2009 MMFF movies & winners

“Ang Panday” and “Mano Po 6: A Mother’s Love” were the biggest winners in the recent 35th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). Each film bagged 7 trophies.

BEST PICTURES
1st: Ang Panday
2nd: I Love You Goodbye
3rd: Ang Darling Kong Aswang
4th: Mano Po 6: A Mother’s Love

Best Actor: Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. (Ang Panday)
Best Actress: Sharon Cuneta (Mano Po 6)
Best Supporting Actor: Philip Salvador (Ang Panday)
Best Supporting Actress: Heart Evangelista (Mano Po 6)

The family is planning to watch one of the entries on January 1 after attending the mass. Most probably we will be watching "Ang Panday" so that the kids will enjoy and don't get bored.

More details here.

MERRY CHRISTMAS WORLD!!!

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FV Anatalia & MV Catalyn B collided before Christmas Eve

Another sea tragedy happened just hours before Christmas Eve. It happened in Limbones Island in Cavite after a fishing boat (FV Anatalia) and passenger vessel (MV Catalyn B) collided. There are 3 dead bodies recovered in an instant, 46 passengers rescued and two dozen still missing. Another dead body recovered in mid-afternoon.

It will be a sad Christmas for the victims’ relatives as these people travel to spend the holidays with their love ones. The wooden passenger vessel immediately sank in minutes after it collided. There will be marine inquiry to identify what could have cause the tragedy since it happened in clear weather.

Read here for more details.

Bidazzled.com: Redefining online auction market

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Bidazzled. All opinions are 100% mine.

Holidays are here and it is one of the best times to check hottest online deals. Savvy shoppers nowadays have many options where they can do shopping giving the best and greatest savings they could have for the item or items they love. Do not be deceived by other sites claiming great deals yet paying more for it. Why pay more when you can pay less for the same item?
Introducing the newly launched Bidazzled.com to all wise savvy shoppers out there. Bidazzled redefines the online auction market by offering the biggest savings of up to 90% on name brands merchandise. Check out how it goes:

It is commonly called Penny Auctions or Pay-Per-Bid auction sites. Bids are purchased in advance and then used to bid on merchandise. The price increases a few cents with each bid placed and a few seconds are added to the countdown clock to give others a chance to bid. The auction ends when no other bids are placed. So if a new laptop ends at just a dollar, then you win the laptop for a dollar!

Highlights of Bidazzled.com:
1. Auction winners usually save over 80% off retail.
2. Nobody Loses:

• If you don't win, you receive up to 50 Bonus Bids as a thank you for participating, and
• You can purchase the auction item less the investment you had in the auction.
• If you win, Bidazzled typically make an offer to buy the item back for either cash (paypal or check),cash and bids or bids.

In their first month, there have been 2 winners of Nintendo Wii's who have won with just their 5 free bids!

Not only that you can get the special item for yourself when you bid at Bidazzled.com, you will be able to have your share in funding a lung cancer charity (The Ruch Foundation: www.ruchfoundation.com). Isn’t that great? You can have the biggest savings of your life on online deals while reaching out to lung cancer victims. It is indeed one of the perfect deals we can have this holidays.

Here’s more from Bidazzled.com:
EXCLUSIVE OFFER : 15 Additional Bids to your readers if they use this code until January 15th (all they have to do is enter it on the registration page, there is no obligation or cost of any kind):
1. Blog: BBP1202A
2. Twitter: BTP1202A

Bids cost $1 at Bidazzled and are available for purchase in bid packs as low as $25. You also receive bonus bids when you purchase a bid pack. The highest cost of a bid when you dilute the cost with the bonus bids you receive is only $.67 per bid and often much lower.

Below is a lucrative Viral Referral program from Bidazzled.com:
*A refers B. A receives 5 Bonus Bids
*B refers C. A receives 4 Bonus Bids
*C refers D. A receives 3 Bonus Bids
*D refers E. A receives 2 Bonus Bids
*E refers F. A receives 1 Bonus Bid

So what are you waiting for online shoppers? Check out Bidazzled.com and find the greatest deals you can have these holidays while helping a charity at the same time. Happy Holidays!!!

