This blog is a caboodle of the daily ramblings of a young boy and a grown man from Caloocan City, Philippines. This is going to be my safe haven, a newfangled place where I can find peace and calmness. An abode for my undisturbed thoughts, serene thinking and tranquil ideas.
“Jessica Sanchez Tops American Idol’s Official YouTube Channel with 5 Million+ Hits”
Jessica Sanchez is most-viewed on American Idol’s Official YouTube Channel. 8 out of the Top 10 are Jessica’s videos. The no. 1, “I Will Always Love You,” garnered 5,170,038 hits.
Top 10 most viewed videos on American Idol’s Official YouTube Channel:
1. Jessica Sanchez: “I Will Always Love You” – 5,170,038 hits 2. Jessica Sanchez: “Sweet Dreams” – 3,237,417 hits 3. Jessica Sanchez: “Stuttering” – 2,580,562 hits 4. Elise Testone and Phillip Phillips: “Somebody That I Used to Know” – 2,045,972 hits 5. Jessica Sanchez: “Dance with My Father” – 1,832,589 hits 6. Jessica Sanchez: “How Will I Know?” – 1,527,398 hits 7. Jessica Sanchez: “Fallin” – 1,498,097 hits 8. Phillip Phillips: “U Got It Bad” – 1,284,525 hits 9. Jessica Sanchez: “Bohemian Rhapsody” – 1,229,530 hits 10. Jessica Sanchez and Joshua Ledet: “I Knew You Were Waiting” – 1,121,920 hits
“Jessica “honored” to sing Philippine national anthem in Pacman bout”
Filipina-Mexican-American Jessica Sanchez said she would be honored to sing the Philippine national anthem in a future bout of Pinoy boxing superstar Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao.
Sanchez, currently one of three finalists on “American Idol,” said she would love to sing the national anthem in a boxing match of the People’s Champ, who recently said he would like Sanchez to perform “Lupang Hinirang” in one of his future fights.
“I would love to [sing the national anthem], it would be an honor,” she said in an interview with GMA News on Thursday. “But right now I will have to concentrate on what is going on right now. Hopefully after the competition, I can do that.”
A South Korean movie, which features sexy actress Maui Taylor, will be competing in the upcoming 65th Cannes Film Festival next month.
Taylor is one the stars of “The Taste of Money,” an erotic thriller set in the powerful world of Korean conglomerates or chaebols directed by Im Sang-Soo and features an all-star cast led by Korean heartthrob Kim Kang-woo, Kim Hyo-jin, Baek Yoon-sik and Yoon Yeo-joong.
“The Taste of Money” and famed Korean director Hong Sang-soo’s “In Another Country” will be up against 20 other movies at the Cannes from May 16-27.
In the movie, Taylor plays a Filipino nanny working for a powerful family.
“They are all famous in Korea,” Taylor said of her co-stars in an interview with columnist Dolly Ann Carvajal of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. “So I was in good company. It was tough because of the language barrier and their strict professionalism. On set we only said hi. There was no time for chismis. We concentrated on our lines. They were always on time. Bawal ma-late. We worked Hollywood style, 10 hours a day only.”
According to production notes, the movie was shot in South Korea and the Philippines, specifically in Cebu.
The film’s director, Im Sang-Soo, won the best director award at the 2010 Cinemanila International Film Festival for his previous movie, “The Housemaid.”
“Philippines was world’s most disaster-hit country in 2011”
The number of documented natural disasters in the Philippines surged 50 percent last year, making it the world’s most disaster-hit country in 2011, according to the Citizens’ Disaster Response Center (CDRC).
In a report, the non-government CDRC said natural disasters last year cost the Philippines P26 billion, displacing a record 15.3 million people - a huge jump from the 6.75 million people in 2010.
Carlos Padolina, CDRC deputy executive director, said the records of the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) showed that 33 of the 302 natural disasters worldwide occurred in the Philippines. If human-induced disasters, such as armed conflict and fire were included, the total number of disaster would climb to 431, or more than 50 percent the 202 disasters in 2010.
CDRC said tropical cyclones explained the jump in the number of displaced people. It cited typhoon Reming in 2006 and tropical storm Ondoy in 2009. The Philippines’ 1,400 casualties from disasters, particularly tropical storm Sendong, was second only to Japan’s 1,924.
“When it comes to combined data on natural and human-induced disasters, the 2011 figures far exceeded the 2010 human impact data. Even if compared to the 2009 figures, which included tropical storms Ondoy and Pepeng, the number of affected population in 2011 is still much higher at 15.3 million,” CDRC said.
Flooding was the top disaster with 121 incidents or 28 percent of the total number, followed by fire, 98; earthquakes, 78; landslides, 66; and tornadoes, 23.
“Tropical cyclones may not have made it to the top five most frequent disasters, but it affected the most number of people. At least 10.3 million people were affected in 2011. The two most destructive tropical cyclones in 2011 are tropical storm Sendong and typhoon Pedring,” CDRC said.
