Filipino Creativity in Flight Attendants' Dance Routine

A recent Youtube video of Cebu Pacific's dancing flight attendants was featured in Yahoo.com's frontpage. The video has gone viral attracting almost 300,000 views to date, after it was loaded to Youtube just yesterday, Sep 30. The video shows three flight attendants dancing to a Lady Gaga song while the normal safety instructions are being announced through the intercom. The reaction? Majority of those who provided feedback in Youtube and in a related Huffington Post article voiced their approvals. Whether it's a cheap but effective marketing move by the airline or a geniune gimmick to make passengers more attentive during flight safety announcements, the dance routine showcases yet again - the Filipino's creativity. Now, if only we can use that kind of creativity to resolve our countries' many problems. Enjoy the flight attendants' dance routine below:

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UP Pep Squad wins 2010 UAAP Cheerdance Competition.

University of the Philippines' Pep Squad has been dominating the UAAP cheerdance competition in the past 4 years winning the title in 2007, 2008, and 2010 and finishing runner-up in the 2009 edition. This year's performance by the premier state university blew away the competition with their original moves, furious transitions, and unmatched energy. As usual, they incorporated ethnic Pinoy elements into their routine. I observed singkil drums and Cordillera nose flute in their music. Their adaption of the Ati-atihan dance was breath-taking. Their performance reminded me of Kim Yu-Na in the 2010 Winter Olympics. UP's Pep Squad dominated the event, no one could even come close.

Now, if only the men's basketball team can win just one game. I guess that's asking for too much. Watch the video of the Pep Squad's winning performance below.

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Chicago Loses 2016 Olympic Bid

Sayang! Chicago didn’t win the right to host the Olympics on 2016. If we were going to stay here until then, our family would have volunteered for the Games. Anyway, it’s also good that Rio de Janiero won the bid so the continent of South America will have its 1st chance to host the Olympics. Furthermore, the US hosted 2 of the last 7 Olympic Games – with the universal nature of the games, it’s just right to have others take turns in hosting it.

Brazil doesn’t require Philippine citizens to have visas to enter their country. This bodes well for our countrymen hoping to visit the 2016 Olympic Games. US citizens need visas to go to Brazil though.

In a statement, Chicago’s Mayor Daley indicated that Chicago will not bid for the next Olympic Games in 2020. The host cities tend to rotate around the world. The next 2 Olympic Games may likely go to a European city / an Asian city / maybe even an African city. Realistically, the next summer Olympic Games to be hosted in the US would be on 2028.

Here are the 2016 Olympics voting results:

2016 Olympics 1st Round Vote Results:

Madrid = 28
Rio = 26
Tokyo = 22
Chicago = 18

2016 Olympics 2nd Round Vote Results:

Rio = 46
Madrid = 29
Tokyo = 20

2016 Olympics 3rd Round Vote Results:

Rio = 66
Madrid = 32

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Jackie Chan on Chinese Freedom; Miss California on Gay Marriage

Once in a while, I will be sharing my thoughts on fascinating / interesting news that I come across while browsing the Internet. I’d be labeling these posts under “interesting” and “an igorot’s opinion”. It’s my own small take on the big world out there. This is post # 002.

*** Jackie Chan: Chinese not ready for Freedom *** Jackie Chan's comments that freedom may not be good for China were taken out of context, his spokesman said Tuesday. Meanwhile, Facebook users and Chinese scholars condemned the veteran actor on the Internet in a spreading backlash, alleging the actor of insulting the Chinese people. "I'm not sure if it's good to have freedom or not," Chan said Saturday that adding freedoms in his native Hong Kong and Taiwan made those societies "chaotic." He made the statement while speaking at a business forum. Taiwan, which split from China in 1949, is democratic and Hong Kong, a separately ruled Chinese territory, enjoys some free elections.

A group of Chinese scholars published a letter on the Internet on Monday accusing Chan of "not understanding how precious freedom is," even though "free Hong Kong provided the conditions for you to become an international action star."

MY TAKE: Jackie Chan is a favorite action star to a lot of Igorot fans, myself included. His movies are always entertaining and creative. I’m fascinated at how far reaching this furor has come to. He is, after all, a movie star – not an elected official. On the other hand, he is a public figure and that means that all his words and actions are going to be scrutinized under a microscope. I’m not sure why those who wrote or review his speech for him didn’t understand how insensitive his comment would appear especially if reported in the Western media. His spokesman’s claim on being taken out of context is not going to help.

