In its November 2009 Adventure issue, the popular publication from the US described the Philippines as harboring “as many islands as the Caribbean and some of the most spectacular reefs on the planet”, adding that travel organizations have “finally gotten wise.” They also cited the country’s “ancient cultures, structures and biodiversity” as key reasons to visit the country.

Here is the list of 25 countries deemed by The National Geographic magazine as the world’s best travel destinations for 2010:

Bhutan || Outfitter: Bio Bio Expeditions
Bolivia || Outfitter: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Botswana || Outfitter: Explore Inc
Canada – B.C. || Outfitter: Monashee Adventure Tours
Canada – Manitoba || Outfitter: Earthwatch Institute
Chile + Argentina || Outfitter: Boojum Expeditions
Costa Rica || Outfitter: Wildland Adventures
France || Outfitter: Discover France
Iceland || Outfitter: Explorers’ Corner
Ireland || Outfitter: Country Walkers
Kenya || Outfitter: Geographic Expeditions
Laos || Outfitter: Asia Transpacific Journeys
Madagascar || Outfitter: Kumuka Worldwide
Montserrat || Outfitter: Green Monkey Dive Shop
Nepal || Outfitter: Journeys International
New Zealand || Outfitter: Active New Zealand
Peru || Outfitter: Adventure Life Journeys
Philippines || Outfitter: Wilderness Travel
Slovakia || Outfitter: Biosphere Expeditions
Sri Lanka || Outfitter: Access Trips
Tanzania + Kenya || Outfitter: Tropical Ice Limited
Tonga || Outfitter: Wilderness Travel
U.S. – California || Outfitter: Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides
U.S. – Colorado || Outfitter: Western Spirit Cycling
U.S. – Idaho + Montana || Outfitter: ROW Adventures

Last month, National Geographic-Traveler magazine named the Ifugao Rice Terraces as one of the “50 Places of a Lifetime: Greatest Destinations in the World.”

Other “destinations of distinction and character” on the list are the South Pacific island of Aitutaki, Switzerland’s Mt. Rigi, the Yap outer islands in Micronesia, the Balkan country of Montenegro, the Gobi desert in Mongolia, Bwindi forest in Uganda, and the little-known islands of Lord Howe in Australia and Fernando de Noronha in Brazil, among others.

Rhap performed on the top-rating talk show his winning piece at the 2009 World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA), All By Myself by Celine Dion. Ellen revealed that it was Rhap’s birthday wish to perform on her show and Rhap said that he will never forget this moment.

Ellen described Rhap’s voice as incredible and with so much power and emotion. She asked the 12-year-old champ who are his favorite singers. Rhap mentioned the names of Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Josh Groban and Beyonce Knowles.

Last July, Rhap Salazar bagged the Junior Grand Champion Performer of the World at the 13th World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA).

VIDEO LINK: Rhap Salazar Wows Ellen

Manny Pacquiao strengthen his title as one of the world’s greatest boxers and put the Philippines on spotlight after he scored a 12th round technical knockout (TKO) victory over Miguel Cotto.

The referee stopped the fight 55 seconds of the 12th round.

The Pacquiao vs Cotto “Firepower” match was concluded minutes ago at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Right now: Manny has just promoted his MMFF movie “Whapakman” on his interview with Mario Lopez!

The live stream is now airing Whapakman’s trailer! The trailer of GMA’s “Full House” also premiered after the live coverage.

It’s another first for Manny and another first for the country. Manny became the first Filipino athlete, or even the first pinoy, to be featured in a major billboard in Los Angeles.

According to reports, the billboard received positive response from the local Filipino community and American fans since it went up last weekend.

Our Pacman, Pacquiao’s moniker, has been lined up with other boxing greats like Joe Louis, Max Schmeling, Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Frazier, and Muhammad Ali as he appears on the cover of Time Magazine Asia.

Manny Pacquiao is the second non-heavyweight professional boxer to be featured on the cover of the well-respected magazine, and the first Asian boxer at that.

