Hollywood Screen Goddess Angelina Jolie and her four eldest kids – Maddox (8), Pax (6), Zahara (5) and Shiloh (4) all turned up in Japan’s Narita International Airport this Monday morning, July 26, 2010. The Hollywood golden family was spotted minutes after they arrived through a private jet.

The rainbow family landed in Narita International Airport minus Brad Pitt and two year old twins Vivienne and Knox. Jolie is reportedly in Japan to promote her new action movie ‘Salt’.

Say ‘konichiwa’ kids!

Cheers,

Photo Credits: Just Jared

President-elect Benigno Simeon ‘Noynoy’ Cojuangco Aquino III took his oath today as the 15th President of the Republic of the Philippines.  As mandated by the 1987 Constitution, Aquino  sworn by high noon before Supreme Court Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales at the historic Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

The special event was attended by many Filipinos and foreign dignitaries from all over the globe. Aquino’s inauguration also marks the first peaceful transfer of power since 1998, when President Joseph Estrada was elected as the 13th Philippine President with a landslide victory.

A video and a copy of President Noynoy Aquino’s Inaugural Speech is published in full below:

His Excellency Jose Ramos Horta, Former President Fidel V. Ramos, Former President Joseph Estrada, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and members of the Senate, House Speaker Prospero Nograles and members of the House, justices of the Supreme Court, members of the foreign delegations,Your Excellencies of thediplomatic corps, fellow colleagues in government, aking mga kababayan.

Ang pagtayo ko dito ngayon ay patunay na kayo ang aking tunay na lakas. Hindi ko inakala na darating tayo sa puntong ito, na ako’y manunumpa sa harap ninyo bilang inyong Pangulo. Hindi ko pinangarap maging tagapagtaguyod ng pag-asa at tagapagmana ng mga suliranin ng ating bayan.

Ang layunin ko sa buhay ay simple lang: maging tapat sa aking mga magulang at sa bayan bilang isang marangal na anak, mabait na kuya, at mabuting mamamayan.

Nilabanan ng aking ama ang diktaturya at ibinuwis niya ang kanyang buhay para tubusin ang ating demokrasya. Inalay ng aking ina ang kanyang buhay upang pangalagaan ang demokrasyang ito. Ilalaan ko ang aking buhay para siguraduhin na ang ating demokrasya ay kapaki-pakinabang sa bawat isa. Namuhunan na kami ng dugo at handang gawin itong muli kung kinakailangan.

Tanyag man ang aking mga magulang at ang kanilang mga nagawa, alam ko rin ang problema ng ordinaryong mamamayan. Alam nating lahat ang pakiramdam na magkaroon ng pamahalaang bulag at bingi. Alam natin ang pakiramdam na mapagkaitan ng hustisya, na mabalewala ng mga taong pinagkatiwalaan at inatasan nating maging ating tagapagtanggol.

Kayo ba ay minsan ring nalimutan ng pamahalaang inyong iniluklok sa puwesto? Ako rin. Kayo ba ay nagtiis na sa trapiko para lamang masingitan ng isang naghahari-hariang de-wangwang sa kalsada? Ako rin. Kayo ba ay sawang-sawa na sa pamahalaang sa halip na magsilbi sa taumbayan ay kailangan pa nila itong pagpasensiyahan at tiisin? Ako rin.

Katulad ninyo ako. Marami na sa atin ang bumoto gamit ang kanilang paa—nilisan na nila ang ating bansa sa kanilang paghahanap ng pagbabago at katahimikan. Tiniis nila ang hirap, sinugod ang panganib sa ibang bansa dahil doon may pag-asa kahit kaunti na dito sa atin ay hindi nila nakikita. Sa iilang sandali na sarili ko lang ang aking inaalala, pati ako ay napag-isip din—talaga bang hindi na mababago ang pamamahala natin dito? Hindi kaya nasa ibang bansa ang katahimikang hinahanap ko? Saan ba nakasulat na kailangang puro pagtitiis ang tadhana ng Pilipino?

