The GNP Team

Pinoys to Star in Lion King Musical 20th Anniversary Int’l Tour

 News
Oct 152017
 

Six young Filipino actors have been cast in “The Lion King” musical’s first international tour in celebration of its 20th anniversary of the Disney production as a stage musical. The Lion King international tour which will have its first stop in Manila in March 2018 will have young artists from the Philippines performing together with international stage artists. Alternating in the role of Young Simba are: Julien Joshua Dolor Pablo Palacpac and Juan Gabriel Tiongson Young Nala will be performed by: Sheena Bentoy Uma Martin Felicity Napuli The six young Filipino artists join the cast after months of auditions which began in March this year in South Africa. “After six months of intensive auditions, we have been able to bring together a truly international group of performers that will showcase the talent from almost every corner of the world. From seasoned professionals to actors making their professional debut, this company of ‘The Lion King’ will be sure to delight and amaze audiences as we tour this phenomenal production around the globe,” revealed Michael Cassel, producer of the international tour. “Julie Taymor and her extraordinary creative team have brought together a truly diverse company, representing twelve countries in this production of enormous scale, beauty and heart. I cannot wait for new audiences in the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan to share an indelible theatrical experience for the first time, with this talented cast,” said Thomas Schumacher, president and producer of Disney Theatrical Productions. The young Filipino actors will join the Read More …

Team PH bag 32 golds, overall champs in Asian Bench Press Championships

 News
Oct 132017
 

The Philippine national powerlifting women’s team picked up 4 overall championship crowns and 32 gold medals at the Asian Bench Press Championships held in Quezon City. The Filipina powerlifters won the titles in 4 categories: Women’s Masters Women’s Open Women’s Juniors Women’s Sub-juniors The women’s and men’s national teams competed for the championship crowns against 300 lifters from Japan, United Arab Emirates, Iran, Iraq, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Lebanon, and Pakistan. The 32 gold medals Philippines haul at the Asian Bench Press Championships: Anita Koykka – 2 gold medals (Women’s Masters, Women’s Open, -57 kg.) Victorina Calma – gold (Women’s Masters) Kathy Moran – gold (Women’s Masters) Nina Oca – gold (Women’s Masters) Jane Quiambao – gold (Women’s Masters) Jinky Guion – gold (Women’s Open) Leslie Evangelista – gold (Women’s Open) May Estrera – gold (Women’s Open) Lee Anne Zipagan – gold (Women’s Open) Samantha Tayag – gold (Women’s Open) Joan Masangkay – gold medal (Women’s Juniors, 43 kg.) Kathleen Chiang – gold medal (Women’s Juniors -63 kg.) Maxine Fugen – gold (Women’s Juniors) Nicole Go – gold (Women’s Juniors) Catherine Marthos – gold (Women’s Juniors) Jessa Mae Tabuan – gold medal (Women’s Sub-Juniors -43 kg.) Rowella Abrea – gold medal (Women’s Sub-Juniors -47 kg.) Francisco Arca – gold medal (Men’s Sub-Juniors, -66 kg.) Veronica Ompod – gold (Women’s Sub-Juniors) Rachel Bais – gold (Women’s Sub-Juniors) Daisy Grace Lipasana – gold (Women’s Sub-Juniors) Marielle Liwanag – gold (Women’s Sub-Juniors) Rolando Maye – gold medal (Men’s Read More …

Filipina nurse hits the jackpot in Abu Dhabi raffle draw

 News
Oct 122017
 
Filipina nurse hits the jackpot in Abu Dhabi raffle draw

An overseas Filipino worker became a millionaire after winning the Big 10 Millionaires Series 184 raffle draw in Abu Dhabi. Filipina nurse Leilani Quijano del Rosario hit the jackpot of the monthly raffle draw conducted by Big Ticket at the Abu Dhabi International Airport Arrivals area. Del Rosario was the lone woman among 10 new millionaires awarded Dh1 Million each, or about Php14 Million. The OFW who has been working in Abu Dhabi for 14 years said “her win was ‘unexpected’ though she regularly bought tickets for the draw,” according to an Expat Media report. The 47-year-old nurse has also revealed she will use her winnings for the education and living expenses of her three children, and pay off loans in the Philippines. She also said she will share her cash prize with 15 friends and will only keep Dh200,000 for herself. Del Rosario joins the major winners list of the longest-running raffle draw in Abu Dhabi which has been giving out cash prizes and luxury items for 25 years. The post Filipina nurse hits the jackpot in Abu Dhabi raffle draw appeared first on Good News Pilipinas.

