PH bet Winwyn Marquez crowned Reina Hispanoamericana 2017

MANILA, Philippines - Teresita Ssen "Winwyn" Marquez won the title of Reina Hispanoamericana 2017 held in Sta. Cruz, Bolivia on Saturday (Sunday morning in Manila time.)

Marquez, the first Filipina to compete and win in the Reina Hispanoamericana (Hispanic American Queen), an annual beauty pageant celebrating Hispanic heritage, language and culture, bested 26 other contestants in the competition.

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Miss Philippines Karen Ibasco wins Miss Earth 2017

Winwyn was crowned by Reina Hispanoamericana 2016 Maria Camila Soleibe of Colombia.


The Pinay beauty who was last to get asked a question in the Q&A portion gave a well-thought-out answer enough to impressed the judges.

She was asked: "How would you promote Hispanic Americana culture with language barriers?"

Here's Winwyn's answer:

Language can be learned, but the will and determination to contribute something to the organization cannot.

It has to come from the heart and it has to be natural.

I believe that kindness is a universal language. If you treat people with tolerance, patience, and love, you will understand each other.
Hispanic culture is not about language only.

It's about love for God, love for country, love for history and culture, and love for family.

As a Filipina with a unique heritage, I have instilled that.

I am ready to promote the Hispanic culture, not just in Asia, but in the whole world.

It is time to celebrate the Hispanic culture. It is meant to be celebrated.

Marquez is the daughter of actors Joey Marquez and Alma Moreno, and the niece of former Miss International Melanie Marquez.

— The Summit Express

VIDEO: ABS-CBN, GMA Christmas Station ID 2017 spread love and happiness

‘Just love; buong pusong magmahalan ngayong Christmas.’

ABS-CBN and GMA have lighted up the spirit of the Holiday Season with the release of their Christmas lyric videos for 2017. Through their star-studded recording and heartfelt lyrics on speakers and screens, both stations spread a strong message of love and compassion; clearly reflecting the essence of the Filipino’s warm-hearted Christmas.

Their messages are deeply-rooted in Filipino values. Both ABS-CBN and GMA show a glimpse of how love is in the country through their catchphrases: Just Love and Magmahalan nang Buong Puso, respectively.

Just Love Ngayong Christmas

Watch: ABS-CBN Christmas Station ID 2017 “Just Love Ngayong Christmas” Recording Lyric Video (Video courtesy of ABS-CBN Entertainment)

In ABS-CBN’s Christmas Station ID 2017, Robert Labayen, Lloyd Oliver Corpuz, and Christian Faustino’s words of love, faith, and kindness shines through. These words are made even more beautiful by Jimmy Antiporda’s moving melody. The song has attained fourth place in Youtube PH’s trending videos, with a view sum of 1.9 Million and counting.

The song has 38 Kapamilya singers, through their musical voices, tell everyone the importance of love and peace this Christmas. Piolo Pascual, Toni Gonzaga, and Sarah Geronimo start the song by conveying to everybody how easy it is to find beauty by searching with the heart. The song emphasizes how God’s love can inspire anyone and everyone. To highlight their message, ABS-CBN’s children singers end the song by telling everyone to spread love.

Photo Credit: YouTube/ABS-CBN Entertainment

While ABS-CBN decides to keep things short and straight to the point with #JustLOVE, GMA titled their Christmas lyric video with a witty play on words:

MaGMAhalan nang Buong Puso

Watch: GMA Christmas Lyric video 2017 (Video courtesy of GMA Network)

GMA presents a gift of love with BJ Camaya, Rexy Jolly Conopio, and Jann Lopez’ lyrics. Len Calvo’s melody soothes the heart by convincing others to give away their heartfelt love this Christmas. The message has been received 200+ thousand times on Youtube, with a playful lyric typography that inspires its viewers to prioritize happiness and love over differences.

Photo Credit: YouTube/Donna Mae Gonzalvo

With stars and singers like Alden Richards and Julie Anne San Jose, GMA’s lyric video depicts the Filipino’s generosity by gifting unconditional love to others. The song celebrates the beauty of even the simplest gifts; if they could just be given straight from the heart. It encourages happiness through showing anyone and everyone what care and compassion is.

