Maniolas

It’s really difficult to define what sorority “sisterhood” really means. People from the “outside” looking in will never understand it, while those from the “inside” can’t seem to explain it. This writer is proud to be part of the “unconditional bond of friendship” brought about by joining the Sigma Delta Phi Sorority. For some of us who came from sheltered Catholic schools we were overwhelmed enrolling in a large campus setting and  we seemed “lost.” However, joining large organizations such as the Student Catholic Action (UPSCA) wasn’t what we thought to be. We likewise didn’t feel the sense of “belonging” in a large group. Sigma Delta Phi Sorority So, the five (5) of us: Cely, Malou, Jon, Eva and I embarked on joining the university sorority group called the Sigma Delta Phi Sorority, which was also known as the “Society of Dramatics and Fine Arts.” This group produced successful campus Broadway musicals such as: “Once Upon A Mattresss,” “A Property Is Condemned,” “Aloyan,” and numerous others; We joined this particular university sorority in order to alleviate the mental challenges we have in school, find a sense of “belonging” in a smaller group and to also challenge the plebeians (students who have no desire in joining Greek-lettered groups) in their belief that sorority and fraternity groups were “just a bunch of fun-loving drinkers and party-goers;” and we wanted to prove them wrong. There were a total of 26 of us in our batch of neophytes  who joined and collectively, we were indoctrinated (a form of being taught to seek information, Read More …

From left to right: Bobby Rimas, UCLA Pilipino Alumni Scholarship Director, Trish Eusala, UCLA Prep Student Coordinator, and Dr. Jeffrey Mariano of Kaiser Permanente On Saturday, April 11th at the UCLA Carnesales Commons’ Venice Room, the UCLA Pilipino Recruitment and Enrichment Program (PREP) and the UCLA Pilipino Alumni Association presented a panel of Pilipino professionals who graduated from or taught at UCLA.  Panelists included professionals in the fields of education, nursing, engineering, entertainment, and medicine.  UCLA Pilipino Alumni Chair Roselyn Castro moderated the panelists as they offered prospective students and their parents insights and advice relating to their experiences as undergrad and graduate students, the challenges they encountered, their accomplishments, and how they entered into their professions.  One of the panelists, Dr. Jeffrey Mariano who recently became a Partner at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in West Los Angeles, indicated that “the students and their parents and families are inspirations to me and countless others.  Education is key!” Patricia “Trish” Eusala, UCLA PREP Student Coordinator, who spearheaded the event, ensured that the panel ran smoothly and warmly answered questions from prospective UCLA students and their families before and after the event.  Bobby T. Rimas, the UCLA Pilipino Alumni Scholarship Director, spoke with students and their families immediately after the event to discuss details regarding available scholarships through the UCLA Pilipino Alumni / Lovell Sevilla Scholarship Program.  The UCLA Pilipino Alumni / Lovell Sevilla Scholarship Program usually culminates in the awarding of the UCLA Pilipino Alumni Endowment Scholarship at UCLA Pilipino Alumni’s annual Read More …

Monique Lhuillier reveals what’s new in her collection, “V-necks are lower than other seasons… done with a very elegant and fine touch.”

Ellen Adarna says she’s been dieting. Would you believe she wants to lose weight?

By Karl Malakunas President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc. bell ringing ceremony at the PSE Ayala Trading Floor in Ayala Avenue, Makati City on Tuesday (April 14). The PSE has broken past the 8,000 level on March 30, and has since then extended its winning streak to finish at an all-time record of 8,127.48 last Friday (April 10), the 27th time the PSEi closed at an all-high since the start of the year. Also in photo is Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo. (MNS photo) Manila, Philippines, AFP, Thursday 4/16/2015 – Like the bullet embedded in his neck that may kill him if removed, Philippine President Benigno Aquino believes it is safer that some atrocities of his nation’s previous dictatorship remain buried. But like the thousands who were tortured, jailed or lost relatives during the reign of Ferdinand Marcos a generation ago, Aquino is still seething. In a lengthy interview with AFP this week from the presidential palace that was once the domain of his nemesis, Aquino offered rare insights into his struggle to ensure anger did not impact his running of the country. “I am 55 years old right now. I cannot act like I am a hot-headed 16-year-old,” Aquino said when asked to reflect on the Marcos dictatorship. “It doesn’t mean I don’t have emotions. It doesn’t mean I’m not frustrated. It doesn’t mean I am not angry. But I do know that letting go of my emotions does have Read More …