Step into the challenge

The more you do, the more you're able to do. Your abilities grow stronger as you use them, so your best strategy is to get busy and use them.

The feeling that you cannot do something is often powerful, and can feed upon itself. The way to get beyond it is with action.

Any project you contemplate may at first seem overwhelming. That's understandable, because you haven't even taken the first step.

Once you take that first step, though, the challenge begins to feel more manageable. As soon as you actually begin the effort, you also begin to get better at doing it.

When the mountain is in the distance, it's difficult to imagine how you could climb it. Once you're on the path up the mountain, though, you'll always be able to easily see the next step and take it.

Go ahead and begin the effort. Amaze yourself by discovering how very much you can do.

-- Ralph Marston

Pacquiao, Piolo and Dyan Lead Sunday’s ‘Run for the Pasig River’

Seven-division world boxing champion Rep. Manny Pacquiao, heartthrob Piolo Pascual, and sports broadcaster Dyan Castillejo along with other Kapamilya stars, will join up to 140,000 Filipinos in “10.10.10 A Run for the Pasig River” this Sunday (Oct 10).

Pacquiao, who is in the middle of his training for a November bout, will show his support for the river clean-up of ABS-CBN Foundations’ Kapit Bisig Para Sa Ilog Pasig by hosting the pre-race program at the starting line along Ayala Ave. with ABS-CBN senior sports correspondent Dyan Castillejo and actor Piolo Pascual. They will also run the 10k race.

Comedienne Pokwang of “Pilipinas Win na Win” and “Umagang Kay Ganda” anchor Winnie Cordero, on the other hand, will enliven runners at the 3k starting line at the SM Mall of Asia grounds. On the 5k starting point at the CCP Complex, ABS-CBN Foundation managing director Gina Lopez will host the program while Bro. Mike Velarde will do the invocation.

Internationally-acclaimed director Brillante Mendoza, who directed public service announcements for KBPIP, will run in the 5k category. Former President Fidel V. Ramos will fire the gun at the 3k starting point to signal the start of all the races.

After the three races, a post-race program will be held in SM MOA featuring ABS-CBN stars Rhap Salazar, Luis Manzano, Jovit Baldivino, Karylle, Melai Cantiveros and Jason Francisco, and Studio 23 hosts Juddah Paolo, Aaron Atayde, and Angel Aquino.

ABS-CBN Chairman Eugenio Lopez III will also participate in the fun run, which aims to promote awareness on the cause and raise funds for the cleaning of Estero San Miguel, a tributary of the Pasig River. In 2009, KBPIP successfully began dredging operations in another tributary, Estero de Paco, and relocated 1,200 informal settlers to Calauan, where they are given free shelter and livelihood through ABS-CBN Foundation’s BayaniJuan.

“10.10.10 A Run for the Pasig River” hopes to break the Guinness World Record for the most participants in a footrace set by San Francisco’s “Bay to Breakers” race in 1988. With the participation of Pacquiao, Pascual, and other celebrities, KBPIP hopes to inspire more Filipinos to take part in saving the Pasig River.
Catch the live telecast of the race and the program on Studio 23 from 5am to 8am on Sunday (Oct 10).

Willie Revillame looks forward to airing of new show Willing Willie

"Tuloy ang programa ng bawat Pilipino, ang Willing Willie. Tuloy na tuloy. Itutuloy namin."

These were the first words of TV host and comedian Willie Revillame at the end of the hearing for the temporary restraining order (TRO) and writ of preliminary injunction held at Branch 84 of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court this morning, October 8.

ABS-CBN filed the petition for the TRO on October 4 to stop Revillame, a former ABS-CBN talent, from hosting his new TV5 show Willing Willie, which will premiere on October 23. In its 38-page petition, the Kapamilya network argued that Revillame is still under contract with ABS-CBN until September 2011, therefore, he can't appear in any other network.

ABS-CBN, however, was not able to deter Willing Willie's premiere airing, because the Court deferred its decision in today's hearing.

Revillame was calm and composed when he exited the courtroom after the hearing, which lasted for almost three hours. He granted an interview with the press, who were waiting for his statement.

The TV host refused, however, to answer questions about the hearing. "I think my lawyers na lang. Legal kasi 'to e. Sila ang puwedeng sumagot sa pinag-usapan," he said.

Revillame's lawyer, Atty. Paul Javalera Bongco, answered the questions about the hearing. Atty. Bongco said Willing Willie can air because Judge Luisito Cortez of the QC Court's Branch 84 will release its decision on the TRO only after the end of October.

He explained what happened in today's hearing. "Pinakinggan muna ng court yung panig ng ABS-CBN, saka panig ni Willie. Wala pa. Kasi kailangan pang meron pang mga reply, may mga pleadings pang ipa-file," he said.

The pleadings, he added, will be filed on October 15.

"Lahat ng pending incidents, yung TRO, application for TRO, yung motion ni Willie, yung position ng kuwan, lahat submitted na by October 15. So magru-rule na si Judge after that," he said.

ON WILLING WILLIE. Revillame answered questions about his new show Willing Willie. He told the press that today's "small victory" is not for him but "for the Filipino people."

"Yung mga taong nagmamahal sa akin at mga nangangailangan ng tulong. Sa kanila ang programa na 'to e kasi, nagbibigay na ng serbisyo sa kanila, nagbibigay ng saya, at saka importante yung pag-asa," he said.

To drive the point home, he talked about his fans who camped out at the Quezon City Hall of Justice since 7:30 a. m. to show their support.

He explained, "Kaya nga dapat ituloy yung programa para sa kanila, saka para sa ibang tao pang hindi nakarating, mga hindi nakapunta. Sigurado, mga maraming umaasa na matuloy ang programa. E, simple lang naman ang gusto natin... gusto ko lang magbigay ng tulong at saya sa ating mga kababayan...."

He also clarified that his 'utang na loob' lies with the Filipino people,  not with the ABS-CBN executives who gave him a break through Wowowee.

"Pinakamalaking utang na loob ko sa mga tao," he said. "Dahil sila naman ang nagbalik sa akin diyan. It's not Boss Gabby, it's not Ma'am Charo. It was them. Sila, tao pa rin ang magdedesisyon. Kahit na gustuhin ako ng management ng isang kumpanya, kung ayaw sa akin ng publiko, at hindi ka nagre-rate, tatanggalin ka rin. Lahat ng ito ay binabase sa publiko. Lahat ng mga 'yan...."

PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) contacted ABS-CBN and its legal counsel for their side on the current developments in this issue. The Kapamilya Network issued this statement through their Corporate Communications Department:

"ABS-CBN's application for TRO has been submitted for resolution of the Judge, who ordered both parties to file all pleadings by Oct 15, after which he shall decide on the application.

"ABS-CBN reiterates that the issue on Willie Revillame is all about honoring a contract. To the Kapamilya network, it is the ethical and right thing to do.  It is a noble act of a person who values honesty and integrity.

Lea Michele - GLEE

Lea Michele Sarfati (born August 29, 1986), known professionally as Lea Michele, is an American actress and singer. Michele began working professionally as a child actor on Broadway in productions such as Les Misérables. She appeared in several more musicals before being selected for the lead role in the musical Spring Awakening, earning a Drama Desk Award nomination for her performance. Her role as Rachel Berry in the Fox television series Glee has resulted in Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.

Career

At eight years old Lea Michele went with a friend to an open call for a musical. Michele decided on a whim she wanted to try out. She was offered the part and in two weeks from her very first audition she was starring on Broadway.  Michele debuted on Broadway in 1995 as a replacement in the role of Young Cosette in the original New York production of Les Misérables. This was followed by her performance of the role of Tateh's daughter, the Little Girl, in the 1998 original Broadway cast of Ragtime. In 2004, Michele played "Shprintze" and "Chava" in the Broadway revival of the musical Fiddler on the Roof.

She played the role of Wendla in Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik's musical version of Spring Awakening, starring in early workshops to Off-Broadway and finally originating the role in the Broadway production at the age of 20. Around the same time that the show was set to go to Broadway, she was offered the role of Eponine in the Broadway revival of Les Misérables. She chose to remain with Spring Awakening, which debuted on Broadway in December 2006. Michele was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for her performance in Spring Awakening in the category of Outstanding Actress in a Musical.

On May 18, 2008, Michele left Spring Awakening with co-star Jonathan Groff. She performed in a reading of Sheik and Sater's new musical, Nero, in July 2008 at Vassar College. On August 8 through 10, 2008, Michele portrayed Eponine in the Hollywood Bowl's Les Misérables concert.

