Saturday, October 2, 2010

A Repost From Yahoo! Southeast Asia

Medina on Pacquiao: ‘Incredible’

By Yahoo! Southeast Asia Editors – October 2nd, 2010
600nppa_mannyinbaguio

By Frank Cimatu
For Yahoo! Southeast Asia

BAGUIO CITY — Friday afternoon here at Shape Up Boxing Gym at the resort city of Baguio, Philippines, boxing champion Manny Pacquiao was the Golden Boy. He was wearing gold gloves, gold headgear and gold body protector when he sparred with Mexican welterweight champion Michael Medina for the first time.

Medina who is 5 foot 11 is much taller and younger but Pacquiao is faster and flashier, also because of his costume. The two slugged it out and at least three times during the bout Medina cornered Pacquiao and they exchanged blows. But after three rounds, it was Medina who sported a cut below his left eye. “F%$# incredible,” Medina said about Pacquiao. “He was very fast.”

The young Medina who actually played in the undercard of the Pacquiao – Joshua Clottey bout in Dallas was humbled by his fight with Pacquiao.

“I need to watch my basics. I don’t have fast feet like him. I need to learn.”

Pacquiao was humble after the sparring.

“He’s strong and moves like Margarito,” he said.

“My height is only up to his neck,” he said.

After sparring, Pacquiao spent the next two hours working the medicine and speed balls, then on to the punching bag. He jumped rope. He shadowboxed for four rounds and then did 30 minutes of push ups, sit ups and stretching before leaving for Manila for a speaking engagement.

Manny Pacquiao, after all, is a first term representative in the House of Congress.

But no one calls him “congressman”‘or “sir” here.

He was simply “Manny.” A young boy who had a picture with him called him “Tito.”

Even Freddie Roach don’t call him “Honorable.”

“I can’t call him congressman. Unless he tells me to,” Roach said.

“But I tell you, he’s the most famous boxer anyway,” he said.

“Recently, I had a boxer I was training fight in Uzbekistan. No one in the media there wanted to know about my boxer there. They wanted to know about Manny.”

Reposted From Yahoo! Southeast Asia

Friday, October 1, 2010

Cebu Pacific FAS Dancing

Have you ridden Cebu Pacific lately? If you did, you will see this beautiful rendition of their FAS Dancing. This is not a sponsored post.



Cool huh?

Thursday, September 30, 2010

A Repost From Associated Press

Could 'Goldilocks' planet be just right for life?

AP Photo/Zina Deretsky, National Science Foundation

WASHINGTON – Astronomers say they have for the first time spotted a planet beyond our own in what is sometimes called the Goldilocks zone for life: Not too hot, not too cold. Juuuust right.

Not too far from its star, not too close. So it could contain liquid water. The planet itself is neither too big nor too small for the proper surface, gravity and atmosphere.

It's just right. Just like Earth.

"This really is the first Goldilocks planet," said co-discoverer R. Paul Butler of the Carnegie Institution of Washington.

The new planet sits smack in the middle of what astronomers refer to as the habitable zone, unlike any of the nearly 500 other planets astronomers have found outside our solar system. And it is in our galactic neighborhood, suggesting that plenty of Earth-like planets circle other stars.

Finding a planet that could potentially support life is a major step toward answering the timeless question: Are we alone?

Scientists have jumped the gun before on proclaiming that planets outside our solar system were habitable only to have them turn out to be not quite so conducive to life. But this one is so clearly in the right zone that five outside astronomers told The Associated Press it seems to be the real thing.

"This is the first one I'm truly excited about," said Penn State University's Jim Kasting. He said this planet is a "pretty prime candidate" for harboring life.

Life on other planets doesn't mean E.T. Even a simple single-cell bacteria or the equivalent of shower mold would shake perceptions about the uniqueness of life on Earth.

But there are still many unanswered questions about this strange planet. It is about three times the mass of Earth, slightly larger in width and much closer to its star — 14 million miles away versus 93 million. It's so close to its version of the sun that it orbits every 37 days. And it doesn't rotate much, so one side is almost always bright, the other dark.

Temperatures can be as hot as 160 degrees or as frigid as 25 degrees below zero, but in between — in the land of constant sunrise — it would be "shirt-sleeve weather," said co-discoverer Steven Vogt of the University of California at Santa Cruz.

It's unknown whether water actually exists on the planet, and what kind of atmosphere it has. But because conditions are ideal for liquid water, and because there always seems to be life on Earth where there is water, Vogt believes "that chances for life on this planet are 100 percent."

The astronomers' findings are being published in Astrophysical Journal and were announced by the National Science Foundation on Wednesday.

