Pilipinas Got Talent Season 2: Rico, The Magician

Pilipinas Got Talent Season 2: Brian Brady - Tagalog/Ilocano Speaking American Singer

SEAIR Now Flies To Hong Kong

South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR) announced that it will fly to Hong Kong from its hub in Clark, Pampanga daily starting March 14, 2011.

The local carrier is offering one-way tickets for the new route at P1,500 each, which are available for online booking until March 2 and are good for travel from March 14 to May 31, 2011.

"With our new Hong Kong services and additional routes to be announced later, we are excited to contribute even more to our country's employment, tourism industry and national economy," Avelino Zapanta, president and chief executive officer of SEAIR, said in a statement.

Seats are also marketed through Tiger Airways' Internet booking system. The local carrier has cemented a partnership with the Singaporean budget airline last year, allowing the latter to offer SEAIR flights to passengers.

SEAIR began mounting flights to Singapore in December last year using 2 Airbus A319 aircraft leased from Tiger Airways.

The airline is planning flights to Davao and Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam via its Clark hub in 2012.

Donaire TKOs Montiel in Round 2

Pinoy-American bantamweight boxer Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire knocks out Mexican opponent Ferdinand Montiel in the second round of their fight at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila).

In the first round, Montiel showed that he has experience and skills in the division by consistently evading Donaire's attacks.

Donaire kept being aggressive but his punches failed to land on Montiel.

In the second round, Donaire then played it down by accepting Montiel's attacks. The Filipino played with his improved defense and evaded the countering Montiel.

A minute before the round concluded, an energetic Donaire then powered a left hook to Montiel's face knocking him down to victory.

With the win, Donaire bagged the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization bantamweight crowns.

Donaire now ups his record to 26-1 with 18 KOs.

Watch the video here:

Fashion Designer Puey Quiñones Fashion Scam - A Career Suicide?

A certain “fashion scam” has been among the hot topics on social networking sites Twitter and Facebook this week involving famous fashion designer Puey Quiñones.

This was after ABS-CBN’s Trip na Trip host Kat de Castro tweeted 3 days ago a photo of a double-labeled beige suit.

The photo which de Castro posted had a caption which reads: “The designer asked 30k for this suit. Pero bakit may Dansen tag? Sa SM ito di ba? Napeke kaya yung friend ko?”

According to the story by Kae Pickrell on StyleBible.Ph on Thursday, Jhon Maala, who happened to be de Castro’s friend, ordered a suit from Quiñones for his upcoming wedding. After several fitting sessions, the suit was finally delivered to him. It costs P30,000.

Maala, however, found out that the suit that was delivered to him carried 2 labels: "BOBON by Puey Quiñones" and "Dansen."


Haute couture

Dansen is one of the brands carried by the SM Department Store, an anchor store of Sy-led SM malls that try to reach a wide market.

Quiñones, on the other hand, is one of the elite fashion designers in town whose boutique provides haute couture and custom-made designs that fashion-conscious individuals usually turn to to dress them up for important events.

De Castro, in another tweet, said her “friend felt bad because it’s for the wedding.”

A few minutes later, De Castro said: “Designer update: He asked my friend to give back the Dansen suit but also give him time to create a new one. Wow. Wedding's less than 2 wks.”


BOBON’s Official Statement

After the photo circulated in the internet, BOBON immediately released a statement regarding the matter.

In their official Facebook account on Tuesday, BOBON clarified that they are “not in any involved in the design, production or sale of the suit in the photo, or the affixing of the “BOBON by Puey Quiñones.”

The statement further revealed that although they have worked with various Filipino designers in the past, they have ceased using the “BOBON by Puey Quiñones” label in 2008.

“We have no knowledge of how the label “Bobon by Puey Quinones” ended up in the suit in the Facebook post as we have used every effort to reclaim and destroy these old labels. We are certain that this suit was not purchased by the owner from or through BOBON. All BOBON pieces are sold exclusively at or through the BOBON store at The Podium and we have no record of this transaction,” they added.


Puey Quiñones’ Statement

Meanwhile, according to StyleBible.Ph, Quiñones has already apologized to the couple in an official statement.

Quiñones said he “regret that all this happened.” He said he is sorry “for all the trouble that it has caused them (the couple).”

“I was simply pressured to create a suit and found a perfect blank canvas to develop. I know the entire situation could have been handled better but now it has just been blown out of proportion and affected so many others,” he said.

“To the couple who brought attention to this matter and to everyone else that have raised concerns over the quality of my service as a designer... I am sorry. I am doing all that I can to make sure that this does not happen again,” he added.

On Thursday, de Castro disclosed on her Twitter account that Quiñones vowed to give her friend a refund and that he already “went to another designer for help.”

Maria Aragon's Version of "Born This Way" Caught Lady Gaga's Attention

Another Pinay is recently making waves on the internet.

She is Maria Aragon, a 10-year-old Canadian-Filipina and is currently based in Winnipeg, Canada. Both of her parents are Filipinos but she was born in Canada.

