Hello locals!!!

It's been more than a decade since I've been to "The Heart of the Philippines"...Iloilo. Though I grew up in Pampanga, I'm still an ilonggo at heart--it's within my roots and I would love to see my unknown relatives out there. Isn't cool to have a reunion during festivals this would be a perfect time to meet and celebrate with them..

I'm going to Iloilo for this year's Dinagyang Festival which was voted as the best Tourism Event for 2006,2007 and 2008 by the Association of Tourism Officers in the Philippines, The first festival in the world to get the support of the United Nations for the promotion of the Millennium Development Goals, Cited by the Asian Development Bank as Best Practice on government, private sector & NGO cooperation.

Gosh I'm so excited!!! to see the parade--all those fabulous costumes, production numbers, the amazing sceneries, beautiful white sand beaches, those mouth-watering delicacies, and ofcourse, to meet those happy gorgeous locals out there...

Just watch out for pictures and stories when I come back from this marvelous vacation trip of mine... Ciao!!!

Dinagyang Festival 2009 Schedule of Activities

Schedule of Activities 2009

DATE	TIME	EVENT	VENUE
October 22, 2008	4:00 P.M	Kapamilya Dance Shown, Grand Launching	SM City Activity Center
November 30, 2008	4:00 P.M.	Dinagyang Idol Singing	Robinsons Place Iloilo
December 1, 2008	2:00 P.M.	LOCAL LAUNCH	SM City Activity Center
December 12-15, 2008		NATIONAL LAUNCH	Tiendiesitas, Greenhills Shopping Center and Malll of Asia
December 10-11, 2008	1:00 P.M.	Dinagyang Kapamilya Dance Show Down, Elimination round	SM City Activity Center
December 19, 2008 - (Friday)	2:00 P.M.	PAMUKAW	Assembly Area: Promenade passing Iznart, J.M. Basa to Freedom Grandstand
December 13, 2008 - (Saturday)	3:00 P.M.	Ms Iloilo Dinagyang 2009 Presentation of Candidates	Robinsons Mall, Fountain Area
December 14, 2008	3:00 P.M.	Ms Iloilo Dinagyang 2009 Presentation of Candidates	SM City Activity Area
	4:00 P.M.	Dinagyang Idol Elimination/Dancing (20) contestant	Robinsons Place Iloilo
January 4, 2009	4:00 P.M.	Dinagyang Idol Elimination/Ramble (15) contestants	Robinsons Place Iloilo
January 5, 2009	8:00 A.M.	Launching of tree for Life Nursery	ICHNS
	11:00 A.M.	Courtesy Call	Mayor's Office
		Courtesy Call	City Tourism Office
January 6, 2009	2:00 P.M.	Newspaper Gown Competition	SM City Activity Area
January 7, 2009	3:00 P.M.	Fashion Show "Elegance by Alta Moda"	Robinson's Place
January 8, 2009	1:00 P.M.	Swimsuit & Talent Competition	SM City
January 9, 2009		Training Designing a Tourism Project	Grand Hotel
January 10, 2009	3:00 P.M.	Talent Showcase	Robinson's Place
January 10-25, 2009		Dinagyang Tourist Assistance Center & Ms. Iloilo Dinagyang 2009-Photo Exhibit	SM City
January 11, 2009	5:00 P.M.	Presentation of Tourism Advocacy Projects, Headress & Casual Wear Competition	Grand Hotel
January 13, 2009	1:00 - 4:00 p.m.	Ms. Iloilo Dinagyang 2009 Pre-Judging	Iloilo Grand Hotel
January 14-22, 2009		Masses	San Jose Parish Church
Januaryu 14, 2009 - Wednesday	5:30 P.M.	Turning Over Ceremony for Incoming Hermano & Hermana Mayor	San Jose Parish Church
January 14-15, 2009		Ms. Iloilo Dinagyang 2009 Rehearsal
January 16, 2009 - (Friday)	2:30 p.m.	Mass for opening Salvo of Tribe Dancers	San Jose Parish Church
	3:00 P.M.	OPENING SALVO	Judging Area
	5:00 P.M.	Exhibit of Student-Generated Project	WVSU Cultural Center