Related Link: Jackie Chan comments out of context

*** Miss California - Question on Gay Marriage *** Miss America 2009 was crowned last Sunday evening, and we were watching a family movie so we didn’t watch it. But it’s not the winner that this year’s pageant will be remembered for, at least not yet. Rather, it is the answer of the runner-up to a question on gay marriage that has sent newspapers, television networks, and bloggers buzzing. Perez Hilton, a gay gossip blogger was one of the judges and asked Carrie Prejean of California, the following question - “Vermont recently became the 4th state to legalize same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit. Why or why not?”

Prejean answered, “Well I think it’s great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. And you know what, in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that’s how I was raised and that’s how I think it should be between a man and a woman. Thank you very much.” The answer didn’t sit well with the judge, and he even blogged about Miss Prejean being a “dumb bitch”. Fox News went as far to say that her answer cost her the title.

MY TAKE: I join fellow bloggers in applauding Miss California’s stand, and her decision to voice it out even if it meant displeasing that particular judge, or the audience. She was being asked a personal stand, and she communicated it, maybe not in the most eloquent manner, but clear enough under the circumstances. She wasn’t judgmental, she wasn’t disrespectful, she was being honest. What is appalling is Perez Hilton’s response. To call someone a “dumb bitch” based on her personal stand is mean-spirited, spiteful, bitter, unfair, un-intelligent, and un-American. He definitely showed that he didn’t deserve his position as a judge for one of America’s more popular icons. Worse, he hurt the cause of pro-gay activists by being such a sour example.

Related Links: Carrie Prejean Blogs; Gay Marriage Issue cost Miss California the Miss USA title; 'God Was Testing My Faith' With Gay Marriage Question; Beauty chooses pride over pageantry

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Patrick Ireland, Susan Boyle and Shaheen Jafargholi

Once in a while, I will be sharing my thoughts on fascinating / interesting news that I come across while browsing the Internet. I’d be labeling these posts under “interesting” and “an igorot’s opinion”. It’s my own small take on the big world out there. This is post # 001.

*** Britain's Got Talent Instant Stars

Susan Boyle and Shaheen Jafargholi, both contestants in this year’s Britain’s Got Talent are now outdueling each other in the blogosphere. The former is a 47 year old virgin who shocked the judges and the audience on Britain’s Got Talent by her voice when singing “I Dreamed A Dream” from Les Misérables. Her Youtube video has reached more than a 100 million hits in just a week’s time. Shaheen Jafargholi meanwhile is the 12-year old contestant who got the judges attention after performing the Michael Jackson song "Who's Loving You". He showed uncommon poise after judge Simon Cowell stopped his initial performance as he disapproved of his first song choice. Both Susan and Shaheen are the bookies favorites to win the show.

MY TAKE: People, in a recession or not, will always care for excellent gifts, no matter how they are packaged. The story of Susan Boyle is compelling because people had such low expectations of her. She proved those expectations wrong by performing beyond what most people thought she could do. I'm amused at how much attention is being given to her less than stellar looks. (Honestly though, doesn't she have an uncanny resemblance to a certain royal girlfriend? Hala!) A news report I read lambasted the fact that women who are "ugly and talented" get less attention than men who belong to the same category. Frankly, the looks do not matter. I'd rather give up my average looks and have an exceptional singing talent as Susan Boyle has. Imagine how the heads would turn in the karaoke bar, hehehe.

In the case of Jafargholi, no one expected a boy like him to hit such big notes as he did. He also performed so naturally in front of a nationwide audience, as if he was born to do just that. While people will admire his talent, this year’s winner of the Britain’s Got Talent is a foregone conclusion. Without offense to the rest of the talented contestants, its tough not to see Ms. Boyle win by a mile.

