BMI Online Editor

35th Anniversary of the Music Center’s Annual Very Special Arts Festival Celebrates Creative Achievements of Students with Disabilities

 Entertainment
Oct 202013
 
35th Anniversary of the Music Center’s Annual Very Special Arts Festival Celebrates Creative Achievements of Students with Disabilities

– More Than 1,000 Students Are Stars for a Day in Performances on The Music Center Plaza – The Very Special Arts Festival is an annual admission-free event celebrating the artistic achievements of students with disabilities and their mainstream peers. The festival features student and professional performances on two stages, visual and performing arts workshops, and a student art exhibit created around the theme, We Are One. (photo screenshot courtesy of www.musiccenter.org) LOS ANGELES (October 18, 2013) – Celebrating its 35th anniversary, The Music Center’s Very Special Arts Festival today welcomed more than 1,000 students with disabilities and their mainstream peers from all over Los Angeles County to share their artistic achievements in both visual and performing arts.  This year’s festival, the largest in The Music Center’s history, included live performances of music and movement from more than 80 student groups and a display of more than 1,000 pieces of 2-D and 3-D student artwork. Built around the theme, “We Are One,” to reinforce the importance of respect for the diverse populations of the County, the free festival featured continuous student performances on two outdoor stages on The Music Center Plaza, along with numerous visual and performing arts participatory workshops led by both professional teaching artists and high school students.  Students also experienced a showcase of exotic animals from the Wildlife Learning Center; guide puppies from Guide Dogs of America; stilt walkers; performances by magician Allen Oshiro, mimes The Chameleons and a capella group The Alley Cats; a disco and much more. “From Read More …

Senate commends Megan Young for winning Miss World title

 Entertainment
Oct 182013
 
Senate commends Megan Young for winning Miss World title

Newly crowned Miss World Megan Young of the Philippines, smiles after winning the Miss World contest, in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013. (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – The Senate on Monday commended beauty queen and actress Megan Young for winning the Miss World 2013 title. Young attended the Senate session on Monday afternoon wearing a sparkling white terno and her blue crown to receive the commendation. In sponsoring Senate Resolution 272, Senator Grace Poe praised Young for showing Filipina simplicity to the world. “Tunay nga bilang isang Pilipina, ang pinakamaningning sa kanya [Young] ang pagiging simple ngunit nagmamarkang pagka-Pilipina,” Poe said during the session. After Poe’s speech, Young ascended the Senate rostrum to receive her commendation and to have a photo opportunity with senators. Last September 28, Young won the first ever Miss World crown for the Philippines, besting 126 candidates from all over the globe. (MNS)

Nikon D5300 comes with built-in GPS and wi-fi

 Entertainment
Oct 182013
 
Nikon D5300 comes with built-in GPS and wi-fi

The Nikon D5300 will be available from this month for $1,400 with an 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6 lens.©Nikon (Relaxnews) – Nikon’s latest middle-range D-SLR is its first to offer built-in wi-fi connectivity. The D5300 will hit US stores before the end of October, with prices starting at $800. The Nikon D5300 is equipped with a 24.2MP CMOS sensor, maximum ISO of 12,800, and an articulating 3.2-inch TFT display. The camera can shoot images with up to 6,000 x 4,000 pixels or film 60fps sequences with resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. Compared to its predecessor, the D5200, the most notable upgrade for the D5300 is its built-in wi-fi connectivity, which allows users to transfer their photos and videos directly to a mobile device or to social networks via the Wireless Mobile Utility app (available for Android and iOS). The new integrated GPS is also an interesting addition, giving users the possibility of automatically geotagging photos. The Nikon D5300 will be available in grey, red or black from this month at $800 for just the body, or at $1,400 with an 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens. db/ls/lwt