		Ms. Iloilo Dinagyang 2009 Technical Rehearsal
	6:00 P.M.	Multiple Intelligences in motion with PDA Winners Laarni & Bugoy	WVSU Cultural Center
January 17, 2009 - Sunday	7:00 P.M.	Coronation Night, MS. ILOILO DINAGYANG 2009	Colegio de San Jose
		CHEER LEADER CONTEST
		SM Little, Warriors Dinagyang Costume Contest	SM City
January 17-18, 2009		Warriors Festival Parade	SM City around Mall
January 18, 2009 - (Sunday)	8:00 AM- 12:00 NN	Medical Mission	San Jose Parish Church
	4:00 P.M.	Dinagyang Idol 2009 Opening Salvo;Showcase of two combined (2) talents (10 contestants)	Robinsons Place Iloilo
January 19, 2009	9:00 A.M.	Healing Mass by Rev. Fr. Ramon Siquito	San Jose Parish Church
January 19-20, 2009 - Monday and Tuesday)	Night	Final Rehearsal, Dinagyang Ati Tribes 2009	Dinagyang Parade Route
January 20, 2009 - Tuesday	10:00 AM	Healing Mass for the Sick, Aged and Abandoned Children	San Jose Parish Church
January 21, 2009 - (Wednesday)	8:00 a.m.	Arrival of Pilgrim Image of Señor Santo Niño from Cebu City	Iloilo Port Terminal
	5:00 P.M.	Coronation of Princess Isabel 2009 and Dinagyang Niño 2009	San Jose Parish Church
	Night	Final Rehearsal, Kasadyahan 2009	Dinagyang Parade Route
January 22-25, 2009 - (Thursday-Sunday)	2:00 P.M.-12 MN	Iloilo Hotel Resort & Restaurant Association Food Festival(IHRRA)	Delgado St., Iloilo City
January 23, 2009 - (Friday)	8:00 a.m.	TAMBOR TRUMPA MARTSA MUSIKA	Freedom Grandstand
	2:00 P.M.	Dinagyang Kapamilya Dance Showdown, Grand Finals	SM City Activity Center
	1:00 p.m.	FLUVIAL PROCESSION from Fort San Pedro Drive Inn to disembark in front of Customs House and followed by Solemn Procession to San Jose Church	San Jose Parish Church
	5:30 p.m.	Santo Niño mass in English to be followed by blessings of children, pregnant mothers Santo Niño images	San Jose Parish Church
	6:00 PM	GMA, Kapuso Night	Freedom Grandstand
January 23-24, 2009		2nd ILOILO DINAGYANG 2009 AGE-GROUP SWIMFEST	Iloilo Sports Complex
January 23-25, 2009		Warriors Festival Parade	SM City around Mall
		SM Street Party & Food Festival	SM City Car Park
January 24, 2009 - Saturday	7:00 A.M.	Mass for Kasadyahan	San Jose Parish Churh
	8:00 A.M.	KASADYAHAN Competition	Freedom Grandstand and other stages
		SPONSORS MARDI GRAS	Freedom Grandstand & other stages
	6:00 P.M.	ABS-CBN, KAPAMILYA NIGHT	SM City
	7:00 PM	LUCES IN THE SKY
	7:00 PM	Religious Sad-sad to Sr. Sto. Niño	San Jose Parish
January 25, 2009 - (Sunday)	6:30 a.m	Concelebrated high mass for devotees, Tribes, Gov't. Officials, LOMAS in attendance	San Jose Parish Church
	8:00 A.M.	DINAGYANG CONTEST	Freedom Grandstand and other stages
	4:00 P.M.	Dinagyang Idol 2009 Elimination/Showcase of Two (2) combined talents and Grand Finals (10 contestant	Robinsons Place Iloilo
	5:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.	Regular Sunday Mass	San Jose Parish Church
	5:00 P.M.	Salvo of A Thousand Drums	Iloilo Sports Complex
	7:00 P.M.	Closing & Awarding with PAGCOR’s Wanders & Fireworks Iloilo Dinagyang Awarding Ceremonies	Iloilo Sports Complex
January 26, 2009 - (Monday)	5:30 P.M.	Thanksgiving Mass with all members of 2009 Iloilo Dinagyang Festival Working Committees	San Jose Parish Church

Official Philippine Holidays 2009 (Long Weekends)

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Proclamation 1699 last December 24, 2008 setting the dates of 2009 regular and special holidays.


