Maniolas

By Benjamin Nathaniel T. Bondoc and Jelly F. Musico New Philippine Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo (center) takes her oath as the country’s second highest elected official in the presence of Rolando Coner (2nd from left), chairman of Barangay Punta Tarawal in Camarines Sur and Regine Celeste San Miguel (1st from left), chairman of Barangay Mariana in Quezon City at the Quezon City Reception House in New Manila on Thursday (June 30, 2016). She is joined by her three daughters Jillian Therese (4th from left), Janine Patricia (5th from left) and Jessica Marie (6th from left). (PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.) MANILA, June 30 (PNA) — The former mayor of the southern city of Davao, Rodrigo Roa Duterte formally took his oath on Thursday noon as the Philippines’ 16th chief executive. Duterte replaced outgoing Pres. Benigno Aquino III who arrived around 10:25 a.m. in Malacañang. The two met for over 30 minutes at the President’s Hall Sala before Aquino was given departure honors at the Palace Grounds. After the final military honors highlighted by 21-gun salute was given for Aquino, the incoming and outgoing leaders of the country talked again very briefly before Duterte escorted his predecessor to the vehicle that brought Aquino to his residence at Times Street in Quezon City. After the singing of national anthem and a joint prayer, veteran singer Freddie Aguilar sang Duterte’s campaign jingle “Duterte para sa Tunay ng Pagbabago” to the tune of Aguilar’s famous song “Ipaglaban Mo.” Then incumbent Read More …

By Azer N. Parrocha President Benigno S. Aquino III exchanges pleasantries with Princess Anne of Great Britain during the courtesy call at the Music Room of the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday (March 17). Her visit is in connection with her charity and various humanitarian works. Also in photo are British Ambassador to the Philippines Asif Anwar Ahmad and Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary Mateo Montano. (MNS photo) MANILA  (PNA) – A tourism official on Tuesday said that the decision of the United Kingdom to leave the European or ‘Brexit’ will have no impact on Philippine inbound tourism. Department of Tourism (DOT) Assistant Secretary Rolando ‘Alan’ Cañizal said that while it might not affect inbound tourism, it might make it more difficult for Filipinos to travel to both UK and other European regions. “We do not see any impact on inbound tourism to the Philippines but more for Filipinos going there as visa requirements may become stricter,” Cañizal said in a text message. The DOT official, however, said that it is too early to tell. “It is too early to assess its (Brexit) impact as the implementation will still need to undergo certain processes within the EU,” Cañizal noted. Data from the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) showed that in 2015, Europe is the region with the most tourist arrivals at 609-million constituting for 51 percent of total arrivals. Asia and the Pacific acquired 278-million tourist arrivals (23 percent), Read More …

By Priam F. Nepomuceno President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Testimonial Parade and Review at the Grandstand of the AFP General Headquarters (GHQ), Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Monday (June 27). (MNS photo) MANILA (PNA) – For jump-starting the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program, outgoing President Benigno S. Aquino III has the gratitude of the entire military. This was disclosed by AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla in an interview Sunday. “We are very thankful for our Commander-in-Chief for understanding the (modernization needs of the) AFP and doing his best to see to it that the (minimum deterrent) requirements are acquired,” he added in Filipino. During the Aquino administration, significant progress has been made in the implementation of the AFP Capability Upgrade and Modernization Program where PHP60.14 billion has been released from July 10, 2010 to April this year, for all three Major Services, which includes the Army, Navy and Air Force. President Benigno S. Aquino III confers the Philippine Legion of Honor with a degree of Officer on RAdm. Raul Ubando in a ceremony during the Armed Forces of the Philippines Testimonial Parade and Review at the Grandstand of the AFP General Headquarters, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Monday (June 27). (MNS photo) Some of the equipment acquired in this period include the two Hamilton-class cutters, six multi-purpose assault craft, 113 armored personnel carriers, three brand-new C-295 medium lift aircraft, two C-130 heavy Read More …

Commission on Election Chairman Andres Bautista demonstrates the function of a vote-counting machine (VCM), which will be used for the May 9 national and local elections, at a warehouse in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Thursday. The machines are currently undergoing Hardware Acceptance Test (HAT).(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chief Andres Bautista said Tuesday that the poll body can successfully run the barangay elections even without the help of its three top commissioners. This, after Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said that she and Commissioners Robert Lim and Luie Guia will not participate in the conduct of village polls scheduled for October. Bautista said “Doon po sa tatlong pangalan, hindi po ako makapaniwala na si Commissioner Guia, sasabihan iyan dahil alam ko very professional iyan.” “Pero kung ganyan talaga, wala naman pong problema. Kaya pa naming patakbuhin ang ating halalan.” Guanzon announced yesterday that three of them would not participate in running the village elections so they could focus on the many cases pending in their division. Before this, Bautista’s fellow Comelec commissioners issued a joint memorandum accusing him of “failure of leadership” over various issues, including the delayed release of honoraria for election workers and a mall company’s alleged demand for damages after the cancellation of mall voting. Guanzon and Guia also questioned over the weekend Bautista’s trip to Japan last Thursday when he allegedly left without designating an acting chair. Bautista stressed that he has issued a travel alert and that he has referred to existing memos Read More …

Jake Cuenca (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Actor Jake Cuenca was all smiles when he finally got his 2016 World Cinema Festival best actor award from Diane Ventura, screenwriter and director of the indie movie “Mulat” (Awaken). The film festival was held in Brazil last May. For Cuenca, this latest achievement has inspired him to further improve. “This is a very a lovely surprise. But obviously, parang it just motivates me to do even more indie movies. Kasi after this movie, I went to school. So parang tingin ko mas marami pa akong pwedeng ibahagi at mas marami akong maipapakita pa ,” Cuenca said. Despite the win, Cuenca said he doesn’t want to become “overconfident.” “With the award, put it on your cabinet, and forget about it kasi kapag masyado mong dinibdib ‘yon, lumalabas ‘yung overconfidence mo. Mawawala ang pagiging estudyante mo ng pelikula,” he explained. “Awaken” will be shown in Toronto, Canada in August and in the Philippines this November. Meanwhile, Cuenca, who starred in the hit soap “Pasion de Amor,” is set to return on the small screen in the upcoming series “Because You Love Me,” which stars Gerald Anderson. He will also be doing a new movie with singer Angeline Quinto. Cuenca also gave his unsolicited advice to young actors. “Wala akong pinatatamaan I’m just saying, this is just what I noticed with the young ones: sana malaman nila na instead of being on your throne, read your script and perform and that’s the way to the Read More …