MAROON 5 is ready to rock Manila!

Their latest album is titled "It Won’t Be Soon Before Long"—and guess what, Pinoy fans of Maroon 5 won’t have long to wait before the band behind hits like "She Will Be Loved" and "This Love" comes to Manila for the first time for a show on March 5 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Composed of Adam Levine, James Valentine, Jesse Carmichael, Mickey Madden and Matt Flynn, Maroon 5 debuted in 2002 with their first album, Songs About Jane. The album, which contained a number of songs about Levine’s tumultuous relationship with his ex-girlfriend Jane, enjoyed major chart success, harvesting up to triple platinum awards across the globe. The group spent two years touring and riding on the album’s success, then followed that up with their latest release. "It Won’t Be Soon Before Long" proved that at least in Maroon 5’s case, lightning can—and does—strike twice. The album became just as big as its predecessor, debuting at #1 on the Billboard Hot 200 chart with first week sales of nearly half a million copies.

In 2005, Maroon 5 formally joined the ranks of music heavies when the Los Angeles-based band received a Grammy for Best New Artist. The following year, they received a second Grammy award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group for This Love, which also became a big hit in the Philippines.

That being the case, it was only a matter of time before Viva Concerts and tapped Maroon 5 to do a show in Manila.

Maroon 5 Live in Manila is a project of Viva Concerts and Events and is presented by SMART Buddy in cooperation with San Miguel Beer with No Curfew, Tommy Hilfiger, MTV, PBO and ABS-CBN as sponsors.

For tickets, call the Ticketnet at 911-5555. Tickets are priced at P10,500 (VIP), P7,875 (Patron A and B), P5,250 (Lower Box), P3,938 (Upper Box A), P2,625 (Upper Box B) and P1,575 (General Admission).

-manila bulletin online

The Healing Priest

MANILA, Philippines -- Close to 10,000 people have converged early Thursday at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Divine Mercy in Mandaluyong City to get a glimpse of and be blessed by healing priest Fr. Fernando Suarez, a radio report said.

As early as 10 p.m. Wednesday, devotees have been turning up in droves for a chance to attend the 9 a.m. healing Mass of the world renowned Catholic priest, a radio dzMM report said.

Organizers of the event have given priority to wheelchair-bound and gravely ill patients who were ushered inside the church, the report said.

Others who were not as seriously sick were issued tickets -- on a first come-first served basis -- and led into the nearby gym in the City Hall compound on Maysilo Circle where they will await their turn to enter the church, the report added.

Batches of only 500 persons will be allowed to enter the church.

From 6 a.m. up to 1 p.m., the street leading to the city hall -- San Francisco Street -- will remain closed to accommodate the more than 50,000 people expected to attend the healing event, the report said.

About 500 policemen were deployed to maintain peace and order.

-inquirer.net

ABS-CBN to appeal SC ruling on WOWOWEE CASE

ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation's chief legal officer said the media giant will file a motion for reconsideration, after the Supreme Court dismissed the network's petition requesting a dismissal of an investigation conducted by the Department of Justice on the "Wowowee" stampede that killed 71 people.

The deadly stampede on February 4, 2006 happened as a crowd of 'Wowowee' fans (estimates run as high as 30,000 people) tried to get into the show's first year anniversary bash inside the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

ABS-CBN earlier questioned the DOJ probe before the Supreme Court, claiming that the speedy investigation as well as certain statements by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez proved that the agency is biased against the network.

The 22-page decision penned by Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales said that the high court found nothing defective in the DOJ's complaint and resolution despite having no signed affidavit from the victims. The Supreme Court said that the facts of the case as stated on record are sufficient.

The high court also said that remarks made by Gonzalez to the media do not indicate that he has already pre-judged the case. It added that any fear on the part of the network regarding possible bias is just "speculation."

The Supreme Court also disagreed with ABS-CBN's contention that the DOJ violated lawful procedure by conducting both the criminal as well as preliminary investigation on the Wowowee stampede.

The high court said that records show that it was the National Bureau of Investigation, not the DOJ, that conducted the criminal investigation.

