Bryant sinks to new low in his likely final season

As the Golden State Warriors steamrolled Los Angeles Lakers to a historic start on Tuesday, aging star Kobe Bryant sank to a new low in a trying season expected to be his last.

Bryant, slowed by age and past injuries, has looked like a shadow of his former self this year and that was never more apparent then against Golden State who blasted the Lakers to improve to a record 16-0.

Bryant scored four points and managed to make just 1-of-14 shots to tie the worst shooting night of his 20-year career when he has attempted at last five shots.

The Oracle Arena crowd, hoping to see a vintage Bryant performance amid their team's inevitable win, seemed to deflate with every miss from the 37-year-old player.

The misses have piled up as high as the Lakers' (2-12) losses for Bryant this campaign as he entered the night shooting just 33 percent from the field.

"He's struggling right now to make a shot. I think he'll be the first to tell you that," Los Angeles coach Byron Scott told reporters following his team's 111-77 defeat.

"You can see that he was getting pretty frustrated at himself."

Bryant has indicated that unless something changes this will likely be the final chapter of a career that has included five championships and countless memorable moments. —Reuters

Sly and the Family Stone trumpet player Cynthia Robinson dies at 71

Trumpet player and singer Cynthia Robinson, an original member of psychedelic funk pioneers Sly and the Family Stone, has died, the band said in statement on Friday. She was 71.

Robinson was one of the first women horn players to be featured prominently in a top American pop band and also provided vocals to such hits as "Dance to the Music" with Sly and the Family Stone.

In announcing her death, the band posted a statement on its website saying, "Our condolences go out to the Robinson Family and her band mates and all family (and) friends! You are in our thoughts and prayers and we are here for you."

It also asked for continued support for the Cynthia Robinson Cancer Care Fund.

The New York Times reported that Robinson died on Monday at her daughter's home in Carmichael, California, a suburb of her hometown of Sacramento.

"Cynthia's role in music history isn't celebrated enough," musician and producer Questlove said in a post on his Instagram account, calling her a "crucial, intimate" part of Sly and the Family Stone.

Robinson played with Sylvester Stewart in a previous band before joining him when he began Sly and the Family Stone in 1966.-- Reuters

China stocks tumble most since summer slump as brokerage probe widens

SHANGHAI - Chinese shares sank more than 5 percent on Friday in their biggest drop since this summer's rout after Reuters reported the stock regulator had widened its probe on brokerages to include the country's fourth-biggest securities firm.

The sharp drop in afternoon trade highlights the volatility of China's markets ahead of an expected decision by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday on whether to include the yuan currency in its global reserve basket.

China Haitong Securities is under investigation by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), two people with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters, following similar probes into two other domestic brokers.

The brokerage later confirmed the news, saying in a statement published on the Shanghai stock exchange that it is being probed for possible violation of securities regulations.

Little has emerged as to the specific reasons for the probes, but Gu Yongtao, an analyst at Cinda Securities, said the regulator could be trying to get a better grip on leveraged trading after a near full-blown market crash a few months ago.

"We think the purpose of the probes is to bring all businesses related to stock financing to the table so that regulators can have a clear picture of the leverage situation," he said, adding it is likely an extension of an ongoing clean-up in illegal margin trading.

Markets had already been jittery after Reuters reported that the regulator is urging brokerages to cease financing clients' stocks purchases through swaps and other over-the-counter contracts, a move aimed a curbing leveraged trading.

"The move towards deleveraging is certainly having a negative impact on investor sentiment," said Shen Weizheng, fund manage at Shanghai-based Ivy Capital.

At a weekly news conference in Beijing on Friday, the securities regulator confirmed that it has ordered securities firms not to finance securities trading by clients using over-the-counter derivatives.

The CSRC probe into Haitong come on the heels of investigations into CITIC Securities and Guosen Securities, two bigger rival firms.

Sliding market

Earlier selling pressure intensified late in the stock trading session, pushing the blue-chip CSI300 index down 5.4 percent and the Shanghai Composite Index 5.5 percent lower in their biggest one-day percentage loss since the nadir of the summer rout in late August.

The flagship indexes also posted their worst weekly performance since August, losing over 5 percent.

Market sentiment was already fragile as investors braced for a fresh batch of initial public offerings next week, and are cautious ahead of a possible US interest rate increase next month that would be the first in around a decade.

After the stock market slump began in mid-June, Beijing launched a massive and unprecedented rescue effort and began cracking down on insider trading and short-selling, which it said were partly to blame for volatility.

Haitong, along with Guotai Junan Securities, is also being probed by anti-corruption investigators, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Tuesday.

In September, Haitong was fined 86 million yuan ($13.5 million) by the regulator for breaching securities rules.

In August, state media reported that a CSRC official and four senior executives from CITIC Securities had confessed to insider dealing.

The yuan softened to a three-month low against the dollar on Friday and was set for its longest weekly losing streak in five months ahead of the IMF's decision next week.

Some traders expect Beijing may allow the currency to depreciate after it is included in the IMF's Special Drawing Rights basket, partly to reflect China's slowing economic growth. — Reuters

Ken Chan reveals attracting male admirers as 'Destiny Rose'

Naranasan na ni Ken Chan ang matinding dusa ng mga babae kapag inaayusan ang mga ito.

Sa pag-ayos na lang kay Ken bilang isang transgender sa Destiny Rose ay inaabot nang higit na apat na oras.

“Actually, two hours to put on makeup, pati sa pag-ayos ng buhok; kailangan kasi flawless ang dating—yung diyosa lang!

“’Tapos another two hours para sa pagsuot ng mga panloob ko sa damit ni Destiny Rose.

“May mga paddings ako na nilalagay para flat siya sa area na iyon!” sabay tawa ni Ken.

Kasama na rin daw ang pagpili ng tamang shoes, stockings, accessories, at pati na ang nails ay inaabala ng glam team ni Ken.

“Iba-iba ang glam team namin for Destiny Rose; iba sa makeup, sa buhok, at sa damit.”

In character si Ken Chan bilang Destiny Rose habang kausap siya ng ilang member ng media na bumisita sa set ng naturang teleserye noong nakaraang November 25, Miyerkules, sa Matandang Balara, Quezon City.

Saad pa niya, “Plus may acting coach pa ako on the side para hindi ako mawala sa character.

“May tendency kasing maging over ako sa character kaya tino-tone down namin especially ang boses ko.

“Pati na sa mga paggalaw ko, kailangan tamang-tama lang; parati ko raw isipin na babae ako at hindi bading.

“Thankful naman ako kina Sir Michael de Mesa at kay Katrina Halili kasi kasama sila sa mga nagbabantay sa pag-arte ko.

“One time sinabihan ako ni Sir Michael na huwag kong sobrahan ang pag-emote, yung tamang timpla lang.

“Si Katrina naman, binabantayan niya ang pagkilos ko; may kilos daw kasi ako na para akong sumasali sa beauty contest.

“Sabi niya, ‘Uy, nasa opisina ka, wala ka sa beauty pageant, umayos ka!’ sabay nagtatawanan kami kasi tama naman siya!”

MALE ADMIRERS. Ayon kay Ken, hindi raw siya bumibitaw sa kanyang character bilang si Destiny Rose kapag nasa set na raw siya ng kanilang taping.

Yun daw kasi ang natutunan niya sa isang acting workshop na huwag bibitaw para consistent siya sa kanyang performance.

“As much as possible, ayokong bumitaw talaga; kapag naipasok ko na ang character ni Destiny Rose sa pagkatao ko, yun na ‘yon.