Ngayon, sa araw na ito—dito magwawakas ang pamumunong manhid sa mga daing ng taumbayan. Hindi si Noynoy ang gumawa ng paraan, kayo ang dahilan kung bakit ngayon, magtatapos na ang pagtitiis ng sambayanan. Ito naman ang umpisa ng kalbaryo ko, ngunit kung marami tayong magpapasan ng krus ay kakayanin natin ito, gaano man kabigat.

Sa tulong ng wastong pamamahala sa mga darating na taon, maiibsan din ang marami nating problema. Ang tadhana ng Pilipino ay babalik sa tamang kalagayan, na sa bawat taon pabawas ng pabawas ang problema ng Pinoy na nagsusumikap at may kasiguruhan sila na magiging tuloy-tuloy na ang pagbuti ng kanilang sitwasyon.

Kami ay narito para magsilbi at hindi para maghari. Ang mandato ninyo sa amin ay pagbabago—isang malinaw na utos para ayusin ang gobyerno at lipunan mula sa pamahalaang iilan lamang ang nakikinabang tungo sa isang pamahalaang kabutihan ng mamamayan ang pinangangalagaan.

Ang mandatong ito ay isa kung saan kayo at ang inyong pangulo ay nagkasundo para sa pagbabago—isang paninindigan na ipinangako ko noong kampanya at tinanggap ninyo noong araw ng halalan.

Sigaw natin noong kampanya: “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.” Hindi lamang ito pang slogan o pang poster—ito ang mga prinsipyong tinatayuan at nagsisilbing batayan ng ating administrasyon.

Ang ating pangunahing tungkulin ay ang magsikap na maiangat ang bansa mula sa kahirapan, sa pamamagitan ng pagpapairal ng katapatan at mabuting pamamalakad sa pamahalaan.

Ang unang hakbang ay ang pagkakaroon ng tuwid at tapat na hanay ng mga pinuno. Magsisimula ito sa akin. Sisikapin kong maging isang mabuting ehemplo. Hinding hindi ko sasayangin ang tiwalang ipinagkaloob ninyo sa akin. Sisiguraduhin ko na ganito rin ang adhikain ng aking Gabinete at ng mga magiging kasama sa ating pamahalaan.

Naniniwala akong hindi lahat ng nagsisilbi sa gobyerno ay corrupt. Sa katunayan, mas marami sa kanila ay tapat. Pinili nilang maglingkod sa gobyerno upang gumawa ng kabutihan. Ngayon, magkakaroon na sila ng pagkakataong magpakitang-gilas. Inaasahan natin sila sa pagsupil ng korapsyon sa loob mismo ng burukrasya.

Sa mga itinalaga sa paraang labag sa batas, ito ang aking babala: sisimulan natin ang pagbabalik ng tiwala sa pamamagitan ng pag-usisa sa mga “midnight appointments.” Sana ay magsilbi itong babala sa mga nag-iisip na ipagpatuloy ang baluktot na kalakarang nakasanayan na ng marami.

Sa mga kapuspalad nating mga kababayan, ngayon, ang pamahalaan ang inyong kampeon.

Hindi natin ipagpapaliban ang mga pangangailangan ng ating mga estudyante, kaya’t sisikapin nating punan ang kakulangan sa ating mga silid-aralan.

Unti-unti din nating babawasan ang mga kakulangan sa imprastraktura para sa transportasyon, turismo at pangangalakal. Mula ngayon, hindi na puwede ang “puwede na” pagdating sa mga kalye, tulay at gusali dahil magiging responsibilidad ng mga kontratista ang panatilihing nasa mabuting kalagayan ang mga proyekto nila.

Bubuhayin natin ang programang “emergency employment” ng dating pangulong Corazon Aquino sa pagtatayo ng mga bagong imprastraktura na ito. Ito ay magbibigay ng trabaho sa mga local na komunidad at makakatulong sa pagpapalago ng kanila at ng ating ekonomiya.

