RP5 Banks a Win Against Kuwait

 

The RP Nationals won against Kuwait, 85-71 to claim another game victory in the 25th FIBA Asia Championship at the Tianjin Gym in Tianjin, China.  Powerade-Team Pilipinas was leading throughout the game with a comfortable 19 points lead in the 4th quarter stretch.

If China clinched a win against Jordan at 7pm today, the RP5 will avoid a possible confrontation with the Chinese. Then the Jordanians square off with the Philippines in a knockout quarterfinal match.

 

 

Cyrus Baguio led the RP team with 14 points while Asi Taulava finished in double figures with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

 

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Manila News Today: August 11, 2009

 

PGMA’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities (SAL)

 

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s declared net worth doubled from P66.8 million in 2001 to P143.54 million in 2008, which means 114% growth.  In comparison to the other presidents, that growth rate is quite massive.  The late President Corazon Aquino’s declared net worth grew by only 4.8% from 1989 to 1992.  Fidel Ramos’ was 34.2% during his term while Joseph Estrada’s was 7.2% from 1998 to 1999.

 

 

The President’s allies said that the growth in assets must have come from real estate and stock earnings.  

Malacañang claims that there are no irregularities in Pres. Arroyo’s wealth and denies that amassed wealth is from the government.

Note that the Statement of Assets and Liabilities is DECLARED.  Who checks the undeclared?

 

25th FIBA Asia Men’s Championship Update

 

Powerade-Team Pilipinas clinched its 77-70 victory against Chinese-Taipei yesterday after Willie Miller sunked a huge three-point shot.  The win is a good motivation going to a game versus defending champion Iran today.  In order to qualify for the knockout quarterfinals, Team Philippines must achieve at least one victory in its two remaining elimination round games.

 

 

Guiao is positive with the team’s chance against Iran if they continue the morale and shooting percentage from yesterday’s game.  Team Pilipinas sealed 15 of 30 three pointers with James Yap burying six triples, 3 in succession during the 3rd quarter, while Miller contributed five.  Another key element was RP team’s defense strategy that only allowed the Taiwanese shooters only one 3-point conversion in 15 attempts.

 

Games on Tuesday (Tianjin gym)
9 a.m. – UAE vs Kazakhstan
11 a.m. – Iran vs RP
2 p.m. – Kuwait vs Japan
4 p.m. – Chinese-Taipei vs Korea
7 p.m. – Lebanon vs China
9 p.m. – Jordan vs Qatar

The game versus Kuwait is scheduled on Wednesday.

 

RP 77 – Yap 23, Miller 17, Thoss 8, Pennisi 8, Baguio 6, Helterbrand 6, Raymundo 5, Dillinger 3, Taulava 2, Norwood 2, Aguilar 0, Santos 0.

 

Taipei 70 – Tseng 21, Lee 8, Chang 8, Lin 7, Wu 6, Chang TH 6, Tien 6, Wang 4, Su 2, Yang 2, Chen 0, Wu CL 0.
Quarters: 16-21, 33-35, 62-54, 77-70.

 

 

Pinoys Go Gaga Over the Lady

 

Tonight is the much-anticipated concert of Lady Gaga staged at Araneta Coliseum.  The tickets are supposedly sold out!  The concert produced by Ovation Productions is expected to seize an electrifying performance from Lady Gaga.  I’m not a big fan but if there’s one song that Lady Gaga can make me dance to, it’s “Just Dance.”  I loved it on the movie “Make it Happen” and it’s a cheer-upper when I hear it on the radio.

 

 

Lady Gaga Official Website

 

 

New P500 Bill Design

 

22-year old Revo Naval designed a P500 bill that features two democracy heroes, the late former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and the late former president Corazon Aquino.  The design was first posted on his site www.peaceloveandrevolution.com and soon newspapers caught up the bit.

 

Image Source: PeaceLoveandRevolution.com

Image Source: PeaceLoveandRevolution.com

 

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said they are now considering the possible design of a new P500 bill that might have the same concept, recognizing the contributions of the couple to national unity.  Lay-outs might be ready by October and if approved, the first batch of P500 bills with Cory and Ninoy’s images will be out early 2010. 

 

Meanwhile, Noy Noy Aquino, only son of the Aquinos, is open to running for a higher office if the need should arise.

 

 

 

 

Michael Jackson’s Doctor Investigated

 

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents and LAPD detectives searched the residence and office of Conrad Murray, each location a week apart.  Murray is Michael Jackson’s doctor who is believed to have given Jackson a lethal dose of anesthetic Propofol.

 

Propofol is used to induce unconsciousness in patients ahead of major surgery.  In hospitals, only a trained anesthesiologist is allowed to administer the drug under strict monitoring conditions.

 

TMZ.com reported that Murray had told police in an interview he gave Jackson Propofol via an intravenous drip.  The website reported police believe Murray may have fallen asleep while the drug was being administered, and awoke to find the singer already dead.

 

If Murray did inject Jackson with Propofol negligently, he can be charged with homicide.

