Date Posted:19:51:10 09/10/09 Thu By Armin Adina
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:32:00 09/10/2009
MANILA, Philippines—Pamela Bianca Manalo, who represented the country in the recently concluded Miss Universe tilt in the Bahamas, received a warm welcome from the Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc., even if she failed to reach the pageant’s semifinals.
“In our hearts Bianca is a winner,” said Bb. Pilipinas chair Stella Marquez de Araneta during a homecoming party at the Araneta Coliseum Gazebo last Saturday.
The last grand welcome for a titleholder was held in 2005 for Precious Lara Quigaman, the country’s fourth Miss International winner. That same year, Gionna Cabrera was given a simple homecoming party to toast her special awards from the Miss U pageant held in Thailand.
Bianca, 22, told Inquirer she was glad Venezuela’s Stefania Fernandez won. “She is very fresh, very cheerful, very young... only 18.” She dismissed an online petition protesting the pageant’s results, saying she would choose Fernandez any time over runner-up Ada Aimee dela Cruz from the Dominican Republic. “[Dela Cruz] was not a nice person,” Bianca said.
But while admitting that she felt bad about not making the cut, Bianca said, “Maybe God did not intend for me to become Miss Universe.”
She recalled being approached backstage by fellow Asians who thought she would land in the Top 15. “Miss Singapore asked me, ‘What happened? No Asians?’”
Inconsolable
She said delegates from Mexico and the Bahamas were inconsolable. “Halos himatayin si [Miss] Bahamas.”
At worst, Bianca was incredulous. “When the semifinalists were announced and I wasn’t among them, I could not look at my family in the audience. I kept asking myself, ‘What went wrong?’”
Family members who were there included her sister Katherine Ann Manalo (2002 Miss World finalist) and aunt Nini Ramos-Licaros (1968 Miss International semifinalist).
But Bianca said she wouldn’t change anything in the way she conducted herself: “I did everything I knew was right and necessary.”
Humbled
She also defended the blue-and-silver evening gown she wore for the preliminaries. The ensemble by Colombian designer Alfredo Barraza drew flak from pageant fans on message boards online. “I picked that gown myself,” she said. “I loved how it moved [with my body].”
Bianca was “humbled” by the support of Filipinos worldwide. “Pinoys in the Bahamas were in every program,” she said. “Many others from LA, New York and Miami flew over to cheer me. They all spent so much — that’s no joke. And the fact that many Filipinos believed we had a chance was good enough for me.”
Date Posted:21:15:48 09/19/09 Sat Check this guy out! He (Sam Tsui) did all the seven voices from an arrangement of Michael Jackson hits made by his classmate (Kurt Schneider) at Yale University. The entire production is amazing!
Lovers in Paris lead star Kc Concepcion was the latest endorses of Close-Up Toothpaste, now challenging everyone to the Halik Meter Challenge. KC’s leading man in the TV commercial is Daniel Matsunaga, who recently been included as one of the Cosmo Centerfolds fro 2009.
KC got a beautiful set of teeth, so she truly deserves to be a toothpaste endorser.
Date Posted:23:59:13 09/16/09 Wed
Miss Thailand World 2008
Miss Thailand World 2009 Beauty Pageant will be held on October 17. The winner will represent Thailand at the Miss World 2009 Contest to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa on December. There are a total of 25 lovely candidates all over Thailand participating this year... Meet them here!
RP film wins in Venice
By Ricky Lo (The Philippine Star) Updated September 14, 2009 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - “Engkwentro” (Clash) was named Best Debut Film in the Orizzonti (New Horizons) competition of the 66th Venice Film Festival which ended on Sept. 12.
The independent film was directed by Pepe Diokno, 22, who writes for The STAR’s Supreme section.
Diokno was in Venice with the star of the film, Felix Roco, one of actor Bembol Roco’s twin sons..
“Engkwentro” also won the Luigi de Laurentiis Award for a debut film, beating all first-timers including those in the main competition.
