Maniolas

The commander of the United States Pacific Command has indicated support for the Philippines’ call for a binding code of conduct among parties in the disputed territories in the South China Sea, GMA News “24 Oras” reported on Friday. “The US position has been, you need a baseline to maintain the status quo, which was in the DOC (Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea) and not to move forward from that until there’s been a legal ability to look at this,” said US Navy Admiral Samuel Locklear III in one of the sessions of the just-concluded World Economic Forum on East Asia. The report quoted Locklear as saying complications in the disputed territories would have been prevented if a binding code of conduct had already been adopted. China in 2002 signed a non-binding declaration with ASEAN member-countries including the Philippines, indicating among others that the parties agree not to build structures in the disputed areas to prevent increasing tension in the region. However, China has recently undertaken reclamation work in the Johnson Reef or what the Philippines calls the Mabini Reef.   The Philippines on Friday urged neighboring countries to hasten the adoption of a Code of Conduct  that will serve as a rules-based guiding principle for countries regarding their activities in the disputed areas west of the archipelago. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for International Economic Relations Laura Del Rosario stressed before thousands of business and political leaders from around the world the urgency to come Read More …

Agence France-Presse 5:15 am | Friday, May 23rd, 2014 Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak delivers a keynote speech at the 20th International Conference on The Future of Asia in Tokyo, Thursday, May 22, 2014. Najib Razak has distanced himself from escalating maritime disputes in Asia, telling a Japanese newspaper that the territorial conflicts should not jeopardize the “strategic importance” of his country’s ties with China. AP PHOTO/KOJI SASAHARA TOKYO—Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has distanced himself from escalating maritime disputes in Asia, telling a Japanese newspaper that the territorial conflicts should not jeopardize the “strategic importance” of his country’s ties with China. “We must look at the big picture and not define relations with China on a single-issue basis, but look at the broad spectrum of the relations and recognize the strategic importance of our bilateral relationship with China,” Najib told Japan’s Nikkei daily on Thursday. “We do not want [the territorial] issue to be an impediment to the growing ties between Malaysia and China,” the Malaysian premier, who is on a visit to Japan, said in an interview with the business daily. Najib’s comments came as Vietnam and the Philippines—which along with Malaysia are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations—are embroiled in separate rows with China over control of parts of the South China Sea. Tensions remain high in the region after an eruption of deadly anti-China riots in Vietnam over Beijing’s controversial plans to drill for oil in contested waters. Kuala Lumpur and Beijing have their Read More …

By Matikas SantosINQUIRER.net 11:32 pm | Thursday, May 22nd, 2014 DFA spokesman Charles Jose: Concern for Thailand. AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines on Thursday expressed hopes for the return of democracy and normalcy in Thailand where the military declared a coup d’etat Thursday afternoon. “The Philippines notes the latest developments in Thailand. In line with previous statements of the Asean Foreign Ministers, the Philippines supports a peaceful resolution of the present situation,” Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman Charles Jose said in a statement. “The Philippines likewise hopes for an early return to normalcy consistent with democratic principles, the rule of law and the will and interest of the Thai people,” the statement added. The Thai military previously declared martial law following almost seven months of political instability that saw former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra removed from office by the Constitutional Court of Thailand on May 7, 2014. Follow Us Other Stories: 3 Koreans found dead in Cebu restaurant For Asian immigrants, mental health issues are an ‘invisible problem’ Local Fil-Am makes good as mayor of Cerritos, California San Francisco’s ’14 drive to place 7,000 youths in jobs launched Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Read More …

(Clockwise from top left) LASD Deputy Chris Figueroa and Sgt. Janice Munson of LASD COPS explain how to spot pirated DVDs; LASD and private investigators raided F.L.B. Video Pinoy on Santa Fe Avenue in Long Beach, CA and seized thousands of pirated DVDs; Hundreds of illegally produced ABS-CBN content were confiscated; TFC Balitang America reporter Steve Angeles talks with investigator Kris Buckner; among the seized items were a disc burner and a burner tower that were reproducing ABS-CBN Star Cinema movies; fake DVDs from ABS-CBN lined up the shelves of F.L.B. Video Pinoy. PHOTOS by NMFernandez/ABS-CBN TFC) LONG BEACH, California—The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) and private industry investigators stormed recently into a Filipino store at the Santa Fe Center on Santa Fe Avenue in Long Beach after an investigation found out that the owners were selling and renting out pirated DVDs. A total of 4,500 pirated DVDs with a value of over US$90,000 were confiscated by LASD from F.L.B. Video Pinoy, together with a computer, external hard drives, a disc burner and a burner tower, among others, to duplicate DVDs illegally for rent or for sale at US$10 apiece.  A fifth of the seized DVDs were films and TV shows from ABS-CBN’s Star Cinema and TFC. The said center on Santa Fe Avenue is a hub for Filipinos living in the City of Long Beach as it has an oriental supermarket, cargo and money remittance services, and restaurants serving Filipino and Asian food, among others.  F.L.B. Video Pinoy, Read More …

PHOTO BY BRIAN PERRY WASHINGTON, D.C.—AARP and AARP Foundation donated more than $1 million in emergency relief funds to support victims devastated by Typhoon Haiyan (also known as Yolanda), one of the largest and strongest storms to make landfall in recorded history. The two organizations matched contributions dollar-for-dollar up to $500,000 and distributed those funds to relief organizations to provide meals, medical care, shelter and other forms of support to those in need, particularly older adults who are disproportionately affected during times of crisis. “AARP members responded to the devastation in the Philippines and Southeast Asia by donating funds to those in need,” said Lisa Marsh Ryerson, AARP Foundation President. “We’re proud to partner with relief organizations that are responding to the needs of the most vulnerable people affected by this natural disaster.” “We’re committed to serving the Filipino American community and supporting Filipino Americans who are 50+ with family and friends in the Philippines continuing the long and difficult process of recovery,” said Daphne Kwok, AARP Vice President of Multicultural Markets and Engagement for Asian American and Pacific Islander Audiences. One hundred percent of all funds raised went to organizations helping the victims of Typhoon Haiyan: HelpAge USA was granted $725,000 to distribute food, water, hygiene kits, and shelter materials and to set up helpdesks to direct seniors to essential services. CARE was granted $200,000 and is partnering with local organizations to provide short-term assistance, such as food distribution, and to work on longer-term recovery efforts. ABS-CBN Foundation International Read More …