Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Pulis patay sa Negros Occ. matapos barilin habang nagjo-jogging kasama ang mayor
Patay ang 37 anyos na si Police Staff Sargeant Ildefonso Casugod matapos pagbabarilin ng hindi pa nakikilalang gunman sa Reclamation Area ng bayan ng Pontevedra sa Negros Occidental, Martes ng umaga.
Base sa imbestigasyon ng pulisya, nagjo-jogging si Casugod alas-6 ng umaga, kasama si Mayor Jose Maria Alonzo, nang bigla na lang itong lapitan ng gunman at binaril sa ulo, na naging sanhi ng kaniyang pagkamatay.
Ayon sa officer-in-charge ng Pontevedra Police na si Captain Hancel Lumandaz, tanging ang pulis lang ang target ng salarin.
May iba pa silang mga kasamahan, ngunit walang nakakilala sa salarin dahil naka-face mask ito at naka-suot ng hood ng kaniyang jacket.
Agad na sumakay ang salarin sa isang motorsiklo kung saan naghihintay ang kaniyang look out.
Ayon kay Lumandaz, posible na ang trabaho bilang intelligence officer ng Pontevedra Police ang naging motibo sa pagpatay kay Casugod.
May ilang kasong may kinalaman sa illegal drugs at illegal gambling kasi na hinahawakan ang biktima. - ulat ni Romeo Subaldo
Why God Chose A Baby
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:6-7
"I have often wondered," wrote Guy Duffield, "why the Roosevelts, the Rockefellers and the Kennedys wanted to go through all the agony and conflict of seeking and holding public offices. They certainly did not need the money. I think I have found the answer; it is self‑expression. It has been the desire of every human heart throughout history. A Michelangelo did it in marble; a Shakespeare with pen and ink; a Sir Christopher Wren achieved it in the more than 50 churches he designed and built."
Then writes Dr. Duffield, "God wanted to say something to mankind. He wanted to express Himself. But how? There was no language rich enough to contain the message. Man could not have understood it if there was, for the message was too great for his mind to receive. What was it God wanted to communicate? He wanted to communicate Himself. Self-expression!
"...God chose flesh as the ideal vehicle for the expression of Himself. There is nothing as eloquent as flesh: the twitching of the lips, the pallor of the countenance, the crimsoning of the cheek, the moistening of the eyes. These telltale signals are more eloquent than words could ever be. That is why God chose it. He selected the one element in humanity which He Himself did not share. The Word was made flesh‑‑soft, warm, live flesh that throbbed and felt and developed and matured. This Word, Jesus, is God. Look upon Him as a Babe in Bethlehem, a Boy in the carpenter shop in Nazareth, a Man in Galilee, and everywhere you see Him your heart cries, 'Almighty God!' A million universes could not tell us what Jesus tells us about the nature and character of God, for in Jesus the Word was made flesh."
The words which I have just quoted have special significance for me, in that the author was also the father of my wife and the grandfather of my children. When he talked of self‑expression, I see his life, the way he thought, the way he reasoned, reflected in his only child who became the mother of my three children. And in my son, I also see the grandfather. It can be no other way, for such is the result of heredity.
Long ago the Apostle John wrote, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us..." The immortal, invisible only God surrounded by the frailty of mankind. All the more it makes sense to realize that God expressed Himself in the Son, who was once asked, "Show us the Father and it will satisfy us!" and Jesus replied, "He who has seen me has seen the Father!"
John Milton, the English author and poet, wrote, "Welcome all wonders in one night‑‑/Eternity shut in a span,/ Summer in winter, day in night,/ Heaven in earth, and God in man. Blest little one,/ Whose all embracing birth/ Lifts earth to heaven, stoops heaven to earth." How better can we express it!
As this busy week begins to fade and another year is soon to dawn, remember, if you can, that the Child represents the Father, and the Father is the progenitor of the life which He imparts to His offspring. If the Father is seen expressing Himself in the Son, and the Son in His children, should it not follow that our lives should reflect the image of the Son as well? Paul thought so, for he wrote, " Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness" (Philippians 2:5‑7).
With the tinsel and glitter, may God give us enough peace and quiet that we may realize that in the Son we see the life of the Father, and in His life there is life eternal.
Resource reading: Isaiah 53:1-12
Monday, December 21, 2020
What Mary And Joseph Knew
And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7
Childbirth is surely one of the most uncomfortable times in any woman's life. It's a time when a husband, at a loss to help with the actual birthing process, would want to provide the most comfortable environment for his laboring wife. But the Christmas Story, the accounts given us in the four Gospels, indicate that few comforts were Mary and Joseph's as they stopped in Bethlehem at a very vulnerable and physically uncomfortable time.
Joseph could probably do nothing more than find clean straw for Mary to rest upon and scoop the remnants of feed out of an animal trough for her newborn. And Mary, without her mother or midwife familiar to her, endured the agony of labor with the scent of manure hanging in the air. We could easily imagine them filled with fear and anxiety. "There was nowhere to lean," observed missionary and author, Elisabeth Elliot, except the Everlasting Arms. They had God's word, specially delivered by the angel Gabriel."
But was this the way the Messiah, the Savior of all mankind was to come? Had they misunderstood? Where was the angel now? Where was God? "Weak things, lowly things, painful things, silent things—the instinct of their faith told them God was in all of them…God had given them His Word. Therefore, they moved trustfully, quietly through each moment, God being in charge, God being in that moment," wrote Elliot in her book Secure in the Everlasting Arms.
