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Indie Film 'Lababo' Finalist in Zinebi Fest

Lababo is a story of two Filipinas who fall for the same American soldier. Coming at a time when the Philippines is taking a closer look at the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement in the wake of the conviction of US Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith for the rape of a Filipina at the Subic Bay Freeport in November 2005, it is a most timely and poignant short film. And it also a first for the country?the first Filipino finalist in the Bilbao International Festival of Documentary and Short Films (Zinebi) of Spain.
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4 RP Schools in the Top 500 World Universities of 2006

Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Institute of Higher Education has released its 2006 Ranking of World's Top 500 Universities which is quite similar to the other rankings conducted by MIT and Stanford.

The top ten are:

1. Harvard University (USA)
2. Cambridge University (United Kingdom)
3. Stanford University (USA)
4. University of California - Berkeley (USA)
5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA)
6. CalTech (USA)
7. Columbia University (USA)
8. Princeton (USA)
9. University of Chicago (USA)
10. Oxford University (United Kingdom)

Four Philippine schools made it to the Top 500 this year (based from 2006) and they are:

1. University of the Philippines - ranked no. 299th
2. De La Salle University - ranked no. 392nd
3. Ateneo de Manila University - ranked no. 484th
4. University of Sto. Thomas - ranked no. 500th

To view the complete list, click here.
Pinoy Wins Yahoo Talent Search

Pinoy Wins Yahoo Talent Search

Another sweet victory for the Philippines! A Pinoy have just won the Yahoo Talent Show, a nationwide search for the next internet celebrity. He is Zambales born Rex Germogino.

rex germogino

Rex has had a passion for music ever since he was a kid. He grew up with a family of musicians where he learned to appreciate different instruments, styles and music genres from big band to pop, classical to modem.

He was born on October 8, 1975 in Candelaria Zambales, Philippines. He and his family moved to Dededo, Guam when he was just 7. His father and mother continued to teach grade school and his father started the first Drum and Bugle Corps in Guam at Wettengel Elementary School where Rex and his twin brothers attended. Rex played the xylophone while his brothers played the bugle and on certain occasions, his older brother would assist the band of about 30 elementary school students in playing the trumpets or the drums.

Watch this cool music video of Rex called Love on the Internet which won 2nd Place in the 2006 San Diego Songwriters Guild Song Contest and 1st Place in 2006 Yahoo Talent Show. If you watch the 5 finalists, no one comes close. Rex's video is overwhelmingly terrific. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this music video.

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Jimmy Marquez Wins Silver in Shanghai Musicfest

Jimmy Marquez, 2nd runner-up in ABS CBN's Star in a Million season 2 and Viva Records' latest singing champion, lived up to all expectations when he bagged the Silver Prize at the 2006 Asia New Singer Competition at The 9th Shanghai Asia Music Festival. The competition was held at the studios of the Shanghai Broadcasting Corporation. Jimmy was awarded a glass trophy and US$1000 in cash.

The promising soul balladeer performed two songs composed for him by ace songwriter and music producer Vehnee Saturno. Jimmy sang Today and Minsa'y Naging Bahagi. The latter is one of the cuts in his first CD release, which is also titled Jimmy Marquez.
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RP Students Top 2006 World Robot Olympiad

3 High School students from Batangas representing the Philippines emerged as champion in the 2006 World Robot Olympiad. The robotics team of First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities (FAITH)?in Tanauan City, Batangas bested 30 other entries from 20 countries--- including the Robotic expert countries like Japan, South Korea, Russia and Singapore. The team is composed of Kim Marco Perez, 14, Dan Joseph Garcia,13 and Francisco Gabriel Nunez, 14.

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Hollywood Remake of 'Sigaw' to be Directed by Yam Laranas

Vertigo Entertainment, the producer of Hollywood remake of Japanese horror?classics?The Ring 1&2, The Grudge 1&2 and the Oscar frontrunner The Departed will produce the Hollywood version of Richard-Angel film Sigaw. Vertigo has?acquired the rights from Regal films, the?local distributor of Sigaw which have an international title The Echo. The original director Yam Laranas will also direct the Hollywood version of the movie and filming will start on March 2007.

