POP NEWS PHILIPPINES

In pursuit of her advocacy to restore ecological balance in the midst of worsening environmental threats due to climate change, Sen. Cynthia A. Villar pushed residents of Baseco in Tondo, Manila to turn their garbage into useful materials as their contribution to global efforts to preserve and protect the world’s natural resources. ''There is money in garbage. Let us work together in finding ways to recycle our waste materials, which will not only help in protecting our environment but at the same time will augment your incomes,'' Villar said as she turned over handmade paper machines to the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, which Baseco residents can use to make specialty handmade paper products. Handmade papers are sheets of paper or boards produced by hand. The raw materials used for making handmade paper are waste. Handmade papermaking machines produce specialty papers. One of the livelihood activities of residents of Gasangan Street in Baseco, Ton...

The Philippines captured its first pageant title this year after a Cebuana beauty queen was crowned Miss Eco International 2018 during a contest held in Egypt last Friday (Saturday morning Manila time). Cynthia Thomalla bested 51 other candidates in the international pageant that focuses on humanitarian, social and environmental issues. Thomalla, 22, is the last of four beauty queens who competed abroad under the Miss World Philippines franchise owned by Arnold Vegafria, business manager of Senator Manny Pacquiao. Other reigning beauty queens under Miss World Philippines who won titles were Teresita Marquez, Reina Hispamoamericana; and Sophia Senoron, Miss Multinational. Laura Lehman made it to the semis of Miss World pageant. Thomalla has been an early favorite to win the crown after she made it to the semis of various pre-pageant competitions such as Resorts Wear, Eco Dress, and Talent. Said to be look-alike of Hollywood star Anne Hathaway, Thomalla won the Reyna ng ...

Newly crowned Police Officer 1 Madonna Gay Cajoco has said that she might consider joining national pageants if she will get support from the police organization and her family. "If I will get the support of the Philippine National Police, then I will join other pageants. I have to take a leave from the police force if I will do it," said Cajoco moments after she was crowned at the 2nd annual Miss PNP Ganda Pulis beauty pageant held at the Camp Crame headquarters in Quezon City. Cajoco, 24, has been an early favorite in the pageant after she won several special awards such as Best in Ethnic Costume, Ms. Mac Cosmetics, Ms. MX3, Best in Resorts Wear, Best in Long Gown, at Ms. Above Aesthetics. The new queen also received P50,000 cash and products from this year's sponsors. She bested 25 other policewomen nationwide in the pageant that aims to promote the image of the PNP by showing its human and soft side. Assigned at the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 9 in ...

Obviously, there's no shrimp or vegetable tempura at the Okonomiyki Chibo Restaurant located at the 5th level of the Podium at Ortigas in Mandaluyong City. What they have is the delightful fusion of teppanyaki and okonomiyaki. For those of you who are not familiar with Japanese dishes, teppanyaki is a style of Japanese cuisine that uses iron griddle to cook food. Okonomiyaki simply refers to Japanese pancakes. In the Philippines, the first branch of Okonomiyaki Chibo opened at S Maison at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City in June 2016. Two years later, the second branch opened at the Podium. "At the S Maison branch, we have cooking tables there. Whereas here at the Podium, we only have the usual tables here because our customers here are fast-paced. They don't have the time to cook," a staff member of the restaurant said. The resto has introduced delicious executive premium set meals which every lover of Japanese food will surely apprec...

Help Philippine representative Renz Lansangan enter the semis of Mister International 2018 pageant through online fan voting. To vote, follow these three simple steps: 1. "Like" the Official Mister International Facebook Page. 2. "Like" your favorite contestant's photo in this album ONLY. 3. "Share" your favorite contestant's photo in this album with #MisterInternational. The contestant with the most number of votes that fulfills these criteria automatically advances into the semifinals. Voting ends on April 29, 11:59 p.m. The grand finals will be held at the National Theater of Yangoon in Myanmar on April 30. Lansangan, 20, will graduate with the Bachelor of Science and Business Administration Major in Business Management at the Holy Angel University in October. Despite his busy schedule as one of the reigning winners of Misters of Filipinas, Lansangan was able to finish his studies. He said that he made it sure that his ...

'Words cannot express what I’m feeling right now. But I thank the Lord our God for blessing me with a beautiful, loving, understanding wife! The stress before the magnificent wedding was real. But God gave us a more than perfect wedding. To all the friends and family that came and witnessed this special day, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. I love you so much Mrs. Crawford!' These were the words of actor-television host Billy Crawford after he got married to Coleen Garcia in a romantic beach wedding held at the exclusive Balesin Island Club Resort in Panlilio, Quezon on April 20. Wearing a bridal gown made by Israeli designer Galia Lahav, Coleen, 25, walked down the aisle with her parents Jose Garcia and Maripaz Magsaysay, Incidentally. Coleen's parents have been separated since she was nine years old. Billy, 35, in his suit by Edwin Tan, waited by the altar with his parents Jack Crawford and Mayette Ledesma. Celebrities spotted at the wedding were Vh...

Sixteen empowered married women who will vie for the inaugural Mrs. Worldwide Philippines 2018 contest were presented to the media during a presentation held in Makati City recently. The 16 official candidates are Ariane Barsana, Cristina Mesina, Hanna Minagawa Lausa, Kristin Margorie Dumag, Ma. Ervick Bermudez, Marianne Bitara, Mary Ann Felix, Myra Joy Navora, Mary Kimberly Cagape, Michelle V. Encarnacion, Princess Quilataon, Adrienne Martinez, Maureen Dizon, Robelyn Maddela, Jea-Ann Santiago, and Abigail Rabie. "Mrs. Worldwide Philippines is aiming to mold empowered married women to see themselves not only as a responsible housewife but more than that, they can be influences go their fellow married women by moving out of the box and going out beyond their capacities and capabilities," said Frederick B. Padrilan, national director. DARLING OF THE PRESS - Jea-Ann Santiago (center) was named Darling of the Press as chosen by the media who covered the Mrs Worldwide ...

Sen. Cynthia A. Villar has underscored the pressing need to end the prevalent problem of plastic pollution all over the country, as she highlighted the worsening threat of plastic waste leakages to the country’s wildlife and marine resources. Villar, who is the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, rallied for expanded national efforts to dramatically reduce, if not totally stop, plastic use as an initial solution to end plastic waste pollution throughout the country, especially in urban areas where plastic products are regularly used as packaging materials. ‘The use of plastic products over the years has taken its grim toll on our natural resources. Our marine waters are choking from plastic wastes that have been dumped into our waters. We are ranked third next to China and Indonesia in terms of estimated volume of mismanaged plastic wastes produced by the population that could potentially enter the seas and oceans,’ Villar lamented e...

Restaurateur Erwan Heussaff has been tapped to be the content creator of this year's "Buhay Carinderia....Redefined," a culinary event which aims to promote the best Filipino dishes. "I may not be a Filipino food expert yet, there are so many dishes that I still need to discover but I'm curious to keep learning and I am a staunch advocate of our culinary culture," said Heussaff, husband of Kapamilya star Anne Curtis-Smith and brother of actress Solenn Heussaff, during the launch of Buhay Carinderia...Redefined'' at the Rizal Park Hotel in Manila recently "For us, Erwan clearly represents the 'Buhay Carinderia....Redefned' advocacy: to focus and understand the history of local dishes; to popularize the use of natural and native ingredients; and to accentuate Filipino home-cooked flavors," said Linda Legaspi, of Marylindbert International, organizer of the event. Aside from being a restaurant and bar investor, Heussaff ha...