Curtis models Libiran on “America’s Next Top Model”
ABS-CBN star Anne Curtis will be seen modelling the creations of Filipino fashion designer Francis Libiran on the hit US reality show “America’s Next Top Model.” Curtis recently had a photo shoot wearing four Libiran gowns with ace lensman Marc Nicdao, which will be shown on the popular show hosted by supermodel Tyra Banks.
“The cat is out of the bag. I can finally announce it! Yes, I will be on ‘America’s Next Top Model’ wearing the beautiful gowns of Francis Libiran. Congratulations Francis Libiran! You deserve the recognition,” Curtis said on her official Twitter account on Sunday. The episode will be shown in the US on April 25 and in the Philippines on April 30, according to the actress.
“I’m super duper nervous that Tyra is going to be able to see the pictures. I’m excited to find out what she has to say,” Curtis said in a video posted on YouTube.
According to Curtis, Libiran was chosen as a featured designer on the show “and he chose me to wear his creations here in the Philippines.”
“What we really appreciate with Francis is that he really took the time to invest and create looks specifically for the show,” said Fil-American Michael Carandang, a producer on “America’s Next Top Model.”
For his part, Libiran said: “As a Filipino designer I’m very privileged that I was chosen to be part of ‘America’s Next Top Model’ to create a collection for an episode there.”
At the age of 76, actress Lilia Cuntapay revealed she never thought she will ever be invited to an international film festival.
In an interview with ABS-CBN News on Tuesday, Cuntapay revealed that her movie “Six Degrees of Separation” was invited at the Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy. Cuntapay said she was already overwhelmed by being hailed best actress at the Cinema One awards last year. Attending an international festival is another dream come true for her.
“Itong edad ko na ito, would you believe na maggaganoon ganon pa ako, naka-gown and that is also for an occasion in Italy?” she said.
Cuntapay said she wants to be an inspiration to younger actors who are waiting for their big break.
“Sa totoo lang, impoktrita ako kung hindi ko ma-feel na parang hindi talaga ako pinapansin sa mga nakaraang panahon. Lahat ng karakter ‘ata nagampanan ko na. Ito na po ‘yung maigting na inaasam-asam ko na mapasa akin naman. ‘Yung maiiwan ko na pangaral o alaala sa kanila yung generation today, magtiyaga ka, magtiis ka,” she said.
Cinema One will bring Cuntapay to Italy this April 25 and the actress is hopeful that she will be able to win another honor for the Philippines.
Coming soon to a theater near you: Bob Ong’s “Lumayo ka nga sa akin”.
Fans of Bob Ong, rejoice! His latest novel, “Lumayo Ka Nga Sa Akin,” is about to get made into a movie. Just don’t expect the bestselling author to come out and acknowledge the applause. True to his mystique of anonymity, only his publisher showed up to sign the contract with the producer.
Nobody knows who Bob Ong is. That is not his real name. His identity is a tightly guarded secret at his publishing house, Visprint. The guessing game is part of his growing legend as possibly the most successful Filipino author today.
“Lumayo Ka Nga Sa Akin” came out just last December, and instantly came to the attention of Viva Entertainment. Pre-production is already in progress for “Lumayo Ka Nga Sa Akin,” a satirical look at commercial filmmaking with three different stories rendered in screenplay form.
“I have doubts about the suitability of ‘Lumayo Ka Nga Sa Akin’ for a feature film,” he noted in his first email to Viva. “It could be tricky, and much of the humor could be lost in translation. I don’t see it as a movie at the moment. But if you have a vision and a team which is up to the challenge, I’d be glad to let my publisher discuss the possibilities with you.”
For the past few years, Viva has been trying to start a specialty division that will house fresh, forward-thinking, out-of-the-box films. The perfect material has eluded the company until he read Ong’s 9th novel.
“‘Lumayo’ is what we have been looking for,” Del Rosario said. “It’s the kind of non-formulaic film with commercial appeal that we want our new division, Sunshine Films, to carry.”
Viva has tapped Mark Meily, award-winning writer and director of acclaimed comedies ‘Crying Ladies’ and ‘La Visa Loca’ and the historical film ‘Baler,’ to lead the project.
The choice has received Ong’s approval.
“I’d like to express my confidence in Mr. Mark Meily,” he wrote. “While I cannot tell which director might be best suited for this, I am comforted that Viva didn’t pick a bad one.”
“Lumayo Ka Nga Sa Akin” will hit cinemas later this year.
28 May 2012 @ 06:15PM / ![“Jessica “honored” to sing Philippine national anthem in Pacman bout”
Filipina-Mexican-American Jessica Sanchez said she would be honored to sing the Philippine national anthem in a future bout of Pinoy boxing superstar Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao.
Sanchez, currently one of three finalists on “American Idol,” said she would love to sing the national anthem in a boxing match of the People’s Champ, who recently said he would like Sanchez to perform “Lupang Hinirang” in one of his future fights.
“I would love to [sing the national anthem], it would be an honor,” she said in an interview with GMA News on Thursday. “But right now I will have to concentrate on what is going on right now. Hopefully after the competition, I can do that.”
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