When one of the most anticipated bouts in the history of the sport starts at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV a couple of days from now, it will finally give boxing fans the chance to see one of the greatest match-ups of all time. Two fighters who both held the title of boxing's pound for pound king would be settling their rivalry once and for all in the ring. A colossal face off between a relentless brawler with great speed, angle and power , against one of, if not the best tacticians in the history of the sport.
Pacquiao has evolved through the years to become a lethal offensive fighter who throws rapid and multiple combinations from varied angles. Matched with great punching power and an incredible work rate, any fighter who steps in the same ring will have a hard time trying to fend off the Filipino Congressman.
Mayweather on the hand is a defensive tactician whose iron walled defense is impregnable. With sharp counters, great evasion, and good movement, the American boxer is simply a magician in the ring whose skill set is so high that it would seem impossible to beat him unless you get a knockout. An extremely intelligent fighter who knows how to protect himself and exploit his rivals' weakness, Floyd Jr.is yet to lose a bout in his long and illustrious career.
Such is the hype and anticipation for the fight that not only it is dubbed as the "the richest fight in all of boxing" it is also considered as “the richest single occasion in the history of the sport”. But make no mistake, the fight is not all hype as some experts would suggest. The two though past their primes are still titans when it comes to boxing skills and fight experience. A contrast in styles that will pit the best offense versus the best defense is one that we shouldn't miss even if it happened a few years later than it should.
Mayweather is favored by bookmakers to win the mega bout. Although he seems to have the upperhand against Pacquiao with his unbeaten record, Pacman will sure put up a great fight like he always does and will always have a chance to score that precious win against Floyd's unblemished record. Both fighters will have a chance to cement their place in boxing's history.
Nowadays, it's hard to log into twitter and not see the bagito hashtag of the day on the trending lists. Filipino fans are very supportive of the show in social media which stars Nash Aguas as Andrew , Alexa Ilacad as Camille, and Ella Cruz as Vanessa. The show have also done strongly on Kantar National TV Ratings, registering numbers in the higher twenties which is more than ten percent better than it's competitor.
The story is based on a wattpad novel by Noreen Capili of the same title. The plot revolves around Nash's early teen parenthood. Andrew, a 14 year old student raised by his mom Racquel, played by Angel Aquino and his stepfather Gilbert portrayed by Ariel Rivera, impregnates his first love Vanessa and must confront the challenge of being a teen parent. The interesting story and the moral lessons that can be learned from the show holds great promise for the viewers. The characters are not unflawed and it makes them feel more alive and real . The problems they face are those that every child and parent can easily relate to, partner that with the witty screenplay and the audience can't help but be pulled by the show.
Nash's acting performance displays his potential as a lead actor. He has been very effective in portraying his character specially on scenes where he shows the emotions that a young boy goes through. From the pain of the struggle for being a disappointment to his parents, to being mesmerized by the beauty of Vanessa, the thrilling passion of a first love, and up to the crashing realization of the gravity of the situation he had put himself, Vanessa, and his parents into. So far, he has exceeded expectations and it is very exciting to see what more he can give to the audience as the series progresses.
Aside from Nash, both Alexa and Ella have also done a splendid job. Alexa is lovable and charming as Drew's best friend and the on-screen chemistry she has developed with Nash from their previous team-up were very evident whenever they are both on screen. Ella meanwhile has been perfect as Vanessa. Her beauty makes Drew's admiration more believable, and her great acting chops have given her character more depth and made it stand out so far in drama. The conflicts she faces are easily visible through the emotions she has shown. Her undeniable chemistry with Nash also makes their love-line very interesting and one can only anticipate what will happen to them in the upcoming episodes.
The series have been a joy to watch and with the promising things that the drama team have given us, we can expect a good drama in Bagito and one that is healthy both for the story and the moral lessons.
By Mang Jose http://masarapmagingpinoy.blogspot.com
Manny Pacquiao has come along way from selling doughnuts on the streets to selling pay-per-views inside the ring. It's hard not to marvel at the People's Champ's rags to riches story. A hero not so different from those we usually see in the movies. Born of humble beginnings he persevered and honed his skills to become the best version of himself that he can be. He overcame all the obstacles that hindered his path and paved the way for Philippine Boxing. His career, though not one of perfection is undeniably one of the greatest in the history of the sport. A tale that will be told by Filipinos and boxing purists for quite a long while.
