Monday, March 23, 2015

'Hot Cop' Neil Perez invades Bohol

Wake-uppers:
Former National Youth Commissioner
for Visayas Benjie Oliva takes his oath
 Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) administrator for Visayas before DOF Secretary Cesar Purisima.
SceneCongratulations to Benjie Oliva as the newly appointed administrator of Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) for Visayas. CDA is to promote the viability and growth of cooperatives as instruments for equity, social justice and economic development. Benjie, a former National Youth Commissioner for Visayas and administrative officer of the Department of Agriculture, took his oath before DOF Secretary Cesar Purisima.  
 
Scene Japanese engineering giant Chiyoda and Mitsubishi Corp. have signed a contract to build a new airport in Bohol, Nikkei reported. The two companies said construction of the new Bohol airport will begin shortly. The airport is expected to be completed in 2017.
 
Scene: Alexis Calipusan, the voice-a-like of Justin Bieber, catches the world attention.  The Huffington Post said that “This Girl Sounds So Much Like Justin Bieber, It's Scary.”  Taylor Trudon wrote “Press play on the video above and close your eyes. Think you're hearing a young Justin Bieber? It's actually the voice of 18-year-old Alexis Calipusan. The teen girl from the Philippines is giving the Biebs a serious run for his money with her identical acoustic cover of the radio hit "Baby." According to EllenTube, Alexis combined forces with her friend Cyril Cailing, to create Jam-C. The duo has also covered "U Smile" and even Ed Sheeran's "Thinking Out Loud."  Meanwhile, Seventeen said “This girl is Justin Bieber’s voice-twin- she sounds exactly like him when she sings. Seriously, you won't be able to tell the difference.”
 
***
Pageant watchers and entertainment lovers got the biggest surprise of their lives when Mister International 2014 Neil Perez (real name: Police Officer 2 Mariano Flormata Jr.) visited the province last week.
 
The "hunk cop" was in Bohol for Wedding and Beyond Magazine photo shoot in an exclusive resort in Panglao Island. 
 
Recently proclaimed Mister International 2014
 Neil Perez visits Bohol. More than with his looks,
he has his infectious humility and natural friendliness.
 
Courtesy: Raymund Isaac/Butch Bernas/Kit Solis/Ryan Sines
An instant crowd favorite, he also attended the birthday party of Rhigel Dulfo, founder-director of Ramp Models Association of Bohol (RMAB).
 
“He’s nice and very friendly,” said hairstylist Ryan Sines who had a photo opportunity with Neil. “He has a nice smile and very seductive eyes and... humot! We’re like so bagay Ha! Ha! Ha!”
 
Butch Bernas was also impressed on Neil. “He is handsome. A down to earth kind of person even though we had only a few time together with my friends. He is smart and has a good body physique.”
 
Neil’s manager and handler told Butch that they love the beauty of Bohol that Neil wanted to come back.
 
He also visited the Bohol Provincial Police Office to share his experiences as Mister International to his fellow police officers. He also talked about healthy lifestyle.
 
After winning the crown last month, Neil has been doing the rounds in his capacity as Mister International.
 
Here’s what you know about Neil Perez courtesy of Missosology:
 
His real name is Mariano Flormata Jr.

He is a graduate of Criminology at the Manuel L. Quezon University.

He stands 5'11''.

His hobby includes playing the guitar and doing some sketching.

He joined the police force in 2008. In his six years, he has gained 13 medals for showing excellence in responding to disasters and civil disturbance.

He specializes on bombs and explosives.

His father is a retired police sergeant assigned with the so-called Manila’s Finest, the Western Police District which is now called the Manila Police District.

You can spot him at Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport as part of the Aviation Security Group. 
 
***
It’s graduation season again!
 
Speaking of graduates, we have our own batch in the family: My nephew Charles Jade Pesquira will finish high school at Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School and my cousin Shiela Mae Aquino will graduate high school at Holy Name University-High School. Celian Janica Pesquira, a grade 5 pupil of Booy South Elem. School, is first honor.
 
It’s a déjà vu! Was it only yesterday when I myself graduated from elementary (Booy South Elem. School), from high school (University of Bohol-Day High School) and from college (University of Bohol)? That was ages ago, in nineteen-forgotten.
 