Maria became known in the internet after Lady Gaga tweets a YouTube video of Maria's version of her new song “Born This Way”, last night, February 17.

Lady Gaga has over eight million followers in Twitter; hence, the information on Maria’s video quickly spreads in the web. In fact, Maria's video ranks No. 5 in the categories, Most Viewed (Today) and No.2 in Most Viewed (Today)-Musicians.


Maria Aragon - Born This Way:

Source: showbiznest

Help promote football among the Filipino youth ...WEAR YOUR AZKALS SHIRTS AND JERSEYS NOW

The Philippine Azkals' recent victory against the Mongolia Blue Wolves in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup has raised our confidence as a nation that we can be good in football too. With the Azkal's popularity among the Filipino youth now, there's a growing interest in the sport and hopefully in the future, we can produce more champions.

Team Azkals is actively promoting love for the sport and desire to raise more funds for this purpose.

The official "Azkals" shirts and jerseys collection were worn by fans at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod during the winning match. These official licensed goods, set apart from the different fan-produced shirts that have come out in the market, can now be bought by logging on to the authorized online store hub http://abscbnstore.multiply.com. The shirts will also be available in all leading department stores nationwide. Part of the proceeds will go to the Azkals and their campaign to promote the sport in the country.

The shirts which are available in white and gray are sold at P300 while the jerseys can be purchased at P500. Reservations and bulk orders can also be made through store@abs-cbn.com.

Be proud to be Pinoy! Support Azkals and their cause! Grab your official Azkals shirts and jerseys now by logging on to http://abscbnstore.multiply.com. These shirts are produced by Pump Apparel under license by ABS-CBN Licensing.

Coca-Cola's Secret Recipe Still Intact Even After 125 Years

Martinne Geller, NEW YORK - Coca-Cola Co said on Tuesday that its flagship cola recipe is still secret after nearly 125 years, denying a story by a public radio show that it has uncovered the formula.

"This American Life," a weekly radio program, said it found the closely guarded formula in an article in Coke's hometown newspaper, the Atlanta Journal Constitution, from February 1979.

A photo that appeared with the article shows pages from a notebook with a handwritten list of ingredients such as sugar, lime juice, vanilla and caramel. It also lists oils of cinnamon, neroli, coriander, nutmeg, lemon and orange.

The show, produced by WBEZ Chicago and distributed by Public Radio International, claims the notebook originally belonged to a friend of John Pemberton, the pharmacist who created Coca-Cola in 1886.

The book passed through various hands and eventually landed with Georgia pharmacist Everett Beal, who was an acquaintance of the newspaper writer, according to Beal's widow, who was interviewed by "This American Life" host Ira Glass.

Coke, the world's largest soft drink maker, denied that the formula is the same as the one for its cola, which is kept in an Atlanta bank vault.

"Many third parties, including 'This American Life,' have tried to crack our secret formula. Try as they might, they've been unsuccessful because there is only one 'Real Thing,'" said Coca-Cola spokeswoman Kerry Tressler.

The show said the recipe matched another one once found in a notebook owned by Pemberton, which is in Coke's archives.

Archive director Philip Mooney told the show that many similar, if not identical, recipes have surfaced in the past that claim to be the one for what has become one of the world's best-known brands.

"Could it be a precursor? Yeah, absolutely," Mooney told the show. "Is this the one that went to market? I don't think so."

Manny Pacquiao Meets US President Barack Obama

After his multicity tour to promote his fight on May 7 (May 8, Philippine time) against five-time title holder Sugar Shane Mosley, Manny Pacquiao, along with his wife Jinkee, went to the White House as special guests of US President Barack Obama.

Sen. Harry Reid, whom Pacquiao helped during the last Senatorial campaign, made the meeting between the two superpowers happen. It was a dream come true for the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter to meet with one of the world’s most powerful people.

The two traded barbs mainly about basketball and boxing, and perhaps a little bit about politics, Pacquiao being the Congressman of Saranggani. It would’ve been enlightening if Pacquiao had shared his take on how, during his fights, the crime rate in the Philippines goes down drastically and how he unifies a divided nation every time he’s in the ring.

Bags and bags of blue M&M’s chocolates with the presidential seal was given to Pacquiao, which is perfect because chocolates are some of the favorite “pasalubong” items of Filipinos. Paqcuiao also received a watch from President Obama adorned with the presidential seal. Pacman invited the president to the fight which is to take place in Las Vegas’ MGM Grand.

Pacquiao is poised to make over P600million pesos, which will definitely increase based on his share in the earnings from Showtime’s pay-per-view.

By Patricia Bermudez-Hizon
For Yahoo! Southeast Asia

FAC YOU MY FRIENDS

What do you think will happen if the most famous facebook collaborates with other giant social websites?

Guess?