“Hindi na siya mawawala hanggang matapos ang taping namin,  kaya pati mga tao sa production.

"Nagugulat sila na kahit breaktime namin, very Destiny Rose pa rin ako.

"From the way I walk, talk hanggang sa pag-upo ko, may tatak-Destiny Rose.

“May mga nagtataka kung bakit gano’n ako, puwede naman daw magpahinga ako saglit from my character.

“Puwede naman iyon, pero para sa akin, gusto ko tuluy-tuloy lang ako para hindi mawala,” diin pa ni Ken.

Isa pang kuwento niya, meron na nga raw mga lalaki na gustong makipagkilala sa kanya sa social media.

“May isang guy na gustong makipagkilala ’tapos may isa pang gustong mag-propose!

“Ewan ko ba kung serious sila pero kung totoo man, effective ang pagganap ko as Destiny Rose.

“Siyempre nagpasalamat na lang ako sa mga ito dahil pinapanood nila ako.

"Sinasabi ko naman parati na aktingan lang ito, pero nakakatuwa na may mga sumeseryoso kahit alam nilang TV drama lang ito.”

So ine-enjoy na ba ni Ken ang kanyang pagiging transwoman in real life?

“Medyo! Echos!!!” malakas na tawa ni Ken, “Kailangan ko lang i-enjoy kasi ang saya naming lahat sa set.

“Lalo na at maganda ang ratings namin at parati kaming nagte-trending; doon ako nag-e-enjoy talaga.

“As for being Destiny Rose, kasama ito sa package ng pagiging artista ko sa teleserye namin.

“Kailangan mahalin mo ang trabaho para mahalin ka pabalik, ‘di ba?

“Kaya heto love namin ang work naming lahat kaya maganda ang result parati.” -- PEP.ph

source: gmanetwork.com

Lola Babah, boto na rin kay Yaya Dub para kay Alden

Nagdiwang ang AlDub nation nitong Sabado sa kalyeserye ng Eat Bulaga nang magbago ang isip ni Lola Babah at hayaan na ang apong si Alden na manatili sa piling ni Yaya Dub sa halip na piliting ipakasal kay Cindy the Russian model.

source: gmanetwork.com

Adele's '25' becomes UK's biggest-selling No. 1 album

British singer Adele's "25" notched up the most sales in its opening week of any UK album, beating a record set in 1997 by Oasis, the Official Charts Company said on Friday.

The 27-year-old's third studio album sold 800,307 copies - compared with Oasis' previous record of 696,000 with "Be Here Now" - and amassed more sales than the last 19 No. 1 albums in Britain combined.

It also became the most downloaded No. 1 album ever, the charts company said.

"The statistics surrounding the album are staggering, topped by the simple fact that no album has ever sold 800,000 copies to reach Number 1 in the history of British music," said Chief Executive Martin Talbot.

Adele, who also broke the single-week U.S. album sales record in just four days with 25, announced on Thursday she would begin a 15-week concert tour of Britain, Ireland and continental Europe in February, her first tour in four years.

Elsewhere in the album charts, Elvis Presley was back up a place at two with the "If I Can Dream" compilation while Justin Bieber’s "Purpose" was third.

Bieber was also riding high in the UK singles chart, taking three of the top four places. Madonna was the last act to occupy the top two positions simultaneously back in 1985 with "Into The Groove" and "Holiday".

Bieber's "Sorry" was top, with "Love Yourself" second and "What do you Mean" fourth. Adele was third with "Hello". - Reuters

Derrick Monasterio reveals getting indecent offer from a socialite

Maraming umiikot na mga shirtless photos sa Internet si Derrick Monasterio na ang karamihan ay kuha sa paghuhubad niya sa nakaraang Cosmo Bachelor Bash.

Kung pinagpapantasyahan man daw siya ng mga bading at babae, okey lang daw sa kanya.

“Natutuwa nga po ako kasi binabasa ko yung mga comments, na parang yung offensive na sa iba, para sa akin hindi.

“Kasi ano yun, e. Kumbaga ina-admire ka nila, e. Bihira lang naman yung ganun.”
May natanggap ba siyang mga indecent proposals lalo ngayon na hunky na siya?

“Meron, meron,” pag-amin ni Derrick pero hindi rin daw siya na-offend.

“Para sa akin hindi nakaka-offend, nakaka-flatter pa nga, e. Parang, ‘Wow, willing kang magbayad nang ganyan!’”

Kung magkano man ang halagang inalok sa kanya, “Secret,” at tumawa si Derrick.

Pero napilitan itong magsabi, “Seven figures,” na ang ibig sabihin ay milyon ang perang alok sa kanya.

May middleman daw ito at hindi rin bading ang nag-alok sa kanya kundi isang babae, “Socialite. Mayaman po siguro.”

Wala raw siyang natatanggap na alok mula sa mga bading, “Wala, pero may nagpaparamdam.”

Ayon kay Derrick, hindi raw siya natutukso sa ganitong uri ng alok, “Kasi kaya ko namang kitain."

Kailan totodo si Derrick sa pictorials, yung naka-underwear o swimming trunks na siya?

“When the right time comes,” saad niya.

Dating na-link sina Derrick at Sarah Lahbati na ngayon ay nasa ABS-CBN na.

Ano ang nararamdaman niya ngayong nasa kabilang istasyon na ito?

“Ganda, ang ganda!”

May panghihinayang ba siya?

“Wala naman,” at tumawa si Derrick.

Maigting kasi ang pagkakasabi niya na ang ganda ngayon ni Sarah, “Grabe kasi talaga, ibang klase, ang ganda niya.

“Kasi dati nun hindi pa siya nagma-mature, ano pa, bagets pa, nene, pero ngayon, ‘Ahh!’” -- For the full story, visit PEP.

source: gmanetwork.com

NBA: Bucks coach banned one game for slapping ball from official

Milwaukee Bucks coach Jason Kidd has been suspended one game for an on-court outburst that saw him slap a ball out of a referee's hands in a game earlier this week, the National Basketball Association said on Friday.

The incident occurred while Kidd was arguing a call and resulted in a technical foul and ejection from Wednesday's game against the Sacramento Kings, which the Bucks went on to lose 129-118.

Kidd needed to be restrained by several members of his team before being escorted off the court.

Kidd, a former player who won an NBA title with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011, will serve his suspension without pay later on Friday when Milwaukee visit the Orlando Magic.  — Reuters

Why Georgina Wilson is crazy for Maine Mendoza

 Kabilang ang model na si Georgina Wilson sa manghang-mangha sa galing ni Maine Mendoza o Yaya Dub sa pagda-Dubsmash.

Sa katunayan, noong September ay nag-tweet pa si Georgina tungkol sa pagkahumaling niya sa videos ng tinaguriang Dubsmash Queen.

Nang makausap ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) ang Filipino-British model sa press launch ng Hershey's nitong Huwebes, November 27, tinanong namin kung bakit na-obsess siya kay Maine.

Pahayag ni Georgina, “The funny thing was I had no idea what it was at all, and then they showed me her dubsmashes of Kris Aquino and I found it so funny.

"I kept watching. Ang galing niya talaga.

“I think it’s a phenomenon.

"I’ve been reading, reading about it and seeing it on BBC, it’s something that after a while everyone just knows."

Sabi pa ni Georgina, hindi man niya nauunawaan nang lubos ang videos ni Maine ay natatawa pa rin siya.

“I don’t understand exactly but I just love her videos.

"I don’t understand the rest of it, but I think her videos are so funny.

"That’s really it."

Bilang isang “It Girl,” natanong kay Georgina kung ano sa tingin niya ang appeal ni Maine.

