Buhay America

This article is from www.gmanews.tv

MANILA, Philippines - Four years ago, two singers became the first ever full-blooded Filipinos to almost dominate one of the biggest and most popular television franchises: American Idol.

And so Filipinos thought that Jasmine Trias and Camille Velasco, who could belt out Olympian vocal climaxes, were the best contribution of the Philippines to the famous pineapple state.

But then 32-year-old gospel balladeer Jon Almosara comes into the picture and suddenly every one is left thinking again.

The singer is the latest Filipino-American from Hawaii to crack into the popularity radar and receive recognition for his musical gift after snagging a trophy at the 11th Annual Hawaii Music Awards in the Gospel/Inspirational Music category for his musical album, “Thankful.”

In his acceptance speech, Jon began by telling the story of a kid who knew nothing but sing praises to the Lord.

“I’m one of those kids who sang in church all his life so I’m used to singing gospel (music),” a visibly ecstatic Jon shared, as he clutched the coveted golden statuette.

“But I’m not used to getting an award for it and so this is something else and I’m so glad,” he ended shyly, before breaking into a soulful and soaring rendition of the Christian classic, Great Is Thy Faithfulness.

read more.

read comments (0)

Peter told Juan that he doesn’t need to yell because he just got a new hearing aid.  Juan ask him what kind is it?  Peter looks at his watch and said it’s 9:30.

read comments (0)

This article is from www.gmanews.tv

This really makes you proud to be a filipino

 While the world’s largest flag may not be that of the Philippines, a Filipino woman is behind it.

Grace Galindez Gupana, founder of a Christian charismatic group that claims global reach, takes pride in setting two Guinness World records for the world’s largest flag and the world’s largest banner this year.

Gupana, who once worked as a sago’t gulaman vendor at the Quezon City Hall grounds, is the only Filipino so far who has managed to get two world records and the only woman who set those feats in less than 30 days apart.

She was behind the blue and white Israeli flag that was unfurled last November in Masada, Israel. It measured 18,847 square meters (about the size of two football fields) while tipping the scale at 5.2 metric tons; upstaging the previous record of the US flag in 1996 which was at 11,964 square meters.

The second largest flag of the world, the Philippine flag, was smaller by less than 30 square meters (18,818). 

She originally wanted the two flags to have the same size. However, in 2006 the Philippine flag was ripped after strong gusts of wind tore the 200 by 100 meter-flag (A similar fate happened to Indonesia when its flag was unrolled on a building in 2003).  read more

read comments (0)

This is from this web site www.bangusresto.com

In the Philippines, respect for elders is very much “uso.” Children are taught to take the hand of the elder to either kiss it or touch it to their foreheads as they slightly bow. It’s called “mano” which is Spanish for hand, and is a custom that is proudly and uniquely Pinoy. To Pinoy kids, everyone is either a Lolo or a Lola, a Tito or a Tita, a Kuya or an Ate even complete strangers! All equally entitled to a “mano.”  The jeepney is one vehicular oddity that shows just how resourceful the Pinoy is.Who else but the ingenious Pinoy could have taken military Jeeps discarded by GI’s and converted them into an immensely-popular public transport? The so-called King of The Road comes in various permutations. Some can barely accommodate eight passengers while some are humongous enough to seat 24 people! Some are so old and rickety you half-expect the body to break in half as it hits the next pothole while some are so sleek and flashy they look like they rolled out of a sci-fi film. Some offer no other entertainment apart from the view of your co-passengers sleeping while others are decked with eardrum-busting stereos and even mini-TV’s that show your favorite soap.

Whatever its seating capacity or amenities, though, you can count on the jeepney to be painted with the most riotous colors ever mixed and decorated with the gaudiest trinkets known to man. It’s this festive appearance that has, in fact, made the jeepney internationally famous. Just like Bangus Restaurant, you really can’t get any more Pinoy than the jeep.      And while there have been many calls to send the loud and unsafe-looking jeepney into retirement, you can bet this fiesta-on-wheels will be happily plying the streets for a long, long time.    Pinoys are not only courteous, they are probably the most hospitable people in the planet. Where else on earth is a visitor treated like a king? Even though he may not have much for himself, the Pinoy bends over backwards to give his visitor the best of what he has. As soon as a visitor appears at his door, he immediately whips out the best tablecloth, trundles out the best china and silverware, and sets out putting together the best meal. If his guest is staying overnight, he settles him in the best bedroom in the house, gives him the best bed covers, the best sheets and the best towels. Really, is there a nicer place in the world?

read comments (0)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A very young and Internet savvy Filipino American, Jose Antonio Vargas has at 27, won the Pulitzer Prize in the breaking news category. 

