Filipino-American Robin Lim named CNN Hero of the Year 2011

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Mother Robin, or "Ibu Robin" as she fondly called, received the CNN Hero of the Year 2011 award  in a ceremony at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles from Anderson Cooper.

Robin, a Filipino-American midwife in Indonesia, has been named as the second “CNN Hero of the Year” with Filipino roots. The first Filipino CNN Hero of the Year, Efren G. Peñaflorida Jr., won in 2009 for his Kariton Eskwela (pushcart classes) project that educates poor schoolchildren in his home province of Cavite. Now in its fifth year, CNN Heroes is a multi-platform campaign that spotlights on individuals who go to extraordinary lengths to serve others.

Lim  has been running her free clinics Yayasan Bumi Sehat (Healthy Mother Earth) in Bali and Aceh, Indonesia with other Indonesian midwives since 2003 providing free prenatal and birthing services for poor Indonesian women. They also provide training for young midwives.

"Every baby's first breath on Earth could be one of peace and love. Every mother should be healthy and strong. Every birth could be safe and loving. But our world is not there yet," Lim said during "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute," which took place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles and recognized Lim and the other top 10 CNN Heroes of 2011.

After being announced as the CNN Hero of the Year, a tearful Lim accepted the award from host Anderson Cooper and made an impassioned plea for help.

"Today on our Earth, 981 mothers in the prime of their life will die -- and tomorrow again and yesterday," she said. "And I'm asking you to help change that. We don't even know how many babies are lost, but all of us can help change that."

American Idol David Archuleta to Star in TV5 Kapatid Network Series

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International pop star and American Idol finalist David James Archuleta will be doing a primetime soap with the TV5 Kapatid Network.

In an  official announcement posted on its website, the Kapatid Network reported that David Archuleta will “do a primetime series with homegrown Kapatid stars Jasmin Curtis Smith and Eula Caballero.”

The Kapatid Network has aggressively been signing Philippine superstars over the past two years. Last year, they signed up the legendary “Superstar”Nora Aunor  and “Megastar” Sharon Cuneta. TV5 also earlier signed deals with, among others, actresses Ruffa Gutierrez, Maricel Soriano, Lorna Tolentino, and Alice Dixon, and actors Aga Mulach , Edu Manzano, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, and King of Comedy Dolphy for a variety of entertainment programs.

TV5 is doing its best to further boost its ranking in Philippine broadcasting network with the latest addition of American Idol star David Archuleta in the Kapatid Network. The TV5 ranks is currently the third biggest broadcasting network in the Philippines, next to ABS-CBN and GMA 7.

“The signing of an international star of Archuleta’s youth and talent, arguably in his prime, is bound to shake up the Philippine entertainment industry.”

Here's the video showing the happiness of David.

"Headed to the Philippines later today! I'll be arriving this week to start a new adventure in acting haha. I'm nervous, but also really excited to try this new experience. I'll be doing a mini-series for TV5 and will be filming in the Philippines for the next few weeks. Hope everyone has had a good start to their year and I'll talk to you guys when I arrive in Manila!" 

Get Your Heart On Tour: Simple Plan Live in Manila January 12, 2012

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One of the best Canadian punk rock band is coming back to Manila for a one night only concert January 12, 2012. Get your heart on Manila! Dayly Entertainment presents Simple Plan Live in Manila.

Ticket Prices:

Patron VIP - P4500

Patron - P3500

Lower Box - P3000

Upper Box A - P2000

Upper Box B - P1000

General Admission - P500

(+ 6% TicketNet Charge)

Simple Plan LIVE in Manila will be on January 12, 2012 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

Let there be Love - Simple Minds

The 17th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Festival February 9 to 12, 2012

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The 17th Philippines Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is scheduled for 9th to 12th February, 2012. The annual Hot Air Balloon Festival is one of the most popular events in Clark Philippines.

At least 22 hot air balloons, including some specially-shaped balloons from nine countries, will be the main attractions in this year festivities during the weekend of everything that flies.

Organizers of the Philippine Hot Air Balloon said the balloonists will come from United States, Finland, Sweden, Amsterdam, Germany, United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines.

The hot air balloon fest is one of the main sports-tourism attractions in Clark which is under the auspices of the Department of Tourism (DoT).

The event is expected to attract more foreign and local tourists this year as more than 100,000 tourists are expected to flock during the hot air balloon festival.

17th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta Schedule of Activities.

