2015 SEABA CHAMPIONSHIP : SCHEDULE OF PILIPINAS - GILAS CADETS

The Gilas Cadets team will be representing the Philippines in the 2015 Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) Championship from April 27 to May 1, 2015 in Singapore. The top 3 teams will qualify for the 2015 FIBA Asia Championships to be held in China later this year.

The Gilas Cadets, formerly known as Sinag Pilipinas, will be composed of the following players:

Marcus Douthit
Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. 
Kiefer Ravena (Ateneo)
Earl Scottie Thompson (Perpetual)
Glenn Khobuntin (NU)
Jeth Troy Rosario (NU)
Almond Vosotros (La Salle)
Norbert Torres (La Salle)
Rey Mark Belo (FEU)
Russel Escoto (FEU)
Jiovani Jalalon (Arellano)
Kevin Ferrer (UST)

Coach Tab Baldwin will be leading the team,

The team is scheduled to play the following games:

• April 27 6pm - vs Indonesia - Live Stats
• April 28 4pm - vs Laos - Live Stats
• April 29 6pm - vs Malaysia - Live Stats
• April 30 6pm - vs Brunei - Live Stats
• May 1 8pm - vs Singapore - Live Stats

PHILIPPINES WINS BIG IN THE ICU WORLD CHEERLEADING CHAMPIONSHIP 2015

Team Philippines made its presence felt in the 2015 World Cheerleading Championship in the Disneyworld Resort in Orlando, Florida. All the 3 teams that the Philippines sent garnered a podium finish this year.

The big winner is the all girls team of NU in the All Girl Elite category where the Philippines got 2nd place out of 13 countries. The NU Pep Squad represented the Philippines in the Coed Elite Category and the Sayawatha Dance Troupe of Miriam College represented the Philippines in Team Cheer Hiphop Category both took home bronze medals.

Here are the performances of Team Philippines in the said event organized by the International Cheer Union:

All videos are from the official YouTube channel of ICU

ASIA'S GOT TALENT : GWYNETH DORADO AND JUNIOR NEW SYSTEM ADVANCES TO THE FINALS

Filipino talent is not left unnoticed in the regional franchise of the Got Talent show, Asia's Got Talent.

In the first semi-finals week, Philippines was represented by the acrobatic dance act Velasco Brothers and young singer Gwyneth Dorado (watch their performance here ). After the results, Gwyneth Dorado was one of the 2 acts with the most number of votes and becomes the first Filipino act to get a spot to the grand finals.

In the second semi-finals night, another 2 Filipino acts performed. David Foster's golden buzzer act, singer Gerphil Flores and dance group Junior New System got the chance to carry the Philippine flag on the show's stage. Here are their performances:

Gerphil Flores

Junior New System

At the end of the show, the judges choose Junior New System as their Golden Buzzer worthy act for the night and they advances straight to the finals! The Philippines now have 2 acts in the finals.

We can help Gerphil Flores advance to the grand finals as well. You can text AGT10 to 2929 for Smart and Globe subscribers. The 2 acts with the most votes will be known next week and will advance to the grand finals.

The last set of semi-finalists will perform on April 30, and this group includes another Filipino golden buzzer act, El Gamma Penumbra.

Videos are from the official YouTube channel of Asia's Got Talent

BATANG GILAS SWEEPS 2015 SEABA U-16 CHAMPIONSHIP

The Philippine Under 16 men's basketball team, dubbed as the Batang Gilas, sweeps the 2015 Southeast Asian Basketball Association Under-16 Championship held at the Xavier University Gymnasium at Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental.

This is the host country's 3rd championship title in as many tournaments. With the title, they already qualified for the 2015 FIBA Asia U-16 Championship to be held in India on July 2 - 12, 2015. Also qualified to this tournament are Malaysia and Indonesia, who placed 2nd and 3rd in the SEABA tournament, respectively.