Photo Credit: YouTube/GMA Network

While ABS-CBN and GMA present their songs with different lyrics and atmospheres, both intertwine in a singular, heartfelt message: to spread love and happiness this Christmas season. Just love ngayong Christmas, magmahalan nang buong puso.

‘Just love; buong pusong magmahalan ngayong Christmas.’

— Kaye Lara, The Summit Express

Isabel Granada passes away, had premonition of her death

MANILA, Philippines - Veteran actress Isabel Granada died on Saturday, November 4, almost two weeks after she was rushed to a hospital in Qatar due to aneurysm. She was 41.

Rest in peace, Isabel Granada!

Isabel's husband, Arnel Cowley, has confirmed to GMA News that they will bring home Isabel's remains on Wednesday.

They are also planning to have her body cremated but the decision would depend on his wife's mother.

Cowley added that Isabel had been declared brain dead by doctors in Qatar on October 27.

The actress was declared dead at 6:00 p.m. in Qatar (11 p.m. Philippine time). The official cause of death was brain hemorrhage due to aneurysm.

Isabel Granada died of Brain Aneurysm. Find out how to avoid this. My tips in Filipino. https://t.co/Zkd1q6Anl0 via @YouTube

— Dr Willie T. Ong (@DocWillieOng) November 5, 2017

Meanwhile, a day before the actress collapsed in Doha, she posted on Facebook an apparent premonition.

"As you turn your attention to Christ Jesus, feel the Light of His Presence shining upon you. Open your mind and heart to receive His heavenly smile of approval.
Let His gold-tinged Love wash over you and soak into the depths of your being. As you are increasingly filled with His Being, you experience joyous union with Him.
He suffuses your soul with Joy in His Presence; at His right hand there are pleasures forevermore. (John 17:20-21; Psalm 16:11)."

Netizens, celebs mourn death of Isabel

Netizens and celebrities expressed their grief over the death of Isabel Granada.

Heaven just gained another Angel.... Rest in Peace sis @isabelgranada21 i am thankful for the 2 decades of friendship we had. Ok lang kahit di na tuloy ang date natin at inuman ng guyabano juice at pagtatawanan natin na after i gave birth hindi na kasya sakin ang costume natin sa play na noli me tangere kung saan nag alternate tyo as maria clara at tinanggap ko yung role ko na mermaid sa Halik ng Sirena dahil sa iisang rason na ikaw ang bida dun kahit hirap na hirap ako sa buntot ko at muntik malunod tapos tawa ka ng tawa. Yung tawa mo, yun ang gusto ko tandaan ngayon kasama ng pambansang eyelashes mo ... Ang importante hindi ka na nahihirapan.no more pain. I know you fought sis. Pahinga ka na. Mahal kita.❤🙏 #ripisa #ripisabelgranda

A post shared by Lalaine Bianca Lapus (@biancalapus) on Nov 4, 2017 at 9:40am PDT

Nakakalungkot naman... may you rest in peace, Ms. Isabel. Deepest condolences to her family and loved ones. ☹️

— Maine Mendoza (@mainedcm) November 4, 2017

Rest In Peace, Isabel Granada.

— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) November 4, 2017

RIP Isabel Granada. One of the 90’s kid icon. May your soul rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/gxZcUh87ZQ

— ⓝⓞⓔⓛ.ⓒⓤⓔⓝⓒⓐ (@totoheart) November 4, 2017

— The Summit Express

Isabel Granada passes away in Qatar

MANILA, Philippines - Singer-actress Isabel Granada has passed away on Saturday, her cousin Joseph Rivera confirmed on Facebook. She was 41.

PAALAM, Isabel! Photo Credit: Facebook/Joseph Rivera

"It is with great sadness and grief that my cousin Isabel Granada peacefully joined our creator at 18:00 today with the comfort the family," Rivera shared.

"For me she was more than just a celebrity but that of a National Artist. Cuz I'm devastated that you had to go so soon despite us just reconnecting our family just recent. I will miss you so dearly. We would like to request for everyone's continued prayers for Isabel and for us family at this challenging moment. Maraming Salamat po," Rivera added.

