WOW Pinoy

2008-07-08T22:16:00.000-07:00

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.

It looks like this

BLOG PROMOTION

How to promote your site through this project?

The Search Organizer ask bloggers to make a post or entry about the search for the 2008 TOP 10 PINOY EXPATS BLOG. Once you posted it, inform the organizer here and your site will be included (if available with banner) in the search site sponsor page. It will be a wonderful opportunity to be expose and to be included in the list since the search will alst till December.

So make a blog entry now!

CONTEST DETAILS

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

2008-07-07T19:50:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-05T04:03:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-04T02:30:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-29T23:07:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-06-28T02:06:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-20T20:51:00.000-07:00

Photo by Mark Davis/ MTV/ LAtimes.com

As I watched America's Best Dance Crew Season I and after those excitement watching talented crews around America that charmed my eyes by their smooth moves, The JabbaWockeez were declared the winner of season 1 on MArch 27, 2008. The live audition premiered on June 7, 2008. The season two premiered on MTV in the United States last night (June 19, 2008). And all of this moving and grooving on TV....I'm not surprise if Fil-Ams are here to join....Remember that Filipino's have the guts when it comes to dancing.

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

2008-06-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

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.

Pacquiao on eyes in Heavier Division

2008-06-16T12:22:00.000-07:00

Once he has completely "annhilated" his latest Mexican opponent, Filipino world champion Manny Pacquiao is setting his sights on a match with Ricky "Hitman" Hatton of England

Hatton is ranked by Ring Magazine, the bible of boxing, as the junior welerweight (140lbs.) champion, while Pacquiao is the super featherweight (130lbs.) crown holder. But befor the popular British champion could meet Pacquiao, he must still wait for the outcome of the June 28 championship fight of the Filipino ring icon against Mexican David Diaz in Las Vegas. Installed as the favorite to win the fight, Pacquiao takes on Diaz for the WBC lightweight championship fight in an attempt to add another jewel to his glistening crown.

Pacquiao has won world titles at flyweight, super-bantamweight and super-featherweight - while he controversially drew with Juan Manuel Marquez in their featherweight showdown despite knocking the Mexican down three time in the opening round. The Filipino now steps up to lightweight for his WBC showdown with Diaz on June 28 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. However 'Pacman' insists he wans to move up the weights again to 140lbs to take Hatton.

He told Ring Magazine: "After Diaz, I want to fight Ricky Hatton. That will be a good fight. I'm 150lbs right now. My sparring partners are always 140 to 150lbs. It's not problem for me. And I'm not getting any younger. So why not?"

The news about a possible match between Pacquiao and Hatton spread like wild fire in Britain and drew mixed reactions among British boxing fans, among them were: "...Pacman would hit Riicky too many times and the ref would end up stopping the bout...Pacman is too fast and too big puncher for our Ricky! The Hitman's blood would spoil it! it's a shame we not talking 5yrs. ago though - might be a different story! The result of this fight cannot be predicted until we see both Ricky and Pacquiao's next fight. We do not know whether pacman will smash Ricky because it will smash /ricky because it cannot yet be gauged whether his power will travel with him, he could not knock out Marquez after all and that was at super feather. Also, Pacquiao is a bit over rated and its not too good for the Hitman, they both have showed defensive flaws over the years and Pacquiao has seemed to lost his unpredictability and buzz saw figthing style over his last few fights, which made him so dangerous in the first place".