The planet circles a star called Gliese 581. It's about 120 trillion miles away, so it would take several generations for a spaceship to get there. It may seem like a long distance, but in the scheme of the vast universe, this planet is "like right in our face, right next door to us," Vogt said in an interview.

That close proximity and the way it was found so early in astronomers' search for habitable planets hints to scientists that planets like Earth are probably not that rare.

Vogt and Butler ran some calculations, with giant fudge factors built in, and figured that as much as one out of five to 10 stars in the universe have planets that are Earth-sized and in the habitable zone.

With an estimated 200 billion stars in the universe, that means maybe 40 billion planets that have the potential for life, Vogt said. However, Ohio State University's Scott Gaudi cautioned that is too speculative about how common these planets are.

Vogt and Butler used ground-based telescopes to track the star's precise movements over 11 years and watch for wobbles that indicate planets are circling it. The newly discovered planet is actually the sixth found circling Gliese 581. Two looked promising for habitability for a while, another turned out to be too hot and the fifth is likely too cold. This sixth one bracketed right in the sweet spot in between, Vogt said.

With the star designated "a," its sixth planet is called Gliese 581g.

"It's not a very interesting name and it's a beautiful planet," Vogt said. Unofficially, he's named it after his wife: "I call it Zarmina's World."

The star Gliese 581 is a dwarf, about one-third the strength of our sun. Because of that, it can't be seen without a telescope from Earth, although it is in the Libra constellation, Vogt said.

But if you were standing on this new planet, you could easily see our sun, Butler said.

The low-energy dwarf star will live on for billions of years, much longer than our sun, he said. And that just increases the likelihood of life developing on the planet, the discoverers said.

"It's pretty hard to stop life once you give it the right conditions," Vogt said.

Reposted From Associated Press

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

A Repost From Thea Alberto Of Yahoo! Southeast Asia

Aquino asks Bar blast perpetrators to surrender

By Thea Alberto – September 29th, 2010
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By Thea Alberto
Yahoo! Southeast Asia

President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III urged the perpetrators of Sunday’s Bar exams blast at De La Salle University (DLSU) along Taft Avenue, Manila to surrender, as he warned that the full force of the law will be imposed.

“To those of you who are guilty: The full resources of the state are being unleashed against you. Surrender,” Aquino said Wednesday.

Aquino said he has also taken “personal interest” in the blast incident that injured scores of law students during the Bar Operations at DLSU. Police said the blast could be part of a fraternity war.

“I expect a strong case to be built against the perpetrators of this crime at the soonest possible time,” said Aquino.

The President said he already ordered National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Magtanggol Gatdula and Manila Police District Head, Chief Superintendent Roberto Ronganvilla to resolve the case immediately.

“I consider this a heinous crime because many of the victims were women and students preparing for their futures as productive citizens of our country. Society bears an added responsibility for caring for women and the youth,” Aquino added.

Earlier in the day, Aquino also went to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) to visit Law student Raissa Laurel, whose legs were amputated following the blast.

Aquino said he already directed the Presidential Management Staff to render assistance to Laurel and the other victims.

Reposted From Thea Alberto of Yahoo! Southeast Asia

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

A Repost From SPOT


Top 10 Prettiest Pinay Politicians

Top 10 Prettiest Pinay Politicians

Call it superficial or shallow, but admit it, pretty girls always have an edge--especially in these looks-crazy islands called The Philippines. Chucking ideology, achievements, work records, and such, SPOT.ph lists the 10 Pinay politicians--both active and inactive--who have "face value." It’s time for brainless entertainment once more. (By the way, we’ve purposely excluded artistas-turned-politicians for obvious reasons.)

10. LOREN LEGARDA

Though she’s been vilified for her political moves, you have to admit that Legarda makes 50 look damn good. The senator, who appeared in TV ads when she was younger, radiates a classy cougar vibe that’s best appreciated when you’re standing close to her. She’s looks luminous on TV--especially when she’s wearing white--but she’s hot in person. It’s hard to picture her as the mother of two young men, her sons Lance and Lean.

9. FATIMA ALIAH DIMAPORO

The congresswoman of Lanao del Norte’s second district could be mistaken for a beauty queen. Statuesque and with a golden tan, she could easily have taken home a beauty title. The comely charmer belongs to the Dimaporo clan, tagged as the most powerful political family is Lanao del Norte.

8. EMMELINE AGLIPAY

She is a representative of the Democratic Independent Workers Association (DIWA) party-list. Petite and with an elegantly elfin face, the congresswoman has a sweet smile that could light up a room. It’s a pity she didn’t get more solo shots in DIWA’s campaign ad.