Here - >

YOU'RE THE INSPIRATION

You know our love was meant to be
The kind of love that lasts forever
And I need you here with me
From tonight until the end of time

You should know, everywhere I go
You're always on my mind,
In my heart
In my soul

You're the meaning in my life
You're the inspiration
You bring feeling to my life
You're the inspiration
Wanna have you near me
I wanna have you hear me sayin'
No one needs you more than I need you

And I know, yes I know that it's plain to see
We're so in love when we're together
And I know that I need you here with me
From tonight until the end of time

You should know, everywhere I go
You're always on my mind,
In my heart
In my soul

You're the meaning in my life
You're the inspiration
You bring feeling to my life
You're the inspiration
Wanna have you near me
I wanna have you hear me sayin'
No one needs you more than I need you


HAPPY VALENTINE'S HoN.

ILOVEU!

Jollibee Online Delivery Group Blowout Promo

MECHANICS:

1. To join, simply log on to http://www.jollibeedelivery.com from now until February 28, 2011 and open/register a new customer account. Once registered, you are automatically included in Jollibee’s customer database and get a chance to win one of two Jollibee delivery group blowout package. Existing registered customers are automatically included in the raffle.

2. Make sure you fill in all details required in Contact Information, Billing and Preferred Home or Office Delivery Addresses.

3. To successfully register, delivery address must be valid and within Jollibee Delivery’s online current delivery area (Manila, Cavite and Pampanga only).

4. No purchase necessary to qualify for the raffle.

5. Prizes are four (4) sets of group meals good for 10 people each, which will be delivered to the customer’s registered home or office address at their preferred date and time. Set includes 1 bucket of 6-pc Chickenjoy, 1 bucket of 6-pc Chicken Barbecue, 10 orders of 39ers (either beef with mushroom, lumpiang shanghai or meatballs), 10 regular softdrinks and 10 peach mango pies.

6. Two e-raffle draws will be made on February 24 and March 1, 2011.

7. Deadline for the first draw is 12 MN of February 23, 2011 and the second draw, 12 MN of February 28, 2011.

8. Two (2) separate e-raffle draws will be held at the 10/F Jollibee Plaza, Emerald Avenue, Ortigas.

9. Four winners (two customers with a registered office delivery address and two with a registered home delivery address) will be drawn among entries from current and validated customer accounts on http://www.jollibeedelivery.com.

10. A registered account can only win once.

11. Blowout prizes are not convertible to cash and non-transferable.

12. Winners will be notified via registered mail and/or telephone number, based on the address and contact number provided when the account was registered. The name of the winner will be posted at the Jollibee Delivery website and announced on the "I Want Jollibee Delivery" Facebook page.

13. Prizes should be claimed within 60 days after receipt of registered mail. Customers will be asked upon notification, their preferred date and time of delivery of their blowout prize. Unclaimed prizes shall be forfeited and disposed upon the discretion of Jollibee Foods Corporation.

14. For purposes of validation, winners must present at least two (2) valid identification cards such as a driver’s license, SSS card, passport, school/company ID and other government IDs to the assigned store crew who will deliver the Jollibee products.

15. Employees of Jollibee Foods Corporation, its retailers, advertising and promotional agencies, including their relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity are disqualified from joining the promotion.

What You Should Know and Do on Valentine's Day

1. Make reservations early. Restaurants usually don't have an abundance of tables for two. We need to time to plan where to put everyone. You'll get a better table and we'll be prepared.

2. Don't propose. It's so cliché. But if you do, warn us first. We'll put you in the corner. Nothing's worse than a crying woman in the center of the restaurant. Trust me.

3. Since Valentine's Day is on a Monday this year, go out on Friday or Saturday. Most restaurants will also serve their special Valentine's Day menu on those days. Or go out for brunch! Then you can sleep the rest of the day.

Master Oil Control Max Facial Scrub for Men

Kapamilya hunk actor Jake Cuenca endorses the new Master Oil Control Max Facial Wash for Men.

New Master Oil Control Max Facial Scrub. It scrub off oil to the max. With bigger scrubs and mineral clay that instantly removes 95% excess oil. That's maximum control for men.

Philippine Azkals Wins Against Mongolia Blue Wolves

The Philippine Azkals made Pinoys proud when they carved out a hard-earned 2-0 victory over the Mongolia Blue Wolves in the first leg of their Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup qualifying tie at the jampacked Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City on Wednesday night.

Emilio "Chieffy" Caligdong scored the Philippines' opening goal in the 42nd minute while the second goal was scored by Phil Younghusband in the 92nd minute.

"Sobrang saya ko. Kung anong ibinigay na instructions ni Coach [Hans Michael Weiss], ginawa ko lang." said Caligdong.

German coach Hans Michael Weiss, who was tapped by the Azkals' management after the team's success in the 2010 Suzuki Cup, said the win has effectively sent a message to other competitors in the Asian level. "The Philippines is now in the competition." he declared.

The Azkals received a major morale boost from more than 18,000 Filipino fans who trooped to Panaad Stadium. Among those who witnessed the match were Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Peping Cojuangco and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Richie Garcia, whose sports agency helped install the additional light at Panaad so that the match could be televised.

Also present were ABS-CBN Chief Executive Officer Eugenio "Gabby" Lopez III, ABS-CBN Vice-President for Sports Peter Musngi, Batangas Vice-Governor Mark Leviste, former Commission on Elections (COMELEC) commissioner Gregorio "Goyo" Larrazabal and Negros Occidental Congressman Carlos "Charlie" Cojuangco.

