Maniolas

Filipino poet Bonifacio Ilagan, one of hundreds of activists imprisoned during the Martial Law period which was declared by the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, poses by the granite wall which is engraved with the names of Martial Law victims, including his sister Rizalina Ilagan, at the Heroes Shrine at suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines Monday Jan. 28, 2013. More than 9,000 victims will be awarded compensation using $246 million that the Philippine government recovered from Marcos’ ill-gotten wealth. But all claims will still have to evaluated by an independent commission and the amount each will receive will depend of the abuse suffered. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Exactly a week after the processing of application started, only 128 of the estimated 10,000 Martial Law victims have so far filed for compensation. Noting that the claimants only have until November 10 this year to file their applications, Lina Sarmiento, chief of the Human Rights Victims Claims Board (HRVCB), advised the victims against last-minute filing. “We are asking the victims and their families to file their applications as early as possible,” Sarmiento said Monday. “Don’t wait for the deadline.” Sarmiento said failure of the victims to file claims during the six-month period, as stipulated in Republic Act 10368, will be considered a waiver. “We would like to reiterate that all victims of martial law have to apply in person, including those conclusively presumed as human rights violations victims (HRVVs) so that the Claims Board will be able to determine the Read More …

Sunshine Cruz (MNS photo) Actress Sunshine Cruz has filed a petition seeking the annulment of her 13-year marriage to actor Cesar Montano. Cruz said she filed the petition before Holy Week. “Para naman bago ako mag-40 makahanap ako ng kaligayahan ko,” Cruz, 36, said. The actress said she has decided to move on. Cruz and Montano broke up after the actor’s alleged affair with model Krista Miller. Cruz also expressed disappointment that Montano has not been visiting their children as often. “Mayroon siya every day visitorial rights. Ang problema nga nakakatatlong visits pa lang siya sa mga bata, tatlo o apat magmula nang nangyari ‘yung full custody sa akin last year December yata,” she said. She also revealed that Montano has failed to provide financial support tto his children. “Sa ngayon ang order ng court is for him to pay the tuition of the children and ‘yung mga school supplies at nung nagre-rent ako ng bahay P55,000 a month ibinibigay niya ‘yun lang. Up to now, dahil hindi pa din kami nagkakaroon ng hearing, ‘yun pa din. So I am asking, I was requesting nga him, the secretary, to at least naman magpadala naman kayo ng bacon, hotdog, baon ng mga bata, makita man lang na ‘o padala ng tatay niyo yan.’ Para naman ma-feel ng mga bata na naalala pa din kami ni daddy,” Cruz said. “I always tell the kids to message him every day. Sabi ko ‘yun lang ang order ko sa inyo – to always say Read More …

Senator Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV during a discussion on “Enhancing Competitiveness Amidst A Changing External Economic Environment.” Aquino warns that lives of 300,000 people are at stake due to substandard reinforcement bars created from wire rods and used in estimated 60,000 houses in different parts of the country. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The 23rd World Economic Forum on East Asia, which will be held in the country from May 21-23, plays a vital role to the Philippine economy with the 2015 ASEAN Integration fast approaching. “With the spotlight on East Asia, we should take every opportunity to showcase and promote the country’s robust economic growth,” said Senator Bam Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship. Earlier, the World Economic Forum (WEF) described the Philippine economy as one of the “greatest economic comeback stories in recent years.” The WEF also predicted that the country would be the strongest performing Southeast Asian economy this year, with gross domestic product (GDP) growth projected to surpass 6.5 percent. “The Forum is an ideal stage where we can entice businessmen to pour investments and establish other ventures in the country, aside from promoting our products and services,” added Aquino, whose office is one of the organizers of the Forum. Aquino believes that the government and private sector should grab every opportunity to promote the country before the launching of the 2015 ASEAN Economic Community 2015. “When the integration starts, we expect tight competition from other countries for a lion’s share Read More …

The Inquirer report, which came out Sunday, listed names of media personalities, including Korina Sanchez of ABS-CBN, who allegedly received payoffs from detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, tagged as the scam’s mastermind. It said Pacheco received P715,000 from Napoles from 2004 to 2008. MANILA (Mabuhay) – Other media workers who allegedly benefitted from the multibillion pork barrel scam have come forward to deny the accusation. Aside from Mike Enriquez and Korina Sanchez of GMA Network and ABS-CBN, respectively, radio announcer Rey Pacheco and TV5 news and public affairs head Luchi Cruz-Valdez dismissed the Philippine Daily Inquirer report linking them to the scam. “Kaugnay sa balitang lumabas sa Inquirer, ako ay na-shock at nalulungkot. Pero para sa kaalaman ng lahat: Una, wala akong natanggap na pera mula kay Mrs. Napoles batay sa listahan ni Benhur Luy. Pangalawa, hindi ko siya kilala at hindi ko makita ang dahilan kung bakit nasama ako sa kanyang listahan,” said Pacheco in a statement. The Inquirer report, which came out Sunday, listed names of media personalities who allegedly received payoffs from detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, tagged as the scam’s mastermind. It said Pacheco received P715,000 from Napoles from 2004 to 2008. The Inquirer cited the files provided by pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy, a former employee in Napoles’ JLN Corp., as the source of its report. The files were reportedly contained in a hard drive that Luy’s parents gave to the Inquirer. Valdez, for her part, denied personally knowing both Luy and Napoles. “I deny and Read More …