Most pundits believe that Pacquiao is a lock for the Boxing Hall of Fame. The great fights he has given us are countless. Some of the fights that will be remembered more than others would be his bouts against Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, and Oscar dela Hoya. With the help of trainer Freddie Roach, fans have seen him develop from a heavy hitting southpaw into one of the most dynamic fighters in boxing. Winning world titles in different divisions against formidable foes helped make Manny one of the most popular athletes in the world.
As he enters his 64th fight against Chris Algieri at the Cotai Arena in the Venetian Macao, one can't help but wonder how many more times we will see the great champion fight inside the boxing ring. Aside from boxing, he has devoted himself to various other fields such as politics, basketball, and religious endeavors. Pacquiao is not just a boxing hero but also many other things to Filipinos and his fans. More than anything he has been a great inspiration. A living proof that hardwork, faith, perseverance, and humilty will help us achieve our dreams. That there is always hope for those that dare to dream and take action.
There is a saying that " All good things must come to an end". Eventually there will be a time when Pacquiao will retire from boxing. When? That is a question that only he and father time can answer. What we can do as spectators is to enjoy the boxing brilliance that he displays and appreciate that we were able to watch one of the best of all time do his stuff.
By Mang Jose http://masarapmagingpinoy.blogspot.com
Ilang buwan na rin ang nakalipas mula ng matapos ang Pinoy Big Brother All In. Isa sa mga naging pinaka napag-usapan na housemate ay ang teen celebrity na si Jane Oineza. Kilala si Jane bilang dating child star at miyembro ng kiddie program ng ABS CBN na Going Bulilit. Umani rin siya ng papuri at pagkilala para sa kanyang mahusay na pagganap bilang Nene sa episode na Manika ng Maalaala Mo Kaya noong 2012.
Isa si Joshua Garcia sa mga naging malalapit na kaibigan ni Jane sa loob ng Big Brother house. Sa gitna ng ibat-ibang mga pagsubok at issues na hinarap ni Jane sa loob ng bahay ni kuya, laging naka suporta at naka-alalay ang binata mula sa Bauan, Batangas sa kanya. Dahil sa pagiging malapit ng dalawa, nakakuha sila ng maraming supporters na hanggang sa ngayon ay patuloy pa rin na nagma-mahal sa kanila.
Tinatawag na JOSHANE ang kanilang team-up ng kanilang mga fans.
Hindi natin masasabi kung ano ang mangyayari sa kinabukasan lalo na't hindi naman tayo manghuhula pero sa aking paningin ay malaki ang posibilidad na maging success ang JOSHANE.
Ito ang aking mga rason;
1.) Chemistry.
Importante para sa isang Love-Team o palabas na may malakas na chemistry ang mga bida. Kahit parehas
maganda at guwapo ang mga artista kapag hindi naman sila bagay ay mahirap mag-succeed ang kanilang mga palabas. Nakagawian na kasi ng mga Pinoy viewers ang kiligin sa mga paborito nilang team-ups. Ang chemistry na nagpapa-kilig sa mga fans ay isa sa pinaka importanteng dahilan kung bakit sinusuportahan at pinapanood ang mga Love-Teams.
Napatunayan na ang chemistry ng JOSHANE noong sila ay nasa loob pa lamang ng Bahay Ni Kuya. Makailang beses naging usap-usapan ang mga kilig moments ng dalawa pati na rin ang kanilang mga tampuhan. Masasabing ang "away-bati" love story ng dalawa sa loob ng PBB ang isa sa mga naging interesanteng topics ng big brother season.
2.) Acting Ability / Potential
Kahit sobrang lakas na ng chemistry ng isang love-team, napaka laking factor pa rin na mabigyan nila ng buhay ang mga karakter na kanilang gagampanan. Ang kanilang husay at epektibong pagganap ay magiging isa sa mga sukatan kung patuloy silang panonoorin ng mga viewers. Ang aspetong ito sa aking pananaw ay magiging magandang advantage para sa JOSHANE.
Matagal nang napansin ang kagalingan ni Jane sa larangan ng acting. Napakarami na ring manonood ang kanyang napa-iyak sa mga hindi niya malilimutang performances sa Maalaala mo Kaya.
Habang si Joshua naman ay napansin na din ang natural na potensyal sa acting nang mapasali sa weekly task na Short Film sa PBB kasama ang batikang direktor na si Ms. Cathy Garcia-Molina. Marami ang nakapansin sa expressive eyes ng binata na isang natural na katangian para maging epektibong dramatic actor.
