Friday, January 31, 2014

World’s most popular cosplayer is Pinoy

Alodia Gosiengfiao

Alodia Gosiengfiao



Alodia Gosiengfiao (full name: Alodia Almira Arraiza Gosiengfiao) is enjoying fame as the world’s most popular cosplayer. She is, in fact, quite popular in Japan where the performance art is quite the craze among young people.


Further testament to the cosplay goddess’ popularity is her Facebook account, with 2.8 million likes.


Although already quite busy traveling foreign lands to attend various cosplay conventions and related events, Alodia was in town recently to perform in “Marble Wonderland” a Japanese cultural entertainment show held on Jan. 17, at the Movie Stars Cafe in SM Mall of Asia.


Alodia top-billed the show together with two Japanese dancers, Niina, who also goes by the intriguing handle 217, and Miume.


217 and Miume are figures of note from the so-called Akihabara culture who are now gaining popularity in video sites such as NiconicoDouga and YouTube among others.


“Marble Wonderland,” directed by popular New York-based Japanese director Junya Yamada — who has worked as dancer and theater actor in the Big Apple as well as Melbourne and Berlin — featured a cosplay fashion show, anime and other aspects of Japanese pop culture.


The show was a fundraising vehicle benefiting the the victims of killer Typhoon “Yolanda,” staged in cooperation with Girl Meets Girl project.


The items exhibited during the fashion show are now available in the Philippines through http://ift.tt/1fjqAKh, said to be the Philippines’ biggest online shopping mall, under the online shop name of Asia Kawii Way.


Alodia has been into cosplay and anime since she was little (It is said that she has been gaming since age 3). Starting in 2003, she has been invited to cosplay events around the world either as guest performer or as judge in competitions.


The former Animax Asia and GMA host was included in FHM’s list of 100 Sexiest Women twice. Last year, she was made cover girl of the popular magazine.


Since she gained popularity as a cosplayer, Alodia, who is also singer, recording artist and actress (she appeared in “Kimmy Dora and the Temple of Kiyeme”), has become a much sought after celebrity endorser.






World’s most popular cosplayer is Pinoy

Source: Mb.com.ph (February 01, 2014 at 03:22PM)

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James Yap laments not seeing son Bimby for a long while

MANILA, Philippines – James Yap hasn’t seen his son, James “Bimby” Yap Jr., for five months now.



James Yap laments not seeing son Bimby for a long while

Source: Philstar.com (February 01, 2014 at 02:28PM)

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Vhong’s friends, colleagues continually show their support

MANILA, Philippines - Friends of Vhong Navarro continually show their support to him through prayers, messages from different social media, and by visiting h



Vhong’s friends, colleagues continually show their support

Source: Philstar.com (February 01, 2014 at 02:09PM)

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‘Ilo Ilo’ star recalls hold-up attempt

Angeli Bayani

Angeli Bayani



Independent film actress Angeli Bayani is appealing for better police visibility in Manila after being involved in a hold-up incident along Harrison St. and Vito Cruz recently.


“Sana mas dumami ’yung mga tao dun na pwedeng rumonda,” she told “24 Oras.”


The star of the Singaporean film “Ilo Ilo” related that a man brazenly accosted her in a jeepney, threatening her with an ice pick while he tried to grab her bag.


Thankfully, Angeli was able to grab her attacker’s weapon.


Although unharmed, she wasn’t able to file a blotter report of the incident citing shock and distress.


Angeli, also a theater actress, played a Filipina nanny in the Anthony Chen-helmed “Ilo Ilo,” which won the prestigious Camera d’Or award at the 66th Cannes International Film Festival where it also received a 15-minute standing ovation during its Director’s Fortnight section premiere.


Oscar-winning director Ang Lee described Angeli as a “national treasure.”






‘Ilo Ilo’ star recalls hold-up attempt

Source: Mb.com.ph (February 01, 2014 at 02:36PM)

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GOT7 tops Billboard chart

GOT7 (JYP Entertainment)

GOT7 (JYP Entertainment)



New hip-hop boy band GOT7′s debut album has topped Billboard’s World Albums chart, less than two weeks after it was released.


GOT7 is a seven-member boy band under JYP Entertainment, which also manages 2PM and 2AM.


The group, composed of JB, Jr, Youngjae and Yugyeom from South Korea, Jackson from Hong Kong, BamBam from Thailand and Mark from the US, released their debut mini-album “Got It?” on. Jan. 20. It promptly landed at No. 1 on Billboard’s World Albums charts.


The album contains five tracks including the title song “Girls Girls Girls,” which debuted on the Billboard K-pop Hot 100 chart at No. 52 last week. It is at No. 36 this week.


Billboard.com has included GOT7 as one of the top 5 K-pop artists to watch in 2014.


“The multiracial group proved to be a YouTube force to be reckoned with as the music video for their debut track, ‘Girls Girls Girls,’ amassed more than one million views two days after its release,” Billboard said.


It added, “GOT7 is aiming for global stardom with members speaking multiple languages (English, Korean, Chinese and Thai), martial arts-inspired choreography topped off by their catchy, accessible Southern hip-hop sound heard in ‘Girls Girls Girls.’”


Other K-Pop acts singled out on the list are Henry Lau of Super Junior M, WINNER, Beenzino and Ladies’ Code.






GOT7 tops Billboard chart

Source: Mb.com.ph (February 01, 2014 at 02:33PM)

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Just married: Drew Arellano and Iya Villania

The newlyweds Drew Arellano and Iya Villania (Photo from Kim Atienza’s Twitter)

The newlyweds Drew Arellano and Iya Villania (Photo from Kim Atienza’s Twitter)



Television hosts Drew Arellano and Iya Villania have taken their nearly decade-long relationship to the next level by tying the knot in a private ceremony on Friday.


Drew, 34, and Iya, 27, exchanged vows in a wedding that ended at sunset of Jan. 31. It was held at Kawayan Cove in Nasugbu, Batangas.


The supposed “secret wedding” came to public attention in a series of Instagram posts by the couple’s friend, Paolo Valenciano.


Series of posts from Paolo Valenciano’s Instagram show ‘The beautiful bride,’ ‘last minute groom inspection’ and the ‘Best wedding sign EVER’

Series of posts from Paolo Valenciano’s Instagram show ‘The beautiful bride,’ ‘last minute groom inspection’ and the ‘Best wedding sign EVER’



Gary Valenciano’s son first posted a photo of a standee of the bride and groom directing guests to the venue. He captioned it: “best wedding sign EVER.”


Valenciano also shared a photo of Drew’s “Last minute groom inspection” before posting Iya’s walking-down-the-aisle moment.


Valenciano’s wife, Samantha Godinez-Valenciano, on the other hand, posted a photo of the couple’s wedding kiss.


“After 9 years ♥♥♥ congratulations @iyavillania & @drewarellano !!!! Love you both! #01i31d14 #iyavillania #drewarellano,” she wrote as caption.


Kim Atienza took to Twitter to express his best wishes for the newlyweds: “congrats! I am deeply deeply honored to be your ninong @DrewArellano and @iyavillania all the best!”


Guests who witnessed the event include Drew and Iya’s respective family and close friends.


ABS-CBN News reported that among the celebrity well-wishers were Bea Alonzo, Shaina Magdayao, Matteo Guidicelli, Iza Calzado and Nikki Gil. Jericho Rosales’ fiancée Kim Jones and Angeli Pangilinan were present as well.


Drew and Iya’s wedding kiss (Screen grab from Samantha Godinez-Valenciano’s Instagram video)

Drew and Iya’s wedding kiss (Screen grab from Samantha Godinez-Valenciano’s Instagram video)



A Kapuso and a Kapamilya, Drew and Iya celebrated their ninth anniversary as a couple in May last year. The two stars have kept their relationship out of the limelight, which they both acknowledged as the secret to their lasting commitment.






Just married: Drew Arellano and Iya Villania

Source: Mb.com.ph (February 01, 2014 at 02:30PM)

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Brands vie to stand out amid Super Bowl chatter

The number of football fans who tweet during the Super Bowl grows each year (AP)

The number of football fans who tweet during the Super Bowl grows each year (AP)



NEW YORK (AP) — If it’s on TV, it’s on Twitter, at least when it comes to blockbuster events such as the Super Bowl.


Advertisers, in particular, are ready to capitalize.


“What advertisers have realized is that Super Bowl advertising doesn’t just take place on TV, with your 30-second or 60-second spot that you paid millions of dollars for,” said Debra Aho Williamson, an analyst for research firm eMarketer. “You really need to have a broader presence.”


Last year’s Super Bowl, the National Football League championship game and most-watched event on U.S. TV, was interrupted by a 34-minute power outage — luckily, for one advertiser at least. Oreo seized on the opportunity and tweeted “you can still dunk in the dark.” It was retweeted and mentioned on Facebook thousands of times.


Every brand wants to be this year’s Oreo. Brands are setting up social media “war rooms” so they can respond to memorable events as they happen — be it another blackout, a snow storm or a wardrobe malfunction — with clever, retweetable quips.


Volkswagen has set up a studio in Los Angeles to create quick, catchy video responses, said Jennifer Clayton, media manager at the automaker. There will be about a dozen people in the room, from creative and production folks to community managers in charge of monitoring chatter on social media. Once a video is shot, it’ll be sent to Volkswagen’s lawyers for approval and, within 20 minutes, posted on Twitter.