Father in Different Languages

2008-06-15T14:46:00.000-07:00

MANY WAYS TO SAY IT

* Afrikaans : vader
* Albanian : baba ; atë
* Apalai (Amazon) : papa
* Arabic : babba ; yebba ; abbi (classical)
* Aragones : pai
* Asturian : pá
* Aymara : awki
* Azeri (Latin Script) : ata
* Bangla : Baba ; Abba
* Basque : aita
* Bergamasco : pàder
* Bolognese : pèder
* Bosnian : otac
* Brazilian Portuguese : pai
* Bresciano : bubà ; pàder
* Breton : tad
* Calabrese : patre ; patri ; pa ; papà ; papallu ; patra
* Caló : batú ; bato ; batico ; dadá
* Catalan : pare
* Catanese : pattri ; opà
* Chechen (Caucasus) : daa
* Chechen : da
* Cree (Canada) : -papa
* Croatian : otac
* Czech : táta, otec
* Dakota (USA) : ate
* Dutch : vader ; papa ; pappie
* Dzoratâi : pére
* East African : baba
* English : father ; dad ; daddy ; pop ; poppa ; papa
* Esperanto : patro
* Estonian : isa
* Faeroese : faðir
* Filipino : tatay, itay, tay ; ama
* Finnish : isä
* Flemish : vader
* French : papa
* Frisian : heit
* Galician : pai
* German : banketi, Papi
* Griko Salentino : ciúri
* Guaran : túva ; ru
* Hebrew : abba(h)
* Hindi : Papa ; Pita-ji
* Hungarian : apa
* Hungarian : apa ; apu ; papa ; édesapa
* Icelandic : pabbi ; faðir
* Indonesian : bapa ; ayah ; pak
* Irish : athair ; daidí
* Italian : babbo
* Japanese : otosan, papa
* Judeo-Spanish : padre ; baba ; babu
* Kikuyu : baba
* Kiswahili : Baba
* Kobon (New Guinea) : bap
* Kurdish Kurmanji : bav
* Ladin : pere
* Latin : pater ; papa ; atta
* Latvian : tevs
* Leonese : pai
* Ligurian : paire
* Limburgian : vader ; vajer ; pap
* Lingala : tata
* Lithuanian : tevas ; pradininkas ; protevis
* Lombardo Occidentale : bubà
* Lunfardo : viejo
* Luo (Kenya) : baba
* Maasai : papa ; paapa ; olaiiu
* Malagasy : ray
* Malay : bapa
* Malay : bapa
* Maltese : missier
* Mandarin : bà ; bàba (informal)
* Mandarin Chinese : baba
* Mantuan : upà ; papà ; babbo
* Maori : haakoro ; kohake
* Mapunzugun : chaw ; chao
* Modern Greek : babbas
* Moravian : tata
* Mudnés : pèder
* Nadsat : Pee
* Nahuatl (Mexico) : ta’
* Napulitano : pate
* Nepali : buwa
* Norwegian : pappa ; far
* Occitan : paire
* Parmigiano : päder
* Persian/Farsi : pedar, pitar ; simply Baabaa
* Piemontese : pare
* Pipil (El Salvador) : tatah
* Polish : tata ; ojciec
* Portuguese : pai
* Quechua (Ecuador) : tayta
* Quechua : tata ; churiyaqe
* Rapanui : koro ; matu’a ; matu’a tane
* Reggiano : peder
* Romagnolo : bà
* Romani : dad
* Romanian : tata
* Romanian : tata ; parinte ; taica
* Romansh : bab
* Russian : papa
* Saami : áhcci
* Samoan : tama
* Sango : baba
* Sanskrit : tàtah ; janak
* Sardinian (Limba Sarda Unificada) : babu
* Sardinian Campidanesu : babbu
* Sardinian Logudoresu : babbu
* Shona : baba
* Sicilian : patri
* Slovak : otec
* Slovenian : ôèe
* Spanish : papá ; viejo ; tata
* Swahili : baba ; mzazi
* Swedish : pappa
* Swiss German : Vatter
* Tagalog : tatay ; ama
* Triestino : pare
* Turkish : baba
* Turkmen : däde ; kaka
* Urdu : Abbu ; Abbu-ji ; Abbu-jan ; bap
* Valencian : pare
* Venetian : pare ; popà ; 'opà ; pupà ; papà
* Viestano : attèn'
* Wallon : pére
* Welsh : tad
* Xhosa (South Africa) : -tata
* Yiddish : tatti ; tay ; foter ; tateh
* Zeneize : poæ

Mangoes from Pangasinan to US

2008-06-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

The provincial board here has certified Pangasinan free from mango pests, paving the way for the shipment of local mangoes to the United States.

In a resolution, Board Member Danilo Uy said the US Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Plant Industry found in a survey in 2007 that mangoes in the province were free from mango pulp and seed weevil, two pests that previously prevented shipment of Philippine mangoes to the US.

Vincent Adorna, USDA-BPI regional project coordinator, said in a letter to the provincial government that Hernani Golez, chief of the National Mango Research and Development Center, certified that "not a single specimen of the weevil (egg, larva, pupa and adult) was found" in the mangoes produced in Pangasinan.

The province topped mango production with its output of 24.93 metric tons of mangoes a hectare, according to the 2007 data found in the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (Amas) of the Department of Agriculture website.

