Your Daily Dose of Useful Stuff

It was a contest that she did not set her mind into, she the unassuming one, always just works quietly and steadily.  Not one who really works hard to be in the news, Jennylyn was so surprised to learn she bagged the crown of the Philippines' sexiest for 2015.  And who would not?  The way she takes care of her body is epic Jennylyn engages in sports and joins triathlon competitions.  This tells us she can bike, swim and run.  She does these with a passion and dedication almost like a religion.    Aside from triathlon, Jen does other physical exercises that develop many aspects of her well-being.  Who would have thought that she with the frail and tiny physique would even think of trying the traditional Filipino martial arts, arnis.   I saw a video of her with a trainer and it seems that Jen has become a competent arnis fighter.  I wouldn't dare cross her or she could beat me till I lose consciousness.   

Vanity Fair ushered the arrival of Caitlyn Jenner and people have mixed emotions about it.  Some people still could not believe that someone so popular and world-famous was willing to give up fame to give way to his, now, her, happiness.  Caitlyn Jenner is the dream-come-true of Bruce Jenner, a facially-transformed male, therefore he is Bruce Jenner no more.   Although Caitlyn often makes slips like using he, instead of she, in her mind, she was always a woman/girl.   So she wasted no time, after getting a facial transformation, and started hosting 'girls night' with her girl friends so that they can all discuss about girl stuff (whatever those are , considering she is over 60 already). How does she look now after that operation? She seemed to get the best features of Jessica Lange and Kate Winslet rolled in one, a neat package that is cover-girl worthy.  Kate Winslet's lower facial  features and Jessica Lange's sharp upper features make a grea...

Kate Middleton's name is synonymous to the British royal family, without even trying, she is overshadowing the pure, blue-blooded royals.  She is probably the world's most photographed personality lately.   Search Google images and you will know what I'm talking about.  Who can forget the day she and Prince William tied the knot while the entire world was watching?   The entire world was probably asking who is this brave young lady who accepted the challenge of marrying Britain's second heir to the throne? Who is she who is brave to give up her private and personal life and be constantly followed by cameras and papparazzis at every sight of her?   Who is this who wants to continue the British royal line by mothering the third in line to the royal throne?  There were different reactions and stories about Kate Middleton at that point and I'm sure it did not escape her that she was under the world's scrutiny and she has rose up to the challenge and so far...

Tea is considered a healthy beverage.  According to studies there are many benefits that tea gives our body.  Among the benefits we get are:  better dental health, healthier circulatory system, lower cholesterol, anti-cancer qualities, it's an antioxidant and an antiviral agent, and a host of other disease preventing characteristics.   Studies have shown that it is best to drink tea before dinner in order for the stomach to get filled up partially and also before going to bed to feel relaxed and mentally destressed.   I am a tea-lover and I like to put lemon and honey in my tea for two reasons:  to add zest to my drink and also to reduce the bitterness.   Lately, the market has been infused with this new beverage called 'milk tea.'  All of a sudden, there is a milk tea branch in every corner of the city.   Milk tea is a beverage that is part of the culture of people from Hong Kong.   It is black tea mixed with milk, usually...

I am not really a big fan of Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes, but I can't help feeling excited for the royal couple of GMA.  Lolit Solis, veteran showbiz writer and host of Startalk, a longtime showbiz program of GMA,  hinted over the weekend that GMA's primetime queen is infanticipating already, four months after their altar date.  This prompted the couple to finally reveal their secret, much to their chagrin.  I'm sure they would have wanted to keep the joy of knowing that their love for each other brought this wonderful gift for both of them, but somebody let the cat out the bag already so might as well share the big news with the fans.   Both Marian and Dingdong are reeling with happiness and are overjoyed over this future addition to their union.  In an interview with Ms. Jessica Soho, GMA's former vice-president for news program, Marian revealed that she is suffering from morning sickness and has an aversion to strong smell.    In...

Bill Gates was in the Philippines lately although it was a trip that was not announced, which is typical of Bill Gates, it still got leaked by some media men.  One television station got a photo of Mr. Gates' heli in the premises of IRRI, that prestigious research center inside UP Los Banos.  We all know that UP Los Banos is a premiere university dedicated to the study of agriculture and other allied courses so it is fitting that researches on rice should be conducted here.  Besides that, great scholars and educators in the field of agriculture from all over the world have worked in UPLB.  Going inside IRRI is very challenging.  A confirmation of a booking or scheduled visit is needed before anyone is allowed to enter the compound.  So what brought Mr. Gates in IRRI?  He just happens to be the biggest private donor of IRRI and maybe it is time for him to sign that check again that's why he came over to see the goings-on in the center.   But t...

One Direction is by far the hottest boy band of this decade and it is a phenomenon that I neither have the energy or time to spend on being that their music is not my genre of preference and the young handsome guys are not suitable to my generation.  I am more of the Motown craze, not that I have not taken a slight liking to their music.  Pop is as pop goes and truth is, I am not a pop music lover, but then, one can't help but overhear their music playing from the radio.  Well, One Direction is hot again lately because one member is emotionally unprepared to handle fame. It turned out that success and fame is not what Zayn Malik is after for he just announced his retirement from the boy band. What his real reason is, we can only speculate.  He cited he wants to live normally.  He wants to experience what a normal 22-year old experiences and does.  In truth, he can't stand being mobbed by rabid fans it seems.  Well, he seems to be in the wrong b...