Vida Cruz triumphs in Writers of the Future Contest

 News
Oct 112017
 

Filipina science fiction and fantasy writer, Vida Cruz, has won first place in the 2nd Quarter 2017 Writers of the Future Contest for new and aspiring writers. Cruz, a BFA Creative Writing graduate of Ateneo de Manila University, won USD 1,000 cash prize and is eligible to win the annual Golden Pen Award with USD 5,000 cash prize to be awarded at the 34th Annual L. Ron Hubbard Writers & Illustrators of the Future Achievement Awards Event scheduled on April 8, 2018. The Writers of the Future winner is also given a spot in the pre-gala awards’ week-long intensive, five-day master-class workshop in Hollywood where writers are taught the skills and techniques to become true professionals. The former GMA News Online journalist shared in an interview how she did not expect to win in the prestigious contest that receives thousands of submissions from around the world. “Every mentor has told me that a career in writing takes years to build. In that sense, the Writers of the Future contest gives beginning writers a boost that no other contest does. I’m really lucky to have something like this at the beginning of my career,” Cruz told GMA News Online. Cruz joins the elite list of Writers of the Future contest winners who have gone on to publish novels and short stories which have become international bestsellers and won critical acclaim from the Nebula, the Hugo, the Bram Stoker, the John W. Campbell, the Locus Award, the National Book Award, the Newbery Read More …

Pinoys Make Manny Pacquiao Robot to Win RoboWorld Cup

 News
Oct 092017
 

The Philippine robotics team from Taguig brought home the gold and silver from two events at the 2017 FIRA RoboWorld Cup in Taiwan. Creating robot versions of boxing champ Manny Pacquiao and Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, the Taguig team won the Gold Trophy for Youth U19 Cliff Hanger event, and the Silver in the Youth U19 Mission Impossible event after they successfully made a robot that knocked out another, and another one float in water. The 6-member winning Taguig robotics team from the Senator Renato Companero Cayetano Memorial Science and Technology High School (SRCCMSTHS) and Kapt. Eddie T. Reyes Integrated School (KERIS) were: Madelle Diez Philip Leonard Diez John David Golenia Pierre Alan Romir Pioquid  Aron Sean Michael Pioquid Samuel Tabernero   In the Mission Impossible category, the team was given three hours to build and program an 8.5 by 11.0 inches robot with the use of limited materials such as styrofoams, popsicle sticks, BBQ sticks, glue stick, microcontrollers, DC motors, paper cups, distance and ultrasonic sensors. The robot should then be able to float while following a line path placed underwater, and finally hook a treasure chest placed at the other side. The Philippine team competed against Taiwan, China, South Korea, Iran and Malaysia. Team adviser Sheryl Tabernero led the Taguig group of students in their first international robotics competition at the 2017 FIRA RoboWorld Cup, she said the passion and interest of members of the Taguig Robotics Team — are the very reasons they performed way better than Read More …

2 Pinoys Break Asian Records in Rubik’s Cube Competition

 News
Oct 082017
 

Two Filipino Rubik’s Cube speedcubing players made new Asian Records at the Philippine Championship 2017. Edgar Elevado Jr. set the new Asian record for Rubik’s Cube 3x3x3 With Feet Finals after solving his cube using his feet at the clocked average speed of 30.23 seconds after 3 rounds. Elevado broke the Asian record previously held by Xiaojie Jiang of China set at 31.78 seconds. Elevado’s new Asian record is currently ranked 3rd in the world, reported GMA News. The Davao-based Elevado also set the new Philippine record of 27.20 seconds in the final round of the same event. Meantime, Mharr Justhinne Ampong tied the current Asian record in the Skewb event elimination round, clocking in at 1.63 seconds. The University of the Philippines Diliman engineering student previously held the Skewb single solve World Record in 2014. Ampong also finished second in the Rubik’s Cube Final event. The new Asian Record holders from the Philippines competed among 231 speedcubers from the Philippines, Singapore, and China in the World Cube Association-sanctioned competition organized by the Philippine Cubers Association. The post 2 Pinoys Break Asian Records in Rubik’s Cube Competition appeared first on Good News Pilipinas.