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Manny Pacquiao Knocks Out Erik Morales in 3rd Round

After the victory in World Pool Championship last week, the country is celebrating yet again for another historical feat. Pinoy boxing hero Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao defeated Mexican boxing legend Erik "El Terrible" Morales after knocking him down thrice in the third round of their 12-round matchup in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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2 Pinoys Win TOYP Award

By DOREEN G. YU
The Philippine Star

Two Filipinos were among 10 outstanding young people honored at the ongoing JCI World Congress in Seoul, South Korea.

Illac Angelo Diaz and Juan Sajid Imao were awarded as The Outstanding Young Persons of the World (TOYP) at a gala reception on Monday.

Diaz, chosen by a distinguished jury in the category "Business, economic and/or entrepreneurial accomplishment," is a social entrepreneur who has established several companies that provide sustainable solutions to societal problems.

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5 Year-Old Pinoy Broke Guiness Swimming Record

Yup, the Guiness record for the youngest person to swim across?a channel?was broken by a 5 year-old pinoy named Justin Daniel Junio, son of a former Olympic swimmer. The record Justin broke was that of seven-year-old Braxton Bridley who swam the 2.25-kilometer channel between San Francisco and Alcatraz Island in California USA. Justin swam the three-kilometer wide Mactan channel and back in less than two hours. He battled the strong currents in the polluted channel between Mactan Island and Cebu mainland in a total of 6 kilometers in one hour and 58 minutes!

Read more about this amazing feat here.
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Aicelle Santos Wins in Kazakhstan

Nanalo ang first runner up sa second season ng Pinoy Pop Superstar na si Aicelle Santos sa Astana Song Festival sa Kazakhstan!

Inuwi ni Aicelle ang isa sa dalawang major awards ? ang Best Performance of Own Country Song na sinulat ng song writer na si Vehnee Saturno.

Aicelle competed with singers from 14 countries. ?This award, this competition has opened doors, the experience itself, para po mag-grow as an artist. Kung baga, hindi ka lang nakatungtong sa stage sa Pilipinas lang, kung hindi sa ibang bansa, ipinakita mo, ?Ito po kami, Pilipinas, kaya naming makipag-compete,?? she shares.
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2 Pinoys in 'Survivor Cook Islands'

Brad Virata is a 29 year-old fashion director from Oak Harbor, Washington where he grew up. Virata received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in international communications from the University of Washington and was an active member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Shortly after graduation, Virata traveled throughout Europe and Asia working as a model. He then moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in fashion and attended the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. He began working in couture clothing sales and clothing design merchandising for Guess? Men's Division. He spent five years with the company and helped launch the clothing line "Los Angeles Denim Atelier." He currently works as the Director of Men's Merchandising for Lucky Brand Jeans.


Jenny Guzon-Bae is a 36 year-old Real Estate Agent from Melrose, Illinois. A skilled writer, Guzon-Bae began honing her skills at age 15 when she was hired as a columnist for VIA Times, the largest minority newspaper in the Chicago area. She eventually graduated college with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in journalism from Columbia College in Chicago. She parlayed her writing skills into the spoken word when she became a television reporter for Chicago's only Filipino-American news program, "Philippine News Reports." Having retired from reporting a few years ago, Guzon-Bae continues to serve her community by emceeing various social events.


Brad and Jenny are currently competing in the reality show Survivor Cook Islands which can be seen on Studio 23.

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Pinay CASSIE conquers the US Music Charts with Her first Single "Me and You"



A Filipina model is conquering all music charts in the US with her first rnb single "Me and You". Cassie or Cassandra Ventura was born to a Filipino father and an African-American mother. She's a professional model since age fourteen and began posting demos on her Myspace page last year. The page became one of the most popular pages on the site, igniting a high-pitched bidding war won by Diddy's Bad Boy Records. Less than a year later, Cassie has a radio hit, a record out and movie offers pouring in, and she's still reeling from her sudden rise to fame.

Watch Cassie's very sensual "Me and You" music video here.