Hindi kami magiging sanhi ng inyong pasakit at perwisyo. Palalakasin natin ang koleksyon at pupuksain natin ang korapsyon sa Kawanihan ng Rentas Internas at Bureau of Customs para mapondohan natin ang ating mga hinahangad para sa lahat, tulad ng:

• dekalidad na edukasyon, kabilang ang edukasyong bokasyonal para makapaghanap ng marangal na trabaho ang hindi makapag-kolehiyo;
• serbisyong pangkalusugan, tulad ng Philhealth para sa lahat sa loob ng tatlong taon;
• tirahan sa loob ng mga ligtas na komunidad.

Palalakasin at palalaguin natin ang bilang ng ating kasundaluhan at kapulisan, hindi para tugunan ang interes ng mga naghahari-harian, ngunit para proteksyunan ang mamamayan. Itinataya nila ang kanilang buhay para mayroong pagkakataon sa katahimikan at kapayapaan sa sambayanan. Dumoble na ang populasyong kanilang binabantayan, nanatili naman sila sa bilang. Hindi tama na ang nagmamalasakit ay kinakawawa.

Kung dati ay may fertilizer scam, ngayon ay may kalinga na tunay para sa mga magsasaka. Tutulungan natin sila sa irigasyon, extension services, at sa pagbenta ng kanilang produkto sa pinakamataas na presyong maaari.

Inaatasan natin si papasok na Kalihim Alcala na magtayo ng mgatrading centers kung saan diretso na ang magsasaka sa mamimili – lalaktawan natin ang gitna, kasama na ang kotong cop. Sa ganitong paraan, ang dating napupunta sa gitna ay maari nang paghatian ng magsasaka at mamimili.

Gagawin nating kaaya-aya sa negosyante ang ating bansa. We will cut red tape dramatically and implement stable economicpolicies. We will level the playing field for investors and makegovernment an enabler, not a hindrance, to business. Sa ganitong paraan lamang natin mapupunan ang kakulangan ng trabaho para sa ating mga mamamayan.

Layunin nating paramihin ang trabaho dito sa ating bansa upang hindi na kailanganin ang mangibang-bansa para makahanap ng trabaho. Ngunit habang ito ay hindi pa natin naaabot, inaatasan ko ang mga kawani ng DFA, POEA, OWWA at iba pang mga kinauukulang ahensiya na mas lalo pang paigtingin ang pagtugon sa mga hinaing at pangangailangan ng ating mga overseas Filipino workers.

Papaigtingin namin ang proseso ng konsultasyon at pag-uulat sa taumbayan. Sisikapin naming isakatuparan ang nakasaad sa ating Konstitusyon na kinikilala ang karapatan ng mamamayan na magkaroon ng kaalaman ukol sa mga pampublikong alintana.

Binuhay natin ang diwa ng people power noong kampanya. Ipagpatuloy natin ito tungo sa tuwid at tapat na pamamahala. Ang naniniwala sa people power ay nakatuon sa kapwa at hindi sa sarili.

Sa mga nang-api sa akin, kaya ko kayong patawarin, at pinapatawad ko na kayo. Sa mga nang-api sa sambayanan, wala akong karapatan na limutin ang inyong mga kasalanan.

To those who are talking about reconciliation, if they mean that they would like us to simply forget about the wrongs that they have committed in the past, we have this to say: there can be no reconciliation without justice. Sa paglimot ng pagkakasala, sinisigurado mong mauulit muli ang mga pagkakasalang ito. Secretary de Lima, you have your marching orders. Begin the process of providing true and complete justice for all.

Ikinagagalak din naming ibahagi sa inyo ang pagtanggap ni dating Chief Justice Hilario Davide sa hamon ng pagtatatag at pamumuno sa isang Truth Commission na magbibigay linaw sa maraming kahinahinalang isyu na hanggang ngayon ay walang kasagutan at resolusyon.

Ang sinumang nagkamali ay kailangang humarap sa hustisya. Hindi maaaring patuloy ang kalakaran ng walang pananagutan at tuloy na pang-aapi.