This year's first casualty from local showbiz is Liezl Sumilang Martinez, who comes from local showbiz royalty.  She succumbed to lung cancer on Saturday, March 14, 2015.  Prior to lung cancer, Liezl was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in 2008, after two years of treatment, among them stem cell treatment, she recovered and was able to serve in the MTRCB (Movie and Television Review Classification Board).  Unfortunately, in 2012, cancer cells were discovered in her left lungs which ultimately caused her demise.  

Very few people can pull off the trick that he does which is make up transformation.  The guy is a genius in make up application that he can transform almost identically his face into any personality that he so likes.   Paulo Ballesteros started making his face his canvass and showcasing this talent while performing in Eat Bulaga, during its weekend shows, when the 'dabarkads' would present production numbers.    Eat Bulaga is currently the longest running variety show in the Philippines where Paulo Ballesteros is a mainstay and one of the reasons why the show has maintained its high-ratings.   Paulo does not only put on make up to resemble popular celebrities, he also copies their fashion and style.  He really immerses himself into the personality of the celebrity.  

The entire Catholic community in the Philippines is again in a state of euphoria because Pope Francis arrived in the Philippines today for a five-day pastoral visit.  Pope Francis will be in the Philippines until January 19.  Pope Francis is the third Pope to visit the Philippine Islands.  The first was Pope Paul VI in 1970, Pope John Paul II, who came to the Philippines twice in 1981 and 1995, during the World Youth Day and Pope Francis, the current Pope. Pope Francis is known as the Pope of 'firsts' because Pope Francis's leadership is non-traditional, going beyond and against the normally practiced traditions/dogmas.  He is also the first non-European Pope, being that he is from Argentina, but he is of Italian ancestry.  He also is the first Pope to use the name Francis, from St. Francis of Assisi.    Because of security concerns, there are many guidelines that the police and other government leaders have imposed in order to prevent any ...

T he most exciting day of their lives had arrived.  After they announced their engagement last August, which was rather a short one (although the groom had announced that he already asked the bride's hand  unofficially in one of their trips abroad) their date to the altar did happen last December 30, 2014, and it was an event that had no hitches at all.  Therefore, it was bound to happen. It seemed that destiny made the day perfect for the couple because there were no mishaps that would mar the beauty of the ceremony. Everything was just dreamy and dramatic in an entertaining way, not the dramatic sentimental way, because the couple are both very cool, not the uptight type.  Dingdong and Marian gave their best to satisfy the people who love them by putting together a wedding ceremony that will be unrivaled yet in the Philippines.   From the venue, which is the Immaculate Concepcion Church in QC, a church close to the groom's heart, loyal fans could alre...

People Magazine has released its traditional yearly choice of  'The Sexiest Man Alive."  This year's choice is the epitome of hunkness, a perfect blending of looks and brawn.  Not only is he sexy physically, but he possess that manly appeal, just like the former winners' Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Johny Depp, etc.  I couldn't agree more that Chris Hemsworth deserves the title.  I am just wondering why People Magazine doesn't use the title  "The Sexiest Gentleman Alive"?  We need to hear more the word 'gentleman' because it is  now an endangered species.  Famous people like Chris Hemsworth and other members of his species should help advocate the importance of being a 'gentleman.' In doing so, they can be instrumental in reviving the age old practice of chivalry.     Many men nowadays don't know how to respect and be courteous to women.  If they are, they are selective.  It is very seldom that doors are opened by...

Which is just as well.  Personally, I think getting pregnant is something we can expect of a young, beautiful and desireable lady like her and pregnancy is not something to be hidden from the curious public.  The public would appreciate you more if you are honest with them.  So for that gesture alone, I commend Christine.  She did not try to divert attention away from her by resorting to gimmickry or creating issues to escape scrutiny.  She did become quiet a while, heaven only knows what kind of soul-searching she did during the months that she went on hiatus.   Cristine's entry to local tinsel town was not as laborious as other hopefuls had experienced.  Her passage was relatively less agonizing because her older sister, Ara Mina, had paved the path for her easy access to Philippine moviedom.  The first time I became aware of Cristine Reyes was during her participation in the talent search "Starstruck."  She did not emerge as the winn...

We woke up again to a sad and shocking news in October 11, 2014.  Jeffrey Laude, a transgender, was found dead in Celzone Lodge in Olongapo City.  Jeffrey's lifeless body was found by the toilet bowl just minutes after he and his male companion arrived.  His male companion, who later became the suspect, was identified as PFC Joseph Scott Pemberton.  He was positively identified by eyewitnesses as the last person seen with Jeffrey.  During the initial investigations, Joseph Scott Pemberton said, 'I did something wrong."  He immediately sought counsel from a lawyer after that.