Taiwan un-invites, excludes PH team Gilas Pilipinas in 2013 Jones Cup

Philippine basketball team Gilas-Pilipinas, in its preparation for the Fiba-Asia championship, suffers a major setback as the PH team gets “un-invited” to the 2013 Jones Cup in Taipei, says head coach Chot Reyes.

Reyes said that the reason behind the team's exclusion in the Jones Cup was the ongoing tension between the Philippines and Taiwan following the May 9 killing of a Taiwanese fisherman by the Philippine Coast Guard.

“Just got word from d organizers that we have been un-invited to d Jones Cup. Di matapos-tapos problema ng Gilas ha,” Reyes posted on his Twitter account.

Reyes added: “We now have to find a replacement tournament as d Jones Cup is such an integral part of our preparation.”

PH sets anew two Guiness World records

One again, the spotlight has been turned on the Philippines which recently successfully made record for the most number of sky lanterns released in one single event, and (will) undoubtedly and timely for the world's fastest jigsaw puzzle maker, Filipino businesswoman Georgina Gil-Lacuna.

Guinness World Records adjudicator Seyda Subasi-Gemici declared that the 15,185 sky lanterns flown from the football field of UP Visayas in Miag-ao town of Iloilo province has set a new world record. This  moves the world record at a higher notch and grabs it away from previous holder Romania which witnessed a total of 12,740 sky lanterns in June 2012.

The night event, viewed and participated by approximately 20,000 people, was organized by Middle Way Meditation Institute and different local partners who initially campaigned for world peace attainment through finding inner peace.

Photo Source: Inquirer.net

On another record, 61-year-old Lacuna is currently working on a 32,000-piece puzzle which measures 17 by 6 feet wide and features retrospective brightly colored images of Keith Haring’s artwork. She aims to finish this extremely large world jigsaw puzzle before July 2013, in time for the Guinness. 

“I never knew that at the age of 61, I’ll be Guinness record holder,” she revealed.

Quick Guide: How to get to SM Fairview from Quezon Avenue or Espanya

Okay. So, here's another question one reader raised. How do I get to SM Fairview if I find my way lost along the avenues of Quezon and Espanya?

Here are quick easy tips to reach SM Fairview.

1. Just stop where you are. Take a deep breath and relax.

2. Wait for a bus or FX plying these avenues, carrying a signboard of "SM Fairview".

3. Take that ride and boom - humbly ask the conductor to drop you off there.

4. Now, should you found yourself lost or not sure where you are, just ask where you could find easy transport as mentioned in bullet 2.

Hope this quick guide helped you get to SM Fairview!

Buhay, 13 other party list winners in 2013 midterm elections declared

Party-list Buhay (Buhay Hayaang Yumabong) topped the list of party-list winners of the PH midterm elections, as declared by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on Friday, May 24.

Buhay, in its website, is an organization that "acknowledges the sanctity and value of human life as the most fundamental element of society and recognize the rights of individuals disadvantaged by age, sickness and disability. We implore the aid of the Divine Providence in order to advance their welfare, to the end that a just and humane society, defined by the truth, freedom, fairness, political stability, and due regard for human rights and dignity."

Image Courtesy: Buhay Party-list

13 other party-list were announced as winners of seats  in Congress. A party-list group can earn at least 1 congressional seat by getting 2 percent of the votes cast, which is equivalent to around 200,000 votes.

Shown below is the partial list of winner party-lists in the recently held 2013 PH national elections.

1. Buhay (BUHAY HAYAAN YUMABONG)

2. A Teacher (ADVOCACY FOR TEACHER EMPOWERMENT THROUGH ACTION COOPERATION AND HARMONY TOWARDS EDUCATIONAL REFORMS)

3. Bayan Muna

4. 1-Care (1ST CONSUMERS ALLIANCE FOR RURAL ENERGY, INC.)

5. Akbayan (AKBAYAN CITIZENS’ ACTION PARTY)

6. AKB (AKO BICOL POLITICAL PARTY)

7. Abono (ABONO PARTY-LIST)

8. OFW Family (OFW FAMILY CLUB, INC.)

9. Gabriela (GABRIELA WOMEN’S PARTY)

10. COOP-NATCCO (COOPERATIVE NATCCO NETWORK PARTY)

11. AGAP (AGRICULTURAL SECTOR ALLIANCE OF THE PHILIPPINES)

12. Cibac (CITIZENS’ BATTLE AGAINST CORRUPTION)

13. Magdalo (MAGDALO PARA SA PILIPINO)

14. An Waray

Quick Guide: How to get to Divisoria from Manila City Hall

The Manila City Hall is quite a popular landmark in Manila as it sits right beside the passageway (Taft Avenue) that traverses all the way to Edsa and bodes well near the Central Station of the LRT 1. 

To get to Divisoria, a marketplace known to all due to its dropped prices in bulk commodities like plastic ware, ceramics, fruits, tela, garments, toys, among others, first you need to do is reach Manila City Hall where you can ride a jeepney that has Divisoria written on its signage boards.

You can reach Manila City Hall by any mode of transport - may it be through LRT 1 and arrive either at Carriedo or Central Station, through indirect transport via LRT 2 or MRT then to LRT 1 Central Station, through buses and fx taxis with "PGH/Taft" or "Lawton" signboards, and lastly, through a limitless corolla taxi ride. When you see SM City Manila and/or a high tower with a clock on it, that's the point where you're very sure you're in or near Manila City Hall.

Divisoria resides near Manila City Hall. The Divisoria jeepney will drop you at the plaza near Divisoria. From then on, you'd just have to walk and stroll along the mini-streets of Divisoria. There are a lot of malls/shopping centers there where you could buy a lot for RTW (ready-to-wear) and distributorship. Beware that some "branded" products may be mislabeled and counterfeit.

Hope this quick guide has helped you get to Divisoria.