Manila News Today: August 10, 2009

 

$20,000 Gone in New York Minute

 

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her entourage allegedly dined at Le Cirque in Manhattan, a prestigious French restaurant in New York City during her recent US trip, New York Post online’s “Page Six” wrote,

“Philippines President Maria Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was at Le Cirque the other night with a large entourage enjoying the good life… Macapagal-Arroyo ordered several bottles of very expensive wine, pushing the dinner tab up to $20,000.”

 Theoretical Breakdown of the Bill

Image Source: Spot.ph

Image Source: Spot.ph

 

 

Renato Reyes, secretary general of the militant group, Bayan, said that it is inappropriate for a Third World country president to wine and dine in such lavish manner given that the rest of the country is in the midst of a crisis. He asserts that the NY dinner certainly leaves a bad taste in the mouth, at least for the rest of the Filipino people. The $20,000 is equivalent to almost 1 million pesos, an amount that can probably supply one township a year’s supply of rice or nourishment. 

 

PGMA’s camp claims that the report was exaggerated and that no taxpayer’s money was used.

 

Flash Your Age at HEAT

 

This is the celebration that won’t break your bank or catch the ire of Bayan group.

Birthday celebrants can enjoy great discounts at HEAT during their special day. Enjoy a dining discount equivalent to your birthday age during HEAT’s “Flash Your Age” promotion. It’s valid only on the exact date of the celebrant’s birthdate and will run from August 1, 2009 to September 30, 2009. A total of eight persons will be entitled to the dining discount. The celebrant must present a valid ID (i.e. Driver’s License, Passport, SSS ID only) with the birth date clearly shown to avail of the discount. This promo is not valid on public holidays and in conjunction with other promotions and privileges including Club Edsa, credit card discounts, rewards redemption vouchers, complimentary dining vouchers and special promotions. Prior reservations are required.

 

Image Source: Shangrila website

Image Source: Shangrila website

HEAT is also throwing in a complimentary birthday cake to the occasion. Share this privilege with family and friends. After all, what is a birthday without them? Flash It! Flaunt It! Age is no longer meant to be kept a secret at Edsa Shangri-La, Manila.

 

Vilma Santos Plays Cory in FilmBio, MMK Features Cory’s Bodyguard

 

Batangas Governor Vilma Santos, the Star for all Seasons, is being eyed to portray the role of former President Cory Aquino. Vilma is running for reelection and is not allowed to have a movie shown or appear on TV longer than the permitted time setforth by the COMELEC. The launch of the movie would probably start after the elections next year if Vilma were tapped to play the role.

 

Image Source: Abante.com

Image Source: Abante.com

 

Maalala Mo Kaya, hosted by ABS-CBN’s President, Charo Santos-Concio, will do an episode on one of the two bodyguards of Tita Cory. The bodyguard, who delivered a touching eulogy during the necrological services at the Manila Cathedral, will have his story in the long running drama anthology.

 

 

 

Michael Jackson’s Doctor Investigated

 

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents and LAPD detectives searched the residence and office of Conrad Murray, each location a week apart.  Murray is Michael Jackson’s doctor who is believed to have given Jackson a lethal dose of anesthetic Propofol.

 

Propofol is used to induce unconsciousness in patients ahead of major surgery.  In hospitals, only a trained anesthesiologist is allowed to administer the drug under strict monitoring conditions.

 

TMZ.com reported that Murray had told police in an interview he gave Jackson Propofol via an intravenous drip.  The website reported police believe Murray may have fallen asleep while the drug was being administered, and awoke to find the singer already dead.

 

If Murray did inject Jackson with Propofol negligently, he can be charged with homicide.

 

The federal agents and police came to his office a week earlier with a search warrant seeking evidence for the “offense of manslaughter”

 

The LA Coroner’s office reported that the toxicology result is due by the end of this week.

 

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The Battle for Michael Jackson’s Estate Continues 

 

Michael Jackson Movie

 

A Michael Jackson movie could hit theaters by the end of 2009.  Rumor is Sony Pictures is willing to pay the 50-million dollar deal for worldwide rights.  AEG Entertainment, the company who owns the 80-hour material showing Michael Jackson rehearsing for his planned series of comeback concerts, had previewed the footage to different Hollywood studios.   The television rights are up for bidding at $10 million.

 

Kenny Ortega, the choreographer for the King of Pop’s “This Is It” concerts might direct the movie.  He is also famed for the hit film, “High School Musical.”

 

We’ve seen a few clips of the rehearsal footages but that’s only a morsel compared to what AEG has in their possession.  The footage released last July 2 showed the international pop superstar practicing a song-and-dance routine at Los Angeles’s Staples Center two days before his death.  The footage shows that Jackson had been in good health prior to the day he died.

 

 

Jackson was found barely breathing on June 25 at his rented Los Angeles mansion.  A final cause of death has not been revealed as coroners await the results of toxicology tests.

 

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Michael Jackson Memorial –Most Touching Moment

 

Millions of people all over the world stayed tune to the live coverage of Michael Jackson’s public memorial.  20,000 people flock to Staples Center, Los Angeles to celebrate the King of Pop’s life.  Family and friends of Michael Jackson remembered his contribution to the music and to the world.

 

 

Brooke Shields expressed her breaking heart as she remembered her younger moments with Michael Jackson, as well as Berry Gordon, founder of MoTown Records, Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant, Stevie Wonder.

