Toni Gonzaga, engaged na nga ba?

Toni Gonzaga on Sunday skipped “The Buzz” due to “something very personal” which she refused to disclose.

In a statement read by co-host Kris Aquino during the Sunday showbiz talk show, Gonzaga apologized for not being present even if she when she was supposed to celebrate her birthday in the program.

“I am very sorry. I know it’s my birthday celebration sa 'Buzz.' I’m very sorry but I cannot attend 'The Buzz' this Sunday. I love my 'Buzz' family so you will be the first people to know why. I’m just going through something very personal and I’m really sorry for the short notice,”she said.

While she is also clueless as to why Gonzaga missed the show, Aquino said she does not think the TV host is going through something sad.

“I don’t think she’s sad. Sometimes, something personal is something you like to keep private for a little bit. But she said tayo sa 'Buzz' ang unang makakaalam. Sa pagkakakilala natin kay Toni, she doesn’t like to burden us with problems. The fact na nakalagay doon na ‘I love my Buzz family at dito ko una ipapaalam,’ ang interpretation ko lang ay hindi ito malungkot na balita,” Aquino said.This then triggered some netizens to speculate that Gonzaga probably got engaged.

For someone as professional as Gonzaga, Aquino said the reason of her absence must really be something major and she is just hoping that she would share happy news when she gets back.

“Ka-text ko siya. Sabi ko, ‘Ikaw talaga naghanda ako ng gifts.’ Sabi niya, ‘Ate pasensya na. Promise next week nandiyan ako. Babawi ako ng bonggang bongga.’ Sabi ko I’m really just hoping na happy news ito. Tapos hindi na siya nag-reply,” Aquino said laughing.

Despite the speculations that her absence on “The Buzz” has caused, Gonzaga has yet to confirm whether she is indeed engaged to film director Paul Soriano, her boyfriend of over seven years.

Kamikazee, BUWAG NA!

After a fruitful 14-year journey, OPM iconic band Kamikazee will disband next year, the band members announced in a video on Sunday.

In the video posted on their official Facebook page, lead vocalist Jay Contreras said that the breakup was due to the members’ desire to explore their future outside the band.

“Nagdesisyon po kaming lima na ngayong 2015 ang huling taon na magkakasama tayo dahil gusto namin masubukan ang buhay-buhay sa labas ng banda, ‘yung mga trip na puwede pa namin gawing iba,” Contreras said.

Drummer Allan “Bords” Burdeos said the members were happy about the decision while denying it was due to any internal rift.

The members thanked their fans and asked them to continue patronizing original Filipino music.
Many netizens expressed sadness upon knowing the band’s decision.

The band was able to produce four studio albums in their 14-year run and are remembered for releasing memorable songs like “Narda”, “Huling Sayaw” and “Wala”, among other hits.

GUSTO NIYO BA MALAMAN KUNG ANO ANG SINULAT NI POPE?

THANK YOU POPE FRANCIS! MABUHAY KA!

Pope Francis' inscription on the Malacañan Palace guest book:

"On the President and people of this beloved land of the Philippines, I ask Almighty God's abundant blessings of wisdom, discernment, prosperity and peace. 16.1.2015. Francis."

MAHAL KA NAMIN SANTO PAPA

Pope Francis called on bishops, priests, and the religious in the country to “become poor” themselves and to combat inequalities that have become embedded in Philippine society.

In his homily before representatives of the Catholic community, Pope Francis said: “[The] Church in the Philippines is called to acknowledge and combat the causes of the deeply rooted inequality and injustice which mar the face of Filipino society, plainly contradicting the teaching of Christ. The Gospel calls individual Christians to live lives of honesty, integrity and concern for the common good.”

He said taking the poor away from the gospel is “not understanding the message of Jesus Christ.”
He said becoming ambassadors for the Church is to “reject worldly perspectives” and to “acknowledge our failings and sins and embrace the path of constant conversion.”

“The great danger to this, of course, is a certain materialism which can creep into our lives and compromise the witness we offer. Only by becoming poor ourselves, by stripping away our complacency, will we be able to identify with the least of our brothers and sisters,” he said.
He specifically asked young priests, religious to make the church a Church of hope to those trapped in injustice and on the brink of giving up.

CONFUSING PRESENTATIONS

In a political statement that could spur debates in the coming days, however, he also told the young to “proclaim the beauty and truth of the Christian message to a society which is tempted by confusing presentations of sexuality, marriage and the family.”

“As you know, these realities are increasingly under attack from powerful forces which threaten to disfigure God’s plan for creation and betray the very values which have inspired and shaped all that is best in your culture,” he said.

The Mass at the Manila Cathedral was the first Eucharistic celebration in his five-day visit.
A total of 2,000 bishops, priests, and religious met with Pope Francis at the Manila Cathedral, tagged as the country’s premiere basilica.

Manila Cathedral rector Rev. Monsignor Nestor Cerbo said it is the basilica of popes, with previous visiting popes holding masses there.

“It’s actually not the first, but it became a basilica in a special way through Pope John Paul II in 1981. He told then Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, ‘I will make this a basilica,’” Cerbo said.

