PHILSTAR: The race for next world champ

SPORTING CHANCE
By Joaquin Henson │The Philippine Star

Newly crowned IBF lightflyweight champion Johnriel Casimero of Ormoc City is the latest Filipino fighter to join Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire, Brian Viloria, Donnie Nietes and Ana Julaton as world titlists. There are at least 13 Filipino contenders in line for cracks at the throne this year and it’s a mad race to the top. First in the queue is Sonny Boy Jaro who takes on WBC flyweight champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam of Thailand in Chaburi on March 2. Jaro, 29, is up against an experienced veteran with a record of 83-3-2, including 44 KOs. Pongsaklek, 34, is on his second reign as WBC titleholder. Jaro was previously thwarted in two attempts to win a world title by Edgar Sosa and Giovani Segura so a third strike may mean it’s over and out. Like the Thai, Jaro is an “oldtimer” with a record of 33-10-5, with 23 KOs, but it’s his first try to capture a flyweight crown. A few weeks ago, Jaro looked scary in mowing down Samuel Apuya in a single round in Caloocan. He’s ready for the biggest challenge of his career. If Pongsaklek isn’t careful, he might be steamrolled by the rugged Jaro.

Next is former WBC lightflyweight champion Rodel Mayol who’s gunning for his second title in as many divisions. Mayol, 30, battles WBA flyweight king Hernan (Tyson) Marquez whose only career loses were to Filipinos Nonito Donaire (KO8) and Richie Mepranum (W10), both inflicted in 2010. Mayol takes on Marquez in Mexico on March 24. Mayol is unbeaten in his last four outings since losing the WBC 108-pound title to Omar Niño Romero on a unanimous decision two years ago. Mayol was deducted two points in the loss to Romero but even without the twin penalties, he would’ve lost the decision anyway as the judges showed margins of three, four and eight points. Marquez, 23, has a 32-2 record, with 25 KOs, compared to Mayol’s 30-5-2, with 22 KOs. Marquez has won his last five bouts, all inside the distance, with Filipino Edrin Dapudong one of the victims.

WBC No. 1 superflyweight Silvester Lopez has an appointment with Japanese Yuki Fujimoto in Laoag on Feb. 25 and is expected to dispose of the visitor easily. Lopez, 24, has been cleared by WBC president Jose Sulaiman as the mandatory challenger of the winner of the title fight between defending champion Suriyan Sor Rungvisai of Thailand and Yota Sato of Japan in Toko on March 27. If Lopez takes care of Fujimoto, it will be his fifth win in a row looking ahead to his title shot.

WBC No. 2 minimumweight Denver Cuello, 25, is nearing a title shot, too. He faces Indonesia’s Kid Suryana in Iloilo on March 10 in a tune-up for his title eliminator against Mexico’s Ganigan Lopez here in late April or early May. Cuello’s manager Aljoe Jaro won the purse bid to stage the eliminator here. Jaro said the eliminator may be a fight for the vacant title as WBC champion Kazuto Ioka of Japan has indicated he will relinquish the throne and move up to superflyweight rather than risk his unblemished record against Cuello.

Others in the list are flyweight Milan Melindo, superflyweight Drian Francisco, bantamweight A. J. Banal, bantamweight Malcolm Tunacao, bantamweight Rolly Lunas, flyweight Rocky Fuentes, flyweight Froilan Saludar, featherweight Lorenzo Villanueva and lightweight Mercito Gesta.

Melindo, 23, has a 26-0 record, with 10 KOs, and is fresh from a seventh round demolition of Mexico’s Juan Esquer. Melindo is ranked No. 1 by the WBO whose champion is Viloria. In fact, Saludar is No. 2 and Fuentes No. 3. Melindo would rather challenge a titlist who isn’t a Filipino so he could try the WBC’s Pongsaklek, the WBAs Marquez or the IBF’s Moruti Mthalane. Pongsaklek and Marquez are tied up with defenses against Filipinos, leaving Donaire victim Mthalane who’ll probably insist on fighting in South Africa where the chances of an invader winning are slim or none.

Francisco, 29, was once the interim WBA superflyweight titleholder. He lost the crown to Thailand’s Tepparith Singwancha who’s now the regular champion. The loss to Tepparith remains the only stain in Francisco’s record. Tepparith is due to stake the title against Tomonobu Shimizu in Yokohama on April 4. If the Thai retains, he might be persuaded to face Francisco in a rematch. Since losing to Tepparith, Francisco has beaten highly regarded Michael Domingo on points. Francisco’s record is 21-1-1, with 16 KOs.

