PHOTO: Ethel Booba bounces back, burns Colombian effigy

MANILA, Philippines - "Kalma lang guys. Ako bahala. Babawi tayo sa sunugan ng effigy. Charot!"

Photo Credit: Twitter/Ethel Booba

These were the words of comedienne Ethel Booba as she posted photo of Colombian effigy 'burned' in front of the people.

In the photo, Booba is holding a lighted torch with the effigy featuring the body of Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach but with the face of the controversial Colombian who burned the effigy of the Pinay beauty queen in time for the new year's eve celebration.

The tweet seems to be an answer after a video showing a Colombian burning an effigy of Wurtzbach earned ire from Filipinos online.(Read: VIDEO: Colombian burns Pia Wurtzbach effigy on New Year’s eve)

The man identified as Noider Almanza Barraza from Barranquilla, Colombia posted the minute-long video clip on Facebook.

It is believed that the malicious act of the Colombian was committed as a result of the mistake made by Harvey during the live telecast of the prestigious beauty pageant held last December 20 in Las Vegas, United States.

Harvey mistakenly crowned Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez as Miss Universe 2015. Minutes after the announcement, Harvey came forward to apologize for the gaffe and pronounced Wurtzbach as the real winner.

USTET results for AY 2016-2017 release is on March 15, 2016 - UST

The Catholic institution University of Santo Tomas (UST) Office for Admissions (OFAD) in a statement on their website said that official release date of USTET (UST Entrance Test) results for Academic Year AY 2016-2017 is on Tuesday, March 15, 2016. The complete list of passers (results) will be available online as UST will advise the portal where examinee can log-in and view if examinee passed the test.

USTET for next school year was administered by OFAD in two batches last 2015 - September 27 and December 6 and another batch scheduled on January 31, 2016 in Manila, 37 official testing centers in provincial areas and 10 international testing locations.

UST said that high school grades are required before taking USTET, 40 percent of the applicant’s total score will be based on his/her high school academic performance. The remaining 60 percent will come from USTET results.

To avoid problems in the release of USTET results, UST advised takers to forward the complete set of documents to the OFAD personally or through any courier service.

The premier university also said that passing the USTET is not the sole basis for admission to some strands (freshmen). A second screening is required by the Conservatory of Music in the form of an audition and an artwork rendition for the College of Architecture.

For AY 2016-2017, the target release date of results is late by several weeks as compared to the previous years. For this year USTET results, it is also expected that the complete list of passers will be posted at the UST campus after a day the results were released online.

Note: Link to UST Admission results page portal will be available here once results are out online.

In December last year, UST said it will open 7 more programs for AY 2016- 2017 applicants: BS Biology, BS Biochemistry, BS Psychology, AB Journalism, AB Legal Management, AB Economics and BS Nursing.

Applicants may change their priority or alternative programs by submitting a letter of request, personally or by courier, on or before Jan. 15, 2016, the admissions office said.

This brings to 20 the total number of programs to be offered next academic year, the start of the transition to the K to 12 basic education scheme that has forced colleges and universities nationwide to shut down or cut their degree offerings.

The institution expects freshman enrollment to go down drastically next year as high school students will spend two more years in secondary education, or Grades 11 and 12, instead of going to college.

UST is one of the best education institutions in the Philippines and the largest Catholic University in the World in terms of student population in a single campus. It has the most number of accredited programs according to PACUCOA.

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MMFF Update: "Beauty and the Bestie" crosses P300M mark in box-office

MANILA, Philippines - Nearly half of the latest total gross of the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) was earned by Star Cinema's "Beauty and the Bestie" as the lead star Vice Ganda on Saturday hinted it already crossed the P 300 million mark in box office.

 "Beauty and the Bestie" rakes in P300M mark in box-office

"300Million THANKS to you Madlang People for making us number 1 in your hearts. #BeautyAndTheBestieSecondWeek," the 39-year-old comedian tweeted to express gratitude due to overwhelming support of his fans.

300Million THANKS to you Madlang People for making us number 1 in your hearts. #BeautyAndTheBestieSecondWeek

— jose marie viceral (@vicegandako) January 2, 2016

Thanks so much Trinoma, SM D'Block and SM North EDSA for the warm reception. #BeautyAndTheBestieSecondWeek pic.twitter.com/1JtA37Nkbx

— jose marie viceral (@vicegandako) January 2, 2016

MMFF on Saturday night announced that the 8-day gross (December 25, 2015 - January 1, 2016) of the eight competing films already reached P 737 million in ticket sales.

The MMFF executive committee have yet to release exact box office figures for each of the entries. It has, however, revealed the top four earners (in no particular order) which include "My Bebe Love," "Beauty and the Bestie," "Haunted Mansion," and "Walang Forever."

Last year, Vice Ganda's entry to the annual film festival, "The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin," finished its box office run with an estimated P440 million.

