EMONG'S JOURNALS

SM City BF Paranaque opened on Friday with digital cinemas and upscale stores for a more exciting shopping experience.

The mall is the 48th branch of the biggest mall chain in the country, SM Prime Holdings.

SM City BF is the first SM mall to have four Director's Club cinemas, which will have electronic recliners seats and can accommodate up to 200 moviegoers. In addition, the mall will also have two premier cinemas with 180 seats each.

"We are pleased to open SM City BF in the highly progressive city of Paranaque and this reflects our continuing efforts to better serve the various needs of the city with a more upscale offering. Always wanting to give a unique mall experience, we have equipped SM City BF with the most number of premier digital cinemas and director’s clubs in a single mall. We are also introducing new facilities and more international brands to heighten our customers’ shopping and dining experience," SM Prime President Hans T. Sy said.

With gross floor area of 120,200 square meters, SM City BF houses a wide selection of restaurants and shops. Among the restaurants include Vikings, Guernicas, My Little Buttercup, Toho, Kimono Ken, Cafe Mary Grace, Zabo Chicken, Cafe Bene and 12 Cupcakes.

The mall will also have SM department store, supermarket, appliance center, Watson's, Ace Hardware and Our Home.

Fashion brands Uniqlo, Mango, Giordano and Plains & Prints will also have shops at the new mall.

SM Prime said the mall is environmentally-friendly, sustainable and disaster-resilient. The mall has three skylight domes in its main atrium to reduce the use of electricity, while air conditioning is regulated as well.

SM City BF also boasts of a water-catchment basin which can store up to 5,000 cubic liters of rain water which is recycled for use in watering plants, cleaning the mall and flushing toilets.--Source: SM/ABS-CBN News/Cover photo from Norman's Blog

Have you ever wondered how Metro Manila looks like in a zero traffic day?

A video dubbed as "Empty Metro Manila Timelapse: The Pacquiao Effect," shows EDSA, Ayala, Pasig and Quezon City -- empty and completely without moving cars and pedestrians.

It's a ghost town, like scenes from "The Walking Dead."

The 90-second video was uploaded earlier this week by user Project Box with a brief description that says the video was "shot during the Pacquiao vs Rios fight. Time lapse of major roads in Metro Manila shows the effect Manny Pacquiao brings on every fight."

It's an amazing, one-of-a-kind video, though some experts say the effects to achieve the empty roads were done with video editing and photography softwares.

Well -- special effects or not -- it was still refreshing to see EDSA sans her monstrous traffic jams. Enjoy!

Tamagotchi, the egg-shaped virtual pet and one of the 1990s teenage craze, returns to the market this Christmas.

Tamagotchi virtual pets will be available in time for Christmas 2013

The tiny toy character, which owners have to nurture to maturity, was a worldwide smash the first time around, with maker Bandai selling 40 million units between 1996 and 1999.

Now a new, updated version, called Tamagotchi Friends, is scheduled for release in Europe next month and in North America some time in 2014.

“Tamagotchi” is a portmanteau of the Japanese word for egg (tamago) and the Japanised version of the English “watch”, but it also denotes a certain eggy cuteness.

A spokesman for Bandai in Tokyo said the new version is primarily aimed at children aged 7-9, and allows players to raise up to 24 different creatures.

The character of the virtual pet is determined by the way in which it is looked after — it needs to be fed, exercised, entertained and cared-for when it is sick.

Owners can also encourage their pets to form friendships with other virtual pets by bumping their egg with another.

“The new version of the Tamagotchi will be released in Europe, mainly in Britain, France and Spain in late December,” said Bandai spokeswoman Tomomi Washizu. “It is scheduled to hit North America as early as June next year.”

It will be sold at $19.99 (roughly PHP900), Bandai said.--Source: Capital.fm.co.ke

An exploding sperm whale video had gone viral on the web since it appeared on YouTube 2 days ago.

A marine biologist attempted to cut the dead sperm whale for examination, but got the shock of his life.

According to News.com.au, the whale had been reportedly dead for a couple of days already when a biologist attempted to cut it open for examination. However, a shocking event took place once the biologist managed to cut through the behemoth's body: an explosion.

