Jeremy Renner is Aaron Cross in new 'Bourne' movie

Jeremy Renner as Aaron Cross
Oscar-nominated actor Jeremy Renner will not be portraying as Jason Bourne, Matt Damon's character in the past "Bourne" films, in "Bourne Legacy", Renner revealed in an interview last November. He will be playing the role of Aaron Cross, a new CIA operative.

"This is not a reboot or a recast or a prequel," director Tony Gilroy explained to Mania.com "No one’s replacing Matt Damon. There will be a whole new hero, a whole new chapter…this is a stand-alone project."

"The easiest way to think of it is an expansion or a reveal… Jason Bourne will not be in this film, but he’s very much alive." Gilroy continued. "What happened in the first three films is the trigger for what happens. I’m building a legend and an environment and a wider conspiracy… the world we’re making enhances and advances and invites Jason Bourne’s return [down the road]."

Renner, however, promised that "Bourne Legacy" will have the "same tempo and pace but more expansive and bigger" than the previous "Bourne" movies.

The 41-year-old actor arrived a week ago in the Philippines where forty percent of the film will be shot.

The movie's cast and crew have started filming last Wednesday. The shooting in the country will reportedly last for 40-45 days.

The film, which will also feature Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton, Joan Allen and Albert Finney, is scheduled for theater release in August.

Renner, who appeared in "The Hurt Locker", has also other movies coming out this year, including "The Avengers" and "Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters".

Miss America 2012: Laura Kaeppeler of Wisconsin wins title

Miss America 2012 winner crowned
Miss Wisconsin Laura Kaeppeler was crowned the winner of Miss America 2012, the 91st Miss America pageant. Kaeppeler won a $50,000 scholarship grant and 1-year title run. She also took home an additional $2,000 in scholarship funds for her victory in the preliminary talent competition.

Kaeppeler was crowned after answering a question about whether or not Miss America should be allowed to declare a political affiliation.

“Miss America represents everyone, so I think the message to political candidates is that they represent everyone as well,” she said. “And so in these economic times, we need to be looking forward to what America needs, and I think Miss America needs to represent all.”

Miss Oklahoma Betty Thompson came in second while Miss New York Kaitlyn Monte placed third.

The coronation night was held at the Theatre for the Performing Arts at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on January 14, 2012.

Here are the results of Miss America 2012:

Miss America 2012 - Miss Wisconsin Laura Kaeppeler
1st runner-up - Miss Oklahoma Betty Thompson
2nd runner-up - Miss New York New York Katilin Monte
3rd runner-up - Miss Arizona Arizona Jennifer Sedler
4th runner-up - Miss California - Noelle Freeman

Top 10

Miss Illinois Hannah Smith
Miss Iowa Jessica Pray
Miss Louisiana Hope Anderson
Miss Tennessee Erin Hatley
Miss Texas Kendall Morris

Top 15

Miss Alabama Courtney Porter
Miss Florida Kristina Janolo
Miss South Carolina Bree Boyce
Miss North Carolina Hailey Best
Miss Virginia Elizabeth Crot

Fish fall from Agusan sky

Residents of Loreto, Agusan del Sur were astonished after witnessing a number of fish falling from the sky Friday morning, GMA News reported.

A screengrab of the Youtube video below, not the actual event
One man said after 25 years of living in the area, it is the first time that he witnessed such event - fish literally "raining down" the sky.

Officials from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said the fish were 3 inches long and yellow in color with black spots. They added that they are still trying to find out the species of the 72 fish they were able to collect and what is the reason behind the incident.

Here is a theory that would explain the "miraculous" event:


"Raining Fish" | Video courtesy of BBC

Magnitude 5.7 earthquake jolts Babuyan Islands

Map of the said earthquake in the Philippines on January 15
An earthquake with a Richter scale measurement of magnitude 5.7 struck Babuyan Island Regions, Philippines, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported Sunday.

