Tagle: Youths mirror strong human spirit, longing for love

 News
Jul 262016
 
Tagle: Youths mirror strong human spirit, longing for love

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle. AP File Photo Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said the World Youth Day (WYD) celebration should remind the world of its “common humanity,” as he called young people a mirror of everyone’s fears and aspirations. “Every World Youth Day celebration is special wherever it is held, and here in Poland so far, in the few days that I have been here, I realized that young people everywhere, they present to us a mirror of our present world,” Tagle said over Poland’s Maskacjusz TV. “I could see how the world is very much wounded, how the world is very much afraid, how the world is very much insecure, how the world is very much confused. You see that in the youth,” he added. Tagle is among four Filipino bishops who are currently in Poland to attend the WYD proper with more than 1,500 Filipino delegates. The celebration kicked off in Krakow on Tuesday. However, aside from fears and insecurities, Tagle said the youth also reflects a longing for love, capacity to dream and a vision to look for a better future. “But also in the youth, you see that human spirit remains strong… No pain can kill that. And among the youth I can see a longing for love, a longing to be accepted, a longing to give love, and isn’t that what being a human race is all about?” he said. Tagle added that WYD celebration should inspire even those who are “no Read More …

Asean ‘resets ties with China’

 News
Jul 262016
 
Asean ‘resets ties with China’

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, talks to Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, center, and Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay, during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) –China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Monday, July 25, 2016. A highly anticipated meeting between Southeast Asian foreign ministers and their Chinese counterpart Wang Yi has begun in what is expected to be tense discussions on China’s territorial expansion in the South China Sea. AP Asean foreign ministers meeting in Vientiane reached a hard-fought consensus on the South China Sea issue and were able to “reset” ties with China, Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said yesterday, as Asean put out a joint communique that referenced the maritime dispute. Speaking to the Singapore media on the sidelines of an annual series of meetings between the Asean ministers and their counterparts from regional dialogue partners, Balakrishnan said the event “gave us the opportunity to press the reset button and to set Asean-China relations back onto a more positive trajectory.” Contention among Asean member states over how to manage the South China Sea issue had threatened to derail the traditional joint communique issued at the end of each year’s Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. READ: Asean urges self-restraint in South China Sea activities China had pressured its Asean allies to stop the bloc from taking a common stand on the issue, following a July 12 Arbitral Tribunal ruling that invalidated its claims. The communique does not specifically mention the tribunal’s ruling. But it states, in Read More …

It’s final: Edca constitutional; petitions vs SC ruling junked

 News
Jul 262016
 
It’s final: Edca constitutional; petitions vs SC ruling junked

It’s final, the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) is constitutional. This, after the Supreme Court, voting 9-4 denied the motions for reconsideration filed by former Senators Rene Saguisag and Wigberto Tañada, and the militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) joined by other party-list groups. Saguisag and Tañada were among the 12 senators who voted to eject US bases in the Philippines in 1991. The high court said petitioners failed to raise new arguments that would warrant a reversal of their Jan. 12 decision. “To this, the Court stated that petitioners do not present new arguments to buttress their claims of error on the part of this Court. They have rehashed their prior arguments and made them responsive to the structure of the Decision in [the Saguisag motion for reconsideration], yet the points being made are the same,” SC’s Information Chief Atty. Theodore Te said at a press conference Tuesday. The high court, last Jan. 12, voting 10-4-1, ruled that Edca is an executive agreement which the President is allowed to enter into under Article XVIII Section 25 of the 1987 Constitution. READ: Supreme Court upholds legality of Edca Saguisag and Tañada, in their motion for reconsideration, said they had difficulty accepting the ruling despite the plain meaning of the constitution “this Honorable Court ruled the way it did.” READ: SC asked to reconsider ruling on Edca “Something that may seal the fate of [my] apos [grandchildren], eldest seven, who loves to play soldier, should not be decided by the President and Defense Read More …