Would we have trusted at a moment like that? "But, Mary and Joseph had an angel speak to them!" you might say. Yes. God sent an angel with his Word. But He sent His only Son, to you and me. He's given us His written Word. And He sent his very Spirit, come alongside, to comfort and guide each one of those who accept Him, whom He adopts as His very own.
Has there been a time in your life when you thought you had heard God's voice loud and clear? You thought you knew how He would work, or should work in your life, to answer your prayers. You had His promises of provision. But you found yourself in a lonely, dark place, in unthinkable circumstances, in great confusion. Are you, or is someone you love, there now?
The shockingly humble beginning of Jesus' life here on earth wasn't what we would expect for the birth of the King of Kings. Yet here we find great hope! Elisabeth Elliot explained it:
So it may be for us when God's order is the reverse of what we would expect. He is in each moment, in us, with us, as He is with the Holy Couple on their wearisome journey over the dusty roads and in the raw cattle shed. Should we expect to see how things are working together for our good? No, not yet. We see not yet. We only know.[1]
The Christmas Story reminds us, when we cannot see, we go back to what we know: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Rom. 8:28). We know from Numbers 23:19 that he is not a man and he cannot lie. Psalms 136:1 assures us that His love never ends. He will be our refuge and comfort Nahum 1:7 declares. And you could sit with your Bible and go on and on, remembering what we know about Him, revealed to the man or woman who will read it.
When life doesn't bring what we expect, He is Immanuel, God with us and with each Christ follower in every moment. May what we know bring real joy this Christmas.
Resource reading: Ephesians 1:3-14
[1] Elliot, Elisabeth. Secure in the Everlasting Arms. Ann Arbor, MI: Vine, 2002. Print.
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/what-mary-and-joseph-knew/
'Together as One in 2021': Here are ABS-CBN's upcoming shows, offerings
ABS-CBN has revealed its lineup of TV programs, movies, and streaming platform releases for the coming year, including the teleserye comeback of Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, and a big-screen reunion of Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz.
Over a dozen new titles were introduced in the trailer dubbed “Together As One sa 2021,” from television series and Star Cinema films to iWant originals.
Among the new TV offerings are “Darna: The TV Series” starring Jane de Leon; “Huwag Kang Mangamba” starring Francine Diaz, Andrea Brillantes, Kyle Echarri and Seth Fidelin; “Init sa Magdamag” starring Yam Concepcion, Gerald Anderson and JM de Guzman; “La Vida Lena” starring Erich Gonzales, Carlo Aquino, Kit Thompson and JC de Vera; and “Almost Paradise” starring American actor Christian Kane and an ensemble of veteran Filipino actors.
It was also revealed that the still-untitled TV project of Bernardo and Padilla will be a romantic series about experiencing timeless love.
“Your Face Sounds Familiar” will also return for another season hosted by Luis Manzano.
Meanwhile, avid Kapamilya fans will definitely be excited about the upcoming movies for 2021.
Among the movie projects announced are those starring Bernado and Padilla; Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil; Kim Chiu; Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano; and Vice Ganda.
But the most exciting one is probably the big-screen reunion of Cruz and Alonzo, “No Goodbyes,” directed by Cathy Garcia Molina.
In addition to these, the other movies to come this 2021 are “Princess Dayareese” starring Maymay Entrata and Edward Barber; “Hello Stranger The Movie” starring Tony Labrusca and JC Alcantara; “Love or Money” starring Angelica Panganiban and Coco Martin; “Soul Sistahs” starring Karla Estrada, Melai Cantiveros and Jolina Magdangal; “Keys to the Hearts starring Zaijan Jaranilla and Sharon Cuneta; and “Ang Mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan” starring Joshua Garcia.
Over at iWantTFC, there will be more series and movies including “Count Your Lucky Stars” starring Jerry Yan and Shen Yue; “Tenement 66” starring Francine Diaz and Francis Magundayao; “Hoy… I Love You” starring Jorross Gamboa and Roxanne Guinoo; the Thai series “A Tale of a Thousand Stars;” and “Unloving U” starring Loisa Andalio and Ronnie Alonte.
ABS-CBN also announced the digital relaunching of MYX and MOR Philippines, as well as the upcoming digital concerts of Regine Velasquez, Piolo Pascual and Moira dela Torre.
Watch the video below to see the complete list of Kapamilya offerings for 2021. This clip aired during the ABS-CBN Christmas Special on Sunday.
'Vicky' leaves 3 dead, 2 missing in Surigao del Sur
Three people drowned while 2 remain missing in Surigao del Sur after Tropical depression Vicky's onslaught over the weekend, its governor said Monday.
All 17 towns and cities in the province were inundated, Governor Alexander Pimentel said. Flood in some towns have subsided and 5,000 families who evacuated have begun to return to their homes, he added.
The towns of Madrid and Hinatuan were the hardest hit as these were the closest to Baganga, Davao Oriental where Vicky made its first landfall last Friday.
"Ngayon lang talaga, ngayon lang bagyo na to yung grabe. Masyado malakas ang ulan at alam mo naman dito sa probinsiya ang Surigao del Sur ay coastal area, 17 municipalities and cities nandito sa harap ng Pacific Ocean.. dun sa San Miguel baha pa rin," he told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.
(This happened to us only now. The rain was too strong and you know the province of Surigao del Sur is a coastal area, 17 municipalities and cities face the Pacific Ocean. Only one town, San Miguel, is on the inner part but its still flooded.)
The governor also attributed the severe flooding due to illegal mining.
