We are sorry, the requested page does not exist
How ‘Here Lies Love’ co-producer found his mark on Broadway
When Here Lies Love, the hit musical about former First Lady Imelda Marcos, made history by debuting on Broadway debut with an all-Filipino last July, one of its co-producers, Don Michael H. Mendoza, also reached a career milestone. His goal of putting his name on a Broadway show before turning 40 came true now that he’s 34. [caption id="attachment_172743" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Don Michael Mendoza with Daily Tribune’s (from left) Dinah Ventura, Jojo G. Silvestre, Gigie Arcilla, Vangie Reyes, Marc Reyes, Raffy Ayeng, Gibbs Cadiz and Nick Giongco.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_172742" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘Always ask for what you want because the worst that can come back is a no.’ | Photographs Courtesy of Daily Tribune.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_172741" align="aligncenter" width="525"] DON Mike Mendoza with Daily Tribune’s Jojo G. Silvestre and Dinah Ventura.[/caption] It happened, and it’s not just any show. It’s the first Filipino musical on Broadway,” he tells Daily Tribune’s Dinah Ventura and Jojo Silvestre in an interview on their online show Pairfect. “It’s very important to me because a lot of my career is based on the idea of D,E & I — diversity, equity and inclusion — especially in a country like America that’s a melting pot. “It’s very important to make sure that unrepresented voices and communities are brought to the front. To be part of that, for me personally, is an incredible honor because it’s exactly aligned with how I live my professional life every day, every year.” “For the Fil-Am community,” he adds, “I think it’s important for people to see themselves in that arena, whether be as a producer, an actor, or a stagehand, or on the creative team as an assistant director. You know, it says a lot when someone tries to reach that can see themselves in a role that they want to achieve. “Because for a long time, my role models were very few. They’re mostly Americans, they’re white people. And I wanted to be an actor and my only acting influences in the media was Paolo Montalban. He was in Cinderella, American Adobo… He’s now a friend — which is amazing! But I didn’t really have many role models. So, to our community, both Filipino and Fil-Am, they can now look at this production and say, whatever they feel is their career path, ‘I can do it, too.’ So, it’s very powerful.” Beginnings Don Michael Hodreal Mendoza, nicknamed Don Mike, was born in Washington D.C., the capital city of the United States, to immigrant parents. His father Donald Mendoza’s family hails from Cavite and is involved in local politics. His mother Maria Leonila Hodreal has families in Marinduque (maternal side) and Bicol (paternal side). His grandfather Querubin Hodreal created what is now known as the Easy Rock Manila radio station. “My mom, who’s part of that legacy, says even though we’re in the States I somehow ended up doing what our family does, in entertainment and media,” he says, beaming. From Washington D.C., Mendoza’s nuclear family moved to the city of Pittsburgh in the Pennsylvania state, where he grew up. “But I was also raised here in Manila, in Ayala Alabang, for a couple of years,” he points out. He was then between the ages of six and eight, also starting his education at Montessori Manila in BF Homes. “We’re lucky we’re able to come home a lot, so even though I grew up on majority in America, we’d come home every other year.” That explains why he also has exposure and gets inspiration from Filipino movies and entertainment. Mendoza started performing in school plays and high school musicals “for fun.” For college, though, he “needed to study that wasn’t the arts because immigrant families want you to do something that makes money in their eyes.” So he took up broadcast journalism and political science at the American University in D.C. But he didn’t like political science, so he dropped it and added musical theater to his studies without telling his parents until he got into the program. After graduation, he was torn between two goals: becoming a Broadway actor like Jose Llana, who currently plays the late President Ferdinand Marcos in Here Lies Love, and becoming the “Filipino Anderson Cooper.” He ended up staying in D.C with a job in marketing, which eventually became his master’s degree. Mendoza started auditioning and trying to get into shows. “But I wasn’t getting cast the way I wanted to,” he recalls, “because it’s very hard for a Filipino, an Asian male actor to get parts, unless you decided to be in Miss Saigon, which was one of the only very few shows that hire Asian people. So, I kinda fell into producing.” That was when he met a fellow Fil-Am, Regie Cabico, who’s 20 years older than him and became his mentor. He remembers Cabico telling him, “The way to be successful for someone like us in the arts is to start your own opportunities.” Thus, the birth, in 2012, of their company, La Ti Do, which is into production of cabarets and concerts. “I met so many people and worked with so many actors and performers without knowing it’s producing,” he says, smiling at the memory. “I just realized producing means organizing. It means you’re in charge, you’re putting things together and hire people. In those 10 years, I was able to produce small musicals and concerts and special events.” He then put up his own DMH Mendoza Productions, which has La Ti Do as its cabaret-concert arm, to allow him to “produce bigger and more incredible things.” For starters, he produced the off-Broadway play Hazing U that tackles violence in fraternities. Around that time, February 2023, he heard about Here Lies Love being restaged, this time on Broadway. The musical created by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim originally premiered off-Broadway in 2013 at The Public Theater in New York City. A year later, it moved to the Royal National Theater in London, England, and then was restaged at Seattle Repertory Theater in the US in 2017. Mendoza admits