The Venice Film Festival is one of the oldest in the world and among the most prestigious, including those in Cannes, Toronto, New York and Berlin
The Orizzonti category provides a spectrum of new trends in cinema. Lav Diaz won in the same category in the past two years –Melancholia for feature film in 2008 and Death in the Land of Encantos was special mention in 2007.
“The cast and crew are honored to represent the Philippines, side by side with world cinema’s most respected names,” Pepe told The STAR before he flew to Venice.
Another Filipino film that competed in the festival as a “surprise entry” was Lola, directed by Brillante “Dante” Mendoza who won Best Director (for Kinatay) at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. It was a first for a Filipino director.
Lola is the story of two grandmothers played by Anita Linda, 84, fighting for justice for her murdered
grandson and Rustica Carpio, 79, for her own grandson suspected to be the culprit.
Lebanon, an Israeli film that recounts Israel’s 1982 invasion of the Middle East country through soldiers’ eyes, won the festival’s Golden Lion top prize. The jury was headed by Ang Lee, himself a Golden Lion winner.
Inspired by true events, Engkwentro tells the story of two teenage brothers on opposite sides of a gang war. Tensions between the two arise at a deadly midnight engkwentro (clash) when one is tasked to kill the other. All this happens while the City Death Squad, a band of vigilantes supposedly backed by a Big Brother-type mayor, is hot on their trail. The two brothers must find a way out of their squalid situation in order to stay alive.
Felix Roco plays a gangster fighting desperately for his life. The movie’s other stars include director Celso Ad Castillo as the Mayor, as well as by young actors Zyrus Desamparado, Daniel Medrana and Eda Nolan, singer Bayang Barrios, and controversial indie filmmaker Jim Libiran.
Shot in a hand-held-camera style, Engkwentro premiered at the recent 2009 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival. Its production designer is Carmenzeeta “Chie” Floresca, daughter of The STAR’s assistant business editor Roman Floresca.
Pepe said that the film was inspired by actual “death squad” killings in some cities in the country where, in the last decade, over 814 people have been murdered by hit men allegedly sponsored by the government.
“According to reports,” added Pepe, “many of the victims are minors, including gang members, petty criminals and street children.”
Local critics and lay moviegoers describe Engkwentro as “an eye-opener,” “raw and alarming,” “shocking,” “disturbing” and “a must-see.”
Here’s the complete list of winners of the main categories:
• Golden Lion for Best Film — Lebanon by Israeli director Samuel Maoz
• Silver Lion for Best Director — Iranian video artists Shirin Neshat for Women Without Men
• Special Jury Prize — Soul Kitchen directed by German-born Fatih Akin
• Best Actor – Britain’s Colin Firth for Tom Ford’s A Single Man
• Best Actress — Russian Ksenia Rappoport for La Doppia Ora
• Best Screenplay — US director Todd Solondz for Life During Wartime
• Best Debut Film — Filipino director Pepe Diokno for Engkwentro
• Best Set Design — Sylvie Olive for Jaco Van Dormael’s Mr. Nobod
• Best Emerging Performer – Italy’s Jasmine Trinca foir Il Grande Sogno
Gorgeous Jennifer Hawkins nuzzles up to boyfriend Jake Wall and, thinking nobody’s watching, sneakily tickles his foot with her perfectly manicured toes. ‘She can’t get enough of me,’ he says, struggling to keep a straight face. 'Oh, get over yourself,’ laughs the former Miss Universe, who’s just moved into a lavish $2.3 million love nest in Sydney’s beachside Coogee, with carpenter Jake by her side.
‘It’s great to be able to share something like this with your loved ones, otherwise there’s no point,’ Australia’s favourite girl-next-door adds. ‘And it’s nice to have a hot chippie around!’
In the five years since Jen and Jake first locked eyes at a club, their romance has not only survived but thrived, despite the pressures of distance, fame and cruel speculation, such as gossip linking Jen to actor Vince Colosimo.
