Maniolas

Pinoys all over the southland observed Palm Sunday this past weekend to commemorate the entrance of Jesus to Jerusalem, “the King of Kings riding a donkey, symbolizing Peace” rather than a horse which in the olden times meant “power as in overthrowing a nation.”  This story has always been repeated to us when we were in high school by our most revered Franciscan nun teachers.We were informed that during Jesus’ journey, people sang “Hosanna” paving His way by waving palm branches while He was on His way to the olive garden “Getsemane” to pray. When Maundy Thursday comes, Jesus celebrated His Last Supper or (Passover to the Jews) where He shared His last meal with his disciples. The following day, Good Friday or the Crucifixion, our family would be gathered in Church by 3:00 pm to listen to Bishop Byrne (our Cathedral’s Archbishop at the time) recite the “Seven Last Words.” Easter Good Friday to us, is the most significant day of prayer as this was the day we commemorate the death of Jesus who died for us and for this we should all be forever thankful to Him. We would visit, pray and touch the Crucifix ilaid down n the middle of the Church which was opened all night, to help us pray,find peace and meaning in our lives. By tradition, this was also the day we would go and visit seven (7) churches. In our town of Iba, visiting seven (7) churches wasn’t as difficult because we can always go to neighboring towns. But in Manila, due to traffic congestion. I remembered we would all have to Read More …

Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. talks to the media on Friday inside the Makati City Hall Building. Binay said he will stay in the building despite a suspension order from the Ombudsman for his alleged involvement in the overpricing of the Makati City Hall Building II. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – A day after the Court of Appeals (CA) concluded its hearing on embattled Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay’s petition to have her cited in contempt for “defying” the appellate court’s temporary restraining order (TRO) on his preventive suspension, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima reiterated her position that Binay’s move has no basis. Speaking to reporters at the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday, De Lima said she merely issued a legal opinion after having been asked by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the agency tasked by the Office of the Ombudsman to serve the 6-month preventive suspension order on Binay. “Hindi namin maintindihan kung bakit kailangan pa kami ipa-contempt, lalo na on my part. Hiningi po opinyon ko, yung guidance ko, ng DILG because they were faced with a serious situation na may dalawang mayors, may dalawang opisyal na nag-aact ngayon as mayors [of Makati] na insofar as the DILG is concerned, na-implement na nila yung preventive suspension order ng Ombudsman bago natanggap yung TRO ng Court of Appeals,” De Lima said. The justice chief said that while her legal opinion has a “persuasive effect,” it is not binding with Read More …

— Most Rev. Gabriel V. Reyes, Bishop of Antipolo, leads the Palm Sunday rites to mark the start of the Holy Week at the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Shrine or Antipolo Church in Antipolo City, Rizal on Sunday (March 29, 2015). (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Is your city plaza or road named after a deceased relative of government officials or employees? This will be prohibited once Senate Bill 2707 authored by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago is enacted into law. The proposed measure seeks to amend Section 13 of Republic Act 7160 or Local Government Code of 1991 which provides the Sangguniang Panlalawigan with the power to change the names of local government units, public places, streets and public structures within its territorial jurisdiction. The only limitation under the law is that such places and structures may not be named after any living person. So it has been the practice of some government officials to name public works after their deceased parents or grandparents, some of whom may share their name. “This practice is deplorably self-serving. Not only does it underhandedly increase their own prestige within their locality, it also has the insidious effect of perpetuating their political dynastic line by forcing street goers to repeatedly utter their family name,” Santiago said in her explanatory note. “This amounts to a circumvention of the law against premature campaigning, and at the expense of the taxpayers, no less,” she added. Under the bill, none of the local government units, Read More …

(Photo from left) Commission on Election (Comelec) Commissioner Arthur D. Lim, Comelec Executive Director Jose M. Tolentino Jr., and Smartmatic Program Manager Marlon Garcia, discuss the condition of some 82,000 Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines (right) during the poll body’s “Walk Through” on Friday (March 20, 2015), held at the production area in Comelec Warehouse, Park Drive, Light Industrial Science Park 1, Barangay Diezmo, Cabuyao, Laguna. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – About 63% of adult Filipinos, equivalent to 37.4 million, have been “validated” to vote so far, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey. The survey, the result of which was first published on BusinessWorld, also revealed that 30% of adult Filipinos, or an estimated 17.8 million, were registered but not validated as of the end of last year. Meanwhile, 8% – equivalent to some 4.5 million – had not registered. SWS said Mindanao had the highest proportion of validated voters at 69% (9.4 million); followed by the Visayas, 64% (7.4 million); “balance Luzon”, 63% (16.6 million); and Metro Manila, 50% (4.1 million). The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said a validated voter is one who is registered and whose photograph, fingerprint, and signature have been captured. The poll body, in its Resolution No. 9721 promulgated on June 26, 2013, said only validated voters will be allowed to vote in the 2016 presidential elections. Metro Manila had the highest proportion of registered but unvalidated voters at 39% (3.3 million); followed by balance Luzon, 31% (8.3 millon); the Visayas, 29% Read More …

Janella Salvador also reveals why she does not want to work with mom Jenine Desiderio.