My government will be sincere in dealing with all the peoples of Mindanao. We are committed to a peaceful and just settlement of conflicts, inclusive of the interests of all – may they be Lumads, Bangsamoro or Christian.

We shalI defeat the enemy by wielding the tools of justice, social reform, and equitable governance leading to a better life. Sa tamang pamamahala gaganda ang buhay ng lahat, at sa buhay na maganda, sino pa ang gugustuhing bumalik sa panahon ng pang-aapi?

Kung kasama ko kayo, maitataguyod natin ang isang bayan kung saan pantay-pantay ang pagkakataon, dahil pantay-pantay nating ginagampanan ang ating mga pananagutan.

Kamakailan lamang, ang bawat isa sa atin ay nanindigan sa presinto. Bumoto tayo ayon sa ating karapatan at konsensiya. Hindi tayo umatras sa tungkulin nating ipaglaban ang karapatang ito.

Pagkatapos ng bilangan, pinatunayan ninyo na ang tao ang tunay na lakas ng bayan.

Ito ang kahalagahan ng ating demokrasya. Ito ang pundasyon ng ating pagkakaisa. Nangampanya tayo para sa pagbabago. Dahil dito taas-noo muli ang Pilipino. Tayong lahat ay kabilang sa isang bansa kung saan maaari nang mangarap muli.

To our friends and neighbors around the world, we are ready to take our place as a reliable member of the community of nations, a nation serious about its commitments and which harmonizes its national interests with its international responsibilities.

We will be a predictable and consistent place for investment, a nation where everyone will say, “it all works.”

Inaanyayahan ko kayo ngayon na manumpa sa ating mga sarili, sa sambayanan, WALANG MAIIWAN.

Walang pangingibang-bayan at gastusan na walang wastong dahilan. Walang pagtatalikod sa mga salitang binitawan noong kampanya, ngayon at hanggang sa mga susunod pang pagsubok na pagdadaanan sa loob ng anim na taon.

Walang lamangan, walang padrino at walang pagnanakaw. Walang wang-wang, walang counterflow, walang tong. Panahon na upang tayo ay muling magkawang-gawa.

Nandito tayo ngayon dahil sama-sama tayong nanindigan at nagtiwala na may pag-asa.

The people who are behind us dared to dream. Today, the dream starts to become a reality. Sa inyong mga nag-iisip pa kung tutulong kayo sa pagpasan ng ating krus, isa lang ang aking tanong – kung kailan tayo nanalo, saka pa ba kayo susuko?

Kayo ang boss ko, kaya’t hindi maaaring hindi ako makinig sa mga utos ninyo. We will design and implement an interaction and feedback mechanism that can effectively respond to the people’s needs and aspirations.

Kayo ang nagdala sa akin sa puntong ito—ang ating mga volunteers—matanda, bata, celebrity, ordinaryong tao, na umikot sa Pilipinas para ikampanya ang pagbabago; ang aking mga kasambahay, na nag-asikaso ng lahat ng aking mga personal na pangangailangan; ang aking pamilya, kaibigan at katrabaho, na dumamay, nag-alaga at nagbigay ng suporta sa akin; ang ating mga abogado, na nagpuyat para bantayan ang ating mga boto at siguraduhing mabibilang ang bawat isa; ang aking mga kapartido at kaalyado na kasama kong nangahas mangarap; at ang milyun-milyong Pilipinong nagkaisa, nagtiwala at hindi nawalan ng pag-asa—nasa inyo ang aking taus-pusong pasasalamat.

Hindi ko makakayang harapin ang aking mga magulang, at kayong mga nagdala sa akin sa yugto ng buhay kong ito, kung hindi ko maisasakatuparan ang aking mga binitawang salita sa araw na ito.

My parents sought nothing less and died for nothing less than democracy, peace and prosperity. I am blessed by this legacy. I shall carry the torch forward.

