GMA Network fortifies Saturday and Sunday program line up

Expect no less from GMA Network as it unveils the station’s bigger and bolder program line-up on weekends beginning December 1 and December 2.

The shakeup in the Saturday and Sunday afternoon and primetime blocks is anchored on the network’s commitment to provide the best possible viewing experience to all Filipinos.

On Saturday, December 1, local television’s pioneering wish-granting program“Wish Ko Lang”, hosted by multi-awarded GMA News Pillar Vicky Morales, continues to feature inspiring stories of ordinary Filipinos as they struggle to overcome extraordinary situations. Anchored by Jiggy Manicad and Pia Arcangel,“24 Oras Weekend” shortly comes next at 5:15pm with the rundown of the day’s most pressing issues and a recap of the week that was.

Coming in next is the action packed reality show “Extra Challenge” at 5:45pm,hosted by primetime royalties Richard Gutierrez and Marian Rivera together with Boobay. This Saturday, celebrities Mikael Daez, JC Tiuseco, LJ Reyes, and Love Anover brave a series of tough challenges in the infamous Pasig River. All of them must jump from the Guadalupe bridge to an approaching barge like that scene from Bourne Supremacy! Will they be able to conquer their fear?

Get ready for another fun-filled episode of “Celebrity Bluff” as award-winning comedienne/actress Eugene Domingo together with the well-loved comic tandem of Jose Manalo and Wally Bayola bring non-stop fun and entertainment to every household at 6:30pm. This will be followed by Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr.‘s informative and educational program, “Kap’s Amazing Stories” at 7:30pm.

Be inspired and be moved once again with another touching story of ordinary people with extraordinary experiences via the award-winning drama anthology“Magpakailanman” hosted by multi-awarded broadcast journalist Ms. Mel Tiangco, which comes in at 8:15pm.  At 9:35pm, witness the daily grind of persons with unique occupations around the country and the world in “Wattajob”, hosted by Kapuso heartthrob Chris Tiu and multi-awarded actress Heart Evangelista with comedian John Feir.

Join award-winning broadcast journalist Rhea Santos as she gets to know the real stories behind the lives of the people often seen on camera. Musicians who have made their names in the music industry for their chart-topping hits share the tales of their lives this Saturday in “Tunay na Buhay” beginning at 10:20pm. Know the ups and downs of hit-maker Kitchie Nadal and what keeps Yael Yuzon of Spongecola grounded.

Cap the night off with the musical variety show of the country’s one and only Master Showman German Moreno in “Walang Tulugan With The Master Showman” at 11:05pm.

On Sunday, December 2, join Raymond Gutierrez, Roderick Paulate, Jennylyn Mercado, and Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid as they feature extraordinary personalities and human interest stories on GMA’s showbiz news magazine program “HOT T.V.” at 4pm.

Back to deliver the day’s biggest news are Jiggy Manicad and Pia Arcangel via“24 Oras Weekend” at 5:30pm.

For the second part of the Pasig River challenge, who among Mikael, JC, LJ, and Love will be rushed to the hospital because of an ill fall from the Guadalupe bridge stunt? “Extra Challenge” reveals its next champion starting at 6pm.

Afterwards, the high-rating family sitcom “Pepito Manaloto”,  topbilled by Asian TV Best Comedy Actor recipient Michael V., continues to delight and entertain kids and adults alike at 6:45pm.

Multi-awarded broadcast journalist Jessica Soho takes Sundays this time as top-rating news magazine program “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” begins sharing informative and at the same time entertaining feature stories at 7:45pm.

It will shortly be followed by local television’s one and only Sumbungan ng Bayan. Bannered by one of the country’s most credible broadcast personalities, Mike Enriquez, Imbestigador airs at 9:15pm.

At 10pm, witness another amazing episode in “I-Bilib” as Chris Tiu and Moymoy Palaboy feature bizarre experiments in the world of science with special guests Jennylyn Mercado and Chariz Solomon. And at 10:30pm, catch the major solo concert of the Ultimate Singing Champion Rachelle Ann Go dubbed as“R.A.G. Rise Against Gravity” in Sunday Night Box Office (SNBO).

Catch these Kapuso shows as they bring superior entertainment every weekend beginning this Saturday and Sunday on GMA.

TV5 International continues expansion with Canada launch

TV5 International continues to expand with the recent launch of channels Kapatid TV5 and Aksyon TV International in Canada. Held last November 3 during the PNT Singing Idol 2102 Grand Finals in Vancouver, the launch introduced to the public the availability of TV5’s channels through the Turbo TV bar, an IPTV (Internet Protocol Television)-powered device that transforms regular TV into a smart TV.