"Sa Barobo kung saan maraming illegal miners, na inisyuhan ko last year pa ng cease and desist order kasi meron silang illegal gold mining diyan, mga bahay diyan along the riverside, 30 kabahayan ang na-washout," he said.
(In Borobo, where there are a lot of illegal miners I have issued a cease and desist order last year, 30 houses along the riverside were washed out.)
The storm left some P20 million worth of damage in infrastructure and in the province, Pimentel said.
The declaration of a state of calamity will depend on the recommendation of the provincial disaster office, he added.
At least 6 others were reported dead Sunday in Agusan del Sur and Leyte following Vicky's devastation.
The tropical depression left the Philippine area of responsibility on Sunday afternoon after lashing large swaths of Mindanao and some parts of Visayas and Luzon.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/21/20/vicky-leaves-3-dead-2-missing-in-surigao-del-sur
Mag-ina patay sa pamamaril ng pulis sa Paniqui, Tarlac
Patay ang mag-ina matapos barilin ng isang pulis sa bayan ng Paniqui, Tarlac nitong Linggo ng hapon, ayon sa inisyal na ulat ng pulisya.
Nakasagutan ng mga biktimang sina Sonya Gregorio, 52 at Frank Anthony Gregorio, 25, ang suspek na si Police Senior Master Sgt. Jonel Nuezca at anak nito, na humantong sa pagpaslang.
Si Nuezca ay naka-destino sa Parañaque City Crime laboratory unit at nakatira sa Barangay Cabayaoasan, Paniqui.
Sinita umano ng pulis ang mga biktimang kapitbahay nito sa pagpapaputok ng boga, ayon kay Lt. Col. Noriel Rombaoa, hepe ng Paniqui Police.
"Parang nainsulto siguro hanggang nagkasguatuan ang anak niya at ang matandang biktima. Siguro nawindang ang isip niya, dun niya pinaputukan ang mga biktima," aniya.
Makikita naman sa video, na viral na ngayon sa internet, na binaril ng pulis ang mag-ina matapos magmalaki ng batang anak nito na pulis ang kaniyang tatay, na sinagot naman ng "I don't care," ni Sonya.
Dati nang nagkagirian ang magkapitbahay dahil sa usapin ng right of way ngunit naayos na umano ito sa barangay, ani Rombaoa.
Iniulat ng Rosales Municipal Police sa Pangasinan na sumuko ang suspek sa kanila bandang alas-6:19 ng gabi.
Agad inilipat ang suspek sa Paniqui Municipal Police. Patuloy ang imbestigasyon ng mga awtoridad.
Kinondena ni Interior Secretary Eduardo Año ang pagpatay sa mag-ina bilang "blood murder."
"Kitang-kita naman natin ito, ito ay isang blood murder. Kitang-kita sa video, hindi lumalaban 'yong biktima. Hindi naman armado ang mag-ina. Talagang murder ito," aniya.
Dagdag ni Año, sisiguraduhin niyang matatanggal sa serbisyo ang suspek.
"We don't need this kind of policeman. Napakasimpleng bagay lang 'yan para gamitan mo ng armas. Walang justification para barilin mo in cold blood. Talagang point-blank pa 'yong distansiya. Talagang kailangan bigyan natin ng hustisya [ang mga biktima]," aniya.
Hinahanda na ng Paniqui Police ang kasong kriminal laban sa suspek at mahaharap din ito sa administratibong kaso, ayon kay Rombaoa.
Paalala niya, dapat pinaiiral ng pulisya ang maximum tolerance.
"Sa mga kasamahan po natin sa pulisya dapat self-control kasi nga maximum tolerance tayo, tayo ang may armas. Kung merong umaagrabiyado sa atin merong right forum po riyan, puwede nating kasuhan, not to the point na gagamitin natin ang baril natin," aniya.
-- May ulat ni Trisha Mostoles
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/21/20/mag-ina-patay-sa-pamamaril-ng-pulis-sa-paniqui-tarlac
'Vicky' intensifies outside PAR; Signal no. 2 up in Kalayaan Islands
Weather disturbance "Vicky" (international name: Krovanh), which is now a tropical storm, is still affecting parts of the country even after it exited the Philippine area of responsibility, the state weather bureau said Sunday.
In its 11 p.m. weather bulletin Sunday, PAGASA said strong winds brought by the storm and the surge of the northeast monsoon will bring gale-force winds in Kalayaan Islands, Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and the northern portions of Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte.
Vicky was last spotted 85 kilometers south southwest of Kalayaan, Palawan as of 10 p.m., packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center, and gusts of up to 80 kph.
Storm signal no. 2 is now hoisted over Kalayaan Islands, where 61 to 120 kph winds could totally unroof nipa and cogon huts, damage rice and corn crops and down banana plants and mango trees.
PAGASA said Kalayaan Island, the eastern portion of mainland Cagayan Valley, Aurora and the northern portion of Quezon will experience moderate to heavy rains until Monday, while light to moderate with at times heavy rains may persist over the rest of mainland Cagayan Valley, Babuyan Islands, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, and the rest of Quezon.
Flooding and rain-induced landslides may occur during heavy or prolonged periods of rainfall, especially in areas highly susceptible to these hazards and those that received heavy rainfall recently, it added.
At least 1 more storm is forecast to enter the country before the year ends, PAGASA weather forecaster Chris Perez earlier said.
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Sunday, December 20, 2020
PH showbiz in 2020: With ABS-CBN’s shutdown, where are its Kapamilyas now?
“This is ABS-CBN Corporation Channel 2, In the Service of the Filipino now signing off.”