Isabel's husband Arnel Principe-Cowley has released statement to confirm the heartbreaking news and thanked the Filipino community in Doha for giving their full support on his family.


Meanwhile, her ex-husband Jericho Genasky Aguas has said goodbye to the actress also in a Facebook post.

"Pahinga ka na... Paalam, Isa," Jericho Genaskey Aguas said in a Facebook post shortly before midnight.


Isabel Granada was in comatose after she collapsed on October 24. She was in Qatar for a business trip with her husband Cowley.

According to a nurse at Hamad Hospital, Isabel experienced internal bleeding and aneurysm.

Among the movies of the 80's artist were “Bakit Madalas ang Tibok ng Puso” (1986), "Magic to Love" (1989), “Shake Rattle and Roll 2” (1990), "Lessons in Love" (1990) where she starred with Chuckie Dreyfus, and Ligaya ang Itawag Mo sa Akin (1997).

— The Summit Express

Thieves steal Php 20M worth of iPhone X in broad daylight

MANILA, Philippines — Apple’s iPhone X (iPhone 10), the company’s newest and most advanced smartphone is officially out of the market on November 4, 2017 (November 3 US Time).

The $999 iPhone X is being sold for Php 90,000 in the Philippine grey market. Photo Credit: Apple

Apple started to accept pre-orders last Friday, October 27 while the shipping will be a week after it. On the actual day of the releasing, still unidentified men in hooded jackets broke into a UPS delivery truck and stole over 300 units of iPhone X and various accessories near an Apple Store in San Francisco.

According the courier’s delivery team, the thieves breached and ransacked the company vehicle, where $370,000 (Php 20,350,000) worth of inventories were loaded while they were having another delivery in a nearby establishment at around 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Authorities are still investigating the said incident and have yet to determine the culprits.

iPhone X became available in 50 countries across the globe. Unfortunately, Philippines is not one of those. Pinoy mavens and early adopters are hoping to have their units by Christmas season but according to Apple, it will not be available by this year as the production can’t keep up with the overwhelming demand.

Prior to the launch of iPhone X, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8s were officially launched here in the Philippines last September but the distribution will be on November 17 as per giant telcos Smart and Globe.

iPhone X is sold for $999 in the US and still to be announced in the Philippines. The sellers from the grey market however, capitalized on the situation and opened up the pre-selling and reservations for Php 80,000 to Php 90,000 per unit which is almost doubled as the SRP of Apple US and UK.

Certainly, grey market vendors will be able to bring iPhone X in the country before Christmas. But, will you score it for Php 90,000? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

— Joey Boy Capos, The Summit Express

Miss Philippines Karen Ibasco wins Miss Earth 2017

MANILA — Philippines won again in the prestigious Miss Earth pageant!

Miss Philippines Karen Ibasco was crowned Miss Earth 2017 in the coronation night held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Saturday, November 4.

Reigning queen, Ecuador's Katherine Espin passed onto Ibasco her crown. The Filipina bested 83 other beautiful women from around the world.

Crowning moment. Photo Credit: Twitter/Mall of Asia Arena

Ibasco, a licensed physicist and University of Santo Tomas (UST) alum aced the Q&A portion, in which the candidates were asked: "Who or what do you think is the biggest enemy of Mother Earth and why?"

“I believe that the real problem in this world is not climate change. The real problem is us because of our ignorance and apathy. What we have to do is to start changing our ways, to start recalibrating our minds and redirecting our steps because together, as a global community, our micro-efforts will have a macro-effect to help save our home, our planet," Ibasco said.

In 2014 and 2015, our very own Jamie Herrel and Angelia Ong won the Miss Earth title.

Other elemental winners for this year's pageant were Australia’s Nina Robertson as Miss Earth Air 2017, Russia’s Lada Akimova as Miss Earth Fire 2017 and Colombia’s Juliana Franco as Miss Earth Water 2017.

Miss Earth 2017 Final Four. Photo Credit: Twitter/Mall of Asia Arena

Watch the telecast of the grand coronation of Miss Earth 2017 on ABS-CBN this Sunday, November 5 at 10 a.m.

Again, congratulations Karen Ibasco!

— The Summit Express