Manny Pacquiao Wins Again! KOs Diaz In the 9th Round!

In the midst of all the tragedies, rice and gasoline prices going up, people dying in the Sulpicio ship sinking, sometimes it just takes one win - like Pacquiao's winning match today to lift everyone's spirits.

Cebu city was almost at a standstill this morning as everyone crowded over every available television set to watch if Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao still has it in him to beat WBC lightweight champion David Diaz.

And apparently after knocking him out in the 9th round he still has some spunk left in him - you go Pacman! I'm not particularly a big fan of the guy because I've heard he's a womanizer and a pig-headed jock but nevertheless he is still the first Asian to hold four different titles at different weights and the first Filipino to hold the crown.

You can't help but be proud of that!

Typhoon Frank sinks MV Princess Of the Stars?

Typhoon Frank just hit Cebu the other day. We were in fact going to cancel our outing this week-end because the winds yesterday seemed pretty bad. It was also raining very hard last Friday. The sun was shining today, although it drizzled a little bit, it wasn't enough to dampen our spirits. That is until I read the news about another typhoon named Fengshen....


The MV Princess of the Stars (passenger ferry) went down at around noon Saturday (0400 GMT) several kilometres off the coast of Sibuyan Island after being battered by huge waves overnight when its engines failed, officials and survivors said.

Four bodies washed ashore on Sibuyan and three survivors were found, but the death toll is likely to rise sharply with the fate of the rest of the passengers and crew unknown, officials and reports said.

The ship, en route from the capital Manila to the central island of Cebu and 16 hours into its 22-hour voyage, issued a distress signal before going down.

A police boat reached the site early on Sunday, and officers found the ferry flipped over with only its bow visible above the water line, Tansingco told local radio.

As of the last report 700 passengers are still missing while 155 have been proclaimed dead as a result of the flash floods and winds from the typhoon.

Via AFP

Ces Drilon and 2 Others Released by Kidnappers

Have you heard the news? Apparently kidnapped television reporter Ces Drilon, cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion and Mindanao State University professor Octavio Dinampo were freed late Tuesday night 11pm, nine days after they were abducted in Sulu province.

All three captives were debriefed in Zamboanga City before they are flown back to Manila.

Ces Drilon had press release almost immediately after that with puffy eyes and mosquito-bitten face was all over the news just crying for justice and stuff like that. Broadcasting all over the news how she was threatened with beheading. That must have been a terrible ordeal though, I sympathize with her. Nobody should have to go through torment like that.

President Arroyo has already declared a man-hunt for the kidnappers, suspected to be Abu Sayyaf and aligned with Al Quaeda.

Well, looks like everyone will have to be a little more careful

Read more about the release here

Banilad-Talamban Fly-over To Be Finished on July 31! Road Widening Starts On Monday - P120M Budget Ready To Buy Lots!

I can hardly believe my eyes, the Banilad Talamban fly-over is almost finished? That intersection for the past few months, as been a bane to Cebuanos' existence. Imagine the traffic starting in Banilad affecting A.S. Fortuna, Talamban areas and of course the other alternate routes like Mabolo.

To be able to read that the fly-over will be finished on July 31 is like waking from a bad dream! Apparently budget is already available, partial payments can be made for the other lot owners, aside from payment for nine critical lots that should be purchased as soon possible for the widening to proceed.

However I may be jumping the gun as there is still dispute as to the lot prices. The owners acceded to the P15,500 per square meter valuation “under protest,” and will ask the court to be the one to decide the value of their properties, which they pegged at P25,000 to P30,000 per square meter.

The Case Of Judy Ann Santos For Meralco Vs. The Administration? Or Vs. The People Of The Philippines?

Judy Ann Santos has become the "queen" of endorsements. She is on almost every advertisement on prime time television from milk to food condiments to clothing and even to shampoo and slimming treatments. She has become an icon in Philippine cinema because not only is she one of the actresses people have followed since her youth, she has stayed away from public intrigue and has managed to maintain a squeaky clean image while achieving what few people have done - to lose weight and actually succeed in her relationships and her career at the same time.

She is now the "Meralco spokesperson" in 2 ads for Meralco where she explains System Loss charge and the increasing price of the electricity bill. Unfortunately unlike her other endorsements, this very contested very controversial ad is causing her to lose her appeal among the masses who patronize her because everybody is pissed at the ever-increasing bills they have to pay.

There has been the long debate asking Meralco to lower their charges. This is true, I do not debate the fact that even in Cebu, I pay a whole lot for electricity. So any lowering of charges anywhere would be much appreciated by consumers all over the Philippines.

Judy Ann Santos was either too ignorant to know what she was getting into or she knew full well what was going on and decided to put herself out there. If it is the case of the latter, then I admire her. Go girl, stand up for what you believe in.

But unfortunately, more than anything I think it is the former that holds true. She has no idea what's really going on with the increased electricity charges and how deeply this has affected many of the common residents that used to look up to her.

