PREACHER,TEACHER: HEARTS ON FIRE

He is the preacher in blue jeans who started his ministry at the age of 13. A victim of child molestation at age eight that left him deeply scarred, he eventually turned into a sex-crazed young man and a porn addict. She had always been one who kept to herself, one who believes that miracles do happen and that with God everything is possible.

Bro. Bo Sanchez eventually met his wife Marowe at a prayer meeting. He was the preacher , she was the teacher who would teach the scarred young man one of life's most important lessons- acceptance. Married now for more than 10 years together they search for spirituality thirsty souls from all over the globe, reach out to them and give them a side serving of their own "manna" - soul food to go.

The road to heaven, or preaching, in the case of Bro.Bo seemed preordained from the start that one of his prayer group leaders even saw it in a dream.

"I started preaching at the age of 13. It was in a small prayer group that may parents had. There was this prayer group leader who said: Bo , last night God told me that you were going to be a preahcer. He invited me to give a talk the following week. I gave may first talk and I never stopped."

HOW TO OVERCOME BOREDOM

Here are a few tips to overcome boredom:

Change your thoughts:

Your thoughts affect your behavior.By changing your mind about the meaning of your emotion and experiences, you will generate a different attitude.

Get inspired by powerful long range goals.

Powerful goals keep you inspired. You can't feel bored at the same time when your are motivated to build a life.

Fire up your imagination

Create mental images to stimulate your thoughts. Visualize where you want to be and what you want to become.Use your imagination to experience a situation that you want to happen in your life. The wonderful thing about imagination is you can create anything you wish to experience.

 Go through some motions.

Change your physiology. Go for a walk or do something physically outrageous. Write down 10 things you can do and start something from your list to overcome your inertia.

Journal your feelings and thoughts.

One of the ways to become aware of what triggers your boredom is to question yourself and take a hard look at it. Observe and write down your feelings and thoughts for a week and at the endof it, reflect on them.

Create curiosity.

Create your curiosity on what's happening around and inside you. You find life boring because of the repetition or a pattern of some habits or activities. Try to look at and do them differently and get yourself fascinated with other option and possibilities.

Find something exciting, stimulating and entertaining.

Read,hear,watch or do something stimulating, exciting, and entertaining. Go out, see and experience new things.

Avoid boring people and situations.

Get away from people and situations that bore you.You can't just walk out of a relationship but you can give yourself some space to do things that interest and motivate.

Source: Fatimah Musa  

Winners at the 81st Academy Awards

Full list of winners at the 81st Academy Awards, which have been held in Los Angeles.

 

Best picture: Slumdog Millionaire
Also nominated: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Frost/Nixon; Milk; The Reader 

Best director: Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
Also nominated: Stephen Daldry - The Reader; David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon; Gus Van Sant - Milk

 

Best actor: Sean Penn - Milk
Also nominated: Richard Jenkins - The Visitor; Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon; Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

 

Best actress: Kate Winslet - The Reader
Also nominated: Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married; Angelina Jolie - Changeling; Melissa Leo - Frozen River; Meryl Streep - Doubt

 

Best supporting actor: Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Also nominated: Josh Brolin - Milk; Robert Downey Jr - Tropic Thunder; Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt; Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road

 

Best supporting actress: Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Also nominated: Amy Adams - Doubt; Viola Davis - Doubt; Taraji P Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler

 

Best original screenplay: Milk
Also nominated: Happy-Go-Lucky; Wall-E; In Bruges; Frozen River

 

Best adapted screenplay: Slumdog Millionaire
Also nominated: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Doubt; Frost/Nixon; The Reader

 

Best animated feature film: Wall-E
Also nominated: Bolt; Kung Fu Panda

 

Best animated short film: La Maison en Petits Cubes
Also nominated: Lavatory - Lovestory; Oktapodi; Presto; This Way Up

 

Best foreign language film: Departures - Japan
Also nominated: Revanche - Austria; The Class - France; The Baader Meinhof Complex - Germany; Waltz With Bashir - Israel

 

Best documentary feature: Man on Wire
Also nominated: The Betrayal; Encounters at the End of the World; The Garden; Trouble The Water

 

Best documentary short subject: Smile Pinki
Also nominated: The Conscience of Nhem En; The Final Inch; The Witness - From the Balcony of Room 306

 

Art direction: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Also nominated: Changeling; The Dark Knight; The Duchess; Revolutionary Road

 

Costume design: The Duchess
Also nominated: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Australia; Milk; Revolutionary Road

 

Make-up: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Also nominated: The Dark Knight; Hellboy II: The Golden Army

 

Cinematography: Slumdog Millionaire
Also nominated: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Changeling; The Dark Knight; The Reader

 

Best live action short film: Spielzeugland (Toyland)
Also nominated: Auf der Strecke (On The Line); Manon on the Asphalt; New Boy; The Pig