Michele is on the original Broadway cast recordings of Ragtime and Spring Awakening, as well as the 2003 Broadway revival cast recording of Fiddler on the Roof.

Michele currently stars in the Fox television series Glee (2009–present), where she plays the star singer of a high school glee club, Rachel Berry. The pilot aired on May 19, 2009. She has won a Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding ensemble performance and the 2009 Satellite Award for best actress. She also received nominations for an Emmy Award, Golden Globe Award, and Teen Choice Award for her performance in the role. Her cover of The All-American Rejects' "Gives You Hell" reached number 1 on the Irish charts and the top 40 on the US Billboard 200.

Michele was included in Time Magazine's 2010 list of the 100 Most Influential People In the World. FHM named her #7 on 2010 Sexiest Women List, which was the highest ranking for a new entry on the list that year. May 2010, AfterEllen.com named her #16 in Hot 100 of 2010, saying " Lea Michele is just a perfect storm of hotness" In May 2010, Michele was chosen for Victoria’s Secret Sexy List 2010 for having the "Sexiest Smile".

Noynoy as Clark Kent: Another look at the US trip

CALIFORNIA, United States—I’m all for separation of Church and State when it comes to the finer points of democracy. However, can you really ever separate the Church from the Filipino?

I wondered that recently as I waited for President Benigno Aquino III in Mission Dolores Church, the very church I attended as a boy growing up in San Francisco’s Mission District.

The Basilica, as the church is called, seemed much smaller than I remembered. As an 11-year-old, to me, the domed ceiling seemed huge. Now it seemed barely large enough to contain the egos of statewide community leaders, local elected officials, and the high spirits of a few hundred select Filipino Americans. They all wanted to do the most important thing you can do with the president of the Philippines: Pray.

Realistically, when you’re an overseas Filipino, besides sending back billions of dollars in remittances, what’s the next best thing that you can do for your bedraggled ancestral homeland and its new leader?

And when he comes into town, what do you really want to hear from him? Aquino can recite all the platitudes about rooting out corruption and cleaning up the Philippines to Filipino American benefactors. But in the end, nothing quite moves the credibility meter like seeing the leader genuflect at mass, stand for the gospel, and say amen. OK, it’s nothing as dramatic as seeing Imelda on her knees at St.Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, but you get the picture.

Seeing a president at mass at least assures us that if he really screws up, in the end, we do have the eternal recourse option.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not going Jerry Falwell and Moral Majority on anyone. But the Filipino culture is deeply religious. We put it aside when it comes to considering policies and what’s right for a society. But we can come right up to the line. In the end, faith has to count for something.

When you’re thousands of miles away, barking at the headlines might work. But prayer may be just as effective.

So, of all the events on the West Coast, the only must attend event for me was the afternoon mass that Sunday for Noynoy, P-noy, whatever you’d like to call him.

Frankly, by now the whole nicknaming thing is getting to be a tad annoying. It’s like his handlers are trying to create a new processed cheese made of part-Cory, part-Ninoy, and part the other guy. Too bad Aquino is a Trois and not a Deux, then we could settle it all by calling him Jun.

It would fit with how handlers like to position him. On this trip, the message to Filipinos here was “Look, manong, I’m just an Average Joe.” That is to say , not a dictator, a general, a movie star, or a loud tiny gal in a red dress. (Although the red dress would have made a splash in San Francisco).

Aquino’s the kind that eats at In-N-Out, and stays at the Sofitel, not the Waldorf. Not exactly sleeping on a banig in a Motel 6. But here’s a regular kind of guy, the kind who comes to America and gets lost in a crowd of Filipinos at mass.

There’s some good to be had with that approach. The problem is the Philippines’ troubles require the talent, strength, and vision of a super-human to fix. A regular guy could be overmatched. Just as a current documentary suggests that US public schools need Superman, the Philippines is no different.

The RP doesn’t need mild-mannered Clark Kent. So maybe we’re just waiting for Noynoy to find a telephone booth?

In the age of cell phones, it may take longer.

It’s just the first hundred days. Let us pray.

Nokia N8 Pre-Order Price: Php23,699

Nokia Philippines will have a media launch for the Nokia N8 on October 15 and has also opened pre-orders for their flagship smartphone, the Nokia N8.

The suggested retail price — Php23,699 (pretty good price point IMO).

Logitech Revue with Google TV now on Amazon

Google and several partners, including Logitech, announced Google TV in May. Logitech has finally made their set top box available for pre-order on Amazon at $299 — Logitech Revue Companion Box with Google TV and Keyboard Controller.

The kit contains the Logitech Revue Companion Box, Keyboard Controller (integrated keyboard, remote control & touchpad), IR Mini Blaster and HDMI Cable.

 

The Logitech Revue basically makes your TV some sort of a smart TV or internet TV by combining broadcast content and web content. You can install and run apps too.
More LED TVs (mostly from Sony) will be released soon with Google TV built into the TV itself but for the existing home entertainment systems, the Logitech Revue becomes the “brains” that extends Google TV experience. I think the whole experience will rely on how fast the internet connection is and at $299 I’m not too sure if it’s a good price point (but it’s something I look forward to trying out).

AGB Nielsen Mega Manila People Ratings (Oct. 5-7): Ilumina takes the lead; Grazilda overtakes Imortal

Here are the comparative People/Individual Ratings of ABS-CBN and GMA-7 programs from October 5 to 7 based on the overnight ratings of AGB Nielsen Phils among Mega Manila households:

October 5, Tuesday

Daytime:

Love Ni Mister, Love Ni Misis (GMA-7) 2%; Asar Talo, Lahat Panalo (GMA-7) 4.4%; Showtime (ABS-CBN) 4.1%
Eat Bulaga! (GMA-7) 9.6%; Pilipinas, Win Na Win! (ABS-CBN) 4.1%
Ang Yaman Ni Lola (GMA-7) 6.1%; Rosalka (ABS-CBN) 4.6%
Trudis Liit (GMA-7) 8%; Alyna (ABS-CBN) 5.1%; He's Beautiful (ABS-CBN) 4.8%
Kapuso Movie Festival (GMA-7) 5.3%; Kapamilya Blockbusters (ABS-CBN) 4.3%; Temptation of A Wife (GMA-7) 4.6%

Primetime:

Bantatay (GMA-7) 9.7%; Kokey@Ako (ABS-CBN) 7.3%
24 Oras (GMA-7) 12.5%; TV Patrol (ABS-CBN) 10.4%
Survivor Philippines Celebrity Showdown (GMA-7) 14.6%; Noah (ABS-CBN) 12.9%
Grazilda (GMA-7) 13.5%; Imortal (ABS-CBN) 13.4%; Magkaribal (ABS-CBN) 10.7%
Ilumina (GMA-7) 14.6%; 1DOL (ABS-CBN) 7.8%
Endless Love (GMA-7) 11.4%; Kristine (ABS-CBN) 6.6%
East of Eden (GMA-7) 5.7%; SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon (ABS-CBN) 3.7%

October 6, Wednesday

Daytime:

Love Ni Mister, Love Ni Misis (GMA-7) 2%; Asar Talo, Lahat Panalo (GMA-7) 3.3%; Showtime (ABS-CBN) 4.1%
Eat Bulaga! (GMA-7) 8.9%; Pilipinas, Win Na Win! (ABS-CBN) 4.1%
Ang Yaman Ni Lola (GMA-7) 5.2%; Rosalka (ABS-CBN) 5.4%
Trudis Liit (GMA-7) 6.9%; Alyna (ABS-CBN) 5.5%; He's Beautiful (ABS-CBN) 4.6%
Kapuso Movie Festival (GMA-7) 4.2%; Kapamilya Blockbusters (ABS-CBN) 4.1%; Temptation of A Wife (GMA-7) 5.1%

Primetime:

Bantatay (GMA-7) 9.6%; Kokey@Ako (ABS-CBN) 6.8%
24 Oras (GMA-7) 11.8%; TV Patrol (ABS-CBN) 10.4%
Survivor Philippines Celebrity Showdown (GMA-7) 14.5%; Noah (ABS-CBN) 12.2%
Grazilda (GMA-7) 14%; Imortal (ABS-CBN) 13.3%
Ilumina (GMA-7) 15.2%; Magkaribal (ABS-CBN) 11.9%; 1DOL (ABS-CBN) 8.1%
Endless Love (GMA-7) 13.7%; Kristine (ABS-CBN) 6%
East of Eden (GMA-7) 6.5%; SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon (ABS-CBN) 3%