 

The federal agents and police came to his office a week earlier with a search warrant seeking evidence for the “offense of manslaughter”

 

The LA Coroner’s office reported that the toxicology result is due by the end of this week.

 

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Michael Jackson Movie

 

A Michael Jackson movie could hit theaters by the end of 2009.  Rumor is Sony Pictures is willing to pay the 50-million dollar deal for worldwide rights.  AEG Entertainment, the company who owns the 80-hour material showing Michael Jackson rehearsing for his planned series of comeback concerts, had previewed the footage to different Hollywood studios.   The television rights are up for bidding at $10 million.

 

Kenny Ortega, the choreographer for the King of Pop’s “This Is It” concerts might direct the movie.  He is also famed for the hit film, “High School Musical.”

 

We’ve seen a few clips of the rehearsal footages but that’s only a morsel compared to what AEG has in their possession.  The footage released last July 2 showed the international pop superstar practicing a song-and-dance routine at Los Angeles’s Staples Center two days before his death.  The footage shows that Jackson had been in good health prior to the day he died.

 

 

Jackson was found barely breathing on June 25 at his rented Los Angeles mansion.  A final cause of death has not been revealed as coroners await the results of toxicology tests.

 

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Michael Jackson Memorial –Most Touching Moment

 

Millions of people all over the world stayed tune to the live coverage of Michael Jackson’s public memorial.  20,000 people flock to Staples Center, Los Angeles to celebrate the King of Pop’s life.  Family and friends of Michael Jackson remembered his contribution to the music and to the world.

 

 

Brooke Shields expressed her breaking heart as she remembered her younger moments with Michael Jackson, as well as Berry Gordon, founder of MoTown Records, Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant, Stevie Wonder.

 

The most touching moment for me during the memorial is when the whole family of MJ was onstage and Paris Jackson, one of Michael Jackson‘s three young children, and spoke about her late father.  With Janet Jackson on her side, she broke down saying that her father is the best father imaginable… her voice cracked as well as her heart when she expressed her love for her father. 

 

 

Growing up under shades, blanket, masks, Michael Jackson made efforts to protect his children’s faces from the paparazzi for more than a decade.  But on Tuesday, in front of an audience of thousands at the Staples Center and millions more around the globe, 12-year-old Michael Joseph Jr., known as Prince Michael; 11-year-old Paris-Katherine; and 7-year-old Prince Michael II, known as Blanket clutching a Michael Jackson doll, sat in the front row, taking in their father’s memorial service at Staples Center.

  

The ceremony’s significant spotlight was on Paris addressing the crowd while fighting back sobs.  She breaks down in public in remembrance of her dad as millions of fans’ heart mourned with her.

  

“Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine,” she said, her tiny voice cracking. “And I just wanted to say I love him — so much.”

 

 

Another tearful moment was Jermaine Jackson singing a song for his brother.  Viewers all over the world were stricken with emotion when the elder Jackson who was in tears performed his brother’s favorite song, “Smile.”

 

The group performed “We are the World” on the stage to honor Jackson’s role in bridging races.

 

Jackson sold an estimated 750 million copies of his album.  Only Elvis Presley and the Beatles are within this record.

 

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The Battle for Michael Jackson’s Estate Continues

 

Jackson’s public memorial is scheduled on Tuesday in Los Angeles, California.  Ticket winners started retrieving their passes to the Staples Center ceremony.  More than 1.6 million people registered for the free entrance tickets.  From the registered million, only about 9,000 names were picked.  The ticket allocation is two per person.  Email notifications were sent to the lucky fans that scored the hottest ticket in town.  Sadly, some were selling their much-coveted tickets on Ebay starting at USD 3,000.

 

 

The list of participants at the memorial includes Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, Kobe Bryant, Brooke Shields, Motown founder Berry Gordy, Lionel Richie, John Mayer, Usher, Jennifer Hudson and Martin Luther King III.

 

 

While the memorial organizers, Los Angeles police and Michael Jackson fans are busy in the upcoming public memorial at Staples Center, the battle for the King of Pop’s estate continues.  Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff ruled against the request of Jackson’s mother to be put in charge of Jackson’s estate.  The judge granted Michael Jackson’s longtime attorney, John Branca and music executive and family friend, John McClain to oversee the pop singer’s estate for now.  Based on the 2002 will that surfaced recently, Jackson wanted the two to administer his estate.

 

 

 

 

 

Jackson died June 25, deeply in debt.  But a court filing estimates that his estate will be worth more than $500 million.  His assets are supposed to be for a private trust.  Michael Jackson owned a 50 percent stake in the massive Sony-ATV Music Publishing Catalog, which includes music by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Lady Gaga and the Jonas Brothers.

 

Image Source dailymail.co.uk

Image Source dailymail.co.uk

The family also asked if Jackson’s mother, Katherine can co-administer the estate with Branca and McClain to ensure that there is no conflict of interest since the two also has involvement in Jackson’s other shares.  They also wanted more time to see if another would emerge and to accommodate Jackson’s memorial service.  The judge however denied the request.