As of late, the exploding whale video which was posted on Nov. 26 on YouTube, gained more than 2 million views right away because of its peculiar yet graphic content.

Mail Online reported that the biologist, who was spared from the explosion of the dead whale's gut, is Bjarni Mikkelsen.

Mikkelsen managed to tell Mail Online his understanding of the accident, and according to him, "The animal was more than two days old when we took it so we knew there would be some pressure on the inside, but nothing like what happened."

Several reports surfaced claiming that the exploding whale died of natural causes after it was trapped in narrow channel of the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic.

In the video, which can be viewed under this post, we can see Mikkelsen escaping the harm of the explosion, which sent most of the whale's internal organs flying in the air for a second or two. Blood can also be seen gushing alongside the suspended organs.

"We couldn't imagine it would happen like that so it was a little bit more of a surprise. It wasn't a shock. We had expected something. In the situation I was more worried about something worse happening or anyone getting hurt. We were cutting along the dorsal part of the animal so when it exploded it did so in a very controlled way," Mikkelsen said in an interview. "It was very loud, I suppose. It's something everyone here is talking about."

The exploding whale video was first uploaded by Johan Joense with the title, "Sperm Whale explodes!" and a description saying, "Sperm Whale explodes in the Faroe Islands while a man is trying to open his stomach. Sperm Whales are not killed in the Faroe Islands, this one died from natural causes..." However, the clip uploaded by a user called albij is the one that's been raking millions of views as of late.--Source: Jobs n Hire

Alice Dixson bares her stuff as she graces the cover of FHM Magazine's December 2013 issue.

Alice Dixson goes nude in FHM December 2013 cover

The veteran actress and former Palmolive girl posed wearing only a flesh-colored underwear with a small piece of cloth hanging over her breasts.

FHM Philippines’ asks Dixson, why only now?

“I think maybe when I was younger I wasn’t ready to do photo shoots like this,” she said. “Even when Mother Lily was pushing me towards a sexy image I would always resist. But now, it’s become ordinary to come out in a bikini and it’s more accepted now. I just learned that it’s part of work, and it came out very nice.”

Dixson, a former Binibining Pilipinas International winner, is casted in the movie “When the Love is Gone,” which also stars Gabby Concepcion, Cristine Reyes, Andi Eigenmann and Jake Cuenca.--Source: FHM

It was a funny surprise for basketball star Jeric Teng when "Maria Mercedes" sensation Jessy Mendiola chose to sit with him inside a jampacked McDonald's restaurant in a viral video posted on YouTube.

Jessy Mendiola surprises Jeric Teng in McDonald's viral video

McDonald's Philippines posted on YouTube on Thursday the video clip showing Jeron Teng in the introduction, ""Hi, I'm Jeron and we're here in McDonald's, and I'm now waiting for my brother."

"I just want to do something that I think my brother would really like," Jeron adds.

In the video shot on location at McDonald's Eton Centris in Quezon City, Jeric was shown sitting inside the fastfood when Jeron had to take a call from a friend, leaving him alone at the table.

Then comes Jessy Mendiola dressed in a body-hugging sexy red dress who approached the seemingly surprised Jeric and asked him, "May I?"

Too shocked to speak, Jeric can only give a big smile at Jessy.

What more can you say to a hot lady in a hot red dress?

Watch and enjoy!

A smartphone app to give you early warnings of earthquakes? A mobile app is now being designed and could be ready as early as next year, according to scientists at the World Science Forum in Rio de Janeiro.

Smartphone app to update you with earthquake warnings

Researchers from the University of California showed off the project this week at a conference on how to use technology to ward off natural disasters.

The app is based on technology used in an early warning system prepared by a team under Professor Richard Allen, director of the UC Berkeley Seismological Laboratory.

California has already embraced the concept of an early warning network, with Governor Jerry Brown signing a bill in September mandating the creation of a system.

The smartphone app is capable of providing an alert between a few seconds and one minute before a tremor hits, depending on where an individual using it is in relation to the epicenter.
To do this, the app captures initial energy from the tremor, the so-called P wave or primary wave, which rarely itself causes damage.

The technology uses algorithms to detect rapidly when a quake is starting and determine its strength and location and when it is likely to reach its zenith and alert residents in potentially affected areas. The algorithms use data from regional networks monitoring seismic networks.

