Icons at The Mall of Asia Arena Grand Launch

I live in the Philippines, a country where everyone loves music. I love music as much as I love to eat. When I'm listening to music, my mind gets revived. There is freedom, of absolute lightness. It alleviates my mood naturally when I'm down. There's no feeling like it in the world.

Music is a universal language.

You don't always need a common language to express to someone what you feel. Isn't that the wonderful thing about it?

There is also a wonderful and historical event that is about to unfold on the night of the 16th of June and will be called "Icons at the Arena." It is also the formal launch of The Mall of Asia Arena, and with it a world-class performance that is set to break boundaries, featuring the Masters of OPM.

We don't frequently see shows like "Icons at the Arena." With all these big artists taking the stage together for the first time, I'm pretty sure it will be a wonderful night of great music.

Derek Ramsay and Angelica Panganiban Break-up, Confirmed

Derek Ramsay has finally admitted that his six-year relationship with Angelica Panganiban is over.

Via Twitter, Ramsay said "Guys we truly appreciate all your concerns. Even though Angel and I are no
longer together we still have the utmost respect for one another.” He also denied that third party caused
the break-up.

Some speculates that the real reason for their break up was Derek's decision to transfer to TV5 without
asking for Angelica's opinion.

“There was no wasted time. I loved every minute we had together,” Derek tweeted.

X Factor Judges plus Kiray in DZMM

May 14, 2012


I was really surprised when Martin Nievera entered the booth while Jobert Sucaldito and
Ahwel Paz're on-air. Gary Valenciano came next to Martin with Kiray Celis.

 

<L-R> Jobert Sucaldito, Martin Nievera, Ahwel Paz, Kiray Celis, Gary Valenciano

 

Ahwel Paz, Kiray, Gary V

DJ Mo Twister & 2 other DJs, suspended

DJ Mo Twister (Mohan Gumatay in real life) and two other DJs of Magic 89.9 were
suspended on Wednesday morning for starting the hashtag #charicepempengcosextape
on Twitter.

The hashtag became the top trending topic in the Philippines


The 3 DJ's were suspended for two weeks in their radio program Good Times. Magic 89.9
management said that they didn't condone the actions of DJ Mo, Tin Gamboa & Mia Bayuga.

DJ Mo Twister, however, sent series of tweets saying her apologies to Charice.

-----

What are your thoughts on this issue?

PLDT myDSL & Nuffnang bring you The Avengers!

Anna Banana commercial really has gone viral. Overwhelming number of views made it soar
even higher because of the cute song giving all its listeners LSS.

From his humble beginnings, Derek, became an instant youtube sensation. You have to see these
 three videos above or life is yours to miss. It is best viewed on
PLDT myDSL.

And by the way, here are some updates from PLDT myDSL:

1. PLDT myDSL Plan 1299 is now upgraded to 1Mb from the previous 768Kb.

2. For subscribers of Plan 990, upgrade your subscription to Plan 1299 by simply adding
P300 to your monthly bill.

3. For more information, go to http://www.pldtmydsl.com/

UST honors Wushu Queen Janice Hung

The Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas honors last March 31, 2012 (Saturday)
International Wushu champion Janice S. Hung with The Outstanding Thomasian Alumni
(TOTAL) 2011 award as a Young Achiever in Sports.

 

A BS Commerce (Major in Economics) graduate, Janice earned gold medals in national Wushu

competitions (1999-2007) and international competitions such as the Southeast Asian Games

(2005 Philippines, 2007 Thailand), Asian Games (2006 Qatar), and the 1st Invitational Wushu

Competition (2007 China). While studying at the UST, she was also an athletic scholar and a

member of the Women’s Track and Field Team. Her group was the overall champion in the

UAAP during their reign.

“As a member of the National Wushu Team, we didn’t just represent ourselves or the team

in international competitions. We represent the Philippines. Our glory is the glory of the

country. The medals that I earned from the SEA Games, Asian Games, and the 1st Invitational

Wushu Competition in 2007 were my humble contributions in the development and history of

Philippine sports and Wushu in particular” says Janice Hung.