Graduation is a celebration of your achievement and marks the beginning of an amazing journey. I am sure parents and the whole clan are very proud of their graduates. Cases in point:
 
Youth leader and Booy Kagawad Clement Paulinel Ingking has finished Bachelor in Hotel and Restaurant Service Technology at the Bohol Island State University –Tagbilaran. He shares:
 
Photo shows Clement Paulinel Ingking in his graduation
 toga visiting the tomb of his mother Linda before the graduation rites
 last Friday at Bohol Island State University in Tagbilaran. 
Amidst all the excitement about Graduating and moving on to new things is an underlying fear. As much as I’ve tried to embrace changes in my life, change still makes me uneasy. Despite all of the changes that have occurred since she died last Oct. 15, 2013 - during the wrath of 7.2 magnitude earthquake, these changes feel harder. It scares me to know that I will no longer be surrounded by my family on a day-to-day basis, nor will I be in an environment I know. I’m worried that it will be easier for my memories of her to fade; I’m terrified I’ll begin to forget. 
 
As the years since my Mama’s death have grown in number, fewer and fewer of my friends are people who actually knew my Mom, and it scares me to think that moving on after college, and on with my life, will only make this worse. This, in itself, is a thought that has brought me to tears on countless occasions. 
 
Thus, I know and I believe that God has His own plans for me and that everything happens for a reason. I Love my Mama Linda so much and I owe my life and everything that I am today. 
 
Thank You so much Mama Linda! I LOVE YOU!
 
On the other hand, Fatima Mapesos, former staff of the late Rep. Erico Aumentado shares her excitement that Roland Sacristan, a scholar of the Aumentado family, has finished his Bachelor of Science in Psychology major in Industrial Psychology.
 
“It seems like it was only yesterday this young soul graduated high school. One day, he went to the office for a plea to Sir. He wanted to pursue college but his parents couldn't afford to send him to school,” said Fatima. “Somebody denied him at first but I told Sir about his ambition and his achievements. When you invest knowledge to people, you don't just give them hope but you give them a life, even a life for the lives of whom those that person is striving to lift for not just themselves.”
 
Roland is proud to say he was able to reap the harvest:  
 
Time travels fast. It seems like my 14 years in school only happened in a week-time. Monday- when I got to read and write my own name, Tuesday- when I learn to solve simple Math and speak good in English, Wednesday-when I got to meet my high school friends and became competitive in the world of academe, Thursday, I entered college and time flies too fast to finally come to Friday to mark my metamorphosis. Time indeed is magic.
 
Roland Sacristan has made through
all the storms and hurricanes in his college
life as a working student. 
Although, I will not be graduating with flying colors, I am proud to say that I made through all the storms and hurricanes in my college life by myself. I am proud that I am a working student and I am never ashamed to be such.
 
Of course there are always those people who came to support me. To name them all is going to lag your computer. I would like to express my warmest appreciation and gratitude to my loved ones, to my family, to the Aumentados, and above all to God.
 
For all the students out there who may struggle to finish college, keep these words: Dreams come true if you believe they are. Think of your dreams every single moment to keep you standing, to keep you from falling and to make you fly!
 
I love you God!
 
To all graduates out there, be the best of who you are, transcend yourself beyond your limits and reach for that star! 
 
***
Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.
 
 

 

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

G-Force member is a Bol-anon

Wake-uppers:
The hot weather in recent weeks is threatening
 the Malinao Dam in Pilar town. Several ricefields
 in Pilar, Mabini and other parts of Bohol have dried
 up as
 palay seedlings have turned yellowish green
 after almost month of no rain in the province.
 -LPU
Scene: From Fiel Angeli Araoarao-Gabin: Congratulations to Tagbilaran City Schools Division DepEd Tagbilaran's Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School, 2nd Place, Regional Population Quiz, out of the 19 school divisions from the provinces of Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.
 
Scene:  Following arrivals of high-profile cruise ships earlier this year, L' Austral with 264 passengers, arrived in Bohol on Friday.
 
Scene: With the onset of the dry season, the water level of the Malinao Dam in Pilar has lowered to a critical level. Farmers in Pilar, Mabini and some parts of Bohol have been suffering from the brunt of a dry spell and complained that their farmlands were getting drier every day. 
 
SceneThe general assembly of Bohol Nature Conservation Society (BONACONSO) is on March 28, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Café Business Hub or Ganoderma (between the Three Sixty Pharmacy and PMI Colleges) at CPG North Avenue, this city.  

***
You didn’t know that one of the members of the most popular dance group G-Force is a Boholano, did you? I first heard about it last week when I was in Cebu to accompany Alexis Calipusan and Cyril Cailing in their radio and TV guestings. Youth leader Gerwin Yudelmo of Inabanga asked me if I knew the G-Force. I got curious and interested when Gerwin said that one of the G-Force members is a Boholano.
 
