Maniolas

By Ronnel W. Domingo |Philippine Daily Inquirer 12:30 am | Tuesday, September 16th, 2014 Thailand and Vietnam are expected to ship in a total of 500,000 tons of milled rice in the next three months, representing the latest import purchase by the National Food Authority. In a government-to-government call for tenders held Monday, Thailand—through its Department of Foreign Trade—offered to supply the Philippines 300,000 tons at $475 a ton. Vietnam—through state-run Vietnam Southern Food Corp. or Vinafood II—offered to cover 400,000 tons but at a higher price of $479 per ton. Cambodia, through its embassy, also participated but was disqualified. NFA spokesperson Rex Estoperez explained that Cambodia could not deliver the goods until April next year. The NFA wants delivery to be made in three tranches—40 percent of the contracted volume by mid-October, another 40 percent by mid-November and the remaining 20 percent by mid-December. Estoperez said Thailand, having submitted a lower price, may have clinched a contract for its offered volume of 300,000 tons. He added that, as for Vietnam, it may be able to secure a contract for the remaining 200,000 tons if it could match Thailand’s offered priced. “These details are still subject to the approval of the NFA Council, which will convene sometime this week,” Estoperez said. Monday’s proceedings were held following an open bidding held in August, which failed because all offers went above the NFA’s approved budget of $456 a ton. Government-held stocks had been dwindling continually and remained at less than 15 days’ Read More …

MANILA, Philippines — Clichés may be overrated, but these phrases save you from that awkward moment when you just cannot verbalize what you really wanted to say. Clichés are always there whenever we want to make an excuse. Take for example when you just broke up with someone. Your friends will always tell you this – “You can’t love someone else until you love yourself.” These aren’t just words told to console you or make you stop from wallowing. Psychological science says that people with higher self-esteem tend to have higher-quality marriages, reporting more trust and intimacy that people with lower self-esteem. So you literally have to love yourself before having a successful relationship with someone. You may not know it, but here are some of the most over used clichés, which are actually true whether you like it or not: “You learn from your mistakes” Wish there is a button that says “press me” whenever you are about to make the mistake you already did? Well, human brains already do. A study at the University of Exeter, which was published in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, found out that the lower temporal region of a human brain sends out a “warning signal” before you could register a conscious though whenever you are about to repeat a past mistake. Amazingly, this process only takes 0.1 seconds. That does not mean through that you would automatically stop what you are about to do, but at least part of your brain did Read More …

By Matikas Santos |INQUIRER.net 2:23 pm | Friday, September 12th, 2014 British Ambassador to the Philippines Asif Ahmad. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — British Ambassador to the Philippines Asif Ahmad expressed support for the US’ order to launch airstrikes against ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) saying that the group does not represent the values of Islam. “Essentially, what you have is a group of people who’ve brought chaos to the [Middle East] and now they are trying to propagate this around the world,” Ahmad, a Muslim, told reporters Friday after a vaccination drive for children organized by the British Embassy. “There is nothing in Islam that says women should be kidnapped and ordered to act as prostitutes. There is nothing that says you capture people from other religions and force them to convert to Islam. It is totally forbidden. There is nothing that says innocent people should be kidnapped and held for ransom,” he said referring to the violent acts committed by members of ISIS. US President Barack Obama on Wednesday (US time) announced a “systematic campaign of airstrikes” against ISIS and increased support for the Iraqi military who are fighting the terrorist groups on the ground. Previous reports said that some Filipinos have gone to Iraq or Syria to join the terrorist group and the DFA admitted that there is no way to verify such reports. “I would have to talk with the other members of the interagency [committee] who are monitoring this namely the security agencies as well as the Department of National Defense. I will Read More …

The Visayan Bloc threw its support to economic chacha during the forum at Ugnayan sa Batasan. (from left) are Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Trenas; Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo B. Benitez; Guimaras Rep. Joaquin Carlos Nava and Eastern Samar Ben Evardone on Tuesday (September 09, 2014) at Batasan Hills in Quezon City. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — A partylist lawmaker on Tuesday warned that amendments to the political provisions in the Constitution could be inserted in the resolution on economic charter change being currently debated at the House of Representatives. Buhay partylist Representative Lito Atienza said that Davao Representative Mylene Garcia Albano, chairperson of the committee on constitutional amendments, could not commit that political provisions would not be touched in case Congress approves the resolution amending the Constitution. “I am extremely shocked that Congresswoman Albano would refuse to commit on such a crucial issue when even Speaker Sonny Belmonte and Majority Floor Leader Boyet Gonzales have repeatedly assured us and the nation that only economic provisions would be tackled for amendments,” Atienza said. Atienza said that during the interpellation, he asked Albano if her committee would entertain initiatives to amend the political provisions of the Constitution. Albano replied that if anyone files a resolution or a bill, then her committee should tackle it and report it to the plenary and have it voted by the House members, adding that if the majority wants it, then the chamber will approve it. “Knowing the propensity of the House to railroad certain measures then Read More …

A LEADING meat processor in northern Mindanao recently opened its plant to produce more quality and bigger, in volume, products to supply the need of consumers in the island. In its grand plant opening in Barangay Alae, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, Slers Industry Inc.(SII), the maker of the famous ham, and other breakfast meat products, said that with many other brands of processed food flooding the market in the country, it opted to supply only the Mindanao consumers, a business decision that the company said makes more sense. Mercedes Pelaez-Mejia, SII managing director, said that they want their products sold in Mindanao rather than compete in the Luzon and Visayas markets where it is more capital-extensive. The new SII plant, at present, processes five tons of pork a day, producing ham, tocino, logganisa, bacon, sausage and pastrami, a beef by-product. Slers employs about 150 workers at present. The Pelaez family started the business in 1969 when their mother Fely sold her homemade ham to neighbors at P1 a kilo in Camp Philips, Bukidnon, where her husband Raul worked with Del Monte Philippines.It was by word of mouth that Fely Pelaez’s ham was known to customers coming from different parts of the country. Orders are received anytime of the year, but most especially at the start of the yuletide season. Mejia said the brand name Slers came about when the Pelaez siblings started expanding the ham business in 2006 and produced other meat products. Slers stands for the names of the Pelaez Read More …