Batang Gilas won all their games and won by an average margin of 56 points. They won their first game against Malaysia (106 - 69), next was against Thailand (105 - 48), then trashed first timer Brunei (112 - 31) and swept it by a win over Indonesia (106 - 50)

The team is composed of San Josef Belangel, Jed Colonia, Gian Mamuyac, Rhayyan Amsali, Romulo Berjay, Ralph Escalona, Gillian Flores, Will Gozum, Shaun Ildefonso, Juan Gomez de Liano, Kris Harvey Pagsanjan and Reginald Mallilin. The team is coached by Michael Oliver.

The team is aiming to qualify to the 2016 FIBA Under-17 World Championship and duplicate the feat of our U-16 team in 2013.

Photo is from Rey Joble - Interaksyon website

ASIA'S GOT TALENT : GWYNETH DORADO AND VELASCO BROTHERS PERFORM IN THE FIRST SEMIFINALS NIGHT

Team Philippines was represented by 2 acts on the first semifinals night of the talent show Asia's Got Talent. Child singer Gwyneth Dorado and acrobat / dancer Velasco Brothers made the country proud with their respective performances.

Here are their semi-finals performances :

Both acts got mixed review. For Gwen, Van Ness and Mel C. really liked the performance but David Foster tld her she sang out of tune. For the Velasco Brothers, Van Ness and Mel C. gave them a standing ovation but Anggun was not sure if it was a level up from the audition.

Both acts needs your votes, to vote text :

AGT2 for Gwyneth Dorado

AGT5 for Velasco Brothers

Send to 2929 fro Globe and Smart subscribers. You can also vote through the Asia's Got Talent website and through the Asia's Got Talent mobile app.

The 2 acts with the highest votes will advance to the finals. Next week, 2 other Filipino acts will perform in the semifinals. They are classical singer Gerphil Flores (who received the golden buzzer from David Foster) and the dance group Junior New System, the first act that got through to the auditions.

Videos are from the Official YouTube Channel of Asia's Got Talent

NEW PROMO FOR THE PACQUIAO - MAYWEATHER MEGA FIGHT

Here is the new video promo for the much awaited Pacquiao - Mayweather fight which is scheduled on May 2, 2015 (May 3 in the Philippines):

Video is from HBOBoxing YouTube Channel

PBA HONORS ITS TOP 40 GREATEST PLAYERS

The Philippine Basketball Association honored its Top 40 Greatest Players during their anniversary event in the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila. They inducted 15 more players to the elite group since they already enshrined 25 players during their silver anniversary in 2000.

The new inductees include former MVP's Danny Ildefonso, Willie Miller and James Yap, Gilas captain Jimmy Alapag, Eric Menk, Asi Taulava, Kelly Williams, Arwind Santos, Jayjay Helterbrand, Mark Caguiao, Chito Loyzaga, Marc Pingris, Jayson Castro, Kerby Raymundo and Marlou Aquino.

Congratulations to more years to come for the PBA!

Image is from CNN Philippines article

FILIPINA BEAUTIES IN ASIA'S NEXT TOP MODEL SEASON 3

Aside from Georgina Wilson, who is the host, three more Filipina beauties will be seen in the new season of Asia's Next Top Model.

Out of the 14 girls, 3 lucky Filipinas were included in the final cast. Other contestants are from Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia and Hong Kong.

Here are the profiles of the 3 Filipinas from the show's official website:

AMANDA

Full Name: Amanda Bianca Chan
Nickname: None
Age: 17
Height: 176cm
Country: Philippines
Occupation: Student
Favourite Feature: Legs
Worst Feature: Feet
Favourite Model: Cara Delevingne
Favourite Designer: Steve Madden
Phobias: Heights

This season’s youngest contestant, Amanda has grown up following the Top Model franchise. A self-confessed klutz, she has long dreamed of gracefully walking down runways like her favourite celebrity models. Amanda first tried her hand at modelling a year ago when she caught the eye of model scouts.

