COUNTDOWN IS ON BEFORE THE END OF THE WORLD

DECEMBER 12 2012

POPE BENEDICT SAYS, NATIVITY SCENE WITH ANIMALS IS A MYTH

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Just in time for Christmas, the Vatican on Tuesday (Nov. 20) unveiled a new book by Pope Benedict XVI focused on Jesus' birth and childhood, the final installment of his trilogy on the life of Jesus.

"Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives," will hit bookstores in 50 countries with an initial print run of 1 million copies. The book has already been translated in nine languages, while 11 more are planned.

With this final installment in his "Jesus of Nazareth" series, Benedict completes a project he had conceived when he was still Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.

According to the Vatican's chief spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, after being elected pope in 2005 Benedict has been working on it in "every free minute" of his spare time.

Drawing on the work of other scholars, most of them fellow Germans, Benedict uses the new book to tackle some of the most controversial themes of Christian tradition.

On Mary's virgin conception of Jesus, Benedict says the answer to the question of whether this is a "historical truth," rather than a "myth," should be an "unequivocal yes."

Jesus' virgin birth and his resurrection from the dead, he writes, are the two moments in the Gospels when "God intervenes directly into the material world."

"This is a scandal for the modern spirit," Benedict notes, since in today's world God is "allowed to operate on thought and ideas but not on matter." But for just this reason, he adds, Mary's virginity is a "test" and a "fundamental element" of the Christian faith.

The Gospels are mostly silent on the period between Jesus' birth, his presentation in the Temple at age 12 and the debut of his public ministry at around age 30. Most accounts of Jesus' childhood -- striking another child dead, giving life to clay pigeons -- come from ancient texts that were never accepted as Christian scripture.

In his book, Benedict sidesteps the extra biblical legends and focuses solely on what's contained in the Gospel accounts of the New Testament.

The three wise men from the Christmas story, Benedict concedes, could be inspired by a "theological idea" rather than by a "historical event," though he says he prefers a more literal interpretation of the biblical account.

The star of Bethlehem, he notes, has been convincingly identified with a major planetary conjunction that took place in the years 7-6 B.C.

Benedict also recalls that, according to the Gospels, there are no animals in the Bethlehem stable to warm the newborn Jesus. But, he adds, no Nativity scene would be complete without them.

Benedict remains convinced that the Gospel narrative of Jesus' birth and infancy is not just a symbolical account or mere "meditation."

Matthew and Luke, he stresses, "didn't want to write stories' but history, a real history, even if interpreted and understood" through the lens of the faith.

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FOODS THAT CAN KILL

Almonds: Just like cashew nuts, almonds too are considered to be extremely poisonous if not treated before consumption. In the crude form these nuts are exposed to heat in order to make them edible.

 Potatoes: One of the most commonly eaten vegetable across the world, a potato plant is actually poisonous. Everything except the bulbs, that we consume, is extremely harmful. If you consume the leaves of the potato plant in surfeit quantities it can prove to be fatal.

Mushrooms: Toadstools are poisonous mushrooms that must not be eaten. Mushrooms that are found in the wild are the harmful ones and can cause grave damage to the body. However, you must take note of the fact that not all mushrooms are poisonous.

Rhubarb: Rhubarb is a plant with edible and flavorsome stems which are used as a part of a number of desserts. However the leaves of this plant contain an acid which is very harmful in nature. Being observant about the quality and nature of food you consume is particularly imperative. Having complete knowledge and information about unusual foods is another important point to be taken care of.

Apple seeds: The fruit that actually keeps the doctor away has poisonous seeds that contain cyanide. However, the level of cyanide is low and does not cause extreme reactions. But health experts do not recommend eating apple seeds.

Cherries: The tiny little red fruit is enjoyed by most people and used in a number of ways. However, the seed of the cherry is poisonous in nature. It releases hydrogen cyanide in your body. You might feel uneasy, dizzy or even vomit. Extreme reactions include convulsions, kidney failure and heart related problems.

Cashew: Raw cashews contain urushiol, which is a poisonous chemical that can lead to death of a person. The ones that are available in the market are not in their raw form as they are steamed before being packed for consumption.

