Venus Raj wants to prove that she is more than just a beauty queen

Now that she has ventured into hosting, Venus Raj said that she wants to continue proving that she is more than just a beauty queen.

As a budding segment host in Umagang Kay Ganda, the beauty queen is simply grateful to have co-hosts who are supportive in helping her out with her new career path.

“Sobrang willing sila na tulungan ako. Hindi naman talaga ako sanay sa ganitong business so I’m very happy. At least ‘yung mga kasama ko sa UKG, talagang sobrang tinutulungan nila ako,” she explained.

When asked if she is also open to try acting, the dusky beauty replied, “Opo. Open naman ako sa ganong idea. Siguro kailangan ko lang ng workshop kasi totally wala akong experience sa ganon.”

She added that things can be learned as long as one is willing.

Venus related that although many perceive her as a classy stunner, she is proud to say that she had humble beginnings and she strived hard to finish her education.

That is why she was happy when she was designated in the Barangay Bida portion of UKG where she goes from one barangay to another and look for news or happenings.

“Ang mga tao alam naman ang background ko at kung saan ako galing. Nung iniligay nila ako sa Barangay Bida, sobrang komportable ako na nakikisalamuha sa mga tao, pumupunta sa palengke, pumupunta sa kung ano-anong barangay, nakikiusap sa barangay captain. Wala sa akin. Normal lang ‘yon na bagay,” she shared.

She continued that through this task, she is able to show a different side of her after the glamorous Miss Universe pageant that she joined in 2010.

“Magaan pagtrabahuhin ang bagay na nasanay mo nang gawin. Ipapakita mo rin sa tao na hindi lang ako Venus Raj, beauty queen na nakilala ng mga tao, may buhay din po ako. Para naman mawala sa isip at palitan lang ‘yung (thinking na) napaka-prim and proper naman nito. In reality hindi naman. “

The Bicolana beauty is also looking forward to interviewing celebrities like Piolo Pascual, whom she interviewed during her first week in UKG.

She said that she also met showbiz crush Coco Martin at the Chinese New Year celebration at a mall recently.

Venus, who is a Mass Communications graduate, said that she is open to try hosting a serious news TV program in the future. (report from Bernie Franco, Push.com.ph)

Empress wants to have a better physique now that she’s turning 18

Empress, who turns 18 on February 19, has a few wishes for her birthday.

“I wish for more projects, endorsements, mas maraming trabaho. Sana mas gumanda pa ‘yung career ko. Wish ko rin na sana magkaroon ako ng time para maituloy ko ‘yung pagaaral ko and makatapos ako. Sana mabiyayaan ng good health kami ng family ko. Sana magkasama pa kami nang matagal, maging masaya kami lahat.”

Before reaching drama princess status via the title role in the teleserye Rosalka, Empress honed her acting skills since the age of seven.

Even though she started in the business at a very young age, Empress said she never felt she missed out on a lot of things.

“Normal pa rin naman ‘yung naging childhood ko. Dati naman hindi ako ganito ka busy, na tuloy tuloy ang projects ko. Dati nakakapag regular school naman ako. Kapag wala naman school and work nakakalabas ako, naglalaro kasama ‘yung mga friends ko. Nakakapasyal din ako kasama ‘yung family ko. Maganda ang childhood ko kaya sobrang thankful ko.”

Now that she’s turning 18, Empress plans on staying away from teenybopper roles so she can mature as an actress.

But aside from this, she also wants to improve her physique in line with this.

“Dalaga na ako so maganda kung fit ako sa hitsura ko. Gusto ko rin na may mabago sa akin ngayong hindi na ako bata. Feeling ko konting weight pa ang kailangan kong i-lose.”

She went on to share how she managed to have a slimmer body after doing Rosalka.

“Strict diet and work out talaga ang ginawa ko. May sarili akong trainer. After Rosalka kasi binigyan ako ng one month na gawin lahat ng gusto ko, like bakasyon or what. Pinili kong magpapayat. Everyday akong nasa gym, minsan hinahaluan ko rin ng swimming. Sa diet ko wala na akong rice, pork, mga oily food. Karamihan ng kinakain ko mga pinakuluan lang. Dati may sarili akong food. Pero ngayon okay na akong tumikim ng kahit ano.”

