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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 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

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:

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 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

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 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

U.S. President Barack Obama is singing a Lady Gaga song in this viral video which has amassed more than a million hits on Youtube, 3 days after it was posted.

Well, okay, President Obama is not actually "singing" the Gaga song, "Born This Way". The video is just a mash-up of clips of Obama's speaking appearances to create a sing-song delivery of the Gaga hit.

Check out the said "Barack Obama Singing Born This Way by Lady Gaga" video below:

President Obama and Lady Gaga have met in at least two occasions before - during a fundraiser for the President last September and when Gaga spoke at the White House about bullying. Maybe the next time they meet, they can do a duet. :D

Critics' Choice Awards for Movies 2012 winners

The winners of the Critics' Choice Awards 2012 were revealed at a glittering ceremony held yesterday and broadcast live on VH1.

"The Artist", a French silent film set in the 1920s, was this year's big winner, walking away with four awards including Best Picture.

It also proved to be a good night for "The Help" which took home 3 awards including Best Acting Ensemble.

Check out the list of winners of the 2012 Critics' Choice Awards below:

BEST PICTURE - "The Artist"
BEST ACTOR - George Clooney ("The Descendants")
BEST ACTRESS - Viola Davis ("The Help")
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR - Christopher Plummer ("Beginners")
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS - Octavia Spence ("The Help")
BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS - Thomas Horne ("Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close")
BEST ACTING ENSEMBLES - "The Help"
BEST DIRECTOR - Michael Hazanavicius ("The Artist")
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY - Woody Allen ("Midnight in Paris")
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY - Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin ("Moneyball")
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY - Janusz Kaiminski ("War Horse") and Emmanuel Lubezki ("The Tree of Life")
BEST ART DIRECTION - "Hugo"
BEST EDITING - "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"
BEST COSTUME DESIGN - "The Artist" noypistuff
BEST MAKEUP - "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2"
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS - "Rise of the Planet of the Apes"
BEST SOUND - "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2"
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE - "Rango"
BEST ACTION MOVIE - "Drive"
BEST COMEDY - "Bridesmaids"
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM - "A Separation"
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE - "George Harrison: Living in the Material World"
BEST SONG - "Life’s a Happy Song" ("The Muppets")
BEST SCORE - "The Artist"
JOEL SIEGEL AWARD - Sean Penn
MUSIC + FILM AWARD - Martin Scorsese

The Critics' Choice Awards are given annually by the Broadcast Film Critics Association to honor the finest in cinematic achievement.

Masks for the Maskara Festival in Bacolod, Philippines | Mylot

The Philippines is the world's 8th 'friendliest country', according to a survey by international banking and financial services company HSBC.

HSBC conducted the Expat Explorer Survey between May and July last year where 3,385 expatriates living in 100 countries were asked to rate their host countries in terms of ability to befriend locals, success in learning the local language, capacity for integrating themselves into the community, and ease in which they fit into the new culture.

“As the largest global survey of expats, Expat Explorer allows us to capture invaluable insights into expat life and how it differs from country to country, continent to continent and from an expats’ home country of origin,” HSBC marketing head Lisa Wood said. “We want to be a business that truly understands its customers so that we can ensure our products and services meet their needs effectively.”

Forbes.com which reported the results of the survey said the Philippines "is friendly on wallets, too: 47% report an increase in access to luxuries, including domestic staff, swimming pools and owning properties."

Check out the "Top 15 Friendliest Countries in the World" below:

1. New Zealand
2. Australia
3. South Africa
4. Canada
5. United States
6. Turkey
7. United Kingdom
8. Philippines
9. Spain
10. Malaysia
11. Brazil
12. Italy
13. Mexico
14. Singapore
15. France

Kate Beckinsale back as Selene in "Underworld 4"

Kate Beckinsale is back as Selene in "Underworld Awakening", the fourth installment in the "Underworld" film series.

Fans of the first two "Underworld" films are sure to be thrilled by the return of actress Kate Beckinsale in the role of the fearsome Vampire huntress Selene, in Columbia Pictures' 3D action-thriller “Underworld Awakening.” “We really wanted to work with Kate again,” says producer Gary Lucchesi. “Sometimes the stars just align themselves perfectly and this is one of those times.”

Beckinsale admits she thought twice about slipping back into the familiar skintight black latex suit before accepting the part again. “But it was a life-changing role for me, so I feel very affectionate towards it. It’s exciting to be able to follow a character over such a long period of time. It’s rare to get that chance.”