Banal, 23, has rebounded from his shock loss to Rafael Concepcion four years ago to win nine in a row, the latest a decision over Mario Briones. Banal’s record is 26-1-1, with 19 KOs. He’s rated No. 1 by the WBO and if bantamweight champion Jorge Arce abdicates to challenge Donaire, the way is clear for a shot at the vacant throne. The No. 2 contender is Pungluang Sor Singyu of Thailand. Banal is also rated No. 3 by the IBF, No. 5 by the WBC and No. 5 by the WBA. More on future Filipino world champions in Sunday’s column.

Import turns zero to hero, lifts TnT

SQUEEZE PLAY: Meralco’s Gabby Espinas tries to

 squeeze himself out TnT’s double-teaming defense

 by Larry Fonacier and import Omar Hassan Samhan

 during their PBA Commissioner’s Cup game at

 the Astrodome. JOEY MENDOZA

-By Nelson Beltran (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - Talk n Text import Omar Hassan Samhan started with a 0-of-9 shooting before getting his game going and leading the Tropang Texters to a 102-96 overtime win over the Meralco Bolts in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome last night.

Samhan shook off his sluggish start and came through with 24 points, 20 rebounds, four blocks and one assist as the Texters opened their campaign for a second title-retention bid in the season on a winning note.

The 6-11 TnT reinforcement stepped up in the crunch, putting in eight points in the fourth quarter and six in overtime as the Texters kept their clean slate (5-0) in their head-to-head battles with the Bolts.

Meralco slid to 1-2 in the mid-season tourney.

“What he (Samhan) showed was not pleasing in the eyes. But he ended up with 24 points and 20 rebounds, and that’s not a bad production,” said Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes.

“He’s not athletic, he’s not flashy, but he’s effective and he has a high basketball IQ that’s why his teammates like playing with him. But the jury is still out on him,” Reyes also said.

The Texters struggled to get the win, but Reyes said he really didn’t expect much, considering their short preparation coming from their Philippine Cup title conquest.

Jimmy Alapag, Jayson Castro, Kelly Williams, Jarred Dillinger and Larry Fonacier delivered double-digit outputs as they cancelled out the huge numbers put up by Jarrid Famous, Mark Cardona and Chris Ross for Meralco.

Famous led all scorers with 28 points, Cardona added 25 points while Ross had another solid all-around game with 19 points, 13 assists, six rebounds and five steals.

Ross furiously attacked Castro’s defense and scored on a turnaround shot to force the extension play at 92-all.

The Texters still had a chance to win the game in regulation but Ranidel de Ocampo failed to convert a running shot at the buzzer.

Castro later got back at Ross, draining a three-pointer that pushed the Texters ahead to stay at 99-96.

Meralco had its last taste of the lead at 96-94 on a perimeter jumper by Ross with 2:15 left to play. The Bolts never scored again the rest of the way.

Missing all his first nine attempts, Samhan finally nailed a basket on a jumper with already over 20 minutes into the game. He buried two more baskets before the half ended at 45-42 in favor of the Texters.

The Texters banked on their deep lineup to keep up with the Bolts even with Samhan groping for form early on.

Philippine Cup losing finalist Powerade likewise got off to a triumphant start, fighting back from a 17-point deficit and nipping Rain or Shine, 122-120, in the nightcap.

Dwayne Jones poured in 32 points, Gary David drained 32, including the game-winning triple, while Jvee Casio added 14 points and 13 assists, leading the Tigers to the stirring win.

“He’s like that even in practice. The important thing is his defensive presence. He clogged the middle for us,” said Reyes.

Talk n Text also hardly missed the absence of Ryan Reyes who’s nursing a torn muscle on his left leg.

Four Champion Kiddie Chefs And A Suddenly Grown Charlie Green

Philip

-By Nestor Cuartero (Manila Bulletin)

JUST A THOUGHT: Children begin by loving their parents; as they grow older they judge them; sometimes, they forgive them. – Oscar Wilde

MANILA, Philippines — COOKING CHILDREN: Men taking to the kitchen are a rarity. But, what can we say about three boys of elementary school age beating 56 other male and female contestants as finalists in the first TV adaptation of “Junior Master Chef?”

Three boys – Jobim, Kyle, and Philip – plus a lone female contender, Mika, made it to the finals of the kiddie cookfest hosted by Judy Ann Santos every Saturday night on channel 2.

All four kiddie chefs said they intend to pursue careers in the culinary arts as soon as they get to college. One of them, Jobim, who goes to Xavier School in Greenhills, also expressed interest in writing.

Tonight (Feb. 18) marks a milestone in their young life as the budding chefs face-off in the grand finale of “JMC.” The event will be held at the Treston International College in Fort Bonifacio and critiqued by a guest panel of 100 food tasters representing various sectors of society.