 

Visual effects: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Also nominated: The Dark Knight; Iron Man

 

Sound editing: The Dark Knight
Also nominated: Iron Man; Wanted; Slumdog Millionaire; Wall-E

 

Sound mixing: Slumdog Millionaire
Also nominated: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; The Dark Knight; Wanted; Wall-E

 

Film editing:Slumdog Millionaire
Also nominated: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; The Dark Knight; Frost/Nixon; Milk

 

Best original score: Slumdog Millionaire
Also nominated: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Defiance; Milk; Slumdog Millionaire; Wall-E

 

Best original song: Jai Ho - Slumdog Millionaire
Also nominated: Down To Earth - Wall-E; O Saya - Slumdog Millionaire

 

"TOTOY BATO" By Carlo J. Caparas

Carlo J. Caparas obra "Totoy Bato", starring Robin Padilla and Regine Velasquez with boxing champ Manny Pacquiao. With the three of them in the lead cast of the most anticipated action-adventure show. GMA 7 is expected to continue to reign supreme in the ratings chart in primetime programming. There's really no stopping GMA 7, the country's leading network, from producing world-class quality programs, as it brings to your screens the unforgettable story of a Pinoy boxer.

"Totoy Bato" is one of Caparas' action masterpiece. According to him the name epitomizes Pinoy machismo. And Robin, fresh from his breathtaking journey in "Joaquin Bordado" another Caparas creation which was a New York Festival finalist in the Action/Adventure category, is the most deserving actor to portray the role.

Regine, whose first team-up with Robin in the big screen was a tremendous success, will portray the role of Anna . Totoy Bato's love interest and inspiration in all his struggles . Manny Pacquiao. the Pambansang Kamao, in his first-ever drama program, will play Totoy's close friend and trainer.

"Totoy Bato" is indeed a surefire top-rating program that promises to win the audience with its gripping storyline and also with its powerhouse cast ensemble. Joining Robin, Regine and Manny is multi-awarded Eddie Garcia as the caring coach to Totoy Bato, Coach Fredo, Eddie was also in the cast of 'Joaquin Bordado."

A SEXIER MARK HERRAS......

Matinee idol Mark Herras is preparing something new to offer his fans- his body !

The lean actor and dancer has included in his daily routine a serious workout regimen to beef up. He has even chosen a gym close to his work, GMA Network, so commuting back and forth from work to workout would be a breeze.

Sources said that the main reason he is adding muscles and even developing a six-pack-abs is because he "might" be doing "Machete" the remake of the Cesar Montano's movie in the 90s with the same title. The more immediate reason for his workout though is for his current drama series with just reunited himlove team partner Jennylyn Mercado !

"I really felt the need to build my body", he expressed in Filipino."I will have daring scenes in 'Paano Ba Ang Mangarap' ang I know Jen and I will even have love scenes. and I want to look good on television !"

Altering his physique to look better for his comeback love team with Jennylyn is a good move too. A new look, at least when succesful with his body, would also show his maturity level as an actor. And this could go hand in hand with Jennylyn's maturity especially after giving birth to a baby boy. The TV remake of the Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon movie of the same title "Paano Ba Ang Mangarap", do require from them more depth with regards for their craft.

ALJUR ABRENICA, Ready for stardom?

Kapuso teenage hunk Aljur Abrenica is touted as one of the rising stars expected to reach a carrer's peak this Year of the Ox, what with his impressive performances in recent outings that have gained him a growing fan base.

Aljur is currently being noticed for his half-engkanto role in GMA-7's ongoing fantaserye " Luna Mystica", while also making his presence felt in hosting and singing as part of sunday noon's "SOP".

"My big wish this year is to become a leading man in a teleserye or a movie," said the 18-year -old Starstruck gem who earned the "Ultimate Hunk" during his reality-TV shot for fame just a couple of years back.

His inclination for action was noted during his act in the Dennis Trillo starrer 'Zaido" where he also performed as 'pulis kalawakan', along with the late Marky Cielo who used to give him pointers that according to him helped him a lot.

Aljur ( whose unique name is taken from his fathers's, which is Alfonso, Jr.) also acted in 'Dyesebel" which for him is his toughest to date. He played a poor fellow who fell in love and got broken-hearted.

Aljur is a born singer. Thus, his performances in "SOP's" Bro. Band segment gives him much delight. For this, he expressed desire to try recording in the future. He picks the likes of Jesse McCartney, Aaron carter and the more recent Jonas Brothers as big influences which go well with his sort-of boy band image.

Aljur has indeed achieved something. Just two years back he was still commuting via jeepneys in Pampanga. Now, he is driving the latest Fortuner model. he is now living independently. but he doesn't forget to visit his family in Pampanga, often after Sunday's work.

