The X Factor USA Winner: Melanie Amaro

Melanie Amaro wins The X Factor USA! Congratulations!

Josh Krajcik came at second, and Chris Rene at third.


Also present in the finale are the Top 12, with performances by Justin Bieber, Stevie Wonder, Leona Lewis, 50 Cent, Pitbull, and Ne-Yo.


Before the announcement was made, Melanie and Josh sang "We Can Be Heroes". Watch their performance below:






Amazing! She deserved it!

Syria Now Under Alert Level 4

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, December 22, raised the alert level in Syria from level 3 to level 4 due to ongoing violence in the Arab country.


Under crisis alert level 4, mandatory repatriation at Philippine government's expense will be implemented. Filipinos are enjoined to leave Syria immediately in light of the escalating tensions there.

The Philippine Embassy in Damascus, Syria's capital, has been closely monitoring developments in the country, and has briefed the members of the Filipino community on the Embassy's contingency plans.


It was advised that Filipinos should keep their communication lines open with the Embassy and their community coordinators and inform them of their whereabouts. They are further advised to contact the Embassy so that arrangements could be made for their immediate repatriation.


Last week, the Embassy repatriated some 51 Filipinos. This brings the total number of Filipinos repatriated from Syria to 383 as of December 16.

An attack in Damascus on Monday, which appeared to target the ruling Baath Party's headquarters led to suspicions that an increasingly militarized conflict could move beyond the control of Syria's political opposition.

Analysts and diplomats said the attack was forcing them to eventually choose sides in a civil war between the government and its armed opponents.

A Syrian who lives in Lebanon saluted a portrait of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Beirut Sunday. Photo/cap: WSJ

The attack was the first one conducted after a peaceful protest movement began to see people take up arms over the summer. Syrian government denies the attack however, The Free Syrian Army, a group of defected soldiers that formed in July, stepped up its operations last week, claiming two attacks against government buildings around Damascus.

There are some 5,000 Filipinos registered at the Embassy in Damascus, DFA said.

Sources: Wall Street Journal, DFA

Celine Acut, Van Carumba Facebook posts vs Sendong victims angered Pinoys

Another insensitive Facebook post has put someone into instant stardom - of controversy.


A certain Filipino living in France named Celine Acut posted a very rude, inhumane, and unforgivable post about the victims of tropical storm Sendong that hit Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City, and other parts of Mindanao on December 17, 2011, killing more than 1,000 people and leaving a lot more homeless.

“according to the news, almost all of the victims are poor families, so its better that they all die this early…whats the point of living a life which is full of hunger, at least they are now resting with peace..they are worthless, they are unproductive and their lives has no value at al.. they are just making more problems to the society so as i said its better that they have died this early.. they don’t desserve a chance to live because they are poor, they are not VIP anyways...”

"i even wish sendong to come back and flash away those remaining poor families over there.."

Another Pinoy named Van Carumba, a Cebu native living in the United Arab Emirates, posted on December 19:

Acut and Carumba are both subjects of mad/hate posts on social networking sites like Twitter and Tumblr. However, it is not confirmed whether they are real people or not, or if their accounts were just hacked (you know, the usual alibi). But if that face above is really responsible for that post, then she must be really sorry. 1,000 dead people from Sendong will haunt her in her wildest dreams.

Hobbit trailer hits the Web

Yay! Another film to watch next year! The Hobbit is the prequel to one of the most-successful film series ever - The Lord of the Rings trilogy. It is a two-part epic fantasy film directed by Peter Jackson, and adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien's 1937 bestseller.


The Hobbit follows the fortunes of Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), who finds himself dragooned into joining a band of dwarves on a mission to reclaim their ancestral treasure.

The film is at #3 in Reyn's Room's 15 Movies to Watch in 2012 List.


Watch the trailer of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" below.

HBO cancels shows

Don't panic! None among  "Boardwalk Empire," "Game of Thrones," "True Blood" is on the list! They're among the most successful!


Three shows from HBO have been cancelled - "Hung", "Bored to Death", and "How to Make It in America".


And they will be doing a second season for the Golden Globe-nominated (best comedy series, best actress) "Enlightened". It received relatively low ratings since its pilot episode on October 20!


"Hung" starring Thomas Jane, and "Bored To Death" with Jason Schwartzman and Zach Galifianakis, have been given the chop after three seasons. "How To Make It In America" gets axed after two seasons.

The cable network plans to debut six new programs next year, according to OTRC.

1. "Luck" - Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte star in this new drama that centers around a horse-racing track.