According to the USGS, the quake hit its epicenter (126 km NNE of Laoag, Luzon, Philippines) at 12:36 a.m. on January 15, 2012. It has a depth of 22.4 km.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), meanwhile, reported a 5.5 magnitude quake which centered at 19.40°N, 121.12°E, the same area identified in the USGS report. However, there has been no additional information about the temblor from Phivolcs as of press time.

There were no immediate reports of causalities and damage from the quake.

The Philippines lies on the "Pacific Ring of Fire" where continental plates collide, causing frequent volcanic activity.

Note: The date of this blog is not the Philippine Standard Time.

Vertical Horizon and Ed Kowalczyk Live in Manila 2012 Concert

Vertical Horizon is coming back to Manila to hold a one-night concert with LIVE's former lead singer Ed Kowalczyk this 2012.

Vertical Horizon and LIVE's Ed Kowalczyk Live in Manila 2012 Concert
The said Vertical Horizon and Ed Kowalczyk Live in Manila 2012 concert will be held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on April 28, 2012.

Vertical Horizon is an American alternative rock band best known for a string of hits in 1999 and early 2000s, including "You're a God","Everything You Want", and "Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning". The band had visited the Philippine capital in 2007 for a concert.

Ed Kowalczyk, meanwhile, is the former lead vocalist of LIVE, an American rock band who rose to fame through their 1994 album, "Throwing Copper", which has sold eight million copies in the US. Kowalczyk pursued a solo career in 2009. Just last year, he held a concert in Manila as well.

ACET Results 2012

ACET Results 2012
The results of the Ateneo College Entrance Test (ACET) for School Year 2012-2013 have been released today. A printout of the list of passers has been posted at the Ateneo de Manila University gymnasium. You can visit this Facebook page for the pictures of the printout.

The 2012 ACET results are expected to be uploaded on the university's website at noontime on Saturday, January 14, 2012.

In accessing the results, ACET 2012 takers need to do the following:
---Enter their last name (with suffix, if applicable; e.g. III for “the third”) into the Last Name field.
---Enter their first name (with your second name, if applicable; e.g. Hannah Sophia) into the Complete First Name field.
---Enter their middle name (not the middle initial but spelled out, please) into the Complete Middle Name field.
Here are more reminders for those who would like to access the results:
---If you have no middle name or last name, don’t leave the corresponding field blank. Enter a dash instead.
---If your first name begins with a Maria and your first search using Maria yields no result, try variations of Maria. (e.g. use Ma. or just Ma in place of Maria in your next search).
---If your name has an ñ, press Alt on your keyboard, hold it, then press the numbers 1, 6 and 4 in succession.
AMDG!

    North Koreans who didn't cry at Kim Jong Il's funeral punished: report

    North Koreans crying at Kim Jong Il's funeral | Youtube
    North Koreans who did not shed some tears during the highly orchestrated mourning over Kim Jong Il's death are going to serve six months in labor camp, South Korean newspaper The Daily NK reported Friday.

    Citing a "source from North Hamkyung Province", The Daily NK said, "The authorities are handing down at least six months in a labor-training camp to anybody who didn’t participate in the organized gatherings during the mourning period, or who did participate but didn’t cry and didn't seem genuine."

    It further said that the recriminations "created a vicious atmosphere of fear."

    Citizens are also forced to idolize North Korea's newly-installed leader, Kim Jong Un, the youngest son of Kim Jong Il.

    "Every day from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., they have vehicles for broadcast propaganda parked on busy roads full of people going to and from work, noisily working to proclaim Kim Jong Un’s greatness," the report said.

    It added that many citizens are being made to study "the greatness of Kim Jong Un" in education sessions "packed so tightly together without a break that people are just exhausted."

    "While it has not been possible to verify the public trial claim, earlier the authorities did order the military to shoot anyone who attempted to defect during the mourning period and eliminate their family, so it would not be surprising. The source agreed with earlier testimony stating that while it is usually possible to escape punishment during such crackdowns with bribes, it is much more difficult to do so now," it said.

    Via http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?cataId=nk01500&num=8668