MY CHAT ROOM

HOY PINOY AKO

SUPER NOYPI MAGAZINE

A big-budget, all-star cast, tailor-made movie for kids —titled "Super Noypi" —is being produced by Regal Films with today's exciting young stars from two giant networks Jennylyn Mercado, Katrina Halili, Sandara Park, Rhian Ramos, John Prats, Mark Herras and ....


Polo Ravales and with the celebrated young director, Quark Henares, at the helm.

To leave no stone unturned, producer Mother Lily Monteverde also hired experts from Hollywood for the action-adventure as never seen before in a local movie prosthetics expert Joe La Penna, visual supervisor Ted Godwyn of Geebo Digital, and stunt director Philip Ko from Hong Kong with Jon Escudero from the Philippines.

All the stars had workshops prior to the shoot supervised by Direk Quark. The perfectionist that he is, he won't be satisfied until the scenes were done in perfection. Take the helicopter scene by Jennylyn, for example. The young actress had vertigo until she braved to do such dangerous stunt of clinging to the flying chopper, and ascended 100 feet above the ground and hovered several miles.

Supervising producer Roselle Monteverde was all praises for Jennylyn for being so professional. Direk Quark says everyone in cast will have his or her highlight in the movie. For her part, Rhian is elated that her very first movie —which no other than Super Noypi —is an entry to the Metro Manila Filmfest no less.

"So, how is it working with Katrina, Jennylyn, Mark and Polo in Super Noypi?" we asked John. "I enjoy every minute of it. There's really so much good about Kapuso (GMA-7) and Kapamilya (ABS-CBN) talents working together in one movie. Actually, we from ABS are outnumbered in this project, but it all turned out very well. We all bonded very well with one another. We even share in the food that all of us bring to the set."

Will he and Sandy be allowed to promote on GMA-7 shows? "I don't know yet. Mark and I are talking about it. It will be good if he'd guest in ASAP‚ and I'd guest in SOP because we both dance. But Mother Lily has a plan to make a dance movie starring the two of us, because here in Super Noypi we don't have dance parts."

"I'm a superhero here who is like the Night Crawler. I'm a good 'aswang' (friendly spirit) with superpowers akin to super human strength, enabling me to make mighty jumps and survive against all odds."

CITY TIMES IN DUBAI

SUPER NOYPI WEBSITE

Quark Henares' big budget superhero movie poster, trailer and music has just been released. Let's see how our boy does with a lot of money and Mother Lily (our most famous Filipino film producer) breathing down his neck.
All the stuff are located at supernoypi.com.


Well it’s seems that the hot topic on noypi.com.ph this past week has been Angelica Panganiban. Angelica Panganiban was a popular Filipina Child Actress. She has aged and now taken on a more mature image.
First came out images of the upcoming 2007 poster from a liquor company. It showed her on some nice eye-catching bikinis. Some behind-the-scene snapshots were also soon released. It was initially available on the tipidpc.com forums. When the issue came out on National television, the forum from TipidPC disappeared. Other websites, however, soon came out with the same pictures.
Manny Pacquaio and Poocquaio were also topics last week. There were some buzz on Manny being on the top second spot of the world’s best pound for pound fighters. Poocquaio, a comedian impersonating Pacquaio, was also featured.

SUPER NOYPI

My Slide

IMELDA BRIEFLY REUNITED WITH HER SHOES

Imelda Marcos touched her lacy gold-and-black pumps for the first time in 15 years Friday, reminiscing as she inaugurated a museum paying tribute to the legendary collection she had to so hastily ditch.

The Shoe Museum, a monument to Mrs. Marcos' reputation as the world's most insatiable shoe collector, opened Friday -- displaying 220 of the 1,220 pairs officials found when a popular revolt forced her and the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos to flee into exile in 1986.

``They went into my closets looking for skeletons, but thank God all they found were shoes, beautiful shoes,'' said the former first lady, 71.

Museum officials hope the display will draw tourists to Marikina, the Manila-area city known as the nation's shoemaking capital. Up to 40 percent of the city's 550,000 residents make shoes. The walls of the small, two-story building show shiny high heels, strappy pumps, soft leather moccasin-style shoes and other size 8 1/2 footwear from Christian Dior, Givenchy, Chanel and Ferragamo.

A few dozen pairs from former President Fidel Ramos and other celebrities are also displayed, alongside other exhibits outlining Marakina's century-old shoemaking industry.

Sandal Street, Slipper Street and other roads attest to the industry's importance. A pedestrian bridge in the city is covered with two giant steel shoes. A shoe statue stands before City Hall.

