GMA Network’s Jessica Soho receives People of the Year Award

GMA Network VP for News Programs and multi-awarded broadcast journalist Jessica Soho was recently honored by People Asia Magazine as one of the 2009 People of the Year Awardees for her outstanding achievements and societal contributions delivered through media.
Arguably the most awarded Filipino journalist, Soho was especially cited for having received the prestigious and much-coveted George Foster Peabody Award in Investigative Journalism in 2000, the Ten Outstanding Young Men Award in 1993, and the Catholic Mass Media Award for Best Public Service Program for her Q Channel 11 program Reunions in 2009 – just among the many awards in her well-kept roster. Soho is also the host of GMA public affairs program Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho.
Referred to by People Asia as the “news icon” whose work demands objectivity at all times, the magazine further acknowledged Soho’s ability to “achieve balance through walking on the tight rope as ‘humanely’ as possible.”
“I am grateful and honored for having been chosen one of the People of the Year for 2009 by such a prestigious magazine. I give back the honor and the glory to our viewers who have supported all of my programs for the past 25 years that I have been a broadcast journalist. And also to everyone who has helped me become who I am today. I will forever be grateful,” Soho said.
Soho received the People of the Year Award during the awarding ceremony held last January 21 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay City .

Nerve-wracking 'Ikaw Sana' finale

FOR months, viewers have been one with Eliza, the character played by Jennylyn Mercado in Ikaw Sana, in wanting to seek what is rightfully hers. And now, as the intense-filled drama series draws to and end, it’s a question of whether or not she will triumph in her pursuit for vengeance.
Eliza (Jennylyn) and Michael (Mark Herras) are finally back to being the happy couple that they were. After going through a great ordeal in their marriage, they were able to resolve their issues after Giselle (Camille Prats) revealed her true intentions and that Michael never really cheated on her wife.
Meanwhile, Amanda (Marisa Delgado) wakes up from her coma. She tells Eliza that Loreta (Maritoni Fernandez) is the reason for all the misfortunes that’s happening to them.
Enrico (Zoren Legaspi), on the other hand, takes revenge into his own hands and shoots Loreta unaware of Eliza’s presence. Stunned, Enrico also threatens to kill Eliza but Loreta saves her with her last strength.
In her haste to escape, Eliza meets an accident and loses consciousness. Sofia (Pauleen Luna) goes home and finds her mother dead. Enrico then tells Sofia that Eliza killed her mother.
It’s going to be a nerve-wracking finale as the battle between good and evil continues in Ikaw Sana. What will Sofia do to Eliza, whom she was made to believe killed her mother? Could there still be a chance for Eliza and Sofia’s relationship as sisters to change for the better? Will Eliza ever find it in her heart to forgive everyone who wronged her?
The answers to these questions and more will be revealed in the final days of Ikaw Sana, right before 24 Oras on GMA Telebabad.

SEXBOMB DANCERS wows Iloilo with Bilog automation song

After taking Cebu by storm, the Sexbomb Dancers made sure that they go straight into the heart of Western Visayas – ILOILO, to promote responsible voting at a whole new dancing level, that is!



In a live program aired over GMA TV-6 Iloilo’s ARANGKADA, Sexbomb Dancers’ Jopay, Aira, Mia, Grace, and Mae were seen performing the dance steps of the catchy and bouncy automation dance/song, Bilog na Hugis Itlog.



The popular all-girl dance group covered three areas - Brgy. Bakhaw, West Visayas State University, and St.Therese MTC Colleges, as part of the launch of the automation dance contest in Iloilo.



During the Kapuso Night, which was part of the Kapuso Dinagyang celebration last weekend, the Sexbomb dancers performed the Bilog na Hugis Itlog dance once more before a crowd of more than 15,000. The crowd gushed and cheered the girls, and even sang along to the now very popular automation song.



The Bilog song and dance, as it is, has become viral — being seen not only on the Kapuso television and heard on radio but also getting several YouTube and social networking site postings.



For the first time in history, Filipino voters will choose the country’s leaders in automated elections. While lectures, seminars and fora have been conducted all over the country, information on automated election procedures have yet to impact in the grassroots level. The most recent survey, in fact, indicates that a good number of qualified voters are not familiar with the new voting procedures.



