The Aquino administration joins the Filipino people in congratulating Gilas Pilipinas

Statement of Secretary Edwin Lacierda on Gilas Pilipinas’ silver medal finish in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championships:

The Aquino administration joins the Filipino people in congratulating Gilas Pilipinas for winning the silver medal in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championships—and with it, a ticket to the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

This victory is the culmination of years of hard work, belief, and perseverance from our players and their families, from our coaching staff, from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas led by Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, and, most of all, from the entire Filipino nation, who has always stood behind the national team through their struggles and triumphs.

In unison, the nation urged our team forward, and with consummate “puso,” they laid everything on the line for flag and country. Gilas Pilipinas has shown the world that no one can outsize the heart of the Filipino. May their performance inspire every Filipino to relentlessly pursue excellence, no matter what field they find themselves in, so that, together, we may fulfill our shared aspiration of a Philippine nation greater than ever before.

Mabuhay Gilas Pilipinas!

Yesterday it was a hard earned victory yesterday, when Marcus Douthit got an injury in the second quarter vs South Korea. Marcus is one of the main man in Gilas, the team draw strength from him. And it is surprising that they have won over South Korea. Now that they will advance to FIBA World cup 2014 to be held in Spain.

Today, they will have to battle the two-time world champion, Iran. Again, the odds are bigger, considering that Marcus can't play against Iran. And it is known that Iran has a great defense and dishes out more physicality to the game.

It was a heart stopping event for the19,989 attendees in the stadium as well as those who eagerly watch the game in their home. Little by little, Iran taking the lead. The huge gap of scores was shown in the third quarter, ending with a 9 points lead of Iran.

It’s a sad loss for the Philippines, defeated

by the Giants (Iran). But the battle ain’t over yet. May this be a fruitful experience for Gilas, as they compete with FIBA World Championship 2014, in Spain. "No Pain, No Spain! Mabuhay Gilas Pilipinas!"

Philippines Vs. Iran game scores:

1st Quarter 15 Ph 17 Iran

2nd Quarter 34 Ph 35 Iran

3rd Quarter 53 Ph 62 Iran

4th Quarter 71Ph 85 Iran

Congratulations Iran!

#Gilaspilipinas

#FIBAAsia2013

#Puso

#Basketball

#championship 

Philippines beats Korea, reaches FIBA World Cup

MANILA, Philippines -- Gilas Pilipinas marched its way to the finals of the FIBA Asia Championship by beating South Korea, 86-79, in the semifinals.

The win assured the Filipinos an outright berth in the FIBA World Cup in Spain next year.

Gilas initially went for a 9-7 lead, before Korea's shooters started connecting to take the first quarter, 19-15.

Jason Castro came up with a string of plays to tie the game 19-all, but the Koreans quashed the rally to regain the lead, 28-21.

The first half ended 39-36 with the Koreans ahead.

The Nationals fought back early in the third as Castro's back-to-back baskets had Gilas surging, 42-39.

LA Tenorio and Ranidel de Ocampo kept the offense going for the Nationals to make it 56-48.

Japeth Aguilar's slam helped Gilas to extend the lead to 65-56 going into the final period.

Korea began hitting its shots again and came within three points, 67-64. Gilas momentarilly halted the run, but the Koreans came back and grabbed the lead 74-73, 4 minutes left.

Jimmy Alapag and De Ocampo allowed Gilas to take a one-point breather, 78-77, going into the final 2 minutes.

Successive triples from De Ocampo and Alapag eventually allowed Gilas to take the 86-79 win.

The victory also allowed the Philippines to vindicate its past heartbreaking losses to Korea, which foiled the country's campaigns in the 2002 Asian Games and the 2011 FIBA-Asia Championship.

Gilas will face Iran in the FIBA Asia Championship title game Sunday.

Iran defeated Chinese Taipei, 79-60, in the other semifinal match.

Marian Rivera : model and actress

Marian Rivera (born Marián Gracia Rivera on August 12, 1984 in Madrid, Spain) is a Filipina commercial model and actress, known for her roles in Marimar, Dyesebel, Darna, and Amaya. As a recording artist, Rivera has released two studio albums: the platinum hits Marian Rivera Dance Hits and Retro Crazy. She has also starred in some box-office movies such as: My Bestfriend's Girlfriend, Tarot, You to Me Are Everything, and Panday 2.