Other boxers who had made it to the magazine’s cover include heavyweights Jack Dempsey, Primo Carnerra, Gene Tunney and the controversial Mike Tyson.

Pacquiao said being featured in the magazine is the “most humbling experience” in his boxing career.

“It is a great honor for me to be the face of my people and let everyone know we are a small but mighty country”, He said.

Pacquiao will attempt to make history in his bout with Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto on November 14 in Las Vegas. If he wins the match, he will be the first boxer to ever record seven world titles in seven different weight classes.

For the record, Pacquiao has won titles in the junior welterweight, lightweight, super featherweight, featherweight, super bantamweight and flyweight divisions.

The article is entitled “The rise and rise of Starmometer” and it appeared on the Technews section of the Manila Bulletin October 26, 2009 issue. It’s actually an interview by Annalyn S. Jusay, for the “blog-o-rama” column of the said spreadsheet.

Here’s the scanned image of the article from the Manila Bulletin:

And here’s the snippet of the said interview which also appeared minutes ago on the official website of the Manila Bulletin, MB.com.ph :

You can read the full article here.

Thank you very much to Ms. Annaylyn Jusay of the Manila Bulletin. It’s an honor to be featured both in print and website of the nation’s leading newspaper. Truly, there’s good news in MB.

Garnering 15 Grammys (and an unprecedented 44 nominations), seven Canadian Juno Awards, an Emmy, three Oscar nominations and countless monster recording hits with the world’s greatest singers in a career spanning 40 years – and counting – doesn’t just happen to anyone – unless you’re a born “Hit Man” named David Foster.

Continuing the success of David Foster and Friends last May at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, TC Entertainment and ABS-CBN International’s The Filipino Channel (TFC) have signed a contract to promote 2009 Hit Man David Foster and Friends in its North American tour: Chicago, IL (Oct 21); New York, NY (Oct 23); Newark, NJ (Oct 24); Boston, MA (Oct 25); Atlanta, GA (Oct 28); Tampa, FL (Oct 30); Hollywood, FL (Nov 1); Los Angeles, CA (Nov 5); San Jose, CA (Nov 6); and Vancouver, BC (Nov 8). TFC is the official Asian Media Partner for Television.

In Foster’s recording studio in Los Angeles, TFC Production Manager John-D Lazatin sat down for an exclusive one-on-one interview with Foster. Here are gems from the Hit Man:

TFC: Is there a difference between David Foster the composer/artist and the producer?

Foster: When I go to the doctor’s office and they ask for occupation, I still put musician. I’ve been playing piano since I was 5. All the time, all the things that’s been happening in my life since I started playing piano have always been a result of my being a musician and that’s how I think of myself.

TFC: I read your book, “Hitman: Forty Years Making Music, Topping the Charts, and Winning Grammys”. Lesson number one is “Always go with what you love.” Is that always true?

Foster: The phenomenon that exists in this country and probably the whole world is that when a child turns 17, he or she all of a sudden is forced to make the biggest decision in his or her life: what am I gonna train for as a living for the rest of my life? So at 17, they go, “Hmm, do I wanna try medical school, do I wanna be a lawyer?” But you know, not everybody has a passion at 17. So, most people end up doing what they’re taught to do, not what they love to do. I was one of the fortunate ones that got to do what I love doing. By age 10, I knew what I love to do and I knew that was how I’m gonna make my living. So, my recommendation is always try to go for what you love, not what you’re taught to do.

TFC: If you were not a musician, what would you be?

Foster: I’ve always joked that if I were not a musician, if I had to be a shoe salesman, I’d like to be the best shoe salesman on the planet. I love airplanes. I’m a pilot. I would have loved to be a professional pilot. Had I had more talent in the athletic world, I would have loved to be a hockey player because I played hockey when I was a kid and I was pretty good but not good enough to be a pro. There are other avenues, but the main thing is the discipline that I have as a musician and as a songwriter-producer. That discipline that I learned at a really early age I would have applied to anything. Maybe my gift wasn’t even music; maybe my gift was that I’m disciplined.