Nominations for the 81st annual Academy Awards announced Jan. 22, 2009:

 

Best Picture: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "Frost/Nixon," "Milk," "The Reader," "Slumdog Millionaire"

 

Actor: Richard Jenkins, "The Visitor"; Frank Langella, "Frost/Nixon"; Sean Penn, "Milk"; Brad Pitt, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"; Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler"

 

Actress: Anne Hathaway, "Rachel Getting Married"; Angelina Jolie, "Changeling"; Melissa Leo, "Frozen River"; Meryl Streep, "Doubt"; Kate Winslet, "The Reader"

 

Supporting Actor: Josh Brolin, "Milk"; Robert Downey Jr., "Tropic Thunder"; Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Doubt"; Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight"; Michael Shannon, "Revolutionary Road"

 

Supporting Actress: Amy Adams, "Doubt"; Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"; Viola Davis, "Doubt"; Taraji P. Henson, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"; Marisa Tomei, "The Wrestler"

 

Director: David Fincher, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"; Ron Howard, "Frost/Nixon"; Gus Van Sant, "Milk"; Stephen Daldry, "The Reader"; Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire"

 

Foreign Film: "The Baader Meinhof Complex," Germany; "The Class," France; "Departures," Japan; "Revanche," Austria; "Waltz With Bashir," Israel

 

Adapted Screenplay: Eric Roth and Robin Swicord, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"; John Patrick Shanley, "Doubt"; Peter Morgan, "Frost/Nixon"; David Hare, "The Reader"; Simon Beaufoy, "Slumdog Millionaire"

 

Original Screenplay: Courtney Hunt, "Frozen River"; Mike Leigh, "Happy-Go-Lucky"; Martin McDonagh, "In Bruges"; Dustin Lance Black, "Milk"; Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon and Pete Docter, "WALL-E"

 

Animated Feature Film: "Bolt"; "Kung Fu Panda"; "WALL-E"

 

Art Direction: "Changeling," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "The Dark Knight," "The Duchess," "Revolutionary Road"

 

Cinematography: "Changeling," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "The Dark Knight," "The Reader," "Slumdog Millionaire"

 

Sound Mixing: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "The Dark Knight," "Slumdog Millionaire," "WALL-E," "Wanted"

 

Sound Editing: "The Dark Knight," "Iron Man," "Slumdog Millionaire," "WALL-E," "Wanted"

 

Original Score: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," Alexandre Desplat; "Defiance," James Newton Howard; "Milk," Danny Elfman; "Slumdog Millionaire," A.R. Rahman; "WALL-E," Thomas Newman

 

Original Song: "Down to Earth" from "WALL-E," Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman; "Jai Ho" from "Slumdog Millionaire," A.R. Rahman and Gulzar; "O Saya" from "Slumdog Millionaire," A.R. Rahman and Maya Arulpragasam

 

Costume: "Australia," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "The Duchess," "Milk," "Revolutionary Road"

 

Documentary Feature: "The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)," "Encounters at the End of the World," "The Garden," "Man on Wire," "Trouble the Water"

 

Documentary (short subject): "The Conscience of Nhem En," "The Final Inch," "Smile Pinki," "The Witness — From the Balcony of Room 306"

 

Film Editing: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "The Dark Knight," "Frost/Nixon," "Milk," "Slumdog Millionaire"

 

Makeup: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "The Dark Knight," "Hellboy II: The Golden Army"

 

Animated Short Film: "La Maison en Petits Cubes," "Lavatory — Lovestory," "Oktapodi," "Presto," "This Way Up"

 

Live Action Short Film: "Auf der Strecke (On the Line)," "Manon on the Asphalt," "New Boy," "The Pig," "Spielzeugland (Toyland)"

 

Visual Effects: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "The Dark Knight," "Iron Man"

 

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award (Oscar statuette): Jerry Lewis

 

 

YOUNG MONEY

Give kids their own money .With proper guidance they'll soon know how to manage their finances.

You can give your children an allowance so that they can learn to manage money and at the same time,let them bring food to school to be able to save on total expenses.

Explain to your children that bringing food to school saves you money because the food prepared by others is definitely more expensive than the food that you prepare yourself. In addition, home-cooked meals are always more nutritious,probably cleaner and better -tasting. If your cooking isn't that good, just emphasize your need to budget and that your food is more nutritious.

You need to explain to them that you are still giving them a little allowance so that they will learn how to save. When they grow up, they will have to budget their own money and continur saving, so it is good to learn these things while they are young.

The bottom line is, exposing children early to the proper use and view of money is giving them a good head start in their journey to achieve financial comfort. After all, it is our obligation to make sure that our children grow up to be financially literate.