October 7, Thursday

Daytime:

Shining Inheritance (GMA-7) 2.3%; Panahon Ko 'To (ABS-CBN) 1.8%
Love Ni Mister, Love Ni Misis (GMA-7) 2.1%; Asar Talo, Lahat Panalo (GMA-7) 3.4%; Showtime (ABS-CBN) 4.5%
Eat Bulaga! (GMA-7) 9.4%; Pilipinas, Win Na Win! (ABS-CBN) 3.7%
Ang Yaman Ni Lola (GMA-7) 5.5%; Rosalka (ABS-CBN) 4.2%
Trudis Liit (GMA-7) 7.5%; Alyna (ABS-CBN) 5.6%; He's Beautiful (ABS-CBN) 4%
Kapuso Movie Festival (GMA-7) 4.3%; Kapamilya Blockbusters (ABS-CBN) 5.4%; Temptation of A Wife (GMA-7) 4.3%

Primetime:

Bantatay (GMA-7) 10.3%; Kokey@Ako (ABS-CBN) 8.9%
24 Oras (GMA-7) 13.7%; TV Patrol (ABS-CBN) 12.5%
Survivor Philippines Celebrity Showdown (GMA-7) 13.9%; Noah (ABS-CBN) 13.2%
Grazilda (GMA-7) 13.7%; Imortal (ABS-CBN) 12.9%; Magkaribal (ABS-CBN) 11.1%
Ilumina (GMA-7) 15.8%; 1DOL (ABS-CBN) 7.8%
Endless Love (GMA-7) 13.5%; Kristine (ABS-CBN) 7.1%
East of Eden (GMA-7) 7.2%; SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon (ABS-CBN) 4.2%

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the seventh and final of the Harry Potter novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The book was released on 21 July 2007, ending the series that began in 1997 with the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. This book chronicles the events directly following Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005), and leads to the long-awaited final confrontation between Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was published in the United Kingdom by Bloomsbury Publishing, in the United States by Scholastic, in Canada by Raincoast Books, and in Australia and New Zealand by Allen & Unwin. Released globally in ninety-three countries, Deathly Hallows broke sales records as the fastest-selling book ever. It sold 15 million copies in the first twenty-four hours following its release, including more than 11 million in the U.S. and U.K. alone. The previous record, nine million in its first day, had been held by Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. The novel has also been translated into numerous languages, including Ukrainian, Swedish, Polish and Hindi.

Several awards were given to the novel, including the 2008 Colorado Blue Spruce Book Award, and it was listed as a "Best Book for Young Adults" by the American Library Association. Reception to the book was generally positive, although some reviewers found the characters to be repetitive or unchanging. A two-part film based on the novel is in the works, with part one's release date in November 2010.

Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace will be re-released in 3D

SAN FRANCISCO, California—Lucasfilm Ltd. has just announced that the live-action Star Wars Saga will be converted to 3D.

Presented by Twentieth Century Fox and Lucasfilm Ltd., the conversion will be supervised by Industrial Light & Magic. Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace is expected to be released theatrically in 2012. A release date has not yet been determined.

"Getting good results on a stereo conversion is a matter of taking the time and getting it right," said John Knoll, Visual Effects Supervisor for Industrial Light & Magic. "It takes a critical and artistic eye along with an incredible attention to detail to be successful. It is not something that you can rush if you want to expect good results. For Star Wars we will take our time, applying everything we know both aesthetically and technically to bring audiences a fantastic new Star Wars experience."

One of the world's largest producers and distributors of motion pictures, Fox Filmed Entertainment produces, acquires and distributes motion pictures throughout the world.  These motion pictures are produced or acquired by the following units of FFE:  Twentieth Century Fox, Fox 2000 Pictures, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox Animation and Fox International Productions. Twentieth Century Fox International is a unit of Fox Filmed Entertainment, a segment of Fox Entertainment Group.

Justin Timberlake plays a conniving businessman in The Social Network

Grammy-winner Justin Timberlake makes a breakthrough performance as an actor in Columbia Pictures' critically acclaimed drama The Social Network, the controversial film about the beginnings of social media megasite Facebook.

Timberlake plays Sean Parker, the smooth-talking Napster founder-turned-Facebook president who pulls Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg into his venture-capital-rich world while persuading the young upstart to bury his biggest investor, and friend, Eduardo Saverin.

"I read it and I thought it was a perfect screenplay," says Timberlake of The Social Network, which is written by The West Wing's Aaron Sorkin. "I knew that it was in the two percentile of material that is just great. And then I heard David Fincher (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Zodiac, Fight Club) was going to be the director," so Justin kicked down the door as hard as he could.

On paper, Timberlake is the polar opposite from Parker. The megastar doesn't use Facebook and is famously tight-lipped about his personal life. Though more than 3 million people follow him on Twitter, he follows just 18, including his mom. "The biggest question I've heard from people is, 'Why would they make a movie about Facebook?' " he says. "And I try to say, you know, it's not really about Facebook. Facebook is the catalyst for some deeper themes."

The irony wasn't lost on Timberlake that he plays the co-founder of Napster, the music-sharing service that spread like wildfire in 1999, sending the music industry into a tailspin. Major labels began suing college students over copyright violations.

"There's more irony in there that says who'd have thunk the music industry doesn't have more of a sense of humor," says Timberlake, whose own album sales were pillaged back when he was the curly-haired teen heartthrob in pop group N' Sync.

Landing the role of Parker was the challenge. "When I wrote it and Justin's name came up, I had, I think, the same reaction that director David Fincher had, which was, well, you know what, the guy kills on SNL, so the least we can do is give him an audition," Aaron Sorkin says.

"We were convinced he could overcome his fame baggage," Fincher says. "Anyone who's seen 'D--in a Box' knows that this guy is fearless." The Saturday Night Live sketch won Timberlake and partner-in-crime Andy Samberg an Emmy for their R&B digital short, which exploded on YouTube after airing in 2006. The premise: Timberlake and Samberg serenade their girlfriends at Christmastime with gift boxes tied at waist level.

Timberlake's most intense monologue in The Social Network takes place in a pulsing club outside Silicon Valley. "Look at my face and tell me I don't know what I'm talking about," Timberlake demands on screen, cementing his seduction of the nerdy, tech-savvy Zuckerberg, played by Jesse Eisenberg. "David famously does 50, 60, 70, 80 takes, and you never heard Justin saying 'Omigod, we got it already, can we stop?'--it would be, 'Are you sure you've got it? I'm up for 10 more,' " Sorkin says.

Timberlake calls Fincher's directing style "mentally and emotionally and physically exhausting," but it's "also artistically just like breaking free. It's freedom. Because you get to do so many takes that you get the opportunity to mess it up."

Opening soon across the Philippines, The Social Network is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

Jolina Magdangal signs up with Viva Records

 
Jolina Magdangal signed a three-year, three-album contract with Viva Records yesterday, October 6, at the Viva Entertainment Group office in Mandaluyong City.

The singer-actress, TV host, and entrepreneur said she's very excited to start her new album with Viva Records.

"Talagang matagal ko nang hinihintay ito at excited na akong gawin ito. Matagal ko na rin pine-prepare, e. Parang gusto ko kasi talagang may involvement ako dun sa mga ginagawa ko.

"And ngayon nga, finally, na-sign na yung recording contract with Viva, tutuluy-tuloy na yung mga ideas [ko]," Jolina said to PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) and other members of the press after her contract signing with Ms. Veronique del Rosario-Corpuz and other Viva Records executives.

Jolina also wants to get more ideas from the people in her new recording company and is looking forward to working with them. "Para more ideas, mas maganda," she said.

Her boyfriend, Rivermaya drummer Mark Escueta, will play a part in her upcoming album with Viva. "Siya yung magbibigay ng suggestions pagdating sa areglo."

For her first album under Viva, Jolina plans to come out with a cover album, but she's very careful now in picking the songs she wants to cover. "Siyempre, kailangan ko ring i-consider kung ilang beses na bang na-cover yung kantang yun."

She has a long list of songs she wants to cover, but erases some of the songs from her list from time to time. "Siyempre, nagbabago rin yung taste."

Jolina, who started her recording career in 1996 with the album A Wish Come True under Star Records, has done revival and cover albums in the past.

Back in 2000, her album On Memory Lane under Star Records was a certified 6-time platinum-record awardee by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI). Her follow-up cover album Jolina Sings The Masters got a gold-record award in 2002, also from PARI.

DAVID POMERANZ. Asked if she's going to have guests in her album, Jolina replied she's not thinking about it for now. But if an idea or a song is presented where a guest artist would be perfect, she would definitely go for it.