‘When you first hear a rumour, it shakes you,’ admits the TV presenter, model and swimwear designer. ‘But then I think: “I know the truth, and it will all come out and it will be OK.” You have to take the good with the bad, or else get out of the industry.
‘That’s one of the things I like about Jake; he doesn’t buy into any of it. A few rumours have come up, but I’m very open and honest and we talk about everything. We vent to each other. We say: “I saw so-and-so at some event, someone took a snap and there might be a story about it.” All good. We’ve been through a lot in five years and it’s lasted this long, and it’s going great.’
She smiles at him fondly, snuggled on the lounge, and adds: ‘Life would be boring with nobody to talk to. It’s nothing to do with work; it’s not industry-driven. It’s good to be able to chat about everything.’
A Strengthened Bond
In the time Jen and Jake, a sometime model and actor, have been together, their relationship has changed, getting stronger and stronger. 'When we first met, we were all over the place,’ Jen says. ‘I won Miss Universe and started travelling – it was a bit sporadic.
‘But now we’re together. We know each other better. We see each other more and we get on really well. I think we make more effort. We like to have fun, but we’re still committed to each other. Our relationship was a bit flippant before. That was the way it was, but things have changed. It’s deeper. Now I really miss him when I go away.’ Jake looks slightly sheepish and a giggling Jen quickly adds: ‘I hope that doesn’t sound too corny – it’s true though.’
Despite their love, the 25-year-olds aren’t hatching any plans for marriage or babies – at least not in the short term. 'It’s not on the horizon for us, no,’ former cheerleader Jen says. ‘I have two nieces and a nephew, and my brother’s wife is expecting in August. My other brother is getting married in October and that’s exciting. So there are a few things to look forward to.
‘I can’t imagine not having kids, but not anytime soon. It’s nice to know you’d want them, that you have that maternal instinct, but it’s not a priority at the moment - and it’s not right to have children when it’s not your priority.’
Jake adds: ‘There are a lot of things we want to do before we think about any of that stuff. We’re only young, so there’s no rush.’
Life in the fast lane
Besides, they’re too busy. She has an ongoing role with the Seven Network and lucrative contracts as the face and figure of Myer, Lovable and Covergirl. He’s just completed the movie Cedar Boys, is modelling part-time and is midway through his builder’s licence.
And there’s also Jen’s ultra-modern, four-storey home to consider. They’ve chosen the furniture, sunned by the pool, chilled out in the home entertainment room, shared ocean views from the rooftop terrace and kept in shape with a first-class treadmill hoisted in by crane.
They also co-hosted a few barbecues and parties for family and friends over the festive season – and hit the headlines after neighbours complained about the noise – and they’re even learning to cook! ‘It’s good to experiment when you’ve got a new kitchen, but I’m not very good,’ Jen says.
The Jen of today
Clearly, Jen’s come a long way from when she loved her netball and ballet and worked for a legal firm in her home town of Newcastle, NSW. Today, she’s a wealthy woman, with an investment portfolio, an in-demand career and a designer shoe collection that takes up half her king-sized bedroom and dressing room. On one wall, a simple sign says ‘Dream’. She’s living it.
‘I’m so grateful for everything,’ Jen smiles, cuddling the sinuous Burmese cat that Jake bought her one birthday. ‘I just love this house. Mum saw it on the net and it blew me away.
‘But the best thing is that there’s lots of room for guests. A while ago I loved my own space. Nowadays I prefer to hang out with lots of people – and obviously Jake, my family and friends are the most important of all.’
Date Posted:16:25:10 09/02/09 Wed
Jericho Rosales on reclaiming his spot in showbiz
By UPH Administrator | August 17, 2009
Comments (3)
Jericho Rosales is indeed one of the best actors of his generation; and he has received awards and accolades from local award-giving bodies to prove it. He has even amassed a fanbase reaching the far ends of Southeast Asia especially so when ABS-CBN’s locally produced soap opera “Pangako Sa ‘Yo” was aired in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia and Singapore. And just when he was about to rise to superstardom, it was cut short by his decision to focus on his romance with his then girlfriend Heart Evangelista forcing his career to take the back seat in his list of priorities. That became the lowest point in his career and he wasn’t very visible on the small and big screens.
