Manny Pacquiao vs Ricky Hatton Tale of the Tape

Tribu Paghidaet Dinagyang 2009 Champion

Tribu Paghidaet of La Paz National High School regain its fame for Dinagyang Festival 2009 Ati-ati dance competition. Being the champion they also bags a lot of minor and special awards namely Best in Headdress, Best in Costume, Best in Music, Best in Choreography and Best in Performance. On the other hand its best competitor the Tribu Bola-bola comeback performance won 1st Place and got the Best in Street Dancing for minor award. While on 2nd Place belong to Tribu Ilonganon, Tribu Silak for 3rd Place and Tribu Himal-os as 4th Place respectively.

As Dinagyang Festival 2009 Grand Champion, Tribu Paghidaet will represent the Dinagyang Festival for Aliwan Festival 2009 this year.

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Dinagyang 2009 Winners/Result

Iloilo Dinagyaang Festival Kasadyahan Competition - January 24, 2009

Minor Awards
Best in Performance - Tribu Kasag
Best in Street Dancing - Tribu Saad

Major Awards
Consolation Prize - Tribu Jimanban
4th Runner-up - Tribu Tultugan
3rd Runner-up - Tribu Bayluhay
2nd Runner-up - Tribu Madia-as
1st Runner-up - Tribu Sa-ad
Champion - Tribu Kasag

Iloilo Dinagyaang Festival Dinagyang Competition - January 25, 2009

Speacial Awards
Best in Decipline - Tribu Atub-atub
Best in Headress - Tribu Paghidaet
Best in Custume - Tribu Paghidaet

Major Awards
Best in Street Dancing - Tribu Bola-bola
Best in Music- Tribu Paghidaet
Best in Choreography- Tribu Paghidaet
Best in Performance - Tribu Paghidaet

Major Awards
4th Runner-up - Tribu Himal-os
3rd Runner-up - Tribu Silak
2nd Runner-up - Tribu ilonganon
1st Runner-up - Tribu Bola-bola
Champion - Tribu Paghidaet

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Kasadyahan 2009 Highlights and Photos

Iloilo Dinagyang Festival Kasadyahan Competition
January 24, 2009

• Tribu Jimanban - New Lucena
• Tribu Bayluhay - San Joaquin
• Tribu Saad - Leganes
• Tribu Tultugan - Maasin, Iloilo
• Tribu Mandurriaonon - Mandurriao
• Tribu Kasag of the Kasag Festival - Banate

Iloilo Dinagyang Festival Kasadyahan Non- Competing Tribe
January 24, 2009

• St. Therese College Dance Group
• Annie Divinagracia-Sartorio School of Perfroming Arts
• Kawilihan-University of San Agustin
• Sigrab Perfroming Arts - University of Iloilo
• Panayana - WVSU
• Irong-Irong - WVSU

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Eraserheads Reunite for Concert Once More

Unlike their grand reunion concert on Aug. 30 last year at the Bonifacio Open Field in The Fort, Taguig City, the Eraserheads’ concert on March 7 at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Convention Center will go all the way — no more rude interruption... hopefully, keep your fingers crossed.

The Aug. 30 musical event that drew 60,000 E-Heads fans was cut short during the intermission when vocalist Ely Buendia suffered chest pains. He underwent angioplasty and has sufficiently recovered since then, fit enough for another gruelling concert with fellow former E-Heads members Marcus Adoro, Raimund Marasigan and Buddy Zabala. On the side, Ely was even able to put together an album of inspirational songs with Francis Magalona who’s bravely battling with leukemia.

Contrary to what its title, Eraserheads: The Final Set (with SMART and MTV Philippines headed by Francis Lumen as presentors), implies, the E-Heads guys insist that the MOA gig is an entirely new concert and not just a continuation of the “first set” in which the guys sang only 15 of the 30 songs in the repertoire.

“Actually, it’s a little bit of both,” explained Ely. “It’s a continuation because our fans are expecting more songs from the first concert and songs that we were not able to sing. It’s a totally new concert because we are doing new stuff.”

“Songs that our fans haven’t heard ‘live’ for a long time,” added Buddy.

“Tuluy-tuloy na talaga ito,” seconded Marcus.

“Wala na talagang bitin,” agreed Raimund. “The fans were bitin then and so were we.”

Besides, unlike during the first time, the E-Heads have no more, so to speak, ice to break because they had let bygones be bygones and buried whatever animosities were there among them.

“Raimund, Marcus and Buddy were frequent visitors at the hospital when Ely was confined,” said Diane, Ely’s wife.