In 2009, Rivera ranked #5 in Manila Standard's "2009 Top Celebrity Endorsers", #3 in "Top 10 Most In-demand Celebrity Endorsers in 2010 and was also included in 2011's Top 20 Endorsers. She was hailed as FHM's Sexiest Woman in 2009 and recently, for the second time this 2013

Overseas Filipino Workers or OFWs

An Overseas Filipino is a person of Filipino origin who lives outside of the Philippines. This term applies to Filipinos who are both abroad indefinitely as citizens or permanent residents of a different country, and to those Filipino citizens abroad for a limited, definite period, such as on a work contract or a student. It can also include seamen and others who work outside the Philippines but are not residents, either permanent or temporary, of another country.

They are known by a variety of terms with slightly different and sometimes overlapping meanings. Overseas Filipino Workers or OFWs are Filipinos working abroad that are expected to return permanently either upon the expiration of a work contract or upon retirement. Balikbayans are Filipinos who have become citizens of another country and have returned to the Philippines for a temporary though extended visit. Global Filipino is a term of more recent vintage that less widely used.

Former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo applied the term Overseas Filipino Investor or OFI for Filipino expatriates who contribute to the economy through remittances, buying properties and creating businesses.

As a result of this migration, many countries have substantial Filipino communities.

Countries with over 100,000 overseas Filipinos (2010)

  United States  3,166,529

   Saudi Arabia  1,512,539

         Canada  667,674

            UAE  636,154

      Australia  345,592

       Malaysia  316,273

          Qatar  305,331

          Japan  290,358

 United Kingdom  196,740

          Italy  123,379

Kristina Bernadette Cojuangco Aquino : Kris Aquino

Kristina Bernadette Cojuangco Aquino (born February 14, 1971), commonly known as Kris Aquino, is a Filipina television and movie personality who gained prominence from her talk shows, game shows, and numerous endorsements. She is popularly referred to by the media with titles such as the Queen of All Media, Queen of Philippine Talk, Queen of Philippine Game Shows, and since 2010, the Presidential Sister ; both of her parents are natives from Tarlac. She is the youngest daughter of former Philippine senator Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. and Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino, who served as the 11th President of the Philippines, and sister of Benigno S. Aquino, III, the current President of the Philippines.

Her first movie was Pido Dida, Sabay Tayo, which earned her the Box-office Queen title and her 2004 films Feng Shui and So... Happy Together also gave her the same commendation. In 2006, she regained the same Box Office title for her movie Sukob, which is the highest-grossing Filipino film of 2006. She is also the Executive Editor of her own bi-monthly magazine called K! The Kris Aquino Magazine. In December 2009, Aquino showcased her own Home Collection called K Everyday. In partnership with ABS-CBN Licensing, K Everyday features cooking collection, kitchen collection, plastic collection, and stationery collection.

Currently, she is part of ABS-CBN, and is also residing in Makati. She is also a Tarlaqueña Kapampangan, as her parents are both residents of Tarlac province, with her father being a Kapampangan.

In April 2013, she was tagged by Archbishop Oscar Cruz as a possible Vice Presidential candidate in the 2016 elections based on a rumor he heard.

ANGEL LOCSIN : Filipina television and film actress

ANGEL LOCSIN is Angelica Colmenares in real life. She was born on April 23, 1985 in Santa Maria, Bulacan. Angel spent her elementary education in Bulacan and graduated high school in University of Santo Tomas High School. In August 2007, she attended a short-course for fashion design at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London. Despite being of Christian faith, she is a part of a Muslim Royal Family in Marawi City in the province of Lanao del Sur through her mother. Reports said that Locsin's maternal grandfather is one of the 15 sultanates in Lanao del Sur.

Angel Locsin's entry to showbiz was unplanned. She was discovered by a talent scout while she was shopping at SM City North EDSA. Some sources said she was spotted by a talent scout while she was shopping with friends after they skipped classes.

Angel first auditioned in ABS-CBN's Star Circle Batch 9 but she was not signed due to some disagreements in her contract. She was then drafted by GMA Artist Center after a year and she started to appear in GMA's teen oriented show "Click". She was also included in the cast of "Ang Iibigin Ay Ikaw Pa Rin" and "All Together Now".

ACTING AWARDS 

Angel won her first acting award for Best Single Performance By An Actress in the 22nd PMPC Star Awards for TV for her role in the Maalaala Mo Kaya episode "Pilat".

In 2009, Angel is nominated in the International Emmy Awards as Best Actress for her outstanding performance in the TV series, "Lobo".

In March 2012, Angel won as Movie Actress of the Year in the 28th PMPC STAR Awards for Movies for her role as Mercedes Fernandez in the movie "In the Name of Love". In April 2012, Angel is recognized as the PASADO Best Actress for her performance in the same movie. This time, the organization which will give Angel the recognition is the Pasado or Pampelikulang Samahan ng mga Dalubguro. 

Angel won as Best Actress in the 2013 PMPC Star Awards for Movies, Guillermo Mendoza Awards and FAMAS.