Manny Pacquiao cries for his lose

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HOLLYWOOD—Manny Pacquiao shed tears on Philippine television on Monday, saying he had let his country down.

But don’t count him out yet. A devastating knockout loss to his great Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez won’t make him quit boxing.

“I’m ready to fight in April,” Pacquiao told Manila-based sportswriters in a customized luxury bus that took them from Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas to Hollywood.

Pacquiao announced the date for his comeback fight to end all speculations about his boxing future following his sixth-round loss to Marquez in their fourth encounter on Saturday.

In Hollywood, the Pacquiaos were brought to their $2-million house near Hancock Park, where they were to spend the night. In  the garage were Pacquiao’s service car, a Mercedes Benz and his Ferrari 458 Italia, acquired just last year.

Interviewed on GMA network, Pacquiao indicated how deeply he felt the disappointment of his followers back home.

“The low morale, the sadness, I accept that. This is my job … But the reaction of the Filipinos, the many who cried, especially my family, it really hurts me,” he told the network.

The former eight-division world champion wiped tears from his eyes listening to his wife, Jinkee, make a tearful appeal on camera for her husband, who turns 34 next week, to hang up his gloves.

“When you see your husband get hurt, you cannot even sleep,” she said in the interview.

Asked if she wanted her husband to retire from boxing, she said: “You know the answer to that. He knows what I am asking him.”

In the bus, Pacquiao told the sportswriters that Saturday’s loss to Marquez “was similar to what happened to me against (Rustico) Torrecampo.” He was referring to his third-round knockout defeat on Feb. 9, 1996, when he was still fighting at 110 pounds.

“I got nailed by a sneaky punch that caught me in the chin coming in,” Pacquiao said in Filipino. “If it were in the jaw, I can withstand it.”

5th fight

Swinging as if he was shadowboxing, Pacquiao admitted he got careless with Marquez because he wanted to put up a strong showing to end the sixth round.

“I faked twice and he got me [with that right] as I stumbled,” he said.

Despite the one-punch knockout that left him motionless—face down on the canvas for over a minute—Pacquiao said he was raring for a fifth fight with Marquez to get even. “Yes, why not.”

“Marquez was lucky. The next fight, I’ll get him,” he said, adding that he had intended to finish his Mexican rival in the seventh or eighth round to give fans what they wanted—an explosive fight.

“I saw his nose bleeding and that he had difficulty breathing,” Pacquiao said. “I was also told that his corner was ready to stop the fight in the seventh.”

Pacquiao fell short as Marquez, dubbed “El Dinamita,” threw a dynamite right that exploded on his face and knocked him out cold.

Despite the loss, Pacquiao said he was satisfied he was able to give the fans an explosive fight.

“Don’t fight if you don’t want to lose,” he said. “That’s sports.”

As a routine procedure, he was taken after the bout to the trauma unit of University Medical Center, where he underwent medical tests, including a CT scan, to find out if he had suffered a concussion.

The result was negative and he was cleared to return to his penthouse suite at the hotel.

He will be under observation for three days, although he was allowed to make the five-hour trip to Hollywood, including a traditional stop at midpoint Barstow.

No fight with Mayweather

Since he suffered no major head injuries, Pacquiao is deemed fit to fight again next year. Against whom and when, there’s no clear development yet.

While a lucrative fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. is off the radar at the moment, the continuation of his ring saga with Marquez may be in the horizon.

Promoter Bob Arum, while hesitant to stage an immediate rematch because of the punishment sustained by both fighters, with Marquez suspected of having a broken nose, the 81-year-old big boss of Top Rank is reportedly being bombarded with requests for a Pacquiao-Marquez 5.

Another possible opponent, if Pacquiao’s original schedule of April 20 for his next fight is followed, is rising star Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios, a toe-to-toe fighter whose style should suit Pacquiao’s  just fine.

While Pacquiao also has a score to settle with Timothy Bradley, who beat him by a dubious split decision, Arum is not keen on the proposition, as their fight in June was a disappointment at the gates and failed to generate a million PPV (pay-per-view) buys.

In contrast, the Pacquiao-Marquez 4 was a blockbuster, with a sellout crowd of 16,348, gate receipts of $10.5 million and an assured 1 million plus PPV hits, which could put Pacquiao’s total income for the fight at between $25 million to $30 million.

Pacquiao is willing to take on anybody Arum will put in front of him since he wants redemption for the humiliation he suffered in Marquez’s hands.

