A Repost From AFP

Shanghai teenagers are world's smartest

AFP - Wednesday, December 8

• Send
• IM Story
• Print

Chinese students sitting during a class at a school in Shanghai in 2007. Teenagers from the Chinese city of Shanghai have the best education in the world, according to a major international study of standards in in maths, science and literacy released Tuesday.

Slideshow: Faces of Asia PH

PARIS (AFP) - – Teenagers from the Chinese city of Shanghai have the best education in the world, according to a major international study of standards in in maths, science and literacy released Tuesday.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's "Pisa" report, released every three years, studied 470,000 15-year-old pupils in 65 countries around the more developed parts of the world.

South Korea and Finland topped the country rankings in the survey but, taken separately from China, the huge city of Shanghai -- taking part in the survey for the first time -- came top in all three of the disciplines.

"More than one-quarter of Shanghai's 15-year-olds demonstrated advanced mathematical thinking skills to solve complex problems, compared to an OECD average of just three percent," the OECD said.

Other Asian countries and regions also scored particularly well, and OECD education expert Eric Charbonnier said the continent's success was a result of educational values that favour equality as well as quality.

"In Shanghai, a city of 20 million, they followed policies to fight against social inequality, to target the schools that were in most difficulty and send them the best performing heads and most experienced teachers," he said.

South Korea came second in comprehension, fourth in maths and sixth in science and Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and Japan were well-placed.

Finland, whose educational system has been hailed by Western experts, remains the best performing European country, coming third in comprehension, second in science and third in maths.

Seven European countries performed better than the OECD average: Belgium, Estonia, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Switzerland. Of these, Poland was praised for making rapid progress through school reform.

The United States, Sweden, Germany, France, Ireland, Denmark, Britain, Hungary and Portugal scored around the average for richer countries, but pupils in Sweden and Ireland performed worse than three years ago.

"Better educational outcomes are a strong predictor for future economic growth," said OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria.

"While national income and educational achievement are still related, PISA shows that two countries with similar levels of prosperity can produce very different results," he said.

"This shows an image of a world divided neatly into rich and well-educated countries and poor and badly-educated countries is now out of date."

The study also found that girls read better than boys in every country, by the equivalent of one year of school. The gender gap has not shrunk anywhere since 2000, and widened in France, Israel, Korea, Portugal and Sweden.

Analysing the results, experts found that high performing school systems prefer to pay teachers more rather than reduce class sizes, and countries that force underperformers to repeat years to do badly overall.

Reposted From AFP

A Repost From Thea Alberto of Yahoo! Southeast Asia

• Maggie and Victor's prenup video sparks controversy

  By Thea Alberto, Yahoo! Southeast Asia Tuesday December 7, 2010 12:46 am PST

• Previous Post
• |
• Next Post

Maggie and Victor's prenup video sparks controversy

By Thea Alberto, Yahoo! Southeast Asia Tuesday December 7, 2010 12:46 am PST

Former Binibining Pilipinas World Maggie Wilson and her fiancé, construction magnate Victor Consunji, stirred controversy as their (hot) prenuptial video spread like wildfire online.

Their controversial wedding teaser, shot by famed wedding videographer Jason Magbanua, showed Maggie "anticipating" her wedding day, as she stares at her diamond-studded engagement ring.

Then the couple is shown exchanging torrid kisses, then getting (almost) undressed, and yes, you will see them touching each other passionately here and there-you get it.

Clips also showed the two making out inside a white sports car and kissing underwater. There's no need to explain why Maggie has generated interest and landed on today's number 1 in Yahoo! Philippines' Trending Now list.

Maggie and Victor will hold a Catholic beach wedding on December 18 at Misibis Bay resort in Albay province.

Their "juicy" video generated widespread debate on whether it was appropriate to be a prenuptial video in a conservative country where brides-to-be are expected to be chaste.

In the one-stop wedding website Weddingsatwork.com, several comments hit the video.

"Liway" said the video was "not good, not good at all" because it was "supposed to be a prenup. It looked like a POSTnup for me. There are some things that you have to keep in private."

In Weddingsatwork's Yahoo! group, brides-to-be and newly married women had varied reactions.

Jemma Dela Cruz-Rodanilla said although the video was very artistic, she finds the video not so apt.