Tiger Fireworks

New Year is Thursday next week, barely 8 days to go. I am sure most of us are done buying gifts for Christmas already. How about the colorful and sky-flying fireworks for your New Year’s Eve? It is one of the things you need to buy early too to avoid traffic and increase in prices.

Yesterday (Tuesday), I was able to drop by at Divisoria Mall to buy some stuff and decided to buy also some fireworks for New Year’s Eve. My brother-in-law knows somebody selling these stuff so I was able to get it at purchase cost (@ minimal mark up, if any). For example, I bought a big square box of Tiger for only P400.00 but outside it can cost you P800.00 bucks so learn to ask for a lower price at least 30%-40% of the price.

On New Year’s Eve, it’s a practice for us to buy cook food to avail of some rest before midnight. Aside of course from having the 12 rounded fruits we also have Conti’s Mango Bravo Cake, pasta, BBQ, and some others.

Plan and buy early to save time and avoid any hassle. Happy Holidays!!!

Conti's Mango Bravo Cake

Hubby and I are contemplating if we will prepare something for our Noche Buena. We’re just four in the family, us and the 2 kids, and most of the time kids are already asleep by midnight of 24. We just decided to cook spaghetti and chicken sandwich for the 2 of us. For our Media Noche on the 31st I am planning to buy the famous Conti’s Mango Bravo. I got my first taste of it during my Tita’s 70th birthday and I must admit I really love it and my daughter as well.

There are only 4 branches of Conti’s and the one we’re familiar with is the one located in Greenhills. I bought this cake once in an occasion and this is probably the second time. It is definite that will gonna have it on the table on New Year’s Eve but when to buy it is still on hold.

If you are cake lovers and want to try something new aside from Goldilocks and Red Ribbon specials then this cake is highly recommended. A slice of this Conti’s Mango Cake gives you pieces of ripe mango with layers of nuts, chocolate mousse and sans rival pudding. The icing taste just perfect and the mixture of the ingredients really blend on every bite. It costs P850.00 but the size is twice of a regular cake so not that really expensive.

Happy Holidays!!!

How Wheat Works program

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Wheat Food Council. All opinions are 100% mine.

I’m glad my kids love eating cereals in the morning as breakfast before going to school. I buy them different variants of it because I know it is best for them with its nutritional content. Grain foods play an important role in forming a balance diet. The breakfast cereals my kids are taking every morning give carbohydrates, iron and some vitamins to keep them well the whole day especially while at school.

If you love playing different games at Facebook, maybe you can try to play “How Wheat Works.” It is an interactive, online multimedia program that gives a farm-to-fork educational and informative play on wheat. Every participant of all ages can virtually grow, harvest and mill their own kernels to create their desired wheat food. The program has four phases: growth, harvest, milling/baking and the grocer’s aisle. It also involves selection of type of wheat to be grown, wheat flour to be milled and even allow participants to learn more concerning preparing wheat-based recipes.

Wheat Foods Council is an institution that teaches the nutrition in every whole or grain food and its importance to balance diet. For every participant in the program, the Council will donate two pounds of flour, up to 90,000 pounds, to Operation Homefront. The later is a non-profit that provides assistance to needy U.S. troops and their families. Said donation will be made possible by two of the world’s largest millers, ADM and ConAgra. They are extending this program at www.wheatfoods.org so don’t forget to check it out.

Petitioners urged SC to stop RFID project

Various petitioners like Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, etc. urged the Supreme Court (SC) to stop RFID project and declare it unconstitutional which is set to be implemented on January 2010. Also, the groups are asking from SC to issue a TRO to the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and Land Transportation Office (LTO) to hinder the implementation of the said project.

Stradcom Corporation will supply the RFID tag which is intended to last for 10 years and cost a one-time fee of P350. There are various violations being pointed by the petitioners aside from the fact that there is no previous approval from NEDA for the said project. Some critics are claiming that this could be a source of corruption and that the objective of the project is unrealistic.

Details of the news here.

myJones Soda: Perfect for the Holidays

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Jones Soda. All opinions are 100% mine.

Holidays are just around the corner and party is everywhere. Aside from the cool breeze of the wind, the flickering lights on the street and houses, kids’ school Christmas party, invitations for family and school reunions reached my email. It’s been so many years when I had the last glimpse of some of my high school classmates and friends. Thanks to Facebook for the chance of getting in touch with them again.