Pope Francis started his homily with: “Do you love me?”
Before he could continue, those present made a resounding “yes”.
Chuckling, the pope thanked them and said he was only quoting the Bible

Kapwa Congressman pinagtanggol si Manny Pacquiao

MANILA - Some lawmakers rose to the defense of Sarangani congressman and boxing champ Manny Pacquiao after he was identified as one of two top absentee lawmakers of the House of Representatives in 2014.

Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez said Filipinos should be more understanding of the fighting congressman, saying Pacquiao's frequent absences is because he has to train for his boxing matches.

Pampanga Rep. Joseller Guiao, meanwhile, said if Pacquiao should be sanctioned, it should be done by his own constituents in Sarangani since they voted him into office.

House records showed Pacquiao and Negros Occidental Representative Julio Ledesma IV were present in only seven of the 70 session days from January 20 to December 17, 2014.

Former Senator Rene Saguisag earlier said the House of Representatives should consider suspending Pacquiao for treating his legislative work as a "hobby."

"The House should consider suspending Pacquiao up to the end of his term as he treats House work as a hobby or sideline," said the former legislator, who now practices law.

"If it is true that Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather will fight on May 2, 2015, it seems only proper for the House of Representatives to decide what it will do with someone contending for the title 'House Top Absentee.'"

Saguisag said being a congressman or senator means serious work and should not be taken lightly.
He added that if Pacquiao is serious about running for the Senate and even the presidency, then he should retire immediately and do his homework.

Malacañang releases list of 2015 holidays

There will be 17 public holidays this year, including eight long weekends.

By virtue of Proclamation No. 831 signed by President Aquino on July 17, 2014, 10 are regular holidays while seven are special non-working holidays for 2015.

Regular holidays include: New Year’s Day (January 1 – Thursday); Maundy Thursday (April 2); Good Friday (April 3); Araw ng Kagitingan (April 9 – Thursday); Labor Day (May 1 – Friday); Independence Day (June 12 – Friday); National Heroes’ Day (August 31); Bonifacio Day (November 30 – Monday); Christmas Day (December 25 – Friday); and Rizal Day (December 30 – Wednesday).
The special non-working days include: January 2 (Friday); Chinese New Year (February 19 – Thursday); Black Saturday (April 4); Ninoy Aquino Day (August 21 – Friday); All Saints Day (November 1 – Sunday); Christmas Eve (December 24 – Thursday); and New Year’s Eve (December 31 – Thursday).

The Edsa People Power Revolution anniversary celebrated on February 25 (Wednesday) will also be a special holiday for all schools.

This year, the public can anticipate eight long weekends: January 1 and 2, New Year (Thursday and Friday); April 2 (Maundy Thursday), April 3 (Good Friday), and April 4 (Black Saturday); May 1, Labor Day (Friday); June 12, Independence Day (Friday); August 21, Ninoy Aquino Day (Friday); August 31, National Heroes’ Day (Monday); November 30, Bonifacio Day (Monday); and December 24 (Christmas Eve) and December 25, Christmas Day (Thursday and Friday).

A separate Proclamation declaring national holidays for the observance of Eid’l Fit’r and Eid’l Adha will be issued after the approximate dates of the Islamic holidays have been determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar, lunar calendar, or upon Islamic astronomical calculations, whichever is possible and convenient.

Lahit may cancer "BEST SENATOR pa rin!"

Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago is still the senator who filed the most number of bills and resolutions among her colleagues, despite her battle with lung cancer.

 

As of 17 December, the last session day of Congress in 2014, Santiago has filed a total of 1,007 bills and resolutions.

She was followed by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada with 604 bills and resolutions; Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV with 307; Sen. Lito Lapid with 219; and Sen. JV Ejercito with 217.


Santiago has consistently been the Senate’s top performer since her election in 2004. She is also credited for sponsoring or authoring the following laws: Reproductive Health Act; Biofuels Law; Renewable Energy Law; Sin Tax Law; Magna Carta of Women; Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act; Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity; Cybercrime Law; Seatbelt Law; Exact Change Act; Philippine Standard Time Act; Motorcycle Helmet Act; Kasambahay Law; Anti-Bullying Law; Archipelagic Baselines Law; and Climate Change Act.

She meanwhile urged the passage of the following bills before her term ends on 2016: the Anti-Commercialization of Human Organs, Tissues or Parts of Living Persons Bill; the Anti-Epal Bill; the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill; Billboard Regulation Bill; Call Center Bill; Child Care Centers Bill; Certificate of Intention to Run for Public Office Bill; Clear Sidewalks Bill; Compulsory Teaching of Ethics Bill; Deceased Donor Bill; HIV and AIDS Bill; Magna Carta of Workers in the Informal Sector; Pthalate-Free Toy Bill; Special Education Bill; Magna Carta for Philippine Internet Freedom; and Whistleblowers Bill.