Another thing Empress is looking forward to about turning 18 is driving her own car.

“Gusto ko sana magkaroon na ng sarili kong kotse ngayon na nakuha ko na ‘yung driver’s license ko. Sabay kami ni Erich (Gonzales) kumuha. Gusto ko sana ng sports car. Alam ko mahal siya kaya pagiipunan ko talaga.” (report from Napoleon Quintos, Push.com.ph)

Zanjoe Marudo on Bea Alonzo: ‘Nasa proseso pa rin ako ng panunuyo’

Hanggang ngayon ay marami ang curious at nagtatanong kung ano na ba ang real status nina Zanjoe Marudo at Bea Alonzo.

Sa panayam kasi ni Zanjoe last week ay inamin ng aktor na nililigawan pa rin niya si Bea.

Nag-date daw sina Zanjoe at Bea noong Valentine’s Day, paano kaya ito ipinagdiwang ng dalawa?

“Simple lang naman, kumain sa pinggan,” pabirong bungad ni Zanjoe.

“Nandun siyempre yung bulaklak, tapos nag-dinner, ganun, simple lang,” kuwento ng aktor.

Ayon kay Zanjoe ay sobrang espesyal daw ng Valentine’s date nila ni Bea.

“Sobrang ayoko nang i-share sana, para sa akin ay hindi siya ordinaryong araw. Hindi siya ordinaryong okasyon na ginagawa ko sa sobrang espesyal niya, gusto ko siyang itago sa akin na lang,” pakiusap ni Zanjoe.

Napasagot na kaya ng binata si Bea since very special ang kanilang naging Valentine’s date?

“Nakalimutan ko nga magtanong, hindi pa, kumbaga ay nasa proseso pa rin ako ng panunuyo,” natatawang pahayag ng aktor.

Samantala, isang bagong proyekto ang kinabibilangan ngayon ni Zanjoe dahil nagtapos na ang teleserye nilang Kristine kamakailan.

Magbibida siya sa seryeng Hiyas na sinisimulan na ngayon.

Masayang-masaya ang aktor dahil maganda ang role niya sa nasabing project at personal choice din daw siya ng producers para gumanap sa serye.

“Nakakatuwa tsaka ang sarap ng pakiramdam na ganun yung naririnig mo, na noong binubuo nila yung proyekto ang unang pumasok sa isip nila ay ako yung character na gaganap so parang hindi ko naman naisip na pwedeng mangyari yung ganung mga bagay,” dagdag pa ni Zanjoe.

Makakasama ni Zanjoe sa seryeng Hiyas sina Joross Gamboa, John Arcilla, Noni Buencamino, Kristel Moreno, Neri Naig at ang pinakabago niyang leading lady na si Megan Young.

“Na-excite ako kasi bago. Ngayon ko lang siya makaka-trabaho, ngayon ko makikita kung bagay ba kami o maganda yung tatakbuhin ng pagpa-partner namin,” pagtatapos ni Zanjoe. (report from James Cantos, Push.com.ph)

OFW gives birth to triplets

PANGASINAN, Philippines - Triplets born to a former overseas Filipino worker (OFW) received an overwhelming welcome at a hospital in Alaminos City.

Marie Catherine Casino said her daughters Baby Cayllie Alessandra, Catelyn Adrielle and Claire Adellaine caught the attention of hospital staff at the Western Pangasinan District Hospital.

Casino said the babies were monozygotic or grew inside one placenta. Two out of 7,000 births have this kind of condition.

The babies were born premature through caesarean section last February 9.

While they consider the birth of their triplets as triple blessings, Casino and her husband could not help but worry about their future after they were both laid off from work in Dubai.

The City Government of Alaminos immediately extended assistance to the couple by shouldering their hospital expenses. (report from Cris Zuñiga, ABS-CBN Central Luzon)

2 CA justices urged to inhibit from Ampatuan petition

MANILA, Philippines – Two judges of the Court of Appeals (CA) were asked to inhibit themselves from the deliberations of Zaldy Ampatuan, one of the accused in the Maguindanao Massacre, the Philippines' worst election-related violence where at least 57 people were killed.