Speaking of my high school ’90 batch mates (stop calculating my age ), I received a message from them for a reunion this month and I am super excited with it. In just less than two weeks from now I can get to see them again after several years. But wait!!! What will I bring with me on that day?

Have you seen myJones custom soda on the net? Wow! It’s amazing and I think I know now what to bring on our reunion. They have many flavors and it will be perfect for the occasion as we sit down and have a long chat of our lives. I find Holiday Cheer flavor perfect and I think I will name it Crissy’s soda with my face on it. How about that? A personalize soda to keep after drinking the content.

How about you? Are you having trouble what to have for your occasion? Check out Jones Soda and find out for yourself what personal touch you can give to it. Happy Holidays!!!

Will martial law weakens murder case against Ampatuan?

Politicians whether opposition or allies of PGMA contradicted the declaration of martial law. For them, there is no need for such declaration and it will also weaken the murder case versus the Ampatuans. During the different searches made by law enforcers on the different properties of the Ampatuans, they found a big vault similar in a bank but already empty, election materials believed to form part of the 2004 Election fraud and different ammunitions.

The government said that the murder case and the case for rebellion will be trialed separately but others are in doubt of it and find it suspicious. Now that PGMA retracted the declaration what will happen now with the case and the rebellion they are claiming for? The victims of this gruesome massacre are shouting for justice and hopefully nothing will hinder for serving it to them.

PGMA Martial Law: Revoke or not

Congress commenced its joint session (Senate and House of Representatives) last Wednesday to deliberate on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s declaration of martial law in Maguindanao province. Said session was continued today (Thursday) and probably till next week until law makers have said their piece. The proclamation of martial law in effect suspended the privilege of writ of habeas corpus in most parts of Maguindanao.

I have heard several speeches and commentaries on radio and personally I am enlightened with the logical reasoning of some. The said “Maguindanao (Ampatuan’s) Massacre was indeed gruesome, brutal and other words that can describe evilness to the highest level. Everyone is claiming that they are seeking justice for the victims and I hardly pray that they could give it to them.
The declaration of martial law gives the law enforcers free hand to do what they believed to be done with no difficulty to gather evidences and catch the perpetrators the soonest possible time. In doing so justice will be serve at once. On the other hand, I understood the points of those who comprehend the law and the possible loopholes for opposing or favoring the revocation of such declaration. They fear beforehand that during the trial it will not be 57 (or more depending on the outcome) counts of murder that these suspects will be trialed for but a case of rebellion. The sentence for rebellion would only mean a life sentence but for 57 counts of murder the sentence would have been 57 lifetimes.

The members of the Senate and House of Representatives must really scrutinize the prons and cons of this declaration before they handed down the verdict (revoke or not) so that justice will be served to the victims.

Diamond ring from Manny to Jinkee

Everything seems to look at peace now between Manny and Jinkee Pacquiao. During the opening of the couple’s novelty shop in Manila yesterday, December 8, Jinkee is wearing the said piece of “peace offering” from Manny which is a wide diamond-encrusted ring. Jinkee is happy having a Christmas gift from Manny and told press that the issue about Krista Ranillo is over and pointed. They are moving on and keeping the family intact and happy.

Being there for Manny through thick and thin, Jinkee made the right decision of standing by with Manny for the sake of their family. Nobody can tell the real score of the story except them and if we are seeing them now happy let us just wish them continuous happiness.

Manny's peace offering to Jinkee

COMELEC gets 99 presidential aspirants

It seems to be that many people wanted to hold the highest position of the land, President, as COMELEC gets record number of presidential aspirants up to the last day of filing. Of course initially we can already see some that can be considered as “nuisance candidates” but COMELEC still needs to give them due election process.

According to the COMELEC, there are 99 presidential aspirants, 20 for vice president, 158 for senator and 305 organizations for the party-list. Final list of qualified aspirants will be out before December ends.

1987 Constitution Article 7 Section 4

Now that President Gloria Arroyo is definite to run for Congress on the second district of Pampanga COMELEC will (for sure) be facing the query about the 1987 Constitution particularly Article 7 Section 4.

