Hair talk with Borge Aloba

He may have shaved his head, but Borge Aloba certainly knows a lot about hair.

The hair stylist extraordinaire was handpicked by Lifestyle Network to become one of the hosts of its first locally produced fashion program, FASH - Fashion and Style Hub.

His segment with model and make-up artist Bianca Valerio, Beauty Affair, provides a step-by-step guide on how to achieve a celeb look from hair to make-up.

"We made it as simple as possible so everyone can relate to it and use it in their everyday lives. It inspires them to look better, but it will still be practical and attainable," Aloba told abs-cbnNEWS.com.

He continued, "We'll also give them alternative (products) that can suit their budget. It will be for everyone."

Abs-cbnNEWS.com asked Aloba to give some basic facts and tips on hair care, styling and maintenance. Here are some of them:

In choosing a haircut, consider your face shape

A haircut may look good on one person, but may seem like a disaster on another.

It's not because one person is more beautiful than the other. Rather, Aloba said it's all about getting the cut that flatters your face shape.

"There's no one best haircut for everyone. It's a case to case basis. It depends on a person's face shape," Aloba said.

People with oval-shaped faces can usually pull off any style, while those with round faces are better off with pixie cuts and tousled styles.

On the other hand, bangs, curls and layers look better on heart-, long- and square-shaped faces.

Black hair is not everything

Abola is a fan of color, which he said "does wonders to your hair."

Black, for one, is a strong hue that can make a person's real age more obvious, he said.

Rich colors, on the other hand, soften a person's facial features.

"Let's stop obsessing about jet black, one-length hair. Let's just do away with that. There are many other colors and styles out there that will look good on you," he remarked, noting that Filipinos are usually bent on getting "shampoo commercial" hair.

In choosing a hair color, consider your complexion, Abola said. (Click here for a more detailed guide in choosing the right hair color.)

Yes, you can wash your hair every day

Some people have believed that washing your hair every day can make it dry, while others think it's a must. So which one of them is true?

According to Abola, it all depends on the climate and a person's skin type.

"In a tropical country such as ours, it's always good to wash our hair every day with shampoo that works best for you," he said.

He added, "Let's all remember that scalp is still skin, and we have to always keep it clean."

Conditioning is for the hair tips, not the scalp or roots

Applying conditioner is good for the hair and can be done every day, Abola said. He stressed, however, that it's not a must for everyone.

"It depends on the hair type. If you have oily hair, you don't have to (apply conditioner)," he said.

Abola also noted a common mistake in applying conditioner -- placing it all on the roots.

Unlike shampoo, he said the conditioner should be concentrated on the hair tips, the part that gets the least amount of oil or moisture.

"There's no need to condition the roots since that's where the oil and moisture come from. If you do that, you may end up with greasy hair. Just (conditioning) the tips will do," he said.

Wake up and think twice about smelling the coffee

Lovers of the world's most expensive coffee, found half-digested in the dung of the wild civet, fear that its unique taste may be spoiled by planned farming of the animals.

Collectors hunt for the coffee cherries in the droppings of civets in Indonesian plantations to make a brew enriched by the bushy-tailed, cat-like animal's stomach that sells for as much as $770 a kg in London.

But as demand rises, producers have spotted an opportunity to increase supply by breeding the civets in cages and feeding them the coffee cherries. Production has started on a small scale.

Experts say the flavor relies on the civet's finicky feeding habits and varied diet to create the enzymes that enrich fermentation of the beans, so caged animals would produce a different coffee.

"I think wild civets offer more variants to the taste," said specialty coffee expert Edi Sumadi. "Inside the cage, the civets' diet is regulated, they're not free to pick following their instincts, so the enzyme inside their digestive system is monotonous."

Perkebunan Nusantara XII sells the civet coffee for $130 a kg from factories or $250 a kg in cafes on Indonesia's main island of Java, though the price multiplies as exports reach countries such as Korea, Japan, Italy and the United States.

"It's far tastier than any other coffee," said the firm's Danu Rianto. "To maintain high standards we have a standard operating procedure."

The coffee does not appeal to everyone -- Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono took some as a gift on a visit to former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, only to find local media dubb it "crappucino".

