Maniolas

WASHINGTON, DC—Ten young Filipino-American “change-makers” will be given the opportunity to connect with their Philippine roots this year as part of the 2014 Filipino American Youth Leadership Program (FYLPro). The 10 Filipino-American fellows will immerse in local communities and converse with government and industry leaders. The fellows who were selected from nominations from across the United States are: Edward Aparis of Chula Vista, California; Ryyn Chua, Gardena, California; Rommel Clemente, Milpitas, California; Adette Contreras, Brooklyn, New York; Michael Dahilig, Lihue, Hawaii; Rafael Diokno, Washington, D.C.; Abbey Eusebio, Lincolnwood, Illinois; Jan Paul Ferrer , Tinley Park, Illinois; Ryan Letada, New York, New York; and Jason Tengco, Washington, DC. “I am excited with this group of promising individuals,” Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. said.  “We truly had a difficult time narrowing down the choices, as many of the applicants were impressive and well qualified.” Cuisia said the delegates will take part in an immersive program in the Philippines from July 24 to 28 that will give them the opportunity to meet and dialogue with high-ranking officials and policymakers in the Philippines, leaders of industry, media, cultural experts, traditional business leaders, social entrepreneurs as well as innovators in different fields. A brainchild of Cuisia and his wife, Victoria, the program builds on the success of the programs held in 2012 and 2013 that were participated in by 20 other promising Filipino-American youth leaders. Minister and Consul Emilio Fernandez said previous FYLPro delegates have gone on to undertake, among other things, political advocacy initiatives, cultural Read More …

The lawyer of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles said his client is willing to return the amount she allegedly earned from the scam. In an interview aired on GMA News TV’s State of the Nation on Monday night, Napoles’ legal counsel, lawyer Stephen David, said that based on their calculations, his client only gained P2 billion from the pork barrel scam. “Dapat talagang ibalik iyon. Willing naman si Mrs. Napoles na ibalik iyon,” David said. He also noted that while his client is willing to return the amount, Napoles would not be able to pay in cash as her assets are currently frozen. “Wala siyang pera,” David said. Napoles has suggested to go after the lawmakers who owe her, noting that she can prove their debts through documents, he added. Last April, the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 22 had issued a freeze order on the bank accounts and properties of Napoles, effectively preventing her from having access to these assets during the duration of a forfeiture case filed by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) against her and more than 70 other people. Other assets However, sources earlier told GMA News that Napoles has assets that have yet to be frozen, the report said. The report noted that a whistleblower has told GMA News that Napoles allegedly has three condominium units in Makati amounting to P200 million. It added that she also has shares of stocks in some corporations and memberships in exclusive clubs. These are: Manila Polo Read More …

• Investment Roadshow touts economic growth • Fil-Ams could join development investments” • Openings in IT, pharmaceuticals, etc, Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. and other members of the private-sector delegation from Manila hold one-on-one meetings with prospective investors on the sides of the 3rd Philippine Investment Mission in Atlanta. (PHILIPPINE EMBASSY PHOTOS/LILIBETH ALMONTE-ARBEZ) Ambassador Cuisia thanks Estrella Cramer of UPS Global Procurement at the end of the 3rd Philippine Investment Mission business forum at the UPS auditorium in Atlanta. ATLANTA, Georgia — Saying prospects for the Philippines have never been brighter, a high-level business delegation from Manila called on Filipino-Americans to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the improved business climate in their homeland. In their meeting with the Filipino-American community in Atlanta, members of the 3rd Private Sector-Led Philippines Investment Roadshow headed by noted economist Dr. Bernardo Villegas urged Fil-Ams to play a role in maintaining the Philippines’ upward economic trajectory. The meeting was part of the Philippines: Asia’s New Emerging Tiger business forum that was also participated in by Fred Austria, president of DMCI; Bong Borja, president of Expert Global; Martin Pascual, director of Pascual Laboratories; and Phillip Romualdez, president of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines. Villegas gave an overview of the positive investment climate in the Philippines and predicted that the country’s economic growth of 7.5 percent last year could even expand to 10 to 15 percent in the next decade. “The economy is so strong that even if the people decide to elect Read More …

INQUIRER.net US Bureau 3:21 am | Tuesday, June 3rd, 2014 • Bill would give Californians  top  minimum wage in the nation by ‘17 • Automatically adjusted for inflation annually starting in ‘18 • Aimed at reducing poverty, income gap LOS ANGELES – California’s State Senate on Thursday, May 29, voted 21-12 to raise the state’s minimum wage to at least $13 per hour by 2017. The bill would also require the minimum wage to be automatically adjusted for inflation annually beginning in 2018. The adjustments would be calculated using the California Consumer Price Index and reductions in the minimum wage would be prohibited if inflation becomes negative in any given period. California Partnership (CAP) Director Vanessa Aramayo said “an increase in California’s minimum wage is long overdue as it is lower than it was in 1965 when adjusted for inflation. SB 935 sponsored Sen. Mark Leno would  “reduce the number of Californians living in poverty, reduce the number of people going hungry, and increase economic activity in our communities that have been hardest hit by the economic recession and stagnation of wages.” A recent report by Human Impact Partners cites a study that predicts a minimum wage of $13 would help reduce the record-high income gap that exists in California today. The study predicts that the income of 7.6 million Californians in families in the lowest quarter of income distribution would rise while the net income of the top 75 percent of households would not change. California Partnership, a coalition Read More …

Businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles has more expensive jewelry hidden in a vault than what was shown in photos by Napoles’ former aide, lawyer Levito Baligod said. “Yung mga nakikita ng mga kasambahay niya [Napoles] na nandoon lamang sa bahay niya, hindi pa yun yung mahahalagang jewelry niya….Yung mga nasa bahay, pang araw-araw lang niya yun. Yung mas mahahalagang jewelry niya at precious stones and metals nasa vault ‘yan ng isang bangko,” Baligod said in an exclusive interview aired on GMA News “24 Oras” Monday evening. Baligod, who used to represent whistleblowers Benhur Luy and Merlina Suñas, now serves as the lawyer of Napoles’ former aide, who last Friday showed GMA News photos of the alleged jewelry collection believed to be worth millions of pesos. In a same interview, the said former aide—who refused to be identified for security reasons—said Napoles owns more pieces of jewelry which she was not able to take photos of. “Hindi ko po nakuhanan yung parang mga black pearl ata yun na nakabalot sa black na tela…kay Napoles lang po yun lahat, iba pa po yung sa mga anak niya na babae,” she said. The former aide, who used to live with the Napoleses, said she used to clean some of the pieces. ‘Bakit may tag?’ In a separate interview, Napoles’ lawyer Stephen David maintained that his client does not own the jewelry collection shown in the ex-aide’s photos. David said that most of Napoles’ jewelry pieces were no longer in her possession. “May mga alahas Read More …