Just within a year after winning the very first season of Pilipinas Got Talent or PGT, Jovit Baldivino has already made a name and has carved his own niche in the country’s music scene with his naturally rugged renditions of songs by Journey and Queen.

This small man with a powerful voice tours around the country for concerts as part of his career as a singer, and will be in Cagayan de Oro this July for a concert. The concert will be held on July 2, 2011 at the Limketkai Atrium and will feature other talents including the Ezra Band, Markki Stroem and Sherwin Baguion.

Jovit Baldivino and His Jump to Fame

Jovit’s story may sound a bit like your typical poor boy tale, but it is an inspirational one nevertheless. He was born to a poor family and had to work at a very young age, selling siomai at their town’s local market after class in order to help his family make ends meet.

He eventually joined the first season of Pilipinas Got Talent, where he immediately wowed the audience and the judges during the audition process. He continuously impressed the whole country during the course of the competition with his strong vocal skills and eventually won during the Grand Finals night, where he sang a rendition of “Too Much Love Will Kill You” by Queen. The song remains to be one of his most popular song renditions, along with “Faithfully” by Journey.

Jovit continues to make beautiful music and now has two albums out in the market. He currently does remakes of popular ballads and also sings his own songs.

Markki, Sherwin and Ezra Band: Back-to-Back With Jovit

This July 2, Cagayan de Oro will not only be seeing and hearing Jovit Baldivino, but also other talents like Markki Stroem, Sherwin Baguion and Ezra Band, who are all Pilipinas Got Talent finalists. Markki Stroem, a Filipino-Norwegian singer who also plays musical instruments such as the piano and the saxophone, was here last year with ASAP Sessionista Richard Poon and comedienne Pokwang. Sherwin Baguion is another crooner from the neighboring province of Lanao del Norte. Ezra Band, on the other hand, is composed of individuals from Davao del Sur. The three former finalists, along with Jovit, all have singles in the Star Records produced album Pinoy You Got It.

A 20-City tour for the Pinoy You Got It album is set to commence on the 23^rd of July, but you can see them perform even earlier at the concert this July 2!

So, this Saturday, be at the LimKetKai Atrium early as the concert starts at 7:30pm. Tickets for the concert are affordably priced at Php150, Php200, Php400 and Php500, and can be purchased anytime at The Park Café in Plaza Divisoria, Cagayan de Oro City. You may also ask for more information at the LimKetKai Mall Information/Customer Service Center.

-Justine B. Raagas-

The 2011 LimKetKai Freedom Run will take off tomorrow, June 5. Co-presented by Circle Productions, the race is divided into three major events: the 2K walk, the 5K run and the 10K run. The 2011 Freedom Run will begin at LimKetKai Mall’s East Concourse Parking Lot. Runners for the 5K and 10K events will pass through the Lapasan, Gusa and Cugman (for the 10K) areas before going back to LimKetKai’s East Concourse Parking Lot.

One of the interesting things about the race is that it will be the first to use automated timing for the events. The timing device is courtesy of Runrio, Inc, the country’s most popular timing system provider and race organizer. Runrio is headed by Coach Rio dela Cruz, the country’s running guru and coach to celebrities and personalities like Karen Davila, Iza Calzado, Anthony Pangilinan and Fernando Zobel de Ayala.

Tomorrow’s event will kick off at 5:30 am with the 10K run, followed by the 5K run at 5:45 am. The 2K walk will start at 6:15 am.  Assembly time for the first run is at 5:00 am.

Some reports say that the event’s proceeds will be used to support certain programs focused on poverty alleviation and personality development. This is even more reason to go out and join the race. In addition, the prices and awards are also quite enticing: Php5,000 and medals for both the male and female winners of the 10K run, and Php3,000 and medals each for the 5K run male and female winners. Of course, runners-up will also receive cash prizes and medals. All registered racers who finish the run will get certificates.