Her inexperience means Amanda is a sponge just waiting to soak up all the knowledge she will gain through quiet observation of her fellow competitors. The other girls will have to keep an eye on Amanda and her innate ability to learn and adapt as she transforms throughout the competition.

FRANCHESCA

Full Name: Franchesca Denise Lagua
Nickname: Chesca
Age: 23
Height: 172cm
Country: Philippines
Occupation: Model
Favourite Feature: Teeth / legs
Worst Feature: Nose
Favourite Model: Kendall Jenner
Favourite Designer: Vera Wang
Phobias: Flying cockroaches

Long hair, good looks and legs for days – Franchesca seems to have it all. She’s been modelling in her native Philippines for the past five years and is ready to take the next step in her career. Her brilliant smile will leave you breathless but behind those pearly whites lies a driven woman who is ready to step out into the world of international modelling.

She has never been far from her loved ones and is rarely away from her model boyfriend. Franchesca’s biggest challenge will be finding her footing and learning to be truly independent. Fellow competitors should watch out for this girl who’s got all the right assets to win Top Model!

MONIKA

Full Name: Marlena Monika Sta Maria
Nickname: Monika / Mon
Age: 23
Height: 177cm
Country: Philippines
Occupation: Model
Favourite Feature: Freckles
Worst Feature: Kinky baby hair on my hairline
Favourite Model: Candice Swanepoel
Favourite Designer: Michael Cinco
Phobias: Flying cockroach

This stunning model is also a huge health nut. Monika played competitive volleyball before deciding to pursue modelling full-time after falling in love with the fashion industry. With her unflappable personality and amazing good looks, it’s not hard to see why she’s gained a strong following in her native Philippines.

Monika wants people to know that modelling isn’t just about being a pretty face – there’s a lot of skill and hours of hard work at the gym involved in making sure you’re runway-ready. Having tried out for Cycle 2, she decided to return and come back even more determined to be selected. Incredibly competitive, Monika will do everything in her power to clinch the top prize and become Asia’s Next Top Model.


I really hope that this is the season that a Filipina will win the title. After 2 season of runner up finishes (Stephanie in Cycle 1 and Katarina and Jodily in Cycle 2), It is high time that Asia sees how beautiful and good Filipina models are.

You can catch the show every Wednesdays, 8:45pm on Star World.

P.S. Monika is the current girlfriend of another reality show star, Charlie Sutcliffe of Juan Direction and Team Juan D of The Amazing Race Philippines Season 2.

All profiles and pictures are from the official website of Asia's Next Top Model

ASIA'S GOT TALENT : EL GAMMA PENUMBRA GETS THE GOLDEN BUZZER!

El Gamma Penumbra, the popular shadow play act, finally delivered the first golden buzzer performance for the Philippines in the talent show Asia's Got Talent.

The group from Batangas, who became popular after being a finalist of the first season of Pilipinas Got Talent.

It was Indonesian star Anggun who gave the Filipino group the golden buzzer after their heartwarming number about true love while showcasing a number of popular international landmarks.

The group will go straight to the semi-finals in Singapore. Here is the group's golden buzzer performance in the audition which aired last April 2:

Here are the other Filipino acts that advanced to the next round that was show in the fourth episode of the show:

FLEXIE BUDDIES

This contortionist act from Davao gave a breathtaking acrobatic act before the judges. If I am correct this group has already joined It's Showtime before.

NEIL RYAN GARCIA LLANES

Neil is a beatboxer from Davao. At a young age of 19, his beat boxing talent is undeniably great. Plus he has that great life story to tell. I am also impressed on how fluent he is in English. I think he also auditioned before in Pilipinas Got Talent but I don't think he was not able to go to the semi-finals. He was able to entertain all 4 judges and I am excited to see how he levels up in the next round.

With the 3 acts going through, the Philippines has the most artists advancing to the next round as of this episode with 10 acts.