This year, the following regular holidays shall fall on the following dates:

April 6 (Monday, in lieu of April 9) - Araw ng Kagitingan
April 9 - Maundy Thursday
April 10 - Good Friday
May 1 (Friday) - Labor Day
June 12 (Friday) - Independence Day
August 31 (Monday) - National Heroes Day
November 30 (Monday) - Bonifacio Day
December 25 (Friday) - Christmas Day
December 30 (Wednesday) - Rizal Day

Meanwhile, the Special (Non-Working) Holidays for 2009 shall fall on the following dates:

August 21 (Friday) - Ninoy Aquino Day
November 1 (Sunday) - All Saints Day
November 2 (Monday) - Additional (Non-Working) Day
December 24 (Thursday) - Additional (Non-Working) Day
December 31 (Thursday) - Last Day of the Year

Hope we all enjoy this looooong weekends... Kudos! to President GMA!!!

The 8 entries to 34th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF 2008).

The Metro Manila Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Metro Manila, Philippines. The focus of the festival is on locally-produced films. Established in 1975, the festival starts on the 25th of December until the first week of January.

>>> I'll definitely watch Tanging Ina N'yong Lahat!!!



Ang Tanging Ina Ninyong Lahat: the sequel of Ang Tanging Ina. It is the third of 'Direk' Wenn Deremas' "Ina" collection after "Ang Cute ng Ina Mo" with actress Anne Curtis. In 2003, ATI was the highest grossing film in the country until Kris Aquino's "Sukob" surpassed it. Ina (Delas Alas) is elected to be the new president of the Philippines. She plays mother of her 12 children and of the whole country since she will be declared as the next President of the Philippines: "'Yung mga bata nagsilakihan na, iba na ang problema namin. At isang major change, ako na ang presidente ng Republika ng Pilipinas. Dito sa ATINL ay tatakbong presidente ng Pilipinas at magiging presidente ng Pilipinas si Ai-Ai.". By: Star Cinema.

Ang Tanging Ina N'yong Lahat (Star Cinema)
Directed by: Wenn Deramas
Scriptwriter: Mel Mendoza-Del Rosario
Starring:
Ai-Ai de las Alas- Ina
Claudine Barretto- Tina
Nikki Valdez- Tudis
Carlo Aquino- Dimitri/Tri
Paula Peralejo- Portia/Por
Alwyn Uytingco- Tirso/Pip
Shaina Magdayao- Severina/Seven-
Serena Dalrymple- Cate
Jiro Manio- Shammy
Yuki Kadooka- Ten-ten
Eugene Domingo- Rowena
Dennis Padilla- Eddie
Kaye Abad- Jenny
John Prats- Jeffrey
Pinky Amador- Gretchen's Mom
Mandy Ochoa- Gretchen's Dad
Angelica Panganiban- Gretchen
Ricci Chan- TBA
Gloria Diaz- President Hilary
DJ Durano- Vice President Bill Bilyones
Cherry Pie Picache-


One Night Only (Canary Films)
Written and directed by: Jose Javier Reyes
Starring:
*Rica Peralejo
*Roxanne Guinoo
*Katrina Halili
*Rafael Rosell



"Iskul Bukol 20 Years After: Ungasis and Escaleras Adventure": was immediately approved by the MMFF jurors. The title was changed to "Escalera and Ungasis: 20 Years After," which will reunite the main characters for the first time since the original TV series. The movie will take place in Cambodia.

Tagasa already agreed to reprise her role as Miss Tapia and so did Anthony Roquel (as Tonette Macho). The role of Mang Temy however may be retired as a tribute to cast member Bing Angeles who passed away in 2001.

The movie's title was changed again in order to gain strong audience recall, owing its large fanbase to people who grew up in the '70s and '80s watching the TV show.