The Turbo TV bar allows users the flexibility to download and install their favorite Apps from the Google Store. Viewers can enjoy both local Canadian programs and TV5’s news and entertainment shows while having the functions of a desktop computer on their television sets. The Turbo TV Android Set top box also comes with a built-in camera, allowing users to surf the web and connect with their family and friends on Twitter, Facebook, Skype, and Youtube.



“Turbo TV is the first to offer this kind of cutting-edge technology to Filipinos living overseas, combining entertainment with almost everything one wants to do online,” said Claro Carmelo Ramirez, President of PGN, Ltd. “This is truly revolutionary and we are optimistic that our Kapatids in Canada will love this product.”



TV5’s Kapatid TV5 and Aksyon TV International are the only channels from the Philippines offered via the Turbo TV Filipino package, which is powered by Vancouver-based AEBC Internet Corp. and distributed by Reyfort Media Group all over Canada. Plans are also already underway for a bigger launch in the country sometime next year, with hopes to reach more Filipinos living in other key areas in the region.

Jennifer Lopez's Dance Again World Tour Live in Manila | A Night to Remember

I had a chance to watch JLo's Dance Again World Tour last night. Few days ago, I joined PLDT Home's JLo Twitter contest, and I'm one of the five lucky winners to watch the said concert.

Congrats @eccentricmelai @steve050504 @frenchiedarry @jayannminime @dyet_rkeza! You win 2 tickets each for @jlo's concert! #PLDTFibrJLo

— PLDT HOME (@PLDTHome) November 26, 2012

From my Instagram account

Thousand of fans trooped in at SM Mall of Asia Arena, as Latina diva visited Manila for the first time as a part of her Dance Again World Tour.

The spectacular night opened up by Philippine All-Stars. Followed by a duet by RnB prince Jay-R and sultry Mica Javier.



When we saw JLo's dancers going up on stage, we knew that it will be an awesome night of our lives. As she sang at least 20 songs from first album to her latest album, “LOVE?, Jennifer Lopez rocks SM MOA Arena!

JLo flaunts her six pack abs and bootylicious bod as she performed her 20 of her greatest hits.

From Phoemela Barranda's Instagram account

One of the highlights of the said concert when she sang an acoustic version of "If You Had My Love", she suddenly pick one of the fans standing near the stage and sang with her. 



Also, she shook hands with fans, took her own photo using one of the audience' camera phones, and she raised the Philippine flag draped it around her shoulders.



After the said concert, she went straight to the airport going for Dance Again World Tour leg in Hong Kong, she tweeted:

Thank you MANILA!To all the Filipino LOVE!RS who came out tonight...Mahal Kita #untilnexttime #DanceAgainWorldTour2012

— Jennifer Lopez (@JLo) November 26, 2012

JLo's concert completed my birthday wish. It's really a night to remember.



Thank you PLDT Home for the two tickets that my sister and I enjoyed the fantabulous night.



More photos here.

PNoy leads storytelling session to Araw ng Pagbasa“Araw ng Pagbasa”

To
stress the importance of reading as the foundation of knowledge, President
Benigno S. Aquino III leads today a storytelling session with Grade V pupils of
T. Alonzo Elementary School in Project 4, Quezon
City.

Araw
ng Pagbasa is an annual advocacy program that began in 2008. Every year, public
elementary schools and high schools in Quezon
City simultaneously hold storytelling sessions in
Araling Panlipunan, Filipino, and English.

Araw ng Pagbasa was inspired by the ideals of the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy”
Aquino, who deeply believed that reading expands the mind that serves as a
key   to other learning.

To promote a nationwide advocacy for reading, November
was declared the National Reading Month which culminates with the “Araw ng Pagbasa” on November 27,
Ninoy’s birthday.

Education Secretary Armin Luisto said the move is in
support of the ten-point education agenda of the Aquino Administration which
promotes the Every Child a Reader Program (ECARP).

“Reading
enriches the mind and opens a host of other possibilities that is why we
encourage our children to start early and keep the habit as they grow older,”
Luistro added.

  

To highlight the Reading Month, Luistro directed all
regional, division and school level officials to lead the nationwide
synchronized reading program every first Monday of November from 9:00 to 10:00
in the morning.