2. "Veep" - Julia Louis-Dreyfus of "Seinfeld" fame plays a female senator becomes Vice President of the United States.

3. "Girls" - Judd Apatow is a co-executive producer of this comedy that tells of the experiences of a group of girls in their early 20's. NBC personality Brian Williams' daughter Allison stars.

4. "Life's Too Short" - Ricky Gervais' comedy series about the life of Warwick Davis, the man who played Willow in a 1988 fantasy film by the same name.

5. "Angry Boys" - Australian comedian and actor Chris Lilley's mockumentary series about issues young men face, which sees himself playing several characters, including an American rapper and a Japanese mother.

6. An untitled project by "The Social Network" writer Aaron Sorkin.

The Dark Knight Rises new trailer

Watch the newest trailer of "The Dark Knight Rises". Amazing! Amazing! Really! I'm so excited for this!

This film is at #2 in Reyn's Room's 15 Movies to Watch in 2012!

Rhian Ramos and Mo Twister scandal (video)

Easy, this is a YouTube video, so we won't be seeing the two do 'the thing'.

This is just a video of Rhian Ramos and Mo Twister making out, with Rhian over Mo. Watch, before the video gets deleted.

Sendong Portal: Find and submit missing people here

This page will list information about people who are still missing from the tropical storm Sendong floods that hit Iligan City, Cagayan de Oro City, and other parts of Mindanao on December 17, 2011. You may appeal/submit your missing person information by commenting below.


You must at least include the ff. information:

• Full name of the person missing (better if you have photo(s))
• Age
• Address
• If possible, clothes wearing before the incident happened
• Any other additional physical characteristics

SENDONG PORTAL: MISSING PERSONS

1. From: Mac Collins (mac.collins1975@yahoo.com)

• Eliah King Earl Sumile
• 3 years old
• Prk. 6, Santiago, Iligan City
• Brown shirt with hood, green jersey shorts

• Jasmine Asimudin
• 20 years old
• Prk. 6, Santiago, Iligan City
• White t-shirt, green short with printed flowers
• with mole in here nipple

2. From: Sweet opalla torreon

• ester opalla jabinez (CDO)
• meliton opalla jabinez (CDO)

3. From: geraldine jimeno

• Roel Jimeno
• Isla Delta, Brgy. Consolation, Cagayan de Oro City

4. From: Liz Gomez

• Michael Billones
• Rolando Billones
• Rimuel Billones
• Address: Purok 5, Del Carmen, Iligan City
• Contact: 09093173028 / 09092004814

5. From: Allain Jeffrey Lopez Sialana

• Jeffrey Furog, 20 years old 
• bayug, Iligan City
• please contact 09056841558 or 2215109 just find allain jeffrey sialana

6. From: Alex Zeta

• christy deano-44 y/o,
• jed deano-22 y/o, 
• farla deano-8 y/o, female,
• cole deano-3 y/o, male.
• just text 0917-851-2752

7. From: Flor Andaluz

• Mary Jane Lasquite
• she was wearing jacket/sweater color black...same as the second picture and short pants/knee level. She got a pointed tattoo on her right fingers 
• Contact: rosal_kolyn@yahoo.com (FACEBOOKACCOUNT), mobile numbers: 09161142458 / 09276819760

8. From: Agnes Moog

• Address: TAMBO BAYUG ISLAND
• Contact: jonathan 09193916533

9. From: Ako Si Shine

• Baby Chrismar Domingo, 1 year and 8months old
• wearing orange or pink tshirt
• Please contact Ms. Sheena Mae Domingo (Ako Si Shine) - 09062719619 / 09175657409

• Jayson Maurice Domingo, 10 years old
• wearing orange tshirt den nagsapaw ug green jersey with print "LABUAY 11"
• Please contact Ms. Sheena Mae Domingo ( Ako Si Shine) - 09062719619 / 09175657409

10. From: Kean Alrey T. Ruelan

11. From: Bhadz Aquh

12. From: April Lyed Balaba

13. From: Jean Bartolome Mendoza

• JIMMY LUBRICO BARTOLOME
• NOEL LUBRICO BARTOLOME, almost 30 years 
• wla kmi cummunication sa kanila,.pero nakatira po cla sa carmen cagayan de oro city

14.