Related Links:Susan Boyle got over 100 million hits; Latest News on Susan Boyle; Latest News on Shaheen Jafargholi


*** Columbine Massacre Marks 10th Anniversary

This week marked the 10th anniversary of the Columbine massacre. On April 20, 1999, two high school students stormed a suburban high school killing 12 classmates and 1 teacher, while wounding around 2 dozen students in Columbine High, Colorado. It ended when the gunmen committed suicide less than an hour later. Patrick Ireland, then 17, was among the wounded. Images of him falling from a window, bloodied and paralyzed into the arms of rescuers shocked the US and the world. Now 27, Patrick Ireland is married, and works in the financial services industry. Ireland recognizes that he will be remembered as the face of Columbine because of his dramatic rescue. He accepts it as a way to emphasize that Columbine should be another word for "hope and courage."

MY TAKE: I was in Quezon City when the Columbine massacre occurred. I remember that my wife’s aunt was visiting the Philippines from Colorado and so the events stuck to my mind. I also remember criticizing a forum entry by an insensitive British poster who wrote that Americans deserved the tragedy. Who are we to say that a group of people deserve such things? This can happen anywhere, anytime. If we haven’t dealt with this kind of tragedy, we should just be thankful that it hasn’t happened to us or our loved ones.

It is easy to be insensitive on other people’s tragedies, especially if we are not involved. But behind each tragedy is a human story. The article on Patrick Ireland and the other Columbine survivor’s recovery will not be enough to describe what they had to go through. What did they do during the immediate aftermath – when suffering from physical pain, they endured moments of despair and fear? Who gave them hope to recover and move on?

The human spirit, which some people think do not exist (or probably think is a mechanism that evolved through a series of random occurrences in the environment), is never to be underestimated. Scripture tells us that humans are created in the image of God. We are not just random beings, floating in this earth, and waiting for gunmen to wipe us out at their own pleasure. We are built for relationships, and yes, our lives do have purposes. While seemingly unexplainable things may happen to our lives at a particular time, in the greater scheme of things, they are pieces of one gigantic puzzle that one day will be revealed.

For the Columbine survivors, some have taken 10 years to see the whole puzzle. Patrick Ireland endured grueling therapy to regain the use of his legs, and he had to relearn how to read, write and talk. When he was recently asked on how he want himself to be remembered, he said, "A triumphant recovery and success story."

Related Links: Patrick Ireland and other Columbine survivors; Latest News on the Columbine Massacre

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Maersk Alabama Crew Returns Home

I rarely watch the news - there are hardly any good news these days. But before going to bed last night, my wife turned on a channel and a news team was eagerly anticipating the arrival of the Maersk Alabama crew at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. We watched along as a hundred or so family members got ready to welcome the 19 sailors of the US merchant ship that was seized by Somali pirates last week.

Finally, after midnight EST, some good news - they're finally home! What a relief it must be to the family members who, for several days, were unsure about the safety of the men in their family. These are fathers, husbands, sons, brothers, and friends to dozens of people. They could be anyone that we know. All stood strong against challenges that could have cost their lives and we rejoiced along with their families as they were reunited together.

The joyful faces of the men as they went down the chartered plane said it all. There are worse things happening around but to the family members, their loved ones are home - and nothing else matters. I join the dozens of bloggers around the world in welcoming these brave men home.

Another arrival that will be heavily anticipated in the coming days will be the coming home of the Maersk Alabama's courageous captain, Richard Phillips. The captain offered himself as a hostage, at the risk of his life, so the rest of his crew will go unharmed. Phillips was rescued Sunday when U.S. Navy snipers on board the USS Bainbridge killed his three captors. The captain was scheduled to reunite with his crew, but the USS Bainbridge was diverted to assist another U.S. merchant ship that was attacked by pirates earlier this week. Captain Phillips was expected to leave Mombasa to return to the United States later Thursday.

Photo Credit: Voice of America ; Related News: Maersk Alabama Google News

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President Obama and the Man with the Golden "Bahag"

Left: A statue of King Kamehameha I at the US Capitol. Right: A smiling cut-out of President Obama at the Washington, D.C. Union Station. Photos taken on December 2008.

The Man in the Golden Bahag. Upon entering the main lobby of the newly created Visitors Center at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., there was one particular statue that caught my eye. It was that of a dark colored man, standing in a very regal manner, and dressed in what seemed like golden clothing. He was dressed in a “bahag” or loincloth, although it was not your ordinary loincloth. I read the inscription in the statue and learned that it was that of King Kamehameha I (pronounced kuh-mey-huh-mey-huh), the first king of Hawaii.

