Maniolas

“Stupid is Forevermore” is a sequel to Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s best-selling collection of jokes, quotes and anecdotes “Stupid is Forever.” File photo MANILA, Philippines – The biggest book fair in the Philippines is here once more. Now on its 36th year, the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) will be happening at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City from September 16 to 20.  Ranging from leisurely to academic readings, everything that all bookworms have been looking for will all be there in one roof. For this year, the MIBF will also be showcasing some books from well-known celebrities and personalities. Here are few titles you should watch out for: “Dear Alex, Break Na Kami. Paano? Love, Catherine,” by Alex Gonzaga  Alex Gonzaga’s  book aims to help single gals deal and understand their lives as NBSBs. Philstar.com/Jonathan Asuncion, file photo Lifestyle Feature ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch:  “Paano Ba Ito?” by Bianca Gonzalez-Intal Bianca Gonzalez-Intal’s book is dedicated to people in their 20s and 30s. File photo “Judy Ann’s Kitchen” by Judy Ann Santos  ‘Judy Ann’s Kitchen’ is Judy Ann’s first book to ever be published. File photo “Bakit Hindi Ka Crush ng Crush Mo” by Ramon Bautista  Ramon Bautista’s book was turned into a movie, which starred Kim Chiu and Xian Lim. File photo “Besties” by Solenn Heusaff and Georgina Wilson In Besties, Solenn and Georgina finally break the It-Girl spell. File photo “One More Chance” by Juan Miguel Sevilla (based on the screenplay by Vanessa Valdez Read More …

In his latest release YJV, Young JV collaborates with KZ Tandingan, Karylle and Vice Ganda After two hit albums under his belt, the platinum-selling Ready or Not and the gold record Doin’ It Big, Young JV is making a bid to repeat the success with his latest release, YJV. And the singer-actor is getting a little help from some of his friends. Working with recent Philpop winner Thyro Alfaro, the Star Records and Cornerstone co-managed artist recently scored a hit with the upbeat song called Ale. The music video for the song is also making waves in music channels and various social media sites. The new five-song album sees the young rapper collaborate with the likes of KZ Tandingan on Mismo Baby and Karylle on Hurts So Bad, tracks he co-wrote with ace songwriters Jungee Marcelo and Marcus Davis Jr. But his list of friends who lent him a hand does not end there. YJV, which will soon be re-released as a repackaged album, now gives Young JV the chance for another noteworthy collaboration with Vice Ganda. The two worked together to come up with the track PasaDiyos for inclusion in the special edition release. The exciting third album, as Young JV says, will be “a fusion of EDM (electronic dance music) and R&B.” Moreover, he described this combination of music genre as “an explosion of heavy, melodic and uplifting synths that can only come from my heart.” The heartfelt offering to fans has endeared the young rapper to his Read More …

Don’t get too excited over a Malacañang press release announcing NEDA approval of some P131-B worth of mass transport and energy projects. There is no time to complete bidding documents, much less actually implement these projects. Worse, the next administration is likely to put these projects on hold until they can complete their own studies. That was why I was nagging DOTC to get these projects done before P-Noy leaves office. It’s back to square one every time an administration’s term expires and a new one steps up. That LRT1 extension project, for instance, went through the mill under four administrations. While it has now been awarded to the Ayala-MPIC consortium, it has not broken ground because of many technical and legal problems. The standard reply I get when I nag is that DOTC lawyers are carefully vetting all contracts to make sure everything is in order. Unfortunately, despite the delay, the vetting has not been any better. They seem to have serious problems writing the projects’ Terms of Reference, stalling implementation. Indeed, I just found out the LRT-1 Extension to Cavite project is going nowhere. The “winner” discovered the right of way or ROW offered by DOTC and LRTA is not the same as the stipulated alignment. So, they could not start construction. My source told me the Ayala consortium is only responsible for track infrastructure (viaducts and stations). The electromechanical (new depot, signaling, and additional trains) are government-funded via JICA loan. However, drawdown is delayed – we are Read More …

August and September are usually busy months in the cultural calendar, and this year’s been no exception. UMPIL — the Writers Union of the Philippines — held its annual conference toward the end of August, with the economist and columnist Solita “Winnie” Monsod delivering the customary Adrian Cristobal Lecture. On Sept. 1 — perhaps the most important date on many a young Filipino writer’s calendar —the 65th Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature were given out, with poetry titan Gemino “Jimmy” Abad arguing eloquently for the power of literary language to create its own reality. In that same week, the National Book Development Board and National Book Store teamed up, among other sponsors, to put on the Philippine Literary Festival at the Raffles Hotel in Makati, headlined by visiting authors Matthew Quick and Meg Wolitzer. I went on a panel at that festival with my friends Krip Yuson and Jing Hidalgo, with Marivi Soliven as moderator, to talk about writing the novel. I was surprised to walk into a packed room at the Raffles, despite the fact that Meg Wolitzer was holding forth in another session at the same time. Now, I’ll admit that I’d never read Meg before, although I’d read about her recent novel Belzhar. She was advertised as a bestselling author, as was Matthew Quick, who wrote The Silver Linings Playbook. I overheard a mild complaint in the hallway to the effect that the NBDB should have invited the powerhouse cast of Pulitzer prizewinners that Manila festivalgoers Read More …

INQUIRER.net U.S. Bureau September 2nd, 2015 01:22 AM SAN FRANCISCO — The Department of Elections will introduce bilingual ballots for the November 3 election, each with content in English and one other language: Chinese, Spanish, or Filipino. The Department is asking voters who prefer to receive election materials, including the official ballot and the Voter Information Pamphlet, in another language in addition to English to update their language preference. Voters may do so by completing the form at sfelections.org/language, by calling (415) 554-4375, or by visiting the Department’s office. Voters who have provided their language preference to the Department will receive a ballot in English and their preferred language either by mail, at the City Hall Voting Center, or at their polling place. On Election Day, the Department will provide polling place signage indicating that three bilingual versions of the ballot are available. This information will be conveyed in English, Chinese, Spanish and Filipino on the sign placed on the Election Table, on each ballot card, and on the Ballot Secrecy Folder issued to every voter. Similarly, the vote-by-mail ballot packet will include information about availability of the three bilingual versions of the ballot. Although the ballots in English and each aforementioned language will be available by mail, at the City Hall Voting Center, and at all polling places, San Francisco voters are encouraged to choose their preferred ballot language well before Election Day by providing their language preference at sfelections.org/language.  Like us on Facebook  Latest Fil-Ams to mark golden jubilee Read More …