Layunin ko na sa pagbaba ko sa katungkulan, masasabi ng lahat na malayo na ang narating natin sa pagtahak ng tuwid na landas at mas maganda na ang kinabukasang ipapamana natin sa susunod na henerasyon. Samahan ninyo ako sa pagtatapos ng laban na ito. Tayo na sa tuwid na landas.

Maraming salamat po at mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino!

Best of luck to the 15th Chief Executive of the Philippines! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

Cheers,

Photo Credit: Jekeero

American talk show host Oprah Winfrey regained the title of the most powerful celebrity alive, beating Hollywood screen goddess Angelina Jolie who fell to No. 18 in this year’s Forbes Celebrity Power 100 List. The celebrity rankings are based on earnings in the past 12 months (June 1, 2009 to June 1, 2010) and visibility across print, television, radio and online. Here is how the Top 10 rounded out:

1.    Oprah Winfrey: $315 million
2.    Beyonce Knowles: $87 million
3.    James Cameron: $210 million
4.    Lady Gaga: $62 million
5.    Tiger Woods: $105 million
6.    Britney Spears: $64 million
7.    U2: $130 million
8.    Sandra Bullock: $56 million
9.    Johnny Depp: $75 million
10. Madonna: $58 million

Cheers,

Photo Credit: Babble

Controversial actress-television host Kris Aquino formally bids farewell to her show on ‘The Buzz’. Kris also tearfully confirmed that her marriage with cager James Yap is now over. Listed below is the full-text of her statement regarding the break-up of their marriage:

BOY ABUNDA: Krissy, maraming tanong, maraming opinyon, speculations. This is your chance. We will listen. What do you have to say?
KRIS AQUINO: First, I’m sorry about Tuesday [engagement in Cebu]. For so long, ilang buwan naman na nagampanan ko ang lahat ng tungkulin ko, lahat ng responsibilidad sa trabaho at sa kampanya kahit na mayroon kaming pinagdadaanan sa tahanan namin. It was a sign of weakness on my part not to show up, and I’m sorry about that. I’m sorry that you had to be the one to answer because you felt uncomfortable making up an excuse.