There is much propaganda now against Judy Ann Santos and I'm not quite sure if this is as a result of the administration's swaying or truly the voice of the Filipino people who feel betrayed by an actress they thought was on their side.

When Local Actors Make A Big Deal Out Of Casual Sex

It is so obvious how absolutely backwards the Filipino perspective on sex and casual sex to be specific. Just recently news came out of a local actor - Baron Frederick Von Geisler, who was one of the housemates in the recent Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition.

Apparently he sexually harassed the daughter of another "playboy" actor, William Martinez, and she is Patrizha Maree Martinez, who forwarded her complaint to DoJ (Department of Justice) saying that the young actor Baron Geisler offered her a one-night stand while in the the Fiamma Bar in Makati City. Baron apologized for this that night and hugged her, touching her breast as he embraced her.

In a counter-affidavit, Baron explains that had the girl - Patrizha Martinez not shown interest in him, he would not have hugged her. Good point! How would Baron Geisler be able to even put his arms around a girl who clearly shows she is uninterested in him?

This is a very trivial affair that could have been settled by themselves instead of this very big and sensational case. I agree with Baron Geisler. It's the 21st century for crying out loud. Casual sex is a part of life. If she can't handle it then say no. I'm not saying that what Baron Geisler did was right. He should have been more sensitive and should at least have respected the girl. He should not have been "bastos" would be the correct local term. But asking for P5 million pesos? Now that's extortion! Come on she's not even that much of a looker!

The flip-side would be that the girl ought to have him respect her. Respect unfortunately you have to earn. This case I think is a lot more complicated than the facts that have been disclosed.

Update On The Ces Drilon Kidnapping - Her Cameraman Angelo Valderama Has Been Released After Payment Of 2 Million Pesos

I saw on the news today that ABS-CBN cameraman Angelo Valderama was released around 7:30 p.m. to Sulu Vice Governor Lady Ann Sahidula, said Undersecretary Amilasan Amilbajar of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Mindanao. It has been said that a P2-million "board and lodging fee" was paid in exchange for his freedom. Now isn't that rather silly? Calling a 2 Million peso figure "board and lodging fee?" That's the biggest joke of all time. I think if we'd like to be truthful - that is part of the ransom. And since they've given that amount for a measly cameraman, imagine what the amount would be for the release of Ces Drilon!

But prominent anchorwoman Ces Drilon and cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion were still in captivity, along with a Mindanao State University professor who had acted as their local guide. That would be quite natural. I bet Ces Drilon would be the last one to be release as she is of course the "ace" in this kidnapping. This wouldn't even make this big of a fuss if not for her big name on prime time television.

The kidnappers, described as members of the Abu Sayyaf group that has been blamed for the worst terrorist attacks in the Philippines, were understood to have demanded up to P20 million ($454,000) in ransom.

via Inquirer.net

Ces Drilon, Jimmy Encarnacion, and Angelo Valderama of ABS-CBN Kidnapped For Ransom By Abu Sayyaf

This is the sort of stuff that just happens in the movies. I can't believe it's happening here in the Philippines of all places.

It has been confirmed today that ABS-CBN News journalists Ces Drilon, Jimmy Encarnacion, and Angelo Valderama have been kidnapped for ransom. Suspects are the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu.

Apparently, Drilon, cameramen Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama, and Prof. Octavio Dinampo were seized by armed men in Barangay Labbah, an isolated area, Maimbung Mayor Najib Maldisa said Tuesday.

Unfortunately ABS-CBN News will abide by its policy not to pay ransom because this would embolden kidnap for ransom groups to abduct other journalists, putting more lives at risk. I know the principle is right somehow but imagine being friends and/or family of these journalists. I'd pay anything to get a loved one back.

Who thought becoming a journalist could get so dangerous?

Pops Fernandez Nabastos Sa Cebu?

Now it's very impolite that the headline for Inquirer said "Pops' horrifying experience in Cebu." It was because of one person who didn't like her! Why blame the entire city?

According to the article:

Pops Fernandez had a horrifying experience in Mandaue, Cebu last Friday.

According to an eyewitness, Pipay was all set to perform even if she and her band hadn't been paid-but a commotion erupted.

"Na-shock kami lahat kasi biglang may baklang talak nang talak... He was cursing Pipay and her entourage," recounts my source. "Nagsagutan sila ng handler ni Pipay. Kawawa naman si Pops kasi willing na nga siyang mag-show kahit di pa sila bayad, pero siya pa ang nabastos. Sa sobrang pagka-shock niya, nag-faint si Pipay. 'Di na natuloy 'yung show."

Now that's a little shallow don't you think? Pops Fernandez has been in the business for what... 20 years? She should probably be able to handle critics better than that. I'm pretty sure the money or lack of it, had something to do with it.

I'm not saying that what happened to her should be tolerated, but the article insinuated that Cebuanos are no good and that's not good either.