Tom Rosenberg, Lakeshore Entertainment chairman and CEO, says he’s thrilled to have Beckinsale in the film. “She is Selene, and Selene is the heart and soul of 'Underworld.'

Right from that first scene in the first film, she embodied the perfect tone.”

On set, it was clear she had lost none of the edge that made Selene an iconic figure in Underworld lore. “Kate can switch into Selene like that,” says co-director Mårlind, snapping his fingers. “She can be having a laugh, but when action’s called, she has those guns up and she looks like she’s going to kill you. She has a highway into Selene that is fantastic. As a director, it’s marvelous to have someone who is so close to their character.”

Revisiting the character and mythology that helped launch her career as a bona fide movie star was great fun for the actress. “It was exciting to do this together with the people who created the original film in a new environment with a different set of problems for Selene,” she says. “We all wanted a really fresh take and I think we’ve achieved that.”

The most unsettling change for Selene is finding that she has a daughter. “Suddenly being presented with a child who’s almost fully grown is a shock, especially when the girl’s father is gone,” says Beckinsale. “It’s quite a lot to handle. I wouldn’t say Selene is suddenly soft and maternal, but she’s protective in a new and different sort of way.”

After a centuries-long lifetime of being answerable to no one, Selene is only slowly able to embrace her daughter, says co-writer J. Michael Straczynski. “It brings out another side of her,” he notes. “In the previous movies, she was primarily focused on battling the bad guys. She was fighting against them, not fighting for someone, as she is now.”

The child opens up the character of Selene to a host of new possibilities and allows the character some emotional moments unlike anything in the previous films. “For the first time, there is a certain amount of vulnerability in Selene,” says producer Richard Wright. “She has an interplay with Eve that is very un-Selene like. Selene is very cold and nothing gets under her skin. She loves no one, she’s a killing machine—and then she has a daughter.”

Eve’s presence adds a new dimension to an already unique storyline, observes Beckinsale. “There aren’t very many female-led franchises, that work without being deliberately titillating or objectifying the lead character. I think that’s one of the great things about Selene becoming a mother, with all the attendant conflicts.”

Opening across the Philippines on Friday, Jan. 20 in IMAX 3D, Digital 3D and regular theaters, “Underworld Awakening” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

A Press Release

Cebu Pacific offers P288 seat sale

Cebu Pacific is once again holding a promo.

The low-cost carrier announced Thursday a seat sale it called "My JUAN and only!" where base fares for certain local and international flights were set to as low as P288. Some seats of the flights scheduled on February 15 - May 31, 2012 in the following destinations are the ones on sale:

DOMESTIC FLIGHTS:

Cebu to Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Dipolog, General Santos, Ozamiz, Pagadian, Siargao, Surigao or Zamboanga - P288

Davao to Cagayan de oro, Iloilo or Zamboanga - P288

Cagayan de Oro to Iloilo NEW! - 288

Manila to Butuan, Cagayan de oro, Cotabato, Davao, Dipolog, General Santos, Ozamiz, Pagadian, Surigao or Zamboanga - P888

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS:

Manila to Kota Kinabalu - P888

Manila to Brunei - P1,088

Manila to Jakarta or Kuala Lumpur - P1,988

The promo will end on January 15, 2012 or until seat lasts.

To book a flight, visit www.cebupacificair.com.

Coco Martin and Kris Aquino | C/o Lui Andrada

Coco Martin is set to guest on Kris Aquino's morning talk show KrisTV on Friday, January 13, 2012 (the first of the three Friday the 13th's this year). Apparently, Coco will be there to promote his upcoming teleserye, "Walang Hanggan", but for many fans, the guesting is quite interesting since the award-winning actor was predicted he will father Kris Aquino's child this year.

Coco had said in an interview that the prediction is impossible to happen.

"Parang pamilya na rin kasi ang turing sa akin ni Ms. Kris. Kumbaga, ate ko 'yan, e. Parang respeto ko 'yan, parang imposible. Sobrang malabo." Coco had told PEP.

In 2010, Coco's name surfaced during Kris Aquino's break-up with her former husband James Yap. He was romantically linked then to the actress-television host and identified as the cause of the split. Coco denied the rumors and was consistent in saying he treats Kris as his big sister.

Marines urination video screencap | Youtube

A video allegedly showing U.S. Marines urinating on dead bodies of Taliban fighters has been condemned by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, Taliban leaders and the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

Posted on YouTube and other websites, the video shows four men in camouflage Marine combat uniforms urinating on three corpses at an unidentified location apparently in Afghanistan. One of them jokes: "Have a nice day, buddy." Another jokes, "Golden, like a shower."