I was amused. I read about this king from a green colored hard bound book borrowed from the IATM library in Sagada during my elementary days. I recall a legend about his golden spear – if other people touch this spear, they would disappear. That’s actually a cool gadget to have don’t you think?

Above: Our youngest chase squirrels at the US Capitol grounds. The fenced area in the background is where President Obama was inaugurated.

Hollywood’s President. When we were at the US Capitol, we took the chance to see the site where Obama will be inaugurated. At that time, there was a white fence that covered perimeter at the back of the Capitol where he would take his oath. We could not see much of the place. And rightly so – security was expected to be tight for weeks around the area. To say that there was huge excitement over his inauguration is an understatement. It was all over the place – Chicago Tribune had a whole section published the Sunday before the event. Major TV and Internet networks covered the preparations non-stop. Yes, it is a historic event. Yes, he’s the first African American to be president of the United States. Yes, he has the highest approval rating of any recent president-elects entering this office. Yes, his ascent to the highest position in the US, and perhaps even the world, is a testament to what he has achieved considering his humble origins.

But what stood out to me was the heavy involvement of Hollywood stars in the run-up events to his inauguration. It seemed that every major star was present in the capital. Oprah even got to host her show in Washington DC and had Vice President Biden and his wife attend as surprise guests. Oprah’s show also featured the world debut of "America's Song" sang by such superstars as Seal, Faith Hill, Bono, etc… I was disappointed about the song though. I was expecting a bit too much I guess. I was hoping for some excitement ala WE-ARE-THE-WORLD or maybe even the lesser known VOICES-THAT-CARE. To me, it was worse than the performance of the America’s Got Talent’s top 10 contestants during finals night. I didn’t even feel a single tingle run down my spine.

Back to the topic though – for someone like me who frowns on the ideals that Hollywood is promoting, I thought that the heavy involvement of the stars cheapened the run-up events a bit. I would rather hear ordinary people say how excited they are with President Obama than have big name celebrities gush and try to exhaust every available superlative to describe their feelings. It just feels, I don’t know – insincere?

The President's Inauguration. My wife was wondering why businesses and classes had to go as usual on the day of the inauguration. I agree. In the Philippines, it would have been a holiday, hehehe. For my son at least, they got to watch the inauguration on TV at school. I was only able to read the text of his inaugural address from the CNN website a couple of hours after the inauguration. My wife and our homeschoolers got to watch the whole thing.

I thought his speech can be summed up like this – we have problems, we will be facing the problems, I cannot do it on my own, all of us are very much a part of this mess and so I would like everyone’s help to solve it. It is a step back from the I-will-do-this-and-I-will-do-that rhetoric that categorized the campaign period. I suppose that’s the way it is. You campaign to win. Now that he won, its time to set the expectations down a bit.

President Obama was not my candidate, but I am cheering for the guy to do a good job during his term. At church last Sunday, the whole congregation bowed down in prayer for him and his family. We are not citizens of this country, but President Obama’s decisions are bound to impact lives in or outside the United States. In the end, his presidency will be most remembered by the decisions he makes, and not the speeches he delivers.

President Obama and King Kamehameha. There’s actually a link between President Obama and King Kamehameha that’s why I decided to lump both figures in this one post. They were both born and grew up in Hawaii of course, but there’s more. In a biography of President Obama that I didn’t complete reading at Barnes and Nobles, I read an anecdote where the president’s white grandfather teased tourists in Hawaii, that the boy Barack was actually a direct descendant of King Kamehameha. This made the tourists shoot souvenir photos of the future president.

Last Tuesday, somewhere in rural United States, an elderly couple was checking some old travel photographs from a Hawaii vacation decades ago. While watching the inauguration, the old lady turns to her near deaf husband and says, "Dear, our new president looks very much like that great-great-grandchild of the Hawaiian king with a weird name. He has a weird name too."

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Chicago Winter and Ice Cream

Men-tingnin: cold. Men-te-leledek: very cold.

These Kankana-ey adjectives are not enough to describe the current Arctic weather enveloping the Midwest.

Dreaming of Australia. It's summer in Australia, and I am just salivating at the prospect of watching top notch tennis in the 1st grand slam of the year - the Australian Open in Melbourne. Here in the metro Chicago area, we're in the middle of a 3-day cold spell; and this year's winter is supposed to be the coldest winter in the past 8 years.