Meanwhile, Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Mariano Araneta Jr. disclosed that President Benigno Aquino III released P3 million from his Social Fund for the organizational needs of the Azkals-Blue Wolves international football match.

Ex-Defense Chief Angelo Reyes Dead; Commits Suicide?

Former Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes, who headed the military from 2001 to 2003 and was recently accused in a high-profile congressional hearing of pocketing money from the armed forces, died this morning after sustaining a gunshot wound in the chest in an apparent suicide attempt.

Health Secretary Enrique Ona said Reyes was brought to the Quirino Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City at 7:30 a.m. with a bullet wound in the left part of his chest and was pronounced dead at 8:32 a.m.

Reports said Reyes shot himself in front of his mother's grave at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City. His wound reportedly came from a .45 caliber pistol.

Reyes visited his mother's tomb with 2 children and 2 aides at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City early this morning before the apparent suicide. He asked his children and aides to leave him at the tomb and then a shot was heard according to eye witness.

AOL - The Huffington Post Merged For $315 Million

The Huffington Post merged with AOL for $315 million ($300 million in cash, the rest in stock).

New Yor Times reports that Arianna Huffington will take the reigns of “AOL’s editorial content as President and Editor in Chief of a newly created Huffington Post Media Group.”

To quote:

The Huffington Post, which began in 2005 with a meager $1 million investment and has grown into one of the most heavily visited news Web sites in the country, is being acquired by AOL in a deal that creates an unlikely pairing of two online media giants.

Arianna Huffington said that as she began talking to Tim Armstrong of AOL, “it was really amazing how aligned our visions were.”

The two companies completed the sale Sunday evening and were expected to announce the deal Monday morning. AOL will pay $315 million, $300 million of it in cash and the rest in stock. It will be the company’s largest acquisition since it was separated from Time Warner in 2009.

HuffPo, which currently employs more than 200 people, will reportedly generate $60 million in revenue this year (last year, it pulled in $31 million).

Hayden Paris Perfumes Valentine Treat

This Valentine, Hayden Paris Perfumes offers a thoughtfully packaged gift idea with your choice of HAYDEN Fragrance + a box of Hazelnut Truffles sprinkled with Himalayan pink salt, exclusively concocted by Park Avenue Desserts only at a low price of PHP 880.

Find them at selected Hayden Paris stands at Trinoma, Glorietta, SM Megamall, SM Fairview, SM North EDSA and Robinson’s Galleria.

For special orders, contact 0917.575.6302 or email info@haydentm.com.

Is Your HEART BROKEN?

Your Heart Health: 13 Numbers Everyone Should Know

A long life free of heart disease does not come just from controlling the standard measures like blood pressure and cholesterol. Sure, keeping tabs on these indicators is essential to gauging your heart's health, but a few other numbers - some surprising - can be meaningful as well.

It's awareness worth having. The American Heart Association noted in its annual review for 2010 that while the death rate due to cardiovascular disease in the United States fell between 1996 and 2006, the burden of the disease is still high. More than 1 in 3 deaths was related to heart disease in 2006.

U.S. News consulted with cardiology experts to round up the target numbers you should strive for to keep your ticker in good working condition over the long haul.

1. Alcohol intake

Those fond of tipple may be dismayed, but the science on alcohol as an agent to promote heart health is just not definitive. "If you have heart disease, alcohol plays no role in your medicine cabinet; if [you do] not, alcohol is not the right way to reduce your risk," says Jonathan Whiteson, director of the Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Program at New York University Langone Medical Center. Some research has suggested that drinking red wine may increase one's HDL, or "good" cholesterol, but Whiteson notes that the boost is minimal. "Exercise [offers] a better increase in HDL," he says.

While he's not against a drink in a social setting, it's certainly not something folks—especially those with heart disease—should engage in with the idea that it will offer a heart benefit, says Whiteson. In fact, medications' effectiveness can be either hampered or heightened by alcohol, sometimes to a dangerous extent. (Common herbal supplements can interact with heart drugs, too). And drinking too much can lead to high blood pressure or increased blood levels of triglycerides, a type of fat.

Bottom line: The American Heart Association suggests that otherwise healthy individuals who drink should do so in moderation. That is defined as one to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. And be careful with that pour: The AHA defines a drink as one 12-ounce beer, a 4 ounce glass of wine, 1.5 ounce of 80-proof spirits, or 1 ounce of 100-proof spirits.

2. Salt intake

Some experts say that the pervasive use of sodium in the America diet is wreaking havoc on our cardiovascular systems. "Sodium causes retention of fluid within the circulation, and if you're sodium-sensitive, it expands your blood volume and can contribute to high blood pressure, stroke, and other heart disease," explains Clyde Yancy, medical director of the Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas and spokesman for the American Heart Association.

