By: Maria Chiara Assunta T. Alviar
Who cares about Original Pinoy Music nowadays?
Certainly, almost everyone knows about the usual ballads or the Pinoy rock we can all hear through mainstream radio stations. But how about bringing back Asin’s, Freddie Aguilar’s, or Grace Nono’s?
Many would find it strange to hear them again, but one very interesting artist brings that music back to our ears with a unique twist. Cynthia Alexander captures the taste of Filipino urbanites that like easy listening but with a hint of Filipino tune enveloped in all of her three albums.
by Maria Chiara Assunta T. Alviar
Some people have the ‘gift of gab,’ impressing people with how much they know and how good they speak. They’re popular! The minute they enter the room, the crowd immediately recognizes their presence and these chatterboxes just won’t stop. But have you ever noticed that person who would sit next to you when it’s your time to talk?
By: Maria Chiara Assunta T. Alviar
Presenting Stamford Bridge ONLINE — Chelseafc.com has a new layout and a completely different look!
by: Candice Tijam
In every rollercoaster ride, there will always be a fair number of ups and downs. But for Tita Puangco, riding her life seem to be more of the ups –or maybe that’s just how she treated each fall.
At 58, Tita still has that spark of enthusiasm as she welcomed me with a wide and friendly smile for the interview. Her simplicity was seen clearly as at that time, she was about to have her merienda break and took out a sandwich and a banana from a big lunch box.
Tita D. Puangco grew up in a small town in Tarlac with a big family with 4 sisters and 2 brothers. She found her childhood very enjoyable for she was an active and adventurous person among her siblings. She was named “escape artist” since she loved to escape household chores and go lakwacha all day. She would often hobnob through the small streets that led to the town. Compared to her sisters who were more of the conservative and high society type, she indeed saw life as an exciting adventure and developed many friends. Because she didn’t like cooking, cleaning the house, and only mastered washing plates, she did only minimum house work. But don’t think she only loved to make excuses, hang out and do nothing. No one ever viewed her as a lazy girl, because she always excelled in school. She was always at the top of her class and was a scholar up to high school.
by: Candice Tijam
Picture this: You are watching a local primetime show with your younger sister or your son, and then suddenly ….the fully-clothed mermaid who turned human is now only covered by a blanket with the man of her dreams on top of the same bed! So tell me honestly, what do you do to deal with such instances?
Over the years, people seem to care lesser and lesser whenever TV shows give sudden or sometimes even prolonged scenes that imply premarital sex while they have minors just sitting next to them. Seconds of actors kissing and cuddling with meaningful stares while approaching the bed is not much big of a deal as how it used to. We don’t seem to mind that that tiny reminder of “parental guidance” written on the corner of the screen is actually a big consequence if we ignore it constantly as children’s eyes wonder what those acts signify.
A big portion of the Filipino population watch local shows right after the news program as a form of entertainment from a heavy and stressful day from work. But it is usually unavoidable that the kids in the house tend to watch what adults prefer. Also, more often than not, kids patronize these shows because they idolize the actor or actress or simply because they find the plot amusing and funny.
by: Candice Tijam and Karchelle Francisco
Proven over time, girls really love shopping, whether it’s a sudden desire for panic buying or just simple window-shopping, no matter how long it would take—hours of walking and pausing to gape at clothing or accessory that captures her heart. Aside from the malls that every girl is familiar of e.g. MegaMall, Mall of Asia, Glorrietta etc. to Divisoria, Quiapo and the hundreds of ukay-ukay shops all over Manila, we have discovered a place in Cubao that is a sure delight for every girl, teenager, lady and even for a mommy or grand mom.
At first sight, this U-shaped compound in Cubao might be too boring for some visitors if they were to stroll around this vicinity at daytime. But when the moon starts to shine, this quiet compound becomes a fun and exciting street that Filipinos and even foreigners will be interested to go to this so-called Cubao Expo Shopping Center.
Cubao Expo Shopping Center was first known as the Marikina Expo Shopping Center, that was meant to be an outlet for the product that Marikina is known for – shoes. Since its lanes have evolved into various types of stores, Marikina Expo was changed to Cubao Expo in 2004. It started out mainly with shops with similar trend such as artistic crafts.
by: Karchelle Francisco
While browsing your favorite magazines – Cosmopolitan, FHM, Vogue or Seventeen, do you ever encounter a model with a plus size body? Or do you ever hear of a news that a plus size actress/model is on top of the FHM list? Never, right? Because if a model or an actress was four size larger than her usual size, she couldn’t be one for such reason.