with regret that he missed seeing Here Lies Love’s off-Broadway premiere and thought he’d never see it ever again “just because Filipino things don’t usually last very long in America.” So when he heard it was coming to Broadway, he basically called everybody he knew who’s involved in the production to ask how he could help. “I wasn’t really looking for a producer stature,” he says. “I said to many people I’m willing to sell t-shirts in the lobby just to support this show.” It turned out his good friend Lora Nicolas Olaes, who he stayed with in New York, was in the first workshop of the show in 2011, and she personally knows one of the lead producers, Clint Ramos. Olaes then connected Mendoza and Ramos via email, which led to Mendoza joining the Here Lies Love production team. “I’m still having trouble today saying I’m a co-producer. I’m so used to just doing rather than labeling,” he says. “It’s been a wild ride from then till now. I don’t regret any of it. It’s been the best experience so far.” He then shares that having an all-Filipino cast and a predominantly Filipino production team is very important for the lead producers. Two of the five are Filipino: Clint Ramos, a Tony award-winning costume designer, and Jose Antonio Vargas, a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist. This extends to other producers, such as Hal Luftig, Diana DiMenna and Patrick Catullo, as well as to musical writers David Byrne and Fatboy Slim. “They wanted to reach beyond the cast and make sure that the show is escorted into Broadway by Filipinos because it’s a Filipino story,” Mendoza points out. Aside from Llana, the main cast is made up of Arielle Jacobs (as Imelda) and Conrad Ricamora as (Ninoy Aquino), with Lea Salonga (as Ninoy’s mother Aurora) in a limited run until 19 August. “It’s beyond the cast. So our creative team, our production team, our stagehands, everybody. Even our house staff, some of them are Filipinos. We really wanted to make a mark on Broadway. That’s how it came about. So that was an early decision. Because the off-Broadway production was mixed. It was not all-Filipino. It had Ruthie Ann Miles as Imelda. She’s not Filipino. It was hard to move from her and bring in Arielle Jacobs, who is just as amazing, but, you know, it was very important for the team to be culturally accurate. Because it’s our story.” “It’s our show,” he reiterates. “Let’s bring it to the world. Our people are playing themselves. I’ve said this in an interview: The general public is trained to love Filipino as other ethnicities. This is the first time we’re training them to love us, Filipinos, as ourselves.” Musical textbook Mendoza’s fellow co-producers include Salonga and Fil-Am celebrities like comedian Jo Koy, musical artist H.E.R. and rapper Apl.de.ap. “Our show is a musical textbook,” he explains. “It’s a musical built around facts, what happened historically during her lifetime. Our whole goal for the show is to present to you what happened with, of course, entertainment attached to it. There’s a misconception that it’s a documentary. It is not. It’s musical theater. It’s supposed to be fun. You see what happened. “We empower our audience to make their own decision. We don’t tell them, ‘This was a bad person. This was a good person.’ Here’s what this person did in their life and how she was affected by her surroundings, and go home and do the research. You figure it out. We liken it to giving someone a Zip file of Philippine history in the 21th century and you go home and unzip the Zip file to get into the details. “But we give you an overview. It’s really up to the audience when they leave the show. I know it’s the goal of our writers and directors to not impose an opinion. We’re just here to entertain and make you learn. When you leave, it’s up to you.” Mendoza happily reports that Here Lies Love is being received “very well.” He adds, “The critics have come and said really wonderful about the show, especially the ones we’re nervous about, like the New York Times, or The Washington Post, or the Wall Street Journal. It trickles down to everyone who’s seen the show. I think we’re so proud and excited that it’s well-received. Audience members love it, they keep coming back.” He also notes that audiences are “pretty diverse. You see Filipinos, you see Americans, you see visitors. It’s really a big hodge-podge of different people. We’re happy about that, too. It’s not biased to just one community.” Indeed, Mendoza is living his dream and he has this piece of audience for the younger generation who also hopes to break into theater or arts in general: “Always ask for what you want because the worst that can come back is a no.” He then shares what she’s picked up from Kris Jenner: “If somebody says no to you, you’re asking the wrong person. Keeping asking for what you want. Not just manifesting, but really it’s just speaking up. Nobody can read your mind. Nobody can see what’s happening in your mind and in your heart. So if you express it, you ask and you’ll get there. It may not happen in the timing that you want, but it will happen if you keep pushing.” The post How ‘Here Lies Love’ co-producer found his mark on Broadway appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Jing Sararaña’s way to healing through art
