WOW Pinoy

Written by **Billyboxergirl on Tuesday, July 08, 2008

SEARCH FOR THE 2008 TOP 10 PINOY EXPATS BLOGS

THE SEARCH IS ON!!!
FOR THE TOP10 PINOY EXPATS BLOGS
JOIN/VOTE NOW!

if you are nominated, copy the link below and add it to your sidebar.

1. HOW TO VOTE?

Complete filling the info boxes and write the URL of the blog/site you're voting at URL No. 1 to 10. You can vote one or 10, depends on you.

2. CRITERIA/REQUIREMENT

A blog to be eligible should be;

a) manage by an OFW, Pinoy Expat or Living Abroad.

b) post includes the life of Filipinos abroad, and promote peace and goodwill.

c) should be the source of inspiration and hope for Filipino's.

d) should enrich the culture and heritage of the Philippines and the Filipino people

3. You can view results HERE

4. You can Vote up to 10 Blogs/URL per one email/Url/IP Address.

5. Banner which you can find below and must be displayed to the sidebar of the nominated blog.

6. The Top 10 Winners will be feature with a 150x150 ads in the site and will have a whirlwind of publicity and media exposures as we are in contact with some of the topnotch blogger and media people. An official award certificate will also be mailed or presented. Other prizes and freebies will come as we progress with the search project.

7. Promote and ask your friends to vote for you now. As we keep on progressing, prizes will soon be announced. Please be inform that we are only 3 days old from the date of this posting.

VOTE NOW

CURRENT RANKINGS

Know Manny Pacquiao

Written by **Billyboxergirl on Monday, July 07, 2008

Facts about PAC-MAN

Status: Former WBC Flyweight and IBF/WBO Super Bantamweight champion
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 130 lbs.
Birthday: December 17, 1978
Birthplace: Cabangal, Philippines
Childhood Heroes: None
Hobbies/Interests: Playing guitar, chess, basketball, singing
Nicknames: Manny, Pac Man, The Destroyer
Favorite Movies: My movies
Musical Tastes: Folk, rock, love songs
Favorite TV Shows: My TV Shows
Early Boxing Memory: Hearing Mike Tyson lose to Buster Douglas on radio (age 11)
Prefight Feeling/Mindset: Nothing, blank
First Job: Construction worker
First Car: Toyota Corolla
Favorite Meal: Steak
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: None
Funny Boxing Memory: None
Childhood Dreams: To be famous boxer, finish studies
Greatest Boxing Moment: Winning my first championship (WBC Flyweight - TKO 4 Gabriel Mira in April 1999 in Quezon City)
Most Painful Moment: Losing first championship belt. (Last title on scales because he failed to make required weight of 112. Consequently lost by KO 3 the next day to Singsurat in September 1999 in Thailand)
Worst Injury: None
Favorite Boxers to Watch: Sugar Ray Leonard, Felix Trinidad, Oscar De La Hoya
Favorite Fights: Gatti vs Ward
Favorite Vacation Spot: Beaches in the Philippines
Embarrassing Boxing Memory: None
Interesting Facts: I hope my countrymen and fans continue to pray for my success
People Quality Most Admired: Kind-hearted, good-nature, honest.

(Source: boxinginsider.com)

Joanna of Youtube

Written by **Billyboxergirl on Saturday, July 05, 2008

Got this at Youtube. Another Filipina that can sing, the clans of filipinos can really sing. Thanks GOD I'm Filipino....and very proud...even though I don't have the voice like her.

