Maniolas

Team Galing at Puso presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe greets supporters during an International Women’s Day celebration at Liwasang Bonifacio, Tuesday. Poe thanked her supporters and reacted to her critics after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of her presidential bid in the upcoming elections.(MNS photo) Grace Poe MANILA, Apr 12 (Mabuhay) — The camp of presidential aspirant Grace Poe strongly denied on Tuesday that she had met privately with President Benigno Aquino III supposedly to explore how they could “help each other” in the upcoming elections. Poe’s spokesman, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian, said she continues to run as an independent candidate. “There is absolutely no truth to the reports that the President and Sen. Poe recently met privately,” Gatchalian said in a text message. “We must respect the fact that PNoy (Aquino’s nickname) has already made an endorsement this coming elections and though they remain friends, the good Senator is not that candidate,” he said. Aquino has endorsed the presidential bid of Liberal Party’s standard-bearer, former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II. While she was appointed by Aquino as chair of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board in 2010, Poe decided to run against the President’s candidate in the upcoming May presidential race. “Senator Poe continues to run as an independent candidate. She will continue to forge forward with the message of Gobyernong may Puso. Gobyernong may Puso aims to pull out of poverty the more the 26 million Filipinos living in poverty,” Gatchalian said. “She firmly Read More …

Coleen Garcia (MNS photo) Before becoming one of the most talked about celebrities today, Coleen Garcia had to go through a lot of hardships. In an interview, Garcia addressed misconceptions by some people that life has always been easy for her. “It’s because I’m mestiza… That’s really all it is. ‘Pag maputi ka, mayaman ka. Alam mo ‘yun?” she said, noting Filipinos’ common notion of fair-skinned people like her. She shared some of her struggles growing up, from acting as a co-parent to her two younger brothers at age nine after her parents separated, to fending for herself without a diploma or a steady job at 19 years old. Her savings from her modeling and showbiz gigs covered the rent of her apartment which, she said, had no furniture and air conditioning. So, she slept on the floor. She took a cab from Quezon City to Alabang during her hosting stints without any personal assistant, and even had a distressing experience with dubious drivers. “I said [to myself], ‘you know what, God will provide for me. God will take me wherever I’m meant to be,” she said, recalling her hardships. Three months later, Garcia became a regular host on “It’s Showtime,” and eventually entered into a relationship with co-host Billy Crawford. While she had a stable job, her name was always dragged into controversy. Fans were saying she is the reason behind the breakup of Crawford and his then girlfriend of five years, singer Nikki Gil, who is now married Read More …

Members of different militant groups troop to the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Wednesday. The protesters condemned the bloody dispersal of drought-hit farmers and their supporters in Kidapawan, Cotabato province last Friday.(MNS photo) KIDAPAWAN CITY (PNA) – The Philippine National Police Region 12 (PNP–12) has relieved two of its top police officers in North Cotabato province concomitant to the controversial April 1 dispersal of thousands of protesting farmers who blockaded the segment of the Cotabato – Davao highway here to stage their plight on the harsh effects of the drought-spawned El Niño phenomenon. The protesting peasants withheld traffic flow along the highway for four days prior to the chaotic dispersal that claimed the lives of two farmers and wounding of over a hundred peasants and anti-riot cops alike. P/Sr. Supt. Danilo Peralta, administrative head of PNP – 12, confirmed Friday the relief of P/Sr. Supt. Alexander Tagum as the provincial director and P/Supt. John Calinga as Kidapawan police director. The relief order stemmed from the law enforcement operation currently being investigated by the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights. Peralta stressed that such directive is a standard operating procedure to any officer that will undergo investigation. The same order stipulated that P/Supt. Jose Briones, concurrent provincial police operations chief, would seat as North Cotabato police officer-in-charge while P/Supt Noel Kinazo, provincial police office deputy chief for administration, acts as Calinga’s replacement. Both Tagum and Calinga are mandated to submit themselves to the ongoing investigation, Read More …

Liberal Party (LP) chairman President Benigno S. Aquino III raises the hands of the administration senate slate for the 2016 national elections during the Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid: Ang Pagpapakilala at the Balay Expo Centro Building in EDSA corner McArthur Avenue, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City on Monday (October 12). The 12 senatorial bets includes COOP NATCCO party-list Representative Cresente Paez; Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) director and former Akbayan party-list Representative Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros-Baraquel; former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Emmanuel “Joel” Villanueva; former Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla; Senator Ralph Recto; Senate President Franklin Drilon; former Senator and former food security czar Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan; former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima; Interior and Local Government Assistant Secretary for Muslim Affairs and Special Concerns Nariman Ambolodto; Senator Teofisto “TG” Guingona III; and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) general manger and chief operating officer Mark Lapid. Also in photo are LP Presidential Candidate former DILG Secretary Manuel Roxas II; LP Vice Presidential Candidate Camarines Sur 3rd District Representative Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo; and LP vice chairman and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. (MNS photo) GUIMARAS  (Mabuhay) – The ruling coalition is certain that administration standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II will prevail in the end as it rejected Senator Grace Poe’s camp that the presidential race is down to a two-way fight between her and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. In a statement, Akbayan Rep. Ibarra Gutierrez, the ruling coalition spokesperson, said only a Read More …

Pokwang (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Comedienne Pokwang said she’s proud to star in ABS-CBN’s new teleserye “We Will Survive”. “Ipinapakita dito kung gaano ka-strong ang mga Pilipina ngayon na nakaka-survive,” said Pokwang. Pokwang said Filipinos are naturally strong and the show aims to inspire and entertain Kapamilya viewers who are going through tough times. The television and movie actress has found love in “Edsa Woolworth” co-star Lee O’Brian. “Iba yung pagmamahal sa pamilya, sa anak ko, iba naman yung ngayon. Masaya lang kasi like pag meron kang gustong iiyak, kasi ayaw ko namang makita ng anak ko, gusto ko makita nya ang nanay nya strong. Pero pag kailangan kong umiyak, meron yung, ‘Babe, it’s okay.’ Nakakatuwa lang. Nakakawala ng pagod. Lalong nakakadagdag ng lakas para lumaban ka,” she said. Pokwang said their relationship is as strong as ever. As for any marriage plans, Pokwang explained, “Napag-uusapan na rin namin yan pero siguro sa ngayon kung ano ang meron kami, ine-enjoy namin. Masaya kami.” What’s definite now is that they want to do a movie together again in the near future. “Meron kaming napag-usapang dalawa. Napakagandang istorya, sana mabigyan ng chance,” she said. Pokwang stars with Melai Cantiveros in “We Will Survive”. (MNS)