These were the words Peter Musñgi, the man behind the Kapamilya network’s golden voice, said for the last time as the country’s biggest network signed off at exactly 7:52 p.m. on May 5.
This was hours after the National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) order to shut down ABS-CBN’s operations after its franchise expired a day before.
On July 10, 70 lawmakers killed ABS-CBN’s bid for a fresh franchise.
While Multiply, it was closed last May 6, 2013 and ceasing all business operations on May 31, 2013 along with the official online channels for the site had been removed along with all their content, including its YouTube, Tumblr, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts, after years of financial and managerial turmoil and following a failed bid to reinvent itself from being a social networking site to a vibrant e-commerce destination in Southeast Asia and filed for bankruptcy on June 10, 2014.
At that time, the website's social networking portion had a network of 18 million users. Liquidity problems, however, affected earnings. Sales declined from its peak of P20 billion in 2013 to just about P5 billion in 2017.
The company had suffered from a drop in new orders amid a slump in the E-commerce and social networking sector. Multiply also reportedly laid off some 12,000 workers on February 28, 2014.
After May 6, the rest of the month will be used to ensure that all accounts are settled and merchants get full payment for their transactions, it said.
Multiply said the month-long grace period will provide its users enough time to find and migrate to alternative e-commerce platforms, settle all payments on items bought and delivered, and minimize disruption to businesses of its users.
“Multiply will ensure that you receive all funds you earned on the platform no later than May 31, 2013. We will close the actual marketplace sooner, on May 6, 2013, to ensure that all orders have sufficient time to complete and be delivered to your customers before the end of the month,” it said.
For many of ABS-CBN’s biggest stars, it was a heartbreak hard to bear — with some either making the painful decision to leave the network that they called home, or parting with ABS-CBN’s talent arm, Star Magic.
With ABS-CBN’s shut down, where are some of its stars and personalities now?
The Kapamilya stars who left
Pokwang
One of those who left the Kapamilya network was comedienne Pokwang.
In an interview with Inquirer Entertainment, Pokwang, or Marietta Subong in real life, revealed that she was not with ABS-CBN anymore.
“I don’t have a contract with ABS-CBN anymore. The management understands that I also need to make a living. I’m not as rich as the Zobels and the Ayalas,” Pokwang said.
Moving forward, she is now one of the hosts of TV’s talk show “Chika BESH (Basta Everyday Super Happy)” alongside Ria Atayde and Pauleen Luna. Aside from this, she also hosts another TV5 show, “Fill in the Bank” with Jose Manalo.
“Right now, my contract is on a per-show basis,” Pokwang stressed.
Maja Salvador
Maja Salvador, who starred in ABS-CBN’s most successful teleseryes such as “Wildflower” and “The Killer Bride”, also crossed over to the Kapatid network.
These days, Salvador is one of the presenters of TV5’s Sunday variety show “Sunday Noontime Live” (SNL) with beauty queen Catriona Gray, Jake Ejercito, Donny Pangilinan, and Piolo Pascual.
But Salvador, in an Instagram post back in September, somehow hoped her fans would still support her despite the move to TV5.
“Mga kapamilya, sasamahan ko po muna ang aking tatay na si. MR.M kaya sana wag po kayo magulat kung makikita niyo akong lumabas sa ibang network at patuloy makapagbigay ligaya sa inyo kahit sa anong paraan at plataporma.”
(Kapamilyas, I will join Mr. M so I hope you won’t be surprised if you see me in another network and continue to give joy to you through a different platform.)
Mr. M is Johnny Manahan, co-founder of Star Magic and veteran TV and live show director. Manahan is now also the director of “SNL”.
It was also through Manahan that Brightlight Productions, TV5’s most recent blocktimer, that many of ABS-CBN’s stars were featured in different shows under the Kapatid network.
Though making the tough decision, Salvador said that switching networks would somehow help people who were displaced by the pandemic
“A big part of why I said ‘yes’ was because I wanted to help people displaced by the pandemic and the network shutdown get back up again,” she said in a media gathering.
“I’m thankful to Mr. M for trusting me,” she added.
Ted Failon
Not only did ABS-CBN lose some of its brightest stars and employees, but also some of its longtime faces of broadcasting journalism.
Ted Failon, who has been with ABS-CBN for 30 years, bade adieu to the network as he also crossed over to TV5’s Radyo Singko 92.3 FM.
On his last day, Failon could not help but be emotional as he looked back on his journey with the Kapamilya network.
“Mahal na mahal ko ang radyo, alisin niyo na lahat sa akin, ‘wag lang ang radyo. Bata pa lang ako talagang gusto ko na maging radio announcer. I fell in love with radio since I was a child,” Failon recalled as he once turned down a job as a TV anchor.
(I really love radio. Take everything from me, but not radio. Since I was a child, I’ve always wanted to be a radio announcer.)
These days, the veteran journalist, along with co-host DJ Chacha, now hosts “Ted Failon at DJ Chacha sa Radyo5.” Failon added that he could not be certain whether he would be back on television, saying he wants to focus on radio for now.
“I want to be able to watch my grandkids grow and kiss them when they wake up in the morning,” he told Inquirer in an interview. “I’ve come to a point in my life and career when I want more time for myself.”
Billy Crawford
TV host Billy Crawford also found it hard to leave ABS-CBN. At one point, he let his tears flow as he told his friend, comedian Vice Ganda, how much he valued their friendship.
During their conversation, Vice hinted that Crawford was set to transfer to another network — which was later revealed to be TV5.
