Many Filipinos do not eat meat during Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Catholicism is considered as the dominant religion in the Philippines and the largest in Asia as well.  Visita Iglesia is one of the common practices in the country by visiting 8 churches this Holy Week. Many Filipinos have spent time and solemnity together with their own families.

In some other places within the country like in Pampanga, Philippines the devotees and fanatics observe some of the locals who volunteer to be crucified as part of their devotion. They have many reasons why they do it yearly, some say that it was a calling and other say because they have made promises after surviving from illness, accident, or struggle in life. Whatever their reasons are many foreigners come to see how the commemoration is being done. This 2010, at least 23 people were nailed on the cross but the foreigners were banned to participate after last year incidents that created a bit disorder on the rites. Some of them made fun out of it. The event has drawn more than 10,000 spectators.

Ruben Enaje, a 49-year old painter has just been nailed on the cross for his 24th time.  Only one female named Mary Jane Mamangon has marked her 14^th crucifixion this year. Church leaders reject such practices. According to local church leaders, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) in particular has said that the real expression of Christian faith during this Lent is true repentance and self-renewal and not by flagellation or crucifixion.  

Below is a short video of crucifixion in which I believe should not be tolerated:

This video of crucifixion was held in Pampanga in 2007. 

Pacquiao has reached the peak of his career in boxing. In Philippines, now it is time for his new endeavor in politics. Would it be permanent for him to leave the boxing ring? He has been advised by his coach Freddie Roach that the fight with Clottey would be the last if Floyd Mayweather Jr. will not fight him. The bell of retirement is just around the corner in order to avoid the possible suffering of Pacquiao with Parkinson's disease (PD) if he will retire at the peak of his career. The ideal age to retire in boxing is 35 years old. Although Manny still has around 3 years before he turns 35 this time would be best for him to take off the gloves. If he will continue to fight in the ring beyond the ideal age for boxers to retire the chance of getting a disease similar to what Muhammad Ali has and as well as with his coach's is too high.

   In this picture, Freddie Roach at the Pacquiao Birthday Christmas Party at J Lounge, Los Angeles CA. 26th December 2008. Picture taken by Frederick Manligas Nacino. More about Freddie Roach please check Wikipedia.

He is one of the best fighters in the world especially in the field of boxing. It is time for him to venture in new world of opportunity and field. Surely we will never forget you Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao.

Manny Pacquiao is now ready to fight Joshua Clottey on March 13. Clottey is confident that he will win the bout. In Philippines the clock will stop during the much-awaited fight of Manny against the fighter from Ghana.

The last fight of Pacquiao was held last year against a Puerto Rican champ Miguel Cotto. On this photo Miguel is on the left after receiving punches from the pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao.

To get more details about the boxing fight of the year you may take a look on this video:




To see more just go to youtube.

Inmate’s Thriller Version

Of course everyone knows the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Inspired by Michael’s great moves, dancing inmate’s version of Thriller has been uploaded on 17th July 2007. In this year, the convicts of Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CDRC) located in Central Philippines had started the regular inmate exercise with Jackson’s music. They never thought that it could become a big hit and accumulates millions of downloads from Youtube. When Michael had watched this video he was shocked and amazed about it. This is an extraordinary video where the performers are the convicted rapists, murderers, and robbers. The late King of Pop himself was really overwhelmed and flattered with this.





They Don’t care About Us

Travis Payne was the choreographer of Michael Jackson, celebrities, international performers like Beyonce, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, and many more known personalities. They had arranged the rehearsal which had started 18th January this year in Cebu penitentiary and has released as part of Michael Jackson’s This is IT album on 26th of the same month.
Here is the video below:




Nobody Popularized By Wonder Girls

Below is the video performed by the dancing inmates. The song nobody has become popular in Philippines. In parties, birthday celebrations and many more events when it comes to music or in dancing this song is very well known even with 5-year old kids.

Filipinos in general still have rooms for fun despite of challenges and trials we have here. This is one of the reasons why I love this country. I had been in many places and got opportunities to work in foreign places and what I could say that sometimes happiness cannot be equated with money. Living here in Philippines is so simple, cost of living is low, putting up a business here will not require you to spend too much. The most important is about the people here who are very warm, friendly, and can make you smile or have some fun for a while even in difficult times.

In this photo provided by the Malacanang Palace in Manila, Philippines, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde is seen on Jan. 4, 2010. Remonde, a staunch defender of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010, following a heart attack, officials said.

(AP Photo/Malacanang Palace, Rey Baniquet)

Cerge Remonde passed away at age 51 due to cardiac arrest on 19^th of January 2010. He was found lying unconscious by his personal assistant inside his home in Bel-Air Village in Makati City and brought him to the Makati Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at exactly 11:51am. According to the reports he started to suffer heart attack at around 9:30am but only found out after an hour lying naked in the bathroom. The emergency attending physician Dr. Eric Nubla told that if he only had been rushed earlier he might be still alive. According to Dr. Anthony Leachon, a personal cardiologist of the late Remonde, the secretary’s cardiac arrest could be attributed to factors such as hypertension, diabetes, cervical spine problem and habitual smoking.

REMONDE’S CAREER

There was no heard corruption or issue during his service in the country. Today, many people give honor to him but it only gives sadness when we realize the importance and the good contribution of a person only when he dies. Being a press secretary was a tough job for Cerge. Defending the president from many criticisms was really a challenging task for him.

Who was Cerge Remonde? Many of the readers from different parts of the world Filipinos or non-Filipinos who used to observe the country may not know more about the late Cerge Remonde. He was then became presidential management staff preceded by Rigoberto Tiglao. After more than 2 years of service as director general of the management staff (2006-2009) he became press secretary of President Gloria Arroyo. His career under Arroyo administration had started on 2001 working under various government-owned media stations such as NBN4, IBC13, RPN9, Radyo Ng Bayan (Nation’s Radio), Bureau of Communications Services, and the Philippine News Agency.

Remonde’s background as radio reporter and commentator had given him the opportunity to have seat in Cabinet at first as head of Government Mass Media Group. Secretary of GMMG then Director General and eventually became Press Secretary. Defending Arroyo from critiques especially those came from oppositions made him stressful and restless as we all know that Arroyo had been into many issues.

PERSONAL LIFE

Born in Argao Cebu and married to Danish newspaper columnist Marit Stinus. He was a magna cum laude in Bachelor of Arts degree in University of Visayas. He has many awards, handled high positions with impressive records in the field of or related to broadcast media and journalism.

Using the popular social media site Facebook Remonde wrote this:

““infinite love that meets our every need and provides all the beautiful and wonderful things we experience in life.”

“Fill us with your peace as we learn to fully trust in your providence. Help us to do all that we are capable and the rest, we entrust unto you,”

It might be a premonition that the message was posted at 6:51pm then at exactly 17 hours he dies.