Escalera and Ungasis: 20 Years After (Iskul Bukol: 20 Years After) (OctoArts Films/M-Zet Production)
Directed by: Tony Y. Reyes
Scriptwriters: Isabel da Rosa and Tony Reyes
Starring:
*Tito Sotto as Tito Escalera
*Vic Sotto as Vic Ungasis
*Joey de Leon as Joey Escalera
*Bibeth Orteza as Bibeth
*Jimmy Santos as Big J

other cast:
*Manny Pacquiao
*Sharon Cuneta as Sharon Escalera
*Francine Prieto
*Krista Ranillo
*Ryan Agoncillo
*Dennis Trillo
*Ramon 'Bong' Revilla Jr.
*Mark Herras
*Oyo Boy Sotto
*Keempee de Leon
*Redford White
*Ritchie d Horsie
*Gardo Versoza
*Bianca King
*Pauleen Luna
*Jose Manalo
*Leo Martinez
*Mely Tagasa as Miss Tapia
*Joko Diaz
*Val Sotto
*Benjie Paras
*Jhong Hilario
*Gian Sotto
*Joonee Gamboa
*Anthony Roquel as Tonette Macho
*Robert Villar
*Wally Bayola
*Derek Dee *Jacky Woo
*Kaye Torres
*Nicole Uysiuseng
*E.B. Babes
*Mykah
*Levi Ignacio
*Carlene Aguilar
*Mary Massad




Dayo: Sa Mundo ng Elementalia: the Philippines’ first all-digital full-length animated feature film. The story revolves around Bubuy who has to save his grandparents who were abducted and brought to the strange land called Elementalia, which is home to a host of strange creatures.

Dayo [animation](Cutting Edge Productions)
Directed by: Robert Quilao
Scriptwriters: Artemion Abad, Jr. and Eric Cabatug
Starring:
* Nash Aguas as Bubuy
* Katrina Legaspi as Anna
* Michael V. as Narsi
* Johnny Delgado
* Noel Trinidad as Nuno
* Pokwang
* Laurice Guillen
* Nova Villa
* Gabe Mercado
* Pocholo Gonzales
* Peque Gallaga

Distributed by: Cutting Edge Productions

Baler: In 1898, a band of Spanish soldiers heroically defended Baler (which would later be the capital municipality of Aurora in 1951) against Filipino forces for 337 long and grueling days. The battle, now referred to as the Siege of Baler, is the setting of a forbidden love between an Indio soldier and a Filipina lass who lived at the end of the 19th century. By: VIVA Films.

Baler (Viva Communications)
Directed by: Mark Meily
Scriptwriter: Roy Iglesias
Starring:
* Anne Curtis - Feliza Reyes
* Jericho Rosales - Celso Ressurecion
* Phillip Salvador - Nanding
* Baron Geisler -
* Bernard Palanca
* Carlo Aquino
* Niki Bacolod
* DJ Durano
* Joel Torre
* Mark Bautista
* Michael de Mesa
* Ryan Eigenmann

Shake, Rattle & Roll X: a horror-comedy film which will be released in 2008 and the tenth installment of the Shake, Rattle & Roll film series. By: Regal Films.

Shake, Rattle & Roll X (Regal Entertainment, Inc.)
Directed by: Topel Lee and Mike Tuviera
Scriptwriters: Ellen Estrada, Cheryl Narvasa, Penny Tuviera and Fairlane Raymundo


>Nieves: Nieves (Marian Rivera) is the town’s famous and lone Engkanto Slayer. When strange and unexplainable attacks began to strike the whole town, Nieves, teams up with her slayer in trainings: Junie (Robert "Buboy" Villar) and Kaysee (Jennica Garcia) to save the townsfolk from extinction.

Starring:

* Marian Rivera as Nieves
* Jennica Garcia as Kaysee
* Robert "Buboy" Villar as Junie
* Diana Zubiri as Acacia
* Luis Alandy as Dario
* Marco Alcaraz as Celso
* Jojit Lorenzo as Adonis
* Desiree del Valle as Stacy
* Iwa Moto as Hasmin
* Chariz Solomon as Wai Lana
* Mike "Pekto" Nacua as Nieves' husband
* Mart Escudero

>Class picture: Ten college students spend the weekend at their school to prepare an exhibit in exchange for lifting the suspension of their organization. But instead of getting busied with paper maches, and presentation, they find themselves haunted by the awakened spirit of a demented nun, Sr. Maria Belonia (Jean Garcia), who has put a curse on a class picture of her section in 1898.

