Love Knows No Boundary

No matter what you are regardless of your color or background, love can be found in its strangest sometimes awkward way to  show us that it is unconditional and it can happen anytime once it we found it!

Dinagyang Festival 2011 Winning Performance

Dinagyang Festival 2011 Grand Champion, Tribu Pan-ay Winning Performance At Judging Area No. 4 at corner Quezon-Ledesma St., Iloilo City.

Dinagyang Festival 2011 Grand Champion, Tribu Pan-ay Winning Performance At Judging Area No. 5 at Maria Clara City Proper in front of Iloilo Grand Hotel, Iloilo City.

Dinagyang Festival 2011 Winning Performance

Dinagyang Festival 2011 1st runner up, Tribu Paghidaet Winning Performance At Judging Area No. 4 at corner Quezon-Ledesma St., Iloilo City.

Dinagyang Festival 2011 Winning Performance

Dinagyang Festival 2011 2nd runner up, Tribu Bola-Bola Winning Performance At Judging Area No. 4 at corner Quezon-Ledesma St., Iloilo City.

Philippines Win Ford Supermodel Of The World 2011

New York, USA - Danica Flores Magpantay, a 17 year old Freshman Fine Arts student from the Philippines won the coveted title Ford Models Supermodel of the World 2011 held last Saturday, January 22 at New York City, USA. She walked away with $250,000 modelling contract with Ford. 1st runner up is a model from Lithuania who took home $150,000 worth of modeling contract, 2nd runner up is from Poland, 3rd runner up is from Brazil and 4th runner up is from Estonia. 2nd to 4th runner up each took home $100,000 modeling contract.

        Melanie Marquez was the first Philippine representative to the Ford Supermodel of the World modeling competition that was formerly named Face of the 80s at that time and eventually placed 1st runner up to Monika Schnarre of Canada in 1986. Other Filpina standouts at the competition include Charo Ronquillo who ended up 3rd runner up to Katsia Damankova of Belarus in 2006 and Charlene Almarvez who placed 1st runner up to Karlina Caune of Latvia in last year's Ford Supermodel of the World 2010. Danica Magpantay's mother Lala Flores, a ramp model herself, was the Philippine representative to the 1994 Ford Models Supermodel of the World competition where she was unplaced.

Dinagyang Festival 2011 Results and Winners

Iloilo City, Philippines - Dinagyang Festival 2011 has been a tremendous success highlighted with the announcement of the result. A record breaking 1.5 million visitors trooped to Iloilo City this week to witness Asia's best festival 2011 up from 1.2 million visitors last year 2010. This year it has been officially declared Dinagyang Festival as the "Queen of Philippine Festival" and also making Maria Elena "Ballsy" Aquino Cruz, the current president's sister as the adopted daughter of Iloilo thus a double celebration. Dinagyang Festival is the only Philippine festival to travel around the world to perform. This year's winner will go to New York City, USA to perform for the Philippine Independence Day organized by the Filipino community in New York.

       On the other hand, this will be the last year that Kasadyahan Festival, a separate event that add color to Dinagyang, will be held in January. Next year, it will be separated and will take place in September in time for Iloilo City Charter Day.

       Watch the winning performances of different tribes from Kasadyahan and Dinagyang Festival 2011 in youtube.

      Here is the official result of the Kasadyahan and Dinagyang Competitions just announced tonight at 9:00pm:

Opening Salvo (January 15, 2011)

Street dance Special Awards:

Best in Performance - Tribu Paghidaet

Best in Discipline - Tribu Bola-bola

Best in Costume - Tribu Mandurriao

Kasadyahan Festival (January 22, 2011)

Special Awards:

Best in Music - Tribu Tultugan (Municipality of Maasin)

Best in Costume - Tribu Binanog (Municipality of Lambunao)

Best in Streetdance - Tribu Pagdihon (Municipality of Dingle)

Best Choreographer - Ramil Huyatid, Tribu Pantat

Best in Choreography - Tribu Pantat (Municipality of Zarraga)

Best in Performance - Tribu Kasag (Municipality of Banate)

Major Awards:

4th runner up - Tribu Tinuom (Municipality of Cabatuan)