On top of the judging are regular chef-judges Ferns, Lau and Jayps.

A one million peso cash prize awaits the grand champion. Five hundred thousand pesos goes to the second placer; while the third and the fourth placers shall bring home 250,000 pesos each. All four finalists are also instant winners of scholarship grants at Treston.

I asked Business Unit Head Lauren Dyogi what the network’s plans for the four kiddie cooking whizzes are.

They can’t possibly hire them as cooks at the local cafeteria. Are they going to make them actors as well, just like they do with all other winners or discoveries on network reality shows?

Lauren said it would be a good idea to guide them in establishing a food business. But, being youngsters, that isn’t quite possible. Those who will show interest in showbiz are welcome to participate therein, he said.

• • •

CHARLIE GREEN’S RAINBOW: Later that same afternoon of Feb. 15, reporters found themselves talking with Charlie Green, the London-based Fil-British singer who only a few months back was just a child himself.

Charlie’s in town once again to push a new album, called “Rainbow.” The album was produced and recorded in Italy by Hollywood producer Christian de Walden and is being distributed locally by Viva.

Charlie surprised all of us when he materialized in the size of a full-grown man, standing at something like 5-foot-10. He was half-complaining about the sudden crack in his voice that usually marks a boy’s transition from childhood to puberty. It was the reason, he said, that he cut down his gigs to a minimum for about a year. Charlie is now 15.

The vocal change has prompted Charlie to revise his repertoire, so that these days, he no longer just sings standards. He has upped his line-up a bit to include more contemporary sound.

“Rainbow” gathers six original compositions by Filipino, Japanese, Italian and American composers, plus six covers.

Says a press release: The CD spotlights a versatile Charlie singing songs in Tagalog, Nonoy Zuñiga’s “Kumusta Ka;” in Japanese (“Sukiyaki” by Kyu Sakamoto); Spanish, Somos Novios (“It’s Impossible”), a duet with 16-year-old Danna Paola, famous Mexican star of music and telenovelas.

Charlie caused a sensation when he wowed audiences on the reality show, “Britain’s Got Talent.” “Rainbow” is his second album under Viva, following a self-titled debut album. The album is set for international release.

Judy Ann is happy viewers embrace her as TV host

-By Mario E. Bautista (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - When Judy Ann Santos was offered by ABS-CBN to host the cooking show for kids, Junior Master Chef Pinoy Edition, she didn’t have any hesitation and quickly accepted it.

“Yes, I accepted it right away, but when I got home, that’s when I had second thoughts about it,” she said. “I asked myself, did I make the right decision? As far as acting kasi is concerned, karugtong na ng pusod ko yan. But as for hosting, this would be the first time I would try it. Instead of getting nervous about it, though, I decided to just take it as a challenge to explore other fields in the industry, so that I can grow at hindi na lang lagi akong umiiyak sa pagda-drama in a teleserye.”

She added, “As the show went on, I realized that I’m enjoying myself too much in hosting it. I’m so glad that viewers have accepted me as a host, but honestly, sa tingin ko, my hosting needs some more improvement. I also have to thank my husband (Ryan Agoncillo), who’s the real host in our family. All his valuable inputs about my hosting helped me a lot.”

Juday has three top chefs as her co-hosts in the show: Chef Lau, Chef Ferds and Chef Jayps. What do they think of Juday as the show’s main host? Chef Lau (Rolando Laudico): “She’s very talented and not just a good actress. She’s a natural so I have no doubt na kahit anong pasukan niya, she’ll excel in it, like hosting.” Chef Ferds (Fernando Aracama): “I’m her fan and I believe she’s the last superstar of our generation. Magaling siyang tumikim ng nilulutong dishes.” Chef Jayps (JP Anglo): “I first met her in an island in Palawan when they were shooting Ploning. Four years later, I didn’t know we’d get to work together. The real Juday is so mabait, very generous in sharing what she has. She took us to her kitchen and told us, you can use whatever ingredients you want to use. She’s the most down-to-earth superstar I’ve ever met.”

The final four kiddie cooks are Philip Amarillo, Kyle Imao, Mika Tanaka, and the most good-looking of them, Jobim Jalbuena, who says he wouldn’t mind trying showbiz if there’s an opportunity. The top winner will bag P1M cash plus a culinary scholarship. The second placer will get P500,000 while the third and fourth placers will get P250,000 each.