Carissa Rae - New Rising Singer

Written by **Billyboxergirl on Friday, July 04, 2008

I discover shes a Filipina by Youtube. She got my attention because of her very nice voice and most of all the combination of her dancing. Yup, she can dance too. I know someday she gonna get it to top with that talent. She sounds like Rihanna but for me shes more better than her, I'm not comparing or anything it just she's more for me. This link is another video of her "Can't Keep Running". I wish for the best for this girl, can't wait to hear her on the radio.

good lightning

Written by **Billyboxergirl on Sunday, June 29, 2008

Good home lighting could bring in joy to the family. Recently, I've been to a friend of mine who invited me for a dinner party with his wife and three kids. I noticed that the ambiance in the dining room was kind of light and crisp, which made the foods all the more delicious. I was wondering what could be the factor that adds to the good feeling in their abode. The wooden checkered venetian? It could be. The elegant glass table and delicate silverwares? Perhaps. But when I looked up, I knew where the good feeling is coming from. That was the source of light. On the far right of the table was also a table lamp. It was dimly lit but with a refreshing hues of yellow and red. Complimenting the elegant table lamps were a floor lamps that makes it easy for their kids to read while lying on the floor and torchieres on the wall, which makes the ambiance even mystically refreshing.

Pacquaio Wins!

Written by **Billyboxergirl on Saturday, June 28, 2008

After beating David Diaz, he got the world champion lightweight belt. Pacquiao won over Diaz via knock-out in the 9th round. Me and my husband knew from the first place that Pacquiao is going to win this. Pacquiao just played with Diaz face. He got the 4 world champion belt. Everybody is talking about the re-match between Pacquiao and Marquez.

America's Best Dance Crew Season II

Written by **Billyboxergirl on Friday, June 20, 2008

Photo by Mark Davis/ MTV/ LAtimes.com

Information that I got from Bakitwhy.com (even though I really watch the show and recognize all the filipino's there).....Here are the list of Dance Crews who are proud to be Fil-Am blood:

Phresh Select
These boys from Philadelphia use hip hop dance to provide a positive outlet for youth in the city. Their goal is to reduce violence and crime in their city through dance and "love". The Pil-Am who's bringing the Philly cheesesteaks is Jay "Rukkus" Jao.

Sass x 7
The seven women of this group come from Rutgers University. Hated to be compared to cheerleaders, these dancers have a hard-hitting style. Madeline "Mads" Camacho represents the East Cost Pinays in the group.

Boogie Bots
Several of the members of this Washington, D.C. area crew were members of FIND (Filipino Intercollegiate Network Dialogue). Their style mimics famous robot celebrities like Voltron, Megazord, and the Transformers. Four of the five bots: Ryan "Gesture" Dalisay, Miguel "Migs" Almario, Joesar "JPizol" Alva, and Michael "Magic Mike" Arellano.

A.S.I.I.D.
Joey Antonio of A.S.I.I.D. has been profoundly deaf for his entire life, but he is one of the most skilled dancers in the competition. How does he move to the music then? He says he can feel the beats and connect with his teammates.

Xtreme Dance Force
This hip hop/jazz crew for the Midwest brings technicality and training to the competition. However, many crews have criticized the Xtreme Dance Force for their lack of city or "street" background. Alvin "Pino" Ramirez, a co-director, steps up for the Midwest Pinoys.

SoReal Cru
One of my personal favorites all the way from Houston, this crew completely rocked the 2008 World of Dance competition. Their detailed style is mixed with humor, and for once I completely agree with J.C.: every moment is like a picture. The 6 Pil-Ams on the 7-person representative team are: Brian "Burna" Puspos, Jackie "Jackstar" Lautchang, Mark Fucanan, Ailyn Joy "Ey Candy" Isidro, Brian "Ian" Fucanan, and Andrew "Goodfoot" Baterina.

Super Cr3w
This Vegas breaking crew went on the show to be an example of the adaptability and raw skill of breakdancers. This crew is actually a conglomeration of three crews--Full Force Crew, Knucklehead Zoo, and Battle Monkees. Pil-Ams in the crew are: RJ "Rockadile" Puno, Ronnie "Ronnie Boy" Abaldnado, and Angelito "Vex" Casal.

Fanny Pack
This crew aims to bring back the "unapologetic" era of the 80's back into the public's view. Their technical, quirky dances reflect the craziness of that decade. San Fernando Valley, CA native Cara Horibe stretch-pants it up for the Pilipina-Americans.