In the montage of the performances that will be featured in the next episode, I think I saw Cris Castro, the magician who performs with quick changing masks and was a finalist in Pilipinas Got Talent season 4. I predict that David Foster will give him his golden buzzer.

Kudos to all the talented Filipinos! Hope we can all support them in the semi-finals!

All videos are from the Official YouTube Channel of Asia's Got Talent

ASIA'S GOT TALENT : FILIPINOS SURVIVE THE AUDITION ROUND (EPISODE 3)

It is now Asia's turn to wow the world!

The Got Talent franchise has launched Asia's Got Talent that airs in the AXN channel every Thursday night (around 8:30pm).

The show will feature talents from 14 Asian countries, namely China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Taiwan.

Here are the Filipino acts that was able to survive the auditions in the third episode that aired last March 26.

ANGELICO "ECHO" CLARIDAD

Echo is another veteran in joining talent show. He was able to reach the battle round of the first season of The Voice Kids Philippines in ABS-CBN. Unfortunately, he was eliminated by Coach Lea Salonga.

THE MISS TRES

The Miss Tres was a semi-finalist of the 4th season of Pilipinas Got Talent. They are a novelty act despite being a singing act (watch the video to see why). What can they do next so they can still convince Asia to keep them in the competition?

D INTENSITY BREAKERS

This dance group is another veteran of the Got Talent franchise. They were a finalist in the fourth season of Pilipinas Got Talent (together with The Miss Tres). They ended up at 5th place. They are noticeably fewer as compared to before and their performances in PGT was better as compared to their audition. Hope they level up in their next performances.

More Filipino acts in Asia's Got Talent in my next post!

Echo's video is from Asian Talent  YouTube Channel
Miss Tres and D Intensity Breaker videos are from the Official YouTube Channel of Asia's Got Talent

ASIA'S GOT TALENT : FILIPINOS SURVIVE THE AUDITION ROUND (EPISODE 2)

It is now Asia's turn to wow the world!

The Got Talent franchise has launched Asia's Got Talent that airs in the AXN channel every Thursday night (around 8:30pm).

The show will feature talents from 14 Asian countries, namely China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Taiwan.

Here are the Filipino acts that was able to survive the auditions in the second episode that aired last March 19.

FE AND ROADFILL

We all know Roadfill as a half of the YouTube sensation Muymuy Palaboy and is a mainstay of the longest running gag show in Philippine TV, Bubble Gang. Fe, on the other hand is a vegetable vendor and frustrated singer who ave up singing to be able to raise and provide for her family.

So what is their connection? Nothing!

Confused? Just watch their audition here:

FITRI CERADO

I know just a few things about this girl. She is 11 years old and has a YouTube Channel that showcases her great voice.

Here is her audition video:

More Filipino acts in my next posts.

Videos are from the Official YouTube Channel of Asia's Got Talent and YouTube channel of Marlou Jane Sinajon

ASIA'S GOT TALENT : FILIPINOS SURVIVE THE AUDITION ROUND (EPISODE 1)

The Got Talent franchise has successfully launched its newest franchise - the regional show Asia's Got Talent last March 12. The show is filmed in Singapore and is hosted by former Amazing Race Asia racers Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez. The judges are David Foster, Anggun, Vanness Wu and Spice Girl Melanie C.

I will be featuring the Filipino talents that gets through the audition. In this post, I will be featuring the Filipino acts in Episode 1 that aired on March 12.

JUNIOR NEW SYSTEM

The dance group Junior New System is the very first act that was featured in the show. The group of boys aged 15 to 22 years old has been a staple in various dance contest in the Philippines. They even joined It's Showtime but was not able to get the grand prize.

Here is there audition performance :

GWYNETH DORADO

Gwyneth Dorado is such an adorable kid! At 10 years old, she can play the guitar and sings very well. Who can say no to this cute and talented kid?

More great Pinoy talents in my next posts!

All videos are from the Official YouTube Channel of Asia's Got Talent