In 2010, she established the Janice Hung Arts and Sports (JHAS) Foundation out of her desire

to extend opportunities to the Filipino youth and promote their creativity. Since then, JHAS

has been very much involved in providing education and cultural programs with more than 300

beneficiaries.

Its flagship program, the Muzikademy, is an annual song-writing song competition for unsigned

youth musicians. Apart from other competitions, participants or “Muzikampers” get to be

mentored by celebrities and music industry leaders to further improve their craft. Moreover,

they also get to stay in the luxurious Fontana Hot Springs and Leisure Park in Clarkfield,

Pampanga at no cost.

“I am a musician and I want to share this opportunity. Through the help of my friends in the

music industry, Muzikademy is now on its third year. The mentorship, prizes, and perks that

Muzikampers enjoy are all made possible with the support from our sponsors and benefactors.

This is why we are very meticulous in screening prospective applicants,” she adds.

Since 2007, she has performed Wushu and martial arts in the TV teleseryes, movies, and

commercials. She is also an assistant fight choreographer in action movies. It is worth noting

that she never use any doubles or stuntmen in doing death-defying choreographies. She is also

proud to teach Wushu to a group of children in her community in Quezon City. By promoting

Wushu to mainstream society, friends fondly call Janice as the “Wushu Queen”.

For 2012, she plans to continue the programs and activities of the foundation including new

ventures such as Cosplay; Wushu Society, an elite gathering of martial artists; and Girl Power,

women empowerment advocacy. She will also launch her first single to formally announce her

entry in the international music scene.

VIP Privileges from Ayala Malls

Want an exclusive access to the VIPinoy lounge, with amenities such as wi-fi, 

charging and videoconference stations – even Sanry’s, BPI and Western Union 

facilities?

Be a VIPinoy member!

How to Apply?


There are two ways to apply. You can apply on-site at any of the Ayala Malls Concierge, 
VIPinoy Lounge Concierge and Ayala-managed Malls Customer Service booths or you 
can apply online by visiting the following websites:

• http://www.ayalamallsvipinoy.com.ph (please click on the Application Form link)
• http://www.atikha.org (please click on the Ayala Malls VIPinoy link)

Source: http://www.ayalamallsvipinoy.com.ph/

150 Peso Bill, fictitious?

proposed 150 peso bill

This is the proposed 150-peso bill. The 150-peso bill carries the portrait of Jose Rizal.

Also on the front portion of the proposed commemorative bill you'll find the Rizal residence in

Laguna and the Rizal Monument in Manila.

Why Jose Rizal?

This is to promote the 150th birth anniversary of our National Hero, Jose Rizal and to promote

the pursuit of cultural preservation as a strategy for maintaining Filipino identity.

Fictitious?

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas warns public that there will be no plans to issue a 150-peso bill.

The public is advised to report individuals who are passing these P150 fictitious notes to the police or the Investigatove Division, Cash Department, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in Quezon City. The BSP can be contacted at 926-5092 and 929-7071 local 618 or via e-mail bspmail@bsp.gov.ph

-----

Got stories to tell? Tweet me @brymcasa!!!

How Good Filipinos Are

Got this from my FB account. This is so touching. You guys know how blessed you are.

So instead of counting the things you don't have, just count the blessings you have. 

not the real picture of the driver. posted just to visualize :)

This is JUST A REPOST:

(Credits goes to the good passengers of the jeepney.)

"just wanna share my experience awhile ago. It happened in a jeepney routing from Santolan to 

Sta. Lucia East Mall. I always look for a jeepney with few people inside because I'm shy if I'm alone. 

This time I'm going home alone ( which happens once every 1000 years ) and my first instinct is to 

find the jeepney with the fewest boarder. Outside the Santolan Lrt Station waits a lot of jeepney, and 

so Am I looking for the loneliest one. A couple of steps and Voila I found it, a poor little empty jeepney 