TFC: What’s the secret in staying in this industry? How can you stay for 40 years in this business?

Foster: I don’t know if there’s a secret in staying in any industry. The music industry is very youth driven. As you may have read in my book, I credit the man named Ronnie Hawkins for teaching me that you need to sometimes retreat and attack in another direction. The 70s for me was great – I was a musician, everybody wanted me. I became a producer in the 80s and it went great. Then at the end of the 80s, my career just kinda tanked and all of a sudden I wasn’t making hits anymore for a couple of years. You have two choices at that point: you can keep banging your head against the wall and pushing forward in that same direction, or you can do this (hand motions towards another direction) and I did that – I did Natalie Cole’s “Unforgettable” album which ended up being a huge hit. That thrust me into the 90s where I had great run with Celine, Toni Braxton, Whitney Houston, etcetera. At the end of the 90s, that same thing happened: I came up against the wall. All of a sudden, my sound wasn’t on the radio anymore so I went around and did Bocelli, Bublé and Grobin.

TFC: Do you believe in luck?

Foster: My mother taught me that it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. I don’t think I believe in luck because they say that luck is when hard work meets opportunity. And I do believe in that because I think you always have to be prepared. There’s been so many times in my life where I’ve been somewhere and a singer has come up to me and said, wow, I really like you to hear my stuff and whatever and I say, okay, give me a CD. Oh, I don’t have one on me. I’ll say, okay, sing for me. Oh, I don’t know what to sing. That’s crazy! Be prepared. Luck is opportunity meeting hard work.

TFC: What did you know about Filipino artists before you met Charice?

Foster: Before I met Charice, I knew that the Philippines and the Filipinos were great lovers of music and especially, it seems great lovers of my particular kind of music. The first time I heard of a Filipino artist that I loved was Lea Salonga. She sang so beautifully in “Mulan”. And of course she was cast in “Miss Saigon”. She was incredible and we actually almost worked together. And then this new kid from Journey got everyone’s attention. But I’ve always believed, at least for the last 5 to 6 years, from my trips to Asia, that the next huge big star will be Asian. I believe that Charice is the one. It just makes sense. There’s a billion-and-a-half Asians. Twenty or thirty years ago with the Japanese, they used to copy American music. But in the last 10 years or so, the Asians have really found their own sound. It’s just not copying anymore. They have such rich heritage to draw from, thousands of years of music to draw from. And I think it’s all coming out. You see that in Charice, she’s so well-rounded. I believe she’s the next big star.

TFC: After Charice, are you watching out for other performers from the Philippines?

Foster: I’ve yet to go to the Philippines but I’m excited to go there. I want to know more about this country and this culture that has embraced American music for so many years. It’s really no different from what England did in the beginning. England in the beginning copied American music. The Beatles’ favorite artists were Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley. They took it and made it their own and I believe that’s what’s happening to the Filipino community now, too. They love the American culture and the American music scene. But they’re now taking it and making it their own. So, I’m sure if you drill down the Philippines, you’re gonna find a lot more talent. But I don’t look for talent though, talent finds me.

TFC: What’s your idea of David Foster and Filipino Friends?

Foster: What would be exciting is for one is to have some of the local artists perform with me and sing my songs. Because the David Foster and Friends traditionally, at least with the last two or three concerts, and the tour I’m about to do in 12 cities in America is my music so that is sort of what it’s all about. So, having Filipino artists, young or old, singing my music will be a lot of fun plus I think we should have a talent search and find somebody – a complete unknown – that could win a spot to open the show.

TFC: How long have you known about The Filipino Channel?

Foster: I knew about The Filipino Channel. My friends Michael and Millie (Gurfinkel) have told me first about it and it’s spectacular what you guys do. It’s amazing – the coverage has been incredible. I’d like to say to all the Filipino communities across America that I am going on tour in October and November and, of course, I will be bringing Charice. I would love for all of you to come out and see the show. Come and support me which would be great, but most importantly, come and support Charice because I believe that Charice is going to be the next national treasure for the Philippines.

