MyShelter Foundation was established by Illac Diaz to create a system of sustainability and reliability through its capability-building and employment-generating projects. Introducing groundbreaking social enterprise, appropriate technologies, and alternative construction in the Philippines, we have pioneered projects such as the Pier One Seafarer's Dormitory, the Design Against the Elements (DAtE) competition, and the Bottle School Project. Isang Litrong Liwanag (A Liter of Light), is a sustainable lighting project which aims to bring the eco-friendly Solar Bottle Bulb to disprivileged communities nationwide. Designed and developed by students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Solar Bottle Bulb is based on the principles of Appropriate Technologies – a concept that provides simple and easily replicable technologies that address basic needs in developing communities.
In a highly anticipated televised finale of The Amazing Race Asia (TARA) season 4, the duo of Richard Hardin and Richard Herrera emerged winners. Representing the Philippines, they finished ahead of Singapore's Claire Goh and Michelle S. Ng, and the Indonesian father and daughter team of Hussein Baron and Natasha Sutadisastra.Good job to all the teams, especially to our Singapore girls.
The three finalists began the final leg of the race in Korea, where they had to make their way to Singapore, the final destination. Once there, they had to extract crab meat at a popular seafood restaurant, perform a escape act on stage, walk a tight-rope across two buildings 55 storeys high and, finally answer questions about the race.
Claire and Michelle who had to catch a later flight out of Korea lost a lot of time but made up for it with sheer determination. Hussein faltered at the tight-rope task because of his fear of heights, and allowed the Singapore and Philippine duos to surge ahead. To their credit, they did not give up.
It was a tight dash to the finish line, where host Allan Wu and the other contestants waited anxiously for the winners. Television viewers were made to believe that Claire and Michelle were ahead, but in the end it was the two Richards who emerged at the finish line, to the applause of their fellow competitors.
The winners, Richard and Richard took home $100,000. All the contestants were winners in their own way. Many overcame their fears, forged stronger friendships, and gathered special memories along their journey. For the record, the other teams were - Sunaina Gulia and Dimple Inamdar, Sahil Banga and Manas Katyal, Nadine Zamira Sjarief and Hilyani Hidranto (Yani), Ivan Evetovics and Tengku Hilda, Lim Kok Hon (Ethan) and Mohd Khairi, Alan Luk and Wendy Lee.
The 18-year-old was crowned by another Venezuelan, Dayana Mendoza, Miss Universe 2008, marking the first time that two contestants from the same country have won the title in consecutive years.See photos here.
As Miss Universe, Fernandez will have the use of a New York City apartment for the year of her reign, and will receive living expenses. Other prizes include a two-year scholarship at the New York Film Academy; a vacation for two in the Bahamas; and a wardrobe, including evening wear, swimsuits and jewelry.
The competition involves swimsuit, evening gown and interview phases, which a 12-member panel judged.
Miss Dominican Republic, Ada Aimee De La Cruz, was named first runner-up and would assume Fernandez's duties if she couldn't complete her term.
The 76-year-old Aquino was diagnosed with colon cancer in March of last year and was treated with chemotherapy. Last May, she underwent surgery to remove parts of her colon and was brought to the Makati Medical Center in June due to loss of appetite. She never left the hospital, as her declining condition sparked a wave of emotion in the country and prompted the widespread appearance of yellow ribbons - on trees, car antennas, and even the Web.Mrs. Aquino was named Times Magazine Woman of the Year in 1986.
Twelve bombs were found hidden inside a bathroom in a ferry in the central Philippines, raising fears of another bombing campaign by suspected Islamic militants, the coast guard said Sunday.
The improvised explosive devices, made of bottles with gunpowder, blasting caps, shrapnel and wiring, were found hidden in a sack in the bathroom of the MV Blue Water Princess on Saturday just as it was about to depart the city of Lucena for the central island of Masbate.
Explosive experts and bomb-sniffing dogs were immediately dispatched to check the vessel for other bombs, said coast guard spokesman Commander Armand Balilo.
It was not clear if the bombs were intended to go off inside the ferry or were to be used elsewhere, said Balilo who also declined to identify any suspects.