( HAHAHA ). I sit beside the driver so that I can play psp (Patapon 3 XD) easily. Minutes pass, the 

jeep is half full, I also noticed that the driver is always rubbing his tummy ( the same thing we do when 

we are hungry), but I don't mind that, what happened next makes me care. The jeep is full and ready 

to go, and this is the time when we will give our fares, every person that gives him their fare he always 

says "Thank You" twice or trice per person, AS IN PER PERSON, I am beside him so I noticed it 

and I think I am the only one who noticed it. We got stuck in a traffic jam in Ligaya, that time I'm not 

giving my fare yet because I'm playing psp. Curiosity strikes and I ask him a question
and besides he looks like a good guy.
"Boss, bakit ka thank you ng thank you kanina pag may nagbabayad?"
he answered
"kasi itong mga baryang to ang bubuhay sa anak ko"
I don't understand that easily and so we make some more conversation
Me:"May sakit boss?"
Driver:"Oo anak meron, leukemia"
I stay silent after I heard that, I turn off the psp and look somewhere else because in other words e 

nakaka awa pero mas naawa ako lalo ng makita ko ang tatlong picture na naka clip sa left side mirror 

right side mirror at yung mirror sa taas ng ulo ko. I know how to drive so that I know that you will 

always look in that mirrors every second while you are driving, ALWAYS. And now I know why he 

always rub his tummy. It makes my eye teary but I'm a man so I fight it ( ^_^ ). I get my fare, 100 pesos 

na buo and give it to him.
"Boss Sta.Lucia lang, isa"
as soon as I gave the money he count some coins for my change and that same time I said
"Hindi na boss ok lang kunin mo na po yan" sabay ngiti. And there again I hear the thousand thank you 

from him.
Not aware of the other passengers, may mga hindi pa pala nagbabayad. And after what I did they also 

gave their fares, 100 pesos 200 pesos 50 pesos and I also saw 500 pesos na mga buo, and they all give 

that to him. I just smiled to them, turn on my psp and start playing again...

That completes my day...teary eyes here.

-Aik "

I am so blessed! :) -@brymcasa

ONLYinPH Newsmakers of 2011

These are the most talked about stories of the year 2011 may it be in showbiz, politics or news we

heard in radio or seen in TV. So before releasing our horses for the year 2012, let’s recall the top 

stories of this year.

Showbiz

Lance Raymundo's Fatanas
Marami na ang nakapanood ng video ng Fatanas at ang kanilang laging naitatanong ay kung binayaran
daw ba ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Aquino si Lance para gawin itong kantang ito laban kay
dating Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo? Timing nga naman ang pagpropromote ni Lance ng
kanyang kanta sa pagaresto kay dating Pangulong Arroyo.

Fatanas is his comeback song matapos nitong iwan ang industriya 11 years ago.
"If I have to come back (in the music scene, after an 11-year absence), I must do so with bang. I’m
putting up images that look hellish to catch attention. It’s a calculated risk. Nagpabili ako ng horns sa
set designer because the title of the video is Fatanas." Good Luck Lance! :)

JanJan Incident

Naaalala niyo pa ba si JanJan? Si JanJan ay contestant sa Willing Willie noong buwan ng Marso. Sa 

portion ng Willing Willie ng pagshoshowcase ng talent ng bawat kalahok, pinili ng batang si JanJan ang sumayaw. The talent portion was supposed to have been done just for fun. Yun nga lang, marami ang

nagtaas ng kanilang mga kilay dahil sa “parang inudyukan” pa ng host na si Willie si JanJan na gawin

ang "Macho Dancing" na naging dahilan para masuspinde ang kanyang palabas na Willing Willie.

Shamcey, Gwendolyn, Dianne and Athena

This year, halos lahat ata ng beauty pageant ay may nanalong Pinay. Nanalo si Shamcey Supsup bilang

3^rd Runner-up ng Miss Universe 2011 na ginanap noong Setyembre. SI Gwendolyn Ruais naman ay

hinirang bilang 1^st Runner-up sa Miss World 2011 noong Nobyembre. Si Dianne Necio ay nanalo 

naman sa Miss International Pageant 2011 ng People’s Choice Award after receiving more than 354 000 votes in the online poll. And of course, si Athena Mae Imperial ay nanalo ngayon lamang Disyembre

bilang Miss Earth- Water 2011. Talaga nga namang kakaiba ang ganda ng mga Pilipino!

