Maniolas

FoodCurated videoblogger Liza de Guia on location at a market. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO First posted in PositivelyFilipino.com “Everyone has something interesting hidden in their hearts. I’d like to tell their story,” says Liza de Guia. De Guia, chief storyteller of the video blog, Food Curated, is a young and multi-awarded Filipina journalist living her dream in New York. Here’s the story of her stories. The Food Curated video captured it. The chef spoke no English, but I understood. “I give people my torta, I say ‘good luck,’” says Chef Galdino, a New York food trucker, as he piles ingredients into tortas, Latin sandwiches with pan-seared pork slices, cheese slabs, slivers of lettuce, tomato and onion, slathered with seasonings. The camera zooms a close-up as he serves a sandwich to a hungry customer. The food truck is in Corona, Queens, NYC, but who can resist getting a torta after seeing this? De Guia’s biweekly FoodCurated.com features story after story of the undiscovered food artisan, chef, restaurant, or craft. She presents a finely produced story with every edition on her TV series. After every show, the unknown person, product, or place featured becomes so well recognized business booms for them. De Guia has helped so many with her storytelling. It is no surprise she has been recognized by peers and received so many prestigious awards. Food Curated went on the air in 2009. De Guia has earned four James Beard Award nominations, 2010 to 2013  (a Beard is the “Oscars” in the food world) and was 2012 Webby Awards Official Honoree, Read More …

French President Francois Hollande FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines–The arrival of French President François Hollande in Manila on Thursday is expected to not only further boost bilateral economic ties between France and the Philippines but also highlight the latter country’s role in the fight against climate change. “This visit has two important aspects. First, it is to highlight the very positive phase in the bilateral relations between France and the Philippines. The French President would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm the friendly ties between our two countries,” French Ambassador Gilles Garachon said in a statement. The state visit of Hollande to the Philippines is also said to come at a “dynamic phase in the bilateral ties between the two countries and at a time when international negotiations on the environment approach a crucial stage.” Earlier, Malacañang said President Aquino and President Hollande would discuss the extreme terrorism that has hit France and the Philippines. According to the French Embassy, Hollande’s visit will see the signing of cooperation agreements in the areas of development, tourism, health and academic exchanges. Business-to-business trade agreements will be concluded during a forum hosted by the Makati Business Club on Feb. 26. Hollande will be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development Laurent Fabius, Minister of State for Development and Francophony Annick Girardin, and Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy Ségolène Royal. The delegation will be joined by personalities renowned for their environmental advocacies, such as Marion Cotillard, Mélanie Laurent, Patriarch Read More …

popular MILF refuses to surrender men involved in Mamasapano carnage Oscars 2015 full list of winners Sam Concepcion, Jasmine Curtis break up—report Lack of leadership skills exposed Mamasapano probe: AFP chief asks for executive session Turkish troops enter Syria to rescue historic tomb Tingting, Peping divided over ousting Aquino Biz Buzz: With a smile[y] videos PBA: Ginebra’s LA Tenorio comfortable on the floor with Emman Monfort PBA: Agustin credits good defense, big men performance for win over Purefoods PBA: Warner’s maturity big thing for Globalport, says coach Gonzales Crime watchdog wants advisory body composed of bishops, inter-religious leaders Former Tarlac Governor calls Aquino to resign ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – A foreign vessel and three Filipino-owned boats that were loaded with at least 131,000 smuggled imported rice and high-powered firearms were apprehended off Pata Island in Sulu on Monday dawn. Capt. Maria Rowena Muyuela, spokesperson of the military’s Western Mindanao Command, said elements of the Naval Task Unit (NTU) and the 64th Marine Company held MV An Bien-89-Alci, a ship with 16 Vietnamese crew, including its boat captain Nguyen Van Loi, and loaded with 116,000 sacks of imported rice. The boat is registered under the Sunrise Ship and Trading Company. Also apprehended were M/L KH, which was loaded with 7,000 sacks of imported rice, and had 11 crew members and 79 laborers; M/L Fatima Nurmina, which had 1,000 sacks of rice, an M14 rifle and and M16 rifle with M203, and had 12 crew members and 55 laborers on board; and Read More …

MANILA, Philippines — The Oplan Exodus, the operation that targeted top international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan, was “100 percent Filipino,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Monday. “In our discussions with US authorities we have obtained that the plan and execution were 100 percent Filipino,” DFA Undersecretary for Policy Honorable Evan Garcia said at a Senate hearing The role of the United States has been questioned in the botched operation to capture the international terrorist, tagged as the Osama bin Laden of Southeast Asia. Marwan, who was reportedly killed in the operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, has a $5 million for the bounty on his head. The operation, executed by members of the Philippine National Police’s Special Action Force, resulted in the deaths of 44 SAF men. He did not clarify, however, if it was the US who provided intelligence information on Marwan. “We (respectfully) defer to our colleagues for operational details,” Garcia said. Under the Mutual Defense Board and Security and Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) between the Philippines and the United States, military exchange of intelligence information is allowed but US forces are restricted to combat activities. Reports surfaced that Americans were spotted in the area of operation at that time. “All counterterrorism exercises undertaken in Philippine territory require consent and approval through the PH-US MDB-SEB,” Garcia said. The bilateral activities between the two countries have helped to reduce, for instance, the size of terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, Garcia noted. RELATED STORIES ‘US behind Oplan Exodus’ US Read More …

MANILA, Philippines–Catholic bishops have appealed to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in countries where Christians are persecuted to avail themselves of the government’s offer of repatriation and come home. “I hope that OFWs will be endowed with the wisdom to think of their lives and well-being ahead of the opportunity to earn money,” said Bishop Ruperto Santos of the Diocese of Balanga, chair of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Migrant and Itinerant People (CBCP-ECMIP). Santos, in a post on the CBCP website, said his office had teamed up with the Department of Foreign Affairs in an effort to persuade OFWs in countries like Libya, Syria and Yemen to take advantage of the government’s offer of repatriation. “In a conflict-ridden country like Libya, we have more or less 4,000 countrymen working in oil fields, hospitals and medical facilities to whom this offer of repatriation is being extended. Unfortunately, only a few want to take the flight home,” he said. But he said officials of the Philippine Embassy in Syria had talked to 5,000 to 6,000 Filipino migrant workers about responding positively to the repatriation option, while in Yemen roughly 1,000 Filipinos are awaiting the government’s crisis management team. Remain in the country Santos reaffirmed the position of the CBCP-ECMIP that Filipinos should remain in the Philippines to work, instead of having to seek greener pastures elsewhere at great sacrifice to their families. “As we celebrate the 29th National Migrants Sunday, we would like to highlight the beauty of Read More …