In the case of cell phones, those located at the actual epicenter of the quake will not receive the early warning.

But the tremors detected by the system will be transmitted in a chain to other receivers so that those a few kilometers (miles) away will be able to react to cloud-based data and glean more information on what is happening where and what is likely to happen next.

"All we need is a telephone at the epicenter of the quake which detects it and sends the information (saying) 'I felt a jolt, I am in this place' to a server," explained Allen.

"There are many phones simultaneously doing this to enable the server to determine the site and magnitude of the quake to send people further away a warning. These warnings include (information on) how much time to the start of the tremor and also its intensity."

The warning gives people precious time to seek out a secure place of refuge and halt industrial activity or transport, thereby reducing risk to the public at large.

The app uses various smartphone functions such as accelerometers and gyroscopes to determine movement, as well as GPS and Wi-Fi localization functions as well as a magnetometer to indicate direction.

The software makes use of the fact that there are 16 million smartphones in California alone and about one billion globally that are ever more interconnected.

The app will first be tested across a pool of several thousand users. Once it is fully rolled out it will be free via a coded access.

The biennial World Science Forum, held over three days this week in Rio after moving for the first time outside Budapest since its 2003 launch, brings together scientists, educational institutions, non-governmental organizations and researchers to debate issues of science policy.

The main theme of this year's event was "Science for Global Sustainable Development."--Source: NDTV

Charice Pempengco attempted to commit suicide by slashing her wrists, according to a showbiz report from a local entertainment show.

The suicide attempt was allegedly due to financial problems the young star is experiencing now.

In the Saturday episode of TV5′s Showbiz Police, veteran reporter Cristy Fermin was able to interview Pempengco's grandmother, Mrs. Teresita Relucio, who admitted that the pop star slashed her wrists because "she had no more money."

Charmaine Clarice Relucio Pempengco, born May 10, 1992, rose to popularity through YouTube which landed her at Ellen Degeneres' talk show. Dubbed by Oprah Winfrey as "the most talented girl in the world," she released her first international studio album "Charice" in 2010.

The album entered the Billboard 200 at number-eight, making Charice the first Asian solo singer in history to land in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 albums char

Watch the video interview below courtesy of TV5.

Actress-singer Nikki Gil graces the cover of Cosmopolitan's December 2013 issue, posing sexy a few months after her controversial split with “It’s Showtime” host Billy Crawford.

Nikki Gil, Cosmopolitan Philippines December 2013 issue

Unveiled Thursday night, the women's magazine showed Gil wearing a dark green mid-rib top exposing her amazing cleavage matched with a curve-hugging skirt.

Gil first went sexy in an ad campaign of local clothing brand Maldita which saw her donning sheer body-hugging tees, very short "shorts", and mile-high beige shoes.

The 27-year old new Cosmo Girl was first discovered while singing in a church in 2004, then landing her first commercial ad for Coca-Cola in 2005.

She is currently casted in ABS-CBN's "Maria Mercedes" with Jessy Mendiola on the lead role.

Amazon “Prime Air” may eventually have thousands of drones (robot flying machines) traveling the skies through neighborhoods across America, dropping off everything from shoes to consumer electronics, according to its CEO Jeff Bezos on Sunday.

The concept: Small "octocopter" unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) capable of carrying five pounds or more.

The goal of the new delivery service is to have packages delivered to shoppers in 30 minutes or less. The 8-propeller "octocopter" drones Amazon plans to use for the service are about the size of a remote-controlled airplane and are capable of carrying shoebox-sized packages of up to 5lbs. This covers 86 percent of the items Amazon delivers, Bezos said.

The drones are completely unmanned and will rely on GPS to deliver their packages. Early prototypes are capable of flying 10 miles from an Amazon fulfillment center, which would cover a "very significant portion of the population" in urban areas, Bezos said. Prime Air won't work for larger and bulkier products, of course, like kayaks and tablesaws.

"It looks like science fiction, but it's real," Amazon said.

Commercial availability for Prime Air is not expected until 2015 at the earliest, pending approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is creating rules for unmanned aerial vehicles, Amazon said.