Upon the souring of his relationship with Heart, offers came back his way one by one. His home network ABS-CBN gave him another chance to redeem himself and was immediately cast in the Sarah Geronimo-led soap “Pangarap Na Bituin”. The following year, he was given the opportunity to star in “Kahit Isang Saglit”, an international co-production between ABS-CBN of the Philippines and Double Vision of Malaysia, opposite popular Malaysian actress Carmen Soo. Early this year, he appeared in the second book of “I Love Betty La Fea” as Aldo.
Very soon we will see Jericho give life to a new character named Miguel in the upcoming soap opera “Dahil May Isang Ikaw” which reunites him with “Pangako Sa ‘Yo” co-star Kristine Hermosa. The two are supported by a powerhouse cast of big-named industry veterans like Lorna Tolentino, Gabby Concepcion, John Estrada and Chin-chin Gutierrez among others. It seems that Jericho is fast reclaiming his spot as one of ABS-CBN’s and the country’s teleserye princes.
Date Posted:07:10:15 09/03/09 Thu
RECORDANDO EL CERTAMEN MISS UNIVERSO 1993, PARA MUCHOS EL MAS POLEMICO Y PARAMETRADO DE TODOS LOS TIEMPOS!!
La 42ş Edicion del Certamen Miss Universo, correspondiente al ańo 1993, se realizEen el Auditorio Nacional de Ciudad de Mexico, pequeńo resort de actividades culturales, el 21 de mayo de 1993; con la participacion de 79 naciones y territorios autónomos.
Esta edicion fue presentada por DICK CLARK y la ex-MISS UNIVERSO 1987, la chilena CECILIA BOLOCCO, quien ya mantenia relaciones sentimentales con el Presidente de la Republica Argentina, CARLOS SAUL MENEM.
Date Posted:21:33:42 09/06/09 Sun
EL MISTER WORLD 2009 SE REALIZARA EL PROXIMO MES DE OCTUBRE, EN SEUL, COREA DEL SUR. AQUI ALGUNOS DE LOS ASPIRANTES PARA GANAR EL TITULO DE "EL HOMBRE MAS GUAPO DEL UNIVERSO"
This is a video aired on China's English-language CCTV during a modern dance competition in Beijing, China in 2007. This very unique couple--she without an arm, he without a leg--won one of the top prizes.
The young woman, in her 30's, was a dancer who had trained since she was a little girl. Later in life, she lost her entire left arm in an accident and fell into a state of depression for a few years. After rebounding, she decided to team with a young man who had lost his leg in an unrelated accident and who was completely untrained in dance. After a long and sometimes agonizing training regimen, this is the result.
The dance is performed by Ma Li and Zhai Xiaowei. The music is composed by San Bao. The dance is entitled Qian Shou "Hand in Hand").
George Clooney stepped out at the Venice film festival showing off some new arm candy, Elisabetta Canalis. The two arrived hand-in-hand to the red carpet showing of Clooney's new comedy, 'The Men Who Stare at Goats.'
The infamous bachelor and the beautiful Italian TV personality vacationed together at Lake Como before the film fest, but Tuesday marked their first date with the public.
There’s no stopping Filipina Supermodel Charo Ronquillo from conquering the world.
Over the weekend, prestigious international fashion magazine Vogue released its Top 10 list of Ford’s Supermodel of the World competition finalists who “are making it big” around the world and our very own Filipina Supermodel ranked No. 4.