But now that Indonesia's highest Islamic authority has certified the brew as no longer "haram", or banned for Muslims, in the world's most populous Muslim nation -- so long as the beans are well washed -- producers, including Perkebunan Nusantara XII, are eyeing a bigger market.

In Jakarta's cafes, a cup of civet coffee, known as "kopi luwak", sells for around $9 to $11, and is attracting more interest.

"The taste is very smooth, the smell nice, and hey, it's not entirely haram after you wash it," said Andrea Guna, a first-time taster.

"The price is double that of Starbucks, but the taste is way more than double."

Let's make our homes green

Who doesn’t want to live more lightly on earth? Did you know that turning your homes “green” not only helps save the environment but prolongs lives as well?

Permeable pavers are made to prevent floods. Credit: ANC

Ever since the signs and threats of climate change have been revealed, ecology advocates are coming up with different alternatives to counter the degradation of the environment. Building a greener home today is not impossible anymore.

ManilaCon, an advocacy exhibit initiated by L.A. Ducut and Company to be held on September 2-5 at the SMX Convention Center, presents another social and economic related exhibit. The Green Expo showcases both local and international environment-friendly construction industries that provide materials which are responsive to the challenges of sustainability and durability.

The vision of the exhibit, as explained on Mornings@ANC this week, is to provide a variety of green ideas which will play important roles in the conservation of energies in constructing and maintaining homes.

Wood, still ideal?

Majority believe that wood is the most ideal construction material due to its strength and quality. But a series of tests were made and it was proven that wood can only last for a limited length of time.

Inspired by this, James Hardie Philippines came up with Hardie Flex, a material composed of fiber cement and silica, designed to be a better substitute for wood. The eco-friendly material, aside from being durable and sustainable, is fire-, termite-, and mold-resistant.

“The Philippines having a wet and humid climate needs homes built with premium raw materials to maintain the amount of temperature. Hardiflex, though created in Australia, is perfect for the Philippines,” said Danny De Guzman, general manager of James Hardie Philippines.

Odorless paints? Worry no more

Did you know that it takes four to five years before the toxins from a newly-painted wall can leave your homes? But worry no more because a non-toxic and organic paint is now available in the country.

Fredrik Ekberg, CEO of Pro Paint Distribution Philippines, shared the good news of Flugger Paints--they are odorless, non-toxic, lead-free, water-based, and with low Volta Organic Compounds (VOC).

Flugger Paints promises 10-15 years of vibrant and durable use. The longevity of the product will not only help save the environment but help consumers save money as well.

Recycling styro foams possible?

Styro foam stays forever. However, there are now ways to recycle this product.

Metro Gravel and Sand introduced the Precast Fence made from 20-25% recycled styro foam. This discovery shows how one can get rid of the waste product and at the same time, create a superior product which lasts long.

Eco- and budget friendly pavers for green homes. Credit: ANC

Aside from this, they also presented the permeable paver that could help in preventing floods through its natural pores. It also minimizes the use of other drainage systems and helps reduce other water pollutants flowing into the rivers.

These products show that turning homes "green" is now simple. An eco-friendly haven that's affordable is now possible.

Tiger Woods and wife divorce after sex scandal

Tiger Woods and Swedish model wife Elin Nordegren divorced Monday, their marriage succumbing to a blistering sex scandal that has left the world's top golfer struggling badly for form.

Woods, 34, and Elin Nordegren, 30, issued an amicable joint statement, saying they were sad to be ending their six-year marriage, wishing each other the best and promising to work together for their children's happiness.

"We are sad that our marriage is over and we wish each other the very best for the future," it said.

"While we are no longer married, we are the parents of two wonderful children and their happiness has been, and will always be, of paramount importance to both of us."

In Nordegren's petition for divorce, filed at the beginning of July, she claimed the marriage was "irretrievably broken" and asked for her maiden name to be restored.

Both Woods and Nordegren attended Monday's execution of the divorce at a court in Panama City, Florida, where they agreed to joint custody of their three-year-old girl Sam and one-year-old boy Charlie.

"Once we came to the decision that our marriage was at an end, the primary focus of our amicable discussions has been to ensure their future well-being," the joint statement said.

"The weeks and months ahead will not be easy for them as we adjust to a new family situation, which is why our privacy must be a principal concern."

Nordegren's lawyer, contacted by AFP, could provide no information about the terms of the divorce settlement, valued in media reports at anywhere between 100 million and 500 million dollars.

