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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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THERE are several theories explaining the beginning and the structure of the universe with the primary model being the “Big Bang” theory by Georges Lemaître. According to Lemaître, an ordained catholic priest, the universe began in a singularity he called the “Primeval Atom.”
The Primeval Atom, is an infinitely dense, unimaginably hot point where the laws of physics cannot be applied. It has been supposed that this Atom is not matter at all but pure energy. As the theory goes, the atom, in an act of creation, exploded in what is now known as the big bang, then went on to create particles, which then resulted in the creation of matter and eventually the whole universe as we know it.
There is observational evidence supporting Lemaître’s theory. In the 1930’s Edwin Hubble discovered that galaxy’s like our very own Milky Way exist in the outer limits of the observable universe, but more importantly, using stereoscopic techniques, Hubble concluded that these distant galaxies are moving away from our galaxy. In fact, he said that everything in the universe is moving apart from each other– a clear proof that the universe is expanding.
Another evidence in support of the big bang is the discovery of background radiation in space. It was supposed then that, since the whole universe is a product of the big bang, then radiation from the first explosion should still be around everything. It is like being inside the mushroom cloud of an atomic bomb. Everywhere you look, there’s fire and radiation. The experiments at a radio telescope facility in California discovered these radioactive remnants everywhere in space– even on earth.
The expanding universe of Hubble, and the discovery of background radiation made the Big Bang theory a logical model of the beginning of our universe. Like a roll of film, if one looks at the present universe expanding, one can conclude that when the film is rewound, there will be a point in its past when everything was close together– in fact, it is a point where everything was at one point. That is a singularity. Lemaître was right.
It is also said that while the universe is expanding, it has no edge. The universe according to scientists is periodic in nature, where when one travels to one point in a straight line, one will find him back to where he started. Kind of like walking on top of a balloon–you always end up where you began. In other words, the universe is like a sphere, like the earth itself.
Observations on expansion and general relativity
1. If Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity is true, then an expanding universe can offset the curvature of space-time caused by the mass of the object resting on it. Thus eliminating gravity overall. Imagine a rubber sheet representing space-time. Now, put a billiard ball on top of the sheet.
According to Einstein, the mass of the ball will cause the rubber sheet to warp/ curve downward, thereby, attracting lesser objects to itself – gravity. If this is true, then an expanding rubber sheet (Universe) will counter the effects of gravity and equalize the curvature of space-time, which will ultimately lead to a gravity-less universe, where everything will move freely minus the influence of gravity and could lead to planetary and galactic collisions.
2. In General Relativity, there is nothing faster than light. Hence, given that the universe is expanding, it’s rate of expansion could not be faster than light. How then can light travel in the same direction as the expanding universe?
If it travels along with the expanding universe, it will certainly overtake the universe itself. But where will it go? If the universe has no edge, then the light beam will return to itself. In this case, the mass of the light beam will be infinite.
3. If number three is correct, then, can I suppose that these energies that are hitting the ‘edge’ of the universal boundary could result in another singularity, where mass is infinite as well as density, and could then be another source of a future big bang? If so, then the big bang could indeed be a cycle. Our very own big bang could very well be one of the many bangs happening at the very edges of the universe. This theory will expand the universe indefinitely and eternally – creating new universes and interacting with ours.
4. Another question is about galactic motion. If the universe is expanding at a given rate, anything in it that travels slower than the rate of expansion will not move at all. It would be like walking on a treadmill. In this hypotheses, anything that moves faster than the rate of expansion will move twice as fast as its original rate until it overtakes the expanding universe itself.
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Sen. Francis Pangilinan has laughed off speculations that he and wife Megastar Sharon Cuneta were on the brink of separation following a big fight. Pangilinan also denied rumors that Cuneta and their children left their home in Manila and flew to Hong Kong allegedly to cool off. The senator admitted that his family is currently in Hong Kong, not to cool off, but to do some shopping.
"Hindi totoo ‘yong mga naririnig na balita... nasa Hong Kong nga nag-sho-shopping," he said.
Talks were rife that Cuneta and Pangilinan had a "terrible domestic spat" that allegedly forced the singer-actress to leave their conjugal home. Speculations also had it that Angeli Pangilinan-Valenciano has been desperately calling Cuneta to convince her to come home.
Rumors about their impending separation became intense after the couple failed to attend the anniversary party of the Senate held in Manila Hotel Tuesday night. According to a blog written by a so-called Pinoy Observer , the couple fought because of money.
"Reports say Kiko has not been contributing to the conjugal home for some time now. Sharon has had enough, reports say. But, is this the real reason?" Pinoy Observer wrote.
The blog also cited the "malicious insinuations" that Pangilinan was allegedly keeping a mistress.
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Filipinos naturally love taking pictures wherever they go. And Richard Gomez is one of them. The actor's first photo exhibit carried "travels" as the theme, and it was held during the Canon EOS Photographer's Night last September 25, at the NBC Tent, The Fort in Taguig City.