Pacquiao and wife Jinkee are scheduled to take the Monday flight to Manila, arriving in the Philippines on Wednesday for the birthday of their son, Jimwell.

On Dec. 17, Pacquiao will turn 34 and more celebrations are scheduled in General Santos City and Sarangani province, where he’s running unopposed for a second term as congressman.

Also in the bus, emblazoned  with his  image  and  a teaser  of  Pacquiao-Marquez 4, were several pastors, boxers Dodie Boy Peñalosa Jr. and Ernie Sanchez, who both won in the undercard of Saturday’s fight,  and  Michael Farenas, who put up a gallant losing stand against Yuriorkis Gamboa, as well as Filipino television crews.

Tough questions

Pacquiao now faces some of the toughest questions in his 17-year career—does his future lay in boxing, politics, show biz, religion, or is there a new challenge on the horizon?

“Being the king of boxing, being the highest paid athlete in boxing …  it goes with the territory,” boxing analyst Ed Tolentino said. “For Pacquiao, the fame was too much to handle. There was just too many things on his plate other than boxing.”

The distraction was costly for Pacquiao, who trained for only two months, compared to Marquez’s four and a half months.

During that time the Mexican fighter bulked up and became more muscular to withstand the Filipino’s trademark furious blows that were so damaging in their three earlier encounters, said boxing commentator Ronnie Nathanielsz.

Politicians, movie bit players and an assortment of hangers-on now form his huge entourage.

“You only need a Ferris wheel and his training camp would have been a circus,” Tolentino said.

“Among boxers, they don’t have the word retirement in their dictionary. It’s so hard to admit that all of sudden it’s over, especially for Pacquiao,” Tolentino said.

“His demotion was from the penthouse to the doghouse,” he added. “I think really there has to be a lot of soul searching. … He has to consult his family, his real entourage.” 

Aquino will visit Australia, New Zealand next week

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MANILA, Philippines–President Benigno Aquino III is set to leave for New Zealand and Australia next week for state visits to further bilateral ties with the two nations and updating foreign leaders on key Philippine developments, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday.

Aquino will visit New Zealand on Oct. 22 and 23 then proceed to Australia 24 to 26 for consecutive visits aimed at pursuing trade, defense and development relations with the two countries.

The President is also expected to discuss with leaders of both countries the recently signed framework peace agreement between the government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), touted to be an initial step towards ending the secessionist war in Mindanao.

Key cabinet members, among them Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, will join Aquino to meet with their counterparts, the DFA said.

First on the President’s agenda in Auckland is a meeting with the Filipino community and a talk at a business forum organized by joint business councils of the Philippines and New Zealand. Aquino is also expected to hold one-on-one meetings with New Zealand firms.

There are some 36,000 Filipinos in New Zealand, accounting for around 1 percent of the country’s total population.

The President will then proceed to the capital Wellington to meet with Prime Minister John Key and Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae for discussions on issues of bilateral interest and updates on the GPH-MILF framework agreement.

Aquino’s state visit follows Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario’s trip to New Zealand in August, where he discussed partnerships on trade and geothermal energy with top government officials and business leaders.

In Canberra, Aquino will meet with Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Governor-General and discuss furthering political, economic and defense cooperation.

The President is also expected to take up the GPH-MILF framework agreement with the Australian officials.

Aquino will then visit Sydney for his business agenda: he will keynote the Philippines-Australia Business Forum, speak before the Asia Society of Australia and the Australia Philippine Business Council, hold a roundtable meet with CEOs of top Australian firms and later have one-on-one meetings with Australian companies.

Aquino will also lead the unveiling of a statue of Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal in Campbelltown, a Sydney suburb.

While there, the President he will also meet with the Filipino community to “encourage them to help raise the profile of the Philippines” by serving as “knowledgeable and competent” sources of information about their home country.

The DFA said there are around 224,000 Filipino migrants in Australia, making for one of the largest migrant populations there.

Lucy Liu says sorry for ‘little Filipino’ remark on Letterman show

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LOS ANGELES – “I am so sorry that my comment was taken out of context, as I would never insult another group or ethnicity,” “Charlie’s Angels” actress Lucy Liu told the Philippine Daily Inquirer after she was asked by this reporter to comment about her controversial statement in a guest appearance on “Late Show with David Letterman” last October 11.

When Letterman asked Liu, who is shooting her new TV series “Elementary,” if she enjoys running indoors or outdoors, she answered, “I run in a machine. It is easier for me. Also, if I get really dark, I’ll start to look a little Filipino. It wouldn’t match.”

