Let Us Pray for Philippines

If you are a Filipino, you probably heard about what happened in the Philippines two days ago.  Another storm struck the country again, bringing non-stop deadly rains in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces since Monday. It was raining for almost two days and they were saying that the amount of rain that fell is more than what Ondoy (another storm) brought in 2009. Classes, work and even trading has been suspended due to neck-deep waters on roadways. The water submerged cars and houses forcing thousands of people to flee their homes for safety.

I have been glued on TV watching the live telecast of news from my hometown. The rescue operations were being fed via satellite, and you can see that they do not have the necessary equipments for these emergencies. You see people on the roofs shivering while waiting for somebody to get them. The hospitals were running out of gas for their emergency generators. The evacuation centers are all getting filled up with not enough bathrooms or shelters for those affected by the flood. They are saying that help is on its way but do they have enough resources to do so?

All we can do is pray for everybody’s safety and that the rain will stop. The death toll rises every day and the damage left behind is not yet accounted for. A lot of infrastructures were damaged. Hope the Philippines can get back in due time and life be again normal to a lot of people.

Maguindanao Massacre

Because of the recent news from the Philippines particularly from the recent killings in Maguindana, the Maguindanao Massacre ranked as the seventh most popular search in Yahoo. Yesterday, when the news first broke, Philippines was on the top ten yahoo search too.

Photo Op

Last Saturday (August 1, 2009) we were invited to attend the launching of FilUSA northeast. Me, hubby and my friend went and also to meet some friends from other states. GMA was there so with other politicians from the Philippines. These are some kodak moments we had during the dinner affair.

The 4 Honor Guards At Pres Cory's Burial

I watched President Cory Aquino’s burial live last Tuesday night here in the U.S., switching between the TFC Channel and the live streaming of GMA 7 (Congrats GMA 7, you did a good job! Thanks!) I was glued on TV from around 7pm or around dinner time. I know the procession to Manila Memorial Park from Manila Cathedral started to move around 11 a.m. (11 p.m. here) until the next day I woke up until I was already at work!!! 9 hours have passed!!! I looked at the four guards standing by Tita Cory’s coffin – they were still there, same faces, still motionless – STILL BREATHING!!! OmG, nine hours of just standing straight, no movement, no talk, no pee, no food rain, storm or shine, day and night.

I salute you guys!

They are: PO1 Danilo Maalab, Pfc. Antonio Cadiente, Airman 2nd Class Gener Laguindan and Navy Petty Officer 3 Edgardo Rodriguez.

As per the inquirer report, they were handpicked from the elite honor guards of the army, air force, navy and national police. They were trained to bear difficult tasks like this, even trained to resist the call of nature. Pag hindi na mapigilan they could pee in their pants while standing.
What an endurance, sacrifice, love for the job and strength. Mabuhay Kayo! Tita Cory must be proud of you.

photo credit: philstar.com

Live Streaming at Gma News

If you want to see the transfer of Tita Cory's body from La Salle to Manila Cathedral, you can see the live streaming now at gmanews.tv. They have better signal than abs-cbn. Can't even load the video from their website.

Another Hayden Kho and Maricar Reyes?

I’ve heard and read this, not just once, twice, thrice….It’s all over the internet again – another video of hayden kho and maricar reyes in a different location/position – the sofa! Was this uploaded recently or it has been there … ngayon lang lumabas because it’s the talk/flavor of the month. Hope this spreading/uploading of sex videos be stopped. These are private matters that should be kept, hidden (like the camera) or deleted. Ano nalang ang kahihiyan ng isang tao who has a career, a future, a family and … a face? If I were Maricar Reyes, I’d go to Belo and have a face off! Poor thing!

Home Early

I left work early today. I was already home by 11 am. I took advantage of the beautiful weather. My car registered it at 70 degrees while driving home. My daughter was so happy to see mommy so early. Right away she put on her crocs and asked me to go outside. She played bubbles and rode her bike until papa came from tennis. Around 2pm, we went to pollo locco to eat then proceed to costco. Oh boy, we were able to buy ripe mangoes, like the mangoes we have in the philippines. They were so ssweeet! There were 6 in a pack for $5.99. All gone now and we are going back tomorrow to buy more. I forgot to take a picture before they all disappeared kaya kwento nalang. We got home around 6pm just in time to watch Saksi, all about the Failon case. This is a vey sad story. My condolences to the Failon family.

