Pilipinas nalugmok ka sa kahirapan
Naiwanan ka na ng kaunlaran
Kapayapaan hindi pa rin matagpuan
Kahit natapos, paghahari ng isang ngalan.
Naglingkod sa iyo ang isang ina
Puno ng pag-asa, puno din ng kudeta
Sunod sa dikta ng “masa” at simbahan
Ganap na liwanag di naman natagpuan.
Pinasakay ka naman ng isang heneral
Ang lipad sa ibang bansa ay madalas
Kaysa sa mga probinsyang hirap ay dinaranas
Kayraming scam, katotohanang di nailabas.
Lumabas ang nag-angking anak ng masa
Sumigaw, “walang kaibigan kapag nagkasala”
Subalit siya ang nahatulang nagkasala
Dahil sa korapsyon at jueteng payola.
Siyam na taon kang pinaikot sa kamay
Isang munting nilalang, malago ang galamay
Gabineteng …

How are you doing President Noynoy?
Well, my name is Reyna Elena. I was your number one supporter during the election, attacked by an unbelievable online hatred during the campaign because of my support for your presidency. Aherrm!
Oh, by the way, I thought I’d share this with you.
Here is my Elementary School in Castilla, Sorsogon. This picture was taken last week by my friend from Amsterdam. It’s one Uragon building. One unbelievable technology. The best. Western standards will drool at how mini, major and super-typhoons blasted that building away …

By: Miko Morelos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines—Hotel heiress and all-around media pop star Paris Hilton arrived on a drizzling Sunday night aboard an Emirates Airlines flight from Dubai, welcomed by a throng of international and local press.
She is on a five-day visit to Manila, where she is scheduled to meet with executives of real-estate firm Century Properties inviting her to design its upcoming “urban resort” named Azure in Parañaque City. The celebrity was tapped to jazz up the property’s beach club.
Hilton, heiress of the Hilton hotel empire, will also be opening …

MANILA, Philippines – Hollywood star and hotel heiress Paris Hilton is now on her way to Manila.
She is expected to arrive in the Philippines Sunday night.
In her official Twitter account, Hilton tweeted a link which reveals that she is on-board an Emirate Airways flight EK334.
“Mabuhay Philippines! Mahal ko kayo! On the plane about to take off to you! See you all soon! ,” she posted.
Hilton, who will be staying in the country for 5 days because of official business, said she is also excited to meet her Filipino fans.
“So …

Filipinos are certainly getting into mainstream America and into the world. With an estimated 4 million Filipino-American population (as of 2007), Filipinos are an emerging group in a diverse society in the United States.
Filipino talents like Manny Pacquiao, Charice Pempengco, Arnel Pineda, Lea Salonga, and Monique Lhuiller are doing a great job pitching in!
David Letterman, apparently used Filipino-Americans in one of his segments.
Here’s the recap:
Top 10 Reasons Why There Couldn’t Be a Filipino-American US President
By David Letterman
10. The White House is not big enough for in-laws and extended relatives.
9. There …

By Kristine L. Alave
News source: Philippine Daily Inquirer
Photo credit: Travel Skyline
The visual arts director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) who had approved the controversial exhibit that sparked outrage among politicians and religious activists has resigned, even as artists’ groups decried the CCP for submitting to demands to close down the exhibit.
Karen Flores announced her decision at a forum at the University of the Philippines on Wednesday on the political debate generated by “Kulo,” the exhibit which was closed down on Tuesday following threats to CCP officials and acts …

By MARIO B. CASAYURAN and JC BELLO RUIZ
August 9, 2011, 7:08pm
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Jejomar C. Binay said Tuesday that the family of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos has agreed with his proposal to bury the late strongman in Ilocos Norte.
But Marcos’ son and namesake, Sen. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., said the Marcos family continues to wait for the official position of Malacañang on their request that the remains of his father be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNB) with full state honors befitting his being a …

by David Dizon, abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 08/09/2011 8:54 PM
MANILA, Philippines – National Artist for Literature Bien Lumbera on Tuesday said he is disappointed that the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) decided to capitulate to the demands of Catholic groups to shut down the controversial “Kulo” art exhibit, which shows defaced religious images.
“I think that it’s an unfortunate move on the part of CCP. That leaves CCP open to pressure anytime something, an art object being displayed, raises the ire of certain sectors,” he told ABS-CBN News Channel.
“Once they give in …

