Comedian Tado Among Killed in Bontoc Bus Accident

Arvin Jimenez, known as comedian "Tado", is among those 14 who were killed when a passenger bus fell off a ravine friday morning, February 7, in Bontoc, Mountain Province.

According to Police Provincial Director Oliver Enmodias, the Florida bus with plate no. TXT 872 fell off the 500 meter deep ravine in Sitio Pagpag, Barangay Tabulin in Bontoc around 7:20 am friday morning. Arvin Jimenez, among the 45 passengers of the bus, was among those who died.

On February 6, Tado shared a photo in instagram of a bus headed to Bontoc, captioned: "Long trip, as in trip trip."

The reason why Tado is going to Bontoc was for a project "40 Mountains Project" as seen in his photo posted in instagram below. The title seems to be an irony of this tragic accident.

Fans of the comedian showed their grief with this heartbreaking and sudden death of an idol and an inspiration, a source of joy and laughter for many of the Filipinos.

Rest In Peace Arvin Jimenez. Rest in peace Tado! 

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Pacquiao's Challenge to Mayweather - "Let's Fight For Charity, Fans"

This time, the 8 Division Boxing World Champion, Manny Pacquiao throws a unique but big challenge to the undefeated Boxing Champion, Floyd Mayweather - to have their fight for charity and above all to make their fans happy. Mayweather's latest statements includes Pacquiao wanting the fight against him because of Manny's tax problems. But Pacquiao wanted to prove in this challenge that he doesn't go for the money from the fight but to make the boxing fans all over the world happy. He said it was the boxing fans that wanted this fight all along.

In a phone interview with Inquirer, Pacquiao said, "I’m not desperate to fight him just for the sake of money or material things. I’m not the one seeking this fight; rather it’s the boxing fans all over the world". The Filipino boxer and Congressman even said, "I am ready to submit myself to any kind of stringent drug testing".

To show that he doesn't want to fight Mayweather just because of money, He revealed his unique challenge that, "Above all, I challenge him to include in our fight contract that both of us will not receive anything out of this fight. We will donate all the proceeds from the fight—guaranteed prize, should there be any, gate receipts, pay-per-view and endorsements—to charities around the world."

He added that if that Floyd is not afraid with him, then Mayweather should agree.

Furthermore, he said he has nothing more to prove in boxing and that he has carved his own niche in the annals of boxing. "There’s no reason why I should be desperate to fight him. But since boxing fans worldwide are seeking and demanding a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight, I don’t want to disappoint them.", Manny said.

Regarding his tax problems, Manny answered, "As to my tax problem, my lawyers are fixing it already". "I’m paying my taxes religiously. It is just a matter of reconciling our records with the tax agencies both here and abroad. Should there be any discrepancy, rest assured, I will settle it. I’m a lawmaker and I’m a law-abiding citizen."

Pacquiao said that Mayweather's plan of retiring in 2015 was a move to avoid fighting him in the ring and that the only way Floyd can avoid in facing Pacquiao is to retire from boxing as the public's desire for their fight is becoming stronger.

Finally, Pacquiao's challenge to Mayweather: "Floyd, if you’re a real man, fight me. Let’s do it for the love of boxing and for the fans. Let’s do it not for the sake of money. Let’s make the boxing fans happy."

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Joey Ayala Nicely Sings The Philippine National Anthem

Recently, Philippines has truly suffered from different calamities and national problems which includes the floods that disturbed Luzon, the 7.2 magnitude Earthquake that shook the Central Visayas, the wrath of Super typhoon Yolanda, the terrorism in Mindanao especially in Zamboanga City. Not to mention the political problems like rivalry and the Pork Barrel scam. It has been a difficult time as a nation. But we saw how our fellow Filipinos has moved and helped strengthen each other. And the international community has been responding incredibly and heartily to help us heal these sufferings, giving the Filipino people more hope and inspiration to go on living their life.

At this moment, let us take a little time singing together the song of our motherland. The symbol of our strength and courage as Filipino people. Let us learn to sing this nice and beautiful rendition of the Philippine National Anthem. Let this become an additional inspiration to remind each and every Filipino that together we can stand again through strengthening, helping and loving each other.