"The FAA is actively working on rules and an approach for unmanned aerial vehicles that will prioritize public safety," the company said. "Safety will be our top priority, and our vehicles will be built with multiple redundancies and designed to commercial aviation standards."

Amazon expects drone delivery for packages to become commonplace in the future. "One day, Prime Air vehicles will be as normal as seeing mail trucks on the road today," the company said.--Source: Gamespot

China launched its first lunar rover Monday morning, in what is being called one giant leap forward for the Asian superpower’s ambitions in space.

The rocket, carrying lander “Chang’e-3” and rover “Jade Rabbit,” blasted off from southwestern China at 1:30 a.m. this morning. The pair, slated to land mid-December in the moon’s Sinus Iridum region (Latin for “Bay of Rainbows”), is tasked with exploring the basaltic lava plain for geological features and mineral deposits, as well as with setting up the first telescope on the moon.

The mission is also expected to preface China’s still unscheduled plans to put one of its astronauts on the moon, as well as to advance its ever grander ambitions in the cosmos, Xinhua, China’s official news agency, said.

"China's space exploration will not stop at the moon," Sun Huixian, deputy engineer-in-chief in charge of the second phase of China's lunar program, told Xinhua. "Our target is deep space."

If all goes as planned, China will be the third country to make a soft landing on the moon (in a soft landing, the craft lands un-damaged). The last mission to make such a landing on the Earth’s natural satellite was a Soviet one in 1976. The US, the second state to perfect a soft moon landing, has not visited the moon’s surface since 1972.

This morning’s mission has, like most Chinese missions to space, been heavily tapestried in tropes that stitch together the patriotic and the mythical. The lander and its rover are named after a Chinese myth in which a woman, Chang'e, swallows magic pills that transport her and her pet rabbit, "Yu Tu” (Jade Rabbit), to the moon. There she remains, white rabbit at her side, as goddess of the moon. Xinhua called the mission “a modern scientific version” of the myth.

"The probe has already entered the designated orbit," said Zhang Zhenzhong, director of the launch center in Xichang, Xinhua reported. "I now announce the launch was successful."

"We will strive for our space dream as part of the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation," he said.

Just how close China is to overtaking space superpowers US and Russia in a space race is unclear. So far, China’s successes in space have not gone beyond what the US and Russia have already achieved. India, China’s main competitor in Asia, has not landed on the moon but did send its first orbiter to Mars last month. The state reported just one day before China’s moon launch that its craft had cleared Earth’s orbit.-- Source: Christian Science Monitor

The deadly car crash that killed "Fast & Furious" star Paul Walker may have been caused by a car malfunction, according to new reports.

Paul Walker's Porsche may have malfunctioned - reports

The 40-year-old actor was killed on Saturday when the red 2005 Porsche Carrera GT he was a passenger in hit a utility pole and burst into flames in Santa Clarita, California.

While authorities are still trying to work out what triggered the accident, TMZ reports the sports car suffered a mechanical failure and a possible steering fluid leak.

The website writes that sources connected to Always Evolving - the shop co-owned by Walker and the Porsche driver Roger Rodas (who also died) - told TMZ they saw evidence of a fluid burst and subsequent fluid trail before the skid marks at the accident scene.

The sources also made evident the absence of skids leading up to where the crash took place, with marks only noticeable before the point of impact. They claim if Rodas had lost control of the vehicle there would be visible signs on the road from swerving rather than in a straight line, suggesting he didn't have control of the steering.

Always Evolving insiders also pointed out how bizarre it was the flames didn't start from where the engine was fitted in the car.

The car, which cost US$500,000, was reportedly not modified as it was rarely driven.

As investigators continue to probe the fatal car crash, police in the US have warned fans against burning rubber near the spot where he was killed.

PHOTO: Paul Walker rides his Porsche one last time. Reports say the red sports car may have
malfunctioned causing his death.

Fans of the Fast & Furious franchise have apparently been paying tribute by pulling hot rod stunts on the four-lane stretch of road where the accident occurred.

One manoeuvre reported was drifting, an illegal technique in which the driver intentionally oversteers, causing the rear wheels to skid and making the car slide from side to side.

"We sent deputies to the accident location this morning after we started getting reports of drivers burning rubber and spinning tires at the site," Santa Clarita sheriff's office spokesman Richard Cohen said.