Starring:
* Kim Chiu as Joy
* Gerald Anderson as Lui
* Jean Garcia as Sister Maria Belonia
* Erich Gonzales as Anna
* Niña Jose as Nicole
* Eda Nolan as Blue
* Charles Christiansen as Bojovi
* IC Mendoza as Pinky
* Andrea Torres as Issa
* Stef Prescott as Pam
* Prince Stefan as Greg


>Emergency: When an obscure hospital becomes the target of wrathful blood hungry creatures (Mylene Dizon and Wendell Ramos), Jay (JC De Vera) the paramedic and his beloved Dr. Sarah (Roxanne Guinoo) must struggle together with other hospital residents to save their precious lives.
Starring:
* JC de Vera as Jay
* Roxanne Guinoo as Dr. Sarah
* Mylene Dizon as Aswang Wife
* Wendell Ramos as Aswang Husband
* John Lapus as Julius
* Eri Neeman as Ehrick
* Janus del Prado as Dennis
* Denise Laurel as Emily
* Diane Medina as Dr. Sarah's Friend
* Regine Angeles as Claire
* Jamilla Obispo as Nicole


Desperadas 2 (All they need is MORE love): a sequel of Desperadas which was starred by Ruffa Gutierrez, Rufa Mae Quinto, Iza Calzado, and Marian Rivera. Now, it is starred by the four actresses with Ogie Alcasid. By: Regal Films.
The story of Desperadas 2 is about another problems of the four half-sisters - Isabela, Patricia, Stephanie, and Courtney - that they are facing. They also found out that they have another half-sister, Lugaluda. The movie also follows the colorful and funny twists and turns of the lives of the five half-sisters.

Desperadas 2 (Regal Entertainment, Inc.)
Directed by: Joel Lamangan
Scriptwriter: Roy Iglesias
Starring:
*Ruffa Gutierrez as Isabella.
*Rufa Mae Quinto as Patricia.
*Iza Calzado as Stephanie.
*Marian Rivera as Courtney.
*Ogie Alcasid as Lugaluda.
*Will Devaughn as Patrick.
*Wendell Ramos as Dave.
*TJ Trinidad as Richard
*Jay-R as Vito.
*Sopiha Baars as Alexis.
*Carlo Guevarra
*Alex Castro
*Nova Villa as Margot
*Niña Jose

Magkaibigan (Maverick Films)
Written and directed by: Jose Javier Reyes
Starring:

*Jinggoy Estrada
*Lorna Tolentino
*Aljur Abrenica
*Cherry Pie Picache

The 2008 Miss Young International Scam...

Let me give you a background:

This successful pageant was held in Japan (1970-79), the Philippines (1980-81) and South Korea (1983). Many women who went on to international success in Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, Miss Hawaiian Tropic and other contests had their so-called “start” here.

This pageant was born in Tokyo Japan in 1970 alongside with the prestigious one other International Beauty Pageant. Although it had been held in Japan for more than 10 years, the pageant travelled to the Philippines in 1980 and 1981 respectively in 1983 Korea and Latvia in 2002.

Due to high cost of the hosting of the pageant, the organizers decided to cancel its hosting and concentrate on their mother pageant and its officially close its existence in 1983. In October 2006 the Elite Productions International Company acquires the ownership of the pageant and re-launch it in Manila, Philippines . The Organization is hosting the pageant worldwide in Taipei, Taiwan Republic of China this October.

Miss Young International

For its fifteen years in service to the world, the Miss Young International Beauty Pageant is not only a beauty pageant search and presentation of the most beautiful young women worldwide. It also served as the meeting grounds to delegates in helping the less fortunate people around the world specially the children who are in deep poverty.

One of the main objectives of this pageant is to help increase awareness on the issues about children, poverty and violence against children worldwide.

Charities and more:

Starting last year, the celebration of this pageant is done worldwide. With increasing numbers of delegates competing for the prestigious crown. The winner to this title will embark her year reign in visiting different charity organization worldwide, especially the poorest country wherein poverty and lack of education is very rampant.

As Ambassadress of beauty with a purpose, the winner uses her title to help different charity organizations for children. The scope of providing them the best education, personal and physical awareness and services that will bring them realized that there is still hope for this world.

The Delegates:

One major purpose of this pageant is to build up a strong friendship with all the delegates regardless of their nationality, language, religion, customs and traditions. It will also give them good experiences that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. This will help them become good citizens in their respective countries. An Ambassadress of Goodwill and a true champion of Service to charities.

The Crown:

In October 2006 the Elite Productions International Company acquires the ownership of the pageant and re-launch it in Manila, Philippines. The Organization is hosting the pageant worldwide in Taipei, Taiwan Republic of China this October.

