Maniolas

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, left, listens to Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Lima, Peru, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. (Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) LIMA, Peru — Goodbye, Asia. Hello, Europe? President Rodrigo Duterte, in a bizarre turn of phrase, told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday that the Philippines had been “longing to be part of Europe.” In the first bilateral meeting between the two leaders, Mr. Duterte, who had long expressed disdain for the European Union, inexplicably remarked that he wished for his country to be part of Europe. “I have been looking for this moment to meet you, Mr. President, not only because you represent a great country but [because of your leadership] too,” he began. “And we’ve been longing to be part also of — despite the distance — we have been longing to be part of Europe, especially in commerce and trade around the world,” Mr. Duterte told the Russian leader. The Philippine president proceeded to talk, in his typical rambling style, about the “hypocrisy” of the West in intervening in the affairs of other countries while advancing their own interests. “They want to seem to start a war but are afraid to go to war. That is what’s wrong with America and the others. They are waging war in so many places: in Vietnam, Afghanistan and in Iraq,” he said. “And for one single reason that there was a weapon of mass Read More …

Foreign Affairs Perfecto Yasay Jr. AFP FILE PHOTO LIMA, Peru—Senior ministers of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) member economies declared on Friday their commitment to denying safe haven for corrupt officials fleeing prosecution and to strengthen mechanisms for their extradition. In a joint statement after the Apec Ministers Meeting from Nov. 17-18 here, the members pledged to help each other combat corruption and to encourage businesses to establish their own anticorruption campaigns against illicit trade. The discussions were held ahead of the two-day Apec Economic Leaders’ Meeting starting Saturday which would be attended by the heads of state or representatives of 21 Pacific Rim countries. President Duterte landed in the Peruvian capital before midnight Thursday (Friday in Manila). The Philippines was represented by Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay and Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez at the Ministers Meeting chaired by Peru’s Foreign Minister Ricardo Luna and Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister Eduardo Ferreyros. —DJ YAP TAGS: APEC, Apec Ministers Meeting, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, illicit trade For feedback, complaints, or inquiries, contact us.

Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde, left, speaks to a journalist during an interview during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, APEC, summit in Lima, Peru, Friday, Nov. 18, 2016. APEC leaders are meeting in Lima to discuss the future of international trade policies, growth and improvement of life conditions for more than a third of the world’s population. —RICARDO MAZALAN/AP LIMA, Peru — Senior ministers of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) member economies made a renewed push on Friday for the establishment of a free trade area in the Pacific Rim. In a joint statement after the Apec Ministers Meeting held Nov. 17 and 18 here, the members repeated their willingness to move negotiations forward in the creation of the Free Trade Area in Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), which was being pushed by China. “We reaffirm our commitment to advance the process in a comprehensive and systematic manner towards the eventual realization of the FTAAP as a major instrument to further APEC´s regional economic integration agenda towards and beyond the Bogor Goals,” the ministers said. The Bogor Goals refer to a set of initiatives for realizing free and open trade in the Asia-Pacific agreed on by member economies in 1994 in Bogor, Indonesia. Under the agreement, the members will pursue free and open trade among themselves by further reducing barriers to trade and investment and by promoting the free flow of goods, services and capital among Apec economies. In their statement, the Apec ministers welcomed the regional organization’s progress in implementing Read More …

NEW AMERICA MEDIA More than 11 million unauthorized immigrants in the United States, including approximately 300,000 from the Philippines, are now in panic mode and uncertain about their future under a Trump administration. Deporting immigrants who are in unlawful status is one of Trump’s campaign promises. The presidential election result was a bitter pill to swallow for most immigrants. Most of the Filipino American immigrants in the San Francisco Bay Area are not happy with the result of the election. Immigration attorneys have received many phone calls and emails from concerned immigrants, both legal as well as those who are undocumented, asking about the immediate threat of removal from the US come January 20, 2017. Lawful permanent residents or those with status are seriously concerned about pending petitions for their family members. Will the petitioning process take longer with the coming Trump administration? Those who are in possession of professional working visas are worried about whether the H1B program will be eliminated. Filipino healthcare workers such as registered nurses, physical therapists and caregivers with pending immigrant petitions from US employers have no clue on whether their visas are still going to be issued if immigration policy changes. The most vulnerable immigrants who are most likely going to be affected are the DREAMERS (children who were supposed to benefit from the Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors or the DREAM Act) and the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients. These are the young immigrants who came to the United Read More …

Philippine Consul-General in San Francisco Henry Bensurto Jr. (extreme left) came with son Matthew (extreme right) and other Filipino children witness the Golden State Warriors demolish the Phoenix Suns in a tightly fought game 133-120. INQUIRER/Jun Nucum OAKLAND, California – Diehard Filipino American fans of the Golden State Warriors once again whooped it up at another successful Filipino Heritage Night held at Oracle arena here recently where the Warriors whipped the spunky Phoenix Suns 133-120, thanks to Klay Thompson’s 30-point output. A tailgate party with Filipino food trucks began early afternoon before the game, keeping Filipino basketball fans occupied with the variety of dishes were offered — from sisig, Filipino barbecue, donuts and even fusions of Mexican burrito and Filipino silog varieties, among others. Main feature of the tailgate was a photo booth where early birds could have their pictures taken with the two most valuable player trophies of top Warrior player Steph Curry. Bantay Bata Foundation kids directed by Noriel Advincula (extreme right) sing the national anthem. INQUIRER/Jun Nucum San Francisco entertainment commissioner Al Perez was ecstatic for the 9th annual Golden State Warriors Filipino Heritage Night. “When we started it was only one heritage night per season, but it became so popular and always sold out it that, starting a couple of years ago, became two heritage nights per season,” Perez recounted. “This particular night’s tickets were sold out even before they started promoting it. And that’s good because it is encouraging the Filipino community to come out Read More …