For venues and ticket prices of David Foster and Friends, visit www.davidfoster.com.

Mig is currently in New York where he took part in a major benefit concert called “BANDing2gether” for the Ondoy Relief Fund held last Sunday, Oct. 11, at St. John School Auditorium in Jersey City, New Jersey, with New York’s eight leading Fil-Am bands and other local artists. The concert was presented by MPE Productions in cooperation with Ayala Foundation USA.

Here’s what Mig has to say about United As One:

“I just wanted to share with you a song I am sending to use to help raise funds for the victims of Ondoy in the Philippines. Please bear in mind this is a demo, recorded at home, using my very limited studio and playing all the instruments. I hope people can pick up this song and use it as an anthem for the relief efforts and also use it to raise much-needed funds. Any help or ideas you may have to get it to the right people would be very much appreciated.

“The world has seemed to forgotten what is still such a painful and drastic situation. I hope this song will inspire people to act and give hope.”

Here is the lyrics of the song “United as One”:

UNITED AS ONE
(Words and music by MiG Ayesa, Tagalog Translations by Freddie Santos)

Kapatid, Kaibigan, Kababayan
(Sibling, friend, countrymen)
Kapatid, Kaibigan, Kababayan
Kapatid, Kaibigan, Kababayan
Kasama mo ako
(I am with you)
Kasama mo ako

I hear you calling out my name
And I can’t just ignore what you’re saying
I see you falling from the pain
And I’m feeling the way that your hurting
You’re my brother, sister don’t you cry
I’ll be there by your side to hold you up
Though you never thought this would matter
I’ll never leave you alone

So hold on tightly, hang on I’ll be
There by your side and we’ll battle the tide together…
(Magkasama)
Together…
(Magkasama)
Don’t be scared we’ll
Soon be where we
All want to be as we stand here united as one.

Pag langit ay du-mi-di-lim
(When dark clouds leaves you in despair)
And the rain seems to fall down forever
At buhay ay uma-aah-sim
(When life is just too much too bear)
And you can’t feel the break in the weather
You don’t have to worry
I’ll help you carry on
Through the eye of the storm we’re holding on
The day’s dawning, feel the sun warming
Healing you, keeping you strong…

So hold on tightly, hang on I’ll be
There by your side and we’ll battle the tide together…
(Magkasama)
Together…
(Magkasama)
Don’t be scared we’ll
Soon be where we
All want to be as we stand here united as one.

Kapatid, Kaibigan, Kababayan
Kapatid, Kaibigan, Kababayan

You are my brother, sister, mother
I’ll be there by your side to hold you up
I’ll be by your side…

So hold on tightly, hang on I’ll be
There by your side and we’ll battle the tide together…
(Magkasama)
Together…
(Magkasama)
Don’t be scared we’ll
Soon be where we
All want to be as we stand here united as one.

We stand as one…

Kapatid, Kaibigan, Kababayan
Kapatid, Kaibigan, Kababayan
Kasama mo ako
Kasama mo ako.

MUSIC LINK: Mig Ayesa – United as One (Listen Here!)

Kinatay, also known to have the international title “The Execution of P”, has just won Best Director for Brilliante Mendoza and Best Original Soundtrack for Teresa Barrozo in the Spanish filmfest.

This is the second international Best Director award won by Brilliante Mendoza for this film. The first was at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in France earlier this year.

Here is the complete list of winners in the 42nd Sitges International Film Festival:

Best Short Film
One of those days by Hattie Dalton

Special Mention
The boy who wouldn’t kill by Linus de Paoli

Best Production Design
Tony Noble for Moon

Best Make Up FX
Kaatje Van Damme for Mr. Nobody

Best Special Effects
C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures, Mac Guff, BUF for Splice

Best Original Soundtrack
Teresa Barrozo for Kinatay

Best Cinematography
Benoit Debie for Enter the Void

Best Script
Nathan Parker, based on the original story of Duncan Jones, for Moon

Best Actress
Ex-aequo: Elena Anaya for Hierro and Kim Ok-vin for Thirst

Best Actor
Sam Rockwell for Moon

Best Director
Brillante Mendoza for Kinatay

Special Jury Award
Enter the Void by Gaspar Noé

Best Motion Picture
Moon by Duncan Jones

The amazing comeback story of Journey and how they discovered our very own Arnel Pineda half-way around the world were featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show recently.

