All -Time Greatest American Idol Contestants

          A new American Idol will be declared this week and for the season 12 a woman will be declared the winner the first since 2007 when Jordin Sparks won the coveted title.
          Although we are surprised to hear that this will be the last season that Randy Jackson and all the other 3 one-time judges namely, Keith Urban and alpha females, ever feuding Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey will be in the hot seat as judges and also the last time producer  Jimmy Iovine mentoring and critiquing the contestants (fortunately Ryan Seacrest remains as host), we are equally amused and excited about the much anticipated one on one battle between Candice Glover and Kree Harrison. Whoever wins American Idol this week is well deserved and will be loved by millions of Americans who themselves voted for their next idol.
          As we anticipate the next American Idol, it is interesting to take a look back at some of the All-Time Greatest American Idol contestants before this season who have graced the stage and wowed and swooned us with their heart melting numbers, breath taking performances, powerful and eardrum exploding vocals and soulful, hair raising rendition of songs.
          This list is not necessarily the winners but those fortunate contestants who were fated to step on the stage once, let the whole nation hear them sing and thus, born to take our breath away leaving us with imprints of good memories resounding the sweet melodies of the symphony and the ear popping drums and guitars of the band in our minds forever. These phenomenal performers are truly stars in the making taking the world by storm. 
          The names are listed in random order but according to the season they compete.

1. Kelly Clarkson
2. Justin Guarini
3. Tamyra Gray
4. AJ Gil
5. Nikki McKibbin
6. Ruben Studdard
7. Clay Aiken
8. Josh Gracin
9. Fantasia Barrino
10. LaToya London
11. Jennifer Hudson
12. Diana DeGarmo
13. John Stevens
14. Carrie Underwood
15. Anthony Fedorov
16. Bo Bice
17. Constantine Maroulis
18. Nadia Turner
19. Vonzell Solomon
20. Taylor Hicks
21. Katherine McPhee
22. Elliott Yamin
23. Chris Daughtry
24. Paris Bennett
25. Kellie Pickler
26. Ace Young
27. Mandisa
28. Jordin Sparks
29. Blake Lewis
30. Melinda Doolittle
31. LaKisha Jones
32. Chris Richardson
33. David Cook
34. David Archuleta
35. Syesha Mercado
36. Jason Castro
37. Brooke White
38. Carly Smithson
39. Kristy Lee Cook
40. Ramiele Malubay
41. Amanda Overmyer
42. Asiah Epperson
43. Adam Lambert
44. Danny Gokey
45. Allison Iraheta
46. Matt Giraud
47. Anoop Desai
48. Scott MacIntyre
49. Crystal Bowersox
50. Casey James
51. Michael Lynche
52. Siobhan Magnus
53. Didi Benami
54. Scotty McCreery
55. Lauren Alaina
56. Haley Reinhart
57. James Durbin
58. Jacob Lusk
59. Casey Abrams
60. Ta-Tynisa Wilson
61. Clint Jun Gamboa
62. Ashthon Jones
63. Thia Megia
64. Naima Adedapo
65. Pia Toscano
66. Phillip Phillips
67. Jessica Sanchez
68. Joshua Ledet
69. Hallie Day
70. Jen Hirsh
71. Creighton Fraker
72. Skylar Laine
73. Elise Testone
74. Colton Dixon
75. DeAndre Brackensick
76. Heejun Han
77. Erika Van Pelt
78. Reed Grimm


 

Miss USA 2013 Pre-Arrival Favorites 1 - 10

             The 62nd Miss USA 2013 will be held on June 16, 2013 at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino Las Vegas, Nevada. Fifty-one (51) contestants representing the 50 states and the District of Columbia will fight it out for the crown of Miss USA 2013 and to represent the United States at the Miss Universe 2013 at a venue and specific date to be announced by the Miss Universe Organization. The reigning Miss USA 2012 Nana Meriwether of Potomac, Maryland, who succeeded Olivia Culpo after the latter won Miss Universe 2012 will crown her successor at the end of the event. 
         Meanwhile, before the ladies hit the stage and compete for the title, photos of the 51 ladies surfaced on the web and the pageant fans and pundits including me cannot help but make their own favorites or bets for the crown before their arrival and even before they compete. Here is my own list of pre-arrival favorites for the crown. Their numbers here signify the rankings of ladies, whose timeless and effortless beauty, natural elegance and personality in the pictures captured my attention most. So here goes my early favorites for Miss USA 2013!