Toward the end of a mass for Aquino at the Manila city hall, former Supreme Court justice Adolf Azcuna was prompted by fellow Cabinet members of the former president to make the announcement after they all received a text message saying “Cory is dead.”
The announcement by the former presidential legal adviser caused churchgoers to break out in tears.
One of Aquino’s daughters, a family friend and a staff member of her son Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III confirmed that the former president was still alive.
“Please let us not make these untoward statements against Cory. She is still alive,” said Margie Juico, Aquino’s private secretary during her term as president.
“Let us await word from the family. Let us respect that and let us all pray for her,” said Juico.
The British embassy here, apparently receiving the same text message, issued a message of condolence to the Aquino family. It has since recalled its message.
The bed-ridden Aquino, 76, has been battling Stage 4 colon cancer for some months now.
She was the 11th and first-ever female president of the Philippines, serving from 1986 to 1992, calling herself a “plain housewife.”
Sucaldito, one of the hosts of ABS-CBN’s “The Buzz,” reportedly met with the accident Sunday night and was rushed to the hospital after complaining of “extreme pain” in his bottom. X-rays subsequently revealed that a broken piece of cucumber, about five inches in length, had gotten lodged into the lower end of his large intestine.The cucumber had “bite marks” and was in a “soggy” state.
It was not immediately clear how the cucumber got there.
The surgeons who operated on Sucaldito were tight-lipped and refused to discuss his case with media, citing doctor-patient confidentiality. Oddly enough, they all looked like they were trying vainly to keep from laughing and refused to look reporters in the eye.
Set to debut on 16 June 2009, SUPERMODELME.tv is a twice weekly, 20-episode online model search that will showcase the ups and downs encountered by ten aspiring models from Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, Thailand, the Philippines and even India, as they compete for the Grand Prize of S$10,000 and for the chance of becoming the next prominent Asian face to grace runways and fashion magazines.Click here for the Supermodel Me website.
Hosted by Singapore’s first supermodel, Charmaine Harn, the road to success for the triumphant model will not be easy as they must deal with the pressures of living together under one roof. Above all else to avoid weekly elimination, they must impress a panel of resident judges, made up of established fashion industry veterans, including prolific fashion photographer Geoff Ang and guest judges such as fashion designer Frederick Lee and celebrity hairstylist, David Gan, through a series of specially designed challenges.
Manny Pacquiao continues to carve his name in boxing history, finishing Ricky Hatton in the second round of their scheduled 12-round bout dubbed the Battle of East and West Sunday (Saturday US Time) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Pacquiao’s speed was the key to his KO victory over the British boxing superstar, forcing Hatton to kiss the canvass three times, the last one forcing referee Kenny Bayless to stop the fight before the end of the second round. The victory makes Pacquiao, 30, a six-time world champion in five weight divisions and keeps him as the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world. He now adds Hatton’s International Boxing Organization (IBO) and Ring Magazine junior featherweight crowns to his already impressive list. Pacquiao previously won the WBC lightweight and super-featherweight, IBF super bantamweight, WBC flyweight and Ring Magazine featherweight crowns.Martin Nievera sang the Philippine National Anthem and Jasmine Villegas sang the Star-Spangled Banner.
Hello there. I just wanted 2 let you know that please stay away from the beaches all around in the month of July. There is a prediction that there will be another tsunami hitting on July 22nd. It is also when there will be sun eclipse. Predicted that it is going 2 be really bad and countries like Malaysia (Sabah & Sarawak), Singapore, Maldives, Australia, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Philippines are going 2 be badly hit. Please try and stay away from the beaches in July. Better 2 be safe than sorry. Please pass the word around. Please also pray for all beings.
However, earthquakes are not caused by gravitational pull, so set your mind at ease about the possibility of an eclipse's prompting the ground to shake.Also at Channelnews Asia which says the email is a hoax. Professor Kerry Sieh, director, Earth Observatory of Singapore, said,
In the last 110 years or so, there have been about 85 really big earthquakes – 8 (on the Richter magnitude scale) or greater. And only two of those occurred on the same day as an eclipse. And even those were a partial eclipse, not a total eclipse. They happened in a different place from where the eclipse happened.