A report in the New England Journal of Medicine suggested that if Americans reduced daily salt intake by 3 grams, we could significantly lower the annual number of new cases of coronary heart disease (by between 60,000 and 120,000), stroke (by 32,000 to 66,000), heart attack (by 54,000 to 99,000), and even the number of deaths from any cause (by 44,000 to 92,000). The paper's authors noted previous research that showed the average American man consumes 10.4 grams of salt daily, while the average American woman gets 7.3 grams.

Bottom line: The AHA recommends Americans limit salt intake to 1.5 grams daily. Be wary: Sodium creeps in via unexpected sources, and it's not so much the salt shaker on our table that's to blame. Research suggests we get as much as 80 percent of our daily salt intake from processed foods.

3. Sugar intake

It's not just the savory flavors that'll get you; sweets, too, can ultimately become a cause for concern, says the American Heart Association. Like salt, sugar creeps into the processed foods that make up much of the American diet, and sweetened beverages—soda, juices, and sports drinks—are especially loaded with the stuff. Here's some disturbing math for you: A 12-ounce can of soda has about 8 teaspoons (or 33 grams) of added sugars, totaling about 130 calories. (A gram of sugar translates into 4 calories.)

A can of Coke or Pepsi, then, basically takes you to the AHA's new upper limit on the recommended amount of added sugar Americans should ingest on a daily basis. The association's primary concern is the number of excess calories that added sugars sneak into our diets and pile onto our waistlines, which can contribute to metabolic changes that increase the chances of developing a host of diseases.

Bottom line: According to the AHA, women should get no more than 100 calories per day of added sugars and men should stop at 150 calories per day.

4. Resting heart rate

How hard does your heart have to work—and how fast does it have to pump—to get oxygen-rich blood throughout your body? A lower number suggests your cardiovascular system is more efficient at doing this. Thus, a highly trained athlete can have a resting heart rate in the 40s, says Whiteson.

And while the research is still emerging on what one's resting heart rate predicts about heart disease risk, a picture is beginning to take shape. "There is certain evidence to support [the idea that] a higher resting heart rate is associated with heart disease," especially ischemic heart disease, he says, which involves reduced blood flow (and oxygen) getting to heart arteries and the heart muscle. This effect seems to be more pronounced in women than in men, but a study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health suggested that in women up to the age of 70, every 10-beats-per-minute increase in resting heart rate boosted the risk of dying from ischemic heart disease by 18 percent. In men, the risk was increased by 10 percent for every extra 10 beats per minute, and age didn't have an impact. The study also found that women who got high levels of physical activity were able to reduce their risk of death considerably, compared with those who did little or no activity. The same effect was not found in men, but the researchers suggest the results may have been skewed because men tend to overestimate how much exercise they get.

Bottom line: A normal resting heart rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. Check yours by finding your wrist's pulse, counting the beats in a 15-second period, then multiplying by four.

5. Hours of sleep per night

An overcaffeinated America seems to perpetually crave more shut-eye. And evidence is cropping up to suggest that a poor night's sleep is not only felt the next day but could have implications for one's heart over the long term. It is well established that sleep apnea, which results in numerous interruptions to breathing while asleep, is associated with stroke and coronary artery disease.

The reason is not clear, says Whiteson, but it's been hypothesized that people with disrupted sleep breathing have higher blood pressure overall because they don't get the restorative sleep that normally allows blood pressure to go down and gives the cardiovascular system a break during slumber. And a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that middle-aged people who got five hours of shut-eye or less a night had a greater risk of developing coronary artery disease than those who got eight hours. The clue was the beginnings of calcium buildup in their arteries, found by CT scanning long before the disease process would normally be picked up.

Bottom line: Get eight hours of sleep per night. Making it happen isn't easy, we know.

6. Exercise

You've heard it a thousand times over, and the message stays the same: Regular, heart-thumping exercise offers a multitude of health benefits, particularly for cardiovascular fitness. Perhaps clinicians (and health writers) keep bashing us over the head with that fact because of the eye-popping number of American adults who reported getting zero vigorous activity in a 2008 Centers of Disease Control and Prevention survey: 59 percent.

Bottom line: For a clean bill of health, the major health associations (including the AHA and the American College of Sports Medicine) suggest a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week—say, brisk walking that boosts your heart rate. This translates into 30 minutes of exercise on five days of the week. Twice-weekly strength training of eight to 10 exercises, up to 12 reps each, is also on their to-do list.

Whiteson at NYU Langone Medical Center suggests that those who don't have heart disease should bump that recommendation up to 60 minutes a day, five days a week of vigorous activity, where you're breathing pretty heavily and sweating. But he offers a concession: "You can break it up" into, say, three 20-minute sessions per day, since "the effect of aerobic exercise is cumulative." He also thinks those without heart disease should do strength training thrice weekly. Individuals with heart disease should always discuss a new exercise regimen with a doctor first, he says.

7. Cigarettes

A 2009 study of Norwegians found that heavy smokers—those who puff at least 20 cigarettes per day—were 2.5 times more likely to die over a 30-year period than nonsmokers. But the cardiovascular risks associated with smoking aren't just seen in chain smokers.