Hence, the GMA News and Public Affairs group put together a fun and easy way to learn to cast an automated ballot. This is in line with the network’s public service thrust to empower viewers through information.



“Bilog na Hugis Itlog” (Oval/Circle shaped like an egg) is GMA’s election advocacy for 2010 elections that details the automated voting process, what kind of leaders the country needs today, and the call for clean and honest elections. (30)

What measure of hatred would provoke a child to utter the words, “Ina, Kasusuklaman Ba Kita?”

What measure of hatred would provoke a child to utter the words, “Ina, Kasusuklaman Ba Kita?”



Sinenovela’s initial offering this 2010 will be unprecedented in the annals of television drama as it redefines love, commitment, and sacrifice – words all commonly ascribed to a mother’s relationship to her child.



In Gilda Olvidado’s Ina, Kasusuklaman Ba Kita?, the mother-daughter tandem of Jean and Jennica Garcia leads a dynamic cast of prominent veteran and young actors and actresses including Ariel Rivera, Llyod Samartino, Luis Alandy, Karla Estrada, Richard Quan, Regine Tolentino, Dion Ignacio, LJ Reyes, Iwa Moto, and Paulo Avelino in a story of a mother struggling to do right by her children.



Jean Garcia is right up her alley as she plays the ambitious and strong-willed Alvina while Jennica, on the other hand, crosses over from romantic-comedy to drama as she portrays the fragile and kind-hearted Rizzi. They will be reprising the roles played by Rita Gomez and Lorna Tolentino in this TV version of the renowned 80’s blockbuster hit.



Alvina Montenegro (Jean Garcia) has three children - Rav (Dion Ignacio), Rossan (Iwa Moto), and Rizzi (Jennica Garcia) - all by different fathers. Despite such unconventional set-up, Alvina fully embraces her duties as a mother and only has the best interest of her family at heart.



Of the three, Alvina is closest to Rizzi, who, unlike Rav and Rossan, grew up without the privilege of having a father around. Until one day, a man by the name of Daniel Bustamante (Ariel Rivera) arrives at Alvina’s doorstep and claims to be Rizzi’s father.



Owing to her materialistic nature, Alvina downgrades Daniel’s capability as a father due to his financial instability. Days before her eighteenth birthday, Rizzi plans a rendezvous with Daniel in order for them to finally be together, as well as to break free from Alvina’s manipulative ways.



Desperate to prove himself to Alvina, Daniel dabbles in business but in the process, ends up losing all of his hard-earned savings, which prompts him to commit a crime. He ends up in jail causing him to miss what might have been his last chance to finally be with his daughter.



Life goes on for Alvina and her children but nothing is the same again. Alvina is able to convince Rizzi that Daniel has abandoned her but at what cost? Rossan’s rich politician dad turns his back at her, while Rav’s mental condition – a result of a traumatic incident as a child – becomes worse forcing him to risk his own life. As a result, Alvina couldn’t help but blame herself for the misfortune of her children, and categorizes herself as a failure in being a mother.



After all that is said and done, can Alvina still find enough faith and fortitude to rebuild her family? More importantly, can she find it in her heart to forgive herself before she can forgive the people around her?



Sinenovela’s latest installment is under the direction of Gil Tejada while its theme song is composed by world-renowned violinist Alfonso “Coke” Bolipata.



Experience drama at its finest and rediscover what precious blessings mothers are in SINENOVELA PRESENTS GILDA OLVIDADO’S INA, KASUSUKLAMAN BA KITA? beginning January 25 after Kaya Kong Abutin Ang Langit on GMA Network’s Dramarama sa Hapon. (30)

RICHARD PERFORMS FAMOUS “PAPA BEAR! MAMA BEAR!” SONG ON FULL HOUSE

See a different side of Richard Gutierrez as he dances and sings along to the tune of “Papa Bear! Mama Bear!” in an effort to appease an inconsolable Jessie, played by his on-screen partner Heart Evangelista, this week on GMA-7’s FULL HOUSE.



After weeks of seemingly endless bickering with his so-called wife, cupid has finally found a way to soften the heart of Justin. In order to ask for Jessie’s forgiveness, Justin performs the delightfully charming chant made popular by the original Koreanovela.



