Time to visit Las Piñas Bamboo Organ: Probably the oldest and biggest in the world

By Jerome Carlo Paunan

Probably the biggest and oldest musical instrument of its kind, the Las Piñas Bamboo Organ is a unique and remarkable device that has captured the attention of music enthusiasts and history buffs around the world. Considered as a Philippine National Treasure, the bamboo organ can be found in its home inside the St. Joseph Church in Las Piñas City in Metro Manila. The organ is renowned for its beautiful sound and unique construction, which uses bamboo as its primary material.

GrabShare expands to more Metro Manila cities

GrabShare offers the same safe, reliable and convenient ride that Grab is known for, but at a more affordable price point

Grab Philippines officially brings GrabShare to more cities in Metro Manila. The carpooling service – which had its pilot run in Makati, BGC, Manila and select areas in Ortigas in 2022 – is now also available in Mandaluyong, Pasig, San Juan, Pateros, and select areas in Paranaque and Quezon City. 

GrabShare makes the same convenience and reliability of GrabCar more accessible and affordable for the Filipino commuter. With GrabShare, passengers can enjoy as much as 30 percent lower fares on Grab. The service’s passenger-matching feature was also further optimized to ensure that the party is headed in the same direction to avoid surprise detours, hence improving overall shared-ride duration. 

Emotional frailty as source of strength: Get to know PhilPop’s Metro Manila entries

PhilPop, the country’s premier songwriting competition, makes another huge comeback with an exemplary batch of music entries from the National Capital Region.

With a diverse showcase of sounds spanning R&B, contemporary pop and folk-influenced genres, the latest roster offers catchy, radio-friendly fodders that tackle romance, forgiveness, and regret with precision and sensitivity. 

Globe extends free unlimited WiFi to more LGUs and hospitals nationwide

GoWiFi now available in quarantine areas, more hospitals and local government offices 

With the extension of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila and other high risk provinces to May 15, Globe is extending its free unlimited Internet via GoWiFi, in government designated quarantine areas, residence areas and more hospitals for the benefit of medical frontliners and patients.

Caritas Manila To Provide Ligtas COVID-19 Kits to Poor Families in Metro Manila

President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire Luzon under Enhanced Community Quarantine (Lockdown) from March 17 to April 12 suspending all means of public transportation. Everyone is advised to stay inside their homes as the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases intensify its efforts to identify and isolate confirmed Covid-19 cases.

Many poor families in Metro Manila, even before the declaration of the Community Quarantine, are already unable to purchase food and basic protection needs against COVID-19. More than the virus, they’re afraid that the lockdown will deprive them of livelihood.

“We won’t last a month here. We won’t even last a few days if my husband doesn’t earn a living,” a woman living in Baseco, Tondo Manla said in an interview.  

All Cebu Pacific domestic flights to/from Manila today fully booked

Cebu Pacific Advisory: March 14, 2020 (as of 130pm)

Domestic flights today (March 14, 2020)

All Cebu Pacific domestic flights to and from Manila are already fully booked today. We request affected passengers to not go to the airport or ticket offices to avail of their rebooking, refund or travel fund options, and to please manage their bookings online instead. This is for the health and safety of everyone

We will notify affected passengers via email addresses provided to us upon booking, once their bookings can be managed online. We are in the process of completing cancellations for March 15-April 14 flights in our system.

We are working on mounting recovery options in the coming days and will announce them as soon as they are available.

Please bear with us, and we thank you for your patience and understanding.

Chet Cuneta Wants To Be The Pilot Of Pasay To Progress

The mayoral race for the City of Pasay is one of the cities to watch out for since it is one of the richest cities in the country. However it is also the one with the most uneven wealth gap with contrasting differences with the rich and the poor. This coming election is a turning point for the city as a new mayor would be needed to run it and make it still one of the most progressive cities in the country.

One of the candidates who came forward to the call is Chet Cuneta (Cesar Cuneta), the son of former mayor Pablo Cuneta and sister of Megastar Sharon Cuneta. A pilot by profession, he decided to run for the post because he wanted to dedicate his life to public service as he is also retiring from aviation. He runs under the NPC (Nationalist People's Coalition) and will be trying politics for the first time.

Panique, Raterta, shine in 39th MILO Marathon Manila race

Veteran runners Eric Panique and Luisa Raterta made headlines as they grabbed the top spots in the 42K centrepiece event at the 39th National MILO Marathon Manila qualifying leg on Sunday. Almost 35,000 runners of all ages answered the challenge and enjoyed the great sunny weather as they conquered the MILO Marathon race routes.