“We are taking advantage of all the conversations going on out there and making it even more impactful,” she said. “We’re taking a 30- (or) 60-second spot and turning it into a campaign that’s multiple days and multiple screens.”


The game is a big day for Twitter, too. The company will have its own employees in the “war rooms” of some advertisers, helping them identify what people are tweeting about the most and helping them develop quick, clever reactions.


Beyond advertising, people will be conversing with fellow fans, using Twitter hashtags such as #Seahawks, #Hawks and #12s for the Seattle Seahawks and #Broncos, #Denver and #UnitedInDenver for the Denver Broncos. There will be #SB48 for the Super Bowl and #AdScrimmage to vote for your favorite Super Bowl ads. People have also created unofficial ones — such as #PotBowl — a reference to the fact that the teams hail from states that have legalized recreational marijuana.


Advertising, though, is where a lot of money is at stake.


For every Oreo, there are dozens, perhaps hundreds of tweets that fall flat, even if they were conjured in a room full of social media experts and marketers. During last Sunday’s Grammys, “a lot of brands tried to do it but only one stood out,” Williamson said.


That one was Arby’s. Singer Pharrell Williams showed up at the awards show wearing an oversized, puffy brown fedora. It quickly got its own parody Twitter account (with more than 18,000 followers), not to mention all the Twitter mentions. The fast-food chain known for its big cowboy hat logo quickly tweeted “Hey @Pharrell, can we have our hat back? #GRAMMYs.”


It went over well. Arby’s tweet got more than 83,000 retweets and a response from Williams himself: “Y’all tryna start a roast beef?”


“Brands need to have the perfect storm of the right opportunity, the right message and most critically, a relationship between your brand and whatever it is that you are trying to connect about,” analyst Williamson said. “If it’s forced or if (it looks) planned, it’s going to come across negatively.”


Admitting that the right moment may never come up, some brands are taking a different approach.


M&M’s marketers plan to use Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and the video-sharing app Vine to distribute short animated videos made from peanut M&M’s. The clips will include commentary from the legendary retired quarterback Joe Montana.


Seth Klugherz, senior director for Mars Inc.’s M&M’s brand, said in a statement that the brand is “not simply hoping to ‘win the night’ with a single post or tweet” but add to viewers’ experience throughout the night.


Elsewhere in candy land, Butterfinger plans to riff off its brand name, which is slang for someone who tends to drop stuff — such as a football.


“The idea of a Butterfinger moment, organically, the name of our brand will come up,” Butterfinger brand manager Jeremy Vandervoet said. “We can’t predict it but we’re going to be ready to respond. We don’t know how it will happen.”


Even without a blackout, Sunday’s game is likely to be the most tweeted, Facebooked and Instagrammed-about Super Bowl, simply because more people — and brands — are tweeting, Facebooking and Instagramming than a year ago. There were 2.8 million tweets about the 2011 Super Bowl. That grew to nearly 14 million in 2012 and more than 24 million in 2013.


Not wanting to be left out when it comes to public chatter about big events, Facebook recently introduced its own take on trending topics. The feature is starting to come to users in the U.S., U.K. and elsewhere. It lets users see what topics others are talking about, whether that’s the Super Bowl or their favorite commercial.


Still, Williamson said it’s still unproven how effective all this real-time marketing is. People might be tweeting about Oreo and Arby’s, but are they eating their cookies and roast beef sandwiches?






Brands vie to stand out amid Super Bowl chatter

Source: Mb.com.ph (February 01, 2014 at 01:30PM)

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Cyrus wants voice, not twerking, to be spotlighted

Miley Cyrus (AP)

Miley Cyrus (AP)



BURBANK, Calif. (AP) — Miley Cyrus wants you to concentrate on her voice — not her twerking — when she launches her tour next month.


“Ren and Stimpy” creator John Kricfalusi and contemporary artist Ben Jones have crafted videos to play during the 38 shows as Cyrus prioritizes singing over dance routines.


“When it’s such a visual show, I’m not going to get up there and dance because I’ve got to sing live,” Cyrus said in an interview Thursday night. “So it’s like to have things that people can watch other than me … not about me trying to keep up with choreography.”


The 21-year-old performer spoke at a rehearsal studio two days after performing with — and spanking — Madonna at her “MTV Unplugged” concert this week. She found the 55-year-old star a kindred spirit in displaying unabashed eroticism.


“I’m not trying to replicate her or be her, but we’re standing for a similar freedom,” Cyrus said. “It’s even easier for me than I’m sure it was for Madonna. So I think it’s going to get easier and easier, as generations go on, women are going to be more accepted to be free and embrace sexuality.”


Her North American tour kicks of Feb. 14 in Vancouver.






Cyrus wants voice, not twerking, to be spotlighted

Source: Mb.com.ph (February 01, 2014 at 01:26PM)

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Kanye West won’t be charged after attack claim

Kanye West (AP)

Kanye West (AP)



LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kanye West will not face criminal charges over an incident in which he apparently punched a man in a California chiropractor’s office.


Los Angeles County prosecutors declined to file charges against the rapper because he had reached a civil settlement with the man and there were no significant injuries documented.


A document rejecting a battery case says the 18-year-old man had used a racial slur in an argument with West’s fiancee Kim Kardashian on Jan. 13.


West was not arrested, and his attorney Blair Berk declined to comment on the prosecutors’ decision.


The prosecutors’ charge evaluation sheet says there were conflicting witness accounts about how many times West punched the man, but it noted that he wasn’t seriously injured.






Kanye West won’t be charged after attack claim

Source: Mb.com.ph (February 01, 2014 at 01:22PM)

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Bieber: latest child star battling (very public) fall

Justin Bieber (AFP)

Justin Bieber (AFP)



LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Justin Bieber is the latest in a long line of troubled former child stars to veer off the rails. The question now is can those around him save the teen from a complete train wreck? And if so, how?


A spell in rehab? A tough-love crackdown by his management or family? It remains to be seen if the latest brushes with the law will prove a wake-up call for the 19-year-old Canadian heartthrob.


“You have a teenager with unlimited funds, unlimited fame, and very limited mentorship/parenting,” said former prosecutor Michael Grieco, who is also a city commissioner in Miami Beach, where Bieber was arrested last week.


“I have represented my share of people that live in a world with seemingly no consequences, and it is very hard to get them to deal with the world that the rest of us live in,” he told AFP.


For those who follow Bieber’s antics closely, his arrest in Miami Beach and assault charges in Toronto – within the space of less than a week – are hardly surprising.


Tabloid media have for months chronicled his repeated run-ins with police and neighbors in and around the plush mansion where he lives in Calabasas, northwest of Los Angeles.


The singer has also found himself in trouble with authorities in Australia and Brazil for spraying graffiti. In Brazil, Bieber was photographed emerging under a blanket from a notorious Rio brothel.


But unlike similar America hell-raisers, the Canadian could in theory be booted out of the United States, where he has made his career.


On Thursday a public petition on the White House website passed 200,000 signatures, twice the threshold to merit an official response.


“We would like to see the dangerous, reckless, destructive and drug-abusing Justin Bieber deported,” it said.


That came after he was charged on January 23 with driving under the influence after police caught him allegedly drag racing in Miami Beach, Florida.


Then on Wednesday he was charged with assaulting a limousine driver in Canada, after turning himself in at a Toronto police station with a crowd of female fans screaming their support.


Bieber is following in the footsteps of the likes of Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, “Home Alone” star Macaulay Culkin, Demi Lovato and more recently “High School Musical” heartthrob Zac Efron.


Michael Jackson was another child star who patently struggled to make the transition to the grown-up world.


Bieber – a global star who has over 49 million Twitter followers — seemed to compare himself to Jackson last week, in an Instagram posted after he was charged in Miami.


The post showed Bieber in a dark hoodie, waving outside jail, alongside an image of Jackson a decade ago when the King of Pop was fighting child molestation charges.


“What more can they say,” read the caption. Media reports said Bieber’s father Jeremy – who split from the star’s mother when he was just a baby – was involved in the alleged drag racing.


‘Seen this movie before’

Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper said Bieber’s troubles can “be read as an indictment of modern permissive parenting; a cautionary tale about a fatherless upbringing in a single-mom home.”


And while young celebrities have always behaved badly on occasion, social media means that every mis-step is played out under an unrelenting public spotlight.


“If I were his manager, my temptation would be to just send Justin to his room for three months,” said Robert Thompson, a professor of pop culture at Syracuse University.


“The problem is… there’s 400 paparazzi outside his room taking pictures, not to mention he’s tweeting from his room.”


Grieco agreed, saying: “Twitter and other instant access social media outlets have contributed to a new type of celebrity frenzy, but the celebrities themselves are frequently large contributors to the problem.


“I would try to keep my client off Twitter and Instagram for a while and lay low.”


Celebrity news site TMZ reported Bieber wants to move out of his gated community — where Jackson’s family also lives — to an area where there are no “rules and regulations and nosy neighbors.”


Whatever happens, the story will inevitably run and run. “You couldn’t write a better drama. There is innocence. There is pathos. There is suspense. There is tragedy,” said the Globe and Mail.


Grieco said he has few doubts about how it will turn out. “Maybe Justin will surprise us, but if history has anything to say about it, I doubt it.


“We have seen this movie before.”