We asked them how they’ll remember their Ate Juday as the host of Junior Master Chef. Philip: “Mabait siya. Tinuturuan kami ng tama.” Kyle: “Sobrang sayang kasama kasi lagi siyang masaya. Nagpapa-deliver pa ng pizza.” Mika: “Hindi siya mataray kundi sobrang mabait. Very patient pag nagkakamali ka.” Jobim: “She’s super mabait, super helpful in the kitchen. She gives us tips and won’t just criticize our cooking. We’ll miss her.”

The show is a big hit so ABS-CBN now wants Juday to also host its adult version, Master Chef, with chefs Lau, Ferds and Jayps once again as her co-hosts.

After her hit Metro filmfest entry, My Househusband, what’s her next acting assignment?

“ABS-CBN says there will be a teleserye before the year ends, which is good kasi nami-miss ko na rin acting in a drama show. There are other movie offers but nothing is final as of now.”

But what if she gets pregnant again? “Then I’d have to give priority to that muna. Let’s face it, I’ll be 34 na in May and the more I get older, it’d get more difficult for me to get pregnant, so kung ibibigay ni Lord ngayon, I’d gladly accept it. At this point, I put my family ahead of everything else. Meantime, don’t miss the Live Cook Off Finale of Junior Master Chef Pinoy Edition tonight at 6 after TV Patrol Weekend.”

DJ Mo Cries Foul Over Ogie's Spoof Video

Illustration by Rod Cañalita

-By Tweetybird De Leon (Manila Bulletin)


MANILA, Philippines — Few months ago, a quite telling video featuring DJ Mo Twister was leaked online by an “unknown source.” In his tweet below, DJ Mo described it as an “abortion video,” where he cried his heart out for supposedly losing this child. His ex-girlfriend, who opted to remain silent, was dragged into the issue. During the “Mr. and Mrs. A” concert of Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez, a video diary featuring Ogie that seemingly spoofed that of DJ Mo’s, was played.

DJ Mo Twister (@djmotwister) on what is classy:

“Just heard @ogiealcasid made fun of me crying in the abortion video. Classy move bud. Didnt you just have a child? Glad, its alive.”

“hey guys, dont worry bout it. i’m sure he got a good laugh out of it. a few kids dying is pretty fucking funny. unless its his @ogiealcasid.”

“thanks for offering an apology @ogiealcasid I texted you back, hope you got it.”

Ogie Alcasid (@ogiealcasid) on his apology to Mo:

“@djmotwister thanks for accepting the apology”

DJ Mo on his counter-apology:

“@ogiealcasid I’m sorry too for the tweets. My life turned upside down when the thing happened so I get defensive bout it. It is hard on me.”

Good thing that the good-natured Ogie offered his apologies immediately.

I just wonder, what’s running through the mind of Mo’s ex-girlfriend who was put to shame because of that video? Did Mo offer his apologies to her?

And, Mo, before crying foul over this, maybe should first find out who uploaded that video. Could it be him, or is it just me?

Whitney Houston to be buried next to father

HERE LIES. The grave stone of Whitney Houston's father,

 John Russell Houston, Jr, is seen at Fairview Cemetery in

 Westfield, N.J., Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012. According to

 her death certificate, Whitney Houston will be buried on

 Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012, in the same cemetery where her

 father was laid to rest in 2003. AP/Beth DeFalco

-By Alicia Quarles (Associated Press) 

NEW YORK — Whitney Houston’s final resting place will be next to her father, John Russell Houston Jr.
Houston will be laid to rest at the Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, New Jersey, after funeral services on Saturday, a source close to the family confirmed. Houston’s father was buried there in 2003.
Fifteen hundred guests are expected to attend the private funeral services including Aretha Franklin, Clive Davis and Stevie Wonder.
Houston died in Beverly Hills at age 48, one day before the Grammy awards.
From source: inquirer.net

Avril Lavigne rocks Manila with her Black Star Tour

Avril Lavigne took her Black Star Tour to Manila and

 performed before a jampacked crowd at the Smart-

Araneta Coliseum last night, February 16. 

-Melo Balingit

-By Kathleen Benavidez (PEP)

A jampacked Araneta Coliseum rocked along with Avril Lavigne in her Black Star concert tour last night, February 16.

This is the second to the last show of the Black Star Tour Asia leg, which began on February 4 in Tokyo, Japan, and will end on February 18 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Entertaining the crowd at the beginning of the show is heartthrob Rez Toledo, more popularly known as Somedaydream, with his hit song "Hey Daydreamer."

The stage was then set for the much-anticipated appearance of the pop-punk princess.

The audience screamed upon seeing the Canadian singer who was wearing a loose black sleeveless top from her clothing line, Abbey Dawn, with black tights and boots.

Without any foreword, she kicked-off the show with the song from which the tour was named after, "Black Star."