Sagot niya, “I just find her like very approachable, I just found her really funny.

“I didn’t think about it so much.

"I kept watching the video and we were having dinner and I just kept watching and watching."

Sinusundan ba niya si Maine sa social media?

“I follow her Instagram because Liz [Uy] is her stylist,” tukoy niya sa kaibigang celebrity stylist.

Ayon pa kay Georgina, isang patunay si Maine sa husay ng mga Pilipino upang mapansin sa buong mundo.

“It just shows you how we’re really trendsetters in global records, like Twitter, like social media.

"We always outdo the worldwide records, ganun kalakas tayo."

Sa ngayon, ang AlDub (Alden Richards at Yay Dub) ang may hawak ng world record ng may pinakamaraming tweets sa Twitter, dahil sa 41 million tweets ng hashtag na #AlDubEBTamangPanahon na ginamit sa Tamang Panahon concert noong October 24. —PEP

For the full story, visit PEP.

source: gmanetwork.com

Second language linked to better brain function after stroke

People who speak two languages are twice as likely as those who only speak one to regain normal cognitive function after a stroke, according to a new study.

In recent years it has become clear that life experiences modify the way disease expresses itself in the brain, said lead author Dr. Suvarna Alladi, a neurology professor at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences in Hyderabad, India.

“One study in Toronto demonstrated that people who could speak two languages had later onset dementia,” Alladi told Reuters Health.

Using multiple languages challenges the brain, as it can be harder to find a particular word switching between languages, and this challenge promotes neuroplasticity or “cognitive reserve,” which prepares the brain to deal with new challenges, like disease, she said.

Researchers reviewed the medical records of 608 patients in the stroke registry at Alladi’s institution between 2006 and 2013. In Hyderabad, Telugu, Urdu, Hindi and English are all common languages and children learn three languages in school, Alladi said.

More than half of the stroke patients spoke at least two languages.

After accounting for other lifestyle factors like smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, age and education, the researchers found that about 40 percent of those who were bilingual had normal cognitive function after a stroke, compared to 20 percent of those who spoke only one language.

Bilingual people also performed better on tests of attention after a stroke, but there was no difference in the likelihood of experiencing aphasia, or loss of ability to understand or express speech, according to the results in Stroke.

“They develop stroke at the same age but outcomes appear to be better for bilinguals,” Alladi said.

Using a second or third language regularly, or speaking it fluently even if you do not use it regularly, seems to provide the benefit to the brain, she said.

“The most important factor would be long-term language use,” she said. Learning a second language in school and then never using it may not confer the same benefit, she said.

“The take-home message would be that cognitively stimulating activities are something you can do in midlife to protect yourself. One is speaking two languages, but it could also be playing a musical instrument,” or other challenging activities, she said.

“This is heartening because you know that you can do something to protect yourself,” Alladi said.

Three languages may be better than two languages, though that is still unclear, “but I suspect the additional positive effects of further languages falls off quickly as more languages are learned,” said Fergus Craik of the Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest in Toronto, who was not part of the new study.

He and his colleagues previously found that bilingualism delays the onset of Alzheimer’s disease by four to five years.

“People should learn a second language to communicate in a second living situation or to absorb a different culture – or out of interest and enjoyment,” Craik told Reuters Health by email. “The neurological benefits are a bonus, not a primary goal.”

In many parts of the world, like India, Africa and Europe, speaking multiple languages is already common practice, Alladi said.

“In places where two languages are existing, it’s a good idea to encourage that,” she said. — Reuters

Sugod Bahay winner, naintindihan ang Russian ni Cindy!

Russian ang native tongue ng Kalyeserye beauty na si Cindy. Pero ang Sugod Bahay winner ngayong Huwebes, tila naiintindihan siya!

source: gmanetwork.com

Should You Negotiate Your Mortgage?

Finally thinking about joining the homeowner club – negotiation is a key trick of the trade when it comes to mortgages. If you know the power of negotiation, you will save yourself a lot of hassle, money and time in the end.

Becoming educated on the home buying process and the financial aspects of it, can give you the upper hand. Remember the lenders are competing for your business, you don’t have to just settle for what you can get, you can get the best if you know your stuff.

3 Tips to help you negotiate your mortgage

• Calculate your finances.
It’s important that you are fully aware of your finances. Know your credit score and how much money you have in the bank. If you have a high credit score, try to maintain it. If your credit score is on the lower end, speak with your financial agent to find out the best way for you to improve it. Your finances play a major role in the amount of money you will be offered by lenders and if you are confident with your finances, you will make a better negotiator. Use a mortgage calculator to check out payment and interest options.


• Shop around – visit different lenders and listen to their offers.
Be prepared to visit a few lenders to find the best deal for you. They should lay out all of the information in a clear and concise way, so you will be able to understand 100% of what they are offering.


• Don’t make any impulsive decisions.
Think of the big picture – don’t rush it. Take time to think about the offers and what looks the most attractive to you.

There are many mortgage terms that lenders are usually willing to negotiate, but two of the main ones are:

1. The Amortization Period
Let’s start with what the amortization period is on a mortgage: it is the period of time it will take to repay your debt (mortgage) in installments on a regular fixed schedule. The amortization period makes a huge difference when it comes to your mortgage payments and the amount of interest that you will pay on the mortgage life.


2. Interest Rates
These rates vary but lenders are able to offers some customers ideal rates.

Speak with one of the experts at Northwood Mortgage to find the best mortgage for you.

source: northwoodmortgage.com

Music not just good for the soul, it’s also good for the body

Music isn't just good for the soul, it's also good for helping the body heal after surgery, a research review suggests.

Surgery patients who listen to music may have lower levels of pain and anxiety as well as lower blood pressure and heart rate than people who don't, according to the analysis.

The benefits of music were bigger when patients get to pick their own playlists.

"As many patients have smartphones with personal music playlists, informing our patients before scheduled surgeries of the positive effect of music on their wellbeing could be a low cost intervention that may enhance wellbeing and possibly faster recover," lead study author Dr. Diana Vetter, a surgery researcher at the University of Zurich in Switzerland, said by email.

To assess the impact of music on surgical outcomes, Vetter and colleagues analyzed data from 47 studies, including 26 that looked at the effect of music before procedures, 25 looking at music in the operating room, and 25 looking at music during recovery.

Overall, music was linked to about 31 percent less pain, 29 percent lower odds of using pain medication, and 34 percent less anxiety.

In addition, music was tied to 40 percent lower blood pressure and 27 percent lower heart rate.

When patients choose their own tunes, the benefits sometimes increased, the researchers report in the Annals of Surgery.

For example, self-selected music was linked to 35 percent lower pain levels than no music, while music chosen by study personnel was linked to a 26 reduction in pain levels.

Self-selected music was also linked to 47 percent lower anxiety levels, compared to a scant 6 percent reduction with music chosen by study personnel.

There wasn't much difference in heart rate or blood pressure based on whether patients chose their own music or listened to music selected by study personnel.

One shortcoming of the analysis is that it might give rather conservative effect estimates because the early studies generally tended to overestimate effects or were only published with spectacular findings, the authors acknowledge. Their analysis covered research in the past 15 years.

The researchers had also hoped to examine the impact of architecture, design and art on surgical outcomes but they didn't find enough studies to assess this.

Even though the scientific evidence may be limited when it comes to music interventions, the current findings add to a growing body of evidence that makes a good case for letting patients listen to music in the hospital, said Marianne van der Heijden, a researcher at Erasmus Medical Center - Sophia Children's Hospital in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

"Music interventions are not yet part of the system because for an intervention to be formally adapted in medicine and hospitals, efficacy needs to be shown," van der Heijden, who wasn't involved in the study, said by email. She added, "There now seems to be enough evidence to support the formal adaptation of music interventions in clinical guidelines."

