2012 Metro Manila Film Fest (MMFF) winners

Being held in the Meralco Theater, the 2012 MMFF recognized 8 participating film entries in the Mainstream Category, New Wave and Short Film line-ups and here are the partial list of lucky winners:

Best Float: "El Presidente"  /  Youth Choice Award: "El Presidente"  /  Best Child Star: Miguel Vergara, "One More Try"  /  Best Sound: Michael Idioma, "El Presidente"  /  Best Musical Score: Jessie Lazatin, "El Presidente"  /  Best Theme Song: apl.de.ap and Jamir Garcia, "El Presidente"  /  Best Make-up: Warren Munar, "El Presidente" by Warren Munar and company  /  Best Special Fffects: "Shake, Rattle & Roll 14: The Invasion"  /  Best Production Design: Brillante Mendoza, "Thy Womb"  /  Best Editing: Vito Kahili, "One More Try"  /  Best Cinematography: Odyssey Flores, "Thy Womb"  /  Best Supporting Actor: Cesar Montano, "El Presidente"  /  Best Supporting Actress: Wilma Doesnt, "Sisterakas"  /  Best Original Story: Henry Burgos, "Thy Womb"  /  Best Screenplay: Anna Ramos, "One More Try"  /  Best Director: Brillante Mendoza, "Thy Womb"  /  3rd Best Picture: "Sisterakas"  /  2nd Best Picture: "El Presidente"  /  Best Picture: "One More Try"  /  Best Actor: Dingdong Dantes, "One More Try"  /  Best Actress: Nora Aunor, "Thy Womb"

NEW WAVE:
New Wave Best Actor: Alan Paule, "Gayak"  /  New Wave Best Actress: Liza Diño, "In Nomine Matris"  /  New Wave Best Director: Tyrone Acierto, "The Grave Bandits"  /  New Wave Best Film: Tyrone Acierto's "The Grave Bandits."  /  New Wave Special Jury: Armando "Bing" Lao's "Ad Ignorantiam"  /  Special Awards Gender Sensitivity Special Award (New Wave): "In Nomine Matris"  /  Gender Sensitivity Special Award (Mainstream): "Thy Womb"  /  Gender Sensitivity Special Award (Shorts): "Manibela"  /   FPJ Memorial Award: "One More Try"  /  Gatpuno Villegas Award: "Thy Womb"

OTHER AWARDS:
Stars of the Night: Nora Aunor, former President Joseph Estrada  /  SMDC Male Celebrity of the Night: Zanjoe Marudo  /  SMDC Female Celebrity of the Night: Bianca King

CONGRATULATIONS to all the participants of this year's another successful MMFF, most especially to the winners.

Lucky signs in the Year of the Water Snake

Want to know if you are lucky or not so lucky in the Year of the Water Snake?

The Year of the Water Snake will begin on February 10, 2013 on the Chinese Calendar and some Filipinos are already eyeing their lucky items to buy. According to Feng Shui practitioner Dr. Anthony Fugoso, he believes that major advances in science and technology can be expected in the Year of the Water Snake and that IT-related businesses will flourish such as mobile phone companies. He added that media, travel and the arts particularly dance are among the other lucky industries.

The luckiest among the Chinese animal signs in the Year of the Water Snake are the RAT and DOG, while TIGER, OX and HORSE will be more fortunate in terms of wealth. The DRAGON will be lucky in terms of romance and education and the not so lucky animal signs include RABBIT, ROOSTER, SHEEP, MONKEY, PIG and SNAKE. Fugoso said that Feng Shui is only one-third of a person’s luck, which include “heaven luck” or “God-given luck” and “human luck.”

Well I guess whether you are in the lucky side or on the not so lucky side, what is still important is that we live each day in what is good and righteous, giving our best in everything we do and leaving everything to God to do the rest.

Advance HAPPY, PEACEFUL & PROSPEROUS 2013 WORLD!!!

Flooring options @ Flooring America

When it comes to flooring options, Brian Barnard’s Flooring America is the right choice. We all aware that when it comes to our flooring needs, there are wide array of products we can choose from like hardwood, carpet, vinyl, tile and laminate. But it is not as easy as we thought of. We need to consider many things like type, quality, price, installations and some minor areas too. That’s where the expertise of people from Barnard’s Flooring America will help you. They are experts trained in flooring sales and designs to help you find the right product that will not only suit your every requirement but match your lifestyle as well.

So let us take a short overview of what flooring products that Barnard’s Flooring America has to offer: CARPET – there are number of reasons why carpet is a great choice for many of the rooms like the fact that it offers a variety of colors, patterns and styles; it absorbs sound; affordable; its insulating properties; non-slip surface; and easy to clean and maintain.
HARDWOOD – it has rich character that never goes out of style, good looking, long lasting and a great investment that increase the value and beauty of home.
TILE – you can create a contemporary look with a classic choice with its timeless beauty and long-wearing durability. There are innovative designs in ceramic, porcelain and stone tile that are as affordable as they are appealing.
VINYL – this type of flooring is available in high-fashion designs made possible through innovative manufacturing techniques. Today, vinyl combines a luxurious appearance and cozy, foot-cushioning resilience to make a truly elegant and comfortable floor covering.
LAMINATE – this line of products smartly balanced durability, good looks and value pricing where you can expand decorating ideas without increasing your budget or sacrificing quality.