ISLA FISHER lives for fashion in "Confessions of a Shopaholic"

The filmmakers of Touchstone Pictures' romantic comedy "Confessionas of a Shopaholic" knew that the lead character in had to be portrayed by a special and spirited talent. So they tapped

emerging major talent Isla Fisher for the role.

" She stole people's hearts in "Wedding Crashers," says producers Jerry Bruckheimer. "In 'Confessions of a Shopaholic' she carries the movie .It's exciting to see her wit,intellegence and comedic timing in nearly every scene." Based on Sophie Kinsell's international bestseller, "Shopaholic" revolve s around Rebecca Bloomwood (Fisher) is a fun-loving girl who is really good at shopping a little too well, perhaps. She dream of working for her favorite fashion magazine, but can't quite get her foot in the door until ironically , she snags a job as an advice columnist for a financial magazine published by the same company. As her dreams are finally coming true, she goes to ever more hilarious and extreme efforts to keep her past from ruining her future.

Opening Feb. 18 across the Philippines,"Confessions of a Shopaholic" is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International.

Richard-KC Movie

The turneout of the loveteam's followers wherever they go is always impressive.

Kc and Richard greeted everyone prior to the screening, she acknowledged her Dad, Gabby Concepcion

and said that her mom Sharon Cuneta was nowhere because she was abroad.

The film , with all its kilig and contrived attempts at comedy.And its safe to say that this one's much better than "For the First Time". A good follow up, we should say.

Joel Lamangan made the producers very happy. Annette Gozon-Abrogar of GMA Films says the movie is absolutely perfect and cites outstanding chemistry between the stars. She said she enjoyed it so much.

Joey abacan,producer,says" Direk Joel took me back to the time when watching Sharon-Gabby movie was my guilty pleasure. We now got to produce something of the same caliber and I"m extremely proud of it."

David Pomeranz "The Smile Crusade"

The Smile Crusade
David Pomeranz sings songs of love and hope for the benefit of Filipino children suffering from facial deformites.
In celebration of its 27th anniversary of putting smiles in people's faces, Operation Smile Philippines(OSP) teams up with internationally renowned singer,songwriter,and cause partner David Pomeranz to stage 'In Your Hands", a series of fund-raising concerts.
"In Our Hands" is part of OS Philippines"effort to provide children with facial deformities free reconstructive surgeries.Sing along with David's all-time hits "Got to believe in Magic," "King and Queen of Hearts,""Born for you," "On This Day," and "Undying Admiration" as you change lives of children with clefting defects .Joining David is OSP' singing ambassador Chadleen Lacdo-o. The 13 year old budding Cebuana singer is an OS miracle who suffered from cleft palate and was granted free operation by OSP.
Help spread cheers! Catch "In Our Hands" on Feb.27 at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, Feb.28 at CAP Auditorium, Davao City and March 1 at Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Manila. www.operationsmile.org.ph

Zsa Zsa Padilla and Vicki Belo

There seems to be no end for the battle aginst bulge.With lifestyle changes giving everyone more and more

reasons to gain weight, there is a constant search for the best weight loss strategies and procedures that produce the most dramatic results in the least amount of time.

Dr. Vicki Belo, the foremost beauty expert in the country, talks about the latest and the best ways to loose unwanted fat.

From the simple to the more daring steps, she guides us with all the information we need to safely and effectively lose weight.

Learn about the different types of liposuction, as well as bestselling non-invasive techniques like Beloshape and Tenor. Singer actress Zsa Zsa Padilla also tries multi polar, a painless, effective and non-invasive treatment for body contouring and reshaping.

PEOPLE MARRY FOR SEVERAL REASONS;

SECURITY

For some, financial security is the topmost consideration and love comes second or worst, is the least of all priorities. They believe love can be learned ; with solid financial standing , life will be easy and love will come along the way. Such union is based purely on materialism and is more of an investment contract than a union of hearts.

NECESSITY

Some relationship start with love,but when pregnancy occurs and both parties are forced to marry to save their reputation against judgement by the society and community they belong, the love disappears and is replaced by the element of urgency to marry , thus making the couple uncertain of their decision and later their relationship.

FAMILY PRESSURE

This kind of union is a contract between parents or guardians without the direct participation of the parties involved. This is a tactical move of clans, families, or parents for political, financial or personal consideration.

CONVENIENCE

Some marry their partner to boost their image for whatever purpose they want , mainly to cover up their dreaded secrets and weaknesses. Their marriage is more of a show-off so that a weakling can be acceptable as strong person in society.

These kinds of marriage can be easily toppled by a soulmate encounter. Yet how, one may ask can a soulmate perfect their life if they are creating new karma? Always remember that every decision or action has some karmic consequence on everybody within their circle. And any of the above mentioned reasons for marrying makes one in debt to his or her partner, and thus, meeting and fulfilling one's life with their soulmate will not create problem at all because it is actually ending the karmic debt to all parties involved.

