A Trip Down the Memory Lane: 7 Manila Churches during Visita Iglesia

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As a dominantly Catholic country, one of our practices every Holy Week is Visita Iglesia. Traditionally, Catholics visit around 7 churches to pray, reflect, and honor the Blessed Sacrament during Holy Week. The visiting of churches is done to commemorate the suffering of Christ, as well as to meditate and ask for penance. 

Here are churches within the Metro which you can visit this Holy Week:

1) Binondo Church 

Photo by Lawrence Ruiz - Own work, 
CC BY-SA 4.0,https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=51373004

Start your journey in one of the oldest churches in Manila. Binondo Church is also known as Minor Basilica of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish. It was built by the Dominicans and is located in Binondo, Manila. It became a place of worship to converted Chinese Christians back in the day when the trade between Chinese and Filipinos started to increase. Today, a number of Binondo dwellers and curious tourists still visit the parish. 

2) San Sebastian 

Photo by Geela Garcia

San Sebastian, also known as Minor Basilica of San Sebastian, boasts Gothic Revival architecture, and is the only steel church in the Philippines and Asia. The original structure was actually built using bricks, but because of a Chinese Filipino uprising which burned down the original structure, the current edifice was built to be fire and earthquake-resistant. 

3) Quiapo Church

Photo by By Judgefloro - Own work, 

CC BY-SA 4.0,https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49290514

Quiapo Church, also known as Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, is one of the most famous basilicas in the Philippines. It is because of the said-to-be miraculous sculpture of the Black Nazarene which was carved in Mexico and was burned on its way to the Philippines. Large numbers of devotees visit every Friday, edging their knees forward to the sculpture to ask for miracle and or forgiveness. 

4) Baclaran Church 

Photo By Ramon FVelasquez - Own work, 

CC BY-SA 3.0,https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25183238

The Baclaran Church is also known as the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help is one of the largest Marian churches in the Philippines. The shrine was established by Redemptionists when they began the novena in 1948. At first, only 70 people attended the novena, but after several sessions, the attendees doubled, and is now reaching thousands of devotees. Today, the church serves as home to many Marian devotees. 

5) San Agustin

By Patrick Roque (talk) (Uploads) - Taken using camera with model DSC-HX5V, CC BY-SA 3.0,https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61019655

San Agustin Church is one of the two religious sites inside the walled city of Intramuros, and is the Philippines’ oldest church. Built by the Augustinians, the structure was modeled after beautiful temples in Mexico. It boasts a grandeur in architecture, very rich and grounded to the Spanish colonial history. The building has its own museum inside, which features great artifacts about the Philippines’ cultural heritage. 

6) Manila Cathedral

By Patrickroque01 at English Wikipedia, 

CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61234185

Manila Cathedral is a neighboring church to the San Agustin Church inside Intramuros, and is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception or the Virgin Mary. Initially built as a simple parish back in 1571, it received multiple reconstructions after several calamities hit the city. The cathedral was then upgraded with LED lighting, advanced sound system, and carbon-retrofitted structural foundations which add a modern detail to its beautiful Roman stone facade. 

7) Malate Church

By Ramon FVelasquez - Own work, 

CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30755713

Last but not the least is Malate Church, also known as Our Lady of Remedies Parish. It follows a Baroque style of architecture and houses a statue that travelled from Spain-- it is of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, the patroness of childbirth. The small but beautiful house of prayer is also strategically located in front of Plaza Rajah Sulayman and Manila Bay. 

After a long day of Church hopping and driving around Manila, have a quick stopover and unwind at Century Park Hotel (CPH). Grab a soft and fluffy bibingka and hot chocolate at Cafe in the Park before heading back home.

Launched in 1976, the Century Park Hotel remains as one of the finest hotels in Manila. It is owned and operated by Maranaw Hotels and Resort Corporation and enjoys a mix of local and international patrons. The renowned establishment has over 500 rooms in varied types and facilities for a complete dining and leisure experience. To know more about Century Park Hotel, visit www.centurypark.com or contact information@centurypark.com.ph and telephone number: (632) 528-8888.