When PEP asked Jolens for the artist she's dreaming of collaborating with in an album, the 31-year-old multi-media star answered, "David Pomeranz!

"Ang senti, 'no? Pero gusto ko kasi talaga ang mga kanta niya, e. Parang ang feeling ko, bawat gawin niya, alam na [niya] yung kiliti ng puso ng Pilipino.

"Kasi, di ba, welcome ang mga kanta niya? At saka hanggang ngayon... 'Tsaka ang gusto ko talaga, kung may original, maging classic nang konti," Jolina raved about the American composer-balladeer who was responsible for the hits, "Got To Believe in Magic," "King and Queen of Hearts," and "Born For You."

A Sarah Geronimo-Jolina duet is also possible since they are now both Viva artists.

"Why not? Naku naman, si Sarah naman nung naka-work ko siya sa Viva na movie na Annie B [2004], napakagaan niyang kasama. At saka...si Sarah yun, e. Lahat naman gusto siyang maka-work."


BIRTHDAY SURPRISE. Jolina will be celebrating her birthday on November 6. PEP asked if she's cooking up something big for her birthday celebration.

"May mga inaayos-ayos. Pero parang kailangan ng isa pang sit-down meeting. Pero...basta abangan n'yo na lang!" she said.

Jolens remembered that her last big birthday celebration was her 18^th birthday.

"Nung debut ko. Yun na yata yung talagang... May maraming bisita, main event... Itong birthday ko this year...sana, sana matuloy...basta abangan na lang nila!" Jolina  said.

HTC Legend

Sculpted from a single piece of aluminum

The body of the HTC Legend is cut from a single piece of brushed aluminium. Which not only looks and feels great in the hand, but gives you a strong device that can take what life throws at it.

Make it yours

With an expanded selection of widgets and an online widget library, the HTC Legend takes personalisation to the next level. Put the live content you want on any of the seven home screens and set different scenes for when you're at work, home or travelling abroad.

Stay in touch with different groups of friends

The new People Widget lets you create any group of friends and bring them to the surface of your HTC Legend. So you can have all your party friends in one group and work colleagues in another. Plus, you can choose if you want to text, call or email your groups and get in touch with a single tap.

"Plain and simple, the Legend is the most well-built phone I've ever had in my hand. You just know when you feel the weight of it, the cool curved exterior of the unibody aluminum shell and touch the ultra-responsive touchscreen.”

"A cool and capable phone that's great for texting and social networking."

"From its rigid, one-piece aluminium shell, to the super-bright AMOLED screen, to the touchpad-cum-control button, to HTC's Friend Stream, software, this Android 2.1-based device operates effortlessly, wonderfully well.”

"The HTC Legend is undoubtedly our favourite Android phone so far. Its screen looks amazing and is responsive, it's packed with features, and of course that aluminium chassis is something to behold.” 

"It's safe to say that HTC's broken yet another mold with the Legend, stunning the world with both its hardware and software design.”

Adidas King of the Road 5/10/21K (The Fort) - 2010

Adidas King of the Road 2010 5/10/21K
October 24, 2010
The Fort

EVENTS

5/10/21K

REGISTRATION FEE

850 Php

Each race kit will contain a singlet, a race bib, a reflective slap strap, race routes/ maps, a timing band and guidelines

WHERE TO REGISTER

RUNNR, RUNNR Cebu, adidas Trinoma, adidas Greenbelt, adidas Rockwell, adidas Ayala Center Cebu, adidas Gateway, adidas Glorietta, adidas Shangri-la, adidas Eastwood, adidas Alabang Town Center and adidas Newport City (opening on September 2010)

About the Intel® Core™ i7 Processor

Whether you’re a serious multitasker or a multimedia enthusiast, performance matters. So why limit yourself? Unlock your full potential with the ultimate smart performance of the Intel® Core™ i7 processor.

Ultimate balance of style and performance
A combination of greater cache size and higher frequencies give you ultimate performance for the toughest tasks.

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology◊1
Automatically speeds up your processor when your PC needs extra performance.

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology◊2
Eight-way or four-way multitask processing allows each core of your processor to work on two tasks at the same time, delivering the performance you need for smart multitasking.

Delivers big, travels light
Get the ultimate balance of smart performance and style with a sleek new laptop powered by the Intel® Core™ i7 processor, Intel’s top processor designed for ultra-thin laptops. Packed with rich features, including enhanced battery life, it’s a stylish mobile superstar that’s light enough to carry all day.

Facebook

Facebook, the world's largest social network, announced in July 2010, that it had 500 million users around the world. The company has grown at a meteoric pace, doubling in size since 2009 and pushing international competitors aside. Its policies, more than those of any other company, are helping to define standards for privacy in the Internet age.

The company, founded in 2004 by a Harvard sophomore, Mark Zuckerberg, began life catering first to Harvard students and then to all high school and college students. It has since evolved into a broadly popular online destination used by both teenagers and adults of all ages. In country after country, Facebook is cementing itself as the leader and often displacing other social networks, much as it outflanked MySpace in the United States.

A movie about the tumultuous origins of Facebook, "The Social Network," offers up what A.O. Scott called "a creation story for the digital age and something of a morality tale, one driven by desire, marked by triumph, tainted by betrayal and inspired by the new gospel: the geek shall inherit the earth."

Facebook has strenuously, and Mr. Zuckerberg more quietly, asserted that the portrayal of the company's founding is fiction. And Mr. Zuckerberg disputed the characterization of him in the film, though in a New Yorker magazine profile, he acknowledged having indulged in a bit of sophomoric arrogance.

Facebook's rise has been marked by strings of controversies. Three other Harvard students maintain that they came up with the original idea and that Mr. Zuckerberg, whom they had hired to write code for the site, stole the idea to create Facebook. Facebook has denied the allegations. A long-running lawsuit is pending. Another Harvard classmate, Aaron Greenspan, claims that he created the underlying architecture for both companies, but has declined to enter the legal battle.

But it has also come to be seen as one of the new titans of the Internet, challenging even Google with a vision of a web tied together through personal relationships and recommendations, rather than by search algorithms. In a major expansion, Facebook has been trying to spread itself across other websites by offering members the chance to "Like'' something -- share it with their network -- without leaving the web page they're on.

Read More...

Like other social networks, the site allows its users to create a profile page and forge online links with friends and acquaintances. It has distinguished itself from rivals, partly by imposing a spartan design ethos and limiting how users can change the appearance of their profile pages. That has cut down on visual clutter and threats like spam, which plague rivals.

In May 2007, Facebook unveiled an initiative called Facebook Platform, inviting third-party software makers to create programs for the service and to make money on advertising alongside them. The announcement stimulated the creation of hundreds of new features or "social applications" on Facebook, from games to new music and photo sharing tools, which had the effect of further turbo-charging activity on the site.

Facebook is increasingly finding itself at the center of a tense discussion over privacy and how personal data is used by the Web sites that collect it. Facebook users, privacy advocates and government officials in many countries have lobbed vociferous complaints that some new features or settings were privacy violations.

Facebook has pushed its users to share more information about themselves. But Facebook users have pushed back, increasingly lobbing vociferous complaints that some new features or settings are privacy violations. The back and forth between Facebook and its users over privacy is gaining importance as the company's growth continues unabated. Facebook's policies, more than those of any other company, are helping to define standards for privacy in the Internet age.

Bowing to pressure over privacy concerns, the company in May 2010 unveiled a set of controls that he said would help people understand what they were sharing online, and with whom.

Facebook's biggest mistake, Mr. Zuckerman said, was failing to notice that as Facebook added new features and its privacy controls grew increasingly complicated, those controls became effectively unusable for many people.

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is an upcoming 2010 3D fantasy-adventure film based on The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, the third published novel in C.S. Lewis's epic fantasy series, The Chronicles of Narnia. It is the third in The Chronicles of Narnia film series from Walden Media. It will be distributed by 20th Century Fox, through Fox 2000 Pictures, the first in the series not to be distributed by Walt Disney Pictures.

The two younger Pevensies, Edmund (Skandar Keynes) and Lucy (Georgie Henley), are staying with their cousin Eustace Scrubb (Will Poulter). They find themselves drawn into a painting of an old ship, where they join the new King of Narnia, King Caspian (Ben Barnes).

The film will premiere on November 30, 2010 at the Royal Film Performance.[1] And it will have a wide theatrical release in traditional 2D, RealD 3D and Digital 3D in the United States on December 10, 2010.