The true essence of LOVE:

Based on God's doctrine love knows no conditions. What matters is what one truly feels for another ,not what one can give or offer, not what one can do, not the vanity, but mainly and principally, what's inside one's soul . You will only feel this with your soulmate , not just with anybody , not even the one who's at your side this very moment , or the one you are about to marry for any of the reasons mentioned above.

A soulmate is a special person in your life- no other person can replace him or her. Soulmates find each other for a special reason , which is that the union will bring hope, happiness and fulfillment to those who need it. Separation is inevitable to those whose union is not solely and entirely ruled by unconditional love.

Source: AVV106

SIGNS OF A SOULMATE ENCOUNTER

1.A strong attraction upon initial meeting regardless of looks,status and beliefs.

2.Outright ,spontaneous and immediate recognition of innermost feelings.

3.Freedom from the bondage of manmade law that governs man's social life based on religious and political beliefs and affiliations.

4.The resolution of all changes and trials for either one or both will have a ready solution for every problem they encounter.

5.Pride and ego are replaced by humility and unconditional understanding that goes beyond logic and reason.

6. Life will be easy for them,Opportunities are always on their side for the blessing from heaven will always be given to them.

7.Everything is beautiful in each others's eyes and positive thoughts rule over them.

8.They complement each others and not just live in compatibility.

9.The presence of feeling of losing one's tomorrow if one is lost in their earthly existence either by death or any kind of eventualitites in life.

"What God put together , let no man put asunder"

 The true concept of God's desire for humanity is putting two souls or two persons in a union based on pure love alone. But man's interpretation of God's desire is different; it is unethical if not immoral, to get involve or have interaction in lesser or greater degree  with another to whom one is not married. They see human relationships as a limited composite of society and community,thus making individuals lose  the chance to prosper for soul upliftment and evolution.Many believe in marriage as the only way for intimate and absolute relationship.   

SOULMATE

When the cloud of doubt is gone, when there is certainty of pure and unconditional love. When both are ready to take the risk and bet everything they have in place of their love for each other . When two souls are identical and feel that they are free from man-made laws that govern man's self-imposed morality based on hypocrisy, selfishness and suppression of an individual's spiritual growth- only then you can be called soulmates.

A soulmate is your partner in fulfilling the purpose of your earthly existence. Soulmates are two united souls acting as one for their soul upliftment and for other people's soul evlolution as well. The possibility of entering the kingdom of Oneness is remote without your soulmate because your soul spirit , no matter how much it has perfected its existence on earth, will still be held responsible for the whereabouts of his soul counterpart.

EMOTIONAL HEALTH

Emotional health generally refers to feelings and moods you may feel sad, happy,worried, excited, frustrated, and fulfilled all in the same day. Like physical well-being emotional (psychological) health is more than the absence of problems or illness.

We know that to succeed in the world we must have inner discipline and a sense of control in our lives. This doesn't mean that we can accomplish what we set out to do or that we don't suffer disappointments and losses along the way.

Emotional healthy individuals are in touch or control in their feelings and can acknowledge and express them. Among the characteristics of emotionally healthy persons are the following;

Determination and effort to be healthy; flexibility and adaptability to a variety of circumstances; development of a sense of meaning in and affirmation of life; an understanding that the self is not the center of the universe; compassion for others ; the ability to be unselfish in serving or relating to others ; increased depth and satisfaction in intimate relationships; and a sense of control over the mind and the body that enables the person to make health-enhancing choices and decisions.

HOW TO SURVIVE THE PROM

1.Find a Date:
Being alone at prom is no fun, so here's a plan that works. You may get together a group of girl friends and boy friends, and party it up! You can get the most, if not more, out of your prom that if you'd go with an actual date.
2.Pay your Dues
So you are half -asleep in chemistry, and the Monday morning announcement says: " Prom
dues for juniorand senior prom due one week from tomorrow." Most high schools begin
announcing prom dues due dates months in advance , so dont't worry.If you have a part time job, saving for prom should be easy.
3. Choose your Outfit.
Your bedroom is absolutely covered in magazines about prom,from the dresser and the nightstand .to almost every inch of the floor. You even have some taped to the walls as a reminder of your favorites.You have flipped through the pages of every magazine at least 10 times , but you can't decide what to wear. What do you do?
The answer is research! Start your prom research but looking for colors that compliment your skin tone.There are several generators online that can help you do this ,all you have to do is look for them.
4.Find a Ride
How do you choose your "entrance" to prom? For starters , your prom ride has got to be something you, as well as the other members of your party , can afford .Prom is expensive. You are already required to pay a fee and you have to buy an outfit. Then, there is also dinner before prom, possibly another outfit for a prom after-party,prom,photos and more. You really should
not focus on trying to arrive in the most expensive vehicle you can find.
5.Enjoy your Evening.
Prom night finally arrives, and you are ecstatic. You absolutely cannot wait for the evening to unfold. You lace up your dress or button your tuxedo and head downstairs to await the "oohs and ahhs" of family members. You jump into the fabulous vehicle you selected for the occasion where the other members of your group are already seated. The initial prom jitters and butterflies return as the car approaches the prom entrance and the rest of the prom attendants come into view. This is it ; this is prom.!
Enjoy your prom night, the night of a lifetime.Have fun with your loved ones and make memories to last for years to come.