Successful showdown of Kapuso stars in Dubai

 Entertainment
Oct 182013
 
Successful showdown of Kapuso stars in Dubai

Marian Rivera at the Avenue Hotel After last year’s sold-out anniversary show in Los Angeles, GMA International recently flew to the Middle East to celebrate its 8th year by bringing four of its biggest stars to the blazing deserts of Dubai for the very first time. Held on September 27 at the Sheikh Rashid Auditorium, Indian High School, the Kapusong Pinoy Sa Dubai: A GMA Pinoy TV Concert featured no less than Asia’s romantic balladeer Christian Bautista, GMA’s fierce songstress Rachelle Ann Go, Asia’s pop sweetheart Julie Anne San Jose, and GMA’s primetime queen Marian in a two-part musical extravaganza. My-HD, GMA’s exclusive direct-to-home distribution partner of its international channels in the ME region, partnered with GMA International to make the event possible. The Kapuso stars certainly did not disappoint their fans, who came from different parts of the Middle East, just to see them perform live. Marian had everyone on their feet as she eagerly danced with members of the audience sending everyone immediately in high spirits. Marian happily shares that her excitement for the Dubai event was apparent even before she left the Philippines, “Masaya kaming lahat dahil during rehearsals pa lang sa Manila, excited na kami mag-perform sa ating mga Kapuso sa Dubai.”   The Kapuso primetime queen went on to say that she was quite nervous to be performing alongside professional singers, “Sa araw ng show, kabado ako, kasi puro singers ang kasama ko. Because supportive sina Rachelle Ann, Christian and Julie Anne, kinaya ko pong Read More …

For Thanksgiving, Colina Salon is giving back with glamorous discounts

 Entertainment
Oct 182013
 
For Thanksgiving, Colina Salon is giving back with glamorous discounts

15-50 % off on beauty treatments & products  Marlou Colina with Peaches and Herb COLINA Salon is enjoying a banner year, thanks to the support of its loyal clients. First, it has expanded with three salons running in 2013, the latest in Rancho Cucamunga. All its major promos – Bonanza Savers, Colors of Spring and Summer Sizzlers—were wildly popular. So were the breakthrough products it introduced to the market: Colina Cosmetics and MC Hair Care. And last month (Sept. 8), Colina Salon mounted Make-up 101, a one-day seminar-workshop at the Doubletree Hotel Norwalk that was by all accounts a runaway success. Colina Salon was very visible in the community, as a sponsor of the year’s most successful live events so far: Fides Ecclesiae, a musical based on the lives of Saints Pedro Calungsod and Kateri Tekakwitha in February at Pantages Theater; Side A Live at The Grove of Anaheim on April 21; “For Da Laffs,” on June 28 at Alex Theater in Glendale and June 29 at Pala Casino in San Diego; and Stylistics with Peaches & Herb live at Pala Casino-Palomar Starlight Theater on October 5. All these were in no small part to the credit of CEO and founder Marlou Colina, who himself made major inroads into Hollywood this year: styling for the family of Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein  at the Oscars, and Hunger Games star Dakota Hood at this spring’s GLAAD Awards. But the humble Marlou gives all the glory to their clients, whose loyal patronage inspires him and his tea to Read More …

Introducing: Jason Mordeno, a Pinoy hearthrob on American TV series

 General
Oct 182013
 
Introducing: Jason Mordeno, a Pinoy hearthrob on American TV series

Jason Mordeno Jason Mordeno, the Covina-born 21-year old Fil-Am hearthrob is a native of Los Angeles. He was raised in Atwater Village, whose father Valentin Mordeno is from Marikina and his mother, Eulalia Sistona is from  Manila. Currently, he portrays Noah McCallister in the American television adaptation of the Japanese manga “Boys Over Flowers,” written by Yoko Kamia whose original story was entitled “Boys Before Friends.” Previously, Jason was featured in the TV series “Fortunate 4 (F4),” a story about a group of powerful students who ran a prestigious graduate school. Jason Mordena attended Eagle Rock High School but plans to pursue a career in Business Marketing while maintaining progress in his acting profession. Let’s all wish Jason Mordeno success in becoming a rising Pinoy star in Hollywood!