Donaire wants swift, vicious end this time against Nishioka

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He doesn’t guarantee a knockout, but Nonito Donaire Jr. promised to follow a fight plan that could result in an explosive, abrupt end.

With his usual confidence and careful choice of words, Donaire bared the strategy he will use against Japanese veteran Toshiaki Nishioka in their Oct. 13 WBO-IBF super bantamweight championship bout at Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

“When (the knockout) comes, it comes,” Donaire said at a press conference. “But the proper game plan will show my power, which is what I was known for—lightning-fast counters that were knocking people out because they never saw it coming.

“No matter how tough you are, if you don’t see where it’s coming from, you don’t expect it and it will knock you down.”’

The 29-year-old Donaire, born in Gen. Santos City but migrated to the United States at age 11, said he’s not taking Nishioka—who will be a moving, thinking opponent—lightly.

“I think I’m a lot faster than him,” said Donaire in another interview posted on boxing.com. “But like I said before, speed can be neutralized by perfect timing.”

His trainer Robert Garcia said Donaire is 100-percent ready for his 36-year-old foe but remained cautious about giving a bold prediction.

“I am not pushing or asking for the knockout, but in training he has been doing the right thing,” said Garcia. “If he performs like he did in training I will be happy with him.

“It won’t be easy against Nishioka, but at the beginning of training camp Nonito told me he wanted to come in and do it the way he used to do it— picking them apart little by little then knocking them out,” added Garcia who will be at the corner along with conditioning coach Mike Bazzel.

Garcia cited Donaire’s fitness and praised the fighter’s decision to drop his much criticized one-punch salvos.

Filipino street kid age13, wins $130,000 peace prize

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THE HAGUE—A young Filipino who lived off a rubbish dump and slept in an open tomb has won a prestigious children’s award in the Netherlands for his work to improve the rights of his fellow street kids.

Cris “Kesz” Valdez, aged 13, was handed this year’s International Children’s Peace Prize at a glittering ceremony in The Hague on Wednesday, where he received a 100,000 euro ($130,000) prize.

Valdez was chosen from three finalists for the work of his “Championing Community Children” charity which raises funds to hand out gift parcels to needy children in Cavite City, about 30 kilometres (18 miles) south of the capital Manila.

“You are wonderful,” Nobel Peace laureate Desmond Tutu, who handed over this year’s prize, told Valdez at a press conference shortly after the ceremony, held in The Hague’s historic Knight’s Hall.

“My message to children around the world is not to lose hope” and to remember things like hygiene, said Valdez, who added that the prize would help him get an education and perhaps realize his dream of becoming a doctor.

Through his charity, Valdez has handed out more than 5,000 gifts to destitute children that included everyday articles like flip-flops, toys, sweets and clothes, said the KidsRights Foundation, the prize’s initiator.

In all, he has helped some 10,000 children in his area on health, hygiene and children’s rights, the foundation added.

Some 246,000 street children are, like Valdez was as a young child, subjected to abuse, violence and child labor in the Philippines, it said.

Asked about the prize money, KidsRights Foundation chairman Marc Dullaert said a committee was now to decide, together with Valdez, to which projects it would be donated.

Archbishop Tutu, the South African peace icon who won the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize is in the Netherlands for a nine-day visit.

70 Filipinos get $1M for speaking tagalog

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DELANO, California—Dozens of Filipino hospital workers in California will share a nearly $1 million settlement in a lawsuit claiming they were targeted by a rule requiring English only at work, federal officials said Monday.

The settlement involves nearly 70 nurses and medical staff members who accused Delano Regional Medical Center in California’s Kern County of banning them from speaking Tagalog and other Filipino languages while letting other workers speak in their native languages, including Spanish, the US Equal Opportunity Employment Commission announced.

The lawsuit, filed jointly by the commission and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center in 2010, accused the hospital of creating a hostile working environment for Filipinos by singling them out for reprimands and by encouraging other staff to report them.

The medical center defended its English-only policy as essential to patient care. In a written statement, officials said the hospital did nothing wrong.

Under California law, employers can require workers to speak English if there is a business necessity.

For decades, thousands of nurses from the Philippines have migrated to the United States to alleviate the nursing shortage. More than half of American nurses trained abroad are from the Philippines.

Filipino nurses in Delano said they were called to a special meeting with hospital managers in 2006, warned not to speak Tagalog, and told surveillance cameras would be installed, if necessary, to monitor them. No other language groups were included in the meeting, the lawsuit states.