Supreme Court spokesman Midas Marquez said that the high court's decision paves the way for the continuation of legal proceedings, although the network still has 15 days to file a motion for reconsideration.

ABS-CBN's official statement on the Supreme Court ruling is as follows:

"ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation will file a motion for reconsideration with the Supreme Court.

"We want to emphasize that this is not a ruling on the merits of the case. There is no finding of any liability on the part of any officers or staff of ABS-CBN.

"We maintain our position that ABS-CBN was not remiss in taking the necessary precautions in undertaking the event. While we believe that there was no negligence on the part of the network’s officials, ABS-CBN has taken the lead in helping the victims’ families through the 71 Dreams Foundation."




-abs-cbn news

Body Talk with Riza Santos

Aside from new friends, guess what Riza Santos, 2006 Miss Earth-Canada, gained inside Big Brother’s house? Seven pounds, would you believe?

“It was because I ate a lot of peanut butter inside; in fact, I ate a lot maybe because we had so much down time and I was stressed-out,” laughed Riza who was among the 15 housemates of the ABS-CBN reality-TV Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition 2 (won by Ruben Gonzaga of Davao) who spent 84 days together. “Now, I have to work out double time to shed those excess poundage.”

Asked what was the best lesson that she learned “inside,” Riza gave a famously “beauty contest” answer.

“Dealing with people from all walks of life in different situations. Remember, I had to live with these people 24/7. And that’s a lot of time! Also, I learned more about myself more than anything.”

Before winning the Miss Earth-Canada crown (after competing in three other contests, one of which declared her Miss Teen Philippines-Canada), Riza was in school finishing Biological Sciences, preparatory to a medical course. She also served as a soldier in the Canadian Army.

A pure Filipino (her father, Ruel Santos, is from Bulacan; her mom, Dina Buenaventura, from Bataan) born in Alberta, west of Canada, Riza said she’s 100 percent Filipino and 100 percent Canadian as well.

“I grew up in a huge Filipino community where there are around 40,000 Filipinos. There are more than 111 Filipino associations in my city and that’s how I learned how to speak Tagalog. I was brought up the Filipino way. I know a lot of Filipino dances; I know how to dance the Tinikling and Singkil. I come from a conservative family but I won’t say that my parents are strict.”

A Virgo, Riza stands 5’7", weighs 120 lbs. (from 125 when she came out of Big Brother’s house) and measures 35-25-35. A contract artist of Viva Records, Riza aspires to be an over-all performer.

“I have experience in hosting but my forte is singing and dancing. I’m into acting now.”

-Philippine Star -full story

READ and LEARN

pictures from jojie alcantara of www.witerary.com

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Hospital Detention Act

In the past year, several private hospitals across the country have been forced to close shop because of the exodus of health professionals for better paying jobs overseas. Now several of the hospitals that have remained open may also shut down or suspend their operations if they are compelled to provide free medical services to anyone who walks into their facilities.

The compulsory free medical service is effectively the consequence of Republic Act 9439 or the Hospital Detention Act, which bars hospitals from refusing to release patients who cannot settle their medical bills. There are people who see the refusal as virtual detention, and are glad that a law has been passed against it. But hospital owners fear that the new law, passed last April, could kill their business.

Both sides have valid arguments, and a compromise will have to be worked out if hospitals are to remain viable without appearing heartless. Health care does not come cheap, and private hospitals, like other businesses, need revenue to survive. They also need to turn a profit to stay in the business, upgrade their facilities and expand to accommodate rising demand for medical services from a booming population.

State-supported health maintenance organizations can step in to help private hospitals set up facilities for charity or with partly subsidized rates, so that those who can’t afford regular rates need not resort to swindling a hospital to receive proper health care.

The intent of the Hospital Detention Act is noble and humane; no one must be deprived of proper health care. Refusing to release a patient who cannot settle his hospital bills smacks too much of illegal detention. But the consequences of the new law could prove disastrous for the health care industry, which is already suffering from an acute lack of nurses, doctors and other health professionals. Unless a compromise is reached, public health care will be the casualty in this battle. - abs-cbn news

Online Appointment for PASSPORT Renewal

Applying for passport renewal at the Department of Foreign Affairs will be done by appointment through the Internet beginning January 14 to lessen the inconvenience of having to queue in waiting for one’s turn at the counters.