Angeles City-based visual artist Jaysil “Jing” Sararaña has already established a name in the art scene despite being a “late bloomer,” having started her artistic career only in 2020 during the lockdowns and restrictions imposed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Born in Tulunan, in the province of North Cotabato, Sararaña, with her own family, now lives in Pampanga, the province that first embraced her as a visual artist. Her parents are originally from the towns of San Joaquin and Miag-ao in Iloilo but moved to Mindanao in search of better opportunities like other migrants from the Visayas and Luzon. Sararaña is an abstractionist, a self-taught artist influenced by Pampangan visual artists Arnel Garcia and Aurelio de Guzman and abstractionist Kenneth Montegrade. She describes her style as “hyper creative and spontaneous,” her subjects inspired by her emotions, the poems she writes and her stories. “I paint as I go,” she said. “I usually just create a sketch of an idea but the details come after I’m done with the background.” Sararaña further explained that her art is “exactly how I feel at the moment. I like to be in my art.” “My art is me [and] it usually shows my character, my feelings, my story or my dreams,” she explained. [gallery size="full" ids="167793,167792,167791"] [caption id="attachment_167789" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘Dancing On My Own’ (2022).[/caption] [caption id="attachment_167788" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘A Woman Who Weaves Life’ (2022).[/caption] Saved from depression For her, art is heart, which is the most important factor in creating works. Art also saved her from depression brought about by many things including the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns. “Art saved me from the shambles of depression. If you feel alone and misunderstood, let art make them hear. Let art explain your emotion,” Sararaña said. Her art journey was accidental, and friends are calling her an accidental artist. “I never really thought of making art as a career as I wanted to study abroad to be a lawyer but it’s very difficult when you have no means and opportunities especially for a mom like me,” she said. “And I met art accidentally. The art community here in Angeles has been very welcoming. I enjoyed the new family I made through art, and I want to keep them so I continue making art.” Big break In March 2021, a big break came when she joined the art group Pilipinta, which mounted an inaugural exhibit at Robinsons Galleria’s Artablado that year. She mounted a mini exhibit at Okada Manila in October the next year after her collaboration with a fashion designer for the Manila International Fashion Week, where she painted a barong Tagalog worn by a participant from Singapore. She had her first solo exhibit in December 2022 in Pampanga. Sararaña is now a full-time mother of two while juggling being an artist after working in the business process outsourcing industry for years. “We transferred here in Pampanga five years ago for a new beginning, and we had to start from scratch,” she revealed. “I did not know anybody here, I don’t have someone to talk to and that is also the reason why I got depressed.” But it “made me discover art.” “I talk a lot but at the same time, I am also a loner and those undisclosed stories in my mind that I used to write in a blog, made a big impact in my works,” she said. The post Jing Sararaña’s way to healing through art appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tony Bennett, last of classic American crooners, dead at 96
Tony Bennett, the last in a generation of classic American crooners whose ceaselessly cheery spirit bridged generations to make him a hitmaker across seven decades, died Friday in New York. He was 96. Raised in an era when big bands defined US pop music, Bennett achieved an improbable second act when he started winning over young audiences in the 1990s -- not by reinventing himself but by demonstrating his sheer joy in belting out the standards. And then at age 88, Bennett, in 2014 became the oldest person ever to reach number one on the US album sales chart through a collection of duets with Lady Gaga -- who became his friend and touring companion but only one of a long list of younger stars who rushed to work with the singing great. Bennett's publicist, Sylvia Weiner, announced his death. Likened since the start of his career to Frank Sinatra, Bennett first tried to distance himself but eventually followed much of the same path as other crooners of yore -- singing in nightclubs, on television, and for movies, although his attempts to act ended quickly. His gift proved to be his stage presence. With a welcoming smile and dapper suit, he sang with gusto and a smooth vibrato in a strong, clearly enunciated voice, which he kept in shape through training from the operatic Bel Canto tradition. Starting with his recording of the film song "Because of You" in 1951, Bennett sang dozens of hits including "Rags to Riches," "Stranger in Paradise" and, in what would become his signature tune, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," which landed him two of his career's 19 Grammy Awards. But the British Invasion led by The Beatles initially took a toll on the singer, whose music suddenly sounded quaint and antiquated. He nearly died of a cocaine overdose in 1979 before sobering up and eventually reviving his career. "When rap came along, or disco, whatever the new fashion was at the moment, I didn't try to find something that would fit whatever the style was of the whole music scene," Bennett told the British culture magazine Clash. "I just stayed myself and sang sincerely and tried to just stay honest with myself -- never compromising, just doing the best songs that I could think of for the public. "And luckily it just paid off." Singing as hardscrabble youth Tony Bennett -- his stage name came after advice from showbiz A-lister Bob Hope -- was born Anthony Dominick Benedetto in the Astoria neighborhood of New York's Queens borough. His father was a struggling grocer who immigrated from southern Italy's Calabria region, to which his mother also traced her ancestry. He showed early promise as an entertainer, singing at age nine next to legendary New York mayor Fiorello LaGuardia when he ceremonially opened the city's Triborough Bridge, now known as the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge. But his father's death at age 10, at a time when the United States was still struggling to exit the Great Depression, led him to leave school and earn money through jobs including singing at Italian restaurants and caricature painting, which remained a lifelong side career. During World War II, Bennett was drafted into the 63rd Infantry Division and was sent to France and Germany. But he was demoted after cursing out an officer from the South who objected to Bennett dining with an African American friend in the then racially segregated army. As