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For the past 21 years, The Filipino Express has provided the Filipino American community the best news, arts and entertainment coverage from around the United States and the Philippines.
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This website includes selected articles from this week's edition of the Filipino Express. Not all the stories published in the printed version appear on this site.
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GLOBAL warming is not only real, it is real and it’s happening right before our very eyes. We are just to naive to pay attention.
A few days back I had the chance to see Al Gore’s documentary on global warming called ‘An Inconvenient Truth’. And after seeing it, I can’t help but wonder how we are able, as a people, to allow the continuous destruction of our planet. It is almost unthinkable how we ignore the signs of doom that has been flashing right in front of us: catastrophic storms, killer droughts, rising sea levels, melting polar caps and blazing heat waves. It is as if we see the world coming to an end and all that we can do is watch like we are watching a Hollywood flick - we watch while eating popcorn.
Now, it pays to know what this problem is and what we can all do to prevent the disasters that global warming can bring. Here are some facts:
What is global warming?
Carbon dioxide and other gases warm the surface of the planet naturally by trapping solar heat in the atmosphere. This is a good thing because it keeps our planet habitable. However, by burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil and clearing forests we have dramatically increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere and temperatures are rising.
The vast majority of scientists agree that global warming is real, it’s already happening and that it is the result of our activities and not a natural occurrence. The evidence is overwhelming and undeniable.
We’re already seeing changes. Glaciers are melting, plants and animals are being forced from their habitat, and the number of severe storms and droughts is increasing.
What are the signs of global warming- The number of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes has almost doubled in the last 30 years.
- Malaria has spread to higher altitudes in places like the Colombian Andes, 7,000 feet above sea level.
- The flow of ice from glaciers in Greenland has more than doubled over the past decade.
- At least 279 species of plants and animals are already responding to global warming, moving closer to the poles.
Now, if the warming continues, we can expect catastrophic consequences- Deaths from global warming will double in just 25 years -- to 300,000 people a year.
- Global sea levels could rise by more than 20 feet with the loss of shelf ice in Greenland and Antarctica, devastating coastal areas worldwide.
- Heat waves will be more frequent and more intense.
- Droughts and wildfires will occur more often.
- The Arctic Ocean could be ice free in summer by 2050.
- More than a million species worldwide could be driven to extinction by 2050.
This is bad news indeed. But there is one good news that we should all take notice of: WE CAN ELIMINATE GLOBAL WARMING
Yes, we can all do something to stop global warming. And the things that we can do to stop the world from ending are not herculean tasks at all. They are as simple as unplugging appliances while not in use and taking public transport whenever we can. We can all put down our carbon dioxide emissions to ZERO. And if that happens, our home, the planet earth, will continue to shelter our children and grand children.
For the many ways on how to save the world, visit the website: www.climatecrisis.org or get a copy of the DVD,’ An Inconvenient Truth.
The process of saving our world begins now.
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THE LAWYER of Angel Locsin has sued her manager, Ms. Becky Aguila, and this shocked and surprised the latter because she and Angel have kissed and made up and are back into each other’s arms.
It was written in a tabloid last week that Ms. Aguila was served summons to answer Angel’s complaint against her, but it was alleged the manager was “missing” and that they couldn’t find her address. In answer to this, Becky said “I’ve been living in my house for the last 20 years; I’m vry easy to find, kilala nila ako dito. No one from the court has ever come to knock at my door. Either the bailiff was blind or he wasn’t simply doing his job.”
(At the recent press conference for “The Promise,” held at Dunkin Donuts in SM Megamall, the latest team-up of Angel with Richard Gutierrez, Angel told the press she’s going to withdraw the case, since she and Becky have settled their differences.)
Their reconciliation happened last Dec. 27, 2006 Becky told us, at a time when she was resigned to lose her, when she was ready and willing to terminate their contract even if it was still two years short of its validity. Angel signed a managerial contract with Becky to last till 2008 (and not for a lifetime as maliciously rumored in the past when Becky and the actress had a falling–out).