The province was followed by South Cotabato (18.21 metric tons per hectare), Pampanga (17.02 MT/ha), Zamboanga del Sur (12.81 MT/ha) and Ilocos Norte (11.91 MT/ha).

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said 40 percent of mangoes in the Philippines came from Pangasinan. However, only mangoes from Guimaras are currently accepted in the US mainland.

'Mabuhay,' says Obama to Filipinos on Independence Day

2008-06-13T00:09:00.000-07:00

Acting very presidential, the United States' Democratic Party's presidential nominee US Senator Barack Obama on Thursday (Chicago time) greeted Filipinos "Mabuhay (long live)" on the Philippines' Independence Day.

"Today, I extend my warm wishes to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the people of the Philippines. Let us join with Filipinos worldwide and Filipino Americans to celebrate Philippine Independence Day. Mabuhay!" he said.

Obama's statement, available at the website of Asian Americans for Obama, acknowledged the contribution of Filipino veterans who fought in the Second World War.

"During World War II, Filipino and American troops fought bravely together under some of the most trying conditions suffered by any forces during that conflict, forging a historic bond between our two nations and their people. Filipinos displayed great courage alongside American soldiers at Bataan and Corregidor, only to be denied their just benefits by our government," he said.

He thus urged members of the US Congress to pass the Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 which would honor the service of all US veterans, including these Filipino World War II heroes.

"The Senate passed this bill last April. I urge my colleagues in Congress to take note of this day to honor the heroic service of Filipino World War II veterans by finally turning this important legislation into law," he said.

Obama recognized the long history and the special relationship between the US and its former colony.

The US Democratic Party's presidential nominee, who spent some time in Hawaii, where Filipinos make up most of its residents, also recognized the positive contribution of migrant Filipinos to the US.

"On this anniversary, we also must recognize the enormous contributions of generations of Filipino immigrants to building a more vibrant United States of America. Indeed, more than 60 years after World War II, Filipino-Americans continue to serve brilliantly and bravely as members of our fighting forces," he said.

"I grew up in Hawaii, where Filipinos have had an enormous positive impact on the culture and economy. As dedicated military and civil servants, lawyers and bankers, artists, engineers and entrepreneurs, agricultural and industrial laborers, healthcare providers and customer service workers, caretakers for our elderly and youth, Filipino Americans -- four million strong -- have enriched our country, embodied our nation's highest ideals, and reflected the very best that the Philippines has to offer," he added.

Projecting into the future, the Illinois senator expressed his desire to work with the Philippines and Filipinos.

"I look forward to working with the Filipino people and their government, as part of the global community, to combat poverty and generate wealth, build healthy and educated communities, and change the odds for generations to come," he said.

The statement, characteristically inspiring, acknowledged the richness of the Philippines and committed to helping it through its many problems.

"But as a nation rich in natural and human resources, with a proud legacy as the first democracy in Asia, the Philippines also holds great opportunities and hope for the future. An ongoing challenge of the 21st century will be to ensure that these opportunities to make a better life are open to all," he said.

"In part because of our shared history, we cannot ignore the fact that the Philippines continues to confront many difficult challenges, including persistent poverty, natural disasters, and political division," he added.

Emmanuel Santos - "The Passing of Light"

2008-06-12T23:07:00.000-07:00

A Filipino photographer based in Melbourne, Australia, set the record for the most expensive set of pictures sold at the recent Christie’s Southeast Asian Modern and Contemporary Art auction in Hong Kong.

“The Passing of Light” by Emmanuel Santos, which comprises 38 black-and-white pictures measuring 26 x 26 inches, was sold for US$44,000 (P1.9 million).

It’s the highest on record for Philippine contemporary photography and Southeast Asian photography. They were a combinaton of first- and second-edition prints.

They were exhibited at Silverlens Gallery in Makati last September.

The work’s subject: angels common to the Torah, the Koran and the Bible.
“There are 72 angels, both good and bad, and he has made photographs of 38 of them over the last 10 years,” says Isa Lorenzo, owner and curator of Silverlens Gallery.

Santos, born in 1957, grew up in Sagada, Mountain Province, and moved to Australia in the late ’70s where he established himself as a photographer of the Orthodox Jewish neighborhood in Melbourne.

In Manila, he was a photographer for the United Nations.