“There were just too much stress and too many pressures at that time,” said Ely whose mother died two days before the concert. “This time, things are going smoothly, including the rehearsals. Parang polishing na ang ang ginagawa namin. Everybody is more prepared now — the producers, etc. And we have more time now.”

Now as good as new, Ely is getting as much rest as he can before the concert, per his doctor’s advice.

The big question is: Are the E-Heads thinking of reuniting for good, making beautiful music just like old times?

There might be some stumbling block since all four have new commitments. But then, who knows?

Asked when they were still together what the Eraserheads had that other bands did not, Marcus said, “Wala silang Ely Buendia.”

Asked the same question during the presscon Monday, Ely returned the compliment, “Wala silang Marcus Adoro.”

Incidentally, the countdown to The Final Set concert has started. Signature E-Heads songs such as Alapaap, With A Smile and Ligaya can be downloaded in full-track format from the store for only P50, while MP 3 true tones are available for P30 and Caller Ringback Tunes for only P15 for 15 days. Surfing the SMART wapsite (http://wap.smart.com.ph) and browsing the SMART Buddy Music Store (http://wap.smart.com.ph/musicstore) is free, and subscribers pay only for the content that they download and use. To start enjoying the Eraserheads reunion concert tracks, send EHEADS to 3456. The service is exclusive to SMART subscribers only.

(Co-presentor of the concert is McDonald’s; with special thanks to Armvet Printing Company, Italiannis and Sony BMG, with Business Mirror, Business World and NU107 as media partners.)

TV5 CEO quits

Primedia announced yesterday that its CEO, Christopher Sy, is intending to leave the company after a suitable period of transition. However, he will remain with the company thereafter on a consultancy basis.

According to Sy, “I am very proud of TV5. From our first week of operations, TV5 has been ranked No. 3 in the ratings game. There is also steady increase in all-day viewership and its morning belt is consistently at double-digit share levels. I am very fortunate and thankful for being given the opportunity to be a part of this.”

The TV5 team with Sy at the helm has posted noteworthy achievements since launch with strong positive momentum going into 2009.

Primedia through its Marketing Communications head, Pat Marcelo-Magbanua, reiterated the company’s commitment to continue investing on TV5.

“We will continue to provide our viewers bigger and bolder programs to give Filipinos more choices in entertainment. Primedia through its various departments are already geared up for the rest of the year’s challenges.”

Barrack Obama Inauguration Ceremony Full Length Video

Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address (Full Text)

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Barrack Obama Inauguration Speech Video

Barack Obama Inauguration Ceremony.
January 20th, 2009 at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC.

• Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address (Full Text)
• Barack Obama’s Inaugural Photos
  

See the Obama inauguration speech video below.

Pinoy Receives First US Anti-Child Labor Award

A Filipino anti-child labor advocate received the first annual Iqbal Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labor given by the US Department of Labor.

US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie A. Kenney presented the award to Maria Cecilia Flores-Oebanda of the Visayan Forum Foundation on Friday.

"It is a great honor to present the Iqbal Masih Award to Cecille, who is a long-time partner of the US Mission in the Philippines in combating exploitative child labor as well as trafficking of women and children for domestic servitude and commercial sexual exploitation," Kenney said at the ceremony held at the US Embassy.

"The award recognizes Cecille's work that has brought real change to the lives of thousands of children in the Philippines," she added.

The Iqbal Masih Award was established by the US Congress to recognize the work of an individual, company, organization or national government to end the worst forms of child labor.

The award reflects the spirit of Iqbal Masih, a Pakistani child enslaved at the age of four who escaped his servitude and became an outspoken advocate against child slavery.

In 1995 at the age of 13 and a year after receiving the Reebok Human Rights Award, Iqbal was killed in Pakistan. His dedication to ending child slavery, however, continues to inspire individuals around the world.

Like Iqbal Masih, Flores-Oebanda was born into poverty. As a child, she helped to support her family by scavenging. As a teenager, she advocated for the rights of youth and farm laborers.

Flores-Oebanda later founded and now leads the VFF, a nongovernmental organization that has rescued and provided assistance to more than 32,000 victims and potential victims of trafficking. The VFF has helped to file more than 65 trafficking cases on behalf of more than 165 victims.

Flores-Oebanda serves as the Southeast Asia coordinator for the Global March Against Child Labor.

Pinoy Student to Attend Obama's Inauguration

A 19-year-old college freshman cannot believe his luck: He is one of only two Filipinos to be invited to President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration, an event that excludes even his country's president.