But officials admit the museum owes its existence to the reputation of Mrs. Marcos, the city's best-known customer and an enthusiastic supporter of the project. Received warmly on Friday, she said the museum on Shoe Street will mark a turning point in her reputation for extravagance.

``This museum (is) making a subject of notoriety into an object of beauty,'' said Mrs. Marcos, wearing a traditional pink dress, large emerald-green earrings and locally made silver shoes. ``More than anything, this museum will symbolize the spirit and culture of the Filipino people. Filipinos don't wallow in what is miserable and ugly. They recycle the bad into things of beauty.''

At the height of Ferdinand Marcos' power, the first lady gained notoriety for shopping trips to the world's swankiest boutiques, glitzy parties and lavish beautification projects in the midst of the Philippines' extreme poverty. Her shoes astounded the world and became a symbol of excess. Aquino had Mrs. Marcos' shoes displayed in the presidential palace as a symbol of the former first lady's extravagance. They were removed in 1992, and part of the collection was put on display Friday.

``These are my favorite shoes,''

Mrs. Marcos said with mild surprise as a museum official handed her a pair of blue sandals from behind a glass showcase. She then told of entertaining official guests as she held a lacy black and gold pump. But she paused, obviously stumped, when handed a pair of pink leather shoes.

``I really can't keep track anymore,'' she said.

Mabuhay Si Lolo

THIS IS A GOOD ONE AND I AM SURE YOU’LL LOVE IT

A 70 Years old “Lolo” from province was accompanied by his grandson to the US Embassy in Manila for his VISA interview. The Lolo spoke not a word of English so the grandson translated for him.

The consul told the young man to ask his grandfather why he wanted to go to the States. “
“Bakit daw ho ninyo gusting pumunta sa Amerika?” the grandson translated. “Sabihin mo gusto kong Makita yung mga anak ko doon.” “He said he wants to see his children there.” Fair enough, that’s what the Lolo’s application indicated.

The consul had another question. “Ask him, why does have to go there? Why can’t his children just come and visit him here “The grandson translated this in Tagalog.Lolo replied:Sabihin mo kasi dito pinanganak yung mga anak ko.Nakita na nila ang Pilipinas.Gusto ko naming Makita ang Amerika bago ako mamatay.”Tell him, my children were born here.They seen the Philippines already.I just want to see America before I die.”

The heartless consul was unimpressed as he declared, devoid of any emotion, that he was rejecting the visa application because the applicant was unable to speak a word of English. “Reject daw yung visa ninyo kasi hindi daw kayo marunong mag-ingles.” “The Lolo was equally unimpressed.

“Sabihin mo ito sa kanya at huwag mong papalitan ang sasabihin ko. Putang ina niya, bakit siya nandidito eh hindi na man siya marunong mag-tagalog.” Translated:” He said: You son of a bicth, how come you are here. ..you do not know how to speak in Tgalog.”
Taken aback, sense of humor still intact, the consul relented and approved Lolo’s visa application pronto!!!

IT PAYS TO HAVE A FIGHT, RIGHT? GO LOLO!!!

Rizal's ''rags-to-riches''

Rizal's ''rags-to-riches''
ancestor from South China

QUANZHOU CITY, China--In the annals of the world's top ethnic
Chinese entrepreneurs, immigrant tycoon Don Domingo Lamco
(Chinese name: ''Cue Yi-Lam,'' also pronounced ''Ke Yi-Nan'' in
Mandarin) of Laguna province, the Philippines will eventually
rank high in importance due to the greatness of his direct male
heir and Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal.

Five Rizal descendants recently made a historic homecoming to
the hero's ancestral village of Siongque (pronounced ''Zhang
Guo'' in Mandarin) in Losan district, Jinjiang City, Fujian
province, south China last April 2, just three days before the
ancient Ching Ming Festival when Chinese people traditionally
pay homage to their ancestors. Agence France Presse (AFP)
said 10,000 people gave a grand welcome in Siongque. Many
Filipino businessmen now propose the construction of a
1.2-hectare Rizal park and museum in Fujian as ''symbols of the
enduring friendly relations between the Philippines and China.''

In May 1998, this writer had lunch at the home of Rizal's
grandniece Asuncion Lopez-Rizal Bantug and I told her it was
possible to trace the hero's Chinese roots. In February this year,
this writer and businessman Manuel O. Chua successfully
verified the roots of Rizal based on south China genealogical
records and a 1913 book donated by the late Justice Roman
Ozaeta (father of former PCIBank president Antonio Ozaeta) to
Manila's National Library. Authored by American historian Prof.
Austin Craig, the book ''Lineage, Life and Labors of Jose Rizal,
Philippine Patriot'' gave the first Philippine verification of Rizal's
Chinese roots in the chapter on ''Rizal's Chinese Ancestry.''