punishment, Bennett spent his tour of duty digging out bodies and shipping them. But after the Allied victory, Bennett found an unexpected break into music as he waited with fellow troops in Wiesbaden, Germany to return home. With the city's opera house still intact, a US Army band performed a weekly show to be broadcast on military radio across Germany. Taken on as the band's librarian, Bennett was quickly impressed with his voice and was made one of four vocalists. "During this period in the army, I enjoyed the most musical freedom I've ever had in my life," Bennett later wrote in his autobiography, "The Good Life." "I could sing whatever I wanted, and there was no one around to tell me any different," he wrote. Outspoken against racism and war When he returned to the United States, he took formal singing lessons through the GI Bill, which covered educational expenses for returning troops. His experiences made Bennett a lifelong liberal. He became especially enraged in the 1950s when he played in Miami with jazz pioneer Duke Ellington, who was not allowed to attend a press party due to segregation at the hotel. In a then risky move for a popular entertainer, he accepted an invitation from singer Harry Belafonte to join civil rights icon Martin Luther King in the 1965 march from Selma, Alabama in support of equal voting rights for African Americans. He later wrote in his memoir that the hostility of the white state troopers reminded him of Nazi Germany. He was also an outspoken opponent of war, at times raising controversy. "The first time I saw a dead German, that's when I became a pacifist," he told popular radio host Howard Stern days after the 11 September 2001 attacks. Late in life, still cool Bennett was married three times and had four children including Antonia Bennett, who has followed his path as a singer of pop and jazz standards. But his son Danny Bennett was most instrumental in his father's career, aggressively courting MTV and other players in the pop world as a manager for his father. By the early 1990s, Bennett -- his style and look little changed from the 1960s, except for more gray hair -- was appearing in music videos on MTV and singing warm-up at concerts by alternative rock giants such as Smashing Pumpkins and Porno for Pyros. Proof that Bennett was back came in 1993 when he presented a prize at the MTV Video Music Awards alongside the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who hailed his cool factor and playfully sang part of "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." His career only kept building and a decade later, he released three successful albums of duets. On one of them, "Body and Soul," he sang with Amy Winehouse in her last recording before she died in 2011 at age 27. He marked his 90th birthday with a star-studded concert at New York's Radio City Music Hall, which was turned into a television special and album. The title was taken from a song popularized by Bennett: "The Best Is Yet to Come." Bennett toured the United States and Europe into his final decade, playing his last public performance before the coronavirus pandemic halted touring in New Jersey on 11 March 2020. Soon after, he revealed he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2016. He had kept his condition quiet for years. Upon turning 95, Bennett played two more birthday concerts, again at Radio City Music Hall, with Lady Gaga -- shows billed as his farewell to New York. He then canceled the remainder of his 2021 tour dates on "doctors' orders." "And let the music play as long as there's a song to sing / And I will stay younger than spring," he crooned during the first of his farewell shows, in a rendition of his ballad "This Is All I Ask." "You've been a good audience," Bennett said prior to his encore. "I love this audience." The post Tony Bennett, last of classic American crooners, dead at 96 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Trailblazing Heart Evangelista opens doors for Pinoy designers in global fashion
In the countdown to the highly anticipated Haute Couture Week, its official Instagram page (@hautecoutureweek) chose a Filipina to grace its teaser to mark D-3, or three days before the start of the global fashion event. It was no less than Heart Evangelista, wearing a jaw-dropping modern terno by Filipino designer Cheetah Rivera. She had been first photographed in Rivera’s white and blue ombré “Santiago” dress exactly a year ago on the streets of Paris. This time, it served as the backdrop for a “save the date” of the world’s premier fashion event for Fall/Winter 2023. It brings pride to the Philippines not just for her presence, but for also putting Filipino fashion on the spotlight at the biggest stage of couture and paving the way for the entry of other Filipinos to Paris, Milan and New York Fashion weeks and the international fashion scene as a whole. The post did not bear her name — it really didn’t have to. For Heart has risen to become a global fashion icon. And for the Philippines, she is a global fashion pioneer and a trailblazer, breaking into the scene at a scale no other Filipino ever has. Heart’s face is familiar the world over from the pages of top-tier magazines, from Elle and Instyle to Bazaar and Vogue. Anna Wintour knows her by name. She has posed for a photo with Michael Kors. And she has shared a giggly hug with Christian Loubutin. To brands, Heart’s face and poses are currency. With her impeccable personal style, head-turning looks and eye-catching strut, she gets the front seat in high-profile runway shows, sought after by designers to lend her name to their brand. The luxury list is endless: Chanel, Guerlain, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Balmain, Prada, Kenzo, Giambattista Valli, you name it. Alongside, she champions Filipino brands — Neric Beltran, Cheetah Rivera, Maison Glarino, and Mark Bumgarner — making their creations known to the world and bringing global attention to Philippine textile and design. The fashion world craves for more from Heart, and she is just getting started. The next time a fashion photographer’s camera clicks, whether in Milan, Paris, LA or Singapore, it would likely be Heart, owning style, grace and elegance in a single frame. The post Trailblazing Heart Evangelista opens doors for Pinoy designers in global fashion appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
