LIVESTREAM: Pope Francis now in Tacloban for Holy Mass (January 17, 2015)

MANILA, Philippines - Pope Francis still pursue to visit Eastern Visayas despite Typhoon 'Amang' signal no. 2 risk in the province as he scheduled to offer a holy mass near Tacloban International Airport today, January 17, 2015.

Pope Francis departs Villamor Air Base in Pasay City via Philippine Airlines (PAL) PR 8010 to Leyte. The pope has arrived in Tacloban around 8:45 in the morning.

Thousands of Yolanda survivors are waiting for the pontiff despite the bad weather condition.

Thousands of Yolanda survivors are waiting for Pope Francis in Tacloban Airport

Aside from the mass, Pope Francis will also visit the Archdiocese of Palo and will have lunch with the poor and survivors of natural calamities at the residence of the Archbishop (12:45pm). Afterwards he will bless the Pope Francis Center for the Poor in Palo (3:00pm), and visit the Cathedral of Our Lord’s Transfiguration (Palo Cathedral) to meet with priests and religious leaders (3:30).

The pontiff will leave Tacloban at 5:00 in the afternoon with expected arrival of around 6:15pm at Villamor Air Base.

Here's the official Livestream feed of Pope's visit to Tacloban (video courtesy of RTV Malacanang):

PAGASA: 'Bagyong Amang' threatens Samar, Signal No. 2 up in Tacloban

MANILA, Philippines - State weather bureau PAGASA on its 5am update today, January 17, 2015 said that 'Bagyong Amang' (International name: Mekkhala) has intensified further and threatens Samar Provinces. Signal No. 2 is now up Tacloban, Leyte in which Pope Francis will offer mass near Tacloban Airport this morning.

PAGASA added that 'Bagyong Amang' may hit Borongan City, Eastern Samar this afternoon.

At 4:00 AM today, the center of Tropical Storm “Amang” was estimated based on all available data at 220 km East Southeast of Borongan City, Eastern Samar (10.9°N, 127.3°E). It has maximum sustained winds of 100 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 130 kph. It is forecast to move West at 17 kph.

'Amang' Forecast Positions:
- 24 hour (Tomorrow morning): 20 km East Northeast of Masbate City.
- 48 hour (Monday morning): 35 km South of Cabanatuan City.
- 72 hour (Tuesday morning): 125 km Northwest of Laoag City.

Signal No. 2 (PSWS #2) is up in the following areas: Sorsogon, Masbate Incl. Ticao Island. Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar and Leyte Incl. Biliran. (These areas will have stormy weather with heavy to intense rains. Residents along coastal areas are alerted against possible Storm surges of less than 2 meters.)

Meanwhile, PAGASA raised Signal No. 1 (PSWS#1) at the following areas: Catanduanes, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Burias Island, Quezon Incl Polillo Island, Laguna, Batangas, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, and Romblon, Southern Leyte, Northern Cebu incl. Cebu City, Camotes Island, Capiz and Aklan and Dinagat Island.

The estimated rainfall amount is from 7.5 – 20 mm per hour (heavy - intense) within the 400 km diameter of the Tropical Storm.

Residents in low lying and mountainous areas of the provinces with PSWS#2 and #1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Ocean waves may reach up to 9 meters within the diameter of the storm.

Fisherfolks and those with small seacrafts are advised not to venture out over the seaboards of Luzon, Visayas and the eastern seaboard of Mindanao.

In the next 6 hours, there is a possibility of raising Public Storm Signal # 1 over Cavite, Rizal, NCR & Bulacan.

The public and the disaster risk reduction and management council concerned are advised to take appropriate actions.

SLU CEE results AY 2015-2016 are now out online

MANILA, Philippines - Saint Louis University (SLU) - Baguio City officially released today, January 16, 2015 the results of College Entrance Examination known as SLU-CEE for academic year AY 2015-2016. Online search portal is now up for checking of results.

SLU-CEE 2015 was conducted in October 5 to December 14 last year at the SLU Library and other satellite exam centers in Northern Luzon.

Aside from online availability, SLU-CEE results also posted in the SLU Main campus Guidance Center.

Here is the official results page for the SLU CEE 2015-2016:

If your name does not appear on the list, you may call the Student Affairs Office - (074) 444 8246 local 321 - for further verification.

SLU said that ENTRANCE SCHOLARSHIPS await the TOP 100 PLACERS in the SLU-CEE: 100% tuitional discount each for the TOP 1-10 PLACERS; 50% tuitional discount each for the TOP 11-100 PLACERS.

In the undergraduate program of SLU, all freshman applicants must pass the SLU College Entrance Examination (SLU-CEE) and must qualify within the slots duly determined for each course.

SLU is the largest university in the north of Manila lies Baguio City, known to be the "Summer Capital of the Philippines" has more than 30,000 students from the elementary, high school and college levels.

SLU said that its reputation for excellence attracts students and scholars not only from the Philippines but from other countries as well. It has sustained itself since 1911 to become one of the top centers of academic excellence in the Philippines that meet international standards in tertiary education.

'The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin' is now the highest grossing Filipino film of all time

MANILA, Philippines - Comedian Vice Ganda officially announced on Friday, January 16, 2015 that the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2014 entry "The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin" sets new record as it is now the highest grossing Filipino film of all time.

The box-office star made the announcement on the noontime show 'It's Showtime' as he congratulated director Wenn Deramas, as well as Star Cinema and Viva Films, which co-produced the comedy film.

Vice Ganda said that the sequel of the 2011 comedy flick "The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin" attained new record on Thursday, January 15, which was declared a special non-working holiday in Metro Manila due Pope Francis visit.

"Na break na ng 'The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin' ang record ng 'Girl Boy Bakla Tomboy.' Ang saya!" the It's Showtime host said.

"Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy," a 2013 MMFF entry of Star Cinema and Viva Films, which also stars Vice Ganda has earned P436 million during its run in theaters.

According to the new record, "The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin" is now the top 4 highest grossing films that were released in the Philippines (including local and foreign films). It is next to "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" produced by Columbia Pictures which has raked in a total of P443 million last year. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures' "Iron Man 3" holds the top spot with P625 million in 2013.

"Yun 'yung nakakatuwa natatalo ko. Una yung 'Praybeyt Benjamin,' tinalo ng 'Sisterakas,' tapos tinalo ng 'Girl Boy,' tapos ngayon tinalo ng 'The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin," he said.