The Wutz Up in the Philippines!

MANILA, Philippines - Pokwang revealed that her relationship with her American boyfriend is on the rocks.

“Nasa level kami ngayon nang hindi kami muna nag-uusap,” Pokwang told “SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon.”

She admitted that her job was among the reasons they have grown apart. “Kasi hindi nya naiintindihan ang trabaho ko.”

“Nag- I- Love-You-han na kami kaya lang… kinulang lang siguro ng tiwala sa isa’t isa. Kasi may naririnig din ako. May nakakita sa kanya doon, mga kakilala namin, sa isang bar, may kasamang girlalet…Tapos dumagdag pa ‘yong sa trabaho ko. May mga text siya kapag hindi ako agad nakakapag-reply,” she said.

She also confessed that the distance took a toll on their relationship. “Hindi ninyo nakikita ang isa’t isa. Tapos ‘yon nga, kung ano-ano ‘yong mga iniisip.”

She also said in jest: “Sayang ang lahi niya. Blue eyes pa naman siya. Pangarap ko ‘yon.” -Report by Marchie Mallari, ABS-CBN.com

MANILA, Philippines - Days ago, creative web technologist Joseph Dee and systems designer Matthew Milan of Toronto, Canada asked Facebook users to dump the social networking service, citing privacy concerns.

They created a website, which declared May 31 as “Quit Facebook Day” and provided alternatives to the popular social networking site, such as Twitter or Flickr.

“If you agree that Facebook doesn’t respect you, your personal data or the future of the web, you may want to join us,” the website read.

Some Pinoys won’t give up Facebook

In the Philippines, it seems that Facebook is also a hard habit to break.

Abs-cbnNEWS.com posted the question “Would issues about Facebook’s privacy policies make you quit Facebook?” in its official Facebook page on Monday morning, and to date, only 3 members (out of more than 20 users who gave their comments) said “yes.”

Most of them said it’s the Facebook user’s responsibility to be careful about what they post, and to hide things that they don’t want other people to see.

“No, the problem here is not Facebook. People should really pore over and go around to learn more about the privacy settings, madali lang naman (it’s just easy),” said Famela Bayawa.

“No, because I do believe if you’re wise enough, no matter how tight the security of Facebook is, you would not put important or very sensitive items in your account,” added Danilo Cruz.

MANILA, Philippines - Zanjoe Marudo has opened up about his recent break-up with Mariel Rodriguez.

In an interview with “The Buzz,”  Marudo reiterated Rodriguez’s statement that they remain friends after their split.

“Wala naman akong plano talagang mawala kami o ‘yong mapunta ako sa iba [at] mapunta siya sa iba,” Marudo said.

Marudo declined to divulge the circumstances behind their break-up so as not to fuel speculations.

“Kasi kapag once na marami pa tayong kinuwento, marami pa tayong ipinaliwanag, mas hahaba pa nang hahaba,” he said. “Ito nga pinipilit namin sa amin na lang ito. May mga nadadamay kasi at naiiba-iba na ‘yong ispekulasyon ng tao.”

Rodriguez has clarified that there was no third party involved in the split.

She already denied rumors that Robin Padilla, who became a guest co-host of “Wowowee,” is courting her. She also said there was no truth to rumor that Marudo is dating actress Cristine Reyes, the actor’s next leading lady in a television program. -Report by Bernie Franco, ABS-CBN.com

Senator Jinggoy Estrada, in an interview aired on ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) Tuesday, said that everyone must adhere to the rule of law in proclaiming the election winners.

This is in line with the statement that his father, Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino standard bearer Joseph Ejercito Estrada, has issued. In the statement, the former President said he is not conceding to LP presidential bet Sen. Benigno Aquino III, who is leading in the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec’s) partial and unofficial tally.

“Lest my silence following the recent presidential elections be misconstrued for conceding the elections to the frontrunner, I wish to assure the public that while I plan no protest, I am not conceding. I wish to remind the people that under our Constitution, only the Congress, not the Commission on Elections or its chairman, Chairman Jose Melo, and certainly not the so-called poll watchdogs can proclaim the winner of the presidential elections,” the statement read.

Senator Estrada said his father will respect the outcome of the polls as long as everyone adheres to the rule of law.“We are willing to concede anytime as long as we follow the process… We have to hear from the Congress… Kung talagang ‘yan ang magiging resulta ng eleksyon, my father will gladly bow to the will of the people,” the senator said.

When it comes to the results of the vice presidential race, the younger Estrada confirmed that his father is happy for his runningmate Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, who is leading in the count.

“Well, he (Pres. Estrada) is very, very glad that the results of the vice presidential race are already in favor of Mayor Binay, and I think Mayor Binay really deserves to become the vice president because he really worked so hard for it, even during the start of the presidential elections,” said the senator.

It’s definitely not yet Hologram, it’s just Augmented reality via virtual Presence!”, Jedi Master Yoda might have corrected. C0melec’s official canvassing of votes is still unfinished and yet another heat of “GMA7 vs ABS-CBN bangayan” sparks.  With the new  PCOS technology on counting our votes, you cannot expect the usual flat screen and LED boards behind Mike Enriquez or Ted Failon on delivering the “widest coverage for the 2010 Elections”.  Let us take a closer look of this issue.

What is a Hologram?