Size does matter. And we know it. Those women in the business industry prefer to have a fit and sexy body rather than a “chubby” body. If ever their body is added with one or two inches, they would take diet pills or medicine like: Buegerlie tea, Slenda and so on. Or they drink lots of Fit and Right for two to three months everyday, or even undergo liposuction.
Insecurity, most especially to the shape of the body is common to all women, not only to those in the show business but also to those ordinary women out there. For some, being sexy is beautiful, and any guy cannot lie that if a girl is sexy, she’s beautiful and awesome.
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by: Monica Dawn Palad
Admit it. We tend to make matters difficult to understand for men at certain times. One day, you drive your sweetie away from you because you don’t want to be called or texted then be overly-sensitive the next day when he just replied a two-syllable word without any emoticon. This drives us to our constant paranoia throughout the day. Ms. Lalaine Lachica, guidance counsellor of the Faculty of Arts and Letters from the University of Santo Tomas explains the psychology of weird and sometimes funny female behaviour.
Forever Paranoia
You are walking around the school corridor when you saw your boyfriend with another girl. You know that the girl is his classmate and come to think of it, they are inches apart walking and it looks like they are just talking, period. This drives you crazy. You stalk them, check their glances to each other, followed them again, saw them going back to their classroom, check his Friendster profile for possible infidelity evidences from that girl, yet you found nothing. ing if that girl is the “other woman” of your guy. You can’t hold on to your paranoia. The next day, you confronted him insisting that there’s something going on between them when the truth is, there’s really none. This will lead to a major problem in your relationship.
by: Charlene Cunanan
Sometime in 1974, when Fr. Paul Marx, OSB came into the Philippines to conduct a seminar to health and religious groups, nobody thought that in the light of a then young nun in the audience will find the flesh and bone of Pro-Life in the Philippines.
From Good Shepherd Maternity Home, Sr. Mary Pilar L. Verzosa, RGS advocates consciousness of Filipinos on respect and responsibility for human life which she foresees to be the primary goal of an organization that supports the beauty of the life or the Pro-Life.
Sis Pilar, as they call her, graduated B.S. Nursing from St. Paul College of Manila before she joined in the Good Shepherd Sisters then she took up graduate studies in Guidance and Counseling from De La Salle University and some courses in Social Work at Mt. St. Mary’s College, Los Angeles California, USA.
by: Charlene Cunanan
For almost a decade now, the website Uncaged (www.uncaged.com.uk) has been campaigning for—Animal Rights. They encourage people not only from Europe to participate in this global campaign for animal rights to abuse, for they believe, “Who cares Wins”.
With a highly qualified, experienced and dedicated team of staff, Uncaged brings in-depth knowledge of the political, legal, ethical and scientific issues relevant to animal experimentation.
They fight and work based on the unwavering opposition to the abuse of animal, scientific critique of vivisection, and to the commitment to democracy, human and non-human rights, and environmental sustainability.
“Mga Bata sa Padre Noval” is a 17 minutes documentary, unravels the truth about the street children who stays almost for their entire life in the street begging for alms. The street is, for them, the so called 2nd home. It is where they meet new friends, play their favorite games and where they work for their living.
Katrina Placido found her best subject for her very first documentary in P.Noval. She also experienced giving alms to these children every time she’s taking her lunch in Noval. With the everyday habit of these children, begging for alms, she came up with the idea of setting her subject about the life of these children on street. How they work? What kind of work they have? Why are they on the street? Not at school? Where are their parents? Are they satisfied in what they are doing? Do they think of, having their education? And typical questions a Thomasian can ask about them.
by: Sam Glysdi Sauler
In an academe that is usually referred to as ‘the University of Activists,’ it is next to impossible for a student leader to ever avoid detractors and harsh critics. Nevertheless, Herminio “Third” Bagro, the University of the Philippines’ Student Council Chairperson, proves that adversities and complications are challenges one has to face to be able to fully serve his men.
