Grand welcome awaits Pacquiao

A ticker tape parade in the city of Manila, a grand welcome in Mindanao and a possible unprecedented military promotion await newly crowned International Boxing Organization (IBO) junior welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao upon his return to the country on Friday.
Pacquiao’s hometown of General Santos City is also busy preparing a reception upon his arrival there despite his having switched his place of origin to Sarangani province.

The city of Manila, scene of countless ticker tape parades in Pacquiao’s previous winning campaigns, is again expected to play a major role in the Filipino boxing icon’s welcome celebration.

President Arroyo, speaking before members of the Filipino community in Damascus, Syria, had announced that she would declare a national day of celebration for Pacquiao’s victory.

“I join the entire nation in jubilation and in giving thanks to God for the spectacular second-round knockout victory of Manny over Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton in Las Vegas, Nevada,” the President said.

Mrs. Arroyo said Pacquiao’s victory “should inspire all of us Filipinos to have resiliency and dedication to triumph against all odds.”

Deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said the details of the day of celebration were still being finalized and would most likely be announced tomorrow along with the presidential proclamation for this purpose.

She said the appointments office of Malacañang is working out the details.

Philippines tops global Earth Hour participation

The Philippines topped the Earth Hour global register for cities, towns and districts taking part in Asia, with more than 650 communities taking part.

The event started with the darkening of the Rizal Shrine, a major Manila landmark honouring Filipino national hero Dr. José Rizal. The massive Mall of Asia in Pasay City, the world’s fourth largest mall, also went dark in a ceremony that drew several hundred people.

The ceremony was broadcast live to homes around the country by Studio 23, one of the largest television networks in the Philippines.

The Philippines is one of the half dozen countries that share the Coral Triangle – a world centre of marine biodiversity - home to six of the seven marine turtle species, more than 3,000 species of fish, the heaviest bony fish of the deep (the 1,000 kg mola) and the coelacanth, a species thought until recently to have gone extinct with the dinosaurs some 65 million years ago.

But more than 18 per cent of the region's coral reefs were damaged or destroyed in a bleaching event linked to rising sea temperatures in 1998-99, underlining the immense risks climate change poses to the environment, food security and the economies of coastal and island countries and communities.

EARTH HOUR PHILIPPINES

Manila,CEBU, BACOLOD and many other Philippine cities are gearing up for Earth Hour 2009. Last year in the Philippines, millions of people switched off their lights to signal their support of this global warming action. Manila, being the largest city, will be a big focus this year and Earth Hour continues to spread its positive message about the importance of energy saving. The Department of Energy in the Philippines is a supporter of the Earth Hour campaign.
Local businesses in Manila are contributing to Earth Hour and will be switching off their lights on the night. Thousands of people, around the Philippines, will be coming together to light a candle in support of this global warming awareness initiative.
An estimated 50 to 100 million people around the world switched off their lights for Earth Hour in 2008, and global landmarks including the Golden Gate Bridge, Rome’s Colosseum, the Coke billboard in Times Square and Jumeirah Hotel in Dubai darkened for one hour.
In 2009, Earth Hour aims to reach 1 billion people around the world in more than 1000 cities involving business, government and the community in the world’s largest global action on climate change on 28 March 2009.
In 2009, millions of people from all walks of life will join together for Earth Hour and show the world that it’s possible to take action on global warming.
Come on Philippines, join us for Earth Hour 2009, turn off your lights at 8.30pm Saturday 28 March and sign-up here at earthhour.org.

FRANCIS MAGALONA IS DEAD MARCH 6,2009

it was announced by vic sotto in EAT BULAGA
will keep you posted later!

UPDATES! Rapper, actor and TV host Francis Magalona, diagnosed with leukemia last year, died Friday at 12:20 pm at the Medical City hospital in Pasig City. He was 44.

He battled cancer for almost eight months before finally passing away. The immediate cause of Magalona's death was heart failure. He received his last sacraments before noon.

