Maniolas

(www.SLUAlumninternational.org) Baguio City-based Saint Louis University alumni members and friends worldwide has slated a grand reunion on Nov. 8, 2014 (Saturday) from 6 p.m. to midnight billed Journey to the Past and the Future at Harrahs Hotel & Casino  in Las Vegas. A registration fee of $110 per person must be pre-paid and payable to SLU Reunion. Payments should be mailed to SLU Alumni Assn. c/o Michael Montemayor, P.O. Box 7151, Mission Hills, CA 91346. Attire is semi-formal. Purple & Hearts Band,  a popular band in Los Angeles will provide music and entertainment. Former SLU instructor and Baguio City broadcaster Eddie C. Ferrer will host the festivities. St. Louis University was founded in 1911 in Baguio City by the Belgian CICM fathers as a Catholic institution. The Philippine government granted its university status in 1963 and became a leading Catholic university in Northern Luzon. As Msgr. William Brasseur, former Vicar Apostolic of the Montanosa on the granting of the school its university status stated; “May the light of Saint Louis University shine as the Light of the North. May its alumni, through their intellectual standing and Christian formation, be the leaders of Baguio City and the whole of Montanosa. Inquiries, reservation, souvenir program ads and payment  may contact Henry Fine at 949-683-1869 or henryfine@yahoo.com; Mike Montemayor at 818-687-2534 or  michaelm@datalinknetworks.net; and Larry Caguioa at 760-207-1887 or caguioa@hotmail.com.   Please visit its website: SLUAlumninternational.org. – DAN E. NINO

The presidential election is still two years away, but the people are already excited about electing someone who can pluck the country from its present economic stagnation and institute meaningful reforms in government. Sad to say, however, the Filipino people are still left with little or no choice at all in searching or choosing for a true and honest leader from the crop of current presidential candidates. Most of these politicians, if not all of them, aspire to become president only because they are driven by greed, power and lofty ambitions, rather than improving the lives of millions of destitute Filipinos. Hopefully there will be somebody out there who will come out and emerge as a fair and honest leader that will work for the good of our country as well as the welfare of every Filipinos. Leading the pack of presidential wannabes are Vice President Jejomar Binay, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes IV. Latest reports coming from Manila stated that both Senators Miriam Defensor Santiago and  Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos are also contemplating of running for the highest office in the country. Except for Senators Marcos, Santiago and Roxas,  all the other presidential aspirants have been accused of corruption for allegedly receiving hundreds of millions of  pesos from the government’s Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) funds and the questionable manner on how they dispersed it.The Supreme Court has recently ruled that the DAP was unconstitutional. Hundreds of millions of pesos coming out from the DAP Read More …

President Benigno S. Aquino III congratulates Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr. after administering the oath in a ceremony at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Monday (August 11). (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Commission on Appointments  on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of Armed Forces chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. and 51 other senior military officers. In recommending Catapang’s appointment, Capiz Rep. Antonio del Rosario said with Catapang’s “remarkable qualification, AFP will continue to gain ground in defending the nation, protecting the democracy and serving the Filipino people.” No one expressed opposition to Catapang’s confirmation. During the hearing of the CA committee on national defense, lawmakers commended Catapang for the successful escape of some 40 Filipino peacekeepers in Golan Heights. Meanwhile, the CA also confirmed the appointments of the following military officers: Lt. Gen. John Bonafos Brig. Gen. Inocencio Mayangao Brig. Gen. Angelito de Leon Brig. Gen. Arnold Mancita Brig. Gen. Irma Almoneda Major Gen. Edwin Remotigue Major Gen. Victor Bayani Col. Pacianito Castillo Col. Nolasco Mempin Col. Joshua Santiago Col. Virgilio Magaway Col. Nestor De Ver Capt. Carlito Lomboy Capt. Zumeela Serrona Col. Wilfredo Nakpil Col. Noreto Sison Col. Gerry Pulohanan Col. Bernardo Odfina Col. Ma. Victoria Juan Col. Francis Cabugon Col. Marlo Guloy Col. Gregory Docil Col. Andrew Castelo Col. Glenn Cruz Col. Roy Cabe Col. Bebarlito Baribar Col. Keymen Edao Col. Eduardo Agcaoilo Col. Edwin Buela Col. Joselito Apin Col. Christopher Florendo Col. Facundo Palafox IV Read More …

Hundreds of nurses arrive at the Araneta coliseum in Manila, 02 October 2007 to attend official oath taking ceremonies after passing the June 2007 government licensure examination, where 31,275 successful examinees from the more than 64,000 passed the tests conducted nationwide. Last year’s scandal tainted examination resulted in the massive retake for examinees to qualify for US Visa. Filipino nurses are in high demand in the US. AFP PHOTO/ROMEO GACAD (Photo credit should read ROMEO GACAD/AFP/Getty Images) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Department of Health said in a press briefing Wednesday that a Filipina nurse who has returned to the country from Saudi Arabia has tested positive for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome- Corona Virus (MERS-CoV). Health Secretary Enrique Ona said that the nurse tested positive for MERS-CoV in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The nurse arrived in the country last August 29 through Saudi Airlines Flight SV870. She also boarded Cebu Pacific flight SJ997 to General Santos. The nurse is currently confined at the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City for confirmatory tests. Despite this recorded case, Ona maintained that the Philippines is MERS-CoV free. The DOH said that it is now monitoring 240 passengers of Saudi Airlines and almost 100 passengers of Cebu Pacific who boarded the planes with the nurse. Ona asked overseas Filipino workers from the Middle East to be tested for MERS-CoV before coming back to the country. The health secretary also said that isolation rooms in hospitals have been prepared and doctors have been briefed to respond Read More …

Senator Chiz Escudero, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, delivers a privilege speech on the 2014 General Appropriations Bill, Tuesday morning. According to Escudero, the 2014 budget proposal, which includes funds for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction programs and projects in the amount of P70 billion, will also include specific funding for the rehabilitation of the Visayas on top of the existing calamity fund to be sourced from items which can be postponed in the 2014 national budget. (MNS photo) Senator Chiz Escudero has expressed alarm over the rise in kidnapping cases in the country, as he put to task the Philippine National Police (PNP) to step up its campaign to arrest the perpetrators in order to allay fears of a restive public. Escudero, who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance, said crimes brazenly done in broad daylight is an indication of the criminals’ contempt for law and order and a clear mockery of police authorities. “Why are criminals so emboldened nowadays to perpetrate their crimes in public? Why do these things happen under the noses of our police authorities?” Escudero asked. “I have received feedback from friends who have witnessed kidnappings or relatives of victims who have been subjected to abduction and have paid ransom for their releases. There’s a segment of the community who is already in panic and there must be a concrete action to abate these crimes and prevent the spread of alarm among the public.” Recent incidents of kidnap-for-ransom have been reported with Read More …