"Self-selected music interventions shouldn't be difficult to provide at all and could be realized by creating awareness among hospital staff, patients and their family members about the positive effects of music," van der Heijden added. — Reuters

Koko believes no backing out this time, Duterte will run for president

 Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte will no longer back out from the presidential race, Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) president, said Monday.

“Basta ito lang ang masasabi ko: Sa point of view ko, 'yung narinig ng tenga ko e 100 percent nang tatakbo. As far as I’m concerned, wala na pong atrasan,” Pimentel told reporters when asked about Duterte’s pronouncement over the weekend.

He said he spoke with Duterte Saturday evening.

In the past, Duterte seemed to be flip-flopping on his decision to seek higher post.

Earlier this month,  Duterte expressed disappointment on the government’s failure to act on the alleged laglag-bala scheme at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, saying it could compel him to run for president.

But a week later, the Davao City mayor said being PDP-Laban’s standard bearer was just "press release" as has yet to receive a document that officially names him as the substitute presidential candidate of the party.

Pimentel said the party is very happy that they now finally have a presidential candidate.

“Finally meron na kaming presidential candidate so that means, although we intended all the time to be relevant in the 2016 elections, now we will not only be relevant, we will be at the forefront or at the center of the action,” he said.

“We are so happy that our strongest candidate for president is the one who is now our candidate. Nag-improve ang aming positioning,” he added.

Pimentel said he already signed Sunday a new certificate of nomination and acceptance for Duterte.

He said the Davao mayor will substitute for Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) chairman Martin Diño who earlier filed a certificate of candidacy for president. Diño later withdrew it upon learning that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) law department is considering declaring him a nuisance candidate.

Asked how they will fund the candidacy of Duterte, Pimentel said they will match the financial resources of other political parties with their energy.

“Wala na kaming ambition to match the budget of the other candidates but we will match their energy,” he said.

He also asked the Comelec not to look down on candidates who do not have funds to mount a campaign.

“Ang gusto nating mensahe sa Comelec na dapat hindi nila itrato 'yung eleksyon na pera-pera lamang, na just because 'yung nominee ng partido ay hindi kilala at hindi bilyonaryo o multi-millionaire e sa mata nila nuisance na. Dapat hindi tayo ganun mag-isip,” he said.

“Kahit na si Mayor Duterte is also middle class. Hindi dapat tignan ng Comelec ang kanyang  economic class para sabihing walang kakayahan na maging  credible candidate for president kasi ang kampanya pagkapresidente hindi lang naman isang tao. You cannot win this by your lonesome so kailangan ng tulungan,” he added.

The senator said the supporters of Duterte and their party members are scattered all over the country.

“Kahit hindi po kami mayayamang tao, we can still campaign for him using energy not money. It is not only the party. Outside of the party maraming tutulong kay Mayor Duterte. Ang buong Mindanao ay tutulong sa kanya,” he said.

He added they will respect Duterte’s policy on getting donations.

“Kung ayaw niya tumanggap sa ibang tao, we will respect it kasi ganun din naman kami, ganun din ako,” he said.

Pimentel has yet to confirm if Senator Alan Peter Cayetano is the running mate of Duterte but he said they have no problem with Cayetano.

“Step by step lang po. Sabi ko mag-file muna ng presidente bago namin pag-isipan kung sino ang vice. Pagkatapos ng vice, bababa naman kami sa senatorial,” he said.

He believes Duterte will file the certificate of nomination and acceptance without any fanfare.

“Judging from the historical record of Mayor Duterte, he used to file his COC for mayor in a low profile manner—walang motorcade, walang parada, walang drum and bugle. So 'yung timetable hindi ko masagot. Maybe we will just be surprised na naka-file na pala,” he said.

On the senatorial lineup, Pimentel said they “have no more choice except to choose from those who have filed. Adoption na lang.” —KG, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Justin Bieber storms UK charts to equal John Lennon's 1981 feat

Justin Bieber stormed the British singles charts on Friday with three singles from his new album in the top five, a feat no other artist has managed since John Lennon, posthumously, in 1981.

The Canadian singer's singles "Sorry", "Love yourself" and "What do you mean" took first, third and fifth place. "Sorry" pushed Adele's "Hello" slipped to second place from the top spot it had occupied for three weeks.

Lennon's "Imagine" was top, "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" was third and "(Just Like) Starting Over" fifth in January 1981, the month after he was shot dead in New York.
Bieber's songs all come from his album "Purpose" which sold 90,000 copies this week. Every track from it charted inside the top 100 singles.

But it was narrowly beaten to top position in the album chart by four-piece boy band One Direction's "Made in the A.M." which is now the fastest-selling album of 2015.
Notching up over 93,000 sales, this is the group's fourth UK No. 1 having previously scored the top place in 2012 with "Take Me Home," in 2013 with "Midnight Memories" and in 2014 with "Four".

Both Bieber's "Purpose" and One Direction's "Made in the A.M." broke the record for most-streamed album in the first week of release on online streaming platform Spotify.
"Purpose" set a new record with 205 million global streams while "Made in the A.M." was streamed 106 million times, both outpacing the previous record holder, The Weeknd's "Beauty Behind The Madness," which garnered 90 million global streams in September.

The third most popular album was Elvis Presley's "If I Can Dream," produced nearly 40 years after his death. This collection of Elvis classics featuring orchestral reworkings by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra had been number one for two weeks running.
Jeff Lynne's ELO was fourth with new entry "Alone In The Universe". The group's other album "All Over The World – The Very Best Of" re-entered at number 28.

Fifth place was taken by Little Mix’s "Get Weird", slipping down from last week's second place. -- Reuters

Back Story: The APEC session of Aisa Mijeno with Barack Obama, Jack Ma

Who invited Aisa Mijeno to the APEC  panel session with Obama and Jack Ma?

Filipina engineer and entrepreneur Aisa Mijeno, CEO of environmental tech-start up Sustainable Alternative Lighting (SAlt), revealed on Thursday that it was The White House that invited her to a session moderated by no less than President Barack Obama at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit.

In an interview with Howie Severino on GMA News TV's News To Go, Mijeno said that her team got an "unexpected" call on Monday.

"Noong Lunes, nakatanggap po kami ng tawag. Akala nga po namin na prank call ito dahil ang tawag po ay galing sa White House mismo. In-inform po kami na kailangan daw po ng isang female entrepreneur na makasama si President Obama sa stage para malaman o maihayag kung ano po ang pwedeng suportahan na gawin nila sa startup community dito sa Pilipinas," he said.

The session happened last Wednesday.



Mijeno said The White House learned about Sustainable Alternative Lighting (SAlt) online.

"Nag-search po sila ng articles sa internet. Sabi po nila na nakita raw po nila ako sa Google kasi medyo marami na rin po ang aming publications online," she said.

Mijeno said that she felt really nervous before going up on stage. But Obama made her feel as ease.

During the dialogue, Mijeno said her SAlt device needs more support for it to take off.  Obama joked that she should get help from Chinese e-commerce businessman Jack Ma.

In an interview with Raffy Tima on GMA News TV's Balitanghali also on Thursday, the entrepreneur revealed that Ma offered to help them but she did not give any more details.

"Nag-offer po siya na i-mentor kami para maging successful po ang aming pagde-deploy para makapunta po kami ng maayos sa mass production stage," she said.

