Supermodel Tyra Banks is back for the newest season of America’s Next Top Model. It’s Cycle 18 this time. This reality show is one of the most successful reality shows in the US. What makes this cycle different from the previous ones is that it is a competition between models from Great Britain and America. They call this cycle “The British Invasion”. Tyra herself chose 7 British and & 7 American girls and put them together in one house. So yes, it’s Brits versus Yanks this time. Each race will prove that theirs is the best.

There’s also another catch, the Brits were former contestants of the British Next Top Model seasons while the Americans have no experience whatsoever with modeling. That makes the Brits way ahead of the Americans since they are not amateurs anymore. And oh, I just love their English accent. It makes me think of Harry Potter all the time.

Personally, I am rooting for the Brits, particularly Ashley. I first saw her when she joined British Next Top Model, and I am more excited now that she made it to ANTM. She has a memorable face with eyes that always smiles, distinctive freckles and a great, rocking body. She has that kind of look that’s made for couture and high fashion that will click in the International Market. What I am so excited about is the fact that our very own Filipino designer Francis Libiran will be dressing the girls in one of its photoshoots also which will be aired tonight.

This cycle is totally a kick ass entertainment like we haven’t seen before. I am sure of that!

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Everyone is so hooked with teleseryes nowadays. It’s so well-loved that it’s already been a part of our everyday lives. The hottest teleserye in Pinoy TV now is called “Walang Hanggan”. It’s a story of love, coupled with deception and dark secrets buried long ago.

The cast is made up of showbiz royalties like Susan Roces and Helen Gamboa. Susan here plays the role of a responsible elder sister to Helen, who is a tyrannical and controlling Donya. Big names like Dawn Zulueta, Richard Gomez and Rita Avila are also in the said teleserye. Dawn and Richard used to be lovers, but due to Helen’s (Richard’s mom) manipulation, the two separated, which made the way clear for Rita to pursue Richard.

The second generation young lovers here are Coco Martin (Richard and Dawn’s son whom they thought was dead) and Julia Montez which forms a love triangle with Paulo Avelino (Rita and Richard’s son). All their lives become once again intertwined because of revenge: Dawn and Coco’s revenge against the Montenegro Family for ruining their lives. Here they will discover secrets so deep. But amidst all the hatred, one can still see that love prevails. The antagonists and protagonists are so effective with their roles. Also, the story has twists and turns which keep you wanting for more.

“Walang Hanggan”, along with other teleseryes on TV is so successful because its story is not at all cliché and Filipinos of all ages can connect with it. For my family, it’s our bonding time. We hook ourselves in front of the TV, we follow each scene, and we cry, we laugh, we feel giddy and we swoon along with the characters. So for me, it’s not just entertainment; it’s a way of life. I’m just so excited to see what’s going to happen next…

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You have found a show or story that you love and you want to write a piece of fan fiction to expand the universe in a way that you think will be interesting and entertaining for those that may read it. But, where do you get inspiration for something to write?

Study the source material as much as you possibly can. If you can, buy the entire series and read it or watch it over and over. Not only will you be giving yourself a sense of the narrative style of your favorite authors and writers, but you’ll also be supporting them.

If the source material is a TV show then you may want to look into services that offer free tv online so you can have access to your inspiration anywhere that you can get an internet connection. This is a lot better than carting around the entire DVD series of Doctor Who. You can travel light and still be able to do our research to make sure that your story does not directly contradict with continuity. You want your story to be real and to get as few people complaining about the improbability of the story as possible.

Watching free tv online and reading books that are in a similar genre to your source material are great ways to draw inspiration for your new story. You do not want to copy any of the ideas of other writers, but the more you read and watch the more you are going to find yourself coming up with new ideas and expanding your imagination.

The only problem is that free tv online services may not offer the greatest range of shows or episodes. Some of these a free tv online services only offer a certain number of episodes or just the most recent episodes and they remove the ones that are outdated. You will want to look into a paid service that offers your source material on demand if this is the case.

Globe Telecom recently unveiled its newest endorser, actor and model Xian Lim, joining the elite roster of the telco giant’s endorsers composed of Sarah Geronimo, Gerald Anderson, and Vice Ganda. Xian is the face behind Globe Super Facebook 10, the newest offer from Globe Mobile Internet which gives Globe prepaid users an entire day of unlimited access to Facebook on their mobile phones for only P10. With Xian are (from left) Chester Subagan, Sr. Specialist for Education, Globe Mobile Data Services and Angie Po, Head for Prepaid Usage, Globe Mobile Data Services.

