Xmas countdown: September 3

Xmas countdown: September 3, 112 days to go! " Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!" - Charles Dickens

Xmas countdown: September 2,

Xmas countdown: September 2, 113 days to go! Simbang Gabi (Filipino: Night Mass; Spanish: Misa de Gallo, "Rooster's Mass") is a novena of dawn Masses from 16 December to Christmas Eve. The Simbang Gabi is practised mainly by Catholic and Aglipayans, with some Evangelical Christian and independent Protestant churches having adopted the practise of having pre-Christmas dawn services. Attending the Masses is meant to show devotion to God and heightened anticipation for Christ's birth, and folk belief holds that God grants the special wish of a devotee that hears all nine Masses.

Christmas Countdown: Sept.1

September 1 - 114 days to go before xmas! The Philippines is known for having the world’s longest Christmas season. The four months that end with the syllable –ber are considered Christmas months, which is why stores and households start playing carols on the first day of September! And the holiday season extends beyond December 31st. It doesn’t end until the Feast of the Epiphany or Three Kings (Tatlong Hari) which falls around January 6.

Frogs and Islam

Is it true that  Frogs are considered to be sacred or pious creatures in Islam?

When i made the search in  the internet, i bumped into the following discussion in Islamweb: : 

"It is confirmed in a Hadeeth that it is prohibited to kill frogs, and the jurists relied on this evidence in prohibiting eating them. Some of them said that the reason is that they are dirty as stated by Al-Munaawi . Moreover, it is confirmed that ‘Abdullaah Ibn ‘Amr said that the reason for this is that its croak is Tasbeeh (saying Subhaanah Allaah, i.e. how perfect Allaah is) and Al-Bayhaqi classified this narration from Ibn ‘Amr as Saheeh [authentic].

Besides, Ash-Shawkaani said that Ibn ‘Amr used to take from the Israelites. It was also reported from Anas that the frog took water in its mouth to put out the fire that was prepared to burn the Prophet Ibraaheem (Abraham) .

As regards the wording of its Tasbeeh, then we are not aware of any authentic evidence of it. However, it was reported from Anas that it says: “Subhaanaka wa bihamdika muntaha ‘ilmika” (How perfect You are O Allaah, and I praise You to the farthest boundary of Your Knowledge.” Whereas, Az-Zamakhshari said that it says “Subhaanah Al-Malik Al-Qudoos” (How perfect The King, The Holy One is.)

What is mentioned about the frogs making Tasbeeh – if this is confirmed – is evidence of its excellence as it is said that its croak is Tasbeeh. However, even if this is not confirmed, they are still included in the general creatures that make Tasbeeh, as Allaah Says (what means): {The seven heavens and the earth and whatever is in them exalt Him. And there is not a thing except that it exalts [Allaah] by His praise, but you do not understand their [way of] exalting.}[Quran 17:44]

Winners, Cinemalaya Awards Night 2014

Celebrating its 10th year, Cinemalaya ended this year's film festival with its awards night Sunday, August 10 at the CCP Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater).
Here is the list of this year's winners: 

Best Poster Design: Justin Besana for Asintado
Audience Choice Award, New Breed Category: Sundalong Kanin
Audience Choice Award, Directors' Showcase: Hustisya
2014 Gawad Balanghai: Kidlat Tahimik, father of Philippine Independent Cinema

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SHORT FEATURE
Best Screenplay - Kevin Ang Tan, Lola
Best Director - Kevin Ang Tan, Lola
Best Film - Asan si Lolo Me
Special Jury Prize - The Ordinary Things We Do
Audience Choice – Lola 

DIRECTORS SHOWCASE
Best Sound - The Janitor
Best Musical Score - Richard Gonzales, Kasal
Best Editing - Tara Illenberger, The Janitor
Best Production Design - Harley Alcasid, Kasal
Best Cinematography - Mycko David, Kasal

Best Screenplay - Aloy Adlawan and Michael Tuviera The Janitor
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role - Nicco Manalo, The Janitor
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role - Cris Villonco, Hari ng Tondo
Best Performance by a Lead Actor - Robert Arevalo, Hari ng Tondo
Best Performance by a Lead Actress - Nora Aunor, Hustisya
Special Jury Prize - Hari ng Tondo
Best Director - Michael Tuviera, The Janitor
Best Film - Kasal
NETPAC Award: Hustisya 
 