The more nuanced message that doesn't always get across is the risk that the occasional smoker is exposed to. Even 10 minutes of secondhand smoke exposure may affect cardiovascular function. Just because you might not smoke a pack a day or even a week doesn't mean you're in the clear. "There is no safe level of exposure" to tobacco smoke, says Yancy.

Bottom line To protect against heart disease (not to mention cancer, stroke, and reproductive problems), the goal is to smoke exactly zero cigarettes.

8. Blood sugar

Over time, high blood sugar levels associated with diabetes can damage nerves and blood vessels. This can spur the buildup of fat on blood vessel walls, which can impede blood flow and promote atherosclerosis. Having diabetes increases one's risk of cardiovascular disease considerably. Three quarters of those with diabetes die of heart or blood vessel disease.

Your body's ability to use glucose (blood sugar) properly can be tested by getting a fasting blood glucose test, which is a snapshot of your blood sugar at the time, or by getting a hemoglobin A1C test, which measures overall blood glucose over the previous three months. Both can be insightful. "There is data to suggest that there is a significant decrease in the risk of heart and vascular disease with every 1 percent reduction in hemoglobin A1C," says Whiteson.

Bottom line: The more controlled, the better. The normal range for a fasting blood glucose test is typically less than 100 milligrams per deciliter; prediabetes is indicated by a level between 100 and 125 mg/dL and diabetes by a reading of 126 mg/dL or above. A normal hemoglobin A1C level is below 6 percent, and those with diabetes should aim to keep it under 7 percent.

9. C-reactive protein

Inflammation is a process our body uses to fight off an assault, like a cold or injury, in order to heal. But over the long term, chronic inflammation plays a detrimental role to health because the nasty byproducts—inflammatory molecules like cytokines—are believed to be part of several disease processes, including atherosclerosis, obesity, and Alzheimer's disease. In the realm of heart disease, much ado has been made of c-reactive protein, a marker for one's level of inflammation that can be picked up through a blood test called hs-CRP, for high-sensitivity c-reactive protein.

Who should get the test, and what are doctors to do with the results? Those are matters of considerable debate. "We can't treat high [c-reactive protein]," says Whiteson. It's an indicator of potential heart trouble, but medicine doesn't have the tools, via medications or procedures, to bring an elevated c-reactive protein down to normal. It is possible, however, to directly treat other critical risk factors like high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Doing so can bring down the risk of future cardiac events and death. A landmark study from late 2008 found that subjects who did not have heart disease and had normal cholesterol and who took statins had a lower risk of heart attack and stroke and also had fewer angioplasties and bypass surgeries over the course of the study, compared with the group who took a placebo. But too many questions remain about the study to make a blanket statement that folks should be taking statins more liberally.

Bottom line: According to the American Heart Association, a hs-CRP measure of 1 mg/L means you are at low risk of developing cardiovascular disease, a measure between 1 and 3 mg/L means you are at average risk, and levels above 3 mg/L means your risk is high. Getting the test may be helpful, says Yancy, if you are at intermediate risk for heart disease based on other risk factors and your doctors would like another data point to determine treatment. But "there is no need to check CRP if a person already has high risk or truly is in the healthy bracket," he says.

10. Waist circumference

While not a direct measure of heart disease, a high waist circumference tracks with increased risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes—all of which have a direct impact on heart health. And the bigger the belly, the heavier one tends to be. Obesity, of course, is a well-known risk factor for a range of diseases, including heart disease.

Importantly, a higher waist circumference indicates distribution of fat around the abdomen and packing fat around vital organs, which research has indicated is more dangerous than carrying weight in the thighs or buttocks. Be sure you're measuring properly. The correct waist circumference measurement is taken by wrapping a measuring tape around the natural waist at the belly button, not around the hips.

Bottom line: Men should have a waist circumference of less than 40 inches. The figure for women is less than 35 inches.

11. Body mass index

Your weight matters, but it has to be considered in the context of how tall you are. Body mass index takes the two numbers into account. Like waist circumference, BMI is an indirect measure of risk, but a higher measure correlates with greater risk. The catch, however, is that it is not always entirely accurate. A person in excellent condition who has a lot of muscle mass may have a high BMI.

Too much excess weight is associated with diabetes, heart disease and stroke, some cancers, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, fatty liver disease, and complications in pregnancy.

Bottom line: People with BMIs less than 18.5 are underweight. Target BMI range is between 18.5 and 24.9. Overweight is considered between 25 and 30, and a BMI above 30 puts you in the obese category.

12. Blood pressure

This one is critical to heart health. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, 1 in 3 Americans have high blood pressure. When a nurse wraps the cuff around your arm, she's taking a reading of the force on the walls of your arteries, which is subject to fluctuating pressure as the heart beats to push blood through your body. The trouble is, high blood pressure doesn't have any telltale symptoms, so a person might be living with hypertension unknowingly. Over the long haul, elevated blood pressure can damage organs and fuel a cascade of problems.