Laglag at Ladlad

Hindi pa man natatapos ang taong 2011, nagpasabog na ng matitinding intriga si DJ Mo Twister

kamakailan na kumalat sa social media. Ito ay may kinalaman sa “pagaabort” diumano ng kanilang

anak ni Rhian Ramos noong 2010 sa Singapore. Nagkaroon ng mga palitan ng mga sagot sa isyung

ito galing sa dalawang personalidad. At kailan lamang ay may lumabas na namang video nila Mo at 

Rhian habang sila ay “nagme make out”. Hanggang ngayon ay wala pa ring kumpirmasyon sa mga isyung

ito galing sa dalawang personalidad. Abangan natin sa 2012 kung may sagot na sila tungkol dito.

Napanood niyo ba ang interview ni KC Concepcion with Boy Abunda? Isiniwalat ni KC dito ang 

kanyang mga saloobin tungkol kay Piolo. Sinabi niya rin kay Boy ang dahilan kung bakit hindi niya na kinayang ipaglaban ang kanyang pagmamahal kay Piolo. Dahil daw ito sa hindi na kayang ibigay ni

Piolo ang kagustuhan ni KC. At para bang naging “panakip butas” lamang si KC. Kilala niyo ba ang diumano’y nalilink kay Papa P? [Hint: MB]

Politics

De Lima’s dilemma

Naging maingay din ang pangalan ng ating DOJ secretary na si SEC. Leila De Lima dahil sa kanyang pagsuway sa ipinaguutos ng Supreme Court. Ang Supreme Court ang pinakamataas na Korte sa ating

bansa at ang nagiisang Korte na isinakatuparan ng ating Konstitusyon. Obligasyon ng Korte Suprema

ang pangalagaan ang mga “rights” ng tao. Sa kaso ng ating dating Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,

siya ay pinayagan ng SC na lumabas ng ating bansa na pinigilan naman ni Sec. De Lima dahil sa kakulangan sa mga kinakailangan requirements. Ang pagsuway nito ni De Lima sa pinakamataas na Korte sa bansa

ay nagdulot ng pagkalito sa marami sa atin. Sabi nga ng iba sa mga social media platforms, ang bansa

raw ay mayroon ng tinatawag na “Constitutional Crisis”.

Ang masasabi ko lang.. “What is legal is not always just”. Take that De Lima!

Midas Marquez—Gay?

Kumalat ang viral video ni Court Admin. Atty. Midas Marquez sa iba’t ibang social media platforms

kung saan siya’s nagulat nang matabig niya ang microphone at ito’y nahulog. Sapat nab a itong basehan

ng sekswalidad ng isang tao?

 

Si Little Girl at ang Kanyang Corona

Nitong taon siguro ang worst year ng dating Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo na ngayon ay 

kongresista ng Pampanga. Marami silang mga “schemes” na isiniwalat sa media kasama ng kanyang tagapagsalita na si Elena Horn tulad ng plot na “Put the Little Girl to Sleep” na mala-hollywood ang 

pagka describe. Sa tingin niyo may maniniwala pa kaya sa kampo nila? Ganun pa man, Merry Christmas! 

J

Si Chief Justice Corona ngayon ay impeached na. Siya ay nahaharap sa kanyang pagkakatanggal bilang Punong Mahistrado ng Korte Suprema dahil siya raw ay “bias” at “loyal” masyado sa dating Pangulong Arroyo. Ayaw ni Pangulong Aquino na mapawalang sala si CGMA dahil lang sa loyalty ni Corona. Ikaw, may tiwala ka pa ba kay Corona?

PNoy

Patapos na ang taon at hinahabol pa rin si Pangulong Aquino ng iba’t ibang kontrobersiya. Hindi na 

masyado nag ingay ang lovelife ng Pangulo sa bandang huli ng taon ngunit ang kanyang “party life” ang bumandera sa iba’t ibang pahayagan. Imbes daw na makiramay ang Pangulo sa mga nasalanta ni Sendong

sa Mindanao ay nakuha pa nitong makiparty na agad namang dinipensahan ng kanyang mga kapatid.

Akin lang, Porket ba wala si PNoy dun wala na siyang paki?

P.S.

Sa darating na MMFF Awards Night, gusto kong i-nominate sa Breakthrough Artists of the Year

sina Gail at Ramona Bautista.

Pilipinas Watcher listed down the most talked about stories based on its own consciousness.

Introducing the Pinoy Siri- VANGIE!