"As a Filipina living in a Christian country we should follow the traditional and be conservative people. Sana they kept it private na lang," she said.

Bride-to-be Cristina Prima said the video captured the couple's emotions but "as an audience, I see more of lust than love in the video."

Ruth Macoy meanwhile said in jest: "At least we had a glimpse on what they will do after their wedding."

In her Twitter account, Maggie defended her video.

"Love it or hate it...its MY video! :)" adding that they "wanted something different as opposed to the generic "pa-cute" videos."

How about you? What are your thoughts about the prenup videos?

Maggie and Victor from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

Reposted From Thea Alberto of Yahoo! Southeast Asia

A Repost From Sid Ventura Of Yahoo! Southeast Asia

Donaire pulverizes foe, eyes Montiel next

By Sid Ventura – December 6th, 2010

Email Facebook Twitter Print

By Sid Ventura
For Yahoo! Southeast Asia

Nonito Donaire, Jr. practically toyed with Ukrainian Wladimir Sidorenko before knocking out his opponent in the fourth round of their bantamweight bout to capture the World Boxing Association (WBA) Interim title and the World Boxing Council Intercontinental Americas crown in Anaheim Sunday morning in Manila.

Donaire used his three-inch height and reach advantage to the hilt and dominated the match from the opening bell, flooring Sidorenko near the end of the first round with a left uppercut and right hook. The Ukrainian, a former Olympic bronze medalist, showed some resiliency in the second round, tagging Donaire with a solid right, but such highlights were too few and far between for the overmatched former WBA bantamweight champion.

In the third round, Donaire began moving around more and repeatedly tagged Sidorenko with combinations. A left hook at the 2:02 mark sent Sidorenko to the canvas a second time, and by the end of the round, his face was a bloodied mess. Donaire continued his onslaught in the fourth, and when a left hook, right straight combination found its mark, Sidorenko staggered back and took a knee. The referee counted until five before waiving off the fight at the 1:48 mark.

The rousing win raised Donaire’s record to 24-1 with 17 knockouts, while Sidorenko was knocked out for the first time in his career and saw his record dip to 22-3-2. Donaire is now in line to challenge Fernando Montiel, the reigning WBC and WBO bantamweight titlist, on February 19, assuming Montiel beats Eduardo Garcia next week.

It was the Filipino Flash’s first bout at 118 pounds, and he looked comfortable at the new weight level. Afterwards he said he wanted to win badly to secure the February 19 showdown. “I’m really, really motivated for this fight because I wanted to win and go for Montiel,” he declared during the post-fight interview.

Donaire trained for the bout under the guidance of Robert Garcia, the trainer insisted on letting Antonio Margarito finish his bout against Manny Pacquiao last month despite absorbing a heavy beating. In this fight, though, Garcia had his ward in full command.

“Actually I wanted to throw all kinds of stuff but Robert told me, ‘Relax, you got him. Stay back to what you know best, do not be wild,’’’ Donaire said. “I wanted to throw a lot of punches. As you can see, there were some combinations that I threw in there, but I felt I could take him out with just one punch at any time and that’s what I tried to do.”

Donaire acknowledged Garcia’s mentorship helped him immensely. “It’s the confidence he gives me. He believes in me. The first time I met with Robert, and I’ve known him for a long time, the one thing is that he pushed me to believe in myself, that I can do anything I want as long as I work hard.”

Donaire was also trained by Jonathan Penalosa, brother of former champion Gerry. There were times during the bout, though, when it appeared he could have been trained by a drunken goat and still he would have won. It was only Sidorenko’s guts and determination that allowed him to last until the fourth round.

“Big respect for Sidorenko,” Donaire said. “I mean, very, very tough guy. I could see, the first round, he was already out. As a fighter, I can see the eyes, and I have to see people’s eyes only when I know that I hurt them. I know that I hurt him and he just keeps coming. Just a lot of respect I have for Sidorenko.”

Donaire is one of the best fighters in the lower divisions, but he has been unable to land a big-time fight since his stunning knockout of Vic Darchinyan in 2007 for the IBF flyweight title. All that will change when he faces Montiel, the Mexican bantamweight king who boasts a 43-2-2 record with 33 knockouts. It will be Donaire’s toughest bout in years, but he is looking forward to the challenge.

