Spotlight Philippines

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Boracay, the world's 2nd best beach

Boracay island (in Aklan) makes it again, as Asia's No. 1 beach for the second time around. And not only that, the famous beach-plotted tourist spot is now the second best beach destination in the world, a travel website TripAdvisor announces.

"At only 4.5 miles long, Boracay is small enough to navigate by rented bicycle or motorbike. But don't let its small size fool you -- you'll have several excellent beaches to choose from," TripAdvisor reveals.

The list, which is based on travelers' reviews and ratings, proclaims that the small island of Providenciales in Turks and Caicos is still indisputably the world's best beach destination.

Completing the list of the best beach destinations in the world are the following: Palm/Eagle beach in Aruba island, Negril in Jamaica, Tulum in Mexico, Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman island, Punta Cana in Dominican Republic, Cape May in New Jersey, and last but not the least, Santa Teresa in Costa Rica.

With supporting reports from ABSCBN News Portal.

Gunmen kill 20 fishermen in Basilan

Around 20 fishermen were killed when gunmen opened fire on three boats off Sibago island in Basilan, a fort of Muslim rebels, on Monday the possible reason of which pointing to an ongoing fishing turf rivalry.

Three other men were wounded in the incident. Several suspects have already been identified, but no one has been arrested yet. About 10 attackers are suspected of involvement in the incident.

The fishermen, who were residents of Pagadian City, were aboard three wooden vessels off Sibago island in Basilan when gunmen in speedboats opened fire.

A survivor reportedly told police that they had been warned to stay out of the area where the attack occurred.

It should be known that Basilan serves as a base for Islamist militants and rebel groups in the country. It is also an area engulfed by high incidences of kidnap-for-ransom activities, with foreigners usually being the target.

However, the possibility of Islamist militants being involved in the incident had so far been dismissed.

With supporting sreports from Inquirer.net

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Golden Globes Awards 2012 Winners

A day ago, I posted my list of bets who and which I thought would grab a globe in the recently concluded Golden Globes awards. Sadly, not all of those I chose won. Here is a list of the winners in the 2012 Golden Globes awards for film and television.

FILM AWARDS
Best Motion Picture - Drama
The Descendants

Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
The Artist

Best Actor - Drama
George Clooney, The Descendants

Best Actress - Drama
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady

Best Actor - Comedy or Musical
Jean Dujardin, The Artist

Best Actress - Comedy or Musical
Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn

Best Supporting Actor
Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Best Supporting Actress
Octavia Spencer, The Help

Best Director
Martin Scorsese, Hugo

Best Screenplay
Midnight in Paris

Best Score
The Artist

Best Song
W.E., 'Masterpiece'

Best Animated Feature
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn

Best Foreign Language Film
A Separation (Iran)

TELEVISION AWARDS
Best TV Series - Drama
Homeland

Best TV Series - Comedy or Musical
Modern Family

Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for TV
Downton Abbey

Best Actor - Drama
Kelsey Grammer, Boss

Best Actress - Drama
Claire Danes, Homeland

Best Actor - Comedy or Musical
Matt LeBlanc, Episodes

Best Actress - Comedy or Musical
Laura Dern, Enlightened

Best Actor - Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for TV
Idris Elba, Luther

Best Actress - Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for TV
Kate Winslet, Mildred Pierce

Best Supporting Actor
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones

Best Supporting Actress
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story

Sunday, January 15, 2012

2012 Golden Globes awards (My Top Picks, Winners)

Here are what or who I believe will take home a globe in the 2012 Golden Globe awards being held today at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in California. I really hope they'd win, so here it goes. Are my predictions right? I just hope so.

FILM AWARDS

Best Motion Picture - Drama
War Horse

Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
The Artist

Best Actor - Drama
Ryan Gosling, The Ides of March

Best Actress - Drama
Viola Davis, The Help

Best Actor - Comedy or Musical
Jean Dujardin, The Artist

Best Actress - Comedy or Musical
Kate Winslet, Carnage

Best Supporting Actor
Albert Brooks, Drive

Best Supporting Actress
Octavia Spencer, The Help

Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist

Best Screenplay
The Artist

Best Score
War Horse

Best Song
The Help, 'The Living Proof'

Best Animated Feature
Puss in Boots

Best Foreign Language Film
The Flowers of War (China)

TELEVISION AWARDS

Best TV Series - Drama
Games of Thrones

Best TV Series - Comedy or Musical
Glee

Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for TV
The Hour

Best Actor - Drama
Kelsey Grammer, Boss

Best Actress - Drama
Madeleine Stowe, Revenge

Best Actor - Comedy or Musical
Johnny Galecki, The Big Bang Theory

Best Actress - Comedy or Musical
Zooey Deschanel, New Girl

Best Actor - Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for TV
Dominic West, The Hour

Best Actress - Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for TV
Emily Watson, Appropriate Adult

Best Supporting Actor
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones

Best Supporting Actress
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

UPCAT Results 2012 now available online

UPCAT 2013 results are now out! The results of the UPCAT for incoming freshmen AY 2013-2013 can be viewed here by clicking the link! :)

UPCAT Results 2012 UPDATE (as of January 18, 2012):

The UPCAT results for AY 2012-2013 are now available online! Congratulations guys! To those who didn't pass, it's alright. God has better plans for you. Cheer up! :) There are a lot of really good schools where you can make your dreams come true, and UP is just one of them. Keep on dreaming!

OLD UPDATE:

Yesterday, December 5, I went to the Office of the University Registrar (OUR) to check if the UPCAT results have already been released as rumored. Well, it's actually a negative. No printouts of the lists of UPCAT passers for the AY 2012-2013 have been released yet, as of the moment.

The wait is finally over. The list of UPCAT 2012 passers will be posted on this page soon. Visit this site once a week to check for results.

Approximately 70,000 graduating high school students took the UPCAT last year, the biggest batch so far. UP Admissions Director Professor Gerald Franco in an interview said that the primary reason for the increase in UPCAT takers is because UP “has maintained its status as the most attractive destination for students who want to advance to college.” He also reiterated that contrary to popular belief, the UPCAT is not the most difficult college entrance exam in the country but is the most competitive as less then 20% of those who took the exam will make it. Only the top UPCAT takers get in.

Despite surges in UPCAT takers, the number of UPCAT passers who enroll in UP has declined due to the TOFI (tuition and other fees increase) which led to the displacement and settlement of several potential Iskolar ng Bayan in different universities.