Megalol to Vangie! Super Funny! Must watch this one!

"We are not like you, who do not care." Jay Sonza to Kris

I found this long rant in facebook. For me this is non-sense.
Read it out loud. Jay is such a tearjerker.

"Ngayon, 'yun namang party ay matagal nang naka-schedule 'yon. Siyempre, may mga masasamang nangyayari at may malungkot but then, life should go on. Hindi naman pwedeng huminto na lang ang buhay at magmukmok na lang tayo.”

This is what Kris Aquino told the nation Monday morning on her television program.

Bakit, Kris? Bakit?

When your mother died, every single Filipino stopped whatever he or she was doing at that time, and paid homage to her! 

Pang Pnoy, masama bang makipaglamay ka sa amin?

Millions of Filipinos stood in line to view her. Millions waited hours along Luneta, Roxas Boulevard, Quirino Avenue, South Superhighway, South Expressway and Sucat Road to pay their last respects,

Now, your brother is President and he cannot even spend a few minutes attending to relief and avacuation operations in Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City, Negros Oriental, Compostela Valley and other affected areas?

Kris, daan-daang katao ang namatay Kris. Libo pa ang bilang ng mga nawawala. Ari-arian at tanging yaman ang nasalanta. Fathers and their kids, mothers and their babies, whole generations were wiped out. The entire Cagayan de Oro was almost transformed into a wasteland and you will tell us that ”life should go on...and it will not be good if our lives stop for a while and for us to mourn?”

We mourn for your father, Kris. We vowed to sacrifice our lives for your father get justice. Many of our colleagues were jailed, others are still missing to date.  

Our lives stopped when your father and mother died.

Don’t you ever tell us, us, the Filipino people that we will not mourn our fellow Filipinos, especially the Mindanaoans who died during this typhoon.

We are not like you, who do not care. 

We care for fellow Filipinos, poor ones, who became victims.

More than a thousand lost their lives because of the ingratitude and the ineptitude of their leaders!

Thousands more lost their futures because of the callousness of the leaders like your brother, Kris.

A mere apology would have sufficed.

-----

Sorry Jay Sonza. Kris Aquino went to CDO just to give the victims assistance.

She gave time. She gave food, water & all other necessities. If i may ask, have you been

there to give the victims relief? Were you there to give them assistance they need?

Pay It Forward- Ways to Help Sendong Victims

We seriously need people like them. Help when you can.

The Sendong victims need help. We have been in their shoes two years ago when Ondoy

hit Marikina. It was terrible. I thanked God for guiding us those days. Now, the people of

CDO, Iligan & other areas in Mindanao need our help. 

How to help?

1. Smart subscribers all over the country are meanwhile encouraged to send help to those affected by typhoon Sendong. Smart Money users can instantly transfer funds through their mobile phones to the official Baha Fund account number 5577 5130 6822 1104. Donors may also deposit cash to the same Smart Money account number in any Banco De Oro branch nationwide or through Hapinoy and Cebuana Lhuillier outlets.Text RED to 4143. Valid donation amounts 10, 25, 50, 100.

2. Globe subscribers. Text RED to 2899. Valid donation amounts 5,25,50,100 or 300 (For ex, RED 10)

Through GCASH, text DONATE and send to 2882

There are other ways to help the Sendong victims. Click this LINK

Mo & Rhian's *insert word here* Video

You better watch this video. We've seen Mo's revelation video & Rhian's with crocodile tears video.

I think Mo has more pasabog pa. 2011 is not Rhian's love life year.

What are your thoughts about this <insert word here> video?

Something Special from GLOBE

Since Christmas season is special to us Filipinos, we deserve to have “SOMETHING SPECIAL”.
Special Puto Bumbong with egg & cheese on top, special clothes from big brands, special treatment
 from someone you love & of course special offers from the “Touted first and biggest broadband
network in Southeast Asia”, GLOBE Telecom.

The newest offer of Globe makes me sing to the tune of “Deck the Halls”… “Tis the season to
 have Blackberry..” Oops! I almost forgot the lyrics of the song because of my fascination to Globe Blackberry Christmas Offer.