"We expressly ask the US government to urgently investigate the video and apply the most severe punishment to anyone found guilty in this crime," President Karzai said in a statement on Thursday evening. "This act by American soldiers is simply inhuman and condemnable in the strongest possible terms."

In Washington, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta denounced the actions shown on the video and vowed that "those found to have engaged in such conduct will be held accountable to the fullest extent."

"I have seen the footage, and I find the behavior depicted in it utterly deplorable," Panetta said in a statement. "I condemn it in the strongest possible terms."

The Taliban has also criticized the clip as "shameful" but said it would not derail attempts at peace talks.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the footage "is not a political process, so the video will not harm our talks and prisoner exchange because they are at the preliminary stage."

The ISAF has also released a statement regarding the video, condemning the act depicted in it.

"This disrespectful act is inexplicable and not in keeping with the high moral standards we expect of coalition forces," it said. "ISAF strongly condemns the actions depicted in the video, which appear to have been conducted by a small group of US individuals, who apparently are no longer serving in Afghanistan."

It is not yet clear who shot or posted the 39-second video that surfaced online on Wednesday. There are no information yet on who the people pictured in it were or where it was shot.

The US military said it was "deeply troubled by the video" and now investigating it.

7.3 quake jolts Indonesia | USGS map

A 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off west coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia early Wednesday, prompting the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center to issue a tsunami warning.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake, which has a depth of 29.1 km, hit at 12:37 a.m. local time, about 423 km southwest of Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia.

"The quake was in the sea and a tsunami warning is in force, but so far we have no reports of casualties or damage," an official at Indonesia's Meteorology and Geophysics Agency told AFP.

According to an Associated Press report, residents in the provincial capital, Banda Aceh and other cities along the coast were rattled from their sleep. They fled their homes and poured into the streets.

Local officials lifted the tsunami alert, nearly two hours after the quake struck.

Indonesia sits on "Pacific Ring of Fire" where continental plates collide, causing frequent volcanic activity.

Rachel Weisz in NAIA | C/o Recto Mercene

Academy Award-winning actress Rachel Weisz arrived in Manila Sunday night, several news sites reported.

Accompanied by 2 companions, Weisz landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 at around 6:30 p.m. from Hong Kong on board a Cathay Pacific flight (CX 903).

The 40-year-old actress is in the country for the filming of the highly anticipated "Bourne Legacy" movie, the fourth installment of the "Bourne" film series.

According to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino, Weisz' husband and "James Bond" star Daniel Craig may visit his wife in Manila in the coming days.

“There are rumors that Daniel Craig would want to visit Rachel here, so that’s a possibility,” Tolentino was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, aside from Weisz, "Bourne Legacy" lead actor Jeremy Renner had reportedly arrived in Manila last Saturday.

The filming of the movie, reports say, will start this week. The following streets will be closed off for the shoot: San Andres street (from Jan. 11 to 15); streets in Remedios (Jan. 18 and 19); San Andres corner Quirino and Taft Avenue (Jan. 14), areas in Intramuros (Jan. 25, Feb. 17 and 18); Jones Bridge (Feb. 5), and Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard (Feb. 8 to 15).

Forty-percent of the movie is going to be shot in the country.

South Korean pop group BEAST is returning to the Philippines this year! This is according to KoreanUpdates which revealed recently that the Philippines is part of the boyband's "Beautiful Show 2012 World Tour".

BEAST Live in Manila 2012

According to the website, the said concert tour will kick off this February 4th in Seoul, Korea and will have stops in the following countries: Canada (2 cities), England (London), Germany (Berlin), Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan (5 cities), Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Taiwan, and USA (3 cities).

There has been no official announcement from the major concert producers in the country as of posting time.

If more details come out soon, they will be posted here (hence the title of this post).

Composed of Yoon Doo-joon, Jang Hyun-seung, Yong Jun-hyung, Yang Yo-seob, Lee Gi-kwang and Son Dong-woon, BEAST had staged a concert in Manila back in 2010 together with "Boys Over Flowers" star Kim Hyun Joong.

Chachi Gonzales, I.aM.mE Live in Manila | Photo: Little Shao

Olivia "Chachi" Gonzales of  I.aM.mE revealed via her official Twitter account that she and her dance crew is coming to the Philippines this April!

"Just found out imma be in the Philippines from April 14-16 with the crew. Nice," Gonzales tweeted Monday morning.