MADONNA AND MALUMA TO TAKE THE STAGE FOR WORLDWIDE TELEVISION PREMIERE PERFORMANCE OF “MEDELLÍN” AT THE “2019 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS”

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Global Superstar Returns to the Stage for Her First Performance of New Music on Television in More Than Four Years

Hosted by Kelly Clarkson, the “2019 Billboard Music Awards” Airs Thursday, May 2 at 8:00 AM on Blue Ant Entertainment

© Andy Lecompte

dick clark productions announced thatrevolutionary global icon Madonna will take the stage with Latin superstar Maluma for the worldwide television premiere performance of their brand-new track “Medellín” at the “2019 Billboard Music Awards.” Madonna and Maluma join previously announced performers BTS featuring Halsey, Kelly Clarkson, Lauren Daigle, Jonas Brothers, Khalid, Panic! At The Disco and Sam Smith & Normani, as well as 2019 ICON Award recipient Mariah Carey. The “2019 Billboard Music Awards,” with returning host Kelly Clarkson, will broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Thursday, May 2 at 8:00AM on Blue Ant Entertainment available on SKYcable channels 53(SD) and 196(HD), SKYdirect channel 35, Destiny Cable channel 53, and Cablelink channel 37, and will feature this year’s hottest musical acts, unexpected collaborations and buzzworthymoments.

Returning to the award show performance stage with new music for the first time in over four years, four-time BBMA winner Madonna last performed on the BillboardMusic Awards in 2016 with a tribute to Prince.Maluma will be making his BBMA debut. “Medellín” is the first track from Madonna’s highly anticipated 14th studio album Madame X which will be released on June 14.

Talent Billboard Chart Facts:

· Madonna

Queen of Pop Madonna has long been royalty on Billboard’s charts. The superstar was named the most successful solo artist in the 60-year history of the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, based on a special ranking to honor the chart's anniversary last summer, and holds the record for the most top 10 hits of all time among all artists on the Hot100 (with 38). Further, she also holdsthe record for the most No. 1s by anartist on any single Billboard chart (46 on the Dance Club Songs tally). Throughout her career, the Billboard Music Award-winner has claimed eight No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 (of 21 top 10s in total) and 12 No. 1s on the Hot 100. Further, shecontinues to hold the BillboardBoxscore record as the highest-grossing female touring artist ever, with over $1.3 billion earned from herconcerts.

· Maluma

Since Maluma’s Billboard chart debuta little more than five years ago, he’sscored 12 No. 1s on the Latin Airplay chart, a pair of No. 1s on the Hot Latin Songs chart, and has seen both of his albums hit No. 1 on the Top Latin Albums tally. In 2018 he scoredboth his first top 40 effort on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart, and hisfirst top 40 single on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 songs chart. In total, his catalog of songs have collected nearly 2 billion on-demand streams in the U.S., according to Nielsen Music.

“Billboard Music Awards” nominees and winners are based on key fan interactions with music, including album and digital song sales, streaming, radio airplay, touring and social engagement, tracked by Billboard and its data partners, including Nielsen Music and Next Big Sound. The awards are based on the chart period of March 23, 2018 through March 7, 2019. Since 1940, the Billboard charts have been the go-to guide for ranking the popularity of artists, songs and albums, and are the ultimate measure of success in music.

The “2019 Billboard Music Awards” is produced by dick clark productions. Mark Bracco, Barry Adelman, Kelly Clarkson and Robert Deaton are executive producers.

For the latest news on the Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs), exclusive content and more, be sure to follow Blue Ant Entertainment on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BlueAntEntertainment/, @BlueAntEntertainment on Instagram and @BlueAntEnt on Twitter.

STATE OF WORLD POPULATION 2019: Unfinished Business: the pursuit of rights and choices for all

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Despite remarkable achievements in the past five decades, much more must be done to break the barriers that prevent women, men and couples from fully exercising their reproductive rights and choices, says new UNFPA report released today

POPCOM Undersecretary Dr. Juan Antonio A. Perez III with UNFPA Philippines Representative Iori Kato at the turnover of the State of World Population 2019 Report, entitled “Unfinished Business: the pursuit of rights and choices for all”

The year 2019 is unique as it marks two important milestones in the field of sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights: 50 years since the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) began operations globally, and 25 years since the landmark International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo where 179 governments agreed on a call for all people to have access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including voluntary family planning, and safe pregnancy and childbirth services. UNFPA’s State of World Population Report 2019 traces advances in reproductive health on the anniversaries of these two important milestones.