“I’m excited,” he declared. “February 19, with one of the best, Fernando Montiel. I’m coming for you, you know that. It’s gonna be for the people. People want to see, I want to see it. You know he’s a good fighter, he’s a tough guy. But I wanted to make a statement in this fight and I did.”

Donaire has also consistently made the lists of top pound for pound fighters, but for the fighter generally regarded as the best Filipino boxer after Manny Pacquiao, the rankings don’t mean anything. At least not yet.

“You know, I still gotta beat Montiel. Then I will say I’m worthy of that. But that is such a pleasure, that is such an honor for me.”

Reposted From Sid Ventura of Yahoo! Southeast Asia

A Repost From PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal)

ABS-CBN reveals lineup of shows for 1st quarter of 2011; former Kapuso star Jewel Mische is the new leading lady of Gerald Anderson

PEP - Saturday, December 4

• Send
• IM Story
• Print

ABS-CBN reveals lineup of shows for 1st quarter of 2011; former Kapuso star Jewel Mische is the new leading lady of Gerald Anderson

Slideshow: Showbiz Photos

Kumpirmadong Kapamilya na ang StarStruck 4 Ultimate Sweetheart na si Jewel Mische.

Matagal-tagal na ring usap-usapan ang tungkol sa paglipat ni Jewel mula sa GMA-7 papunta sa ABS-CBN, bagamat wala pang opisyal na pahayag mula sa young actress at maging sa Star Magic, kung saan nabalitang pumirma siya ng kontrata.

Kagabi, December 3, sa Christmas party ng ABS-CBN para sa entertainment press na ginanap sa Dolphy Theater, pormal nang inanunsiyo ang magiging unang proyekto ni Jewel bilang isang Kapamilya—ang action series na Bagwis.

Si Jewel ang magiging leading lady ng isa sa top male stars ngayon ng ABS-CBN—si Gerald Anderson.

Isa ang Bagwis sa mga malalaking shows ng ABS-CBN sa first quarter ng 2011, bagamat ilan sa mga ito ay magsisimula na bago matapos ang 2010.

FRANCHISE SHOWS. Kasama rin sa mga programang naka-lineup sa ABS-CBN next year ang apat na franchise reality-game shows.

Una na rito ang fourth season ng Pinoy Big Brother (PBB), ang reality show mula sa Endemol. Sa PBB nagmula ang ilan sa pinakamalalaking bituin ngayon ng ABS-CBN gaya nina Sam Milby, Kim Chiu, Gerald Anderson, at Zanjoe Marudo.

Matagal nang nababalita ang Pinoy Big Loser, ang reality show para sa mga "heavyweights" kunsaan tutulungan ng programa ang mga contestant na magbawas ng timbang at magkaroon ng kumpiyansa sa kanilang sarili. Sa wakas ay matutuloy na itong ipalabas sa susunod na taon.

Ang Pinoy Big Loser ay ihu-host ng Megastar na si Sharon Cuneta.

Aabangan din ng marami ang competitive cooking game show na Junior Master Chef, kunsaan magiging tampok ang mga batang nangangarap na maging chef.

Ang Junior Master Chef ay ihu-host ng Teleserye Queen na si Judy Ann Santos. Ito ang unang regular show niya pagkatapos niyang magsilang sa anak nila ni Ryan Agoncillo na si Lucho.

Magkakaroon na rin ng Philippine version ang longest-running game show sa U.S., ang The Price Is Right, mula sa FremantleMedia. Nagsimula noong 1956, 54 years nang umeere sa U.S. ang show na ito. Ang mga naging host nito ay sina Bill Cullen, Bob Barker, at ang current host nito na si Drew Carrey.

Dito sa Pilipinas, ang maghahatid ng papremyo at saya sa ating mga kababayan ay si Kris Aquino.

OTHER SHOWS. Ibabalik naman ng ABS-CBN ang Star Circle Quest for the Next Kiddie Superstar, ang reality-based artista search na tampok ang aspiring child superstars.

Ang maghu-host nito ay si KC Concepcion.

Sina Luis Manzano at Alodia Gosiengfiao naman ang hosts ng gag show na Laugh Out Loud.