A few days after Christmas, Angel called up her manager and they agreed to call in their respective lawyers for the termination of their contract. Becky and her daughter Katrina went to Angel’s pad to discuss things but instead of going through with the termination of their contract, they embraced, kissed and made. Katrina apologized to Angel and everything was forgotten, with Angel telling Becky, “huwag mo na ako pababayaan.”
From these words, Becky realized her protege must have felt abandoned when she was not able to give her the care and attention she must have expected from her in the past when Becky was impeded by various other commitments (after all, Angel wasn’t her only talent) and her own personal goals, especially her fight against obesity.
It is recalled that in the year 2005, Becky and Katrina went with Angel to the US for the shooting of her and Richard Gutierrez’s movie, “I’ll Always Love You.” Something happened between them there that prompted Becky to leave Angel. Apparently, it was there that Angel’s feeling of abandonment started gnawing at her. When they came back, the communication gap between Angel and Becky widened.
Things aggravated when in an ambush interview on their 16th birthday last year, Becky’s twins blurted out to the press their resentment and ill-feelings for Angel for the rumors circulating around that put their mother in a bad light. From there, things turned for the worst, especially when Angel said on “Startalk” that her bank account was on the red and that her finances did not tally.
Becky’s accountants immediately made an accounting of the actress’ earnings and her legal counsel sent a copy to Angel for her auditor/accountant to verify. If within 10 days Becky won’t receive word from Angel’s lawyer or accountant, it would mean they concurred with Becky’s accounting. Becky did not receive any communication from Angel’s camp.
When they reconciled on Dec. 27, Becky said: “The same magic that occurred when I first met Angel worked its way once more...I had to open my doors again, without fear or hesitation. She wants to stay. She was waiting for me to come get her. And I did. We’re all humans here and we all make mistakes, but love is always consistent. And to love is to love without fear or hesitation. Be it love for the work, love for the talent, or love for the dream. This angel of mine is loved like a daughter, as I promised her, I won’t ever let go.”
At the time of their reconciliation, Angel had parted ways with her boyfriend. Becky said: “Angel is going through a tough time now and I have no intention of meddling in her personal affairs. I am here for her not just as a manager but as a mother, and as a mother, I respect her space. I am only too glad to have her back as a daughter, and I will be here for as long as she wants me to be.”
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MANILA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has conferred the Order of Lakandula with a rank of commander on world-renowned stage star and Tony Award winner Lea Salonga in Malacañang.
Lea Salonga, or Maria Lea Carmen Imutan Salonga in real life, was conferred the prestigious order for her outstanding contribution to musical theater and world entertainment.
The multi-awarded singer-actress first gained international acclaim for her performance as Kim in the Broadway hit musical, Miss Saigon.
In 1993, Salonga played the role of street child Eponine in the Broadway production of Les Misérables.
She sang “A Whole New World”, the official soundtrack of Disney’s Aladdin, which she performed at the 65th Annual Academy Awards where the song won an Oscar.
Salonga is set to leave for New York on her 36th birthday on February 22 to again start rehearsals for Les Misérables, this time for the role of Fantine.(MNS)
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MANILA -- AI AI de las Alas promises viewers will see a new her in “Love to Laugh,” her Valentine concert with Ogie Alcasid on February 13 and 14 at Music Museum. “Magpapa-demure and coy ako rito,” she says. “Yung tipong kagalang-galang at kapita-pitagan dahil ‘yun naman ang talagang ako.”
“Humanga ako kay Ai Ai rito,” says Ogie. “She sings 10 songs at ang tataas ng kanta pero nakaya niya. Paano mo nakakaya ‘yun?”
“Na-excite ako sa promise mong magpapahipo ka sa ‘kin,” says Ai Ai. “Wala akong pakialam kung magselos man si Regine (Velasquez) dahil dun, basta gagawin ko ‘yun. Hindi ko siya masisisi kung magalit siya kasi mas maganda ako sa kanya, kaya nga ako ang pinili mong kasama sa Valentine.
And we thought she’d be coy and demure? “Sa kanta lang ‘yun, pero sa hipuan, hindi!” she barks. “Hindi ko naman lalamutakin, e. Hihipuin lang.”