And here's Cassie in myspace, the page that brought her to fame. So if you don't have a friendster or myspace account yet, what are you waiting for?! It can help you be discovered as the next big thing. And while we're talking about friendster, add me, my email is chris_diestro@yahoo.com hehehe.
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Jonalyn Viray at Brenan Espartinez Humakot ng Medalya sa World Championships of Performing Arts



Pinoy Pop Superstar Season 1 winner Jonaylyn Viray?was awarded the Industry Award Female Vocal Solo for winning five gold medals in the recently concluded World Championships of Performing Arts which was held in Burbank California. The five golds came from the categories Broadway, Original, Pop, R&B and Variety. Jonalyn was also awarded?Overall Champion?Female Solo in Broadway, Pop and Original.

On the other hand, in the male vocal solo category, Pinoy Pop?Superstar Season 1 2nd Placer Brenan Espartinez?also grabbed 5 Gold medals for the categories Gospel, Original, Pop, R&B/Jazz and Variety. He?was also awarded Overall Champion Male?Solo in Gospel, Original, Pop and Variety (But not in?R&B which is ironically, his specialty). He also?got the?Industry Award Male Vocal Solo.??

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The Philippines' Winning Performance in 2006 Hip Hop International Finals



33 countries competed in the 2006 Hip Hop International Finals last July 30 at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center and the Philippine team--Philippine All Stars--captured the title! Placing second is New Zealand and in third place is Trinidad and Tobago.

After watching the video, i've just realized that the Philippines is a powerhouse in the world of performing arts! We're not just good in singing but in dancing as well. Got the chills while watching Philippine All Stars dancing their hip hop routine in a cut of Black Eyed Pea's "Bebot" and the crowd just singing the chorus "Filipino! Filipino! Filipino!"

For more of the things we Filipinos are proud for, visit P2bF: Proud to Be Filipino.

Recent Videos at P2BF:
Lea Salonga's Performance in the 1993 Oscar Awards
Alexander Aquino's Winning Moment in Mr. International 2001
Jed Madela - Grand Champion Performer of the World Concert ad
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Fil-Am Hollywood Actor Michael Copon will Host this year's World Championships of Performing Arts



Fil-Am Hollywood actor "Michael Copon" will host the final night show of World Championship of Performing Arts in Hollywood. Michael Copon was seen on the second season of One Tree Hill (one of my favorite tv series i must say). His newly released tv film "All You've Got" can now be seen over MTV channel. Michael is also the grand winner of the reality talent search "But Can They Sing?"

Last year, the Philippines was declared the over-all champion courtesy of Jed Madela. Our bet for this year's "talent olympics" are Pinoy Pop Superstar season 1 winner and runner-up Jonalyn Viray and?Brenan Martinez respectively.

Read More

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Our Very Own Justine Gabionza Wins Miss Tourism Queen International 2006


Justine Gabionza of the Philippines is crowned as the new Miss Tourism Queen International a few moments ago in China where the pageant is being held. 1st Runner-up is Miss Serbia and Montenegro. 2nd Runner-up is Miss Republic of Congo. Third Runner-up is Miss Singapore. 4th Runner-up is Miss Brazil. Justine bested 65 other candidates from all over the world. In the pre-pageant activities, Justine also grabbed 2nd place in the Miss Bikini contest.



More photos of the said pageant in Beauty World Cup.





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Pinoy Digital Film "Kubrador" Wins in Moscow International Film Festival

Jeffrey Jeturian's "Kubrador" (The Collector) was unanimously chosen by the International Federation of Film Critics to win the International Crictics Prize at the recently concluded Moscow International Film Festival. Kubrador is the only Asian film in competition. It stars Gina Pare?? ?s a post-menopausal wife of an inutile husband who collects "jueteng" bets.

Kubrador was also invited to compete in other film festivals in various countries. It's the fifth Pinoy digital movie that bagged awards from major film festivals abroad after "The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros", "The Masseur", "Mga Pusang Gala" and the other one about kids but i forgot the title hehehe.
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Filipinos are 7th Most Patriotic in the World

A recent survey of 34 democracies ranked USA as the no. 1 most patriotic country in the world while the Philippines ranked no. 7 and the only Asian country in the top 10.