Bieber: latest child star battling (very public) fall

Source: Mb.com.ph (February 01, 2014 at 01:19PM)

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Katy Perry sets Twitter milestone with 50 million followers

Katy Perry (AFP)

Katy Perry (AFP)



WASHINGTON (AFP) – Pop star Katy Perry made Twitter history Friday, becoming the first person ever with more than 50 million followers on the microblogging website.


Twitter Counter, a service for tracking Twitter usage, said Perry had picked up tens of thousands of followers since Thursday, as she roared her way to 50,025,667.


Perry, 29, whose “Dark Horse” tops the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart this week, opted to say nothing Friday about her online achievement.


Instead she tweeted thanks to Madonna for having invited her to curate the pop diva’s Art for Freedom human rights project during the month of January.


Teen idol Justin Bieber dethroned Lady Gaga as the most-followed Twitter user in January 2013, but ceded the top spot to Perry in November.


On Friday, Bieber — due in court on Valentine’s Day over alleged drunk driving and illegal drag racing in Florida — had 49,230,470 followers, followed by President Barack Obama with 41,219,748.


Lady Gaga, in fourth place with 41,025,492 followers, made Twitter history when she became the first to claim 20 million followers — just under two years ago, in March 2012.


Perry’s current album “Prism” entered the Billboard 200 chart at number one upon its release in October. Her goth-themed rendition of “Dark Horse” was a highlight of Sunday’s Grammy awards.






Katy Perry sets Twitter milestone with 50 million followers

Source: Mb.com.ph (February 01, 2014 at 01:13PM)

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WATCH: Trailer of new Kim, Coco teleserye Ikaw Lang

Guests at the ABS-CBN trade event in One Esplanade, Pasay City got a sneak peek of the new Kim Chiu-Coco Martin teleserye "Ikaw Lang." The period teleserye set in an hacienda in the 1960s also stars Julia Montes and Jake Cuenca.



WATCH: Trailer of new Kim, Coco teleserye Ikaw Lang

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (February 01, 2014 at 01:02PM)

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Dante Ponce happy to be back

D

Dante Ponce



Dante Ponce launched his showbiz career in the ’90s along with other pretty-boy balladeers like Calvin Millado and Ariel Rivera.


Like Ariel and Calvin, the good-looking and talented Dante was predicted to be headed for stardom in no time.


However, Dante turned his back from show business and left for the US in 1993.


“I went to America kahit alam ko na mamimiss ko ang naumpisahan kong career kasi gusto ko maging responsible family man. Sa America kasi ako nag-asawa. Noong una bumabalik-balik ako dito to maintain my career. Pero mahirap so I decided to go full-time sa America.”


While in the US, Dante went into management and sales and he also established a photography business. He worked hard for his family. He and his wife, who is a doctor, have four children; the eldest 18, the second 16, the third 14 and the youngest 10.


Its been 20 years since Dante went to America, “Pero parang kahapon lang and I’m very happy na nakabalik na ako. While in America, doing various jobs, it’s always in the back of my mind to come back. It’s my passion for what I started – singing and acting – that kept that dream alive. Alam ko babalik ako sooner or later. And now I’m back! At dito na ako for good.”


Dante’s wife and children are very supportive of him and he’s very happy for that because without their support, he won’t be able to accomplish anything.


Right now, his wife is employed in Brunei, and Dante stays in Binan, Laguna with one of their sons. The two others are in the US pursuing their studies.


Before leaving for the US in 1993, Dante recorded one album under Alpha Records, appeared in sitcoms and drama shows. he also did one movie. “Even then, my career was going towards acting, although I started as a singer.The last drama series I appeared in was one with Ariel Rivera on Channel 2. And now I’m back, sa Channel 2 din.”


A week after Dante and family arrived in he Philippines in August 2013, he was given the role of Gen. Roger Barredo in the teleserye “Galema.”


Andi Eigenmann plays the title role of Galema and Gen. Barredo is her father. “My role is a good guy. The show is rating well, I think hanggang April pa kami. I didn’t expect my role to evolve deeper kasi when I was told na I’ll be playing a general sabi ko, hanggang kailan kaya? kasi ang mga sundalo ang unang casualties. Pero sabi ko, ok na yun. exposure naman ang hanap ko muna.”


He didn’t have the chance to prepare for his character because, when he arrived, “pre-casting na sila.”


He added, “So I was intimidated. Ka eksena ko pa naman sina Tito Lito at Tita Divina.”


Dante noted the changes in the entertainment arena.


“While before, concentrated sa movies, now sa TV na, sa mga teleserye,” he said.


He also noted the abundance of young actors in the scene. And although he wants to do movies too (especially indies, which has made its mark in international film festivals), Dante believes that TV allows for better exposure these days.


“Malakas talaga ang exposure sa TV. Yung role ko sa ‘Galema,’ it’s very interesting. My exposure is really fast. Wala pa ako six months dito, sa labas kilala na ako because of that show. It’s been so much fun so far, the production staff takes care of the artists very well.”


Dante is looking forward to do more shows like “Galema.”






Dante Ponce happy to be back

Source: Mb.com.ph (February 01, 2014 at 01:07PM)

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Katy Perry becomes first Twitter user with over 50 million followers


Katy Perry. (AFP)



WASHINGTON I Pop star Katy Perry made Twitter history Friday, becoming the first person ever with more than 50 million followers on the microblogging website.


Twitter Counter, a service for tracking Twitter usage, said Perry had picked up tens of thousands of followers since Thursday, as she roared her way to 50,025,667.


Perry, 29, whose “Dark Horse” tops the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart this week, opted to say nothing Friday about her online achievement.


Instead she tweeted thanks to Madonna for having invited her to curate the pop diva’s Art for Freedom human rights project during the month of January.


Teen idol Justin Bieber dethroned Lady Gaga as the most-followed Twitter user in January 2013, but ceded the top spot to Perry in November.


On Friday, Bieber — due in court on Valentine’s Day over alleged drunk driving and illegal drag racing in Florida — had 49,230,470 followers, followed by President Barack Obama with 41,219,748.


Lady Gaga, in fourth place with 41,025,492 followers, made Twitter history when she became the first to claim 20 million followers — just under two years ago, in March 2012.


Perry’s current album “Prism” entered the Billboard 200 chart at number one upon its release in October. Her goth-themed rendition of “Dark Horse” was a highlight of Sunday’s Grammy awards.






Katy Perry becomes first Twitter user with over 50 million followers

Source: InterAksyon.com (February 01, 2014 at 11:04AM)

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Pinky Amador channels Edith Piaf anew in pre-Valentine’s Day concert


Pinky Amador just being herself (left) and made up as Edith Piaf (right)



Fresh from her acclaimed performance as Edith Piaf in Atlantis Productions’ 2013 staging of the play, “Piaf” which recently won for her the Best Actress in a Play award from BroadwayWorld Philippines’ Theater Awards, Pinky Amador is paying tribute anew to the legendary French chanteuse in a pre-Valentine’s concert at Bar 360 of Resorts World Manila.


Simply called, “Paris Romance with Pinky Amador”, the show already had two successful performances last January 18 and 25 at the same venue. Pinky is scheduled to have two more concerts this February 1 and February 8.


If 2013 is a landmark year for the versatile theater, film and TV actress who has over the years proven to be a very good singer as well, 2014 is appearing to be a very busy time for Pinky. Aside from her upcoming concert, she was part of the recently concluded all-star fund-raising concert, “Do You Hear The People Sing?”.


Even though her “role” as part of the Miss Saigon Ensemble was basically a cameo, the veteran actress was more than happy to lend her time and waive her talent fee in an event where proceeds are going to go to Yolanda rehabilitation efforts, specifically for rebuilding of new homes thru Habitat for Humanity.


This coming February, Pinky is also part of the cast of Repertory Philippines’ production of “August: Osage County”, Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer prize winning play that was recently adapted into a film that garnered several nominations for this year’s Academy awards.


Starring opposite Baby Barredo who plays the family matriarch played by Meryl Streep in the film, Pinky plays her eldest daughter played by Julia Roberts. Both Streep and Roberts were nominated for Academy awards for their performances in the film.


During the recent press conference to promote “Paris Romance”, Pinky was asked by Interaksyon how she feels about the state of theater in the Philippines.


“I think it’s a very exciting time for theater here. Now you have weekends where you got plenty of options to go to from Rep, from PETA to Atlantis and other productions. Matira ang matibay and I think that’s a great thing. With better production values, I also hope that it will also lead to a more discerning audience,” she replied.


With more and more mainstream film and TV actors crossing over to theater (i.e. Tom Rodriguez, Rachelle Ann Go, G Tongi), Pinky said it’s a natural progression even in the US and other countries to try different things to keep the industry fresh and vibrant.


“Being an educator, I’m very supportive and welcoming of film actors doing theater. I welcome and relish the opportunity of working with them,” she noted. Pinky is currently the department head of Theater Arts at Meridian International School.


She added that popular film actors also lead to higher production values and strong marquee value which ultimately translate to better turnouts in terms of patronage.


The two-time Aliw Awardee for Best Stage Actress has also been nominated by the Star Awards for Movies (“Magdusa Ka” in 1984) and the Gawad Urian (“Sana’y Pag-Ibig Na” in 1988) for her stellar work on film.


Still, it comes as no surprise that she is reprising the character responsible for her most defining moment onstage. While being a cast member of the original West End production of “Miss Saigon” was a breakthrough moment for a then young Pinky, “Piaf” is even more meaningful for her at this stage of her career as she got to play one of France’s best known international superstars.