 

 

The judge further grants Branca and McClain several powers over the estate, including the rights to negotiate a settlement with concert promoter AEG Live over refunds for Jackson’s canceled London shows. 

 

 

Michael Jackson’s life and legacy will be memorialized publicly at the Staples Center, Los Angeles, California.  People all over the world are organizing memorial services as well at their own locals to pay tribute to the King of Pop not only as a performer but bearer of a good heart.

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Michael Jackson Public Memorial

CNN will be featuring Michael Jackson’s public memorial LIVE at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

LIVE Coverage:                July 8, Wed, 12mn

Anchors:                               Anderson Cooper, Larry King, Don Lemon and Soledad O’Brien will be anchoring live from Los Angeles

                                                Campbell Brown and Roland Martin will be anchoring live from New York.

Extras:                                   CNN will also have live coverage of memorial events happening around the world. 

CNN Channel is available on SKY Cable.

Call SKY CABLE at 631-0000 for more inquiries.

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Returning to Neverland

Michael Jackson’s body will return to Neverland for public viewing on Friday.  A private memorial will follow on Sunday.

 

Fans gathered for a public tribute to Jackson at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, where the singer performed as a child.

 

Jackson died at age 50 June 25 after suffering cardiac arrest.

 

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The Man in the Mirror, Michael Jackson Dies at Age 50

 

Legendary music icon Michael Jackson was found dead at his Los Angeles home, Thursday. 

 

The King of Pop, the biggest celebrity world over, was suspected to have died of cardiac arrest.  The Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to a call placed around 12:30pm.  The responding paramedics performed CPR trying to revive the star (ET has an exclusive photo).  He wasn’t breathing when he was found and was immediately rushed to the UCLA Medical Center in LA.  The cause of Jackson’s death is still sparse and uncertain.  Some reports speculate that it might have been an overdose of prescription or certain substances.  Michael Jackson didn’t have any symptoms of cardiac problem or any heart illnesses and resuscitation would have been able to revive himThis sudden tragic death shocks all music fans and there is outpouring of sympathy for the loss of Michael Jackson.

 

 

Coincidentally, Jessica Zafra wrote in her column in the Philippine Star a Michael Jackson feature today.  On Larry King Live and Anderson Cooper, Michael Jackson’s friends sends their deepest sympathy, Quincy Jones, Randy Jackson, Sheryl Crow, Cher, among others.  Donna Sommer will dedicate her concert to Michael.  Madonna says he was one of the greats and truly an inspiration to her music as well.  I wonder how Macaulay Culkin and Chris Tucker feels.  They were pretty close to Jackson. 

Jermaine Jackson, Michael Jackson’s Brother, with a heavy heart faced media at a press conference releasing the cause of Jackson’s death.

 

 

 

Michael Jackson first rose to stardom in the late 1960s as the lead singer of the Jackson 5.  He was that little gifted boy with so much energy performing with the music group that he formed with his four older brothers.  Their famous hits include “ABC” and “I’ll Be There” that has so many renditions from other artists.

  

The 1982 album “Thriller” is the best-selling album of all time having sold over 50 million copies worldwide.  The much famed album includes top charters “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” and the most recognizable song to the world, “Thriller.”  Usher, Chris Brown, Justin Timberlake music are from Michael Jackson’s influences.

 

 

Jackson’s career started to tarnish with a series of scandals.  From his universal popularity in the 1980s, his stardom started to decline with a series of surgically altered appearance.

 

 

Michael Jackson popularized so many dance moves such as the moonwalker, pulling up the pants and the crotch-grabbing dance moves.  Justin Timberlake’s voice reminds me of Jackson’s high-pitched voice that is punctuated with squeals and titters.  He was the ultimate performer, if not the best dancer… King of all Generations and probably all genres for me… He was admired for his songs but Michael Jackson was also very instrumental in uniting Black and White together.  The soulful lyrics of They Dont Care About Us, Heal the World, Boogeyman, Man in the Mirror, Black and White transcends across nations.  Someone said that Michael Jackson’s death is like passing of an era.  I totally agree.

 

I am deeply saddened by the loss of the King of Music, Michael Jackson.  He was an all-out performer and has changed the music scene.  My bucket list includes watching a Michael Jackson concert.  I was so ecstatic to learn that he was doing a final run of concert series in Europe starting with London.  There were even talks that he might do one in Asia.  There are only three legendary icons for me, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson (and probably Beatles as a group).  The only female counterpart I can think of that is on the same level is Madonna (who is also in my bucket list of performers I want to watch).  They are the only artists that really made such enormous impact that shifted music landscape.  His legacy in the music industry and the inspiration his creativity brought will remain in music fans’ hearts generation after generation. 

 

Final Curtain for Michael Jackson

 

Michael Jackson Feat. Usher and Chris Tucker (Chris Tucker was super funny)

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They Don’t Really Care About Us Music Video (Prisoner’s Version) 

 

 

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Rest in Peace, MJ!