 

 1. Hawaii - Brianna Acosta

  

2. Illinois - Stacie Juris  
 

  

3. Maryland - Kasey Staniszewski

  

4. Connecticut - Erin Brady

  

5. Tennessee - Brenna Mader 

  

6. New Hampshire - Amber Faucher

  

7. California - Mabelynn Capeluj 

  

8. Indiana - Emily Hart

  

9. Alabama - Mary Margaret McCord

  

10. Colorado - Amanda Wiley 

Miss USA 2013 Pre-Arrival Favorites 11 - 20

 

 11. Nevada - Chelsea Caswell

  

 12. Pennsylvania - Jessica Billings

  

13. South Dakota - Jessica Albers

  

14. Utah - Marissa Powell

  

15. West Virginia - Chelsea Welch 

  

16. Florida - Michelle Aguirre

  

17. Louisiana - Kristen Girault

  

18. Texas - Ali Nugent

  

19. New Jersey - Libell Duran 

  

20. Virginia - Shannon McAnally

Warming Up: 
Arizona 
District of Columbia 
Georgia 
Kentucky 
Massachusetts

SLEEPING DRAGON OF THE SOUTH: ILOILO BUILDINGS HISTORY AND TRIVIA

Hoskyn's Department Store is the very first department store in the Philippines established in 1877 by Hoskyns and Co. Hoskyn's building still exists today withstood the test of the time withstanding a war, earthquakes, storms and other natural calamities. It is one of the best preserved buildings in Iloilo. Today, a small supermart store, a hardware store and a drug store occupies the building. Take note of the name and date inscribed at the top of the building.

Once completed, all of these buildings can be found all over Iloilo by 2015.

          By the second half of the 19th century, Iloilo became the undisputed leader among the provinces in Western Visayas. Not only was it the biggest in population, it was the largest in agricultural production, the most active in manufacturing, and one of the best instructed among the provinces, according to John Bowring, Governor of Hongkong, who visited Iloilo in 1858 (Bowring, 1963). 

          Because of the expansion of trade and the rapid growth of business and economic activities in Panay and Negros due primarily to the boom in the sugar industry resulting from the opening of the Iloilo Port to world commerce in 1855, native and foreign firms established themselves in the town of Iloilo. These firms built permanent offices and outlets along the Iloilo wharf and the streets that branched out from the waterfront. Banks, machine shops, printing presses, educational institutions, medical facilities, and social clubs came into being. Residential buildings multiplied and provided the town of Iloilo a highly urbanized character. The town of Iloilo subsequently developed into one of the most important commercial centers in the Philippines outside of Manila. On October 5, 1889, the Queen Regent of Spain raised the town to the status of a city. 

          The Iloilo waterfront (now Muelle Loney), considered as the hub of Iloilo's trade, was an entrepot of British and Chinese merchants in the 1880s, not to mention American, Basque, Catalan, Danish, Portuguese, Swiss and Filipino entrepreneurs. Calle Real (now J.M. Basa Street), situated in the heart of downtown Iloilo, served as the main shopping center of the town. In the 1880s, even before it was elevated into a city, it was already where most of the town's business establishments and large residential houses were found. Filipino, American, European and Chinese retail stores lined up along its length. An essential component of the sugar trade at the Port of Iloilo was the availability of bodegas or warehouses to store sugar. At the heart of the waterfront stood a long line of offices and bodegas owned by the leading commercial houses operating in Calle Real and elsewhere in the town. Some of these included those of Miguel Medina, Julian Hernaez, Vicente Gay, the Scot Macleod, Ernest Oppen, Ynchausti y ca., and the Swiss Frederick Luchsinger (Source: Contribuciones industriales, Iloilo). 

