Philippines Lost a Friend in Paul Walker

Paul Walker may not be a Filipino, but he did a lot of things to help the Philippines, especially the victims of Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan). It is therefore, with great sadness when the country heard about his tragic death in a car accident on Saturday (30 November 2013).

Walker's death came as shocking and heart-breaking news to all his Filipino fans and Hollywood friends. While Walker starred in more than 30 movies during his showbiz career, he will forever be remembered as Brian O’Conner in the action film franchise, "Fast and the Furious".

The Country's National 'Playboy'?

National hero Jose Rizal may have been born 152 years ago, but his legacy as a womanizer never ceases to amaze netizens here and abroad. Many considered Rizal the Country’ National Playboy, while others believed he won't be able to secure an elective position given the number of dalliance he had.

Rizal was only 16, a fresh graduate from Ateneo de Manila, when he met his apple in the eye, Segunda Katigbak. The two exchanged letters, and Rizal would often visit La Concordia College to see Segunda as well as two of his sisters. When she turned 16, however, Segunda was married to her town mate Manuel Luz.

Dolphy Passed Away

The Philippine King of Comedy, Dolphy, just passed away last night (Tuesday) at 8:34 P.M., at the Makati Medical Center (MMC).

The passing of Dolphy, whose real name Rodolfo Quizon Sr., ended one of the longest and most colorful lives and careers in Philippine show business history. He was 83 and about to turn 84 on July 25.

Janella: A 12-Year old Flag Saver

How many 12-year-olds do you know who will be willing to risk life and limb to save the country’s flag? You can’t think of one? In Malinao, Albay they don't have any problems identifying somebody and that person is Janella Lelis who bravely saves a Philippine Flag from flood waters at the height of storm Juaning last July 2011.

Miracle Team's Miraculous Shot

Mario Titoy and the entire Philippine team will be welcomed back as heroes after topping the Deloitte Street Child World Cup indoor football tournament in Durban, South Africa.

GMANews.TV reported that the Philippines squad, virtual underdogs in the week-long tournament staged as a build-up to the 2010 South Africa World Cup in June, arrives in Manila on 24 March 2010.

Pinoy Wins Google Map Maker Tilt

A Pinoy software developer has won Google first ever Map Maker Global Competition, which encouraged users around the world to map universities, schools and hospitals in their home countries to help humanitarian organizations do their jobs better.

Wayne Dell Manuel, a 24-year-old developer at the National Telehealth Center of the University of the Philippines, bested over 700 contestants from countries around the world in the first-ever Google Map Maker Global Competition to win a US$ 50,000 donation from UNICEF for projects that empower Filipino youth through technology in the Philippines and an all-expense paid trip to the Google Super Mappers 2010 conference in Switzerland.

Dancing Inmates' 'This Is It' Routine

The 'Thriller' routine of the Cebu dancing inmates captured audiences worldwide, including the King of Pop himself, the late Michael Jackson.

Jackson's world-famous choreographer, Travis Payne, along with two of Jackson's backup dancers, taught the inmates at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center new routines for a special dance video that will be released to coincide with the 'This Is It' DVD launch this January (see full performance below).

CNN's Hero of the Year

Efren Peñaflorida, who started a "pushcart classroom" in the Philippines to bring education to poor children as an alternative to gang membership, has been named the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year.

CNN's Anderson Cooper revealed Peñaflorida's selection at the conclusion of the third-annual "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute" at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on Saturday night (21 November 2009).

Pinoy Math Wizards Harvest Medals

It was reported by Rainier Allan Ronda of The Philippine STAR on 12 July that thirteen Filipino high school math wizards held their own and harvested a crop of silver and bronze medals for the Philippines in the 10th Invitational World Youth Mathematics Inter-cities Competition (IWYMIC) held in Durban, South Africa.

Four members of the Philippines’ Team A posted a first runner-up finish in the team category competitions earning a trophy and a silver medal each for its four members namely Geraldine Baniqued, a senior at St. Paul College-Pasig; Arielle Elise Chua of St. Jude Catholic School-Manila; John Russell Virata of Gideon Academy; and Zheng Rong Wu of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School.

Pinoy Students at Intel ISEF 2009

Four Filipino students were among the winners of one of the largest pre-college science and technology research competitions in the world, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said last 12 June 2009.

In a statement, Science Secretary Estrella Alabastro said the students won at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) held from 10 to 16 May 2009. The event attracted 1,563 young scientists from 56 countries.