“I love you at gagalingan mo sa mga gagawin mong trabaho at alam mo, sa pamilya, ‘di ba, sa pamilya meron kang kapatid na lilipat ng bahay (I love you, and do well in the work you will do and you know that with family, you will have a sibling who will move away),” Vice told Crawford, his former “It’s Showtime” co-host.
“Pero hindi porke’t lilipat siya ng bahay, hindi mo na siya kapatid, hindi mo na siya kapamilya. Hindi mo na siya mahal (But just because they move to another place, that does not mean you are no longer siblings, you are no longer family. That you no longer love them),” the comedian added.
Crawford now hosts TV5’s noontime variety show “Lunch Out Loud”, as well “Masked Singer Philippines.”
For Crawford, he says that ratings and competition between TV networks is not a big deal these days, as the opportunity to work is what matters the most.
“I think, we all speak on behalf of every artist na lumipat or pumunta dito. We’re really just trying to spread humility as well and just be humbled na we are here and we are still given the opportunity to work,” Crawford said in a press conference.
“So the playing field para sa mga ratings, parang ‘yun ‘yung last na iniisip namin,” he added.
The Kapamilya stars who remained
Angel Locsin
And while there were stars who chose to leave ABS-CBN, there were also those who remained a Kapamilya — one of which was Angel Locsin.
The actress, who has been vocal in support of her network’s fight for a franchise permit, was also undaunted in calling out her fellow celebrities who remained silent in the wake of ABS-CBN’s shutdown.
“Sa mga kapwa kong artistang hindi nagsasalita, may career pa ba kayo? Wala na kayong network!” she said in a noise barrage outside ABS-CBN headquarters in Quezon City last July.
(To my fellow actors who are not speaking, do you still have a career? You don’t have a network anymore!)
“Kahit magpa-cute kayo diyan sa Instagram, nagsend kayo ng mga sad face, hindi n’yo nadadamayan ang mga katrabaho n’yo na dahilan kung bakit kayo sumikat!”
(Even if you try to look cute on Instagram, sending a sad face, you are not sympathizing with your fellow workers who are the reason why you became famous.)
Locsin, who was hailed as one of this year’s “Leaders of Tomorrow” by Tatler Asia’s Gen T list, currently hosts the inspirational program “Iba ‘Yan” aired on the Kapamilya channel and A2Z, ABS-CBN’s joint venture with Zoe Broadcasting Network through a block time agreement.
Kathryn Bernardo
While she was fighting for her mother network, Kathryn Bernardo once again talked about politics — a topic which, she said, had a “traumatic” experience with as she and her family I were attacked for it.
“Pero ngayon, andito ako kasi pakiramdam, ko kailangan. Pakiramdam ko kahit walang kasiguraduhan na marinig ‘to, at least may ginawa ako. Pakiramdam ko, kailangan kong maging boses ng iba,” Bernardo previously said.
(But now, I am here because I feel it is needed. I feel that even if there is no certainty that this will be heard, at least I did something. I feel that I need to be the voice of others.)
But as her network was not granted a franchise, Bernardo said she chose to stay with ABS-CBN out of gratitude.
“Ito ‘yung way ko para pasalamatan ‘yung network sa kung ano ang meron ako ngayon. Lahat ng blessing namin ay dahil sa kompanya,” the young actress then said in a press conference for hers and Daniel Padilla’s digital series, “The House Arrest of Us.”
It was all thanks to ABS-CBN that made Bernardo the star that she is today — from her child actress days until she reached “Phenomenal Box Office Queen” status.
Bernardo felt that she made a wise decision on choosing to stay as a Kapamilya, as she feels ABS-CBN’s toughest times are actually the times where the network needed her the most.
Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil
One of ABS-CBN’s most popular love teams “LizQuen”, consisting of Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil, is not going anywhere despite being offered projects from GMA, TV5 and entertainment company Viva, manager Ogie Diaz assured.
Diaz, in his YouTube channel last August, even said that ABS-CBN was not willing to let go of the reel-to-real couple, and that the network will do what they can to keep the love teams.
“May ginagawa sila para maitawid ang mga love teams na pinoprotektahan nila, sinesecure nila,” Diaz said.
(They are doing things for the love teams that they are protecting, that they are securing, so they could get by.)
At one point, ABS-CBN issued a statement standing by Soberano after she was warned by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Southern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. to withdraw her support of women’s group Gabriela, which, he claims, is part of a terrorist organization.
Soberano, in her own words, said that she was remaining a Kapamilya.
“That is true I have received offers and I’m grateful for them but I told my manager Tito Ogie that for now, I want to be here and support ABS-CBN, especially at a time like this,” she previously said in an interview over ANC’s “Headstart.”
“I think what they need is unity and they need to see that they are supported by the people that have been there with them since the beginning.”
Enchong Dee
Enchong Dee is also one of the stars that ABS-CBN was able to keep.
Last Dec. 4, the 32-year-old actor was one of the artists who renewed their contracts with Star Magic, ABS-CBN News reported.
But despite staying, Dee believes that the loyalty of Kapamilya artists shouldn’t be questioned when he/she decides to stay with the beleaguered network or find work to rival networks.
The country would keep GMA and TV5 will be the sole TV network; while the world would keep Facebook will be the sole social networking service.
ABS-CBN closed down last May 5, 2020 after the National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) order to shut down ABS-CBN’s operations after its franchise expired a day before, on July 10, 70 lawmakers denied ABS-CBN’s bid for a fresh franchise, while Multiply closed down last May 6, 2013 and ceased operations on May 31, 2013 along with the official online channels for the site had been removed along with all their content, including its YouTube, Tumblr, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts after years of financial and managerial turmoil and following a failed bid to reinvent itself from being a social networking site to a vibrant e-commerce destination in Southeast Asia.
