Maniolas

 Mary Blanco               Pia Wurtzbach          Ruben & Janet Nepales NEW YORK CITY – In what is the start of a nationwide search for outstanding Filipino Americans, The Outstanding Filipino Americans (TOFA) Awards this year is throwing its spotlight beyond the New York tri-state area. For the Sixth Annual TOFA Awards, six outstanding Fil-Ams from Chicago, Florida, Los Angeles and Washington, DC will join New York-based honorees on stage at the Carnegie Hall on Saturday, Oct. 8. “Starting with the Sixth Annual TOFA Awards, our success stories will come from more places nationwide, any place where we find the Filipino spirit shining through,” said Elton Lugay, TOFA founder and executive producer. “We expect to be pleasantly surprised by the discoveries that await us in the years to come.” Atty. Billy Dec, the only Fil-Am commissioner appointed to the White House Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, is TOFA’s honoree for Business and Entrepreneurship. Aside from being an Emmy Award-winning TV personality, lawyer and restaurateur, he is the CEO/founder of Rockit Ranch Productions and is involved in various non-profit organizations in Chicago.    Linda de los Reyes       Lito Gajilan          Josh Sembrano          Dr. Fred Andes Florida-based Brendan Flores, national chairman of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), takes the Community Service and Advocacy award for his longstanding advocacy especially of diversity initiatives. From Washington, DC, Marie Blanco, vice-chairman of the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FILVETREP), is the Public Service and Politics honoree for serving the veterans’ cause for more Read More …

Nestor “Ness” Ocampo, 1941-2016 DALY CITY, California — Longtime broadcaster Nestor “Ness” Ocampo passed away Sunday, Oct. 2 after a brief illness. Ocampo launched his broadcasting career in the US in 1971 with Pilipinas Kong Mahal on KBRG. He brought Fil-Am radio to Northern California, Hawaii and Las Vegas, launching the FilAm Radio Network. Ocampo also launched the first Ilocano radio station in Maui in 1994. The Ness Ocampo Show & Fil-Ams Now, Fil-Ams Ngayon aired its last 12 consecutive years on KVTO 1400 AM. Ocampo also served as the Philippine American Press Club USA’s resident radio announcer. Born on January 31, 1941in the Philippines, Ocampo began his radio career with Manila Bulletin’s DZBU in 1962. He was also known for radio voices “Wakadoo” and “Mang Abo.” He was the only Manila DJ who broadcast in three different voices. Ocampo ended every radio broadcast with LITA “love is the answer”! He is survived by his wife, Lita, children Caroline and Christine, grandsons Hendrix and Nessy, sons-in-law, Vic and Armstong, and younger brothers, Jun and Amada. Latest Gican, Altas still blessed despite Final 4 exit More Google Pixel phone leaks surface from Verizon CHR slams Gordon for suspension of Senate inquiry No bail for Mark Anthony Fernandez in marijuana bust Recommended Disclaimer: Comments do not represent the views of INQUIRER.net. We reserve the right to exclude comments which are inconsistent with our editorial standards. FULL DISCLAIMER View Comments For feedback, complaints, or inquiries, contact us.

U.S. Marines Brig. Gen. John Jansen, center, of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and Maj. Gen. Andre Costales, second from right, Commandant of the Philippine Marines Corps, salute at the opening ceremony for the 33rd joint US-Philippines amphibious landing exercises dubbed PHIBLEX at the marines corps in Taguig city east of Manila, Philippines Tuesday Oct. 4,2016. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) MANILA, Philippines — U.S. and Philippine forces opened joint combat exercises under some uncertainty on Tuesday, days after the Philippines’ new leader said they would be the last such drills of his six-year presidency. Marine commanders from both sides said at the opening ceremony that the exercises, involving 1,100 American and 400 Filipino military personnel, are aimed at improving readiness by the two countries to respond to a range of crises while deepening their historic ties. Angered by U.S. criticism of his deadly anti-drug campaign, President Rodrigo Duterte said last week that the maneuvers would be the last of his term, which began in June. His foreign secretary later said the decision was not final, sparking questions as to whether other annual U.S.-Philippine military exercises would proceed as planned. READ: Philippines, US hold war games after Duterte tirades U.S. Embassy officials said Washington has not been formally notified by the Philippine government of any move to scrap other planned drills. Such a move by the Philippines would impede Washington’s plans to expand the footprint of U.S. forces in Southeast Asia to counter China. A Philippine military spokesman for the ongoing exercises, Read More …

THE ARMED Forces of the Philippines is seeking clarification from the Department of National Defense on the reported threat of President Duterte to abrogate the Philippines-US Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) and take a new foreign policy direction. AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said the AFP was reserving comment on the issue until a clarification from Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana was received on what the Commander in Chief really meant. On Sunday, the President told an audience at the Maskara Festival in Bacolod City that his administration was reviewing the Edca. He said that although it was an official document, it was not signed by former President Benigno S. Aquino III. Mr. Duterte made the threat following reports the United States might sanction the Philippines because of the President’s deadly war on drugs. “If you Americans are angry with me, then I’m also angry with you,” Mr. Duterte had said. Padilla said he believed the President just wanted to explore relations with other countries. “The current status of our country is we are friends with all our neighbors. We abide by the constitutional policy of always prioritizing peace and that’s exactly what we are doing, so within the scope of our capabilities we are able to protect our interest at the moment,” he said. Padilla said the AFP chief of staff will hold talks with his counterpart in the US Pacific Command in a meeting in the country this month. Looking into coup talk Meanwhile, the AFP is “seriously Read More …

INQUIRER FILE And now the latest from the leader who inspired the Duterte bloodbath: “Hitler massacred three million Jews. Now there is three million, there’s three million drug addicts. There are. I’d be happy to slaughter them.” President Duterte has apologized for this statement, though he also threatened to kick the lawyers who keep complaining about the state of human rights in the Philippines. But let’s give him some credit: Digong also has, at least, corrected himself on the historical record. Adolf Hitler actually murdered 6 million people. Obviously, there’s a huge difference between 6 million and 3 million. The number of people Hitler slaughtered would make up more than half the current population of Metro Manila. Duterte downsized that terrible statistic to just the combined populations of Manila and Quezon City. “What President Duterte said is not only profoundly inhumane, but it demonstrates an appalling disrespect for human life that is truly heart-breaking for the democratically elected leader of a great country,” Ronald Lauder, president of World Jewish Congress, said. Todd Gutnick of the Anti-Defamation League in the US said it was “baffling why any leader would want to model himself after such a monster.” The controversy may now fade away after Digong said, “Sorry ha,” but with uncharacteristically elegant and polite language that he or his speechwriters probably crafted with the help of a thesaurus. “There was never an intention on my part to derogate the memory of 6 million Jews murdered by the Germans,” Duterte said. “I Read More …