WHAT IF... Perez wasn t suspended for NCAA 94 Finals Game 1
History lesson: After missing out on the Final Four for its first six seasons in the NCAA, Lyceum of the Philippines University made back-to-back trips to the Finals in Seasons 93 and 94. The Season 93 Finals, the school's first-ever, wound up as a heartbreaking loss to eventual champion San Beda University. Memorably, the Pirates won each and every one of their 18 games in the elimination round - the first-ever team to do so in the Grand Old League - before going winless in their last two games. Of course, playoff experience and championship heart proved to be the difference for the Red Lions. In that light, Season 94 should have been a different story for LPU. Only, it wasn't. San Beda yet again swept the upstarts via convincing victories. And from Game 1, the Red Lions already knew it was all over. "Oo naman. Siyempre, mag-iiba laban kung nandun siya," then-King Lion Robert Bolick in last week's The Prospects Pod. "Sa part din namin, wala siya so tapos na. Tapos na yung laban." The "siya" he was referring to? CJ Perez, Season 93 MVP and Season 94 Mythical selection, who was not in action and not even at the venue for the series-opener. Apparently, Perez failed to notify the NCAA about his application for the 2018 PBA Draft and was therefore sanctioned with a suspension for Game 1 of the Finals. But what if he were there - there, ready and raring to play in the opener of the series where he and all of LPU were seeking redemption? The now-26-year-old had no doubt that if that were the case, the Pirates would have put up a much fiercer fight. As he put it, "Siguro, mas ginanahan pa yung mga kasama ko. Nung natambakan na kasi nung Game 1, parang nanginig na yung mga tuhod ng Game 2 eh." Sans Perez, the maroon and grey fell victim to a 19-9 start by their opponents and never recovered. Final score read 73-60 in favor of San Beda. If the 6-foot-2 playmaker were there, Cameroonian powerhouse Mike Nzeusseu would not be their top-scorer as the former had averaged 18.7 points in the prior 18 games. Of course, defensive-minded coach Boyet Fernandez would have also adjusted accordingly and the Red Lions, just like they did in last year's championship round, would have put their full focus on Perez. Still, a full-force LPU side would, for sure, have posed more problems for San Beda. In the end, Mendiola's dynasty would have still have all the answers - what with Bolick and Javee Mocon just playing their best basketball that season. That momentum would then carry over to Game 2 where the Red Lions still sweep the Pirates for their fourth championship in a row. In terms of result, Perez's presence would not have changed a thing. Nonetheless, his being there would have made for much more must-see TV. Also, his being there would not have forced him to just drown his sorrows all by his lonesome. "Ang mindset ko pa rin bago nun, tulog pa rin nang maaga para handa, pero nung sinabi na ngang 'di ako pwede maglaro, sabi ko na lang, 'Hala, ready na ako eh,'" he recalled. He then continued, through chuckles, "Nung araw na yun, nasa dorm ako, nakaupo sa couch, nanood ng laro. Nakailang beer nga ako nun." --- Follow this writer on Twitter, @riegogogo......»»
Magis Eagles now in Manila to start NBTC campaign
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu’s Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles will start their redemption journey in the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) National Finals on Monday, March 18, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. The Magis Eagles are now in Manila to redeem themselves following last year’s classic double-overtime loss, 90-91,.....»»
How to Avoid Procrastination, A Must Read
Ever find yourself juggling tasks at the last minute, heart pounding as deadlines creep closer? Well, you’re not alone. Let’s chat about how to kick procrastination to the curb and make work life a bit smoother. Start by breaking tasks into bite-sized chunks. It’s like tackling a pizza slice instead of the whole pie. Trust […].....»»
New Research Shows Link Between Food Environment and Heart Failure Risk
A recent study by the American Heart Association has found that living close to fast-food restaurants could increase the risk of heart failure. The study,.....»»
‘Si Lord muna’: Couples dedicate Heart s Day to church amid 2024’s ‘Barbenheimer’
This year's Valentine's Day, dubbed by some as 2024's "Barbenheimer," falls on Ash Wednesday, a significant day for Catholics that marks the start of the Lenten season, prompting many to abstain from everyday indulgences......»»
Ivana Alawi dunay bag-ong uyab: ‘My heart is happy’
Gipahibaw sa Kapamilya sexy actress ug content creator nga si Ivana Alawi nga malipayon siya karon kauban sa iyang bag-o nga uyab. “My heart is happy. Ayaw ko namang sabihin na super happy kasi siyempre start pa lang so, happy,” sey pa ni Ivana sa iyang interview sa ABS-CBN. Samtang wala niya hinganli ang iyang.....»»
Cardinals aching to end long wait
For the second time in the last three years, Mapua takes a shot at a first NCAA championship in more than three decades against a San Beda side seriously intent of resurrecting its dynastic days in today’s start of their Season 99 best-of-three title duel at the MOA Arena......»»
NCAA Player of the Week Nitura helps Altas stay afloat
After a shaky start to the season, University of Perpetual Help System DALTA is finally living up to its dark horse tag after winning its last four games with Cyrus Nitura playing crucial roles as the Altas remain in the Final Four hunt......»»
Following These 8 Steps for Heart Health May Slow Biological Aging by 6 Years, Research Shows
New Research Shows Link between Strong Heart Health and Slower Biological Aging A groundbreaking study has revealed a direct correlation between cardiovascular health and the.....»»
Is it menopause?