Woods's spectacular fall from grace began on November 27 last year when he crashed his car near his Orlando home in bizarre circumstances.

The incident touched off revelations about a massive sex scandal, leading to his admission of adultery and subsequent decision to put his golf career on hold while he tried to rescue his marriage.

The string of affairs left Woods's picture-perfect image as the faithful husband in tatters and the billionaire golfer began to lose valuable marketing contracts.

"It may not be possible to repair the damage I've done, but I want to do my best to try," Woods wrote on his website. "I am deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children."

Later he apologized publicly to Nordegren for igniting the tabloid frenzy in which more than a dozen women claimed affairs.

Woods, who said he had been "living a lie" and admitted to "doing some ugly things," received therapy at a sex addiction clinic before making a highly anticipated comeback at the US Masters in March.

Returning at the August National -- a comfortable setting where he has captured four titles, his first in 1997 being the first major crown won by a black golfer -- Woods finished a respectable fourth.

Since then, however, a string of performances ranging from mediocre to poor have seen many question whether the 14-time major winner is capable of recapturing the form that saw him dominate the game for a decade.

Woods enters this week's opening event of the US PGA Tour season-ending playoffs without a win this year.

Stripped of his invincible aura, Woods ranks only 108th in the points race and could at any moment lose his number one ranking.

Without a good finish at The Barclays, starting on Thursday, it could be his final outing of the season, as only the top 100 qualify for the next event.

Despite his woes, US Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin says Woods is high on his list of captain's picks for the biennial match against the best European golfers -- to be contested this October at the Celtic Manor in Wales.

Oyo Boy Sotto, Kristine Hermosa mum on wedding plans

MANILA, Philippines – Couple Kristine Hermosa and Oyo Boy Sotto graced the “Us Girls August Awards 2010” at the Icon Bar, Intercontinental Hotel last Friday.

Hermosa, along with fellow Star Magic artist Kim Chiu, won the Face of the Year Award. “Us Girls” hosts Iya Villiania, Cheska Garcia and Angel Aquino described Hermosa’s beauty as mesmerizing when she accepted the award on stage.

Hermosa and Sotto were barraged with questions from the press about their 2011 wedding, which was revealed by the actor’s mom, actress Dina Bonnevie.

But the couple was elusive when it came to questions about the wedding.

"Di ko rin alam. Nagulat lang din ako. Basta kung ano ‘yong sinabi ni mommy, ‘yon lang muna. Then malalaman ninyo naman kung ano ‘yong mga mangyayari," Sotto told reporters.

We asked Hermosa if she is contended with her life now, the actress said: "Oo naman. Super happy. Super."

Venus Raj shares questions from Miss U prelims

MANILA, Philippines - Venus Raj, the country's representative to the Miss Universe pageant, shares her experience during the preliminary competitions.

After walking the ramp in swimwear and evening gowns, Raj had 3-minute interviews with each of the pageant's 7 preliminary judges, which were not open to the media.

Raj, as well as most candidates, shared that they were nervous at first but eventually enjoyed the experience.

Among the questions asked during the preliminaries are about her hometown, her college course, and as to why she wanted to win the Miss Universe crown.

"(May tanong) kung kamusta naman ang lugar namin. May tanong din tungkol sa course ko noong college, (kung) bakit daw journalism, and then bakit gusto kong maging Miss Universe," Raj told ABS-CBN News.

She added, "'Yung mga tanong very light, parang nag-uusap lang kayo ng friend mo (The questions were very light, it's as if you're just talking to your friend)."

Raj continues to lead in the online popularity survey in the Miss Universe website with a rating of 3.57 out of 5. Following her are contestants from Bolivia, Venezuela, Jamaica, Thailand, Peru, Indonesia, Guatemala, Mexico and Colombia.

Organizers earlier said, however, that the online poll will have no bearing on the preliminaries and the finals.

The Miss Universe pageant is set to be held in Las Vegas on August 23 (August 24 in Manila) at 9 p.m.

It will be aired live via satellite on ABS-CBN on August 24 at 9:30 a.m. with a primetime telecast on the same day on Studio 23 at 7:10 p.m. and Velvet (SkyCable channel 53) at 6:30 p.m.