3rd runner up - Tribu Pagdihon (Municipality of Dingle)

2nd runner up - Tribu Binanog (Municipality of Lambunao)

1st runner up - Tribu Kasag (Municipality of Banate)

Champion - Tribu Pantat (Municipality of Zarraga)

Dinagyang Festival (January 23, 2011)

Special Awards:

Best in Streetdancing - Tribu Paghidaet

Best in Head Dress - Tribu Paghidaet

Best in Discipline - Tribu Bola-bola

Best Costume Designer - Jobert Molina, Tribu Paghidaet

Best in Costume - Tribu Paghidaet

Best Musical Director - Ryan Velez, Tribu Salognon

Best in Music - Tribu Salognon

Best Choreographer - Romel Flogen, Tribu Pan-ay

Best in Choreography - Tribu Pan-ay

Best in Performance - Tribu Pan-ay

Major Awards:

Barangay Category

3rd place - Tribu Aninipay

2nd place - Tribu Pag-asa

1st place - Tribu Atub-atub

Open Category

4th runner up - Tribu Mandurriao

3rd runner up - Tribu Salognon

2nd runner up - Tribu Bola-bola

1st runner up - Tribu Paghidaet

Grand Champion - Tribu Pan-ay

Dinagyang Festival 2011 Whooping Visitors

An unprecedented record breaking 1.5 million visitors went to Iloilo City this week to witness Asia's best festival

Dinagyang Festival 2011 My Fearless Forecast

Champion: Tribu Pan-ay

1st runner up: Tribu Paghidaet

2nd runner up: Tribu salognon

3rd runner up: Tribu Bola-bola

4th runner up: Tribu Silak

5th runner up: Tribu Mandurriao

Consolation or Highly Commended: Tribu Ilonganon

Dinagyang Festival 2011 Live Streaming

Watch Dinagyang Festival 2011 Now Live Streaming at TFC!

Filipino Achievers 2010

           There are lots of stories from the past year in which we can reflect, inspire and learn from and move into the future. Some of the stories are compelling and some are disappointing, some are annoying but some made us very proud.

         Filipinos every year make some noise and stories that really make the year noisy and boisterously happy. Their stories of struggle, unwavering determination and indomitable spirit brightened the days of the country and make the Philippines beautiful where it is smeared with controversy, tragedy, strife and crimes. They will always be the epitome of triumph and inspiration and will always be imprinted in our minds that once these achievers made us who we really are. These are just a few of the Filipino achievers in the past year.

J.R. Celski

The Speeding Olympian in Vancouver

In the world of winter sports where the white and a few Asian skaters reign supreme, a Filipino-American in the name of J.R. Celski break the barriers of frigid zone and went on to win the bronze medal in the men’s 1500 m short track speed skating during the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada in February, 2010. He later joined his US men speedskating team in the men’s 1500m relay short track speed skating to win the bronze medal.

Dennis Sabangan

FIFA World Cup 2010 In The Eyes Of A Lensman

Watching the world’s most popular sport being watched by millions in live audience and billions of others in their television is one thing. Capturing images, stealing snapshots and candid scenes for news and documentary of the history making event is another. Being held in the African continent for the first time in history of the World Cup, the world hooked up on the emerging South Africa on its transformation and handling the event showcasing their potentials and vast talents and also the best of Africa has to offer. Documenting as part of history and news that matter by way of pictures is a privilege given only to a select few lucky ones and one of them is Dennis Sabangan. He is given the chance to cover the now world’s biggest sporting spectacle defeating the Summer Olympic Games, due to his previous works, accomplishments and credentials. FIFA World Cup in July 12 is highlighted on the finals when La Furia Roja (The Red Fury) Spain won the World for the first time since it first participated in the very first World Cup in 1930 beating the three time World Cup runner up The Netherlands. The sport is covered by a photographer from a country who doesn’t enjoy soccer but basketball and boxing yet Dennis Sabangan deliver the goods.