Dee also said that the fact he decided not to accept any work from rival networks does not make him any better than other ABS-CBN artists who chose to do so.
“One of the things that I realized was that it’s not right to judge people in relation to loyalty at a time like the present. A lot of my colleagues are breadwinners,” Dee said in a press conference for a financial services company.
“You can’t take away from them the opportunity to work elsewhere, especially now that we’re battling a pandemic and our home network has shut down,” he added.
Excerptions
Enchong Dee, naglibot sa Paris
Kamakailan ay nagpunta si Enchong Dee sa Paris para makapagbakasyon at para na rin makapag-celebrate ng kanyang birthday kasama ang kanyang mga kaibigan at manager na si Keren Pascual.
November 5 ang talagang birthday ni Enchong. “I went to Paris October 31st tapos we stayed until November 7 kaya doon na rin ako nakapag-celebrate ng birthday. Ang saya dahil first time ko in Europe eh,” bungad ng binata.
Ano kaya ang ginawa ni Enchong kasama ang mga kaibigan for one week sa Paris? “Noong unang day namin, Arc De Triomphe, tapos nagpunta kaagad kami sa Eiffel tower. Tapos saktung-sakto kasi biglang nag-sparkle ‘yung Eiffel tower while we were walking going there. Ang galing dahil parang welcome thing sa amin ni Lord. We went to Notre Dame, tapos noong birthday ko rin ay may pinuntahan kaming church sa taas ng Paris tapos ay doon ako nagdasal, nakaka-amaze. ‘Yung eksaktong birthday ko talaga, I went sa Louvre, kay Mona Lisa, nakakatawa kasi may mga nakikita akong Pinoy, pero usually kung saan ako makulit wala dun sila, so takbo ako nang takbo, kuha lang ako nang kuha ng pictures and sobrang memorable,” nakangiting kuwento pa ni Enchong. Reports from JAMES C. CANTOS
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| STAR Cruises’ SuperStar Pisces at Hong Kong harbor |
Coca-Cola Philippines has, for more than 100 years, spread happiness all over the world. To commemorate its centennial, Coke recently held a thanksgiving gala—a special concert featuring stars such as Piolo Pascual, Erik Santos, Arnel Pineda and Gary Valenciano, who all sang the wonderful Coke jingles we all grew up with. Coke’s iconic music has been with us for a century, and helping them celebrate were director and ABS-CBN Star Magic head Johnny Manahan and music director, maestro Ryan Cayabyab.
SUPERSTAR Pisces guests Enchong Dee, birthday boy Keren Pascual and Joseph Marco
Guillermo Aponte, president of Coca-Cola Philippines, welcomed the entire Coke family and friends to the Rizal Ballroom of Shangri-La Makati. TV host and former Coke ambassador Bianca Gonzalez introduced a heartwarming presentation, which captured the beverage’s role in refreshing millions of Filipino lives. Coke also unveiled a coffee-table book, “Coca-Cola 100 Faces of Happiness,” during the gala.
The brainchild of talent guru Keren Pascual, the book is a product of the efforts of Coke to capture the essence of happiness for the Pinoy nation. The individuals featured include celebrity ambassadors, distinguished personalities from different functions, and people whose business of spreading happiness is unequivocal.
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| MIGUEL Vera, Ruthy Vera, Bobet Vera; (back row) Francesca Vera, Paolo Vera and Anton Vera |
Coca-Cola Philippines marketing director Anubha Sahasrabuddhe told me the book is “the physical manifestation of the legacy of their brand, the heritage of happiness.” For my photo, master lensman Jun de Leon took a classic angle of my face to get that ’20s era vibe. Both Bench King Ben Chan and I were photographed the same day and our beautiful photos are next to each other.
At the end of the evening, right after Gary V sang the Coca-Cola 100 Years anthem, “Tuloy,” a grand toast was initiated in honor of all the people who have opened a bottle of Coke and spread the message of hope and happiness all these years.
Fun time
Keren has been in golden celebration mode all year. He gathered up a few Coke Ambassadors and special friends for a Hong Kong cruise onboard SuperStar Pisces of Star Cruises, the third largest cruise line in the world.
For many years now, Keren has invited our family to enjoy Star Cruises to many destinations. Cruise time is always fun time with all our celebrity and media friends, as we experience the wonderful, value-for-money vacation that is a cruise.
On board the Pisces, we headed straight to the top deck for a photo-op with the stunning Hong Kong skyline in the background. To make sure we would not get seasick, we took the Bonamine pills the crew was handing out, and then ate to our hearts’ content and sang ourselves hoarse at the ship’s karaoke bar.
As with all cruise lines, many staff are proudly Pinoy, so we always get extra pampering. We are looking forward to going on more exciting trips with Keren in the future.
BIRTHDAY boy Keren Pascual (second from left) with Maricar Reyes, Mariole Alberto, Enchong Dee and Joseph Marco
Models, TV personalities and dash of the social set came in full force as Keren Pascual blew out another candle of his exciting life, dahlings."
The Special Exhibition Hall of the newly opened Mind Museum in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig was packed with toys—yes toys—for a totally fun happening meant for “every kid-at-heart,” said the celebrator.
From toy cars to action figures, humongous rubber ducks and stuffed animals, toys cheerfully adorned the place. My palangga, Liza Ilarde Cuenca told me, “I really feel like a kid again.”