During the interview, Mijeno said that after the dialogue with Obama and Ma, her company has received tons of email inquiries about the salt lamp.  — Trisha Macas/ELR, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Police seek 'unauthorized person' at Los Angeles airport

LOS ANGELES  - Police are searching a terminal at the Los Angeles International Airport for an "unauthorized person" who was seen trying to board a JetBlue flight on Thursday, authorities said.

The flight was scheduled to depart for New York early in the morning, but airport police received a call that an unauthorized person was trying to use a boarding bridge to enter an aircraft, airport spokeswoman Nancy Castles said in an email.

An airline employee reported seeing a person dressed as a pilot trying to board the plane, but when the employee was later told the flight's pilots had not yet arrived he made an emergency report of a possible unauthorized entry of the aircraft, airport police spokesman Rob Pedregon said.

The flight was then delayed while the plane was towed to a remote area of the airfield for a Los Angeles Police Department bomb squad to conduct a search, and police also looked in the terminal for the possible unauthorized person, Pedregon said.  — Reuters

Pope says Church doors must stay open despite terror fears

Pope Francis said Wednesday that the doors of Catholic churches around the world must remain open, despite increased security fears in the aftermath of the Paris attacks.

"Please, no armored doors in the Church, everything open," the 78-year-old pontiff told pilgrims in St Peter's square, Italy's AGI news agency reported.

"There are places in the world where doors should not be locked with a key. There are still some but there are also many where armored doors have become the norm.

"We must not surrender to the idea that we must apply this way of thinking to every aspect of our lives," Francis said.

"To do so to the Church would be terrible."

The pope did not explicitly refer to last week's attacks on Paris, which he has condemned as "inhuman."

His comments came in the context of intense discussion in Italy about the security of the Vatican and Rome, which are seen as potential targets for Islamist militants.

Francis's comments also had a spiritual significance -- he has urged the Church to keep its doors open to lapsed believers who are considering returning and to the hundreds of thousands of migrants arriving in Europe from Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.

Italy announced this week that it would close airspace over Rome to drones for the duration of the upcoming Catholic jubilee year, which is expected to bring more than a million extra visitors to the Italian capital.

The move reflects fears a remote-controlled aircraft could be used by Islamic State or other militant groups to stage a potentially spectacular attack on the home of the Catholic church.

Security has also been stepped up at airports and train stations and some 700 extra troops deployed in public spaces in Rome.

Individuals purporting to be Islamic State militants have made a number of threats against Rome on social media and in the group's propaganda outlets.

Italian officials say they take such statements seriously but that they have never received evidence of a credible, specific plot to bomb Rome, the Vatican or the Pope. —Agence France-Presse

source: gmanetwork.com

What’s on the menu at the gala dinner for APEC leaders

The leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member states are in for some Filipino treats at the welcome reception hosted by President Benigno Aquino III Wednesday night.

Chef Margarita Fores, who prepared the multi-course meal with restaurateur Glenda Barretto, posted on her Instagram account a photo of the first course: ensalada tagala, duck estofado, smoked kesong puti, and red egg flan with rambutan vinaigrette.

The gala dinner is taking place at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, decorated for the occasion by Kenneth Cobonpue. — Trisha Macas/BM, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Djokovic still favorite, says victorious Federer

LONDON - Novak Djokovic is still the favorite to claim a fourth consecutive ATP World Tour Finals title according to Roger Federer, despite him ending the Serb's 23-match winning streak at the O2 Arena on Tuesday.

Serbian world number one Djokovic had won his last 15 matches at the venue, his last 38 under a roof and has been untouchable since losing to Federer in Cincinnati in August.

But with his timing well off, he was brushed aside 7-5 6-2 by the 17-times grand slam champion who is already through to the semi-finals, probably as winner of the Stan Smith Group, with another round-robin match still to come.

Federer fully expects Djokovic to recover from the jolting defeat, however, and he may well have to beat him again at the weekend if he is to claim a seventh title at the ATP's season-ending showpiece event.

"Still to me Novak is the favorite for the tournament," Federer told reporters. "Heavy favourite in the (Tomas) Berdych match (on Thursday), in my opinion.

"Then he should make his way to the semis somehow. I don't know exactly what he needs. And he'll be the favourite in that probably, too, with the year he's had.

"He's far from gone. The way I know Novak, he's going to find a way to be tougher to beat from now on."

Federer has now won 50 matches at the tournament, although he was said he was not expecting to beat Djokovic—an odd admission from a player who now leads their head-to-head 22-21.

"I wouldn't have picked it maybe before the tournament, you know, just because of his really good record indoors, the year he's had," he said of the Serb who has won three of the year's four grand slams together with Six Masters Series titles.

Federer even managed to strike a blow before a ball was struck on Tuesday, sitting on the court-side chair which already had Djokovic's towel draped on it.

Asked about it afterwards, he joked: "I'm not going to be pushed by a towel. I sat on that chair when I walked out against Tomas. I said, I'd like to sit here again."

Djokovic also saw the funny side of it.

"I don't think it was a tactical approach," he said. "Messing me around before even the first ball."

Federer has two round-robin wins already with Djokovic and Kei Nishikori on one each. Djokovic will need to beat winless Tomas Berdych on Thursday to guarantee a semi-final place. —Reuters

Get to know Russian model Alina Bogdanova, Kalyeserye's Cindy Kournikova

Nakuha ng Russian model na si Cindy Kournikova ang atensyon ng AlDub Nation at lahat ng mga tumutok sa Kalyeserye ng noontime show na Eat Bulaga nitong Martes.

Si Cindy ang inirereto ni Lola Babah sa kaniyang apong si Alden, at siya rin ang magiging karibal ni Yaya Dub sa puso ng Pambansang Bae. Sa katunayan, nais na ni Lola Babah na mag-date ang dalawa upang magkakilala sila nang mabuti.

Marami man ang kinabahan para sa forever ng AlDub, marami rin ang hindi itinanggi ang kanilang paghanga sa kagandagan ni Cindy, na napag-alamang Alina Bogdanova ang tunay na pangalan.

Si Alina ay totoong Russian model, at tatlong taon na siyang nananatili sa Asya bilang bahagi ng kaniyang modelling career.

Ilan pa sa mga bansang kaniyang napuntan ay ang China, Istanbul, at Indonesia.

Hindi rin dapat mangamba ang mga AlDub Nation o MaiDen supporters, dahil sa totoong buhay mayroon nang kasintahan si Alina na isang Filipino model.

source: gmanetwork.com

New Canadian PM Trudeau arrives in PHL for APEC meet

Newly installed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived in Manila on late Tuesday afternoon for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting.

Trudeau was welcomed by Philippine Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Neil Reeder at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at about 5:40 p.m.

The APEC summit is the second stop for Trudeau's first official overseas trip as prime minister after the Group of 20 (G20) in Turkey on November 15 and 16.

According to the Canadian government's official website, Trudeau will work with his counterparts at the APEC summit "to promote sustainable economic growth, with a focus on small and medium enterprises, and to enhance social inclusion and institution building."

He will also hold bilateral discussions with various leaders "to advance issues of mutual interest," it added. —Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/KBK, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Yaya Dub, beast mode dahil sa selos sa Russian model na si Cindy

Hindi na nagpaligoy-ligoy pa ang modelong Russian na si Cindy na kaagad inamin na in-love siya kay Alden at nag-request pa ng kiss.  Kaya naman ang prinsesa ng Kalyeserye na si Yaya Dub, todo ang selos.

source: gmanetwork.com

Supposed ISIS video threatens attack on Washington, other countries

CAIRO - A video supposedly from Islamic State warned on Monday that countries taking part in air strikes against Syria would suffer the same fate as France, and threatened to attack in Washington.