This is a rare occasion for Richard who we don’t often see dancing or singing much less perform a hip-swaying song-and-dance number on TV. “I rehearsed a lot for the scene so I’m hoping that the viewers will like it. It’s not everyday that you see me dancing on TV so I’m excited to know how the viewers will react cause I’m offering them something different”, said Richard. “Nakakatuwa pala siya gawin! I’m sure magugustuhan ng mga viewers lalong lalo na ng mga bata!”, he added.



Meanwhile, Luigi (Patrick Garcia) will learn of the most kept secret of Justin and Jessie – that is their marriage is only on paper – no thanks to Lisette’s (Sheena Halili) big mouth. This gives Luigi more confidence to pursue Jessie, who, on the other hand, is head over heels in love with Justin.



Don’t miss the next episodes of FULL HOUSE and find out how one song – or perhaps even a dance number - can change it all. It airs weeknights after The Last Prince on GMA Telebabad. (30)

Baptist pastors to tackle national development issues

The Convention Baptist Ministers Association (CBMA) will hold its 69th Annual National Assembly at Katipan Hall, Camp Higher Ground, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo on January 19-22, 2010 with the theme “Ministers as Leaders: Claiming and Leading the Nation.” This will be attended by over 700 participants coming from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Apart from our traditional organizational activities, the forthcoming assembly will serve as reunion of respective theological institutions and a dialogue with auxiliary organizations and heads of institutions under the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches. There will also be a forum with national and regional government leaders and non-government organizations to establish partnership in community service and development towards nation building.

“We expect to clarify the role of pastors in nation building and other development endeavors and make a stand on the extent of our participation in the affairs of the nation,” says Rev. Edwin Lariza, CBMA national president. Lariza noted that Baptist pastors have been active in working for change and development both within and outside the political system but, as an organization, quite mum about it. While there have been Baptist pastors in elected or appointed positions in the government, parliament of the streets, non-government organizations, grassroots organizing, international solidarity work, the parameters are not set yet. “We will assess our involvement in nation building and unite on accepted forms of struggle so that we can respect and support each other,” Lariza added.

It is expected that after the assembly, the CBMA, as an organization will become more active in performing its role in development endeavors particularly involving the life of the nation. The board of trustees in its recent meeting has already decided to continue with the Pilgrimage for Peace, as a response of local Christians to the universal call for peace especially during national elections .

It will be recalled that in May 2004, the first Pilgrimage of Peace-Panay wide was spearheaded by the CBMA in partnership with Central Philippine University, Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches, and the Iloilo Coalition of NGOs and POs (ICON). During the May 2007 elections, the pilgrimage covered the islands of Panay, Guimaras and Negros. It made short stopovers in every town to distribute voter's education materials and pray for peace with major stopovers on designated centers. The possibility of holding it nationwide on May 2010 elections will be one of the agenda of the forthcoming assembly.

The CBMA is national organization of Baptist Pastors serving the churches and institutions of the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches (CPBC). CPBC is the oldest Baptist organizational body in the Philippines. Having its base in Western Visayas, the national body has been serving the whole country since 1935, currently with over 1,000 churches, a big university having attained autonomous status and 2 colleges with 4 theological institutions, 2 hospitals, 3 community centers. Its churches have respective extension programs and community outreaches including pre-school centers, elementary and secondary schools wherever they are located.

Contact Number: 09198757724

'Born to be Wild' on Wednesday

ON the surface, this marina in Surigao del Norte appears like any old forgotten boat dock. But little do the
residents know that life has emerged underneath the abandoned pier. Vibrant coral reefs have formed beneath
the structure, clinging to the posts that support the pier above. Colorful schools of fish now reside in these
corals. For the first time, Kiko Rustia and the team document this newly found dive site for the locals of Surigao
and the rest of the country. Will the sight of this gem inspire us to better protect our shores? Or will many of the
creatures in this newly discovered site end up in markets to satisfy the population's growing needs?
The "bayawak" or monitor lizard is a Philippine reptile that now joins the list of species in danger of extinction.
They used to roam the forests in large numbers, but excessive hunting has now diminished the number of these
giant lizards. In the island paradise of Palawan , Doc Ferds comes literally face to face with a colony of monitor
lizards. Here, they seem curious about people and freely roam around their territory. Doc Ferds observes their
behavior and seeks the answers on how to protect their kind.
Dont miss these adventures on Born to be Wild airing on Wednesday after Saksi!