About what we’ve been through, I think naman Boy hindi lahat sikreto sa inyong lahat, kung ano ang mga napagdaanan namin in our married life. I think also the whole Philippines is fully aware na when my mom was alive and ngayon, my siblings have tried to bridge whatever gaps — and I mean gaps, marami na kasi. Tinry nila na tulungan kaming ayusin yung mga problema namin.
I have not sat down [with my siblings]…lahat through text — kay ate, kay Pinky. Through phone, nakausap ko si Viel. Nagtext din kami ni Noy. Siyempre sila lahat, gusto nila sana maayos pa.
I just want to say na whatever decision I have come to, it’s not a spur of the moment decision. Hindi ito nangyari na nagising lang ako isang araw at sinabi kong ayoko na. Matagal naming sinubukan. James and I both tried to really make this work.
On my part, what I’m comfortable saying is, with finality I can say, ako sumuko na.
Ang dami kong pinag-isipan kung paano ko maibabahagi sa lahat kung anong pinagdaanan namin without revealing anything painful. But there’s no way of doing that.
Last night, mga 4 in the morning, hindi ako makatulog pa. Katabi ko si Baby James, and I think he had a bad dream kasi he started to cry in his sleep. And that’s when it came to me, and I’m sure lahat ng mga nanay maiintindihan ako. Kung anuman ang dahilan why this marriage, on my part I’m saying, is over, the only person I will owe and explanation to, and the only person who can demand from me na bakit kayo naghiwalay, is my son.
And kagabi Boy, narealize ko, the worst thing I can do for Baby James is, when he’s 7 or 8 years old and mahanap niya sa YouTube yung explanation kung bakit naghiwalay ang nanay at tatay niya. He deserves much more than that. He deserves to hear it only from me and only from James. Because in any separation, there are 2 sides to the story. And we owe it to him, James will owe it to him, that I will owe it to him to explain to him.
But I’m sure you will all understand me. My decision to keep quiet is not because on June 30 magiging presidente si Noy. My decision to keep quiet is because I asked myself ‘Kapag inexplain ko kay Baby James, number one mauunawaan ba niya ako? Number 2, rerespetuhin pa ba niya ako? At number 3, mamahalin pa ba niya ako?’ At nasagot ko naman kagabi na ‘yes.’ I know my son will understand me, will respect me and still love me. And I feel that he will love me more, respect me more, and value me more if I keep quiet today.
I know that will leave so many unanswered questions, but those questions, only Baby James deserves to hear the answers to. Siguro Boy, this is part of growing up. It’s part of realizing that yes, I am public and I owe all of you an explanation, but apart from God, the only one I’m answerable to is kung di man mga kapatid ko eh ang anak ko.
So sana po, maiintindihan ninyo po ako na yung mga legal na aspeto ng pagsasama namin ni James, inuumpisahan na naming ayusin lahat yun. Kung anuman ang mga naging problema namin, kung anuman ang mga napag-awayan namin, kung anuman ang naganap sa tahanan namin, let it stay there. Because I’m doing this for my son, because he’s only 3 years old and he really doesn’t deserve na kung ano yung trials na pinagdaanan ng parents niya, kailangang ungkat-ungkatin at ulit-ulitin, wag na.
Kung this will mean na maraming hindi makakaintindi sa akin or sasabihin, ijujudge ako, then let it be. I don’t mind. The world can judge me. I just want my son to be able to respect me and respect his father. Because at the end of the day, ang utang namin sa kanya. Kasi ang pinakamaaapektuhan ng pangyayaring ito ang anak ko. To a certain extent, of course, it will affect Josh but it’s really Baby James who will really be affected.
And maybe, yung sinasabi ng mom ko sa akin parati na ‘Krissy, love is bringing out the best in each other.’ Maybe Baby James is really bringing out the best in me. And that’s it, Boy. I really hope they understand that this is for my son.
BOY: Naiintindihan ko. Maraming salamat, Krissy.

You can also watch the video below in case you have missed her tearful speech:

Best of luck Krissy – your fans will surely miss the vibrancy every Sunday afternoon.

Photo Credit: Joel Guinto

Catherine Zeta-Jones is one lucky lady these days!

Last May 23, Zeta-Jones won an Outstanding Actress in a Musical for her role as Desiree Armfeldt in the musical play, ‘A Little Night Music’ at the 2010 Drama Desk Awards in New York City.

Then, not even a month old from her triumph in 55th Drama Desk Award, the gorgeous Welsh actress bagged again a top honor for the same musical at the 2010 Tony Awards (Best Performance by a leading Actress in a Musical) last Sunday, June 13.

And lastly, as of press time, the beauteous Hollywood royalty can now officially put the letters CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) after her name as she has just been awarded in the 2010 Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Zeta-Jones was honored by Queen Elizabeth II for her services to the film services to the film industry and charity. She received the CBE Royal Honor alongside actress Sophie Okonedo and actor John Nettles.

Wow, Catherine Zeta-Jones has indeed come a long way right after her Hollywood break in ‘The Mask of Zorro’.

Congratulations, idol!

Cheers,

Photo Credit: Whyfame

It is now confirmed. Hollywood’s reigning queen Angelina Jolie will be playing Cleopatra. The upcoming film about the most famous Queen of Egypt will be directed by Scott Rudin and slated to be shown in cinemas by 2011. The film is adapted from Stacy Schiff’s forthcoming book ‘Cleopatra: A Life’. The book won’t be published until autumn 2010 but it has been reported that Rudin has already purchased the film rights and has expressed that a movie ‘is being developed for and with Jolie.’ The author is also indicating that Brad Pitt may play the role of Mark Anthony.

Wow, I can’t wait to watch this epic!

Cheers,

Photo Credit: Weri Channel

So, do you want to find out how many people have your name?

Then, try this new service that Google is giving out to its users – it is called ‘Google Me’. This service finds out how many people actually have your name. Awesome isn’t it?