The video, which appeared on a site used by Islamic State to post its messages, begins with news footage of the aftermath of Friday's Paris shootings in which at least 129 people were killed.

The message to countries involved in what it called the "crusader campaign" was delivered by a man dressed in fatigues and a turban, and identified in subtitles as Al Ghareeb the Algerian.

"We say to the states that take part in the crusader campaign that, by God, you will have a day, God willing, like France's and by God, as we struck France in the center of its abode in Paris, then we swear that we will strike America at its center in Washington," the man said.

It was not immediately possible to verify the authenticity of the video, which purports to be the work of Islamic State fighters in the Iraqi province of Salahuddine, north of Baghdad.

The French government has called the Paris attacks an act of war and said it would not end its air strikes against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.

French fighter jets launched their biggest raids in Syria to date on Sunday targeting the Islamic State's stronghold in the city of Raqqa. The operation was carried out in coordination with US forces.

Police raided homes of suspected Islamist militants across France overnight following the Paris attacks.

"Al Ghareeb the Algerian" also warned Europe in the video that more attacks were coming.

"I say to the European countries that we are coming, coming with booby traps and explosives, coming with explosive belts and [gun] silencers and you will be unable to stop us because today we are much stronger than before," he said.

Apparently referring to international talks to end the Syrian war, another man identified in the video as Al Karrar the Iraqi tells French President Francois Hollande "we have decided to negotiate with you in the trenches and not in the hotels." — Reuters

‘24 Oras Weekend’ anchor Cata Tibayan marries college sweetheart

Ikinasal na nitong Linggo ang showbiz reporter at "24 Oras Weekend" anchor na si Cata Tibayan sa kaniyang college sweetheart at pilot na si Jert Yao.

Naganap ang kanilang kasal sa Basilica Menor de San Sebastian, na nasundan ng enggrandeng reception sa City of Dreams Manila.



Bukod sa kani-kanilang pamilya at mga kaibigan, naging star-studded rin ang espesyal na araw ni Jert at Cata dahil sa ilan TV personalities na nakisaya sa kanila.

Kabilang na rito ang kapwa reporter ng bride na si Mav Gonzales, at ang mga Kapuso artist na sina Bea Binene at Kris Bernal, na pare-parehong kasama sa entourage bilang bridesmaids.

Dumalo rin sina Heart Evangelista, Sen. Chiz Escudero, Tito Sotto, Grace dela Peña-Reyes, at ang mga haligi ng GMA News and Public Affairs, kabilang na sina Mike Enriquez, Me Tiangco, Arnold Clavio, Raffy Tima, Mariz Umali, Sandra Aguinaldo, Pia Arcangel, Tina Panganiban-Perez, at marami pang iba.

Nagsilbi namang hosts sina Sam YG, DJ Tony Toni, Slick Rick, o ang Boys Night Out, kasama si Eva Marie Poon.

Kasama sa mga umawit para sa bagong kasal at sa kanilang mga bisita ang bandang Spongecola, at ang mga singer na sina Aiza Seguerra at Jonalyn Viray. — Bianca Rose Dabu/BM, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Self-folding 'smart paper' could lead to real-life Transformers

Researchers from Donghua University in China have developed a graphene-based paper that can fold itself, saying that it could possible be used in robotics in the future, according to a study published in the journal Science Advances.

According to the researchers, led by Hongzhi Wang and Qinghong Zhang, they developed the paper to address limitations on current “polymer active materials.”

The paper moves because some parts of it are hydrophobic and other regions of it are hydrophilic, this puts strain on the paper that causes it to fold, reports Chemical & Engineering News. Heat from an IR laser can be used to amplify the strain.

Devices made out of the graphene paper can, “adopt predesigned shapes, walk, and turn a corner,” and could possibly be used for sensing, artificial muscles, and robotics. — Bea Montenegro/TJD, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Prince cancels European tour after terror attacks in Paris

Prince has become the latest act to cancel his European concert tour following the Paris attacks, his French production company confirmed on Monday.

The tour—entitled "Prince Spotlight: Piano and a Microphone"—would have begun on November 24 in Vienna, Austria, and would have included dates in Britain and Sweden.

The 57-year-old American was expected to be in Paris on December 11 to play two shows at the historic Palais Garnier opera house.

"In light of the tragic events in Paris, the organisers decided to cancel the European tour," said Interconcerts, a ticket company.

A similar message was posted on the site of Vienna's concert hall.

The tour was believed to be the first since Prince's rise to stardom in which he would have performed with such stripped-down instrumentation.

A number of rock bands have also cancelled tour dates in France since the attacks, including U2, who cancelled some of their concerts.

Bono and the rest of the band members paid their respects in person at a makeshift memorial set up near the 1,500-seat Bataclan concert hall where 89 people were killed.

The California rock group Eagles of Death Metal was performing at the venue when gunmen burst in. Members of the band escaped unharmed and have returned to the United States.

Other acts who have cancelled tour dates in Paris are the American rock band Foo Fighters, who were due to perform in Paris today at the 20,000-capacity AccorHotels Arena.

Veteran English rock band Motorhead were also scheduled to perform in Paris on Sunday and have cancelled. -Agence France-Presse

source: gmanetwork.com

Israel gives France intelligence on Paris attackers – media

JERUSALEM - Israel's spy services are helping France investigate the Paris gun and bomb attacks, Israeli media said, with one radio station suggesting the assistance drew on surveillance of militant groups in Syria and Iraq.

Israel had no advance warning of Friday's rampage that killed at least 129 people, but within hours of it happening gave France information about some of the Islamic State militants who claimed to have carried it out, the top-rated television station Channel Two said, quoting an unnamed senior Israeli official.

Without providing details, Channel Two said Israeli intelligence saw a "clear operational link" between the attack in the French capital, Thursday's Beirut suicide bombings and the Oct. 31 downing of a Russian airliner in the Egyptian Sinai.

Israeli spy services are monitoring Syria and Iraq—where Islamic State insurgents have conquered swathes of territory—which may have yielded intelligence on the organisation of the Paris attacks, Israel's Army Radio said.

Israeli officials contacted by Reuters had no comment, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters on Saturday: "I've instructed Israel's security and intelligence services to assist their French counterparts and counterparts from other European countries in any way possible."

A Western diplomat said last year that Israel was providing the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State with information gleaned from international travel databases about Western citizens suspected of joining the insurgents. — Reuters

Solidarity messages over deadly Paris attacks set social media ablaze

The multiple attacks across Paris Friday night (Saturday morning in the Philippines) that killed over a hundred people have shocked the world, and social media have been ablaze with millions of solidarity messages from all corners of the world.

#PrayForParis immediately became trending topic on Twitter in the Philippines and worldwide, with more than 4 million tweets about it as of posting time.

World leaders, as well as international and local celebrities expressed their sadness and solidarity for Parisians on Twitter.

source: gmanetwork.com

Gunmen in Paris attacks killed

A total of eight militants were killed, including seven by their suicide belts, during Friday's attacks in Paris that left at least 120 dead, a source close to the investigation said.

Four of the attackers were killed in the Bataclan concert hall, three by activating their suicide vests and one shot by police, a report from agence France-Presse said.

Three more died near the national stadium and a fourth was killed in a street in eastern Paris.
"The terrorists who were not far from here were killed," Hollande said on television after visiting a security command centre near the Bataclan concert hall where the gunmen held people hostage before an assault by security forces.

Three of the attackers activated explosive belts while the fourth was hit by police fire, AFP added.