JM TUAZON, GMA News
08/08/2011 | 07:13 PM
In light of the recent spate of hacking directed toward its websites, the government reiterated its support for the passage of the cybercrime and data privacy bills, saying they are not taking these attacks lightly.
In a statement, the newly formed Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO) under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said the passage of the two bills will help government agencies in combating cybercrime in the country.
“We believe that these bills, when enacted, would solidify government policy as regards these …

LOS ANGELES – The 10th annual World Dragon Boat Racing Championships with 2,000 athletes and 50 teams from 18 countries and regions came to a close Sunday after six days of competition at Seddon Channel in Florida with the Philippine as among the most popular team.
The Philippine team sets world records and their jerseys are hot merchandise items in Tampa.
The Cobra-Philippine Dragon Boat Federation team hiked its gold medal collection to five as it dominated the Premier Mixed 500 meters (small boat) competition. The “Water Dragons” also from the Philippines …

Former First Lady and now Ilocos Norte Congresswoman Imelda Marcos on Monday said she is dismayed that the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) has become home to allegedly blasphemous artwork.
Marcos said the CCP was built during the term of her late husband, President Ferdinand Marcos, as a monument to the Filipino spirit and to show off the beauty of the Filipino culture.
Viewing the controversial artwork of artist Medeo Cruz, it was obvious that the former first lady felt uneasy going near them particularly the sculptures with controversial wood carvings.
“Ayaw …

By: Cheche V. Moral
Philippine Daily Inquirer
12:45 am | Sunday, July 31st, 2011
How to capture the personality of Corazon C. Aquino in, of all mediums, chocolate?
By stripping the concoction of all frivolity and allowing the simplicity of flavors to shine through in a modest bar of pure, sweet delight.
This is how Raul Matias, the chocolatier who created the limited-edition commemorative chocolate bar to mark the late President’s second death anniversary tomorrow, describes his latest gourmet chocolate creation.
That it took a lot of doing goes without saying.
After all, Matias, the man behind …

By GENALYN D. KABILING
July 31, 2011, 6:57pm
MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno S. Aquino III will pay tribute to his mother and icon of democracy Corazon Aquino, on her second death anniversary Monday.
Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Abigail Valte said the President will lead the observance of Mrs. Aquino’s death anniversary and urged the public to offer prayers for her.
The President is scheduled to hear mass by the grave of his mother at the Manila Memorial Park on Sucat Road,n Parañaque City, at 4 p.m. Monday.
Members of the Aquino family, relatives, friends in …

Tapos na ang SONA speech ni President Noynoy Aquino but still, talk of the town pa rin ang mga gowns ng lawmakers and their spouses. Check out their fashion statement this year and share your thoughts. Photo credits courtesy of Missosology and Spot.ph.
Former Akbayan Partylist Representative Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel
MTRCB Chair Grace Poe-Llamanzares
Binay Family: Makati Mayor Junjun, VP Jejomar,  mom Elenita and Congresswoman Abby
Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casino
Senator Pia Cayetano
Senator Tito Sotto with wife Helen Gamboa
Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista
Congressman Manny Pacquiao and wife Jinkee
Women and Child Activist Kaye Tinga
Senator Allan …

FERNANDO Poe Jr. won the 2004 presidential elections, said Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes, who was the former legal counsel of the late action king.
“Alam ko kung sino talaga ang nanalo, si FPJ. Ako ang abogado ni FPJ. Ipinaglaban ko ng husto yan. Kaya lang ang alam ko (I know who really won – it’s FPJ. I am the lawyer of FPJ. I fought hard for it. What I know) is personal and in my heart. I don’t have the evidence to show it,” said Brillantes, who used …

By Dona Z. Pazzibugan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines – THE DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) found Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte liable for misconduct for punching a court sheriff during a demolition of illegal settlers’ shanties last July 1, but will not sanction her.
Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said the DILG leaves Duterte’s case up to the Office of the Ombudsman which is investigating the mayor for assaulting Sheriff Abe Andres who was serving a court order to demolish a slum community in Davao City.
The DILG said Duterte was …

By JOSE ANTONIO VARGAS
Published: June 22, 2011
One August morning nearly two decades ago, my mother woke me and put me in a cab. She handed me a jacket. “Baka malamig doon” were among the few words she said. (“It might be cold there.”) When I arrived at the Philippines’ Ninoy Aquino International Airport with her, my aunt and a family friend, I was introduced to a man I’d never seen. They told me he was my uncle. He held my hand as I boarded an airplane for the first time. …