According to it’s discoverer, Dennis Gabor, he coined the term hologram from the Greek words holos, meaning “whole,” and gramma, meaning “message”.  For clarity, it is a method of producing a three-dimensional image of an object by recording on a photographic plate or film the pattern of interference formed by a split laser beam and then illuminating the pattern either with a laser or with ordinary light.(TheFreeDictionary.com)

GMA’s Hologram

Mike Enriquez claims that GMA-News’  “Hologram” technology  is the very first in our country. The same thing used by CNN for the 2008 US Presidential Elections coverage.  In his unique and confident voice, he explained that their “new” technology allows field reporters to appear on 3D images as if they were in the studio itself.  You can clearly see that Mike Enriquez is pretending that Howie Severino, GMANEWS.TV Editor In Chief (EIC),  from cyberspace is right in front of him.  Perhaps, calling it  “hologram” makes them more advanced than other network.

Abs-CBN’s Virtual presence

Few hours ago, TJ manotoc reports that ABS-CBN’s Digital Graphics provider, Orad Hi-Tec Systems, they used the same technology but the appropriate term is Virtual Presence. They added that GMA’s interview with Sen. Noynoy Aquino using a green room or Chroma set-up can never be considered as a hologram.  “We use appropriate terms for modern-day technology”, they might have joked.

Over-all, it was just a mis-use of a technical word. They can just call it Starwars effect.
Throughout the election coverage, we have seen the Touch screen monitors, 3D animation technology, Virtual Presence an a lot more. Indeed, using as much imagery is the “in-thing” for TV networks today. Let us just hope that the content of the news we consume are not just high-end but credible and un-biased. Let us remind them that we watch the 3D Movies to be entertained and the News to be informed.

The “Arnel Pineda Jr.” hits Youtube in a blast

MANILA, Philippines–ABS-CBN’S “Pilipinas Got Talent” has created a new Internet sensation in the person of Jovit Baldivino, 16, a high school student from Marilag, Batangas, who sells siomai at the town plaza after classes to help his poor family.

His audition video, uploaded on YouTube, has registered 2.2 million hits as of Monday (1.6 million on Sunday—and counting). Journey’s “Faithfully” has found another voice! Was Arnel Pineda watching?

Watch the video by clicking the link Pilipinas Got Talent - Jovit Baldivino - Journey’s “Faithfully”

Yes, as a matter of fact, Jovit dreams of singing a duet with Arnel. This doesn’t seem like a long shot at all. Interviewed on “TV Patrol World,” Journey’s Pinoy front man said of his young sound-alike: “He has a really strong potential to become a rock singer. When I was 16, I didn’t sound as good as he does now.”

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It took a has-been with a storied past to push broadcast giant ABS CBN to a corner. Regrettably it was a hugely popular daily program that suffered as a result of two indiscretions committed by the same person. Talk about bad luck and guests who wear thin their welcome.

Our mouth dropped when Rosanna Roces reacted to co-judge Vice Ganda’s comment during the January 4 episode of the show ‘’It’s Showtime’’ by mouthing near expletives (to wit: “Walanghiya ka talaga, hayop ka, demonyo ka”…)

That incident alone resulted in the filing of a complaint against the TV station. It was a probable violation of section 3(C) of PD No. 1986.

Three days later, it was not mere shock anymore but anger that overtook us when we heard Roces coaxing a child contestant to “curse their teachers”. Not content, she bragged that as a student, she did the same to get even when instructors did not teach them well. “Murahin mo yung teacher mo. Ako minura ko yung teacher ko nung hindi niya sinagot sa akin ‘yan.” It took a has-been with a storied past to push broadcast giant ABS CBN to a corner. Regrettably it was a hugely popular daily program that suffered as a result of two indiscretions committed by the same person. Talk about bad luck and guests who wear thin their welcome.

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MANILA - Actor Piolo Pascual said it will be “a dream come true” for him if he is called on to play former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. in an upcoming biopic about former president Corazon “Cory” Aquino.

Pascual, who is back in Manila after his successful Europe concert with other heartthrobs Sam Milby and John Lloyd Cruz, said that he will consider the project as “one of the biggest gifts” he will ever receive.

“If and when that happens (film role), you know, pangarap na natupad ‘yon at malaking regalo ‘yon para sa akin. It will be really, really interesting. But for now, I’m just focusing on what’s at hand and doon muna tayo,” Pascual said on entertainment show “SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon.”

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That’s how political observers see the VP race in 2010

Trust the campaign veterans to look at events from unexpected perspectives.

One strategist, who has been through several national campaigns, instantly shared with Newsbreak a comment when the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD party announced on Friday that former Optical Media Board chair Edu Manzano would be its vice presidential bet for 2010.

“So it’s going to be Korina vs Loren vs Pinky now?” he said. The comment is in reference to Manzano’s known close friendship with ABS-CBN news talent Pinky Webb.

Come to think of it, those running for vice president next year are either related one way or another to ABS-CBN news talents, if not talents themselves.

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Angelica Panganiban

MANILA, Philippines — Kapamilya stars turned up Wednesday for a special voter registration mounted by the network and the Commission on Elections.

Rayver Cruz, Rodjun Cruz, Cass Ponti, Princess Ryan, Josef Elizalde, Cris Pastor, Pokwang, Valerie Concepcion, Erik Santos, Mark Bautista, Angelica Panganiban, Shaina Magdayao, Mariel Rodriguez, Nikki Gil, Enchong Dee, Kim Chiu and Diether Ocampo appealed to the public to do the same.

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