Traslacion 2012: The Feast of the Black Nazarene Tomorrow!

After Christmas and the New year, The feast of the Black Nazarene is the first major feast day that happens on January 9. And I have been a part of this celebration since 2003 way back while I was in high school. And via providence, I was able to attend those years with no injury, no stolen items but just inspiration and faith seen with the sea of people who cling to faith to help them in their needs.

And it has been more than 400 years since this has started and has drawn millions of devotees. Even people from  far flung provinces patiently join in the procession. I never tried to pull the rope because I go alone and always brought a bag. Like Misa De Gallo, will also have a post for the Translacion 2012 and also on its 3rd year now.

Let see what happens tomorrow! 

Viva Señor Nazareno!

 More updates on their new website www.quiapochurch.com

LAKBAYAN: It's More Fun In The Philippines!

2012 is indeed a year of the start of new things especially for the tourism industry in the country. No question, we have great places and things to do here and DOT recently launched the new tourism campaign It's More Fun In The Philippines. With the hashtag #ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines trending in twitter world wide. 

It does have this 'cool' factor connected with the slogan and is perfect with photos. However, there are still a dash of controversy with its similarity with the 1951 Switzerland poster with the slogan "It's More Fun in Switzerland". Others use the slogan and post them with pictures that contains negative propaganda and others with subliminal meanings. I admit to be surprized with the new logo but finally realized that there is no need to destabilize the campaign because we have not given it time to prove its effectiveness. 

REEL DEAL: Alvin and the Chipmunks Chipwrecked SPOTLIGHT

CHIPMUNKS’ CHIPWRECK ON A CHARACTER-CHANGING ADVENTURE

The Chipmunks are back as you’ve never seen them before in character-changing adventure that caught them by surprise in “Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked.”

As the story opens, The Chipmunks, Chipettes, and their eternally beleaguered guardian, Dave Seville, are en route, on a luxury cruise liner, to the International Music Awards.  Alvin, of course, cannot resist wreaking havoc on this ultimate playground.  .  He attempts to steer the vessel, takes over the hot tubs, and dons a tuxedo – secret agent style – to work the baccarat and blackjack tables.

Jason Lee who reprises his role as Dave Seville relates that “As always, the operative words for Alvin are ‘chaos’ and ‘action.’  It’s his first time out of the city, and he wants to make the most of it.  Dave isn’t happy about Alvin’s shipboard antics – and lets him know it. It’s not easy to be sympathetic, likable and charismatic when you’re screaming ‘ALVIIIIIN!’ so loudly you’re breaking windows around you!”

MUSIC LYF: A1 Back in 2012 for Manila Concert!

British-Norwegian group A1 is expected to churn out their familiar tunes at their Manila concert on the evening of February 25, 2012. But one thing their Pinoy fans should look forward to is their new, exciting rendition of their smash hit “Like A Rose,” which arguably is their biggest song in the ears of fans this side of the globe.

Member Ben Adams who wrote “Like A Rose” is thrilled to announce their performance of the said version. “We have just updated it for a brand new version for 2012, which was amazingly fun to do! Very excited for you all to hear it!” He recalled, “I wrote it when I was 16 years old on my old upright piano at my parents house. I haven't told anyone this really as most people assume it's a love song, but it was actually originally written for my mom!”

REEL DEAL: Alvin and The Chipmunks 3: Chipwrecked REVIEW

Alvin, Simon and Theodore are back with the Chippettes for another fun adventure in the the high seas and in a deserted island. Alvin and the Chipmunks 3:Chipwrecked. This time the Chipmunks are on a cruise and having a time of their lives and then suddenly change when they are brought to an uncharted island. 

Together with their female counterparts the chipettes, the gang will encounter challenges of living like a castaway, to survive the ferocious jungle and still sing and dance. Expect friends in  different sizes and shapes to appear in the island.    Dave  also  gets lost with the chipmunks along wither former manager, making it more hilariously  chaotic in the island.  

GMA Network delivers breakthrough ratings performance in 2011

In the year ended, GMA Network, Inc. (GMA) altered television channel ranking as it overtook ABS-CBN in nationwide total day household audience share, placing the latter only to second rank - according to broadcast industry's more trusted ratings service provider, Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

Based on full 2011 nationwide data of Nielsen (December 25 to 31 based on overnight ratings), GMA posted a 34.2 percent total day average television household audience share, outscoring ABS-CBN's 31.1 percent and TV5's 15.6 percent by substantial gaps.