He is one of the foremost photographers of the Jewish Diaspora, and his work has featured in Jewish and Holocaust Museums worldwide.

Santos’ work is special because he has been able to document customs and traditions of the very private and little-known Hassidic community, such as a group celebrating the festival of Purim, where “the community celebrates with wild abandon—Santos filmed children dressed as clowns, as Father Christmas, and one boy even dressed as a Palestinian terrorist,” reported the Melbourne paper The Age in 2003.

“As you know, photography is huge as contemporary art elsewhere. And we are only in its infancy here in the Philippines and Southeast Asia, but we are going to get there,” says Lorenzo.

Riza Zalameda - FilAms Tennis Ace Leads UCLA to 1st Championship

2008-06-11T21:41:00.000-07:00

FilAm UCLA college student Riza Zalameda double dipped during the NCAA National Tennis tournament held at the Tulsa’s Michael D. Case Tennis Center last May 26.

The 22-year-old senior clinched UCLA’s first ever women’s Team Tennis Championship and also captured the NCAA Doubles Championship with partner Tracy Lin.

"Before I hit that last overhead, everything culminated at that last moment," said Zalameda on the UCLA Tennis website. "It was a moment that I have been dreaming of. I’m speechless."

Zalameda clinched the team championship when she defeated Susie Babos of UC Berkeley, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. The win gave the lady Bruins a 4-0 series sweep against the Bears of Berkeley and earned Zalameda the Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award.

In the same tournament, Zalameda and Lin captured the NCAA Tennis Doubles Championship after defeating CSU Fresno State’s Melanie Gloria and Tinesta Rowe in three-sets, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.

"It was a very exciting win," said Zalameda at the post match press conference. "We just came into it pretty confident in our skills. We’ve been playing for two weeks and our shots are pretty refined. All we had to do was execute. We knew they were a great team because I saw them earlier this year and we were expecting them to come out big. They did come out big on certain points, but we just toughed it out. We had more experience, more skill today and more will, but they were a great team."

Both wins are a culmination of Zalameda’s stellar UCLA tennis career. The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) named Zalameda as the Senior Player of the Year award, becoming only the second UCLA player to ever earn the prestigious award. She also earned the Pac-10 Player of the Year award.

The only thing that Zalameda didn’t do during the tournament was to win the Singles Championship. She reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Singles draw. Before entering the tournament, she had won the Pac-10 Singles title.

According to UCLA, Zalameda is just one of six four-time All-Americans in UCLA history.

Move!Move!Move!

2008-06-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

Oh I hate moving. Recently I just move again for the 4th time in my 5 years staying here in the United States. At first my parents and I looking for a really nice place and very convenient apartment. We want the one that is close to almost everything. Shopping malls, bus stops, grocery stores, playgrounds and parks for my kids and many more. So we tried and we tried and most of the time we used to call a moving company to move our stuff. We live near San Francisco are or they called it "Bay Area" here because of the bay around the area. And one day my mom told me she have a friend from Boston called her and live there that maybe someday we can come by and visit. My mom have an idea that maybe we can move to Boston and have a place there. And I said, how about the stuff we have? how we gonna move it. So i try to look around and found Boston Moving Company, they all the job all you need when comes to moving to Boston and its a good thing finding this. They have all the convenient without worrying all your stuff when it comes to moving to the place you want to. They have 100 years of experience and i think thats enough to trust them. But by now, were still here at the bay and dreaming maybe someday we can move there without worries.

Make Custom Shirts

2008-06-09T22:19:00.000-07:00

Oh I love shirts...easy to wear and and you can wear it in any form. I like any kind of color, a colorful one is my very like. I also like those have cute prints on it, how very cute. But most of this days, lot of people mostly teenagers and those who like designs are now demanding. They want to have their own design on their Tshirts. I actually like designing my photos on the net but i like to have a design on my tshirt too base on my taste. So, I search for it on the web and saw this SonickShack.com and they have this wonderful and every gorgeous designs I can choose on. You can make your own tshirt simply by sitting on your chair, moving your mouse and clicking it. WOW...amazing...this days its very easy. Just simply do this things and you can have your tshirt look very nice, not just only plain color tshirt. You don't need to go to craft store and find some materials to do it manually. Just use your imagination in front of your computer and u can simply have it. I never did any diva shirts yet but I can use this now for my dreamy designs.

