Maniolas

Muslim groups hold a protest to urge the passage of the Bangsamoro law at the Philippine Senate, Wednesday. The groups asked the senators to respect the peace agreements between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Government chief negotiator Miriam Ferrer on Thursday expressed reservations about Senator Bongbong Marcos’ substitute bill for the Bangsamoro Basic Law. Ferrer said though the parliamentary form of government was retained for the Bangsamoro, the composition was significantly altered to include mostly district representatives instead of party-list seats. She said the substitute bill gives the Bangsamoro chief minister less powers than the current governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. “Some of the powers that have been granted to the ARMM have been taken away, that will be a little difficult to justify. If these are powers being exercised by the regional governor of ARMM today, why are we saying the future Bangsamoro chief minister will not be able to exercise these? That would amount to a diminution of the autonomous powers when the intent is to allow for more meaningful autonomy,” she said. Marcos earlier said the substitute bill for the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) addresses the concerns of several sectors and stakeholders that the Palace and Moro Islamic Liberation Front-backed BBL was not inclusive. He said that under the substitute bill, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) will have a role in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), a body that will govern the proposed Read More …

MEETING WITH JUSTICE CARPIO ON WEST PHL SEA ISSUE: Senate President Franklin M. Drilon (left) and Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio (right) were all smiles after a briefing with senators on the West Philippine Sea issue at the Senate on August 12, 2015, Wednesday. Carpio was invited by Drilon to discuss with the senators the latest developments regarding the territorial disputes between the Philippines and China on the West Philippine Sea, currently the subject of a case lodged at the Arbitral Tribunal of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Senate President Franklin Drilon on Thursday insisted that the planned salary hike for government workers is already the fourth under the present administration, disputing critics’ claims that the decision on the pay raise was only made at the end of President Benigno Aquino III’s term. “Binibigyan ko ng diin itong Salary Standardization IV: pang-apat na beses na po ito. Regular na binabantayan ni Pangulong Noynoy (Aquino) ang pagtaas ng sahod ng ating mga kawani sa pamahalaan,” Drilon said. “Talagang itataas po ang sahod ng ating mga manggagawa,” he added. Malacañang is asking for P67 billion from the Congress for the merit increases and across-the-board salary adjustment of government workers starting January 1, 2016. “Magkakaroon po ng salary adjustment ng mga mahigit sa P50 billion sa kabuuan, at mayroon pa pong mahigit sa P17 billion na para sa merit increases, kaya sa kabuuan po ay P67 billion ang nakalaan sa Read More …

— Senate President Franklin Drilon opens the 3rd and last Regular Session of the 16th Congress on Monday (July 27, 2015) at the Senate Building in Pasay City. The Senate will hold a joint session with the House of Representatives Monday afternoon to hear the last and 6th State-of-the- Nation Address (SONA) of President Benigno S. Aquino III. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Senate President Franklin Drilon defended Thursday the changes made by Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the Malacañang-backed proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. Drilon said the changes were necessary to make the proposed measure constitutional. “Sa akin pong tingin, siyempre may mga binago kami. Halimbawa, ‘yung police siniguro natin na sasang-ayon sa structure ng ating Philippine National Police na kung saan ang National Police Commission ang siyang may control sa ating national police force, ayon sa Saligang Batas,” he said. “Iyong COA (Commission on Audit), ‘yung Comelec (Commission on Elections), atin pong inilagay sa tama at iyan po ang significant changes sa version ng Senado,” he added. The agencies, lawmakers, and legal luminaries earlier opposed the provisions in the BBL that seek the creation of the Bangsamoro government’s separate COA, Comelec, Civil Service Commission (CSC), Commission on Human Rights (CHR), and Office of the Ombudsman, as the establishment of such separate offices runs contrary to the 1987 Constitution. The Palace-proposed BBL also contains a section which requires the President to coordinate military operations with the chief minister of the Bangsamoro region. It also has sections which empower the chief Read More …

See seven months pregnant Marian Rivera rock two-piece swimsuits!

Los Angeles  – The Filipino American Service Group Inc (FASGI) in celebration of “Buwan ng Wika” and Historic Filipinotown 13th Anniversary held its Community Day last Saturday, August 08, 2015 More than 300 people mostly community resident veterans and widows attended the FASGI OPEN HOUSE that featured a pre-launch of FASGI’s new programs for the community. Brief Program New FASGI Executive Director Yey Coronel explained FASGI’s programs like the Veterans Center, FILVOTE, Community Gardening, Senior Coffee Club, Transitional Housing and Basic Computer Literacy that caters to the needs of the FilAm community. During the brief Program, Albert Bataclan, FASGI’s communications director introduced the new FASGI Executive Director Yey Coronel-Alcid. Also present were FASGI Asst, Executive Director Bernie Ganon and FASGI’s Board President Cris Liban. Partnership There were performances by GALA, the Silverlake CBAS, The FASGI Cultural Group, Aida Santos, Chato Bueta, recognition of Filipino World War II Veterans, widows and relatives,parlor games and dancing. The Community Day was held in partnership with KALAYAAN Inc, United Bicolandia of Los Angeles (UBLA), PINOY MINISTRY, PEOPLE’S CORE, Philippine Institute of Language and Arts (PILAC), Philippine Scouts Heritage Society (PSHS) , Justice for Filipino American Veterans(JFAV). The Filipino American Library (FAL),Pilipino Workers Center (PWC), LAMBINI NG KALAYAAN/FILAM INTERNATIONAL, Knights of Rizal (KOR)-Historic Filipinotown, Rampart Village Neighborhood Council (RVNC), Sapphire Media Regency (SMR), and Temple-Westlake Neighborhood Development Corporation (TWNDC) .