7. RACHEL MARGUERITE "CUTIE" DEL MAR

The congresswoman of Cebu’s first district has the face of an angel, good enough for beauty shots and close-ups. In fact, she’s had hosting stints in shows like One Morning (broadcast on government channels NBN-4, RPN-9, and IBC-13), as well as She Said, She Said on Destiny Cable. This cutie should always wear her hair down, as photos with her hair up don’t do her justice.

6. ABIGAIL FERRIOL

This Kalinga party-list representative is the prettier Asian version of Reese Witherspoon. Her expressive eyes, dimples, and fabulous hair are her best assets. At 26, this cutie is the youngest member of the 15th Philippine Congress.

5. JANNAH EJERCITO

She is one of the councilors of San Juan City’s second district. She is the daughter of movie producer Jessie Ejercito, former President Joseph Estrada’s brother. At 33, she can still pass for a colegiala--what with her svelte figure and mestiza features.

4. DARLENE CUSTODIO

As the current mayor of General Santos City, this petite cutie--who had also served as the congresswoman of South Cotabato’s first district--charms her public with her feisty ways and her glorious tan. She’s 36 but she always looks like a little girl. We wonder what kind of anti-aging cream she uses. She’s one politician who looks great even without makeup.

3. RISA HONTIVEROS

Though she lost when she ran for senator, she had already made her mark as one of the representatives of Akbayan party-list in Congress. Hontiveros is someone we’d like to see in the political arena. God knows, we could sure use someone like her. Her delicate good looks alone are worth the wait. She looks like a model even when she’s just in a T-shirt and fighting off the riot police.

2. SHALANI SOLEDAD

Soledad, 30, is a councilor of Valenzuela City, but she’s gained national fame as the girlfriend of President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III. This mestiza has the kind of beauty that grows on you. The more you look at her, the more you think she’s beautiful. Her mysterious stance only fuels the public’s curiosity.

1. MONICA LOUISE "NIKKI" TEODORO

The former congresswoman of Tarlac’s first district is now keeping a low profile following her husband Gilberto Teodoro’s failed presidential bid. But there is no doubt that her fans miss seeing her on TV. At 44, she has a face and figure that rival those of younger women. She epitomizes the acronym MILF. (Need we say more?)

Art by Warren Espejo, photos from Friendster (Ferriol and Ejercito), Pinoyvote.net (Dimaporo), and SerbisyodelMar.com (Del Mar).

Reposted From SPOT

Monday, September 27, 2010

A Repost From Gerry Plaza Of Yahoo! Southeast Asia

St-Pierre: Mayweather should fear Pacquiao

By Gerry Plaza – September 27th, 2010
600nppa_mannypacquiaotraining

By Gerry Plaza
Yahoo! Southeast Asia

Manny Pacquiao will prevail in a fight with Floyd Mayweather, Jr., said Georges St-Pierre’s, current UFC welterweight champion and top pound-for-pound fighter in mixed martial arts in his trip last week to Manila where he wowed fans and mixed martial arts enthusiasts.

“I think Pacquiao will win,” St. Pierre said in a press conference. “Knowing that Pacquiao is a big, big threat for him, I think he doesn’t want to have that fight because he has a lot to lose.”

Pacquiao’s boxing coach, Freddie Roach, is also behind St-Pierre’s training. “I owe a lot to him,” St-Pierre said. “He showed me how to win. He taught me what I need to do in the Octagon to become champion. He guided me to where I am today.”

He even hinted joining Roach and Pacquiao in their ongoing training in a Quezon City gym.

St-Pierre likewise noted Mayweather could face an uphill battle against Pacquiao should they meet in the ring given how he had been “rocked” by Shane Mosley in their last fight.

“I think Pacquiao is really untouchable right now,” St-Pierre said. “If they hold that fight maybe tomorrow, I think Pacquiao will win.”

Asked however if Pacquiao could also dominate mixed martial arts or enter the UFC, St. Pierre said the boxing champ may not make it big in the sport.

“Boxing is totally different from what we do,” St-Pierre said. “But if he would take lessons in jujitsu, he may get a shot at it (joining the UFC). But I doubt he’ll do it.”

Hailed as MMA’s own pound-for-pound king, St-Pierre has also been criticized for “playing safe” in his recent matches.

“In all my previous matches, I always see to it that I give my 100 percent. No ifs no buts. And that made me what I am today,” St-Pierre stressed.

In fact, in his upcoming welterweight title match against Josh Koscheck in December, St-Pierre declares he is more than prepared and would emerge victorious.

“I think I know him more than he knows himself,” St-Pierre said. “I am confident about that match. Koscheck can just say anything he wants. I am prepared for him.”

Reposted From Gerry Plaza of Yahoo! Southeast Asia

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