Megan Young's entry to Miss World “Beauty with a Purpose”

Megan Young is hoping to bag the “Beauty with a Purpose” special award, which will secure her spot in the semifinals of this year’s Miss World pageant scheduled on September 28. The Beauty with a Purpose challenge awards one Miss World contestant who is shown to have made a big difference in her homeland through charitable work. Entries showing the pageant candidates in outreach programs have been uploaded by organizers of Miss World on YouTube. A clip posted on the video-sharing website on Monday shows Young helping flood victims in Hagonoy, Bulacan. She was accompanied by Cory Quirino, licensee of Miss World Philippines.

“My coronation night last August 18 was probably one of the best moments in my life… Now I want to share that glory with the (flood victims). I want to see that smile I had on my face on their faces as well,” Young said in the two-minute video.

Showing what she referred to as a “bag of hope,” which contained rice, noodles and other relief goods, Young said: “As a Filipina, I want to see them (flood victims) with hope in their eyes. And I want to see them strive and look at tomorrow as a brighter day.”

“This is what is going to touch their hearts, what’s going to put that twinkle in their eye and make them think that tomorrow is going to be a better day,” she added.

Young recently added another feather to her cap as she was chosen as one of the few contestants who will perform a dance from their respective countries at the Miss world coronation night.

The television host and actress is also one of the 11 finalists in the pageant’s Beach Fashion competition.

Filipino YouTube sensation Aldrich Lloyd Talonding, appear on U.S. talk show ‘Ellen’

Ellen DeGeneres

Aldrich Lloyd Talonding is another pinoy online sensation appeared on the “The Ellen Degeneres Show”  months after they caught the talk show host’s attention via his Youtube video “Dance with my Father.” with cousin James Walter. The video of Talonding singing the R&B hit, with Bucong accompanying him on guitar, was uploaded last April, has garnered over three million views on the video sharing website.

Aldrich, together with cousin James Walter Bucong were invited by Ellen to appear on her show during its May 1 episode. 

Talonding said. “When the video went viral, people started recognizing us along the streets or in the malls. They even recognized us in the restrooms,” “That’s weird,”

“Honestly, many people do recognize me, especially girls,” Bucong said. “So it feels awkward when they say that they love me.”

“We’re honored to watch you sing this,” Ellen said, before the two performed “Dance with my Father” on her show.

“That was so beautiful. I am so glad we found you,” the talk show host-comedienne said after Talonding and Bucong’s performance.

Ellen also gave the two Filipinos a guitar, a keyboard, and a check for $10,000.

Talonding and Bucong’s appearance on “The Ellen Degeneres Show” follows a number of other Pinoys performing for the hit U.S. talk show. Recently, another Youtube sensation, Zendee Rose Tenerefe, also appeared on “Ellen.”

Video uploaded by NoypiStuffVideos

Lumabas ang magpinsan sa September 12 episode ng 'Ellen' show at inaasahang mapapanood ito sa Pilipinas sa Biyerner, Sept 13. 

BRUNO MARS TO PERFORM DURING PEPSI SUPER BOWL XLVIII HALFTIME SHOW

Grammy-award winner BRUNO MARS will perform at the PEPSI SUPER BOWL XLVIII HALFTIME SHOW on FOX in MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on Sunday, February 2, 2014, it was announced today. 

Bruno Mars is a critically acclaimed singer, songwriter, producer and musician. The 14-time Grammy Award nominee and Grammy winner has sold over 115 million singles worldwide. His current album Unorthodox Jukebox and his debut album Doo-Wops & Hooligans have a combined certification total of 60x platinum worldwide. According to Billboard, Mars scored his first five “Hot 100” No. 1s faster than any male since Elvis Presley. As a singer, songwriter and producer, Mars has an impressive catalog of 22 “Hot 100” hits. Currently, Bruno Mars and his eight-piece band The Hooligans are on a sold-out, 91-city world arena tour.

Bruno Mars joined FOX NFL SUNDAY co-hosts Curt Menefee and Terry Bradshaw, along with analysts Howie Long, Jimmy Johnson, Michael Strahan and Jay Glazer in New York City’s Times Square to make the live nationally-televised announcement just before kickoff of the Sunday afternoon games.  Bradshaw (4), Long (1), Johnson (2) and Strahan (1) have a combined eight Super Bowl championships as a player or coach.

This unprecedented announcement is just the beginning. Fans are encouraged to tune into FOX Sports throughout the season to see what surprises Bruno Mars has in store for this historic Halftime Show.

The Pepsi Super Bowl halftime show is the most-watched musical event of the year. More than 110.5 million viewers in the U.S. watched last year’s show.  The Super Bowl and halftime show will be broadcast worldwide. 

Bruno Mars joins an esteemed list of recent halftime acts that includes Beyoncé, Madonna, The Who, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Prince, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and U2. Read more >>

(c) http://www.brunomars.com/news/pepsi-super-bowl-xlviii-halftime-show-announcement-3012991

Happenings in Star Magic Ball 2013

The night of September 7 is a memorable one as Star Magic Ball 2013 happened on the luxurious Fairmont Hotel in Makati City. The Star Magic Ball is where the biggest and brightest stars from Star Magic gather for a night of get-together. Gracing the event are not only the Kapamilya artists but also ABS-CBN’s bigwigs and several top fashion designers.