Robin says sorry to ex-wife Liezl

MANILA, Philippines - Action star Robin Padilla has apologized to his former wife, Liezl Sicangco, and their 4 children.

Padilla said sorry after reports came out that the action star has been neglecting their 4 children -- Roselle Elizabeth, Kylie Nicole, Sherileen Zel and Ali – lately due to his rumored girlfriend Mariel Rodriguez. This reportedly irked Sicangco.

In his official statement sent to "The Buzz," Padilla said he will personally talk to his children, who are now in his custody, to convince them to join their mother in Australia.

He also apologized to them for his shortcomings.

"Ang Ramadan ay buwan ng pag-aayuno, pagpapatawad at pagmamahal... ako ay nakikiisa sa Islam sa pagbibigay halaga sa mga ina. Sapagkat ang paraiso ay nasa paanan lamang ng mga ina, kaya't ako mismo ang kakausap sa aking mga anak na umuwi na sa kanilang ina. Kung ako man ay may pagkukulang bilang ama, ako'y mapatawad ng Allah, ni Liezl at ng mga bata," Padilla said.

Last week, Rodriguez broke her silence on the issue. She said she respects Sicangco’s sentiments as a mother.

"Karapatan niya 'yon. She's a mother. She really has to take care and protect her kids," Rodriguez said.

Padilla met Rodriguez when he became the first guest host of defunct hit noontime show "Wowowee" for 2 weeks.

Rodriguez has recently split from actor Zanjoe Marudo. Padilla's marriage to Sicangco, meantime, ended in divorce 2 years ago.

Krista, hubby mull grand Manila wedding

MANILA, Philippines – Newlyweds Krista Ranillo and Jefferson Nino Lim are planning to hold a grand wedding ceremony in the Philippines next year.

Ranillo told ABS-CBN North America News Bureau that they are considering the possibility of getting married here.

In November, Ranillo also disclosed that she and her US-based husband will go to the Philippines for a vacation. She said it will be their first trip as husband and wife.

When asked if she is planning to go back to show business, she answered in the negative.

“Mag-quit muna ako. Tsaka because of the pregnancy, hindi talaga pwede. But maybe someday, nami-miss ko pa rin talaga ang showbiz kasi diyan ako lumaki,” she said.

She said it is a sacrifice that she is willing to make. “Mahirap talaga kasi life-changing decision kasi I have to uproot myself... pero you know, with everything may risk, pero I feel na it's worth giving up for love. So I made the right decision, and I'm happy about it.”

Ranillo, who was once rumored to have had an illicit affair with People’s Champ Manny Pacquiao, is also saying goodbye to all the intrigues. “Yeah, goodbye! See you never! (Laughs)"

Now that she has settled down, Ranillo also prefers to be referred as “wife and mother” and not as a sexy star.

Qualities

Ranillo, daughter of actor Mat Ranillo III, wed the owner of Island Pacific Supermarket last August 8 in California. It was a small private Jewish-style ceremony.

Prior to the August 8 ceremony, Ranillo and Lim exchanged “I do's” in a very private ceremony on July 14 in Norwalk in Connecticut.

She claimed she only found out about her pregnancy after their July 14 wedding.

“Cute naman siya, siyempre ‘yon ang una mong makikita. Pero he's a very good person kasi. Wala siyang pretension. Wala syang pakitang-tao. We started out as friends. He was my shoulder to cry on. He gave me good advice. I just appreciate all the qualities na nakita ko sa kanya,” she said.

She added that she waited for Lim for 28 years, and that he is worth the wait.

James Yap won't seek P.Noy's help

MANILA, Philippines - Star cager James Yap said he decided not to seek the help of his brother-in-law, President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, over his marital woes with the latter's youngest sister, Kris Aquino.

In an interview, Yap who in the past sought the advice of the President whenever he and Kris had a problem, said he chose not to seek the President's assistance this time because he believes that Aquino has so many problems to solve.

"Hindi (ko na hiningan ng tulong). Alam mo naman mas malaki ang problema niya sa ating bansa kaysa sa amin. Ayaw ko na siyang guluhin pa para makadagdag pa kami sa problema niya," Yap said.

On Monday, Yap appeared before the public for the first time after his estranged wife announced their separation and filed a petition to nullify their marriage.