Richard told PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) that he has already collected more than a hundred thousand photos since he started to learn taking pictures.
He narrated how he started his hobby. "When I was about 8 years old. My mom had a camera na pinapagamit niya sa akin. Then, when I was working already in 1987, I bought my first SLR [single lens reflex] camera. Film pa noon, then doon na nagsimula 'yon."
With so many pictures to choose from, how did Richard select the ones which will be shown to public?
"We looked for a theme," the Codename: Asero actor answered. "Then, while looking at the pictures, we came up with a theme. The theme became the pictures in my travels, so most of these shots are from my travels."
While he was showing his works, Richard told PEP that his favorites are the series he shot from Boracay and New York City.
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MANILA -- THIS October, tubby Kim Sam Soon gives way to gender bender "Lalola." Starting October 13, weeknights will be filled with fun, laughter and tears as GMA-7’s introduces the newest romantic-comedy/fantasydrama on Philippine TV – the hottest and award-winning Argentine telenovela in the world – "Lalola." It has been sold to more than 60 countries after its first broadcast last year in Argentina.
"Lalola" is an award-winning adaptation of Argentine TV series produced by Dori Media Group. At the recently concluded 38th Martin Fierro TV Awards, it garnered the best comedy, best script, best director, best actor and best actress awards.
The local version promises to be just as zany and as touching as the original. GMA- 7’s adaptation is situated in the corporate world and unveils the funny story of a womanizer and heartbreaker named Lalo (Wendell Ramos), the president of the most successful brewery in the country Distelleria Lobregat and Manila’s most eligible bachelor. He will get a dose of his own medicine when he is turned into a gorgeous woman (Rhian Ramos) by his ex-girlfriend’s (Jewel Miche) vengeful sister, Sera (Iza Calzado), who happens to be a sorceress. A kiss from Sera triggers the spell trapping Lalo in a woman’s body. Since nobody will believe his transformation, he has no choice but to pass himself off as someone else.
"Lalola’s" funny and hilarious situations as well as heartwarming scenes begin when Lalo enters the company and introduces himself as Lola, his girlfriend. Although lovely and witty, Lola must battle against all odds to prove herself equal to boys and even endure the same kind of harassment and chauvinism Lalo used to inflict on girls.
As if being locked in a woman’s body is not enough, Lalo/Lola will realize as days pass that she is becoming more and more effeminate and even finds himself/herself drawn to the irresistible charms of Facundo (JC De Vera), the vice president for marketing and public relations of Distilleria Lobregat and the complete opposite of Lalo.
A grand launch – proof that GMA is giving its all-out support to the debutante Rhian –was given for "Lalola" at the posh La Dolce bar along Morato in Quezon City. The glittery cast includes Marvin Agustin, Angelika dela Cruz, JayR, Jackielou Blanco, Kempee de Leon, Eula Valdez, Lovi Poe, Marky Cielo, Gladys Reyes, Sheena Halili, Patricia Ysmael, Yul Servo and Eddie Garcia.
Dominic Zapata and Jun Lana direct the project. (MNS)
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MANILA -- Teen heartthrob Sam Concepcion celebrates his 16th birthday through a major solo concert titled "I’ll Find Your Heart" at the Music Museum on October 18, Saturday, 8 p.m. Sam is dedicating this special occasion to all his fans.
"This is really for them, especially the Samsters," he says. "It’s like my way of saying thank you for all the support that they’ve given me ever since I started in show biz. They’ve always been there for me.
"I never really dreamed of becoming a singer or an actor," Sam declares. "Even when I was just a kid, I’d just sing or dance. I didn’t expect any of these to happen but they just did. So I consider them as blessings."
That’s why on his 16th birthday, he is sharing these gifts with other people.
"That’s how blessings come," Sam continues, "by giving it back to the One who gave it to you and by sharing these talents with others."
The concert will actually feature the many facets of Sam’s character and showcase what he has already achieved as an artist through the years. He will be singing a variety of songs that will include some singles from his album, theme songs of the TV series that he has done, contemporary, pop and novelty songs.
Expect Sam to sing his remake of "Even If," for instance. "Even If" is extra special for Sam since this is his first carrier single and it became an instant hit with the help of his supporters. However, Sam finds it difficult to single out a song as his favorite for he listens to a wide range of genre and artists.
"Sometimes you find a musical element that’s beautiful in this song, and sometimes in another," Sam explains, "so I can’t really pick one and say that this is my favorite."
This is also reflected in the different artists that he emulates, which include Gary Valenciano, Christian Bautista, Billy Crawford, Justin Timberlake, and Michael Jackson to name a few.
Sam will also perform selected numbers from stage musicals "Footloose" and "High School Musical" where he will be singing with Cheska Ortega, his love interest in the soap "I Love Betty La Fea."
On October 18, Sam will also be joined by "Pinoy Dream Academy’s" Iñaki Ting and Bea Muñoz, 24 Beat Dancers, Fairground band and other surprise guests. (MNS)
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