Maniolas

In this Sept. 25, 2014, file photo, East Timor Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao addresses the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters. East Timor independence hero Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao resigned as prime minister Friday, Feb. 6, 2015, stepping down ahead of an expected restructuring of the government next week. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File) Dili, East Timor — East Timor resistance hero Xanana Gusmao has submitted his resignation as prime minister, the government said Friday, after more than a decade leading the half-island nation during the early years of its independence. The president must now decide whether to accept the resignation of the 68-year-old, who has served as either president or prime minister since East Timor became independent in 2002 following a long struggle against Indonesian occupation. The departure of the former guerrilla fighter would deprive East Timor of a unifying figure who has helped resolve numerous crises, but analysts say it is time for Gusmao to step aside to enable a transition to a new generation of leaders. Speculation had been mounting that Gusmao would step aside soon after he began talks with the president earlier this week about a major government overhaul, which is expected to be announced in the coming days. In a statement Friday, the government said that Gusmao “has sent his letter of resignation from the post of prime minister to the president”, Taur Matan Ruak. “It is now for the president of the republic to consider and respond to Read More …

Community advocates (from left): Rafael Morales,Wendy Ho, Gabriel de la Cruz and  Fahad Qurashi.  MOUNTAIN VIEW, California – Deadlier than a loan shark is the predatory payday lender. Both offer short term loans at extremely high interest rates, target the low income and keep them in a cycle of debt. But only the payday lender operates with varying degrees of legality, depending on which state they do business. Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF) Economic Security Program Officer Rafael Morales said, “To give you a sense of this: there are more payday lenders in the US than there are McDonalds and there are more payday lenders than there are Starbucks. In California alone, the payday loan industry is about $3 billion a year.” Morales also said, “Until several years ago, the major banks were essentially funding a lot of these payday lenders. But most of the banks have gotten out of the payday lending business because of federal regulations.” Morales added that it grew out of the check-cashing model, and the SVCF didn’t tackle the issue until 2009. United Way Silicon Valley Advocacy & Public Policy Manager Wendy Ho, a Filipino-Chinese stated, “I think payday loans really came about in the 1990s with the downturn of the economy when people really started looking for quick cash fixes. Desperate times called for desperate measures to make ends meet.” Morales explained that some immigrants, not necessarily undocumented, bring their grave mistrust of banks when they come to the US and prefer to stash their Read More …

SAN FRANCISCO — There’s a new face for the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) “It’s more fun in the Philippines” campaign in this city. The Philippine Consulate General here welcomed Purificacion Suanding-Molintas, a native of Baguio City, who arrived January 26 to take over the tourism attaché post previously held for nearly two decades by Rene de los Santos. Molintas was introduced to the local media over lunch at Patio Filipino in San Bruno. In an interview with Manila Mail, Molintas explained that De los Santos’ departure is “part of the reorganization the government is doing for the rationalization. I think all the government agencies are doing rationalization at hindi naiiba ang DOT [and the DOT is no different].” Though Molintas has been to San Francisco four times, this is her first overseas posting. She has a term of three years, which could be extended for up to six years. DOT has three offices in the US: SF, Los Angeles and New York City. The jurisdiction of SF includes the west of California, up north all the way to Canada, Alaska and a portion of the Midwest. “Although we have our own jurisdiction, we have to coordinate closely with each other since the flights are interrelated among these three cities,” Molintas said. DOT aims to bring in 10 million foreign tourists to the Philippines by the end of 2016. “We’re about 60 percent right now,” she said. “But of course there are international challenges, issues that we have to hurdle.” New Read More …

PHILIPPINE Ambassador to Israel Neal Imperial (center) with Philpost officials Enrique V. Tagle, Maria JosefinaM. Dela Cruz, Israeli postal official Haim Elmozino and Rishon LeZion Mayor Dov Zur during the unveiling ofthe Philippine-Israel joint stamp. MANILA, Philippines–A joint commemorative stamp marking the Philippine rescue of Jews during the Holocaust was launched on Jan. 29 in an event that reaffirmed the enduring friendly relations of the Philippines and Israel. The launch, held at the Community Hall of Rishon LeZion, came two days after the International Holocaust Memorial Day on Jan. 27, a significant event for all Jews around the world. The Philippine version of the stamp was unveiled by Philippine Ambassador to Israel Neal Imperial, Post Master General and Philippine Postal Corp. (Philpost) chief executive officer Maria Josefina M. de la Cruz and Philpost business lines department manager Enrique V. Tagle. Israeli’s version was unveiled by Israel Post chief executive officer and president Haim Elmozino, Rishon LeZion Mayor Dov Zur and Israel Philatelic Service Director Yaron Razon. The joint commemorative stamp features the national flags of the two states and the Open Doors Monument. The monument, which was unveiled on June 21, 2009, at Holocaust Memorial Park in Rishon LeZion, honors the humanitarian act of President Manuel L. Quezon in saving the lives of Jews fleeing the Holocaust from 1939 to 1942 through the issuance of around 10,000 visas. Only about 1,300 Jews reached the Philippines. Imperial said the humanitarian act not only saved the lives of a large number of Read More …