Arnel Pineda and the rest of the members of the rock band “Journey” graced the Oprah Winfrey Show to promote their latest album, “Revelation” and the new “Journey in Manila DVD.” But Oprah is interested to know how they discovered their new frontmant which came from thousand of miles away.

Journey’s guitarist Neal Schon narrates that he found this video in YouTube featuring Arnel performing at the Hard Rock Cafe in Manila. Arnel was singing the Journey song “Faithfully” and he could not believe the amazing vocal prowess of the Filipino singer.

Neal contacted his co-members Jonathan Cain (keyboard), Deen Castronovo (drums) and Ross Valory (bass) who were equally impressed with Arnel. He told them: “The guy got great pipes, does he speak English?”

Valory said he had GS or “goosebumps surplus” when he first heard Arnel sing.

Castronovo said: “It was frightening just to hear that voice come out from that little guy. We couldn’t believe it. It’s just so strong. And the best part about it was just how humble the man was, how humble human being, beautiful heart.”

Oprah describes the discovery of Arnel “a divine order that show so boldly.” The influential host asked Arnel if he ever even dreamed this.

Arnel said he never dreamed that an amazing thing like this could happen and he is overwhelmed that he is being interviewed by Oprah.

“I’m facing you (Winfrey) right now. You are [one of the] biggest [names] in show business and I’m facing you. It’s like… I’m not allowed to be here but I’m here. And I thank God for that,” he said.

“I’ve seen enough pain and poverty in the Philippines. I’ve never been that big. All I wanted was to be able to get out of it — the pain and the poverty – and live decently everyday,” he added.

Because Arnel’s success story inspired many people around the world, it was reported that his life story will be made into a biopic titled “Don’t Stop Believing: Every Man’s Journey.”

Journey performed “Faithfully”, the song he was singing when he was discovered in YouTube, and Oprah together with her studio audience were all blown away.

VIDEO LINK: Arnel Pineda on the Oprah Winfrey Show

The nominees for the 2009 International Emmy Awards was announced Monday, October 5, 2009 during a Press Conference at MIPCOM, Cannes, France.

17 countries received at least one nomination this year with England leading the pack with 9 nods followed by Brazil with 5 and triple tie in third place are Germany, Mexico and the Philippines with 3.

ABS-CBN got 2 nominations, one is for the Best Telenovela category for Kahit Isang Saglit and the other is for the Best Actress category for Angel Losin. Kahit Isang Saglit is the co-production of Malaysia and Philippines starring Jericho Rosales and Carmen Soo. Angel Locsin, on the other hand, was nominated for her performance in the top-rating fantaserye Lobo.

The third RP nomination comes from the GMA afternoon soap “Magdusa Ka.” The remake of the 80’s drama movie starred Dennis Trillo, Iwa Moto and Katrina Halili. It will also vie in the Best Telenovela category bringing the network war to the International Emmy’s as ABS-CBN’s Kahit Isang Saglit is also vying in the same category.

Here is the complete list of nominees for the 37th International Emmy Awards:

ARTS PROGRAMMING

Mamonas Assassinas – All My Life
TV Globo, Brazil

The Mona Lisa Curse
Oxford Film & Television for Channel 4, United Kingdom

Ode to Joy: 10,000 Voice Resound!
Mainichi Broadcasting System, Inc., Japan

Seven Gates of Jerusalem
TVP SA / Platige Image
Poland

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR

Robert de Hoog (Skin)
Humanist Broadcasting Foundation / IJswater Films, The Netherlands