Atty. Harry Roque, who represents some of the relatives of the victims, filed the motion to inhibit against Associate Justices Danton Bueser and Marlene Gonzales-Sison, both regular members of the CA’s 11th Division.

In their motion, the private respondents said they recently found out that the 2 judges have inhibited themselves from participating in the deliberations of an earlier case of Andal Ampatuan, Sr..

“The voluntary recusal of Associate Justices Bueser and Gonzales-Sison from the first case and their active participation in the present case is, at the very least, highly unusual, considering that both cases deal with the same incident, the same facts, and the same legal controversy,” they said.

Andal Sr. and his son are co-accused in the single deadliest attack on journalists on November 29, 2009 in Maguindanao.

“It is therefore a wonder for Private Respondents to see that the same Honorable Associate Justices – Bueser and Gonzales-Sison - have not done the same in this instant case that essentially involves the same facts and the same legal controversy, with the only difference that the Petitioner in this second case is the son of the Petitioner in the first case,” the respondents said.

They questioned why Bueser did not see the same impropriety that he found when he inhibited himself from being part of the panel hearing the petition of Andal Sr.

“What, for the good Justices, differentiates this case from the former, so that they chose to take part here and not there?” they asked.

They added, “But where the same Justices did a 180-degree turn in a case that is intimately related to the first and also lodged in the very same division – that is indeed a serious cause of concern for Private Respondents; after all, the second case is inextricably connected to the first case by an alleged conspiracy, and especially so where the Petitioners in both cases are father and son to each other."

In their prayer, they also proposed new panel of justices to resolve the petition. (report from abs-cbnNEWS.com)

Kris Bernal to joins the cast of Machete

Masuwerte si Kris Bernal dahil sa pagtatapos ng kanyang pinagbibidahang afternoon series sa GMA-7, ang Koreana, ay may panibago na siyang project agad.

Papasok kasi siya sa cast ng primetime series na Machete, na pinagbibidahan naman ng kanyang perennial leading man na si Aljur Abrenica.

Sa panayam ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) kay Kris sa pamamagitan ng email nitong Huwebes, February 17, sinabi niyang masaya siya sa pagpasok niya sa Machete.

Pero inamin niyang nakakaramdam din siya ng pressure dahil additional character siya sa show at parang kailangan niyang mapatunayan na makakatulong ang pagpasok niya.

Noong una raw ipaalam sa kanya na magiging part siya ng Machete ay hindi raw siya makapaniwala.

"It's the least I expected kasi buo na ang cast ng Machete. Napapanood ko lang yun, tapos ngayon makakasama na ako. Nagkatotoo yung wish ko. God is so good! Talagang with Him, nothing is impossible.

"I'm excited, at the same time kinakabahan. But most of all, I'm very thankful. Salamat talaga sa tiwala ng GMA management," pahayag niya.

Dagdag ni Kris, "I have no script yet. But I heard that I'm a rich heiress being forced by my parents to marry a powerful man, tapos makikilala ko si Machete. My first taping day will be on Monday [February 21]."

TOGETHER AGAIN. Pagkatapos paghiwalayin pansamantala ng GMA-7 ang tambalan nina Kris at Aljur ay muli na naman silang magsasama. Ano ang feeling niya na balik-tambalan sila ng ka-loveteam?

"Of course, very happy and excited," sagot ng young actress.

"Kulitan blues na naman kami ni Aljur. Nakaka-miss din siya kaeksena.

"Marami na rin excited na mapanood ulit kami na magkasama. Masayang-masaya ang AlKris fans. Ang tagal daw nilang hinintay ito.

"At siyempre, it's nice also to work again with Direk Don Michael Perez ,na talagang nagtiyaga sa amin ni Aljur noong nagsisimula pa lang kami."

Samantala, masayang-masaya naman si Kris sa patuloy na mataas na rating na nakukuha ng Koreana. (report from Rose Garcia, PEP and GMA News)

Govt to launch 'Pilipinas, Tara Na' campaign by summertime

With the help of singing sensation Charice and boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, the government is reviving a campaign that will entice more locals to travel around the Philippines.