“Okay lang namang hipuan mo ako,” says Ogie. “Hindi kita pipigilan. Huwag mo lang ipapasok ang kamay mo sa loob ng pants ko. Actually, si Ai Ai talaga ang choice ko this Valentine, for a change. At saka, sobrang galing niya mag-perform, e.”The “Love to Laugh” concert will be taken to various cities in the U.S. and Canada. Will Regine agree that only he and Ai Ai will go abroad? “If she wants to come, di isama natin, di ba?” he says. Ai Ai is the busiest Backroom artist this February. Aside from her “Love to Laugh” concert, she’s guesting in the concert of Rufa Mae Quinto and Erik Santos at Aliw Theatre and Vina Morales’ “Showgirl” at Araneta Coliseum. Doesn’t she miss having a “papa” on Valentine? “No, gastos lang ‘yun. Okay lang to celebrate Valentine at the start of a relationship pero pag tumagal-tagal, wa na. I’m happier now dahil tahimik ang buhay ko.” About Ogie, does she believe he has an affair with Regine? “Ay, quiet na lang ako. All I can say, hindi naman imposible dahil they’ve known each other for a long time at maganda si Regine, guwapo si Ogie, di ba?” (MNS)
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ALL is not lost with Ara Mina and Polo Ravales.
They finally had a heart-to-heart talk and agreed to save their relationship after they decided to cool off since both of them got so busy.
“Wala naman kasi kami talagang malaking problema as there’s no third party involved na puedeng pagselosan ng sinuman sa amin,” says Ara. “Time for each other lang talaga ang problema kasi we seldom get to see each other after I got so busy preparing for my Araneta Coliseum concert. We have agreed to talk again after my concert and give more time to each other.”
“Hopefully, what happened to us will be a step para mas mag-mature ang relationship namin, for it to grow as there’s conscious effort to work things out,” says Polo.
“Hindi naman nawawala ang love ko for her. Nasa puso ko pa rin kahit bihira kaming magkita kasi willing naman ako to support siya all the way sa anumang projects niya. In the same way, I expect that she’ll understand me also kasi magiging busy na rin ako in taping for ‘Lupin’ with Richard Gutierrez where I play a bida-contravida role.” (MNS)
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MANILA -- Mark Herras says he has prepared himself to be linked with “Starstruck 3’s” Jackie Rice now that they are paired in “Princess Charming,” the new GMA-7 afternoon soap.
“Expected na ‘yun sa showbiz na kami naman ang itsitsismis dahil magkasama kami sa show,” he says. “Ganun din naman ang nangyari when I worked with ‘Starstruck 2’s’ Ryza Cenon. Actually, pinayuhan na ko ng friends ko to stay away muna from girls kasi hindi na raw maganda para sa’kin. Ayoko talaga ma-link kay Jackie dahil friend ko si Biboy Ramirez (who’s reportedly wooing Jackie.)”
How come he’s also being linked to Shiela, one of the girls in Kris Aquino’s “Deal or No Deal”?
“Hindi ko talaga alam. What I remember, nasa Formula Bar kami ng iba pang ‘Starstruck’ friends ko, may lumapit sa’ming girls and when they left, may nagsabing 26K Girls daw sila ng ‘Deal or No Deal.’ So one of them must be Shiela, pero ewan ko kung bakit na-link na kami.”
About ex-girlfriend Jennylyn Mercado, what can he say to her message to him in a talk show where she addressed him on camera and said: “Be a man. Grow up.”
“I don’t know what she means pero ayoko ng patulan ‘yan,” he declares. “Kapag sumagot ako, bagong issue na naman ‘yan, so I was advised na ‘wag na lang sumagot sa ganyang mga statements. Pabayaan na lang natin siya.”
How come he’s not playing a lead role in “Princess Charming” and just supporting the lead child stars in it? “Maganda naman ang role ko as the protector of Eunice Lagusad, who plays Charming. At saka okay lang po sumuporta paminsan-minsan. At least, hindi ako mismo ang magdadala ng show.” (MNS)
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