Events

Miss Philippines Earth 2008 Winners

From left to right: Maria Venus Bayonito Raj, Marie Razel Triff Eguia, Karla Paula Ginteroy Henry, Melanie Cabanding Felix, Marian Michelle Talag Oblea, & Maria Kristelle Micaller Lazaro

The winners are:

• Karla Paula Ginteroy Henry of Cebu City – Miss Philippines EARTH 2008
• Marie Razel Triff Eguia of Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte – 1st runner-up/Miss Air/Miss PHL TQI 2008-2009
• Marian Michelle Talag Oblea of Obando, Bulacan – 2nd runner-up/Miss Water
• Maria Kristelle Micaller Lazaro of Candaba, Pampanga – 3rd runner-up/Miss Fire
• Maria Venus Bayonito Raj of Legazpi, Albay – 4th runner-up/Miss Eco-Tourism
• Melanie Cabanding Felix of USA, East Coast – Miss PAGCOR

3rd World Pyro Olympics Finally Starts

Oh, no. I did forgot that tonight is the opening of 3rd World Pyro Olympics. We are looking forward to watch the Pyro Olympics from first day to last day and its sad that we missed the 1st day. At around 5pm this afternoon, heavy rain poured. I admit that I did forgot the event, the cold weather is another reason to be lazy to go there.

The frequent reschedule of 3rd World Pyro Olympics somehow made people got tired of the event… plus summer season is about to end already. I checked on the official website of World Pyro Olympics, it’s now available again.

There is a big chance that the event will be a big flop for these reasons:

• Change of schedule – blogs and other site announced prematurely the schedule which made people got tired of waiting including me. These sites got the information by inquiring to La Mancha Productions.
• Weather – I did mention from my other Pyro Olympics posts that the weather will be a problem in the month of May which is start of rainy season. If its rainy season, ticket sales is affected.
• Participants – From the original 10 participants, there are only 6 participants now. China and Germany (May 3), Canada and France (May 10), Italy and Venezuela (May 17)
• Ticket price – With the present crisis in the Philippines, many filipinos will choose the lowest ticket price php 150 or be contented by watching it from afar like Baywalk or anywhere near Roxs Boulevard. Tickets are available at all Ticketnet outlets or call 911-5555 for ticket inquiries.
• Incoming school opening – school year 2008-2009 always starts in June, with the crisis in the Philippines, people will spend their money on their priorities like tuition fee, books, uniforms and school supplies.
• Advertisements – its self explanatory, I’m not aware that the event starts tonight considering that I live a stone away from SM Mall of Asia. I’m not sure if they’ve place ads on TV, radio and newspapers.

The reasons above were my based on point of view. I still hope that next Saturday, the event will be a success compared to previous World Pyro Olympics. See you there.

3rd World Pyro Olympics (Final Schedule)

The opening of the 3rd World Pyro Olympics is supposed to be tonight. My kids are asking me if we will be going to SM Mall of Asia last night, having experienced the last time we went there without 3rd World Pyro Olympics made us tired already of the event. I thought, I haven’t noticed any advertisements and announcements unlike the previous World Pyro Olympics events. Just to make sure, I’ve called up La Mancha Productions this morning.

Its confirmed. The new and final schedule of 3rd World Pyro Olympics will start on May 3, a Saturday and the succeeding Saturdays of May. The official website of World Pyro Olympics is still down for maintenance, the management told me that their site will be available next week or the other week.

They’re still finalizing the participants and schedule, if that’s the case, there could be changes with previous given schedule and participants. Its guaranteed that it will be on May 3, I hope. Personally, its a good schedule considering people are getting ready for the start of school year, they could watch the event after they went shopping at SM MOA. Good luck to them on the later part of May since its also the start of rainy season in the Philippines.

3rd World Pyro olympics Schedule:
May 3, 2008 -China and Germany
May 10,2008 – Canada and France
May 17, 2008 – Italy and Venezuela
May 24, 2008 – Fellowship of Fire – Collaboration of all countries with the Philippines
- La Mancha Pyro Productions representing the Philippines – Pyromusical show exihibition

I’ll be posting here the final schedule as soon I have it. For the meantime, you may read my previous World Pyro Olympics articles.

• 3rd World Pyro Olympics 2008
• 3rd World Pyro Olympics Reschedule

Visita Iglesia

Just came home from Visita Iglesia. I don’t know if it should be Visita Iglesia or Bisita Iglesia. This is my fifth year of doing the filipino Catholic tradition. Visita Iglesia is a tradition wherein you would visit seven churches. Even if I’m out of town vacation, I make it a point to do the tradition as my “panata” (filipino word that means vow or pledge). Visita Iglesia is not just visiting seven churches just like some who unknowingly doing every Holy Thursday. Stations of the Cross is also on Maundy Thursday and can be done either at daytime or at night. As far as I know, Visita Iglesia is giving honor to the Blessed Sacrament of each seven churches. Usually, the celebration begins with a mass, mostly at 6pm. The mass is followed by the procession of the Blessed Sacrament before it is taken to the Altar of Repose. So, unlike Stations of the Cross, Visita Iglesia will be done at night time ONLY until midnight. All saints and stations inside the church were veiled with lavender fabrics, lights are off to the main altar and the Altar of Repose is lighted and adorned with flowers.
Read more…

Palm Sunday… Palaspas

Everybody is excited to watch the much awaited Pacquiao vs. Marquez 2: Unfinished Business tomorrow. Not to mention that it is also the 487th anniversary when Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Philippines. Tomorrow is also Palm Sunday, it is also known as Domingo de Ramos.

Palm Sunday or Linggo ng Palaspas in our native tongue, in the Christian calendar, the Sunday before Easter, sixth and last Sunday in Lent, and the first day of Holy Week. This morning, vendors will start selling “palaspas” to bring to church and have it blessed during the mass. Palaspas is decorated and weaved palm leaves. We would afterward bring it home and place it in the altar. A filipino belief that it will protect our home from bad spirits.
Read more…