On the sidelines of the opening of the 18th Travel Tour Expo 2011 on Friday, Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim told reporters that the government will launch by summertime the "Pilipinas, Tara Na" campaign, which will replace the previous "Tara, Biyahe Tayo."

Lim said the Tourism Department intends to get Charice, Pacquiao, and other Filipino singers to participate in a music video that will be shown on television and social networking sites.

He said the private sector is urged to partly finance the government's campaign, in line with the Aquino administration's public-private partnership initiative.

The Tourism Department is expecting 25 million Filipinos to travel locally this year, up from 23 million last year, the department head said.

Lim said the department is looking at increasing this year's target number of foreign visitors.

The initial projection of 3.7 million tourist arrivals this year could be easily surpassed, given the 3.5 million foreign tourists who visited the Philippines last year, he said.

The campaign — which will promote Philippine regions and festivals — is still being developed, according to Lim.

The Tourism Department's "Pilipinas, Kay Ganda" slogan drew flak last year.

Lim said the Bicol Region, Palawan, Visayas islands such as Bohol and Boracay, and Northern Mindanao are being eyed as the tourist spots that would be given prominence in global promotion efforts. (report from JE/OMG, GMA News)

2 LRT trains collide, no injuries

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) Two empty trains of the Light Rail Transit collided Friday following a mechanism failure on the track that caused the derailment of one of the trains, according to a report on Radyo Inquirer.

In a live interview, Attorney Hernando Cabrera of the LRT Management, said the accident occurred at the Roosevelt Station, its last terminal near SM North Edsa.

Cabrera cited a “technical problem” with the switch track that resulted in the collision and the derailment of a wheel of one of the trains.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Fernando Tolentino said that a taxi below the station was hit by steel debris that fell from the tracks following the accident.

Tolentino said the driver of the taxi with plate number TXA-446 was not injured. (report from Dennis Maliwanag and Karen Boncocan, Inquirer.net / DZIQ-Radyo Inquirer)

Aquino hints at Romulo’s departure from DFA

MANILA, Philippines – Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo is on the way out of his department, President Benigno Aquino III indicated on Wednesday.

Pressed for comment on Romulo reportedly having cleared his desk at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Aquino said he wanted to make the formal announcement regarding the secretary's fate later this week.

Asked if Romulo may serve in another capacity, President Aquino said, “Now that is very possible at this time.”

“Bert Romulo is not a stranger to me. He still has contributions that he can make. It’s always the details that tie us up. I want to make sure that if I make an announcement, it’s already perfect,” Aquino told reporters after a command conference in Camp Aguinaldo. (report from Norman Bordadora, Philippine Daily Inquirer)

US reporter was sexually assaulted in Egypt -- CBS

NEW YORK, United States - Top CBS foreign correspondent Lara Logan suffered a "brutal" sexual assault at the hands of a mob in Egypt while covering the downfall of president Hosni Mubarak, the network said Tuesday.

"She and her team and their security were surrounded by a dangerous element amidst the celebration. It was a mob of more than 200 people whipped into a frenzy," CBS said in a statement.

"In the crush of the mob, she was separated from her crew. She was surrounded and suffered a brutal and sustained sexual assault and beating before being saved by a group of women and an estimated 20 Egyptian soldiers."

The incident took place on Cairo's central Tahrir Square last Friday, the day Mubarak stepped down, CBS said.

Logan was flown to the United States the next day. "She is currently in the hospital recovering," the statement said.

South African-born Logan has covered the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, becoming one of the US media's most recognizable war correspondents. She became CBS News chief foreign correspondent in 2006. (report from Agence France-Presse)

Pacquiao meets Obama

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao met with US President Barack Obama and US Senator Harry Reid during a White House at the White House Wednesday morning (Manila time), Radyo Inquirer reported.

Pacquiao, who won an election in his native Philippines and now represents Sarangani province, posed for pictures and exchanged gifts with Obama. Only Pacquiao and his wife, Jinkee, were allowed to meet with the US president while their entourage waited outside the office, it said.