The website also contained the following information on Charo Ronquillo:
“Charo joined and won the Supermodel of World Philippines Search in 2005 when she was just 17 years old. She went on to the Supermodel of the World Finals the following year in New York City and placed third, securing a $100,000 contract with Ford Models. Since her win, Charo has graced the catwalks of New York Fashion Week for designers including LaCoste, Nanette Lapre, Maria Cornejo, Tory Burch, Antonio Berardi, Kenneth Cole, Mac Cosmetics, Barbie Collection, Sisley and Benetton and has secured many high profile editorials.”
The other nine Supermodels of the World in the Top 10 list are: UK-born model Alexina Graham, Brazilian model Camila Finn, Chanel Iman, Kang Seung-Hyun, Canadian model Kate Somers, Brazilians Liliane Ferrarezi and Luciana Curtis, Ukrainian Nataliya Gotsii, and Puerto Rican Vanessa De Assis.
Charo continues to make waves in the international fashion scene. She currently appears in a huge billboard advertisement for Target in downtown Los Angeles, as well as in Express Boutiques. She will soon be gracing the covers of Vogue India.
Charo was home recently to grace the Philippine Fashion Week at the SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia.
credits to Ms. Shirley Matias-Pizarro of Manila Bulletin
The Organizers of the Philippine search for its representatives for Manhunt International 2009 and Mister International 2009 had their 4th and Final Screening last August 30, 2009. Here are some of the applicants..
Anton Vincent Malco
Twelve(12)official finalists will be chosen among those who came in the 4 screenings and will compete for the 2 grand titles on the Finals in October.
So how much of the glitz and glamour of the Miss Universe pageant is real? Not much, says Michael Schwandt, a choreographer of the last four pageants. In a recent interview, he scrutinized the competition and revealed Donald Trump is allegedly fixing the competitions. According to Schwandt, Trump decides who will make it to the final six -- after a private meeting with all the women.
"At all the shows, he pops in the day before the telecast ,and we line up all the girls in alphabetical order... he basically walks by and has an assistant that takes notes. And it's just kind of common knowledge that he picks six of the top 15 single-handedly," Schwandt told Guanabee.com (via Defamer.)
"It's kind of a surreal experience, actually. We all just kind of try to sit there... and everyone's trying to make it go smoothly. It's kind of the last thing anybody wants to do but we have to do it," he added.
"The other nine are judged in a preliminary show the week before and picked by those judges, but he picks six of the top fifteen," Schwandt said.
In the official Miss Universe rules, they fail to note the private judging round and its impact on the race. Apparently, Trump didn't like how others judged the women in previous competitions, so he took matters into his own hands.
"His reason for doing so, as he told me and he's told the girls before, is that he left it all up to preliminary judging in the past and some of the most beautiful women, in his opinion, were not in the top fifteen and he was kind of upset about that. And he decided that he would pick a certain number and let the judges pick a certain number," Schwandt said.
Thanks to the following: Miss Universe Org., Miss World Org., Miss Earth Org., Miss Philippines Earth Org., Miss International Org., BPCI, Reuter & AP for the photos.