"I couldn't believe my eyes," Paul Michael Pilares Cruz said, describing the moment the invitation arrived by mail from the Congressional Youth Leadership Council Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that has secured seats for students from around the globe.

"I asked my father if this was a mistake or what?"

Cruz and another Filipino, Anna Liwanag, attended the Global Youth Leadership Conference when they were high school seniors in June 2007 in Washington and New York, making them eligible to be invited to the Jan. 20 inauguration.

If he meets Obama, Cruz said he wants to ask him how the U.S. can help developing countries like the Philippines and for tips on how to be successful.

Unlike President George W. Bush, Obama will "break boundaries between cultures," said Cruz, who wants to be a doctor like his parents.

U.S. officials said foreign leaders are traditionally discouraged from attending inaugurations due to the enormous crowds and security concerns. Only foreign ambassadors and their spouses are invited.

International students will hear speeches by former Vice President Al Gore and former Secretary of State Collin Powell and attend an inaugural ball, according to the organizers during the Jan. 17-21 University Presidential Inauguration Conference.

Just in time, Cruz's grandfather gave him a $638 tuxedo to wear to the ball.

Iloilo Dinagyang Festival 2009 Winners

This is the Official Iloilo Dinagyang Festival 2009 Results/Winners. The Dinagyang 2009 winners will be posted on our affiliated blog.

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The Other Pinay at Obama Inaugural

Besides Charice who is performing at the pre-inaugural ball for Barack Obama in Washington, D.C., presumably on Jan. 18, there’s another Filipino in the event and she’s none other than Cristeta Comerford who has been retained as executive chef of the White House.

This is pointed out by Funfare’s Big Apple correspondent Edmund Silvestre (of The Filipino Reporter) who said that before the actual inauguration day on Jan. 20, “There will be a series of pre-inaugural and post-inaugural events like the Oscars, you know, pre-Oscar events and then several parties during the awards night itself, such as the Elton John party, Vanity Fair ball, etc.).”

Added Edmund, “If the Obamas will watch Charice’s pre-inaugural performance, big deal ito talaga kasi I heard hundreds of performers and their handlers (even those outside the US) are lobbying to be able to perform in any of these events. This is a historic event, first African American president kasi, eh. Many said this is the final nail in the coffin of racism in America.”

Ang saya! exclaimed Edmund.

“Also attending pala is another Filipino, Philippine Ambassador to the US Willy Gaa, along with the rest of the diplomatic community.”

Edmund sent to Funfare the following clipping of Jan. 8, 2009 issue of The New York Times carrying the story about Cristeta Comerford, titled “No Change Brewing in the White House Kitchen” bylined Rachel L. Swarns:

Some prominent foodies have been clamoring for change in the White House kitchen. But President-elect Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, have decided that Cristeta Comerford, the executive chef at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, will stay put, a transition official said on Thursday.

Ms. Comerford, the first woman to hold the executive chef post, has been in the job since 2005. And some gourmands have argued that that is long enough. Ruth Reichl, the editor of Gourmet magazine, sent a letter to Mr. Obama, along with restaurateurs Alice Waters and Danny Meyer, offering to help him select someone new for the job. Ms. Reichl said the White House could use a chef who cooks local and organic foods and picks some of it from the presidential garden.

But a transition official said that First Lady Laura Bush spoke very highly of Ms. Comerford and that the Obamas, who have two young daughters, also liked the fact that Ms. Comerford is a mother herself. Mrs. Bush’s office has praised Ms. Comerford in the past for creating “original dishes with American flavor.”

“They had heard a great deal about her from Mrs. Bush,’’ said the transition official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “The Bushs just loved her. There’s no need for making a change.’’

Ms. Reichl said she still hoped that the Obamas would use the White House kitchen as “a bully pulpit” to publicize their healthy eating habits, irrespective of who is doing the cooking.

“I’m sure that Ms. Comerford is completely capable of serving fabulous food to them,” Ms. Reichl said. “I would just hope that they would take this opportunity to use this bully pulpit as a way of saying, ‘We eat healthy, nutritious, locally-grown food.’ I think it would be a really easy way to have an influence on this obesity crisis in this country. I would really hope they would broadcast what they’re eating to the rest of us.”

Ms. Comerford is a naturalized citizen who came to the United States from the Philippines when she was 23. She has a bachelor’s degree in food technology from the University of the Philippines and has studied classic French cooking and worked in Austria. She also worked as chef at two Washington hotels. She joined the White House as an assistant chef in 1995.

Her predecessor, Walter Scheib III, who was hired by Hillary Clinton when she was first lady, was fired by Mrs. Bush in 2005. He said at the time that he had been unable “to satisfy the first lady’s stylistic requirements.’’