Obama gave Pacquiao a bag full of M&M’s chocolate with the US seal and a watch with the presidential seal, the report said.

Pacquiao also invited Obama to watch his fight with Shane Mosley on May 7 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada but the US president declined, saying that he will be busy that day. Nevertheless, Obama promised to watch the bout on TV.

Nine months ago Pacquiao entered and won his riding in the Philippines national elections and is working on improving the infrastructure in the province by building hospitals and upgrading schools.

Last year, Pacquiao helped campaign for Reid, who did some boxing in his youth. (report from Inquirer.net / DZIQ-Radyo Inquirer)

Cainta massacre suspect nabbed in Marinduque

MANILA, Philippines – Police nabbed the principal suspect in the killing of four members of a household in Cainta, Rizal, last Monday.

Calabarzon police director Samuel Pagdilao Jr. said members of the Cainta and Marinduque provincial police apprehended Fortunato Azibar, 24, also known as Jun-jun, around 3 p.m. yesterday during a raid at a resort near Barangay Buliangin and Maligaya, Boac.

Pagdilao said Azibar was tagged by some witnesses as the primary suspect in last Monday's massacre in Westbank Floodway in Brgy. San Andres, Cainta, Rizal, that left four of his relatives dead.

The suspect is a nephew of Amado Azibar, 45, who was killed along with his wife Elizabeth, 40; and his two siblings Amado Jr.,14, and Fretchie, 10.

Investigation disclosed that the victim, Amado Sr., and the suspect were last seen together with other men in a drinking session around 7:00 p.m. last Sunday.

Later that evening, one of the neighbors, Adelaide Devocion, heard a commotion at the victim's residence with one of the Azibars begging for help.

Police found the bodies of the four victims bloodied on the floor the next day. (report from Dennis Carcamo, Philstar.com)

Another Maguindanao massacre suspect falls

MANILA, Philippines – Another suspect of the November 2009 Maguindanao massacre was arrested before dawn today, a high ranking police official said.

Police spokesman Senior Superintendent Agrimero Cruz identified the suspect as Nasser Esmael (33), charged with 197 others for the murders of at least 57 people in the hinterlands of Ampatuan town.

Cruz said elements from Maguindanao Provincial Police Office nabbed Esmael in his house in Barangay Meta in Datu Unsay town around 1:00 a.m. today

The suspect, a driver of Andal Ampatuan Jr., was arrested through a warrant issued by Judge Jocelyn Solit-Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court branch 221. He was now in the custody of the ARMM police. (report from Philstar.com)

Nokia shares tumble to lowest level since 1998

HELSINKI, Finland - Shares in the world's top mobile phone maker Nokia were at their lowest level in 12 years on Tuesday, shedding nearly 20 percent since it announced a strategic partnership with Microsoft last week.

At the open on the Helsinki stock exchange, Nokia shares were at €6.55, valuing the company at some €24.3 billion ($32.9 billion).

The share price edged up towards €6.60 in afternoon trade.

In an attempt to beat increasing competition from Apple and Google in the smartphone market, Nokia said last Friday it would begin phasing out its Symbian platform and shift to Microsoft's Windows Phone operating system.

The company's new chief executive, Stephen Elop, also said Nokia would see "substantial" layoffs in Finland and around the world.

Investors and many analysts were disappointed by the partnership and have criticised the lack of financial outlook provided by the company.

On Tuesday, nine self-proclaimed investors and former Nokia employees published an open letter titled "Nokia Plan B," saying they aimed to challenge the company's new strategy.

The small group, which did not disclose how many shares they held in the company, also called for the firing of Elop, who left an executive job at Microsoft to take over the helm of the Finnish company last September.

Following the announcement Friday, Nokia closed down 14.2 percent and the company shed an additional 5.56 percent Monday, as several banks downgraded their rating and outlook for the group.

Ahead of Friday's announcement, Elop had told staff in an internal memo the company was "standing on a burning platform" and needed radical action to reverse the decline in its fortunes.