In interviews prior to the Atlantis staging of the play last year, Pinky said it’s a role that she has been coveting for 25 years. When she finally got the nod, she even went as far as visiting Piaf’s grave in Paris to prepare for the role and yes, ask the late singer’s “permission”.


“Believe it or not, there’s an urban legend about Edith Piaf that if you don’t ask her permission, something bad will happen. I don’t know if people believe actually believed it, but for me, it has done me a lot of good so far,” she revealed.


Pinky’s spellbinding performance was so indelible that she continues to receive requests to perform the songs she sang in the play including the immortal, “La Vie en rose” as well as other favorites like “Milord” and “La Foule”.


“They want to hear the songs again, so I’m doing them now for my pre-Valentine’s Day concert,” she quipped.


Despite her fluency in speaking French, she admits that singing in that European language remains challenging for her.


“The guttural ‘r’ sound is what makes singing in French so challenging. Actually, you’re not supposed to sing in that manner because that will be damaging to your voice,” she pointed out.


She’s doing it—again—just the same. For her Bar 360 shows, Pinky will be accompanied only by an accordion on stage and will be joined by “Piaf” cast mate Sandino Martin for some duets.


How’s that for some real “Paris Romance” ambiance?


Bar 360 is located at the ground Casino floor of Resorts World Manila. For ticket information, visit www.rwmanila.com or call the Tourist hotline at 908-8833.






Pinky Amador channels Edith Piaf anew in pre-Valentine’s Day concert

Source: InterAksyon.com (February 01, 2014 at 10:25AM)

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Goldmine of unproduced scripts

Gener Cagampang, insurance agent: “I heard a film producer complaining about the dearth of good stories for film. I don’t believe this. For one, the Palanca Foundation library has a goldmine of unproduced scripts—he should dig into its archives.”



Goldmine of unproduced scripts

Source: Inquirer.net (January 31, 2014 at 11:44PM)

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Stars greet 2014 with a really big bang

Right off the bat, 2014 is turning out to be a happy, hyper-happening show biz year, with the new entertainment season’s “big bang” celebration being paced by Vilma Santos’ Best Actress award at a film festival in Bangladesh for her performance in “Ekstra,” her first indie outing.



Stars greet 2014 with a really big bang

Source: Inquirer.net (January 31, 2014 at 11:41PM)

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Michael Bolton sings Motown

Michael Bolton has made a lucrative career out of reinventing his sound—from his heavy-metal heyday in the ’70s to his drastic but financially rewarding musical detour in the ’90s via the schmaltzy pop ballads, “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You,” “Said I Loved You But I Lied” and “Missing You Now,” his exquisite, jazzy collaboration with Kenny G.



Michael Bolton sings Motown

Source: Inquirer.net (January 31, 2014 at 11:40PM)

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It’s a date

On Feb. 5, the Diva Universal channel is premiering the hottest new sitcom on US TV, “Brooklyn 999,” which has unexpectedly won awards and garnered exceptionally strong ratings—so, be sure to catch its debut telecast.



It’s a date

Source: Inquirer.net (January 31, 2014 at 11:36PM)

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Unconventional romance examines relevant teenage issues

The star-crossed lovers of Gary Entin’s “Geography Club” (showing next week, Feb. 5) have no trouble admitting their growing affection for each other—but, going public about it is another matter, because their love story is by no means “conventional”: Closeted Russell Middlebrook (Cameron Deane Stewart) is both brainy and brawny, and he’s comfortable staying “under the radar” as he struggles to find his sexual identity.



Unconventional romance examines relevant teenage issues

Source: Inquirer.net (January 31, 2014 at 11:34PM)

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Bill Murray gushes about ‘Grand Budapest Hotel’

“It’s staggering,” Bill Murray gushed when asked about “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” his seventh collaboration with director Wes Anderson. Laid-back, droll and looking bemused as usual on this afternoon, Bill shifted between “you” and “I” in referring to himself. Aside from raving about “The Grand…,” Bill also talked about George Clooney (who directs him in “The Monuments Men”), and whose house he has been staying in while he was in LA, fellow “Saturday Night Live” alum Tina Fey and Amy Poehler as Golden Globe hosts and, in a rare moment, discussed being a father to six sons—the joys and challenges.



Bill Murray gushes about ‘Grand Budapest Hotel’

Source: Inquirer.net (January 31, 2014 at 11:32PM)

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Much-deserved honor for America’s best-loved neurotic

Woody Allen’s Cecil B. De Mille lifetime achievement award at last month’s Golden Globe awards thrilled his loyal fans, us included, because it was a well-deserved honor and reminded film buffs of the comedian-filmmaker’s exceptional contributions to the film medium.



Much-deserved honor for America’s best-loved neurotic

Source: Inquirer.net (January 31, 2014 at 11:29PM)

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Cool proverbs to keep you warm

The cold weather makes us yearn for warmth. May the following proverbs clear your mind and warm your hearts



Cool proverbs to keep you warm

Source: Inquirer.net (January 31, 2014 at 11:28PM)

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Quality education

On Sept. 21, 1922, Dr. Ramon Reynoso Sr., then governor of Marinduque, established the Malindig Institute Foundation Inc. in response to the growing demand for quality education for cash-strapped students.



Quality education

Source: Inquirer.net (January 31, 2014 at 11:26PM)

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Kris: No effort from James to see Bimby

Kris Aquino said nothing is preventing ex-husband James Yap from visiting their son, James "Bimby" Yap, Jr., who is under the custody of the actress-host.



Kris: No effort from James to see Bimby

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 31, 2014 at 11:34PM)

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A sneak peek into ABS-CBN's upcoming 2014 shows

Uulan sa 2014 ng mga bagong show. Naiipit naman si Ellen Adarna sa isyu ng leading man na si Vhong Navarro at kaibigang si Cedric Lee.



A sneak peek into ABS-CBN's upcoming 2014 shows

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 31, 2014 at 10:56PM)

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Iya Villania, Drew Arellano exhange wedding vows

Nagpalitan na ng "I do" ang celebrity couple na sina Iya Villania at Drew Arellano.



Iya Villania, Drew Arellano exhange wedding vows

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 31, 2014 at 10:47PM)

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Boon for sun worshippers

The prolonged effects of the chilly polar vortex did not spare ol’ Metro Manila. In fact, I’ve been checking out photos on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and I find it rather odd seeing people in jackets in the middle of the day. Though some of my friends are enjoying the wintry ambiance, others have opted to explore sun-drenched beaches and get a tan.


A razzmatazz of beautiful celebrities and models including Maggie Wilson, Bubbles Paraiso, Brent Javier, Jim


FROM LEFT: Melo Balingit, Raul Teehankee, Maggie Wilson and Amiel-Aguilar Cabanlig

FROM LEFT: Melo Balingit, Raul Teehankee, Maggie Wilson and Amiel-Aguilar Cabanlig



Paredes and Nicole Andersson, trooped to the sunny beach paradise of El Nido recently. As soon as they got off the plane, these brave sun-seekers wasted no time combing the beautiful island teeming with bountiful wildlife that is, of course, protected and shouldn’t be bothered with.


The visit came courtesy of the company that originally discovered SPF, Nivea. Apparently, the company was launching a brand new product called “Protect and Bronze” and they wanted the celebrities to try it themselves and see how it could help protect them from the sun’s harmful UV rays but at the same time stimulate melanin production using ingredients derived from licorice.


The company’s country manager, Alex Schwieger say: “This is the first-ever sunscreen in the market that can stimulate the skins natural tanning process, and at the same time enhance its built-in protective mechanism because of melanin production.”


I guess these celebrity sun worshippers were able to enjoy the best of both worlds – tanning and sun protection!






Boon for sun worshippers

Source: Mb.com.ph (January 31, 2014 at 10:00PM)

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James Yap misses son Bimby

Limang buwan na umanong hindi nakikita ni James Yap ang anak niyang si Bimby.



James Yap misses son Bimby

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 31, 2014 at 10:30PM)

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Why Boy Abunda won't enter politics

Talk show host Boy Abunda is no longer entertaining thoughts of running for public office anytime soon.



Why Boy Abunda won't enter politics

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 31, 2014 at 10:13PM)

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How Vhong-Deniece case broke online viewership records

Milyun-milyong netizens ang tutok na tutok sa isyu ng pambubugbog sa aktor na si Vhong Navarro.






How Vhong-Deniece case broke online viewership records

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 31, 2014 at 10:03PM)

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Ellen Adarna has message for Deniece Cornejo

Sexy actress Ellen Adarna is not convinced by a claim made by her friend, businessman Cedric Lee, and model Deniece Cornejo in relation to a mauling incident involving the two and TV host Vhong Navarro.



Ellen Adarna has message for Deniece Cornejo

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 31, 2014 at 09:49PM)

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Erap's daughter expecting baby with Bernard Palanca

Bernard Palanca is expecting a baby with Jerika Ejercito, a daughter of Manila Mayor Joseph "Erap" Estrada, the actor confirmed to ABS-CBN News on Thursday.



Erap's daughter expecting baby with Bernard Palanca

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 31, 2014 at 09:36PM)

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Basketball or showbiz? James Yap talks about Bimby

MANILA, Philippines – PBA star James Yap said he’ll remain supportive of his son’s breaking into show business.