On Friday, the Obama transition team released a statement from Mrs. Obama about the family’s decision:

“Cristeta Comerford brings such incredible talent to the White House operation and came very highly regarded from the Bush family. Also the mom of a young daughter, I appreciate our shared perspective on the importance of healthy eating and healthy families. I look forward to working with her in the years to come.”

Discovering opportunities in 2009

The year 2008 was good for property developers. It was probably the best of the last 10 years. Sales were brisk and everyone was happy. It did not matter whether the development was for the lower-, mid-, or high-end market; they all sold very well.

However, doomsday analysts are painting a rather bleak picture for this new year, which only goes to show just what they are: doomsday analysts living up to their name. These purported oracles are so “good” at what they do that they can find a sad scenario even for the very positive things that have happened in the last year.

To them, a drop in oil prices forebodes horrendous traffic jams or a reduction in prices of construction materials translates as ill news for the manufacturers. Nothing escapes their glum prognosis.

Endless opportunities

I believe there are endless opportunities for everyone in 2009. Although the United States is sunk in a recession, we may not be as severely affected as predicted. Why is that?

For one, we are not as dependent on the American economy like we used to be. There was a time when most of our exports, like decorative handicraft, accessories and furniture, were geared solely to the US market. Although we suffered when they tightened their import quotas with us, we were encouraged to cultivate other partnerships, particularly China. The breakdown taught us to be independent and not reliant on a single market.

In addition, the negative publicity China has been getting due to the quality of their products gives us somewhat of an edge; it offers our products as viable alternatives. For the property sector, this could mean the establishment of more factories and industrial zones.

Second, we Filipinos are very resilient. We have been immersed in crises countless times over the past three decades—from dictatorships, to natural calamities, to flailing economies, to varying levels of coup d’etat—so that we are now considered crisis-ready, if not crisis-worn.

In fact, we are the experts in crisis situations and are sought out by other nations as consultants in dealing with seemingly impossible situations. Similarly, our other skills as planners, designers and builders are ever in demand on foreign shores.

There is an influx of Korean nationals now residing in our country. They also contribute to our economic growth in the areas of real estate, education, etc. Apparently, the cost of living and education in Korea is steeper, so our country is a good substitute. If we can make our facilities friendlier for the Japanese and other Asians as well, we may be able to attract even more visitors.

If we can enact laws that would protect and prioritize our own citizens, we can enjoy a symbiotic situation as welcoming host and comfortable partner. Meanwhile, the expansion of housing, commercial and school facilities will provide us opportunities for growth.

Our cost of living here is cheaper and attracts retirees. Our overseas contract workers cannot work offshore forever; they likewise grow old, get financially settled and desire to retire. We have to be ready for them. This can translate to a continuing demand for housing from this sector.

Travelers are ever on the lookout for more affordable alternatives for rest and recreation. A $3,000 vacation for one in Europe is enough for a family of eight to have luxurious fun in Bohol. This points us toward more opportunities to develop properties for this purpose.

Ideal for building

These days, there is a decline in prices of construction materials, making the situation ideal for building. When the construction industry revs up, the economy improves as well since more jobs are created all around.

Our developers have already learned their lesson during the 1997 crisis and are now smart enough not to make the same mistakes twice. They are more careful. They know that as long as they deliver on what they promise, they will be patronized.

One of the failures during the 1996 crisis was that some developers spread themselves too thinly, launching many projects left and right, but were not able to complete these. This made buyers wary of putting in any more of their money, thus slowing down investments.

Positive thinkers

Lately, I seem to find myself in the company of positive thinkers. A client, who just sold his home in Quezon City, recently wanted to build more houses. He claims to have been surprised by the number of respondents in search of homes, trooping to the house when he put it on the market.

A friend in the advertising industry likewise seems to be surprised with the volume of his work prospects for the coming year. He believes this is because the fear generated by the US recession prompted businesses to advertise more.

A supplier of construction materials claims to not have experienced a decline in sales. He is confident of the bottom line enough to bring his family on holiday abroad.

Another good indicator is that SM continues building new malls and expanding their old ones like these were merely sari-sari (variety) stores, with one sprouting and sprawling in every corner.

Even call centers, which many feared were on the downtrend, have bounced back since businesses decided to fight back and bring more of their transactions straight to the consumer by initiating more direct marketing calls.

Good deals

These days of investor wariness opens a door of opportunity for real estate bargain hunters to find good deals for properties owned by Filipino-Americans selling their properties for below market value to support their lifestyle abroad. Now many locals can snatch up US properties at great prices.