Yeah, ayaw niyang magalit si Madam sa kanya..Alalahanin niya di pa siya tapos sa Reign niya? Ayaw lang niyang maka-offend..ganon naman ang mga Pilipino eh..Iba ang sinasabe ng bibig pero iba naman talaga ang nasa puso..ayaw lang niyang madiin ang kanyang amo..he..he..he! (NT) -- Be Nice, Bianca..Matanda na si Madam..ang Puso niya..., 00:16:46 09/12/09 Sat
Oh please, GOD had nothing to do with it! It was Donald Trump, MUO & those corrupt judges that didn't want Bianca or any Asian to be Miss UNIVERSE! - PERIOD!! (NT) -- STOP blaming GOD and get REAL!, 23:59:29 09/15/09 Tue
Miss UNIVERSE will embark on her first foreign engagement by gracing the Formula1 SINGAPORE Grand Prix from Sept 25-27! From there she flys to Jakarta for a 10-day official visit to INDONESIA where she will help crown the new 'Puteri INDONESIA' (Miss Indonesia UNIVERSE) on Friday, October 9th! During her stay there, she is also scheduled to meet the President of INDONESIA! It is still not known if Stefania will visit JAPAN & The PHILIPPINES during her reign! (NT) -- Alejandro Zarzuela, 18:08:30 09/20/09 Sun
yawa gyud ning mga bayot. ma-uy hinungdan nga binsan way bagyo, malunod ang mga barko! peste! charing lang :D (NT) -- Lola Nila, 21:18:58 09/17/09 Thu
Kaya may Baha na naman sa Luzon..Magbago na po kayo.. (NT) -- Stella, 03:23:09 09/18/09 Fri
Oo NGA..Kaya nagkaroon ng Lindol kahapon...at madalas na ring nag-bu-brown-out ngayon.. (NT) -- Anu ba yan?, 16:24:47 09/18/09 Fri
Jusme! From 2000-09, 2 winners, 2 1st r-u, 1 2nd r-u, 1 3rd r-u & 2 4th r-u. Unbeatable talaga ang record ng Venezuela. Back to back win pa. Vow!!! May lalaban pa ba? (NT) -- Wacky, 15:06:06 09/17/09 Thu
(NT) -- 
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(NT) -- 
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(NT) -- 
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(NT) -- 
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BAGAY NAMAN KAY RUFFA..KAYO TALAGA MGA INGGITERA!!! GALIT o INGGIT Lang KAYO DAHIL WALA KAYONG CHANCE SUOTIN YAN! (NT) -- TAMA BA AKO?, 00:22:31 09/09/09 Wed
TAGA-GMA-7 PO SILA.. (NT) -- FYI, 14:07:35 09/09/09 Wed
(NT) -- HERE'S THE PIC OF JON IN THIS EVENT.., 04:44:12 09/12/09 Sat
, 23:40:49 09/14/09 Mon
(NT) -- Felix Rocco in one of the scenes of the Movie, "Engkwentro", 17:36:25 09/14/09 Mon
(NT) -- malu pascual sato milby mullaly, 21:05:50 09/13/09 Sun
(NT) -- Dressed to grill: Vince Colosimo, 20:25:57 09/12/09 Sat
(NT) -- Oscar de Latoya, 11:09:43 09/11/09 Fri
I DON'T FIND HIM HANDSOME ANYMORE..NEXT PLEASE! (NT) -- PINAGLUMAAN NA NG PANAHON!, 18:54:48 09/11/09 Fri
(NT) -- P.E., 02:33:42 09/12/09 Sat
Ang Tatangkad ng mga Forengers! Ang mga Pinoy di masyado katangkaran..pero sweet naman.. (NT) -- Etchos, 15:59:47 09/12/09 Sat
REMEMBER THE MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT 1993 Part I
Two yehrs ago ini silver medalisht sila jan. (NT) -- malu pascual sato anderson milby avila, 10:33:55 09/07/09 Mon
(NT) -- 
, 17:38:46 09/04/09 Fri
Ang OA naman umarte ni Vilma. Yon lang! (NT) -- Noranian, 06:55:27 09/03/09 Thu
, 17:49:09 09/02/09 Wed
(NT) -- SINO KAYA ANG CUTE NA PINOY NA 'TO NA SUMALI SA LOCALLY BASED BIKINI OPEN?, 21:44:15 09/03/09 Thu
(NT) -- SHUMVAG, 00:09:44 09/04/09 Fri
(NT) -- Ganda din ng raidrops., 00:01:09 09/03/09 Thu
Sawaddeekax na lang kami wif matsing 2 hens sa tsin at vaw! Lovely na, livre naman. Quong tag-livuog (Autumn), maraming maganda. Quong Summer furo jerls ang madadle muo, lahat halos ng nanghahala mi Miss World, Miss Universe, Miss International at Miss Earth sashes. Kafag minalas ka, mi tiara fa ang madadale muo, kalowka.
Kaquiliti nuooah Ate?