" THE GREAT BALLADEERS' CONCERT

Viva Concerts and Events recently announced the addition of more dates and venues in "The Great

Balladeers" concert featuring Jun Polistico, Anthony Castelo, and Victor Wood.

 More performances are slated: At the CAP Audittorium in Davao City on Feb. 14; Thunderbird resort

Rizal on Feb. 21 ; and back at the Music Museum on Feb.27 and 28.

Their long -time followers may have felt the impact of this wonderful opportunity of a lifetime where

three artists who popularized many of the most enduring ballads of the past four decades will perform

the greatest love songs ever written in one concert stage together.

"The Great Balladeers" is another prestigious presentation from Viva Concerts and Events,

the same promoter that brought together revered music icons in the most enjoyable shows. 

Health Benefits of Lemon Grass

Health Benefits of Lemon Grass

Be it ever so humble, there is no grass like a lemon grass. A very useful medicinal plant and a tasty food flavoring.

Lemon grass or the local tanglad (scientific name: Cymbopogon ciatrus) is one of those wondrous herbs that one can always associate with Asian cooking Thai, Malaysian and Vietnamese homegrown meal enthusiasts always have this tropical grass at hand for its aromatic citrus flavor with a trace of ginger. Few people know that its other popular name is citronella - the common scent you usually find in candles, perfumes and soaps.

Citronella is known for its calming effect that relieves insomnia or stress. It is also considered as a mild insect repellant. But more than scent, tanglad or lemon grass provides a lot of health benefits. Studies have shown that the lemon grass has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Mixed with pepper, it's a home therapy for menstrual troubles and nausea. Drank as tea, it is an effective diuretic. When it comes to pets, citronella is used to neutralize excessive barking of dogs. Since dogs hate citronella, it is sprayed to dogs to prevent them from barking or just to lessen the behavior.

The Lemon grass is a good cleanser that helps to detoxify the Liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder and the digestive tract. It cuts down uric acid, cholesterol, excess fats and other toxins in the body while stimulating digestion, blood circulation, and lactation; it also alleviates indigestion and gastroenteritis. It is said that lemongrass also helps improve the skin by reducing acne and pimples and acts as a muscle and tissue toner. Also, it can reduce blood pressure. Just make a concoction by boiling some lemon grass leaves, let it cool for a while and drink the liquid.

The leaves and base of this tender perennial are used as a food flavoring, particularly in fish and poultry dishes, and its essential oils are used medicinally. Its distinctive flavor balances hot chillies and contributes to the elaborate, multi-layered flavors of many dishes in South East Asian cuisine.

As the long, thin, grey-green leaves are tough and fibrous, the outside leaves and the tips are usually chopped very finely or discarded from the dish before it is served. The base is often ground. Citral, an essential oil also found in lemon peel, is the constituent responsible for its taste and aroma.

Lemon grass, also known as Sweet Rush and sometimes called Fever Grass in the Caribbean, can be used as a remedy for ague, fevers, and colds.

Filipino ingenuity has produced a commercial beverage made from lemon grass. A concentrate composed of lemon grass juice and muscovado sugar bottled in attractive design.

A recent study by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the department of Science and technology ( DOST ) claims that every 100g of edible tanglad when boiled can contain up to 24.205 micrograms of beta-carotene the anti-oxidant that scientists believe can help prevent cancer. Another DOST study shows that lemon grass oil has the potential as a tropical eye medication against keratomycosis, an inflammation of cornea often associated with burning or blurring of vision.

About the author: Manolito Montala is a webmaster and one of his interests is collecting local medicinal plants information which can be found in Filipino Herbs Healing Wonders. By Manolito Montala , Published: 9/4/2006

JUDY ANN AND RYAN

Judy Ann Santos doestn"t really want to talk in details about her imminent wedding to her fiance Ryan Agoncillo this year. But she was kind enough to oblige the press with her thoughts about how the wedding should take place.

The slimmer and prettier Juday , a long -time endorser of the chain of beauty

and dermatology clinic, will be gracing the new Flawless billboards in March which

will also signal the clinic's re-lunch. Juday said she always welcomes working

with Flawless because they have always been supportive of all her endeavors.

