates. “It is PAL’s aim to operate or consolidate as many flights as possible, as allowed within this period,” the airline earlier said. This followed the announcement of Cebu Air Inc., the operator of Cebu Pacific, which canceled 167 flights, including 146 domestic and international and 21 Cebgo flights from November 16 to 20. Malacañang declared November 18 and 19 as special non-working holidays in Metro Manila due to the APEC event. The APEC member economies are Read More …

I do not know if our fashion conscious Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman was thinking straight when she recently assured the public that sub-standard bunkhouses in the flood-ravaged areas of Tacloban City will demolished by the end of this month. In her recent interview with the media, Soliman said the bunkhouses have to be dismantled because it is not safe. She also assured the public that there will no longer be any family living in sub-standard and indecently small bunkhouses in Tacloban city beginning next month. Despite her assurance, Soliman however failed to mention of any government plans where these flood victims will be temporarily housed. As of today, thousands of families are still housed on makeshift bunkhouses that do not meet necessary minimum standards for the provision of basic needs and services. National Housing Authority (NHA) General Manager Sinfaroso Pagunsan said in a recent Senate Committee hearing that 73,000 housing units are now being constructed for typhoon Yolanda victims. He further said that only 45,000 units are expected to be completed in December. Worse, the statistics the Senate got in its recent committee hearing showed that the government was only able to construct 16,000 of the 205,000 homes that were supposed to be built for those affected by typhoon Yolanda. So if there is some truth in what Soliman was bragging about regarding the demolition of bunkhouses, where on earth will the flood victims temporarily be relocated pending completion of their resettlement houses by December? Maybe Soliman Read More …

Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr., Col. Orlando M. Suarez (2nd from right) of the Defense and Armed Forces Affairs Office, Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., and Consul General Mario L. De Leon, Jr. (3rd from left), Philippine Consulate General in New York, with Filipino-American students of the US Naval War College during “Philippine Night” at Newport, Rhode Island on 26 October 2015. Photo courtesy of Col. Orlando M. Suarez. WASHINGTON, D.C.  – “While many people still look at the bilateral relations [between the Philippines and the United States] through the prism of our earlier colonial history, I firmly believe our partnership has evolved into one of equals, bound not just by our shared history but a mutuality of interests.” This was how Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. opened his presentation before the students and faculty members of the US Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island on 26 October 2015. The Philippines’ top envoy to the United States dissected the different facets of the long-standing bilateral relationship, underscoring challenges and opportunities in advancing cooperation particularly in the political-security and economic fields. “Over 60 years after concluding the Mutual Defense Treaty, the Asia Pacific region has emerged as a region with the most robust economic growth and the most complex of security challenges. The Philippines and the US can and should continue to work together to seize opportunities and address the challenges,” Ambassador Cuisia said with regard to the political-security cooperation between the two countries. He also cited the “overwhelming and Read More …

President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the 15th National Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Congress at the Reception Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on Monday (October 26), with the theme: “Pagdaloy ng Disenteng Trabaho at Maunlad na Negosyo, Kaagapay and PESO.” Also in photo are League of Provinces of the Philippines president Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso Umali, Jr.; Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz; PESO Managers Association of the Philippines, Inc. president Vissia Marie Aldon; and Secretary to the Cabinet Jose Rene Almendras. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – There is no need for President Benigno Aquino III to apologize for the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) members killed during the infamous January 25 Mamasapano clash, a Malacañang spokesperson said Thursday. Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said Aquino has already assumed responsibility over the incident, where SAF members clashed with Moro rebels while on a mission to neutralize foreign terrorists in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. “Inako ng Pangulo ang responsibilidad para rito, at maaalala ninyo noong ika-anim ng Pebrero, sinabi niya that ‘I will carry this with me ‘til the end of my days,’ at sa aking palagay ay sapat na ang mga naipahayag ni Pangulong Aquino hinggil dito,” Coloma said in a media briefing. Coloma was reacting to Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s statement that Aquino should apologize over the deaths of the 44 SAF members in his capacity as commander-in-chief of the police and military. Marcos, who is running for vice president in Read More …

LP chairman President Benigno S. Aquino III, along with LP Presidential Candidate former DILG Secretary Manuel Roxas II and LP Vice Presidential Candidate Camarines Sur 3rd District Representative Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, flashes the Laban “L” sign 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) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Presidential aspirant Mar Roxas on Wednesday clarified issues he has faced as part of the Aquino administration and explained programs he plans to implement if he is elected President. One of the issues that marred Roxas’ image as secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) was the way the government handled the devastation caused about by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. For Roxas, the government did everything it can to prevent the devastation the typhoon would cause. Nobody, however, imagined the effects of Yolanda, making it difficult for the government to provide aid immediately to the victims, he said. “Malinaw din na ginawa ng pamahalaan ang lahat ng makakaya niya. Si Sec. Volts Gazmin, tsaka ako, nandoon kami bago pa dumating si Yolanda dahil nga sa lahat ng warning na napakatindi nito,” he said. “Gayunpaman, talagang hindi namin na-imagine, palagay ko walang nakapag-imagine, na ganoon kalakas. Ito na ang pinakamalakas na bagyo na tumama sa kasaysayan ng mundo,” Roxas added. Roxas also explained that he was only protecting President Benigno Aquino III, when he Read More …