With each passing birthday I get closer and closer to that midlife transition known as menopause, and whenever I feel unusually warm, I wonder if it is finally happening. Menopause is the time when a woman no longer has menstrual cycles for 12 continuous months. It is a natural biological process and is not a disease. The average age of menopause for Filipino women is 49 years old, and the changes can begin between in the early 40s, with symptoms starting three to five years before menses stop and can even last for an average of seven years up to 14 years after the menses stop. One of the most commonly associated symptoms of menopause are hot flashes -- a feeling that typically begins as a sudden sensation of heat centered in the upper chest and face that rapidly spreads all over the body. The sensation of heat lasts about two to four minutes and is often associated with profuse sweating and occasionally palpitations, sometimes followed by chills and shivering and a feeling of anxiety. Hot flashes usually occur several times per day and are particularly common at night and can interfere with sleep. While hot flashes are the most common symptom of menopause, it is not the only symptom. Once the menses start becoming irregular, women can feel irritable and have mood swings, trouble sleeping, joint pain, incontinence, memory loss and depression. Some may have trouble describing their symptoms, and they may consult with a number of specialists -- from cardiologists to gastroenterologists, endocrinologists and psychiatrists. Menopause can also occur after surgical removal of the ovaries. Menopause can also occur after surgical removal of the ovaries. If you have surgery to remove your uterus (hysterectomy) you will no longer have periods, but if your ovaries are left behind you can still go through perimenopause and menopause later on. If your ovaries are also removed during a hysterectomy, you may experience symptoms of menopause immediately. The management of menopause varies from person to person and depends on the severity of symptoms and a woman’s overall health. Several approaches can be considered: 1. Lifestyle changes. Many women find relief from symptoms by adopting a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, a balanced diet and stress reduction techniques. 2. Maintaining an appropriate weight for your height. 3. Hormone replacement therapy. This involves taking medications that replace the hormones (estrogen and sometimes progesterone) that decline during menopause. It can effectively relieve symptoms but carries some risks and is not suitable for everyone. 4. Non-hormonal medications. Some non-hormonal medications can help alleviate specific symptoms, such as antidepressants for mood swings or prescription creams for vaginal dryness. 5. Alternative therapies. Some women explore alternative treatments like acupuncture, herbal supplements or natural remedies to manage their symptoms, though the efficacy of these methods can vary. 6. Regular health checkups. It’s crucial for women in menopause to maintain regular health checkups, as this life stage can be associated with an increased risk of certain health conditions, such as heart disease and osteoporosis. A visit to your doctor can help to find out if you could be going through perimenopause. If have any of the symptoms but are younger than 45 years old, these may not be due to menopause but other hormone problems. Your doctor can order some blood tests to check your hormone levels to determine the cause of your symptoms. Menopause is a transformative journey that every woman will experience. While it comes with its share of challenges, it is a natural and inevitable part of life. Understanding the phases, symptoms, causes and management options for menopause can empower women to make informed decisions and embrace this new phase with confidence and grace. It is also important for women to seek support, whether from healthcare professionals, support groups or loved ones, to navigate this significant life transition successfully. The post Is it menopause? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Toxic? Britney tells of troubles in new memoir
Britney Spears, the dewy-eyed child star who became a global pop phenomenon and then melted down in full view of the world, tells her story Tuesday with the release of her already bestselling memoir. "The Woman In Me" is the pop princess in her own, unvarnished words, shot through with the anguish of a family she believes has failed her at every step of the way, in an industry that mercilessly devours its talent. From sharing daiquiris with her mother as a young teenager -- two years after she became a regular on "The Mickey Mouse Club" -- to the 13 years she spent as an adult in a conservatorship, the memoir details how she struggled to escape the influence of her controlling father. Until two years ago, when she got out from under the conservatorship legal relationship that she says dictated everything from her birth control choices to the set list at lucrative Las Vegas gigs. In the intervening months, Spears has married a former dancer, announced then lost a pregnancy, and is now on the road to her third divorce. The book, whose pre-orders catapulted it to the top of the Amazon best-seller list, was produced too early to include that coda with husband Sam Asghari. But readers will still have plenty to chew on. 'Harlot' Tidbits that have leaked ahead of publication include news of an abortion Spears says fellow Mickey Mouse Club alum Justin Timberlake urged her to have after she became pregnant while the couple was together. When the pair split, and his hit "Cry Me A River" appeared to be about the way he felt she had betrayed him, Spears was painted as the "harlot who'd broken the heart of America's golden boy," she writes. In reality, he was "happily running around Hollywood" while she was "comatose in Louisiana." Readers have also learned of a brief but intense affair with Irish actor and Oscar nominee Colin Farrell, what she calls "a two-week brawl." "Brawl is the only word for it -- we were all over each other, grappling so passionately it was like we were in a street fight." The noughties brought fame and notoriety to Spears in equal measure, with a passionate fan base eager for every last scrap of news about her. That collided with an aggressive paparazzi culture that delighted in capturing her partying alongside hell-raisers like Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan. Spears insists there were never hard drugs and that she did not have a drinking problem, but admits that she was taking Adderall, the ADHD medication. A publicly played-out bust-up with second husband Kevin Federline, and an ensuing custody fight over their two children, presaged the emotional low watermark: shaving her head and attacking a photographer's car. "Flailing those weeks without my children, I lost it, over and over again," she writes. "I didn't even really know how to take care of myself. "I'd begin to think in some ways like a child." A year later, the courts appointed her father Jamie Spears to control her money and her personal life. Over the next 13 years, she was told who she could see, and how much she could spend, and even ordered not to have more children. Yet under Jamie Spears, she would still perform as a pop icon. "Too sick to choose my own boyfriend and yet somehow healthy enough to appear on sitcoms and morning shows, and to perform for thousands of people in a different part of the world every week." "From that point on, I began to think that (my father) saw me as put on the earth for no other reason than to help their cash flow." Jamie Spears has always insisted that he had the best interests of his daughter at heart and was seeking to protect her from exploitation. The conservatorship was dissolved in 2021, but -- aside from collaborations with Elton John and will.i.am -- it has not heralded a return to creativity for Spears. "Pushing forward in my music career is not my focus at the moment," the now-41-year-old Britney writes. "It's time for me not to be someone who other people want; it's time to actually find myself.".....»»