Ngayong December ay si Kim Chiu ang featured star sa Sunday drama anthology na Your Song.

Ilu-launch naman into stardom si Jessy Mendiola sa pamamagitan ng early primetime series na Sabel, kung saan makakapareha niya ang mga baguhan ding sina AJ Perez at Joseph Marco.

Ang Sabel ay magsisimulang mapanood sa Lunes, December 6.

Isa naman sa aabangang primetime drama series next year ay ang Pinoy verison ng hit Koreanovela na Green Rose. Tampok dito sina Jericho Rosales, Jake Cuenca, at Anne Curtis.

Ilan lamang ito sa exciting shows ng ABS-CBN next year na tiyak na aabangan ng avid Kapamilya viewers.

Reposted From PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal)

A Repost From ANN (Asian News Network)

It's official: Philippines bests India as No. 1 in BPO

ANN - Sunday, December 5

• Send
• IM Story
• Print

Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - After challenging India for the top position for several years, the Philippines is now the world leader in business support functions like shares services and business process outsourcing, according to the latest reports and trends analyses.

In fact, the country overtook India in these categories last year, according to IBM's latest Global Locations Trend Annual Report, released recently in New York.

India now ranks No. 2, the first time it was not in the leading position for these activities, according to the IBM report, launched in October but made available online last month.

"The Philippines has taken over the lead in the global ranking from India," the report said.

The IBM report said the Philippines offered a similarly attractive business environment for international business support functions as India. Unlike India's BPO hot spots, however, labor costs here have not increased as much.

On Thursday (December 2), the Contract Center Association of the Philippines said the country had become the call centre of the world, with around 350,000 Filipinos working in call centers against India's 330,000-strong workforce.

Revenues from the country's call center industry are also expected to reach $5.7 billion this year, higher than India's $5.5 billion, the CCAP said.

The call centre industry, which provides so-called "voice" services like customer support and sales, is part of the BPO industry.

Call centres make up 70 per cent of the BPO industry in the Philippines.

Currently, there are 600,000 Filipinos employed in the country's BPO industry, according to the Business Processing Association of the Philippines.

India is here

In yet another sign of the Philippines' BPO dominance, Tata Consultancy Services, the information technology services, business solutions and outsourcing arm of India's giant Tata Group, opened its first BPO centre in Southeast Asia at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig on Thursday.

"We believe that the Philippines has a very high quality of talent that can represent the company before our Asia-Pacific customers and our global customers," said Vish Iyer, head for the Asia-Pacific region for Tata Consultancy Services.

Iyer also said Tata chose the Philippines because it "wants to be here to see the Philippine BPO industry grow from its current $9 billion (in annual revenues) to the projected $25 billion in 2016."

The BPO centre that Tata Consultancy inaugurated will have 400 seats, and a target of three clients, including Citibank.

Abid Ali Z. Neemuchwala, vice president and global head for business process services and process excellence, said the company expects to more than double this to 1,000 seats and a target of five clients two years from now.

The firm generated revenues of about $6 billion last year.

Support for BPO industry

In November, Philippine senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago said she would file a measure to "jump-start legislative support for the BPO industry, especially its workers" and urged other legislators "to formulate laws supporting this booming sunshine industry".

According to the International Labour Organisation, the BPO industry may be broadly divided into voice services such as call and contact centers, and non-voice or "back office" services, like finance and accounting, data processing and management, and human resource development.

An ILO report released last July noted that Filipino BPO employees were earning 53 percent more than workers of the same age in other industries.

Local BPO employees also work 44.7 hours per week on the average, with overtime work averages of 1.12 hours per week.

Night work

The study also found that 42.6 per cent of BPO employees in the country work at night, and that respondents have reported sleep disorders, fatigue, eye strain and body pains.

Following India in IBM's ranking of BPO leaders were the United States, Poland, China, Britain, Columbia, Costa Rica, Fiji, Ireland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Hungary, Australia, Egypt, Chile, France, Canada, France, Singapore and the Netherlands.