Sa pamamagitan ng hard work, workshops, at mahusay na paghubog ng Star Magic, malayo ang mararating ng dalawa kung acting lang ang pag-uusapan.
3.) Fans / Supporters.
Sa huli, ang mga taga-hanga pa rin ang magdadala sa isang Love-Team. Masasabing isa sa mga pinaka aktibo na fandoms ang JOSHANE sa social media lalo na sa "Twitter". Hindi ko mabilang kung ilang beses na nag trend ang JOSHANE. Nagkaroon din ng isang matagumpay na "Grandest Get Together" na siyang inorganisa ng kanilang mga fans para sa kanilang dalawa, ilang kilalang tao na part ng ABS, Dreamscape at Star Cinema pati na rin mga miyembro ng press. Magiging malaking tulong para sa team-up ng dalawa kung patuloy na magiging masugid ang kanilang mga supporters.
At sa mga kadahilanang ito kung kaya ako naniniwala na maganda ang hinaharap ng JOSHANE lalo na at mainit ang supporta na kanilang natatanggap mula sa kanilang mga tagahanga.
Nakatakda sina Joshua at Jane na magsama sa isang teleserye sa dos na may titulong "Nasaan ka Nang
Kailangan Kita" kasama ang isa pang Pbb All In housemate na si Loisa Andalio. Kaabang-abang din ang muling pagbabalik ni Jane Oineza sa Maalaala Mo Kaya sa Sabado(October 25, 2014).
Muling ibinalik ng San Miguel Pure Foods Company, Inc ang pangalang Purefoods sa PBA. Mula San Mig Coffee Mixers makikilala ngayon ang prankisa sa pangalang Purefoods Star Hotshots. Maituturing na successful ang tinaguriang James Yap era ng prankisa at sa katunayan ay kagagaling lang ng team sa Grand Slam sa ilalim ng mahusay na pamumuno ni Coach Tim Cone. Ngunit hindi rin malilimutan ng mga loyal fans ng prankisa ang mga players at coaches noong 90's.
Hanggang sa ngayon kapag naririnig ko ang mga salitang Purefoods at Basketball na magkasama ay naaalala ko pa rin ang mga sikat na players ng team noong 90's gaya nina Captain Lionheart Alvin Patrimonio, Jerry Codiñera, Rey Evangelista, Dindo Pumaren, Bong Ravena, Olsen Racela atbp. Isa sa mga pinaka mahusay na teams noong 90's ang Purefoods lalong-lalo na pagdating sa All-Filipino Conference. Naglaro din para sa purefoods ang iba pang mga sikat na players gaya nina El Presidente Ramon Fernandez, Abet Guidaben, Bernie Fabiosa, Freddie Hubalde, Jojo Lastimosa, Glen Capacio, Vince Hizon, Boy Cabahug, etc.
(video credit to uploader Czar Julius from Youtube)
Sa dinami-dami ng magagaling na players na naglaro sa Purefoods franchise, si Alvin Patrimonio pa rin talaga ang masasabing pinaka-tumatak sa tao. Sa kanyang leadership at hardwork na ipanakita sa basketball court, natulungan niya ang kanyang koponan na makapaglaro at manalo ng maraming Championships. Hirap na hirap noon ang mga kalaban na limitahan ang opensa ni Patrimonio dahil sa galing niya sa low-post area. Sa pamamagitan ng kanyang spin moves at mahusay na pag gamit ng kanyang pivot foot, maituturing na isang matinding pwersa si kapitan sa low post area. Nakamit niya ang PBA Most Valuable Player ng apat na beses at makailang ulit din siyang naging Mythical Team member. Kahit sobrang dami ng taga-hanga, si Cap. Alvin ay isa sa mga mapagkumbabang players at sportsman ng liga.
Kung si Patrimonio ang maituturing na pambato ng Purefoods, hindi rin pahuhuli si Jerry Codiñera. Siya ang
nagsilbing isa sa mga haligi ng team at ang kanyang inside defense,rebounding, at magandang partnership kay Alvin ang nagbigay ng Twin-tower presence sa prankisa at nagdala sa kanila sa Championships. Dahil sa kanyang pagiging terror sa depensa lalo na sa ilalim ng basket, binigyan siya ng moniker na "Defense Minister". Kasama si Alvin, isa rin si Jerry sa mga tinanghal na 25 Best Players of all Time of PBA.
