U.S. Embassy in Manila to continue operations despite shutdown

 Entertainment
Oct 042013
 
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 08: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton welcomes President of the Republic of the Philippines Benigno S. Aquino III, (R), during a luncheon at the Department of State, on June 8, 2012 in Washington, DC. Later today President Aquino is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House. (MNS photo)

WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 08: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton welcomes President of the Republic of the Philippines Benigno S. Aquino III, (R), during a luncheon at the Department of State, on June 8, 2012 in Washington, DC. Later today President Aquino is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House. (MNS photo)

MANILA (Mabuhay) – Operations at the U.S. Embassy in Manila will continue despite the budget lapse that led to the shutdown of American government agencies.

“Activities carried out by the Bureau of Consular affairs, both domestically and abroad, are fee-funded and will continue operations,” embassy spokesman Kurt Hoyer said on Wednesday.

“The department will continue visa issuance overseas. We will also continue our passport operations,” he added.

The shutdown of US government agencies was caused by failure to meet a deadline to pass a budget, sparking speculations that President Barack Obama may completely forgo his Asian trips, including a two-day visit to the Philippines, or limit his travel time in Asia to deal with the crisis.

“Previously, the department relied on a mixture of fees and appropriated funds for its consular operations but has moved to funding from retained fees,” Hoyer explained.

“Thus, we can continue these operations even given the appropriations lapse. The Department will continue visa issuance overseas,” he said. (MNS)

Jessica Sanchez’s ‘lola’ steals scene at White House event

 News
May 312013
 
Jessica Sanchez’s ‘lola’ steals scene at White House event

By Nimfa U. RuedaPhilippine Daily Inquirer 6:08 pm | Friday, May 31st, 2013 President Barack Obama gestures to lipstick marks on his collar in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, May 28, 2013. The aunt of American Idol runner-up Jessica Sanchez kissed the president’s collar and left the lipstick marks just before he gave his remarks at an Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month event. AP LOS ANGELES—President Barrack Obama on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) pointed out what he called “a sign of warmth” from the audience gathered in the East Room of the White House—a lipstick smear on his collar. He said the culprit was the “aunt” of Filipino-Mexican-American singer Jessica Sanchez. But Obama was actually referring to Sanchez’s maternal grandmother, Virginia Bugay, who was visiting from her native Bataan and accompanied her granddaughter to a White House celebration of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Sanchez, a runner-up in the reality show American Idol, performed at the White House event. While the audience waited for Obama to arrive, Virginia stood near the entrance, recounted Bing Branigin, spokesperson of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), who attended the event. When Obama entered the room, Virginia rushed toward Obama and said, “Mr. President I’m a big fan, can I have a hug?” Branigin said. Virginia gave the much taller Obama a hug–and a kiss, which landed on the right side collar of Obama’s blue shirt. Before he delivered his remarks, Obama talked Read More …

As US budget cuts loom, is gov’t shutdown next?

 Economy
Feb 282013
 
As US budget cuts loom, is gov’t shutdown next?

WASHINGTON (AP) — With big, automatic budget cuts about to kick in, House Republicans are turning to mapping strategy for the next showdown just a month away, when a government shutdown instead of just a slowdown will be at stake. Both topics are sure to come up at the White House meeting Friday between President Barack Obama and top congressional leaders, including Republican House Speaker John Boehner. A breakthrough on replacing or easing the imminent across-the-board spending cuts still seems unlikely at the first face-to-face discussion between Obama and Republican leaders this year. To no one’s surprise, even as a dysfunctional Washington appears incapable of averting a crisis over economy-rattling spending cuts, it may be lurching toward another over a possible shutdown. Republicans are planning for a vote next week on a bill to fund the day-to-day operations of the government through the Sept. 30 end of the 2013 fiscal year — while keeping in place the new $85 billion in cuts of five percent to domestic agencies and eight percent to the military. The need to keep the government’s doors open and lights on — or else suffer the first government shutdown since 1996 — requires the GOP-dominated House and the Democratic-controlled Senate to agree. Right now they hardly see eye to eye. The House GOP plan, unveiled to the rank and file on Wednesday, would award the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs with their line-by-line budgets, for a more-targeted rather than indiscriminate batch of military cuts, Read More …