Need the perfect floor covering for your home sweet home? Trust no one but the experts from Barnard’s Flooring America because when it comes to flooring options they will give you nothing but the best and they will guide you every step of the way.

Splash Island's Ultimate Adventure Promo

SPLASH ISLAND presents ULTIMATE ADVENTURE PROMO for only P499 / person with FREE ZIP LINE, WALL CLIMBING AND MINI GOLF GAME. Just simply copy this link, post ( INDIVIDUAL / PUBLIC ) in your FB wall, print a copy indicating the promo and present it at their GUEST SERVICE BOOTH until JANUARY 6, 2013 to avail the P499 PROMO

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.450051731709886.93713.100001151893760&type=1

All P499 promo tickets purchased in advance until January 6, 2013 will be honored until March 24, 2013.

SPLASH ISLAND is OPEN DAILY starting December 17, 2012 UNTIL January 6, 2013.

2012 Miss Universe winners

I must admit that between the 2 remaining beauties, Miss USA and Miss PHILIPPINES, vying for the title of 2012 MISS UNIVERSE it’s MISS PHILIPPINES who should get the title. It is not because she is a Filipino but judging how she carried herself during the swimsuit, long gown and most especially in the Q & A portion, she showed she deserved the title.

But in any competition, judges’ decision is always final and we must respect the outcome. Janine gave her best not only for herself but for the country and she landed as 1st runner up. We must all be happy for her as how happy she was with what she achieved.

My heartfelt congratulations to you Janine, you truly are a Miss Universe.

2012 Miss Universe : Miss USA : Ms. Olivia Culpo
1st Runner Up : Miss PHILIPPINES : Ms. Janine Tugonon
2nd Runner Up : Miss VENEZUELA : Ms. Irene Sofia Esser Quintero
3rd Runner Up : Miss AUSTRALIA : Ms. Renae Ayris
4th Runner Up : Miss BRAZIL : Ms. Gabriela Markus

Cebu Governor Garcia suspended for 6 months

Suspension of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia emanated from the Office of the President. The 6 months suspension was confirmed by Malacañang and said that it has nothing to do with politics. Secretary Ricky Carandang, from the Presidential Communications Development and Srategic Planning Office (PCDSPO), cleared that the suspension was part of the process involving a case filed against the governor.

Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez filed a case against the lady governor for allegedly withholding the budget for his office. Governor Garcia was also allegedly did not act on a petition for the contract renewal of 57 employees in the vice-governor’s office.

It was the late DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo who was given order by President Aquino to conduct an investigation but the results of the probe were forwarded to Malacañang only this year.

Roxas confirms Garcia's suspension 
Cebu governor suspended 
Gwen Garcia drops Senate bid 
HDO issued vs Gwen Garcia 
Cebu gov, 6 others face graft raps 

Wood Flooring

Wood is commonly used for flooring due to its environmental profile, durability, and restorability. This is a product manufactured from timber like Oak or Walnut that are extremely popular in domestic and commercial usage. Just like any material for flooring, wood flooring materials has wide array in terms of quality, durability, and designs that will surely fit your personal flooring requirements.

Viking Carpet One Floor & Home offers Wood Flooring in Spring, TX. They provide wide selection of woods floors which include quality reclaimed and exotic wood floors. Aside from the range of products they had to offer, they have experienced specialists that will assist every customer every step of the way in the flooring process.

Their knowledgeable flooring specialists offer infinite choices that will help you understand the different qualities and look that will be perfect to suit the interior of your house, and every room in it. They have either solid or engineered wood floors you can choose from to suit not only the interior but also your budget and the installation requirements:

ENGINEERED WOOD FLOORS – It resists splitting, consist of three or more layers, and provide stability.
SOLID WOOD FLOORING – This type is less expensive than engineered wood and can be refinished repeatedly; tongue-and-groove installation produces thickness.

With Viking Carpet One Floor & Home have different selections of wood floors from reputable dealers like Anderson, Southern Traditions, Earthworks, Mannington and Clearance Center. Confused of what floor to choose or maybe need discounts, call 877-614-6605 and they will be happy to answer and assist you in your needs.

Gokongwei & Okada up for Manila Casino project

The Manila Bay Resorts at the Entertainment City will be developed by Tycoon John Gokongwei Jr. partnering with Japanese billionaire Kazuo Okada. Under the initial agreement, Robinsons Land will acquire a minority stake in Tiger Resorts, Leisure and Entertainment Inc. and majority stake in Eagle I Land Holdings Inc.