Francis Magalona Joins His Creator

I learned about Francis Magalona’s passing when I was reading gmanews.tv this morning. I have blogged about his condition the first time they announced to the public last August. Sometimes I read his blog which has received thousands of hits and comments after friends and fans knew about his death.

Francis Magalona, 44, died in Manila Friday at 12noon. He is survived by his wife Pia and eight children. He was a rapper, songwriter, singer, doing commercials and movies. He was also a mainstay of the noon time show Eat Bulaga with Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon at GMA 7. His body lies at the Christ the King Chapel in Green Meadows, Quezon. As per his wife, the wake will be opened to the public by Saturday a.m.

If you want to read his blog, you can go to http://magalona.com. Prayers to Kiko and the Magalona Family.

credit: gmanews.tv/inquirer.net.

Black Eyed Peas Brod Dies in Phillipines

The brother of Apl.de.ap otherwise known as Allan Pineda Lindo, the only Filipino in the popular group Black Eyed Peas was gunned down in Porac, Pampanga. Joven Pineda Deala was inside his car parked outside his girlfriend’s house when gunned down by two still unidentified attackers at 1 a.m. Tuesday. The girlfriend just got out of the car when those two men encircle his car twice then shot him at close range. Joven is said to be the favorite of brother of apl.de.ap and he will be coming home from Los Angeles to attend his brother’s funeral.
credit: eonline.com/inquirer.net/new.yahoo.com

Charice Singing for Obama

This Pinay you tube star turned international sensation will be performing again in the U.S. Charice will be at the pre-inaugural parties for the swearing-in ceremony of President Elect Obama on January 20. The event will be on January 18 at the Grand Hyatt Washington Hotel. This news was confirmed not only by Charice’s mom but also be her before she boards a plane to Washington.
All the best Charice!

Pinay Disappears in Oregon Coast

First time I heard this news was at The Filipino Channel then yesterday at the radio on my way to work.

Leafil Alforque, a Filipina from the Philippines, arrived here in the U.S. few days ago to be with Scott Napper. They have a relationship which started in 2005 when they met through the internet. Scott wants to propose marriage to her girlfriend and he wants to pop the question in a very appropriate and romantic place. So off they went to Proposal Rock in Oregon. Hope you get the idea now why it is called Proposal Rock. While they were already at the rock and before he could pop the question, Leafil was swept away by a three foot high wave. It has been five days since she disappeared. The police are not suspecting any foul play as reported.

Dollar to Peso Rate

I just saw on TFC that the dollar exchange rate in the Philippines is now P50. I remember when I was still in the Philippines, once Christmas season approaches, exchange rates go down. OFW's start complaining that the value of their hard earned dollars is nothing because the rate is very low but this Christmas turn our something different. It is good for the Filipino sending money home (like me) but not good for Philippine economy.

Diether Ocampo Moves to GMA 7

I have read on inquirer’s website that diether ocampo is transferring to GMA 7. He already signed a long term contract with GMA. He will be joining the network’s primetime shows and probably the Korean TV series “All About Eve” which is set to start on TV next year. He was with ABS-CBN’s “Iisa Pa Lamang” with Claudine Barretto and Gabby Concepcion before his transfer to GMA. Diether started as an ABS-CBN talent in 1995.

credit: inquirer.net/manilatimes.net

Willie Revillame lost P3m to Burglars

Thieves entered Willie Revilliame’s house is Corinthian Hills Subdivision, Quezon City while he was out of town over the weekend. The incident occurred around Saturday but it was discovered when Willie came home around 4 am Monday finding his bedroom upside down. Two household helpers were left when he was out last weekend. It was reported that thieves took jewelries amounting to 3 million pesos. Access to the house was made through a broken bathroom window but Willie is suspecting that it was an “inside job” because the burglars know where his duplicate keys.