She followed it immediately with the dancey-tuned "What the Hell" to loosen up the crowd.

After the first two songs, she greeted the crowd: "What's up, Manilaaaa!"

"We're so happy to be bringing the Black Star Tour here in Manila. Are you ready to go crazy?"

As if the screams were not loud enough, she repeated, "I said are you ready to go crazy tonight?"—which was met by even louder cheers.

The crowd banging ensued when she performed some of her older songs: "Sk8er Boi," "He Wasn't," and "I Always Get What I Want."

Moving on to her more sentimental pieces, she belted out "Alice," "When You're Gone," and "I Wish You Were Here."

A lot of her younger fans could relate with these more recent songs, particularly the last one—in which they sang along, "Damn, damn, damn, I wish you were, here, here, here!"

The fans then jumped along with her chart-topping hit, "Girlfriend," followed by a medley of "My Happy Ending" and Hayley Willams's original song "Airplanes."

Avril then introduced the members of her band, right before she performed the song "Smile" from the album Goodbye Lullaby.

Sitting in front of the drum set, she sang one of her most well-loved songs, "I'm With You."

On the last chorus, she made the eager audience sing, "It's a damn cold night, trying to figure out this life. Won't you take me by the hand, take me somewhere new, I don't know who you are but I..." and made them repeat it, twice.

At the end of the song, she bowed to the audience, blew a flying kiss, and said, "Thank you. Bye, Manila!"

Even the guitarists and the drummer left the stage as the lights dimmed.

But the crowd was not to be moved. They kept shouting "More, more!" until the screams became a loud, unified chant of "We want more, we want more!" while thumping their feet.

Isabel Oli, iginiit na friends lang sila ng ex-hubby ni Kris Aquino na si James Yap

-By FRJimenez, GMA News

Hindi na naman nakaiwas si Isabel Oli sa pag-usisa ng media tungkol sa kung ano talaga ang relasyon nila ni James Yap, na ex-husband ni Kris Aquino.

Sa ulat ni showbiz reporter Aubrey Carampel, sinabing kabilang si Isabel sa mga celebrities na nakipagtalbugan ng kasuotan sa isang fashion event na ginanap sa Taguig.

Dito ay muli raw inusisa ng media si Isabel tungkol sa tunay na estado ng relasyon nila ng basketbolistang si James.

Patuloy kasi ang mga balita na romantikong nag-uugnay kay Isabel sa sikat na basketball player. Katunayan, lumabas sa isang artikulo ng Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP.ph) na nabaitan daw si Kris sa Kapuso actress.

Boto rin daw si Kris na maging girlfriend ni James si Isabel, ayon pa sa ulat ng PEP.

Pero sinabi ni Isabel sa Chika Minute ng GMA news 24 Oras nitong Biyernes na magkaibigan lang talaga sila ni James.

“Nakakapagod na rin kasi parang paulit-ulit ko nang sinasabi na we’re friends, and yung lang talaga," pahayag ni Isabel.

Nag-alangan nga daw ang aktres nang dumalo siya sa birthday party ni James kamakailan nang makita niya na maraming tao at media na dumalo dito.

“Pagdating ko kasi parang akala ko konti konti lang, ang dami palang tao. Yun, hindi ko iniexpect na may camera… If ever may itinatago man kami e sana hindi na lang ako pumunta dun ‘di ba," paliwanag niya.

Kris backs Luis on new 'Deal or No Deal'

Luis Manzano. File photo

-By ABS-CBNnews.com

MANILA, Philippines – Actor-host Luiz Manzano is excited to be hosting “Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal,” especially with the support of Queen of All Media Kris Aquino, the game show’s former host.

“She (Kris) sent me very positive texts, kumbaga suportado ako, so I’m very, very happy,” Luis said in an interview Friday with Jobert Sucaldito and Ahwel Paz on dzMM.

Luis, who worked with Kris on ABS-CBN's “Pilipinas Got Talent,” is aware of the role he is set to take as Kris’ successor.

“I have very very big shoes to fill,” he said. “’Di biro ang ginawang marka ni Kris, not just in hosting, but para sa ‘Deal or No Deal.’”

Part of the new role is to work with the game show’s staple “26K Girls,” who according to Luis are a new set from Kris’ edition of the show.

He admitted, in jest, that the girls caught his attention at first, “pero sabi sa’kin ng mommy ko, ‘Anak, tandaan mo, para kang babasaging kristal, marupok ka.’ Naiwas ko na ‘yung ganyan!”

“Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal” is the Philippine franchise of the Endemol game show “Deal or No Deal,” and will begin February 25, replacing “Junior Master Chef” in its timeslot.