He shares this award with other Washington Post reporters for a package of nine stories, two of which he wrote. His feet hardly touched the ground as he was interviewed at the Washington Post a couple of hours after the awards were announced in this US capital Monday.

An elated Vargas said, “This is great!” and “This is a happy day!” He was also happy for the paper, saying the ‘Post’ “won six Pulitzers, the most it has won in one year.” Vargas wrote two front page stories on the April 16, 2007 Virginia Tech massacre.

“I was lucky to get an interview with one of the eyewitnesses,” he recalled. “I found this eyewitness on facebook.com. I got him on the phone, we talked for about 25 minutes, and he was the only eyewitness we had on the story, so it was a critical part of it.”  read more

read comments (0)

 Ramona Diaz is a free spirit who is curious, adventurous and daring when it comes to her films. She has done the controversial “Imelda” documentary and is currently working on “The Learning” which is a documentary about the Baltimore school system’s experience with teachers from the Philippines.  The petite producer-writer-director based in Baltmore described herself as a Filipino “in every way possible.”  read more

read comments (0)

When I was in 1st grade, I am very very popular due to my status in the town.  We have good reputation.  My dad is really good with us and providing the best that he can.  I remember having a nanny, I remember having play time, nap time, home work time and fun time.  I remember our house to be huge and lots of appliances, we have a nice sectional sofas and we have a big refrigerator with lots of things inside it.

Being the daughter of my dad makes me so proud.  One day in my classroom the teacher is teaching us how to draw.  So we have to bring out all our pencils and bond paper.  I remember her name Mrs. Grepal, she is my advisor and she is the one teaching us everything.  So she said turn to page 10 and look at the different kinds of things that we could pick out what to draw.

So I looked at all the pictures and see what I can do.  The first one was flower, I scribbled some thing in the paper but that doesn’t even come close in looking like the flower in the book.  So I crumpled my paper and got another one.  I look for another thing to draw, I saw a glass and decided to draw it.  I tried to do the best that I can but for some reason I am not good in drawing, so I am getting so frustrated this time the glass that I am trying to draw doesn’t even look any thing like it.  So I am getting so angry and crumpled up my paper again.  

I took one paper one more time and look for another picture to draw.  I saw a hand with a shadow, so I thought I could draw the hand because I could trace my own hand.  Then i got so excited. Finally I could actually get my work done with good grades.  I started tracing my hand in the paper and it came out good.  I am beginning to be so excited and very proud that I could actually draw.  Then I ran into some problem, I cannot do the shadow.  The shadow has like some dark color and some part has lighter color.  So I got so confused and didn’t know what to do next, so I tried to trace one more time to do the effect of the shadow but it just ruined my drawing.  Now I am the only pupil that doesn’t have anything done, so I just started crying.  I remember just crying and crying, my teacher just panicked and asked one of the students to call my parents since we live close by.

So my dad rush to the school and asked me why I am upset.  I cannot even explain, because I was just wailing.  I just cry even harder when I saw my dad because I know I am protected and I cannot be scolded by my teacher if I didn’t finish the drawing.  My teacher sent me home that day.

Yes I know!  I am not artist.  Can’t even draw any thing.  You know what the funny part is…. I am the first honor of my class.  I can’t draw but I’m good in most of the subjects.

read comments (2)

Some of these women, I never heard of, but some of them I still remember when I was in the Philippines.  Just one comment though, are those “twins” real??? If it is I guess I was sleeping when God showered it in my home town. Darn!

read comments (1)

Check this out!!! There is a filipino gathering and EVERYONE is invited.  Just call the officers of the organization and get your tickets!!!

read comments (0)