NEW BREED CATEGORY
Best Sound - Children's Show
Best Musical Score - Erwin Fajardo, Bwaya
Best Editing - Gerone Centena, Children's Show
Best Production Design - Toym Imao, K'na, the Dreamweaver
Best Cinematography - Neil Daza, Bwaya
Best Screenplay - Giancarlo Abrahan, Dagitab
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role - Miggs Cuaderno, Children's Show
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role - Barbie Forteza, Mariquina
Best Performance by a Lead Actor - Dante Rivero, 1st Ko Si 3rd
Best Performance by a Lead Actress -Eula Valdez, Dagitab
Special citation for Ensemble Acting - #Y
Special Jury Prize - K'na, the Dreamweaver
Best Film - Bwaya
Best Director - Giancarlo Abrahan, Dagitab
Canon Award Best Cinematography – Children’s Show
NETPAC Award: Bwaya

ex aequo et bono

ex aequo et bono - Of equity and [the] good. - Usually defined as "what is right and good." Used to describe the power of a judge or arbiter to consider only what is fair and good for the specific case, and not necessarily what the law may require. In courts, usually only done if all parties agree.

ignorantia juris non excusat

ignorantia juris non excusat - Ignorance of the law does not excuse - A principle that states that not having knowledge of a law is not an excuse for breaking it.

Caveat emptor

Caveat emptor - Let the buyer beware- In addition to the general warning, also refers to a legal doctrine wherein a buyer could not get relief from a seller for defects present on property which rendered it unfit for use.

Aliwan Fiesta 2014 Winners

Aliwan Fiesta 2014 Winners - Festival Floats

1st Place - P500,000
- Bambanti Festival (Isabela Province)

2nd Place - P250,000
- Utanon Festival Float (Dalaguete, Cebu)

3rd Place - P100,000
- Float from Baguio City

(7) Runners-up - P25,000 each
- Pandag Float (Mother Kabuntalan, Maguindanao)
- Tuna Festival Float (General Santos City)
- Karagan Festival (Pampanga)
- Pasay City Float
- Singkaban Festival (Bulacan)

- Float from Mangudadatu, Maguindanao

- Float from Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao

Aliwan Fiesta 2014 Winners - Reyna ng Aliwan

Reyna ng Aliwan 2014 - Festival Queen
- Candidate #6 Steffi Aberasturi- Sinulog Festival (Cebu)

1st Runner-up
- Candidate #13 Shaira Lenn Roberto - Singkaban Festival (Bulacan)

2nd Runner-up
- Candidate #8 Maria Gigante - Palawod Festival (Cebu)
- Candidate #14 Hazel Trasmonte - Sinulog de Kabankalan Festival (Negros)
- Candidate #16 Michelle Marie Monte - Dinagyang Festival (Iloilo)

Aliwan Fiesta 2014 Winners - Streetdance Competition

Champion -  - P1 Million
- Sinulog Festival (Cebu City)

2nd Place -P500,000
- Meguyaya Festival (Upi, Maguindanao)

3rd Place - P250,000
- T'nalak Festival (South Cotabato)

4th Place - P150,000
- Pamulinawen Festival (Laoag City)

5th Place - P100,000
- Caragan Festival (Mabalacat, Pampanga)

(5)Runners-up - P50,000 each
- Kalilangan Festival (General Santos City)
- Bato Art Festival (Luna, Isabela)
- Pandang Gitab Festival (Oriental Mindoro)
- Adivay Festival (Benguet)
- Kalivungan Festival (Matalam, Cotabato Province)

SPECIAL AWARDS
Best Musical Accompaniment- #12 Sinulog Festival (Cebu City)
Best Costume - #12 Sinulog Festival (Cebu City)
Best Folkloric Performance - #7 Adivay Festival (Benguet)

Antique: First Malay Settement

Historians believe that the earliest people who settled on the island of Panay were tribal Negritos or Atis. Oral history, relayed as the "Legend of Maragtas", states that in 1212, ten "datus" from Malay escaped persecution from Sri-Vishaya, a Hindu-Malay empire in Borneo and Sumatra. The ten datus, led by Datu Puti, sailed northward with their families and communities, landing on Panay after departing Borneo. Upon arrival, the Malay datus met the Ati chieftain King Marikudo and his wife Maniwantiwan. They offered the chieftain a golden salakot (wide-brimmed headgear) and golden necklace, among other gifts, as a display of respect. King Marikudo responded to the datus' generosity by moving to the mountains with his Ati tribe, allowing the Malayans to settle in the lowlands. The legacy of this landing is commemorated annually in Antique during the Binirayan festival