Gov. Vilma gets Presidential Award for Public Service

Close on the heels of two big events in her career  the box-office success of her starrer, Star Cinema’s The Healing, which grossed close to P150M; and the successful holding of the Marian Regatta around Taal Lake in honor of Mama Mary’s birthday on Sept. 8  Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos is being given the 2012 Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award.

It’s Pres. Noynoy Aquino himself who will hand over the award to Gov. Vilma on Wednesday, Sept. 19, at rites to be held at the Rizal Ceremonial Hall in Malacañang Palace.

Administered by the Civil Service Commission, the awards ceremony highlights the celebration of the 112th Philippine Civil Service (PCS) anniversary. The search covers outstanding public officials and PCS employees who have shown exemplary service to the public.

Gov. Vilma is one of the public officials being awarded.

In a letter to Gov. Vilma, PCS chairman Francisco Duque III wrote, “The Civil Service Commission is deeply pleased and honored to have you as one of the 2012 Presidential Lingkod Bayan Awardees for Outstanding Work and Exceptional Service in this year’s search for Outstanding Public Officials and Employees…”

Search for Miss Tourism World Philippines 2012 ongoing

The first search for Miss Tourism World Philippines is going on, with preliminary screenings held every weekend (Saturdays and Sundays) until second week of October at the Totale Image Asia (3rd Floor, Castro Building, Timog Avenue near corner Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City).

The pageant is open to natural-born Filipinas who must be single, 18 to 27 years old, at least 5’5” tall and a high school graduate with pleasing personality, Filipino citizen, and must have the heart and passion to promote Philippine tourism.

The winner will represent the country in the 2012 Miss Tourism World Pageant to be held in Siam Niramit, Bangkok, Thailand, on Dec. 15.

Among the Philippine bets who finished winners were Suzanne Park Fahling in 1995 and Michelle Reyes in 2002, with former Bb. Pilipinas-World Rachel Soriano as second runner-up in 2000 and former Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Zora Andam as finalist/Miss Tourism-Asia in 2001.

(For more information, call the Miss Tourism World Philippines office at 515-5639 or Marki delos Santos at 0915-2970297, Mhere Ignacio at 0912-4232917 or Funfare “beauty expert” Francis Calubaquib at 0921-3961554.)

— Reported by Francis and fellow “beauty experts” Felix Manuel, Joey Cezeare and Gery Yumping

Loose ends

 An emergency warning from June Torrejon-Rufino: My e-mail has been hacked. I am not abroad; ignore any report that I am in Spain. I’m just here in Manila. Sorry for the inconvenience.

 From reader Paulina Fris (reacting to a recent item about Twitter/YouTube sensation Kimpoy Feliciano: It was Juvy Cachola’s niece, actress Janna Cachola, who encouraged the Feliciano siblings to audition for Miss Saigon in New Zealand.

 Reactions to Funfare’s recent story about the ABS-CBN show Be Careful With My Heart being a hit among Filipinos in the US:

From Baby K. Jimenez: I am also an avid follower of the show here in Toronto. I love it!

From “Elizabeth delos” (The Filipino Channel subscriber): I 200% agree with your observation about Be Careful With My Heart. It’s my relaxation every day after a stressful day at work. I feel good after watching it. I hope TV networks in the Philippines will produce more teleserye like it.

?From Zara Macandili: I was just asked by my boss’s mother (she’s 78) to send her reaction to the item. She said that she’s hooked on Jodi Sta. Maria and Richard Yap, thanks to Be Careful With My Heart”.

Sabi niya, “Mag-comment tayo ha, kasi ikaw naman ang marunong sa mga internet na ’yan!” 

“O, sige po!” sabi ko.

She said,

“A friend called me up and she said panoorin ko raw ang Be Careful With My Heart. So I watched it and I liked it! And I am so happy every time I watch it. Ma-drama na ang buhay ko, gusto ko naman ng palabas na happy talaga. I really love the show! Looking forward for more light and heartwarming shows!”

                 — Mrs. Janey Alanguilan, 78, San Pablo City, Laguna