Maniolas

For the last eight years, the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Orange County (FACCOC) had always gone green with its signature summer event it calls Annual Green, Conserve and Health Expo which this year had for its venue the world-famous Disneyland Paradise Hotel in Anaheim. The event had become a tradition where participation by environmentally-conscious sectors continue to grow in significance and variety every year. Honoring Linda Sarno, Esq – The husband of the late Linda Sarno, Engr. Phil Sarno and his son, Mike Sarno, listen as Faccoc Director Gloria Rull memorializes the person responsible for the Fil Am Chambers joining the advocacy on “going green”. With her near the podium is Director Edith Andres. True to its vision of reaching out to the business and professional sectors of one of the most populous counties in California, the annual event pioneered by the late Atty. Linda Sarno brings dozens of exhibitors from the different cities’ entities whose products and services had to do with environmental conservation including the professional and business sectors enhanced efforts in the areas of going “green” under one roof. Orange County has more than 3 million people in its 34 cities and the third most populous county in the whole of California. FACCOC had designed the event to be an information sharing venue for a healthy exchange of information among various players in the “go green” advocacy and provides a means for marketing various health and eco-friendly products. Ready, “go Green” – Fil-Am Chamber of Read More …

No MRT, LRT fare hike welcomed By Jelly F. Musico View of Carriedo St. in Manila: Photo shows how Carriedo St. in Manila looks like as viewed from the Carriedo station of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 on Thursday (Aug. 11, 2016). The street, which teems with vendors, leads to the revered Quiapo Church. (PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.) MANILA  (PNA) – Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto on Wednesday welcomed the assurance of Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade that no fare increase will be imposed both in the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) without “enhanced quality service.” Tugade made the assurance in the first Senate public hearing on the bills and resolutions granting President Rodrigo Duterte emergency powers to solve the traffic problems in Metro Manila and other highly-urbanized cities for the period of two years. Asked by Recto if his department is inclined to approve the reported petition by LRT 1’s private operators if they could raise fares by 10 percent, Tugade said “any increases must be predicated on enhanced quality service.” “Sinabihan ko na ho ang aking management that any increases on the rates sa LRT is totally not acceptable to me. Magmumukha tayong katawa-tawa sa matinding problema tapos magtataas tayo ng pamasahe,” he added. Pressed by Recto if there are also plans to adjust fares in the MRT, Tugade replied, “Wala ho kaming planong ganyan.” “Lalabas ho kaming katawa-tawa na magre-rate increase at yung serbisyo mo ay Read More …

Presidential aspirant Senator Grace Poe visited the tomb of his late father Fernando Poe Jr. at the North Cemetery before going to her precinct in San Juan City on Monday (May 9, 2016) to cast her vote. (PNA photo courtesy of Poe-Chiz media bureau) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – Senator Grace Poe said allowing former President Ferdinand Marcos to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani would be in “conflict” with the law, given the human rights violations committed during his regime. Aside from the law, Republic Act 10368 which recognizes the human rights victims during Marcos’ declaration of martial law, Poe said there is also another law which clearly specifies those who should be buried at the heroes’ cemetery, like soldiers and former presidents. “I really believe that if we are to take this law seriously, having that burial will be in conflict with that law,” she said. “Even (Jose) Rizal had a quote something that says that anybody (who) contributed to the ruin of a nation, no matter what they did can never really be considered as a liberator or as a hero,” she added. Asked then if Marcos could not be considered a hero, Poe said: “I believe that there were a lot of violations…” “You know a hero can be very subjective. I mean he can be a hero to you because he provided you with the infrastructure the country needed at that time but again sticking to the law 10368, I think that it’s clearly in Read More …

DRILON’S EULOGY TO BENITEZ: Senate President Franklin M. Drilon delivers his eulogy to the late Senator Helena Benitez, who passed away last Thursday at the age of 102. “Senator Helena Benitez was one of the fortunate people who were blessed with a long life. She did not only bring honor to her family, community and country, she also opened doors that were previously closed to women. In her lifetime, she paved the way and inspired Filipino women to persevere and prosper in their fields of endeavor,” Drilon said.(MNS photo) MANILA, Aug 11 (Mabuhay) – Senate President Pro-Tempore Franklin M. Drilon on Thursday chided President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s chief legal counsel for claiming that the magnitude of drug cases may warrant the declaration of martial law. “Even a freshman law student can easily debunk Atty. Salvador Panelo’s statement as having no legal basis. I do not know which Constitution he has learned in law school but our present Constitution has only provided two grounds for the declaration of martial law – invasion or rebellion. Drug menace is definitely not one of them,” Drilon said. In his media interviews, Panelo has been quoted as saying that “the magnitude of the drug problem that has risen to a crisis proportion may require the application of the provision of the Constitution when it says that the President can declare martial law when the public safety requires it.” “The presidential chief legal counsel would want us to believe that the Constitution allows the President ‘to Read More …

President Rodrigo R. Duterte poses with the 8th Infantry Division troops during his visit at Camp Vicente Lukban in Catbalogan, Samar on August 8, 2016.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Malacañang on Wednesday allayed the fears of the public over a possible declaration of martial law under the Duterte administration. “The President merely asked a rhetorical question and said it under the context that his anti-drug campaign cannot wait for the slow wheels of justice – PH style,” Communications secretary Martin Andanar said on a statement. “We have an Action Man for a President who believes justice delayed is justice denied,” Andanar added. On Tuesday, President Rodrigo Duterte threatened Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno to stay out of his way in his war against illegal drugs. “Please wag mo ako..hindi ako…di ako g*g*. If this continues, pigilin mo ako, sige pag nagwala, would you rather that I declare martial law?” Duterte said. “Ikaw ang kingpin sa judiciary. Ako, presidente. Ako may trabaho, ikaw wala. Walang mga judges na nagpa-patrol ng daan. Walang mga sheriff ninyo na naghuhuli,” he added. (Please, I’m not a [expletive]. If this continues and you stop me, would you rather I declare martial law? You are the kingpin of the judiciary. I am the president. I have a job to do, you don’t. There are no judges patrolling the streets. None of your sheriffs catch anyone.) The President’s statement came a day after Sereno questioned allegations that seven judges had been involved in illegal drugs. Sereno said Read More …