Since then, workers said, they were told on a daily basis by fellow staffers to speak only English, even on breaks. The workers allege they were targets of undue scrutiny, discipline, harassment and threats over the issue.

The hospital’s policy, which requires the use of either English or the patient’s preferred language while care is provides, remains in effect, the hospital’s statement said, though it has been updated.

As part of the settlement, the hospital also agreed to develop strong protocols for handling complaints of harassment and discrimination; adopt a language policy that complies with the Civil Rights Act; and conduct anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training for all staff with additional training for supervisors.

Delano Regional Medical Center is a 156-bed hospital located about 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Bakersfield.

Anne Curtis:"My Story"

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Where do I begin?? Well, I had a normal & amazing childhood in the lovely little town of Yarrwonga, Victoria Australia. From kinder to the very end of primary school, I lived there. Some of the warmest memories I have in my life are those I had there. I would ride my bike to school, I played ‘til I had to be called inside, had sleepovers, played netball, joined the girl guides, went camping, enjoyed Fish & Chips with chicken salt, went swimming at the lake… I pretty much did everything a child should do as a kid and never dreamt of being an actress when I was younger. In fact, when I was about six, I dreamt of being Nadia Comaniche, the first gymnast to get a perfect 10 at the Olympics.
Now being half-Filipino & half-Australian, every year our family would come visit the Philippines to see my mum’s relatives. And so I grew to know & love the country each time we came for a vacation. But in 1997, the vacation turned into a permanent stay. You see, in 1997, while eating at a fast-food chain along Boni Hi-way, I was approached and asked if I’d like to get into some modeling. My dad, of course, thought it was a scam but my mum whom by the way, wished to be an actress when she was younger, was all for it. So behind my dad’s back, she took the young and awkward 12 year old girl that I was to VTR’s.
And lucky me, I bagged my first TV commercial within a week or so. My dad finally came around and allowed me to pursue this new found opportunity. So we decided to move and I studied here in the Philippines. I did Grade 7 at the Colegio de Sta.Rosa. And because I could not speak or understand a word of Tagalog, I had special Filipino classes with two other girls who had also just moved. So I must give credit to the school that helped me with the basics back then. So there I was, the new kid in school studying, and “modeling.”
After a month or so they asked if I’d like to try acting and audition for a part in a movie. Of course, I was game! So after school (I remember this so clearly) I went to my very first audition. Still in my school uniform with gravy on my top, and because I had arrived so late, they were already picking in the line who would be the final few to audition. And lucky me, I was part of that batch! So, we all went, still in a line, in front of the directors, Direk Pegue Gallaga & Lore Reyes. There we were asked to introduce ourselves and then act like a princess! I think any girl at 12, at one point or another, had played and made believe that they were a princess.
 So I am proud to say that I think I did quite well for my first audition. And I guess I thought right! Because later that evening, they called to confirm that I had gotten the part as “Princess Dahlia” for the movie “Magic Kingdom,” which was set to be part of the Metro Manila Film Festival! And this was when my career as an actress began…
 I was signed up immediately with Viva Films and I have been with them from then on. 14 years and still going! Through them, I was given my first TV stint as “Jasmin” in their then hit drama teleserye “Ikaw na Sana” of Angelu de Leon & Bobby Andrews (GMA7). Coincidentally, I happened to be a major fan of them since I followed T.G.I.S. Little did I know that soon enough, I would be part of that youth-oriented show as “Em.” I must say that my start in the industry was so much fun & truly memorable. Roles kept coming in and I was fortunately given the role of “Ginny” in “AnnaKarenNina.” Viva then gave me an opportunity to do the film “Ika-13 Kapitulo.” I started off with very humble roles like as the younger sister or the friend of the lead. But I always gave my best regardless if I had lines or not… And I believe that through patience & faith, you can achieve your dreams.
 I was very visible on TV through “May Bukas Pa” (IBC13) and comedy shows like “Beh bote Nga,” “Bubble Gang,” “Idol ko si Kap,” and “Nuts Entertainment” on GMA 7. But it was in 2007 that we were approached by ABS-CBN and asked if we wanted to do the soap opera “HIRAM” with Kris Aquino, Dina Bonnevie, Heart Evangelista & Geoff Eigenmann. ABS-CBN management said that I was to take on the role of the gray character. As an actress who had been doing a lot of comedy and balikbayan roles, I got very scared. However, something in me wanted to take on the challenge and I knew I wanted to try drama. So we did it and I know it was not a mistake. The feedback I got was overwhelming and people started noticing that I could actually act and do more than my usual balikbayan roles.  After that, I became part of the noontime variety show ASAP MANIA. The next year, I bagged the lead role in the TV remake of “Kampanerang Kuba,” my very first fantaserye, which was actually quite challenging for I portrayed the hunchback “Imang.” But it was truly memorable for me and I will always treasure it for it was my very first title role.
After “Kampanerang Kuba,” my next soap opera was “Maging Sino Ka Man,” where I portrayed as “Celine Magsaysay.” This character, I have to say, tested my versatility as an actress. It’s one of my hardest characters to date but definitely one, if not on the top, of my favorite characters that I will always love. “Maging Sino Ka Man Book 2” followed then I did “The Wedding.” After that, I had my favorite title role as “Dyosa.” And then my most recent Koreanovela remake, “Green Rose.”
While acting for TV, I still continued to do some films like “Wag Kang Lilingon,” “When Love Begins,” “Baler,” for which I received my first ever BEST ACTRESS award at the Metro Manila Film Festival, and “In Your Eyes,” where I also got my first BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS award at the FAP LUNA AWARDS.
I never really was a host but I enjoyed being a VJ for MTV Philippines for a little while. I also did the SCQ Summer Kids Quest and Cupids. But I realized my true love for hosting when I became part of the show “Showtime.” Until now it’s the reason I get up early every morning to make you guys, our madlang people, happy. It was also through Showtime that I was able to share my “talent” in singing! Hence, the birth of my album that was just released – ANNEBISYOSA!!
My career of 14 years has been a rollercoaster ride but I’ve enjoyed every single moment of it! I treasure everything I’ve learned and still am learning! I value and am so thankful for all the blessings that have come my way! So I’m very, very excited to see what the future has yet to bring! From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who has been with me in this career journey!