THURSDAY -  February 9 - FIRST FIESTA DAY

5:30-7:00AM           Opening Ceremony Hot Air Balloon Flight

7:00-7:30AM           Paragliding Exhibition

7:40-8:30AM           Ultra-Light Aircraft Formation Flying

8:30-9:30PM            Ultra-Light Bomb Dropping Audience

                                  Participation

9:30-10:00AM          Skydiving Exhibition

10:00-11:00AM       Kite Flying Exhibition

11:00AM-1:30PM   AOPA Light Airplane Balloon Bursting

                                 Competition

1:30-2:00PM            Sky Diving Exhibition

2:00-2:45PM            Aviation Flying School Fly By

3:45-4:30PM            RC Demonstration Flying

4:30-5:00PM             Paragliding Accuracy Flying

5:00-5:20PM             Ultralight Formation Flying

5:20-6:00PM             Hot Air Balloon Fly-In

FRIDAY - February 10  - SECOND FIESTA DAY

5:30-7:00AM            Hot Air Balloon Flight

7:00-7:30AM            Paragliding Exhibition

7:40-8:30AM            Ultralight Aircraft Flyby

8:30-9:30AM            Aerobatic Flight Display

9:30-9:50AM            RC Helicopter Show

9:50-10:20AM          Fire Fighting Exhibition

10:20-11:00AM        Radio Control Aircraft Flying

11:00-11:30AM        Skydiving Exhibition

11:30AM-12:30PM Ultralight Airplane Bomb Dropping

12:30-1:30PM          Choreographed Kite Flying Exhibition

1:30-2:30PM            AOPA-P Aircraft Flyby

2:15-3:15PM            AOPA Aircraft Balloon Bursting Competition

3:15-4:00PM            Aerobatic Show

4:00-4:30PM            Airplane Banner Towing Demonstration

4:30-5:15PM            Paragliding Accuracy Flying

5:30-6:00PM            Hot Air Balloon Flights

7:00 PM                   Aviators Ball

SATURDAY - February 11 - THIRD FIESTA DAY

5:30-7:00AM            Hot Air Balloon Flight

7:00-7:30AM            Paragliding Flag Flying

7:40-8:30AM            Ultralight Aircraft Flyby

8:30-9:30AM            Aerobatic Flight Display

9:30-10:00AM          Search And Rescue Flying Exhibition

10:00-10:30AM        Helicopter Maneuverability Flight Display

10:30-11:00AM        Sky Diving Exhibition

11:00AM-12:30PM Light Airplane Balloon Bursting Competition

12:30-1:30PM         Choreographed Kite Flying Exhibition

1:30-2:30PM           Ultralight Flying Display

2:30-3:15PM            Flying School’s Fly By

3:15-3:45PM            Skydiving Exhibition

3:45-4:30PM            Aerobatic display

4:30-5:00PM            Paragliding exhibition

5:00-5:30PM            Ultralight Fly By

5:30-5:45PM            RC Airplane Flying Demonstration

5:45-6:15PM            Hot Air Balloon Flight

6:45-7:30PM            Hot Air Balloon Night Glow

SUNDAY - February 12  - LAST FIESTA DAY

5:30-7:00AM           Hot Air Balloon Flight

7:00-7:30AM            Paragliding Flag Flying

7:30-8:30AM            Ultralight Aircraft Flyby

8:30-9:30AM            Flying school fly by

9:30-10:00AM          RC Helicopter Show

10:00-10:30AM        Helicopter Flying Exhibition

10:30-11:00AM        Sky Diving Exhibition

11:00AM-12:30PM   AOPA Light Airplane Balloon Bursting

                                  Competition

12:30-1:30PM           Choreographed Kite Flying Exhibition

1:30-2:30PM             Ultralight Flying Display

2:30-3:00PM             RC Airplane Flying Demonstration

3:00-4:00PM             Aerobatic Exhibition

4:00-4:45PM             Paragliding Accuracy Flying

4:45-5:30PM             Search and Rescue Exhibition

5:30-6:45PM             Hot Air Balloon night glow

7:30PM                     Crew and Awards Night Party

 A weekend of everything that flies! (Hot Air Balloons 2010)

How to get there: NLEX  / SCTEX

Take the North Luzon Expressway from Manila and continue past Dau toll plaza -- but do not take the Dau exit. Pull to the right and take the SCTEX on-ramp. From the SCTEX toll booth, take the southbound lane to Clark South exit. You will be entering Clark through the Yokohama complex. At the stop light, turn right into Roxas highway. The Balloon Fiesta will be to your right.

Look for the reference for a map: 

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...a38e78d6f803a5

Getting to the Clark Special Economic Zone by car, take the North Luzon Expressway from Manila and exit at Dau, Mabalacat. Take a left turn towards Angeles City and right turn into Clark. On entering the main gate, proceed along Roxas highway and the Balloon Fiesta will be to your right. Car trips take about an hour and a half from Manila.

Enjoy everyone and have a wonderful balloon festival! 

George Tapan’s winning photo in National Geographic Photo Contest 2011

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"Into the Green Zone", winner in the Places category. A beautiful rainbow after the rain, into the green zone of the Palawan Islands. Location: Onuk island, Balabac Palawan, Philippines (© George Tapan)

Veteran Filipino photographer George Tapan wins top place in the prestigious National Geographic Photo Contest 2011 Places Category for his composition, Into the Green Zone. The contest was judged by National Geographic magazine photographers Tim Laman, Amy Toensing, and Peter Essick.

Tapan’s photograph “Into the Green Zone”with a rainbow after a rainstorm taken in the island of Onuk in Balabac, Palawan. It showcases the real beauty of the Philippines through the beauty of our beaches in Palawan. 
The photo has all the right elements. Tim Laman says Tapan “showed a perfect sense of timing and composition in the way he captured the two small human subjects in this beautiful scene, and that really made the shot.” Toensing notes that the photo “compellingly shows a sense of place” while Essick says “the photographer has documented a sense of style and flair."


The National Geographic Photo Contest is the most prestigious annual International Photo Contest capturing the beauty of the world through captivating imagery.  There were 20,000 photographs submitted by the best photographers in 130 countries for three categories: people, places, and nature. There is a winner in each category and an overall winner among the three category winners.

Congratulations George Tapan for winning the 2011 National Geographic Photo Contest 2011 - Places Category!

Visit : National Geographic