Personalized T Shirts

2008-06-08T21:49:00.000-07:00

One day, I have a friend called me and asked me what kind of gift she can give to her boyfriend. She said its for their anniversary she have a surprise for him and she wanna add a little more dazzle on her surprise. She said she already ordered some kind of jewelry for her boyfriend but she want to add one more. And I have an idea, maybe she can put on a Tshirt that is something on it that is personalized. And I tried to find and look at the web in a while then found SonicShack.com for Personalized T Shirts and lot more. I'm look around and all the shirts are cute. I called my friend and told her about this and she's very excited to look at it for herself. She said "Yes! this will be perfect!". I'm happy with my friend that she got something for her boyfriend for their special day. She order there and make personalized t-shirts and put it on that day. Her boyfriend is very happy to see it and they both very happy cause my friend is very glad for me to recommend it. So, i think someday I have an idea too for me and my husband date. And i'll try this on and will see whats gonna happen.

Mark Muñoz - Professional Mixed Martial Arts

2008-06-06T23:59:00.000-07:00

FilAm Mark Muñoz won his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) debut for the World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) organization by knocking out veteran fighter Chuck Grigsby at the Arco Arena in Sacramento last June 1.

"All the training, running and conditioning I’ve done, it’s worth it," said Muñoz after the fight. "I went out there [and] I wanted to execute my game plan. I wanted to force my game on him and that’s exactly what I did."

Fighting in front of his hometown crowd, the 6’0" Bay Area resident appeared to be in a serious disadvantage when he stood next to the 6’6" Grigsby.

Early in the first round, Grigsby kept his distance from Muñoz and used his seven-inch reach advantage. Wearing the native Philippine flag colors of red, white and blue, Muñoz quickly countered by trying to take Grigsby to the ground to negate the tremendous size advantage. Muñoz’s attempts were futile at first, as the lanky Grigsby defended the takedowns well.

As the round progressed, Grigsby continued to strike well and landed a right uppercut to the head of Muñoz. Muñoz persisted through the strikes. He eventually found a small opening against Grigsby.

During the middle of the round, Muñoz lunged forward, grabbed Grigsby’s right thigh, pinned him to a corner of the octagon and threw him down to the ground. From there the former NCAA wrestling champion took over. Muñoz worked around his opponent’s defensive guard and landed a few blows on Grigsby’s head. As Grigsby tried to escape, Muñoz finished him off with more punishing overhand rights.

Referee Steve Mazzagatti stopped the fight with 45 seconds remaining in round one.

"I’ve been working on my ground and pound," Muñoz told the Asian Journal. "I knew when I put him down on the ground I had the advantage. That’s where I wanted to take it."

Muñoz said that Grigsby’s height and sizeable reach advantage made the fight difficult.

"[Early on] I was trying to figure out his range, reach and just his style," he said. "He had a lot of range. He kept throwing his jab keeping me at bay. I just wanted to get in the inside."

Muñoz admits he wasn’t too satisfied with his performance and promises to do a better job next time around.

"It was my first time in the WEC," he said. "I feel like the monkey is off my back. I lived up to my expectations and now, I want to get better from here on out."

Most importantly, he dedicated his first win in the WEC to his parents and family.

"I told them I wanted to represent my race and all the Filipinos out there," said Muñoz. "I wanted to represent my people. I’m a full-blooded Filipino and proud of it."

With the win, Muñoz’s record improves to 4-0 (2 KO’s). Grigsby record falls to 13-4

Charo Ronquillo - Filipina model shines in world fashion

2008-06-05T23:46:00.000-07:00

A Filipina model has made it to the pages of Vogue, Glamour and other top fashion and beauty magazines, through high-profile ad campaigns.

Nineteen-year-old Charo Ronquillo is touted to be the next Anna Bayle, the Filipina who was the supermodel in the '80s.

She is based in New York and plans to penetrate Paris, too.

Last year, Ronquillo did a shoot with top photographer Bruce Weber for Ralph Lauren's American Living.

Wherever she goes, Ronquillo's exotic beauty is turning heads. She's also done runway shows for Nanette Lepore, Lacoste, Zaldy for L.A.M.B. by Gwen Stefani, Tory Burch, Norma Kamali, Sisley, United Colors of Benetton, Armani Exchange and Kenneth Cole, among others.