People rated in the survey how proud they were of their countries in 10 areas such as sports, history, economy, politics, etc. The survey was conducted by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the Univeristy of Chicago.

Other areas in which countries were ranked included social security, the way their democracy works, science and technology, arts and literature, military and fair treatment of all groups in society. Ex-colonies like the Philippines and newer nations were more likely to rank high on the list, while Western European, East Asian and former Socialist countries ranked near the bottom.

The Top 20:

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Miss RP 2nd in Miss Bikini Contest and a Crowd Favorite to Win Miss Tourism International 2006 in China



Our very own Justin Gabionza was awarded 2nd Place in the Miss Bikini contest, one of the highlights of this year's Miss Tourism International in China. Now on it's 8th year, this international beauty contest is now officially included in the Grand Slam pageants by GlobalBeauties in the ranks of Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International and Miss Earth. Justine is competing with 86 other contestants from all over the world and one of the heavy favorites to win the crown.
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Travis Kraft - Pusong Pinoy



You can catch this guy on various print ads and billboards (endorsing a deodorant and t-shirt brand) and he's here in the country to visit his adoptive mom's hometown in Bataan. He recently guested in a concert of his friend Lance Raymundo, brother of Rannie Raymundo. He can speak Filipino and his favorite Filipino food is Chicken Inasala ang Inihaw na Pusit. He will also appear in a glossy women's magazine next month.



This 6-foot-1 hunk is a wrestler from Eastern Michigan University where he?took up Telecommunications and Film. He is also an actor, some of his hollywood stints are Skeletons in the Closet, No Rules, and The Life and the Passion of Christ. Aside from considering of joining the RP wrestling team,?he also plans to be an actor here not just a model. He's been to many countries in Asia but the Philippines is his favorite country because he find?Pinoys as cute and always smiling. And listen to this girls, Travis likes "Kayumanggi" and "Chinita" girls. His last?girlfriend?was Chinese and now he is looking for a Filipina because?he likes how "mapag-alaga" ang mga pinay.?





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Sicat ang Pinoy!



Our very own Oliver Sicat was featured in the latest issue of People Magazine in their "Hero Among Us" section for heading an after-school program called Emagine and by sending 20 Boston kids to college.

The article, entitled "One Teacher's Dream" and subtitled "At a school in a rough Boston neighborhood, Oliver Sicat showed 20 kids how to reach for more. Now, they're college-bound---and leading the cheers for their teacher."

Earlier this year, he made the Boston headlines for running his first marathon to help raise $20,0000.00 to buy 21 computer laptops for his students.

Mabuhay ka Oliver! Sicat talaga ang Pinoy!
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Maximo Oliveros Received 100% Rating in Rotten Tomatoes



The critics in Rotten Tomatoes are hard to satisfy. They gave "rotten" ratings to Da Vinci Code (23%), The Omen (32%), X Men III: The Last Stand (55%) and Poseidon (30%). But our very own digital movie "Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros" received a whopping 100% rating! Galing di ba? I hope Maximo will also harvest more awards in the local arena like Urian, Famas, Star Awards after winning some honors in various film festivals abroad.



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Pinoy ang Co-star ni Antonio Banderas sa "Take the Lead"



Dante Basco is a pure Filipino who was discovered being a break-dancer in Bay area sa US. Siya na siguro ang pinoy na may pinakamarming nagawang Hollywood movie na hindi lang cameo role. Bukod sa "Take the Lead", ang latest movie niya with no less than Antonio Banderas ang kasama niya, gumanap din siya sa Biker Boyz, Naked Brown Men, The Debut, Extreme Days at Hook, kung saan lumabas siya bilang Rufio, leader ng Lost Boys, kasama ang mga iniidolong sina Dustin Hoffman at Robin Williams. Not to mention his tv guestings in various series.

