Maniolas

A torch-lighting ceremony is attended by various groups of Rizalistas before midnight on Thursday below the 22-foot statue of the country’s national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. The groups gathered at the 22-foot statue of Rizal in Calamba City, Laguna to celebrate his 154th birthday on June 19. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — President Benigno Aquino III’s improved satisfaction rating will benefit the presidential candidate he will endorse next month, his spokesman said Friday. In a text message, presidential spokesman Sec. Edwin Lacierda said the 10-percentage-point rise in Aquino’s rating shows that the President still has political capital to endorse his preferred successor. “Many pundits have predicted that with the previous survey numbers, he is a lameduck. This quarter’s survey numbers prove otherwise,” Lacierda said. “He will continue to play front and center in the 2016 elections. It also shows that people continue to respond to his call to continue to tread Daang Matuwid,” he added. A poll conducted by Social Weather Stations this month showed Aquino’s net satisfaction rating increased by 10 percentage points from an all-time-low of +11 percent last March, or two months after the deadly Jan. 25 Mamasapano clash. Further, the Palace official said that Aquino’s improved rating will help boost the candidacy of his anointed one. “Playing front and center, his high numbers will certainly bode well for the candidate the president will endorse!” Lacierda said. Aquino has repeatedly said that he will reveal his preferred successor after his last State of the Nation Address Read More …

President Benigno S. Aquino III attends the Malacañang Prayer Gathering at the Malacañan Palace Grounds on Monday (March 09, 2015). (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — President Benigno Aquino III may have to consider letting the next administration push for the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law in Congress, a Catholic bishop said Friday. Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Collin Bagaforo said it is better to make sure the proposed measure is cleansed of all constitutional infirmities. “Klarong-klaro na maraming constitutional infirmities na implikasyon sa pagbago ng Constitution. Pangalawa, parang kapag ginawa ang BBL magiging federalism na. Parang cart before the horse. Ayusin muna natin yung klase ng gobyerno natin,” he said on Radyo Veritas. “Huwag tayong magmadali. Hayaan na natin sa susunod na administrasyon,” he added. The BBL was not passed before Congress adjourned its session last June 11. Congress will open July 27. On that day, President Benigno Aquino III will deliver his last State of the Nation Address. Bagaforo, in calling for a more thorough study of the proposed BBL, noted there were not enough consultations with stakeholders. “Lumalabas na wala talagang mabuting konsultasyon kaya hindi nagiging katanggap-tanggap sa karamihan yung BBL. Dahil wala talagang partispasyon ang mga mambabatas, ang mga kinusultang lumabas na dapat maraming ipasok dapat tingnan. So dapat pag-aralang mabuti ‘yung magiging aksiyunan na fair, just to everyone, at saka inclusive ang BBL na i-implement dito sa Mindanao,” he said. He suggested that the government invite a committee with government lawyers, Moro Islamic Liberation Front Read More …

In this photo taken Feb. 25, 2014 by surveillance planes and released Thursday, May 15, 2014, by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, a Chinese vessel, top center, is used to expand structures and land on the Johnson Reef, called Mabini by the Philippines and Chigua by China, at the Spratly Islands at South China Sea, Philippines. The Philippines has protested China’s reclamation of land in the disputed reef in the South China Sea that can be used to build an airstrip or an offshore military base in the increasingly volatile region, the country’s top diplomat and other officials said Wednesday, May 14, 2014. The white arrow was added by the source. (MNS photo) Manila, Philippines (AFP)  – Eight in 10 Filipinos are worried a festering South China Sea territorial dispute could lead to “armed conflict” with the world’s most populous nation, an independent polling outfit said Friday. Manila-based Social Weather Stations said this sentiment had weighed on people’s minds since the Philippines backed down from a tense standoff with China over control of rich fishing grounds around Scarborough Shoal in 2012. The study showed 84 percent of 1,200 respondents were “worried” about armed conflict with China. About half were “worried a great deal” while more than a third were “somewhat worried”. The same poll has been conducted every year since 2012, and in each of the surveys at least 80 percent of respondents have been concerned that the sea dispute could escalate into a full-blown conflict with the Philippines’ Read More …

Alex Gonzaga and Toni Gonzaga (MNS photo) If there’s one thing that Alex Gonzaga really wants to do, it would be to star in a movie with her sister, Toni Gonzaga. Alex admitted she has been dreaming of headlining a movie with Toni ever since she joined showbiz. Does she already have an idea as to the roles she would like them to play? “Depende kasi iyon, ‘yung what’s good with me and my sister kasi ‘yung relationship namin sobrang close namin so I think any character would work kasi may chemistry talaga kami dahil we’re really close,” she explained. Alex said she and Toni will not have a hard time working together because they really know each other well. Aside from this, Alex said she is also looking forward to the big screen adaptation of her book, “Dear Alex, Break Na Kami. Paano?! Love, Catherine.” “I am really looking forward to that,” she said. “Wala pang [cast] pero may sinasabi na ako sa kanila. We’re still in the process of [choosing] kasi.” In a past interview, Alex said she would like Luis Manzano, John Lloyd Cruz and Piolo Pascual to be part of the movie. The movie adaptation will be written by Antoinette Jadaone, who is behind other films “Beauty in a Bottle,” “Relaks, It’s Just Pag-Ibig” and “That Thing Called Tadhana.” (MNS)

Also in this issue:Toni Gonzaga and Paul Soriano’s prenup shoot, shot by ace lensman Jun de Leon exclusively for YES! magazine.