Miss Young International

The winner of Miss Young International is chosen through the Beauty Pageant not simply as a "Champion of Beauty with a Purpose". She is chosen with beauty, talent and the strong ability to help other people, supported by her intelligence and ability to take action, in addition to possessing a "great international sensibility" appropriate for the ultimate representative of all the national representatives who are trying to achieve contributions to international society. Miss Young International is officially called "Charities of Beauties and Style”.

Organizer:

The Elite Productions International Company is equip with new breeds of talent in today’s new generation. The company is in line with events managements in the Philippines. It also covers International events worldwide in the field of fashions, Charity Gala, Expositions and events marketing.

Only last year the re-launching of the MISS YOUNG INTERNATIONAL Beauty Pageant gives the Company a genuine recognition and respect despite of negatives publicity by its detractors. The 2006 event shares its own success in the field of beauty pageant. The true bearing of style and Charity work lies in the hands of the entire organization and its supporters in bringing the best of its journey to success


The 2008 Scam/ Scandal:

• PAGEANT FROM HELL : Mark Ancheta, the organizer and self-proclaimed president of the revived Miss Young International pageant, has once again unleashed his powers of deception in the third edition of the pageant that is taking place in the Philippines. Alicia Michioka Jones, a former Miss Hawaii USA and the national director for Miss Young Hawaii and Miss Young USA, wrote to me yesterday to share some information that she had gathered from her two representatives who - along with the remaining contestants - are literally being held hostage by Ancheta. The pageant is so bad that several girls have already returned home. Jones gives the following report:

"The girls actually wanted to be there for the competion but left because it became no longer safe for them to be there. It was confirmed that Mark tried to take their passports, then tried to keep them there at all cost! Because Mark is using this pageant as a front to exploit the girls and make money off them by booking dinners and practically using them as escorts! When they finally were able to leave, they had to be escorted out by government officials who were Americans from the Embassy! Even then, they still tried to keep them there! They confirmed that the lines had been tampered with and they had been cut off of communication via phone in the hotel, Internet and pre-paid Philippines cell phone. With all the terrorism in the world, the girls were never given any reason to feel secure or safe. It was clear that there was going to be no prize money. Mark has year after year cheated the winners from their promised money. It was not worth it for the girls to stay there and compete for a $25 crown and spray painted banner! It wasn't worth it to stay and see if they would fall victim of something more!"

I wanted to find out more details about Ancheta's misdeeds so I called Alicia last night and spoke to her for over half an hour. Alicia picked up the phone, and I introduced myself. Alicia mentioned the following:

- the Internet votes have generated approximately US$150,000 in revenue, and that Ancheta is obviously using the pageant to make money

- Ancheta took the girls outside of Manila and into the province of Nueva Ecija so he could present the girls to the mayors and businessmen (presumably for sexual favors)

- Miss Ukraine and Miss Belarus were so fed up with the lousy treatment that they decided to leave the pageant (and when the other girls inquired why their two fellow contestants had left, Ancheta told them that "they were arrested" - which was a big lie)

- the accomodations outside Manila were substandard, the girls slept in mattresses infested with termites and bedbugs and covered with blood-stained sheets and they had to relieved themselves in buckets

- Miss Hawaii and Miss USA's titleholder sashes were confiscated and replaced by cheap, stenciled banners

- Miss Venezuela was informed that she could not leave the pageant because she had signed a contract that would prevent her from leaving the pageant before it was over (which is entirely false, as no such clause is found in the contract)

- that there was dissension even among Ancheta's staff; the quarreling became so intense that the staff broke up into two camps - one consisting of loyalists to Ancheta, and another consisting of followers of a certain "Roland" who had met Ancheta less than a month ago

- some of the girls, including Misses Hawaii and USA, were told that they would not make the finals because they had chosen not to go out with the group and participate in "absurd" events

- that the mother of Miss Bahamas, a wealthy woman, would suck up to Ancheta by paying for some of the expenses

- when the girls finally returned to Manila, they were kept in their hotel for two days without any planned activities and that their passports were confiscated

- Ancheta's staff had keys to all the girls' rooms, and some of them suspected that their room might have been bugged

- Ancheta would hysterically laugh at the girls if they got involved in a quarrel

- the mother of Miss Philippines felt so embarrassed by Ancheta and his staff's arrogance and unprofessionalism that she came up to the mothers of Misses Hawaii and USA to apologize (subsequently, a staff member warned the mother of Miss Philippines that she was forbidden to talk to others

and so forth, and so on...