After days of snow, the sun came out today and its really bright outside. But its a joke, the sun is but a flashlight - no heat, no warmth, just cold, frigging Chicago cold. At least the wind has died down and the accumulated 12+ inches of snow is not being blown against the windshield while driving.

Still, where is global warming when its needed?

Ice Cream, Anyone? What we've learned the past 3 years is that - life continues despite the cold weather. We had 12+ inches of snow in the past 3 days - it didn't stop the activities. I still was able to drive to work, my eldest's school classes went on, and we all had to troop to the boys AWANA classes on Tuesday evening. Nothing got cancelled. When we got out around 8:30 pm, whatever water droplets there were inside the car accumulated in the windows as a very thin film of ice which the boys had mighty fun drawing pictures on.

Last Saturday, there were strong winds and regular snowfall and the roads were not cleared at all. We planned to attend some cultural activities in the library. When I called the library to check if the activities were going to be cancelled, I was informed that the performers and the audience were all there and things were going as planned. So, our whole family bundled up and made the short but slippery ride to the library. And we're mighty glad we did! The Israeli music and North American Indian presentations were a treat to the kids and us too, and we got to taste some pastries from all over the world. The driving was scary but once we were inside the building, the place was buzzing with activity and the people acted as if nothing was happening outside. For us, relatively newbies in this place, I'm still amazed how the people treat such extreme weather condition as "normal". When we headed back home after 4 hours at the library, it took me 15 minutes to clean around 3 inches of snow from our car and to warm the car.

By the way, guess what was they served during my second child's "Night with Dad" class 2 evenings ago? ICE CREAM!

When 28F becomes Warm. We're so looking forward to this weekend when the temperature will go "up" to 28F (-2C), just below freezing. Compared to these past days, we'll be feeling so warm we'll be going out with just long sleeves and thin jackets. This friday evening, we're going swimming. I guess the idea is not to mind the cold, and continue with the normal routine as much as we can. In the bigger picture, we are still very blessed. Can you imagine living in Canada where there are places where winter lasts for 8 months or so?

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Iraqi Journalist throws shoes at President Bush

In a bizarre moment at a recent press conference, an Iraqi journalist throws his 2 shoes at President Bush. Muntader al-Zaidi, the cameraman for al-Baghdadiya TV, aimed his shoes at the American president who had to duck twice to avoid being hit by the footwear turned projectile. The first attempt was a well-aimed throw to the president's head which he was able to quickly duck. President Bush was not injured in the incident and was quoted to have said "All I can report is it is a size 10".

Related stories:

• Bush shoe incident catches Secret Service flatfooted
• Family: Shoe thrower hates both US, Iran role
• Shoe-thrower expected to appear before Iraqi judge
  

Watch the video below:

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Yahoo Top Stars of 2008

(Photo Credit: Screen capture from Yahoo Movies)

With half of the last month of 2008 gone, Yahoo! Movies published its list of the Top Movie Stars of 2008. The list included a new Singapore citizen, a deceased actor, the world's most famous celebrity couple, a former Ms. World winner, and several Oscar award-winning actors. While most movie stars in the list are expected to be there, there were some surprises. Conspicuously absent from the list is Christian Bale, the star of Dark Knight - the year's biggest blockbuster. Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert Downey, Jr., the stars of Paramount's 318M+ hit "Iron Man" were excluded as well. Below is the list according to ranking:

TOP ACTRESSES:

10. GONG LI

DEFINING MOMENTS THIS YEAR: Became a Singaporean citizen, ticking off much of the Chinese internet community. Signed on to star opposite John Cuszack in Shanghai.

RECENT MOVIES: Hannibal Rising
UPCOMING MOVIES: Shanghai

9. NICOLE KIDMAN

DEFINING MOMENTS THIS YEAR: Starred in box-office bomb Australia. Gave birth to a daughter in July.

RECENT MOVIES: Australia
UPCOMING MOVIES:Nine

8. PARIS HILTON

DEFINING MOMENTS THIS YEAR: Appeared in box office bomb The Hottie & the Nottie. Ridiculed John McCain in a parody political ad.