The BMW i8: Ushering in a new era of sustainable performance

 Entertainment
Oct 092013
 
The BMW i8: Ushering in a new era of sustainable performance

BMW i8 Woodcliff Lake, NJ– The U.S. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price was misstated in the original announcement about the new BMW i8. The 2014 BMW i8 will be priced from$135,700 plus destination and handling fees. This is before any federal or state incentives for which the i8 may qualify. The BMW i8 at a glance First plug-in hybrid vehicle from the BMW Group and world’s most forward-looking sports car; revolutionary interpretation of BMW’s hallmark driving pleasure; groundbreaking premium character clearly defined in terms of sustainability. 2+2-seater with LifeDrive architecture developed specifically for BMW i, aerodynamic groundbreaking body design and visionary interior design deliver an intense driving experience; Life module passenger cell made from Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP); drive system technology, high-voltage battery, chassis, and crash and structural functions integrated into the aluminum Drive module; curb weight: 3,285 lbs (1,490 kg); Cd: 0.26; very low center of gravity (below 18 inches/460 millimeters); well-balanced weight distribution. It’s not a mystery that BMW dominates the luxury car industry. However, if you want to own one or test drive a BMW 3 Series, please call our kababayans Ed and Ronald at Pacific BMW at (818) 246-5600 and come down to the dealership located at 800 S. Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91204 and find out why. Who knows you may be the next new BMW owner? Or you may want to upgrade. Of course, we don’t need to mention that BMW is a favorite brand for luxury vehicles for the Fil-Am community, which is  one of the car brand’s Read More …

NEDA pushes adoption of more inclusive measure of poverty

 Entertainment
Oct 092013
 
NEDA pushes adoption of more inclusive measure of poverty

(NEDA logo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – The Philippines is backing calls for the United Nations to adopt a wider definition of poverty meant to fine-tune efforts by governments around the world to bring down the number of poor people. “We strongly support the push for the inclusion of multidimensional poverty measures in the menu of performance indicators for post-2015 development agenda,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said in a statement he delivered during a meeting on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) held at the 68th UN General Assembly last September 24 in New York City. Balisacan, who is also director-general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), said the multidimensional poverty index (MPI) is “an extremely useful complement to income poverty based on, say, $1.25 per person per day poverty line.” In pushing for the MPI, Balisacan cited the Philippine experience, wherein poverty data has defied government efforts – such as the conditional cash transfer program—to improve the lives of the poor. Despite the country’s above-target economic growth, the number of poor Filipinos hardly changed at a fourth of the population, he said. But if a more inclusive definition of poverty was used – as was done in a 2011 study – economic growth however has led to the reduction in extreme forms of poverty, Balisacan said. “This tells me, as a policymaker, that multidimensional poverty measurement is highly relevant and extremely useful for our efforts to substantially reduce poverty in the Philippines and, I believe, elsewhere,” he said. Balisacan Read More …

A ‘birds-eye view of Anaheim’ during Public Power Week

 Entertainment
Oct 092013
 
A ‘birds-eye view of Anaheim’ during Public Power Week

by : Rey Andres LILIA D. LAO: Grand Mom Lilia D. Lao (at right), the first cousin of Mommy Dionisia who is popularly known as mom of Manny Pacquiao, will attempt to add to her achievements the honor of being the second Queen Lola USA at a pageant on Oct. 19 at the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. The talented single mother of eight children who hails from South Cotabato has 15 grandchildren and the energy to do ballroom dancing. One of the features of the celebration of Public Power Week in the City of Anaheim from October 6-12 is the opportunity for participants “to see a bird’s eye view of the City while taking a ride in bucket trucks”. Although the attraction doesn’t compare with the exhilarating experience of the Great Park balloon in the City of Irvine where passengers soar 400 feet above ground for a 360-degree view that spans 40 miles, the experience will add up to the value of being at the Downtown Anaheim Farmers Market where Anaheim Public Utilities will host a variety of exhibits on energy conservation, electric vehicles, emergency preparedness and electrical safety. Anaheim Public Utilities, the only municipal electric utility in Orange County which serves more than 346,000 residents and 15,000 businesses including manufacturing, entertainment, sports and tourism customers will join other electric utilities across the country in the week-long celebration. The celebration of Public Power Week “is a great opportunity to showcase the value of a Read More …

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