          In 1877, the Englishman Henry Hoskyns, nephew of Nicholas Loney, the first British vice-consul in Iloilo, paid P17,000 for the house and lot at the midpoint of Calle Real which became the site of the town's renowned luxury Hoskyn Department Store. It was also the first to introduce the “fixed price” policy in merchandising in the country and was known to be “the store that sold everything from needle to anchor”. It offered groceries, hardware, stationery, toys, watches, jewelry, machinery, buttons, threads, etc. (Source: Articulos que ordinariamente reciben y venden Hoskyn y ca. del comercio de Iloilo, 1895). 

          In the 1880s, among the business firms that were doing business in Calle Real, aside from Hoskyn's, were Streif and Co. (Swiss), Ynchausti y cia. (Spanish), El Louvre (French), Lizarraga Hermanos (Spanish), and Levy Hermanos and Co. (French). These establishments were noted merchants, capitalists and large commodities brokers. There were also other European and American firms dealing in maritime and fire insurance. Also, a number of European specialty shops and retail stores were on hand selling hats, watches, naval supplies, etc. A piano studio, tailoring and machine shops were, moreover, available. Furthermore, here was located Spanish and native establishments like Bazar Cosmopolitan, Cafe Colon, La Puerta del Sol, La Espega de Oro, La Zaragoza, and Tordecillas y ca. There was also German-owned drugstore called Botica Antigua (Source: Protocols 1601, Yloilo, March 31, 1887; Contribuciones industriales, Iloilo). 

          Banks promptly opened their branches in Iloilo town in this period and they were placed at Calle Real near Plaza Alfonso XII (now Plaza Libertad). These banks were the Chartered Bank and the Hongkong & Shanghai Bank. Hotels were also found in Calle Real like the Casa de Hespedes and Fonda la Espanola located just off the far-end of the Plaza. 

 

Locations Of The Newest Buildings In Iloilo By 2015

The Original Seal Of Iloilo in 1890 When Iloilo City Was Founded. It Has A Conscription "La Muy Leal Noble Y Ciudad De Iloilo 1890" Or The Most Loyal and Noble City Of Iloilo Bestowed Upon By The Queen Regent Of Spain, Maria Christina Thus The Nickname "Queen City Of The South" was based.

Photo Source:  

http://www.localphilippines.com 
skyscrapercity 
habagatcentral.com 
Iloilo I Love By Mark Segador
"Iloilo, the Most Noble City: History and Development 1566 - 1898" by Reverend Father Policarpio F. Hernandez, OSA

 

DINAGYANG FESTIVAL 2013 Official Results

Tribu Panayanon Of Iloilo City National High School Emerged As Dinagyang Festival 2013 CHAMPION

        Tribu Panayanon of Iloilo City National High School  emerged as the over-all champion of the world famous Dinagyang Festival 2013 for the first time under the new name. It first won the title in 2005 under the name Tribu Silak.
       Aside from the top prize, Tribu Panayanon also collected several special awards from opening salvo to the main competition awards like  Performance, Head Dress and Choreography. 1st runner-up went to Tribu Ilonganon of Jalandoni Memorial National High School, 2nd runner-up went to Tribu Salognon of Jaro National High School, 3rd runner-up went to Tribu Milagrosa of Zarraga National High School and 4th runner-up went to Tribu Atub-atub of Brgy. Veterans Village.
       Dinagyang Festival competition which was started in 1970 is the only Philippine festival that has an official mascot named Dagoy and goes on a world tour in promoting not just the festival but also the Philippines as a tourist destination. In 2011, the winning tribe, Tribu Pan-ay went on to perform in New York City and other neighboring U.S. cities for the Philippine Independence Day event sponsored by the Filipino community there. Last year, the winning tribe went to Guam to perform in a special event there. This year, the winner will travel to Singapore to perform at a special event there and will also represent Iloilo Dinagyang Festival at the Aliwan Fiesta 2013 in Intramuros, Manila in which it will compete against the best festivals around the country.