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| PHOEMELA Baranda, moi, Myrza Sison-Wisniewski, Liza Ilarde Cuenca, Andrej Wisniewski, Jackie Aquino |
The surrounding walls were transformed into dynamic viewing screens playing visuals from epic runway shows and documentaries featuring the world’s most famous fashion icons.
The stunning setup was jointly conceived by Julie Aguila of Saga Events, Marvin Buenaventura of Stage Masters and Lopee de Guzman of RSL Lighting. Amazing music mixes were by Jon Herrera.
It was really a time to throw all our inhibitions away and bring out that playful vibe in us, palanggas, thanks to the master publicist and our Toy King of the Night, Keren, naturellement.
Coca-Cola as well as Belvedere Premium Vodka provided endless flow of drinks. Cibo provided the excellent to-die-for dinner, palanggas.
ARIEL Lozada, Miguel Pastor, Noel Manapat, Ben Chan
Normal times
Other than these, we had normal times in London last March. This was during the junket for friends of Keren Pascual, the PR practitioner and talent manager (of Enchong Dee, for one) who organizes regular trips abroad he’s dubbed as “Famous.” The one last March marked his not-yet-senior-citizen birthday celebration.
"Happy Birthday Tita Winnie" :) (cakes c/o Fernando's bakery)
Xian hinihintay pa rin ang sagot ni Kim
Malapit na ring matapos ang shooting ng pangatlong pelikulang pagtatambalan nina Kim Chiu at Xian Lim. Nilinaw ni Xian ang napabalitang hindi raw sang-ayon ang mga tagahanga ng tambalan nila ni Kim na makapareha ng kanilang idolo ang ibang artista sa mga susunod na proyekto ng dalawa. “Well they’re very supportive. They understand that we’re just doing our job. Kumbaga passion namin ang umarte at kung sino man ang maka-partner namin talagang todo-suporta sila,” paliwanag ni Xian.
Ayaw daw ng binata na limitahan din ang kanyang mga proyekto dahil pangarap din niyang maging isang magaling na aktor. “Ako ang wini-wish ko ay sana magkaroon na ako ng project soon because there’s a lot of people waiting. If ever I do get that, promise na ibibigay ko ang lahat and I won’t let them down,” paliwanag ni Xian.
Samantala, kamakailan ay ipinakilala na ni Enchong Dee ang kasintahan sa publiko. Ngayon ay marami ang nangungulit kay Xian kung kailan malalaman ng publiko kung ano ang tunay na estado ng relasyon nila ni Kim. “Naku! Right now we’re just going to focus on the movie. In perfect time. Perfect timing po ‘yan and if ever, ipapaalam ko agad sa inyo and I want it to be special. Everything dapat special. Alam n’yo sa totoo lang, alam naman ni Kim na may gusto ako sa kanya. Alam naman ni Kim na crush na crush ko siya eh. So I’m just here, I’m just happy na she’s happy,” giit ni Xian. Reports from James C. Cantos
From The Philippine STAR, September 28, 2014 issue:
"Insurance man Peter Coyiuto celebrated a milestone last August 8th at Buddha Bar in Makati City. Prominent personalities from business, politics, government, alumni from Peter’s alma mater (De la Salle University and Wharton School), his family and friends attended the special affair. Peter, First Life Financial’s CEO, revealed his less serious side in a dance performance with his wife Elena and their kids, as well as a hilarious video presentation to the delight of the guests. Generous donations from close to a thousand guests went to Caritas Manila, the event’s beneficiary."
Big shout-out for the it-boy
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| Enchong Dee has a quiet birthday dinner at CDP and bumps into friends: Carlo Magdaluyo, Keren Pascual, Korina Sanchez, Margot Torres. |
CONSISTENT, TOP-RATED TELEVISION SHOWS, A multi-million peso hit movies, a string of big endorsements, a handful of upcoming projects that are surely as huge, a legion of die-hard fans and a wonderful family life; just some of the best reasons why today’s it-boy Enchong Dee should be celebrating.
And that’s exactly what happened last November 10 at Mind Museum hours after his production number in the ABS-CBN’s Sunday noontime show ASAP Natin 'To when he gathered friends and colleagues for a special moment of annual thanksgiving and celebration for all the wonderful things and opportunities he’s been blessed with through-out the year. The Kapamilya actor’s annual birthday party proved to be a perfect break from an incredibly hectic schedule that he turned 31 on November 5 and a relaxing time to hang out with friends who have stood by him as he made his every dream happen.