Only a year and a half after becoming the first Asian model to make it to the top three in the Ford Models' Supermodel of the World competition, Ronquillo has shot for top retailers, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale's, Ann Taylor, BCBG by Max Azria, Catherine Malandrino, J Crew. She has recently done "go-sees" for Prada, YSL, Marc Jacobs, Richard Chai, Jil Sander, Philip Lim, Valentino, Badgely Mishka, Issey Miyake and Vera Wang.

Diane Von Furstenberg likes her so much that Ronquillo has served as fitting model for the designer several times.

Work ethic

Clearly, her rise is due to both her looks and work ethic. She works almost every day, sometimes flitting across America.

She likes runway modeling—the crowd, the limelight, plus the craziness backstage, with, she said, "everyone panicked and yelling." She also enjoys the creative process of magazine work. Once, a makeup artist blackened her teeth for a shoot, and Ronquillo recalls still feeling beautiful.

First break

A native of Cabuyao, Laguna, Ronquillo and her siblings were raised by their grandmother while their mother worked overseas to support the family. She had always wanted to model and began entering contests early. But her first true break didn't come until she won the prestigious Ford Models' Supermodel of the World Philippines, produced by Runway Productions.

She not only earned representation from Asian modeling powerhouse CalCarrie's International Models, she was also placed in the hands of famed model-maker Joey Espino.

Ronquillo flew to New York for the Supermodel of the World finals. Interestingly, she was in a Diane Von Furstenberg, the designer who'd become fond of her.

Her initial two-year contract soon stretched to three when Ford saw the pace of her success.

Despite her exposure to international high fashion, Ronquillo hasn't really left home, says her mentor Espino.

"She remains at heart a proud Filipina, who always makes it a point to be available to come to the Philippines and to the home where her heart resides."

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2008-06-04T02:45:00.000-07:00

need a no annual fee visa? then creditroom.com is for you! Visa Cards is designed with value and convenience in mind. When you carry a Visa Card, you'll automatically have access to exclusive benefits designed to enhance your lifestyle. you will have benefits like Warranty Services, which include warranty registration and extended warranty protection Travel and emergency assistance Auto Rental Collision Damage Wavier Program.credit cards eliminate the need to carry large amounts of cash, and can help you establish a measurable credit rating. Rewards, rebates, and other privileges are available depending on the card that’s right for you. plus rewards!!!! yes you heard it right! Members of the Visa community are eligible for great rewards.Earn rewards while establishing a strong credit history and financial independence.Choose from more reward options than any of our other credit cards.
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Marathon Woman Rosemarie Jeanpierre

2008-05-29T20:58:00.000-07:00

FOR Filipina Rosemarie Jeanpierre, nothing is impossible.

Last Sunday, Rosemarie ran the L.A. marathon in five hours and one minute. Although this in itself is impressive here lies the kicker—Rosemarie tipped the scales at 220 pounds just five years ago.

She is now literally half the woman she used to be. At 5’2, Rosemarie weighs 110 pounds, shedding a total of 110 pounds since 2003.

“I’m so grateful in many ways,” Rosemarie says in amazement.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could accomplish anything like this.”

Rosemarie’s incredible weight loss was jumpstarted by a doctor’s visit that turned into a wakeup call. She was told she had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and was borderline diabetic. The unsettling news that she was at high risk for a heart attack motivated Rosemarie to make the necessary lifestyle changes she would have to make to in essence, save her own life.

And no, she didn’t hire a personal trainer or go under the knife. Rosemarie did it the old fashioned way, hitting the library and poring over countless books in order to educate herself.

“I went to the library and read every nutrition book I could find,” says Rosemarie.

“I was like a determined student—hungry for any information I could get.”

And then the even harder part came.

Rosemarie cut back to a 1,800 daily calorie intake, no easy feat considering she was use to taking in more than 6,000 calories a day. She also started walking three miles daily on the treadmill in her former apartment.

“It really took a lot of self-discipline, determination, consistency and motivation,” Rosemarie says.

“Before I got married, I shed about 50 pounds but it was in the wrong way. I starved myself so all the weight crept back after I got married. I really wanted to do it the right way this time, to have a healthy weight loss.”

Sure enough, the weight fell off due to Rosemarie’s sheer will and determination. It was no easy task for Rosemarie, who of course had to completely modify her diet. This of course meant adjusting her taste for some of the not so healthy Filipino food.