Last August, Magalona informed the noontime show "Eat Bulaga" via text message that he was suffering from leukemia.

The rapper even requested for blood donations to replace the blood he was using at the Medical City hospital in Ortigas Avenue where he was being treated.

"I have been diagnosed with leukemia and I am preparing for my treatment. Sa tulong ng Panginoon, kakayanin ko po ito," he said. "Abangan nyo ang aking pagbabalik. 'Di ko lang kayo 'miss'... LOVE KO kayong lahat."

Magalona was a regular host of the noon time show "Eat Bulaga."

Host Vic Sotto announced Magalona's demise during the show Friday and asked the people to pray for Francis.

We will surely miss him, pati na ang buong industriya. We request everyone to pause for a moment of prayers for the eternal repose of the soul of Francis. Our condolences to the family. Kiko, we love you, Sotto said.

The stars of the popular noontime show broke into tears as they prayed for the soul of Magalona.

The 44-year-old Magalona was the son of 1950's legendary actors and celebrity couple Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran.

Launched as a teen star in the 1980s, Magalona's career boomed with his hit rap song "Mga Kababayan," which was included in his album "Yo!" released in 1990.

He was also the voice behind the hits "Ito ang Gusto Ko," "Meron Akong Ano," "Mga Praning," and "Kaleidoscope World."

Francis M left behind is wife Pia Arroyo and their eight children--Unna, Nicolo, Francis Jr., Isabella, Elmo, Arkin, Clara, and actress Maxene Magalona.

Complete List of Oscar Winners 2009

Complete List of Oscar Winners 2009
The 81st Academy Awards or Oscar Awards 2009 was held at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California and was hosted by Hugh Jackman.

Here is the complete list of winners of the Oscars:

Supporting Actress - Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Original Screenplay - Dustin Lance Black - Milk

Adapted Screenplay - Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire

Animated Feature - Wall-E

Art Direction - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Cinematography - Anthony Dod Mantle - Slumdog Millionaire

Animated Short - La Maison en Petits Cubes

Costume Design - The Duchess

Makeup - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Live-Action Short - Spielzeugland (Toyland)

Supporting Actor - Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight

Documentary Feature - Man on Wire

Documentary Short - Smile Pinki

Visual Effects - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Sound Editing - The Dark Knight

Sound Mixing - Slumdog Millionaire

Film Editing - Slumdog Millionaire

Jean Hersholt Award to Jerry Lewis

Original score - Slumdog Millionaire, A.R. Rahman

Original song - “Jai Ho” from Slumdog Millionaire

Foreign Language Film - Departures (Japan)

Best Director - Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

Best Actress - Kate Winslet, The Reader

Best Actor - Sean Penn, Milk

Best Picture - Slumdog Millionaire

KOREAN SCANDAL

I hope this video will serve as an awareness and a reminder to those people who are using public toilets ex. restaurants, hotels, motels, beach, movie house,bars, resorts etc. or might be in your house so.Beware!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JESSICA SIMPSON FORGOT herLYRICS

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - A bizarre 38-minute set by opening act Jessica Simpson inadvertently stole the spotlight from headliner Rascal Flatts in a show at the Van Andel Arena. The Grand Rapids Press said Simpson forgot her lyrics, struggled with her ear monitors, mumbled through songs and fought back tears during Thursday night's performance.

At one point, the 28-year-old singer-actress asked her backing band to start over on one song, and she forgot the words to another.

"Jessica had an off night," Cindi Berger, a representative for Simpson, said Friday. "She's a perfectionist, and wanted to start some of the songs over. She always wants to give her best performance to her fans."

Simpson apologized to the supportive audience of about 9,000 by mouthing the word "sorry" on two large video screens.

While introducing her last song, Simpson said she sometimes feels like quitting. She appeared to be wiping away tears after finishing the song and walking off the stage.