Maniolas

Manila, Philippines (April 27, 2015) Philippine marines assigned to the 67th Company Marine Special Operations Group with U.S. Navy Sailors assigned to Coastal Riverine Squadron 3 in training aboard a riverine patrol boat during Balikatan 2015. Balikatan, which means “shoulder to shoulder” in Filipino, is an annual bilateral training exercise aimed at improving the ability of Philippine and U.S. military forces to work together during planning, contingency, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. The Philippines also plans to have similar exercises with Japan, a former World War II occupier. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua Scott/Released) Manila, Philippines (AFP)  – The Philippines and Japan will hold fresh joint naval drills this month, the Filipino military said Tuesday, as the World War II foes swiftly ramp up security ties while China develops islands in disputed waters. The June 22-26 joint maneuvers with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force would be only the second ever, after an unprecedented one-day exercise in the flashpoint South China Sea last month, Philippine navy spokesman Colonel Edgard Arevalo said. He would not say where the new exercises would be held or which ships would take part. But Japanese media, quoting unnmamed official sources, suggested the second maneuvers will also take place on the South China Sea. On May 12, two Japanese destroyers and one of the Philippines’ newest warships held historic maneuvers less than 300 kilometers (168 miles) from the Philippine-claimed Scarborough Shoal, which is now under Chinese control. “This navy-to-navy engagement envisions Read More …

Miss Manila candidates pose for the media during a courtesy call on Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada – father of detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada – at the Manila City Hall on Monday. The 28 candidates are vying for the title on pageant night at the PICC on June 24, the city’s founding day. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Sen. Jinggoy Estrada believes there was conspiracy to rob his house in Corinthian Hills, Quezon City, while his family was away to celebrate the 85th birthday of his mother, former Senator Loi Ejercito Estrada. “Do I think it’s an inside job, someone guided the suspects? Yes,” Estrada told reporters after his bail hearing for plunder at the Sandiganbayan on Monday. After Estrada saw pictures of the suspect, Eric Dalagan, he said he has reason to believe he must have known the suspect. “He looks familiar. He could be one of those we contracted to do paint job or electrical works so he was able to familiarize himself with our house.” Estrada’s wife Precy Ejercito and their children arrived at their house at 3:18 a.m. Saturday. Precy suspected someone broke into their house after she noticed the door leading to the room of her youngest daughter was ajar. She immediately sought help from security personnel. One of the two suspects, who was then still inside the Estrada residence, jumped off from the balcony and tried to evade arrest. Security personnel, however, caught up with him. The other suspect remains unidentified as of posting time. Read More …

Joshua Ouano describes his ideal girl: “someone mature, someone responsible, someone who can take of herself.”

President Benigno S. Aquino III converses with Vice President Jejomar Binay during the79th Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Day Celebration at the AFP General Headquarters Grandstand of the Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Thursday (December 18, 2014). This year’s theme is: “Sandatahang Lakas: Ika-79 na Taong Naglilingkod ng Tapat tungo sa Kapayapaan, Kaunlaran at Kasaganaan”. (MNS photo) MANILA, June 10 (Mabuhay) – Vice President Jejomar Binay wants a return of the four-year term limit for the president, with re-election. “Hindi ako payag diyan sa limiting of term. Habang gusto ng taumbayan, eh ‘di manilbihan,” he said. Binay, who will run in 2016, said six years may be “too long for a bad administrator,” but too short a term for the “good one.” Binay, who attended the forum at the Luneta Hotel, expressed his thoughts on Charter Change. This, after President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III earlier issued opposed lifting term limits. “Dapat yung 1935 Constitution natin ibalik na lang, hindi ‘yung sa no limitation, kundi sa pangulo at pangalawang pangulo e apat na taon na lang with re-election,” he added. Under Article 7, Section II of the defunct 1935 Constitution, the President and Vice President have four-year terms. Section V, however notes that the president cannot serve for more than eight consecutive years. Binay also said he is in favor of amending the economic provisions in the Constitution but stressed that safeguards should be in place. He cited that foreign ownership restrictions on some industries should be Read More …

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle beams with pride at the launching on Thursday of “I am here to be with you,” the official book on the visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines. The book contains photographs on the visit and a story written by Cardinal Tagle. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines is urging voters not to vote for candidates who are “notoriously corrupt” while also warning against the work of spin doctors who malign deserving candidates. In a pastoral letter, CBCP president and Archbishop Socrates Villegas reminded Filipinos to vote “for the right reasons” and not allow “demolition jobs” to influence their decisions to choose the deserving candidate. “Just as the discerning voter will not be easily won over by all the flattery in favor of one candidate, neither should a voter allow demolition jobs to dissuade him from choosing a person who is truly fit for office,” Villegas said. “Reject the notoriously corrupt, but neither should one readily jump on the bandwagon of condemnation in the absence of incontrovertible evidence, for, these days, one’s reputation, so painstakingly built by sincerity and honesty over the years, can so easily be tarnished by the truly evil work of ‘spin-doctors’ in the payroll of one or the other political aspirant,” he added. Villegas’ pastoral letter was read in different parishes all over the country on Sunday. Fr. Erik Adoviso, parish priest of Most Holy Trinity Church, said the CBCP president also warned the Read More …