102-year-old Filipino becomes a US citizen

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LOS ANGELES—A 102-year-old Filipino man who came to the U.S. as a youth in 1928 to pick vegetables became a citizen during a touching naturalization ceremony in Los Angeles.

“I’m happy,” Philippines-born Joaquin Arciago Guzman said in his native Tagalog after Wednesday’s ceremony, where about 7,300 joined him in taking the citizenship oath.

Only 27 people older than 100 have become citizens in the past 50 years, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

“It’s extremely rare to see anyone over 100,” said Nancy Alby, the agency’s field office director for Los Angeles County. “We get a handful in their 90s and 80s. It’s more common to see people in their 70s.”

The oldest person ever to become a citizen was Manik Bokchalian. She was 117 when she took the oath in 1997.

Guzman’s niece and caregiver helped him out of a wheelchair to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance, the Los Angeles Daily News reported.

“I’m happy for him. There are no words,” niece Julie Guzman said in Tagalog.

Guzman’s daughter-in-law Elizabeth Guzman regretted that Guzman’s wife, Paz, did not live to see the ceremony. She was 89 when she died in 2007.

“It’s sad because she waited many years for him to become a citizen,” Elizabeth said in Tagalog. “But I believe she’s looking down on us now, and she’s happy.”

Guzman left the Philippines to harvest lettuce and cabbage in the fertile fields south of San Francisco.

He returned to the Philippines and married Paz Irene Gatchalian, then came back to the United States before the birth of the first of their six children.

Guzman brought his wife and two of their adult children to the United States in 1984. They became American citizens, but Guzman waited to submit an application for reasons that aren’t clear.

Filipino Youths protest against Lady Gaga concerts

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MANILA, Philippines—Christian youths in the Philippines are continuing to protest against Lady Gaga’s upcoming concerts despite organizers’ assurances that her performances will not threaten morality.

Some 200 Christian youths marched in Manila for the second straight day Saturday, chanting “Stop the Lady Gaga concerts.” They held placards urging the pop diva to “respect our faith, stop the blasphemy.”

The Biblemode Youth Philippines members also plan to hold a vigil starting Sunday near the seaside concert venue. They say they are offended by Lady Gaga’s music, particularly her song “Judas,” which they say mocks Jesus Christ.

Authorities have approved the concerts, which are set for Monday and Tuesday, but say they won’t allow lewd acts.

Sold-out crowds and angry protests have followed Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” Asian tour.

Mind you guys that Lady Gaga's song "Born this way" has made Maria Aragon so popular on Youtube.