Pinoy Family Heroes Honored by Jollibee

 News
Oct 072017
 

Jollibee, the all-Filipino global fast food chain, is recognizing a new batch of hero families at the 7th Jollibee Family Values Awards (JFVA) scheduled on October 11, 2017. The annual search for outstanding families will have 15 finalists vying for the 7th JFVA selected in a rigorous screening process of hundreds of entries from around the world, according to the Jollibee statement sent to GNP. Five families from Metro Manila, five from Luzon, two from the Visayas, one from Mindanao, and one family based in the United States comprise this year’s family finalists. The 7th JVFA new hero family finalists are: Acula Family (Taguig) Felix Family (Pasay City) Lumbao Family (Pasig City) Matti Family (Taguig City) Rodriguez Family (Quezon City) Arquiza Family (Camarines Norte) Casaje Family (Rizal) Dickson Family (Abra) Macalintal Family (Oriental Mindoro) Mallari Family (Rizal) Caballero Family (Negros Oriental) Drake Family (Bohol) Borela Family (General Santos City) Castro Family (San Jose, California) Salangsang Family (Sacramento, California) The finalists will vie for the 6 JFVA Family Awards and 6 Special Citations during the Gabi ng Parangal para sa Pamilyang Pilipino, the search’s culminating event, on October 11 at Crowne Plaza Hotel. In 2016, Jollibee also awarded 12 hero families at the 6th JFVA. Jollibee’s 11-member panel of judges, co-chaired by Senator Sonny Angara and Father Jett Villarin of Ateneo de Manila University, will determine the winners of this year’s search. The body is also tasked with confirming the JFVA partners’ recommendations for special citations. First-time judge Fr. Villarin shares, Read More …

Philippine stock market surges to new all-time high this week

 News
Oct 062017
 
Philippine stock market surges to new all-time high this week

The Philippines is one of the best performing stock markets in Asia, after breaking new record highs two times this week. On Tuesday, the PSEi finished at a fresh record high of 8,312.93. On Wednesday, the benchmark index scaled new heights surpassing the previous day’s high to close at 8,344.05. The investor euphoria continued throughout the week as the benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index soared to an intra-day record above the 8,400 mark on Friday but at end of the trading day closed at 8,310.88. Philippine stocks are rising due to several factors – investors are taking their cue from upbeat US economic data and record highs on Wall Street. Investors continue to remain bullish about the prospects of the Philippine economy, expectations of a tax overhaul and government’s plan to liberalize foreign ownership restrictions in highly regulated industries is further bringing good tidings to the market. The local stock barometer gained by another 31.12 points, surpassing Tuesday’s record high of 8,312.93. The proposed tax reform measures include expanding the value-added tax base, raising excise taxes on fuel and automobiles, and slap levies on sugar-sweetened beverages will add billions of pesos into the government’s coffers. On growth, the government has set a full year growth target of 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent for 2017. The local economy accelerated 6.5 percent in the second quarter, mainly due to higher government spending, strong domestic demand, and increased farm output. Local stocks are being led by financial, industrial, services, holding companies and mining Read More …

Zanjoe Marudo is International Emmy’s Best Actor Nominee

 News
Oct 022017
 
Zanjoe Marudo is International Emmy’s Best Actor Nominee

Filipino celebrity Zanjoe Marudo has been nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in the 2017 International Emmy Awards given by the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Marudo is cited for his performance in Maalala Mo Kaya (Remembering) aired over ABSCBN. The Filipino actor is competing for the Emmys acting award against Oscar-nominated Kenneth Branagh, an international star from the United Kngdom, Julio Andrade from Brazil, and Kad Merad from France. The local television actor’s home network, ABSCBN, released a report revealing Zarudo received the Emmys nod for his portrayal of a single father who raised his children inside a cave after a storm ravaged their home in the Kweba (Cave) episode of MMK. The 45th Emmys nominees list includes 44 nominees in 11 categories from 18 countries. The International Emmy Awards winners will be announced on November 20 in New York. The post Zanjoe Marudo is International Emmy’s Best Actor Nominee appeared first on Good News Pilipinas.

Discovery Shores only PHL Resort Hotel in T&L World’s Best list

 News
Oct 022017
 

Discovery Shores in Boracay Island made it to the Travel and Leisure 2017 World’s Best Awards as the only Philippine resort hotel in the Top 10 for the Asian region. Discovery Shores Boracay Island ranked 7th among the 10 Best Resort Hotels in Southeast Asia. The Philippine resort hotel garnered a score of 94.04 from the T&L traveler annual survey of travelers. T&L writer John Wogan referred to the “azure waters off white-sand beaches in the Philippines” in his introduction of the Top 10 resort hotels, referring to Discovery Boracay’s White Beach location. Discovery Shores Boracay Island was included in the list that T&L readers say as: “the best resort hotels in Southeast Asia (that) fully embrace the surrounding environment and landscapes.” The World’s Best Resort Hotels are surveyed for their location, service, facilities, and overall value. Discovery Shores Boracay Island’s inclusion in the 10 Best Resort Hotels in Southeast Asia was released as part of this year’s T&L list of the best 100 hotels — which include exclusive safari lodges, urban sanctuaries, and family-friendly beach resorts. The post Discovery Shores only PHL Resort Hotel in T&L World’s Best list appeared first on Good News Pilipinas.

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