Maniolas

THE Chaplain of Filipino Ministry of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles has asked Catholic faithfuls to pray for the members of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) as they go through a very deep crisis in their organization. Fr. Albert H. Avenido, who also serves at the Filipino-dominated St. Philomena church in Carson City, urged Filipino Catholics to refrain from engaging in actions that would agitate or offend the sensibilities of the members of the INC, the largest and most powerful home-grown church in the Philippines. “Huwag nating paliyabin ang sitwasyon. Alalahanin natin na mga kapatid din natin sila,” Avenido said in a telephone interview. The priest recalled that when the Archdiocese of Los Angeles was also rocked by scandals a couple of years ago, the INC as a church did not do anything to hurt the feelings of Catholics. “Ipinagdasal din nila tayo noong mayroong din tayong pinagdadaanan,” Avenido recalled. Weekend Balita pressed the priest for comment because of the social media bashing being done by netizens, some of them probably Catholics, against the members of the INC and their church. The Filipino priest said the mean comments on social media were unfortunate and do not reflect the nature of a true Christian. (Abner T. Galino)

Meg Imperial (MNS Photo) Actress Meg Imperial clarified rumors that she had a relationship with actor JM de Guzman, who is now the boyfriend of actress Jessy Mendiola Imperial denied that de Guzman was her ex-boyfriend. “Siguro nagkaroon lang ng connection for a while,” Imperial said. “Hindi naman po totally nag-date. Nagkita lang kami sa Davao nagkaroon ng event doon, nagkaroon ng connection, nag-usap usap, so ‘yun,” she explained. JM De Guzman (MNS Photo) Imperial admitted that de Guzman asked her to go out but this never happened. She also said she doesn’t feel bad about her short-lived “connection” with the actor. “Hindi naman panghihinayang ‘yon, sobrang bait siya pero may makikita pa namang iba,” she said. But Imperial stressed that she isn’t looking for a boyfriend at this time. “This year ang daming failure sa love so huwag na lang muna,” she said. De Guzman has already denied that he dated Imperial. (MNS)

Senator Grace Poe (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senator Grace Poe remains uncertain whether or not she would seek the presidency in 2016. “Kasalukuyan ko pa ring sinusuri at tinitimbang ng buong katapatan ang aking puso at isipan patungkol sa hinaharap,” Poe said in a text message Tuesday. (I’m still weighing until now with all honesty my heart and mind about the future.) “Napakahalaga ng nakasalalay sa aking magiging disisyon. Bukod tangi dito ang nararapat na kahinatnan at marating ng ating bayang mahal sa susunod na anim na taon,” she said. (My decision will have very important implications. The most important of which are our beloved country’s outlook and path in the next six years.) Poe was reacting to the statements of Senators Sergio Osmeña III and Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, who have expressed certainty that the lady senator will join the presidential race next year. But Poe said those kinds of perceptions “do not really put added pressure on me.” “While I consult my family and close friends when necessary, I am and have always been independent in deciding on important matters,’ she said in another text message on Wednesday. “What puts pressure on me is the matter of whether what I finally decide on is the right one for our country,”   she added. While she has yet to make a decision, Poe has already topped the latest presidential survey conducted by the Pulse Asia, overtaking Vice President Jejomar Binay, the erstwhile consistent topnotcher in various surveys. She also Read More …