These two events—the launch of the first United Nations agency dedicated to addressing population dynamics and the reproductive health needs of the world’s people with Filipino national Rafael Salas as its first Executive Director, and the declaration of a global commitment to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights—have fundamentally shaped the lives of women and families, and the societies in which they live, in the decades that followed. The revolutionary changes have been made in measurable and immeasurable, profound and trivial, permanent and fleeting ways.

Activists, advocates, government agencies like the Philippine Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) – which also celebrates its 50th anniversary this year - and UNFPA have jointly advanced the transformations that ordinary citizens see around themselves today and have helped tear down various and evolving social, economic and institutional barriers that women and young people have faced in exercising their reproductive rights over the past 50 years. As a result, more women today have access to the information and services they need to decide for themselves whether, when or how often to become pregnant.

Much has been achieved in the Philippines since 1969. The average number of births per woman was 6.0 in 1973. Today it is 2.7, even though the country has the highest total fertility rate in the ASEAN region. In order to reach the national target of 2.1 average number of births per woman under the Philippine Development Plan (PDP), the Philippines needs to step up its efforts. 

“UNFPA takes pride in having partnered with the Philippines and witnessed together so many remarkable achievements together in the areas of sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights in the last five decades. And yet, there should not be complacency. Much more needs to be done to empower those who are not yet able to enjoy their rights and whose choices are still constrained,” says UNFPA Philippines Representative Iori Kato. 

According to the 2017 Philippines National Demographic and Health Survey, about 17 percent of currently married women aged 15-49 have expressed intention to space or limit their children but are not using any method of family planning. Such proportion of unmet need for family planning services is highest among adolescents at 28 percent. 

The fulfillment of sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights is key to reducing poverty in the country. The PDP 2017-2022 contains a specific chapter on Reaching for the Demographic Dividend; this chapter emphasizes the fact that reducing fertility through increasing access for young people to reproductive health information and services is a necessary pre-condition for the demographic dividend to be realized. 

The Philippine Government is a champion of the ICPD and President Rodrigo R. Duterte is committed to ending the unmet need for family planning, reflected in the recently revamped National Program on Population and Family Planning (NPPFP) to accelerate the full implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act.

“The Philippine Government remains strong in its commitment to fulfill the promise of the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action, to put people at the center of sustainable development and to pursue the realization of every Filipino’s sexual and reproductive rights,” said Dr. Juan Antonio A. Perez III, Under-Secretary for Population and Development and Executive Director of POPCOM. 

To finish the unfinished business of the ICPD, governments, activists and stakeholders will rally at the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25 to be held on 12-14 November to sustain the gains made so far, and fulfill the promise of the ICPD agenda. Most countries, including the Philippines, need to build on the foundation of the past achievements to reach those who have been left behind and make sexual and reproductive health and rights a reality for all.

Facts and figures on the Philippines:

• Number of deaths of women from pregnancy-related causes per 100,000 live births: 121 in 1994; 114 in 2015 (SWOP, 2019)

• Modern contraceptive prevalence rate among currently-married women: 11 in 1973; 25 in 1993; 40 in 2017 (NDS, 1993; NDHS, 2017)

• Total fertility rate, or average number of births per women: 6.0 in 1973; 4.1 in 1993; 2.7 in 2017 (NDS, 1993; NDHS, 2017)

• Percent women 15-19 years old who have begun childbearing: 6.5 in 1993; 8.6 in 2017 (NDS, 1993; NDHS, 2017)

The fulfillment of sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights is key to reducing poverty in the country. Much has been achieved in the Philippines since 1969. The average number of births per woman was 6.0 in 1973. Today it is 2.7, even though the country has the highest total fertility rate in the ASEAN region. 

Website: www.unfpa.org/swop

Poised to give us a good scare, Fox produces its first local film “Maledicto”

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Fox Network Philippines’ first local film production, “Maledicto” - a horror movie showing on May 1 starring Tom Rodriguez, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Miles Ocampo, and Inah de Belen. 