"April 14-16" is currently trending in the microblogging site, suggesting that fans are in great anticipation of the upcoming visit.

I.aM.mE was proclaimed the winner of the sixth season of the US dance reality show "America's Best Dance Crew." Previous winners of the show such as the JabbaWockeeZ and Poreotics - both have Filipino members - had visited the country in the past.

Here's a Youtube video of one of the performances of the I.aM.mE on the show:

MMFF 2011 Box Office Gross

Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2011 Executive Chairman Francis Tolentino has released the latest box office grosses of the seven MMFF 2011 films, accumulated from the opening day last December 25, 2011 until January 7, 2012.

According to the box office figures, Ai-Ai delas Alas and Vic Sotto's comedy-fantasy flick "Enteng ng Ina Mo" grossed a total of P237.9 million and still taking a clear lead. Taking the second spot is Kris Aquino and Dingdong Dantes' horror/suspense movie "Segunda Mano" which raked in P126.6 million, over 20-million higher than Sen. Bong Revilla and Marian Rivera's action-fantasy sequel "Ang Panday 2" which earned P105.6 million.

Check out the complete tally below:

1. Enteng Ng Ina Mo: P237,879,178.70
2. Segunda Mano: P126,630,979.00.
3. Ang Panday 2 : P105,603,500.25.
4. My Househusband: P62,074,350.58
5. Shake, Rattle & Roll 13: P55,484,185.89
6. Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story: P38,437,416.8
7. Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: P10,682,902.35

Angeline Quinto lost her balance after climbing a platform and stepping on her dress during her performance in "ASAP 2012" on January 8, 2011. Angeline, who was performing Aegis'"Mahal na Mahal Kita", quickly said "Ay sorry!", stood up, and continued singing like nothing happened.

Check out a Youtube video of the incident below:

Angeline reportedly wept at the backstage after the performance. But several netizens in various networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook lauded the songstress for keeping it up.

Angeline Quinto, 22, was the grand winner of ABS-CBN's "Star Power: Search For The Next Female Pop Superstar" last year. She inked a deal with Star Records after winning the competition. Her debut album is now platinum-certified.

Car of the Year - Elantra (Top) and Truck of the Year - Evoque

The 2012 Hyundai Elantra was proclaimed the winner of the coveted "North American Car of The Year" award at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, U.S.A. on Monday, January 9, 2012.

The Elantra beat out the two other finalists, the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Passat, to win the award given by a panel of independent automotive journalists representing magazines, television, radio, newspapers and web sites.

Edging out the BMW X3 and the Honda CR-V, the 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque was also named the "North American Truck of the Year" during the ceremony.

The following also made the cut before the Top 3 finalists for both awards were chosen:

Car --- Audi A6, Audi A7, Buick Verano, Chevrolet Sonic Chrysler 300/SRT-8, Fiat 500, Hyundai Accent, Hyundai Veloster, Kia Rio/Rio 5, Scion iQ, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Camry, Toyota Prius V, and VW Beetle.

Truck --- Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Mini Countryman, Nissan Quest, and Saab 9-4X.

Last year, the "North American Car of the Year" award went to the Chevrolet Volt while the Ford Explorer took home the "North American Truck of the Year" award.

This year marks the 19th consecutive time the awards have been given.

Black Nazarene procession

President Noynoy (PNoy) Aquino warned those who will be attending the Black Nazarene procession on Monday to be vigilant of suspicious behaviors as there is a terrorist plot to disrupt the religious tradition.

"Over the past few months we have been apprised of intentions to create disruptions in the National Capital Region, during the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

"Previously, the difference between their intentions and capabilities has been quite pronounced. The possibility prompts us to warn you of the risk in attending the procession.

"To those who will be attending you will note increased security preparations and measures. Your government wants to ensure to the fullest extent of its capabilities, your safety. We ask for your understanding and cooperation.

"I call on our fellow citizens to exercise the maximum vigilance and discipline leading up to, and during, the procession. Report any and all suspicious behavior directly to the authorities, or by calling 117.

"I ask you not to bring the following to the procession: cellphones, weapons, fireworks.

"Anyone who is caught bringing or using fireworks will be apprehended. Monitor and obey our warnings and instructions. This is for the safety and well being of all.

"I have been meeting the security forces, and have issued the necessary instructions to the Secretaries of National Defense, Interior and Local Government, Justice, as well as the PNP and AFP.