Summary

The Dawn Treader is the first ship Narnia has seen in centuries. King Caspian has built it for his voyage to find the seven lords, good men whom his evil uncle Miraz banished when he usurped the throne many years earlier. His Telmarine ancestors had never built ships as they had always feared the sea.[2]

The journey takes Edmund Pevensie, Lucy Pevensie, their cousin Eustace Scrubb and King Caspian to the Eastern Islands, beyond the Silver Sea. Their mission — on which rests the fate of Narnia itself — takes the courageous voyagers to mysterious islands, a river that turns to gold, confrontations with magical creatures and sinister enemies. They will meet Lilliandil the half-star and reunite with their old friend and protector, the great lion Aslan.

The World´s Most Expensive Mobile Phones

Most Expensive Mobile Phones. If gaudy is your thing, some mobile phones are created just for you. From rubies, to gold to exotic design, they are the height of luxuriance. Get a closer look at what goes into the world´s most expensive mobile phones right here.

Apparently jewelers are getting on the mobile boat and creating some outstanding examples of what they think a mobile phone should look like. One model has no less than 120 carats of diamonds included in the mobile package. These are created for the upper class of the world. Some are special order or special editions from major cell phone manufacturers, such a Nokia.

The first and possibly the most expensive smart phone in the world is the “Goldvish“. No that was not misspelling. It is with a “V”. It is created by Emmanuel Gueit, who usually creates fine watches for a living. He created the Goldvish with a radio and two gigabytes of internal memory. Looking at the exterior of this handset it has a skin of glowing diamonds. There is a total of 120 carats of diamonds on this handset. The buttons are gold colored and have a pearly look to them. The price for this model is £540,000 pounds or $838,577 dollars.

The French have a model in the list of the world´s most expensive mobile phones. They have created a “Boucheron Vertu” model that is worth around £167,000 pounds. This is a savvy looking model that has a ruby red snake slithering around the bottom. The snake is “ruby red” because it is covered with real rubies, 439 to be exact. The mobile phone has a cross between copper and gold color for the metal exterior. The snake has two eyes created out of emeralds. In addition to all that, it has a pear cut diamond and a second normal diamond decorating the front of this handset. For the less-endowed, there is a more inexpensive version. Get the Vertu model without the rubies for only £62,000 pounds.

The Nokia 8800 is a great example of a mobile phone. Nokia has previously called this a “fashion phone”. The Nokia 8800 has a video recorder, a speakerphone, and can stream music. It has a very nice screen included. But then take this fashion phone and coat it in pure gold. The manufacture at Nokia have created a 24 carat gold model of the 8800. It is fittingly called the “Gold Edition”. Those who get the 8800 Gold Edition also get a special edition box and charging dock. The price on this Nokia 8800 is £1,500 pounds.

For the diamond lovers in the world who also like to talk on the move, there has been a special mobile phone made for you. The “Vertu Diamond” is an impressive looking device. It comes in real platinum and is encrusted with diamonds, lots of them. Different models of the Vertu Diamond have anywhere from 385 to 943 diamonds. The solid gold pavè model is the one with 943. This mobile phone has a special concierge button. This allows the user to experience fine dining and travel service twenty four hours a day. The price on the Vertu Diamond ? It is £50,000 pounds.

The list of the world´s most expensive mobile phones is not that large. Other models exist for exotic car lovers such as the Lamborghini, complete with custom wallpapers and ringtones.

Judy Ann Santos has given birth to Baby Lucho

Juday Ann Santos has given birth!

According to the feed received by PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal), Juan Luis Santos Agoncillo was welcomed to the world today, October 7, at 5:51 p.m., at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Alabang, Muntinlupa City. She gave birth through normal delivery.

Baby Lucho will finally see his nursery room, which had been prepared by his parents weeks before. In a recent interview with 24 Oras, dad Ryan Agoncillo related:

"Kumpleto na, may crib na. Meron na siyang nursing chair. And then yung mga gamit ni Lucho (his nickname), nakaayos na—yung kanyang mga disposable diapers, then yung mga damit from infant to at least about 8th month."

Juday's mother Mommy Carol Santos in her interview with Karen Davila in TV Patrol said the Young Superstar was received by the hospital at around 11 a.m. today and started her labor at around that time.

Mommy Carol said Juday was able to breast-feed Baby Lucho at the recovery room after giving birth.

"So far, hindi pa kami nag-a-allow ng visitors. Kasi nga kailangan muna sigurong manamnam nila yung baby nila," Mommy Carol said when asked if Juday is ready to receive visitors.

Release of hostage report put off again

President Benigno Aquino III was supposed to release on Wednesday the report of the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC), along with the review by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Eduardo de Mesa.

But Malacañang said the President had decided to put off the issuance of the IIRC report until after his report on Thursday of his accomplishments in his first 100 days in office. No new date was mentioned.

The President is expected to deliver a speech on Thursday about the “significant” accomplishments of his 100-day-old administration in a “town hall” gathering at La Consolacion College near Malacañang.

After the speech, dubbed “Isang Daang Araw Sa Isang Daang Matuwid: Report Kay Boss” (100 Days in One Straight Road: Report to the Boss), Mr. Aquino will entertain questions from the audience, the Palace said.

A day after giving him high marks for his first 100 days, Sen. Joker Arroyo Wednesday criticized Mr. Aquino for vacillating in releasing the recommendations of the five-member IIRC headed by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

“That is indecision. Further delay is not good,” Arroyo said.

The President has not only dilly-dallied, but he also has yet to give the Senate a full version of the IIRC report, which the Chinese had obtained two weeks ago, Arroyo said.

Eight Hong Kong tourists were killed during the 11-hour standoff at Rizal Park that sparked outrage in China and its southern territory last month. The hostage-taker, dismissed Senior Insp. Rolando Mendoza who was seeking dismissal of extortion and robbery charges against him, also was gunned down.

Let IIRC do job

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile Wednesday suggested that to avoid further delay, Mr. Aquino should return the IIRC report to De Lima and let the Department of Justice decide who should be charged for the embarrassing incident.

“I don’t want to say this, but if I were in the place of the President, I will refer the recommendation to the secretary of justice and tell her to proceed as you recommended and who will not be prosecuted because the function of prosecution belongs to the secretary of justice, not Malacañang,” Enrile said.

He said the IIRC report should be read by the President simply as “a source of information” and not a prelude to a conviction of individuals.

“I created you, you investigate, you do your job, prosecute everybody. After all, you are not condemning them, they’re going to be in defense, they have the courts to prove their innocence and represent themselves. You’re not pronouncing them guilty,” Enrile said.

He said the President could be taking long in reviewing the report because the IIRC could have rushed its fact-finding job.

Asked by Palace reporters when he would release the IIRC report, the President simply texted back “after” without specifying when that would be.

“We’re busy preparing for the first 100 days report,” Mr. Aquino further explained in another text message.

‘What we’re trying to do’

Mr. Aquino has said he had adopted most of the IIRC recommendations and had confirmed to the Inquirer that close friends Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and Interior Undersecretary Rico Puno would be among 13 people to be held administratively or criminally accountable.

“We just want to focus on the first 100 days report and then move on to the report on the IIRC recommendations,” spokesperson Ricky Carandang said in a phone interview without elaborating.

Mr. Aquino on Tuesday night said that his report on his first 100 days would not run more than 10 pages. “So we want to take only the most significant and demonstrative of what we are trying to do.”

In a Palace statement, Mr. Aquino said his report would include improvements on the country’s growth, job creation and “look at what has happened so far.”

Glee’s Dianna Agron Stars in ‘I Am Number Four’

Dianna Agron, popular for her role as Quinn Fabray on Glee, is one of the stars of the upcoming sci-fi film “I Am Number Four.”

Dubbed as the new Twilight, I Am Number Four is an upcoming teen science fiction film, directed by D. J. Caruso, and starring Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant, Teresa Palmer, Dianna Agron, Kevin Durand and Callan McAuliffe. The film is based on The New York Times bestselling novel I Am Number Four, the first book in a planned six-book series published by HarperCollins and written by Pittacus Lore, the nom de plume of authors Jobie Hughes and James Frey.

Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg are producing the film through DreamWorks Studios. With a projected budget to be between $50 and $60 million, the first of six parts is set to be released on February 18, 2011.

Nokia N8 is coming, you buying?

The Nokia N8 has started shipping in other countries and though there’s no specific date for local release, Nokia Philippines has put up an email alert for those interested to get the news as soon as it’s out.

The Nokia N8 is supposed to revive Nokia’s strength in the smartphone market and the upcoming release will finally hand down the verdict.

