Are you ready “Mga Katribo”  for Survivor Philippines 2011 Season Finale? Only 5 days left before the live presentation of the  2011 Survivor Philippines Celebrity Doubles Showdown. Scheduled Live! this coming February 10, 2012 at GMA Kapuso Network .

After survival council last Thursday, the amazing Betong-Maey tandem ended, which led Maey Bautista joining the Jury House. Only four remaining candidates for the 2012 Philippine Survivor are left in the Apolaki tribe.  This leaves the  members KC Montero, Stef Prescott, Mara Yokohama and Betong Sumaya as the remaining castaways aiming to outwit, outplay and outdone each other to be the next Celebrity Sole Survivor and bring home P3M cash prize.

With the four remain castaways, who do you think is the sole survivor?

Survivor Philippines Celebrity Doubles  Showdown 2011 Final 5 Castaway

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Ok Lang Maging Single sa Valentines Day

“Ok Lang Maging Single Sa Valentines” is the latest concert from our Pop Rock Princess Yeng Constantino. Yeng Constantino is inviting “Singles on Valentines Day” on  Friday – February 3, 8 pm at The Music Museum. The concert was brought to us by Cornerstone Concerts, RRJ and Qualibet, with special guest Paolo Valenciano and Jovit Baldivino. According to Pop Rock Princess, no lonely hearts for Valentine’s day! Because on Friday night , she will explain why it’s even fun to be single on Valentine’s Day.

Meantime, here is Yeng Constantino’s Video mentioning me as the winner from the “Ask Yeng Contest” courtesy of Orange Magazine TV.

Visit OrangeMagazineTV’s “Ask Yeng Contest” for her responses from fan  questions. She talked about her new style, her beauty secrets, career plans, ideal man, her love life and her fans/supporters.

For tickets, call Ticketworld at 891-9999 or Music Museum at 721 6726 or 721 0635 for more information.

As what I’ve explained a few months ago from my previous post about K to 12, DepEd reiterate that K to 12 focuses on helping students to masters their skills.  It will also make learning more fun and enjoyable by reducing the number of “contact” hours from 6hrs. to only 4hrs. The curriculum focuses on teaching our students on how to learn the lesson by themselves  rather just teaching them the lesson itself it will shorten the contact hours making less stressful for the students.

Enjoyable, easily understood lessons using the language spoken at home, less contact time, and interactive.

These are just some of the features of the new curriculum for Grade 1 and first year high school students that the Department of Education will implement starting June 2012 under the K to 12 basic education reform program.

Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC said the new curriculum is centered more on the students rather on the traditional way of teaching which is focused on the teacher. “We are making it a real learning experience for the students, meaning, it will be less on memorization but more encouraging of critical thinking,” he added.

It helps that the new K to 12 curriculum will implement the mother tongue-based multi- lingual education (MTB-MLE) in studying lessons from Kinder up to Grade 3. Studies have shown that students learn better when the language used at home is the same language used in discussing class lessons. DepEd is already piloting MTB-MLE in various schools nationwide using eight major regional dialects.

DepEd’s move is part of the education reform program under the Aquino administration which seeks to produce high school graduates who are equipped with skills for the world of work, have better needed competencies for college education and ready for global opportunities.

Under the K to 12 program, the public school system will have kinder (which started in School Year 2011), six years in elementary, four years in junior high school, and two more years for senior high school where students will have more time to sharpen their employable skills.

The new curriculum for Grade 1 will only require pupils to go to school for half a day.

“From 6 hours contact time everyday, we will reduce it to four hours to make education less stressful and more enjoyable for our young learners,” Luistro explained.

Luistro stressed that schooling should be enjoyable. “It is important that our learners develop that natural love for learning and not feel that it is something imposed on them.”

On the other hand, the first year high school curriculum will be more interactive and relevant in everyday life. Science teaching, for example, will be based on its practical use.

“As students go up the ladder, we want them to learn skills that are being demanded by employers while at the same time giving them the chance to appreciate and enjoy the lessons,” Luistro expounded. [Dep Ed New Release]

The K to 12 program is very promising although some people is questioning it  because it will be an additional cost for the poor “Juan” due to the additional length in the years of the entire curriculum. But if the program promises the graduates under this curriculum a better future, why not?  What do you think?

GMA 7 Kapuso Network announced that our very own Romi Garduce officially completed his quest for the Seven Summit after set foot at Mt. Vinson in the Artic Region. Mt. Vinson also know “Vinson Massif”, was first seen in 1958 and first climbed in 1966. It is the highest mountain in Antarctica and one the toughest adventure in mountaineering and among the Seven Summits.

The Seven Summits consist of:

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• Kilimanjaro - Africa
• Vinson Massif - Antarctica
• Kosciuszko - Australia
• Everest (Sagarmatha or Chomolungma) - Asia
• Elbrus (Minghi-Tau) – Europe
• Mount McKinley (Denali) – North America
• Aconcagua – South America

The Philippines finally puts on record a historic feat in the elite adventure sport of mountaineering. This after renowned Filipino mountain climber Romi Garduce officially set foot atop Mt. Vinson Massif in the Antarctic Region on January 5 at 6:45pm, Antarctica time (January 6, 5:45am, Philippine time) – officially completing his historic “Seven Summit” quest after long 10 years.

