Maniolas

Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (FILE PHOTO/BERNAMA (2015) COPYRIGHT RESERVED) MANILA — Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has raised his “grave concern” over the security situation in Southeast Asia amid the kidnapping activities of the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group in Mindanao, Malacañang said on Monday. The Malaysian leader conveyed this as he welcomed representatives of the Duterte administration led by Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza in Putrajaya, said Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar. In their 30-minute meeting, Andanar said Dureza told Razak that President Duterte had directed the military to stem the Abu Sayyaf’s reign of terror during his recent visit in Jolo, Sulu. He flew to Kuala Lumpur on Sunday to join Dureza, who led the government panel in discussing the implementation of the peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). “Secretary Dureza assured Prime Minister Najib that the same iron hand will be activated to deal with borders,” Andanar said in a statement. He said Razak also suggested the “regulation of sea lanes” in the waters between the Philippines and Malaysia “wherein a certain approved sea lane can be used to conduct trade and those that are not approved can be deemed as hostile.” “Security is a shared concern between the two countries,” he stressed, noting that the meeting between the Philippine delegation and the Prime Minister was “formal yet cordial.” Andanar said Razak also spoke about the huge potential of Mindanao in terms of economic development as Dureza proposed Read More …

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — I guess it’s history when 3,000 Asian Americans show up in a 4,500 capacity room to listen to all four presidential candidates. But at times the momentous occasion seemed lost on the crowd who had to constantly be prompted to laugh, yell, or make noise like they believed in the whole enterprise. Well, it was a forum, not a rally. But there’s another problem when one of the participants is Filipino and not really a presidential candidate. Sean Reyes is Utah’s attorney general, a Republican, and a Filipino American. You can tell by all the rice and spam jokes he told at Friday’s Asian American Pacific Islander Presidential Forum in Las Vegas. Oh, and he rapped a little bit too. Former President Bill Clinton subbing for Hillary Clinton at AAPI Presidential Forum in Las Vegas. EMIL GUILLERMO Seen as one of the future stars of the Republican Party, Reyes drew the short straw this time. When you’re sent in as a Trump surrogate to wow a basically Democratic crowd, you better know how to sing and dance. In politics, it’s called pandering, however. And Reyes did his best to ingratiate himself before the crowd got smart and politely got up and left. Considering Trump’s comments about Filipino Americans recently, Trump would have been best served had he shown up himself to the Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace. It was after all APIAVote’s Presidential Town Hall Forum, said to be the largest such gathering to date for Asian Read More …

​Incoming chairman Brendan Flores, 31, (left) and outgoing chairman JT Mallonga, 64, celebrate a leadership transition from the Baby Boomers to the Millennial Generation. CONTRIBUTED WASHINGTON, DC — A millennial has taken over the helm of the advocacy and empowerment organization National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA). Brendan Flores, 31, Jacksonville, Florida told the more than 300 delegates and guests, who witnessed his swearing-in as NaFFAA’s seventh national chairman, that he will strive “to make sure the voices of four million Filipinos living in the United States today carry significant weight.” The three-day conference amplified this goal. Speakers urged delegates to educate themselves on the issues, help in voter registration drives in their localities and harness the community’s voting power in November. NaFFAA’s FilAmVote program, launched in January, has been registering new voters in states like California and Nevada where large concentrations of Filipino Americans reside. Vice President Leni Robredo installs NaFFAA’s newly elected national officers, from left, Chairman Brendan Flores, Vice Chair Emraida Kiram, Secretary Mariella Fletcher, Treasurer Brad Baldia and Board members Marie Cunning, Giselle Rushford and Steven Raga. Not in picture is Board member Bing Branigin. CONTRIBUTED “One of the ways of empowerment is to focus on issues, such as the economy, job growth, early childhood education and affordable access to colleges,” said U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia, the opening day’s keynote speaker. “Make sure Filipino Americans are involved in these policy decisions. Make sure to hold politicians accountable. But to make a difference, everyone Read More …