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THE CONCERT

Hindi ko kinahiligan ang manuod ng mga concert. Ang ibig kong sabihing concert ay yaong ginaganap sa isang malaking lugar at may ticket na nagkakahalaga ng libu-libo. Lalo namang hindi ako fan ng isang diva para manuod ng concert. Ngunit kagabi lang, nag-abala talaga akong manuod ng concert ni Regine Velasquez na ginanap sa Arena ng Mall of Asia. Hindi ako nakahindi sa paanyaya ng mga kaibigan kong sina Lea at Paul na kahit hindi na kami magkakasama sa isang call center, nagagawa pa rin naming magkita-kita. 

Hindi man naging matagumpay ang nasabing concert ni Regine dahil wala siyang boses at ilang beses siyang pumiyok at namaos, buong pakumbaba siyang humingi ng paumanhin sa mga libu-libong nag-abalang manuod kagabi. Humanga tuloy ako sa kababaan ng kanyang loob. Hindi man naabot ng songbird ang mga nota ng kanta, tila isang teleserye ang nakita ko kagabi sa madamdaming pagtanggap ng mga tao sa kanya. Naging malakas pa rin ang mga palakpakan at hiyawan. 

Kaya naman, sa bibig na rin ni Regine nanggaling na mauulit ang kanyang Silver Concert at libre sa mga may ticket ng kanyang concert kagabi.

Read related stories:

• Regine Velasquez's voice falters; promises a free show
• Regine Velasquez loses voice during concert
• Regine Velasquez cuts Silver concert short after losing voice; vows to do better in the free concert before year end
• Photos and Videos

MEET AND GREET MICKEY AND MINNIE

Meet and Greet Mickey and Minnie on November 10, 2012 at SM Megamall

JUST WATCHED 'SUDDENLY IT'S MAGIC'

Just watched today this romantic movie of Marcus and Joey at SM Megamall. The movie opened on Oct 31 in theaters nationwide and yet there are still people of all walks of life  watching the movie. I mean, it's been ten days after it premiered and yet the crowd are still on the queue at Megamall Cinema 12 to watch the movie. During those romantic scenes, the crowd were shouting because of the 'kilig' moments.

Suddenly It's Magic is a 2012 Filipino-Thai romantic film directed by Rory Quintos, starring Mario Maurer and Erich Gonzales. The film is produced by Star Cinema and was released last October 31, 2012 in the Philippines.

The story depicts two star-crossed lovers: Marcus Hanson (Mario Maurer), a Thai superstar, and Joey Hermosa (Erich Gonzales), a Filipina baker. When Marcus decides to fly to Philippines to escape from his career, he meets Joey. Even though their worlds collide, the two later fall in love. But their relationship is tested by conflicts from their worlds.

Plot

Joey Hermosa (Erich Gonzales) and Marcus Hanson (Mario Maurer) only have two things in common. One: they live to make fairy-tale romances happen — Joey through her exquisite wedding cakes; Marcus through the numerous romantic comedies he stars in. Two: their own love stories do not have the fairy-tale happy endings — she was just recently dumped at the altar; he just discovered that his on-screen partner and real-life girlfriend had fallen in love with another man.

These two broken-hearted people will find love again when they least expect it. Sounds like the perfect recipe for a sweet ever after!

Desperate to escape the media frenzy and the intrusive questions of the public about his love life and career, Marcus impulsively decides to go on vacation in the Philippines where he meets Joey who is determined to move forward with her life. Marcus finds himself drawn to Joey’s passion for baking, and rediscovers his love for acting. In love once again, he invites her to join him in Thailand. Joey refuses at first, but she eventually follows him to Bangkok and allows herself to fall in love again. But their love encounters opposition from Marcus’ fans who are desperate to see him reunite with his ex-girlfriend, and from his overprotective mother. Moreover, Joey’s responsibilities back home cause a strain in their relationship. Despite their love for each other, Joey and Marcus begin to question if their dreams are worth sacrificing for holiday romance suddenly turned serious.

Can Marcus and Joey’s fairytale romance survive life’s realities?

Cast

• Mario Maurer as Marcus Hanson
• Erich Gonzales as Josephine 'Joey' Hermosa
• Baifern Pimchanok as Sririta Taylor
• Joross Gamboa as Sam
• Cacai Bautista as Marj
• Guji Lorenzana as Marvin
• John Lee as Mtri
• Ces Quesada
• Dinkee Doo
• Jestoni Alarcon
• Dionne Monsanto

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NEW STUFF FOR TODAY: PACSAFE BODY BAG

Just bought today from SM Megamall Dept Store. Original price is P3,680.00 with 10% off.