In this technological era, it is a must to have “something special” that can make your life as easy
as possible, comfortable, productive, can help manage your time & the most important is the
affordability. Definitely, Globe Blackberry Christmas Offer can provide you all those.

You can now have a Blackberry Curve 8520 for FREE at Unlisurf Combo Plan 599. Would
 you believe that? You can now surf the net, get connected with people on social-networking
 sites & send BBM without limit. Yes! It’s UNLIMITED!! According to Vice Ganda, “GO LANG
 NG GO”!

I’ve seen some advertisements promising and claiming that they’ve got the best offers but hey, after
 availing their promo it’ll just fail your expectation. So to avoid disappointment, Go for the trusted
 network, GLOBE! The offer may not happen again so take advantage of this “SPECIAL SEASON”
 and grab your Blackberry now from Globe!

If you want a higher model of Blackberry, here are other choices with Blackberry Plan:

BlackBerry Curve 3G 9300
FREE at UnliSurf Combo Plan 999 with:
•  unlimited mobile surfing
•  P400 consumable amount
•  1 freebie from A to C, E

BlackBerry Curve 9360 
FREE at UnliSurf Combo Plan 1799 with:
•  unlimited mobile surfing
•  P1,200 consumable amount
•  3 freebies from A to C, E

BlackBerry Bold 9780
FREE at UnliSurf Combo Plan 2499 with:
•  unlimited mobile surfing
•  P1,900 consumable amount
•  5 freebies from A to C, E

And this is the handset pricing for all plans..

Freebie choices:
A - 10 min calls and 200 SMS to Globe/TM
B - 5 min calls and 25 SMS to other networks
C - 20 mins IDD calls and 10 ISMS to 10 destinations**
E - Unlimited calls and text to one Globe/TM number
** US, Canada, Guam, Hawaii, Alaska, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Thailand

Promo period is from December 1 to 31, 2011.

Make your Christmas SPECIAL with GLOBE!

   courtesy of @enjoyGLOBE in twitter

There’s only Globe. There’s only this Globe Blackberry Christmas Offer. Now is the perfect time to subscribe to this offer or LIFE IS YOURS TO MISS.

Pls Help Lola Cevera Abuan

Lola Cevera's frail body having difficulty pushing her cart

“Lola Cevera Abuan” is a 100 year old woman who was pushing her cart along Greenmeadows
Avenue at half past 12 noon today. I passed by her already and could see how frail her body was
 from my rear view mirror that I just had to go back and give her my lunch. So, I made a U-turn,
 parked my car and went down to talk to her. I asked her what she was doing there and where
she was headed. She responded in a little tagalog saying “namamalimos po ako”(asking for alms)
 but she started speaking in Ilocano so it was difficult for me to understand her and aside from this,
she has a hearing problem. I just handed her my food, gave a little amount to hold on to and made
 a gesture for her to eat. Then she asked if it was 12:00 noon already so I just nodded and told her
 to eat. I was both sad and happy to talk to her. Sad because this woman should be cared for at this
 age(She reminded me of my mom who was Ilocana whom I called right after I got home and told her
 about Lola Cevera. I was telling my mom should move more and continue her therapy so she would
 reach 100 years old..hehe) ...And I was also happy, because I saw her face light up the moment I
 gave her something, she kept on thanking me. I am just worried for Lola Cevera cos I found out she
 crosses C5 everyday. I don’t want her to be sideswiped or be a hit and run victim. Family and friends,
 I still would like to help Lola Cevera so I would like to ask a bit of favor from you.

I hope this will reach “Ms. Vicky Morales of Wish Ko lang” and grant Lola Cevera something to help
 her get by, without having to walk several kilometers to ask for alms. I would be so grateful to all of
 you who will do Lola Cevera the favor of posting/sharing this on your wall. Thank you so much for
your compassion and God bless us all.

P.S. To Ms. Vicky Morales, I hope you can help Lola Cevera. I was able to pick up from her that
she stays in San Roque St. in Bagumbayan along Industria. Thank you so much and more power to
 your show.

By: Rachel Sazon-Reyes via Facebook

The Story Behind APO's Oblation Run

We never thought that our fraternity's promotional stunt in the 70's would turn out to be what it is today – an institutionalized (although still not official) spectacle which major television networks and even foreign ones like CNN have turned into a frenzied media event! And like many successful events, it has generated many different and sometimes conflicting accounts on its origins.