Summer in Davao will heat up as Kapatid stars paint the town red to celebrate Araw ng Dabaw with TV5’s exciting ‘Sugod Mga Kapatid’ activities.

On Friday, March 16, TV5 starts the day right with the live airing of Good Morning Club straight from Davao, with hosts Amy Perez, Chiqui Roa-Puno and Tintin Bersola-Babao sharing highlights on the Parada Dabawenyo as well as special Araw ng Dabaw updates.

Starting at 2:00 p.m., Dabawenyos can head off to the Rizal Park to and catch the special TV marathon of TV5 dramaseryes. Recent episodes of the David Archuleta-starrer ‘Nandito Ako’ and TV5’s afternoon soaps ‘Felina’ and ‘Isang Dakot na Luha’ will be shown.

The highlight of the Kapatid Araw ng Dabaw celebration is a special show top-billed by TV5 stars Lorna Tolentino, Zoren Legazpi, Alex Gonzaga, Arnel Ignacio, Shalala and Davao’s own Talentadong Pinoy grand finalist Beatbox Gor. To be held at the Rizal Park starting at 4:00 p.m., ‘Sugod Mga Kapatid sa Araw ng Dabaw’ offers exciting games and even more exciting prizes right before the special performance prepared by the Kapatid stars.

The grandest and biggest adventure race in the world will also hit Davao City as The Amazing Race Philippines hold auditions on March 17 and 18. Details of the auditions will be announced at the ‘Sugod Mga Kapatid sa Araw ng Dabaw’ show on March 16. For more information on audition requirements, visit www.theamazingrace.ph.

Sugod Mga Kapatid is a regional campaign that promotes TV5’s programs and artists in key cities nationwide, engaging more Filipinos and giving them a taste of what the Happy Network is all about. This is aligned with TV5’s regional expansion as the network rolls out its transmitters and strengthens its signals all across the country.

Photos courtesy of Charles Ortiz and Caryl Jan Garcia Sosa

Award-winning actor newly-minted “Hari ng Teleserye” Coco Martin is now part of the “Republika ng TM” as the brand’s newest face, joining the ranks of stars like Cesar Montano, Dingdong Dantes, , Angelica Panganiban and Parokya ni Edgar, all of whom are prominent TM endorsers.

Coco said he is thrilled to be part of the Globe and TM family, adding that he is already a big fan of the brand’s wide variety of unli offers, combo services, mobile web surfing and host of rewards. TM Division Head Issa Cabreira said that Coco, with his tenacity, street smarts and determination to succeed, is the perfect new face for a brand that aims to serve the new generation of “madiskarteng astig” youth who makes the best use of what they have to always get through his everyday challenges and enjoy everyday wins.

Photo shows Coco proudly sitting shoulder to shoulder with (from left) TM Division Head Issa Cabreira; Coco’s talent manager Biboy Arboleda and Globe Communication Channels Head Bunny Aguilar during the recent contract signing held in Ortigas, Pasig City.

Its the third time I’ve watched Episode 11 of American Idol Season 11 today and I just can’t get enough of the perfomance of the contestants on their renditions of the songs in the 50′s and 60′s. Really Awesome! It feels so good listening to those old songs.

What made me more love the episode is the fact that one of the contestants who did an AMAZING PERFORMANCE is Jessica Sanchez, a Filipino-Mexican. (I just learned it today, I really searched for her name) Wohoooooooo! Another Pinoy! I’m just so proud of her. I hope she will make it on Top 24, Top 12 and hopefully the next AMERICAN IDOL!

If you haven’t watched her performance, see video below.

Check-out this video below also. This was when she competed on America’s Got Talent in 2006. She was only 11 years old that time. Her rendition of Celine Dion‘s “I Surrender” was praised by the judges. Really talented!

Jessica Sanchez’ “Forget You” Cover

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Games since our childhood days have been part of our leisure time and these helped us grow physically, mentally and socially but as we grew up, it seems to be difficult for us to find time and go outside for games or be with people to play cards with. But still, from time to time, we need to take some short rest and amuse ourselves amidst the pressure and stress our work gives us.

