Maniolas

Cebu Pacific says they are banning shark fin carriage effective immediately because of its “unsustainable shark fishing and our carriage of shark fin is not aligned with (our) position on sustainable development.” Cebu Pacific and Tigerair, the two largest low-cost carriers in the Philippines and Singapore respectively, have made further progress on their interline agreement with the first interline flights available on Cebu Pacific’s website from 23 July 2014.  Tigerair flights will be available on Cebu Pacific’s website from September 2014.  With the interline agreement facilitating both domestic and international collaboration between both airlines, Cebu Pacific and Tigerair have created the biggest network of flights from the Philippines to the region. The interline agreement is part of a wide-ranging strategic alliance entered into between the two carriers earlier this year and will enable both airlines to leverage their respective strengths to enhance their network coverage and jointly market interline routes.  Travelers can enjoy seamless connections between the two airlines, with easy one-stop ticketing for connecting flights and baggage check-in.  The ability to cross-book flights on a single itinerary will pave the way for greater connectivity between the two carriers, allowing customers to connect seamlessly within Asia Pacific and the Middle East. Specifically, Tigerair’s customers will be able to fly from South East Asia to 34 Philippine cities, Korea and Japan on Cebu Pacific’s network, and Cebu Pacific’s customers in the Philippines will be able to add Tigerair’s destination calls in Australia (via Perth), India and China to their flight itineraries.  Read More …

Aquino was in San Carlos City where he led a ceremonial switch-on of the 22-megawatt (MW), $45-million San Carlos Solar Energy Inc. (SACASOL) (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Former congressman Mark Cojuangco says had the government started running the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) in 2010, the country could have prevented an impending power crisis next year. Cojuangco, a staunch nuclear power advocate, had a tour and lecture sponsored for some residents of Morong, Bataan about the BNPP. Cojuangco says it will take 4 years to restart the BNPP. In his lecture, Cojuangco showed residents video and photo of his trip to various countries with nuclear facilities. He addressed residents’ fears of a nuclear meltdown. The BNPP was ready for operation since 1985. Government paid more than $2 billion including interest, and was fully paid in 2007. Yet despite the enormous cost, consumers have not been able to benefit from the 620-megawatt plant. Cojuangco appealed to President Aquino, his second cousin, to make the reopening of Bataan nuclear plant his legacy in his remaining years in office. He noted this is not just for the Aquino administration but for future generation of Filipinos. But Bataan vice governor Efren Pascual says the reopening of the nuclear power plant and even the plan to put up a coal fired power plant within the BNPP compound needs their approval as host province. Pascual adds the provincial government has not made a decision on the reopening of the BNPP since it still wants to Read More …

Senate Minority Floor Leader Juan Ponce Enrile (center) arrives at the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City on Friday, July 11, to attend his arraignment on graft and plunder charges in connection with the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam. He faces one count of plunder and 15 counts of graft. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Office of the Senate President told the Sandiganbayan on Thursday that it could not yet suspend Senator Juan Ponce Enrile over his pork barrel scam cases. The letter, signed by Senate President Franklin Drilon’s chief of staff Atty. Renato Bantug Jr., said the body would still have to wait for the court’s decision on Enrile’s motion for reconsideration over his suspension. “This Office hereby manifests that it would take appropriate action on the suspension order upon the Honorable Court’s disposition of the motion for reconsideration..” the letter reads. But in a letter sent by Enrile’s chief of staff Cherbett Maralit sent to Drilon’s office, and attached to the letter sent to Sandiganbayan, Enrile’s camp said it would only file their motion for reconsideration on or before August 1, Friday. The Senate said it could only suspend Enrile ”upon the lapse of the prescribed period to file the motion for reconsideration and no such motion is filed,” Drilon’s letter read. The court gave Enrile 90 days upon receipt of the resolution to file his appeal. The anti-graft court has ordered Enrile’s suspension for 90 days, concurring with government prosecutors’ claims that the veteran lawmaker can use his Read More …

Aquino reported in his State of the Nation Address the readiness of the blue print for the rehabilitation and recovery plans for Cebu, Iloilo, Eastern Samar, Leyte and Tacloban City. Some P28 billion has been earmarked for the project. More than eight months after Super Typhoon Yolanda hit land, over 2,000 families still live in the tent cities and more than 8,000 families need to be relocated from the no-build zones. One of the most disastrous typhoons that visited the Philippines in recent time, Yolanda killed thousands and left millions homeless. Local executives of Tacloban City welcome Tacloban Recovery and Rehabilitation Plan (TRRP) in a city that used to earn P800 M a year and was down to P620 but urged “to please hurry” as the residents are becoming “frustrated day by day”. For his part, Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez whose own family had its share of misfortune from the November Super Howler, is rallying his townmated to accelerate the rebuilding effort and was in Southern California at the Josephine Restaurant in Cerritos over the weekend  upon the invitation of Tacloban CityAssociation whose members have relatives  in the Philippines similarly stricken. Accompanied by his wife Cristina, a former screen actress and now a politician herself, they were embraced and welcomed by their townmates at the event. The reassuring presence of the Tacloban executive and his wife had local Taclobanons feel confident that something is being done to alleviate the conditions of their families and relatives back home. * * Read More …

Toni Gonzaga chooses to be grateful about her blessings than be hurt by bashers.