Willie Revillame is the host of a popular noontime show in the Philippines called Wowowee.

Francis Magalona out of Hospital today

Philippines - Last month, I made a post on my other blog regarding Francis Magalona’s health condition. He has been in the hospital for sometime but I have read on gmanews.tv today that he is scheduled to be discharged by Wednesday. Even his daughter Maxene Magalona (also an actress now) told reporters that her father has gained weight and is doing well. That is good to hear.
With regards to his Eat Bulaga family, they are planning to have a benefit concert for Kiko on Saturday at the Timog Circle, Quezon City. Kiko already missed a lot of EB shows where he is a regular co-host and he is missed vice versa too. The title of the concert is “Dabarkads for Kiko.”

Lea Salonga's half gay brod in "Thank You Girls"

I just read this article regarding Lea and Gerard Salonga's half brother Jeff Salonga or known as Gie Salonga now. Gie is 34 years old and he is gay. He is part of the indie film entitled "Thank You Girls". Lea and Gerard has been supportive of him and he has been acknowledged by the Salonga's as their half brother. It is not a surprise that he is also in the same industry as Lea and Gerard. "Thank You Girls" is about a group of gay friends who is joining a gay beauty pageant in Davao City. Gie auditioned fot his role as Allyson but he is a regular performer in comedy bars. He went to Ateneo for his high school and finished Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines. "Thank You Girls" will open in Robinson's Galleria on September 24.

credit: gmanews.tv

Fiesta sa America

This coming August 16 & 17, it will be the 2008 Philippine Fiesta in America at the meadowlands expo center in Secaucus, new jersey. It is another fun day for all the pinoys in new jersey, just like celebrating fiesta back home. There will be booths, stores, shows, kainans, sayawan and a lot more. Pinoy performers like Bea Alonzo, Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera and many others will be there to perform. Of course when there is a fiesta there will be santacruzan and gala night. So mga kaibigan kung wala kayong gagawin, maki fiesta tayo sa meadowlands sa weekend.

credit: philippinefiesta.com

A Very Special Love

A Very Special Love is a new movie of Pop Star princess Sarah Geronimo and Box office king John Lloyd which is set to open this July 30. This is their first team up, a part of Star Cinema’s 15th anniversary celebration. It’s a romantic comedy story of Miggy (John Lloyd), a businessman and Laida (Sarah) who was hired as his personal assistant. It also stars Joross Gamboa, Matet de Leon, Al Tantay, Gio Alvarez, Marianna del Rio, Miles Ocampo and CJ Jaravata.

Pinoy Doc pays $20,000 for assault

Dr. Benjamin Co, now 51, met Jane Haigh, 31 in 2002 in strip club in Rockland County, NY where Jane was working to support her college education. Co had asked her to quit her job and he will support her. As they became lovers in 2006, Co discovered that Jane has been exchanging emails with other men so the beating started. Haigh sued Co for the assault claiming that the beating has caused permanent injury to her back. The doctor countersued for $700,000 for the value of the gifts given to Haigh which includes a condo, luxury cars and access to credit cards ($10,000/mo). After 2 weeks of trial, the jury decided that Co will pay Haigh $20,000 for the assault and dismissed Co’s counterclaim.

Co is a Filipino, a cardiologist practicing in New Jersey. He graduated from UP in 1981 and had his residency at New York Hospital Medical Center and Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. His clinic is in Ridgewood, NJ. On the other hand, Haigh has finished her masters and works in a diabetes health care facility. She is not really happy with the decision.

Gretchen Baretto in the news again

I was just reading this controversial incident involving Gretchen Baretto together with her sister Marjorie and close friends ruffa Gutierrez and pop Fernandez. It happened at dusit hotel when they had dinner and gretchen’s credit card was declined when she offered to pay the bill amounting to P4,300. Gretchen was embarrassed because of the incident, although ruffa paid the bill instead. There are more controversial scenarios after that involving Tony Boy Cojuangco and Greta. Here is the article. I’m sure it will be out in the media soon with different sides of the story.