Among the 538 bills she filed in 2014 were proposals for the institutionalization of an age-appropriate curriculum to prevent the abduction, exploitation, and sexual abuse of children which are prejudicial to their development (Senate Bill No. 2339); stricter monitoring of bank accounts of politically exposed persons (Senate Bill No. 2438); part-time employment in place of retrenchment (Senate Bill No. 2470); and increasing court-awarded damages for death (Senate Bill No. 2513).
Santiago also filed resolutions urging the Senate to conduct inquiries in aid of legislation on the alleged Binay farm; projects by controversial Hilmarc’s Construction Corp.; the constitutionality of the Visiting Forces Agreement; and the series of abduction cases in Makati, among others.
As chair of the Senate foreign relations committee, Santiago presided over hearings on the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement and the murder of transgender woman Jennifer Laude. She also secured Senate ratification of important treaties, including the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA), and the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response.

The senator also participated in plenary debates on the Freedom of Information Bill. In November, Santiago delivered a privilege speech slamming the 2015 budget for its redefinition of “savings” and retention of pork barrel-like funds.

Santiago chaired the foreign affairs committee of the Commission on Appointments (CA) until the end of her term in the bicameral body in December. The senator’s committee was also the top performer in the CA, having secured the confirmation of more than 300 ambassadors, consuls, and other high-level officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs.

In July last year, Santiago announced that she had been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. She later revealed that she is in remission. But the senator said, “Only my body is sick, not my brain.”

CBCP Priest sholud live SIMPLICITY

 

Priests should observe discipline and simplicity in their life so that the gospel to the poor may "better glow" through them, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said yesterday.

In a circular, Villegas reminded the clergy that 2015 is the Year of the Poor and of Consecrated Life for the Church as willed by Pope Francis.

Villegas urged the clergy to return to their original reason for desiring to be priests and reminded them of their life in the seminary.
 
"We wanted to be priests, hence nothing was unbearable," he said. "Avoid as much as you can foreign travels and frequent recreation in expensive tourist destinations. Even if such are paid for by friends and family, it is best to decline and choose austerity and simplicity."

Villegas said luxurious recreation is disrespectful to the poor.

He said priests should avoid expensive vehicles and "loud colored signature shirts and pants."\

"To be simple is to be great in the eyes of God. The poor priest does not need to dress sloppy. We must give dignity to our vocation," he said.

Villegas said it is a "serious sin of omission" for a priest not to have a regular poor person to help whether for education, health or livelihood.

“It is a scandal for a priest to die a rich man. We bring to heaven only what we give away on earth,” he said in the circular.

He also exhorted priests to be honest in reporting to the Curia the financial condition of their parish or school.

There are no fixed rates for offerings for masses, confirmations, funerals, weddings and other sacraments, he said.

Villegas also told the prelates to be careful about what they keep in their bedrooms. “A priest’s room and a bachelor’s pad are exact opposites. Is the Lord our only companion in this sacred space of the rectory?”

He also told them to always give alms to the poor who come to them.

“If you have to make a mistake, make a mistake in being too charitable, in being too kind. There is no excess in kindness. We cannot outdo Christ in kindness,” he said.

Katrina Halili balik sa pagpapasexy

Ten years after she posed for FHM, Katrina Halili once again graces the cover of the popular men's magazine.

The sexy actress said in an interview with the magazine that posing for the cover was a great reminder that she should take more care of her body. “This cover is more of a reminder, hindi lang para ipakita sa iba, pero para sa sarili ko na rin—it's a reminder to take care of myself more," she stated.

Katrina also confessed that there was a point in time that she felt like she lost her self-worth. She also admitted that she truly missed working. "All the things I went through made me feel na parang ang dami kong ayaw gawin. Dahil sa mga pinagdaanan ko, dumating ako sa point na feeling ko wala akong halaga. Nawala 'yung self-confidence ko. But I realized that I need to work and I want to work,” she said.

Before going back into the limelight, Katrina made news recently with her breakup with singer Kris Lawrence with whom she has a daughter named Katrence Lawrence Halili Cadeida (fondly called “Katie”). In a recent interview with Push.com.ph, Katrina relayed that she has already moved on from the breakup. “Matagal na akong nakapag-move-on. Okay naman kami ni Kris. Desisyon ko na tapusin na yung sa amin kasi hindi na nagwo-work. Saka na-realize ko na madami pa pala akong gustong gawin sa buhay ko. Marami akong napabayaan at kailangan kong bumawi. Sira kasi ang diskarte ko sa buhay kapag may lalaki ako," she admitted.

Katrina said that she would be focused on taking good care of her child. "Kaya ngayon, no boys muna. Hindi rin muna ako magpapaligaw. Kay Katie lang muna ang focus ko at sa trabaho ko," she said.

Lebron James pahinga muna sa paglalaro ng dalawang linggo.

UMALIS - BUMALIK NGAYON PILAY!

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James is expected to out of action for two weeks while he receives treatment for a strained left knee and lower back pain, the National Basketball Association (NBA) team said on Thursday.

James, 30, was evaluated on Wednesday at the Cleveland Clinic where he had a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam and radiograph tests.

The team said on its website that the four-time NBA most valuable player will be treated with anti-inflammatories, rehabilitation, training room treatments and rest. 

James is averaging a team-high 25.2 points per game for the Cavaliers who have the fifth best record in the Eastern Conference at 18-14.