Anyway, the Boholano G-Force is none other than Jim Olandres Amen from Guindulman.
 
“Jim joined the Mr and Miss Teen Bohol 2010,” shared Gerwin who is Jim’s friend. “He also received the Mr. Talent Award.”
 
Jim Amen is a member of G-Force, television's
most popular dance group today.-
GY
Jim went to Manila to continue his dream. He joined the TV5 Artista Academy in 2012. He successfully made it to the top 150 finalist out of 12,500 who auditioned for the artista search on TV.
 
Jim was hired recently to become part of G-Force’s Poppers.
 
“G-Force is a popular dance group. It aims to bring a variety of dance styles to everyone and that has progressed and developed their ability through attending G-Force classes,” said Gerwin. “The group regularly performs in A.S.A.P and other special projects of ABS-CBN.”
 
According to Gerwin, Jim can achieve great things in life.
 
“He devoted most of his life to his art. He always wanted to achieve more and grow with his dreams," said Gerwin. "Buotan jud na si Amen and down to earth gyud.”
 
Incidentally, the popular dance group G-Force will be holding a dance workshop this summer dubbed Summer Dance Glamping. This is part of the group's 10th year in the entertainment industry.
 
Jim will be teaching hip-hop dance.
 
The G-Force Project 2015 Summer Dance Glamping, HipHop with Jim is on May 4-8, 4 p.m.-6p.m.
 
Youth leader GerwinYudelmo (center) with
Jim Amen (left) and Mr Teen Bohol 2010 Vence Gallego.-
GY
For inquiries, you can call/text 0917.8GFORCE (0917.8436723) and 0998.52FORCE (0998.5236723). Visit  www.gforceofficial.com.
 
***
Why we shout when in anger
 
This beautiful story from Marietta Garcia (address unknown):
 
A Hindu saint who was visiting river Ganges to take bath found a group of family members on the banks, shouting in anger at each other. He turned to his disciples smiled and asked.

'Why do people shout in anger shout at each other?'

Disciples thought for a while, one of them said, 'Because we lose our calm, we shout.' 

'But, why should you shout when the other person is just next to you? You can as well tell him what you have to say in a soft manner.' asked the saint

Disciples gave some other answers but none satisfied the other disciples.

Finally the saint explained,

'When two people are angry at each other, their hearts distance a lot. To cover that distance they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the stronger they will have to shout to hear each other to cover that great distance. 

What happens when two people fall in love? They don't shout at each other but talk softly, Because their hearts are very close. The distance between them is either nonexistent or very small...'

The saint continued, 'When they love each other even more, what happens? They do not speak, only whisper and they get even closer to each other in their love. Finally they even need not whisper, they only look at each other and that's all. That is how close two people are when they love each other.'

He looked at his disciples and said.

'So when you argue do not let your hearts get distant, Do not say words that distance each other more, Or else there will come a day when the distance is so great that you will not find the path to return. They may end up in divorce courts, for instance.'
 
***
Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.

Saturday, March 7, 2015

Justin Bieber fever still burns in Philippines; Remembering Rebecca on her 5th death anniversary

•Justin Bieber fever still burns in Philippines 
•Remembering Rebecca on her 5th death anniversary
 
Wake-uppers:
Scene: On March 8, Boholano award-winning director Maryo J. delos Reyes will be bestowed the Ulirang Alagad ng Pelikula sa Likod ng Kamera Lifetime Achievement Award at the 31st Star Awards for Movies, as organized by the Philippine Movie Press Club, Inc. at the Solaire Casino and Resort in Parañaque . At the moment, direk Maryo is directing “Pari Koy,” a new series on GMA-7  that stars Dingdong Dantes.
 
Scene: March 9 is the 10th anniversary of the Mabini Food Poisoning. The incident killed 27 schoolkids and 100 were hospitalized.
 
***
The Justin Bieber Fever remains strong as the Canadian pop star turned 21 on March 1.

The Bieber Fever had an outbreak in 2009 and then remains.
 
Alexis Calipusan (2nd from left) and Cyril Cailing (extreme right)
after her performance on GMA Cebu’s Buena Mano.
 With them are (from left) Yuri, Cherryl Pelayo-Dacua,
 Alan Domingo,
 Lou-anne Mae Rondina and Fr. Dan Domingo delos Angeles. 