Yap decided to speak up to insist his right to see his son, James "Baby James" Yap Jr., with Kris after he received a text message from the latter saying he can't see his son until the legal process of their separation is over.

"Dumating na talaga 'yong time na kailangan mo na talagang magsalita. Siyempre para sa kapakanan ni Baby James," he said. “Naka-receive ako ng text na, ‘Hindi mo na muna puwedeng makita si Baby James hanggang hindi pa natatapos ang kaso natin.’”

In Yap’s petition, he is asking the court to allow him to visit his 3-year-old son twice a week and to allow his son to sleep at his home once a week.

He also asked the court to allow him to bring his son to his hometown in Escalante, Negros Occidental to visit his grandparents.

Yap also said he got hurt when Kris, in her petition, asked the court to give her full custody of Baby James.

He said he was also surprised when he learned that Kris wants to change Baby James’s surname from Yap to Aquino once their marriage is nullified.

He said he last saw Baby James on July 30 after his son's vacation in the United States with Kris and her other son, Joshua.

'Jejemons' face bleak job prospects

MANILA, Philippines – Youths who use the so-called 'jejemon' language in communicating via SMS and the Internet could fail to land jobs, experts said.

Employers lose interest in applicants who use 'jejemon' in replying to SMS messages, said Raffy Vicente, assistant marketing manager of JobStreet.Com.

“Nawawalan ng gana kasi pag nare-reply, 'jejemon'. (It) is a sign no respect,” he explained.

According to a JobStreet.Com survey, 75% of around 6,000 employers who advertise for jobs on the website turn down applicants who have a poor command of the English language.

The word 'jejemon' is said to be derived from 'jeje' -- a substitute word for 'hehe' or the SMS term for laughter -- and the suffix '-mon', taken from the popular “Pokemon” cartoon series.

People branded as such deliberately exaggerate ordinary words by adding or subtracting letters, or by using a mixture of upper-case and lower-case letters -- even numbers -- in written communication.

Chris Dela Cruz, general manager of the American Institute for English Proficiency, warned of the dangers in using 'jejemon' instead of proper English or Filipino.

“It should only be a phase, but sometimes you cannot get out of the phase anymore,” he said.

Eiga Sai's 'How to Become Myself': A film review

MANILA, Philippines – When one mentions 'movies targeted for girls,' the immediate genre in mind would be romance. But How to Become Myself veers away from this and instead, narrates a story on dysfunctional families, on knowing the self, and on keeping friends regardless of distance—with the help of modern technology.

Based on a book by Mado Kaori, How to Become Myself is one of the movie offerings for the 2010 Eiga Sai, a Japanese film festival hosted by the Japan Foundation.

The plot: For Juri Sugitani (Riko Narumi), there are three types of students: the popular ones like class representative Kanako Hanada (Atsuko Maede), the bullied girls, and the “neither” ones like her.

Juri looks up to Kanako and wants to be in her place. A week after, Kanako became the bullied girl and stayed cramped in the “fake her” until Junior High. By then, Juri managed to become one of the favorite girls in school.

When she heard Kanako moved to another prefecture, Juri remembered a conversation on graduation day and contacted Kanako through e-mail, hoping she can make Kanako a popular girl in her new school. Kanako did whatever Juri said and they became Kotori and Hina, two fictional friends Juri used as inspiration for her literary club writing requirements. But as the short story ended, Kanako began to question who she is while Juri struggled from her parents’ divorce.

The characters: Juri (Kotori) and Kanako (Hina) are mirror-images of each other, both undergoing the challenge of fitting in a society, making their families happy, and knowing themselves and what they want.

The treatment: Targeted at young adults, the narration is diary-like and the visuals change every so often to keep attention. Split screens and fade-to-blacks are common, not to mention bath scenes. Messages exchanged between the lead characters are written on screen for the viewers.

It offered advices for every girl, from being popular in a new school to going on dates to maintaining a relationship. The advices were hilarious, especially the scene where Juri (as Kotori) scanned through shoujo tankoubons (girl comics) for dating guides and even told Kanako what to say or order.

At some point, I felt like watching an animated girl’s movie or a one-season anime series with a lingering fleeting feel. Jun Ichikawa’s film explores the definition of self in a more psychological, tranquil, insightful, and very verbal manner.