Playing cards is something that anyone can experience fun and excitement at the same time can be a good lee-way from a very busy and pressed schedule at work it is but time to try Video Poker. This is a computerized online game which is commonly played using five cards and because of the internet’s innovation, you will be playing against the machine or the computer itself. The game is so much similar with playing in slot machines.

As a player, your aim is to get hold of the winning combinations and this can only be done easily if you have known some Video Poker Tips. Winning in such games though you are just sitting in your own office space, would be a great stress reliever and it brings a different feeling of amusement despite the fact that you are facing great ordeals.

It is also good to take a short break from work so that when you get back to the things you are doing, you will have that fresher outlook and renewed mind.

Anne Curtis has evolved through the years from a teenage icon turned host, then became a recording artist and just recently, she became blockbuster actress for “No Other Woman” and now, she steps up to become a concert artist as she stages her first major concert on January 28, 2012 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The concert title is inspired by her recent movie hit and is called: “Annebisyosa No Other Concert World Tour.” Her album turned platinum in a span of less than three months after release. The “Showtime” host was overwhelmed by the support given by the “madlang pipol” – as they fondly called the audience of this Kapamilya noontime show.

Anne developed her confidence to sing on stage because of the daily sample segments held in “Showtime.” It was her dream to have an album and also to have a concert, and it seems that all things are slowly unfolding.

She said in a recent press release that people must expect the best with regards to the production. She then reveals that she has her brains on with the concept of all the production numbers and the designs for her costumes.

“Basta ginagamitan ko na talaga ng bongga yung imagination ko dito just to give the best kasi kung ano nga yung kakulangan ng boses ko, ibibigay ko na lang sa lahat ng production number at outfits ko. Kaya abangan nyo yan!” This was Anne’s statement as she admits the limitations on her voice but she promises to make it up with her vivacious numbers and her grandiose costume changes.

The people who would be behind her concert will be Rico Gutierrez as the Director with Marvin Querido as musical director; and is produced by Viva Concerts as Anne is under the management of Viva.

Georcelle Dapat, the ASAP Rocks choreographer will also work for her concert. Georcelle said in that TV Patrol interview that she knew this time would come that Anne would soon be given the chance to do her solo concert in Araneta. She also said that Anne is no longer just a goddess on TV but she is now also a concert goddess.

Anne Curtis will be joined on stage by “Showtime” co-host and real life close friend, Vice Ganda with ASAP colleague and Popstar princess, Sarah Geronimo. Anne assures the concert goers that the show will cause them to smile and be entertained through the best she can do. She then adds: “ngayon ay handa na raw siyang lumipad, tumiwarik, magsayaw, at siyempre kumanta.”

But with all these success that she has now gained, she still looks back to the “madlang pipol” who made her step up to the best she can be.

Former ABS-CBN talent, RJ Rosales died at the age of 37 in Sydney, Australia last Sunday, December 4, 2011. Born in the Philippines to a Filipino and Australian parents, Roseo Jose Rosales (aka RJ Rosales) was successful in his career here in the Philippines, Australia and in Singapore. His family migrated to Sydney when he was thirteen.

He was part of the Australian production of Miss Saigon in 1996 and from there; he then made a decision to go for higher grounds in Singapore, where he gained success as he pursued his theater career and added to it, was a new venture as a television personality. “Chang and Eng,” “The Student Prince,” “Man of Letter” and “Cabaret” are just a few of the musicals he did in Singapore.

But before coming to the Philippines to enter the show business, he graduated from the University of Western Sydney with a degree in BS Mathematics and later, worked as a banker.

It can be remembered that he once made the Filipino TV screens and radio stations enamored by his unique and smooth voice. He did some duets with Carol Banawa and for several years, he was seen performing in ASAP, the Kapamilya Network’s Sunday Variety Show. He also did some acting stints in some TV shows such as defunct “Attagirl” and “Sa Puso Ko Iingatan Ka.” He also did some movies and one of which was “Blue Moon” in 2006 which earned him a Best Supporting Actor Nomination.

It was in 2007 when he came back to Australia for the remake of the Australian production of Miss Saigon taking the role of Thuy. With that, he got to be nominated as Best Supporting Actor in a Musical.

RJ was a Star Magic talent so the talent management entity then issued a statement regarding his untimely and young death which states: “We sympathize with RJ’s family on his untimely demise. We ask everyone to pray for his eternal repose.”

As with the exact details of his death and the immediate cause, the family asked the public the public to understand that they too, have the right to keep it only for themselves.