All Freedom Run participants are encouraged to keep their race bibs as these can be used to get a 15% discount on any item that they purchase from the Columbia Sportswear Company. Columbia’s shop can be found at the West Concourse of LimKetKai Mall.

For those who will be patiently waiting for the results of the race, you won’t have to wait for long as the winners will be posted on Circle Production’s website.

Go and get your running shoes ready as the Freedom Run is about to take off!

-Maia Fortich-Poblete-

(Photo taken from http://4.bp.blogspot.com)

April 1 is known all over the world as April Fools’ Day. Throughout the day, people try to fool other with jokes, pranks and hoaxes. Although April Fools’ has unknown origins, there are some sources that say that this worldwide event can be traced back to Noah’s time when, on the Hebrew month’s first day, he supposedly sent off his dove before the waters retreated.

However it started or wherever it originated, people have come to love April Fools’ Day as it is usually a jolly, fun and humorous day.

The jokes, pranks and hoaxes start as soon as the clock strikes 12 midnight. With today’s highly advanced technology, even social networks like Facebook and twitter are filled with April Fools’ pranks.

Below are some of the most popular hoaxes, jokes and pranks of all time.

*In 1957, BBC news showed and announced that Swiss peasants were able to pull strands of spaghetti from trees. The response was tremendous as callers all waited in line to get an idea of how they could grow their own spaghetti trees.

*In Sweden, 1962; way before televisions were in color, technical expert Kjell Stensson went on camera in the only country’s only TV channel. He told televiewers that by putting nylon stockings over their television screens, they’d be able to watch all shows in color. Stensson even demonstrated to the audience how the process was to be done.

*In 1977, a lot of people called The Guardian to verify the information they published about a semi-colon shaped islands known collectively as San Seriffe. The 7-page article comprehensively described the small republic, even naming its capital (Bodoni) and its leader (General Pica). San Seriffe was described as divided into two islands, Upper Caise and Lower Caise. The phone calls came in as readers wanted to know more about San Seriffe, which was also described as the perfect vacation spot. Everything, of course, was an April Fools’ joke: practically all the details published about the small republic, including its name, were printer’s terminology (though some were changed typographically)! This prank eventually led to what is known to be responsible for the excitement all the British media’s excitement for April Foolery.

*Burger King, in 1998, came out with an ad in USA Today that introduced to the public their new product: the Left Handed Whopper. The new BK offering was supposedly meant for the over 30 million Americans who were left handed. All the ingredients of the original BK Whopper were also in the left handed version; however, to help ease the burden of left handed customers, all condiments were rotated in 180°! Following the release of the ad, Burger King received many calls, with some coming from right handed customers who demanded a version specifically made for them!

*After a British astronomer announced that a remarkable astronomical event was to take place that morning; where the gravitational alignment of the planets would affect and decrease the Earth’s gravity, a lot of people called in to share their experiences. There was even one caller who claimed that she and her friends rose from their chairs and floated all over the room. The announcement was made on BBC Radio by Patrick Moore.

*April Fools’ Day in 1982’s popular case of the “interfering brassieres” made waves after the Daily Mail reported the selling of thousands of what they called rogue bras. These bras had “problems”, the most common of which was that it used copper used for fire alarms as support wires. This meant that when the copper came into contact with body heat and the bra’s nylon, it would produce static electricity. People were warned that this would cause discomfort and would affect signals for radio and television. As a result, one employer immediately asked his female employees to inform him what type of brassiere they had on.

*In the First World War, in 1915, German soldiers saw a French aviator flying over their camp and dropping something that looked like a bomb, they scattered and ran. They waited for the bomb to explode, and when it didn’t, they crept back into the area where it fell. It was only then that they found out what it was: a large football with a note tied around it – plus a message that had them laughing: “April Fool!”

*In 1959, one town in England had its residents waking up to see a white footprint trail on the main street. When the residents reached the end of the trail, they found only three words: “I must fly.”

There are actually many more pranks, jokes and hoaxes listed in the world’s top 100 list. However, these are the ones that generate the funniest impact.