Scenes to remember: The conversation in the library after graduation was dreamy but good. Viewers get to hear the gloomy but ironic line from notable Japanese fictionist Ozamu Dazai: "You’re a good liar, so at least do the right thing." For someone who has been exposed to Japanese works on the psyche, the conversation might come as a little common and obvious.

The whole phase when Juri was writing her short story on Kotori and Hina are entertaining, especially since Kanako had been doing what Hina did. The advices are funny but sweet. Some of these advices are: “Karaoke is good. The closed space is good in building friendships”, “Put pink nail polish and spread the love bug in school”, “Go to school early and bring extra food to share with your friends”.

The scene where the two finally talk in person is a little overdone but it’s also touching.

The problem: It’s a little too long, the story going around a little aimlessly. It’s like a young girl's guide to life. And like all guidebooks, you enjoy it at the beginning and pretty much lack interest as it nears the end. The title pretty much sums up the story.

The verdict: The movie might not attract the male crowd—I don’t think they could relate, not that I’m dumbing them down or anything—but for ladies my age, it’s a wistful remembrance of a time long ago, when we faced the toughest but overlooked rite of passage: looking for ourselves. Believe me, it’s not very easy.

Cristine Reyes: I did not lie about Rayver

MANILA, Philippines - Sexy actress Cristine Reyes has brushed off an allegation that her revelation about Rayver Cruz’s supposed feelings for her was a mere publicity stunt.

In her earlier “SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon” interview, Reyes confessed that Cruz courted her once, but she turned him down after learning about his reported romantic ties with Pop Star Princess Sarah Geronimo.

But rumor has it that the confession was just part of Reyes’s gimmick to promote her upcoming television series "Kristine," of which Cruz was not a part of.

In an interview with abs-cbnNEWS.com, Reyes said she does not care if people refuse to believe her.

"Sabihin nila kung ano ang gusto nilang sabihin," Reyes said. “Hindi ako gumagawa ng isyu kasi sila ang gumagawa ng isyu sa akin. Kayo (press) tanong kayo ng tanong, ‘yon ginagawan ng isyu. ‘Yon ‘yon kaya lumalaki."

She maintained that she has no intention of hurting or ruining the reputation of other people when she made that revelation.

"Hindi ako nagsalita para manira. Nagsalita lang ako kung ano ang katotohanan, ‘yon lang. Hindi ko intention na makasakit o manira doon sa interview na yon. Kumbaga natanong lang ako at sumagot lang ako," she said.

In her SNN interview, Reyes admitted that her relationship with Cruz did not blossom beyond friendship because of Geronimo.

"Minsan akala mo perfect na tapos may malalaman ka na may sabit pala. Akala ko that time walang involved na iba. Wala naman kasi akong alam sa kanila and ako parang pinakitaan ako na parang wala siyang [ka-relasyon],” she said.

Reyes said in the end she decided that it was better for her and Cruz to remain friends, noting that it was hard to be happy at the expense of others.

The sexy actress’s interview had in effect confirmed speculations about Cruz and Geronimo’s relationship. Up until today, Cruz and Geronimo are still denying the rumors.

As for Reyes’s part, she said she is not looking for a new romance.

"Kristine" will premiere on August 16 on Channel 2.

La Greta accepts Angelica's apology

MANILA, Philippines - Gretchen Barretto has accepted young actress Angelica Panganiban's public apology “with all my heart.”

Barretto also said she respects Panganiban more now because she owned up to her mistakes.

"Iba ang matapang ka lang in fighting for your right, iba when you can own up to your reactions. I see now the real beauty of Angelica not only physically but nakikita ko ang strength of her character and I respect her with all my heart. And I love her already," Barretto said.

Barretto added that “it’s certainly not too late” for them to become friends. “I am also just so willing to be her friend."

"For me kasi parang puro blessings ngayon. It's not only that I have this project, ‘Magkaribal,’ but I have Derek (Ramsay) as a good friend. And not only Derek, but now I have Angelica," she said.

"Its refreshing to know na mayroon kaming mga common friends…. like Bea (Alonzo). She said, 'Ate Gretch, mamahalin mo talaga si Angelica kapag nakilala mo. I'm sure you will get along.' Marami kaming common friend na nagsabing she's nice," Barretto added.

The socialite star even joked that since she and Panganiban are now okay, she will give the young actress red stilettos and they will go to "war together."