"So far I haven't had any reports of any drivers being cited or arrested ... But we have deputies there to stop that behavior if it happens again."

Speed is believed to have been a factor in the accident, although investigators are also probing the burnt-out wreckage for evidence of any mechanical problems.

At least one witness has suggested that 40-year-old Walker and Rodas may have been drag-style racing at the time, according to CNN, although others have discounted such accounts.

The first Fast and Furious movie appeared in 2001. The series, with its focus on fast cars, tough guys, sexy starlets and exotic locales, is one of Hollywood's most lucrative global franchises.

Before his Fast and Furious breakthrough Walker was in several 1980s TV shows. He became a teen heartthrob, appearing in such movies as Pleasantville (1988), She's All That and Varsity Blues (1999).--Source: The New Zealand Herald

Actress Erich Gonzales opens her new business, "The Breakfast Club" restaurant in Quezon City.

In an episode of Kris TV show Monday, the 23-year-old star announced she is now venturing into F & B ownership with the opening of her restaurant she says as an "all-day breakfast restaurant"

On the show Erich said, ”Breakfast all day, mayroong comfort food, desserts. We have a little bit of everything.”

Prior to that announcement, she wrote on her Instagram page: ”Soft opening of The Breakfast Club. Come and visit us along Sto. Domingo Avenue, Quezon City.” @TheBreakfastClub

On The Breakfast Club Twitter page, a wide range of food choices are featured to include Sweet and Tasty Korean Beef Stew, Premium Beef Tapa, a ham and cheese omelette and some succulent baby back ribs.

She reportedly opened the restaurant with her boyfriend, who is not in the Filipino showbiz industry.

The Breakfast Club is located at 43 Tirad Pass St., cor. Sto Domingo St Ave., 1114 Quezon City, Philippines.--Source: The Global Dispatch

Actress Angel Locsin did a hot "Wrecking Ball" number in Enrique Gil's one-night concert "King of the Gil" show held in Smart Araneta Coliseum Saturday night.

Angel Locsin in hot "Wrecking Ball" number

The 28-year old actress wore a sheer body clothing exposing most of her skin, just sexy enough to perform steamy hip gyrations to the tune of Miley Cyrus' hit "Wrecking Ball."

Joined by Gil midway through the number, the pair triggered louder screams with dance moves that appeared to simulate sex. Toward the end of the dance, the actress also tugged off a short skirt she was wearing over her bodysuit.

Locsin and Gil capped the steamy performance with an explosion of confetti.

When asked how she rated her performance, she said "Pinaka-difficult, sexy, exciting, and yummy."

The video was uploaded by user Qritiko on YouTube over the weekend, drawing over 100,000 views as of writing.

The actress was one of several guests at the "King of the Gil" show, which was billed as Gil's first-ever dance concert.

Other stars who took the stage last Saturday were Vice Ganda, Julia Montes, Kathryn Bernardo, Jhong Hilario, Vhong Navarro, Gloc 9, Rayver Cruz, Aaron Villaflor, Kim Chiu, Martin del Rosario, Arjo Atayde, Ejay Falcon, G-Force and the Streetboys.--Source: ABS-CBN News

A female Ateneo de Manila University college student was allegedly kidnapped inside the campus grounds in Loyola Heights, Quezon City early evening Thursday, November 21, but police investigators of the Quezon City Police District maintain it was just a false story.

Ateneo student kidnapped in campus grounds, but police say it's not true

According to news website Rappler, the kidnapping was confirmed by Ateneo Vice President for Administration Fr Nemesio Que, SJ, in a statement dated November 29 and posted on the school website on Monday, December 2.

The student was held hostage in her own car at around 6:30 pm Thursday by several men, according to a source privy to the ongoing police probe. The men put her at the back seat and covered her face with a black bonnet.

The group contacted the victim's family at about 7 pm to ask for ransom. Negotiations happened throughout the night in the car, the source said, with the suspects even taking drugs while sorting out the ransom payment with the family on the phone.

The source told Rappler that the student's family sought the help of policemen who were able to monitor the suspects' and their victim's location by tracking their cell phone signals.

The suspects eventually left her alone in the car – which seemed to have overheated – at around 2:55 am Friday, November 22, near a Caltex station along Manggahan in Pasig City. The kidnappers took with them the student's phone, earrings, watch, and money.

