Maniolas

Commission on Elections Commissioner Rowena Guanzon speaks before media on Friday calling for an investigation of a protocol breach by poll technology provider Smartmatic. The transparency server script was tweaked by Smartmatic to correct a character in the names of candidates with “ñ in them.(MNS photo) MANILA  (PNA) – An official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has encouraged women to run for office in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (village and youth council) elections. Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said it is high time for women to join the political arena since they have the potential to become good leaders. “The community is really front-line service. The barangay delivers front-line services, and women can equally do a good job at leadership and delivery of services. Mas industrious pa nga ang mga babae (Women are more industrious) because they are more caring, they are more responsible and less prone to corruption,” Guanzon said. She cited a report that says women are less prone to corruption because their values system is different. “Women teach children good examples. Women teach their children to be honest, to be studious, and I think that they carry it over when they become leaders and elected officials,” she pointed out. The head of the Comelec’s Gender and Development Committee noted that women would be efficient in mediating disputes at the barangay level. “I think generally women have more empathy and compassion than men. I think generally, some men are exceptional. But generally in fact, men don’t like Read More …

Philippine film “The Woman Who Left”, a revenge tale shot in black and white by director Lav Diaz, won the top Golden Lion prize at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday. Director Lav Diaz receives the Golden Lion award for Best Film for the movie “The Woman Who Left” during the awards ceremony of the 73rd Venice Film Festival© TIZIANA FABI / AFP “I want to dedicate this film to the Filippino people and their struggle, and humanity’s struggle,” Diaz said as he received his prize. Best actor went to Argentina’s Oscar Martinez for his portrayal of a cynical Nobel Prize-winning author who returns to his village for the first time in 40 years in the comedy on art and fame, “The Distinguished Citizen”. US actress Emma Stone received the best actress prize for her depiction of a struggling thespian who falls head over heels in love with a jazz pianist — played by Ryan Gosling — in US musical “La La Land”. “I wish I could be there to make sure it’s not an elaborate prank,” quipped Stone in a video message, saying she could “think of no better place in the world than Venice to premier ‘La La Land’, we had a wonderful time”. Fashionista-turned-director Tom Ford was awarded the Silver Lion grand jury prize for “Nocturnal Animals”, a romantic thriller about former lovers starring Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal, with a violent revenge tale told as a story within a story. The Silver Lion for best director Read More …

Derek Ramsay (MNS photo) Derek Ramsay has a soft spot for the homeless. Since 2010, the actor has helped build shelters for many of them through his partnership with Habitat for Humanities. “We are part of a big family and it’s just right to help those members who are in need or struggling,” he said. “Mas masarap matulog kapag alam mong nakatulong ka sa ibang tao.” There’s still a long way to go. According to Derek, there are still over five million families in the countries living in inadequate conditions. They hope to lessen this number in time. A few days ago, the actor, along with Habitat for Humanities executives, in partnership with the Manila Bulletin, launched the “Plus Can Project.” Unlike the ordinary donation can, the Plus Can has a unique coin slot in the shape of a plus sign. “It is meant to be symbolic as if to say that by donating, everyone can be a plus to somebody’s life,” he explained. “I really hope we can build more houses through this effort.” The target they’ve set is 800,000 houses by 2020. Derek cited how the Plus Can project could be a way for parents to teach their kids about the value of giving. “It is not just about saving for yourself, it’s saving for a good cause,” he pointed out. Derek, himself, bought 100 Plus Can. These are available on www.pluscanproject.org at P500. “I will go out there and share the word and fill the can with Read More …

By Aerol John B. Patena President Rodrigo Duterte joins other heads of states on stage during the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Summit at the National Convention Center in Vientiane, Laos on September 6. (MNS photo) MANILA  (PNA) – The Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) closed at 7.619.10, dropping by 100.08 points from Tuesday’s 7,519.02 bucking the upward trend in regional markets. Jonathan Ravelas, chief market strategist of BDO Universal Bank, said investors were starting to be concerned on the aftermath of the Davao City bombing, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s recent statements on extra-judicial killings and prospects of likely increase in US Federal Reserve interest rates. “The tentativeness of the Fed hike, risk-off after the Davao bombing, and Pres. Duterte’s comments combined caused investors to stay on the sidelines. The local currency reacted as well following the sharp drop today,” he said. The market analyst sees the stock market to be breaching at 7,500 levels within the near term. Holding firms fell 112.65 points to 7,507.59 followed by industrial stocks down by 85.79 points to 11,780.41. Value turnover amounted to Php 10.26 billion with 2.14 billion shares changing hands. Decliners outpaced advancers, 125 to 65 with 43 shares unchanged. The local currency closed at Php 46.69, nine centavos lower than the Php 46.60 on Tuesday. It opened at 46.49 with intra-day high and low at Php 46.72 and Php 46.46 respectively.

By Azer N. Parrocha 2016 OUTSTANDING TEACHERS: Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III with Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Bam Aquino, Manny Pacquiao, Risa Hontiveros, Leila de Lima, Joel Villanueva, Gregorio Honasan II, Nancy Binay, and Vicente Sotto III commend the recipients of the 2016 Metrobank Foundation’s Search for 10 Outstanding Teachers (SOT) awards. The winners of this year’s SOT are Winona Diola of Muntinlupa City; Rujealyn Cancino of Lingayen, Pangasinan; Josephine Chonie Obseñares of Butuan City, Agusan del Norte; Arnol Rosales of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro; Dr. Roy Basa of Bacolod City, Negros Occidental; Nelson Agoyaoy of Caloocan City; Ma. Regaele Olarte of Muntinlupa City; Dr. Katherine Faith Bustos of Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, Dr. Ernelea Cao of Quezon City, and Mark Anthony Torres of Iligan City. (MNS photo) MANILA, Sept. 8 (PNA) – Senators on Thursday saw the need to fast-track the construction of cell sites to broaden the scope of free public Wi-Fi in the country. Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, Chair of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, said four or five Senate measures are pushing for free Wi-Fi in public places. The Department of Communications and Information Technology (DICT) is currently drafting an executive order (EO) to fast-track the construction of cell sites. Aquino has said that the Senate is planning to file a counterpart bill to speed up the process. During Thursday’s committee hearing on free public Wi-Fi, telecommunications companies said that while they have the initiative to put up more cell sites, it is difficult Read More …