Kapamilya celebrities showcased their fab suits and gowns, made by Philippine’s top fashion designers, in the all-white, black and champagne theme. Now on its seventh year, the Star Magic Ball also marks the 21st year of the most successful star-building agency–Star Magic.

Kapamilya couple Kim Chiu and Xian Lim were awarded with the Moet and Chandon Fabulous Pair award. O+, who co-sponsored the event, proclaims Joseph Marco and Empress as the Stars of the Night. Real-life couple Gerald Anderson and  Maja Salvador were the night’s Best Dressed. And for the KathNiel fans, the “Got to Believe” stars Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla  were Star Magic Ball Coupe of the Night.

Several photos were posted online via the Star Magic Facebook and on Twitter via the hashtag #StarMagicBall2013. Here are some of the photos you’ll want to check out:

Mutya Johanna Datul Is Miss Supranational 2013 Winner

Filipina Mutya Johanna Datul emerged as winner of the 2013 Miss Supranational beauty pageant held in Minsk, Belarus on Friday night, September 6.

The 21-year-old information technology student from Isabela bested 82 other lovely candidates from around the globe to take home the coveted crown. She also received the Miss Personality award.

Datul is the first Philippine representative and the first Asian to win the competition, which was f

irst held in 2009 and has no question and answer portion.

Miss Mexico Jaqueline Morales is this year's first runner-up, while Turkish beauty Leyla Kose is second runner-up.

Completing the Top 5 are Indonesia's Cok Istri Krisnanda Widani (third runner-up) and U.S. Virgin Island's Esonica Veira (fourth runner-up).

The Top 20 also included the contestants from Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Australia, Poland, Gabon, Canada, Thailand, Luxembourg, India, Myanmar, Belarus, Russia, Latvia, Brazil, and Ukraine.

Filipino Baked Lumpia Rolls

"This is a traditional Filipino dish. It is the Filipino version of the egg rolls. It can be served as a side dish or as an appetizer."

Ingredients:

1 lb ground lean pork

1 medium carrot, chopped fine

1 medium onion, chopped fine

1 (8 ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and chopped fine

1 (8 ounce) can bamboo shoots, drained and chopped fine

8 garlic cloves

1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

2 teaspoons soy sauce

1 teaspoon black pepper

wonton wrapper, 1 package

1 large egg

Dipping Sauce

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup distilled white vinegar

1 teaspoon soy sauce

2 teaspoons water

1 teaspoon cornstarch, mixed with the water

2 -3 teaspoons freshly grated ginger

Directions:

• In a large bowl combine the pork, carrot, onion, water chestnut, bamboo shoots, garlic, ginger, soy sauce and pepper.
• Stir mixture until thoroughly combined-at this point you can cover and stick in the fridge over night.
• I lay out about 10 wrappers at a time, roll the meat mixture into cigar shapes about finger thickness-be reasonable-and the length of the wrapper.
• Roll, brush ends with beaten egg and finish the roll to seal.
• Place seam side down on a cookie sheet and repeat until done.
• Bake in a preheated 450 degree oven, turning once for around 20 minutes.
• They should be cooked through and the wrappers are golden brown.
• Serve hot.
• You can make these ahead of time and keep cooked lumpia in the fridge for up to 3 days, or frozen up to 4 weeks.
• To reheat (thaw if frozen) bake on baking sheet in a 450 oven for 10 minutes-turn rolls once.
• Dipping sauce----------------.
• In a 3 quart saucepan mix together the brown sugar, vinegar and soy sauce.
• Stir over high heat until sugar dissolves.
• Mix the cornstarch/water and add to the sugar mixture and stir until mixture boils.
• Remove from heat and stir in ginger.
• Makes 2/3 cup and you can double.

"CAPTIVATING" AND "ENCHANTING" EL NIDO PALAWAN

 Located in the northern most part of mainland Palawan covering a total of approximately 50,000 hectares of land, El Nido is one of the jewels of Palawan.  Its unrivaled beauty rests on its massive limestone islands, bordered by powder-fine beaches, with cliffs jutting from translucent waters.  El Nido is a unique travel destination well-suited for those who want to commune with nature.  It was first declared a marine reserve and later a protected area by the Philippine government.

There are at least six lagoons in EL NIDO, the most famous and easily accessible are the BIG and SMALL Lagoons at Miniloc Island. Believed to be cave whose roofs collapsed millions of years ago, the Big and Small Lagoons are best explored on a kayak or while snorkeling.

Other attractions are Marble Cliffs, Makinit Hot Springs, Cudugnon and Ille Caves located in Bigan, Island in Bacuit Bay, Gintungawan Island, Turtle Island, Bulalakaw Falls, Ipil Beach, Commando Beach, Shimizu Reef and Daracuton Reef. 

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts announces that it is to manage Huma Island resort – a private island in the heart of the stunning archipelago of Palawan Province in the Philippines.

The island is world famous among divers who visit to experience the area’s exceptional corals and abundant marine life as well as to explore 12 of the most iconic shipwrecks of the mid-20th century.

Huma Island itself is also steeped in mystical magic from the tip of its rainforest-covered mountains to the bottom of its primeval caves. 

Come and enjoy the crystal clear water and white sand beaches in EL NIDO. =)