Pinoy Kid Tops Euro Junior Golf Tour

Carlos Philippe Winsett-Palanca, 7, wins 1st place in the 7-and-under category, at the U.S. Kids Golf European Championship in Scotland, the country where the game of golf was invented. The Grade 1 student from De La Salle-Zobel won by a single stroke over Luke Rose of South Africa and defending champion Jake Craddock of Britain to become the first Filipino to win the event, which drew 33 champions from 12 countries.

More than 400 boys and girls ages 6 to 14 who qualified for the tournament in their respective countries came to Scotland to vie for the title in their respective categories. The top finishers in each category will be competing in the Van Horn Cup - a showpiece event, modelled on the Ryder Cup, where the best European players are pitted against the top non-Europe golfers.

Bren Bataclan's Smile Project

A Boston-based Filipino artist, Bren Bataclan, has been making waves across the US with his project he called "The Smile Project". His cheerful cartoon creatures have been exhibited in some high places: at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, in Logan International Airport and even on a Girl Scout patch.

But lately he's been leaving his artwork outside unemployment offices and closed-down retail stores across the country bearing the note: "Everything is Going to Be Alright - This Painting is Yours to Take."

Mendoza is Cannes' Best Director

Last year, Brillante Mendoza made the country proud because his film "Serbis" (Service) was selected as one of the finalists competing for the prestigious Palme d’Or. The first and only time a Filipino director had a film included in the competition category of the Cannes Filmfest was in 1984, when Lino Brocka’s opus "Orapronobis" was accepted.

Last 24 May 2009, another movie by Mendoza made it to Cannes to compete with the world’s best filmmakers including Johnnie To (Election), Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction), Jane Campion (The Piano), Pedro Almodova (All About My Mother) and Ang Lee (Sense and Sensibility, Brokeback Mountain, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon).

A CNN Pinoy Hero

The Dynamic Teen Company (DTC) is an organization that is aimed at uplifting the lives of underprivileged children younger than themselves through education. Armed with only a pushcart full of books and other educational materials, DTC brings the classroom to children and educate in slum areas, dumpsites and even in the cemetery.

Formed in 1997 in Cavite by Efren Peñaflorida, DTC's mission then was to keep the youth away from trouble and vices. Their main tool: A pushcart classroom.

Mga Kababayan, Francis M Passes Away

It was reported today at around noon that multi-awarded Filipino rap icon Francis Magalona passed away at The Medical City hospital in Mandaluyong City. The 44-year old pinoy rapper succumbed to acute myelogenous leukemia, a few days after his fourth chemotherapy session and a few days before his supposed stem cell transplant.

The announcement was first made by actor Vic Sotto in the noon-time variety show Eat Bulaga! of which Magalona had been a host, after which a short tribute to the artist was aired. A minute of prayer was also observed in remembrance of Mr. Magalona in the rival show Wowowee with host Willie Revillame leading the prayer.

A Filipina's Fight Against Child Labor

Maria Cecilia Flores-Oebanda has been awarded the first Iqbal Masih award for her work towards the elimination of exploitative child labor, according to the United States Department of Labor.

Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs Charlotte M. Ponticelli said the US agency was giving this award to acknowledge Flores-Oebanda’s lifetime battle against the use of child domestic workers and the trafficking of women and children for domestic servitude and commercial sexual exploitation in the Philippines and internationally.

Football Record in Barotac Nuevo

Ever since I started going to a public school in Iloilo, football or soccer, has been etched deeply in my heart. From elementary grade in Sta. Barbara to secondary and College levels in the city, being a part of a team and competing fiercely has become my way of life. And I am not the only one in Iloilo who is passionate about this sport. All indication also points to the fact that football competition and its variants will forever be one of Ilonggos favorite past time entertainment.

Hence, it came as a no surprise when I heard that residents of the football-crazy town of Barotac Nuevo are batting for a place in the Guinness Book of Records on this particular sport.

William Atilano: The Baby Saver

Whenever you read the major dailies these days, stories seems to indicate that mothers are getting daring in terms of getting rid of unwanted babies. Sometimes heartless abortionist are the ones task to do this horrendous deed, but most often, it is still the mothers who go out of their way to do what many abhor doing - getting rid of unborn children or throwing away newborn babies.

Fortunately, not all bad deeds are successful and there are still a few good samaritans who follow their conscience.

No Arms, No Legs, No Problem for Clay Dyer

I received an email about 2 hours ago about this remarkable person, Clay Dyer, who was born without arms and legs, but still manage to go through life with a lot of hope.

Clay Dyer was born on 23 May 1978, without any lower limbs, no arm on the left side and a partial arm on the right. However, these limitations did not dampen his determination and positive spirit.