VIDEO: Colombian burns Pia Wurtzbach effigy on New Year’s eve

MANILA, Philippines- Nearly two weeks following the controversial mix-up of winners during the Miss Universe 2015 pageant, a video of a Colombian burning an effigy of Pia Wurtzbach during New Year’s eve emerged online.

The man identified as Noider Almanza Barraza from Barranquilla, Colombia posted the minute-long video clip on Facebook. The controversial post, which has amassed more than 1,500 shares as of this writing, has sparked outrage among several Filipinos on social media.

In the video, Wurtzbach’s life-size dummy clad in blue gown, a Philippine sash and a made-up crown was set to fire in the middle of a street. Aside from Wurtzbach’s, American host Steve Harvey’s effigy was also burned.

Watch the video.

De esta manera se quemó misa philipinas y el presentador de misa universo el año viejo 2015...
Posted by Noider Almanza Barraza on Thursday, December 31, 2015

It is believed that such act was committed as a result of the mistake made by Harvey during the live telecast of the prestigious beauty pageant held last December 20 in Las Vegas in the United States. Harvey mistakenly crowned Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez as Miss Universe 2015. Minutes after the announcement, Harvey came forward to apologize for the gaffe and pronounced Wurtzbach as the rightful winner.

In an interview with Colombia’s W Radio, Gutierrez admitted she initially thought Harvey was making a joke.

"It has been very hard for me, truly, it has been a great shock. Because it is a dream I fought for. ...It was very humiliating for me,” Gutierrez revealed.

Gutierrez added: "I thought it was a joke. In the rehearsals, he did things like that.”

Furthermore, Gutierrez said that the organizers could have done the second announcement differently.

"They could have done it, I don't know, the next day in a press conference or a press release. ...They did not do things the right way,” she said.

Although the whole experience was humiliating for Gutierrez, she believes “making history” is more important than winning the highly-coveted crown. -Mini/TheSummitExpress

Open Letter against “Forevermore” Director Cathy Garcia-Molina goes viral

MANILA, Philippines - Blockbuster director Cathy Garcia-Molina is at the center of controversy after a former talent revealed the alleged verbal abuse experienced by her boyfriend during the taping of the 2014 ABS-CBN hit TV series "Forevermore."

Blockbuster director Cathy Garcia-Molina is embroiled in a controversy involving a former talent.
Photo Credit: GMA Solid Global Fanpage

According to a Facebook note by Rossellyn Domingo on Thursday, December 31, her boyfriend Alvin Campomanes, who served as a substitute actor for a minor role in the former primetime drama, was cursed and humiliated by Molina during a location shooting for Forevermore on October 6 to 7 in Baguio.

“Napakasakit para sa akin na mura-murahin niyo nang pauli-ulit ang boyfriend ko sa harap ng maraming tao. Nakatatak sa alaala ko ang mga ngisi at tawanan ng mga staff at cameramen niyo kapag nagpapakawala kayo ng mga mura. Hindi niyo alam kung gaanong iginagalang ng napakaraming tao ang “ekstrang” minura-mura at ipinahiya ninyo,” Domingo wrote in her Facebook note.

(It’s very painful for me to witness my boyfriend being cursed in front of many people. The smirks and laughs of the staff and cameramen as she says curse words are in my memory. You don’t know how much respect people give to that “extra” you cursed and humiliated.)

Campomanes, a University of the Philippines educator and historian, filed a complaint addressed to ABS-CBN broadcast head Ma. Socorro V. Vidanes on October 22, 2014. He urged the network giant to take disciplinary actions against Molina, a certain Jeng and talent coordinator John Leonardo, who took Camponanes as a substitute actor.

In the letter of complaint, Campomanes detailed how Molina verbally abused after he failed to follow the instructions she gave him during the first day of taping. The first-time actor claimed that he was “denigrated” by Molina during the second day of taping after he committed errors in blocking.

“I was verbally abused. ‘P*tang *na! Ang hirap turuan!’ ‘K*nang *na!’ ‘P*ksh*t ka, Makoy!’ At that point, I remember Joey Marquez spared me from further humiliation by coaching me on how to position my body for that particular scene. I believe he was uncomfortable seeing me endure all those hurtful remarks, aware as he was that his daughter Winwyn was my student in San Beda. As a matter of prudence, I struggled to maintain my composure. I did not want to engage a woman who is almost as old as my parents in a shouting match. I am the better person. I was raised well by my parents. I was formed well by my teachers. I am an educator. I had the moral ascendancy,” Campomanes wrote.

Read the full open letter of complaint to Cathy Garcia Molina here.

Through the letter of complaint, Campomanes wishes to voice out the silent rage of all the extras and behind-the-camera workers who had been “abused and dehumanized”.

His controversial post has gone viral amassing more than 6,000 shares as of this writing.

Molina has not released a statement regarding the issue. -Mini/TheSummitExpress