Much of the reception will ultimately be based on how much the retail price will be once the Nokia N8 arrives in the country. And while the RRP during the announcement is in the Php22k (before taxes and tariffs), we estimate it will be in the Php25 to Php30k range (definitely under 30k since the the N900 was around 29k when it was first released).

Based on ad bookings by Nokia to promote the N8, we estimate the release date will be last week of October to 1st week of November.

Can I can get a show of hands who among you here are waiting for the Nokia N8 and buying one?

Nokia E5 out and priced

Announced back in April, the Nokia E5 is the latest E-series smartphone and now available in stores and has a suggested retail price of Php14,950.

The Nokia E5 can be considered the smartphone equivalent of the Nokia C3 featurephone (only with 3G) or the successor to the Nokia E72.

Nokia E5
2.36″ display @ 320 x 240 pixels
ARM 11 600MHz processor
250MB internal memory
256MB RAM
up to 32GB via microSD (2GB included)
HSDPA 10.2 Mbps; HSUPA 2.0 Mbps
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, UPnP & DLNA technology
Bluetooth 2.0 w/ A2DP
5MP fixed-focus camera w/ LED flash
Symbian OS v9.3, Series 60 rel. 3.2
FM Radio Tuner
GPS w/ aGPS support
Li-Ion battery 1200mAh

And unlike the Nokia E71 and E72, the Nokia E5 is being released at a much lower price of Php14,950 (the former models came out with a retail price above Php20,000).

Kris Aquino and sons diagnosed with hand-foot-and-mouth disease

Kris Aquino and her two sons Joshua, 15, and Baby James, 3, have been diagnosed with hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD), a viral illness with symptoms of high fever, mouth sores, and rashes on the hands and feet.

The 39-year-old TV host and actress broke the news through her official Twitter account (@itsmekrisaquino) on Thursday afternoon, October 7. She said she and her sons have been placed in isolation for one week, while they are under medication to treat the virus.

She sent her first tweet around 2 p.m.: "We r all sick. Josh caught foot & mouth disease. Nahawa Bimby & me. I don't have the sores around the mouth or the rashes sa hands & feet but my fever went up to 40 last night. We r all taking Zoverax & Immunosin. Ang tibay the 3 yayas, Yaya A, Gerbel & Ruby. Di sila nahawa. Rare daw for an adult to get hawa but u know me–lapitin ng sakit. Naka isolate kami for at least 1 week."

The second tweet: "Bimby & I r in 1 room since we still both have fever–kuya's in his room because he's pagaling na. If we have contact w/ him baka mabinat sya. Last night grabe–they iced na my feet & head because fever was 40. We're not allowed to leave our condo til next weekend."

On her last tweet, she asked the public for prayers. The third tweet said: "Thank God my 2 sons r able to eat even just a bit. Me, lantang gulay. Now nag chi-chills again. Fever nasa 38.8. At night diba tumataas again? Sleep na ko. Pray for my kids to be healthy soon, please?"

WHAT IS HFMD? According to the website of Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), a government agency in the U. S. that provides medical information to the public, the hand-foot-and-mouth disease is a common and contagious viral disease that often infects infants and young children.

The CDCP said HFMD is a minor illness that causes only a few days of fever, sore throat, lesions in the mouth, rashes, and loss of appetite.

HFMD is not related to the foot-and-mouth disease that commonly infects farm animals.

The illness, caused by the coxsackievirus, can be spread by nose and throat secretions, saliva, blister fluid, and stool of infected persons. The virus is most often spread by persons with unwashed, virus-contaminated hands and by contact with virus-contaminated surfaces, the CDCP added.

The Center states that there is no specific treatment for HFMD. To prevent infection, individuals are advised to practice good hygiene, such as frequent hand-washing, cleaning of dirty and soiled surfaces, and avoiding contact with people infected with HFMD.

Aquino to teachers: You give time, sweat, even your lives

ONLY ONE classroom was built last year at Taal High School in Bocaue, Bulacan, where up to 75 students have to squeeze into a room in each of two shifts.

Despite the shortage of classrooms in her school, Principal Teresita de Martin gained new hope upon hearing President Benigno Aquino III’s promise of more investments in education in marking World Teachers’ Day yesterday.

“We are so thankful for that, especially when it materializes. And we are so hopeful that it can be done for the sake of our students,” De Martin told the Inquirer on the sidelines of the Teachers’ Day celebration at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

“Government gives us support but not immediately, maybe because there are also so many schools,” she said.

At PhilSports Arena, the President vowed substantial spending for the training of teachers and construction of classrooms.

“You give your time, sweat and, at times, even your blood and lives, in performing your duties as a sign that you love your job and as a partner in promoting our objective of genuine change,” Mr. Aquino said before some 5,000 teachers.

He said his administration inherited many problems in the education sector but added that he would address these issues.

“Foremost in our government’s program is the improvement in the quality of education in the country,” he said.

Mr. Aquino noted that his proposed national budget for 2011 contained substantial allocations for the training of teachers, the construction of classrooms and the adoption of other education programs.

Access to private schools

He said the Department of Education (DepEd) had identified areas that need more classrooms.

The President also said that the government would improve access to private schools through the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education.

The program gives financial assistance to poor students so they can study in private schools and decongest public schools.

Recalling his campaign promise of eradicating corruption, Mr. Aquino said there would be no need for teachers to make more sacrifices if the funds meant for education were not diverted to selfish interests.

Lack of focus

Rep. Antonio Tinio of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers found Mr. Aquino’s remarks wanting.

“President Aquino did not say much in his speech. What teachers were waiting for were remarks about their salaries, their problems at the GSIS (Government Service Insurance System), which he knows about,” Tinio said.

He said the President failed to establish his administration’s focus on education. The DepEd-proposed P207-billion budget, for instance, falls short in addressing critical shortages in the education system, according to the party-list lawmaker.

“We did not see that he was giving priority to education needs. Only a fraction of [the needs] would be funded by the 2011 budget. You also won’t see, at that rate, how [they will] address the resource shortages within the term of administration,” said Tinio.

Street protest

Amid heavy security, about 30 student activists staged a protest near PhilSports and called for a higher education budget and the scrapping of government’s plan to add two years to the 10-year basic education.

Tempers momentarily flared when members of the League of Filipino Students marched near the arena an hour after the President had left.

The protesters, among them students in uniform, were slowly pushed back by a thick wall of police dispersal officers by noon.

“Just stay in school so you’d finish,” a police officer said in jest.

Among the lowest-paid

In the Senate, two lawmakers batted for higher pay for teachers, among the lowest-paid in the region.

“Despite the enormity of their tasks, the hard reality is that our Filipino teachers are heavily underpaid, compared with their counterparts in neighboring countries, and, even among our own public servants,” Sen. Loren Legarda said in a privilege speech.

A Filipino teacher has a starting salary of P14,000, including allowances, compared with an entry-level teacher in Singapore (SGD$2,600 or P122,400), in Japan (JY156,500 or P77,889) and in Malaysia (RM1,300 or P17,806), according to Legarda.

Grade 20

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, in a statement, batted for a doubling of the paychecks of public school teachers for elementary and high school from salary Grade 10 to salary Grade 20. This would increase their basic pay from P8,600 a month to P29,052.

Trillanes proposed that any salary adjustments should be based on the teacher’s qualification and length of service.

Legarda said teachers also deserved an increase in nonwage benefits and continual training so that they can fulfill their duty as the “surrogate parents” of the youth.

She considered the P862 million allocated by the DepEd for teacher-training programs as miniscule compared with the agency’s proposed P207-billion budget in 2011.

Problems with GSIS

Aside from low pay, Legarda said public school teachers were being unduly burdened by the GSIS’ refusal to honor the P6 billion in payments they made in their individual accounts, an issue which has delayed their ability to avail themselves of their benefits.

She said the teachers complained about unexplained deductions in the maturity claims or retirement lump sum of members; unexplained deductions in their salary loans; nonpayment of dividends to members; nondeduction of loan payments; deductions of loan payments even if the loan had been paid; and nonpayment of funeral benefits and education plans.

Election honoraria

If he had his way, Commission on Elections Chair Jose Melo would grant teachers better pay when they performed election duties.

Melo said he particularly supported increasing the honoraria for those serving as members of the Board of Election Tellers (BETs) in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on Oct. 25.

“That seems reasonable to me. I hoped it would have been like what happened during the May 10 (elections),” Melo said in an interview with reporters.