In the men’s division, Panique outpaced his rivals, beating them with a time of 02:37:44. Mario Maglinao (02:39:47) followed in second place, while Rene Desuyo (02:45:57) finished in third place.

Panique trained with 5-time MILO Marathon King Eduardo Buenavista in Baguio City to prepare for the race. Despite stiff competition from his fellow elite runners early on in the race, he persevered to move forward. “There were some runners ahead of me at the start,” shared Panique. “I increased my pace in the last six kilometers and thankfully, I was able to beat them. I am very grateful to the Lord for his guidance in helping me achieve this honor.”

38th National MILO Marathon race picks up pace

More than 40,000 runners expected to break record attendance

The country’s biggest and most prestigious footrace will once again welcome children, students, aspiring runners and professional athletes to its running routes as the 38th National MILO Marathon takes its act to Manila for its fifth qualifying leg on July 27 at the SM Mall of Asia grounds, Pasay City. With more than 40,000 participants expected to run on Sunday, another historic record of the most number of runners in a single race is anticipated to be achieved.

Your Own Property: Own A Home In 5 Easy Steps At Avida's Homepossible Event

Avida Land makes home-buying easy and stress-free with HOMEPOSSIBLE: SIMPLIFIED, a one-day event that lets you own your dream home in the simplest way possible.

On Saturday, March 29, visit any of the following HOMEPOSSIBLE sites: Avida Showroom Glorietta (2nd Floor, Glorietta 4 Makati), Avida Towers Centera (EDSA Mandaluyong), Diversion 21 Hotel (Iloilo), and Avida Towers Riala Project Pavilion (Cebu).

SMDC’s Grace Residences: a gift of serenity

Any weekday spent in the cityscapes of Makati, Ortigas or Bonifacio Global City (BGC) is an adventure. Amid all the fast-paced movement, one can sense the collective pulse of human interaction and the steady bellowing of rushing vehicles. Going home the quickest way possible, whether to retire for the day or to freshen up for a night out, is a challenge because of rush-hour traffic.

MILO shatters record headcount with 42,214 runners in Manila race

Panique outlasts Raquin in heated bid for 37th MILO Marathon finale post

Elite runners Eric Panique and Luisa Raterta blew the competition away at the 42K division race of the 37th National MILO Marathon Manila qualifying leg Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Grounds, Pasay City. A record-shattering 42,214 runners joined the country’s premier footrace, marking the largest number of participants in a single race in the history of the MILO Marathon.

Along with other 42K qualifiers, Panique and Raterta each took home a cash prize of Php 50,000, a trophy and a coveted spot at the National Finals in December for their respective victories. To increase the level of competition this year, MILO will sponsor this season’s MILO Marathon King and Queen to the 2014 Paris Marathon next April.

GMA News TV’s Pasabay On The Go Kicks Off April 29

Experience another on-the-go Serbisyong Totoo this summer from the country’s leading news channel as GMA News TV kicks off its fifth leg of Pasabay beginning April 29.

Now on its third year, PasabayOn the Go offers free bus rides to commuters traveling from North Avenue in Quezon City, the stretch of EDSA, all the way to Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

From April 29 to May 25, passengers only need to sign up and get their tickets at designated GMA News TV Pasabay ticket booths located at Ayala Malls Trinoma along North Avenue and Market! Market! in Bonifacio Global City.

“Sosy Problems" a must-see movie this Christmas

Heart, Solenn, Bianca, Rhian topbill GMA Films’ 2012 MMFF entry “Sosy Problems”

This Christmas, GMA Films will bring summer-level heat to the supposedly cool season as it ushers four lovely and gorgeous “sosy” ladies on to the big screen with “Sosy Problems,” its official entry to the 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).

The light comedy movie stars Heart Evangelista, Solenn Heussaff, Bianca King and Rhian Ramos with Kapuso hunk Aljur Abrenica.  

“Sosy Problems,” which opened in nationwide theatres today, December 25, is about four rich and famous ladies and their seemingly trivial, but nevertheless, hilarious sources of stress.

Their main problem, however, is that their favorite hangout place, The Polo Club, which reminds them of all the memories of their “firsts” in life – including their first kisses and love affairs – is in danger of being torn down and replaced with a mall that is not so much for the rich and famous: in other words, not a “sosy” mall.