Nokia, which has seen its global market share shrink from around 40 percent to 32 percent in just over two years, currently employs some 20,000 in Finland, with a worldwide workforce of 132,000. (report from Agence France-Presse)

Drew uncomfortable with Iya's sexier image

MANILA, Philippines - Actress-TV host Iya Villania admits her boyfriend, TV host Drew Arellano, is not as happy as her male fans over the new and much more provocative image she has these days.

“It’s something different for him, like, ‘Wow may ganyan ka na huh,’” said she quoting her boyfriend in an interview with Push.com.

Villania, who shows off her sexier side on a TV series and in the calendar spread for an alcohol brand, empathizes with him.

“But of course, it’s normal for a guy to feel uncomfortable when he see or hears that his girlfriend is kissing another guy so I understand that.”

To deal with the matter, Villania reveals that Arellano now sleeps earlier than usual in order to avoid seeing her in sexy scenes on TV.

Villania explained, “Alam naman niya [what he would see] so bakit niya ilalagay ang sarili niya sa uncomfortable situation?”

Villania insists, however, that accepting the series, as with the calendar project, are moves meant to further her career and not to infuriate her boyfriend of seven years.

“It actually gave me that sense of fulfillment of enjoying acting, the enjoyment of playing a different character, of being someone very different from who you really are,” she said.

She insists that she can’t and won’t avoid roles or projects just because it is uncomfortable for Arellano.

“I don’t think it’s something that I can dictate. If there are opportunities, I’ll do my thing, I’ll do my best.”

As such, Villania said she is more than thankful that Arellano is supportive as usual with the new direction she is taking.

“He wants to let me make my own decision because I’m discovering more about myself. And I’m becoming a stronger and better person.”

It helps of course that the sweethearts have already built strong groundwork pertaining to their relationship.

Testament to their strong bond, says Villania, is how they remain steadfast with each other despite their respective morning shows “Unang Hirit” and “Umagang Kay Ganda” or “UKG” compete directly each other.

“Actually excited siya for me because it’s something new. He’s been with 'Unang Hirit' for how many years, college pa lang ako. Excited kami to experience that [going up against each other].” (report from Neil Ramos, Manila Bulletin)

Early balding linked to risk of prostate cancer

LONDON - A study showing that men who start to go bald at 20 may be more likely to develop prostate cancer in later life suggests they might benefit from early screening or preventative therapy, scientists said on Tuesday.

French researchers compared 388 men being treated for prostate cancer with 281 healthy men and found that those with the disease were twice as likely as the healthy men to have started losing their hair when they were 20.

If the men only started going bald when they were 30 or 40, there was no difference in their risk of developing prostate cancer compared to the healthy group.

"At present there is no hard evidence to show any benefit from screening the general population for prostate cancer. We need a way of identifying those men who are at high risk," said Philippe Giraud of Paris Descartes University, who led the study.

"Balding at the age of 20 may be one of these easily identifiable risk factors and more work needs to be done now to confirm this," he said in a statement.

Giraud, whose findings were published in the cancer journal Annals of Oncology, said men identified as at higher risk of prostate cancer could be selected for earlier screening, or for chemo-prevention therapy using so-called anti-androgenic drugs like Merck's Proscar, or finasteride.

Finasteride is used to treat both prostate enlargement symptoms and baldness. It blocks the conversion of testosterone to an androgen hormone called dihydrotestosterone, which is thought to cause hair loss.

GlaxoSmithKline has a drug in the same class called Avodart, or dutasteride, and is currently seeking approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a license for use in men at higher risk of developing prostate cancer. But an FDA panel advised last month that GSK's application should be rejected.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men after lung cancer and kills an estimated 255,000 men each year.

Androgenic alopecia, also known as male pattern baldness, affects around 50% of men in their lifetime.

Previous studies have established a link between baldness and androgenic hormones, and androgens also play a role in the development and growth of prostate cancer.

Giraud and Michael Yassa of the University of Montreal in Canada, who also worked on the study, asked men to fill in a questionnaire about their history of prostate cancer, if any, and to indicate any hair loss they had at ages 20, 30 and 40 using pictures graded from stage I (no hair loss), to stage IV (receding hairline and balding from the top of the head).