Domingo Lamco had specified Siongque in Manila church
records as his home village near Chinchew or ''City of Spring.''
''Siongque Village of Fujian province indeed exists near the
historic city of Quanzhou, which is pronounced ''Chuanchow,''
meaning ''City of Spring.'' The rural areas of Jinjiang (now a city),
Lamoa, Hui-Wa, Chio-Sai, An-Khue and others under Quanzhou
are the ancestral places of 80 percent of the country's top
Filipino entrepreneurs of Chinese descent.

Rizal's eminent ancestors

Siongque was the rural ''barrio'' where entrepreneur Domingo
Lamco was born and educated in. He was the 19th generation of
the first Cua who settled in Siongque. The Cua clan of south
China and Asia trace their origins 3,000 years ago to patriarch
Chua Siok-To in the Yellow River basin of central China, in that
area now called Henan province. Duke Chua Siok-To was the
fifth son of the political genius who founded the Chou Dynasty
and his eldest brother later became the king. This era was before
the rise of a unified China under first Emperor Chin Shih
Huang-Ti. Descendants of Chua (also pronounced ''Tsai'' in
Mandarin or ''Choy'' in Cantonese) include some of the world's
richest billionaires according to Forbes magazine--Taiwanese
Tsai Wan-Lin of Cathay Life Group and Indonesian 'Tobacco
King' Rachman Halim (Chua To-Hing) of Gudang Garam Group.
Another clan member was the late Philippine 'Sugar King' and
philanthropist Antonio Roxas-Chua. Another heir of patriarch
Chua Siok-To started the clan of Cua (pronounced ''Ke'' in
Mandarin, also spelled as ''Qua'' or ''Koa,'' of which Domingo
Lamco and Dr. Jose Rizal were direct male descendants).

Lamco was founder of the entrepreneurial Mercado clan in
Laguna and the great-great-grandfather of Dr. Jose Rizal. From
March 31 to April 7, this writer accompanied and acted as
interpreter in south China to the five Rizal heirs--businessman
Antonio ''Noni'' Lopez-Rizal Bantug Jr., Leandro Bantug Jr.
(whose father Dinky owns a top furniture firm and the MBA
basketball team Manila Metrostars), Raul Jose Rizal Tan,
Ricardo Consunji III and Ditas O. Consunji. Noni's 78-year-old
mother Asuncion is the granddaughter of Rizal's elder sister
Narcisa and author of two important Rizal biographies.

Village of Lamco and Copra King

The five Rizal heirs were accompanied by 200 Cua-Chua clan
members from the Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong,
Malaysia, Taiwan and China in the sentimental journey to the
village of Domingo Lamco. The entire 5,000 population of
Siongque Village and thousands others from nearby villages
lined all streets for the grand welcome. There were nonstop
firecracker blasts, the local school was closed, red banners filled
the walls saying ''Welcome Home, heirs of Domingo Lamco and
Jose Rizal from the Philippines,'' a thousand small children in red
waved flower bouquets and ancient rites were held in them two
village temples. It was a welcome befitting an emperor.

Noni Bantug delivered a speech hoping that the memory of
Rizal's Chinese heritage will strengthen Philippine-China
relations. Stanford-educated Ricardo ''Bombit'' Consunji III
(Chinese name: Cua Yeng-Liong), with Philbank director Francis
Chua's help in drafting his speech, impressed the audience by
speaking about his ''lolo'' Jose Rizal in fluent Mandarin. Rizal
himself was fluent in the Chinese language and researched
Chinese historical data referring to pre-colonial Philippines to
debunk Spanish claims that the country had no early culture.

Bicolano trader Melanio Cua Fernando said: ''Our village had
never seen such a grand celebration, not since 1948 when
Bicolano tycoon Qua Chee Gan, another son of this village,
returned to Siongque to donate the local school.'' In the. pre-war
era years to the pre-martial law 1970s, immigrant Qua Chee Gan
was the ''rags-to-riches'' trader who became Philippine ''Copra
King.'' Based in Tabaco, Albay, Qua vigorously pushed
Philippine copra exports and was also a leading philanthropist.
Qua was so respected for his ''shinyung'' or ''trustworthiness''
that company drafts with his signatures were then considered
more valuable than cash by traders in the Bicol region and
Quezon province. One of his agency managers based in Daet,
Camarines Norte was the late Fernando S. Vinzons Sr., the future
top Bicolano businessman and father of former BIR
Commissioner Liwayway Vinzons Chato.

From merchant, mayors to martyr

Domingo Lamco was a fearless entrepreneur who not only
ensured the survival of his descendants, but also their
socio-political leadership as highly educated ilustrados. Lamco
achieved business success despite cruel odds, since the
Spaniards persecuted the Chinese and Chinese mestizos,
required them to pay unfair higher taxes and even at times
massacred them.