They ran away without ransom, the source said, and "didn't touch" the victim.

However, in a DZMM story, it reported that Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Richard Albano said the kidnapping never happened.

Albano said that based on the report of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Kidnapping Group, the parents of the 20-year-old female ADMU student denied that an abduction occurred.

Albano said the parents initially reported that their daughter was abducted on November 21, Thursday. They also claimed that they received a ransom demand of P250,000.

The student, however, was supposedly released the following day even if no ransom money was given.

When Rappler asked for the victim's comment on whether the kidnapping was staged, she said in a mix of English and Filipino: "[I'm] not gonna give any comment on that for now. We've forwarded our official statements to our lawyer already. Once notarized, that's what the media can use."

Screenshot of statement of ADMU Vice President for Administration Fr. Nemesio Que, SJ

The university did not release any other information about the student, but assured that the latter is now in safe condition after being released.

Que said that in the wake of the incident, the university is putting in place immediate and short-term measures while studying more long-term policies.

He added the university has decided to install additional lighting and deploy more roving guards in the parking areas.

Likewise, stricter rules will also be enforced in the entry and exit of people and vehicles on campus. Some alternate entry points will also be closed.

"For this reason, we earnestly request the full cooperation of each member of the Ateneo community as we implement additional measures. Let us all remember that as a community, it is incumbent upon us to do our part," Que said. --Source: Rappler/DZMM

Bruce Lee's iconic yellow jumpsuit in the martial arts film ‘Game of Death’’ will be for sale in an auction to be held in Hong Kong on Thursday.

Bruce Lee in a scene from the movie "Game Of Death". The yellow jumpsuit he wore became
a cultural trademark of the legend of martial arts.

The polyester suit, custom made by a Hong Kong tailor, is one of 14 items related to Mr. Lee — including film memorabilia, kung fu training equipment and personal sketches — that are being sold by a private Hollywood collector.

Spink China, the auction house conducting the sale, expects the suit to fetch up to 300,000 Hong Kong dollars, or about $39,000, and has already received e-mailed and faxed bids in excess of the reserve prices for about half the items going under the hammer on Thursday.

The yellow and black suit is one of at least two such outfits made for Mr. Lee for the filming of ‘‘Game of Death,’’ which he died before completing (the film was released posthumously in 1978 using archive footage and stand-in actors.)

Although he produced only a handful of films before his death in 1973, at age 32, Mr. Lee, who was born in San Francisco and raised in Hong Kong, remains an enduring presence in popular culture globally — but especially so in Hong Kong and China.

On July 20 of this year, the 40th anniversary of Mr. Lee’s death, Hong Kong’s Heritage Museum launched an exhibition of his life and career that will run until 2018. That exhibit includes one of the other known versions of the yellow jumpsuit.

The vice chairman of Spink China, Anna Lee, no relation to Bruce Lee, said Mr. Lee designed the suit to demonstrate through his clothing how he was not affiliated with any traditional martial arts style but his own system, known as Jeet Kune Do.

The suit has taken on a life of its own in popular culture. In the director Quentin Tarantino’s 2003 film ‘‘Kill Bill,’’ the actress Uma Thurman plays a martial arts expert who wears a yellow and black bodysuit reminiscent of Mr. Lee’s.

At the same time, Real Kung Fu, a chain of fast food outlets in mainland China with more than 500 locations, uses as its logo a man in a yellow and black jumpsuit striking a martial arts pose.

The Bruce Lee Club, a fan group based in Hong Kong, has made posts on its Facebook page questioning whether the suit and some of the other items to be auctioned were really Mr. Lee’s.

Ms. Lee, of the auction house, says the items all come with certificates of authenticity issued by the friends and former students of Mr. Lee’s. She declined to identify the current owner, except to say it was someone in the American film industry who has a large collection of Bruce Lee memorabilia.

The famed jumpsuit, expected to sell for $39,000, gets ready for auction in Hong Kong.

Showing the suit and other memorabilia to a reporter at her offices in Wan Chai on Wednesday, Ms. Lee noted how the zipper at the back had been damaged.