The men's doctors also provided patients' medical histories, including any diagnosis of prostate cancer, age at diagnosis, stage of the disease and treatment. The study ran for 28 months.

"The data revealed that any balding at stages II-IV was associated with double the risk of prostate cancer later in life. This trend was lost at ages 30 and 40," said Yassa.

"Further work should be done, both at the molecular level and with larger groups of men, to find the missing link between androgens, early balding and prostate cancer." (report from Kate Kelland, Reuters)

High-fiber diet may cut risk of premature death -- study

NEW YORK - People who eat a lot of fiber every day may be less likely to die prematurely from a range of illnesses -- including heart disease, cancer and infection, according to a US study.

The benefits of fiber in weight loss, lowering cholesterol and protecting against heart disease have been well established by previous studies, but researchers said the finding that it might also help prevent other common killers was new.

"The results from this study suggest that fiber may have broader health benefits than what has been found before," said Frank Hu, who studies nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health and wrote an editorial accompanying the study, which appeared in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

"The bottom line is that fiber should be a staple in our diet, and we should strive to eat as much fiber as possible," Hu told Reuters Health, though he added that some of the benefits found in the current study need to be examined further.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends that adult women should eat about 25 grams (0.9 oz) of fiber each day and men about 38 grams. A half cup of boiled lentils contains about 8 grams of fiber, while a half cup of raw almonds has nearly 9 grams.

For the study, 400,000 members of the American Association of Retired People (AARP) were tracked by Yikyung Park of the National Cancer Institute and her colleagues.

In 1995 and 1996, when they were between 51 and 71 years old, the participants filled out a survey about eating habits, with additional information gathered about their physical activity levels, weight and smoking status.

Using national databases of death and causes of death, the team was able to determine which of the original study participants died, and from what causes, over an average follow-up period of 9 years.

Comparing people in the lowest quartile -- men who ate 13 grams and women who ate 11 grams a day -- with those in the highest, where men consumed an average of 29 grams and women 26 grams, the researchers found that people who ate the most fiber were 22% less likely to have died of any cause during the study than people who ate the least.

That pattern remained when the results were broken down by cause of death.

"Fiber intake also lowered the risk of death from cardiovascular, infectious and respiratory diseases by 24 to 56% in men and by 34 to 59% in women," the authors wrote.

For men only, eating more fiber was also linked to a lower risk of cancer mortality.

Overall, fiber had a greater protective effect when it came from grains rather than fruits, vegetables or beans, perhaps because whole grains contain vitamins and minerals that have been shown to prevent disease, Hu said.

But the study did not prove that fiber directly prevents premature death, the researchers said, noting that they had to trust that participants had accurately described their diets and that further study is needed.

Also, while the researchers factored in things such as exercise and body weight, "people who eat high-fiber (diets) in general tend to have a healthier lifestyle," Park said. (report from Reuters)

Melai Cantiveros says she feels sad about having to leave ‘Banana Split’

Aside from working on I Dare You and her upcoming Precious Hearts Romances series Mana Po, Melai Cantiveros is also part of ABS-CBN’s new noontime variety show Happy Yipee Yehey!

The former Pinoy Big Brother housemate admitted that she feels both lucky and overwhelmed to be given such opportunities this early in her career.

“Excited ako kasi first time ko mapasama sa noontime show. Kinakabahan ako pero kakayanin ko kasi kasa-kasama ko rin yung ibang comedian. Magulo ako eh tapos magulo din si Bianca Manalo, si Kuya Jobert at Kuya Bentong. I’m sure na o-over kami dun. Manggugulo kami (laughs). Kami ang panggulo dun. Basta marami kaming gagawin dito. Kakayanin ko na maging enjoy sila sa panunuod sa aming variety show,” she shared during the Happy Yipee Yehey! pictorial last February 4 at a photo studio in Quezon City.

With all her new projects, Melai said she had to give up Banana Split because her schedule was becoming too full.

“Umalis na ako sa Banana Split kasi kailangan ko din naman matulog, alangan naman mamatay na ako sa kakatrabaho kasi diri-diretso na (laughs),” she said.

