Maniolas

Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (FILE PHOTO/BERNAMA (2015) COPYRIGHT RESERVED) MANILA — Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has raised his “grave concern” over the security situation in Southeast Asia amid the kidnapping activities of the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group in Mindanao, Malacañang said on Monday. The Malaysian leader conveyed this as he welcomed representatives of the Duterte administration led by Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza in Putrajaya, said Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar. In their 30-minute meeting, Andanar said Dureza told Razak that President Duterte had directed the military to stem the Abu Sayyaf’s reign of terror during his recent visit in Jolo, Sulu. He flew to Kuala Lumpur on Sunday to join Dureza, who led the government panel in discussing the implementation of the peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). “Secretary Dureza assured Prime Minister Najib that the same iron hand will be activated to deal with borders,” Andanar said in a statement. He said Razak also suggested the “regulation of sea lanes” in the waters between the Philippines and Malaysia “wherein a certain approved sea lane can be used to conduct trade and those that are not approved can be deemed as hostile.” “Security is a shared concern between the two countries,” he stressed, noting that the meeting between the Philippine delegation and the Prime Minister was “formal yet cordial.” Andanar said Razak also spoke about the huge potential of Mindanao in terms of economic development as Dureza proposed Read More …

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — I guess it’s history when 3,000 Asian Americans show up in a 4,500 capacity room to listen to all four presidential candidates. But at times the momentous occasion seemed lost on the crowd who had to constantly be prompted to laugh, yell, or make noise like they believed in the whole enterprise. Well, it was a forum, not a rally. But there’s another problem when one of the participants is Filipino and not really a presidential candidate. Sean Reyes is Utah’s attorney general, a Republican, and a Filipino American. You can tell by all the rice and spam jokes he told at Friday’s Asian American Pacific Islander Presidential Forum in Las Vegas. Oh, and he rapped a little bit too. Former President Bill Clinton subbing for Hillary Clinton at AAPI Presidential Forum in Las Vegas. EMIL GUILLERMO Seen as one of the future stars of the Republican Party, Reyes drew the short straw this time. When you’re sent in as a Trump surrogate to wow a basically Democratic crowd, you better know how to sing and dance. In politics, it’s called pandering, however. And Reyes did his best to ingratiate himself before the crowd got smart and politely got up and left. Considering Trump’s comments about Filipino Americans recently, Trump would have been best served had he shown up himself to the Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace. It was after all APIAVote’s Presidential Town Hall Forum, said to be the largest such gathering to date for Asian Read More …

​Incoming chairman Brendan Flores, 31, (left) and outgoing chairman JT Mallonga, 64, celebrate a leadership transition from the Baby Boomers to the Millennial Generation. CONTRIBUTED WASHINGTON, DC — A millennial has taken over the helm of the advocacy and empowerment organization National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA). Brendan Flores, 31, Jacksonville, Florida told the more than 300 delegates and guests, who witnessed his swearing-in as NaFFAA’s seventh national chairman, that he will strive “to make sure the voices of four million Filipinos living in the United States today carry significant weight.” The three-day conference amplified this goal. Speakers urged delegates to educate themselves on the issues, help in voter registration drives in their localities and harness the community’s voting power in November. NaFFAA’s FilAmVote program, launched in January, has been registering new voters in states like California and Nevada where large concentrations of Filipino Americans reside. Vice President Leni Robredo installs NaFFAA’s newly elected national officers, from left, Chairman Brendan Flores, Vice Chair Emraida Kiram, Secretary Mariella Fletcher, Treasurer Brad Baldia and Board members Marie Cunning, Giselle Rushford and Steven Raga. Not in picture is Board member Bing Branigin. CONTRIBUTED “One of the ways of empowerment is to focus on issues, such as the economy, job growth, early childhood education and affordable access to colleges,” said U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia, the opening day’s keynote speaker. “Make sure Filipino Americans are involved in these policy decisions. Make sure to hold politicians accountable. But to make a difference, everyone Read More …

Sen. Loren Legarda CONTRIBUTED PHOTO MANILA — The President only wants what the world’s most disaster prone nations also seek: climate justice. Sen. Loren Legarda, the chamber’s lead climate advocate, said Monday that President Duterte’s call for “an equitable and fair equation” on global climate action only echoed what climate-vulnerable nations hope to receive on the road to adapting and mitigating the impact of global warming. “What he said were just right. He’s just saying the developed nations that polluted the world should reduce their emissions and help countries that are poor and vulnerable like the Philippines and other Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) members,” Legarda told reporters. The CVF is a grouping of 43 developing countries most prone to the effects of climate change. The Philippines hosted a high-level climate policy forum of the CVF this month and officially turned over its chairmanship to Tonga. “We are echoing what the President had said that the rich countries should help the small countries that are not emitters. His point is correct. That we should get help from rich countries that are the strongest carbon emitters,” she said. President Duterte earlier said he would not honor the climate agreement, later clarifying his point that the Philippines would give priority to addressing global warming but that climate action should be equitable and not stymie the country’s road to industrialization. “What he means is climate justice. The rich countries account for much of the greenhouse emissions. They should help developing nations through technical and Read More …

‘SECOND MOM’ Singapore’s Olympic gold medalist, swimmer Joseph Schooling, shows his appreciation for the support of Filipino Yolanda Pascual, his family’s domestic helper for 19 years. SINGTEL YOUTUBE VIDEO GRAB COACHES, teammates and rivals may have seen the evolution of Joseph Schooling, the swimmer. But very few would have witnessed the boy-to-man story of Singapore’s Olympic champion from diapers to Mizuno trunks who went prospecting in Rio de Janeiro and struck gold. Filipino Yolanda Pascual, or “Auntie Yolly,” is Schooling’s loyal domestic helper, who has seen him through his formative years to adulthood, although in her loving eyes he is always her “water boy.” In a Sunday Times phone interview on Sunday, Pascual said: “I’ve always believed in him. I was watching and shouting for him. I cannot express how happy I am … I was jumping and crying after he won.” Still with family Still working for the Schooling household after 19 years, Pascual has always been close to the swimming champ. The 21-year-old Olympic gold medalist has even called her a “second mom” in a YouTube video made by Singtel, where he showed his appreciation for her support. She said: “When I miss him, I read our messages (on the phone). He’s like my own son.” The Filipino domestic helper started working for Schooling’s family in 1997. She recalled: “He was playful like all boys, but [has] always been loving and caring and a very good boy. He never shouts at me or anybody.” To be No. 1 Read More …