“I of course had to cut back on my rice intake,” Rosemarie says.

“But I don’t deprive myself of Filipino food. I grew up with Filipino food so I love the taste. But now I just load up on the healthier dishes, the ones with a lot of gulay. I’m blessed because I’ve always loved vegetables. I love pinakbet, diningding, all of that!”

Talking to Rosemarie, it is also obvious just how disciplined she is when it comes to eating Filipino cuisine.

“Sometimes I sprinkle a little bit of bagoong on my food but of course not too much—we all know too much salt is not healthy!”

But an even bigger change in Rosemarie’s life was the discovery of her inner athlete. She not only exercised to lose weight, but discovered that she actually had a passion for running and was soon entering countless marathons. It wasn’t long before she started breaking records for her age category (Rosemarie is 43 years old) and winning countless medals. She currently holds the year’s fastest times among local women her age in 5K events.

“When I entered my first marathon, I was just happy to finish,” Rosemarie says, her voice incredulous.

“I really thank God for all of this, because this is truly a miracle.”

Last Sunday’s L.A. Marathon held a special significance for Rosemarie, since the L.A. Marathon was the first marathon she ever ran.

“The L.A. Marathon is very special for me because it was my very first marathon ever. It was the year 2005 when my nephew in law suggested participating in the L.A. Marathon, and I realized that I was really ready for a marathon,” Rosemarie says.

“So I trained everyday, running six miles a day to the very best of my ability in preparation for that special event. Since that first time, I keep telling myself rain or shine that I’ll always run the L.A. marathon every year.”

Recently, Rosemarie’s incredible weight loss story has been picked up by Shape magazine, L.A. Sports and Fitness magazine and even The Los Angeles Times.

And through it all, the 43 year-old LVN who hails from Northern Luzon, Philippines credits her incredible success to her ever-present faith.

“With these accomplishments, I believed God had a purpose in my life, and this is to share my story, to motivate and to inspire others to set positive goals and to set good examples in fulfilling and achieving healthy lifestyle,” Rosemarie says, her voice full of emotion.

“Once you get healthy, everything will follow—you can really achieve anything.”

Rosemarie even dreams of having a running event especially for Filipinos.

“At all of my running events, I don’t see nearly enough Filipinos. I wish more Filipinos would participate in events like these [such as the L.A. marathon]. I hope we can have our own running event, you know, with sponsors and everything so we can raise funds for the less fortunate in the Philippines.”

Of course with Rosemarie, anything is possible.

bathroom fixtures

2008-05-29T05:15:00.000-07:00

get rust out of my bathroom fixtures? I bought a house that was about 10 years old and the water supply was well water that is high in iron content. The owner had neither an Iron Remover tank, nor a Water Softner. It was an absolute mess fixture wise, rust was very thick everywhere especially the toiletIs..

I wound up using a solution of 50% water and 50% as purchased Muriatic Acid and cleaning everything ceramic with that solution and a regular toilet brush. Lowes sells it for about $5 a gallon. It removed the stains and saved me replacing the fixtures which were really good

2 Filipinos now in Top 40 in UK 'Talent Show'

2008-05-28T21:21:00.000-07:00

The good news was confirmed by the Pinoys’ fathers.

Through a text message, Manila-based Rey Decena said his daughter Madonna is set to compete on Friday. “The finals show is on Saturday — by then the Top 10 finalists would’ve been chosen,” he said.

In an e-mail sent on Tuesday, Charlie’s dad, Roger Green, said the 11-year-old was set to perform on Wednesday (today, Thursday, Manila time).

“The semi-finals are aired live, so viewers can vote for their favorite acts,” he explained.

Charlie’s dad said the kid prepared a new song, “All I Wanna Do is Sing,” for this round.

The two Pinoys were among the 177 aspirants who competed for the Top 40 slots.

On the show’s official web site, judge Piers Morgan described the Top 40 as a “varied” bunch. Fellow judge Amanda Holden noted that they made “brilliant” choices. “Like last year, the Top 40 will bring the country to a standstill,” she said.

Narrowing down the 177 to 40 semi-finalists was “the most difficult part of the job,” said Morgan. “There were lots of debates and rows,” he recalled.

Show co-creator and judge Simon Cowell agreed: “It’s draining, exhausting. And depressing … Unless the contestants deserve [to get the boot].”