Jaymee Joaquin, ‘Games Uplate Live’ host, dies at 44
Filipina actress and host Jaymee Joaquin has passed away after a long battle with breast cancer. She was 44 years old. Colleague-turned-friend Corss Ebora-Valenton paid tribute to the former actress on 19 October. “She was powerful not because she wasn’t scared but because she went on so strongly despite the fear. You will be dearly missed, Jayms,” Valenton wrote. Valenton added that she was grateful for the opportunity to work and be reunited with Joaquin the previous year for Jaymee’s passion project titled Beautiful Scars, which chronicles Filipina breast cancer “thrivers.” “Itutuloy at tatapusin namin ang proyekto natin. Your legacy lives on with the @beautifulscarsdocu,” she added. Meanwhile, Joaquin’s cousin, Erika Geronimo, also shared the news of her death. “It is with a heavy heart that our family announces the passing of my cousin, Jaymee Topacio aka Jaymee Wins or Jaymee Joaquin. She lived an extraordinary life filled with adventure, laughter, and love. She inspired and touched a lot of lives through her advocacy and talent. She will be greatly missed and will always be in our loving memory as a strong woman,” Geronimo wrote. “A life so beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully remembered,” she concluded. Joaquin’s acting and hosting career in the Philippines blossomed when she was the game show jock for the late-night interactive show Games Uplate Live. She also appeared in numerous television shows and movies, such as Super Inggo 2: Ang Bagong Bangis (2007), Shake, Rattle and Roll 9 (2007), My Big Love (2008) and Tanging Ina Niyong Lahat (2008). In 2016, the former Star Magic actress was diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite her cancer recurring four times and forcing her to go through multiple surgeries, Joaquin maintained a healthy and positive mindset. She ventured into blogging, podcasting and writing two books, titled That Sh*t Called Cancer and No-Hair Mama, Don’t Care. The post Jaymee Joaquin, ‘Games Uplate Live’ host, dies at 44 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
POUND-FOR-POUND — Good guy Gibbons gives Filipino boxers the chance to shine
If you’re a talented fighter nursing dreams of becoming a world champion, there is one guy you need to get in touch with. If you’re a promoter who has got a bevy of promising fighters but with no strong connections to the guys who matter in the world of big-time boxing, you have to meet the fellow who makes things happen. That dude is no other than Sean Gibbons, who heads MP Promotions and a sprinkling of other influential outfits in the United States that gives boxers from all over the opportunity they deserve. Having trouble with your boxer’s stagnant world rating? Call Sean Gibbons. Can’t seem to get the big breaks? Call Sean Gibbons. Being given the run-around by a scammer, give Sean Gibbons a call. You see, Gibbons is a do-it-all boxing man who is a big daddy to just about any major Filipino fighter. He has got a deep knowledge of the fight game since he used to fight during his heyday. But before you start conjuring up images of Gibbons battling it out with boxing’s marquee names, pinch yourself first. Gibbons never achieved greatness as a boxer. He was more of a pretender than a contender, having racked up a 14-7-3 win-loss-draw record with seven knockouts before finally calling it a day in 1996. He never even fought in Las Vegas and instead showcased his wares in obscurity, hopping into one small town and city after another. After spending his first five pro bouts in Oklahoma City, Gibbons brought his act elsewhere and in places he never knew existed: Hugo, Purcell, Waubeek. A year before he retired in 1995, Gibbons, now 56, even traveled to Germany and fought and lost by knockout to local boy Ruediger May. Two more bouts on American soil — the first in Des Moines, Iowa, and the second in Miles City, Montana — paved the way for one final stop in Denmark against Peter Madsen. Gibbons would lose that by stoppage again and decided that enough was enough. Pretty soon, Gibbons got himself doing odd jobs in boxing through a relative — uncle Pat O’ Grady — father to former world lightweight champion Sean O’Grady. “I got the boxing bug from him. I would set up the ring, help sell tickets and train fighters… I started from the bottom,” Gibbons, born in Long Beach, California, said, noting that the first fighter he trained was heavyweight Wimpy Halstead. Oftentimes, Gibbons “would jump in as one of the fighters in the card and I was able to travel the world.” He also got aligned with Top Rank and credits Hall of Fame Bruce Trampler and fight coordinator Pete Susens as his mentors and takes great pride in his close association with eight-division legend Manny Pacquiao. Gibbons actually came to the Pacquiao show rather late. But his seven-year stint working for Pacquiao was the most memorable, saying it doesn’t compare with the 35 other years of involvement with boxing. “Seven years I spent with him were better than the other 35 years,” Gibbons, who graduated from Simi Valley High, said. Gibbons revealed that after Australian banger Jeff Horn elbowed and butted and wrestled his way in carving out a controversial points win in Brisbane in July 2018, “Pacquiao had pretty much been left for dead by some people.” It was right at this time when Gibbons entered the scene as Pacquiao’s go-to-guy for meaningful fights while also providing other Filipino boxers the break they need to become successful. Gibbons didn’t disappoint and was instrumental in striking a deal for fights involving Adrien Broner and Keith Thurman that resulted in a “tremendous run.” The victory over Thurman would go down as an epic as it made Pacquiao the oldest to win a world welterweight crown in July 2019 in Las Vegas. Now that Pacquiao has