Ms. Lee said this probably happened during the filming of ‘‘Game of Death,’’ in a scene in a pagoda where Mr. Lee battles Han Jae Ji, a Korean martial arts expert.

She also pointed out that the suit appeared to have shrunk because of washing. It is without logos or other markings except for Chinese characters written in red marker inside the back of the collar that say: ‘‘Property of Golden Harvest Studios.’’

‘‘I’m surprised at the interest in the suit,’’ Ms. Lee said. ‘‘I guess the yellow suit is a stunning or kind of iconic item so a lot of people are concentrated on it. I can’t say that it’s ugly.’’--Source: The New York Times

The Fast & Furious franchise paid tribute to Paul Walker aka Brian O'Conner in a video clip set to P. Diddy’s “Coming Home” (ft. Skylar Grey).

Brian O'Conner lives in "A Tribute to Paul Walker" video

The montage showed the character Brian in different scenes from the Fast films, with Vin Diesel's Dominic Torreto raising a toast with the other characters of the movie, including Brian.

Meanwhile, media website Entertainment Weekly said the shooting of the seventh franchise of the Fast series was temporarily postponed until further notice by Universal Pictures.

Paul Walker and close friend former race driver Roger Rodas succumbed to a car accident November 30, after their Porsche crashed into a light pole and tree in Valencia, Santa Clarita, California, and the vehicle burst into flames.

Southeast Asia's largest food exhibition will be held in Manila, Philippines June of next year, according to a Department of Agriculture (DA) press release yesterday.

Photo: A brand is displayed at the international SIAL food exhibit held in Canada in 2013.

The regional Salon International de l’Agroalimentaire Association of Southeast Asian Nations (SIAL-ASEAN) will be held at the World Trade Center Metro Manila on Roxas Boulevard on 11-14 June 2014, in conjunction with the Manila Food and Beverage Expo (MAFBEX) of MAFBEX Events Management, the press release read.

MAFBEX Events Management and SIAL organizer Comexposium signed a memorandum of understanding for the Philippine hosting this past October, according to the release.

The initial announcement was made last Friday by Leandro H. Gazmin, DA officer-in-charge - assistant secretary for marketing, at the AMAS Stakeholders’ Night, held at the Philippine Army Officers’ Club in Taguig City.

"SIAL ... is coming to Asia next year via SIAL ASEAN, and DA is proud to support and take part in it," Mr. Gazmin was quoted saying in the press release.

Citing the event’s official Web site, the DA said in the release that SIAL ASEAN expects 800 exhibitors -- half of whom would be international -- and around 15,000 visitors.

Mr. Gazmin, also DA Agribusiness Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) director, said that the DA will provide sponsorships.

"Filipino farmers and fishers ... stand to benefit from the trade and networking activities that will take place," the press release read. The DA also expects SIAL ASEAN to encourage participation by others in agribusiness such as local exporters and processors.--Source: Business World Online

Google will be setting up a "robotics department" following their purchase of seven companies -- including Japanese firm Schaft -- that are involved with robotics, according to Android maker Andy Rubin.

Google announced it is developing a new robotics product with Japanese firm Schaft
creating the prototype pictured above.

The announcement came after Amazon unveiled its plan to develop "octocopter" drones to upgrade their delivery system.

In a rare interview, the former Android chief spoke to John Markoff of the New York Times, but gave very few details about the robots.

“Like any moonshot, you have to think of time as a factor,” says Rubin to the Times. “We need enough runway and a 10-year vision.”

After leaving the top spot in the Android smartphone division in March, Rubin persuaded Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page to invest in his new project. Neither Google nor Rubin would specify the size of the investment.

Rubin told the Times that technological breakthroughs still needed to occur in order to make his project viable but compared it to Google’s self-driving car.

“The automated car project was science fiction when it started,” Rubin says. “Now it is coming within reach.”

Rubin has already acquired several companies in Japan and the U.S. that are developing humanoid robots, computer vision systems and automated mobility systems.

For now, Google’s robotics division will be based in Palo Alto, Calif., with an additional office in Japan. --Source: CTV News/Enterpreneur.com

Baguio City will be less noisier this year during the holiday season after the city council implemented a total ban on the sale of firecrackers.