"In any open democracy there will always be challenges coming from extremist elements. The sad reality of the world today is that terrorists want to disrupt the ability of people to live their lives in the ways they want to: including the freedom to worship and engage in community activities.

"Your government will do what it has to do, to ensure the safety and security of the public. With the people's help, we will succeed," PNoy said during a press conference Sunday.

The feast of the Black Nazarene annually gathers hundreds of thousands of Roman Catholic devotees.

David Archuleta

"American Idol" runner-up David Archuleta is now a Kapatid!

TV5 announced earlier today that the pop singer will be Jasmin Curtis Smith and Eula Caballero's leading man in an upcoming TV series.

"American Idol star David Archuleta is scheduled to arrive in Manila on Jan. 13 to do a primetime series for TV5 with homegrown Kapatid stars Jasmin Curtis Smith and Eula Caballero." the announcement reads.

Just last month, David Archuleta announced that he will be taking a break from his singing career to serve a two-year proselytizing mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But it appears that he will be taking a detour or perhaps he will be doing his missionary work here in the Philippines while shooting his series.

David Archuleta staged his solo concert in the country in July, 2011. He was with David Cook during his first concert in Manila back in 2009.

Drug Recalls 2012: Popular OTC products recalled

Novartis Consumer Health, Inc. (NCH) on Sunday issued a US-wide recall of certain bottled versions of its four over-the-counter products.

NCH said it is voluntarily recalling all lots of select bottle packaging configurations of Excedrin® and NoDoz® products with expiry dates of December 20, 2014 or earlier as well as Bufferin® and Gas-X Prevention® products with expiry dates of December 20, 2013 or earlier, in the United States.

The recall is being conducted as a precautionary measure since the products may contain stray tablets, capsules, or caplets from other Novartis products, or contain broken or chipped tablets.

According to NCH, mixing of different products in the same bottle could result in consumers taking the incorrect product and receiving a higher or lower strength than intended or receiving an unintended ingredient. This could potentially result in overdose, interaction with other medications a consumer may be taking, or an allergic reaction if the consumer is allergic to the unintended ingredient. NCH is not aware of adverse events reported with the issues leading to the recall.

The company said it has notified its distributors and retailers. It has also voluntarily suspended operations and shipments from its Lincoln, Nebraska, facility to rectify the problems at the site.

Consumers that have the product(s) being recalled should stop using the product(s) and contact the Novartis Consumer Relationship Center at 1-888-477-2403 (available Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time) for information on how to return the affected products and receive a full refund, NCH continued.

Consumers can find more information on the website http://www.novartis-otc.com/otc/index.html.

After his hit impersonation of Willie Revillame, Jose Manalo may once again have another viral video. This is after doing another spoof, this time of "Budoy", Gerald Anderson's mentally challenged character on his top-rating primetime series on ABS-CBN.

It happened during the charity basketball game for Sendong victims held at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan City on Friday. Gerald Anderson was also there and also acted as his TV character. Check out "Budoy" and "Unggoy's" encounter below:

Just last month, Jose Manalo's Willie Revillame impersonation on "Eat Bulaga" became a viral hit. A copy of the episode has amassed more than 2 million views on Youtube.

Friday's charity game featured UAAP stars and local celebrities including Kiefer Ravena, Nico Salva, Joshua Webb, Sam Marata, Xian Lim, Jhong Hilario, Rico Blanco, and more. The proceeds of the one-day fundraising event, dubbed Fastbreak, will be donated to the victims of Bagyong Sendongs in Northern Mindanao.

Smart Network Disruption - January 7, 2011

Many Smart subscribers were irritated following a supposed network outage that prevented them from sending messages and connecting to the internet, earlier today. A number of them vent out their frustrations in social networking sites.

At around 6 p.m. today, the mobile network explained what happened through its official Facebook account.

"Smart Advisory: Our services were temporarily disrupted due to two (2) cable breaks in our transmission network in Maramag and Butuan in Mindanao. We immediately dispatched repair teams to these areas. We were able to restore normal services by 3pm. We apologize for any inconvenience that this has caused our valued subscribers. Thank you very much," the announcement reads.

Smart is one of the biggest mobile operators in the country with over 45 million cellular subscribers as of June 2010.

Mount Etna erupts anew (January 5, 2011 Photo)

Mount Etna spewed lava and sent plumes of ash over 16,000 feet into the air Thursday.

The volcanic activity reportedly started at the southeast portion of Mount Etna's crater Wednesday night while explosions were observed the next morning. Lava was also seen flowing toward the uninhabited Valle del Bove region.