Tim Lincecum

The Pitcher Who Strikes Gold

In U.S. baseball, only the Japanese professional players made it big in the World Series making names and hauling a lot of wealth. A Filipino named Tim Lincecum broke the monotony and pitched for the San Francisco Giants to be the mighty winner of the World Series. The honor he brought became the first ever win by San Francisco in the history of the game and he is also the first second-year player to win the 2008 and 2009 National League Cy Young Awards. His clever, unorthodox and unconventional method of pitching and success in baseball earned him the title “The Freak” and “The Franchise”.

Maria Venus Bayonito Raj

The Rice Paddy Beauty Queen

Skinny, corpse like and witch like lass living in the middle of the rice fields as the tease and taunts she heard from her school mates, who will ever notice a lady this ugly. His mother is the exception who keeps inspiring, encouraging and lifting her low spirit and telling her to prove them wrong and that molds the mind set of the young Venus Raj. Her mother’s soft and gentle words became her motivation to persevere for her dream to become a beauty queen someday watching as the most beautiful woman crowned as Miss Universe and wondering how she can join it. Walking through the rice paddies became her training ground and perfected her catwalk skills and joining several beauty pageants in school and in their community harness her craftsmanship in the art of beauty pageants. She joins Miss Philippines Earth and ended up a runner up and two years later joined the Binibining Pilipinas national pageant in which she was crowned as the winner and automatically gave her the honor of representing the country in the upcoming Miss Universe 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 23. Her courage, perseverance and unwavering faith cannot deter her to fulfill her dreams of competing at Miss Universe beauty pageant as the scandal surrounding her birthplace took place days later, a desperate move by some envious of her title so that someone could take her place because she is just poor as some elitist wanted  a lady coming from a prominent rich family to represent the country in Miss Universe. She ended up 4th runner up to Miss Mexico Jimena Navarette in a splendid ceremony held at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada on August 23, 2010. Ever since making history that will put her as a classic exemplary woman, she has become a youtube sensation, drawing crowds swarming like bees and having lots of videos pertaining to or related about her. Graduating with honors in college despite of poverty, struggling through life with her family despite her longing for her father, her unwavering faith, confidence and courage braving against all odds just to fulfill her lifelong dream of competing at Miss Universe is truly endearing, awe inspiring, more compelling and truly an epitome of a woman’s substance and earned her a legion of fans around the world before, during and after Miss Universe.

Nicole Scherzinger

The Popular Dance Group Sensation Swaying In The Reality Show Competition

Who doesn’t know the popular lead singer of the sexy girl group Pussycat Dolls? Her exotic gorgeous looks along with her equally stunning members compliments their sexy chilling voice prove to be effective capturing the hearts of teens and younger adults all over the world with their catchy tunes and soft boneless body move who slithers like a snake. Capping her lifetime career as a dancer, she was invited to compete for the Fox Channel’s Dancing With The Stars, a reality dance show competition of celebrities, partnering with the professional dancer Derek Hough. She proves her superior skill, perfected her craft and easily made her into the finals topped by her favoritism over her opponents making her that season grand winner. Her expertise, precision, impeccable dance routines and flair in dancing is too inevitable not to be noticed.

January 9 Feast of the Black Nazarene

Today is the feast day of Black Nazarene. All over the Philippines celebrates his feast day and he is known to make a lot of miracles up to this day. Attested to that miracle!

The Black Nazarene, known to devotees as Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno de Quiapo ("Our Father Jesus Nazarene of Quiapo"), is a life-sized, dark-coloured, wooden sculpture of Jesus Christ, held to be miraculous by many Filipino devotees. The Black Nazarene is currently enshrined in the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila, Philippines.


The Feast of the Black Nazarene is celebrated every January 9 with the weekly Friday Masses held in its honour beginning on the first Friday of the year.

History

The statue's original carver is an anonymous Mexican carpenter, and the image arrived in the archipelago by galleon from Acapulco, Mexico. Folk tradition attributes the colour of the Black Nazarene to a fire on the ship carrying it, charring the image from its original fair tone into its present dark complexion.


The image was brought to the Philippines by the Augustinian Recollect Missionaries on May 31, 1606. It was initially enshrined in the first Recollect church in Bagumbayan (now part of Rizal Park). On September 10, 1606, the church was inaugurated and placed under the patronage of St. John the Baptist. In 1608, the image was transferred to the second bigger Recollect church of San Nicolas de Tolentino built in Intramuros. Between 1767 and 1790, the Archbishop of Manila, Basilio Sancho de Santas Justa y Rufina, ordered the transfer of the Black Nazarene to its present location within the Quiapo church.