According to a recent blogpost by mountain climbing and trekking guide service Mountain Madness, Romi’s team summitted the 16,067-foot alpine mountain lying in the Sentinel Range of the Ellsworth Mountains amid a cold -26 degree Celsius weather.

GMA Network, tagged as the “home of Filipino champions,” takes pride that the first Pinoy to ever complete this elite globe-trotting expedition is a homegrown Kapuso. Romi is one of the pioneer hosts of the award-winning wildlife and environmental program Born To Be Wild.

Romi now stands next to Filipino boxing champ Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao with his own world record title.

In all, Romi summitted “eight of the seven highest mountains” in seven continents, conquering all mountains in both Bass and Messner mountaineering lists. These summits include Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa (September 2002); Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina (January 2005); Mt. Everest in Nepal (May 2006); Mt. Elbrus in Russia (August 2007); Mt. McKinley or Denali Peak in North America (June 2008); Mt. Kosciuszko in Australia (December 2008); Mt. Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia (July 2011), and just recently, Mt. Vinson Massif in Antarctica (January 2012).

Find more about Romi’s triumph as GMA Network, the broadcast leader in adventure sports coverage, airs the Pito Para sa Pilipino: the Seven Summits Expedition on GMA and GMA News TV.

Feeds about his most recent summit can also be seen on all GMA-7 and GMA News TV newscasts and bulletins. [Press Release]

International Executive Chef Boy Logro’s ”Kusina Master” will be aired today at Kapuso Network (GMA 7) prior Eat Bulaga. Viewer will definitely enjoy a 15 minutes lesson of quick and easy dishes prepared by the one of the finest culinary expert himself.

Beginning January 2, “Kusina Master”  will showcase  a 15-minute cooking lesson  in front of live audiences  making everyday food preparation fun, easy and exciting. Since hosted by the comic  Chef Pablo “Boy” Logro, also known in GMANewsTV 11 as  “Idol sa Kusina,” your early after lunch will definitely an entertaining and informative as well.

Every week one Kapuso celebrity will  be Chef Boy’s co-host to assist him in the preparation of sumptuous recipe for every occasion. This will add excitement because you can learn cooking along with  favorite celebrities. So watch out for the Kusina Master, every weekdays at GMA Kapuso Network before Eat Bulaga.

Btw, watch out for my short  interview with Chef Logro and learn how he became the Idol sa Kusina and one of the humble highest paid executive chef in the country.

GMA Kapuso Foundation announced  starting today they will be only accepting for in-kind donation the following items:

1. Mat (Banig)

2. Blankets (Kumot)

3.  Kitchen Utensils (Kaldero at iba pang gamit pang-kusina)

4. New Clothing and New Undergarments

5. Relief Food Items (bigas, de lata, tinapay at instant noodles)

Kapuso Foundation will no longer accept USED CLOTHES  and  effective  Dec. 30, 2011 the will stop accepting in-kind donation until 8:00AM – 6:00PM only. But the GMAKF will still continue to accept monetary donations thru their banks,  please visit their official website http://www.kapusofoundation.com for more details.

I think Used clothes will not that beneficial for the victims any more because we (me and my officemates in Going Straight Salon) volunteered for the repacking of relief goods almost of 80% of what we have repacked is already used clothes. Like Ms. Sol Moreno (one of the officers in GMAKF) said, “Monetary contribution is still the best way to help the Typhoon Sendong Victims. Aside from it has no additional cost in logistics,  they can be easily manage on what the typhoon  victims really need.” According to their Facebook Fan Page, GMAKF has already provided relief assistance to a total of 54,940 individuals (13,735 families) in Northern Mindanao and Dumaguete. They have deployed a total of 72M pesos worth of Monetary and In-kind donation.

I’m very thankful for 2011, a lot of blessing came in and as well as challenges. One of my blogs (rizalpark.org) won the Top Emerging Influential Blogs for 2011, my clients continued to increase, meet new friends and learn a lot of things from the challenges offline and in social media. One good lesson I have learned this year is not to apathy to issues. Before, I never engage into online discussion nor opposed to share my thoughts a matter, until someone defaced my rizalpark.org blog. They thought their freedom has been suppressed. They used social media to gather sympathy on what they think cause, but they don’t really understand what they are fighting for.

The use of social media should be use to promote our country not to demoralized it. That’s why I believe, 2012 should be the year to promote what is positive and true. If we speak on what we believe is right and true, authors of black propaganda in the social media will be lessen or avoided. Cyberbullying like what happen to me and experienced by Chris Lao (who suffered online  rough criticism) should have been avoided. Spreading of false information about Oprah’s saying Shamcey should have won the beauty contest has been contained immediately.