• Chariza Aranaido, 21 years old, female
• About 5 feet tall
• she was working as a house maid in the flash flood area
• Her home was in Gingoog, Misamis Oriental
• She might be indentified by her missing front upper teeth
• Please contact David Knox at mrdaveknox@gmail.com
• these are direct links to her photos

15. From: flordalyn

• Mary Jane Lasquite
• Wearing jacket w/ flower design, got painted tattoo on right fingers

• Janet Lasquite

Blogger's post sparks clash of opinions on Aquino sisters defending PNoy on 'party' issue

It's the latest trend circulating on Facebook. New Philippine Revolution blogger posted an entry dated December 19, 2011 pertaining to Kris Aquino and her sisters Balsy and Pinky Aquino-Abellada. With the latest issue about President Noynoy Aquino who drew flak on attending a Christmas party despite the disasters and casualties brought by the tropical storm "Sendong" in Iligan City, Cagayan de Oro City, and other parts of Mindanao, Kris and her sisters were one in defending their president brother. As quoted, Kris said in her morning show Kris TV:

"Ngayon, 'yun namang party ay matagal nang naka-schedule 'yon. Siyempre, may mga masasamang nangyayari at may malungkot but then, life should go on. Hindi naman pwedeng huminto na lang ang buhay at magmukmok na lang tayo..."

But as the title of the blog post says:


TO KRIS AQUINO: AN APOLOGY FROM PNOY AND PAGASA WOULD HAVE SUFFICED

The blogger named PatricioMangubat stated that Kris Aquino should have just apologized with what she said. He stated that during the demise of former president Corazon Aquino and former senator Ninoy Aquino, "every single Filipino stopped", and "paid respect". He said Filipinos mourned and lives stopped during their deaths, and Filipinos are not like Kris "who doesn't care".

WHY KRIS???

WHEN YOUR MOTHER DIED, EVERY SINGLE FILIPINO STOPPED WHATEVER HE WAS DOING AT THAT TIME, AND PAID HOMAGE TO HER.

I, ALONG WITH MILLIONS, STOOD IN LINE TO VIEW HER. I, ALONG WITH MILLIONS, WAITED HOURS ALONG SOUTH SUPERHIGHWAY TO PAY MY LAST RESPECTS.

NOW, YOUR BROTHER IS PRESIDENT AND HE CAN'T EVEN SPEND A FEW MINUTES ATTENDING TO RELIEF AND EVACUATION OPERATIONS IN CAGAYAN DE ORO AND ILIGAN?

MANY PEOPLE DIED KRIS. FATHERS AND THEIR KIDS, MOTHERS AND THEIR BABIES. WHOLE GENERATIONS WERE WIPED OUT.THE ENTIRE CAGAYAN WAS ALMOST TRANSFORMED INTO A WASTELAND AND YOU WILL TELL US THAT "LIFE SHOULD GO ON...AND IT WILL NOT BE GOOD IF OUR LIVES STOP FOR A WHILE AND FOR US TO MOURN?"

WE MOURN FOR YOUR FATHER, KRIS. I WAS JUST A KID WHEN MY TITAS AND TITOS VOWED TO SACRIFICE THEIR LIVES FOR YOUR FATHER TO GET JUSTICE...

OUR LIVES STOPPED WHEN YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER DIED.

DON'T EVER TELL US, US, THE FILIPINO PEOPLE THAT WE WILL NOT MOURN OUR FELLOW FILIPINOS WHO DIED DURING THIS TYPHOON.

WE ARE NOT LIKE YOU, WHO DOESN'T CARE.

WE CARE FOR FELLOW FILIPINOS, POOR ONES, WHO BECAME VICTIMS.

MORE THAN A THOUSAND LOST THEIR LIVES BECAUSE OF THE INGRATITUDE AND THE INEPTITUDE OF THEIR LEADERS!!

THOUSANDS MORE LOST THEIR FUTURES BECAUSE OF THE CALLOUSNESS OF LEADERS LIKE YOUR BROTHER, KRIS!

A MERE APOLOGY WOULD HAVE SUFFICED.
 

The post got mixed reactions, with comments on and off the side of the blogger. See some comments below:

So which side are you? You can view the original article here.

Jon Bon Jovi Not Dead

The New Jersey singer-songwriter and philanthropist is very much 'alive and well'. -source-

International rock legend Jon Bon Jovi became a Twitter trending topic when rumors circulated he was dead. He's not!


A fake press released was retweeted and shared many times, causing people to speculate that his appearance in an Advil commercial caused his supposed demise.


Bon Jovi's official Facebook page posted at 7:02 PM:

"'Heaven looks a lot like New Jersey' -jbj. Rest assured that Jon is alive and well! This photo was just taken."