Home to the most popular series and Hollywood movies, FOX is about to delight viewers yet again with their newest must-watch

Directed by Mark Meily, “Maledicto” (which means bad words like a curse or insult) is about exorcism, and written by Palanca-winner Jonathan Guillermo. Co-produced by Cignal Entertainment, Maledicto, is a chilling tale that will surely get under your skin.

A horror film where Tom Rodriguez play the lead role of Fr. Xavi, a priest to perform an exorcism on Miles Ocampo as Agnes, a student in a Catholic school who is under demonic possession. 

Jasmine's played in ‘Maledicto’ as a nun, as Sister Barbara, who is assigned to help a young and arrogant priest, Father Xavi

Tom said that his role, is not a conventional priest since he’s also a psychologist who becomes a skeptic after his sister, Inah de Belen as Mara, died under mysterious circumstances.

Fox Senior Vice President  and General Manager Jude Turcuato shares his excitement for the upcoming movie and share the bloggers / media , why they went into film production. 

Tom Rodriguez , Jonathan Guillermo, Palanca-winner and Jude Turcuato, Fox SVP  and General Manager

"Maledicto is a really big feat for FNG, being the first ever film we ve produced locally, with an all-Filipino cast. With Maledicto under our beit, we're hoping to elevate Filipino cinema to one of the Hollywood pedigree." 

“We’ve produced docus and sports shows before, but we also want to have our own scripted content properties, like what Hong Kong and Korea are doing now with their worldwide productions." 

“Our bosses in Los Angeles made us spend a week there meeting producers and attending shoots for their shows and they want to see if could do similar shows here. For the past two years, we read about 100 scripts submitted to us before finally choosing “Maledicto,” written by Palanca-winner Jonathan Guillermo. It was the best script given to us and we felt we can have a good shot with it. This is done in cooperation with Cignal and Unitel.” 

Turcuato adds, "we have always prided ourselves ㄺ creating ongnal content that would speak to our audience on a personal level, and I feel that Maledicto will do just that, because faith and belief are things that are innate in almost everyone. More than a horror movie, it is an invitation to look inside ourselves and assess what wo truy beleve in. We hope that this film will offer a fresh perspective." 

Inah de Belen shares her experience in doing the horror film Maledicto , photo with with  Tom Rodriguez , Jonathan Guillermo, Palanca-winner and Jude Turcuato, Fox SVP  and General Manager , during the recent blogcon.

The lead actors have also expressed enthusiasm on being part of FOX's first film, saying it was an opportunity to play roles that stray from the norm of romance and loveteams. They have happily accepted the challenge, and are excited to bring the characters to life.

The movie also stars Eric Quizon, Martin Escudero, Franco Laurel, Nonie and Shamaine Buencamino, Liza Lorena, Nina Ricci Alagao and Menggie Cobarrubias.

"Maledicto,” opens nationwide on May 1, distributed by Star Cinema. 

Sharon Cuneta's brother Chet runs for mayor in Pasay ..... aims to continue their father's legacy

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"I want to make the best of my life by serving the people of Pasay" - Chet Cuneta

Cesar 'Chet' Cuneta, aims to continue his father's political legacy, to follow in the footsteps of the late former Pasay City mayor Pablo Cuneta who served the city for 42 years under seven presidents.

Brother of Megastar Sharon Cuneta, Chet spent 33 years working as a pilot before being convinced to enter the political arena.

“I am a pilot, been one for 33 years. Didn’t plan this but was urged by the President in Davao. I am married to Michelle and have 7 children. I am 57 years old and hopefully, be full time in serving the people of Pasay," Ched introduced himself during the recent blog conference.

Chet's tagline now is “Bagong Umaga, Pasay Bangon Na!”

Chet proudly pronounced how he would do a better job than the incumbent. 

"I want to make the best of my life by serving the people of Pasay. My Dad had 42 years of service to the country, I have seen the need to run the city properly. Health Care, Senior Citizens, Education. Hopefully to build more hospitals because there is a need to do that, " adds Chet.

Chet said "I will make sure that all of Pasay's earnings will go toward making the city progressive, and will be for the benefit of the people."