MUSIC LYF: Avril Lavigne LIVE in Manila 2012

Last year I thought that I don't like going to concerts lately. But when I heard that one of my favorite artists, Avril Lavigne is coming for her concert here in the Philippines, I am thrilled to looked forward to this! It will happen on Feb. 16, 2012 8PM  at the Smart Araneta Coliseum

When singer, songwriter, and musician Avril Lavigne first burst upon the music scene at age 17, she was known as a young, pop-punk tomboy who refused to resort to skin-baring come-ons, preferring to entice the record-buying public with her powerhouse voice, high-spirited melodies, and straight-talking lyrics. Staying steadfastly true to herself and putting music before image paid off both critically and commercially for the Canadian-born artist. Over the course of her three albums, Lavigne scored a string of international hit singles: “Complicated,” “Sk8er Boi,” “I’m With You,” “Losing Grip,” “Don’t Tell Me,” “My Happy Ending,” “Nobody’s Home,” “Keep Holding On,” “Girlfriend,” “When You’re Gone,” “Hot,” and “The Best Damn Thing.” She earned eight Grammy Award nominations, won seven Canadian Juno Awards, and sold more than 30 million albums and nearly 20 million tracks worldwide over the past eight years. 

Campus Hour United - Lets Students Be Heard!

Students! Its time for you voices to be heard! We are inviting you to support the Campus Hour of the Campus Ministry Volunteers. Selected student volunteers of Campus Ministry of the Archdiocese of Manila from different colleges and universities (YuP.Peace Youth Leaders) will handle the ‘Campus Hour’ for the month of January 2012 which will be aired in all Saturdays of the month from 2:30-3:30 p.m.


Watch also the live streaming in the official website: www.veritas846.ph .  Give your comments, opinions and reflections in relation to the topics that we will talk about 
and send it to this number: 0918-VERITAS (0918-8374827).  Facebook Account: campus hour united-radyo veritas846.

REEL DEAL: Scarlett Johannson's Softie Yet Toughie Role WE BOUGHT A ZOO

In Cameron Crowe’s inspiring new film,” We Bought A Zoo,” Scarlett Johansson plays Kelly Foster, a plucky and hard working young woman who is dedicated to her job as a zoo keeper and passionate about the animals in her care.

Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon) buys the zoo, Rosemoor Animal Park, in order to give his family a fresh start in life. His wife Katherine has recently died and he is looking for a new direction for himself and his two young children.  Running and restoring a dilapidated zoo is ostensibly an odd choice and Mee definitely takes on more than he bargained for. With the help of an eclectic staff  and with an assortment of adventures along the way, the family works to return the run down zoo to its former glory and to heal their own pain.

Q: What type of woman is Kelly in this movie?

A: “Kelly is incredibly driven and focused. She has dedicated her entire life to her job and she actually says in the film,  ‘I don't have a life,  this is my whole life. I come here from morning to night and my friends are out enjoying themselves with different guys and going to bars.  I don't do any of that stuff.’ 

Q: What was the appeal and challenge of this character for you? 

A: “What I love about   Kelly is that she’s so totally matter of fact.  There’s nothing about her that’s vindictive.  She doesn’t really want anything from anybody except for an honest day’s work and I appreciate that sentiment. I have never had the opportunity to really play a girl who’s very pure and straightforward in her thinking.”

Reel Deal: Young Stars Shine in Fox's Family Films

Innately talented young actors Maggie Elizabeth Jones, Elle Fanning, Colin Ford, Shailene Woodley and Amara Miller shine brightly on their own footing in upcoming movies from 20th Century Fox – “We Bought A Zoo” and “The Descendants.”  

In We Bought A Zoo starring Matt Damon and directed by Cameron Crowe – Elle Fanning, Maggie Elizabeth Jones and Colin Ford take turns in keeping that familial warmth of the movie where Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon) buys a house with a zoo in order to give his family a fresh start in life. What begins as a rather impulsive fantasy turns into a daunting life-changing journey that is exciting, emotionally taxing, exceedingly labor intensive, often hilarious but ultimately more rewarding than even he could have ever imagined.