He is a Filipino singer and songwriter and the former chairman of the National Commission for Culture and Arts. He sang this wonderful version of the Philippine National Anthem as he sang at the TEDxDiliman. He is Joey Ayala.

"So gusto kong ituro sa inyo 'yong (So I wanted to teach you the) possibly the correct way", says Joey Ayala in the video.

The video:

God bless Philippines!

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Philippines' First Two Gold Medals in SEA Games 2013

Team Philippines got its first Gold medal on Wushu in the current 27th SEA Games hosted in Myanmar.
It was on Wushu also that Philippines got its first medal which is a silver. Jessie Aligaga and Dembert Arcita bagged two gold medals for Philippines in their Wushu events. Jessie Aligaga triumphed against Dasmantua Simbolon of Indonesia in the 48 kilogram weight class of Wushu Sanshou. Dembert Arcita defeated Phithak Paorkrathok of Thailand in the 52 kilogram weight class of Wushu.

Meanwhile, Francisco Solis got a bronze medal in the Wushu men 56 kg weight category. In the Wushu women, Divine Wally and Evita Elise Zamora both got Silver medals in the 48 kg and 52 kg weight categories.

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Philippines' Megan Young is Miss World 2013

Megan Young of the Philippines, a 23 year old actress, was crowned as Miss World 2013 on September 28 night at Bali, Indonesia. Megan Young bested other 126 beautiful candidates from all over the world. The crowd favorite to win the Miss World 2013 was also the winner of the Top Model competition of the pre-pageant challenges. In other pre-pageant competition, she also ranked 4th in Multimedia Contest and 5th in Beach Fashion Tilt.

Megan Young is the successor of Wenxia Yu of China. The Miss World 2012 bestowed the crown to Megan Young in the culminating ceremony at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center in Bali, Indonesia.

Other winners were Marine Lorphelin (France) finished second and Carranzar Shooter (Ghana) placed third. The top 5 is completed by Spain's Elena Ibarbia, Brazil's Sancler Frantz, and Gibraltar's Jessica Baldachino (People's Choice).

Congratulations to the Miss World 2013 Megan Young and the Philippines.

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Barbara Miguel of Nuwebe Wins "Best Actress" at Harlem International Film Festival

Barbara Miguel, the 10-year old child star who portrayed Krista in the film Nuwebe, won the Best Actress Award in Harlem International Film Festival announced in New York on September 15, 2013. She is the youngest winner in 2013 Harlem International Film Festival.

The child actress portrays the 9-year old Krista in the film "Nuwebe" who was impregnated by her own father and is considered as the youngest mother in the Philippine history.

Nuwebe is inspired by a true story of one of the youngest mother in the Philippine history. It was written and directed by Joseph Israel Laban and was included in the Cinemalaya for the new breed category.

Nuwebe Full Trailer 

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Pinoy Youtube Duo Gets Standing Ovation On Ellen DeGeneres Show

The Youtube sensation duo from General Santos City, Aldrich Lloyd Talonding and his cousin James Walter Bucong, made the audience laughed, cried and in return, received a standing ovation on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show".

In the interview, Aldrich Talonding shared how they started and their experiences after the uploaded video of their rendition of Vandross' "Dance With My Father" went viral in Youtube. The cousins were featured in ABS-CBN's TV Patrol after their video made news and then days later was invited by DeGeneres on her talk show to come to the US and perform.

"We started a few years ago, we have been best friends in music", said Talonding of Bucong.

When asked by Ellen if people recognized them after being local celebrities with their video, they made the audience laughed when they shared how people acknowledged them.

"When the video went viral, people started recognizing us along the streets or in the malls. They even recognize us in the restroom!" Talonding said and the live audience laughed.

"That's weird!" he added.

Bucong added, "Many people do recognize me, especially girls. So it feels awkward when they say that they love me!"

To Talonding, the song, "Dance With My Father", had more meaning now than when it was posted on April as his Father died last June of non-hodgkin's lymphoma.

He stated, "It really means a lot to me because I didn't realized the song would become true."

Talonding and Bucong gaved a wonderful performance of "Dance With My Father". The live audience were touched and gave them a standing ovation.

Indeed, both of you made your families, friends and the Filipinos proud.

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