Some of the personalities with the birthday boy were Jorge Carino and wife Daisy, Vice President Leni Robredo, former President Benigno Aquino III, former Vice President Noli de Castro, House Speaker Alan Peter and Taguig Rep. Lani Cayetano, Taguig Mayor Lino Cayetano, former Taguig Mayor Freddie and First Lady Kaye Tinga, Ana de Ocampo, Franco Laurel, Carlo Magdaluyo, Anakalusugan Party List Rep. Mike Defensor, Bong Guerrero, chef Noel dela Rama, Karen Davila, Anton San Diego, Bev Llorente, Samantha Lopez, Navotas City Mayor Toby Tiangco, Arnold Vegafria, Perry Lansigan, Mons Romulo, Carol Garcia, Karen Santos, Margie Moran Floirendo, Laurie Westfall, Sharm Hiranand, Marianne Po, Roseanne Belmonte, Agnes Huibonhoa, Jojie Dingcong, Susan Joven, Michelle Tiangco, Melba Solidum, Carol Garcia, Alice Edurado, Mother Lily Monteverde, Roselle Monteverde, Veana Fores, Doris Magsaysay Ho, Margarita Forés, Maricel Soriano, Tessa Prieto-Valdes, Sandy Romualdez, Jon Herrera and Patti Grandidge, Gian Carlos, Maquie Raquiza, Filbert Kung, Kim Nicholas, Monch Novales, Mo Nuevo, Marivic and Atty. Cesar Pareja, Bro. Armin Luistro, Dinky Soliman, Keren Pascual, Pops Fernandez, Chad Dominic Hernandez, Mikki Gonzalez, Jaru Albert, Nenette Rustia, Ella Zobel de Ayala, Thou Reyes, Charlie Dizon, Jo-Ann Bitagcol, Miah Gomez, Kirby Andres, Korina Sanchez, Margot Torres, Johnny Manahan, Mariole Alberto, Benedicto Sison, Jeff Remigio, Pat-P Daza, Noel Ferrer, Enrico Santos, Joel Mercado, Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng, Robina Gokongwei-Pe, Joanne Maglipon, Girlie Rodis, Eloisa Matias, Leo Katigbak, Laurenti Dyogi, Shirley Kuan, Law Tan, Dolor Guevarra, Angelica Alita, Bibeth Orteza, Malou Choa-Fagar, Arnel Patawaran, Liza Ilarde and Elbert Cuenca, Millet Mananquil and hubby Robert, son Robby and wife Maxene Magalona, Thelma San Juan and son Luis Carlo, Cory Vidanes, Deo Endrinal, Biboy Arboleda, MTRCB chairwoman Rachel Arenas, Senators Pia Cayetano, Grace Poe, Sonny Angara and Cynthia Villar, Antique Rep. Loren Legarda, Leyte 4th District Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez, actors and friends Gretchen Barretto with Tonyboy Cojuangco, Cesar Montano, Albert Martinez, Agot Isidro, Gerald Anderson, Arjo Atayde, Ria Atayde, Rayver Cruz, JC de Vera, Robi Domingo, Ejay Falcon, Mark McMahon, Xian Lim, Arron Villaflor, Zanjoe Marudo, Janus del Prado, Sam Concepcion, Rodjun Cruz, David Chua, Carlo Gonzales, Mauro Lumba, Philippe Magalona, Joseph Marco, Miko Raval, Inigo Pascual, LA Aguinaldo, Alexa Ilacad, Grae Fernandez, Raphael Robes, Randy See, Tyson Kraft, Sacheen Steinmann, Dimitri Tolenaars, Alison Carlos, Javi Cang, Kim Cruz, Carlos Laurel, Hannah Locsin, Luigi Pumaren, Kat Galang, Paolo Gonzales, Kelsey Merritt and Daniel Velasco. The popular leading gorgeous leading ladies’ actresses Bea Alonzo, Julia Barretto, Iza Calzado, Kim Chiu, Yam Concepcion, Maymay Entrata, Chienna Filomeno, Erich Gonzales, Janine Gutierrez, Julia Montes, Melissa Ricks, Bianca Manalo, Jessy Mendiola, Janella Salvador, Maja Salvador, Daniella Stranner, Kylie Verzosa and Megan Young, comedians Kit-Kat, Pokwang and Vice Ganda, models Phoemela Baranda and Nicolette Bell and hair stylists Ton Lao, Liz Uy and Sidney Yap were also there to make the night even more special.
A prized talent of ABS-CBN Star Magic, Enchong was discovered as a champion swimmer for the De La Salle University where he was a three-time most valuable player in the men’s swimming division and seven-time swimming gold medalist in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Swimming Championships. He started out appearing in supporting roles in various TV dramas which eventually led him to becoming a sought-after endorser for various brands. Enchong endorses some of the country’s most reputable brands such as Bench, Bench Body, Timex, Arena Swimwear, Speedo, Adidas, Nike, Jins Eyewear, Coca-Cola, Real Leaf Green Tea, Milo, Powerade, Lucky Me, Jollibee, Convergys, Nike, Bench Skin Expert, GAOC - Gan Advanced Osseointegration Center, Bodyworx Spa and Fitness Club, Technopack and Nutrilite.
It wasn’t until the primetime soap Katorse that he was “accidentally” paired up with Erich Gonzales, Ejay Falcon and Xian Lim and they clicked as a love team. A string of bigger projects followed such as Tanging Yaman, a political drama launched prior to the May 10, 2010 automated elections and Magkaribal, dubbed a “fashion-serye” with Bea Alonzo, Derek Ramsay, Angel Aquino and Gretchen Barretto, the Philippine adaptation of Mexican telenovela Maria La Del Barrio, Ina, Kapatid, Anak, a “family drama” series starring Kim Chiu, Xian Lim and Maja Salvador, Muling Buksan ang Puso, a melodrama series starring Julia Montes and Enrique Gil, A Love to Last, a “romantic family comedy-drama” starring Bea Alonzo, Ian Veneracion, Iza Calzado, Julia Barretto, Ronnie Alonte, JK Labajo and Hannah Lopez Vito and The Blood Sisters, an crime and mystery drama series starring Erich and Ejay themselves.
Let's not forget, that this happening was also Enchong Dee’s birthday. No wonder were giant E’s at the entrance. Over candles and cake, the guests sang Happy Birthday to Enchong Dee. It was truly a fun-filled and delightful evening, especially for our Kapamilya star Enchong Dee.
“To all who attended and helped :) Thank you for making this surprise birthday party a success”, he said.
Cheers!