Basketball or showbiz? James Yap talks about Bimby

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 31, 2014 at 08:55PM)

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Vhong movie with sexy actress Ellen Adarna postponed

A movie topbilled by Vhong Navarro and Ellen Adarna was supposed to start filming this week, according to the actress, but had to be delayed as the TV host continues to recover from a mauling incident.



Vhong movie with sexy actress Ellen Adarna postponed

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 31, 2014 at 08:18PM)

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Jake backs Vhong in mauling incident

Actor Jake Cuenca on Thursday expressed his support for TV host Vhong Navarro, saying he finds the accusations against him in relation to a mauling incident last January 22 difficult to believe.






Jake backs Vhong in mauling incident

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 31, 2014 at 08:06PM)

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James Yap taking things slow with Italian GF

MANILA, Philippines – Two-time PBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) James Yap said he is enjoying his relationship with current girlfriend, Michela Cazzola.



James Yap taking things slow with Italian GF

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 31, 2014 at 07:55PM)

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Jake Cuenca on Cedric Lee: What encounter?

Actor Jake Cuenca said he is clueless as to how rumors linking him to businessman Cedric Lee started, insisting he has never heard of his name until the controversial mauling incident involving TV host Vhong Navarro.



Jake Cuenca on Cedric Lee: What encounter?

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 31, 2014 at 07:22PM)

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First look: Ellen Adarna in drama series 'Moon of Desire'

The first trailer for "Moon of Desire," the upcoming afternoon drama series starring Ellen Adarna, debuted Thursday during an ABS-CBN trade event in Pasay City.



First look: Ellen Adarna in drama series 'Moon of Desire'

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 31, 2014 at 06:36PM)

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Iya Villania, Drew Arellano get married

TV hosts Iya Villania and Drew Arellano finally exchanged vows on Friday afternoon after 10 years of being a couple.



Iya Villania, Drew Arellano get married

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 31, 2014 at 05:20PM)

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WATCH: Anne Curtis in 'Dyesebel' trailer

The trailer of the much-awaited TV remake of "Dyesebel" starring Anne Curtis was presented at the grand Kapamilya trade event on Chinese New Year's eve.



WATCH: Anne Curtis in 'Dyesebel' trailer

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 31, 2014 at 04:26PM)

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Korina visits Amy, Marc in DZMM booth

MANILA, Philippines- Korina Sanchez visited Amy Perez and Marc Logan in the DZMM booth during their radio show “Sakto.”



Korina visits Amy, Marc in DZMM booth

Source: Philstar.com (January 31, 2014 at 03:28PM)

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WATCH: Ellen Adarna in sexy dance number

Model Ellen Adarna took the stage Thursday night during an ABS-CBN trade event in Pasay City, where her first TV series as a Kapamilya was introduced to advertisers.



WATCH: Ellen Adarna in sexy dance number

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 31, 2014 at 03:50PM)

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Thursday, January 30, 2014

SLIDESHOW: ABS-CBN introduces new shows for 2014

ABS-CBN launched on Thursday its lineup of shows for 2014.



SLIDESHOW: ABS-CBN introduces new shows for 2014

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 31, 2014 at 03:31PM)

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Xian says sorry for poking fun at Kim's 'kalokalike'

MANILA - Actor Xian Lim apologized for poking fun at the "kalokalike" of his leading lady, Kim Chiu, while performing at the Chinese New Year countdown of "Banana Nite" on Thursday.



Xian says sorry for poking fun at Kim's 'kalokalike'

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 31, 2014 at 01:28PM)

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Yassi Pressman looks forward to being a ‘MTV Pinoy’ VJ

MANILA, Philippines- Yassi Pressman is happy about her new stint as a video jock.



Yassi Pressman looks forward to being a ‘MTV Pinoy’ VJ

Source: Philstar.com (January 31, 2014 at 12:33PM)

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'Kris TV' time slot extended

ABS-CBN announced at a trade launch on Thursday that the morning show "Kris TV" hosted by Kris Aquino will have an extended time slot.



'Kris TV' time slot extended

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 31, 2014 at 12:51PM)

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Vhong still traumatized, to undergo brain checkup

MANILA - Movie director Chito Roño admitted that his ward, "It's Showtime" host Vhong Navarro, is still afraid to be alone after he was mauled last week at The Fort in Taguig City.



Vhong still traumatized, to undergo brain checkup

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 31, 2014 at 12:39PM)

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Johansson-Oxfam rift puts spotlight on West Bank

Actress Scarlett Johansson's very public rift with the charity Oxfam over her endorsement of an Israeli firm operating in the West Bank has thrown a Hollywood spotlight on one of the thorniest issues in Middle East peace talks.



Johansson-Oxfam rift puts spotlight on West Bank

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 31, 2014 at 12:35PM)

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ABS-CBN launches new shows for 2014

ABS-CBN launched on Thursday night its newest shows for 2014.



ABS-CBN launches new shows for 2014

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 31, 2014 at 11:49AM)

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How Tsinoys Kim, Xian and Sir Chief became stars

Despite the long history of the Chinese in the Philippines, the rise of Tsinoy stars is a fairly recent phenomenon in local tinseltown, which has traditionally favored mestizos.



How Tsinoys Kim, Xian and Sir Chief became stars

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 31, 2014 at 11:40AM)

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Angel calls Kris 'future ninang'

MANILA - Host-actress Kris Aquino can't help but share bits of information about Kapamilya stars Angel Locsin and Luis Manzano.



Angel calls Kris 'future ninang'

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 31, 2014 at 11:40AM)

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Bieber vs. Ford: Canada's favorite bad boys

TORONTO (AP) — Pop star Justin Bieber is giving Toronto Mayor Rob Ford a brief respite as Canada's favorite bad boy and butt of all jokes.



Bieber vs. Ford: Canada's favorite bad boys

Source: Philstar.com (January 31, 2014 at 11:21AM)

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Justin Bieber now in double legal trouble after testing positive for pot, meds


Pop singer Justin Bieber arrives at a police station in Toronto last January 29 (Reuters/Alex Urosevic)



(Reuters) – Teen pop star Justin Bieber, facing charges in the United States and Canada, had pot and anti-anxiety medication in his system when arrested in Florida last week but told police his mother “takes care” of his prescriptions, according to official reports released Thursday.


Bieber was charged late on Wednesday with assaulting a limousine driver in Toronto and the Toronto Star newspaper reported Thursday that the driver in the alleged assault in December quit his job “in shock” following the incident.


As his legal troubles mounted, camera crews and fans were camped outside a downtown Toronto hotel where they thought the 19-year-old Canadian was holed up. He made no appearances and his representatives declined to comment.


The doe-eyed “Boyfriend” singer has had a turbulent year with scuffles with paparazzi in London and a felony investigation into whether he pelted a neighbor’s house with eggs. The charges over the last week now put Bieber at risk of serving jail time.


On Thursday, a report by the Miami-Dade Office of the State Attorney said Bieber had marijuana and prescription medication for anxiety in his system when he was arrested in Miami Beach.


The preliminary report did not detail the amount of marijuana and alprazolam, better known as the anti-anxiety medication Xanax, that Bieber had in his system. Police have said he failed a field sobriety test after they had caught him allegedly drag racing on January 23.


Bieber has pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence, resisting arrest without violence and driving on an expired license. If convicted, he could face up to six months in jail, although a maximum penalty is unlikely because it would be his first offense.


The singer, who is under the U.S. legal drinking age of 21, also had a minimal amount of alcohol in his system but had difficulty performing a breathalyzer test, police said in an affidavit.


Bieber also said he did not know what kind of anxiety medication he’d taken as he did not know what he was prescribed.


“Well, my mom takes care of all that stuff for me,” Bieber told police, according to the affidavit.


In the field sobriety test report, police said that Bieber had the odor of alcohol on his breath, bloodshot eyes and a flushed face. His attitude was profane, insulting and cocky.


Bieber’s highest blood-alcohol content during the four tests administered was 0.014, below the 0.02 legal limit for those under 21 in Florida. The limit for drivers 21 and over is 0.08.


Police said Bieber “continuously forgot basic instructions,” and they believed he was purposefully not taking the test correctly. He performed the breathalyzer exam correctly only after police told him he would lose his license if he “refused” the test, according to the affidavit.


When told he “reeked” of marijuana, Bieber said: “Yeah, we were smoking all night at the studio.”


LIMO DRIVER ‘ASSAULTED IN THE HEAD’


The Toronto assault charge stems from an incident in the early hours of December 30 when Bieber and five others were picked up outside a Toronto nightclub. His Canadian lawyer said in a statement that Bieber is innocent.


Police alleged the driver was struck on the back of the head several times on the way to a hotel. Bieber left the scene before police arrived, they alleged in a statement.


Tony Albert, the manager of Park Lane Livery limousines, which operated the limo, told the Toronto Star the driver quit his job shortly after the incident.


The driver is “in shock. Something like this does not happen in Toronto,” Albert told the newspaper. He declined to disclose his identity on the advice of legal counsel.


An employee at the company told Reuters that Albert was not immediately available to confirm the report.


“We do club runs every weekend in Toronto — even with the drunkies we never faced this kind of problem, the driver getting physically assaulted in the head,” he said.


Bieber was charged after appearing at a Toronto police station late Wednesday, arriving in a black SUV and met by a crowd of journalists and screaming fans.


