Maniolas

By Edgardo M. Lopez Esq.INQUIRER.net US Bureau 5:48 am | Tuesday, July 30th, 2013 Same-sex couples all over the United States celebrated on June 26, 2013, after the US Supreme Court declared as unconstitutional part of the Defense of Marriage Act of 1996 (DOMA), that denied federal marital benefits to same-sex couples who are legally married under state law. One of the most obvious effects of the ruling is that same-sex couples can now report their income and file tax returns as married people. The decision came from the U.S. v. Windsor, a case involving a same-sex couple living in New York. The female couple, Windsor and Spyer, was legally married in Canada and moved to New York, where the marriage is recognized as valid. When Spyer died, she left her entire estate to Windsor. The controversy arose when Windsor’s claim for federal estate tax exemption as a surviving spouse was denied by the IRS, which ruled that the exemption applies only to the traditional definition of marriage between a man and a woman under DOMA. This resulted in Windsor being compelled to pay more than $300,000 in estate taxes. Windsor filed a lawsuit in federal court, seeking a refund of the estate taxes she paid. The case eventually reached the US Supreme Court, which held Section 3 of DOMA as unconstitutional under the equal protection clause of the Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution. Although federal agencies, such as the Internal Revenue Service and US Citizenship and Immigration Services, Read More …

Macau — Philippine boxing great Manny Pacquiao is harboring thoughts of running for president in his beloved homeland when he finally hangs up his gloves, he revealed to Agence France-Presse in an exclusive interview. Giving his strongest hint yet that he will push to the top of the political tree when he finally retires from the ring, the “Pacman” — a hero and congressman in his home country — admitted he had considered the presidency of the 95 million-strong nation. When pressed on whether he had thought about shooting for the top job, the softly-spoken 34-year-old replied “Yes”. Drawing parallels between his pugilism and politics careers, the former world champion in eight weight divisions said: “When I started boxing, of course I was planning… and thinking about getting to become a champion. So when I entered politics it’s the same thing. “But, you know, it’s far away,” he said, adding: “It’s God’s will.” Before that, however, Pacquiao whose record stands at 54 wins, five losses and two draws, must concentrate on his latest bout — a post breakfast-time tear-up with US fighter Brandon Rios, kicking off at the Venetian resort-hotel in Macau at 10:00 a.m. on November 24. The unconventional start time is for the benefit of the lucrative US pay-per-view audience, who will be settling down to watch the fight mid-evening on Saturday, as top US promoter Bob Arum attempts to elbow his way into the China market. And viewers will not be oblivious to the fact that it Read More …

By Nikko DizonPhilippine Daily Inquirer 12:37 am | Sunday, July 28th, 2013 Former President Fidel Ramos. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO SEOUL—Former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos wore his “never forget” ribbon on his left finger the whole day of Saturday, even after the colorful ceremony that commemorated the armistice that ended the Korean War 60 years ago. Ramos, 85, who fought with the 29th Battalion Combat Team from the Philippines in that war, and seven other Filipino veterans attended the Commemorative Ceremony for the United Nations Forces on the 60th Anniversary of the Korean Armistice. “The ribbon was a reminder for us to never forget,” Ramos told the Inquirer in an interview after the ceremony. “But for my part, I assured my fellow veterans seated near me and the ministers that regardless of age, regardless of the lapse of 60 years, the veterans, especially the Filipino veterans of the Korean War who have survived will still be around to help in the defense of freedom and democracy on the Korean Peninsula.” Veterans from the 21 countries that sent combat forces to Korea in 1950 came to the ceremony. Some were in wheelchairs, others stooped and walked slowly with their canes. Many remained sprightly, and all of them still had vivid memories of the war they fought 60 years ago under the United Nations flag and for which South Korea formally thanked them on Saturday. Around 300 veterans attended the commemorative ceremony for the UN Forces as the world remembered the 60th Read More …