Supreme Soul
My other personal favorite, they've been promoted as the "Jabbawockeez' rivals." Indeed, they have competed against the Jabbawockeez, but they haven't shared the same press so far. Representing the San Francisco Bay Area Pil-Ams are Jonathan "Bionic" Bayani, RJ "KoolRaul" Navalta, and Alfred "Mitch" Sanedrin.

Honorable Mention: Team Milennia
This group representing Cal State Fullerton was labeled as "one that all other groups measure up to." Unfortunately they were in the toughest region on the show and were eliminated in the audition special. However, their pre-performance interview was a huge acknowledgment to Pilipino-Americans in the dance world.

So that's about 50-100+ Pil-Ams on America's Best Dance Crew this season. Watch the casting special via the link below!

America's Best Dance Crew Casting Special [MTV]
Meet the Crews [DanceWatcher]
Fil-Am Famous: Is dance how we'll get noticed? [Hip Hop Lives]

Roy Alcantra and his Sculptures

Written by **Billyboxergirl on Thursday, June 19, 2008

Filipino sculptor Romy Alcantara won first place in the 54th annual Fall Art Roundup competition held in 2005 here. His masterpiece on wood called “Harmony” won over 127 finalists out of 550 entries.The award cuts a profound significance in Alcantara’s heart, not only because climbing a podium to accept a gilded accolade, after all these years, is new to him.

In his younger years, Alcantara’s sculptures won in several Art Association of the Philippines (AAP) competitions – while his sculptural murals adorn Manila’s august halls, commercial edifices, and luxurious hotels. He is a contemporary of Eduardo Castrillo, another illustrious Filipino sculptor. The son of maestro Jose Alcantara and protégée of national artist Vicente Manansala, Alcantara was easily a familiar name in Manila’s elite art community – until his departure for the U.S. in 1980. “I haven’t abandoned my art. Instead, I keep on developing it, I keep on learning,” the artist, now in his early 70s, told Philippine News during a visit at his house here. “The (Fall Art) award is meaningful to me because, once again, my art offered spiritual and emotional solace to the people, especially the Filipino people in America. It feels good to know that a Filipino is recognized for his originality and then have my work inspire the young.”
Alcantara was the only Asian winner in the prestigious contest.

It is not difficult for the sensitive spirit to identify with Alcantara’s quiet passion. “Harmony” breathes life like its inherent in the wood, it’s as though the artist’s hand freed the medium’s soul from its extraneous solidity. The master’s message is multi-dimensional but never convoluted or complex. “I like movement, I consider all angles,” he explains. “I take time to develop an idea. I draw them first, or sometimes I make clay models to capture the movement.”

That movement also comes with pristine, sylvan texture that reminds kababayans of Alcantara’s rural sensitivity and earth-bound sensibility. His body of work, then and now, is bedecked with traditional, small-town flair and environmental ambiance: “Angelus,” “Holy Family,” “Damulag,” “Seaweeds,” “Drift in Space,” plus the latter brass and copper flower and tree sculptures that ornament his living room. He makes special mention of a heart-shaped Madonna and Child wood sculpture that he gave his wife Ching as present. “I’ve always been connected with family, religion, and mother-and-child images. These are lingering themes in my work,” Romy states. “Iwas very much influenced by my father and Mang Enteng (Manansala) when I was young, thereby also experiencing their spontaneous research of life and living in Binangonan and other rural landscapes.”

Critics have hailed Alcantara’s work for their uniqueness and innovativeness. He, however, reiterates that it’s the originality of his art that makes him so proud up to this day. Originality, according to Romy, means his art sticks to inherent brainstorms and virgin ideas that, as much as possible, veer away from synthetic material. His preference is wood, especially narra, which can only be found in the Philippines—although he also work on adobe, stone and copper.

Alcantara was already enjoying financial success in Manila when he and Ching and their three young kids left for the U.S. 28 years ago.
“We were doing good at that time, but the Philippines was also in turbulent times,” recalls Ching. “It was martial law. Life back home was uncertain. I had to take care of my family first,” adds Romy.

