Maniolas

Fil-Am Rose Gabrielle Current, 17, blooms along the route of the traditional Rose Bowl Parade during the 126th Tournament of Roses in Pasadena, California, viewed by millions around the world. NIMFA RUEDA PASADENA—Wearing the Rose Princess crown, a Filipino-American teenager waved to hundreds of thousands of spectators lining the route of the spectacular 126th Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, on New Year’s Day. “I’m very proud to represent the Filipino-American community,” said Gabrielle Current, one of the seven young women selected to serve as ambassadors for the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl events viewed by tens of millions around the world. Current, 17, was selected from nearly a thousand young women who competed for a spot in the 2015 Tournament of Roses Royal Court. “It feels amazing to be a part of this magnificent event,” she told the Inquirer. The parade featured marching bands, equestrians and flower-covered floats highlighting historic figures, celebrities and popular culture around the theme “Inspiring Stories.” ‘Unbroken’ A riderless horse represented grand marshal Louis Zamperini, a World War II hero and former Olympian, who died in July. Zamperini is the subject of a best-selling book and the movie “Unbroken,” directed by Angelina Jolie and now in theaters. Cast members from “The Love Boat” rode on a Princess Cruises float, one of 39 that paraded down the 5.5-mile route on Colorado Boulevard. After the parade, Current and the rest of the Royal Court were presented at the Rose Bowl, where more than 90,000 watched the Read More …

Chess grandmaster Wesley So. PHOTO BY SUSAN POLGAR LAS VEGAS. Nevada — Wesley So defeated grandmaster Tsegmed Batchuluun of Mongolia in the ninth and final round Tuesday, December 30, to easily capture the $10,000 first prize in the 24th North American Open chess championships at Bally’s Casino Resort. With several hours rest, the fresh-looking So prevailed in 46 moves to score his seventh win against two draws to close out with eight points in the five-day tournament in which he was not threatened in any game. In the eighth round, he settled for a quick 18-move draw with grandmaster Julio Becerra, a Cuban defector now based in the United States, allowing him some rest in the hectic nine-round tournament in which two rounds were played each day Draws It was the second draw for the top-seeded So. In the seventh round, he also drew with Chinese GM Xiangzhi Bu after a marathon 89 moves. So was so dominating his closest pursuers, which included Bu, and Becerra only had 6.5 points. The victory capped a successful 2014 for the 21-year-old So, who won in three other prestigious tournaments, including the Millionaire Chess Open in the nearby Planet Hotel & Casino, in which the $100,000 first prize was the richest in chess history. He ended the year with a live rating of 2770.7, good for No. 10 best in the world. FIDE Master Alekhine Nouri. FACEBOOK Nouri keeps winning Eight-year-old Alekhine Nouri, meanwhile, continued his winning ways, emerging champion in the blitz Read More …

Yves Pierre is one of thousands of new immigrants to Germany, which is facing massive demographic shifts now reshaping the European nation. See a video of Pierre discussing his experiences in Berlin. BERLIN, Germany — Yves Pierre, 34, traveled around the world for over a decade looking for a land of opportunity — a place to live where he could have steady work in order to support his family back in Haiti. When he found a job with a multinational cruise line based in Berlin, he embraced Germany as his new home. BERLIN, Germany — Yves Pierre, 34, traveled around the world for over a decade looking for a land of opportunity — a place to live where he could have steady work in order to support his family back in Haiti. When he found a job with a multinational cruise line based in Berlin, he embraced Germany as his new home. He’s now been here for five years. He has an apartment in a neighborhood he loves, and German friends he hangs out with on weekends. “I really like it here – the social life, the arts,” says Pierre, who speaks five languages, including German. “I find it [very] international.” He also sees career opportunities. He just established a small fashion company, and he dreams of expanding to New York and Paris. But wherever his work may take him, he says, he knows that he wants Berlin to remain his home. Facing an enormous demographic shift, with an aging Read More …

Christmas lanterns at the Honolulu Museum of Art. HMA PHOTO HONOLULU– A Filipino Christmas Family Day called “Pasko! Sa Honolulu Museum of Art” on December 21 highlighted the festive and colorful Filipino-style Christmas season. The event was hosted by The Filipino Association of University Women (FAUW) and the Bank of Hawaii. The halls of the Honolulu Museum of Art were decked with Christmas lanterns or parol of various shapes, sizes, colors and materials. At the event’s art activity stations, visitors made parol, rice cakes, desserts, Christmas ornaments and learned to wrap gifts in coconut leaves and filigreed paper. Children were able to play traditional Filipino games such as sungka and sipa, try on Filipino costumes from different regions, and receive candies while learning how to do the “mano po” and respectfully greet elders like their “ninongs” and “ninangs” (godparents) who give presents during the holidays. The event also had display tables set for noche buena, a family feast held after midnight mass which were adorned with decorative shells, brass and hand-woven materials from the Philippines. A fashion show by Hilo-based Filipino designer Iris Viacrusis of traditional Filipiniana wear including ternos, María Clara dresses, Igorot and Muslim-inspired attires, was one of the highlights of the Pasko! event. Cultural presentations included folk dances and song numbers from the Filipino community, and performances from youth orchestra Banda Kawayan and the Tekniqlingz Dance Crew, which combine traditional and hip-hop styles in their unique rendition of the tinikling bamboo dance provided entertainment for the audience. Vice Consul Joyleen E. Santos represented the Philippine Consulate General Read More …

Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada will be able to spend more time with their families this coming New Year’s Eve at their detention facility inside Camp Crame after the Philippine National Police approved their request. According to deputy PNP spokesperson Senior Supt. Robert Po, the request of the two senators were partially approved. “I think it was granted partially but they were given a little leeway,” he said at a briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon Ciy. PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor last week said the two senators have asked to be allowed to entertain visitors until 2 a.m., or a nine-hour extension in their regular visiting hours.  The regular visiting hours are from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. This year, the New Year’s Eve will fall on a Wednesday. “I am not sure how long the extension was granted but not the whole request was granted,” Po further noted. Visitors of the two lawmakers may bring food like lechon or roasted pig. However, dancing on loud music is prohibited. Any form of gadgets will not be allowed inside the PNP Custodial Center, where the two senators are detained. Po said visiting rules will be strictly implemented. Revilla and Estrada are facing plunder and graft cases before the Sandiganbayan for their alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam. They were earlier allowed by the PNP to hold a Christmas party for their families at their detention facility. Read More …