The IBM report said Sri Lanka was another Asian country that had succeeded in positioning itself as an alternative to India. With Inquirer Research

Reposted From ANN (Asian News Network)

A Repost From PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal)

Akihiro Sato is the Celebrity Sole Survivor; takes home P3M cash prize

PEP - Saturday, December 4

• Send
• IM Story
• Print

Akihiro Sato is the Celebrity Sole Survivor; takes home P3M cash prize

Slideshow: Showbiz Photos

Sa pagtatapos ng Survivor Philippines Celebrity Showdown, pinatunayan ng Brazilian-Japanese model turned actor na si Akihiro Sato na kayang madeklarang Sole Survivor gamit ang puso at mabuting hangarin.

Si Akihiro, o Aki sa kanyang mga kaibigan, ang idineklarang winner sa third season ng Kapuso hit realty show na Survivor Philippines.

Live na nai-broadcast ang finale mula sa Studio 5 ng GMA-7 kagabi, Disyembre 3.

THE FINAL FOUR. Apat na castaways ang nakarating sa finale. Bukod kay Aki, sila ay ang dating sexy actress na si Aubrey Miles, ang basketball player at model na si Ervic Vijandre, at ang model at make-up artist na si Solenn Heussaff.

Sa Final 4, si Aki ang pinakagusto ng mga manonood. Sa katunayan, siya ang nanguna sa poll na ginawa rito sa PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) sa tanong kung sino ang karapat-dapat manalo sa Final 4.

Sa apat kasing finalists, si Aki ang sinasabing "Mr. Nice Guy."

Ayon sa mga masugid na manonood ng Survivor, walang sinirang alliance at walang tinraydor na kapwa castaway si Akihiro.

Si Aubrey naman ang tinawag na "Pasimuno" sa season na ito dahil siya ang nagplano ng boot order, o kung sino ang dapat na matanggal tuwing Tribal Council.

Si Ervic naman ang naging kanang-kamay ni Aubrey at tinaguriang "The Player."

Si Solenn—na tinaguriang "Diwata ng Isla"—ay nagkaroon naman ng iba't ibang alliances, na isa-isa ring nasira dahil sa pagtalikod niya sa mga ito.

"Nice guy" rin ang tingin ng karamihan ng Jury kay Aki.

Ang jury ang bumoto para malaman kung sino ang magiging Sole Survivor, at binubuo ito ng mga natanggal ng castaways.

Kasama sa Jury sina Jon Hall, Aira Bermudez, Michelle Madrigal, Ahron Villena, Elma Muros, at Moi Marcampo. Huling nasama sa jury si Aubrey, na natanggal dahil sa Final 4 twist ng season na ito.

LIVE FINALE. Sa pagsisimula ng live finale ay binasa ng host na si Richard Gutierrez ang mga boto kung sino ang magiging ika-pito at huling miyembro ng Jury.

Parehong nakakuha ng tatlong boto sina Aubrey at Akihiro, samantalang tigda-dalawa naman sina Ervic at Solenn.

Dahil nagkaroon ng tie sa pagitan nina Aubrey at Akihiro, kinailangang bumotong muli ng jury at Final 4.

Sa second voting, si Aubrey ang nakakuha ng pinakamaraming boto kaya siya ang natanggal.

Naiwan sina Akihiro, Ervic, at Solenn para maglaban-laban sa titulong Celebrity Sole Survivor at cash prize na P3 million—tax-free.

Naging mahigpit ang labanan ng tatlong natitirang castaways. Si Akihiro ay nakakuha ng tatlong boto at tigda-dalawang boto naman nina Solenn at Ervic.

Dahil dito, si Akihiro ang idineklarang first Celebrity Sole Survivor.

WHAT WENT BEFORE. Sa Ranong Province, Thailand ginanap ang Survivor Philippines Celebrity Showdown, na isinagawa mula Hulyo hanggang Agosto 2010.

Nagtagal ng 36 na araw ang buong kumpetisyon.

Ito ang unang celebrity season ng Survivor Philippines, at ang aktor na si Richard Gutierrez ang naging host nito.

Kasali dito ang 18 celebrities sa Pilipinas, at hinati sila sa tatlong tribo: Magan, Sar Mayee, at Nagar.

Ang mga miyembro ng Magan ay sina Doc Ferdz Recio, Buhawi Meneses, Myka Flores, Elma Muros, Mico Aytona, at Solenn Heussaff.

