Maniolas

Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice. FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The two main bidders for the P1.2-billion contract to supply 23,000 precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) had been less than candid about their ownership and reach, a check on their background by members of the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms revealed. On questioning by Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, an official of Indra Sistemas SA admitted that the Spanish government was the single biggest owner of the company. Smartmatic, on the other hand, had to concede that it was not the dominant poll equipment provider it had claimed to be when pressed on the issue by Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares. Committee chair and Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro meanwhile appealed for restraint among critics of the Comelec’s decision to give the diagnostics and refurbishment contract of 82,000 PCOS machines to Smartmatic. “Unless they can substantiate their accusations, I urge these groups to exercise restraint in coming out with statements that put the Comelec in a bad light. We should not allow this thing to happen because elections are critical to our democracy,” Castro said. In the House committee hearing Tuesday, Erice pressed Carlos Suarez, vice president of Indra Sistemas, to divulge the company’s biggest shareholder amid concerns that it was controlled by another sovereign country. Suarez told the panel that the Sociedad Estatal de Participaciones Industriales, a diversified public entity under the Spanish Ministry of Finance and Public Administrations, was the single biggest shareholder of Read More …

Dynamic duo: Chefs Margarita Forés and Myrna Segismundo will be cooking at Madrid Fusión 2015 in the Spanish capital This is the decade of Philippine cuisine, and one man could be credited for launching it with a big bang: Tourism  Secretary Ramon J. Jimenez Jr. He’s the one responsible for bringing Madrid Fusion Manila,  the Spanish gastronomic summit here, the first ever in Asia. Manila’s culinary world is abuzz with excitement for the forthcoming Madrid Fusión Manila 2015 slated from April 24-26 at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City. No stone will be left unturned in preparation for what could be the greatest gastronomic event in our history as a nation. This will be preceded by a large Philippine delegation from the government, media (including this writer) and private sectors attending the main Madrid Fusión 2015 conference at the Spanish capital next week, from Feb. 2-4. Not only will Madrid Fusión Manila 2015 be formally launched there, but also two of our kababayan chefs will showcase the wonders of our cuisine. If we have been collectively griping in the past about why Philippine cuisine hasn’t taken off internationally, this could be the singular event that could propel us to new stratospheric heights, surpassing all our Asian neighbors that have long passed their prime. I recall an interview by Carlo Tadiar (Metro Home, June-August 2008) with American author of Eat My Globe and Cutthroat Kitchen judge Simon Majumbar declaring: “I underestimated just how delicious Filipino food is. I can only say Read More …