As is expected with immigrants, Romy’s first jobs in America didn’t deal with his preferred profession in Manila. He worked a technical job at Intel, a computer technology firm, based in San Jose. Then he worked at the production department of the Los Angeles Times. “It was a struggle but it’s worth it; all our three children – Malou, Pinky and Michael – grew up to be smart and independent adults,” says Ching.
A native of Liliw, Laguna and a bubbly lady with the natural gift of gab, Ching became Romy’s synergetic partner. She easily complemented the hubby’s soft-spoken, withdrawn and humble demeanor with a sweet upfrontness that took Romy’s magical craft out there. “Sometimes though, we argue because Romy tends to give away his work to those who openly express admiration to his craft but don’t have the money to purchase them,” Ching smiles. “It’s okay though because these friends take care of Romy’s work – and that makes him happy.”

Does the artist miss his roots in rural Philippines? Indeed. His last Philippine exhibit was 10 years ago at the Ayala Museum. These days, though, he is more concerned with having to share his work with the young or those who have the passion to learn. “If you have money but don’t have the interest or the passion, forget it,” he says of prospective students. He converted his two-car garage into a studio. It is easy to feel Romy’s estranged spirit as he espouses sadness over the observation that he’s in a city that is more concerned with adulterated music, fast money and cable sports than arts. “But maybe I’d be able to at least start a Saturday arts group. So maybe people will come and we will start talking again,” he muses.

While he repeatedly says that he is continually learning as he lives his life, the world at large also continually grows with his art. It really doesn’t matter whether we know the humanity behind the work; it is the enlightening intimacy that the work offers to the unsuspecting witness that matters in the long run. That is why the artist never ages because his work is timeless. For inquiries about Romy Alcantara’s sculptures, call Ching Alcantara at 702-290-3592

Philippines Short Films Wins in China

Written by **Billyboxergirl on Wednesday, June 18, 2008

After being featured in the non-competition Short Film Corner of the Cannes International Film Festival, actor-director Pedro 'Joaqui' Valdes 30 -minute film Bulong won the Golden Duck award for Best Short Narrative at the 2nd New Beijing International Movie Week on June 7.

The news was confirmed by Valdes in the phone interview with Inquirer Entertainment on Wednesday, a day after his return from China. According to Valdes, the original list of 150 entries was later trimmed down to the 25 short and feature-length fils that were screened at the film fest. He recalled that at least nine other short films competed in his category.

"Screenings for my movie were held in clubs and bars, as well as in the Beijing Film (CAFA)," he related. Valdes said the awards were announced at a dinner held in the home of a film professor from BFA. Response to his film was "overwhelming," he said. "Inspite of the language barrier, the Chinese students who watched the movie at the CAFA got it," he recounted. "The students were shocked to learn that my budget was only U.S. $4,000 (about P200,000).
He explained that he is dedicating his film to today's youth. "I want to address tha issue of apathy among Filipino youth. We cannot just watch from sidelines. We should all be catalysts for change."

He also met the festival guests speaker Rick Stevenson, the U.S. filmmaker behind Expiration Date. "rick saud that if I were a Chinese director, my film would've been considered controversial because it questioned the system," he recalled. "The festival definitely opened doors to me."

Valdes is now working on two movies: Hamog, an indie horror flick set in Mountain Province; and Hakaw, a celebration of food and family as experienced by three generations of Chinese-Filipinos.

Yasmien Kurdi Competes as Sexiest Vegetarian

Written by **Billyboxergirl on Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Yasmien was nominated in the 2008 Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrity poll of people for the Treatment of Animals (PETA) - Asia Pacific. This is the largest animal right organization in the world and they aim to protect animals from human cruelty. Another local celebrity who's also nominated is Chin Chin Guituerrez. Foreign Celebrities who are nominated along with them are Alicia Silverstone, Natalie Portman, Alyssa Mylano and Chelsea Clinton.