You can also watch the documentary film by Jim Killeen to know more about it. The documentary features seven guys that are all named Jim Kileen!

“It all started when I Googled my name,” said Killeen of his movie. And who in today’s day and age hasn’t engaged in just such an activity in a moment of idle “webbing.” The difference here that the filmmaker actually followed up on his findings by not only contacting his namesakes but also traveling to whatever remote location called for to meet and interview the subjects of his search.

Drumroll please…

Archie Comics announced that Riverdale High will have a new gay character in September!

The character is a blond newbie named Kevin Keller. He will appear in issue number 202 of Veronica Comics titled “Isn’t it Bromantic?”

“Everyone seems to know where Kevin is coming from except Veronica,” says Victor Gorelick, editor in chief of Archie Comics. “They don’t tell Veronica — they let her stew in it for a while. But he hangs out with Jughead — they seem to have a connection as far as food goes.”

Jon Goldwater, Archie Comics co-CEO also added:

“The introduction of Kevin is just about keeping the world of Archie Comics current and inclusive. Archie’s hometown of Riverdale has always been a safe world for everyone. It just makes sense to have an openly gay character in Archie comic books.”

Bravo to the creators of Archie Comics for giving comic readers something to look forward to in the upcoming issues.

Gosh, I can’t wait on how Veronica will react once she discovered the ‘real’ Kevin Keller in the future!

I bet it will be a fun read!

Cheers,

Photo Credit and Source: Newsarama

The Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc (BPCI) announced today that Venus Raj can still reclaim the Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2010 crown. The official statement was published through the Araneta Center’s Multiply account stating that:

The Executive Committee of Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) announces today that after due deliberation, they have reassessed the situation pertaining to Ms. Maria Venus Raj and have decided, for humanitarian reasons, that if she is able to obtain a valid Philippine Passport, they will reinstate her as the reigning Bb Pilipinas-Universe.

The Committee emphasized that:

“We are sensitive to her situation, but we are aware too, of our responsibilities as an entity existing under Philippine Law.”

“The BPCI being an organization concerned not just with the quest for the true Filipina Beauty but more so, dedicated to the empowerment of women and the upliftment of the lives of marginalized Filipinos, has always considered the welfare of our candidates paramount.”

“Our intention, with respect to Ms. Raj, was always to protect her in the way we felt appropriate.”

“More than the yearly Bb. Pilipinas pageant, BPCI’s relevance as an organization lies in the many opportunities it provides to young and deserving Filipinas, and we are hopeful that Venus will be that Filipina to represent our country in this year’s Miss Universe Pageant.”

Hmmm,

I am really wondering why there are still conditions to be met because according to my lawyer friend:

Tell Binibining Pilipinas that a passport is not proof of Philippine citizenship. The “Queen” was born to a Filipino mother. Hence, she is a Filipino citizen. [See Art.IV, Sec. 1[2] of the Philippine Constitution]

Cheers,

Photo Credit: Pilipinas Beauties

Dethroned Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 2010 Maria Venus Raj has finally broken her silence through an interview with Boy Abunda at ‘The Buzz’ on Easter Sunday, April 4.

On her one-on-one interview, Raj narrated that it was her aunt who registered her birth record. She said that it was registered 3 years after she was born due to her mother’s embarrassment. Raj admitted that she born out of wedlock and never denied that she was born to a Filipina mother and an Indian father ever since she started joining beauty pageants.

Moreover, Raj clarified to Abunda that there wasn’t any rule in the Bb. Pilipinas Charities Inc and Miss Universe Organization that being born illegitimate is not acceptable when participating in beauty pageants.

Raj is also asking organizers the real reasons why she was surprisingly stripped off the crown.

Have your say about the ongoing saga of Venus Raj to reclaim her crown. You can also check out other comments regarding Raj’s dethronement at this link.

Also, please sign on the online petition for Venus Raj at this link.

Cheers,

Photo Credit: Venus Raj Online Petition