Claro Cristobal, DFA spokesman, said the appointment system will do away with the first step of verification of pertinent documents, thereby shortening the process.

Normally, applicants have to go through verification, then pre-processing, encoding and payment of fees.

Apart from passport renewal or those with expired or expiring passports within a year, first-time applicants who are senior citizens (60 years old and above) may also set an appointment for passport processing through the Internet.

The DFA said it will expand the appointment system to cover all passport applications in due time.

The DFA will designate a call center (556-0000) dedicated to entertain the increasing number of passport applicants, Cristobal said.

The DFA Consular Office has also strengthened the mobile passport services in coordination with the local governments.

“This means that passport applicants can apply in their respective localities where the mobile services will be set up. Usually, the mobile services are set up in major populated centers like malls," Cristobal said.

DFA Regional Offices have started accepting passport applications to further decongest the Consular Office in Pasay City.

At least 7,000 people apply for passports daily at the DFA.

According to Cristobal, the surge in passport application was brought about by the peak season, which began in November and is expected to last until April.

The increase is the number of applicants is also because of the new policy requiring applicants, whether new or those for renewal, to personally appear for the needed signature and fingerprint specimen for the machine-readable or electronic passports.

Because of the long queue of applicants, Cristobal appealed to those who are not leaving the country soon to defer their plans to apply for passports, especially during these peak months.

Processing of rush passports take seven working days and two to three weeks for regular processing time.

Here's the procedure in seeking an appointment for passport processing:

1. Send a request for appointment via the Internet through email address: appointment@dfa.gov.ph

2. Passport applicants applying for appointment must provide the following information:

a. Full name of applicant (first name, middle name and surname);
b. Date of birth;
c. Place of birth;
d. Latest passport number and date of issuance

3 Application for appointment must be made one week before the proposed date of appointment.

4. Applicant must wait for the confirmation of the proposed appointment and take note of the reference number that will be provided by DFA-Passport Office before proceeding to the DFA for the filing of the passport application.

5. Applicant must be at the DFA Passport Office (Special Area for those with appointments) at the confirmed designated date and time for the filing of the passport application. - GMANews.TV

CONCERTS!!!

MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE
Live in Taguig!!!

March on this Hard ROCKIN' EVENT
on January 25, 2008 - 8PM
at the BONIFACIO OPEN FIELD
Rock On with their Smash Hits:
WELCOME TO THE BLACK PARADE, TEENAGERS, HELENA,
THE GHOST OF YOU, FAMOUS LAST WORDS, I DON'T LOVE YOU, DEAD




NE-YO
Live in Manila!!!

NE-YO is coming to do a concert on
FEBRUARY 29 at the ARANETA COLISEUM
The concert will feature the award-winning artist's hits including:
SO SICK, BECAUSE OF YOU, SEXY LOVE, WHEN YOU'RE MAD,
HATE THAT I LOVE YOU (Duet with Rihanna), CAN WE CHILL,
DO YOU and GO ON GIRLS, his latest No. 1 his, plus songs he wrote like:
Beyonce's IRREPLACEABLE, Rihanna's UMBRELLA, Mario's LET ME
LOVE YOU and many more....

Manny Pacquiao, KNOCKOUT!!!

Manny Pacquiao's Christmas film festival entry "Anak ng Kumander" got kayoed at the gates the day it opened on New Year's Day.

In simpler terms, the movie which Pacman bankrolled and starred in was ignored by his fans, something that proved once more that the ring icon is better seen doing his craft on top of the ring than acting in the movies or campaigning to get elected...

Out of the nine movies which joined the filmfest, Pacquiao's movie ranked dead-last.

In a few weeks, Pacquiao will leave for Los Angeles to begin training for his March 16 bout with Mexican great Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas, Nevada.

But... What he's doing right now?






Training? Manny Pacquiao gets a life parties with babes in Embassy Bar!!!
for more info, visit www.pinoyspy.com