Maniolas

Presidential candidate Sen. Miriam Santiago (right) and vice-presidential candidate Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (left), the son of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, gesture to supporters during a campaign rally in Batac, Ilocos Norte, Tuesday, at the start of the campaign for the May 10 national elections.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday denied that he supposedly connived with Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile to “kill” the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). Marcos explained that the Senate could not yet vote on the BBL until the House of Representatives has finished tackling the proposed law. Marcos made the statement after anchor Mike Enriquez cited a “24 Oras” news report where President Benigno Simeon Aquino III blamed two senators for the death of the proposed measure seeking to create a new Bangsamoro entity in Mindanao. “Ang masaklap po, dito, tila may dalawang senador na nagkuntsabahan. Pagkatagal-tagal pong inilabas ang report ng komite. Kahit nga po sa mga huling araw ng session, ay ‘di pa tapos mag-interpellate,” the President was quoted during a campaign sortie of the Liberal Party in Iloilo City on Tuesday. Aquino, however, did not name the two senators . Marcos chairs the Senate committee on local governments which conducted hearings on the BBL while Enrile was the last to interpellate the bill’s sponsor (Marcos). Marcos said, “Siguro dapat ipaliwanag kay Pangulo na ang BBL… ay batas of local application.” “Ang rules namin, kapag law of local application kailangan antayin namin matapos sa House of Representatives Read More …

“ISTRUKTURA 2″ 3rd Solo Show By: Jose Johann Bitancor Mar 1- April 2, 2016 Recep: March 12 (Sat) 6:30- 9pm Jack London Square Realty 311 Oak Street, Suite 116 Oakland CA 94607 Biography: Jose Johann Bitancor is a Filipino painter and graphic designer with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Far Eastern University in the Philippines. Prior to his migration to the United States, his creative outputs were devoted entirely to the Applied Arts, particularly Exhibition Design and Collateral Design. Upon his first settlement in Memphis Tennessee, his innate inkling to work with hands and play with materials has led to experiments in woodcarving and wire sculptures. He pursued a short stint at the University of Memphis-Tennessee to further increase his knowledge and feed his then growing appetite for the Fine Arts. His efforts quickly led to his participation in local art groups’ events and managed to receive a Portfolio Merit Scholarship from the Memphis College of Art-Tennessee. Jose Johann Bitancor To date, his works had been featured in a number of group exhibitions in the Philippines and in the US. Notable among which were those held at the Rochester Contemporary Arts Center, Bliss on Bliss Art Projects in New York, ANT Gallery in Seattle, San Francisco the Germantown Performing Arts Center in Tennessee and the University of the Philippines Vargas Museum and Bencab Museum. Bitancor’s present ouvre consists of two-dimensional exploration of linear, planar and textural compositions in a non-representational manner. His concerns consist of not only unifying Read More …

The sudden change of hearts of 64 Congressmen who recently signed a resolution to override President Aquino’s veto of the proposed P2000 SSS pension hike came a bit too late. It is good to know that a number of lawmakers crossed party lines to sign the petition to give additional financial assistance to retirees. They could have done it on the last day of their session before Congress adjourned in preparation for the May 16 elections. President Aquino rejected a proposed bill seeking to increase the monthly social security pension of retirees, claiming that it will have dire financial consequences for the entire membership of the Social Security System. He claimed that the stability of the benefit system of social security will be seriously compromised once the P2,000 hike is implemented. What President Aquino should’ve done a long time ago if he is really serious in protecting the financial stability of SSS is to slash the excessive bonuses given to social security executives amounting to millions of pesos annually. On top of their huge bonuses, these overpaid executives appointed by a sitting president are getting so many perks, including car and gasoline allowances. This is absurd. Everyone knows that the SSS, for so many years, has been in good financial standing and can even afford to give huge salaries and bonuses to its executives. Meanwhile, Social Security retirees who depend on their monthly income to sustain their daily living, will have to wait until Congress resumes its session in the Read More …

President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his message in the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) general assembly Wednesday (February 10) at the grand ballroom of Marriott Hotel in Pasay City. The President commended the group for its dynamic, pro-people and patriotic alliance championing excellence in governance towards genuine local autonomy.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — President Benigno Aquino III made a pitch for administration standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo Thursday by urging voters to elect leaders with a proven track record instead of gambling the country’s future by choosing untested politicians. Speaking at the forum of the Liga ng mga Barangay at the Philippine International Convention Center, Aquino called the team-up of Roxas and Robredo as the only “real” tandem who will be able to sustain the gains made by the administration. President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) general assembly Wednesday (February 10) at the grand ballroom of Marriott Hotel in Pasay City. The President commended the group for its dynamic, pro-people and patriotic alliance championing excellence in governance towards genuine local autonomy. (MNS photo) Addressing the housands of barangay captains who were at the forum, the President said: “Ang lahat ng napagtagumpayan natin ay umpisa pa lamang ng transpormasyon at kayo ang magsasabi kung magtutuluy-tuloy tayo. Para nga ho mangyari ito, kailangan nating ihalal ang tunay na tambalang magpapatuloy ng Daang Matuwid. Para sa akin po, walang iba ‘yan kundi si Mar Roxas Read More …