Action to lower blood pressure can include medications, but diet and exercise can really beat those numbers back into submission. The DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension)—high in veggies, fruit, fish, and whole grains but low in red meat fat and sugar—has been shown to lower blood pressure significantly. And research has suggested that the DASH diet packs an especially powerful wallop when people simultaneously work to reduce salt intake, a known blood pressure booster.

Bottom line: "The only number that really matters is 120 over 80," which is the cutoff for a normal blood pressure reading, says Yancy. The more one's blood pressure surpasses that level, the more damage to the vascular system, heart, and kidneys. The top number is called systolic blood pressure and is the measure of pressure while the heart beats. The bottom number is called diastolic and is the measure of pressure between heart beats. A reading above 120/80 but below 140/90 is considered prehypertension; anything above that is high blood pressure. Both require attention and steps to bring the blood pressure back under control.

13. Cholesterol

Your cholesterol level is a measure of the fats circulating in your bloodstream. With out-of-whack cholesterol levels comes greater risk for coronary artery disease and stroke. Reducing saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, and total fat can help bring down your cholesterol level. And exercise, says Whiteson, "is one pill that treats all ills. It can touch all risk factors for heart disease," including reducing weight, reducing stress, improving blood sugar profiles, bringing down high blood pressure, and lowering total cholesterol, lowering LDL (the "bad" cholesterol), increasing HDL (the "good" cholesterol), and lowering triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood.

Bottom line: You're aiming for total cholesterol below 200 mg/DL; above 240 mg/DL puts you at twice the risk of coronary artery disease as a person within the normal range. HDL should be above 40 mg/DL for men and above 50 mg/DL for women (women tend to have higher HDL before menopause); above 60 mg/DL is categorized as protective to your heart. LDL ideally should be below 100 mg/DL, though up to 129 mg/DL is near optimal. High LDL is considered 160 mg/DL or above. Triglycerides should be below 150 mg/DL; a measure above 200 mg/DL is considered high.

By Sarah Baldauf, USNews.com

Globe Tattoo SuperStick - 3MBPS on a Stick!

Tattoo Broadband announces Tattoo SuperStick, the fastest Internet stick that gives you online speed of up to 3 mbps.

Tattoo SuperStick is the most powerful stick to date, with speeds of up to 3.0 mbps

This all-in-one wireless modem/router can be shared by up to five people or gadgets within a 100-meter radius.

Much more than just a pocket-sized WiFi hotspot, the Tattoo SuperStick comes with free McAfee antivirus protection for one month and 200 free texts every month to Globe and TM. Yours for only PHP 1,299/month.

Tattoo Superstick is the latest offering in Globe broadband products, like the portable WiFi hotpot Tattoo MyFi, the USB-style Tattoo Stick, the speedy reliable home internet of Tattoo Wimax, and the lightning-fast Tattoo Torque, which powers homes with speeds of up to 100 mbps and truly brings the internet to life.

To know more about Tattoo Broadband, visit any Globe store, call 730-1000 or go to http://tattoo.globe.com.ph.

Who is Heidi Mendoza?

Her face is now splashed on news websites and newspapers, and mentioned in newscasts nationwide. Heidi Mendoza, former auditor of the Commission on Audit (COA), knew her days of living a quiet and anonymous life would come to an end as soon as she testified before the House of Representatives regarding anomalies in the military.

And so that quiet life did end yesterday as she spilled what she knew of anomalous transactions involving top generals of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Such a brave soul, this Heidi Mendoza is.

But who is she really?

On "The Rundown" last night on ANC, we were given a glimpse of this courageous woman.


A policeman's daughter

Mendoza is the daughter of a police officer, and is a reserve officer herself in the military with a rank of lieutenant colonel.

She finished her master's degree in national security administration in 2003 at the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP).

After graduating from the NDCP, she was asked by former Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo to investigate anomalies in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Heidi Mendoza (right) during her graduation at the National Defense College of the Philippines in 2003 with then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (middle).

She worked with the COA for more than 20 years and became an expert in fraud investigations of government transactions.

One case she audited was that of Atty. Zacaria A. Candao, a former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), who was found to have committed malversation of P21 million in government funds.

According to Mendoza, she was offered money and property just so she will drop the case. Mendoza stood her ground and refused the offer.

The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction of Candao in 2010.


Face to face with Garcia

At the committee hearing at the House of Representatives yesterday, February 1, Mendoza came face to face with former Gen. Carlos Garcia, the former comptroller who reportedly amassed more than P300 million in government funds and who now faces plunder raps.

Mendoza bravely testified before the committee about what she has discovered in the conduct of her audit, and said, "I appeared before this committee if only to tell our fellow Filipino people and the lowly soldiers that hindi lahat ng Pilipino ay corrupt, hindi lahat ng nagtatrabaho sa gobyerno ay naghahanapbuhay lamang at walang paninindigan."

She also testified before the Sandiganbayan for a total of 16 times even after she already resigned from the COA, pointing out that Garcia transferred money from the P200 million UN Fund kept in the AFP's LandBank account to a UCPB account in November 28, 2002.

Mendoza believes the money should have gone to ordinary soldiers.