At least 100 people were killed in the concert hall. —with reports from Agence-France Presse and Reuters

One Direction teams with Twitter to find country with best 1D fans

Which countries have the best One Direction fans in the world?

The band has teamed up with Twitter to try to find the answer.

The social media platform will provide hashtags for each of 140 countries in the contest. Filipino fans, for example, need to use the hashtag #1DPH.

The 10 winning countries will get their own custom One Direction emoji.

The competition will begin on Saturday, November 14 at 8 a.m. Philippine time.

Fans can check live results at http://twittermusic.wayinhub.com/Home

—JST, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

First glimpse at Alden and Maine's first on-cam interview together

Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza sat down together for their first on-cam interview on CelebriTV. Check out a glimpse of the interview which promises funny and kilig moments from the phenomenal AlDub love team.


    CelebriTV: First ever exclusive interview with AlDub together!

Isang maagang pamasko ang hatid namin sa inyo ngayong Sabado! Abangan ang first ever exclusive interview with Alden Richards at Maine Mendoza together bukas sa #CelebriTV, 4pm, pagkatapos ng Wish Ko Lang!More updates on Twitter.com/@CelebriTVGMA

    Posted by CelebriTV on Friday, November 13, 2015

Watch the whole interview on CelebriTV on Saturday, 4 p.m. on GMA-7 —JST, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Lola Nidora, may ibinunyag na sekreto tungkol sa mansyon

Isang araw bago ang kaniyang kaarawan, wala pa rin sa mood mag-celebrate si Lola Nidora.

Nitong Biyernes sa Kalyeserye ng Eat Bulaga, may mga ibinunyag ang matanda tungkol sa kaniyang kalagayang-pinansyal.

Mayroon daw dalawang malaking problema ang matanda.

Una, nakasangla ang kaniyang mga alahas ang kaniyang mga alahas.

Pangalawa, nakasangla rin ang kaniyang mansyon.

At ang katauhan ng mga pinagsanglaan: si Doña Barbara Latisha Rockefeller vda. de Faulkerson — o ang Lola Babah ni Alden.

Dati nang nasilayan ang mansyon ni Lola Nidora nang dumalaw si Alden kay Yaya Dub.

Sa totoong buhay, isa itong heritage mansion na idinisenyo ng isang national artist at minsan pang binisita ng ilang pangulo ng bansa.

source: gmanetwork.com

Chocolate's source is over 9 million years old, scientists find

The plant that we use to make chocolate diverged from its closest relative almost 10 million years ago (Ma), according to a study published in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution.

The researchers looked at Theobroma cacao, the source of chocolate, and analyzed both its chloroplasts and nuclear DNA. They found that the genus Theobroma split from the genus Herrania around 12.7 Ma, and that Theobroma had a faster rate of diversification compared to other branches in its family.

The study also found that T. cacao diversified from its “most recent common ancestor” 9.9 Ma, and said that this means that it has had a lot of time to end up with a significant diversity within its own species.

This finding means good news for the chocolate industry and agriculture—most plantations only use a small percentage of the diversity available, and this lack of variation in cultivated cacao plants means that they’re vulnerable to pests and diseases and may not be able to adapt to climate change.

“Studies of the evolutionary history of economically important groups are vital to develop agricultural industries, and demonstrate the importance of conserving biodiversity to contribute towards sustainable development,” said Dr. James Richardson, lead author of the study and a tropical botanist at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. “Here we show for the first time that the source of chocolate, Theobroma cacao, is remarkably old for an Amazonian plant species.”

The study said that wild varieties of T. cacao could be used to introduce greater diversity in plantations. — Bea Montenegro/TJD, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Lola Nidora, may bagong pag-ibig?

AlDub ang nagdiriwang ng kanilang anniversary, pero pati si Lola Nidora, luma-lovelife.

'Yan ang eksena ngayong Huwebes sa Kalyeserye ng Eat Bulaga matapos ang interaksyon ni Lola kay Timmy, isang American frisbee player.

Panoorin ang nakakatuwang tagpo.

source: gmanetwork.com

App helps visually impaired enjoy movies

A new app allows visually impaired people to watch movies without missing the key scenes, offering them full audio descriptions of what is happening on the big screen.

Turkish mobile operator Turkcell's new app launched with a special gala screening of Turkish film, 'Kiss of Life', which was released in October.

Dozens of visually impaired movie-goers were able to experience what the actors and scenes look like through the app, called 'My Dream Partner', that provides them with a synchronized audio description of the film.

"When it comes to go and see a movie, we were going to the cinema and see the movie but we would miss the visual details of the movie," said Gamze Sofuoglu, of Turkcell, who is herself visually impaired. "Those parts would always remain woolly. Sometimes because of this we were unable to understand the movie, sometimes we would miss the ending," she added.

"For the first time in the world, with Turkcell's app, those scenes that used to be missing are being depicted and this app makes those scenes visible for visually impaired people. Today, I can watch the movies with the app with audio description and I can have a more pleasant experience without missing any scenes," she added.

Users simply launch the app before the screening of a film and plug in their earphones.

Visually impaired movie-goers at the launch were satisfied that the app had helped them to fully comprehend the movie.

"This was my first experience and there were many visually impaired users here. We were anxious about whether we would be facing technical difficulties due to heavy customer traffic but without any problems we had audio description for every scene and every second. I listened easily and I enjoyed it very much," said visually impaired viewer Kerem Altinok.

Director and lead actor of the movie, Ali Sunal was also excited by the experience. "I am very happy that 'Kiss of Life' was chosen for this project. I came here with great excitement. It is an enormous pleasure to see that the audience can fully understand everything I wanted to depict. It is great to see all the obstacles are removed," he said.

Turkcell's app is a free-of charge service available to all customers of all operators in Turkey.

The cellphone operator says it expects the app to be used by 800,000 visually impaired citizens in Turkey by 2016.  — Reuters

Kylie Padilla admits she likes Martin del Rosario; not bothered by rumors about his sexuality

Noong una ay nangingimi pa si Kylie Padilla na sabihin kung sino ang nagugustuhan niyang lalaki na taga-showbiz.

Pero sa pamimilit sa kanya ng ilang press ay inamin din niyang ito ay walang iba kundi si Martin del Rosario, ang kanyang leading man sa GMA-7 afternoon teleserye Buena Familia.

Pero nilinaw ng Kapuso actress na hindi ito nangangahulugang gusto na niyang pumasok sa isang relasyon.

“Close talaga kami ni Martin,” pag-amin ni Kylie.

Taglay raw ni Martin ang hinahanap na katangian ni Kylie sa isang lalaki—ang pagiging matalino.

“Matalino rin si Martin, in fairness sa kanya.”

Nade-develop na ba siya sa kanyang kapareha?

Sagot ni Kylie, “Wala pa ako dun sa point na gusto kong maging tayo na... tingnan natin.”

Tungkol naman sa status ng kanilang relasyon, sabi ng 22-anyos na aktres, “Sobrang walang effort lang. Puwede akong di naka-make up, di nakaayos, pero kumportable pa rin ako.”

Puwede ba niyang maging boyfriend si Martin?

“Maganda 'yon. That’s a foundation. Yun ang gusto natin.”

RUMORS. Ano ang pumipigil sa kanyang pumasok sa isang relasyon, lalo pa’t may nagugustuhan siya ngayon?

“Ako lang,” sagot ni Kylie.

Hindi raw masabi ni Kylie kung nanliligaw ba sa kanya ang binata, pero hindi raw ito importante.