An assault conviction in Canada has a maximum sentence of five years, but experts doubted the maximum would be imposed.


Bieber’s legal team said they expect the matter will be treated as a summary offence, which is the equivalent of a misdemeanor in the United States.


The singer had at least one defender on Thursday who knows something about negative attention: fellow Canadian and Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.


Ford, who has become a staple of late-night comics since he admitted in November that he had smoked crack cocaine while in a “drunken stupor,” defended Bieber on Thursday during an interview on a Washington, D.C., radio show called Sports Junkies.


“Well, you know what, he’s a young guy,” said Ford. “He’s 19 years old, guys. Think back to when you were 19.”






Justin Bieber now in double legal trouble after testing positive for pot, meds

Source: InterAksyon.com (January 31, 2014 at 11:47AM)

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Angeline wants to pose sexy for men's magazine

MANILA - Singer Angeline Quinto said she wants to pose sexy for a men's magazine.



Angeline wants to pose sexy for men's magazine

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 31, 2014 at 11:31AM)

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Meryll Soriano returns to TV via 'Ikaw Lamang'

MANILA -- After six years, actress Meryll Soriano returns to television via ABS-CBN's upcoming series "Ikaw Lamang."



Meryll Soriano returns to TV via 'Ikaw Lamang'

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 31, 2014 at 11:18AM)

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Angeline sings 'Legal Wife' theme song on 'UKG'

Singer Angeline Quinto on Friday appeared on "Umagang Kay Ganda," where she performed the theme song of the new teleserye "The Legal Wife." Quinto also promoted her new album "Higher Love" under Star Records.






Angeline sings 'Legal Wife' theme song on 'UKG'

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 31, 2014 at 10:53AM)

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Ushering in the Year of the Wooden Horse with a carriage parade

Year of the Wooden Horse

The right mix to welcome the Chinese New Year: Cuties and carriages (Photo by Pau Aguilera)



More than celebrating the turn of the year in the Chinese calendar, one of the many Chinese New Year celebrations this year has taken a distinct turn, marked by a coming together of two Asian cultures.


“There’s the element of the horse (this year’s Chinese New Year symbol), and there’s the element of being Filipino, the karwahe,” Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) Corporate Communications First Vice President Joee Guilas told Bulletin Entertainment of its grand parade featuring horse-drawn carriages at the Makati CBD on Thursday, Jan. 30.


Guilas shared that they scoured “all over Luzon” for the carriages, which carried pageant beauties and traversed Ayala Avenue on the eve of the Year of the Horse. “Hindi kami nagpaka-literal, as far as the wooden horse is concerned,” he said.


“Eventually we ended up getting three karwahes, representing RCBC’s three major business groups: RCBC The Universal Bank, RCBC Savings Bank, RCBC Bankard.”


According to him, they mount the annual cavalcade “because we do recognize that a great bulk of our business comes from the Filipino-Chinese community, and we are proud partners of this specific target segment of our community.”


This is the first time that RCBC mounted their annual Chinese New Year parade in Makati, which usually coincides with the bank’s festivities in Manila’s Chinatown district, Binondo.


“…this year we decided to split the event into two different locations because we do recognize that a great bulk of our business also comes from our partners here in Makati, and after all, this is the central business district…


“So we decided to mount the parade here in Makati, and enjoin the other business groups in the area to celebrate Chinese New Year with us, and of course, still do an event in the Filipino-Chinese area in Manila,” he said.


Guilas is in high spirits with the fact that the annual parade has always been well-received by the Fil-Chi community.


“Some other companies who would do parades would mostly focus on siguro ’yung pagiging Chinese, and of course what we have here in the Philippines are the Filipino-Chinese, so kapag minarry mo ’yung both cultures, which are both very interesting cultures, the parade usually comes really well-received.”


RCBC continued the Chinese New Year bash at Tutuban Mall in Binondo with the “Tropangga Energyzed 2014” variety show, which, aside from horse-themed games and feng shui experts, also featured performances from OPM artists, namely, songstress Angeline Quinto, band Silent Sanctuary, rapper Bassilyo, among others.






Ushering in the Year of the Wooden Horse with a carriage parade

Source: Mb.com.ph (January 31, 2014 at 09:32AM)

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Bieber took pot, prescription meds before Miami arrest: authorities

Teen pop star Justin Bieber had marijuana and prescription medication for anxiety in his system at the time of his arrest last week in Miami Beach, the state attorney's office said on Thursday.



Bieber took pot, prescription meds before Miami arrest: authorities

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 31, 2014 at 06:58AM)

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Toronto mayor defends Bieber after new charge, but not his music

Justin Bieber has run afoul of police in both Canada and the United States in just one week, but the teenage pop star has at least one defender who knows something about negative attention: fellow Canadian and Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.



Toronto mayor defends Bieber after new charge, but not his music

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 31, 2014 at 06:55AM)

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Oxfam accepts Scarlett Johansson's resignation

LONDON — Oxfam International said Thursday that American actress Scarlett Johansson's support of an Israeli company operating in a West Bank settlement was i



Oxfam accepts Scarlett Johansson's resignation

Source: Philstar.com (January 31, 2014 at 04:32AM)

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Miley Cyrus duets with Madonna, uses signature tongue extension on MTV acoustic special

LOS ANGELES -- Miley Cyrus mashes it up with Madonna, twerks with her tongue out and drops a bunch of F-bombs on her upcoming MTV special, and she's in fine



Miley Cyrus duets with Madonna, uses signature tongue extension on MTV acoustic special

Source: Philstar.com (January 31, 2014 at 03:04AM)

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Youngest OFW

MANILA, Philippines - Meet Rock Ong, at four years old probably the youngest OFW. Rock is one of the grandchildren of Northern Samar Rep. Emil Ong.



Youngest OFW

Source: Philstar.com (January 31, 2014)

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GMA Network launches Kapuso Adopt-A-Bangka Project

MANILA, Philippines - GMA Regional TV and the Bantayan Island Association of Hotels, Resorts, Bars and Restaurants, Inc.



GMA Network launches Kapuso Adopt-A-Bangka Project

Source: Philstar.com (January 31, 2014)

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Phil focuses on football

MANILA, Philippines - Brothers Phil and James Younghusband have become the poster boy for football in the Philippines.



Phil focuses on football

Source: Philstar.com (January 31, 2014)

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2013 People of the Year awardee: The ever-evolving Kuh

MANILA, Philippines - Pop diva Kuh Ledesma particularly remembers an incident in one of her gigs in the province where she failed to sing One More Try,



2013 People of the Year awardee: The ever-evolving Kuh

Source: Philstar.com (January 31, 2014)

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1:43’s new song stirs online buzz

MANILA, Philippines - 1:43, the original hitmaker of the song Sa Isang Sulyap Mo, has once again stirred the interest of netizens and radio listener



1:43’s new song stirs online buzz

Source: Philstar.com (January 31, 2014)

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Gandang Ricky Reyes goes to Chinatown

MANILA, Philippines - Binondo is known as Chinatown in the Philippines as when you go there you will find business establishments, eateries, buildings and co



Gandang Ricky Reyes goes to Chinatown

Source: Philstar.com (January 31, 2014)

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David Benoit to perform in benefit concert

MANILA, Philippines - International jazz fusion and smooth jazz pianist, composer and producer David Benoit (photo), a five-time Grammy Awar



David Benoit to perform in benefit concert

Source: Philstar.com (January 31, 2014)

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How to survive the 72-hour challenge

MANILA, Philippines - Exploring an unknown territory is always a challenge.



How to survive the 72-hour challenge

Source: Philstar.com (January 31, 2014)

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Deniece: No oral sex with Vhong on first 'date'

The camp of model Deniece Cornejo has denied actor Vhong Navarro's claim that they had oral sex during their first meeting on January 17, five days before a mauling incident allegedly took place.



Deniece: No oral sex with Vhong on first 'date'

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 30, 2014 at 11:08PM)

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Dissecting Daft Punk, Lorde’s Grammy-winning formula

AUDIO JUNKIE


“Random Access Memories” – Daft Punk

“Royals” – Lorde


DP

Daft Punk (AP)



Taking home the coveted Album and Record Of The Year plum at the recently concluded 57th Grammy Awards, the French electronic dance music duo Daft Punk – DJ-musicians Guy-Manuel De Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter – are already legends in the house and electonica scene, having been making musical noise since the late ’90s.


This isn’t the first Grammy win for Daft Punk, but it is certainly the biggest citation they have received so far. So what’s their secret? The Vision. Since the beginning, they’ve already been making the best groove-filled dance tunes since 1997. Practice makes perfect and their album “Random Access Memories” is just one in a long line of excellent sets.


Picking out the right personnel. As a leading act in their genre, you’d think that Daft Punk would already be a self-contained unit with no need of outside help. The “robots” sought out singer-songwriter Pharell Williams and legendary funk guitarist Nile Rodgers for “Get Lucky” for winning collaborations.


Their songcraft. From the vocodex-effected vocals of cool sounding “Instant Crush,” featuring The Strokes singer Julian Casablancas, to the equally funky and bluesy “Lose Yourself To Dance,” to the throwback sounds of “Fragments Of Time,” and the ’70s swing hued “Touch,” Daft Punk certainly knows how to craft melodic hooks.