The “sosy” ladies will do everything they can in order to stop the Polo Club owners from pursuing their plans, and they will risk everything -- even their poise and glamour – to achieve their goal.  In the end, out of desperation, they make a fool out of themselves -- and that’s the joke.

“Sosy Problems" a must-see movie this Christmas

GMA Films’ official entry to the 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival, “Sosy Problems,” opened in nationwide theatres (December 25) along with the rest of the entries in the annual festival. 

Directed by Andoy Ranay, the comedy film stars Heart Evangelista, Solenn Heussaff, Bianca King and Rhian Ramos with Aljur Abrenica.

Also starring in the movie are Mikael Daez as Santi, Alden Richards as Iñigo, classy character actress Cherie Gil as Martina, Mylene Dizon as Bernice, Mikey Bustos as Denmark, Tim Yap as Jamie Yap, Agot Isidro as Glory, Maritoni Fernandez as Dada, Johnny Revilla as Gabriel, Ricky Davao as Sebastian, Nova Villa as Lola Patria, Barbie Forteza as Becca, Kristoffer Martin as Israel with the special participation of Ruffa Gutierrez as Luca.

REEL DEAL: ‘Sosy Problems’: Comedy to the ‘sosiest’ level

Beginning today, Christmas Day, GMA Films will make moviegoers experience a holiday treat to the ‘sosiest’ level with “Sosy Problems,” its official entry to the 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).

The movie, which stars four of GMA Network’s hottest leading ladies: Heart Evangelista, Solenn Heussaff, Bianca King and Rhian Ramos with Kapuso hunk actor Aljur Abrenica, is set to deliver a different kind of comedy: one that is light and “sosy.”

“Sosy Problems” is anything but slapstick comedy, although one could dub it as ‘lipstick comedy’ in that aside from titillating the funny bones of fans of comedy films, it will surely whet the appetite of movie viewers who are interested in high life fashion. 

The movie tells about four rich, famous and gorgeous ladies who have one major problem: their favorite hangout place, The Polo Club, is in danger of being demolished and its owners are planning to build a not-so-sosy mall in its place.  The ladies will join forces and combine their resources in order to bring the demolition to a halt.  They will risk everything – even their poise and composure – to send their message across.  

RainWatch: Help and Information Links

Just got this information from fellow bloggers with a summary of help and Information links that one can use for reporting incidents and also provide information about flooded areas and evacuation centers in the Metro.

1. Database of Families in need of RESCUE:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/lv?key=0Av4sFm2l8QlGdDBpV21SWmN1R2JLZXdYV0RYY3FmWXc&toomany=true#gid=0 

2. List of Evacuation Centers & Relief Operations in Metro Manila:

http://www.rappler.com/nation/special-coverage/weather-alert/9981-list-evacuation-centers,-relief-operations-in-metro-manila 

RainWatch: GMA Kapuso Foundation Donations and Numbers

The GMA Kapuso Foundation is currently doing Operation Bayanihan: Relief Operations to help those affected by the floods and non stop rains that are affecting Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon.

For those who would like to send their donations of ready to eat food, rice, canned goods, bottled water, clothes, banig, blankets, medicine at the GMA Kapuso Foundation, 2nd Floor, Kapuso Center, GMA Network Drive cor. Samar St., Diliman, Quezon City; call them at their hotlines 9284299 at 9289351.

Blah Blah Blogs: Trial by Storms

I don't know but sometimes the best wisdom comes out when we are our lowest point. And in today very surreal weather that they say have surpassed Ondoy in terms of damage and coverage has made us very weary and afraid. I am afraid too, not only for my self but also for my family who lives up north, my relatives in Pasig and Quezon City and all my friends from all parts of the Metro who have also experience the same heavy downpour. 

We were very lucky back in Ondoy as we live 4 storeys up in a uphill part of Sampaloc-Sta Mesa. But still it was really gruesome to see the aftermath of the storm. Mud all around, the smell of stench that remained on the street for days and also the sad news of the people who died. As much as we don't want that to happen again, we cannot dictate nature. Earth has been formed with powerful storms and earthquakes which make me realize that what we humans are still at her mercy. To us to survive, we must still do a lot of work. 

RainWatch: LGU Hotlines

Here are the list of hotlines you can contact for your city or town that is affected by the rains.:

Stay Safe, Help Others, Pray.