However, the Comelec chief said the election body could not unilaterally increase the honoraria for teachers because it was the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) that set the allocation for them.

“What was proposed by DBM is not enough. It’s just P1,000 (per day),” Melo said, adding that they would ask DBM to increase the teacher’s pay.

Melo made his comments after the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition appealed to the Comelec to increase the honoraria from the current P2,000 for two days of election work.

2010 International Emmy Award Nominees

The nominees for the 2010 International Emmys have been released.

2010 INTERNATIONAL EMMY® AWARD NOMINEES

ARTS PROGRAMMING

All My Life: Cazuza
TV Globo
Brazil

Imagine…David Hockney: A Bigger Picture
BBC / Coluga Pictures
United Kingdom

Personas Inside Out
TV Asahi
Japan

The World According to Ion B.
HBO Romania / Alexander Nanau Production
Romania

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR

Bob Hoskins
The Street
ITV Studios
United Kingdom

Sebastian Koch
Sea Wolf
Tele-München / Gate Film / Clasart / ZDF / ORF / RHI
Germany

Sid Lucero
Dahil May Isang Ikaw
ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation
The Philippines

Leonardo Sbaraglia
Epitafios
HBO Latin America Originals / Pol-Ka Productions
Argentina

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS

Iris Berben
The Krupps – A Family Between War and Peace
Moovie – the Art of Entertainment / ZDF
Germany

Helena Bonham Carter
Enid
Carnival Film & Television
United Kingdom

Lilia Cabral
Seize the Day
TV Globo
Brazil

Lerato Moloisane
Home Affairs
Penguin Films
South Africa

CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE

13 at War
NPS Broadcasting Organisation
The Netherlands

Do-Re-Mi-Factory
TV Globo
Brazil

Happy Birthday
Fuji Television Network, Inc.
Japan

Shaun the Sheep
Aardman Animations / WDR & WDR mediagroup GmbH / BBC
United Kingdom

COMEDY

Los Simuladores
Sony Pictures Television International
Mexico

Peep Show
Objective Productions for Channel 4
United Kingdom

Talok Hok Chak
Workpoint Entertainment Public Company Limited / Royal Thai Army Radio and Television / Channel 5
Thailand

Traffic Light
Kuperman Productions / Keshet Broadcasting
Israel

DOCUMENTARY

9/11: Phone Calls from the Towers
Darlow Smithson Productions
United Kingdom

Kuarup: The Lost Soul Will Return
TV Globo
Brazil

Mom and the Red Bean Cake
Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation
South Korea

You die as you lived: Roterdam Hospice
KRO Broadcasting Organisation
The Netherlands

DRAMA SERIES

Clouds Over the Hill
NHK
Japan

Epitafios
HBO Latin America Originals / Pol-Ka Productions
Argentina

The Killing II
Danish Broadcasting Corporation in association with ZDF / NRK / SVT
Denmark

The Street
ITV Studios
United Kingdom

NON-SCRIPTED ENTERTAINMENT

CQC
Eyeworks Cuatro Cabezas SA
Argentina

Heston’s Feasts
Optomen Television for Channel 4
United Kingdom

Remembering School
KRO / Screentime Entertainment.
The Netherlands

Run for Money
Fuji Television Network, Inc. / Fuji Creative Corporation
Japan

TELENOVELA

Ciega a Citas
Dori Media International / Dori Media Contenidos / Rosstoc
Argentina

Dahil May Isang Ikaw
ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation
The Philippines

My Love
Plural Entertainment
Portugal

TV MOVIE/MINI-SERIES

Hopeville
Curious Pictures / Heartlines / SABC Education
South Africa

Marcel Reich-Ranicki: The Author of Himself
Trebitsch Entertainment / WDR / Arte
Germany

Small Island
Ruby Television in association with AL Films
United Kingdom

Sound & Fury
TV Globo / O2 Filmes
Brazil

AGB Nielsen Mega Manila People Ratings (Oct. 1-4): Imortal draws first blood against Grazilda

Here are the Top 10 daytime and primetime programs from October 1 to 4 among Mega Manila households:

October 1, Friday

Daytime:

1. Eat Bulaga! (GMA-7) - 10.5%
2. Trudis Liit (GMA-7) - 7.2%
3. Kapamilya Blockbusters: Dobol Trobol Ket's Get Redi (ABS-CBN) - 5.8%
4. Kapuso Movie Festival: Ikaw Pa Rin, Bongga Ka Boy (GMA-7) - 5.6%
5. Ang Yaman Ni Lola (GMA-7) - 5.4%
6. Showtime (ABS-CBN) - 5.1%
7. Alyna (ABS-CBN) - 5%
8. He's Beautiful (ABS-CBN) - 4.6%
9. Rosalka (ABS-CBN) - 4.5%
10. Asar Talo, Lahat Panalo! (GMA-7) - 4.4%

Primetime:

1. Grazilda (GMA-7) - 14%
2. Ilumina (GMA-7) - 13.6%
3. Survivor Philippines Celebrity Showdown (GMA-7) - 13.4%
4. Endless Love (GMA-7) - 13.2%
5. Noah (ABS-CBN) - 13.1%
6. 24 Oras (GMA-7) / TV Patrol (ABS-CBN) - 11.9%
7. iDOL (ABS-CBN) / Magkaribal (ABS-CBN) - 10.2%
8. Bantatay (GMA-7) - 9.8%
9. Kokey@Ako (ABS-CBN) - 8.8%
10. Kristine (ABS-CBN) - 7.9%

October 2, Saturday

Daytime:

1. Eat Bulaga! (GMA-7) - 11.2%
2. Showtime (ABS-CBN) - 6%
3. Wish Ko Lang (GMA-7) - 5.8%
4. Asar Talo, Lahat Panalo! (GMA-7) / / Pilipinas, Win Na Win! (ABS-CBN) - 4.5%
5. Cinema FPJ: Da King on ABS-CBN (ABS-CBN) - 4.4%
6. Startalk (GMA-7) - 4.3%
7. Entertainment Live (ABS-CBN) - 3.8%
8. Kapamilya Blockbusters: D' Lucky Ones (ABS-CBN) - 3.6%
9. Hole in the Wall (GMA-7) - 2.7%
10. Maynila (GMA-7) - 1.8%

Primetime:

1. Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (GMA-7) - 13.1%
2. Imbestigador (GMA-7) - 12.4%
3. JejeMom (GMA-7) / Maalaala Mo Kaya (ABS-CBN) - 8.9%
4. Kaya ng Powers (GMA-7) - 7.9%
5. Wansapantaym: Inday Sa Balitaw (ABS-CBN) - 7.8%
6. 24 Oras (GMA-7) - 7.7%
7. TV Patrol (ABS-CBN) - 6.9%
8. Comedy Bar (GMA-7) - 6.6%
9. Failon Ngayon (ABS-CBN) - 5.2%
10. Twist and Shout (ABS-CBN) - 4.8%

October 3, Sunday

Daytime:

1. Party Pilipinas (GMA-7) - 7%
2. Kapuso Movie Festival: Tunay Na Kaibigan, Walang Iwanan (GMA-7) - 6.5%
3. Reel Love Presents Tween Hearts (GMA-7) - 5.7%
4. ASAP XV (ABS-CBN) - 5.3%
5. Kapamilya Sunday Blockbuster: For The First Time (ABS-CBN) - 4.9%
6. The Buzz (ABS-CBN) - 4.7%
7. Showbiz Central (GMA-7) - 3.9%
8. AHA! (GMA-7) - 2.9%
9. Your Song Presents Beautiful Girl (ABS-CBN) - 2.7%
10. Matanglawin (ABS-CBN) - 2.1%

Primetime:

1. Pepito Manaloto (GMA-7) - 10.7%
2. Kap's Amazing Stories (GMA-7) - 10.4%
3. Mel & Joey (GMA-7) - 10.1%
4. 24 Oras (GMA-7) - 9.2%
5. Rated K (ABS-CBN) - 8.6%
6. TV Patrol (ABS-CBN) - 8.3%
7. Goin' Bulilit (ABS-CBN) - 7.9%
8. Show Me Da Manny (GMA-7) - 6.5%
9. Sharon (ABS-CBN) - 6.1%
10. Twist and Shout (ABS-CBN) - 5.3%

October 4, Monday

Daytime:

1. Eat Bulaga! (GMA-7) - 9.1%
2. Trudis Liit (GMA-7) - 6.3%
3. Ang Yaman Ni Lola (GMA-7) - 5.6%
4. Showtime (ABS-CBN) - 4.6%
5. Asar Talo, Lahat Panalo! (GMA-7) - 4.2%
6. Pilipinas, Win Na Win! (ABS-CBN) - 4.1%
7. Alyna (ABS-CBN) / Kapuso Movie Festival: 'Till I Met You (GMA-7) / Temptation of Wife (GMA-7) - 4%
8. He's Beautiful (ABS-CBN) / Kapamilya Blockbusters: Don't Give Up On Us (ABS-CBN) - 3.8%
9. Rosalka (ABS-CBN) - 3.5%
10. Love Ni Mister, Love Ni Misis (GMA-7) - 2.8%

Primetime:

1. Imortal (ABS-CBN) - 15.1%
2. Survivor Philippines Celebrity Showdown (GMA-7) - 13.5%
3. 24 Oras (GMA-7) - 13.3%
4. Noah (ABS-CBN) - 13.1%
5. Ilumina (GMA-7) - 12.7%
6. Endless Love (GMA-7) - 11.7%
7. TV Patrol (ABS-CBN) - 11.4%
8. Magkaribal (ABS-CBN) - 11.3%
9. Grazilda (GMA-7) - 11.2%
10. Bantatay (GMA-7) - 8.1%

Source: AGB Nielsen Phils.