The List of Winners Including Those From Other Events is as follows: 


Fireworks

2nd runner up - JJ Pyrostars, Rizal Province
1st runner up - Nean Fireworks, Bocaue, Bulacan
Champion - Clean Cut Fireworks, Antipolo, Rizal Province





Tambor Trumpa Martsa Musika Drum and Lyre Corps Competition:


Elementary Level


Champion - Dingle Central Elementary School Drum and Lyre Corps - Dingle, Iloilo
2nd Place - Alimodian Central Elementary School Drum and Lyre Corps - Alimodian, Iloilo
3rd Place - Pili Elementary School - Ajuy, Iloilo






Secondary Level



 Champion - Iloilo City National High School - Molo, Iloilo City
 2nd Place - Ramon Avanceña National High School - Arevalo District, Iloilo City
 3rd Place - Rufino Palabrica National High School - Dingle


 
Kasadyahan Regional Cultural Competition

Special Awards: 
 
Best Choreographer - Salakayan, Miag-ao, Iloilo
Best Musical Director - Kaing, Leon, Iloilo
Best In Costume - Kaing, Leon, Iloilo
Best In Music - Kaing, Leon, Iloilo
Best In Choreography - Salakayan Festival, Miag-ao, Iloilo
Best In Performance - Salakayan Festival, Miag-ao, Iloilo
Best In Street Dancing - Bayluhay, San Joaquin, Iloilo

CHAMPION - Salakayan Festival (Miag-ao, Iloilo)
1st Runner-up - Tribu Kaing (Leon, Iloilo)
2nd Runner-up - Tribu Bayluhay (San Joaquin, Iloilo)
3rd Runner-up - Tribu Padagyaw (Dumarao, Capiz)
4th Runner-up - Tribu Mandaragat (San Jose, Antique)



Dinagyang Festival Ati Street Dance Competition


Opening Salvo  

Special Awards
Best In Costume - Tribu Ilonganon
Best In Discipline - Tribu Panayanon

Best In Performance - Tribu Panayanon


Main Competition

Special Awards
Best Costume Designer - Tribu Ilonganon
Best In Head Dress - Tribu Panayanon
Best Musical Director - Tribu Ilonganon
Best Choreographer - Romel Flogen, Tribu Panayanon
Best In Discipline - Tribu Salognon


Minor Awards
Best In Street Dance - Tribu Salognon
Best In Costume - Tribu Ilonganon
Best In Music - Tribu Ilonganon
Best In Choreography - Tribu Panayanon
Best In Performance - Tribu Panayanon


Major Awards  

Champion – Tribu Panayanon (Iloilo City National High School)
1st Runner Up – Tribu Ilonganon (Jalandoni Memorial National High School)
2nd Runner Up – Tribu Salognon (Jaro National High School)
3rd Runner Up – Tribu Milagrosa (Zarraga National High School)
4th Runner Up – Tribu Atub-Atub (Brgy. Veterans Village, Jaro Iloilo City)

DINAGYANG FESTIVAL 2013 FULL PERFORMANCE RECAP

For those who were not able to watch or those who want to review and relieve their impressions of this year's Dinagyang Festival 2013, here is the Full Performance Recap Video of Dinagyang Ati Tribe Competition held today, January 27, 2013:

DINAGYANG 2013 LIVE STREAM LINKS

For those inquiring about Dinagyang Festival 2013 Live Stream links, here are two links which you can watch the Dinagyang Festival 2013 online anywhere you are in the world.  Dinagyang Ati Tribe Competition will be on January 27, 2013 at 9 am (PHILIPPINE TIME)

Make #Dinagyang2013 a WORLDWIDE TREND on Twitter this coming January 27, Thanks!

Click the links below:


DINAGYANG FESTIVAL 2013 LIVE STREAM by The Daily Guardian 


 CHOOSE PHILIPPINES DINAGYANG FESTIVAL 2013 LIVE STREAM

DINAGYANG FLASHBACK: Dinagyang Festival 2012 Champion, Tribu Pan-ay

DINAGYANG FESTIVAL 2012 WINNER TRIBU PAN-AY

DINAGYANG FLASHBACK: Dinagyang 2012 1st Runner Up, Tribu Lunok

Tribu Lunok of Iloilo City National High School was the 1st runner-up in the 2012 Dinagyang Festival: 

Make #Dinagyang2013 a WORLDWIDE TREND on Twitter this coming January 27, Thanks!