Kasama naman sa Sar Mayee sina Aira Bermudez, Pretty Trizsa, Akihiro Sato, Ervic Vijandre, Karen delos Reyes, at Aubrey Miles.

Ang mga naging miyembro naman ng Nagar ay sina Jon Hall, Michelle Madrigal, Elma Muros, Moi Marcampo, at Ian Batherson.

May isang celebrity castaway na hindi nakasali sa kahit anong tribo dahil nag-quit ito matapos lamang ang dalawang araw. Ito ay ang StarStruck V Avenger na si Princess Snell, na hindi kinaya ang gutom sa isla.

Sunud-sunod ang pagkapanalo ng immunity ng tribong Nagar, dahil na rin sa pagiging malakas na leader ni Jon.

Samantala, naging pinakamahinang grupo naman ang tribong Magan, dahil na rin sa mga maling desisyon ng mga miyembro nito.

Unang natanggal sa Magan si Doc Ferdz, matapos magkaroon ng twist kung saan ang tribe leader na si Buhawi lamang ang boboto.

Sumunod na natanggal si Myka, na binoto ng tribo dahil sa pagkakasakit nito.

Ikatlong natanggal si Buwi, na binoto ng mga natitirang miyembro ng Magan na sina Solenn, Mico, at Elma matapos nila itong sisihin sa pagkakatanggal kay Doc Ferdz, na isa sa pinakamalakas nilang miyembro.

SHUFFLE. Matapos ang sunud-sunod na pagkatalo ng Magan sa immunity challenges, nagkaroon ng shuffle at na-dissolve ang nasabing tribo.

Ang naging miyembro ng bagong Sar Mayee ay sina Akihiro, Ervic, Aubrey, Elma, Michelle, Jon, at Trizsa.

Kasama naman sa bagong Nagar sina Karen, Mico, Ian, Aira, Ahron, Moi, at Solenn.

Dahil sa shuffle, nawalan ng kaalyansa si Karen, maliban kay Aira, at natanggal siya matapos matalo ang bagong Nagar sa immunity challenge.

Sumunod namang natanggal si Trizsa nang makita siyang hindi mapagkakatiwalaan ng kanyang tribong bagong Sar Mayee.

Sumunod namang natanggal sina Mico at Ian dahil sa isang double-elimination twist.

Sa part one ng double elimination episode, tinawag ng mga manonood na "traydor" si Solenn dahil sa pagboto niya kay Mico, na kasama na niya mula pa sa Magan.

THE MERGE. Matapos ang double elimination twist ay sumapit na ang merge. Nakasama sa merge sina Ervic, Aubrey, Aki, Jon, Michelle, Aira, Solenn, Elma, Moi, at Ahron.

Mas lalong naging solid sa merge ang Aubrey-Ervic-Aki alliance.

Unang natanggal si Jon, na sinasabing biggest threat ngayong season.

Sumunod namang natanggal si Aira matapos niyang pagplanuhang i-vote out si Ervic.

Tinanggal naman si Michelle, girlfriend ni Jon, dahil wala na siyang kaalyansa sa kumpetisyon.

Si Aubrey ang nagplano ng sumunod na boot order, na binase niya sa kung sino dapat ang kasama nila ng pinaka-alliance niyang si Ervic sa final three para masiguro ang kanilang panalo.

Sa pagtataya ni Aubrey, malaki ang tsansa niyang manalo kung kasama niya si Solenn.

Agad namang nabuo ang Aubrey-Ervic-Solenn alliance nang hindi alam ni Aki.

Sumama si Solenn sa alliance dahil nakita niyang mas malaki ang tsansa niyang manalo kung kasama niya ang dalawang "villain" ng season.

Natupad ang boot order ni Aubrey: sunud-sunod na natanggal sina Ahron, Elma, at Moi.

Nagkaroon naman ng Final 4 twist: apat na castaways ang natitirang maglalaban-laban para sa titulo at cash prize.

Bago umalis sa isla, bumoto ang Final 4 at ang jury ng nais nilang matanggal, at magiging huling miyembro ng jury.

Magkakaroon naman ng live voting sa Pilipinas para malaman kung sino ang magiging Sole Survivor.

VOTE REVEALED. Kagabi lamang ipinaalam ang resulta ng botohan para sa ika-pitong miyembro ng jury.