Kris Bernal moves forward sans Aljur Abrenica in Koreana

Back to work ang young actress na si Kris Bernal matapos ang kanyang masayang one-month vacation sa U.S. kasama ang kanyang pamilya.

Sa kanyang pagbalik ay may trabaho na agad na naghihintay sa StarStruck 4 winner, at ito ay ang bagong afternoon drama series ng GMA-7 na pinamagatang Koreana. Mapapanood ito sa dating timeslot ng Basahang Ginto nina Carla Abellana at Geoff Eigenmann, pagkatapos ng Trudis Liit.

Malaking challenge para kay Kris ang proyekto dahil kakaiba ito sa mga dati na niyang nagawa, tulad ng All My Life, The Last Prince, at Lovebug: Wish Come True. Kinailangan ngayon ni Kris na mag-aral at mag-research para magampanan nang maayos ang papel ng Korean-Filipino na si Jenna.

"Ibang culture 'yong pag-aaralan namin, so dapat maging maselan kami, sambit ni Kris nang makausap siya ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) at iba pang entertainment reporters kagabi, October 5, sa 17th floor ng GMA Network Center sa Quezon City.

"Pinag-aralan ko language nila, tapos nagbasa din ako sa Internet nung culture nila, pati pananamit nila. Dati pa naman ako nakakapanood ng Koreanovela, so tinitingnan ko din 'yong mga character na puwede kong gayahin, 'yong mga galaw-galaw nila.

"Kinakabahan talaga ako nang bonggang-bongga dahil ito 'yong unang show ko na wala si Aljur [Abrenica] at bago 'yong mga ka-love team ko," sabi ni Kris.

Magsisilbing leading men ni Kris sa Koreana ang StarStruck V finalists na sina Rocco Nacino at Steven Silva.

Kasama rin sa programa sina Eddie Garcia, Eula Valdes, Lotlot de Leon, Angelu de Leon, Marco Morales, Saab Magalona, Sylvia Sanchez, Joyce Ching, Luigi Revilla, Dinky Doo, at Grace Lee.

LIFE AFTER ALJUR. Nauna nang sinabi ni Kris na kinakabahan siya dahil sa unang pagkakataon ay mapapanood siya sa isang drama series na hindi kasama ang perennial screen partner niyang si Aljur Abrenica.

Kung iisipin ay hindi naman ito ang unang programa na lalabasan ni Kris without Aljur. Nito lang Hunyo ay itinambal si Kris sa Brazilian-Japanese model na si Daniel Matsunaga sa "Wish Come True" episode ng Sunday afternoon romance-drama Lovebug.

Pero iba pa rin siyempre ang Koreana sa Lovebug dahil may element of heavy drama ang una, bukod pa sa araw-araw itong mapapanood. Kaya mas malaking pressure ang nararamdaman ngayon ng 21-year-old actress.

Speaking of Aljur, nilinaw na rin ni Kris na wala namang naging alitan sa kanila ng dating ka-love team. Matagal na raw silang hindi nagkikita at nagkakausap ngunit hindi naman ito nangangahulugan na hindi sila magkasundo.

"Kung makikita ko si Aljur ngayon, talagang yayakapin ko siya," nakangiting pahayag ni Kris. "Kasi ang tagal na talaga naming hindi nagkikita and nami-miss ko din siya siyempre."

Marami ang naguluhan noon kung ano nga ba talaga ang tunay na estado nila outside of their love team. Bagamat sinasabi kasi nila na sobrang malapit sila sa isa't isa ay kung kani-kaninong young actresses nali-link si Aljur.

Lumabas pa nga ang balita na tuloy pa rin ang relasyon ni Aljur at ng nabalitang kasintahan nito na si Rich Asuncion sa gitna ng pagsasabi ng binata na espesyal si Kris sa kanyang puso.

Kagabi ay naging very open naman si Kris sa pagsagot tungkol sa nakaraan nila ng hunky young actor.

"Hindi naman namin inamin ni Aljur na totoong naging kami. Pero totoong nanligaw siya. Pero 'yon nga, hindi niya itinuloy kasi nga natakot kami na baka makagulo sa love team namin and sa trabaho. So, okay na ganun na lang muna," sabi ni Kris.

Paano ba niya ilalarawan sa salita ang dating namagitan sa kanila ni Aljur?

"MU [mutual understanding] lang, ganun," sagot ng batang aktres. "Hindi ko naman siya binasted kasi naintindihan niya rin naman 'yong paliwanag ko sa kanya.

"Sabi ko po sa kanya na pag na-in love kasi ako, nakakalimutan ko 'yong trabaho ko. So, sabi ko, huwag muna ngayon kasi gusto ko pang abutin 'yong pinakamataas na peak ng career ko. Sabi ko, next time na natin intindihin 'yan."

ROCCO OR JAY? Napangiti lamang si Kris nang ipaalam namin sa kanya na kabilang siya sa mga showbiz crushes ni Rocco Nacino, na isa sa mga katambal niya sa Koreana.

Sa isang separate interview ay pinanindigan naman ni Rocco ang kanyang naunang pag-amin. Matagal na raw niyang crush si Kris at gustung-gusto niya ang mata at pagiging "sweet-looking" ng aktres.

Kung si Kris naman ang tatanungin, "cute" daw si Rocco at mabait daw ito sa kanya tuwing nasa set sila. Niloloko nga raw sila ng mga kasamahan sa trabaho na malaki ang posibilidad na may mabuong magandang pagtitinginan sila pagtapos ng serye.

"Si Rocco, sa totoo lang, naaaliw ako sa kanya kasi ang bait-bait niya, tapos makulit siya. Ang bilis kong maging kumportable sa kanya... Minsan nga napapaisip ako kung type nga ba ako nito o hindi," sabi ni Kris.

Kung sakali ngang maisipan ni Rocco na manligaw kay Kris ay hindi rin naman makakasiguro ang binata kung may positibong ibubunga ang kanyang pagpaparamdam.

Malakas pa rin kasi ang usap-usapan na may boyfriend na si Kris, at ito ay walang iba kundi ang singer na si Jay Perillo, na napapanood sa mga programang Comedy Bar at Party Pilipinas. Matatandaang lalong umugong ang balita matapos na may makakita sa picture ni Jay set as wallpaper sa cell phone ni Kris.

At kung dati ay todo-deny si Kris every time na tanungin siya tungkol sa closeness nila ni Jay, iba na ngayon ang tono ng dalaga nang muling mapag-usapan ang singer.

"Malapit talaga sa akin si Jay," pag-amin ni Kris. "Siguro dahil pinaparamdam niya sa akin na special ako.

Masasabi ba niya ngayon nang diretsahan na mahalaga sa buhay niya si Jay?

"Oo, importante rin siya sa akin," pag-amin ni Kris. "Mabait siya, sobrang bait niya sa akin... Hindi ko naman sinasabi na boyfriend ko na siya, pero siguro nandun kami sa stage na nagkakaintindihan kami."

Kung sinasabi niya na "importante" sa kanya si Jay, puwede na rin bang sabihin na boyfriend-girlfriend na ang kanilang estado sa kasalukuyan?

"Hindi naman po sa taken," mabilis na sagot ni Kris. "Pero ngayon po, tumatanggap ako ng manliligaw. At saka kung ngayon, kung tatanungin ako sa love life ko ngayon, masaya po ako."