No casualties or damage to property have been reported. Flights are not expected to be disrupted by the cloud of ash.

Mount Etna, located on the island of Sicily in Italy, is considered the most active volcano in Europe and in the last few decades eruptions have been very frequent and lava flows have often threatened the villages surrounding the crater. The volcano erupted at least 18 times from January-November, 2011. It is the first time that it erupted this year.

Standing 10,922-foot high, Mount Etna is also Europe's tallest active volcano.

$736,000 tuna sold at Japan auction

A $736,000 bluefin tuna was sold at an auction at Tokyo's Tsukiji fish market in Japan Thursday, setting the new world record for the most expensive tuna fish.

The winning bidder, Kiyoshi Kimura, president of Kiyomura Co., which operates the Sushi-Zanmai restaurant chain, shelled out the whooping amount to the 269-kilogram tuna, the largest among the 274 shipped globally. Each kilogram of the massive tuna will reportedly be sold at $2,700.

"I wanted people in Japan, not those abroad, to eat the number-one tuna," company Kimura was quoted saying by Jiji Press.

“It is not just about the money, as there will be positive ripple effects from buying the fish,” said Sushi-Zanmai's spokesperson Hiroshi Umehara. “It is also about the Japanese spirit.”

The tuna caught in Oma on the northern tip of Honshu easily beat the previous record set last year - a 342-kilogram fish which fetched $420,000.

Prized for its tender red meat, the best slices of fatty bluefin tuna can sell for $24 per piece at sushi bars in Tokyo.

Japanese are the major consumers of bluefin tuna in the world.

Here's AFP's video report about the $736,000 tuna:

Charice, Jinkee Pacquiao and Karylle are gracing the covers of local magazine publications this month.

International singing sensation Charice can be seen on Preview Magazine, her most fashion-forward cover yet. Charice's Preview cover, however, has been criticized by some netizens for being too photoshopped. The magazine has admitted that computer program Photoshop was indeed used to enhance the singer's photo but was only a "minor detail."

Charice's Preview Magazine Cover for January 2012

Jinkee Pacquiao, the wife of boxing champ and legislature Cong. Manny Pacquiao, is on the cover of Mega. Like Charice's, Jinkee's Mega cover also had the online world buzzing for being edited. Jinkee did not deny that the final photo was altered but stressed that she did some preparations, which include going in a diet to look slimmer, for the shoot.

Jinkee Pacquiao Mega Magazive Cover for January 2012

Singer-actress Karylle is also a cover girl this January 2012. She is on Women's Health. Check it out below:

Karylle for Women's Health

Holly Rowe gets physical for interview | ESPN video screen cap

ESPN's Holly Rowe wasn't going to let nothing, even a human being, to get between her and her interview with Michigan head coach Brady Hoke. When another unsuspecting female reporter – who has yet to be identified – got in her way, Rowe, as seasoned as she is, knew there was only one thing she could do - elbow the woman!

The incident happened following Tuesday night's Sugar Bowl game between Michigan and Virginia Tech, which was won by Michigan, 23-20. It was captured on ESPN's broadcast - video copies of it have also been posted online and getting some hits.

Apparently, sideline reporters learn incisive interview techniques including how to throw elbows and box out. But via her Twitter account, Rowe said the incident was "unintentional."

"Totally unintentional, didn't realize it even happened, post game can be free for all," Rowe tweeted.

Check out the said Holly Rowe video below courtesy of "ewecylinder"/ESPN:

MMFF 2011 Box Office Gross

The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2011 movies raked in a total gross of P477.8 million from December 25, 2011 - January 1, 2012, according to the latest official box office figures from the MMFF executive committee.

Ai-Ai de las Alas and Vic Sotto's comedy-fantasy film "Enteng ng Ina Mo" is still leading the tally. It has so far earned a whooping P183.2 million.

In second place is Dingdong Dantes and Kris Aquino's horror flick "Segunda Mano" with P94.6 million, surpassing the earnings of Sen. Bong Revilla's action-fantasy sequel "Ang Panday 2" which has so far collected P86.3 million.

Check out the complete MMFF 2011 box office tally below:

1. Enteng Ng Ina Mo: P183,213,717.35
2. Segunda Mano: P94,629,812.45
3. Ang Panday 2 : P86,316,624.55
4. My Househusband: P42,587,787.58
5. Shake, Rattle & Roll 13: P41,935,473.35
6. Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story: P31,781,973.55
7. Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: P7,359,070.85