The willingness to experiment, like in the dance instrumental “Motherboard,” and the mind-blowing “Giorgio By Moroder,” featuring (who else?) Giorgio Moroder. Daft Punk’s album is not just dance, funk, pop, it’s anything and everything.


And finally, the whole act. Anybody else in music going about dressed as robots? Yeah, we though so, too.


Royals

Lorde (AP)



Meanwhile, New Zealand native and 17-year old singer-songwriter Lorde likewise conquered Grammy night by bagging the Best New Artist and Song Of The Year plum for her whirlwind hit “Royals.” I personally thought that Song of the year should’ve gone to Pink’s “Just Give Me A Reason” which was hot all year round, as opposed to “Royals,” which came late last year. But then again, Lorde exhibits a fully-realized musicality and style unlike anyone of her age. More, she has the vision, the perfect song, the right creative support, the looks, which is to say, she has her act laid down.


Now that’s a music formula worth emulating.






Dissecting Daft Punk, Lorde’s Grammy-winning formula

Source: Mb.com.ph (January 30, 2014 at 10:40PM)

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Jazz musicians unite for ‘Yolanda’ victims

MANILA, Philippines – Big names in the jazz music industry come together to help out Filipinos in one special event.



Jazz musicians unite for ‘Yolanda’ victims

Source: Philstar.com (January 30, 2014 at 07:08PM)

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Scarlett Johansson quits Oxfam over advert

LONDON -- US actress Scarlett Johansson has quit as global ambassador for Oxfam after the aid group deemed the role "incompatible" with her promotion of an Israeli firm that has a factory in the occupied West Bank.



Scarlett Johansson quits Oxfam over advert

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 30, 2014 at 08:50PM)

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'Fault In Our Stars' trailer released

The trailer of the muchawaited movie The Fault In Our Stars has been released Thursday morning.



'Fault In Our Stars' trailer released

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 30, 2014 at 08:39PM)

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Why Matteo won't talk about Sarah

Matteo Guidicelli continued to be evasive in discussing pop star Sarah Geronimo, who is rumored to be his girlfriend, citing their status as celebrities.



Why Matteo won't talk about Sarah

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 30, 2014 at 08:33PM)

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Jazz musicians unite for ‘Yolanda’ victims

MANILA, Philippines – Big names in the jazz music industry come together to help out Filipinos in one special event.



Jazz musicians unite for ‘Yolanda’ victims

Source: Philstar.com (January 31, 2014 at 07:08PM)

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5 times 'Showtime' hosts survived controversies

Between Vhong Navarro being accused of attempted rape and Vice Ganda's controversial concert segment, co-hosts of "It's Showtime" have managed to move on from controversies they were respectively involved in in the last year.



5 times 'Showtime' hosts survived controversies

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 30, 2014 at 06:27PM)

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Enrique happy for ex-girlfriend Coleen

MANILA -- Actor Enrique Gil is happy for his former girlfriend Coleen Garcia who is now openly dating her "It' Showtime" host Billy Crawford.



Enrique happy for ex-girlfriend Coleen

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 30, 2014 at 05:00PM)

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Julia Montes okay to play supporting role

Although she has already proven that she can play leading lady roles, actress Julia Montes doesn't mind taking on a supporting role in the upcoming series "Ikaw Lamang."



Julia Montes okay to play supporting role

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 30, 2014 at 04:43PM)

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What's next for Kathryn, Daniel

Fans of the popular love team of Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo will be able to see their idols for three more years on ABS-CBN after the two teen stars signed a new contract with the network on Thursday afternoon.



What's next for Kathryn, Daniel

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 30, 2014 at 03:46PM)

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Wednesday, January 29, 2014

‘It’s Showtime’ hosts cursed?

MANILA, Philippines – Netizens have noticed that the hosts of ABS-CBN’s noontime variety show “It’s Showtime” have been in involved in major showbiz controve



‘It’s Showtime’ hosts cursed?

Source: Philstar.com (January 30, 2014 at 02:59PM)

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Academy kills Oscars nomination over email gaffe


An Oscar statue is viewed in preparation one day before the 85th Academy Awards on February 23, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (AFP)



LOS ANGELES | Oscars organizers have withdrawn a best song nomination from a composer in a rare move because he emailed voting members to highlight his candidacy, which is strictly banned for Academy executives.


“Alone Yet Not Alone,” from the film of the same name, was a surprise inclusion in the five-strong shortlist for best original song unveiled by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on January 16.


But the Academy rescinded the nomination after finding that the song’s composer, Bruce Broughton, had emailed voting members “to make them aware of his submission during the nominations voting period.”


Broughton, who wrote the song with lyricist Dennis Spiegel, is a former Academy governor and current member of its music branch executive committee.


“I’m devastated,” he told industry journal Variety.” I indulged in the simplest, lamest, grass-roots campaign and it went against me when the song started getting attention. I got taken down by competition that had months of promotion and advertising behind them.”


His song was up against nominees from four far more high-profile movies: “Happy” from “Despicable Me 2;” “Let It Go” from “Frozen;” “The Moon Song” from “Her;” and “Ordinary Love” — by rock icons U2 — from “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.”


Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs said in a statement Wednesday: “No matter how well-intentioned the communication, using one’s position as a former governor and current executive committee member to personally promote one’s own Oscar submission creates the appearance of an unfair advantage.”


“Alone Yet Not Alone” is a historical drama set in 1760s America.


The Academy did not replace the song on its shortlist, leaving only four best original song nominees in the running for the Oscars, the climax of Hollywood’s annual awards season, on March 2.


The decision is not without precedent, Variety noted, citing cases in 1953 and 1973, when the Academy withdrew its nomination for the score for “The Godfather” because parts of it had been used in an earlier movie.


The Academy has even revoked an Oscar statuette itself: in 1969 the best documentary award went to “Young Americans,” but it was canceled after it was discovered it was released too early to be eligible.






Academy kills Oscars nomination over email gaffe

Source: InterAksyon.com (January 30, 2014 at 03:30PM)

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Kim Chiu didn't expect success of 'Bride for Rent'

Actress Kim Chiu couldn't contain her tears of joy when talking about the overwhelming success of “Bride For Rent,” her second big screen team-up with Xian Lim.



Kim Chiu didn't expect success of 'Bride for Rent'

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 30, 2014 at 02:53PM)

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Who’s afraid of YouTube?

MTV Channel Head Andrew de Castro is confident of garnering strong viewership despite the presence of YouTube and other platforms that offer music videos on demand.


He cited MTV Pinoy’s original content “that has local flavor and can’t be found anywhere else” and the youth entertainment channel’s reputation of being kingmaker as advantages.


“There’s still a segment sa market that wants to be told what’s cool, to validate what they like,” de Castro said in an exclusive interview held at The Library Metrowalk.


Some of the new shows on MTV Pinoy are “Halo Halo,” which will focus on events and programs geared towards Filipino viewers; “The OPM Show” (the latest about Pinoy artists); “Rock On Pinas!” (local rock scene); “Senti,” (video lovefest of romantic Pinoy songs); and “Pinoy Beats” (local hip hop and R&B tunes).


Though MTV Pinoy will initially start as a three and a half-hour block starting Feb. 14, de Castro said they expect to become a full channel by year-end.


In picking the VJs – namely Sam Pinto, Andre Paras, Yassi Pressman and Josh Padilla – personality over popularity was top consideration.


“There’s hip girl Sam, girl-next-door Yassi, handsome jock Andre, and cool guy Josh. Many people can identify with them if not aspire to become like them. It’s really the mix of the set that landed them the job,” de Castro said.


And while MTV Pinoy is collaboration between Viacom International Media Networks (VIMNS) Asia and Viva Communications, Inc, which has its own record label, de Castro said music videos of other labels will be aired, too.


“MTV Pinoy is fair, agnostic,” he said.


MTV Pinoy can be seen on SKY (Channel 71), Destiny (channel 47 on analog, Channel 71 on digital), and Cable Link (Channel 37).






Who’s afraid of YouTube?

Source: Mb.com.ph (January 30, 2014 at 02:25PM)

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Johansson stepping down as Oxfam ambassador

Scarlett Johansson (AP)

Scarlett Johansson (AP)



LOS ANGELES (AP) — Scarlett Johansson is ending her relationship with a humanitarian group after being criticized over her support for an Israeli company that operates in the West Bank.


A statement released by Johansson’s spokesman Wednesday said the 29-year-old actress has “a fundamental difference of opinion” with Oxfam International because the humanitarian group opposes all trade from Israeli settlements, saying they are illegal and deny Palestinian rights.


“Scarlett Johansson has respectfully decided to end her ambassador role with Oxfam after eight years,” the statement said. “She and Oxfam have a fundamental difference of opinion in regards to the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. She is very proud of her accomplishments and fundraising efforts during her tenure with Oxfam.”


Earlier this month, “The Avengers” and “Her” actress signed on as the first global brand ambassador of SodaStream International Ltd., and she’s set to appear in an ad for the at-home soda maker during the Super Bowl on Feb. 2.


SodaStream has come under fire from pro-Palestinian activists for maintaining a large factory in an Israeli settlement in the West Bank, a territory captured by Israel in 1967 and claimed by the Palestinians.


In response to the criticism, Johansson said last week she was a “supporter of economic cooperation and social interaction between a democratic Israel and Palestine.”


Oxfam took issue with Johansson, noting it was “considering the implications of her new statement and what it means for Ms. Johansson’s role as an Oxfam global ambassador.”