Thank goodness the Oblation Run’s originators, my fraternity, the UP Alpha Phi Omega (APO), can attest to the one true history of the masked faces in the run of the brave and bold. I am proud to have been right in the thick of it in the 60s and 70s. Back then, our frat regularly sponsored movies, plays and even musicals. These were undertaken basically as fundraising efforts, but a socio-political link arose during martial law, particularly in the mid-70s. Sakada, a film dramatizing the plight of seasonal workers in a sugarcane plantation sponsored by APO at the UP Theater in 1976, is an example. And then of course there was Hubad na Bayani, which has come to be inexorably linked to the Oblation Run. Hubad na Bayani is a movie (not a play, as some accounts have it) by Teloy Cosme and Robert Ylagan (a.k.a Robert Arevalo), starring our own fraternity brother, Menggie Cobarrubias. More because of their paranoia than anything else, this was banned from regular theaters by the martial law board of censors. UP, however, with its long and venerable tradition of liberalism, allowed APO to sponsor the movie’s showing in September 1977.

I was in my third year at UP, and APO. I was also one of my fraternity’s officers, having been elected Auxiliary Chancellor for that school year. In one of our meetings leading up to our movie premier, I remember our Grand Chancellor Nicky Morales, pushing for a specific social agenda for the project. Hence, in support of the mood then, we resolved to donate one peso for every ticket sold to the Roll Back Tuition Fee campaign fund. As this move would take a sizeable chunk of our projected revenues, we needed to ensure that the project would be as successful as possible, to go beyond breakeven. However, our ticket sales were not going very well, extraordinary measures had to be taken. In those days, streaking, which is what the Oblation Run is, was becoming an increasing occurrence in many university campuses in the United States, though other more public venues were not exempt. Some of us might still be young enough to recall a streaker flashing peace sign during the televised 1974 Oscar Awards. Whether we were consciously adapting this phenomenon of the times or not, the fact is, we conceived the first Oblation Run as a promotional gimmick for Hubad na Bayani. It was no easy task, and it was a scheme that could easily backfire. Smack in the middle of the martial law years, the APO had the UP Police Force to contend with. Some of our brothers could easily end up detained in some military stockade, naked! At that time, mobile phones, which could have made coordination so much easier, were ore in the realm of science fiction than in reality. But planning and execution still had to be extremely precise, and the run could not be publicized until the last minute so as not to alert the authorities. Getting caught was not an option.

Despite the risks involved, the two intrepid brothers volunteered, and earned the undying admiration of the fraternity. To this day, their identities are only known within the fraternity. Ten minutes before the run, with watches carefully synchronized, APO brothers were dispatched to all four floors of what was then known as the AS building to inform the students and professors of what was about to take place. An APO brother’s car pretending to have mechanical problems blocked the road by the main library to hold off the police. Another car with the same ruse likewise blocked the road by the faculty center building. Still another vehicle carrying the streakers was parked at the curbside of the front parking lot by the library. I was stationed at the parking lot with another brother, Caloy Encarnacion, who was looking out with his camera ready. Behind him, a group of students were exclaiming to each other, “Totoo nga siguro! ‘Di ba APO siya?” At the designated moment, the door of the car with the first oblation runners flew open and out they came, whooping and hollering, arms flailing up in the air, giving a good show to the audience at the AS building, faces wrapped with t-shirts to conceal their identities. They ran towards the faculty center, pausing momentarily in front of the main steps doing various poses as the onlookers cheered them on. Upon reaching the end of the AS parking lot, two motorcycle-riding fraternity brothers picked them up and whisked them away. As it turned out, the cars that blocked the road were unnecessary. The police could not react fast enough within ten minutes of the event’s announcement.

                                                             

From the respectable attendance of Hubad na Bayani’s showing at the UP Theater that fateful year, the Oblation Run proved itself to be a compelling marketing tool. It became an annual affair since, held as part of the celebrations of APO’s Service Month every August. With the authorities becoming more and more tolerant with each passing year, the Oblation Run evolved into an unofficial tradition of the university. It was eventually moved to December 16 (or the Friday before if the date falls on a weekend) in the 1980s until the present to highlight the foundation day of APO worldwide. In the recent years the Oblation Run has effectively highlighted social and political issues that otherwise may not have been given as much prominence in the media. Certainly, at the very least, it is a testament to the UP culture of thinking and acting out of the box despite the odds, and being successful at it.