"I took the responsibility of conducting an audit so as to give honor to the soldiers who with low salary are risking their lives in the defense of the country," she told the House committee yesterday.


A poet's soul

The task of running after corrupt government men is a serious matter and can be a bit frustrating. Lesser mortals would have given up in the face of disheartening trials.

Tough as she is, though, Mendoza has a soft side and revealed that she turns to poetry to vent out her frustrations and to encourage the common soldier.

In her poem "Sundalo Una sa Lahat", she called on soldiers to stand tall and stay true to their oath of service in the face of rampant corruption:

"Sa gitna ng tukso, pangungurakot H'wag kang manghina at manatiling nakatutok sa tunay na layunin"

And this is exactly what Mendoza is doing right now in full view of her countrymen.

By Karen Galarpe, abs-cbnNEWS.com

Concerts To Watch This Valentine Month

Here is a list of shows featuring local and foreign acts, that could help you properly plan your schedule and budget this busy Valentine month.

FOREIGN ACTS/PRODUCTIONS

• February 4: Janet Jackson Up-Close and Personal Tour Live in Manila @ PICC Plenary Hall, CCP Complex, Pasay City - Tickets from Php 3,100 to 15,504




• February 5: Kim Kyu Jong and Heo Young Saeng @ PICC Forum, CCP Complex, Pasay City - Php 2,000 to 6,950

• February 10: Trini Lopez @ Araneta Coliseum, Cubao, Quezon City - Php 530 to 3,700

• February 11: Yvonne Elliman, Stephen Bishop & Dan Hill @ Araneta Coliseum, Cubao, Quezon City - Php 530 to 4,770

• February 12: Deftones @ World Trade Center, Roxas Boulevard, Manila- Php 1,545 to 5,150

• February 13: Per Sorensen (Fra Lippo Lippi) @ NBC Tent, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City - Php 3,605

• February 17, 18, 19, 20: We The Kings, The Maine & Never Shout Never @ Ayala Malls, Makati City




• February 19: Taylor Swift @ Araneta Coliseum, Cubao, Quezon City- Php 530 to 12,680

• February 20: Yellowcard Live in Manila @ A. Venue Events Hall, Makati City - Php 1,800 to 3,500

• February 24: DJ Andy Fletcher (Depeche Mode) @ Republiq, Resorts World, Newport City, Pasay City

• February 26: Super Junior Live in Manila @ Araneta Coliseum, Cubao, Quezon City - Php 2,000 to 7,920




• February 26: Park Mi Kyung @ Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World, Newport City, Pasay City - Php 1,958.64 to 4,909.16


FILIPINO ARTISTS/PRODUCTIONS

• February 4-26: Orosman at Zafira @ SM Mall of Asia Centerstage, Pasay City - Tickets from Php 373.52 to 1,067.20

• February 5: ASAP Sessionistas 20.11 @ Araneta Coliseum, Cubao, Quezon City - Php 320 to 3,180




• February 12 to March 6: RENT @ Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City - Php 824 to 2,060

• February 12: Martin Nievera & Sarah Geronimo What Love Is @ Araneta Coliseum, Cubao, Quezon City - Php 400 to 4,000




• February 12, 19, 26: 2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition @ Seaside Boulevard, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City - Php 100 to 1,500

• February 12, 13: The Greatest Love Songs of Our Time (Kuh Ledesma & The Hitmakers - Nonoy Zuniga, Marco Sison, Rico J. Puno, Rey Valera) @ PICC Plenary Hall, CCP Complex, Pasay City - Php 420 to 5,250

• February 14: Piolo Pascual Meets Maestro @ PICC Plenary Hall, CCP Complex, Pasay City - Php 724 to 5,168

• February 14: The Company @ New World Hotel Grand Ballroom, Makati City - Php 2,575 to 4,326

• February 14: Christian Bautista @Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World, Newport City, Pasay City - Php 1,605 to 4,280




• February 14: The Balladeers (Erik Santos, Mark Bautista, Danita Paner + Ms. Pilita Corales, Ms, Carmen Patena and Ms, Carmen Soriano) @ Manila Fiesta Pavilion, Manila Hotel, Roxas Boulevard, Manila - Php 2,060

• February 15 to 19: UP Fair @ UP Sunken Garden, Diliman, Quezon City

• February 16: Double A: A Duo Piano Concert feat. Abelardo Galang II & Jose Artemio Panganiban III @ CCP Little Theater, CCP Complex, Pasay City - Php 824

• February 18, 19, 20, 22: 36th International Bamboo Organ Festival @ St. Joseph Parish Church, Las Pinas City - Php 200 to 600

• February 18-19: Malasimbo Music & Arts Festival @ Villa Malasimbo, Balatero, Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro - Php 1,545 to 2,060

• February 18 to March 3: Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah, Ze Muzikal @ CCP Little Theater, CCP Complex - Php 669.50 to 978.50




• February 19: The Joy Luck Club @ Onstage Greenbelt, Makati City

• February 1-27: Various Local and Foreign Artists, Various Venues: www.pijazzfest.com

KUNG HEI FAT CHOI!

KUNG HEI FAT CHOI!