Live na binasa ang boto, at ipinakitang tie ang resulta para kina Aubrey at Aki. Samakatuwid, awtomatikong pasok na sa Final 3 sina Ervic at Solenn.

Nagbotohan naman muli ang Final 4 at jury para malaman kung sino kina Aubrey at Aki ang matatanggal.

Nang binasa muli ang boto, idineklara si Aubrey na pampitong miyembro ng jury.

Matapos nito, binigyan ng pagkakataon ang Final 3 na magbigay ng maikling speech para sa jury.

Pahayag ni Aki, ginawa lamang niya ang nararapat at magiging mabuting halimbawa para sa manonood kung siya ang mananalo.

"We can show the right thing," sabi niya.

Saad naman ni Ervic, siya raw ang "pinaka-nangangailangan" ng titulo at ng premyong P3 million.

Ayon naman kay Solenn, marami siyang pinagdaanan para marating ang Final 3.

"I came from a broken tribe, I broke a lot of my alliances, and I'm the only Magan standing... I'm in every Tribal Council of this season except one, and I'm the only last girl standing," sabi niya.

Binigyang din ng pagkakataon ang mga malalapit na tao sa Final 3 para magbigay ng pahayag para sa jury.

Unang nagsalita si Louie Heussaff, na ama ni Solenn. "She's fair, she's good, and she's my daughter," pahayag nito.

Ayon naman kay Joseph de Leon, na kaibigan ni Aki, ang Brazilian-Japanese model-actor daw ang pinaka-nangangailangan ng pera sa tatlo. Ito rin daw ang may hangaring tumulong sa mga charity kapag nanalo.

Saad naman ni Vicky Vijandre, ina ni Ervic, mahirap ang pinagdaanan ng kanyang anak para lamang makasali sa Survivor Philippines.

JURY VOTES. Matapos ang speech ng Final 3 at ng kanilang mga kamag-anak at kaibigan, bumoto na ang jury.

Sa harap sila ng audience nagsulat ng boto. Matapos isulat ang pangalan ng gusto nilang castaway, itiniklop nila ang papel at nagbigay ng pahayag sa camera para ipaliwanag ang kanilang boto.

Si Jon ang unang bumoto. Ayon sa kanya, hindi raw charity ang Survivor Philippines kaya binoto niya ang pinaka-deserving at hindi ang taong nangangailangan ng pera.

Ayon naman kay Aira, humanga siya sa taong ibinoto niya.

Humanga naman si Michelle sa ginawa ng castaway na ibinoto niya sa final challenge.

Natuwa naman si Ahron dahil hindi raw sumuko ang kanyang binoto.

Saad naman ni Elma, ang ibinoto niya ay ang pinaka-deserving para sa kanya at sa mga Pilipino.

Ang ibinoto naman ni Moi ay gumamit daw ng "utak at puso."

Tingin naman ni Aubrey, ang binoto niya ang "pinaka-deserving."

AKI WINS. Matapos nito ay binasa na ni Richard ang mga boto. Naging head-to-head ang labanan, at sa huli ay idineklarang panalo si Aki.

Nakakuha ng tatlong boto si Aki mula kina Elma, Aira, at Jon.

Nakakuha ng dalawang boto si Ervic mula kina Moi at Aubrey.

Nanggaling naman kina Ahron at Michelle ang dalawang boto ni Solenn.

Naghiyawan ang mga tao sa studio nang i-announce ang pangalan ni Aki bilang Sole Survivor.

Mismong ang presidente ng GMA-7 na si Atty. Felipe Gozon ang nag-abot kay Aki ng tseke na nagkakahalaga ng P3 million

THE SOLE SURVIVOR. Na-interview ng PEP si Aki ilang sandali matapos ang live finale.

Halatang shocked pa si Aki at halos hindi makapagsalita.

"I don't know what word I can say. Just again say, thank...maraming salamat sa Survivor," sambit niya, habang suot-suot ang necklace na sumisimbolo ng kanyang pagkapanalo.

Hindi raw niya in-expect na mananalo siya.

"Kasi sobrang tight, lahat sila, nung the vote, the other castaways, was really tight. So, you really don't know how many chances I have."