sailed into the sunset, Gibbons is dedicating his time and effort to the betterment of the other talents under MP Promotions, the Pacquiao-owned company that has majority of the country’s top ring talent under contract. And this is where Gibbons wields his expertise and proof of his savvy can be seen on Jerwin Ancajas, Pedro Taduran, Rene Cuarto, Mark Magsayo and current two-belt world super-bantamweight titleholder Marlon Tapales. Also under Gibbons’ care are Jonas Sultan, Vincent Astrolabio, Jade Bornea and Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist and Asian Games silver medalist Eumir Marcial. Though not every one of them managed to win a world title, Gibbons draws utmost satisfaction from the helping hand that he had extended to them. “The most satisfying thing is to change lives of the fighters and take fighters who wouldn’t normally get these opportunities.” Also, Gibbons points to Pacquiao as a reason why he was able to pull it off. “I had the name Manny Pacquiao promotions and Manny Pacquiao was behind me but the biggest, biggest key was Al Haymon and he took my word for guys like Jerwin Ancajas, Mark Magsayo, Jonas Sultan and many, many others.” And there is no stopping Gibbons from doing the same thing especially when his clients’ welfare is on the line. A few months ago, Gibbons earned the ire of a state commission and got slapped with a ban. Still, Gibbons swears it is his way of showing that he always got his clients’ back. So how does he want people to remember him? “I would like to be remembered as someone who gave his all, no regrets. Just you know, when I work with someone, I put all my heart and soul into it. I got suspended for five for screaming at referees but I would like to be remembered for a guy who always had his client, fighters and boxers’ back and that when we went at it, we gave it our all.” If you end up going to war, you’d certainly want somebody like Sean Gibbons right by your side. The post POUND-FOR-POUND — Good guy Gibbons gives Filipino boxers the chance to shine appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hot start for Pinays in Softball World Cup
Erica Arnaiz gave everything she got at the mound in lifting the Philippines to a heart-stopping 3-2 victory over a stubborn Czech Republic at the start of the Under-15 Women’s Softball World Cup at the Komazawa Olympic Park in Tokyo yesterday......»»
League-leading Cardinals escape Altas for 6th straight win
The Mapua Cardinals survived the Perpetual Help Altas, 62-61, to seize their sixth consecutive win in NCAA Season 99 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City......»»
Delivery bag checklist before giving birth
Mary Mason once said, “A baby is something you carry inside you for nine months, in your arms for three years and in your heart till the day you die.” During a woman’s pregnancy, one of the things she meticulously prepares is her delivery bag. A delivery bag consists of new mother’s and baby’s essentials when the baby is born in a hospital or clinic. If you are nearing your delivery due date, around eight months, and haven’t had any idea what to bring, check out this basic list. [gallery size="large" columns="1" ids="200378,200381,200382"] For newborn Baru-baruan or newborn clothes set — At least two pieces of tops (either sleeveless or with sleeves), shorts or long pants, a pair of mittens and booties and a baby cap. Liquid soap — To wash off some fluids or vernix (the white, cheesy-looking substance that coats the newborn’s skin), a mild liquid soap is necessary. The baby’s first bath will be done by a lying in or hospital staff after giving birth. Diapers — Bring at least two to five pieces of newborn diapers. A good quality diaper should be super absorbent, gentle on baby’s skin, great fit and made of eco-friendly materials. Bib or small, soft cloth — This can come in handy to protect the baby’s delicate skin and clothes from spit-up, breastmilk and drool. Have at least three pieces. Receiving blanket — A thick blanket helps protect the baby from the cold air. Choose colors either blue or pink for easy gender identification. Plain white is also good. [caption id="attachment_200379" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] THE baby’s first bath will be done by the lying-in or hospital staff.[/caption] For mommy Dress — Bring at least two to five nursing clothes to make your breastfeeding journey more manageable and comfortable. It’s easy to put on, easy to loosen and easy to take off again since it doesn’t put any pressure on your postnatal body. Adult diapers — Carry at least six to eight pieces of adult diapers to help absorb leakage of excess blood after giving birth. Maternity pads — After the adult diaper phase, maternity pads give extra protection after child birth. Toiletries — These include liquid soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, bath towel, deodorant and cotton buds. You can add wet wipes and tissue, too. Slippers — Wear your slippers before going to the hospital or lying in. Scrunchie, comb and mirror — Stay clean to avoid any infection and you also feel better after giving birth. Comb your hair to look good as well. Liters of water — Be extra hydrated by drinking at least 16 cups of water a day to help you produce breastmilk round the clock. Documents and IDs — These are given requirements from the hospital or lying in, as well as your baby’s identification for birth certificate. Bring at least two government IDs. Speaking of government IDs, update your PhilHealth contributions to avail of maternity hospital coverage. Ideally, keep the delivery bag by your house door or any accessible place so it’s easy to grab and go when the time comes. Start ticking off this checklist now! The post Delivery bag checklist before giving birth appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»