Johansson had served as a global ambassador for Oxfam since 2007, raising funds and promoting awareness about global poverty. In her role as an Oxfam ambassador, she traveled to India, Sri Lanka and Kenya to highlight the impact of traumatic disasters and chronic poverty.


Oxfam representatives did not immediately return messages seeking comment.






Johansson stepping down as Oxfam ambassador

Source: Mb.com.ph (January 30, 2014 at 02:21PM)

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Academy kills Oscars nomination over email gaffe

A screen shows the Oscars logo at the 86th Academy Awards nominations announcement at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, California. (AFP/Robyn Beck)

A screen shows the Oscars logo at the 86th Academy Awards nominations announcement at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, California. (AFP/Robyn Beck)



LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Oscars organizers have withdrawn a best song nomination from a composer because he emailed voting members to highlight his candidacy, which is strictly banned for Academy executives.


“Alone Yet Not Alone,” from the film of the same name, was something of a surprise inclusion in the five-strong shortlist for best original song unveiled by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on January 16.


But the Academy decided Tuesday night to rescind the nomination after finding that the song’s composer, Bruce Broughton, had emailed voting members “to make them aware of his submission during the nominations voting period.”


Broughton, who wrote the song with lyricist Dennis Spiegel, is a former Academy governor and current member of its music branch executive committee.


“No matter how well-intentioned the communication, using one’s position as a former governor and current executive committee member to personally promote one’s own Oscar submission creates the appearance of an unfair advantage,” said Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs in a statement Wednesday.


The song was up against nominees from four far more high-profile movies: “Happy” from “Despicable Me 2;” “Let It Go” from “Frozen;” “The Moon Song” from “Her;” and “Ordinary Love,” by U2, from “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.”


The Oscars, the climax of Hollywood’s annual awards season, will be held on March 2.






Academy kills Oscars nomination over email gaffe

Source: Mb.com.ph (January 30, 2014 at 02:18PM)

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Boy-band One Direction year’s best-sellers

(From L) Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Liam Payne of British boyband One Direction arrive to attend the world premiere of their film, 'One Direction: This Is Us', in London, on August 20, 2013 (AFP/File, Andrew Cowie)

(From L) Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Liam Payne of British boyband One Direction arrive to attend the world premiere of their film, ‘One Direction: This Is Us’, in London, on August 20, 2013 (AFP/File, Andrew Cowie)



LONDON (AFP) – British pop phenomenon One Direction were on Thursday named as the world’s most popular recording artists of 2013 by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).


Band member Niall Horan called it “incredible news” and thanked fans for the newly-created award, which aggregates CD and vinyl sales; download sales and streaming numbers.


“It’s great to have a chart that includes everything from iTunes and record stores, to YouTube and Spotify,” he said. “Again a huge thank you to all of our fans for such an amazing 2013.”


The boy-band’s third studio album, “Midnight Memories” raced to the top of the US Billboard Top 200 chart, making the five-piece the first group in US chart history to debut at No. 1 with their first three albums.


Their video for “Best Song Ever” attracted almost 200 million views on YouTube.


US rapper Eminem claimed second spot thanks to his eighth studio album “The Marshall Mathers LP 2″ while third place was taken by former boy-band member Justin Timberlake.






Boy-band One Direction year’s best-sellers

Source: Mb.com.ph (January 30, 2014 at 02:14PM)

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Police charge Justin Bieber with assault

Justin Bieber (AFP)

Justin Bieber (AFP)



TORONTO, Canada (AFP) – Canadian police charged pop star Justin Bieber on Wednesday with the December assault of a limousine driver, shortly after the 19-year-old had turned himself in.


The young heartthrob will go before court on March 10, Toronto police said in a statement that came out just over two hours after he had handed himself in, amid chaotic scenes.


The charges are the latest run-in with the law for the teen star after his Los Angeles home was searched because he allegedly hurled eggs at a neighbor’s house, and his arrest in Miami Beach on January 23 for drag racing and impaired driving.


“On Wednesday, January 29, 2014, Justin Bieber, 19, of Calabasas, California, surrendered to police at 52 Division,” the Toronto police statement said, adding the troubled star will go before court at Toronto’s Old City Hall.


Bieber is accused of hitting a limousine driver “several times” over the back of the head. The car had picked he and five others up from a nightclub in the city in the early hours of December 30.


“While driving the group to a hotel, an altercation occurred between one of the passengers and the driver of the limousine,” the statement said.


“In the course of the altercation, a man struck the limousine driver on the back of the head several times.


“The driver stopped the limousine, exited the vehicle and called police.


“The man who struck him left the scene before police arrived.”


Earlier, wearing a baseball cap turned backwards and a black hooded winter coat, the singer entered the station in Toronto escorted by officers who rushed him through a large crowd of screaming fans and journalists.


“Move back, don’t push! Don’t push!” a police officer said as girls shrieked at the sight of Bieber’s large black limousine. CTV television said the heartthrob pulled up around 7:30 pm (0030 GMT Friday).


Fans rushed in holding up smartphones hoping get a picture of the clean-cut, baby-faced young star turned tattooed, barely adult bad boy.


A girl screamed “I love you, Justin, I love you!” as dozens of cameras flashed to light up the night.


Woes mount for star


The singer also got in trouble with the authorities in Australia and Brazil for spraying graffiti. In Brazil, Bieber was photographed emerging under a blanket from a notorious Rio brothel and later tried in vain to bring prostitutes into the posh Copacabana Palace.


Bieber said he was not guilty of the charges filed against him in Florida last week — including drunk driving, resisting arrest and driving with an expired license.


In a filing by the pop star’s attorneys to a Miami court, Bieber formally rejected the charges.


The White House, meanwhile, was asked to weigh in on Bieber’s bad behavior after it received a petition with more than 100,000 signatures calling for the Canadian-born signer to be deported.


By 9:00 pm Wednesday (0200 GMT Thursday), a petition on the White House website calling for the deportation of the Canadian-born teen idol had garnered more than 155,300 names — easily surpassing the threshold of 100,000 signatures required for presidential consideration.


“We the people of the United States feel that we are being wrongly represented in the world of pop culture,” says the petition, created by one “J.A.” in Detroit the day Bieber was busted in Miami Beach.


“We would like to see the dangerous, reckless, destructive and drug-abusing Justin Bieber deported and his green card revoked. He is not only threatening the safety of our people but he is also a terrible influence on our nation’s youth. We the people would like to remove Justin Bieber from our society.”


Bieber is understood to be living and working in the United States under a renewable O-1 visa for entertainers, rather than a green card for permanent resident status.


It remains unclear whether Bieber’s visa to stay in the United States would be affected by his legal issues.






Police charge Justin Bieber with assault

Source: Mb.com.ph (January 30, 2014 at 02:09PM)

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One Direction is top music artist of 2013

LONDON -- Boy band One Direction was named the most popular recording artist of 2013 on Wednesday, in a record industry award.



One Direction is top music artist of 2013

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 30, 2014 at 01:14PM)

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Justin Bieber charged with assaulting limo driver

TORONTO -- Canadian police charged Justin Bieber on Wednesday with assaulting a limousine driver in Toronto in December, the latest in a string of legal troubles for the young pop star.



Justin Bieber charged with assaulting limo driver

Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (January 30, 2014 at 01:00PM)

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White House weighs petition to deport Canadian singer Justin Bieber


Justin Bieber. (Reuters)



WASHINGTON | As if Barack Obama didn’t have enough problems to deal with already, his administration now is being asked to weigh in on the grave matter of Justin Bieber’s bad behavior.


By midday Wednesday (1700 GMT), a petition on the White House website calling for the deportation of the Canadian-born teen idol had garnered 103,000 names — easily surpassing the threshold of 100,000 signatures required for presidential consideration.


“We the people of the United States feel that we are being wrongly represented in the world of pop culture,” says the petition, created by one “J.A.” in Detroit on January 23, the day Bieber was busted in Miami Beach for impaired driving and illegal drag racing in a flashy Italian sports car.


“We would like to see the dangerous, reckless, destructive and drug-abusing Justin Bieber deported and his green card revoked. He is not only threatening the safety of our people but he is also a terrible influence on our nation’s youth. We the people would like to remove Justin Bieber from our society.”


The White House website hosts citizens’ petitions on other, more heady issues such as the legalization of marijuana and a pardon for National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden.


“Every petition that crosses the threshold will be reviewed by the appropriate staff and receive a response,” assistant White House spokesman Matt Lehrich said.


But State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki cautioned that the petition program “doesn’t always determine a step will be taken, it’s more of another opportunity for the voices of the American people to be heard.”


There was no comment from Bieber himself, who according to gossip websites was back in Los Angeles on Wednesday after a weekend beach break in Panama.


Bieber, 19, is understood to be living and working in the United States under a renewable O-1 visa for entertainers, rather than a green card for permanent resident status.


It remains unclear whether Bieber’s visa to stay in the United States would be affected by his arrest.


Now out on bail, Bieber is due back in Miami for a court appearance on Valentine’s Day, when he will also also face charges of resisting arrest and using an expired driver’s license.


Police in Los Angeles are pursuing their own investigation into an earlier incident in which Bieber allegedly hurled eggs at a neighbor’s house.






White House weighs petition to deport Canadian singer Justin Bieber

Source: InterAksyon.com (January 30, 2014 at 12:29PM)

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