Coming from the party list, ALYANSA (Alyansa ng mga Mag-aaral Para sa Panlipunang Katwiran at Kaunlaran), and having served four terms in the UP student politics in different positions, Third’s already got a first-hand encounter on how his school wasn’t spared from dirty politics. “May mga unhealthy practices like mud-slinging, mga ganun. Merong mga lumalabas na kung ano anong black propaganda pag nakapag campaign na.”
by: Sam Glysdi Sauler
Eighteen-year-old Anna Foster (Mandy Moore), the US President’s daughter, lived all her life in theories. Being the only child of an over-protective father, she had always been surrounded by body guards to watch over. At a visit in Prague, Anna asked her father if she could go to a party without having body guards keeping tabs on her. Her father agreed to the proposal but on the condition that she’ll be with two agents to safeguard her from any threat.
When Anna found out that her father deviated from the plan and sent a battalion of secret agents to the party, she looked for a chance to rebel and escape. She accidentally bumped into Ben Calder (Matthew Goode), a photographer who helped her run away from her father’s secret service agents. Soon, it turned out that Ben is an English CIA agent, later commanded by the US President to give Anna an “illusion of freedom.” The oblivious Anna took the time of her life to “smell and taste” her new-found liberty. While being chased after by the agents, Anna tried to prove her theories while getting into the adventure of meeting new people, being extremely spontaneous, and falling in love with Ben, her secret body guard.
by: Sam Glysdi Sauler
For the over 250 Thomasian photographers, web designers, and writers, TomWeb! is the perfect nook.
Running less than a year now, TomWeb!, the official on-line based organization of the University of Santo Tomas, continues to give quality information for the Thomasian community. This organization made up of students from different colleges in UST has also become a spot for individuals who want to showcase their talents and render them to their alma mater.
“TomWeb! aims to contribute to education and the students’ pursuit of excellence through active involvement in electronic media particularly the World Wide Web,” said Charlene Cunanan, TomWeb! president.
by: Sam Glysdi Sauler
Banned in schools in the early ‘60s for its use of vulgar words and the presentation of a rebellious drunkard for a protagonist, this book was listed in the Time Magazine’s 100 Best English-language novels.
It tells the story of Holden Caulifield, a 16-year-old growing up in the 1950s who got expelled from Pencey Prep., an elite school for boys. Afraid that his parents might find out his expulsion, he decided to bum around New York City and wait until it’s time to go home for the Christmas vacation. His spontaneous, rebellious, and reckless character led him to mishaps like getting knocked out by an elevator boy, a clumsy encounter with a prostitute, and an awkward marriage proposal to a girl he had been dating. Throughout the story Holden argued about people being shallow and phony. However, despite the projected impulsive and negligent image, lives within him a heart that aspires to find comfort and understanding.
by: Sam Glysdi Sauler
Too busy to blog or chat but still want to catch up with your friends’ latest updates? Micro-blogs are made for a lifestyle that’s always on-the-go.
Like the traditional blogs, micro-blogs allow you to write brief updates of 140 characters and send them as feeds to your friend’s sites through the web or through text messaging.
With them, you can add and follow friends and keep track of what they have been up to. At the moment, there are two leading micro-blogs in the market. Twitter, first launched in March 2006, has been used by millions of people worldwide. The updates referred to as ‘Tweets’ answer the question, “What are you doing?” in third person.
by: Angelique Parungao
Ranked as the number 1 movie of Entertainment Weekly’s Top 50 High school movies, The Breakfast Club has greatly influenced teen pop culture from 1980’s until today. Widely considered as the definitive work in the teen flick genre by movie critics, this has become one of the staple movies for coming- of- age films and has defied the social classes that existed during high school.
The movie follows 5 different high school students (an athlete, the princess, the criminal, the basket case, and the brain) at a fictional high school. Coming from different cliques or social groups, these students who were completely strangers to each other before the detention spent an afternoon learning from each other. They discovered that they are not so different from each other. In the course of their stay, they realized that order to survive the afternoon, they must join forces to fight their common enemy, the judgemental Mr. Vernon who has a pre- conceived idea of how the teens are. Mr. Vernon, who at the beginning of the day gave one of the students a task: to write a letter answering the question “Who you think you are?”
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by: Angelique F. Parungao
Going up to Tagaytay, one cannot help but notice this quaint blue and white restaurant, Manos Greek Taverna at the side of Laguna Road. This restaurant has charmed locals and foreign guests alike with its unusual name and homey atmosphere. Since its establishment in 2005, this restaurant has always been one of the must visit places for great dining in the second summer capital of the Philippines.
One cannot help but wonder, who is the man behind this restaurant that created so much buzz in and out of Tagaytay?