Courtesy: Jude Montejo
Obviously, Justin Bieber has millions of fans, but there’s one we know pretty well who might be one of the biggest fans of all-Jenali Alexis Calipusan! The voice-a-like of Justin Bieber just guested on dyrd’s Rampa Showbiz (hosted by veteran broadcaster Ped Bolanio and Glee Orcullo), Kiss FM (hosted by Robert James) and dyTR’s Showbiz Chikka (hosted by Inday Charity). But that doesn’t stop her from being a major voice-a-like of Justin Bieber when she had a head-turning guest appearance on GMA Cebu’s Buena Mano last Friday. She also guested on Barangay 99.5RT (hosted by Papa Marco) and on dyLA (hosted by Sanden Anadia). Alexis had to drop some appearances in Cebu due to a limited time.
 
Host Yuri said that Alexis is really 100% voice-a-like of Justin. “I have a Bieber Fever all over again!”
 
 “It was so much fun. Everybody there was so helpful, it was so humbling to be around them,” said Alexis.
 
JAM-C: Alexis Calipusan and Cyril Cailing
In her interview with Buena Mano, Alexis (together with partner guitarists Cyril Cailing) couldn't stop talking about Justin, saying, "Justin's is my idol since 2009!”

Alexis remains a Bieliber even Justin was landing in hot water a time or two because of controversies and had singing voice drop a good octave.
 
***
Friends and fans remember Rebecca del Rio on 5th death anniversary

Since her death five years ago, Rebecca del Rio’s fans and friends have said how they will remember her, how she meant in their lives, and the legacy she leaves behind.
 
Before Cheri Gil, the famous glamorous kontrabida today, there was Rebecca del Rio-Tushinsky who was from Sierra-Bullones town. Because she hit her peak in the ’50s, Rebecca del Rio may be a darling to baby boomers but perhaps a bit of a "stranger" to the new generation of movie lovers.
 
In 2008, Rebecca attended the wedding of her niece Demia Tallo-Salarda held in Baclayon Church. It was also a reunion of the Buslon family. Then in January 2010, she came home to distribute her vast landholdings in Bohol to her relatives and tenants in Pilar.  
 
Boholano actress Rebecca Del Rio
was the first Filipina to win the Asia’s best actress award.
Here are some trivia that should serve as introduction to Rebecca whose movies are, I’m sure, became very popular during her time:
 
•Rebecca del Rio was born Rebecca Buslon on January 31, 1929.

•She was the daughter of Judge Teofilo Buslon, former congressman (of the third district of Bohol) and Demeteria Buslon, a nurse, who was the first elected woman mayor in the Philippines. She was the sister of the late provincial lawmaker Socorro Buslon-Tallo.

• Friends and family relatives called Rebecca as Nang Nena.

• Rebecca was the aunt of fashion mogul Maximiel.

• Rebecca graduated at Holy Spirit School and she went to the Philippine Women’s University in Manila to study. She was discovered by Sampaguita Pictures.

• Rebecca del Rio was the first Boholano to become a star.

• She was typecasted as a glamorous kontrabida (villain) in movies and perhaps the most loved villain.
• Rebecca was the first Filipina to win the 1958 Asian Film Festival best supporting actress in the film Malvarosa. She also won the best supporting actress in FAMAS in 1958.

•She made numerous movies under Sampaguita (touted as the home of glamorous and debonair stars, Sampaguita Pictures, Inc. (SPI) was established in 1937 by then Rep. Pedro Vera and Judge Jose Vera with a circle of friends) and in 1955 she signed a contract to LVN Pictures and made her first movie Dinayang Pagmamahal aka Foolish Love, a Jaime de la Rosa and Charito Solis movie.

• Rebecca starred in some memorable movies such as Tres Muskiteros (1951), Mayamang Balo (1952), Hiram na Mukha (1952), Ang Ating Pag-ibig (1953), Cofradia (1953), Anak ng Espada (1953), Mister Kasintahan (1953), Vod-A-Vil (1953),  Musikong Bumbong (1954), Tres Muskiteras (1954), Pilya (1954), Milyonarya at Hampaslupa (1954), Dalagang Ilocana (1954), Sabungera (1954), Bondying  (1954), Kurdapya (1954), Lola Sinderella (1955), Bulaklak sa Parang (1955), Mariposa (1955), Dinayang Pagmamahal (1955), Talusaling (1955),  Luksang Tagumpay (1956),Laging Ikaw (1956), Cuatro Vidas (1957),Turista (1957), Rebelde (1958),Malvarosa (1958), Mr. Kuripot (1958); and Lollipops and Roses (1971).

•Rebecca married an American Sony executive Mr. Tushinsky and migrated to USA.

• She loved dogs. In the US, she had a dog named Hercules.

• Rebecca Buslon-Tushinsky passed away on March 11, 2010 in Canoga Park, California.
 
***
Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.