The young actress reportedly got offended after Barretto said in a television interview that she wanted to see Ramsay’s solo pictures only after his and Panganiban’s trip to South Africa.

The “Rubi” leading star then posted controversial posts in her Twitter account. Although Panganiban did not directly say that she was referring to Barretto, speculations have swirled that she was attacking the “Magkaribal” female lead star.

When sought for comment, Barretto countered: “You want war, I'll give you war. I’ll be there in my red stilettos.”

Panganiban publicly apologized to Barretto on “The Buzz” on Sunday. The actress also expressed her hopes to be friends with Barretto someday.

According to Ramsay, meanwhile, Barretto and his girlfriend, Panganiban, will personally meet for the first time this week. Barretto invited Panganiban to the thanksgiving party of “Magkaribal,” he said.

Learn from 'technopreneurs' on Aug 28

MANILA, Philippines - Influential individuals in the country's technology and digital media sector will share their secrets to success at the third Annual Entrepreneurs Summit to be held at the SM Mall of Asia on Saturday, August 28.

Titled "Click, Technopreneurs' Secrets, Revealed!," the one-day conference hosted by Junior Chamber International Manila (JCI Manila) aims to inspire and fuel the entrepreneurial spirit of young, tech-savvy Filipinos.

The term "technopreneur" refers to an entrepreneur who is involved with high technology, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

This year's Entrepreneurs Summit will be moderated by Roland Bengzon, chief alliance officer of local PC-to-mobile instant messaging provider Chikka.

Among the speakers in the event are Smartmatic Asia Pacific President Cesar Flores, professional blogger and YugaTech owner Abe Olandres, @PCOSMachine Twitter sensation Yves Gonzales, WheninManila.com editor-in-chief Vince Golango, The One School executive director Lex Ledesma and Airborne Access founder Jay Fajardo.

Some of the topics to be discussed in the summit include building a business from scratch, forecasting upcoming trends in technology, becoming an Internet star, handling government projects, professional blogging and "digitizing" an old business.

Proceeds from the summit will go to various JCI Manila community development activities such as the "Dare to C.A.R.E." umbrella program for the Smokey Mountain Community, which offers scholarships and sports programs to the youth.

Benefits for solo parents pushed

MANILA, Philippines - With most solo parents bearing the burden of raising the family alone, a bill has been filed in the Senate calling for additional benefits in the form of discounts for purchases of milk, food, medicines, and clothing, and income tax exemption.

Senate Bill No. 1439 entitled "Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2010", filed by Senator Loren Legarda, seeks the following support and benefits for solo parents:

1. Ten percent (10%) discount from all purchases of clothing and clothing materials for the child from birth up to two years;

2. Fifteen (15%) discount from all purchases of baby's milk, food and food supplements;

3. Fifteen (15%) percent discount from all purchases of medicines and other medical supplements/supplies for the child; and

4. Basic personal exemption from individual income tax.

"Solo parent" refers to a parent who is taking on the responsibility of parenthood alone due to the spouse's death, detention, mental incapacity or legal separation. Also considered solo parents are women who became pregnant due to abuse.

“Double hardship saddles solo parents. They perform parental duties single-handedly in the face of economic turmoil that is characterized by skyrocketing prices, poverty and massive unemployment," said Legarda, also a solo parent herself.

“There is a need to amend Republic Act No. 8972, otherwise known as the Solo Parents' Welfare Act, to address the financial concerns of solo parents amidst the economic difficulties that the country is experiencing.”

Solo Parents' Welfare Act of 2000

Republic Act No. 8972 (Solo Parents' Welfare Act of 2000) was signed by then President Joseph Estrada in 2000.

It gave solo parents the right to take parental leave of not more than 7 working days a year in addition to leave privileges under existing laws. The Act also called for employers to give solo parents flexible working arrangements.

Under that law, solo parents are also granted medical assistance in the form of a comprehensive health care program for them and their children. They are also eligible for housing benefits in the form of allocation in government low-cost housing projects.

Scholarships for qualified solo parents and children were also made available based on the said law.

Legarda said, “The enactment of this proposed measure [Senate Bill No. 1439] will help lessen the financial burden carried by solo parents by affording them additional remuneration to be able to provide a better future for their children."