Nagpasalamat din siya sa kanyang mga tagahanga, na ang iba ay dumayo pa sa studio para panoorin siya nang live.

"This time now, I just like to thank all of my fans for support. Not just all of the fans, pero the Survivor support. It's wonderful," sabi ni Aki.

Kinumpirma niya ring tutulong siya sa charity.

"Siyempre naman, I work with Gawad Kalinga. I like to help people... Siyempre gusto ko to help. I'm looking to help more people," aniya.

Ano ang plano niya ngayong nanalo siya?

"A lot of things. I want to bring my family [from Brazil]. I have the possibility to make a business," sagot ni Aki.

Gusto rin daw ng modelo na bumili ng sarili niyang sasakyan.

Sa kanyang panghuling pahayag, sinabi ni Aki na narating niya ang panalo nang hindi gumagawa ng masama.

"Good thing for the Filipinos, like you don't need to play dirty. You can play with your heart to get to where I am now. I don't know, thank you so much," saad niya.

Reposted From PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal)

A Repost From AP (Associated Press)

Starry, starry, starry night: Star count may triple

• 140 votes
• • Share
  • retweet
  • Email
  • Print

AP – This photo provided by NASA, taken in 2006 by the Hubble Space Telescope shows a cluster of diverse galaxies. …

By SETH BORENSTEIN, AP Science Writer Seth Borenstein, Ap Science Writer – Wed Dec 1, 9:32 pm ET

WASHINGTON – The universe may glitter with far more stars than even Carl Sagan imagined when he rhapsodized about billions upon billions. A new study suggests there are a mind-blowing 300 sextillion of them, or three times as many as scientists previously calculated. That is a 3 followed by 23 zeros. Or 3 trillion times 100 billion.

The estimate, contained in a study published online Wednesday in the journal Nature, is based on findings that there are many more red dwarf stars — the most common star in the universe — than once thought.

But the research goes deeper than that. The study by Yale University astronomer Pieter van Dokkum and Harvard astrophysicist Charlie Conroy questions a key assumption that astronomers often use: that most galaxies have the same properties as our Milky Way. And that conclusion is deeply unsettling to astronomers who want a more orderly cosmos.

When scientists previously estimated the total number of stars, they assumed that all galaxies had the same ratio of dwarf stars as the Milky Way, which is spiral-shaped. Much of our understanding of the universe is based on observations made inside our own galaxy and then extrapolated to other galaxies.

But about one-third of the galaxies in the universe are elliptical, not spiral, and van Dokkum found they aren't really made up the same way as ours.

Using the Keck telescope in Hawaii, van Dokkum and a colleague gazed into eight distant, elliptical galaxies and looked at their hard-to-differentiate light signatures. The scientists calculated that elliptical galaxies have more red dwarf stars than predicted. A lot more.

[Related: Atmosphere of alien super-earth revealed for first time]

"We're seeing 10 or 20 times more stars than we expected," van Dokkum said.

Generally scientists believe there are 100 billion to a trillion galaxies in the universe. And each galaxy — the Milky Way included — was thought to have 100 billion to a trillion stars. Sagan, the Cornell University scientist and best-selling author who was often impersonated by comedians as saying "billions and billions," usually said there were 100 billion galaxies, each with 100 billion stars.

Van Dokkum's work takes these numbers and adjusts them. That's because some of those galaxies — the elliptical ones, which account for about a third of all galaxies — have as many as 1 trillion to 10 trillion stars, not a measly 100 billion. When van Dokkum and Conroy crunched the incredibly big numbers, they found that it tripled the estimate of stars in the universe from 100 sextillion to 300 sextillion.

That's a huge number to grasp, even for astronomers who are used to dealing in light years and trillions, Conroy said.

"It's fun because it gets you thinking about these large numbers," Conroy said. Conroy looked up how many cells are in the average human body — 50 trillion or so — and multiplied that by the 6 billion people on Earth. And he came up with about 300 sextillion.

So the number of stars in the universe "is equal to all the cells in the humans on Earth — a kind of funny coincidence," Conroy said.

For the past month, astronomers have been buzzing about van Dokkum's findings, and many aren't too happy about them, said astronomer Richard Ellis of the California Institute of Technology.

Reposted From AP (Associated Press)