About her wedding. Juday candidly said that the preparations will largely

depend upon the house that they will be buying. We saw a house we like

already. We're just preparing for the necessary papers,talking to the owner of the

house and the bank, that's why we don't really want to spend so much on the

wedding, she said honestly.

Juday confirmed that there will be a wedding this year but refused to confirm

whether it's going to be in April or May. But it's going to be a very simple, intimate

wedding with very few selected guests."

"ANG BABAENG HINUGOT SA AKING TADYANG"

This TV Drama series will be the " most kissingest" tandem of Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera.
This is their love-team in a TV Drama series, the first two being "Dyesebel" and "Marimar". Both were
big hits, and difinitely, the third would even be bigger. WHY? "Ang babaeng hinugot sa aking Tadyang"
is not a just drama with some elements of emotional uproar or upsets, or drowning in tears. It has the
elements of action and suspense which will surely keep one to his seat watching the show. Besides, people
would expect what Dingdong and Marian could show which are more exciting than their previous love scenes.
Dingdong and Marian are the most talked -about pair in town - all because of their torrid kissing scenes
which no other artists have done on TV. One reason perhaps is that they are really truly in love with each other -off cam and on-cam . So that their kissing scenes are no longer being acted, but an explosion of
their true affection or passion for each other. That makes the great difference when Dingdong and Marian
are compared with other lovers on screen!
"Ang Babaeng Hinugot Sa Aking Tadyang " was written by Carlo J. Caparas for comics in 1974.

PACQUIAO, HATTON fight few tickets left

Only 1,000 tickets for the May 2 face-off between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky
Hatton are left for sale, Top Rank chief Bob Arum said yesterday.
Arum said the MGM Grand Garden Arena has been reconfigured to accomodate
16,000-plus and there'd be nothing left to be sold soon owing to the huge demand
for one of this year's most awaited showdowns.
Not all 16,000 seats were made available to the public when tickets went on sale
last friday as the lion's share were purchased earlier by both Top Rank and Golden
Boy Promotions(GBP) as well as MGM/Mirage properties,host venue of the scheduled
12-round super-light-weight title bout.
GBP,owned by Oscar De La Hoya,has promotional rights over Hatton.
"Its's going to be sellout", said Arum,who is in New York finalizing the details of the
upcoming press tour of Pacquiao and Hatton that will kick off in England on Feb.26 with
London as first stop and Manchester as the second and last leg of the promotional event.
From the UK, Pacquiao's and Hatton's camps will proceed to New York then to Los Angeles
in the first few days of March and the Filipino star will then immediately begin training at the
Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywod under Freddie Roach, while the British bomber will
return to Manchester for the initial phase of his preparation.

EVEN A SMALL AMOUNT OF FAITH IS BETTER THAN NO FAITH

Belief is not not wishful thinking.It is strong conviction- FAITH. You cannot wish
yourself into a new house but you can devise an idea , a scheme, a plan of action, back
it with strong belief and then expect an affirmative result. You can bring into your life
material riches, better health and greater happiness by believing that God means you to have these things.
' If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed.....
nothing shall be impossible unto you.' - Matt.17:20

YOU SUCCEED WHEN YOU THINK SUCCESS

Miracles will occur in your life when you use the power of your mind in an affirmative way and when you come to the realisation that the only thing that separates you from success or failure is the way you "think","feel"and 'believe'. As you 'think' and 'believe' each hour of each day, you automatically plant success or failure seeds in your deeper mind. Your habitual thinking pattern
nurtures these seeds to bring forth success or failure.Think and feel that you can and will succeed .Believe it.
You have many innate talents waiting to be developed.Discover them.Nurture them.Believe your talents are worthy of high accomplishment and you will experience it. Belief in victory is often a battle won.

HOW TO REVERSE BAD LUCK

1.Seize the moment of one good chance or opportunity occuring among a series of negative events.

2.Be alert to chance meetings or chance remarks,whether from strangers or some other unexpected sources.

3.Be generous.Genuine generosity attracts good luck.WHY?
 Because"generosity tends to evolve a similar feeling in the hearts of beholders"."Your warm-spirited actions intensify and sustain awareness of you in the minds of others.And the concentrated favorable attention of others increases the probability that they will remember a fact or conceive an idea beneficial to your interests.
  This does not mean that the sole motive you should have for being generous is to get something in return. That won't work. The real reward of the generous is often invisible and secret.
  The generous person creates an unsuspected potential of good luck that needs only a touch from chance to burst all at once into happy reality.

4.Know what you really want.
 The more we know exactly what we really want in life, the better prepared we will be to recognize favorable
chances and extract good luck from them! Unfortunately,most of us do not really know what we want in life.
So we don't get it.