LA Fellows seeks unemployed professionals for free training

 Entertainment
Jul 252016
 
LA Fellows seeks unemployed professionals for free training

http://lafellows.blogspot.com/ Despite the uptick in the economy, many long-term unemployed workers and older, educated, highly-skilled mid-level professionals are still struggling to find jobs. Stable, secure, salaried positions are becoming less common; workers must often learn how to cobble together contract or part-time positions to pay the bills. The LA Fellows program at Los Angeles Valley College was designed to target this segment of the unemployed population, providing training on the most cutting-edge job search techniques and professional development in demand in this new employment paradigm, and bolstering that with a unique component of nonprofit volunteerism. LA Fellows receive nine weeks of free training in advanced job-seeking skills and executive-level topics including leadership, critical thinking, and generating job leads. Optional classes in advanced computer skills and grant writing are available to participants. MEET THE LA FELLOWS (photo courtesy of http://www.lafellows.org/) Created in partnership with a consortium of community leaders who recognized the need to address long-term unemployment and the critical need for skilled volunteers in the nonprofit sector, the program was started with a grant in 2010. Recently, grant funding and WorkSource funds have allowed the program to continue, so participants don’t pay a dime for the training. In the last four years, over 350 Fellows have completed the program, provided over 35,000 hours of professional-level expertise to the local nonprofit community, and moved back into paid positions. Training for the next cohort begins in September and information sessions are being held at the following locations to allow community members to Read More …

Duterte: There should be no separation of God and State

 Entertainment
Jul 252016
 
Duterte: There should be no separation of God and State

President Rodrigo R. Duterte engages the crowd as he delivers his message during the inspection of the 5MW Biomass Power Plant in Buluan, Maguindanao. (MNS photo) MANILA, July 25 (Mabuhay) – President Rodrigo Duterte assured on Monday his respect for the separation of Church and state amid concerns from the Catholic Church about his bloody anti-crime war and endorsement of a three-child policy. “At this point, there are concerns, a few I wish to convey to all to the end as I figurate facts, figures, plans, programs and solutions. These concerns will not dissipate or get lost along our way,” Duterte said in his first State of the Nation Address at Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City. “Let me assure that while I’m a stickler for the principle of separation between the Church and State, I believe quite strongly that there should never be a separation between God and State,” he added. Duterte, whose comment over Pope Francis’ visit to the country last year drew a firestorm of protest from various sectors, had said he doesn’t begrudge the Church of its right to intervene if an issue becomes a moral one. Catholic bishops expressed alarm over the killings of drug suspects who supposedly resisted arrest. The Church is also against artificial forms of family planning, which Duterte supports.(MNS)

Duterte opens SONA: ‘Finger-pointing is not the way’

 Entertainment
Jul 252016
 
Duterte opens SONA: ‘Finger-pointing is not the way’

President Rodrigo R. Duterte signs the Freedom of Information (FOI) Executive Order in Davao on July 23. Witnessing the signing are Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence Go (partly hidden), Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar and Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella. (MNS photo) MANILA, July 25 (Mabuhay) – Setting the tone of his first State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday that he will not resort to finger-pointing. “We cannot move forward if we allow the past to pull us back. Finger-pointing is not the way,” Duterte said as he opened his SONA. “This is why I will not waste precious time on dwelling on the sins of the past or blaming those who are perceived to be responsible of the mess that we are in and suffering from,” he said. The President noted that focus must be on the present and the future, and that the country must only look at the past to “maybe extract a lesson from these errors.” Duterte said, however, that those who do wrong by the people will be held accountable. “Lest I be misunderstood, let me say clearly that those who betray the people’s trust shall not go unpunished and they will have their day in court,” he said

Pimentel elected Senate President

 Entertainment
Jul 252016
 
Pimentel elected Senate President

Neophyte Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao (right) administers the oath of office of newly-elected Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III during the opening of the Senate session under the 17th Congress on Monday (July 25, 2016) at the Plenary Hall of the Senate Building in Pasay City. Also in photo are immediate members of the Pimentel family, including former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. (center). (MNS photo) MANILA, July 25 (Mabuhay) — Senator Aquilino Pimentel III is the Senate President of the 17th Congress. On Monday, 20 senators gave their thumbs up for Pimentel through a nominal voting. Senator Vicente Sotto III, who earlier expressed willingness to take the top Senate post, nominated Pimentel, saying he humbly gave way to a young and valiant lawmaker. Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri then seconded the motion, calling Pimentel as his former bitter rival because of their past issue where the former was forced to resign as senator to give way to the decision of the Senate Electoral Tribunal. Senator Francis Escudero, on the other hand, nominated Senator Ralph Recto for Senate President. It was seconded by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. Recto got three votes. Meanwhile, Trillanes said Recto will be the Senate minority leader. “Senator Recto will be the minority leader. Nag-usap sila ni Chiz, I was informed kagabi. Agree naman kaming tatlo,” he told reporters. Trillanes said the minority bloc will be a fiscalizer but will not be a hindrance to the legislative agenda of the Duterte administration. “I believe na kailangan mabantayan yung Read More …

 Older Entries  Newer Entries