Maniolas

By Nimfa U. Rueda Officials of Cavite province are set for the celebration of the 118th anniversary of Philippine Independence on June 12, 2016 as shown by dozens of Philippine and Katipunan flags adorning the middle island of Aguinaldo Highway in Dasmarinas City. It was in Kawit, Cavite that the country’s independence from Spain was declared by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo on June 12, 1898. (PNA photos by Gil S. Calinga) LOS ANGELES – Hundreds of Filipino-Americans paraded through Historic Filipinotown in Los Angeles on June 4 to celebrate the 118th Philippine Independence Day. Cheering crowds watched a marching band, local beauty queens on floats, community leaders in a convoy of cars, Harley-Davidson motorcycle riders in formation and dozens of participants who marched while waving Philippine flags. A group of youths, dressed in Igorot costumes, danced in the streets. “We want to show everyone that Filipino-Americans are united and have a great deal to contribute to the community, this city and the nation,” said Bernie Ganon, assistant executive director of the nonprofit Filipino-American Service Group, Inc. (FASGI), one of the event organizers. More than 30 organizations participated, including the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, USA Chapter, whose members paraded a banner with a message for President Elect Rodrigo Duterte: “Stop Media Killings.” “It’s not just about celebrating Philippine independence, it’s about freedom – and reminding Filipinos to fight for real freedom in the homeland,” said another organizer, Arturo Garcia, national coordinator of Justice for Filipino American Veterans. “It’s a very significant Read More …

By Jelly F. Musico Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile thanks his colleagues in his valedictory speech on Monday (June 6, 2016) at the Senate Building in Pasay City. Enrile is retiring from government service after having served the country’s Executive Department for 20 years where he served as Justice and Defense secretary, and 27 years in the Legislative Department with four terms in the Senate and three years in the House of Representatives. Also in photo are Senators Grace Poe and Aquilino Pimentel III. (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan) MANILA  (PNA) – Senate minority leader Juan Ponce Enrile, the country’s oldest lawmaker, on Monday took the podium, not to debate, but to bid goodbye to the chamber which he served for 27 years, capping his more than 50 years of public service. ”My esteemed colleagues, this will be my last day to visit this chamber because when we adjourned at midnight today, I shall have closed my public service to the nation for more than half a century beginning in January 1966,” the 92-year-old Enrile said in his valedictory speech during the sine die adjournment of the 16th Congress. Enrile, one of the brilliant minds in the Philippine Senate, served more than 20 years in the executive department, handling the financial and justice system and the security of the country under the regime of former President Ferdinand Marcos. ”And all those years, Mr. President, I tried my best to serve the people because I felt that my call Read More …

Giovanna Fontanilla (2nd left), director of the University of Santo Tomas Community Development Office, announces Pope Francis’ activities when he visits the pontifical university during his trip to the Philippines in January. The Pope will meet with leaders of various religions and youth representatives. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, on Sunday said, “there is virtue in silence,” an apparent reply to President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s attacks on the church. “There is virtue in silence. There is virtue in speech. Wisdom is knowing when it is time for silence and when is the timing for speech,” Villegas said in a statement entitled “Understanding Silence.” Villegas went on to say, “Mine is the silence of Jesus before the arrogance of Pilate.” Duterte has criticized bishops, warning them he will reveal their secrets and sins. He also lamented that the separation of church is no longer being observed. For instance, during the term of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, bishops allegedly asked the chief executive for vehicles, he said. On Thursday, Duterte said there is hypocrisy in sectors of society, including the Catholic Church. In his statement, Villegas said, “There is nobility in silence like the silence of the lambs brought to slaughter in the temple to atone for sins.” The CBCP presidentadded, “You can understand my speech if you speak the language of silence. You can understand my silence if you know how to love like Him who was born one Read More …

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte takes a selfie with members of his Cabinet after their first formal meeting in Davao, Tuesday evening. Duterte presented to the media for the first time the members of his Cabinet, whom he called “men of honesty and integrity.”(MNS photo) MANILA, June 2 (Mabuhay) – The economy could grow up to 6.6 percent this year, below the outgoing government’s target, President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s incoming socioeconomic planning secretary said Thursday. Duterte, who will take over from President Benigno Aquino on June 30, may not have enough leeway in the remainder of the year to steer growth higher, University of the Philippines economics professor Ernesto Pernia said. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew 6.9 percent in the January to March period, outpacing China and beating analysts’ forecasts on election-driven demand and growing investments. Aquino’s economic team sees full-year growth at 6.8 to 7.8 percent. On Wednesday, incoming budget secretary Benjamin Diokno said GDP could grow 6.2 percent this year with election and infrastructure spending expected to taper off in the second half. Pernia said full-year growth could be “6.5, maybe 6.6 percent, in that neighborhood.” “That’s because half the year is over by the time we come in, and I don’t know how much we can push it higher; but I think it’s probably going to be a bit higher than 6.2. I would think it would be approaching 7 percent,” he said. Pernia said Duterte’s economic team would work to sustain growth and bridge the “huge growth deficit” between Read More …

President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the Philippine Navy’s 118th Anniversary Celebration at the Landing Ship Dock (SSV LD601) in Pier 13, South Harbor, Manila on Wednesday (June 1, 2016) with theme: “Protecting the Seas, Securing Our Future.” (MNS photo) MANILA   (PNA) – Units from the United States, Philippine and Malaysian navies will participate in this year’s Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) naval exercises which will take place Saturday at the Sulu Sea. Malaysia and the Philippines has a common border in the Sulu Sea. The training will take place between the bilateral phases of CARAT with Malaysia and the Philippines. “This engagement is an important milestone as we seek opportunities to increase multilateral cooperation for the CARAT exercise series,” Task Force 73 Rear Adm. Charles Williams said. “The training provides our navies with an opportunity to broaden cooperative maritime security coordination with our partner nations as we would during real world contingencies or operations,” he added. Ships and aircraft from the US Navy will operate with separate surface action groups from Malaysia and the Philippines. The multilateral training will test the abilities of all three navies to coordinate maritime security operations in a geographically separated environment at sea. The Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Stethem (DDG-63) will operate with Royal Malaysian Navy ships during the training, while USS Ashland (LSD-49) will sail alongside ships from the Philippine Navy. The participating ships will conduct communication drills, maritime security coordination, and maritime domain awareness training. A US Navy P-8 Poseidon Read More …