Video Courtesy of: Terence Uygongco and Kai Cai Youtube Channel

DINAGYANG FLASHBACK: Dinagyang 2012 2nd Runner Up, Tribu Ilonganon

Tribu Ilonganon of Jalandoni Memorial National High School was the 2nd runner up of the 2012 Dinagyang Festival.


Make #Dinagyang2013 a WORLDWIDE TREND on Twitter this coming January 27, Thanks!

DINAGYANG 2013: OPENING SALVO

This is one of the tribes which will be competing for the highlights of the Dinagyang Festival 2013 Ati Dance Competition on Sunday, January 27. This performance is a part of the grand rehearsal on the opening salvo of the festival which took place last Friday, January 18. On Saturday will be the regional cultural competitions in which the best of the region festivals will compete for the top prize. Watch out for the highlights of the festival where 11 tribes will compete for the top prize on Sunday with the result and winners will be announced on the evening of the same day. 

DINAGYANG FLASHBACK: Dinagyang 2012 3nd Runner Up - Tribu Paghidaet

The highlights of the week-long Dinagyang Festival is held every 4th Sunday of January where the Dinagyang Ati Tribe Competition takes places. Tribal warriors painted in black and dressed in colorful, elaborately decorated tribal costumes dance in a rhythmic and choreographed movements to the sound made from indigenous and synthetic materials. Here is the first of a series of flashback to the best performance of yesteryear's Dinagyang Festival. 

Tribu Paghidaet of Lapaz National High School was the 3nd runner up in the 2012 Dinagyang Festival

Make #Dinagyang2013 a WORLDWIDE TREND on Twitter this coming January 27, Thanks!

SLEEPING DRAGON OF THE SOUTH: Iloilo The Next Big Thing Series Part 6: Iloilo - Guimaras Island Ferry Terminal

 Propose Guimaras - Iloilo Ferry Terminal
@ Rotary Park at Fort San Pedro ( Parola ) Iloilo City
Two international firms are interested to invest in the public-private partnership projects of Iloilo City that are still in the pre-feasibility study stage, Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said.

The pre-feasibility studies of both the central business district and Guimaras-Iloilo ferry terminal (GIFT) projects were already evaluated to pave the way for a formal feasibility study that will be submitted and recommended to the Regional Development Council 6 and the National Economic Development Authority 6.

Mabilog said he will ask for an authority from the Sangguniang Panlungsod to sign a document for the eventual proclamation by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III for the almost one-hectare Rotary Park at Port San Pedro for the GIFT project.

Embodied in the pre-feasibility study at no cost to the city government and submitted by Concept Consultants headed by Nathaniel Von Einsedel, the project proposal was approved by the Cities Development Initiative Asia.

The GIFT project will connect Guimaras island-province to Iloilo City through a modern terminal for ferry boats and calls for the improvement of Jordan and Buenavista wharves in Guimaras to complement the Iloilo City ferry terminal for Buenavista and Jordan ferries.

Mabilog said President Aquino is enthusiastic about the project and has ordered the Presidential Management Staff to review the Iloilo City project for possible foreign and national government funding.

He said the Asian Development Bank is also expected to help in the project by providing a loan facility complemented by an ideal public and private partnership with 51 percent from the private and 49 percent from the government.

Under the same PPP set-up, the central business district is expected to be converted into a modern multi-storey edifice for wet and dry sections and other stalls.

A CBD pre-feasibility study was also conducted by Concept Consultants calling for the rehabilitation of the Iloilo central market into a world-class shopping center complete with a podium and mall stores.

During the City Council’s regular session on September 8 this year, the issue was given priority attention by the city councilors who wanted a new and modern ferry terminal at Fort San Pedro.