 

The most touching moment for me during the memorial is when the whole family of MJ was onstage and Paris Jackson, one of Michael Jackson‘s three young children, and spoke about her late father.  With Janet Jackson on her side, she broke down saying that her father is the best father imaginable… her voice cracked as well as her heart when she expressed her love for her father. 

 

 

Growing up under shades, blanket, masks, Michael Jackson made efforts to protect his children’s faces from the paparazzi for more than a decade.  But on Tuesday, in front of an audience of thousands at the Staples Center and millions more around the globe, 12-year-old Michael Joseph Jr., known as Prince Michael; 11-year-old Paris-Katherine; and 7-year-old Prince Michael II, known as Blanket clutching a Michael Jackson doll, sat in the front row, taking in their father’s memorial service at Staples Center.

  

The ceremony’s significant spotlight was on Paris addressing the crowd while fighting back sobs.  She breaks down in public in remembrance of her dad as millions of fans’ heart mourned with her.

  

“Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine,” she said, her tiny voice cracking. “And I just wanted to say I love him — so much.”

 

 

Another tearful moment was Jermaine Jackson singing a song for his brother.  Viewers all over the world were stricken with emotion when the elder Jackson who was in tears performed his brother’s favorite song, “Smile.”

 

The group performed “We are the World” on the stage to honor Jackson’s role in bridging races.

 

Jackson sold an estimated 750 million copies of his album.  Only Elvis Presley and the Beatles are within this record.

 

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The Battle for Michael Jackson’s Estate Continues 

 

The Battle for Michael Jackson’s Estate Continues

 

Jackson’s public memorial is scheduled on Tuesday in Los Angeles, California.  Ticket winners started retrieving their passes to the Staples Center ceremony.  More than 1.6 million people registered for the free entrance tickets.  From the registered million, only about 9,000 names were picked.  The ticket allocation is two per person.  Email notifications were sent to the lucky fans that scored the hottest ticket in town.  Sadly, some were selling their much-coveted tickets on Ebay starting at USD 3,000.

 

 

The list of participants at the memorial includes Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, Kobe Bryant, Brooke Shields, Motown founder Berry Gordy, Lionel Richie, John Mayer, Usher, Jennifer Hudson and Martin Luther King III.

 

 

While the memorial organizers, Los Angeles police and Michael Jackson fans are busy in the upcoming public memorial at Staples Center, the battle for the King of Pop’s estate continues.  Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff ruled against the request of Jackson’s mother to be put in charge of Jackson’s estate.  The judge granted Michael Jackson’s longtime attorney, John Branca and music executive and family friend, John McClain to oversee the pop singer’s estate for now.  Based on the 2002 will that surfaced recently, Jackson wanted the two to administer his estate.

 

 

 

 

 

Jackson died June 25, deeply in debt.  But a court filing estimates that his estate will be worth more than $500 million.  His assets are supposed to be for a private trust.  Michael Jackson owned a 50 percent stake in the massive Sony-ATV Music Publishing Catalog, which includes music by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Lady Gaga and the Jonas Brothers.

 

Image Source dailymail.co.uk

Image Source dailymail.co.uk

The family also asked if Jackson’s mother, Katherine can co-administer the estate with Branca and McClain to ensure that there is no conflict of interest since the two also has involvement in Jackson’s other shares.  They also wanted more time to see if another would emerge and to accommodate Jackson’s memorial service.  The judge however denied the request.

 

 

The judge further grants Branca and McClain several powers over the estate, including the rights to negotiate a settlement with concert promoter AEG Live over refunds for Jackson’s canceled London shows. 

 

 

Michael Jackson’s life and legacy will be memorialized publicly at the Staples Center, Los Angeles, California.  People all over the world are organizing memorial services as well at their own locals to pay tribute to the King of Pop not only as a performer but bearer of a good heart.

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Michael Jackson Public Memorial

CNN will be featuring Michael Jackson’s public memorial LIVE at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

LIVE Coverage:                July 8, Wed, 12mn

Anchors:                               Anderson Cooper, Larry King, Don Lemon and Soledad O’Brien will be anchoring live from Los Angeles

                                                Campbell Brown and Roland Martin will be anchoring live from New York.

Extras:                                   CNN will also have live coverage of memorial events happening around the world. 

CNN Channel is available on SKY Cable.

Call SKY CABLE at 631-0000 for more inquiries.

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Returning to Neverland

Michael Jackson’s body will return to Neverland for public viewing on Friday.  A private memorial will follow on Sunday.

 

Fans gathered for a public tribute to Jackson at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, where the singer performed as a child.

 

Jackson died at age 50 June 25 after suffering cardiac arrest.

 

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Rob Pattinson Cab Accident

 

Rob Pattinson was hit by a taxi cab on Thursday while escaping from screaming fans!

 

 

 

While the 23-year old Twilight star was shooting a movie that co-stars Emilie de Ravin in the Big Apple, a cab grazed him but the cabbie was able to hit on the brakes before major damage happened.  The incident happened in front of the Strand Bookstore on Broadway and 12th Street.  The hysterical teen girls surprised Rob and he rushed across the street. 

 

 

Thankfully, he was not seriously hurt.  The hazards of stardom!

 

Click here to see video of fans mobbing Rob