Dante is currently here in Manila to promote the movie.
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SM Mall of Asia, the 3rd Largest Mall in the World



A number of firsts in Philippine history were made when?SM Mall of Asia?finally opened?last May 20 when it was inaugurated by President Arroyo. Aside from being the 3rd largest shopping mall in the world and the biggest in the Philippines, SM Mall of Asia boasts of the?Philippine's first Olympic size ice skating rink and the first IMAX theater?with the largest screen in the country.?I thought there's gonna be an indoor theme park but to my dismay there was none.?

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The Philippine "Halo-Halo" was Awarded by Time Magazine as the "Best Legal High" in their Best of Asia Awards



While introducing the only award for the Philippines in their BEST OF ASIA AWARDS, Time magazine managed to?hit the country with sarcastic remarks about its "gridlocked traffic", "appalling shantytowns" and "intermittent threat?of a coup de'etat" and labeling Manila as "not the easiest city to be in."?Writer Liam Fitzpatrick?delievered the blows before handling the flattery award for the Filipino Halo-halo as the Best Legal High.

For Mr. Fitzpatrick I BEG YOUR PARDON. We don't like to accept the stupid award if it will only give you the satisfaction of lambasting?our nation without even checking if your words are accurate. For your information, we don't have the worst traffic jam in Asia--it's in Bangkok?hence the term "Bangkok Jam". There will be no more coup, at least for?the meantime, because we will not allow it to happen. And Manila is not the easiest city to be in? Come on, at least we can all proudly say that we're FREE and we can do the things that we would lke to do here UNLIKE in other Asian cities where there are so many restrictions. Manila is one of the EASIEST city to be in because first and foremost we have FREEDOM! You are totally wrong with this one. I will not exchange Manila with your best Asian cities crap!?
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RP Sick Man of Asian Sports No More



Sick Man of Asian sports no more. Long languishing in the shadows of the traditional sports powers in the region, the Philippines bade goodbye to that lowly tag Monday when it officially captured a historic first overall title in the Southeast AsianGames, a feat accomplished on home turf and with the support of a nation badly needing a respite from its tumultuous political life.

A runaway final tally of 113 gold medals did it for the Filipinos whofailed to win the championships the first two times they hosted the meet in1981 and 1991. This time, there was no down-the-wire finish to speak of like that one 14 years ago when the Philippines fell short of one gold medal, allowingIndonesia to snatch the overall title in a heartbreaking setback stilletched vividly in the minds of every Filipino. It was a Philippine show all the way in this year?s games as Filipinoathletes registered one victory after another, relegating Thailand anddefending champion Vietnam fighting for the silver of second best in theoverall reckoning.

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Philippines wins Miss International 2005


Our very own Precious Lara Quigaman bested other 52 contestants from around the world including the heavy favored MissVenezuela as she wins the 4th Miss International crown for the Philippines last September 26, 2005. The 1st runner-up is Yadira Geara of the DominicanRepublic, and the 2nd runner-up is Susanna Laine of Finland.


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Jed Madela: World Grand Champion in "Talent Olympics"





A grand total of 3,500 acts from 51 nations are competing in the ninth annual World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Burbank , California . The host country, the United States , is fielding as many as 500 contestants. The Philippines has only two entries. And the overall winner is?!
Jed Madela from the Philippines!?

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Philippines sweeps 2005 World Championship of Performing Arts in Hollywood






For the first time in the 11-year history of the World Championship ofPerforming Arts (WCOPA), a magnificent sweep of awards was achieved by just one nation, the Philippines! What made this recent triumph more amazing is that our country has only two contestants?the super talented Jed Madela and Rizza Navales who won 11 gold medals, one silver medal, three Champion of the World plaques and a trophy for the grand champion.?

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Fil-Am actor Michael Copon takes the Hollywood Splash





International model and former Blue Power Ranger Michael Copon takes theHollywood splash as one of the cast members of WB's hit series One TreeHill. TELEVISION and mainstream audiences have been noticing the tall, nicely framed face and athletic good looks of Fil-Am star Michael Copon, the Dean Cain look-a-like who plays Felix on WB's hit series One TreeHill (Tuesdays at 8 pm).

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