Chen Li (Ultimate Rescue)
China Movie Channel, PR China

Óscar Olivares (Capadocia)
HBO Latin America Originals, Mexico

Ben Whishaw (Criminal Justice)
BBC, United Kingdom

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS

Emma De Caunes (Night Birds)
CHEZ WAM, France

Angel Locsin (The Wolf/Lobo)
ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation, The Philippines

Cecilia Suárez (Capadocia)
HBO Latin America Originals, Mexico

Julie Walters (A Short Stay in Switzerland)
BBC, United Kingdom

CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE

Dustbin Baby
Kindle Entertainment, United Kingdom

Lharn Poo Koo E-Joo
Workpoint Entertainment Public Company Limited, Thailand

The Little Emperor’s Christmas
TV Globo, Brazil

Mille
Danish Broadcasting Corporation, Denmark

COMEDY

Hoshi Shinichi’s Short Shorts
Telecom Staff for NHK in association with NHK Enterprises, Japan

Peter Kay’s Britain’s Got the Pop Factor…
Phil McIntyre / Goodnight Vienna for Channel 4, United Kingdom

The Slum
TV Globo, Brazil

Turkish for Beginners
Bayerischer Rundfunk / Norddeutscher Rundfunk / Westdeutscher Rundfunk / ARD-Werbung / Hofmann & Voges Entertainment GmbH, Germany

DOCUMENTARY

The Ascent of Money
Chimerica Media for Channel 4, United Kingdom

Cityboy – The Life of Investment Banker Geraint Anderson
United Docs / ECO Media / WDR, Germany

Pancho Villa: Aqui y Alli
The History Channel Latin America / Anima Films, Argentina

Shooting the Messenger
Al Jazeera English, Qatar

DRAMA SERIES

Capadocia
HBO Latin America Originals, Mexico

The Land of the Wind
Korean Broadcasting System, South Korea

The Protectors
Danish Broadcasting Corporation in association with ZDF / NRK / SVT, Denmark

Sokhulu & Partners
Paw Paw Films, South Africa

Spooks
Kudos Film and TV Ltd, United Kingdom

NON-SCRIPTED ENTERTAINMENT

The Amazing Race Asia
Amazing Race Productions Inc. / ABC Studios / SPE Networks – Asia Pte Ltd (AXN Asia) / Sony Pictures Television / ActiveTV Asia Pte Ltd / ActiveTV Pty Ltd, Singapore

Historia Extrema
The History Channel Latin America / Endemol Argentina, Argentina

I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!
ITV Studios, United Kingdom

The Phone
Park Lane TV Productions, The Netherlands

TELENOVELA

India – A Love Story
TV Globo, Brazil

Magdusa Ka
GMA Network, Inc., The Philippines

Second Chance
TF1 Production / Fontana, France

A Time for Us (Kahit Isang Saglit)
ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation / Double Vision SDN BHD, The Philippines

TV MOVIE/MINI-SERIES

Maysa – When the Heart Sings
TV Globo, Brazil

The Shooting of Thomas Hurndall
Talkback Thames for Channel 4, United Kingdom

Ultimate Rescue
China Movie Channel, PR China

The Wolves of Berlin
Ziegler Film GmbH & Co. KG / ZDR, Germany

The winners for the 2009 International Emmy Awards will be revealed on November 23, 2009 at the Hilton New York Hotel. The event will be hosted by UK television star Graham Norton.

“Take U to the Philippines” is a project by Department of Tourism secretary Ace Durano and Apl.de.Ap that began in 2008. He said that in a world that’s predominantly driven by media, they are proud to produce a video that captures the essence of the country’s beauty and interprets it into a hip and dynamic campaign.

The music video shows Apl.de.Ap in an animated background highlighting such icons like jeepney and tricycle and promoting top tourist destinations like Tagaytay, Palawan, Subic, Boracay, Pampganga, Baguio, Cebu and Manila. There’s also a sexy Filipina in the video promoting the beautiful pinays perhaps? I mean showing the world that pinays are beautiful women.

VIDEO LINK: Apl.de.Ap – Take U to the Philippines Music Video