RECENT MOVIES: The Hottie & the Nottie, Repo! The Genetic Opera
UPCOMING MOVIES: Untitled Todd Solondz Project

7. JENNIFER LOPEZ

DEFINING MOMENT THIS YEAR: Gave birth to twins in February.

RECENT MOVIES: El Cantante
UPCOMING MOVIES: The Governess

6. AISHWARYA RAI

DEFINING MOMENTS THIS YEAR: Starred in Bollywood epic Sarkar Raj opposite her brand new husband Abhishek Bachchan.

RECENT MOVIES: Sarkar Raj, Jodhaa Akbar
UPCOMING MOVIES: Pink Panther 2

5. HILARY DUFF

DEFINING MOMENTS THIS YEAR: Continued her relationship with NHL player Mike Comrie, covered a Depeche Mode song, put a scorpion in her pants for War, Inc.

RECENT MOVIES:War, Inc.
UPCOMING MOVIES: Greta, What Goes Up

4. MARY-KATE OLSEN

DEFINING MOMENTS THIS YEAR: Had a reoccurring role in "Weeds" and made out with Ben Kingsley in indie flick The Wackness. The press connected her with Heath Ledgers untimely death.

RECENT MOVIES: The Wackness
UPCOMING MOVIES: TBA

3. LINDSAY LOHAN

DEFINING MOMENTS THIS YEAR: Appeared in Chapter 27, re-created Marilyn Monroe's racy final shoot for "New York" magazine, began dating Samantha Ronson.

RECENT MOVIES: Chapter 27
UPCOMING MOVIE: Labor Pains

2. JESSICA ALBA

DEFINING MOMENTS THIS YEAR: Got married to Cash Warren and a month later gave birth to a daughter.

RECENT MOVIES: The Eye, The Love Guru
UPCOMING MOVIES: Sin City 2

1. ANGELINA JOLIE

DEFINING MOMENTS THIS YEAR: Gave birth to twins, starred in box-office blockbuster Wanted, received a Golden Globe nomination for Changeling.

RECENT MOVIES: Changeling, Kung Fu Panda, Wanted
UPCOMING MOVIE: The Mercenary: Love and Honor

TOP ACTORS:

10. TOM CRUISE

DEFINING MOMENTS THIS YEAR: Went hairy, fat, and bald for Tropic Thunder. Tried to kill Hitler in Valkyrie.

RECENT MOVIES: Tropic Thunder
UPCOMING MOVIES: Valkyrie

9. PATRICK SWAYZE

DEFINING MOMENT THIS YEAR: Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

RECENT MOVIES: Christmas in Wonderland
UPCOMING MOVIES: Powder Blue

8. DENZEL WASHINGTON

DEFINING MOMENTS THIS YEAR: Was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance in a American Gangster.

RECENT MOVIES: The Great Debaters, American Gangster
UPCOMING MOVIES: The Taking of Pelham 123

7. NICOLAS CAGE

DEFINING MOMENTS THIS YEAR: Sported yet another weird hairdo in Bangkok Dangerous. Began filming a remake of Bad Lieutenant directed by Werner Herzog.

RECENT MOVIES: Bangkok Dangerous
UPCOMING MOVIES: Astro Boy, Bad Lieutenant

6. ORLANDO BLOOM

DEFINING MOMENTS THIS YEAR: Was slimed at this year's Kid's Choice Award. Started dating supermodel Miranda Kerr.

RECENT MOVIES: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
UPCOMING MOVIES: New York, I Love You

5. WILL SMITH

DEFINING MOMENTS THIS YEAR: Starred as a suidical superhero in Hancock and a suicidal IRS agent in Seven Pounds.

RECENT MOVIES: Hancock
UPCOMING MOVIES: Seven Pounds

4. BRAD PITT

DEFINING MOMENTS THIS YEAR: His wife Angelina Jolie gave birth to twins, starred in the Coen brothers Burn After Reading and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, announced that he would star in Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Bastards.

RECENT MOVIES: Burn After Reading
UPCOMING MOVIES: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

3. LEONARDO DICAPRIO

DEFINING MOMENTS THIS YEAR: Starred in Body of Lies and received a Golden Globe nom for Revolutionary Road

RECENT MOVIES: Body of Lies
UPCOMING MOVIES: Revolutionary Road

2. JOHNNY DEPP

DEFINING MOMENTS THIS YEAR: Won a Golden Globe for Sweeney Todd. Announced he along with Colin Farrell and Jude Law would fill in for Heath Ledger in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.