The final agreement is set to conclude on January 31, 2013. The said magnificent resort will have hotels, restaurants, commercial facilities, a budget hotel, residences, Vegas-style water fountain and an enormous indoor pool with real sand beach covered by a huge glass dome.

Okada's company sues Reuters over PH payments reports 
Philippine fixer paid $30-M by Okada's Universal -- sources 
Gov't may cancel Okada's casino license if bribery proven 
Shares in Okada's firm fall to 9-month low as US probes PH 'payments' 
PH payments give US casino regulators new focus in Wynn-Okada feud

House: RH Bill was approved on 2nd reading

With a close vote of 113-104, House Bill 4244 otherwise known as the Reproductive Health (RH) bill was approved in the House of Representatives on the second reading. The votes were tallied past 2 a.m. Thursday. 

Prior to voting pro and anti RH bill flooded in the gate of the House of Representatives to watch the scheduled voting by lawmakers. Initially they voted on the bill via viva voce but later proceeded to nominal voting and representatives were given 3 minutes each to explain their vote.

House passes RH bill on 2nd reading 
House votes on RH bill 
Pacquiao: I vote no to RH bill 
Pro-, anti-RH bill forces troop to Batasan 
Earlier Senate vote on RH bill eyed 
Lawmakers told: Give spirituality space in RH talks 
No compromises on RH bill - CBCP

Flooring America: Experts in flooring sales and design

It is very important that businesses not only understand the products they are selling but more important is for them to understand the needs of their clients and provide products that will satisfy their personal needs. Enough of excessive and untrue advertisement but be real and provide 100% satisfaction to people buying their products.

One line of products commonly purchased for households, offices and businesses use is flooring products. This line of item commonly disappointed many customers due to wrong choice, poor installations, price, etc. Unger’s Flooring America is not just a common flooring specialty store. They are experts trained in flooring sales and designs that will surely help choosing the perfect floor for your complete satisfaction. Choosing the right floor for your needs is not their only forte but installations as well supported by the most solid warranties in the floor covering industry. They offer 100% satisfaction every step of the way to their valued customers by providing extensive inventory of high-quality carpet and flooring, low prices line-up of products partnered with a team of skilled experts and after-sales assistance.

They take pride in serving the communities of New Haven, East Haven, Branford, North Haven, Hamden, Milford and the greater New Haven County area in Connecticut. Need flooring for your beloved home? Call them now at 203-903-1849.

Typhoon Pablo aftermath worsen due to illegal mining @ logging

I heard about it over Failon Ngayon program in DZMM and I totally agree with what Mr. Ted Failon commented on this issue.

According to Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, tragedy always seems to happen whenever the controversial Reproductive Health bill is being discussed in Congress.

I just hope and pray that our bishops will realize the importance of this bill in controlling the population of our country, that the executive and legislative branches of the land were tasked to offer options to the Filipino people notwithstanding their religion. Connecting what recently happened after typhoon Pablo stroke the country and talks on RH Bill are two separate issues. I am a Catholic ever since but I can say that it is the duty of the government to enact laws they think will help solve the problem, and in this specific issues to educate, give options and aid those parents on how they can raise their families the more appropriate means.

Typhoon is a natural occurrence and sometimes the effect is truly unimaginable. But seeing those footages in the news, which is truly heartbreaking, the effects can be blamed to those selfish people (businessmen and politicians) who continuously performed illegal mining and logging.

As a Catholic, I strongly believed that it’s not God intention to hurt his beloved humans just to make us realize something but instances like this are eye-opener to those rude people who are heartless and continuously taken for granted the welfare of their fellow humans.

An act of God? Bishop sees tragedies amid RH talks 
Palace checks bishop's wrath of God talk

House voting on RH Bill?

President Benigno Aquino III asked the members of the lower house to vote on the reproductive health (RH) bill this week and use their conscience in making their decision.

Personally, I believed that our lawmakers must take their stand on this bill because it is part of their obligation to say their piece on a certain issue. Notwithstanding the force of those opposing this bill, the legislative branch must put an end to this despite whatever considerations they have in mind. They must act on this so that people will have a choice and can freely avail of that choice in aid of the government.

PNoy urges House to decide on RH bill ASAP
Bishop fears Palace will use pork for RH bill
CBCP wants nominal voting on RH bill
PNoy wants a vote on RH bill this week - Lagman
Palace: No ouster plot vs JPE over RH bill
New weapon vs RH bill: days of fasting
A merry Christmas for RH bill in Senate?

DOH Asec Tayag danced Gangnam Style

Department of Health (DOH) Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Dr. Eric Tayag strikes again with his dancing prowess for DOH’s campaign against firecrackers. In ABS-CBN’s “Umagang kay Ganda” morning show last December 3, Asec Tayag danced to the tune of South Korean rapper Psy’s hit song “Gangnam style” with matching background dancers for the said campaign.

Watch the video HERE.