It's interesting to note that the official MYI website has been "temporarily unavailable" for nearly two weeks now, which implies a couple of things: first, that Ancheta had not paid his Internet service provider, or second, that he intentionally shut it down to avoid publicity. A pageant organizer that does not share information with the public has definitely something to hide. Alicia also said that last Friday the contestants complained to the Philippine police about the mistreatment that Ancheta had been giving them, but the police remained nonchalant to the situation. The girls suspect that the police had been bribed by Ancheta to work for him, The finals of the pageant was supposed to have been held Monday night, but I have been cruising the Internet looking for information but I could not find any. We'll find out sooner or later.

I feel very much for Alicia and for all the national directors who had been conned by a smooth-talking and sly serpent who exploits young women and shatters their chances of winning a beauty crown. Unfortunately, Ancheta will continue with his ugly deeds as long as there are gullible people out there who will take his bait, or until he is apprehended by honest authorities and jailed.


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36th Annual American Music Awards

The 2008 American Music Awards were held on 23 November 2008 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California. The ceremony was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.

The show featured a record 19 performances, most notably Alicia Keyes' performance of "Superwoman" with surprise guests Queen Latifah and star Kathleen Battle and a special collaboration by P!nk and Sarah McLachlan of the hit song "Angel." Other highlights included an opening 7-minute medley of Christina Aguilera's greatest hits as well as show-stopping performances by Beyonce, Coldplay, Jonas Brothers, Kanye West, Mariah Carey, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, Ne-Yo, New Kids on the Block, Natasha Bedingfield, Leona Lewis, Pussycat Dolls, Taylor Swift, a solo performance by P!nk and The Fray.



Here are list of the fans choice for this years winners:



Alvin and the Chipmunks- Favorite Album, Soundtrack

Linkin Park- Favorite Artist, Alternative Rock Music

Jordin Sparks- Favorite Artist, Adult Contemporary Music

Third Day- Favorite Artist, Contemporary Inspirational

Daughtry- Favorite Band, Duo/Group, Pop/Rock Music

Chris Brown- Artist of the Year;
Favorite Male Artist, Pop/Rock Music
Favorite Male Artist, Soul/Rhythm & Blues Music

Rihanna- Favorite Female Artist, Pop/Rock Music
Favorite Female Artist, Soul/Rhythm & Blues Music

Jonas Brothers- T-Mobile Breakthrough Artist

Mariah Carey- Honorary Award

Annie Lennox- Award of Merit

Brad Paisley- Favorite Male Artist, Country Music

Taylor Swift- Favorite Female Artist, Country Music

Enrique Iglesias- Favorite Artist, Latin Music

Rascal Flatts- Favorite Band/Duo/Group, Country Music

Carrie Underwood- Favorite Album: Carnival Ride, Country Music

Three 6 Mafia- Favorite Band/Duo/Group, Rap/Hip-Hop Music

Kanye West- Favorite Male Artist, Rap/Hip-Hop Music
Favorite Album: Graduation, Rap/Hip-Hop Music

Alicia Keys- Favorite Album: As I Am, Pop/Rock Music
Favorite Album: As I Am, Soul/Rhythm & Blues Music

'Pregnant man' is expecting AGAIN!!!

Four months after the birth of his first child. A man who was born a woman but gave birth after having a sex-change operation is expecting a second child. American Thomas Beatie had his breasts removed, lived outwardly as a man and legally changed his gender to male.

Once known as Tracy Lagondino, the 34-year-old said he retained his female
sex organs because he intended to give birth one day.

Beatie and wife Nancy, of Oregon, US, made worldwide headlines earlier this year when he announced his pregnancy in gay magazine The Advocate.

Obama won!

Barack Obama made history early today by becoming America’s first black president.

'It's been a long time coming, but tonight... change has come to America,' the president-elect told jubilant supporters in Chicago.

The triumphant 47-year-old son of a black Kenyan father and a white mother from Kansas spoke after romping to a landslide victory over crushed Republican candidate John McCain.

It was the crowning moment of a staggering rise from being a virtually unknown first-time US senator two years ago to become the most powerful man in the world.