Maniolas

The Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. is pleased to announce the names of the 2016 Filipino American Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO) delegates. (photo screenshot courtesy of http://fylpro.org/) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two engineers, two lawyers, two marketing and communications professionals, a Broadway producer, an educator, a transportation infrastructure specialist, and a culinary enthusiast, form the fifth batch of young Filipino- American leaders who will embark on an immersion trip to the Philippines to meet with influential Filipino personalities and deepen their understanding of issues affecting their country of heritage. Now on its fifth year, Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO) continues to give high-performing, next-generation Filipino-Americans the opportunity to reconnect with their roots and engage with government leaders, business executives, cultural experts, social entrepreneurs, and innovators in different fields in the Philippines. The following are the 2016 FYLPRO delegates: 1. Noel Aglubat (New York, NY) 2. Tiffany Batac (Washington, DC) 3. Joanne Boston (Daly City, CA) 4. Mark Calaguas (Chicago, IL) 5. Brandon Dela Cruz (Honolulu, HI) 6. Elizabeth Frilles (Honolulu, HI) 7. Christopher Lapinig (Los Angeles, CA) 8. Maria Teresa Quintans (Tamuning, Guam) 9. Donny Rojo (Seattle, WA) 10. Jhett Tolentino (New York, NY) Minister Patrick Chuasoto, the Embassy’s Chargé d’Affairés ad interim and Chair of the FYLPRO Selection Committee, noted the high caliber crop of applicants to the 2016 edition of FYLPRO. “The application process has been highly competitive this year and we are proud of the ten delegates who made the final cut. They have enormous leadership potential, and all have exhibited the will to be Read More …

By Lilian C. Mellejor President Rodrigo Duterte, Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines Erik Forner, and Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza listen as Kjartan Sekkingstad, who was held hostage for almost a year by bandit group Abu Sayyaf, delivers a message during a press conference in Matina Enclaves, Davao City on September 18.(MNS photo) DAVAO CITY, Sept. 20 (PNA) – President Rodrigo Duterte has warned of another possible terrorist attack in Mindanao or in other parts of the country. “There will be another explosion believe me,” Duterte said before a meeting Monday with the victims of the Sept. 2 explosion at the Roxas night market where 15 persons died and injured 69 others. The President met with the survivors and victims of the Davao blast to extend assistance to them. Duterte said young terrorists who identify themselves with the Islamic State (IS) still remember the atrocities of the past such as the 1906 Bud Dajo massacre. “The young don’t belong to any organization, they are identified with the ISIS. They have sworn allegiance already to the Isis,” he said. Atrocities against the Moro people in Mindanao may have happened decades ago but remain as if it happened yesterday, Duterte said. He said he knew there would be an explosion in the city due to his all-out offensive against the Abu Sayyaf. “I knew na puputok dito. Nung bakbakan na sa Sulu, alam ko (I knew there would be an explosion here. When there was already fighting in Sulu, I know). No need to be Read More …

Briefing on benefits of policemen killed in action in PNP’s anti-drugs operations: Supt. Arnel A. Esmana (left), Assistant Chief, Morale and Welfare Division of the PNP Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM), briefs the media on the benefits of policemen who were killed in action in the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s anti-drugs operations on Monday (Sept. 19, 2016) at Camp Crame, Quezon City. (PNA photos by Avito C. Dalan) MANILA  (PNA) – There is now a total of 12 policemen killed in the anti-illegal drug operations launched by the Philippine National Police (PNP) since July 1, 2016. In a press conference on Monday, Police Supt. Arnel Esmana, of the PNP Directorate for Personnel and Resource Management (DPRM) Assistant Chief on Morale and Welfare Division, said that aside from those policemen killed, there are also 16 other policemen who were wounded in the operations. Esmana added that appropriate assistance such as the Php 100,000 personal financial assistance of PNP chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa, the beneficiaries of the slain policemen would also receive benefits from the PNP, Presidential Social Fund-Special Financial Assistance (PSF-SFA) in the amount of Php 250,000, National Police Commission (Napolcom), Pag-IBIG and Public Safety Mutual Benefit Fund, Inc. (PSMBFI), among others. Esmana noted that the hospital bills of the wounded policemen would entirely be shouldered by the PNP until their full recovery. However, not included in the list of the DPRM are the slain policemen who were suspected to be involved in illegal drugs.

Geneva Cruz (MNS photo) Singer and former actress Geneva Cruz admitted that she only planned to stay in the Philippines for a couple of days to attend a friend’s wedding, but a problem involving her passport has extended her trip. “Nag-expire iyong passport ko,” she said. But her slight misfortune did not stop Cruz, who is currently based in London with her two children, from enjoying her return to her home country. Based on her recent Instagram posts, Cruz took advantage of her misfortune and went to Balesin with her best friend, Rachel Alejandro. “Iyong beach, iyong mga kaibigan ko, lalo na iyong pamilya ko. And I love the weather, the food, and the people siyempre,” said Cruz when asked about the things she missed the most about the Philippines. Not everything has been rosy, however. On her Twitter account, Cruz wrote a rant about “constantly being judged” and that she is “excited to go home.” “People, they tend to judge you based on what they know about your past. And they don’t even know the ‘truth’ behind everything, like my behavior and actions before,” she said. “Sa kanila kasi puwedeng mistakes, but I don’t think people really make mistakes. For example, having children. No way! My children will never be mistakes to me,” Cruz continued. “Probably hindi nag-work iyong relationship pero sa akin, ang greatest accomplishment ko is mga anak ko. Sa States kasi parang mas free ako to whatever I want without being judged.” Cruz has had two Read More …