The 22-year-old former teacher from Gensan admitted that she went through a rollercoaster of emotions after finding out the news.

During her last taping day with Banana Split, Melai found it so hard to hold back tears.

“Nalungkot nga ako, pero masaya naman dahil andito na ako sa noontime show. Family ko din yung Banana Split, nag-iyakan kami kahapon pero magkapitbahay lang naman yung studio namin so puwede naman ako dumaan dun. Nag-iyak iyak pa ako,” she added.

Now that she has more TV exposure, Melai said she is concentrating on improving her way of speaking, after being advised by ABS-CBN President Charo Santos-Concio that she should enunciate her words and speak more slowly.

“Ang skills na kailangan ko gawin is magdahan-dahan ako sa salita ko paramaintindihan naman ako ng mga tao. Nag-pra-practice na naman ako. Marami ng nag-a-advise na bagalan ko. Nag-practice nga ako ngayon. Sabi ni Ma’am Charo bagalan ko daw ang aking pagsasalita kasi kumbaga papunta na ako Malabon, kayo nasa Quezon City pa kayo (laughs) kaya babagalan ko na pagsasalita ko,” she admitted.

When it comes to hosting, Melai shared that she really looks up to the Happy Yipee Yehey! hosts when it comes to delivering spiels.

“Kasi napaka-spontaneous talaga ni Ate Toni (Gonzaga). Ang galing niya sa ganun. Magaling din sila John (Estrada) at Randy (Santiago), nakakatawa sila. Napapanuod ko na sila before pa sa Magandang Tanghali Bayan. Siyempre may TV din kami dun sa probinsya (laughs),” she said. (report from Rhea Manila P. Santos, Push.com.ph)

Meet the Faces of KaJoyfulness Episode 8

Episode 8 of "Meet the Faces of KaJoyfulness" featuring Kchairon Mae "Princess Zaik" Rollon Alforque as a PC Realize Dancer at Personal Collection Direct Selling Inc.-Matina Branch.

Kris Aquino did not invite James Yap on her 40th birthday celebration

Sa ginanap na 40th birthday celebration kamakailan ni Kris Aquino ay dumagsa ang naglalakihang mga pulitiko, Kapamilya artists at gayundin ang mga ABS-CBN executives sa kanyang party.

Gayunpaman ang nakatawag pansin sa kanyang mga naging bisita ay si Makati Mayor Junjun Binay na minsan nang naiugnay sa controversial game show host.

Pero noong Sabado ng umaga pa lamang ay sinabi na ni Kris na huwag na silang intrigahin.

“Walang meaning. Inuunahan ko na kung sino po mapapanood ninyo na makikidasal, gusto lang pong makadasal ang pamilya ko at inuulit ko po please, huwag n’yo pong bigyan ng malisya at baka ‘yung mag-attend do’n baka hindi na ulit makidasal sa ‘kin,” nangingiting pahayag ni Kris sa kanyang gift-giving at medical mission sa hometown niya ng Tarlac noong February 12, Sabado.

Kapansin-pansin naman na wala ang estranged husband niyang si James Yap sa celebration niya at inamin ni Kris na hindi na niya inimbita ito.

“Hindi ko na in-invite si James kasi magkaka-awkward situation. Iwi-wish ko na lang ang sarili ko at ipagdarasal ko na lang siya kasi nga ‘yun ang bago kong adhikain, ang magdasal nang magdasal.”

Ibinahagi rin ng Queen of Talk na binigyan siya ng gift ni Ted Failon na na-link din sa kanya at inilahad pa niya ang mensahe sa birthday card nito na ‘life begins at 40 so live, laugh and love.’

“Kaya ia-attempt kong gawin, live life to the fullest, laugh as much as I can and love after annulment,” natutuwang kuwento ni Kris.

Kalayaan naman ang birthday wish ni Kris para sa kanyang birthday na tumatama rin ng Valentine’s day.

“I want freedom, gusto ko na legally matapos na lahat para maging malaya na kami ni James (at) pareho at makahanap kami ng kaligayahan na hindi namin naibigay sa isa’t isa.” (report from Bernie Franco, Push.com.ph)