RECENT MOVIES: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
UPCOMING MOVIES: Public Enemies, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

1. HEATH LEDGER

DEFINING MOMENTS THIS YEAR: Though he died in January of a drug overdose, he still had the most talked about performance, as The Joker, this year. He was nominated for a Golden Globe.

RECENT MOVIES: The Dark Knight
UPCOMING MOVIES: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

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Impeach Blagojevich

It was during the middle of this week that people from Illinois awoke to the news that their elected governor has been arrested and handcuffed on multiple charges that he conspired to sell his office in various opportunities - including putting a price on the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama. The 52 year old governor was elected twice to the position before, and on both counts vowed to reform the culture in the Springfield office that had a history of corruption with previous governors. His promises looks to be unfulfilled as after years of well-publicized federal corruption investigations, he is now being asked to resign, or threatened with impeachment.

"Impeach Blagojevich" seems to be chanted across the Illinois Senate, state offices and various Internet forums and blogs. A website called "Impeach Blagojevich" has already been set-up and is calling for Illinois citizens to "to commence a Constitutionally-authorized investigation into whether the Executive officer's conduct justifies cause for impeachment". Per the 1970 Illinois Constitution, the House of Representatives of the State of Illinois is the main authority to conduct investigations to determine the existence of cause for impeachment of the Executive and Judicial branches.

In the meantime, Gov. Rod Blagojevich continues on with his tasks capping off the week by attending to duties in his now new role of criminal defendant. He continues to rebuff calls to resign and showed no signs of backing down from his critics. He just signed a bill that extends insurance coverage for autistic kids - a clear sign that he's still the man in charge.

The current governor is just the latest to be charged with corruption in the state that prides itself with being the land of Abraham Lincoln. In the past century, four other Illinois governors have been charged or indicted of corruption charges. US News lists the following:

* George Ryan (Republican, 1999-2003)—currently serving a 6½-year sentence in federal prison for fraud
* Daniel Walker (Democrat, 1973-1977)—convicted of bank fraud after leaving office
* Otto Kerner (Democrat, 1961-1968)—convicted on 17 counts of bribery
* Lennington Small (Republican, 1921-1929)—indicted for embezzlement

Shifting focus to the Philippines, I don't recall any governor in recent years to have been charged with corruption. It doesn't mean though that corruption doesn't exist - it's just that our country still doesn't have the necessary checks and balances like what is in place in western democracies. In provincial campaigns, gubernatorial candidates are reported to spend millions in Philippine pesos to get a job that "officially" has a monthly salary of less than P50,000. The opportunity to serve the public maybe? Somehow, I'm not the only one that will raise an eyebrow on that.

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Uncontacted Tribes at the Amazon

These are pictures of a tribe in the Brazilian Amazon that have not yet been contacted by the outside world. These are in display at the Survival International website. I never would have thought that there are still un-contacted tribes in the world. There appears to be more than 100+ of these. I stand to be corrected on this one.

My questions would be: what should the outside world do in this case? Should they remain un-contacted? If these tribes are under threat of illegal logging and disease, wouldn't it be to their best if they are to be warned in some way? My take is - since contact is inevitable anyway, it should be done in a very gradual and almost natural process. Not an easy thing to do, but it has to be done. I hope the involved national governments approach this with caution and utmost sensitivity. I think that these times are way better to make contact with un-contacted tribes than say, hundreds of years ago. Case in point is how the Spanish and the English dealt with North American tribes or in a similar case, tribes in the Philippine archipelago.

The photographs accompanying article states:

"Members of one of the world’s last uncontacted tribes have been spotted and photographed from the air near the Brazil-Peru border. The photos were taken during several flights over one of the remotest parts of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil’s Acre state.

‘We did the overflight to show their houses, to show they are there, to show they exist,’ said uncontacted tribes expert José Carlos dos Reis Meirelles Júnior. Meirelles works for FUNAI, the Brazilian government’s Indian affairs department. ‘This is very important because there are some who doubt their existence.’ ..."

Read the full article at the Survival International website.

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