We still have other aces up our sleeves that have not been fully explored, such as the self-liquidating agri-based development. These are farm development projects which, with proper management, can eventually pay for itself. Property management, refurbishing and conversion of existing buildings are also good ways to further grease our economy.

There is nothing to fear but fear itself. Money does not really disappear. It just moves from one hand to another. So it’s just a matter of finding out who has it this time and working out how to cultivate that sector.

When I asked a client developer why they continue to build despite the current situation, he simply replied, “This is what we do and this is what we do best.” Yes, we must continue to do our best and discover the prospect and opportunity in even the most challenging situation.

As a motorcycle enthusiast, I have learned that there’s nothing wrong with riding in the rain. You just have to ride more carefully and do everything a little more slowly than usual. On the threshold of 2009, I can only quote the song: “The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades!”

source: http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20090109-182471/Discovering-opportunities-in-2009

Dinagyang Festival 2009

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image source: www.skyscrapercity.com

Filipinos Build Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

After successfully launching the first underwater unmanned vehicle, research and development firm Roboteknik is developing the country's first commercially available unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which can be used for industrial and military purposes.

The Custos (Latin for guardian) is a remote controlled aircraft almost two meters in length and is similar to some UAVs used in the US, particularly the RQ series made by AAI Corporation and Israel Aircraft Industries.

The Custos is only about 1.5 meters in length and is powered by a single electric jet propulsion engine. The UAV can be outfitted with high resolution close circuit television camera for still and video shots, a global positioning system receiver, infrared sensors, among others.

The Custos can fly for two hours at a maximum height of 5,000 feet. It can fly within a 10-kilometer range and can be controlled from the ground through a mobile command station.

The Custos won third prize in last year's Department of Science and Technology’s National Inventors Week Awards.

Roboteknik President Michael Poblete said that the company is building an upgraded version of the original Custos.

He said it would be ready by February 2009.

Poblete declined to reveal details of the upgraded version but said it would be for an "immediate client."

The new UAV, however, will also be used by the military, local government units, law enforcement and agriculture.

Poblete said the first UAV model would cost around P90,000 though it might not be used commercially for some time.

The price of the upgraded version is yet to be announced.

source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20090106-181700/Filipinos-build-unmanned-aerial-vehicle

Manny Pacquiao got 3 more bouts for 2009

Manny Pacquiao, his promoter Bob Arum hinted, is open to three fights this year.

The Filipino superstar is locked on to face Britain’s Ricky Hatton on May 2 in Las Vegas, and is hoping to land an even bigger fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. later on.

But Arum said if Mayweather, who retired last June as the undefeated pound-for-pound champion, doesn’t come out in the open, Pacquiao might consider two more fights.

Pacquiao said he wants to retire this year, and Arum, the legendary Top Rank chief, wants to make sure that boxing’s biggest draw today makes the most of his chances.

“If Floyd Mayweather is not available after we fight Hatton, then we can fight Edwin Valero,” said Arum, close to finalizing the deal with the Hatton people for the May 2 bout.

“There are a number of people out there although the fight may not be as big as Mayweather,” he added after dropping the name of the Venezuelan knockout artist.

Among the other worthy contenders are Joan Guzman or Zab Judah and, of course, Juan Manuel Marquez, the only fighter who really came close to beating Pacquiao in nearly three years.

Again, none of these fights can match the attention a fight with Mayweather would draw, considering that it will be a fight between two pound-for-pound champions of the same era.

“If Mayweather is not there, we can fight two more fights to make up for it. Manny can fight three times this year,” said Arum over the telephone.

But Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach wants Pacquiao going up against Hatton, and then Mayweather.

“In a perfect world, I would like to see him fight Ricky Hatton and then Floyd Mayweather Jr. and then I would like to see Manny retire, and become President of the Philippines,” he told fighthype.com.

Going back to things on hand, the matchmaking genius said Pacquiao stands to earn a lot, even more than what he earned against Oscar dela Hoya, for facing Hatton.

“There’s a good chance that Manny will earn more in this fight,” said Arum of Pacquiao, who got no less than $10 million despite the smaller 32 percent take against Dela Hoya’s 68 percent.

Arum said there’d be no such disparity in the Pacquiao-Hatton pie.

“Manny may get more but not much, much more because Ricky Hatton brings more to the table than anybody else Manny could fight at the moment,” he said.
“But we are not getting the smaller share if you know what I mean. A tremendous percentage of the money will come from England,” he added in recognizing Hatton’s pay-per-view draw back home.