“By encouraging reading among our school children
using many creative ways,   we are also motivating them to learn from the
lives of eminent Filipinos who can be our role models,” explained Luistro. 

School kids learn dengue self-defense in “Green Cross School Crashers”

CHILDREN ARE AT GREATER RISK of dengue infection,
according to the Department of Health. Kids of ages 10 years and below need to
level up their protection against this serious, potentially deadly
disease—whether they are at home or in school.

This is why the Green Cross School Crashers campaign
is a very important frontline effort to defend school children against dengue.
The Green Cross School Crashers team goes to various schools in Metro Manila to
empower school children by teaching them proper habits that will protect them
from dengue lamok or dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

The latest site of the Green Cross School Crashers
campaign is Paco Catholic School, where elementary school kids learned about
the two “school crashers” that they need to watch out for: Daytime Dengue
Lamok, and Nighttime Dengue Lamok.

The Green Cross School Crashers team held
two interactive learning sessions in the campus on November 19th, one for Grade
Four and another for Grade Six students.

Paco Catholic School Director Msgr. Rolando Dela Cruz, is happy that the students displayed much enthusiasm
and learning during their participation in the interactive educational session
held by the Green Cross School Crashers team for the kids.  

Though Paco Catholic School has recorded
low dengue cases – 9 out of 2822 grade school students and 7 out of 2689 high
school students – the school is very cooperative and welcomed the Green Cross
School Crashers team. 

Double threat

One of the most important things that the Paco Catholic
School kids learned is
that there are actually two types, or species, of dengue lamok. one species, Aedes aegypti, bites during the day,
while the other species, Aedes albopictus,
bites at night.

For many, many years, people believed that
Ae.aegypti was the only threat.
Recently, however, Filipino entomologists discovered that another dengue lamok,
Ae. albopictus, also threatens kids
and families with dengue during nighttime.

So that kids can easily understand this
new scientific discovery and other concepts about dengue and dengue lamok, they
are taught by the Green Cross Crashers team using games, songs, dances,
story-telling sessions and interaction with the Green Cross Ambassador, Ms.
Green, and the two mascots: Daytime Dengue Lamok and Nighttime Dengue Lamok.

These various activities help kids
understand that the threat of dengue is now double, with dengue lamok biting
during the day and at night. This double threat of dengue is more worrisome
when DOH statistics are considered:

Based on a DOH report, the national dengue
cases from January to September 2012 now reached 95,142.  This figure is 12.94% higher compared to the
same period last year which was 84, 244 cases. 
DOH has also detailed that the prime dengue victims are mostly children
under 10 years of age because of their weaker immune systems. 

Dengue defense

Ms. Green shared information on what students and
parents can do to prevent dengue lamok from breeding. For example, getting rid
of stagnant water in the house and its surroundings; this is because stagnant
water is a mosquito breeding site.  

Ms. Green taught the school kids the special Day and
Night Dengue Lamok Defense stance.   The
stance is similar to a karate block—and while the gesture is symbolic, it
derived its effectiveness from the kids’ natural affinity for movement,
mimicry, and play.

Other preventive measures discussed included: wearing
of long pants and long sleeved shirts; and applying insect repellent lotion to prevent mosquitoes from
landing on and biting the kids’ skin.  

Green Cross Insect Repellent Lotion is clinically
proven to protect against Daytime Dengue Lamok and Nighttime Dengue Lamok. It
also provides the  anti-bacterial
protection that the Green Cross brand is known and trusted to provide.

While dengue lamok continue to lurk around us, the Paco Catholic
School kids now know how
to protect themselves, thanks to Green Cross School Crashers.  Aside from the new learning the students got
from the Green Cross School Crashers, Paco Catholic
School personnel
regularly do fumigation and clearing of stagnant water within the school’s
surroundings. The school also often coordinates with its barangay for new
health programs and echoes these learnings to its students and teachers.

Other Metro Manila schools that have
already joined the campaign against dengue include St. Scholastica’s College
Manila; St .Scholastica’s College Marikina, St. Pedro Poveda, Manila Cathedral
School, Notre Dame of Greater Manila, St. Mary’s Academy of Caloocan, Diliman
Preparatory School, Sienna College, St. Jude Catholic School, Philippine
Cultural College, Pasig Catholic College, University of Perpetual Help, Lourdes
School of Mandaluyong, Divine Light Academy, Paref Southridge School and MGC
New Life School.

For more details on Green Cross School Crashers, visit www.facebook.com/greencrossphilippines
or call Green Cross hotline at 0917 976 5980.