• eXomesh® slashguards • Slashproof carrysafe® strap • Smart zipper security™ • Concealed buckle

additional features

• Roomy zippered main compartment for guide book, tickets   and passport • Large rear concealed zippered pocket with tuck-away zipper   puller • Small front zippered pocket for coins and receipts • Zippered pocket for electronic gadgets with headphone port • Key clip inside internal zippered pocket • Padded adjustable cross-body strap

OLD MOVIE 'WILLOW' (1988)

I watched this movie when I was in grade school. Well I'm 29 and it's been a long time. Remember when VHS was still on its popularity in house holds? I can't exactly recall the title of this movie but what made me remember this movie is the name of the child "Elora." I can hardly forget her name. 

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Willow is a 1988 American fantasy film directed by Ron Howard, produced and with a story by George Lucas, and starring Warwick Davis, Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, Jean Marsh, and Billy Barty. Davis plays the eponymous lead character and hero: a reluctant farmer who plays a critical role in protecting a special baby from a tyrannical queen in a sword and sorcery setting.

Lucas conceived the idea for Willow in 1972, approaching Howard to direct during the post-production phase of Cocoon in 1985. Lucas believed he and Howard shared a relationship similar to the one Lucas enjoyed with Steven Spielberg. Bob Dolman was brought in to write the screenplay, coming up with seven drafts before finishing in late 1986. Willow was then set up at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and principal photography began in April 1987, finishing the following October.

The majority of filming took place at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire, England, as well as Wales and New Zealand. Industrial Light & Magic created the visual effects sequences, which led to a revolutionary breakthrough with digital morphing technology. Willow was released in May 1988 to mixed reviews from critics, but was a modest financial success and received two Academy Award nominations.

Plot

Fearful of a prophecy stating that a girl child will be born to bring about her downfall, the evil Queen Bavmorda (Jean Marsh) imprisons all pregnant women within her realm, the formidable stronghold of Nockmaar. The child, Elora Danan, is born in the Nockmaar dungeons and identified as the prophesied child by a birthmark on her arm.

Before the black sorceress arrives to claim the child, Elora's mother convinces her reluctant midwife to escape with the baby. Bavmorda sends her daughter Sorsha (Joanne Whalley) and General Kael (Pat Roach), the leader of her army, after the midwife to retrieve Elora. After a long pursuit, Nockmaar hounds finally catch up with the midwife. Knowing she can't escape, she puts the baby on a makeshift raft and sends it downstream, trusting fate to run its course, just before she is caught and torn apart by the hounds. The child washes up on shore near a village inhabited by a race of dwarf-like people called Nelwyns (derisively called "pecks" by humans) and is found by the children of Willow Ufgood (Warwick Davis), a farmer and amateur conjurer. Willow is at first reluctant to take in the baby, but eventually comes to care for her.

The next day, Willow and his children attend a celebration in their village and Willow takes part in a 'test of magic' to become the apprentice to the village's wizard. During the celebration, a Nockmaar hound that was tracking the baby attacks the village. Once the cause of the attack is found, Willow is chosen by the town council to return the child to the world of the "large people," or Daikini (humans). The first Daikini that

Willow comes upon is a boastful warrior named Madmartigan (Val Kilmer), being held captive in a "crow's cage" by the side of the road for theft. Seeing a way to escape his cage, Madmartigan offers to take care of the baby. During their interaction, they meet the retreating army of the kingdom of Galladoorn, which was recently destroyed by Bavmorda, under the leadership of Madmartigan's old friend Airk Thaughbaer, an officer in the army. Willow entrusts the baby to Madmartigan, but on his way home, Willow is attacked by a clan of brownies, who stole the baby from Madmartigan. Willow is taken to the fairy queen of the forest, Cherlindrea (Maria Holvöe), who tells him that the baby, Elora Danan, has chosen Willow to be her guardian. She gives Willow her magic wand and commissions him to find the sorceress Fin Raziel, with two of her brownies, Franjean and Rool, acting as his guides. Along the way, they bump into Madmartigan again, who helps them escape from Sorsha.

Willow and the rest of the group finally meet Fin Raziel (Patricia Hayes), only to find that the sorceress has been turned into a possum by Bavmorda. Soon afterwards Sorsha captures Willow and the others, and they start the long trek to Nockmaar castle. In a mountain camp, Willow attempts to use magic to turn Fin Raziel back into her human form, but transforms her into a Rookinstead. Franjean and Rool cause further mayhem when they accidentally expose Madmartigan to a fairy love dust they are carrying, which makes him become infatuated with Sorsha, but eventually they manage to escape.