Persecutions toughened the Chinese traders, forcing them to
become resilient and resourceful. Baptized in the Catholic
church of Manila's Parian Chinese ghetto in June 1697 at age of
35, Domingo Lamco later moved to Bi?an, Laguna, prospered
and became a Chinese community leader. To free his heirs from
the Spanish regime's anti-Chinese racist policies, Lamco gave
his clan the new surname ''Mercado'' (meaning ''market'' in
Spanish) so that his heirs will not to forget their Chinese
merchant roots.

Rizal's ancestors were survivors of the Spanish colonial regime's
racism and despotism. Domingo Lamco wed Inez de la Roza,
daughter of the successful immigrant trader from Chuanchow
named Agustin Chinco. Lamco's son Francisco Mercado and
grandson Juan Mercado married Chinese mestizas and both
served as distinguished mayors of Bi?an for a total of five terms.

Juan's wife Cirila Alejandra was the daughter of an immigrant
trader and Domingo Lamco's baptismal godson Siong-co. By the
time of Rizal's father, their branch of the wealthy clan moved to
Calamba, built the first stone house in the whole town, owned
the first piano, the first carriage, owned a flour mill, a dye
factory, increased landholdings and sent their children to the
best schools. Jose Rizal Mercado again had to change the
family surname before entering Manila's Ateneo, to avoid
Spanish persecution since his elder brother Paciano Mercado
was close to the martyred Filipino priest, Jose Burgos. Rizal
himself died a martyr in 1896 at age 35, becoming a hero whose
powerful ideas and moral courage helped liberate the Filipino
nation from Spanish oppression.

It is fitting that much of Asia now honor the immigrant trader
Don Domingo Lamco of Laguna. His ''rags-to-riches'' career may
not yet be as well-known as those of immigrant billionaires Li
Ka-Shing of Hong Kong, Liem Sioe-Liong (Sudono Salim) of
Indonesia, prewar ''Rubber King'' Tan Kah-Kee of Singapore,
John Gokongwei Jr., Tan Yu or Henry Sy of the Philippines or
even that of 19th century empire-builder Jose Cojuangco I of
Tarlac, but Don Domingo Lamco's legacy of courage and
excellence embodied by heir Dr. Jose Rizal had immeasurably
enriched Philippine national life.

Parada ng Lechon

In the Philippines, it is not unusual for lechon or whole roast pig to grace any Filipino fiesta table. Parada ng Lechon is a parade of golden-red and crispy roasted pigs. The delicious aroma of this sumptuous dish led the locals of Balayan and Batangas to commemorate the feast of St. John, their patron saint on 24 June with the presence of the delectable, crispy lechon.

It is on the night before the festival that an anniversary ball is held at the town plaza to choose and crown the lechon queen. On the event day itself, a mass is held at the Immaculate Conception Church. After the mass, at least, 50 lechons are gathered in anticipation of the celebration. The parade proceeds after the holding of blessing of the pigs and people in St. Johns' name. At this celebration, one can witness a hilarious sight when the roast pigs are dressed according to the theme of the participating social organizations. Some of the lechon are dressed in wigs, sunglasses, raincoats, or whatever the decorators want

In an event of sheer madness such as this, one can expect mischief just around the corner. During the celebration, pranksters toss water or beer over the lechons, drenching not only the lechons, but the bearers and onlookers as well. Some will even attempt to have a free sample of the roast pig's prized crispy skin. To prevent this from happening, some participants cover their lechons with barbed wire.

After the fiesta, the lechons are then brought back to their respective club headquarters or home for yet another celebration of drinking and feasting. As for those who believe in the spirit of sharing, they will gracefully give away their prized lechons to the crowd of audience.

PINOY AKO

PINOY AKO

Philippines if FILIPINO

Anyone whose family historically is from the Philippines or lives in the Philippines is Filipino be it they negritos, full malays, Euro/Arab-Malay mestizos, Chinese Filipinos, and etc. The name Filipino was actually given to the full-blooded white Spanish criollos or colonists living in the Philippines not to the east indies malays. The malays were called either “Indios” by the Spanish Friars or “Manilamen” (for the Malay men that served as sailors on Spanish Galleon ships, mercenaries in China's wars and Mexico’s early independence, or in Louisiana in the 19th century in the America’s War of 1812 and Civil War as American soldiers and sailors). It was during the Philippine Revolution that the Philippine’s KKK group took the name “Filipino” to ecompass all the Filipinos fighting for independence. Philippines is a diverse country like their neighborsDemographics of the Philippines