By Brother Armand Padilla, APO-Eta (74-03553), AB Social Science

Published in Philippine Daily Inquirer, in commemoration of UP's 100th year Celebration

*photos courtesy of Bro. Dindo Delobrino of Omega Chapter


Apolly yours,

Bro. Cicero 'Ching' Danseco
Beta Tau-1987-13840
APO-NCAR P.R.O
APO Beta Tau AA
APO Phil Gatekeeper

Alpha Phi Omega Olympics 2011

WHAT - Apolympics Championship Night
WHERE - Brgy.Pag-asa Covered Court, QC
WHEN - Dec.15, 2011 4-9pm

1st Game - DELTA BETA ALUMNI vs. GAMMA EPSILON residents
2nd Game - SARIMANOK ALUMNI vs. LAMBDA residents

ENTRANCE TICKET is P100 only. Inclusive of FREE BUTTON PIN, DINNER and DRINKS (Grand Boodle Fight Meal) after the AWARDING CEREMONY.

Special Guest / Speaker - BRO. BEBOT BELLO.

See you all!


Any inquiry pls contact APOLYMPICS COMMITTEE:

Bro. June Atinado (0947-5676334)
Sis. Marites 'Matty' Danseco (0933-4059816)
Bro. Ram Sikorsky Licerio (0947-3962537)

Apoly yours,

Bro. Cicero 'Ching' Danseco
Beta Tau-1987-13840
APO-NCAR P.R.O
APO Beta Tau AA
APO Phil Gatekeeper

Lola Aurelia, Lola Ineng & Lolo Marcelo

    

Lola Aurelia
    Lola Aurelia Matias, who put the picture of his husband Lolo Luis at her back, finally reunited
with his husband on November 22. I thought the love story of this two only happens in books, drama
series and the like but they prove that it can happen in real life. Everlasting love indeed.

Just like Lola Aurelia, Lola Ineng & Lolo Marcelo want to be reunited with their families.




Lola Ineng
     Lola Ineng is from Samar. She wants to be with her family. She is now currently at
Brgy. East Rembo, Makati City. I seriously, don't know much about her. I just want to help
spread her photo hoping that her family in Samar will see it.



Lolo Marcelo
     The same way with Lolo Marcelo. I don't know the details about him. I don't know where
he is right now but I'm praying he's in good hands. Let's help them find their families.

Social Media Help!
     I know, with the help of various Social Media platforms, they will be able to see their
families again. If you're reading this right now, I hope you'll give a little time in re-posting their photos
in your accounts (fb, twitter, blogs).

May God Bless The Works Of Your Hands. :>

Juana Change- Little Girl and Her Corona

Juana Change really did a great job in this short presentation. Short. Concise. Awesome.
I like her advocacy. Instigate change in the government and raise the awareness of our
people in politics.



Why Chief Justice Corona should be impeached?

• He is bias. He is always in favor of the former Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. 

I know that he's the chief justice of the supreme court and he should abide by the constitution.

Thing is, he makes use of that reason to be bias in favor of CGMA.

PNoy gave a speech on Tuesday regarding Chief Justice Corona.

I watched it live on Balitanghali in GMA News TV.

Here are some of his messages to Corona...

"Si Corona ay itinalaga sa Korte Suprema hindi bilang alagad ng katarungan 

kundi alagad ni Ginang Arroyo.."

"Hindi tayo papayag sa isang Korte Supremang pugad ng katiwalian.."

"Ginoong Corona sa Kongreso at Senado harapin mo ang pinagmulan mo ng 

poder mo, ang taumbayan.."

"Hindi po ako ang sumisira sa kanyang institusyon. Sa kanyang pagtanggi na 

panagutin si Ginang Arroyo, inuubos ni Ginoong Corona ang dangal ng Korte 

Suprema.."

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS RE: Juana Change's Video, PNoy

& Chief Justice Corona's impeachment case?