Today, the image borne in procession consists of the original body of the Black Nazarene connected to a replica of the head, while the original head portion of the statue remains on a replica of the body enshrined within the high altar of the basilica. An exception to this setup was during the 2007 feast, where both the original head and the body were combined in celebration of the Black Nazarene's 400 year history.


Devotion

Veneration of the Black Nazarene stems from the overall importance Filipino culture has for the Passion of Jesus. Many devotees of the Black Nazarene identify their poverty and daily struggles to the wounds and tribulations experienced by Jesus, as represented by the image. Although the patron saint of the basilica itself is Saint John the Baptist, the consecration of the Black Nazarene has gained popularity because Jesus Christ is the centre of the devotion, bypassing intercession through a saint.


Devotion to the miraculous Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno attracted huge following among the populace. Popularity, initially at the northern and southern provinces of Luzon, spread over time throughout the country.


The uniquely Filipino devotion to the Black Nazarene merited the sanction and encouragement of two popes. In 1650, Pope Innocent X gave his pontifical blessing with a Papal Bull that canonically established the Confraternity of the Most Holy Black Christ Nazarene (Cofradia de Santo Cristo Jesús Nazareno) and Pope Pius VII gave his second blessing in the 19th century, by granting plenary indulgence to those who piously pray before the image of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo.


Devotees pay homage to the Black Nazarene by clapping their hands in praise at the end of Mass performed at the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene.


Novena

Every Friday of the year is dedicated to the Black Nazarene, with the novena being held not only in the basilica but in other churches nationwide. This has led to the colloquial expression "Quiapo Day" for Fridays, especially when referring to the traffic jams that occur around the area due to the influx of devotees.

Processions

Two major and two minor processions are held annually to honour the Black Nazarene, namely one on the feast day itself and another on Good Friday. The procession during the January 9 feast commemorates the Traslacion, or the transfer of the image to its present shrine in Quiapo.


The Black Nazarene is carried into the streets for procession in an andas or shoulder-borne carriage. The estimated millions of devotees wear the colour maroon, associated with the image, and go barefoot in imitation of Jesus on his way to Mount Calvary. Traditionally, men are the only ones permitted to hold the ropes pulling the image's carriage, but in recent years female devotees also participate in the procession. People who have touched the Black Nazarene are reported to have been cured of their diseases, and Catholics come from all over Manila to touch the image in the hopes of a miracle. Towels or handkerchiefs are hurled to the marshals guarding the Black Nazarene with requests to wipe these on the statue in hopes of the miraculous powers attributed to it "rubbing off" on the cloth articles.


The procession held on the feast day is notorious for the annual casualties that result from the jostling and congestion of the crowds engaged in pulling the carriage. The injuries and even deaths of devotees are brought upon by one or a combination of heat, fatigue, or being trampled upon by other devotees.


Hymn

Below are the lyrics of the National Hymn composed by Lucio San Pedro, which is used by the Quiapo church as the main hymn to the Black Nazarene.




Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno


Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno, (Our Father Jesus Nazarene)
Sinasamba Ka namin (We worship Thee)
Pinipintuho Ka namin (We admire Thee)
Aral Mo ang aming buhay (Thy lessons are our life)
at Kaligtasan(and Salvation.)


Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno (Our Father Jesus Nazarene)
Iligtas Mo kami sa Kasalanan (Save us from Sin)
Ang Krus Mong Kinamatayan ay (Thy Cross Thou hast died on is)
Sagisag ng aming Kaligtasan (Emblem of our Salvation)




Chorus:
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno (Our Father Jesus Nazarene)
Dinarangal Ka namin (We honour Thee)
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno Our Father Jesus Nazarene)
Nilul'walhati Ka namin (We glorify Thee)
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno (Our Father Jesus Nazarene)
Dinarangal Ka namin (We honour Thee)
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno (Our Father Jesus Nazarene)
Nilul'walhati Ka namin (We glorify Thee)




Source: Wikipedia