City Council committee on rules chairman Joshua Alim said the authority given to Mabilog will pave the way for the establishment of a multi-million peso modern Guimaras Iloilo Ferry Terminal (GIFT) project in the area of abandoned Rotary Park aimed to service commuters between Iloilo City and the island province of Guimaras.


A pre-feasibility study was conducted by Concept Consultants more than two years ago and funded by Asian Development Bank for the development of a ferry terminal in Parola Fort San Pedro area and the ferry terminals in the municipalities of Buenavista and Jordan in Guimaras.


With a Presidential Proclamation over the area, the project is expected to be given priority attention by the regional development council and National Economic Development Authority for possible government or foreign funding.

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo – The construction of the P135-million Iloilo-Guimaras Ferry Terminal will soon start, with the formal signing of an agreement October 1 between the Iloilo City government and the DoubleDragon Properties Corporation, which has been contracted for the project.

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the existing Parola Terminal in Iloilo City will serve as a world-class ferry facility for passengers going to and from the neighboring island province of Guimaras.

The 1.3-hectare land allocated for the project will include a state-of-the-art ferry terminal, a mini-mall and a fueling station for pump boats.

“This is another public-private partnership (PPP) project that aims to boost tourism and investment opportunities in both Iloilo and Guimaras province,” remarked Mabilog.

Owned by billionaire Edgar Sia II of Mang Inasal food chain fame, DoubleDragon Properties Corp. will build-to-operate the ferry terminal within a 25-year period.

“The city is not spending a single centavo for the project, but it will have a share from the revenues and taxes which will be placed in the city’s general fund,” Mabilog said.

Said ferry terminal will rise in what used to be the Rotary Park complex, which was turned over last year to the Iloilo City government through Presidential Proclamation 201.

The complex will also host the Iloilo district office of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).


Sources: 

iloiloilove.com 

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/375672/construction-of-new-p135m-iloiloguimaras-ferry-terminal-set#.UMh20fJM604 

http://www.thenewstoday.info/2010/08/27/2.firms.interested.in.cbd.ferry.terminal.projects.mayor.html 

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/iloilo/local-news/city-council-okays-deal-ferry-terminal?sort=asc&order=Combinations

70th Golden Globe Awards 2013 Winners and Red Carpet Stand Out

Megan Fox gown designed by Dolce and Gabbana 

Jennifer Lopez gown designed by Zuhair Murad 

I love the red carpet event of the 70th Golden Globe Awards this year. So many stunning women dressed in fabulous gowns, one of the best in the history of this 70 year old award. Two women caught my attention and are complete stand out - Megan Fox and Jennifer Lopez. Two beautiful women dressed in fabulous head turner gowns. Sorry but I will not do the same and feature an article about the Academy Awards because it is purely political and racist awards ceremony who always snub and underestimate and humiliate Philippine entries because most members of the Academy are British who hates the Philippines and Filipinos with passion and don't like the idea of a Filipino winning in any fields not just the movies but don't worry Philippine film entries to the said awards always put them to shame. For the mean time here are some of the winners of this year's Golden Globe trophy: 

Actor, Drama
Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln

Actress, Drama
Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty

Director
Ben Affleck, Argo

Actor, Musical or Comedy
Hugh Jackman, Les Miserables

Actress, Musical or Comedy
Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook

Supporting Actor
Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained

Supporting Actress
Anne Hathaway, Les Miserables

Animated Film
Brave

Screenplay
Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained

Original Score
Mychael Danna, Life of Pi



TELEVISION
Series, Drama
Homeland

Series, Musical or Comedy
Girls

Actress, Drama
Claire Danes, Homeland

Actor, Drama
Damian Lewis, Homeland

Actress, Musical or Comedy
Lena Dunham, Girls

Actor, Musical or Comedy
Don Cheadle, House of Lies

Miniseries or Movie
Game Change

Actress, Miniseries or Movie
Julianne Moore, Game Change

Actor, Miniseries or Movie
Kevin Costner, Hatfields & McCoys

Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey

Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie
Ed Harris, Game Change

Feast Of The Black Nazarene

The Image Of The Holy Black Nazarene So Loved and Honored By Many Pilgrims

Crows Flock To Witness The Processions of the Black Nazarene 

          Today, January 9 is the feast day of the Black Nazarene. Nine (9) million devotees and pilgrims are expected to come, and witness the procession and activities during the day of the feast considered to be the biggest religious feast celebration in the Philippines. On the eve of the feast celebration, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims flocked to the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, Manila which is the starting point of the procession the next day, to venerate, touch and kiss the miraculous Black Nazarene and camp their night out till the next day when an early dawn mass is held and the procession starts at sunrise where millions of devotees and pilgrims gather to witness the procession. Many faithfuls attested the miracles attributed to the prayers and veneration of the said sacred image from being healed and cured of their diseases to conceiving babies for those thought to be sterile and infertile to fulfilling their impossible dreams.
          The Black Nazarene is carried into the streets for procession in a shoulder-bourne carriage known to devotees as the andas (from the Spanish word Andar meaning "To go forward"). The devotees wear the colour maroon and walk barefoot as an act of penance for Jesus on his way to Mount Calvary. Traditionally, only men are permitted to hold the ropes pulling the image's carriage, but in recent years female devotees have also participated in the procession. These rope pullers are traditionally called namámasán. 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 and escorts 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.
          For the meantime, here is my own prayer to the Black Nazarene:

O most holy, most beloved Black Nazarene, thank you for all the blessings and graces you bestowed on us through the years. We thank you for the grace of life and health that you give us. We feel so sorry for all the transgressions and sins we committed and we humbly ask for your forgiveness as we strive each day for its reparation and as we struggle for a renewal of life of reformation, godliness affirmation and faith. We offer and entrust our lives with you and hope that we live our lives in accordance to your example and submit to your will. We ask for your guidance over us in everyday of our lives and shower us with your unconditional love and endless graces as we live a happy and fulfilling life and always save and protect us in all and every forms of danger of body and soul. We trust you and owe you our life, dear Lord. Amen.

          Here is a further reading and facts about the most sacred and revered Black Nazarene. Click the link below:       

  

Wikipedia: Black Nazarene 

          If you want to pray the Nine-Day Novena, click the link below:  

Novena To The Most Sacred Black Nazarene

* The Philippine National Police estimated more than ten (10) pilgrims and devotees attended this year's Feast of the Black Nazarene.    

SLEEPING DRAGON OF THE SOUTH Iloilo The Next Big Thing Series Part 5: Iloilo IT and Business Park

Iloilo Business Park Master Development Plan 

Festive Walk 

Some of the Exciting Places in the Business Park 

Megaworld Avenue 

Here’s  A General Summary of the Iloilo Business Park Project: 

54.5 hectares total land area, the largest IT park yet of publicly-listed Megaworld Corporation 
- P18B investment by Megaworld over the next 10 years 
- P2.5 billion initial investment to develop the road network 

Once completed, the project is expected to create 24,000 BPO seats, 200,000 square meters of commercial space, and around 35,000 jobs

A six-lane highway will serve as the main artery running through the entire length of the property 

Richmonde Hotel Iloilo and Richmonde Tower features: 
12-storey building 
Hotel component will host 90 guest rooms, which will cater to businessmen and tourists 
Seventh level amenities deck features play amenities such as a lap pool, children’s pool and fitness center, while the business center on the same level will include meeting rooms and a conference room. 

Richmonde Tower will occupy the second to sixth floors of the hotel, offering more than 9,000 square meters of prime office space for BPO locators. 

Festival Walk 
Two kilometers total length, which will be the longest shopping and dining strip in the Philippines once completed 
Initial 200 meter section of the Festival Walk will be opened alongside Richmonde Hotel Iloilo and Richmonde Tower 

Le Grand Richmonde Hotel 
High-end Hotel counterpart of Richmonde Hotel Iloilo with convention facilities 
Construction to begin after the completion of Richmonde Hotel Iloilo 

Two Additional Business Process Outsourcing Towers