The group arrives at the castle of Tir Asleen, which has been put under Bavmorda's spell; all its inhabitants are frozen in ice. Madmartigan, refusing to give up hope, prepares for Sorsha's attack while Willow once again fails to transform Raziel into human form, this time turning her into a goat. Sorsha, Kael, and their army arrive and give battle. Willow encounters a few trolls, and after a botched magic spell, transforms one into a giant two-headed monster (the "Eborsisk"). Luckily, the remnants of the Army of Galladoorn arrive just in time to help their friends. Amidst the melee, Sorsha finally realizes her love for Madmartigan. Kael, however, seizes Elora and takes her to Nockmaar.

The heroes set up camp at Nockmaar, preparing to storm the castle in a final attempt to rescue Elora. Bavmorda turns most of the soldiers (including Madmartigan) into pigs, but Raziel teaches Willow how to protect himself from the spell. Willow finally returns Raziel to human form, and the sorceress is able to transform the soldiers back to people. Since Nockmaar's walls seem impenetrable, all despair until Willow proposes a trick to get them inside. In the morning, Raziel and Willow alone provoke the Nockmaar army into attacking them. As the Nockmaar army abandons the security of the castle, Airk's army comes out of hiding from under tents and pits, ambushing them and gaining access to the castle.

While Madmartigan, Airk, and his soldiers battle Kael and the Nockmaar army in the courtyard, Willow, Raziel and Sorsha ascend the castle's main tower trying to locate Elora. They find Bavmorda in the process of initiating an evil ritual that will banish Elora's body and soul to a nether-realm. Below, Kael kills Airk, then engages Madmartigan in a lengthy battle, which ends with Madmartigan killing the General. After a lengthy magical battle between Raziel and Bavmorda, Willow, using his sleight-of-hand trick, saves Elora and causes Bavmorda to get caught in her own ritual, banishing her own body and soul. Willow leaves the baby in the care of Madmartigan and Sorsha at the castle of Tir Asleen and returns home to his beloved family with a special gift: a spellbook from Raziel, which helps him develop his own magical abilities.

Cast

• Warwick Davis as Willow Ufgood: A reluctant Nelwyn dwarf and aspiring sorcerer who plays a critical role in protecting infant Elora Danan from the evil queen Bavmorda.
• Val Kilmer as Madmartigan: A boasting mercenary swordsman who helps Willow on his quest. In the film (further explained in the film's novelization) it is partly revealed that he is a disgraced knight from the kingdom of Galladoorn.
• Kate and Ruth Greenfield and Kristen Lang as Elora Danan: An infant princess that prophecy says will bring about Queen Bavmorda's downfall.
• Joanne Whalley as Sorsha: Warrior daughter of Bavmorda. In the film's novelization, her father is revealed as the king of Tir Asleen, which becomes a further factor for Sorsha to turn against her mother.
• Jean Marsh as Queen Bavmorda: Villainous ruler of Nockmaar and mother of Sorsha.
• Patricia Hayes as Fin Raziel: Aging sorceress who is turned into a possum^[2][3] due to a curse by Bavmorda.
• Billy Barty as The High Aldwin: Nelwyn wizard who commissions Willow to go on his journey.
• Pat Roach as General Kael: Villainous associate to Queen Bavmorda and high commander of her army.
• Gavan O'Herlihy as Airk Thaughbaer: Military commander of the (destroyed) kingdom of Galladoorn who shares a mixed friendship with Madmartigan.
• Maria Holvöe as Cherlindrea: Fairy queen who resides in the forest and updates Willow on the importance of his quest.
• Kevin Pollak and Rick Overton as Rool and Franjean: Brownie duo who also serve as comic reliefs in Willow's journey.
• David J. Steinberg as Meegosh: Willow's closest friend who accompanies Willow partway on his journey.
• Mark Northover as Burglekutt: Leader of the Nelwyn village council who maintains a running enmity with Willow.
• Phil Fondacaro as Vohnkar: Nelwyn warrior who also accompanies Willow on his journey.
• Julie Peters as Kaiya Ufgood: Wife of Willow. Kaiya is a loving mother and enthusiastic in caring for Elora.
• Tony Cox as a Nelwyn warrior.

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Click the photo to watch the movie.

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