Article VII Executive Department Section 4

The President and the Vice-President shall be elected by direct vote of the people for a term of six years which shall begin at noon on the thirtieth day of June next following the day of the election and shall end at noon of the same date, six years thereafter. The President shall not be eligible for any re-election. No person who has succeeded as President and has served as such for more than four years shall be qualified for election to the same office at any time.

Is PGMA can legally run on 2010 Elections for Congress? How will the legal geniuses defend the legalities or illegalities of this particular issue? Does she need to resign from her post?

Whatever rulings the COMELEC or even the Supreme Court will have on this sensitive issue let us all bear in our minds, especially the voters, that we are also empower by our Constitution. We have the power to vote and let us use that power wisely and with dignity. As a country, let us vote the righteous leaders to lead and guide us from the smallest islands to the biggest ones.

VOTE WISELY.. VOTE WITH DIGNITY..

Exxon Mobil @ Sulu Sea exploration drilling project

I saw over the news the exploration drilling project being made by EXXON MOBIL in our Sulu Sea. First drilling amounted to 5 billion pesos and succeeding drillings are estimated to cost the same. Department of Energy (DOE) estimated 750 million to 1 billion barrels of oil are estimated to uncover enough to augment the oil needs of the Philippines for 7 years. Government has nothing to spend on this project but likewise benefit (taxes and percentages) from said exploration drilling project once the deposit is confirmed.

Such good news for every Filipino especially if said project turns out positive. Let us just hope and pray that many Filipinos will benefit from it and not just few ones.

Pres. Gloria Arroyo as Congresswoman?

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is definite to run for re-election as Congresswoman in the second district of Pampanga. PGMA told Radyo ng Bayan Palace reporter Mari Peña Ruiz today (Monday) about her filing of Certificate of Candidacy (COC) tomorrow December 1.
Will that be legal? Are Kabalens really sought PGMA to run as Congresswoman? Or it will be part of the plan to pursue a parliamentary form of government where PGMA can serve as a Prime Minister?

Whatever PGMA motives are and her allies, as well as other politicians who will run on 2010 Elections, it is very important for all the voters to cast their votes wisely. Let us stop these politicians from using us and always leaving us with broken promises. From the smallest islands to the biggest ones, let us all be united in choosing the next batch of leaders of our country who really have the heart and clear conscience to lead us. Let us not focus ourselves on the barangay or district we are part of but think of ourselves as a part of this country that is submerged into so much corruptions, poverty and jobless people.

Let us all ask God’s guidance as we come to our precinct and vote. May God’s power and love flows on our hearts and minds so we can choose the rightful one.

Partial transcript and video of President Arroyo's announcement on Radyo ng Bayan

Mga kababayan, lubos na karangalan at pribilehiyo para sa akin ang maglingkod sa sa taumbayang Pilipino bilang pangulo. Gumawa ako ng malalaking pagtulong... sa ekonomiya, edukasyon, ugnayang pandaigdigan, at paglikha ng trabaho.

While I am very much looking forward to stepping down as president at the end of my term, I am mulling different ways to stay involved. Tiningnan ko ang pagbalik sa pagturo; I also studied working with nonprofit organizations on issues ranging from the environment to women's issues. After much contemplation I realized I am not ready to step down completely from public service.

Gaya ng alam nyo, hiniling din ako ng mga mamamayan sa aking tahanang distrito sa Pampanga na manatili sa buhay publiko. So after much soul-searching I have decided to respond affirmatively to their call. To that end, I will file my candidacy for Congress in order to serve the hardworking people of my home province.

PPPv4 rocks

I received an email from PayPerPost for the launching of its new and improved version the PPPv4. PPP is one of the legitimate and trusted sites I used for 2 years now. Now that the old and new versions will be merged into one I am hoping that there will be more opportunities available for me.

The imposing performance graduates with my highlight.

I need to post the above randomly generated sentence here to claim my blog. For PPP users hurry and check now your accounts. Let us all discover what goodness and greatness the new version has to offer to us. Happy blogging!

Ampatuans on Maguindanao Massacre

What happened last Monday (November 23) with the Mangudadatu clan and some members of the tri-media was really cruel, gruesome and horrible. Tagged as the “Maguindanao Massacre,” this incident maybe consider as the most violent election related crime of all time. What more condemning about this issue are the journalists who became victims of these evil and rude politicians. Their eagerness to stay in power showed their cruelty that they will wipe out those who will come and run against them.