“Para sa akin, friends lang, pero siyempre masaya na. Masaya na kami.”

Ano naman ang nagustuhan niya kay Martin?

“Hindii ba, ang man daw, hindi nagpapakita ng emosyon? Siya, he’s not scared."

Inusisa rin si Kylie kung aware ba siya sa mga isyung kumukuwestiyon sa pagkalalaki ni Martin.

Aniya, “Actually, masaya kami. I’m not thinking, 'Magiging boyfriend ko ‘to.' If ever man na totoo ang mga ganyan, I accept him the way he is. Yun ang totoong magkaibigan."

Pero kung si Kylie raw ang tatanungin, wala siyang nakikitang basehan sa ipinupukol na intriga kay Martin.

Naniniwala siyang lalaki talaga si Martin?

Mabilis na sagot ni Kylie, “Oo.”

Nararamdaman ba niyang may feelings din para sa kanya si Martin?

Sabi ni Kylie, “Di ko alam. Siya tanungin niyo. Feel ko naman na true friend ko siya." -- PEP.ph

source: gmanetowrk.com

Makasundo kaya ni Lola Babah si Lola Nidora?

Ano kaya ang mangyayari sa AlDub love saga sa kalyeserye sa pagdating ng lola ni Alden na si Doña Barbara Latisha Rockefeller Vda de Faulkerson, or in short-- Lola Babah? Makasundo kaya niya si Lola Nidora?

source: gmanetwork.com

Pink diamond nets $28.55M in healthy stone market – Christie’s

GENEVA - A large diamond of a rare pink hue fetched 28.725 million Swiss francs ($28.55 million) on Tuesday, the star lot of Christie's semi-annual jewelry sale in Geneva, where designer eye candy drew strong prices.

A Chinese client based in Hong Kong bought the cushion-shaped pink diamond weighing 16.08 carats and graded vivid fancy pink, which is set in a platinum and gold ring surrounded by a double row of pave-set white diamonds, the auction house said. Its pre-sale estimate was $23 million to $28 million.

The seller was not identified and the buyer, who has named the pink diamond "The Sweet Josephine," wished to remain anonymous, Christie's said. The diamond's origin was not disclosed.


"It is absolutely a top price for a stone of this quality, because of its color. There are few pink-pink the way this one was," said Francois Curiel, chairman of Christie's Luxury Group and its veteran jewelry expert, who conducted part of the evening auction in a packed salesroom.

"It shows we are dealing with a very healthy stone market," he told reporters. "There is lots of cash in the world right now. At the moment, works of art, diamonds and jewels are a safe haven."

In almost 250 years of auction history, only three pure vivid pink diamonds of over 10 carats have appeared for sale, according to Christie's.

A pear-shaped flawless white diamond weighing 50.48 carats fetched 7.89 million Swiss francs in heated bidding, the evening's second-highest lot, selling to a dealer in the room.


Jewels by Harry Winston, Van Cleef & Arpels, Boucheron, Cartier and Bulgari soared above pre-sale estimates, including a Bulgari coral onyx and diamond bracelet-watch designed as a coiled serpent.

In all, some 80 percent of the 400 lots on offer sold for 110.26 million Swiss francs, Christie's said, eclipsing expectations.

Christie's, founded in 1776, is now owned by French retail magnate Francois Pinault's holding company Artemis SA.

A large blue diamond, one of the world's rarest, could fetch $35 million to $55 million at auction on Wednesday, rival Sotheby's said last week, as an industry group reported strong prices for color diamonds ahead of the holiday season.

A Modigliani nude painting was sold to an unnamed Chinese buyer at Christie's on Monday for $170.4 million, the second-highest price ever for a work of art at auction, as deep-pocketed collectors continue to pay, and pay big, for some rare masterpieces up for sale in this year's autumn auctions season.

"China has been very active yesterday in New York and tonight in Geneva," Curiel said. — Reuters

LeBron James leads Cavs past Jazz

Cleveland forward LeBron James reminded the NBA of his raw power on Tuesday, scoring 31 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter, as the Cavaliers muscled their way to a 118-114 victory over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday.

The Cavaliers trailed by as many as nine in the fourth, but James stole a pass and dribbled the length of the floor for an impressive three-point play.

Jazz guard Rodney Hood did his best to wrap up James and prevent the shot, but the Cavs forward powered through for the basket. He looked at Hood and slapped his biceps as the sellout crowd roared.

"Bron is the greatest player in the game. I don't think there's anyone with a higher basketball IQ or a better understanding of the moment," Cavs coach David Blatt said.

"I think he just understood the moment. He took over the game and lifted the rest of the guys with him. He did the things that a great player like him, only him, can do."

James' three-point play pulled the Cavs within 95-94 but gave them all the momentum. It revived a slumbering team that remained unbeaten at home (5-0) with their seventh consecutive victory.

However, Cleveland (7-1) had to work for it on a night when they were sloppy with the ball (17 turnovers) and off rhythm.

"The win is the only thing that's important to me," James said. "We had some good points, we had some bad points, but we stuck with it."

James added eight assists and seven rebounds, while Mo Williams had 29 points, six rebounds and six assists. He made his first eight shots and did not miss until 1:37 remained. Kevin Love had 22 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers.

Alec Burks scored 24 points off the bench for the Jazz (4-3), while forwards Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors each scored 17 points. Rudy Gobert had 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists, and Hood fouled out with 16 points.

"They're a veteran team that knows how to close out games and how to win basketball games," Hayward said. "That's something that we can learn from."

The Jazz trailed most of the night until late in the third quarter. They extended their lead to 95-86 on a dunk by Gobert with 7:22 left before James and the Cavs began to roll.

Hood responded to James' power play by stroking a three-pointer at the other end, but it was the only basket the Jazz scored for nearly five minutes in the fourth quarter. The drought allowed the Cavaliers to regain the lead.

 "You can see why they're as good as they are," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. "I was happy with the way we hung in there ... we didn't get rattled.

"Our guys need to feel good about how hard we played, and we need to figure out how to win some of these, too." — Reuters

Prince to play solo piano tour of Europe —reports

NEW YORK - Prince is planning a European tour featuring just his voice and piano, with the 57-year-old pop virtuoso saying he wanted a new challenge, reports said Monday.

Prince—who rarely makes traditional, straightforward announcements on touring—apparently broke the news by inviting a small group of music writers from European newspapers to his Paisley Park estate in Minnesota.

The Purple One posted a picture on Instagram showing him playing a keyboard for a small group with the caption, "European press," as well as videos of him practicing, although a representative did not immediately return a request for comment.

Spain's El Pais, in an article Monday datelined Minnesota, said Prince would play in 12 countries starting on November 21 in Vienna and finishing on December 22 in Brussels.

Explaining why he wanted to do the tour, Prince was quoted in Spanish as saying: "For starters, it's a challenge."

"I don't want to get bad reviews, but at the same time I don't want to go back to what I feel safe doing because I've done it for 30 years," he was quoted as saying.

"With the piano it's more naked, more pure. You see exactly what you get."

The tour—entitled "Prince Spotlight: Piano and a Microphone"—will include four dates each in Britain and Sweden, El Pais said.

He will also perform in Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Switzerland, it said.

The tour is believed to be the first since Prince's rise to stardom in which he is performing with such stripped-down instrumentation.

Prince is best known for his skill on the guitar and his falsetto voice, along with his dance moves. He has played recent tours with a backup band that includes the all-female group 3rdEyeGirl.

Prince in recent years has preferred to announce concerts with only a few hours advance notice and has sometimes played two shows in one night. —Agence France-Presse

source: gmanetwork.com