Social media in 2012 should be the year to promote online transparency.  Politicians should use social media more to promote government transparency not just for their personal online propaganda. Instead of initiating online tweet war why not, dissemination of government policies and help promote bayanihan in the country. We should speak up, that we need “change” and do our share in promoting our country!

I think 2012 should be the start for online positivism. Social Media should be the medium of bayanihan (voluntarism) , transparency, and tourism in the country. If you feel we deserved better… we should Speak up. Speak up in resistance to mediocrity, limitations, “bahala na si batman!” and uniformity (Sama lang ng sama!). Let’s help the rebuild our country by promoting online a beautiful Philippines!

That’s why starting next year I will Speak Up for Online Positivism in 2012!

I would like to share a very sweet holiday treats from our friend from Mister Donut.

In life, there is nothing more heartwarming than seeing the smile on your loved one’s face as he or she opens your gift. The look of childlike wonder, the sweaty hands and giddy anticipation, the gleeful grin, the squeal of delight–they all

This Christmas, get an extra serving of sweetest smiles effortlessly with Mister Donut’s Merrygalos, cool and festive holiday offers from one of the makers of great-tasting donuts in the country.

Experience sumptuous Belgian Bites like never before in limited edition Christmas tin cans. Finally, you and you loved ones can enjoy these delicious donuts in delightful packages. Choose the Christmas Tree tin can with nine assorted Belgian Bites for only P170 or get the Candy Cane tin can with 7 pieces of Belgian Bites for only P150. These shiny fanciful tins are great for storing items and awesome reminders of a Christmas well spent.

Belgian Bites are also available in affordable packs of three for P36 and six for only P72. They come in colorful gift boxes that are just as fun and festive.

For Bavarian Frost lovers out there, Mister Donut unveils Merry Bavarian Frost, an enchanting medley of junior Bavarian donuts with a Christmas touch. Be dazzled by sugary snowflakes, Christmas trees and Yuletide ornaments on your favorite donut. Sink your teeth into the chocolate, strawberry, caramel and coffee frosting and savor Mister Donut’s signature Bavarian filling. For a vibrant box of 9 assorted donuts at only P99, it’s no wonder every bite turns into a smile.

Expect a Ngiting Mister Donut to come your way with any of these Merrygalos. Whether you’re caught in the holiday rush or just looking for yummy Christmas treats, drop by any of Mister Donut’s 1,000 stores nationwide and get the yummiest gift that’s worth giving. Because with Mister Donut’s Merrygalos, may smile sa bawat kagat, may regalo para sa lahat!

The Department of Education has ordered the release of P.5 million in the regional office in Northern Mindanao to be used as operating expense in schools being used as evacuation centers as well as in clean up operations.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro also said that families of teachers who died during the catastrophe will be given P10,000 each in financial assistance while teaching and non-teaching employees will be provided with calamity loans through DepEd’s provident fund.

DepEd is mobilizing its engineering and health units in assessing the damage and needs of affected schools in the aftermath of typhoon Sendong which ripped through Northern Mindanao last week.

Luistro who personally led the inspection team of DepEd officials reported that, based on initial assessment, some 28 schools in four schools divisions were affected. Hardest hit by rampaging floodwater spawned by the typhoon were Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan. Also affected were schools in Agusan del Sur, Lanao del Sur.

Reports as of December 20 revealed that damaged classrooms total 167. DepEd engineers and health professionals continue to validate and consolidate damage reports.

[Press Release]

Last Saturday party was really a blast! It was our first grand high school reunion after 18 years for batch 93. Although our school (Immaculate Heart of Mary School or IHMS) was founded in 1985, our batch (Batch ’93) was the third fruit of the Alma Matter. We only have 3 sections and if my memory serves me right we are less than a hundred back then.

Meantime, I created this post because I would like share some photos  of our high school reunion to my readers which was held last December 17, 2011 at KM 29 Cafe in Muntinlupa City. Secondly, I would like this post and photos visible or search-able in the search engine  like google and yahoo and so on ( for those batch members don’t have facebook acount… tsk tsk tsk  ).  Lastly, I  also want to take thank again the people who’ve help making this event possible … specially the sponsors and  the organizers.

Thanks to:

Sponsors and Major Contributors

Going Straight Salon - http://www.goingstraight.com.ph/
Let’s Face It - http://www.letsfaceit-spalon.com/
Qlick Tech Blog – http://www.qlickcafe.com/blogs/

Christopher Cruz (Mobile System)
Christina Edlagan (Decorations)
Edgardo Gerodias (Beverages – Pepsi)

Rhisa Limbo
Jheng Arevalo
Bryan Viñeza
Androla Enriquez Serrano
Bimbo Ancheta
Laarni Calma
Harold Escobar
Theresa Estrada
Rainier Soto
Ellery Timena

(***Incomplete***)

…and the organizers who took part in brainstorming, planning and sharing time that made this event possible and memorable.

Anna, Mandy, Tina, Michelle, Sheryl,  Rainier, Chris, Tere, Givenchy, Abe, Joey and Misty…

the teachers and batch-mates who attended the event…

Thank you very much peeps!

More Photos

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