A policeman confiscates high powered pyrotechnics from a street vendor.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan, citing the statistics of injuries related to firecrackers and its ill effects on the environment, pushed city residents here to unite in support of the total firecrackers ban.

“We should learn that calamities which earlier struck the country are due to climate change; effects from our own doings to nature. Thus, we should tone down on carbon emissions, and that include uncontained firecracker smoke from holiday celebrations,” he said.

Domogan cited Davao City which has strict laws on the use of pyrotechnics.

Though selling of firecrackers in the city’s business establishments will be banned, the fireworks displays on Dec. 1, 24 and 31 are part of the month-long Golden Christmas in Baguio celebrations, where dealers could participate through bidding.

A firecracker ban was supposed to be implemented as early as 2011, but vendors appealed the ban. The ban was deferred to this year.

Domogan said, this time there will be no more extension.

Residents here though will not be banned from popping out pyrotechnics bought from vendors outside the city.--Source: Phistar

SM City BF Paranaque opens (+video)

How an empty Metro Manila looks like (+video)

Remember Tamagotchi? Virtual pet returns this Christmas

Exploding sperm whale video goes viral

Alice Dixson goes nude in FHM December 2013 cover (+ photos)

Jessy Mendiola surprises Jeric Teng in McDonald's viral video

Smartphone app to give you earthquake warnings

A smartphone app to give you early warnings of earthquakes? A mobile app is now being designed and could be ready as early as next year, according to scientists at the World Science Forum in Rio de Janeiro.

Charice Pempengco attempts suicide, slashes her wrists (+video)

Charice Pempengco attempted to commit suicide by slashing her wrists, according to a showbiz report from a local entertainment show.

Nikki Gil sexy in Cosmopolitan December 2013 issue

Actress-singer Nikki Gil graces the cover of Cosmopolitan's December 2013 issue, posing sexy a few months after her controversial split with “It’s Showtime” host Billy Crawford.

Amazon unveils 'octocopter' drones delivery system

Amazon “Prime Air” may eventually have thousands of drones (robot flying machines) traveling the skies through neighborhoods across America, dropping off everything from shoes to consumer electronics, according to its CEO Jeff Bezos on Sunday.

China's 'Jade Rabbit' heads to the moon on first rover mission

China launched its first lunar rover Monday morning, in what is being called one giant leap forward for the Asian superpower’s ambitions in space.

Paul Walker's Porsche may have malfunctioned - reports

The deadly car crash that killed "Fast & Furious" star Paul Walker may have been caused by a car malfunction, according to new reports.

Erich Gonzales opens her new business,'The Breakfast Club"

Actress Erich Gonzales opens her new business, "The Breakfast Club" restaurant in Quezon City.

Angel Locsin, Enrique Gil pair up in hot "Wrecking Ball" number

Actress Angel Locsin did a hot "Wrecking Ball" number in Enrique Gil's one-night concert "King of the Gil" show held in Smart Araneta Coliseum Saturday night.

Ateneo student kidnapped in campus grounds, but police say it's not true

A female Ateneo de Manila University college student was allegedly kidnapped inside the campus grounds in Loyola Heights, Quezon City early evening Thursday, November 21, but police investigators of the Quezon City Police District maintain it was just a false story.

Bruce Lee's yellow jumpsuit may sell for $39,000 in Hong Kong auction

Bruce Lee's iconic yellow jumpsuit in the martial arts film ‘Game of Death’’ will be for sale in an auction to be held in Hong Kong on Thursday.

Brian O'Conner lives in "A Tribute to Paul Walker" video

The Fast & Furious franchise paid tribute to Paul Walker aka Brian O'Conner in a video clip set to P. Diddy’s “Coming Home” (ft. Skylar Grey).

SIAL-ASEAN Asia's largest food expo to be held in Manila PH

Southeast Asia's largest food exhibition will be held in Manila, Philippines June of next year, according to a Department of Agriculture (DA) press release yesterday.

Google buys seven robot firms to set up 'Robotics Department' (+video)

Google will be setting up a "robotics department" following their purchase of seven companies -- including Japanese firm Schaft -- that are involved with robotics, according to Android maker Andy Rubin.

Baguio City bans sale of firecrackers

Baguio City will be less noisier this year during the holiday season after the city council implemented a total ban on the sale of firecrackers.