DepEd Advisory for Jan 9 for Manila Schools

Classes in Manila High School, Victoriano Mapa High School, Apolinario Mabini Elementary School, Geronimo Santiago Elementary School, Ramon Avanceña High School, Manila Science High School and Araullo High School in Manila which are on the route of the procession of the Feast of the Black Nazarene will be suspended on Wednesday, January 9, 2013 to ensure the safety of students.

Regular classes will resume on Thursday, January 10, 2013.

Calapan City Prosecutor dismisses libel charges against Howie Severino and GMA News Research head

The Office of the City Prosecutor of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, dismissed a complaint for libel filed by Doctor Idol Bondoc of the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital (OMPH) against GMA News Online Editor-in-Chief and GMA News and Public Affairs personality Howie Severino, and GMA News Research Head Florian Balmes for insufficiency of evidence.

Bondoc filed a complaint against Severino, Balmes, and his colleague, Dr. Rosinico Fabor, last September 5, 2011 after Fabor posted allegedly defamatory remarks on the comments section of a GMA News Online website article regarding the Ombudsman’s decision on a previous administrative case involving Bondoc. It was claimed by Bondoc that GMA News Online served as a vehicle for Fabon to destroy his reputation as a medical professional, and that he was not given equal opportunity to air his side of the story.

In the Resolution dated November 13, 2012, Deputy City Prosecutor Gabriel C. Alberto noted that the comments made by the readers of GMA News Online were not edited or subjected to prior approval before posting. Considering that neither Severino nor Balmes had the power to edit or approve comments on the website, and considering further that sufficient guidelines on proper posting of comments were available on the website, it was determined that they should not be held liable for any reactions sent by its readers.

Meanwhile, City Deputy Prosecutor Alberto found probable cause to charge Dr. Fabon with libel and recommended the filing of the corresponding information in court.

GMA Network on The Sarah Lahbati Issue [UPDATED]

UPDATED: seems that the Sarah Lahbati contract issue continues as GMA Network releases a new statement about the issue. Sarah Lahbati today has released her statement from her tweets in twitter and can be seen the compiled version below the GMA Network statement.

Sarah Lahbati clearly violated her contract with GMA Network

Sarah Lahbati’s Artist Management Contract with GMA Network is effective until February 21, 2015.  There is no provision for leave of absence in said contract.  Any leave is subject to prior agreement between the Network and Sarah.  Therefore, Sarah’s unilateral decision to go on leave, despite its earlier disapproval by the Network, is a violation of her contract with the Network.  Further, her declared trip to Switzerland for an indefinite period, without the prior consent and approval of the Network, will be an additional violation of her contract.

Sarah, who is exclusively managed by the Network, earlier signed a co-management contract with Royal Era Entertainment & Artist Management, the talent management company of Annabelle Rama, the mother of Sarah’s current boyfriend, Richard Gutierrez.  Such act violated the terms of her contract with the Network.  The Network would have had no choice but to sue Sarah and Royal Era Entertainment for the said breach if they refused to rescind said co-management contract.

REEL DEAL: Life of Pi REVIEW

It's 2013, and its also a great to see the line up of movies this year which many are also anticipating. And I am very happy to start the year with a movie which goes a notch higher with something really appealing with 20th Century Fox's Life of Pi.

Based on a novel by Yann Martel. Life of Pi takes us on a biographical story of Piscine Molitor "Pi" Patel (Suraj Shama), as he goes on an unexpected turn of events with a shipwreck that killed his family and leaves him in a situation of surviving in the wide ocean in a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. It becomes a fight for survival and struggle. Directed by Academy Award winner Ang Lee, brings to life the novel and turn it into a stunning visual feast great to see on 3D. With an interesting story and characters that many people can relate, proves to be a powerful and moving movie of the year.

There is also a lot of lessons that can be learned in the film, life lessons. And it also had some spiritual linkages that affirms faith and love of God. It might actually give you similar references with other films due to common scenes like the Sea, India, etc, however maintains the experience of the story and the movie itself by the connections it weaves into a tapestry of life itself.

SM City North EDSA End of Season SALE!

SALE ALERT! SALE ALERT! SALE ALERT!

Sale Addicts! Get you first dose of adrenaline rush with the first shopping sale of the year 2013!

The big End of Season Sale will started January 4  until January 13! Up to 70% off on selected items from fashion brands, beauty products, shoes, bags, and more!

Get your shopping bags ready and head on over to SM City North EDSA, Northern Shoppers!

Like and follow SM City North EDSA on facebook and twitter!

#smneendofseasonsale @smnorthedsa

facebook.com/smnedsa

REEL DEAL: Parental Guidance - Marisa Tomei SPOTLIGHT

MARISA TOMEI’S 21ST CENTURY METHODS IN “PARENTAL GUIDANCE”

Academy Award Winner Marisa Tomei stars alongside comedy legends Billy Crystal and Bette Midler in the heartwarming family comedy “Parental Guidance.”

Tomei plays Alice, daughter of Artie (Crystal) and Diane (Midler) who calls her parents for help to babysit their three children when she and husband Phil (Tom Everett Scott) had to go away for work.  Alice and Phil’s parenting methods are miles apart from her parents which is Alice’s significant concern.  Once left with the grandkids, unknown to the couple, Artie and Diane’s old school methods of tough rules, lots of love and old fashioned games soon becomes a welcome part of their children’s daily lives.

TRASLACION 2013: Feast of The Black Nazarene PRIMER

January not only means the start of the year but also the start of the Philippine festivals which are largely followed and before the major regional festivals like Sinulog of Cebu, and Dinagyang of Iloilo, it all starts with the feast of the Black Nazarene that is attended by millions of devotees, including myself, to flock to the dense district of Quiapo and also join in the procession from Luneta to the Quiapo church. 

The feast has been a tradition for more than 400 years and has gone through many challenges and milestones which have been etched into the spirituality of Filipino Catholics. And in every festival, it becomes the most dense place on earth with many of the devotees made a pilgrimage from cities in Metro Manila and even some from  provinces like Rizal, Laguna, Bulacan, and Pampanga.