Sa sikat ng partnership ng dalawa sa court, nakasama sila sa ilang mga sikat na pelikula noong 90's.
Sa kasalukuyan ay nagsisilbi pa rin si Alvin Patrimonio sa Purefoods bilang team Manager. Habang sa ika 9 ng Nobyembre ngayong 2014 ay makakasama na ng numero ni Kap na #16 ang mga numerong #44 at #7 bilang mga retired numbers ng team kasama sina Jerry Codiñera at Rey Evagelista.
Katriz Trinidad aged 15 is making her mark on the seventh season of The Voice US. Featuring coaches Adam Levine, Gwen Stefani, Pharrell Williams and Blake Shelton, the show is one of the most popular reality television singing competitions in the States. Katriz was born to a Filipino family who lives in San Diego Area/ Chula Vista, California that originated from Batangas, Philippines. With her beautiful charm and amazing voice she is sure to captivate everyone.
She first wowed the audience and coaches when she sang Etta James' "At Last" and got a three-chair turn from the coaches on her blind audition (Adam Levine was reported to have a full team by the time she auditioned; the auditions weren't shown in order on tv according to some reports). She received wonderful praises from the coaches.
"I never thought that I would find something that I'd usually look for my own label; that I'd been dreaming for an artist like you all my career," said Pharrell Williams. "Just remember these words: I want you on my team so bad and I've never done this. I'm on my knee."
Blake Shelton, the winning-est coach in the Voice, offered his thought; "All of us, at the back of our minds, keep the hope alive that somehow we’ll find someone who was born to be a star and I really think you could be that person. You're so different. You deserve to win this thing,"
Gwen Stefani had kind words for her as well ; "You started of soft and controlled and then you hit a note that was so beautiful and it was just mind blowing. And to find out that it’s from a 15-year-old voice, it’s hard to really take it all in,"
Pharrell wrote the word 'Please' on his notebook to further convince her. The young Filipina then picked Williams as her coach.
During the battle rounds she got to work with one of her idols, Alicia Keys, who was helping Pharrell coach his artists. She was pitted against Nigerian Singer-Songwriter Blessing Offor. Though he is visually impaired, like Katriz he also possess an amazing voice and is a charismatic singer. The song they performed was Stevie Wonder's "Do I Do". Although the song suited Blessing more, Katriz was able to win the battle and continue with team Pharell and move on to the next stage of the competition while Blessing was stolen by Adam.
As fellow Filipinos we can't help but feel pride whenever we see our countrymen doing well in other countries. Katriz Trinidad is showing the world how talented Pinoys are and we can show her our support as she continues her journey on the Voice season 7. She is an amazing singer with a very beautiful future. Go Katriz!
Kung imkukumpara ang industriya ng pelikula sa ngayon at noong 80's at 90's, masasabing hindi na kasing sigla tulad ng dati ang pelikulang Pinoy. Bukod sa kaunti na lang ang mga ipinapalabas na main-stream movies at production outfits, tila nakulong na sa mga istorya ng pangagaliwa sa asawa, komedya, rom-coms at horror ang mga ipinapalabas. Bagama't patuloy pa rin na tinatangkilik ng mga manonood ang mga ganitong klase ng pelikula, nalilimitahan naman ang mga manonood.
Maituturing na isang sugal ang paglabas ng Star Cinema nang pelikulang ito. Naiiiba kumpara sa mga nakasanayan nang palabas na Rom-Coms at Comedies na siguradong pa-patok sa takilya at mga fans. Bagama't makailang ulit ng napatunayan ni John Lloyd Cruz ang kanyang hatak sa mga manonood, hindi pa rin nasusubukan kung tatangkilikin ang isang bago at naiibang tema na pelikula.
Napakaganda ng feedback ng The Trial at nagandahan ng husto ang mga manonood. Sa husay ng panunulat at pambihirang pag-ganap ng cast ay nabigyang buhay ni Direk Chito Roño ang isang kwento ng pag-ibig at pagpapatawad. Maituturing na isang obra ang The Trial at inspirasyon para sa pelikulang FIlipino.
Hindi natin dapat palampasin ang pelikula kung nais natin na patuloy na gumawa ng ganitong mga bago at
naiibang tema ang mga malalaking production outfits. Nauna na ang Star Cinema sa paghandog ng isang pelikula na naiiba at maipagmamalaki. Ngayon nakasalalay na sa ating mga manonood na sumuporta at tumangkilik.