Henry Sy Sr., whose wealth was primarily fueled by the success of SM shopping malls, is the richest man in the Philippines for the third year in a row, according to Forbes magazine’s survey on the 40 richest Filipinos for 2010.
The mall mogul’s net worth rose to $5 billion in the Forbes 2010 survey from $3.8 billion a year earlier. He was also the Philippines’ wealthiest man in the 2006 survey.
Sy ranks 201st in the 2010 list of 1,011 billionaires of the world, that according to Forbes dropped from 1,125 …

Manila Bulletin
By SARAH HILOMEN VELASCO
June 11, 2011, 8:46pm
MANILA, Philippines — A Filipino teenager from Zamboanga del Norte, standing just 22 inches tall, is now proudly towering it over the rest of the world as he is set to be proclaimed the shortest man by the Guinness Book of World Records on Sunday as he turns 18 years old.
Junrey Balawing, who hails from Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte, is slightly taller than a glass bottle or a one-year-old toddler.
Junrey’s father, Reynaldo, is a blacksmith and only stays at home at weekends, while …

Photo Credit: A Celebration of Women
Manila Bulletin
By JC BELLO RUIZ
June 11, 2011, 8:40pm
MANILA, Philippines — President Aquino will lead Sunday’s 113th Independence Day celebration that will start with a flag-raising ceremony in Kawit, Cavite.
After leading the Kawit flag-raising rites, the President will proceed to Malacañang for the Vin D’ Honneur at 10 a.m. in Rizal Hall.
At 4 p.m., the President will proceed to the Quirino Grandstand for the 113th Philippine Independence Day celebration and parade.
“If you’re not doing anything with your families, of course, you are most welcome to join …

Athena Mae Imperial has been crowned Miss Philippines Earth 2011 during the pageant’s finale night held at Puerto Princesa City, Palawan on June 5, 2011. The 24 year old winner is from Casiguran, Aurora. Imperial will be representing the country in the international Miss Earth 2011 beauty pageant which will be held later this year in Thailand. Photo credits courtesy of  Miss Philippines Earth website.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Miss Philippines Earth 2011: Athena Mae Imperial (Municipality of Casiguran)
Miss Philippines Air 2011: Jonavi Raisa Quiray (Puerto Princesa)
Miss Philippines Water 2011: Murielle Adrienne Orais (Cebu …

MANILA – Kinastigo ng isang grupo ng mga bakla at transgender ang ina ni Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, na si Mommy Dionisia dahil sa umano’y nakakainsultong pahayag na binitiwan ng huli na may kaugnayan sa kontrobersiyal na Reproductive Health bill.
Sa isang pahayag nitong Sabado, sinabi ni Goya Candelario, tagapagsalita ng Progressive Organization of Gays (ProGay Philippines), na labis na nasaktan ang mga katulad niyang bakla sa naging pahayag ni Mommy Dionisia tungkol sa pag-inom ng ilang bakla ng pills para lumaki ang dibdib.
Ayon kay Candelario, ang naging pahayag ng ina …

World-class singer Lea Salonga, a staunch supporter of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill, said one does not have to be pro-contraception to be pro-reproductive health.
In an exclusive interview with Jessica Soho on GMA News TV’s “State of the Nation” on Wednesday night, Salonga admitted that she is currently not using any form of contraception because she and her husband want to have another child.
“I’d love to have another kid,” she said. “I kind of leave it up to God at this point, but we’re not stopping anything from happening.”
Salonga said …

Note: This is a repost. Article and photos courtesy of Orchestroscopy:

Blood stains. I saw them everyday for months during a certain period in my life. Blood on the floor, on hospitals gowns and on previously pristine white sheets. The room could almost be a set of a horror movie if not for the dozens of crying babies and nursing mothers..
For weeks it was always the same routine. Everyday, I would march the hallway armed with my medical artillery. Thermometer, stethoscope, a sphygmomanometer and a piece of paper. The whole bond …

Hello? Hello?
Anybody there? Are we still here?
Oh, whew! For a moment there I thought Judgment Day actually had come today, as California preacher and religious radio broadcaster Harold Camping had predicted. And I’m really, really not ready.
There’s a lot I still have to do. Like organize my sock drawer and change the strings on my banjo. Not to mention apologizing for some – er – indiscretions that have been weighing on me since forever. (Which have nothing to do with the banjo.)
I mean, if there really is going to be …