The Ampatuans, one of PGMA allies, are allegedly behind this brutal massacre. Evidences like the backhow seen in the crime scene is said to be under the custody of the provincial government. The conversation between the victims and their relatives relaying the message that they have been abducted plus those who escaped the said massacre are pointing to the Ampatuans.

Are the Ampatuans really untouchables? Reports said that this clan helped PGMA win in the 2004 thru the alleged cheating. Is this the reason why PGMA and her police and military men’s actions are kind of shallow in handling the case? Why this government always portrays the difference of the powerful and powerless? I’m sure if the suspects are ordinary individuals they will order to attack and ransack its houses and hide outs.

With the Ampatuans being alleged as the mastermind of this gruesome” Maguindanao Massacre,” may the Commission on Election (COMELEC) disregard and reject any Certificate of Candidacy that will be filed by any Ampatuan until the case is resolved. That this goes the same with those politicians who will be involved in any election related crime. This procedure will enable the police and military men and even the government to finish the investigation the soonest possible time.

State of Emergency
PGMA to go after the Ampatuans
Death toll rises to 46

Efren Peñaflorida: 2009 CNN Hero

A big and hearty congratulations to Efren Peñaflorida!!! First Filipino to won the prestigious title for the 2009 CNN Hero. Efren together with other 9 finalists are recognized by CNN for their worthy and priceless means to help and serve others.

Efren won the $100,000 cash prize on top of the $25,000 after his name was included on the Top 10. He told in his interview that 90% of his winnings will go to Dynamic Teen Company (DTC), 10% of it will go to his church and nothing for him.

You made every Filipino around the world proud of you. May our politicians and leaders learn from what you have shown to the world. That big fund or money is not always an answer to the urgent needs of the people but a true and sincere heart to help.

Congratulations and God bless you more Efren!!!

Dirt Devil Holiday Buying Guide

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hoover and Dirt Devil. All opinions are 100% mine.

Holidays are nearing and most of us are doing early shopping. Nowadays online shopping is one of the best things that the internet has to offer to its users from all walks of life. Imagine checking the best deals in town at the comfort of your house. That is really great and so convenient, right? You can avoid being trapped in a heavy traffic road leading to malls, long cashier line up and the excruciating walks to check each store.

Buying guides such as Dirt Devil Holiday Gift Guide is truly an amazing help to online shoppers. If you hate to shop walking and searching for possible websites to find the best buy waste your time then Dirt Devil buying guide is the right one for you. Uncovers 300 online shopping sites that will give what you are looking for plus bigger discounts. This specific buying guide lay down in categories list of websites where you can find gifts for husband, wife, kids, grandparents or even travel preferences. Check out their “Red Hot Deals” and how much saving you can get using the promo codes of the different sites in their guide. This buying guide will even give you sites with free shipping and rebates plus a lot more. Below are other categories you can find on this buying guide:

• Save every day with Deal-A-Day sites
• Auctions, Outlets and other types of sites
• The hard-to-find and one-of-a-kind sites
• New ways to shop
• Over the River and through the Woods (for cheaper trips)
• Online Shopping with a Techie Twist
• Advance Shopping Tips
• Bargain Jargon
  

There are much stuff, deals, savings, tips and more you can’t afford to miss checking out. Remember the name Dirt Devil for your online shopping guide.

Advance HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Jinkee-Manny-Krista a love triangle?

Does Krista Ranillo really the root of Manny and Jinkee Pacquiao’s quarrel? I saw on TV how Jinkee shunned Manny’s attempt to comfort her as she cried over during the thanksgiving mass. Not only that. She leaned not on Manny’s shoulder for comfort but on a female friend right beside her. She sat down during the exchange of “peace be with you” and never showed up on after-fight party at LA.

Of course this issue is a very personal thing but such actions speak louder than words. Does Manny really go to Hongkong with Krista? Why Krista and his father accompanied Manny during the giving of relief goods for Ondoy victims and not Jinkee? Why Krista and her family need to fly abroad to watch Manny’s fight? Are all these merely an advance step for Wapakman? Or there is really something romantic going on between the 2 that made Jinkee cried and sudden boycott?

Whatever is the real score between the couple let us pray and hope for the best.