Maniolas

ABRIELA USA welcomes Rodrigo Duterte as the newly inaugurated 16th President of the Philippines (photo courtesy of Gabriela USA Facebook page) Gabriela USA welcomes Rodrigo Duterte as the newly inaugurated 16th President of the Philippines, and joins millions of women in calling for change.  “Women in the Philippines suffered unemployment, landlessness, violence and state sponsored repression for six long years under the previous Aquino administration and we are hopeful that President Duterte will address the concerns of women and their communities,” stated Gabriela USA Chairperson Irma Bajar. Gabriela defined the key concerns of the women’s sector upon conclusion of its National Women’s Summit in Davao City, Mindanao. The summit brought together 250 women from across the Philippines, representing such sectors as peasants, workers, urban poor, professionals, and indigenous women.  Attendees of the summit drew up a Women’s Agenda to reflect the calls that the women’s sector urges President Duterte to take up in his first 100 days of administration and beyond.  The Women’s Agenda for CHANGE outlines six key points: C in CHANGE stands for [C] Comprehensive social services, [H] Human Rights and social justice, [A] Anti-discrimination and anti-violence on women and children, [N] National Sovereignty, [G] Genuine agrarian reform and national industrialization and [E] Environmental protection. Gabriela USA applauds Duterte’s willingness to dialogue with people’s organizations to bring about change and his appointment of progressive leaders to several positions within his administration. The recent appointment of Liza Maza, the former Chairperson of Gabriela and Congressional Representative of Gabriela Women’s Read More …

More than 160 self-confessed drug addicts surrender to authorities at the San Juan City Hall, Monday. City officials directed local barangay officials to ask drug users and pushers in their respective jurisdiction to voluntarily surrender and undergo drug rehabilitation. (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – The Duterte administration is planning to put up rehabilitation centers for drug users in different regions across the country, presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Monday, amid reports of hundreds of drug users and pushers voluntarily turning themselves in to authorities. “I believe there are plans for setting up regional rehab centers,” Abella told reporters in a press briefing, adding that President Rodrigo Duterte “is out to exert firm pressure, a firm hand in order to deter the spread of drugs.” Asked if Duterte was aware of the number of drugs syndicate members being killed in the past days, Abella said, “I’m sure he has his ears to the ground. He’s listening.” “I don’t know if the term should be ‘wary’ or ‘alarmed,’ but I’m sure it’s ‘concern’ probably because, with that kind of activity, it shows the depth of the drug menace,” Abella added. Duterte, who won a landslide victory in the May 9 elections on the back of his staunch anti-crime advocacy whose term as Davao City mayor was marked with reports of extrajudicial killings, has repeatedly vowed to kill drug pushers. Allaying fears by human rights groups, Abella assured the public that all arrests in relation to the campaign against illegal drugs are in Read More …

President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the Armed Forces of the Philippines Testimonial Parade and Review at the Grandstand of the AFP General Headquarters, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Monday. (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) –Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.’s election protest versus Vice President Leni Robredo has fallen on the lap of a classmate of former President Noynoy Aquino and a former member of Aquino’s official family, Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa. The case, filed on Wednesday by Marcos with the high court sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), was raffled to the most junior magistrate. Caguioa and Aquino were classmates at the Ateneo de Manila University from grade school to college. Aquino appointed Caguioa as his Chief Presidential Counsel in 2013 and as his Justice Secretary in October 2015. After his stint at the Department of Justice (DOJ), Caguioa was appointed by Aquino to the SC on January 22, 2016. However, Caguioa was also a classmate of Marcos’ wife, Atty. Liza Araneta-Marcos, in law school. In Marcos’ 1,000-page protest, he alleged massive fraud in the recent vice-presidential contest and urged the high court to order a revision of votes and an election systems audit, among others. He alleged that a major portion of Robredo’s votes were obtained via electoral fraud and irregularities. Marcos is seeking the nullification of election results in the provinces of Basilan, Maguindanao, and Lanao del Sur, alleging that ballots there were “pre-shaded.” His camp claims Read More …

Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil (MNS photo) Teen actress Liza Soberano revealed that her father approves of her dating her “Dolce Amore” co-star, Enrique Gil. “Pero sabi niya sa akin na, ‘Know your priorities’,” Soberano, 18, quickly added. She also said that her relationship with Gil remains to be without a label, but hopes that she will be with him “forever.” “Sana,” gushed Soberano in a joint interview with Gil at the set of their hit prime-time series when asked about her much-talked photos with the actor taken during their recent trip to England. Meanwhile, Gil, who has been vocal about his feelings for Soberano, remained confident about his chances with the actress. This, even if Soberano shared that her grandfather does not want her to be in a relationship until she reaches the age of 23. “Papunta na doon. Nafe-feel ko na kasi matagal na rin kaming nagsasama,” explained Gil. “Ang pangit na kami ang nagpauso nitong forever tapos kami iyong hindi magkaka-forever.” In April, Gil said that he and Soberano were almost like a couple already. “Parang ganun na nga rin. Parang kami na pero siyempre you have to respect her family first,” he said. Gil first publicly admitted his feelings for Soberano back in February 2015. Two months later, Soberano confirmed that Gil was courting her