What about you? I’m sure you have April Fools’ jokes and pranks of your own. Care to share them with us?

-Maia Fortich-Poblete-

(Source: http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/aprilfool/)

On March 26 at 8:30 pm, the world will be engulfed in darkness for one hour as we once again join forces for Earth Hour.

The Earth Hour initiative began in Sydney, Australia in 2007. That year, more than two million people turned off their lights to join the fight against climate change. Around 2,000 businesses also joined in. Since then, the Earth Hour initiative has turned into a global movement that has seen world famous landmarks and institutions in various parts of the world go completely dark for one hour in honor of our planet.

In 2009, around 4,000+ cities and around 88 countries turned off their lights for one hour. The 2010 Earth Hour initiative drew in an even bigger crowd, with approximately 128 countries joining in the fight against climate change.

The Philippines had the most participants in both the 2009 and 2010 global Earth Hour, with around 10 million and 15 million Filipino participants respectively. For 2011, Earth Hour Pilipinas organizers hope to get more Filipinos to join in this worthy cause.

Organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (originally known as World Wildlife Fund), the Earth Hour initiative is a venue for people from all walks of life and from different parts of the world to work together in conserving our future and the future of our planet. The WWF has around five million supporters around the world and is recognized by more than a hundred countries. Its main aim is to “stop the degradation of the Earth’s natural environment” and in the process, create a better future where nature and human beings peacefully co-exist.

To become a part of WWF’s commitment to saving our planet, you can do the following:

-Switch off all your lights for one hour on Saturday, March 26, 2011 at 8:30 pm;

-Sign up at the Earth Hour website and share your stories and/or conservation efforts;

-Sustain all these actions (and your future conservation acts) beyond “the hour”.

Taking part in the Earth Hour initiative may be fruitless for some, especially for those who think that this is intended to save the planet in our. The Earth Hour is simply a conscious reminder that our planet needs our attention and our help. It is a reminder that we need to share in the responsibility of rebuilding our planet, and that one simple act of caring can bounce off to others – and we can create a chain. Since the Earth Hour initiative is just four years old, and millions of people are already committed to its cause, it is beginning to make a difference. If we keep doing wonderful things together, for our planet and for our future, then we will definitely achieve more…slowly, but surely!

So, on March 26, 2011, at exactly 8:30 in the evening, turn off all your lights and show our planet a little love. Join Earth Hour 2011 and make a difference!

-Maia Fortich-Poblete-

New Orleans’ world famous Mardi Gras is in Cagayan de Oro!

The Mardi Gras, a carnival celebration like no other, is the best way to prepare for the coming of the Lenten season. Ideally, it is celebrated on the Tuesday before the start of the season of Lent (which actually begins today, Ash Wednesday). Also known as Fat Tuesday, the Mardi Gras is full of fun festivities, good food and excellent music. And this is exactly what Bourbon St. Bistro has in mind for Kagay-anons who would love to party the New Orleans way!

Beginning last Monday, March 7, Bourbon started offering all their sumptuous New Orleans culinary masterpieces at a whopping 50% off! And all because of the Mardi Gras! You can eat all the gumbos, beignets, tacos and fettuccines that you want all day long!

To end their Mardi Gras celebration with a big bang, Bourbon St. Bistro is inviting everyone to groove and jive to the music of Utopia, one of Cagayan de Oro’s most respected bands. The show starts at 8pm, but be sure to be there early so you can enjoy all delicious Creole cuisine that Chefs Drew and Nikki Mills has prepared for all Mardi Gras lovers.

Utopia performs at Bourbon St. Bistro's Post Mardi Gras Celebration

If you haven’t experienced the Mardi Gras yet, this is your chance to have an adventure worth remembering! Join Bourbon St. Bistro’s post Mardi Gras celebration and enjoy their carnival of good food, good music and awesome people!

Bourbon St. Bistro is located at the Rosario Strip of Limketkai Mall.

-Maia Fortich-Poblete-