5.Develop your intuition.
 Intuition can be developed just like any other mental ability.Exposure to varied circumstances of life,openness to experience,willingness to take risks, and regular meditation can develop one's intuition. Practice makes perfect. The more we trust and practice our intuitive judgments or decisions, the better we become at it.
 Sometimes known as a gut feeling,' intuition can take on many forms. Sometimes,it comes through dreams, through chance meetings,or when we are not paying attention to it. Intuition is allowing our right,spontaneous
side of the brain to dominate.It is suspending our left,analytical brain for a while .It is the ability to listen to the sound of silence in our minds that speak out loud.Such contradictions are the esence of intuition. And when
you have gotten a truly intuitive insight into a situation you know absolutely that you are right.There's a great feeling of internal joy at having arrived at a good insight or good decision.Intuition plays a very great role in bringing about good luck.
 By doing a few relatively simple things over a period of a few months,men can often develop the lucky side  of their personalities to an extent that seems miraculous.With a normal play of chance, an increase in one's potential luckiness does not take long to show itself in better luck and greater hapiness.
                           GOOD LUCK !

INDANG-The Worlds Most Expensive Coffee

During the cold nights of February up to the drizzly month of May, the woods fringing the coffee farms of the highland town of Indang in Cavite come to life when everyone else are asleep.
Palm civets,which have a broadly cat-like appearance with pointed snouts that inhabit the lush thickets of the Cavite highlands,clamber down from their lofty habitat atop coconut trees to forage on their favorite seasonal treat- raw,ripe berries of coffee trees that abound during that period.
Called Alamid locally,this omnivorous,long tailed mammal that is 700-mm-long and weighs up to five kilos,counts the red coffee berries as part of its normal diet.The Alamid,which is a nocturnal creature that sleeps atop coconut fronds during daytime,eats the berries at night, but the beans, which have absorbed stomach enzymes,pass through its system undigested.
Couple Eleuterio and Nenita Balidio of Barangay Kayquit,one of Indang's 36 Barangays,three kilometers south of the poblacion,rise at daybreak to trek across the dense brush ten kilometers away away to gather the bracelet like civet dung scattered along river banks and streams that is
embedded with undigested coffee beans. Civets, when they have a fill of their favorite food drink from the numerous waterways that crisscross the water-rich town 30 minutes away from the resort city of Tagaytay in the south.
Experts have proposed that enzymes in the stomach of the civet add to the coffee's flavor by breaking down the proteins that give coffee its bitter taste. The beans are defecated in bracelet-like form then washed, and lightly roasted so as not to destroy the complex flavors that develop through the process.

ARNEL PINEDA ' JOURNEY'

Arnel Pineda's life is a classic rags-to-riches story.A poor boy living his lonely little world in the streets of Manila,singing covers of bands like Survivor,Aerosmith,Led Zeppelin,Air Supply and Journey,in nameless bars.
But he had the voice,and the hair of a natural-born rock star.And now,he is living a dream.
When legendary rock band Journey needed a lead vocalist,they turned to the Internet where they found on YouTube video clips of an unknown 40-years old singer from the Philippines.
Because Arnel's rendition of the Journey song "Faithfully" had developed an Internet cult following,guitarist Neal Schon took interest,enough to invite Arnel to San Francisco in California to an audition.
The rest of the band member's stamp of approval came almost as fast.They
knew right away that Arnel possessed not just the voice,but also the emotion and soul their songs needed.What they wouldn't discover,until later, was why.
Arnel Pineda was born in Sampaloc,Manila.It was his mother who instilled his love for singing at an early age,encouraging him to sing along to songs from her favorite singers like Karen Carpenter and Barbara Streisand
Growing up, his parents entered him in many singing contests.
Until a tragedy fell upon the family.His mother,who had been suffering from rheumatic heart disease,passed away when he was 13 years old.Her illness had left their family bankrupt.
Unable to sufficiently provide for the family,his father,who was a tailor, took his two brothers to live with relatives,while Arnel had to stop school and struck out on his own literally out on the streets.He collected scrap metal,bottles,and old newspapers.Despite all these hardships,he remained optimistic about his future.
He auditioned for different bands until he landed on his first gig as lead singer of Ijos Band when he 15 years old. He scored gigs in HongKong where he entertained for 15 years.In 2006,talent manager and TV director Bert de Leon encouraged Arnel to move back to the Philippines and formed a band called "The Zoo"
But as destiny would have it, a diehard fan named Noel Gomez uploaded videos of the band's performances on YouTube.It was thanks to those videos and Noel,that Arnel wound up at the Quinta Vergara Amphitheater in Chile, on February 21 last year,performing for the first time as the new lead singer of the legendary 80s rock band Journey.