Manos Greek Taverna was established by Emmanuel “Manos” Sapountzakis, a native of Crete, Greece and his Filipina wife of 25 years, Estrella. With his love for cooking, he took Hotel and Restaurant Management in Greece. Although he was trained to cook French cuisine, his love for his native culture and food made Sapountzakis decide that he wanted to establish a restaurant that will cook authentic Greek cuisine rather than French. “I studied French cuisine, but I’ve never practiced it. I like Greek cuisine,” he said.
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by: Angelique Parungao
“Shy type ako eh,” said Angelo Salvador Cachero, University of Santo Tomas’ Central Student Council President when first asked about this interview. But this fifth year civil engineering major’s achievements are definitely far from what a shy person could achieve.
Cachi, as what most people call him, was never really into school politics. As a high school student in De La Salle, Greenhills, he would be more interested in sports and organizations. He was a member of the soccer varsity and at the same time, playing other sports. His affiliations to extra curricular organizations continued in college when he decided to join the official pep squad of the university, UST Yellow Jackets. He said he joined the pep squad because of his brother, the first UST YJ president, Franco Lorenzo Cachero and the exemption in PE and ROTC classes. Eventually, he was chosen to be the batch leader of YJ and became a head cheerleader in his third year.
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by: Lian Nami Buan
The events inside the University of Santo Tomas does not only travel through word of mouth, it is broadcasted in every buildings for all Thomasians to see.
This thanks to the Thomasian Cable Television (TomCat) who has been responsible for airing televised and recorded productions to update and entertain students who takes delight in taking their viewing hobby to school.
UST is no different to the rest of the country when it comes to sports obssession. Thomasians, too, are, in a manner of saying, more interested in the athletic world above all.
A Tomcat production titled Tiger Beat is one avenue for us all Sports fanatics. Tiger Beat is a magazine program that tackles UST’s sports news in a particular period of time. Its episode, Tips off which aired last year during the UAAP Season 70 featured segments that are dedicated in satisfying our addiction for the love of the game.
But again, we continue to tolerate our restricted mentality of the Basketball culture that has widely spread all over the country. Tiger Beat:Tips Off rolled for 9 minutes and 4 seconds clips and dialogues that are related to Basketball alone.
Angelique Parungao
Chief-Web-Editor
Lian Buan
Desk-Web-Editor
Dharel Placido
Editorial Executive
Charlene Cunanan
Managing Web Editor
Chienalee Garcia
Asst. Managing Web Editor
Monica Palad
Design Editor
Sam Sauler
Sub- Design Editor
Chiara Alviar
Karchelle Francisco
Candice Tijam
Writers
paki aff nio p0h aq sa fb jane5cents@yahoo.com tnx!
@Lian:
ayaaaaa. hahaha. wag na, nakakahiyooooooo. hahaha. thank you, you’re welcome. hiho. 
sino ung dharel placido? prang ang laki ng cheeks nya pangalan pa lang.
@ginela
thank youuuuuuuu. Dapat i air na amg mga TV Prods nyo, feature namin dito 
i’mma bookmark this. this is now one of my favorite sites. haha. liaaaaaan! d=)
this site rocks. i love it. congratulations to all o’ye! ~_^
Ang cool..simple lang…and ganda nung variety of news..at talagang si Sir Cuarts special mention na naman! Hahaha! He deserves it..cool site! =)
magaling =)
Yo! Nice site, guys! ;D Keep up the good work! Dami niyo articles, ah! Kaiinggit! ^O^
Dharel Placido’s next frontier: GETTING SUED FOR BASHING KIM JONG IL.
@Kim ek ek’s apo: You have internet there? BTW, You speak good in English huh? Kala ko pa naman di sila western at masyado silang enclosed?
Wow ang galing naman ng website na ito! 9th degree apo ni kim ek ek, nahukay niyo pa! hahahaha! ang popular niyo na kagad!!
@dong jim len does north korea have internet?
I am a 9th degree grand daughter of Kim Jong Il and I felt that our family was bashed in Mr. Placido’s article. My grand father does not starve Koreans@!
@ibrainyou hello there clone! haha )
@lachupacabra let’s make a way for you to contact mr. placido. he’s busy right now declogging their toilet bowl.
@lachupacabra hello there dharel is a really good writer
@epp and add brainy on that 
yes this is the site thing
@jayce definitely. monica is one of the brainy bunch.
@consuela so you must be a fan now? thank you! visit the places also and sample the hopias featured
